German parties agree to form a new government

BERLIN (AP) — German election winner Friedrich Merz has sealed a deal to form a new government that aims to spur economic growth, ramp up defense spending, take a tougher approach to migration and catch up on long-neglected modernization. Wednesday’s agreement paves the way for new leadership in the 27-nation European Union’s most populous member, which has Europe’s biggest economy. It follows months of political drift and weeks of negotiations as the continent faces uncertainty over the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs and its commitment to European allies’ defense. Merz is on track to become Germany’s next leader in early May, replacing outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Ukraine says more than 150 Chinese mercenaries are fighting for Russia in Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine has expanded on its claim that significant numbers of Chinese nationals are fighting for Russia’s invading army, saying it had gathered detailed intelligence on more than 150 mercenaries Moscow allegedly recruited through social media. In China, officials called the allegations “totally unfounded.” The Ukrainian accusation and Chinese denial come as the U.S. strives to secure a ceasefire in the more than three-year war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Tuesday that the Ukrainian military had captured two Chinese men fighting alongside the Russian army on Ukrainian soil. It was the first time Ukraine had made such a claim about Chinese fighters in the war. On Wednesday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has collected intelligence on 155 Chinese mercenaries.

Israeli strike on Gaza apartment building kills at least 23, officials say

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike on a residential block in northern Gaza killed at least 23 people, health officials in the Palestinian territory say. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than half of the dead were women and children. It said Wednesday’s strike hit a four-story building in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City. It said at least 40 people were wounded in the strike. The Israeli military said it struck a senior Hamas militant who it said was behind attacks emanating from Shijaiyah. It was the latest violence in a war that shows no signs of abating.

Iran’s president insists Tehran does not seek a nuclear bomb

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s president again has pledged his nation is “not after a nuclear bomb” ahead of talks between Tehran and the United States. He even dangled the prospect of direct American investment in the Islamic Republic if the countries can reach a deal. The comments by reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday are a departure from Iran’s previous stance after its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. At the time, Tehran sought to buy American airplanes but in effect barred U.S. companies from coming into the country. Such a business proposal now could draw the interest of U.S. President Donald Trump.