Lebanon
Latest stories
Cabinet Holds Last Session as Aoun Asks PM to 'Brief Lebanese on Achievements'

President Michel Aoun said the Cabinet convenes in a final session on Monday before it turns into a caretaker government by midnight, as he asked PM Saad Hariri to prepare a report briefing the Lebanese on the government’s accomplishments.

Aoun’s remarks came during a Cabinet convention which he chaired at Baabda Palace.

W140 Full Story
Rahi Urges Parliament Blocs to Facilitate Govt. Lineup

President Michel Aoun received on Monday Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi who “congratulated the President on staging successful parliamentary elections,” urging the parliament blocs to facilitate the formation of the new government.

W140 Full Story
Report: Hopes that Hariri-Jumblat Meeting 'Will Still Happen'

A meeting between Prime Minister Saad Hariri and leader of the Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblat did not take place on Sunday as anticipated, amid hopes that the meeting will still happen, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

W140 Full Story
Report: Decisive Week Ahead as Parliament Term Ends Midnight, New Govt. Forms

The mandate of Lebanon’s parliament --which extended its own mandate for three consecutive times since its election in 2009-- ends at midnight Monday, meanwhile the government gears for its final meeting at Baabda Palace to tackle 59 items before it turns into a caretaker government on Tuesday.

The cabinet will convene at the Presidential Palace and will be chaired by President Michel Aoun to discuss several issues including the problematic electricity file, said al-Joumhouria daily.

W140 Full Story
Qaouq: Saudi Doesn't Want Hizbullah in New Govt.

A senior Hizbullah official on Sunday accused Saudi Arabia of seeking to keep his group out of the new Lebanese government.

W140 Full Story
Jumblat Meets Berri, Endorses Ferzli for Deputy Speaker

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Sunday held talks in Ain el-Tineh with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

W140 Full Story
U.N. Chief Urges Govt. to Prevent Hizbullah from Amassing Arms

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reportedly urged the Lebanese government to take all the necessary measures to prevent Hizbullah from obtaining more weapons.

In his latest report about the implementation of U.N. Security Council 1559 (2004), a copy of which was obtained by Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, Guterres also warns of dire consequences from the continued involvement of the Iran-backed group in the Syrian conflict.

W140 Full Story
LF Says Hariri-Geagea Talks 'Turned Page on Disagreement'

The latest meeting between Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geageaa “has turned the page on the disagreement of the past months” between the two parties, an LF official said.

Geagea “wanted the meeting to be the beginning of a new and productive political phase that can improve people's lives and restore confidence with the formation of the new government, after benefiting from the positive shock that was created by the elections,” LF spokesman Charles Jabbour told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in remarks published Sunday.

W140 Full Story
Berri Sources: Vote Plunged Lebanon into Dangerous Phase

The latest parliamentary elections have plunged the country into a dangerous phase due to the “sectarian incitement” that marred the electoral campaigns, sources close to Speaker Nabih Berri have said, while noting that “there is insistence on overcoming this situation after the polls.”

“The Baabda meeting between President Michel Aoun and Speaker Berri focused on key issues such as the Syrian refugee crisis, the economic situation and the regional situation,” the sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in remarks published Sunday.

W140 Full Story
Hariri Says 'Entire Lebanon Proud' of Labaki's Cannes Win

Prime Minister Saad Hariri was quick to congratulate Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki on winning one of the top prizes at the Cannes festival overnight Saturday.

“Congratulations to the director Nadine Labaki and all the crew of the film Capernaum on winning the Jury Prize at the Cannes cinema festival,” Hariri tweeted.

W140 Full Story