This is Beirut

US Expected to Block Gaza Ceasefire Vote at Security Council

This is Beirut, 10:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Palestine Ceasefire United Nations israel

The UN Security Council will vote Wednesday on a resolution calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza, a measure expected to fail due to a US veto. It is the 15-member body's first vote on the subject since November, when the United States -- a key Israeli ally -- also blocked a text calling for an end to fighting. The ...

US Doubles Steel, Aluminum Tariffs as OECD Ministers Gather

This is Beirut, 09:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA trade tariff diplomacy steel

The United States doubled steel and aluminum tariffs Wednesday, casting a pall on a gathering of OECD ministers as President Donald Trump's intensifying trade war weighs on the world economy. Trump's sweeping tariffs on allies and adversaries alike -- including levies on imported steel and autos -- have strained US ties with trading partners and ...

Rescuers say Israeli Fire Kills at Least 27 near Gaza Aid Point

This is Beirut, 03/06 12:41 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Palestine United Nations Hamas Israel USA

Rescuers said the Israeli military killed at least 27 people on Tuesday in southern Gaza near a US-backed aid centre, with the army reporting it had fired on "suspects who advanced toward the troops". The shooting was similar to one Sunday morning in which rescuers said scores of people were killed and wounded at the same location, with ...

US to Eventually Reduce Military Bases in Syria to One: US envoy

This is Beirut, 03/06 10:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Thomas barrack Syria Military Base

The United States has begun reducing its military presence in Syria with a view to eventually closing all but one of its bases there, the US envoy for the country has said in an interview. Six months after the ouster of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, the United States is steadily drawing down its presence as part of Operation Inherent ...

Trump says Iran Deal Would not Allow 'any' Uranium Enrichment

This is Beirut, 03/06 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA Iran

US President Donald Trump on Monday ruled out allowing Iran to enrich uranium under any nuclear deal between the foes -- as Tehran defended what it said was its "peaceful" pursuit of fuel for power generation. Uranium enrichment has remained a key point of contention in five rounds of talks since April to ink a new accord to replace the deal ...

US Stocks Retreat on Heightened Tariff Tensions

This is Beirut, 02/06 17:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump European Union Washington

US stocks mostly slipped Monday on global trade tensions, with China rejecting Washington's accusations that it violated a pact to de-escalate tariffs, while President Donald Trump's plans to double steel levies added to strain with the EU. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.4 percent to 42,109.92, while the broad-based S&P ...

Is Trump Deterring European Tourists to US? Not so Fast

This is Beirut, 02/06 09:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA Europe Tourists

President Donald Trump's hardline immigration tactics, sweeping tariffs and nationalist policies may be a turn-off for many would-be European tourists to the United States, but the data paints a more nuanced bigger picture. The number of visitors to the United States from Western Europe in March fell by 17 percent from the same month a year ...

Polish Presidential Election Rivals Neck and Neck

This is Beirut, 01/06 22:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump European Union Europe Ukraine USA

The centrist and nationalist candidates vying for the Polish presidency were neck and neck, an exit poll showed on Sunday, each predicting victory in a vote with major implications for Poland's pro-EU government. Warsaw's liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, a government ally, was narrowly ahead with 50.3 percent of votes against nationalist ...

Qatar, Egypt Say Will Intensify Efforts to Resume Gaza Truce Talks

This is Beirut, 01/06 22:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Palestine USA Hamas Israel Middle East

Qatar and Egypt announced on Sunday plans to step up efforts for Gaza truce negotiations, as the Palestinian militant group Hamas said it was prepared to "immediately" hold a fresh round of talks. "Qatar and Egypt, in coordination with the United States of America, affirm their intention to intensify efforts to overcome the obstacles facing the ...

British FM Says Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for W. Sahara ‘Most Credible’ Solution

This is Beirut, 01/06 22:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

UN Security Council United Kingdom United Nations USA Morocco

British foreign minister David Lammy said on Sunday that Morocco's autonomy plan for the territory of Western Sahara was the "most credible" solution to the decades-long dispute, reversing London's long-standing position. Western Sahara, a mineral-rich former Spanish colony, is largely controlled by Morocco but has been claimed in its entirety ...

Gaza Rescuers Say Israeli Fire Kills 31 Near Aid Site

This is Beirut, 01/06 20:25 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Palestine United Nations Hamas Israel USA

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli gunfire killed at least 31 Palestinians near a US-backed aid distribution site on Sunday, with both the group in charge of the site and the military denying any such incident took place. Israel has faced growing condemnation over the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where the United ...

Berri Says Lebanon Requests UNIFIL Mandate Renewal

This is Beirut, 31/05 22:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

UN Security Council United Nations USA Hezbollah Israel

President of Parliament Nabih Berri told the newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that the issue of renewing the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was at the top of the agenda of his recent meeting with President Joseph Aoun. Berri said that a committee had been formed to draft a letter to the UN Security Council requesting ...

USA