Syria’s experiment with indirect elections isn’t new
More than a century ago, King Faisal I al-Hashemi staged indirect elections in the short-lived Syrian Arab Kingdom. The aim was to consolidate his rule and establish legitimacy in the eyes of...
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Netanyahu says Qatar may have 'funded rumors' linking Israel to the assassination of Charlie Kirk
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Qatar may have "funded rumors" linking Israel to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the far-right American activist and...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Lebanese Iraqi joint commission resumes after decade, signs cooperation deals
The second session of the Lebanese Iraqi joint commission, held in Baghdad, led to more than eight agreements between the two countries, said Mohammad Abou Haidar, director general of the Economy...
P.H.B., 18 September 2025
Series of Israeli strikes on south Lebanon, Aoun, Salam and Berri urge action
BEIRUT — The Israeli army conducted a series of Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah infrastructure and rebuilding efforts in the region. Two initial strikes hit homes...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Electoral law: Hezbollah continues dialogue with Aoun
The debate over the electoral law is intensifying, this time between Hezbollah and President Joseph Aoun. On Wednesday, retired Gen. Andre Rahal, a close counselor to the president, met with...
Yara ABI AKL, 18 September 2025
As the first Palestinian at Miss Universe, Nadeen Ayoub wants to carry 'more than the suffering' of her people
As Gaza endures nearly two years of Israeli war, Nadeen Ayoub, 27, is preparing to carry more than the Miss Palestine sash on stage at Miss Universe, set for Nov. 21 in Pak Kret, Thailand.Crowned...
Layal DAGHER, 18 September 2025
Government continues review of 2026 draft budget
BEIRUT — Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's Cabinet met Thursday at the Grand Serail to continue its review of the 2026 draft budget, with the government hoping to complete its study by the end of...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
In Sweida, early signs of a security deal between Syria and Israel
On Sept. 16, Syrian authorities announced that they withdrew heavy weapons from the province of Sweida, appointed a local militia leader to oversee security in the majority Druze city of the same...
Laure-Maïssa FARJALLAH, 18 September 2025
Nasrallah-Safieddine commemoration: Ali al-Khatib invited to cross-sectarian gathering on Oct. 2
BEIRUT — The preparatory committee for the one-year commemoration of the assassinations of Hezbollah's former Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, and his late successor, Hashem Safieddine, has...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
'BornStars' or the porn site Caroline Labaki almost launched
When your name is Caroline Labaki and you happen to be Nadine Labaki's sister, an internationally acclaimed director and actress, comparisons are inevitable — especially for a first feature....
Nanette Ziadé-Ritter, 18 September 2025
Cleaning woman, key player in a brokers’ network at Baabda Justice Palace
A cleaning woman at the Baabda Justice Palace was recently arrested, along with six intermediaries, on suspicion of working with a network of brokers to support their illegal activities. The...
Claude ASSAF, 18 September 2025
Media: Why the draft law is raising concerns among NGOs
For several weeks, the media draft law currently under review by the Administration and Justice Committee, chaired by Lebanese Forces MP Georges Adwan has sparked significant debate. The issue at...
Philippe HAGE BOUTROS, Yara SARKIS, 18 September 2025
Outcry in Beirut over Hezbollah plan to project Nasrallah’s image on Raouche Rock
At the heart of Hezbollah’s program of commemorations for its members killed in the last war with Israel, the plan to illuminate Raouche’s Pigeon Rocks with the image of the party’s former...
Gabriel BLONDEL, 18 September 2025
Army raid in Mishmish: 'One of the most wanted criminals' killed after exchange of gunfire
BEIRUT — An exchange of gunfire took place Wednesday during a Lebanese Army raid in the heights of Michmich, in Akkar, to arrest "one of the most wanted criminals," resulting in his...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
First Michelin-starred Lebanese chef Alan Geaam: My heart is in Beirut, I'm coming back
On March 12, 1999, Alan Geaam, 24, bought a one-way ticket to Paris with only a backpack, his modest savings in his pocket, driven by the hope of giving his life new purpose.His first years in...
Carla HENOUD, 18 September 2025
Aoun urges diaspora inclusion in electoral decision-making
BEIRUT — President Joseph Aoun stated Wednesday, during a meeting with a delegation from the Lebanese American Renaissance Partnership (LARP), that it is "natural" for the diaspora to...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Geagea says state weakness behind latest attack against UNIFIL
BEIRUT — Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea condemned Wednesday’s brief obstruction of a UNIFIL patrol in South Lebanon, along with similar recent incidents, in a message posted on X. He...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Kyiv says Russia returned 1,000 bodies
Ukraine on Thursday received 1,000 bodies from Russia that Moscow said were of fallen Ukrainian soldiers, a Kyiv government agency announced. "Repatriation measures took place today. 1,000...
AFP, 18 September 2025
Hariri's envoy stresses state's arms monopoly during meeting with Russian official
BEIRUT —During a meeting in Moscow with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin, George Shaaban, special envoy of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, conveyed Hariri’s stance on regional...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Two Israelis killed in shooting at Allenby border crossing
The Israeli military has received a report of a shooting at the Allenby Crossing between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan, and details of the incident were under investigation, the...
Reuters, 18 September 2025
Trump says designating Antifa 'a major terrorist organization'
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would designate "Antifa" — a shorthand term for "anti-fascist" used to describe diffuse far-left groups — as "a major terrorist...
AFP, 18 September 2025
Qatar meets ICC head as it mulls legal action against Israel
Qatar has met with the president of the International Criminal Court as it seeks legal action against Israel over its unprecedented strike on its territory last week, an official said on Thursday....
AFP, 18 September 2025
Byblos welcomes its first 'Echoes of Theater' festival
In Byblos, the ancient stones have often echoed with music, wine, celebrations and summer festivals. This time, the city turns to theater: from Sept. 18 to 21, it will host its very first festival...
Nanette Ziadé-Ritter, 18 September 2025
Samia Halaby receives the 2025 Munch Prize for Artistic Freedom
BEIRUT — Samia Halaby, a pioneering Palestinian abstract painter and activist, has been awarded the 2025 Munch Prize by Oslo’s Edvard Munch Museum, recognizing her six decades of innovation in art...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
With Qudwa, AUB strengthens women entrepreneurs' autonomy in informal sector
The Center for Women in Business at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) awarded diplomas in August to 20 women entrepreneurs working in the...
Chantal EDDÉ, 18 September 2025
Tough topics top Trump-Starmer talks after regal welcome
Donald Trump held talks on Thursday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer about pressing issues including Ukraine, Gaza and trade, as the U.S. president's second state visit moved from royal...
AFP, 18 September 2025
Telecoms blackout hits as Israeli tanks advance
Israeli tanks were seen in two Gaza City areas that are gateways to the city centre, residents said on Thursday, while internet and phone lines were cut off across the Gaza Strip, a sign that...
Reuters, 18 September 2025
Discovering yourself through faces, land and snakes: Where to be this weekend in the Middle East
The question of finding ourselves is constantly on our minds, whether we're 14, 17, 24 or other ages I have yet to turn (but something tells me it's forever). This week, our artists pick at...
Marguerita Sejaan, 18 September 2025
Bernie Sanders, first US senator to call Israel's actions in Gaza 'genocide,' Haaretz reports
BEIRUT — "Yes, the war in Gaza is a genocide," Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders posted Wednesday on his X account. On Monday, an independent United Nations commission of experts released...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Boukhari praises Lebanon's efforts in the fight against drug trafficking
BEIRUT — The Saudi ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Boukhari, praised the efforts made by the Lebanese Ministry of Interior in combating drug smuggling, particularly to the kingdom, according to the...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Applications open for several key positions in public administration
BEIRUT — The Energy and Water Ministry announced in a statement Thursday the opening of applications for the positions of chairman of the board of directors/general manager of the Beirut and Mount...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Studying and working in Lebanon: Resilience of youth in struggle
The topic of "brain drain" in Lebanon is a common one, referring to the brilliant minds who leave the country in search of a more stable future; but some stay, against all odds. These are...
Joanne NAOUM, 18 September 2025
Druze Sheikh al-Hijri reportedly backs from Sweida prisoner exchange deal
BEIRUT — The main Druze spiritual leader in Syria, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, reportedly backed down from a prisoner exchange agreement in the Southern Syrian province of Sweida, threatening a...
Malek Jadah, 18 September 2025
Security agreement could be reached 'in the coming days,' says Sharaa
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said Wednesday that ongoing negotiations with Israel to reach a security pact could yield results "in the coming days," telling reporters in Damascus that...
Reuters/L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Hacking Lebanese Politics #22: What’s the deal with France’s corruption probe into former PM Najib Mikati
On Sept. 14, France’s National Financial Prosecutor’s Office opened a preliminary investigation into former Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Mikati, who has served multiple times as prime...
Sahar Ghoussoub, 18 September 2025
German journalists' union criticises decision to take Jimmy Kimmel off air
Germany's main journalists' union urged major U.S. media to support journalists after Walt Disney-owned broadcaster ABC pulled 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' in a row over comments by the...
Reuters, 18 September 2025
CEEDD Chair celebrates 10th anniversary: International conference on land health, human well-being
To celebrate its tenth anniversary, the Chair for Education in Ecocitizenship and Sustainable Development (CEEDD) is hosting an international conference on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 4:30 p.m. in the...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Syria to strike security deals with Israel by end of 2025
Negotiations between Syria and Israel are making progress and are expected to lead to “several security agreements” by the end of the year, according to Damascus. This announcement coincides with...
AFP, 18 September 2025
Oussama Saad takes another step toward breaking with Hezbollah
Hezbollah’s isolation on the Sunni scene grows clearer. As pressure mounts for it to accept the state’s monopoly on weapons, Hezbollah finds itself increasingly deserted by former allies. The...
Yara ABI AKL, 18 September 2025
Australia urges its citizens to ‘reconsider the need to travel’ to Lebanon ‘due to the security environment’
BEIRUT — The Australian embassy urged its citizens on Wednesday to “reconsider the need to travel to the entire country, due to the uncertain security environment” (alert level 3). “Although a...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
US diplomats on Syria abruptly let go amid pro-Damascus policy push, sources say
Some of the most senior U.S. diplomats focused on Syria have been abruptly let go from their posts in recent days, according to five people familiar with the matter, a shake-up that comes as...
Reuters, 18 September 2025
Syria FM heading to US, a first in 25 years
Syria's foreign minister is heading to Washington on Thursday, a foreign ministry source told AFP, in the first such visit in more than 25 years. "Syrian Foreign Minister Assad...
AFP, 18 September 2025
UNIFIL resumes demining operations after two-year pause
BEIRUT — The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) resumed last week, at the request of the government, its "humanitarian demining operations" in southern Lebanon, after nearly...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Guterres denounces Israeli violations: Hezbollah 'takes advantage to justify its existence'
The United Nations diplomatic season began Tuesday in New York amid a tense atmosphere. On the eve of the arrival of more than a hundred heads of state and government for the 80th session of the...
Sylviane Zehil at the United Nations., 18 September 2025
Immigration judge orders Khalil deportation, lawyers say separate ruling protects him for now
A U.S. immigration judge ordered pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil be deported to Algeria or Syria over claims that he omitted information from his green card application, court documents...
Reuters, 18 September 2025
'I was impressed': In 2008, Lebanese director Aractingi met Robert Redford
It was 2008. My film "Sous les bombes" had just been screened in Venice and Dubai, drawing interest from numerous festivals. I then found out it was selected for Sundance, the festival...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Tarek Mitri: 'The Lebanese Army does not want to use force against any party'
BEIRUT — Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri said that the approach favored by the Lebanese government to restore the state's monopoly on arms had prevented the country from being divided, and...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Starmer and Trump to discuss foreign affairs, investment after pomp-filled royal welcome
Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday for talks designed to focus the U.S. leader's unprecedented second state visit firmly on global affairs rather than...
Reuters, 18 September 2025
Washington adds 4 pro-Iranian militias to its list of terrorist organizations
The United States on Wednesday added four pro-Iranian militias to its list of foreign terrorist organizations, the State Department announced: Harakat al-Nujaba, Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat...
L'Orient Today staff, 18 September 2025
Amnesty urges states and companies to halt support for 'apartheid system' and 'genocide'
Amnesty International on Thursday called on states and companies to stop their activities "directly or indirectly contributing" to the "system of apartheid against Palestinians"...
