This is Beirut

US, China Agree to Establish 'Consultation Mechanism' on Trade

This is Beirut, 11/05 23:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said Sunday that Beijing and Washington had agreed during weekend talks in Geneva to create a "consultation mechanism", as they strive to de-escalate trade tensions. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, He said that the closed-door discussions with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson ...

Hamas to Release US-Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander

This is Beirut, 11/05 22:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Hamas USA Ceasefire Israel Gaza

Hamas said it would release a US-Israeli hostage held in Gaza as the group revealed it was engaged in direct talks with the United States towards a ceasefire in the war-battered territory. "Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a dual US national, will be released as part of efforts towards a ceasefire" and the reopening of aid crossings, the ...

Cannes 2025: The 22 Films Competing for the Palme d'Or

This is Beirut, 11/05 13:45 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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Here is a list of the titles vying for the Palme d'Or, which will be awarded by this year's jury president, Juliette Binoche, and her seven fellow judges, including Oscar-winner Halle Berry and Succession star Jeremy Strong. 'A Simple Accident' by Jafar Panahi (Iran) The repeatedly detained Iranian director, who has been banned from making ...

Rubio Urges India and Pakistan to Communicate to 'Avoid Miscalculation'

This is Beirut, 10/05 10:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged India and Pakistan to restore direct communication to "avoid miscalculation" in a series of calls as the conflict neared all-out war, the State Department said early Saturday. Rubio placed telephone calls to the rivals' top diplomats and, for the first known time since the conflict erupted, also spoke with ...

Iran-US: Fourth Round of Nuclear Talks Scheduled for This Weekend in Oman

This is Beirut, 09/05 19:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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A fourth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States is expected to take place this weekend in the capital of Oman, with Iranian state media mentioning May 11 as a likely date. Iran's Nournews site was the first to report the resumption of nuclear talks between Iran and the US on Sunday, citing an anonymous source. Stating that the ...

Pope Leo Says Church Must Illuminate 'Dark Nights of This World' in First Mass

This is Beirut, 09/05 16:16 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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Leo XIV urged the Catholic Church to "desperately" counter a lack of faith in his first homily as pope Friday, a day after the modest cardinal largely unknown to the world become the first US head of the 2,000-year institution. Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost on Thursday became the 267th pope, spiritual leader of the world's 1.4 billion ...

China Sales to US Slump Even as Exports Beat Forecasts

This is Beirut, 09/05 08:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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China said Friday sales to the United States slumped last month while its total exports topped forecasts, as Beijing fought a gruelling trade war with its superpower rival. Trade between the world's two largest economies has nearly skidded to a halt since US President Donald Trump imposed various rounds of levies on China that began as ...

Zelensky and Trump Holding Phone Talks: Ukrainian Presidency

This is Beirut, 08/05 23:28 - Reading : less than a minute

Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump USA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US counterpart Donald Trump are holding a telephone call, the details of which will be made public later, the Ukrainian presidency said Thursday. "President Zelensky is holding a telephone conversation with President Trump. We will provide details following the outcome of the conversation," ...

Reactions to the election of Pope Leo XIV

This is Beirut, 08/05 22:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Worldwide reaction to the election of the new pope, the American Leo XIV, has been swift. President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed the election of new Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States, as a "great honor" for the country. "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It ...

Robert Prevost Elected Pope Leo XIV, First American to Lead Catholic Church

This is Beirut, 08/05 21:53 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Pope Francis United States USA

Robert Francis Prevost, the first pope from the United States, has a history of missionary work in Peru but also a keen grasp of the inner workings of the Church. The new Leo XIV, a Chicago native, was entrusted by his predecessor Francis to head the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, charged with advising the pontiff on new bishop ...

Starmer Says UK-US Trade Deal a 'Fantastic, Historic Day'

This is Beirut, 08/05 19:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Thursday it was a “really fantastic, historic day," after he agreed a US-UK trade deal with President Donald Trump. The agreement lifts tariffs on UK steel and aluminum products and slashes levies on British car exports from 27.5 percent to 10 percent, Downing Street said. "This is a really fantastic, ...

What Trump’s 'Good News' Could Mean for the Middle East

Salam El Zaatari, 08/05 09:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

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Don't listen to what he says if you want to understand how foreign policy works under Donald Trump in 2025. Watch who gets fired, what trip doesn’t happen, and where the “very good news” is going to land. Because when President Trump teased an “earth-shattering” announcement ahead of his May 13 Middle East visit—skipping Israel in ...

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