Articles

Some people submit to fate, while others take their destiny into their own hands. That is all the more difficult when the person is a woman in a world dominated by men. And yet… some women refused to yield. They chose to fight, breaking the taboos and conventions of their time. Throughout history, countless women have refused to be mere footnotes in the story of humanity. Whether they wielded a paintbrush, a pen, science, or their voice, they left their mark on their era with a boldness that was sometimes considered scandalous. Society wanted them to be muses; they became creators. It demanded obedience; they chose freedom. It sought to silence them; they spoke even louder and with even greater conviction.

False alarm or calculated bluff? Several alarming statements were made Saturday evening about the imminent threat of a large-scale American attack on Iran. The resumption of fighting in early July derailed the memorandum of understanding signed in mid-June, which was meant to pave the way for peace talks. On Thursday, Pakistan, acting as mediator, stated that the warring parties were in negotiations aimed at de-escalation, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and the United States resumed their exchanges of overnight strikes this week after several days of relative calm, but no attacks have been reported since the night of Friday to Saturday.

One could almost believe that Lebanon has lived only according to the rhythm of foreign capitals: there was the Egyptian era under Nasser, the Palestinian era under the PLO, the Syrian era under the republican dynasty of the Assads, and, of course, the Iranian era, when Hezbollah took control through intermediaries. What makes the Lebanese experience particularly distinctive is that whenever the influence of one Arab or foreign regime began to fade or disappear, another quickly stepped in to replace it. As though it were only natural, since nature abhors a vacuum and our politicians have never wished to renounce servitude.

Sohmor. A town located in the western Bekaa, home to fifteen hundred households and between five and eight thousand residents. Given its size and population, the term "village" is the most geographically appropriate way to describe Sohmor. Sohmor has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli bombardments, as if it were routine for them. If this village and its successive mayors have been a magnet for the Israeli army, its municipality has proven to be a true lightning rod. Among the top ten worst electricity bill defaulters listed by EDL are: the Southern Water Authority, the Bekaa Water Authority, and the municipality of Sohmor…

The explosions generated shockwaves equivalent to a magnitude 3.2 earthquake: the Israeli army carried out massive explosions near Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon on Thursday night, drawing condemnation from President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The head of state went so far as to denounce "an extremely dangerous escalation" and "a direct threat" to the implementation of the framework agreement concluded in June between Lebanon and Israel under U.S. auspices. While the United States had confirmed on Monday that new talks between Israel and Lebanon would be held in Rome from August 4 to 6, aimed in part at expanding the process, the presidency lamented in a statement that "the timing of these aggressions sends negative messages and undermines international efforts to consolidate stability," just days before those new negotiations.

Success often breeds further success. Morocco has offered a striking example of this ever since Mohammed VI ascended the throne twenty-seven years ago. The foremost of these achievements has been the consolidation of Morocco’s claim to the Sahara, followed by a series of major projects that have now become reality. These include the transformation of the Port of Dakhla into one of Africa’s leading Atlantic gateways, the African gas pipeline linking Nigeria to Morocco, and the more than one-thousand-kilometre highway connecting Tiznit to Dakhla, which now bears Donald Trump’s name. The Moroccan monarch scarcely needed to dwell on these accomplishments in his annual Throne Day address, particularly after the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797 on 31 October 2025. The resolution marked a turning point by explicitly acknowledging Morocco’s claim to the Sahara and reaffirming that the only realistic solution remains the one Rabat has advocated since 2007: broad autonomy for the Saharan provinces within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.