Lebanon
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Raad to rivals: Where is the non-Israeli occupation in Lebanon?

MP Mohammed Raad, the head of Hizbullah’s parliamentary bloc, noted Monday that there is no occupation in Lebanon “other than the Israeli occupation.”

“Show us if there is an occupation in Lebanon now other than the Israeli occupation so that we fight it with you. Enough with the deception of people. The elections are over and so are electoral slogans. Let us work for the sake of the people and the country now,” Raad said.

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Report: Aoun, allies prefer Miqati for PM but won't allow him to form govt.

President Michel Aoun is committed to calling for binding parliamentary elections to name a new premier as soon as possible, in order to impose a PM “designation without (government) formation” equation, sources informed on Aoun’s choices said.

“This is the likely choice, seeing as it allows the President to evade responsibility for blocking government’s formation in front of the international community,” the sources told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper in remarks published Monday.

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Berri urges supporters not to fire in the air on Tuesday

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday called on supporters not to fire in the air when he gets elected for a new term as parliament speaker on Tuesday.

In a statement addressed to “the Lebanese in all regions,” Berri, who is running for the post uncontested, called for “total refrainment from opening fire during the organization of any celebratory event, especially those related to the election of a parliament speaker tomorrow.”

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Workshop held to assess creation of ISF unit on domestic violence

In Lebanon, domestic violence isn’t a recent problem. Many women were exposed to either verbal or physical abuse during their lives.

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Projects launch event marks beginning of partnership between UNEP, Nusaned

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Representative and Regional Director for West Asia, Sami Dimassi, together with the President of Nusaned, Ghaida Nawam, have signed an agreement to mark the start of their collaboration in implementing a series of pilot projects.

The agreement falls within the SwitchMed II initiative, funded by the European Union, aiming to provide support mechanisms to countries on the southern shores of the Mediterranean to switch to sustainable consumption and production patterns.

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Lebanon questions Ghosn over Interpol notice

Lebanon has questioned ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn after receiving an Interpol red notice for his arrest but did not take new legal measures against him, a court official said Monday.

"Judge Imad Qabalan interrogated Ghosn in the presence of his legal representative over the contents of the red notice," the official said on condition of anonymity as he is not authorized to speak on the issue.

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Parliament Speaker election: Will FPM vote for Berri?

Hizbullah has begun an attempt to bridge the gap between its allies in order to secure more votes for Nabih Berri as a Speaker for the new Parliament, al-Akhbar newspaper reported Monday.

The daily said it had learned from informed sources that "there is still hope" for the Free Patriotic Movement to change its stand on Berri's re-election, as the FPM has sensed positivity from the Shiite Duo regarding the nomination of MP Elias Bou Saab as a Deputy Speaker.

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Saudi smuggler of Captagon drugs arrested in Beirut

Lebanese authorities have arrested a Saudi man at Beirut airport who attempted to smuggle 18.3 kilograms of the illegal stimulant Captagon out of the country, the interior ministry said.

Lebanon's interior ministry said in a statement that the drugs were destined for Kuwait.

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Atiyeh still running for deputy speaker, FPM 'won't bargain' with Berri

MP Sajih Atiyeh has announced that he is still running for the deputy parliament speaker post and that he will meet Monday with Speaker Nabih Berri along with his Akkar Development bloc.

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Fitch Ratings warns of elections' impact on Lebanese economy

Leading international credit ratings agency Fitch has warned that the results of this month's parliamentary elections in Lebanon make it difficult for any coalition to have a governing majority, potentially complicating implementation of reforms.

Lebanon is in the grips of the worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history.

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