Middle East

On the Brink of Nuclear Capability, Iran Challenges Red Lines

Mario Chartouni 2025-06-04 09:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Under growing international scrutiny, Iran is enriching uranium at levels unseen since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal. While Washington publicly hardens its rhetoric, more flexible proposals are reportedly being floated behind closed doors. Amid firm statements, covert negotiations and ongoing inspections, Iran’s nuclear program has ...

South Korea's New Leader Vows to 'Heal Wounds' with Nuclear-Armed North

This is Beirut 2025-06-04 09:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Vote South Korea President

South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung vowed to reach out to the nuclear-armed North and "heal wounds" as he took office Wednesday, after winning snap elections triggered by his predecessor's disastrous martial law declaration. South Korea's new centre-left leader also warned that "rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring" posed an ...

HighlightNATO Wrestles Over How to Handle Ukraine at Trump Summit

This is Beirut 2025-06-04 09:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam NATO Ukraine Russia

How to have Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky at NATO's Hague summit and avoid a bust-up with US President Donald Trump? What to say on Kyiv's desire to join their alliance? With NATO appearing on track to seal a deal on ramping up defense spending, another thorny issue now threatens to overshadow the gathering in three weeks: what to do about ...

Israel Army Says Intercepts Houthi Missile

This is Beirut 2025-06-03 22:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Yemen

The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen on Tuesday, with a series of explosions heard over Jerusalem. "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted," the military said. Yemen's Houthis have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at ...

US to Eventually Reduce Military Bases in Syria to One

This is Beirut 2025-06-03 22:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States Syria Tom Barrack

The United States has begun reducing its military presence in Syria with a view to eventually closing all but one of its bases there, the US envoy for the country has said in an interview. Six months after the ouster of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, the United States is steadily drawing down its presence as part of Operation Inherent ...

Trump to Attend NATO Summit in The Hague

This is Beirut 2025-06-03 21:52 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump NATO The Hague United States

US President Donald Trump will attend a NATO summit in The Hague later in June where his demands to ramp up defense spending will dominate the agenda, the White House said Tuesday. Trump has long criticized NATO partners for not paying their fair share and had not previously confirmed he would attend the meeting, his first with the transatlantic ...

Iran Says US Nuclear Proposal Contains 'Ambiguities, Questions'

This is Beirut 2025-06-03 19:26 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iran Iran Nuclear Program Uranium Enrichment United States

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that a US proposal for a new nuclear agreement submitted through mediator Oman has "many ambiguities and questions." "The written proposal we received from the US contains many ambiguities and questions. Many issues in this proposal are not clear," Araghchi said while on a visit to Lebanon. On ...

Russia Says No Quick Breakthrough in 'Complex' Ukraine Talks

This is Beirut 2025-06-03 18:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Ukraine Russia

Russia on Tuesday said it was wrong to expect a quick breakthrough in Ukraine talks, a day after Moscow rejected Kyiv's call for an unconditional ceasefire at negotiations in Istanbul. The sides agreed on a large-scale swap of captured soldiers and exchanged their roadmaps to peace, or so-called "memorandums," at the discussions, which lasted ...

Ukraine Invited to NATO Summit in The Hague

This is Beirut 2025-06-03 18:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky NATO The Hague

Ukraine has been invited to a NATO summit later in June, President Volodymyr Zelensky and the alliance said, after earlier warning it would be a "victory" for Russia if it was not there. The heads of NATO states will gather in The Hague, Netherlands, from June 24-26, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and US President Donald Trump's calls for ...

The Damascus Stock Exchange Is Back

This is Beirut 2025-06-03 18:10 - Reading : less than a minute

Damascus stock exchange stock market Syria

Six months of silence come to an end as the stock exchange officially reopens. A sign of hope for Syria, but challenges lie ahead. Watch our full video for all the details.

UN Sees 'Alarming' Surge in Afghan Families Deported from Iran

This is Beirut 2025-06-03 17:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Afghanistan Iran International Organization for Migration

The UN migration agency on Tuesday voiced concern over a surge in Afghan families deported from Iran, recording a more than two-fold increase in May from the previous month. There was a "sharp rise in the forced return of Afghan nationals" from Iran in May, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement. "Particularly ...

Russia Says Ukraine Behind Rail Bridge Blasts that Killed 7

This is Beirut 2025-06-03 16:35 - Reading : less than a minute

Russia Ukraine

Russia on Tuesday said Ukraine was behind rail bridge blasts in its western border regions that derailed a passenger train, killing seven people and wounding dozens more on Sunday. "The terrorists, acting on the orders of the Kyiv regime, planned everything with maximum precision so that hundreds of innocent civilians would come under their ...