Libya: The economic potential of a failed state
The international community knows this: Libya is a model of a failed state. But a failed state with potential. Nine years since the start of the Arab Spring, which saw a wave...
Marc Goutalier on Saudi Arabia: “Riyadh aims to diversify its portfolio”
ByTheEast: Saudi Arabia is currently in the spotlight. What can we expect from Russian president Vladimir Putin's visit to Riyadh today?
Marc
Goutalier: In geopolitical terms this is symbolic...
Water scarcity in the Middle East, the growing normal
Water scarcity
is not a modern phenomenon, nor are wars over access to water. 4,500 years ago,
in what was then known as Iraq, a battle was fought between two ancient city
states over water...
How nomadism made Africa a land of disruptive innovation
Mobility, innovation and stability, three of the most important civilizational factors in economic development, are not calibrated the same way in every region of the world. Mary McAuliffe reports on the specific...
Lebanon: Electricity plan needs a clear majority
Is the recovery for Lebanese electricity sector ailing for thirty years, finally in sight? Lebanese parliament is now ready to sanction a new plan for the sector as the majority have shown...
Fixing electricity in Lebanon: the clock is ticking
Everybody knows it: Lebanon's internal software has to be updated as soon as possible and starting the reform of its electricity sector should be the top priority. Lebanon’s state Treasury has so...
Igor Delanoë on Syria: “Moscow and Tehran move towards a cooperative competition”
ByTheEast: Let’s start by the Syrian issue. How could Russian diplomacy "benefit" from the disengagement of Westerners? Which political solution can Russians adapt to emerge from the war?
Lebanon: waterscape challenges hide future opportunities
What is the future of Lebanon's waterscape? This was the question which formed the central discussion theme in the youth conference which was organised by the Issam Fares Institute (IFI) for Public...
Water-for-electricity: the Lebanese-Jordanian solution
What an idea! Water for electricity, as it sounds into the oil-for-food program for Saddam's Iraq. Actually, the water-for-electricity deal between Lebanon and the Jordanian Kingdom could be part of the solution....
Egypt: Cement giant sets up solar plant
SolarizEgypt has signed an agreement with Arabian Cement Company, one of Egypt’s leading cement producer, for setting up a solar photovoltaic (PV) energy plant within its premises in the Suez Governorate. The...