The Ministry of Communications in Beirut, Lebanon, conducted the first Amateur Radio licensing exams in 13 years on October 16 at the offices of OGERO, a telecoms provider. Some 50 applicants sat for the exams; it's not yet known how many passed. Ghassan Afif Chammas, AC2RA, who posted the news to QRZ.com, credited OGERO Director General Abdul M. Youssef; engineer Toni Aoun; Hani Raad, OD5TE/AA3EI; Michel Homsi, OD5TX, and Elie el Kadi, OD5KU, for facilitating the test session.

"The ham community should expect a boost in ham activities from OD5 very soon," AC2RA said.

OD5TE once was very active in the Washington, DC area as N3IWM, and he served as the District's Emergency Coordinator. -- Thanks to Ken Claerbout, K4ZW