USA

Pentagon: The U.S. Military Will Maintain Its Support for "Mass Expulsions"

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday the military will keep assisting President Donald Trump's "mass" migrant deportations, as he arrived for his first formal day of work at the Pentagon. Hegseth -- confirmed by Republicans despite concerns over his inexperience, and alleged record of heavy drinking and domestic violence -- is one of ...

Kremlin Awaiting 'Signals' from US on Possible Putin-Trump Meeting

The Kremlin said Monday it was still waiting for "signals" from the United States about a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and newly-inaugurated US counterpart Donald Trump. The leaders of both countries said last week they were ready for contact but neither side has indicated when or how. "So far, we have not received ...

Colombia Caves on Deportations after Trump Threats

Colombia on Sunday backed down and agreed to accept deported citizens sent on US military aircraft, hours after President Donald Trump threatened painful tariffs to punish the defiance to his mass deportation plans. Colombia's leftist president, Gustavo Petro, had earlier said he would only take back citizens "with dignity," such as on civilian ...

Kristi Noem Confirmed as Trump's Homeland Security Secretary

The US Senate on Saturday confirmed South Dakota governor Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a key agency in President Donald Trump's push to clamp down on illegal immigration. The vote came a day after US lawmakers narrowly confirmed former Fox News co-host Pete Hegseth to be Pentagon chief, adding to previous ...

Trump Threatens Aid Cutoff on US Disaster Zone Visits

US President Donald Trump visited disaster zones in North Carolina and California on Friday, using the first trip since his return to office to turn emergency aid into a political cudgel. Trump said he would sign an order that could scrap the federal disaster agency, stepping up his effort to exert presidential power over the levers of government ...

The Turkish Wolf Expands Its Regional Dominance

Power, capability and determination. These are the words that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan used on Friday, January 10, as he once again warned the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—a Kurdish-led coalition supported by the West—of military action if they did not hand over their weapons to the new regime in Damascus. Only a month earlier, ...

US Senate Confirms Pete Hegseth as Pentagon Chief

The US Senate narrowly confirmed former Fox News co-host Pete Hegseth as Pentagon chief on Friday, despite allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct and other fears about his ability to lead the world's most powerful military. Three Republican senators voted against Donald Trump's pick as secretary of defense, resulting in a 50-50 tie that ...

Egypt And Israel Exempt From a Near-Total Freeze On US Foreign Aid

The United States has frozen its foreign aid, with the exception of that provided to Egypt and Israel, as well as emergency food aid, while it carries out a complete review to see whether it is in line with the policy that Donald Trump intends to pursue. ‘No new funds will be committed (...) until every proposed new allocation or extension has ...

IMF chief tells Europe to take page out of US book

With the European economy lagging behind the United States, the head of the International Monetary Fund had a piece advice for the continent on Friday: "Believe in yourself." There was much handwringing about Europe losing its competitive edge at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, with the European Union racing to act to catch up with ...

Trump: POTUS Again

Join us on @thisisbeirutnews on Monday, January 20th, at 7:00 PM for a special coverage of @realdonaldtrump ’s second presidential inauguration! @suzyhaidamous  @achmouny

Eastern Patriarchs: The Challenge of Unity

The unity of Christians has never been more vital amid the evolving realities of the Middle East. The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” observed from January 18 to 25, offers a timely opportunity to reaffirm this essential mission. This annual tradition boasts a complex history. It originated from the 19th-century ecumenical movement aimed ...

Sundance Festival Opens With Olivia Colman Amid Wildfire Aftermath

The US film industry's first major gathering since wildfires devastated Los Angeles begins Thursday at Sundance, where Olivia Colman and John Lithgow will kick off the indie movie festival under somber circumstances. Hollywood's annual pilgrimage to the Rocky Mountains to debut the coming year's top indie films takes place two weeks after blazes ...