Tulsi Gabbard resigns as top US intelligence official: What to know

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard cites her husband’s bone cancer diagnosis as reason for stepping down.

Pakistan military chief arrives in Tehran in push to end Iran war

Pakistan's powerful army chief arrived in Tehran on Friday, with Islamabad mediating as the Islamic republic examines a new US proposal to end the Middle East war. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, however, said the visit did not necessarily mean "we have

Gabbard resigns as Trump's top US intelligence official

WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - Tulsi Gabbard said on Friday she is resigning from her job as President Donald Trump's director of national intelligence, saying her husband had been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and that she was stepping away from her role to help

Erdogan’s CHP move raises early poll prospects as Iran war bleeds Turkey’s economy

A court move targeting Turkey’s main opposition party, combined with mounting economic pressure linked to the Iran conflict, is raising expectations of an early vote that could extend President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rule.

Freed Gaza flotilla activists allege Israeli abuse including rape

By Anna Uras, Rami Ayyub and Layli Foroudi ROME/JERUSALEM/PARIS, May 22 (Reuters) - Activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to bring aid to Gaza were subjected to abuse, organisers said on Friday, with several hospitalised with injuries

Archives interrupted: Vintage pics show Gaza 'we no longer know'

When Kegham Djeghalian photographed daily life in Gaza last century, the Palestinian territory was synonymous with Hollywood-inspired brides, fancy dress parties and excursions to smoke a hookah at the beach. They are images from a time far removed from the rubble and tent

NATO considering resuming mission in Iraq: general

NATO's mission to Iraq, which was entirely evacuated to a base in Italy due to the Middle East war, could return to Baghdad in the coming months, its former commander told AFP. "The general staff is working on various options" to allow the mission to return to Iraq, said French

Swiss widen sanctions against Russia, Belarus in line with EU measures

ZURICH, May 22 (Reuters) - Switzerland expanded its sanctions lists against Russia and Belarus on Friday, adopting parts of the European Union's latest package of measures over Moscow's war in Ukraine, the government said on Friday. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs

Iran's intensified closure of Strait of Hormuz piles misery on stranded sailors

By Imad Creidi DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia, May 22 (Reuters) - Iran's publication of a new map asserting its control over the Strait of Hormuz risks extending an already punishing ordeal for thousands of mariners trapped on ships in the Gulf. More than 20,000 sailors are stuck on

France readies UN resolution on Hormuz as vote on US text stalls

By John Irish PARIS, May 21 (Reuters) - France has drafted a U.N. Security Council resolution on setting up an international mission to restore movement in the Strait of Hormuz and could submit it if conditions are right, the foreign ministry said on Friday, as Washington

UK defence show RIAT cancelled because of Iran war

May 22 (Reuters) - The Royal International Air Tattoo, one of the world's largest defence shows, has been cancelled due to military operations linked to the Iran war, it said on Friday. RIAT had been scheduled for July 17-19 at RAF Fairford, an active Royal Air Force base in

Ireland joins EU push to ban trade with Israeli settlements amid flotilla backlash

European frustration with Israel intensified this week after a far-right Israeli minister posted a video of the mistreatment of international activists detained in the country.

Western powers press Israel to rein in settlers, halt expansion

ROME, May 22 (Reuters) - Israel must halt the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and curb growing settler violence, seven major Western nations said on Friday, accusing the Israeli government of aggravating tensions in the West Bank. "Over the past few months, the

Rubio cites some progress on Iran talks but "we're not there yet"

HELSINGBORG, Sweden, May 22 (Reuters) - The United States has seen some progress in talks with Iran and is in constant communication with the Pakistani mediators, but there is more work to be done, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday. "There's been some progress. I

Factbox-Turkey court ruling adds to crackdown on main opposition CHP

By Canan Sevgili and Mirac Dereli May 22 (Reuters) - A Turkish court annulled the main opposition party's 2023 congress, effectively ousting its leader Ozgur Ozel, in a ruling that has inflamed a political crisis, jolted financial markets and could prolong the 23-year rule of

Report: U.S. fired more interceptors than Israel in latest war with Iran

A Washington Post report revealed that the U.S. military fired over 200 high-altitude THAAD interceptors in defense of Israel, roughly half of the Pentagon's total stockpile

Lebanon’s military hits back at US sanctions, says loyalty 'solely to the nation'

Lebanon’s army and General Security stressed that their members remain loyal state institutions, responding to US sanctions that for the first time targeted security officers for alleged ties to Hezbollah.

Iran talks see momentum as Pakistani officials visit Tehran

Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, has reportedly departed for the Iranian capital, while Doha dispatched a diplomatic team.

Exclusive-Qatari negotiating team in Tehran to help secure US-Iran deal to end war, says source

May 22 (Reuters) - A Qatari negotiating team arrived in Tehran on Friday in coordination with United States to help secure a deal to end the war with Iran and resolve outstanding issues, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday. Doha, which has worked as a

At least 10 killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Health Ministry says

Lebanon's Health Ministry reported six paramedics and a child among those killed, and many others were wounded, while the IDF separately reported killing seven Hezbollah members

Ankara court rejects Turkish main opposition's appeal against ruling to oust leader, media says

ANKARA, May 22 (Reuters) - An Ankara court on Friday rejected an appeal by Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) against a ruling to oust its leader, the Cumhuriyet daily and other Turkish media said. The CHP has appealed also to a higher court, as well as

UAE's Gargash sees '50-50' odds of US-Iran deal, warns against renewed fighting

By Maha El Dahan and Jana Choukeir DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - There is a "50-50 chance" of a U.S.-Iran peace agreement, the United Arab Emirates' presidential advisor said on Friday, but stressed that any political settlement must address the root causes of instability in the

Report: Draft U.S. and Iran cease-fire deal excludes nuclear issue

According to the Saudi Al Arabiya news agency, the draft interim deal includes an immediate, comprehensive and unconditional cease-fire across all arenas, but doesn't address Iran's nuclear program. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio confirmed that 'slight progress' had been made

Turkey political crisis simmers as opposition vows to resist court ruling

By Ece Toksabay and Huseyin Hayatsever ANKARA, May 22 (Reuters) - Turkey's political opposition dug in on Friday to resist an unprecedented court ruling that ousted its leader and annulled its congress, inflaming a political crisis that critics say aims to further prolong

Middle East war casts shadow over million-strong hajj pilgrimage

More than a million Muslims are gathering in Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage overshadowed by the Middle East war, as animosity smoulders across the region despite a fragile ceasefire. This year's rites, drawing Muslim worshippers from across the world, including Iran, follow

'When you have rape survivors, you can't look away': NYT, Kristoff defend column on sexual assault of Palestinians

The response comes after Israel accused the NYT of spreading 'one of the worst blood libels' in modern media history and was part of an 'orchestrated anti-Israel campaign'

Pakistan seeks breakthrough in US-Iran peace talks

By Jacob Bogage and Parisa Hafezi WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister met his Pakistani counterpart on Friday to discuss proposals to end the U.S.-Israeli war, Iranian media reported, with Tehran and Washington still at odds over Tehran's uranium

Taiwan says it has not been told by US of changes to military sales

TAIPEI, May 22 (Reuters) - Taiwan's presidential office said on Friday it had not received any information about the U.S. adjusting military sales, after a senior U.S. official suggested there was a pause due to the need to have enough arms for the war with Iran. Taiwan, which

Australian women linked to ISIS leave Syrian camp, ABC reports

SYDNEY, May 22 (Reuters) - A second group of Australian women and children linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) extremist group have departed a refugee camp in northeast Syria and may be returning to Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday. The

Hezbollah explosive drones strike in northern Israel, IDF says

Lebanese accuse Israel of wiping their towns off the map

Lebanese mother-of-two Hala Farah is collecting photos and videos to preserve the memory of her hometown which, like many others along the southern border, has been completely destroyed by Israeli forces. Testimony from residents and officials, as well as satellite images and

US hits nine Hezbollah-aligned individuals in Lebanon with sanctions

By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday announced sanctions against nine individuals, including Iran's designated ambassador to Lebanon, for obstructing the peace process in the Middle Eastern country and impeding the disarmament of the

Morocco farmers saw hope in rain, but Mideast war inflates production costs

Like many Moroccan farmers, Mehdi el-Maazi was hopeful that rare heavy rains would yield an abundant harvest this year -- but those hopes were quickly shattered as the Middle East war sent fuel and fertiliser costs soaring. Morocco, where agriculture employs about a quarter of

US House Republicans cancel Iran war powers vote

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - Republican leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives unexpectedly canceled a vote on Thursday on a resolution seeking to end the Iran war unless President Donald Trump obtains Congress' authorization, two days after a

Humanitarian situation in Gaza still catastrophic: NGOs

More than six months after the United Nations endorsed a peace plan in Gaza, the humanitarian situation there remains catastrophic, three global NGOs said Thursday, calling on Israel to respect its obligations. Major gaps remain between Israel's commitments and the reality

Rubio to tell NATO ministers Trump 'very disappointed' over Iran war stance

By Sabine Siebold, Stine Jacobsen and Michael Martina HELSINGBORG, Sweden May 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet NATO allies on Friday for the first time since President Donald Trump called the alliance into question due to divisions over the Iran war

Ronaldo strikes twice to end long wait for Saudi title

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Al Nassr clinched the Saudi Pro League title with a 4-1 win over Damac on Thursday, ending his long wait for domestic silverware. A trademark free-kick and a close-range finish, both in the final half-hour, sealed the win Al Nassr needed on the

In first, US sanctions Lebanon military, intel officials for aiding Hezbollah

New tranche of sanctions marks a warning shot from Washington as Senate Republicans threaten to freeze funding to the Lebanese Armed Forces if it does not move more aggressively to disarm Hezbollah.

US, Iran trade mixed signals on enriched uranium as Tehran weighs response

Speaking on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he would be willing to wait "a couple of days" for Tehran's response to the latest US proposal to end the war.

US says removal of UN expert Albanese from sanctions list is not a policy change

May 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. decision to remove Francesca ​Albanese, a U.N. expert on the ‌Palestinian territories, from a list of sanctioned individuals is temporary and does not reflect a policy change, the State Department said on Thursday. The U.S. imposed sanctions on

Gaza flotilla activist blasts Israel: 'They treat their animals better'

Julien Cabral has just completed his first voyage with the "Flotilla for Gaza". One of his eyes is ringed with purple, he has a wound on his left temple and an injured shoulder blade. The 57-year-old Belgian originally from the port of Antwerp was on board a small boat that