(WASHINGTON, DC) — The U.S. Department of Treasury designated four Lebanese and two German nationals and 11 companies as “Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers” pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.
According to officials, the U.S. placed sanctions on Merhi Ali Abou Merhi, a Lebanese businessman who owns a holding company with multiple subsidiaries across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
“Merhi has business dealings with members of the Lebanese-Colombian drug-trafficking and money-laundering operation allegedly run by Ayman Joumaa, who was placed under sanctions in January 2011 and charged in December 2011 with cocaine distribution and money laundering,” the Treasury said.
“Merhi Ali Abou Merhi operates an extensive maritime shipping business that enables the Joumaa network’s illicit money laundering activity and widespread narcotics trafficking,” said John Smith, acting director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control. “The Joumaa criminal network is a multi-national money laundering ring whose money laundering activities have benefited Hezbollah.”
Abou Merhi Group has multiple subsidiaries in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe including the following 10 designated companies: Abou-Merhi Lines SAL, a shipping line in Lebanon; Abou-Merhi Cruises (AMC) SAL, a travel agency in Lebanon; Le-Mall-Sidon, a shopping mall in south Lebanon; Queen Stations, a gas station in Lebanon; Orient Queen Homes, a real estate development in Lebanon; maritime shipping subsidiaries in Benin (Abou Merhi Cotonou), Nigeria (Abou Merhi Nigeria), and Germany (Abou Merhi Hamburg); Lebanon Center, a shopping mall in Jordan; and Abou Merhi Charity Institution in Lebanon.
The other Lebanese and German nationals on the list were designated for their management roles in Merhi’s various companies: Houeda Ahmad Nasreddine, also known as Houeida Abou Merhi; Ahmad El Bezri; Wajdi Youssef Nasr; Hana Merhi Abou Merhi; and Atef Merhi Abou Merhi.
On January 26, 2011, OFAC designated the Joumaa drug trafficking and money laundering organization as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker pursuant to the Kingpin Act.
On November 3, 2011, Ayman Joumaa was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for coordinating the shipment of over 85,000 kilograms of cocaine and laundering in excess of $250 million in narcotics proceeds. Ayman Joumaa remains a fugitive, according to the U.S. Treasury.
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(NEW YORK) — While thanking Lebanon’s partners for their efforts to support the country in the face of numerous challenges, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the need for even greater assistance, particularly as the country deals with the Syrian refugee crisis.
“The response has been significant. I welcome the generous support of donors – but this has not matched the country’s exceptional needs,” Ki-Moon told a ministerial meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon, held at United Nations Headquarters on the margins of the annual debate of the General Assembly.
Since the conflict in Syria began over four years ago, over 1 million refugees have arrived in Lebanon. Syrian refugees now make up 25 percent of the population of Lebanon.
“Lebanon needs more support for local public institutions, especially municipalities which have to continue delivering basic services and maintaining a peaceful environment for refugees and host communities. The rights and safety of refugees who have fled to Lebanon need to continue to be guaranteed,” Ki-Moon stated.
“Resources are insufficient. Needs are rising. If we do not bridge this gap, there will be far-reaching consequences for the region and beyond.”
The Secretary-General encouraged bilateral partners to expedite support where the Lebanese Armed Forces need it most so that they can effectively address security threats.
Another area of concern highlighted during the meeting, which was attended by Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam, was the 16-month vacancy in the country’s presidency, which the group noted “seriously impairs” Lebanon’s ability to address the security, economic, social and humanitarian challenges facing the country.
In a chairman’s summary issued after the meeting, the group stressed that if strong international support is to contribute effectively to sustained stability, it must be paralleled by determined action by Lebanon’s leaders to resolve the political stalemate through the election of a president without further delay, to restore a fully functioning government, and to respond to citizens’ needs through the provision of effective state services.
“The international community has a deep investment in Lebanon,” Ki-Moon stressed. “The country has always stood as a symbol of co-existence. Stability there can help the increasingly fractured region.”
In addition to Lebanon, the following participants were invited to the meeting: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Italy, the European Union, and the League of Arab States.
United Nations News Centre
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(NEW YORK) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced the U.S. would double its military aid to the Lebanese Army this year, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
Kerry first announced the plan during the third ministerial meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon on Sept. 30.
FULL REMARKS:
Thank you, Mr. Secretary General and Mr. Prime Minister, for chairing this third ministerial meeting of the International Support Group. My government agrees – and agrees fully — that Lebanon needs the international community’s backing more urgently than ever; that is why we have come together today.
The United States wants Lebanon to be stable, secure, sovereign, and free from foreign entanglements. We are aware, however, that these goals are threatened by the ongoing bloodshed in Syria, the continued movement of refugees, and the pernicious presence of violent extremists. Clearly, Lebanon needs the help of its international partners to confront these challenges.
Such support can reinforce but cannot substitute for leadership within Lebanon. The country’s top officials and opinion leaders must also take decisive measures to strengthen their ability to weather the crisis at hand. To survive the current turbulence, Lebanon’s governing institutions must be effective and strong. Sadly, that is not now the case. Lebanon’s presidency has been vacant for more than 16 months, paralyzing the country’s political institutions at a critical moment.
During these difficult times, Lebanon’s citizens, leaders, and institutions absolutely must come together. My government urges Lebanon’s leaders of every faction to put aside their differences and to restore a functioning cabinet that will fulfill its responsibilities and meet the needs of the people. In saying this, I am really echoing the words of Prime Minister Salam, who has been striving with great courage to achieve a political consensus and to move his country forward. Now is the time for Lebanon to uphold its democratic principles, elect a president, and hold parliamentary elections. There is no excuse for further delay.
Meanwhile, we must do all we can to strengthen Lebanon’s institutions, and most particularly, the Lebanese Armed Forces. The army is the sole institution with the legitimacy and mandate to defend the country and its people. It must have the equipment and training required to do that job. I am announcing today that the United States will double – to more than $150 million – the amount of U.S. military assistance we are providing to the Lebanese Armed Forces this year compared to last. These funds will allow the Lebanese Armed Forces to buy munitions, improve close air support, sustain vehicles and aircraft, modernize airlift capacity, provide training to its soldiers, and add to the mobility of armored units. This is in addition to the $59 million in border security assistance that we announced in Beirut earlier this month. Rest assured that the United States will continue its strong support of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and we urge other countries to contribute generously as well.
My colleagues, one of the most visible and heart-wrenching effects of the Syrian conflict is the presence in Lebanon of the highest number of registered refugees per capita in the world – more than one million in a country of only four million. The United States recognizes the immense strain this burden is placing on Lebanon’s resources and its host communities and we will continue to help. Ten days ago, President Obama announced that we will provide an additional $75.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon, bringing our total to more than $964 million since the conflict began.
As members of this Support Group well know, not all the obligations in the Baabda Declaration, and UN Security Council Resolutions 1701 and 1559 are being fulfilled. The Baabda Declaration, now three years old, was a clear commitment by Lebanon’s leaders to strengthen national institutions, resolve internal disputes, respect the rule of law, and avoid becoming entangled in the Syrian civil war. The path set out in that Declaration remains the right one for Lebanon, but concerted actions are required to fulfill its promise. Of greatest importance, Hizballah’s intervention in Syria – which violates the Declaration and threatens to drag Lebanon into war against the will of its people – must cease.
Ladies and gentlemen, Lebanon may be under enormous stress, but it remains an essential building block of a more stable Middle East. During this period of prolonged crisis, it must have all the help that governments, the UN system, and humanitarian relief organizations can provide. It must have the capacity to protect itself from subversion and terrorist attacks. It must summon the internal will to make its political system function in accordance with the requirements of the constitution and the needs of the Lebanese people. And to all these ends, it may count on the unwavering friendship and support of the United States. Thank you.
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(BEIRUT) — As clothing lines rush to adapt to emerging fashion markets in the Middle East, an enterprising Lebanese duo are empowering women to help influence clothing brands and craft their next outfit.
Nour El Assaad and Loubna Ibrahim are co-founders of TopShou, a social interactive mobile app with an ambitious mission to help women solve the most pressing question — what to wear?
The app allows users to upload photos of their clothes into a virtual closet, and mix-and-match tops, bottoms, and accessories into their daily outfits. They can also share outfits with their friends and scroll through one another’s wardrobe.
“Fashion really has no age because individual style never gets old or young,” El Assaad said. “Our goal is to empower a woman’s style by giving her more resources.”
Experts believe the average woman spends 16 minutes digging through her wardrobe every weekday morning. El Assaad said she hopes TopShou will help women save time and stay à la mode.
“Making a daily fashion statement is easy with TopShou,” she said.
The free app was launched to iOS users on Aug. 20 at the UK Lebanon Tech Hub in Beirut. El Assaad and Ibrahim are part of an emerging wave of young Lebanese entrepreneurs entering the start-up scene in the Middle East.
“We’re seeing changes you’ve never seen before in the Arab world,” El Assaad said. “We trying to breakthrough and join the huge boom in startups, especially here in Lebanon.”
Beirut’s entrepreneurial culture is rapidly growing into a powerhouse for tech startups and business incubators. Lebanon’s Central Bank recently added $400 million into the startup tech economy through its “Circular 331″ initiative — a project to help stimulate the startup economy with seven-year interest-free credit incentives.
But some entrepreneurs worry the political climate and presidential stalemate hampers potential growth. BBC World News estimates Lebanon has one of the slowest Internet connections in the world.
“It’s not affecting us,” El Assaad said. “Actually it’s the opposite; Lebanon has helped us grow and market to a more diverse group.”
In March, TopShou won third place at the ArabNet Ideathon Competition during a creative arts conference in Beirut. El Assaad believes the growing tech industry has encouraged them to be innovative.
“Our biggest challenge was creating the app, and we already created the app,” she said. “Our second challenge was getting people to believe in us, but we already have people believing in us.”
TopShou founder Loubna Ibrahim came up with the app as part of a university thesis project. (Photo via TopShou.com)
El Assaad admits app marketing and user growth could take time, but she views the market potential as a confidence boost.
“We did a huge market research to know what’s the trend,” she said. “We’ve watched everything; we know what people want in the fashion industry.”
The app will be available in other languages and on Android devices after the pilot phase, El Assaad added. A similar platform for men is also in the works.
“After the three-month pilot phase we will launch new projects,” she said. “Soon users can seek fashion advice for a small price.”
The app will also add an eCommerce platform which will redirect users to sites that sell apparel and accessories.
El Assaad and Ibrahim have been working closely with the app development team at Ideatolife on coding and app logistics. El Assaad already manages a busy schedule as a marketing professional and founder of a Lebanese anti-bullying NGO.
“I prefer to put titles aside and say that me and Loubna (Ibrahim) do everything together,” she said. “We’re a dynamic duo.”
(FORT WORTH) — Lebanese-American business tycoon Richard Rainwater, who had a estimated net worth of $3.5 billion, died Sunday at his home in Fort Worth, Texas. He was 71.
Rainwater was born in Texas, the second of two sons in a Lebanese-American family. His father owned a wholesale business and his mother was a sales clerk at J.C. Penney.
A statement issued by the Rainwater Charitable Foundation said Rainwater died after a long battle with a rare neurological disease. He had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy since 2009 and had pumped millions into a campaign to finding a cure.
Among Rainwater’s career achievements was conducting billionaire investor Sid Bass’ acquisition of a major stake in the Walt Disney Co. and partnering with future President George W. Bush in the 1989 purchase of the Texas Rangers baseball team.
Forbes magazine listed Rainwater as the world’s 663rd wealthiest person and ranked him 236th in the United States with an estimated net worth of $3 billion in 2015.
The Bass family, heirs to Texas oil wildcatter Sid Richardson’s fortune, hired the Stanford Business School graduate from Goldman Sachs to manage its investments when Rainwater was 26, the statement said. In 1984, Richardson and Sid Bass invested $478 million in a struggling Walt Disney Co. and helped to install then-Paramount Pictures President Michael Eisner as Disney’s chief executive officer.
In 1986, when he turned 42, Rainwater went into business for himself and later helped to engineer Bush’s purchase of the Rangers, foundation of Bush’s personal fortune.
“I was so saddened to learn that my friend Richard Rainwater died this weekend. Richard had a brilliant mind and a generous heart. He was a lot of fun, inspiring to be around, and generous and courageous to the very end,” Bush said in a statement issued by his office Sunday.
Rainwater also mentored other investors such as David Bonderman, another Bass family employee who went on to become founding partner of TPG Capital. The firm has helped to recapitalize such businesses as Neiman Marcus department stores, Continental Airlines and Burger King.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke describes progressive supranuclear palsy as a brain disorder that causes serious and progressive problems with control of gait and balance, along with complex eye movement and thinking problems.
Rainwater hadn’t made any public appearances since 2010, according to the charitable foundation’s statement.
“There is an extraordinary untold story about his heroism and bravery as the symptoms worsened,” son Matthew Rainwater said in the statement.
Associated Press
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(NEW YORK) — Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Saturday asked for more development aid from the international community during his remarks before international leaders at the 2015 Sustainable Development Summit.
Salam said the Syrian refugee crisis placed an economic burden on Lebanon, and that the small country could not handle the influx of more refugees. He believes more international aid would help ease the burden.
“The international community’s reaction to a crisis of this size hasn’t been at the required level,” Salam said. “We need to recognize the importance of putting an end to armed conflicts, terrorism and sectarian violence to guarantee security and stability.”
The prime minister added that economic status should not be a sole determinant in international aid distribution.
Lebanon, which is classified by the World Bank in the upper middle income category, does not receive economic aid based on poverty levels. Salam said this system should be reconsidered.
“It is crucial to review the notion of ‘middle-income countries’ because it penalizes many nations who lose their access to aid while they may be in more urgent need,” he said.
The Sustainable Development Summit aims to create a 15-year agenda that serves interests of the international community and tackles developmental goals over the next decade, according to a UN report.
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(BEIRUT) — The Hungarian government posted ads in Lebanese and Jordanian newspapers on Monday, threatening to arrest migrants who enter the country illegally.
The move comes as European leaders scramble to address the Syrian refugee crisis, as tens of thousands make the trek to Europe.
The full-page advertisement was published in several newspapers, including Lebanon’s leading An-Nahar. The Hungarian government said the “strongest possible action is taken” against people who attempt to enter illegally.
“Do not listen to the people smugglers. Hungary will not allow illegal immigrants to cross its territory,” the advertisement said in both English and Arabic.
Lebanon, a country of 4.5 million people, has over 1.1 million Syrian refuges, many of whom have already attempted to migrate to Europe because of dwindling aid.
Hungary closed its border with Serbia on Sept. 15 and recently erected a steel barrier at the Beremend border crossing with Croatia to try to slow the flow of migrants.
Earlier this month, Denmark’s Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing posted advertisements in Lebanese newspapers aiming to deter migrants, saying that the Scandinavian nation has reduced social aid to migrants by 50 percent recently.
Denmark warned that illegal migrants will be deported immediately.
Meanwhile, German vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel urged the international community to increase aid to Mideast countries hosting millions of Syrian refugees, saying this is key to slowing migration to Europe.
Gabriel, who was to start a visit to Jordan on Monday, said wealthy Gulf states “aren’t paying” and suggested the United States could contribute more. Aid agencies requested $7.4 billion for the Syria crisis for 2015, but received only 38 percent.
Gabriel told German TV on Sunday that the situation in host countries is “dramatically bad.”
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(WASHINGTON, DC) — The United States Department of State announced on Monday that Lebanon will receive $75.5 million in U.S. humanitarian aid to fund Syrian refugee programs and makeshift camps in the country.
The U.S. acknowledged that Lebanon hosts the highest number of refugees per capita with over one million Syrian refugees, and 45,000 Palestinian refugees from Syria.
According to the report, the additional U.S. support will also fund “vulnerable Lebanese communities” by renovating the municipal water and sanitation systems, and supporting local schools.
“With the additional funding, the UN and international organization partners in Lebanon can continue to deliver shelter assistance, education, healthcare, cash assistance for emergency needs, and basic relief items like blankets, heaters, and hygiene kits,” the report said.
A portion of funding will also be distributed to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East program, the report added.
Lebanon has received $965 million in U.S. humanitarian aid since 2012, according to the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
The White House announced on Monday that the United States is providing nearly $419 million in additional life-saving assistance for those affected by the war in Syria.
This new funding brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance in response to this conflict to more than $1.6 billion in Fiscal Year 2015 and over $4.5 billion since the start of the crisis.
“The United States remains committed to assisting those affected by this terrible war and strongly urges all governments, organizations, and individuals concerned about the situation to support life-saving aid efforts of UN and other partners,” the report said.
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(DETROIT) — Lebanese Forces MP Shant Chinchinian on Saturday called for immediate presidential elections in Lebanon during keynote remarks at the Lebanese Forces Michigan Chapter twentieth annual banquet in Detroit.
Chinchinian, who is visiting the United States for his second time, said the political situation in Lebanon would improve if a president is elected. He believes protest groups in Beirut should set fixed demands that urge leaders to stop boycotting presidential sessions.
“Our candidate is still Dr. Samir Geagea,” Chinchinian told Lebanese Examiner during an exclusive interview. “But we are open to discussion later on; we are not set on (Geagea) as an obstacle that makes him president, or nobody else.”
The Lebanese Forces banquet drew about 250 people, mostly supporters of the March 14 Alliance, which is largely comprised of leaders from the Future Movement, Lebanese Forces, and Kataeb Party.
Christian Nasr, secretary general of the Lebanese Forces in North America, also traveled to Detroit for the banquet, which was held at the hall of Life Application Ministries Church – the former location of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church.
Chinchinian appeared on Sunday in Sterling Heights at Bemis Junior High School, the temporary location of St. Sharbel Church, for a mass to “honor and remember Lebanese Forces martyrs.”
Chinchinian, who is from Zahle, is a graduate of the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom, where he studied international policy and security, according to his CV.
Zahle is home to one of the largest populations of Syrian refugees in the world — an issue that Chinchinian said requires international intervention.
“For a small country like Lebanon, it was very difficult to receive this number of refugees,” he said. “(The Lebanese Forces) demanded that refugee camps should be set up within Syria.”
Chinchinian said during the Lebanese Civil War, only a small percentage of Lebanese citizens became refugees. He believes “internal displacement” is a better solution.
“I think the best solution for everybody is to prepare safe zones within Syria, non-military zones, that could house the refugees,” he added.
These concerns add a “burden” on the Lebanese economy and make electricity, water, and waste removal even more difficult, he believes. The matter of garbage has prompted historic protests in Beirut over corruption and political dysfunction.
Secular protest groups have prompted international attention and increased public anger over the garbage crisis — concerns that Chinchinian said are “rightful.”
“The protests started with rightful demands,” Chinchinian said. “Almost all the Lebanese agree with these demands — from electricity, to water, and mainly the garbage situation that is unbearable.”
However, he added that protesters should remain peaceful and defy violence committed by hostile crowds. Protesters argue that police brutality, not the protest groups, has naturally led to escalated violence.
“It’s easy to regret something and to put the blame on somebody else,” he said. “It’s in the duty of the groups that are demonstrating to control the demonstration and to have clear and limited goals.”
Chinchinian added that he met with the environmental parliamentary committee in Lebanon prior to his trip to Detroit. He believes the plan proposed under the direction of Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayeb is viable.
The plan – announced after six hours of deliberation between the Lebanese cabinet – aims to decentralize waste management by giving municipalities the responsibility.
“This is the only plan; there are no other solutions,” he said. “I think the municipalities will accept it in the end.”
Lebanese Forces President John Moussawer (left) and Lebanese Forces Secretary General Christian (far right) Nasr present MP Shant Chinchinian (center) with an award from the Lebanese Forces Michigan Chapter on Sept. 19, 2015. (Charlie Kadado/Lebanese Examiner)Lebanese MP Shant Chinchinian speaks to Lebanese Forces supporters at the political group’s Michigan chapter twentieth annual banquet on Sept. 19, 2015. (Charlie Kadado/Lebanese Examiner)MP Shant Chinchinian attends a mass to “honor Lebanese Forces martyrs” at Bemis Junior High School in Sterling Heights, Mich. – the temporary location of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church on September 20, 2015. (Charlie Kadado/Lebanese Examiner)Subdeacon Mike Magyar speaks on the “legacy of Bachir Gemayel” during a mass at Bemis Junior High School in Sterling Heights, Mich. – the temporary location of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church. (Charlie Kadado/Lebanese Examiner)Lebanese Forces Michigan Chapter President John Moussawer (center) and Lebanese Forces Secretary General in North American Christian Nasr (right) attend a mass at Bemis Junior High School in Sterling Heights, Mich. – the temporary location of St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church on September 20, 2015. (Charlie Kadado/Lebanese Examiner)
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(BEIRUT) — In an interview with The Washington Post, Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam said Lebanon is heading toward a breakdown because opposing political factions could not cooperate to resolve even the most basic issues.
Salam said he was a “neutral” politician and expressed disappointment with “regional powers” and their influence on the Lebanese government.
“We are heading toward a breakdown,” he said. “The Lebanese political factions are incapable of electing a president by themselves.”
Salam added that a president will only be elected if a deal is accepted by the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. He believes the U.S. and Russia will first have to broker a deal in regard to the Syrian war, because the stalemate in Lebanon requires “much less effort.”
“(Solving Lebanon’s stalemate) only requires the international big powers and the regional ones to get together and say, “Yes, we will support this guy as a president,” and things will start moving,” Salam said.
Historic protests over corruption and political dysfunction have been taking place in Lebanon for weeks now, prompting international attention and increased public anger over the garbage crisis. Salam said he “can’t blame” the protesters for taking to the streets.
“I wish all the country would go there and be secular in its politics,” he said. “I personally am in support of that.”
Salam also added the Syrian refugee crisis was placing a burden on Lebanon’s economy, and that the country didn’t have enough financial resources to handle them.
“The 1.5 million refugees are a burden because they share our electricity, our water, our schools, our roads, our commerce, our jobs — and yes, the Lebanese are tired of this” he said. “They have been very hospitable.”
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