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Russia and Syria will hold further talks regarding Russian military bases in Syria, Russia’s news agencies reported late on Tuesday, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as telling journalists after his talks with Syrian officials. “This issue requires additional negotiations,” TASS news agency cited Bogdanov as saying. Bogdanov
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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov is set to meet Syria’s new rulers this week in Damascus, two Syrian sources said on Tuesday, in the first visit by Russian officials since Moscow’s ally President Bashar Assad was toppled. The Syrian sources had no further details on Bogdanov’s
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The US said on Sunday that the agreement between Lebanon and Israel would remain in effect until Feb. 18, after Israel said on Friday it would keep troops in the south beyond the Sunday deadline set out in a US-brokered ceasefire that halted last year’s war with Hezbollah. “The
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The State Department ordered a sweeping freeze Friday on new funding for almost all US foreign assistance, making exceptions for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt. The order threatened a quick halt to many of the billions of dollars in US-funded projects globally to support health,
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Pete Hegseth narrowly secured enough votes on Friday to become the next US defense secretary, a major victory for President Donald Trump after fierce opposition from Democrats and even some Republicans to his controversial nominee. Hegseth was confirmed after a 50-50 vote in the Senate, when Vice President JD Vance
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A shooting which officials blamed on the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) killed two Iraqi border guards on Friday near the Turkish boundary in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, Iraq’s interior ministry said. The PKK, which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state, has several positions in Iraq’
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Israel said on Thursday the terms of a ceasefire with Hezbollah were not being implemented fast enough and there was more work to do, while the Iran-backed group urged pressure to ensure Israeli troops leave south Lebanon by Sunday as set out in the deal. The deal stipulates that Israeli
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US President Donald Trump will reach out to Kim Jong Un again, he said in an interview aired Thursday, calling the North Korean leader with whom he previously met three times a “smart guy.” The Republican had a rare diplomatic relationship with the reclusive Kim during his previous administration from
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump discussed ways for more cooperation between Riyadh and Washington and expanding their partnership. During a phone conversation on Wednesday evening, the Crown Prince conveyed the congratulations of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
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The Pentagon said Wednesday it has begun deploying 1,500 active duty troops to help secure the southern border in the coming days, putting in motion plans President Donald Trump laid out in executive orders shortly after he took office to crack down on immigration. Acting Defense Secretary Robert Salesses
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As opposition forces raced across Syria in a surprise offensive launched in the country’s northwest late last year, officials from several countries backing either the rebels or Syria’s government met in Qatar on what to do. According to people briefed on the Dec. 7 meeting, officials from Turkiye,
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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is advocating the formation of a government of “consensus” that includes representatives from all political factions. Meanwhile, Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam has requested that parliamentary blocs submit non-partisan nominees for ministerial positions, emphasizing that they must not belong to any political party. Aoun stressed on Tuesday
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As insurgents raced across Syria in a surprise offensive launched in the country’s northwest late last year, officials from several countries backing either the rebels or Syria’s government met in Qatar on what to do. According to people briefed on the Dec. 7 meeting, officials from Turkiye, Russia,
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US President Donald Trump said Monday he was not confident a ceasefire deal in Gaza would hold, despite trumpeting his diplomacy to secure it ahead of his inauguration. Asked by a reporter as he returned to the White House whether the two sides would maintain the truce and move on
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The Senate quickly confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state Monday, voting unanimously to give President Donald Trump the first member of his new Cabinet on Inauguration Day. Rubio, the Republican senator from Florida, is among the least controversial of Trump’s nominees and vote was decisive, 99-0. Another pick,
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Malaysia’s attorney-general’s chambers has sought a gag order to ban public discussion of former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s judicial review claim that a document exists allowing him to serve his remaining prison sentence under house arrest, according to state news agency Bernama. Najib, jailed for his role