Politics

Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Thursday that his political group has an economic plan to find a way out of the difficult situation the country is facing."We, as a political group, have an economic plan to resolve the current crisis... We are not imposing it on anyone, but we have a responsibility towards the Lebanese," Minister Bassil said at a press conference in the wake of the meeting of "Strong Lebanon" bloc.Bassil also assured that the state budget will be finalized, stressing that all want a speedy state budget endorsement."Everyone loses with each day of delay," Bassil corroborated, stressing that every reform has a certain cost which should be shouldered by everyone.Bassil also pointed out that several reforms have been accomplished in the state budget "which is a good step...

Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said on Thursday that his political group has an economic plan to find a way out of the difficult situation the country is facing."We, as a political group, have an economic plan to resolve the current crisis... We are not imposing it on anyone, but we have a responsibility towards the Lebanese," Minister Bassil said at a press conference in the wake of the meeting of "Strong Lebanon" bloc.Bassil also assured that the state budget will be finalized, stressing that all want a speedy state budget endorsement."Everyone loses with each day of delay," Bassil corroborated, stressing that every reform has a certain cost which should be shouldered by everyone.Bassil also pointed out that several reforms have been accomplished in the state budget "which is a good step...

The Pentagon is set to brief the White House on a request for thousands more U.S. troops to be sent to the Middle East, amid rising tensions between Iran and Washington, U.S. officials said Wednesday.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been formally announced.The officials said the request for additional troops was coming from U.S. Central Command and would be presented to the White House on Thursday. But it was not clear whether the White House would approve sending all or just some of the requested defensive forces, as well as additional Patriot missile batteries and more ships.The Pentagon declined to comment on future plans. "As a matter of long-standing policy, we are not going to discuss or speculate on potential future plans and requests for forc...

The President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri received today at the Grand Serail a delegation from the National Commission for Lebanese Women headed by Claudine Aoun Roukoz. The delegation included members of the commission's executive office and members of the legal and steering committee concerned with preparing the National Action Plan for Security Council Resolution 1325.After the meeting, Roukoz said: "We presented to Prime Minister Hariri a copy of the draft law aimed at amending the Lebanese Nationality Law to recognize the right of Lebanese women married to foreigners to transmit their nationality to their children, and the draft national action plan to implement UNSCR 1325 on women, peace and security, that were prepared by the commission at the request of the Presidency o...

The President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri received today at the Grand Serail a delegation from the National Commission for Lebanese Women headed by Claudine Aoun Roukoz. The delegation included members of the commission's executive office and members of the legal and steering committee concerned with preparing the National Action Plan for Security Council Resolution 1325.After the meeting, Roukoz said: "We presented to Prime Minister Hariri a copy of the draft law aimed at amending the Lebanese Nationality Law to recognize the right of Lebanese women married to foreigners to transmit their nationality to their children, and the draft national action plan to implement UNSCR 1325 on women, peace and security, that were prepared by the commission at the request of the Presidency o...

Former Prime Minister, Nejib Mikati, on Monday received in his office Australia's Ambassador to Lebanon, Rebekah Grindlay, who came on a protocol visit. Talks between the pair reporetdly touched on the bilateral relations between the two countries.Source: National News Agency

Former Prime Minister, Nejib Mikati, on Monday received in his office Australia's Ambassador to Lebanon, Rebekah Grindlay, who came on a protocol visit. Talks between the pair reporetdly touched on the bilateral relations between the two countries.Source: National News Agency

President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, expressed his hope that "in the coming months Qatari citizens will return to Lebanon to spend the summer vacation with their brothers, the sons of the Gulf.""Reservations in hotels and tourist establishments point to a promising season of hospitality," he said.Receiving the Qatari Emir's envoy, Qatar's Minister of State Hamad bin Abdul Aziz Al-Kuwari, Aoun discussed the Lebanese-Qatari relations and the support provided by the Emir of Qatar to Lebanon, especially by personally participating in the Economic and Social Development Conference held back in January.The President of the Republic thanked the Emir and the people of Qatar for the care provided to Lebanese expatriates residing in Qatar, and praised their efforts for the development of ...

President Donald Trump says he hopes the U.S. is not going to war with Iran amid rising tensions in the Middle East, as an Iran diplomat downplayed such prospects."I hope not," Trump said when asked about the possibility of a conflict with Tehran as he began talks with Swiss President Ueli Maurer. The U.S. and Iran do not have diplomatic ties but Switzerland represents U.S. interests in the Middle Eastern country.White House press secretary Sarah Sanders reiterated to reporters early Thursday that Trump wanted a "behavioral change" from Iran and would oppose any aggressive actions by the Islamic Republic.Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi, downplayed that possibility, saying on National Public Radio's Morning Edition Thursday that his country was not interested...

President Donald Trump says he hopes the U.S. is not going to war with Iran amid rising tensions in the Middle East, as an Iran diplomat downplayed such prospects."I hope not," Trump said when asked about the possibility of a conflict with Tehran as he began talks with Swiss President Ueli Maurer. The U.S. and Iran do not have diplomatic ties but Switzerland represents U.S. interests in the Middle Eastern country.White House press secretary Sarah Sanders reiterated to reporters early Thursday that Trump wanted a "behavioral change" from Iran and would oppose any aggressive actions by the Islamic Republic.Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi, downplayed that possibility, saying on National Public Radio's Morning Edition Thursday that his country was not interested...