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Aoun Says Economic Achievements Complement Reform and Fighting Corruption

President Michel Aoun confirmed on Tuesday during a meeting with a delegation of the General Labor Union that the recent “economic achievements will complete reform and the fight against corruption,” the National News Agency reported.

“The achievements at the economic level so far will be complemented with reform, combating corruption, and restoration of balance to the country's production sectors,” NNA quoted Aoun as saying.

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Asmar Says Efforts Outset to Ask Private Sector for Pay Raise

Head of Lebanon's General Labor Union Beshara al-Asmar rejected the latest tax hikes approved by the parliament on Monday announcing that efforts will kick-off in order to get raises for the private sector employees and workers.

In an interview to VDL (93.3), Asmar said that the newly approved tax hikes law targets low-income workers. He noted that “direct contacts and meetings have started to impress upon the private sector to give employees salary increments.”

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Report: U.S. Sanctions against Hizbullah 'Neutralize Army, Banks'

Concerns linger that Lebanon might be harmed by the US sanctions that will be “officially approved against Hizbullah in three weeks,” but the visits of parliamentary and banking delegations to Washington last spring succeeded at “neutralizing key and important” sectors from the sanctions, al-Mustaqbal daily reported on Tuesday.

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Army Receives Two U.S. Super Tucano Light Attack Aircraft

The Lebanese Air Force on Monday received two U.S. A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft, the National News Agency said.

The two planes were delivered at the Hamat military airport in northern Lebanon.

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Gunfight Erupts in Ain el-Hilweh Near UNRWA-Run School, Panics Students

Tension prevailed on Monday in the southern Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh after a shooting incident between a group of Palestinian youth near an UNRWA-run school, the National News Agency reported.

A personal dispute that escalated into a gunfight erupted between a group of youth in al-Braxat neighborhood, NNA said.

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Aoun, Mashnouq Affirm Timely Elections

President Michel Aoun and Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq said Monday the parliamentary elections will be held on time based on the newly agreed proportional representation electoral system.

Aoun, speaking to members of the 11-member Election Supervisory Committee at the Baabda Palace, stressed saying Lebanon will stage timely polls, he said: “Parliamentary elections will be held on time based on the newly agreed electoral law.”

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Berri Says Voters to Use Normal IDs, Passports in Elections

Speaker Nabih Berri said that voters will be able to cast their ballots in the upcoming parliamentary elections using their normal identity cards or passports, as he pointed out that there will be no prior registration of voters, al-Joumhouria daily reported Monday.

“Things seem to have been settled. There will be no prior registration of voters, there will be no biometric or magnetic voter cards. Elections will be run normally as usual and voters can use their Ids or passports,” Berri was quoted as telling his visitors.

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Berri, Hariri and Jumblat Hold Evening Meeting in Clemenceau

A meeting was held Sunday evening at the residence of head of the Democratic Gathering bloc MP Walid Jumblat in Clemenceau in the presence of Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, MP Wael Abu Faour and Taymour Jumblat, al-Joumhouria daily reported Monday.

According to a statement released by the Progressive Socialist Party media office, the two-hour meeting “included a review of the local situation and the regional developments, as it stressed the need to make every effort to maintain stability and fortify the national arena against all threats to the homeland and activating the work of institutions in the interest of the homeland and citizens.”

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Israel Breaches Lebanon's Territorial Waters Off Ras Naqoura

An Israeli enemy gunboat violated the Lebanese maritime borders off Ras al-Naqoura sailing to a distance of 240 meters for a period of 2 minutes, Lebanese Army Command said in a communiqué on Saturday.

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General Security Exposes Israeli Spy Cell

Lebanon's General Security Directorate uncovered a three-member spy cell suspected of having links to the Israeli enemy and that has been active between the areas of Burj al-Barajneh, a southern suburb of Beirut, and the Aley village of Deir Qoubel, media reports said Saturday.

As part of its adamant efforts to clamp down on terrorist and enemy cells, the Directorate has dismantled in recent days a cell comprised of three individuals suspected of having links to the Israeli enemy, al-Akhbar daily reported Saturday.

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