Middle East

What Are These Drones Hovering Over Europe?

Mario Chartouni 2025-10-03 17:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Ukraine Russia Drones Denmark Norway Poland

Munich Airport suspended operations for several hours on Friday after reports of unidentified drones. Seventeen flights were canceled, about 15 were diverted, and nearly 3,000 passengers were affected. Authorities could not determine the size or type of the drones, but the incident disrupted one of Europe’s busiest hubs and reignited concerns ...

Macron and Merz Sound Alarm Over European Democracy

This is Beirut 2025-10-03 17:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Europe Germany Friedrich Merz

The leaders of France and Germany warned of the dangers to democracy within their countries and from hostile foreign powers as they marked 35 years of German unification on Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron was invited to take part in a ceremony marking the anniversary in the southwestern German city of Saarbruecken, where he described the ...

US Government Shutdown Seen Dragging Into Next Week

This is Beirut 2025-10-03 16:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Republicans Democrats US Congress Shutdown

The US government shutdown appeared likely to stretch into next week as senators prepared Friday to vote for a fourth time on a funding fix proposed by Donald Trump's Republicans that has little hope of success. Federal agencies have been out of money since Wednesday—with a wide range of public services crippled—as a result of deadlocked ...

Sarah Mullally Appointed First Woman to Lead Church of England

This is Beirut 2025-10-03 13:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Kingdom Church Sarah Mullally

Sarah Mullally was on Friday named the new Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England -- which can trace its origins to the Roman empire -- and the global Anglican community. Her nomination by a committee tasked with finding a successor to Justin Welby, who stepped down earlier this year over an abuse ...

Russia-Linked Tanker Stopped by France Resumes Voyage

This is Beirut 2025-10-03 13:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Europe Ukraine Russia Shadow fleet

A tanker from Russia's "shadow fleet" detained by the French navy was heading towards the Suez Canal Friday with its captain back on board, according to data from maritime websites and a source close to the case. The Boracay, blacklisted by the European Union for being part of Russia's sanctions-busting "shadow fleet" of ageing oil tankers, has ...

Virtual Jesus? People of Faith Divided as AI Enters Religion

This is Beirut 2025-10-03 13:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

New York AI Vatican Religion ChatGPT

Artificial intelligence, the technology upending nearly every corner of society, is creeping into religion, serving up virtual Jesus and automated sermons -- a change drawing mixed reviews from the faithful. Religious chatbots and other faith-based digital tools are growing in number, offering counsel, comfort and spiritual guidance during an age ...

Munich Airport Closure 'Wake-up Call' Over Drone Danger

This is Beirut 2025-10-03 13:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Europe United States Drones Munich Germany

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Friday that the temporary closure of Munich airport after drone sightings was a "wake-up call" about the threat from drones, which have caused a string of similar aviation disruptions across Europe. Airports in Denmark, Norway and Poland have recently suspended flights due to unidentified ...

Hamas Official says Group Still Needs Time to Study Trump's Gaza Plan

This is Beirut 2025-10-03 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Hamas Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu USA

A Hamas official told AFP on Friday that the group still needed time to study a plan for Gaza put forward by US President Donald Trump and backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Hamas is still continuing consultations regarding Trump's plan... and has informed mediators that the consultations are ongoing and need some time," the ...

Trump Piles Pain on Democrats Over Us Government Shutdown

This is Beirut 2025-10-03 05:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Donald Trump Shutdown Politics

Donald Trump signaled Thursday that he plans to follow through on his threat for mass layoffs of US federal workers as he ratcheted pressure on Democrats to back moves to end the government shutdown. The Republican president announced he would meet budget chief Russell Vought "to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which ...

Israeli Airstrikes on the outskirts of Damascus

This is Beirut 2025-10-03 04:20 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam Syria Airstrikes

Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted the outskirts of the Al-Kiswah area in the rural Damascus region. So far, eight airstrikes have been reported. No details about casualties have been reported yet.

US Fighter Jets Flew Close to Venezuela's Shores: Defense Minister

This is Beirut 2025-10-02 21:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump United States Venezuela

Venezuela said Thursday that it had detected five US fighter jets flying close to its shores, adding to tensions with Washington, which has ordered a major naval build-up in the region. In a TV address, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said that Venezuela's air defenses and the tracking systems of the country's biggest airport "detected more ...

France FM Says Hamas Must Accept 'Surrender' Under Trump Gaza Plan

This is Beirut 2025-10-02 20:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hamas Palestine France Gaza peace plan

France's top diplomat said Thursday that Hamas had lost its fight in Gaza and must accept "surrender" under a plan put forward by US President Donald Trump. The Palestinian militant group is currently weighing its response to the Trump plan, which has been publicly endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Hamas bears a very heavy ...