The planned reopening of the hotel, which was damaged in the 2020 port explosion, follows Saudi-backed Gen. Joseph Aoun's becoming president of Lebanon.

French President Emmanuel Macron will fly to Lebanon on Friday for a one-day visit to show support for the country's new leadership and work towards preventing Hezbollah's rearmament, two months after France and the US brokered a ceasefire between the group and Israel,

In Riyadh meeting, US and Saudi Arabia agreed they had 'once in thirty-year opportunity' to sideline Hezbollah with election of new president

BEIRUT - French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Lebanon on Friday to help speed up the formation of a government that can quickly implement reforms and open the door to reconstruction following last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Presidents in Lebanon are brought to power by near political consensus, but more than six contenders were still in play. Debates were heated and army chief Joseph Aoun was dismissed by many politicians as constitutionally unqualified for the presidency because of his military post.

The election of army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun garnered rare consensus among the Lebanese, backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia in the first presidential election for Lebanon following the fall of the Assad regime.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is preparing to reopen its embassy in Beirut after more than three years, a high-level delegation confirmed during a visit to Lebanon on Monday. The move marks a significant step in mending ties between the Gulf Arab state and Lebanon, following the embassy’s closure in October 2021.

Disarming Hezbollah, getting financial aid, rebuilding and restoring sovereignty among the tasks facing the new leaders

Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun, widely seen as favored by US and Saudi Arabia, is likely to win, after endorsement by Hezbollah pick Suleiman Frangieh

The International Monetary Fund has lowered its 2025 GDP growth projection for Saudi Arabia to 3.3%, mainly due to extended oil production cuts, it said on Friday in the latest update to its global outlook.

Over the past week, Lebanon gained both a new president and prime minister-designate, raising hopes for a recovery from years of economic collapse and reconstruction after the 14-month war between Israel and Hezbollah that ended in a ceasefire late last November.