Zelenskyy Describes the Mining Agreement with the United States as “Truly Fair”

This is Beirut 01/05 22:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday a landmark minerals deal with the United States offered "equal" benefits for both sides even though the accord offered no concrete security guarantees for Kyiv. Russia later launched a large-scale drone attack on the central industrial city of Zaporizhzhia, ripping open a Soviet-era ...

Israel Threatens Action if Syrian Regime Fails to Shield Druze Minority

This is Beirut 01/05 21:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Israel Israel Katz

Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Thursday that Israel will respond forcefully if Syria's Islamist-led government fails to protect the Druze minority, after two days of deadly sectarian clashes near Damascus. "Should the attacks on the Druze resume and the Syrian regime fail to prevent them, Israel will respond with significant force," Katz ...

100 People Killed in Sectarian Clashes in Syria

This is Beirut 01/05 18:36 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

syria conflict druze SOHR

At least 100 people have been killed in Syria over two days of sectarian violence, most of them Druze fighters, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Thursday. Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday condemned what he called a "genocidal campaign" against his people. In a statement, Hijri ...

​Microsoft Announces a Global Price Increase for Its Xbox Console

This is Beirut 01/05 18:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Microsoft XBOX game console

Microsoft announced Thursday that it will increase Xbox console prices worldwide, citing "market conditions" just days after Sony made a similar move with its PlayStation 5. The tech giant also plans to raise prices for some new games developed by its video game subsidiaries. "We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made ...

VideosMay Day Celebrations: Labor Day Around the World

This is Beirut 01/05 17:40 - Reading : less than a minute

On May 1st, thousands of workers worldwide came together to celebrate Labor Day. From Buenos Aires to Jakarta, from Seoul to Paris, protests and gatherings took place to demand better working conditions, the recognition of workers’ rights and equality.

Iran Slams New US Sanctions Ahead of Nuclear Talks

This is Beirut 01/05 14:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA US Sanctions Iran

Iran on Thursday condemned as "economic terrorism" a US decision to slap new sanctions on the Islamic republic just days before another round of nuclear talks between the longtime foes. The United States said on Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on seven companies involved in selling Iranian oil -- four based in the United Arab Emirates and one ...

At Least 542 Killed in North Darfur in Past Three Weeks: UN

This is Beirut 01/05 12:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

sudan conflict darfur UN rights

At least 542 civilians have been confirmed killed in Sudan's North Darfur region in the past three weeks, the United Nations said Thursday, warning the actual death toll was likely "much higher". "The horror unfolding in Sudan knows no bounds," UN rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement, referring to the country's ongoing civil war. Darfur ...

Pakistan Says India Planning Strike After Deadly Kashmir Attack

This is Beirut 01/05 12:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

india pakistan kashmir diplomacy us

Pakistan said on Wednesday it had "credible intelligence" that India was planning an imminent military strike and vowed to retaliate, as the United States appeals to both sides to de-escalate after a deadly attack in Kashmir. Already frosty relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours have plummeted further since New Delhi blamed its arch-rival ...

Israel Reopens Key Roads as Firefighters Battle Blaze

This is Beirut 01/05 11:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Fire firefighters

Israeli firefighting teams battled wildfires near Jerusalem for a second day on Thursday, with police reporting the reopening of several major roads that had been closed. The fires broke out on Wednesday along the main Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway, prompting police to shut the roads and evacuate thousands of residents from nearby ...

ReportSyria's Druze Take Up Arms to Defend Their Town Against Islamists

This is Beirut 01/05 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

syria conflict druze jaramana

Syrian estate agent Fahd Haidar shuttered his business and got out his rifle to defend his hometown of Jaramana when it came under attack this week by Islamists loyal to the new government. Seven Druze fighters were among the 17 people killed in the Damascus suburb as clashes raged from Monday into Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ...

UK Local Elections Test Big Two Parties

This is Beirut 01/05 10:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United Kingdom Elections

Polls opened in local elections Thursday tipped to inflict losses on the UK's two main parties and confirm the rise of hard-right populists, portending the splintering of a century-long political duopoly. The polls in England are the first since Keir Starmer became Labour prime minister and Kemi Badenoch took over at the helm of the struggling ...

AnalysisCould Syria Break Again? The Ghost of Civil War and Israel’s Strategic Calculus

Salam El Zaatari 01/05 09:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Syria Israel Turkey

In the swirling dust of a broken Syria, the ghosts of war aren’t just whispering, they’re knocking loudly on the door. Just months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Syria appears to be at a crossroads: Will it finally stumble its way into fragile unity, or will it fracture further into sectarian enclaves and foreign ...