United States

Biden Says 'On The Brink' of Achieving Gaza Deal

A ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Hamas and Israel is "on the brink" of being finalized, US President Joe Biden said Monday, as negotiations in the Middle East continue. "In the war between Israel and Hamas, we're on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruition," Biden said in a farewell ...

Death Toll From Los Angeles Fires Rises, with Dangerous Winds Incoming

Firefighters were battling massive wildfires Monday that have ravaged Los Angeles and killed at least 24 people, with officials warning of incoming dangerous winds that could whip up the blazes further. The fires ripped through the United States' second-largest city for the seventh day, reducing whole communities to scorched rubble and ...

The Appointment of the Prime Minister: Beware of the Tripwire

The challenging journey has officially begun. At the starting line, President Joseph Aoun has clearly outlined the key directions. In his inaugural address to the National Assembly, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, the head of state presented a roadmap that breaks with conventional approaches and entrenched clichés. “My aim is ...

US Special prosecutor Jack Smith ends his investigation into Trump

Jack Smith, the special counsel appointed to investigate Donald Trump for his alleged effort to overturn results of the 2020 election, has left the US Department of Justice, prosecutors said Saturday in a court filing. "The Special Counsel completed his work and submitted his final confidential report on January 7, 2025, and separated from the ...

President Aoun Invited to Riyadh by Saudi Crown Prince

The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, called on Saturday President Joseph Aoun to congratulate him on becoming president and invited him to visit Saudi Arabia. Along with Qatar, Egypt, France and the United States, Saudi Arabia played an important role in resolving the presidential deadlock. Lebanon had been without a president since ...

Supreme Court Looks Poised to Uphold TikTok Ban

The US Supreme Court appeared likely on Friday to uphold a law that would force TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to sell the wildly popular online video-sharing platform or shut it down. A majority of the conservative and liberal justices on the nine-member bench appeared skeptical of arguments by a lawyer for TikTok that forcing a sale was a ...

US and UK Unveil Widespread Sanctions Against Russia's Energy Sector

The United States and Britain on Friday announced sanctions against Russia's energy sector, including oil giant Gazprom Neft, just days before outgoing President Joe Biden leaves office. The US Treasury Department said it was designating more than 180 ships and Russian oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, fulfilling "the G7 ...

US Judge Spares Trump Jail, Fine for Hush Money Conviction

A judge sentenced Donald Trump to an unconditional discharge Friday for covering up hush money payments to a porn star despite the US president-elect's last-ditch efforts to avoid becoming the first felon in the White House. New York judge Juan Merchan handed down no jail time or fine, but the discharge upholds the jury's guilty verdict ...

'Wicked' Leads SAG Nominations, Angelina Jolie Snubbed

The highly anticipated film adaptation of Wicked soared to the top of the nominations for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, earning five nods, including for "Outstanding Performance by a Cast," the evening's most coveted prize. This recognition places the Broadway adaptation firmly in the race for major accolades, including the Oscars. The ...

Deadly Wildfires in Los Angeles: Ten Dead and Thousands Evacuated

Massive wildfires that engulfed whole neighborhoods and displaced thousands in Los Angeles have killed at least 10 people, authorities said, as California's National Guard soldiers readied to hit the streets to help quell disorder. News of the growing toll, announced late Thursday by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, came as swaths of the ...

Qatar in Talks to Fund Syria Public Wage Hikes

Qatar is weighing a plan to provide Syria's new rulers with funds to increase public sector salaries, a diplomatic source said Thursday, as the interim government in Damascus seeks to rebuild state institutions. "Discussions are taking place, but an agreement is yet to be concluded," the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity because ...

Hady Habib Makes History as the First Lebanese Competitor at the Australian Open

Hady Habib has become the first Lebanese tennis player to qualify for the Grand Slam tournament after winning the final round at the Australian Open qualifiers on Thursday. For Habib, this achievement transcends personal success—it is a tribute to his homeland. “It means the world to me. Representing Lebanon—a country and people I love so ...