Trump, Fed Chief Powell Bicker During Tense Central Bank Visit

This is Beirut 25/07 09:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Politics Fed

Donald Trump and US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell appeared together for a tense meeting Thursday as the president toured the central bank after ramping up his attacks on its management of the economy. Trump -- who wants to oust Powell for refusing to lower interest rates but likely lacks the legal authority to do so -- has threatened to ...

Syrian, Israeli Ministers Meet US Envoy in Paris: Senior Diplomat

This is Beirut 25/07 08:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam USA Damascus Tom Barrack

The US special envoy for Syria said he held talks with Syrian and Israeli officials in Paris on Thursday on de-escalating sectarian violence in Syria. "I met this evening with the Syrians and Israelis in Paris. Our goal was dialogue and de-escalation, and we accomplished precisely that," said the envoy, Tom Barrack, on X. "All parties reiterated ...

Washington "Strongly" Rejects France's Plan to Recognize a Palestinian State

This is Beirut 25/07 05:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam United States Palestine Gaza France

The United States "strongly" rejected on Thursday French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state, calling it a "reckless" decision that undermines peace. “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th,” declared U.S. Secretary of ...

Syrian, Israeli Ministers to Attend US-Brokered Meeting in Paris

This is Beirut 24/07 22:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Syria United States

Damascus's top diplomat Asaad al-Shaibani is set to meet an Israeli minister on Thursday in Paris to discuss recent sectarian violence in Syria's south that had drawn in Israel's military, a senior diplomat told AFP. The US-brokered talks would be the first ministerial meeting between the new Syrian authorities and Israel. The two ...

Macron Says France Will Recognise State of Palestine, Angering Israel

This is Beirut 24/07 22:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron United Nations Palestine France

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, the most powerful European nation to announce such a move. At least 142 countries now recognise or plan to recognise Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally -- though Israel and the United States ...

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

This is Beirut 24/07 21:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Palestine Hamas USA Washington

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

This is Beirut 24/07 21:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Washington

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 ...

Iran Reaffirms ‘Unshakable’ Right to Enrich Uranium Ahead of Key Talks with Europe

This is Beirut 24/07 20:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump European Union Tehran

Iran on Thursday reaffirmed its right to enrich uranium, saying it was "unshakable", on the eve of key talks with European powers threatening to reimpose nuclear sanctions. Friday's meeting, set to take place in Istanbul, will be the first since Israel's mid-June attack targeting key nuclear and military sites in the Islamic republic sparked a ...

At Least 12 Dead, Over 100 Injured in Explosions at Weapons Depot in Northwestern Syria

This is Beirut 24/07 20:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

A series of explosions killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 100 at a weapons depot in northwestern Syria on Thursday, a monitor said. "Multiple blasts at a weapons and ammunition warehouse belonging to the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 100 in Maaret Misrin, in northern Idlib province," ...

Two Palestinian Teenagers Killed by Israeli Army in the West Bank

This is Beirut 24/07 19:45 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam West Bank Palestine

The Palestinian Authority said Thursday that two Palestinian teenagers were killed by the Israeli army overnight near Bethlehem, in the southern occupied West Bank, while the army said it had killed “terrorists.” "The General Authority for Civil Affairs informed the Ministry of Health of the martyrdom of young Ahmad Ali Asaad Ashira al-Salah ...

Gaza: UN Unable to Verify Number of Aid Shipments Awaiting Distribution Due to Lack of Access

This is Beirut 24/07 17:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam United Nations Palestine Hamas United States

The United Nations said Thursday it does not know how many aid consignments are currently in Gaza awaiting distribution, as it has not been authorized by Israel to be present at the crossing points. The Israeli military denied on Wednesday that it was blocking humanitarian aid and claimed that 950 trucks were in Gaza waiting for international ...

Saudi Arabia Commits $6.4 Billion to Syria in Reconstruction Deals

This is Beirut 24/07 16:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Saudi Arabia Damascus United Nations

Saudi Arabia on Thursday signed major investment and partnership deals with Syria, valued at $6.4 billion, to help rebuild the war-ravaged country's infrastructure, telecommunications and other major sectors. Saudi Arabia has been a major backer of the new Syrian government, which seized power after an Islamist-led offensive toppled longtime ...