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☆ U.S. envoy in Beirut for talks after Lebanon and Hezbollah approve truce draft
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein landed in Beirut on Tuesday for talks with officials on a truce between armed group Hezbollah and Israel, Lebanon’s state news agency said, hours after a proposal drafted by Washington won a nod from the Iran-backed group. The visit indicates progress in U.S.-led diplomacy aimed at ending a conflict which spiralled into all-out war in late September, when Israel launched a major offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah. Hezbollah endorsed its long-time ally Berri to negotiate over a cease-fire, but both it and Israel have escalated the fight as the political efforts carried on. A diplomat familiar with the talks cautioned that details still needed to be ironed out and these could still hold up a final agreement. Khalil said Israel was trying to negotiate “under fire”, a reference to an escalation of its bombardment of Beirut and the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs.

Persons: Amos Hochstein, Ali Hassan Khalil, Nabih Berri, Berri, Khalil, Israel, ” Organizations: Washington, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Reuters, . Security Locations: Beirut, Israel, Iran, Lebanon

CNN —United States envoy Amos Hochstein is due to visit Beirut “imminently” after Lebanon responded “positively” to a US-backed proposal to stop the Israel-Hezbollah war, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Monday. US ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson relayed the proposal to the Lebanese government via Nabih Berri, the parliament speaker, on Thursday night, a Lebanese official told CNN earlier. According to the official, Hezbollah reviewed the proposal and submitted their response to Lebanese authorities on Sunday evening. The Israeli source added that Hochstein has not yet confirmed when he will arrive in the region. Another Lebanese source familiar with the ceasefire talks told CNN earlier that President-elect Trump has endorsed Hochstein’s ceasefire negotiations track, increasing the chances of its success.

Persons: Amos Hochstein, imminently, “, Najib Mikati, Al Araby, Mikati, Lebanon Lisa Johnson, Ed Ram, Netanyahu, Hochstein, Bezalel Smotrich, ”, Nabih Berri, Mohamed Azakir, Reuters Berri, Amal, Hassan Nasrallah, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Israel Organizations: CNN, United, Lebanese, UN, Getty, Reuters, Saudi, Al, Hezbollah, US Locations: Beirut, imminently ”, Lebanon, Israel, Lebanese, Nabih Berri, Lebanon’s, Israeli, Gaza, Al Awsat

☆ Scores killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza; suspects arrested for firing flares at Netanyahu's house
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Freddie Clayton | Freddie Clayton Is A Freelance Journalist Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Israeli air strikes overnight and into Sunday have killed scores in Gaza, according to local health officials, as police in Israel arrested three suspects after flares were fired at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home in the city of Caesarea. Basal said 60 people were killed after the IDF bombed houses in the city Sunday morning, and that "dozens are under the rubble." Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the incident crossed “all red lines” in a post on X early on Sunday. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli attacks have killed at least 3,400 people in the country. Hezbollah attacks have killed about 100 civilians and soldiers in northern Israel, the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and southern Lebanon over the last year, according to Israel.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, mull, Beit Lahiya, Mahmoud, Hanoun, Abu, Balah, BASHAR TALEB, Abdel Kareem Hana, Netanyahu, Israel Katz, ”, Shimon the Prophet, Israel, Beirut's, Nabih Berri, Ali Hamdan, Biden, Donald Trump Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Civil Defense, NBC, NBC News, United Nations, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Getty, Israel, Hamas, Israeli Defense, IBRAHIM AMRO, Reuters, Security, Bank Locations: Gaza, Caesarea, Lebanon, U.S, Gaza's, Beit, Jabalia, Aqsa, Deir Al, Deir al, Israel, Iran, Jerusalem, Chamaa, Hreik, Lebanon’s, Beirut's, AFP, Lebanese, Lebanon’s Litani, Golan

☆ Lebanese cease-fire efforts inch ahead as Israel keeps up fierce bombardment
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Months of U.S. efforts to broker a deal between Washington’s ally Israel and Hezbollah have so far failed. In another potentially promising sign, a senior Lebanese official signalled that Hezbollah would pull its forces away from the Lebanese-Israeli border under a ceasefire. Its terms require Hezbollah to remove fighters and weapons from areas between the border and the Litani River, which runs about 20 miles from Lebanon’s southern border. After 2006, Israel complained Hezbollah fighters and weapons remained in the border are while Lebanon accused Israel of violating the resolution by sending warplanes into its airspace. Hezbollah attacks have killed about 100 civilians and soldiers in northern Israel, the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and southern Lebanon over the last year, according to Israel.

Persons: Israel, “, ”, Ayat, Nabih Berri, Ali Hamdan, Ibrahim, Eli Cohen, Biden, Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ali Hassan Khalil, Al Jazeera, Amos Hochstein, Hochstein, Khalil, Cohen, Jean, Pierre Lacroix Organizations: Lebanon’s National News Agency, NBC News, Reuters, Ibrahim Amro, Getty, Washington Post, Trump, Israel, Lebanese, Security, Hezbollah, United Nations, Bank Locations: Lebanon, Beirut, Iran, Baalbek, U.S, Israel, Ghobeiry, Beirut's, AFP, Gaza, Lebanese, Israeli, Lebanon’s, The U.S, Golan

☆ Lebanon ceasefire talks intensify as Hezbollah considers new US-Israeli proposal
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Hezbollah is considering a US-Israeli ceasefire proposal, sources told CNN, as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group intensify. The US ambassador to Lebanon, Lisa Johnson, relayed the proposal to the Lebanese government on Thursday night, a Lebanese official familiar with the discussions told CNN. Those efforts were upended when Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a major bombing attack in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Another Lebanese official familiar with the discussions around the ceasefire told CNN that US President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed the ongoing negotiations, which have been spearheaded by the Biden administration’s special envoy to Lebanon, Amos Hochstein. The US embassy in Beirut declined CNN’s request for comment on the ceasefire negotiations.

Persons: Lisa Johnson, Johnson, Nabih Berri –, –, Israel, Hassan Nasrallah, Donald Trump, Biden, Amos Hochstein, “, CNN’s Organizations: CNN, Lebanese, UN, Lebanese Armed Forces Locations: Israel, Lebanese, Lebanon, Beirut’s, Lebanon’s, Beirut

☆ Naim Qassem: Hezbollah names a new leader to replace Nasrallah. Here’s what we know about him
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Hezbollah has named Shiite cleric Naim Qassem as leader, over a month after his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Not for long.”The cleric had long been the group’s second-in-command, serving as deputy chief to the late Nasrallah. The 71-year-old Shiite cleric helped found Hezbollah in 1982, and has served seven consecutive terms as deputy secretary-general since 1991. Before killing Nasrallah, Israel also targeted his predecessor Abbas al-Musawi, who was killed in an airstrike in 1992. Qassem represented “the lower middle class,” while Nasrallah “belonged to the impoverished class in Lebanon,” Ali said.

Persons: Naim Qassem, Hassan Nasrallah, Qassem, “, Israel –, Yoav Gallant, Nasrallah, ” Mohanad Hage Ali, Malcolm H, ” Hashem Safieddine, “ Harakat al, –, Amal, Nabih, Israel, Abbas, Ali, ”, Nasrallah “, ” Ali Organizations: CNN, group’s Senior, Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, Lebanese Locations: group’s, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Beirut, Lebanese, Kfar Kila, “, Nabih Berri, Gaza

☆ Hezbollah endorses Lebanon ceasefire efforts for the first time as Israel ramps up offensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Abbas Al Lawati | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Lebanon’s Hezbollah began firing at Israel on October 8 last year to show solidarity with Hamas, which had launched an attack on Israel from Gaza a day earlier. Hezbollah had previously stated that it would only cease its attacks on Israel once a ceasefire was reached with Hamas in Gaza. Israel, however, insisted that Hezbollah separate its conflict with Israel from the ongoing war with Hamas. It was Qassem’s second speech since Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah late last month. Israel has since been conducting limited ground incursions into southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, which has continued to fire rockets into northern Israel.

Persons: Nabih, Naim Qassem, Lebanon’s, Qassem, Hassan Nasrallah, Nabih Berri, Abdallah Bou Habib, Nasrallah, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Biden, isn’t, Mohamed Azakir, Reuters Tzipi, Nasrallah hadn’t, Bou, Kiryat Motzkin Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Hezbollah, Amal, Lebanese, US, UN, Assembly, Reuters, Sky News, Israel, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Lebanon, Gaza, Berri, Israel, Gaza . Israel, Iran, Beirut's, Hadath, Haifa, Kiryat, Kiryat Yam

Hezbollah has also been accused of obstructing the election of a new president, leaving Lebanon leaderless for the past two years. A pro-Iranian Hezbollah supporter holds up a poster of assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, on Thursday. While some Lebanese believe Hezbollah hijacked Lebanon’s political system, it also held it up. Lebanon has already suffered a year of lower-level fighting between Israel and Hezbollah along its southern border. But Lebanese political leaders are still relishing Hezbollah’s decline, he said, even some among the group’s Shia Muslim co-religionists.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, ” Fouad Siniora, ”, Rafik Hariri, Marwan Naamani, Sarah Zaaimi, Firas Maksad, “, ” Maksad, Nabih Berri, Jeffrey Feltman, Berri, Israel –, ” Ibrahim Moussawi, —, Siniora Organizations: NBC News, United, Getty, Hezbollah, Hariri, & Middle, Middle East Institute, WikiLeaks, Security, Keystone, —, The Washington Institute Locations: BEIRUT, Lebanon, Israel, Beirut, Iran, United Nations, Lebanese, Syria, AFP, Washington, U.S, Paris, Tehran, Riyadh, Jerusalem, “

ReutersLebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told CNN that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had agreed to a 21-day ceasefire just days before he was assassinated by Israel. “He [Nasrallah] agreed, he agreed,” Habib told Christiane Amanpour in an interview aired on Wednesday. ]”White House senior adviser Amos Hochstein was then set to go to Lebanon to negotiate the ceasefire, Habib continued. We need the United States’ help. Whether we get it or not, we’re not sure yet, but [the] United States is very important, vital for the ceasefire to happen,” said Habib.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, Abdallah Bou Habib, Israel, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Nasrallah, ” Habib, Christiane Amanpour, “, Nabih Berri, Benjamin, Netanyahu, Biden, Macron, Amos Hochstein, Habib, Washington, ”, we’re Organizations: Reuters Lebanon’s, CNN, US, UN, Assembly, White House, European Union, United Arab Emirates, United Locations: Sidon, Lebanon, Beirut's, Lebanese, Beirut, United States, France, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Qatar, States

☆ Hezbollah leader agreed to temporary ceasefire days before assassination, says Lebanese FM
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Pauline Lockwood | Manveena Suri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had agreed to a 21-day ceasefire just days before he was assassinated by Israel. “He [Nasrallah] agreed, he agreed,” Habib told Christiane Amanpour in an interview aired on Wednesday. ]”White House senior adviser Amos Hochstein was then set to go to Lebanon to negotiate the ceasefire, Habib continued. A second source familiar with the talks agreed that the US was aware that Hezbollah was agreeing to the ceasefire. We need the United States’ help.

Persons: CNN —, Abdallah Bou Habib, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Nasrallah, ” Habib, Christiane Amanpour, “, Nabih Berri, Benjamin, Netanyahu, Biden, Macron, Amos Hochstein, Habib, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, Benjajmin Netanyahu, Washington, ”, we’re Organizations: CNN, CNN — Lebanon’s, US, UN, Assembly, White House, European Union, United Arab Emirates, ”, Biden, United Locations: Lebanon, Lebanese, Beirut, United States, France, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Qatar, Israel, States

☆ Lebanon mourns two journalists killed in Israeli air strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The crowds gathered around the two coffins of correspondent Farah Omar and camera operator Rabih al-Maamari, both draped in Lebanese flags and topped with wreaths of flowers, outside the Al Mayadeen headquarters in Beirut. The Committee to Protect Journalists said deaths added to a toll of over 50 journalists killed covering the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and its spillover to other regions including the Lebanon-Israel border area, where Israeli and Lebanese Hezbollah forces have been exchanging fire since Oct. 7. Al Mayadeen said the Israeli strike occurred near the town of Tayr Harfa, about a mile from the Israeli frontier. A third person, who was not working with the channel but was accompanying them as they filmed, was also killed. The Israeli military has previously said it cannot guarantee journalists' safety in areas of military activity.

Persons: Al Mayadeen, Farah Omar, Al, Israel, Najib Mikati, Nabih Berri, Jazeera, Maya Gebeily Organizations: Protect Journalists, Caretaker, Thomson Locations: Lebanon, Beirut, BEIRUT, Israel, Gaza, Lebanese, Tayr, France, Yaroun

[1/5] Rabab Youssef, 57, a survivor of the Israeli airstrike in 2006 that killed dozens, sits beside her daughter's grave in Qana, Lebanon October 24, 2023. You just wait," said Rabab Yousef, a 57-year-old mother who lost a daughter under the rubble of an Israeli airstrike in 2006. When conflict erupted over Gaza after Palestinian group Hamas - an ally of Hezbollah - launched its devastating raid on Israeli soil on Oct. 7, violence quickly flared on Israel's flashpoint northern border with Lebanon. An Israeli inquiry after the 2006 incident said it had been a mistake. Israel voiced regret at the 1996 incident, which prompted it to wind down its Lebanon operation at the time.

Persons: Rabab Youssef, Zohra, Jesus, Rabab Yousef, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Nabih Berri, Ghazi Hussein Ai Deebh, Qana, Israel, Jamil Salameh, Kefah, won’t, Nasrallah, Sabah Krecht, Riham Alkousaa, Edmund Blair Organizations: REUTERS, Hamas, Thomson Locations: Qana, Lebanon, Israel, Lebanese, Cana, Gaza, Palestinian, Nabih Berri . South Lebanon

Washington CNN —The US and its allies are warning the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah against escalating the conflict in Israel as the US prepositions military assets to deter a potential widening of the war, multiple US officials and people briefed on the discussions tell CNN. The US won’t officially engage with what has been designated a terrorist group, so Berri is one natural conduit. But current and former senior officials don’t believe Hezbollah is eager to join the war, largely because the risks for the group would outweigh any potential rewards. Analysts say Hezbollah support for Hamas has been symbolic so farHezbollah has congratulated Hamas on Saturday’s massive attack. “There’s this possibility that if Israel gets stuck in Gaza … then, at that point, we could see Lebanese Hezbollah get tempted,” said Knights.

Persons: Nabih Berri . Berri, Berri, “, ”, don’t, Defense Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Jonathan Conricus, Mike Knights, Norm Roule, Frank McKenzie, ” McKenzie, Hassan, Nasrallah, They’re, Roule, –, McKenzie, Israel, Gaza …, Knights, ‘ we’re, ’ Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, US, Defense, White, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Washington Institute, CIA, Knights, ” Knights Locations: Israel, Lebanese, Nabih Berri ., France, Western, Gaza, Don’t, Lebanon, Iran

☆ Lebanon PM will not extend central bank governor's mandate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIRUT, July 10 (Reuters) - Lebanon's caretaker premier, Najib Mikati, will not extend the term of central bank Governor Riad Salameh when it ends later this month, the prime minister's office said on Monday. One of Lebanon's four vice governors told Reuters that all four were considering quitting together if no successor is named, raising the possibility of a leaderless central bank amid a deep financial crisis. Mikati's deputy, Saade Chami, told Reuters last week that such a threat was "dangerous" and that the vice governors should "assume their responsibility in case this appointment is not possible." Central bank governors are typically appointed by the president, but parliament has been unable to elect a president to follow Michel Aoun, whose term ended in late October. The central bank governor, who was once a regular at banking conferences and high-end restaurants, is now rarely seen in public except for occasional media interviews.

Persons: Najib Mikati, Riad Salameh, Salameh, Saade Chami, Michel Aoun, Nabih Berri, Berri, Mikati, Maya Gebeily, Mark Heinrich, Leslie Adler Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: BEIRUT, Central

☆ Lebanon’s top Christian cleric slams failed attempt to elect a president
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIRUT, June 18 (Reuters) - Lebanon’s top Christian cleric said on Sunday the constitution and democratic system had been violated in "cold blood" during a failed attempt to elect a new president last week, and warned that divisions in the nation had widened. Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai spoke in his first sermon since the Iran-backed Shi'ite group Hezbollah and its closest allies thwarted an attempt by factions including the main Christian parties to elect an IMF official as president. Wednesday's events marked the 12th time parliament failed to elect someone to the post - reserved for a Maronite Christian in Lebanon's sectarian system and vacant since the term of the Hezbollah-allied Michel Aoun ended in October. The Hezbollah-allied Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri ended the session when Hezbollah and its allies withdrew, denying a quorum for a second round when 65 votes are needed to win. Without naming him, Lebanon's Shi'ite mufti accused him of being backed by Israel.

Persons: Bechara Boutros, Rai, Michel Aoun, Jihad Azour, Amal, Azour, Suleiman Frangieh, Nabih Berri, Elias Audi, Berri, Maya Gebeily, Tom Perry, Hugh Lawson, Frances Kerry Organizations: Hezbollah, Maronite, Israel, Thomson Locations: BEIRUT, Iran, Israel, Lebanon

Neither Azour nor Hezbollah-backed candidate Suleiman Frangieh came close to winning the 86 votes needed to win in a first round vote. Azour, the IMF's Middle East Director and an ex-finance minister, won the support of 59 of 128 lawmakers. Hezbollah and its allies then withdrew from the session, denying the two-thirds quorum required for a second vote in which 65 votes are enough for victory. Azour thanked lawmakers who backed him, saying he hoped the will expressed by "the majority of deputies" would be respected. George Adwan, a Christian lawmaker with the anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces party, said the vote was "a major victory" because it showed Azour close to 65 votes.

Persons: Gebran Bassil, Azour, Suleiman Frangieh, Frangieh, Nabih Berri, Michel Aoun, Hussein al, Haj Hassan, Bashar al, Assad, George Adwan, Mohamed Azakir, Matthew Miller, Miller, Mohanad Hage Ali, Riad Salameh, Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan dialled, Issam Abdallah, Simon Lewis, Tom Perry, John Stonestreet, Mark Heinrich, William Maclean Organizations: BEIRUT, Hezbollah, IMF, Maronite, Hezbollah Lebanese Forces, REUTERS, U.S . State Department, Carnegie Middle East Center, West, Thomson Locations: Lebanon, Iran, Muslim, Saudi Arabia, Lebanese, Yemen, Beirut, Washington, U.S, United States, Israel, Damascus

☆ Lebanon wakes up in two simultaneous time zones as government can't agree on daylight saving change
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

On Sunday, the Mediterranean country of roughly 6 million was scheduled to turn its clocks back an hour for daylight saving, as it does every year along with much of the wider region and Europe. Daylight saving would mean that sunset falls around 7 p.m. rather than 6 p.m., making practicing Muslims go an additional hour before they can break their fast and eat and drink again. For the first time ever, millions of people in one small country are suddenly going by two different time zones. Importantly, however, people's clocks did not change automatically; the government expects people to change their own clocks manually. Even Apple and Google can't seem to agree on what time it is in Lebanon — on iPhones and iPads, Apple has Lebanon's time zone as unchanged and not aligned with daylight saving.

☆ Lebanon wakes up in two simultaneous times zones as government can't agree on daylight savings change
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

On Sunday, the Mediterranean country of roughly 6 million was scheduled to turn its clocks back an hour for daylight savings, as it does every year along with much of the wider region and Europe. Daylight savings would mean that sunset falls around 7 p.m. rather than 6 p.m., making practicing Muslims go an additional hour before they can break their fast and eat and drink again. For the first time ever, millions of people in one small country are suddenly going by two different time zones. Importantly, however, people's clocks did not change automatically; the government expects people to change their own clocks manually. Even Apple and Google can't seem to agree on what time it is in Lebanon — on iPhones and iPads, Apple has Lebanon's time zone as unchanged and not aligned with daylight savings.

☆ Lebanon's cabinet reverses decision to delay daylight savings time
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mohamed AzakirBEIRUT, March 27 (Reuters) - Lebanon's caretaker premier said the cabinet had voted to move clocks one hour ahead on Wednesday night, reversing his decision to postpone the move to daylight savings time by a month that had sparked uproar across the country. Mikati angered many Lebanese when he decided last Thursday not to start daylight savings time over the last weekend of March but instead to roll clocks forward an hour on April 20. Moving clocks forward means Muslims would have to fast an additional hour as sunset would be at a later time on the clock. But the move was defied by Lebanon's top Christian authority as well as some schools, media outlets and businesses, which rolled their clocks forward on Saturday night. Mikati even faced objections from within cabinet, including the justice minister who said Lebanon had more important challenges to focus on.

☆ Lebanon has two times of day amid daylight savings dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Timour Azhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIRUT, March 26 (Reuters) - Lebanon woke up in two time zones on Sunday amid an escalating dispute between political and religious authorities over a decision to extend winter time for a month. Businesses and media organizations, including two of Lebanon's main news channels LBCI and MTV, announced they too would enter daylight savings on Saturday night as calls for disobedience gained steam. LBCI said in a statement that it would disobey Mikati's decision because it would have harmed its work, adding: "Lebanon is not an island". But later that day, Mikati issued the decision to stay in winter time. Some Twitter users shared an old recording of famed Lebanese composer and musician Ziad Rahbani speaking about daylight savings.

☆ Lebanon in confusion as daylight savings dispute deepens divisions
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Timour Azhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

It said it would turn clocks forward on Saturday night and other Christian organisations, parties and schools announced similar plans. Businesses and media organizations, including two of Lebanon's main news channels LBCI and MTV, announced they too would enter daylight savings on Saturday night. But later that day, Mikati issued the decision to stay in winter time. Independent MP Waddah Sadek said on Twitter decisions were taken without "any consideration for the consequences or confusion that they cause". Some Twitter users shared an old recording of famed Lebanese composer and musician Ziad Rahbani speaking about daylight savings.

☆ Factbox: Middle East flashpoints that could be affected by Saudi-Iran deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

China also provided cover for Syria at the United Nations and kept up economic and political ties with Damascus. But as Iran's support helped Assad turn the tide, Saudi backing for the armed and political opposition has waned. Syria's foreign ministry welcomed the deal as an "important step" that could boost regional stability. In 2021, Saudi and other Arab Gulf states withdrew their ambassadors over what they said was Hezbollah's hold over the state. Seeking to de-escalate, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi began engaging directly with Iran.

☆ Explainer: The probes into Lebanese central bank chief Salameh
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

BEIRUT, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Lebanese authorities charged longtime central bank governor Riad Salameh, his brother Raja and one of his assistants on Thursday with money laundering, embezzlement and illicit enrichment after months of delay in the high-profile case. Top prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat stopped Tannous from attending a Paris meeting last year with European prosecutors investigating Salameh, Reuters reported. In June 2022, Oueidat ordered a prosecutor to formally charge Salameh with crimes including money laundering, illicit enrichment, forgery and tax evasion. On Thursday, a newly appointed prosecutor, judge Raja Hamoush, charged Salameh with money laundering, embezzlement and illicit enrichment. The finance minister said this month replacing him would be difficult, citing Lebanon's political complexities.

[1/3] George Bezdjian, whose daughter Jessica died in 2020 port explosion, holds her picture during a protest against steps taken this week to hamstring a probe into the 2020 port blast, in Beirut, Lebanon January 26, 2023. With friends and allies of Lebanon's most powerful factions, including Hezbollah, among those charged, the establishment struck back swiftly on Wednesday, when the prosecutor general charged Bitar with usurping powers. With deep fissures in the judiciary exposed, the tussle adds to the unravelling of a state accelerated by a three-year-long financial crisis, left to fester by the ruling elite. Attempts by a Lebanese judge to investigate Salameh have hit obstacles in Lebanon, where politicians have big sway over the judiciary. In opposing Bitar, Hezbollah has accused the United States of meddling in the investigation and Bitar of political bias.

BEIRUT, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Lebanese bankers told European prosecutors they believed that commissions now at the centre of a graft probe had been paid to the central bank, four sources said, while investigators suspect the cash illegally ended up with the governor's brother. They suspect central bank governor Riad Salameh and his brother Raja illegally took more than $300 million from the central bank between 2002 and 2015 and invested some of the funds in Europe. The bankers and officials told the visiting European prosecutors that they were not aware that the funds had gone to Forry Associates, the four sources said. The four sources said former central bank officials and private bankers had told the European prosecutors they first heard of Forry Associates when the investigation began and the name appeared in the media. A separate but related Lebanese probe charged Riad Salameh with illicit enrichment in March, which he has denied.

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