middle east

Trump Lays Wreath Ahead of Inauguration

US President-elect Donald Trump laid a wreath Sunday in a symbolic trip to the most hallowed place for America's war dead, before holding a huge victory rally on the eve of his return to power. Already involved in negotiations to restore the TikTok app at home and in peace efforts in the Middle East, Trump finds himself embroiled in world ...

Pikasso d’Or 2025 Celebrates Excellence in Outdoor Advertising

The 29th edition of the Pikasso d’Or Awards has unveiled its 2025 winners, recognizing the most outstanding outdoor advertising campaigns from Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Algeria, Mali, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire. This year marked a significant evolution for the awards, with Dino Burbidge, a renowned expert in digital creativity and innovation, ...

World Bank Sees Slow and Steady Global Growth

Global growth should remain stable this year and next, but at recent historic lows, the World Bank said Thursday, expressing particular concern about growth in developing countries. Growth should hit 2.7 percent in 2025 and 2026, in line with the level reached last year, the World Bank announced in a new report, adding that inflation and interest ...

Russia And Iran Expected To Sign a ‘Strategic Partnership'

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Massoud Pezeshkian are due to sign a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ in Russia on Friday, presented as a new stage in the growing alliance between the two countries. Subject to international sanctions that restrict trade, Russia and Iran have become close allies in recent ...

Qatar Says Gaza Truce Talks in 'Final Stages'

Key mediator Qatar said negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release deal were in their "final stages" on Tuesday, adding that it was hopeful an agreement could be reached "very soon". Qatar, Egypt and the United States have stepped up efforts to broker a ceasefire to enable the release of hostages held in Gaza since ...

Russia, Iran to Sign 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' Treaty on Jan 17

Russia and Iran will sign a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty on Friday during a visit to Russia by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the Kremlin said Monday. Raising concerns in the West, Moscow and Tehran have boosted their military and political cooperation amid Russia's full-scale military offensive on Ukraine and ...

Norway to Host Talks on Mideast Two-State Solution

Dozens of countries will send delegates to Norway on Wednesday as part of a global alliance aiming to find a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Norway's foreign ministry said on Monday. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini, and UN envoy ...

Macron and Starmer Discuss Ukraine, Middle East at UK Meeting

French President Emmanuel Macron met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday in Britain, where they discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Starmer welcomed the French head of state to his Chequers country residence northwest of London, and the two leaders "underscored the need for unity in uncertain times", according to ...

Iran Rejects Macron's Remarks on its Role in Region as 'Baseless'

Iran on Wednesday rejected as "baseless" French President Emmanuel Macron's claim that Tehran was the main strategic and security challenge in the Middle East. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described the comments as "baseless, contradictory, and speculative," and called for France "to reconsider its non-constructive approaches to ...

In Pursuit of a President Defying the Detrimental Mini-State

The Iranian mullahs' camp and their local allies have adopted excessive tactics of intimidation, threats and coercive politics. They revel in flaunting their defiance, entrenched in denial, loudly proclaiming that the "resistance" remains intact, "strong" and poised for a swift revival. While listening to their rhetoric and observing the arrogance ...

Blinken to Visit South Korea with Eye on Political Crisis

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit South Korea for talks next week, the two countries announced Friday, with Seoul mired in political turmoil as its impeached president resists arrest. Blinken, on what will likely be his last international trip before president-elect Donald Trump's return, will also visit Japan and France, the State ...

Czech Republic Reopens Damascus Embassy to Help US

The Czech Republic, whose embassy has represented the United States in Syria since 2012, has reopened its mission after closing it last month following a coup that toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. The Czech Republic has represented the US and other Western countries in Syria after nations closed their embassies because of civil war. "We ...