Middle East

SpotlightAsia's Big Exporters Open Tariff Negotiations with US

This is Beirut 2025-04-17 14:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Asia's major exporters Vietnam, Japan and Taiwan are among the first economies to open negotiations with Washington over US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, taking advantage of a 90-day reprieve from the global trade war. Notably absent from those trying to reach a compromise with Washington is China, which faces levies of up to 145 ...

Zelensky Urges Pressure on Russia to End War

This is Beirut 2025-04-17 14:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

ukraine russia conflict france Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday urged "pressure" on Russia to end the three-year war as his top aides visited Paris for talks with US and EU officials on the conflict. At least 10 people were reported killed and dozens wounded Thursday as Russia pounded Ukraine with drone strikes and shells. "Russia uses every day and every ...

Europe Sidelined in US-Iran Nuclear Talks, Say Experts

This is Beirut 2025-04-17 13:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Europe Iran Nuclear Diplomacy

Europe played a central role in a 2015 accord that led Iran to restrict its nuclear programme enrichment but has become just an observer as the United States leads new efforts to reign in Tehran's uranium enrichment, analysts say. Alarm bells are ringing again in Western capitals with UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi warning on Wednesday ...

Rubio in Paris to Meet Macron on Ukraine War

This is Beirut 2025-04-17 12:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

US Secretary of State Ukraine Iran Gaza France

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Paris on Thursday to meet French President Emmanuel Macron about crafting an Ukraine ceasefire, as Washington and Europe seek common ground on ending the fighting. Top Ukrainian officials were also in the French capital on Thursday to meet EU and US delegations, President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of ...

Electric Vespas Quietly Revolutionize the Streets of Indonesia

This is Beirut 2025-04-17 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Indonesia Electric Vespas Elders

In Jakarta, a city plagued by air pollution partly caused by exhaust fumes, the shift to electric vehicles is gaining momentum with the rise of electric Vespas.

Numbers & FiguresUS-China: the Clash of the Titans

This is Beirut 2025-04-17 11:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump China

As the trade war between the United States and China escalates, here is a point-by-point comparison of the world's two biggest economic powers. Geographic, demographic giants With a surface area of more than nine million square kilometres (3.5 million square miles) each, the United States and China rank among the world's four biggest ...

Trump Blocked Israeli Plan to Strike Iran Nuclear Sites

This is Beirut 2025-04-17 11:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Tehran Nuclear sites

US President Donald Trump scuppered an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear sites, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, as Washington attempts to reach a deal to curb Tehran's weapons program. The United States and Iran, which have not had diplomatic relations for more than 40 years, are seeking a new nuclear deal after Trump pulled out of ...

Macron to Hold Ukraine War Talks with Rubio, Witkoff in Paris

This is Beirut 2025-04-17 11:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Ukraine Marco Rubio Steve Witkoff

French President Emmanuel Macron was set to meet in Paris Thursday with America's top diplomat about crafting a Ukraine ceasefire as Washington and Europe seek common ground on ending the fighting. Top Ukrainian officials were also in the French capital on Thursday to meet EU and US delegations, President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff said, ...

Italy's Meloni Heads to White House Seeking EU Tariff Deal

This is Beirut 2025-04-17 09:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Donald Trump Giorgia Meloni

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni heads to Washington on Thursday to meet with Donald Trump, hoping a personal charm offensive can help convince the US president to cut a more favourable deal on EU tariffs. The far-right Meloni -- described by Trump as a "fantastic leader" and who shares many of his conservative views -- has looked to ...

Trump Says 'Joke' Harvard Should be Stripped of Funds

This is Beirut 2025-04-17 09:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Harvard

US President Donald Trump called Harvard a "joke" Wednesday and said it should lose its government research contracts after the prestigious university refused demands that it accept outside political supervision. Trump's administration also threatened to ban the famed seat of learning from accepting foreign students unless it bowed to the ...

Op-edTrump’s Disruptions: The End of the Rule-Based Order

Salam El Zaatari 2025-04-17 09:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA China Canada Iran

At first glance, Trump’s new foreign policy approach may seem impulsive, erratic or even personal. But beneath the surface lies a disruptive yet coherent strategic vision. Trump’s foreign policy is rooted in a distinctly realist worldview—one that prizes power and national interest above moralistic crusades or ideological commitments. In ...

UN Watchdog Chief Says Iran 'Not Far' From Nuclear Bomb

This is Beirut 2025-04-17 09:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Iran Nuclear

The UN nuclear watchdog's chief Rafael Grossi warned that Iran was "not far" from possessing a nuclear bomb, shortly before he arrived in Tehran on Wednesday for talks. Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons -- an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its ...