World

PoliticsDiplomatic Uncertainties and Reconstruction: Lebanon’s Challenges Amid International Expectations

Tylia El Helou 13/03 19:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

A recent interview with Morgan Ortagus, deputy to the U.S. president’s special envoy for the Middle East, highlighted significant discrepancies between official announcements and the on-the-ground reality in Lebanon. While the U.S. administration claims to have initiated diplomatic working groups to address the Lebanese-Israeli border issue, ...

VideosA Hospitalized Pope Francis Celebrates 12 Years of Pontificate

This is Beirut 13/03 18:30 - Reading : less than a minute

Pope Francis Christianity Vatican

Pope Francis marks 12 years as head of the Catholic Church on Thursday, seemingly out of danger after a month-long hospitalization, though his health continues to cast a shadow over his future.

Syria Leader Signs Constitutional Declaration, Hailing 'New History'

This is Beirut 13/03 16:48 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Syria Ahmad al-Sharaa

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday hailed the start of a "new history" for his country, signing into force a constitutional declaration regulating its five-year transitional period and laying out rights for women and freedom of expression. The declaration comes three months after Islamist-led rebels toppled Bashar al-Assad's ...

Palestinian Authority Condemns Hamas-U.S. Direct Talks

This is Beirut 13/03 15:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hamas Donald Trump Palestinian authority Massad Boulos

The Palestinian Authority condemned Hamas' statement in which the organization revealed it had opened a communication channel with the U.S. administration. The Israeli media, Haaretz, quoted Palestinian political sources as saying that the condemnation “indicates the depth of the crisis between the PA and Hamas”. “The PA is also ...

Israeli Air Strike on Islamic Jihad's Headquarter in Damascus

This is Beirut 13/03 14:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Damascus Israel Islamic Jihad

Israeli Air Force conducted on Thursday an airstrike in Damascus, targeting headquarters of the Islamic Jihad group. Israel's military spokesman, Avichaï Adraee, said the attack had targeted a "terrorist command center" in Damascus, belonging to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which fought alongside Hamas in Gaza against Israel. "The ...

Netanyahu Slams 'False' UN Finding on Gaza 'Genocidal Acts'

This is Beirut 13/03 14:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Palestine United Nations Hamas Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday condemned as "false and absurd" a UN investigation that found Israel had committed "genocidal acts" in the Gaza Strip. "The anti-Israeli circus known as the UN Human Rights Council has long been exposed as an anti-Semitic, corrupt, terror-supporting, and irrelevant ...

Syrian Druze Plan First Israel Pilgrimage

This is Beirut 13/03 13:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Israel Druze Syria Lebanon

A delegation of Syrian Druze clerics is planning to visit a pilgrimage site in Israel on Friday for the first time since Israel's creation in 1948, a source close to the group said. "A delegation of dozens of Druze clerics will visit Israel on Friday," the source said, adding that it follows an invitation from the Druze community in Israel. "The ...

Iraq Says Seeking Alternatives to Iran Gas

This is Beirut 13/03 13:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Gulf Iran Gaz Iraq

Iraq is exploring alternatives to Iranian gas imports, including options in the Gulf, a government official said, as it seeks to reduce dependence on its sanctions-hit neighbor. The administration of US President Donald Trump announced over the weekend its decision to end a sanction's waiver that had allowed Iraq to buy electricity from Iran, ...

Turkey Demands the Expulsion of Foreign Fighters From Syria

This is Beirut 13/03 12:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Turkey Syria PKK EU

Turkey said on Thursday "terrorists" must lay down arms and foreign fighters must be expelled from Syria, after an agreement spearheaded by Syria's new authorities to disband armed groups. "As Turkey, we remain determined to fight against terrorism," a Turkish defense ministry source said. "There's no change in our expectations for an end to ...

US Negotiators Are on The Way to Russia: Kremlin

This is Beirut 13/03 11:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Kyiv Russia Donald Trump

The Kremlin said Thursday that US negotiators were on the way to Russia, as Washington seeks to present its plan for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. Kyiv agreed to the US proposal after talks in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, but Moscow has asked for the US side to present details before indicating whether it is acceptable. "Negotiators are ...

China Urges 'Diplomatic' Iran Nuclear Solution Ahead of Beijing Talks

This is Beirut 13/03 11:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States China Tehran Russia Iran Nuclear Weapon

China called on Thursday for a "diplomatic" resolution to the Iran nuclear issue as it prepared to host diplomats from Tehran and Moscow for talks. The United States withdrew from a landmark deal, which had imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear program in return for sanctions relief, during President Donald Trump's first term. Tehran ...

ExplainerThe Ben Gurion Canal Project: A Viable Alternative to the Suez Canal?

Paul Guillot 13/03 10:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Gulf Israel Middle East Palestine

As geopolitical and economic issues in the Middle East continue to dominate global discussions, a concept from the 1960s is resurfacing: the Ben Gurion Canal project. Named after David Ben Gurion, Israel's first prime minister and a key figure in the creation of the Jewish state, this ambitious initiative proposes linking the Gulf of Aqaba at ...