This is Beirut

EU Takes Aim at Plastic Pellets to Prevent their Nightmare Cleanup

This is Beirut, 21/10 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

At first glance, the tiny plastic pellets appear relatively harmless. No bigger than a lentil, these "nurdles" are destined to be melted down to make everything from car bumpers to salad bowls. But when tens of millions of them spill from trucks or cargo ships they are devilish to clean up, blighting landscapes and washing up around the world for ...

Internet Services Cut for Hours by Amazon Cloud Outage

This is Beirut, 21/10 09:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Europe AWS Amazon Cloud Outage

Popular internet services ranging from streaming platforms to messaging services to banking were offline for hours Monday due to an outage in Amazon's crucial cloud network, illustrating the extent to which internet life depends on the tech titan. The disruption affected streaming platforms, including Amazon's Prime Video service and Disney+, as ...

3,500 Gas Stations for 10,452 km²

Liliane Mokbel, 18/10 14:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Europe

Lebanon is overwhelmed with gas stations. The country has 3,500 gas stations spread over 10,452 km². This amounts to one station for every 1,428 people, a ratio unique in the region and in Europe. For comparison: In France, one station serves 6,235 people. In Germany, one station serves 5,975 people. When considering land area, ...

Leonardo, Callas, Beethoven… Could Europe’s Icons Appear on Euro Banknotes?

Bélinda Ibrahim, 17/10 19:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Europe Euros Banknotes Culture

Nearly a quarter of a century after their introduction, euro banknotes are set to be completely redesigned, both aesthetically and in terms of security. If the ECB stays on schedule, the new banknotes are expected to be unveiled from 2026, following an unprecedented public consultation and design process. Since 2002, euro banknotes have depicted ...

Between Moscow and Washington, India Charts Its Energy Course

Mario Chartouni, 16/10 16:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Washington Donald Trump European Union Europe G7

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had committed to “cease purchasing Russian oil” within a “short timeframe,” while imposing 50% tariffs on Indian exports to the United States, with additional penalties for transactions involving Moscow. However, New Delhi stressed that its “top ...

EU Says Drone Defenses Not 'Optional' in Push to Face Russia

This is Beirut, 16/10 16:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Europe Ukraine Brussels Russia

The EU had no choice but to build up anti-drone defenses against Russia, the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday, as Brussels unveiled a "roadmap" to prepare for potential conflict by 2030. The initiative is one of several flagship projects in the EU's "readiness roadmap" aimed at preparing the bloc for a possible attack from ...

Tested by Russia, NATO Looks to Strengthen its Defenses

This is Beirut, 15/10 09:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Europe Kyiv Nato

NATO defense ministers will look Wednesday at shoring up the alliance's ability to counter Russian air incursions, as fears grow that Moscow is testing the West in a grey zone between war and peace. Focus will also be on bolstering support for Ukraine as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joins his 31 NATO counterparts with his boss, President ...

US Gas: Washington Secures Its Place in Europe’s Energy Market

Christiane Tager, 10/10 21:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Europe USA Washington Donald Trump European Union

For more than two years, Europe has sought to reduce its reliance on Russian gas, an effort accelerated by the war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical tensions. According to RFI, European firms, long hesitant to commit to long-term deals, are now turning to US liquefied natural gas (LNG) to secure reliable supplies. This shift represents a ...

International Sanctions: Mechanisms, Loopholes and Limits

Élie-Joe Kamel, 10/10 17:45 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

United Nations Donald Trump Europe European Union G7

Despite a major military setback suffered by the Iran-aligned axis in its war against Israel and the sanctions imposed on it, Hezbollah reportedly continues to receive $60 million per month in transfers from Iran. That is according to US envoy Thomas Barrack, who made the claim on September 22 in an interview with Sky News. In this context, a ...

AI and Employment: A Process of Creative Destruction

Paul Guillot, 07/10 11:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Europe International Monetary Fund New York United States USA

AI is hailed for boosting efficiency, speed, and productivity. But behind the hype, a global concern looms: could it put millions of jobs at risk? From Salesforce headquarters to Amazon warehouses, from New York offices to emerging markets, one question dominates: is AI a ticking social time bomb? A Subtle but Global Threat The IMF estimates ...

Renewable Energy Growth Slows Due to Policy Changes: IEA

This is Beirut, 07/10 09:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Europe United States IEA COP28 Renewable Energy

Growth in renewable energy, a key part of efforts to limit dangerous climate change, is slowing down due to policy changes in the United States and China and will fall short of a key goal, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday. Only two years ago the global community set the goal of tripling renewable energy output by 2030 to limit the ...

OpenAI Unveils ChatGPT App Integration Feature

This is Beirut, 07/10 09:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Europe OpenAI ChatGPT Canva

OpenAI on Monday unveiled a new feature for ChatGPT, the leading generative AI model with 800 million weekly users, enabling it to interact with everyday apps like Spotify and Booking.com. Chief Executive Sam Altman announced the new tool to a crowd of enthusiastic developers gathered in San Francisco for the company's annual "Developer ...

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