By Christine Walsh - The new Banque Libano Francaise (BLF) building in Beirut, Lebanon will feature an interesting façade, which will also have the added benefit of keeping the inside temperature at a comfortable level. The building was also designed with economic, social and environmental sustainability in mind.
The building is called The Magic Box, and it will feature a façade made of limestone, which will vary in depth around the structure. Due to this, it will work to keep the interior of the building cool during the day, and warm during the night. They will also cut chunks out of the volume of the structure to create terraces, which can be used for social gatherings. These terraces will have the added function of ventilating the interior.
The Daily Star, BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Central Bank thwarted a cyberattack on its email system on Monday, temporarily suspending some of its online …
by Chloé Domat - middleeasteye.net
A total of 53 companies were approved to bid for Lebanon’s first oil and gas licensing round, with the final list published late last month by the Lebanon Petroleum Administration (LPA), a regulatory body which falls under the ministry of energy and water.
The list, which is composed of 45 companies prequalified in 2013 and eight newly accepted ones, includes international giants such as Total, Exxon Mobile, Shell or Statoil as well as smaller companies from around the world - and one Lebanese.
The chances of success and opportunities for commercial gains in Lebanese waters are promising - Energy minister Cesar Abi Khalil
Companies in the oil and gas business in Lebanon have been at a standstill following the resignation of prime minister Najib Mikati's government in 2013. But the oil and gas sector returned to the spotlight in recent months amid a disagreement with Israel over maritime borders and at a time of rising tensions between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Despite these challenges, Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Cesar Abi Khalil said while speaking at the 18th International Oil Summit in Paris on 29 April: "The chances of success and opportunities for commercial gains in Lebanese waters are promising and have helped attract companies." The 53 selected companies now have until 15 September to place their bids. The first exploration contracts are expected to be signed before the end of 2017.
Middle East Eye contacted all 53 of the selected firms for comments. Eight of them replied but all refused to discuss their projects for Lebanon. “We will not be providing a comment for your story,” said Todd Spitler, operations media advisor at the American Exxon Mobile Corporation. “Please note that at this stage we are not in the position to go into further details,” replied Robert Lechner, spokesperson for the Austrian OMV Aktiengesellschaft. “It isn’t Chevron’s policy to comment on market reports and rumours,” replied Sally Jones, corporate media advisor at the British firm Chevron.
by Peter Jacobs
President Donald Trump may have angered the Israeli government just days before his trip to the Middle East. There has been speculation that Trump would visit the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism, during his Israeli trip, which would make him the first sitting US president to do so. However, Israel's Channel 2 reports that while planning the visit, a Trump aide questioned Israel's control over the holy site, located in disputed East Jerusalem. Channel 2 reports, as noted by the Times of Israel, that a Trump aide then angrily told Israelis that the Western Wall was part of the West Bank, which is governed in part by the State of Palestine. "What are you talking about? It's none of your business. It's not even part of your responsibility. It's not your territory. It's part of the West Bank," said the White House official, according to Channel 2.
Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly wanted to accompany Trump to the Western Wall, a request the White House reportedly denied. Israelis also reportedly asked for a camera crew to film Trump, which prompted the American's remarks. An Israeli official told Channel 2 that the Trump team member's comment "was received with astonishment." Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the remarks were "not the position of this Administration," according to journalist Itay Hod. The Western Wall — also known as the Kotel — is the last remnant of the ancient Jewish Second Temple, and the closest that Jews can get to the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism.
The site has been politically controversial, as it is located in Jerusalem's Old City, which was under Jordian control from the founding of Israel in 1948 to 1967, when it came under Israeli control following the Six-Day War. In an odd coincidence, Trump's new Ambassador to Israel David Friedman arrived in the country the same day as Channel 2's report and made his first stop the Western Wall The reaction to Trump's reported visit to the site shows why sitting US presidents have stayed away from the Western Wall. The US president could now anger both Israelis and Palestinians with his visit.
Population Movements to Keserwan - The Khazens and The Maans
ما جاء عن الثورة في المقاطعة الكسروانية
ثورة أهالي كسروان على المشايخ الخوازنة وأسبابها
Origins of the "Prince of Maronite" Title
Growing diversity: the Khazin sheiks and the clergy in the first decades of the 18th century
Historical Members:
Barbar Beik El Khazen [English]
Patriach Toubia Kaiss El Khazen(Biography & Life Part1 Part2) (Arabic)
Patriach Youssef Dargham El Khazen (Cont'd)
Cheikh Bishara Jafal El Khazen
Patriarch Youssef Raji El Khazen
The Martyrs Cheikh Philippe & Cheikh Farid El Khazen
Cheikh Nawfal El Khazen (Consul De France)
Cheikh Hossun El Khazen (Consul De France)
Cheikh Abou-Nawfal El Khazen (Consul De France)
Cheikh Francis Abee Nader & his son Yousef
Cheikh Abou-Kanso El Khazen (Consul De France)
Cheikh Abou Nader El Khazen
Cheikh Chafic El Khazen
Cheikh Keserwan El Khazen
Cheikh Serhal El Khazen [English]
Cheikh Rafiq El Khazen [English]
Cheikh Hanna El Khazen
Cheikha Arzi El Khazen
Marie El Khazen