Negotiation: The Art of Compromise
Sana Richa Choucair 12/10 15:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Donald Trump Hamas Israel Middle East Compromise Conflict
This week, negotiation took center stage. After nearly two years of war in Gaza, Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages — a breakthrough brokered in Egypt with the support of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. The deal marks the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace ...
Qaraoun Lake: Lebanon’s Silent Ecological Disaster
Liliane Mokbel 11/10 14:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Every year, an estimated 50 million cubic meters of domestic wastewater are discharged into Lake Qaraoun. Added to this are 2 million cubic meters of industrial wastewater, as well as waste from Syrian migrant camps established by the state along the riverbanks. This toxic mix is putting one of Lebanon’s largest freshwater reservoirs at serious ...
Russia-Europe: The Gas Shock Shaking the Global Balance
Rayan Chami 09/10 19:30 - Reading : less than a minute
Russia Ukraine UE Gas Russian gas Sanctions
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has disrupted the global energy balance. Europe, seeking independence from Moscow, is diversifying its energy sources – but at a high economic cost. Under sanctions, Russia is redirecting its exports to Asia, a less lucrative market. However, this growing closeness between Moscow and Beijing marks ...
Iran: The Fall of the Mullahs?
Elie Ziadé 08/10 18:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
This is the central theme of this 20-minute visual investigation produced by Ici Beyrouth and This Is Beirut. The film combines archival footage, expert analysis and excerpts from speeches to explore the rise, power and fragility of a regime built on faith, weapons and fear. Three Voices to Understand Iran The documentary features three ...
Teacher: A Profession That Shapes Lives
Sana Richa Choucair 05/10 15:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Unesco World Teachers’ Day AI Schools University
Who among us does not remember that one teacher who left a lasting mark, whether at school or university? Did you know that the word teacher goes back to Old English tæcan, meaning “to show, point out, mark”? This Sunday, October 5, we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, established by UNESCO. It is an occasion to reflect on a word tied to an ...
Lebanon Rushes for Aluminium as Imports Surge
Liliane Mokbel 04/10 14:00 - Reading : less than a minute
In the first half of 2025, aluminium imports rose by 70% compared with the average for the same period over the past four years. This increase reflects strong demand driven by reconstruction efforts. The price per tonne currently stands at around $4,234, slightly below the recent average of $4,700. However, it remains high compared to the peaks ...
Information: A Fundamental Right in the Digital Age
Sana Richa Choucair 28/09 15:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
On September 28, 2025, the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) celebrates its tenth anniversary, proclaimed by UNESCO. This year, UNESCO and the Philippine government are hosting a global conference in Manila on September 29–30, under the theme “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age.” The ...
Lebanese Hospitality Reaches New Heights
Liliane Mokbel 27/09 15:00 - Reading : less than a minute
A fresh wind is blowing through Lebanon’s tourism scene, and it’s coming from the mountains: guesthouses are on the rise. Once limited to around 40 discreet spots, there are now more than 300 open to visitors – true hidden gems nestled in the heart of villages. More than just places to stay, each guesthouse reflects the soul of its region: ...
One Year After Nasrallah: The End of Hezbollah?
Abd Farchoukh 26/09 20:50 - Reading : less than a minute
Internal divisions, regional isolation, military pressure. Is the movement approaching a turning point? Watch the teaser video before the full series goes online.
Nasrallah Assassination: New Revelations Unveiled
Rayan Chami 23/09 11:20 - Reading : less than a minute
Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah Israel Mossad Assassination
Days before the commemoration of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s assassination, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth revealed new details about the operation. According to the report, agents on the ground, along with devices placed above his bunker, played a decisive role in the success of the strike. Here’s what we know.
Workation: Between Laptop and Beach Umbrella
Sana Richa Choucair 21/09 15:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Half-holiday, half-office, workation embodies the new era of remote flexibility. It shows how digital nomadism and post-pandemic lifestyles are reshaping professional culture. Behind its playful sound lies a serious question: how do we balance productivity, freedom and the right to disconnect? A Linguistic Marker of Our Times Born from the ...
Public Sector Shake-Up: 10,000 Jobs Under Review
Liliane Mokbel 20/09 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
A total of 2,600 job titles are set to be eliminated from the public administration, as proposed by Nisrine Machmouchi, President of the Civil Service Council. These roles, considered obsolete, are the result of years of what she describes as “anarchic recruitment” and “unusual” job titles, often lacking clear job descriptions. To ...
Shrekking: When Modern Dating Gets Ugly
Sana Richa Choucair 14/09 15:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
What happens when fairytales meet the brutal realities of modern dating? Welcome to the world of shrekking, the latest Gen Z dating term making waves on TikTok and Instagram. On the surface, it sounds fanciful, even harmless. After all, who doesn’t love Shrek, the green ogre with a heart of gold? But in dating slang, shrekking has little to do ...
Back to School in Lebanon Is No Celebration, It’s a Struggle !
Liliane Mokbel 13/09 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
In Lebanon, the back-to-school season is no longer about fresh notebooks and new backpacks. Instead, it unfolds in the shadow of economic hardship and painful trade-offs. Families, overwhelmed by the ongoing financial crisis, are slashing their spending on school supplies, even as private schools continue to require new textbooks every year, often ...
Motherhood in the 21st Century
Bélinda Ibrahim 10/09 11:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Eight chapters explore what motherhood reveals about our times – from the invisible experience of pregnancy denial to the choice of late motherhood, navigating medicine, the unconscious, social taboos and the intimate voices of clear-eyed mothers. Discover the full series starting today on our website.
Cancel Culture: A Word on Trial
Sana Richa Choucair 07/09 15:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The debate is still alive in 2025: Is cancel culture a tool of justice or a weapon of excess? The term resurfaces regularly, from university debates to international headlines, because it captures one of the defining tensions of our digital era: the balance between accountability and freedom of expression. And with social media platforms now ...
Airbnb in Lebanon: The Platform Disrupting Traditional Hospitality
Liliane Mokbel 06/09 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Airbnb, the California-born success story, has dramatically reshaped the landscape of tourist accommodation worldwide, and Lebanon is no exception. The platform has seen remarkable growth across the country. The steadily increasing number of nightly listings reflects the scale of the phenomenon and is fueling growing concern within the hotel ...
Algorithm: From Ancient Math to AI
Sana Richa Choucair 31/08 15:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
From Babylonian clay tablets to TikTok feeds and ChatGPT, algorithms have shaped human thought for millennia. Born from a Persian mathematician’s name, the word traveled through languages, sciences and machines, becoming one of the most powerful concepts of our digital age. Rooted in Ancient Persia The English word algorithm has a surprisingly ...
Lebanon Says ‘I Don’t’: Weddings Plunge to Historic Low in 2025
Liliane Mokbel 30/08 16:00 - Reading : less than a minute
The 2025 wedding season in Lebanon has seen an unprecedented decline, confirming the continued downturn of a sector already weakened in recent years. According to industry professionals, the number of weddings has dropped to just 35% of pre-2019 levels, compared to 50% in 2023 and 40% in 2024. A total decrease of 65% since the beginning of the ...
Sanction: A Word with Two Faces
Sana Richa Choucair 24/08 15:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the word sanctions dominated headlines for months. Western governments imposed sweeping economic sanctions targeting banks, state companies, oligarchs and energy sectors – efforts meant to isolate Moscow diplomatically and financially. In parallel, targeted sanctions have also become common ...
Brain Rot: The Word That Defines Our Digital Decay
Sana Richa Choucair 17/08 15:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Have you ever tried to swipe a printed page like it’s a touchscreen? Then you may have had your first brain rot moment. The phrase exploded across social media in 2023 and 2024, describing what happens when online habits spill into everyday life. Whether it’s quoting TikTok slang in real conversations, interpreting real-world images like ...
Tourism: A Core Driver of Lebanon’s Economy
Liliane Mokbel 16/08 15:00 - Reading : less than a minute
In 2024, the travel and tourism sector contributed 19.8% of Lebanon’s GDP, more than double its share in 2023 (8.4%), according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). This marks a significant rebound from 2019, when the sector represented 18.9% of GDP, before Lebanon faced a series of overlapping crises. In terms of revenue, the sector ...
Tehran’s Unease About the Zanguezur Corridor
Mario Chartouni 12/08 18:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Tehran Banks Europe European Union Gulf
The peace agreement signed on August 8 between Armenia and Azerbaijan could mark a turning point for the South Caucasus. However, for Tehran, one of its most significant elements – the creation of the Zanguezur Corridor, linking Azerbaijan directly to its Nakhchivan exclave through southern Armenia – poses a serious strategic ...
Netanyahu’s Gaza Strategy: Ambiguity, Internal Divisions and Looming Chaos
Élie-Joe Kamel 12/08 18:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Benjamin Netanyahu Palestine Hamas Israel United Nations
As the war in Gaza enters its 22nd month, political and on the ground uncertainties continue to grow. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statements highlight this growing strategic confusion. He says he wants to “take control of Gaza,” while specifying that Israel has “no intention of governing” the territory. This ...
Tariff: A Price on Everything?
Sana Richa Choucair 10/08 15:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Donald Trump United Kingdom White House
Since his return to the White House in January 2025, Donald Trump has revived the rhetoric of trade wars, invoking the word “tariff” at every turn. Whether announcing new import taxes on European goods or boasting of protecting American jobs, he treats tariffs not just as economic levers but as symbols of strength. Yet beneath this hardline ...
From Boom to Bust: Lebanon’s Solar Market Collapses
Liliane Mokbel 09/08 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
In just a few months, the sun has set on Lebanon’s booming solar panel market. According to customs data, imports dropped by 72% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. The total value fell to $21 million, down from $75 million in 2024, with volumes shrinking from 34,000 tons to 11,000 tons. The contrast is even ...
Micro-influencer: Trust Over Fame
Sana Richa Choucair 03/08 15:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, a new type of influencer has emerged: not the celebrity with millions of followers, but the relatable figure with a smaller, more engaged audience: the “micro-influencer.” The rise of this term says a lot about how influence is being redefined in the digital age. What Does “Micro-influencer” ...
Beirut Port Scans 60 Containers per Hour with AI-Powered Technology
Liliane Mokbel 02/08 15:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Banks Beirut Port European Union
The Ministry of Finance is accelerating its efforts to modernize Lebanon’s customs operations. With a clear goal of enhancing public revenue collection, a large-scale digital transformation is underway, impacting both the Directorate of Revenues and the Customs Directorate. Key initiatives include the gradual rollout of electronic payment ...
'Crisis:' A Word for Everything?
Sana Richa Choucair 27/07 15:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Debt crisis, economic crisis, crisis of confidence in currencies: these expressions now dominate official discourse. Crises seem to multiply endlessly, from climate to democracy, from housing to public health. “Crisis” has become the keyword of our times. But what are we really saying? If everything is a crisis, does anything truly stand ...
Qaraoun Water Crisis Triggers Hydropower Collapse in Lebanon
Liliane Mokbel 26/07 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
What began as an environmental emergency is now fueling a national energy crisis. The severe drop in water levels at Lake Qaraoun is crippling Lebanon’s hydroelectric output and threatening power security across the country. In June 2025, hydroelectric production decreased by 76 percent compared to the same month in the previous year. Only 12 ...