Municipal Race 2025: Jbeil at a Crossroads
Élie-Joe Kamel 04/05 17:37 - Reading : less than a minute
Lebanon Jbeil Municipal Elections
High turnout in Jbeil as rivals clash in a pivotal municipal race. Youth take the forefront, frustration simmers in the background.
Jounieh Heads to the Polls: Municipal Elections Begin After Three Delays
Élie-Joe Kamel 04/05 16:20 - Reading : less than a minute
Following three consecutive delays due to the economic crisis and security concerns, voters in Jounieh are finally heading to the polls this Sunday to elect their municipal councils and mukhtars.
Mount Lebanon Votes: High Voter Turnout and Political Rivalries
Élie-Joe Kamel 04/05 14:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces Kataeb Mount Lebanon Municipal Elections
In the Mount Lebanon Mohafaza, municipal elections kicked off on Sunday morning with a relatively high voter turnout reported by early afternoon, according to data released by the Ministry of Interior. Out of 833,715 registered voters, 162,271 cast their ballots, with turnout rates recorded at 34.08% in Keserwan, 23.64% in Aley, 32.26% in Jbeil, ...
Jbeil: A Pivotal Electoral Battle
Élie-Joe Kamel 02/05 10:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces Jbeil municipal elections
The upcoming municipal elections in Jbeil are set to be crucial, with significant implications for both the city and the surrounding region. Jbeil, also known as Byblos, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and a UNESCO World Heritage site, plays a strategic role as Lebanon’s cultural, tourism, and economic hub. Its ...
Jounieh: An Electoral Battle That Reshapes National Alliances
Élie-Joe Kamel 01/05 12:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces Hezbollah municipal elections Lebanon Jounieh
Jounieh’s upcoming municipal elections, scheduled for May 4, are shaping up to be a decisive political showdown. A broad coalition has formed to challenge the outgoing municipal council, which is closely aligned with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM). The stakes are high in Jounieh, once hailed as the “pearl of the Mediterranean” and one of ...
Armenians of Lebanon: Preserving Heritage and Culture Amid Challenges
Élie-Joe Kamel 24/04 10:15 - Reading : less than a minute
Every April, the Armenians of Lebanon commemorate the genocide during which approximately 1.5 million of their ancestors perished. Today, amid the crises facing the country, the community strives to preserve its identity and pass on its rich cultural heritage.
Mission Ortagus 2: Disarming Hezbollah and Addressing Border Tensions
Élie-Joe Kamel 03/04 19:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Hezbollah Donald Trump Morgan Ortagus Israel Lebanon
Morgan Ortagus, the US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, is scheduled to arrive in Beirut tomorrow, Friday, as part of a renewed effort to resolve the ongoing conflict between Lebanon and Israel and to revive negotiations over border disputes. Until yesterday, the Lebanese government had not been informed of Ortagus’s visit. However, ...
Rush for Gold: Lebanese Seeking Security
Élie-Joe Kamel 02/04 19:45 - Reading : less than a minute
In Lebanon, economic uncertainty is driving Lebanese citizens to turn to gold, the ultimate safe haven, with prices surpassing $3,000 per ounce.
Bassam Challita: A Musical Journey Between the East and Andalusia
Élie-Joe Kamel 30/03 15:30 - Reading : less than a minute
Tuberculosis: Transmission, Symptoms, Treatment...
Élie-Joe Kamel 24/03 16:10 - Reading : less than a minute
Middle East Tuberculosis Infection Virus
How is tuberculosis transmitted? What are its symptoms and possible treatments? Why is it spreading in the Middle East? On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, and to answer these questions, This is Beirut offers an interview with Jacques Choucair, head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Hôtel-Dieu de France in Beirut.
UNIFIL Celebrates 47th Anniversary Amid Fragile Ceasefire in Southern Lebanon
Paul Guillot 20/03 17:10 - Reading : less than a minute
Ceasefire Hezbollah South Lebanon United Nations UNIFIL
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) marked on Wednesday the 47th anniversary of its establishment, amidst a fragile truce in southern Lebanon. Since its inception in 1978, UNIFIL's mandate has included overseeing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the South and aiding the Lebanese government in restoring its authority in the ...
Armistice, Normalization, Peace: What Are the Differences?
Élie-Joe Kamel 15/03 12:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
United Nations Hamas Hezbollah Israel lebanon
Whenever an agreement—whether purely technical or otherwise—between Lebanon and Israel is discussed, confusion arises, often followed by accusations and excessive speculation. Many Lebanese tend to mix up and confuse the terms "armistice," "normalization," and "peace." This makes it necessary to clarify the differences between these three ...
Relative Calm in Tripoli Despite Unrest in Syria
Rayan Chami 12/03 13:45 - Reading : less than a minute
Jabal Mohsen Bab al-Tabbaneh Tripoli Syria
In Tripoli’s Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh, a fragile calm persists despite escalating violence in Syria since last Thursday. Once divided by sectarian conflict, these neighborhoods remain on edge as tensions rise across the border.
Washington Suspends Iranian Electricity Imports to Iraq: What Are the Consequences?
Élie-Joe Kamel 10/03 22:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Washington Donald Trump Banks Hamas Hezbollah
A significant blow to Iran came on March 8, when the United States decided not to renew the waiver that allowed Iraq to import electricity from Iran, despite sanctions imposed on Tehran. Since 2018, Baghdad had benefited from this exemption, which covered nearly a third of its energy needs, despite the country’s considerable oil potential, which ...
Paule Hage: 25 Years of Dedication to Teaching
Yara Germany 09/03 09:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Teachers’ Day Education Students teaching
On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, This is Beirut invites you to meet one of the most passionate educators. For 25 years, Paule Hage has been dedicated to much more than just imparting knowledge — she has made her profession a mission of the heart.
Highlights from the Cairo Summit on Gaza
Élie-Joe Kamel 05/03 16:50 - Reading : less than a minute
Palestine Gaza Cairo Arab summit
Arab leaders endorsed a plan on Tuesday to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority.
Partition of Syria, the 'David Corridor'… What’s Really at Stake?
Élie-Joe Kamel 04/03 17:10 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Benjamin Netanyahu Banks Damascus Gulf Hezbollah
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Israel has ramped up its operations in Syria, seemingly seeking to assert itself as the dominant player against Turkey, which is trying to fill the vacuum left by Iran’s retreat. It has carried out strikes on military positions of the former regime and pro-Iranian militias, expanded its presence in ...
Ash Monday: A Moment of Sharing and Spiritual Renewal
Élie-Joe Kamel 03/03 12:30 - Reading : less than a minute
Ash Monday was celebrated in Lebanon, marking the beginning of Lent for Christians.
Ukraine Has Lost Almost Half Its Population Since 1991
Élie-Joe Kamel 24/02 18:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky United Nations Russia Demography
The demographic crisis that Ukraine has been suffering from for decades has worsened over the past three years. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991 and the country’s independence a year later, Ukraine had approximately 52 million inhabitants. Today, the Ukrainian population is estimated at nearly 35 million, according to the United Nations ...
Who Is Morgan Ortagus, Trump's Envoy Expected in Beirut on Thursday?
Élie-Joe Kamel 04/02 14:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Morgan Ortagus Lebanon Donald Trump Israël Ceasefire
On January 3, 2025, US President Donald Trump appointed Morgan Ortagus as Deputy Special Envoy for Peace in the Middle East. Ortagus, who served as spokesperson for the US State Department during Trump’s first term (2017-2021), will be part of the team headed by Steve Witkoff, a close friend and trusted confidant of Trump. Morgan Ortagus, ...
Explaining the Diplomatic Roller-Coaster in Damascus
Élie-Joe Kamel 31/01 22:10 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
European Union Gulf Israel Syria Turkey Kurds
The diplomatic roller-coaster in Syria’s capital since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime suggests that a strategic shift is underway. This is all the more significant as the Prince of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, made an official visit to Damascus on Thursday, where he was received by the interim Syrian president, Ahmad ...
Previously Clandestine Literature Displayed in Damascus Bookstores
Élie-Joe Kamel 28/01 16:40 - Reading : less than a minute
Damascus Assad Literature Syrian opposition
Booksellers in Damascus can finally breathe after decades of intellectual terrorism under the Assad regime. Books on Syrian prisons, works by Salafists and banned political essays are now freely available for sale. With AFP
What Is Left of Hezbollah's Arsenal?
Élie-Joe Kamel 25/01 10:15 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Hezbollah Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Fatah Gulf
With only two days remaining until the 60-day ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel expires, two questions arise: What is left of the arsenal of the pro-Iranian group, which was supposed to be dismantled during this period? And does Hezbollah still have the capacity to carry out operations against the Israeli Army? What is indisputable is that ...
An Optimistic Vibe in Beirut
Yara Germany 16/01 11:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Beirut Prime minister President Optimism
Following the election of a president and the appointment of a prime minister, This is Beirut takes you through the streets of the capital to hear what the Lebanese have to say about these recent developments.
What Are the Lebanese Expecting From the Presidential Election on the Eve of Election Day?
Élie-Joe Kamel 08/01 22:35 - Reading : less than a minute
This is Beirut asked Lebanese citizens from different areas about their expectations for tomorrow's presidential election on the eve of this critical event.
What About the Ceasefire?
Élie-Joe Kamel 08/01 16:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Ceasefire Amos Hochstein Lebanese Army UN Security Council Hezbollah
The future of the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel remains uncertain. Despite a flurry of diplomatic negotiations and recent statements by US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein calling for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, progress toward lasting calm remains minimal. Both sides continue to accuse each other of repeated ...
Relatives of Detained and Missing Syrians Hold Damascus Sit-in
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-12-27 22:09 - Reading : less than a minute
Damascus Protest Detaindees Syria
Syrians holding up portraits of their missing relatives staged a sit-in outside Hijaz station in Damascus on Friday. They demanded accountability for those responsible for disappearances and torture in Syria.
Lebanon of Tomorrow: A Breathtaking Christmas Recital by Christiane Najjar
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-12-18 11:00 - Reading : less than a minute
For the fourth consecutive year, the NGO Lebanon of Tomorrow organized its renowned Christmas recital on Tuesday, performed by artist Christiane Najjar at the Notre-Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse church in Ashrafieh.
Missing Persons and Enforced Disappearances: Ziad Achour Stresses the Need for Coordination
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-12-13 20:27 - Reading : less than a minute
The Vice-President of the National Commission for the Missing and Disappeared, Ziad Achour, said he had ‘taken the initiative of sending a letter to the caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, calling on him to form an emergency government committee comprising the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Ministries of the Interior, Foreign ...
The Missing and Detained in Syria: Between Confusion and Inaccurate Estimates
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-12-10 19:50 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
An independent emergency committee has been established by the national commission for missing and forcibly disappeared persons to investigate the fate of these individuals. The number of people reported missing during the Lebanese Civil War was previously estimated at 17,415. Additionally, between 200 and 700 Lebanese were believed to have been ...