World

Qatar and Saudi Arabia Competing for the Syrian Market

Marie de La Roche Saint-André 15/05 10:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Saudi Arabia Donald Trump Gulf Syria Qatar

After supporting several Syrian opposition groups in the early stages of the war, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are now looking to capitalize on the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad last December to establish a strategic foothold in the country. With a new regime in place that aligns more closely with their interests, both countries are eager to ...

EditorialDonald Trump Reshapes the Middle East: A New Geopolitical Era

Mark Saikali 15/05 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf Israel Saudi Arabia Middle East Lebanon

Donald Trump had promised that his visit to the Gulf would be historic — and he delivered. From the moment he stepped off the plane, a series of announcements followed swiftly. Let’s start with the numbers — and they’re staggering: $300 billion in signed deals spanning industry, research, defense, space, and even civilian nuclear energy. ...

Top Iran Aide says Nuclear Deal Possible for Sanctions Relief

This is Beirut 15/05 09:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Tehran Khamenei Nuclear

An adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Iran could accept far-reaching curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, US media reported. In an interview with NBC News, Ali Shamkhani said that Tehran could agree to never develop nuclear weapons, give up stockpiles of highly enriched uranium and ...

SpotlightUkraine-Russia Peace Talks in Turkey: What we Know

This is Beirut 15/05 09:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Turkey Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump

Ukraine and Russia on Thursday hold their first direct talks since the start of Russia's 2022 invasion. President Volodymyr Zelensky had challenged his Russian counterpart to attend in person. But President Vladimir Putin was not on the Kremlin's delegation list. Here's is what is known about the talks: Who is expected to attend? Putin ...

Trump to Close Deal-Making Gulf Tour in UAE

This is Beirut 15/05 09:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf Middle East UAE

US President Donald Trump on Thursday closes a Middle East tour in the United Arab Emirates as he focuses squarely on seeking deals after billions of dollars of pledges from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The first major trip of his second term had been scheduled to end Thursday but Trump, always ready with surprises, did not rule out continuing on to ...

AnalysisTrump’s Middle East Visit: AI Dreams, Petrodollars and the Rebirth of Broken States

Salam El Zaatari 15/05 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump MBS Saudi Arabia Dubai Syria Middle East

Trump’s first major foreign trip in his second term didn’t start in Jerusalem, Cairo or Baghdad, it began in Riyadh. That alone says a lot. This wasn’t about Abraham Accords 2.0 or sermonizing about “shared values.” This was pure transactional diplomacy, wrapped in the glossy skin of petrodollars and lined with AI circuits. The visuals ...

Fresh Gunbattles Rock Libya Capital After Brief Lull

This is Beirut 15/05 05:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Libya Conflict

Fresh gunbattles erupted on Wednesday in the Libyan capital between two powerful armed groups, a security official said, a day after authorities declared the fighting over. Clashes flared between the Radaa force and the 444 Brigade in key areas of the city, including the port, the source said. Fighting eased towards the end of the day, according ...

Syrian Leader Says Lifting of US Sanctions 'Historic and Courageous'

This is Beirut 14/05 23:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ahmed al-Sharaa United States Donald Trump Syria Sanctions

In a significant address following his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Riyadh, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa praised US President Donald Trump's decision to lift sanctions, calling it "historic and courageous." Speaking in a live television address, Sharaa said Trump's move "was a historic and courageous decision, which ...

US Sanctions Chinese and Hong Kong Firms for Aiding Iran's Missile Program

This is Beirut 14/05 23:26 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Iran China Sanctions

The United States on Wednesday unveiled fresh sanctions against six people and 12 firms -- including several based in China and Hong Kong -- for their support of Iran's ballistic missile program. The action follows sanctions on a series of entities and individuals linked to Iran's oil industry and nuclear program the Trump ...

Trump Presses Syria Leader on Israel Ties after Lifting Sanctions

This is Beirut 14/05 22:18 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

United States Donald Trump Syria Ahmad al-Sharaa

US President Donald Trump landed in Doha on Wednesday after visiting Riyadh, where he urged Syria's president to normalize relations with Israel after offering a major boost to the war-ravaged country by vowing to lift sanctions. Trump became the first US president in 25 years to meet a Syrian leader -- Ahmed al-Sharaa, an erstwhile Islamist ...

Qatar Airways Makes Record-Breaking Order for Boeing Planes

This is Beirut 14/05 21:12 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Qatar Qatar Airways Boeing US

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday Qatar Airways had placed a "record" order for 160 planes from Boeing as he signed a raft of deals in Doha alongside Qatar's emir. The order, which the White House said was Boeing's largest ever for wide-body jets, deepens ties between the US aerospace giant and the giant Middle East ...

Zelensky Says Ukraine Ready for 'Any Format' of Talks to End War

This is Beirut 14/05 20:55 - Reading : less than a minute

Volodymyr Zelensky Ukraine Russia Turkey

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was ready for "any format" of negotiations to end the war with Russia ahead of talks in Istanbul on Thursday but said his next steps will depend on who represents Russia at the meeting. "Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations, and we are not afraid of meetings. Tomorrow—in Turkey," Zelensky ...