Antoine Khoury

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he may invite Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House. 

With the first anniversary of the Lebanon–Israel ceasefire approaching, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, told the Security Council on Thursday that “the time for dialogue and negotiations is now.”

In a notable diplomatic development, Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), met today in Abu Dhabi with Saeed Khatibzadeh, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the Centre for Political and International Studies. 

Syria has secured $28 billion in investments over the past ten months, according to interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The announcement was made on Wednesday during his speech at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh.

An Israeli drone was reportedly shot down by French peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) after allegedly displaying "aggressive behavior" near their position in Kfar Kila (Marjeyoun), southern Lebanon.

Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, is set to participate in the Future Investment Initiative (FII), the prestigious annual economic forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Joe Raggi reiterated Friday the government’s call for the exclusive control of weapons by the state, following a visit to South Lebanon where he witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by over a year of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel.

U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Lebanon Tom Barrack issued a strong message on Wednesday, calling on Lebanon to resolve its internal divisions and restore its sovereignty, while cautioning against repeating the mistakes of the past.

Dubai Health has announced that more than 145 robotic surgeries have been successfully performed at Dubai Hospital since the launch of its robotic surgery programme in the second half of 2022. 

Pope Leo XIV confirmed Sunday that his upcoming apostolic visit to Lebanon will carry a “message of peace and hope.” Speaking from the Vatican, the pontiff responded to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who had expressed the “eager anticipation” of the Lebanese people for his visit.

Lebanese MP Marwan Hamadé issued a statement on Saturday clarifying the circumstances surrounding the broadcast of his interview by the Israeli French-language news channel i24 News. 

A Lebanese investigative judge on Friday ordered the release of Hannibal Gaddafi, son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, on bail set at $11 million, while maintaining a travel ban preventing him from leaving the country.