A recent directive issued to senior Fatah commanders in Palestinian refugee camps around the southern Lebanese city of Tyre appears to mark the beginning of a concerted effort to regulate, and possibly hand over, Palestinian weapons south of the Litani River.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Tensions between residents of southern Lebanon and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) flared again on Tuesday, as a patrol was blocked by locals in the town of Shaqra, preventing its entry without an escort from the Lebanese Army.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Everyone has a theory about how to fix Lebanon.
Monday, May 19, 2025
The Lebanese journey of, and into, uncertainty is continuing, for the fifth consecutive year – and the nth time in the century-long history of this republic. Albeit under new management, the state remains stuck between a mountain of debt, a sea of social and economic inequalities, and a black hole in place of once efficient (more or less) institutions. No local or global stakeholder disagrees on the baseline: the country urgently needs tangible trust and solidarity – in form of investments and loans – as much as extreme determination to have a chance of escaping this maelstrom.
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meet in their second derby of the season with the Liga lead on the line and the focus on refereeing. Real Madrid has spent the days ahead of Saturday’s match complaining of mistakes against the club.
Thursday, February 6, 2025
The first Chinese driver in Formula 1, Zhou Guanyu, is heading back to Ferrari as one of its reserve drivers for the 2025 season.
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Monday 21 April 2025 13:00:39
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed deep sorrow following the death of Pope Francis, calling the loss a blow to both Lebanon and the world.
“With the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Lebanon has lost a steadfast supporter, and the world has lost a man of love and peace,” Salam said in a statement. “He was a defender of the poor and marginalized, widely known for his humility and closeness to the people. Pope Francis consistently stood by Lebanon, praying for it and expressing a strong desire to visit the country.”
The Prime Minister extended his heartfelt condolences to the Vatican, the global Christian community, and the millions who revered the Pope.
“The Pope leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in his tireless pursuit of global peace and justice.”
Salam also reflected on some of the Pope’s most notable contributions to interfaith relations, particularly the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in February 2019. The landmark agreement promoted mutual understanding between religions and highlighted Pope Francis’s commitment to dialogue across faiths.
The Prime Minister also pointed to the Pope’s global efforts to promote peace, mentioning his visits to distant corners of the world in defense of true brotherhood and interreligious dialogue.
“Pope Francis’s work has always been rooted in the ideals of peace and brotherhood,” Salam said. “Lebanon is uniquely positioned to embody the values he championed, both as a land and as a people.”
In mourning the Pope’s death, Salam emphasized Lebanon’s role as a natural ground for interfaith dialogue; a place where the principles of religious unity and mutual respect are not only needed but are also deeply embedded in the country’s identity.
Following Salam’s statement, the government declared three days of official mourning, beginning immediately and continuing through Wednesday, April 23. Flags are to be flown at half-staff across public institutions and municipalities, and broadcast stations are instructed to adjust programming to reflect the national grief.
The same mourning protocol will be observed on the day of Pope Francis’s funeral and during the official prayer service for the repose of his soul.
