Lebanon

SpotlightIMF Mission Concludes Meetings in Beirut

Maurice Matta 13/03 22:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

International Monetary Fund Banks Joseph Aoun Banque du Liban Washington

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber made reassuring remarks regarding negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following an extensive meeting held at the Ministry of Finance with the IMF mission. During the meeting, Jaber affirmed that the elimination or partial deduction of bank deposits is a sovereign and national decision, ...

PoliticsDiplomatic Uncertainties and Reconstruction: Lebanon’s Challenges Amid International Expectations

Tylia El Helou 13/03 19:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon USA Hezbollah Israel

A recent interview with Morgan Ortagus, deputy to the U.S. president’s special envoy for the Middle East, highlighted significant discrepancies between official announcements and the on-the-ground reality in Lebanon. While the U.S. administration claims to have initiated diplomatic working groups to address the Lebanese-Israeli border issue, ...

W. Joumblatt Bans Certain PSP Members from Sunday's Commemorative Ceremony

This is Beirut 13/03 17:50 - Reading : less than a minute

Kamal Joumblatt

Former PSP chief and Druze leader Walid Joumblatt denounced on Thursday members of his own party who went on a spree of firing in the air in the predominantly Druze city of Aley to celebrate the arrest of the alleged killer of Kamal Joumblatt, Walid's father, days ahead of the 48th anniversary of his assassination. An angry Joumblatt requested the ...

Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Order of Malta Visits Lebanon

This is Beirut 13/03 17:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Order of Malta Joseph Aoun Nawaf Salam Nabih Berry

The Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, commenced a three-day visit to Lebanon today, reaffirming the Order’s longstanding commitment and support to the Lebanese people during the country’s critical recovery phase. This high-level diplomatic mission underscores 70 years of continuous involvement ...

VideosAn Iftar Staple… But at What Cost?

Lyne Sammouri 13/03 17:25 - Reading : less than a minute

Fattoush Iftar Ramadan Price

At This is Beirut, we made homemade fattoush to assess its price. The verdict? With inflation and fluctuating costs, even this traditional salad is sometimes becoming a luxury at the Iftar table.

Netanyahu Vows to Hold Positions in Lebanon

This is Beirut 13/03 17:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Hezbollah Israel Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Thursday that Israel will maintain control over the five positions where it maintains a presence inside Lebanese territory, ruling out any possibility of withdrawal. “We will not give up control of five positions in Lebanese territory,” Netanyahu said. He further stated that Israeli forces ...

Cabinet Approves Key Military and Security Appointments

This is Beirut 13/03 16:44 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Government Security Appointments

The government approved important military and security appointments during its ordinary session held on Thursday at the presidential palace in Baabda, chaired by President Joseph Aoun. The new appointments are as follows: Brigadier Rudolf Heikal was appointed Commander of the Army, brigadier Hassan Shaker was appointed Director of General ...

Government's Key Decisions: Appointments, Budget and Reforms

This is Beirut 13/03 15:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Governement Security Appointments Joseph Aoun

The government approved a series of military and security appointments, the recruitment of 4,500 soldiers in three phases and a draft law to amend the tax provisions in the 2025 budget, during its ordinary session, held at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. Among the key appointments, Brigadier General Rodolphe Haykal was named Commander-in-Chief ...

Israel Released Fifth Lebanese Detainee

This is Beirut 13/03 14:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Lebanon

The Lebanese army said it received on Thursday a soldier taken by Israel last weekend, after Israel handed over four other detainees earlier this week. "The army, through the International Committee of the Red Cross received (on Thursday) the soldier who was kidnapped by the Israeli enemy" on Sunday, the army said on X, adding that he had been ...

Behind the ScenesKulluna Irada: A Law-Breaking Association – Should Its License Be Revoked?

This is Beirut 13/03 09:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Economy Banks

Kulluna Irada is an organization that claims to uphold the law, pursue corrupt individuals, and fight corruption in the name of good governance and reform. However, in practice, the activities of Kulluna Irada violate both the law and the objectives for which the organization was granted official recognition by the Ministry of Interior and ...

EditorialIt Feels Like the South... but Now, It's the North!

Marc Saikali 13/03 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Syria USA

Suddenly, all eyes and fears turned to Tripoli and Akkar. At least 7,000 Syrian refugees, mostly Alawites, have crossed the border to escape the violent clashes unfolding along Syria’s coastline. These confrontations, marked by extreme brutality and condemned by numerous human rights organizations, have sent shockwaves through the international ...

ExplainerOfficial Start of Negotiations with IMF, Jaber Confirms: No Write-Off of Deposits

This is Beirut 12/03 20:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Economy IMF Lebanon BDL

Lebanese authorities announced the resumption of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reach a final agreement that would grant the country loans while advancing its reform agenda. Talks between the Lebanese government and the IMF began on Wednesday, aiming for a staff-level agreement as a step toward broader negotiations to ...