Search : 500 result(s)

The Art of Losing: Hezbollah’s Stubborn Path

Hezbollah has lost. Yes, lost. The military campaign? Lost. The battle for public opinion? Lost. The fight for legitimacy in Lebanon? Lost. And yet the Shia militia keeps haunting the country, convinced that a LED projection on a rock will somehow rewrite history. Illuminating the “Pigeon Rock” with portraits of dead leaders is Hezbollah’s ...

EU Confirms Reimposition of Iran Sanctions after UN move

The European Union confirmed on Monday it had reimposed sweeping sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program after the United Nations reinstated its overarching measures. The UN took that step over the weekend after Western powers triggered the so-called "snapback" mechanism under the 2015 nuclear accord. The sanctions reintroduced by ...

Naim Qassem Thanks Iran for Backing the "Resistance"

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Saturday thanked Iran for its continued support to Lebanon and the “resistance” during a meeting with the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, which was also attended by Iranian Ambassador to Beirut Mojtaba Amani. During the meeting, Larijani reaffirmed Iran’s ...

Elon Musk, the $500 Billion Man

Elon Musk has set yet another record: he is now the first individual in history to amass a personal fortune of $500 billion, according to Forbes. The milestone highlights the extraordinary ascent of the world’s most talked-about entrepreneur. The pace of Musk’s wealth accumulation has been nothing short of astonishing. Back in 2020, his net ...

Aradina: A Green Boost for Lebanese Agriculture

Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani on Monday launched the Aradina project, a four-year program to be implemented in partnership with CIHEAM Montpellier, Action Against Hunger and Fair Trade Lebanon. Aradina is funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) and aims to support 2,500 farmers and 145 cooperatives across Lebanon in adopting sustainable ...

Putin Vows 'Significant' Response to 'Europe's Militarisation'

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday promised a "significant" response to "Europe's militarisation", as he addressed a foreign policy forum in southern Russia. "We are closely monitoring the rising militarisation of Europe," he told the audience, adding: "Retaliatory measures by Russia will not take long. The response to such threats will ...

Naim Qassem Stands Firm: Weapons or Karbala

Hezbollah continues its standoff with the Lebanese state, issuing yet another threat. “We refuse to be disarmed, and we will wage this battle as we did in Karbala,” declared Hezbollah’s Secretary General Naim Qassem on Saturday. Speaking during a ceremony commemorating the assassination of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, on September ...

UN Syria Envoy Geir Pedersen Resigns After Seven Years in Post

UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen announced Wednesday that he is resigning “for personal reasons” after nearly seven and a half years in the post. Speaking before the UN Security Council, the Norwegian diplomat said he was “deeply indebted and deeply grateful to the Syrian people, who have shown extraordinary courage and humanity ...

Hezbollah: 'I Am the State'

Hezbollah has once again crossed a red line. Defying an explicit state ban, the Pigeon Grotto was illuminated with portraits of Nasrallah and Safieddine, a symbolic act of defiance that speaks volumes. The message is clear: this militia takes orders only from Tehran and openly disregards both Lebanese law and international resolutions. Since the ...

Parliamentary Elections: Expat Registration from October 2 to November 20

The Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs announced in a joint press release on Tuesday that registration for expatriates at Lebanese embassies abroad will open on October 2, ahead of the May 2026 parliamentary elections. The statement added that the process will close on November 20, noting that the timeframe was set “in line with legal ...

This Week on This is America: UNGA, Snapback, Iran, Hezbollah

On this week’s episode of This is America, we cover the “Snapback” mechanism, the opening of the UN General Assembly, and the U.S. $10 million reward for information on Hezbollah. We also feature an exclusive interview with Patrick Clawson, Morningstar Senior Fellow and Research Counselor at the Washington Institute, to discuss Iran’s ...

Of Stones and Rocks

The Raouche Rock crisis has no real bearing on Lebanon’s political life. Yet, it does reveal the deep divide in how political figures are perceived: either as sacred icons or as demons. Hezbollah’s fabricated controversy over projecting the images of Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine on the rock to mark their assassination is nothing more ...

Another Record High: Gold Shines Brighter Than Ever

Gold continues to break records. The price per ounce (31.1 g) rose 1.3% on Monday, reaching $3,809, its highest level ever. The precious metal has surged 45% since the start of the year and nearly 130% over three years, outperforming most other investments. Several factors drive this gold rush: geopolitical uncertainties, from Russia’s invasion ...

US Ambassador Lisa Johnson Bids Farewell to Lebanon

US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson addressed the Lebanese people as her mission in Lebanon comes to an end today. In a message posted on the US Embassy’s Instagram account, Johnson wrote, “As my tenure as US Ambassador to Lebanon comes to a close, I wish to express my deep gratitude to the Lebanese people for your warmth, generosity, and ...

From Offices to Cafés: A New Generation Reshaping Work

Is the “9-to-5” dying? A new generation is reinventing the way we work. In Beirut, as in many major cities, life is still largely shaped by the traditional 9-to-5 routine. Yet younger generations are driving a shift—rethinking what work means and moving away from cubicles and rigid schedules. Why are they leaving the office behind? And ...

Saudi Arabia launches international fund for the Palestinian Authority

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan announced Thursday the launch of an international coalition to finance the Palestinian Authority, stressing that Saudi Arabia will contribute $90 million. At a press conference, he noted that the Kingdom is actively engaged with the United States to end the war in Gaza. The minister also said that Arab and ...

US Ambassador Says Lebanese Army’s Efforts Are Strong but Insufficient

US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson highlighted the central role played by the Lebanese Army since the ceasefire agreement, praising its performance as “impressive” but stressing that it is “not enough” to guarantee lasting stability. Speaking in Beirut, Johnson underscored the need for additional measures to strengthen security and ...

Prada Acquires Versace in Major Luxury Move

It’s official: Prada received EU approval on Tuesday to acquire Versace in a deal valued at €1.25 billion (around $1.38 billion). Regulators cleared the transaction, ruling that it will not harm competition given the relatively limited global market share of both brands. The acquisition marks a pivotal step for the Italian giant. Beyond mere ...

Lebanon, EU Discuss Return of Syrian Refugees

Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Raggi met with European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele to discuss the return of Syrian refugees to their country. Raggi emphasized the need to accelerate the process and urged the EU to intensify its efforts, stressing that aid should prioritize Syrians inside Syria to encourage their ...

Salam Reaffirms State Monopoly on Weapons

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam underscored on Tuesday his government’s commitment to fully implementing its ministerial policy statement, with a particular focus on ensuring that only the Lebanese state retains the right to bear arms. Salam highlighted the government’s “determination to pursue reforms and extend state authority across all ...

Barrack Says US Not Guarantor of Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

US envoy Tom Barrack said on Saturday that Washington is not the “guarantor” of the ceasefire agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he stressed that “both sides accuse each other of failing to comply with the agreement” and that “the problem is the lack of dialogue.” Barrack added that “if ...

Aoun to Guterres: Disarmament Plan Ready

President Joseph Aoun assured UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday that Lebanon’s disarmament plan is “ready for implementation but has been obstructed by ongoing Israeli strikes.” During their meeting in New York, Aoun expressed gratitude for Guterres’ role in renewing the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in ...

Gold Hits New High Amid Safe-Haven Demand

Gold prices hit a new all-time high on Wednesday, driven by a surge of investors seeking safe-haven assets following the official start of the U.S. government shutdown and disappointing employment data, which have strengthened expectations of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Spot gold rose 0.1% to $3,861.99 per ounce, after reaching a ...

New UAE Ambassador Arrives in Beirut

The United Arab Emirates ambassador, Salem Fahd al-Kaabi, arrived in Beirut on Tuesday evening. He was greeted upon arrival by Consul Rodrigue Khoury, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His presence in Beirut marks the restoration of relations between Lebanon and the UAE, announced by Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan ...

Beirut Port Climbs to 54th in Global Ranking

The Port of Beirut has registered a major leap in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index 2024, published on Friday. It ranked 54th worldwide, consolidating its role as a key regional hub for logistics and trade. The rise marks a sharp improvement from 81st place in 2023 and 323rd in 2022, reflecting the port’s modernization ...

EDL Cracks Down on Illegal Connections

In a statement issued Monday, Électricité du Liban (EDL) announced the launch of a large-scale campaign to dismantle illegal connections to the power grid. According to the statement, the initiative, set to be implemented nationwide, aims to “ensure equal rights and obligations for all citizens” and addresses the “urgent need to preserve ...

EU Urges Full Respect of Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

The European Union (EU) on Tuesday called for “full respect and implementation” of the November ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, following deadly violence in southern Lebanon. An EU spokesperson condemned Sunday’s Israeli raid in the town of Kfar Tibnit, where civilians, including three children, lost their ...