This is Beirut

'The Testament of Ann Lee': Seyfried Embodies a Feminist Prophet in Fastvold’s Poetic Tribute

This is Beirut, 03/09 21:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

With The Testament of Ann Lee, a movie about the founder of the 18th-century Shaker religious movement screening at the Venice Film Festival, director Mona Fastvold sought to honor a figure "on the verge of being erased from memory". Lee, played by Amanda Seyfried in the film that premiered at Venice this week, was "one of the very first American ...

Diplomatic Maneuvering and Political Uncertainty: Lebanon Under International Pressure

This is Beirut, 02/09 16:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hezbollah Israel Lebanon Disarmament Jean-Yves Le Drian Morgan Ortagus US France

Lebanon is preparing to host two senior envoys in the coming days as its government readies a crucial Cabinet session on September 5. French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian and US diplomat Morgan Ortagus return to Beirut to revive talks on security, disarmament and reconstruction. Appointed by French President Emmanuel Macron, Le Drian is ...

Perhaps What Is Meant Is the Collapse of Deadlines…

Johnny Kortbawi, 30/08 14:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu US Tom Barrack Lebanon Syria

Tom Barrack has made more than one misstep – mistakes that some might even consider political sins. The issue is not simply what he told journalists at Baabda Palace, but the deeper political and strategic implications of his words. At a time when the government is moving toward the point of no return on Barrack’s proposal, and after failing ...

Julia Roberts Shakes Up Venice with Campus Drama After the Hunt

This is Beirut, 29/08 17:10 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Film Festival Venice Julia Roberts US Italy Culture

Julia Roberts hopes to "stir it all up" for viewers of her new film about a university professor grappling with fraught US campus politics, as the Hollywood star made her debut at the Venice Film Festival on Friday. The Pretty Woman star was attending the city's festival for the first time in her career for After the Hunt, a cancel-culture ...

Jon Batiste’s "Big Money": A Musical Call to Climate Action

This is Beirut, 28/08 16:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Music Jon Batiste Climat Environment US Culture

Celebrated US musician Jon Batiste wants to use his music to fire up listeners to act against climate change, naming his new album after what he sees as the root of the problem, Big Money. The track Petrichor in particular is a call to arms for a younger generation who may have turned their backs on mainstream news and analysis about global ...

'Weapons' Rules North American Box Office for Second Week

This is Beirut, 18/08 12:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Box Office Cinema Movies Culture Art US

Buzzy horror film Weapons won the North American box office for a second week running with $25 million in ticket sales, industry estimates showed Sunday. The Warner Bros. movie starring Julia Garner (Ozark) and Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War) tells the story of the mysterious disappearance of a group of children from the same school ...

India's Security Chief in Moscow After US Tariff Threats

This is Beirut, 06/08 09:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Ukraine Russia US India Tariff Oil

India's national security adviser was in Moscow on Wednesday, media in New Delhi reported, after Washington threatened to hike US tariffs because of India's purchases of Russian oil. India is a major buyer of Russian oil, a key source of revenue for Moscow's military offensive on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was considering ...

Honkytonk Kenya: Africa’s Home of Country Music

This is Beirut, 28/07 16:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Music Kenya US Culture

The party is in Kenya, but the vibe is distinctly Americana: a sea of cowboy hats and boots with a soundtrack of whisky-soaked tales about heartbreak and good old boys. Kenya has become the unlikely home of a growing country music scene, possibly the biggest in Africa, as testified by the thousands line-dancing in a field in the capital Nairobi ...

Trump, Fed Chief Powell Bicker During Tense Central Bank Visit

This is Beirut, 25/07 09:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Politics Fed US

Donald Trump and US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell appeared together for a tense meeting Thursday as the president toured the central bank after ramping up his attacks on its management of the economy. Trump -- who wants to oust Powell for refusing to lower interest rates but likely lacks the legal authority to do so -- has threatened to ...

‘Star Wars’ Creator George Lucas Makes Comic-Con Debut

This is Beirut, 24/07 13:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Entertainment Comic-Con George Lucas Star Wars US Culture

Comic-Con kicks off Thursday in San Diego, California, with expectations running high among devoted fans keen to catch a glimpse of George Lucas at his first ever appearance at the convention. Other expected highlights of the gathering - one of the world's biggest celebrations of pop culture - include the world premiere of the prequel series ...

Pedro Pascal Stars as Mister Fantastic in Marvel’s 'Fantastic Four' Blockbuster

This is Beirut, 23/07 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Movies Pedro Pascal Fantastic Four US Culture

American Chilean actor Pedro Pascal is set to star as a stretchy Earth savior in Marvel's latest blockbuster The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which releases worldwide this week and will test the appetite for more superhero films. After wielding a sword in Gladiator 2 and a gun in The Last of Us, the 50-year-old plays the elastic Mister Fantastic ...

Kremlin Cautions 'Lots of Work' Ahead Before Ukraine Peace Deal

This is Beirut, 21/07 15:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Ukraine Kremlin Volodymyr Zelensky Russia US France

Russia on Monday downplayed the chances of a breakthrough in peace talks with Ukraine, saying the two sides held "diametrically" opposed positions, hours after it launched a massive drone and missile barrage on Kyiv. Moscow said a date for talks was being worked on, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed holding fresh negotiations ...

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