Lebanon
EUROPE
Italy’s Mediterranean Strategy: Why Troops Stay in Lebanon
Italy says troops stay south of Lebanon’s Litani after 2026, shifting from UN mandate to bilateral security for energy.
Ukraine War
Economic Diplomacy: Establishing Safety Zones in Ukraine and Lebanon
Negotiators propose turning the volatile front lines of Ukraine and Lebanon into safe commercial hubs, employing trade to secure peace where armies once stood.
EUROPE
The Pope’s Turkey Visit: Eastern Mediterranean as Christianity’s Foundation
Pope Leo XIV's first papal journey to Turkey from 27-30 November 2025 placed the eastern Mediterranean once again at the centre of Catholic imagination, inviting Europe to reconsider how geography shaped its tradition.
LIFESTYLE
Lebanon Deserves Headlines for Its Wonders, Not Wars
Ancient temples in Lebanon, from Baalbek to Byblos, stand as timeless symbols of beauty, resilience, and cultural heritage.
EUROPE
Lebanon Teeters on Default: Europe Opts Out of Pushing Disarmament
Lebanon faces $11bn recovery costs, looming default, and stalled IMF bailout as France and the EU weigh aid against real reform demands.
Popular
Poland’s Catholic Football Pilgrimage: Unity, Faith and a Hard Line on Migration
At a Marian shrine where football supporters gather to pray, a presidential call for “Poland without illegal immigrants” turned a devotional event into a political stage.
AfDB Turns to Gulf as Western Funders Step Back
The African Development Bank has installed a president with ingrained Gulf experience as Washington pulls back hundreds of millions
Modern Toys, Old Childhood: Barbie and Lego at a Crossroads
As Mattel unveiled its first autistic Barbie yesterday, developed over 18 months with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the $11.87 doll raised familiar questions about whether modern toys widen childhood or quietly narrow it.
Alps Without Snow: Winter Tourism Tries Reinvention
As Grandvalira in the Pyrenees postponed its late-November 2024 opening until mid-December, warm temperatures left slopes across France, Austria and Spain grassy well into the month, forcing managers to watch thermometers anxiously.
Iranian Heritage Under Threat From All Sides
As civil unrest spreads across Iranian cities in early January 2026 and President Trump renews warnings about military options, the country's 28 UNESCO World Heritage sites sit vulnerable to dangers from multiple directions.
