Middle East

Turkey-Russia Meet Ends, Ukraine to Join Talks Friday
Turkey-Russia Meet Ends, Ukraine to Join Talks Friday

Talks in Istanbul between Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and a Russian delegation ended late on Thursday with the sides set to meet again Friday with the Ukrainians, a foreign ministry source said. "The meeting has ended. Tomorrow there will be more talks in different formats," the source said, indicating that ...

Tehran Says No Objection to US Investment in Iran
Tehran Says No Objection to US Investment in Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday that Tehran has no objection to US companies operating in the country, including in the oil and gas sector. "We have no ban on the economic presence of American companies in Iran," Araghchi said, attributing the lack of US business activity to primary sanctions imposed by ...

Israel Army Says Intercepts Missile from Yemen After Air Raid Sirens Sound
Israel Army Says Intercepts Missile from Yemen After Air Raid Sirens Sound

The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen on Thursday, shortly after air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, according to AFP journalists. It was the third time in as many days that Israel said its air defenses had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen. "Following the sirens that sounded a short ...

 Trump Says Getting Close to Deal to Avoid Iran Military Action
Trump Says Getting Close to Deal to Avoid Iran Military Action

US President Donald Trump said Thursday a nuclear deal with Iran was close that would avert military action, as he toured Gulf capitals, securing $1.4 trillion in 10-year investments from Abu Dhabi. Trump made the Iran remarks in Qatar before flying on to the United Arab Emirates for the third and final leg of the tour that began in Saudi ...

Rubio Says US 'Troubled' on Gaza, Open to Alternatives on Aid
Rubio Says US 'Troubled' on Gaza, Open to Alternatives on Aid

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced openness Thursday to any new ideas to bring aid into Gaza after a US- and Israeli-backed plan was sharply criticised, expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in the territory. A new US-backed foundation on Wednesday announced a plan to begin distributing aid later this month in Gaza, where ...

Birthright Citizenship in the United States: A Constitutional Principle Under Debate
ExplainerBirthright Citizenship in the United States: A Constitutional Principle Under Debate

Birthright citizenship, which grants American citizenship to anyone born on United States soil, has become the focus of a major constitutional debate. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to limit this right by excluding children born to parents who are undocumented or hold temporary visas from citizenship granted ...

UN Rules Out Role in US-Backed Foundation's Gaza Aid Operation
UN Rules Out Role in US-Backed Foundation's Gaza Aid Operation

The United Nations on Thursday ruled out involvement with a new US-backed foundation for aid to Gaza, as Israel's months-long blockade brings severe shortages to the war-battered territory. "I made it clear that we participate in aid operations if they are in accordance with our basic principles," said UN spokesman Farhan ...

US Sanctions Four Key Hezbollah Financiers in Lebanon and Iran
US Sanctions Four Key Hezbollah Financiers in Lebanon and Iran

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on two senior Hezbollah officials and two financial facilitators based in Lebanon and Iran for coordinating funding to support the group’s “terrorist activities.” According to a press release issued by the Department of the Treasury on ...