INSIDER
Middle East latest: Israeli defense minister officially steps down
Read full article: Middle East latest: Israeli defense minister officially steps downIsraeli defense minister Yoav Gallant has officially stepped down in a ceremony that replaced him with Israel Katz, the former foreign minister, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Gallant earlier this week.
The death toll in Lebanon crosses 3,000 in the 13-month Israel-Hezbollah war, Health Ministry says
Read full article: The death toll in Lebanon crosses 3,000 in the 13-month Israel-Hezbollah war, Health Ministry saysLebanon’s Health Ministry says more than 3,000 people have been killed during 13 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
US presses ahead with modest Mideast plans despite election uncertainty
Read full article: US presses ahead with modest Mideast plans despite election uncertaintyWith the U.S. presidential election just a week away, the Biden administration is not giving up hope for short-term deals for cease-fires between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
France defends restrictions on Israeli firms supplying Middle East wars and says it's not a boycott
Read full article: France defends restrictions on Israeli firms supplying Middle East wars and says it's not a boycottFrance’s government is defending its decision to bar Israeli companies supplying the wars in the Middle East from exhibiting at an upcoming trade fair outside Paris.
Israel says it killed a Hezbollah official expected to become the group's next leader
Read full article: Israel says it killed a Hezbollah official expected to become the group's next leaderThe Israeli military says one of its airstrikes in early October killed a top Hezbollah official who had been widely expected to become the group’s next leader.
Hezbollah vows to expand attacks in Israel after deadly strike in Lebanon's Christian heartland
Read full article: Hezbollah vows to expand attacks in Israel after deadly strike in Lebanon's Christian heartlandHezbollah's acting leader says the militant group will aim rockets into more areas of Israel.
Israel says 4 soldiers killed by Hezbollah drone attack while Israeli strike in Gaza leaves 20 dead
Read full article: Israel says 4 soldiers killed by Hezbollah drone attack while Israeli strike in Gaza leaves 20 deadIsrael’s military says four soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah drone attack on an army base Sunday evening.
At least 22 killed in airstrikes in central Beirut, with Israel also firing on UN peacekeepers
Read full article: At least 22 killed in airstrikes in central Beirut, with Israel also firing on UN peacekeepersLebanon’s health ministry says at least 22 people have been killed and 117 wounded in Israeli airstrikes that hit two areas in central Beirut.
The US is sending a few thousand more troops to the Middle East to boost security
Read full article: The US is sending a few thousand more troops to the Middle East to boost securityThe Pentagon says is sending a “few thousand” additional troops to the Middle East to bolster security and to be prepared to defend Israel if necessary.
Who were the 7 high-ranking Hezbollah officials killed over the past week?
Read full article: Who were the 7 high-ranking Hezbollah officials killed over the past week?In just over a week, intensified Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed seven high-ranking commanders and officials from the powerful Hezbollah militant group, including the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
‘This is life or death’: Houston man pleads to save wife trapped in war-torn Lebanon
Read full article: ‘This is life or death’: Houston man pleads to save wife trapped in war-torn LebanonAli Amine, a Houston resident, is pleading with U.S. immigration officials to expedite his wife Farah Abou Zeid's visa or grant her humanitarian parole as she is trapped in increasingly dangerous Lebanon amid escalating violence.
Guterres tells UN meeting that impunity, inequality and other challenges risk engulfing the world
Read full article: Guterres tells UN meeting that impunity, inequality and other challenges risk engulfing the worldThe head of the United Nations is warning world leaders that impunity, inequality and uncertainty are driving modern civilization toward “a powder keg that risks engulfing the world."
The US is more hands-off than usual in the Middle East. It fears making things worse
Read full article: The US is more hands-off than usual in the Middle East. It fears making things worseThe Biden administration is taking a more hands-off approach than usual during a week of dramatic escalation between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Did Middle East device attack violate international law? Advocates want an investigation
Read full article: Did Middle East device attack violate international law? Advocates want an investigationHuman rights advocates are calling for an independent investigation into the deadly explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon and Syria.
Israel warned the US that an operation in Lebanon was coming but gave no details, officials say
Read full article: Israel warned the US that an operation in Lebanon was coming but gave no details, officials sayU.S. officials say Israel warned U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a call Tuesday that a military operation was going to take place in Lebanon.
Former Lebanese central bank governor charged with embezzling $42m in ongoing corruption probe
Read full article: Former Lebanese central bank governor charged with embezzling $42m in ongoing corruption probeThree judicial officials have told the Associated Press that Lebanon has charged its embattled former central bank governor with the embezzlement of $42 million.
Israel kills militants in the West Bank as a nervous region watches latest on cease-fire talks
Read full article: Israel kills militants in the West Bank as a nervous region watches latest on cease-fire talksIsrael's army says two airstrikes in the West Bank have killed nine Palestinian militants as violence flares again in the Israeli-occupied territory.
What to know about the escalating conflict and Israel-Hamas cease-fire talks after 2 assassinations
Read full article: What to know about the escalating conflict and Israel-Hamas cease-fire talks after 2 assassinationsA pair of assassinations of anti-Israel militant leaders hours apart is threatening to set off a regional clash and upend already fragile talks toward ending the war in Gaza.
'Hellishly hot' southern Europe bakes under temperatures topping 104 F
Read full article: 'Hellishly hot' southern Europe bakes under temperatures topping 104 FThe Italian health ministry has placed 12 cities under the most severe heat warning as a wave of hot air from Africa is baking southern Europe.
Fires have become the most visible sign of the conflict heating up on the Lebanon-Israel border
Read full article: Fires have become the most visible sign of the conflict heating up on the Lebanon-Israel borderWith cease-fire talks faltering in Gaza and no clear offramp for the conflict on the Lebanon-Israel border, the daily exchanges of strikes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have sparked fires that are tearing through forests and farmland on both sides of the frontline.
Israeli strike kills another senior Hezbollah commander as diplomats scramble for calm in Lebanon
Read full article: Israeli strike kills another senior Hezbollah commander as diplomats scramble for calm in LebanonAn Israeli strike in southern Lebanon has killed a senior Hezbollah commander as tensions continue to boil.
Missouri woman accused of spiking husband’s Mountain Dew with Roundup
Read full article: Missouri woman accused of spiking husband’s Mountain Dew with RoundupMichelle Peters, 47, of Lebanon, MO, is being held without bond at the Laclede County Detention Center. She is charged with first degree domestic assault and armed criminal action.
Donor fatigue persists as nations commit around $8.1 billion for conflict-hit Syrians
Read full article: Donor fatigue persists as nations commit around $8.1 billion for conflict-hit SyriansInternational donors meeting in Brussels say they will commit 7.5 billion euros, about $8.1 billion, in both grants and loans to support Syrians battered by war, poverty, and hunger for the rest of this year and beyond.
Car bomb in the Syrian capital kills one. Drone strike near Lebanon border targets two vehicles
Read full article: Car bomb in the Syrian capital kills one. Drone strike near Lebanon border targets two vehiclesSyria's state media says a bomb attached to a car exploded in the western part of the Syrian capital that is home to several diplomatic missions, killing one person and causing material damage.
Key recommendations for strengthening the neutrality of the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees
Read full article: Key recommendations for strengthening the neutrality of the UN agency helping Palestinian refugeesAn independent panel reviewed the neutrality of the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees after Israel alleged that a dozen of its employees in Gaza had participated in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks.
Half a year into the war in Gaza, here's a look at the conflict by the numbers
Read full article: Half a year into the war in Gaza, here's a look at the conflict by the numbersThe Israel-Hamas war has stretched on for half a year and has become one of the most destructive, deadly, and intractable conflicts of the 21st century.
Mega Millions jackpot reaches $977 million after no one wins Tuesday's drawing
Read full article: Mega Millions jackpot reaches $977 million after no one wins Tuesday's drawingThe Mega Millions jackpot has reached $977 million for Friday night’s drawing after no tickets matched all six numbers drawn on Tuesday night.
Israelis evacuated from the Lebanese border wonder if they'll ever return
Read full article: Israelis evacuated from the Lebanese border wonder if they'll ever returnAround 60,000 Israelis who evacuated from cities and towns along the border with Lebanon are grappling with the question of when they will be able to return home.
A look at the arsenals of Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia as cross-border strikes escalate
Read full article: A look at the arsenals of Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia as cross-border strikes escalateThe slow-simmering cross-border conflict between Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group and Israeli forces has escalated, reviving fears that the daily clashes could expand into an all-out war.
Cyprus rescues 60 Syrian migrants from rickety boat after 6 days at sea. Five minors hospitalized
Read full article: Cyprus rescues 60 Syrian migrants from rickety boat after 6 days at sea. Five minors hospitalizedOfficials in Cyrpus say police have rescued 60 Syrian migrants from a rickety wooden boat that had been at sea six days and appeared to have run short of food and water.
Blinken urges Israel to engage with region on postwar plans that include path to Palestinian state
Read full article: Blinken urges Israel to engage with region on postwar plans that include path to Palestinian stateU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is calling on Israel to work with moderate Palestinians and neighboring countries on plans for postwar Gaza.
Hezbollah, Israel trade heavy cross-border fire as Blinken seeks to prevent regional escalation
Read full article: Hezbollah, Israel trade heavy cross-border fire as Blinken seeks to prevent regional escalationIsrael and Lebanon-based Hezbollah have traded fire in one of the heaviest days of cross-border fighting in recent weeks.
Lebanon's Christians feel the heat of climate change in its sacred forest and valley
Read full article: Lebanon's Christians feel the heat of climate change in its sacred forest and valleyFor Lebanon’s Christians, the cedars are sacred, these tough evergreen trees that survive the mountain’s harsh snowy winters.
Hezbollah fires rockets at north Israel after an airstrike kills 5 of the group's senior fighters
Read full article: Hezbollah fires rockets at north Israel after an airstrike kills 5 of the group's senior fightersThe militant Hezbollah group has fired more than 50 rockets at military posts in northern Israel.
Palestinian soccer team prepares for World Cup qualifying games against a backdrop of war
Read full article: Palestinian soccer team prepares for World Cup qualifying games against a backdrop of warMakram Daboub may be struggling to prepare his Palestinian team for the start of 2026 World Cup qualification but he takes some comfort — for now at least — that his players stuck in Gaza are safe.
Israeli shelling along Lebanon border kills 1 journalist, wounds 6
Read full article: Israeli shelling along Lebanon border kills 1 journalist, wounds 6An Israeli shell has landed in a gathering of international journalists covering clashes on the border in south Lebanon, killing a Reuters videographer and leaving six other journalists injured.
IMF sees economic growth in the Mideast improving next year. But the Israel-Hamas war poses risks
Read full article: IMF sees economic growth in the Mideast improving next year. But the Israel-Hamas war poses risksThe International Monetary Fund says Middle East economies are gradually recovering as external shocks from the war in Ukraine and global inflation fade.
Business tycoon Carlos Ghosn's rise, fall and dramatic escape is subject of new Apple TV+ series
Read full article: Business tycoon Carlos Ghosn's rise, fall and dramatic escape is subject of new Apple TV+ seriesCarlos Ghosn, the former rock star businessman who fell from grace and fled authorities smuggled in a music instrument box, is getting what his dramatic story deserves — a multi-part Apple TV+ documentary series.
With hundreds lost in the migrant shipwreck near Greece, identifying the dead is painfully slow
Read full article: With hundreds lost in the migrant shipwreck near Greece, identifying the dead is painfully slowNearly two months after a dilapidated fishing trawler crammed with people heading from north Africa to Italy sank in the central Mediterranean, killing hundreds, relatives are still frantically searching for loved ones among the missing and dead.
Kuwait and Lebanon move to ban 'Barbie' over gender and sexuality themes ahead of Mideast release
Read full article: Kuwait and Lebanon move to ban 'Barbie' over gender and sexuality themes ahead of Mideast release“Barbie” is set to open across the Middle East on Thursday, but moves by Kuwait and Lebanon to ban the film over its themes on gender and sexuality have raised questions about how widely it will be released.
European scientists make it official. July was the hottest month on record by far
Read full article: European scientists make it official. July was the hottest month on record by farNow that July’s sizzling numbers are all in, the European climate monitoring organization made it official: July 2023 was Earth’s hottest month on record by a wide margin.
Cost of federal census recounts push growing towns to do it themselves
Read full article: Cost of federal census recounts push growing towns to do it themselvesOnly a single municipality, the Village of Pingree Grove in Illinois, has signed a contract so far with the U.S. Census Bureau to have the agency conduct a repeat head count following the 2020 census.
Mideast countries that are already struggling fear price hikes after Russia exits grain deal
Read full article: Mideast countries that are already struggling fear price hikes after Russia exits grain dealEgypt and other lower-income Middle Eastern countries like Lebanon and Pakistan are worried about what comes next after Russia pulled out of a crucial wartime grain deal.
Halted Ukraine grain deal, funding shortages rattle UN food aid programs
Read full article: Halted Ukraine grain deal, funding shortages rattle UN food aid programsA halted landmark grain deal that allowed Ukrainian grain to flow to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia is rattling the operations of the United Nations food agency, its deputy executive director said.
Aid group official warns that impasse at the UN on border crossing puts 4.1 million Syrians at risk
Read full article: Aid group official warns that impasse at the UN on border crossing puts 4.1 million Syrians at riskThe head of a leading aid group says an impasse at the United Nations over a border crossing with Syria’s last rebel-held enclave is endangering 4.1 million Syrians living there.
Lebanon abruptly nixes plan for $122M airport 'Terminal 2'
Read full article: Lebanon abruptly nixes plan for $122M airport 'Terminal 2'Lebanon’s caretaker transportation minister says the contract for a new terminal at the country's main airport is cancelled, following an uproar over the lack of public bidding for the $122 million project.
Rights group: Mideast governments target LGBTQ people online
Read full article: Rights group: Mideast governments target LGBTQ people onlineA rights group says in a new report that security agencies and government officials across several countries in the Middle East and North Africa have been using social media platforms and mobile dating apps to crack down on LGBTQ people.
Americans in Japanese prison in Ghosn escape seek to go home
Read full article: Americans in Japanese prison in Ghosn escape seek to go homeTwo Americans imprisoned in Japan for helping former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn avoid trial and escape to Lebanon are hoping to serve the rest of their time in the U.S. Paul Kelly, the attorney for Michael Taylor and his son Peter Taylor, said the elder man was suffering from serious back pain and frostbite.
Russian war in world's 'breadbasket' threatens food supply
Read full article: Russian war in world's 'breadbasket' threatens food supplyThe Russian tanks and missiles besieging Ukraine also are threatening the food supply and livelihoods of people in Europe, Africa and Asia who rely on the vast, fertile farmlands known as the “breadbasket of the world.”.
Some health officials letting COVID-infected staff stay on the job
Read full article: Some health officials letting COVID-infected staff stay on the jobHealth authorities around the U.S. are increasingly taking the extraordinary step of allowing nurses and other workers infected with the coronavirus to stay on the job if they have mild symptoms or none at all.
Norway fines dating app Grindr $7.16M over privacy breach
Read full article: Norway fines dating app Grindr $7.16M over privacy breachNorway’s data privacy watchdog fined gay dating app Grindr $7.16 million for sending sensitive personal data to hundreds of potential advertising partners without users’ consent.
Lebanese central bank governor says corruption charges false
Read full article: Lebanese central bank governor says corruption charges falseLebanon’s central bank governor says he asked an auditing firm to look into transactions and investments and that contrary to media reports, the results showed no public money has been misused.
American father, son get Japan prison terms for Ghosn escape
Read full article: American father, son get Japan prison terms for Ghosn escapeA Tokyo court has handed down prison terms for the American father and son accused of helping Nissan's former chairman, Carlos Ghosn, escape to Lebanon while awaiting trial in Japan.
Hendrick trio sets pace at re-opened Nashville Superspeedway
Read full article: Hendrick trio sets pace at re-opened Nashville SuperspeedwayWilliam Byron, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott paced the first ever Cup Series practice at Nashville Superspeedway in yet another display of how dominant Hendrick Motorsports is right now.
Defiant Ghosn pins hopes on French probes to clear his name
Read full article: Defiant Ghosn pins hopes on French probes to clear his nameFugitive ex-auto magnate Carlos Ghosn is campaigning to clear his name and hopes an upcoming hearing in Beirut with French investigators offers a chance to defend himself for the first time since his 2018 arrest in Japan.
Japan prosecutors say Ghosn said Nissan pay plan was not set
Read full article: Japan prosecutors say Ghosn said Nissan pay plan was not setJapanese prosecutors say former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn told them during questioning on financial misconduct charges before he fled Japan that his compensation was never decided upon.
The Latest: Sinovac: CoronaVac vaccine effective in children
Read full article: The Latest: Sinovac: CoronaVac vaccine effective in children(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)BEIJING — Sinovac said on Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac is safe and effective in children ages 3-17. State-owned Sinopharm, who has two COVID-19 vaccines, is also investigating the effectiveness of its vaccines in children. The House vote came just before the state health department reported that more than 1 million COVID-19 vaccine shots have been administered within the state. State officials say about 2.9 million vaccine doses have been given to about 1.1 million people so far in Arizona. ___LISBON, Portugal — Portugal resumed administering AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, a week after temporarily halting its use.
Japan charges Americans with helping Ghosn flee, jump bail
Read full article: Japan charges Americans with helping Ghosn flee, jump bailJapanese prosecutors have charged two Americans, Michael Taylor and his son Peter, in connection with the escape of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn to Lebanon. (DHA via AP, File)TOKYO – Japanese prosecutors charged two Americans, Michael Taylor and his son Peter, Monday in the escape of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn to Lebanon, while he was out on bail. Prosecutors said the Taylors were formally charged with helping a criminal escape, although dates and other details of a trial were undecided. Japan has put Ghosn on Interpol’s wanted list, but Lebanon has no extradition treaty with Japan. Peter Taylor, 28, is accused of meeting with Ghosn and helping his father carry out the escape.
Pope weighed Iraq virus risk but believes God will protect
Read full article: Pope weighed Iraq virus risk but believes God will protectFrancis said the idea of a trip “cooks over time in my conscience,” and that the pandemic was the issue that weighed most heavily on him. Francis, the Vatican delegation and traveling media were vaccinated against COVID-19, while most Iraqis haven't been. Francis said he wasn’t sure if he would have to slow down his usual whirlwind pace on future trips. Otherwise, the only other trip Francis has promised to make is to Lebanon, though he offered no time frame. He said the country's patriarch had asked him to add a Beirut leg onto his Iraq trip but that he had declined, thinking it would be like tossing the country “crumbs," given all Lebanon’s current problems.
EXPLAINER: Japan to try US men accused of helping Ghosn flee
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Japan to try US men accused of helping Ghosn fleeTwo Americans suspected of helping Ghosn skip bail and escape to Lebanon in December 2019 have been extradited to Japan. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)TOKYO – Two Americans suspected of helping former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn skip bail and escape to Lebanon in December 2019 have been extradited to Japan. The box passed through airport security in Osaka, central Japan, and was loaded onto a private jet that flew Ghosn to Turkey. Peter Taylor is accused of meeting with Ghosn and helping his father carry out the escape. Japan has put Ghosn on Interpol's wanted list, but Lebanon has no extradition treaty with Japan.
The Latest: India finds new cases of a coronavirus variant
Read full article: The Latest: India finds new cases of a coronavirus variant(AP Photo/Channi Anand)NEW DELHI — Health officials in India say cases of the coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa and Brazil have been found in India. Over 150 cases of another variant first detected in the United Kingdom have previously been found in India. ___SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea is reporting 621 new coronavirus cases. State health officials on Tuesday reported 1,132 new COVID-19 cases and three additional deaths. Spain has officially reported more than 3 million virus cases -- just over 6% of the population -- and attributed more than 65,400 deaths to the virus.
The Latest: Fauci wins $1 million for "defending science"
Read full article: The Latest: Fauci wins $1 million for "defending science"Fauci won a $1 million award from the Israeli Dan David Foundation for courageously defending science during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool, File)TEL AVIV, Israel — Dr. Anthony Fauci has won the $1 million Dan David Prize for “defending science” and advocating for vaccines now being administered worldwide to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The shots were supplied by Pfizer, which has a contract to sell 10 million vaccines to Colombia. The U.K.’s rapid rollout of coronavirus vaccines to the most at-risk groups has also helped. The good news: Many of the new COVID-19 vaccines are made with new, flexible technology that’s easy to upgrade.
High court denies accused Ghosn smugglers' bid to stay in US
Read full article: High court denies accused Ghosn smugglers' bid to stay in USTaylor is accused of smuggling former Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn out of Japan in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges. The flight went first to Turkey, and then to Lebanon, where Ghosn has citizenship but which has no extradition treaty with Japan. Lawyers for the Taylors argue the men can’t legally be extradited and will be treated unfairly in the Japan. Their lawyers told the Supreme Court in a brief filed Friday that the men would face harsh treatment in the Japanese criminal justice system. U.S. authorities had said they would not hand the men over to Japan while their bid for a stay was pending before Breyer, an attorney for the Taylors said.
Judge OKs extradition of 2 wanted in ex-Nissan boss' escape
Read full article: Judge OKs extradition of 2 wanted in ex-Nissan boss' escapeU.S. District Judge Indira Talwani rejected a request to block the U.S. from handing Michael Taylor and his son, Peter Taylor, over to Japan. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani rejected a request to block the U.S. from handing Michael Taylor and his son, Peter Taylor, over to Japan. AdGhosn is now in Lebanon, where he has citizenship but which has no extradition treaty with Japan. Meanwhile, Ghosn headed to the Grand Hyatt in Tokyo and met up with Peter Taylor, who was already in Japan. Peter Taylor hopped on a flight to China, authorities say.
Lebanon signs with Pfizer for 2.1 million vaccine doses
Read full article: Lebanon signs with Pfizer for 2.1 million vaccine doses(AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)BEIRUT – Lebanon finalized a deal with Pfizer on Sunday for 2.1 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine amid surge in infections that has overwhelmed the country's health care system. The doses are to arrive in Lebanon starting early February, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The government's statement said the Pfizer vaccines will be complemented with another 2.7 million doses from the U.N.-led program to provide for countries in need. Another 2 million doses are being negotiated in coordination with Lebanon's private sector and the other international pharmaceutical companies that have developed the vaccines, the ministry said. Iraq said it will secure Pfizer vaccines by early this year, but has not released any more information, including inoculation plans.
Lebanon begins new lockdown amid surge in coronavirus cases
Read full article: Lebanon begins new lockdown amid surge in coronavirus casesThe lockdown in Lebanon is the third since the first case was reported in late February. Also on Thursday, Lebanon broke its single-day record of new coronavirus cases for the third straight day, with 4,774 reported infections over the past 24 hours. The shortage of hard currency in Lebanon has severely curbed imports to the import-dependent country, including of medicine and medical supplies. In Egypt, Coptic Orthodox Christians were barred from attending Mass on Christmas Eve as the country fights a surge in coronavirus cases. Egypt has reported more than 145,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, including nearly 8,000 deaths.
World Bank warns of 'prolonged depression' in Lebanon
Read full article: World Bank warns of 'prolonged depression' in Lebanon(AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)BEIRUT – Lebanon’s economy faces an “arduous and prolonged depression,” with real GPD projected to plunge by nearly 20% because its politicians refuse to implement reforms that would speed up the country’s recovery, the World Bank said Tuesday. “Lack of effective policy action by authorities has subjected the economy to an arduous and prolonged depression,” the World Bank report said. “One year into the economic crisis, such policies have not yet been decided, let alone implemented. “Lack of political consensus on national priorities severely impedes Lebanon’s ability to implement long-term and visionary development policies,” said Saroj Kumar Jha, the World Bank regional director. “Without reforms, there can be no sustainable recovery and reconstruction, and the social and economic situation will continue to worsen,” the World Bank warned.
Japanese automaker Nissan posts loss amid pandemic, scandal
Read full article: Japanese automaker Nissan posts loss amid pandemic, scandalNissan Motor Co. had a profit of 59 billion yen in July-September of 2019. Yokohama-based Nissan reported Thursday its quarterly sales dipped to 1.9 trillion yen ($18 billion) from 2.6 trillion yen a year earlier. The company is still bleeding red ink and expects a 615 billion yen ($5.8 billion) loss for this fiscal year, which ends in March. That is still an improvement over its earlier projection for a 670 billion yen loss ($6.4 billion). Nissan posted a 671 billion yen loss in the previous fiscal year.
As anger rises, Muslims protest French cartoons
Read full article: As anger rises, Muslims protest French cartoonsSupporters of religious group burn a representation of a French flag during a rally against French President Emmanuel Macron and republishing of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad they deem blasphemous, in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. Muslims have been calling for both protests and a boycott of French goods in response to France's stance on caricatures of Islam's most revered prophet. Crowds of Islamist activists hanged an effigy of French President Emmanuel Macron from a highway overpass after pounding it furiously with their shoes. Turkey has led regional condemnation of the French president, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s verbal attacks on Macron prompting France to recall its ambassador to Turkey last weekend. Demonstrators trampled on portraits of Macron and called on Afghan leaders to shut down the French embassy, halt French imports and ban French citizens from visiting the country.
The Latest: Venezuela's Guaidó urges nations to decry Maduro
Read full article: The Latest: Venezuela's Guaidó urges nations to decry MaduroMember state flags fly outside the United Nations headquarters during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)TANZANIA – The Latest from the U.N. General Assembly (all times EDT):8:10 p.m. But U.S.-backed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó still put out his own online message during this year’s gathering of world leaders. Guaidó is recognized by nearly 60 nations as Venezuela’s president and has been in a nearly two-year standoff with Maduro. This week at the U.N. gathering of world leaders, African nations again have made it clear it’s time that changed.
Lebanese teen from Beirut joins global pop band
Read full article: Lebanese teen from Beirut joins global pop bandNour Ardakani, a teenage singer from Lebanon, gives an interview to The Associated Press in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Ardakani became the latest to join a global pop band formed by Simon Fuller, the man behind the Spice Girls and American Idol, which aims to transform young unknowns into internet superstars. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)DUBAI – A teenage singer from Lebanon this week became the latest to join a global pop band formed by Simon Fuller, the man behind the Spice Girls and “American Idol,” which aims to transform young unknowns into internet superstars. Ardakani scored the 16th spot in the band after a series of Zoom auditions from quarantine that drew talented contenders from the Middle East. The band, similar to Fuller’s previous projects in show business, represents a career kick-starting platform for those dreaming of being catapulted from obscurity to teen pop fame.
'The port came to us': Story behind AP photo of Beirut blast
Read full article: 'The port came to us': Story behind AP photo of Beirut blastFILE - In this Aug. 4, 2020 file photo, Hoda Kinno, 11, is evacuated by her uncle Mustafa, in the aftermath of a massive explosion at the port in Beirut, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)When Mustafa Kinno felt the ground shake and heard the deafening blast toward the port, he frantically called his brother living nearby. He tried a neighbor, who said the family was sitting outside their apartment across from the port when it exploded. An image of the two, captured by Associated Press photographer Hassan Ammar, has come to symbolize the devastation of the Aug. 4 blast at the Beirut port, which took 193 lives and wounded 6,500. In the chaotic aftermath of the explosion, the Kinno family separated, each of them taken to a different hospital.
Ohio, GOP defend limit on ballot drop boxes to 1 per county
Read full article: Ohio, GOP defend limit on ballot drop boxes to 1 per countyOhio and Republican groups including the Trump campaign are defending a GOP election chief's directive limiting ballot drop boxes in the critical presidential battleground to one per county. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio and Republican groups including the Trump campaign are fighting to uphold a GOP election chief's directive limiting ballot drop boxes in the presidential battleground to one per county. LaRose argued that the number of drop boxes per county must be uniform to be fair, and that lawmakers had made clear in a law passed this spring that ballots had to be mailed or personally delivered to county board directors. Interest in access to ballot drop boxes has increased nationally since spring primary voting was hampered by virus concerns, the U.S. It is often the more urban, Democrat-heavy counties that lean toward drop boxes.
Judge OKs extradition for men accused of aiding Ghosn escape
Read full article: Judge OKs extradition for men accused of aiding Ghosn escapeU.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell issued a ruling approving the extradition of Michael Taylor, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, and his son Peter Taylor, but the final decision rests with the State Department. The flight went first to Turkey, then to Lebanon, where Ghosn has citizenship but which has no extradition treaty with Japan. Bank records show Ghosn wired more than $860,000 to a company linked to Peter Taylor in October 2019, prosecutors said in court documents. Ghosns son also made cryptocurrency payments totaling about $500,000 to Peter Taylor in the first five months of this year, prosecutors say. The government seized $5 million from the bank account of Taylors company.
Lebanon begins partial lockdown amid spike in virus cases
Read full article: Lebanon begins partial lockdown amid spike in virus casesBEIRUT – Lebanon on Friday began a two-week partial lockdown and nighttime curfew after coronavirus cases increased sharply following an explosion in Beirut that killed and injured thousands of people. Confirmed cases of the virus have increased from 5,417 a day after the massive blast on Aug. 4 to more than 11,000 on Friday, leading officials to announce the lockdown. Virus cases had already been on the rise since the beginning of July, when an earlier lockdown was lifted and Lebanon’s only international airport was reopened. The blast overwhelmed the city’s hospitals and also badly damaged two that had a key role in handling virus cases. On Wednesday and Thursday, the UAE discovered over 400 confirmed cases of the virus, its highest numbers in about a month amid an aggressive testing campaign.
Sharp rise in virus cases in Lebanon after deadly port blast
Read full article: Sharp rise in virus cases in Lebanon after deadly port blastVirus numbers were expected to rise following the Aug. 4, explosion of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at the port. The blast overwhelmed the city's hospitals and also badly damaged two that had a key role in handling virus cases. On Monday, the Health Ministry registered 456 new cases and two deaths, a new daily record after Sunday's 439 virus cases and six fatalities. The new infections bring to 9,337 the total number of cases in the small country of just over 5 million. The U.N. force deployed in southern Lebanon along the border with Israel reported 22 of its peacekeepers have tested positive.
4-year-old’s lemonade stand raises thousands of dollars for Beirut blast victims
Read full article: 4-year-old’s lemonade stand raises thousands of dollars for Beirut blast victimsThe Badaoui family, who lives in Dearborn, Michigan, ended up hosting that lemonade stand -- but it wasn’t so little. Mustapha Badaoui was putting it into terms his 4-year-old daughter Fatima, who goes by the nickname Fufu, could understand. “We were saying people were hurt, they lost their stuff, and (Fatima) says, ‘Why don’t we help the people in Lebanon?’” Mustapha Badaoui recalled. In addition to Fufu, the Badaoui family has two other children, ages 2 and 1. “I haven’t told her that she won’t make this much in the future just yet,” Mustapha Badaoui responded with a laugh.
Lebanon Parliament meets after blast, government resignation
Read full article: Lebanon Parliament meets after blast, government resignationThe session opened with a moment of silence for the more than 170 people killed in the blast. The explosion has fueled outrage and protests against top political leaders and led to the resignation of the government Monday. Parliament is due to discuss whether to extend the state of emergency in Beirut declared Aug. 5 by the government before it resigned. Since the resignation, there has been a flurry of closed-door meetings and political haggling to form a government that meets the approval of domestic and international powers. Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale was due to arrive in Lebanon for a two-day visit.
Show of solidarity after blast as Lebanon braces for protest
Read full article: Show of solidarity after blast as Lebanon braces for protestThe port area lies in devastation following this week's massive explosion in the port of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. The blast killed 154 people, wounded more than 5,000 and laid waste to the countrys largest port and nearby areas. Also expected in Lebanon Saturday was the president of the European Council, Charles Michel. At the site of the blast in Beiruts port, workers were still searching for dozens of people who have been missing since Tuesday. It made an unscheduled detour to Beirut as the Russian shipowner was struggling with debts and hoped to earn some extra cash in Lebanon.
'The world exploded': Beirut blast takes a husband, father
Read full article: 'The world exploded': Beirut blast takes a husband, fatherThis Aug. 19, 2019 photo photo provided by Soha Saade,, shows Soha and her husband Jihad with their children Gemma and Karl, in Miziara, north of Lebanon. (Soha Saade via AP)BEIRUT Soha Saade had not seen her husband since Christmas. The coronavirus pandemic had kept 44-year-old Jihad in Nigeria, where he worked far from his family in Beirut. Together, Jihad and Soha spent 13 days with their daughter, Gemma, as she received treatment. We only had one more day left in the hospital, Soha said.
Fireworks, ammonium nitrate likely fueled Beirut explosion
Read full article: Fireworks, ammonium nitrate likely fueled Beirut explosion(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)Fireworks and ammonium nitrate appear to have been the fuel that ignited a massive explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut, experts and videos of the blast suggest. That likely came from a fire that engulfed what initially appeared to be fireworks that were stored at the port. Online videos of the disaster's initial moments show sparks and lights inside the smoke rising from the blaze, just prior to the massive blast. He based his figure on the amount of ammonium nitrate that were reported, but said “we need to be careful with specific statements” due to still incomplete information available. The devastation surrounding the port resembled other ammonium nitrate explosions, such as the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and a 1947 ship explosion that struck Texas City, Texas.
‘Devastating for the country’: Houstonians recall surviving Lebanon explosion
Read full article: ‘Devastating for the country’: Houstonians recall surviving Lebanon explosionHOUSTON – Members of a well-known Lebanese family from Houston survived the catastrophic explosion in Lebanon on Tuesday. “Everybody knows somebody who was in one way or another affected by this,” Susan Hage said via zoom from Lebanon. “He loved Houston, he taught us to love Houston,” his daughter, Rita Joubran said. “But he taught us to always remember where we came from.”Every summer for decades, the family returned to Lebanon. It’s devastating for the country.
PHOTOS: Beirut explosion leaves behind unspeakable damage
Read full article: PHOTOS: Beirut explosion leaves behind unspeakable damagePhoto by Daniel Carde (Getty Images)Scenes in Beirut, Lebanon following an explosion near the city's port area on Tuesday. Photo by Daniel Carde (Getty Images)Scenes in Beirut, Lebanon following an explosion near the city's port area on Tuesday. Photo by Daniel Carde (Getty Images)Scenes in Beirut, Lebanon following an explosion near the city's port area on Tuesday. Photo by Daniel Carde (Getty Images)Scenes in Beirut, Lebanon following an explosion near the city's port area on Tuesday. Photo by Marwan Tahtah (Getty Images)Scenes in Beirut, Lebanon following an explosion near the city's port area on Tuesday.
Videos and photos emerging on social media of Beirut explosion
Read full article: Videos and photos emerging on social media of Beirut explosionA massive explosion happened in Beirut on Tuesday, causing immense damage and destruction, according to multiple reports. The explosion happened in downtown Beirut, and according to reports, was big enough to have a mushroom cloud rise above the capital city. Videos and photos of the explosion and its destruction have started to surface on social media, and words don’t do justice to how much devastation this explosion has on the city. I felt like I’m dying, I still can’t believe it #Lebanon #Beirut pic.twitter.com/EMTS470FOH — Ahmad M. Yassine | أحمد م. ياسين (@Lobnene_Blog) August 4, 2020BREAKING: Massive explosion in Beirut.
Massive Beirut blast kills more than 70, injures thousands
Read full article: Massive Beirut blast kills more than 70, injures thousandsBEIRUT – A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the city's port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky. Lebanon's interior minister said it appeared that a large cache of ammonium nitrate in the port had detonated. Charbel Haj, who works at the port, said the blast started as small explosions like firecrackers. Many residents reported hearing planes overhead just before the blast, fueling rumors of an attack, though Israeli military overflights are common. The blast came at a time when Lebanon’s economy is facing collapse from the financial crisis and the coronavirus restrictions.
No bail for 2 accused of helping ex-Nissan boss escape Japan
Read full article: No bail for 2 accused of helping ex-Nissan boss escape JapanBOSTON A Massachusetts father and son who prosecutors say helped smuggle Nissans former chairman out of Japan last year were denied bail by a federal judge in Boston on Friday. The Taylors' lawyers had argued the pair were unlawfully arrested and cant be extradited because bail jumping is not a crime in Japan and, therefore, helping someone evade their bail conditions isnt a crime, either. The Taylors are wanted in Japan on allegations that they helped Ghosn flee the country in December while he was out on bail and awaiting trial on financial misconduct allegations. Authorities say the Taylors helped sneak Ghosn out of a hotel in a large box and then out of Japan on a private jet. The flight took Ghosn to Lebanon, where Ghosn has citizenship but which has no extradition treaty with Japan.
Diageo goes green with carbon neutral distillery in Kentucky
Read full article: Diageo goes green with carbon neutral distillery in KentuckyIts distillery being built at Lebanon, Kentucky, is expected to be carbon neutral a first for the London-based company. The $130 million distillery of Bulleit bourbon is expected to be fully operational in 2021. This groundbreaking undertaking to electrify our operations and then power them with renewable electricity will result in one of the largest carbon neutral distilleries in North America." The renewable electricity will be supplied by Inter-County Energy and East Kentucky Power Cooperative, it said. The plant will supplement the company's Kentucky operations at the Stitzel-Weller distillery in Louisville and its distillery at Shelbyville.
Were they worth it?: Key protest movements over the decades
Read full article: Were they worth it?: Key protest movements over the decadesThe very nature of a protest suggests a fervent desire for change, the need to right a perceived historic injustice. Confronting tyranny can also backfire, the result a more dictatorial leader or a ruinous civil war. Here's a look at some of the key protests of recent decades and what they achieved or failed. Syria exploded quickly from an uprising against the Assad dynasty to ruinous civil war which still continues with more than half million dead and millions displaced. In neighboring Lebanon and in Iraq, civil protests erupted last October against ruling elites.