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Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, held crucial talks with senior US officials in Washington, DC, as tensions escalate in the Gulf region due to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.The meetings, which included US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary Scott Bessent, focused on strengthening the "close strategic cooperation" between Doha and Washington, particularly in defense partnerships given the current regional challenges.Both sides emphasized the importance of ensuring the sustainability of energy supplies and maintaining the flow of liquefied natural gas from Qatar to global markets, supporting global energy security.Vance praised Qatar's active role in promoting regional stability and enhancing global energy security, highlighting the robust strategic partnership between the two nations.The Gulf region has been under heightened tension since February 28, when the US-Israeli war on Iran began, resulting in over 3,000 deaths across the region, mostly in Iran and Lebanon.Iran has since launched drone and missile attacks on Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states, prompting regional leaders to urge Iran to cease these attacks to protect civilians.Earlier this month, Qatar reported that Iranian missile attacks on the Ras Laffan Industrial City, the country's main gas facility, caused "significant damage."The conflict has led to an unprecedented global energy crisis as Iran has effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes.On Thursday, Sheikh Mohammed also met with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Washington, focusing on developing defense and security collaboration amid regional challenges.The Qatari Cabinet has condemned Iranian attacks on Qatar and its neighbors, calling for an immediate halt to these actions.

The Houthis, allied with Iran, have stated they are prepared to intervene militarily if new alliances join the US and Israel against Iran or if the Red Sea is used for hostile operations. The group's military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, made the announcement in a televised speech on Friday.Saree emphasized that their 'fingers are on the trigger for direct military intervention' under these conditions. The warning heightens the risk of a broader regional conflict, especially considering the Houthis' capability to strike targets far beyond Yemen and disrupt shipping lanes in the Arabian Peninsula.The Houthis have controlled Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and much of the northwest since 2014. Following Israel's actions in Gaza, the Houthis have targeted vessels in the Red Sea and carried out drone and missile attacks on Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians.In response to escalating tensions, Saree also called for an immediate halt to US and Israeli attacks on Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq. The Houthis have previously agreed to a truce with the US, which included a commitment to cease attacks on US shipping in the Red Sea.

In a recent development, human rights groups in Canada have strongly criticized the newly passed Bill C-12, which they claim will significantly undermine refugee and migrant rights in the country.The bill, which became law on Thursday, has been condemned by over two dozen organizations, including Amnesty International Canada, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and the Canadian Council for Refugees. These groups argue that the legislation will put thousands of individuals at risk of persecution, violence, and precarity.Key concerns about Bill C-12 include a new rule that will bar asylum seekers from getting a full hearing at an independent tribunal if they make their applications more than one year after entering Canada. Instead, they will have access to a pre-removal risk assessment, which rights groups say offers fewer protections.The bill also grants the government the power to cancel immigration documents, including permanent or temporary resident visas, and work or study permits, if it deems it in the “public interest” to do so. Critics argue that this will lead to mass cancellations of immigration documents and applications.“This government is replicating US-like anti-migrant sentiment and policies in Canada,” the rights groups said in a statement. They also expressed concerns that the bill will facilitate the sharing of personal information within and outside the country.The Canadian government has justified the legislation as part of a wider effort to reduce pressure on a strained immigration system and bolster border security. However, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has warned that Bill C-12 “may weaken refugee protection”.Refugee advocates say they will continue to push back against the legislation, citing concerns that it will fuel anxiety and fear among refugees and migrants. “People are here to work, to get out of [difficult situations],” said Flavia Leiva of the Welcome Collective refugee rights group. “We can’t forget that refugees are people who fled extremely difficult situations and who can’t go home.”

For British runner Josh Kerr, the moment that makes the hairs on his neck tingle every time he watches it is Roger Bannister's historic achievement in 1954 – becoming the first person to break the four-minute mile barrier. Now, Kerr intends to stand on the shoulders of track and field's giants by attempting to break the world mile record himself at the London Diamond League in July."This record needs to be brought home," Kerr declares. "This is a British record. This is a British distance. And so it would be doing a disservice to the UK to not be doing it at home. It's why I can't do it anywhere else."The 28-year-old faces a significant challenge. The world record of 3:43.13 was set by Hicham El-Guerrouj in July 1999, while Kerr's best is a shade over two seconds slower. However, with focused training, a new shoe from sponsor Brooks, the support of his 16-strong entourage and 60,000 fans at the London Stadium, Kerr believes he can break the long-standing record."People [say:] 'The sport needs more rivalries,'" Kerr explains. "I don't agree. I think the sport needs more moments. We need a reason to watch. And so that's where this comes from. This is the time to go after these big moments. I have a big target of what time I want to hit. I think it's going to be pretty special."Kerr's credentials are impeccable. He is a world 1500m champion and an Olympic silver and bronze medalist over the same distance. Last weekend, he further demonstrated his form by winning the world indoor title over 3,000m for a second time."I've been in shape to run the record multiple times over the last couple of years," Kerr states. "And so there's specific key sessions, we will have KPIs [key performance indicators] going into it."To achieve his goal, Kerr plans to focus on running between 55 and 56 seconds pace for each of the four laps. "There's a lot of muscle memory with stuff, and so we'll do a lot of training at pace," he explains. "We're three or four months in deep into the mental training of it. There's a lot going on behind the scenes already. The whole season is towards this."While Kerr has his pacemakers "signed, sealed and delivered," he insists this will be a proper Diamond League race rather than a time trial. "There will be some restrictions," he says coyly when asked about potential rivals. "I'm not scared to race people. I think certain athletes will have obligations elsewhere. But it's not going to be a closed-off race."A crucial factor in Kerr's favor is the quality of his support team. "Danny's the mastermind behind everything," Kerr says of his coach Danny Mackey. "He's my head coach and team leader. Then you've got Julian, who's an assistant coach, and my wife, who helps with everything."The team also includes Kerr's mother as head physio, a "super-manager and assistant" called Nicole, a chiropractor, massage therapist, two strength and conditioning coaches, a performance and mental coach, a nutritionist, a full-time chef, and a videographer and social media assistant. Race agent Ray Flynn and management company Forte complete the 16-strong squad."I have a lot of respect for this record," Kerr concludes. "But I believe that I have the ability and the people around me that will help me get there. This record is one of the most important we have in track and field. The time is now. It's time for that record to be renewed."

The Foreign Press Association (FPA) has strongly condemned a violent assault by Israeli soldiers on a CNN crew in the occupied West Bank. The incident occurred while the crew was reporting on the aftermath of an assault by Israeli settlers and the establishment of an illegal outpost near the Palestinian village of Tayasir.The CNN team, which included photojournalist Cyril Theophilos, was detained by Israeli soldiers who aggressively targeted the crew and Palestinian civilians, pointing their rifles at them despite the journalists identifying themselves. The soldiers attempted to infringe the crew's right to film, ordering them to stop and threatening to confiscate their camera.In a disturbing escalation, an IDF soldier approached Theophilos from behind, placed him in a chokehold, slammed him to the ground, and damaged his camera. The FPA described the incident as a direct attack on press freedom, emphasizing that the use of force was excessive and dangerous.The association has called for an investigation into the incident, asserting that such behavior reflects a deeply alarming pattern of hostility toward the media and cannot be tolerated. The military has announced that the incident will be looked into, with Lt Col Nadav Shoshani stating that the soldiers' conduct does not represent the IDF and that an apology has been made.This incident is the second such event involving CNN this month, following an unprovoked assault on a CNN producer by Israeli police officers during Ramadan, which resulted in a fractured wrist. The ongoing violence in the West Bank and the surge in deadly attacks by Israeli settlers have raised concerns about the safety of journalists and the protection of press freedom in the region.

Manchester United has named their starting lineup for the crucial Women's Super League derby against city rivals Manchester City, with Tullis-Joyce in goal and an attacking lineup featuring Hinata and Schüller. The substitutes include Middleton-Patel, Rendell, George, Anderson, Rolfo, and Drury. Manchester City, currently sitting at the top of the league table, has also announced their team, with Yamashita between the sticks and a formidable attacking lineup featuring Hemp, Miedema, and Shaw. Their bench includes Keating, Combs, Fowler, Kerolin, Ouahabi, and several other options. The match, scheduled for 1:30pm GMT, represents a significant opportunity for both teams in the title race. Manchester City head coach Andree Jeglertz emphasized the unique intensity of derby matches: These games live their own lives. Because a derby in this city is always going to get 100% energised players from both teams at the beginning. It almost doesn't matter what tempo you start as your opponent will be ready. These games aren't determined by 15, 20 minutes. Definitely the longer the game goes, it can be a challenge but it's how the game turns out and what happens. City secured a convincing 3-0 victory in the previous derby in November, with goals from Rebecca Knaak, Khadija Shaw, and Lauren Hemp. Meanwhile, Manchester United is looking to bounce back from a 3-2 first-leg defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. United's head coach, Marc Skinner, acknowledged the challenge posed by the league leaders: City are top of the league for a reason but we will take that challenge on. Once you accept that challenge, you can rise to a new level. This derby comes during a busy period for WSL teams, with multiple high-profile clashes across the league that could significantly impact the title race.

Gulf countries are increasingly concerned about the threat posed by Iran-backed militias and proxy armed groups in the region. These groups, which include Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, have been used by Iran as a pillar of its foreign and security policy for decades.In a joint statement, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan condemned Iranian attacks on their soil, both as strikes carried out directly from Iran and “through their proxies and armed factions they support in the region”. The statement also called on the Iraqi government to take measures to halt attacks launched by factions, militias, and armed groups from Iraqi territory.Kuwait recently foiled a plot to kill state leaders and arrested six suspects believed to be associated with Hezbollah. The Houthis also confirmed they had launched a missile strike on Israel, the first time the proxy group have admitted involvement in the war in the Middle East.The threat of these groups is seen as particularly worrying for countries such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, which have a history of Iran-backed militia carrying out violent attacks. Analysts warn that the presence and danger of Iranian proxy groups in the Gulf had not reached levels anything close to those during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, but the threat remains greater the longer the conflict with Iran drags on.Bilal Saab, a senior managing director of the Trends US thinktank, said: “If this war escalates, the worst-case scenario for the Gulf countries is Iran activating their sleeper cells and these Shia militia movements in the region. We could see a whole lot more if things really escalate.”

A tragic incident has unfolded off the coast of Greece, where 22 people hoping to reach Europe from North Africa have died after six days at sea in a rubber boat. Survivors told the Greek coastguard that the bodies of those who had died were thrown into the Mediterranean Sea.The coastguard reported that 26 people, including a woman and a minor, were rescued by a European border agency vessel off the island of Crete. The survivors included 21 Bangladeshi, four South Sudanese, and one Chadian citizen.According to the coastguard, the boat had left Tobruk, a port city in eastern Libya, on March 21, and was bound for Greece, a common gateway for those seeking asylum in the EU. During the journey, the passengers lost their bearings and remained at sea for six days without food or water.The Greek authorities have arrested two South Sudanese men, aged 19 and 22, believed to be the smugglers, and are investigating them for "illegal entry into the country" and "negligent homicide".This incident highlights the ongoing Mediterranean migrant crisis, with the number of people who have died trying to reach European soil more than doubling in the first two months of 2026 compared to the same period last year. According to the International Organization for Migration, 559 people died in the Mediterranean during January and February, compared to 287 for the same period last year.

Iran's regime has organised over 850 public demonstrations in support of the government since the beginning of the war, showcasing its resilience amid a month-long campaign of intensive airstrikes by the US and Israel. The high number of pro-regime gatherings and the increasing number of detentions underline the regime's determination to maintain control.The war began with a surprise Israeli strike that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, and many senior officials. Despite this, the regime has not fragmented, and there are no defections. Experts say the messaging within Iran is that they are winning, and this is constant and consistent.Clionadh Raleigh, president of Acled, an independent conflict monitor, noted that the US-Israeli decapitation strategy could not have been more successful, but the regime has adapted. The Acled research also shows that the number of US and Israeli strikes on Iran has remained steady at between 47 and 102 attacks daily that have caused significant civilian casualties.Tehran's retaliation has been largely ineffective, causing only 70 fatalities during the war, compared with 1,157 killed inside Iran, of whom 341 have been identified as civilians. The researchers noted that 99.2% of protests were pro-regime, indicating a coordinated effort to show nationalist consolidation under external attack.The arrest campaign is the regime's primary domestic tool, with approximately 1,465-plus detained in 27 days. Charges escalated from 'filming damage' to 'espionage' and 'mercenary' as the conflict progressed. Details of such repression are difficult to obtain, but recent incidents include the deaths of 10 people when Revolutionary Guards fired on anti-regime demonstrators and shot at apartment windows in Tehran on 25 March.Estimates of civilian casualties vary, with over 1,900 people killed and at least 20,000 injured in Iran since the start of US and Israeli attacks, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The US-based Human Rights Activists news agency (HRANA) said 3,300 people had been killed since the war began, including 1,464 civilians and at least 217 children.