This is Beirut - United States

From Nasser to Khamenei: The End of Resistance Politics in the Middle East

Pierre Nahas, 10/07 11:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

For decades, the Palestinian cause served as both a rallying banner and a political tool, used by leaders from Cairo to Tehran not always to uplift Palestinians, but to build empires. Radicalism on the Palestinian issue was once a measure of legitimacy for Middle Eastern leaders. Now, something is shifting. With Arab states striking deals with ...

Trump Pushes Japan to Import More American Rice, a Major Political Challenge for Tokyo

This is Beirut, 10/07 10:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States Japan Rice

Donald Trump’s demand that Japan, described as “spoiled”, buy more American rice is creating additional pressure for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is already facing a tough election that could bring his time in office to an end after less than a year. Japan is one of more than 20 countries receiving letters this week from the US ...

Brazil, Trump up the Ante in Row Over Bolsonaro Coup Trial

This is Beirut, 10/07 05:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States Brazil

Brazil and the United States escalated their row Wednesday over President Donald Trump's support for coup-accused ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro, with the American president slapping a 50 percent tariff on one of its main steel suppliers. Leftist Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva threatened to reciprocate. Trump has strongly ...

US Sanctions UN Rights Expert for Palestinian Territories

This is Beirut, 09/07 22:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Sanctions Marco Rubio United Nations Francesca Albanese

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday announced Washington was sanctioning the United Nations special expert on the Palestinian territories, following her criticism of Washington policy on Gaza. "Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts ...

Yemen's Houthis Claim Deadly Red Sea Attack on Merchant Ship

This is Beirut, 09/07 22:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility Wednesday for the deadly sinking of a merchant vessel earlier this week, their second attack in 24 hours as they resumed their campaign against Red Sea shipping. The Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, was badly damaged in the attack that started on Monday and continued into Tuesday, ...

US Urges Lebanon to Intensify Efforts Against Hezbollah

This is Beirut, 09/07 19:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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The United States is calling on the Lebanese government to intensify efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities and those of other non-state actors, a US State Department spokesperson revealed in a statement on Wednesday, following US envoy Tom Barrack’s mission in Beirut. “We need the Lebanese state to do more to fully remove ...

FBI Opens Criminal Probe into Former FBI, CIA Directors

This is Beirut, 09/07 19:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into its former director James Comey and ex-CIA chief John Brennan, two prominent critics of President Donald Trump, US media reported. Fox News Digital said the probe involved "potential wrongdoing" related to the investigation into claims of Russian interference in the 2016 election won by Trump and ...

EU Aims to Reach Trade Deal with US in 'Coming Days'

This is Beirut, 09/07 14:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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The European Union wants to strike a deal with the United States "in the coming days" to avoid sweeping tariffs, a spokesman said Wednesday. If the EU does not clinch an agreement with the United States, higher tariffs will return and risk unleashing a bitter trade war. US President Donald Trump's sweeping levies were due to snap back into force ...

Netanyahu Meets Trump Again as U.S. Pushes for Gaza Ceasefire Deal

This is Beirut, 09/07 07:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Israel United States

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the White House on Tuesday evening for a second meeting in 24 hours with U.S. President Donald Trump, amid growing American pressure to finalize a ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas. The unannounced Oval Office meeting, which lasted over an hour and included Vice President J.D. ...

Barrack Warns: Time to Choose Change or Be Left Behind

This is Beirut, 08/07 22:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Hezbollah United States USA Washington lebanon Israel Tom Barrack

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack reiterated on Tuesday that the disarmament of Hezbollah and other factions remains a sovereign Lebanese matter, emphasizing that while Washington is committed to supporting the country, it will not wait indefinitely for Lebanon to make the right decisions. Speaking in an interview with LBCI, Barrack reminded that the United ...

Lebanon Submits Demands as Barrack Warns Against Proxy Conflict

Bassam Abou Zeid, 08/07 21:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon United States Hezbollah Tom Barrack Donald Trump Israël

US presidential envoy Thomas Barrack is expected to brief President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Lebanon’s proposed roadmap for a comprehensive resolution to its internal crisis, submitted to him by President Joseph Aoun. According to sources familiar with the visit, Barrack found that the core conclusions of the Lebanese ...

Trump Says 'No Extensions' to Aug 1 Tariff Deadline

This is Beirut, 08/07 20:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United States Donald Trump Tariffs

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would not extend an August 1 deadline for higher US tariffs to take effect on dozens of economies, a day after he appeared to signal flexibility on the date. While Trump imposed a sweeping 10 percent tariff on goods from almost all trading partners in April, higher rates customized to dozens of ...

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