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 only city that lost its entire population during the near-14-year civil war -- he was amazed that some of his work had survived.
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 at drawing mass tourism to the once serene mountain town of Saint Catherine.
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. troops if intercepted, two people familiar with the document said on Wednesday.
Pedestrians are set to begin passing through the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on Monday, after it was largely shut for close to two years since Israeli forces seized the Palestinian side.
The reopening, demanded by the United Nations and aid groups, is a key part of the second phase of US President Donald Trump's truce plan for the Palestinian territory.
AFP looks at what to know about this crucial crossing:
- Vital access point -
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 tensions.
"Economic (talks) will be a part of normalisation, normalisation will follow peace. It cannot precede peace," Salam said, when asked about Israel's statements that it was hoping to build ties and economic cooperation with Lebanon.
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 of the Liberia-flagged Eternity C abandoned the ship before it sank following repeated strikes by the Iran-aligned militants with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades.
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 violating the terms.
Under the first phase of the deal -- which came into effect in October -- Palestinian militants were due to return all 48 hostages they held captive, 20 of whom were still alive.
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, Netanyahu has been dogged by the allegations for years, and has had to appear in front of a judge weekly for hearings.
He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and denounced the cases as a politically motivated plot against him.
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 ceremony as the technical representative of the national football team with one or two other people," the Iranian Football Federation spokesperson told state television.
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 regarded as a likely major player in the creation of any Palestinian state because of his ability to unite various political factions.
The open letter calling for his release featured film A-listers Josh O’Connor, Benedict Cumberbatch and Javier Bardem, as well as musicians Fontaines D.C. and Sting.
