LONDON: Stripped of his cycling medals over a doping scandal, disgraced US icon Lance Armstrong will suffer a fresh humiliation this weekend at the hands of an English town which will burn him in effigy.
The 30-foot (nine-meter) steel-framed figure, dressed in a Tour de France leader’s yellow jersey, will be torched on Saturday during the annual Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night celebrations in Edenbridge in Kent, southeast England.
The effigy has been stuffed with oil-soaked newspapers and fireworks and holds a sign reading: “For Sale — Racing Bike. No longer required.”
Armstrong was stripped of his record seven Tour de France wins after a damning US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) report concluded that he was at the heart of the most sophisticated doping program in the history of sport.
The Armstrong effigy also sports a badge around its neck saying “Jim Fixed It For Me,” a reference to the late British television presenter Jimmy Savile, who has been accused of widespread child sex abuse.
Edenbridge Bonfire Society said Savile had been another potential candidate to be burned in effigy this year, along with British finance minister George Osborne.
“We had a shortlist which included Jimmy Savile but it was decided it would not be nice to use him, as a lot of children attend the bonfire and they might start asking their parents questions,” said society co-ordinator Charles Laver.
Osborne was viewed as “a bit boring,” so Armstrong won out, Laver said, adding: “He’s better because he’s brighter. We’re very pleased with it.” Revellers across Britain celebrate with bonfires and fireworks on or around Nov. 5 to mark a failed 1605 plot to blow up Parliament and kill king James I.
Traditionally they burn an effigy, which for centuries represented Catholic rebel Guy Fawkes, the leader of the so-called Gunpowder Plot.
Other celebrities who have previously made it onto Edenbridge’s bonfire are footballers Mario Balotelli and Wayne Rooney, former French President Jacques Chirac and ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair plus Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Armstrong effigy to go up in flames on English bonfire
Armstrong effigy to go up in flames on English bonfire
World of Coffee trade show capitalizes on Gulf’s strong coffee culture
DUBAI: Long regarded as the birthplace of coffee brewing, the Middle East is entering a new phase of cafe culture — and the fifth edition of World of Coffee, which takes place in Dubai from Jan. 18-20, will help drive that momentum.
Saudi Arabia alone is home to more than 5,100 branded cafes, with daily coffee consumption exceeding 36 million cups. Coffee is part of the social and cultural fabric, from traditional majlis gatherings to contemporary specialty cafes.
“Saudi Arabia’s coffee sector is evolving rapidly. There is increasing investment in quality, education, and presentation, alongside renewed interest in origin storytelling and cultural context,” said Shouq Bin Redha, exhibition manager for World of Coffee Dubai 2026, where Saudi Arabia will host a national pavilion.
“Saudi coffee has a very distinct identity rooted in heritage, ritual, and hospitality. Its profile is closely tied to traditional preparation methods and regional flavor preferences, which sets it apart on the global stage,” she told Arab News. “The national pavilion reflects this balance between tradition and modernization.”
Organized by DXB LIVE in partnership with the Specialty Coffee Association, World of Coffee Dubai has expanded dramatically, growing from 5,000 sq. meters in 2022 to more than 20,000 sq. meters in 2026. The event brings together producers, traders, roasters, cafe owners and innovators from around the world.
“At its core, the event is about bringing together the full coffee value chain in one place,” Redha said. “We want participants to leave not only having discovered new products or origins, but with stronger partnerships, clearer market insight, and a deeper understanding of how the industry is evolving.”
She added: “The Gulf has become an increasingly attractive market for producers because it combines strong consumer demand with a growing appreciation for quality, origin, and traceability.”
The UAE’s coffee market alone exceeds $3.2 billion, while Dubai continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s most cafe-dense and diverse cities.
“Dubai, in particular, offers a unique gateway to multiple markets at once. For producers, World of Coffee Dubai provides direct access not only to local buyers, but to an international audience that uses the city as a regional and global trading hub,” Redha said.
When it comes to trends in the Gulf’s coffee scene, Redha said she expected to see “continued diversification in sourcing, with buyers exploring a broader range of origins and flavor profiles. There is also growing interest in coffees that offer greater transparency, whether through direct trade relationships, clearer traceability, or stronger sustainability credentials.”
