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Analysis-Trump wants China's help on Iran. Beijing may have other ideas

By Andrea Shalal, Michael Martina and Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON/BEIJING, May 13 (Reuters) - When U.S. President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping this week he is expected to ask for help resolving his costly and unpopular war with Iran. He is unlikely to get the…

US Senate blocks latest bid to rein in Trump Iran war powers, support grows

By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked the latest Democratic-led effort to end the Iran war until it is authorized by Congress, but the measure edged closer to passage as a third Republican voted to advance the bill. The…

Netanyahu held secret meeting with Emirati president in the UAE during Iran war, PM's office says

JERUSALEM, May 13 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the United Arab Emirates and met with the Emirati president during the war with Iran, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said on Wednesday. According to the statement, the meeting resulted…

UK police plan 'unprecedented' operation to prevent trouble at weekend protests

By Michael Holden LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - London police said on Wednesday they would mount an "unprecedented" operation this weekend to prevent violence and serious disorder when two large protests - anti-immigration and pro-Palestinian - take place in the British capital.…

Exclusive-Saudi warplanes struck militias in Iraq during war, sources say

By Timour Azhari, Ahmed Rasheed and Humeyra Pamuk RIYADH/BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) - Saudi fighter jets bombed targets linked to powerful Tehran-backed Shi'ite militias in Iraq during the Iran war, while retaliatory strikes were also launched from Kuwait into Iraq,…

Iran frees prominent rights lawyer Sotoudeh on bail - reports

DUBAI, May 13 (Reuters) - Iran has released on bail prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was arrested in early April in a crackdown during the conflict with the United States and Israel, Iranian news agencies and her daughter said on Wednesday. Nournews,…

Tunisian tourism slows in fallout of Mideast war

In Tunisia, May usually heralds the start of the summer tourism boom, but as the Middle East war wreaks havoc on the region, the season is opening on uneasy footing. Industry officials blame the fallout from the conflict, which has sent oil prices and travel costs skyrocketing,…

Iran's IRGC holds anti-helicopter drills in Tehran: What to know

Iran said it downed two US helicopters last month as American forces use the aircraft for strikes in the Gulf.

Factbox-How has the Iran war affected Middle East states?

LONDON, May 13 - The war that began on February 28 with a massive Israeli-U.S. bombing campaign against Iran has rocked the entire Middle East, wreaking damage to infrastructure and economies and overturning settled assumptions about regional security. On a second major front,…

Turkey, Armenia to launch direct trade in normalization push: What to know

The move removes a decades-old reexport mechanism routed largely through Georgia as Ankara and Yerevan step up normalization efforts.

Iran looms large over Trump’s China visit, but breakthrough unlikely

Analysts say China is cautiously looking to de-escalate the US-Iran war while limiting its direct involvement.

Exclusive-France probes whether Israeli firm BlackCore interfered in local elections, sources say

By Gabriel Stargardter and Raphael Satter PARIS, May 13 (Reuters) - French authorities are examining whether a foreign interference campaign aimed at a hard-left party ahead ofMarch's municipal elections was carried out at least in part by an obscure Israeli firm called…

Stocks rise ahead of US-China summit

Stock markets drifted higher Wednesday as investors awaited a high-stakes summit between the United States and China, while oil prices diverged as Middle East peace talks stalled. Oil prices surged earlier this week on signs that no breakthrough was in sight to resume crucial…

Stocks waver, oil steady ahead of US-China summit as Iran talks stall

Stock markets were mixed Wednesday and oil prices steadied but remained above $100 a barrel as investors awaited a high-stakes summit between the United States and China, and Middle East peace talks stalled. Oil prices surged earlier this week on signs that no breakthrough was…

Explainer-What's at stake in Turkey's bid to end conflict with PKK militants?

ANKARA, May 13 (Reuters) - Turkey's attempt to finish its decades-old conflict with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group has stalled, with both sides waiting for the other to act in a peace bid complicated by the Iran war. The apparent stalemate has held up a…

Analysis-Iran war brings Turkey-PKK peace process to near standstill

By Jonathan Spicer and Ahmed Rasheed ANKARA/BAGHDAD, May 13 (Reuters) - Just two weeks after Turkey's parliament made recommendations on how to advance the country's peace process with Kurdish militants, the Iran war broke out, plunging the Middle East into fresh instability…

War in Middle East: latest developments

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war: - Israel kills 9 - Israel intensified strikes on Lebanon Wednesday, with Beirut's health ministry reporting nine people, including two children, killed in attacks targeting cars between the capital and the coastal city of…

UN food agency halves Syria food aid, halts bread subsidy over funding shortages

May 13 (Reuters) - The World Food Programme said on Wednesday it had halved emergency food assistance in Syria due to funding shortages, warning that millions remained vulnerable despite signs of stabilisation in parts of the country. The U.N. agency's biggest donor, the United…

Heckler ejected from Eurovision after Israel song disruption

Four people were thrown out of the first Eurovision Song Contest semi-final, which saw attempts to disrupt Israel's performance, organisers said Wednesday. As 28-year-old Israeli singer Noam Bettan began his performance of "Michelle" during Tuesday's live show, a protester…

In first, Lebanon files formal UN complaint against Iran: What to know

The move comes as relations between Iran and Lebanon continue to deteriorate in light of what is perceived as ongoing Iranian interference in Lebanese affairs via its proxy group, Hezbollah.

Britain to legislate to tackle threats from hostile state proxies

By Alistair Smout LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - Britain will legislate to strengthen its ability to deal with proxies for malign state actors, taking powers to make it possible to ban them in light of increased activity in Britain and a rise in antisemitic attacks. Prime Minister…

UAE-owned tanker leaks some fuel off Oman following Iranian strike

DUBAI, May 13 (Reuters) - A unit of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said on Wednesday that one of its tankers struck by Iranian drones last week has leaked a small amount of fuel off the coast of Oman, underscoring the ecological risks stemming from the Iran war.…

Israel steps up attacks on Gaza since Iran truce, as military says Hamas rearming

By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Maayan Lubell and Dawoud Abu Alkas CAIRO/JERUSALEM/GAZA, May 13 (Reuters) - Israel has escalated its attacks in Gaza in the five weeks since halting its joint bombing with the U.S. in Iran, redirecting its fire back on the ruined Palestinian enclave where…

Rights groups urge Poland to halt support for US deportation flights to Ukraine

By Alexander Chituc May 13 (Reuters) - Amnesty International and Human Rights First on Wednesday urged Poland to stop cooperating with U.S. deportation flights transferring Ukrainian nationals via its territory, saying the practice may breach international law. In a joint…

Trump heads to China, says no need for Xi's help on Iran war

By Nandita Bose and Jana Choukeir WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump headed to China on Wednesday for a high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping, saying he does not expect to need Beijing's help to end the war with Iran and ease Tehran's grip…

India's Modi cuts size of his motorcade to save fuel, source says

NEW DELHI, May 13 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "significantly" cut the size of his motorcadeto save fuel, a government source said on Wednesday, days after he urged citizens to tighten their belts amid a surge in energy prices triggered by the Iran war.…