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India condemned the recent airstrikes carried out by drones and missiles on Fujairah, on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, which resulted in the injury of three Indian nationals.It described the act as “unacceptable”, calling for an immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure.Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs of India affirmed in a statement that India continues to stand for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation, so that peace and stability may be restored across West Asia.”We also call for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law. India stands ready to support all efforts for a peaceful resolution of issues,” the statement added.The Indian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates announced that three Indian nationals were injured in the attacks on Fujairah. It said that their condition is moderate and that they are receiving the necessary medical care in coordination with local authorities, after being injured in a fire that broke out in a petroleum industries area. Source link
US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport. (AFP) US President Donald Trump said yesterday that US officials were holding “very positive discussions” with Iran over potential steps toward ending the war that has upended the Middle East. “I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.Iran’s foreign ministry earlier said that Tehran had submitted a 14-point plan “focused on ending the war” and that Washington had responded to it in a message to Pakistani mediators. Trump also said the United States will escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz from today, claiming that “countries from all over the world” had requested it. “For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time.” Earlier, Iran said it had received a US response to its latest offer for peace talks, a day after President Donald Trump said he would probably reject the Iranian proposal because “they have not paid a big enough price”. Related Story Source link
Pope Leo XIV will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, the Vatican said Monday, just weeks after serious criticism of the pontiff by US President Donald Trump.The private visit with the top US diplomat, who is a Catholic, will take place at 11:30 am (0930 GMT), according to a calendar published on the Vatican’s media site.A Vatican source on Sunday confirmed for AFP Italian media reports that the meeting was an attempt to “thaw” relations between the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics and the US government.Rubio is also expected to meet Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani while in Rome, according to an Italian government source on Sunday. Rubio had also asked for a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of Trump’s closest European allies, against whom he turned after she defended the pope, the source added.Leo has increasingly spoken out against international conflicts and the politicians waging them, and last month issued his most forthright critique yet of the Trump administration’s actions.Thursday’s visit will be the second time that the pope and Rubio have met. The secretary of state was received at the Vatican with US Vice President JD Vance in May 2025, just days after Leo was elected pope. Related Story Source link
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to dialogue and diplomatic engagement as key tools for promoting peace and stability both regionally and beyond.His remarks came during a meeting on Monday with Norway’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, who is currently visiting Pakistan.According to officials, the talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations and exploring opportunities to expand cooperation across sectors of mutual interest. The two sides also exchanged views on recent regional developments.Pakistan has in recent years emphasized diplomacy as central to its foreign policy, particularly in addressing regional challenges and fostering international partnerships. Source link
Three of the world's leading health organizations have condemned the international community's failure to protect healthcare providers and patients in conflict zones.In a joint statement, the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders called on world leaders to take action to protect health service providers. They stressed that the situation today is worse compared to 10 years ago.In their statement, the organizations pointed out that the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2286 ten years ago, which condemns attacks and threats against the wounded, the sick, medical personnel, hospitals and other medical facilities.’As violence affecting medical facilities, transport and personnel continues unabated, the harm this resolution sought to prevent has not diminished. It has continued and, in many contexts, intensified,’ the statement explained.It added, ‘when health care is no longer safe, it is often the clearest warning sign that the rules and norms intended to limit the harm of war are breaking down.”States and all parties to armed conflict must comply with the rules protecting health care,’ the statement continued. ‘We urge world leaders to act and show the needed political leadership to end this violence.’ Source link
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it will begin supporting “Project Freedom” starting Monday to help merchant vessels get through the Strait of Hormuz.In a statement, CENTCOM explained that its forces, under the direction of US President Donald Trump, will support commercial vessels seeking free passage. It noted that the Departments of State and War launched the Maritime Freedom Construct initiative to enhance coordination in the strait.For his part, Commander of CENTCOM Admiral Brad Cooper said that supporting this defensive mission is essential for regional security and the global economy, pointing out that the military support will include guided-missile destroyers.He added that the operation will involve more than 100 aircraft and approximately 15,000 military personnel, emphasizing that support for Project Freedom comes at a time when the United States is also continuing to enforce a naval blockade.The US President had previously announced the launch of an operation to free ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. He said, in a post on his Truth Social account, that countries that have no connection to the conflict in the Middle East have asked the United States for help in freeing their ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz. Source link
US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport. (AFP) Iran said Sunday it had received a US response to its latest offer for peace talks, a day after President Donald Trump said he would probably reject the Iranian proposal because “they have not paid a big enough price”.Iranian state media reported that Washington had conveyed its response to Iran’s 14-point proposal via Pakistan, and that Tehran was now reviewing it. There was no immediate confirmation from Washington or Islamabad of the US response.”At this stage, we do not have nuclear negotiations,” state media quoted Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying, an apparent reference to Iran’s proposal to set aside talks on nuclear issues until after the war ends and the foes agree to lift opposing blockades of Gulf shipping.On Saturday, Trump said that he had yet to review the exact wording of the Iranian peace proposal, but that he was likely to reject it.”I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years,” he wrote on social media.The United States and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, and US and Iranian officials held one round of talks. But attempts to set up further meetings have so far failed.Iran handed over its latest proposal on Thursday, and a senior Iranian official confirmed on Saturday that Tehran envisions ending the war and resolving the shipping standoff first, while leaving talks on Iran’s nuclear programme for later.Though Trump initially said on Friday that he was not satisfied with the Iranian proposal, he said on Saturday he was still looking at it.”They told me about the concept of the deal. They’re going to give me the exact wording now,” he told reporters. Asked if he might restart strikes on Iran, Trump replied: “I don’t want to say that. I mean, I can’t tell that to a reporter. If they misbehave, if they do something bad, right now we’ll see. But it’s a possibility that could happen.”The proposal to delay talks on nuclear issues until a later phase would appear at odds with Washington’s repeated demand that Iran accept stringent restrictions on its nuclear programme before the war can end.Washington wants Tehran to give up its stockpile of more than 400 kg (900 pounds) of highly enriched uranium, which the United States says could be used to make a bomb. Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful, though it is willing to discuss some curbs in return for the lifting of sanctions, as it had accepted in a 2015 deal that Trump abandoned.While saying repeatedly he is in no hurry, Trump is under domestic pressure to break Iran’s hold on the Strait of Hormuz, which has choked off 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies and pushed up US gasoline prices. Trump’s Republican Party faces the risk of a voter backlash over higher prices in midterm congressional elections in November.Iranian media said Tehran’s 14-point proposal includes withdrawing US forces from nearby areas, lifting the blockade, releasing frozen assets, paying compensation, lifting sanctions, ending the war on all fronts including Lebanon and creating a new control mechanism for the strait.Iran has been blocking nearly all shipping from the Gulf apart from its own for more than two months. Last month, the US imposed its own blockade of ships from Iranian ports.Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential diplomacy, the senior Iranian official said Tehran believed its latest proposal to shelve nuclear talks for a later stage was a significant shift aimed at facilitating an agreement.”Under this framework, negotiations over the more complicated nuclear issue have been moved to the final stage to create a more conducive atmosphere,” the official said. Related Story Source link
There was “no meaningful shift” away from big tech platforms like TikTok and Instagram in the immediate wake of Australia’s world-leading teen social media ban, government documents obtained by AFP show.Australia in December banned under 16s from a raft of popular social media platforms, launching a world-first crackdown designed to protect children from online bullying and “predatory algorithms”. There is strong global interest in whether Australia’s laws could provide a blueprint for how to rein-in increasingly powerful tech giants.Government documents obtained by AFP using freedom of information laws give an early glimpse into how the restrictions are working. They showed that platforms such as Instagram and TikTok were still “dominating app store rankings and downloads” one month on from the ban.Data compiled throughout January showed “no meaningful shift away” from these platforms, noted an internal briefing from Australia’s eSafety Commission. Users dabbled with other apps not covered by the ban but “largely returned to major, established platforms”, officials wrote in the briefing dated February 2. A separate document cautioned it was hard to draw firm conclusions from app download data so soon after the ban.“Limitations of this data are that it does not reflect usage of an app or the age of the user, however it gives early indicators if an app is rising in popularity.” One of the chief concerns driving Australia’s social media ban was the desire to stamp out cyberbullying.Complaints of cyberbullying on banned social media platforms increased 26 % when comparing January 2026 with January 2025, the documents said. Complaints had largely stemmed from TikTok. A spokeswoman for the eSafety Commission — Australia’s online watchdog — said the documents only covered a short period of time as the laws were bedding down.“Continued analysis as more data becomes available will support more robust, evidence-based conclusions regarding longer-term trends, reporting behaviours and impacts of (a minimum age for social media),” the commission told AFP in a statement. TikTok was approached for comment.A raft of nations are now reportedly mulling a similar social media crackdown. The documents showed that Israel, the United Kingdom, Norway and New Zealand met with Australian officials after expressing an “interest” in the ban. “eSafety has experienced significant global interest in the world’s first social media minimum age legislation, including implementation and compliance,” the commission said.“The internet doesn’t stop at the border and nor should our efforts to minimise harm, especially to children.” Australia in March accused big tech companies of “failing to obey” their obligations under the new laws.The eSafety Commission found a “substantial proportion of Australian children” were still scrolling banned platforms. “Australia’s world-leading social media laws are not failing. But big tech is failing to obey the laws,” Communications Minister Anika Wells told reporters at the time.“Australia will not let the social media giants take us for mugs.”Tech companies face fines of up to $33.9mn (Aus$49.5mn) under the laws.More than 5mn accounts belonging to underage Australian users have been removed since the laws came into effect, according to government figures. Related Story Source link
U.S. President Donald Trump departs the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 1, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque More than two months into a conflict that has failed to deliver a decisive military or diplomatic win, President Donald Trump faces the risk that a standoff with Iran will drag on indefinitely and leave an even bigger problem for the US and the world than before he launched the war. With both sides outwardly confident they hold the upper hand and their positions far apart, there is no obvious off-ramp in sight, even as Iran submitted a fresh proposal to restart negotiations. Trump quickly rejected it on Friday. For the US president and his Republican Party, the implications of a continued impasse are grim. An unresolved conflict would likely mean the global economic fallout, including high US gasoline prices, will persist, putting further pressure on Trump, whose poll numbers are falling, and darkening Republican candidates’ prospects ahead of November’s midterm congressional elections. UNMET GOALSThose costs highlight a deeper problem: the war has failed to achieve many of Trump’s stated goals. While there is little doubt that waves of US and Israeli strikes heavily degraded Iran’s military capabilities, many of Trump’s often-shifting war objectives — from regime change to shutting Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon — remain unfulfilled. Fears for a more protracted deadlock have grown since Trump called off a trip by his negotiators to Islamabad last weekend and then dismissed an Iranian offer to halt the war, suspended since April 8 under a ceasefire agreement. Tehran proposed setting aside discussion of its nuclear program until the conflict is formally ended and a deal is reached on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. That was a non-starter for Trump, who has demanded the nuclear issue be dealt with at the outset. There was a glimmer of hope on Friday when state news agency IRNA reported Tehran had sent a revised proposal through Pakistani mediators, causing a drop in global oil prices that had risen sharply since Iran effectively closed the strait. Trump told reporters he was “not satisfied” with the offer, though he said there were ongoing contacts by phone. A failure to wrest the vital oil-shipping waterway from Iranian control at the conclusion of the conflict would be a major blow to Trump’s legacy. “He’d be remembered as the US president who made the world less safe,” said Laura Blumenfeld, a Middle East expert at Johns Hopkins University in Washington. White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said Iran’s “desperation” is increasing due to military and economic pressure, and Trump “holds all the cards and has all the time he needs to make the best deal.” RESUMING HOSTILITIES?With his next steps uncertain and no clear endgame, Trump has in private meetings raised the prospect of a prolonged naval blockade of Iran, possibly for months more, aimed at further squeezing off its oil exports and forcing it to reach a denuclearisation agreement, a White House official said on condition of anonymity. At the same time, he has left the door open to resuming military action. The US Central Command has prepared options for a “short and powerful” series of strikes as well as for taking over part of the strait to reopenit to shipping, Axios reported on Thursday. European diplomats said their governments, whose relations with Trump have been strained by the war, expect the current situation with Iran to persist. “It’s hard to see how this will end soon,” said one, speaking on condition of anonymity. Iran has remained defiant. It has exerted powerful leverage against the US and its allies, triggering an unprecedented energy supply shock by choking off shipping in the strait, where tanker traffic flowed freely before the war, carrying a fifth of the world’s oil. Analysts say Iran will be emboldened knowing that it will have this weapon at its disposal even after the war. “Iran has realised that, even in a weakened state, it can shut off the Strait at will,” said Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “That knowledge leaves Iran stronger than it was before the war.” Trump, who took office promising to avoid entanglement in foreign interventions, has also failed to achieve his main stated aim in attacking Iran on February 28: to close off its path to a nuclear weapon. A stockpile of highly enriched uranium is believed to remain buried following US and Israeli airstrikes last June and could be recovered and further processed into bomb-grade material. Iran says it wants the US to recognise its right to enrich uranium for what it says are peaceful purposes. Another of Trump’s declared war goals — forcing Iran to stop support for proxy groups such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis and Palestinian Hamas — also remains unmet. Renewed peace talks are unlikely to yield a quick resolution, given the large gaps. At the request of Trump’s aides, intelligence agencies are studying how Iran would respond if he declared a unilateral victory and pulled back, US officials have told Reuters. ‘FROZEN CONFLICT’ RISKWith negotiations deadlocked, some analysts have suggested the war could devolve into a frozen conflict that would defy a permanent solution. That could prevent Trump from significantly scaling down forces in the Middle East. The US is already paying new strategic costs. Those include fractures with traditional European allies, who were not consulted before Trump went to war.Trump also must deal with a more hardline Iranian leadership, dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The president’s call at the start of the conflict for the Iranian people to overthrow their rulers has gone unheeded. At home, Trump is under pressure to end a war that has dragged his approval rating to the lowest level of his term and spiked gasoline prices above $4 a gallon ahead of the midterms, in which Republicans are at risk of losing control of Congress. A second White House spokeswoman, Taylor Rogers, said Trump was committed to maintaining his party’s congressional majority and that high gasoline prices were only “short-term disruptions” that would be overcome as the conflict subsides. The Iranians, however, are mindful of Trump’s domestic troubles and may be prepared to wait him out, but the questionremains how long they can stave off economic calamity.“Iran isn’t fractured or folding, it’s playing for time,” Sina Toossi, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy think tank in Washington, wrote on X. Related Story Source link
Customers shop at the Audible Story House in New York, on April 30, 2026. The pop-up store labeled as a “bookless bookstore” is dedicated to audiobooks.…