World

Doha to Resume Its Role as Mediator in Israel-Hamas Talks

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 11:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Qatar

President-elect Donald Trump's new Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently visited Qatar and Israel to relaunch efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and an agreement on the release of hostages from Hamas, two Israeli media outlets, Haaretz and Times of Israel, reported on Thursday, citing sources close to the negotiators. This effort is being ...

Bitcoin Surges past $100,000 Valuation for First Time

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 10:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA Bitcoin Korea

Bitcoin burst past $100,000 for the first time Thursday, while Seoul stocks slipped as South Korea's president faced impeachment after his brief imposition of martial law this week. After hovering around the mid-$90,000 mark in recent weeks, the popular cryptocurrency finally shattered the historic level in Asia after incoming US president Donald ...

Syrian army lost control of Hama

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 10:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Damascus Turkey United Nations Syria

The Syrian army lost control of Hama, according to the Syrian news agency, Sana. The rebels took control of the city and freed all prisoners detained in the central incarceration center. Syrian government forces were locked in heavy fighting around the central city of Hama on Thursday morning, trying to halt an advance of Islamist-led rebels, a ...

South Korean President Clings to Power of Martial Law

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 10:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States USA Washington South Korea

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was still clinging to power Thursday, with his party announcing they will oppose an impeachment motion after his short-lived imposition of martial law stunned the world. Yoon suspended civilian rule late Tuesday and deployed troops and helicopters to parliament only for lawmakers to vote down the measure and ...

Macron to Seek Solution for Crisis, Following PM's Ouster

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 09:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Saudi Arabia USA France Barnier

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday will seek ways out of France's political crisis, after Michel Barnier became the first prime minister to be ousted by parliament in over six decades. Lawmakers voted on Wednesday to oust Barnier's government after just three months in office, approving a no-confidence motion proposed by the hard left ...

Op-edThe Poisoned Chalice of Political Islam

Salam Zaatari 2024-12-05 09:00 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

Islam ISIS Mossad Muslims

For as long as I can remember, my identity as a Muslim has been a source of both pride and fear. Growing up in a post-9/11 world, I have lived under the shadow of suspicion, my faith often seen through the lens of terrorism, extremism, and political turmoil. From news headlines to Hollywood narratives, the image of Islam has been relentlessly ...

New Amnesty Report Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 02:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Amnesty International Gaza Israel Genocide

Amnesty International on Thursday accused Israel of "committing genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza since the start of the war last year, saying its new report was a "wake-up call" for the international community. The London-based rights organisation said its findings were based on "dehumanising and genocidal ...

French Government Falls in Historic No-Confidence Vote

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 22:12 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

France

French lawmakers on Wednesday voted to oust the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier after just three months in office, a historic move which plunged the country further into political chaos. For the first time in over sixty years, the National Assembly lower house toppled the incumbent government, approving a no-confidence motion that had ...

Russia and Ukraine to Attend Rare Joint Summit in Malta

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 21:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Kyiv Ukraine Russia

Russia and Ukraine will send their foreign ministers to Malta this week for a summit of the OSCE, officials said Wednesday, in one of the few events attended by both countries since Moscow's Ukraine offensive began. The trip marks Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's first to an EU member since the start of the conflict in February 2022, and ...

UK and Qatar Partner on £1 Billion Climate Technology Investment

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 20:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gulf United Arab Emirates United Kingdom

The British government said Wednesday that it has agreed to a partnership with Qatar that will see the Gulf state invest 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) in climate technologies. "The partnership is expected to create thousands of highly skilled jobs over its lifetime and will see the launch of world-leading climate technology hubs across the UK ...

Israeli Opposition Condemns Press Freedom Threats at Emergency Meeting

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 20:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu opposition

Israeli opposition leaders and prominent media figures warned at an emergency meeting on Wednesday that government reform proposals were threatening press freedom in the country. "In the years since this government was formed, Israel has fallen 15 places in the freedom of speech index," opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid said ...

Trump Nominates Private Astronaut Jared Isaacman to Lead NASA

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 19:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA NASA

US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated Jared Isaacman, the online payments billionaire and the first private astronaut to ever perform a spacewalk, as the next head of NASA. The nod could spark questions about potential conflicts of interest, given Isaacman's extensive financial ties to Elon Musk, who is set to co-chair a ...