Middle East

Russia Asks Israel to Refrain from Striking Near Base in Syria

This is Beirut 2024-11-13 09:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Damascus United States Vladimir Putin

Russia has asked Israel to refrain from conducting airstrikes near its airbase in Syria during Israel's conflict with Hezbollah, as it did in October, a senior Russian official said on Wednesday. Syrian state media reported in mid-October that Israel carried out an airstrike on the port city of Latakia, a stronghold of Syrian President Bashar ...

Trump names Elon Musk in his government, chooses a pro-Israeli as special envoy to the Middle East

This is Beirut 2024-11-13 09:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump United States Mike Huckabee Mike Waltz

Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the world's richest man, Elon Musk, will lead a new US "government efficiency" group tasked with cutting federal waste, as the Republican president-elect added a series of seasoned figures and hard-liners to his incoming administration. Musk became a key ally to Trump during his campaign, reportedly spending ...

UN Nuclear Chief to Visit Iran for Talks on Nuclear Program

This is Beirut 2024-11-13 09:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Hezbollah United Nations IAEA Nuclear

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi is set to visit Tehran on Wednesday for crucial talks on Iran's nuclear program, warning just ahead of his trip that room for manoeuvre is narrowing. His visit comes only two days after the defense minister of Iran's nemesis Israel warned the Islamic republic was "more exposed than ever to ...

The Palestinian Cause Cannot Be Undermined

Rami Rayess 2024-11-13 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Donald Trump Middle East West Bank Gaza

The world is closely watching the gradual steps that US President-elect Donald Trump intends to take, when he returns to the White House after a four-year absence. Among these steps are his anticipated policies regarding the burning issues worldwide and specifically in the Middle East — namely, the Gaza and Lebanon wars, which have claimed ...

US Contractor Ordered to Pay $42 Million to Iraqis Tortured at Abu Ghraib

This is Beirut 2024-11-12 20:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States USA

A federal jury on Tuesday ordered a US defense contractor to pay $42 million in damages to three Iraqi men who were tortured at Abu Ghraib prison, their lawyers said. CACI Premier Technology Inc was found liable at the conclusion of a long-running trial for its role in the torture of the three men at the notorious prison in 2003 and 2004, the ...

Iran Announces Building 'Defensive' Tunnel in Tehran

This is Beirut 2024-11-12 20:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Iran

Iran is building what it calls its first "defensive" tunnel within the capital Tehran's metro network, state media reported on Tuesday, but without elaborating on what the defense measures are. "For the first time in the country, a tunnel with defensive functionalities is being built in Tehran," Jafar Tashakori, who heads the city council ...

Israel Opens Gaza Aid Crossing, Humanitarian Groups Say It's Insufficient

This is Beirut 2024-11-12 20:13 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Palestine USA Gaza crossing

Israel announced the opening of an additional aid crossing into Gaza Tuesday, on the eve of a US deadline to boost relief deliveries, but aid agencies said it was not enough. Gaza has been in the grips of a dire humanitarian crisis since the outbreak of war following Hamas's unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. The ...

Netanyahu Addresses Iranian People, Threatens Khamenei Regime

This is Beirut 2024-11-12 20:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Benjamin Netanyahu Iran

In an English language video directed at the Iranian people, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that a third Iranian attack on Israel "would simply cripple Iran's economy." “It would rob you of many more billions of dollars,” he said, after claiming that the ballistic missile attack directed at Israel in October cost Tehran ...

Blinken in Emergency Brussels Trip on Ukraine After Trump Win

This is Beirut 2024-11-12 19:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Antony Blinken Donald Trump Ukraine United States Russia

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed Tuesday on an emergency trip to Brussels to discuss how to support Ukraine with European allies in the race before Donald Trump takes the White House. The top US diplomat under outgoing President Joe Biden will meet Wednesday "with his NATO and European Union counterparts to discuss support for Ukraine ...

IAEA Chief Warns That Flexibility With Iran Is 'Shrinking'

This is Beirut 2024-11-12 16:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

IAEA Rafael Grossi Iran Nuclear Program Iran

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog warned on Tuesday that “the margins for manoeuvre are beginning to shrink” on Iran's nuclear program ahead of an important trip to Tehran. “The Iranian administration must understand that the international situation is becoming increasingly tense and that the margins to manoeuvre are beginning ...

Bitcoin to Surge to $200,000, Trump to Make US Crypto Hub

Maurice Matta 2024-11-12 14:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Banks Donald Trump Republicans United States Bitcoin Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency investors are buoyed by Donald Trump’s re-election and Republican control of the US Senate, given his support for digital assets. Many expect that the sector would benefit from a more favorable regulatory environment under a second Trump term. During the Bitcoin 202 conference, Trump pledged that, if he were to return to the White ...

Iran, Russia Link Bank Card Systems in Latest Move to Overcome Sanctions

This is Beirut 2024-11-12 13:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Banks Russia Iran sanctions

Iranian bank cards can now be used in Russia, state television reported, as the two countries linked their banking systems in the latest bid to counteract sanctions. Iranian banks have been excluded since 2018 from the SWIFT international financial messaging service, which governs the vast majority of transactions worldwide. The move is part of ...