#michel_suleiman

Will #Michel_Suleiman be tried ?
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/will-michel-suleiman-be-tried

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French President Francois Hollande (R), welcomes Lebanese counterpart Michel Sleimane as he arrives at the Elysee Palace for a meeting on June 19, 2014 in Paris. (Photo: AFP-Alain Jocard) French President Francois Hollande (R), welcomes Lebanese counterpart Michel Sleimane as he arrives at the Elysee Palace for a meeting on June 19, 2014 in Paris. (Photo: AFP-Alain Jocard)

The step that former Lebanese deputy speaker, #Elie_Ferzli, took against former Lebanese President Michel Suleiman is remarkable and quite bold, both in its timing and substance. While the judicial system in Paris detained former French President Nicolas Sarkozy for questioning, Ferzli was discussing with legal experts in Beirut the possibility of (...)

#Opinion #Abu_Bakr_al_Baghdadi #al-Qaeda #Articles #Ayman_al_Zawahiri #Iraq #ISIS #Lebanon #syria

Aoun’s initiative: To make an opening in procedures, or to breach the system?
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/aoun%E2%80%99s-initiative-make-opening-procedures-or-breach-syste

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MP #Michel_Aoun giving a speech at his residence in Rabieh. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi) MP Michel Aoun giving a speech at his residence in Rabieh. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi)

It is not surprising that MP Michel Aoun, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), has once again alluded to the Orthodox Gathering’s electoral proposal with a view to achieve true Muslim-Christian parity in the Lebanese political establishment. However, it was truly surprising that Aoun has called for the president to be elected directly by the people, exceptionally, to vote in a new president – as though the real problem lies there, rather in the powers and role of the president post-Taif Accord.

Nicolas Nassif (...)

#Opinion #Articles #FPM #Henri_Helou #Lebanese_Council_of_Ministers #Lebanese_Forces #Michel_Suleiman #Samir_Geagea #Taif_Accord

#state_security : One man’s den of corruption
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/state-security-one-man%E2%80%99s-den-corruption

State Security is just a fancy name for what is in fact a den of incompetence and corruption. In this so-called directorate, the talents of around 2,500 officers, noncommissioned officers, and servicemen and women are squandered, as well as millions of dollars each year in taxpayer money. Is it not time to abolish, or at least rein in the corruption at the General Directorate of State Security that has not made any noteworthy achievement in years? read more

#Lebanon #Abdo_Faddoul #Antoine_Lahd #Articles #Elias_Kaikati #George_Qaraa #Hezbollah #Major_General_Nabih_Farhat #Michel_Suleiman #Ministry_of_Telecommunications #resistance

#state_security : One man’s den of corruption
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/state-security-one-man%E2%80%99s-den-corruption-0

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A State Security officer escorts an official to the Lebanese parliament. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) A State Security officer escorts an official to the Lebanese parliament. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah)

State Security is just a fancy name for what is in fact a den of incompetence and corruption. In this so-called directorate, the talents of around 2,500 officers, noncommissioned officers, and servicemen and women are squandered, as well as millions of dollars each year in taxpayer money. Is it not time to abolish, or at least rein in the corruption at the General Directorate of State Security that has not made any noteworthy achievement in years?

Radwan Mortada

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#Lebanon #Abdo_Faddoul #Antoine_Lahd #Articles #Elias_Kaikati #George_Qaraa #Hezbollah #Major_General_Nabih_Farhat #Michel_Suleiman #Ministry_of_Telecommunications #resistance

#Michel_Suleiman «secretly» naturalized 644 individuals as Lebanese citizens
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/michel-suleiman-secretly-naturalized-644-individuals-lebanese-cit

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Michel Suleiman at a cabinet meeting on May 23, 2014. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi) Michel Suleiman at a cabinet meeting on May 23, 2014. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi)

Before the end of his presidential term, former Lebanese President Michel Suleiman’s team prepared a decree granting Lebanese citizenship to 300 individuals and families (about 644 people in total). These are people from different nationalities - some nationalities of which are highly coveted by the Lebanese themselves - who decided to acquire Lebanese citizenship. The reasons for most of them are unknown, just like the mechanism that brought their names to the attention of decision-makers in the Baabda presidential palace. read (...)

#Lebanon #Articles #France #Great_Britain #naturalization #Palestinian #passports

Aoun: Beware of repeating the “presidential sin” of 2008
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/aoun-beware-repeating-presidential-sin%E2%80%9D-2008

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MP #Michel_Aoun (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) MP Michel Aoun (Photo: Marwan Tahtah)

In the absence of any serious external intervention to end the stalemate concerning the presidential elections – with the major powers limiting their efforts thus far to issuing a UN Security Council statement calling for the election of a new president – MP Michel Aoun has now warned against repeating the scenario where an undeserving candidate is installed in Baabda Palace. read more

#Lebanon #Ali_Hassan_Khalil #Articles #Future_Movement #Lebanese_elections #Lebanese_parliament #Lebanese_president #Michel_Suleiman #Tammam_Salam

The conspiracy scenario: Hariri and #Hezbollah against Aoun
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/conspiracy-scenario-hariri-and-hezbollah-against-aoun

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Presidential hopeful, #Michel_Aoun. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi) Presidential hopeful, Michel Aoun. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi)

A Lebanese politician returning from #Paris recounts his tale about what he calls a “presidential conspiracy” in the French capital. According to the politician, [Saad] Hariri, [Fouad] Siniora, and [Samir] Geagea, with [Walid] Jumblatt and Saud al-Faisal close at hand, had agreed on the required scenario to eliminate Michel Aoun’s candidacy for the presidency. However, they arrived at the question of how to avoid a presidential vacuum, particularly since this was a red line for more than one regional player.

Jean Aziz

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#Opinion #Ain_al-Hilweh #Articles #Ashraf_Rifi #Bkirki #Fouad_Siniora #gebran_bassil #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #Michel_Suleiman #Nahr_al-Bared #Saad_Hariri #Samir_Geagea #Tarik_al-Jdideh

Salam and the Christians in government work to prevent presidential vacuum
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/salam-and-christians-government-work-prevent-presidential-vacuum

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A picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (R) meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister #Tammam_Salam in Jeddah during the latter’s visit to the kingdom on May 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP/HO/SPA) A picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (R) meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam in Jeddah during the latter’s visit to the kingdom on May 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP/HO/SPA)

Since the presidential post will soon be vacant, the government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam will take center stage. Salam’s visit to #Saudi_Arabia will be the first step taken by the post-May-25-government. (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Beshara_al-Rai #Free_Patriotic_Movement #King_Abdullah_bin_Abdul_Aziz #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #Maronite #Michel_Aoun #Michel_Suleiman

#Lebanon: US watching presidential elections closely, no favored candidate yet
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-us-watching-presidential-elections-closely-no-favored-can

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Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam (C) casts his vote to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid) Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam (C) casts his vote to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid)

Slowly, international attention is beginning to turn to the #Lebanese_presidential_elections, as if it was waiting for the post to be vacant to display enthusiasm. Ambassadors are urging the election of a president before the constitutional deadline [on May 25]. They are watching the different actors without directly intervening or favoring a specific candidate. They (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Emile_Lahoud #Michel_Suleiman

#Ashraf_Rifi, turn yourself in !
►http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/ashraf-rifi-turn-yourself

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Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah)

Ashraf Rifi is indeed a man passionate about justice, especially international justice, and he seeks to insure that all its elements are provided. He clearly expressed it when he was first assigned to assist the international fact-checking committee when it arrived to #Lebanon just weeks after the assassination of late Prime Minister #Rafik_Hariri.

Ibrahim al-Amin

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#Opinion #Articles #Charbel_Nahas #Ghazi_al-Aridi #ISF #lebanese_army #Michel_Suleiman #Said_Mirza #Ziad_Baroud

Lebanese presidency: May 25 is not the deadline for regional efforts
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanese-presidency-may-25-not-deadline-regional-efforts

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Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri casts his vote to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid/Pool) Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri casts his vote to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid/Pool)

Though the Lebanese are anticipating May 25, the constitutional deadline for electing a new president, regional and international powers aren’t concerned with this date. They are only interested in maintaining security and stability in the country.

Hiyam Kossayfi

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#Opinion #Articles #FPM #Future_Movement #Hezbollah #Lebanese_Forces #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #Michel_Aoun #Michel_Suleiman #Saad_Hariri #Samir_Geagea

#Lebanon: New #rent_law could lead to disaster
►http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-looming-disaster-new-rent-law

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People on old rent contracts protest in the Hamra neighborhood of Beirut against the controversial new rent law which will increase their rents over a period of several years. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) People on old rent contracts protest in the Hamra neighborhood of Beirut against the controversial new rent law which will increase their rents over a period of several years. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah)

Not satisfied with the MPs’ shocking leniency in adopting the new rent law, the president decided to bid farewell to the Lebanese by refusing to send the law back to parliament or even allowing it to be challenged at the Constitutional Council despite admitting to its “lack of social justice.” Although the law is of its own (...)

#Culture_&_Society #Articles #Lebanese_parliament #Majed_Fayyad #Michel_Suleiman

Is Rai’s visit to occupied #Palestine a political coup?
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/rai%E2%80%99s-visit-occupied-palestine-political-coup

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Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, second from the right. (Photo: Marwan Bou Haidar) Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, second from the right. (Photo: Marwan Bou Haidar)

We watched the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Beshara Boutros al-Rai, with joyful hearts as he rebuilt the image of the #maronite_church in the Arab East, appealing to the Christians first. Those who are not aware should realize that the image of this Lebanese church - with all due reverence and respect - is confusing for the rest of the east.

Nahed Hattar

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#Opinion #Arab_Christians #Articles #Israel #jerusalem #Lebanese_Forces #Lebanon #Maaloula #Michel_Suleiman #Orthodox_Church #phalange #syria

An Aoun-Hariri alliance could steer the country
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/aoun-hariri-alliance-could-steer-country

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Lebanese member of parliament #Michel_Aoun holds a press conference following a parliament session to vote for the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid) Lebanese member of parliament Michel Aoun holds a press conference following a parliament session to vote for the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid)

The private talks between Aoun and Hariri are now public. Former Prime Minister #Saad_Hariri has opted for endless negotiations as his prefered tactic until time runs out, or his opponents get exhausted. In the meantime, he is making significant political gains, some tactical, (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Future_Movement #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #MARCH_14 #March_8 #Michel_Suleiman

#Lebanon: Presidential void inevitable
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-presidential-void-inevitable

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Lebanese members of parliament count the votes after casting their ballots to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid/POOL) Lebanese members of parliament count the votes after casting their ballots to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid/POOL)

Judging from what happened on April 23 and April 30, the upcoming sessions of parliament to elect a new president are only a facade until political factions can decide on a consensus candidate. The number of MPs attending – those who want to reach quorum and those who want to evade it – will dwindle week after week. The (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Free_Patriotic_Movement #Future_Movement #Hezbollah #Lebanese_Forces #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Michel_Aoun #Michel_Suleiman #Saad_Hariri #Samir_Geagea #Tammam_Salam #Walid_Jumblatt

#Henri_Helou, a “serious” candidate
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/henri-helou-serious%E2%80%9D-candidate

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Presidential candidate, MP Henri Helou. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi) Presidential candidate, MP Henri Helou. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi)

In the Lebanese parliament, greedy vicious beasts prevail, but there are also a few rather gentle creatures who reached the chamber by mere chance. MP Henri Helou is one of them. A decent man indeed, so decent you would think he belongs to one of those groups that gives free hugs. But after just one hour with him, you cease to ridicule his candidacy for presidency and actually start to sympathize with the man.

Ghassan Saoud

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#Opinion #Amchit #Articles #Fadi_al-Awar #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #Michel_Chiha #Michel_Suleiman #Okab_Sakr #Pierre_Helou #Tammam_Salam #Walid_Jumblatt

#Lebanese_presidential_elections: Looking for a president, not just a candidate
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanese-presidential-elections-looking-president-not-just-candid

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Lebanese security forces stand guard outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut as members of parliament gather to elect the new Lebanese president on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid) Lebanese security forces stand guard outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut as members of parliament gather to elect the new Lebanese president on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid)

The first parliament session for the presidential elections concluded without electing a new president, though the session confirmed the principle of "no winners, no losers.” The session was nothing more than muscle flexing, with each one of the three main political factions casting their votes. The outcome: No faction comprises a (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Bashir_Gemayel #Charles_Helou #Elias_Sarkis #Fouad_Chehab #Henri_Helou #Lebanese_Forces #Lebanon #Michel_Suleiman #Nabih_Berri #Samir_Geagea #Suleiman_Franjieh #Walid_Jumblatt

#Michel_Aoun: The last strong presidential candidate
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/michel-aoun-last-strong-presidential-candidate

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Lebanese President #Michel_Suleiman (L) attends the 25th Arab League summit at Bayan palace in Kuwait City on March 25, 2014. His term expires at the end of May, with Michel Aoun looking to succeed him. (Photo: AFP-Yasser al-Zayyat) Lebanese President Michel Suleiman (L) attends the 25th Arab League summit at Bayan palace in Kuwait City on March 25, 2014. His term expires at the end of May, with Michel Aoun looking to succeed him. (Photo: AFP-Yasser al-Zayyat)

We will not have another presidential election like this one. Since 1990, people have hoped that a strong president would return to the Baabda presidential palace to create a balance between Christian, Sunni, and Shia influence in the government. (...)

#Lebanon #Articles #France #gebran_bassil #Hariri #Iran #Jean_Obeid #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Nabih_Berri #Saudi_Arabia #US #Walid_Jumblatt #Ziad_Baroud

Has the race for Baabda begun ?
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/has-race-baabda-started

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Who will succeed President #Michel_Suleiman? (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) Who will succeed President Michel Suleiman? (Photo: Marwan Tahtah)

As Al-Akhbar predicted, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri has chosen Wednesday, April 23 as the date for the first session for parliament to elect a new president for #Lebanon. Some have seen the move as a knee-jerk reaction to parliament’s about-face regarding the wage hike for public sector employees on Tuesday. However, sources close to Berri confirm that it is indeed the first round in the presidential face-off.

Jean Aziz

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#Opinion #Amine_Gemayel #Articles #Bandar_bin_Sultan #Boutros_Harb #Fouad_Siniora #Future_Movement #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Michel_Aoun #Robert_Ghanem #Samir_Geagea

Will the #Future_Movement abandon its favored candidates once again?
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/will-future-movement-abandon-its-favored-candidates-once-again

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A handout picture distributed by the Lebanese Forces on April 4, 2014 shows Lebanese Christian leader #Samir_Geagea (C) and his wife and Parliament Member Setrida Geagea (C-L) attending a press conference in Maarab, northeast of Beirut. (Photo: AFP-Lebanese Forces/Ayoub) A handout picture distributed by the Lebanese Forces on April 4, 2014 shows Lebanese Christian leader Samir Geagea (C) and his wife and Parliament Member Setrida Geagea (C-L) attending a press conference in Maarab, northeast of Beirut. (Photo: AFP-Lebanese Forces/Aldo Ayoub)

Almost all Lebanese political factions agree that none of the current presidential candidates will win in the first round of voting, which requires a two-thirds majority of MPs, (...)

#Lebanon #Articles #Boutros_Harb #Hezbollah #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Michel_Aoun #Michel_Suleiman #Nabih_Berri #Robert_Ghanem #Sayed_Hassan_Nassrallah

Thaw in Iranian-Saudi relations pacifies #Lebanon, but what about #syria?
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/19350

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Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz (L) attending a conference with his entourage. (Photo: AFP) Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz (L) attending a conference with his entourage. (Photo: AFP)

The preliminary success of the security plan in north Lebanon, following the appointment of the new government, poses several questions about whether it was the result of a local agreement or a reflection of regional breakthroughs. According to information obtained by Al-Akhbar, the tension between #Iran and the Saudi Kingdom are expected to thaw in the event that preliminary contacts lead to an agreement on some common points. If this succeeds, the security situation would be likely to calm down in Lebanon and a consensus on the next (...)

#Opinion #Aleppo #Articles #Hassan_Nasrallah #Hezbollah #Lebanese_Forces #MARCH_14 #March_8 #Michel_Aoun #Michel_Suleiman #Nabih_Berri #Samir_Geagea #Saudi_Arabia #US

New productive ventures a third option for Syrian #refugees
►http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/new-productive-ventures-third-option-syrian-refugees

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Syrian refugees wait their turn at a #UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) registration center, one of many across #Lebanon, in the northern port city of Tripoli on April 3, 2014.(Photo: Joseph Eid) Syrian refugees wait their turn at a UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) registration center, one of many across Lebanon, in the northern port city of Tripoli on April 3, 2014.(Photo: Joseph Eid)

With the crisis in #syria entering its fourth year, most Lebanese politicians now agree that the huge number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon constitutes what they call an “existential threat.” But the solutions they have proposed to mitigate it, such as providing aid and building camps, do not address the core problem. (...)

#Culture_&_Society #Articles #Charbel_Nahhas #Gibran_Bassil #Michel_Suleiman #Rashid_Derbas

Regional developments to determine presidential election date
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/regional-developments-determine-presidential-election-date

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Baabda Palace, the seat of the Lebanese presidency. (Photo: Archive) Baabda Palace, the seat of the Lebanese presidency. (Photo: Archive)

According to the constitution, the deadline for #Lebanon’s presidential election is May 25. However, politically-speaking, there might be another deadline which is the last few days before the end of the parliamentary term on November 20.

Hiyam Kossayfi

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#Articles #Bashar_al-Assad #Iran #Lebanon #Michel_Suleiman #presidential_elections #Russia #Saudi_Arabia #syria #turkey

#Lebanon’s illegal #gambling: on land, sea and online
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon%E2%80%99s-illegal-gambling-land-sea-and-online

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(Photo: Haitham Moussawi) (Photo: Haitham Moussawi)

As gambling becomes more popular, people in Lebanon, most notably in the districts of #Keserwan and #Jbeil, gamble at homes, and cafes. They also join video poker games in entertainment centers, and go to charity bingo events. The gambling sector is linked to a large network of political and financial interests, although the 1995 law number 417 gives #Casino_Du_Liban a monopoly on gambling in Lebanon. This is why Casino Du Liban has filed a complaint before the State Consultative Council in 2012, asking for US$ 100 million in indemnities, and for the right to renegotiate its contract with the state, which ends in 2026.

Bassam Alkantar (...)

#Culture_&_Society #Articles #Marwan_Charbel #Michel_Suleiman

#Lebanon in urgent need of new press law
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-urgent-need-new-press-law

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A protester displays a placard during a rally to support #press_freedom in Hong Kong on March 2, 2014.(Photo: AFP-Philippe Lopez) A protester displays a placard during a rally to support press freedom in Hong Kong on March 2, 2014.(Photo: AFP-Philippe Lopez)

Clinging to obsolete laws that fail to strike a proper balance between freedom of expression and defamation, and legitimate criticism and injury to reputation, #Lebanon - generally hailed as a relatively liberal Arab country - has repeatedly cornered journalists, detained bloggers, and silenced activists in the name of legal justice.

Rana Harbi

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#Articles #Ashraf_Rifi #Ibrahim_al-Amin #Michel_Suleiman #Mohammed_Nazzal