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Salamé-Hanna: justice goes back to the flow of Audi Bank
2026-08-10

Salamé-Hanna: justice goes back to the flow of Audi Bank

Lebanese justice is now jointly pursuing Riad Salamé, former Governor of the Bank of Lebanon, and Samir Hanna, former President of Bank Audi. The case concerns suspicions of misappropriation, illicit enrichment, laundering, corruption and the use of offshore companies in transactions involving Audi Bank shares. The complaint filed by Karim Souaid mainly opens a much wider examination of the financial relations between the BDL of Salamé and one of the country's main commercial banks before the 2019 crisis.

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Solar eclipse: Lebanon won't see anything on August 12
2026-08-10

Solar eclipse: Lebanon won’t see anything on August 12

The total solar eclipse of Wednesday 12 August 2026 will not be visible from Lebanon, not even in partial form. The entire band will cross the Arctic regions, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic and part of Spain, while much of Europe will observe a partial eclipse. Beirut and all Lebanese territory will remain outside the lunar darkness. Lebanese observers will have to wait until 2 August 2027 to see a new solar eclipse directly.

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Solar eclipse: Lebanon won't see anything on August 12
2026-08-10

Solar eclipse: Lebanon won’t see anything on August 12

The total solar eclipse of Wednesday 12 August 2026 will not be visible from Lebanon, not even in partial form. The entire band will cross the Arctic regions, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic and part of Spain, while much of Europe will observe a partial eclipse. Beirut and all Lebanese territory will remain outside the lunar darkness. Lebanese observers will have to wait until 2 August 2027 to see a new solar eclipse directly.

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Cancer in Lebanon: an alarming rise
2026-08-10

Cancer in Lebanon: an alarming rise

Lebanon faces a sustained increase in cancer that now exceeds the capacity of oncology services alone. International estimates show 13,034 new cases and 7,307 deaths in 2022, while 33,576 people were diagnosed in the previous five years. Breast, lung, prostate, colorectal and bladder cancer are among the main locations. To this increase is added the cost of drugs, unequal access to care and inadequate screening.

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Cancer in Lebanon: an alarming rise
2026-08-10

Cancer in Lebanon: an alarming rise

Lebanon faces a sustained increase in cancer that now exceeds the capacity of oncology services alone. International estimates show 13,034 new cases and 7,307 deaths in 2022, while 33,576 people were diagnosed in the previous five years. Breast, lung, prostate, colorectal and bladder cancer are among the main locations. To this increase is added the cost of drugs, unequal access to care and inadequate screening.

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Riyadh-Ankara-Islamabad: Israel faces a new axis
2026-08-10

Riyadh-Ankara-Islamabad: Israel faces a new axis

The defence alliance signed in Mecca by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan introduces a new collective player in the Middle East balance. Riyadh brings its resources and diplomatic weight, Ankara its army and its defence industry, Islamabad its conventional forces and ambiguity related to its nuclear deterrence. For Israel, the challenge is mainly political and strategic: Turkey challenges its freedom of action in Syria while Saudi Arabia builds regional security that no longer depends on normalization with Jerusalem.

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China sets itself as Lebanon's key partner
2026-08-10

China sets itself as Lebanon’s key partner

China has established itself as Lebanon's leading supplier and could already be at the forefront of its individual trading partners. Trade reached $2.8 billion in 2025, according to Chinese Ambassador Chen Chuandong, and then $1.29 billion in the first half of 2026 despite the regional war. Behind this spectacular increase, however, is a strong imbalance: Lebanon buys a lot from China but sells little to it. The next challenge is to attract Chinese investment and further open the Chinese market to Lebanese companies.

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China sets itself as Lebanon's key partner
2026-08-10

China sets itself as Lebanon’s key partner

China has established itself as Lebanon's leading supplier and could already be at the forefront of its individual trading partners. Trade reached $2.8 billion in 2025, according to Chinese Ambassador Chen Chuandong, and then $1.29 billion in the first half of 2026 despite the regional war. Behind this spectacular increase, however, is a strong imbalance: Lebanon buys a lot from China but sells little to it. The next challenge is to attract Chinese investment and further open the Chinese market to Lebanese companies.

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Israeli withdrawal: Rome fails, Beirut hardens
2026-08-10

Israeli withdrawal: Rome fails, Beirut hardens

The seventh round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel ended in Rome without the new Israeli withdrawal expected by Beirut. While the guarantees requested of Lebanon on disarmament and its international verification are being clarified, Israel has not accepted either Bint Jbeil or Khiam as the next pilot zone. As the eighth round approaches, Joseph Aoun and Nawaf Salam also face the political fragility of the negotiators and the controversy surrounding Antoun Sehnaoui and Nada Hamadé Mouawad.

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USA-Israel: towards a major crisis on three fronts?
2026-08-10

USA-Israel: towards a major crisis on three fronts?

Donald Trump is now seeking to reduce Israeli operations in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran simultaneously. According to the Israeli press, CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper reportedly sent Israel an American message calling for progress towards the closure of the three fronts. Benjamin Netanyahu resists Washington's calendar. The rejection of the US plan for Gaza, the absence of a further withdrawal in Lebanon and the differences over Iran now indicate the risk of a strategic crisis between the two allies.

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Iran: Mossad punishes defeat · Global Voices
2026-08-10

Iran: Mossad punishes defeat · Global Voices

Mossad withdrew two senior officials associated with the Israeli plan to bring about the fall of the Iranian regime during the 2026 war. The head of intelligence and the head of the Iran Division had participated in a project combining air strikes, mobilization of Kurdish groups and the outbreak of an internal insurgency. As the regime survived, the evictions opened a battle in Israel over responsibility, which reached Roman Gofman and Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Trump seeks a way out of the war with Iran
2026-08-10

Trump seeks a way out of the war with Iran

Donald Trump now favours a negotiated exit from the war with Iran, focusing on reopening the Strait of Ormuz and stabilizing the Gulf. This is a source of concern to Israel, which fears that a halt to operations will enable Tehran to rebuild its nuclear and ballistic capabilities. Benjamin Netanyahu therefore maintains the option of further strikes, while Washington is seeking to prevent an Israeli operation that could defeat negotiations with Iran.

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Dossiers

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Loi médias : les internautes libanais aussi concernés
2026-07-09

Media law: Lebanese Internet users also involved

The vote on the media bill by joint parliamentary committees goes far beyond the professional press. Depending on its final wording, the text may affect citizens who publish on Facebook, X, Instagram or TikTok. The main risk lies in too wide a scope, vague concepts such as false news or infringement of institutions, and a regulatory authority that can become a tool for political control.

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Loi médias : les internautes libanais aussi concernés
2026-07-09

Media law: Lebanese Internet users also involved

The vote on the media bill by joint parliamentary committees goes far beyond the professional press. Depending on its final wording, the text may affect citizens who publish on Facebook, X, Instagram or TikTok. The main risk lies in too wide a scope, vague concepts such as false news or infringement of institutions, and a regulatory authority that can become a tool for political control.

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的黎波里、赫德贾兹、海法:铁路成为地缘政治
2026-06-28

Tripoli, Hedjaz, Haifa: Rail becomes geopolitical

The project to revive the Hedjaz railway, carried by Turkey with Saudi Arabia, goes far beyond the economic framework. By connecting Turkey with the Gulf through Syria and Jordan, Ankara is seeking to become again a central player in regional traffic. This corridor competes with projects linking the Emirates and Saudi Arabia to the Israeli port of Haifa. It also worries Israel, already concerned about Turkish influence in Syria, and puts Riyadh in the face of a contradiction: to cooperate with Ankara while not trusting its report to the Muslim Brotherhood.

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的黎波里、赫德贾兹、海法:铁路成为地缘政治
2026-06-28

Tripoli, Hedjaz, Haifa: Rail becomes geopolitical

The project to revive the Hedjaz railway, carried by Turkey with Saudi Arabia, goes far beyond the economic framework. By connecting Turkey with the Gulf through Syria and Jordan, Ankara is seeking to become again a central player in regional traffic. This corridor competes with projects linking the Emirates and Saudi Arabia to the Israeli port of Haifa. It also worries Israel, already concerned about Turkish influence in Syria, and puts Riyadh in the face of a contradiction: to cooperate with Ankara while not trusting its report to the Muslim Brotherhood.

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在华盛顿之后,协议的框架?
2026-06-28

After Washington, the framework for an agreement?

No, the spectre of civil war is not back in Lebanon.This is a beautiful lure that the Lebanese have understood what the trap of a civil war costs. No, Israel's irresistible temptation to incrust in the South did not end.Yes, in its negotiation with America, the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to enunciate only the south of the [...]

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黎巴嫩-以色列框架协定:多数人的困境
2026-06-27

Lebanon-Israel Framework Agreement: The Lock of Majorities

The framework agreement signed between Lebanon, Israel and the United States may encounter several institutional locks. Article 52 of the Constitution raises the question of passage through Parliament. Article 65 imposes two thirds on the Council of Ministers on fundamental matters. In the House, the quorum is 65 deputies and the vote on a law is public. The debate was also political: Taif imposed the dissolution of the militias, but its part on the liberation of the South served to legitimize the resistance against Israel.

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Society

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Solar eclipse: Lebanon won't see anything on August 12
2026-08-10

Solar eclipse: Lebanon won’t see anything on August 12

The total solar eclipse of Wednesday 12 August 2026 will not be visible from Lebanon, not even in partial form. The entire band will cross the Arctic regions, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic and part of Spain, while much of Europe will observe a partial eclipse. Beirut and all Lebanese territory will remain outside the lunar darkness. Lebanese observers will have to wait until 2 August 2027 to see a new solar eclipse directly.

Read article
Solar eclipse: Lebanon won't see anything on August 12
2026-08-10

Solar eclipse: Lebanon won’t see anything on August 12

The total solar eclipse of Wednesday 12 August 2026 will not be visible from Lebanon, not even in partial form. The entire band will cross the Arctic regions, Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic and part of Spain, while much of Europe will observe a partial eclipse. Beirut and all Lebanese territory will remain outside the lunar darkness. Lebanese observers will have to wait until 2 August 2027 to see a new solar eclipse directly.

Read article
Cancer in Lebanon: an alarming rise
2026-08-10

Cancer in Lebanon: an alarming rise

Lebanon faces a sustained increase in cancer that now exceeds the capacity of oncology services alone. International estimates show 13,034 new cases and 7,307 deaths in 2022, while 33,576 people were diagnosed in the previous five years. Breast, lung, prostate, colorectal and bladder cancer are among the main locations. To this increase is added the cost of drugs, unequal access to care and inadequate screening.

Read article
Cancer in Lebanon: an alarming rise
2026-08-10

Cancer in Lebanon: an alarming rise

Lebanon faces a sustained increase in cancer that now exceeds the capacity of oncology services alone. International estimates show 13,034 new cases and 7,307 deaths in 2022, while 33,576 people were diagnosed in the previous five years. Breast, lung, prostate, colorectal and bladder cancer are among the main locations. To this increase is added the cost of drugs, unequal access to care and inadequate screening.

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Life for Relief and Development au Liban :La crise humanitaire s’aggrave alors que plus d’un million de personnes restent déplacées et que des milliers de familles continuent de souffrir de la faim et du manque de logement
2026-07-02

Life for Relief and Development in Lebanon:The humanitarian crisis worsens as more than one million people remain displaced and thousands of families continue to suffer from hunger and lack of housing

By Tasneem Elridi Thousands of Lebanese families continue to suffer the consequences of an increasingly serious humanitarian crisis, despite the announcement of a ceasefire. According to the latest reports published by the United Nations and international organizations, the number of internally displaced persons now exceeds 1.049 million, while more than [...]

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2026-07-01

Under the waves: condition of Lebanese beaches in 2026

CNRS Infographic 2026 shows that 24 Lebanese beaches are bathed, but seven sites between Beirut and Jounieh are prohibited from bathing due to extreme pollution. The analysis reveals regional disparities, the impact of wastewater and microplastics, and gaps in infrastructure and governance. Solutions exist but require collective commitment.

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Economy

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China sets itself as Lebanon's key partner
2026-08-10

China sets itself as Lebanon’s key partner

China has established itself as Lebanon's leading supplier and could already be at the forefront of its individual trading partners. Trade reached $2.8 billion in 2025, according to Chinese Ambassador Chen Chuandong, and then $1.29 billion in the first half of 2026 despite the regional war. Behind this spectacular increase, however, is a strong imbalance: Lebanon buys a lot from China but sells little to it. The next challenge is to attract Chinese investment and further open the Chinese market to Lebanese companies.

Read article
China sets itself as Lebanon's key partner
2026-08-10

China sets itself as Lebanon’s key partner

China has established itself as Lebanon's leading supplier and could already be at the forefront of its individual trading partners. Trade reached $2.8 billion in 2025, according to Chinese Ambassador Chen Chuandong, and then $1.29 billion in the first half of 2026 despite the regional war. Behind this spectacular increase, however, is a strong imbalance: Lebanon buys a lot from China but sells little to it. The next challenge is to attract Chinese investment and further open the Chinese market to Lebanese companies.

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أطلق ألفا 5G في عدة مناطق في لبنان
2026-07-30

Alfa launches 5G in several areas of Lebanon

Alfa activated 5G in several areas of Beirut and its suburbs, before an announced expansion to 75 additional stations. This launch marks a first step for a long-standing Lebanon away from the modernization of mobile networks. However, the success of the project will depend on the quality of fibre optics, electricity, regulation, prices and the ability of the authorities to extend coverage beyond the main urban areas.

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Banking reform: Parliament accelerates but deposits remain at the heart of the debate
2026-07-30

Banking reform: Parliament accelerates but deposits remain at the heart of the debate

The Parliamentary Finance Committee finalized the review of the bank restructuring bill before a final meeting scheduled for Monday. For its president, Ibrahim Kanaan, this reform cannot restore confidence without a law guaranteeing the return of deposits. Financing these repayments and the effective implementation of future reforms now appear to be the main challenges of Lebanese economic recovery.

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Banking reform: Parliament accelerates but deposits remain at the heart of the debate
2026-07-30

Banking reform: Parliament accelerates but deposits remain at the heart of the debate

The Parliamentary Finance Committee finalized the review of the bank restructuring bill before a final meeting scheduled for Monday. For its president, Ibrahim Kanaan, this reform cannot restore confidence without a law guaranteeing the return of deposits. Financing these repayments and the effective implementation of future reforms now appear to be the main challenges of Lebanese economic recovery.

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Culture

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Kavinsky, the last trip of the pilot of the Testarossa
2026-07-29

Kavinsky, the last trip of the pilot of the Testarossa

With the disappearance of Kavinsky, French electronic music loses one of its most singular creators. Behind this pseudonym was Vincent Belorgey, a discreet artist who became a world reference thanks to an immediately recognizable universe made of analog synthesizers, neons, desert roads and Ferrari Testarossa launched in the night. His character, inspired [...]

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World Heritage-listed Tyre at Risk
2026-07-23

World Heritage-listed Tyre at Risk

The Unesco World Heritage Committee has placed Tyre on the World Heritage List at risk, at the request of the Lebanese government. This decision recognizes that the conditions necessary for the conservation of the site are no longer in place, owing to the damage already observed and the continuing threat of hostilities. The Minister of Culture, Ghassan Salamé, now hopes to mobilise Member States, obtain expertise and speed up safeguard measures.

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Beaufort: Lebanese heritage again threatened
2026-07-21

Beaufort: Lebanese heritage again threatened

The Israeli plan to dynamit a network of tunnels in the Beaufort Ridge raises serious concerns for Qalaa al-Shaqif. Israel claims to be targeting a Hezbollah military infrastructure, but has not published any independent geological study or detailed risk assessment. This threat comes after a series of attacks on Lebanese heritage since October 2023, from Tyre to Baalbeck, including Nabatiyah, Chamaa, Mhaibib and several historic villages in southern Lebanon.

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Beaufort: Lebanese heritage again threatened
2026-07-21

Beaufort: Lebanese heritage again threatened

The Israeli plan to dynamit a network of tunnels in the Beaufort Ridge raises serious concerns for Qalaa al-Shaqif. Israel claims to be targeting a Hezbollah military infrastructure, but has not published any independent geological study or detailed risk assessment. This threat comes after a series of attacks on Lebanese heritage since October 2023, from Tyre to Baalbeck, including Nabatiyah, Chamaa, Mhaibib and several historic villages in southern Lebanon.

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