Latest news with #L'Orient-LeJour
L'Orient-Le Jour
11 hours ago
- Business
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Lebanon-Cyprus maritime border: Will there be an agreement soon?
The long-frozen issue of maritime border delimitation between Lebanon and Cyprus may be nearing resolution — an important step for Beirut as it seeks to settle border disputes with neighboring Cyprus, Israel and Syria. The goal: to present Lebanon as a stable and attractive destination for oil companies eager to explore its offshore hydrocarbon these disputes, the Cyprus file is the one moving fastest. In early July, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides recommitted to advancing negotiations during a summit in Nicosia. Diana Kaissy, a member of the advisory committee of the Lebanese Oil and Gas Initiative (LOGI), told L'Orient-Le Jour she believes the deal could be finalized 'before the end of the year.' Why is this important? Connecting the Lebanese and Cypriot power grids, a...
L'Orient-Le Jour
15 hours ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Did the Lebanese Army build a watchtower in south Lebanon?
Amid recent rumors about a UK-backed project to build watchtowers for the Lebanese Army along the southern border with Israel, the initiative is actually aimed at reinforcing an existing Lebanese military post in the region, a British government spokesperson and a military source told L'Orient-Le Jour on work comes as a fragile cease-fire, in place since November 2024, continues between Lebanon and Israel following 13 months of devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel. While the Israeli army maintains near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Army has begun dismantling Hezbollah military positions south of the Litani River, as stipulated in the cease-fire agreement. Disarmament north of the river, also required under the accord, has yet to post being reinforced lies directly along the Israeli border,...
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Clashes between Syrian clan and government forces in village on Lebanese border
Clashes broke out Monday night between the Syrian Abu Jabal clan and members of the Syrian army in the Syrian village of al-Masriya, on the border with Lebanon, according to information from L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent in the region. The clashes took place exclusively in Syrian territory. The gunfire, which caused several injuries, could be heard as far as Lebanon, in border areas around Hermel, for a little over an hour, as confirmed by a former member of the municipal council of the Lebanese border village of Qasr. The fall of the Assad regime in December 2024 triggered a spike in violence on Lebanon's northeastern border with Syria, between Lebanese clans and Syrian forces. These tensions have not reoccurred since the Lebanese Army intervened in the region on March 17 and the cease-fire that took effect that same evening. In Syria, restoring security across the country is the most urgent challenge for the new government under President Ahmad Al-Sharaa. In March, in the Alawite stronghold on the Syrian coast, massacres killed around 1,700 people, mostly Alawite civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). In the south of the country as well, a week of deadly violence beginning July 12 between Druze and Bedouin tribes, which escalated with the intervention of government forces who backed the Bedouin, killed more than 1,400, mostly Druze, according to SOHR.
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Saida prepares for the 6th edition of its summer festival
The city of Saida is getting ready to organize the 6th edition of its summer tourist festival, which will take place from Aug. 6 to 9, reported L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent in the region. Construction work has started on the quay at the old port of the city and along the ramparts of the Saida Castle, in preparation for the performances scheduled by the National Committee of Saida International Festivals. This festival, launched in 2016 and generally featuring a series of events spread out over time, was stopped for several years due to the economic crisis, COVID-19 and the war between Hezbollah and Israel, with only one edition held in 2023, during which Lebanese-Armenian pianist and composer Guy Manoukian performed. The program for this edition includes: August 6: A musical evening entitled "Rajini belhan jadid," in partnership with the National Higher Conservatory of Music Orchestra, conducted by composer Hiba Kawas, under the baton of maestro André Haj, with the participation of singer Ghassan Saliba. August 7: Concert by superstar Nancy Ajram, making her second appearance at the Saida festival. August 8: Instrumental evening with the group Ayyam al-Lira. August 9: Closing with a concert by the great musician Marcel Khalifeh, whose song "Ya Bahrieh Heila Heila" has become an anthem engraved in the collective memory and among generations of activists. A few days before the opening, the committee chairwoman, Nadine Kaain, and her members were overseeing preparations at the site on the quay of the old port, in coordination with the port administration. The work includes cleaning the quay (with the NTCC company), removing rocks and machinery (with maritime agents Tiriaki, Beshasha and Rano), as well as leveling the ground (with the Denesh company), the organizers said. The next steps will include installing the stage and bleachers, which can accommodate more than 2,000 spectators each night.
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'Ziad changed the way I see things': Singer Salma al-Musfi
As Lebanon mourns the loss of Ziad Rahbani, who passed away on Saturday morning at age 69, Lebanese singer Salma al-Musfi shares with L'Orient-Le Jour her first encounter with the Lebanese artistic genius. The album 'Monodose,' fruit of a 'real collaboration' The two artists met for the first time in 1986. At the time, Musfi, who was 18 years old, was performing in a concert, covering songs by the American artist Madonna. "Ziad came to listen to me at that concert and, apparently, my voice interested him," she says, reached by telephone from Paris. "A few months later, he called me, and that's when we started working together," she adds, crediting Madonna for their meeting and collaboration. "I was living in France, but I often returned to Lebanon," Musfi recalls. "During one of these trips, Ziad suggested making a CD, telling me that we would do it 'for us, just for fun,' and it was in that spirit that 'Monodose' came to life," she continues. "It was a wonderful experience, a true collaboration, and I am proud of it," the artist adds. During Ziad Rahbani's last tour in Europe, the two artists performed together twice: once in Paris at the New Morning jazz club and again in London. 'Collaborating with Ziad changed the way I see things' "Collaborating with Ziad changed the way I see things," the Lebanese artist confides. "We grow up with certain ideas in mind, ready-made visions… But Ziad opens new perspectives," she continues. "All those years spent with him left a deep impression on me," adds Musfi. "He accomplished a great deal and, above all, did so with accuracy. He deeply touched entire generations and continues to do so today. There are young people, aged 16 or 18, who listen to him and are moved by his songs, while people in their 90s still listen to him. Ziad crosses generations; he speaks to all ages." Recalling Ziad Rahbani's "unique" way of putting words together, the Lebanese artist concludes by addressing him with a message: "Farewell, Ziad, you are no longer here, but you will always remain among us. We are saying goodbye to an iconic figure, for all of Lebanon, which is in mourning today, but also for the entire Arab world, which grew up with his voice, his words, his ideas."
