Spotlight
U.S. energy mediator Amos Hochstein will visit Beirut next week to submit a U.S.-signed demarcation proposal, Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab said.
Last week, Lebanon and Israel said they agreed on the terms of the U.S.-mediated deal over a maritime border dispute involving offshore gas fields.
Full StoryThe Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) Project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on Tuesday launched an energy audit program in partnership with the Michel Daher Social Foundation (MDSF) for industrial facilities in Lebanon’s Bekaa region.
The 16-month long program will support 17 Bekaa manufacturers to optimize efficiency of energy consumption through conservation measures and renewable energy solutions. The partnership will include training on renewable energy technologies, along with an extensive on-site and off-site energy audit program that will identify three types of Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs). USAID, through TIF, will then support industrialists in implementing appropriate solutions to identify energy inefficiencies including the installation of renewable energy solutions.
Full StoryMP Michel Douaihy on Tuesday announced his withdrawal from the reformist, 13-member Change bloc, citing disagreements within the nascent grouping of MPs.
“I’m permanently outside the 13-member Change bloc in its current format. I support turning the bloc into a monthly (or according to need) consultative gathering, while granting a margin of freedom to all MPs in all issues,” Douaihy tweeted.
Full StoryPresident Michel Aoun on Tuesday told a delegation from French oil giant TotalEnergies that exploration for gas in Lebanon’s offshort Block 9 “should start quickly to make up for the time that was lost during the indirect negotiations for the demarcation of the southern maritime border.”
According to the state-run National News Agency, the delegation briefed Aoun on the procedural and administrative preparations that TotalEnergies is carrying out in Lebanon ahead of the start of exploration in Block 9.
Full StoryParliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday accused the Change MPs of breaking an agreement for consensus in the elections of parliamentary committees, as the Change lawmakers lost several key seats.
The National News Agency said the structure of most parliamentary committees remained unchanged, except for a few members.
Full StoryPresident Michel Aoun noted Tuesday that “those who contributed to ruining Lebanon cannot be able to rescue it.”
“And those who put obstacles in the way of combating corruption and achieving reform cannot be trusted in the phase of reviving the country. Accordingly, the change that the Lebanese aspire for must be realized,” the President added.
Full StoryPrime Minister-designate Najib Mikati said Tuesday that “working in silence” is better, when asked about the cabinet formation developments.
“We have nothing to say and working in silence is better,” Mikati told al-Jadeed television.
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Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Monday saluted President Michel Aoun for “his persistence in the sea border demarcation process between Lebanon and Israel” and for “his keenness on the unity of decision with each of the parliament speaker and the prime minister.”
Full StoryThe Swiss embassy in Lebanon on Monday announced the postponement of a dinner that was supposed to bring together Lebanon’s main political parties, after unconfirmed media reports about the event stirred political controversy in the country.
“Switzerland has been actively engaged in Lebanon for many years including in conflict prevention and peace promotion. Over the last couple of months, Switzerland, in collaboration with the Swiss based organization Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, was in contact with the full spectrum of political Lebanese as well as regional and international actors to prepare for consultative discussions, not for a dialogue conference,” the embassy said in a statement.
Full StorySaudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari held talks Monday with President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace.
The Presidency said the talks tackled the Lebanese-Saudi relations and means to develop them in the various fields, as well as the kingdom’s support for Lebanon, especially at the social and humanitarian levels, in addition to the general situations and latest developments.
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