Monday, March 23, 2026

World

White House says Iran talks positive, constructive

The White House called Saturday's negotiations between US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy and Iran’s foreign minister a step in the right direction,  confirming plans for follow-up talks next week.

New figures: Iran-Saudi trade sees astonishing 6,483% growth

Iran's non-oil trade with Saudi Arabia skyrocketed by an unprecedented 6,483% in the past 12 months, marking the most dramatic growth among all neighboring countries as the former rivals continue to mend relations, according to official customs data released Friday.

China dismisses role in war against Ukraine, calls on Kyiv to temper rhetoric

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian has once again denied Beijing's involvement in Russia's all-out war against Ukraine, urging Kyiv to refrain "from irresponsible remarks."

Russia and US conduct another prisoner swap

Moscow and Washington have conducted another prisoner swap in Abu Dhabi, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing CIA officials.

Hamas launches legal challenge against UK terror designation: MEE

The Palestinian group Hamas has instructed British lawyers to appeal the UK's 2021 decision to designate the movement as a terrorist organisation, Middle East Eye revealed.

Kazan becomes Isfahan’s 16th sister city in historic ceremony

The ancient cities of Isfahan in Iran and Kazan in Russia formalized a sister-city partnership on Wednesday during a signing ceremony at Isfahan's UNESCO-listed Chehel Sotoun Palace.

Poll shows majority of Americans hold unfavourable view of Israel amid Gaza war

More than half of Americans now have a negative view of Israel, according to a recent poll, stressing the fallout from Israel’s war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

France could recognise Palestinian state within months: Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that Paris could recognise a Palestinian state in June, adding that in turn some countries in the Middle East could recognise "the state of Israel."

Iranians rally for Gaza

Crowds of people held a rally on Tehran's Palestine Square in a show of support for the oppressed Palestinians in Gaza.

EU welcomes Iran-US negotiations

A spokesperson for the European Union has welcomed the upcoming talks between Iran and the United States, emphasizing that diplomacy remains the only sustainable solution to Tehran’s nuclear issue.

Algerian president urges Islamic countries’ solidarity against Israel

The President of Algeria has expressed grave concern over the critical situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. Abdelmadjid Tebboune has called for solidarity and cooperation among all nations to stop the Zionist regime's massacre of innocent Palestinians and prevent the spread of insecurity in the region and beyond.

US says Saturday talks with Iran will be ‘direct’

US-Iran negotiations in Oman on Saturday will be "direct", the White House has announced

Zelensky claims Ukraine captured 2 Chinese nationals fighting for Russia

Ukrainian soldiers have captured two Chinese nationals who were fighting in the ranks of the Russian military against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated.

Russia’s State Duma ratifies Treaty on Strategic Partnership with Iran

Russia’s lower house of parliament has ratified the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Tehran.

US considering withdrawing 10k forces from Eastern Europe: NBC

Senior U.S. Defense Department officials are considering withdrawing up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe, NBC News has reported, citing six American and European officials briefed on the discussions.

Trump fires US admiral at NATO

U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, who holds a senior position in NATO, has been fired as part of what appears to be an expanding national security purge of top officials by the administration of President Donald Trump, three sources have told Reuters.

Microsoft workers say they were fired after anniversary protest over Israel contract

Microsoft has fired two employees who interrupted the company’s 50th anniversary celebration to protest its work supplying artificial intelligence technology to the Israeli army, according to a group representing the workers.

Trump claims US held direct negotiations with Iran

President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States has begun direct talks with Iran over its nuclear programme.

UK lawyers accuse several Britons who fought for Israeli army in Gaza of war crimes

A dossier against 10 British nationals accused of war crimes while they fought for the Israeli military in the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip has been filed with London’s Metropolitan Police by a leading human rights lawyer.

Tehran wants indirect talks with Washington, warns regional countries over attacks against it

Tehran is pushing back against Washington's demands that it directly negotiate over its nuclear programme or be bombed, warning neighbours that host U.S. bases that they could be in the firing line if involved, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.

Netanyahu set for talks with Trump over Iran, tariffs

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Washington, DC, for talks with US President Donald Trump on a range of issues, including tariffs and Iran, the PM office has announced.

British foreign secretary slams Israel for denying two Labour MPs entry

The UK Foreign Secretary has criticised the Israeli authorities for denying entry to two Labour MPs and deporting them.

US says ‘testing’ if Russia is serious about peace in Ukraine

Washington will know within weeks whether Moscow is serious about pursuing peace with Ukraine, the secretary of state has stated, warning that US President Donald Trump was not “going to fall into the trap of endless negotiations” with Russia.

Trump’s team advises against calling Russian leader for now: NBC

Donald Trump's inner circle has advised the U.S. President not to hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin until the Kremlin agrees to a ceasefire in Ukraine, NBC News has reported, citing two unnamed officials.

Iran says UN Security Council Inaction Emboldens Israel’s Violations

The Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasized that the continued inaction of the United Nations Security Council in the face of Israel’s persistent and countless violations of law has been a major factor emboldening this regime to keep flagrantly breaching fundamental principles of international law, human rights, and humanitarian norms.

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