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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'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 ...
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 ...
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 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Liverpool Lose to Galatasaray in Champions League, Chelsea Beat Mourinho's Benfica
This is Beirut 01/10 10:25 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Champions League Galatasaray Liverpool Football
A Victor Osimhen penalty gave Galatasaray victory over Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday, while Chelsea edged out Jose Mourinho's Benfica and Kylian Mbappe hit a hat-trick for Real Madrid in Kazakhstan. Elsewhere in the second round of matches in the league phase of Europe's elite club competition, Tottenham battled back to draw with ...
Moscow Talks: Syria and Russia Confront Sensitive Issues
Mario Chartouni 02/10 16:40 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Damascus European Union Gulf Israel Turkey
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa will visit Moscow on October 15 to attend the Russia-Arab League summit, according to al-Hadath. This marks the first high-level meeting between Syria’s new leadership in Damascus and the Kremlin. The visit comes as several sensitive issues remain unresolved, including the future of Russian military bases 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 ...
PSG Stun Barcelona In Champions League, Man City Held By Monaco
This is Beirut 02/10 11:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Title-holders Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 with a last-minute goal in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Manchester City had to settle for a draw in Monaco despite Erling Haaland's double. Elsewhere there were comfortable wins for Arsenal and Newcastle United, as Napoli and Borussia Dortmund were among the ...
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 ...
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 ...
Israel Issues 'Last' Warning for Gaza City Residents to Flee
This is Beirut 01/10 16:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Israel's defense minister issued a final warning for Gaza City residents to flee south on Wednesday, as Hamas weighed US President Donald Trump's plan to end nearly two years of war in the Palestinian territory. Witnesses reported heavy bombardment in Gaza's largest urban center, as Israel Katz warned the military was tightening its encirclement ...
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) ...
Skipping Class, Winning Prizes: The Untold Stories of Nobel Laureates
This is Beirut 03/10 16:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Nobel Prize Education Science Culture
Some Nobel laureates were straight-A students from the get-go. But others AFP spoke to recounted how they cut class, got expelled, and had doubts about their future. Perhaps the most illustrious Nobel Prize winner, Albert Einstein, was once a mediocre student at Zurich Polytechnic School, now ETH Zurich. The young Einstein skipped classes, ...
EU Eyes Building 'Drone Wall': Question is, What is It?
This is Beirut 02/10 16:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
European Union Drones Russia Ukraine
European Union leaders are discussing setting up a "drone wall" of defences after high-profile air incursions by Russia. But the plan appears to mean different things to different countries, and not everyone seems entirely convinced. Here's where we stand: Eastern shield? The first call for the project came last month from EU chief Ursula ...
Rebuilding to Restore Control? Hezbollah’s $3 Billion Gamble
Natasha Metni Torbey 25/09 15:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Lebanon Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah Israel
Three billion dollars. That is the amount estimated by Hezbollah for the reconstruction of war-torn areas through its Waad project and the Jihad al-Bina association. Yet such a figure immediately raises questions. The group is widely believed to be strapped for cash—squeezed by US sanctions and by a land, air and sea blockade meant to choke off ...
Hamas Seeks to Amend Disarmament Clause in Gaza Plan, Source Says
This is Beirut 01/10 13:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Hamas Palestine Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahu USA
Heavy Israeli bombardment rocked Gaza City on Wednesday, witnesses said, as Hamas weighed US President Donald Trump's plan to end nearly two years of devastating war in the Palestinian territory. A Palestinian source close to Hamas told AFP on Wednesday that "no final decision" had been made and that "the movement will likely need two to three ...
Who Is Matthieu Blazy, the Rising Star at the Helm of Chanel?
This is Beirut 30/09 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Fashion Luxury Chanel Matthieu Blazy France Culture
VIPs and fashionistas are all jostling for invitations to the most-coveted show at Paris Fashion Week: Matthieu Blazy's debut at Chanel. But who is the 41-year-old designer? The Franco-Belgian is relatively low-key, certainly not one of the big celebrity names he beat for the job, and was picked for Chanel after a highly successful three-year ...
Trump Gives Hamas Ultimatum on Gaza Deal
This is Beirut 30/09 19:15 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Donald Trump United States Gaza Hamas Israel
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave Hamas an ultimatum of "three or four days" to respond to his plan to end the war in Gaza, as the militant group reviewed the proposal backed by Israel. The plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, a disarmament of Hamas, and the gradual Israeli withdrawal ...