The Daily Star Lebanon Breaking News, Lebanon News, Middle East News & World News

BEIRUT — Lebanon is facing a severe electricity crisis, with caretaker Energy Minister Raymond Ghajar warning that the country could plunge into “total darkness” by the end of the month. The state electricity company, Electricité du Liban, is running out of funds to purchase fuel necessary for power generation. Ghajar highlighted the dire consequences, including the disruption of essential services …

In 2020, Lebanon’s Central Bank (Banque du Liban, BDL) announced it would end its subsidies on basic commodities, triggering fears of a dramatic rise in prices. Economists and consumer protection groups warned that prices could soar by as much as 400% if alternative measures are not implemented. The subsidies, which had provided essential goods at lower prices by offering importers …

In a recent controversy, Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun has faced criticism following the revelation that a donation of tea from Sri Lanka, intended for victims of the Beirut port explosion, was instead distributed to families of his presidential guards. On August 24, 2020, President Aoun’s office released a picture showing him receiving the Sri Lankan ambassador, with reports stating that …

In August 2020, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned amid public outrage following the devastating Beirut port explosion. This resignation, accepted by President Michel Aoun, is seen as a critical step towards forming a national unity government. The explosion, which killed at least 164 people and injured over 6,000, was linked to the improper storage of ammonium nitrate at the …

In August 2020, the catastrophic explosion at Beirut’s port compounded Lebanon’s public health crisis by halting virus monitoring efforts amid a deadly second wave of COVID-19. The blast, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, caused widespread devastation, killing over 200 people, injuring thousands, and leaving around 300,000 homeless. The destruction overwhelmed Beirut’s already struggling healthcare system, which was …

In response to the devastating explosion at Beirut’s port on August 4, 2020, the Lebanese government declared a two-week state of emergency in the capital. The explosion, caused by the detonation of approximately 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely at the port, resulted in over 135 deaths, injured more than 5,000 people, and left approximately 300,000 residents homeless. The …

In September 2020, a significant trial opened in France, marking a pivotal moment in the pursuit of justice for the Rwandan genocide. The trial centers around Félicien Kabuga, an alleged financier and mastermind of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus over a span of 100 days. Background on Félicien …

In 2019, prominent Lebanese journalist Dima Sadek resigned from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI), citing political pressures that prevented her from being on air. Sadek revealed that LBCI’s management, led by CEO Pierre Daher, had sidelined her due to her active political commentary and criticism on social media during Lebanon’s anti-government protests. Known for her outspoken views and activism, …