Turkish soldiers fire a missile at Syrian government position in the province of Idlib on Feb. 14, 2020. (AP)
February 20, 2020, 10:15 am

Turkish soldiers fire a missile at Syrian government position in the province of Idlib on Feb. 14, 2020. (AP)

Exchange rate at Beirut airport hits 2,100 to $1. (Twitter)

The Beirut airport duty-free exchange rate went up for a third time, reaching 2,100 Lebanese lire to $1.

The official pegged rate is 1,500 lira to $1, though that peg has slipped since October. Now it is around 2,450 lira to $1 in the unofficial market. Lebanon’s central bank and money exchangers had previously agreed to a 2,000 to $1 rate as the economic situation in the country continues to deteriorate.

https://twitter.com/timourazhari/status/1230133141182046209

At the end of January, the airport raised its rate to 1,950 lire to $1. The first hike in the rate came in December, as the exchange rate hit 1,750 lire to $1.

https://twitter.com/timourazhari/status/1230133141182046209

Lebanon’s economy has been suffering for months as a shortage in dollars, needed to pay for much-needed imports, has spurred a larger economic crisis.

Today in Beirut, policymakers, and IMF officials are in meetings to discuss whether Lebanon will pay or default on an upcoming $1.2 billion Eurobond payment.

source: Lauren Holtmeier

UN Accuses Warring South Sudan Parties Of Deliberately Starving Citizens Al-Jubeir Says No Back Channels With Iran

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.”