United States sells 1,000 golden residency permits in 24 hours for $5 billion
"By the way, yesterday we sold 1,000 cards," Latnick said in an interview with the All-In podcast, referring to the new program that allows for residency in the United States for $5 million.
The minister explained that the program was launched at the initiative of President Donald Trump and allows foreigners to obtain permanent residency in the United States without the need to obtain citizenship.
Golden Card holders pay taxes only on income earned within the United States, while their worldwide income is not subject to tax.
The minister noted that in the event of a violation of the law, the card could be revoked, explaining that 37 million people worldwide are able to purchase such a card. He said that launching the program would provide opportunities to attract "the most productive people" to the United States, who would open businesses and create jobs there.
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L'Orient-Le Jour
4 days ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'Israel blew up the port,' says Zeaiter, points to 'responsibility' of Lebanese Army
MP and former Public Works Minister Ghazi Zeaiter on Wednesday rejected all accusations against him regarding the Beirut Port explosion on Aug. 4, 2020, saying that they were "above all political and media-related, not judicial," according to comments made during an interview and reported by the state-run National News Agency (NNA). A member of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's Amal Movement, Zeaiter stated in particular that "Israel blew up the port" and that "heavy responsibility lies with the Lebanese Army," referring to its role in authorizing the entry of dangerous materials into the port, notably ammonium nitrate, which would later cause the explosion. During the interview, Zeaiter said he remained convinced Israel was behind the port explosion. "Israel bombed the port," he insisted, claiming that "some people saw Israeli planes in the sky and the destruction is reminiscent of recent Israeli military operations." Residents had reported hearing the sound of planes seconds before the blast, others describing a whistling noise similar to that of a jet engine, but the director of Bellingcat, a Netherlands-based investigative journalism group, recently told L'Orient-Le Jour that while it is possible, no evidence supports this theory, with other experts pointing out that the fire preceding the explosion could have produced sounds similar to those of fighter jets. 'A military intelligence authorization' While refusing to name those responsible, "out of respect for the blood of the port's martyrs and the tears of their families," Zeaiter stated: "A great responsibility lies with the Lebanese Army," arguing that "the entry of ammonium nitrate or any dangerous material requires authorization from military intelligence." "Even the public works minister needs the permission of military intelligence and security agencies to visit and inspect the port," he added. Zeaiter has repeatedly refused to appear before investigative judge Tarek Bitar, who summoned him as a suspect in the investigation into the explosion. The magistrate was forced to suspend his investigations in January 2023, faced with hostility from much of the political class, particularly Hezbollah, and a series of complaints filed against him. He resumed his investigation at the beginning of 2025, questioning several former officials, including former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and former Interior Minister Nohad Mashnouq. The disaster, one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions ever recorded, devastated much of the Lebanese capital, killing 235 people and injuring 7,500. The blast was preceded by a fire in a port warehouse where tons of ammonium nitrate had been improperly stored, despite numerous warnings addressed to the highest authorities, now accused of negligence. Zeaiter was serving as minister of public works and transport in 2014, at the time the ammonium nitrate was offloaded, apparently delivered by a ship sailing under a Russian flag. For the first time, he revealed documents received during his term, including "a letter from the Russian embassy on the poor conditions of Russian sailors aboard the ship," as well as another letter from the Ukrainian embassy questioning the non-execution of a judicial decision by Judge Jad Maalouf ordering the ship to be refloated. In both cases, he insisted that "the necessary measures had been taken." 'I exercised my legitimate right to defend myself' "Judge Sawan had raised suspicions concerning 12 ministers and four prime ministers, but he only sent a letter to the speaker to report suspicions against Diab, MPs Zeaiter and Ali Hassan Khalil, as well as former minister Youssef Fenianos," Zeaiter said. "That's when doubts arose about the politicization of the case. I exercised my legitimate right to defend myself." Zeaiter also stated that "Judge Tarek Bitar provided guarantees to Abbas Ibrahim (former director of General Security), Nohad Mashnouq and Hassan Diab, assuring them they would not be detained if they appeared before him. A similar offer was sent to me through a lawyer: to appear and present all the evidence and documents in my possession, without being arrested." Zeaiter said he "declined Bitar's offer, because it contradicts legal procedures," noting that he had already filed a request to recuse this judge and that his prosecution should fall under parliamentary jurisdiction. He also said that after the indictment decided by Judge Sawan, he visited Berri, who told him: "If I knew that you and MP Ali Hassan Khalil were responsible, I would have been the first to hold you accountable. I protect the Constitution, not individuals." Zeaiter stated that Berri requested a parliamentary session devoted to the issue of lifting immunity for sitting MPs, following a petition signed by 26 MPs. However, a quorum was not reached, as most parliamentary blocs were absent. Asked what he would do in the event of an official conviction, he replied: "We'll see when the time comes."
L'Orient-Le Jour
5 days ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Electoral law: Ongoing disputes in parliament subcommittee
BEIRUT — A subcommittee of Lebanon's joint parliamentary committees met Wednesday under the chairmanship of Parliament Vice President Elias Bou Saab to review seven proposed electoral laws, just months ahead of the 2026 legislative deadline. The debates, attended by Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar, Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Rajji, as well as member MPs, did not result in a vote due to "divergences within the committee," MP Saab explained after the meeting. "We have differences of opinion and I was keen that we should not proceed to a vote (...) These differences relate to whether we should limit the debate to amendments to the current law or examine all the laws proposed by MPs," he added, as quoted by the state-run National News Agency (NNA.) The 2017 electoral law, which has never been fully implemented, restricts the diaspora vote in the 2026 legislative elections to just six seats, as opposed to the 128 seats for which resident Lebanese vote. This is causing controversy. The diaspora vote in fact splits the political class into two camps: on one hand, those who want to confine its voters to the six seats, as specified by the 2017 law. The Aounist Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and the allied Hezbollah and Amal parties. Meanwhile, around 68 MPs from the Lebanese Forces (LF,) Kataeb, PSP, the Change Bloc, independents, and others want to amend the law. They aim to make permanent a special change used in the 2018 and 2022 elections, which was based on constituencies of origin. Their proposal, submitted on May 9, calls for the pure and simple elimination of the six-seat clause, to allow the diaspora to vote for all 128 MPs according to their constituency of origin. "There are different points of view, and none of the MPs who submitted proposals is ready to withdraw theirs, with everyone insisting that the proposals be discussed," Saab added. "At the same time, it was suggested that priorities be set and submitted to Parliament so that it can decide on the merits of this proposal, or that all the proposals be brought before the General Assembly if disagreement persists, as long as the discussion proceeds calmly and without tensions," continued the subcommittee chair. This meeting was held as the government, at the subcommittee's request, set up a ministerial committee to study any bill the government would send for presentation to the committee. According to Saab, the 2017 electoral law poses "several problems." "The interior and foreign affairs ministers made observations about the current law, particularly concerning the implementation of provisions related to the election of six diaspora MPs, the magnetic card, and the modalities of expenses," he said. On the issue of the magnetic card, the interior minister indicated it would not be possible to put the smart card system in place by the election date. Together with his foreign affairs counterpart, he also decided to consider, within a technical committee, the issue of the six diaspora MPs. "The committee submitted these observations to the prime minister, who will present them to the Council of Ministers. Once the government has adopted an official position on the matter, it will inform us and we will follow up accordingly," emphasized the subcommittee chair. Commenting on the meeting, LF MP Georges Adwan considered that, given the current disputes, it is no longer possible, just a few months ahead of the vote, to study new proposed laws: "We no longer have the luxury of being able to study new laws given the current differences. A roadmap needs to be established to resolve the six seats issue, while stressing the necessity of a vote by non-residents for all 128 MPs," he noted. "Lebanon needs to thoroughly study every aspect of the system after the weapons issue is resolved, in order to reach a new electoral law different from the previous one," he continued, urging people to "move away from politics of axes and aim for citizenship."
L'Orient-Le Jour
5 days ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'Israel blew up the Port,' Zeaiter says, points Lebanese Army's 'responsibility'
BEIRUT — Former MP and public works minister Ghazi Zeaiter dismissed all accusations levied against him in the Beirut Port explosion case as "politically and media-driven, not judicial," during an interview published on Wednesday by Kalam Inas. According to the state-run National News Agency (NNA), which cited the interview, Zeaiter told journalist Inas al-Jarmakani that "Israel blew up the Port," and that "a great responsibility lies with the Lebanese Army," pointing to its role in authorizing the entry of hazardous materials to the Port, notably ammonium nitrate, which would later cause the explosion. Zeaiter repeatedly missed hearings before the investigating judge at the Court of Justice, Tarek Bitar, who had summoned him as a suspect in the investigation into the double explosion at the Beirut Port on Aug 4, 2020. Bitar had to suspend his investigations in January 2023, due to the hostility of a large part of the political class, notably Hezbollah, as well as a series of lawsuits directed against him. He resumed his investigation in early 2025 and has already interrogated several former officials, including former Prime Minister Hassane Diab and former Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk. The devastating event, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, destroyed a large part of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring 6,500. This blast started with a fire in a Port warehouse where tons of ammonium nitrate were being improperly stored, despite repeated warnings to the highest authorities, which now stand accused of negligence. Zeaiter was minister of public works and transport in 2014 at the time of the ammonium nitrate was unloaded at the Port, allegedly brought there by a Russian ship. For the first time, Zeaiter revealed documents he received during his tenure as minister of public works, including 'a letter from the Russian embassy concerning the poor conditions of the Russian sailors aboard the ship,' as well as another letter from the Ukrainian embassy inquiring about the failure to implement a judicial decision issued by Judge Jad Maalouf to refloat the Russian ship. In both cases, he claimed that the "necessary actions were taken." While refusing to place blame on anyone — 'out of respect for the blood of the Port martyrs and the tears of their families' — Zeaiter stated: 'A great responsibility falls on the Lebanese Army,' explaining that 'the entry of ammonium nitrate or any dangerous materials requires a permit from army intelligence.' 'Even the minister of public works needs permission from army intelligence and security agencies to visit and inspect the Port,' he added. 'I exercised my legitimate right to defend myself' 'Judge Sawan had mentioned suspicions surrounding 12 ministers and four prime ministers, yet he only sent a letter to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri regarding suspicions against PM Hassan Diab, MPs Ghazi Zeaiter and Ali Hassan Khalil, and former Minister Youssef Fenianos," Zeaiter said. "That's when doubts began to arise about the politicization of this case. I exercised my legitimate right to defend myself.' Zeaiter also revealed that 'Investigative Judge Tarek Bitar gave guarantees to Abbas Ibrahim, Nohad Machnouk, and Hassan Diab to appear before him without being detained. A similar offer was made to me through a lawyer — to appear and present all the evidence and documents I have, without being detained.' Zeaiter said he 'refused Bitar's offer as it violates legal procedures,' noting that he had already submitted a recusal request against Bitar and that his prosecution should fall under parliamentary jurisdiction. He disclosed that after Judge Sawan filed charges, he visited Berri, who told him: 'If I knew you and MP Ali Hassan Khalil were responsible, I would be the first to hold you accountable. I protect the Constitution, not individuals.' Zeaiter said that Berri had called for a parliamentary meeting devoted to the issue of lifting the immunity on sitting MPs, following a petition signed by 26 members of parliament. However, quorum was not met, as most parliamentary blocs had not been present. 'Israel is the one that bombed the Port' Zeaiter maintained that he believed Israel was behind the Port explosion. 'Israel is the one that bombed the port,' he insisted, stating that "some people saw Israeli aircraft in the sky, and the destruction caused resembled that of recent Israeli military operations." Residents reported hearing airplane sounds seconds before the blast, with some describing a whistling noise similar to a jet engine, however the director of Bellingcat recently told L'Orient-Le Jour that while it's possible, there is no evidence to support the theory and other experts have responded to the theory saying the fire that preceded the explosion could have made sounds resembling that of fighter jets. As for the clash that occurred between the neighborhoods of Chiyah and Ain al-Rummaneh following a protest by Hezbollah and Amal Movement supporters against Judge Bitar, Zeaiter claimed: 'The demonstrators did not enter Ain al-Rummaneh. It was the Lebanese Forces who fired at the protesters.' When asked what he would do if a formal indictment found him guilty, Zeaiter replied: 'We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.'
