Latest news with #LF
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Kataeb holds Hezbollah 'entirely responsible for any security or political deterioration'
The Kataeb party on Tuesday denounced Hezbollah's "rejection of any discussion regarding the issue of disarmament" of the party, warning that it would hold them responsible for any potential deterioration of the security or political situation as international pressure mounts on Lebanon to put an end to this arsenal. Kataeb's statement, released after a meeting of the party's political bureau chaired by Vice President Bernard Gerbaka, echoed the statement by Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea, who also warned on Tuesday about the Lebanese government's inability to resolve the issue of Hezbollah's weapons. "Recent statements by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack clearly state that the deadlines granted to Lebanon are coming to an end," the party said, calling on the Lebanese state to "adopt a firm approach to impose its authority and enforce laws throughout Lebanese territory." Kataeb also held "Hezbollah entirely responsible for any security or political deterioration that may affect Lebanon due to this stubbornness," stressing "the dangers of delaying the implementation of international resolutions, particularly Resolution 1701." They also expressed "the need to fully support the army by providing it with weapons and improving the living conditions of its soldiers." This statement comes as the 80th anniversary of the army, on Aug. 1, approaches. Ahead of Aug. 4, marking the tragic fifth anniversary of the Beirut port explosion, Kataeb praised "the efforts of Judge [Tarek] Bitar and the progress made in the investigation," calling for "the publication of the indictment ... to launch the trials." The tragedy claimed the lives of more than 235 people and injured over 6,500, devastating entire neighborhoods of the capital following the explosion of a massive stockpile of ammonium nitrate improperly stored at the port since 2013. The investigation faces numerous political and security interferences, while several current and former officials are being prosecuted.
L'Orient-Le Jour
2 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Geagea warns against 'a dirty summer' in Lebanon
The head of the Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, warned Tuesday in an interview with Asharq al-Awsat against the inability of Lebanese government to resolve the issue of Hezbollah's weapons, which he said have become "useless for the protection of Lebanon and bring only damage and destruction." He also said that Lebanon faces two options: either a government decision to dissolve armed organizations or having to face "a dirty summer." Asked about security risks in Lebanon this summer, at a time when the government still has not started disarming Hezbollah, Geagea said he did not know if the coming months would be marked "by a large-scale Israeli war, or broader military escalation ... but what is certain is that if we continue like this, we will have a dirty summer." The paper also reported "rumors concerning the August 1 deadline set by the United States for the start of the process leading to a state monopoly on weapons." "Why does Hezbollah cling to these useless objects it possesses? Why does it cling to a military organization parallel to that of the state?" he questioned. "Saying these weapons are meant for the defense of Lebanon is just empty rhetoric. Where is the defense?" adding that the party "is trying to maintain a military and security structure that has no positive impact whatsoever on Lebanon's defense — on the contrary, only a negative one." The question of Hezbollah's disarmament polarizes the entire Lebanese political scene, as international pressure increases following the Nov. 27, 2024 cease-fire that ended the war between Hezbollah and Israel. The United States is demanding a precise timeline and a clear, public position regarding the surrender of weapons and the modalities of implementation. Hezbollah, which continues to refuse handing over its arsenal or set a timetable for doing so, remains adamant in its rejection of a new agreement, insisting on the need to force Israel to implement the cease-fire. Disarming Hezbollah, a 'Lebanese demand' Geagea also criticized the "logic" that disarming the party without its consent could trigger a civil war in Lebanon. "I reject this statement. The president was elected with a large majority, and the current government has twice obtained the confidence of the legitimately elected Parliament. These authorities must decide on the course of action, not invoke such excuses," he stated. The LF leader said that "the demand to disarm the party and dissolve its military forces is not so much an international demand as a Lebanese one, stipulated in the inaugural address, the government's ministerial statement, and the Taif Agreement." "What is needed is for the government to meet now and decide to dissolve all the country's armed organizations within a period of one, two or four months, and to instruct the Lebanese army to implement this decision," he said. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem stated in mid-July that his group "will not give up its strength" and that it was "ready to face" Israel. The party continues to link opening dialogue about its weapons to the end of daily attacks by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon and to the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from the five positions still occupied. "We will continue our political pressure. We are in continuous contact with the president and the prime minister. We are in talks with the main political parties in the cabinet for a decision banning all armed groups." He also criticized the process of having Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri discuss with Hezbollah before reporting back to the government. "That means the state does not wield its full authority," he stated. Parallel with Syria "We see everyone putting pressure on Israel to stop the war in Gaza, but no one talks about what Israel is doing in Lebanon. We must make use of our ties with Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, with the West and the United States, to put an end to Israeli hostilities and expel Israel from our land," said Geagea. "We run the risk of seeing our friends turn their backs on us." He also expressed fear of a halt to funding for UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army, "if the situation remains as it is." "France had promised a conference to help Lebanon, but it has set no date because of the American refusal. The conference scheduled for autumn might not take place because the outside world is tired of our situation," he stated. "There are Arab projects in Syria worth tens of billions of dollars, while we wait for Berri and [US envoy] Tom Barrack," he said. Addressing the security situation in Syria and the fear of spillover into Lebanon, Geagea said that "the Moumanaa axis (supporters of Hezbollah) is trying to find excuses to keep its weapons." Barrack has made several visits to Beirut during which he has called on the Lebanese government to fully assume their responsibilities regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Viral £24 pads that reduce acne scars are hailed by acne sufferers for 'instant results'
Shoppers have raved about these pads that help to even out skin texture from acne scarring, reduce dark spots and control shine for those who suffer with skin issues For those who suffer with bad skin, it can be tricky to find products that actually work to help improve skin texture and stop the breakouts. However shoppers think they have found the answer to acne scarring. Acne scars can leave skin with marks and dimples, making skin look uneaven and can be hard for makeup to sit properly, but these Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 help refine the look of texture issues, minimising the apperance of pores and excess oils. Working to help even out texture, minimise pores and clear the skin, these handy pads work to cleanse skin beyond the barrier. For £24, the 70 dual-sided pads are pre-soaked and powered by a mix of ingredients including AHA fruit complex, salicylic and lactic acids, the formula minimises the appearance of pores and excess oils as well as working to control shine levels, leaving behind a mattified appearance. They are best applied on clean skin morning and night, and use the woven textured side over the facer and neck in a circular motion - and you don't need to rinse off afterwards. The pads exfoliate the skin and leave a smoother apperance almost straight away, and shoppers call them 'fantastic' and give 'instant results'. One user said: "I had been recommended these by a friend and was so excited to see them available on LF! They are fantastic for reducing pores and tightening skin, I was so surprised that I saw a difference over night." While a second gushed: "I already noticed big difference in my skin texture. Literally my face is looking like a doll. Product it's very easy to apply. Ingredients are amazing and gently for my sensitive skin. I would really truly recommend this to anyone fighting with their skin problems." A third chimed: "I love these but they are quite strong on my skin." Alternatively, the Medik8 Blemish Control Pads (£30) work in a similar way. The pre-soaked facial pads are designed to target blemishes and refine skin texture. Powered by salicylic acid, these ultra-soft pads work to dissolve pore blockages, reducing the look of breakouts while preventing new ones from forming. Elemis also launched the Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads (£46). With a dual-action approach to resurfacing, the pads physically sweep away dry skin - reducing the appearance of dullness, for a brighter and renewed complexion while also physically lifting away dead cells and accelerate the skin's natural cell turnover.
L'Orient-Le Jour
23-07-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'Fruitful and useful meeting' between Joumblatt and Geagea
Former head of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Walid Joumblatt met on Wednesday at his Beirut residence with the head of the Lebanese Forces (LF), Samir Geagea, who was accompanied by LF MP for North Metn, Melhem Riashi. MP Wael Abou Faour, a member of the Democratic Gathering bloc, was present at the meeting, which focused on political developments in Lebanon and the region, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA). At the end of the discussion, Geagea said that the meeting had been "fruitful and useful on all levels." He added, "May God do what is good," regarding the political situation in Lebanon. Geagea rarely leaves the highly secured Maarab compound where he resides, in Mount Lebanon. This meeting between the two political leaders comes at a time marked by the new visit to Beirut by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, as the thorny issue of Hezbollah's disarmament remains at the heart of debates on the Lebanese political scene and internationally. Recent clashes between Druze factions and Sunni tribes, backed by government forces, in Syria killed more than 1,200 in Syria's southern Sweida province and stirred up tensions in several areas of Lebanon.
L'Orient-Le Jour
23-07-2025
- Business
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Bassil slams Salam Government and 'incapable,' unveils FPM candidates for Metn elections
BEIRUT — Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Gebran Bassil criticized Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government — in which the FPM is not represented — accusing it of being 'incapable of achieving anything,' and announced three potential FPM candidates for next spring's parliamentary elections. Speaking at a party dinner in the Metn region on Tuesday night, Bassil said, 'This government is incapable of achieving anything. They can't do anything about the issue of weapons [outside the framework of the state], despite external support. They are either accomplices or incapable.' Bassil's criticism came shortly after a general policy debate session in which he had called for a confidence vote in the government — a motion that largely favored Salam's Cabinet. He also accused the cabinet of having no concrete plan to return depositors' funds frozen in the banking system. 'The government of Hassan Diab [January 2020–September 2021] had put in place the Lazard plan, which fell through. But what is the plan of the current government? If the laws we have proposed are not discussed, it means they know that no funds will be returned to depositors,' he said. Work on a draft bill addressing the 'financial gap' and the return of deposits is expected to drag on for several more months, despite the government's stated aim to present a proposal within 30 days. The delay has been largely attributed to disagreements between Finance Minister Yassine Jaber and Banque du Liban (BDL, central bank) Governor Karim Souhaid. In May 2025, a government source told this publication that Lebanon was preparing to renew its contract with the international financial advisory firm Lazard. The company had designed an economic and financial recovery plan for the Diab government in 2020, a few months after the country's financial collapse began. That plan, however, became highly contentious — particularly with the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL), which categorically rejected it. Its abandonment ultimately derailed the first round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) later that year. LF partly 'responsible for the government's failure' Bassil also took aim at the Lebanese Forces (LF), led by his longtime rival Samir Geagea, accusing the party of sharing 'responsibility for the executive's failure' and becoming 'Hezbollah's partners' by participating in a government that includes Hezbollah. 'Whoever wants to resign, let them resign today and not deceive the people,' he added, referencing recent statements by LF officials who said they were ready to quit the Cabinet if it failed to set a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament. The LF has repeatedly accused the authorities of prioritizing dialogue over confrontation on the issue of arms monopoly. The Batroun MP argued that 'sovereigntists' such as the LF and its allies, who call for a state monopoly on weapons, should also demand 'Israel's withdrawal from our occupied territories and an end to its attacks' on Lebanon. 'A cease-fire has been declared, but it has not been respected,' he said, criticizing the continued Israeli occupation of five positions on Lebanese soil and near-daily strikes on southern Lebanon and the Bekaa. Three FPM candidates in the Metn Bassil also lamented what he described as repeated betrayals of his movement. 'No political movement has been betrayed as we have,' he said during his speech in Metn, a district that was once a stronghold of former FPM MPs Ibrahim Kanaan — who left the FPM in August 2024 after numerous disagreements with Bassil — and Elias Bou Saab, who was dismissed in June 2024. Only Kanaan and Bou Saab had been elected from the FPM list in this district. Against this backdrop, the Batroun MP announced three potential FPM candidates for Metn in the parliamentary elections scheduled for next spring, according to the party's internal selection process: Eddy Maalouf, an unsuccessful candidate in 2022, Hicham Kanj, and Mansour Fadel. Bassil also addressed developments in post-Assad Syria, emphasizing that his party was 'the first not to applaud the arrival of the Jolani regime,' referring to Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, known by his wartime name Jolani. Sharaa, who led a coalition of rebel and jihadist factions, overthrew Bashar al-Assad's regime on Dec. 8, 2024. 'I understand that Lebanese are pleased with Assad's downfall, but I do not understand how some rejoice over the arrival of the Jolani regime, which considers anyone who does not adhere to its doctrine — Sunni, Shiite or Druze — as an infidel whose murder is permitted,' he said. The early months of the new Syrian regime have been marked by killings and clashes in minority-populated areas, including along the Alawite-dominated coast in March and, most recently, in the Druze-majority Sweida region last week. 'These events cannot happen on our border with Syria without affecting us,' Bassil warned. Hezbollah, the FPM's former political ally, has regularly voiced concerns about rising tensions with the new regime in Damascus and the potential resurgence of terrorist cells — a stance its critics say is used to justify maintaining its arsenal. Since last December, sporadic skirmishes have erupted along the border, particularly between Syrian government forces and 'clan' fighters within the Shiite community, though they have largely remained contained.
