Beirut: Zero Security?

Concerns over insecurity are mounting in several neighborhoods of the capital, where many residents and shop owners have fallen victim to snatch thefts and gunfire incidents. This is Beirut visited Achrafieh and Badaro to hear their stories.

A Quiet Morning in Gemmayze

The sunlit skies of Monday morning failed to awaken the usual hustle and bustle in Gemmayze. The vibrant café terraces, normally alive, were eerily quiet, and the familiar honking of cars was absent. “Breakfast hours are typically our busiest time,” shared the manager of a trendy café-restaurant with This is Beirut. But the mood had shifted ...

The Italian Film Festival Launches at Metropolis Cinema in Beirut

The inaugural edition of the Italian Film Festival in Lebanon, a collaboration between the Italian Embassy in Lebanon, its Cultural Institute, and Metropolis Art Cinema, has been a success. Together, they attracted a diverse audience of Italian cinema fans, art enthusiasts, and curious cinephiles eager to explore contemporary Italian ...

Six Planets Align Tonight: A Stargazing Spectacle

From Tuesday, January 21 to Saturday, January 25, early in the evening (around 7:50 PM local time), six planets in our solar system will be visible together at the same time in the night sky. These planets will stretch across over half the sky, forming an arc from the northeast to the west in the Northern Hemisphere and from the north in the ...

A Promising Ski Season Despite Modest Snowfall

Since the beginning of January, four out of five ski resorts in Lebanon have already opened, only a few days apart. Weekday prices typically range from $30 to $40, rising to $40 to $65 on weekends, depending on the resort (for details, check the sidebar or the ski station websites), with different rates for children and passes excluded. The slopes ...

Lebanese Predictions for 2025: Uncertainty and Shy Hope

As we wander through the bustling streets of Basta al-Tahta, lined with small shops, it is easy to forget that this neighborhood paid a heavy price before the ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hezbollah on November 27. Yet, the harsh reality quickly reasserts itself. Illegal Weapons: A Persistent Wound That Dims Hope With graying hair and ...

Ashrafieh Residents: Caught Between Hope, Exhaustion, and Disillusionment

At 9:30 AM this Wednesday in Beirut, the sky is gray, but Madeleine’s smile, spotted at Sassine Square in the heart of Ashrafieh, is infectious. Madeleine, in her seventies, was in her car asking for directions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I take the opportunity to ask her about the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which officially ...

Israel’s Military Strategy in Parallel with Peace Talks

One thing is for sure: Tel Aviv remains firmly focused on its goal of securing the return of displaced settlers to their homes in northern Israel. Consequently, ground fighting between the two sides has escalated, with Israel apparently opting for a military approach despite international calls for a diplomatic resolution. The objective is to ...

War and Youth: How Children and Adolescents Cope with Conflict

Many parents interviewed by This is Beirut, especially mothers, say they aren't afraid, or at least they try to hide their fear.   Mothers, Managing Fear, the August 4th Trauma, and Parenting Approaches   "As a mother, I don’t allow myself to be afraid; at least, I push the fear aside," says Caroline, a designer and mother to 14-year-old ...

Misinformation: What Are the Consequences for Spreading Fake News in Lebanon?

In recent days, and particularly in recent hours, Lebanon has been inundated with fake news, misinformation, and deceptive reports as the country remains embroiled in a war that has been ongoing for over a year between Hezbollah and Israel. This misinformation is dangerous for several reasons, primarily because its spread fuels disinformation and ...

All Hands on Deck in Saida to Welcome Displaced Persons from Southern Border Areas

Around 1 p.m. on Monday, traffic was nearly halted on the southern highway and the internal roads leading to Saida and Beirut, as well as towards northern Lebanon, blocked by massive gridlocks. Since the morning, panic has gripped thousands of Lebanese residents living in the border areas of southern Lebanon. Israeli warnings and the ultimatum ...

US Presidential Debate: Harris and Trump Prepare for Face-Off

Just a few hours before the first televised debate between the two US presidential candidates, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump are preparing like champions about to step into the ring. Highly anticipated by Americans, this first presidential debate between the two rivals is organized by ABC ...

Alain Aoun to This Is Beirut: Our Priority Is to Unblock the Stalled Presidential Election

MPs and former members of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) – Alain Aoun, Simon Abi Ramia, Elias Bou Saab and Ibrahim Kanaan – were at the Patriarchate's summer residence in Dimane on Thursday for a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai. Following the meeting, MP Alain Aoun delved into its intricacies in a conversation with This is ...