The Ordeal of Nigeria’s Christians
Mario Chartouni 03/11 19:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Nigeria christians Donald Trump
Donald Trump has renewed international attention on the tragedy facing Christians in Nigeria. In a fiery post published Sunday on Truth Social, the U.S. president threatened a “swift and brutal” military intervention if Abuja did not put an end to the massacres of Christians, accusing the Nigerian government of “failing to protect religious ...
The Filibuster: A Key Tool of Obstruction in America’s Political Crisis
Mario Chartouni 31/10 20:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Donald Trump Republicans Democrats United States US Congress
At the end of October, as the U.S. federal government entered its 30th day of shutdown, President Donald Trump made a forceful call to eliminate the filibuster, arguing that Republicans should be able to pass legislation without Democratic support. He claimed it was time to invoke the so-called “nuclear option” and revert to a simple majority ...
Ortagus in Lebanon: A Low-Profile Visit with a Clear Message
Mario Chartouni 30/10 13:11 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Ain el-Tineh Donald Trump Hezbollah Israel Joseph Aoun
In a region increasingly fraught with tension, U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus’s visit to Beirut unfolded as part of a diplomatic sequence in which Lebanon once again finds itself on the fault line between war and negotiation. High-Level Meetings Morgan Ortagus began her Lebanese tour on Wednesday with a meeting in Ain al-Tineh with Parliament ...
The CCMC: A New International Coordination Hub for Gaza
Mario Chartouni 28/10 15:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Hamas Israel Unites States Donald Trump Gaza
The Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), based in Kiryat Gat, Israel, has become the most visible symbol of international involvement in Gaza’s postwar phase. Inaugurated in mid-October 2025, it was established by the United States as part of Washington’s peace plan to oversee humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and compliance with the ...
Inside Gaza’s Technocratic Committee: What’s at Stake
Mario Chartouni 27/10 16:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Palestine Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Fatah Hamas
Following a meeting in Cairo on Friday, the main Palestinian factions, including Hamas, announced that they had agreed to entrust the administration of the Gaza Strip to a temporary Palestinian committee composed of independent technocrats. According to a statement posted on Hamas’s website, the committee will oversee day-to-day affairs and ...
Block 8: Lebanon’s Energy Strategy Faces a Credibility Test
Mario Chartouni 24/10 14:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Europe Israel United Kingdom USA
On Thursday at the Baabda Presidential Palace, Lebanon’s Council of Ministers took two decisive steps in the country’s energy policy by approving the oil exploration agreement for Block 8 and ratifying the maritime border with Cyprus. These decisions reflect the government’s determination to revive a strategic sector long stalled by ...
Why Did Trump Pick Hungary for His Next Summit with Putin?
Mario Chartouni 22/10 09:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Donald Trump Volodymyr Zelensky European Union International Criminal Court Hungary Vladimir Putin
In a move that surprised European capitals and drew sharp criticism from Kyiv, Donald Trump confirmed that his next summit with Vladimir Putin will be held in Budapest, hosted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Far from being a neutral choice, this decision reflects a political alignment among three nationalist leaders and highlights ...
Direct vs. Indirect Negotiations: Lebanon’s Diplomatic Playbook Reexamined
Mario Chartouni 21/10 14:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Donald Trump Ceasefire Hezbollah Israel Joseph Aoun
In the wake of the Gaza ceasefire brokered on October 13 by Donald Trump, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun issued a statement that raised more than a few eyebrows, and possibilities. “The Lebanese state has already negotiated with Israel under American and UN mediation, resulting in the maritime border agreement… So why not adopt the same ...
Could US Tomahawk Missiles Shift the Balance in Ukraine?
Mario Chartouni 17/10 15:50 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Ukraine USA Gulf Kyiv UN Security Council
As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, the prospect of US Tomahawk missiles reaching Kyiv raises both hope and caution. For some, these iconic precision weapons could give the Ukrainian military a strategic edge against a fatigued Russia. For others, they are chiefly a political signal aimed at shaping future negotiations. Could these ...
Between Moscow and Washington, India Charts Its Energy Course
Mario Chartouni 16/10 16:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Washington Donald Trump European Union Europe G7
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had committed to “cease purchasing Russian oil” within a “short timeframe,” while imposing 50% tariffs on Indian exports to the United States, with additional penalties for transactions involving Moscow. However, New Delhi stressed that its “top ...
Extradition Treaties and the Assad Case
Mario Chartouni 15/10 14:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Syria Russia Ahmad al-Sharaa Vladimir Putin Bachar el-Assad extradition
This Wednesday, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is visiting Moscow to meet Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. According to Reuters, he may request the extradition of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been taking refuge in Russia since fleeing Damascus in December 2024. Behind this politically charged episode lies a longstanding and ...
Sharm al-Sheikh: A Statement to Turn the Page on War
Mario Chartouni 14/10 15:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Donald Trump Hamas Israel Middle East Gaza Sharm al-Sheikh
The international summit held on Monday in Sharm al-Sheikh, Egypt, marked a diplomatic turning point regarding the Gaza conflict. This was not just a simple agreement between Israel and Hamas. It was a solemn declaration co-signed by the mediator countries, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, along with the United States. The document, presented as the ...
Burning Issues in the Syrian Visit to Beirut
Mario Chartouni 10/10 16:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
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Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani is visiting Beirut this Friday for his first official trip since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Long postponed, the visit marks a symbolic step toward restoring ties between Lebanon and Syria after a decade of mistrust. It follows a series of technical missions by Syrian officials exploring ...
Two Years After October 7, Israel Still Awaits Its Official Truth
Mario Chartouni 07/10 12:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Two years on from Hamas’s deadly attack on southern Israel, the country is still waiting for an official account of the events. Although the Israeli army and security services have acknowledged a “total failure,” no State Commission—the most powerful investigative body under Israeli law—has yet been convened. This absence has fueled ...
What Are These Drones Hovering Over Europe?
Mario Chartouni 03/10 17:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
European Union Ukraine Russia Drones Denmark Norway Poland
Munich Airport suspended operations for several hours on Friday after reports of unidentified drones. Seventeen flights were canceled, about 15 were diverted, and nearly 3,000 passengers were affected. Authorities could not determine the size or type of the drones, but the incident disrupted one of Europe’s busiest hubs and reignited concerns ...
Moscow Talks: Syria and Russia Confront Sensitive Issues
Mario Chartouni 02/10 16:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Damascus European Union Gulf Israel Turkey
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will visit Moscow on October 15 to attend the Russia-Arab League summit, according to al-Hadath. This marks the first high-level meeting between Syria’s new leadership in Damascus and the Kremlin. The visit comes as several sensitive issues remain unresolved, including the future of Russian military bases in ...
US Faces Annual Budget Deadline as Another Government Shutdown Looms
Mario Chartouni 29/09 17:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Every year, as September draws to a close, Washington is confronted with a critical deadline: passing the federal budget for the next fiscal year. When the White House and Congress fail to reach an agreement, the dreaded “government shutdown” can occur. Now a familiar term in American politics, a shutdown refers to the partial closure of ...
Beyond Hamas: Gaza’s Emerging Tribal Militias
Mario Chartouni 23/09 19:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Hamas Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu Fatah Clan
In a landscape ravaged by nearly two years of war between Israel and Hamas, local figures are stepping in to fill the void left by the weakening of the Palestinian movement in Gaza. In Kizan al-Najjar, a depopulated village south of Khan Younes in the southern enclave, Hossam al-Astal, a former Palestinian Authority officer, has announced the ...
Ankara, Another Tehran?
Mario Chartouni 16/09 19:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Tehran Damascus Hamas Israel Middle East
The Middle East is going through a major realignment. Iran, long at the center of regional tensions, is losing influence after years of proxy wars and direct confrontations with Israel. This decline does not mean the situation is easing. On the contrary, it creates a strategic opening that another player – Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Turkey – ...
Hamas: A Shattered Sham
Mario Chartouni 15/09 15:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Hamas Gulf Israel Palestine Tehran
Israel’s strike on Hamas leadership in Qatar on Tuesday marked a sharp turning point. For the first time, Israel targeted the political heart of the Islamist movement outside its traditional battlegrounds. In Doha, where Hamas believed it had secured a safe and comfortable refuge, missiles served as a stark reminder that even gilded hotels and ...
Israel’s Doha Strike on Hamas Reshapes Diplomacy
Mario Chartouni 10/09 15:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Hamas Israel Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Qatar Doha
Israel carried out on Tuesday a large-scale airstrike in the Qatari capital, Doha, targeting senior Hamas officials. The attack killed six people and immediately sparked international reactions, including a rare public criticism from US President Donald Trump of his ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A Symbolic Target Initial ...
Where Is Hezbollah’s Arsenal Still Hidden?
Mario Chartouni 09/09 18:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Hezbollah Lebanese Army Baalbeck Internal Security Forces Israel
Since the November 2024 ceasefire and Hezbollah’s crushing military defeat by Israel, the question of the pro-Iranian group’s arsenal has once again moved to the forefront in Lebanon. Caught between international pressure, internal fragility and a government determined to reassert control over weapons, Hezbollah appears weakened. Yet its ...
At the UN, the Snapback Reshuffles the Iranian File
Mario Chartouni 08/09 19:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
UN Security Council Europe Iran nuclear snapback
At the end of August, the United Kingdom, France and Germany (the E3) officially triggered the snapback mechanism outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which governs the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA). This unprecedented procedure in the multilateral system stipulates that all previous UN ...
Lebanon and Syria: A New Diplomatic Era
Mario Chartouni 27/08 15:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Banks Damascus Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Army
A Syrian delegation is expected in Beirut later this month to address outstanding issues between the two countries. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and the election of Ahmad al-Sharaa as Syria’s president, a new dynamic has emerged. For Lebanon, this represents both an opportunity to build a more balanced relationship with ...
US-Brokered Israel-Syria Security Deal Possible in September?
Mario Chartouni 26/08 17:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Israel USA Benjamin Netanyahu Damascus Donald Trump Syria
The Trump administration is working to secure a preliminary security agreement between Tel Aviv and Damascus ahead of the UN General Assembly in September, according to Israel National News. A source close to the talks said there is “a real possibility of reaching security arrangements” by then. Ongoing Talks and Key Players Syria’s ...
Burj al-Barajneh Disarmed… What’s Next?
Mario Chartouni 22/08 20:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
UN Security Council Fatah Hamas Hezbollah Israel
On Thursday, August 21, the long-delayed disarmament of Lebanon’s Palestinian camps finally began. This milestone marks the first tangible step stemming from agreements reached last May between President Joseph Aoun and his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas. After decades of stalled efforts, the move immediately raises a pressing question: ...
Palestinian Camps: How Many Divisions?
Mario Chartouni 21/08 20:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Fatah Hamas Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Army
The Palestinian Authority is beginning a new phase of weapons handover in Lebanon’s Palestinian camps. The operation, ordered by President Mahmoud Abbas, is overseen by the new Palestinian Ambassador to Beirut, Mohammad al-Assaad, and supervised by Fatah. Palestinian sources cited by Voix du Liban say the handover began Thursday at 3 PM in Burj ...
The War in Ukraine: Where Things Stand Today
Mario Chartouni 19/08 17:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Europe Kyiv Russia
More than three years after Russia’s invasion, two recent meetings between US President Donald Trump and his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, have opened the door to the first serious attempt at a settlement. Washington is pushing to revive diplomacy while Moscow continues to hold nearly one-fifth of ...
Lebanon’s Sovereignty Tested at the Syrian Border
Mario Chartouni 18/08 17:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Israel Syria Lebanon Borders Demarcation
Since mid-August, a viral social media video has shown a man claiming to represent “Syrian tribes” issuing a stark warning to Lebanon: “We will invade Lebanon within 48 hours if Syrian detainees are not released,” referring to Syrians held at Roumieh prison. The threat follows the death of a Syrian inmate on August 14, which sparked ...
When Roads Become Death Traps
Mario Chartouni 14/08 19:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
During a visit to Beirut’s municipal police on Thursday, Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar stressed that road safety is a collective responsibility of all relevant authorities—not just law enforcement—and urged stronger coordination to improve traffic in the capital and across Lebanon. Just days earlier, on August 6, the National Road Safety ...