After weeks of saber rattling between Washington and Tehran, Iran has once again decided to play tough, announcing over the weekend that it would raise its uranium enrichment levels. It is an act of defiance that is part of a worrying – and escalating – tit-for-tat.
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Just one week before the fifth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination, some people aligned with the March 14 movement are still deciding whether or not to attend the commemoration. Secular supporters are questioning what exactly the rally and the movement stand for.
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A debate on banning smoking in public places has been heating up lately, and the number of proponents is growing. Still, in Lebanon’s tobacco-friendly culture, the commonly-held belief that such a ban will hurt businesses is slowing down a move to institute the measure.
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In recent years, an underground war has been taking place between Israel and two of its archenemies, Hamas and Hezbollah. The killing of Hamas operative Mahmoud Mabhouh two weeks ago in Dubai is reminiscent of the February 2008 assassination of Hezbollah’s top military commander, Imad Mugniyah, in Damascus.
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The cabinet last week voted to institute a 20% quota for women’s seats in the upcoming municipal elections. But civil society organizations are disappointed and critics claim discrimination. In the meantime, some political parties might not have women in their ranks to meet the quota.
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Despite the relative calm Beirut has been enjoying over the past two years, in the southern Beirut neighbourhood of Tariq al-Jedideh, the remains of the devastating wars that have rocked the area are still plainly visible and set the perfect backdrop for the local children’s war games.
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It can be said that the past is often buried under layers of new construction in Lebanon. But when an attempt was made to demolish the house of one of Lebanon’s most important historic figures, public servants and private citizens alike mobilized to protect it.
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As a result of the large-scale reconstructive development taking place in Beirut’s downtown area, high-rise buildings are rapidly taking over the city’s northern coast in a new phase of Beirut’s 5,000 year-old history—for better or for worse. NOW takes a look at the trend.
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The Interior Ministry says there will be 283,000 new voters registered if the voting age is lowered to 18 from 21. NOW looks at two researchers’ breakdown of those numbers, and why it seems this reform, demanded by civil society for years, may not come soon.
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The young Imam of Majdel Aanjar, Sheikh Mohammed Abdel Fatah al-Majzoub, went missing for 48 hours before being found at a friend’s house on Thursday night. NOW Lebanon travelled to the eastern village in the interim to find out why he could be missing.
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Many people from South Lebanon lost family in both the 2003 Benin UTA crash and Monday’s Ethiopian airliner accident. Some are beginning to question the toll of heavy emigration to Africa, where Lebanese southerners in particular move in large numbers because of harsh economic circumstances.
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After Yousra al-Amiri, an Iraqi refugee in Lebanon, was let out of the Adlieh detention center in a historical court ruling, General Security transferred her to the care of NGO Caritas. Now activists have attacked Caritas for acting as another detention center. Is it true?
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Families and friends of the passengers on board Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 were blindsided by the news of the plane’s crash on Monday morning. In the wake of the tragedy, the victims’ loved ones came together to grieve their losses and look for answers.
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While many Lebanese can’t wait to leave their homeland for greener – and cleaner – pastures, thousands of foreigners blissfully reside in the country. NOW asked four Europeans who live in Beirut why they left their calm and secure homes and moved to the relatively chaotic Lebanon.
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The Middle East’s first inhalable energy supplement, Bullshot, was pulled off the market due to health concerns among the public and government officials. But its makers insist it is merely an energy booster and has nothing to do with other snortable substances like cocaine.
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