Why Lebanon’s Muslims Are Key to Any Credible Peace Initiative

Marwan El Amine 27/02 14:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel

Lebanon once again stands on the brink of a military confrontation that threatens to replay the all-too-familiar scenes of devastation and loss. As regional tensions escalate and the prospect of a U.S. strike on Iran looms, Hezbollah appears ready to place Lebanon squarely in the eye of the storm in defense of the Iranian regime, with little ...

Leaders Signal Next Phase for Lebanon

This is Beirut 17/04 21:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Hezbollah Israel

A tentative shift began to take shape today as Presidents Donald Trump, Joseph Aoun, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed their visions for what comes next in Lebanon following the announcement of a ceasefire and the launch of direct talks. While the pause in fighting has created space for diplomacy, each leader made clear that the ...

Lebanon Has Another Opportunity of a Lifetime

David Hale 20/04 10:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Lebanese Army Donald Trump Hezbollah Israel

As Lebanese, Israeli, and American teams prepare for their first-ever trilateral leaders summit, it is time to reflect on this opportunity and lessons from the past.   Most Lebanese have yearned for decades for a restoration of state sovereignty and peace. There are a host of reasons why they have been deprived of what most people around the ...

In Times of War, Lebanese Youth Battle for Their Mental Health

Vanessa Kallas 2024-08-12 12:44 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Ten months into the war, Lebanese youths are fighting a new battle — one for their mental and emotional well-being. Their sentiments are varied, ranging from fear, to hope, to dissociation. On International Youth Day, This is Beirut explores how four young Lebanese from diverse backgrounds navigate their emotions amid rising tensions. Fear ...

James Blunt's Triumphant Return at Nimes Festival Concert

2024-07-17 17:26 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

British singer-songwriter James Blunt returns to the stage on July 16, performing at the Nimes Festival in southern France, debuting his latest album Who We Used To Be. British singer and songwriter James Blunt recently performed at the Nimes Festival, held at the Nimes Arena in southern France. This highly anticipated concert marked Blunt’s ...

Khalaf: Return of Bank Credit Is Essential for Economic Recovery

This Is Beirut 2024-07-22 17:59 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

ABL

Secretary General of the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) Fadi Khalaf said, in the preamble of the association's monthly report titled “The return of loans will contribute to the recovery of deposits,” that restoring the banking sector's normal role, particularly in the field of credit, is essential to getting the Lebanese economy moving ...

Nadal Defeated in First Tour Final in Two Years

This Is Beirut 2024-07-21 22:47 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Rafael Nadal lost his first final in two years on Sunday, as the Spaniard went down 6-3, 6-2 to Portugal's Nuno Borges at the clay-court Bastad Open. The Spanish tennis great had shown signs of a return to form in Scandinavia as he made an impressive run to the final, just one week before tennis at the Olympic Games gets underway on the clay in ...

Paris Olympics Preparations Move Up a Gear

This Is Beirut 2024-07-21 15:53 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Preparations for the Paris Olympics went up a gear on Saturday as security teams scoured the banks of the Seine ahead of Friday's opening ceremony and top International Olympic Committee officials met in the French capital. Police with sniffer dogs were seen checking the six-kilometer (four-mile) route along the Seine for the ceremony in which up ...

A Royal Collection of Olympic Flames Exhibition in Monaco

2024-07-21 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Monaco’s “The Olympic Flame Through Time” exhibition showcases 40 Olympic torches from Prince Albert II’s collection, spanning Berlin 1936 to Paris 2024. The spirit of the Olympics through this unique display takes place at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco from July 18 to August 18, 2024. In the shimmering heart of Monaco, the spirit of the ...

Bruce Springsteen: From Working Class to Billionaire

Béatrice Moreau 2024-07-20 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Bruce Springsteen joins the club of billionaire musicians. The “Boss” has built his fortune on decades of success, combining album sales, tours, and the sale of musical rights. Bruce Springsteen, an icon of American rock, has just reached a new milestone in his already legendary career. According to estimates by Forbes magazine, the ...

China Pledges Tax Reforms to Ease Local Government Debt

This Is Beirut 2024-07-19 10:23 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Chinese officials pledged on Friday to help ease debt pressure on local governments through reforms to the tax system, after a key political gathering in the capital focused on jumpstarting the faltering economy. All eyes were on how this week's Third Plenum of the Communist Party in Beijing, attended by President Xi Jinping, might tackle the ...

Southgate Quits as England Manager

This Is Beirut 2024-07-16 19:13 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gareth Southgate said on Tuesday he was resigning as England manager, two days after they lost to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. “It's time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday's final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager,” Southgate said in a statement. Names immediately bandied around as 53-year-old Southgate's ...

Commodities: Your Alternative to the Stock Market

Mario Chartouni 2024-07-23 16:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Financial jargon is filled with terms borrowed from English that can seem complex at first glance. One such term is “commodities,” which refers to raw materials (RMs) traded as financial instruments on the stock market. Alternatively, if you have ample storage space, it can also mean physical goods. The aim here is to closely examine this type ...

The Secret Service: From Anti-Fraud Enforcement to VIP Protection

Malo Pinatel 2024-07-15 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump

The image went viral worldwide: Trump, fist raised beneath the star-spangled banner, escorted by his security detail. Men in dark suits and sunglasses, representing an agency whose enigmatic name might mislead many about its true mission: The United States Secret Service (USSS). It is one of the oldest federal agencies in charge of law ...

When the Lebanese State Embraces Mendicancy

Maurice Matta 2024-07-15 17:35 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

On Thursday morning, caretaker Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayad announced that he received a call from the Director General of SOMO, the Iraqi Oil Ministry's company, informing him that the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammad al-Sudani, had permitted to load a fuel ship in solidarity with Lebanon and its people, allowing for the unloading of ...

Spain Wing Wizards Williams and Yamal Inspire Euro-2024 Triumph

This Is Beirut 2024-07-15 09:46 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Mikel Oyarzabal struck Spain's Euro 2024 final winner against England on Sunday, but La Roja's triumph was inspired from start to finish by explosive wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal. The youngsters have been key on their side's run to the final in Berlin and combined to send Spain ahead against England, a moment that felt fitting given ...

Alcaraz Dominates Djokovic to Retain Wimbledon Crown

This Is Beirut 2024-07-14 20:09 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Carlos Alcaraz overpowered seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets to retain his Wimbledon title on Sunday in a brutal statement that the new era of men's tennis has arrived. The Spanish third seed produced a performance combining awesome power with delicate touch to win 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4), collecting the fourth Grand Slam of his ...

Krejcikova in Wimbledon Spotlight at Last with Final Clash Against Paolini

2024-07-13 13:18 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Barbora Krejcikova is relishing her moment in the Wimbledon spotlight as she prepares for Saturday's final against Jasmine Paolini, just a year after complaining that she was not regarded as one of the sport's top stars. Krejcikova felt overshadowed by the likes of Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina when she voiced her concerns ...

French Legislative Elections: Where Do We Go Now?

Malo Pinatel 2024-07-10 19:15 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

The day after the second round of the French legislative elections, which defied expectations, the question of forming the next government remains on everyone's lips. Indeed, no bloc seems capable of reaching an absolute majority to govern effectively. While the left-wing alliance around the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) came out on top with 193 ...

About 2,500 Arrests in Bangladesh Following Protests

This Is Beirut 2024-07-23 12:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

The number of arrests in days of violence in Bangladesh passed the 2,500 mark in an AFP tally on Tuesday, after protests over employment quotas sparked widespread unrest. At least 174 people have died, including several police officers, according to a separate AFP count of victims reported by police and hospitals. What began as demonstrations ...

Fitch: Lebanon's Rating Maintained at 'RD'

This Is Beirut 2024-07-24 13:18 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

The credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has maintained Lebanon's rating at “restricted default” (RD) on its long-term foreign currency public debt, as a result of the default on the Eurobonds due March 9, 2020. On Tuesday, the American International Financial Rating Agency maintained Lebanon's rating at RD, indicating Lebanon’s ongoing ...

Argentina Sees off Canada to Reach Copa America Final

This Is Beirut 2024-07-10 13:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lionel Messi was on target as world champions Argentina turned on the style to beat Canada 2-0 on Tuesday and reach the Copa America final, where they will look for a third straight major title. The defending Copa champions will face the winners of Wednesday's semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia in what will be a highly anticipated final in ...

The Pope’s Passion for Books and Tragedies

2024-08-06 10:29 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Pope Francis advocates for the power of reading and champions this brain activity for personal and spiritual growth. Pope Francis's literary inclinations took center stage on Sunday, August 4, as the Vatican released a letter in which the pontiff extolled the virtues of reading, particularly for young priests. In his July 17 letter, published in ...

Star Wars 'Training Day' Parade: A Mexican Cultural Celebration

2024-08-11 18:54 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

The Training Day parade in Guanajuato, Mexico, on August 10, showcases the enduring influence of the Star Wars saga, uniting fans across generations and cultures. In a vibrant display of fandom and cultural celebration, devotees of the iconic Star Wars saga gathered on Los Héroes Avenue in León, Guanajuato State, Mexico. This event, known as ...

Spain Beat France in Classic Final to Win Olympic Men's Football Gold

2024-08-10 11:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Substitute Sergio Camello struck twice in extra time to settle a remarkable Olympic men's football final on Friday, as Spain beat France 5-3 to take gold after Thierry Henry's hosts had earlier staged a dramatic comeback. It had looked as though Spain were going to run away with victory at the Parc des Princes when they recovered from conceding ...

Redefining Style: Hats in Summer Fashion

2024-08-10 10:09 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

This summer, hats are making a strong comeback. Whatever the occasion, they come in a variety of shapes and colors. Hats are redefining style and silhouette this summer. Whether at the beach or in the mountains, they assert themselves, adding a personal and chic touch with a coquettish, even bold attitude. Whether made of straw, felt, as a ...

Muhammad Yunus, Banker to the Poorest of the Poor

This Is Beirut 2024-08-08 11:18 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nobel-winning microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus will helm Bangladesh's interim government after the ouster of premier Sheikh Hasina, who had hounded him in speeches and through the courts. The 84-year-old, known as the "banker to the poorest of the poor," was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work loaning small cash sums to rural ...

Incarceration and Collaboration Duo Tale: Bestselling Novel from Prison

2024-08-07 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtaş and Turkish writer Yiğit Bener pen a crime novel in a unique literary collaboration across prison bars, igniting conversations on reconciliation in polarized Turkey. In an extraordinary literary collaboration, a jailed Kurdish leader, Selahattin Demirtaş, and a Turkish writer, Yiğit Bener, have turned their ...

Nobel Winner Muhammad Yunus to Lead Bangladesh Government

This Is Beirut 2024-08-07 11:52 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Bangladesh's Nobel-winning microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus will lead an interim government after mass protests forced longtime prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee, the presidency announced Wednesday. The appointment came quickly after student leaders called on the 84-year-old Yunus — credited with lifting millions out of poverty in the ...

Shifting Paradigms

2024-08-05 09:03 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

The concomitant assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and Fouad Shukr is a major turning point in the surrogate war which opposes Iran and Israel. This came at the heels of a deadly attack on Israeli territory, whereby the children of Majdel Shams, a Druze town in the Golan Heights were deliberately targeted by Hezbollah. The sudden attack pinpointed ...