Fast-moving Ukraine talks means Europe needs to do more: French presidency official

Fast-moving Ukraine talks means Europe needs to do more: French presidency official

The acceleration in Ukraine diplomacy means Europe needs to do more and in a better way, a French presidency official said ahead of informal talks later on Monday among several key European leaders in Paris. US President Donald Trump stunned European allies in NATO and Ukraine last week when he announced he had held a…

India’s capital New Delhi hit with 4.0-magnitude earthquake

India’s capital New Delhi hit with 4.0-magnitude earthquake

India’s capital New Delhi was jolted awake Monday by powerful tremors from a magnitude 4.0 earthquake, with its epicenter on the edge of the sprawling megacity an hour before dawn. There were no immediate reports of major damage, but terrified residents rushed outside as buildings shook. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at…

Lebanon official media report three Israeli airstrikes in country’s east

Lebanon official media report three Israeli airstrikes in country’s east

Lebanon official media said Israeli aircraft carried out three strikes Sunday in the Bekaa Valley in the country’s east, two days ahead of a deadline in a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. “Enemy warplanes carried out two strikes on the outskirts of the town of Harbata and a third strike on the town of…

US says strike kills member of al-Qaeda affiliate

US says strike kills member of al-Qaeda affiliate

The US military said Sunday it killed a member of an al-Qaeda affiliate organization in a precision airstrike in Syria. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it conducted the strike Saturday “in Northwest Syria targeting and killing a senior finance and logistics official in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an al-Qaeda affiliate,” according to a…

Russia says it destroyed 90 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russia says it destroyed 90 Ukrainian drones overnight

Russia’s air defense units intercepted and destroyed 90 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Russian defense ministry said on Monday. Thirty-eight of the drones were downed over the Sea of Azov, 24 over the southern Russia region of Krasnodar, and the rest over several other regions in the south and west of the country, as well as…

UK says ready to deploy troops to Ukraine if necessary

UK says ready to deploy troops to Ukraine if necessary

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was prepared to deploy troops to Ukraine if needed, hours before European leaders meet in Paris on Monday to address Washington’s shock policy shift on the war. US President Donald Trump sidelined Kyiv and its European backers last week by calling his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to talk…

With US support, ‘we can finish the job’ against Iran: Netanyahu

With US support, ‘we can finish the job’ against Iran: Netanyahu

Israel and the United States are determined to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its “aggression” in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday after meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Speaking after meeting Rubio in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said they had held a “very productive discussion” on a number of issues,…

US envoy, national security advisor head to Saudi Arabia for Russia-Ukraine talks

US envoy, national security advisor head to Saudi Arabia for Russia-Ukraine talks

White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Sunday said he would travel to Saudi Arabia later in the day with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz for talks on how to end Russia’s war on Ukraine. His remarks to Fox News were the first official confirmation that the talks would take place. “I am going tonight,”…

US Mideast envoy says phase two of Gaza talks to continue this week

US Mideast envoy says phase two of Gaza talks to continue this week

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that talks on phase two of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas would continue this week “at a location to be determined” to figure out how to reach a successful conclusion. He told Fox News that he had “very productive and constructive” calls…

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy warns Russia will ‘wage war’ on NATO

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy warns Russia will ‘wage war’ on NATO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes Russia is preparing to “wage war” against a weakened NATO should President Donald Trump dilute US support for the alliance. In an interview with broadcaster NBC on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy also said Trump had the leverage to push Vladimir Putin into ceasefire negotiations over Ukraine,…

Macron says discussed Russia-Ukraine war, Mideast situation with Saudi Crown Prince

Macron says discussed Russia-Ukraine war, Mideast situation with Saudi Crown Prince

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that he discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East developments during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “I spoke with the Crown Prince about Russia’s war in Ukraine and the role Saudi Arabia could play in fostering a solid and lasting peace, with Europeans at the…

Rubio says ‘nothing finalized’ for Russia talks

Rubio says ‘nothing finalized’ for Russia talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio played down expectations Sunday of any breakthrough at upcoming talks with Russian officials on ending the war in Ukraine. President Donald Trump had repeatedly insisted he would end the conflict in a single day if he returned to the White House, but Rubio stressed it would “not be easy” to resolve…

Hezbollah chief says Israel must fully withdraw from Lebanon by February 18

Hezbollah chief says Israel must fully withdraw from Lebanon by February 18

The head of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said on Sunday that Israeli troops must withdraw from Lebanese territory in full by a February 18 deadline, saying it had “no pretext” to maintain a military presence in any post in southern Lebanon. Under a truce brokered by Washington in November, Israeli troops were granted 60 days…

Egypt’s al-Sisi discusses Mideast peace with World Jewish congress chief

Egypt’s al-Sisi discusses Mideast peace with World Jewish congress chief

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told the head of the World Jewish Congress Ronald Lauder on Sunday that the establishment of a Palestinian state is “the only guarantee” for lasting peace in the Middle East. During his meeting with Lauder in Cairo on Sunday, al-Sisi called for starting the reconstruction of war-battered Gaza “without displacing…

France to host European summit on Ukraine, security on Monday

France to host European summit on Ukraine, security on Monday

France said on Sunday it would host a summit of European leaders on Monday to discuss the Ukraine war and European security as the continent tries to respond concretely to US President Donald Trump’s unilateral approach to the conflict. Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg said on Saturday Europe would not have a seat at the…