WORLD

 Islamabad, 28 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Iran has welcomed a meeting of high-level security officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey in Tehran as a step toward advancing regional dialogue and peace, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressing that regional countries should take responsibility for their own security without intervention by outside powers. In comments posted on social media, Araghchi said the meeting held on Monday provided an opportunity to promote dialogue, although he did not disclose further details of the discussions. The talks took place amid growing concerns over a possible return to full-scale conflict and continued attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen targeting Saudi Arabia. Iran has repeatedly attacked neighbouring Gulf Arab coun...

 Islamabad, 28 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rosatom has signed agreements to construct eight nuclear power units in Iran, including plans to develop small-scale nuclear power plants, marking a further step in nuclear energy cooperation between the two countries. According to Rosatom, construction work is continuing on Units 2 and 3 of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, where 142 Russian specialists are currently working. The company has also announced plans to increase the number of Russian specialists at the facility to 700 to support ongoing construction and related activities. The agreements come as Iran seeks to expand its domestic electricity generation capacity through nuclear energy to meet growing demand and diversify its energy...

Islamabad, 28 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Yemeni government officials have appealed to the international community for urgent assistance to protect civilians in Taiz and reopen roads into the city as Iran-backed Houthi rebels tighten their siege. Taiz province has emerged as a major battleground in recent weeks, with the city serving as a strategic gateway to southern Yemen and hosting a large number of people displaced by the latest fighting, further straining already limited resources. Taiz Governor Nabil Shamsan said residents had lost access to approximately three million litres of water previously supplied from wells in Wadi al-Dhubab, which he claimed was now under Houthi control. The Associated Press said it could not independently verify the claim. Meanwhile, Eshraq al-Maqtari, a ...

Beijing, 27 October, 2026 (Nosheen): China has expressed serious concern over the escalating conflicts in the Middle East and surrounding regions and announced plans to send a special envoy to relevant countries in the near future to promote dialogue and prevent further deterioration of the situation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the announcement during a regular press briefing on Tuesday, calling on all concerned parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations. He also expressed concern over the potential spread of the Middle East conflict to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. Guo said the special envoy would visit countries in the affected regions to strengthen communication with relevant parties, promote diplomatic engagement, ease...

Dubai, 27 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Iranian Supreme National Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Tuesday, a day after holding talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan aimed at easing regional tensions. Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since succeeding his father, who was killed in March, stressed the importance of protecting Iran’s national interests and maintaining Tehran’s conditions for ending the war, according to Iranian state media. Senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan visited Tehran on Monday in an effort to help de-escalate the Middle East conflict, which began after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February. The meeting marked the first high-level contact betw...

Jerusalem, 27 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Israelis turned out in record numbers on Tuesday to vote in the country’s first general election since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing a crucial test of public confidence over his handling of the country’s security and the subsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. According to the Central Elections Committee, 44.9 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots within the first seven hours of polling, marking an unprecedented turnout. The election has emerged as a major political challenge for Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, whose right-wing coalition has faced growing domestic divisions and international criticism over its policies. His main rival, former military chie...

Riyadh, 27 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Yemen’s Houthi group has claimed responsibility for an attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery, raising concerns about the security of the kingdom’s energy infrastructure and vital oil export routes. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group launched a ballistic missile strike on Tuesday and claimed that the attack caused a fire at the refinery site. However, Saudi authorities had not officially confirmed the reported attack, and key details remained unverified. Located along Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coast, Ras Tanura is the kingdom’s largest oil refinery and a major hub for its petroleum industry. Saudi Arabia relies on two principal ports, Ras Tanura on the Gulf and Yanbu on the Red Sea, for nearly all its oil exports. According to re...

 Tehran, 27 October 2026 (Kamran Raja): Iran, Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have agreed to continue dialogue on regional peace and security following their first quadrilateral meeting in Tehran on October 26. According to a joint statement, the four countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and improving coordination on shared regional security concerns. The meeting brought together senior officials responsible for defence, intelligence and national security. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei hosted the gathering in the Iranian capital, while Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Türkiye’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin participated in the discussio...