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Depositor storms BLOM Bank in Haret Hreik, takes $11,750

Four individuals stormed BLOM Bank’s branch in Haret Hreik on Monday and managed to take their deposit, worth $11,000, prior to the arrival of the army, the National News Agency said.

The Depositors Outcry Association meanwhile announced that “the depositor Zaher Khawaja has liberated $11,750 from the aforementioned bank” and that he “still has $750” in his account.

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Netanyahu says won't be bound by Lebanon deal if elected

Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, under whom the sea border talks with Lebanon began in 2020 and who is hoping to return to power in November elections, has said that he opposes the emerging gas fields deal and wouldn't be bound by it if reelected.

Israel’s caretaker premier Yair Lapid is hoping to fend off Netanyahu in the polls.

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Report: Russia smuggling Ukrainian grain to help pay for Putin's war

When the bulk cargo ship Laodicea docked in Lebanon last summer, Ukrainian diplomats said the vessel was carrying grain stolen by Russia and urged Lebanese officials to impound the ship.

Moscow called the allegation "false and baseless," and Lebanon's prosecutor general sided with the Kremlin and declared that the 10,000 tons of barley and wheat flour wasn't stolen and allowed the ship to unload.

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Al-Rahi calls on MPs to elect 'sovereign president'

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday expressed concern that the fate of presidential election sessions will continue to be linked to "consensus."

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Lapid says Lebanon gas deal to 'curb Hezbollah, bring regional stability'

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Sunday said that both Lebanon and Israel have “accepted the American mediator's proposal for an agreement on the maritime border between the countries.”

“We are conducting discussions on the final details, so it is not yet possible to congratulate on the finality, but as we demanded from day one, the proposal fully preserves Israel's political-security interests, as well as our economic interests,” Lapid told his Cabinet.

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Nasrallah calls Iranian woman's death a 'vague incident'

The leader of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, has said that the death of Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in Iranian police custody was a "vague incident" that was being exploited against Tehran.

A wave of street violence has rocked Iran since Amini, 22, died after her arrest by the morality police for allegedly failing to observe the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women.

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US Embassy hosts Mayyas in 1st performance after AGT victory

U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea and the U.S. Embassy in Beirut hosted an evening with the Mayyas dance group and a discussion with choreographer Nadim Cherfan, following the group’s recent victory on the America’s Got Talent TV competition series, the Embassy said on Saturday.

The event was held as part of the Embassy’s “Meet the Artist” series, which highlights emerging Lebanese talents from all artistic backgrounds. Not only was the event the group’s first performance in Lebanon following their U.S. victory, but it offered an inside look into choreographer Nadim Cherfan’s background, inspiration, and effort to create the Mayyas dance group.

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Nasrallah advises rivals to avoid seeking 'confrontation president'

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Saturday advised political rivals to avoid seeking the election of a so-called “confrontation president.”

“Thursday’s parliamentary session (for the election of a new president) confirmed that those who want to elect a president for Lebanon must shun the approach of confrontation and the presidents and candidates of confrontation,” Nasrallah said in a televised address.

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Berri says border deal draft meets Lebanese demands

Speaker Nabih Berri said Saturday that the draft final agreement submitted by U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein for sea border demarcation with Israel is positive and "in principle meets the Lebanese demands that refuse any impact for the sea agreement on the land border."

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Shea hands Hochstein’s proposal to Aoun, Mikati

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea on Saturday separately handed each of President Michel Aoun and PM-designate Najib Mikati a written proposal from U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein for the demarcation of Lebanon’s sea border with Israel.

The Presidency said Aoun called Speaker Nabih Berri and Mikati after receiving the proposal to consult with them over the issue in order to “give the U.S. mediator a Lebanese response as soon as possible.”

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