The Daily Star Lebanon Breaking News, Lebanon News, Middle East News & World News

Lindsay Lohan, famed for her role in the original 2004 “Mean Girls” film, attended the premiere of the new musical adaptation of the movie in New York on Monday night. Despite not being part of the new cast, Lohan joined writer Tina Fey — who was involved in both the original film, the Broadway adaptation, and this latest version — …

On New Year’s, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s western coastline, resulting in the deaths of 206 people as of Wednesday, including eight fatalities at evacuation centers. These deaths occurred due to injuries and sickness in the shelters, rather than direct impact from the earthquake, fires, or mudslides. Shigeru Nishimori, a disaster official in Ishikawa prefecture, the most affected area, …

During a news conference in Vilnius on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine and could target other neighboring countries. Zelensky emphasized the necessity of a united effort by allies to halt Putin, stating, “He (Putin) won’t finish this (war), until we all finish him together.” He further mentioned that nations like …

The upcoming weekend will see a meeting of the five-nation group dedicated to Lebanon, consisting of the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt. This meeting, as reported in the media, aims to address the ongoing situation in Lebanon. Nizar al-Aloula, an adviser to the Saudi Royal Court, will participate in this meeting. Following the discussions, al-Aloula plans to …

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab relayed details to Speaker Nabih Berri about his recent meeting in Rome with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein. Bou Saab explained that Berri was aware of the visit beforehand and that the Rome discussion served as a precursor for upcoming Beirut meetings with Hochstein. Post-meeting in Ain el-Tineh, Bou Saab expressed hope that Hochstein’s visit would …

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a discussion with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, focusing on the reform of the Palestinian self-governing authority. This conversation is part of a broader U.S. effort to support post-war reconstruction plans in Gaza, which include significant steps towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. Blinken has gathered support from various countries in …

The judiciary in Lebanon has taken control of all assets owned by Gabriel, Jihad, and Carole Murr. This action comes amid allegations of misappropriation of funds, as reported by the Lebanese network MTV, which is a creation of the Murr family. MTV’s coverage included a statement that the judiciary’s decision to confiscate all properties, businesses, and shares of Gabriel, Jihad, …

In the Middle East, weddings are grand celebrations deeply rooted in cultural traditions and social norms. A question that often arises is: Who pays for the wedding in the Middle East? The answer to this reflects the region’s rich cultural diversity and evolving social practices. Traditional Responsibilities and Family Involvement Traditionally, in Middle Eastern cultures, the financial responsibility of a …