This is Beirut - United States

Following US Withdrawal, WHO Faces 20% Budget Cut

This is Beirut, 19:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

World Health Organization United States Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

In response to the US decision to withdraw its support, the World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed a 20% budget reduction, necessitating cuts to its missions and staff, according to an internal email from its director accessed by AFP on Saturday. WHO is confronting a projected shortfall of nearly $600 million by 2025 and has "no other ...

US Embassy in Syria Warns of Increased Risk of Attacks

This is Beirut, 17:33 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United States Syria US State Department

The US embassy in Syria has warned its citizens of an "increased possibility" of attacks during the upcoming holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "The US Department of State cautions US citizens of the increased possibility of attacks during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which could target embassies, ...

Security Breach: JD Vance Promises No US Official Will Be Fired

This is Beirut, 28/03 22:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Houthi United States Signal JD Vance

No US official will be sacked after the spectacular security breach on a Signal messaging loop, where a journalist was mistakenly added while senior US officials were discussing upcoming strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, Vice President JD Vance assured on Friday. “If you think you can force the President of the United States to fire anyone, ...

Yemen Rebels Report Multiple US Air Strikes

This is Beirut, 28/03 22:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Houthi United States Yemen

Iran-backed Huthi rebels reported dozens of air strikes in Yemen on Friday they blamed on the United States, including in the capital, Sanaa, saying several people were wounded. The rebels' Al-Masirah TV channel reported "American aggression" south of Sanaa, as well as in Saada and Jawf provinces in the north, which had been targeted earlier in ...

Trump Says Iran Faces 'Bad Things' if No Nuclear Deal is Reached

This is Beirut, 28/03 21:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Tehran United States Nuclear

Donald Trump said Friday that Iran faces severe consequences if it fails to reach a nuclear deal, after Tehran responded to a letter from the US president calling for talks. "I sent them a letter just recently, and I said, You have to make a decision, one way or the other, and we either have to talk and talk it out or very bad things are going to ...

Vance Lands in Greenland as Anger Mounts Over Trump Takeover Bid

This is Beirut, 28/03 19:30 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States Greenland JD Vance

US Vice President JD Vance landed in Greenland on Friday for a visit to a military base viewed by Copenhagen and Nuuk as a provocation at a time when President Donald Trump is seeking to annex the strategically placed, resource-rich Danish territory. Trump argues the United States needs the vast Arctic island for national and international ...

United States Targets Hezbollah's Sanctions Evasion Network

This is Beirut, 28/03 19:03 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hezbollah United States sanctions

The United States’ Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Friday the designation of a Lebanon-based sanctions evasion network that supports Hezbollah's financial operations. This network, managed by Hezbollah’s finance team, is said to oversee commercial projects and oil smuggling operations that generate significant revenue for ...

Trump, Canada PM Ease Tensions With 'Productive' Call

This is Beirut, 28/03 18:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States Canada Mark Carney

US President Donald Trump said he had an "extremely productive" first call Friday with Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney after recent tensions over tariffs and Trump's repeated calls to annex his northern neighbor. Trump added that the two had agreed to meet soon after Canada's April 28 general election, in which Carney – who took office ...

US Judge Orders Trump Admin To Save ‘Signalgate’ Chat

This is Beirut, 28/03 05:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Justice Security Huthis

A US judge ordered Donald Trump's administration on Thursday to preserve messages from a chat group used by top national security officials to discuss plans for an attack on Yemen's Huthi rebels. The ruling adds to the pressure on the White House after the Atlantic magazine revealed that its editor had been accidentally added to the group ...

From El Salvador mega-jail, Trump's homeland security chief tells migrants 'do not come'

This is Beirut, 27/03 05:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States El Salvador Venezuela Immigration Justice

US President Donald Trump's homeland security chief on Wednesday visited the mega-prison in El Salvador where hundreds of Venezuelan migrants have been deported under contested legal grounds. Standing in front of a cell of inmates who were stripped to the waist, revealing their tattooed torsos, Kristi Noem recorded a message telling others ...

Appeals Court Rejects Trump Bid to Lift Order Barring Deportations

This is Beirut, 27/03 03:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Immigration Justice Donald Trump

A US appeals court on Wednesday denied a bid by the Trump administration to lift a lower court order barring summary deportations of Venezuelan migrants using an obscure wartime law. A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to temporarily keep in place the ban on deportations carried out under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act ...

Trump Announces 25% Tariffs on Foreign-Built Vehicles

This is Beirut, 26/03 23:43 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States

US President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on auto imports Wednesday, in a move set to fuel tensions with trading partners ahead of further promised levies next week. "What we're going to be doing is a 25 percent tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States. If they're made in the United States, there is ...

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