WASHINGTON: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Wednesday that the United States is currently in discussions regarding the possibility of holding a second round of negotiations with Iran in Pakistan. Speaking during a press briefing at the White House late on Wednesday, Leavit»»»

Iran has warned it would "retaliate with force" against a US naval blockade, threatening to halt all trade across key regional waterways as tensions rise despite a fragile ceasefire, and plans for second round of talks. Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran’s joint military command, said the country would bl»»»

QNA Doha The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has highlighted the vital role of families in promoting environmental values, as the country marked Qatar Family Day 2026. In a statement issued on the occasion, the ministry said the family plays a central role in shaping environmentally resp»»»

QNA Doha Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with President of the European Council Antonio Costa in Doha on Wednesday. During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly those related to the c»»»

QNA Istanbul Qatar has reiterated its commitment to diplomacy and regional stability during high-level parliamentary meetings held in Istanbul, as part of the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). A delegation from Qatar’s Shura Council, led by the Speaker HE Hassan bin Abd»»»

QNA Berlin Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met with State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany Dr. Geza Andreas von Geyr in Berlin on Wednesday. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the latest developments»»»

1 of 5 | Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing April 8 at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. House Democrats on Wednesday introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth for his handling of the war in Iran as well as the Department of Defense. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | Li»»»

Thirty prosecutorial case files have been opened against MP candidates for election-related offences, caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev said here Wednesday. He was speaking at a news conference in the Council of Ministers' headquarters, held jointly with Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and Justic»»»

The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the shooting incident at a school in central Türkiye, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) reiterated the UAE’s strong condemnation of such criminal acts and its firm rejection of al»»»

Egypt’s economy expanded by 5.3% in the first half of the current fiscal year, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk told international investors during a meeting in Washington, attributing the growth to private sector investments. Speaking at an open dialogue organised by Jefferies International and Soc»»»

US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran on ending the conflict could resume soon and may lead to an agreement, urging the world to watch for “two amazing days,” as regional officials indicated progress in efforts to extend a fragile ceasefire for at least two weeks to allow space for renewed»»»

Viktor Stoyanov, the lead MP candidate of the Anti-Corruption Bloc in Ruse, Wednesday expressed strong concern over the critical state of blood donation in Bulgaria, describing it as a "disaster" and an issue of national security, according to the political formation. Stoyanov speaks of long-standi»»»

Thirty prosecutorial case files have been opened against MP candidates for election-related offences, caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev said here Wednesday. He was speaking at a news conference in the Council of Ministers' headquarters, held jointly with Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and Justic»»»

US author Anne-Marie Slaughter argues in The Chessboard and the Web: Strategies of Connection in a Networked World that the world no longer operates or interacts according to the logic of a traditional chessboard. The old model was linear and two-dimensional, centered on a single objective: topplin»»»

The American military depleted its entire stock of untested Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) early in its attack on Iran last month, a US Army official has said. The short-to-medium ballistic missiles developed by Lockheed Martin are slated to replace the aging Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS)»»»

Caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev has warned that a large quantity of counterfeit euros may be prepared for use in vote-buying ahead of the upcoming snap parliamentary elections, saying this could enable electoral influence "without real money". Speaking on Nova TV Wednesday, he did not discl»»»

1 of 2 | Pope Leo XIV is welcomed at Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport in Yaounde, Cameroon, Wednesday. The pontiff is on the second leg of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. Photo by Luca Zennaro/EPA April 15 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV landed in Cameroon Wednesday, and English-speaking separat»»»

Lebanon’s and Israel’s ambassadors to Washington are preparing for a second meeting after an initial round on Tuesday at the US State Department, hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting is aimed at shaping talks and securing a ceasefire pushed by Washington before launching a negotiat»»»

Pakistan’s army chief arrived Wednesday for talks in Tehran in the latest diplomatic move to ease tensions in the Middle East and arrange a second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran after almost seven weeks of war. The Pakistani military said the delegation also included the c»»»

Iran can withstand a complete halt in oil exports of up to two months before being forced to curb production, analysts said, after the US began blocking shipping in and out of the country's ports on April 13. The blockade could prevent roughly 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian crude from r»»»

Lebanese were divided on Wednesday over their government’s decision to pursue rare, direct negotiations with Israel in hopes of ending the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. Some forced to flee their homes and communities in southern Lebanon say they believe Israel’s ground invasion can »»»

Washington, United States: The World Bank announced a plan Wednesday that aims to improve secure water access for a billion people within the next four years. The "Water Forward" program will "expand reliable water services and strengthen systems against droughts and floods." The Bank said its own »»»

The World Bank announced a plan Wednesday that aims to improve secure water access for a billion people within the next four years. The new "Water Forward" program aims to "expand reliable water services and strengthen systems against droughts and floods." The Bank said its own funds and technical »»»

Parkin Company, Dubai’s leading provider of paid public parking facilities and services, has signed a strategic partnership with SP Corporation Car Parking Management LLC (Secure Parking) to accelerate the rollout of barrierless, smart parking systems across the UAE. The collaboration follows a suc»»»

Israel hailed on Wednesday the opening of direct talks with Beirut as a "historic opportunity" that could end Hezbollah's "stranglehold" on Lebanon. "This is indeed a genuine historic opportunity to end decades of Hezbollah stranglehold over Lebanon," Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told »»»

The initiative to transport enriched uranium from Iran to Russia is not currently under discussion, but Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to return to it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. Other key statements:on Iran:The IAEA has never claimed that Iran attempted to build »»»

Israel's security cabinet will convene on Wednesday to discuss a possible Lebanon ceasefire, a senior Israeli official said, more than five weeks into a war with Hezbollah that spiraled out of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet will meet »»»

Turkish police investigators work at the site of a school shooting that injured 16 people in Turkey Tuesday. On Wednesday, a second school shooting happened in Turkey, and nine people were killed with 13 others injured. Photo by Stringer/EPA April 15 (UPI) -- Nine people are dead after a school sho»»»

Hajar and Rashid Hathaleen have always walked to school from their neighborhood on the outskirts of Umm al-Khair. But when classes resumed this week for the first time since the Iran war began, coiled barbed wire blocked the Palestinian siblings' path to the village center. Israeli settlers had ins»»»

China's top diplomat told his Iranian counterpart that Beijing "supports maintaining the momentum of the ceasefire and peace talks" in a phone call on Wednesday, as negotiators from Pakistan landed in Tehran to discuss a second round of US-Iran talks. Peace talks are "in the fundamental interests o»»»

Dubai: Amid an uncertain geopolitical climate, expats from Kerala in the UAE on Wednesday marked Vishu, the traditional Hindu New Year of the south Indian state, with rituals, ethnic wear and the elaborate vegetarian feast known as sadhya, expressing gratitude for the safety and stability they cont»»»

Pakistan has been in contact with Moscow regarding the ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran and coordinated its position with Russia, Ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said. MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Will the US-Iran talks continue in Islamabad, does Pakistan intend to buy Russian oil, a»»»

The toll from Türkiye's second school shooting in as many days now stands at nine people dead, the interior minister said on Wednesday. "We regret to report nine deaths (...) and 13 wounded. Six of them are currently in intensive care, three of whom are in critical condition," Mustafa Ciftci said i»»»

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a Federal Decree granting Dr. Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, Director General of the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), the rank of Minister. The recognition highlights the UAE's leadership in climate science, meteorology and advanc»»»

Two senior Lebanese officials told Reuters on Wednesday they had been briefed that efforts were underway for a ceasefire in Lebanon, but did not have details on when it would begin or how long it would last. The officials both said it was likely the ceasefire's duration would be linked to how long »»»

Dubai: Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has emerged as the most visible power broker in Tehran, stepping into a central role in both the war effort and high-stakes diplomacy as the Islamic republic navigates a new phase following the US-Israel conflict. A pillar of the Iranian est»»»

Danish Pandit in HaryanaIndia's small farmers are facing fertilizer shortages tied to the war in Iran and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. What could delayed deliveries mean for farmers and their livelihoods? https://p.dw.com/p/5CEKXAdvertisementIndia’s small-scale farmers are facing a growing »»»

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated peace talks with Tehran could resume this week, as the United States turned the screws Wednesday with a naval blockade it said had cut off maritime trade with Iran. Trump's hint came as Israel and Lebanon agreed to open direct negotiations after a rare face»»»

Doha, Qatar: Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, President of Paris Saint-Germain, praised his side’s collective approach after they secured a place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Liverpool FC at Anfield on Tuesday evening, sealing a 4-0 aggregate victory. PSG are the defending champi»»»

Dubai: Hotel revenues in the UAE rose 9.7% to around Dh49.21 billion in 2025, as the country’s tourism sector recorded strong growth across key indicators, the Ministry of Economy said on Wednesday. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The figures were reviewed during the s»»»

The United Arab Emirates has been elected to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP) for the 2026–2028 term, at a time of unprecedented global food security challenges and mounting risks linked to the near-total disruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—developments that coul»»»

Egypt’s national security, improving citizen’s standards of living, economic development, developing and building the Egyptian citizen, and developing Egypt’s foreign policy. The government statement by the Prime Minister and Minister of Housing, Mustafa Madbouli, was presented to the House of Repr»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that China has agreed not to send weapons to its close partner Iran and that he has received personal assurances from leader Xi Jinping. "They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few week»»»

TYRE, Lebanon: Israeli strikes rocked southern Lebanon overnight and into Wednesday, a day after a first round of historic talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials in Washington. Smoke rose over the coastal city of Tyre, underscoring the fragility of diplomatic efforts. Though Israeli strikes i»»»

What began as a disagreement over the Iran war has escalated into a rare and highly public clash between the White House and the Vatican. US President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance have repeatedly criticised Pope Leo XIV, accusing him of being “weak on crime” and overstepping into politi»»»

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia is ready to play a role in resolving the issue of Iranian enriched uranium in a way that is as acceptable as possible to Tehran. "We have good relations with Russia, a very successful experience of cooperation in the nuclear field..»»»

Istanbul: A student aged about 13 opened fire at random in a Turkish school Wednesday killing four people and wounding 20, just one day after a shooter wounded 16 people and then killed himself in another school, officials said. Kahramanmaras province governor Mukerrem Unluer said a teacher and thr»»»

DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received President of the European Council António Costa, who is visiting the country. During the meeting, the latest regional developments were reviewed, particularly those related to the ce»»»

At a time when waves of geopolitical tensions disrupt the stability of vital maritime corridors, fundamental questions are emerging about the ability of major economic ambitions in the Gulf to withstand the test of the Strait of Hormuz, which represents an indispensable “lifeline” for the global ec»»»

Berlin: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met on Wednesday with State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany HE Dr. Geza Andreas von Geyr. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the lates»»»