The government’s deeply illiberal ‘Yadan bill’ may be dead. But the threat to legitimate protest certainly is not Tensions in France over how to respond to a rise in antisemitism have been running high. A government-backed bill that aimed to deal with the problem was rightly denounced as an attack ...
Day: May 22, 2026
Trump’s new ‘slush fund’ for his pals – podcastTrump’s new ‘slush fund’ for his pals – podcast
This week, Donald Trump dropped a personal $10bn lawsuit he had against the Internal Revenue Service in exchange for a so-called anti-weaponisation fund. The $1.8bn fund will be used to compensate those who think they have been unfairly investigated by the government in the past. This week, Jonathan Freedland speaks ...
Parents of Southport survivors say anonymity has erased their girls from the storyParents of Southport survivors say anonymity has erased their girls from the story
The BBC has spoken to the parents of five of the 23 girls who survived the knife attack, who say a court order has rendered their children invisible. ...
Andrew investigation police renew call for informationAndrew investigation police renew call for information
The former prince was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. ...
War dents Saudi’s efforts to diversify economyWar dents Saudi’s efforts to diversify economy
The Iran war is undermining Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify away from oil, while boosting the kingdom’s oil revenues. Riyadh ordered government entities to freeze payments to strategy advisers, management consultants, and law firms, which were central to the kingdom’s efforts to reinvent its economy and become a global business ...
China looks for signs of optimism in its housing marketChina looks for signs of optimism in its housing market
Economists debated whether there’s light at the end of the tunnel for China’s multiyear property slump. Home prices in the country’s largest cities have ticked up this year, and sellers’ “panic listings” have fallen. Some analysts “see a turning point” in the crisis and predict home prices will start recovering ...
Retail signals portend trouble for US consumersRetail signals portend trouble for US consumers
Major US retailers suggested shoppers are reining in spending as the Iran war raises prices on essential goods. Walmart on Thursday reported a worse-than-expected outlook, noting that its sales were driven by lower-price goods. The average number of gallons a customer buys at Walmart gas stations has fallen to 2022 ...
Trump postpones signing AI and cybersecurity orderTrump postpones signing AI and cybersecurity order
US President Donald Trump on Thursday postponed signing an executive order on AI and cybersecurity over concerns it could shrink the country’s AI lead over China. The order laid out “a voluntary framework” for AI firms to share their new models with the government before their public release, stemming from ...
Israel’s Iran stance changes MidEast calculusIsrael’s Iran stance changes MidEast calculus
Washington’s Middle East partners are increasingly seeing Israel as a destabilizing force, analysts said, a perception that is shifting regional power dynamics. Turkey is bolstering security partnerships in preparation for a regional power struggle with what it views as an unrestrained Israel, buoyed by the US, The Washington Post reported. ...
Rubio says Cuba is threat to US as Havana accuses him of ‘lies’Rubio says Cuba is threat to US as Havana accuses him of ‘lies’
Cuba’s foreign minister accused Rubio of trying to “instigate a military aggression”. ...