USA

The Golden Pager and the Irony of Espionage in the Middle East

History is often written in treaties. Sometimes, it’s forged in war. And sometimes, apparently, it’s written in golden pagers. Yes, you read that correctly. In a moment that blended Middle Eastern geopolitics with the aesthetics of a 1990s tech museum, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gifted US President Donald Trump a golden pager, ...

US Priorities in Lebanon: From Government Reforms to UN Resolution 1701

The American delegation visiting Lebanon on Thursday carries several important messages, particularly regarding Morgan Ortagus, who has succeeded Amos Hochstein. Ortagus has been given the responsibility of managing Lebanon's portfolio, which includes critical issues such as government formation, policy programs, Israeli withdrawal, the release of ...

Kremlin Calls Zelensky Comment on Direct Talks with Putin 'Empty Words'

The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that he was ready for direct talks with Russian counterpart Vladmir Putin to end fighting as "empty words". "So far this cannot be seen as anything but empty words," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, after Zelensky said in an interview that he ...

Trump says to reinstate 'maximum pressure' on Iran, Tehran promises “failure”

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was planning to reinstate what he called the "maximum pressure" policy against Iran over allegations that it is trying to develop nuclear weapons. However, Trump also said he hoped the policy will "hardly have to be used." Trump made the comment as he signed a memorandum reimposing the tough policy of ...

Iran's Khamenei names Hezbollah leader as Lebanon 'representative'

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has named Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem as his "representative" in Lebanon, Iranian media reported Wednesday. "The leader of the revolution, in a decree, introduced Sheikh Naim Qassem, secretary general of Hezbollah, as his representative in Lebanon," Tasnim news agency said. Tasnim carried a copy of ...

Trump Wants to Jail American Citizens in Salvador

President Donald Trump on Tuesday backed an offer by El Salvador to take in prisoners -- including US citizens -- despite clear legal problems with such an outsourcing under American law. "If we had the legal right to do it, I would do it in a heartbeat," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "It's no different than our prison system, except ...

Khalil: Approval of the 2025 Budget by Decree Is Necessary

The Caretaker Minister of Finance, Youssef Khalil, stated that “the approval of the 2025 budget draft by decree, after adhering to the deadlines set by law, has now become a necessity. According to him, “this remains financially safer than not approving it and resorting to expenditures based on the provisional twelfth rule.” Khalil noted ...

Where Things Stand in China-US Trade Tensions

China has made good on its threats to retaliate in the escalating trade war with the United States, imposing tariffs on American imports of energy, cars and machinery parts. That came just minutes after a 10 percent tariff hike on Chinese goods, announced by US President Donald Trump on Saturday, came into effect. Here's the state of play in the ...

Musk Takes Reins of US Treasury Payments, Sparking Lawsuit

Elon Musk and his aides have taken control of the US Treasury Department's payments system, triggering a lawsuit charging he is illegally getting access to private data of millions of Americans. Musk, the world's richest person, is leading President Donald Trump's federal cost-cutting efforts under the so-called Department of Government ...

The Vatican Calls for a Unified Easter Date

During the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, observed from January 18 to 25, Pope Francis voiced his support for unifying the date of Easter. "The Catholic Church is willing to accept the date that everyone agrees on: a date of unity," he stated. Catholics and Orthodox Christians traditionally celebrate Easter on different dates due to ...

How China Allegedly Contributes to the Deadly Fentanyl Crisis

US President Donald Trump has slapped new tariffs on Chinese goods, partly in response to Beijing's alleged role in a deadly opioid epidemic in the United States. Washington has long accused Beijing of turning a blind eye to the deadly fentanyl trade, which US authorities estimate caused tens of thousands of deaths a year. China denies ...