Europe

When Cigarettes Fueled the Economy…

For decades, cigarettes were a real nicotine cash cow for governments. A thriving industry, lucrative taxes, countless jobs and mass consumption that, despite health warnings, was an integral part of the global economic and social landscape. But that was before public health got seriously involved. On May 31st, we take a collective breath: it’s ...

PSG and Inter Milan Set for Champions League Final Showdown

Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan lock horns in Saturday's Champions League final with the French side hoping to win European club football's biggest prize for the first time and the Italians eyeing their fourth title. The match, which kicks off at Bayern Munich's 75,000-capacity Allianz Arena at 10:00pm (Beirut time), pits an experienced Inter ...

Pentagon Chief Warns China 'Preparing' to Use Military Force in Asia

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned Saturday that China was "credibly preparing" to use military force to upend the balance of power in Asia, vowing the United States was "here to stay" in the Indo-Pacific region. The Pentagon chief made the remarks at an annual security forum in Singapore as the administration of US ...

Macron Urges Asia, Europe to Unite to Resist 'Spheres of Coercion'

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday urged Europe and Asia to build a new alliance to hold off big powers seeking to build "spheres of coercion", in a swipe at China and Russia. Macron was speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's major annual defense and security conference, as Russia defies diplomatic pressure for a ...

Energy Crisis: Lebanon Between Regional Opportunities and Internal Blockages

Arab support for the revival of Lebanon’s energy sector is back in the spotlight. On the sidelines of the Arab Summit in Amman, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reopened this crucial file with his Jordanian counterpart. Shortly after, Lebanese Finance Minister Yassine Jaber and Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi discussed the main points of energy ...

IMF: Three Billion to Bury 85 Billion? No, Thank You.

The International Monetary Fund wants to lend $3 billion to Lebanon. On paper, it’s an "opportunity" to get a devastated country back on its feet. In reality, it’s a cruel joke. Lebanon is staring into an $85 billion abyss - a gaping hole dug by decades of mismanagement, clientelism, and public governance as cynical as it is incompetent. In ...

UN Says 70% Chance that 2025-2029 Average Warming will Top 1.5C

The United Nations warned Wednesday there is a 70 percent chance that average warming from 2025 to 2029 will exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius international benchmark. The planet is therefore expected to remain at historic levels of warming after the two hottest years ever recorded in 2023 and 2024, according to an annual climate report published by ...

‘Tripoli, Yes We Can:’ How Diaspora and Reform Fuel Economic Revival

Under the patronage of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the third edition of the “Tripoli, Yes We Can” conference took place at the Beirut Arab University Tripoli campus on Monday. Bringing together political decision-makers and Lebanese diaspora representatives, the event aimed to map out a bold vision for national economic recovery – extending ...

Antony Revival Boosts Betis Dream of First Euro Trophy

Standing between Chelsea and the Conference League trophy is Real Betis winger Antony, and that means significantly more than it did five months ago. The Brazilian winger, 25, escaped his Manchester United nightmare in January as he joined the La Liga side on loan, looking to rebuild a career that had stalled miserably at Old Trafford. Antony ...

Touch Signs Roaming Deal with Zain Omantel

Mobile operator Touch announced on Monday a new regional partnership through the signing of a roaming agreement with Zain Omantel International (ZOI), a major telecommunications alliance in the Middle East. According to a company press release, the agreement will allow Zain and Omantel subscribers from eight countries – Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, ...

A Power Revolution with No Current

It’s a quietly growing trend. Since Lebanon’s 2021 fuel crisis, the electric vehicle market has been steadily gaining ground. Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), in particular, are spearheading the shift. Their futuristic designs are increasingly becoming common sights on Lebanon’s roads. The numbers are still small but rising. In the absence ...

When Emigrants Pay the Price of Exile

None of the emigrants chose to leave voluntarily. They left either in pursuit of education abroad or to find work that could provide them with economic stability and safety amid the wars in Lebanon. When the electoral law was amended to include expatriates in the actual voting process, enthusiasm soared, and in the last election, a quarter of a ...