Environment Ministry to Oversee ‘Cooling’ Process for Remaining Port Grain Silos Caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin announced that a process had been started to ‘cool’ the northern section of the Beirut port grain silos as a first step towards treating the rubble and charred grains at the section that eventually succumbed to structural collapse following a series of fires throughout the summer – the southern section remains intact. The silos were originally damaged by the August 4th, 2020 explosion and have become visual reminders of the tragic blast ever since. [L’Orient Today]
Nationwide Blackout Narrowly Averted Yesterday caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayyad announced that the minimum threshold for heavy fuel oil was met in order to operate the Zouk and Jiyyeh power plants, “while we await a new shipment from Iraq, which should arrive early to mid September.” [The National]
Lebanese Private Schools Lose Students to Public Schools According to the National, “At least 20 per cent of private school pupils in Lebanon are likely to move to the struggling public education sector during this school year. Private schools and universities are becoming increasingly unaffordable with fees paid for in dollars, but the expected move will take place as the public education sector itself is near collapse, raising questions over whether public schools will be able to handle the additional strain.” [The National]
OPINION & ANALYSIS
Sada, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Lebanese Forces Party Confronts Post-Election Challenges Adnan Nasser
Nasser writes, “An assessment of the current political scene in Lebanon reveals a divided parliament made up of new faces motivated by the common goal of rescuing the country but lacking a cohesive plan of action to achieve it. Among these newly elected parties is the Lebanese Forces (LF), a right-wing Christian party that has its roots in the civil war era. In the post-election period, the party is now aiming to rebrand itself as a national movement capable of reaching out to all Lebanese, not only its traditional sect.”
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit, nonpartisan leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans.