Blinken says US wants Lebanon solution, not ‘broader conflict’
"So Israel has a clear and very legitimate interest in doing that. The people of Lebanon want the same thing....Geostrategy
Saudi Crown Prince holds talks with Iranian foreign minister in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Iran hold discussions on bilateral and regional issues, especially on peace efforts in Lebanon and Gaza. Also,...Geostrategy
Iran urges new meet in Vienna talks ‘as soon as possible’
Iran called on Monday for a new meeting "as soon as possible" in the talks that have been held in...Tehran has been engaged in negotiations with Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia directly and the United States indirectly to revive the 2015 deal.
The 2015 deal gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program to guarantee that Tehran could not develop a nuclear weapon.
Putin congratulates Macron, wishes him ‘success’: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election and defeat of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen,..."I sincerely wish you success in your state activities, as well as good health and well-being," Putin said in a telegram to Macron
But while keeping its diplomatic channels to Moscow open, France under Macron has joined the barrage of international sanctions on Russia
Arab, world leaders welcome Macron’s win
World leaders rushed to congratulate France's centrist President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election and defeat of far-right leader Marine Le...Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent a cable to congratulate Emmanuel Macron on being re-elected for a second term as French president
The UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan wished the French President continued success in achieving more progress and prosperity for the people of France
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Egyptian President, Jordan king meet in Cairo, discuss regional issues
The three leaders discussed the developments taking place in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, stressing the need to stop any practices...The three leaders discussed the developments taking place in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, stressing the need to stop any practices that violate the sanctity of the holy mosque
They called for avoiding escalation and calming the situation, stressing that the region is in need for peace, stability and cooperation to achieve progress and prosperity
Top US officials visit Kyiv as Mariupol ‘on the brink’
The United States' top diplomat and defence chief were in Ukraine's capital Sunday, Kyiv said, making the first high-level visit...Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky met the US officials Sunday
The United States has been a leading donor of finance and weaponry to Ukraine and a key sponsor of sanctions targeting Russia
France’s Macron wins new term
Macron is the first French president to win a second term for two decades, but Le Pen's result also marks...Macron is the first French president to win a second term for two decades, but Le Pen's result also marks the closest the far-right has ever come to taking power in France
The 44-year-old president faces a litany of challenges in his second term, starting with parliamentary elections in June, where keeping a majority will be critical
Morocco prime minister’s petrol business at center of dispute
Soaring fuel prices in Morocco have placed billionaire petrol magnate Aziz Akhannouch -- who is also prime minister -- at...Aziz Akhannouch last week had to try to explain to parliament the rise at the pump to a record $1.46 per liter of unleaded fuel.
At that level, filling a car's tank would eat into a substantial chunk of income when the minimum monthly wage is barely $280 in the North African nation.
Israeli forces arrest 12 in West Bank as UN chief discusses peace efforts
Israeli forces on Sunday said they had arrested 12 people across the occupied West Bank over the weekend in connection...A total of 14 people have been killed in four attacks in Israel since March 22, including another shooting spree in Bnei Brak, an Orthodox Jewish city near Tel Aviv.
Over the same period, 24 Palestinians have been killed across the West Bank, including assailants, as Israel has stepped up operations in response to attacks.
UNRWA may end services to refugees due to funding crunch
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is facing a financial implosion for the last 10 years,...The Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini said this in a message to Palestinian refugees
He explained that the annual shortfalls to the core program budget have regularly neared $100 million
Iran Guards seize vessel smuggling fuel in Gulf
Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized a foreign vessel smuggling fuel in the Gulf and arrested its crew members, state media said...The crewmen's nationalities were not specified
On April 15, Iranian media reported the seizure of a boat carrying 250,000 liters of smuggled fuel and the arrest of its seven-member crew
