Washington

Republicans and Democrats Go to 'War' Over US Election Map

Donald Trump is pulling hard on the levers of power to strengthen Republicans through redistricting in Texas and other states -- the latest offensive in escalating moves by both sides to shape the battlefield of US democracy for the midterm elections. The president's efforts have lit a fuse in multiple states, triggering a high-stakes tussle over ...

Bolsonaro Backers Rally to Praise Trump for Brazil Pressure

Thousands of fervent supporters of Brazilian ex-president Jair Bolsonaro took to the streets Sunday, showing support for US President Donald Trump's pressure campaign against the trial of his right-wing ally. Bolsonaro is currently being tried in the capital Brasilia for plotting a coup after failing to win reelection in 2022 against leftist Luiz ...

Lebanese-American Appointed to Top Federal Judicial Post in Washington

The US Senate confirmed the appointment of Lebanese-American Jeanine Ferris Pirro as the federal Attorney General, the highest judicial position. The nomination, put forward by President Donald Trump in May 2025, was approved by a 50-to-45 vote after a direct appeal from the White House to Republican senators to expedite the process. Born in 1951 ...

Barrack and Ortagus Coordinate on Lebanon

All eyes are on the Lebanese Cabinet session scheduled for next Tuesday, which will address the issue of “disarming Hezbollah,” a phrase used by President Joseph Aoun in his speech on Thursday, Army Day’s eve. According to sources, Washington is awaiting the outcome of this session before determining its next steps toward Lebanon. US ...

Welcome Back!

As soon as press leaks emerged suggesting that the Lebanese file was being taken away from US envoy Tom Barrack and handed back to former envoy Morgan Ortagus, a certain optimism resurfaced among the Lebanese. This might be explained by the fact that Ortagus is seen as more than just a US envoy; she has indeed become some kind of celebrity in ...

Reuters: US Pressures Lebanon to Commit to Hezbollah Disarmament

The United States is ramping up pressure on Lebanon to issue a formal Cabinet decision mandating the disarmament of Hezbollah as a prerequisite for resuming negotiations aimed at halting Israeli military operations in Lebanon, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing informed sources. According to two Lebanese officials, two diplomats and a ...

U.S. Joins Israel in Withdrawing Negotiators from Gaza Talks

The United States joined Israel on Thursday in pulling its negotiators from Gaza ceasefire talks, with special envoy Steve Witkoff blaming Hamas for failing to reach a deal and saying Washington would "consider alternative options". France meanwhile announced it would formally recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in ...

Syrian Government Rejects Kurdish Armed Autonomy Ahead of Integration Talks

A Syrian government source said Thursday that it rejected allowing the Kurds — who control vast territories in the north and east of the country — to keep their weapons, as a new round of negotiations on their integration into the Syrian state was scheduled, according to state media. The Kurds are engaged in negotiations with central ...

Barrack: “America Will Not Abandon Lebanon”

US envoy Tom Barrack expressed optimism about Lebanon’s future on Tuesday, urging the Lebanese people to “have hope” amid ongoing tensions. Following a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain al-Tineh, Barrack described the talks as “excellent,” noting that both sides are working toward achieving long-term stability. “We ...

Tablecoin: When Human Intelligence Becomes a Currency

As technological advances accelerate, Washington has just passed two landmark pieces of legislation: the country’s first national framework for stablecoins and the ambitious Genius Act. The aim? To regulate digital assets while safeguarding human intellectual contribution in an increasingly automated world. What Is the Genius Act? Recently ...

Japan PM Hangs on After Election Debacle

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was clinging on Monday even after his coalition disastrously lost its upper house majority, as painful new US tariffs loom. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed almost continuously since 1955, and its partner Komeito had to win 50 seats in Sunday's election, but they fell three short, ...