The United States announced Wednesday that it will give $80.5 million in aid for food assistance and solar-powered water pumping stations in the crisis-battered country of Lebanon. The announcement was made by USAID chief Samantha Power during a visit to Lebanon ahead of a trip to Egypt for the COP27 U.N. climate conference. During the visit, Power is set to meet with Lebanese political leaders to push for a resolution to the country's political vacuum and for leaders to carry out a slate of political and economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund to clinch a $3 billion aid package. The visit comes as Lebanon is in the grip of its worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history. On Oct. 31, the six-year term of President Michel Aoun ended with no replacement elected. Power declined to say, however, whether any U.S. assistance would be contingent on Lebanon taking these measures. We are not focused on what happens if those reforms don't happen. The refor
Thousands of Palestinians held prayers on a small soccer field in a refugee camp in northern Lebanon on Saturday, to mourn one of the scores of migrants who died after their boat sank off Syria's coast this week, even as others vowed to undertake the same perilous voyage. Abdul-Al Abdul-Al, 24, kissed his father goodbye Tuesday before boarding a crowded boat leaving from a nearby town seeking a better life in Europe. It was his 14th attempt to flee the crisis-hit Mediterranean country, this time ending with the return of his dead body. He was to be buried in the camp where he was born, his father, Omar, told The Associated Press during the funeral procession. The head of al-Basel Hospital in Syria's coastal city of Tartus said Saturday that the death toll has reached 89, adding that of the 20 others who were receiving treatment at the medical center, six were discharged. The Lebanese army announced Saturday that troops have detained the man who allegedly organised the deadly trip.
"The country needs emergency development that would put an end to prolonged economic stagnation, and constitute a trigger for the growth of country and its prosperity," UN resident for Lebanon said
The Israeli military said it struck Lebanon with artillery fire early Monday after a rocket was fired into Israel. The army said the rocket landed in an open area in northern Israel, causing no damage or injuries. But shortly after, it said it struck the sources of the projectile launched and an infrastructure target in southern Lebanon. It said routine activity in northern Israel was continuing. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Israel and Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group are bitter enemies that fought an inconclusive month-long war in 2006. The border area has remained tense but mostly quiet since then. Small Palestinian groups are also active in Lebanon and have been suspected in several rocket attacks in recent years. The rocket fire came at a time of heightened tensions in Israel following a string of deadly attacks inside Israel, arrest raids in the occupied West Bank and rocket attacks into Israel launched from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. It has bee
Francis' trip will be the first visit by a Pope to the Mediterranean nation since 2012, when Pope Benedict XVI paid a three-day visit to Lebanon
The US will allow Lebanon to import natural gas and electricity from Egypt and Jordan through Syria, without being subject to restrictions imposed by the US Caesar Act, Abdallah Bou Habib said
Lebanon's president and prime minister-designate accused one another of obstruction, negligence and insolence in a war or words that has for months obstructed the formation of a new government
Mustapha Adib, an academic and Lebanon's ambassador to Germany, has received 90 nominations from parliamentarians so far
The draft urges freedom of movement for UNIFIL and unimpeded access to all parts of the Blue Line, and condemns "in the strongest terms" all attempts to restrict UN troop movements
The cabinet had declared a two-week state of emergency on August 5, the day after the Beirut blast that left at least 200 dead and some 6,000 injured
In a brief televised speech, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said on Monday that he is taking a step back so he can stand with the people and fight the battle for change alongside them
As many as 666 villages have been affected by floods across 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh, and major rivers are flowing above danger mark. Stay tuned for latest news live updates
Public anger mounted against the ruling elite that is being blamed for the chronic mismanagement and carelessness that led to the disaster
Initially, video taken by residents showed a fire raging at the port, sending up a giant column of smoke, illuminated by flashes of what appeared to be fireworks
The sudden devastation overwhelmed a country already struggling with both the coronavirus pandemic and an economic crisis
The heavily indebted state has been without an effective government since Saad al-Hariri quit as premier in October
If we are back where we started the decade, we know the task, we have the tools - and like the protesters, we know the value of sticking to it
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned that the group's ministers would not allow poorer Lebanese to bear the brunt of an economic overhaul through higher taxes that would cause a social explosion
Lebanon has been thrown into turmoil by Hariri's shock announcement from Saudi that he was stepping down
Hariri's resignation on Nov 4 threw Lebanon into political crisis