The death toll after a roof collapsed at a crowded nightclub in the Dominican Republic has climbed to 218, the head of rescue operations said Thursday, in the Caribbean nation's worst disaster in decades.

Belgium has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, valued at an estimated €1 billion.

The U.S. confirmed that a second round of consultations between Moscow and Washington will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday.

During a state visit to Estonia on Tuesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Estonian President Alar Karis made a strong call for increased defense spending within NATO, advocating for a minimum of 3% of GDP. They urged allies to raise their commitments in response to the growing security threats from Russia, the much larger country both nations border.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned on Tuesday during a visit to Panama that the United States will not permit China to undermine the operations of the country's crucial interoceanic canal.

The United Nations mission to Iraq called for an independent investigation on Tuesday after a detainee died under "unclear circumstances" in a detention center in Baghdad.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended his decision to include a review of online safety rules in trade discussions with the United States.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani announced on Tuesday a restructuring of the country's diplomatic missions, following a decision to replace two key figures in the foreign service of ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad.

On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron described the swift resumption of aid into Gaza as a "top priority" during his visit to the Egyptian city of El-Arish, a crucial transit point for supplies to the conflict-stricken Palestinian territory.