This is Beirut - US congress

No More Free Passes: U.S. Ties Security Aid to Lebanese Action

Amal Chmouny, 10:30 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Lebanese Army Lebanon US congress NDAA Hezbollah Disarmament

The U.S. Congress has sent a clear, stern message to Beirut that Washington’s support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is no longer a blank check. The latest version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), up for a vote in the House of Representatives, imposes new conditions and restrictions on U.S. aid to the Lebanese army, ...

Washington Cancels General Rodolphe Haykal's Visit

This is Beirut, 18/11 17:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Washington Hezbollah Israel United States US Congress

Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal’s planned visit to the United States on Tuesday was cancelled at the last minute, after Washington notified Beirut that the program would not be maintained. The cancellation of the visit was reportedly due to the Lebanese army's statement regarding the Israeli army's shooting of two UNIFIL soldiers, in ...

Syria and Israel in Direct Talks, Sharaa Says Damascus Ready for ‘New Chapter’ With U.S.

This is Beirut, 12/11 09:00 - Reading : 8 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Gulf United States US Congress

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa confirmed that Syria and Israel have begun direct negotiations for the first time in half a century, signaling a major diplomatic shift in the Middle East as Damascus also seeks to rebuild relations with the United States after decades of hostility. In an interview with The Washington Post after his meeting with ...

US Facing Travel Chaos as Flights Cut Due to Government Shutdown

This is Beirut, 07/11 10:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump US Congress Airports Shutdown

Travelers across the United States were left scrambling to rebook flights as the government shutdown heaps pressure on the country's air traffic control system, prompting hundreds of Friday flight cancellations at major American airports. Airlines starting Friday will begin implementing up to a 10 percent reduction in flights for 40 high-traffic ...

US Supreme Court Hears Challenge to Trump Tariff Powers

This is Beirut, 05/11 11:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump US Congress US Supreme Court Tariffs

The US Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday on whether a wide swath of Donald Trump's tariffs are lawful, in a landmark case that could uphold—or upend—the president's economic agenda. Billions of dollars in customs revenue and a key lever in Trump's trade wars are at stake, while the conservative-dominated court once again grapples ...

The Filibuster: A Key Tool of Obstruction in America’s Political Crisis

Mario Chartouni, 31/10 20:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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At the end of October, as the U.S. federal government entered its 30th day of shutdown, President Donald Trump made a forceful call to eliminate the filibuster, arguing that Republicans should be able to pass legislation without Democratic support. He claimed it was time to invoke the so-called “nuclear option” and revert to a simple majority ...

New York Attorney General Letitia James Indicted on Federal Charges

This is Beirut, 10/10 09:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump New York US Congress Attorney General Letitia James

New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on Thursday. James, 66, a Democrat, was indicted by a grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, on one count of bank fraud and a second one of making false statements to a financial institution. The charges against James were brought one day after former FBI director James Comey, pleaded not guilty ...

US Government Shutdown Seen Dragging Into Next Week

This is Beirut, 03/10 16:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Republicans Democrats US Congress Shutdown

The US government shutdown appeared likely to stretch into next week as senators prepared Friday to vote for a fourth time on a funding fix proposed by Donald Trump's Republicans that has little hope of success. Federal agencies have been out of money since Wednesday—with a wide range of public services crippled—as a result of deadlocked ...

US Approves $825 mn Missile Sale to Ukraine

This is Beirut, 29/08 10:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ukraine USA Donald Trump US Congress Washington

The United States on Thursday announced the approval of an $825 million sale of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) air-launched missiles and related equipment to Ukraine. Kyiv will make the purchase with funding from Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway and a loan guarantee from the United States, the US Defense Security Cooperation ...

Salam Meets US Congress Members

This is Beirut, 25/08 14:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam US Congress Lebanese Army USA Nawaf Salam

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with US Congress members Darin LaHood and Steve Cohen at the Grand Serail on Friday, in the presence of US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson and the accompanying delegation. During the meeting, LaHood commended the Lebanese government for extending state authority nationwide, centralizing arms under state control ...

Barrack and Ortagus Coordinate on Lebanon

Bassam Abou Zeid, 02/08 21:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hezbollah Joseph Aoun US Congress Washington

All eyes are on the Lebanese Cabinet session scheduled for next Tuesday, which will address the issue of “disarming Hezbollah,” a phrase used by President Joseph Aoun in his speech on Thursday, Army Day’s eve. According to sources, Washington is awaiting the outcome of this session before determining its next steps toward Lebanon. US ...

Tablecoin: When Human Intelligence Becomes a Currency

Christiane Tager, 22/07 10:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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As technological advances accelerate, Washington has just passed two landmark pieces of legislation: the country’s first national framework for stablecoins and the ambitious Genius Act. The aim? To regulate digital assets while safeguarding human intellectual contribution in an increasingly automated world. What Is the Genius Act? Recently ...

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