World

SpotlightSyrians Hope for Economic Recovery After West Lifts Sanctions

This is Beirut 22/05 14:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

European Union Abbas Halabi Damascus Saudi Arabia Tik Tok

At a currency exchange in Damascus, Anas al-Shammaa is one of many Syrians hopeful that promised relief from Western sanctions will help revive their country's economy after years of war and isolation. "We were totally cut off from the world," said Shammaa, 45, who has been running the exchange shop since 2008. With the lifting of ...

Israel Military Says Intercepted Missile Fired From Yemen

This is Beirut 22/05 12:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gaza Iran Hamas drones Jérusalem Yemen

Air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem, where AFP journalists reported loud booms overhead, as the Israeli military announced it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen Thursday for the second time in less than 12 hours. "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was ...

Irish Rappers Kneecap Deny Hezbollah Support After Terror Charge: Statement

This is Beirut 22/05 11:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hezbollah Israel Palestine Kneecap

Irish rappers Kneecap on Thursday denied supporting a proscribed group and vowed to "vehemently defend ourselves" after a member of the band was charged with a terror offense for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert. "We deny this 'offense' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival ...

Ads Pressured to Evolve as AI Changes Google Search

This is Beirut 22/05 10:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Google Artificial Intelligence AI

As Google races to lead in artificial intelligence, it faces the challenge of making sure the technology doesn't slow its profit-pumping advertising engine. The internet giant is dabbling with ads in its new AI Mode for online search, a strategic move to fend off competition from ChatGPT while adapting its advertising business for an AI ...

UN Says Around 90 Aid Trucks 'Dispatched' Into Gaza

This is Beirut 22/05 09:45 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

United Nations Palestine Humanitarian

The UN said Wednesday it had "dispatched" around 90 trucks carrying aid into Gaza, as international pressure intensified over Israel's renewed offensive and blockade of the war-ravaged Palestinian territory. The first aid distribution in Gaza since early March came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was open to a "temporary ...

Republicans Eye Thursday Vote On Trump's Tax Cut Mega-Bill

This is Beirut 22/05 09:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Republicans US Treasury US Congress

Republicans announced Wednesday they will vote early Thursday on US President Donald Trump's sprawling domestic policy mega-bill pairing tax relief with spending cuts that critics say would decimate health care while ballooning the debt. The "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act" would usher into law Trump's vision for a new "Golden Age," achieved through ...

Op-edLines in the Sand: Syria on the Brink, and Lebanon’s Vanishing Moment

Salam El Zaatari 22/05 09:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Israel Syria Donald Trump Joseph Aoun United States

If you want to understand the Middle East in 2025, don’t look at the maps. Look at the fault lines. They’re not drawn in ink – they’re drawn in fear, legacy and a deep unease that this time, the region isn’t just shifting, it’s splintering. This week, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio sounded an alarm loud enough to rattle ...

Ukrainian Drone Attacks Halt Flights at Moscow Airports

This is Beirut 22/05 09:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Ukraine Russia drones

Air traffic around Moscow was disrupted on Thursday as the Russian capital came under attack, with the defense ministry saying 35 Ukrainian drones targeting the city had been downed overnight. "Air defense systems destroyed and intercepted 105 Ukrainian drones," of which 35 were heading towards Moscow, the ministry said in a statement. Moscow's ...

Two Israeli Embassy Staff Shot Dead Outside Jewish Museum in Washington

This is Beirut 22/05 09:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Washington Shooting

Two Israeli embassy staffers were shot dead late Wednesday outside a Jewish museum in Washington by a gunman who shouted "free Palestine," authorities said, with US, Israeli and other world leaders expressing outrage over the killings. President Donald Trump condemned the attack in the heart of the US capital, saying: "These ...

6.1-magnitude Quake Hits off Greek Island of Crete

This is Beirut 22/05 09:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake rattled the Greek islands of Crete and Santorini on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, with no major damage immediately reported. The strong quake struck 82 kilometres (51 miles) northeast of Crete's capital Heraklion at 0319 GMT at a depth of 68 kilometres (42 miles), the USGS said. AFP journalists said it ...

Trump Ambushes South African President Over ‘Genocide’ Accusation

This is Beirut 22/05 05:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States South Africa Donald Trump

President Donald Trump ambushed South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday by playing him a video that he claimed proved genocide is being committed against white people, driving farmers to flee to the United States. The extraordinary stunt turned the usually staid diplomatic setting of the Oval Office into a stage for Trump's ...

Several Countries Summon Israeli Diplomats over West Bank Warning Shots

This is Beirut 21/05 23:51 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

France Jean-Noel Barrot Israel

France, Spain, Portugal and Uruguay have decided to summon Israeli ambassadors on Wednesday to express their deep concern following reports that Israeli forces fired warning shots near European diplomats in the occupied West Bank. Paris will summon Israel's ambassador over warning shots fired by the country's army during a visit by diplomats in ...