This is Beirut

Chess World Grieves Loss of US Grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky

This is Beirut, 21/10 10:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Chess Culture Art Heritage Daniel Naroditsky

The chess world has been plunged into mourning following the sudden death of prominent US grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, aged 29. Governing body the International Chess Federation (FIDE) remembered Naroditsky, who was also a chess commentator and streamer, as someone "whose influence extended far beyond the chessboard." Fellow grandmaster and ...

'Black Phone 2' Rings Up No. 1 at U.S. Box Office

This is Beirut, 20/10 18:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Cinema Box office movies Culture Art

Black Phone 2, a horror sequel starring Ethan Hawke, captured the top spot at the North American box office with $26.5 million as spooky season shifts into high gear in the run-up to Halloween, industry estimates showed Sunday. The film from Universal and low-budget horror specialists Blumhouse has excellent critical and audience scores, said ...

Kering Sells Beauty Arm to L’Oréal in $4.6 Billion Deal

This is Beirut, 20/10 13:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Gucci Luxury L'Oréal Culture Art

Debt-laden French luxury group Kering is selling its beauty products business, including its leading perfume brand Creed, to cosmetics giant L’Oréal in a deal worth $4.6 billion, the companies said Sunday. The deal also gives L’Oréal 50-year exclusive licenses to develop and distribute products under Kering’s fashion labels Gucci, Bottega ...

Art and Faith Unite in Tehran’s Virgin Mary Station

This is Beirut, 19/10 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iran Tehran Art Culture

Shiite Islam may be the official religion in Iran, but entering Tehran's brand-new Maryam Moghaddas metro station, you could be forgiven for feeling as if you're stepping inside a Christian church. Maryam Moghaddas in Persian translates as "Holy Mary." And the station's vaulted and arched concourse, with a dome decorated with Persian motifs, ...

The British Museum Goes Glam: London’s Answer to the Met Gala

This is Beirut, 18/10 13:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Museum London British Museum Art Culture

The British Museum, the prestigious London institution, is hosting its first-ever fundraising gala on Saturday — a lavish and glamorous event aiming to rival New York’s Met Gala, and above all, to raise money to offset declining public subsidies. The museum, which holds one of the largest permanent collections in the world, says it aims to ...

Prague: Where Light Becomes Art

This is Beirut, 17/10 15:55 - Reading : less than a minute

Prague Unesco Art Technology

Seventeen installations transform Prague’s streets into a living gallery. Light, movement and creativity breathe new life into its UNESCO-listed heart.

Sam Fender Wins 2025 Mercury Prize with 'People Watching'

This is Beirut, 17/10 13:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Culture UK Art Music Prize Mercury Prize

Rock singer Sam Fender took home the prestigious 2025 Mercury Prize on Thursday night with his album People Watching, during a ceremony held for the first time outside London. The 31-year-old singer-songwriter, born and raised in North Shields, received the award in front of a cheering crowd at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena. Jury members praised ...

Hermès’ Designer Veronique Nichanian to Step Down after 37 Years

This is Beirut, 17/10 12:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Culture Hermès Mode Art Fashion

Hermes chief menswear designer Veronique Nichanian is to step down after 37 years in charge and will present her final show for the luxury house in January, the company announced on Friday. Hermes announced the change "with heartfelt emotion", paying tribute to Nichanian's "eye, her vision, her generosity, her energy and her curiosity" in a press ...

Legendary Hollywood Illustrator Drew Struzan Dies at 78

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

Star Wars Cinema Drew Struzan Heritage Culture Art

Hollywood illustrator Drew Struzan, the man behind legendary film posters for hit films such as E.T., Star Wars and Indiana Jones, has died at the age of 78, prompting a flood of tributes. Struzan was a favorite of directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, and his drawing style came to symbolize the posters of Hollywood's late 1970s and 1980s ...

French Films Thrive in Russia Despite Deep Political Divide

This is Beirut, 15/10 14:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Cinema Russia France Culture Art

On a cold autumn evening in Moscow, Alexandra was headed to a cinema, hoping to escape reality for a few hours by taking in a new French comedy. With Hollywood boycotting the Russian market over Moscow's offensive on Ukraine, French films are one of the few cultural windows Russians have left to the West. And even as relations between Paris ...

In 'the Last Ship', Sting Honors a Lost Industry and Warns of a Divided Future

This is Beirut, 15/10 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Music Sting AI Britain Culture Art

British singer-songwriting legend Sting finds the multiple genres and streaming platforms of the modern music scene "quite odd", but still believes in the power of song to unite people. In an interview with AFP, the 74-year-old with 17 Grammy Awards and sales of over 100 million albums also spoke about his worries about AI as a tool for ...

Taylor Swift, Love, Diamonds and Pop: Everything She Touches Turns to Gold

Marie-Christine Tayah, 14/10 16:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Taylor Swift Music Culture Economy Art Star

Dominating music charts, Taylor Swift leads in multiple areas, establishing herself as a worldwide sensation. The American star creates rare ripple effects across music, fashion and even finance. At 35, after announcing her engagement to American football player Travis Kelce this summer, Swift triggered an immediate reaction from millions of fans ...

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