AGP Executive Report

Back-to-school under fire: In Tyre, Lebanon, about 200 families are still sheltering in a school gym as the Sept. 15 term nears, with displaced children anxious they may lose another year while negotiations stall. Human stories, urgent needs: A 9-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy is seeking a $3 million injection to preserve his ability to walk, with his family publicly sharing the fight for treatment. Lebanon in the diaspora spotlight: London-based Lebanese jeweller Nada Ghazal opens a new boutique while worrying about family and staff back home, turning her craft into a record of joy, grief, and survival. Culture & craft: A design-focused profile spotlights Ghazal’s boutique and creative journey, linking personal memory to Lebanon’s wider cultural resilience. Regional tensions ripple into daily life: EU aviation safety updates extend warnings for airlines to avoid parts of the Persian Gulf and keep caution over Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon through late September. Art, archives, and memory: Raja Shehadeh’s Palestinian diaries are set to find a new home at the University of Edinburgh, preserving intimate writing from life under occupation.

Lebanon-Iran Diplomacy: Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry welcomed Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi’s push for better ties, but insisted relations must go through official state channels, not via political groups. Regional Culture & Identity: A feature on Beirut’s Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael spotlights how murals and graffiti turn neighborhoods into an open-air gallery of politics, identity, and everyday life. Lebanon Education Crisis: With September approaching, at least 100,000 students may face another school year without classrooms as conflict damage and shelter use keep schools out of reach. Community & Heritage: UNESCO’s director-general Khaled El-Enany wrapped up a first official visit to Lebanon, reaffirming support for recovery and resilience. International Spotlight on Lebanon: A roundup of Middle East museums includes Lebanon’s Gibran Museum in Bsharri, highlighting the country’s cultural legacy beyond the headlines.

Education Crisis: Lebanon’s school year may start without classrooms as at least 100,000 children face disruption, with the Education Ministry reporting 340 schools damaged in the latest conflict and 17 fully destroyed, while many children still learn remotely because buildings are shelters. Cultural Heritage: Archaeologists say Lebanon is still yielding major finds despite war—recent work includes Roman temple remains in Maasser al-Shouf, with plans to resume excavations as sites in the south have been hit by halted digging. Regional Identity & Unity: Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem urged Muslim unity during Iran’s Unity Week, arguing US-Israel wars failed due to Iranian resilience and warning against internal Muslim divisions. MENA Street Art: A travel feature spotlights Beirut’s Gemmayze & Mar Mikhael murals and graffiti as an “open-air gallery” of politics, identity, resistance, and everyday life. Travel & Daily Life: UAE flight disruptions and cancellations are reported across multiple airlines, with travelers urged to check statuses before heading to airports.

Lebanon Heritage Under Pressure: Archaeologists say Lebanon is still yielding major finds—from a Roman temple system in Maasser al-Shouf to other Phoenician, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Crusader and Arab-era treasures—even as the latest Israel-Hezbollah war has slowed excavations in the south. Druze Culture & Identity: A new steakhouse and modern hospitality push in the Druze villages of the Golan Heights aims to revive tourism, while locals openly debate identity across borders. Lebanon’s Cultural Life Abroad: NYC first lady Rama Duwaji is heading to Portugal for a “Journey through Islamic Calligraphy” retreat, spotlighting Islamic arts and community “suhbah” experiences. Regional Tensions, Local Impact: Iran’s foreign minister says Tehran wants constructive ties with Lebanon while warning against violations of ceasefires, as diplomacy and threats continue to swirl around the region.

Lebanon-Israel diplomacy: The next round of US-mediated Lebanon-Israel talks is set for early September, with Beirut pushing for more Israeli withdrawals while Israel insists Hezbollah disarmament verification comes first. Hezbollah stance: Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem rejected the framework agreement again, saying the group won’t “surrender” nearly six months into the war. Lebanese Army & sovereignty: An opinion piece urges Lebanon to accelerate Framework Agreement implementation in southern pilot zones to restore state authority and enable displaced families to return. Regional cultural pulse: Australian Muslim artist Lara Chamas won the 2026 Australian Muslim Artists Art Prize for “Dawa Ahmar,” a mosaic work drawing on her grandmother’s prayer mat and Lebanon’s Byzantine heritage. Food & everyday culture: A Lebanese-style salad recipe highlights sumac, mint, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, and crispy pita chips—simple, fresh, and very “home table.” Community life: The Montgomery County Council on Aging announced a Sept. 9 Senior Celebration with wellness resources, live entertainment, free lunch, and vaccine clinics.

Regional diplomacy: Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran wants stronger political and economic ties with Muslim neighbors, including Lebanon, while urging “greater rationality” from Beirut. Lebanon-Israel talks: A new US-mediated round is set for early September, but Hezbollah again rejected the framework and called for it to be scrapped. Lebanese politics & rights: Lebanon’s parliament voted to abolish the death penalty after a long moratorium, replacing it with life imprisonment with hard labor. Culture & food: A Lebanese lamb shawarma recipe and an Asian cucumber salad both made the rounds, keeping everyday cooking in the spotlight. Local life & society: UNESCO’s director-general Khaled El-Enany concluded a first official visit to Lebanon, reaffirming support for recovery and resilience. Arts & heritage: A piece on “Silk Amnesia” argues Lebanon’s school narrative leaves out the country’s silk history. Community note: A Lebanese school return-to-class feature highlighted students getting back to learning.

Alumni & Community Life: Southwest High Schools Alumni Association announced its 2026 Distinguished Alumni Night, with Distinguished Alumni award winners and Hall of Fame inductions set for Sept. 12 at the Sullivan Civic Center. Food & Lifestyle: Oola Bowls is opening a new Collegeville, Pennsylvania location (Sept. 26), bringing its açaí bowl brand and community giveaways to the area. Culture & Identity Debate: A New Zealand Holocaust curriculum controversy is reigniting arguments about who should shape education and how Holocaust history is framed. Lebanon-Linked Community Support: In Dearborn, LAHC (Lebanese American Heritage Club) opened a $3M behavioral health, education, and workforce development center, aiming to serve tens of thousands more annually. Religion & Public Engagement: Lebanon’s Lebanese Muslim Association confirmed Australia’s National Mosque Open Day for Oct. 31, with a theme focused on combating Islamophobia. Arts & Resistance: Sweden’s Bonniers Konsthall opens an antifascist resistance exhibition ahead of the Swedish election, spotlighting how culture can push back politically. Middle East Politics & Unity: An Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran calls for Muslim solidarity and resistance, with Lebanese voices linking unity to support for Palestine and Lebanon.

Lebanon in the spotlight at UN level: The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) warned of racial discrimination risks amid civilian deaths and mass displacement in Lebanon, urging an end to blanket displacement and evacuation orders tied to military operations. Islamic unity and regional culture talks: Iran hosted the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, drawing scholars and guests including from Lebanon, with clerics calling for Muslim unity and warning against external agendas. Community access to faith spaces: The Lebanese Muslim Association announced Australia’s National Mosque Open Day for 31 October 2026, framing it as a public response to rising Islamophobia through open doors, tours, and Q&As. Lebanon-linked visa and migration pressure: A U.S. court struck down a State Department immigrant visa ban affecting 75 countries, while separate reporting says tourist visas were revoked for some asylum-seeking clients from Lebanon and Jordan—raising fresh anxiety around mobility and belonging. Cultural food identity, Lebanese-style: A shawarma feature highlights how Lebanese and Syrian styles differ in Lebanon’s wider diaspora food culture, from sauces and pickles to pomegranate molasses.

UN Leadership Watch: Guyana’s Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett is emerging as the front-runner to become the next UN Secretary-General, with Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi also in the mix—an election that could mark a rare moment with five women among the candidates. Lebanon & Culture Policy: Lebanon ratified the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, a move aimed at strengthening cultural rights and heritage protection. LGBTQ Rights in Lebanon: A Lebanese judge allowed a transgender woman to update her personal status record and change her gender in a rare ruling, based on a 2016 appeals decision. Education & Recovery: UNESCO’s Director-General wrapped a first official visit to Lebanon, reaffirming support for recovery—spanning classrooms, heritage sites, and cultural institutions. Arts & Lifestyle: Frieze Abu Dhabi announced its inaugural lineup—84 galleries from 36 countries—running Nov. 19–22 in the Saadiyat Cultural District. Community & Faith Dialogue: A Montreal meeting brought together scholars and Muslim community representatives to discuss hijab legal developments, elections, and coordination among Islamic institutions.

UNESCO & Education: UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany wrapped up a first official visit to Lebanon, meeting staff in Beirut and stressing UNESCO’s push from emergency support toward recovery—covering classrooms, youth learning, heritage sites, and cultural institutions. Human Rights & Civilian Impact: The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination warned that racial discrimination cannot be suspended during armed conflict, urging an immediate end to attacks affecting civilians and civilian objects in Lebanon amid mounting deaths, injuries, and displacement. Justice & Accountability: A Lebanese judge opened new proceedings against former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and Bank Audi’s Samir Hanna over alleged financial crimes, while activists argue Lebanon must pair prosecutions with independent forensic audits and fairer tax reforms. Culture & Community Life: Lebanon students returned to school with celebrations, while a separate report highlights how local schools are using “science of reading” and writing programs to support young learners. Heritage & Faith: Pope Leo XIV linked war to environmental harm in a message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, calling for healing and peace as Lebanon faces ongoing strain.

Lebanon’s Cultural Rights: The UN’s CERD committee warned that racial discrimination can’t be paused during war, urging an immediate end to attacks hitting civilians and civilian sites in Lebanon amid mass displacement and mounting casualties. Lebanon’s State vs Armed Power: A new opinion piece argues Lebanon must act against Hezbollah’s military leadership to avoid sliding into a “Houthi-Land” scenario, framing the issue as sovereignty and rule of law. Humanitarian Communications & Design: Lebanese creative leader Kaysar Daou expands his work at the intersection of design, technology, and humanitarian impact through Phoemx, building visual storytelling for NGOs. Art & Memory: Palestinian-Syrian-Dutch artist Oussama Diab’s “Reimagined” exhibition reworks Western masterpieces through themes of displacement and resilience, now highlighted in Abu Dhabi. Religion & Public Life: Coverage of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi celebrations and a call-to-prayer debate in Australia shows how faith traditions keep shaping community space and policy. Culture Through Food: Mia Khalifa returns to the kitchen with Cuban dishes, adding another pop-culture thread to the week’s lifestyle mix.

Lebanon–Culture & Lifestyle: Lebanon ratified the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, with the pact set to enter into force on 30 October 2026—an important boost for arts, heritage, and cultural policy. Community & Arts: Bazaar47 rebranded a downtown Gainesville venue previously known as How Bazaar, keeping it community-centered for concerts, markets, and gatherings, with the owner tying the new identity to Palestinian heritage. Food & Culture: A “test kitchen” in Atlanta is giving immigrant and minority chefs a launchpad to share Lebanese and other global flavors, including ingredients shipped from Lebanon. Sports & Pop Culture: Dolly Parton’s enduring appeal is being revisited in a new reflection piece after her reported death on Aug. 25, while LGBTQ+ TV fandom buzzes around Heated Rivalry’s upcoming season. Health & Lifestyle: A travel-friendly bodyweight workout guide highlights quick circuits and simple moves for staying active on the go.

Palestinian Art: Sliman Mansour, a founding figure of contemporary Palestinian art, has died at 79, leaving behind a visual language rooted in Birzeit, land, memory, and resistance. Lebanon & War Reality: A report highlights how Hezbollah’s social support system steps in for south Lebanon families after losses, filling gaps where the state struggles to deliver. Culture, Sound & Rights: Turner Prize winner Lawrence Abu Hamdan’s NGO Earshot uses “sound evidence” to investigate human rights abuses, linking art practice to accountability work. Regional Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia and France call for negotiated solutions on Iran and renewed efforts toward Palestinian statehood, while stressing freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Community & Faith: A Catholic Near East Welfare Association account describes escalating settler intimidation threatening the last Christian village in the West Bank, Taybeh. Sports Governance: A Lebanese-origin consultancy warns Gulf sports institutions face an “execution gap” ahead of major global events. Lifestyle: A fall festivals guide spotlights Lebanese cultural events abroad, including the Greater Dayton Lebanese Festival.

Education & Community: Lebanon Public Schools in Lebanon welcomed students back with a “Magic in the Mess” theme, stressing learning through struggle and rolling out its 2030 plan around inclusive classrooms and new pathways. State Authority in the South: Lebanon’s push to restore state control surfaced again as U.S. moves spotlight Hezbollah’s ties to Iran’s Quds Force, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged a stronger, unified Lebanese Army as the backbone of sovereignty. Culture & Heritage: UNESCO’s chief reaffirmed support for Lebanon and announced assistance during a visit, underlining the country’s cultural resilience. Faith & Identity: Armenian Catholic Patriarch Minassian highlighted the endurance of the Our Lady of Bzommar Monastery in Lebanon as a living witness to hope amid regional hardship. Sports & Local Life: Kareem’s Lebanese Kitchen opened in Gaithersburg, bringing family-rooted Lebanese recipes to Maryland and adding a local seafood twist.

Lebanon & State Authority: Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pushed Lebanon’s bid to restore state authority in the South as Israeli strikes intensified, while the U.S. sharpened its Hezbollah designation by explicitly linking the group to Iran’s Quds Force and sanctioning a regional cash-transfer network. Lebanese Culture & Community: Dayton’s St. Ignatius of Antioch Maronite Catholic Church is set to host its Lebanese American Cultural Festival for the 33rd year (Aug. 28–30), with Lebanese food, music and dance, plus a headline set featuring Lebanese American poet Hania Adel Itawi and Palestinian American oud player Fouad Hassan. Lebanon Pop Culture & Justice: TikTok food influencer “Doctor Food” (Georges Dib) was arrested in Akkar after a long investigation tied to alleged drug-linked food products, following an in absentia life sentence and airport seizures. Regional Security Watch: Iran reportedly weighs joining the Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan “Mecca” defense pact, though no official confirmation has been issued. Arts & Lifestyle Abroad: Dubai Calendar unveiled its September 2026 programme, including a Lebanese artist appearance and major music, comedy and theatre events.

Lebanon Security & Courts: TikTok food influencer “Doctor Food” (Georges Dib) was arrested in Akkar after a month-long hunt, following a life sentence in absentia tied to alleged drug-smuggling hidden in confectionery; he’s set for retrial after transfer to Mount Lebanon’s Palace of Justice. Education & Daily Life: For Lebanon’s families, school choices are still up in the air as registration can run into September, with parents weighing security, displacement, and the risk of another disruption to classes. Identity & Community Tensions: A Lebanese-linked cultural flashpoint echoes abroad: an Israeli Jewish resident in Athens says he was removed from a public digital-nomads event after organizers learned his identity, raising fresh questions about safety and belonging. Culture & Faith on the Move: An American priest is promoting Lebanon’s St. Charbel Trail, highlighting it as a spiritual hiking route connecting monasteries and Maronite sites for Lebanese Americans and other Catholics. Regional Background: A new wave of diplomacy and conflict talk continues around the Middle East, with renewed focus on Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon’s wider strain.