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The Latest Breaking News from Beirut

On his first diplomatic activity following his return to Beirut, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari met on Monday with Lebanese religious leaders.

Asharq Al-Awsat

Lebanon PM Mikati to visit Saudi Arabia during holy month of Ramadan -Al-Jadeed TV

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Monday he will visit Saudi Arabia during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Al-Jadeed TV reported, in a sign of improving ties with the kingdom following the return of the its ambassador to Beirut after he was withdrawn during a diplomatic rift.

Reuters

Rai Welcomes Return of Arab Ambassadors, Calls for Voting in Favor of ‘Lebanon’s Identity’

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai welcomed the return of the ambassadors of Gulf States to Beirut, saying the move “makes Lebanon feel that it is an active member of the Arab League.” Rai pointed to three "positive" signs that emerged in Lebanon over the past week, noting the announcement of Pope…

Asharq Al-Awsat

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Mikati Considers Return of Gulf Ambassadors as Prelude to Restoring Full Ties

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati considered the return of Gulf ambassadors to Beirut as a prelude to restoring full Gulf-Lebanese relations, his office said on Sunday. The PM’s statement came while he received a phone call from Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid bin Abdullah Bukhari, who returned to Beirut last…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Rahi: Pope Will Have Strong Words on Divisions Among Lebanese Politicians

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi announced on Friday that during his long-awaited trip to Beirut in June, Pope Francis will make a strong statement on divisions among Lebanon’s political class, stressing that the Pontiff will bring with him a word of hope to the country. The Patriarch visited President Michel Aoun…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Lebanese Widely Welcome Return of Gulf Ambassadors

The Gulf countries' decision to return their ambassadors to Beirut was widely welcomed by Lebanese officials, who believe it will open a new chapter in relations between the two sides. Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian said the move "paves the way for a new chapter of hope and faith…

Asharq Al-Awsat

New Lebanese Parliament Will Act on IMF Deal, PM Adviser Says

A set of reforms the IMF wants Lebanon to enact before approving a funding deal for the country will largely be left for a new parliament to study, an adviser to the prime minister said on Friday, suggesting little may be done before a May 15 national election. The IMF…

Asharq Al-Awsat

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Lebanon may not enact IMF reforms before election, lawmakers say

Lebanon won't be able to deliver many if any reforms sought by the IMF as conditions for a funding deal before an election in May, two lawmakers said, meaning months could go by without action as that vote may well be followed by political limbo.

Reuters

200 European Observers For ‘Transparent’ Monitoring of Lebanon’s Elections

Around 200 observers from the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) will be deployed in Beirut and all regions to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections on May 15, EU EOM Chief Observer, Gyorgy Holvenyi announced on Thursday after a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun at the Presidential Palace.…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Lebanon: Salameh Hopes IMF Conditions Are Met to Secure Program

Lebanese central bank governor Riad Salameh said on Friday he hoped prior conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a staff-level agreement with Lebanon would be met in order to secure IMF board approval of a program. The IMF said on Thursday it had reached a draft funding…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Yemen Returns Envoy to Lebanon

Yemen's foreign ministry announced on Thursday the return of its envoy to Lebanon. "The move is in response to Beirut's pledge to halt activities and practices offensive to Arab countries," the Yemeni ministry said in a statement carried by the country's state news agency. The statement came after Saudi Arabia…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Kuwaiti ambassador to return to Beirut before end of the week - Lebanese prime minister statement

The Lebanese prime minister's office said on Thursday in a statement that Kuwait informed the PM that its ambassador to Beirut will return to Lebanon before end of the week, in a sign of easing tensions following a rift that saw Gulf states withdraw their envoys last year.

Reuters

Lebanon reaches agreement with IMF on economic reforms

Agreement could potentially unlock access to IMF funds if Lebanese authorities implement a series of reforms.

Al Jazeera

Saudi foreign ministry announces return of Saudi ambassador to Lebanon -state news agency

Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Beirut has returned to Lebanon, the foreign ministry said on Thursday, in a sign of easing tensions following a rift that saw the kingdom and other Gulf states withdraw their envoys last year.

Reuters

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Asharq Al-Awsat

IMF, Lebanon Reach Staff-level Funding Deal, Subject to Reforms

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday it had reached a staff-level agreement with Lebanon for a four-year extended fund facility that would however only get full approval from the fund if Beirut enacts a series of reforms. An agreement with the IMF is seen as vital for Lebanon…

Reuters

IMF, Lebanon reach draft funding deal, subject to reforms

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday it had reached a draft funding agreement with Lebanon - but that Beirut needed to enact a batch of economic reforms first before its board decided whether to approve the deal.

Asharq Al-Awsat

Rahi: Political Class Controls Part of Lebanon’s Judiciary

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rahi on Sunday lashed out at Lebanon’s judiciary, which he said is partly controlled by the political class and is therefore a tool used by statesmen to act against justice. “There is increasing suspicions around Lebanon’s judicial activities,” Rahi said during Sunday’s mass sermon about the delay…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Ukraine Oil Price Surge Casts Shadow over Ramadan Meals

Cheap and tasty, fried potatoes have become a staple in Lebanese mother Mona Amsha's kitchen in recent years. But with sunflower oil prices soaring due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, she fears even fries will be out of reach this Ramadan. "In 2021, when the prices were already up, I…

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Asharq Al-Awsat

IMF Delegation Launches Two-Week Mission in Crisis-Hit Lebanon

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation kicked off talks in Beirut Wednesday as part of a two-week mission aimed at securing progress towards funding for crisis-hit Lebanon. The government is hoping to secure a rescue package to exit a deep financial crisis that started in 2019 and has seen most…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Lebanese Prosecutor Overturns Decision Barring Banks from Shipping Money

Lebanon's top prosecutor on Monday overturned a judicial decision that last week instructed customs authorities to prevent six banks from moving money out of the country, a senior judicial source told Reuters. Last week's decision by Judge Ghada Aoun prompted the banking association to warn that the banks - including…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Lebanon’s Geagea Says Judicial Decisions against Party Unlawful

Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea said on Saturday that recent judicial decisions against his party were against the law. Speaking at a news conference days after a judge charged him over deadly violence in Beirut in October, Geagea said that the judicial decisions were aimed at tarnishing the image…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Lebanese Forces, Mustaqbal Say Charge Against Geagea Is Politically Motivated

Political parties have rejected the accusation against Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, who was charged with "stoking strife" during the Tayyouneh clashes in October 2021. The LF and the Mustaqbal Movement condemned on Friday the decision by the Military Court in Beirut to charge Geagea with attempted murder and inciting…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Mikati Welcomes Iran’s Support In Electricity Sector

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Friday that Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed Iran’s readiness to contribute in building two power plants in Lebanon, linking their realization with reaching a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. During his second day visit to Beirut, the Iranian Minister separately…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Iran Ready to Supply Wheat to Lebanon, Lebanese President Cites Iranian FM

Lebanese President Michel Aoun tweeted on Friday that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian assured him after their meeting in Beirut that Iran was ready to support Lebanon in all fields, "most notably in the provision of wheat". Lebanon bought the bulk of its wheat from Ukraine until Russia's invasion, and…

Asharq Al-Awsat

Amirabdollahian in Beirut, Says Iran Ready to Build 2 Power Plants

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian expressed on Thursday his country’s readiness to contribute in building two power plants in Lebanon, each with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts. The minister said he had discussed the offer during his meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati on the sidelines of the Munich Security…

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