Latest Middle East News & Updates

New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio held a meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval here on Sunday, with talks focused on defence, security and strategic technology-related cooperation, including the TRUST initiative. “US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Mr. Marco Rubio met NSA Shri Ajit Doval today. The discussions focused on defence, security and strategic technology related cooperation including the TRUST initiative…

Islamabad, May 23 (IANS) The illegal organ trade in Pakistan, driven by the economic vulnerability of victim “donors” and the greed of both recipients and the doctors involved, continues to present significant challenges as people from the poorest sections of the society continue to “act as spare parts for the rich”. As Pakistan grapples with a persistent illegal organ trade, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) recently raided a prominent private hospital in Islamabad, arresting nine people, …

Washington, May 24 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has said that Washington and Tehran were close to finalising a broad peace agreement after a series of calls with leaders from the Middle East and South Asia, including Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir and leaders of Gulf nations. In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said an agreement had been “largely negotiated” between the United States, Iran and several regional countries, with only final details left to be completed.”I am i…

Washington/New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, emphasised that the United States will not let Iran hold the global energy market hostage and affirmed that US energy products have the potential to diversify India’s energy supply, the US State Department has detailed. “The Secretary and Prime Minister discussed the current situation in the Middle East. The Secretary emphasised that the United S…

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) China’s restrained approach to uplift its slowing economy “reflects concerns over local government debt burdens and the decreasing effectiveness of large-scale stimulus measures,” a report has said.Hence, the report from Geopolitical Futures said expectations for China’s medium-term growth outlook have become more cautious, and with a rapid rebound seeming increasingly unlikely.China’s economy will remain difficult to keep in balance due to pressures from weak domest…

Moscow, May 23 (IANS) The recent BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi held under India’s 2026 chairship showed that the bloc has navigated the intense geopolitical turbulence, successfully insulating its core agenda from the escalating tensions of the Gulf War. According to a report in the think tank Politeia Research Foundation (PRF), although the forum has weathered the crisis, the real challenges lie ahead, making “quiet and smart diplomacy” essential for the Delhi summit’s success…

United Nations, May 23 (IANS) Millions of people across Nigeria are bracing for one of the worst lean seasons on record amid conflict, violence and insecurity, UN humanitarians have said. In a news release on Friday (Local time), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that economic pressures and unprecedented funding constraints are pushing Nigerian families to the brink.The UN Humanitarian Country Team in Nigeria reported that nearly one in seven people, or 35 mi…

Washington, May 23 (IANS) The Trump administration is preparing for a fresh round of military strikes against Iran despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, US media reported, citing sources with direct knowledge of the planning. No final decision had been made as of Friday afternoon (local time), reports Xinhua news agency, quoting CBS News. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran was seeking negotiations after recent US military actions, saying Tehran’s military capabilities had bee…

Washington, May 23 (IANS) US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran was seeking negotiations after recent US military actions, saying Tehran’s military capabilities had been severely weakened and insisting the country “will never have a nuclear weapon”.Addressing a rally in New York’s Rockland County, Trump said the US military had inflicted major damage on Iran and warned that Washington would not allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.“Now, Iran, their Navy’s gone, their air force…

Stockholm, May 22 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Iran imposing tolls for transit in the Strait of Hormuz is “simply unacceptable” and “cannot happen”. If this were to occur in the Strait of Hormuz, he said during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Sweden’s Helsingborg, then it would also happen in five other places around the world.”Why shouldn’t countries around the world say ‘we want to do that too?’ Not to mention how vital and crucial that Strait is for ever…