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 ...
Assad's Fall: Syrian Refugees in Beirut Speak Out
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-12-08 15:30 - Reading : less than a minute
Syrian refugees living in Beirut expressed cautious optimism after the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. https://x.com/ThisIsBeirut_/status/1865784663039463697 With AFP
August 4 : Sit-in of Victims' Families Stigmatizing Government Decision
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-12-04 19:50 - Reading : less than a minute
The families of the victims of the August 4 explosion observed their monthly sit-in on Wednesday. They criticized item 26, which was supposed to be on the agenda of the Council of Ministers, but was eventually withdrawn.This item concerned the reinstatement of Hani-el-Hajj, a former member of the Supreme Customs Council, one of the defendants in ...
Independence Day Celebrated in Schools
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-11-22 10:00 - Reading : less than a minute
The Lebanese flag was raised, the national anthem was sung in all the sections, and there were artistic and educational workshops... A spectacular 81st Independence Day was celebrated at the Collège Sainte-Famille in Jounieh despite everything.
Halt of Illegal Sand Extraction Work Off the Coast of Chekka
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-11-13 20:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Sand extraction Environment Chekka
Illegal sand extraction operations on the beach of El Heri, located on the coast of the city of Chekka (North Lebanon), were halted after days of mobilization and negotiations, confirmed Pierre Abi Chahine, president of the Environmental Protection Committee in Chekka, on Wednesday evening to This is Beirut, following a visit to the site. The ...
In-Person Classes and Hosting Displaced People: The Challenges Facing Public Schools
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-11-11 17:35 - Reading : less than a minute
The school year began on Monday at Jal al-Dib State School. Caretaker Minister of Education Abbas Halabi set the start date for the public school year as November 4. While some schools have already opened, others have delayed the start of classes to readjust their layouts.
Baalbeck Sites Endangered by Israeli Strikes: An Update from Governor Bachir Khodr
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-10-31 20:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Baalbeck israel heritage Roman Temple
Following repeated evacuation orders directed at the residents of Baalbeck by Avichay Adraee, the Arabic-speaking spokesperson of the Israeli army, the Lebanese are anxious, fearing the potential destruction of the historic city. They are deeply concerned about the tragic fate of tens of thousands of people ordered to evacuate their towns and ...
Mass Exodus, Traffic Congestion, Negligence... a Challenge for Waste Collectors
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-10-28 16:25 - Reading : less than a minute
Lebanon is facing numerous challenges since the escalation of the war. Mass exodus, intensified traffic congestion, and increased waste — so many challenges for waste collectors.
War Displaced Persons: The CMA CGM Foundation Launches a Large-Scale Operation
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-10-16 10:00 - Reading : less than a minute
The CMA CGM Foundation launched an operation to support people displaced by war. The operation has 3 components: hot meals, food parcels and blankets, as well as support for international organizations and the Lebanese Red Cross.
Private Schools: An Increasingly Difficult Return to School
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-09-19 16:39 - Reading : less than a minute
This school year, new security challenges are being added to the economic and financial crisis that has been ongoing since 2019. This Is Beirut takes you to the Sacred Heart College – Gemmayzeh to see how the start of the school year is going.
Back-to-School Preparations: Behind the Scenes at a Bookstore
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-09-05 20:00 - Reading : less than a minute
As the new school year approaches, parents and their children flock to bookstores to purchase their necessary supplies. This year, they face the challenge of rising prices, compounded by increased school fees. Despite the ongoing crisis, some bookstores are adopting innovative marketing strategies to draw in more customers. However, not all ...
Baalbeck Festival: A Memorable Ode to the Oud
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-08-30 19:21 - Reading : less than a minute
The Baalbeck International Festival finally took place, albeit far from the City of the Sun. On Thursday evening, at the Caracalla Theatre in Beirut, Charbel Rouhana, accompanied by his Lebanese sextet, and the Trio Joubran, enchanted the audience, giving pride of place to the oud, an instrument symbolizing peace and harmony.
EDL Blackout: What About the Investigation?
Élie-Joe Kamel 2024-08-28 09:19 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Following the widespread blackout of Électricité du Liban (EDL) on August 17, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati requested that the Central Inspection Authority shed light on the causes of this outage, which brought the country to a standstill. How is the investigation proceeding? Caretaker Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayad, along ...