Tens of Thousands Bid Farewell to Pope Francis Lying in State

This is Beirut 23/04 17:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Pope Francis St. Peter Basilica Vatican Funerals

Tens of thousands of mourners began saying their last goodbyes to Pope Francis at St Peter's Basilica on Wednesday, as the body of the late Argentine pontiff began three days of lying in state. By mid-afternoon, the wait to enter St Peter's Basilica was about three hours, as the long line of pilgrims and tourists wishing to pass by the pontiff's ...

InterviewsHuda al-Khamis-Kanoo: Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Heartbeat (2/2)

Bélinda Ibrahim 23/04 16:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Festival Huda al-Khamis Kanoo Culture Classical Music

At the heart of an ever-evolving emirate, the Abu Dhabi Festival has, year after year, established itself as a space for intercultural dialogue and ambitious artistic creation. Guided by the vision of its founder, Huda al-Khamis-Kanoo, it brings together continents, aesthetics, and generations in unprecedented ways. For its 22nd ...

Powerful 6.2-Magnitude Quake Hits off Istanbul Coast

This is Beirut 23/04 16:29 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Turkey

More than 50 aftershocks rocked the Istanbul region after a powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Sea of Marmara just to the south of Turkey's biggest city on Wednesday, the interior minister said. "By 3:12 pm (1512 GMT), 51 aftershocks -- the largest of which was 5.9 magnitude -- had been recorded," Interior Minister Ali ...

Iran President to Visit Azerbaijan in Sign of Warming Ties

This is Beirut 23/04 16:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Tehran Pezeshkian Iran Azerbaijan

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to pay a rare visit to Azerbaijan next week, state media reported Wednesday, in the latest sign of warming relations between the neighboring countries. Pezeshkian will be traveling to Baku on Monday "at the invitation" of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, state television reported. On ...

Jordan Bans Activities of Muslim Brotherhood, Closes Offices

This is Beirut 23/04 15:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Jordan has banned all activities of the Muslim Brotherhood and closed its offices in the kingdom, the interior minister announced on Wednesday. "It has been decided to ban all activities of the so-called Muslim Brotherhood and to consider any activity (carried out by it) a violation of the provisions of the law," said Interior ...

Abbas Urges Hamas to Free Gaza Hostages as Israeli Strikes Kill 18

This is Beirut 23/04 15:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Hamas Palestine Banks Fatah Israel

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday urged Hamas to free all hostages in Gaza, saying their captivity provided Israel with "excuses" to attack the territory, as rescuers recovered charred bodies from an Israeli strike. At least 18 people were killed across the Gaza Strip by Israeli strikes, while Germany, France and Britain urged ...

Landmark Nepal Survey Estimates Nearly 400 Elusive Snow Leopards

This is Beirut 23/04 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Snow leopards Conservation Climate change Habitat Nepal

Nepal's first nationwide survey of the threatened snow leopard estimated nearly 400 of the elusive big cats in the Himalayan nation, wildlife officials said Tuesday. Habitat loss, climate change, and poaching have greatly impacted snow leopard populations across Asia, listed as a "vulnerable" species by the International Union for ...

EU Slaps Fines on Apple and Meta, Risking Trump Fury

This is Beirut 23/04 13:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

European Union USA Meta

The EU on Wednesday slapped Apple and Meta with 700 million euros in fines for breaking digital competition rules, risking the wrath of US President Donald Trump. The penalties threaten to cause more tension in the already fraught relationship between the bloc and Trump, as the two sides discuss a deal to avoid his sweeping tariffs on the ...

Iran Slams US Sanctions as ‘Hostile’ Ahead of New Round of Talks

This is Beirut 23/04 12:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Tehran United States US Treasury USA

Iran's foreign ministry on Wednesday condemned new US sanctions targeting its oil network, calling the move a sign of Washington's "hostile approach" ahead of a third round of nuclear talks. In a statement, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the US policy of imposing sanctions on the Iranian people was a "clear ...

What We Know Ahead of Pope Francis’s Funeral

This is Beirut 23/04 12:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Pope Francis Vatican Rome

Pope Francis, who died this week at age 88 of a stroke at the Vatican, will be buried on Saturday. World leaders and worshippers will be present at his funeral before a conclave of cardinals is convened to elect a successor. Here's what we know about the processes leading up to the election of a new pope.  Lying in state  Francis's body was ...

Germany, France, UK Say Israel’s Gaza Aid Blockade ‘Must End’

This is Beirut 23/04 12:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Palestine Hamas Gaza

Germany, France and Britain on Wednesday called on Israel to stop blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza, warning of "an acute risk of starvation, epidemic disease and death". "This must end," their foreign ministers said in a joint statement. "We urge Israel to immediately re-start a rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to ...

Iran Top Diplomat in China to Discuss Nuclear Talks

This is Beirut 23/04 12:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

china Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was visiting China on Wednesday for consultations ahead of a new round of nuclear talks with the United States. Iran and the United States are set to meet in Oman on Saturday for a third set of talks on the Iranian nuclear issue, with Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff leading the ...