Pentagon Chief Calls for Additional Patriot Systems for Ukraine

This Is Beirut 2024-04-30 20:30 - Reading : less than a minute

Ukraine United States Volodymyr Zelensky

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that he has been encouraging countries with Patriot missile systems to donate them to Ukraine, which appealed for more of the air defense batteries. "There are countries that have Patriots, and so what we're doing is continuing to engage those countries," Austin told a House Armed Services ...

Scotland: Humza Yousaf's Resignation, a Blow to Independence Supporters?

Ali A. Hamadé 2024-04-30 18:59 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

In the heart of the Scottish political turmoil, a resounding announcement shook the circles of power: Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf announced his resignation on Monday morning. This decision comes after a series of tumultuous political developments that rocked the Scottish National Party (SNP), of which Yousaf is the leader. It all started ...

Six Killed in Afghanistan Mosque Attack

This Is Beirut 2024-04-30 11:11 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

A gunman stormed a mosque in western Afghanistan and killed six people, a government spokesman said Tuesday. Interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani said that on Monday around 9:00 pm (1630 GMT) "an unknown armed person shot at civilian worshippers in a mosque" in Herat province's Guzara district. The state-run Bakhtar News Agency gave the ...

G7 Meets in Italy for Climate Talks as Members Miss Key Targets

This Is Beirut 2024-04-29 11:59 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

G7

The G7 states will meet in Turin, Italy on Monday, for the first key climate talks since COP28 as a new report shows all G7 members are missing their climate targets. G7 ministers meet for environment and climate change talks in Turin on Monday, with experts urging the highly industrialized countries to use their political clout, wealth and ...

UAE Firm Suspends Iraq Operations After Mysterious Drone Attack

This Is Beirut 2024-04-29 11:51 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Emirati-owned Dana Gas has suspended operations at a gas complex in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region after a drone strike that killed four people, it said on Monday. The Khor Mor complex owned by the United Arab Emirates firm has been hit several times in recent years, but Friday's attack was the first deadly incident. Four workers died and ...

The Inevitable Wars and the Future of a Deadlocked Conflict

2024-04-29 11:19 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Palestine

One wonders why it was assumed that this war was unlikely to stretch out and why Israel’s reaction to October 7, 2023 was going to be muted or limited. The reason is simple: observers outside Israel have failed to understand the magnitude of this massacre, grasp its nature and come to terms with its manifold consequences on Israel’s national ...

Gaza Set to Dominate Saudi-Hosted Global Economy Summit

This Is Beirut 2024-04-28 10:34 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Palestine Hamas

The war in Gaza and broader Middle East tensions are expected to get top billing at a Saudi-hosted special meeting of the World Economic Forum that begins on Sunday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Palestinian leaders and high-ranking officials from other countries trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are on the guest list ...

Iran Says to Free Crew of Seized Portugal-Flagged Ship

This Is Beirut 2024-04-27 13:54 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Gulf United States

Iran said Saturday it would release the crew members of a Portuguese-flagged ship that its forces seized this month in the Gulf. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps took over the MSC Aries with 25 crew members on board near the Strait of Hormuz on April 13. Tehran later said the ship belonged to its arch-foe Israel and was being investigated ...

King Charles to Resume Some Public Duties During Treatment

This Is Beirut 2024-04-26 23:16 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Kingdom

British head of state King Charles III will make a limited return to public duties next week, after doctors said they were "very encouraged" by the progress of his treatment for cancer. His first engagement with Queen Camilla would be to a cancer treatment center on Tuesday. The couple will also host Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan ...

Israeli Operation in Rafah: When, How and Why?

2024-04-26 21:13 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

  The city of Rafah could mark the last military chapter of the war launched by Israel against Hamas. As negotiations leading to a potential truce struggle to advance, the Hebrew State remains committed to its project to launch a large-scale offensive in this roughly 64 km2 area south of Gaza, home to approximately one and a half million ...

Itamar Ben Gvir Survives Near-Fatal Car Crash

This Is Beirut 2024-04-26 21:12 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

On his way back from addressing journalists at the scene in the city of Ramla, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was involved in a spectacular car crash in which three people were lightly injured, police said. An AFP photographer at the scene saw two damaged cars, one which had flipped over. Israeli media reported Ben ...

Xi Tells Blinken, We Should Be "Partners, Not Rivals"

This Is Beirut 2024-04-26 10:29 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Antony Blinken Tik Tok

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday told top US diplomat Antony Blinken that the world's biggest economies should be "partners, not rivals" as the two sides pressed for headway on a range of concerns. Blinken, in China for the second time in less than a year, pointed to improvements in the relationship but urged greater action from Beijing on ...