Putin Threatens to Arm Countries Capable of Striking Western Targets

This Is Beirut 2024-06-05 23:17 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Ukraine United States Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday criticized the West's delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine, arguing Moscow could arm other countries with similar weapons to attack Western targets. The comment -- which Putin made at a rare press conference with foreign news outlets -- came after several Western countries including the United ...

Slovak PM Speaks for First Time Since Assassination Attempt

This Is Beirut 2024-06-05 19:37 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday blamed his opponents for fostering the "hatred" that led to an assassination attempt against him, in his first address since the shooting. In the video posted on Facebook, looking calm but speaking with long pauses, the 59-year-old also said  that he could resume work as early as this month. "I ...

IAEA Board Passes Resolution Criticizing Iran

This Is Beirut 2024-06-05 19:26 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Kingdom

The International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors has passed a resolution criticizing Iran's lack of cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, three diplomats told AFP on Wednesday. The motion brought by Britain, France and Germany – but opposed by China and Russia – is the first of its kind since November 2022 and comes ...

Biden in France to Mark D-Day Anniversary Under Specter of War

This Is Beirut 2024-06-05 13:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron

Western allies come together to mark 80 years since the World War II D-Day landings, as the specter of war haunts Europe once again in Ukraine. US President Joe Biden began a state visit to France on Wednesday marking 80 years since the World War II D-Day landings, with a new war shadowing Europe as Ukraine battles Russian invasion. Along with ...

France, Germany, and Poland Targeted by Russian Disinformation

This Is Beirut 2024-06-04 20:34 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

European Union

France, Germany, and Poland have become "permanent" targets for Russian disinformation attacks in the run-up to European Parliament elections this week, a senior EU official said on Tuesday. The European Union has repeatedly warned heading towards the June 6-9 vote that Russia would ramp up disinformation campaigns in the 27-country bloc. "There ...

Western Military Instructors Not Immune From Attack, Says Russia

This Is Beirut 2024-06-04 17:11 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron

Western army instructors who train Ukrainian soldiers in the country would have no "immunity" from Russian strikes, the Kremlin said Tuesday, amid reports that France could dispatch military trainers to Ukraine. Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrsky said last week that French military instructors would soon arrive in the country, but Kyiv's ...

Biden Warns of Electing "Convicted Felon" Trump

This Is Beirut 2024-06-04 11:31 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA

American president Joe Biden blasted Donald Trump on Monday as a "convicted felon" who is seeking the US presidency for the first time in history, in a dramatic escalation of his attacks on his rival in November's election. Biden, 81, was using the description for the first time since Trump was convicted by a New York jury of covering up hush ...

Netanyahu Labels Biden's Ceasefire Plan for Gaza as 'Partial'

This Is Beirut 2024-06-03 20:39 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Palestine Hamas United States

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu views a plan outlined by US President Joe Biden for a truce in Gaza and hostage release deal as “partial,” a government spokesman said on Monday. Biden presented on Friday what he labelled an Israeli three-phase plan that would eventually end the fighting, free all hostages held by Palestinian ...

US VP Harris to Attend Ukraine Summit in Switzerland

This Is Beirut 2024-06-03 20:03 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ukraine United States Volodymyr Zelensky

US Vice President Kamala Harris will attend a Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland, the White House said on Monday, after President Joe Biden was reportedly set to skip it for an election fundraiser hosted by George Clooney. Harris, who will be joined by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan for the June 15 meeting in Lucerne, will “underscore ...

Iran Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf Submits Presidential Bid

This Is Beirut 2024-06-03 19:42 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

The conservative speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, registered his candidacy on Monday for the snap presidential election on June 28. At the end of the five-day registration period on Monday evening, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told reporters that a total of 80 applications had been submitted. The presidential hopefuls ...

European Powers Submit Iran Censure Motion to IAEA Board

This Is Beirut 2024-06-03 17:28 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Europe

Britain, France, and Germany late on Monday submitted a resolution to the UN nuclear watchdog's board, censuring Iran over its lack of cooperation with the agency despite US opposition, two diplomats said. It was the latest of numerous diplomatic maneuvers by Western powers who fear Iran might be seeking to develop a nuclear weapon -- a claim the ...

Zelensky Will Participate in Upcoming G7 Summit

This Is Beirut 2024-06-03 15:34 - Reading : less than a minute

G7 Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will participate in the upcoming G7 summit in Italy either online or in person, his spokesman told state media on Monday. A key agenda item of the summit to be held in southern Italy from June 13 to 15 will be ways to use profits from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, which has been urging allies for ...