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Lebanon’s Health Ministry: We Have Not Reached A Dangerous Phase

People wear face masks on the streets of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP)
People wear face masks on the streets of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP)
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Lebanon’s Health Ministry: We Have Not Reached A Dangerous Phase

People wear face masks on the streets of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP)
People wear face masks on the streets of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP)

The Ministry of Public Health said that Lebanon did not reach a dangerous phase, despite the noticeable increase in the number of coronavirus infections over the past week.

Eighteen new infections were recorded on Thursday, including three among repatriated citizens, which brought the cumulative number to 1,662 cases. The ministry is currently conducting massive PCR tests in areas that have seen a high number of infections.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, sources at the Health Ministry stressed that Lebanon has not reached a dangerous point in the virus outbreak, saying: “We are still in the containment period; even if there is a slight increase in the number of cases, this does not mean that we have reached the point of danger. This is because most cases are asymptomatic, and do not require hospitalization.”

The sources pointed out that stable numbers do not mean easing preventive measures, “because negligence may lead to bad repercussions.”

Meanwhile, two neighborhoods were isolated in the area of Ghobeiri within the Baabda district, as more than 20 infections were reported. The municipality, in cooperation with the Health Ministry, conducted one hundred PCR tests and distributed antiseptic products for families in home quarantine.

Concern prevailed in the Beddawi refugee camp in northern Lebanon after four new infections were recorded. Atef Khalil, the secretary of the Palestinian factions in the north, noted that the PCR tests conducted in the camp showed that there was no spread of the virus.

“There are no coronavirus cases within the camp, except for four cases from the same family working at the Tripoli Port and living in Beddawi,” he said.

The Tripoli Port administration announced that a medical team from the Ministry of Public Health carried out PCR examinations for more than 120 workers and employees, adding all the results were negative.

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Al-Mashhadani Fills Two-Year Vacancy as Iraq’s Parliament Speaker

Iraqi lawmakers cast their votes to elect the parliament speaker on October 31, 2024 (Parliament Media)
Iraqi lawmakers cast their votes to elect the parliament speaker on October 31, 2024 (Parliament Media)
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Al-Mashhadani Fills Two-Year Vacancy as Iraq’s Parliament Speaker

Iraqi lawmakers cast their votes to elect the parliament speaker on October 31, 2024 (Parliament Media)
Iraqi lawmakers cast their votes to elect the parliament speaker on October 31, 2024 (Parliament Media)

The Iraqi parliament elected veteran politician Mahmoud al-Mashhadani as its new speaker on Thursday, ending a two-year vacancy in the position.
During the voting session, lawmakers considered candidates including al-Mashhadani, Salim al-Aisawi, Talal al-Zubai, and Amer Abdul Jabbar.
In the first round, 271 members voted, with al-Mashhadani receiving 153 votes and al-Aisawi getting 95. The Iraqi constitution requires an absolute majority—more than half of the 329 members—to win the speakership.
As a result, a second round of voting was held with 269 lawmakers participating. Al-Mashhadani won decisively, securing 182 votes to officially become the speaker of parliament.
Political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that lawmakers from the State of Law coalition, led by Nouri al-Maliki, supported al-Mashhadani, creating an unusual alliance with former parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi.
Al-Halbousi, who leads the Takadum (Progress) Party representing the Sunni majority, held lengthy talks with Sunni leaders late Wednesday into Thursday. These discussions reportedly resulted in a consensus to nominate al-Mashhadani.
Initially, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan opposed al-Mashhadani’s election. However, he spoke with the party’s parliament members just hours before the vote, easing their objections.
Hours before the voting session, al-Mashhadani called on political blocs to support his candidacy to end a long-standing crisis. In contrast, rival al-Aisawi urged lawmakers to protect democracy by resisting any pressure on their political choices.
Parliamentary sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that al-Maliki and al-Halbousi arrived at the parliament before the second round of voting to rally support for al-Mashhadani, including from Sunni lawmakers who initially backed al-Aisawi.
Lawmakers had repeatedly failed to elect a parliament speaker due to deep divisions within the Sunni bloc and attempts by Shia factions to push for a single Sunni candidate.
The Shiite “Coordination Framework” controls the 329-member parliament, despite differing views among its leaders.
Al-Mashhadani, a physician with an Islamic background, has re-entered the political scene nearly 16 years after his removal as speaker of the Iraqi parliament.
Born in Baghdad in 1948, he completed his education there before attending medical school in 1966. He graduated and became a first lieutenant in the Iraqi army in 1972, serving as a physician.
Elected as parliament speaker on Thursday, al-Mashhadani is the first legislative leader in Iraq since 2003 and previously held the position of president of the Arab Parliament Union in 2008.