Lebanon

Fears mounted on Feb. 22 over the rise of new cases and fatalities outside China from the new coronavirus outbreak, as the World Health Organization warned of a shrinking window to stem the spread of the deadly disease.    

Turkey has started to screen travelers arriving from Iran at border gates and is refusing entry to anyone with signs of illness after four people died from the new virus that emerged in China, along with 750 suspected cases.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias was expected in Lebanon on Wednesday for talks with the country's political leaders in Beirut.
He will first be received by President Michel Aoun, before meeting with the President of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri.

Turkey on Feb. 16 commemorated diplomat Oktar Cirit, who was assassinated on Feb. 16, 1976 in Lebanon's capital Beirut. 

Cirit, Turkey's first secretary at the Turkish Embassy in Beirut, was killed by the Armenian terrorist organization ASALA, the Turkish Foreign Ministry noted in a Twitter post.

Lebanon's new government won a vote of confidence from parliament on Feb. 11 as protesters trying to block the session clashed with security forces, leaving hundreds injured.

Hundreds of demonstrators protested on Feb. 8 in front of the Parliament building here against the Hassan Diab government and a vote of confidence to prevent a new government.

The vote is expected on Feb. 11. 

A band of Muppets, both old favourites and new friends, will star in an Arabic retooling of "Sesame Street" with a regional twist.

In its Western iterations, the long-running franchise addresses issues including family breakdown. The new Middle East version instead seeks to help children, especially young Syrian refugees, cope with emotions.

Japanese authorities on Jan. 30 issued warrants for a former U.S. special forces soldier and two other men on suspicion of smuggling former Nissan Motor Co boss Carlos Ghosn out of Japan.

Warrants were issued for former U.S. Green Beret Michael Taylor and two other men, George-Antoine Zayek and Peter Taylor, prosecutors said in a statement.

Lebanon will not extradite the former chief executive of Nissan - Carlos Ghosn in Japan, where he is facing a series of financial charges, Nikkei Asian Review agency said on Wednesday, citing a Lebanese court official.

Turkey remembered with respect its late distinguished diplomat Kemal Arıkan, who was the victim of an assassination on Jan. 28, 1982.

Arıkan, Turkey's consul general in Los Angeles, was killed by Armenian terrorists affiliated with JCAG, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.