CHIYAH, Lebanon (AP) — Ayman al-Zain watched on a recent afternoon as a bulldozer cleared the rubble of what used to be his sports clothing store, which was one of dozens of buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes against the Hezbollah militant group.

With a nominal truce in place that has reduced but not halted the fighting, Al-Zain tried to assess whether to rebuild the shop in Beirut’s southern suburbs that he once hoped to pass down to his kids. But it’s unlikely he will be able to do so anytime soon, and not only because of the fear of more airstrikes.

“Everything is expensive,” he told The Associated Press. “If I want to open a new store and get mannequins, hangers and some accessories, the prices are very different than before.”

The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have sent economic shock waves across the Mideast. In Lebanon, those woes have been compounded by the country’s existing economic problems and by largely unregulated markets that are vulnerable to price gouging.

“This continues to be a major economic shock, one of honestly an existential nature,” said Economy Minister Amer Bisat, who is part of the Lebanese Cabinet that came into office over a year ago on a reformist agenda.

Problems have piled up for years

Since 2019, the tiny Mediterranean country has been in the throes of an economic crisis that pulverized the value of its local currency and its banking system.

That’s when Lebanese banks collapsed, which evaporated depositors’ savings and plunged about half of the population of 6.5 million into poverty, after decades of rampant corruption, waste and mismanagement. The country suffered some $70 billion in losses in its financial sector, further compounded by about $11 billion in the 2024 war between Israel and Hezbollah, according to the World Bank. The Lebanese pound has since lost over 90% of its value against the U.S. dollar.

The cash-strapped state electricity company provides only a few hours of power a day, and most Lebanese rely on diesel generators to make up the difference. That makes the economy particularly vulnerable to fuel price increases.

Lebanon was already “grappling with multiple rounds of crises,” said Mohamad Faour, professor of finance at the American University of Beirut. “So this round of war only made an already fragile situation more fragile.”

With this new war, 1.2 million Lebanese have been displaced, largely from southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs. Many are sheltering in schools with no work or draining whatever money they have renting out apartments or hotel rooms.

Economy suffers job losses and crippling inflation

In an interview with the AP from his office, Bisat estimated that the country faces an economic loss of around 7% of its gross domestic product due to the war because “companies are closing, people are losing their jobs, tourists are not showing up.”

Evidence of inflation abounds.

In the usually bustling produce market in Sabra, south of Beirut, vendor Ahmad al-Farra looked dejected as an elderly woman shopping for watermelon, tomatoes and potatoes walked away without buying anything after checking the price tags.

Prices have spiked since the U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28, followed quickly by a resurgence of war between Israel and Hezbollah.

“We’re keeping our prices low so we can sell, and even then we’re not selling,” al-Farra said as the sound of an Israeli drone whizzed overhead.

Even consumers who can afford to spend are anxious and cutting back on nonessential purchases, leaving many businesses empty.

Riad Aboulteif, who runs several restaurants and bars in the capital, said his revenue has dropped by some 90% since the war began, as Lebanon’s shrinking middle class cuts costs.

People are saving more money for their survival and not making plans to celebrate birthdays or other special occasions, he said at one of his bars in the bustling Hamra district of Beirut, where the loud chatter of customers once overpowered the jazz music coming through the sound system.

That night, only a few tables were occupied. He’s had to downsize his staff and restructure his menus to offer more affordable items.

War fuels price gouging

Meanwhile, the country’s bankrupt government has struggled to crack down on unfair and illicit profiteering and the hoarding of fuel and other essential items.

Many agricultural areas in southern and eastern Lebanon are no longer accessible because of airstrikes and clashes, but al-Faraa believes suppliers have raised prices beyond what is necessary to cover cost increases.

Some of the starkest increases have been in generator bills.

Families and businesses for years have paid multiple utility bills to cover privately supplied electricity and water in the absence of government services. Neighborhood generator owners charge a monthly fee, and some landlords have their own generators and charge the cost to tenants.

Frustrated business owners have said that generator bills have doubled at times, forcing them to shorten their hours of operation or even close on some days to cut costs.

“If we didn’t take these measures, we cannot continue,” Aboulteif said.

Bisat said his ministry has conducted over 4,000 inspections of private generators, gas stations and shops across the country since the start of the war in March and lodged dozens of complaints to the courts. But the issue will not be quickly resolved.

In the meantime, the government has little ability to crack down on the handful of companies that import and distribute fuel and other goods.

No sign of relief on the horizon

With no end to the war in sight, the economic situation shows no sign of easing.

A tenuous ceasefire is in place between the U.S. and Iran, but talks between Washington and Tehran are gridlocked. A nominal truce between Israel and Hezbollah has reduced but not stopped the fighting in Lebanon.

For now, Lebanese families and business owners are confronting the challenges day by day and hoping for the best.

“Only God knows how we’ve been trying to manage ourselves,” al-Farra said.

David Tennant has opened up about working with “difficult” actors, admitting he “takes it personally” when a bad atmosphere is created on set, as Rivals returns to Disney+

The Rivals star David Tennant has confessed he “takes it personally” when discussing “difficult” actors. The former Doctor Who star acknowledges that many in his industry are perceived as “self-involved” and “narcissistic”.

However, David maintains that the majority of actors he’s worked with during his career have been “great”. The 55-year-old goes as far as saying he genuinely enjoys spending time with his fellow performers.

That said, he has come across some “difficult” characters along the way. He shared this insight during an appearance on the Inside of You podcast with Michael Rosenbaum.

When questioned whether he’s worked with anyone he “can’t stand”, David responded: “I’m sure I have, I’m sure you have too.

“Most actors are great, I’d say, and I think it’s always worth saying that because we do have that reputation as a profession, of being self-involved, narcissistic, and awful.”

“But 95 percent of people might have a smattering of that but actually, they’re interesting people, they’re fun people, they’re creative people. I enjoy being with actors. I enjoy hanging out with actors.”

David does concede there are certain individuals he finds challenging to collaborate with. He describes these as people who “get going” by creating a “bad atmosphere”.

He added: “But every now and again…the trouble is the industry indulges it because if somebody is worth something to a production, they are cosseted and protected and that breeds a behaviour. That can be difficult to navigate.

“I’m not very good with a bad atmosphere and I take it very personally and find it hard to operate. For some people it’s like their engine, isn’t it? They come on, they p**s everyone off, and that gives them a little bit of catnip. That gets them going.

“For me it’s the absolute opposite. If I feel I’m being accommodated, I want to flay my own skin off, so I find it very difficult to be around that kind of personality, that kind of energy.”

Rivals, adapted from Dame Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles novel series, makes its comeback on Disney+ today (May 15). The opening three episodes drop at 7am.

New instalments will follow on a weekly schedule, with a further batch of episodes due later this year.

David reprises his role as Lord Tony Baddingham, the merciless managing director of Corinium Television. He’ll share the screen with Emily Atack, Aidan Turner and Alex Hassall.

The official synopsis for Rivals states: “In the second season, the battle for the Central South West television franchise reaches fever pitch as the war between Corinium and Venturer enters a dangerous new phase.

“More ruthless than ever, Tony Baddingham is determined to dismantle his rivals piece-by-piece, weaponising scandal and manipulating those closest to him to maintain his grip on power.”

Five Italian tourists were exploring caves in the Maldives at a depth of 50 meters

Advertisement

Five tourists, including a mum and her daughter, have died during an underwater diving trip in the Maldives.

The holidaymakers were exploring Vaavu Atoll 160ft underwater on Thursday, May 15, when tragedy struck. Police have since launched a probe into the incident. The cause of their deaths is unknown at this stage.

The five deceased divers have been identified as university professor Monica Montefalcone and her 20-year-old daughter Giorgia Sommacal, Muriel Oddenino of Turin, Gianluca Benedetti of Padua and Federico Gualtieri of Borgomanero, according to reports. All five of the victims are Italian.

Italy’s foreign ministry said: “Following an accident during a scuba dive, five Italians died in the Vaavu atoll, in the Maldives.”

It added that the five people died “while attempting to explore caves at a depth of 50 meters”.

Advertisement

Local authorities rushed to the scene after being alerted to group’s disappearance at about 1.45pm local time. An urgent search operation was launched before their bodies were found.

It is understood that the divers boarded the foreign-operated live-aboard diving vessel, the Duke of York yacht, before disappearing near Alimatha, one of the Atoll’s most popular diving spots.

The area faced strong winds of up to 30mph and a yellow warning had been issued earlier in the day.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, said they have been contacting the victims’ families.

Local Italian media has citied diving experts that the sudden deaths could have been caused by oxygen toxicity. This can cause tissue damage and affect the central nervous system. It is caused by breathing oxygen at high pressure for an extended period.

The company operating the Duke of York yacht provides nitrox, according to its website, a breathing mixture for scuba divers made from nitrogen and oxygen.

Kylian Mbappe was greeted with a chorus of boos and whistles from Real Madrid‘s own fans as he returned from a hamstring injury during his side’s 2-0 La Liga win over Real Oviedo.

The French forward missed Sunday’s 2-0 El Clasico defeat by Barcelona ⁠that saw their bitter ​rivals ⁠wrap up the league title with three games to spare, and his ⁠introduction in the 69th minute as a ​substitute ⁠for goal-scorer Gonzalo Garcia ‌prompted widespread jeers from the Madrid fans.

Gonzalo had given the home side the lead in the 44th minute with a well-taken goal after bottom side Oviedo, whose are already relegated to the second tier, coughed the ball up cheaply on their right flank.

Mbappe, who earlier on Thursday was named in the France squad for next month’s World Cup, seemed undeterred by the boos, firing off a number of shots towards ‌goal during his cameo appearance.

However, it ​was fellow substitute Jude Bellingham who ‌netted Madrid’s second in ⁠the 80th minute to leave Madrid ⁠second in the table on 80 points, 11 behind ‌Barcelona and ​11 ahead of ‌third-placed Villarreal with two ​games left to play.

After the game, Mbappe suggested that his injury had not been the whole reason for his absence from the side, with Alvaro Arbeloa instead preferring other options up front.

“I’m 100% fine,” he said. “I haven’t played because for the ⁠coach I’ve been the fourth striker in the squad behind (Franco) ​Mastantuono, ⁠Vini[cius Jr] and Gonzalo.

“I was ready to start, it’s his decision and it always has to be respected. I have no problem at all ‌with Arbeloa. You have to accept the ‌coach’s philosophy and I have to do better to play ahead of Vini, Gonzalo and Mastantuono.”

Reuters

The Sunday Times Rich List has been published, with the top 10 sports people in the UK revealed

F1 business mogul Bernie Ecclestone is the richest sports person in Britain with an astonishing fortune of £2bn, the new Sunday Times Rich List has revealed.

Ecclestone, who transformed motorsport in the 1980s tops the list by some distance, but is joined in having billionaire status by David Beckham this year.

Boxing and snooker promoters Barry and Eddie Hearn are third on the list with a joint fortune of just over a billion. Other big names on the list include Lewis Hamilton (£435m), Rory McIlroy (£325m) and Anthony Joshua (£240m).

England football captain Harry Kane makes the top 10 in 2026, alongside Andy Murray, with both men’s worth said to be £110m.

Others on the list are Castore sportswear founders Tom and Phil Beahon (£350m) and Gymshark founder Ben Francis (£800m).

The top 10 sports people on the Sunday Times Rich List

1. Bernie Ecclestone and family £2bn
2. Sir David and Victoria Beckham £1.185bn
3. Barry and Eddie Hearn £1.035bn
4. Ben Francis £800m
5. Sir Lewis Hamilton £435m
6. Tom and Phil Beahon £350m
7. Rory McIlroy £325m
8. Anthony Joshua £240m
9. Tyson Fury £162m
10. Harry Kane £110m / Sir Andy Murray £110m

4. Michael Owen – Liverpool v Arsenal 2001

A young Michael Owen was electrifying. By the 2001 FA Cup final some of his early hamstring problems had already begun, but this was a 21-year-old on his way to winning the Ballon d’Or.

Even then, the diminutive forward looked like a schoolkid thrust into an adult’s game and forced to wear a shirt several sizes too big.

Liverpool trailed Arsenal 1-0 in the Cardiff sunshine when Owen levelled with a smartly taken half-volley in the 83rd minute. His winner five minutes later, though, was straight out of the Chester-born striker’s playbook.

With Liverpool under pressure, Patrik Berger looped a clearance into the channel. Owen gave Lee Dixon a head start but scorched across the turf to get there before him.

His first touch took the ball away from the covering Tony Adams, his second fired a left-footed shot a fraction inside David Seaman’s far post.

“If I could have one day back, I would rewind to that day,” Owen later said.