Mourners bury one of the last hostages released from Gaza

JERUSALEM (AP) — Mourners are burying the remains of one of the last hostages released in the first phase of the ceasefire between Hamas militants and Israel. Negotiators are seeking to iron out a second phase of the deal that could end the war in Gaza and see the remaining live hostages returning home. The body of Tsachi Idan was one of four released by Hamas this week in exchange for over 600 Palestinian prisoners, the last planned swap of the ceasefire’s first phase, which began in January. The relatives of hostages still held in Gaza are ramping up pressure on Netanyahu to secure the release of their loved ones. According to Israel, 32 of the 59 hostages still in Gaza are dead.

Suicide bomber kills senior cleric at pro-Taliban seminary in northwest Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Police in northwestern Pakistan say a suicide bomb attack on a mosque at a pro-Taliban seminary has killed a senior cleric and five other worshippers and wounded many other people ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast at the Jamia Haqqania seminary, where the attacker gained entry despite tight security. Police say Hamidul Haq, head of the seminary and leader of a faction of the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI) party, was among the dead. Haq was son of the late Maulana Samiul Haq, who was considered a founding figure for both the Afghan and Pakistani branches of the Taliban.

Pope had coughing fit, inhaled vomit and his prognosis remains guarded, Vatican says

ROME (AP) — The Vatican says Pope Francis suffered a coughing fit hat resulted in him breathing in vomit, requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation. The Vatican says he responded well, with a good level of gas exchange, and remained conscious and alert at all times. The episode, reported late Friday by the Vatican, resulted in doctors keeping his prognosis from a two-week battle with double pneumonia as guarded. It marked a setback after two days of increasingly upbeat reports about an improved condition.

UK’s international development minister quits after foreign aid cut

LONDON (AP) — The British minister responsible for international development has quit in the wake of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision earlier this week to ramp up defense spending by slashing the foreign aid budget. In a letter to Starmer, which she posted on social media, Anneliese Dodds resigned as international development minister and minister for women, saying she disagrees with the decision to cut overseas aid. On Tuesday, Starmer said the government would raise U.K. defense spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027 from the current 2.3%, saying Europe is in a new era of insecurity that requires a “generational response.” The increase would be funded by a reduction in the aid budget from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3%