World

Erdogan Accuses Israel of Using Druze as Pretext to Expand Into Syria

This is Beirut 17/07 20:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Israel Erdogan Druze Syria Sweida

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday accused Israel of using the Druze minority in Syria as a pretext for expanding into the war-torn country. "Israel, using the Druze as an excuse, has been expanding its banditry into neighboring Syria over the past two days," Erdogan said in a televised speech after the weekly cabinet meeting. "I ...

Syria Troops Quit Druze Heartland After Violence Leaves Over 500 Dead

This is Beirut 17/07 19:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Damascus Israel Sweida

Syrian troops pulled out of the Druze heartland province of Sweida on orders from the Islamist-led government, following days of deadly clashes that killed more than 500 people, according to a war monitor. The southern province has been gripped by deadly sectarian bloodshed since Sunday, with hundreds reportedly killed in clashes pitting Druze ...

Kurdish Official Urges Damascus to 'Review' Minorities Approach

This is Beirut 17/07 17:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Syria Minorities

A Kurdish official on Thursday urged Syria's new authorities to rethink their approach to the country's minorities following deadly clashes with Druze fighters in the south. Syrian government forces withdrew from the Sweida province overnight on Wednesday following deadly clashes with Druze militants. Since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in ...

Pope Leo Says Hopes to Visit Turkey in Months Ahead

This is Beirut 17/07 16:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Pope Francis Turkey Vatican

Pope Leo XIV confirmed Thursday he hoped to visit Turkey in the coming months for a Christian religious commemoration, in what could be his first overseas trip as pontiff. "I hope to be able to meet you again in a few months to take part in the ecumenical commemoration of the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea," Leo said at a meeting with ...

VideosGrand Canyon: North Rim Closed After Major Wildfire

This is Beirut 17/07 16:02 - Reading : less than a minute

USA Grand Canyon Wildfire

The Grand Canyon National Park has closed its North Rim for the 2025 season after a wildfire ignited by lightning on July 4th. Fueled by strong winds over the weekend, the fire destroyed numerous buildings and forced the evacuation of more than 500 visitors and staff. Arizona’s governor has called for an investigation into the fire’s ...

Iraq Shopping Mall Fire Kills at Least 60

This is Beirut 17/07 15:48 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iraq Kut Fire Shopping Mall

A fire tore through a newly opened shopping mall in the eastern Iraqi city of Kut overnight, killing at least 61 people, authorities said Thursday as grief-stricken families searched for missing relatives. Officials said many people suffocated in bathrooms, while one person told AFP his five relatives died in an elevator. The blaze -- the latest ...

VideosMosul Airport Reopens with Capacity for 630,000 Passengers Annually

This is Beirut 17/07 14:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Iraq Mosul Airport

A wounded city takes a breath again: with a modern terminal and cutting-edge radar, Mosul is reconnecting with the world.

VideosClimate Change Threatens Tajikistan’s Apricot Industry

This Is Beirut 17/07 14:35 - Reading : less than a minute

tajikistan apricot climate change agriculture

Tajik apricot farmers face an uncertain future as climate change brings drought, floods and shifting seasons to Central Asia’s key fruit-growing region.

UK to Lower Voting Age to 16 in General Elections

This is Beirut 17/07 14:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

European Union United Kingdom Keir Starmer

The British government said Thursday it plans to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in general elections, a landmark change giving the UK one of the lowest voting ages worldwide. It follows a pledge from the ruling Labour Party to make the shift ahead of winning power last year, and is among several planned changes to the democratic system, which ...

Israel Strike on Gaza Catholic Church Kills Two

This is Beirut 17/07 14:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Palestine Catholic Church Gaza

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said an Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic Church killed two people on Thursday, as Israel said it "never targets" religious sites and was investigating what happened. "With deep sorrow, the Latin Patriarchate can now confirm that two persons were killed as a result of an apparent strike ...

Drone Hits Oil Field in Iraq's Kurdistan for Second Day

This is Beirut 17/07 13:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iran Drone Oil

A drone loaded with explosives struck an oil field in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region on Thursday, Kurdish forces said -- the second attack in two days on the Norwegian-operated site. "At 10:55 am (0755 GMT) a new attack by an explosives-laden drone hit" the DNO-operated Tawke field in Zakho disrict, Kurdistan's counterterrorism services ...

World-First IVF Trial Reduces Risk of Babies Inheriting Diseases

This is Beirut 17/07 11:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United Kingdom United States IVF Babies Mitochondrial

Eight healthy babies have been born in the UK using a new IVF technique that successfully reduced their risk of inheriting genetic diseases from their mothers, the results of a world-first trial said Wednesday. The findings were hailed as a breakthrough which raises hopes that women with mutations in their mitochondrial DNA could one day have ...