Middle East

Erdogan Rival Gets Jail Term for 'Threatening' Prosecutor

This is Beirut 2025-07-16 14:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Turkey's leading opposition figure, got a 20-month prison sentence for insulting and threatening the city's public prosecutor Wednesday, according to a court document obtained by AFP. The case is one of a number lined up against Imamoglu, the main rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is already ...

Khamenei Says Israel War Meant to 'Overthrow System' in Iran

This is Beirut 2025-07-16 14:36 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Khamenei Ali Khamenei

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Israel's attacks during last month's 12-day war were intended to weaken the Islamic republic's system and spark unrest to topple it. "The calculation and plan of the aggressors was to weaken the system by targeting certain figures and sensitive centres in ...

Syria Promises to Punish those who Committed Abuses in Sweida

This is Beirut 2025-07-16 14:35 - Reading : less than a minute

Syria Sweida Druze

The Syrian presidency vowed to punish those who committed violations against Druze-majority Sweida's residents, as government forces were accused of summary executions and other abuses by right groups, witnesses and local factions. In a statement, the presidency said they "strongly condemn these heinous acts and affirm our full commitment to ...

VideosMultinational Crew Returns to Earth on SpaceX Capsule After ISS Mission

Lyne Sammouri 2025-07-16 14:15 - Reading : less than a minute

United States

A SpaceX capsule with astronauts from India, Poland, Hungary and the United States safely landed off the coast of California, concluding Axiom Mission 4 after 20 days in orbit.

VideosRenewed Violence in Sweida Raises Concerns for Druze Civilians

This is Beirut 2025-07-16 13:43 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam Syria NGO Sweida

In southern Syria, the city of Sweida has descended into chaos. An NGO accuses government forces of executing Druze civilians following their deployment in the region. Fighting broke out after intercommunal violence that left over 200 people dead. Israel responded with airstrikes on Syrian forces, claiming to protect the Druze population. Despite ...

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Says 20 Dead at Aid Point

This is Beirut 2025-07-16 12:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Palestine Hamas United Nations USA

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said 20 people died at an aid point in Khan Yunis, in the south of the Palestinian territory on Wednesday, blaming armed "agitators" in the crowd. "Our current understanding is that 19 of the victims were trampled and one was stabbed amid a chaotic and dangerous surge," the US- and Israel-backed organisation said ...

Nvidia's Huang says 'Doing Our Best' to Serve Chinese Market

This is Beirut 2025-07-16 12:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Washington Nvidia China

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on Wednesday his firm was "doing our best" to serve China's vast market for semiconductors after meeting Beijing officials. Huang is in the Chinese capital this week to attend the China International Supply Chain Expo, a forum for the country to boost its image as the global defender of free trade in contrast to the ...

Drone Attacks Hit Three North Iraq Oil Fields: Kurds

This is Beirut 2025-07-16 11:59 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iraq Kurdish Drone Oil

Explosive-laden drones hit three oil fields in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region on Wednesday, Kurdish authorities said, a day after a similar attack halted operations at a US-run field. Production in two fields operated by the Norwegian group DNO ASA has been temporarily suspended, the company said. In the past few weeks, Kurdistan has ...

Ethiopia Arrests 82 Suspected Members of Islamic State Group

This is Beirut 2025-07-16 11:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ethiopia Islamic State NISS

More than 80 suspected members of the Islamic State group have been arrested across Ethiopia, state media said, claiming they intended to carry out a "terror mission". The 82 individuals were trained in neighbouring Somali Puntland region, according to state outlet Fana Media Corporation, which cited a statement from the National Intelligence and ...

Southern Syria: Israeli Strikes Continue Despite U.S. Calls for De-escalation

This is Beirut 2025-07-16 11:14 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump United States Syria

Despite repeated calls from the United States to reduce tensions, Israeli warplanes carried out new airstrikes in southern Syria on Wednesday. According to Al-Hadath and Al-Arabiya, Israeli jets conducted three strikes near the outskirts of Sweida province, followed by a fourth targeting the 52nd Brigade in eastern Daraa. This escalation comes ...

SpotlightDoes Your Cat Talk to You? An AI Claims It Can Understand

Bélinda Ibrahim 2025-07-16 11:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Cats AI USA Decode Feline Vocalizations Science

When it comes to human-animal communication, cats have always had the upper hand. They observe us, manipulate us with their gaze, wake us up for mysterious reasons and sometimes meow endlessly. But what are they really trying to say? For years, cat owners have wondered: Is this meow a request for food, a complaint or just a greeting? Until now, ...

SpotlightEfforts in Congress to Repeal the Caesar Act Amid Shifts in Syria

Amal Chmouny 2025-07-16 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Syria United States Sanctions Caesar Act Donald Trump

In a significant shift in US foreign policy, a growing bipartisan movement in Congress is pushing to repeal the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019. This push follows President Trump's recent executive order that lifted several longstanding US sanctions on Syria, coinciding with a transformative political climate in the region, ...