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Lebanese protesters gather in Beirut in fourth day of fiery demonstrations

Men, women and children gathered in the Lebanese capital Beirut Sunday to protest corruption and tax hikes for a fourth day, after the resignation of a key Christian party rocked the country’s fragile coalition government.
Demonstrations had flared on Thursday in response to a proposed $0.20-tax on calls via WhatsApp and other messaging services.
While the government quickly dropped the plans, the protests morphed into demands for a sweeping overhaul of Lebanon’s political system, with grievances ranging from austerity measures to poor infrastructure.
Thousands rallied across the country on Saturday, chanting “revolution” or “the people demand the fall of the regime” – a common refrain of demonstrations in other parts of the Arab world.
The protests have been largely good-natured, with people singing or launching into traditional dabke dances on Saturday, while others played cards and smoked shisha into the early hours.
In Tripoli, Lebanon’s traditionally conservative second city, the protests at points looked like a music festival, with a DJ pumping out dance music from loudspeakers.
https://twitter.com/dalalmawad/status/1185629969969549312
On Sunday morning, volunteers were cleaning the streets near the parliament in Beirut while rubbish collectors righted upturned dumpsters.
https://twitter.com/sewella/status/1185492178061189122
The protests have also been marked by their diversity, drawing wide swathes of Lebanese society largely united on what they oppose – with many condemning the entire political class as thieves and criminals – but so far lack a clear set of demands.
Lebanon’s political system was set up to balance power between the country’s religious sects, including Christians, Sunni Muslims, Shia Muslims and Druze.
Many current senior politicians came to prominence during the country’s 15-year civil war that ended in 1990.
Beleaguered Sunni Prime Minister Saad Hariri had given his coalition partners until Monday evening to back key reforms.
But late Saturday, Samir Geagea, head of the Christian Lebanese Forces party, announced his ministers were quitting the government.
“We are now convinced that the government is unable to take the necessary steps to save the situation,” said Geagea.
Other members of the government, including Shia movement Hezbollah, are opposed to resigning.
Demonstrators in Beirut celebrated the news of the LF’s resignation but continued to call for wholesale change. In Tripoli, they set off fireworks.
“It’s better all the government resign,” said 24-year-old Ali in Beirut.
“It’s better to go to another election as people already woke up.”
Promised austerity measures are essential if Lebanon is to unlock over $11 billion in economic assistance pledged by international donors last year.
Lebanon’s public debt stands at around $86 billion – more than 150 percent of gross domestic product – according to the finance ministry.
Growth has plummeted in recent years, with political deadlock compounded by the impact of eight years of war in neighboring Syria.
source:AFP
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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