Averting to take position on the move of the Lebanese Forces’ President nominating his historic opponent, the leader of “Change and Reform”, could be labeled as the political feature theme in the Lebanese scene, yesterday; where every team took some “wiggle room” to take position on the presidential post nomination of the Republic that has been vacant since May 2014. By the time it is said that the French ambassador in Beirut is working on resolving the situation between the Lebanese political leaders.

Conversely, it seemed crystal clear that the Aoun-Geagea consensus is inadequate to resolve the presidential issue, with both sides being incapable of persuading their allies of this agreement that has for fact stunned many, for what both Christian leaders’ past partook in conflicts and bloodsheds.

For instance, Geagea failed in convincing his ally the “Future Movement” aka Tayar Al-Mustakbal, in adopting Aoun’s candidacy nomination, where the team persisted on nominating Aoun’s ally, MP Suleiman Franjieh for the post; and Aoun did not succeed in persuading the Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in voting for him, as the latter seemed to clutch tightly to the nomination of Franjieh.

Averting to take position on the move of the Lebanese Forces’ President nominating his historic opponent, the leader of “Change and Reform”, could be labeled as the political feature theme in the Lebanese scene, yesterday; where every team took some “wiggle room” to take position on the presidential post nomination of the Republic that has been vacant since May 2014. By the time it is said that the French ambassador in Beirut is working on resolving the situation between the Lebanese political leaders.

Conversely, it seemed crystal clear that the Aoun-Geagea consensus is inadequate to resolve the presidential issue, with both sides being incapable of persuading their allies of this agreement that has for fact stunned many, for what both Christian leaders’ past partook in conflicts and bloodsheds.

For instance, Geagea failed in convincing his ally the “Future Movement” aka Tayar Al-Mustakbal, in adopting Aoun’s candidacy nomination, where the team persisted on nominating Aoun’s ally, MP Suleiman Franjieh for the post; and Aoun did not succeed in persuading the Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in voting for him, as the latter seemed to clutch tightly to the nomination of Franjieh.

Elena Holodny

While the world has had its eyes glued on Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS or IS, has been creeping into another chaotic state: Libya.

And analysts think this will be a major stress point for Europe going forward.

"One of the most concrete geopolitical risks for Europe in the near future will be the complete or partial takeover of Libya by the militias of the so-called Islamic State," Citi Research's Tina Fordham wrote.

"While the world's attention was absorbed by the war in Syria, IS systematically increased its presence there in 2015," she added. "Their goal is to establish another resources-rich stronghold in the Arab world, thereby creating another stepping-stone towards the erection of a 'new Caliphate.'"