Middle East

Trump Envoy Says Headed to Middle East This Week to Discuss Gaza Peace Deal

This is Beirut 2025-02-23 16:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Donald Trump Steve Witkoff

US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that he was headed to the Middle East this week to discuss an extension to phase one of the Israel-Hamas peace deal. "We have to get an extension of phase one, and so I'll be going into the region this week, probably Wednesday, to negotiate that," Witkoff told CNN. "And we're hopeful ...

Israel Says Army to Stay in Evacuated West Bank Camps for 'Coming Year'

This is Beirut 2025-02-23 14:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam West Bank Benjamin Netanyahu Palestine

Israel on Sunday said troops would stay in West Bank refugee camps for the coming year, announcing expanded military operations including tank deployments, after the displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians. The military one month ago began a major raid against Palestinian militants in the West Bank just after a truce began in the Gaza ...

Kremlin Hails Putin-Trump Dialogue as Promising

This is Beirut 2025-02-23 14:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Russia United States Donald Trump Vladimir Putin

The Kremlin on Sunday hailed dialogue between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin—two "extraordinary" presidents—as "promising" and vowed it would "never" give up territory seized in eastern Ukraine. Trump broke with Western policy earlier this month by phoning Putin to discuss how to end the Ukraine ...

Russia's Top Diplomat to Visit Turkey Monday

This is Beirut 2025-02-23 13:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Russia Turkey Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Turkey on Monday, which marks the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Turkish diplomatic sources said Sunday. Lavrov will hold talks in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, the source said, adding that the men will discuss the war in Ukraine, among other ...

Pope Suffers Respiratory Attack, Condition Critical

This is Beirut 2025-02-23 12:04 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Pope Francis US Secretary of State

Pope Francis's condition "continues to be critical", the Vatican said Saturday, saying the 88-year-old was alert but had suffered a respiratory attack that required "high-flow oxygen", and also blood transfusions. "At the moment the prognosis is reserved," it said, as the head of the Catholic Church prepared to spend his ninth night in Rome's ...

Trump Wants Return on US Aid Money to Ukraine

This is Beirut 2025-02-23 05:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Ukraine United States Russia

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he was trying to get money back for the billions of dollars sent to support Ukraine's war against Russia. His comments came as Washington and Kyiv negotiate a mineral resources deal Trump wants as compensation for the wartime aid his predecessor Joe Biden gave Ukraine. It was the latest twist in a ...

One Dead, Several Police Wounded in 'Islamist' Knife Attack in France

This is Beirut 2025-02-22 20:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron

One person died and two police officers were seriously injured Saturday in a knife attack in eastern France that President Emmanuel Macron said was an "Islamist terror act". Prosecutors said three more officers were lightly wounded in the attack in the city of Mulhouse, carried out by a 37-year-old suspect who is on a terror prevention watchlist, ...

Israel Delays Palestinian Prisoners' Release Under Gaza Deal

This is Beirut 2025-02-22 19:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Benjamin Netanyahu Palestine

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that freeing Palestinian prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire deal will be delayed until Hamas ends its "humiliating ceremonies" while releasing Israeli hostages. Since the ceasefire came into effect on January 19, Hamas has released 25 Israeli hostages in well-rehearsed handovers, ...

Trump Says Wants Musk to Be 'More Aggressive' in Federal Cuts

This is Beirut 2025-02-22 17:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA

US President Donald Trump said Saturday he would like his billionaire advisor Elon Musk to get "more aggressive" in implementing his reform agenda, cutting back the federal government. "Elon is doing a great job, but I would like to see him get more aggressive," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Remember, we have ...

Zelensky 'Not Ready' to Sign Minerals Deal with US

This is Beirut 2025-02-22 16:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky United States Donald Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is "not ready" to sign a deal that would give the United States preferential access to his country's rare earth minerals, a Ukrainian source told AFP. US President Donald Trump wants Ukraine to give US companies access as compensation for the tens of billions of dollars of aid delivered under his predecessor ...

Hamas Frees 6 Israeli Hostages in Latest Transfer Under Truce

This is Beirut 2025-02-22 15:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hamas Gaza

Palestinian militants on Saturday freed six Israeli hostages, the last living captives to be released under the first phase of a fragile truce that is also expected to see Palestinian prisoners released. Freedom for the captives caps an emotional two days in Israel, where the family of another hostage, Shiri Bibas, earlier on Saturday confirmed ...

Syrian Suspect in Berlin Stabbing Wanted 'to Kill Jews'

This is Beirut 2025-02-22 14:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Germany Stabbing Attack

A Syrian man arrested after a stabbing attack at Berlin's Holocaust memorial that wounded a Spanish man had been harboring a "plan to kill Jews", police and prosecutors said Saturday. The 19-year-old arrested Friday with blood stains on his hands was carrying a copy of the Koran and a prayer rug, and initial investigations suggested ...