This is Beirut -

Banners Proclaiming 'A New Era for Lebanon' Burned Just Hours After Installation

This is Beirut, 11/04 12:49 - Reading : less than a minute

Beirut International Airport Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah

Barely installed, already in flames. The banners bearing the slogan “A New Era for Lebanon,” unveiled on Thursday along the road leading to Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, survived only a few hours. By Friday morning, photos circulating on social media showed the signs reduced to ashes—targets of a deliberate act of ...

Japan to Sell More Rice Reserves as Prices Soar

This is Beirut, 09/04 12:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States USA White House

Japan will sell more rice from its emergency stockpile through July in an attempt to stabilize soaring prices, the agricultural minister said Wednesday. After rice prices nearly doubled year-on-year, the government began auctioning its stockpile last month -- the first time since it was started in 1995. "In order to stabilize rice prices ...

Trump Threatens Further 50% Tariffs on China, Stacking on Earlier Rate

This is Beirut, 07/04 20:02 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA United States Washington

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened huge additional tariffs on imports from China if Beijing did not withdraw its retaliation plans, adding that Washington would begin talks with other countries that want negotiations. The fresh action would stack on an already steep US rate taking effect Wednesday, the White House told AFP, bringing ...

Venezuela Says US Revoked Transnational oil and gas Company Licenses

This is Beirut, 31/03 09:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump United States Washington

Venezuela announced Sunday that the United States had revoked several transnational oil and gas companies' licenses to operate in the country, which had been granted despite Washington's sanctions against the South American nation. While Venezuela did not specify which company licenses were revoked, experts had expected that European oil giants ...

Trump says US tariffs to hit 'all countries'

This is Beirut, 31/03 09:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA United States

President Donald Trump said Sunday the tariffs he plans to impose in the coming days would include "all countries", not just those with the largest trade imbalances with the United States. Trump has promised a "Liberation Day" on April 2, when he is set to unveil reciprocal levies to address trade practices that his government deems ...

Israel Resumes Threats Against Lebanon, Five Killed in Southern Lebanon

This is Beirut, 28/03 18:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

South Lebanon Benjamin Netanyahu Hezbollah Israel

Two Syrian nationals were killed on Friday afternoon in an Israeli drone strike targeting the Yohmor al-Shqif region (Nabatiyeh caza), according to a preliminary assessment by the Lebanese Ministry of Health. In addition, an Israeli raid killed three people in Kfar Tibnit, including a woman, and wounded eighteen, including women and children. Two ...

UN Peacekeeping Missions: An Endless Odyssey?

Mario Chartouni, 24/03 11:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United Nations Israel United Kingdom United States

From the dusty streets of Bangui to the mountains of Lebanon, over 70,000 United Nations peacekeepers put their lives on the line every day to uphold a fragile peace. Drawn from 125 countries, these missions represent one of the UN’s most dangerous undertakings. But how much do we really know about these operations that, for more than 70 ...

TotalEnergies’ Operations Linked to Politics as Lebanon Pursues Onshore Exploration

Bassam Abou Zeid, 18/03 21:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Hezbollah Israel Joseph Aoun

In his upcoming visit to France on March 28, President Joseph Aoun is expected to once again raise, with French President Emmanuel Macron, the issue of TotalEnergies resuming its operations in Lebanon. Aoun had previously requested Macron’s assistance during the French president's visit to Lebanon in January, but there has been no progress on ...

UN Envoy Calls for Urgent Diplomacy as ‘Cautious Optimism’ Surrounds Lebanon’s Stability

This is Beirut, 17/03 21:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Nations Lebanese Army UN Security Council Israel

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, expressed “cautious optimism” regarding Lebanon’s political and security situation during her briefing to the UN Security Council on Monday. Hennis-Plasschaert welcomed the formation of Lebanon’s new government and its ministerial program. She also ...

Zelensky replaces his army chief of general staff

This is Beirut, 16/03 22:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Kyiv Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has replaced the chief of the general staff of the armed forces, according to a decree issued on Sunday, as Kyiv’s frontline troops continue to face challenges. According to a communiqué, Anatoliy Bargylevych has been replaced by Andriy Gnatov, who “has been tasked with increasing the efficiency of the ...

Macron Reaffirms France’s Support for Lebanon, J. Aoun to Visit Paris on March 28

This is Beirut, 15/03 10:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Emmanuel Macron Joseph Aoun

French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated his country’s support for Lebanon. During a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday evening, Macron stated that “France’s commitment to Lebanon remains strong, to support its recovery and protect its sovereignty.” On his X account, the French president also announced ...

Protesters Rally on International Women’s Day, Fearing Far Right

This is Beirut, 08/03 22:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA Republicans Ukraine

Protesters took to the streets across the world Saturday to mark International Women's Day, demanding equal pay, political representation and an end to gender-based violence while voicing fears of rising repression. In eastern Ukraine, scores of demonstrators held a minute's silence to honour women killed defending the country from Russia's ...