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What We’re Watching: Biden in Europe, the Gulf States vs. Lebanon, Elections in Nicaragua, South Africa and Virginia
Biden’s Euro trip. President Joe Biden has opened a big euro trip that includes a series of bilateral meetings on both sides of the G-20 summit in Rome, which took place last weekend. The US President and the First Lady kicked off the trip by meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican – a meeting that …
Latest news: French Macron hails G-20 climate progress | National policy
The UK leader said phasing out coal power was a key to reducing emissions and that G-20 leaders had not made a commitment as a group to stop using coal nationally . “What has to happen is that the countries that really depend on coal (,) … they’re going to need help, and they’re going …
Ten years of war in Syria and the current situation (I)
I will focus on Syria in several articles, given the importance the country has had in international relations for centuries. Ten years ago, a civil war broke out in Syria. What is the particularity of this conflict? What is happening in the country now? How do Syrians live and what do they live? Is there …
Unemployment down slightly in the Linn-Benton area | Local
Seasonally adjusted total non-farm employment remains 5.8% below February 2020 levels, down 2,530 jobs after heavy layoffs in spring 2020. Leisure and hospitality employment increased by 290 (9.0%) over the past year, but still down 890 jobs (-20.3%) from its pre-recession level in February 2020. Overall, the private sector shed 230 jobs during the month. …
What does the diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia mean for Lebanon?
When Najib Mikati became Prime Minister of Lebanon in September, he insisted in his first speech that re-establishing ties with the country’s allies in the Gulf was a priority for his government. Three months later, Lebanon faces a new diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia, the second in six months. Lebanese Information Minister George Kordahi said …
Lebanon’s diplomatic crisis with Gulf states worsens with expulsion of envoys and import ban
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati meets with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al Rai at the Government Palace in Beirut on October 26, 2021. Mikati, during a phone call with Kordahi on Friday evening, asked him to put national interest first. and “make the right decision to repair Arab relations with Lebanon,” a statement from his …
Kuwait expels Lebanese envoy following minister’s comments on Yemen
BEIRUT (AP) – Kuwait followed Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in ordering the Lebanese charge d’affaires on Saturday to leave the emirate within two days following comments by a Lebanese minister regarding the war in Yemen. Kuwait also recalled its ambassador from Beirut. The move came as the Arab League chief worried about the deterioration of …
End the endless aid to Lebanon
Under Secretary Victoria Nuland’s October 14 visit to Beirut only resulted in the latest largesse – $ 67 million – in a seemingly endless gravy train for the Lebanese state. Seemingly indifferent to snipers firing at Lebanese protesting the state’s investigation into the explosion in the port of Beirut a few blocks away, the Under-Secretary …
Analysis: Biden faces liberal angst over underdelivery | National policy
Biden presented himself to voters as a capable leader whose deep experience of Washington’s ways could bring about significant changes through legislation, a clear counterpoint to President Donald Trump’s brutal political approach. Instead, Biden didn’t have to negotiate with the Republicans, but with his fellow Democrats, and he still didn’t seem to be successful in …
Asian Stocks Fall Despite Signs of Optimism in Global Economy | national
A forex trader walks past screens showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), left, and the exchange rate between the US dollar and South Korean won in a foreign exchange trading room in Seoul, Korea South, Thursday, October 28, 2021 Asian stocks fell on Thursday after a retreat to Wall Street as banks and …