Lebanon

The Mirage of Change: Lebanon's 'Change MPs' Exposed

They promised to change everything. They changed nothing—and worse still, they turned hope into bitterness and trust into betrayal. When Lebanon’s so-called “Change MPs” entered Parliament in 2022, they rode a wave of popular revolt against a corrupt, decaying system. For once, the Lebanese people believed. They were wrong. The illusion ...

Running Low? Unleaded to the Rescue

The Lebanese government seems to be taking its cue from an old maxim: “When in trouble, raise the taxes.” In a decision that hit like a bombshell, authorities announced a sharp hike in fuel prices – despite a global drop in oil costs. The official rationale? To fund social aid. The logic? Ease the burden on the poor by adding to the strain ...

UN Appoints Italian General Diodato Abagnara as New UNIFIL Commander

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Major General Diodato Abagnara of Italy as the new Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the UN announced on Wednesday. Major General Abagnara succeeds Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz of Spain, who led the mission ...

Lebanese Wine Industry Embraces AI for a Sustainable Future

In a pioneering move toward modernizing agriculture, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union held a workshop in Lebanon focused on the integration of artificial intelligence into sustainable viticulture. Organized in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Institute of Vine and Wine ...

Soaring Sheep Prices Mark Eid al-Adha Preparations Across Arab World

As Eid al-Adha nears, the traditional livestock markets across the Arab world are bustling. But this year, as in previous ones, it’s the steep cost of sheep that’s drawing the most attention. A regional survey by Al Jazeera Economy highlights stark price variations that mirror broader economic disparities. In crisis-hit Lebanon, families can ...

Aoun Follows Up on Palestinian Arms Agreement

President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday met with the Head of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, Ambassador Ramzi Dimashkieh, who updated him on ongoing discussions regarding the enforcement of a key security agreement related to Palestinian camps in Lebanon. The talks focused on the implementation of a decision to ensure sole control over ...

No Political Veto on Kleiate Airport Rehabilitation Project

The rehabilitation project for Kleiate Airport – also known as René Moawad Airport – in Akkar, northern Lebanon, is moving ahead at a steady pace. In an interview with This is Beirut, Akkar MP Sagih Atieh, who chairs the parliamentary Public Works Committee, stated that “the reactivation process is proceeding normally, and there has been no ...

Tyre's Coast Nature Reserve: Association Warns of Grave Threat, Appeals to Aoun

The Lebanese Association for the Preservation of Tyre has issued an urgent appeal to President Joseph Aoun, urging him to take immediate action to halt what it describes as an environmental and cultural catastrophe unfolding in the Tyre Coast Nature Reserve. It also urged the Ministries of Culture and Environment to intervene decisively. At a ...

Nabih Berri Denies Shielding Anyone in Fake Drugs Case

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stated that he would not protect anyone involved in the case related to the illegal importation of medications into Lebanon, according to remarks reported on Wednesday by Al-Hadath TV. This statement comes as investigations continue into a large network smuggling counterfeit medications into the country through ...