Helsingborg [Sweden], May 22 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that he engaged in consultations with NATO allies regarding potential contingencies associated with restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Palestine welcomes pressure by nine counties on Israel over illegal settlements Palestine has welcomed international moves against Israel’s illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian presidency said a statement by nine countries condemning Israel’s plans to expand settlements was “an important step in the right direction”. The response came as lawmakers in the Netherlands backed a government measure to ban the import and sale of products from illegal Israeli settlements.
Tulsi Gabbard's resignation as director of national intelligence, removes sidelined Iran war sceptic Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 05/22/2026 - 19:26 The former Democratic congresswoman and presidential candidate said she was resigning due to her husband's rare bone cancer Tulsi Gabbard speaks at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority' conference in Washington, DC, on 21 June 2024 (Anna Moneymaker/Getty images via AFP) Off Tulsi Gabbard is set to resign in June as US director of national intelligence, citing her husband’s diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer, according to a letter she shared on Friday on X. "I am deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence,” Gabbard wrote in a letter addressed to US President Donald Trump. “My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.
Tulsi Gabbard resigns as US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard is stepping down as the US director of national intelligence, according to a letter she shared on Friday on X. In her resignation letter, addressed to US President Donald Trump, Gabbard said she is “deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me” and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the past year and a half. “Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026,” she wrote, saying her husband, Abraham, has been diagnosed with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer.
Iran says Pakistani mediation marks ‘turning point’ in US talks Iran says intense diplomatic activity in Tehran could mark a decisive stage in efforts to reach a peace agreement with the United States. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the presence of senior Pakistani officials in the Iranian capital signals a critical moment in the talks. “The current process and the presence of senior Pakistani officials in Tehran means that we have reached a turning point or a decisive situation,” Baghaei said.
Washington DC [US], May 22 (ANI): Kevin Warsh was sworn in as the Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Board of Governors on Friday during a ceremony at the White House, with President Donald Trump expressing confidence in his leadership and calling him one of the best-qualified individuals to lead the US central bank.
Iran says US talks remain far from deal as gaps stay ‘deep and significant’ Iran says negotiations with the US are far from a breakthrough, with major gaps still separating the two sides. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said state media reports that talks are not “close” to producing an agreement and that it remains difficult to judge whether a deal could emerge “over weeks or months”. He said the differences between Tehran and Washington remain “deep and significant”.
Qatari delegation holds talks in Tehran as Pakistan mediates Iran negotiations Iran says a Qatari delegation is holding talks in Tehran as diplomatic efforts continue around negotiations involving Iran. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Friday that the Qatari team was meeting Iran’s foreign minister. He added that Pakistan remains the main mediator in the talks, signalling Islamabad’s central role in efforts to keep negotiations moving.
Tehran [Iran], May 22 (ANI): Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Friday appointed the spokesperson in Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baqaei, as the official spokesperson of the Iranian negotiating team for peace talks with the US aimed at achieving a complete solution to the crisis in West Asia.
New Delhi [India], May 22 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met participants of the BRICS Young Diplomats Forum and Heads of Diplomatic Academies in the national capital, engaging in discussions on key priorities of the grouping based on this year's theme of 'resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability' under the chairship of India.
Helsingborg [Sweden], May 22 (ANI): In an unexpected policy shift, US President Donald Trump has promised North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) partners to deploy an additional 5,000 personnel to Poland. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned alliance ministers that Washington's 'disappointment' with certain members remains an unresolved issue that demands future deliberation.
The director of national intelligence had been leading an investigation into US-funded biolabs in Ukraine US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has announced her resignation, citing her husband's recent diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer, Fox News reported on Friday. Her resignation comes a week after she revealed she was investigating US-funded biolabs in Ukraine.
The director of national intelligence had been leading an investigation into US-funded biolabs in Ukraine US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has announced her resignation, citing her husband's recent diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer. Her resignation came a week after she revealed she was investigating US-funded biolabs in Ukraine.
Pakistan army chief arrives in Tehran for US-Iran mediation push Pakistan’s military says army chief Asim Munir has arrived in Tehran as Islamabad continues efforts to mediate between the US and Iran. Iran’s ISNA news agency also reported Munir’s arrival on Friday. The visit comes as diplomatic activity intensifies around efforts to ease tensions and secure progress in talks between Washington and Tehran.
Islamabad [Pakistan], May 22 (ANI): Pakistan's Army Chief, Asim Munir, departed for Tehran on Friday amid expectations of a possible announcement of an agreement between Iran and the United States aimed at ending months of deadlock and tensions in West Asia that had repercussions across the world, according to a report by Iran's state-run IRNA news agency.
Secretary of state suggests July meeting of alliance will be fraught as US demands help in strait of Hormuz Europe live – latest updates Donald Trump is disappointed that Nato allies refused to become more actively involved in attacking Iran, the US secretary of state has said, setting up what could become a fraught summit of the alliance in July. Marco Rubio, meeting with foreign ministers of the military alliance, emphasised that he expected the rift would be discussed at the July meeting in Ankara, making the summit “one of the more important” in Nato’s 77-year history. Continue reading...
Trump and Netanyahu clash over Iran talks, AP reports US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a “dramatic” phone call last Tuesday over negotiations with Iran, according to an official cited by the Associated Press. The official, who spoke anonymously, said Israel is furious over Trump’s push to secure an agreement with Tehran. The White House declined to comment on the substance or tone of the call, AP reported.
UK minister praises Israel's 'commitment to robust democratic governance' after flotilla row Submitted by Imran Mulla on Fri, 05/22/2026 - 15:01 Dan Jarvis made the comments at an event celebrating Israel's 78th independence day on the day of Itamar Ben Gvir's flotilla abuse video Dan Jarvis addressing the House of Commons in London in November 2025 (AFP) Off The UK 's security minister has paid tribute to the country's "deep rooted" relationship with Israel and hailed the "commitment to robust democratic governance, rule of law, and judicial independence" that he believes both nations share. Dan Jarvis's remarks came at a celebration of Israel's 78th independence day. The event, also attended by Prime Minister Keir Starmer's parliamentary private secretary, was held on Wednesday just after video footage showing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir taunting activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla went viral online .
The island said it was unaware of any changes to military sales after a senior US official said they had been put on hold The Taiwanese government has said it was unaware of any "adjustments" to US arms sales after a senior US official said they had been put on hold over the attack on Iran and Washington's effort to replenish domestic stockpiles.
US Secretary of State Rubio indicates "slight progress" in talks with Iran US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that "slight progress" had been made in talks with Iran, according to AP news. He added that there had been "a little bit of movement" in ongoing conversations. The remarks come as the Secretary is poised to meet with other NATO foreign ministers in Sweden to discuss the policing of the Strait of Hormuz, AP reported.
