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A Canadian court ruled Monday that a Canadian-Lebanese national accused of a 1980 bombing of a Paris synagogue that killed four people can be extradited to France, but warned the French government's case was "weak."
French prosecutors want Hassan Diab to face charges of murder, attempted murder and willful destruction of property, for the first fatal attack against the French Jewish community since the Nazi occupation in World War II.
Full StorySeven people were killed and several others wounded Monday evening in an explosion in a fuel oil depot at a gas station on the outskirts of the Ashrafieh neighborhood of Fiat Bridge, state-run National News Agency reported.
The bodies of five victims were moved to Hotel Dieu Hospital, while two other bodies were moved to Rizk Hospital, according to NNA.
Full StoryProgressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Monday stressed that there will be no “new shift” in his political alliances, in response to Tuesday’s remarks by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, who said he had “heard that MP Jumblat has started to shift ground.”
“I have settled my choices and there will be no new shift in my political course,” Jumblat said in an interview with MTV.
Full StoryCivil defense forces intervened to extinguish a huge fire that erupted at the Lebanese-German University in Sahel Alma, the National News Agency reported on Monday.
The fire that broke out at LGU was caused by an electrical friction in one of the cars that was parked in the university’s garage, NNA said.
Full StoryDozens of Palestinian youths took to the streets of two refugee camps in southern Lebanon on Monday to denounce the weekend killing of protesters along the Israeli border with Syria.
The youths carried Palestinian and black flags as they marched in the Ain al-Helweh and Mieh Mieh camps where a general strike was observed, with schools and businesses closed.
Full StoryHizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stated on Monday that Sunday’s Naksa Day clashes at the Golan Heights are further evidence of the American administration’s agenda to “steal Arab wealth.”
He said during the opening of a conference on Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: “Yesterday’s actions confirm Washington’s absolute commitment to Israel’s security.”
Full StoryNo major breakthroughs in the government formation have been reported in the past few hours, while concerned officials have maintained their optimism over the matter, reported al-Liwa on Monday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati held talks on Sunday with Speaker Nabih Berri’s advisor MP Ali Hasan Khalil on the formation process.
Full StoryPremier-designate Najib Miqati is trying to avoid a dispute with Speaker Nabih Berri, who is making all efforts to speed up the cabinet formation process by suggesting a 49-article agenda for the June 8 parliamentary session instead of restricting it with renewing the term of the Central Bank governor, the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported on Monday.
Sources told the daily that Berri doesn’t want to shift the government formation crisis to parliament.
Full StorySpeaker Nabih Berri has decided not to directly follow up on the cabinet formation process, tasking his advisor MP Ali Hasan Khalil to carry out the mission, An Nahar reported on Monday.
“I am waiting to reach the stage of decision and formation,” Berri said.
Full StoryPrime Minister-designate Najib Miqati condemned on Sunday claims that he had received the names of ministerial candidates from various political blocs.
His press office said in a statement: “Up until this moment, the premier-designate has not received any names and any claims contrary to this are an attempt to conceal the truth.”
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