In anticipation of Storm Adam’s arrival here in Lebanon, I have absolutely nothing lined up in terms of weekend excursions. Instead, I fully intend to hunker down with some hearty food, a cozy film and maybe some absorbing reading that will transport me somewhere a little less tempestuous.

Speaking of that, this week’s Breakfast in Bed is the prime place to start as we take a tour around the world, starting from Lebanon’s Tripoli followed by stops in Paris, Italy, Dubai and Australia – with a particular focus on the overlap of art and politics. 

Tripoli – A muse in the margins

Photographer Vincent Genet came to Tripoli for a short stay but ended up staying a year – you can understand why. While he was there, he created Fresque de Tripoli, a book capturing both the beauty and decay in this northern Lebanese capital. Can the city remain an artistic muse while it’s being politically sidelined and economically battered?

Music, drama and political fireworks at Sanremo

Italy’s legendary Sanremo Music Festival has always been a spectacle, but this year, it became a political battlefield. Karl Richa gave us a backstage look at the various dramas that unfolded at this year’s competition and how they reflect wider political divisions in Italy and around the world.

Nasrallah art banned in Venice 

Lebanese-Australian artist, Khaled Sabsabi, has had their candidacy for the Venice Biennale removed after depicting Hassan Nasrallah in one of his pieces. The debacle raises interesting questions about political art, censorship and where cultural institutions draw the line. Despite not having his work shown in Venice, Khaled Sabsabi has certainly provoked conversation.

Paris rallies for jailed writer 

On the topic of freedom of expression, an “exceptional event” took place this week in Paris – a gathering to discuss and honor the Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, whose shocking detention in November has been much in the news recently. Who attended and how did they offer their support?

Front row at Lebanon’s catwalks

Lebanon has long been a hub for haute couture and continues to be a powerhouse for luxury fashion design, maintaining a strong presence at this year’s fashion weeks. Two designers leading the charge are Georges Hobeika and Saiid Kobeisy, whose newest collections weave together styles of both past and present. 

In their recently showcased collections, Kobeisy gave Art Deco a futuristic twist with 3D embellishments and laser-cut fabrics. Meanwhile, Georges Hobeika has created a personal Spring-Summer 2025 collection, dedicated to his late mother, Marie Hobeika.