The US Treasury imposed mandatory sanctions on Syria on June 17, targeting foreign persons and entities for economic activities that support the Syrian government’s ability to wage war. The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act targets beneficiaries of the Syrian conflict including Iran, and signals that the United States will not …

The coronavirus outbreak may not have originated in China and instead lay dormant around the globe waiting for the right conditions to activate, a university expert has suggested. Rather than the city of Wuhan being the centre for Covid-19, the disease might have been lying in wait in several countries …

Lebanon on Sunday hosted its annual famous music festival in the ancient northeastern city of Baalbek without an audience. The unprecedented move was dubbed by the organisers as “an act of cultural resilience” to the global coronavirus pandemic as well as the country’s unprecedented economic crisis. By Arthur Blok Held …

On an average day, US President Donald Trump sends about 14 posts to the 28 million Facebook followers of his campaign account. His Democratic rival, Joe Biden, delivers about half that many posts to an audience of just 2 million. The numbers are similarly skewed in other spheres of the …

Over a hundred protesters gathered outside the embassy of the United States in Lebanon’s Awkar on Saturday demanding the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559. Army and security forces deployed heavily in the area and blocked the road leading to the embassy with barbed wire, said the Lebanese …

Late one night I heard a very subtle knock upon the door. I just went with my gut and answered. I drew the door back slowly and I saw nothing through the crack and still nothing even as the door became wide-open. I was puzzled. Something made me look down …

The civil war in Libya is currently on hold as Russia and Turkey are expected to reach a deal over the control of the strategically important city of Sirte. If no compromise is made, the conflict will likely escalate again, and other foreign powers are expected to directly involve in …

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Tuesday a UN report confirming Iranian involvement in attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in September 2019. A foreign ministry statement said the findings of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ report “leaves no doubt for the international community about Iran’s hostile intentions towards the …

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pushed the UN Security Council on Tuesday to indefinitely extend an arms embargo on Iran before it expires in October. Speaking at the virtual briefing, Pompeo warned that its expiration would risk the stability of the region. “Iran will hold a sword of Damocles …

Almost 7 billion euros were pledged today to support war-torn Syria at a donor conference in Brussels. Around 60 countries and international agencies gathered to drum up financial aid for the Arab nation as the corona-virus and economic chaos wreak even more havoc in a country shattered by a conflict …

Again sitting high up in the crow’s nest of the good ship Moo-La, Angel recalls watching closely the first time President Trump visited Poland, shortly after he entered office. What a beautiful meeting. And now watching closely Poland visiting The White House, it is even more clear that of course …

It is late afternoon. As she is napping high up in the crow’s nest of The Great Ship The Moo-La, Angel has a dream: She is presenting to her little group of friends. “We are so pleased to have Barron in our story now. With us, he will assure that …

Stable security is essential for political, economic and financial stability, while confronting attempts to incite strife is the collective responsibility of all the country’s political parties, top leaders said in a statement Thursday after attending “national talks” at Baabda Palace boycotted by key opposition figures. President Michel Aoun chaired a …

Sitting together out back of the White House. Watching the full moon rise. Having cookies and milk. “Let’s rap a little.” Barron nods. And Angel begins the exchange: “ I think we should write a speech for your Dad about The Basic Income with demurrage, to be used as a …

Protesters took to the streets across Lebanon on Thursday as reports said the dollar was selling at at historic rate of LBP 7,000 on the black market. The protesters blocked most of the country’s roads in scenes reminiscent of the October 17 uprising. In central Beirut, protesters rallied outside the …

The slave ships of long ago never returned to their country of origin empty-handed. The ship’s captain sold slaves for lots of cash and then he bought goods. And the cash which they received for the slaves they sold was much more than what was needed to fill the boat …

History has always been a passion of mine. Ever since I can remember, I was interested in ancient civilizations and their achievements. For a while, I was lucky enough to work at a job that would send me on business trips to the most diverse range of places. Ultimately, I …

continuing from the previous chapter: As Angel is standing there just soaking up the sun, Barron walks up. “Game of Chess?” Barron asks. “Sure” Angel replies. Barron: “ I have a great place to play.” He leads her to The Black Barracuda, and soon they are at The White House, …

Lebanon: whenever you hear this word, it is usually in some American film, most probably linked to a terrorist group, a war, or something similar. Not the land of Cedars – which are almost gone anyways – not the bridge between east and west, not the land of the best …

New moon Angel sits at the opening to the street drain for a long time she has been sitting there. She heard so much talk; gossip about IT IT IT. She’s been coming to sit by the drain for days now waiting on Pennywise to appear. She’s not afraid. Why? …

The ongoing political and economic crisis in Lebanon is no longer news. The country is in a crisis that had been cooking since 1990, and finally came to its boiling point in recent months with new agents of corruption joining in 2005 under the motto of – ironically – “fighting …

I was infected with COVID-19 and have recovered. The urge to go outside, meet with friends, hug them, and be with them is eating on my consciousness. But I can’t, because New York City is still on pause and has been since March 22, the date that New York State …

Having a pet during lockdown can be a source of comfort for many people. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic many animal shelters around the world have seen an overall spike in adoptions or fostering of pets. In Lebanon, that trend has been reflected too. However, the country’s harsh …

Defying the badly predicted odds from self-assuming ‘experts’ and most mainstream media so-called pundits yet again, Bali proves to be a healthy safe-haven in the world of global viral outbreaks once more. By Joshuahn Jackstonburg This happened during the Asian Flu, SARS, MERS and Zika Virus, and has always been …

People all around the globe are currently directly, or indirectly, affected by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The Levant News publishes voices from a wide variety of people with different backgrounds. After stories from the Netherlands, Lebanon and Italy today Mohammed Hussein Aldosari writes from Saudi Arabia. The Covid-19 crisis and …

The Covid-19 pandemic has been dominating the global news for months now. Almost half of the world’s population is under social or economic corona lockdown. People are afraid. In the background, an unprecedented global crisis that could lead to a dramatic international systematic transition from a Pax Americana to a …

Nineteen sailors were killed and 15 others injured in the Gulf of Oman when an Iranian missile fired during a training exercise struck a support vessel near its target, Iranian state media reported Monday. The missile struck the Konarak, a missile launching support warship that had been taking part in …

Saudi Arabia’s government is suspending the cost of living allowance and raising the value added tax (VAT) threefold, as part of measures aimed to shore up state finances, which have been battered by low oil prices and the coronavirus. “Cost of living allowance will be suspended as of June first, …

The Covid-19 pandemic captivates us all with unprecedented social and economic repercussions. Roughly half of the world remains under corona lockdown eagerly awaiting some positive news on the crisis. All eyes are pointed towards the World Health Organization (WHO), the institute created to handle global crisis situations. Instead of helping …

Just when China influence over Europe seemed to expand into full blast, the Covid-19 crisis seems to have put a serious stop to it. The biggest geopolitical prize in the raising USA – Chinese challenge is the European Union, formerly anchored securely in the Western side but in recent years …

Humanity is imprisoned by the Covid-19 pandemic. People are being arrested for walking together in a park, or sitting with more than three persons in one car. Economies are collapsing, and it will be a matter of weeks before millions of people around the globe will start rioting for food. …

Former television news anchor Megyn Kelly announced on Thursday that she has conducted the first on-camera interview with Tara Reade, almost a week after Joe Biden was directly confronted in another interview with Reade’s allegation of sexual assault, which he denied. Reade has claimed Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993, …

In times of crisis and panic, going against the flow is seen by many as inconvenient. This is precisely the case in the current Covid-19 pandemic where people who dare to oppose the official information coming from institutions such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and other local health institutions …

Antibodies from Winter, a 4-year-old llama with great eyelashes, have neutralized coronavirus and other infections in lab experiments. Some scientists hope she might be an important figure in the fight against the coronavirus. Winter is not a superpowered camelid, she was simply the lucky llama chosen by researchers in Belgium, …

The first part of ‘The Hidden Agenda Behind Covid-19’ a new film by Plandemic went viral on the internet in the past 24 hours. The documentary reveals the agenda of the scientific and political elite who run the global health system and shows the sinister role of U.S. president Donald …

Kim Jong-un finally emerged back onto the world stage earlier this week after a 20-day absence, which led to much speculation about his health and well-being. The weeks of speculation about the North Korean dictator’s health brought home an alarming fact: no one really knows who will control North Korea …

Humanity is imprisoned by the Covid-19 pandemic. People are being arrested for sitting on a bench in a park, or hiking with friends in nature. Economies are collapsing, and it will be a matter of weeks before millions of people around the globe will start rioting for food. Mainstream media …

I am starting to prepare to return to work and to the new normal as we start to ‘flatten the curve’ progressively. I believe that our success as individuals and that of our businesses will be assessed how we have handled the situation in resilience. By Emile Fakhoury It goes …

In his hand President Trump holds The demurrage card; his authority to declare demurrage on The US dollar. He doesn’t have to use it yet however. It’s enough that The Fed know that he has this card which makes them more of a listening partner and investor. It is important …

People all around the globe are currently directly, or indirectly, affected by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The Levant News publishes voices from a wide variety of people with different backgrounds. After stories from the Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Italy today Erwin Sanders writes from Rotterdam. In 1988 Michael Jackson released …

Human Rights Watch on Monday called for an investigation into a spectacular gorge in northern Syria that has been used as a dumping site for dead bodies over several years. The 50-metre-deep hole in a desert area of Raqa province was once controlled by the Islamic State group, when it …

The Trump administration stepped up assertions that the coronavirus originated at a laboratory in Wuhan, adding more fuel to a point of tension between the U.S. and China. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday said he also has seen “enormous evidence” that Covid-19 virus originated in a laboratory in …

People all around the globe are currently directly, or indirectly, affected by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The Levant News publishes voices from a wide variety of people with different backgrounds. After stories from the Netherlands, Lebanon and Italy today Saleh Abdulwahed writes from the Saudi capital Riyadh. While driving through …

Dutch pollster and data-analyst Maurice de Hond exposed a relationship between the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the weather (especially specific humidity). Which can be found here. In his second contribution to The Levant News he elaborates how aerosols play an important role in the infection with the virus. …