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Massive power blackout hits Lebanon

sh-electricite-du-liban(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanon was hit with a massive power blackout since 9:20 a.m. Monday, due to a malfunction in the Zahrani power plant of Electricite Du Liban (EDL) utility company, according to local news media reports.

Failures at the Zahrani power plant are not uncommon, according to sources, but the control room that handles electricity distribution “is not accessible due to the labor strike by contract hourly employees.”

Moving the central control room to another location has, he said, made the task of restoring power more difficult.

While Lebanon has been experiencing intensive rationing for weeks, EDL has been warning against a possible total blackout if contract workers continue their occupation of the headquarters .

EDL Director General Kamal al-Hayek told Voice of Lebanon radio station that employees are working on fixing the sudden electricity disruption, but did not provide any details on when power will be restored.

Lebanon needs about 2500 MW of electric power, but the current output of the electric power stations is about 1600

About 2,000 contract daily workers have been observing a nationwide strike, demanding full-time employment and rejecting a decision issued by the company’s management to hire only the 897 of them that passed the employment test.

According to analysts EDL is a huge burden for Lebanon because its is heavily subsidized. Many of the contract hourly employees do not show up to work, or just clock in and leave.

The analysts stressed that EDL is an inefficient operation that should be privatized or shut down because it cannot continue to drag down the Lebanese economy.

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Bou Saab warns Lebanese parents over limited school space

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The Lebanese Education Ministry issued a warning to Lebanese parents on Monday, urging them to register their children in public schools before registration opens to non-Lebanese students.

“The registration rate of Lebanese students in public schools is still low until now, and the school year is set to start in a few days,” said Education Minister Elias Bou Saab in a released statement on Monday.

“The Ministry invites (parents) to reserve their children’s seats in public schools before the door is opened for non-Lebanese students to register,” he added.

The ministry has split school registration into two sections this year, prioritizing Lebanese nations before other groups, after it was clear the system could not handle the number of displaced Syrian children living in Lebanon.

The number of Lebanese students in public schools, according to last year’s numbers, is 275,000 while the number of refugee students is 400,000. Lebanese public schools can only accommodate 300,000 students in total.

Last week, Bou Saab announced a Cabinet-approved plan to garner international funds to help cover the cost of refugee students.

“There is an approved plan the ministry had prepared, estimated to cost $200 million for an additional 100,000 refugee students to be funded by international organizations,” he said last week, adding that only half the needed amount had been secured.

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Bassil, Kerry discuss Lebanon terror threats in Paris

(PARIS, FRANCE) — Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil met for a meeting with United States Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday to discuss the role Lebanon would play as part of a global coalition to fight terror in the Middle East.

The meeting was during a Paris conference on peace and stability, where both Bassil and Kerry are attending. The two discussed “circumstances and factors” that shape Lebanon’s role in the war against terror, according to sources.

During a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last week, the U.S won backing from 10 Arab countries, including Lebanon, for a coalition to fight the Sunni militants who have seized parts of Iraq and Syria.

Bassil held talks with several other foreign ministers at the conference, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Italian Foreign Minister Frederica Mogherini, who is expected to assume her post as the new EU foreign policy chief this fall.

Sources say the meeting lasted 25-minutes and was “positive” and “cooperative.”

According to sources, the meeting touched on all issues related to Lebanon, but especially focused on the war on terror and the Islamic State’s impact on Lebanon. Kerry also pledged continued aid to the Lebanese Army.

French President Francois Hollande also pledged support to the Lebanese Army and underlined the need to preserve Lebanon’s unity, security and sovereignty in light of ISIS threats.

Addressing the foreign ministers of more than 24 states during the International Conference on Peace and Security in Iraq, Bassil outlined immediate, short term- and long-term measures required to effectively and efficiently counter terrorism.

“Lebanon has been a pioneer in the fight against sectarianism and terrorism and its troops have every single time proven their professionalism and patriotism,” Bassil said.

According to Bassil, time was pressing on weakening ISIS’ impact.

“There is a need to act collectively and swiftly,” he said.

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Possible bomb threat on MEA flight forces “precautionary” landing

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A Middle East Airlines flight from Geneva arrived in Beirut on Sunday after landing in Rome over the absence of a passenger, the airline announced in a statement.

MEA said in a statement that the aircraft was heading from the Swiss city to Rafik Hariri International Airport in the Lebanese capital when it was revealed that a passenger with a boarding pass did not take the flight.

Official say there was a possible bomb scare which forced the MEA aircraft to land in Rome’s Fiumicino Airport Sunday, temporarily halting air traffic in Rome’s largest airport. The incident was revealed to be a false alarm, according to officials.

The aircraft was thoroughly inspected. No traces of a bomb were found on it, according to the MEA statement.

The company denied the bomb threat reports.

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Pharaon says Lebanese tourism numbers are up

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Despite Lebanon’s turbulent security climate and initial low tourist numbers, Lebanon’s summer season registered a thirty percent increase in tourism, according to Tourism Minister Michel Pharaon.

Pharaon announced the news during a conference for the World Tourism Organization for the Middle East in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday.

In a plan to boost tourism, Pharaon requested the establishment of a new Phoenician touristic route which would include Jordan, Tunisia, France and Lebanon.

The tourism minister spoke about previous initiatives aimed at improving tourism in Lebanon, including the promotional campaign titled “Live Love Lebanon.”

Pharaon also discussed the launch of a new website dedicated to exposing touristic regions in the country, particularly rural tourism.

Despite Pharaon’s announcement, several taxi companies and hotels hosted recent news conferences complaining of low tourist numbers and hinted impending bankruptcies.

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Lebanon police bust Kaslik prostitution ring

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese police busted a prostitution ring run by Syrian and Lebanese partners on Saturday in the Kaslik area of Kesrouan, after receiving a tip about the group, according to the Internal Security Forces.

In a statement, security officials said they raided the location in Kaslik and arrested a 39-year-old Syrian and a 34-year-old Lebanese, who were alleged to have ran the prostitution ring together.

Six Syrian women were also arrested on charges of prostitution, including a 19-year-old. The women confessed to the charges and said they had also sold drugs to their clients.

At the Syrian suspect’s apartment in Sarba, the Jounieh area of Lebanon, police found six grams of hashish.

The eight-strong ring was also charged with drug abuse and trafficking.

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VIDEO: Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce hosts ‘Garden Party’

(BIRMINGHAM, MI) — The Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce welcomed two candidates for United States Congress on Wednesday during the group’s annual ‘Garden Party’ in Birmingham, Michigan.

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Photo courtesy John Akouri.

Candidates Mike Bishop and Dave Trott chatted with Lebanese and Middle Eastern chamber members about some of the issues facing the Middle East.

“The Lebanese community is a very influential community within Southeast Michigan and for an individual candidate running for office today to think that they could run for office without approaching the Middle Eastern community would be non-constructive,” said John Akouri, the president and CEO of the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce.

Akouri, who said the Chamber does not endorse candidates, asked Congressman Bishop to clarify his position on Middle Eastern foreign policy.

“We need a strong foreign policy, we need to restore America’s dignity,” Bishop said.

Other attendees included FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Abbate, Our Lady of Redemption Pastor Michel Cheble, French Chamber Executive Director Stephanie Salvadero, Attorney Joumana Kayrouz, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, Senator Marty Knollenberg and his wife Lori Boutros Knollenberg, Birmingham Mayor Mark Nickita, Consul General of Mexico Juan Manuel Solana Morales, Consul General of Iceland Eric Christian, and retired Consul General of Jordan Karim Ajluni, Esq.

Watch highlights:

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3jjyGn0BeM” width=”500″ height=”300″]

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Patriarch Rai meets with President Obama in DC

Rai-Obama(WASHINGTON, DC) — Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai said he discussed issues of the presidency and supporting the Lebanese army with President Barack Obama on Thursday, as the American leader stressed the importance of deterring the terrorist threat against Lebanon.

In remarks to LBCI television after he met Obama along with the patriarchs of the Orient, Rai said the U.S. president promised him to “protect Lebanon from the repercussions of everything that is happening in the region,” revealing that talks tackled the stalled presidential vote and military support for the Lebanese army.

The patriarch said he sensed that Obama has Lebanon among his concerns and that he realizes how much the ruthless Islamic State group is a threat to the region.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s National News Agency said the meeting with Obama lasted 35 minutes.

It said the American leader underlined to the delegation the importance of supporting the army so that it can “rein in terrorism and prevent it from infiltrating Lebanon.”

Obama also called on the Lebanese to reach an agreement over a new president, according to Lebanese National News Agency.

Earlier on Thursday, the patriarchs of the Orient discussed with U.S. congressmen the condition of Middle East Christians and their displacement at the hands of terrorist organizations.

“The persecution of Christians is a reality,” Rai said during the meeting.

He pointed out that “the painful situation is mired by the silence of the world.”

Rai, who is currently in the U.S. capital Washington to attend a three-day conference organized by the In Defense of Christians organization, called on the international community to facilitate the return of those who were displaced to their hometowns.

On Wednesday, Rai called on the U.S. to take a more prominent stance and further steps to safeguard Christians, who are being “assaulted” and “displaced” by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and other terrorist organizations.

Rai stressed that the “orient is the land of Christians, who are being threatened with extinction.”

“No one has the right to leave humans suffer as if we’re back to the stone age,” the Patriarch said.

“Can no one stop this crawling monster that is intimidating people?” Rai wondered.

He pointed out that the “Arab and Muslim communities and the international community should understand that Christians are not minorities.”

“The world is responsible for preventing terrorist organizations and returning those who were displaced to their regions and protecting them,” Rai said.

The conference aims at discussing the situation in the Middle East and the conditions of Christians. It gathered Orthodox Christians, evangelicals, Roman Catholics and others.

Andrew Doran, executive director of In Defense of Christians, said: “If Christian voices are able to ring out as one from Egypt to Syria to Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, then we really do believe it will be possible for Middle Eastern Christians to survive.”

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Senator Ted Cruz booed offstage at “In Defense of Christians” summit

(WASHINGTON, DC) — United States Senator Ted Cruz was booed offstage at the “In Defense of Christians” Summit Wednesday night after saying that “Christians have no greater ally than Israel.”

Cruz, the keynote speaker at the sold-out D.C. dinner gala, began by saying that “tonight, we are all united in defense of Christians. Tonight, we are all united in defense of Jews. Tonight, we are all united in defense of people of good faith, who are standing together against those who would persecute and murder those who dare disagree with their religious teachings.”

Cruz was not reading from a teleprompter, nor did he appear to be reading from notes.

“Religious bigotry is a cancer with many manifestations,” he continued. “ISIS, al-Qaida, Hezbollah, Hamas, state sponsors like Syria and Iran, are all engaged in a vicious genocidal campaign to destroy religious minorities in the Middle East. Sometimes we are told not to loop these groups together, that we have to understand their so called nuances and differences. But we shouldn’t try to parse different manifestations of evil that are on a murderous rampage through the region. Hate is hate, and murder is murder. Our purpose here tonight is to highlight a terrible injustice, a humanitarian crisis.”

“Christians have no greater ally than Israel,” he said, at which point members of the crowd began to yell “stop it” and booed him.

Cruz went on to say, ““Those who hate Jews hate Christians. If those in this room will not recognize that, then my heart weeps. If you hate the Jewish people you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ.”

Cruz exited the stage in dramatic fashion saying, “If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you. Good night, and God bless.”

In Defense of Christians’ president, Toufic Baaklini, blamed a “few politically motivated opportunists” for the furor and said they were “made no longer welcome,” according to Politico.

Watch the video below:

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Lebanese Drift champion dies in apparent suicide, says friend

Winner Jad Himo poses for a portrait during Red Bull Car Park Drift Regional Final at World Trade Center in Dubai , United Arab Emirates on November 8th, 2013(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Jad Hilmo, the 21-year-old champion of the 2014 Lebanese Drifting Champion, has reportedly taken his own life, according to his close friend on Thursday.

The friend says the coroner’s report alleged Himo shot himself with a single bullet to the chest.

They added that Himo’s friend, Johnny Nader, had handed himself in to police in Brummana following the 10 p.m. incident Wednesday evening.

According to Nader’s affidavit, Himo was in his company as they drove along the Metn highway.

Himo then asked him to pull over without warning, snatched his handgun and ran less than 100 meter away to kill himself.

Himo won the 2014 Lebanese Drifting Championship and the 2013 Red Bull Car Park Drift Champion.

The security forces are carrying out further investigations into the incident.

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