Capital city of Lebanon and a major regional hub
The Israel Defense Forces have downed a drone and struck Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon after a drone attack targeted troops in Nabatieh Ridge. The incidents prompt warnings near Arab Salim and Nabatieh as strikes continue and regional tensions rise amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
France is entering a pivotal presidential contest in 2027. Marine Le Pen leads early polls, while the left remains fragmented. Centre and reformist contenders contemplate primaries, amid debates on Europe, the economy, and national security.
The US Treasury has announced "Operation Economic Outcast," expanding secondary sanctions and targeting Iran's digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping to sever Tehran's revenue streams. Washington has designated about 60 individuals, companies and vessels worldwide; Iran says it is prepared with contingency plans and vows to pursue both defence and diplomacy.
Israeli and international carriers are expanding routes and resuming services amid ongoing conflict-related volatility. Delta and United are returning to Ben Gurion, Israir is launching Tel Aviv-New York, and Israeli airlines are increasing capacity, while fares remain high in the near term. A direct Manila route is planned, and fares to the US show volatility through the fall travel season.
Lebanon and Israel are engaged in direct talks mediated by the US, after Hezbollah-triggered conflict escalations. A framework signed in June calls for Hezbollah disarmament and a staged Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon, with Greece and Athens’ arms deal cited as regional context. Lebanon seeks renewed UNIFIL support as violence persists.
Brent crude has climbed toward $97 a barrel after renewed exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran over the past week. US strikes have hit sites along Iran's southern coast while Iran has attacked US-linked vessels and bases in the region; shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained and US pump and diesel prices have risen.
Rights groups report a sustained crackdown on civil society in Tunisia, with arrests, financially targeting NGOs, and suspensions widening under President Saied. The move is described as a strategic clampdown on dissent amid protests and deteriorating living conditions.
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have killed civilians and damaged infrastructure amid ongoing clashes with Hezbollah. The target areas include Kfar Rumman, Nabatieh, and surrounding towns as diplomatic efforts to disarm Hezbollah and withdraw Israeli forces continue under a US-brokered framework. The toll includes women, children, and rescuers, with casualties and displacement prompting international concern.
Myanmar’s president Min Aung Hlaing has visited Malaysia for two days while Kuala Lumpur is proceeding with a programme to repatriate up to 5,000 Myanmar nationals. Malaysia says roughly 10,000 people have returned this year and that repatriations are voluntary; the UN and rights groups have warned they cannot verify voluntariness and say returnees, including possible Rohingya, face grave risks in a country at war.
Lebanon and Israel have released five detainees amid ongoing US-brokered talks. The transfers, facilitated by the ICRC, come as Beirut and Tel Aviv pursue a broader framework to restore sovereignty and ease hostilities. Israeli operations in southern Lebanon continue alongside the prisoner deals.
Israel maintains a presence in southern Lebanon and says it has cleared tunnels beneath the Ali al-Taher ridge. Hezbollah has not commented on the claim. The ridge overlooks a wide area and sits near Nabatieh; clashes persist despite a US-brokered ceasefire framework.
The UAE has granted a presidential pardon to Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who faced a 10-year prison sentence and a 200,000 dirham fine in Abu Dhabi. The pardon follows extensive international scrutiny and his extradition from Lebanon in 2024-2025.
PISA 2025 data show England and some UK nations performing well in science, with Reading and Maths trailing in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England leads in science; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland trail in reading and maths. A global trend shows declines in reading proficiency, linked to digital distraction and shifting reading habits.
A surge of runway shows and campaigns in Paris, Milan and Dubai highlights how brands are leaning into luxury heritage and performance, even as the industry faces a soft market. Designers are unveiling new creative directors and collections that mix traditional craftsmanship with modern spectacle, underscoring a shift toward tangible, wearable luxury.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has used his UN General Assembly address to accuse New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani of antisemitism, of supporting Hamas and of making Jewish New Yorkers feel unsafe. Mamdani has replied that Netanyahu is repeating "baseless lies" and remains subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant; protests and walkouts have followed the speech.
Israeli strikes have continued in Gaza, targeting Hamas infrastructure and operatives while warning civilians to evacuate. Reports indicate casualties including civilians and Hamas fighters, with the Gaza war entering a new phase since the 2025 ceasefire. International efforts to broker a lasting peace remain stalled.
England has authorised Enhertu for routine NHS use for HER2‑low metastatic breast cancer, ensuring access for about 1,000 women annually. The decision follows a previous rejection over cost‑effectiveness and builds on a deal between NICE and drug makers AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo. Scotland has already provided access since 2023.
Israel has demolished a vast Hezbollah tunnel complex beneath the Ali al‑Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, using more than 1,000 tonnes of explosives to collapse tunnels that extended over 2km. The blast has registered as a 4.1‑magnitude tremor, Israeli forces say they have established operational control and will hold a security zone while continuing strikes when needed.
Leaders and senior officials gather in Paris for US-mediated talks on disarming Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and replacing UNIFIL with a multinational force. The discussions come as Israel maintains a military footprint in Lebanon and faces ongoing strikes by Hezbollah, while Lebanon seeks to strengthen its army’s authority and sovereignty. A donor conference for Lebanese forces is expected later this year or early 2027.
Ceasefire efforts have paused direct fighting, but Israeli strikes and Hezbollah activity continue in southern Lebanon, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced. In Nabatiyeh and Mansouri, residents fear renewed Israeli ground offensives as tunnels and infrastructure are targeted.
Lebanon and Israel will meet in Rome in October to discuss a US-brokered framework aimed at restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty and Israel’s security. The talks, part of a trilateral mechanism, follow rounds that ended without breakthroughs. Ambassadors will also meet in Washington; no decisions are expected in this stage.
Mahmoud Khalil has filed a federal civil‑rights lawsuit against Columbia University, its trustees and the SIPA dean, alleging the university’s ‘‘deliberate indifference’’ allowed doxxing, harassment and a false narrative that helped prompt his 104‑day ICE detention in 2025. The suit asks to restore campus access, lift the Palestine Working Group suspension and seek damages.
The United States is finalizing a drawdown in northern Iraq, with hundreds of troops set to depart by September 30. Iraq’s government links the exit to a demand for militias to disarm, but Iran-backed groups are signaling that disarmament is unlikely and favor regulation instead. Tehran seeks to keep influence in Iraq while Baghdad weighs its options amid regional tensions.
Netanyahu has faced sustained political pressure as he heads into a parliamentary election. Critics say he relies on victimhood rhetoric and populist tactics to deflect scrutiny, amid new reporting and shifts in opposition dynamics that could reshape Israel’s political landscape.
Dati has gone on trial in Paris, accused of taking 900,000 euros from a Renault-Nissan subsidiary while she was an MEP. She denies the allegations, while Carlos Ghosn faces the case in absentia. The proceedings focus on whether the contract was for legitimate legal services or disguised lobbying.
The article reports on renewed Gaza ceasefire talks and Palestinian political tensions. Abbas meets in Cairo; Israel considers displacement debates; election timelines for Palestinian legislative and presidential races face new uncertainty amid regional diplomacy and ceasefire enforcement.
Saudi Arabia faces mounting pressure as Houthi strikes test the Mecca defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan amid broader Iran-linked escalation. Officials say Riyadh is seeking air defences and secure oil routes, while allied partners weigh response. The crisis has strained regional security and threatened Gulf oil shipments.
Forty-seven antiquities seized at Beirut port in 2020 have been identified as Egyptian; Lebanon has handed the artefacts to Egypt after investigations with INTERPOL and Lebanese authorities. Five items were displayed at the handover ceremony, underscoring cooperation to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property.
Kurdish communities are voicing discontent as Syria presses ahead with integrating Kurdish-led forces into the national army. Protests surge after fuel-price hikes and language-policy changes, framing a tense moment for the post-war consolidation effort.
RTÉ has confirmed it will not participate in or broadcast Eurovision 2027, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis and loss of life in Gaza and restricted access for international journalists. The decision follows earlier boycotts by other European broadcasters and comes after the EBU barred countries in armed conflict from hosting.
A U.S. federal judge has sentenced Samir Ousman Alsheikh, a former head of Adra Prison in Syria, to a lengthy term after conviction on torture and immigration fraud charges. He was found guilty in March of conspiracy to commit torture and torture, with prosecutors seeking an 80-year minimum sentence; his lawyers push for five years given age and health. The case marks a rare instance of accountability for abuses linked to the Assad regime.
Switzerland has named its Nations League squad as captain Granit Xhaka withdraws from duties after media reported a fake vaccination certificate. Boteli scores again for club; Johan Manzambi and Zeki Amdouni are among players bridging youth and experience ahead of matches in Scotland and North Macedonia.
Pro-Palestinian backlash to Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour has led to Macklemore’s removal from the lineup and to radio stations in Ireland halting Sheeran’s music, with supporters planning protests and ticket resale prices dropping in some markets.
The Turkish leader has signaled the possibility of an early election, potentially moving the vote to April 16, 2028, if enough lawmakers back the plan. Erdogan’s allies argue the move could circumvent a term-limit provision, while opponents warn of rising autocratic tendencies. The date and political maneuvers are under scrutiny as the opposition reorganizes its leadership.
Syria’s Internal Security Forces have killed three members of an armed group during an operation in Al-Sanamayn, Daraa province, as they attempted to arrest a suspect linked to the Islamic State. The security operation has led to a curfew and heightened manhunt as authorities say they dismantled a cell coordinating with IS.
A trio of dispatches examines how language policy, script revival, and religious identity are evolving across the Muslim world—from Algeria’s shift to English as a primary foreign language in schools, to Indonesia’s Pegon script revival, to the Maldives’ commemorations of 900 Hijri years and the enduring place of Islam in national life.
UN Security Council has ordered UNIFIL to begin withdrawing by year-end. Lebanon’s army is expanding deployments in the south as Hezbollah disarmament talks stall. Israeli operations persist with airstrikes, demolitions, and staged clashes near Deir Mimas as regional diplomacy intensifies.
Hundreds of inmates at Roumieh prison have been on hunger strike since September 12 to protest the suspension of Lebanon’s amnesty law. Authorities monitor health as the Constitutional Council prepares to rule next month on the law’s status; overcrowding and lengthy pre-trial detention remain acute problems.
UNRWA remains Gaza’s key health and education provider while a Board of Peace faces pressure over its plan to govern Gaza. Talks with UNRWA continue behind the scenes; reconstruction remains stalled a year after the ceasefire, and funding shortages threaten essential services.
In Burj Qalaway, eight-year-old students have returned to school after May Israeli strikes destroyed their Ajami primary, forcing classes into a damaged, under-construction structure. UNICEF reports show widespread damage and displacement affecting hundreds of thousands of students across Lebanon.
Supporters mark the death of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah amid renewed calls for Hezbollah disarmament. Leaders stress Israel must withdraw before any talks, while authorities push to extend state control in the south amid stalled frameworks.
Security forces have dismantled a four-province cell linked to Daesh, arresting four leaders and several members in Raqqa, Aleppo, Idlib and Homs. The operation targets kidnappings, assassinations and bomb plots, with explosives seized. Investigations continue and authorities say the network had expanded from Raqqa to Aleppo, Idlib and Homs.
Multiple articles highlight efforts to preserve Gaza’s cultural heritage amid ongoing conflict. A Gaza books library tent and UNESCO-reported damage underscore the fragility of cultural memory as rescuers strive to save artefacts and manuscripts while confronting displacement and security constraints.
Syrian officials and Hezbollah representatives have held talks in Turkey to de-escalate tensions, with both Damascus and Hezbollah denying a final agreement. Reuters cites sources indicating discussions focused on stopping arms transfers and dismantling sleeper cells, while Turkey and other actors deny the meeting. The talks are described as an initial attempt to move from battlefield hostilities toward a pragmatic, if cautious, arrangement.
UNRWA remains Gaza’s largest aid provider as the Board of Peace pushes ahead with reconstruction plans. UNRWA faces pressure over its future amid Israeli disarmament demands and US-backed governance shifts, while UNRWA staff continue delivering health, education and essential services in Gaza.
The United States has expanded military deployments in the Middle East, adding carrier strike groups, amphibious units and thousands of personnel as tensions with Iran rise ahead of the November midterm elections. Washington says the posture keeps options open for potential action while diplomacy continues.
The Times of Israel and Arab News report ongoing Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon. A commander and dozens of soldiers have been killed or wounded following a Humvee overturn and multiple incidents amid the broader conflict with Hezbollah. EU states advocate extending UNIFIL’s mandate as violence lingers and talks of a broader Israel-Lebanon deal continue.
Schiaparelli has grown its revenue from $6 million in 2020 to about $100 million today. The Paris house remains small yet influential, with strong brand visibility through a London museum show and high-profile celebrity wear, while recent leadership shifts at Loewe and other houses shape the competitive landscape.
Palestinian factions have reached understandings to postpone parliamentary elections in Gaza and the West Bank due to logistical hurdles in East Jerusalem and Gaza, with discussions centering on national dialogue and consensus. Abbas has set November 28 as the election date, but timing remains unsettled as factions weigh the path forward.