This is Beirut - Lebanon

Lebanon Faces ‘Environmental Disaster’ From Syrian Refugee Camps

Hala Abdallah, 06/11 14:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Syrian refugees Syrian camps environment

Lebanon launched the eighth wave of voluntary returns of displaced Syrians on Thursday morning, with 448 refugees departing from the Rachid Karami International Fair in Tripoli toward the Al-Abbudieh border crossing in Akkar. The returnees were transported in five groups aboard 14 buses and 14 trucks, as part of an organized repatriation program ...

The IMF and Lebanon: Debts? Which Debts?

Marc Saikali, 06/11 08:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon International Monetary Fund Banks

When it comes to the IMF, one thing stands out above all: a consistent pattern of bad advice. Governments change, wars erupt, and yet this venerable institution remains glued to its Excel spreadsheets, always heeded by Lebanese ministers, especially the finance minister. The International Monetary Fund, the self-proclaimed savior of struggling ...

Where Were You, Samir Hammoud?

This is Beirut, 05/11 16:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Banks Economy

High-level banking sources were surprised by comments made by the senior adviser to the Minister of Finance, Yassine Jaber, to the “Al-Markaziya” outlet regarding depositors’ accounts. According to Samir Hammoud’s statement, “If there are irregularities in depositors’ accounts, there are also irregularities in banks’ ...

Lebanon Pressed Again to Hunt Down Assad Officials

Natasha Metni Torbey, 05/11 14:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Syria France Jamil Hassan Ali Mamlouk Abdel Salam Mahmoud Bashar Assad

Lebanon has once again found itself at the center of a sensitive international investigation tied to the post-Assad era. One year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, Beirut is being asked to cooperate with international judicial authorities to locate senior Syrian security officials accused of war crimes and crimes ...

U17 – Asia: the Broken Dream, a Cruel Ending for Lebanon

Makram Haddad, 05/11 12:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Football Asia U17 Saudi Arabia

Mission (almost) accomplished. In the final of the 12th West Asian Football Federation tournament, Lebanon U17 led deep into the home straight before being pegged back and then falling in the shootout. Adnan Madi had shown the way in the 73rd minute, punishing a Saudi goalkeeper error with a clever strike. But in stoppage time, Saudi Arabia ...

Marathon: Ehrabi Nael, the Fourth Lebanese to Join the Six Majors Club

Makram Haddad, 05/11 12:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Beirut Marathon Ehrabi Nael Sports

The finish line in Central Park carried a sense of accomplishment. With his 3:29:20 performance in New York, Nael—the Beirut Marathon’s race director—sealed his sixth Major: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York—six temples of road running where marathon legends are made. He now joins the very select circle of Lebanese ...

Aoun’s Push for Talks with Israel Must Overcome Hezbollah’s Ploys

Hussain Abdul-Hussain, 04/11 18:30 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Peace

President Joseph Aoun said Lebanon has no choice but to enter into talks with Israel to break the cycle of war, a step that media reports suggest he had agreed on with Hezbollah’s ally, Speaker Nabih Berri. Aoun’s position is commendable, but Hezbollah will use such talks as cover to rearm and prepare for another round of fighting, rather than ...

South Lebanon: Hezbollah and Christian Villages in Quiet Coexistence

Natasha Metni Torbey, 04/11 16:10 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah South Lebanon Free Patriotic Movement Christians Shia

In some regions of southern Lebanon, particularly in Jezzine, Marjayoun, and Rmeish, predominantly Christian areas directly border localities where Hezbollah holds significant influence. These areas, where municipal networks, social structures, and political actors intertwine, reflect a deeply rooted sociopolitical reality shaped by geography, ...

A Financial Gap Law That Writes Off Deposits and Submits to the IMF

This is Beirut, 04/11 13:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon IMF BDL Central Bank

In appearance, Finance Minister Yassin Jaber sought to present his meeting with the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) delegation at the Ministry of Finance as a broad, constructive session that projected an image of consensus. His public remarks reinforced this impression, suggesting that both sides—the ministry and the banks—were aligned ...

Najib Nasr Boxes Time: 60 Bouts for His 60th Birthday

Makram Haddad, 04/11 10:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Sport Najib Nasr French boxing

The promise was a wink at passing time and an arm wrestle with the stopwatch. For his 60th birthday, Najib Nasr, savate world champion in 1995, treated himself to a glove marathon: 60 times 60 seconds, 60 opponents—men and women—lined up in relay, and zero recovery. Result: one hour at high intensity, a crowd on its feet, and a champion ...

A Peacemaker Visits a Land of Perpetual War

Alberto M. Fernandez , 04/11 09:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Pope Vatican

Pope Leo XIV’s expected visit to Lebanon later this month comes at a moment of peril for the country. Lebanon’s most recent war, launched by Hezbollah on October 8, 2023, has barely ended, with Israel threatening to renew the conflict at any moment should Hezbollah not disarm. The Lebanese government has pledged to assert state power and ...

Saydet al-Jabal Urges Lebanon to Negotiate with Israel and Reclaim Control of Weapons

This is Beirut, 03/11 14:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Achrafieh Gulf Hezbollah United Nations

The Saydet al-Jabal Gathering called for direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, urging President Joseph Aoun to personally lead talks to address outstanding issues, including Israel’s withdrawal from five disputed points and the return of prisoners. The group said such a step could move Lebanon from war toward peace and allow it to ...

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