Latest news with #Beirut-based
CairoScene
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Select 347: Looswing
This week on Select, Beirut-based DJ and producer Looswing delivers a deep, rolling house mix full of soulful cuts and swinging rhythms, shaped by Detroit roots and a sharp ear for sampling. Aug 02, 2025 This week on Select, we hand it over to Beirut-based DJ, producer, and label head Looswing, whose mix delivers an hour of groove-heavy, deep house cuts that speak to a lifelong love for digging and a deep connection to the genre's roots. Born Elio Abdo, Looswing's style reflects his musical upbringing at the cultural intersection of Beirut and his spiritual ties to Detroit and Chicago's house legacies. With influences ranging from Theo Parrish and Boo Williams to Ras G and Nick Holder, his sets are grounded in classic underground energy, loop-driven, percussive, and always on a swing. A co-founder of Paille Records and the edits-based collective Enfants Du Swing, Looswing brings both curation and experimentation to the forefront. This mix, recorded between Beirut and Riyadh, leans into rolling basslines and carefully chopped samples - true to his name, you'll hear swinging hats from start to finish. Track IDs include 'Blue' (Joss Moog – Cobra Edits), Jimpster's soulful 'You Got My Love', and 'Yes or Not' by Tuccillo, all stitched together with ease and intention. Stream the full set below: SceneNoise · Select 347: Looswing
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hezbollah rejects any long term ceasefire option where they give up their arms
Hezbollah has made it clear that it is not willing to surrender its weapons even if Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon, raising tensions in Lebanon. Hezbollah is not ready to hand over its arms, Walla news site reported Wednesday, citing a report by Saudi Arabia's Al-Hadath news site. Hezbollah in Lebanon has remained stubborn in the face of calls to hand over arms, according to a series of recent reports. Hezbollah has faced some challenges since Israel defeated it militarily last year. Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, the IAF continues to carry out airstrikes against Hezbollah. It is not clear if these limited strikes will actually cause Hezbollah to disarm. In fact, Hezbollah appears to be trying to wait things out. 'Hezbollah has made it clear to its ally, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, that it is not willing to surrender its weapons even if Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon,' Walla reported. 'The Lebanese state is furious with Hezbollah in light of this position – and the organization is even ready to confront it, according to sources in a report by the Saudi newspaper Al-Hadath.' Hezbollah recently would have been keenly listening to the words of US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, who was in Lebanon this week. The US is trying to use its influence to move forward with Lebanon, he said, adding that the US cannot compel any of the sides to do anything. That means it is up to Lebanon to deal with Hezbollah. Therefore, Israel will also continue its airstrikes. Hezbollah is posing as if it cannot make a decision regarding key issues in Lebanon. It is not involved with reconstruction, and it will not disarm. 'Sources also clarified that Berri told the US envoy to Lebanon and Syria, Thomas Barak, that he could not guarantee that he would be able to leave Hezbollah's weapons north of the Litani River before the end of the year – even if Israel withdraws from Lebanon,' Walla reported. Lebanese leadership wants to disarm Hezbollah without rocking the boat Lebanese leaders want to say they are moving forward. Nevertheless, the government recently released men who had been detained for parading with arms. In essence, Lebanon is trying to not rock the boat. Dialogue would continue, according to a separate report by Beirut-based Al Akhbar newspaper, which is pro-Hezbollah. 'US envoy to Beirut, Tom Barrack, considered that restricting the possession of weapons to the state is essential for Lebanon's stability, noting that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is 'making efforts to resolve the situation,'' the report said. 'The time has come to come together on a complex issue,' Barak said after visiting Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai in Bkerke, the report said. 'President Trump wants Lebanon to succeed, and I came to Beirut representing the US president on a visit to offer advice,' he was quoted as saying. 'We have been working on a solution for four weeks. It is a complex process, and I understand the difficulties.'
Business Insider
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Africa's tallest skyscraper project resumes as Ethiopia revives $445 million tower bid
Ethiopia has reignited plans to construct what could become the tallest skyscraper in sub-Saharan Africa, marking a bold signal of the country's long-term vision for economic transformation and urban modernization. Ethiopia plans to construct the tallest skyscraper in sub-Saharan Africa, the $445 million EEP tower. The 62-storey building will be located in Addis Ababa's Kirkos district and will serve as Ethiopian Electric Power's headquarters. The bidding process for the project has reopened to experienced local and international contractors under an EPC contract model. The $445 million project will see the erection of a 62-storey headquarters for the state-owned Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), positioning the nation at the forefront of architectural ambition on the continent. Initially proposed in 2023, the project was delayed by financial constraints. However, the relaunch of the bidding process for both local and international contractors marks a critical step forward in realizing this transformative vision. Strategically located in the Kirkos district, near Addis Ababa's expanding central business hub, the tower's site further highlights its economic and urban significance. Ethiopia opens bidding process The Ethiopian government recently reopened bidding for the EEP tower, inviting both local and international contractors as part of efforts to revive the $445 million project. The move signals renewed confidence in the country's fiscal outlook. To qualify, contractors must have at least 10 years of experience and have completed three prior projects worth $370 million or more, underscoring the project's scale and complexity. The project will follow an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract model, with a planned four-year construction timeline. This approach is designed to streamline the entire process, allowing for coordinated planning and efficient execution from design through to completion. The design Beirut-based firm Dar Al-Handasah will design and manage the construction of Ethiopia's revived EEP tower, integrating sustainable practices throughout. Set on a 20,792-square-meter plot, the 62-storey skyscraper will rise to 1,074 feet, surpassing Johannesburg's Leonardo Tower (768 feet) as sub-Saharan Africa's tallest. The design includes three basement levels, a commercial podium, 55 floors of office space with sky gardens, and a rooftop restaurant. With a total floor area of over 2.1 million square feet, the tower will become a landmark hub for business and leisure in Addis Ababa. Once completed, the tower will not only symbolize Ethiopia's infrastructural aspirations but also serve as a central hub for one of the country's most critical sectors—energy. Beyond its architectural significance, the project is anticipated to create thousands of jobs during its construction phase and serve as a catalyst for related urban development.
Broadcast Pro
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Lebanon's Abbout Productions to receive Locarno's producing award
The production firm will also present two of its movies at Locarno, namely Costa Brava, Lebanon' and 'Memory Box'. Beirut-based production house Abbout Productions, led by Georges Schoucair and Myriam Sassine, will be honoured with the Raimondo Rezzonico Award at the 78th Locarno Film Festival on August 7, 2025. The award, presented by the Municipality of Minusio, recognises outstanding work by independent producers and celebrates Abbout's remarkable contribution to Arab and Lebanese cinema. During the ceremony, Abbout Productions will present two of its most acclaimed titles: Costa Brava, Lebanon by Mounia Akl and Memory Box by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige. These films exemplify the company's dedication to powerful storytelling and international visibility for regional voices. Since taking the helm of Abbout Productions in 2004 and 2010, respectively, Schoucair and Sassine have played an instrumental role in shaping Lebanon's independent film landscape. Under their leadership, the Beirut-based company has produced a roster of award-winning films that have screened at major international festivals including Venice, Berlin and Cannes. Their portfolio includes works by prominent regional directors such as Ahmad Ghossein, Mohamed Malas, Ghassan Salhab, Oualid Mouannes, Cyril Aris, Ely Dagher, Rana Eid and Myriam El Hajj, whose Diaries from Lebanon premiered in the Berlinale Panorama section in 2024. Beyond production, both Schoucair and Sassine have championed independent cinema through institutional and grassroots efforts. Schoucair was instrumental in the founding and relaunch of Beirut's Metropolis Cinema, a cornerstone venue for arthouse programming in the Middle East. Sassine co-founded the Maskoon Fantastic Film Festival, the only genre-focused film festival in the Arab world, and has been actively involved in regional co-production and training platforms like Aflamuna Connection, which she has managed since 2021. Their work has extended beyond national boundaries. Schoucair supported Jean-Luc Godard's Le Livre d'image and, through the international company Schortcut Films, he and Sassine have co-produced award-winning films by renowned auteurs such as Alain Gomis, Kaouther Ben Hania, Lucrecia Martel and Elia Suleiman. On August 8, Schoucair and Sassine will participate in a public discussion at Forum @Spazio Cinema, moderated by Swiss journalist Philippe Mottaz. The event, organised in collaboration with the ICT4Peace Foundation, reflects the Festival's broader commitment to global dialogue and socially engaged filmmaking. Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director, said: 'The films Abbout have produced are a sign of a society that is vital, alive, and continues to look to the future with dogged confidence. Through their films, Georges and Myriam have been able to tell the story of a country able to come to terms with its history while simultaneously imagining a layered and multifaceted Lebanese identity. They have also launched a great many new talents in front of and behind the camera, helping to give Lebanon a new face, allowing it to meet its potential, and offering a complex portrait of the country that goes far beyond the trivialisations of the violence of war. They have worked tirelessly in the pursuit of a fertile and generous dialogue.' The Raimondo Rezzonico Award, offered by the Municipality of Minusio, was created in 2002 in memory of the man who was President of the Festival from 1981 to 1999. The 78th edition of the Locarno Film Festival will take place from August 6-16, 2025.
DW
13-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Lebanon: Is Hezbollah too weak to come to Iran's aid? – DW – 06/13/2025
The Tehran-backed group remains remarkably restrained following the Israeli strikes on Iran. Is Hezbollah too weak to attack or is the group busy rearming? Following Israel's attack on Iran, tensions across the Middle East are at an all-year-high. Yet, Hezbollah, once Iran's best equipped and biggest militia group in the region, issued a statement only hours after the attack. The group condemned Israel's attack and sent condolences to Tehran for those who got killed. But Hezbollah did not offer to join in the retaliation — even though, being based in Lebanon, they have a direct border with Israel. "The previous rule was that when Iran is attacked on its territory, it retaliates from its territory," Heiko Wimmen, Project Director of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon at the International Crisis Group, told DW. However, he wouldn't rule out that these "rulebooks have changed." "Hezbollah could be waiting for a clear call to action from Iran," Wimmen said. Ronnie Chatah, a Beirut-based political analyst and host of The Beirut Banyan podcast, told DW that "Iran cannot easily retaliate from Lebanon today as a result of Hezbollah's major losses during last year's war with Israel." Iran's "'crown jewel' may no longer serve as it was built and honed to function: a front line of external defense for Tehran," he added. Yet, he still sees that in "terms of general trends in the region and how Hezbollah reacts, it is safe to conclude that even in its withered state, Hezbollah remains a reflection of Iran's security concerns." Israel's strikes on Iran's main enrichment facility and the country's ballistic missile program took place two days ahead of the sixth round of US-Iran negotiations over a new nuclear deal in Oman. It now remains to be seen whether that meeting will still take place. However, hopes for a new agreement were somewhat dashed even before Israel's attack on Iran. Earlier this week, a senior Iranian official already told the news agency Reuters that Tehran would not abandon its right to enrich uranium. Also US President Donald Trump has lowered expectations for a new deal which could have eased tensions in the region. Following Israel's strikes on Iran, it remains to be seen if Iran and the US will continue their nuclear talks in Oman on Sunday Image: Vahid Salemi/AP/dpa/picture alliance Is Hezbollah too weak or too busy? "Another reason for Hezbollah's radio silence is that they could have decided to prioritize internal restructuring," Heiko Wimmen said. This would include appointing a new leadership and focusing on local arms production in order to become more independent from Iranian supplies. "Also, nobody really knows for sure what happened to those strategic missiles that Hezbollah supposedly had but never really used against Israel in last year's war," Wimmen added. In November 2024, a ceasefire ended 11 months of skirmishes and two months of a full-scale war that was triggered by Hezbollah, whose military wing is classified as terrorist organization by the US, Germany and several Arab states. Over time, Israel killed most of Hezbollah's leadership and destroyed large parts of the group's infrastructure, as well as Lebanon's south and large parts of Beirut. Also, some 4,000 people were killed. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has been frequently attacking sites it says are connected with Hezbollah. Last week, Israel's military carried out intense strikes on a suburb of Beirut where Hezbollah holds sway. The Israeli military said that it targeted Hezbollah's underground drone factories. Hezbollah officials denied the existence of such facilities. Still, the most recent report by the Institute for the Study of War, states that "Hezbollah likely seeks to prioritize domestic drone production after recent setbacks that have complicated its ability to procure and smuggle Iranian weapons into Lebanon." While this is in line with Hezbollah's previous role as well-equipped and much larger armed group than for example Lebanon's national army, it goes against international calls for Hezbollah's disarmament and growing pressure on Hezbollah even from within Lebanon. However, Hezbollah officials have repeatedly said that they would not give up arms until Israel stopped its airstrikes and withdrew from five points it is still occupying along the border in southern Lebanon. Israel though said it would not stop targeting Hezbollah as long as they posed a threat. Some 7 months after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, the Israeli military targeted a suburb of Beirut in what they said was to dismantle a drone manufacturing place Image: AFP/Getty Images Growing pressure on Hezbollah Meanwhile, Lebanon's government has also stepped up efforts to contain Hezbollah. Earlier this month, Lebanon's Minister Nawaf Salam said in a televised address marking 100 days in office that the Lebanese army had dismantled "more than 500 military positions and arms depots" belonging to Hezbollah in the south of the country. "The state continues its action... to restore its authority over the entire national territory... and to have a monopoly on arms," Salam said. "The conversation is very different from the last civil war of the 2000s, where Hezbollah emerged as the key party that delivered reconstruction and economic support for the people, thus garnering political support," Kelly Petillo, Middle East researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told DW upon her return from Beirut earlier this week. "Now, the conversation is about disarmament at the national level," she said, adding that "at a local level the conversation is about who's going to lift us from hardship and the aftermath of a terrible war." Meanwhile, posters of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's former leader who was killed in September 2024 during an Israeli strike on Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut, are still lining major streets in the city. "Flags and posters with Nasrallah and other Hezbollah leaders still hang, but they hang on destroyed buildings along worn down streets," Petillo says. "It can't be denied that Hezbollah has become weak," she told DW, adding that "the flags are still there and even though they are covered in dust and rubble it also means that Hezbollah will not disappear anytime soon." Edited by: Andreas Illmer Why Iran and Israel are enemies To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
