January blues

Dear reader,

Blue Monday, now recognized as the most depressing day of the year, is around the corner and after the holiday break, it feels as if we’re back to business as usual.

The country is still facing a deep economic crisis, clashes at the southern border have intensified and politicians are still in what seem to be endless squabbles.

Yet there are signs that things are moving.

US special envoy Amos Hochstein was here this week to negotiate an agreement for the post-war (whenever that might happen), and Hezbollah is open to negotiations. The US also has a new ambassador in town, Lisa A. Johnson.

This past month, two major laws were being discussed or passed: one of them, 20 years in the making, finally reforms the pension system, and another puts an end to the old rent on commercial properties.

In a country where sometimes everything feels at a standstill, these are signs that it’s not completely true.

L’Orient Today

In case you missed them, here are our must-read stories of the week: