Mask-off outbursts by Maga insiders and most strikingly, the destruction and reconstruction of the presidential seat, with a huge new $300m ballroom, means Trump isn’t planning to leave the White House when his term ends, writes LINDA PENTZ GUNTER
“THE rising of the people across Lebanon’s towns and cities over the past three days represents a very significant change in the character of Lebanese politics.” This was the assessment of Omar El Deeb, international secretary of the Lebanese Communist Party, interviewed at the International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties in Izmir at the weekend.
On Thursday tens of thousands of working people gathered in the towns and cities of Lebanon to protest against government proposals to increase the tax on fuel, to raise VAT on all goods from 11 to 13 per cent and, for the first time, to impose a tax on the use of WhatsApp, the main means of communication for the poor.
The taxes are being imposed to meet the conditions imposed by the IMF and consortiums of banks from the European Union and the Gulf states for a new $13 billion loan to the heavily indebted Lebanese government.
Following the resignation of Nepali Prime Minister KP Oli amid mass youth-driven protests, different narratives have circulated which simplify and misrepresent the complexities and reality on the ground in Nepal at the roots of this crisis, argue VIJAY PRASHAD and ATUL CHANDRA



