On the Lebanese discussion about change and weapons: Naivety is not the only alternative to stupidity
Who remembers the decades that preceded the two-year war (1975-1976) in Lebanon? The forces calling for political and social change at the time were neither few nor unpopular, no matter what kind of change they advocated. These forces have left the shell of a single sect and a single region. This is the case of …
Elaf Group to launch new hotel brand Joudyan next month
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – European Union efforts to impose an embargo on Russian oil faced further hurdles on Wednesday, with Hungarian officials saying they would not support the plan in its current form and recommending to remove the subject from the agenda of the summit of European leaders next week. The EU has been working to …
Avoid reconstruction mistakes in Iraq, warns co-founder of Maryam
DAVOS: Public and private sector funding is vital for Ukraine’s reconstruction in a post-war scenario, but it is also essential to ensure that corruption does not block reconstruction efforts, said a Maryam Forum Foundation panel at the World Economic Forum (WEF). The Ukraine4All: Building an Inclusive Future event invited leading figures from business and politics, …
Tunisian union calls for national strike over wages and economy
BEIRUT: Lebanese authorities began removing concrete barriers around the country’s parliament building on Monday after former protesters were elected as MPs. The security measures were put in place during the outbreak of massive anti-government protests in 2019. They are to be eased following the election of a dozen reformist newcomers to the 128-member legislature, some …
Kashmiri minority Hindus demand relocation after community member killed
KYIV, Ukraine (Reuters) – Russia continued its offensive in eastern Ukraine on Sunday as Poland’s president traveled to Kyiv to support the country’s European Union aspirations, becoming the first foreign leader to address the Ukrainian parliament since the beginning of the war.The lawmakers gave President Andrzej Duda a standing ovation, who thanked them for the …
Lebanon is the State… not the names
The recent Lebanese elections, which saw Hezbollah lose its allies and the parliamentary majority, and the entry of independents into parliament, are not only a lesson for the party, Iran and the Lebanese, but rather a message for the whole region. The first lesson is “not to trust the agents”, be they personalities, families or …
Wealthy Lebanese buy ‘island passports’ as crisis rages
Beirut (AFP) – Fearing visa hassles could cost him his job in Dubai as an economic meltdown wiped out all options for returning home, Lebanese executive Jad spent around $135,000 on new citizenship for him and his wife . Less than a month after making the payment last year, the 43-year-old businessman received a small …
Human trafficking: new trends – Daily Times
“Human trafficking is not only an injustice to the victim, but it is an injustice to the families and friends of that victim” -Asa Don Brown The world today is in turmoil. A quick glance around us would show signs of unrest, dissatisfaction, economic collapse, rising inflation, armed conflict, political upheaval, pandemics, terminal illnesses, accidents …
Japan hails new US economic initiative in Indo-Pacific | National Policy
By MARI YAMAGUCHI – Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan hails a new U.S. economic initiative for the Indo-Pacific that President Joe Biden is expected to roll out during a visit to Tokyo next week, as it demonstrates U.S. commitment to an order regional economy that is not just about market access, an official said …
Stocks falter on Wall Street, edge closer to bear market | Technology
By DAMIAN J. TROISE and ALEX VEIGA – AP Business Writers NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks faltered Thursday afternoon on Wall Street as lingering inflation continues to weigh on the economy and keeps major indexes mired in a deep recession. The S&P 500, the benchmark for many index funds, just suffered its biggest drop in …
Qatar envoy congratulates Lebanese PM on elections – Doha News
The Lebanese people were able to elect a 128-member parliament, a dozen of whom are independent, as Reuters reported on Tuesday. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati met Wednesday in Beirut with Qatar’s envoy to the country, Ibrahim Al Sahlawi, following the Lebanese legislative elections. According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar (MOFA), the Gulf …
الوكالة الوطنية للإعلام – Government of Japan and UN Women partner to address growing socio-economic needs in Lebanon
NNA – The Government of Japan and UN Women in Lebanon have signed an agreement to provide USD 1,294,388.00 to help vulnerable Lebanese women and Syrian refugees meet urgent socio-economic needs. This support will enable vulnerable women of all nationalities and their families to access emergency livelihoods, while ensuring access to quality sanitary products and …
Stocks rise on Wall Street; new report shows strong retail sales | Health, Medicine and Fitness
By DAMIAN J. TROISE – AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose in afternoon trading on Wall Street on Tuesday as investors scrutinize an encouraging retail sales report and a mixed batch of earnings updates from several major retailers. . The S&P 500 was up 1.2% at 12:06 p.m. EST. The Dow Jones …
Libyan prime minister appointed by parliament leaves Tripoli after clashes
BEIRUT: Hezbollah and its allies in Lebanon are on the verge of losing their parliamentary majority after voters delivered a stunning rejection of the country’s corrupt political elite. Election results showed major victories for non-traditional political forces since polls closed at 7 p.m. Sunday. Vote counting continues after Sunday’s election and full results are not …
Lebanon is in political crisis. Sunday’s elections won’t change that.
Sunday’s Lebanese legislative elections offer the chance for change – however small – from the corruption, neglect and stagnation that have wrecked the country’s economy, provided relative impunity for Beirut’s devastating port blast. in 2020 and allowed the extremist group Hezbollah to take a greater proportion of seats in the Legislative Assembly. Sunday’s turnout in …
The Lebanese people voted in the most important parliamentary election
Several new political groups have emerged from the opposition movement and are competing in Sunday’s race, coming face to face with establishment parties. Political observers consider this election highly competitive and unpredictable. Earlier this year, three-time Prime Minister Chad Hariri – the leader of the country’s largest Sunni Muslim parliamentary group – retired from politics …
Lebanese President commends Qatar for support during economic crisis – Doha News
The country’s currency has lost 90% of its value to the US dollar since 2019 as people lack access to their savings at local banks. Lebanese President Michel Aoun expressed the importance of Qatar’s support for Lebanon in these difficult times in an exclusive interview with Doha State News Agency (QNA) the Saturday. In his …
Hezbollah’s weapons at the heart of the Lebanese elections on Sunday
BAALBEK, Lebanon (AP) — It was a sea of yellow as thousands of men, women and children waving Hezbollah flags and wearing the group’s signature yellow caps gathered on a giant pitch in the ancient eastern city of Baalbek to support the heavy armed militant group. One after another, scores of participants vowed to vote …
In Lebanon’s high-stakes elections, absence of Sunni party adds to uncertainty
Placeholder while loading article actions BEIRUT – When Lebanon votes in the legislative elections on Sunday, one major party will not be on the ballot: the Future Movement, led by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, with close ties to the United States and Saudi Arabia . In January, Hariri announced his resignation from politics and …
Lebanese diaspora community mobilizes ahead of national elections
The Lebanese legislative elections on May 15 will be a decisive moment for the country’s political future. Lebanese voters, both at home and abroad, will have the opportunity to vote for new representatives who will tackle the pressing challenges facing Lebanon today. The stakes are high and many eligible Lebanese are rushing to polling stations …
Asian stocks rebound, dispelling inflation fears | National
By ELAINE KURTENBACH – AP Business Writer Asian stocks rebounded on Friday from losses earlier in the week, ignoring data showing wholesale prices in the United States climbed 11% in April from a year earlier. The regional rally followed a mixed, muted close on Wall Street. Oil prices and US futures were also higher. Investors …
In Lebanon, elections bring cautious hope – and an uphill battle for reform
On May 15, Lebanese voters will go to the polls for the legislative elections while members of the Lebanese diaspora voted last weekend. The contest comes at a time of deep economic crisis and government collapse in the country, but is unlikely to bring about significant change in a dysfunctional political establishment. These elections will …
Tech Sector Leads Stocks Lower as Inflation Remains High | Technology
By STAN CHOE, DAMIAN J. TROISE and ALEX VEIGA – AP Business Writers NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell on Wall Street on Wednesday, led by further declines in tech companies, after an inflation report turned worse than expected. An early rally faded, leaving the S&P 500 down 1.6% after swinging between gains and losses …
Elections in Lebanon should entrench the ‘status quo’
Sunday’s Lebanese elections are unlikely to bring seismic change, despite widespread dissatisfaction with a corrupt political class blamed for a painful economic crisis and deadly catastrophe, experts say. Given Lebanon’s sectarian politics, it is likely to “replicate the political class and give it internal and international legitimacy”, said Rima Majed of the American University of …
Hezbollah will work to form ‘just government’ in Lebanon: Nasrallah – Reuters
Speaking in a televised speech broadcast live from the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Tuesday evening, Seyed Hassan Nasrallah said Lebanese voters would face a choice in the upcoming legislative elections between a faction whose main concern is Lebanon and another that seeks to please. United States, “Today you choose between those …
Lebanon asks for 30 billion dollars in compensation to receive displaced Syrians
Beirut, May 10 (IANS) Lebanese Social Affairs Minister Hector Hajjar has urged the international community to compensate the country with $30 billion for hosting displaced Syrians over a long period. “We are counting on the compensation of the international community for Lebanon, which has so far suffered losses estimated at 30 billion dollars,” Hajjar said …
Saudi energy minister blames lack of investment for fuel price spike
Adds quotes RIYADH, May 9 (Reuters) – Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Monday that the gap between crude oil prices and jet fuel, diesel and gasoline prices was around 60% in some cases due to lack of investment in refining capacity. The prince, speaking at an aviation summit in Riyadh, said …
Lebanon’s Descent into Turmoil: Assassinations, War, Financial Collapse | The mighty 790 KFGO
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon is holding elections on May 15 that could see a change of power that sends shockwaves far beyond this tiny country wedged between Syria and Israel. Here is a timeline of the nation’s recent history, from assassinations and war to a devastating explosion and economic collapse. 2005 Lebanese billionaire former Prime …
More of the same stagnation?
Assuming nothing will stop the legislative elections in Lebanon, 1046 candidates will compete for the 128 seats in the Lebanese parliament for the next four years. (Some candidates may still be disqualified or decide to withdraw their candidacy.) The elections will be held on two dates: from May 6 to 8 for the nearly 250,000 …
Fewer immigrant labor in the United States contributes to higher prices | Health, Medicine and Fitness
By NICHOLAS RICCARDI – Associated Press Just 10 miles from the Rio Grande, Mike Helle’s farm is so short of immigrant workers that he has replaced 450 acres of labor-intensive leafy greens with crops that can be harvested by machines. In Houston, Al Flores has raised the price of his barbecue restaurant’s brisket plate because …
the absence of a progressive alternative
Despite the momentum of the October 2019 uprisings in Lebanon, there is little hope for progressive alternatives in the upcoming elections, especially with such a weakened trade union movement, writes Joseph Daher. Ballots for the upcoming elections in Lebanon will be cast on May 15. [GETTY] The Lebanese legislative elections in May will take place …
Global storyteller AJ Naddaff ’19 named Knight-Hennessy Scholar
He had spent the previous winter in Beirut, on an internship at the Associated Press. Forced to return to his parents’ home near Boston by the COVID-19 pandemic, he contacted Rebecca Joubin, president and professor of Arabic studies at Davidson. Within days, they raised enough money to pay for one year’s school fees for 40 …
Ex-Venezuela mayor travels to Miami for oil bribe | National
MIAMI (AP) — A former ally of Hugo Chávez wanted to be prosecuted by his socialist successor Nicolás Maduro has quietly visited Miami as part of a major corruption scheme involving oil joint ventures with foreign partners. Jhonnathan Marín was mayor of the port city of Guanta in 2017 when he abruptly resigned and fled …
The Serious Risks of Western Complicity with Corrupt Arab Autocrats
To manage these investments and ensure that they are safe and secret, these kleptocrats and their cronies need facilitators: bankers, lawyers, auditors, real estate agents and other financial advisers from Wall Street, London, Zurich and more and more Dubai, the new favorite haven for Russian oligarchs who are now feeling the heat of sanctions in …
Desperate Lebanese depositors take their banks to court
JIT WAS not how Rebecca Ego planned to use her law degree. In 2020, she was accepted into a master’s program in America. It would cost $20,000 after scholarships, money she had in the bank. In Lebanon, however, it is almost impossible to withdraw money from the bank: lenders have imposed harsh and arbitrary capital …
Yazidis, again displaced, fear new conflicts in their Iraqi homeland
BEIRUT: The vote of Lebanese expats on Friday will inaugurate the first phase of this month’s legislative elections. Expats will vote in 59 countries, but only 10 nations will begin the first phase of voting on Friday. Expats from these countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Syria and Iraq, have a Friday weekend. The second …
Days after announcing $773 million takeover bid, Zymeworks minority shareholder adds AstraZeneca oncology vet to team – Endpoints News
Alan Barge The investment firm that launched an unsolicited takeover bid for Zymeworks has now tapped an AstraZeneca vet to help design the future strategy, adding some weight to its $773 million bid. dollars. Alan Barge, former head of oncology at AstraZeneca, joins All Blue Capital as an oncology drug development advisor. “I worked closely …
Years after Daesh’s defeat, northern Iraq struggles to rebuild
DUBAI: Education, it is said, is an investment in the future. This is why the Gulf Arab States have invested heavily in high-quality schools, creating the infrastructure necessary for students to reach their full potential and build careers that are personally satisfying and beneficial to society at large. However, the rapid proliferation of these schools …
Patriarch Raï urges Lebanese to vote massively in elections
As Lebanon prepares for historic legislative elections on May 15, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai urges Lebanese citizens to vote massively to preserve the country’s self-determination and identity as it faces its worst crisis since the war of 1975-1990. A delegation of French bishops is expected to visit Lebanon from May 8-12. By Lisa Zengarini …
What to do if you contract COVID while travelling; Plus, countries easing COVID restrictions and more virus news | National
Amazon ends its Covid-19 paid sick leave policy Amazon is ending its Covid-19 paid sick leave policy starting Monday, the company said in a memo to employees over the weekend that was shared with CNN Business. The return to pre-pandemic sick leave policies means all US employees will now have up to five days of …
Promising signs amid declining US influence in the region
By John Wight Henry Kissinger (Dr Death to his many detractors) was a man who approached foreign policy with the lucid realism you might associate with your average hyena. For Mr. Kissinger, the world was a tough, tough place where pragmatism and self-interest ruled. And in the world in which he operated in the 1960s …
Philippine Vote: Volunteers Support Reformer Against Dictator’s Son | National policy
By JIM GOMEZ – Associated Press MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A supporter has penned a moving campaign song that has been played nearly 4 million times on Spotify. Other volunteers are breaking into Filipino villages, canvassing to support Vice President Leni Robredo in next week’s presidential election. The stakes are high: if Robredo’s opponent, Ferdinand …
Berri in a message to expatriates in Lebanon: May your vote on May 6 and 8 be for national constants, not for electoral promises
In a message addressed to Lebanese expatriates who will go to the polling stations to vote on May 6 and 8, the Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, called on them to “show the widest participation in this national event par excellence and the most important in the history of Lebanon”. and to “go to …
Migrant boat disaster destroys Lebanese family in crisis
TRIPOLI, Lebanon (AP) — A week ago, the boat carrying Bilal Dandashi, his relatives and dozens of others hoping to flee Lebanon and reach Europe sank in the Mediterranean. Dandashi still doesn’t know if his wife and children are alive or dead. Their boat sank in the dark of night within seconds after colliding with …
Prime Minister of the British Virgin Islands charged with cocaine smuggling | National
By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and DÁNICA COTO – The Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — The prime minister of the British Virgin Islands appeared in federal court in Miami on Friday following his arrest on charges of cocaine trafficking, while the British governor of the Caribbean territory announced that a corruption investigation had found good reasons …
Economic fallout from war in Ukraine could bring business to US railroads: analysis
A BNSF Railway export grain train travels through the Mojave Desert east of Barstow, California in June 2014. (Chase Gunnoe) CHARLESTON, West Virginia — Russia’s self-inflicted economic recession following the war in Ukraine will likely undo more than a decade of economic progress as other countries end ties with Russians. For the United States, this …
Berlin’s Gropius Bau hosts Beirut and the Golden Sixties exhibition
A work by Aref El Rayess at the exhibition. Mohammad Yusuf, Feature Writer Beirut and the Golden Sixties: A Manifesto of Fragility, is an exhibition at Gropius Bau, Berlin (March 25 – June 12). It revisits an exhilarating chapter of global modernism in Beirut, from the Lebanese crisis of 1958 to 1975, the year that …
Van Hollen and Young urge administration to engage with Lebanon to support timely, free and fair parliamentary elections
April 28, 2022 Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the administration to engage with Lebanon to ensure fairness and transparency in its next parliamentary session. May 15 elections. In light of the ongoing political, economic and health crises …
Turkish and Saudi finance ministers discuss economic cooperation
Mauritius supports the organization of Expo 2030 by Saudi Arabia because it is the best candidate: minister RIYADH: Mauritius will vote for Saudi Arabia to host Expo 2030 as it believes the Kingdom has the best capabilities among the candidate nations, according to the Mauritian minister in charge of foreign affairs, regional integration and international …
Asian stocks decline, echoing broad Wall Street slump | Health, Medicine and Fitness
By YURI KAGEYAMA – AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Asian stocks fell on Wednesday, echoing a broad decline on Wall Street and driven by concerns about how the war in Ukraine could drive up prices for oil and other commodities. Tokyo’s benchmark rose after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced measures to help poor families …
Can Lebanon be neutral on the Arab-Israeli conflict? | David Daoud
Lebanon was born as a house divided. Today, this division manifests itself in a conflict between an Iranian-backed “resistance camp” that is unilaterally waging war on behalf of the country, and a large part of the population yearning for normality. This weekend, elements of the latter convened a conference in Harissa to call on Lebanon …
Can Lebanon fix its failing energy sector?
After losing power for 24 hours in 2021, Lebanon continued to face severe power shortages due to years of poor infrastructure investment that led many people to rely on polluting diesel generators. for their food. The Lebanese population currently receives between one and two hours of electricity a day, and with ongoing political instability there …
Which Lebanon after the collapse?
Lebanon still seems to be at a crossroads. However, this time it is surely different. Two overlapping crises have made the present moment unique in Lebanon’s recent history. In this seminar, Bassel F. Salloukh from the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies shares his analysis. The first crisis concerns the post-war sectarian political system rooted …
France’s youngest president wins again, trouble and all | Health, Medicine and Fitness
By SYLVIE CORBET – Associated Press PARIS (AP) — In just five years as president of France, Emmanuel Macron has gone from a young political novice to a key global player and heavyweight decision-maker in the European Union who has been deeply involved in the efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. And now he …
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Visit to Lebanon: Report of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter (A/HRC/50/38/Add.1) [EN/AR] – Lebanon
human rights councilFiftieth sessionJune 13–July 8, 2022Agenda Item 3Promotion and protection of all human, civil,political, economic, social and cultural rights,including the right to development Summary Lebanon is plunged into one of the worst economic and financial crises in its history. The destruction of the national currency, exorbitant price increases and the collapse of the banking …
Webinar on “Saudi Arabia-Iran standoff over peace talks”
Islamabad: The collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the Iran-Saudi dialogue could forge a new round of tensions for the two countries, said Dr. Hamid Reza Azizi, researcher at the German Institute of International Affairs and security. Dr Azizi was delivering a speech at a webinar on ‘Saudi Arabia-Iran standoff over …
Shares stumble 2.8% as interest rate concerns escalate | National
By STAN CHOE and ALEX VEIGA – AP Business Writers NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks tumbled on Wall Street on Friday, leaving the S&P 500 with its biggest one-day loss in nearly seven weeks, as concerns mount over soaring interest rates and efforts of the US central bank to fight inflation. Several disappointing corporate earnings …
Sudden exchange rate turmoil angers Lebanese ahead of legislative elections
RAMALLAH: The UN has expressed deep concern over the escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, as clashes erupted again at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Friday. “We are deeply concerned by the escalation of violence in the occupied Palestinian territory and in Israel over the past month,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson …
Why the Fed is worried about the strongest US labor market in decades | National policy
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER – AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — President Jerome Powell isn’t as happy with the robust U.S. job market as you might think, and he and the Federal Reserve plan to do something about it: take it down a notch. On Thursday, Powell described the labor market as “extremely, historically” tight and …
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is a chance to reinvent international bailouts so citizens don’t suffer the bulk of the pain
Sri Lanka recorded the first victims of its spiraling economic crisis several days ago, with one protester dead and 24 others injured. It came from police firing shots at a crowd demanding the removal of a government they hold responsible for the country’s predicament. Now: Citizens cannot access essentials such as fuel, medicine and food, …
Lebanese government declares bankruptcy – Euro Weekly News
The Lebanese government declared bankruptcy following an economic recession that lasted more than two years. UPDATE April 21, 4:39 p.m.: Since the announcement of Lebanon’s bankruptcy, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, offers its support to Lebanon. For the first time in 30 …
Top Israeli journalist slams Tel Aviv for ‘brutality’ at Al-Aqsa compound
CHICAGO: A leading Israeli journalist has launched a scathing attack on the Tel Aviv government for the manner in which police and soldiers brutalized civilians and journalists inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Haram Al -Sharif over the past week, and called for an investigation into their actions. Nir Hasson, who covers Jerusalem and …
UNICEF: The number of maternal deaths triples in the context of the economic crisis in Lebanon
A new report released by UNICEF on Wednesday shows that in Lebanon, maternal deaths have tripled and children’s health is at risk amid a severe economic crisis. By Vatican News reporter As a severe economic crisis continues to grip Lebanon, vulnerable people are suffering. Maternal deaths According to a new report released Wednesday by UNICEF, …
Lebanese Berri meets GCC envoys signaling end of rift – Doha News
Unlike the rest of the region, Qatar has not recalled its ambassador to Lebanon. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met with Qatar’s Ambassador to Beirut as well as other GCC envoys in the country as it aims to strengthen ties with countries in the region. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar (MOFA), …
8 Indiana School Districts Seek Taxes for Repairs and Programs
Eight Indiana school districts will ask voters to approve property tax measures next month. That includes two Indianapolis districts: Perry Township, which is seeking to renew a $154 million referendum, and Franklin Township, which is seeking $95 million to renovate its high school. This will be the second election in which school districts put referenda …
As Iran nuclear deal nears, Saudi Arabia rebuilds stake in Lebanon
Abu Dhabi, UAE (CNN) – Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati is due to visit Saudi Arabia within the next two weeks, a first trip by a Lebanese prime minister to the Arab powerhouse in nearly four years following a unprecedented breakdown of relations. The last visit was in 2018 by then-Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who …
Retired vet Doc Clements makes another run for state legislature
A retired Lebanon County veterinarian makes another bid for a seat in Harrisburg. Calvin “Doc” Clements, 71, is running this time for the 48th Senate District seat currently held by Senator Chris Gebhard of North Cornwall Township. Because the two men are running unopposed in the May 17 primary, they are likely to face each …
Sweden hit by Muslim riots after threat to burn Quran
Sweden hit by Muslim riots after threat to burn Quran Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Time Muslim riots have broken out in Sweden after a far-right politician threatened to burn the Koran (Koran). It is not the first time that riots have broken out over the desecration of the Koran and the …
What can the government do to stop or slow inflation?
Inflation in the United States rose 8.5% in March, compared with the previous 12 months, marking the largest increase since 1981, according to the Consumer Price Index from the Department of Labor. Between February and March, inflation rose 1.2%, the biggest month-over-month jump since 2005. According to several economists and other financial experts, strong consumer …
Economic stability and alleviating suffering of citizens are key priorities: Yemen’s presidential council
BEIRUT: A total of 155 candidates from different sects are running in the Lebanese legislative elections scheduled for May 15. The only Shiite candidate on the Hezbollah and Amal Movement lists is MP Inaya Ezzeddine. The remaining Shia candidates are trying to win seats previously won by the Shia duo. Choosing Ezzeddine to represent Speaker …
Texas takes steps to ease border congestion due to ‘sense of urgency’ | Health, Medicine and Fitness
By ACACIA CORONADO and PAUL J. WEBER – Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The truck traffic jam at the U.S.-Mexico border finally began to erupt Thursday after nearly a week as Texas Governor Greg Abbott eased his latest dramatic action on immigration that has blocked some of the world’s busiest commercial ports and taken …
Ramadan 2022: Syrian refugees struggle in cash-strapped Lebanon | Refugee News
Bar Elias, Lebanon – A truck backs up with dozens of boxes of tomatoes, onions, carrots and peppers, and parks near a secluded makeshift kitchen at a small pool complex in Lebanon’s rural Bekaa Valley. Omar Abdullah of the Lebanese NGO Sawa for Development and Aid sighs as he reads the receipt. “Food items are …
Deadly explosion hits southern Lebanon, search for clues underway
fast news The blast killed one person in the town of Banaafoul, near the port city of Sidon, and demolished a two-storey municipal building and a scouting center for the Shiite Amal movement. Army personnel cordoned off the building as they searched through the rubble. (Reuters) An explosion destroyed a building in southern Lebanon, killing …
Lebanon reaches tentative agreement with IMF on economic policies
People pass a mother and her daughter begging in Beirut’s Hamra shopping street. Lebanon and the International Monetary Fund have reached an agreement in principle on comprehensive policies that could eventually pave the way for the release of billions of dollars in loans to the crisis-hit country. (AP File Photo/Hussein Malla) BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon …
Crisis in sight! – Pakistan Today Earnings
Political crisis and economic pressure form a deadly cocktail. Sri Lanka and Lebanon provide an example of what can happen if impasse prevents a government from taking timely action to avert catastrophic collapse. Imagine a patient with high blood sugar levels. If said patient does not change course quickly and take the prescribed medications, complications …
Struggling Pakistani Prime Minister ousted in no-confidence vote | National policy
By KATHY GANNON and MUNIR AHMED – Associated Press ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s political opposition ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan in a no-confidence vote in parliament early Sunday after several political allies and a key party in his ruling coalition deserted him. The opposition, which spans the political spectrum from leftists to religious radicals, will …
Iranian president pledges to continue nuclear activities
BEIRUT: The Saudi and Kuwaiti ambassadors to Lebanon, Walid Bukhari and Abdul-Al Sulaiman Al-Qenaei, have returned to Beirut, arriving on Friday afternoon amid renewed hopes of a reset in diplomatic relations for the country besieged. They landed at Beirut airport less than 24 hours after the Kingdom and Kuwait announced their envoys would return to …
Schultz’s first steps at Starbucks hint at deeper changes to come
(Bloomberg) – In his first week back at work at Starbucks Corp., Howard Schultz made a series of moves that hint at big changes in store layouts, employee relations and marketing – and indicate that profit margins will be under pressure. Bloomberg’s Most Read The man credited with inventing Starbucks’ culture as a “third place” …
Sri Lanka raises rates by 700 basis points to 14.5%
“I am here to implement an independent policy. There is no political interference in my regime, I have made that very clear to the authorities,” new governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said in a later press briefing. “I have the full support and blessing of the government, the opposition parties and, above all, the general public.” Weerasinghe’s …
Wall Street ends lower, marking its first week of decline in four | Health, Medicine and Fitness
By DAMIAN J. TROIS and STAN CHOE – AP Business Writers NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks ended mostly lower after another day of drift around Friday, leaving the market with its first losing week in the past four. Gains by energy companies were offset by declines in technology stocks. The benchmark S&P 500 fell 0.3%, …
Saudi Arabia announces the return of its ambassador to Lebanon | Houthi News
Relations have been strained since last year after a former minister criticized Saudi Arabia’s role in Yemen. Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday that it was sending an ambassador to Lebanon for the first time since a row erupted with Beirut last year over Riyadh’s military intervention in Yemen. The Foreign Ministry “announces the return of …
Splinter – Nowlebanon
The force used by internal security and others was real. Barricades erected prevented access to parliament and violence was used to deter protesters. But the population decline was not there. The withdrawal has come the time Lebanon (support me here) was attacked. On two fronts. The first, the historical inertia that draws the majority of …
Asian stocks follow Wall St’s retreat on interest rate concerns | National
ELAINE KURTENBACH – AP Sales Writer BANGKOK (AP) — Asian stocks followed a retreat on Wall Street after details from last month’s Federal Reserve meeting showed the central bank planned to be aggressive in tackling inflation. The Fed’s comments added to investor unease over the war in Ukraine, coronavirus outbreaks in China and persistently high …
Israeli government loses majority after religious lawmaker resigns | National Policy
By ILAN BEN ZION – Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — A lawmaker quit Israel’s ruling coalition on Wednesday after a dispute over religious observance during the Passover holiday, throwing the fragile alliance into disarray with no majority in parliament and raising the prospect of a new round of elections. Backbencher Idit Silman had recently objected …
Political Theology in an Anti-Religious World, Evangelical Focus
Many today are angry with religion, or at least disappointed in it. Rightly perhaps, since so much violence is perpetrated in the name of God. In the MENA part of the world, anger and disappointment surfaced in the so-called “Arab Spring” protests that began towards the end of 2010, raging like a storm of new …
Lebanon Crisis Response Inter-Agency Plan (LCRP) Situation Update – Current Operating Environment in Lebanon (January 2022) – Lebanon
In 2022, LCRP partners continue to work together to monitor and analyze the impact of the current situation on all populations as well as the overall operating environment in Lebanon. This situation update consolidates this analysis and is used by LCRP partners at the national and field level to adapt existing interventions as needed and …
France pushes for energy sanctions against Russia | National policy
By SAMUEL PETREQUIN – Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday there was “total determination” by the 27 European Union countries for sanctions against Russia that could target oil and coal. on evidence that his troops deliberately killed Ukrainian civilians. Europe’s dependence on Russian oil, gas and coal …
Costa Rican president-elect calls victory a ‘revolution’ | National policy
By JAVIER CÓRDOBA – Associated Press SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — President-elect Rodrigo Chaves said Monday his second-round victory was a “revolution” by marginalized communities against Costa Rica’s elites. The conservative economist, who served briefly as finance minister in the outgoing administration of President Carlos Alvarado, had cast himself as the underdog in the …
Lebanon needs a political solution before the economic initiative (professor)
TEHRAN – A professor of political science at the Lebanese University believes that the solutions to Lebanon’s economic problems must be political in the first place before any economic decision. “The solution must be political in the first place, and after the political solution, we can talk about the economic solution,” Laure Abi-Khalil told the …
War in Russia could further drive up auto prices and shortages | Technology
By TOM KRISHER and KELVIN CHAN – AP Business Writers DETROIT (AP) — BMW has halted production at two German plants. Mercedes is slowing down work at its assembly plants. Volkswagen, warning of production stoppages, is looking for alternative sources for parts. For more than a year, the global auto industry has grappled with a …
The Mahmoud Kahil Prize rewards Arab cartoonists
DHAHRAN: Anas Bukhash was on stage at Ithra’s first Sync Summit wearing a traditional light-colored Emirati dishdasha and a big smile. In a sea of suits, he was authentically himself. A well-known Emirati serial entrepreneur, who speaks seamless Arabic or English, he is a professional interviewer with one of the most beloved voices in the …
Ramadan begins in much of the Middle East amid rising food prices
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began at sunrise Saturday in much of the Middle East, where an invasion from Russia or Ukraine has driven up food and energy prices, reported the PA. Driving the news: Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, had announced that Ramadan, when many …
Palestinians feel the pinch of soaring prices
BEIRUT: As Ramadan approaches, Beirut and other cities lack the decorations that filled the streets for this occasion. Instead, photos of parliamentary candidates are plastered everywhere. Only a few modest banners are raised, reminding people to donate to charity during the holy month. Lebanon is grappling for the third year in a row with a …
Tunisia crisis escalates as police summon opposition figures
BEIRUT: As Ramadan approaches, Beirut and other cities lack the decorations that filled the streets for this occasion. Instead, photos of parliamentary candidates are plastered everywhere. Only a few modest banners are raised, reminding people to donate to charity during the holy month. Lebanon is grappling for the third year in a row with a …
Common narrative – Nowlebanon
The future of this country is not in the hands of absolutists from a hard left ideology or a prejudiced extreme right. Fortunately, there is enough room in the middle. Including the immensely frustrated but reasonable protester-turned-politician. Driven by moderation rather than extremism, and ready to reach “across the aisle” and work with the older …
Kentucky Legislators Conclude Work on Next 2-Year Budget | Health, Medicine and Fitness
By BRUCE SCHREINER – Associated Press FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky lawmakers wrapped up work on the state’s next two-year budget on Wednesday, approving big pay raises for state employees and increased education spending while setting aside significant amounts to offset planned personal income tax reductions. The spending plan — the result of negotiations between …
Nuclear Iran: Why the Islamic Republic is not the actor we think it is
(Ebrahim Noroozi/AP) “As youhe only Western journalist allowed to enter Iran ahead of the 2017 presidential elections, I followed then-candidate Ebrahim Raisi during the election campaign. Whatever illusions I had about Iran and its ambitions have melted away under the brutality of its warlike rhetoric. Sculmination of Jerusalem last week, US Secretary of State Antony …
Italy and Algeria launch joint political, economic and energy projects
DUBAI: The empowerment of women in leadership positions around the world continues to lag behind, with too few governments taking steps to encourage women leaders, says a senior UAE minister. Ohoud Al-Roumi, Minister for Development in the Government of the United Arab Emirates, made the statement during a session titled “Women in Government: Shaping a …
Permobil expands its facilities in Lebanon | Community
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Why the United States is placing a higher priority on the Iran nuclear deal
When on March 12, Denis Shmygal, the Ukrainian Prime Minister, announced that a prohibition or severe restrictions would be imposed on exports of wheat, buckwheat, eggs, oil, sugar and other foods, his message produced no sensation, given Ukraine’s largely crippled agrarian sector. The military action has disrupted economic, transport and logistical connections, limiting shipping in …