Lebanon

10 May 2022; MEMO: Hezbollah's Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said yesterday that he had ordered the group's fighters on the southern Lebanese borders to be on alert in order to be ready for any possible Israeli attack, Quds Press reported.

"Some of the Lebanese political forces used our weapons as headlines for their electoral battles," he said, referring to the demands of several factions that Hezbollah disarm and leave the mission of protecting the state to the army.

BEIRUT (AP) — The World Bank approved a $150 million soft loan for food security in crisis-hit Lebanon to stabilize bread prices during the coming months, the economy minister said Monday.

Amin Salam told reporters that the loan has a very low interest rate but the minister did not make the rate public. He used the term soft loan indicating a below-market rate of interest.

The loan will provide great relief through stability of bread prices in Lebanon during the country’s historic economic meltdown.

BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Lebanese living in nearly 50 countries began early voting Sunday in the country’s closely watched parliamentary elections, days after a similar vote was held in 10 predominantly Muslim nations.

About 195,000 Lebanese had registered to vote Sunday in 48 countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Russia, European Union member states and several African nations.

The vote in Lebanon takes place May 15.

BEIRUT (AP) — Umm Khaled hardly leaves the tent where she lives in northwest Syria, and she says she doesn’t pay attention to the news. But she knows one reason why it is getting harder and harder to feed herself and her children: Ukraine.

“Prices have been going up, and this has been happening to us since the war in Ukraine started,” said the 40-year-old, who has lived in a tent camp for displaced people in the last rebel-held enclave in Syria for the past six years since fleeing a government offensive.

07 May 2022; MEMO: The initial turnout for the Lebanese elections abroad on Friday reached around 36 per cent, seven hours after its launch.

Iran and Syria witnessed the highest percentage of votes, with Egypt coming last.

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants announced that, until 14:00 local time (11:00 GMT), 11,268 people out of 30,930 voters (outside the country) voted.

BEIRUT, May 5 (NNN-NNA) – All the preparations for Lebanon’s parliamentary elections “have been completed,” Lebanese Interior Minister, Bassam Mawlawi, announced yesterday.

“The legislative elections will take place for sure. All the preparations have been completed. The security forces are fully ready and will not hesitate to play their role,” Mawlawi confirmed, in an exclusive interview with the Al-Hurra TV channel.

BEIRUT, May 2 (NNN-NNA) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is willing to help Lebanon overcome its severe crisis, said IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, emphasising the importance of implementing reforms in a timely manner.

“Timely implementation of agreed-upon reforms is vital to obtaining the much-needed funding from the international community,” Georgieva said, according to a statement released by Lebanon’s Council of Ministers yesterday.

BEIRUT, Apr 27 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanese children’s health is in great danger, as their vaccination rate has dropped to 60 percent or less, amid the current economic crisis, Lebanon’s Health Minister, Firas Abiad, said yesterday.

“These indicators show that our children are in great danger and they may turn from productive people in the future, to a segment in dire need for help and medical care, which is dangerous for our community and the country as a whole,” Abiad was quoted as saying.

SIDON, Lebanon (AP) — Running for parliament for the first time, independent Hania Zaatari walks down the meandering alleyways of the old souk in the port city of Sidon, telling impoverished workers and traders that fixing Lebanon’s devastating economic crisis is her top priority.

“The economic plan needs to consider marginalized people like you and give them a chance for revival,” she said to 70-year-old Ahmed Abu Dhahr, one of two carpenters remaining on a street that just two years ago boasted roughly 50.

BEIRUT, April 26 (Reuters) - Lebanon's cabinet ordered the military court on Tuesday to investigate the capsize of a migrant boat after colliding with a naval vessel giving chase, with at least six dead and dozens missing.

The boat carrying Lebanese and Syrian migrants sank off the coast near the impoverished northern city of Tripoli on Saturday night. The U.N. refugee agency said around 80 people were on board, including men, women and children.

Some 45 were rescued and six bodies recovered.