By AFP — Lebanese actress Stephanie Saliba was released after questioning Friday as a witness in a corruption probe involving Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, a judicial source and her agent told AFP. Saliba was detained after failing to appear for previous summons in the case and was subsequently “questioned as a witness” in the investigation into money laundering and illicit enrichment, the source said. Saliba was set free on condition she return for more questioning when needed, a judicial official and the state-run National News Agency said. The arrest is the latest in the controversy surrounding the governor, Riad Salameh, who is being investigated for corruption as an economic meltdown and financial collapse convulse the tiny nation.

According to the National News Agency, a judge, acting on the request by Lebanon’s top financial prosecutor Ali Ibrahim, ordered that Saliba be placed in custody after she showed up earlier in the day at the prosecutors office in Beirut for questioning. The report gave no reason for her arrest. A judicial official said investigative Judge Iman Abdullah questioned Saliba over “illicit enrichment and money laundering.” The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, did not give further details. Saliba was later questioned by Mount Lebanon Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun, who has been investigating Salameh. Aoun set Saliba free on Friday evening on condition that she comes for further questioning when needed, the judicial official said, adding that Saliba will be also banned from leaving the country until the questioning ends.

Story by Shubham Singh — The UAE has got the first position in the rating of passports for 2022, while India was ranked 87 in the list of the strongest passports in the world, while Lebanon came number 86 along with Nigeria and Nepal. After the UAE, European nations dominated the list’s top ten positions. […]

Story by Tim McDonnell — quartz — Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman met this week in Riyadh to discuss oil trade and other issues. On Dec. 9, the leaders of Saudi Arabia and China met in Riyadh—Xi Jinping’s first visit there since 2016. He and his counterpart, crown prince […]

By Najia Houssari — arabnews.com — BEIRUT: Lebanon’s divided parliament failed to elect a new president on Thursday for a ninth time, with many MPs spoiling their ballots, including one who cast a vote for “Nelson Mandela.” Hezbollah opponent Michel Moawad won the support of 39 MPs, but fell well short of the required majority. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the session and announced a new meeting next Thursday, the last session for 2022. Berri reiterated calls for dialogue among MPs to find a consensus candidate to prevent the process dragging on for months. Only 105 of 128 MPs showed up for the vote on Thursday and many of them spoilt their ballots. For the first time, and after eight parliamentary sessions, the number of blank ballots cast by Hezbollah and its allies was equal to the number of votes received by Mouawad. This tie came against the backdrop of the dispute that arose between Hezbollah and its Christian ally in Lebanon, the Free Patriotic Movement, since the Cabinet session last Monday.

According to a parliamentary observer, the FPM decided to stop casting blank ballots as before and distribute its votes in a calculated manner. Although the session failed to elect a president, the FPM’s move sent a calculated message to Hezbollah on its open decisions by leaking some of its deputies’ votes in favor of Mouawad, thereby reducing the number of blank votes, the observer said. The winning candidate requires at least 86 votes in the first round of voting, and an absolute majority of 65 votes in subsequent rounds. The parliament again failed to hold a second round for loss of quorum after the withdrawal of Hezbollah, the Amal Movement and MPs from other blocs. Nine MPs voted for “The New Lebanon,” five for Issam Khalifeh and three for the customs chief Badri Daher, who is in detention in relation to the investigation into the Beirut port explosion. Former deputy Ziad Baroud, legal expert and candidate Salah Honein, and activist and candidate Fawzi Bou Malhab received one vote each. One vote contained the inscription “For Lebanon,” and another “the agreement.” One vote was cast for “Nelson Mandela,” in addition to canceled votes.

The results of the ballot showed that the FPM deputies amounting to 17 chose their options carefully, as they did not direct all their votes toward Mouawad. Some votes containing the inscriptions “Mouawad,” “Michel” and “Mouawad Badri Daher” were annulled, among others. Hezbollah and the FPM deputies did not give any statement after the session, but engaged in a quick side talk. The Amal Movement MPs avoided discussing the dispute between Hezbollah and the FPM. MP Ali Hassan Khalil said every party should review its stances, so “we can move forward with this dialogue.” He said: “We are keen on preserving the relationships between the political forces and we don’t intervene in this matter. “Everyone should know that the only way to overcome this crisis is through dialogue and communication.”

by © Knewz — Forbes announced that French businessman Bernard Arnault briefly passed Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person. With an estimated worth of $186 billion, the new Twitter owner’s net worth had decreased after a drop in the stock value of his other business, Tesla, pushing him below the $200 billion mark. […]

سجعان قزي

@AzziSejean

بموازاةِ البحثِ عن نظامٍ عالميٍّ جديدٍ، يَجري التفتيشُ أيضًا عن نظامٍ إقليميٍّ جديدٍ في الشرقِ الأوسطِ الكبير، ويَحصُلُ كذلك التنقيبُ عن نظامٍ لبنانيٍّ جديد. لكنَّ مُجرَّدَ النظرِ إلى البُنى الأولى لهذه الأنظمةِ الثلاثة، يَكشفُ هشاشَتها وصعوبةَ إنشائِها رغمَ جميعِ الحروبِ والتحوّلات التي سبَقَتها. السببُ العميقُ أنَّها ليست قائمةً على استراتيجياتٍ ثابتةٍ ولا على الثوابتِ التاريخيّةِ القديمةِ والحديثة. واللافتُ حتى الآن أنَّ الدولَ الكبرى تَسعى إلى إقامةِ هذه الأنظمةِ من دون عقدِ مؤتمراتٍ دُوليّةٍ خاصّةٍ بها خلافًا لما جرى عشيّةَ وضعِ أنظمةٍ عالميّةٍ وإقليميةٍ بعدَ الحروبِ والأزَماتِ الكبرى. إن دلَّ هذا الأمرُ على شيءٍ، فعلى أن الدولَ الكبرى ليست بعدُ متفاهمةً على مُجملِ هذه الأنظمةِ وتَنتظرُ تطوّراتٍ أمنيّةً وعسكريّةً تُساعدها على خِيار هذه الأنظمةِ الجديدة أو فِقدانِ التوازنِ العالميِّ والإقليميّ.

تَصعُب إقامةُ نظامٍ عالميٍّ جديدٍ من دون روسيا وضد الصين ومرتَكزٍ على “أَحَديّةٍ” أميركيّةٍ، خصوصًا أنَّ أميركا، رغمَ تَفوُّقِها العسكريِّ، تَجتاز أزْمةً وجوديّةً وتَحوُّلًا اجتماعيًّا مؤلـِمًا.

ويَتعذّرُ إنشاءُ نظامٍ إقليميٍّ جديدٍ مَبنيٍّ على إيران لأنَّ هذه الدولةَ الفارسيّةَ ليست جغرافيًّا وحضاريًّا ولغويًّا جُزءًا عُضْويًّا من العالمِ العربيِّ، وقلّما لَعِبت دورًا أساسيًّا في مِنطقةِ البحرِ الأبيضِ المتوسِّط، لاسيّما أنها تعاني اليوم من اضطراباتٍ أمنيّةٍ لا نَعرفُ حدودَها، كما أنَّ بسطَ النفوّذِ الإيرانيِّ يُثير تركيا وإسرائيل علاوةً على المملكةِ العربيّةِ السعوديّة.

ويُستَعْصى بناءُ نظامٍ لبنانيٍّ جديدٍ بمنأى عن الدورِ المسيحيِّ الطليعيِّ فيه. فمَهْما دارت الأمورُ سيَظلُّ الدورُ المسيحيُّ أساسيًّا في دولةِ لبنان أكانت مُوحَّدةً أم اتّخذَت شكلًا آخَر. إن محاولةَ عزلِ المسيحيّين أو سيطرةِ مكوِّنات أُخرى على قرارِهم ومناصبِهم وصلاحيّاتِهم لن تَمرَّ مرورَ الكرام. ومتابعةُ عمليّةِ تعطيلِ الانتخاباتِ الرئاسيّةِ يدفعُ إلى الاعتقادِ بأنَّ استحقاقَ انتخابِ رئيسٍ جديدٍ للجُمهوريّةِ أصبحَ لدى البعضِ تفصيلًا في ظلِّ بحثِ مكوّناتٍ لبنانيّةٍ عن نظامٍ آخَر وعن رئاسةٍ مختلِفةٍ. واستنادًا إلى مَرجِعٍ أوروبيٍّ مُطَّلعٍ، أكّد الرئيسان الأميركيُّ بايدن والفرنسيُّ ماكرون إثْرَ اجتماعِهما أوّلَ هذا الشهر للبابا فرنسيس أنَّ الوجودَ المسيحيَّ في لبنان غيرُ قابلِ المساومةَ رغم التسوياتِ الجارية في المنطقة.

by middleeastmonitor.com — The Depositors Union of Lebanon and Accountability Now have submitted a legal petition to the Council of the European Union, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the US Treasury requesting sanctions be imposed against ten Lebanese politicians, civil servants and banking executives who have failed in their public service mandates by pursuing their own private interests at the expense of the Lebanese people and state. A joint statement issued by the two groups on Monday said the request is in line with the European Union’s sanctions framework issued in July 2021, while the 120-page petition sets out the legal justifications for the sanctions. In July 2021, the European Union approved a legal framework for a body of sanctions targeting Lebanese individuals and entities that affect “those responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Lebanon.”

The sanctions include a travel ban that prevents the entry or transit of persons on the sanctions list through EU member states, as well as financial penalties. The joint statement said: “After a thorough and serious evaluation, the European Union is called upon to impose sanctions against individuals who have undermined the implementation of plans approved by the Lebanese authorities, with the support of relevant international actors, as well as those involved in financial misconduct with respect to public funds, so long as the acts involved are covered by the United Nations Convention against Corruption.” The statement added that theindividuals include current and former Lebanese MPs, members of the Council of Ministers, executives from private banks, and officials from the Central Bank of Lebanon.

by broadcastprome.com — Lebanese film Farah, directed by Hassiba Freiha and Kenton Oxley, will release on Netflix. A project of Knockout Productions, Intuitive Features and MAD Solutions, Farah is set in Lebanon and stars Stephanie Atala alongside Majdi Machmouchi. The new psychological thriller explores themes of mental health, the role of big pharma, and the dynamics of a father-daughter relationship in modern Lebanon. The plot revolves around a pre-med student, Lina, who starts experiencing severe recurring nightmares, causing her to return home to Lebanon; a decision that sets her on a path to uncover a web of family secrets and ultimately a shattering truth. Farah puts a spotlight on the power of mind and body while delivering a cinematic journey depicting a collision between the modern Arab world and the region’s long-standing traditions.

Farah brings together a new generation of cast and crew shining alongside established household names. Stephanie Atala plays the role of ‘Lina’, the protagonist in Farah and performs a track in the film alongside UK music icon Boy George. Joining Stephanie in the role of Lina’s father is Lebanese powerhouse, Majdi Machmouchi, known for his roles in Esmoha La, In the Shadows of the City and Max w Antar alongside a range of notable television roles. The duo come together to depict a story that sheds light on Lebanon’s cultural revolution while posing challenging questions about inter-generational dynamics. Additional cast members include Nader Abd Alhay, Youssef Boulos, Pierrette Katrib, Janah Fakhoury, Josyane Boulos, Assaad Rechdan and Emirati director and writer, Hassiba Freiha herself.

By TAMARA TURKI — arabnews.com — LONDON: The Arab British Chamber of Commerce hosted the first Lebanese Designers Exhibition in London, celebrating the country’s culture and creatives with a variety of locally handcrafted artisan jewelry, clothing and art. The ABCC, established in 1975, aims to promote trade and investment between Britain and Arab countries. This exhibition focused on empowering Lebanese women by providing them with a platform to display their entrepreneurship in one of the world’s most famous shopping districts.

Rami Mortada, the Lebanese ambassador to the UK, described it as “an event of endurance against all odds.” Mortada said the designers displayed their worth with “defiance against all the circumstances prevailing in our country, Lebanon, and determination to never allow these hardships to take away the soul of the Lebanese people, which is a soul soaked in ingenuity and imagination.” Kuwaiti Ambassador to the UK Bader Al-Awadi, Algerian Ambassador to the UK Lounes Magramane and Saudi Arabian Cultural Attache Amal Fatani also attended the launch. Catching the eye of visitors was the display of LVNT, an online concept store curating products immersed in Levantine heritage and representing the best of the region’s handicraft.

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi criticizes inability of parliament to elect president after 8 sessions

By Najia Houssari — arabnews.com — BEIRUT: Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called for a Cabinet meeting on Monday to deal with urgent matters in the country. He announced the move during a speech at the inauguration of the International Arab Book Fair in Beirut. The move has outraged Christian blocs in the Lebanese ruling class which consider it an unconstitutional step and an attempt to bypass the priority of electing a new president. Some eight electoral sessions have failed to procure a new president and the leadership vacuum has entered a second month.

Mikati confirmed that he had called the Cabinet to convene to try and tackle problems which, he said, were deemed important by ministers. An agenda comprising 65 items has been issued, although Mikati pledged in a parliamentary session held about a month ago not to call a Cabinet session amid the presidential vacuum, unless everyone agreed to the move. The decision raised concerns among members of the Free Patriotic Movement. The party denounced the invitation, fearing that the resigned government will carry out prerogatives reserved for the president. In an attempt to reassure those who are skeptical, Mikati said more than 40 items could be excluded from the agenda. He said: “We will only approve the matters that are deemed important and urgent by ministers. “It disappoints me when some people consider the meeting a sectarian move or an attempt that targets a specific group. “Do we discriminate when we provide assistance? What is being said is unacceptable.” Mikati added: “There’s a file related to cancer and dialysis patients that should be approved. “What our Cabinet does is perform governmental duties to serve the citizens. Whoever has an alternative can propose it.”