World

Who Recognizes the State of Palestine, who Doesn't, and Why Does it Matter?

This is Beirut 23/09 09:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Europe G7 Gaza UN Palestinian state

A majority of European countries now recognisze the State of Palestine, following official declarations in New York on Monday by France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and others, after nearly two years of war in Gaza. Here is an overview of diplomatic recognition of the state, which was unilaterally proclaimed by the Palestinian leadership in exile ...

Trump Ties Autism Risk to Tylenol as Scientists Urge Caution

This is Beirut 23/09 05:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Donald Trump Health

US President Donald Trump on Monday vehemently insisted that pregnant people should "tough it out" and avoid Tylenol over an unproven link to autism, and urged major changes to the standard vaccines administered to babies. The Republican leader's announcement rife with sweeping yet unsubstantiated advice came as the White House has ...

Macron Recognizes Palestinian State at Landmark UN Summit

This is Beirut 22/09 23:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron France United Nations Palestinian Statehood

French President Emmanuel Macron officially recognized a Palestinian state at the United Nations on Monday, spurring a wave of Western moves to defy Israel in making the landmark -- if symbolic -- move. Macron, speaking at a summit that Israel and its chief backer the United States did not attend, called for an end to the war in Gaza. "The ...

Trump to Criticize “Globalist” Organizations and Palestine Recognition at UN

This is Beirut 22/09 22:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump United Nations Palestinian Statehood United States

Donald Trump will use his address to the United Nations on Tuesday to attack “globalist organizations” that he says have “undermined the world order,” as well as countries that have chosen to recognize the State of Palestine, his spokesperson said Monday. The U.S. president, who has reshaped American alliances with his transactional ...

Israel to Skip UN Security Council Meeting on Gaza

This is Beirut 22/09 22:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel United Nations UN Security Council

Israel will skip an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Gaza scheduled for Tuesday because of the Jewish New Year, its envoy to the UN said, calling the timing "regrettable." As a country directly affected by the deliberations of the UN's top security body, Israel had been invited to address the Council's discussion of the devastating ...

IAEA Chief Warns of Challenges in Iran Nuclear Talks, Sees Hope for Diplomacy

This is Beirut 22/09 21:33 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Iran Iran Nuclear Program IAEA Rafael Grossi

Discussions with Iran over its nuclear program are at a “difficult juncture,” the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, acknowledged Monday, while leaving open the possibility of a diplomatic breakthrough by the end of the week. “Clearly, this is a rather difficult moment,” Grossi said in an ...

US Envoy to UN Vows to 'Defend Every Inch of NATO Territory'

This is Beirut 22/09 20:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Nations UN Security Council NATO Russia

Washington's new envoy to the United Nations vowed Monday to "defend every inch of NATO territory" as he addressed an emergency meeting over an incursion by Russian fighter jets into Estonia's airspace. NATO scrambled jets after three Russian MiG-31 fighters on Friday breached Estonian airspace for some 12 minutes, triggering complaints of a ...

Iran’s Top General Warns of “Strategic Surprises” Amid Sacred Defense Week

This is Beirut 22/09 20:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Iran Sacred Defense Week Israel United States Abdolrahim Mousavi Iraq

The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, issued a stern warning on Monday, asserting that the country is prepared to deliver “strategic surprises” in response to any attack. In a message marking the commencement of Sacred Defense Week, he emphasized Iran’s growing deterrent capabilities and stated ...

Hamas Releases Video of Israeli-German Hostage Seen Alive

This is Beirut 22/09 19:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Israel Hamas Gaza

Hamas' armed wing released a video on Monday showing an Israeli-German hostage alive, the second such footage of him shared by the militants this month. The Israeli campaign group Hostages and Missing Families Forum and the captive's family identified him as Alon Ohel, who was abducted by Palestinian militants during their October 7, 2023 attack ...

Al-Sharaa Hopes for Security Deal with Israel, Downplays Normalisation

This is Beirut 22/09 19:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Ahmad al-Sharaa Israel

Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, visiting New York for the UN General Assembly, voiced hope Monday for a security deal that eases tensions with Israel, but he played down the prospect of recognition. Sharaa, a former jihadist whose forces toppled longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December, met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He will ...

China Prepares to Evacuate 400,000 as Super Typhoon Makes Landfall in Philippines

This is Beirut 22/09 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

China Typhoon Philippines Shenzhen

The Chinese city of Shenzhen was preparing Monday to evacuate 400,000 people, while residents of the northern Philippines sought shelter from gale-force winds as Super Typhoon Ragasa headed on a collision course with southern China. The typhoon made landfall on the Philippines' Calayan Island, part of the sparsely populated Babuyan chain, at 3:00 ...

$IAEA Says Iran Nuclear Diplomacy at a \$

IAEA Says Iran Nuclear Diplomacy at a "Difficult Juncture"

This is Beirut 22/09 17:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Nations IAEA Rafael Grossi Iran Iran Nuclear Program

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, told AFP Monday that diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program were at a "difficult juncture," but dialogue would continue. The UN Security Council voted on Friday to reimpose UN sanctions that had been frozen, after three European governments activated the ...