The European Union (EU) countries have not reached a consensus on granting Ukraine a loan based on Russia’s blocked assets. This was announced on October 1 by the head of EU diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, before an informal summit of EU heads of state in Copenhagen.   “We are working on a reparation loan to act…

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed US President Trump’s Gaza plan.    “I welcome President  Donald Trump’s commitment to ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of all hostages. I expect Israel to engage resolutely on this basis. Hamas has no choice but to immediately release all hostages and follow this plan.    These…

In Warsaw, I had a meaningful conversation with my Armenian colleague Ararat Mirzoyan, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.   “We discussed our bilateral agenda, the situation in the South Caucasus and recent geopolitical developments, exchanged views on the outcomes of the UNGA High-Level Week. We agreed to further develop our bilateral relations, and discussed…

US President Donald Trump said he was “very confident” of a Gaza deal as he welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House for talks on Monday, DW reports.   Trump repeated “very confident” when asked if all parties were on board with his 21-point plan.   The talks could be pivotal in…

The state of Oregon and the city of Portland have sued the Trump administration to stop it from deploying National Guard troops to Portland, NBC News repots.   The suit names President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Defense Department, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security as defendants….

During the UN Foreign Affairs session, Minister Mirzoyan had contacts with the Foreign Ministers of Iran, Russia, and Cambodia.   This was reported by the press service of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   From September 22-27, Ararat Mirzoyan was in New York to participate in the high-level discussions of the 80th session of the…

The global system is experiencing a deep crisis and is in urgent need of reforms; the UN has lost both its credibility and its ability to fulfill its mission, while mechanisms created after the Second World War have been paralyzed. This was stated by President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the ‘Bosphorus Summit’.  …

There are good proposals for resolving the Ukrainian conflict, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko told the media after the talks with Russian President Vladimir in Moscow 26 September, BelTA has learned. “You can say and declare anything. But what if the Kremlin strikes Bankovaya Street [a street in Kiev where Ukrainian government institutions are headquartered]? What…

NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday backed U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments this week that NATO member countries should shoot down Russian drones and airplanes if they enter their airspace, if such a move was necessary, Reuters reports.   “If so necessary. So I totally agree here with President Trump: if so necessary,” Rutte…

Reuters. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the General Assembly that Palestinians “reject” the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, saying it “does not represent the Palestinian people, nor does it represent their just struggle for freedom and independence.”   Abbas stressed that “Hamas will not have a role to play in governance” and said all…

Reuters. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the United Nations on Wednesday (September 24).   The leaders are in New York for the U.N. General Assembly.    Also during the day,  Macron after meeting his Iranian counterpart that an agreement on Iran sanctions was still possible.   World leaders gather…

Reuters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday (September 25) he would condemn recent recognitions by some nations of a Palestinian state in his upcoming address at the United Nations General Assembly.    Speaking ahead of his flight to the U.S. where he is scheduled to address the General Assembly in New York on…

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, in his speech at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran supports the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.   “The future of the region and the entire world must be built on cooperation, trust and mutual development. In this context, Iran supports…

Ukraine managed to return 1,625 children from Russia. This was made possible thanks to the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a speech at a meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Children in New York.   “Each return is a success – a child saved. But also a…

Reuters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday (September 23) he met with the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in New York.   Zelenskiy said they discussed in details the efforts of Kyiv, Washington and Europe to bring the war in Ukraine to an end. They also spoke about trade and economic cooperation, as well…

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa renewed his call on Monday (September 22) for Washington to formally lift U.S. sanctions imposed under the 2019 Caesar Act while visiting New York to attend the first U.N. General Assembly of a Syrian leader in nearly six decades, Reuters reports.   Sharaa, a former al Qaeda leader, led rebel forces…

US President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he would help defend Poland and the Baltic states if Russia keeps escalating, Euronews reports.   Answering a question by a journalist from the Italian news agency Ansa on whether the US would come to the aid of its NATO allies on the border with Russia, Trump…

On the occasion of Armenia’s Independence Day, the Madrid City Hall illuminated the famous Neptune Fountain at Cánovas Square.   The Embassy of Armenia to Spain reported this.   Earlier, it was reported that on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia’s independence, Tehran’s Freedom Tower was illuminated in the colors…

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that will add a $100,000 (£74,000) annual fee for applicants to the H-1B visa programme for skilled foreign workers, BBC reports.   Trump’s order mentions “abuse” of the programme and will restrict entry unless payment is made.   Critics have long argued that H-1Bs undercut the…

Three Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace Friday in a move the Baltic nation called “unprecedentedly brazen” and that appears to be the latest test of NATO’s defenses by the Kremlin’s forces.   NATO aircraft intercepted the jets, the military alliance’s spokesperson Allison Hart said on X.   The incursion occurred over the Gulf of…

The Taliban government has removed books written by women from the university teaching system in Afghanistan as part of a new ban which has also outlawed the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment, BBC reports.   Some 140 books by women – including titles like “Safety in the Chemical Laboratory” – were among 680…

Reuters. Ukrainian troops and engineers will train their Polish counterparts in a joint group on tackling drones, Ukraine’s defence minister said on Thursday (September 18).   The initiative will integrate new military technology to protect people and critical infrastructure, Ukrainian defence minister Denys Shmyhal said at a news briefing with his Polish counterpart Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz….

Reuters/CCTV. European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on Wednesday proposed a package of sanctions against Israel due to its strikes on the Gaza Strip.   The proposal included suspending certain trade-related provisions of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel, and sanctions on Hamas.   However, the…

Russia supports the idea of reforming the United Nations Security Council and adjusting it to new realities, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a TASS reporter’s question.   “Indeed, we have consistently supported the idea of reforming the UN Security Council and adjusting the Security Council to the reality of fast-changing times,” Peskov…

U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were given the royal red carpet treatment on Wednesday (September 17) with a carriage procession through the grounds of Windsor Castle, Reuters reports.   Trump spoke to King Charles and Prince William while Melania was seen speaking to Queen Camilla and Princess Kate before the procession…

The European Commission will propose speeding up the phase-out of Russian fossil imports, the European Union executive’s head Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday after a call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Reuters reports.   Von der Leyen said that she had a call with Trump on strengthening joint efforts to increase economic pressure…

Reuters. A United Nations commission of inquiry concluded on Tuesday (September 16) that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza and that top Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had incited these acts.   The 72-page legal analysis cites examples of the scale of the killings, aid blockages, forced displacement and the destruction of a…

Reuters. Large plumes of smoke were rising in Gaza on Tuesday (September 16) morning, amid reports from Axios citing Israeli officials said that the Israeli military had launched a ground offensive a day earlier to seize Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban centre.   The Israeli military did not immediately respond to request for comment…

British authorities are planning their largest security operation since the coronation of King Charles III in 2023 to ensure the safety of former U.S. President Donald Trump during his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom, The New York Times reported. According to the report, British intelligence and security agencies will deploy drones, snipers, mounted police,…

U.S. President Donald Trump’s top diplomat, Marco Rubio, arrived in Israel on Sunday (September 14), amid tensions with fellow U.S. allies in the Middle East over Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar and expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, Reuters reports.   Rubio and his wife Jeanette Dousdebes were greeted by the…