Author: Prima News

Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday he expected to have a draft counterproposal ready within days following nuclear talks with the United States this week, while U.S. President Donald Trump said he was considering limited military strikes. Asked if he was considering a limited strike to pressure Iran into a deal on its nuclear program, Trump told reporters at the White House: “I guess I can say I am considering” it. Asked later about Iran at a White House press conference, Trump added: “They better negotiate a fair deal.” Two U.S. officials told Reuters that U.S. military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage,…

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has attempted to calm speculation about her stepping down early that has called into question the central bank’s separation from politics, telling the Wall Street Journal she expects to complete her term. Lagarde’s status as leader of Europe’s most important financial institution was plunged into doubt this week after the Financial Times reported she planned to leave her job ahead of next spring’s French presidential election, giving outgoing leader Emmanuel Macron a say in picking her successor. In an interview with the WSJ on Thursday, Lagarde dampened speculation about an imminent exit but still left the door slightly…

Police in Tirana fired tear gas and used water cannon in clashes on Friday with opposition protesters demanding the resignation of the Albanian government following corruption allegations against the deputy prime minister. Demonstrators hurled petrol bombs and fireworks at the Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office and police responded with tear gas and water cannon. Political tensions have escalated since December after a special prosecution unit indicted Rama’s deputy, Belinda Balluku, for allegedly interfering in public tenders for major infrastructure projects and favouring certain companies, charges Balluku denies Thousands of opposition Democratic Party supporters chanted “Rama, go away” and “Rama in…

At least 50 people were killed and several women and children abducted after armed men attacked a village in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state, a state lawmaker told Reuters on Friday. Hamisu A. Faru, lawmaker representing Bukkuyum south, said the attackers raided Tungan Dutse village from around 5 p.m. on Thursday until about 3:30 a.m. on Friday, burning down buildings and shooting residents who tried to flee. “They have been moving from one village to another … leaving at least 50 people dead,” Faru told Reuters by phone. He said the number of abducted victims was yet to be determined. Traditional…

A UN spokesman confirmed Friday that a letter from Iran’s representation had been formally transmitted to both the Security Council and the General Assembly at Tehran’s request. “I can tell you and reiterate yet again that we are very concerned about the heightened rhetoric we’re seeing around the region by the heightened military activities, war games or … military naval presence,” Stephane Dujarric told a news conference. His remarks came a day after Iran’s permanent mission to the UN warned that Tehran would respond “decisively and proportionately” to any military aggression, stressing that the US would bear “full and direct…

President Donald Trump warned Iran on Thursday it must make a deal over its nuclear program or “really bad things” will happen, and set a deadline of 10 to 15 days, drawing a threat from Tehran to retaliate against U.S. bases in the region if attacked. Amid a massive U.S. military buildup in the Middle East that has fueled fears of a wider war, Trump said negotiations with Iran to end the tense standoff were going well but demanded that Tehran reach a “meaningful” agreement. “Otherwise bad things happen,” Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran, told the first meeting of…

 Pedro Sanchez’s thinly veiled criticisms of U.S. policy play well with his voters but are irritating Spain’s powerful ally, where political advisers close to the White House warn the Socialist prime minister to watch his step. From condemning the United States’ intervention in Venezuela to pushing for stricter controls of social media platforms and opting out of NATO’s defence spending target, Sanchez has taken a strikingly defiant tone on issues key to the U.S. agenda. More than once, the Spanish leader, one of a dwindling number of left-leaning voices in Europe, has pointedly framed his policies in contrast to President Donald Trump’s. SPAIN’S SANCHEZ READY TO…

British police were searching the former mansion of King Charles’ younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Friday after a photograph of the royal emerging from a police station was splashed on newspapers around the world. Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential government documents to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein when he was a trade envoy. The former prince was released under investigation after being held by police for more than 10 hours. He has not been charged with any offence but looked haunted in a Reuters photograph after his release, slumped in the back…

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed deepening cooperation on security, power and infrastructure in a phone call, Tinubu’s office said on Thursday. In a nine-minute call on Wednesday, the two leaders discussed reviving a stalled presidential electricity project in Nigeria involving German conglomerate Siemens (SIEGn.DE), opens new tab, and Nigeria buying used German helicopters. Tinubu told Merz Nigeria needed help to upgrade its power-transmission network, the president’s office said. A 2019 agreement with Siemens to rehabilitate transmission lines and power distribution substations, funded by German banks, aimed to achieve 7,000 MW of reliable power by 2021 and 11,000 MW…

Eric Dane, the celebrated actor best known for his roles on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria” and who later in life became an advocate for ALS awareness, died Thursday. He was 53. His representatives said Dane died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known also as Lou Gehrig’s disease, less than a year after he announced his diagnosis. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,” said a statement that requested privacy for his family. “Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness…