Beirut

ISF Seizes 20kg of Captagon at Beirut International Airport

The Internal Security Forces (ISF) thwarted a drug smuggling attempt at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on Friday, confiscating about 20 kilograms of Captagon pills. According to an ISF statement, the narcotics were discovered with four Turkish nationals preparing to travel to Kuwait. The drugs had been strapped to their bodies with ...

Consumer Price Index: 1.32% Rise in July

In July, Lebanon’s consumer price index (CPI) increased by 1.32% compared to the previous month and by 14.27% year-on-year, the Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) reported. The monthly CPI changes for July 2025 by region are as follows: Beirut: +1.87% Mount Lebanon: +1.46% North Lebanon: +1.10% Bekaa: +1.10% South Lebanon: ...

Beirut Officials Unite to Tackle Port Truck Traffic Crisis

Beirut’s port and traffic authorities are joining forces to untangle the gridlock choking the city’s streets. On Thursday, a joint meeting at the Port of Beirut, called by Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny and Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmad al-Hajjar, brought together top officials, port managers, customs ...

EDL: Years of Neglect Behind Lebanon’s Power Cuts

In a statement released Thursday, Electricité du Liban (EDL) said Lebanon’s electricity network continues to struggle after years of neglect and chronic underinvestment, with key infrastructure destroyed in the 2020 Beirut Port explosion still unreplaced. EDL identified three main causes for the recurring power cuts: production capacity at ...

Lebanon’s Heatwave Fails to Boost Fan Sales

Lebanon is sweltering under a powerful heatwave this week, but contrary to popular belief, the soaring temperatures have not sparked a rush to buy fans. Appliance shop owners say sales remain flat compared to last summer, with some even suggesting that last year’s sales were higher despite this week’s intense heat. In Beirut, from Corniche ...

Iran’s Top Security Chief Ali Larijani Lands in Beirut Amid Fierce Debate Over Weapons Monopoly

Amid heightened political tensions in Lebanon, marked by increased mobilization of Hezbollah supporters and strong reactions to the government’s decision to reserve arms exclusively for the Lebanese Armed Forces, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary, Ali Larijani, arrived in Beirut on Wednesday. Larijani began his ...

Cabinet Session Wednesday on Energy, Technology, and Beirut Port Recovery

The Cabinet will convene on Wednesday at the Grand Serail to debate a set of high-impact national issues, with a major focus on securing international financing and advancing critical infrastructure projects. At the forefront is a $250 million loan agreement with the World Bank to fund the Renewable Energy and Power System Enhancement Project. ...

Audi: Trust in the State to Avoid Sinking

During Sunday Mass at Saint George Cathedral in Beirut, Metropolitan Elias Audi, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut, called on citizens to place their trust in the state. In his homily, he urged people not to be “distracted by things that make us sink into the waves of perdition,” adding that “the nation’s boat will not ...

From Beirut’s August 4 Tragedy to 'Blooming Joy' by Rana Hatem Slim

Gemspace Art Gallery, tucked in the heart of Beirut, is hosting the solo exhibition of artist Rana Hatem Slim. Titled Blooming Joy, the collection invites visitors into a luminous, sensory world where color and emotion intertwine to celebrate joy in all its forms. Rana Hatem Slim spoke to This is Beirut about her work. In the gentle chaos of ...

Five Years On: Lebanon Marks Beirut Port Blast Anniversary with Calls for Justice and Remembrance

On the fifth anniversary of the devastating Beirut Port explosion, which killed over 200 people and injured thousands, officials and institutions have renewed their calls for justice and remembrance, while tributes were held across the country. Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar visited the Beirut Fire Brigade headquarters, where he laid a wreath at ...