This is Beirut

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

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

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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 ...

Avocado, Lebanon’s New Orchard Star

Christiane Tager, 28/10 12:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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In recent years, a new player has quietly transformed Lebanon’s agricultural scene. Once limited to a few experimental orchards, the avocado has become a true star in the markets. In just a few seasons, it has won over producers with its profitability, consumers with its flavor, and exporters with its potential. In a country where agriculture is ...

Saudi Hosts World's Business Elite with Eyes on Gigaprojects, AI

This is Beirut, 28/10 09:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Saudi Arabia welcomes heads of state and the global business elite at a major investment conference this week as it seeks support for its sprawling "gigaprojects" and sky-high AI ambitions. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, joined by several ministers and more than 150 business leaders, and Syria's interim president are among the guests at the ...

Could US Tomahawk Missiles Shift the Balance in Ukraine?

Mario Chartouni, 17/10 15:50 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, the prospect of US Tomahawk missiles reaching Kyiv raises both hope and caution. For some, these iconic precision weapons could give the Ukrainian military a strategic edge against a fatigued Russia. For others, they are chiefly a political signal aimed at shaping future negotiations. Could these ...

Moscow Talks: Syria and Russia Confront Sensitive Issues

Mario Chartouni, 02/10 16:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will visit Moscow on October 15 to attend the Russia-Arab League summit, according to al-Hadath. This marks the first high-level meeting between Syria’s new leadership in Damascus and the Kremlin. The visit comes as several sensitive issues remain unresolved, including the future of Russian military bases in ...

New UAE Ambassador Arrives in Beirut

This is Beirut, 30/09 21:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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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 ...

The UN: Paralyzed and Powerless

Marc Saikali, 25/09 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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This week, heads of state are taking the stage at the United Nations General Assembly. The routine is familiar: solemn speeches, pledges for peace, calls for multilateralism. Yet behind the diplomatic pomp and cameras focused on New York, everyone knows the real negotiations are happening elsewhere – in hushed corridors and behind closed ...

Saudi-Pakistan Defense Pact Reshapes Regional Power Dynamics

Rayan Chami, 18/09 18:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement on Wednesday, making any act of aggression against one country an act of aggression against both. The accord was formalized during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh, where he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Officials described the deal as a ...

UN Slams Israel's Qatar Attack as Assault on 'Regional Peace and Stability'

This is Beirut, 16/09 12:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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The United Nations rights chief warned on Tuesday that Israel's airstrike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar last week threatened regional peace and stability and urged "accountability for unlawful killings". "Israel's strike on negotiators in Doha on September 9 was a shocking breach of international law," Volker Turk told the UN Human Rights ...

Hamas: A Shattered Sham

Mario Chartouni, 15/09 15:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Israel’s strike on Hamas leadership in Qatar on Tuesday marked a sharp turning point. For the first time, Israel targeted the political heart of the Islamist movement outside its traditional battlegrounds. In Doha, where Hamas believed it had secured a safe and comfortable refuge, missiles served as a stark reminder that even gilded hotels and ...

UAE Summons Israel Envoy to Condemn 'Cowardly' Qatar Attack

This is Beirut, 12/09 15:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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The United Arab Emirates said it summoned Israel's deputy ambassador in Abu Dhabi on Friday, in a formal rebuke of his country's attack targeting Hamas leaders in Gulf neighbour Qatar. The UAE, along with Bahrain, was the first Gulf country to normalize ties with Israel in 2020 and has been a frequent critic of its military actions in Gaza. It ...

Lebanese Potatoes: Tubers, Challenges and Export Hopes

Christiane Tager, 11/09 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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In a country where even bread is becoming a luxury, one might think the potato – king of family meals and star of mezze – is guaranteed a smooth ride. Yet behind every plate of crispy “batata” lies the story of farmers digging the soil… and digging deeper into debt. The Roots of the Problem According to the Ministry of Agriculture, ...

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