Ici Beyrouth - Donald Trump

US diplomats visit Syria to meet new rulers

This is Beirut, 20/12 10:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Antony Blinken Barbara Leaf Damascus Donald Trump United States

US diplomats have arrived in Syria to speak directly to the new rulers, hoping to encourage a moderate, inclusive path and to find clues on missing Americans, the State Department said Friday. It is the first formal US diplomatic mission to Damascus since the early days of the brutal civil war that broke out in 2011 and culminated in a surprise ...

US Moves Closer to Budget Paralysis After New Bill Fails

This is Beirut, 20/12 04:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Democrats Donald Trump Republicans US Congress US House of Representatives White House

On Thursday, the US House of Representatives largely rejected a new Republican budget proposal aimed at avoiding a paralysis of the federal government, in a stinging defeat that increases the uncertainty before the fateful midnight hour on Friday. The Republicans, despite having a majority in the lower house, had put this new proposal to the vote ...

Putin’s Open Invitation: “Ready to Meet Trump Anytime”

This is Beirut, 19/12 13:25 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Ukraine United States Vladimir Putin Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the fall of ex-Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was not a "defeat" for Russia, claiming Moscow had achieved its goals in the country. Assad fled to Moscow earlier this month after a shock rebel advance ended half a century of rule by the Assad family, marked by repression and allegations of vast ...

Trump’s Shadow Looms Over EU Summit as Ukraine Appeals for Unity

This is Beirut, 19/12 11:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump European Union Ukraine Vladimir Putin Syria

Donald Trump loomed large over EU leaders Thursday at their last summit before he reclaims power in the United States, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying only transatlantic unity can "save" Ukraine. The upheaval in Syria after the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, and how to deal with the new leadership, was also high-up on the agenda of the ...

Express Cleanup Before Change of Tenant

Marc Saikali, 19/12 08:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Hamas Hezbollah Middle East Irran

Just a few weeks ago, the defunct “Axis of Resistance” still managed to maintain its facade. From Iran — both a bystander and instigator — to Lebanon, passing through Gaza, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, the fronts were numerous. But the pretense has crumbled, revealing an empty shell. The turning point began in Lebanon. Defying ...

US Fed Cuts Rate by Quarter-Point in Third Straight Reduction

This is Beirut, 18/12 21:30 - Reading : less than a minute

Donald Trump USA

The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter point Wednesday and signaled a slower pace of cuts ahead, amid uncertainty about inflation and President-elect Donald Trump's economic plans. Policymakers voted 11-to-1 to lower the US central bank's key lending rate to between 4.25 percent and 4.50 percent, the Fed announced in a statement. ...

Zelensky Huddles With European Leaders as Trump Looms

This is Beirut, 18/12 18:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron European Union Ukraine USA Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets NATO chief Mark Rutte and key European leaders in Brussels Wednesday to strategise over Russia's war ahead of Donald Trump's return to power in the United States. This evening's gathering was due to involve leaders from Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark, The Netherlands and the European Union's main ...

Trump Jokes Canada Becoming 51st US State ‘A Great Idea'

This is Beirut, 18/12 18:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA Canada

US President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday it would be "a great idea" for Canada to become the 51st US state, teasing on social media that "many Canadians" welcome the idea, as Ottawa is wracked by a political crisis. "Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State," Trump posted on Truth Social. "They would save massively on taxes and ...

Assad's Fall Opens Path for US Strikes on ISIS

This is Beirut, 18/12 12:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Damascus Donald Trump USA Turkey

Bashar al-Assad's overthrow has cleared the way for US strikes against the Islamic State group in areas previously shielded by Syrian and Russian air defenses – but the jihadists may also try to exploit the vacuum left by his fall. The militant group,often referred to as ISIS or IS, rose out of the chaos of the Syrian civil war to seize swathes ...

Zelensky and NATO Leaders Discuss Next Steps in Brussels

This is Beirut, 18/12 09:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump European Union Kyiv Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets Wednesday with NATO chief Mark Rutte and key European leaders in Brussels to discuss "next steps" on Russia's war as Donald Trump prepares to take office in the United States. The gathering due in the evening was set to bring together German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Polish leader Donald Tusk, Italian ...

Lagarde says ECB will continue to cut interest rates

This is Beirut, 16/12 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Banks Donald Trump ECB Christine Lagarde

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said Monday eurozone policymakers would keep cutting interest rates and warned that higher US tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump could hit growth in the bloc. "Even though we are not there yet, we are close to achieving our target" of two-percent inflation, Lagarde said in a speech at the Bank ...

Trump Taps Truth Social CEO to Lead Intelligence Advisory Board

This is Beirut, 15/12 09:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Republicans Ukraine USA White House

US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday named loyalist Devin Nunes, who heads his social media platform Truth Social, to serve as chairman of a White House intelligence advisory board. Nunes is a Republican ex-congressman from California who led the US House intelligence committee during the start of Trump's first presidential term. He has ...

Donald Trump