UN Chief Says Gaza Transformed Into 'Killing Field'

This is Beirut 08/04 23:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam United Nations Palestine Banks Hamas

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that Gaza had become "a killing field," blaming Israel for blocking aid and failing in its "unequivocal obligations" to meet the needs of the Palestinian territory's residents. "More than an entire month has passed without a drop of aid into Gaza. No food. No fuel. No medicine. No ...

US and Russia to Meet Thursday in Istanbul on Restoring Embassy Operations

This is Beirut 08/04 23:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States Russia Turkey Donald Trump

The United States and Russia will hold talks on Thursday in Istanbul on restoring some of their embassy operations that have been drastically scaled back following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the US State Department said. The talks, the second of their kind, come after President Donald Trump reached out to Russia following the start of his ...

Diamonds: Precious Stones Under Siege

Christiane Tager 08/04 22:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Donald Trump USA India economy Tariffs

Over 80% of the world’s rough diamonds are polished in India, cementing the country’s status as the global epicenter of brilliance. Yet, the sparkle of this thriving industry is under threat. A 27% US tariff, introduced by Donald Trump, casts a long shadow over India’s diamond trade, while retaliatory measures from India add fuel to the ...

US Says Witkoff to Speak with Iran, Rejects 'Negotiation'

This is Beirut 08/04 22:33 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States Steve Witkoff Donald Trump Oman Iran nuclear

The United States confirmed Tuesday that envoy Steve Witkoff would speak with Iran this weekend and said he would issue demands on Tehran's nuclear program rather than negotiate. Witkoff, a friend who has served as President Donald Trump's envoy on both the Gaza and Ukraine wars, will take part in the talks Saturday on Oman, State ...

Iran Says Deal Can Be Reached if US Shows Goodwill

This is Beirut 08/04 21:21 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States Iran Iran Nuclear Program

Iran said Tuesday a new nuclear deal could be agreed with the United States provided Tehran's longtime foe shows sufficient goodwill in upcoming talks but warned it would never accept coercion. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, warned that "the military option" would become "inevitable" if talks between Washington and Tehran ...

Netanyahu: 'military option inevitable' if US-Iran nuclear talks drag on

This is Beirut 08/04 19:25 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam Benjamin Netanyahu USA Donald Trump Tehran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that "the military option" would become "inevitable" if talks between Washington and Tehran on Iran's nuclear program drag on. "We agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons," Netanyahu said in a video statement following a meeting with US President Donald Trump. "This can be done in an ...

Pro-Turkey Syria Groups Reduce Presence in Kurdish Area

This is Beirut 08/04 19:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Turkey Syria Afrin Kurds

Pro-Turkey Syrian groups have scaled down their military presence in an historically Kurdish-majority area of the country's north, which they have controlled since 2018, a Syrian defense ministry official said on Tuesday. The move follows an agreement signed last month between Syria's new authorities and Kurdish officials that provides for the ...

Musk Slams Trump Trade Advisor as a 'Moron'

This is Beirut 08/04 18:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Elon Musk Peter Navarro United States Donald Trump

Elon Musk on Tuesday described Peter Navarro, a senior White House trade advisor, as "truly a moron" and "dumber than a sack of bricks" in a growing rift over Donald Trump's tariff policy. Musk, a key aide to the president, has signaled his opposition to the tariffs, and the Tesla CEO hit out after Navarro described his electric vehicle company ...

The Sound of Music: One Movie, Countless Lives, Sixty Years of Emotion

Bélinda Ibrahim 08/04 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Sound of Music Film Music Homage Culture

We all remember that iconic image: a silhouette spinning atop alpine meadows, arms wide open beneath a boundless blue sky. Picture March 2, 1965—the day The Sound of Music premiered at the Rivoli Theatre in New York. And now, six decades later, its charm remains as vibrant as ever. Years may have passed, but the first notes of “Do-Re-Mi” or ...

Zelensky Says Ukraine Captured Two Chinese Nationals Fighting for Russia

This is Beirut 08/04 17:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Ukraine China Volodymyr Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Ukrainian troops had captured two Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian forces, adding that Kyiv would demand an explanation from Beijing and a reaction from its allies. Moscow and Beijing have in recent years boasted of their "no limits" partnership and deepened political, military, and ...

Major Trade Wars Since the 19th Century

This is Beirut 08/04 17:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Trade World Trade Organization European Economic Community European Union

As the world reels from US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught, here is a look back at some major trade wars since the 19th century: 19th century Opium Wars In the mid-19th century, two conflicts over the opium trade, which became known as the Opium Wars, pitted China against the British Empire. The first began in 1839, when Britain ...

Sotheby's Displays $100 Million Diamond Collection in Abu Dhabi

This is Beirut 08/04 16:30 - Reading : less than a minute

In Abu Dhabi, Sotheby's displays a rare blue diamond and the world's largest flawless diamond in a sumptuous $100 million exhibition.