• Iran War: The Latest Updates
  • Trump Insists Iran is 'Begging to Make a Deal'
  • Asia Scrambles to Conserve Energy
  • Iran War Deflects Attention From Ukraine
  • 3-day Ceasefire Between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Transgender women athletes banned from women's Olympic events

GENEVA (AP) – Transgender women athletes are now excluded from women’s events at the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy on Thursday which aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Overnight storm in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, kills at least 15

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) – Heavy rains and strong winds lashed Pakistan’s largest city overnight, killing at least 15 people and injuring several others as walls and roofs collapsed at multiple locations, emergency services and hospital officials said Thursday.

Lebanese fear another occupation as Israel threatens to use Gaza tactics

BEIRUT (AP) – As Israel trades fire with Hezbollah, calls for mass evacuations and sends ground troops deeper into Lebanon, its leaders have hinted at a long-term occupation modeled on the devastating conquest of much of Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

Verdicts against Meta, YouTube validate concerns long raised by parents

For years, parents, teenagers, pediatricians, educators and whistleblowers have pushed the idea that social media is detrimental to young people’s mental health and can lead to addiction, eating disorders, sexual exploitation and suicide.

EU lawmakers approve trade deal with US but add safeguards

BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Parliament voted Thursday to approve a trade deal between the European Union and the United States but with amendments added to protect European interests should the U.S. fail to hold up its end of the bargain.

Average US long-term mortgage rate leaps to 6.38%, highest in 6 months

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level in more than six months, driving up borrowing costs during what’s typically the busiest time of the year for prospective homebuyers.

Trump insists Iran is 'begging to make a deal' after dismissing ceasefire plan

A day after Tehran dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s 15-point ceasefire plan, the American leader claimed that Iran was “begging to make a deal,” and that he wasn’t the one pushing for negotiations. Earlier Thursday, Trump told Tehran to ” get serious soon ” on negotiating a deal to end the war.

Lebanese fear another occupation as Israel threatens to use Gaza tactics

BEIRUT (AP) – As Israel trades fire with Hezbollah, calls for mass evacuations and sends ground troops deeper into Lebanon, its leaders have hinted at a long-term occupation modeled on the devastating conquest of much of Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

Iran and US posaitions harden as Tehran tightens grip on Strait of Hormuz

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Iran and the United States appeared at an impasse Thursday, with each side hardening its position over talks and setting the stage for another potential escalation in the Middle East war. Thousands more U.S. troops neared the region, Israel sent more troops into southern Lebanon to fight the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, and Tehran tightened its grip on the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Long before he became Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf went on a charm offensive for almost two decades, portraying himself as a hard-liner the West could do business with in the Islamic Republic. “I would like the West to change its attitude to Iran and trust Iran.”