Source: Reuters
Security & Justice
Lebanon Parliament Passes Controversial General Amnesty Law
Lebanon's parliament on Wednesday approved a general amnesty law, potentially benefiting thousands of prisoners and wanted people, in the first legislation of its kind since 1991, as lawmakers also advanced reforms to the country's banking sector.
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Gemayel: Amnesty Must Redress Injustice, Not Shield Serious Offenders
Lebanon’s parliament postponed debate on a controversial general amnesty bill after lawmakers raised concerns that its final wording could extend relief to people convicted of serious crimes, including child rape, according to Kataeb Party leader MP Samy Gemayel.
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Opinion
Why Syrian Intervention in Lebanon Would Be a Disaster
US President Donald Trump has bluntly signaled, several times, that he would encourage a military intervention in Lebanon by the forces of Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa. His logic seems to be that in the same way Al-Sharaa’s forces succeeded in toppling Bashar Assad and his regime in Syria, who had support from Hezbollah fighters, they could also defeat Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, any Syrian intervention in Lebanon would be disastrous, with an even worse outcome than the decades-long military occupation by the former Assad regime.
Friday, July 31, 2026
Lebanon and the Arab Region... Facing Serious Challenges
Most Lebanese hope to escape their difficult circumstances, and they can hardly be blamed for that. They have every right to build on any glimmer of hope and to wager on any opportunity, however risky.
Sunday, July 26, 2026
Sports
FIFA Chief to Receive Lebanese Citizenship
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun informed FIFA President Gianni Infantino of his approval to grant him Lebanese citizenship on Tuesday, the head of the Lebanese Football Association told AFP.
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Portugal beats Spain to win Nations League
Portugal defeated Spain in penalty kicks 5- 3 to win the UEFA Nations League final late on Sunday after both sides failed to score in extra time following a showdown that ended 2-2.
Monday, June 9, 2025
Monday 17 August 2026 13:05:38
Lebanon's Creative Talent Suffers as Iran War Squeezes Gulf Economies
For decades, the Gulf served as the center of gravity for much of Lebanon's creative talent, with swathes of designers and marketing executives flocking to its cities to find clients or relying on its foundations and cultural centers for funding.
But with Gulf economies now under pressure from a nearly six-month-old regional war, Lebanese creatives say financing and work opportunities are drying up.
Uncertainty linked to the conflict has prompted Gulf-based clients to postpone projects, reduce budgets and slow payments, leading to layoffs and income declines, Lebanese professionals in advertising, branding and communications told Reuters.
Fashion school Creative Space Beirut (CSB) relied on donations and partnerships with individuals and institutions in the Gulf to keep its courses free for underprivileged students.
CSB hoped those avenues could yield $500,000 this year, but its co-founder and CEO Sarah Hermez, told Reuters the regional war meant Gulf-based donors went into "survival mode" and that many "promises weren't able to be met".
Donors were unable to renew contributions or had to downsize them significantly, Hermez said, putting student scholarships at risk.
LEBANESE HAD FLOCKED TO GULF'S SAFE HARBORS
Late last month, within CSB's tranquil walls near downtown Beirut, students toiled on their projects. One sewed at a table while another stitched a dress on a mannequin.
Since it opened its doors in 2011, the school has weathered the impacts of Lebanon's economic contractions following the war in neighboring Syria, 2019's full-blown financial crisis and the Beirut port blast of 2020.
All along, CSB relied on the Gulf for funding.
But now, with only enough money to operate four more months and little visibility into what Gulf contributions could come next year, it has turned to crowdfunding campaigns and a hunt for new partners to maintain free courses.
Most Gulf economies will contract more sharply this year than previously expected before rebounding in 2027, a Reuters poll found in July.
Marwan Barakat, group chief economist and head of research at Lebanon's Bank Audi, said the Gulf's key indicators all show downgrades, including GDP growth, aviation traffic, stock market performances and fiscal balances.
CUTS TO JOBS AND REVENUE
While Lebanese had long relied on salaries in the Gulf to send remittances back to their families at home, some fear they will have less to send in the coming months.
Lebanon itself was pulled back into war when armed group Hezbollah fired at Israel in early March in support of its ally Iran, triggering a conflict that has left more than 4,300 dead in Lebanon.
Wassim Haddad runs an advertising and strategy consultancy based in Lebanon with clients who operate in the Gulf.
He estimates a 70% hit to his firm's revenues, mostly due to economic pressures in the Gulf, that have forced him to cut his staff by half.
"It feels like most of the clients who are not from the region don't understand how to move forward while war is happening," the 33-year-old said, referring to Western firms seeking to set up shop in the Gulf.
SOME IN LEBANON STILL OWED FEES BY GULF CLIENTS
Several people spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, fearing more of their professional work would be at risk if they commented publicly.
One branding professional based in Beirut said he once earned up to $12,000 per project for Gulf clients, but opportunities are now rare and firms are seeking discounts.
A client of the branding professional based in Saudi Arabia cut his pay and said they would increase it if more projects came along. A regular Qatari client told the professional their firm could no longer commit to new projects.
A Lebanese communications professional reported a 30% hit to her projected income. "If things keep going this way, I'll have to go back to my parents' house," she said.
At CSB, Kim Heshme sat below rows of jackets, gowns and dresses. She wears many hats: a single mother, a freelancer branding expert and CSB's head of operations.
Her income has dropped by around 60% as freelance work dried up due to the regional war.
She has had trouble collecting fees owed for completed projects, with some clients only paying her a third of her dues and others ignoring her invoices.
Heshme said Gulf clients appeared less accustomed than their Lebanese counterparts to operating through periods of war and prolonged uncertainty.
"Ideas are not cheap," Heshme said. "They don't want to pay for the value of it."
