World

Zelensky Calls Putin Truce Proposal 'Attempt at Manipulation'

This is Beirut 28/04 22:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Ukraine Vladimir Putin Russia

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday branded a three-day truce announced by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as an "attempt at manipulation". "Now there's a new attempt at manipulation: for some reason, everyone has to wait until May 8," Zelensky said in his daily address. Putin on Monday ordered the ceasefire on May 8-10, ...

Rubio Tells Russian Counterpart Time to End 'Senseless War'

This is Beirut 28/04 22:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Marco Rubio Ukraine Russia

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that the United States is committed to working to end the war in Ukraine, the State Department said Monday. "The United States is serious about facilitating an end to this senseless war," State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a readout of Sunday's call, which ...

'Catastrophic': Experts Sound Alarm Over Possible Crimea Deal

This is Beirut 28/04 19:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Kyiv Ukraine Crimea Vladimir Putin

Recognizing Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea would undermine the international order and raise serious legal challenges, experts said, as the Kremlin on Monday called the concession "imperative" to resolving the conflict. The comments came as US President Donald Trump pushed Russia to accept a ceasefire, telling ...

Iranian Nuclear Talks: Improbable Peace, Unlikely Agreement?

This is Beirut 28/04 17:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Israel Middle East Tehran

In April, negotiations between the United States and Iran on the Iranian nuclear program took a notable step forward, with three rounds of talks mediated by Oman. The goal of these discussions is to limit Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for a partial lifting of the economic sanctions imposed by Washington. The third round of talks took ...

Interior Minister Blames 'Negligence' for Iran Port Blast That Killed 70

This is Beirut 28/04 16:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran Port

Iran's minister of interior on Monday blamed "negligence" for a massive explosion at the country's largest commercial port, with firefighters still battling a blaze at the facility two days later. The latest death toll is 70. The blast took place on Saturday at the Shahid Rajaee Port in Iran's south near the strategic Strait ...

Everything You Need to Know Before the May 7 Conclave

This is Beirut 28/04 16:50 - Reading : less than a minute

Pope Francis

Where and when will the conclave be held? Who will vote? How will voting take place in strict secrecy in the Sistine Chapel? On May 7, 135 cardinals will gather to elect Pope Francis' successor, in an age-old process marked by tradition and mystery.

Massive Blackout Hits Spain, Portugal, France

This is Beirut 28/04 15:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

France Spain Portugal Blackout

Power went out across all of Spain and Portugal on Monday, cutting cellphone and internet networks, halting trains and trapping people in elevators, officials said. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said after an emergency government meeting on the situation, "we have no conclusive information about the reasons for this outage". He ...

Op-edAmerica, Iran, and the Appearance That Deceives

David Hale 28/04 15:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA United States Iran Tehran Washington

Judging from the statements out of Tehran and Washington, the American-Iranian nuclear talks are going swimmingly. This studied appearance is only natural. Iran's leaders are highly motivated to draw the U.S. into protracted negotiations, during which they can appear perfectly reasonable while avoiding further consequences for their inglorious ...

Russia Says Claims Over Annexed Ukraine Regions Key to Peace

This is Beirut 28/04 15:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Russia Donald Trump

Russia said on Monday it was ready to negotiate directly with Ukraine, but that recognition of its claims over five Ukrainian regions including Crimea were "imperative" to resolving the conflict. Since launching its Ukraine offensive in February 2022, Russia has seized large parts of four Ukrainian regions and claimed them as its own, in addition ...

Conclave to Elect New Pope Starts May 7

This is Beirut 28/04 14:59 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Pope Francis Conclave The Vatican

Catholic cardinals will meet on May 7 to start voting for a new pope, the Vatican announced on Monday, a week after the death of Pope Francis. So-called "Princes of the Church" under the age of 80 will meet in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new religious leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. The date was decided at meeting ...

Ukraine: Putin Orders Surprise Three-Day Ceasefire in May

This is Beirut 28/04 14:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ceasefire Donald Trump Kyiv Ukraine Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a surprise three-day ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8-10, coinciding with Moscow's World War II Victory Day commemorations, the Kremlin said Monday. The announcement came after US President Donald Trump urged Putin to "stop shooting" and "sign a deal" to end the three-year conflict, which the White ...

Syria Group Says Military Chief Arrested in UAE

This is Beirut 28/04 12:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gulf United Arab Emirates Jaish al-Islam Syria

Two sources from Jaish al-Islam, a military faction now part of Syria's transitional authorities, told AFP on Monday that its leader had been arrested at Dubai airport several days ago. Since 2015, Issam Buwaydani has been head of Jaish al-Islam, a group that fought against now ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad and once controlled the Eastern Ghouta ...