War-weary Lebanese weigh giving talks with Israel a chance
BEIRUT - From his small shop in Beirut, facing a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, Qassem Saad said he was exhausted by repeated Israeli wars on Lebanon, and hoped negotiations could end decades of suffering.

US farmers strained as fertiliser costs surge on war
CHINA GROVE, North Carolina - On Andy Corriher’s farm, planting and preparations are under way for his corn and soybean crops — but fertiliser costs have surged on war in the Middle East, and orders he placed weeks ago have yet to arrive.

McDonald's, Iran, and the pope: Trump's bizarre press conference
WASHINGTON - If the McDonald's delivery to the Oval Office on Monday wasn't extraordinary enough, President Donald Trump's press conference on Iran, the pope and Jesus certainly was.

Trump's AI image of himself as Jesus-like figure follows pope feud
U.S. President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure on Sunday, drawing widespread criticism even from some religious conservatives who typically support him, before deleting the post on Monday. - REUTERS

Israel presses assault on Lebanon ahead of US-hosted talks
Israeli troops launched an attack on Monday (April 13) to seize a key town in south Lebanon from Hezbollah fighters holed up there, pressing the war on the Iran-backed group on the eve of rare talks between Israeli and Lebanese government envoys. - REUTERS

Southport girls' murders should have been prevented: UK inquiry
The murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Britain in 2024 should have been prevented, but there was a "fundamental failure" by state bodies and the killer's parents to recognize and act on the risk he posed, an inquiry said on Monday. - REUTERS

Factory workers in India’s industrial hub warn of more protests
Police threw tear gas shells and used "minimum force" on Monday to quell a factory workers' protest in the Indian national capital's suburb of Noida, which turned violent on its fourth day, with vehicles torched and stones pelted in parts of the satellite city. - REUTERS

Voluntary enlistment in Thai military up 22%
Nearly 50,000 men volunteered to enlist in the military this year, an increase of 22% from a year earlier, the Royal Thai Army said, signalling a new trend and growing public trust.

Fatigue no excuse as Arteta urges spluttering Arsenal to respond
LONDON - Mikel Arteta has warned Arsenal that fatigue is no excuse for their damaging stumble as he urged his side to hit back by finishing off Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-final second leg.

Trump deletes Jesus post of himself after outcry
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Monday deleted a social media image apparently depicting him as Jesus after an outcry from religious leaders that he was being blasphemous.