Author: Luc Alaux

A Cypriot of Lebanese origin is accused of plotting a terrorist attack against an Israeli businessman living in Cyprus. The Lebanese, whose name was not revealed by the Cypriot police, will stand trial on December 6th, alongside 5 other people, all accused of conspiracy of murder, participation in a criminal organization, terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and circulating fake documents. The case started with the arrest in a Nicosia checkpoint of a 38-year-old Azeri man carrying a Russian passport, along with a pistol and a silencer in his car. The other suspects were later on arrested after the police made…

Turkey is prepared to provide 3,000 food portions to the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) currently suffering from the devaluation of their salaries. The Turkish ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Baris Ulusoy, made the announcement on Friday, according to NNA, after meeting with the ISF director Imad Osman. The Turkish diplomat visited Osman to discuss the bilateral relations between the two countries and their reinforcement. Turkey is reportedly reinforcing its influence in Lebanon with growing investments in the Lebanese Sunni communities. With that, Ankara is positioning itself as a new Sunni regional leader amidst the Lebanon-Gulf Crisis, which is isolating Lebanon…

The French outlet Mediapart revealed that the Lebanese Judiciary has found itself in the middle of a French fiasco around the funding of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidential campaign of 2007. Former President Sarkozy is accused of having received money from his Lybian counterpart, Mouammar Gaddafi, in order to finance his political campaign. This affair was exposed by Mediapart in 2012, where Sarkozy supposedly received 50 million euros for the financing of his campaign. Today more information has surfaced regarding Sarkozy’s financial deals with Gaddafi, and this one involved the Lebanese judiciary, which Mediapart is now accusing of corruption.…

A large number of floating dead fish were found at the Fishermen port of Sidon, south Lebanon, on Friday. The cause of the disaster is believed to be contamination by leaked sewage from the wastewater treatment plant that has stopped working due to fuel shortage. However, local fishermen blame the plant for pumping untreated toxic sewage into the sea, as this is not the first incident of this type. The environmental problem due to negligence is a recurrent issue in Lebanon and has been further disregarded during the ongoing socio-economic situation. In September, Lebanon asked for a loan from the…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that the preparatory talks with Lebanon have started to unlock international aid upon request from the Lebanese government. IMF spokesman Gerry Rice declared that “the IMF has received a letter from Prime Minister Mikati expressing interest in a fund program. And I can tell you that preparatory technical discussions have started.” “Clearly, strong policies and reforms are needed to address the really unprecedented economic and social crisis facing Lebanon and the Lebanese people,” he added. Lebanon hopes to unlock billions of dollars in financial aid as it faces one of the world’s worst…

Former Minister of Public Works and Transports Youssef Fenianos has filed again a lawsuit against Judge Tarek Bitar, the lead investigator into the Beirut Blast, forcing him to halt his work, once again, until a further decision is taken. Fenianos is asking for the dismissal of Judge Bitar based on that he considers him unqualified to interrogate him. Fenianos is suspected of negligence in the August 4th Beirut Port Blast, which killed more than 234 persons and injured more than 6500. An arrest warrant was issued against him in September, to which he responded with a lawsuit to remove Judge…

After the increase in fuel prices yesterday, new prices of bread were announced. Here are the updated prices: Small bread (380 grams) now costs 4,500 LL – an increase of 5.26%Large bread (810 grams) now costs 6,500 LL – an increase of 4.94% As a result of the severe economic crisis that the country is currently facing, prices of bread are regularly rising. This is the second time in under a month the prices were increased. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that the food prices dramatically rose by 628% in two years. This comes amidst the country’s economic collapse…

Lebanese-American Abdullah Hammoud was just elected as Dearborn’s 7th mayor today at just 31-years-old. Hammoud is part of the Democratic Party and won the mayoral race against Gary Woronchak, receiving 55% of the votes, according to City Clerk’s unofficial results. He will succeed John O’Reilly Jr, who was mayor for the past 14 years. Hamoud, born in Dearborn in 1990, has been a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 15th district since 2017. He holds a Master of Public Health in epidemiology and genetics from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and a Master of Business Administration from…

The fuel prices in Lebanon have been increased once again. The news prices are as follows: 20 liters of 95-octane is 304,000 LL – increased by 1,300 LL20 liters of 98-octane is 313,400 LL – increased by 700 LL20 liters of diesel is 282,500 LL – increased by 11,800 LLA tank of cooking gas – 244,000 LL This comes exactly two weeks after the previous increase in fuel prices – a pattern repeating almost on a weekly basis. The Central Bank of Lebanon first lifted subsidies in August and started offering credit lines for fuel imports using the market rate. Meanwhile, the…

Judge Tarek Bitar, the lead investigator into the Beirut Port Blast, reassured the victim’s families that the pressures and threats will not make him back down from the investigation. “I will not back down from the Beirut port file unless I’m removed through the available legal means,” he told the families. Judge Bitar has been the target of numerous threats and frivolous legal actions in a bid to stop his investigation into the Beirut Port explosion. He told the families that the accusations of selectivity in his investigation were baseless and unfounded. In addition to the legal actions attempted against…