USA

EU's Automated Border System to Launch in October

The European Union announced Wednesday that a delayed new border-check system for non-EU nationals, which will do away with passport stamps, will finally launch in October. The so-called Entry/Exit System (EES), was initially supposed to kick in last November but was pushed back at the last minute as several countries were not ready. The EES ...

US Imposes Sanctions on Shipping Empire Tied to Iranian Leaders

The United States on Wednesday slapped sanctions on a shipping empire controlled by the son of a top political advisor to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Treasury Department said sanctions were being imposed on companies and vessels operated by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, who has been subject to US ...

US Envoy Witkoff to Visit Israel on Thursday

Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, will visit Israel on Thursday to "discuss next steps" on Gaza, an American official said. Witkoff has been involved in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza. The discussions broke down last week when Israel ...

US, India to Launch Powerful Earth-Monitoring Satellite

A formidable new radar satellite jointly developed by the United States and India is set to launch Wednesday, designed to track subtle changes in Earth's land and ice surfaces and help predict both natural and human-caused hazards. Dubbed NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), the pickup truck-sized spacecraft is scheduled to lift off at ...

African Union says Does 'not Recognise' Sudan Parallel Govt

The African Union said on Wednesday it would not recognize a "so-called parallel government" in Sudan, urging its members to follow suit. A bitter two-year civil war in Sudan has pitted the government against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which announced it was forming a government and appointed a prime minister on Saturday. The AU's Peace and ...

Five Products to be Hit by Trump's Incoming Tariffs

The United States is set to raise tariffs on dozens of trading partners Friday if they fail to reach accords with President Donald Trump to avert the higher rates, and this risks raising prices for consumers. Economists have warned that steeper US tariffs, paid for by importers of foreign products, could add to business costs and trickle down to ...

Palantir, the AI Giant That Preaches US Dominance

Palantir, an American data analysis and artificial intelligence company, has emerged as Silicon Valley's latest tech darling -- one that makes no secret of its macho, America-first ethos now ascendant in Trump-era tech culture. The company's reach spans the global economy, with banks, hospitals, the US government, and the Israeli military among ...

UNIFIL Mandate Shift Could Ignite Region: Will the US Push Back on Israeli Demands?

One month separates Lebanon from a critical juncture, one of the most sensitive in its modern history. At the end of August, the United Nations Security Council will decide whether to renew the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year. The decision could either reaffirm the mission’s role or mark its ...

Joumblatt Hosts Key Meeting with Muftis

Former Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Joumblatt hosted a high-level meeting at his Beirut residence on Monday, bringing together Grand Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, regional muftis from across Lebanon, Lebanese Democratic Party (LDP) leader Talal Arslan, members of the Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc and ...

Expats in Lebanon: Celebrating Togetherness Amid Economic Strain

“Expats, I adore you! I was so happy to see you again and spend time together, especially after the summer of 2024, when war was raging between Israel and Hezbollah and we were overwhelmed by bad news and constant bombardment,” says Kareen, whom we met in downtown Beirut. Still, she adds a note of frustration. “It was really ...

Kremlin Does Not Rule Out Putin-Trump Meeting in China in September

The Kremlin on Monday said it was not ruling out a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in September in China. Putin is due to visit China in early September for celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. "If it so happens that in the end the US president decides to ...

Europe Hopes for 'No Surprises' as US Weighs Force Withdrawals

After keeping Donald Trump happy with a pledge to up defense spending at NATO's summit, Europe is now bracing for a key decision from the US president on the future of American forces on the continent. Washington is currently conducting a review of its military deployments worldwide -- set to be unveiled in coming months -- and the expectation is ...