Stories about Lebanon from February, 2009
Lebanon: Christopher Hitchens’ Beirut Scuffle Sparks Debate
Former leftist turned conservative writer Christopher Hitchens ran into trouble in Beirut last week when he attempted to deface a poster/memorial of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), a Hezbollah ally. Versions of the event claim a heavily intoxicated Hitchens shouted obscenities at the party, ultimately resulting in an altercation with several SSNP members nearby. These allegations have sparked a debate across continents, writes Antoun Issa.
Arab World: Mourning Tayeb Salih
The Arab literary world is mourning the death of Sudanese novelist Al Tayeb Salih. The 80-year-old writer, who died in London, was best known for his novel Season of Migration to the North, which was selected by the Damascus-based Arab Literary Academy as the most important Arab novel of the 20th century. Al Tayeb was buried in Om Durman, Sudan, in a state ceremony, attended by the Sudanese president Omar Al Bashir.
Egypt: The 64th anniversary of “the princess of the mountain’
Ramy Mosad wrote in his blog Egyptian Stories a short biography of Lebanese singer, Princess Asmahan el Atrache, who was mysteriously murdered 64 years ago.
Lebanon: Students make banner of peace for Gaza
Students in Lebanon pose with their banner of peace, a denunciation of the conflict in Gaza.
Lebanon: A Civil Marriage Valentine
Renewed calls for Lebanon to allow civil marriages were made in a Valentine ceremony at a Beirut bar over the weekend. Several inter-religious couples staged mock weddings at a bar in Beirut's trendy Gemmayze district to protest the country's stiff marriage laws. Antoun Issa has more in this post.
Lebanon: Cell Phone Prices to Drop
The Lebanese blogosphere has had a lukewarm response to a Government announcement that cell prices are due to fall. Antoun Issa brings us the story.
Plans for Angry Arab TV News Service Underway
From the Angry Arab News Service, Lebanese Dr Assad Abu Khalil writes: “I have received enthusiastic messages from readers around the world expressing their desire to volunteer for the upcoming Angry Arab TV News service. This is the beginning: we can first formulate a plan that I can post, and...
Syria: Israel arrests and deports aid workers
Syria News Wire reports that a group of Syrian and Lebanese aid workers have been arrested and deported from Israel.
Lebanon: Cedar Island – A Controversial Construction
From disbelief to bewilderment to outweighing its environment disaster against its economic impact, the proposed Cedar Island project is taking the Lebanese blogosphere by storm. Moussa Bashir reports on the debate.
Lebanon: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
“…it still can't be considered ‘extra virgin’ until a professional taster deems it as such,” writes Jane Rubio about the steps it takes to produce ‘extra virgin olive oil,’ – a lesson she learned at one restaurant/bar in Gemayze – Beirut.
Lebanon: “Being Black in Lebanon means…”
“Being black in Lebanon means you’re a servant. It means that if you’re sitting on the bus, people will solicit you to come to their house and clean for the going rate of 7,000 L.L./hour,” writes Jane Rubio on what a black person may experience when in Lebanon.
