World

Joumblatt Meets Al-Sharaa, Calls for Accountability Over Tensions in Syria

This is Beirut 02/05 20:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Walid Jumblatt Syria Ahmad Al-Sharaa Druze Jarmana Sahnaya

In a surprise visit to the Syrian capital on Friday, former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Joumblatt met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the People’s Palace. The private meeting marks a notable shift in regional political dynamics and comes amid rising tensions in southern Syria. Joumblatt left the palace without making any ...

Q&AWho Are the New Security Forces in Syria ?

This is Beirut 02/05 19:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Damascus

Deadly sectarian violence in Syria this week between security forces and Druze fighters follows massacres of Alawites in March, with government forces and affiliated gunmen involved in both outbreaks. Many questions have been raised on the identity of fighters in the country's new security forces, and the interim government's ability to control ...

UAE: Heat Record in April Up to 46.6°C in the Gulf

This is Beirut 02/05 19:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Gulf United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates recorded unprecedented heat in April, with an average maximum temperature of 42.6 degrees Celsius over the past month — the highest in two decades for the oil-rich Gulf country. The previous highest average maximum temperature for an April was 42.2 degrees Celsius, recorded in 2017, according to a calculation based on ...

Trump’s 2026 Budget Boosts Defense and Border Security, Slashes Social Spending

This is Beirut 02/05 18:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Democrats USA

US President Donald Trump unveiled the first budget blueprint of his second term Friday, with a big increase on defense and homeland security while radically slashing other areas of government. Trump's 2026 budget proposal eyes a 22 percent non-defense spending cut amounting to $163 billion -- doubling down on cost-cutting efforts under Elon ...

SpotlightLouvre Abu Dhabi: Where Art Floats and Connects Civilizations

Bélinda Ibrahim 02/05 18:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

United Arab Emirates Louvre Abu Dhabi Louvre Abu Dhabi Culture

Just off the coast of Abu Dhabi, at the entrance to Saadiyat Island, a steel dome perforated with 7,850 geometric stars filters sunlight like a futuristic mashrabiya. Designed by Jean Nouvel, this architectural marvel shelters a museum unlike any other in the world: the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Born of an unprecedented partnership between France and the ...

Iran Says US Sanctions ‘Will Not Change’ Its Policy After Trump Threats

This is Beirut 02/05 18:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Tehran USA

Iran said Friday continued US sanctions on its trade partners will not alter its policy, after President Donald Trump threatened to impose penalties on countries or individuals dealing in Iranian oil. "The continuation of these illegal behaviours will not change Iran's logical, legitimate and international law-based positions," a ...

TikTok Fined 530 Mn Euros in EU Over China Data Transfer

This is Beirut 02/05 13:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

European Union Tik Tok China

TikTok was hit with a massive EU fine of 530 million euros ($600 million) Friday, accused of sending personal data of Europeans to China and failing to guarantee it was shielded from access by Chinese authorities. The Chinese-owned social media giant, which is also in the crosshairs of the United States, acknowledged during a probe that it has ...

Workers Install Chimney Atop Sistine Chapel for Conclave

This is Beirut 02/05 12:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Pope Francis Vatican elections

Firefighters at the Vatican installed a chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel to be used during the conclave that begins May 7, an AFP reporter witnessed Friday. Cardinals vote in secret in the chapel for a new pope and reveal to the waiting world the outcome by burning the ballots in a special stove, with the chimney emitting black smoke if no ...

Activists Say Israeli Drones Hit Aid Boat Heading for Gaza

This is Beirut 02/05 11:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Palestine Cyprus Gaza

A group of activists organizing an aid boat for Gaza said it was attacked on Friday by Israeli drones in international waters off Malta as they headed towards the Palestinian territory. "At 00:23 Maltese time, the Conscience, a Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship, came under direct attack in international waters," the group said in a ...

Trump to Rename World War Anniversaries as 'Victory Day'

This is Beirut 02/05 11:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA World War

US President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed his intent to rename both May 8 and November 11 "Victory Day" in his latest attempt to alter the country's nomenclature. "I am hereby renaming May 8th as Victory Day for World War II and November 11th as Victory Day for World War I," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Victory Day, observed by ...

Trump Axes NSA Waltz After Chat Group Scandal

This is Beirut 02/05 11:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Mike Waltz United Nations

US President Donald Trump on Thursday replaced his national security advisor, Mike Waltz, following a scandal over a chat group leak, saying he would appoint him as ambassador to the United Nations instead. In the first major cabinet shake-up of Trump's new term, the president said Secretary of State Marco Rubio would now also serve as his ...

ReportSudan Capital Tiptoes Back to Life After Recapture by Army

This is Beirut 02/05 11:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Khartoum Sudan

In war-ravaged Khartoum, donkey carts clatter over worn asphalt, the smell of tomatoes wafts from newly reopened stalls, and pedestrians dodge burnt-out cars left by two years of war. Life is slowly, cautiously returning to the Sudanese capital, weeks after the army recaptured the city from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who had ...