The Lebanese capital is flooded with colours now. People are enjoying the fine weather despite the economic hardship.
(Xinhua/Liu Zongya)
Tag: Lebanon
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Beirut Blooms
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Lebanon thwarts smuggling of 20 Syrian refugees
Lebanon’s security forces have thwarted an attempt to smuggle 20 Syrian refugees out of Lebanon by sea, the National News Agency reported…reports Asian Lite News
The 20 refugees were arrested on a boat in the Lebanese territorial waters off the coast of Arida, a village in northern Lebanon, according to security forces on Saturday.
The Syrian nationals, who were trying to flee Lebanon illegally, were detained and handed over to authorities for investigation and other legal procedures, said the report.
ALSO READ: Lebanon’s bakeries suspends business amid flour shortage
Syrian refugees in Lebanon have attempted to escape the crisis-ridden country over the past several months, seeking to enter Europe, Xinhua news agency reported.
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Najib Mikati calls on UN, donor countries to increase investment
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday called on the UN and donor countries to increase their investments in Lebanon amid the current dire crisis…reports Asian Lite News
“I call on the UN, donor countries and local partners to boost investment in Lebanon’s developmental fields, especially in health, education and social coverage which constitute a line of defense for the development of the society and community,” he said, as per the statement from the Council of Ministers.
The Prime Minister made the remarks at the launch ceremony of the UN Strategic Framework (UNSF) in Lebanon for 2022-2025, Xinhua news agency reported.
ALSO READ: Kuwait’s move in restoring Lebanon-Gulf ties successful: Envoy
Mikati praised the transparent partnership between Lebanon and the UN family while emphasising the importance of the strategy at a time when Lebanon is going through multiple crises.
For her part, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Najat Rochdi noted that the priority of the UN is to support the government to put the country on the path of recovery by addressing issues including corruption and the economic crisis.
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Kuwait’s move in restoring Lebanon-Gulf ties successful: Envoy
Kuwait launched an initiative in January aimed at restoring ties between Lebanon and Gulf countries…reports Asian Lite News
The return of Saudi and Kuwaiti Ambassadors to Lebanon proves that Kuwait’s initiative to restore ties between Lebanon and Gulf countries have succeeded, Kuwait’s Ambassador to Lebanon Abdel Aal Al-Qenai has said.
The return of Ambassador will lead to more rapprochement and cooperation for the benefit of the two brotherly countries between Lebanon and Kuwait, a statement by Lebanon’s Council of Ministers quoted Al-Qenai as saying on Wednesday.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who emphasised the depth of Lebanon-Kuwait ties while praising Kuwait for its unwavering support for Lebanon and its efforts to restore ties between Lebanon and Gulf states, Xinhua news agency reported.
To protest against the comments made by former Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi, who criticised the Saudi-led coalition’s involvement in the civil war of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, all members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), recalled their Ambassadors to Lebanon in October 2021.ALSO READ: Saudi announces return of Ambassador to Lebanon
Kuwait launched an initiative in January aimed at restoring ties between Lebanon and Gulf countries.
Last week, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait announced the return of its Ambassador to Lebanon, in a positive sign of a thaw in their tense ties.
The move came after Najib Mikati pledged to take the necessary and required measures to enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other GCC members. -
Lebanon’s bakeries suspends business amid flour shortage
More bakeries in southern Lebanon suspended business on Tuesday amid shortage of flour, the Head of the Bakery Owners Syndicate in South Lebanon said…reports Asian Lite News
“A big number of bakeries stopped working today and many more will follow suit tomorrow as they no longer have flour and are therefore unable to secure the citizens’ need for bread,” Zakaria Al-Arabi al-Qudsi was quoted as saying by Elnashra news website on Monday.
The Lebanese Economy Minister announced in March that the Ukraine-Russia conflict affected the country’s access to wheat, saying he has been trying to secure other sources of the commodity but has to wait for the funds from the central bank, Xinhua news agency reported.
ALSO READ: International organisations warn of escalating humanitarian crisis in Lebanon
Lebanon has been suffering from an unprecedented financial crisis amid a shortage of US dollars that hinders the country’s ability to import its basic food needs.
The crisis was further exacerbated by the Ukraine-Russia conflict as Lebanon imports the bulk of its wheat from the two countries bordering the Black Sea.
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SPRING IN BEIRUT
Two girls pick flowers in a wildflower patch in Beirut, Lebanon. The country is going through a tough economic phase.
(Xinhua/Liu Zongya)
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Saudi announces return of Ambassador to Lebanon
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry announced the return of its Ambassador to Lebanon, in a positive sign of a thaw in the countries’ tense ties…reports Asian Lite News
The move came after Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati pledged to take the necessary and required measures to enhance cooperation with the kingdom and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Ministry was quoted by the official official Saudi Press Agency as saying.
Saudi Arabia highlighted the significance of Lebanon’s “return to its Arab origins to enjoy peace, security and stability”, Xinhua news agency reported citing the Ministry as saying.
ALSO READ: Iran ready to settle differences with Saudi
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, all GCC members, recalled their ambassadors to Lebanon in October 2021 to protest against the comments made by former Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi, who criticized the Saudi-led coalition’s involvement in the civil war of Yemen.
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Lebanese PM Calls For Unity to Save Sountry
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called on all political parties to cooperate to pull the country out of its crisis, the Council of Ministers said in a statement…reports Asian Lite News
“We affirm that Lebanon possesses a lot of potential and capability which should give the country an incentive to revive. This requires that we all cooperate, especially at the level of government and parliament, to push forward reforms and the recovery,” Mikati said on Wednesday during a meeting for the cabinet discussing necessary reform measures.
The Prime Minister added that his cabinet will continue to work to put the country on the path to recovery despite the tough social and economic challenges, Xinhua news agency reported.
“We are working non-stop to explore ways to pay all our internal and external obligations,” he said.
Mikati assured that Lebanon has made great progress in its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and his cabinet expects positive results in this regard.
Lebanon has been going through an unprecedented financial crisis amid a steep shortage of foreign reserves, with more than 74 per cent of the population plunging into poverty, according to the World Bank.
Earlie, Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami has announced “the bankruptcy of the state and the Central Bank” of the cash-strapped nation.
“The state has gone bankrupt as did the Central Bank of Lebanon, and the loss has occurred; we will seek to reduce losses for the people,” Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister as saying.
He added that the negotiations to sign a preliminary deal between Lebanon and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a package to exit a deep financial crisis in the country are currently underway.
The talks covered the restructuring of the banking sector, an economic recovery plan, approval of the budget as well as a capital control draft bill, he noted.
ALSO READ: Germany signs financial cooperation agreement with Lebanon
Lebanon has been facing a major financial crisis amid a steep shortage of foreign currency.
The country’s financial experts accused commercial banks of depositing clients’ foreign currency deposits at the Central Bank of Lebanon in return for high interest rates.
Meanwhile, the central bank used the clients’ deposits to stabilize the exchange rate of the Lebanese pound and finance the state’s budget deficit, experts said.
GERMAN AID
Germany has signed a financial cooperation agreement with Lebanon to provide the latter with an aid of 50 million euros ($54.5 million), the National News Agency reported.
The agreement was signed by Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and German Ambassador to Lebanon Andreas Kindl, Xinhua reported citing the National News Agency.
The aid will be spent on several projects like building schools, launching water and sanitation programmes for communities hosting refugees, as well as adopting measures necessary to confront the Covid pandemic in Lebanon.
Hit by years of political chaos and the pandemic, Lebanon has been suffering from an unprecedented financial crisis that has plunged over 74 per cent of the population into poverty.
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Germany signs financial cooperation agreement with Lebanon
Germany has signed a financial cooperation agreement with Lebanon to provide the latter with an aid of 50 million euros ($54.5 million), the National News Agency reported…reports Asian Lite News
The agreement was signed by Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and German Ambassador to Lebanon Andreas Kindl, Xinhua reported citing the National News Agency.
The aid will be spent on several projects like building schools, launching water and sanitation programmes for communities hosting refugees, as well as adopting measures necessary to confront the Covid pandemic in Lebanon.
ALSO READ: International organisations warn of escalating humanitarian crisis in Lebanon
Hit by years of political chaos and the pandemic, Lebanon has been suffering from an unprecedented financial crisis that has plunged over 74 per cent of the population into poverty.
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International organisations warn of escalating humanitarian crisis in Lebanon
The fourth Consultative Group (CG) meeting of the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF) has warned against an escalating humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, a statement by the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon reported…reports Asian Lite News
The group on Monday emphasised the need for Lebanon to swiftly embark on a roadmap to exit this unfolding crisis through an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a comprehensive economic stabilisation and recovery program, Xinhua news agency reported.
ALSO READ: Lebanon’s Deputy Minister announces country’s bankruptcy
“The Lebanese government and parliament will have to find the political will to take collective steps beyond party politics; this will be an infusion of trust,” it said.
The 3RF Consultative Group, which consists of the government of Lebanon, Lebanese civil society, the European Union, United Nations, the World Bank, and international donors, monitors progress and gives strategic direction to the reforms and activities under the 3RF.