Middle East

EU top Diplomat Holds Nuclear Talks with Iran as Sanctions loom

This is Beirut 05/09 09:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

European Union Tehran Kaja Kallas Iran Doha

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas met Thursday in Doha with Tehran's top diplomat to seek a "negotiated solution" to Iran's nuclear program, as the clock ticks down towards a reimposition of sanctions, the EU said. The meeting came after European powers last week triggered a deadline for sanctions to come back into force on Iran for failing to ...

Trump says will Speak with Putin Soon

This is Beirut 05/09 09:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump Volodymyr Zelensky Ukraine Vladimir Putin

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would speak soon with Russia's Vladimir Putin, after his call earlier in the day with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders. "I will be, yeah," Trump told a reporter asking if he would speak with the Russian leader in the near future, on the sidelines of a dinner with prominent US ...

US Tech Leaders Meet Trump at White House Dinner

This is Beirut 05/09 05:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Donald Trump Tech White House Dinner

Top executives from the US technology sector gathered at the White House on Thursday evening for a dinner hosted by President Donald Trump, marking a rare joint appearance by leaders of the country’s most influential companies in artificial intelligence and digital innovation. “This is quite a group to get together,” said Meta ...

Israel Military Says Controls 40 Percent of Gaza City

This is Beirut 04/09 22:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Palestine Hamas

The Israeli military on Thursday said it controls 40 percent of Gaza City, the largest urban center in the Palestinian territory which it is preparing to conquer after nearly two years of devastating war. Israel has intensified in recent days its bombardments of the area of Gaza City, in the territory's north, ahead of the planned offensive, ...

Rubio Says US Warned France on Israel Annexation Moves

This is Beirut 04/09 21:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Palestinians Conflict USA

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday criticized France and other countries moving to recognize a Palestinian state, saying he warned them Israel may respond by annexing the West Bank. Rubio declined to join global condemnation of efforts by members of the Israeli government to annex the occupied West Bank in hopes of destroying prospects of ...

Trump Tells Europe to Put Economic Pressure on China Over Ukraine

This is Beirut 04/09 21:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump Europe Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky United States China

US President Donald Trump urged European countries Thursday to put economic pressure on China because of its support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the White House said. Speaking by video conference with European leaders gathered in Paris, Trump also said "Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war," a senior White House ...

Israel FM Says No Macron Visit Unless France Drops Palestinian State Recognition

This is Beirut 04/09 20:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Emmanuel Macron Benjamin Netanyahu Palestine Gideon Saar

Israel's foreign minister said Thursday that his government would not agree to a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron so long as Paris plans to recognize a Palestinian state. A statement from Israel's foreign ministry said Gideon Saar told France's top diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot in a phone call that "there is no room" ...

Zelensky: Trump ‘Very Dissatisfied’ with EU’s Russian Oil Purchases

This is Beirut 04/09 18:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ukraine Russia Conflict Diplomacy

Donald Trump on Thursday voiced frustration with EU countries that still buy Russian oil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, after the US president spoke to him and European leaders during a summit on Ukraine. Ukraine's allies met in Paris to discuss security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a peace deal to end Russia's war against ...

Macron Says 26 Countries Pledge Ukraine Post-War Security

This is Beirut 04/09 18:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Russia

Twenty-six countries have offered to contribute to Ukraine's security after any ceasefire deal with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron said after a summit on Thursday, adding that US support would be finalized in coming days. A summit of Kyiv "coalition of the willing" allies to firm up security guarantees if or when there is a peace deal ...

Drone Strike Near Syria's Aleppo Airport Kills Two: Security Official

This is Beirut 04/09 18:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Syria Drones Conflict

A Syrian security official said a drone strike near Aleppo airport on Thursday killed two people, with state media reporting the attack but without saying who may be behind it. An AFP correspondent saw a vaporized car near the airport in Syria's north, with shrapnel scattered around it. Official news agency SANA reported that "a drone targeted a ...

Portugal Holds Day of Mourning as Crash toll Rises to 17 Dead

This is Beirut 04/09 18:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lisbon Portugal Funicular Accident

Portugal held a day of national mourning on Thursday as the death toll from the derailment of one of Lisbon's iconic funiculars rose to 17 people, with 21 injured. The accident Wednesday evening in one of the capital's most popular tourist spots saw the yellow Gloria funicular veer off a steep stretch of tracks near Liberty Avenue and crash into ...

Russian Attack Kills Two Deminers From Danish Refugee Council in Ukraine

This is Beirut 04/09 17:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ukraine Russia Conflict Strike

A Russian rocket attack Thursday on northern Ukraine killed two people from the Danish Refugee Council who were clearing mines in an area previously occupied by Moscow's forces, the local Ukrainian governor said. Experts say Ukraine is the most heavily mined country in the world, with teams of deminers across the north, south and east where ...