World

Musk To Exit US Government Role After Rare Break With Trump

This is Beirut 29/05 05:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Politics Elon Musk Donald Trump

Billionaire Elon Musk on Wednesday announced he was leaving his role in US government, intended to reduce federal spending, shortly after his first major break with President Donald Trump over his signature spending bill. "As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President Donald Trump for ...

Russia Proposes New Ukraine Talks; Kyiv Demands Terms Upfront

This is Beirut 28/05 23:13 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Russia Ukraine

Russia said Wednesday it wanted new talks with Ukraine in Istanbul next Monday to present its plan for a peace settlement, but Kyiv said it needed to see the plan in advance for the meeting to yield results. Diplomatic efforts to end the three-year conflict have accelerated in recent months, but Moscow has repeatedly rejected calls for an ...

Iran Rejects Reports on Uranium Enrichment Halt, Calls Program 'Non-Negotiable'

This is Beirut 28/05 21:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran Uranium Enrichment United States

Iran firmly rejected reports suggesting it might halt uranium enrichment, calling such claims “completely false.” The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday dismissed a Reuters report alleging a suspension of enrichment activities, labeling it as baseless. Tehran also reaffirmed its stance on uranium enrichment, describing it as a “non-negotiable ...

Trump vs. Harvard: Measures That Are Redefining the American Academic Landscape

Mario Chartouni 28/05 20:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Donald Trump Harvard University

Since Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in January, Harvard University has found itself at the center of an unprecedented federal offensive that threatens its funding, its ability to host international students, and, more broadly, its academic autonomy. An Unprecedented Financial Offensive The Trump administration already froze more than ...

Witkoff Expresses Optimism About Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations

This is Beirut 28/05 20:17 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hamas Steve Witkoff United States Israel Gaza

US envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday he had "very good feelings" about a possible Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, adding that he expected to send out a new proposal imminently. "I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution, temporary cease fire, and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution ...

EU Sanctions Syrian Militia Groups over Deadly March Violence

This is Beirut 28/05 19:14 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

European Union

The European Union sanctioned on Wednesday three Syrian militia groups and two of their leaders for serious human-rights abuses over their alleged involvement in deadly ethnic violence in March. More than 1,700 people were killed in attacks mostly targeting the Alawite community, which is associated with the clan of ousted ruler Bashar ...

Iran says May Allow US Inspectors from Nuclear Watchdog if Deal Reached

This is Beirut 28/05 18:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Tehran

Iran on Wednesday said it may consider allowing US inspectors with the United Nations nuclear watchdog to inspect its facilities if a deal is reached with the United States. Iran has long been accused by Western powers of seeking to develop nuclear weapons -- a claim Tehran has consistently denied, insisting its nuclear program is solely for ...

Palestinians in Gaza 'Deserve More than Survival,' says UN envoy

This is Beirut 28/05 18:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gaza United Nations Israel

Palestinians living in Gaza "deserve more than survival," the United Nations envoy for the Middle East told the Security Council on Wednesday, as Israel's war there enters its 600th day. Israel stepped up its military offensive in Gaza, ignited by an attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023, earlier this month, while ...

Kremlin Rebuffs Zelensky's call for Three-way Meeting with Trump, Putin

This is Beirut 28/05 18:12 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Turkey Ukraine Putin

The Kremlin on Wednesday rebuffed a call by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a three-way summit with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as Kyiv seeks to force Moscow to halt its more than three-year-long invasion. Moscow said any meeting involving Russian President Putin and Zelensky would only happen after "concrete agreements" ...

Merz Announces Germany and Ukraine to Jointly Produce Long-Range Weapons

This is Beirut 28/05 18:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Friedrich Merz Volodymyr Zelensky Ukraine Russia Defense

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets well inside Russian territory. Both countries' defense ministers later signed a memorandum of understanding for the production of long-range weapons systems, ...

VideosRocking 'King Lear' to Draw Young Audience in Iran

This is Beirut 28/05 17:15 - Reading : less than a minute

Tehran Shakespeare King Lear

Shakespeare, guitars and an Iranian stage. In Tehran, the tragic tale of King Lear gets an electrifying new life.

UN Experts Report Russia's Drone Attacks in Ukraine as 'Crimes against Humanity'

This is Beirut 28/05 16:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Russia Ukraine United Nations

Russia's military has committed "crimes against humanity" and "war crimes" in its drone attacks on civilians in Ukraine's Kherson region, UN experts concluded in a report published Wednesday. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, established by the UN Human Rights Council, said Russian armed ...