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Lebanon Seeks to Distance State from Hezbollah After Cyprus Drone Incident

                                                         File photo: Youssef Ragg Lebanon has urged Cypriot authorities and the public not to conflate the Lebanese state with Hezbollah following a drone strike that originated from Lebanese territory and hit Cyprus six days earlier. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi emphasized that the attack was carried out independently by Hezbollah and does not reflect the policies, values, or intentions of the Lebanese government.  Raggi stressed that Lebanon rejects any attempt to use its territory for external agendas and reiterated that Hezbollah’s actions fall outside the state’s legal authority. He called on Cyprus to distinguish between the official Lebanese government and groups operating autonomously, noting that Lebanon has consistently affirmed its sovereignty ...
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Trump and Xi Edge Closer on TikTok Deal, Set for South Korea Summit

                                            Chinese leader Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have signaled progress on a long-debated TikTok agreement, with both leaders confirming plans to meet face-to-face in South Korea at the end of October.

The announcement followed a two-hour phone call in which the two leaders discussed trade, the flow of fentanyl, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump told reporters that Xi had “approved the TikTok deal,” though key details — including ownership structure and control of the app’s algorithm — remain unresolved.

The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, marking their first in-person encounter since Trump’s return to the White House. Trump also confirmed he would travel to China early next year, with Xi expected to visit the United States at a later date.

While Washington emphasized momentum toward a resolution, Beijing’s statement was more cautious, stressing that China “respects the wishes of the company in question” and calling for fair treatment of its firms. Analysts suggest both sides are balancing optics with substance, with the U.S. seeking a headline victory and China preferring to keep negotiations open-ended.

TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain, as Congress has mandated a divestment of its Chinese ownership by January 2025 or face a nationwide ban. The South Korea summit could prove pivotal in determining whether the app survives under a new ownership structure acceptable to both governments.


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