World

Blinken Says Ukraine Position in Kursk 'Important' for Negotiations

This is Beirut 06/01 09:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Antony Blinken Ukraine Donald Trump US Secretary of State Kyiv

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that Ukraine's position in Russia's Kursk was critical to any future negotiations, as Moscow said Kyiv launched a counterattack in the border region. Blinken said that the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden, which has given Kyiv billions of dollars in security assistance since Russia's ...

North Korea Fires Missile as Blinken Warns of Russia Cooperation

This is Beirut 06/01 09:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Antony Blinken Donald Trump United Nations Korea

North Korea on Monday fired a missile as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Korea, where he warned Pyongyang was working ever closer with Russia on advanced space technology. Blinken visited as investigators were trying to arrest conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has entrenched himself in his residence after being ...

US Lawmakers to Certify Trump Win, Four Years After Capitol Riot

This is Beirut 06/01 09:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump New York Republicans US Congress Capitol

Exactly four years after Donald Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol, seeking to overturn his election loss, lawmakers meet Monday to certify his 2024 win, cementing the Republican's comeback from political ignominy. Heightening the drama around the January 6 joint session of Congress, a powerful storm was forecast to blanket Washington in ...

AnalysisEquivocations

Charles Chartouni 06/01 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Syria Lebanon Hezbollah Iran USA Israel

The situation in both Lebanon and Syria is still shrouded in ambiguities, deliberate equivocations, and malevolence. Nothing seems clear, and actors continue to operate in grey zones, let alone in the dark alleys that persist throughout.. The chances of negotiations and constructive engagement are quite narrow and are not part of the political ...

Hamas Announces Readiness to Free 34 Hostages in 'First Phase' of Potential Deal

This is Beirut 05/01 22:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Gaza

A senior Hamas official told AFP on Sunday that the Palestinian militant group was ready to release 34 Israeli hostages in the "first phase" of a potential prisoner exchange deal. "Hamas has agreed to release 34 Israeli prisoners from a list presented by Israel as part of the first phase of a prisoner exchange deal," the official said. The ...

France Stresses Importance of Protecting Syria from Foreign Exploitation

This is Beirut 05/01 20:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

France Syria Jean-Noël Barrot

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, stated on Sunday that it is "essential that no foreign power" takes advantage of the regime change in Damascus to weaken Syria, while his Syrian counterpart began an official visit to Qatar. "Syria will obviously need help, but it is essential that no foreign power, as Russia and Iran ...

Syria Monitor Reports Blasts at Arms Depots Near Damascus

This is Beirut 05/01 18:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

SOHR Syria Damascus

A Syria war monitor said explosions on Sunday rocked an area near Damascus housing weapons depots used by the toppled government of Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said the blasts in Kisweh, south of the Syrian capital, may be the result of an Israeli airstrike. The Israeli military, which has struck many ...

Syrian Ministers Urge Lifting of US Sanctions in First Visit to Doha

This is Beirut 05/01 16:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Qatar United States Sanctions

Ministers from Syria's transitional government urged the United States to lift its sanctions on Damascus during their first visit to Qatar since overthrowing president Bashar al-Assad. In a statement, Qatar's foreign ministry said the Gulf country's premier met with Syria's interim foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, defense minister Murhaf Abu ...

Israel Accuses Hezbollah of Violating Ceasefire Terms

This is Beirut 05/01 16:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Hezbollah Lebanon Israel Katz

Israeli Defense Minister Israël Katz accused Hezbollah on Sunday of not meeting the terms of a ceasefire, warning that if the militants continued to breach the deal, Israel would "be forced to act". Katz issued his warning after visiting the military's northern command, and it followed a similar accusation against Israel by Hezbollah chief Naim ...

Russia Says Downed Dozens of Ukrainian Drones Overnight

This is Beirut 05/01 12:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Kyiv

Russia said Sunday it downed dozens of Ukrainian drones overnight in a barrage that damaged homes and triggered air alerts. Videos posted on social media appeared to show distant explosions in the southern Rostov region, while an air raid siren could be heard in the background. "During the past night, 61 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were ...

Syrian Ministers Arrive on First Visit to Qatar

This is Beirut 05/01 11:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Damascus Gulf Turkey United Arab Emirates

Ministers from Syria's transitional government arrived in Qatar on Sunday for their first visit to the Gulf state since the toppling of president Bashar al-Assad last month, officials and news agency SANA said. The interim foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, was accompanied by defence minister Morhaf Abu Kasra and the new head of intelligence, ...

Gaza Truce Talks Resume in Qatar as Violence Shows no Let-Up

This is Beirut 05/01 09:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Palestine Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu USA Hamas

Israel confirmed on Saturday that negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal had resumed in Qatar, as rescuers said more than 30 people had been killed in fresh bombardment of the territory. The civil defence agency said a dawn air strike on the home of the al-Ghoula family in Gaza City killed 11 people, seven of them ...