WORLD

 TEHRAN, 19 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Tehran on Monday for his first visit since the outbreak of the war between Iran and the United States, with meetings scheduled with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to media reports, Lavrov travelled to Tehran after meeting foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Bahrain on Sunday. The visit is aimed at discussing bilateral relations, rising regional tensions and diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to an end. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the talks would also cover regional and international developments, along with the implementation of agreements between Moscow and Tehran. Russia’s Foreign M...

 WAINWRIGHT, 19 October, 2026 (Nosheen): A devastating fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta has killed four Canadian soldiers and left 19 people in critical condition, while 39 people were hospitalised following the incident, officials said on Sunday. The fire reportedly began as a smouldering grass fire in the base’s training area on Saturday afternoon before spreading rapidly amid strong winds. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the incident as one of the worst peacetime tragedies to affect the country’s military on home soil. Officials said winds reaching 96 kilometres per hour fuelled the blaze, with flames advancing approximately one kilometre in just 30 to 60 seconds. Major General Wade Rutland, commander of the 1st Canadian Division based in Edmonto...

 CAIRO, 19 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Egypt has pledged to provide Saudi Arabia with all necessary support to protect its security and stability as parliament considers authorising the military to assist the kingdom if requested, amid escalating regional tensions and intensified attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement. According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for an urgent parliamentary session to consider authorising the armed forces to help defend Egypt’s Gulf ally. A vote had been expected on Sunday, but discussions were set to continue on Monday, according to lawmakers and local media reports. The announcement followed a meeting of Egypt’s National Defence Council, chaired by Sisi and attended by the parliamentary speak...

DUBAI, 19 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said Tehran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days remains on the table, but progress depends on Washington accepting Iran’s seven conditions. Speaking to Iranian media while in Baghdad to attend a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Araqchi said the United States had shared its comments on the proposal, which Iran was reviewing. He added that Tehran remained ready to move forward if Washington demonstrated sincerity. Iran submitted the proposal in mid-September following the collapse of an interim ceasefire. However, negotiations have since stalled, with Iranian officials saying the United States has failed to address all seven conditions. These include lifting the US blo...

Najran, 18 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Two crew members were killed after a reconnaissance AH-6i helicopter crashed in Saudi Arabia’s Najran region due to a technical malfunction, the Saudi-led military coalition said on Sunday. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki confirmed the incident in a statement, adding that the helicopter crashed in an area under the jurisdiction of Saudi Arabia’s National Guard Ministry. The crash occurred as the kingdom remains on heightened alert amid renewed attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi fighters. Najran, located in southwestern Saudi Arabia, has faced attacks in recent weeks as fighting between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis has intensified. On Saturday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed on social media platform X that t...

 Riyadh, 18 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Saudi Arabia has announced the interception and destruction of four drones amid escalating attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, while Egypt has expressed its willingness to help defend the kingdom if requested by its leadership. According to a spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition, the drones were intercepted over the Riyadh region, the Eastern Province and southern areas of the country. The developments come as Saudi Arabia continues to face repeated missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis, who have targeted oil installations, tankers and transport hubs. The conflict intensified again in July following a prolonged period of relative calm. An attack on Riyadh’s airport last week reportedly killed 13 people, further raisin...

Riyadh, 18 October, 2026 (Nosheen): The United Arab Emirates has reportedly agreed to re-enter the conflict in Yemen by resuming financial support for certain government forces fighting Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in the south, according to sources in Yemen. Under the reported arrangement, Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide air support to anti-Houthi forces as advances by the Iran-backed group raise concerns among Gulf states. The cooperation marks a potential step towards easing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen’s future, as the growing influence of Houthi fighters has alarmed regional governments. Saudi Arabia has been facing daily drone and missile attacks, with Houthi strikes disrupting operations at airports and affecting parts of the country’s energy infrastructure....

 Hanoi, October 18, 2026 (Ghufran): Vietnam has signed a free-trade agreement with Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, marking a significant step towards strengthening economic and trade relations between the Southeast Asian country and European markets. The governments of Norway and Vietnam announced on Sunday that the agreement had been signed in Hanoi with members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). According to the Norwegian government, around 50 percent of Norway’s exports to Vietnam will become tariff-free once the agreement enters into force, while more than 98 percent will enjoy duty-free access within seven years. Negotiations on the long-delayed trade agreement resumed last year amid growing global tensions over US tariffs and were concluded in Jul...

Ottawa, 18 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Canadian authorities have reported fatalities and injuries following an incident at a military base in western Canada. Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty said late Saturday that the incident at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Wainwright in Alberta had resulted in both deaths and injuries. “I’m saddened to share that there have been both fatalities and injuries as a result of an incident on the base,” McGuinty said in a statement. Earlier on Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on social media platform X that a serious incident involving a major fire had occurred at the military installation. Authorities have not yet disclosed the number of casualties or provided details about the cause and circumstances of the incident. CFB Wainwr...

Tehran, 17 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Iranian Parliament’s National Security Commission Chairman Ebrahim Azizi has warned that any action by US President Donald Trump against Iran could cause irreparable damage across the region. In a statement, Azizi urged Trump to understand that any move threatening Iran’s security would have serious consequences, warning that a miscalculation against Tehran could inflict devastating losses on the entire region. He asserted that no one had yet emerged capable of using bombs against Iran’s great nation, adding that no one would dare to use the so-called “Mother of All Bombs” to intimidate the country. Azizi’s remarks came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with Iranian officials warning against any military action or threats to the...