Arab World

Hamas Says Ready to Free Gaza Hostages Under Trump Ceasefire Proposal

This is Beirut 03/10 23:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Hamas Palestine Ceasefire USA hostages

Hamas Says Ready to Free Gaza Hostages Under Trump Ceasefire Proposal Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said Friday it was willing to release all hostages held in Gaza under the framework laid out in US President Donald Trump's ceasefire proposal. "The movement announces its approval for the release of all hostages—living and ...

US Treasury Department Mulls Minting $1 Coin with Trump's Image

This is Beirut 03/10 22:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

US Treasury Donald Trump United States Independence Money

The US Treasury Department is considering making a one-dollar coin that features President Donald Trump in order to commemorate the country's 250th independence anniversary, officials said Friday. In a social media post retweeted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Treasurer Brandon Beach shared early drafts of the coin. Beach posted "first ...

Drone Kills French Photojournalist in Ukraine

This is Beirut 03/10 22:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Ukraine Drone France Antoni Lallican Death

A drone killed a French photojournalist on assignment in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region on Friday, two media unions and a Ukrainian military unit said. Ukraine's Fourth Armoured Brigade and France's President Emmanuel Macron said a Russian drone had killed the photojournalist, Antoni Lallican. Ukrainian journalist Georgiy Ivanchenko was wounded ...

Swiss Seek Mini-Drone Defense System

This is Beirut 03/10 20:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

European Union Switzerland Drone Russia Defense

Switzerland's military said Friday it plans to acquire a defense system against "mini-drones", after several European countries recently reported incursions into their airspace, pointing the finger at Russia. Following multiple incursions, European leaders are seeking to build an anti-drone "wall" for ...

Op-edAre Things Looking Brighter for the Middle East?

David Hale 03/10 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Syria Gaza Hamas United States

A year after Israel defanged Hezbollah, and in the wake of the annual opening of the UN General Assembly and several developments related to the Middle East, it may be a good time to take stock. In my 38-year career of diplomacy in the Middle East, anytime someone expressed optimism, I would suggest a head examination might be in order. However, ...

Trump Gives Hamas Until 2200 GMT Sunday to Agree to Gaza Deal

This is Beirut 03/10 17:55 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Hamas Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu Peace deal Gaza

US President Donald Trump has given Hamas until 2200 GMT on Sunday to accept his 20-point plan for peace in Gaza, warning the Palestinian militant group faced "all hell" if it did not agree to the terms. The US leader set the deadline -which would fall at 1:00 a.m. Monday in Gaza- after an official for the Islamist movement told AFP ...

What Are These Drones Hovering Over Europe?

Mario Chartouni 03/10 17:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Ukraine Russia Drones Denmark Norway Poland

Munich Airport suspended operations for several hours on Friday after reports of unidentified drones. Seventeen flights were canceled, about 15 were diverted, and nearly 3,000 passengers were affected. Authorities could not determine the size or type of the drones, but the incident disrupted one of Europe’s busiest hubs and reignited concerns ...

Macron and Merz Sound Alarm Over European Democracy

This is Beirut 03/10 17:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Europe Germany Friedrich Merz

The leaders of France and Germany warned of the dangers to democracy within their countries and from hostile foreign powers as they marked 35 years of German unification on Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron was invited to take part in a ceremony marking the anniversary in the southwestern German city of Saarbruecken, where he described the ...

US Government Shutdown Seen Dragging Into Next Week

This is Beirut 03/10 16:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Republicans Democrats US Congress Shutdown

The US government shutdown appeared likely to stretch into next week as senators prepared Friday to vote for a fourth time on a funding fix proposed by Donald Trump's Republicans that has little hope of success. Federal agencies have been out of money since Wednesday—with a wide range of public services crippled—as a result of deadlocked ...

Sarah Mullally Appointed First Woman to Lead Church of England

This is Beirut 03/10 13:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Kingdom Church Sarah Mullally

Sarah Mullally was on Friday named the new Archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England -- which can trace its origins to the Roman empire -- and the global Anglican community. Her nomination by a committee tasked with finding a successor to Justin Welby, who stepped down earlier this year over an abuse ...

Russia-Linked Tanker Stopped by France Resumes Voyage

This is Beirut 03/10 13:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Europe Ukraine Russia Shadow fleet

A tanker from Russia's "shadow fleet" detained by the French navy was heading towards the Suez Canal Friday with its captain back on board, according to data from maritime websites and a source close to the case. The Boracay, blacklisted by the European Union for being part of Russia's sanctions-busting "shadow fleet" of ageing oil tankers, has ...

Virtual Jesus? People of Faith Divided as AI Enters Religion

This is Beirut 03/10 13:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

New York AI Vatican Religion ChatGPT

Artificial intelligence, the technology upending nearly every corner of society, is creeping into religion, serving up virtual Jesus and automated sermons -- a change drawing mixed reviews from the faithful. Religious chatbots and other faith-based digital tools are growing in number, offering counsel, comfort and spiritual guidance during an age ...