Smiling Viking Figurine Discovered After Centuries in Denmark

This is Beirut 2025-08-27 16:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Museum Danemark Culture Art Archeology Heritage

Denmark's National Museum unveiled Wednesday what it described as the first "portrait" of a Viking: a miniature 10th-century figurine depicting a man with an imperial moustache, braided beard and neatly groomed hairstyle. Carved out of ivory walrus tusk, the partially damaged representation of a head and torso measures just three centimeters (1.2 ...

Counterfeit Gold: Arrests and a Practical Guide for Cautious Buyers

Liliane Mokbel 2025-08-27 18:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Gold Counterfeirt gold

On August 20 in Jounieh, a sweep by the Internal Security Forces led to the arrest of several members of a network selling counterfeit gold. While the operation highlights the need for vigilance, political, security and economic uncertainty continues to push Lebanese citizens toward the precious metal. But how can one tell a fake ounce from a ...

US Treasury Department Mulls Minting $1 Coin with Trump's Image

This is Beirut 2025-10-03 22:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

US Treasury Donald Trump United States Independence Money

The US Treasury Department is considering making a one-dollar coin that features President Donald Trump in order to commemorate the country's 250th independence anniversary, officials said Friday. In a social media post retweeted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Treasurer Brandon Beach shared early drafts of the coin. Beach posted "first ...

France to Charge Louvre Heist Suspects with Theft and Conspiracy

This is Beirut 2025-10-29 20:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

France Paris Louvre

Two men arrested over the jewel heist at France's Louvre museum this month will be charged with theft and criminal conspiracy, the Paris prosecutor said Wednesday. Dozens of detectives have been on the trail of four thieves who used a cherry-picker truck and cutting gear to break into a first-floor gallery at the world-renowned museum, then fled ...

The Sound of Heritage: Noel Anderson and Ireland’s Last Handmade Harps

This is Beirut 2025-10-30 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Music Harp Tradition Ireland Culture

"It's never too late to start a new hobby," says 89-year-old Irish harp maker Noel Anderson, one of only a few making the intricate instrument, a national symbol of Ireland. A retired wood and metalwork teacher, Anderson only took up the niche craft seven years ago, making his first harp at age 82. "It doesn't matter what age I am, really; I ...

Al-Qard al-Hassan’s Gold: Hezbollah’s New Financial Scheme

Natasha Metni Torbey 2025-12-10 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hezbollah Israel Lebanon Al Qard Al Hassan Hezbollah financing

After introducing ATMs, easy-access loans, and clandestine counters scattered throughout the alleys of Beirut’s southern suburbs, al-Qard al-Hassan (AQAH), Hezbollah’s financial arm, has taken its operations a step further: direct gold trading. Gold bars, coins, and jewelry are reportedly now being offered to the Shiite community, turning gold ...

+114% in 2025: Silver Breaks Free and Takes Center Stage

Liliane Mokbel 2025-12-20 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Silver has delivered a historic performance in 2025. Since the beginning of the year, the white metal has surged by more than 114 percent, reaching an all-time high of 64 dollars per ounce. For the first time in years, silver is no longer following gold’s lead. Its rise has clearly outpaced gold, whose price has increased by around 60 percent, ...

Luc Besson’s Dracula: A Timeless Tale of Love

Marie-Christine Tayah 2025-08-07 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Dracula Movie Cinema Art Culture Luc Besson

Luc Besson’s latest film, Dracula, is generating buzz among audiences and critics alike. Inspired by Bram Stoker’s classic novel, the French director elevates the literary and historical roots of the story into a sweeping, gothic cinematic ode to love. With Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz, and Zoë Bleu in the leading roles, this ...