USA

Iranians Sceptical About Talks Under Trump

Many Iranians were sceptical on Saturday about the possibility of the Islamic republic opening negotiations with the United States under Donald Trump, given the fractured history he has with Tehran. On Thursday, The New York Times reported that tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk had met Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in a bid to ...

Caramel, Candy, and Chocolate: The Spectacle of Barbarism

Once again, I find myself watching on television, weary and disheartened, as the rubble of a home targeted by an Israeli strike lies collapsed over its occupants. This time, the scene is in Ain Yaacoub (Akkar) — a modest two-story house, typical of rural areas, its construction unfinished, with parts still bare cement due to a lack of funds. ...

A Shift Toward Hawkish US Foreign Policy and Its Impact on the Middle East

As President-elect Donald Trump approaches his second term, there's an increasing focus on the potential impacts of his foreign policy choices, especially following the appointments of key loyalists to his administration. With a cabinet emphasizing a penchant for disruption, Trump's strategy appears set to shift from traditional political norms. ...

Live Studio Update: Recapping Our Journey in South Lebanon Under Fire

Join us as our reporters Chelsea Al Arif and Lyne Sammouri, along with colleague Fady Chaanine, share insights from their recent trip to South Lebanon amidst the raging conflict. Starting in Saida and making their way to Tyre, which they describe as a "ghost city," they provide firsthand accounts of the challenging situation on the ground. Don’t ...

Hamas Official Says ‘Ready’ for Gaza Ceasefire, Urges Trump to ‘Pressure’ Israel

A senior Hamas official said Friday that the group is "ready for a ceasefire" in Gaza and urged US President-elect Donald Trump to pressure Israel to end the war. "Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire proposal is presented and on the condition that it is respected" by Israel, Hamas political bureau member Bassem ...

US Submits Proposal to Lebanon Amid Ceasefire Efforts

The United States submitted a written proposal to Lebanon as part of ongoing efforts to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, two senior Lebanese political sources told Reuters. According to the above mentionend media, US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday to deliver the draft, aimed ...

Xi, Biden Attend Asia-Pacific Summit, Prepare to Meet

US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will attend the first day of an Asia-Pacific leaders' summit Friday ahead of a face-to-face meeting under a cloud of diplomatic uncertainty cast by Donald Trump's election victory. Biden and Xi are due to hold talks Saturday, in what a US administration official said will probably be the ...

Musk Met Iran UN Ambassador on Defusing Tension Under Trump

Elon Musk, the tech billionaire closely allied with US President-elect Donald Trump, met Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in a bid to defuse tensions between Tehran and Washington, The New York Times reported Thursday. The newspaper quoted anonymous Iranian sources as describing the meeting between the world's richest person and Ambassador ...

Glaser: Qard al-Hassan Is Funded by Illicit and Illegitimate Activities Led by Terrorist Regimes

In an exclusive interview with This is Beirut, former Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing at the US Department of the Treasury, Daniel Glaser, explains how Hezbollah plays a role in Lebanon's economy beyond Qard al-Hassan, particularly concerning illicit activities or alternative financing. He also discusses how the US and international ...

Trump's Economic Policies and Lebanon's Dollar Crisis

While the dollar’s value is primarily shaped by US domestic factors, its fluctuations continue to ripple through the global economy. A 2023 International Monetary Fund (IMF) study found that the negative impact of a strong dollar tends to last around two and a half years in emerging markets, compared to just one year in developed economies. The ...

Trump’s Peace Plan for Ukraine Sparks Capitulation Fears

Newly elected United States President Donald Trump is pushing for a peace plan to resolve the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. He has repeatedly pledged that one of his first actions as president would be to end the war, claiming that had he won the 2020 election, the conflict would never have erupted, and asserting that he could bring it to a close ...

Mainstream Media Distorted Events in Amsterdam

In the wake of riots involving Israeli football fans in Amsterdam, Western media outlets have faced intense scrutiny for allegedly misrepresenting the events. According to eyewitnesses, including local journalist accounts, Israeli fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv caused significant disruptions, engaging in hooligan behavior and chanting anti-Arab slogans. ...