United States

US Sanctions UN Rights Expert for Palestinian Territories

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday announced Washington was sanctioning the United Nations special expert on the Palestinian territories, following her criticism of Washington policy on Gaza. "Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts ...

Yemen's Houthis Claim Deadly Red Sea Attack on Merchant Ship

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility Wednesday for the deadly sinking of a merchant vessel earlier this week, their second attack in 24 hours as they resumed their campaign against Red Sea shipping. The Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, was badly damaged in the attack that started on Monday and continued into Tuesday, ...

US Urges Lebanon to Intensify Efforts Against Hezbollah

The United States is calling on the Lebanese government to intensify efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities and those of other non-state actors, a US State Department spokesperson revealed in a statement on Wednesday, following US envoy Tom Barrack’s mission in Beirut. “We need the Lebanese state to do more to fully remove ...

FBI Opens Criminal Probe into Former FBI, CIA Directors

The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into its former director James Comey and ex-CIA chief John Brennan, two prominent critics of President Donald Trump, US media reported. Fox News Digital said the probe involved "potential wrongdoing" related to the investigation into claims of Russian interference in the 2016 election won by Trump and ...

EU Aims to Reach Trade Deal with US in 'Coming Days'

The European Union wants to strike a deal with the United States "in the coming days" to avoid sweeping tariffs, a spokesman said Wednesday. If the EU does not clinch an agreement with the United States, higher tariffs will return and risk unleashing a bitter trade war. US President Donald Trump's sweeping levies were due to snap back into force ...

Netanyahu Meets Trump Again as U.S. Pushes for Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the White House on Tuesday evening for a second meeting in 24 hours with U.S. President Donald Trump, amid growing American pressure to finalize a ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas. The unannounced Oval Office meeting, which lasted over an hour and included Vice President J.D. ...

Barrack Warns: Time to Choose Change or Be Left Behind

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack reiterated on Tuesday that the disarmament of Hezbollah and other factions remains a sovereign Lebanese matter, emphasizing that while Washington is committed to supporting the country, it will not wait indefinitely for Lebanon to make the right decisions. Speaking in an interview with LBCI, Barrack reminded that the United ...

Lebanon Submits Demands as Barrack Warns Against Proxy Conflict

US presidential envoy Thomas Barrack is expected to brief President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Lebanon’s proposed roadmap for a comprehensive resolution to its internal crisis, submitted to him by President Joseph Aoun. According to sources familiar with the visit, Barrack found that the core conclusions of the Lebanese ...

Trump Says 'No Extensions' to Aug 1 Tariff Deadline

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would not extend an August 1 deadline for higher US tariffs to take effect on dozens of economies, a day after he appeared to signal flexibility on the date. While Trump imposed a sweeping 10 percent tariff on goods from almost all trading partners in April, higher rates customized to dozens of ...

Iran Says It Has Not Requested US Talks Since War

Iran said Tuesday it has not made any request for talks with the United States, after President Donald Trump said Tehran was seeking negotiations following last month's war with Israel. "No request for a meeting has been made on our side to the American side," said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, according to Tasnim news ...

Trump Hosts Netanyahu in Push for Gaza Deal

US President Donald Trump hosted Benjamin Netanyahu for dinner at the White House on Monday as he pressed the Israeli prime minister to end the devastating Gaza war. Netanyahu's third visit since Trump's return to power comes at a crucial time, with the US president hoping to capitalize on the momentum from a recent truce between Israel ...