This is Beirut - Washington

Iran’s Nuclear Defiance: Diplomacy on Hold, Escalation on Standby

Salam El Zaatari, 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran Washington Israel United States Donald Trump

By every measure that counts, Iran is once again daring the West to call its bluff. Less than three months after US and Israeli airstrikes tore into its nuclear facilities, Tehran has chosen defiance over accountability—expelling inspectors, hiding its enriched uranium stockpile and openly daring the international community to stop it. Europe ...

Hezbollah’s Weapons: A Leaky Umbrella

Marc Saikali, 08:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hezbollah Israel Tehran United States Washington Lebanon

On Friday, the Council of Ministers is, in principle and unless the session is postponed, scheduled to examine the army's plan to disarm Hezbollah. The key question is: Will there be a timeline or not? Without one, Hezbollah would gain time and save face while waiting to see how negotiations between Iran and the United States unfold. For everyone ...

Antitrust Cases Against US Tech Giants

This is Beirut, 03/09 09:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Washington Google Amazon Meta

Launched under both the Trump and Biden administrations, five major antitrust cases from the Federal Trade Commission and the US Department of Justice are proceeding against major American technology companies. These cases represent a significant shift in antitrust enforcement in the United States, with regulators taking a more aggressive ...

Trump Vows to End Crime in 'Most Dangerous City' Chicago

This is Beirut, 02/09 15:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA Washington

US President Donald Trump vowed Tuesday to quickly resolve what he called "the crime problem" in Chicago, hinting at sending troops into what he branded the "most dangerous city in the world." "I will solve the crime problem fast, just like I did in DC," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, referring to his deployment of National Guard ...

Putin tells Xi China-Russia Ties are at 'Unprecedented Level'

This is Beirut, 02/09 10:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Ukraine Vladimir Putin Washington China

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Tuesday that their countries' ties were at an "unprecedented level", during talks in Beijing ahead of a massive military parade. Wednesday's showcase of China's might has been seized by world leaders as an opportunity to hold rare face-to-face talks, ...

Banque du Liban Bans Inflow of Funds Linked to Sanctioned Entities

This is Beirut, 02/09 09:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Banque du Liban Washington OFAC Sanctions

On Tuesday, the Banque du Liban (BDL) issued Circular No. 170, banning the direct or indirect entry of funds linked to Lebanese organizations subject to international sanctions, especially those imposed by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The central bank cautioned that permitting such financial flows could endanger the ties ...

US Approves $825 mn Missile Sale to Ukraine

This is Beirut, 29/08 10:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ukraine USA Donald Trump US Congress Washington

The United States on Thursday announced the approval of an $825 million sale of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) air-launched missiles and related equipment to Ukraine. Kyiv will make the purchase with funding from Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway and a loan guarantee from the United States, the US Defense Security Cooperation ...

China Says Will Not Participate in Denuclearisation Talks with US, Russia

This is Beirut, 27/08 13:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump United States Washington White House

China said Wednesday that it would not participate in denuclearisation talks with the United States and Russia, after President Donald Trump said he hoped to include Beijing in negotiations. Trump on Monday said the United States was trying to pursue denuclearisation with both countries. "I think the denuclearisation is a very -- it's a ...

Xi says China, Russia Ties 'Most Stable' in Turbulent World

This is Beirut, 26/08 09:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Ukraine Vladimir Putin Washington Russia Xi Jinping

President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China's ties with Russia are the "most stable, mature and strategically significant" among major world powers, state media reported. During a meeting with Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of Russia's Duma, or lower house of parliament, Xi hailed the countries' relationship as being a "stable source of world ...

Trump Tightens Grip on Security in US Capital

This is Beirut, 25/08 21:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Washington Donald Trump

President Donald Trump on Monday announced new measures that tightened his grip on security in Washington, a day after National Guard troops began carrying weapons in the US capital. Trump ordered the deployment of the National Guard, who now number more than 2,200 -- earlier this month as part of what he has billed as a crackdown on allegedly ...

Washington Makes Military Aid Overtures to Sahel Juntas

This is Beirut, 25/08 09:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Washington Donald Trump USA Ukraine United States

Under President Donald Trump the United States has reset relations with West Africa's military leaders on a mutual back-scratching basis, bartering help fighting jihadists for the Sahel region's mining riches, experts say. While Joe Biden was in office the US suspended most of the development and military aid it sent to Burkina Faso, Mali and ...

Barrack and Ortagus Expected in Lebanon with Senator Lindsey Graham

This is Beirut, 24/08 16:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Washington lebanon

US special envoys Tom Barrack and Morgan Ortagus are set to arrive to Beirut on Monday, accompanied by Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, according to Israeli media – i24 and the Jerusalem Post. The visit carries significant weight: “Graham serves as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, giving the trip both political and economic ...

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