Source: The National
Lebanese investigators are working to identify Hezbollah officials who ordered the transport of a shipment of explosives seized at a security checkpoint on the road linking Beirut to the Bekaa Valley, in a case that could expand beyond the individuals who carried out the operation to those who authorized it, Lebanese media reported.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Justice Minister Adel Nassar said the seizure of a large quantity of explosives belonging to Hezbollah posed a serious threat to national security and fully justified referring the case to the country’s Judicial Council, stressing that no one should be above the law.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has asked the U.S. to establish a binding timetable for the faltering Trilateral Framework, which calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament in return for Israel’s withdrawal. Beirut, however, treats deadlines as suggestions, repeatedly promising to dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure without delivering.
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
A couple of weeks ago, the OECD released the PISA 2025 results. PISA assesses whether fifteen-year-olds can apply what they have learned in reading, mathematics, and science to solve problems. It offers a rare opportunity to ask a question Lebanon usually avoids: after years of schooling, what can students actually do?
Friday, October 2, 2026
Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, captain of the Egyptian national team and Trabzonspor striker, has revealed for the first time a photo of his newborn son, Lil, in a family appearance that received wide interaction from his followers.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Hekmeh Beirut secured a spot in the final of the West Asia Super League "WASL" Final 8 after defeating Kuwait SC 87-74 in the semifinals, setting up a purely Lebanese showdown with Al Riyadi Beirut for the title.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Sunday 28 August 2022 11:43:26
Lebanese dance troupe Mayyas captured the world's attention when they wowed the America's Got Talent judges during the auditions phase.
Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara — a judge on the show alongside Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel — was so stunned she pressed her golden buzzer, giving them a fast track to the live shows. Each judge has one golden buzzer to use in the series.
The crew, founded in Beirut by Nadim Cherfan, is now set to perform during the semifinals on September 6, and ahead of their appearance, a campaign has been created to support them.
The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International, better known as LBCI, has launched Kermalak Ya Lebnen — For You Lebanon, a campaign from inside America aimed at Lebanese and Arab expatriates living in the US who are eligible to vote for acts performing on the show.
With this, the LBCI has created a variety of promotional adverts that are being shared on television, YouTube and via social media platforms. In the clips, the women that form the group introduce themselves and show off some of their moves.
LBCI hopes the campaign will increase Mayyas's chances of winning, a triumph that will serve "as a message of hope and faith in Lebanon rising again", according to a statement.
Voting is only open to people aged 13 and above living in the US, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, via the America's Got Talent app and website.
Voters will also be able to participate in the Final Wildcard Save, which allows viewers, in real-time, to save one of the acts in danger of being eliminated during the live broadcast of the results show on September 7. This "saving period" will last for about five minutes from the time the start of saving is announced, around 7pm Central Time. Only one vote per email address is allowed during this time.
Cherfan, who is the Mayyas's choreographer, started dancing aged 14 and attended workshops in the UK, the US and India. He launched his own dance classes in studios around the Lebanese capital in 2012, before forming the Mayyas.
In 2019, the group appeared on the sixth season of Arabs Got Talent and went on to win the series. In the same year, they participated in Britain's Got Talent: The Champions, an international spin-off of the talent show on UK TV.
Appearing on America's Got Talent, the group now have their sights set on winning the coveted $1 million prize. Their 2019 Arabs Got Talent win came with a new car and a 200,000 Saudi riyal ($53,333) cash prize.
Watch Mayyas' full America's Got Talent audition here
Despite not making it past the semifinal on Britain's Got Talent: The Champions, Cowell — a judge on both shows — described the act as "genius" and his fellow judge, English comedian David Walliams, said: "It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. This is one of those acts where it only works if every one of you is doing their piece perfectly and every one of you did.”
When asked on America's Got Talent about their dream, they said that being there "on the biggest stage in the world" is their "only chance to prove to the world what Arab women can do, the art we can create, the fights we fight".
Wearing black bedlah-style attire, the group performed to a medley of Arabic melodies.
As they finished, the company received a standing ovation from all four judges and the audience members, with host Terry Crews and Cherfan cheering in the wings.
"There are no words to explain to you what we were feeling over here," says Vergara. "It was the most beautiful, creative dancing I have ever seen."
"This really, really will make a difference. Full stop," said Cowell, who described the performance as "arguably, the best dance act we are likely to have ever seen".
As she hits the golden buzzer, Vergara says she would be "so honoured to empower [the dancers] even more".

Subscribe to our kataeb.org Youtube Channel
CLICK HERE
