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European judges in Lebanon to investigate the case of Riad Salameh, and the extortion of businessmen in Syria, in addition to the involvement of women in the Yemen war, are among the topics that the French newspapers published today on January 17, 2023 dealt with Suleiman Yassini.
Le Figaro: Will the European judiciary be able to destabilize Riad Salameh’s rule over the Banque du Liban?
It is the question that occupies the political and media arena in Lebanon, coinciding with the visit of a delegation of European judges in the framework of the procedures that began in at least six European countries against the Governor of the Banque du Liban, Riad Salameh. Le Figaro wrote that Salama, nicknamed: “Lebanese Madoff,” who is suspected of organizing a Ponzi scheme for fraud at the national level during thirty years at the head of the Banque du Liban, is still determined to remain in his position, and the government has not put an end to his duties.
The article referred to the formation of an international investigation team to exchange information, because the case involves a group of companies and transactions at several levels in several countries. He said that the investigations focus on allegations of embezzlement of more than $330 million from the Banque du Liban through a contract awarded to the “Fore Associates” company owned by Raja Salameh, Riad Salameh’s brother.
Le Figaro indicated that the Lebanese authorities did not move and do not show any intention to move against Salameh…. The article also indicated that Riad Salameh enjoys widespread protection in Lebanon. In this regard, Karim Bitar, a researcher at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations, said: “He is the man who knows Many, many fear that his fall will lead to their fall,” accusing both Nabih Berri and Najib Mikati of providing protection to Riad Salameh.
Le Monde: The Assad regime is blackmailing businessmen in Syria
In this investigation, Eileen Salon conveyed testimonies of some businessmen, without revealing their identities, regarding their exposure to financial harassment by the Syrian tax authorities, which intensified field monitoring of private companies and imposed large fines on a number of them, without providing any reasons for that. She wrote that this campaign was launched in 2020 with the aim of saving the state treasury after the stunning collapse of the Syrian pound in the wake of the application of US sanctions and the banking crisis in Lebanon. Which cut off access to foreign currency to Syria.
Elaine Salon wrote that the matter also affected the business elite associated with the regime through purges, similar to what happened to Rami Makhlouf, cousin of Bashar al-Assad, who was expelled from the Syriatel telephone company, and quoted expert Sinan Hatah as pointing out in a study published by the European University Institute in November. November 2021 indicates that hundreds of wealthy industrialists and businessmen have been held at ransom, threatened with asset freezes or imprisonment, and for some have been permanently stripped of their companies.
Lacroix: Involving women in the war in Yemen
La Croix newspaper says that since 2017, female police officers have begun to appear in the city of Marib at checkpoints and checkpoints. There are 300 women in this city who have been chosen to ensure security and maintain public order. An order that Lacroix considered a revolution in a small tribal society in the region that did not recognize the authority of the state, not even women before the ongoing war in Yemen for years.
In her special field report, Lacroix quoted Huda, a thirty-two-year-old female member of the security forces, as saying: “Women want to participate in the protection and security of the population and stand alongside men in this new security challenge.” Lacroix wrote that Sultan Al-Arada, the governor of Marab, was credited with establishing the first women’s brigade in the police in the year 2015. Al-Arada said: “There is a great desire to rebuild state institutions with the involvement of women in them because they are part of society. Women’s contribution improves and advances society.” straight ahead”.
With regard to the Houthi side, the report referred to the so-called “Zainabiyat”, which is the plural of Zainab, the name given to women who joined the Houthi group. The report says that their number is approximately five thousand and their tasks lie in suppressing women’s demonstrations, arresting women in their homes, and spying on activists. Participation in the torture of women.
Lupinion: China becomes the second largest car exporter in the world
This is what Lubinion newspaper headlined, noting in an article that China overtook Germany to become the second largest exporter of cars in the world, and this came after sales of its cars outside its borders jumped by 54.4% per year, to reach three million one hundred and ten thousand cars in 2022, according to the Chinese Association of Automobile Manufacturers. . Thanks to this dynamism, L’Opinion wrote, China could rise to the world podium in the coming years and displace Japan from the lead, especially in light of the stagnation of car exports in the Land of the Rising Sun.
The article indicated that an increasing number of foreign consumers are attracted to cars made in China due to their quality and reliability, especially in the markets of emerging countries and even in Europe, and China’s exports of electric cars to Europe more than doubled last November, setting a monthly record. Its total value in two thousand and twenty-two was about $3.2 billion, an increase of 165% compared to the previous year.
