Lebanon

BEIRUT, Dec 2 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanese Central Bank Governor, Riad Salameh, denied accusations of corruption, while assuring that he is assuming his full duties and responsibilities to the Lebanese people.

“There exist institutions that can hold the corrupt people and politicians accountable for their wrongdoings. The easiest thing to do is to throw accusations at the central bank governor, because he is independent and he is not affiliated with any political party,” Salameh was quoted by the Al-Hadath news channel as saying, in a televised interview.

02 Dec 2020; MEMO:  Lebanon's central bank can keep basic subsidies for only two more months and the state should come up with a plan, Governor Riad Salameh said on Tuesday as the country's financial crisis spirals.

He told Saudi's al-Hadath TV the central bank would commit to providing Lebanese government accounts for a forensic audit, but that disclosing those of domestic banks would require a change in legislation.

30 Nov 2020; Israeli warplanes Monday violated the Lebanese airspace by flying over the capital Beirut and several areas of the country, reports Anadolu Agency.

Residents in Beirut and suburbs heard sonic booms created by the warplanes.

The Lebanese National News Agency said:

"Israeli enemy warplanes effectuated Monday intensive flights at medium and low altitudes above various Lebanese regions in the south, Metn, Jbeil, Keserwan, Hasbaya, and Beirut."

27 Nov 2020; MEMO: Mafias are exploiting the Lebanese people to smuggle them into Europe, Lebanon's consul in Turkey, Mazen Kabbara, warned yesterday.

"The Lebanese are at risk of mafias that exploit them under the pretext of smuggling them into Europe, and then leave them stranded on Turkish soil or on Greek or Bulgarian borders after taking all their money," Kabbara was quoted by official National News Agency as saying.

26 Nov 2020; MEMO: Lebanese President Michel Aoun confirmed on Wednesday that the forensic audit of the Central Bank of Lebanon is a national issue and "the best way to overcome the crisis in the country."

24 Nov 2020; MEMO: US-brokered Israeli-Lebanese talks on the countries 'maritime borders have reached a dead end due to conflicting positions, Israel Hayom reported yesterday.

On Sunday, following the fallout of the talks, Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz and Lebanese President Michel Aoun traded barbs, the paper said.

BEIRUT (AP) — Khaldoun Jaber was taking part in an anti-government protest near the presidential palace outside Beirut last November when several Lebanese intelligence officers in plainclothes approached and forcibly took him away.

The demonstration was part of a wave of protests sweeping Lebanon against corruption and misrule by a group of politicians who have monopolized power since the country’s civil war ended three decades ago.

BEIRUT, Nov 21 (NNN-NNA) — Lebanon signed, yesterday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France, aimed at developing the capabilities of the Lebanese army, a statement by the Lebanese army reported.

The MoU was signed between Lebanon’s Armed Forces Commander, General Joseph Aoun, and Chief of the French Defence Staff, General Francois Lecointre, who is on an official visit to Lebanon.

The two officials held a meeting in the army commander’s office, during which they discussed relations between the armies of the two countries and ways to enhance them.

20 Nov 2020; MEMO: The Lebanese army announced yesterday that an agreement had been signed with Germany's Combi Lift company to handle and dispose of 52 containers containing dangerous materials from Beirut port.

The agreement was signed between the Army Command, the Customs Directorate and the Beirut Port Administration on the one hand and Combi Lift.

The army statement did not specify the date of signing the agreement with the company.

BEIRUT, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Restaurants, bars, cafes, gyms and malls closed their doors on Saturday as Lebanon entered its first day of a two-week lockdown to restrict the spread of COVID-19.

Vehicles are permitted to drive on specific days based on their plate numbers. However, most of the streets in the capital city Beirut were empty, reported LBCI local TV channel.

Police was deployed in most areas of the country, issuing tickets for people who violate lockdown rules.