AGP Executive Report

Lebanon in the spotlight: UNICEF warns that 1 in 5 children in Lebanon are going to bed hungry as displacement and the economic squeeze deepen, with education access also under strain. Culture & creativity: Beirut gallery-goers can catch Jamil Molaeb’s “Journeys of Cities,” a fresh look at nearly 50 works that trace how meanings shift as cities and memories move. Human stories: In Gaza, artist Maysa Yousef decorates plain aid school backpacks so children can return to class with something joyful to carry. Film & identity: New York’s inaugural Muslim Film Festival opens Oct. 11 with 12 shorts from seven countries, aiming to let Muslim filmmakers set the terms—not just respond to stereotypes. Community & learning: A University of Hartford peacebuilding delegation met Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington for talks on diplomacy and conflict resolution, including a Lebanese student cohort. Local life: A West London Lebanese restaurant’s licence was suspended for a month after an illegal worker was caught by immigration enforcement.

Education & Displacement: UNICEF warns 1 in 5 Lebanese children are going to bed hungry, while UN officials flag a sharp decline in education for displaced girls—another hit to futures already strained by conflict and economic pressure. Religious Life & Identity: A new piece on Lebanon’s religious communities traces how today’s churches, mosques, and monasteries grew from centuries of change—pushing back on the “who came first” rivalry. Culture & Arts: LA-raised comedian Jack Assadourian Jr. brings his Mexican-Armenian roots to a new comedy special, extending his tour to Beirut after sold-out shows abroad. Food Security & Gender: UN Women analysis links Middle East escalation to rising food insecurity for women and girls, with Lebanon among the hardest-hit by proportion. Local Culture Scene: Beirut’s literary buzz continues with a roundup of 10 Arab books in English this month, from fiction to essays—plus new translations. Media & Tech: A study finds AI answers about Lebanon can shift depending on whether users search in English or Arabic, changing which sources get surfaced. Regional Faith News: Saudi claims of Houthi attempts to target Mecca and Medina continue to draw condemnation as the Houthis deny parts of the allegations.

UNICEF on Lebanon’s child hunger: A new UNICEF rapid assessment says 1 in 5 Lebanese children (22%) are going to bed hungry, with 20% out of school for a year, as war, displacement, and the economic crunch keep squeezing families and health care. Rosary for peace at the Vatican: Pope Leo XIV joined hundreds of children at the Lourdes grotto for “One Million Children Praying the Rosary,” with decades recited in multiple languages and a weeklong push for peace that explicitly includes families in Lebanon and the Holy Land. European Film Festival in Lebanon: The 30th European Film Festival returns to Metropolis Cinema in Mar Mikhael from Oct. 8–17, featuring 24 European films plus ciné-concerts and restored classics. Cultural bridge-building for Sukkot: “Sacred Cycles,” an interfaith multimedia exhibit on Jerusalem’s sacred traditions (Judaism, Islam, Christianity), is set to run as part of Sukkot programming, using photos and music to connect communities through culture. Lebanon’s wider cultural stakes: The week also highlights how conflict is reshaping everyday life—from children’s access to education and health to the role of faith and arts events in keeping public life connected.

UNICEF & Child Hunger in Lebanon: A new UNICEF rapid assessment says 22% of Lebanese children are going to bed hungry, with 20% out of school for a year, as displacement and the economic toll deepen deprivation and health gaps. European Film Festival in Lebanon: The EU Delegation in Lebanon, with Metropolis Cinema, announced the 30th European Film Festival running Oct 8–17, featuring European premieres plus restored classics and a Lebanese feature. Lebanon’s Cultural Pulse Through Art: Aidha Badr’s grief-and-transformation work is spotlighted through a feature exploring how art helps process loss, while “Memory Library” is set to bring art, film, and immersive tech to Portsmouth. Education Under Strain: Lebanon’s education system is under pressure from conflict and crisis, with UNICEF warning of damaged schools and disrupted learning. Community, Faith & Heritage: St Carlo Acutis’ relic mission was welcomed in Australia’s Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral, and AGBU’s Global Run/Walk for Camp Nairi raised funds across multiple cities including Beirut. Security & Identity Debates: Europe is intensifying scrutiny of Muslim Brotherhood influence networks, shifting the conversation from extremism alone to funding, institutions, and long-term influence.

Humanitarian Crisis in Lebanon: UNICEF reports 1 in 5 Lebanese households with children are going to bed hungry, with conflict deepening deprivation, cutting access to healthcare and education, and pushing many children toward work. Culture & Education Spotlight: Lebanon’s welding lab at Lyman Memorial High School opens as a hands-on career pathway, showing how local training programs can build future skills. Arts & Community Leadership: Texas Public Radio bids farewell to arts and culture reporter Jack Morgan after 13 years, marking the end of a long-running local cultural voice. Sports & Youth Life: Kuwait Club reaches WASL semi-finals after beating Indian Railways, while Lebanon Valley College’s Pride of the Valley Marching Band readies a big fall season with 140+ students. Global Dialogue & Fraternity: The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity names its 2027 judging committee, with Lebanon represented for the first time. Media, Identity & Protest: A new memoir by Mahmoud Khalil argues mainstream coverage failed to name Israel as the aggressor, linking headlines to consent for violence.

Humanitarian Crisis: UNICEF says Lebanon’s conflict-linked economic collapse is pushing more children into hunger, disrupted schooling, and delayed healthcare, with 22% of households reporting children going to bed hungry and 100,000 kids at risk from damaged schools. Information Access & Literacy: UNESCO Beirut marked International Day for Universal Access to Information with sessions on strengthening information integrity, media and digital literacy, and resilience against misinformation in Lebanon. Culture & Arts: A new documentary on Etel Adnan, filmed across the last years of her life, brings her radical mind and exile-linked landscapes to the screen. Hospitality & Lifestyle: Rotana expands regionally and signs a new Edge by Rotana in Beirut, aiming for a January 2027 opening after renovation and unit growth. Media & Geopolitics: Russia boosts international newsroom cooperation via SputnikPro, including a Lebanon-linked participation, as AI and war journalism reshape global reporting. Community & Faith: Lebanese Muslim groups in Australia condemn vandalism at an Islamic cemetery, citing rising Islamophobia and calling for repairs and security. Local Lebanon Angle: A separate report highlights how Lebanon’s economic crisis is putting education out of reach for many children.

Information Access & Literacy: UNESCO Beirut used International Day for Universal Access to Information to stress transparency, media and digital literacy, and stronger “information integrity” in Lebanon during crises. Islamophobia & Campus Culture: Student groups condemned a Turning Point USA screening of “Run Hide Fight: Infidels” at George Washington University as Islamophobic, sparking a wider debate on religion, identity, and campus speech. Lebanon’s Arts & Community Care: Bulaban Circus, a refugee-led social circus in Lebanon’s Bekaa, is building joy and belonging through workshops and performances—and is fundraising in Berlin to keep its psycho-social work going. Lebanon Education Spotlight: A prize-winning teacher is helping Lebanon students find pathways into healthcare, highlighting how mentorship can shape careers. Culture, Faith & Public Life: A Maronite Catholic prayer initiative at Montreal’s St. Joseph’s Oratory—founded by a Lebanese-born Maronite—keeps growing as young adults gather weekly to pray the Rosary for 1,000 days. Gender & Research Funding: A study finds women request about 5.4% less funding than men in grant applications, feeding ongoing conversations about equity in science.

Lebanon Culture & Lifestyle: UNESCO Literacy in Lebanon: The Alsama Project won the 21st UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, backing accelerated education for out-of-school and displaced youth in Lebanon through in-person and digital learning. Sports & Identity: Lebanese sprinter Aziza Sbaity carried a diversity and equality message at the Asian Games despite war hardship and discrimination, turning sport into a public statement. Cultural Heritage Under Fire: In South Lebanon, families like the Zeins are trying to restore damaged historic homes, framing preservation as resistance to erasure. Arts & Community: Morocco’s Asilah Festival opens its 47th edition as a sanctuary for dialogue and cross-cultural exchange, while Algeria’s new Philharmonic Orchestra auditions aim to revive heritage through symphonic works. Regional Culture Watch: A UN panel hosted by Türkiye urged stronger protections for children online as AI outpaces safeguards.

Sports & Identity: Aziza Sbaity, dubbed “the fastest Lebanese woman in history,” competed at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games despite war hardship in Lebanon and discrimination over her skin color, using sprinting to argue that “it’s okay to be different.” Resistance & Memory: Hezbollah’s Nasrallah commemoration marks two years since his killing, with Iran and Hezbollah figures framing his legacy as ongoing resistance while analysts say the group’s political standing in Lebanon is slipping. Culture & Art: Lebanese artist Dala Nasser wins the inaugural Frieze Abu Dhabi Artist Award, building a new installation inspired by a monument near Baalbek. Artivism Call: Global Artivism Month launches a worldwide push (Nov 1–Dec 10) for artists and communities to use culture for social and environmental justice. Media & Protest: Over 100 people were detained in New York during protests against Netanyahu’s UN speech, including prominent celebrities and activists. Education & Tech: Montclair schools consider tighter rules on AI and devices in classrooms, requiring guardian consent for AI use. Literature: Perla Kantarjian’s debut novel-poetry project ties genocide and today’s collapse into one multilingual, war-torn field of girlhood and nationhood.

Lebanon & UN Politics: Netanyahu’s UN speech didn’t just target Hamas and Iran—it also went after New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, turning the spotlight on how culture, identity, and activism collide on the global stage. Lebanon Security & Community Life: Two years after Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s assassination, Lebanon’s southern suburbs marked the anniversary with a large, diverse gathering at his shrine—showing how remembrance, politics, and community ties still shape daily life. Lebanon Humanitarian Readiness: Kuwait Red Crescent Society officials say they’re boosting emergency preparedness and expanding partnerships, with a Beirut conference focused on faster, better relief during crises. Culture & Music (Lebanon in the diaspora): Lebanese-Armenian percussionist Rodolphe Manoukian talks about bringing darbuka into electronic and Afro-house club culture, rooted in Beirut’s mixed rhythms. Food & Lifestyle: A report on Athens’ “gastronomic renaissance” highlights how Mediterranean ingredients and neighborhood dining are reshaping city culture beyond tourist zones. Sports & Youth Culture: Tennessee’s statewide high school football rankings update for Week 7, reflecting how local sports culture keeps communities engaged.

Hezbollah Anniversary in Beirut: Two years after Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s killing, thousands gathered at his Dahiyeh shrine—an event marked by Lebanon’s deep social mix, from families of martyrs to young people who know him through recordings. Resistance Messaging: The IRGC and regional officials used the anniversary to frame Nasrallah as a “model” for resistance, while activists in Lebanon repeated themes of hope, unity, and steadfastness. Lebanon Humanitarian & Daily Life: Rising fuel costs are squeezing Lebanese families as winter nears, hitting transport, heating, education access, and food prices. Security & Faith: Lebanese authorities arrested an alleged ISIS operative tied to a planned assassination of Pope Leo XIV during his 2025 Lebanon visit. Culture & Identity Online: A viral “Mia Khalifa song” story keeps spreading online, but the track’s origin traces back to a long-running meme that detached the real facts from the hook. Indigenous Culture Abroad: The 43rd WilCo Pow Wow in Lebanon, Tennessee celebrated Indigenous arts, dance, crafts, and community education. Church Building Milestone: Work is finally starting on a new Maronite church at Jesus’ baptism site in Jordan, with plans for pilgrim facilities and a long-awaited construction timeline.

Gaza & UN diplomacy: Indonesia’s foreign minister called Palestine a “test of conscience” at UNGA, urging sovereignty and an end to colonialism while warning Gaza and the West Bank show the multilateral system failing when it matters. Lebanon school life: In southern Lebanon, Burj Qalaway students returned to classes in doorless, windowless rooms after their school was hit in a strike, with children coping through makeshift schooling. Culture & identity: Egyptian-Palestinian actress May Calamawy heads to London for her UK stage debut in “Samira,” a play about witnessing truth during the Syrian revolution. Sports & representation: Lebanese sprinter Aziza Sbaity competed at the Asian Games despite war hardship, using sport to push back against discrimination. Media & politics: The controversy around Israeli documentary “NAZA” and debates over Gaza coverage continue to ripple through film circles. Community & faith: The Lebanese Muslim Association’s “The Brothers’ Circle” returned for Series 3 with record turnout in Australia. International security: Reports detail multiple warnings before the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, and a UK case involving a former Hamas bodyguard accused of plotting terror in Europe.

Education & Safety in Lebanon: UNRWA says nearly 100,000 children in Lebanon can’t return to school, as 436 facilities are damaged and 37 destroyed, with insecurity and displacement keeping classrooms out of reach. Schooling Under Fire: In Burj Qalaway, eight-year-old Yara Ajami returned to a doorless, windowless classroom after her school was hit in May, underscoring how war reshapes everyday learning. UNGA Culture of Protest: At the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu’s speech triggered walkouts and arrests, including dozens of high-profile protesters detained in New York—another reminder of how Gaza and Lebanon spill into global public life. Palestinian Refugees & UNRWA Funding: The PLO urged donors to turn UNRWA support into real financial and political commitments, citing new pledges including €15m from France and €20m from Germany. Lebanon in the Global Spotlight: Coverage also highlights Lebanon-linked humanitarian and political threads—from regional diplomacy to the fight over international law.

UNRWA Funding Push: PLO official Ahmad Abu Houli urged world governments to turn UNRWA pledges into real financial and political commitments, warning against efforts to replace the agency, after donor talks in New York included new France (€15m) and Germany (€20m) support with added help for Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. UNGA Protest Culture: Hollywood and TV figures Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder were among 100+ detained outside the UN in New York during protests against Netanyahu’s Gaza stance, as demonstrators blocked roads and police made arrests. Netanyahu at the UN: Netanyahu delivered a fiery UN speech that triggered walkouts and backlash, including sharp exchanges with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s camp over accusations tied to genocide claims. Lebanon Border Anxiety: Lebanon is bracing for a potential vacuum as UNIFIL’s mandate nears expiry, with the US pushing for the Lebanese army to secure the border while Europe weighs replacement options. Islam & Public Debate: UK MP Rupert Lowe faces formal complaints over alleged anti-Muslim remarks, adding fuel to wider fights over religious freedom and political rhetoric. Cultural Rights for Disability: Italy and Lebanon-backed UN efforts highlighted making cultural heritage accessible for people with disabilities, stressing sensory, digital, and cognitive barriers—not just physical ones.

Lebanon Remembers Child Victims: In Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square, civil society groups and political factions marked minors killed in repeated Israeli attacks, urging Lebanon to pursue war-crimes cases internationally and rejecting any peace push they say would legitimize ongoing occupation and attacks. UNRWA Under Pressure: UNRWA’s acting commissioner-general warned that Gaza and the West Bank are sliding into worse humanitarian conditions as the agency faces a $100 million 2026 cash-flow deficit, with major shelter, water, and education gaps and service cuts already hitting Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. Protest Culture Hits the UN: Around 100 protesters were arrested in New York during sit-ins against Netanyahu’s UN speech, including actors Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder, as diplomats walked out and demonstrators demanded “Free Palestine” and an end to the Gaza war. Islamic Education in Germany: Germany opened a new faculty of Islamic theology at the University of Münster, positioning academic study alongside Christian and Jewish theology and emphasizing research free from political influence. Regional Security, Holy Sites, and Trade Routes: Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif urged the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb stay open, condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi holy cities as a “red line,” and framed the Mecca defense pact as collective stability rather than targeting any state. Lebanon in the Diaspora Lens: A feature on Lebanese identity abroad explores how ancestry, language, and belonging shift between Brazil and Lebanon—shaping how people are seen, taught, and accepted. Food & Culture Spotlight: A Lebanon-linked lifestyle angle appears in coverage of Lebanese feasts and community food storytelling, alongside broader regional event listings.

UN Walkout & Gaza/Lebanon Focus: Delegations from nearly 70 countries walked out or left seats as Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly, with protests also spilling into New York streets where more than 100 people were detained, including actresses Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder, as demonstrators chanted “Let Gaza live” and “End the genocide.” Papal Diplomacy: Pope Leo XIV began a four-day visit to France urging leaders not to accept war as inevitable, calling for dialogue and diplomacy over conflicts involving Iran and Lebanon, and warning that “paradise of machines” could erode humanity. Lebanon Education on the Ground: In southern Lebanon, children returned to school after an Israeli strike found classrooms doorless and windowless, with lessons held in unfinished spaces while families rebuild. Lebanon Digital Identity: Lebanon’s Detroit consulate launched the first US biometric passport procedures, part of a wider expat-focused push to cut forgery and speed document processing. Culture & Memory: A Lebanese expat in Abu Dhabi reflects on childhood “souq” moments and family weekends, showing how small everyday rituals keep Lebanon close. Tech, Ethics & AI: A new wave of concern over AI’s dangers is framed as already real, with calls for stronger regulation and accountability.