This is Beirut

Sinner on the March as Swiatek, Tearful Gauff Toil at US Open

This is Beirut, 29/08 14:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Reigning men's champion Jannik Sinner charged into the third round of the US Open on Thursday as Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek battled to keep their title bids intact. Sinner swatted Australia's Alexei Popyrin aside 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to stretch his Grand Slam winning streak on hard courts to 23 matches. The Italian top seed has made a convincing start ...

US Approves $825 mn Missile Sale to Ukraine

This is Beirut, 29/08 10:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ukraine USA Donald Trump US Congress Washington

The United States on Thursday announced the approval of an $825 million sale of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) air-launched missiles and related equipment to Ukraine. Kyiv will make the purchase with funding from Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway and a loan guarantee from the United States, the US Defense Security Cooperation ...

US Ends Tariff Exemption for Small Packages Shipped Globally

This is Beirut, 29/08 09:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump customs Tariff Mail

The United States on Friday ended tariff exemptions on small packages entering the country from abroad, in a move that has sparked concern among small businesses and warnings of consumer price hikes. President Donald Trump's administration cited the use of low-value shipments to evade tariffs and smuggle drugs in ending duty-free treatment for ...

Washington Steps up Pressure on Hezbollah

This is Beirut, 28/08 23:35 - Reading : less than a minute

Hezbollah Republicans USA

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has toughened his stance against Lebanon's Hezbollah, calling for decisive measures to "put an end to its existence" and raising the possibility of military force as an alternative solution. “The time has come to finish with Hezbollah,” he declared, emphasizing that the group “is trained by Iran and completely ...

White House Fires US Health Agency Head After she Refused to Quit

This is Beirut, 28/08 09:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

USA White House Health Vaccines CDC Susan Monarez

The Trump administration confirmed Wednesday it had fired the head of the top US public health agency after she refused to step down during a standoff with vaccine skeptic Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The escalating dispute over Kennedy's sweeping overhaul of US vaccine policy also led to five other senior officials at the Centers for ...

China Says Will Not Participate in Denuclearisation Talks with US, Russia

This is Beirut, 27/08 13:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump United States Washington White House

China said Wednesday that it would not participate in denuclearisation talks with the United States and Russia, after President Donald Trump said he hoped to include Beijing in negotiations. Trump on Monday said the United States was trying to pursue denuclearisation with both countries. "I think the denuclearisation is a very -- it's a ...

Denmark Summons US Charge D'affaires Over Greenland 'Interference' Attempts

This is Beirut, 27/08 11:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump United States White House

Denmark summoned the US charge d'affaires for talks Wednesday after reports of attempted interference in Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory which US President Donald Trump wants to control. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has repeatedly said America needs the strategically located, resource-rich island for security ...

US Tariffs on Indian Goods Double to 50% Over Russian Oil Purchases

This is Beirut, 27/08 09:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Europe India Tariff

US tariffs of 50 percent took effect Wednesday on many Indian products, doubling an existing duty as President Donald Trump sought to punish New Delhi for buying Russian oil. Trump has raised pressure on India over the energy transactions, a key source of revenue for Moscow's war in Ukraine, as part of a campaign to end the conflict. The latest ...

Women’s Equality Day: How Culture Reflects and Drives the Fight for Women’s Rights

Bélinda Ibrahim, 26/08 19:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Women's Equality Day USA Culture Fight August 26

August 26 is not an ordinary day in the United States. It is Women’s Equality Day, a moment to remember the victory of women’s suffrage and to reflect on the progress that remains to be made. Established in 1973, this date commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, a milestone that secured the right to vote for women. A ...

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 ...

Mediator Qatar says 'Still Waiting' for Israeli Response to Gaza Truce Proposal

This is Beirut, 26/08 14:51 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Palestine USA

Gaza mediator Qatar said Tuesday that it was "still waiting" for Israel's response to a proposal for a truce and hostage release deal in the Palestinian territory after Hamas agreed to the framework more than a week ago. Qatar and Egypt, along with the United States, have been mediating indirect ceasefire negotiations throughout the ...

Final Attempt to Mend Rift Before Cabinet Session

Philippe Abi-Akl, 26/08 09:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

UN Security Council United Nations USA Ain el-Tineh Hezbollah Joseph Aoun

In one week, the Cabinet is scheduled to meet — unless delayed — to review an army plan implementing the government’s decision to confine all weapons to state control. The coming days promise significant developments: it includes US Senator Lindsey Graham’s visit to Beirut with envoys Morgan Ortagus and Thomas Barrack, an anticipated ...

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