International News
Pope Francis’ Condition Improving, Says Vatican
Pope Francis is experiencing clinical improvements following a severe case of pneumonia, but concerns about his overall health persist, according to Vatican sources.
The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for the past two weeks, with medical updates indicating gradual progress.
A Vatican source confirmed on Friday that “the criticality has passed, for the moment,” though they cautioned that his condition “remains complex” and that his prognosis remains “reserved.”
The pope was admitted to the hospital on February 14 after experiencing breathing difficulties.
READ ALSO: Pope Francis Preaches Peace Amid Iran Attack
His condition worsened over the weekend, developing into pneumonia in both lungs, raising global concern about his health.
However, in recent days, the Vatican has released a series of more optimistic updates.
On Monday, the Vatican reported a “slight improvement,” followed by confirmation on Tuesday that his condition was “critical but stable.”
By Wednesday, another “slight improvement” was noted, and Thursday’s update stated that “the clinical conditions of the Holy Father are confirmed to be improving today also.”
Despite this progress, the Vatican has not yet lifted its “reserved” prognosis, meaning doctors remain cautious about predicting his recovery.
Officials have warned that Francis’s advanced age and chronic respiratory condition mean a full recovery will take time.
“Given the complexity of the clinical picture, further days of clinical stability are necessary to resolve the prognosis,” the Vatican stated on Thursday.
Despite his health struggles, Pope Francis has continued to work from his hospital suite on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital. Vatican sources say he has been resting, praying, and doing breathing exercises to aid his recovery.
This hospitalization is the fourth of his nearly 12-year papacy and his longest stay to date.
Over the years, he has undergone surgeries for a hernia and colon issues, while knee and hip pain have required him to use a wheelchair.
As the pope battles health challenges, speculation about a possible resignation has reemerged.
Vatican expert Marco Politi suggested that if Francis recovers, he may complete the Jubilee Year celebrations before considering his future.
“If the pope survives, many imagine that he will want to finish the Jubilee year, but that afterwards, when he is 89, he will face the question of whether or not to resign,” Politi told AFP.
Francis has previously stated that he is open to following the example of Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned in 2013 due to health concerns.
However, before his hospitalization, Francis repeatedly emphasized that it was not yet time for him to step down—and that it may never be.
For now, the Vatican and the global Catholic community remain hopeful that the pontiff’s condition will continue to improve in the days ahead.
NATO air defence systems have intercepted a third ballistic missile believed to have been launched from Iran after it entered Turkish airspace, Turkey’s Defence Ministry confirmed on Friday, raising fresh concerns about the growing tensions in the Middle East.
In a statement, the ministry said the missile was neutralised by NATO air and missile defence assets deployed in the eastern Mediterranean after it crossed into Turkish territory.
SEE MORE: WHO Releases Alarming Casualty Figures From US‑Israel‑Iran Conflict
The latest interception triggered security alerts across parts of southern Turkey.
Air raid sirens reportedly sounded at the strategic Incirlik Air Base, a key NATO military facility that hosts United States troops and other allied personnel.
Residents in the nearby city of Adana were awakened around 3:25 a.m. by the warning alarms. Some locals reportedly captured footage showing what appeared to be a fast-moving object on fire streaking across the sky.
Similar sirens were also heard in the eastern Turkish city of Batman around 4:00 a.m., with reports indicating the alarm may have been linked to a nearby military drone base located close to the city’s airport.
The incident marks the third time NATO defence systems have intercepted missiles linked to Iran in recent weeks. The first missile was shot down on March 4, while a second was intercepted earlier this week.
Following Monday’s incident, the United States temporarily shut down its consulate in Adana and urged American citizens to leave southeastern Turkey due to security concerns.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, however, reportedly denied that the missile had been launched from Iran during a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The rising tensions come amid the ongoing conflict that erupted on February 28 involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Since the outbreak of hostilities, Tehran has reportedly carried out retaliatory strikes across several locations in the Middle East.
Incirlik Air Base remains one of NATO’s most important strategic military facilities in the region. The base has hosted US troops for decades and also accommodates military personnel from other NATO member states including Spain and Poland.
Another key NATO installation is located in Kurecik, in Turkey’s Malatya province, where US troops operate an early-warning radar system capable of detecting missile launches from Iran. The radar facility forms part of NATO’s broader ballistic missile defence shield.
Although Turkish authorities have consistently denied that radar data from the base has been shared with Israel, its presence has reportedly raised concerns in Tehran.
Earlier this week, Turkey also confirmed the deployment of a Patriot missile defence system in Malatya as NATO strengthens its regional missile defence posture amid the escalating conflict.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a disturbing update on the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, revealing that thousands of people have been killed or injured in just under two weeks.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that health systems across the Middle East are under “immense strain” and are at risk of complete collapse if the crisis continues.
SEE MORE: US-Israel-Iran War: Day Four Updates from the Middle East
According to WHO reports, Iran has suffered over 1,300 deaths and around 9,000 injuries, while Lebanon has recorded at least 570 deaths and approximately 1,400 injuries.
In Israel, at least 15 people have died and more than 2,100 have been injured since hostilities escalated.
The conflict began on February 28, following a massive joint strike by US and Israeli forces that targeted top Iranian officials, including the country’s Supreme Leader.
The violence has since spread across the region, with retaliatory attacks targeting Israeli sites and US military bases in neighboring countries.
The humanitarian impact is severe. Over 100,000 Iranians and up to 700,000 Lebanese citizens have been displaced, many living in overcrowded conditions with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and medical care.
The WHO warns that these conditions put women and children at particular risk of disease outbreaks.
The organization also highlighted a growing trend of attacks on healthcare infrastructure, reporting dozens of strikes on hospitals and medical facilities across Iran and Lebanon.
Such attacks have not only resulted in deaths but also deprived entire communities of critical medical care when they need it most.
Tedros emphasized the urgent need for all parties to respect international law and protect civilians, calling for unimpeded humanitarian access and immediate measures to prevent the collapse of fragile health systems.
With the conflict continuing to escalate, the WHO has stressed that immediate action is required to protect lives, ensure medical support reaches affected populations, and prevent the humanitarian crisis from worsening.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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