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Bad weather slows Ukrainian grain ship bound for Lebanon

The first cargo ship to leave Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor more than five months ago has run into bad weather in the Black Sea and is set to arrive later than scheduled in Istanbul, a Turkish official said Tuesday.

The Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni, which set sail from the Ukrainian port of Odesa on Monday, is now expected to reach Istanbul early Wednesday, according to Rear Admiral Ozcan Altunbulak, a coordinator at the joint center established to oversee the grain shipments.

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Berri senses 'seriousness' in negotiations, Hochstein to return within two weeks

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein did not carry a specific proposal but a number of proposed solutions that he discussed with the Lebanese leaders on Monday, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said.

Berri told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, in remarks published Tuesday, that the Lebanese leaders have sensed this time "seriousness in the negotiations."

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Report: Lebanon asks US to 'allow' TotalEnergies to explore gas in Lebanese waters

U.U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein did not present a proposal related to offshore block 8 or other blocks in his meeting with Lebanese leaders on Monday, a media report said.

“Hochstein told the conferees, ‘the Qana field is certainly fully yours, but Israel is saying that if you want to go to Naqoura, it will not accept any Lebanese demand south of Line 23,’” senior sources told al-Jadeed TV.

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Hochstein says 'some progress' made in 'important' Baabda meeting

U.S. energy mediator Amos Hochstein said in an interview Monday that “some progress” was made in his talks with Lebanon’s leaders earlier in the day regarding the sea border demarcation file.

“I would say today’s meeting was important and I was honored that we were able to be with the three presidents at the same time,” Hochstein told LBCI television.

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UK says sailing of 1st grain shipment from Ukraine an 'important first step'

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said that the sailing Monday of the first grain ship since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an “important first step.”

Under the U.N.-brokered agreement, the ship, Razoni, left Ukraine’s Odessa this morning for Lebanon, traveling along a safe corridor established under the deal.

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Bitar says won't step down, explains why he hasn't summoned army chief

The lead investigator into the Beirut port blast tragedy, Judge Tarek Bitar, has reportedly said that he will not step down, as Lebanon prepares to mark two years since the catastrophic explosion.

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Report: Israel warns Hezbollah it will respond if gas rigs attacked

Officials in Israeli’s security establishment have sent “clear messages” to Lebanon through the Americans, saying that if Hezbollah “does not restrain itself,” the Israeli army will “respond to any breach of calm and will not be satisfied with just intercepting drones,” Israeli news website ‘Walla’ has reported.

The Israeli security officials also explained that Washington is pinning major hopes on the negotiations on the maritime border between Israel and Lebanon to “prevent a security escalation” and to “show the Arab countries that the United States has influence in the region.”

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Israel says Hezbollah threats 'not a factor' in negotiations

Head of the Israeli foreign and defense committee Ram Ben Barak said Monday that Lebanon will pay if Hezbollah attacks Karish.

He added that Hezbollah's threats are not affecting the negotiations between Lebanon and Israel over their maritime border demarcation.

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Al-Jazeera: Israeli proposal gives Lebanon Qana field, seeks area north of Line 23

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein has informed Lebanese leaders of an Israeli proposal for demarcating the maritime border according to a path based on Line 23, an official Lebanese source said.

“The proposal starts from the coordinates of Line 23 and deviates north to reach the central line between Lebanon and Cyprus,” the source told Al-Jazeera television.

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My Journey in Lebanon: An op-ed by outgoing U.N. coordinator Rochdi

Outgoing U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Najat Rochdi has penned an op-ed concluding her mission in Lebanon before taking up her new role as U.N. Deputy Special Envoy for Syria.

In her article titled “My journey in Lebanon”, the outgoing RC/HC reflects on her two-year mission in Lebanon, the many challenges facing Lebanon, the impact the U.N. has made on her watch, and the prospects for Lebanon’s recovery and "prosperous future." She also stresses the need for justice and the renewal of Lebanon’s social contract.

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