This is Beirut

Putin says US Sanctions 'Serious' but won't Significantly Hit Economy

This is Beirut, 19:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the latest US sanctions targeting two major oil firms were "serious", but not strong enough to significantly affect the economy. The United States on Wednesday hit Russia's two biggest oil producers -- Rosneft and Lukoil -- with sanctions, the first against Russia since US President Donald ...

In Interview with Time, Trump Says Would Pull US Support if Israel Annexes West Bank

This is Beirut, 17:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Israel USA West Bank

President Donald Trump said Israel would lose its crucial backing from the United States if it annexes the West Bank, in a Time magazine interview published Thursday. Trump's comments, which Time said were made by telephone on October 15, were published as both Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned against any ...

US Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats in Pacific Amid Rising Tensions with Colombia

This is Beirut, 09:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA Gustavo Petro Colombia Drones Drugs

President Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, traded angry threats Wednesday as the United States announced strikes on two alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Pacific Ocean that left five people dead. Trump branded Petro a "thug" and suggested he was a drug trafficker leading his country to ruin, prompting the leftist ...

Trump Slaps ‘Tremendous’ Sanctions on Russian Oil for Ukraine War

This is Beirut, 22/10 23:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

European Union USA Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Europe

US President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies on Wednesday, complaining that his talks with Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war "don't go anywhere." The European Union also unveiled a fresh wave of sanctions to pressure Russia to end its relentless, three-and-a-half-year invasion of its ...

Gaza, Israel and Hezbollah with Matthew Levitt

Tylia El Helou, 22/10 22:00 - Reading : less than a minute

USA United States Gaza Lebanon Israel

On this week’s episode of This is America, we cover the Gaza ceasefire and the disarming of Hezbollah. We also feature an exclusive interview with Matthew Levitt, Fromer-Wexler Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute, who shares his insights on the situation in Gaza and the prospects for peace in the region.

This Week on This is America: Gaza, Israel and Hezbollah

Tylia El Helou, 22/10 19:00 - Reading : less than a minute

USA United States Gaza Israel Hamas Hezbollah

On this week’s episode of This is America, we cover the ceasefire in Gaza and the disarming of Hezbollah. We also feature an interview with Matthew Levitt, Fromer-Wexler Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute, to discuss the latest events in the region and the potential path to peace between Lebanon and Israel.

Hamas: A Beheaded Organization Still Standing

Paul Guillot, 22/10 18:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Palestine UN Security Council USA

Is the terrorist group Hamas still capable of inflicting damage on the state of Israel? An investigation by American outlet NBC suggests that it is. Despite being severely weakened after two years of open war, the Islamist movement is believed to still have around 20,000 fighters, hundreds of rockets – including some with long-range ...

U.S. Pushes Plan to Disarm Hamas and Rebuild Gaza

This is Beirut, 22/10 13:50 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

USA Hamas Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu JD Vance

US Vice President JD Vance warned Wednesday of the tough task ahead in disarming Hamas and building a peaceful future for Gaza, as Washington sought to reassure its ally Israel over the next steps in its ambitious ceasefire deal. Vance met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the second day of a trip to Israel, part of a diplomatic blitz in ...

From Protection to Precaution: Reassessing Pandemic-Era Chemicals

Michael al-Andary, 22/10 10:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

European Union USA corona cancer Covid-19 Ethanol ECHA WHO BPR

Some of the chemicals widely used for protection during the 2020 – 2021 coronavirus pandemic are now raising concerns among scientists, with new research suggesting they may have posed unexpected health risks. According to a recent report published by the Financial Times on Tuesday, the European Union (EU) is considering classifying ...

OpenAI Unveils Search Browser in Challenge to Google

This is Beirut, 21/10 22:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI on Tuesday announced an "Atlas" search browser, leveraging its artificial intelligence prowess in a direct challenge to Google Chrome. "This is an AI-powered web browser built around ChatGPT," OpenAI chief Sam Altman said in a streamed presentation. OpenAI has ramped up its challenge to Google, which has responded by rapidly ...

US Vice President Vance in Israel to Shore up Gaza Deal

This is Beirut, 21/10 14:34 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Israel USA Benjamin Netanyahu JD Vance Gaza

US Vice President JD Vance landed in Israel on Tuesday to shore up a fragile Gaza ceasefire deal, after President Donald Trump warned Hamas it would be wiped out if it breached the truce. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were already in Tel Aviv, where they met Israeli hostages released by Hamas ...

Russia Downplays Swift Meeting to Prepare for Trump-Putin Summit

This is Beirut, 21/10 11:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump Volodymyr Zelensky Kyiv Ukraine USA Vladimir Putin

Moscow on Tuesday doused hopes of a swift meeting of the Russian and US foreign ministers to prepare for a speedy summit between their leaders over the Ukraine war. Following a phone call last week, the Russian and US leaders Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump announced they would meet in Budapest for talks on resolving the war in Ukraine, which ...