World

Republican Infighting Derails Key Vote on Trump’s Signature Mega-Bill

This is Beirut 16/05 22:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United States Republican Party Donald Trump Congress

Republican fiscal hawks on Friday sunk a key vote on advancing the mega-bill that is the centerpiece of Donald Trump's domestic agenda, in a significant setback for the US president's tax and spending policies. Trump is pushing to usher into law his so-called "One Big, Beautiful Bill," pairing an extension of his first-term tax cuts with savings ...

Israel Resumes Strikes Against the Houthis and Threatens Their Leader

This is Beirut 16/05 20:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Yemen Houthis Israel

Israel threatened to target the leadership of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis after the air force struck two Houthi-held ports on Friday, following repeated Houthi missile attacks in recent days. The Houthis agreed earlier this month to stop firing on international shipping in the Red Sea after the United States stepped up airstrikes on ...

$UN Rights Chief: Israel’s Gaza Offensive \$

UN Rights Chief: Israel’s Gaza Offensive "Tantamount to Ethnic Cleansing"

This is Beirut 16/05 20:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Gaza Hamas United Nations

The UN's rights chief on Friday denounced Israel's sharp escalation of attacks in Gaza – and an apparent push to permanently displace the population – as amounting to "ethnic cleansing." "This latest barrage of bombs... and the denial of humanitarian assistance underline that there appears to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in ...

Two-State Solution Back on Diplomatic Agenda with UN Conference in June

This is Beirut 16/05 18:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Palestine United Nations

A French- and Saudi-backed conference on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will take place from June 17 to 20 at UN headquarters in New York, a French diplomatic source told AFP. The conference will be organized by the UN General Assembly under a shared French and Saudi presidency, the diplomat told AFP on condition of ...

Trump Redraws US Diplomacy Without Israel

This is Beirut 16/05 18:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Israel United States Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump's decision to skip over Israel in his Middle East tour was just the latest sign of a shifting dynamic between the historic allies. From nuclear talks with Iran to a ceasefire deal in Yemen and the announcement of lifting sanctions on Syria, Trump has pressed ahead solo with Middle East diplomacy in recent weeks, ...

Iran and European Powers Meet in Istanbul to Discuss Nuclear Talks with US

This is Beirut 16/05 18:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran Nuclear Abbas Araghchi Europe

Iran met with European powers on Friday to discuss its nuclear negotiations with Washington, while US President Donald Trump issued a new threat unless the Iranians "move quickly" towards a deal. The meeting in Istanbul followed remarks by Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning of "irreversible" consequences if Britain, France, and ...

World Bank to Restart Operations in Syria Following Saudi, Qatari Payment of Debts

This is Beirut 16/05 17:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Syria World Bank Qatar Saudi Arabia

The World Bank on Friday said it would restart operations in Syria following a 14-year pause, after Saudi Arabia and Qatar had paid off the country's outstanding debts. The Bank's operations in Syria were halted when the civil war broke out in 2011, preventing the country from gaining access to its development loans, grants, and technical ...

Tripoli Returns to Calm as Airport Reopens After Deadly Clashes

This is Beirut 16/05 17:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Libya Tripoli Abdelghani al-Kikli

Flights resumed Friday at Tripoli's airport as businesses and markets reopened after days of deadly fighting between armed groups in the Libyan capital. "Last night, for the first time since Monday, residents of the capital were able to sleep without hearing explosions or gunfire," an interior ministry official told AFP, speaking on condition of ...

$Istanbul Talks End Quickly as Russia Makes \$

Istanbul Talks End Quickly as Russia Makes "Unacceptable" Demands

This is Beirut 16/05 17:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Istanbul Ukraine Russia

Russians and Ukrainians sat face-to-face for under two hours Friday in Istanbul for the first direct talks in over three years aimed at ending their war, with expectations low for breakthroughs. Kyiv is seeking an "unconditional ceasefire" in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II, which has also destroyed large swathes of Ukraine and ...

SpotlightCannes: A Festival Rooted in Defiance of Fascism

Bélinda Ibrahim 16/05 17:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Cannes Film Festival Cinema Fascism Freedom France Cannes 2025

It was the late 1930s. The Venice Mostra, founded in 1932, was the world’s first international film festival. But by 1938, as global tensions mounted, it had turned into an ideological showcase for fascism. Under joint pressure from Hitler and Mussolini, the jury was compelled to award the festival’s top prize, the Mussolini Cup, to two ...

Zelensky Urges Strong International Response if Istanbul Talks with Russia Fail

This is Beirut 16/05 16:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Istanbul Russia Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday called for a “strong response” from the international community if the planned talks with Russia in Istanbul fail. “If it turns out that the Russian delegation is only there for appearances and cannot deliver any results today, then everyone must respond,” he said from Tirana. “There ...

Ankara Calls for Ceasefire 'As Soon As Possible' in Ukraine at Talks with Russia

This is Beirut 16/05 15:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Ukraine Russia Turkey

Ankara called on Friday for a ceasefire “as soon as possible” in Ukraine at the opening of Turkish-mediated talks in Istanbul between Kyiv and Moscow—the first such talks since the spring of 2022. “It is of crucial importance that a ceasefire be implemented as soon as possible,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, stressing that ...