Category: Politics

The Finance and Budget Parliamentary Committee on Monday convened in session chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, to address the pending items in the 2024 state budget proposal.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Internal Security Forces (ISF) chief, General Imad Othman, on Monday received in his office, MP Simon Abi Ramia, who came on a visit during which they discussed the general situation in the country.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Monday received at his Yarzeh office, Marada Movement leader, Sleiman Frangieh, who offered him condolences on the passing of his mother.

Discussions also reportedly touched on the general situation in Lebanon and the region.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, on Monday received at his Yarzeh office, Marada Movement leader, Sleiman Frangieh, who offered him condolences on the passing of his mother.

Discussions also reportedly touched on the general situation in Lebanon and the region.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Monday welcomed at the Second Presidency in Ain El-Tineh, Canadian Ambassador to Lebanon, Stefanie McCollum, with whom he discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the region, and field developments as a result of Israel’s continued aggression against the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon.

Speaker Berri also met at Ain El-Tineh, with Caretaker Public Health Minister, Dr. Firas Abiad, with whom he discussed the country’s general conditions, especially the health ones, in terms of the readiness and preparedness of the Ministry of Public Health, the healthcare sector, and government hospitals, to keep pace with the repercussions of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and the southern regions.

Discussions between the pair also touched on the MoH’s hospital and medications’ services for patients with cancer and chronic diseases.

This afternoon, Berri received, at Ain El-Tineh, a delegation from the ‘National Moderation’ parliamentary bloc, which included MPs: Walid Al-Baarini, S
ajih Attieh, Ahmed Al-Khair, Mohammad Suleiman, Ahmed Rustom, and the Bloc’s secretary, former MP Hadi Hobeish.

Discussions reportedly touched on the general situation, political developments, and legislative and developmental affairs of the North and Akkar districts.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Deputy House Speaker, Elias Bou Saab, on Monday welcomed at his Parliament office, Caretaker Minister of National Defense, Maurice Sleem, with whom he discussed the general situation and repercussions of the Gaza war and the repeated Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Discussions also touched on the situation of the Ministry of Defense and the Minister’s keenness to adhere to the implementation of the Defense Law and preserve his constitutional powers.

Bou Saab later welcomed the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, with discussions touching on the presidential dossier, as well as on the latest developments resulting from the war on Gaza and the daily Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, on Monday received at Dar Al-Fatwa, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid bin Abdullah Bukhari, with whom he discussed general issues concerning Lebanon and the ongoing Israeli aggression against Gaza and the Palestinian people.

Ambassador Bukhari affirmed that ”the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands with Lebanon, its people and institutions, and will spare no effort in contributing to any endeavor or effort to resolve the multiple crises that Lebanon is enduring.’

The Saudi Ambassador also declared the Kingdom’s support for all Arab and Islamic issues, especially the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian people in wake of their sufferings as a result of the ongoing aggression against their land, their sanctities, and their people.

Mufti Derian, in turn, stressed that ‘The Kingdom’s role is essential in the development of the state and its institutions,’ adding that ‘Dar Al-Fatwa is constantly keen on cooperating with Arab brethhrens, especially the Gulf
Cooperation Council countries, most notably the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which embraces Lebanon, its people, and Arab and Islamic causes.’

The Grand Mufti also hoped that “the efforts of the Kingdom and the Quintet Committee will result in finding a solution as soon as possible to help elect a president of the republic, so that this will be the first step towards the advancement of the state and its institutions.”

On the other hand, Mufti Derian received at Dar-El-Fatwa, ‘National Moderation’ bloc MPs, with whom he broached Lebanese and Arab affairs.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Member of Parliament Dr. Abdel Rahman Bizri, on Monday met with the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka.

Discussions reportedly touched on the latest developments on the Lebanese and regional arenas.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Ali Hamieh, on Monday inspected the soil collapse location in Dahr El-Baydar.

After assessing the condition of the international highway, Hamieh said, ‘The Ministry of Public Works and the specialized teams promptly addressed the situation yesterday. It is evident that there was a soil landslide, as the party responsible for paving the Arab highway split the road without reinforcing it. The substantial amount of rainfall likely caused the soil to erode due to its lack of cohesion.’

‘Starting today, we have initiated efforts to address this matter because our primary concern is ensuring traffic safety for citizens and preventing soil erosion. Therefore, we must channel all waterways into one course,’ Hamieh added.

‘We have given directives to reinforce the incident site immediately to prevent further landslides because the Dahr El-Baydar road is one of the pivotal and crucial roads in the country. We have initiated this as an emergency and relief case
that must be addressed immediately,’ affirmed Hamieh.

In response to a question about Prime Minister Mikati’s statement on opening a corruption file against some road contractors, Hamieh concluded, ‘This issue is old and not during my tenure. Since taking over the ministry, I don’t believe there is corruption. However, I am ready to cooperate with Prime Minister Mikati and respond to his request if necessary.’

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, on Monday welcomed French Ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro, accompanied by his political advisor, Romain Calvary.

Also present at the meeting were MP Nada Boustani and diplomatic relations officer Bashir Haddad.

Discussions reportedly focused on the situation in Lebanon and the south in light of Gaza developments.

Bassil reiterated the necessity of keeping Lebanon away from any escalation of conflict, proposing a set of solutions by the Free Patriotic Movement in all areas, particularly regarding the presidential file, institutional regularity, and the implementation of necessary reforms.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Monday convened a meeting at the Serail with Caretaker Minister of Environment, Nasser Yassin, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council, Major General Mohammad Mustafa, and the Secretary-General of the Higher Relief Committee, Major General Mohammad Al-Kheir. During the meeting, the initial survey results of the recent storm damages were presented.

Prime Minister Mikati instructed the ‘Disaster and Crisis Management Committee’ to gather and monitor the recent floods, making appropriate decisions regarding referring all encroachments on riverbeds to the competent judiciary.

Additionally, the committee is tasked with ensuring the continuity of opening major roads and monitoring post-storm citizen safety measures.

Following the instructions, the committee convened this morning, issuing preliminary recommendations for submission to the Prime Minister for appropriate decision-making.

The recommendations include:

– Assigning the Army and the Higher Relief
Committee to survey and assess damages in collaboration with municipalities and relevant administrations.

– Repairing and rehabilitating damaged infrastructure caused by the storm and floods, especially addressing landslides and removing obstacles on the road network to ensure public safety and transportation.

– Strictly enforcing suppression of violations on river properties and urging the judiciary to pursue encroachment offenders. Additionally, requesting the Ministry of Interior and municipalities to remove violations and ensuring adherence to water and environmental protection laws.

– Enhancing the response capabilities of Civil Defense General Directorate and firefighting squads, allocating necessary funds for this purpose.

– Collaborating with the National Council for Scientific Research to activate the early flood warning system and issue alerts through the council’s platform and media channels.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Abdallah Bou Habib, on Monday met with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson.

In the wake of the meeting, Bou Habib expressed contentment with the US preparedness to mediate in de-escalation efforts, aiming to restore calm and stability to the southern Lebanese region.

Moreover, the Foreign Minister underscored ongoing ‘open and positive’ dialogues with the U.S. side “to achieve sustainable solutions that safeguard Lebanon’s sovereignty and the security of its territories, particularly addressing the rights and stability of the southern Lebanese residents.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon