This is Beirut

Hezbollah’s Arms and the US Ultimatum: Lebanon Faces Critical Decisions

Natasha Metni Torbey, 30/06 20:10 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon USA Israel Hezbollah Thomas Barrack Iran

The question of Hezbollah’s weapons cannot be resolved solely within Lebanon. As an ideological, military and political extension of Iran, Hezbollah’s arsenal is intrinsically linked to broader regional dynamics, especially the power balance between Tehran and Washington. Experts agree that local initiatives will be ineffective unless ...

Tensions over Expat Vote Spark Heated Parliamentary Session

This is Beirut, 30/06 13:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Banks Lebanese Forces USA

Parliament’s legislative session on Monday morning opened under palpable tension, against the backdrop of deep divisions over proposed amendments to the electoral law, particularly concerning the voting rights of Lebanese expatriates. Shortly after the session began, MPs from the Lebanese Forces (LF), the Kataeb party and several members of ...

Trump Says 'Getting Along Well' With China

This is Beirut, 29/06 20:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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President Donald Trump on Sunday dismissed the importance of aggressive actions linked to Beijing including recent arrests of two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous pathogen into the United States, saying "that's the way the world works." Trump told Fox News that Washington behaves in a similar way. "You don't think we do that to ...

Rwanda, DR Congo Sign Peace Deal in US After Rebel Sweep

This is Beirut, 28/06 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace agreement Friday in Washington to end fighting that has killed thousands, with the two countries pledging to pull back support for guerrillas -- and President Donald Trump boasting of securing mineral wealth. "Today, the violence and destruction comes to an end, and the entire region ...

US Envoy Leaves Russia as Detente Faltering

This is Beirut, 27/06 12:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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The US ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, is departing Moscow, leaving Washington without a top envoy in the country as a rapprochement being pushed by US President Donald Trump falters. Moscow earlier this week accused Washington of not being "ready" to take steps to restore the normal functioning of their embassies, hobbled by years of ...

US and China Reach Understanding on Rare Earth Exports

This is Beirut, 27/06 08:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

USA China Trade Rare Earth

China confirmed on Friday details of a trade deal with the United States, saying Washington would lift "restrictive measures" while Beijing will "review and approve" items under export controls. "It is hoped that the United States and China will meet each other halfway," a spokesperson for the commerce ministry said ...

Khamenei Says Trump 'Exaggerated' Impact of US Strikes on Nuclear Sites

This is Beirut, 26/06 18:24 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump on Thursday of exaggerating the impact of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, in his first appearance since a ceasefire in the war with Israel took hold. In a televised speech, Khamenei hailed what he described as Iran's "victory" over Israel, vowed never to ...

Teachers’ Syndicate Condemns Arbitrary Practices, Demands Salary Increase

This is Beirut, 26/06 13:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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The Executive Council of the Teachers’ Syndicate on Thursday called on private schools to implement salary increases of at least 100% in urban areas and 80% in rural and remote areas. This demand was part of a broader set of concerns raised during a council meeting convened to address the growing number of violations against teachers in private ...

Barrack: US Will Back Israeli Withdrawal if Hezbollah Disarms

This is Beirut, 25/06 20:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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According to MTV, United States Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack informed Lebanese officials, during his visit to Beirut on June 19, that a government’s public commitment to disarming Hezbollah would significantly advance the issue of Israeli withdrawal from the five hills at the border. This effort, he asserted, would ...

US-Iran: What Is Next?

David Hale , 25/06 15:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Israel Iran United States USA Donald Trump

While most international media are focused on what will happen today or this week between America and Iran, the real story is much bigger—the complete turning of the tables on Iran. While the headlines focus on whether Trump's ceasefire will hold, too many commentators are losing sight of the fact that Iran is trying to surrender (without ...

Trump Insists Iran Nuclear Programme set Back 'Decades'

This is Beirut, 25/06 12:55 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Israel USA Iran Nuclear

President Donald Trump insisted Wednesday that US strikes led to the “total obliteration” of Iran's nuclear capabilities and set the country's atomic program back “decades”, while Israel said it was still early to fully assess the damage. Over a 12-day conflict, Israel pounded Iranian nuclear and military sites ...

Iran-Israel War: Latest Developments

This is Beirut, 25/06 11:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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Classified US intelligence suggests that American strikes on Iran set back its nuclear program by just a few months, contradicting President Donald Trump's claim of total destruction. Here are the latest developments as a truce between Iran and Israel appeared to be holding early Wednesday: 'Significant hit' The Israeli ...

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