Kareem Chehayeb

Lebanon is a country that faces a plethora of problems, from the lack of 24-hour electricity and decent infrastructure, to the ongoing refugee crisis to a parliament that’s extended its term twice and no president in office. One would think that an uprising to sort out the country’s many social, political, and economic problems has been overdue for years. That said, a problem that impacted the vast majority of Lebanese, irrespective of their sect, political ideology, or socioeconomic class sparked the “You Stink” protests: garbage. Beirut’s waste management has been handled by Sukleen, a private corporation, for almost two decades. The way they landed that huge responsibility was iffy to say the least. Waste management is a municipal responsibility; however, that portion of funds was taken and given to Sukleen. What was a bottom-up decision became top-down. Moreover, Sukleen’s plan is relatively financially inefficient. The amount of money it requires to treat a ton of solid waste (per ton) is higher than that of many other countries. Politicians from across the political spectrum have also accused of it being corrupt, some even referring to it as “mafia-like.” One of the accusations? That Sukleen sells recyclables for extra revenue.

The U.S. has officially accused a prominent Lebanese businessman of money laundering and drug trafficking along with five other individuals and 11 companies. According to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, four Lebanese, two German nationals and 11 firms were accused of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.

Among them was renowned Lebanese businessman Merhi Abou Merhi for his alleged ties to a maritime network tied To “Joumaa Criminal Organization.”

The Treasury said the Lebanese and German individuals provide support for narcotics trafficking and money laundering activities conducted by Lebanese-Colombian drug trafficker and money launderer Ayman Saied Joumaa, key Joumaa associate Hassan Ayash, and the Joumaa criminal organization, which has ties to Hezbollah.

By David Cohen

Romance among teenagers has become a lot more complicated than sending your friend over to ask your crush’s friend if they like you.

Pew Research Center surveyed more than 1,000 teens (aged 13 through 17) to determine the impact of technology on their dating and romantic life, and its findings included:

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Oct 2 (UNHCR) – Tasnim, a 12-year-old refugee girl from Aleppo, Syria, is excitedly preparing to return to school.

"I want to become a dentist. I have always been intrigued by the tools and materials dentists use in their neat clinics. Every time I visited my dentist in Syria, I learned something new," she said.

In 2013, a shell hit her home in Aleppo and Tasnim lost her left hand. Nevertheless, she is determined to pursue her dreams and overcome the obstacles war and flight into exile suddenly threw across her path."I want to keep learning. I want to help children have beautiful smiles," she explained.