Ukraine Says Russia Withholding Peace Terms to Undermine Talks

This is Beirut 30/05 20:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Russia

Ukraine said Friday it did not expect any results from talks with Russia in Istanbul unless Moscow provided its peace terms in advance, accusing the Kremlin of doing "everything" it could to sabotage the potential meeting. Diplomatic efforts to end the war have accelerated in recent weeks, with both sides meeting for their first round of direct ...

Saudi FM to Make Landmark Visit to the West Bank

This is Beirut 30/05 20:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

West Bank Hamas Israel Gaza Faisal bin Farhan Saudi Arabia

Prince Faisal bin Farhan will become the first Saudi foreign minister to visit the occupied West Bank on Sunday, a diplomatic source told AFP, as the Gaza war drags on and Riyadh pushes for Palestinian statehood. The top Saudi diplomat will head a delegation to Ramallah, a Palestinian embassy source said, the first such trip since Israel first ...

Barcelona Ends 'Friendship Agreement' With Tel Aviv Over Gaza War

This is Beirut 30/05 18:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Palestine Barcelona

Barcelona's city council voted Friday to cut institutional ties with the Israeli government and suspend its friendship agreement with the city of Tel Aviv, citing violations of international law and the rights of Palestinians. The motion, supported by the governing Socialist party along with far-left and leftist pro-independence groups, calls for ...

Tensions Mount as Washington Delays and Israel Threatens Iran

Kaline Antoun 30/05 18:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Iran Israel Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Nuclear

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay any potential military action against Iran, in order to give the United States administration more time to negotiate a new nuclear agreement with Tehran. Iran’s nuclear program lies at the center of an escalating diplomatic ...

Trump Signals Fresh Trade Tensions With China

This is Beirut 30/05 18:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States China Tariffs

US President Donald Trump signaled renewed trade tensions with China on Friday, arguing that Beijing had "violated" a deal to de-escalate tariffs, at a time when both sides appeared deadlocked in negotiations. Trump's post on his Truth Social platform came hours after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that trade talks with ...

EU 'Fully Invested' in Trump Trade Talks After US Court Ruling

This is Beirut 30/05 17:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump European Union USA

The EU is "fully invested" in reaching a deal with the United States to avoid sweeping tariffs, the bloc's trade chief said Friday, after US judges ruled the controversial measures were unconstitutional. "Delivering forward-looking solutions remains a top EU priority. Staying in permanent contact," EU trade commissioner ...

In Iraq, One Man’s Unstoppable Passion for Classic Cars

This is Beirut 30/05 17:25 - Reading : less than a minute

Iraq Baghdad Cars Vintage

Macron Urges Asia, Europe to Unite to Resist 'Spheres of Coercion'

This is Beirut 30/05 17:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Europe Asia Singapor

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday urged Europe and Asia to build a new alliance to hold off big powers seeking to build "spheres of coercion", in a swipe at China and Russia. Macron was speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's major annual defense and security conference, as Russia defies diplomatic pressure for a ...

Israel Minister Says 'We will Build Jewish Israeli State' in West Bank

This is Beirut 30/05 15:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel West Bank Palestinians

Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed on Friday to build a "Jewish Israeli state" in the occupied West Bank, a day after the government announced the creation of 22 new settlements in the Palestinian territory. Israeli settlements in the West Bank, seen as a major obstacle to lasting peace, are regularly condemned by the United Nations as ...

UN Warns All of Gaza at Risk of Famine

This is Beirut 30/05 15:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Palestine United Nations Israel

The UN warned Friday that the entire population of Gaza was at risk of famine, as an Israeli far-right minister urged the use of "full force" against Hamas. Negotiations to end nearly 20 months of war have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough, with Israel resuming operations in Gaza in March following a short-lived truce. Israel ...

Iran Calls Austria Intel on Nuclear Programme 'Fake'

This is Beirut 30/05 13:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

iran austria nuclear

Iran on Friday branded as "fake" an Austrian intelligence report that said Tehran is seeking atomic weapons, even as it pursues delicate negotiations with the United States on its nuclear programme. In its annual report on global threats, Austria's domestic intelligence service (DSN) said Monday that Iran's "nuclear weapons development programme ...

Turkey Proposes to Host Trump-Putin-Zelensky Meeting

This is Beirut 30/05 12:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Turkey Ukraine Ceasefire Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump

Turkey on Friday proposed to host a meeting between the American, Russian and Ukrainian presidents in an effort to advance toward an end of the three years of war in Ukraine. NATO member Turkey, which has strove to maintain relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, has become a key mediator amid US President Donald Trump's push for a deal to end the ...