Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei makes first public appearance since war with Israel
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei appeared in public for the first time since the recent conflict with Israel, attending Ashura commemora...
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister visits Lebanon on Thursday in the first trip to Beirut by a Riyadh's top diplomat in 15 years, seeking a commitment to reform as the Gulf state reasserts sway in a country where Iranian influence is waning.
The visit by Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud reflects seismic political shifts in Lebanon since Israel pummelled the Iran-backed Hezbollah in last year's war, and since Hezbollah's Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebels in December.
Prince Faisal is expected to meet Lebanon's new President Joseph Aoun and its Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam. Both took office this month, marking a new phase for a country that has been mired in financial crisis since 2019 and is now facing a reconstruction bill of billions of dollars.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, Prince Faisal said Saudi Arabia regarded the election of a Lebanese president after a vacuum of more than two years as extremely positive. He expressed hope that a new Lebanese government would be formed "in the not too distant future".
"We will need to see real action, we will need to see real reform, we will need to see a commitment to a Lebanon that is looking to the future, not to the past, in order for us to raise our engagement," he said.
"I plan to be visiting Lebanon this week, and I think, based on what I hear there and what we see, I think that will inform the kingdom's approach," he added.
Lebanese officials said he is expected on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia once spent billions in Lebanon, depositing funds in the central bank, helping to rebuild the south after a 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war, and supporting a number of Lebanese politicians, only to see Hezbollah grow more powerful with Iran's support and its influence spread across the Middle East.
Nabil Boumonsef, deputy editor-in-chief at Annahar newspaper, said Lebanon was once again on the Saudi agenda and that this echoed its interest in neighbouring Syria, where Riyadh is playing a leading role engaging the new government.
But he did not expect the Saudis to provide the kind of unconditional support that once flowed to Lebanon.
"For them to assist Lebanon in a significant way ..., they want to wait to see the government that Prime Minister Salam forms. It should be one of real reform that can be trusted with aid," he said.
Developments over the last few months have driven a rally in Lebanon's battered international bonds that have been in default since 2020, stirring optimism that a new government could embark on long-delayed reforms.
Lebanon's political class led the country to economic catastrophe in 2019, when the financial system imploded under the weight of massive state debts, trapping deposits in the banking system and impoverishing many Lebanese.
Salam, in comments to reporters on Wednesday, said he was committed to forming a government that meets the aspirations of the Lebanese people. "I want my government to be one of recovery and reform," he said.
Cabinet formation talks in Lebanon can often drag on as sectarian-aligned groups barter over ministerial portfolios.
Israel dealt massive blows to Hezbollah during last year's war, killing many of its leaders including Hassan Nasrallah.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
Following a deadly glacier collapse in Blatten, near the Swiss Alpine village of Kandersteg, the town is on high alert as melting permafrost and shifting rock threaten another potential disaster after it was buried a month ago.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says the country needs a new constitution that reflects its current realities and has a clear purpose.
The 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was successfully held in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, highlighting the region’s revival and the deepening economic cooperation among member states.
Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, met with Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov in Baku to discuss expanding trade and developing the Lapis Lazuli transport corridor.
Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan have explored new avenues for energy cooperation during a high-level meeting in Baku.
Türkiye’s President and Iranian President met on the sidelines of the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization summit in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, highlighting the event’s regional significance.
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