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Melania Trump to host Ukraine, Russia 'representatives' at White House

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump will host "representatives" of Russia and Ukraine in Washington, the White House said Tuesday, without specifying a date or offering further details about who may attend.

The meeting between parties from the two warring countries will take place at the White House and represents an "extraordinary moment in American history," the statement said.

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Iran says it has right to self-defense after island strikes

Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Tuesday that Tehran reserved the right to self-defense following U.S. attacks on Qeshm island in the Strait of Hormuz.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran retains the right to legitimate self-defense until the military aggression has been completely and permanently brought to an end," Gharibabadi said according to Iran's ISNA news agency.

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Qatar says remains 'hopeful' of a US-Iran deal

Qatar said on Tuesday it remained hopeful that an interim deal could be reached between the United States and Iran as both sides review proposals put forward by mediators including Doha.

In recent days, diplomatic efforts have been underway to prevent renewed fighting after the United States threatened major new strikes -- though U.S. President Donald Trump signaled diplomatic progress with Iran.

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Kremlin confirms Ukraine-US talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11

The Kremlin confirmed Tuesday that U.S.-mediated Russia-Ukraine talks to end more than four years of war will take place in Abu Dhabi next week.

"The Russian delegation will arrive on November 10-11 in Abu Dhabi to take part in trilateral talks," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that presidential aide and former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky will represent Moscow at the meeting.

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Israel says not involved in reported US strikes on Iranian island

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had no involvement in reported U.S. strikes on an Iranian island, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent threats to resume war with Tehran.

Asked if Israel was involved in secret attacks reported by U.S. media outlets on Qeshm Island, which lies in the Strait of Hormuz, an Israeli military spokesperson told AFP, "No".

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Saudi-led coalition says intercepted drone in Mecca region

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis said it had intercepted a drone in the region of Mecca, Islam's holiest city, following repeated waves of attacks by the pro-Iran militants on the kingdom.

"Interception and destruction of a drone in the Mecca region," Turki al-Malki, the coalition's spokesman wrote on social media, without elaborating on the source of the attack.

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French judges probe war crimes complaint against Israeli army in Lebanon

France has opened a judicial investigation into a war crimes complaint over an Israeli strike on a residential building in Lebanon in 2024, lawyer Clemence Bectarte told AFP on Tuesday.

French-Lebanese artist Ali Cherri, whose parents were killed in the Beirut strike, filed the complaint as a civil party last spring alongside the International Federation for Human Rights, Bectarte explained.

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Russia pummels Ukraine with new strikes after bombing aid point kills 29

Russia pummeled Ukraine with a fresh wave of overnight strikes a day after a deadly bombing of an aid center killed at least 29 people, Kyiv said Tuesday, with President Volodymyr Zelensky denouncing the strikes as "terror."

Moscow launched the attacks a week before Russia-Ukraine-US talks are due to resume in Abu Dhabi.

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Iran chief negotiator says ball in US court to 'prevent war'

Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator in talks with the United States, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Tuesday that the ball was in Washington's court to "prevent war".

"The countries of the region should know that, just as the Islamic Republic of Iran stands ready for battle with its finger on the trigger, it has also given the American side a powerful and rational response," he said in a televised speech. "The ball is now in America's court to prevent war."

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Trump, Vance signal progress in talks with Iran to avert renewed war

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signaled progress in talks with Iran to avoid a return to war, as Tehran said "intensive" exchanges were underway while offering to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under strict conditions.

A deal with Tehran "could happen," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, a day before crucial U.S. midterm elections. He added that "Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible."

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