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Tag: Lebanon

  • Lebanon eases Covid measures

    Lebanon eases Covid measures

    Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad announced that the Covid-19 measures have been eased amid a remarkable drop in infections in the country…reports Asian Lite News

    The Covid-19 ministerial committee cancelled all measures imposed on restaurants and cafes with regard to the number of clients they are allowed to receive, Xinhua news agency quoted Abiad as saying.

    The committee also exempted restaurants’ customers and employees from being vaccinated or possessing negative PCR tests, but restaurants must be allowed to conduct necessary tests in the event of suspicious cases, Abiad said.

    ALSO READ: Global Covid caseload tops 491.3 mn

    The Health Minister added that travellers do not have to conduct the PCR test at the Beirut airport, but they should do the test before arrival unless they were fully vaccinated with three Covid-19 vaccine shots.

    The total number of Covid-19 infections in Lebanon currently stands at 1,092,995 with 10,314 deaths.

  • Lebanon’s Deputy Minister announces country’s bankruptcy

    Lebanon’s Deputy Minister announces country’s bankruptcy

    Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami has announced “the bankruptcy of the state and the Central Bank” of the cash-strapped nation…reports Asian Lite News

    “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: UN urges Lebanon to rebuild country’s education system

    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.

  • UN urges Lebanon to rebuild country’s education system

    UN urges Lebanon to rebuild country’s education system

    UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Najat Rochdi has urged the Lebanese government to work to rebuild the country’s education system…reports Asian Lite News

    “For the future of Lebanon and its children, it is critical that the Lebanese government and all stakeholders work together to rebuild the education system,” Rochdi said on Saturday in a statement, noting that UN agencies have provided significant support.

    “We are aware of the difficult situation that teachers are facing and are supporting the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in improving the conditions in schools for both teachers and children,” she added.

    UN urges Lebanon to rebuild country’s education system

    Together with the UNICEF, and with the help of EU and German funding, the UN mission in Lebanon is supporting 336,000 Lebanese children and some 198,000 non-Lebanese to enroll in formal public school, said the UN official.

    Lebanon has been facing an unprecedented financial crisis with a collapse in the local currency, plunging more than 74 per cent of the population into poverty, Xinhua news agency reported.

    ALSO READ: Lebanon reaffirms commitment to restore GCC ties

  • Lebanon reaffirms commitment to restore GCC ties

    Lebanon reaffirms commitment to restore GCC ties

    Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to restoring normal ties with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries…reports Asian Lite News

    Lebanon would “take all necessary measures” to enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries,” and there is “the need to stop all political, military, security and media activities that originate from Lebanon and affect the sovereignty, security and stability” of these countries, Xinhua news agency quoted Mikati as saying in a statement.

    ALSO READ: Lebanon facing wheat crisis amid Russia-Ukraine conflict: President

    Lebanon would tighten border control to prevent drug smuggling to the GCC member states, he added.

    Lebanon has witnessed rising tensions with Gulf states over the past year in the light of drug smuggling attempts from the country to the Gulf region.

    In addition, the Gulf states have more than once expressed displeasure with the dominant political position of Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist party in Lebanon, and its support of Yemeni Houthi rebels.

    Meanwhile, Lebanese President Michel Aoun has said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict affected Lebanon’s capacity to secure sufficient wheat, urging UN to increase food support for his country, a statement by Lebanon’s Presidency reported.

    “Wheat warehouses were destroyed in the Beirut port blasts in 2020, and the war in Ukraine further impacted our access to this commodity,” Aoun was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

    Aoun’s remarks came on Monday during his meeting in Italy with David Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Programme, who said the WFP will continue supporting Lebanon despite the increasingly difficult global situation.

    Aoun also met with the director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Qu Dongyu, who said that FAO will urge member states of the organization to double their production of basic food products with the aim of facing the emerging global situation in light of the war in Ukraine.

    Dongyu promised Aoun to continue coordinating with the Lebanese government to provide Lebanon with its needs.

    Aoun arrived in Italy on Monday and he will also hold meeting with Italian president and officials.

  • Lebanon facing wheat crisis amid Russia-Ukraine conflict: President

    Lebanon facing wheat crisis amid Russia-Ukraine conflict: President

    Lebanese President Michel Aoun has said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict affected Lebanon’s capacity to secure sufficient wheat, urging UN to increase food support for his country, a statement by Lebanon’s Presidency reported…reports Asian Lite News

    “Wheat warehouses were destroyed in the Beirut port blasts in 2020, and the war in Ukraine further impacted our access to this commodity,” Aoun was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

    Aoun’s remarks came on Monday during his meeting in Italy with David Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Programme, who said the WFP will continue supporting Lebanon despite the increasingly difficult global situation.

    ALOS READ: Lebanon, Algeria sign deal on criminals extradition, judicial cooperation

    Aoun also met with the director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Qu Dongyu, who said that FAO will urge member states of the organization to double their production of basic food products with the aim of facing the emerging global situation in light of the war in Ukraine.

    Dongyu promised Aoun to continue coordinating with the Lebanese government to provide Lebanon with its needs.

    Aoun arrived in Italy on Monday and he will also hold meeting with Italian president and officials.

  • Lebanese PM calls for Arab countries’ support to overcome crisis

    Lebanese PM calls for Arab countries’ support to overcome crisis

    Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called on countries in the Arab world to help Lebanon overcome its unprecedented crisis, the Council of Ministers said in a statement…reports Asian Lite News

    He made the remarks on Saturday during a meeting with visiting Arab League Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit at the Grand Serail, Xinhua news agency reported.

    “We are waiting for our Arab brothers to stand by Lebanon and spare our country the dangers by helping us bear the burdens that have exceeded our capabilities,” the statement quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

    Mikati added that his government is trying to solve Lebanon’s multiple problems, but needs the great support of Arab countries.

    ALSO READ: Lebanon, Algeria sign deal on criminals extradition, judicial cooperation

    For his part, Aboul-Gheit said Lebanon has taken a great role in the region in sparing no efforts to support every activity that enriches joint Arab action in all fields.

    Lebanon is going through its worst financial crisis as the government has been incapable of adopting practical solutions because of differences among political parties on issues, such as the investigation into the Beirut port blasts and the diplomatic crisis with Gulf countries.

  • Lebanon, Algeria sign deal on criminals extradition, judicial cooperation

    Lebanon, Algeria sign deal on criminals extradition, judicial cooperation

    Lebanon and Algeria have signed two legal agreements on the extradition of criminals and judicial cooperation in the criminal field…reports Asian Lite News

    The agreements constitute “a fruitful beginning of cooperation to boost ties between the two countries,” Lebanese Justice Minister, Henri Khoury said on Saturday, adding “future bilateral agreements will develop for the benefit of the two countries.”

    For his part, Algerian Justice Minister, Abdul Rashid Tabbi said the signed agreements provide a comprehensive framework that will protect the two countries from criminal threats, Xinhua news agency reported.

    ALSO READ: Agreement in Vienna requires West’s ‘courageous’ political decision: Iran’s FM

    Tabbi also called for Arab justice Ministries to finance a fund created for the support of Lebanese judges amid the current economic crisis in the country.

    Arab justice Ministers and diplomats gathered on Saturday in Lebanon to attend an award ceremony of the best doctoral thesis in the Arab world in the field of law and justice.

  • Lebanon foils 3 suicide attacks planned by IS militants

    Lebanon foils 3 suicide attacks planned by IS militants

    Lebanese security forces foiled three suicide attacks planned by militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has said…reports Asian Lite News

    Mawlawi on Wednesday said at a press conference that militants had planned to carry out attacks in late February by using rocket-propelled grenades, gunfire, as well as suicide vests rigged with explosives that could have killed many people, Xinhua news agency reported.

    Two suspects were arrested on Wednesday and are being held in custody, with explosives, weapons and munitions seized, he added.

    ALSO READ: Yemen complains over Houthi activisites from Lebanon

    The IS controlled areas in northeastern Lebanon from 2014 to 2017, and claimed two suicide bombings in Beirut’s southern suburbs in 2015 that killed more than 40 people.

  • Yemen complains over Houthi activisites from Lebanon

    Yemen complains over Houthi activisites from Lebanon

    Lebanon’s Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi on Tuesday received a complaint letter from his counterpart in Yemeni Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak about the Houthi militia engaging in hostile activities from inside Lebanese territories…reports Asian Lite News

    Mubarak said that the Houthis have been broadcasting programs through Al-Masirah and Al-Sahat TV channels from Lebanon without legal licenses, Xinhua news agency reported.

    The letter has prompted Mawlawi to request security agencies for necessary investigations on the operators of the two channels.

    ALSO READ: Houthi drone attack on Saudi airport injures 16

    The Lebanese minister said it is necessary to take all measures against such practices which “create obstacles facing Lebanon’s official efforts to strengthen relations with Arab countries and endanger the sovereignty of those countries”.

  • Lebanon eases Covid measures for travellers

    Lebanon eases Covid measures for travellers

    Lebanese authorities have announced that inbound travellers would be exempted from PCR tests if they have received their last Covid-19 vaccine shots within six months…reports Asian Lite News

    Considering the recent decrease in the daily Covid-19 cases in the country, Health Minister Firas Abiad announced the decision at a press conference, Xinhua news agency reported.

    The Minister added that they have enough vaccines to fulfil the goal of raising the vaccination rate from 40 to 60 per cent before the summer season begins.

    ALSO READ: Global Covid caseload tops 427.3 mn

    In the last 24 hours, Lebanon reported 3,978 new Covid-19 cases, increasing the total number of infections to 1,053,252.

    The country’s death toll stood at 10,007.