by Source:Sawt Beirut International -- MP Amal Abu Zeid withdrawal from the electoral race, has surged an atmosphere of anger among the circles of the Free Patriotic Movement in Jezzine, leaving an electoral gap. Abu Zeid’s withdrawal provoked the head of the movement, Gebran Bassil, as sources close to Abu Zeid confirmed that the son-in-law of the Covenant, requested the intervention of President Michel Aoun to persuade Abu Zeid to reverse his decision. The same sources confirmed to “Sawt Beirut International” website, that Bassil is very resentful of Aswad’s behavior, saying that he is defying the Tayyar, and acting according to his personal interest, ignoring the Tayyar’s electoral interest.

The sources reveal that Aoun urged Abu Zeid to reverse his decision, and that Bassil insisted on Aoun’s intervention to bridle Aswad, because winning in Jezzine is above all considerations. The sources say that Abu Zeid is fully aware of the inability of Aoun and the Tayyarto abandon him, as he is one of the major financiers of the Free Patriotic Movement and its head Bassil. The election campaign needs a lot of money, and Abu Zeid offered a large sum, but Aswad’s behavior towards him is not appropriate, and in all of Aswad’s private sessions he attacks Abu Zeid.

In the same context, the sources indicated that Abu Zeid asked Bassil to suppress Aswad, and in case reversed the decision to withdraw, there are conditions that the movement must implement, which is to give priority to Abu Zeid, and since the movement needs Abu Zeid’s money, the latter also needs the preferential votes that Aswad tries to grab, and ask the supporters of the movement not to vote for Abu Zeid. Source:Sawt Beirut International

Advisor of US-sanctioned former Lebanese FM to be named UN envoy

Al Arabiya -- -- Lebanon is expected to appoint Gebran Bassil’s former top advisor to be the country’s next ambassador to the United Nations, sources familiar with the matter said, with outgoing President Michel Aoun looking to fill diplomatic posts with figures loyal to him. Hadi Hachem will replace Amal Mudallali, according to the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app. Hachem was previously the Foreign Ministry chief of cabinet during Bassil’s time as Lebanon’s top diplomat.

by ncronline.org — VATICAN CITY — Two weeks after meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican and inviting him again to visit Lebanon, …

by reuters — BEIRUT — The Governor of the Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salameh, denied “what is being circulated about the bankruptcy …

By Najia Houssari -- arabnews.com -- BEIRUT: Lebanon and its central bank are bankrupt, according to the country’s deputy prime minister. The “state is bankrupt … so is the Banque du Liban,” Saadeh Al-Shami said on Monday, adding that “the loss has occurred, and we will seek to reduce the losses for the people.” He said the losses would be attributed to the state, the central bank, and other lenders and depositors. “We cannot live in a state of denial as we cannot allow withdrawals for all people who have deposits in banks,” he said. Al-Shami’s statement came as a delegation from the International Monetary Fund is in talks with the Lebanese government on a financial recovery plan.

Economic groups in Lebanon have objected to a plan presented to the IMF that clears the state of liability and leaves depositors and banks to foot the bill. It also turns state debt into heavy losses for the Lebanese economy and society. After a meeting with the head of the IMF mission, Ernesto Ramirez-Rigo, the groups said that depositors’ money had been squandered due to the fixing of the exchange rate, interest rate differences, and the state’s expenditure. They objected to “easy solutions, by adopting an accounting approach that eliminates losses without any special considerations.” They also stressed the need to preserve the rights of depositors and the continuity of the banking system.