Lebanon

BEIRUT, Jan 2 (NNN-NNA) – Random bullets, fired in celebration of New Year in Lebanon, hit four Middle East Airlines (MEA) planes, at Beirut’s airport yesterday, LBCI local TV channel, reported.

One of the planes was received lately by MEA. It was supposed to fly to Dubai yesterday morning, according to the report.

LBCI noted that, every airplane out of work for maintenance purposes, causes daily losses of 200,000 U.S. dollars.

BEIRUT, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on Tuesday projected the growth rate in the Arab region next year at either 3.5 percent or 2.8 percent.

The ESCWA report, "Survey of Economic and Social Developments in the Arab Region," said that the actual path will hinge on the ability of Arab countries to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused losses of about 140 billion U.S. dollars for the region, resulting in an estimated -3 percent growth contraction in 2020.

28 Dec 2020; MEMO: Hundreds of Syrian refugees fled their makeshift camp in north Lebanon after their tents were torched when fighting broke out between local youths and camp residents, aid officials said on Sunday, as reported by Reuters.

At least three were injured in the incident on December 26 in the Miniyeh region near the coastal city of Tripoli, which was followed by angry youths setting the campsite on fire, Lebanon's state-owned National News Agency said.

Beirut, Dec 28 (AP-PTI) The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah said Sunday his group now has twice as many precision-guided missiles as it had a year ago, saying Israel's efforts to prevent it from acquiring them has failed.

Hassan Nasrallah, in an end-of-year interview with the Beirut-based Arabic Al-Mayadeen TV, said his group has the capability to strike anywhere in Israel and occupied Palestinian territories.

27 Dec 2020; MEMO: Lebanese MP Hussein Hajj Hassan has revealed that Lebanon "hesitates" to renew its electricity contract with Syria, fearing sanctions stipulated by the US Caesar Act, Anadolu Agency reported on Friday.

BEIRUT (AP) — A team of French investigators will come to Beirut next month to participate in interrogating former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn, a Lebanese justice ministry official said Saturday.

The official gave no specific date or details of what information the investigators would seek from Ghosn.

Former auto executive Ghosn, who is a Lebanese, Brazilian and French national, fled Japan in a dramatic escape that drew headlines last year, arriving in Lebanon on Dec. 30, 2019.

26 Dec 2020; MEMO: Lebanese Hezbollah warned on Friday that the possibility of war with Israel still exists, confirming that the probability: "Stems from a sense of responsibility, not to provoke terror and panic among people."

This came in statements issued by Head of Hezbollah's executive council Hashem Safi Al-Din, reported by the Lebanese El-Nashra news agency.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon’s top Christian cleric urged politicians on Friday to rid themselves of external pressure and form a government to end political deadlock and help resolve a severe financial crisis.

Fractious politicians have been unable to agree on a new administration since the last one quit in the aftermath of the Aug. 4 Beirut port explosion, leaving Lebanon rudderless as it sinks deeper into economic crisis.

21 Dec 2020; MEMO: Students clashed with riot police in Lebanon during furious protests against tuition fee hikes at top university, The New Arab reported.

Tear gas was used to disperse the students, who were attempting to approach the main gate of the American University of Beirut (AUB).

Students fought back by hurling water bottles and other objects at the riot police blocking the way.

BEIRUT, Dec 19 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanon signed, yesterday, a cooperation agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP), to boost the country’s agriculture sector.

Lebanese Agriculture Minister, Abbas Mortada, said, only the agriculture sector is capable of guaranteeing food security for Lebanon while securing access to food at reasonable prices, amid the current economic crisis.