Mbappe Sends Real Madrid Top as Getafe Self-Destruct

This is Beirut 2025-10-20 13:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Kylian Mbappe Football FC Barcelona Liga

Kylian Mbappe extended his goal-scoring streak to 11 consecutive games to help Real Madrid reclaim top spot in La Liga with a 1-0 victory at nine-man Getafe on Sunday. After rivals Barcelona briefly displaced Los Blancos with a narrow win over Girona on Saturday, Xabi Alonso's side restored their two-point advantage before next weekend's ...

Louvre Closes for Second Day as France Hunts Jewel Thieves

This is Beirut 2025-10-20 13:39 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron France Louvre Heist Jewelry

  The Louvre was closed for a second day Monday as police hunted for thieves who broke in and stole priceless jewels in a spectacular daylight robbery. Officials said a team of 60 investigators was working on the theory that an organised crime group was behind the theft Sunday of nine pieces of jewellery, one of which -- a crown covered in ...

Patriarch Rai Says Pope Leo XIV Brings Peace

This is Beirut 2025-10-15 18:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Pope Vatican Peace Hope Bechara Rai

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai announced that Pope Leo XIV will visit Lebanon at the end of November, describing the upcoming trip as a “visit of peace and hope” for a country weary from decades of unrest. Speaking to Agence France-Presse in Bkerke, Rai stated that “the Pope has taken peace upon himself; his program is ...

Extradition Treaties and the Assad Case

Mario Chartouni 2025-10-15 14:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Syria Russia Ahmad al-Sharaa Vladimir Putin Bachar el-Assad extradition

This Wednesday, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is visiting Moscow to meet Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. According to Reuters, he may request the extradition of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been taking refuge in Russia since fleeing Damascus in December 2024. Behind this politically charged episode lies a longstanding and ...

Donald Trump Plans International Summit on Gaza During Egypt Visit

This is Beirut 2025-10-10 20:15 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Palestine USA Gaza Egypt

According to the US outlet Axios, President Donald Trump is planning to host a summit bringing together several world leaders to discuss the situation in Gaza during his official visit to Egypt next week. The meeting aims to rally broader international support for the Trump administration’s peace plan for Gaza, as key issues, including ...

Hamas Hands Over Surviving Israeli Hostages

This is Beirut 2025-10-13 11:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hamas Donald Trump Middle East Hostage

Hamas handed over the 20 surviving Israeli hostages on Monday under a ceasefire agreement, as US President Donald Trump and other world leaders geared up for a summit on Gaza. In Tel Aviv, a huge crowd which gathered to support hostage families erupted in joy, tears and song as news broke of the first releases, though the pain for the loss of ...

Art World’s ‘Troublemakers’ Join Forces in ‘Joyful’ London Show

This is Beirut 2025-10-11 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Art Exhibition ‘Triple Tour’ London Culture

They come from a world of underground, even subversive, art, but now US activist Shepard Fairey has joined forces with Britain's Damien Hirst and French street artist Invader with a "joyful" exhibition to show even in dark times there is always hope. "We all see ourselves as troublemakers because we have been," Fairey told AFP, ahead of Friday's ...

Monet’s Venetian Masterpieces Shine Bright at Brooklyn Museum

This is Beirut 2025-10-11 16:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Exhibition Monet Brooklyn Painting Culture Art

Claude Monet did not want to travel to Venice in 1908—at the time, he was 68 and working on his famed Water Lilies paintings, and only reluctantly agreed to accompany his wife Alice Hoschede. But his time spent there became one of his most prolific, resulting in 37 paintings, many of which are being put on display at an exhibit opening Saturday ...

Top US Military Commander Visits Gaza, Reaffirms No US Troops to be Deployed There

This is Beirut 2025-10-11 16:42 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Gaza United States CENTCOM Hamas

The head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday he visited Gaza to discuss post-conflict stabilization and insisted no US troops will be deployed to the Palestinian territory. Admiral Brad Cooper wrote on X that he just returned from a trip to Gaza to discuss the creation of a CENTCOM-led "civil-military coordination center" ...

Hamas Says Israeli Hostages To Be Freed From Gaza Before Trump Peace Summit

This is Beirut 2025-10-12 05:25 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hamas Gaza Palestine

Hamas will begin releasing Israeli hostages held in Gaza on Monday morning, a top official from the Palestinian militant group told AFP, before US President Donald Trump chairs an international summit in Egypt on his peace plan for the region. As part of the deal's first phase, Hamas, whose deadly attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023 sparked ...

'Northern Shield:' Deep Beneath the Border, a Hunt for the Tunnels of Death

Natasha Metni Torbey 2025-10-12 12:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah UNIFIL South Lebanon

A siren pierces the cold southern Lebanese night. Peacekeepers cross the Blue Line, weapons and detectors in hand. Beneath their feet, invisible and silent, tunnels snake for hundreds of meters, potential routes for stealth incursions or kidnappings. It’s December 2018. Israel is about to launch Operation “Northern Shield,” a systematic hunt ...

Scotland Take Lead in World Cup Qualifying Group, Dutch Move Closer

This is Beirut 2025-10-12 21:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Football

Scotland moved top of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group with a tense 2-1 win at home to Belarus on Sunday, while the Netherlands closed in on securing their berth at the tournament with a comfortable win over Finland. Steve Clarke's Scotland provisionally lead Group C by three points ahead of Denmark, although the Danes can hit back to take ...

Donald Trump Arrives in Israel as First Group of Hostages Released in Historic Gaza Ceasefire

This is Beirut 2025-10-13 08:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Palestine Ceasefire Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Hamas

U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Israel early Monday morning to bolster support for a landmark peace deal, as the first group of Israeli hostages was released from Gaza under a ceasefire agreement brokered with his direct involvement. The Israeli Army  spokesperson has confirmed that seven Israeli hostages — named Matan Angrest, ...

The Diplomatic Feat and Its Imponderables

Charles Chartouni 2025-10-13 09:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hamas Gaza Iran Donald Trump

President Trump has proven to be a tough dealmaker and a skillful negotiator who knows how to leverage whatever resources are at hand to promote and sustain peace processes against all odds. His diplomatic approach is based on the common sense of a businessman turned politician at the helm of an “imperial republic.” His hard-nosed realism ...

Trump on His Way to Israel: “The War in Gaza Has Ended”

This is Beirut 2025-10-13 11:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu Hamas United States of America Ben Gurion

US President Donald Trump arrived Monday morning at Ben Gurion Airport for a short visit to Israel, the first stop on a Middle East tour described as a mission for peace. Welcomed by President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump is set to continue to Egypt, where an international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh will focus on ...

Trump in Israel: 'The Historic Dawn of a New Middle East'

This is Beirut 2025-10-13 17:20 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Middle East Benjamin Netanyahu Gaza Knesset

“The historic dawn of a new Middle East and the end of the era of terrorism.” These words could summarize the speech delivered on Monday afternoon by US President Donald Trump at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament. Described by observers as “historic,” this address provided an opportunity for the US president to call on Israel and the ...

Tested by Russia, NATO Looks to Strengthen its Defenses

This is Beirut 2025-10-15 09:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Europe Kyiv Nato

NATO defense ministers will look Wednesday at shoring up the alliance's ability to counter Russian air incursions, as fears grow that Moscow is testing the West in a grey zone between war and peace. Focus will also be on bolstering support for Ukraine as US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joins his 31 NATO counterparts with his boss, President ...

Trump at the Knesset Ahead of the Peace Summit

This is Beirut 2025-10-13 17:55 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Hamas Middle East USA

US President Donald Trump delivers a speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem on October 13, 2025, as part of the recently concluded peace plan between Israel and Hamas. This visit marks a major step in the regional stabilization process, which Washington presents as the foundation for a “new Middle East.”  

Trump Hails 'Tremendous Day for Middle East' as Leaders Sign Gaza Declaration

This is Beirut 2025-10-13 21:27 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

United States Egypt Qatar Turkey Gaza

US President Donald Trump hailed a "tremendous day for the Middle East" as he and regional leaders signed a declaration Monday meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and prisoners. Trump made a lightning visit to Israel, where he lauded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an address to ...

Zelensky To Visit Trump in Washington This Week

This is Beirut 2025-10-14 05:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States Ukraine Donald Trump Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday he will go to Washington this week to see US President Donald Trump, to discuss air defences and how to put more pressure on Russia. Zelensky said he would join a Ukrainian delegation there holding talks with US politicians and companies, and he hoped to have his meeting with Trump on ...

Lebanon on the Sidelines: Restoring State Authority Is Critical

Bassam Abou Zeid 2025-10-14 08:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Hamas Hezbollah Joseph Aoun

Events are unfolding across the region, while Lebanon remains on the sidelines, lacking a meaningful political presence in the reshaped Middle East. Lebanese officials have been following, via the media, US President Donald Trump’s visit to Israel, the developments in Gaza, his Knesset address and the Sharm al-Sheikh summit. Official sources ...

Lebanon Still Charms, but Tourism Numbers Fall

Christiane Tager 2025-10-14 12:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Tourism Economy

In the 2010s, Lebanon ranked among the world’s top tourist destinations, celebrated for its festivals, crowded beaches, boutique hotels and award-winning cuisine. Tourism then accounted for nearly a fifth of GDP and was at the very heart of the economy. Today, that postcard-perfect image has faded. Two years after a brief recovery, the sector ...

De Bruyne's Penalty Double Fires Belgium to Vital Win Over Wales

This is Beirut 2025-10-14 17:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Belgium World Cup Qualifiers De Bruyne Wales Football

Kevin De Bruyne scored a pair of penalties as Belgium boosted their bid to qualify for the World Cup with a crucial 4-2 win against Wales on Monday. Rudi Garcia's side trailed to Joe Rodon's early opener at the Cardiff City Stadium. But De Bruyne leveled from the penalty spot, and Thomas Meunier fired Belgium ahead before halftime. De Bruyne ...

Global Leaders Welcome Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement

Kaline Antoun 2025-10-14 20:05 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hamas Ceasefire Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron

Leaders around the world have welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, formalized at a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13, 2025. The initiative was driven by US President Donald Trump and signed jointly by mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. The agreement calls for a halt to hostilities, the release of ...

Trump Says 'We Will Disarm' Hamas, Urges Return of Gaza Bodies

This is Beirut 2025-10-14 22:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam United States Donald Trump Hamas Gaza Israeli Hostages

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that "we will disarm" Hamas if the Palestinian militants refuse to do it themselves, as he called for the group to release the bodies of hostages in Gaza. Trump's comments came the day after he swung through the Middle East to celebrate the Gaza ceasefire deal, with questions swirling about the ...

Trump Honors Charlie Kirk at Posthumous Medal Ceremony

This is Beirut 2025-10-15 05:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Donald Trump Charlie Kirk

US President Donald Trump hailed assassinated ally Charlie Kirk as a "martyr for truth and freedom" Tuesday as he posthumously awarded the right-wing activist America's highest civilian honor. Handing the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Kirk's tearful widow, Trump compared the 31-year-old conservative to Socrates, Saint Peter, Abraham Lincoln ...

Hamas Launches Gaza Crackdown as Trump Vows to Disarm Group

This is Beirut 2025-10-15 09:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Hamas Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu

Hamas tightened its grip on Gaza's ruined cities Tuesday, launching a crackdown and executing alleged collaborators, even as US President Donald Trump vowed to disarm the group. The Israeli military said the remains of four more hostages held in Gaza had been brought into Israel, a day after Hamas handed over the bodies of four other captives and ...

Lebanese Hospitality Reaches New Heights

Liliane Mokbel 2025-09-27 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: ...

Nasrallah’s Assassination: Raoucheh Instead of Jerusalem

Michel Touma 2025-09-27 09:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah Benjamin Netanyahu Middle East

No one could have imagined it for a single moment. At the time, it never occurred to anyone that an operation of such magnitude was possible or even conceivable. The massive resources mobilized for the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, exactly one year ago to the day, sent shockwaves not only through the ranks of the pro-Iranian party but also ...

From Excitement to Frustration: Louvre Visitors Caught Off Guard by Closure

This is Beirut 2025-10-20 16:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Louvre Tourists State of mind Theft France Culture

Visitors pressed against the Louvre's iron gates on Monday, peering through bars locked after thieves pulled off a daylight jewel heist inside the world-famous museum the day before. Would-be museum-goers queued outside the famed tourist attraction for the scheduled 0900 (0700 GMT) opening, a day after robbers stole precious jewelry and fled on ...