Lebanon
'We are forced to be bank robbers,' desperate Lebanese citizens say amid financial crisis
Banks in Lebanon have partially reopened this week after the government had ordered them to be shut down. The closures were prompted by a spate of bank heists conducted by people whose savings have been stuck in banking system.
These monks are on a mission to protect Lebanon's sacred cedar trees — before it's too late
Solar power is the 'only business that's booming' amid financial and electricity crises in Lebanon, experts say
‘They’re hurting themselves’: In Lebanon, women risk their lives to get an abortion illegally
Could a court case in Lebanon shift attitudes toward migrant domestic workers?
In a rare case, an Ethiopian domestic worker in Lebanon is taking her former employer and the agency that hired her to court over accusations of slavery and slave trading. The woman, identified as M.H., alleges that she was underpaid, locked up and assaulted over several years. Activists are hoping it will help change the worker sponsorship program in Lebanon.
Where The World has been in 2021 — the year in pictures
From migrants in Greece, to the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, to rebuilding Lebanon and Haiti, our correspondents from around the globe bring you images of the important stories of 2021.
‘We need a rescue plan’: Hunger in Lebanon surges amid economic crises
Food prices have skyrocketed in Lebanon, and the World Food Program says an unprecedented number of people rely on humanitarian assistance to get by. Private charity groups say they are doing all they can but that it’s not enough to meet the demands.
These activists want to end sectarian politics in Lebanon
Lebanon has 18 recognized religious sects, and sectarianism is built into the country’s political system. But in the wake of the October 2019 protest movement, some are advocating for a different path.
‘We live paycheck to paycheck’: Workers at a paper factory in Beirut worry about making ends meet in a dire economy
An economy in freefall and political tensions with an important importer of Lebanese goods have workers and managers at a paper factory on the outskirts of Beirut worried about the future.
Lebanon’s electricity crisis means life under candlelight for some, profits for others
Lebanon is facing a critical electricity shortage. The state’s electric company is only able to provide power to residents for a few hours a day. For the rest, people have no choice but to rely on private generator businesses, which in turn, has created its own set of problems.
Cyprus takes a hard line against immigration, trapping migrants in limbo
The government says it is trying to crack down on human trafficking, but Corina Drousiotou, from the Cyprus Refugee Council, said it's having the opposite effect.
A milestone for India: 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses administered.
India administers 1 billion COVID-19 vaccinations, while Russia implements new restrictions as cases and deaths soar. Also, the government of Eswatini has directed mobile operators to suspend Facebook and its messenger app amid protests against King Mswati III. And, several countries have called on the UN to downplay the need to move away from a dependence on fossil fuels.
Tensions rise over Beirut blast investigation
A rally against Tarek Bitar, the Lebanese judge in charge of investigating the Beirut port blast, turned parts of the capital into a war zone. Clashes left at least seven people dead. Now, the question is, can the investigation move forward?
Suicide bombings kill at least 37 at a mosque in Afghanistan
Top of The World: A group of suicide bombers have attacked another Shiite mosque in Afghanistan. And, The Lebanese government has called for a national day of mourning on Friday after heavy gun battles in Beirut left at least seven people dead. Also, The Biden administration is planning to reinstate the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy in November.