41 h. ago Putin offers Moscow as mediator in Iran crisis amid tensions with Israel, Trump threat

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Iran in separate calls on Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and said that Moscow was willing to mediate in the region, the Kremlin said. Tehran has cracked down hard on nationwide protests that broke out late last month, prompting US President Donald Trump to warn he might intervene. Last year, Israel and the United States both bombed Iranian nuclear sites, and Iran fought...

Politics

5 d. ago Cuba’s president denies being in talks with US after Trump threats

Cuba’s leader on Monday reacted defiantly to US President Donald Trump’s threats to “make a deal” or pay the price in the aftermath of key ally Nicolas Maduro’s ouster in a US military raid. Trump has been ramping up pressure on Cuba, one of the few Latin American countries still run by an authoritarian leftist administration after Venezuelan leader Maduro’s capture on January 3. “We’re talking with Cuba,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Sunday, hours after urging Havana to do a deal to head...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump blames bruised hand on aspirin, denies falling asleep in meetings

US President Donald Trump blamed aspirin for large bruises on his hand and denied falling asleep while attending public meetings in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on Thursday. In the interview defending his health, Trump also changed his previous statement about receiving an MRI scan in October, saying it was instead a quicker CAT scan. Trump, who at 79 is the oldest person to assume the US presidency, told the Journal “my health is perfect” and expressed frustration with...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump calls on Hamas to disarm as he meets Netanyahu in Florida to discuss Gaza peace plan

US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Monday for crucial talks on moving to the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan. The two leaders also discussed Iran, with Trump saying that if Tehran rebuilt its nuclear facilities the United States would “knock them down”. Trump played down reports of tensions with Netanyahu, saying that “he can be very difficult” but that Israel “might not exist” without his leadership following Hamas’ October 7, 2023...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump warns of ‘hell to pay’ if Hamas fails to disarm, says Israel is complying

US President Donald Trump warned on Monday that Hamas would have “hell to pay” if it does not disarm quickly as part of a Gaza deal, which he said Israel was complying with. “If they don’t disarm as they agreed to do, they agreed to it, and then there will be hell to pay for them,” Trump told a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “They have to disarm in a fairly short period of time,” Trump said. Trump publicly...

Events

2 w. ago Israeli President Herzog disputes Trump’s claim that Netanyahu pardon is ‘on its way’

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Israeli President Isaac Herzog had told him a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “on its way”, an assertion Herzog’s office was quick to challenge. “He’s a wartime prime minister who’s a hero. How do you not give a pardon?” Trump told reporters while standing beside Netanyahu before a meeting in Florida. “I spoke to the president he tells me it’s on its way.” Asked about the US president’s remarks, Herzog’s office said the Israeli...

Politics

2 w. ago Israeli president denies Trump claim Netanyahu pardon is ‘on its way’

Israeli President Isaac Herzog denied a claim by Donald Trump on Monday that the pair had discussed the US president’s request for a pardon on corruption charges for Israel’s premier. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of accepting luxury goods from billionaires in exchange for political favours, and of seeking to negotiate more favourable coverage from Israeli media outlets. “There has not been a conversation between President Herzog and President Trump since the pardon...

Politics

3 w. ago Netanyahu to discuss Iran’s nuclear activities, next phase of Gaza plan with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he will discuss Iran’s nuclear activities during his visit next week with US President Donald Trump. Speaking at a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said Israel was aware Iran had been conducting “exercises” recently, without elaborating. Earlier on Monday, Iranian state media reported Iran had held missile drills in various cities...

Politics