Times of Malta: independent news, sport, opinion, top stories, jobs, reviews, obituary listings and classifieds from Malta's top newspaper and website. https://timesofmalta.com/news/world https://cdn-assets.timesofmalta.com/logos/RSS_logo.png https://timesofmalta.com/news/world en-gb Copyright 2026 Times of Malta. All rights reserved. Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:36:06 +0200 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:36:06 +0200 2026-04-15T06:36:06Z en-gb Copyright 2026 Times of Malta. All rights reserved. https://timesofmalta.com/article/trump-says-iran-talks-resume-israel-lebanon-open-direct-track.1126932 https://timesofmalta.com/article/trump-says-iran-talks-resume-israel-lebanon-open-direct-track.1126932 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:00 +0200 AFP War USA Iran Lebanon Israel World Iran War A woman walks past an anti-US mural near the former US embassy in Tehran. Photo: AFP Earlier talks with Tehran in Pakistan failed to produce a breakthrough President Donald Trump said US-Iran peace talks could resume this week, while Israel and Lebanon agreed to launch direct negotiations, signalling movement on two key fronts in efforts to ease the Middle East conflict.The parallel diplomatic openings come even as violence persisted, underscoring both the fragility of the process and Washington's push to stabilise a... https://timesofmalta.com/article/israeli-envoy-says-on-side-lebanon-talks-us.1126931 https://timesofmalta.com/article/israeli-envoy-says-on-side-lebanon-talks-us.1126931 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 21:25:00 +0200 AFP Lebanon Israel World US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) speaks during a meeting with Lebanon's Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad (2R) and Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter (2L) at the State Department in Washington. 'We enjoyed it together. We had a wonderful exchange of over two hours,' - Israeli Ambassador Direct talks between Israel and Lebanon concluded in Washington on Tuesday, with Israel's envoy hailing a "wonderful exchange" and saying the two countries are "on the same side" in opposing Iran-backed Hezbollah."We enjoyed it together. We had a wonderful exchange of over two hours," Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter told reporters following the talks."We discovered today... https://timesofmalta.com/article/direct-israellebanon-peace-talks-historic-opportunity-rubio.1126930 https://timesofmalta.com/article/direct-israellebanon-peace-talks-historic-opportunity-rubio.1126930 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:33:00 +0200 AFP Lebanon Israel World US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) speaks during the opening of the ambassadorial meeting. AFP First direct talks in decades get underway in Washington US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Tuesday for Israel and Lebanon to seize a "historic opportunity" for peace as the first direct talks in decades between the two countries got underway in Washington."This is a historic opportunity. We understand we're working against decades of history and the complexities that have led us to this... https://timesofmalta.com/article/trump-says-italy-meloni-lacks-courage-iran-war.1126920 https://timesofmalta.com/article/trump-says-italy-meloni-lacks-courage-iran-war.1126920 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:38:00 +0200 AFP Italy Donald Trump World Iran War Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a meeting with Donald Trump at Sharm el-Sheikh in October last year. AFP Meloni has been one of Trump's closest allies in Europe US President Donald Trump criticised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her unwillingness to help in the Iran war, in an interview published Tuesday."I'm shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong," he said of his political ally in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera.Meloni, Italy's far-right leader since... https://timesofmalta.com/article/eu-fears-jet-fuel-supply-issues-near-future.1126913 https://timesofmalta.com/article/eu-fears-jet-fuel-supply-issues-near-future.1126913 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:14:00 +0200 AFP Aviation European Union World Iran War An aircraft at Malta International Airport as the EU warns of a shortage in jet fuel. File photo: Times of Malta Airports lobby has warned EU of risk of "systemic" jet fuel shortages if maritime traffic is not restored The European Commission said Tuesday it fears Europe could face jet fuel supply issues "in the near future" with no end in sight to the Iran war roiling global energy markets."There is no evidence for fuel shortages in the European Union at present, but supply issues could occur in the near future in particular for... https://timesofmalta.com/article/turkey-school-shooting-wounds-16-attacker-dead-showdown-police.1126904 https://timesofmalta.com/article/turkey-school-shooting-wounds-16-attacker-dead-showdown-police.1126904 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:42:00 +0200 AFP Turkey World An injured student is evacuated as special force security surround the school in southeastern Turkey. Photo: HANDOUT / DHA (DEMIROREN NEWS AGENCY) / AFP. Television footage showed ambulances outside the school in the Siverek district as students fled in panic An ex-student opened fire at his former high school Tuesday in Turkey, wounding 16 people, including students, before killing himself in a showdown with police, officials said.Special security forces were deployed to the school in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa, where students were evacuated, the local governor, Hasan Sildak, told reporters.Television footage showed ambulances outside... https://timesofmalta.com/article/lebanon-israel-hold-direct-talks-trump-blockades-iran.1126900 https://timesofmalta.com/article/lebanon-israel-hold-direct-talks-trump-blockades-iran.1126900 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:44:00 +0200 AFP Diplomacy Lebanon Israel World Iran War Smoke rises above the Lebanese city of Tyre on Tuesday as Lebanon and Israel announce peace talks. Photo: KAWNAT HAJU / AFP. The talks are due to take place in Washington Lebanese and Israeli representatives were set to meet Tuesday in Washington for their first direct talks in decades, but Hezbollah's opposition to the US-mediated negotiations signalled little prospect of an agreement to stop fighting.The United States is pressing for a halt to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, fearing that it could derail a two-week... https://timesofmalta.com/article/mark-carney-secures-majority-government-canada-sweeping-byelections.1126887 https://timesofmalta.com/article/mark-carney-secures-majority-government-canada-sweeping-byelections.1126887 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:32:00 +0200 AFP Canada World Mark Carney's Liberals have secured a majority in Canada’s parliament. Photo: AFP Carney's Liberals will now be able to pass legislation without the support of opposition parties Prime Minister Mark Carney's party secured a majority in Canada's parliament on Monday after winning all three by-election seats up for grabs, boosting his Liberals as they work to bolster a country shaken by threats from the United States.Carney's Liberals won the most seats in elections a year ago, but fell just short of a... https://timesofmalta.com/article/trump-vows-us-sink-iran-boats-challenge-blockade.1126880 https://timesofmalta.com/article/trump-vows-us-sink-iran-boats-challenge-blockade.1126880 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:03:00 +0200 AFP Maritime Iran Donald Trump World Iran War US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iranian ships approaching the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP. The blockade applies to all ships leaving or seeking to dock at Iranian harbours US President Donald Trump warned Monday that any Iranian attack boats that approach the American naval blockade around Iran's ports would be destroyed, despite international calls for a ceasefire to be respected and negotiations to resume.The US military said the blockade, which took effect at 2pm GMT, applied to all ships leaving or seeking to... https://timesofmalta.com/article/hezbollah-leader-asks-lebanon-cancel-tuesday-meeting-israel.1126879 https://timesofmalta.com/article/hezbollah-leader-asks-lebanon-cancel-tuesday-meeting-israel.1126879 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:48:00 +0200 AFP Lebanon Israel World First responders gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighbourhood in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Roummane. Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than a million Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Monday urged Lebanon to cancel a planned meeting with Israel in Washington the following day, reiterating his group's rejection of direct negotiations with its foe."We reject negotiations with the usurping Israeli entity... We call for a historic and heroic stance by cancelling this negotiating meeting," Qassem, whose Iran-backed group has... https://timesofmalta.com/article/mcdonald-iran-jesus-pope-trump-bizarre-press-conference.1126878 https://timesofmalta.com/article/mcdonald-iran-jesus-pope-trump-bizarre-press-conference.1126878 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:07:00 +0200 AFP Religion Donald Trump World US President Donald Trump speaks with a Doordash delivery worker after she delivered McDonald's at the Oval Office at the White House. Trump deletes Jesus post of himself after outcry  If the McDonald's delivery to the Oval Office on Monday wasn't extraordinary enough, President Donald Trump's press conference on Iran, the pope and Jesus certainly was.The 79-year-old, a well-known fast food fan, emerged from the heart of the White House to take possession of two bags of burgers from a DoorDash employee."I have a DoorDash... https://timesofmalta.com/article/proeu-magyar-vows-new-era-hungary-ousting-orban-vote.1126869 https://timesofmalta.com/article/proeu-magyar-vows-new-era-hungary-ousting-orban-vote.1126869 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:54:00 +0200 AFP European Union Hungary World Peter Magyar, election winner and leader of the pro-European conservative TISZA party. Photo: AFP Hungarians handed Magyar, a conservative former government insider, a decisive victory. Hungarian prime minister-elect Peter Magyar pledged on Monday to usher in a "new era" after defeating nationalist leader Viktor Orban in elections seen as a blow to hard-right populism.Orban, a self-described "thorn" in the European Union's side who was backed by US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, was ousted in Sunday's ballot... https://timesofmalta.com/article/lufthansa-pilots-strike-standoff-deepens-pay.1126864 https://timesofmalta.com/article/lufthansa-pilots-strike-standoff-deepens-pay.1126864 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:54:00 +0200 AFP Germany World Lufthansa pilots have gone out on strike. AFP. Half of all long-distance flights and two-thirds of short-haul services were cancelled on Monday Hundreds of Lufthansa flights were cancelled Monday as pilots kicked off a strike over pay and pensions, the latest walkout at the German aviation giant this year.Half of all long-distance flights and two-thirds of short-haul services were cancelled at Lufthansa, the group's main airline, on the first day of the two-day industrial action, the company... https://timesofmalta.com/article/britney-spears-checks-rehab-driving-influence-arrest.1126860 https://timesofmalta.com/article/britney-spears-checks-rehab-driving-influence-arrest.1126860 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:03:00 +0200 AFP USA Entertainment World Britney Spears had phenomenal early music success in the late 1990. File photo: Shutterstock The US pop star is scheduled to appear in court next month over the DUI US pop superstar Britney Spears has checked herself into rehab following her arrest last month on suspicion of driving while intoxicated near Los Angeles, US media reported on Sunday.The 44-year-old singer was arrested in early March and booked into custody by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department on suspicion of DUI.She was released soon after, and... https://timesofmalta.com/article/charles-scicluna-slams-trump-unrestrained-attack-pope.1126845 https://timesofmalta.com/article/charles-scicluna-slams-trump-unrestrained-attack-pope.1126845 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:10:00 +0200 Times of Malta AFP War USA Church National World Pope Archbishop Scicluna (left) has slammed Donald Trump's (right) 'attack' on Pope Leo. File photo: Vatican. Right: An image posted by Donald Trump on his Truth Social account. Archbishop expresses concern with US ambassador to Malta Updated 2pmArchbishop Charles Scicluna has expressed concern with the US Ambassador to Malta over Donald Trump's "unrestrained and unjustifiable" attack on Pope Leo for his plea for peace.The US president told reporters on Sunday he was "not a big fan of Pope Leo", describing the Pontiff as "a very liberal person".Trump went on to say... https://timesofmalta.com/article/europe-reacted-hungarian-leader-orban-electoral-defeat.1126839 https://timesofmalta.com/article/europe-reacted-hungarian-leader-orban-electoral-defeat.1126839 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:20:00 +0200 Times of Malta AFP Elections European Union Politics Hungary World Supporters of the pro-European conservative TISZA party celebrate during the election night on the banks of the river Danube. Photo: AFP Robert Abela said Malta looks forward to advancing shared European priorities Viktor Orban, who has ruled Hungary as a self-described "thorn" in the European Union's side for 16 years, conceded defeat to conservative Peter Magyar in the country's parliamentary elections on Sunday.Here are the main reactions from Europe.France"France welcomes this victory for democratic participation, for the Hungarian people's commitment to the values of the European Union,... https://timesofmalta.com/article/ukraine-war-easter-truce-expires-sides-accuse-violations.1126840 https://timesofmalta.com/article/ukraine-war-easter-truce-expires-sides-accuse-violations.1126840 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:02:00 +0200 AFP World Ukraine invasion An Orthodox believer sets a candle during Easter service in Saint Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv on Sunday. Photo: AFP Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to observe a 32-hour ceasefire Ukraine and Russia renewed overnight drone strikes on Monday, after the end of a 32-hour Orthodox Easter truce marred by accusations of mass violations, both countries said.The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched 98 drones, adding that its air defence units had downed 87 of them.An infrastructure facility was hit in the central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk... https://timesofmalta.com/article/new-york-new-mayor-touts-socialist-plans-100-days.1126838 https://timesofmalta.com/article/new-york-new-mayor-touts-socialist-plans-100-days.1126838 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:20:00 +0200 AFP Politics USA World Zohran Mamdani speaks during his 100 Day Address. Photo: AFP Mamdani has promised city-run grocery stores and free childcare for young children New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked his 100th day in office on Sunday with a rally to tout early successes and vow to follow through on his unabashedly "socialist" agenda."I know there are many who use 'socialist' as a dirty word, something to be ashamed of," the 34-year-old told a packed room in Queens."They can... https://timesofmalta.com/article/oil-surges-stocks-fall-trump-says-blockade-strait-hormuz.1126835 https://timesofmalta.com/article/oil-surges-stocks-fall-trump-says-blockade-strait-hormuz.1126835 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:30:00 +0200 AFP Energy Trade USA Donald Trump World Oil prices tumbled last week after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire but jumped around eight per cent on Monday. File photo: AFP Trump said his goal was to clear the strait of mines and reopen it to all shipping Oil prices surged, and stocks sank on Monday after US-Iran peace talks fell apart and Donald Trump announced a blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, adding to fears of energy supplies from the Middle East.Negotiations in Islamabad at the weekend fell apart with the US delegation - led by Vice President JD Vance -... https://timesofmalta.com/article/trump-says-not-big-fan-pope-leo-antiwar-message.1126834 https://timesofmalta.com/article/trump-says-not-big-fan-pope-leo-antiwar-message.1126834 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:30:00 +0200 AFP War USA Donald Trump Church World Pope The American pope (left) has publicly implored leaders to end the violence. Right: Donald Trump. File photos: AFP US president uploads image of himself as Christ-like figure healing the sick US President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that he is "not a big fan" of Pope Leo XIV, after the global leader of Catholics made a plea for peace."I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo. He's a very liberal person, and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime," Trump told reporters at...