During his stay, Iranian minister is scheduled to hold separate meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Archiv: somehow not that bad news
Major parts of agreement to end war finalized despite US contradictions, aggression: FM spox
In an interview on Thursday evening, Esmaeil Baghaei rejected media speculations regarding an agreement and reaffirmed Iran’s resolute and principled stance.
“Textually, the text has almost been finalized in its major parts. The problem is that the contradictory positions of the United States have always caused turbulence and disruption in this process,” Baghaei stated.
He emphasized that the Islamic Republic entered the diplomatic process with goodwill and full responsibility, while American officials have repeatedly shifted positions, raised unrealistic new demands, and even carried out military attacks during the negotiations.
JAF says Iran targets Jordan with 5 missiles, all intercepted
AMMAN — The Jordan Armed Forces–Arab Army (JAF) on Wednesday said that air defence systems had intercepted and shot down five missiles launched from Iran towards Jordanian airspace.
The army added that no injuries or material damage were reported.
JAF stressed that it remains at the highest level of operational readiness to protect Jordan’s airspace and safeguard the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also reaffirmed that Jordan will not allow any violation of its airspace by any party.
The Real Reason Mike Johnson Sent Congress Home Early
(May 21, 2026)
House Republican leaders yanked a planned vote to restrict President Trump’s ability to conduct military strikes against Iran, after it became clear that the resolution, forced to the floor by Democrats, would likely pass.
“You don’t have the votes!” Democrats shouted in a heated moment on the House floor, when Republicans moved to delay the vote until after lawmakers return from a weeklong Memorial Day recess.
Iran offers to move uranium abroad but rejects dismantling nuclear sites: Report
The report said Tehran would hand over nuclear material to a third country, provided it receives guarantees that the stockpile would be returned if talks collapse or if Washington withdraws from any agreement.
Iran also signalled it could gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic in parallel with a lifting of the US maritime blockade, with nuclear issues to be negotiated over a 30-day period.
According to the report, Tehran is prepared to suspend uranium enrichment for a limited time, though for a shorter duration than the 20 years sought by Washington.
The Race for Congress: Latest 2026 Polls
Recent polling on the congressional generic ballot shows Democrats with a modest advantage. The party out of power typically gains ground in midterm elections, and these early surveys suggest this may be taking shape ahead of 2026. Democrats lead in the vast majority of recent polls, though by single-digit margins. However, with redistricting efforts underway in several states, the national vote share that Democrats need to retake the House will depend on the extent of these changes.
Nine US Aircraft arrive in Pakistan ahead of JD Vance visit to Islamabad
Source said nine US government aircraft of US Air Mobility Command, operating under “RCH” (Reach) callsigns, have landed at PAF Base Nur Khan, carrying high-level logistics support equipment.
The aircraft convoy is reported to be transporting a range of mission-critical assets, including White House communications systems, Presidential motorcade vehicles and transport units, and Additional operational and support equipment.
Most of flights originated from Joint Base Andrews in the US, a key base used for executive and government transport operations. Several aircraft were also routed through Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where some cargo transfers and aircraft swaps reportedly took place before continuing toward Pakistan.
US Senate foils effort to nix Israel arms sales, but record 85% of Democrats support the move
(April 16, 2026)
Sanders’ resolutions to stop bulldozer, bomb deliveries gain unprecedented Democratic support, demonstrating major shift in party’s approach toward Israel over wars in Gaza, Lebanon
Fact Check: Trump Not Coming to Pakistan as US-Iran Talks 2.0 Slated This Week
ISLAMABAD – Officials from Pakistan and Iran said US and Iranian negotiating teams could return to Islamabad within the next few days, or possibly early next week, to continue efforts aimed at easing tensions and preventing further escalation in the Gulf while the exact timing has not yet been finalized.
Ahead of the high-profile visit, there were rumours about Trump leading delegation coming to Pakistan. Pakistani officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar have denied rumors that Trump would travel to Pakistan in connection with the talks.
PM Shehbaz, CDF Asim Munir hold key meeting ahead of US-Iran talks in Islamabad
The US-Iran negotiations are set to begin in Islamabad on April 10. Iran’s delegation will be led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, while the US team will include Vice President JD Vance, advisor Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, confirmed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Munir review US-Iran peace efforts
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reviewed peace efforts before US-Iran talks in Islamabad. The meeting matters as Pakistan mediates rising regional tensions through diplomacy. Regional stakeholders, including the United States, Iran, and neighboring countries, are directly affected by these developments.
Macron warns of renewed friction with U.S., urges E.U. to use ‚Greenland moment‘ to push reforms
“World markets are increasingly wary of the U.S. dollar. They’re looking at alternatives. Let’s offer them European debt,” Macron said, adding that Europe’s democratic institutions were a major asset for investors at a time when the U.S. was “drifting away from the rule of law.”
The E.U. used joint debt in 2020 to re-boot the European economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, but French attempts to make such tools permanent have faced stiff resistance from Germany and other more frugal northern member states.
Chris Mason: Labour sticks with Starmer for now but this is not over
If Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar‘s desire to dislodge Sir Keir Starmer had had public accomplices, that could have been it.
There was a crucial pivot point on Monday afternoon when things could have gone in one of two ways.
If others had said Sir Keir should go, he might not have got to the end of the day without announcing his departure.
But instead, there was a rallying of support from the cabinet and from various wings of the Labour Party.
Justice Department is releasing millions of pages of documents in Epstein investigation
• The Justice Department is releasing more than 3 million pages of files related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein today, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche saying the department has now completed its review of the Epstein files.
• Blanche said the White House had “no oversight” of the review of documents and firmly stated that “we did not protect President Trump.” He said any member of Congress can view unredacted versions at the Department of Justice.
• CNN reporters are going through the documents now, and we will share information here as we learn more. The new tranches of Epstein files have an age verification page.
EU and South America’s Mercosur bloc sign landmark free trade agreement
The European Union and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries formally signed a long-sought landmark free trade agreement on Saturday, capping more than a quarter-century of torturous negotiations to strengthen commercial ties in the face of rising protectionism and trade tensions around the world.
The signing ceremony in Paraguay’s humid capital of Asunción marks a major geopolitical victory for the EU in an age of American tariffs and surging Chinese exports, expanding the bloc’s foothold in a resource-rich region increasingly contested by Washington and Beijing.
Gespräche über Ukraine-Plan: Trump und Selenskyj sprechen von gutem Treffen
US-Präsident Donald Trump und der ukrainische Präsident Wolodymyr Selenskyj haben sich positiv ĂĽber ihre Gespräche in Florida geäuĂźert. Es habe „groĂźe Fortschritte“ gegeben, man sei einem russisch-ukrainischen Abkommen seiner Meinung nach viel näher gekommen, sagte Trump.
Allerdings gebe es noch ein oder zwei schwierige Fragen. Die kommenden Wochen würden zeigen, ob eine Lösung zur Beendigung des Ukraine-Kriegs erreicht werden könne. Selenskyj sagte seinerseits, er habe eine großartige Diskussion mit Trump geführt.
Takeaways from Trump’s meeting with Zelensky in Florida
Emerging after more than three hours of talks, neither man announced any major breakthrough in the grinding effort to end the conflict started by Russia in 2022. Both emphasized the process was complicated and would take more time. And Trump, who spoke by phone earlier in the day with Russian President Vladimir Putin, still offered a relatively sympathetic view of Moscow’s positions.
Yet unlike some previous meetings, Trump praised Zelensky and remained confident that peace was near.
Senate passes $901 billion defense bill that pushes Hegseth for boat strike video
But overall, the bill represents a compromise between the parties. It implements many of Trump‘s executive orders and proposals on eliminating diversity and inclusion efforts in the military and grants emergency military powers at the U.S. border with Mexico. It also enhances congressional oversight of the Department of Defense, repeals several years-old war authorizations and seeks to overhaul how the Pentagon purchases weapons as the U.S. tries to outpace China in developing the next generation of military technology.
Sweeping US defense bill passes, with Ukraine, Venezuela provisions defying Trump
And it has a provision to withhold a chunk of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth‘s travel budget if he does not provide Congress with unedited videos of military strikes on boats in the southern Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The Trump administration has said the strikes are directed at Venezuelan drug-traffickers.
The Senate vote came a day after Trump ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, his latest move to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro‘s government.
It repeals the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMFs) against Iraq, an attempt to reassert Congress‘ role in deciding to send troops into combat.
England and Wales arrest dozens of Palestine Action supporters
Police response to protests against group’s ban remains divided, with Scotland and Northern Ireland making no arrests
US appoints Steven Fagin as ‚civilian lead‘ for Gaza ceasefire oversight body
US State Department said on Friday that Steve Fagin, a career diplomat, will work alongside US Army Lieutenant General Patrick Frank, the military head already appointed to the hub set up after the October 10 ceasefire.
Some 200 US troops were sent to the centre, set up in a rented warehouse, where they work with soldiers from Israel and European countries, representatives of the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, and personnel from the United Nations and aid groups.
Israeli minister says Saudis can ‚keep riding camels‘ if normalisation requires Palestinian state
Speaking on Thursday at a conference organised by the Israeli daily Makor Rishon, Smotrich, who heads the far-right Religious Zionism party, said: „Sovereignty [over the occupied West Bank] is the real test. If Saudi Arabia tells us normalisation in exchange for a Palestinian state, then the answer, my friends, is no thank you – keep riding camels on the desert sands, and we will continue to develop economically and socially, and with all the great things we know how to do.“
Hamas delegation to meet Qatari, Egyptian officials in Cairo
A Hamas delegation is set to meet Qatari and Egyptian officials in Cairo on Monday to discuss the Gaza ceasefire, AFP reported.
The reports said the delegation, headed by Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, will discuss „the dozens of air strikes that killed dozens in the Gaza Strip“ on Sunday.
Egypt expected to lead global stabilisation force in Gaza, say diplomats
A European and US-backed UN security council motion to give a planned international stabilisation force robust powers to control security inside Gaza is being prepared, with the strong expectation that Egypt will lead it, diplomats have said.
The US is pressing for the force to have a UN mandate without being a fully fledged UN peacekeeping force and will operate with the kind of powers given to international troops operating in Haiti to combat armed gangs.
Turkey, Indonesia and Azerbaijan are also being billed alongside Egypt as the main troop contributors.
Pakistan, Indonesia, and Azerbaijan Weigh Joining Gaza Stabilization Force as Trump Team Works To Form Palestinian Technocratic Government
According to US defense sources, the three nations are “top contenders” to supply troops to the proposed International Stabilization Force, though none has yet formally agreed to participate. A Trump adviser named Indonesia and Azerbaijan, along with Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as possible contributors. So far, Indonesia is the only country to publicly offer troops, saying it could deploy 20,000 soldiers under a United Nations (UN)-mandated peacekeeping mission—something not outlined in Trump’s 20-point plan.
The US is also moving to recruit Palestinians for a transitional technocratic government to administer Gaza.
Left-wing Italian opposition parties support plan to deploy stabilisation force to Gaza
Italian opposition parties, including the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and the left-wing Five Star Movement (M5S), have supported the government’s plan to deploy troops to Gaza as part of a peacekeeping mission, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
US advisers say efforts under way for international force in Gaza
The UN Security Council is expected to work on a resolution in the coming weeks that would set up a mandate for the force.
Planning under way for international force in Gaza, say US advisers
Among the countries the U.S. is speaking to about contributing to the force are Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar and Azerbaijan, said the adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity.
(…)
After Hamas killed seven men in Gaza City it accused of collaborating with Israel, the advisers said there were discussions to establish safe zones for civilians to prevent such incidents.
GCC defense ministers order urgent measures after Israeli strike on Qatar
The ministers directed an immediate expansion of intelligence-sharing through the Unified Military Command, integration of regional air operation centers, acceleration of the GCC’s joint early-warning system for ballistic missiles, and the update of collective defense plans.
They also approved joint exercises between air and missile defense centers within three months, to be followed by a live regional air drill.
Hamas calls for UN action as Israel escalates brutal bombardment of Gaza
(September 3, 2025)
Hamas has agreed to ceasefire proposals presented by the mediators, but it has refused to disarm until the Palestinian state is established as part of the so-called two-state solution. Qatar, which has mediated in the conflict, said that Israel has yet to agree to its latest ceasefire proposal, which was accepted by Hamas last month.
WATCH: Microsoft President speaks after pro-Palestinian protesters breached office
Streamed live 18 hours ago #komo #komonews #komo4
HAPPENING NOW: Microsoft is holding a press conference after pro-Palestinian protesters breached Microsoft executives‘ building at the Redmond campus.
A group of current and former Microsoft employees staged a sit-in at the company’s headquarters Tuesday, occupying Building 34, which houses the office of Microsoft President Brad Smith and other executives.
The protest is part of an ongoing series of actions by employees and activists criticizing the company’s business ties to Israel.
Zohran Mamdani Delivers Stunning Blow to ‚Billionaire-Backed Status Quo‘ in NYC
Disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was backed by prominent national Democrats and an unprecedentedly deep-pocketed super PAC funded by billionaires and corporations, conceded defeat after it became clear that Mamdani‘s lead was insurmountable. With 93% of the votes tallied, Mamdani led Cuomo 43.5% to 36.4%.
Mamdani‘s primary win, a stunning upset, is expected to become official after the ranked-choice tally next week. In his victory speech, Mamdani said that his campaign and its supporters „made history.“
„In the words of Nelson Mandela, ‚It always seems impossible until it is done,'“ he added. „My friends, we have done it.“
A New Political Star Emerges Out of a Fractured Democratic Party
That Mr. Mamdani had such success while running on a far-left agenda, including positions that once were politically risky in New York — like describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and calling for new taxes on business — may challenge the boundaries of party orthodoxy and unnerve national Democratic leaders.
Invaders launch record-breaking 335 drones over Ukraine at night, 288 of them shot down
On Monday night, the Russian invaders launched nine X-101 air-launched cruise missiles over Ukraine, as well as 355 Shahed strike UAVs and imitator drones of various types, the Telegram channel of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.
„As of 11:00, air defenses shot down all nine X-101 cruise missiles, neutralized 288 enemy Shahed UAVs and drones of other types in the east, north, south, west and center of the country. Some 233 were shot down by fire weapons, and 55 were lost/suppressed by electronic warfare,“ the report said.
(…)
There were no reports of casualties or injuries as a result of the hits.
DĂ©claration conjointe des dirigeants de la France, du Royaume-Uni et du Canada sur la situation Ă Gaza et en Cisjordanie.
IsraĂ«l a subi un attentat atroce le 7 octobre. Nous avons toujours soutenu le droit d‘IsraĂ«l Ă dĂ©fendre les IsraĂ©liens contre le terrorisme. Mais cette escalade est totalement disproportionnĂ©e.
Nous ne resterons pas les bras croisĂ©s pendant que le gouvernement Netanyahou poursuit ces actions scandaleuses. Si IsraĂ«l ne met pas fin Ă la nouvelle offensive militaire et ne lève pas ses restrictions sur l‘aide humanitaire, nous prendrons d‘autres mesures concrètes en rĂ©ponse.
Nous nous opposons Ă toute tentative d‘expansion des colonies en Cisjordanie. IsraĂ«l doit mettre fin aux implantations qui sont illĂ©gales et compromettent la viabilitĂ© d‘un État palestinien ainsi que la sĂ©curitĂ© des IsraĂ©liens et des Palestiniens.  Nous n‘hĂ©siterons pas Ă prendre d‘autres mesures, y compris des sanctions ciblĂ©es.
(…)
Nous continuerons Ă travailler avec l‘AutoritĂ© palestinienne, les partenaires rĂ©gionaux, IsraĂ«l et les États-Unis afin de parvenir Ă un consensus sur les dispositions Ă prendre pour l‘avenir de Gaza, en s‘appuyant sur le plan arabe. Nous affirmons le rĂ´le important de la confĂ©rence de haut niveau sur la solution Ă deux États qui se tiendra aux Nations unies en juin pour dĂ©gager un consensus international autour de cet objectif. Nous sommes dĂ©terminĂ©s Ă reconnaĂ®tre un État palestinien en tant que contribution Ă la rĂ©alisation d‘une solution Ă deux États et nous sommes prĂŞts Ă travailler avec d‘autres Ă cette fin.
Joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank
(May 19, 2025)
Israel suffered a heinous attack on October 7. We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate.
We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.
We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank. Israel must halt settlements which are illegal and undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the security of both Israelis and Palestinians.  We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions.
(…)
We will continue to work with the Palestinian Authority, regional partners, Israel and the United States to finalise consensus on arrangements for Gaza’s future, building on the Arab plan. We affirm the important role of the High-level Two-State Solution Conference at the UN in June in building international consensus around this aim. And we are committed to recognising a Palestinian state as a contribution to achieving a two-state solution and are prepared to work with others to this end.
Live: Hamas says it will not disarm as long as Israeli occupation persists
– Newly revealed details by Drop Site News show what the current ceasefire plan being pushed by mediators Qatar, Egypt, and the US entails: a non-permanent ceasefire in Gaza that lasts 45 days, a semi-withdrawal of Israeli ground forces, and ultimately, the release of all living and deceased captives from Gaza in exchange for talks toward a permanent end to the war. Hamas would also have to disarm.
– Hamas said it will not entertain any proposals that factor in its disarmament. „The weapons of the resistance are not negotiable, and will remain in our hands as long as the occupation persists,“ the group‘s statement said.
Russia’s intel chief, CIA head agree on contact to reduce Russia-US confrontation
(today)
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergey Naryshkin and Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States John Ratcliffe agreed on regular contact to reduce confrontation between Moscow and Washington, the SVR press office reported on Wednesday, following a phone talk between the heads of both intelligence agencies.