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Web Release
26-04-2025
- Health
- Web Release
The Beauty and Wellbeing Forum Launches Its Second Edition with Great Success in Beirut.
Under the patronage of the Ministries of Information and Economy & Trade, the second edition of The Beauty and Wellbeing Forum 2025 was officially launched at Seaside Arena on Beirut's waterfront. The event runs from April 24 to April 27, 2025, bringing together a distinguished gathering of specialists, institutions, and Lebanese and international companies across more than 10,000 square meters, all dedicated to promoting wellbeing in its psychological, physical, aesthetic, and holistic dimensions. The forum opens its doors daily to visitors of all ages, offering a unique opportunity for direct engagement with experts and access to advice and guidance. It also features a dedicated children's area, a rich schedule of daily lectures, inspiring personal testimonies, and interactive sessions with influencers from the worlds of beauty, fashion, mental health, and wellbeing. The opening ceremony saw the participation of several high-profile figures. Minister of Information Dr. Paul Morkos delivered an address emphasizing the importance of ongoing awareness and the value of initiatives like this forum in showcasing Lebanese creativity. Daniella Rahme, the forum's 2025 ambassador, expressed her pride in playing a role that blends her humanitarian message with her identity as a symbol of inner and outer beauty. Madiha Raslan, President of the Women Leaders Association, praised the forum for highlighting the role of women and the critical importance of mental health, especially in a country like Lebanon where people face daily pressure. Father Jean Al Alam, from Antonine University, spoke about the role of academia in promoting comprehensive personal development. Dr. Youssef Bakhache, President of the Lebanese Order of Physicians in Beirut and Head of the Health Order President's association in Lebanon, emphasized the role of the medical sector in supporting such holistic health initiatives. He also led a large delegation of syndicate representatives who participated in the opening panel. Beirut Governor Judge Marwan Abboud reaffirmed the city's commitment to supporting events that project Beirut as a hub for life and beauty. Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Rudakov commended the forum for fostering cultural and humanitarian exchange between nations. Also in attendance were MP. Waddah al Sadek, Former MP. Dr. Amal Abou Zeid, Mr. Elie Khairallah representing Civil Defense General Director Brigadier General Nabil Farah, Jordanian Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Al Hadid, and Mr. Charles Arbid, President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council— all emphasizing the forum's cultural, creative, and civic significance, and the strong official and public support behind it. In her heartfelt speech, forum founder Hanadi Dagher, founder of the forum, spoke of the challenges faced in organizing this major event: 'Once again, we gather for love and beauty—to celebrate life and the greatest blessing: our health. Once again, we meet under one roof: creators, specialists, doctors, nurses, influencers, and experts in beauty and sports. You are the pride of Lebanon! You are exporting Lebanese creativity to the Arab world and beyond. Together, we're working to restore Lebanon's place on the international exhibition map'. She added: 'A year ago we planted the seed, and today we are harvesting the first fruits. The idea of the forum has grown and spread beyond Lebanon. Many feared the dream, tried to obstruct it, but only the strong remain standing. This forum broke boundaries and borders—it's heading to Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and God willing, to Canada and the U.S'. Dagher concluded by saying: 'We chose the star Daniela Rahme as our ambassador because she represents both inner and outer beauty. She is a symbol of the Lebanese woman who grew, succeeded, and returned to reap the fruits of her success in her homeland'. She extended her gratitude to all sponsors of the forum and called on all segments of Lebanese society to visit the event and explore the joy of beauty and wellbeing. This unique experience celebrates mental and physical health as a top priority and offers a revitalizing, soul-nourishing journey.
The Independent
17-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Lebanon says it will retaliate against gunfire from Syria after deadly cross-border fighting
Lebanon 's president Monday ordered troops to retaliate against the source of gunfire from the Syrian side of the border after more deadly fighting erupted overnight along the tense frontier. The fighting happened after Syria's interim government accused fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group of crossing into Syria on Saturday, abducting three soldiers and killing them on Lebanese soil. It was the most serious cross-border fighting since the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December. Syrian News Channel, citing an unnamed Defense Ministry official, said the Syrian army shelled 'Hezbollah gatherings that killed Syrian soldiers' along the border. Hezbollah denied involvement in a statement on Sunday. Information Minister Paul Morkos said Lebanon's defense minister told a Cabinet meeting that the three killed were smugglers. He added that one child was killed and six people were wounded on the Lebanese side. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said five Syrian soldiers were killed during Monday's clashes. Footage circulated online and in local media showed families fleeing toward the Lebanese town of Hermel. Lebanon's state news agency reported that fighting intensified Monday evening near Hermel. 'What is happening along the eastern and northeastern border cannot continue and we will not accept that it continues,' Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said on X. 'I have given my orders to the Lebanese army to retaliate against the source of fire.' Aoun added that he asked Lebanon's foreign minister, who is currently in Brussels for a donors conference on Syria, to contact Syrian officials to resolve the problem "and prevent further escalation.' Violence recently spiked in the area between the Syrian military and armed Lebanese Shiite clans closely allied with the former government of Assad, based in Lebanon's Al-Qasr border village. Lebanese media and the observatory say clans were involved in the abductions that sparked the latest clashes. The Lebanese and Syrian armies said they have opened channels of communication to ease tensions. Lebanon's military also said it returned the bodies of the three killed Syrians. Large numbers of Lebanese troops have been deployed in the area. Lebanese media reported low-level fighting at dawn after an attack on a Syrian military vehicle. The number of casualties was unclear. Early on Monday, four Syrian journalists embedded with the Syrian army were lightly wounded after an artillery shell fired from the Lebanese side of the border hit their position. They accused Hezbollah of the attack. Meanwhile, senior Hezbollah legislator Hussein Haj Hassan in an interview with Lebanon's Al Jadeed television accused fighters from the Syrian side of crossing into Lebanese territory and attacking border villages. His constituency is the northeastern Baalbek-Hermel province, which has borne the brunt of the clashes. Lebanon has been seeking international support to boost funding for its military as it gradually deploys troops along its porous northern and eastern borders with Syria as well as its southern border with Israel. Speaking from the southern border on Monday, U.N. envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert also warned the Security Council that the sustained presence of Israeli forces on Lebanese territory, alongside ongoing Israeli strikes, could easily lead to 'serious ripple effects.' ___
Asharq Al-Awsat
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon Says It Will Retaliate for Gunfire from Syria after Deadly Cross-Border Fighting
Lebanon's president on Monday ordered troops to retaliate for gunfire from the Syrian side of the border after more deadly fighting erupted overnight along the tense frontier. The fighting occurred after Syria's interim government accused militants from Lebanon's Hezbollah group of crossing into Syria on Saturday, abducting three soldiers and killing them on Lebanese soil. It was the most serious cross-border fighting since the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December. Syrian News Channel, citing an unnamed Defense Ministry official, said the Syrian army shelled "Hezbollah gatherings that killed Syrian soldiers" along the border. Hezbollah denied involvement in a statement on Sunday. Information Minister Paul Morkos said Lebanon's defense minister told a Cabinet meeting that the three killed were smugglers. He added that one child was killed and six people were wounded on the Lebanese side. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said five Syrian soldiers were killed during Monday's clashes. Footage circulated online and in local media showed families toward the Lebanese town of Hermel. Lebanon's state news agency reported that fighting intensified Monday evening near Hermel. "What is happening along the eastern and northeastern border cannot continue and we will not accept that it continues," Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said on X. "I have given my orders to the Lebanese army to retaliate against the source of fire." Aoun added that he asked Lebanon's foreign minister, who is currently in Brussels for a donors conference on Syria, to contact Syrian officials to resolve the problem "and prevent further escalation." Violence recently spiked in the area between the Syrian military and armed Lebanese Shiite clans closely allied with the former government of Assad, based in Lebanon's Al-Qasr border village. Lebanese media and the observatory say clans were involved in the abductions that sparked the latest clashes. The Lebanese and Syrian armies said they have opened channels of communication to ease tensions. Lebanon's military also said it returned the bodies of the three killed Syrians. Large numbers of Lebanese troops have been deployed in the area. Lebanese media reported low-level fighting at dawn after an attack on a Syrian military vehicle. The number of casualties was unclear. Early Monday, four Syrian journalists embedded with the Syrian army were lightly wounded after an artillery shell fired from the Lebanese side of the border hit their position. They accused Hezbollah of the attack. Meanwhile, senior Hezbollah legislator Hussein Haj Hassan in an interview with Lebanon's Al Jadeed television accused fighters from the Syrian side of crossing into Lebanese territory and attacking border villages. His constituency is the northeastern Baalbek-Hermel province, which has borne the brunt of the clashes. Lebanon has been seeking international support to boost funding for its military as it gradually deploys troops along its porous northern and eastern borders with Syria as well as its southern border with Israel.
Nahar Net
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Lebanese govt. says talks with Israel 'still indirect', rejects 'normalization'
by Naharnet Newsdesk 13 March 2025, 12:41 Lebanon's negotiations with Israel are 'still indirect' and our stance does not support 'normalization,' Information Minister Paul Morkos announced Thursday after a cabinet session. Informed sources had told Al-Manar TV that the U.S. and Israel consider that the work of the ceasefire monitoring committee in its military-security nature has 'ended' and that 'a diplomatic-political committee' should be formed, 'However, the Lebanese state has rejected this proposal, seeing as the political-diplomatic aspect means normalization with the enemy,' the sources added. Sources also told Al-Mayadeen TV that 'everything that is being said about these groups being a prelude to normalization is baseless.' A statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that representatives of the Israeli and Lebanese armies, the U.S. and France agreed during a meeting of the ceasefire committee in Naqoura to "establish three joint working groups aimed at stabilizing the region." "These groups will focus on the five points controlled by Israel in southern Lebanon, discussions on the Blue Line and remaining disputed areas, and the issue of Lebanese detainees held by Israel," the statement added. The sources told Al-Mayadeen that 'these groups are not separate from Resolution 1701 and will not engage in direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.' An Israeli political source said Wednesday that "the discussions are part of a broad and comprehensive plan." 'The Prime Minister's policy has already changed the Middle East, and we want to continue the momentum and reach normalization with Lebanon. Just as Lebanon has claims regarding the borders, so do we. We will discuss these matters," the source told Israel's Channel 12. "We and the Americans think that this is possible after the changes that have occurred in Lebanon," the source said. The United States announced Tuesday that it will be 'bringing together Lebanon and Israel for talks aimed at diplomatically resolving several outstanding issues between the two countries.' A statement issued by Deputy U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Morgan Ortagus said the issues that will be discussed are 'the release of Lebanese prisoners, the remaining disputed points along the Blue Line, and the remaining 5 points where Israeli forces are still deployed.' 'Military to military talks concluded in Naqoura, Lebanon today, and subsequently 5 Lebanese prisoners have been released back to Lebanon from Israel,' Ortagus added. 'Everyone involved remains committed to maintaining the ceasefire agreement and to fully implement all its terms. We look forward to quickly convening these diplomat-led working groups to resolve outstanding issues, along with our international partners,' she said. "We want to get a political resolution, finally, to the border disputes," Ortagus said in an interview on Al-Jadeed television. "When it comes to the border agreement, the land border agreement, there are 13 points -- I think that six are still problematic," she added. Ortagus added that Israel had "withdrawn from over 99 percent of the territory." "I feel fairly confident that... we can have final resolution on the five points and ultimately on the remaining issues related to the Blue Line," she said. In its Wednesday edition, the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper warned that 'America has plunged Lebanon into the normalization adventure' and that it is 'dragging Lebanon into peace negotiations.' It also quoted the head of the U.S.-based Hostage Aid Worldwide organization Nizar Zakka as saying that 'what happened in the file of captives is aimed at paving the way for any peace initiatives and negotiations with Lebanon,' adding that 'this is what the U.S. administration is looking for.'
