This Ramadan, some of the hotels and restaurants in Lebanon have stopped serving alcohol out of respect to their Muslim patrons, which has left some people in the country concerned that Lebanon is moving away from its religiously-tolerant roots. NOW Lebanon takes a look.
|
Though parliament’s Commission for the Modernization of Laws is just beginning to look into revising the media law to include web content, in a country that ranks among the best in the region for freedom of the press, some fear new legislation might be restrictive.
|
Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas will meet this week for the first Mideast peace talks in 20 months. While Egypt and Jordan were invited to attend, Lebanon wasn’t, and questions remain what the results – if any – of the talks will mean for the country’s Palestinian refugees.
|
Every city has its posh neighborhoods, and Beirut is no exception. Experts say the desirability level of particular neighborhoods depends on factors ranging from sea views to centralized locations. Saifi Village, Sursock and Ain Mreisseh are just a few of the spots that top Beirut’s list.
|
Fatah al-Islam, the group of militants who fought a battle with the Lebanese army in 2007, has always evoked more questions than answers, and the queries keep coming. Who will step in to head the organization if, of course, there is even an organization left to lead?
|
Tuesday night’s clashes in Bourj Abi Haidar started with a meaningless car bump but turned into the worst sectarian fighting since May 7, 2008. Politicians have failed to explain why the situation turned so deadly, and people in the neighborhood fear the violence may start again.
|
Although microfinance operations have been successfully established throughout the region, Lebanon’s microcredit industry remains small, especially given the country’s significant poverty level. NOW Lebanon takes a look at the local microfinance landscape and the challenges that prevent more microcredit operations from fully taking off.
|
Quarries are proliferating in Lebanon at a rapid pace. Recent calls by Interior Minister Ziad Baroud to shut down illegal quarries have gained attention in the media, but have resulted in little action, especially as quarry owners become more brazen and territorial.
|
When Lebanese intelligence services discovered the existence of Israeli spy equipment on the Barouk Mountain, it preceded a crackdown that saw networks of around 150 spies apprehended and broken up. NOW Lebanon looks at the steps that led to the successful spy sweeps.
|
Several beach resorts in Lebanon forbid access to domestic workers. Others let them in but do not let them swim in the pools. A local media group compiled a list of 36 beach resorts in Lebanon and their policies regarding letting domestic workers in.
|
The military released Ismael Sheikh Hasan Friday, after detaining him earlier in the week apparently because he “attacked” the army’s handling of Nahr al-Bared reconstruction. He will still have to appear before the Military Tribunal, possibly in breach of the law.
|
Last week, NBN and Al-Manar removed “The Messiah” television program after protests from the Christian community. The controversy enflamed an age-old conflict between Muslims and Christians, though this time with a distinctly Lebanese twist.
|
Iran’s first Russian-built nuclear plant is set to open on Saturday in the southwestern city of Bushehr as the world watches anxiously in anticipation of an Israeli attack. In the fight over its nuclear program, did Iran just win a battle or start a war?
|
Parliament on Tuesday agreed to abolish the reduced fees Palestinians used to pay for work permits and allowed them limited access to the National Social Security Fund. As headlines around the world herald the new rights to work, Palestinians themselves are less than impressed.
|
The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Mount Lebanon is aiming to transform itself into one of the first sustainable, carbon-free schools in the Middle East. The large-scale project will be expensive, and some students and faculty are concerned about political parties’ interference.
|