Arab nations extended a deadline early Monday for Qatar to respond to their list of demands in a diplomatic crisis roiling the Gulf, saying Kuwait’s emir requested the delay as part of his efforts to mediate the dispute. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut off ties ... Read More »
Army arrests suspected killer of officer
In a statement over the weekend, the Army confirmed reports that a Syrian national suspected of the murder of an Army officer in 2014 had been arrested. Identified Saturday as Ahmad Khaled Diab, the suspect was officially apprehended by Army Intelligence “over affiliation with terrorist groups.” Following his arrest, Diab ... Read More »
Hariri to graduates: Don’t leave Lebanon
The economic future of Lebanon rests on the innovation and adaptive nature of the country’s youth, Prime Minister Saad Hariri said at a graduation ceremony at Antonine University in Mount Lebanon’s Baabda over the weekend. In his speech, the prime minister acknowledged the responsibility of the politicians to create and ... Read More »
Another 50 arrested for Brevet gunfire
Another 50 people have been arrested over the weekend for celebratory gunfire after last week’s Grade 9 Brevet exams, Internal Security Forces announced Sunday, bringing the total of arrests to 75. In a statement released by the Internal Security Forces late Friday, the force said 177 suspects were wanted in ... Read More »
Merehbi insists on UN-coordinated refugee return
Minister of State for Refugee Affairs Mouin Merehbi Monday insisted that Lebanon’s borders are “open” for the return of refugees in coordination with the United Nations, but not with the Syrian government. “The Syrian regime is criminal,” Merehbi said in an interview with Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5). “Calls to ... Read More »
“Baabda Document 2017”… Cabinet poised to follow up on electricity plan, appointments
The Cabinet is set to meet this week to discuss some 92 items and follow up on the government’s controversial electricity reform plan, ministerial sources said yesterday. Set to be chaired by President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace at 11 a.m. Wednesday, the meeting will be the first since the ... Read More »
Refugee cash card scheme boosts grocers
In three years, Lebanese grocer Ali Khiami hired six staff, invested in property and funded his children’s university education. Business is booming – thanks to Syrian refugees using U.N. debit cards. Displaced Syrian families in Lebanon are using electronic cards, topped up each month by the United Nations’ World Food ... Read More »
Half of Mosul’s Old City liberated from Daesh: officer
Iraq’s military pushed deeper into Mosul’s Old City Wednesday, taking two more districts from Daesh (ISIS) and bringing it closer to total control of the city. The army’s 16th infantry division captured Hadarat al-Saada and Al-Ahmadiyah, the military said in a statement. The areas are northwest of the historic Grand ... Read More »
Health care lands $150M support
The World Bank announced $150 million in grants and soft loans to support the country’s health care system Monday. “The World Bank is injecting $120 million into Lebanon’s health care system as part of a larger package to provide thousands of poor families with a critical service that has been ... Read More »
Venezuela vows to fend off ‘coup’ after grenade attack
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro vowed Wednesday to fend off what he called a coup attempt after a rogue cop allegedly dropped grenades from a helicopter in an attack the opposition and analysts said could be a hoax. The socialist president put the military on alert after the attack, a potentially ... Read More »