Beirut: The humid summer air of Beirut has started to reek as uncollected trash piles up in the streets after protesters shut down Lebanon’s largest landfill at a time of political paralysis.

Residents walking by the garbage spilling out of dumpsters and into the paths of passing cars lift their shirts or scarves over their noses to protect themselves from the smell.

The growing heaps have been dusted with white poison powder to keep away rats and insects, but the measure does little to combat the odour.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of BGM-71 tube-launched, optically-tracked, wireless-guided (TOW) 2A missiles and associated equipment to Lebanon.

Under the estimated $245m sale, the Lebanese Government has requested the supply of 1000 BGM-71E-4B-RF 2A Tow anti-armour radio-frequency missiles, along with 500 BGM-71-H-1-RF tow bunker buster radio frequency missiles, and 50 M220A2 TOW launchers.

BABAK DEHGHANPISHEH, Reuters

An unlikely group in the Middle East has found common ground in recent days: Saudi Arabia, Israel and hardliners within Iran have all made clear they consider the landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers a very bad idea.

All of these players feel a direct threat to their power and influence as a result of last Tuesday’s agreement.

For the first time in more than three decades, Iran, a country with a highly educated population of some 80 million and huge oil and gas reserves, is poised to rejoin the international community and the result could be profound change both inside and outside the country.

AP, BEIRUT –  The Lebanese cabinet has failed to agree on a solution for the country’s growing garbage crisis, postponing discussion until next week as trash piles up on the streets.

The main company in charge of collecting trash stopped its work last week amid a dispute over the country’s largest trash dump. Mountains of trash have collected in the capital and suburbs meanwhile.

Following a Cabinet meeting Thursday, Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk estimated the amount of trash currently on the streets to be at 22,000 tons.

Beirut (AFP) – Preliminary investigations into the kidnapping of five Czech citizens in Lebanon last week suggest the case is criminal, Interior Minister Nuhad Mashnuq said on Wednesday.

"We’ve arrived at the beginning of the end of the thread (of investigations), and it relates to mafias, drug trafficking and weapons," the official National News Agency quoted him as saying.

Mashnuq, who was speaking during a visit to France, did not elaborate further on any leads in the case.

Anthony H. Cordesman, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Much of the criticism of the proposed nuclear agreement with Iran has focused on the fact that it would allow conventional arms transfers to Iran in five years if Iran fully complies with all other aspects of the agreement.

In practice, this does not obligate any country to sell arms to Iran, nor does it affect US and European constraints on arms sales.

It could, however, lead to significant arms sales on the part of Russia and China, and potentially other states. Iran badly needs to modernize its aging air force, surface-to-air missile defenses, and many other elements of its weapons systems – as well as acquire the technology for a wide range of new sensors, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and other improvement in its war fighting capabilities.

BAALBECK, LEBANON—

On a sweltering afternoon at one of the Middle East’s historic treasures, preparations are in full swing to bring visitors back to Baalbeck’s Roman ruins.

“Baalbeck International Festival has become a brand,” said Nayla de Freige, president of the renowned cultural gathering set to kick off next Friday in Lebanon’s Beq’aa region. “When you go outside Lebanon, many people know about it. It’s more than just a festival.”However, the festival’s fortunes have been mixed of late.

Sara Aridi, Christian Science Monitor

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who has been called the caliph of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS), has reconsidered the terrorist group’s gory media strategy.

Mr. Baghdadi banned the dissemination of the group’s infamous execution videos in a report issued to ISIS media offices in Syria and Iraq, according to local news sources. 

While the militant leader made no suggestion of curbing the group’s atrocities, he demanded that any released footage of beheadings should exclude scenes of the actual execution and only expose moments before and after the act takes place.