by Florence Massena  – Al Monitor – BEIRUT — In Lebanon, women count for 3.1% of the deputies in parliament compared to 22% on average elsewhere in the world. Meanwhile, Lebanese parliamentarians refused to pass in June a quota guaranteeing that women must represent 30% of decision-making positions in politics. In this context, succeeding professionally as a Lebanese woman is challenging. But some incentives and business organizations are pushing potential candidates to try and launch their own businesses in this sexist climate. Aline Kamakian, the owner of Mayrig, an Armenian restaurant in Beirut, began selling life insurance policies at age 18, after her father died. “I faced a lot of sexual harassment, because at that time a woman selling stuff was considered selling herself,” Kamakian told Al-Monitor. “But I overcame my frustrations and succeeded. In 2003, I opened my father’s dream restaurant, Mayrig.” But without a father or husband, she couldn’t get a loan and had to ask her cousin to be her business partner. “It is not by law but common practice. It wasn’t until this year that I could buy my cousin’s shares,” she added.

The Daily Star BEIRUT: A shrine to Maronite Saint Charbel was inaugurated at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on Saturday. Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai attended the inauguration ceremony, giving his blessing and a dedication. “St. Charbel now watches over you from 5th Avenue at St. Patrick’s Cathedral,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop […]

by Rick Liaz, Contributor – huffingtonpost.com — Lifestyle blogging has been wide spread among many Instagram accounts. It has become a trend, a popular platform for people to share all sort of experiences. But what happens when an Instagram account becomes a community by itself? Well, this Lebanese account — MAGLebanon — will explain to […]

by www.ncronline.org Washington — U.S. Vice President Mike Pence criticized the United Nations’ efforts to help persecuted Christians in the Middle East in a speech Oct. 25. Since the organization “failed” to help Christians and other minority religious communities, he said, aid from the United States from now on would be routed through the U.S. Agency for International Development and “faith-based and private organizations” to help those who are persecuted in the region.The vice president, who was the keynote speaker at the Solidarity Dinner for the Washington-based group In Defense of Christians, did not identify any of the faith-based or private groups that will receive the money, nor did he say how much they will receive, but instead criticized the U.N. saying it had denied help to faith-based groups.

Peter Rutzler 8 hours Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/essentials/sport/rugby-league-fever-gripping-lebanon-eve-world-cup/ Peter Rutzler 8 hours Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/essentials/sport/rugby-league-fever-gripping-lebanon-eve-world-cup/ By Peter Rutzler –– Lebanon is not the first place that comes to mind when you think rugby league. But, thanks to the country’s Australian diaspora, the sport has found a foothold in the Middle East. Their return to […]

Peter Rutzler 8 hours Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/essentials/sport/rugby-league-fever-gripping-lebanon-eve-world-cup/ Peter Rutzler 8 hours Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/essentials/sport/rugby-league-fever-gripping-lebanon-eve-world-cup/ By Peter Rutzler –– Lebanon is not the first place that comes to mind when you think rugby league. But, thanks to the country’s Australian diaspora, the sport has found a foothold in the Middle East. Their return to […]

By Reuters – Beirut: The Lebanese central bank has the foreign-currency reserves it needs to keep the pound stable against the US dollar at its pegged rate for the foreseeable future, the central bank governor said on Tuesday. Riad Salameh also told Reuters in an interview that since June the central bank has been engaged […]

  By Ashley Stilson – ksl.com SALT LAKE CITY — The head of the Maronite Catholic Church visited Salt Lake City on Friday, speaking with interfaith leaders about difficulties his country faces amid a surge in refugees. Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church in Lebanon, met with each Salt Lake […]

CI has also affirmed the ‘B’ foreign currency issue ratings and ‘Stable’ Outlook assigned to Lebanon’s $3 billion global notes issued in three tranches ($1.25 billion due in 2027; $1 billion due in 2032; and $0.75 billion due in 2037) earlier this year. The ratings’ affirmation reflects the relative stabilisation of domestic political risk factors following the end of a two-year political stalemate and the endorsement of an electoral law that is expected to pave the way for parliamentary elections in May 2018. The policymaking environment has also improved, with parliament recently passing the annual draft budget law for the first time in a decade. The ratings affirmation also takes into account Lebanon’s stable buffer of foreign exchange reserves, which provide adequate coverage of the country’s external debt.

Lebanon’s ratings are fundamentally supported by: adequate international liquidity; a remarkably reliable (though undiversified) investor base and strong donor support; and an unblemished record of meeting debt obligations, even during difficult times. The ratings are constrained by: heavy indebtedness and large financing needs; a weak budget structure and limited fiscal flexibility; socio-economic challenges; the slow pace of economic and fiscal reforms; and local and regional political risks. Economic activity has picked up modestly in 2017 but remains relatively weak, with real GDP growth expected to reach around 2.1 per cent, driven by domestic consumption and a rebound in tourism. The short to medium-term outlook has improved slightly, supported by the prospect of a more stable domestic political climate and efforts to restore relations with GCC member states in order to attract tourism, inward investment and boost expatriate employment.

As a result, CI expects real GDP growth to increase to 2.4 per cent in 2018-2019. On the downside, the conflict in Syria continues to weigh heavily on the performance and stability of the Lebanese economy. The influx of refugees, who now comprise around one-third of the population, is placing significant pressure on the country’s limited resources and creating significant social challenges. The public finances remain weak, with the central government budget deficit expected to decrease to 7.9 per cent of GDP in 2017 from 9.7 per cent in 2016 due to a decline in the treasury transfers to municipalities. The primary budget surplus is expected to improve to 1.8 per cent of GDP in 2017, compared to less than 0.1 per cent in 2016, as the government has managed to secure its financing needs at more favourable rates. Public debt remains high and is expected at around 148 per cent of GDP in 2017. Refinancing risk remains significant, with the government’s gross financing requirement likely to exceed 35 per cent of GDP in 2017.

WAM (Emirates News Agency) – BEIRUT- Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Joseph Khalil Aoun, has praised the critical and constructive role the UAE in Lebanon, especially the support provided in demining the country’s southern region and the provision of military assistance. During his meeting with Hamad Saeed Sultan Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to […]