Lebanon

Timour Azhari (The Jakarta Post) PREMIUM Reuters/Beirut   ● Mon, March 27 2023 Lebanon woke up in two time zones on Sunday amid an escalating dispute between political and religious authorities over a decision to extend winter time for a month. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati decided on Thursday to roll clocks forward an hour on April 20, instead of entering daylight savings time on the last weekend of March as is usually the case in Lebanon, Europe and other regions. Mikati, a Sunni Muslim, announced the decision after a meeting with Shia parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who repeatedly insisted on the change, according to a video of the meeting published by Lebanese outlet Megaphone. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters … [Read more...] about Lebanon in confusion as daylight savings dispute deepens divisions

When two of Lebanon’s top leaders decided to delay daylight saving time by a month, they were aiming to ensure that Muslims would not have to break their dawn-to-sunset fast an hour later during the holy month of Ramadan. But the decision last week sent the nation into a tailspin and set off a firestorm of outrage. On Monday, the officials backtracked and said the clock change would go ahead around midweek, just a few days later than originally planned. Christian clergy and leaders of Christian political parties had rejected the last-minute change, made by two senior Muslim officials — Prime Minister Najib Mikati and House Speaker Nabih Berri — without consulting other religious groups. They vowed that they would abide by daylight saving time regardless of what the officials had decreed. And many other Lebanese found their lives upended, as they were forced to navigate between two time zones. The country — which is smaller than the state of Connecticut — was already caught up in … [Read more...] about A Battle Over Daylight Saving Time Raises Tensions in Lebanon

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails A European legal team on Friday ended two days of questioning of Lebanon’s central bank chief in Beirut in a money-laundering probe linked to the governor. Several European countries are investigating Gov. Riad Salameh, who in recent years has been charged with corruption-related crimes. Salameh, 72, has been the head of Lebanon’s Central Bank since 1993. Salameh was questioned for two hours Friday and six hours the day before, Lebanese judicial officials said. The European delegation — with representatives from France , Germany , and Luxembourg — questioned Salameh through a Lebanese judge, acting as a go-between. Under Lebanese laws, the representatives cannot directly question Salameh. On Thursday, the team asked Salameh about an apartment in Paris’ Champs Elysee rented by the central bank and Forry … [Read more...] about European team ends questioning of Lebanon Central Bank chief

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Lebanon 's embattled currency hit a new low Tuesday, trading at an unprecedented 100,000 Lebanese pounds to the dollar on the black market as the crisis-hit country's banks went back on strike. The pound has kept sinking since Lebanon's financial meltdown erupted in 2019, following decades of rampant corruption and mismanagement by the country's political and financial elite. Three-quarters of Lebanon's population of over 6 million now lives in poverty and inflation is soaring. The new rate of 100,000 pounds to the dollar was posted on mobile apps Tuesday used by private money exchangers. Exchange shops and businesses use rates off these apps, and authorities have failed to shut down the apps and crack down on a ring of suspected exchangers across the country who run the programs. While the official exchange … [Read more...] about Lebanon’s pound hits a new low as banks go back on strike

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Protesters closed down major roads in parts of Lebanon on Tuesday after the Lebanese pound briefly hit a new low amid a historic economic crisis that seemingly has no end in sight. The Lebanese pound lost more than 15% of its value on Tuesday alone, tanking to more than 140,000 pounds to the dollar. A week ago, the dollar was worth 100,000 pounds. The small nation is in the grips of the worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement by a political class that has ruled the country since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. The political class has been resisting the implementation of reforms as demanded by the international community. Since the economic meltdown began in October 2019, three-quarters of Lebanon’s population of over 6 million, including … [Read more...] about Protests in Lebanon as pound hits new low against dollar

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails The International Monetary Fund gave a grim assessment Thursday of Lebanon’s prospects for getting out of its deepening financial crisis, saying that without reforms, the country is headed for hyperinflation. Since late 2019, tiny Lebanon has fallen into the worst economic crisis in its modern history, rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement by a political class that has ruled the country since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. Three-quarters of Lebanon’s population of over 6 million, including a million Syrian refugees, now lives in poverty and inflation is soaring. Ernesto Ramirez Rigo, the head of the IMF mission visiting Lebanon, said at a news conference Thursday that continued inaction by Lebanese leaders would leave the nation in a “never-ending crisis” in which it could spiral into … [Read more...] about IMF warns without reforms, Lebanon could see hyperinflation

Lebanon's government has reversed a controversial decision to delay the start of daylight saving time by a month. Najib Mikati, the country's caretaker prime minister, said the cabinet had voted to move the clocks one hour ahead on Wednesday night. Mr Mikati angered many Lebanese last week when he delayed the start of daylight saving time until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which would have allowed Muslims to break their fasts an hour earlier. The measure would have postponed the changing of clocks until 21 April. Lebanon 's top Christian authority had defied the announcement and moved its clocks forward on Saturday night, along with some schools, media outlets and businesses. It left many Lebanese in the position of juggling work and school schedules in different time zones in a country just 88km (55 miles) across at its widest point. The country typically sets its clocks forward an hour on the last Sunday in March in alignment with most European … [Read more...] about Lebanon time row: Government reverses controversial decision to delay clocks changing to daylight saving time

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister reversed an unpopular decision made by his office to delay the start of daylight saving time by a month, saying Monday the Cabinet decided to implement the change in two days. Najib Mikati’s comments came after the government’s initial decision earlier this month was widely criticized around the country with many, including the country’s largest church, saying they will not abide by the decision. “The new daylight saving time will start at midnight Wednesday,” Mikati said after a Cabinet meeting that only discussed the issue. With some institutions implementing the change while others refused, many Lebanese found themselves in the position of juggling work and school schedules in different time zones — in a country that is just 88 kilometers (55 miles) at its widest point. … [Read more...] about Lebanon changes unpopular move to delay daylight saving time

The board of Northern Lebanon School District in Pennsylvania has reportedly voted not to allow performances of The Addams Family musical in 2024, with critics arguing its themes are inappropriate for a school setting. Board members made the decision on Tuesday night by a margin of seven votes against two, following 30 minutes of debate, reported Pennsylvania public radio station WITF. Robb Faller and Michelle Bucks were the only members who voted for the proposed performances to go ahead. Board members opposed to the play taking place pointed to its violent content, along with scenes of self-harm and children smoking. Clashes over art in academia have caused heated political debates across the United States, with both conservatives and liberals arguing their opponents are undermining free expression with censorship. One of those on the board opposed to the show being performed by students was Troy Williams, who is also senior pastor at Lebanon's Calvary Church. "The … [Read more...] about School board bans ‘Addams Family’ musical over ‘dark’ themes

Many Lebanese blame their country's financial mel tdown on the entrenchment of the corrupt "old guard," which includes the Iranian-sponsored terrorist militia Hezbollah. Hezbollah's loss of credibility and political power may alter the calculus for the group in its "resistance" efforts against Israel, which have been largely deterred since the devastating 2006 Lebanon War . Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah later regretted the kidnap of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers that provoked that war. However, there are signs that a new Hezbollah attack may be coming in the next few weeks. This time the context is a natural gas dispute between Lebanon and Israel now being mediated by the United States. Nasrallah wants to prove influential by pressing Israel during the negotiations, and his increasingly belligerent messaging could be read as a precursor to war. He recently stated , "If the extraction of oil and gas from Karish [oil field] begins in September before Lebanon … [Read more...] about Natural Gas May Soon Spark War Between Israel and Hezbollah