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Six people detained over the Beirut port blast will be freed

BEIRUT — The lead investigator into the Beirut port explosion on Thursday ordered the release of six out of 25 detainees who have been held in connection with the blast for almost eight months, a...

Ghada Alsharif, 15 April 2021

Aoun demands that Israel halt gas exploration in disputed waters

President Michel Aoun Thursday demanded that Israel halt all exploration in an offshore gas field on Lebanon’s southern frontier, as part of an ongoing maritime border dispute....

15 April 2021

The Association of Banks in Lebanon said that commercial banks have transferred $240 million to 30,000 Lebanese students studying abroad to cover their tuition for the 2019–20 and 2020–21 academic years. Families of students have complained about banks’ alleged noncompliance

15 April 2021

Hariri also said he hopes Mishustin urges Russian businessmen to invest in Lebanon once a cabinet is formed and carries out reforms, adding that the country provides “real” investment opportunities to Russian businessmen due to lower prices that resulted from the economic crisis

15 April 2021

During talks today with Russian Premier Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri asked for help securing doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, the latter’s office said in a statement. The vaccine is currently only distributed through private channels in Lebanon

15 April 2021

Lebanon has registered 2,501 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. Thirty-one more people have died, bringing the total death toll to 6,809

15 April 2021

MP Talal Arslan (FPM ally/Aley) has denounced as “unacceptable” the failure to release General Security Maj. Daoud Fayad, one of 25 people arrested in the wake of the Beirut port blast. The lead investigator agreed to release six of the detainees today, including two other majors

15 April 2021

Caretaker Energy Minister Raymond Ghajar has blamed Lebanon’s gasoline shortages on the smuggling of subsidized fuel to Syria, allowing for huge profits. He urged subsidies to be retargeted. Meanwhile, fuel suppliers have blamed BDL for delaying subsidized payments for imports

15 April 2021

Amid shortages of baby milk, the head of the pharmacists’ syndicate, Ghassan Al-Amin, has called on the central bank governor and those responsible to cover subsidized baby milk import bills, which he said have been accumulating at the central bank

15 April 2021

Riad Salameh’s brother owns $10 million in properties in the UK, where activists want a probe into the BDL chief

BEIRUT — Under investigation by Swiss authorities looking into possible embezzlement of Banque du Liban funds, the brother of Lebanon’s central bank chief has over $10 million in real estate...

Albin Szakola, 15 April 2021

In a phone call, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Russian support for Lebanon, government formation, the economic crisis and the possible provision of Russian-made COVID-19 vaccines to Lebanon, a statement from the Kremlin says

15 April 2021

With snow melting and increasing water flow, the Civil Defense has warned against swimming in lakes, rivers and agricultural irrigation pools and jumping off rocks and called on people to avoid the banks of fast-flowing rivers

15 April 2021

The Lebanese American University has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $150,000 for COVID-19 vaccines that will go first to staff, faculty and students, and eventually to the wider community

15 April 2021

Bitar approved the release of State Security Maj. Joseph Naddaf, customs staff sergeants Elias Chahine and Khaled al-Khatib, General Security Maj. Charbel Fawaz and port workers Johnny Gerges and Mikhael Murr

15 April 2021

Judge Tarek Bitar has approved the release of six detainees who have been held in connection with the Aug. 4 Beirut port explosion for almost eight months, a judicial source tells L’Orient Today. Nineteen others remain in detention

15 April 2021

President Michel Aoun told US diplomat David Hale that Lebanon “has the right to develop its position” on maritime border negotiations with Israel “in line with its interests,” a statement from the presidency says. Lebanon is seeking 1,400 additional square kilometers of waters

15 April 2021

Following the introduction of COVID-19 vaccinations for teachers, Majzoub has announced a three-stage return to in-person schooling from April 21, starting with high-school students. The brevet exams will take place on July 12 and baccalaureate exams on July 26, he said

15 April 2021

Caretaker Education Minister Tarek Majzoub has called for Parliament to pass an urgent draft law granting LL500 billion to support the education sector. He made the call while addressing a press conference

15 April 2021

US envoy: Border talks with Israel will help crisis-hit Lebanon

BEIRUT — The United States stands ready to facilitate maritime border talks between Lebanon and Israel that will have benefits for the crisis-hit Lebanese economy, a U.S. envoy said on Thursday....

15 April 2021

The ISF has arrested a Lebanese man for opening fire on a group of Syrian workers in the Dora area of Beirut on April 10, killing one man, it says in a statement. The suspect allegedly confessed to the crime and said he had worked with an accomplice, who is still at large

15 April 2021

BDL has invited banks and currency exchangers to attend training sessions next week in preparation for the launch of an online currency exchange platform. The centralized platform, announced on March 19, will set a still undetermined exchange rate for banks and exchange shops

15 April 2021

Hale added that the US is willing to facilitate negotiations with Israel on the maritime border demarcation “on the basis on which we initiated these discussions.” Caretaker ministers this week signed a document claiming an additional 1,400 square kilometers of territorial waters

15 April 2021

Speaking after meeting with President Michel Aoun, US Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale said those who are “continuing to block the reform agenda” jeopardize Lebanon’s relationship with the US and its partners and “open themselves up to punitive actions”

15 April 2021

The prices of 95- and 98-octane gasoline have increased by LL100, raising the price for 20 liters of fuel to LL38,800 and LL40,000 respectively. The prices of diesel and household gas have fallen by LL100 and LL300, making them LL26,300 for 20 liters and LL25,500 for 10 kg

15 April 2021

Hale in Lebanon, scuffles over food, protesters acquitted: Everything you need to know to start your Thursday

Want to get the Morning Brief by email? Click here to sign up . A high-ranking American diplomat met with top Lebanese officials in an attempt to break the country’s cabinet formation deadlock....

15 April 2021

Lebanese prosecutor confirms probe into BDL transfers allegedly benefiting the central bank governor’s brother

Lebanese authorities have launched a preliminary inquiry into alleged bank transfers from Banque du Liban to a company owned by the central bank governor’s brother and related transactions, a...

Nada Maucourant Atallah, 15 April 2021