Culture

Denis Villeneuve to Direct Bold New James Bond Film

This is Beirut 26/06 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Cinema Film James Bond Denis Villeneuve Culture Art

Fresh from his success with the Dune saga, Denis Villeneuve has been tapped to direct the next movie in the storied James Bond franchise, Amazon MGM Studios announced Wednesday. The online retail giant has chosen a filmmaker very much in vogue in Hollywood as he makes his first foray into the world of the now-iconic British agent 007, first ...

Q&AMatcha: The Japanese Tea Taking Over the World

This is Beirut 26/06 09:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Japan Food Drink Lifestyle

Matcha is the new drink of choice at hip cafes worldwide, but Japanese producers are struggling to keep up with soaring demand for the powdered green tea. Here's what you need to know about the drink beloved of weekend treat-seekers and "wellness" influencers: What is matcha? The word matcha means "ground tea" in Japanese and comes in the ...

ExplainerIsrael and Iran: A Conflict Fueled by Desire

David Sahyoun 25/06 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Israel War Iran Psychoanalysis Desire

“The master’s discourse is one that refuses to acknowledge its unconscious.” – Jacques Lacan The war we are witnessing today is fought as much through scorched landscapes as through language. What is unfolding between Iran and Israel is not simply a military or geopolitical confrontation – it is a war of discourse. Each side constructs ...

Farewell to Léa Massari, Iconic Actress of French and Italian Cinema

This is Beirut 25/06 17:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Cinema Actress Léa Massari Obituary Italy Culture

The Italian actress, Léa Massari, celebrated for her roles in L’Avventura and Le souffle au cœur, passed away in Rome, Italian officials confirmed on Wednesday. Lucia Borgonzoni, Italy’s Secretary of State for Culture, paid tribute to “an actress of irresistible magnetism and dazzling talent.” According to the Roman daily Il Messaggero, ...

Byblos International Festival 2025 Returns to Celebrate Cultural Resilience

This is Beirut 25/06 13:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Byblos Culture Jbeil

The historic port city of Byblos, Lebanon, will once again host its famed international music festival amid a picturesque seaside setting. The Byblos International Festival is making a long-awaited comeback after a multi-year hiatus triggered by the country’s recent crises. Scheduled for August 5–10, 2025 in the ancient coastal city of Byblos, ...

Saint Laurent, Vuitton Light Up Paris Men's Fashion Week

This is Beirut 25/06 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Fashion Culture Paris Paris Fashion Week France Art

Saint Laurent and Vuitton opened Paris Men's Fashion Week on Tuesday with collections tinged with retro influences, as the industry reels from the revolving door of creative directors and a diminished appetite for luxury goods. Saint Laurent Returns with Playful Retro Style Saint Laurent kicked things off with a playful spring-summer 2026 ...

ExplainerGold, Thrones, Diamonds: The Imperial Treasure Iran Keeps Hidden

Bélinda Ibrahim 24/06 17:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran Treasure Jewels Shah Pahlavi

It’s a treasure few have seen, yet one that specialists regard with awe. Behind armored doors, deep within the basement of Tehran’s Central Bank, lies what some historians consider the world’s most valuable collection of jewels—surpassing even those of the British monarchy. Amassed over more than 500 years of imperial history and expanded ...

The Palace of Versailles Brings Statues to Life With AI Conversations

This is Beirut 24/06 13:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Heritage Palace of Versaille AI Statues France Culture

At the Palace of Versailles, visitors now converse with statues instead of listening to traditional audio guides, thanks to an innovation made possible by two artificial intelligence (AI) partners. The château unveiled the project to the press on Monday evening: a joint effort between American AI systems developer OpenAI and French start-up Ask ...

David Lynch Lithographs on Display All Summer in France

This is Beirut 24/06 10:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Cinema Lithographs David Lynch Exhibition France Culture

Forty-nine lithographs and three experimental short films by David Lynch are on view until September 21 at the Duchamp Gallery in Yvetot, Seine-Maritime. Displayed across two floors in a dreamlike atmosphere characteristic of the American filmmaker’s work, who passed away in January, “they reveal the spirit of David Lynch, a somewhat dark ...

Italian Sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro Dies Aged Nearly 99

This is Beirut 23/06 16:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Sculpture Arnaldo Pomodoro Death Arts Italy Culture

Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, renowned for his huge bronze spheres, died at the weekend, a day before his 99th birthday, his foundation said on Monday. Born in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna on June 23, 1926, Pomodoro began investigating solid geometric forms in the early 1960s. He created monumental spheres, cones, columns and ...

Jonathan Anderson Set for Dior Debut at Paris Fashion Week

This is Beirut 23/06 15:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Fashion Week Luxury Men's Fashion Week Dior Fashion Paris Culture

Men's Fashion Week returns to Paris on Tuesday with heightened anticipation as Jonathan Anderson shows his first creations for Dior and Saint Laurent rejoins the official calendar. Following a flurry of artistic director changes, the spring-summer 2026 menswear season reflects the industry's instability: Milan scaled back its program and London ...

Art Market Banking on New Generation of Collectors

This is Beirut 23/06 12:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Art Basel 2025 Switzerland Market Luxury Art Culture

The global art market is not immune to current economic and geopolitical tensions and is counting on a new generation of collectors to revitalize the momentum. Some big transactions were concluded last week during Art Basel, the world's top contemporary art fair, notably by London's Annely Juda Fine Art gallery, which sold a David Hockney ...