Lebanon Is Finally on the Right Track

Hussain Abdul-Hussain 2025-05-13 15:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Hezbollah Syria Middle East

A glimmer of hope can finally be seen in the Middle East and is emanating, surprisingly, from Lebanon, where the state is restoring its sovereignty and shrinking the Hezbollah tumor. More needs to be done. For now, however, the country is on the right track. “It has only been six or seven months,” a senior U.S. official told The Wall Street ...

Tom Cruise Has World Guessing as He Unleashes 'Mission: Impossible' at Cannes

This is Beirut 2025-05-14 15:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Cannes 2025 Entertainment Tom Cruise Star Film Culture

Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning powers into the Cannes film festival for its premiere on Wednesday on a steamroller of hype, with the world asking if this will be the final curtain for agent Ethan Hunt. With some fans fretting that the $400-million epic - the eighth in the high-octane franchise - could be the last, Cruise ...

Cautious Optimism Persists as Lebanon’s Retail Sector Remains Sluggish

This Is Beirut 2025-05-15 18:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Banque du Liban Gulf International Monetary Fund

The latest Retail Trade Index published by the Beirut Traders Association and Fransabank for the first quarter of 2025 is bluntly titled: “A cautiously optimistic start to the year… but commercial activity remains sluggish.” A headline that reflects a climate both promising and uncertain. The optimism stems largely from notable political ...

Clash Erupts Between UNIFIL and Residents in Southern Lebanon

This is Beirut 2025-05-16 11:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanese Army South Lebanon United Nations

Tensions escalated on Friday in the southern Lebanese village of Jmaijmeh (Bint Jbeil) when a patrol from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was stopped by residents while attempting to enter private property without being accompanied by the Lebanese Army. According to local sources, villagers and landowners confronted the UN ...

Kristen Stewart Breaks Silence with Bold, Unflinching Debut

This is Beirut 2025-05-21 15:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Kristen Stewart Cannes Film Festival Cinema Cannes2025 Culture France

"I can't wait to make 10 more movies," Kristen Stewart told AFP the morning after making what Rolling Stone called "one hell of a directorial debut" at the Cannes Film Festival. Nor can film critics, judging from the rave reviews of The Chronology of Water, her startling take on the American swimmer Lidia Yuknavitch's visceral memoir of surviving ...

The Scars of Acting: 10 Actors Shattered by Their Performances

Bélinda Ibrahim 2025-06-06 17:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Actors Cinema Mental Health Fiction Trauma

Cinema captivates by pushing the boundaries of fiction. Yet behind some of its most iconic works lies a steep human cost—borne by actors who lost themselves in the characters they brought to life. From isolation and depression to physical pain and lasting trauma, these ten performers discovered just how thin the line can be between playing a ...

Public Sector Crisis: The Finance Minister’s Last Straw

Natasha Metni Torbey 2025-05-22 18:48 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon budget Public sector Ministry of Finances

Tensions are mounting in the deserted halls of Lebanon’s public administrations. A single decision by the Ministry of Finance on May 15 was enough to trigger an immediate call for a strike. But beyond the standoff over working hours, deeper issues are surfacing—highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the public sector amid a ...

Cannes 2025: Films as Living Paintings

Bélinda Ibrahim 2025-05-23 17:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Cannes Film Festival Cinema Culture Cannes

Some films speak, others depict, but rare are those that feel like paintings. At Cannes 2025, two films in competition stand out for their deep connection to visual art: Renoir by Chie Hayakawa and The Phoenician Scheme by Wes Anderson. The first explores the intimate world of a young girl immersed in Impressionism. The second, more stylized, ...

Turtle Populations Thrive Again in Lebanese Waters

Karl Hajj Moussa 2025-05-25 09:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon wildlife environment

Every summer, a rare spectacle unfolds on the beaches of southern Lebanon, where endangered sea turtles brave many dangers to lay their eggs. Their survival now depends on our commitment, as these silent giants struggle to exist. While beaches in southern Lebanon fill with swimmers and vacationers each summer, another visitor—discreet and ...

Immersive Matrix Experience Aims To Bring Audiences Back

This is Beirut 2025-06-01 13:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Cinema Culture Matrix Movie Art

Quasi-hypnotic lighting, surround sound, a dome-shaped screen: a new immersive experience in the United States is trying to lure audiences out of their living rooms and back into movie theaters, which have been struggling against the rise of streaming platforms. Cosm Theater in Los Angeles is one of the driving forces behind this trend and is ...

'Vollmond' by Pina Bausch: Under the Full Moon, Water Dances Love and Solitude

Marie-Christine Tayah 2025-06-02 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Pina Bausch Dance Theater Culture Théâtre de la Ville Paris

In May, the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris became the stage of an emotional encounter with Vollmond, a seminal work by German choreographer Pina Bausch. Created in 2006 at the Tanztheater Wuppertal, this dreamlike piece immerses the stage in water, hypnotizing its audience with a deeply sensitive reflection on human connection, desire and ...

Swimming: Lebanon Wins Gold in Geneva

Makram Haddad 2025-06-03 10:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Pro swim Swimming Geneva

Proswim, the wave that sweeps everything away. The protégés of national coach Mohammad Sakr shone brightly at the Swan Oberson International Meet in Geneva. Facing stiff competition, the young Lebanese athletes won 16 medals, including six gold, eight silver, and two bronze. This was not just a preparatory competition. The Geneva pool welcomed ...

‘A Man and a Woman:’ When Lelouch Turns Failure into Grace

Bélinda Ibrahim 2025-06-03 19:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

A Man and a Woman Claude Lelouch Film Story Cannes Deauville

At first, there was nothing but the bitter silence of a man convinced his career was over. In 1965, Claude Lelouch was a young director in free fall. At 27, he had just endured one of the most humiliating flops of his early career: Les Grands Moments – booed at Cannes, ignored in theaters, savaged by critics. “They said I was only good for ...

Running Low? Unleaded to the Rescue

Christiane Tager 2025-06-04 21:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Crisis Fuel prices Private sector

The Lebanese government seems to be taking its cue from an old maxim: “When in trouble, raise the taxes.” In a decision that hit like a bombshell, authorities announced a sharp hike in fuel prices – despite a global drop in oil costs. The official rationale? To fund social aid. The logic? Ease the burden on the poor by adding to the strain ...

‘Un autre monde’: A New Exhibition by Artists of Beirut

This is Beirut 2025-06-05 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Beirut Art Exhibition Culture Artists

From June 19 to 29, 2025, Un autre monde will take over Arthaus Beirut in the heart of Gemmayzeh for the sixth curated edition by Artists of Beirut. Known for spotlighting women artists from Lebanon, the platform returns with a powerful new theme: rebirth through art. The exhibition brings together emerging and established talents to reflect on ...

Isabelle Huppert Embodies Timeless Despair in Castellucci’s ‘Bérénice’ Revival

Marie-Christine Tayah 2025-07-07 13:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Bérénice Isabelle Huppert Theater Romeo Castellucci Paris Théâtre de la Ville

The Italian director, known for his expertise in visual and sensory theater and inspired by his knowledge of painting, scenography and stage design, took Racine’s tragedy and transformed it into a fully contemporary interpretation. The production centers on the heroine’s intense pain, creating an immersive experience far removed from the ...

KANZ Whispers: Ziad Nakad’s Haute Couture Autumn-Winter 2025–2026

This is Beirut 2025-07-12 15:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Fashion Paris Paris Fashion Week Ziad Nakad Culture

In his Autumn–Winter 2025–2026 haute couture collection at Paris Fashion Week, Ziad Nakad unveiled a glittering homage to what lies beneath KANZ — meaning “treasure” in Arabic — a celebration of hidden opulence and enduring elegance. With every gown, Nakad excavates beauty from detail: sweeping silhouettes encrusted with embroidery, ...

Are Things Looking Brighter for the Middle East?

David Hale 2025-10-03 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Syria Gaza Hamas United States

A year after Israel defanged Hezbollah, and in the wake of the annual opening of the UN General Assembly and several developments related to the Middle East, it may be a good time to take stock. In my 38-year career of diplomacy in the Middle East, anytime someone expressed optimism, I would suggest a head examination might be in order. However, ...

'Quiet Luxury' Takes over Beauty: When Discretion Becomes the New Sophistication

Bélinda Ibrahim 2025-08-31 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Quiet Luxury Beauty Minimalism Brands Confidence

After transforming runways and wardrobes, “quiet luxury” is now making its subtle entrance into our bathrooms and beauty routines. Just as fashion has, over the past two seasons, embraced noble fabrics, impeccable tailoring and neutral palettes over loud logos and flashy colors, beauty is following suit. Glitter and showy effects are giving ...

'Emily in Paris' Resumes Filming After Assistant Director’s Death

Marie-Christine Tayah 2025-08-24 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emily in Paris Netflix Series Culture Art Rome

A beloved crew member’s sudden death has shaken the usually effervescent world of Emily in Paris. The assistant director, whose dedication and behind-the-scenes work helped shape the series’ distinct energy, collapsed unexpectedly during a recent shoot. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but sadly could not be revived, sending shockwaves ...

Esports: Team Falcons Retains Its World Crown

Pierre Daccache 2025-08-25 11:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Saudi Arabia Esports Team Falcons EWC Riyadh

The world's largest esports competition has just come to an end. On Sunday, August 24, after seven weeks of fierce competition, the curtain fell on the 2025 Esports World Cup in Riyadh. In an electric atmosphere, marked by the fervor of an audience from around the world, the Saudi club Team Falcons achieved the feat of retaining its title, winning ...

Semi-Permanent Manicure at Risk: TPO Classified as Carcinogenic

Bélinda Ibrahim 2025-08-25 15:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

European Union Manicure Semi-Permanent Cancer TPO

For years, semi-permanent nail polish has captivated a growing clientele, attracted by the promise of glossy, chip-resistant nails that last for weeks. But under the UV lamps of beauty salons, a small revolution is looming. As of September 1, 2025, both Switzerland and the entire EU will prohibit the sale and use of these polishes if they contain ...

Trump Says Likely to Visit China this Year or Soon After

This is Beirut 2025-08-25 22:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States China Donald Trump Xi Jinping

US President Donald Trump said Monday that he expects to visit China this year or shortly afterwards, noting that economic ties between the two countries have improved, even as he kept the door open to steeper tariffs. Speaking to reporters as he met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Washington, Trump pointed to recent talks with Chinese ...

'Euphoria, Art Is in the Air': Inflatable Artworks Fill the Grand Palais with Emotion

Marie-Christine Tayah 2025-08-28 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Exhibition Paris Grand Palais Art Culture France

The Grand Palais is no stranger to reinvention, but this summer it’s lighter, brighter, and more buoyant than ever. The Balloon Museum, led by curator Valentino Catricalà, returns to Paris after the 2022 hit “Pop Air” with a new immersive exhibition: Euphoria, Art Is in the Air. Spanning more than 40,000 square feet, the space is ...

Chris Nader: A Trailblazer in Nature Tourism

Bélinda Ibrahim 2025-08-29 18:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Nature Tourism Travels Sustainable Tourism Lodges Chris Nader

Telling Chris Nader’s story is like stepping behind the scenes of a quiet revolution, where high-end tourism reconnects with nature and luxury is redefined, not by ostentation but by authenticity and meaning. Chris, a young father and Lebanese entrepreneur based in Dubai, constantly rethinks what vacations, well-being, and hospitality truly mean ...

Lebanon Says ‘I Don’t’: Weddings Plunge to Historic Low in 2025

Liliane Mokbel 2025-08-30 16:00 - Reading : less than a minute

The 2025 wedding season in Lebanon has seen an unprecedented decline, confirming the continued downturn of a sector already weakened in recent years. According to industry professionals, the number of weddings has dropped to just 35% of pre-2019 levels, compared to 50% in 2023 and 40% in 2024. A total decrease of 65% since the beginning of the ...

'Fables Immersives': La Fontaine Like You’ve Never Seen Him Before

Bélinda Ibrahim 2025-08-30 19:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

La Fontaine Exhibition Immersive Paris Culture

As immersive exhibitions continue to captivate ever-growing audiences, Cités Immersives is set to make a major splash this cultural season. Following its success in Rouen with Viking, the company presents a new experience in a 1,000-square-meter venue just steps from the Champs-Élysées, dedicated to the world of Jean de La Fontaine. Living ...

‘Downton Abbey’ Stars Tread Red Carpet for Finale

This is Beirut 2025-09-04 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Film TV Saga Downton Abbey Britain Culture

The stars of Downton Abbey walked the red carpet in London Wednesday for one last time as the hugely successful English country house saga finally comes to an end. Many of the original cast, including Hugh Bonneville, a pregnant Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan, turned out for the world premiere of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in ...

One Drop That Could Replace Reading Glasses: Is Presbyopia’s End in Sight?

Bélinda Ibrahim 2025-08-20 17:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Reading Glasses Drop Presbyopia Eye

For millions over the age of 45, reaching for reading glasses has become second nature, whether to check a label, scroll a phone, or enjoy a novel. Now, a simple daily drop could bring clear, effortless near vision. By the end of 2025, this innovation could transform the daily lives of millions with presbyopia, promising to consign reading glasses ...

Bitter Brew: The Soaring Cost of Your Morning Espresso

Christiane Tager 2025-09-10 12:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Coffee Price Arabica Brazil Espresso

Thought your morning espresso was safe? Think again. In 2025, Arabica prices soared nearly 80%, according to Bellwether Coffee, and the rise shows no signs of slowing. The impact is felt by producers, cafés, and consumers alike. In Lebanon, where every price hike stings twice as much, savoring your coffee has become a luxury, with bitterness ...