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Pope Francis's Death : The World Salutes a Paladin of Peace

Pope Francis died Monday morning in the Vatican at the age of 88, following a stroke, as announced by the Vatican. His death sparked a wave of emotion and reactions across the globe. Political leaders, religious figures, and faithful from around the world paid tribute to the Argentine pontiff, who left a mark on the Catholic Church through his ...

When AI Meets Therapy: The Promise and Pitfalls of Digital Healing

AI (artificial intelligence) is a computer system designed to replicate human thought and behavior. It can reason, process information, and search for answers across vast pools of relevant content available online. A chatbot, by contrast, is a conversational tool designed to simulate human interaction. It runs on pre-scripted responses, ...

Shia Clans in the Upcoming Municipal Elections

After nine years of waiting, municipal elections will be held starting early next month. This vote carries strategic importance, as it precedes the parliamentary elections by a year and serves as a political barometer, particularly in the Shia regions of Lebanon, which have been affected by the repercussions of the war between Hezbollah and ...

Hundreds of Thousands at Funeral for Pope 'With an Open Heart'

Hundreds of thousands of mourners and world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, packed St. Peter's Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, "pope among the people" and the Catholic Church's first Latin American leader. Some waited overnight to get a seat for the ceremony, with the Vatican reporting some ...

15 Potential Successors to Pope Francis

The April 21 death of Pope Francis triggered a period of mourning in the Catholic Church, but also kick-started the race for his successor. Whether diplomats, theologians, mediators or Vatican insiders, here are 15 cardinals who are among the potential favorites to become the next pope, known as the "papabili", divided by region. This list ...

Huda al-Khamis-Kanoo: Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Heartbeat (1/2)

This is a house that speaks. Every object is a poem, every piece of furniture a memory. In Kanoo's home, one does not merely enter a dwelling, one steps into an intimate museum where arts, civilizations and stories from across the world converge in conversation. Amid Abu Dhabi's cityscape of architectural marvels and sharp lines, this house is a ...

Servant of the World: The Heavy Mantle Facing the Next Pope

Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, a conclave is set to convene in early May to elect his successor as the leader of the Catholic Church. The 267th pope will face formidable challenges in continuing the mission of this 2,000-year-old institution and spreading the message of Jesus. This responsibility is particularly daunting in a ...

Games of Desire: Seduction and Its Pitfalls

Seduction is intimately tied to the development of the self. Present from the earliest stages of life, it weaves through every domain—from the personal to the social and political, from the economy to daily interactions, to the great works of art. It can be understood as a form of connection with others, one that reveals unconscious desire. In ...

Saint George’s Day in Klayaa: A Heritage of Tradition and Faith

In South Lebanon, a land once graced by the footsteps of Christ, hope quietly persists. Among the ruins of buildings, the scars of damaged roads and the remnants of once-vibrant villages, the echoes of the horrors from the last war still resonate, bearing witness to a painful history that refuses to fade. Yet, in Klayaa and Marjayoun, the streets ...

American and European Rivalry Serves China and Its Axis

It is in no way simplistic to say that the 20th century has been the American century. Our modern world was and is still being shaped by innovations made in America. The nuclear bomb, the Apollo mission to the moon and the internet. Indeed, America can draw from a long list, but one overlooked American achievement is Europe. It would not be an ...

Why Are Some of the Pope’s Jewels Destroyed After His Death?

When a pope dies, it’s not only the prayers of the Catholic world that accompany his passing. Behind the scenes, a ritual—codified, discreet, and often unknown—takes place, such as the destruction of certain jewels. Among them, the most well-known is the Ring of the Fisherman, ritually broken in public. Other items—seals, pectoral crosses, ...

Huge Crowds Flock To Vatican for Pope Francis's Funeral

Tens of thousands of mourners flooded into St. Peter's Square on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis, the champion of the poor and the Catholic Church's first Latin American leader. Some people waited overnight to be first in the queue for the ceremony, which will be attended by world leaders including US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's ...

Lebanon’s Increased IMF Subscription: A Prerequisite for Future Funding?

The Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, has tentatively approved an increase in Lebanon's contribution to the International Monetary Fund, requesting Minister of Finance Yassine Jaber to provide a study on the feasibility of raising Lebanon’s contribution by $423 million. According to Kanaan, the increase in ...

All Eyes Turn to Conclave After Pope Francis's Funeral

With Pope Francis laid to rest, all eyes turn now to the conclave, the secretive meeting of cardinals set to convene within days to elect a new head of the Catholic Church. Alongside world leaders and reigning monarchs, an estimated 400,000 people turned out on Saturday for the Argentine pontiff's funeral at the Vatican and burial in Rome. The ...

Pope Francis: "Providence Will Never Forsake Lebanon"

Pope Francis has always kept Lebanon close to his heart. According to those close to him and many of his visitors, the Holy Father has remained closely informed about developments in the country. While he has not visited Lebanon—due to both health concerns and the political vacuum created by the absence of a president and a fully functioning ...

Amendments to Banking Secrecy: The Danger of Retroactive Effect!

The joint parliamentary committees are currently discussing the draft law amending banking secrecy. The version approved by the government is under review and modification in Parliament. This amendment — referred from the government to Parliament by Decree No. 103 — is the second in just three years. In 2022, the banking secrecy law ...

HTS: From a Jihadist Group to a Military Power

Over the years, Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has built a substantial military arsenal and established a force that is both professional and cohesive – an accomplishment that posed a significant challenge when the group was formed in 2017, following the merger of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly al-Nusra) with five other jihadist ...

How Global Policies of Convenience Have Quietly Undermined Our Freedoms

Over the past two decades, the world has undergone a quiet but profound transformation, not through war or revolution, but through regulatory control. What began as a post 9/11 response to global terrorism has evolved into a far-reaching system of surveillance, compliance and behavioral control. It has been packaged as safety, transparency and ...

The Wounds of Love on the Resurrected Body

Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, leaving behind his boundless love and many mysteries yet to be understood. Unlike his resurrection, which happened with no witnesses, his ascension took place before the eyes of his stunned disciples. He defied gravity, and then a cloud took him from their sight—so much so that two angels had ...

Lebanon Grieves Deeply After Shocking Death of Pope Francis

The Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, sparking a wave of sorrow across the globe. In Lebanon, the news reverberated deeply, uniting both political and religious leaders in mourning the loss of a spiritual icon whose message of peace and inclusion touched millions. The Presidency of the Council of Ministers declared a ...

Barca Edge Real Madrid in Extra-Time to Win Wild Copa Del Rey Final

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde struck deep in extra-time to decide a gripping Copa del Rey Clasico final on Saturday in Seville, earning his side a 3-2 win over rivals Real Madrid. The Catalans, aiming for a quadruple this season, won the first major trophy of Hansi Flick's reign as coach and a record-extending 32nd Spanish cup in dramatic ...

Breakthrough or Stalemate? US and Iran Resume High-Stakes Nuclear Talks in Oman

The United States and Iran concluded a second round of high-stakes talks on Tehran's nuclear program on Saturday, agreeing to meet again in a week's time, according to Iran's foreign ministry. The Oman-mediated talks in Rome lasted about four hours, with Iranian state television describing the atmosphere as "constructive." "The two sides agreed ...

The World Prepares to Bid Farewell to Pope Francis

Some 250,000 people paid their respects to Pope Francis during a three-day lying in state at St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican said on Friday, as public viewing ended and world leaders began gathering for his funeral. French President Emmanuel Macron was among the last to pay his respects, with the overall crowds exceeding the estimated 195,000 ...

Einstein, 70 Years On: The Man Who Redefined the Universe and Human Consciousness

In 1905, a young and relatively unknown physicist was quietly working in a patent office in Bern, unaware that he would forever alter the course of science. That year, Albert Einstein, born in 1879 in Ulm, Germany, without prestigious titles or academic acclaim, published a series of scientific papers that would gradually challenge everything ...

Tens of Thousands Bid Farewell to Pope Francis Lying in State

Tens of thousands of mourners began saying their last goodbyes to Pope Francis at St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday, as the body of the late Argentine pontiff began three days of lying in state. By mid-afternoon, the wait to enter St Peter's Basilica was about three hours, as the long line of pilgrims and tourists wishing to pass by the pontiff's ...

Municipal Federations in Lebanon: Strategic Tools with Political Implications

Created under Lebanon’s 1977 Municipal Organization Law, municipal federations (MFs) hold legal status and enjoy administrative and financial autonomy, similar to that of individual municipalities (Article 114). These federations can include an unlimited number of member municipalities—usually on a voluntary basis—to implement joint projects ...

US Says It Struck 800 Targets in Yemen, Killed 100s of Huthis Since March 15

The United States has hit more than 800 targets in Yemen since mid-March, killing hundreds of Huthi rebel fighters, including members of the group's leadership, the US military said Sunday. Washington's forces have hammered the Huthis with near-daily air strikes since March 15 in an operation dubbed "Rough Rider," seeking to end the threat they ...

Iran, US Discuss Nuclear Deal in Third Round of Talks

The United States and Iran went into detail about a potential nuclear deal Saturday at their third consecutive round of talks, hoping to strike an accord that would ease regional tensions. US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi again led the talks, which this time included a technical-level meeting between ...

US Says It Struck 800 Targets in Yemen, Killed 100s of Huthis Since March 15

The United States has hit more than 800 targets in Yemen since mid-March, killing hundreds of Huthi rebel fighters, including members of the group's leadership, the US military said Sunday. Washington's forces have hammered the Huthis with near-daily air strikes since March 15 in an operation dubbed "Rough Rider," seeking to end ...

When Art Meets Faith: Antoni Gaudí on the Path to Sainthood

On April 13, 2025, by official decree, Pope Francis recognized the heroic virtues of Antoni Gaudí, bestowing upon the famous Catalan architect the title of “Venerable.” This recognition marks a major milestone on the path to beatification, which could ultimately lead to the canonization of the man often referred to as “God’s architect.” ...