Ahmad Hajjar arrives in Bahrain for official visit
Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar arrived in Bahrain on Monday evening, upon invitation by his Bahraini counterpart, Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, who welcomed him at the airport alongside...
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Money transfers: BDL overhauls regulations from top to bottom
The circular published last November to strengthen oversight of transactions carried out by non-bank financial institutions turned out to be just the beginning. On Monday, Banque du Liban (BDL,...
Philippe HAGE BOUTROS, 19 January 2026
Badaro's newly opened Bistrot Lobo is what happens when French bistro meets Beiruti flare
Since the Israeli strikes in nearby neighborhoods during the most recent war, visitors to Badaro have become a little scarcer. Nevertheless, in this neighborhood that is both residential and...
Nagi MORKOS, 19 January 2026
Bank of Lebanon denies 'rumors' of discussions over MEA sale
The Banque du Liban, (BDL, central bank) denied in a statement Monday the "rumors and speculation regarding the existence of negotiations, discussions, or contacts concerning the total or...
L'Orient Today staff, 19 January 2026
Three Finance Ministry Officials Prosecuted for Corruption in Nabatieh
The financial public prosecutor, Maher Cheaito, on Monday filed charges on suspicion of corruption against three Finance Ministry officials stationed in Nabatieh, South Lebanon. Among them are the...
L'Orient Today staff, 19 January 2026
Tripoli: Joe Saddi announces repairs to restore running water supply
In an effort to find solutions to Tripoli’s running water crisis, a meeting was held Monday at the city’s Order of Engineers headquarters, attended by the Energy and Water Minister, Joe Saddi, the...
L'Orient Today staff, 19 January 2026
Italian fashion designer Valentino dies at 93
Italian fashion designer and haute couture icon Valentino has died at 93, the Italian news agency ANSA reported Monday. This major figure in high fashion and a symbol of the 1960s dolce vita...
L'Orient Today staff, 19 January 2026
Ministry of Justice says it is closely following investigations into Mohammad Harkous' death
BEIRUT — The Ministry of Justice said on Monday that investigations into the case of the death of the young man Mohammad Harkous are being followed up seriously, in a statement relayed by the...
L'Orient Today staff, 19 January 2026
Kurdish-led SDF accuses government factions of attacking Shaddadi prison as Syrian forces tighten grip
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said on Monday that forces affiliated with the Syrian government attacked Shaddadi prison in Hasakah in Syria's northeast, where it said thousands of...
L'Orient Today staff, 19 January 2026
Ibrahim Mneimneh welcomes removal of SSNP barriers in Raouche
BEIRUT — Ibrahim Mneimneh, MP for Beirut and architect and urban planning expert, welcomed on Monday the removal of street barriers that belong to the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) in...
L'Orient Today staff, 19 January 2026
Dozens abducted in Nigeria church attacks; Church leader says more than 160 seized
Armed bandits abducted dozens of worshipers from two churches in Nigeria's Kaduna state, police said on Monday, while a senior church leader put the number of those missing at more than 160....
L'Orient Today staff, 19 January 2026
For the cake: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and butter a 23×33 cm rectangular pan. In a large bowl, combine the sifted flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, dried zaatar,...
19 January 2026
Families of Aug. 4 victims unwavering: Azzi’s appointment ‘will not pass’
Behind the smoke rising from burning tires, around 30 relatives of victims of the Aug. 4, 2020, Beirut Port explosion demonstrated Monday morning in front of the Customs headquarters near the...
L'Orient Today staff, 19 January 2026
Real change in Iran not assured, even if Khamenei is removed: Former US advisor
After a surge in U.S. threats of military action against the Islamic Republic last week, a tense calm has settled over the Middle East. The prospect of American strikes, whether limited or...
Dany MOUDALLAL, 19 January 2026
'Forever collaboration': De Freige, Kanoo on supporting Lebanon's music scene
Hoda Alkhamis-Kanoo's tone and eloquence as founder and president of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival (ADMAF) subtly enhance her message and other traits: a piercing intensity in her gaze,...
Fifi ABOU DIB, 19 January 2026
After his coup de force, Sharaa imposes agreement on Kurds
It’s one of Damascus’ most significant strategic victories since the fall of the Assad regime.After dislodging fighters of the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from two...
Noura DOUKHI, 19 January 2026
Mark your calendars: Italian cinema is back with 10 films offering something for everyone
At a time when Italian films are either absent from commercial circuits or at best lost in the fog of general, uncurated programming, Beirut's Metropolis Cinema is instead dedicating a full 10...
L'Orient Today staff, 19 January 2026
Deadly blast hits Kabul hotel: Afghan police, govt
A deadly explosion hit a central Kabul hotel on Monday, city police and the Afghan government said, and an AFP journalist saw firefighters near the scene. "An explosion occurred in a hotel on...
19 January 2026
Iran to consider lifting internet ban; state TV hacked
Iran may lift its internet blackout in a few days, a senior parliament member said on Monday, after authorities shut communications while they used massive force to crush protests in the worst...
19 January 2026
Lebanese ski resorts gear up for a 'good and lengthy’ season
After 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15, a long line of cars waiting to enter the Mzaar Ski Resort in Kfar Dibian (Kesrouan district) shows the extent of skiers' enthusiasm. More than 3 kilometers...
Fouad GEMAYEL and Lisa GOURSAUD, 19 January 2026
Syria says 3 soldiers killed in attacks by Kurdish fighters
Syria's army said three soldiers were killed on Monday in attacks by Kurdish fighters, while the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) accused the government of launching attacks despite a...
19 January 2026
Riyadh returns to the helm of the Sunni scene in Lebanon
This time, it was the real Saudi prince. During his recent tour in Beirut, Saudi envoy Yazid bin Farhan did not limit himself to talks with top officials, but also met with members of the public.He...
Yara ABI AKL, 19 January 2026
Major fire breaks out at Saida factory
BEIRUT — A major fire broke out in the Siniq industrial city in Ghazieh (Saida), according to our correspondent in south Lebanon. Civil Defense teams were dispatched to the scene to tackle the...
19 January 2026
Syrian army deploys in Deir al-Zor province after Kurdish withdrawal
Syria's army on Monday deployed its forces in parts of the eastern Deir al-Zor province formerly controlled by Kurdish forces following their withdrawal from the area. After two days of rapid...
19 January 2026
Putin invited to Trump's Gaza 'Board of Peace': Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" meant to oversee governance and reconstruction in postwar Gaza, the Kremlin said...
19 January 2026
Pollution crisis in Gabès on Tunisia’s coast awaits action
“Just imagine, 50 years ago, people used to swim here. Now, no one dares to go near the place,” said Salah Ghouma as he looked out over Chott Salem beach in Gabès. On the sand, a stranded turtle...
Lilia BLAISE from Gabès, 19 January 2026
Does Naim Qassem have what it takes to rein Hezbollah in?
When President Joseph Aoun called on Hezbollah to “show reason,” he once again seemed to forget that he was addressing a party that has elevated the rejection of reason into a political posture....
Rita SASSINE, 19 January 2026
Trump tells Norway PM 'world is not secure' unless US has complete control of Greenland
U.S. President Donald Trump tells Norway PM "world is not secure" unless U.S. has complete control of Greenland.
19 January 2026
The United Arab Emirates in pursuit of rain
Ahmad al-Jaberi has been pacing the tarmac at Al Ain airport, east of Abu Dhabi, for nearly six hours. During this long wait, the pilot checks the sodium cartridges attached to the plane's...
Amélie ZACCOUR, 19 January 2026
Growing differences between the US and Israel over Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Gaza
This is the first real disagreement between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, against the backdrop of Trump announcing the creation of a Gaza “board of...
Mounir RABIH, 19 January 2026
Palestinians in Lebanon face heightened distress by UNRWA’s 20% cut in operations
UNRWA, the U.N. agency responsible for aiding Palestinian refugees in host countries, has announced a 20 percent cut in its activities in its areas of operation starting Feb. 1, sparking anger and...
Zeina ANTONIOS, 19 January 2026
Nine SDF fighters, three Syrian soldiers killed in clashes near Raqqa prison holding IS detainees | LIVE
21:34 Beirut Time Morocco agrees to sit on Gaza 'Peace Council' The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Morocco has accepted U.S. President Donald Trump's...
Muntasser Abdallah, Marguerita Sejaan, Justine Baer, 19 January 2026
Iranian official says verified deaths in protests reaches at least 5,000
An Iranian official in the region said on Sunday the authorities had verified at least 5,000 people had been killed in protests in Iran, including about 500 security personnel, blaming...
19 January 2026
President of Kazakhstan to join Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace,' spokesperson says
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will join the "Board of Peace" proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump after accepting an invitation to do so and wants to contribute to bringing...
19 January 2026
Syrian-Kurdish truce comes into effect, Rajji fires back at Hezbollah chief: Everything you need to know this Monday
Want to get the Morning Brief by email? Click here to sign up.Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.Compiled by Abbas Mahfouz. Some key things to watch for today:• 10:00 a.m.: Families of the victims of the Beirut...
