What future for Egypt’s new capital city?
Egypt's new capital is not a mirage in the desert anymore. But still. It's far from being completed. Forging new capitals from scratch ain't a new phenomenon: countries are used to build...
(Failed) State of emergency
"All these accidents that happen follow the dots", the songs says. Lebanese deep crisis is no exception. Except nothing here is accidental. This is no bad luck, only bad choices. Here we...
The 1001 challenges facing Syrian refugees in Lebanon
It comes as no surprise, the new UN annual report shows how Syrian refugees in Lebanon still face many challenges. Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP), which was jointly developed by the Government...
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...
Lebanon: Railway would boost economic growth
Lebanon's sick from its atmospheric pollution, sick from its overpopulated highways, sick from its lack of alternatives. Yet, the patient should get some effective treatments. Like establishing a railway network which will...
Every breath you (shouldn’t) take… when in Beirut
Dear tourists, welcome to Beirut. A (strange) smell is in the air, you should probably worry. And don't think the same air will be healthier in Jounieh: atmospheric pollution has become a...
Fadia Safi on financing NGOs: “We don’t want to shut Sesobel’s door”
ByTheEast: At the beginning of June 2019, you had announced you would be closing the gates of Sesobel on June 28, and that you would not be taking new applications because...
Solid waste management in Lebanon: The new time bomb
We all know this inhuman mountain in Dora, north of Beirut. It's a time bomb. Solid waste management is an urgent need in Beirut since the Borj Hammoud landfill, one of two...
Karim Daoud on sustainable agriculture: “We should respect our Mediterranean diet”
ByTheEast: A transition towards sustainable agriculture in Tunisia is crucial. But Tunisian agricultural income, which usually represents 11% of its GDP, has shrunk to 9%. What are the reasons for this...
Lebanon-Algeria deals to boost agricultural cooperation
You may not know it, but Lebanon-Algeria's relationships are close. Both countries have a lot in common, except their size as Algeria is 228 bigger than Lebanon. Links between Beirut and Algiers...