Lebanon

05 Nov 2021; MEMO: Lebanese civil servants yesterday launched a strike against a recent salary reduction as the country's economic crisis worsens.

The standoff, which was organised by the local Association of Public Administration Employees, came after public wages were reported to have lost almost 95 per cent of their purchasing value.

05 Nov 2021; MEMO: Lebanese Minister of Information, George Kordahi, will resign if the Gulf countries provide guarantees that this will change their position towards Lebanon, Anadolu news agency reported.

The agency quoted sources close to Kordahi as saying "he will not resign", adding that he is waiting to meet with the Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, to discover if his removal from office would change the relationship with the Gulf.

BEIRUT, Nov 3 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanon’s President, Michel Aoun, said yesterday that, Lebanese authorities are working on solving the dispute with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, a statement by the Lebanese presidency reported.

“We are working on all levels in hope to find a suitable solution for the dispute with the Gulf,” Aoun said, during his meeting with members of the European Parliament’s Delegation, for relations with the Mashreq countries.

BEIRUT, Nov 3 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanon’s state security, yesterday arrested a Lebanese national, for allegedly belonging to the Daesh group.

The Lebanese national, who was arrested in the northern district of Akkar, admitted that he was planning on attacking a religious centre in Akkar, using his motorcycle.

He also admitted to having collected some materials, for the manufacturing of explosives, locally.

The arrested man was referred to relevant judicial bodies for investigation, and other legal procedures.

BEIRUT, Nov 1 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanon’s state security, yesterday arrested 54 Syrian nationals, during their attempt to leave Lebanon illegally by sea, from northern al-Ballan Island.

The Syrian nationals, including 25 men, nine women and 20 children, were arrested when waiting for three ships to transport them to Cyprus.

The arrested people were transferred to the relevant judicial bodies, for investigation and other legal procedures.

31 Oct 2021; MEMO: The Lebanese minister at the centre of a dispute with Saudi Arabia said on Sunday resigning from the government "is out of the question," Al Jadeed TV channel quoted him as saying, Reuters reported.

BEIRUT (AP) — Pressure is mounting on Lebanese leaders to remove a Cabinet minister whose comments on the war in Yemen sparked a diplomatic row with Saudi Arabia. The head of the country’s Maronite Catholic Church called for “decisive action” in his Sunday sermon, suggesting he wanted the minister to resign.

Cardinal Bechara Rai said the crisis with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations threatens to undermine the interests of thousands of Lebanese living there, as well as businesses in Lebanon that depend on the region.

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese politicians scrambled to resolve a diplomatic spat with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations on Saturday, after comments by a Cabinet minister about the war in Yemen stoked their ire.

Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates followed the Saudis with measures against Lebanon, increasing pressure on a crisis-hit country badly in need of foreign assistance amid a crippling economic and financial crisis.

BEIRUT, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Lebanon's president said on Saturday he wants the best relations with Saudi Arabia, looking to heal a rift with the kingdom after it expelled Beirut's envoy and banned Lebanese imports in a diplomatic spat that risks adding to Lebanon's economic crisis.

In a tweet Michel Aoun said Lebanon is keen on strengthening links via bilateral deals, after mounting tensions following critical comments by a Lebanese minister about the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen.

BEIRUT, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday expressed his regret at Saudi Arabia's decision to expel the Lebanese ambassador and ban imports from the country after a Lebanese minister's comments criticizing the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen, the National News Agency reported.

Mikati reiterated his government's commitment to good relations with Saudi Arabia and called on Arab partners to put the diplomatic crisis behind them.