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 ...

US Vice President Vance in Israel to Shore up Gaza Deal

This is Beirut 2025-10-21 14:34 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam USA Benjamin Netanyahu JD Vance Gaza

    US Vice President JD Vance landed in Israel on Tuesday to shore up a fragile Gaza ceasefire deal, after President Donald Trump warned Hamas it would be wiped out if it breached the truce. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were already in Tel Aviv, where they met Israeli hostages released by Hamas ...

Egypt's Sisi Praises Trump Gaza Plan Ahead of Indirect Hamas-Israel Talks

This is Beirut 2025-10-06 11:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Hamas Gaza Egypt

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised US President Donald Trump's Gaza plan on Monday, as negotiators from Hamas, Israel and the United States converged on Egypt to discuss a hostage-prisoner exchange and ceasefire. "I can only extend my praise and appreciation for US President Donald Trump for his initiative that seeks a ceasefire in ...

Matthieu Blazy Launches Chanel’s New Era With Starry Paris Debut

This is Beirut 2025-10-07 13:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Chanel Paris Fashion Week Culture Fashion Luxury

New Chanel designer Matthieu Blazy unveiled his first sumptuous collection on Monday in front of a crowd of admirers and stars sitting beneath giant glowing planets during Paris Fashion Week. Ahead of the most anticipated show of the season, some had wondered how much the 41-year-old would dare change the classic designs of the French ...

Trump and Artificial Intelligence: Reclaiming America’s Lead

Paul Guillot 2025-10-07 11:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States White House

In January 2025, barely back in the White House, Donald Trump set the tone: artificial intelligence would not be merely a technological challenge but a strategic instrument to secure American supremacy. The Executive Order 14179, Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence, marked a turning point. Regulatory constraints ...

Tinder AI Connection: When the Algorithm Plays Cupid

Paul Guillot 2025-10-07 11:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

With digital apps shaping more and more of our love lives, Tinder – the world’s leading dating platform with over 55 billion matches recorded – is taking a new step forward. The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is not just transforming our search for love; it’s reshaping the very nature of human interaction, raising ...

AI and Employment: A Process of Creative Destruction

Paul Guillot 2025-10-07 11:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Europe International Monetary Fund New York United States USA

AI is hailed for boosting efficiency, speed, and productivity. But behind the hype, a global concern looms: could it put millions of jobs at risk? From Salesforce headquarters to Amazon warehouses, from New York offices to emerging markets, one question dominates: is AI a ticking social time bomb? A Subtle but Global Threat The IMF estimates ...

Hamas and Israel Open talks in Egypt Under Trump's Gaza Peace Plan

This is Beirut 2025-10-07 08:56 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hamas Ceasefire Donald Trump

Delegations from Hamas and Israel on Monday began indirect talks in Egypt on ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza, with US President Donald Trump judging that the Palestinian militant group was ready to compromise over his proposals for a deal. Al-Qahera News, which is linked to Egyptian state intelligence, said the first round of talks ended ...

Trump Says to Meet Lula 'Both in Brazil and the United States'

This is Beirut 2025-10-06 19:52 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Brazil United States Donald Trump Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

US President Donald Trump hailed a "very good" phone call with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Monday, after months of tensions, saying they would meet in both their countries. "We discussed many things, but it was mostly focused on the economy and trade," Trump said on his Truth Social network after ...

Israel, Hamas Due to Start Ceasefire Talks in Egypt

This is Beirut 2025-10-06 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hamas Egypt Gaza Ceasefire

Delegations from Hamas, Israel and the United States are due to convene in Egypt for talks on Monday, with President Donald Trump urging negotiators to "move fast" to end the nearly two-year war in Gaza. Both Hamas and Israel have responded positively to Trump's proposal for an end to the fighting and the release of captives in Gaza in exchange ...

Beirut Souks Celebrates its Relaunch

This is Beirut 2025-10-08 11:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Shops Beirut Downtown Beirut

Under the patronage of the Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, Beirut Souks will host an official celebration marking its relaunch, reaffirming its position as a leading landmark at the heart of the capital. Following the arrival of numerous prestigious international and exclusive brands, Beirut Souks is once again set to stand as one of the city’s ...

Hamas Calls for Swift Hostage-Prisoner Swap as Trump Urges Quick Talks

This is Beirut 2025-10-06 01:45 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Gaza Palestine Hostages

Hamas on Sunday called for a swift start to a hostage-prisoner exchange with Israel, as negotiators from both sides headed to Egypt for crucial talks aimed at ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza. The diplomatic push follows Hamas's positive response to Donald Trump's roadmap for an end to the fighting and the release of captives in ...

Where Does Trump’s Gaza Plan Stand?

This is Beirut 2025-10-05 19:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu Hamas

Cairo is once again at the heart of the diplomatic game. Israeli and Hamas delegations are expected to meet in Sharm el-Sheikh tonight and are set to begin indirect negotiations on Monday, under American mediation, in an effort to turn Donald Trump’s plan into reality. Unveiled on September 29, the plan promises a gradual ceasefire, the release ...

Trump Threatens Hamas with ‘Complete Obliteration’ If It Refuses to Relinquish Gaza

This is Beirut 2025-10-05 19:29 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hamas Gaza Marco Rubio Benjamin Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump told CNN via text message that Hamas faces “complete obliteration!” if it attempts to cling to power in Gaza. When asked about claims that Hamas had effectively rejected his proposal by refusing disarmament and setting conditions for a hostage release, Trump replied, “We will find out. Only time will ...

Teacher: A Profession That Shapes Lives

Sana Richa Choucair 2025-10-05 15:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Unesco World Teachers’ Day AI Schools University

Who among us does not remember that one teacher who left a lasting mark, whether at school or university? Did you know that the word teacher goes back to Old English tæcan, meaning “to show, point out, mark”? This Sunday, October 5, we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, established by UNESCO. It is an occasion to reflect on a word tied to an ...

Trump Envoys Head to Egypt as Hamas Agrees to Free Gaza Hostages

This is Beirut 2025-10-04 19:40 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Jared Kushner Steve Witkoff United States Egypt Hamas Donald Trump

Two envoys of US President Donald Trump headed to Egypt on Saturday to discuss the release of hostages in Gaza, after Hamas agreed to his ceasefire proposal, while Israeli forces launched deadly strikes across the territory. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff were expected to finalize details on the release of hostages and ...

Duran Lantink, the Bold Designer Taking Over Gaultier

This is Beirut 2025-10-04 18:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Paris Fashion Week Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Luxury Culture

Could Duran Lantink become fashion’s next great provocateur? The 37-year-old Dutch designer, celebrated for his fearless creativity, unveils his first Jean Paul Gaultier collection this Sunday in Paris. Appointed creative director of the couture house last April, he is the first permanent successor to Jean Paul Gaultier, who retired from ...

From Crisis to Record: Why Gold Just Topped $4,000 an Ounce

This is Beirut 2025-10-08 08:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Gold Economy World Ounce Record

Gold's relentless rise reached another milestone on Wednesday as the precious metal hit $4,002.95 an ounce for the first time. "Investors continue to bid up the price of gold, with the precious metal rising more than 50 percent year to date and nearly 12 percent in September alone – one of the strongest monthly performances on record," said ...

Erdogan Says Trump Asked Turkey to 'Persuade Hamas' on Gaza Peace

This is Beirut 2025-10-08 11:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Palestine Hamas Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Peace deal

US President Donald Trump asked Turkey to "persuade" Hamas to accept his plan for ending the Gaza war, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a transcript shared by his office Wednesday. His remarks came as negotiators from Israel and Hamas were due to hold a third day of indirect negotiations in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh aimed ...

Spread of Drug-Resistant Superbugs Surging, WHO Warns

This is Beirut 2025-10-13 12:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United Nations WHO Antibiotics Resistant

The World Health Organization sounded the alarm Monday over soaring numbers of drug-resistant bacterial infections, compromising the effectiveness of life-saving treatments and rendering minor injuries and common infections potentially deadly. The United Nations' health agency warned that one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections ...

Burning Issues in the Syrian Visit to Beirut

Mario Chartouni 2025-10-10 16:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanese Army Banks Damascus Hezbollah Saudi Arabia

Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani is visiting Beirut this Friday for his first official trip since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Long postponed, the visit marks a symbolic step toward restoring ties between Lebanon and Syria after a decade of mistrust. It follows a series of technical missions by Syrian officials exploring ...

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 ...

Sharm el-Sheikh Summit: Putting an End to the Charade

Michel Touma 2025-10-13 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Donald Trump Fatah Hamas Hezbollah Gaza Sharm el-Sheikh

The cloth doesn’t make the cleric… The old saying fits neatly when it comes to Hamas and the latest turn in the war it launched on October 7, 2023, with its massive and deadly offensive against Israel from Gaza. Two years into a conflict that has plunged the Palestinian population into a nightmare, the Islamist movement has just endorsed, ...

Qaraoun Lake: Lebanon’s Silent Ecological Disaster

Liliane Mokbel 2025-10-11 14:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Banks

Every year, an estimated 50 million cubic meters of domestic wastewater are discharged into Lake Qaraoun. Added to this are 2 million cubic meters of industrial wastewater, as well as waste from Syrian migrant camps established by the state along the riverbanks. This toxic mix is putting one of Lebanon’s largest freshwater reservoirs at serious ...

Reappointed French PM Scrambles to form Government

This is Beirut 2025-10-11 13:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

France Sebastien Lecornu Emmanuel Macron government

Pressure mounted Saturday on France's newly reappointed premier, Sebastien Lecornu, to get an austerity budget approved, as more parties threatened to topple a man whose first term lasted a mere 27 days. In a move that drew sharp criticism, President Emmanuel Macron reinstated Lecornu late Friday evening, just four days after his resignation and ...

One Year On: Southern Lebanon Devastated

Katia Kahil 2025-10-11 11:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Banks Hezbollah South Lebanon

One year after the September 2024 war, southern Lebanon bears deep scars. Ravaged by strikes and displacement, the region faces a dual crisis: a collapsing economy and the quiet unraveling of its social fabric. Behind shattered facades and shuttered markets, an entire way of life teeters on the brink of a merciless winter. Agonizing Markets In ...

Macron Reappoints Sebastien Lecornu as France's PM

This is Beirut 2025-10-10 23:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Sebastien Lecornu Prime Minister France

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday reappointed his outgoing prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, back into that position, just four days after Lecornu gave his resignation. "The president of the republic has nominated Mr Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister and has tasked him with forming a government," the Elysee Palace said in a ...

Farewell to John Lodge: 'The Moody Blues' Soul and Sound

This is Beirut 2025-10-10 16:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Music Obituary John Lodge The Moody Blues Britain Culture

British singer and guitarist John Lodge, a longtime member of the band The Moody Blues, has died at the age of 82, his family announced on Friday. Lodge, a bass player, vocalist and songwriter who joined the English rock band two years after its 1964 formation, died "unexpectedly" surrounded by loved ones, relatives said. "It is ...

Syria Votes Again: Is Real Change Finally Possible?

Maroun Chahine 2025-10-08 16:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Damascus Syria

On Sunday, October 5, between 6,000 and 7,000 delegates cast votes at 62 polling stations across 11 governorates to elect Syria’s new legislative assembly. The People’s Assembly will have 210 seats, 119 of which have been filled so far, 40 fewer than under the Assad regime. Candidates must meet strict requirements, including age and ...

Hamas Rejects Trump’s Proposed Peace Committee for Gaza

This is Beirut 2025-10-09 20:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Hamas Gaza Donald Trump

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan on Thursday told Qatar-based broadcaster Al Araby the Palestinian militant group rejects Donald Trump's proposal for an interim "Board of Peace" to oversee Gaza's administration, headed by the US president himself. Israel and Hamas on Thursday agreed to a ceasefire deal to free hostages held in Gaza in exchange ...