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The IMF’s Lebanon Framework: Balancing State Debt with Depositor Rights
This is Beirut 02/10 11:50 - Reading : 9 minute(s)
Lebanon IMF Central Bank Banks Depositors
As Lebanon faces multiple challenges with economic and financial recovery from the country’s 2019 economic collapse, two interconnected issues remain particularly controversial: recovering the money of Lebanese who lost access to their bank deposits and holding those responsible for squandering their money ...
Trump Threatens Hamas with ‘Complete Obliteration’ If It Refuses to Relinquish Gaza
This is Beirut 05/10 19:29 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Hamas Gaza Israel 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 ...
Trump's 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan that Hamas "Should Accept" or Face Elimination
This is Beirut 29/09 23:10 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu Israel Gaza Hamas
After days of speculation, the White House on Monday released a 20-point plan for ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza, releasing hostages held by Hamas, and outlining the Palestinian enclave's future. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave cautious backing to the ...
Inkript's Bold Exploitation of Citizens: A Scandal Exposed
Karine al-Kassis 29/09 15:00 - Reading : 7 minute(s)
Inkript is one of the most blatant examples of how a public institution can be hijacked and transformed into a private revenue stream. The company entered the Vehicle Registration Authority – al-Nafaa – under the banner of “digital progress and modernization.” But it did not stop at controlling the system; it also reached directly into the ...
The Post-Hezbollah Era
Amine Jules Iskandar 05/10 10:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
While all eyes are fixed on Hezbollah – the force that has dismantled the state, battered the country and decimated its people – another tumor is advancing quietly but steadily. It watches for openings, for posts waiting to be filled, for the countless assets available for acquisition, and the institutions ready to be dominated. Nothing could ...
The Cartel of School Tuitions: How Lebanon’s Middle Class Is Being Crushed
Salam El Zaatari 02/10 11:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Today in Lebanon, the biggest mafia is not only in politics. It’s in education. Private school owners, especially the so-called “Catholic” and “Islamic” institutions that claim to serve God, have turned into a cartel, worshiping only the dollar. Their business model is not about forming the next generation of Lebanese geniuses, but ...
The End of an Era: Hezbollah Without Its Anchor
Natasha Metni Torbey 26/09 12:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah Lebanon Israel
September 27, 2024, marked a turning point for Hezbollah. At 6:30 PM, a powerful shockwave tore through Beirut’s southern suburb and its surroundings, but the deeper tremor was political. In a matter of seconds, the “Party of God” entered free fall. Hassan Nasrallah, the movement’s towering figure, its uncontested leader and the symbol of ...
Trump Envoys Head to Egypt as Hamas Agrees to Free Gaza Hostages
This is Beirut 04/10 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 ...
South Lebanon’s Mouneh: A Living Culinary Heritage
Katia Kahil 28/09 15:55 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
In South Lebanon, life continues under the shadow of targeted Israeli strikes, and the future remains uncertain. Yet in Marjayoun and Hasbaya, daily life carries on. Amid the threat of renewed conflict and the slow, difficult return to their villages, residents hold fast to their traditions, especially the ancestral practice of Mouneh, the careful ...
Trump Gives Hamas Until 2200 GMT Sunday to Agree to Gaza Deal
This is Beirut 03/10 17:55 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Donald Trump Hamas Palestine Benjamin Netanyahu Peace deal Gaza
US President Donald Trump has given Hamas until 2200 GMT on Sunday to accept his 20-point plan for peace in Gaza, warning the Palestinian militant group faced "all hell" if it did not agree to the terms. The US leader set the deadline -which would fall at 1:00 a.m. Monday in Gaza- after an official for the Islamist movement told AFP ...
Claudia Cardinale, Iconic Italian Actress and Muse of Fellini and Visconti, Dies at 87
This is Beirut 24/09 09:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Obituary Claudia Cardinal Icon Film Italy France Culture
Sixties screen siren Claudia Cardinale, who died on Tuesday aged 87, entranced audiences across the globe with the sultry gaze that made her the muse of Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini. With her fierce beauty and husky voice, Cardinale not only captivated Italy's greatest filmmakers, but she also played opposite most of the leading men of ...
Hezbollah: From Military Power to Spoiler Power
Tilda Abou Rizk 27/09 09:30 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah UN Security Council Israel Lebanon
By defying an official ban and illuminating Pigeon Rock in Raouche with portraits of its two former leaders assassinated by Israel in 2024, and mobilizing thousands of supporters for a flagrantly ostentatious show of force, Hezbollah once again pushed the boundaries of its provocative maneuvers. This time, it was through deeds rather than words ...
What Pakistan’s Nuclear Pact Means for Saudi Arabia’s Defense
This is Beirut 24/09 12:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)
Pakistan Saudi Arabia Nuclear Israel United States Russia
Pakistan has extended its nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia in a surprise defense agreement that could reshape strategic alliances in both the Middle East and South Asia. Signed in Riyadh on September 17 between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the treaty commits both countries to mutual ...
Hamas Calls for Swift Hostage-Prisoner Swap as Trump Urges Quick Talks
This is Beirut 01:45 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Gaza Palestine Israel 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 ...
Palestine Recognition: A Symbolic Gesture Devoid of Substance
This is Beirut 22/09 16:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Israel Hamas Palestine United Nations
On September 21, several Western capitals—including London, Ottawa, Lisbon and Canberra—announced the recognition of a Palestinian state. France is set to follow suit on Monday, with Emmanuel Macron confirming that Paris will formalize its decision at the United Nations. The initiative, backed by a United Nations General Assembly resolution a ...
'Sar Wa’et el-Haki' by Philippe Aractingi: Lost Languages, Found Words
Bélinda Ibrahim 04/10 19:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Philippe Aractingi Theater Lebanon Culture Catharsis
Attending “Sar wa’et el-haki” (It’s Time to Talk), Philippe Aractingi’s solo performance, is to dive headfirst into a whirlwind of memories, languages and emotions. The show, staged at the Monnot Theatre from September 30 to October 12, 2025, in Beirut, after a notable tour in France, Germany and Tunisia, was directed by Lina ...
Tehran’s Grip on Lebanon: Will the Shia Duo Break Free or Fall in Line?
Philippe Abi-Akl 23/09 08:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Amal Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Army Iran Lebanon
On the eve of the first anniversary of the September war, Israel escalated its strikes. A raid on Bint Jbeil on Sunday killed five civilians, including three children, and wounded two others. The attack has reignited speculation over the possible activation of “Plan B,” as outlined by US Senator Lindsey Graham, who declared that Hezbollah’s ...
Hamas Says Ready for Peace Talks, Trump Urges Israel to Halt Bombing
This is Beirut 04/10 00:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Donald Trump Gaza United States Israel
Hamas said on Friday it was ready to start immediate talks on freeing the Israeli hostages it holds and the end of the Gaza war, welcoming US President Donald Trump's call for Israel to stop bombing the Palestinian territory. Trump's peace proposal, backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for a halt to hostilities in ...
Sect over State: The Struggle for a Lebanese National Identity
Samar El-Kadi 11:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Lebanon Communities Christians Muslims Hezbollah
“Shia, Shia, Shia,” the cri de guerre of Hezbollah’s partisans for mobilizing and rallying the Shia community in a country that is religiously, culturally, and politically diverse, is a blatant demonstration of communal allegiance over national belonging. Lebanon is one of the world’s most divided countries. Its diversity has complicated ...
The Couple: An Imperfect Fiction Built for Two
David Sahyoun 01/10 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Psychoanalysis Couple Culture Idealization
It all begins with the encounter. Freud identified two unconscious pathways in partner choice: the anaclitic axis, where one seeks the support of early figures (the nurturing mother, the protective father), and the narcissistic axis, where one loves what one once was, what one wishes to become, or what once mirrored the self. The encounter, in ...
Are Things Looking Brighter for the Middle East?
David Hale 03/10 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Lebanon Syria Gaza Hamas Israel 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, ...
Parliamentary Session Descends into Chaos over Expatriate Voting and Raoucheh Dispute
This is Beirut 29/09 14:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Hassan Nasrallah Lebanese Forces Amal Banque du Liban Parliament
The parliamentary session that convened at 11 AM on Monday was adjourned prematurely, with only 9 of the 17 scheduled agenda items addressed. The session was marred by political tensions, as several MPs withdrew in protest at the presidency’s refusal to include the issue of expatriate voting in the upcoming May 2026 legislative elections. Their ...
Palestinian Statehood and the Unanswered Questions
Charles Chartouni 29/09 09:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Benny Gantz Emmanuel Macron Europe Hamas Israel
Political observers' harrowing concern is to consider how timely this political undertaking is under the current circumstances and whether it positively impacts the future of the conflict. It’s not enough to make political statements with no questions about their opportunity and feasibility. Otherwise, the proponents are adding to the problem ...
Israeli Army Still Operating in Gaza Despite Calls for Ceasefire
This is Beirut 04/10 14:24 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Gaza Hamas United States Israel Egypt
Israel said Saturday its troops were still operating in Gaza and warned residents not to return, despite calls from the families of Israeli hostages and US President Donald Trump for an immediate halt to the fighting. Trump issued the appeal to the key US ally after Palestinian militant group Hamas said it was ready to release all hostages and ...
Israel, Hamas Due to Start Ceasefire Talks in Egypt
This is Beirut 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Hamas Israel 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 ...
Hamas Yet to Respond on Trump's Gaza Plan
This is Beirut 30/09 11:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Hamas Palestine Israel Conflict
Hamas is reportedly reviewing US President Donald Trump's proposal for ending the Gaza war, which is backed by the Israeli prime minister. "Hamas has begun a series of consultations within its political and military leaderships, both inside Palestine and abroad," a Palestinian source close to Hamas, speaking on condition of ...
Taylor Swift Strides into 'Showgirl' Era with Sparkly New Album
This is Beirut 03/10 13:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Taylor Swift Music Album Culture Concert Art
Taylor Swift is in a sparkling new era. On Friday, she dropped her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, a collection of bouncy pop songs about love, marriage, success — and score-settling. For the hotly anticipated album, the 35-year-old artist reunited with Swedish hitmakers Max Martin and Shellback, and their influence is clear in the ...
Hezbollah's Raoucheh Message: Overthrowing Salam, Overturning the State
Philippe Abi-Akl 30/09 08:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah Joseph Aoun Lebanon Nawaf Salam Raouche rock
The uprising of Hezbollah’s “parallel state” against the rule of law dominated Lebanese discussions over the weekend, with sovereigntist forces seeing it as another May 7-style move against Prime Minister Nawaf Salam: a potential coup and a shift from coexistence to confrontation. As local appeasements failed to contain the fallout from ...
Constitutional Council Upholds Banking Authority and Ties Bank Reform Law to Gap Law
Maurice Matta 04/10 17:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Lebanon’s Constitutional Council issued a ruling partially annulling Law No. 23/2025 on banking reform and restructuring, following an appeal filed by ten MPs. In form, the Council accepted the appeal, as it was filed within the legal timeframe and met all procedural requirements. In substance, it decided to annul parts of the contested ...
From Survival to Revival: The World’s Last Beetling Mill Eyes a Bright Future
This is Beirut 26/09 17:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Craft Linen Heritage Fashion Northern Ireland Culture
The noise is deafening and the work can be lonely, but to William Smyth, who toils in the world's last commercial linen "beetling" mill, his job is unique. "There's nothing modern about it, I'm doing the same now as they were doing 100 years and more ago," said Smyth, 59, at the mill in Northern Ireland in a village some 45 miles (70 kilometers) ...