This is Beirut

Julia Roberts, Jude Law to Feature at Star-Packed Venice Film Festival

This is Beirut, 22/07 17:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Movies Festival Venice Stars Italy Culture

US megastar Julia Roberts is to make her debut at the Venice Film Festival this year, which will also feature Jude Law playing Russian leader Vladimir Putin and a hard-hitting film about Gaza. Roberts is one of many A-listers set to appear at the increasingly influential Venice film extravaganza from late August for the premiere of her latest ...

Western Nations Call for Immediate End to Gaza War as Israel Expands Offensive

This is Beirut, 21/07 22:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Gaza United Kingdom Canada Australia France Italy

More than two dozen Western countries called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza on Monday, saying suffering there had "reached new depths" as Israel's military expanded its operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah. After more than 21 months of fighting that have triggered catastrophic humanitarian conditions for ...

Venice Film Festival: Italy Kicks Off with Sorrentino’s 'La Grazia'

Bélinda Ibrahim, 19/07 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Paolo Sorrentino La Grazia Venice Film Festival Cinema Italy Movie

The acclaimed director will launch the festival on August 27, 2025, with this highly anticipated work, fifteen years after leaving a mark with Il Divo or La Grande Bellezza. Early commentators have described La Grazia as a “love letter to Italy, to cinema and to powerful women.” The world premiere will take place at the historic Palazzo del ...

New Gaza-Bound Aid Boat Leaves Italy

This is Beirut, 13/07 15:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Palestine Hamas Israel United Nations Italy

A Gaza-bound boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists and humanitarian aid left Sicily on Sunday, over a month after Israel detained and deported people aboard a previous vessel. The Handala, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left the port of Syracuse shortly after 12:00 pm (1000 GMT), an AFP journalist saw, carrying about fifteen ...

Dozens Hurt in Fuel Station Blast Heard Across Rome

This is Beirut, 04/07 15:19 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Italy Rome Explosion

A huge explosion at a petrol station in a Rome suburb on Friday injured nearly 30 people, two of them seriously, and rattled windows across the Italian capital. The blast around 8:20am (0620 GMT) was preceded by a fire caused by a gas leak during refuelling, according to Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, who provided the toll of injured. Gualtieri ...

How Robots and Raw Earth Are Redefining Homebuilding

Bélinda Ibrahim, 03/07 14:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Homebuilding Robots Cocoons TECLA Italy

They look like cocoons, settled on the ground as if they had naturally grown there. No straight lines, no concrete, just earth, carefully layered by two robotic arms moving with the grace of a choreographed dance. In 200 hours—barely eight days—an entire house takes shape. Printed on site using only natural materials. Its name? TECLA. Its ...

Léa Massari, Quiet Elegance of European Cinema and Silent Memory of the Silver Screen

Marie-Christine Tayah, 26/06 11:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Cinema Culture Art Léa Massari France Italy

Léa Massari, the delicate and unforgettable star of the silver screen, passed away in Rome at the age of 91. Born Anna Maria Massatani, she embodied Italian cinema through and through, and won over French audiences with her subtle performances and enigmatic presence. Her filmography was defined by integrity, restraint, and an irresistible ...

Farewell to Léa Massari, Iconic Actress of French and Italian Cinema

This is Beirut, 25/06 17:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Cinema Actress Léa Massari Obituary Italy Culture

The Italian actress, Léa Massari, celebrated for her roles in L’Avventura and Le souffle au cœur, passed away in Rome, Italian officials confirmed on Wednesday. Lucia Borgonzoni, Italy’s Secretary of State for Culture, paid tribute to “an actress of irresistible magnetism and dazzling talent.” According to the Roman daily Il Messaggero, ...

Italian Sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro Dies Aged Nearly 99

This is Beirut, 23/06 16:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Sculpture Arnaldo Pomodoro Death Arts Italy Culture

Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, renowned for his huge bronze spheres, died at the weekend, a day before his 99th birthday, his foundation said on Monday. Born in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna on June 23, 1926, Pomodoro began investigating solid geometric forms in the early 1960s. He created monumental spheres, cones, columns and ...

Giorgio Armani to Miss Milan Fashion Week Shows

This is Beirut, 21/06 14:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Milan Italy Fashion Milan Fashion Week Culture Art

Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who is "currently recovering at home", will miss two of his shows at the Milan Fashion Week, his company said Friday. The 90-year-old designer will not attend Saturday's and Monday's shows, set to present Armani's menswear collections for Spring-Summer 2026, a statement said. "Armani has worked with his ...

Syria Resumes SWIFT Transfers for First Time Since 2011

This is Beirut, 19/06 16:30 - Reading : less than a minute

Banks Syria Italy SWIFT economy

For the first time since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Syria has completed an international bank transfer via the SWIFT system – a symbolic step toward reintegration into the global financial network. The announcement came on Thursday from Central Bank Governor Abdelkader Husrieh, who revealed in an interview with Reuters that ...

Gattuso Named New Italy Coach After Spalletti Sacking

This is Beirut, 16/06 15:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Italy National Team World Cup 2026 Gattuso

Gennaro Gattuso was named Italy's new coach on Sunday and will be tasked with helping the Azzurri qualify for the 2026 World Cup after replacing Luciano Spalletti. The 47-year-old was part of the 2006 World Cup-winning side and won 73 caps for the national team as a player. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said Gattuso would be presented ...

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