AGP Executive Report

Lebanon in the spotlight: Amal Clooney met Greece’s President Constantine Tassoulas in Athens as UNESCO hosted a culture-focused meeting, including a closed-door discussion on “Artificial Intelligence and Culture,” with proceeds aimed at protecting cultural property. Culture & literature: The Arab Foundation for Studies and Publishing in Beirut released Abdullah Abu Shumais’s book bringing two poetic plays to the stage, blending modernist voices with sea-soaked symbolism and dialogue. Education & public life: A Purdue-linked Indiana Senate candidate, David Sanders, criticized a state higher-ed bill for weakening tenure and “muzzling” academic free speech. Community & faith: St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Niagara Falls marked its Lebanese-and-Greek immigrant roots ahead of a centennial celebration. Music & identity: Lebanese rapper Whyvsef teamed up with BADER on the experimental hip-hop EP “Ward & Shouk,” mixing grime, trap, and Arabic rhythms. Diaspora culture: An Israeli-owned Berlin restaurant, Kanal 61, landed on Vogue Germany’s best-of list for its mussel toast and cross-cultural menu.

Lebanon’s education under strain: With Israeli strikes and displacement continuing, Lebanon’s schools are trying to reopen while balancing students and newly displaced families, spotlighting how conflict reshapes everyday learning. Hezbollah and schooling: A separate report argues Hezbollah uses private education networks to build an ideological “resistance society,” raising fresh questions about control, curriculum, and the future of youth. Lebanon in the wider region’s spotlight: Iran condemned Israel’s intensified airstrikes across southern Lebanon, while coverage also points to the UN’s limited response and the risk of escalation beyond Lebanon’s borders. Culture & community: The FrancoFilm Festival returns to Beirut with 12 films from the French-speaking world, free to attend at Dana Mall, with Lebanon among the partner missions. Global culture debate: A CUNY investment disclosure reignited criticism over university ties to weapons firms supplying Israel. Human rights focus: UNESCO warned that attacks on education are rising, urging stronger protection for students and teachers across conflict zones including Lebanon.

Beauty & Identity: Beirut native Nour Tayara shares how a reset in Mexico helped him launch AORA Mexico, a plastic-free beauty brand built on “color, fun, and sexiness.” Media Freedom: Lebanon’s new media law replaces outdated rules, decriminalizing some insults and defamation while still leaving gaps like prison penalties for “false or harmful news,” according to Amnesty. Arts & Lifestyle: Whisky Live Beirut 2026 returns with 60+ producers, masterclasses, cocktails and food pop-ups—another big signal that Lebanon’s events scene is bouncing back. Community & Culture Economy: Lebanon Valley Chamber Foundation launches a 2026 micro-grant program for small businesses and nonprofits, offering up to $3,000 each. Education Under Strain: Reports highlight Lebanon’s schools reopening amid displacement, with classrooms still disrupted for many children. Regional Context: A new book on peacemaker Yaron Lischinsky spotlights his life through photos and essays, adding a human, culture-focused angle to the region’s politics.

Lebanon Diplomacy & Sovereignty: A Lebanese editorial argues the country’s only realistic path is state-led negotiations to secure an Israeli withdrawal, deploy the Lebanese Army in southern pilot zones, and dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. UNESCO Education Watch: UNESCO warns attacks on schools jumped 33% in 2025, leaving tens of millions of children out of school and calling for stronger protection of education. Regional Peace Effort: Egypt, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot administration urged implementing the second phase of the Gaza plan and ending Israeli attacks on Lebanon after a trilateral meeting. Humanitarian Spotlight in Lebanon: UNIFIL reports hundreds of projects across southern Lebanon—education, health care, energy, water, and minefield handovers—plus food and hygiene support for displaced families. Culture & Community: A new show at Praxis explores birth, place, migration, and memory with a focus on Black maternal health, with a free reception in Beirut-linked programming. Heritage & Lifestyle: S’hail 2026 opened in Qatar, celebrating falconry and heritage with participation including Lebanon, and running through Sept. 12. International Rights Pressure: The UK announced sanctions targeting illegal West Bank settlements and extremist settlers, alongside measures against Hezbollah’s Al-Qard Al-Hassan bank.

Lebanon Border Violence: Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon, including Kfar Reman and Arab Salim, killing at least 10 (with an infant reported among the dead) and injuring others as residents brace for renewed escalation. Cultural Exchange on Screen: A free film festival in Santiago, Chile, linked to Qatar, Argentina and Chile’s 2025 Year of Culture, screened works including Elia Suleiman’s “It Must Be Heaven” and Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige’s “The Lebanese Rocket Society,” with a panel on youth, migration and identity. Fashion, Identity, and Backlash: Adidas Arabia apologized after a Single Shoe campaign featuring an amputee former Israeli soldier sparked boycott calls, while online backlash also swirled around BLACKPINK’s Jennie for promoting the brand. Human Stories in the Spotlight: A profile on 3EIB founder Dania Arafeh highlights community-building through SWANA fashion and culture, reclaiming identity through events and emerging designers. Displacement and Daily Life: Reports say thousands of Lebanese children remain displaced as the school year nears, with families still searching for safe places to go.

Lebanon Under Strain: Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon have killed at least 27 people and wounded 69 over three days, with families in towns near Nabatieh and Kafr Rumman hit hard, and fresh displacement reported as residents flee a widening “ring of fire.” Culture & Film: Jammu and Kashmir’s first International Film Festival (IFFJK) opened in Srinagar with a Lebanese film, “Dead Dog,” signaling a renewed push to revive cinema ties after decades of shutdowns. Music & Politics: Macklemore doubled down on his “Free Palestine” remarks while opening for Ed Sheeran, insisting his message is “in no way” a criticism of Jewish people—after backlash and calls to remove him from the tour. Sportswear Backlash: Adidas apologized after criticism of a local Israel promotion featuring an amputee former IDF soldier, as activists drew comparisons to Gaza’s limb-loss crisis. Education Spotlight: Lebanon named Cynthia Violette “Teacher of the Year,” honoring her long-running work in sixth-grade humanities and language teaching. Scholarships: Chevening applications for 2027-28 close in October, with Lebanese citizens eligible under the Lebanon scheme.

Southern Lebanon Strikes: Israeli airstrikes hit Kfar Roummane overnight, killing at least nine people (including a child) and injuring others, as Lebanon warns the violence is jeopardizing the June US-brokered ceasefire. Cultural Diplomacy in Film: At Venice, MAD Solutions and Erth announced a new collaboration to develop Arab film/TV projects and help them reach Arab and international markets. Lebanon’s Cultural Heritage Returns Home: The US returned Roman-era sarcophagus lead fragments looted from Tyre, recovered via an FBI probe, with Lebanon’s Culture Ministry calling it a boost to protecting cultural property. Kashmir Cinema Spotlight: Srinagar opened the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir, selecting 135 films from 80+ countries to spotlight regional culture and attract global production. Fashion & Identity in the Spotlight: Adidas apologized after a campaign featuring amputee Israeli soldier Shalev Biton sparked boycott calls. Music & Activism: Macklemore faced backlash after saying “Free Palestine” during Ed Sheeran’s tour stop in New Jersey. Sports as a Return: Palestinian football resumed with the “1,000 Martyrs Cup,” including teams from the West Bank, Gaza, and refugee camps in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s cultural pulse amid conflict: Lebanon’s southern Christian villages (Ain Ebel, Rmeich, Debl) are living through a “road to Calvary” as returning home means long convoys, checkpoints, and fear of airstrikes. Humanitarian & daily life: Thousands of Lebanese families are still sheltering in schools as the new term nears, with education officials trying to reopen classes while keeping refuge spaces. Faith & community building: Three young Lebanese men’s small Catholic Bible study has grown into a major nationwide initiative, drawing 3,000+ participants with structured sessions and priest-led guidance. Arts & heritage: Lebanon’s traditional dance troupe Hayakel Baalbeck is touring Korea for the Arab Culture Festival, bringing dabke and the production “Laylet Farah” to Seoul stages. Regional culture spotlight: Qatar’s S’hail 2026 falconry and hunting exhibition opens at Katara with 14 countries, including Lebanon, blending heritage, tourism, and commerce. Music & identity: Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa are set to kick off the Jerusalem Oud Festival, with cross-Middle East musical collaborations featuring Lebanese connections. Sports as return: Palestinian football’s official comeback is marked by the “1,000 Martyrs Cup,” including teams from West Bank, Gaza, and refugee camps in Lebanon. Fashion & lifestyle: Elie Saab’s Lebanese glamour is heading to H&M in a major collaboration, adding more high-end style to the high street.

Southern Lebanon Ceasefire Under Strain: President Joseph Aoun urged the US to step in after Israeli strikes killed four and injured at least 20 across Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Arab Salim and Kfar Remman, damaging homes and destroying an out-of-service hospital. Displacement and School Life: Thousands of Lebanese families are still sheltering in schools as the new term nears, with education officials trying to reopen while keeping emergency spaces for displaced people. Faith and Community: Three young Lebanese men expanded a parish Bible study into a nationwide-style movement, now drawing over 3,000 participants and growing with structured sessions led under Catholic priests. Culture on the Move: Lebanese traditional dance troupe Hayakel Baalbeck toured Korea for the 19th Arab Culture Festival, bringing dabke and “Laylet Farah” to Seoul stages. Humanitarian Spotlight: Qatar marked the International Day of Charity by emphasizing sustainable humanitarian impact, while UNRWA aid cuts continue to threaten Palestinian refugees’ daily survival in Lebanon. Beirut Lifestyle: Dancing Goat Coffee is opening in Beirut, with an international giveaway tied to its first overseas branch. Arts & Ideas: A Beirut-published philosophy book explores how to overcome the fear of death, linking mortality to meaning and life choices.

Palestinian Aid Crisis: In Lebanon’s Nahr al-Bared camp and other UNRWA sites, families say they’re forced to choose between food and medicine as UNRWA cuts essential emergency cash support amid its worst financial crisis since 1949. Education & Community Solidarity: Beirut’s schoolbook-lending libraries are expanding across neighborhoods, helping families cope with rising back-to-school costs by turning textbooks into shared resources. Arts & Coexistence: Beirut hosted Cedar Symposium 2, bringing together about 35 Lebanese and Iraqi artists for visual art events promoting coexistence and peace through Sept. 8. Regional Culture & Faith: Hezbollah’s Sheikh Naim Qassem delivered a full speech for Prophet Mohammad’s birth anniversary, linking religious unity to Lebanon’s political moment. Lebanon’s Displacement Reality: Reports say thousands of Lebanese students remain displaced as the school year nears, with families still struggling to find safe places to go. Sports (Local Color): The Lebanon Running Warrior Invitational cross-country meet drew varsity action and photos from Sept. 5.

Lebanon Displacement Watch: With schools reopening on Sept. 15, thousands of Lebanese children still live in schools-turned-shelters or crowded apartments after months of war in the south, leaving families scrambling to catch up on lost education. Ali al-Taher Flashpoint: Even after a ceasefire, Israel and Hezbollah keep clashing around Ali al-Taher hill near Nabatiyeh, where Israel says it has taken “operational control” of tunnels—raising fears of a wider escalation. Beirut–Iraq Arts for Coexistence: The Cedar Symposium 2 in Beirut brought about 35 artists from Lebanon and Iraq together through visual art, with a message of coexistence and peace running through Sept. 8. Venice Arab Cinema: At the 83rd Venice Film Festival, six Arab-linked works spotlight war, displacement, and exile, including Lebanese stories of loss and a heist plot shaped by financial collapse. Human Rights Across Borders: Shia Rights Watch says killings, bombings, arrests, and restrictions targeting Shia Muslims are ongoing across six countries, including Lebanon. UAE Pardon: The UAE pardoned Egyptian opposition activist and poet Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi after a 10-year cybercrime sentence, following his extradition from Lebanon. Culture & Identity: A Reuters look at Lebanon’s tiny Jewish community highlights how the community’s numbers have dwindled and what remains of its cultural presence.

Lebanon’s War on Children: Save the Children says at least 257 children have been killed in Israel–Hezbollah fighting over six months, with 1,039 injured, and warns around 100,000 kids may miss school as shelters and damage keep classrooms out of reach. Education Under Strain: Reuters reports thousands of displaced children are still living in schools-turned-shelters in southern Lebanon, with only some schools reopening as the September 15 school year nears. Southern Lebanon Flashpoint: Israel says it has cleared Hezbollah fighters from tunnels under the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge, while Hezbollah has not confirmed the loss and access details remain unclear. Prisoner Deal, Human Stories: A deal tied to missing Lebanese civil-war-era Jews has led to the release of four Lebanese prisoners to Lebanese authorities via the ICRC, as Lebanon agrees to search for the bodies. Culture & Film: “Furies,” a Lebanese heist thriller set amid Beirut’s economic collapse, is drawing attention for its high-energy storytelling and sharp social bite.

Children’s Rights in Crisis: Save the Children says at least 257 children were killed and 1,039 injured in Lebanon over six months of Israel-Hezbollah fighting, with about 100,000 children at risk of missing the coming school year as schools remain shelters or damaged. Education Displacement: Reuters reports thousands of displaced families still live in schools-turned-shelters in southern Lebanon and Beirut as the Sept. 15 school start nears, with some schools reopening partially while others stay shelter-only. Southern Lebanon Flashpoint: Israel says it cleared Hezbollah fighters from tunnels under the Ali al-Taher ridge and expanded control in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has not commented. Prisoner Release: Israel released five Lebanese civilians after questioning, with the ICRC and Lebanese officials involved, as families still seek answers about missing detainees. Community & Identity: In Michigan, Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed again seeks reconciliation with Jewish voters after a Temple Israel apology, while Arab American voters weigh shifting loyalties amid the wider regional conflict. Lebanon Diaspora Spotlight: Dearborn Police named immigrant officer Mohamad Farhat its 2025 Officer of the Year, honoring a journey from southern Lebanon to public service.

Lebanon–EU Cooperation: Lebanon and the European Union launched an EU-Lebanon Joint Monitoring Committee, with talks focused on support for education, healthcare, social protection, and water services for vulnerable communities. Cultural Heritage at Risk: The U.S. returned Roman-era lead sarcophagus fragments looted from Tyre after an FBI investigation, a reminder that protecting Lebanon’s antiquities is still a daily fight. Humanitarian Toll in the South: Save the Children says at least 257 children have been killed in Lebanon in the Israel–Hezbollah conflict over six months, with around 100,000 children facing school disruption. Community & Faith: Pope Leo XIV urged Middle East bishops to “not be afraid of your smallness,” praising small Christian communities across the region, including Lebanon. Local Life & Identity: A Lebanese-born UN housing expert’s new book, Housing Inc., ties the global housing crisis to her own experience as a special rapporteur. Sports & Youth Culture: Kuwait Club’s draw for the WASL finals puts Lebanon’s Al Riyadi in the same group, while local youth initiatives like snack drives for the Lebanon VA show community service culture in action.

Lebanon’s security and politics: A new report says the Lebanese Army isn’t seriously confronting Hezbollah in the southern “pilot zones,” raising doubts about the disarmament plan as IDF preparations for a longer stay continue. Occupied Lebanon on the ground: CNN describes villages in southern Lebanon being flattened under Israeli occupation, with Christian areas spared while others are reduced to rubble. Cultural memory and archives: Palestinian author Raja Shehadeh’s diaries and documents have been preserved at the Universities of Edinburgh and Exeter, safeguarding decades of life in Palestine for research and teaching. Fashion with Lebanese roots: Elie Saab’s couture aesthetic is being brought to a mass audience through an H&M collaboration, spotlighting how Beirut-made glamour is reshaping “luxury at scale.” Media business in the region: ITP Media Group’s acquisition of Singapore’s Heart Media Group expands its luxury and lifestyle footprint across Asia, including Lebanon. Lebanon in the wider world: A travel-advisory roundup flags heightened regional flight disruption and risk around the UAE as tensions escalate.

Lebanon in the spotlight: A Reuters explainer says the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon—overlooking key towns and believed to host Hezbollah underground command and weapons—has become a central flashpoint in the Israel-Hezbollah war. Human impact: Save the Children reports Israel has killed an average of seven children a day in Lebanon since March, with thousands more injured and many families still unable to return home after displacement. Community & culture abroad: Stockton, California is set to host the first-ever Central Valley Lebanese Festival on Oct. 3, with Lebanese food, live oud music, dabke dancing, and family activities. Social work education: Haigazian University and Samford University celebrated the first graduates of an Advanced Diploma in Social Work, supported by the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. Lebanon demographics: Lebanon recorded a 35% drop in registered marriages as young people delay starting families. Religion & public life: A Lebanon-linked editorial backlash targets U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s remarks about Islam and lying, sparking outrage within Muslim communities.