Middle East

Lebanon Inaugurates EU-Funded Juvenile Rehabilitation Center

In a significant step toward juvenile justice reform, Lebanese officials and international partners inaugurated a new rehabilitation center for juvenile offenders in Warwar on Wednesday. The facility, funded by the European Union (EU), promises to provide a humane, rehabilitative alternative to traditional detention for youth in conflict with the ...

Lebanon Secures Spot Among Arab Billion-Dollar Companies

The Arab world’s economy is undergoing a rapid transformation, fueled by the rise of financial markets and robust growth in the technology, energy and finance sectors. According to data compiled by Forbes Middle East, more than 280 companies across the region now boast a market valuation exceeding $1 billion. At the forefront of this ...

Touch Signs Roaming Deal with Zain Omantel

Mobile operator Touch announced on Monday a new regional partnership through the signing of a roaming agreement with Zain Omantel International (ZOI), a major telecommunications alliance in the Middle East. According to a company press release, the agreement will allow Zain and Omantel subscribers from eight countries – Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, ...

Lebanon Faces Eight-Month Deadline to Tackle Illegal Weapons

Citing high-ranking political and security sources, Kuwaiti daily Al-Anbaa reported that Lebanon has been given an eight-month deadline to address the long-standing issue of illegal weapons on its soil and to assert full state authority across the country. During this period, international economic aid and reconstruction support will reportedly be ...

Tom Barrack Appointed US Special Envoy for Syria

The Trump administration announced on Friday the appointment of Tom Barrack, the current US ambassador to Turkey and a longtime ally of the president, as the new Special Envoy for Syria. The announcement marks a significant shift in US engagement in the Middle East following the fall of the Assad regime. Barrack is a billionaire real estate ...

Iran Says 'Fundamental Differences' Remain With U.S. Ahead of Nuclear Talks

Iran warned it would hold the United States responsible if Israel attacks its nuclear facilities, but President Donald Trump's administration voiced optimism for a peaceful solution Thursday before new talks. Trump spoke about his diplomacy on Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said, in a telephone call ...

EU Reaffirms Support for Lebanon’s Reform Efforts During Visit to Grand Serail

The European Union has reiterated its support for Lebanon’s reform process during a visit to the Grand Serail in Beirut by Stefano Sannino, Director-General for the Middle East and North Africa at the European Commission. Speaking Thursday after his meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Sannino reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to its ...

Mullahs Wearing Sombreros: Hezbollah in Latin America

The so-called “tri-border area,” at the junction of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, has long attracted tourists, notably thanks to the famous Iguaçu Falls. But behind this idyllic setting lies a much more troubling reality: this region is also a strategic hub for transnational criminal networks, including Hezbollah. Washington, which is ...

Iran says Open to Regional Nuclear Fuel Consortium

Iran on Monday said it was open to establishing a regional nuclear fuel consortium, reiterating that it would not stop enriching uranium. Tehran and Washington have held four rounds of Omani-mediated nuclear talks since April 12, the highest-level contact between the two foes since the United States abandoned the 2015 nuclear accord. US ...

Ortagus Urges Full Disarmament of Hezbollah

Deputy United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus delivered a strong message on Thursday, declaring that the path to peace and prosperity lies in the full disarmament of Hezbollah, not just in southern Lebanon, but across the entire country. In an interview with LBCI, Ortagus emphasized the unified stance of the US, Saudi ...

Donald Trump Reshapes the Middle East: A New Geopolitical Era

Donald Trump had promised that his visit to the Gulf would be historic — and he delivered. From the moment he stepped off the plane, a series of announcements followed swiftly. Let’s start with the numbers — and they’re staggering: $300 billion in signed deals spanning industry, research, defense, space, and even civilian nuclear energy. ...