Lebanon

MAARAB, Lebanon, Nov 30 (Reuters) - One of Lebanon's main Christian politicians accused foe Hezbollah and its allies of working to postpone a parliamentary election set for March over fears of electoral losses, warning such a move would condemn Lebanon to a "slow death".

Western donors that Lebanon is relying on to stem its financial implosion have said the vote must go ahead. Politicians from all sides, including Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah, have repeatedly said it should happen otherwise the country's standing would be dealt a further blow.

29 Nov 2021; MEMO: The head of the Hezbollah bloc in the Lebanese parliament warned on Sunday of a possible coup against the Taif Agreement which ended 15 years of civil war (1975-1990) through which power in the country was split among Muslims and Christians, Anadolu has reported. Mohammad Raad said that the coup would favour the axis in favour of normalisation with Israel.

27 Nov 2021; MEMO: Three Lebanese judges have resigned in protest of the interference by politicians in the judiciary, as significant cases continue to be hijacked and influenced by political actors.

BEIRUT (AP) — A small group of protesters broke into a ministry building in Beirut early on Friday and removed a photo of the president from one of its main rooms, as the Lebanese pound hit a new low amid a worsening economic and political stalemate.

The protesters who entered the Ministry of Social Affairs said conditions in crisis-hit Lebanon have become unbearable as a result of the rapid economic collapse and ongoing crash of the pound, which reached 25,100 to the dollar. The previous record was 25,000.

21 Nov 2021; MEMO: A group of US congressmen will hold meetings with crisis-hit Lebanon's leaders to report back to US President Joe Biden, The New Arab reported.

The delegation headed to Lebanon on Friday and will stay three days, goes with the intention of how to best help the country through the economic crisis.

BEIRUT, Nov 19 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanese Culture Minister, Mohammad Mortada, yesterday launched a 13-million U.S. dollar plan, funded by the World Bank (WB), for the reconstruction and restoration of heritage buildings damaged by the Beirut blasts.

The launching came during a meeting held at Movenpick hotel in Beirut, attended by the World Bank Regional Director, Saroj Kumar Jha and Beirut Governor, Marwan Abboud.

Mortada said, the ministry conducted a field survey to assess the damage to the heritage buildings and the degree of destruction that resulted from the blasts.

BEIRUT, Nov 18 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanon’s Central Bank Governor, Riad Salameh, yesterday denied media allegations, that he transferred public funds to a company owned by his brother.

Salameh said in a statement that, “not a single penny” was taken from public funds to pay fees and commissions to his brother’s company, Forry Associates Ltd, a firm whose transactions and investments have been the focus of media reports.

Salameh said, his opponents had disseminated the false information.

14 Nov 2021; MEMO: A Lebanese municipality has imposed a series of measures on Syrian refugees, including a night curfew and a limit on the hours they work and wages they earn daily.

The municipality of Ras Baalbeck issued an order this week that male Syrian workers must not be paid more than 40,000 Lebanese liras per day and can only work from 8AM till 3PM. Female workers are also limited to an hourly wage of 10,000 Lebanese liras.

BEIRUT, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- A senior UN official on Friday warned that Lebanon may be turned into a "failing state" if the government does not succeed in implementing quick and serious reform measures amid the current unprecedented financial crisis.

"The prime minister should exercise his authority and move the country forward. There is no time to waste," said Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, during a press conference held at the end of his mission in the capital Beirut.

BEIRUT, Nov 12 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, yesterday, launched a 25 million-U.S. dollar-fund, to support the recovery of targeted micro and small enterprises (MSEs), damaged by the Port of Beirut explosion, a statement by Lebanon’s Council of Ministers reported.