Middle East

Syrians Commemorate Uprising Anniversary for First time since Assad's Fall

This is Beirut 2025-03-15 18:12 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam United Nations Syria Ahmad al-Sharaa Bashar al-Assad

Syrians gathered on Saturday to commemorate the 14th anniversary of their uprising in public demonstrations in Damascus for the first time since president Bashar al-Assad was toppled. The demonstration in Damascus's Umayyad Square is the first in the capital after years of repression under Assad, during which the square was the sole preserve of ...

Story'Líbano: a flor do mundo' — Brazilian Artists Bring Lebanese Hope Back to Life

Bélinda Ibrahim 2025-03-15 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Brazil Song Culture World

In the history of international cultural relations, some connections transcend geographical distances. The bond between Lebanon and Brazil is one of them — deep and shaped by decades of migration and exchange. With over eight million people of Lebanese descent, Brazil is home to one of the largest Lebanese diasporas in the world. This ...

Putin will Have to 'Come to Table,' UK PM says Hosting Coalition Call

This is Beirut 2025-03-15 14:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United Kingdom Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron

UK premier Keir Starmer said Saturday Russian President Vladimir Putin would "sooner or later" have to "come to the table" as he opened a virtual summit to drum up support for a coalition willing to protect any eventual ceasefire in Ukraine. The British prime minister told some 25 fellow leaders as they joined a virtual call hosted by Downing ...

VideosMark Carney Sworn in as Canada PM

Maria Chami 2025-03-15 14:25 - Reading : less than a minute

USA

Mark Carney is sworn in as Canada's prime minister, taking charge of a country rattled by a breakdown in US relations since President Donald Trump's return to power

Iraq Says Killed Senior Islamic State Group Leader

This is Beirut 2025-03-15 13:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Iraq ISIS

Iraqi security forces have killed a senior Islamic State (IS) group leader responsible for foreign operations, according to the country's prime minister, with US President Donald Trump saying later Friday his "miserable life was terminated". Although Iraq had proclaimed in 2017 the defeat of the jihadist group on its territory, IS cells have ...

Saudi Arabia: Peace Mediator or Economic Strategist?

Christiane Tager 2025-03-15 12:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Saudi Arabia USA Ukraine

By hosting talks between the United States and Ukraine, Saudi Arabia seeks to establish itself as an essential mediator in global affairs. Traditionally recognized as a key player in the energy sector due to its vast oil reserves, the kingdom now aspires to expand its influence beyond energy. By facilitating peace negotiations, it demonstrates its ...

ExplainerArmistice, Normalization, Peace: What Are the Differences?

Élie-Joe Kamel 2025-03-15 12:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon United Nations Hamas Hezbollah

Whenever an agreement—whether purely technical or otherwise—between Lebanon and Israel is discussed, confusion arises, often followed by accusations and excessive speculation. Many Lebanese tend to mix up and confuse the terms "armistice," "normalization," and "peace." This makes it necessary to clarify the differences between these three ...

ChronicleThe “Old Man” and Violence

Fady Noun 2025-03-15 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Syria Alawites War

One can only be horrified by the atrocities that have recently unfolded in the “Alawite country,” just a few hundred kilometers from our television screens. In the age of smartphones, the images have reached us, more graphic and harrowing than ever before. The interim Syrian president, Ahmad al-Shareh, has promised an investigation and the ...

US Congress Averts Government Shutdown

This is Beirut 2025-03-15 04:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Politics Economy Shutdown

The United States averted a government shutdown with hours to spare Friday as lawmakers already reeling from President Donald Trump's radical federal spending cuts voted to keep the lights on through September. Facing a midnight deadline to fund the government or allow it to start winding down, Democrats dropped plans for a blockade on a ...

$US Expels South African Ambassador, Saying He \$

US Expels South African Ambassador, Saying He "Hates" Trump

This is Beirut 2025-03-14 23:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ebrahim Rasool South Africa United States Donald Trump

The United States is expelling South Africa's ambassador to Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday, accusing the envoy of hating the country and President Donald Trump. "South Africa's ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country," Rubio posted on X. Ebrahim Rasool is "a ...

AnalysisDoes the New Constitution Really Change the Syrian System?

This is Beirut 2025-03-14 22:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Syria Damascus Ahmad al-Sharaa Constitution

Syria's new temporary constitution concentrates power in interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's hands and fails to include enough protections for minorities, experts warn. The declaration, signed into law on Thursday, establishes a five-year transitional period and follows the toppling of Bashar al-Assad's repressive government by Islamist-led ...

Israeli Fire Kills Palestinian Man Near Nablus

This is Beirut 2025-03-14 22:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Nablus West Bank

A 21-year-old man was reportedly killed by Israeli fire near Nablus in the north of the occupied West Bank, as Israel's military said stone-throwers were targeted. "Omar Abdelhakim Daoud, 21, was martyred by fire from occupation forces in the village of Salem east of Nablus," a Palestinian health ministry statement said. An Israeli military ...