US energy envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut on Wednesday, a week after Lebanon began drilling for hydrocarbons off its coastline.
Mr Hochstein last year helped mediate a landmark maritime border deal between Lebanon and neighbouring Israel, two countries technically at war with each other.
That rare agreement between the two sides, signed in October, meant Lebanon has been able to begin its search for oil and gas in an area known as Block 9.
The US State Departement said Mr Hochstein would visit Lebanon on Wednesday and Thursday “to follow-up on the historic October 2022 Maritime Boundary Agreement”. He “will also discuss areas of mutual and regional concern”.
Mr Hochstein's visit comes amid heightened tensions in the south between Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Israel. Leaders of both sides have threatened to send each other back to the stone age if war were to break out.
President Joe Biden's energy envoy was dispatched last month to Israel amid the tensions.
The most recent war of words has been related to Hezbollah setting up tents in an area claimed by Israel, but both sides have exchanged fire in a series of small, often brief, clashes in recent years.
Israel and Hezbollah last fought a major war in 2006. The latter is a deeply influential and powerful Iran-backed group, whose arsenal is thought to be larger than the Lebanese Army's.
The Shiite group was the only Lebanese civil war militia allowed to keep its weapons.
The border between Israel and Lebanon is patrolled by UN peacekeepers. The renewal of the latter's mandate is to be discussed at the UN Security Council on Wednesday.
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
More on animal trafficking
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
