Latest news with #YaLibnan
Ya Libnan
6 days ago
- Business
- Ya Libnan
Lebanon's Political Class still shielding the architect of Its financial collapse
Riad Salameh who was once internationally seen as the guardian of Lebanon's financial stability, has fallen from grace long time ago . He spent his final weeks in office a wanted man, faced with French and German arrest warrants that have been prompted by long-running corruption probes. By: YaLibnan Once again, Lebanon's parliament has proven it is more interested in protecting itself than protecting the Lebanese people. The recent legislation—presented as a step toward financial reform—does nothing to address the core of Lebanon's economic collapse. It reflects a complete lack of political will to uncover the truth, deliver accountability, or rescue the nation's economy from further ruin. At the heart of the financial catastrophe lies one of the most egregious Ponzi schemes in modern history, masterminded by the long-serving Central Bank Governor, Riad Salameh. For decades, Salameh artificially propped up Lebanon's banking system through unsustainable financial engineering that required constant inflows of new deposits to pay off old obligations—classic Ponzi scheme mechanics. When the inflows stopped, the entire system collapsed. The Lebanese people—especially the small and middle-class depositors—were left holding the bag. Instead of being held accountable, Salameh was protected. For years, Lebanon's ruling elite shielded him, allowing him to operate above the law. He was indispensable to their survival: his schemes funded the corrupt political machine, allowed unsustainable state borrowing, and enriched banks tied to the ruling parties. When European countries—particularly France, Germany, and Luxembourg—launched criminal investigations and issued international arrest warrants, the Lebanese judiciary did nothing. Not only did Lebanon refuse to extradite him, but its institutions closed ranks around him. It wasn't until international pressure became too loud to ignore that the political establishment staged a new maneuver: Salameh was quietly arrested in Beirut in September 2024 and placed in pretrial detention. At first glance, this looked like justice at last. But in truth, it was another calculated move by the ruling class—not to prosecute him, but to protect him from facing justice abroad. Lebanon does not extradite its citizens, and by detaining Salameh locally, the authorities ensured he would never face European courts or reveal the full extent of the financial crimes that implicate them all. This isn't justice. It's obstruction. Where did the depositors' money go? It went to fund decades of deficits, bloated public institutions, phantom infrastructure projects, and private enrichment. It vanished into luxury real estate in Europe, offshore accounts, and shady deals approved and facilitated by political and banking elites. The man who knows where every dollar went—Riad Salameh—sits in a Lebanese jail, protected by the very people who should be standing trial with him. Parliament's latest legislation does nothing to recover the stolen funds, hold the guilty accountable, or implement real financial reform. It is yet another smokescreen—an attempt to buy time, deflect blame, and preserve a dying system that benefits the few at the expense of the many. Lebanon will not be saved by cosmetic reforms or symbolic arrests. It needs truth. It needs accountability. And above all, it needs an end to the culture of impunity that has allowed an entire country to be looted in broad daylight. The Lebanese people deserve to know: Who stole their money? Where is it? And why are the thieves still in power? Until those questions are answered, recovery is impossible. Justice delayed is justice denied.
Ya Libnan
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Israel strikes military tanks in southern Syria, where government forces clash with Druze militias
Syrian security forces joined the bedouins in their attack against the Druze in Swida province BUSRA AL-HARIR, Syria (AP) — Israel's army said Monday it has struck military tanks in southern Syria, where government forces and Bedouin tribes clashed with Druze militias. Dozens of people have been killed in the fighting between local militias and clans in Syria 's Sweida province. Government security forces that were sent to restore order Monday also clashed with local armed groups. Syria's Interior Ministry has said more than 30 people have died and nearly 100 others have been injured. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitor, reported at least 89 dead, including two Druze children and two Druze women and 14 members of the security forces. The clashes in Syria initially broke out between armed groups from the Druze and Sunni Bedouin clans, the observatory said, with some members of the government security forces 'actively participating' in support of the Bedouins. Interior Ministry spokesperson Noureddine al-Baba claimed the government forces entered Sweida in the early morning to restore order 'Some clashes occurred with outlawed armed groups, but our forces are doing their best to prevent any civilian casualties,' he told the state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV. A clear warning Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that striking targets in Syria was a clear warning to the Syrian regime, stressing that Israel would not allow harm to the Druze in Syria. Failure to protect ninorities 'Ahmed al-Sharaa is not just any leader. He is a former jihadist figure with documented ties to al-Qaeda and ISIS. His sudden transformation into a statesman has done little to reassure those who remember the cruelty of Syria's darkest years. While he and his allies now speak the language of governance and unity, the ground reality tells a very different story.' Ya Libnan, a Lebanese dailynwrote in its editorial today'. 'Ahmed al-Sharaa still has a choice to make—though time is quickly running out. If he is truly seeking redemption from his militant past, if he truly believes in a future for Syria, then protecting the country's minorities must be his immediate priority. That means deploying state resources to guard vulnerable communities, prosecuting those responsible for sectarian violence, and publicly affirming the equal rights of all Syrians, regardless of sect or ethnicity, ' Ya Libnan added. 'If Sharaa fails to rise to this moment, Syria's minorities will not wait to be slaughtered—they will flee, they will resist, and they may ultimately seek international protection. And when that happens, Syria may cease to exist as we know it', Ya Libnan concluded AP
Ya Libnan
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
PSP chief: We handed over all our remaining arm. 'Only the state can protect us all.'
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Taymour Jumblatt noted that 'Lebanon is currently going through difficult times. There are ongoing attacks on Lebanon and an occupation that must end. There is an official Lebanese document that carries clear ideas that allow us to emerge from the crisis calmly and rationally.' In his speech at the annual central dinner of the Progressive Youth Organization, he noted that 'our position on the issue of weapons is clear. We started with ourselves and handed over the weapons that were still available.' He explained that 'we handed them over out of the conviction that the state alone can protect us all.' He explained that 'Lebanon is also still in an economic crisis, and reform remains essential to overcome it, particularly for the younger generation, so that they can find opportunities in the country and stop migration.' He emphasized that 'the state must be established, and the state project is achieved through justice and political and social security. In order to continue on this path and achieve success, we need those who are up to the responsibility and willing to work and give.' Under UN resolutions 1701 on which the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was agreed all militia in Lebanon should be disarmed. 'Jumblatt's decision to hand over all PSP's remaining arms should be considered as a wake up call to Hezbollah to do the same, one analyst told Ya Libnan. Like all the other militias in Lebanon PSP handed all its arms to the Lebanese army at the end of the 1975-90 civil war , but after Hezbollah attacked the Druze stronghold of Mount Lebanon in 2008 it forced PSP and other communities in Mount Lebanon to rearm themselves for self defense . File : Masked Hezbollah fighters as they march through a suburb of Beirut in May 2008 , when the party occupied a large section of Beirut . and tried but failed to occupy Mount Lebanon. The move forced PSP to rearm in self defense. Many Hezbollah fighters were killed during the failed attack on Mount Lebanon The Iran backed Hezbollah was the only militia that refused to hand over its arms in 1990. Lebanon faces Existential Threat if Hezbollah not disarmed US Special Envoy Tom Barrack warned, in an interview with the Emirati newspaper The National, that Lebanon risks falling into the hands of regional powers unless Beirut moves to resolve the issue of Hezbollah's arms He pointed out that 'Lebanon needs to resolve this issue, otherwise it could face an existential threat,' adding, 'Israel on one side, Iran on the other, and now Syria is emerging very quickly. If Lebanon doesn't act, it will return to the Levant.' Ya Libnan / El Nashra
Ya Libnan
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
The bomb that ended a war: How shock and strategy forced Iran and Israel to step back
By : Ya Libnan In a region long tormented by cycles of escalation and retaliation, it wasn't diplomacy alone — nor battlefield victories — that brought Israel and Iran to the edge of de-escalation. It was shock. Specifically, the kind of shock only a 30,000-pound bomb can deliver. On June 22, the United States dropped three massive bombs — likely the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) — targeting Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities. These bombs, each weighing over 13,600 kilograms, are designed to destroy fortified underground bunkers. But they may have achieved something even more significant: they punctured the illusion that this war could be controlled, or won, through gradual escalation. Let's be clear — the psychological and strategic impact of those bombs was enormous. Dropped from 30,000 feet, each bomb delivered nearly 800 megajoules of kinetic energy , equal to the explosive force of nearly 200 kilograms of TNT just from impact speed alone , before even detonating. The dynamic force on impact was estimated at over 130 million newtons — about 30 million pounds of crushing power . No regime, no matter how defiant, can ignore those numbers. The message to Tehran was unmistakable: the U.S. is willing to go beyond red lines if its forces or strategic interests are threatened. It wasn't about starting a wider war. It was about ending one before it swallowed the entire region. In the aftermath, Iran signaled restraint . It coordinated missile strikes in a way that avoided U.S. casualties — reportedly informing intermediaries ahead of time. Israel, too, stepped back , with reports indicating it was willing to bring its military operations to a close. And through it all, Washington played the role of a silent referee , ensuring that neither side misunderstood the consequences of further escalation. This may be the first modern war in which a single, massive show of force — combined with deft diplomacy — altered the trajectory of the conflict in real time. While it's too early to declare it officially over, all the signs are there: reduced hostilities, backchannel communications, diplomatic movement from Arab capitals, and a shared realization that this war cannot be won, only survived. Some will call it deterrence. Others will say it was brute force. But one thing is certain: those 30,000-pound bombs didn't just destroy underground facilities — they destroyed the appetite for war. Let this be a lesson. In today's world, wars don't end only at negotiating tables — sometimes, they end at 30,000 feet , with a roar that echoes louder than diplomacy ever could. Now that the guns are quieting, the real work must begin — rebuilding trust, restoring regional stability, and ensuring that shock is never needed to restore sanity again.
Ya Libnan
26-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Libnan
Time for America to Start Making iPhones — And Stop Making Excuses
By: Ya Libnan, Op-ED President Donald Trump has said it clearly: 'America doesn't want to make T-shirts and sneakers; it wants to build technology.' And he's right. America must stop making excuses and start making things again — especially the very devices we use every day, like the iPhone. For years, critics have claimed that moving iPhone production to the U.S. would be impractical, even economically disastrous. Some analysts went so far as to suggest a U.S.-made iPhone would cost $3,000 or more. This is not just wrong — it's deliberately misleading. The reality? Assembling an iPhone takes about 30 to 60 minutes . Even if that hour of labor were paid at U.S. wages — say $30–$40 an hour — the additional cost per device would be no more than $40 . That's a rounding error for Apple, which sells more than 200 million iPhones annually and boasts over $150 billion in cash reserves . In 2023, Apple earned $383 billion in revenue and nearly $100 billion in net income . The company has the resources, expertise, and influence to lead a domestic tech manufacturing revival. The labor cost gap is not a legitimate barrier — it's a convenient excuse for avoiding the short-term challenges of restructuring. Yes, manufacturing infrastructure costs billions. But Apple has the capital. The U.S. has the workforce. And Foxconn, Apple's main assembler, has already proven it can move production lines quickly and efficiently — it has done so in India, Vietnam, and Mexico , often at the request of Apple itself. If India and Vietnam can import subassemblies and handle final iPhone assembly, why can't the United States? This notion that the U.S. must rebuild the entire supply chain from scratch is disingenuous. The truth is that America can — and should — enter the supply chain strategically, focusing on final assembly, testing, and packaging to start. Reshoring advanced manufacturing isn't just about jobs — although those would be significant. It's about strategic autonomy , technological independence , and economic leadership . It's about protecting core industries from foreign leverage. It's about building regional economies in places like Ohio, Michigan, Texas , and other states with deep manufacturing roots. It's about restoring a culture of making — not just consuming. This isn't a matter of possibility. It's a matter of political will and corporate leadership . If President Trump's administration is serious about bringing back American manufacturing, the first place to start is with the iconic product stamped 'Designed by Apple in California.' Let's make it assembled in America , too. This isn't just about an iPhone. It's about making a national statement: America is back in business .
