On the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day, the European Union and Expertise France, the French public agency for international technical cooperation, launched a EUR 12 million project to support progress in key areas of public administration reform in Lebanon.
The four-year project, funded by the European Union, is aligned with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2020-2025), the opportunities of reform identified by the IMF Staff-Level Agreement and the principles of modern public administration. It also complements the current work done through the Lebanon Financing Facility for the Reform, Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3RF).
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A joint delegation from the French defense and foreign ministries will arrive today, Friday in Beirut coming from Israel, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported.
Full StoryWhile Hezbollah opponents call for the implementation of U.N. resolution 1701, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri says he hopes that Israel implements the resolution.
"I hope they implement it and withdraw from the Shebaa Farms, the Kfarshouba Hills, the village of Ghajar, the 13 contested points and B1," Berri told al-Liwaa newspaper in remarks published Friday, as he denied having discussed the issue with any diplomat or knowing about an imminent visit by U.S. energy envoy Amos Hochstein that would possibly discuss the land border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel.
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U.S. presidential envoy Amos Hochstein told Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab in their meeting in Dubai that U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 “is not on the front burner” and that “its amendment is not currently on the table,” a media report said.
Full StoryIsrael's army said Friday the October strikes in Lebanon that killed one journalist and wounded six others, including two from AFP, occurred in an "active combat zone" and were under review.
A group of seven journalists from Reuters, Al Jazeera and AFP were hit by two strikes in quick succession on October 13 as they were filming clashes between the Israeli army and armed groups in southern Lebanon.
Full StoryThe Israeli artillery shelled Friday several border towns including Blida, Dhaira, Rashaya al-Fokhar, Kfarshouba, Houla, Markaba, Aitaroun, al-Naqoura, Odeisseh, Maroun al-Ras, Mhaibib, al-Labbouneh, al-Naqoura and Shihine, as Hezbollah announced the death of one of its fighters.
One civilian was injured in Rashaya al-Fokhar.
Full StoryTop U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken has welcomed an Israeli investigation into a strike that killed a journalist and wounded six others on October 13 in southern Lebanon.
"It is important and appropriate that it be fully and thoroughly investigated. My understanding is that Israel has initiated such an investigation and it will be important to see that investigation come to a conclusion and to see the results," he said when asked about the case at a news conference alongside his British counterpart David Cameron.
Full StoryPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned to turn Beirut and south Lebanon into Gaza city and Khan Younis.
During a visit to Israel's north on Thursday to assess the situation along the border, Netanyahu warned Hezbollah against seeking to widen the scope his country's war with Hamas in Gaza.
Full StoryAn anti-tank missile fired Thursday from Lebanese territory has killed a civilian in northern Israel, according to the Israeli army and emergency medical service.
In a statement, the army said "terrorists launched an anti-tank missile from Lebanese territory toward the area of Matat", while the emergency service Magen David Adom said in a separate statement that a 60-year-old man was brought to one of their teams nearby with no vital signs and declared dead.
Full StoryTwo Israeli tank rounds were used in the attack that killed a Reuters journalist and wounded six others in southern Lebanon on October 13, an investigation published Thursday by the news agency found.
Issam Abdallah, 37, was killed instantly in the incident. The others present -- two other Reuters journalists, two from Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera, and two from AFP -- were all injured.
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