World

Zelensky Says Russian Negotiators Have 'Begun to Discuss' Possible Putin Meeting
Zelensky Says Russian Negotiators Have 'Begun to Discuss' Possible Putin Meeting

Negotiators from Moscow and Kyiv discussed the possibility of a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during their talks in Istanbul this week, Zelensky said in comments released Friday. Ukraine has been pushing for a meeting between the two leaders and has expressed hope that Donald Trump, ...

Russian Rocket Puts Iran Satellite Into Space: Iran Media
Russian Rocket Puts Iran Satellite Into Space: Iran Media

A Russian rocket put an Iranian communications satellite into space on Friday, Iranian state media reported, the latest achievement for an aerospace program that has long concerned Western governments. "The Nahid-2 communications satellite was launched from Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome using a Soyuz rocket," state television said. Weighing 110 ...

Iran Meets European Powers Amid Threats of UN Sanctions Snap Back  
Iran Meets European Powers Amid Threats of UN Sanctions Snap Back  

Iranian diplomats met counterparts from Germany, Britain and France on Friday for renewed nuclear talks, amid warnings that the three European powers could trigger "snap back" sanctions outlined under the 2015 deal. The meeting in Istanbul was the first since Israel's mid-June attack on Iran, which sparked a 12-day war and targeted ...

US Approves $4.67 BN Sale of Air Defense System to Egypt
US Approves $4.67 BN Sale of Air Defense System to Egypt

The United States on Thursday announced the approval of a $4.67 billion sale of the NASAMS air defense system and related support to Egypt. NASAMS -- the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System -- has seen recent use on the battlefield after being provided to Ukraine by Kyiv's supporters as part of efforts to bolster the country's air ...

French Court to Rule on Assad Immunity in Chemical Attack Case
French Court to Rule on Assad Immunity in Chemical Attack Case

France's highest court is to decide Friday whether to uphold an arrest warrant against Syria's ex-president Bashar al-Assad as part of a probe into deadly 2013 chemical attacks during the country's civil war. Rights activists say that if the Court of Cassation confirms Assad does not enjoy immunity due to the severity of the accusations, it could ...

Trump, Fed Chief Powell Bicker During Tense Central Bank Visit
Trump, Fed Chief Powell Bicker During Tense Central Bank Visit

Donald Trump and US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell appeared together for a tense meeting Thursday as the president toured the central bank after ramping up his attacks on its management of the economy. Trump -- who wants to oust Powell for refusing to lower interest rates but likely lacks the legal authority to do so -- has threatened to ...

Syrian, Israeli Ministers Meet US Envoy in Paris: Senior Diplomat
Syrian, Israeli Ministers Meet US Envoy in Paris: Senior Diplomat

The US special envoy for Syria said he held talks with Syrian and Israeli officials in Paris on Thursday on de-escalating sectarian violence in Syria. "I met this evening with the Syrians and Israelis in Paris. Our goal was dialogue and de-escalation, and we accomplished precisely that," said the envoy, Tom Barrack, on X. "All parties reiterated ...

Washington \
Washington "Strongly" Rejects France's Plan to Recognize a Palestinian State

The United States "strongly" rejected on Thursday French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state, calling it a "reckless" decision that undermines peace. “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th,” declared U.S. Secretary of ...

Syrian, Israeli Ministers to Attend US-Brokered Meeting in Paris
Syrian, Israeli Ministers to Attend US-Brokered Meeting in Paris

Damascus's top diplomat Asaad al-Shaibani is set to meet an Israeli minister on Thursday in Paris to discuss recent sectarian violence in Syria's south that had drawn in Israel's military, a senior diplomat told AFP. The US-brokered talks would be the first ministerial meeting between the new Syrian authorities and Israel. The two ...

Macron Says France Will Recognise State of Palestine, Angering Israel
Macron Says France Will Recognise State of Palestine, Angering Israel

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, the most powerful European nation to announce such a move. At least 142 countries now recognise or plan to recognise Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally -- though Israel and the United States ...

U.S. Joins Israel in Withdrawing Negotiators from Gaza Talks
U.S. Joins Israel in Withdrawing Negotiators from Gaza Talks

The United States joined Israel on Thursday in pulling its negotiators from Gaza ceasefire talks, with special envoy Steve Witkoff blaming Hamas for failing to reach a deal and saying Washington would "consider alternative options". France meanwhile announced it would formally recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in ...

Syrian Government Rejects Kurdish Armed Autonomy Ahead of Integration Talks
Syrian Government Rejects Kurdish Armed Autonomy Ahead of Integration Talks

A Syrian government source said Thursday that it rejected allowing the Kurds — who control vast territories in the north and east of the country — to keep their weapons, as a new round of negotiations on their integration into the Syrian state was scheduled, according to state media. The Kurds are engaged in negotiations with central ...