The ruling emir of Qatar, whose nation has played a pivotal role in Afghanistan in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal, urged world leaders gathered at the United Nations on Tuesday against turning their backs on the country's Taliban rulers.

Speaking from the podium of the U.N. General Assembly, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani stressed "the necessity of continuing dialogue with Taliban because boycott only leads to polarization and reactions, whereas dialogue could bring in positive results."

Iran's new president slammed U.S. sanctions imposed on his nation as a mechanism of war, using his first U.N address since his swearing-in to forcefully call out Washington's policies in the region and the growing political schism within America.

President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday delivered a far more critical and blunt take on American foreign policy than his moderate predecessor, Hassan Rouhani, had done in previous speeches to the U.N. General Assembly. Raisi, who was sworn in last month after an election, is a conservative cleric and former judiciary chief seen as close to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Libyan lawmakers on Tuesday passed a vote of no confidence in the country's transitional government, an official said, a move that throws long-waited elections late this year into further uncertainty.

The vote took place in the parliament's headquarters in the eastern city of Tobruk, said Abdullah Ablaihig, a spokesman for the legislature.

COVID-19 has now killed about as many Americans as the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic did — approximately 675,000.

The U.S. population a century ago was just one-third of what it is today, meaning the flu cut a much bigger, more lethal swath through the country. But the COVID-19 crisis is by any measure a colossal tragedy in its own right, especially given the incredible advances in scientific knowledge since then and the failure to take maximum advantage of the vaccines available this time.

Johnson & Johnson released data showing that a booster dose to its one-shot coronavirus vaccine provides a strong immune response months after people receive a first dose.

J&J said in a statement Tuesday that it ran two early studies in people previously given its vaccine and found that a second dose produced an increased antibody response in adults from age 18 to 55. The study's results haven't yet been peer-reviewed.

It was a United Nations speech that got attention like few others — a plug for vaccines, young people and the earth's well being from superstar K-pop band BTS.

Addressing the stage for a sustainability event, the seven-member musical juggernaut appeared before the renowned green-marbled backdrop in the General Assembly hall on Monday to help promote U.N. goals for 2030 including ending extreme poverty, preserving the planet and achieving gender equality.

Less than a week after a demoralizing loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Barcelona faltered at Camp Nou again, being held by winless Granada 1-1 in the Spanish league on Monday.

Barcelona needed a 90th-minute equalizer by defender Ronald Araújo, sparking jeers by many in the crowd of nearly 27,000.

Four men. Four touches. One exquisite goal.

Napoli executed a set-piece to perfection for its second goal in a 4-0 win at Udinese on Monday that extended the team's perfect start to Serie A.

Although Marseille's motto of "Straight to Goal" is an ode to attacking soccer, there has always been a rich tradition of great defenders at the nine-time French champions.

After all, it was a defender — Basile Boli — who scored the only goal in the 1993 Champions League final against AC Milan to give Marseille its sole European title. And the likes of Carlos Mozer, Laurent Blanc, Eric Di Meco and Gabriel Heinze have all contributed to writing brilliant chapters of the club's history.

Lionel Messi will miss Paris Saint-Germain's next French league game at last-placed Metz after a knock to his left knee.

A scan confirmed "the signs of bone contusion," PSG said in a statement on Tuesday. Another assessment of Messi will be made in 48 hours.