Cost of Fuel Exceeds Minimum Wage in Lebanon

Lebanese bank customers hold pictures of the owners of Lebanese banks calling them "the enemies of society", during a protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 11 June 2022. (EPA)
Lebanese bank customers hold pictures of the owners of Lebanese banks calling them "the enemies of society", during a protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 11 June 2022. (EPA)
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Cost of Fuel Exceeds Minimum Wage in Lebanon

Lebanese bank customers hold pictures of the owners of Lebanese banks calling them "the enemies of society", during a protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 11 June 2022. (EPA)
Lebanese bank customers hold pictures of the owners of Lebanese banks calling them "the enemies of society", during a protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 11 June 2022. (EPA)

The price of a 20 liters of fuel crossed the minimum wage in Lebanon for the first time since the eruption of the country's economic crisis.

The cost of fuel reached 700,000 Lebanese pounds, or 25 dollars, on Saturday, while minimum wage stands at 675,000 LL.

The cost of fuel has risen with the rise of the dollar against the pound and surge in fuel prices around the world due to the Ukrainian crisis.

Fuel distributors met on Saturday to address the crisis.

Representative of the distributors, Fadi Abu Shakra blamed the crisis on the rise of oil prices worldwide and the hike in the dollar rate on the Sayrafa platform and black market.

The people will no longer be able to handle the burden with fuel selling at 700,000 pounds, he added.

Despite incurring losses, the distributors have never waned in providing fuel to the people, he stressed.

He revealed that the distributors have requested an urgent meeting with caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayyad to address the difficulties they are facing.

Owners of gas stations are suffering losses due to the great fluctuation in the exchange rate of the dollar to the pound, Abu Shakra said.



China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
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China's Xi Visits Morocco, Meets with Crown Prince

Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping. Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a short visit to Morocco on Thursday, according to state media from both countries.
Xi was welcomed in Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and the visit reflected the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, Morocco's MAP said.
The Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch met Xi at the airport, where Xi and Hassan had a "cordial conversation", China's state broadcaster CCTV said.
Xi made the visit after being in Brazil for the G20 Summit.
China has stepped up investments in Morocco's infrastructure and rail sector in recent years.
Morocco's geographic location close to Europe, its free trade agreements with key EU and US markets and its existing automotive industry, make it attractive to Chinese electric vehicle battery makers.
In June, Chinese EV battery manufacturer Gotion High Tech picked Morocco to set up Africa's first gigafactory for a total cost of $1.3 billion.