Middle East war updates: Iran blames US for stalled talks and Israel kills Lebanese journalist – Ya Libnan
Share: The late Amal Khalil, a Lebanese journalist working for the pro-Hezbollah daily Al Akhbar newspaper, reports near a destroyed bridge in Qasmiyeh, Lebanon, on March 22, 2026 [Mohammed Zaatari/AP Photo] Senior Iranian officials have blamed Washington for stalled peace negotiations due to the U»»»
ICC rejects appeal to release former Philippines president
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has refused to release former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, ruling that it has jurisdiction over his case despite his country’s withdrawal from the tribunal. The 81‑year‑old will remain in custody in The Hague. Duterte was arrested at Manila airport i»»»
Hormuz reopening 'impossible' due to ceasefire violations: Iran's Ghalibaf
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said reopening the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global oil and gas shipping route — is “impossible” amid what Tehran calls “flagrant violations” of the current ceasefire by the United States and Israel. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download»»»
Entrepreneur Justin Sun sues Trump family crypto venture
Entrepreneur Justin Sun filed a lawsuit on Wednesday accusing a Trump family-backed cryptocurrency platform of fraud and alleging he was blocked from withdrawing his assets. In a San Francisco federal court filing reviewed by AFP, the Chinese-born crypto billionaire and former Trump ally claims to »»»
Toyota opens new R&D hub southwest of Tokyo
Toyota Motor Corp has unveiled a new research and development hub aimed at advancing mobility products and services within its experimental Woven City in Susono, Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan according to Jiji Press. »»»
Venezuela presses IMF to unfreeze $5bn in assets as Chavista ranks show strain
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez has formally asked the International Monetary Fund to release nearly $5bn in frozen assets, testing the limits of a diplomatic rapprochement that has forced the country's ruling Chavista movement to abandon decades of ideological hostility towards the Wa»»»
RFK Jr.'s budget cuts would boost inequity, healthcare advocates warn - UPI.com
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. testifies during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing on the Department of Health and Human Services' proposed fiscal year 2027 budget in the Dirksen Senate Office Building near the U.S. Capitol in Washing»»»
California governor candidates to debate Wednesday night - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Xavier Beccera, right, then U.S. Secretary of health and human services, greets Rep. Cori Bush D-Mo. in 2023 as he arrives at a school for a roundtable discussion. Beccera is one of the candidates for California governor who will take part in a televised debate Wednesday. File Photo by Bil»»»
Israeli airstrike kills journalist in south Lebanon: civil defence
An Israeli airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist and wounded another on Wednesday while they were working near the border with Israel, according to their employer and rescuers. The civil defence agency's press office said rescuers were "able to recover the body of martyred journalist Amal Khalil, »»»
GCC statistics highlight women’s key role in health, education, tourism
MUSCAT: The Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) affirmed on Wednesday that Gulf women continue to strengthen their presence in the development journey of GCC countries, supported by a young population base and growing participation in the lab»»»
UK, France agree 3-year deal to stop migrant crossings
Britain and France have agreed a new three-year deal to stop undocumented migrants making the risky journey across the English Channel, according to a French interior ministry roadmap seen by AFP Wednesday. Under the deal, France pledged to increase law enforcement on the coast by more than half to»»»
The US ends its military presence in Syria: why now and what next?
On 15 and 16 April, the US evacuated its last remaining base in Syria, bringing to a close more than a decade of American military presence in the country. The withdrawal from the Qasrak base in Hasakah province amounts to a declaration by Washington and Damascus that relations between the two coun»»»
Tesla profits rose in the first quarter as Musk teases debut of new Roadster
NEW YORK: Tesla's profit rose in the first quarter as its car sales rebounded from a sharp slump in 2025. The electric vehicle maker run by billionaire Elon Musk said it earned $477 million in the quarter, up 17% from a year ago. Earnings per share totaled 13 cents. Adjusted for certain items, per »»»
Brazil revokes US official's credentials in latest diplomatic spat
Brazil revoked the credentials of an American police attache on Wednesday after a Brazilian official was forced to leave the United States -- the latest twist in troubled bilateral ties. The Trump administration on Monday asked Marcelo Ivo, a liaison officer in Miami for Brazil's federal police, to»»»
Navy secretary Phelan out, Pentagon says - UPI.com
Former U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan, far right, listens to Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, second from right, in South Korea. Phelan is out as Navy Secretary effective immediately, the Pentagon said Wednesday. File Photo courtesy of Hanwha Ocean April 22 (UPI) -- John Phelan is out as »»»
Florida probes ChatGPT and OpenAI over mass shooting
Florida has launched a criminal probe into OpenAI and ChatGPT over a shooting spree at Florida State University, which the perpetrator planned with the help of the AI chatbot. The incident occurred in April 2025, when the suspect allegedly killed two and injured six people. He was subsequently inju»»»
More than 150 million Americans exposed to dangerous air pollution, American Lung Association report says - UPI.com
1 of 2 | A layer of smog covers downtown and the nearby areas in 2019 in Los Angeles. California has some of the worst rankings in air pollution in the United States, the 2026 State of the Air report from the American Lung Association said Wednesday. File photo by Etienne Laurent April 22 (UPI) -- »»»
Pentagon says Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving 'immediately', in latest departure of a top defence leader
WASHINGTON: The Pentagon announced Wednesday that the Navy’s top civilian official, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, is leaving his job. In a statement posted to social media, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Phelan was “departing the administration, effective immediately.” Navy Undersecretar»»»
EU gives preliminary approval to unblock €90 billion Ukraine loan
EU member states on Wednesday gave a preliminary approval to unlock a €90 billion loan for Ukraine. The decision comes after delays linked to an oil dispute with Hungary over the Druzhba pipeline. EU countries on Wednesday gave a preliminary green light to unblocking a €90 billion loan for Uk»»»
UK, France agree three-year deal to stop migrant crossings
PARIS: Britain and France have agreed a new three-year deal to stop undocumented migrants making the risky journey across the English Channel, according to a French interior ministry roadmap seen by AFP Wednesday. Under the deal, France pledged to increase law enforcement on the coast by more than »»»
Sinner’s mastery mindset makes him the man to beat
BENGALURU: Jannik Sinner was once viewed as an explosive talent custom-built for hardcourt tennis but the four-times Grand Slam champion’s assiduous work on his patience and control has made him the man to beat on clay heading into the French Open. It had long been assumed that in his era-defining »»»
Truth or Fake - ‘Hungry all the time’: US Navy deny food shortages after grim photos emerge
The US Navy has fiercely denied claims that its warships in the Middle East are running low on food and leaving its sailors “hungry all the time,” as Washington’s blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues. Photos showing dismal, mostly-empty trays of food circulated online, with the claims that sh»»»
MoPH announces vaccination requirements for Hajj 2026
Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has announced the vaccination requirements for Hajj 1447H/2026, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of pilgrims to the Holy Mosque and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque. These measures aim to allow pilgrims t»»»
‘Qatar’s diplomacy helps contain escalation, ensures int’l stability’
Khaled Al Hameidi Doha In the midst of one of the most volatile regional crises in recent years, Qatar has emerged as a central diplomatic actor, deploying coordinated political, strategic, and economic efforts aimed at de-escalation, preserving the ceasefire, and ensuring the continued flow of glo»»»
AMIR, SYRIAN PRESIDENT DISCUSS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held talks with President of Syria Ahmed Al Sharaa, focusing on regional and international developments. During the talks, held at the Amiri Diwan, HH the Amir welcomed the president and his accompanying delegation, expressing hope that the visi»»»