Page 18 - Lebanon

US announces to give Lebanon $80.5 million in aid amid economic crisis

The United States announced Wednesday that it will give $80.5 million in aid for food assistance and solar-powered water pumping stations in the crisis-battered country of Lebanon. The announcement was made by USAID chief Samantha Power during a visit to Lebanon ahead of a trip to Egypt for the COP27 U.N. climate conference. During the visit, Power is set to meet with Lebanese political leaders to push for a resolution to the country's political vacuum and for leaders to carry out a slate of political and economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund to clinch a $3 billion aid package. The visit comes as Lebanon is in the grip of its worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history. On Oct. 31, the six-year term of President Michel Aoun ended with no replacement elected. Power declined to say, however, whether any U.S. assistance would be contingent on Lebanon taking these measures. We are not focused on what happens if those reforms don't happen. The refor

Landmark maritime Lebanon-Israel pact could have important ramifications

Under the agreement, Lebanon is awarded 840 square kilometres of the previously disputed area

Lebanon and Israel sign US-mediated sea border deal, deliver them to UN

Lebanon and Israel signed copies of a US-mediated sea border deal on Thursday and delivered them to the UN in the coastal border town of Naqoura. The agreement to demarcate the maritime border comes after months of indirect talks mediated by Amos Hochstein, the US envoy for energy affairs, and would mark a major breakthrough in relations between the two nations, which have formally been at war since Israel's creation in 1948. Lebanon and Israel both claim around 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea that are home to offshore gas fields. Lebanon hopes that demarcating maritime borders will pave the way for gas exploration to help lift it out of its crippling economic crisis, which has plunged three-quarters of its population into poverty. Israel hopes that the deal will reduce the risk of war with Lebanon's Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Lebanon and Israel sent delegations to the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon, who received separately sign

Zara owner Inditex to transfer Russian business to Lebanese retail

Zara owner Inditex has reached an agreement to sell its Russian business to a Lebanese retail and real estate conglomerate, the Spanish fashion giant said on Tuesday in a statement to the country's competition authorities. The buyer is Daher Group and the potential purchase is pending approval from Russian authorities, Inditex said, without disclosing financial details. Inditex halted its business in Russia on March 5, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine at the end of February. Following other western brands, the fashion retailer closed its 502 shops and stopped online sales. Tuesday's announcement marks the end of Inditex's business in Russia, although the retailer said it would consider returning through a franchise collaboration with Daher if market circumstances changed. The statement to CNMC, the commission that oversees competition in Spain, made no direct reference to the war in Ukraine. The sale agreement includes the transfer of

Lebanese parliament fails to elect new President twice over lack of quorum

The Lebanese parliament has failed for the second time in a month to elect a new head of state as President Michel Aoun's term is about to end in about two weeks

Israel and Lebanon reach 'historic' deal on gas fields, says report

Israel has said gas production from Karish in the eastern Mediterranean will enable it to increase exports, including to Europe.

Lebanese PM Najib Mikati urges parliament to elect new president in time

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called for the election of a new President for Lebanon within the constitutional time frame before President Michel Aoun's tenure ends on October 31

India hands over locally-made motorbikes to Lebanon as bilateral assistance

India on Monday handed over indigenously produced motorbikes to Lebanon and also announced organising an artificial limb fitment camp in the west Asian country. The Made-in-India motorbikes, a part of bilateral assistance, were handed over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants during the two-day visit of Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs) to Lebanon. Sayeed called on Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon Abdallah Bou Habib and discussed a range of bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. Sayeed also met Hani Chemaitelly, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrant. Both sides identified key areas of bilateral cooperation during the meeting, including trade, people-to-people contact, vocational training, a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said. Sayeed was also scheduled to meet the Governor of Beirut City. During his visit, Sayeed also announced that

Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon discuss means to boost food security

The Agriculture Ministers of Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon convened in Amman to discuss means to boost food security.

In Lebanon, boat tragedy kills 89 but others plan to undertake deadly trip

Thousands of Palestinians held prayers on a small soccer field in a refugee camp in northern Lebanon on Saturday, to mourn one of the scores of migrants who died after their boat sank off Syria's coast this week, even as others vowed to undertake the same perilous voyage. Abdul-Al Abdul-Al, 24, kissed his father goodbye Tuesday before boarding a crowded boat leaving from a nearby town seeking a better life in Europe. It was his 14th attempt to flee the crisis-hit Mediterranean country, this time ending with the return of his dead body. He was to be buried in the camp where he was born, his father, Omar, told The Associated Press during the funeral procession. The head of al-Basel Hospital in Syria's coastal city of Tartus said Saturday that the death toll has reached 89, adding that of the 20 others who were receiving treatment at the medical center, six were discharged. The Lebanese army announced Saturday that troops have detained the man who allegedly organised the deadly trip.

Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece ink deal to strengthen diaspora affairs cooperation

Lebanon, Cyprus and Greece have signed a tripartite agreement to strengthen their cooperation on diaspora affairs, the National News Agency (NNA) reported

Lebanese Prez Michel Aoun hails UN peacekeeping mandate's extension

Aoun also renewed his thanks to the countries participating in the UNIFIL for continuing to carry out the peacekeeping mission along the border

Israeli military shoots down three Hezbollah drones over Mediterranean

The Israeli military said it shot down three unmanned aircraft launched by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah heading toward an area where an Israeli gas platform was installed in Mediterranean Sea

Lebanon forced to return refugees to Syria due to lack of int'l plan: FM

'The Lebanese government sees the need for the return of the displaced to be financed by the international community, instead of financing their stay in Lebanon'

Lebanon faces new wave of Covid; health ministry urges public to get shots

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health warned on Saturday that the country is facing a new wave of Covid-19, urging the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible

World Bank, UN grant $10 mn to mitigate impact of Beirut port blasts

A new $10 million grant will help Lebanon mitigate the environmental and health impacts of the Beirut port explosions on the neighbouring population and support Beirut's reconstruction, the UN said

IMF urges Lebanon to implement 'agreed-upon' reforms in timely manner

"Timely implementation of agreed-upon reforms is vital to obtaining the much-needed funding from the international community," said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva

UN urges adoption of emergency development measures in Lebanon amid crisis

"The country needs emergency development that would put an end to prolonged economic stagnation, and constitute a trigger for the growth of country and its prosperity," UN resident for Lebanon said

Israel hits back with artillery fire after rocket strike by Lebanon

The Israeli military said it struck Lebanon with artillery fire early Monday after a rocket was fired into Israel. The army said the rocket landed in an open area in northern Israel, causing no damage or injuries. But shortly after, it said it struck the sources of the projectile launched and an infrastructure target in southern Lebanon. It said routine activity in northern Israel was continuing. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Israel and Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group are bitter enemies that fought an inconclusive month-long war in 2006. The border area has remained tense but mostly quiet since then. Small Palestinian groups are also active in Lebanon and have been suspected in several rocket attacks in recent years. The rocket fire came at a time of heightened tensions in Israel following a string of deadly attacks inside Israel, arrest raids in the occupied West Bank and rocket attacks into Israel launched from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. It has bee

Pope Francis to visit Lebanon in June during economic crisis

Francis' trip will be the first visit by a Pope to the Mediterranean nation since 2012, when Pope Benedict XVI paid a three-day visit to Lebanon