Middle East

Trump's Tariff Pause Gives Market Relief, but China Trade War Intensifies

This is Beirut 2025-04-10 08:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

United States Donald Trump Tariffs China

US President Donald Trump abruptly paused tariffs on most countries, sparking euphoria on global markets Thursday, but upped the ante on a brutal trade war with superpower rival China. After days of turmoil, stocks on Wall Street and across Asia saw huge surges in reaction to Trump's announcement that he was halting a levy hike for almost all ...

US, Saudis Urge Sudan Peace Talks as Top Riyadh Diplomat Visits Washington

This is Beirut 2025-04-10 04:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Saudi Arabia Sudan Yemen Gaza Diplomacy

Saudi Arabia's top diplomat held talks in Washington on Wednesday, laying the groundwork for a visit by US President Donald Trump, which would be the first foreign trip of his second term. Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department, and the two called on the Sudanese army and ...

$Military Action Against Iran \$

Military Action Against Iran "Absolutely Possible": Trump

This is Beirut 2025-04-10 04:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Donald Trump Iran Army Conflict

Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that military action against Iran was "absolutely" possible and that there was "very little time" left to reach a nuclear agreement. "If force has to be used, we will use force," the U.S. president told reporters. "Israel will obviously be very involved, it will lead the ...

Zelensky Says Russia Dragging Beijing Into War by Recruiting Chinese Fighters

This is Beirut 2025-04-09 22:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky China Russia

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said Russia was "dragging" China into the war in Ukraine, as he accused Beijing of knowing that dozens of its citizens were being recruited by Moscow's army to fight. Zelensky -- whose war leadership has hit turbulence with Donald Trump in the White House -- also said that Kyiv was ready to buy up to $50 ...

American-Iranian Negotiations in Oman: The Hour of Truth

Marc Saikali 2025-04-09 21:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

The United States Iran Nuclear

The United States and Iran are preparing to begin crucial negotiations this Saturday, April 12, in Oman. The ambitious objective is to resolve the persistent tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and its ballistic missiles. These talks are taking place in a context of growing military threats, where the failure of discussions could lead to ...

Oil Price Drop: Key Factors Explained

Liliane Mokbel 2025-04-09 21:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States China Oil Market

Oil prices plunged on Wednesday due to the escalating trade war between the United States and China, with Brent crude falling below $60 per barrel for the first time in four years. At around 11:20 GMT (13:20 in Paris), the price of North Sea Brent crude for June delivery dropped by 5.52% to $59.35, briefly reaching a low of $58.47 during the ...

Iraq Signs Deal with US Firm to Produce 24,000 MW of Electricity

This is Beirut 2025-04-09 21:19 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Iraq Electricity Energy GE Vernova

Iraq on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with US energy firm GE Vernova to produce 24,000 megawatts of electricity, the government said, during a visit by an American trade delegation. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani oversaw "the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding as part of a strategic cooperation framework ...

France Could Recognize Palestinian State 'in June'

This is Beirut 2025-04-09 21:15 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam France Palestinian Statehood United Nations

France is planning to recognize a Palestinian state within months and could make the move at a UN conference in New York in June on settling the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday. "We must move towards recognition, and we will do so in the coming months," Macron, who this week visited Egypt, ...

Israeli Troops Seizing 'Large Areas' in Gaza, Expanding Buffer Zones

This is Beirut 2025-04-09 21:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Gaza Israel Katz

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the army was seizing large areas in Gaza and incorporating them into buffer zones cleared of their inhabitants in a bid to force Hamas to release hostages. "Large areas are being seized and added to Israel's security zones, leaving Gaza smaller and more isolated," Katz said during a visit ...

EU Greenlights First Set of Tariffs Hitting Back at US

This is Beirut 2025-04-09 19:16 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Donald Trump United States

The EU on Wednesday adopted its first measures hitting back at President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught, targeting more than 20 billion euros of US goods, including soybeans, motorcycles, and beauty products. The levies of up to 25 percent are retaliation for US duties on steel and aluminum imposed last month -- with Europe's response to ...

US Imposes New Sanctions on Iran's Nuclear Program Before Talks

This is Beirut 2025-04-09 18:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States Iran US Treasury Department Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Sanctions

The United States on Wednesday announced new sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear program ahead of closely watched talks on the row between the longtime adversaries. The Treasury Department said it was imposing sanctions under additional authorities on five entities, including the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and one individual over the ...

China Retaliates with 84% Tariffs on US Products from Thursday

This is Beirut 2025-04-09 18:08 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States China Tariffs Trade

China will impose 84 percent tariffs on US imports, up from 34 percent, the finance ministry said Wednesday, hours after similar levies by the United States came into force. US President Donald Trump's latest salvo of tariffs came into effect on dozens of trading partners Wednesday, bringing duties on Chinese products up to 104 ...