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Lebanon–Syria: Borderlines and Broken Promises

When Greater Lebanon was proclaimed on September 1, 1920, by General Henri Gouraud, a new geopolitical reality emerged. The newly formed Lebanese State extended beyond historic Mount Lebanon to include parts of the Sanjaks of Tripoli and Saida, the city of Beirut and 4 districts annexed to Lebanese territory: Baalbeck, the Beqaa, Rashaya and ...

Lucie Retail, Quadruple Amputee: ‘I Feel More Woman Than Ever’

“Can’t dance standing up? Dance on your knees.” When Lucie Retail utters these words on the Paralympic stage, a hush falls over the audience – followed by a thunder of emotional and admiring applause. There is nothing pitiful or theatrical in her statement. It is raw, direct. It tells the truth of an amputated body that still stands. It ...

‘Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way:’ Myth or Reality?

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way” – most of us have grown up hearing it, whether at home, in school, or later in the workplace. It’s become so familiar that we rarely question it, repeating it like a modern mantra. But beneath its motivational appeal lies one of the more damaging myths of our time. It implies that sheer willpower ...

Behind Closed Doors: The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Reign of Fear and Death

Nothing has fundamentally changed in Iran since the June 2025 war. The regime didn’t suddenly tip into totalitarianism — it was already there. What the war did trigger, however, was a brutal acceleration of repression in a system that had long relied solely on fear. Security obsession has morphed into full-blown paranoia, and Iran’s ...

Iran: What Are the Chances for a Popular Uprising?

The recent regional war that has shaken the Middle East has reignited a persistent question: Is Iran now on the brink of a large-scale popular uprising capable of shaking, or even overthrowing, the current regime? Could the current circumstances truly lead to a profound political transformation, or should we instead expect a tightening of ...

Central Bank of Lebanon’s Governor Proposes a Specialized Body for Bank Restructuring

The subcommittee of the parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, continues its review of the draft Banking Sector Restructuring Law. The discussions are centered on resolving divergences between the government's proposal, the IMF’s recommendations, and the proposals presented by Central Bank of ...

US Envoy Thomas Barrack Urges Lebanon to Seize the Moment, or Be Left Behind

US Special Envoy Thomas Barrack delivered a strong message to Lebanese leaders on Monday, urging them to “seize the opportunity” for peace and reform while the region is moving forward on the path of change and the United States remains engaged and supportive. His remarks to the press followed a meeting with President Joseph Aoun at ...

From Bardot to Birkin: The Timeless Allure of the Basket Bag

For several seasons, wicker and raffia baskets have shed their humble beachside and market origins, transformed by top designers into must-have summer staples. This trend is rooted in dual heritage: the laid-back practicality paired with the sun-drenched glamour of the Riviera. Once a simple everyday item, the basket bag has become a style icon ...

Israel Cracks Down on Hezbollah’s Financial Hubs

As Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks continue to pound South Lebanon, a strategic front is rapidly emerging. Israel is now openly targeting Hezbollah’s financial infrastructure, marking a shift from battlefield confrontation to economic warfare. This week was a turning point. On Wednesday, the Israeli military released an unprecedented map ...

Mbappe and PSG Set for Club World Cup Reunion as Real Madrid Eye Final

Kylian Mbappe will come up against Paris Saint-Germain for the first time since leaving the French club a year ago as Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid revolution gets its biggest test yet in Wednesday's Club World Cup semi-final. Mbappe should be remembered as a PSG legend, having spent seven prolific campaigns there and eventually departing as their ...

Hezbollah’s Arms and the US Ultimatum: Lebanon Faces Critical Decisions

The question of Hezbollah’s weapons cannot be resolved solely within Lebanon. As an ideological, military and political extension of Iran, Hezbollah’s arsenal is intrinsically linked to broader regional dynamics, especially the power balance between Tehran and Washington. Experts agree that local initiatives will be ineffective unless ...

Where Do Trade Talks Stand in the Rush to Avert Higher US Tariffs?

US President Donald Trump has said he will send letters to select trade partners facing tariff hikes as early as Monday, piling pressure on countries to strike a deal with Washington before a new August 1 deadline. The White House announced sharp levies on dozens of economies in April, citing a lack of "reciprocity" in trade relations, which were ...

Macron Urges New Era of Anglo-French Unity in Address to UK Parliament

President Emmanuel Macron argued Tuesday that France and Britain must work together to defend the post-World War II "international order," as he addressed parliament on the first day of his UK state visit. The first such visit by an EU head of state since Brexit, Macron said in a wide-ranging speech that the two countries must renew their ...

U.S. Labels Iran’s Halt of IAEA Cooperation as "Unacceptable"

Iran's suspension of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is unacceptable, US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Wednesday. Tehran officially suspended its cooperation with the IAEA, a move triggered by the unprecedented Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear facilities over 12 ...

When Faith Challenges Power: Armenia’s Deepening Rift

A political bombshell in an already turbulent Armenia. On June 26, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian, a rising figure in the opposition, was placed in pre-trial detention in Yerevan. As leader of the Srbazan Paykar (“Sacred Struggle”) movement, he stands accused of plotting to overthrow Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government by force. ...

Desperate Search for Missing Girls as Nearly 80 Dead in Texas Floods

Rescuers in Texas raced against time Sunday to find dozens of missing people, including children, swept away by flash floods that killed at least 78 people, with forecasters warning of new deluges. US President Donald Trump said he would "probably" visit the southern state on Friday. The president brushed off concerns his administration's ...

Lebanon: A Laboratory for a Pharmaceutical Industry in Full Transformation

Lebanon has always played a central role in the health field in the Middle East. A land of renowned hospitals, foreign-trained doctors, Gulf patients and proven pharmaceutical know-how, the 1990s saw the return in force of multinational drug companies, firmly established in a country relying on imports as a guarantee of quality in a liberal ...

'Hug Therapy': How Pope Leo is Trying to Unify Vatican

Pope Leo XIV heads off on holiday on Sunday, having spent his first two months as Catholic leader rebuilding unity and bolstering tradition after his predecessor's unorthodox papacy. "Prudent", "methodical" and "listening" are some of the words used by Vatican insiders who spoke to AFP to describe the approach of the first American pope, who took ...

Iran Holds State Funeral for Top Brass Slain in War with Israel

Iran held a state funeral service Saturday for around 60 people, including its military commanders, killed in its war with Israel, after Tehran's top diplomat condemned Donald Trump's comments on supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as "unacceptable." The proceedings started at 8:00 am local time (0430 GMT) in the capital ...

Hamas Signals Readiness for Ceasefire Talks as Israeli Strikes Kill 32 in Gaza

Israel was mulling its response on Saturday after Hamas said it was ready to start talks "immediately" on a US-sponsored proposal for a Gaza ceasefire. The security cabinet was expected to meet after the end of the Jewish Sabbath at sundown to discuss Israel's next steps as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to leave for ...

Lebanon’s Role in the Emerging Middle East: The Armistice as a Cornerstone

Although Hezbollah has refrained from directly involving Lebanon in the Israel-Iran conflict – limiting its role to rhetorical support – the country remains deeply affected by the ceasefire between these regional powers, according to an Arab diplomat. This truce is part of a broader peace initiative that United States President Donald Trump ...

Yasmina Sabbah Fuses the Unexpected in Symphonic Electro-Dance

Picture the scene: a full symphony orchestra, a fifty-voice choir, a live DJ, a vocalist with oriental inflections – and a set list that spans Lady Gaga, Daft Punk, Calvin Harris, Amr Diab and Najwa Karam. This isn’t a dreamscape – it’s Symphonic Electro-Dance, the latest installment of the Symphonic Fusion series launched by Saint-Joseph ...

The Peace Riddles Between Lebanon and Syria

The destruction of the operational platforms of Iranian subversion politics in the Near East is not yet complete, as none of the concerned countries has been able to oversee a path to stabilization. Syria, with its overwhelming reconstruction and national reconciliation assignments, has a long way to go before steadying its course. Lebanon is ...

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

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 ...

Macron and Putin Discuss Iran and Ukraine in First Talks Since 2022

Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin spoke Tuesday by telephone for the first time in over two-and-a-half years, with the French president urging a ceasefire in Ukraine, but Russia's leader hit back by blaming the West for the conflict. One week after a ceasefire ended Israel's 12-day war with Iran, the two men also discussed Tehran's ...

Haute Couture kicks off in Paris: Schiaparelli and Iris van Herpen dream of elsewhere

From the future to the ocean floor, Schiaparelli and Iris van Herpen opened Paris Haute Couture Week with a longing for the extraordinary—set against a backdrop of ongoing artistic reshuffles in the fashion world. Schiaparelli opened the week on Monday with its Fall-Winter 2025–2026 collection titled Back to the Future, blending futuristic ...

Joao Pedro Brace Sends Chelsea Into Club World Cup Final

New signing Joao Pedro scored twice on his first start as Chelsea eased to a 2-0 win over Fluminense on Tuesday to seal a spot in the final of the Club World Cup. The Brazilian striker opened the scoring in lethal fashion in the 18th minute of the last-four clash at the MetLife Stadium and struck again shortly before the hour mark as Chelsea set ...

Netanyahu vows to uproot Hamas as ceasefire proposals are discussed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Wednesday to eradicate Hamas, even as the Palestinian militant group said it was discussing new proposals from mediators for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Israeli leader had yet to comment on US President Donald Trump's claim that Israel had backed a plan for a 60-day truce in its offensive against ...

Norris Secures Pole at Austrian GP With Stunning Last Lap to End Verstappen Dominance

Lando Norris delivered a superb final flying lap in his McLaren on Saturday to end Max Verstappen's run of domination in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring by claiming pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix. The 25-year-old Briton clocked an outstanding lap in one minute and 3.971 seconds to outpace nearest rival Charles Leclerc of Ferrari by ...

Texas Flood Kills 50, Dozens of Children Still Missing After River Camp Disaster

Rescuers searched through the night early Sunday for 27 girls missing from a riverside summer camp in Texas after torrential rains caused devastating floods that killed at least 50 people in the US state. Multiple flash flood warnings remained in place across central Texas after water surged through communities, with the Guadalupe River rising by ...