Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Beirut on Thursday, becoming the most senior official from the kingdom to visit Lebanon in 15 years.
Prince Faisal's arrival comes days after he expressed optimism about the political changes in Lebanon. The country has elected a president enduring a power vacuum of more than two years and a prime minister-designate has been appointed to form a new government.
Prince Faisal met President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, as well Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, Lebanon's official National News Agency said.
"Despite the challenges in the region, we are looking to the future of Lebanon with optimism, because the implementation of the reforms will strengthen the trust of Lebanon's partners," Prince Faisal said after the meeting with Mr Aoun.
Saudi Arabia is seeking to re-engage with Beirut after Iran and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, Tehran's most powerful regional proxy, were weakened by Israel's war on Lebanon.
There is renewed optimism after the election of Mr Aoun and the appointment of Mr Salam to lead the next government. Both men are seen as being apart from Lebanon's entrenched ruling classes, who are accused of mismanaging the country. Neither candidate was favoured by Hezbollah, which previously dominated Lebanese politics.
Saudi Arabia was once a major financial backer of Lebanon but reduced its support as Hezbollah's influence grew.
The kingdom helped to rebuild the country after the war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006. Lebanon is once again in need of financing to recover from the latest conflict. A 60-day ceasefire to halt the fighting ends on Sunday, but it could be extended.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, Prince Faisal said Saudi Arabia regarded the election of a Lebanese president as a positive step. He expressed hope that a new government would be formed in Beirut “in the not too distant future”, referring to the consultations Mr Salam is holding with political blocs as he looks to appoint his cabinet.
“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,” Prince Faisal said.
THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
ACC%20T20%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Championship
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications
Brief scores:
Toss: Australia, chose to bat
Australia: 272-9 (50 ov)
Khawaja 100, Handscomb 52; Bhuvneshwar 3-48
India: 237 (50 ov)
Rohit 56, Bhuvneshwar 46; Zampa 3-46
Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Player of the Series: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
RESULTS
Mumbai Indians 181-4 (20 ovs)
Kolkata Knight Riders 168-6 (20ovs)
Mumbai won by 13 runs
Rajasthan Royals 152-9 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 155-4 (18.4 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab won by 6 wickets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE%20SPECS
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Tewellah by Nawal Zoghbi is out now.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
