
On board cash-strapped Lebanese army fundraising helicopter flights
Seen from the sky, Lebanon looks like a tourist paradise. At street level, fuel lines around the block, blackouts, growing poverty and outbursts of anger point to a country falling apart, 20 months into an economic crisis that feuding elites are not not willing to resolve. From above, the azure Mediterranean gives way to the …

Escalating crisis puts children at risk as the majority of families cannot afford to meet their children’s basic needs
BEIRUT, July 1, 2021 – Children of Lebanon are the most affected by one of the world’s worst economic collapses in recent times[1], according to a survey released today by UNICEF. A series of mutually reinforcing crises, including a devastating recession, have left families and children in Lebanon in dire straits, affecting just about every …

What would the collapse of the Lebanese army mean? | Business and Economy News
Beirut, Lebanon – A Lebanese Air Force helicopter flies over a blurry landscape of green fields and snow-capped mountains, promising tourists a view from above over the Levantine country. The image posted on the Armed Forces website leaves out the seaside and is a poorly taken photo that fails to capture the sprawling beauty of …

Xi vs Biden, oil prices in Lebanon and Nigerian bank workers | News from banks
Another week passed and Friday arrived. And no one can say this week of news has been slow. As millions of people enjoy post-pandemic life in restaurants, bars and workout classes, the deadly Delta variant of the coronavirus which is now spreading in parts of the world threatens to bring back the restrictions, as the …

Lebanese judge lashes out at top officials over port blast Middle East news
Tarek Bitar’s decision will include senior security officials and politicians, including interim Prime Minister Hassan Diab. A Lebanese judge investigating the Beirut port explosion last year announced legal proceedings against a number of politicians and security chiefs, including the acting prime minister, a judicial source reported on Friday. state news agency. The move – some …
The children of Lebanon bear the brunt of the country’s crises – Unicef
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, Unicef, Lebanese children are bearing the brunt of the economic collapse, political stalemate and the contagion of Covid-19 in their country. “A series of mutually reinforcing crises, including a devastating recession, have left families and children in Lebanon in dire straits, affecting just about every aspect of their …

Aram I: Joint efforts are needed on the road to recovery for Lebanon
In an interview with Vatican News, Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia, Aram I, reflects on the dire situation in Lebanon and the importance of the Day of Prayer and Reflection held on July 1 on the road to recovery for the country. By the editor of Vatican News Pope Francis and Lebanon’s Christian Leaders Host a …

As Lebanon on the verge of collapse, EU debates sanctions | Middle East | News and analysis of events in the Arab world | DW
Lebanon continues to collapse as its economic and political crisis deepens. The country has not had a government for almost a year now and its economy is collapsing after decades of mismanagement and corruption. Over the past month, there have been both absurd and horrific stories coming from the small Mediterranean nation. For example, just …

More than 30% of families in Lebanon have had at least one child who goes to bed hungry: UN
More than 30% of families in Lebanon in March had at least one child who skipped a meal or went to bed hungry, according to a new report from UNICEF. The Lebanon: The Future of Children at Play report, released this week, examined the impact of the Lebanese economic crisis on children. The report also …

Iraq and Syria: the local and regional impact of illicit economies
In my previous article, I discussed the risk of Iraq and Syria entering a state of perpetual violence provoked by the militias, to sustain their presence and maintain their profits. High unemployment rates and the growing militarization of governance and the economy have made the formation, membership and maintenance of militias one of the few …

Escalating crisis in Lebanon puts children at risk: UNICEF
“With no improvement in sight, more children than ever are going to bed hungry in Lebanon,” said Yukie Mokuo, UNICEF representative in Lebanon. âChildren’s health, their education and their very future are affected as prices skyrocket and unemployment continues to rise,â she said. “More and more families are forced to resort to negative accommodation measures, …

Pope Francis calls on the international community to help Lebanon
ROME – Pope Francis concluded the day of prayer and reflection for Lebanon by urging the Lebanese people and the international community to come together so that the country can remain “a project of peace” and not a land for “interests and external profits â. “Let the night of conflict pass before a new dawn …

Lebanon cannot change without a decentralized political system
Reading three key headlines on Lebanon at a glance gives you an understanding of where the country stands and who is really in charge. The first concerned the visit this week by a Hamas delegation, which concluded with a press briefing thanking President Michel Aoun for his support for the Palestinian people and declaring that …

Amid Lebanon’s financial crisis, farmers struggle to survive
On a piece of land behind his modest hut, Salim Alazwak inspects his fields of roses: “Some are for making jam, others are for decoration,” he says, pointing to the yellow flowers. âI don’t use any chemicalsâ. Originally from Damascus, Syria, Salim fled to Lebanon at the start of the civil war in 2011. He …

Hopeful anti-government engineers after Lebanese union victory | Politics News
Beirut, Lebanon – When the results of the Lebanese Engineers Union election were announced on Sunday, a large group of engineers and activists gathered at its headquarters in Beirut burst into joy. A coalition of grassroots activists and political groups had won decisively against all odds. âIt’s amazing. I didn’t expect this victory,â said Abir …

Pope prays with Lebanese Christian leaders in St. Peter’s
Published on: 07/01/2021 – 10:42Amended: 07/01/2021 – 10:40 Vatican City (AFP) Pope Francis met with ten Lebanese Christian leaders on Thursday to reflect on the dire economic and political situation in their country, which he hopes to visit soon. The pontiff greeted the leaders and their delegations, who spent the night Wednesday at the guesthouse …

Diapers and rags: Lebanon crisis plunges women into menstrual poverty
BEIRUT: With soaring prices in Lebanon in crisis, Sherine can no longer afford to buy sanitary napkins. Instead, every month she is forced to make her own using baby diapers or even rags. “With all the price hikes and the frustration of not being able to handle it, I’d rather stop my period altogether,” the …

Cash-strapped Lebanese army offers $ 150 helicopter rides to feed ‘starving’ soldiers
The Lebanese military will start offering scenic helicopter flights over the crisis-ravaged country to raise much-needed additional funds as crippling inflation has left soldiers’ salaries worth just £ 60 per month . Fifteen-minute flights in a Raven helicopter for up to three passengers will be offered starting July 1 and will cost $ 150 per …

The economic crisis and severe shortages make Lebanon “unlivable”
BEIRUT (AP) – Ibrahim Arab stands in line for hours a day in the hot summer sun to buy gasoline for his taxi. When not working, the 37-year-old father-of-two goes from pharmacy to pharmacy in Beirut, looking for infant formula for his 7-month-old son – anything he can find – even if the infant has …

Sri Lankan rupee dollar parallel markets intervene amid money printing and currency restrictions
ECONOMYNEXT – The Sri Lankan Rupee is barely traded on official interbank markets after total transactions were banned above an unreliable peg of 200 for the US dollar, but parallel foreign exchange markets come into play, as they had done so in previous episodes of money printing, the market participants say. Sri Lanka’s interbank foreign …

The Lebanese army offers tourists helicopter rides – News
Rides aboard the Army’s Robinson R44 Raven helicopters would begin Thursday and would be open to passengers aged three and over. The Lebanese army will begin this week to offer tourists helicopter rides in an attempt to replenish the coffers of one of the main institutions of the country affected by the crisis. An economic …
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Lebanese bank begins granting credits for fuel imports at lower rate
Cars line up at a gas station waiting to refuel in Damour, Lebanon on June 25, 2021. REUTERS / Aziz Taher BEIRUT, June 28 (Reuters) – Lebanon’s central bank on Monday said it would open lines of credit to import fuel at 3,900 Lebanese pounds to the dollar, a lower rate than previously proposed which …

Riots in Lebanon over economy injure 10 soldiers, protesters
BEIRUT (AP) – Lebanese troops deployed in the northern city of Tripoli took up positions around key state institutions on Sunday morning after a night of protests and riots against deteriorating living conditions , leaving several demonstrators and 10 soldiers injured. Sporadic protests were reported across Lebanon on Saturday as the country’s 20-month economic crisis …

Alliances, conspiracies have eclipsed the letters between Assad and Saddam
The relationship once shared between the late Syrian and Iraqi leaders, Hafez al-Assad and Saddam Hussein, can be described as both complicated and intertwined. So was the story between Damascus and Baghdad. Many factors, such as politics, bigotry, ideology, and geography, have defined the hallmarks of Iraq-Syria ties and the race for leadership in the …

European bank chief considers transition as world recovers
LONDON: Odile Renaud-Basso, the first female president of the European Development Bank, hopes to restore EBRD’s green investment targets while tackling equality at work as economies hit by COVID-19 recover. Before chairing his first EBRD annual meeting this week, in an interview with AFP, Renaud-Basso also highlighted the rapid digitization of the workplace that affects …

Queer community in crisis: trauma, inequality and vulnerability – Lebanon
Authors: Nizar Aouad, Dana Abed On August 4, 2020, Lebanon was ravaged by a catastrophic explosion in the port of Beirut, killing more than 200 and injuring 6,500, and causing massive destruction within a 10 km radius of the explosion site. Primary data collected from LGBTQI-focused civil society organizations (CSOs) and gay individuals immediately after …

Shia Muslims in Lebanon do not seek tripartite power sharing – Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said on Friday that some Lebanese parties unfairly insist on accusing Hezbollah of obstructing cabinet formation in Lebanon and blaming it on false assumptions related to the Iran nuclear deal. Delivering a televised speech to address the latest developments in Lebanon, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that Iran has consistently refused …

Lebanon Cuts Critical Fuel Subsidies Amid Oil Crisis | Business and Economy News
This move is expected to push up the price of gasoline, but should temporarily ease the shortage crisis. On Friday, Lebanon’s acting prime minister approved financing of fuel imports at a rate above the official exchange rate, reducing critical fuel subsidies amid worsening gasoline shortages. The move is likely to sharply raise the price of …

UNESCO-ICFJ report: three quarters of women journalists experience online violence
Credit: cottonbro from Pexels Three quarters of women journalists said they had experienced some form of violence online, in a global survey conducted by UNESCO and the International Center of Journalists (ICFJ). The report, The Chilling: Global Trends in Online Violence Against Women Journalists, indicates that threats of physical and sexual violence were the most …

Fuel shortage in Lebanon deepens economic crisis
BEIRUT – It’s been over a month since Lebanese drivers started stand in line in their cars for hours to get gasoline amid fuel shortages. This added to the many crises the Lebanese are already going through, leaving them even more suspicious of their future. He has become commonplace seeing long queues in the streets …

Berri: Hariri will not resign in response to Cabinet obstruction
Since Hariri was appointed on October 22 to form a new government, he and Future Movement officials have accused Aoun and his son-in-law Bassil, head of the Free Patriotic Movement, of blocking the formation of the government by insisting on a blocker. a third plus one [veto power], something the Prime Minister-designate has pledged not …

Gay communities at risk in Lebanon, Oxfam study warns
Queer communities in Lebanon have few safe spaces left and have been among the hardest hit by the combined impacts of the Beirut explosion in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing economic crisis , a new Oxfam study warned today. The combination of crises has destroyed entire neighborhoods where queer people have taken refuge …

Theocracy and Elections: The Iranian Way
Theocracy and Elections: The Iranian Way Rakesh Sood Iran last Friday elected its eighth president since the 1979 Islamic revolution that ended the Pahlavi dynasty. As expected, Ebrahim Raisi, the head of the judiciary since 2019, is expected to succeed President Hassan Rouhani on August 3. Given Iran’s complex governance structure of a theocracy with …

Lebanon faces more power outages as generators run out of fuel
The electricity crisis is so acute that the lights went out in a building owned by the Foreign Ministry, forcing employees to stop work, according to local media. This photo taken on June 23, 2021 shows a view of a mesh of elevated power lines along a street on the outskirts of Beirut, the capital …

Lebanon’s failure is partly Emmanuel Macron’s fault
Almost a year after French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beirut and launched a French initiative to relieve his country’s former colony of its myriad of crises, nothing has been achieved. Food prices continue to skyrocket, fuel lines stretch for miles, and the Lebanese military – which not only monitors some of the world’s most sensitive …
Social crisis in Lebanon deepens amid internal political unrest and imperialist shenanigans
Shops, government offices, businesses and banks, largely controlled by Lebanon’s Christian and Sunni elites, closed in a general strike last Thursday. Protesters erected roadblocks in Beirut and other cities, burning tires and crippling traffic, including the road to Beirut airport. As workers joined the strike to protest the appalling social conditions and endemic corruption that …

Iran at a crossroads: three scenarios | Middle East
Amid strong speculation about Iran’s approach to a renewed deal with world powers over its nuclear program, the country elected its new president, Ebrahim Raisi. The new head of government will have the opportunity to revive the Iranian economy, improve diplomatic relations and strengthen geopolitical reach in the Middle East and beyond. Governing is a …

Lebanon raises bread prices again amid crippling crisis
Lebanon’s Economy Ministry raised the price of subsidized bread for the fifth time in a year amid the worsening economic and financial crisis in the small country Through Associated Press BASSEM MROUE June 22, 2021, 12:04 PM ⢠3 minutes to read Share on FacebookShare on twitterEmail this article BEIRUT – The Lebanese Ministry of …

France plans to join the United States in sanctioning Gebran Bassil
France is considering sanctioning the president of the Free Patriotic Movement Gebran Bassil, Reuters reported. A senior European official told Reuters that France aimed to sanction Bassil, who was sanctioned by the United States in November 2020. The news comes amid anticipation of EU sanctions against Lebanese politicians involved in the political stalemate Lebanon has …

Bassil says he still wants Hariri as prime minister
The leader of Lebanon’s largest Christian political party said on Sunday that he still wanted Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri to form a new government, and blamed political opponents for months of political paralysis. Lebanese politicians have been arguing over the structure of a new government since the last one resigned following the devastating explosion at …

Syrian refugee crisis: facts and how to help – Turkey
The past year has brought immense challenges to all corners of the world, and this is especially true for the 80 million forcibly displaced people around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already precarious conditions of refugees, two-thirds of whom come from just five countries: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar (1). …

Gantz: I will seek cabinet approval for state commission on submarine affair
EU threatens Lebanese politicians with sanctions over political crisis BEIRUT – European Union foreign policy chief berates Lebanese politicians for delays in forming new cabinet, warning that the Union may impose sanctions on those behind the stalemate policy in the country affected by the crisis. Josep Borrell makes his comments at the presidential palace near …

EU sets potential standards for sanctions in Lebanon: Documents
File photo: Gebran Bassil, Lebanon’s largest Christian bloc leader, will speak at a parliamentary conference at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut, Lebanon on May 22, 2021. REUTERS / Mohamed Azakir June 18, 2021 John Irish and Robin Emot Paris / Brussels (Reuters) – According to diplomatic documents seen by Reuters, the European Union sanctions standards …
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EU defines potential criteria for Lebanese sanctions – document
Gebran Bassil, leader of Lebanon’s largest Christian bloc, speaks during a parliamentary meeting at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut, Lebanon, May 22, 2021. REUTERS / Mohamed Azakir PARIS / BRUSSELS, June 18 (Reuters) – The European Union sanctions criteria being prepared for Lebanese politicians are likely corruption, obstructing government-forming efforts, financial mismanagement and violations of …

HEALTH CARE BRIEFING: The Big Obamacare Challenges Are Over
The path to a full-scale constitutional challenge to Obamacare is more or less closed, but smaller attacks on the law are still expected after the Supreme Court’s 7-2 ruling yesterday to uphold it. “There won’t be a big omnibus challenge to the entire law, but there will always be ongoing litigation regarding the administration and …

Beer on the banks! The people of this country face a difficult choice
Largely stranded in their dollar deposit accounts since late 2019, when the Lebanese pound collapsed and the banking system collapsed amid widespread political protests, some savers are seeing investments in money-driven businesses. ‘export as a way to access hard currency and get something for their “lollars,” the nickname for US dollar-denominated deposits “trapped” in Lebanese …

Politics This Week | The Economist
June 19, 2021 Listen to this story Your browser does not support the item . Enjoy more audio and podcasts on ios or Android. Joe biden and Vladimir Poutine gathered in Geneva for a summit. It lasted less than four hours, but both men described it as constructive. The two sides agreed to fire their …

Lebanon: Energy Minister warns that oil subsidies will end soon | Business and Economy News
“We have to get used to it and be convinced that this subsidy from which we have benefited for a year or a year and a half (…) will end,” Lebanese Energy Minister Raymond Ghajar said on Thursday. Lebanon’s energy minister said on Thursday that the country’s oil subsidy was unsustainable and would eventually end. …

State relaxes mask, quarantine guidelines, contact tracing
As COVID-19 cases in New Hampshire continue to decline, state officials relaxed mask guidelines on Thursday, recommending that anyone without symptoms of the virus be able to dispense with masks in most indoor and outdoor locations. State epidemiologist Dr Benjamin Chan told the state’s weekly press conference that people with compromised immunity should continue to …
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“Financial surrealism”: the Lebanese prefer beer to banks
Lebanese look for ways to use devalued money Many use ‘trapped dollars’ to pay off outstanding debt Central bank considers measures to reduce liabilities Huge losses in the financial system still untreated BEIRUT, June 17 (Reuters) – Faced with the choice of leaving their savings blocked in the bank or investing them at a huge …

Middle Eastern investors investing in Luxembourg and European real estate assets: the new tax standard
New regulations and tax reporting requirements have been adopted in EU countries Middle Eastern investors investing in real EU assets, such as real estate and infrastructure, need to navigate the new tax standard when considering overseas investments and, in particular, how to organize their investment structures. New regulations and tax reporting requirements have been adopted …
Lebanese banks swallow at least $ 250 million in UN aid
Unfavorable dollar exchange rates mean refugees and poor Lebanese have received less aid, even as prices for basic necessities soared amid an economic crisis * âStaggeringâ amounts of aid lost for the banks * Refugees and poor Lebanese are the hardest hit * Aid agencies fear potential damage to reputation By Timour Azhari BEIRUT, June …

Lebanese currency drops to new low as political and economic problems worsen
BEIRUT, Lebanon: The ailing Lebanese pound fell to a new low of 15,300 against the US dollar on the black market, amid continued political uncertainty in the country and worsening economic crisis exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Although officially still valued at 1,515 against the dollar, the Lebanese pound has lost more than 90% of …

Lebanon misses festivals amid economic crisis
Over the past two years, Lebanon has experienced successive crises that have influenced its artistic environment. Yet some cultural centers and galleries have resumed operations after a long hiatus, hosting painting and sculpture exhibitions after a period of forced recession. The factors that paralyzed these centers are many, including the pandemic and the explosion in …
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Explanation: Lebanon’s financial collapse and how it happened
Postwar reconstruction derailed by corrupt elite Remittances had been essential to balance Lebanon’s books The central bank’s “financial engineering” kept the collection going Gulf cut off support as Iran’s influence in Lebanon grows Unlimited spending finally brought the nation to its knees June 17 (Reuters) – Lebanon is grappling with a deep economic crisis after …

The Christian schools in Lebanon are full of Muslims, and they …… | News and reports
The 2021 class of the National Evangelical School of Nabatieh (NESN) is entirely Shia Muslim. While this is certainly not the image of a typical Christian school in the United States, it is hardly an exception in Lebanon, where 35 evangelical schools have an average of two-thirds Muslim students. Located 35 miles south of Beirut, …

Hunterdon wants state budget windfall used to reinstate cuts to school aid
FLEMINGTON – The Hunterdon County Commission is not giving up the fight. With just two weeks before the deadline for the state legislature to pass a new budget, Hunterdon County Commissioners Deputy Director John E. Lanza wrote a letter to leaders of the state legislature’s budget committee, saying there is “no excuse” why Trenton cannot …

The anarchist and the dinosaur
Bridging the generational gap Civil society initially failed to deal with what we lost when we surrendered our independence to regional warfare. An open warning of Hezbollah’s sensibilities was, in retrospect, misguided. But they are the only group capable of bridging the generational gap. Citizens who have spent years reflecting, writing and giving lectures on …
The Deadly Legacy of the Khobar Towers
Twenty-five years ago, on June 25, 1996, a huge truck bomb exploded in the Khobar Towers building complex near Dhahran in Saudi Arabia, home to 2,000 US military personnel. The bomb killed 19 American airmen and injured more than 500 other American and non-American citizens, most of whom were responsible for enforcing Saddam Hussein’s no-fly …

The world forgets Syria at its peril
Much of the world seems to have forgotten about Syria’s savage 10-year-old civil war still capable of igniting and wreaking havoc across the Middle East – and Europe. The international appeasement that took hold after the defeat of Isis is misplaced. The same goes for the idea that fragile neighboring states such as Lebanon, Jordan …
What role will Hezbollah play in the future Lebanese government?
Lebanon’s endless political crisis continues. He has not had a government since Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned last year after the Beirut port explosion. Since then, the country has gone from crisis to crisis, with Hezbollah being the main benefactor of these crises. Lebanese President Michel Aoun met with Saad Hariri, the Prime Minister designate. …

Scholar reconstructs archives of Lebanese left before civil war
“War was the only life I have known since childhood, and the experience of the left was outside that life and its struggles.” Fadi Bardawil Author of “Revolution and disenchantment: Arab Marxism and the bonds of emancipation”. Bardawil’s education during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) and the development of his political consciousness during the height …
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What do you know about the 10 worst economic crises in modern history?
With every major global event, we wonder whether that particular event is going to trigger an economic crisis. In each economic crisis, we often wonder how long its damage will last … and to find answers to these questions, we often go back in history. No one likes economic crises. Nothing about them is fair, …
Valley News – “I loved everything about Lebanon”: Terri Dudley, longtime Lebanon official, dies at 92
LEBANON – Terri Dudley, who played a central role in Lebanese politics for more than 50 years, died on Monday. She was 92 years old. Known for both her charm and determination, the Lebanese native served as a city councilor, mayor and state legislator during a term in municipal government that began in 1958. Dudley …

Lebanon County Real Estate Transfers for the Week of May 24
The following real estate transfers were recently issued in Lebanon County: Lebanon Shana L Sholly to Marie S. Simon, 434 E. Wediman St., $ 83,000. Hayes A. Clark IV to Randolph Williams, 810 and 812 Cumberland St., $ 150,000. Harold E. Dice at Stonehedge Holdings, 825 Scull St., $ 40,000. Arthur and Jody L. Martz …
Carlos Ghosn, stuck in Beirut, says he is ready to be questioned by French investigators
BEIRUT — Ex-fugitive car executive Carlos Ghosn said he’s satisfied with his life in Lebanon and ready for his next challenge — facing a team of French investigators who plan to interview him next week about the payments. ‘he performed as head of Renault HER . Mr Ghosn escaped a lawsuit in Japan at the …

Tablets will help prepare inmates at Lebanon County Jail for reintegration into society
County commissioners on Thursday reached a deal to provide free tablets to county jail inmates to help them prepare to return to society. The tablets, which are free for taxpayers or inmates, will be donated by GTL, who is the current supplier of Lebanon County Prison and the largest provider of inmate telephone services in …
Appeal from golf course in Lebanon to NH Supreme Court
The New Hampshire Supreme Court will hear arguments next week in a case that could determine the future of Carter Country Club, the historic nine-hole Mechanic Street golf course in Lebanon. Judges are urged to decide whether New London developer Doug Homan owns the property – and is therefore free to make changes or remove …

Lebanon County Republican Wins 48th Senate District Special Election
Republican Chris Gebhard handily won the state’s 48th Senate District special election on Tuesday. With 100% of constituencies reporting in the district’s three counties, the State Department’s unofficial results at 12:45 a.m. had Gebhard with 62.8% of the vote in the four-candidate race. He will now occupy the seat of the late State Senator Dave …

October Revolution in Lebanon | Red bell pepper
Protesters block access to the Ring Bridge in Beirut, October 26, 2019. Photo: Nadim Kobeissi (Creative Commons) On October 17, 2019, the Lebanese cabinet met amid a rapidly deteriorating financial situation and catastrophic forest fires ravaging the country. During this now infamous meeting, the government decided to impose a number of new tax measures, including …
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Friend to foe: EU prepares sanctions against Lebanon for the first time
EU enters detailed phase of Lebanese sanctions Final decision expected in a month EU sanctions to come after US imposes measures on Hezbollah PARIS / BRUSSELS, May 12 (Reuters) – The European Union is preparing sanctions against Lebanese politicians seen as blocking the formation of a government, preparing the bloc’s first sanctions against its Middle …

Valley News – Lebanon, Hanover and Norwich revenues surprise, feeling few side effects from COVID-19
LEBANON – Predictions that the coronavirus pandemic would cripple city budgets have failed to materialize over the past year, with residents of the Upper Valley continuing to pay taxes, buy cars and register their dogs. Officials from three Upper Valley communities – Lebanon, Hanover and Norwich – recently reported that revenues for the past year …

dual Lebanese-American citizen plead guilty to money laundering and tax offenses | USAO-EDVA
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – Dual Lebanese and American citizen residing in Vienna, Virginia today pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to launder money as part of a decade-long program to ship electronic equipment to a Hezbollah-owned television station in Lebanon. In addition, the defendant and her husband pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit tax evasion …
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Lebanon’s lights could go out as electricity money runs out
BEIRUT, May 6 (Reuters) – Lebanon’s lights could go out this month as funds for power generation run out, a lawmaker said on Thursday, as the country grapples with deep economic crisis. Lebanon’s parliament approved an emergency loan of $ 200 million to finance imports of fuel for power generation in March, but a loan …

What protesters in the Arab world have learned
Ten years later, it is easy to see the Arab uprisings only as a failure. Democracy remains elusive in the Middle East, dictators are even more entrenched and wars have devastated entire countries. But amidst desperation and fear, a new cohort of protesters and activists has taken to the streets since 2019, in places like …

Maronite Catholic priest tries to redeem sins from Lebanon
In a speech from the balcony of his limestone residence in the city of Bkerké, Lebanon, in late February, Lebanon’s leading Catholic prelate, Cardinal Bechara al-Rai, made it clear that he believed his country was on the verge of collapse – and the key to saving it is to disarm Hezbollah. “There are not two …

Why do churches have mixed attitudes towards the Arab Spring?
The attitudes of Christian religious leaders in the Middle East and North Africa towards the Arab Spring have differed since its eruption in 2011. While these religious leaders in Egypt and Syria opposed the uprisings of 2011, their counterparts in Iraq and Lebanon have supported the second wave of protests underway since 2019. They can …

Lebanon: state paralysis foments political violence
Amid persistent economic deterioration and government collapse, Lebanon is increasingly experiencing a disturbing trend of civic unrest and political violence. While the collapse shows no sign of abating, public dismay at the elite leads to riots which are brutally suppressed by the Lebanese authorities. At the same time, we are witnessing a rise in tensions …

Syrian peace remains a mirage after a decade of Assad brutality
The civic uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s hereditary tyranny in Syria, which has turned into a savage civil war that still rages and radiates chaos in the Middle East and Europe, began 10 years ago this week . Syria is really three conflicts: the minority Assad regime which is waging an all-out war against its own …

Europe is actually promoting sectarianism in the Middle East
Shortly after Pope Francis’ visit to Iraq ten days ago, the Iraqi Prime Minister called for national dialogue, in “the papal spirit of love and tolerance”. This has been hailed by various groups, including – a few days ago – by the right-wing Shiite nationalist leader Moqtada al-Sadr. A strange reaction to the words of …

CATCO’s version of ‘Christmas Carol’ loses some of the original magic
CATCO’s well-intentioned “Columbus Christmas Carol,” directed by new artistic director Leda Hoffmann, transports the Charles Dickens classic to the present, but loses some of its magic along the way. Julianna González’s simplified version of the story, translated from her Detroit-based “Blessed: A Christmas Carol Adaptation” and running in 55 minutes, removes many of the plot …

Consider giving yourself the gift of mortgage savings this year
Here’s a parody based on the Christmas standard “Have a Merry Christmas”: “Treat yourself to a new mortgage refinance. Let your rate be low. From now on, your savings will start to grow. “ Traditionally, the holiday season is a time when the home buying market slows down. That often means lenders have additional capacity …

New evidence in Redding crime spree leads to officer-involved shootings
Redding police investigators have been busy since Christmas Eve gathering details about a crime spree involving a single woman and her fatal shooting by an officer. “We are still actively rebuilding everything on this timeline that we have from the first event to the shooting itself,” Lt. Levi Solada said Wednesday. On Wednesday, the Shasta …

How to Make Holidays Paid Before Christmas Eve
With the holidays just over a month away, you may be wondering how you are going to pay for gifts, especially if your bank account is not full of cash. Here, we will outline some of the ways you can buy gifts without going into debt for the new year. One email a day could …

Bank of America will offer payday loans that cost just $ 5. Here’s how they work. | Business
Bank of America will begin offering small short-term loans to cash-strapped customers, a move that could disrupt the short-term loan market. The loans, called Balance Assist, will be capped at $ 500 and will only be available to people who have had a checking account at the bank for at least one year. The rollout …

Brooklyn businesses that have survived a pandemic seek new PPP loans
The Garage, which specializes in filming TV commercials for food and beverage companies, has seen a rebound since the economy reopened. But he hasn’t booked a single job for January. Sahadi Fine Foods, an imported food wholesale and retail business, is once again full of customers at its stores in Industry City and on Atlantic …

The next Covid bill may waive checks for $ 1,200. What else is on the table?
A display is seen as bipartisan members of the Senate and House of Representatives meet to announce a framework for new Covid-19 relief legislation at a press conference on Capitol Hill on December 1, 2020. Kevin Lemarque | Reuters As the debate continues over the next round of coronavirus relief by Congress, additional stimulus checks …

Best Black Friday Stocks to Buy in 2021 – Forbes Advisor
Editorial Note: Forbes Advisor may earn commission on sales made from partner links on this page, but that does not affect our editors’ reviews or ratings. With Black Friday 2020 just around the corner, you may be looking for the best savings of the season on electronics and other holiday gifts. But forget about that …
Millions of Americans Plan to Travel for Christmas and New Years, Motivated by Lower Gas Prices Due to COVID-19
Dr. Anthony Fauci may break with tradition by not spending Christmas with his children, but millions of Americans are not following his example. Fauci, who is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, earlier this month told CBS News that he would not be spending Christmas holidays with his daughters “for …

Middletown Christmas Tree Collection Begins January 4; disposable wood chips
An Old Greenwich man unloads his Christmas tree from the trunk of his car before placing it in the recycling pile at Greenwich Point in this file image. Middletown offers free recycling this year. File photo from Hearst Connecticut Media MIDDLETOWN – The city’s Christmas tree collection and recycling program this year will continue as …

The Best and Worst Days to Buy a Home in 2021 – Forbes Advisor
Editorial Note: Forbes Advisor may earn commission on sales made from partner links on this page, but that does not affect our editors’ reviews or ratings. The holiday season has traditionally been the best time to do a home deal because people are often too busy with crowded calendars (stretching from Thanksgiving through New Years) …

Rishi Sunak Expands Covid UK Emergency Business Plans
UK Business and Economic Updates Sign up for myFT Daily Digest to be the first to hear about UK business and economic news. Rishi Sunak has promised more financial aid for UK companies with extensions to his flagship license and emergency loan plans as pandemic restrictions are extended and companies prepare for a potentially disruptive …

Keeping Business Open: Figures Show West Central Nebraska Benefiting from APP | Local
Support local journalism Your subscription makes our reports possible. {{Featured_button_text}} Among other findings from The Telegraph’s analysis of regional APP data: »The average forgivable PPP loan in Nebraska’s 22 West Central Counties was $ 49,700, with Lincoln County averaging $ 55,970 and North Platte $ 63,816. »The median loan number for the region, the figure …

COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed, church slowly begins to reopen
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – As COVID-19 restrictions begin to loosen, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is following the lead of governments and healthcare professionals around the world, already which also considers a return to normal operating procedures. According to the Church’s website, officials say the Church is ready to move forward …

An Oklahoma church is the latest church to buy and forgive millions in medical debt
Ada’s First United Methodist Church in Oklahoma is the latest church body to jump on one of the coolest church trends in recent years. “Elegant leather jackets for the pastor?” No, the other cool trend. “Imagine the songs of the dragons during worship?” Noel other cool trend. You know, the one where churches partner with …

Update on Flood-Affected Roads – The Taylorsville Times
The flood that occurred in Alexander County on November 12, 2020 will be remembered by many for the tragic loss of life and damage that occurred. The flooding caused the closure of 16 roads for repairs, and 13 roads still closed. The Alexander County Board of Commissioners heard a highway update from Public Information Officer …
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Here’s what Lakewood Church had to say about its reported $ 4.4M in federal PPP loans
HOUSTON – Given that Reports emerged that Joel and Victoria Osteen’s Lakewood Church received $ 4.4 million in loans from the Payroll Protection Program, the Osteens have responded through representatives for Lakewood, saying they initially did not accept help. However, as the pandemic progressed, Lakewood said it requested the assistance to support its employees as …
Word of Faith Church in North Carolina Received PPP Loan Amid COVID
A controversial church in Rutherford County, which has been accused of abuse by former members, received a loan through the federal government’s small business aid program, records released this week show. The Word of Faith Fellowship, a Spindale-based church, raised between $ 150,000 and $ 350,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program, data from the Small …

For the Lebanese and Iraqis, small victories in a long struggle | News of the protests
Economic distress, rampant corruption, a selfish ruling elite and the ever-looming fear of armed militias – little goes their way, but protesters in Iraq and Lebanon have found a reason to smile. In the university elections in Lebanon, they turned into candidates and gave a beating to opposing student groups backed by traditional political parties …

Lebanese don’t expect them to be held responsible for murder of outspoken publisher
BEIRUT â Unsolved or unpunished assassinations are the norm in Lebanon. The murder last week of publisher and activist Lokman Slim, found by gunshot in his car, is unlikely to be the exception. Slim’s family and friends gathered at his home for a memorial service on February 11, with some speculating that Hezbollah may have …