Lebanon Is So Broke It Can't Pay For Embassies
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Wednesday, February 2, 2022! Lebanon's plight leads the news as the government considers shutting down its embassies abroad because it can't pay the bills. A ranking Vatican envoy visits Beirut and denounces "the few profiting of the suffering of many." Soldiers are deserting Lebanon's army because their basic pay now is worth less than $100 a month, compared to $800 before the economic crisis and the lira losing 90% of its value.
The bright light for Lebanon is a new source of gas to power its electricity, expected in two months. The United States will soon give the green light to a deal where Egypt will ship natural gas to Lebanon through Jordan and Syria, with Egypt getting assurances it won't violate U.S. sanctions against Syria But even that is opposed by Republican members of the U.S. Congress who want President Joe Biden to reconsider, calling Lebanon's energy sector "a black hole of corruption."
Elsewhere, the United Arab Emirates continues its search to beef up air defenses. UAE ambassadors write in the Wall Street Journal that the emirates need more anti-missile help from the U.S., and reports from Israel say the UAE wants its Green Pine radar.
Egypt considers changing its bread subsidy, where most Egyptians get five loaves each day for 50 cents a month. U.S. officials suddenly are bullish that the Iran nuclear talks might succeed soon, and Abu Dhabi will fund the education for the children of Indian nationals killed in a missile attack on the UAE by Yemen's Houthi militia.
News from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, and More.
Lebanon is telling its embassies abroad they must find donors to help cover their costs, as the Lebanese government falls behind in paying diplomat salaries and considers shutting down embassies. Diplomats were instructed to get money from the Lebanese disaspora and report back to Beirut within two weeks (and that was a week ago.)
Meanwhile, Lebanon's foreign ministry is studying closing down a number of missions.
Reuters, Cash-strapped Lebanon tells diplomats to find donors to fund embassies.
The United States wants to stem a tide of desertions from Lebanon's army, one of Lebanon's few stable institutions. Some 5,000 soldiers and security forces are reported walking off the job, and scores more stopped working because of high transportation costs. U.S. financial assistance to Lebanon now will include funds specifically earmarked to help military personnel.
The National, US to help cash-strapped Lebanese military as desertions mount.
The Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States is visiting Lebanon, and he denounced Lebanese politicians he said are profiting from the country's suffering. Archbishop Paul Gallagher called for an end to "the few profiting of the suffering of many."
"Let there be an end to the few profiting off the suffering of many," he said. "No more letting half-truth continue to frustrate the people's aspirations."
Reuters, Vatican envoy accuses Lebanese politicians of profiting from country's suffering.
The Vatican envoy also warned against outside interference in Lebanon, seen as a reference to Iran and Hezbollah. Archbishop Gallagher suggested the Pope may visit Lebanon and that the Vatican, if requested, could hold a dialogue between members of Lebanon's different political factions.
Reuters, Vatican envoy warns against 'undue interference' in Lebanon.
The U.S. is expected to give a green light soon to a plan to export natural gas to Lebanon from Egypt through Jordan and Syria. Egypt is awaiting written permission from the United States because it wants assurances the deal won't violate U.S. sanctions on Syria, and the U.S. is reported to agree within a few days. A State Department spokesperson indicated approval, saying Lebanon's lack of fuel and power "continues to threaten the delivery of critical services like healthcare and water to the Lebanese people."
Jerusalem Post, US to greenlight Egypt sending gas to Lebanon via Syria in coming days.
But senior Republican lawmakers in Washington want the Biden administration to reconsider, calling Lebanon's energy sector "a black hole of corruption." Senator James Risch and Representative Michael McCaul wrote Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the gas arrangement with Egypt would benefit Syria's Assad regime financially and "exacerbate corruption in Lebanon."
Alarabiya, Top US lawmakers call on Biden to 'reconsider' support for Lebanon energy deals.
A Lebanese judge issued a subpoena for central bank governor Riad Salameh after he failed to show up for questioning. Judge Ghada Aoun said she circulated an order to security agencies because Salameh missed three interrogation sessions as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct in Lebanon's financial meltdown.
Reuters, Lebanese judge subpoenas central bank governor Salameh amid misconduct probe.
U.S. officials see a path to a deal that would return Iran to the 2015 nuclear agreement. A senior State Department official signaled that negotiations now are at a point where Iran's political leaders, notably Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, must decide if they can agree to key elements of an accord, including discarding nuclear production equipment in exchange for removal of sanctions. "We can see a path to a deal if those decisions are made and if they are made quickly," the official said.
New York Times, U.S. and allies close to reviving nuclear deal with Iran, officials say.
Axios, U.S. sees path for nuclear deal with Iran "if decisions are made quickly."
NBC News, Time for Iran to make 'tough decisions' on whether to revive 2015 nuclear deal, says U.S. official.
A hardline Iranian politician and former lead nuclear negotiator wants Iran's nuclear program to enrich uranium at a 90% purity rate. Saeed Jalili wrote Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. expressed unease about the nuclear discussions in Vienna, and called for Iran to walk away. Earlier, the United Nations nuclear watchdog had said Iran's enrichment was at 60%. At Jalili's proposed purity rate, Iran technically would be able to develop nuclear weapons.
Al Monitor, Iranian supreme leader's aide suggests pursuing 90% enrichment.
Abu Dhabi's oil company will provide pay and jobs to family members of two Indian workers who were killed in a Houthi missile attack on the United Arab Emirates and fund their children's education. ADNOC, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, was struck by the January 17 attack when petroleum tankers exploded and the two Indian workers and one Pakistani lost their lives. Sunjay Sudhir, India's ambassador to the UAE, said ADNOC and the UAE government have been offering constant support to the families.
Khaleej Times, Houthi attack on UAE: Adnoc to offer jobs to family members of deceased, fund kids' education.
UAE ambassadors to Washington and the United Nations urged the U.S to relist the Yemen Houthis as a designated foreign terrorist organization under U.S law. Ambassador to the U.S. Yousef al-Otaiba and the emirates' permanent representative to the UN, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, wrote in a Wall Street Journal article that the Houthi aggression requires "broad diplomatic pressure, tougher U.S. and international sanctions, intensified efforts to block weapons proliferation, and the development and wider deployment of effective countermeasures."
Wall Street Journal, Deploy tough sanctions and diplomacy to isolate the Houthis in Yemen.
Alarabiya, UAE diplomats call on US to relist Houthis as terrorists, demand more defense systems.
The United Arab Emirates wants Israel's advanced version of the Green Pine radar system. The UAE wants to purchase the radar, which is part of the Israeli Arrow defense system designed to intercept missiles. If a deal goes through, it would mark the first major arms agreement between the two countries. UAE defense officials are reported reaching out to Israel to see how a formal request would be received. If a sale is approved, UAE operators would receive a brief training period in Israel, then be able to manage the radar by themselves.
Breaking Defense, UAE, reeling from Houthi attacks, seeking Israeli advanced radar: sources.
U.S. investor and Donald Trump friend Tom Barrack is asking a New York judge to dismiss charges that he illegally lobbied for the United Arab Emirates. Barrack's lawyers filed an argument that the U.S. Justice Department delayed prosecuting him until after Trump left office, and that the charges should be removed. Barrack is scheduled to go on trial in September with a business associate, Matthew Grimes. a UAE businessman, Rashid al-Malik Alshahhi, is also charged but left the UAE and remains at large.
New York Times, Indicted Trump ally says prosecutors stalled case until after election.
Saudi Arabia is investing $6.4 billion in future technologies. The kingdom's communications minister, Abdullah Alswaha, said new programs will create from 100,000 to 250,00 new jobs, including doubling or tripling the number of coders. The government expects $1.4 billion of the amount to be spent in entrepreneurships and allocated to funds to support digital content. Alswaha said Neom, the futuristic megacity Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is building, has launched $1 billion of investments in a metaverse to serve the city's residents and visitors.
Reuters, Saudi Arabia announces $6.4 billion investments in future tech.
Saudi Arabia is looking at changes for its green flag and national anthem. The kingdom's Shura Council voted in favor of changes, but did not disclose details. Saudi media reported that the changes favor amending the system governing the flag, slogan, and national anthem but not their contents. The Saudi flag is green, emblazoned with a sword, and inscribed with Islam's creed. Saudi police last week arrested four Bangladeshi men for violating the flag after they were alleged to have dumped a flag in the garbage.
Associated Press, Saudi Arabia moves to redefine Islam-bearing green flag.
Saudi Arabia's planned $500 billion futuristic city Neom will issue its first tenders to build a renewable power grid. The executive director of Neom Energy, Jens Madrian, said "we expect to reach out to the market later this year." The first tender packages to be issued will be in the range of 400 MW to 800 MW -- "not huge, but it's reasonably sized at this stage, with way more to come."
S&P Global Platts, Saudi Arabia's Neom plans first tenders for renewables power grid this year.
Saudi Arabia has declared 2022 the "Year of Saudi Coffee," and Arabic coffee is now Saudi coffee. The kingdom's ministry of commerce announced the name change for restaurants, cafes, stores, and roasters. The initiative is aimed at distinguishing the flavor and preparation methods of Saudi coffee from other regional coffees.
Saudi Moments, Saudi Arabia renames 'Arabic coffee' to 'Saudi coffee.'
Oil cartel OPEC and its partners have decided to stick with cautious monthly oil production increases, a decision likely to support world oil prices that are near a seven-year high.
The OPEC+ alliance, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, agreed to add 400,000 barrels a day in March, the same monthly increase it has been following and which is designed to gradually restore deep cuts in production made in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.
Reuters, OPEC seen sticking to policy despite oil price rally - sources.
Egypt is considering replacing its popular bread subsidy with cash payments. More than 60 million Egyptians, or almost two-thirds of the population, receive five loaves of round bread daily for 50 cents a month. The amount and fee have been little changed since countrywide "bread riots" prevented a price increase in the 1970s. Now the Egyptian government is weighing a system that would give cash payments to the poor to protect the state budget from high world wheat prices. Domestic inflation and the history of protests could make the government look for a less ambitious reform.
Reuters, Egypt eyes bread subsidy overhaul as global inflation bites.
Egypt is buying $1.7 billion worth of self-propelled howitzers from South Korea. Hanwha Defense signed the deal and will provide about 200 K9 artillery systems to the EgyptIan military, along with support vehicles including K10 ammunition resupply vehicles.
Defense News, Egypt inks $1.7 billion deal for K9 howitzers from South Korea.
Defense News, Why did Egypt choose to buy South Korea's K9 howitzer?
The United States made clear to Sudan's military leaders that Washington is prepared to impose additional costs if violence against protesters doesn't stop. A U.S. State Department official said the U.S. is looking at options to increase pressure on Sudan's military government. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the U.S. is reviewing the full range of traditional and non-traditional tools at its disposal to reduce funds for the Sudanese military and isolate military-controlled companies.
Reuters, U.S. is prepared to impose additional costs on Sudan's military if violence continues.
MORE: Algeria: Former energy minister Chakib Kaelil faces 20-year jail term, AfricaNews... Iraq oil exports averaged 3.2 mln bpd in January: ministry, Alarabiya... China tightens its grip on Iraq with three major oil deals, OilPrice... Largest Middle Eastern maritime exercise kicks off in Bahrain, Alarabiya... Israel to participate in large scale naval exercise led by the US 5th fleet, Jerusalem Post... UN watchdog warns Banque Havilland over Qatar bonds' presentation, Reuters... Oman starts raising $3.5 billion loan that could go up to $4 billion, Reuters.
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