85 percent of the Lebanese do not trust their politicians, according to an opinion poll by Beirut-based Information International. Although the results do not dispute the prevailing public opinion, but paradoxically contradict the outcome of the last parliamentary elections, which brought back to power the same political class. According to a survey conducted by the […]

Former minister MP Ghazi Zoaiter confirmed on Friday that in 2016 he purchased from Switzerland 40 weapons for his personal security detail, saying he was still in possession of the arms. “The weapons included ten automatic rifles and 30 pistols for my personal protection,” Zoaiter told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday, stressing that they aim to […]

Dozens of protesters rallied in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Saturday, calling on the government to recognise civil marriages carried out on home soil. The demonstrators gathered in front of Lebanon’s interior ministry, days after recently-appointed Interior Minister Raya al-Hasan said she is willing to engage in “serious and profound dialogue” over the issue. The […]

U.S. Senator James Lankford Friday emphasized great efforts exerted by Lebanon to improve its economy, Lebanon’s presidency website reported. “The United States is ready to help in this area,” Lankford said, during his meeting with President Michel Aoun in Beirut to discuss bilateral ties in the presence of U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard. Aoun […]

President Michel Aoun denied on Wednesday that Hezbollah’s Influence over Lebanon is Increasing “It is not true that Hezbollah’s influence over Lebanon is increasing.” He stressed “This is the U.S. vision and it contradicts with reality, seeing as Hezbollah has maintained the same political presence it had in the previous government, and it is not […]

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Wednesday slammed State Minister for Refugee Affairs Saleh al-Gharib’s visit to Syria and attacked what he called a “big deception campaign ” on Syrian refugees “The two discouraging signals represented in Minister Saleh al-Gharib’s visit to Syria and Minister Elias Bou Saab’s stance at the Munich conference can only […]

Lebanon has nominated investment banker Ziad Hayek to be president of the World Bank, following Jim Yong Kim’s surprise resignation in January and US President Donald Trump’s subsequent nomination for a successor this month. Lebanon’s nomination is the only challenge so far to Mr Trump’s proposal that Treasury official David Malpass replace Jim Yong Kim […]

Fears are growing for the 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanonafter the country’s new refugees minister made a surprise visit to Damascus this week to discuss their return. Saleh Gharib, an outspoken supporter of the regime of Bashar al-Assad, said Lebanon would work to “secure the return” of refugees to Syria, where human rights organisations report they are subject […]

By: Agnes Helou BEIRUT — The United States delivered a shipment of laser-guided rockets to the Lebanese Air Force on the Feb. 13 – part of a military aid package to Lebanon valued at $16 million. The advanced precision kill weapon system, manufactured by BAE Systems, will add aerial fire capabilities to the Lebanese army. […]

The Progressive Socialist Party on Monday declared  its support for legalizing civil marriage in Lebanon. “The Progressive Youth Organization regrets that so far there is no national consensus on devising a clear mechanism and measures for holding and registering civil marriages in Lebanon,” the PYO — the PSP’s youth organization — said in a statement. The […]