DAILY SCOPE: Wastes Threaten Beirut Again!

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

AS-SAFIR:

Berri's Surprise: I Will Not Give My Vote to Aoun unless...
Kerry, Lavrov, and al-Jubeir in Doha: Iran, Yemen, Syria and "ISIL"

AN-NAHAR:

Syrian Army Advances in Hama, Latakia Outskirts, Kerry, Lavrov and al-Jubeiri Discuss Syrian Crisis
International Community Abandons Providing Education to Refugees!

AL-AKHBAR:

The Garbage is back!
Al-Houthi: Aden is a Swamp to the Saudis

AL-BINAA:

Military Advances in Syria from Hasaka to Palmyra, Zabadani... No Isolation Zone

AL-LIWAA:

American-Russian-Saudi Meeting In Doha Today

Lebanese newspapers on Monday shed light on the waste crisis that has emerged again with no real solution on the way, at the time other domestic matters such as the military appointments, presidential elections and electricity dossier are still in deadlock.

On the regional level, papers pointed out to the advances made by the Syrian army and the resistance forces in different points in Syria, and discussed the tripartite meeting to take place in Doha where US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to assure Saudi Arabia on Iran in the presence of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Papers also shed light on the latest developments in Yemen, with sources revealing more details on the ongoing Saudi aggression on the impoverished country.

Export Solution of Waste Crisis Complicated: As-Safir 

With the wastes' scandal surfacing again to the lead, As-Safir Lebanese daily newspaper quoted Prime Minister Tammam Salam as saying that there has been a suggestion to ‘export' the tons of wastes to some European countries, which is a possible solution to the current waste management crisis.

The paper quoted a number of officials on the matter. Salam said this is only a suggestion being studied among others. Minister of Economy and Trade Alain Hakim was quoted by the paper as saying that "four German companies have so far given an official answer with preliminary acceptance to begin cooperation, knowing that each of these companies can export around 40 tons of waste every month."

He further noted that "If the deal is made and the wastes were exported to Germany, France and Sweden are willing to cooperate too."

On the same note, Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayeb told As-Safir that the option of exporting wastes remains to be the preferable solution, noting that some foreign companies with expertise on the matter have expressed will to cooperate in solving Lebanon's crisis.

Yet, ministerial sources told the paper "It is very difficult for Lebanon to stick to the delicate standards set by the European Union which would enable Lebanon to export its wastes, noting that the EU determines certain standards when it comes to the technical details such as waste sorting, cargo, type of wastes, and percentage of water in these wastes which increases the complexity of the export process.

Drifts of un-recycled rubbish had piled up on Beirut's streets due to the closure of the city's landfill on July 17th. Although smothered in white powder, the rotting rubbish stank, attracted flies, mice and rats, and was a serious health hazard at a time when tourists and tens of thousands of Lebanese expatriates flooded into the country.

The existing landfill is full to capacity; nothing has been done to develop new sites, and villagers living in mountainous areas reject the creation of new landfills in their neighborhoods. The Beirut municipality has called on the government to authorize the hiring of specialized firms to dispose of the waste abroad.
Lack of Political Will, "Israeli" Veto on Equipping Lebanese Army: AL-BINAA

On the anniversary of the Lebanese Army Day, al-Binaa newspaper said that the amid the circumstances Lebanon witnesses, the Lebanese army is not being appreciated as it should be, and remains to be undermined at the time it is an essential factor in confronting the different problems and fulfilling its duties on different levels.

Sources called on providing the army with the required political environment that would allow it to fulfill its duties and tasks, urging the government to pay attention to the dire need to equip the army not only through political support but also through real action. According to the source, there is no real intention to equip the army and provide it with weapons needed to confront terrorism at the borders, and there is no political will to do so. Moreover, an "Israeli" Veto prevents this from happening. This, according to the source, takes place at a time when the "Israeli" entity is upping its readiness for any confrontation and providing its army with the most advanced arms from the United States and other countries.

Yemen Takes Defense Phase to A New Level: AL-AKHBAR

Yemeni Military sources told al-Akhbar newspaper that in a new phase where the Yemeni fighters have taken the battle to another level, the forces succeeded in targeting Saudi military posts that were used by Saudi forces in their constant bombing of the bordering Yemeni areas. According to the source, the new attacks come as a beginning to the new strategic phase that was declared by Yemen following more than four months of a Saudi continuous aggression on Yemen, which has led so far to the killing of more than four thousand civilians, as reports the UN and other human rights organizations.

Moreover, the source said that the Yemeni fighters have entered a new phase of ground advances and the tight control over Saudi military posts, following a phase of hit and run operations that were conducted by the Yemeni revolutionary fighters and the popular committees.

Also, a military source told al-Akhbar newspaper that "if the Yemeni leadership decides to move on to a new level of repelling the Saudi attacks, then we are at the ready, and have a lot of surprises to reveal."

The leader of Ansarullah in Yemen, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, said in a speech on Sunday that the people of Yemen will ultimately win because they are being subjected to injustice and are fighting a war for independence.
He described the Yemeni people's fighting against the aggressors as a legitimate defense.

Saudi Arabia began its military aggression against Yemen on March 26 - without a UN mandate - in a bid to undermine the Houthi movement and to restore power to Hadi, an ally of Riyadh.

The incessant bombardments have caused severe shortages in basic necessities in the impoverished state.

According to the United Nations, the conflict has killed nearly 4,000 people, about half of them civilians, while 80 percent of the population is in dire need of aid.

Source: al-Ahed news