Lebanon
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Raad says Hezbollah wants president who 'won't stab resistance in back'

The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammed Raad, said Thursday that his party wants a new Lebanese president who would not “stab the resistance in its back.”

“Let us elect a president. If we want him to protect national sovereignty and preserve his constitutional oath and the interest of the Lebanese, let us agree on a president who would not be a confrontational president,” Raad urged.

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Stray bullet hits MEA plane landing in Beirut with MP on board

A stray bullet hit a Middle East Airlines jet while landing in Beirut on Thursday, causing some material damage. No one among the passengers or crew was hurt, the head of the Lebanese airline company said.

The jet was landing on its way back from Jordan when the bullet hit the plane, said Mohamad El-Hout. He told reporters that Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport often faces such incidents, in addition to birds that fly in the area, endangering aviation.

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Hochstein says Israel to honor Lebanon deal despite Netanyahu win

U.S. energy mediator Amos Hochstein reassured Thursday that he is confident that Israel will continue to abide by the sea border demarcation agreement with Lebanon despite Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to power.

In remarks to Al-Jazeera television, Hochstein added that gas companies will start working in Lebanon and that foreign investments will flow into the country to boost its prosperity.

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Judge Aoun summoned for interrogation over Berri's libel complaint

Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun was on Thursday notified of being summoned to appear before State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat on Mondya over the libel complaint filed against her by Speaker Nabih Berri and his wife Randa, the National News Agency said.

Aoun had published Wednesday a list of names of Lebanese officials who have frozen accounts in Switzerland, citing WikiLeaks as a source.

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Mikati lashes out at 'advocates of obstruction'

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday called on all parties to quickly elect a new president and form a new government in order to "protect the country and preserve the state."

“This would end the caretaker state, which in its nature is temporary and limited to the matters that fall under this principle,” Mikati said.

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Parliament fails for fifth time to elect a president

Lebanon's divided parliament failed Thursday to elect a new president for the fifth time, with the post vacant since the mandate of Michel Aoun expired last month.

Michel Mouawad, whose father Rene Mouawad served as president, was the frontrunner with 44 votes on Thursday, still far short of the two-thirds majority -- or 86 ballots -- needed to win.

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USAID announces $50 million for higher education in Lebanon

Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power announced Thursday that USAID will provide $50 million for Lebanese and refugee students to attend the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanese American University (LAU), and Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU).

Of the $50 million, $15 million will support 140 full undergraduate scholarships to AUB and LAU for financially disadvantaged yet academically meritorious students, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. "The remainder of the funds will provide partial need-based financial aid for about 3,500 students over the next three years to help students who can no longer afford tuition amidst Lebanon’s economic crisis," the statement went on to say.

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US to give Lebanon $80.5 million in aid amid economic crisis

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.

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EU supports Lebanon's cholera preparedness and response

In response to the cholera outbreak in Lebanon, the EU is allocating €800,000 towards community-based water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in areas with a concentration of cholera cases, the EU Delegation to Lebanon said.

"Ongoing EU humanitarian programs are also redirecting efforts to address this new emergency," the Delegation added in a statement.

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USAID head announces 22 new solar-powered projects in Lebanon

Samantha Power, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on Wednesday announced $8.5 million in funding for Lebanon that will support 22 new solar-powered water pumping projects in Lebanon. These projects, which will be completed over the next two years, will serve more than 150 towns and villages and benefit over half a million Lebanese citizens and refugees by providing reliable access to water and decreasing operating costs and dependence on fuel to those who desperately need it.

"USAID has supported 41 solar energy projects to date benefiting 460,000 residents in 70 Lebanese towns and villages. In addition to providing a much-needed source of electricity, solar-powered water pumping projects also refurbish the stations’ chlorination equipment. Pumping chlorinated water to towns is particularly critical as the country addresses an unprecedented cholera outbreak," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

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