Politics

MANBIJ AND AL-BAB, SYRIA, A quiet strip of land in northern Syria hosts some of the world's strongest powers and bitterest enemies.Russian, American, Turkish, Syrian and Kurdish flags fly in the countryside while troops on both sides of the newly established and hotly contested safe zone along the Turkish border try to keep the peace.Inside the nearby city of Manbij, locals mostly will not say who they want to be in charge. In the eight years since the Syrian Civil war began, the city has been controlled by four different groups, each overthrowing the last.We try to be adaptable and live with anyone, says 33-year-old Jamal Haji, an unemployed engineer, in a crowded indoor marketplace. We don't want violence. You cannot find anyone in Syria who hasn't lost someone to the war.'Safe zone'Both...

New York, Syria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari, said that governments of some permanent members at UNSC continue to misuse UN mechanisms to politicize the humanitarian situation in Syria by using this situation as a tool in a hostile campaign which aims to destabilize Syria's safety and stability and support terrorism.Al-Jaafari, speaking at a security Council session on the situation in Syria Thursday , said that improving the humanitarian situation in Syria and confronting difficulties faced by Syrians require full commitment the respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to support the efforts of the government and its allies in combating the remaining terrorist organizations.He called for ending the illegitimate presence of foreign tro...

Washington, Advisor, Royal Court, General Supervisor of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah met here yesterday, with representatives of a number of and research centers in the USA.During the panel discussion, Dr. Al-Rabiah answered many of the questions raised by the audience, affirming the Kingdom's keenness to provide humanitarian work for Yemen with absolute transparency without prejudice or discrimination, despite all the challenges facing humanitarian work in Yemen. These include violations and encroachments on humanitarian aid such as looting, interception and denial of access to some areas in Yemen carried out by Houthi militias, not only for the Kingdom's aid, but also for many relief and humanitarian organizations.Dr. Al-...

Beirut Greek Orthodox Archbishop, Elias Audeh, on Thursday welcomed Greek Ambassador to Lebanon, Franciscos Verros, with talks reportedly touching on cooperation between Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut and the Greek Embassy. Ambassador Verros said that he briefed Archbishop Audeh on the atmosphere of joint work in the service of the Lebanese and Orthodox communities.Source: National News Agency

In a press release by the British Embassy in Beirut, it said: "Trade Policy Minister, the Rt Hon Conor Burns MP and the Lebanese Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Gebran Bassil have signed today a UK-Lebanon trade agreement. It ensures British businesses and consumers will continue to benefit from preferential trading terms with Lebanon after we leave the European Union.The signature of the UK-Lebanon Association Agreement at the UK-Lebanon Tech Forum in London will provide a framework for cooperation and development on political, economic, social and cultural links.The new UK-Lebanon Association Agreement provides, among other trade benefits, tariff-free trade of industrial products together with liberalisation of trade in agricultural, agri-food and fisheries products. Trading ...

The President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri received today at the Grand Serail the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Waleed Bukhari, who handed him an invitation from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, to participate in the third edition of the Future Investment Initiative FII, organized by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), to be held from October 29 till 31 in Riyadh.Source: National News Agency

The President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri received today at the Grand Serail the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Waleed Bukhari, who handed him an invitation from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, to participate in the third edition of the Future Investment Initiative FII, organized by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), to be held from October 29 till 31 in Riyadh.Source: National News Agency

President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met at Baabda palace Wednesday with Middle East and North Africa Director of the Leaders for Democracy Fellowship (LDF) program implemented by World Learning, Chantal Souaid Mchantaf, and an accompanying delegation.The Program is funded by the US State Department's American-Middle East Partnership and includes young people from various Arab countries.President Aoun stressed in front of the delegation that "if the existing track based on the so-called "Deal of the Century" persists, peace cannot be achieved in the Middle East...".Aoun emphasized that any peace between peoples should only be based on the principle of justice and acceptance of the other. "This is still missing," he added.The President stressed that peace should be a just one; o...

President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met at Baabda palace Wednesday with Middle East and North Africa Director of the Leaders for Democracy Fellowship (LDF) program implemented by World Learning, Chantal Souaid Mchantaf, and an accompanying delegation.The Program is funded by the US State Department's American-Middle East Partnership and includes young people from various Arab countries.President Aoun stressed in front of the delegation that "if the existing track based on the so-called "Deal of the Century" persists, peace cannot be achieved in the Middle East...".Aoun emphasized that any peace between peoples should only be based on the principle of justice and acceptance of the other. "This is still missing," he added.The President stressed that peace should be a just one; o...

House Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday stressed that the blockade and economic sanctions imposed on Lebanon do not affect individuals or a specific party, but rather affect all the Lebanese. Speaker Berri's words came during his weekly meeting with deputies within the framework of "Wednesday Gathering." Berri considered that filling vacancies and accomplishing appointments in the judiciary and the Auditing Department should facilitate the approval of the "closure of accounts", to be transferred to Parliament, before budget approval. On the electricity dossier, the head of the Legislative authority stressed the need to accelerate the appointment of the board of directors of the EDL and the regulatory authority of the sector. This afternoon, Berri chaired a meeting of the Parliament's Bureau...