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How did the US Secretary of State comment on the talks between Lebanon and Israel?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed, "We do not want Hezbollah to regain the capability to threaten Israel."He added, "We hope there will be a strong government in Lebanon and that Hezbollah will not regain control of the south," emphasizing, "We will support the Lebanese government in disarming Hezbollah."He also stated, "We hope that the talks between Lebanon and Israel will pave the way forward and prevent further conflict."He pointed out that "Venezuela is cooperating with Iran, Hezbollah, and drug trafficking gangs."

12/19/2025 6:58:00 PM

Norway's crown princess likely needs lung transplant, palace says

Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit will likely need a lung transplant as her health has worsened in recent months, the country's royal household has said.The princess, 52, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. The degenerative disease creates scar tissue that stiffens the lungs making it difficult to breathe and for oxygen to enter the bloodstream.Tests in autumn showed "a clear worsening" of her health, the palace said on Friday. "We are reaching the point where a lung transplant will be necessary," Are Martin Holm, head of respiratory medicine at Oslo University Hospital, said.Princess Mette-Marit told public broadcaster NRK that her illness had developed "faster than I'd hoped".No decision has been taken yet on whether she will be placed on the transplant waiting list, Dr Holm said. The palace said her doctors had started the process towards an evaluation for lung transplant surgery.In Norway, there are usually between 20 and 40 patients on the waiting list for a lung transplant and Princess Mette-Marit will not be given preferential treatment if she is placed on the list, local media reports.Although she is not yet on a donor list, Dr Holm said her healthcare team was "undertaking the necessary preparations to ensure that [a transplant] will be possible when the time comes".The palace said Princess Mette-Marit had "an increasing need" for rest and a targeted exercise regimen.However, she had "expressed a strong interest in continuing to carry out her duties", it added in a statement on Friday. Her royal duties and engagements will adapted to her ongoing health issues.Dr Holm described pulmonary fibrosis to reporters as a "dangerous disease" that often could not be seen because it depended on how sick an individual was.At rest, they might be able to breathe normally, he explained, but when they exert themselves - through exercise, for example - their lungs "can no longer keep up".Princess Mette-Marit's husband, Prince Haakon, Norway's future king, sat beside her for an interview with NRK, in which he explained that she may appear "perfectly fine" when sitting still, but said he had noticed her struggling more with breathing.He also said she had less energy and was getting ill more often.Hiking or skiing together - activities the pair enjoy - were no longer possible, the crown prince added.The thought of the transplant alone had been demanding, Mette-Marit said, as she knew it will involve risks.A successful transplant hinges on several factors, including finding the right match and ensuring the body does not reject the new organ.Transplant is seen as a last resort, Dr Holm explained, telling reporters that individuals must be significantly ill and have a limited life expectancy before a lung transplant can be deemed appropriate.News of the princess' deteriorating health comes months after her eldest son was charged with 32 offences, including four counts of rape.Marius Borg Høiby, 28, denies the most serious accusations against him, but plans to plead guilty to some lesser charges when the trial begins, his lawyer Petar Sekulic told news agency Reuters in August.Mr Høiby is the stepson of the heir to the Norwegian throne, but does not have any royal title or official duties.

12/19/2025 6:49:00 PM

Watch: Holiday Traffic Begins

With Christmas and New Year approaching, heavy traffic has started in Beirut and on the main highways.In the attached video, you can see the traffic congestion on the coastal road.

12/19/2025 6:35:00 PM

UN Aims to Fix Budget Rule Cutting Cash Availability Amid Crisis

U.N. officials are hoping to overhaul a "bizarre" rule that could see the global body credit hundreds of millions of dollars in unspent dues to states next year, even as it faces fears of bankruptcy.Under U.N. financial regulations, any money unspent, often because states paid too late or not at all, is automatically subtracted from their future dues.This means the global body would have to credit members nearly $300 million next year, U.N. officials say, reducing by close to 10% the planned budget of $3.2 billion.Tatiana Valovaya, director general of the U.N. in Geneva, called the rule "bizarre", saying reforms have been sought for years but so far have not succeeded."The organisation has to return to the member states the money which it hasn't received, and that could make our situation for the year 2026 even more difficult," she told reporters this week.The U.N. is already facing a 15% budget reduction as it seeks to cut costs in its 80th year amid a cash crisis, driven largely by arrears from top contributor the United States.A decision is set to be made on reforming the rule as part of ongoing talks on the 2026 budget, with the General Assembly set to make a decision before year-end, a U.N. spokesperson told Reuters.U.N. fees are based on the size of each of its 193 members' economies. Observers say the rule made sense when countries paid their dues punctually and in full but as of December 15 only 148 had done so, a U.N. website showed.Many fear U.S. President Donald Trump will not pay the U.S.' outstanding fees after criticising the body.Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is seeking to temporarily suspend the return of credits as part of the budget package, a U.N. document showed. In October, he estimated the amount to be credited to states will rise to $600 million in 2027 based on unspent funds from 2025."That means a race to bankruptcy," he said.U.N. finances expert Ronny Patz called it a "runaway crisis". "We are getting to a point where core functions cannot be performed and that impacts everything that depends on the Secretariat," he said.

12/19/2025 6:00:00 PM

Aoun Briefed on Mechanism Meeting Outcome

President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, afternoon received at Baabda Palace the head of the Lebanese negotiating delegation in the Mechanism Committee, former Ambassador Simon Karam, following Karam's return from the committee meeting held in Naqoura.Former Ambassador Karam briefed President Aoun on the Mechanism meeting’s discussions, particularly regarding the President's emphasis on the priority of the Lebanese demand for the return of the residents of the southern villages to their villages, homes, and land as a starting point for discussing all other details.During the meeting in Naqoura, a detailed, documented report on the Lebanese army's achievements was presented.Ambassador Karam informed President Aoun that the next meeting of the Mechanism committee has been scheduled for January 7.

12/19/2025 5:30:00 PM

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How did the US Secretary of State comment on the talks between Lebanon and Israel?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed, "We do not want Hezbollah to regain the capability to threaten Israel."He added, "We hope there will be a strong government in Lebanon and that Hezbollah will not regain control of the south," emphasizing, "We will support the Lebanese government in disarming Hezbollah."He also stated, "We hope that the talks between Lebanon and Israel will pave the way forward and prevent further conflict."He pointed out that "Venezuela is cooperating with Iran, Hezbollah, and drug trafficking gangs."

12/19/2025 6:58:00 PM

Norway's crown princess likely needs lung transplant, palace says

Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit will likely need a lung transplant as her health has worsened in recent months, the country's royal household has said.The princess, 52, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. The degenerative disease creates scar tissue that stiffens the lungs making it difficult to breathe and for oxygen to enter the bloodstream.Tests in autumn showed "a clear worsening" of her health, the palace said on Friday. "We are reaching the point where a lung transplant will be necessary," Are Martin Holm, head of respiratory medicine at Oslo University Hospital, said.Princess Mette-Marit told public broadcaster NRK that her illness had developed "faster than I'd hoped".No decision has been taken yet on whether she will be placed on the transplant waiting list, Dr Holm said. The palace said her doctors had started the process towards an evaluation for lung transplant surgery.In Norway, there are usually between 20 and 40 patients on the waiting list for a lung transplant and Princess Mette-Marit will not be given preferential treatment if she is placed on the list, local media reports.Although she is not yet on a donor list, Dr Holm said her healthcare team was "undertaking the necessary preparations to ensure that [a transplant] will be possible when the time comes".The palace said Princess Mette-Marit had "an increasing need" for rest and a targeted exercise regimen.However, she had "expressed a strong interest in continuing to carry out her duties", it added in a statement on Friday. Her royal duties and engagements will adapted to her ongoing health issues.Dr Holm described pulmonary fibrosis to reporters as a "dangerous disease" that often could not be seen because it depended on how sick an individual was.At rest, they might be able to breathe normally, he explained, but when they exert themselves - through exercise, for example - their lungs "can no longer keep up".Princess Mette-Marit's husband, Prince Haakon, Norway's future king, sat beside her for an interview with NRK, in which he explained that she may appear "perfectly fine" when sitting still, but said he had noticed her struggling more with breathing.He also said she had less energy and was getting ill more often.Hiking or skiing together - activities the pair enjoy - were no longer possible, the crown prince added.The thought of the transplant alone had been demanding, Mette-Marit said, as she knew it will involve risks.A successful transplant hinges on several factors, including finding the right match and ensuring the body does not reject the new organ.Transplant is seen as a last resort, Dr Holm explained, telling reporters that individuals must be significantly ill and have a limited life expectancy before a lung transplant can be deemed appropriate.News of the princess' deteriorating health comes months after her eldest son was charged with 32 offences, including four counts of rape.Marius Borg Høiby, 28, denies the most serious accusations against him, but plans to plead guilty to some lesser charges when the trial begins, his lawyer Petar Sekulic told news agency Reuters in August.Mr Høiby is the stepson of the heir to the Norwegian throne, but does not have any royal title or official duties.

12/19/2025 6:49:00 PM

Watch: Holiday Traffic Begins

With Christmas and New Year approaching, heavy traffic has started in Beirut and on the main highways.In the attached video, you can see the traffic congestion on the coastal road.

12/19/2025 6:35:00 PM

UN Aims to Fix Budget Rule Cutting Cash Availability Amid Crisis

U.N. officials are hoping to overhaul a "bizarre" rule that could see the global body credit hundreds of millions of dollars in unspent dues to states next year, even as it faces fears of bankruptcy.Under U.N. financial regulations, any money unspent, often because states paid too late or not at all, is automatically subtracted from their future dues.This means the global body would have to credit members nearly $300 million next year, U.N. officials say, reducing by close to 10% the planned budget of $3.2 billion.Tatiana Valovaya, director general of the U.N. in Geneva, called the rule "bizarre", saying reforms have been sought for years but so far have not succeeded."The organisation has to return to the member states the money which it hasn't received, and that could make our situation for the year 2026 even more difficult," she told reporters this week.The U.N. is already facing a 15% budget reduction as it seeks to cut costs in its 80th year amid a cash crisis, driven largely by arrears from top contributor the United States.A decision is set to be made on reforming the rule as part of ongoing talks on the 2026 budget, with the General Assembly set to make a decision before year-end, a U.N. spokesperson told Reuters.U.N. fees are based on the size of each of its 193 members' economies. Observers say the rule made sense when countries paid their dues punctually and in full but as of December 15 only 148 had done so, a U.N. website showed.Many fear U.S. President Donald Trump will not pay the U.S.' outstanding fees after criticising the body.Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is seeking to temporarily suspend the return of credits as part of the budget package, a U.N. document showed. In October, he estimated the amount to be credited to states will rise to $600 million in 2027 based on unspent funds from 2025."That means a race to bankruptcy," he said.U.N. finances expert Ronny Patz called it a "runaway crisis". "We are getting to a point where core functions cannot be performed and that impacts everything that depends on the Secretariat," he said.

12/19/2025 6:00:00 PM

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