Day: May 6, 2023

NNA – Caretaker Minister of Culture, Judge Muhammad Wissam Al-Murtada, in partnership with ‘LeBAM’, the Lebanese Band Association for the Promotion of Music headed by former deputy, Attorney Ghassan Moukheiber, organized today a musical concert on the internal staircase of the National Museum in Beirut marking the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, which was attended by a group of officials, diplomats, social activists and cultural figures. In his word during the event, Minister Murtada said, ‘Perhaps our meeting today on the steps of time whose eras and monuments are composed here, to revive a great historical day, with a beautiful concert, is a practical response to all attempts that seek to distort the national present that is suffering from ailments…’ He added: ‘People need a glimmer of hope, if culture does not secure it for them, their tomorrow will fall on the rubble of the present. That is why we always insist on a positive outlook, confident that the difficult stages in the lives of peoples are nothing but a summer cloud that will quickly pass as much as the people cling to their faith in their homeland.’ Paying tribute to the memory of the fallen martyrs, Murtada considered that ‘the martyrs of the sixth of May and those who followed them were among the righteous who penetrated death into eternity in the memory of the nation,’ noting that they ‘call on us to preserve the truth for which they were martyred…to love Lebanon, live for it, die for its unity, and always work to save it from the clutches of traps and conspiracies…’ Appreciating the musical performance marking the occasion, the Culture Minister said: ‘As for LeBAM, how wonderful is this verbal and spiritual mixture between the homeland and music, which, through the symbolism of its name, and the energy of our dear friend Ghassan Moukheiber, constitutes one of the glimmers of hope that should overflow to fill the nights of the nation…I may not be exaggerating if I say that with the diversity of its musicians and their instruments and the consistency of their melodies and voices, they broadcast the true scenario of Lebanon, which is diverse in unity and one in diversity, as I have mentioned on several occasions.’ Murtada concluded by indicating that ‘LeBAM is a musical group that has the image of the homeland, so let us listen to it with contemplation and joy in the hope that the homeland will return to being a land that has the shape of music and its impact that revives souls.’ Moukheiber then presented Murtada with a shield in the name of the Association, “as a token of gratitude for his tireless activity for the development of culture in Lebanon and for his support of music through the Lebanese Association, LeBAM.” Finally, tre band, led by Maestro Serghei Bolum, played Lebanese, Arab and foreign folklore musical tunes and melodies to celebrate the occasion.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Envoys from Sudan’s warring military factions – the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces – were in Jeddah for talks on Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said, as international mediators pressed for an end to the three-week old conflict. The U.S.-Saudi initiative is the first serious attempt to end fighting that has turned parts of the Sudanese capital Khartoum into war zones and derailed an internationally backed plan to usher in civilian rule following years of unrest and uprisings. Riyadh and Washington earlier welcomed the “pre-negotiation talks” between the army and the RSF, and urged them to actively engage following numerous violated ceasefires. But both sides have made it clear they would only discuss a humanitarian truce, not negotiate an end to the war. Confirming his group’s attendance, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, said he hoped the talks would achieve their intended aim of securing safe passage for civilians. Sudan’s armed forces said they sent a delegation to the Red Sea city on Friday evening, but special envoy Dafallah Alhaj said the army would not sit down directly with any delegation that the “rebellious” RSF might send. Hemedti has meanwhile vowed to either capture or kill army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and there was also evidence on the ground that both sides remain unwilling to make compromises to end the bloodshed. Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan said in a tweet he hoped both sides would “engage in dialogue that we hope will lead to the end of the conflict

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

NNA – Caretaker Minister of Culture, Judge Muhammad Wissam Al-Murtada, in partnership with ‘LeBAM’, the Lebanese Band Association for the Promotion of Music headed by former deputy, Attorney Ghassan Moukheiber, organized today a musical concert on the internal staircase of the National Museum in Beirut marking the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, which was attended by a group of officials, diplomats, social activists and cultural figures. In his word during the event, Minister Murtada said, ‘Perhaps our meeting today on the steps of time whose eras and monuments are composed here, to revive a great historical day, with a beautiful concert, is a practical response to all attempts that seek to distort the national present that is suffering from ailments…’ He added: ‘People need a glimmer of hope, if culture does not secure it for them, their tomorrow will fall on the rubble of the present. That is why we always insist on a positive outlook, confident that the difficult stages in the lives of peoples are nothing but a summer cloud that will quickly pass as much as the people cling to their faith in their homeland.’ Paying tribute to the memory of the fallen martyrs, Murtada considered that ‘the martyrs of the sixth of May and those who followed them were among the righteous who penetrated death into eternity in the memory of the nation,’ noting that they ‘call on us to preserve the truth for which they were martyred…to love Lebanon, live for it, die for its unity, and always work to save it from the clutches of traps and conspiracies…’ Appreciating the musical performance marking the occasion, the Culture Minister said: ‘As for LeBAM, how wonderful is this verbal and spiritual mixture between the homeland and music, which, through the symbolism of its name, and the energy of our dear friend Ghassan Moukheiber, constitutes one of the glimmers of hope that should overflow to fill the nights of the nation…I may not be exaggerating if I say that with the diversity of its musicians and their instruments and the consistency of their melodies and voices, they broadcast the true scenario of Lebanon, which is diverse in unity and one in diversity, as I have mentioned on several occasions.’ Murtada concluded by indicating that ‘LeBAM is a musical group that has the image of the homeland, so let us listen to it with contemplation and joy in the hope that the homeland will return to being a land that has the shape of music and its impact that revives souls.’ Moukheiber then presented Murtada with a shield in the name of the Association, “as a token of gratitude for his tireless activity for the development of culture in Lebanon and for his support of music through the Lebanese Association, LeBAM.” Finally, tre band, led by Maestro Serghei Bolum, played Lebanese, Arab and foreign folklore musical tunes and melodies to celebrate the occasion.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Free Patriotic Movement Chief, MP Gebran Bassil, met today with MP Ghassan Skaf at his residence, during which talks touched on the general situation in the country and the presidential elections dossier. Following the meeting, Skaf considered that ‘the outside moves are due to internal stagnation and the feeling of regional and international states’ of officials’ indifference to the suffering of citizens and their distraction with personal matters.’ He added, ‘Today we are witnessing a decline in the level of external interference in favor of the Lebaneseization of the presidential entitlement, in wake of the actual internal movement we have begun…” Skaff continued: “Based on the positive and open atmosphere that I sensed with Minister Basil, I sincerely address all the other parties, especially those who are contributing, with or without knowledge, to obstructing the accomplishment of the presidential election by softening positions, easing conditions, and showing a little humility and a lot of responsibility.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Progressive Socialist Party Chief, Walid Jumblatt, received this evening at his Clemenceau residence, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Al-Bukhari, in the presence of the head of the “Democratic Gathering” parliamentary bloc, MP Taymour Jumblatt, and MP Wael Abu Faour. Discussions touched on various hour issues and latest developments.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon