Fresh round of Israel-Lebanon ceasefire talks begins in Washington Lebanon's National News Agency is reporting that the fourth-round of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations have begun. The agency said that the talks at taking place at US State Department headquarters in Washington. Meanwhile Israeli bombardment has continued to pound southern Lebanon, after the US reportedly intervened to halt a renewed Israeli assault on Beirut.
Egyptian activist in 'real danger' in Oman as she faces extradition over social media posts Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Mon, 06/01/2026 - 14:37 Omani authorities use false claims of Interpol Red notice to threaten deportation of Mariam Abdelbasette days after giving birth A social media picture of Mariam Abdelbasette (supplied) Off An Egyptian woman and her newborn baby face extradition on false claims of an Interpol red notice from Oman to Egypt over social media posts she made criticising the Egyptian government. Mariam Abdelbasette has been held since 25 May at the Medical City Hospital for Military Agencies in the Omani capital Muscat after requiring a caesarian section to deliver her baby. Oman has claimed that it is complying with an Interpol Red notice to remove Abdelbasette from the Gulf state and return her to Egypt, following her husband Ahmed Mousa, who was forcibly deported to Egypt on 9 April 2026 and subsequently imprisoned.
SXSW festival slammed for not defending Piker and Uygur after UK ban Submitted by Imran Mulla on Tue, 06/02/2026 - 12:14 Speakers have begun pulling out of the major cultural festival in London, accusing it of not supporting free speech King Charles visits last year's SXSW London on 5 June, 2025 (Screengrab/X) Off The SXSW London festival has been slammed for failing to defend American political commentators Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker after the British government banned them from entering the country to speak at the event. Piker called SXSW "actual fucking losers", and some speakers have dropped out in protest over what they say is SXSW's failure to stand up for free speech. The two were scheduled to speak at the Oxford Union and SXSW London, a major cultural festival.
Two children among bodies recovered from Israeli attack on southern Lebanon Two children and a woman are reported to be among six bodies recovered by emergency teams from the rubble of a residential building in southern Lebanon targeted by an Israeli attack on Monday. The country's civil defence agency said earlier on Tuesday that its teams have been conducting searches in the building - which is located in the town of Marwaniyeh in the Sidon district- since yesterday evening. The Lebanese Ministry of Health subsequently confirmed that the fatalities include a woman and two children, with another woman, a child and four other people wounded in the attack.
Israeli parliament advances bill to dissolve itself and trigger early elections Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Tue, 06/02/2026 - 12:54 General vote could be held between 8 September and 20 October if the bill passes two further readings US President Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem on 13 October 2025 (Saul Loeb/AFP) Off The Israeli parliament has advanced a bill to dissolve itself, which could lead to elections as early as September. The bill, which was advanced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, passed its first reading late on Monday, with 106 lawmakers voting in favour, while no objections were recorded. According to Haaretz , the law, whose final approval is pending two further readings in the Knesset, opens the possibility of elections between 8 September and 20 October, altering the original date of the elections on 27 October.
Is Iran the new regional superpower? Submitted by Kayhan Barzegar on Mon, 06/01/2026 - 18:34 The US-Israeli war has upended the power balance in the Middle East, as Tehran finds itself with significant global leverage A banner depicts missiles being fired behind Iranians who are rallying in solidarity with the government, at Valiasr Square in Tehran on 6 April 2026 (Atta Kenare/AFP) On The Iran war , which began in February with a joint Israeli - US attack, has seen Tehran combine its trans-regional deterrence strategy with its domestic defence doctrine. The strong national and social solidarity that emerged after the war broke out - a clear public rejection of foreign interference - also provided the Iranian state with a significant advantage.
'Everybody hates you': Trump yells at Netanyahu over Lebanon escalation Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 06/02/2026 - 10:26 US president reportedly told Netanyahu that he is 'fucking crazy' in an expletive-laden call after Iran suspended talks over planned attacks on Beirut Trump points his finger towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, US on 29 December, 2025 (Reuters) Off US President Donald Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he is "fucking crazy" and that "everybody hates Israel", after Iran suspended peace talks over Tel Aviv's plans to renew an assault on the Lebanese capital, Beirut. American officials cited by Axios described the call as "expletive-laden," saying Trump had "steamrolled" Netanyahu, warning him that further attacks on Lebanon would isolate Israel internationally. Summarising Trump's comments, the official said: "I'm saving your ass.
Oxford Union president vows to platform Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur in defiance of UK ban Submitted by Imran Mulla on Tue, 06/02/2026 - 11:00 'Free speech does not require a visa', said Arwa Elrayess, the Palestinian president of the prestigious student debating society Hasan Piker, a streamer and outspoken critic of Israel, addresses the Oxford Union in 2025 (Screengrab/X) Off The Oxford Union, former British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan once proclaimed, is "the last bastion of free speech in the western world. " That dramatic assertion has often been questioned, but today Macmillan's quote is proudly displayed outside the prestigious debating society's bar. The president of the Oxford Union this term, Arwa Elrayess, appears determined to live up to the claim.
Al-Aqsa imam warns against Israeli bill to ban Muslim call to prayer Submitted by Mera Aladam on Tue, 06/02/2026 - 08:16 Sheikh Ekrima Sabri says Israel has 'no right' to pass such a bill as an occupying power A Muslim man prays outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during Friday noon prayers in the Old City of Jerusalem, 10 April 2026 (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP) Off The imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque has warned against an Israeli bill that would legalise restrictions on the Muslim call to prayer after it was approved by a ministerial committee on Sunday. Sheikh Ekrima Sabri said efforts to curb the adhan - the Islamic call to prayer - had resurfaced after "repeated failed attempts to ban it or reduce its volume". "The current attempt to ban the Muslim call to prayer has taken a dangerous turn by legalising the banning of the call to prayer through issuing a law to prohibit it," he said on Monday.
Lebanon parliament speaker says he would guarantee Hezbollah’s commitment to ‘global ceasefire’ with Israel Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri would guarantee Hezbollah’s adherence to a “global ceasefire” with Israel if such an agreement is reached, his adviser told AFP on Tuesday. Berri, who leads the Hezbollah-allied Amal movement, has long acted as a key intermediary between the Iran-backed group and Washington, which designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. “Speaker Berri’s main demand is a global ceasefire,” adviser Ali Hamdan said.
China launches crackdown on trade secret leaks in AI and high-tech sectors China has launched a new campaign to tighten controls over the sharing of trade secrets, as Beijing pushes to protect its high-tech industries and reduce reliance on foreign technology. The month-long campaign, announced on Monday by a national watchdog, will focus on key sectors including artificial intelligence, biomedicine and integrated circuits, state news agency Xinhua reported. Authorities said they would step up investigations into employees accused of taking trade secrets to new jobs, as well as companies involved in “malicious poaching”.
Shias in Lucknow mourn Khamenei even as India strengthens ties with Israel Submitted by Jakab Thorpe on Mon, 06/01/2026 - 14:03 Iran's late supreme leader was an inspirational figure for many Indian Shia with roots going back generations A banner of slain Iranian leader Ali Khamenei adorns a building in Lucknow, India (Jakab Thorpe/MEE) Off In Hussainabad Chowk, an open plaza in the old city in Lucknow, giant posters of slain Iranian leader Ali Khamenei flutter in the hot wind of the dry season. “Heartfelt and tearful homage to the great leader and guide of world peace and humanity, Martyr Ayatollah Sajjad Ali Husaini Khamenei Sahib,” reads one, in Hindi. Another depicts Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, standing behind his father, his hands resting on his shoulders.
If Muhammad will not go to the mountain, Trump will find him from space Submitted by Hamid Dabashi on Mon, 06/01/2026 - 08:47 The US president's claim that most Iranian nuclear workers are called Muhammad reveals an Islamophobia that mocks a name carried by generations of Muslim scientists and scholars A man holds an Iranian flag near an anti-US billboard depicting US President Donald Trump and the Strait of Hormuz in Tehran on 30 May 2026 (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters) Off You need a whole AI-generated search engine, perhaps one of those software gadgets that the Palantir Technologies chief executive Alex Karp employs to help Israel commit genocide in Palestine and mass murder children in Iran , to monitor and catalogue the mere number of unvarnished stupidities Donald Trump commits every single day of his miserable existence - but this one gets the cake. During an interview with Fox News (where else? ), he was blabbering away to the host Bret Baier about the US Space Force's ability to surveil Iranian nuclear sites: Space Force, which I created, has got cameras - nine different cameras - in space on that site.
Israeli strikes and shelling continue across southern Lebanon Israeli forces continued attacks across southern Lebanon on Tuesday, with artillery shelling reported near Nabatieh and air strikes targeting the villages of Shukin and Kafr Tibnit, according to reports from the ground. Israeli drones also carried out three strikes on the town of Tallet Tol in the Nabatieh district. In a separate incident, an Israeli air attack struck an area near Tibnin, as military operations continued across southern Lebanon despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, US President Donald Trump says diplomacy is gaining momentum on two fronts, claiming Hezbollah agreed to stop firing on Israeli forces and expressing optimism about reaching an agreement with Iran within days. However, fighting in Lebanon continues, with Israeli air strikes reported overnight and growing international concern over the expanding conflict. Here are the latest developments: Trump says he asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull troops back from Beirut and claimed Hezbollah representatives agreed to halt attacks.
Oxford Union raises free speech concerns over speakers' entry restriction Arwa Elrayess, President of the Oxford Union, said she was “deeply concerned” after US political commentators Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker had their authorisation to visit the UK revoked on the grounds that their appearances would not be “conducive to public good”. Both commentators have said they were prevented from entering the UK because of their advocacy for Palestinian rights. In a statement, Elrayess said, “This eleventh-hour call signals much more than democratic decline – it is a direct threat to free expression.
Video: Israel plans military-controlled area near Litani River, Katz says Israeli defence minister Israeli Katz, speaking in Tel Aviv on Monday, vowed to establish a military-controlled zone in the area of south Lebanon’s Litani River. Katz also said that Beirut would face continuous air strikes if attacks on Israel continued. His comments come after Israeli forces seized the Beaufort Castle and the strategic ridge surrounding it in southern Lebanon as it continued to expand its offensive despite a nominal ceasefire.
Israeli opposition attacks Netanyahu after Trump announces Lebanon ceasefire US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon and the reported cancellation of an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs sparked criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from opposition figures and political rivals. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X that Israel had become “a country completely under guardianship”, suggesting Netanyahu had yielded to Trump’s demands. Meanwhile, Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman sharply criticised the prime minister, calling him a “puppet” and “not a prime minister”, according to Israel Hayom.
Ronald Lauder says Mossad and Shin Bet should track ‘disinformation’ against Israel Ronald Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress, speaking at the Jerusalem Post conference in New York City on Monday, said that Mossad and Shin Bet should track “disinformation” against Israel adding, “It just makes sense to use them in this fight”. Ronald Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress, speaking at the Jerusalem Post conference in New York City on Monday, said that Mossad and Shin Bet should track “disinformation” against Israel and said, “It just makes sense to use them in this fight” pic. twitter.
French UN envoy calls Israeli incursion into Lebanon a ‘strategic mistake’ French Ambassador to the United Nations Jerome Bonnafont described Israel’s expanding military incursion into Lebanon as a “major strategic mistake”, warning that the raising of an Israeli flag over Beaufort Castle reflected a “worrying return to the past”. Bonnafont said Hezbollah, with support from Iran, had helped drag Lebanon into war, but stressed that there was no justification for the continuation of Israeli military operations. The French envoy reiterated France’s position that a political and diplomatic solution remains the only viable path to long-term stability in Lebanon and the region.
