This is Beirut - Nawaf Salam

Trump, Fed Chief Powell Bicker During Tense Central Bank Visit

This is Beirut, 25/07 09:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump and US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell appeared together for a tense meeting Thursday as the president toured the central bank after ramping up his attacks on its management of the economy. Trump -- who wants to oust Powell for refusing to lower interest rates but likely lacks the legal authority to do so -- has threatened to ...

Syrian, Israeli Ministers Meet US Envoy in Paris: Senior Diplomat

This is Beirut, 25/07 08:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam USA Damascus Tom Barrack

The US special envoy for Syria said he held talks with Syrian and Israeli officials in Paris on Thursday on de-escalating sectarian violence in Syria. "I met this evening with the Syrians and Israelis in Paris. Our goal was dialogue and de-escalation, and we accomplished precisely that," said the envoy, Tom Barrack, on X. "All parties reiterated ...

Washington "Strongly" Rejects France's Plan to Recognize a Palestinian State

This is Beirut, 25/07 05:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam United States Palestine Gaza France

The United States "strongly" rejected on Thursday French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state, calling it a "reckless" decision that undermines peace. “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th,” declared U.S. Secretary of ...

Syrian, Israeli Ministers to Attend US-Brokered Meeting in Paris

This is Beirut, 24/07 22:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Syria United States

Damascus's top diplomat Asaad al-Shaibani is set to meet an Israeli minister on Thursday in Paris to discuss recent sectarian violence in Syria's south that had drawn in Israel's military, a senior diplomat told AFP. The US-brokered talks would be the first ministerial meeting between the new Syrian authorities and Israel. The two ...

U.S. Joins Israel in Withdrawing Negotiators from Gaza Talks

This is Beirut, 24/07 21:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Palestine Hamas USA Washington

The United States joined Israel on Thursday in pulling its negotiators from Gaza ceasefire talks, with special envoy Steve Witkoff blaming Hamas for failing to reach a deal and saying Washington would "consider alternative options". France meanwhile announced it would formally recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in ...

Iran Reaffirms ‘Unshakable’ Right to Enrich Uranium Ahead of Key Talks with Europe

This is Beirut, 24/07 20:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump European Union Tehran

Iran on Thursday reaffirmed its right to enrich uranium, saying it was "unshakable", on the eve of key talks with European powers threatening to reimpose nuclear sanctions. Friday's meeting, set to take place in Istanbul, will be the first since Israel's mid-June attack targeting key nuclear and military sites in the Islamic republic sparked a ...

Israeli Raids Pound Hezb Sites in South Lebanon

This is Beirut, 24/07 20:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Hezbollah South Lebanon

Israeli fighter jets launched a series of intense air raids on Thursday targeting the Rihan–Jarmaq region in southern Lebanon, with the sound of explosions echoing across Marjayoun and the western Beqaa Valley. Additional strikes were reported in the al-Mahmoudiya area. Shortly after the attacks, Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson ...

Two Palestinian Teenagers Killed by Israeli Army in the West Bank

This is Beirut, 24/07 19:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam West Bank Palestine

The Palestinian Authority said Thursday that two Palestinian teenagers were killed by the Israeli army overnight near Bethlehem, in the southern occupied West Bank, while the army said it had killed “terrorists.” "The General Authority for Civil Affairs informed the Ministry of Health of the martyrdom of young Ahmad Ali Asaad Ashira al-Salah ...

Salam Returns to Beirut ‘Reassured’ After Meeting Macron

This is Beirut, 24/07 18:50 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Emmanuel Macron Nawaf Salam France UNIFIL Beirut

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed optimism about Lebanon’s international standing following a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on Thursday. In a post on X, Salam said he was returning to Beirut “reassured” by Macron’s commitment to supporting Lebanon across key ...

Gaza: UN Unable to Verify Number of Aid Shipments Awaiting Distribution Due to Lack of Access

This is Beirut, 24/07 17:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam United Nations Palestine Hamas United States

The United Nations said Thursday it does not know how many aid consignments are currently in Gaza awaiting distribution, as it has not been authorized by Israel to be present at the crossing points. The Israeli military denied on Wednesday that it was blocking humanitarian aid and claimed that 950 trucks were in Gaza waiting for international ...

Israeli Drone Strike Kills One in Aita al-Shaab

This is Beirut, 24/07 16:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Israël South Lebanon Bint Jbeil

An Israeli drone strike on Thursday killed Mustafa Mohammad Harisi after targeting a pickup truck in the town of Aita al-Shaab, in the Bint Jbeil district of southern Lebanon. In a separate incident, another Israeli drone fired a missile at a forested area near the outskirts of Bayt Lif, also in the Bint Jbeil district. As firefighting teams ...

‘Star Wars’ Creator George Lucas Makes Comic-Con Debut

This is Beirut, 24/07 13:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Entertainment Comic-Con George Lucas Star Wars Culture

Comic-Con kicks off Thursday in San Diego, California, with expectations running high among devoted fans keen to catch a glimpse of George Lucas at his first ever appearance at the convention. Other expected highlights of the gathering - one of the world's biggest celebrations of pop culture - include the world premiere of the prequel series ...

Nawaf Salam