World

Israeli Opposition Condemns Press Freedom Threats at Emergency Meeting

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

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 ...

U.S. Targets Iran’s “Ghost Fleet” in New Sanctions Over Oil Exports

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 18:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States US Secretary of State Iran

The United States imposed economic sanctions on Tuesday targeting 35 vessels from the "ghost fleet" that allows Iran to export its oil to foreign markets while circumventing Western restrictions, the U.S. Treasury Department announced. "Oil revenues provide the Iranian regime with the resources needed to fund its nuclear program, develop advanced ...

Trump Names Adam Boehler Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 18:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Israel United States

President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Adam Boehler as his Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. In a post on Truth Social Wednesday. Trump expressed confidence in Boehler's abilities, stating that the newly appointed envoy will hold the personal rank of Ambassador. The announcement comes as Trump prepares for his ...

UN Reports Over 115,000 Newly Displaced in Syria

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 18:05 - Reading : less than a minute

United Nations Syria

More than 115,000 people have been "newly displaced" in Syria's Idlib and Aleppo provinces, a UN official said Wednesday, following a major rebel offensive in the north. "It's been one week since the conflict escalated in Syria. More than 115,000 people have now been newly displaced across Idlib and northern Aleppo," UN deputy regional ...

Syrian War Photographer Killed in Air Strike Near Hama

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 18:02 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Journalist

Award-winning Syrian photographer Anas Alkharboutli, who worked for German press agency DPA, was killed Wednesday in an air strike near the Syrian city of Hama, his employer said. "Our photographer Anas Alkharboutli, who documented the civil war in Syria in a unique visual language, has been killed in an air strike near the Syrian city of Hama. ...

Russia Finds Itself Caught Off-Balance in Syria

Cian Ward 2024-12-04 18:02 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

Hezbollah Turkey Syria Russia Iran

Syria’s 12-year Civil War has surged to the top of global news bulletins this week after rebel fighters – largely under the banner of Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – seized control of Aleppo, the country’s second largest city, advancing to the outskirts of Hama, a key node linking Damascus to Syrian President Bashar ...

French Government Faces Collapse as Macron Wraps Up Saudi Tour

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 17:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Saudi Arabia

President Emmanuel Macron completed his state visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday as France's government faced being ousted in a no-confidence vote. Macron flew out after viewing the ancient AlUla heritage site, a cornerstone of the conservative country's nascent tourism industry, at the end of his three-day tour. The first French state visit to ...

AnalysisAleppo Loss Marks a Turning Point for Assad’s Regime

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 17:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Damascus Middle East Tehran Syria

The ease with which rebel groups captured Aleppo (North) and advanced toward central Syria has shaken Bashar al-Assad’s legitimacy, fueling the ambitions of his opponents, analysts unanimously say. The capital remains well-defended, with the army launching a counteroffensive on Wednesday, aided by Russian airstrikes. However, the blow dealt in ...

South Korean President Accused of Major Constitutional Violations in Impeachment Motion

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 16:07 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA Martial Law South Korea Impeachement

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol violated the constitution by declaring martial law in a move aimed at evading criminal investigations, according to an impeachment motion seen by AFP. Yoon "gravely and extensively violated the Constitution and the law", the motion filed by opposition parties earlier Wednesday says. It also said his ...

Iran Grants Nobel Laureate Mohammadi Temporary Release on Medical Grounds

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 16:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Iran

Iran has released Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi, jailed since November 2021, for three weeks on medical grounds, her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, posted on social media. Over the past quarter century, Mohammadi, 52, has been repeatedly tried and jailed for her vocal campaigning against Iran's widespread use of capital punishment and its ...

NATO Chief Says Russia Supporting North Korea in Exchange for Soldiers

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 14:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Ukraine United States North Korea

NATO chief Mark Rutte said Wednesday that Russia was giving support to North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for Pyongyang sending troops to fight in the war with Ukraine. He urged NATO members to send enough arms to Ukraine to change the course of the conflict as Russian forces make gains along the frontline. "In return for ...