Author: Joyce Houeiss

Exclusive JNews Lebanon Lebanon’s crowded political scene steps back today to make way for an extraordinary historic event blending Maronite heritage with national memory. All eyes turn toward the patriarchal summer residence in Dimane to witness a landmark milestone: the Beatification of Patriarch Elias Howayek, spiritual father and founder of Greater Lebanon. The Godfather of the Nation at the Altar of Sainthood In a solemn ceremony presided over by Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Béchara Boutros Rai, alongside a Vatican representative and a gathering of official and spiritual figures, the Maronite Church today consecrates a unique national legacy linking sanctity with…

Gold prices continued their downward trend in early Friday trading, following a 2% drop in the previous session. The decline comes as Brent crude oil climbed back above $100 per barrel, rekindling inflation fears and strengthening expectations of an aggressive U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate hike ahead of next week’s monetary policy meeting. By 03:33 GMT, spot gold fell 0.4% to $4,030.09 per ounce, pulling back more than $130 from the two-week high reached on Wednesday. Meanwhile, U.S. gold futures for August delivery also dipped 0.4% to $4,033.20 per ounce.

Exclusive JNews Lebanon As state institutions push forward to implement the Framework Agreement South Lebanon to secure a full Israeli withdrawal and guarantee the safe return of displaced residents, field negotiations have hit a complex hurdle raised behind closed doors in Washington and Rome: the inspection of private properties suspected of housing weapon caches or underground tunnels. Caught between a firm military refusal to violate private residences and international pressure to enforce disarmament, the operational initiative rests with military command, which remains determined to execute political mandates without triggering domestic confrontation. General Haikal in Zautar al-Gharbiya: Safe Return and…

Exclusive JNews Lebanon High-level diplomatic sources in Washington have revealed exclusively to “Jnews Lebanon” that the closed-door Oval Office summit between Presidents Joseph Aoun and Donald Trump went far beyond diplomatic courtesies. The meeting concluded with the signing of a confidential, unannounced security protocol serving as an operational annex to the Framework Agreement South Lebanon. Exclusive details obtained by “Jnews” indicate that the US administration has made the rollout of its comprehensive military and logistical aid package for the Lebanese Army contingent upon a specific operational requirement. Washington is set to equip military forces with advanced radar systems…

Exclusive JNews Lebanon Through the front door of the White House, President Joseph Aoun entered to a grand presidential reception, breaking a diplomatic hiatus for a Lebanese president at the US executive mansion that had lasted since 2009. While the formal welcoming was complete with full protocol, the substance delivered staunch US backing for the Lebanese presidency’s trajectory. Yet, the high-profile optics in Washington do not conceal Lebanon’s internal political divide between those who view the summit as a strategic turning point to restore sovereignty, and those banking on derailing the Framework Agreement with Iranian backing. White…

Written by Joyce houeiss for JNews Lebanon All eyes in world capitals turned to the Oval Office at the White House, where Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun broke a seventeen-year diplomatic hiatus with a historic meeting alongside US President Donald Trump. While political circles were preoccupied with official statements and protocol, closed rooms in Washington were drafting an unprecedented security and economic roadmap for South Lebanon. Joint Operations Room and a “Technical Umbrella” South of the Litani High-level diplomatic sources participating in the Lebanese delegation’s meetings in Washington revealed to “Jnews Lebanon” that the US commitment to equip…

Exclusive JNews Lebanon As the curtain fell on the World Cup celebrations, the region awoke to escalating conflict stretching from the Gulf of Oman and Bushahr to Bab al-Mandab and South Lebanon. All eyes in Beirut are glued to the White House, where a pivotal 6:00 PM (Beirut time) summit will take place between Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun and US President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Washington and Tel Aviv moved swiftly to bypass the summit’s core agenda with field maneuvers that have sparked deep skepticism at army headquarters in Yarzeh. Jnews Exclusive: US Naval Deployment to Cover…

Exclusive JNews Lebanon High-level diplomatic and security sources in Washington and Beirut have exclusively revealed to “Jnews Lebanon” that the meeting between President General Joseph Aoun and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended beyond official statements. Behind closed doors, discussions established a confidential security mechanism designed to resolve the procedural deadlock that previously stalled military committee proceedings. According to exclusive information obtained by “Jnews”, high-level security communications were conducted immediately following the State Department meeting between US administration officials and the leadership of the Lebanese Army at Yarzeh. The talks yielded full US backing for…

Jnews Harvest: Beirut, July 20, 2026 – Exclusive “Jnews Lebanon” As the Lebanese public held its breath watching the climax of World Cup 2026, the sports chapter concluded, shifting the nation’s full attention to Washington. The first official visit by a Lebanese President to the United States since 2009 got underway as President General Joseph Aoun held a pivotal meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting sets the stage for a historic summit at the White House with President Donald Trump—a high-stakes summit taking place against the backdrop of escalations between Washington and Tehran, and…

Spain has officially claimed the 2026 FIFA World Cup title, securing their second World Cup trophy in history following a hard-fought 1–0 extra-time victory over Argentina.The high-stakes final of the North American tournament—co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—took place on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, forcing both powerhouses into extra time following a goalless 90 minutes. Spain dominated possession throughout the match, despite a cautious and tactical opening half from both sides. In the second half, La Roja significantly elevated their tempo, creating several dangerous scoring opportunities, particularly during an intense final 20 minutes of regulation…