Johnny Kortbawi 07/03 11:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Next May, Beirut is set to face its fifth municipal election since the war—assuming the elections take place. All signs indicate that they will, given the firm insistence of the President and the government. After the Beirut Municipal elections in 1998 and 2004, which were made possible with the support of late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri ...
This is Beirut 06/03 22:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
“God is great.” These were the words used by Druze leader Walid Joumblatt following the announcement of the arrest, in Syria, of Ibrahim Huayja, a senior Syrian military official involved in the assassination of his father, Kamal Joumblatt, the founder of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), on March 16, 1977. The announcement was made ...
This is Beirut 06/03 21:15 - Reading : less than a minute
Lebanon Kfar Kila South Lebanon
One person was killed and two others were wounded by Israeli fire at the Fatima Gate in the village of Kfar Kila late on Thursday. In a statement, the Lebanese Army denounced “the continuing Israeli aggressions by land, sea and air against Lebanon’s sovereignty, the latest being a series of attacks on civilians in the South and the ...
Rayan Chami 06/03 19:50 - Reading : less than a minute
Joseph Aoun Nawaf Salam Cabinet
The first Cabinet meeting since Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s government won Parliament’s confidence is being held today at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, chaired by President Joseph Aoun. This crucial session will address several key issues, including the implementation of reforms, the 2025 budget proposal and tax exemptions for war ...
This is Beirut 06/03 18:58 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Joseph Aoun Saudi Arabia Baabda Palace Nawaf Salam Cabinet
The Council of Ministers on Thursday approved the promulgation of the 2025 budget by decree, as well as the temporary extension of the mandates of ambassadors from outside the cadre. At its first session after gaining the parliament’s vote of confidence held at the Baabda Palace, the Cabinet went through twenty-two items on its ...
This is Beirut 06/03 17:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Hezbollah International Criminal Court Israel
Amnesty International called, on Wednesday, for an investigation into the Israeli army's attacks on healthcare facilities in southern Lebanon during the war with Hezbollah that began on October 8, 2023. “Israel’s unlawful attacks on medical facilities and personnel are not only serious violations of international humanitarian law and likely ...
Rayan Chami 06/03 15:55 - Reading : less than a minute
Saudi Arabia Lebanon Government Nawaf Salam Budget 2025
PM Nawaf Salam confirmed the 2025 budget’s approval and pledged reforms to ease its impact. Work on the 2026 budget is underway, and future Cabinet sessions will move to a new venue. Information Minister Paul Morcos highlighted Saudi Arabia’s reform-linked support for Lebanon and announced work on tax exemptions for war victims and new ISF ...
Salam El Zaatari 06/03 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The US Congress has taken things to a whole new level. Dubbed the “Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Extremism Act” (PAGER Act), this legislation, spearheaded by Republican Congressman Greg Steube, is not just about sanctioning Hezbollah—it’s about forcing Lebanon into a political and military reckoning. The bill lays out an ...
Marc Saikali 06/03 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Syria Lebanon Ahmad al-Sharaa Turkey Israel
Since its independence, Lebanon has served as a mirror reflecting the events unfolding in its much larger neighboring country. Damascus has long cast a covetous eye on Lebanon, disturbed by its freedoms and economic achievements. Despite all the challenges, Lebanon has managed to preserve a semblance of political democracy, even in its darkest ...
This is Beirut 05/03 22:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanese Army Hezbollah Amal US Congress Lebanon
Independent Arabiya has published details of a draft bill introduced to the US Congress by Republican Representative Greg Steube, aimed at pressuring the Lebanese government and military to curb Hezbollah’s influence. The proposed legislation, titled "Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Extremism Act," calls for stringent measures against ...
Marc Saikali 05/03 21:47 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Every year, winter brings rain. A statement so ordinary it could hardly be more clichéd. Yet in Lebanon, every downpour turns the roads into rivers. Cars become makeshift gondolas, and honking horns replace gondoliers’ songs. It’s safe to say that romance is hardly in the air. Water covers the gaping holes, which elsewhere are called ...
Liliane Mokbel 05/03 19:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Gold Reserves Lebanon
Following the government’s policy statement and the president’s inaugural speech, it is clear that a new momentum is emerging to address the pending economic issues. Controversial proposals are emerging, notably the idea of using Lebanon's Central Bank gold reserves (BDL) to partially bridge the financial deficit. However, it is evident that ...