Hamas brushes off Trump’s threat

CAIRO (AP) — Hamas has brushed off President Donald Trump’s latest threat and reiterated that it will only free the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The militant group accused Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to back out of the ceasefire agreement they reached in January. The agreement calls for negotiations over a second phase in which the hostages would be released in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Negotiations on that phase were supposed to begin in early February. Only limited preparatory talks have been held so far.

Top Hong Kong court overturns convictions of 3 former organizers of Tiananmen vigils

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s top court has overturned the convictions of three former organizers of an annual vigil in remembrance of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown over their refusal to provide information to police, marking a rare victory for the city’s pro-democracy activists. Chow Hang-tung, Tang Ngok-kwan and Tsui Hon-kwong — core members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China — were convicted in 2023 during Beijing’s crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy movement. They received a sentence of 4 1/2 months and have already served their terms.

South Korean fighter jets accidentally drop bombs, injuring 8 people

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean fighter jets have accidentally dropped eight bombs on a civilian area, injuring eight people on the ground. The South Korean air force says the MK-82 bombs released by the KF-16 fighter jets fell outside a firing range on Thursday morning. The air force apologized and expressed hopes for a speedy recovery of the injured. It says it will investigate the accident in Pocheon, a city close to the heavily armed border with North Korea. Pocheon’s disaster response center say six civilians and two soldiers were injured.

Pope Francis records audio greeting from hospital to thank people for their prayers

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis recorded a pained and labored audio message to thank people for their prayers for his recovery, the first public sign of life from the 88-year-old pope since he was hospitalized three weeks ago with double pneumonia. Francis’ weak voice, discernible through his labored breaths and in his native Spanish, was broadcast to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square who had gathered for the nightly recitation of the rosary prayer. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the square, I accompany you from here,” he said, his soft voice piercing the hushed square. “May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you.”