Search : 1000 result(s)

Fires Rage 2 Days After Iran Port Blast Killed 46

Firefighters in Iran battled raging fires on Monday at the country's largest commercial port, two days after a massive explosion killed at least 46 people, state TV reported. The blast took place on Saturday at Shahid Rajaee Port in Iran's south near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output ...

EU eyes targeting 100 bn euros of US goods with tariffs

The EU is preparing to hit US goods worth nearly 100 billion euros ($113 billion) with tariffs in retaliation for President Donald Trump's sweeping levies if talks fail, European diplomats told AFP Wednesday. Trump has slapped a series of higher tariffs on Europe since March and in his biggest move, he imposed a 20-percent tariff on a majority of ...

Gaza Humanitarian Work on 'Verge of Total Collapse': Red Cross

The Red Cross warned Friday that the humanitarian response in Gaza was on the "verge of total collapse" after two months of Israel blocking aid to the war-torn Palestinian territory. "Without an immediate resumption of aid deliveries, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will not have access to the food, medicines, and life-saving ...

Lebanon's Labor Day: The Unaddressed Crisis of Salaries and Benefits

Labor Day, celebrated on May 1, offers little cause for celebration this year in Lebanon. How can workers rejoice when they’re trapped in a cycle of triple-digit inflation—despite some studies, curiously detached from reality, suggesting otherwise? The purchasing power of their end-of-service benefits, steadily eroded since 2019, is now ...

Nabil "Billy" Karam, Full Throttle at the Head of the ATCL

The Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) has officially turned a new page in its history on the occasion of the session for the distribution of responsibilities within the recently elected Board of Directors. Gathered at the club’s headquarters in Kaslik, the members unanimously appointed Nabil "Billy" Karam as ...

Hajjar Confirms Secure and Smooth Municipal Elections Ahead of May 11 Vote in Tripoli

Minister of Interior Ahmad al-Hajjar assured that the ongoing electoral process is facing no significant obstacles, aside from a few minor logistical issues. Speaking from Tripoli on Wednesday morning, he emphasized that the security situation is “under control” with no major disruptions to the election process. “The most important factor is ...

President Aoun’s Official Visit to the UAE Yields Strong Bilateral Commitments and a Travel-Ban Lift

Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun's official visit to the United Arab Emirates concluded positively on Thursday, marked by key bilateral agreements and a pledge of increased support from Abu Dhabi to Beirut. During his visit, President Aoun was received at the Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi by Emirati President Mohammad bin Zayed Al ...

Lebanese-Syrian Border and UNIFIL Renewal: Two Critical Challenges Ahead

France has stepped in decisively to take a leading role in the border demarcation process between Lebanon and Syria—an initiative announced by President Emmanuel Macron during the visit of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to France. According to French sources, Macron expressed his country’s readiness to provide both the Lebanese and Syrian ...

A Preliminary Reconciliation Agreement Reached Between Syrian Authorities and Jaramana Residents

A preliminary agreement was reached on Thursday between the Syrian government and Druze leaders from the towns of Suwayda and Jaramana. The two parties are set to engage in further discussions to establish peaceful measures aimed at resolving the tensions between them.​ The announcement was made on Thursday evening by the Progressive Socialist ...

South Korean Ex-Leader Yoon Indicted for Abuse of Power: Prosecutors

Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted Thursday for abuse of power over his martial law declaration, prosecutors said, adding to the impeached ex-leader's legal jeopardy. The new indictment without detention comes as Yoon stands trial for orchestrating an insurrection with his December 3 martial law attempt, which sought to ...

Security Forces Given Free Rein to Pursue Hamas Military Wing

The Lebanese authorities—through the Higher Defense Council—have initiated a confrontation with the Palestinian movement Hamas, following the latter’s involvement in supporting Gaza from Lebanese territory under the full sponsorship of Hezbollah. While Lebanon has yet to address Hezbollah’s own weapons arsenal, it appears to be using the ...

France Accuses Russia of Being Behind Series of Cyberattacks Against It

France on Tuesday accused Russian military intelligence of being behind a series of cyberattacks against the country over the last decade, including against an organization involved in the 2024 Paris Olympics and Emmanuel Macron's first presidential campaign in 2017. Since 2021, a branch of Russian military intelligence (GRU) dedicated to ...

Lebanon’s Municipal Elections Signal a Shift in Political Power

These are no ordinary municipal elections. The first round, held on Sunday, May 4, in the strategically significant Mount Lebanon region, marks more than just a local vote. This election, and those to follow across the country in the coming weeks, could break with past patterns. What sets this moment apart is the broader context: a time of ...

ICJ to Rule on UAE/Sudan Darfur Genocide Case

The top United Nations court will on Monday rule in Sudan's case against the United Arab Emirates, which Khartoum accuses of complicity in genocide due to alleged support for rebel forces. Sudan has dragged the UAE before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, arguing it is supplying weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces ...

Disarming Hezbollah: A Time-Sensitive Approach

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's statement that Beirut will not forcibly disarm Hezbollah is reverberating through Washington, sparking debates about Lebanon's political future and the role of the heavily armed militia. Aoun aims for a dialogue-driven strategy, attempting to persuade Hezbollah to relinquish its arms instead of engaging in a ...

Higher Defense Council: National Security and Electoral Integrity

For the first time under President Joseph Aoun’s leadership, the Higher Defense Council convened on Friday at the Baabda Palace, where it issued a strong warning to Hamas following rocket launches from Lebanon toward Israel on March 22 and 28. At the conclusion of the session, the Council stated that any military use of Lebanese territory ...

Starmer Says UK-US Trade Deal a 'Fantastic, Historic Day'

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Thursday it was a “really fantastic, historic day," after he agreed a US-UK trade deal with President Donald Trump. The agreement lifts tariffs on UK steel and aluminum products and slashes levies on British car exports from 27.5 percent to 10 percent, Downing Street said. "This is a really fantastic, ...

Trump Says Will Make 'Very, Very Big Announcement' Before Mideast Trip

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday teased that he will make a major announcement ahead of his trip next week to the Middle East, without revealing what it would be. "We're going to have a very, very big announcement to make. Like, as big as it gets, and I won't tell you on what. And it's very positive," Trump said in the Oval Office. "It'll be ...

How Much Does the Conclave Cost ?

Cardinals from all over the world began voting Wednesday to elect a new pope – but what's the cost of finding a new leader for the Catholic Church? The Holy See has not disclosed how much the conclave will weigh on its shaky finances. But arranging it is understood to be an expensive affair, running into the millions of euros. More ...

Trump Says “I Don’t Know” if He Must Uphold the U.S. Constitution

US President Donald Trump said in a television interview airing Sunday that he does not know whether he must uphold the US Constitution. He also said he is not seriously considering running for a third White House term, after musing publicly over an idea clearly barred by the nation's founding legal document. "I don't know," Trump responded when ...

Syria’s Path to Recovery: Can It Outpace Lebanon?

As the Lebanese endure rolling blackouts, relentless crises and a daily reality that often borders on the absurd, a piece of unexpected news has prompted a collective raised eyebrow – or two: Syria might well be rebuilt before Lebanon. Yes, you read that correctly. On Sunday, April 27, in a move as symbolic as it was strategic, Saudi Arabia ...

Seven Iranians Among Eight Arrested in UK Counterterrorism Probes

British police on Sunday said eight people, including seven Iranian nationals, were arrested in two separate counterterrorism probes. In one operation, five men -- four of them Iranian -- were arrested on suspicion of "preparation of a terrorist act", London's Metropolitan police said in a statement. The arrests were carried out in London, ...

Syria's Druze Take Up Arms to Defend Their Town Against Islamists

Syrian estate agent Fahd Haidar shuttered his business and got out his rifle to defend his hometown of Jaramana when it came under attack this week by Islamists loyal to the new government. Seven Druze fighters were among the 17 people killed in the Damascus suburb as clashes raged from Monday into Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ...

The House of Worth Takes Over Paris Fashion History

For the first time, the House of Worth—considered the birthplace of haute couture—is featured in a Paris exhibition showcasing rare archival pieces and revisiting the story of one of France’s luxury icons. Organized in collaboration with Palais Galliera, Paris’ fashion museum, this retrospective at the Petit Palais, titled “Worth, ...

Suitcases Full, Spending Big: Emiratis Rediscover Lebanon

After being away from Lebanon for years, the Emiratis are finally coming back. The lifting of the travel ban – announced on Sunday and taking effect today, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 – has been welcomed by tourism industry professionals, who see it as a potential boost for a struggling sector. Pierre Achkar, the President of the Federation of ...

Iranian Nuclear Talks: Improbable Peace, Unlikely Agreement?

In April, negotiations between the United States and Iran on the Iranian nuclear program took a notable step forward, with three rounds of talks mediated by Oman. The goal of these discussions is to limit Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for a partial lifting of the economic sanctions imposed by Washington. The third round of talks took ...

Rajji Vows to Resolve Case of Missing Lebanese in Syria

Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has pledged to take all necessary steps to resolve the long-standing issue of Lebanese citizens missing in Syria, promising to remove any obstacles that stand in the way of progress on the sensitive humanitarian file. During a meeting on Tuesday with the National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly ...

Iran Denies Involvement in Alleged Plot Against Israeli Embassy in London

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected on Thursday allegations his government was involved in a plot to target the Israeli embassy in London, following the arrest of seven Iranian nationals. British police said seven Iranian nationals were arrested on suspicion of "terrorism offenses" in separate operations -- three on Saturday and four ...

Israel's aid Blockade to Gaza 'Unacceptable': Red Cross

The Red Cross on Thursday denounced the human cost of the war raging in Gaza, slamming Israel's "unacceptable" full blockade on aid into the besieged and conflict-ravaged Palestinian territory. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned of a growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which they say has been exacerbated by an Israeli ...