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2026-08-11

Lebanon: Media law passed despite risks

On Tuesday, 11 August 2026, the Lebanese Parliament adopted the new media law without changing the text submitted to the vote. After more than 16 years of work, the reform modernizes the sector's framework, particularly for digital media, source protection and regulation. However, a provision allowing up to three years in prison for certain publications remains highly contested. Information Minister Paul Morcos officially registered his opposition and announced future amendments.

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General amnesty divides Lebanese Parliament
2026-08-11

General amnesty divides Lebanese Parliament

The debate on the general amnesty law took place Tuesday, 11 August 2026 in the Lebanese Parliament. Gebran Bassil and Ibrahim Kanaan requested that Defence Minister Michel Menassa be able to present the Lebanese Army's observations prior to the vote, in particular because of the crimes committed against military personnel. Nawaf Salam claims to have simply wanted to present a single governmental position. Paula Yacoubian believes that the army had already been heard in commissions, triggering a new exchange with Elias Bou Saab.

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Salam-Menassa: Amnesty breaks the executive
2026-08-11

Salam-Menassa: Amnesty breaks the executive

The dispute between Nawaf Salam and Michel Menassa over the general amnesty had begun before the sitting of Parliament. The day before, the Minister of Defence provided Elias Bou Saab with written comments from the Lebanese Army on the amendments to the text. On Tuesday, Salam objected to Menassa presenting to the deputies a statement expressing the position of the army. The tone went up, Menassa left the meeting and the military command then intervened to ask him to deliver his speech.

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Lebanon abolishes the death penalty
2026-08-11

Lebanon abolishes the death penalty

On Tuesday, 11 August 2026, the Lebanese Parliament adopted the law abolishing the death penalty, following a number of amendments, including amendments to replace the death penalty. Pre-reform crimes will be punishable by life imprisonment, while aggravated life is provided for crimes committed after its entry into force. Lebanon had not carried out any executions since 2004. Unlike some early dispatches, however, it is not the first abolitionist Arab country, Djibouti having abolished the death penalty in 1995.

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Aoun defends the negotiations despite their suspension
2026-08-11

Aoun defends the negotiations despite their suspension

Joseph Aoun states that negotiations between Lebanon and Israel are progressing and remain preferable to a new war. The President assured that Beirut would not accept the retention of any Israeli soldier in its territory and noted a decrease in attacks since the signing of the framework agreement. His statements, however, took place at a time when direct discussions had been suspended since the seventh meeting in Rome, concluded without further Israeli withdrawal and without an agreed date between the parties for the next session.

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Nabatiyah: Israel Targets Civil Defense
2026-08-11

Nabatiyah: Israel Targets Civil Defense

Lebanese Civil Defence officers were targeted on Tuesday, 11 August 2026 by a drone attributed to Israel as they extinguished a grass fire in the Nabatiyah area. No first aid workers were injured, but the teams had to stop their intervention and get sheltered. The incident occurred in the aftermath of a targeting against a Lebanese Army position and in a context of growing tensions around negotiations between Beirut and Israel.

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Death penalty: Parliament opens debate in Lebanon
2026-08-11

Death penalty: Parliament opens debate in Lebanon

The House of Representatives began its consideration of the bill to abolish the death penalty in Lebanon on Tuesday, 11 August 2026 in Beirut. The country has not carried out any executions since 2004, but the courts can still impose capital sentences. After several months of committee work and a first review prevented in July by the loss of quorum, MPs now have to decide how to remove the penalty and how to replace it.

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Lebanon-Israel negotiations: the recovery threatened
2026-08-11

Lebanon-Israel negotiations: the recovery threatened

The eighth round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, planned for early September 2026 under American mediation, is now surrounded by uncertainty. After the failure of the Rome meeting to secure a new Israeli withdrawal and the continued bombing in the South, Beirut demanded three measures before returning to the table: the cessation of military operations, the cessation of destruction and the creation of a new pilot zone in Bint Jbeil or Khiam.

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Jumblatt calls for a new relationship with Syria
2026-08-10

Jumblatt calls for a new relationship with Syria

Walid Jumblatt calls for strengthening relations between Lebanon and Syria, believing that normalization with Damascus can consolidate national unity. The position is particularly significant from a leader who continues to accuse Hafez al-Assad of having murdered his father Kamal Jumblatt in 1977. The fall of the Assad regime now allows him to distinguish the historical dispute with the old dynasty from the need for a state-to-state relationship with the new Syria, particularly on borders, trade, missing persons and regional transit.

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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.

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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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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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يمكن أن يعود النفط العراقي عبر لبنان
2026-08-10

Iraqi oil could go back through Lebanon

The Lebanese Government is preparing for the passage of Iraqi crude oil and petroleum products through the national territory. In the first phase, Lebanon should serve as a storage and re-export centre, with transport by tankers. Roads, border crossings and oil installations must be adapted. Behind this operation is a broader issue: to put Tripoli on the new energy routes between Iraq and the Mediterranean, while Baghdad is seeking to reduce its dependence on exports by the Gulf.

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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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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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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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