Europe

Macron appoints ex-FM to help break Lebanon deadlock

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed former Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as his personal envoy to Lebanon. The appointment comes a year after the senior diplomat stepped down after failing to make any inroads in Lebanon's political deadlock.

Putin, MbS discuss trade ties, cooperation within OPEC

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed cooperation within the OPEC+ during a phone call on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Kremlin.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 469

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 467

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Belgium thanks Iran for release of European nationals

The Belgian foreign minister has thanked Iran for helping to resolve the issue of European prisoners in Iranian jails.

Moscow says CIA hacked iPhones of Russian diplomats, citizens

The CIA installed malware on thousands of Apple phones used by Russian diplomats and citizens, Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed on Thursday.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 462

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 461: Drones hit several buildings in Moscow as fresh wave of Russian airstrikes pound Ukraine

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 460: Ukraine says has shot down 37 Russian missiles, 29 drones

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Iraq announces $17bn transport project linking Asia and Europe

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has unveiled plans for a $17 billion regional transportation project intended to facilitate the flow of goods from Asia to Europe. The announcement was made at a one-day conference in Baghdad that gathered transport ministers and representatives from Iraq, the Persian Gulf countries, Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Jordan.

Russia to US: Lectures on nuclear weapon deployments “hypocritical”

Russia dismissed criticism from US President Joe Biden over Moscow’s deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, stressing that Washington for decades has done the same  throughout Europe.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 458

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Oman announces prisoner swap between Iran, Belgium

Iran and Belgium have sent prisoners to the Omani capital of Muscat to carry out an exchange, Oman's foreign ministry confirmed on Friday.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 457

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 456: Ukraine says Wagner withdrawing troops from Bakhmut

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

China and Russia should upgrade economic, trade and investment cooperation: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin that Beijing and Moscow should increase the level of economic, trade and investment cooperation, according to the Chinese state media reports.

Russia predicts trade with China to hit record $200 billion

Trade between Moscow and Beijing is expected to hit a new record level of $200 billion this year, said Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin during a trip to China. The remarks came as Moscow faces growing isolation from the West over the Ukraine war.

Russian court extends WSJ reporter’s detention by 3 months

The Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow has extended the pre-trial detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich for three months to August 30, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported citing the court.

Germany issues arrest warrant for Lebanon’s central bank governor

Germany's public prosecutor has informed the Lebanese judiciary of an arrest warrant for Lebanon's central bank governor Riad Salameh. It comes after French prosecutors issued a similar warrant for Salameh.

Russian PM in China for business forum, talks with President Xi

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has arrived in China on an official visit during which he will meet President Xi Jinping and sign a series of deals on infrastructure and trade.

Oil prices continue to rise, tighter market expected

Oil prices continued to climb on Tuesday with investors expecting a tighter market led by a seasonal rise in gasoline demand and supply cuts from OPEC+ producers, though concerns over the risk of a US debt default capped gains.

Moscow, Beijing express ‘strong dissatisfaction’ with G7 communique

Russia and China have expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with the final statement issued at the end of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in the Japanese city of Hiroshima over such issues as those related to the Ukraine war and the South China Sea.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 452

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Erdogan criticizes Biden for calling him “dictator”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dodged giving a direct response when pressed by CNN on whether he genuinely believed Washington was trying to unseat him. Instead, he criticized US President Joe Biden for viewing him as a “dictator".

US imposes fresh sanctions against Iran, Russia

The United States has issued new sanctions targeting the “logistics network” between Iran and Russia as the two countries move to boost their relations.

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