Source: Kataeb.org
Security & Justice
Army Chief Affirms Disarmament Plan Moving Ahead Despite Challenges
Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rodolf Haykal on Friday issued his Order of the Day marking Lebanon’s 82nd Independence Day, calling soldiers and citizens alike to stand united as the country faces what he described as one of the most dangerous periods in its modern history.
Friday, November 21, 2025
Notorious Fugitive Arrested in Army Intelligence Ambush in Baalbek
The Lebanese Army has arrested Nouh Zeaiter, one of the country’s most notorious fugitives, in a carefully planned operation in the eastern city of Baalbek, local media reported Thursday.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Opinion
Lebanon and Deficient Sovereignty
In a televised interview, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam sought to outline a vision for bringing the state back into the sovereignty equation and breaking the link between the logic of the state and the logic of force. He insisted that decisions of war and peace must be made by the government alone, and that the era of foreign guardianship is over. Lebanon, he said, cannot stabilize unless a state monopoly on armament is restored, with security and military decisions reclaimed by its institutions.
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Hezbollah’s Refusal to Disarm Makes Direct Negotiations Between Lebanon and Israel More Likely
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun stated last week that Lebanon has ‘no choice’ but to negotiate, in a clear reference to Israel. He told journalists that ‘the language of negotiation is more important than the language of war’, adding ‘we have seen what [war] did to us.’
Monday, November 17, 2025
Sports
Man City's 115 Charges Outcome 'in a Month' - Guardiola
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says the club expects to learn the outcome of the hearing into its 115 charges of alleged Premier League financial rule breaches "in one month".
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Marcelo, Ex-Real Madrid and Brazil Captain, Retires from Football
Former Brazil and Real Madrid defender Marcelo has announced his retirement from football, bringing the curtain down on a trophy-laden career that included five UEFA Champions League triumphs.
Friday, February 7, 2025
Tuesday 25 November 2025 21:12:42
Audit Bureau Orders Former Ministers to Repay Millions to Public Treasury
Lebanon’s Audit Bureau on Tuesday issued a judicial decision holding several former ministers accountable for financial irregularities related to the leasing and management of the Qassabian building, a government-owned property in Beirut. The decision, communicated to the Secretariat General of Parliament, names former ministers Nicolas Sehnaoui, Boutros Harb, Jamal Jarrah, Mohammad Shukeir, Talal Hawat, and Johnny Qorm.
The Bureau said that former Minister Boutros Harb’s decision to cancel the Qassabian lease spared the public treasury an estimated $20 million in losses, which would have resulted from continuing a contract that provided no benefit to the state, either for the telecommunications company Touch or the Ministry of Telecommunications. For this reason, the Audit Bureau exempted Harb from penalties, citing Article 62 of the Audit Bureau Law.
In contrast, former Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui was condemned for leasing the building and held responsible for subsequent damages to the treasury, estimated at a minimum of $8.78 million. The Bureau instructed the current Minister of Telecommunications to issue a collection order against Sehnaoui for that amount.
Former Minister Jamal Jarrah was also held accountable for authorizing payments for unjustified building preparation costs, with the Bureau requesting a collection order of $11.3 million from the current telecommunications minister.
The ruling further held former Minister Mohammad Shukeir responsible for agreeing to cancel the lease while arranging a purchase contract without recovering payments previously made under the lease. Former Minister Johnny Qorm was fined $4.92 million due to a shortfall in the number of contracted parking spaces.
Former Minister Talal Hawat was given the maximum penalty under Article 60 of the Audit Bureau Law, but the Bureau suspended enforcement, citing the absence of proven bad faith.
The Bureau also ordered telecommunications company Zain to pay $2.75 million for fiber optic cables it refused to pay for, in violation of official instructions.
The decision concluded by instructing the Ministries of Finance and Telecommunications to implement the rulings within one month, recover public funds, and return 233 parking spaces to state ownership.
