Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Sunday, June 22, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    • AUB Outdoors ☀️
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»News»Lebanon News
    TDS/Mohammad Azakir | Wolterk
    2 Mins Read

    How CNN Used The Lebanese Word ‘Wasta’

    By Souad LazkaniFebruary 17, 2021
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    CNN has used and explained a particular Lebanese word in a recent news report and it’s… something else.

    CNN’s senior international correspondent based in Beirut, Ben Wedeman, used the word wasta during his coverage of the start of Lebanon’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which is financed by the World Bank.

    Wedeman reported that the World Bank Vice President for the Middle East & North Africa, Ferid Belhaj, has warned against using wasta (nepotism/favoritism).

    Credibility and transparency are the two fundamental elements in all @WorldBank financed programs and projects around the world, without any exceptions. And let me say it very clearly: “There will be #nowasta”.

    — Ferid Belhaj (@FeridBelhaj) February 14, 2021

    He proceeded to explain wasta as “using connections to jump the queue,” adding that caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab was scheduled to receive the first vaccination but stepped out of the line, making way for front-line workers.

    No "Wasta" for vaccination in #Lebanon#اللقاح_اولوية

    https://t.co/SFwYaXo5hz

    — محمود غزيّل (@ghazayel) February 16, 2021

    The word is so commonly used in Lebanon but hearing it said and highlighted by an international news channel sparks hope that, somehow, there will be less use of the wasta going forth.

    This can prompt the international community to pay more attention to it, as it is one of many corruption tools used in this country.

    As Halim Shebaya puts it, the call for “no wasta” is a testament to the success of the Lebanese Revolution as now international donors and lenders get to firmly say to the officials “no wasta” and ensure that, indeed, “no wasta” defiles their donations and/or loans to the country.

    100% – two things worth adding:

    1. Good that there’s more focus now & public/media attention on “monitoring” of projects/foreign aid;

    2. testament to Oct. 17 uprising’s success, despite its many shortcomings, that donors are now forced to say #NoWasta despite decades of wasta. https://t.co/qRb1utlADB

    — Halim Shebaya (حليم شبيعة) (@halimshebaya) February 14, 2021
    Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hassan Diab
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    uae travel ban lebanon 961

    UAE Is Officially Removing The Travel Ban On Lebanon

    Joe Issa El-Khoury 961

    Who is Joe Issa El-Khoury, Lebanon’s New Minister of Industry

    Adel Nassar 961

    Who is Adel Nassar, Lebanon’s New Minister of Justice

    Nizar Hani 961

    Who is Nizar Hani, Lebanon’s New Minister of Agriculture

    Charles Hajj 961

    Who Is Charles Hajj, Lebanon’s New Minister of Telecommunications

    Nora Bayrakdarian 961

    Who is Nora Bayrakdarian, Lebanon’s New Minister of Youth and Sports

    Low-Cost Lebanese Airline 961

    We Might Finally Be Getting A Low-Cost Lebanese Airline – Here’s What We Know

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    June 8, 2025
    Michel Hayek

    Michel Hayek 2025: Predictions For The World

    December 31, 2024
    whish pay lebanon 961

    You Can Now Use Whish Pay At Shopify Stores

    June 13, 2025

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019
    Michel Hayek

    Michel Hayek 2025: Predictions For Lebanon

    December 31, 2024
    lebanon cybergames 2025 hacking 961

    Lebanon Just Won A Global Hacking Competition

    June 10, 2025
    Michel Hayek

    Michel Hayek 2025: Predictions For The Middle East

    December 31, 2024
    lebanese beer brands almaza beirut beer 961

    Lebanese Beer Brands Are Publicly Throwing Shade, And It’s Getting Frothy

    June 7, 2025

    Lebanon’s Shawarma Is Going Viral in The Philippines

    April 21, 2019
    961 Logo
    Facebook WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

    Popular Topics

    • Guides
    • Eat & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Lebanon News
    • Diaspora
    • Explained

    961

    • About
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • News WhatsApp Channel
    • Corrections Policy
    • Ownership & Funding

    Services

    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • App Waitlist
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    961™ | All Rights Reserved ©2025
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Okay