World

PortraitAfrica's Cardinal Turkson is Continent's Papal Frontrunner

This is Beirut 01/05 09:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Ghana's Cardinal Peter Turkson is seen as one of the Church's most influential men from Africa, where Christianity is quickly growing -- and which some believe could be the birthplace of the next pope. The 76-year-old born into a humble family of 10 children is the first clergyman from the west African country to receive a red hat, having been ...

Ukraine, US Sign Minerals Deal, Tying Trump to Kyiv

This is Beirut 01/05 05:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Ukraine Deal Russia

The United States and Ukraine on Wednesday signed a minerals deal after a two-month delay, in what President Donald Trump's administration called a new form of US commitment to Kyiv after the end of military aid. Ukraine said it secured key interests after protracted negotiations, including full sovereignty over its own rare earths, which are ...

Israel's Netanyahu Warns Wildfires Could Reach Jerusalem

This is Beirut 30/04 23:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Wildfires

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Wednesday that rapidly spreading wildfires near Jerusalem could reach the city, as he declared the situation a "national emergency". Thick smoke billowed above highways near Jerusalem as firefighters rushed to control wildfires that have injured several people and prompted the military ...

Trump Says Canada's Carney to Visit 'in Next Week'

This is Beirut 30/04 21:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA White House Canada Mark Carney

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney would visit Washington in the coming week, hailing him as "very nice" despite tensions over Trump's tariffs and annexation threats. "He's a very nice gentleman, and he's going to come to the White House very shortly, within the next week or less," Trump said after ...

UN Condemns 'Unacceptable' Syria Violence

This is Beirut 30/04 19:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Nations Benjamin Netanyahu Damascus Israel

The United Nations special envoy for Syria on Wednesday condemned the "unacceptable" violence rocking the country after deadly sectarian clashes and called for an immediate halt to Israeli air strikes. The envoy, Geir Pedersen, was "alarmed" at "the potential for further escalation of an extremely fragile situation" after violent clashes around ...

US Imposes Sanctions To Curb Iran Oil Despite Talks

This is Beirut 30/04 19:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Iran oil sanctions

The United States said Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on seven companies involved in selling Iranian oil, tightening pressure despite new nuclear talks between the adversaries. The United States said it was targeting five trading companies—four based in the United Arab Emirates and one in Turkey—that sold Iranian-origin petrochemical ...

Israel Strikes Syria, Citing Threat to Druze Community Amid Rising Tensions

This is Beirut 30/04 19:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Damascus Druze

Israel has confirmed a strike in southern Syria targeting what it described as an "extremist group" preparing to attack members of the Druze minority in the town of Sahnaya, near Damascus. According to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, the operation served as a warning and was aimed at preventing further ...

Ukraine Expects to Sign Minerals Deal with US in 'Next 24 Hours': PM

This is Beirut 30/04 18:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Minerals

Ukraine expects to sign a much-anticipated minerals deal with the United States in "the next 24 hours", Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said Wednesday, as both sides finalized details. The agreement would see Washington and Kyiv jointly develop Ukraine's mineral resources, an arrangement US President Donald Trump has called "money back" for the ...

Syria's Druze: A Minority Caught Between Islamist Government and Israel

This is Beirut 30/04 17:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Damascus Israel Benjamin Netanyahu

Syria's small Druze community largely kept out of the country's long civil war, but since President Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December, it has found itself confronting the new Islamist-led government amid military intervention by Israel. Here is a profile of the religious minority that has been caught up in deadly clashes with armed ...

Israel Deploys Army to Control Huge Fire Near Jerusalem

This is Beirut 30/04 16:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Jerusalem fires

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered troops to deploy on Wednesday to support firefighters battling rapidly spreading wildfires near Jerusalem, calling the situation a "national emergency". The country's Magen David Adom rescue agency reported hundreds of civilians were currently at risk from the fires. At least 23 people ...

16 Killed as Sectarian Clashes Near Damascus Spread: Authorities, Monitor

This is Beirut 30/04 15:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Damascus Israel syria

Sectarian clashes between forces linked to Syria's new authorities and Druze fighters spread overnight near Damascus, leaving 16 people dead, state media and a monitor said Wednesday. The expanding violence is a major challenge to the Islamist authorities who overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December and comes after sectarian massacres ...

Joumblatt Steps In to End Deadly Clashes Near Damascus as Israel Strikes Syria

This is Beirut 30/04 15:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Damascus Israel Druze Walid Joumblatt Syria Islamists

A ceasefire between gunmen linked to Syrian authorities and Druze fighters was reportedly reached on Wednesday, following intensive mediation by former Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Joumblatt. The effort involved contacts with the new Syrian administration, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan, according to al-Markazia news ...