Without long term planning and a radical shift away from sectarianism and favouritism, Lebanon will not heal itself. 27 Aug 2015 about the Author John Bell John Bell is Director of the Middle East Programme at the Toledo International Centre for Peace in Madrid. He is a former UN and Canadian diplomat, and served as […]

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Thousands of tonnes of uncollected rubbish in Beirut have become a symbol for the country’s deeper political malady. Nour Samaha | 26 Aug 2015 What ostensibly began as public frustration over the Lebanese government’s failure to tackle the country’s rubbish crisis has since swelled into massive street protests, with residents from across the political spectrum […]

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ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT Islamic experts urge more Muslim action on climate change 19/8/2015 A group of Islamic experts urged the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims on Tuesday to do more to fight global warming, in a new example of religious efforts to galvanize action before a U.N. climate summit in Paris in December. In June, the […]

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Aug 05,2015 PARIS — The unprecedented degradation of Earth’s natural resources coupled with climate change could reverse major gains in human health over the last 150 years, according to a recent published sweeping scientific review. “We have been mortgaging the health of future generations to realise economic and development gains in the present,” said the […]

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HEBRON, August 9, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli forces ordered the village council of Khellet al-Mayyeh, a locale to the east of Yatta, south of Hebron, to stop the construction work on two water tanks funded by the European Union, Sunday reported to a local activist. Coordinator of the popular committee against the wall and settlements, […]

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The city’s call for proposals to restore and develop Mamilla Pool draws protest. Nir Hasson Aug 19, 2015 A call for proposals to restore and develop an ancient reservoir in downtown Jerusalem — earlier suggestions for which have included the installation of a giant Ferris wheel and a landing strip for hot air balloons — […]

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By LAHAV HARKOV,SHARON UDASIN 08/20/2015 Likud MK Amsalem has made it his mission to lower water prices. Knesset Interior Committee chairman David Amsalem (Likud) set a goal for when the Knesset returns from its summer recess: Make sure water prices are significantly lowered. Following a meeting of his committee regarding a water corporation in the […]

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Aug. 19, 2015 | 12:16 AM No sense of shame Many Lebanese people have opinions on a whole host of varied topics, and these opinions are delivered with absolutely authority http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Editorial/2015/Aug-19/311707-no-sense-of-shame.ashx ———————– Aug. 19, 2015 | 08:28 PM Kataeb protests delay in trash bidding announcement The Kataeb Party has informed Prime Minister Tammam Salam of […]

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By DANIEL K. EISENBUD 08/18/2015 An attorney representing the activists suggested, as an alternative site, an abandoned army base in the Beit Zayit area, just west of the city, or Givat Ram, near the Hebrew University. Amid controversial plans to construct a sprawling IDF military college in the Jerusalem Forest, a consortium of environmentalist groups […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 08/11/2015 Gabbay: Haifa Bay residents have the right to breathe clean air. Aiming to bring about dramatic change to the Haifa Bay region’s air quality, Environmental Protection Ministry officials are promoting a plan they say would significantly reduce both industrial and vehicular emissions in and around the city. “Haifa Bay residents have […]

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By Muath Freij – Aug 18,2015 The Greater Amman Municipality is encouraging the capital’s residents to clean their rooftops (Photo courtesy of GAM) AMMAN — Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) teams have conducted field visits 120 buildings since the beginning of August to check the cleanliness of their rooftops, a GAM official said on Monday. Raed […]

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By Giulia Maccagli – Aug 13,2015 AMMAN — Starting with children in Jerash, volunteers with a development centre are working to spread the culture of recycling in Jordan. “If only one of the 30 kids who take part in our workshop, once at home, asks his parents to start recycling their waste, teaching them how […]

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The heat dome with perceived temperature of 158 degrees wilted the region – and much worse is in store for 5 million Israelis and the rest of the Levant. David Rosenberg Aug 12, 2015 The Middle East is a hot place even in normal times. But last week a “heat dome” hovering over the region […]

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Aug 15,2015 TORONTO — Global food shortages will become three times more likely as a result of climate change and the international community needs to be ready to respond to price shocks to prevent civil unrest, a joint US-British taskforce warned on Friday. Rather than being a once-a-century event, severe production shocks, including food shortages, […]

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Authority warns that if changes aren’t made to plan, natural gas prices will rise 30% and lead to an increase in electricity prices. Avital Lahav Published: 08.12.15 Israel’s Electricity Authority claimed Wednesday that if changes are not made to the natural gas plan, it will lead to a hike of up to 30 percent in […]

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By NIV ELIS 08/14/2015 The deal announced Thursday regarding Israel’s natural gas industry was like the caped fairytale figure’s freshly- picked flowers, which on their own were a thoughtful, fragrant and colorful gift. When Little Red Riding Hood strayed from the path on her way to visit grandmother’s house, she gained a nice bouquet of […]

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Netanyahu has not advanced the economy or Israelis’ welfare with the gas deal, as he claims to have done. Instead, he has submitted to the pressures of big business. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu absconded from the news conference he convened Thursday to present the deal between the government and the companies developing Israel’s offshore natural-gas […]

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By SHARON UDASIN,LAHAV HARKOV 08/16/2015 Document will still likely head to Knesset, before receiving final approval. After a nearly eight-month stalemate that has all but frozen the country’s natural gas sector, the government approved on Sunday the revised terms of a disputed compromise outline. The government approval comes four days after the companies and an […]

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Gas plan proposed by Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz passes government vote; Ministers Kahlon, H. Katz, and Galant unable to vote on the plan due to conflict of interests. 08.16.15, 15:58 Israel’s government met Sunday, approving the updated natural gas plan presented to the public last week by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Energy Minister Yuval […]

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06 August 2015 The ongoing electricity crisis in Lebanon, although a permanent fixture, has become unmanageable. At the hottest time of the year, the Lebanese also face the worst power cuts, rendering the unbearable heat and humidity even more painful. And now those allegedly in charge of the situation are putting up their hands and […]

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