Lebanon

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Security forces fired tear gas and water cannon at protesters in Beirut on Tuesday as the Lebanese parliament convened to hold a vote of confidence on the new government led by Prime Minister Hassan Diab.

MPs are set to vote on the government’s policy statement which says “painful steps” are needed to address a financial crisis that has weakened the currency and pushed banks to severely curb access to deposits.

10 Feb 2020; MEMO: The Syrian crisis has so far cost Lebanon $25 billion, according to estimates by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said.

In an interview with French Valeurs actuelles magazine, the Lebanese president said the Syrian crisis has had major repercussions on his country.

09 Feb 2020; MEMO: Hundreds of demonstrators protested Saturday in front of the Parliament building here against the Hassan Diab government and a vote of confidence to prevent a new government, Anadolu Agency reports.

The vote is expected Tuesday.

Another group gathered in front of the Association of Banks in Lebanon and protested its policy limiting foreign money transfer and withdrawing foreign currency. The policy was implemented 17 October 2019 when demonstrations began in the country.

BEIRUT (AP) — Turkey on Friday sent more troops and tanks to bolster its military presence in northwestern Syria, where President Bashar Assad’s forces have been advancing in a devastating, Russian-backed offensive that has sparked a massive wave of people fleeing in wet and blustery winter weather.

07 Feb 2020; MEMO: Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday that the owners of five large banks have transferred “personal money” amounting to $2.3 billion abroad.

Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar newspaper said the figure disclosed by Berri during a meeting of the Development and Liberation Bloc in parliament is close to the figure revealed by the Chairman of the Banking Control Commission of Lebanon (BCCL), Samir Hammoud, in his letter to the Attorney General, Ghassan Owaidat.

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian government troops entered a strategic town in the country’s last rebel stronghold Thursday after fierce clashes with opposition fighters, even as Turkey sent reinforcements seeking to curtail the offensive, Syrian state media reported.

BEIRUT, Feb 6 (NNN-NNA) – General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL), said that, 10,000 workers have lost their jobs, while 60,000 employees suffered a 50-percent cut in their salaries, as nationwide protests continue, a local media outlet reported.

Some businesses are taking advantage of the current crisis, to fire employees and make more profits by reducing their costs, CGTL’s Vice President, Hassan Fakih was quoted by Elnashra, an independent online newspaper, as saying.

BEIRUT, Feb 3 (NNN-NNA) – Hundreds of protesters demonstrated near the U.S. embassy in Awkar, Mount Lebanon, against the Middle East peace plan announced by U.S. President, Donald Trump.

Protesters chanted slogans against the U.S., saying, the Palestinian cause is the cause of the whole Middle East.

Demonstrators also held the Lebanese and Palestinian flags, while calling upon all Arabs to take to the streets, to revolt against Trump’s announcement.

BEIRUT, Feb 2 (NNN-NNA) – A Lebanese official, said that, the country’s tourism sector has suffered a loss of 700 million U.S. dollars, since the beginning of nationwide protests in the country, the online independent newspaper, Elnashra, reported.

“If the situation remains the same, this sector will totally collapse by the summer,” said Jean Beyrouthy, head of the Federation of Touristic Syndicates, adding, the sector is a very important source of revenue for Lebanon.

BEIRUT, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin said on Saturday that U.S. sanctions against Hezbollah is hurting Lebanon amid its current crisis, local media reported.

"We should work on uniting the efforts of counties that are keen on keeping Lebanon away from conflicts because the country is currently experiencing a serious crisis," Zasypkin was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper.

Zasypkin said Russia and France are keen to support Lebanon while the U.S. insists on taking measures against Hezbollah.