Led by the heads of various Churches, pilgrims have returned to the 5th-century monastery built around the column on which Saint Simeon lived for 40 years. One of the most important monuments of early Christianity, it still bears the scars of bombing and looting. Yet it bears witness to a faith stronger than any adversity.
In a statement, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said he was satisfied with the deal, which should end to territorial disputes. Two huge deposits in the eastern Mediterranean are at stake, one of which, Qana, belongs to Lebanon. The deal will not be a treaty, but will be accepted at the United Nations. A small number of Lebanese lawmakers are critical of the agreement.
The new head of state is 78-year-old Kurdish Abdel Latif Rashid, who overcame rival (and outgoing) Bahram Salih by more than 160 votes to 99. As his first act, he entrusted the task of forming the new government to 52-year-old Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, an exponent of the pro-Tehran Shia faction. Yesterday's vote was marked by the launching of rockets in the Green Zone.
Women who take part in the Hajj or the Umrah will no longer need to be accompanied by a "mahram”, a Saudi minister said. This ends a contentious situation that saw past announcements unfulfilled. Now women from anywhere in the world can come. Meanwhile, the Great Mosque in Makkah is undergoing a US$ 53 billion facelift.
In the negotiations between Yerevan and Baku, the European Union and Turkey enter the scene. Confidence in Russia's mediation is waning, weakened by the Ukrainian conflict. The problem of Karabakh and the Azerbaijani "corridors" to Turkey and Iran.
Three weeks after the end of President Aoun's term of office, the appointment of his successor and a new executive is still a distant reality. A new vote in the House is expected tomorrow, but a quorum is unlikely to be reached. Attempts at compromise seem akin to immobility and maintaining the status quo.
The UN mission has launched an appeal for 'dialogue without preconditions' to break the political and institutional deadlock. Since the elections of 10 October 2021, no agreement has yet been reached on the appointment of a premier and a new government. The current executive only has the current affairs at its disposal. Economic problems and wasted wealth. The unresolved knot of (Christian) refugees.
Parliament is working on a bill against “disinformation” presented by the governing party. Critics see it as a threat to freedom. The final draft should be approved by the end of the week. Civil liberties advocates and government critics see planned punishments as disproportionate to the law’s aims, i.e., cracking down on false news. Under the bill, offenders could get one to three years in prison.
The security service leadership has given the green light to the Energean company for testing. The Israeli Defence Minister announces a "resolute response" in the event of an attack by Hezbollah and does not rule out a "broader conflict". The Lebanese Shia movement has threatened reprisals in the event of extraction without agreement.
From sports to religious tourism, as part of its Vision 2030 plan, Saudi Arabia wants to boost the industry so that it generates 10 per cent of GDP and creates a million new jobs. The second most visited Arab country is the United Arab Emirates with 14.8 million visitors, followed by Morocco with 11 million.
Important gas fields in disputed territories between the two countries are at stake. Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati spoke of the “diplomatic success" that avoids a new conflict, but some details have turned out to be very contentious, including the “buoy line”. Hanging over everything are Hezbollah’s position and Israel’s upcoming election, which might see Netanyahu make a comeback.
The Synodal Conference of the Church of Turkey is scheduled to take place this weekend in Ephesus and İzmir, with meetings, prayers and a solemn Eucharistic celebration. Bishop Bizzeti will take stock of the work accomplished so far and the urgencies for the future. Families as the first place to cultivate the faith, more "impetus" is needed to "make Christianity known". The knot tied to the Treaty of Lausanne.
Today's headlines: Joint military exercise by Tokyo and Seoul (with the US) in response to North Korean launches; Vientiane suspends mining operations at a Chinese-owned gold mine; cholera continues to strike in Syria, first case of contagion in neighbouring Lebanon; Moscow's Orthodox churches propse a liturgy for soldiers engaged in the war on Ukraine.
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