Gulf states have long channelled funds into Lebanon’s fragile economy, but they are alarmed by the rising influence of Hezbollah, a powerful group backed by their archrival, Iran, and so far appear loath to ease Beirut’s financial crisis
Liban: Hariri ne voit aucune sortie de crise sans un soutien arabe challenges.fr - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from challenges.fr Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Tuesday 4th August was a beautiful, sunny day in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. It was warm and there was a clear blue sky, but the streets were quiet, with none of the levity residents have long associated with this normally carefree and chaotic city. Lebanon’s recent economic crash, a fresh bout of political dysfunction and the Covid-19 pandemic had all combined to create an atmosphere of anxiety. Many felt that Lebanon had hit rock bottom. What else could possibly go wrong?
“I came to work early that evening, ordered a coffee at Bartartine next door and had a chat with the waiter. He knows exactly how I like my coffee because he brings it to me every day,” says Tommy Tabib. Tabib is the owner of L’osteria, a bar in the middle of Mar Mikhael, a street next to the port of Beirut that’s lined with hundreds of little pubs, restaurants and cafés. “We had a chat about how he was hoping to leave the country, how he was planning to study abroad – such a bright guy.”
The families of the victims of a horrific car crash that killed four children say it's been important for them to forgive the driver in order to cope with their loss.
Afghanistan should be wary of a government with power sharing
The Afghan government has never been able to rule widely at the local level, leaving power brokers to enjoy certain autonomy and administer economic activities, counting on informal consultative bodies, such as community councils, and tribal law and customs
By Patric Karam
While the peace talks in Afghanistan are stalled until the administration of Joe Biden takes new action, calls for more power sharing mechanisms to represent manifold groups in the political system are gaining momentum. This is a tempting idea, and Afghans have had a taste of power sharing in recent years, starting with the appointment of Hamid Karzai as president with the diverse ethnic cabinet, and then the deal between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah after an election dispute.