Israel is arming local militias in Gaza in an effort to counter Hamas in the besieged enclave, officials say, as opposition politicians warned that the move endangers national security, CNN reports. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the covert enterprise on Thursday, calling it “a good thing.” In a video posted on social media,…
Russia disagrees with US President Donald Trump’s analogy of the Ukraine conflict as a kids’ brawl, emphasizing that it concerns Russia’s vital national interests and security, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a news briefing, TASS reports. “Naturally, the US president may have his point of view. But for us, this is an existential…
US President Donald Trump emerged Thursday from a long-awaited 90-minute telephone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping encouraged that ongoing trade tensions could soon be resolved, CNN reports. Calling the conversation “very good,” Trump said in a social media post after the call that follow-up talks would soon be arranged with his economic team,…
Reuters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said on Wednesday (June 4) he met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington D.C. during his visit there. Yermak told reporters after meetings in Washington, that it is “very important” that Ukraine wins the war. The meetings came on the same…
Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday (June 4) banning the nationals of 12 countries from entering the United States, saying the move was needed to protect against foreign “terrorists” and other security threats. The countries affected are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and…
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine expects to carry out a prisoner exchange with Russia this coming weekend, on June 7 and 8, with the projected return of 500 Ukrainian servicemen. According to him, the necessary consultations between the two sides took place on June 4. “The Russian side has passed on…
Reuters. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced his resignation on Tuesday (June 3), most likely ushering in a snap election, hours after anti-Muslim politician Geert Wilders quit the right-wing coalition for failing to back tougher migration policies. Ministers from Wilders’ PVV party will leave the cabinet, while the others will continue for now as…
Germany’s former foreign minister Annalena Baerbock was appointed president of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, following an election in which she ran unopposed, Euronews reports. Baerbock, who was elected to the position with a simple majority, will take the top job at the assembly — a role of primarily ceremonial significance that…
NATO is “neither at peace nor at war” with Russia. This opinion was expressed by the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance Mark Rutte, speaking at a press conference after the summit of the countries of the eastern flank of NATO in Lithuania. His speech was broadcast by the alliance’s press service, TASS reports….
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the second round of talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul as excellent, TASS reports. “Today, as you know, the Russian and Ukrainian delegations convened in Istanbul under the chairmanship of our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. And it was a really excellent meeting. As a result,…
A telephone conversation between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin took place. The President of the Russian Federation congratulated the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia on his 50th birthday and conveyed his best wishes. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia thanked the President of…
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Saturday to discuss bilateral ties and regional and global developments, Türkiye’s Communications Directorate announced, Anadolu reports. During the conversation, Erdogan expressed Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening relations with Hungary across all sectors. He noted that upcoming meetings of the High-Level…
President Donald Trump on Tuesday signaled that his patience with Vladimir Putin is running thin, warning the Russian leader that he is “playing with fire” by refusing to engage in serious peace talks about ending the war in Ukraine, Politico reports. But Trump, frustrated that Putin has shrugged at his offer to reset relations…
The State Department has halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the U.S. while it prepares to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said. A U.S. official said Tuesday the suspension is intended to be temporary and does not apply to applicants who already…
The United States has received a list of conditions from Ukraine for a possible peace agreement, and is now waiting to receive proposals from the Russian side, U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said. “When President Trump spoke with President Putin a little over a week ago, the Russians said they were…
The United States has asked Israel in recent days to delay its full-scale military operation in Gaza as part of efforts to exhaust negotiations for a hostage deal, two sources familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday, The Jerusalem Post reports. The request included two key components: Delay the full-scale operation…
“A shameful attack on the Georgian people and Georgian state on the day of its national holiday,” Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili posted on social media in response to a joint statement by French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Georgian Public Broadcaster reports. Macron, Tusk and…
Western allies are not imposing any range restrictions on the use of long-range weapons delivered to Ukraine against Russian military targets, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday, Euronews reports. Merz pointed out that the restrictions have been lifted not only on German weapons. ‘There are no longer any restrictions on the range…
The United States ambassador to Turkey confirmed on Friday that he has assumed the additional role of special envoy for Syria with a focus on ensuring the enduring defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS), Rudaw reports. “As President Trump’s representative in Türkiye, I am proud to assume the role of the U.S. Special Envoy…
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was holding talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul on Saturday (May 24), news channel CNN Turk and state media said, broadcasting video of the two leaders greeting each other. The visit comes the day after U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration issued orders that it said would effectively lift…
On May 27, Foreign Minister of Hungary Péter Szijjártó will pay a working visit to Armenia, Armenia’s Foreign Minsitry Spokesperson Ani Badalyan stated. Minister Szijjártó will participate in a panel discussion within the framework of the “Yerevan Dialogue” forum. A meeting with Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan is scheduled. The “Yerevan…
Armenia and Azerbaijan reciprocally supported each other’s candidacies to host EPC, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in a post on X. “I also welcome the decision to hold the EPC Summit in Azerbaijan in 2028. It’s important to emphasize that Armenia and Azerbaijan reciprocally supported each others candidacies to host EPC,” said Pashinyan.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he may visit the United States and hopes to hold a face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump, Anadolu news agency reports. Speaking to reporters on his return flight from Hungary on Thursday, following an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States in Budapest, Erdogan discussed a…
Reuters. Britain was temporarily blocked from concluding a deal on the Chagos Islands with Mauritius on Thursday (May 22) after an eleventh-hour injunction by a London High Court judge, postponing an agreement aimed at securing the future of the U.S.-UK Diego Garcia air base. Britain had been set to sign the multi-billion dollar deal…
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has announced that the fifth round of indirect Iran-U.S. talks will be held on Friday, May 23, 2025, IRNA reports. Referring to the proposal put forward by Oman and its consultations to hold another round of Iran-U.S. talks on Friday in the Italian capital of Rome, the Foreign Ministry…
A Russian missile strike on a training exercise in Ukraine’s Sumy border region has killed six servicemen and wounded more than 10 others, says Ukraine’s National Guard, BBC reports. Russia’s defence ministry had earlier released a video purporting to show an Iskander missile attack on a training camp, and state news agency Tass said…
An Iranian man who had carried out a deadly armed attack on the Republic of Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran in January 2023 was executed on Wednesday morning, Tasnim reports. The assailant was hanged after an Iranian court found him guilty of first-degree murder of an Azeri national at the embassy with a firearm, illegal…
Iran has received a proposal regarding the timing and venue of a fifth round of talks with the United States toward resolving the crisis around the Islamic republic’s nuclear program, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said, TASS reports. “We have received a proposal regarding the next round of indirect talks between Iran and…
U.S. Vice President JD Vance extended an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the United States during a meeting at the Vatican on Monday ahead of a flurry of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to make progress on a ceasefire in Russia’s war in Ukraine, AP reports. Vance gave the first American pope a letter…
A telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump has begun, Reuters reports, citing a White House spokesman. This is the third conversation between the presidents of Russia and the United States since Trump took office. The first time they spoke was on February 12, the second time on…
