English LCCC Newsbulletin For
Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For May 06/2023
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news
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15 آذار/2023
Bible Quotations For today
When Peter noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink,
he cried out, Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught
him, saying to him, You of little faith
Saint Matthew 14/22-33: "Immediately he made the
disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he
dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the
mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this
time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was
against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake.
But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying,
‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them
and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if
it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter
got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But
when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he
cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught
him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into
the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly
you are the Son of God.’"
Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on May 05-06/2023
Report: Durel relays to Hezbollah Saudi positivity on Franjieh election
Raad calls for agreement on 'most suitable president'
KSA decides to 'turn blind eye' to Franjieh's election
Will FPM, LF secure quorum for Franjieh's election?
Saudi Envoy Visits Lebanese Officials, Emphasizes Presidential Election as
Internal Lebanese Matter
Salam meets Bukhari over latest developments
Lebanon’s Finance Minister Questioned in Central Bank Probe
European judiciary delegation concludes mission with Finance Minister as witness
Khalaf, Saliba criticize judiciary's decision to fire Ghada Aoun
The Ugly Truth: Unraveling the Crisis of Depositors' Funds and the Fading Hope
for Recovery
The Ugly Truth: Where Did Lebanon's Central Bank Spend the Dollars?
Lebanon boosts renewable energy with new solar power plant
The dark side of desperation: Combating human trafficking in Lebanon
Sami Gemayel discusses displaced Syrians’ issue with UN’s Riza
Sami Gemayel meets European Parliamentary delegation
"Democratic Gathering" MPs Abdallah and Saad discuss overall situation with
European parliamentary delegation
European parliamentary delegation broaches developments with FPM lawmakers
Berri broaches latest developments with Aridi, meets head of economic bodies
U.S. Embassy Beirut Hosts Elie Saab in a Night of Culture
American University of Beirut awards Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to
Dina Katabi, Elias Khoury, Suheil Muasher, and June Bowman Nasrallah...
Oil prices edge lower in Lebanon
Titles For The Latest English LCCC
Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 05-06/2023
WHO Downgrades COVID Pandemic, Says
It’s No Longer Emergency
Sudan’s warring sides send envoys for talks in Saudi Arabia
Fighting Rages in Khartoum, Civilians Complain of Being Forgotten
Qaani: We Partially Avenged Suleimani’s Killing by Expelling US Forces from the
Region
Iran expels four Azeri diplomats amid ongoing tensions
‘Ukraine shoots down Russian hypersonic missile using US Patriot system’
ICC chief prosecutor says he has 'every confidence' South Africa will arrest
Putin
Russian mercenaries vow to quit Bakhmut, Ukraine says they are piling in
Russia is cancelling Victory Day celebrations to hide its military losses, and
is using alleged Kremlin drone strike as an excuse, experts say
Russia's Lavrov Says Kremlin Drone Incident Was 'Hostile Act'
Ukraine’s counter-offensive: The options for attack – and which is best
Joint Syrian-Iranian statement: Emphasis on strengthening cooperation between
the two countries on the basis of strategic relations
Taiwan to Treat Chinese Drone Incursions as ‘First Strike,’ Says Defense Chief
After acrimonious resignation, Pope tells abuse commission to 'move forward'
Canada drops 'Defender of the Faith' from King's title
Israeli minister: Iran nuke enrichment could ignite region
Israel hoping for breakthrough with Saudis during US security advisor visit
-official
Israel has hope for breakthrough with Saudi Arabia during US security advisor
visit
King Charles III Surprises Crowd outside Buckingham Palace
Titles For
The Latest
English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on May 05-06/2023
Question: “What happens to those who have never heard about Jesus?”/GotQuestions.org/May
5, 2023
Spy Games: Why Private Companies Now Dominate Domestic Espionage/J.B. Shurk/Gatestone
Institute/May 5, 2023
Iran: Unhappy Workers/Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2023
Iran’s Next Step in Syria: Armed Militias Turn to Economic Militias/Camelia
Entekhabifard/Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2023
Latest English LCCC Lebanese &
Lebanese Related News & Editorials published
on May 05-06/2023
Report: Durel relays to Hezbollah Saudi
positivity on Franjieh election
Naharnet/May 05, 2023
French presidential adviser Patrick Durel contacted Hezbollah last weekend and
reassured it that “Riyadh has shown positivity towards the election as president
of Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh,” a media report said.
“In return, Durel received similar positive signs from Hezbollah about accepting
any premier that Saudi Arabia would choose to lead the government,” al-Liwaa
newspaper reported on Friday. In this regard, a senior political party official
revealed to the daily that “France has become the direct mediator between
Hezbollah and Saudi Arabia” and that “Hezbollah stressed to the French mediator
the need not to be strict in the negotiations with Riyadh, as part of the
party’s inclination to show the needed positivity in order to finalize the
presidential election.”“This positive course, which has not become public until
the moment, indicates that the presidential vote will be held within two months
at the latest,” the senior political official added.
Raad calls for agreement on 'most suitable
president'
Naharnet/May 05, 2023
The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammed Raad, on Friday called
on the Lebanese parties to engage in dialogue to reach an agreement aimed at
“picking the most suitable president for our country during this stage.”
“We want to preserve you and preserve everyone’s interests,” Raad added,
addressing political rivals. “They are telling us to drop our candidate before
seeking an agreement. They do not want dialogue but they rather want us to give
up our candidate. They want us to hear the names of their candidates and talk
over the candidates that they are proposing. They later accuse us of rejecting
dialogue and understanding,” Raad lamented. Noting that the region is headed for
“settling its situations” and ending the “hostile wars,” the Hezbollah lawmaker
decried that “some in Lebanon are insisting on fragmenting the Lebanese stance”
and “wasting a chance for the Lebanese to preserve their future, fix their
affairs, preserve their interests and defend their country.”
KSA decides to 'turn blind eye' to Franjieh's
election
Naharnet/May 05, 2023
Saudi Arabia has decided to “turn a blind eye” to the reportedly looming
election of Suleiman Franjieh as president, a media report said. “Riyadh’s
stance is leaning to establishing a settlement that would allow Lebanon to cross
the collapse phase,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday, citing multiple
sources. As for Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari’s ongoing meetings
with Lebanese leaders, the daily quoted officials who have met or communicated
with Bukhari as saying that the ambassador “has returned to Lebanon with a
different approach.” “In his meetings with the parties that are considered to be
Riyadh’s rivals, he seemed more relieved than he was in his meetings with the
‘friends’ camp. He was more cordial with the first camp and his meetings with
the second appeared to be merely aimed at informing them of a certain stance,”
the officials said. “After Riyadh previously called for electing a president not
belonging to the political class and not involved in corruption, the statements
issued after Bukhari’s meetings stressed that the kingdom ‘does not accept the
continued presidential vacuum that is threatening the Lebanese people’s
stability and unity,’” the officials added. “This has been interpreted as a
response to those threatening to boycott the electoral sessions, specifically
the Lebanese Forces party,” the officials went on to say. Bukhari meanwhile
informed certain parties that Riyadh “will not intervene to soften the stance of
its friends or to press them to secure political or constitutional quorum,” al-Akhbar
said. “Saudi Arabia does not consider itself obliged to be part of a settlement
and it has told its allies that it will not stand in their face if they manage
to thwart the French plan but that it will not be a partner in any battle,” the
daily’s sources quoted Bukhari as saying in his meetings. Riyadh’s attention is
focused on “the region, Syria, the Arab League and Iran, and Lebanon is a mere
detail,” the ambassador reportedly said. “This practically means that the
kingdom has decided not to be a partner in the settlement that Paris wants, but
certainly it will not impede it,” the newspaper added.
Will FPM, LF secure quorum for Franjieh's election?
Naharnet/May 05, 2023
Hezbollah has reactivated communication channels with the Free Patriotic
Movement to convince it to secure quorum for Suleiman Franjieh’s election as
president, a media report said. “Until now, Hezbollah’s efforts have run into
the rejection of FPM chief Jebran Bassil, but Bassil has shown positivity about
leaving the freedom of choice to his MPs to attend any presidential election
session called for by Speaker Nabih Berri,” al-Liwaa newspaper reported on
Friday. A “very prominent” and “senior” political party leader meanwhile told
the daily that “during a private gathering, Strong Republic bloc MP George Okais
stressed to those present that the Lebanese Forces would eventually secure the
needed quorum for the presidential election session, even for Suleiman Franjieh.”
Saudi Envoy Visits Lebanese Officials, Emphasizes Presidential Election as
Internal Lebanese Matter
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2023
The Saudi Arabian envoy to Lebanon, Waleed al-Bukhari, has
reaffirmed the Kingdom’s position on the Lebanese presidential election,
characterizing it as an internal political affair for Lebanon. The statement was
relayed by a spokesperson for the Maronite Patriarchate in Lebanon after al-Bukhari’s
meeting with Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai, which took place during the
envoy’s second day of engagements with Lebanese religious and political leaders.
Following his departure from Bkerke, Ambassador al-Bukhari refrained from making
any public comments. However, according to Waleed Ghayyad, the media officer at
the Patriarchate, al-Bukhari extended Saudi Arabia’s greetings to al-Rai and
lauded his efforts and initiatives aimed at breaking the deadlock in the
presidential election. Ghayyad applauded al-Bukhari’s acknowledgement of the
grave consequences that the presidential vacuum posed to Lebanon’s future and
underlined the pressing need to achieve a consensus on this vital issue.
According to Ghayyad, al-Bukhari emphasized the need to end the presidential
vacuum as soon as possible, affirming that the Patriarch’s initiatives can
promote partnership and preserve national unity in Lebanon. Ghayyad added that
the Kingdom regards the presidential election as a quintessentially Lebanese
political matter, emphasizing that decisions on political choices are made and
taken in Beirut. He pointed out that the Kingdom is opposed to any external
interference in this issue. Al-Bukhari, as per Ghayyad, also emphasized that
Saudi Arabia is confident in the Lebanese people’s ability to reach an agreement
that restores the trust of the international community and helps in finding
suitable solutions to the political, economic, and security crises in Lebanon.
Moreover, the Saudi diplomat reaffirmed that the Kingdom has no objections to
any presidential candidate who has the trust of the Lebanese people, and that
any president elected by the parliament will be welcomed by the Kingdom, which
is keen on cooperation and supporting Lebanon.
Salam meets Bukhari over latest developments
NNA/May 05, 2023
Former Prime Minister, Tammam Salam, on Friday welcomed Saudi Ambassador to
Lebanon, Walid Al-Bukhari. Talks between the pair reportedly focused on the
current situation and the most recent developments in Lebanon and the region.
Both men emphasized "the need to elect a president of the republic as soon as
possible to prevent prolonging the period of presidential vacancy and
consequently exposing Lebanon the unknown," according to a statement issued by
Salam's office.
Lebanon’s Finance Minister Questioned in
Central Bank Probe
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2023
A European judicial team questioned Lebanon’s caretaker finance minister on
Friday in an investigation related to corruption probes of the country’s Central
Bank governor, officials said. The questioning is part of a probe by a
delegation from France, Germany, and Luxembourg, now on its third visit to
Lebanon to interrogate suspects and witnesses in the case. Central Bank Governor
Riad Salameh is being investigated abroad over several financial crimes and the
laundering of some $330 million. During Friday's session, caretaker Finance
Minister Youssef El Khalil was questioned about his work as a close associate of
Salameh while working at the Central Bank, before he became a Cabinet minister,
officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing
probe. El Khalil worked for the Central Bank from 1982 until he became finance
minister nearly two years ago and was last the executive director of its
financial operations department. On Thursday, the European delegation questioned
Salameh’s brother, Raja Salameh. After questioning El Khalil, the delegation was
expected to leave Lebanon. It was not clear if it would return for more
questioning at a later date. The three European governments in March 2022 froze
more than $130 million in assets linked to the investigation. In March this
year, the delegation came to Beirut and questioned the governor about the
Central Bank’s assets and investments abroad, a Paris apartment owned by Road
Salameh, and Forry Associates Ltd, a brokerage firm owned by his brother. France
has earlier questioned the chairman of Lebanon’s AM Bank, Marwan Kheireddine, on
several charges, including money laundering. Reports in Lebanon say the governor
and his associates had used commercial banks to siphon off public money. The
72-year-old governor has repeatedly denied all allegations against him,
insisting that his wealth comes from his previous job as an investment banker
for Merrill Lynch, inherited properties, and through investments. The governor
is also being separately investigated by Lebanese authorities.
European judiciary delegation concludes
mission with Finance Minister as witness
LBCI/May 05, 2023
The European judiciary delegation has concluded its mission in Beirut with the
hearing of Finance Minister Youssef Khalil as a witness at the Palace of Justice
in Beirut in the case involving the Governor of the Banque du Liban (BDL), Riad
Salameh and the company "Forry." However, it is worth noting that Khalil was the
former Director of Financial Operations at the BDL.The hearing lasted about two
hours, during which Khalil promised to provide documents. Meanwhile, Raja
Salameh sent documents through his legal representative on Friday, as promised.
Khalaf, Saliba criticize judiciary's decision
to fire Ghada Aoun
Naharnet/May 05, 2023
MPs Melhem Khalaf and Najat Aoun Saliba of the Change bloc on Friday criticized
a decision by the judiciary’s disciplinary council to expel Mt. Lebanon
Prosecutor Judge Ghada Aoun from the judiciary over alleged violations related
to her work. “Judge Ghada Aoun has dared to open some files at a time others
have refrained from that,” Khalaf and Saliba said in a joint tweet. “No matter
how much she exceeded her jurisdiction, isn’t expulsion from the judiciary an
exaggerated decision? And what about others who have assassinated justce?” the
two MPs added. “There is a general feeling that the judiciary is not dealing
with itself with unified standards. Beware of arbitrariness and double
standards,” they said.
The Ugly Truth: Unraveling the Crisis of Depositors' Funds and the Fading Hope
for Recovery
LBCI/May 05, 2023
Where have the depositors' funds gone, and is there any hope of recovering them?
To understand the depth of the crisis we are facing, we need to look at two
figures presented in the latest version of the government's plan.
The first figure is the total amount of our deposits in banks today, which
amounts to $93.5 billion. The second figure is what these banks have in return,
which is $21 billion and possibly less, as not all of this amount can be
accessed immediately. So, how is this $21 billion distributed?
- $4 billion is held abroad by correspondent banks. However, this amount is not
completely free, as it is used by the banks to carry out import transactions and
repay loans to international institutions.
- $6 billion represents loans granted by banks to the private sector, which are
being repaid, but full repayment will take time.
- Approximately $1 billion is the value of Eurobonds owed by banks to the state.
- The most crucial point is the nearly $10 billion of mandatory reserves held by
banks at the Central Bank of Lebanon. This is where the crux of the problem
lies.
These $10 billion are all that remains in hard cash from the original $85
billion that banks had placed in the Central Bank of Lebanon over the years. The
remaining funds have been depleted, but how? To be continued...
The Ugly Truth: Where Did Lebanon's Central Bank Spend the
Dollars?
LBCI/May 05, 2023
In the previous report, we informed you that there were $85 billion of deposits
placed in reserves at the Central Bank of Lebanon during the years before the
crisis. Imagine that only $10 billion remain from that amount. So, how were the
deposits spent? According to the latest version of the government's financial
recovery plan:
- $35 billion were spent on supporting the exchange rate at 1,500 LBP.
- $20 billion were lost by the Central Bank of Lebanon on high interest rates
paid on dollar deposits and financial engineering.
- $10 billion were used by the central bank to finance the state in dollars and
for purchasing fuel.
- $5 billion were spent on Eurobonds owed by the Central Bank of Lebanon to the
state.
- $5 billion were spent on subsidized loans for housing, technology, and other
sectors.
This is how the funds were spent before the collapse. The bigger problem is that
after the crisis began, an additional $15 billion were spent on supporting
essential goods like medicine, fuel, wheat, and food items. A significant
portion of these funds was smuggled abroad or used for storage and monopolies.
Is there any hope of recovering the deposits? How does the government plan to
retrieve them? To be continued...
Lebanon boosts renewable energy with new solar power plant
LBCI/May 05, 2023
Lebanon is set to benefit from a new solar power plant, which will be
constructed in Kfifan, Batroun, and help provide electricity in Lebanon.
However, eleven companies have been awarded contracts to rent lands to construct
facilities in multiple governorates. Two hundred sixty-four companies
participated in the tender, with the best three prices selected in each
governorate. The eleven companies will provide a total of 165 megawatts of solar
energy, which will be sold to the Electricité du Liban (EDL) at a rate of 5.7
cents per kilowatt-hour in the Bekaa region and 6.2 cents per kilowatt-hour in
other parts of Lebanon. Furthermore, the licenses were granted based on a
proposal by the Energy and Finance Ministry and with the Cabinet’s approval a
year ago. On Friday, contracts were signed between Energy Minister Walid Fayyad
and company representatives to purchase energy from the private sector.
According to the agreement, an international institution such as the World Bank
or the European Central Bank (ECB) for reconstruction and development is
expected to finance 75% of the construction process, provided the company will
pay the remaining 25%. However, international bodies are waiting for the
implementation of reforms before providing any funding. LBCI’s sources have also
revealed that Total has offered to participate as an external financier.
The dark side of desperation: Combating human trafficking
in Lebanon
LBCI/May 05, 2023
Perhaps Wissam made a mistake when he risked his life and his family's in search
of a better life. However, the actual sin is being forced to face death by
smugglers who exploit people's desperation for profit. Like hundreds of
migrants, Wissam was lured by the promise of safety and security. He headed to
safe houses where migrants gathered and embarked on a perilous journey in
exchange for hefty sums shared among transnational criminal organizations.
Lebanese judges considered human trafficking operations because of organized
practices due to threat and exploitation. The organized crime involved in
smuggling is fraught with danger and complexity, much like begging, which
becomes trafficking when terrorism is concerned, as in the case of this young
girl we met in Tripoli. In Lebanon, human trafficking primarily takes the form
of prostitution and begging. These practices have escalated due to the
exploitation of Syrian refugee women by Lebanese-Syrian criminal gangs. As of
the end of March, Lebanese courts had 58 human trafficking cases, 55 individuals
arrested, including 29 Lebanese and 19 Syrians, and three convicted. Combating
these crimes requires passing the law proposed by the Justice Ministry in 2018
and adopting a unified international tool to monitor and track trafficking
victims.
Sami Gemayel discusses displaced Syrians’ issue with UN’s
Riza
NNA/May 05, 2023
Kataeb party leader, MP Sami Gemayel, met on Friday received the UN Deputy
Special Coordinator, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran
Riza.Discussions reportedly focused on the issue of the displaced Syrians in
Lebanon.
Sami Gemayel meets European Parliamentary delegation
NNA/May 05, 2023
Lebanese Kataeb Party leader, MP Sami Gemayel, on Friday welcomed the visiting
European Parliamentary delegation at the Kataeb House in Saifi.
"Democratic Gathering" MPs Abdallah and Saad discuss
overall situation with European parliamentary delegation
NNA/May 05, 2023
"Democratic Gathering" bloc MPs Bilal Abdallah and Raji al-Saad, welcomed on
Friday the visiting European parliamentary delegation of the "European Center"
bloc. MP Abdullah said, in a press statement, that the "Democratic Gathering"
explained to the delegation the importance of assisting in an internal political
settlement that would produce a consensual president who could bring the
Lebanese together, carry out the required reforms and reopen Lebanon to its Arab
and international depth. Abdullah added that they also discussed in detail the
internal Lebanese economic and political situation, the constitutional
situation, the conditions of the displaced Syrians, and the importance of
addressing this file.
European parliamentary delegation broaches developments
with FPM lawmakers
NNA/May 05, 2023
The visiting European parliamentary delegation of the "European Center" bloc, on
Friday met with "Free Patriotic Movement" MPs Simon Abi Ramia, Nada Boustani,
and Cesar Abi Khalil, at the FPM headquarters in Mirna Chalouhi.
Discussions reportedly touched on the current developments on the Lebanese
arena, esepcially the presidential election. The FPM lawmakers handed the
delegation the "presidential priorities" paper.
Berri broaches latest developments with Aridi, meets head
of economic bodies
NNA/May 05, 2023
House Speaker, Nabih Berri, on Friday received at the Second Presidency in Ain
El-Tineh former minister Ghazi al-Aridi, with whom he discussed the current
general situation and the latest political developments. Speaker Berri also met
with Head of the Economic bodies in Lebanon, former minister Mohammed Choucair.
U.S. Embassy Beirut Hosts Elie Saab in a Night of Culture
NNA/May 05, 2023
US Ambassador Dorothy Shea hosted an evening with the Lebanese and global
fashion designer and businessman Elie Saab, as part of the U.S. Embassy’s “Meet
the Artist” series, which highlights established Lebanese talents from all
artistic backgrounds. The event served as a window into Elie Saab’s inspiration
for building a global brand and highlighted his vision for Lebanon’s future.
During the event, Ambassador Shea noted how Saab put “Lebanon on the map in
haute couture globally,” and through Saab’s work, “bridged the gap between East
and West, literally stitching them closer together with needle, thread, and
impeccable craftsmanship.” The event involved a conversation between Ambassador
Shea and Saab, including questions from an audience of emerging fashion
designers, ministers, and other influential members of Lebanon’s vibrant
business, arts, and culture scene—all honoring Saab’s 40 years of artistic and
industrial contribution to Lebanon and the world. Saab noted that, despite all
the challenges he faced when he first launched the Elie Saab brand, his efforts
helped pave the way for the Middle East region to shine in the global fashion
industry. Saab stressed the importance of making sure “[we] give our youth an
opportunity to still dream and pave a path for themselves while pursuing their
passion.” The “Meet the Artist” series is designed to foster mentorship between
influential and upcoming Lebanese artists in various artistic fields to give
them a platform to network within the artists’ community, learn from other
artists’ experience, and learn about State Department exchange programs and
funding opportunities. This is the ninth iteration of “Meet the Artist.”
Previous programming featured renowned artists, such as George Khabbaz, Raouf
Rifai, and Nadim Cherfan from the Mayyas.
American University of Beirut awards Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to
Dina Katabi, Elias Khoury, Suheil Muasher, and June Bowman Nasrallah...
NNA/May 05, 2023
President of the American University of Beirut (AUB) Fadlo Khuri announced that
during AUB's 154th commencement exercises on June 9, 2023, four honorands will
be awarded AUB’s highest accolade, the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, for
their outstanding ingenuity, leadership, and service across an array of human
endeavors
“Our honorands are shining examples of how knowledge can be harnessed to improve
the human condition, even in the face of challenges and under less than ideal
circumstances. They embody AUB's mission to serve the world with progressive
ideas and bold actions, to promote equitable access to education and healthcare,
and to contribute to a sustainable and prosperous future through basic
discovery, innovation, service, and knowledge,” Khuri said.
Dina Katabi is a world-renowned researcher in wireless networks, whose
pioneering work has improved the speed, reliability, and security of data
exchange in WiFi and cellular systems. She has also made significant
contributions to wireless sensing in medicine, enabling non-invasive health
monitoring and disease diagnosis. Katabi is the inaugural Thuan and Nicole Pham
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT), she serves as director of the MIT Center for
Wireless Networks and Mobile Computing and leads the Networks at MIT group.
Elias Khoury is a widely acclaimed novelist, play and script writer, journalist,
activist, cultural critic, and public intellectual. One of the leading Arab
writers of his generation, he is renowned for his advocacy of freedom of
expression, democratic values, and the Palestinian cause. His novels, translated
into many languages, have established him as a pioneer in the new style of
Arabic fiction. He has taught in a number of distinguished universities in the
Middle East, Europe, and the US and is the recipient of several international
awards. He is currently editor of the Journal of Palestine Studies.
Suheil Muasher (BS ’72, MD ’76) is a universally revered professor, clinician,
researcher, and mentor. He is an internationally renowned fertility expert,
having helped thousands of people overcome infertility and bring healthy babies
into their family. He has collaborated on and conducted breakthrough research
that led to improved IVF (in vitro fertilization) stimulation protocols. An
award-winning trainer of residents and fellows in the field of reproductive
endocrinology and infertility, Dr. Muasher is professor emeritus at Duke
University and served as vice chairman for education as well as director of
graduate learning and academic development in the Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology.
June Bowman Nasrallah (BS ’70) is a Lebanese-American award-winning molecular
biologist and pioneer of plant reproductive biology who determined the molecular
basis of self-incompatibility in plants. Using genetics, cell biology,
biochemistry, and molecular analysis, her work has many practical implications
in advancing crop improvement, while preserving biodiversity and sustaining the
ecosystem. A philanthropist and devotee to serving the profession, she is a keen
mentor and serves on the boards of numerous journals. A member of the US
National Academy of Sciences and president of the Lebanese Academy of Sciences,
June is currently Barbara McClintock Professor at the Plant Biology Section of
the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University.
“With great pride and joy, we welcome this year's honorands to join AUB's
distinguished list of honorary doctoral degree recipients. These four
inspirational leaders truly exemplify the ideals that we uphold in fostering,
educating, motivating, and empowering new generations to actively participate in
building a brighter future and a thriving global community,” Khuri concluded.
Oil prices edge lower in Lebanon
NNA/May 05, 2023
Oil prices in Lebanon have dropped on Friday. Consequently, the new prices are
as follows:
95 octanes: LBP 1,666,000
98 octanes: LBP 1,708,000
Diesel: LBP 1,441,000
Gas: LBP 959,000
Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports
And News published on May 05-06/2023
WHO Downgrades COVID Pandemic, Says It’s No Longer Emergency
AgenciesAsharq Al Awsat/May
05/2023
The World Health Organization said Friday that COVID-19 no longer qualifies as a
global emergency, marking a symbolic end to the devastating coronavirus pandemic
that triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed at least
7 million people worldwide. WHO first declared COVID-19 to be an emergency more
than three years ago. The UN health agency's officials said that even though the
emergency phase was over, the pandemic hasn't come to an end, noting recent
spikes in cases in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. WHO says that thousands
of people are dying from the virus every week, and millions of others report
that they are still suffering from debilitating, long-term effects from the
disease. “It’s with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health
emergency,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “That does not
mean COVID-19 is over as a global health threat,” he said, adding he wouldn't
hesitate to reconvene experts to reassess the situation should COVID-19 “put our
world in peril.”Tedros said the pandemic had been on a downward trend for more
than a year, acknowledging that most countries have already returned to life
before COVID-19. He bemoaned the damage that COVID-19 had done to the global
community, saying the pandemic had shattered businesses, exacerbated political
divisions, led to the spread of misinformation and plunged millions into
poverty. Tedros also noted that there were likely at least 20 million COVID-19
deaths, far more than the officially reported 7 million.
“COVID has changed our world and it has changed us,” he said, warning that the
risk of new variants still remained. Dr. Michael Ryan, WHO's emergencies chief,
said it was incumbent on heads of states and other leaders to decide on how
future health threats should be faced, given the numerous problems that crippled
the world's response to COVID-19. Countries are negotiating a pandemic treaty
that some hope may spell out how future disease threats will be faced — but it's
unlikely any such treaty would be legally binding. When the UN health agency
first declared the coronavirus to be an international crisis on Jan. 30, 2020,
it hadn't yet been named COVID-19 and there were no major outbreaks beyond
China. More than three years later, the virus has caused an estimated 764
million cases globally and about 5 billion people have received at least one
dose of vaccine.
In the US, the public health emergency declaration made regarding COVID-19 is
set to expire on May 11, when wide-ranging measures to support the pandemic
response, including vaccine mandates, will end. Many other countries, including
Germany, France and Britain, dropped many of their provisions against the
pandemic last year. When Tedros declared COVID-19 to be an emergency in 2020, he
said his greatest fear was the virus’ potential to spread in countries with weak
health systems. In fact, some of the countries that suffered the worst COVID-19
death tolls were previously judged to be the best-prepared for a pandemic,
including the US and Britain. According to WHO data, the number of deaths
reported in Africa account for just 3% of the global total. WHO doesn't
“declare” pandemics, but first used the term to describe the outbreak in March
2020, when the virus had spread to every continent except Antarctica, long after
many other scientists had said a pandemic was already underway. WHO is the only
agency mandated to coordinate the world’s response to acute health threats, but
the organization faltered repeatedly as the coronavirus unfolded. In January
2020, WHO publicly applauded China for its supposed speedy and transparent
response, even though recordings of private meetings obtained by The Associated
Press showed top officials were frustrated at the country’s lack of cooperation.
WHO also recommended against mask-wearing for the public for months, a mistake
many health officials say cost lives. Numerous scientists also slammed WHO’s
reluctance to acknowledge that COVID-19 was frequently spread in the air and by
people without symptoms, criticizing the agency’s lack of strong guidance to
prevent such exposure. Tedros was a vociferous critic of rich countries who
hoarded the limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccines, warning that the world was on
the brink of a “catastrophic moral failure” by failing to share shots with poor
countries. Most recently, WHO has been struggling to investigate the origins of
the coronavirus, a challenging scientific endeavor that has also become
politically fraught. After a weeks-long visit to China, WHO released a report in
2021 concluding that COVID-19 most likely jumped into humans from animals,
dismissing the possibility that it originated in a lab as “extremely unlikely.”
But the UN agency backtracked the following year, saying “key pieces of data”
were still missing and that it was premature to rule out that COVID-19 might
have ties to a lab. Tedros lamented that the catastrophic toll of COVID-19 could
have been avoided. "We have the tools and the technologies to prepare for
pandemics better, to detect them earlier, to respond to them faster,” Tedros
said, without citing missteps by WHO specifically. “A lack of (global)
solidarity meant that those tools were not used as effectively as they could
have been,” he said. “Lives were lost that should not have been. We must promise
ourselves and our children and grandchildren that we will never make those
mistakes again.”
Sudan’s warring sides send envoys for talks in
Saudi Arabia
ASWAN, Egypt (AP)/Fri, May 5, 2023
Sudan’s two warring generals sent their envoys on Friday to Saudi Arabia for
talks aimed at firming up a shaky cease-fire after three weeks of fierce
fighting that has killed hundreds and pushed the African country to the brink of
collapse, three Sudanese officials said. The negotiations would be the first
between Sudan’s military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, since clashes
broke out on April 15.According to the three — two senior military officials and
one from their paramilitary rival — the talks will begin in the Saudi coastal
city of Jeddah on Saturday, following concerted efforts by Riyad and other
international powers to pressure the warring sides in Sudan to the negotiating
table. The three officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of
anonymity to discuss the upcoming peace talks. No timeframe was given for the
length of the talks.The fighting has turned Sudan's capital of Khartoum and
other urban areas into battlefields and pushed hundreds of thousands from their
homes. There is increasing concern for those trapped and displaced by the
fighting, and aid workers and civilians have said there is a dire lack of basic
services, medical care, food and water. Foreign governments have rushed to
evacuate their diplomats and thousands of foreign nationals out of Sudan. Saudi
warships have been ferrying those fleeing from Port Sudan, on Sudan’s Red Sea
coast, which has now become the entry hub for aid sent to the embattled nation.
A series of fragile and often violated cease-fires over the past three weeks has
failed to stop the fighting. Fierce battles raged Friday in areas around the
military’s headquarters and the international airport in Khartoum, according to
residents.
According to the three officials, the talks in Jeddah would address the opening
of humanitarian corridors in Khartoum and the adjacent city of Omdurman, which
have been the centers of the battles. One of the military officials said the
talks are part of an initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia and the United State.
He said they would also discuss providing protection to civilian infrastructure,
including health facilities. The RSF official said Saudi and American officials
would facilitate the talks. He said they would also discuss a mechanism to
monitor the cease-fire and confirmed on Friday that the RSF delegation had left
for Jeddah. Sudan's military also later its delegation had departed to Saudi
Arabia, saying the talks would discuss “details of the truce,” without
elaborating. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meanwhile, discussed the
initiative in a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan,
the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It said the initiative aims to
“prepare the ground” for dialogue to deescalate tensions in the African country.
The statement also did not provide further details. The U.N. envoy in Sudan,
Volker Perthes, lauded the move as “a positive sign,” but cautioned about high
expectations from the meeting.
“It is a positive sign, a sign of getting more realistic, realizing that there
will be no easy or quick win,” he told the AP from Port Sudan. “We need to
realize, however, that this is a first encounter.”The meeting may be
“exploratory rather than concrete,” he said and added that achieving a “lasting
cease-fire” would need more than one meeting. The battle for control of Sudan,
which capped months of tensions between Burhan and Dagalo, has so far killed at
least 550 people, including civilians, and — as of Monday — wounded more than
4,900, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry. The Sudanese Doctors’
Syndicate, which tracks only civilian casualties, said Friday that 473 civilians
have been killed in the violence, and more than 2,450 have been wounded. James
Elder, a spokesman for the the U.N. children agency, said at least 190 children
have been killed and 1,700 have been wounded in the fighting. “This means that
every single hour, you have seven boys or girls ... killed or injured,” he said
at a press conference Friday in Geneva. “I think this is underlining the
enormity of how violent this is.” Their power struggle has put millions of
Sudanese in the line of gun battles, artillery bombardments and airstrikes. So
far, at least 334,000 people have been displaced inside Sudan, and tens of
thousands more have crossed to neighboring countries — Egypt, Chad, South Sudan,
the Central African Republic and Ethiopia, according to U.N. agencies.
Fighting Rages in Khartoum, Civilians Complain
of Being Forgotten
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2023
Heavy gunfire echoed around Khartoum again on Friday as civilians trapped in the
Sudanese capital said the army and rival paramilitary forces were fighting on
and ignoring their plight. "It's been four days without electricity and our
situation is difficult... We are the victims of a war that we aren't a part of.
No one cares about the citizen," said 48-year-old Othman Hassan from the
southern outskirts of Khartoum. Despite multiple ceasefire declarations, the
army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) appeared to be battling
each other for control of territory in the capital ahead of proposed talks,
Reuters said. So far, the leaders of both factions have shown little public
willingness to negotiate after more than two weeks of fighting. Intense gunfire
also rang out in Khartoum's adjoining city of Bahri as planes flew overhead, a
witness told Reuters. The sudden collapse into warfare has killed hundreds,
triggered a humanitarian disaster, sent an exodus of refugees to neighboring
states and risks dragging in outside powers, further destabilizing an already
restive region. Across swathes of Khartoum, factories, banks and shops have been
looted or damaged, power and water supplies have been failing and residents have
reported steep price rises and shortages of basic goods. "Sudan's warring armies
are showing reckless disregard for civilian lives by using inaccurate weapons in
populated urban areas," Human Rights Watch Sudan researcher Mohamed Osman said
in a report documenting damage to hospitals and water treatment plants caused by
fighting. The Sudanese Doctors Union said one of the country's main maternity
hospitals, Aldayat in the adjoining city of Omdurman, had been looted and
occupied by forces on Thursday. In total, it says 17 hospitals had been damaged
by fighting and 20 forcibly evacuated since the start of the violence. Sixty of
the 88 hospitals in Khartoum are out of service, it said, with many of the rest
only offering partial service. The fighting stems from tensions between two
rival factions, the army and RSF, which had shared power after a coup in 2021.
The conflict has derailed an internationally-backed plan to usher in democracy
and civilian rule after a 2019 popular uprising that unseated Omar al-Bashir.
AID, FOOD LOOTED
The United Nations pressed the warring sides to guarantee safe passage of aid
after six trucks were looted. UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said he hoped to
have face-to-face meetings with both sides to secure guarantees from them for
aid convoys. The UN World Food Program (WFP) estimated that $13 million to $14
million worth of food destined to people in need in Sudan had been plundered so
far. About 100,000 people have fled Sudan with little food or water to
neighboring countries, the United Nations says. The United Nations refugee
agency (UNHCR) called on governments to let fleeing civilians into their
territory. "We're advising governments not to return people to Sudan because of
the conflict that's going on there and also advising that this is a refugee
movement," Elizabeth Tan, UNHCR's Director of International Protection, told
reporters at a briefing in Geneva. "There are likely to be high levels of
international protection needs amongst those who are fleeing." The UNHCR said
more than 56,000 people had entered Egypt through the Qostol and Agreen
crossings since May 4, including at least 52,500 Sudanese, according to figures
from Egypt's foreign ministry. The agency had said on Thursday it planning for
an outflow of 860,000 refugees and returnees from Sudan and, with partners, will
need $445 million to support the displaced until October. “The humanitarian
situation in and around Sudan is tragic - there are food, water and fuel
shortages, limited access to transport, communications and electricity, and
sky-rocketing prices of basic items,” Raouf Mazou, UNHCR's Assistant High
Commissioner for Operations, said.
Qaani: We Partially Avenged Suleimani’s
Killing by Expelling US Forces from the Region
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2023
IRGC foreign operations’ official, Esmail Qaani, said that his forces partially
avenged the assassination of Al-Quds commander, General Qassem Suleimani, by
expelling US forces from the region. “America, Israel and even NATO...are
mobilizing to destroy Iran,” Qaani was quoted by Fars news agency as saying,
during a meeting with young clerics in Qom. He added: “America retreats every
day and shows signs of decline.” When asked about the “time of revenge for the
blood” of his predecessor, Qassem Suleimani, Qaani pointed to previous
statements by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, saying that part of the
revenge was “the expulsion of the American forces in the region.” The former
commander of Al-Quds Force was killed by a US strike moments after his arrival
at Baghdad airport in early 2020. Suleimani’s killing came months after he
obtained the highest military rank from Khamenei because of the role of his
forces in the Syria and Iraq war. Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened
to “strongly” avenge the assassination of the senior military official. Those
threats targeted former US President Donald Trump, his Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo, and the former US Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, in
addition to generals in the US army. In November, the US State Department
informed members of Congress that “Iranian threats” against Pompeo and Hook
“remain” on US soil. Reports last year noted that providing the two officials
with around-the-clock protection would cost more than $2 million a month.
Tehran, which has solid relations with Baghdad, opposes the US military presence
on its borders in Iraq and the Gulf, saying that Western military intervention
is the main cause of insecurity in the region. “Iraq should not allow the
presence of Americans on its soil, not even one American,” Iranian Supreme
Leader Ali Khamenei said during his meeting with Iraqi President Abdul Latif
Jamal Rashid last week.
Iran expels four Azeri diplomats amid ongoing
tensions
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)/Fri, May 5, 2023
Iran has expelled four Azeri diplomats amid ongoing tensions with neighboring
Azerbaijan, Iranian media reported on Friday. Iran's semiofficial news outlets
did not provide details except to say that the four had been working in
Azerbaijan's Embassy in Tehran and its consulate in the northwestern city of
Tabriz.
Last month, Azerbaijan expelled four Iranian diplomats from Baku. Relations
between Tehran and Baku, long chilly, soured further after a gunman in January
stormed Azerbaijan's embassy in Iran’s capital, killing its security chief and
wounding two guards. Azerbaijan accuses Iran of supporting hard-line Islamists
who tried to overthrow the government in Baku, a charge Tehran denies. Relations
between the two also are tense because Azerbaijan in March opened an embassy in
Israel. Iran has repeatedly opposed improving relations between Azerbaijan and
Israel. Iran and Israel see each other as archenemies.
‘Ukraine shoots down Russian hypersonic missile using US
Patriot system’
Joe Barnes/The Telegraph/May 5, 2023
Ukraine has intercepted a Russian hypersonic missile for the first time, it has
been reported. Local media reports suggested air-defence units operating the
highly-advanced, US-provided Patriot missile system could have been responsible
for the unprecedented feat. Images purportedly showing the fragments of a downed
Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile, which Russia claims can fly at 10 times the speed of
sound, were published by the Ukrainian Defence Express outlet. The wreckage of
the missile, known in Russia as the “dagger”, fell on an empty football stadium
in Kyiv after a loud explosion was reported in the early hours of Thursday
morning. The bang coincided with a long-range Russian barrage using Iranian-made
drones and less sophisticated missiles targeting the Ukrainian capital,
according to local administrators, who did not confirm the use of a hypersonic
missile. Pictures of the remains appeared to show a hole in the top of the
weapon’s pointed shell, reportedly created by a precision munition, while the
rocket was still mid-air. The Defence Express outlet claimed it had “obviously”
been intercepted by a newly-acquired Patriot missile system. A soldier from the
Ukrainian air-defence team responsible for the interception confirmed the
Kinzhal had been destroyed by the US-donated system, in a tweet that has since
been deleted. The unit reportedly detected, tracked and downed the missile in
its final stages of flight, when it starts to slow down. Officials from
Ukraine’s Air Force refused to comment on the claims. Before the apparent
interception there were no known successful attempts in taking out the
hypersonic weapon, which had been dubbed “unstoppable” by the Kremlin. Russian
forces first used the Kinzhal in combat in Ukraine on March 29 last year, when
the missile was used to strike a fuel depot. The missile, which is fired from
specially adapted Mig-31 jet fighters, has a claimed range of up 1,900 miles.
According to Russian claims, the missile cannot be downed by any of the West’s
most advanced air-defence systems Until the delivery of Patriot systems to
Ukraine, Kyiv’s armed forces said they had no way of intercepting the hypersonic
rocket. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The
Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive
offer.
ICC chief prosecutor says he has 'every confidence' South
Africa will arrest Putin
The Canadian Press/Fri, May 5, 2023
OTTAWA — The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor says he has every
confidence that South Africa will arrest Vladimir Putin when the Russian
president is expected to attend an international summit there in August. Karim
Khan defended his decision to issue the arrest warrant at a news conference in
Ottawa today, saying it is a "litmus test" for whether the international
community will take collective action against Putin for Russia's year-old
assault against Ukraine. The court is trying to hold Putin personally
responsible for war crimes including the abduction of Ukrainian children. He is
expected to attend the BRICS summit as Russia's representative, alongside the
leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa. South Africa's ambassador to
Canada recently told The Canadian Press that the country prefers the idea of
peace talks to the West's approach of trying to punish the Russian aggressors.
Khan says that, "God willing," the South Africans will choose to act in line
with the values adopted in their constitution, "for their own people and for the
world."Still, high-ranking officials in the country, including President Cyril
Ramaphosa, have cast doubt on the warrant being executed — in part because of
South Africa's strong ties to Russia. On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy expressed confidence Putin would be convicted of war crimes. He said
in The Hague that the Russian leader "deserves to be sentenced for (his)
criminal actions right here in the capital of the international law."
Russian mercenaries vow to quit Bakhmut, Ukraine says they
are piling in
(Reuters)/Fri, May 5, 2023
-Russia's main mercenary group announced plans on Friday to pull out of the
eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, but Ukraine said the group's fighters were
reinforcing positions to try to seize it before Russia marks victory in World
War Two day next week. Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said his men had
been starved of ammunition and would expect the army to take their place in
Bakhmut next Wednesday, jeopardising what has long been Russia's main target in
its attempt to carve up its neighbour. "My lads will not suffer useless and
unjustified losses in Bakhmut without ammunition," Prigozhin said in a video
accompanying a written withdrawal announcement addressed to the head of general
staff, the defence ministry, and President Vladimir Putin as supreme commander.
The announcement said "bureaucrats" had held back supplies despite knowing that
Wagner's target date to capture the city was May 9, when Moscow holds its World
War Two Victory Day. "If, because of your petty jealousy, you do not want to
give the Russian people the victory of taking Bakhmut, that's your problem,"
Prigozhin added in the video. State-owned RIA news agency later reported that
Shoigu had instructed one of his deputy ministers to ensure troops had all the
weapons they needed. The battle for Bakhmut, which Russia sees as a stepping
stone to other cities in Ukraine's Donbas region still beyond its control, has
been the most intense of the conflict, costing thousands of lives on both sides
in months of grinding warfare. Ukrainian troops have been pushed back in recent
weeks but have clung on in the city to inflict as many Russian losses ahead of
Kyiv's planned big push against the invading forces along the 1,000 km (620
mile) front line. "Because of the lack of ammunition, our losses are increasing
exponentially every day," Prigozhin's official withdrawal statement said. "On
May 10, 2023, we are obliged to transfer positions in the settlement of Bakhmut
to units of the defence ministry and withdraw the remains of Wagner to logistics
camps to lick our wounds."
SMOKESCREEN?
It was not clear if Prigozhin, who often makes impulsive comments, would go
ahead with the withdrawal if his men got extra ammunition or if the row might
even be a smokescreen. A senior Ukrainian official said Russia was bringing
Wagner mercenary fighters from along the front line to Bakhmut to capture it by
Victory Day. "We are now seeing them pulling (fighters) from the entire
offensive line where the Wagner fighters were, they are pulling (them) to the
Bakhmut direction," Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Ukrainian
television. The Kremlin declined to comment on Prigozhin's statement, citing the
fact it was related to what it calls its "special military operation" in
Ukraine, where it has declared southern and eastern regions it has partly seized
as annexed to Russia. Moscow says Ukraine's moves towards the West threaten its
security. Kyiv says the invasion is simply a land grab.
In another sign of disarray on the Russian side, former Russian deputy defence
minister Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev joined Wagner as a deputy commander,
Russian pro-war social media channels reported. Earlier, Prigozhin was pictured
surrounded by corpses he said were his men, shouting abuse at Russian Defence
Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. "Shoigu!
Gerasimov! Where is the ******* ammunition?" he shouted, using a torrent of
expletives that were bleeped out. In remarks released later by his press
service, Prigozhin said Shoigu and Gerasimov must bear the responsibility for
"tens of thousands of Wagner dead and injured". Prigozhin has frequently posted
impetuous remarks and last week withdrew one which he said he had made as a
"joke". But the threat and the video highlighted the pressure Russian forces are
under as Ukraine makes the final preparations for a counter-offensive backed by
thousands of Western-donated armoured vehicles and freshly trained troops. The
Russian-installed governor of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, Yevgeny Balitsky,
said he had ordered the evacuation of villages close to the front line with
Ukrainian forces there, saying that Ukrainian shelling had intensified in recent
days. The Ukrainian counterattack is viewed as likely to take in the
Zaporizhzhia region, about 80% of which is held by Moscow. Ukraine said two
people had been killed in the eastern Donetsk region and nine wounded over the
past 24 hours and electricity distribution networks had been damaged by shelling
in Donetsk and the southern Kherson region. Russia has suffered few direct
attacks during the war, but Russian news agencies reported a second drone attack
in as many days on the Ilsky oil refinery in the south on Friday, causing a fire
but no casualties. It was not immediately clear who launched it. Ukrainian
officials do not usually claim responsibility for what have been sporadic
attacks on fuel depots in Russia, although they sometimes celebrate them. Moscow
accused Ukraine of firing drones at the Kremlin in the early hours of Wednesday
in an attempt to kill Putin. Kyiv denied it, and the United States dismissed
Kremlin claims it was behind the incident as "lies". Analysts say that while it
is not clear who launched the drones, the Kremlin may use the incident to rally
the population behind its actions in Ukraine and escalate the conflict.
Russia is cancelling Victory Day celebrations
to hide its military losses, and is using alleged Kremlin drone strike as an
excuse, experts say
Sinéad Baker/Business Insider/May 5, 2023
Russia is reducing its large-scale Victory Day parades, which are used to show
its military strength. Experts said it is using an alleged Kremlin drone strike
as an excuse to scale them back. But Russia likely wants to conceal its military
losses in Ukraine, the ISW said. Russia appears to be reducing its annual
Victory Day celebrations this year so that it can conceal the degradation of its
military, and is using an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin as an excuse,
experts said. The Washington DC-based Institute for the Study of War said in an
update on Thursday that Russian officials are likely using the supposed attack
on the Kremlin to cancel additional parades that were set to take place on May
9, the day Russia celebrates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. The
annual celebrations are designed as a demonstration of Russia's military
strength, and typically involves military parades in Moscow's Red Square and
across the country. But this year's celebrations have been significantly scaled
back. The ISW said the Kremlin "likely hopes to limit typical May 9 events to
conceal the degradation of the Russian military." And it said the drone strike
gave it an excuse to do so. Russia said on Wednesday that two drones were flown
at the Kremlin in an attempt by Ukraine to kill President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine denied any involvement, and experts say that the operation may have been
staged by Russia itself. The ISW said earlier this week that the strike was
likely conducted by Russia to try to "bring the war home to a Russian domestic
audience."The large-scale parade in Moscow will now be closed off to the public,
the BBC reported, and officials in several other cities have cancelled their
versions of the parade. Russian officials have either given no reasons for the
changes, or have blamed the threat of attacks by Ukraine. Victory Day events
usually show off advanced Russian military equipment, but a lot of that
equipment is either being used in Ukraine or has been destroyed in the fighting,
the ISW noted on Thursday. Russia is losing around 150 tanks a month in Ukraine,
according to an analysis by open source intelligence platform Oryx, which
estimates that Russia lost 1,779 tanks between February 2022 and February 2023.
Russia has been recorded using decades-old tanks in Ukraine. The White House
said this week that 20,000 Russian troops have been killed over the last five
months alone. The ISW said another reason the Kremlin likely wants to limit
Victory Day events is that "celebrations honoring deceased service members could
become a potential source of domestic backlash for Russia's high casualty
figures in Ukraine." The UK Ministry of Defence said last month that honoring
the fallen of previous generations "could easily blur into exposing the scope of
the recent losses, which the Kremlin attempts to cover up."
Russia's Lavrov Says Kremlin Drone Incident
Was 'Hostile Act'
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2023
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Wednesday's drone
incident at the Kremlin was a "hostile act" and Russia would respond with
"concrete actions". Russia has accused Ukraine of firing drones at the Kremlin
in an attempt to kill President Vladimir Putin, and said the United States was
behind the purported attack, Reuters reported. Ukraine has denied that, and the
White House has dismissed Russian "lies". "It was clearly a hostile act, it is
clear that the Kyiv terrorists could not have committed it without the knowledge
of their masters," Lavrov told a press conference in India. "We will not respond
by talking about 'casus belli' or not, we will respond with concrete actions,"
he said. "Casus belli" is a Latin term for an action that provides justification
for war. Russia's war in Ukraine is now in its 15th month, though Moscow
continues to describe it as a "special military operation".
Ukraine’s counter-offensive: The options for attack – and
which is best
Mike Martin/The Telegraph/May 5, 2023
The upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensive has to be one of the most over-analysed
military operations in history. Starting late last year, two things became
clear: first, that both sides would conduct offensives in the spring, and
second, that Ukraine had to make serious progress towards victory this year
because US elections in 2024 could put the country’s massive military support at
risk. The Russians decided to go early with their offensive. Since January, they
have been slowly grinding away in the eastern Donbas region, mostly around the
non-strategic town of Bakhmut.Their progress has been slow (worth roughly a
football field a day), and the costs high (thousands upon thousands of
soldiers). The Ukrainians have largely achieved what they set out to achieve:
holding on to the town while chipping away at the Russians and destroying their
equipment. This valiant defence has been fought to create time for the West to
re-equip, arm and help train a separate Ukrainian force. Since January, tanks,
armoured infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery pieces – and all
the supporting equipment like engineers, drones, and logistics – have been
pouring into the country. Conservative estimates are that they have at least
nine armoured brigades at their disposal, probably a lot more. So, what to do
with them?
Overall strategy and three options
Before we get into the precise options open to Ukraine, there are two important
elements of their overall strategy to consider. The first is that Ukraine is not
aiming to evict every last Russian soldier from their territory. That would
probably prove impossible. Luckily, they don’t need to because decisions about
whether Russian soldiers remain in Ukraine are made in Moscow. And so the aim of
the Ukrainian counterattack is to create so much forward momentum on the
battlefield – via surprise, shock or deception – that the poorly trained Russian
forces collapse, thus leading to a change of heart, or a change of leader in
Moscow (there are plenty of sharks circling around Putin.) Have a look at this
map. You can see that Russia occupies land in the south and east of the country.
But they are highly vulnerable to a Ukrainian counter-strike going south from
Zaporizhzhia that reaches the coast of the Sea of Azov – this sort of bold
manoeuvre would likely create the required psychological effect in Moscow. This
would cut the Russian forces in two and, if coupled with the destruction of the
Kerch bridge linking Russia and Crimea, the isolation of Russian forces in the
Crimean Peninsula. However, this is such an obvious plan of attack that the
Russians have heavily fortified the territory with entrapments, anti-tank
ditches and plenty of forces. So the Ukrainians need a way to encourage the
Russians to move forces away from this heavily defended area.
Have a look at this map next. It shows something that in military parlance is
called interior and exterior lines. Essentially, the Ukrainians are on the
inside of a circle, which means it is easier for them to move their forces,
supplies and equipment from one end of the line to the other – not to mention
that the Russians are occupying enemy territory and the Ukrainians are on home
ground.
What this simple military observation means is that the Ukrainians have lots of
options about where they can test the Russians, before redeploying their troops
elsewhere to test another part of the line. The map above shows three such
options. The Ukrainians could attempt a river crossing over the River Dnipro
near Kherson. River crossings are inherently risky, but the Russian defences are
sparse here because the river forms a defensive barrier. This is probably the
hardest option, because the Ukrainian troops would be very vulnerable as they
crossed the river. Another option would be to try and cut the Russian lines in
the far north-east, near Svatove or Kreminna. Cutting through the Russian lines
here has the added advantage that a major Russian railway supply line for the
whole Donbas region runs just behind the Russian front line. Here the Russian
defences are relatively strong, and it is quite near the Russian border and so
easy to reinforce for the Russians. But the prize of cutting Russian supply
lines is a great one.
And the third option, and perhaps the most surprising, would be to drive an
encirclement around the Russian near-encirclement of the Ukrainian defenders of
Bakhmut – a so-called double envelopment. Here the Russian forces are exhausted
from six months of constant high-intensity combat and, if executed correctly,
this attack could trap 40,000 Russian troops: forcing them to surrender or die.
This would probably be my preferred option, especially as Putin has made Bakhmut
a personal goal. The question is not so much whether or not to create surprise
about where the main strike will be, but to create dilemmas for the Russian
command. If they don’t respond to a probe, or limited attack, in one area, the
Ukrainians can reinforce it and get through the Russian lines. And if the
Russians do respond, the Ukrainians can simply probe in another area.
Eventually, the Russians will have to draw troops away from the area that they
really need to defend: the area south of Zaporizhzhia. The Ukrainians can just
keep doing this until the Russians are exhausted running backwards and forwards.
Such a move would leave them free to strike to the south, severing the Russian
ground forces in two. At which point… all eyes should be on Moscow. Mike Martin
is a senior visiting fellow at King’s College London, and the author of the
recently published How to Fight a War. Broaden your horizons with award-winning
British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for
just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.
Joint Syrian-Iranian statement: Emphasis on
strengthening cooperation between the two countries on the basis of strategic
relations
SANA/May 05, 2023
Syria and Iran stressed in a joint statement at the end of the visit of the
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi the importance of strengthening bilateral
relations on the basis of brotherly and strategic relations between the two
countries, and the need to respect national sovereignty and independence ,and
preserve the territorial integrity of the two countries ,in accordance with the
goals and principles of the United Nations Charter.
Full text of the statement:
In response to the official invitation of the President of the Syrian Arab
Republic, President Bashar al-Assad, the President of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, Ebrahim Raisi paid an official visit to Syria on the 3rd and the 4th of
May 2023, during which Raisi discussed with senior Syrian officials ways to
expand and strengthen bilateral relations, the latest developments in the region
and the situations at the global level.
¬ The two presidents held discussions that focused on ways to develop and
strengthen bilateral relations on the basis of fraternal and strategic relations
between the two countries, in addition to discussing the latest developments in
the region and the world.
– The two sides stressed the necessity of respecting national sovereignty and
independence and preserving the territorial integrity of the two countries in
accordance with the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter.
–The two sides stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral relations
through the continuation of political, economic, consular and other fields of
cooperation, as well as the continuation of visits by high-level delegations
between the two countries.
– The two sides expressed their readiness and desire to take all measures to
develop trade and economic relations between the two countries through the
existing mechanisms, including the Joint Higher Committee, and they also
affirmed the existing cooperation between them with regard to the reconstruction
of the Syrian Arab Republic.
– The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the joint cooperation in the
field of combating terrorism and extremism, stressing the continuation of joint
cooperation in order to eliminate all terrorist groups.
– The two sides strongly condemned the attacks carried out by the Zionist entity
against the Syrian Arab Republic, considering them a destabilizing factor in the
region, and the two sides affirmed Syria’s legitimate right to respond to these
attacks in an appropriate manner.
– The two sides condemned the continued occupation of the occupied Syrian Golan
by the occupation entity, as well as the actions taken by the authorities of
that occupation entity, including the decision to annex the Golan, which is
contrary to the principles of international law. The Syrian Golan is regarded as
an occupied territory at the level of legal status.
– Both sides condemned all forms of the illegal presence of military forces on
Syrian territory, calling it an occupation, and stressed the need to end it as
it is a violation of the Syrian sovereignty.
They strongly condemned the US practices of stealing the natural resources of
the Syrian Arab Republic, and demanded a decisive position from the
international community to end such acts.
– The two sides strongly condemned the coercive, unilateral and illegal measures
taken by the USA and the European Union against the Islamic Republic of Iran and
the Syrian Arab Republic, which are considered a violation of international law
, stressing the need for immediately end of these inhuman acts.
– The Iranian side also declared once again its support for the government and
people of the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as its solidarity with it regarding
the recent devastating earthquake in the country.
– The two sides also denounced the continuation of the unjust blockade and
illegal sanctions by Western countries against the Syrian people in
post-earthquake conditions, and stressed the need to immediately break this
blockade in order to facilitate the delivery of international aid for the
reconstruction of the areas affected by the earthquake.
– They also praised the positive political developments in the region,
especially the constructive communication between Syria and the Arab countries,
and the Iran-Saudi deal made under the auspices of China,they considered that
this agreement constitutes an important step towards new positive developments
that favor the stability of the Middle East, and stressed the need for
solidarity and regional cohesion to face the challenges and provide security,
prosperity and tranquility through internal regional cooperation.
– They valued the blood of the martyrs who sacrificed for the sake of Syria’s
victory in its war against terrorism.
– Raisi appreciated the efforts made to create appropriate conditions and
facilitate the return of Syrian refugees, and both sides called on the
international community to provide the necessary assistance in this field and
stop exploiting the suffering of refugees by some countries to serve their
political agendas.
– Both sides declared their support for the legitimate right of the Palestinian
people to resist the occupation and to establish an independent, unified and
sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Finally, the Iranian President expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation
to President al-Assad, the officials and the Syrian people for the warm welcome
and generous hospitality, extending an official invitation to President al-Assad
to pay an official visit to Iran.--
Taiwan to Treat Chinese Drone Incursions as ‘First Strike,’
Says Defense Chief
Cindy Wang and Low De Wei/(Bloomberg)/May 05, 2023
Taiwan will treat Chinese drone or jet incursions into its airspace as a “first
strike,” its defense chief said, amid rising concerns over Beijing’s strategy of
flying unmanned surveillance craft around the island. The ministry “does not
wish for war to break out in the Taiwan Strait, which will be very tragic,”
Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said in response to questions from lawmakers on
Thursday. The remarks appeared to reiterate previous declarations that Taiwan
has made about aircraft violating the 12-nautical-mile (22 kilometer) area that
Taiwan regards as defining its territorial sea and airspace. While China has
sent increasing numbers of aircraft into the island’s far broader air defense
identification zone, it has stayed out of the narrower region Chiu was referring
to. Taiwan has found itself under increasing pressure from Beijing, which views
the self-governing island as part of its territory. That pressure includes
near-daily warplane incursions across the Taiwan Strait past the median line, an
unofficial border separating the two sides in the middle of the busy waterway.
Twice within a one-week period, China has sent autonomous aircraft around much
of the island, though they have not strayed into the 12-mile limit Chiu said
would represent an attack. Still, lawmakers expressed concerns about the “new
normal” of China testing Taiwan’s defenses, whether through violations of the
median line or drone flights. Last year, the People’s Liberation Army nearly
doubled the number of military flights around the island compared to a year
earlier to more than 1,700. Chiu also said that Taiwan’s biggest annual
live-fire drill simulating Chinese attacks, the Han Kuang Exercise, will
incorporate scenarios of eastern Taiwan being attacked. That comes after China’s
Shandong aircraft carrier battle group conducted training in the waters east of
Taiwan. Separately, Taiwan authorities said in a report published Thursday that
the island will receive its first batch of 66 F-16V jets from the US later than
planned, in the third quarter of 2024 rather than the end of this year. The US
is also expected to deliver four MQ-9 drones that Taiwan ordered in 2025,
another Taiwanese defense ministry official told lawmakers.
After acrimonious resignation, Pope tells abuse commission
to 'move forward'
VATICAN CITY (Reuters)/Fri, May 5, 2023
Pope Francis on Friday praised the work of an international Vatican commission
on sexual abuse prevention, following the recent acrimonious resignation of a
high-profile member who accused it of lacking transparency. In an address to a
plenary session of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors,
Francis made no reference or allusion to the accusations by Father Hans Zollner,
who resigned on March 29, citing concerns over the way it was operating. Zollner,
a world-renowned abuse prevention expert, denounced unclear hiring practices, an
undefined relationship with the Vatican's doctrine office and "inadequate"
financial and decision-making accountability. Addressing the commission, whose
membership was renewed and expanded last year, Francis said he was pleased with
a recent agreement between it and a Vatican department that oversees work in
poor countries, where sexual abuse prevention is often hurt by lack of funding.
He urged members "not to get bogged down," to "persevere and keep moving
forwards," adding: "You have already done much in these first six months".
Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, the president of the commission, issued a
statement at the time of Zollner's accusations, saying he was "surprised and
strongly disagree". It was founded in 2014 and is made up of abuse prevention
experts with a mandate to advise the pope and implement best practices for
protection in local churches around the world. Zollner also leads a centre for
the study of abuse at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University and is an adviser
on abuse prevention for the diocese of Rome. Some Vatican officials privately
speculated that the rift may stem from overlapping interests and a sense of
competition. Zollner told Reuters his decision had "nothing to do with
personalities but with procedures". Abuse scandals have shredded the Church's
reputation and have been a major challenge for the pope, who has passed a series
of measures over the last 10 years aimed at holding the Church hierarchy more
accountable, with mixed results. "Over the last decade, we have all learned a
great deal, myself included," the pope told the commission on Friday. "The
failure, especially on the part of the Church’s leaders, to do what we should
have done, has been a cause of scandal for many." Two abuse victims who were
members of the first commission resigned in 2017 citing resistance within the
Vatican but Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean who is an international advocate for
abuse victims who was appointed to the commission in 2021, has remained. Last
year, the pope incorporated it into the Vatican's doctrinal department, which
decides on sanctions for priests convicted of sexual abuse. Current commission
leaders said this gave it more institutional clout but critics said the move
could threaten its independence. In 2022, the pope mandated the group with
producing an annual audit evaluating how national Catholic Churches are
implementing measures to protect children from clergy sexual abuse. The first
one is expected for next year.
Canada drops 'Defender of the Faith' from
King's title
India McTaggart/The Telegraph/May 5, 2023
Canada has dropped “Defender of the Faith” from the King’s title as part of a
push to modernise the monarch’s role as head of state. The measure to remove the
traditional “defender” role from the title was carried out in Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau’s recent budget bill and it represents the first time since
Confederation that there will be no explicit reference to the monarch’s
Christian faith. “Defender of the Faith” is a title that all English sovereigns
since Henry VIII have held as head of the Church of England, but, as Prince of
Wales, the monarch once said he would prefer to be “Defender of Faith”.
The centuries-old title symbolises the role of the monarch both as sovereign and
the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The King has been a long time
believer and advocate of promoting unity between different faiths, and his
Coronation will reflect this. While it is foremost an act of Christian worship,
there are multi-faith elements included, such as the Archbishop introducing the
Coronation oath by newly written wording referring to “people of all faiths and
beliefs” in a break with tradition. The mention of “God” will remain in the
King’s Canadian title, as it does in the first line of the Charter of Right and
Freedoms, but the monarch will be known officially as “Charles the Third, by the
Grace of God King of Canada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the
Commonwealth.” The move comes as the country grapples with the role of the
constitutional monarchy ahead of the King’s crowning on Saturday.
Justin Vovk, a historian of the Royal family at McMaster University in Canada,
said: “They want to drop the title because there is this desire to modernise.
“There is very much a push — a sense of urgency — to show Canadians why the
monarch is modern, to show Canadians it has a place in the 21st century.”
He added that the religiosity of the “defender” title is something that's open
to “critique, criticism and questioning” in an increasingly secular Canada.
Australian PM 'will pledge allegiance' to King
The decision comes after the Australian Prime Minister said that he would
declare his allegiance to the King at his Coronation despite believing that
Australia should have its own head of state. Anthony Albanese, who held a
private audience with the King at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, made the remarks
24 hours before the historic ceremony was due to begin. He previously voted in a
failed 1999 referendum on a proposal for an Australian citizen to replace the
British monarch as the country's head of state, but says that he accepts the
majority of Australians' choice for the country to remain a constitutional
monarchy. “I haven’t changed my position on that and I’ve made that very clear.
I want to see an Australian as Australia’s head of state,” the Prime Minister
told Australian Broadcasting Corp. “That doesn’t mean that you cannot have
respect for the institution, which is the system of government that we have,” he
said. “And I believe, as the Australian prime minister, I have a particular
responsibility to represent the nation in a way that respects the constitutional
arrangements, which are there.”Mr Albanese has ruled out holding a referendum to
replace the British monarch with an Australian president during his first
three-year term in office. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British
journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9
with our US-exclusive offer.
Israeli minister: Iran nuke enrichment could
ignite region
Associated Press/Fri, May 5, 2023
Israel's defense minister has claimed that Iran could have enough enriched
uranium for five nuclear weapons, and warned Tehran that proceeding to
weapons-grade enrichment could "ignite the region."His remarks echoed
international concerns, which have mounted over the past months, on Tehran
enriching uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Experts have said
that the Islamic Republic has enough fuel to build "several" atomic bombs if it
chooses. "Make no mistake, Iran will not be satisfied by a single nuclear bomb,"
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday during a visit to Athens.
Uranium enriched for use in nuclear power plants is normally below 20%, while
90% enrichment is considered to be weapons grade. "So far, Iran has gained
material enriched to 20% and 60% for five nuclear weapons," Gallant said.
"Iranian progress, enrichment to 90%, would be a grave mistake on Iran's part
and could ignite the region." Israel's leadership argues that Iran can only be
stopped from developing nuclear weapons by the threat of military action, while
the United States publicly favors a return to multilateral diplomatic efforts.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said in March it would restart
inspections and camera-monitoring at some Iranian nuclear facilities after it
reported that particles of highly enriched uranium were found at an underground
nuclear site. In Athens, Gallant was hosted by Greek Defense Minister Nikos
Panagiotopoulos. The two promised to further enhance military cooperation.
Greece last year launched a new international pilot training center, assisted by
Israel and Israeli defense contractor Elbit in a $1.65 billion deal. And last
month, Israel agreed to provide Greece with Spike anti-tank missiles in an
agreement worth $400 million.
Israel hoping for breakthrough with Saudis
during US security advisor visit -official
JERUSALEM (Reuters)/Fri, May 5, 2023
Israel is hoping for a breakthrough this weekend in efforts to normalize ties
with Saudi Arabia during White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan's
visit there, a senior security official said on Friday. The head of Israel's
National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, spoke on Wednesday with his
counterpart Sullivan, who is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Sullivan
is expected to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Hanegbi said.
Announcing his trip on Thursday, Sullivan said Washington was working hard to
normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia - a major goal set by
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who briefly joined Sullivan's video
call with Hanegbi. "We are very, very hopeful that there will be a breakthrough
during his visit there," Hanegbi told Reshet 13 News. Asked whether a
breakthrough would be a phone call between Saudi leaders and Netanyahu, Hangebi
said: "There are those who say that there have been more than phone calls
between Saudi and Israeli leaders. But what is important is that the United
States lead a move adding Saudi Arabia to the Abraham Accords - normalization
and peace with Israel. If that happens it will be a historic turning point."
Former President Donald Trump's administration in 2020 brokered the historic
peace deal known as the Abraham Accords, which included the normalization of
diplomatic relations between Gulf allies the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain
with Israel, all of which share security fears over Iran.
While Saudi Arabia signalled approval of the 2020 accords, it has held off on
following suit, saying Palestinian goals for statehood should be addressed
first. Any such prospects have been clouded, however, by Riyadh's strains with
U.S. President Joe Biden, its recent fence-mending with regional rival Iran, and
the rise of Netanyahu's hard-right Israeli government.
Israel has hope for breakthrough with Saudi
Arabia during US security advisor visit
LBCI/Fri, May 5, 2023
Israel is hoping for a breakthrough this weekend in its bid to normalize ties
with Saudi Arabia during White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan's
visit there, a senior security official said on Friday. "We are very, very
hopeful that there will be a breakthrough during his visit," Head of Israel's
National Security Council Tzachi Hanegbi told Reshet 13 News. Hanegbi spoke this
week with his counterpart Sullivan, who on Saturday is set to travel to Saudi
Arabia. Sullivan will likely meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,
Hanegbi said.
King Charles III Surprises Crowd outside
Buckingham Palace
Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2023
King Charles III surprised cheering fans who started gathering outside
Buckingham Palace on Friday, a day ahead of his coronation, as final touches
were made in preparation for an occasion that London hasn’t celebrated in 70
years. People in the crowd screamed his name as Charles stepped from a
chauffeur-driven Bentley wearing a blue suit. One person could be heard yelling
“God save the king" as the British monarch approached the throng lined up behind
a barricade. Charles thanked the well-wishers for coming, shaking hands as he
slowly moved along the line. Theresa Iredale, wearing a plastic crown, said she
trembled when the king approached her after she screamed his name. “I saw his
hand coming out to mine and I was like, ‘I can’t believe I’m shaking the king’s
hand,’” she said. Prince William, heir to the throne, and his wife, Kate, also
greeted the public during the walkabout, talking to fans on the opposite side of
The Mall, posing for selfies and chit-chatting. The royals made the stop after a
luncheon that followed the final rehearsal for Charles' Saturday morning
coronation service at Westminster Abbey. Charles ascended the throne
automatically when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died last year. The religious
ceremony of the coronation represents his formal crowning. The celebration has
been months in the making, choreographed down to the finest detail and includes
a huge security operation. Beyond the massive planning, Charles is trying to
remain relevant as support for the monarchy has waned, particularly among a
younger generation that cares less about its traditions. His crowning takes
place as some question the large expense of public funds — with no estimate
provided yet — during a cost-of-living crisis that has left many Britons
struggling. On Thursday, William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales,
took a subway train and visited a pub in Soho as part of the lead-up to the
coronation. The crowd outside the palace has been growing for several days, with
visitors from around the world assembling to witness history as the latest
monarch is crowned in a tradition that dates back more than 1,000 years.
Fans of the royal family were decked out in the red, white and blue of the Union
Jack, waving flags, wearing full outfits made of the distinctive pattern and one
man had it painted on his face. Many of those assembled had already camped out
or planned to spend the night hoping for a prime perch for the procession
Saturday and maybe a view of the newly crowned monarch and Queen Camilla, his
wife, waving from the balcony of the palace after returning from the ceremony.
Those who only expected a fleeting glimpse of the king, were richly rewarded to
get to meet him in person. “Absolutely amazing, just surreal,” said Gillian
Holmes. “My daughter said her legs were shaking, she was in shock,” Holmes said.
“I never ever dreamt that I would meet the king. I can’t believe it.” Throughout
the day, rail travelers throughout the United Kingdom were greeted with a
recorded message from the king as they boarded trains wishing them and their
families “a wonderful coronation weekend.” The message concluded with Charles
providing the familiar warning passengers get before they board or leave subways
and trains: “And remember, please mind the gap.”
The Latest LCCC English analysis &
editorials from miscellaneous sources published
on May 05-06/2023
Question: “What happens to those who have never heard about
Jesus?”
GotQuestions.org/May 5, 2023
Answer: All people are accountable to God whether or not they have “heard about
Him.” The Bible tells us that God has clearly revealed Himself in nature (Romans
1:20) and in the hearts of people (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The problem is that the
human race is sinful; we all reject this knowledge of God and rebel against Him
(Romans 1:21-23). If it were not for God’s grace, we would be given over to the
sinful desires of our hearts, allowing us to discover how useless and miserable
life is apart from Him. He does this for those who continually reject Him
(Romans 1:24-32).
In reality, it is not that some people have not heard about God. Rather, the
problem is that they have rejected what they have heard and what is readily seen
in nature. Deuteronomy 4:29 proclaims, “But if from there you seek the LORD your
God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your
soul.” This verse teaches an important principle—everyone who truly seeks after
God will find Him. If a person truly desires to know God, God will make Himself
known.
The problem is “there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans
3:11). People reject the knowledge of God that is present in nature and in their
own hearts, and instead decide to worship a “god” of their own creation. It is
foolish to debate the fairness of God sending someone to hell who never had the
opportunity to hear the gospel of Christ. People are responsible to God for what
God has already revealed to them. The Bible says that people reject this
knowledge, and therefore God is just in condemning them to hell.
Instead of debating the fate of those who have never heard, we, as Christians,
should be doing our best to make sure they do hear. We are called to spread the
gospel throughout the nations (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). We know people
reject the knowledge of God revealed in nature, and that must motivate us to
proclaim the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Only by accepting
God’s grace through the Lord Jesus Christ can people be saved from their sins
and rescued from an eternity apart from God.
If we assume that those who never hear the gospel are granted mercy from God, we
lose our motivation for evangelism. We also run into a terrible problem. If
people who never hear the gospel are automatically saved, then it is logical to
make sure no one ever hears the gospel—because then there would be a chance they
will reject it and be condemned.
The Bible is clear that those who perish without Christ will face an eternity in
hell. Jesus’ mandate to evangelize the whole world is still in force. People
need to call on the name of the Lord, but “how . . . can they call on the one
they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have
not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can
anyone preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14–15). Those who have never
heard about Jesus Christ desperately need to hear, and that caused Paul to
exclaim, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16)
Spy Games: Why Private Companies Now Dominate
Domestic Espionage
J.B. Shurk/Gatestone Institute/May 5, 2023
Almost all private companies have now entered the "spy business."
In the old days, television and movie studios wanted to know what you watch;
today, everybody wants to know what you watch, what you like, what you do, where
you go, and with whom you go there. In turn, all this information is ultimately
used to manipulate human behavior.
US Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House Committee on Energy and
Commerce, recently confirmed that state and federal governments regularly
purchase Americans' personal data from private companies, so that they may "spy
on and track the activities of U.S. citizens." No kind of personal information
is off-limits. Government agents use data brokers to collect information on an
individual's GPS location, mobile phone movements, medical prescriptions,
religious affiliations, sexual practices, and much more. It is the type of total
surveillance, Rep. Rodgers alleged, that "you would expect out of the Chinese
Communist Party surveillance state, not in America." Yet it is all arguably
legal or in an unregulated gray zone.
"A report published last month by the Brennan Center for Justice found at least
twelve overlapping DHS programs for tracking what Americans are saying online,"
demonstrating that the DHS had "veered from its original counterterrorism
mission into tracking social and political movements and monitoring First
Amendment-protected activity of American citizens." — Senator Rand Paul, April
18, 2023.
In a particularly shocking example that seemed eerily reminiscent of atrocities
committed by Hitler Youth chapters during the 1930s or young schoolchildren
during China's Cultural Revolution, Paul noted, "In 2021, DHS even put out a
video encouraging children to report their own family members to Facebook for
disinformation if they challenge the U.S. government narratives on COVID-19."
Right now... the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is busy capitalizing on
recent Pentagon leaks to advance the RESTRICT Act, a piece of legislation that
would give the Executive Branch even greater authority to track online
communication and label information shared on the Internet as "dangerous." Known
derisively as an "online Patriot Act," that power grab would come in handy for
the government's domestic surveillance operations during an era when former FBI,
CIA, NSA, and DHS spooks are filling the ranks of social media companies and the
FBI continues to flag more words as online evidence of potential "violent
extremism."
[D]ozens of members of Congress and their families recently sold off bank shares
while they were actively meeting with regulators amid the volatile financial
climate prompted by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
As part of the military's "signature reduction" program, the Pentagon even
regularly hides forces carrying out clandestine assignments within private
companies under false names. Due to the government's increased reliance on
contractors, a small number of corporate firms now dominate the private
intelligence industry.
You put all these trends together and you get an expansive corporate-government
partnership with vast surveillance powers conducting domestic espionage on
American citizens — free from legal scrutiny and done in the name of "national
security."
US Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (pictured), chair of the House Committee on
Energy and Commerce, recently confirmed that state and federal governments
regularly purchase Americans' personal data from private companies, so that they
may "spy on and track the activities of U.S. citizens." No kind of personal
information is off-limits. Government agents use data brokers to collect
information on an individual's GPS location, mobile phone movements, medical
prescriptions, religious affiliations, sexual practices, and much more.
"The best way to predict the future is to create it." That rhetorical gem,
credited to various scientists and political leaders, shows up on mouse pads and
posters and wherever else suitable inspiration is found wanting. It is also a
remarkably accurate mission statement for two professions: financial investors
and spies. In both occupations, a person is rewarded for either (1) collecting
and processing enough available information to predict future events or (2)
creating a set of preconditions that will make future events all but certain.
Any financial analyst who foresaw the likelihood of a global pandemic before the
outbreak of COVID-19 could have made a fortune investing in the right
pharmaceutical companies. Likewise, regardless of Pfizer's motivations for doing
so, its funding of numerous nonprofit organizations that actively pushed for
COVID-19 vaccine mandates also benefited its bottom line. You could say that
both market mavens and intelligence operatives invest heavily in creating a
desired reality that will yield dividends. By successfully creating the future,
prophets can turn profits.
It should be no surprise, then, that intelligence gathering and information
warfare are just as prevalent in the corporate sphere as in the covert one.
Nothing benefits investors more lucratively than the acquisition and use of
market knowledge before anyone else, as can reportedly be seen from the
investments of the family of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband, Paul,
as well as others in government (here, here and here).
In the worlds of financing and espionage, the game is the same: stay ahead of
competitors. What this means in practice is netting as much information about
adversaries and allies as possible. In order to decide whether to double-down on
an investment or run for cover, an analyst is interested in the likelihood of a
company's technological success, the risk of other investors swooping in and
staking a claim, the potential for competing companies to introduce similar
products, and the probability that regulatory authorities might act in ways that
affect the company's future profitability. You have to keep an eye on your
company, its competitors, your rivals, and any number of government agencies.
The complexity of such an arrangement is why private intelligence services are
regularly used to monitor all these variables, collect information, analyze
risks, and propose solutions.
What might a "proposed solution" to an intelligence problem look like? It could
mean tracking the private flight paths of other potential investors to determine
whether they are making a play that could either weaken your relative ownership
share or harm its ultimate profitability. It could mean paying close attention
to arcane public testimony delivered at some congressional subcommittee hearing
involving little-known regulatory bodies in hopes that future government
interactions with your emerging market can be lobbied or surmised. Intelligence
collection starts at this basic level and goes as deeply as private intelligence
operators and their clients are willing to go.
If information collection and analysis help to predict future events,
information warfare can then help to shape those future events. The line
separating advertising and public relations campaigns from corporate-sanctioned
propaganda is thin. Did the star of a new movie wear a particular brand of
sneakers because it is his favorite footwear or because the company behind the
sneakers has a sister company producing the film or because the footwear firm is
paying for the shot. Did a large newspaper run front-page stories about a
politician's affair because it is national news or because damaging that
politician's credibility will make it more difficult for the committee he chairs
to hold the newspaper's largest shareholder accountable for regulatory
infractions in an unrelated industry? Do companies release "woke" commercials
that hurt their bottom lines because professional public relations firms misread
consumer opinion or because doing so shields corporate board members from
potential discrimination lawsuits? Does the government incentivize Americans'
purchase of electric vehicles because doing so will "save the planet" or because
the industry players most likely to gain financially from environmental mandates
have filled legislators' campaign coffers and family foundations to the hilt?
Make no mistake: corporations are heavily invested in shaping the perceptions,
beliefs, and expectations of the public in ways that will bring financial
reward. Information warfare beyond mere advertising is all around. That is the
situation whether the product is a new line of stealth aircraft for the next
war, a new pharmaceutical product that markets itself as essential for saving
lives, or a new kind of sugar-free cookie made popular by online "influencers"
who say dessert helped them lose weight.
If even the most harmless-sounding doll company has an incentive to gather and
shape public information, consider the incentives of companies that generate
revenue entirely from the collection and use of personal data. Advertisers
seeking to influence consumer behavior are interested not only in a potential
buyer's likes and dislikes but also in all the life patterns that might be
exploited to reach that buyer's mind. When social media users tag everything
they see, hear, and read with actual "likes" or "dislikes," that job becomes
much easier. If a company's target demographic is middle-class moms, and social
media traffic shows that middle-class moms are primarily concerned about the
same issue, then corporate advertisers will mold commercials that reflect
concern for that issue, as well. Location data can also be bought directly from
cellular networks or messaging apps. A significant percentage of these moms
train at karate dojos. Corporate advertisers now know the best way to influence
future buying behavior is to advertise near or in partnership with martial arts
schools. Unsuspecting martial arts mothers are flooded with targeted messaging
when they would least expect it.
Companies that collect raw data specifically so that it might be analyzed and
used to influence consumer behavior rake in big bucks as private spies. Almost
all private companies have now entered the "spy business." What clothing
fashions catch your eye? Are you more or less inclined to make a purchase near a
food court? Do your purchases, when combined with those of millions of others,
reveal that people who like convertible cars prefer a particular brand of
camping equipment?
No matter how tiny, every piece of data can be significant. That is why data
collection is not the exclusive purview of credit card, social media, and mobile
phone companies but rather part of the regular business model of any company
making a buck. In the old days, television and movie studios wanted to know what
you watch; today, everybody wants to know what you watch, what you like, what
you do, where you go, and with whom you go there. In turn, all this information
is ultimately used to manipulate human behavior.
Corporate espionage is pervasive. It occurs between competing companies; it is
conducted against unsuspecting consumers; it has spawned an enormously
profitable market for the collection and sale of every crumb of personal data in
which even the smallest businesses regularly engage. Just as in the world of
covert spies, the tools of the trade are (1) information gathering and (2)
information warfare.
Does it then seem reasonable that so much corporate espionage could exist
without attracting the interests of government intelligence services?
US Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House Committee on Energy and
Commerce, recently confirmed that state and federal governments regularly
purchase Americans' personal data from private companies, so that they may "spy
on and track the activities of U.S. citizens." No kind of personal information
is off-limits. Government agents use data brokers to collect information on an
individual's GPS location, mobile phone movements, medical prescriptions,
religious affiliations, sexual practices, and much more. It is the type of total
surveillance, Rodgers alleged, that "you would expect out of the Chinese
Communist Party surveillance state, not in America." Yet it is all arguably
legal or in an unregulated gray zone.
Given the government's interest in spying on its citizens without the need for
either demonstrating probable cause or securing particularized warrants, it
seems unlikely that anything will change soon. During an April 18 hearing of the
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Rand Paul
accused DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of ignoring foreign threats and abusing
the agency's powers to "expand social media censorship of Americans using
third-party nonprofits as... a clearinghouse for information to avoid the
appearance of government propaganda." Furthermore, Paul continued, "A report
published last month by the Brennan Center for Justice found at least twelve
overlapping DHS programs for tracking what Americans are saying online,"
demonstrating that DHS had, "veered from its original counterterrorism mission
into tracking social and political movements and monitoring First
Amendment-protected activity of American citizens."
In a particularly shocking example that seemed eerily reminiscent of atrocities
committed by Hitler Youth chapters during the 1930s or young schoolchildren
during China's Cultural Revolution, Paul noted:
"In 2021, DHS even put out a video encouraging children to report their own
family members to Facebook for disinformation if they challenge the U.S.
government narratives on COVID-19."
Paul is right to argue that these kinds of corporate-government partnerships
used to surveil and influence American citizens "should terrify all of us," but
would enough lawmakers ever actually agree to handcuff the government from
seeking and utilizing the enormous tranche of personal information collected and
sold by private companies and data brokers? Right now, after all, the Senate
Select Committee on Intelligence is busy capitalizing on recent Pentagon leaks
to advance the RESTRICT Act, a piece of legislation that would give the
Executive Branch even greater authority to track online communication and label
information shared on the Internet as "dangerous." Known derisively as an
"online Patriot Act," that power grab would come in handy for the government's
domestic surveillance operations during an era when former FBI, CIA, NSA, and
DHS spooks are filling the ranks of social media companies and the FBI continues
to flag more words as online evidence of potential "violent extremism."
Rodgers and Paul aside, neither First Amendment considerations nor any respect
for Americans' privacy and liberty appear to be of much concern for politicians
or spy agencies. Not only are most lawmakers leery of interfering with
intelligence collection practices when they can later be condemned for having
endangered American security, but also they often find some kind of personal
benefit for looking past constitutional concerns. After all, analysis shows that
dozens of members of Congress and their families recently sold off bank shares
while they were actively meeting with regulators amid the volatile financial
climate prompted by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. When information
collection leads to power and profit, only the rare politician would dare get in
the way.
Now consider just how instrumental private companies have become for
intelligence collection and analysis. The U.S. government has granted top-secret
security clearance to an astonishingly large number of employees and contractors
— over 1.25 million as of today. Yet every private company monitoring, tracking,
recording, and influencing consumers is in the spy business just the same. The
business of data brokers is booming. Even more telling, private sector demand
for former government spies is great. The private espionage field in which
corporations and governments use operatives-for-hire under scant regulatory
oversight is growing exponentially. As part of the military's "signature
reduction" program, the Pentagon even regularly hides forces carrying out
clandestine assignments within private companies under false names. Due to the
government's increased reliance on contractors, a small number of corporate
firms now dominate the private intelligence industry.
You put all these trends together and you get an expansive corporate-government
partnership with vast surveillance powers conducting domestic espionage on
American citizens — free from legal scrutiny and done in the name of "national
security." Every company is an information asset. A growing industry dedicated
to private data collection accrues vast wealth and untold secrets. At the top of
this private espionage pyramid sit a small number of firms that directly feed
intelligence agencies and lawmakers with the information they will use to
interpret threats and make policy.
Never have the worlds of covert espionage and financial investment been so
integrated. With a shared purpose of profiting from the collection of private
information, both corporate spies and government spooks seek to predict the
future by directly shaping it. The rest of us, however, are merely the things
being shaped.
*JB Shurk writes about politics and society.
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not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No
part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied
or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.
Iran: Unhappy Workers
Amir Taheri/Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2023
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/archives/117972/117972/
Having retreated in the battle over mandatory hijab the Islamic Republic
leadership in Tehran may be facing a potentially far more dangerous challenge to
its hold on power. The challenge comes from Iranian workers who have launched a
series of strikes and sit-ins to protest what they regard as “systemic
exploitation.”By the time of this writing over 100,000 workers were on strike in
122 businesses in 35 cities, relatively small numbers yet significant for two
reasons: the protests seem to be spreading and the strikes begin to affect the
nerve-centers of the economy including the vital energy industry.
“The sleeping volcano may be waking up,” says Jawad Zar’e who monitors the
Iranian workers, movement. “What we see is the first hissings of the coming
explosion.”
In her seminal essay in 2015, researcher Shokuh Mirzadehgi wondered why Iranian
workers “put up with their condition with such patience.” Is that patience
wearing off? It is too early to tell. What is certain is that the patience
mentioned above is running out.
Rahmatallah Partovi, head of the Islamic Workers’ Council claims that over 70
percent of Iranian workers live below the official “poverty line”. Alireza
Mahjub, a member of the Islamic Majlis (ersatz parliament) puts the figure at 90
percent. What is certain is that according to the International Labor
Organization (ILO), Iran ranks 160th among all UN members for average wages,
even behind Sudan, Mali, Gambia, and Afghanistan ( before the return of the
Taliban.) In 2022 Iranian wages averaged $75 a month. With the official
inflation rate now topping 50 percent the average purchasing power of those
wages has declined further. Ironically, Iranian mythology casts Kaweh, an
ironsmith and thus representing the working people, as the national hero who
leads the national uprising against the usurper despot Zahhak to restore
Fereidoun, heir to the Persian throne as king. Kaweh’s apron, made of leather,
is supposed to have become mythical Iran’s national flag for at least a
generation.
Today’s Kaweh has more mundane concerns. To start with they want the
pre-revolution Labor Code restored.
Based on ILO rules, that code offered Iranian workers a progressive framework
that recognized their dignity and gave them the right to form trade unions and
to withdraw their labor in protest. It also fixed the working day and week,
offered weekly and annual holidays, and ensured unemployment benefits and
pensions. More importantly, it made working contracts mandatory with emphasis on
long-term contracts with short-term employment limited to a few specific cases
notably in small businesses. Today, however, according to Fathallah Bayat of the
Islamic House of Workers, almost 90 percent of wage-earners are on short-term
contracts or with no contracts at all. Short-term contracts could deprive those
concerned of legal holidays, safety rules, unemployment benefits, and pensions.
The next demand right now is to calculate all wages in the $US as a buffer
against inflation. The official wage increases announced annually are in the
local currency, the rial, and are wiped out by inflation even before they come
into effect. The third demand is to restore the legal right to strike which was
specifically canceled in the 1978 Islamic Labor Law which also forbade the
creation of independent trade unions and workers’ participation in political
demonstrations and protests. Thus the fourth demand is to regain the right of
forming independent trade unions and organizing protests in defense of the
workers’ legitimate demands. The fifth demand is the restoration of
pre-revolution rules on the safety of the workplace and mechanisms needed to
reduce working accidents.
Today, according to the Islamic Ministry of Labor over 1,2000 “serious workplace
accidents causing major injuries or deaths” occur each year. In 2019, 718
workers lost their lives as a result of workplace accidents and 2,080 others
were disabled.
The sixth demand is to withdraw official clerics attached to every workplace
employing more than 50 people and to disband strike-breaking units under their
control. The clerics insist on workers attending Friday prayers thus depriving
them of part of their only weekly day off. The Islamic authorities employ
specially trained strike-breakers known as Construction Jihad, reinforced by
paramilitary Baseej (Mobilization) units when and if needed.
Ironically, in 1922 Iran was the first Asian country to promulgate a Labor Code
and fix an 8-hour working day and a day off per week. In 1929 Iran established
an unemployment and retirement fund, first applied to elite oil workers. In 1934
a National Labor Office was established, developing into a Ministry of Labor in
1944 with a seat in the Council of Ministers.
Official Tehran propaganda claims that “mercenary leftist groups” linked to the
American “Great Satan” and the “Zionist enemy are behind the current wave of
strikes. Tehran Prayer Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami claims that “the godless
left” wants to deceive works and deprive them of the “benefits of Islamic
working rules.”That workers’ rights are somehow a leftist value is a common
claim of all despotic regimes of left and right. The fact, however, it was
Disraeli’s Conservative government in Great Britain that allowed the first trade
unions in the world to be formed. The first pro-labor laws in Tsarist Russia
were enacted in 1912 and canceled by the Bolsheviks in 1920.
Thanks to the “benefits of Islamic working rules”, Iranian workers have lost
much of what they had gained during Iran’s economic boom years in the 1960s to
1970s. In 1979, just before the mullahs seized power, men and women with
working-class backgrounds accounted for 27 percent of the members of the
national parliament. Under the mullah that has dropped to 8 percent, with
mullahs and Islamic Revolutionary Guard figures getting the lion’s share.
According to the Islamic Ministry of Transport and Housing only 20 percent of
Iranian age-earners own their homes, compared to 44 percent in 1979. Outside
some elite industries, notably energy and military hardware, few Iranian workers
benefit from training and/or retraining schemes designed to upgrade their skill
and enhance their career prospects. The nationwide scholarship schemes that
enabled tens of thousands of children of workers to gain higher education,
including in Western Europe and North America, have all but disappeared. Their
place has been taken by scholarships for Lebanese, Iraqi, Yemeni, and, recently,
Nigerian and Chinese young men who wish to train as mullahs in Qom or Mashhad.
If you listen closely you may hear the time bomb that is ticking in work-place
across Iran: tick-tack, icky-tack!
Iran’s Next Step in Syria: Armed Militias Turn
to Economic Militias
Camelia Entekhabifard/Asharq Al Awsat/May 05/2023
Latest in a series of developments in the Middle East, Iran’s President Ebrahim
Raisi travelled to Syria on Wednesday at the head of a delegation. Syria seems
to now have an opportunity to return to the Arab League, rebuilding its identity
as an Arab society. For years, this country has been a backyard for the Islamic
Republic of Iran and an important and crucial part of the ‘strategic depth’
policy of this regime in the Middle East. It is a highway that connects Iran to
Lebanon and Hezbollah and lets it be close to the borders of Israel. It is the
most important friend and ally of the Islamic Republic. Syria’s return to the
Arab League and lifting of the sanctions will lead to billions of dollars
flowing to the country for reconstruction, investment, development and
infrastructure. Since the civil war began in Syria, Iran has been a key ally of
President Bashar Assad, alongside Russia. Militias linked to Iran have played an
important role in domestic clashes in the country. Given the recent
developments, many questions are now asked about the continuation of these
forces in Syria. Raisi entered Damascus as the whole region, hoping for
reduction of tensions, looks on optimistically to the ceasefire in Yemen and
resumption of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia. These developments began with
the measures taken by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammad bin
Salman, aimed at de-escalation in the region. Riyadh improved its ties with
Qatar and Türkiye and went on to re-establish diplomatic ties with Iran. It
appears that the Islamic Republic of Iran has also been impacted by the
de-escalation policy of the Crown Prince as it is also following its own
economic interests in improving ties with regional countries. It has thus taken
unprecedented measures. There is a possibility for resumption of ties with
Bahrain. On April 20, Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, held a
phone call with his Jordanian counterpart. None of this would have been possible
without approval by the Saudis. Raisi’s trip to Syria can be a beginning for his
regional trips to the Arab world, especially Oman, Iraq, United Arab Emirates
and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian regime has spent billions of dollars on its
militias in Syria, hoping to keep Assad in power. According to estimates by
experts and international observers, Syria now needs 400 billion dollars in the
next 10 to 15 years for reconstruction. This massive amount can come from
investments by rich Arab countries and the Iranian regime will also not easily
lose this economic opportunity. Contracts have been signed in communications,
transportation, railway expansion (Iran to Syria), reconstruction, oil and gas.
They are future-looking, aiming to guarantee a share for the Islamic Republic.
Since the economic dimension of the trip is important for the Iranian regime,
Tehran must also work to get rid of the militias currently in Syria. This will
help it be able to use the existing economic opportunities. The next step by the
regime will thus be replacing the militias or turning them into a new concept:
“economic militias”. In other words, the IRGC-linked militias will now become
Iranian economic actors in Syria. Afghanistan faced similar conditions following
the fall of Taliban in 2003. IRGC’s economic section expanded its activities
there aimed at “reconstruction” while signing construction contracts and
exporting Iranian made commodities. If the Iranian regime’s plan of improving
ties with regional Arab countries goes ahead without problem, solving Yemen’s
crisis should lead to another development: election of a president in Lebanon
and putting an end to months of interim governance and the political impasse
made by groups linked to Hezbollah and Tehran. Iran has also been invited to the
next Syria meeting to be held in Moscow next month. Aimed at fixing ties between
Syria and Türkiye, the meeting will feature foreign ministers of Ankara,
Damascus and Tehran. Since China has recently played a role in regional affairs,
it looks like it will also be invited here. There will also be representatives
from the Syrian opposition. The meeting can bring about final agreements to put
an end to the war in Syria and be the final step to complete Syria’s return to
the Arab League and lifting of sanctions. Tehran knows that Syria’s return to
the Arab League will decrease its strategic influence there. This is why it is
trying to prepare the grounds for changing the nature of IRGC’s presence in
Syria. This being said, realization of the contracts signed between Iran and
Syria depends on lifting of sanctions on the country and resolving the West’s
conflict with Iran over the nuclear program. Until this two important points
haven’t been achieved, all the large and important contracts between Tehran and
Damascus will only be small deals aimed at circumventing sanctions on the two
countries.