Lebanese airlines to halt flights to Arbil

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by AP - Beirut: Lebanon’s flagship carrier airline said its last flights to and from Arbil, the capital in Iraq’s Kurdish region, will be Friday in compliance with Iraqi civil aviation authorities, the company’s chairman said Wednesday. Mohammad Al Hout, chairman of Middle East Airlines, said the decision came after Iraqi authorities decided to ban all flights from and to Arbil and Sulaimaniyah, the capital and second city of the Kurdish region in Iraq. “We are committed to implement,” Al Hout said. The decision comes after the Kurdish region claimed victory in an independence referendum that has been vehemently rejected by Baghdad and Iraq’s other neighbours. Iraq’s prime minister had ordered the Kurdish region to hand over control of its airports to federal authorities or face a flight ban.

From Arbil, the transport minister for Iraq’s Kurdish region said Wednesday the region’s international airports have not violated any laws that would warrant their closure. Mawlood Bawa Murad said his ministry is ready to negotiate with Baghdad “if they want to implement the law and show that Iraq has one air space,” he said at a news conference. The threatened flight ban would affect “one way or another, the military aviation that operates from Arbil international airport,” Murad said. “And Arbil international has become a launching pad for coalition air forces in the fight against Daesh.” The Lebanese airline has one flight per day to Arbil. It has no flights to Sulaimaniyah. “This will affect the airline and contacts there,” Al Hout said in a telephone interview. He said Lebanese and other travellers seeking to come to Beirut can still travel to Baghdad or Basra because domestic flights continue operating. An official at the airline in the airport said all flights coming from Arbil will also not be allowed to land in Beirut’s International airport. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to reporters.

Brigitte Macron dazzles in black in front of Emmanuel… gala Evening at the Elysée

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The president of Lebanon Michel Aoun and his wife, Nadia Aoun, Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron (dress, shoes and bag Elie Saab) – Dinner of State at the Elysée Palace in honor of Mr. Aoun, President of the Lebanese Republic, in Paris - © Stephane Lemouton/Bestimage

Brigitte Macron and Nadia Aoun, first lady of lebanon, accompanied by his daughters Chantal and Claudine leave the Elysee Palace in Paris to attend a private tour of the exhibition “Christian Dior, the couturier’s dream” at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, on the 25th of September 2017. © Dominique Jacovides/Bestimage

by magictr  - On the front steps of the Elysée palace, Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron, have welcomed the president Aoun and his wife Nadia. Two of their three daughters – Shannon and Mireille, were present at the dinner. For the occasion, the lebanese designer Elie Saab and his wife, who also bears the name of Claudine, were present. In tribute to Lebanon, the couturier has been chosen to dress from head to toe, passing through the cover, our first lady. All in black, fatal… for one evening.

Among the members of the government and the political personalities, it was necessary to rely on the presence of Bruno Le Maire, minister of Economy and Finance, and his wife Pauline Doussau de Bazignan, Marielle de Sarnez, President of the foreign Affairs commission of the national Assembly, Frédérique Vidal, minister of higher Education, Research and Innovation, Forence Parly, minister for the Armed forces, Hubert Védrine, former foreign Affairs minister, Valérie Pécresse, President of the regional council of Île-de-France, François de Rugy, Chairman of the national Assembly, Bariza Khiari, senator of Paris, and Jean-Michel Blanquer, minister of national Education.

François Lecointre, the new chief of Staff of the armed forces, as well as the general Benoît Puga, were in attendance. The heart of this visit of the lebanese president had precisely, for the purpose of investment of his country in the fight against Daesch and the help that we can give him France. “The lebanese army is paying a heavy price” in the war recognizes the president Macron, “and should be more helpful”. To do so, our country intends to share “its know-how in the field of mine clearance and anti-terrorist fight, with the opening in October at the Lebanon school of humanitarian demining, the sending of experts, and by mobilizing its partners around a conference to support the lebanese army, with Italy and the UN”. Emmanuel Macron has also accepted the invitation of his counterpart and will travel to Beirut in the spring of 2018. Other personalities that were part of the guests as Marwan Lahoud, an engineer in the armament French of lebanese origin, Peri Cochin, a producer of television born in Beirut, and Alexandre Bompard, CEO of Carrefour.

Two exhibitions, two moods. Jack Lang and his wife Monique have also walked the red carpet in the courtyard of the Elysee. A little earlier in the day, the president of the Institute of the arab world was receiving precisely the presidents Macron and Aoun, as well as Gérald Darmanin, minister of the Action and public Accounts, Valérie Pécresse, to the opening of the exhibition the Christians of the East, two thousand years of history. During this time, Brigitte Macron played the guides in a private tour of the exhibition Christian Dior, a fashion designer’s dream – she has already discovered in July at the museum of decorative Arts -for the first lady lebanese Nadia Aoun and his daughters Chantal and Claudine.

Macron, Aoun discuss terrorism, Syrian crisis

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by NAJIA HOUSSARI - Arab News -  BEIRUT: Lebanon’s policy of disassociation from regional conflicts is the best way to maintain the country’s stability and sovereignty, French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday after meeting with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun in Paris.
“In order to solve the problem of displaced people and terrorists, and to be able to provide a dignified future for the people of the region, we need a political solution… to the Syrian crisis,” Macron said.
He expressed hope that “together, in the coming weeks, we’ll be able to redesign a contact group and work together with partners in the region.”
Paris is keen on Lebanon’s unity, integrity and stability, Macron said at a joint press conference.
“Lebanon faces terrorism, as is the case in Europe. I commend the efforts of the Lebanese Army and its courage in fighting terrorism,” he added.
France will strengthen its support for Lebanon in its fight against terrorism, Macron said, adding: “France’s goal is to confront the dangers that undermine peace in Lebanon by strengthening the capabilities of the army so the Lebanese government can take control of the entire territory.”
Lebanon must remain a model of pluralism, tolerance and democracy, he said, promising to work on “organizing a donor conference for investors to help Lebanon and to relaunch the economy.”
Macron added: “We’re working together to develop a road map… aimed at promoting the French language and French culture in Lebanon in education, culture, newspapers, media and art.”
Aoun said he had agreed with Macron to strengthen bilateral relations at various levels, adding: “France supports the Lebanese Army, which has achieved victory over terrorism.”
On the issue of displaced Syrians, Aoun said “We’ve confirmed that those people don’t have refugee status and their presence in Lebanon is facing difficulties, despite our support for them.”
He said the two leaders discussed the Syrian and Palestinian crises. Aoun also hailed France’s role in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Lebanon still plans tax increases to fund public sector pay rise: senior official

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BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon still aims to increase taxes to finance a public sector pay rise, a senior official said on Monday, after the plan was thrown into doubt last week when the constitutional council annulled the new tax law. Many public sector workers went out on strike on Monday after the constitutional council, an arm of the judiciary, decided on Friday to reject the tax law passed by parliament to finance a $917 million public sector pay rise. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity as deliberations were still underway, said the government would adjust its proposed tax hikes as they were the only way for the heavily indebted state to pay for the wage increase.

The proposals included increases in value-added tax, corporate tax, taxes on alcohol and tobacco, lottery prizes and interest on bank deposits, as well as increases in fees and fines. The official said the government would address the points raised by the council. “The direction is to reapprove the same taxes ... after clarifying the points tabled by the constitutional council,” the official told Reuters. Some economists had expressed concern about the tax hikes and the constitutional council said they were unlawful for a number of reasons, including the government’s failure to approve them as part of a state budget.

Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri’s government in March agreed the first state budget in 12 years, but it has yet to be approved by parliament. “Time is running out and we have no alternative to taxes,” the official said. “We cannot finance (the public sector pay rise) without these taxes because this will create a financial imbalance and increase the strain on the economy and increase the public debt, representing a danger to Lebanon’s credit rating.”

Perla Helou Miss Lebanon 2017 - 2018

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by 961 news - Today, 15 young ladies competed for the crown of Miss Lebanon 2017. The annual event got held at Casino du Liban. Dima Sadek was the host of the show. Miss Lebanon 2016, Sandy Tabet, gave the crown to Perla Helo. Miss Lebanon 2017 is 22 years old and she’s majoring in business.

To access Miss Lebanon 2018 please click here

Miss Lebanon Perla Helou

Miss Lebanon Perla Helou

Jana Sader 1st runner up (above)

Second Runner up Sabine Njeim (above)

Third Runner up Reem Khoury (above)

Yousra Mohsen 4th runner up (above)

Lebanese startup heads to Geneva for a shot at $1 million prize

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