News Archive

Lebanon holds one of the largest gold reserves in the Middle East. Now, as the country sinks deeper into economic collapse, officials are quietly debating whether that stockpile could help stabilize a shattered financial system, a move that remains politically toxic and legally constrained.

Britain's Prince William met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia starting on Monday, an official trip on behalf of the government to deepen ties with the country.

The death toll from the collapse of residential buildings in the Lebanese city of Tripoli rose to 14 after search and rescue operations ended, Lebanon's National News Agency said on Monday citing the civil defence chief.

Moderate Socialist Antonio Jose Seguro secured a landslide victory and a five-year term as Portugal's president in a runoff vote on Sunday, beating his far-right, anti-establishment rival Andre Ventura.

Iranian activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, who has been imprisoned repeatedly in her three-decade campaign for women's rights, was sentenced to a new prison term of 7-1/2 years, a group supporting her said on Sunday.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's coalition swept to a historic election win on Sunday, paving the way for promised tax cuts that have spooked financial markets and military spending aimed at countering China.

A five-storey residential building collapsed in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Sunday, trapping an unknown number of people under the rubble, security sources said.

Saudi Arabia has ordered 20 new high-speed trains from Spain's Talgo SA, the company and Spain's transport minister said on Sunday.

Recognition of Iran's right to enrich uranium is key for nuclear talks with the U.S. to succeed, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday.

A senior Hamas leader, Khaled Mechaal, said on Sunday that the Palestinian terrorist group would not give up its weapons and would reject any form of foreign control over the Gaza Strip, despite calls from the United States for its disarmament.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's party was far ahead in Sunday's general election, leading a three-way race with a commanding margin that could make it easier to form a coalition and reduce the risk of further political instability.

A Ukrainian-born Russian citizen has been extradited to Moscow from Dubai on suspicion of gravely injuring one of Russia's most senior military intelligence officers, Russian security officials and investigators said on Sunday.