Middle East

Le Pen's French Presidency Bid in Jeopardy after Election Ban

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 18:18 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Emmanuel Macron European Union Marine Le Pen

A French court on Monday threw into severe doubt far-right leader Marine Le Pen's 2027 bid for president, handing her a five-year ban on running for office after convicting her over a fake jobs scheme. She was also given a four-year prison term by the Paris court but will not go to jail, with two years of the term suspended and the other two ...

Pope Approves Canonization of Blessed Ignatius Maloyan

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 16:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Liban Arménie Eglise arménienne catholique Bishop Ignatius Maloyan Vatican

The Media Office of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate announced on Monday that “Pope Francis has approved the vote from the regular session of cardinals and bishops to declare the beatified martyr Bishop Ignatius Maloyan (1869-1915) a saint.” “This historical event will be officially announced at a later time,” according to the ...

Israeli Army Dismantle Hamas Tunnel and Rocket Workshop

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 16:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam Israeli Army Hamas Gaza

The Israeli army on Monday dismantled a one-kilometer underground tunnel by the elite Yahalom Unit, a tunnel identified as part of Hamas’ network. This comes as part of an intensification of targeted operations in northern and central Gaza. In addition to neutralizing the tunnel, the troops also discovered and disrupted a workshop dedicated ...

SpaceX sends its first private space mission to fly over the Earth's poles

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 13:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Elon Musk Space X Human spaceflight

SpaceX launched the first human spaceflight directly over Earth's polar regions on Monday -- a days-long, privately funded orbital mission involving four astronauts. Named "Fram2" after the famed Norwegian ship built in the 19th century for Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, the mission will feature a range of experiments including ...

Eid al-Fitr Celebrations Around the World

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 13:20 - Reading : less than a minute

Eid al-Fitr

Video text: Millions of Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a period dedicated to fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection. In Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prays in Mecca with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. In Damascus, Syrians buy traditional sweets to celebrate ...

Syria President Says New Authorities Can't Satisfy Everyone

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 11:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Chereh

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Chareh said Monday a new transitional government would aim for consensus in rebuilding the war-torn country but acknowledged it would be unable to satisfy everyone. The transitional 23-member cabinet – without a prime minister – was announced Saturday, more than three months after Chareh's Islamist group ...

Khamenei Warns of 'Strong' Response if Iran Attacked

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 10:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Hezbollah

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Monday of a forceful retaliation if the Islamic republic is attacked, following a threat by US President Donald Trump. "They threaten to do mischief," Khamenei said of Trump's latest threat, during a speech on Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of ...

UK Imposes Travel Permit on Europeans from Wednesday

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 09:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Kingdom European Union Europe Gulf United States

In a shake-up of long-standing travel rules, European nationals heading to the UK will from Wednesday need a mandatory entry permit, which the British government says will strengthen border security. The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) can be bought online in the next few days for £10 (12 euros), but the price is rising swiftly from April ...

'Waited for Death': Ex-Detainees Recount Horrors of Sudan's RSF Prisons

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 09:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Sudan Egypt Prisons

For almost two years, Emad Mouawad had been repeatedly shuttled from one Sudanese paramilitary-run detention centre to another, terrified each day would be his last. The 44-year-old Egyptian merchant spent years selling home appliances in neighbouring Sudan before fighters from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed his Khartoum home ...

Israel PM Picks ex-Navy Commander as New Security Chief

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 09:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Benjamin Netanyahu Shin Bet

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu picked former navy commander Eli Sharvit to be the next head of the domestic security agency, his office said Monday, despite the supreme court freezing the dismissal of the incumbent. "After conducting in-depth interviews with seven worthy candidates, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to appoint ...

Venezuela Says US Revoked Transnational oil and gas Company Licenses

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 09:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump United States Washington

Venezuela announced Sunday that the United States had revoked several transnational oil and gas companies' licenses to operate in the country, which had been granted despite Washington's sanctions against the South American nation. While Venezuela did not specify which company licenses were revoked, experts had expected that European oil giants ...

Rescue Hopes Fading Three Days after Deadly Myanmar Quake

This is Beirut 2025-03-31 09:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Mandalay Thailand Myanmar Earthquake

Hopes were fading Monday of finding more survivors in the rubble of Mandalay, where some residents spent a third night sleeping in the open after a massive earthquake killed at least 1,700 people in Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand. Rescue efforts were less active in the central Myanmar city of more than 1.7 million people early Monday, but ...