Culture

Pharrell Williams Becomes UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Education

This is Beirut 18/12 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Culture Art UNESCO Singer Goodwill Paris

Pharrell Williams, global pop and fashion icon, was appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for arts, education, and entrepreneurship during a ceremony held Tuesday at the United Nations organization’s headquarters in Paris. In an official statement, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO's Director-General, praised Williams as a "complete artist" and a "humanist ...

Chronicle Francisco Fullana, a Modern-Day Paganini

Alain E. Andrea 17/12 17:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA

Beirut, it was time—high time to shed mourning and embrace the vibrant hues of life. Finally, it was time to rebuild, both this ruined country and its wounded souls, so this city of light could once more begin to heal. The musical evening of December 16, led by Spanish violinist Francisco Fullana as part of the Beirut Chants Festival, was a ...

Algeria: Imprisoned Author Boualem Sansal Transferred to Medical Care

This is Beirut 17/12 16:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Culture Algeria France

Boualem Sansal, who has been detained since mid-November for "threatening state security," was transferred to a medical care unit, his publisher and lawyer in France reported on Monday. Speaking at a solidarity event held in a Paris theater, publisher Antoine Gallimard and lawyer François Zimeray addressed several hundred attendees. “We ...

Iranian Singer Parastoo Ahmadi Arrested for Daring Desert Concert

This is Beirut 17/12 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Culture Concert Iran

On December 11, 2024, 27-year-old Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi performed an unprecedented concert in the Iranian desert, her hair uncovered and shoulders bare. Without an audience but streamed live on YouTube, the performance quickly went viral. Fully aware of the risks, Parastoo boldly defied Iran’s strict laws, which prohibit women from ...

PortraitZakir Hussain: The Tabla Maestro Who United the World

Bélinda Ibrahim 17/12 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

India Music Culture

Zakir Hussain, the undisputed master of the tabla, made his mark in the history of music by building bridges between the East and the West. Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai into a family of musicians, he was the son of the renowned Alla Rakha and was destined for an exceptional career. A true child prodigy, he gave his first public concert at the ...

Tunisia: The 35th Carthage Film Festival Kicks off in Tunis

This is Beirut 16/12 18:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Culture Cinema Film Art

The 35th Carthage Film Festival (JCC), one of Africa and the Arab world’s most iconic cinematic events, officially began in Tunis on December 14, 2024. This year’s program offers a diverse lineup of over 200 films, reflecting themes of social justice, cultural resilience, and artistic expression. The festival opened with two standout films at ...

'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy' Arrives on Valentine’s Day 2025

Madeleine Cadoux 16/12 14:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Culture Art Cinema Film

After eight years of speculation, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy has finally arrived. Following Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), The Edge of Reason (2004) and Bridget Jones's Baby (2016), the upcoming film adapts Helen Fielding’s bestselling novel of the same name. This chapter takes a dramatic turn: Bridget is a widowed single mother navigating ...

Vintage Subway Cars Bring 1930s New York Back to Life

This is Beirut 16/12 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Culture NewYork Art

In a unique tribute to New York’s rich transit history, vintage subway cars from the 1930s have returned for a limited time. These R1-9 railcars invite passengers to experience the past firsthand, blending nostalgia with New York’s timeless energy. Nearly a century after the New York subway introduced its iconic R1-9 fleet, the agency has ...

ExclusiveBaalbeck Recounts... Richter and Rostropovich, the Convergence of the Stars

Alain E. Andrea 15/12 17:25 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Baalbeck

“It is not the path that is difficult; it is the difficult that is the path.” This aphorism from the great Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) illustrates, through its paradox, the contrast between effort and goal, discipline and freedom. This reflection is entirely fitting within the domain of classical music, especially when ...

The Art of Wearing Red Lipstick with Confidence and Style

Marie-Christine Tayah 15/12 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Culture Art Fashion Red Lipstick Style

More than a cosmetic, red lipstick is a story of empowerment, growth and everlasting style. Its voyage spans thousands of years, deeply rooted in old traditions, and evolves into a universal icon of femininity and power. A Step Back in Time Red lipstick has an amazing past, evolving from ancient beauty practices into a universal symbol of ...

Angélique Angarni-Filopon Crowned Miss France at 34: Historic Feminist Victory

Madeleine Cadoux 15/12 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Culture MissFrance Contest Art

With an all-female jury and a presidency led by Sylvie Vartan, who succeeded Sylvie Tellier, the 2024 edition of Miss France broke boundaries and embraced a distinctly feminist tone. The evening celebrated diversity and the evolution of beauty standards by awarding the crown to Angélique Angarni-Filopon, Miss Martinique 2024, the first-ever ...

Red Sea International Film Festival 2024: Closing Ceremony and Awards

This is Beirut 14/12 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Culture Cinema Art RedSea Festival Film

The fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival’s grand finale featured the awards ceremony and a gala screening of Johnny Depp’s directorial Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness, a captivating Red Sea Film Financing project. Celebrating global icons and the spirit of cinema Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, both ...