This is Beirut

"Those About To Die": Where "Game of Thrones" meets the Olympics. Roland Emmerich's new series starring Anthony Hopkins is a must watch for fans of historical epics.

By Béatrice Moreau

‘Those About To Die’: Where Olympics Meet ‘Game of Thrones’ Listen to the article Roland Emmerich's latest epic series Those About To Die takes viewers on a thrilling journey through ancient Rome, reminiscent of Game of Thrones but with a twist of chariot races and gladiator battles. The show, starring Anthony Hopkins as Emperor Vespasian, promises to be a v...

The drone shot down over the Israeli maritime zone where the Karish field is located was sent on a reconnaissance mission to film and send a message to the Israelis: Israeli oil installations are within Hezbollah’s firing range.

By Bassam Abou Zeid

Hezbollah’s Drone to Karish: Mere Reconnaissance or Attempted Attack? The Israeli army announced shooting down a drone coming from Lebanon over the Israeli maritime economic zone where oil and gas wells are located, notably the Karish field. Israel continues to extract gas and oil from this field despite the ongoing war in Gaza and southern Lebanon. According to the I...

On Saturday morning, the Israeli army announced that an Israeli Navy missile ship intercepted a drone that entered Israeli economic waters from Lebanese territory.

Israel Claims to Have Intercepted Drone from Lebanon in Israeli Waters Despite the prevailing impressions among most official, diplomatic, internal and external security entities that the confrontations on the southern border front with Israel could expand into a full-scale war, fears have grown that the reality on this front, which has effectively turned into a front....

The Paris Olympics opened controversially, but the city is ready and excited for the games, with athletes from around the world, including Lebanon, set to compete.

By Makram Haddad

Olympic Games : Well, Let the Games Begin! It’s official, it's today, and the # # Olympiad in Paris is underway. After an opening ceremony in the rain, with the Seine as the stage, Paris officially launched its Games on Friday night. The ceremony has left mixed reviews. The scene of the Last Supper on the Seine, a perhaps approximate pu...

Composers of Western art music have depicted the tragedy of war through various musical works while yearning for long-awaited peace.

By Alain E. Andrea

When Music Screams War to Dream of Peace (1/2) Listen to the article Composers of Western art music have depicted the tragedy of war through various musical works while yearning for long-awaited peace. The first article of this series will cover three of Beethoven’s works, as we commemorate the bicentennial of the 9th Symphony. War rages still...

Three Lebanese athletes make their Olympic debut on Saturday. The spotlight will be on the unfortunate Hady Habib, who will have the tough task of limiting the damage against the Spanish ‘ogre’, Carlos Alacaraz.

By Makram Haddad

Olympic Games: Hady Habib Opens the Ball for Lebanon Against Alcaraz on Saturday It's hard to imagine how Lebanese tennis player Hady Habib could have got ‘his’ Olympic Games off to a worse start. Of all the possible opponents, he had to come up against Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard is the best player on the world circuit at the moment and has just won back-to-back French Ope...

Hezbollah claimed having “fired an anti-aircraft missile” at Israeli warplanes flying over south Lebanon, forcing them to retreat. Is it a game changer or an incident that can be exploited politically by Hezbollah?

By Elie-Joe Kamel

Hezbollah “Forces an Israeli Plane to Retreat”: Khaled Hamade Clarifies Listen to the article Hezbollah’s air defense units “fired an anti-aircraft missile” at Israeli warplanes flying over south Lebanon”, forcing them “to retreat from the Lebanese airspace”, according to a communiqué published by Hezbollah on the night of Thursday to Friday. Is it a game c...

US President Joe Biden decided to provide some 11,500 eligible Lebanese nationals with Deferred Enforced Departure, allowing them to remain in the US regardless of their visa expiry and their status, and to eventually apply for work permits.

By Samar Kadi

Lebanese Nationals Allowed to Overstay in the US by Presidential Decision Listen to the article US Special Presidential Coordinator for Global Infrastructure and Energy Security, Amos Hochstein, announced on Friday President Joe Biden’s decision to provide some 11,500 eligible Lebanese nationals with a Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) allowing them to remain in the US ...

Sudan has been witnessing a severe humanitarian crisis for 15 months, with 12 million people displaced since April 2023.

Social unrest, political instability and skyrocketing food prices have plunged the country into deeper poverty and violence, including acts of genocide and sexual abuse.

The United States is stepping in with ceasefire talks scheduled for August 14 in Switzerland, aiming to end the conflict and ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to resolving the crisis, while Amnesty International is pushing for extending the Sudan arms embargo to reduce violence.

With weapons flooding into the region, tens of thousands of lives have been lost, highlighting the urgent need for stricter monitoring and a broader embargo to protect civilians.

The Israeli military is gearing up for a “decisive offensive” against Hezb, according to Major General Ori Gordin, the commanding officer in the country’s north.

Israeli Military Prepares for “Decisive Offensive” Against Hezbollah The Israeli military is gearing up for a “decisive offensive” against Hezbollah, according to Major General Ori Gordin, the commanding officer in the country’s north. This comes after months of deadly exchanges across the border, which intensified following the October 7 attack by Hamas on sou...

In a chaotic environment where everything calls for division and wars are raging, young filmmakers strive to tell extraordinary stories that are yet so close to the essence.

By Marie-Christine Tayah

‘Shift:’ A Documented Birdwatching Journey and Inner Transformation Listen to the article Shift, directed by Sherine Raffoul and Moussa Shabandar, explores the transition of Chadi Saad, a former hunter turned bird observer, within the framework of the Biodiversity and Cinema project. This film, focusing on personal and ecological metamorphosis, is screened at the RE...

- Big News From BDH!

BDH President Antoine Habib detailed that of all the loans granted, 2,098 were for purchases, 231 for constructions and 186 renovations. He added that the construction loans are repaid over 18 years and the renovation ones over 10 years.

https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/economy/275321

This year, Comic-Con is expected to draw 135,000 attendees back to the southern Californian city.

By Madeleine Cadoux

Ryan Reynolds and Jackman Electrify Comic-Con Listen to the article   Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman kicked off the celebrations at the giant Comic-Con pop culture gathering on Thursday, July 25, with a special screening of Deadpool & Wolverine, their eagerly anticipated superhero mash-up movie expected to break box office records this weekend...

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti sounded the alarm on Friday over the increasing intensity of cross-border fire exchange. He expressed concern over a “potential risk of a sudden, wider and uncontrollable conflict.”

Tenenti: UNIFIL Mandate Renewal to Be Decided UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti sounded the alarm on Friday over the increasing intensity of cross-border fire exchange. He expressed concern over a “potential risk of a sudden, wider and uncontrollable conflict.” In an interview with Voice of Lebanon radio, Tenenti called on all parties to c...

Ahed's shock exit creates chaos in Lebanese football and threatens the future of the season.

By Roudi Abou Nader

Ahed’s Withdrawal Plunges Lebanese Football Into Uncertainty The Lebanese football world was surprised on Thursday evening by the resignation of Al-Ahed club president Tamim Sleiman, the dissolution of the team and the sale of eight players after a heated meeting held at the club’s headquarters. This meeting also led to the withdrawal of several clubs, whic...

On Friday, Hezb reported that it targeted two Israeli sites, causing destruction.

Hezbollah Targets Israeli Sites Friday Morning Border clashes between Hezbollah and Israel continued on Friday morning. On Friday, Hezbollah reported that it had targeted the technical system of the Israeli Ramia site with a guided missile, resulting in its destruction. It also claimed responsibility for an attack on Israeli soldiers moving thro...

Born in Bamako and raised in Aulnay-sous-Bois after her family moved from Mali, Aya Nakamura's rise to fame was far from predetermined.

By Madeleine Cadoux

From Charts to Olympics: Aya Nakamura’s Rise Continues Listen to the article   Aya Nakamura, Franco-Malian singer, set to perform at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, on Friday July 26, continues her meteoric rise in global music. As the most listened-to French-speaking singer in the world, with seven billion streams, Franco-Malian artist Aya Nakamu...

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived in Paris on Thursday to represent Lebanon in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics Games.

Mikati in Paris for the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrived in Paris on Thursday to represent Lebanon at the opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games. This ceremony will be attended by leaders and representatives from 120 countries around the world. According to information reported by the daily “Al-Joumhouri...

Hezb decided to involve the “Resistance Brigades” that it formed in the July 2006 war, in the confrontations against Israel, to give a semblance of Lebanese consensus for its actions in the south.

Involving the Resistance Brigades in the South, a Futile Cover Driven by harsh criticism from various political groups of its unilateral move to open its so-called “support front” for Gaza in south Lebanon, Hezbollah decided to involve the “Resistance Brigades” that it formed in the July 2006 war, in the confrontations against Israel. The aim is to give...

Frédéric Domont, who departed too soon on July 18, had, from early 2021, led a dedicated group of veteran journalists from both print and broadcast media to drive the success of Ici Beyrouth and, subsequently, This is Beirut.

By Michel Touma

Fred’s Spirit Listen to the article   The inception of Ici Beyrouth, along with the unique concept of this young media outlet, are inextricably linked to the lasting impact of Frédéric Domont. From its very beginning, he infused his vision into this venture, which started from scratch and swiftly became a prom...

Although the summer of 2024 started with a bang, it seems less promising than that of 2023. The initial figures for the season are not as good as those of last year, although they remain satisfactory overall.

By Christiane Tager

Summer 2024: Falling Short of 2023 Listen to the article Although the summer of 2024 started with a bang, it seems less promising than that of 2023. The initial figures for the season are not as good as those of last year, although they remain satisfactory overall. One thing is certain: Lebanon has once again won over the hearts of e...

- The Civil Servants' Union has once again taken a stand on Thursday, demanding a readjustment of salaries and threatening a work stoppage.

Civil Servants Speak Out, Threaten Work Stoppage The Civil Servants' Union has once again taken a stand on Thursday, demanding a readjustment of salaries and threatening a work stoppage. In a statement, the union called on "the government to fulfill its promises and to advance a project for a fair and equitable salary readjustment that takes into....

- In the escalating conflict with Israel, Hezb is gearing up on two fronts: the military on one hand, and the political and diplomatic on the other.

By Bassam Abou Zeid

Sustainable Solution, Fate of Hezbollah’s Arsenal, Key to South Settlement Listen to the article In the escalating conflict with Israel, Hezbollah is gearing up on two fronts. Recently, the Shiite group carried out a reconnaissance operation of the Israeli Air Force base at Ramat David in northern Israel. The move signaled Hezbollah’s readiness to broaden the conflict an...

- Army Commander General , accompanied by several senior officers, major unit commanders and independent regiments, observed a live-fire combat drill in the Aqoura region.

General Joseph Aoun: The Army Is Lebanon’s Cornerstone Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, accompanied by several senior officers, major unit commanders and independent regiments, observed a live-fire combat drill in the Aqoura region. The drill was conducted by cadets from the Military Academy’s lieutenant qualification course. The exercise simulated...

- Georges Khabbaz and Adel Karam come together to present “Khiyal Sahra,” a play that promises to unveil the unusual and challenge perspectives. A friendly meeting with producer Tarek Karam and the artistic team piqued the public’s curiosity, hinting at an unforgettable theatrical experience.

By Carol Ziadé Ajami

When Adel Karam Meets Georges Khabbaz in ‘Khiyal Sahra’ Listen to the article From August 1 to 31, Adel Karam and Georges Khabbaz will bring the stage of Casino du Liban to life in the play written by Georges Khabbaz and produced by Tarek Karam, Khiyal Sahra (“Puppet”). On this occasion, a press conference was held at La Martingale, attended by a mul...

- , leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF) party, criticized Parliament Speaker for unveiling a new approach to the presidential election process.

Geagea Criticizes Berri’s New Proposal for Presidential Election Process Samir Geagea, leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF) party, criticized Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri for unveiling a new approach to the presidential election process. In a statement released on Thursday, Geagea accused Berri of proposing a "trilogy" of consultation, consensus and election, which he cl...

- Israeli warplanes carried out an air strike early in the afternoon on the outskirts of the cemetery in the town of Rab Thalathin, resulting in one death and several injuries, according to information obtained by .

South Lebanon: One Killed and Several Injured in Israeli Strike Continuous fire exchange prevailed on the southern border on Thursday as Israeli warplanes carried out an air strike early in the afternoon on the outskirts of the cemetery in the town of Rab Thalathin, resulting in one death and several injuries, according to information obtained by This Is Beirut....