This is Beirut - United States

Mikati Denies Having Been Informed of Israel's Refusal to Withdraw From South Lebanon

This is Beirut, 11:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel South Lebanon United States Washington

The press office of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati denied media reports that “Lebanon has been officially informed by intermediaries that Israel will not withdraw from South Lebanon after the sixty-day truce period has expired.” In a statement issued on Friday, Mikati said he had communicated “his firm position to all parties ...

Tribute to Mohammad Chatah on the 11th Anniversary of His Assassination

This is Beirut, 11:30 - Reading : less than a minute

United States

On the 11th anniversary of Mohammad Chatah's assassination, several political figures paid tribute to him. Mohammad Chatah, a leading figure in the Cedar Revolution, was killed in a car bomb attack in downtown Beirut on December 27, 2013. He was an ambassador to the United States, Minister of Finance and senior advisor to former Prime Minister ...

Russia Sentences US Man to 15 Years in Prison for 'Espionage'

This is Beirut, 24/12 13:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Russia spy

A Russian court on Tuesday sentenced a US man to 15 years in a penal colony for "espionage", Russian news agencies reported. Russia has detained and sentenced a number of US citizens and dual-nationals in recent years, some of whom have been freed in prisoner exchanges. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was convicted of espionage in ...

US Strikes Houthi Targets in Yemen's Capital

This is Beirut, 21/12 23:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Yemen United States United Kingdom US CENTCOM

The United States said it conducted strikes on Houthi targets in the rebel-held capital Sanaa on Saturday, including what it said was a missile storage center and a "command-and-control facility." During the operation, American forces also shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea, the US Central Command ...

Fade Out: Biden Disappears Into Background

This is Beirut, 21/12 19:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Joe Biden

In the twilight of his political career, Joe Biden is disappearing into the background even before Donald Trump returns to the White House, despite growing turmoil at home and abroad. The 82-year-old US president's silence on a looming government shutdown over Christmas is just the latest example of how critics say the aging leader is in office ...

US Drops Reward for Arrest of Syria's New Leader

This is Beirut, 20/12 22:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus United States Syria Jolani HTS

A senior US diplomat told Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday that Washington was scrapping a reward for his arrest and welcomed "positive messages" from their talks, including a promise to fight terrorism. Barbara Leaf, Washington's top diplomat for the Middle East, made the comments after her meeting with Sharaa in Damascus, the first ...

New U.S. Sanctions on Iranian Oil

This is Beirut, 20/12 15:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States Iran sanctions oil

The United States has intensified sanctions against a growing number of oil tankers and companies accused of being involved in the trade of Iranian oil, Bloomberg reported,. Nine ships and eight companies have been added to the sanctions list, according to a government statement released on Thursday. Among the vessels targeted is the MS Enola, ...

US diplomats visit Syria to meet new rulers

This is Beirut, 20/12 10:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Antony Blinken Barbara Leaf Damascus Donald Trump United States

US diplomats have arrived in Syria to speak directly to the new rulers, hoping to encourage a moderate, inclusive path and to find clues on missing Americans, the State Department said Friday. It is the first formal US diplomatic mission to Damascus since the early days of the brutal civil war that broke out in 2011 and culminated in a surprise ...

US Senators Introduce Law to Assist Lebanon

This is Beirut, 19/12 20:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanese Army United States US Senate

US Senators introduced on Wednesday the ‘Preventing the Undermining of Lebanon’s Sovereignty and Economy (PULSE) Act’ that authorizes strong US assistance to the Lebanese people, its army and its economy, according to a press statement by the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee. The PULSE Act was introduced by Senators ...

New Zealander Lawson Replaces Perez at Red Bull

This is Beirut, 19/12 18:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Formula One United States

New Zealander Liam Lawson will race for Red Bull alongside world champion Max Verstappen next season after the decision to drop Sergio Perez, the Formula One team confirmed Thursday. Lawson, 22, who joined the Red Bull Junior Programme five years ago, steps in after just 11 grand prix over two seasons for the team. The announcement comes a day ...

Putin’s Open Invitation: “Ready to Meet Trump Anytime”

This is Beirut, 19/12 13:25 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Ukraine United States Vladimir Putin Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the fall of ex-Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was not a "defeat" for Russia, claiming Moscow had achieved its goals in the country. Assad fled to Moscow earlier this month after a shock rebel advance ended half a century of rule by the Assad family, marked by repression and allegations of vast ...

Third Kidney Xenotransplant: A Hopeful Yet Monitored Step

This is Beirut, 18/12 19:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Health United States

Towana Looney, a 53-year-old American, became the third living person to receive an experimental genetically modified pig kidney transplant. The procedure, performed in late November at NYU Langone Hospital in New York, marks an important step in xenotransplantation aimed at addressing the chronic shortage of human organ donors. Ms. Looney, who ...