World

UN Security Council Urges Syria to Protect All People Regardless of Religion or Ethnicity

This is Beirut 14/03 20:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

The UN Security Council on Friday condemned recent massacres of civilians in Syria and urged its transitional authorities to respect all people regardless of religion or ethnicity. In a statement, the council said it condemned widespread violence in western Syria since March 6 that has included "mass killings of civilians," particularly among the ...

$Witkoff Meets Putin as Ceasefire Talks Gain \$

Witkoff Meets Putin as Ceasefire Talks Gain "Cautious Optimism"

This is Beirut 14/03 20:23 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Steve Witkoff Donald Trump Vladimir Putin Ukraine

US President Donald Trump said Friday his administration had "productive" talks with Russia about a ceasefire in Ukraine, urging counterpart Vladimir Putin to spare Ukrainian soldiers on the front line. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin late Thursday to lay out the details of a joint US-Ukrainian plan, which envisages a 30-day pause in ...

$Steve Witkoff: Hamas is \$

Steve Witkoff: Hamas is "Making a Very Bad Bet"

This is Beirut 14/03 19:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Steve Witkoff Hamas Gaza Israel United States

The White House accused Hamas on Friday of making "entirely impractical" demands and stalling on a deal to release a US-Israeli hostage in exchange for an extension of the Gaza ceasefire. "Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not," a statement from the office of President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and the US ...

United G7 Reiterates Support to Ukraine, Threatens Russia With Sanctions

This is Beirut 14/03 19:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

G7 Russia Ukraine

The Group of Seven powers Friday warned Russia of new sanctions unless it accepts a ceasefire with Ukraine, in a forceful show of unity after President Donald Trump rattled the club of democracies. Meeting at a rustic hotel in rural Quebec, G7 foreign ministers also backed Ukraine's fight for its "territorial integrity" and spoke of ...

Mark Carney Sworn in as Canada's Prime Minister

This is Beirut 14/03 18:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Mark Carney Canada Prime minister Justin Trudeau

Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada's prime minister on Friday, taking charge of a country rattled by a breakdown in US relations since President Donald Trump's return to power. The ruling Liberal Party overwhelmingly backed Carney to replace Justin Trudeau, betting his experience leading two central banks through historic crises will ...

Senior Daesh Commander Killed by Iraq Security Forces

This is Beirut 14/03 17:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iraq Daesh Mohammed Shia al-Sudani

Iraqi security forces have killed a senior Daesh group leader responsible for "foreign operations," Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced on Friday. Although Iraq had proclaimed in 2017 the defeat of the jihadist group on its territory, Daesh cells have remained active and carry out sporadic attacks against Iraq's army and ...

Hamas Says Ready to Free Israeli-American Hostage, Remains of 4 Others

This is Beirut 14/03 17:21 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Palestine USA

Hamas said on Friday it was ready to free an Israeli-American hostage and the remains of four others, after the Palestinian militants and Israel resumed indirect Gaza ceasefire negotiations. Israel, however, said Hamas had "not budged" following a proposal from US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. After more ...

Mass Layoffs at UN Migration Agency as US Aid Cuts Take Toll

This is Beirut 14/03 17:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United Nations United States Migration

The UN migration agency, which has been hit hard by US foreign aid cuts, has launched more mass layoffs, impacting around a fifth of staff at its Geneva headquarters, employees said Friday. Fresh cuts at the International Organization for Migration are expected to impact at least 20 percent of the more than 1,000 current headquarters staff, ...

Pope Francis Marks One Month in Hospital, With Football Stars Sending Messages of Support

This is Beirut 14/03 16:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Pope Francis Vatican Football

Pope Francis marked a month in hospital Friday, with football players sending him messages of support for his recovery from pneumonia, including the captain of his favorite team, San Lorenzo. Francis, 88, has been in Rome's Gemelli hospital since February 14 and has suffered a series of breathing crises, with doctors initially warning his life ...

Syrian Foreign Minister Conducts First Visit to Iraq Since Assad's Fall

This is Beirut 14/03 16:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Syria Iraq Baghdad

Syria's interim foreign minister arrived in Iraq on Friday, conducting his first visit to the country since his Islamist alliance toppled Bashar al-Assad. Relations between neighbors Syria and Iraq have become more complicated since the fall of Assad, who was a close ally of the government in Baghdad. In Baghdad, Syria's top diplomat, Assaad ...

Syrian Druze Cross Armistice Line for Pilgrimage to Israel

This is Beirut 14/03 15:31 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Damascus Israel Druze

Dozens of Syrian Druze clerics crossed the armistice line on the Golan Heights into Israel on Friday for their community's first pilgrimage to a revered shrine in decades. On board three buses escorted by Israeli military vehicles, the clerics crossed at Majdal Shams in the Golan, and headed to northern Israel. According to a source close to ...

WindowLebanese-Americans Appointed to Key Positions in the Trump Administration

This is Beirut 14/03 13:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Lebanon Donald Trump

Several Lebanese-Americans have been appointed to key positions in the new American administration set up by Donald Trump. Among them, three have been appointed ambassadors (Turkey, Lebanon and Tunisia). Massad Boulos has become Senior Advisor to the President of the United States. Tom Barrack Jr Tom Barrack Jr, born in 1947, is a businessman ...