Middle East

South Korean President Clings to Power of Martial Law

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 10:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States USA Washington South Korea

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was still clinging to power Thursday, with his party announcing they will oppose an impeachment motion after his short-lived imposition of martial law stunned the world. Yoon suspended civilian rule late Tuesday and deployed troops and helicopters to parliament only for lawmakers to vote down the measure and ...

Macron to Seek Solution for Crisis, Following PM's Ouster

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 09:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Saudi Arabia USA France Barnier

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday will seek ways out of France's political crisis, after Michel Barnier became the first prime minister to be ousted by parliament in over six decades. Lawmakers voted on Wednesday to oust Barnier's government after just three months in office, approving a no-confidence motion proposed by the hard left ...

Op-edThe Poisoned Chalice of Political Islam

Salam Zaatari 2024-12-05 09:00 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

Islam ISIS Mossad Muslims

For as long as I can remember, my identity as a Muslim has been a source of both pride and fear. Growing up in a post-9/11 world, I have lived under the shadow of suspicion, my faith often seen through the lens of terrorism, extremism, and political turmoil. From news headlines to Hollywood narratives, the image of Islam has been relentlessly ...

New Amnesty Report Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza

This is Beirut 2024-12-05 02:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Amnesty International Gaza Genocide

Amnesty International on Thursday accused Israel of "committing genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza since the start of the war last year, saying its new report was a "wake-up call" for the international community. The London-based rights organisation said its findings were based on "dehumanising and genocidal ...

French Government Falls in Historic No-Confidence Vote

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 22:12 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

France

French lawmakers on Wednesday voted to oust the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier after just three months in office, a historic move which plunged the country further into political chaos. For the first time in over sixty years, the National Assembly lower house toppled the incumbent government, approving a no-confidence motion that had ...

Russia and Ukraine to Attend Rare Joint Summit in Malta

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 21:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Kyiv Ukraine Russia

Russia and Ukraine will send their foreign ministers to Malta this week for a summit of the OSCE, officials said Wednesday, in one of the few events attended by both countries since Moscow's Ukraine offensive began. The trip marks Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's first to an EU member since the start of the conflict in February 2022, and ...

UK and Qatar Partner on £1 Billion Climate Technology Investment

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 20:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gulf United Arab Emirates United Kingdom

The British government said Wednesday that it has agreed to a partnership with Qatar that will see the Gulf state invest 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) in climate technologies. "The partnership is expected to create thousands of highly skilled jobs over its lifetime and will see the launch of world-leading climate technology hubs across the UK ...

Israeli Opposition Condemns Press Freedom Threats at Emergency Meeting

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 20:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Benjamin Netanyahu opposition

Israeli opposition leaders and prominent media figures warned at an emergency meeting on Wednesday that government reform proposals were threatening press freedom in the country. "In the years since this government was formed, Israel has fallen 15 places in the freedom of speech index," opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid said ...

Trump Nominates Private Astronaut Jared Isaacman to Lead NASA

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 19:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA NASA

US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated Jared Isaacman, the online payments billionaire and the first private astronaut to ever perform a spacewalk, as the next head of NASA. The nod could spark questions about potential conflicts of interest, given Isaacman's extensive financial ties to Elon Musk, who is set to co-chair a ...

U.S. Targets Iran’s “Ghost Fleet” in New Sanctions Over Oil Exports

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 18:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States US Secretary of State Iran

The United States imposed economic sanctions on Tuesday targeting 35 vessels from the "ghost fleet" that allows Iran to export its oil to foreign markets while circumventing Western restrictions, the U.S. Treasury Department announced. "Oil revenues provide the Iranian regime with the resources needed to fund its nuclear program, develop advanced ...

Trump Names Adam Boehler Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 18:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump United States

President-elect Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Adam Boehler as his Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. In a post on Truth Social Wednesday. Trump expressed confidence in Boehler's abilities, stating that the newly appointed envoy will hold the personal rank of Ambassador. The announcement comes as Trump prepares for his ...

UN Reports Over 115,000 Newly Displaced in Syria

This is Beirut 2024-12-04 18:05 - Reading : less than a minute

United Nations Syria

More than 115,000 people have been "newly displaced" in Syria's Idlib and Aleppo provinces, a UN official said Wednesday, following a major rebel offensive in the north. "It's been one week since the conflict escalated in Syria. More than 115,000 people have now been newly displaced across Idlib and northern Aleppo," UN deputy regional ...