Like a ghost in the night, Bilal Shorba, the artist they call the "Syrian Banksy", slipped through the rubble of Daraya to paint his murals, praying that Bashar al-Assad's gunners wouldn't spot him. Returning from exile to one of the devastated cradles of the Syrian revolution
The appointment by both side of mission heads and Lebanon's willingness to political negotiations could halt the stampede toward a military confrontation. Israel should consider granting achievements to the government in Beirut to curb Hezbollah
Atop one of Egypt's Sinai mountains, near where the three Abrahamic faiths say God spoke with Moses, another unmistakable sound rings out: the incessant drilling of construction work. In the remote, rugged terrain of southern Sinai, Egypt has undertaken a vast megaproject aimed
Since the end of the 12-day war with Israel, the number of executions in Iran has reached new highs. At least 256 prisoners were executed in November alone, as the government signals that internal dissent will not be tolerated amid ongoing threats from Israel and the U.S.
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - A Pentagon investigation has faulted U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for using Signal on his personal device to transmit sensitive information about planned strikes in Yemen, saying it could have endangered U.S.
Israel's ambassador to the UN called the UNGA 'disconnected from reality' in his rebuke of the resolution, which passed with 123 votes to 41 against, affirming that Israel will not withdraw. This comes as Israel's security aims conflict with the Trump administration's support
The reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, part of US President Donald Trump's truce plan for the Palestinian territory, has long been on hold despite calls from the UN and aid groups. Here are five things to know about this crucial crossing: -
By Maya Gebeily BEIRUT, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Wednesday that a lasting peace with Israel could pave the way to normalising ties with the country and establishing economic ties but that those milestones remained far off given current
Karam is a veteran diplomat and a legal scholar who served as Lebanon’s ambassador to the United States from 1992 to 1993.
ATHENS, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The crew of the Greek-operated cargo ship Eternity C, which sank in the Red Sea in July after being attacked by Yemen's Houthis, have been released, an official with the ship's operator and a maritime security source told Reuters on Wednesday. The crew
Benjamin Netanyahu's request for a pardon in three ongoing corruption cases is widely seen as his latest bid to ensure his political survival, as the canny premier stares down the prospect of close elections in 2026. The first sitting Israeli prime minister to stand trial,
Israel announced Wednesday it had received hostage remains found in Gaza from the Red Cross, which were being transported to the morgue for identification. It comes as the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains fragile, with both sides accusing each other of
According to an Israeli security source, US envoy Morgan Ortagus’ visit was perceived in Israel as a warning that President Donald Trump will not accept Israel launching a large military campaign in southern Lebanon.
Iran said Wednesday it would now send representatives to the World Cup finals draw in Washington in a complete reversal of an earlier decision to boycott the event over visa issues. "Amir Ghalenoei, head coach of Iran's national team, will participate in the World Cup draw
More than 200 celebrities, including actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Josh O’Connor, called on Israel on Wednesday to release imprisoned Palestinian politician Marwan Barghouti, who is seen by supporters as a key unifying figure. Barghouti, 66, has been in jail since 2002 but is
By Steven Scheer JERUSALEM, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Israel on Wednesday published a draft law that aims to boost state revenues from a concession for extracting minerals from the Dead Sea as well as tackling its environmental consequences. The Finance Ministry said the proposed law
Since US President Donald Trump took office in January, the rial has plummeted.
NEW YORK, Dec 3 (Reuters) - An end to Russia's war in Ukraine should abide by international law, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday. "I believe we are still far from a solution," Guterres said at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York. Russia
JERUSALEM, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition skipped a parliamentary vote on Wednesday endorsing U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the two-year war in Gaza. The vote, proposed by opposition leader Yair Lapid, was largely
HOLZDORF, Germany, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Germany on Wednesday became the first European nation to deploy the Arrow air defence system, built to intercept intermediate-range ballistic missiles such as Russia's Oreshnik, as it seeks to counter what it sees as a growing threat from
GAZA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - With 70,000 dead, countless injured, hundreds of thousands of people homeless and whole districts laid to waste, the task of rebuilding Gaza is almost beyond comprehension. But at a handful of sites where the enclave's most valuable historical monuments
KABUL, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The shooting of National Guard members in Washington, D.C., over which an Afghan immigrant has been charged, has nothing to do with Afghanistan's people or its government, Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said on Wednesday. Muttaqi's
A Libyan prison boss accused of overseeing murder, rape, and torture at a notorious detention centre appeared at the International Criminal Court Wednesday to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, 47, sat impassively dressed in a
By Catherine Cartier BEIRUT, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Filipina worker Loren Capobres said the world stood still when she kissed Pope Leo's hand this week in Lebanon, but hopes his message for peace will linger after his departure, leading to better working conditions and a lasting
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Israel and Lebanon sent new representatives to a military committee monitoring a truce between the countries, top officials from both said on Wednesday, in a move set to expand the scope of talks between the long-time foes. The meeting was a
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Alexander Cornwell CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Hamas said it will hand over a body of a hostage on Wednesday, as Israel said it would allow Gaza's gateway to Egypt to open in the next few days so that Palestinians who need medical care could
Lebanon and Israel sent civilian representatives to the latest US-led meeting of the committee overseeing the ceasefire, aiming to break the stalemate between the two countries as Israel intensifies its attacks on Lebanon over its delay in disarming Hezbollah.
ANKARA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Turkey demanded an explanation from Iraqi Kurdish officials after former leader Masoud Barzani arrived in a mainly Kurdish Turkish border region last weekend surrounded by heavily armed and uniformed guards. Barzani, who was president of Iraq's
The couples walked hand in hand, the brides in traditional embroidered Palestinian white and red dresses adorned with red ribbons, the grooms walked beside them in black suits and ties. But the backdrop told a different story: dilapidated buildings, piles of concrete and rubble
Turkey set a new record with five companies in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's Top 100 for 2024, which included nine Middle Eastern countries for the first time amid conflict-driven arms demand.
Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives held their first direct talks Wednesday in decades, part of a year-old ceasefire monitoring mechanism in the war with militant group Hezbollah, a source close to the talks told AFP. The meeting was taking place at the UN
Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives held their first direct talks in decades on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, under a year-old ceasefire monitoring mechanism in the war with Hezbollah. The two sides met at the UN peacekeeping
In order to construct a 22-km long 'barrier,' the IDF will demolish homes, sheep pens and infrastructure that 'constitute an operational vulnerability,' according to a military document. One of the villages will be entirely surrounded by the fence. Residents of the area were
ANKARA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed Black Sea safety on Wednesday, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source said, after Ankara expressed alarm at attacks on Russia-linked tankers, some claimed by Ukraine.
By Terje Solsvik and Gwladys Fouche OSLO, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Norway's governing Labour Party said on Wednesday it had reached agreement with four left-wing parties in parliament on a 2026 fiscal budget, ending a standoff that had threatened to bring down Prime Minister Jonas
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taliban administration and Pakistan have held fresh peace talks in Saudi Arabia and agreed to maintain a ceasefire, the latest attempt to dial down tensions between the South Asian neighbours. A ceasefire has held in recent
According to Netanyahu's office, the move marks the first attempt to establish a foundation for economic relations and cooperation between Israel and Lebanon, which do not have diplomatic ties
Dec 3 (Reuters) - The Rafah crossing will open in the next few days to let Gaza residents cross into Egypt, COGAT, the Israeli military's arm that oversees aid flows, said on Wednesday. The arrangement, which has security clearance from Israel, will be coordinated with Egypt