Iran and the US will hold nuclear talks Friday in Oman as tensions remain high

DUBAI (AP) — Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed that Iran and the US will hold nuclear talks in Oman’s capital of Muscat on Friday. His announcement on Wednesday came after hours of indications that plans for the talks might be faltering over changes in the format and content of the talks. Araghchi wrote on X that he was grateful “to our Omani brothers for making all necessary arrangements.” Tensions between the countries have spiked after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. might use force against Iran in response to its bloody crackdown on protesters last month. Trump also has been pushing Tehran for a deal to constrain its nuclear program.

Israel strikes across Gaza, killing 24, and says militants attacked its soldiers

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Health officials in Gaza say Israeli strikes have killed at least 24 Palestinians, including two babies. Israel says it killed three militant leaders and that some of the strikes were in response to an attack that wounded a soldier. The strikes come as an already fragile ceasefire deal is under increasing strain. Hospital officials report that among the dead are at least five children, seven women and an on-duty paramedic. The violence since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10 has killed more than 550 Palestinians. Eight Arab and Muslim countries have condemned Israel’s actions. The ceasefire deal aimed to end a 2-year-old war between Israel and Hamas.

China’s Xi and Russia’s Putin discuss their growing links, ties with US and global crises

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the burgeoning economic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing and their relations with the United States in a video call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Putin accepted Xi’s invitation to visit China twice this year. Wednesday’s call came amid a series of meetings between Xi and Western leaders who have sought to boost ties with China despite differences over the conflict in Ukraine. European leaders have pressed China for years to end its support for Russia even as Beijing has become the No. 1 trading partner for Moscow, which seeks relief from Western economic sanctions.

Greek doctors work to identify parents of injured migrant children after deadly collision

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Emotional medical staff on the Greek island of Chios have spoken of frantic efforts to identify the parents of injured children after an overnight collision between a coast guard patrol boat and a speedboat carrying migrants. The crash killed at least 15 people and injured more than two dozen others. Coast guard vessels and a helicopter are still scouring the sea near Chios on Wednesday as it was unclear how many people had been on board the speedboat. Initial information indicated the vast majority of passengers were Afghans while one person was identified as a Moroccan national. Twenty-four people including 11 children are hospitalized.