Lebanon
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Protests bring Beirut’s abandoned Egg back to life
In the heart of Beirut's manicured downtown, something is stirring in a bullet-pocked concrete shell of a building known as "the Egg": the visually unappealing Egg has advanced to become the meeting place for Lebanese democracy activists. Impressions by Lisa Barrington
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Interview with Lebanese activist Nizar Hassan
Beirut's ruling elite may be down, but they are not yet out
In the “Lebanese Politics Podcast”, co-host Nizar Hassan analyses political events in Lebanon. In interview with Qantara, he talks about solutions to the country’s economic crisis, the role of Hezbollah in the political negotiations and Lebanon's political prospects
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Mass protests in Sudan, Algeria, Lebanon and Iraq
Is this the Arab Spring 2.0?
Nearly a decade after the Arab Spring fizzled out, a new wave of protests has swept across the Middle East and North Africa. What is different this time – and will the protesters get what they want? By Marwan Muasher
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Interview with Lebanese director Rabih Mroué
"First, they all have to go. And all means all"
The Lebanese director Rabih Mroué explains why a tax on WhatsApp led to an outbreak of mass protests in his country. And also why the government has until now refrained from using force. Rabih Mroue talked to Till Briegleb
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Processing child trauma in the Middle East
Sesame Street's new trio of refugee puppets
Basma, Jad and Ma'zooza are about to join the Sesame Street family. The trio of new Arabic-speaking characters will help teach children in the Middle East to read and write, as well as process the trauma of displacement. Diana Hodali reports
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Interview with Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf
Petrodollars proved stronger in the Middle East than cultural tradition
Decades of oil exports have completely destabilised culture and politics in the Middle East. Speaking with Lena Bopp, the renowned writer Amin Maalouf says that the distorted political discourse in the Arab world is now impacting on the West
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Unrest in the Arab world
The genie is out of the bottle
The Arab world is one gigantic pressure cooker. For the most part the lid of repression is on, but it is boiling over with increasing frequency. Whether in Lebanon, Iraq or in Algeria, where people are rising up against political despotism and corruption. By Karim El-Gawhary
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Middle East
Lebanon's protesters are here to stay
Demonstrators in Lebanon have been taking to the streets for days demanding the resignation of the government. So far, the government has offered little to pacify the people. How long can this go on? Diana Hodali reports
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Political crisis in Lebanon
Time is running out for Saad Hariri
In Lebanon, protests continue against the government. Prime Minister Saad Hariri has already lost a coalition partner. His power appears to be eroding. Diana Hodali reports from Beirut
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Abrahamic Teams in the MENA
Interfaith dialogue – a painstaking process
The declared goal of the Abrahamic Teams is to improve how Jews, Christians and Muslims interact with and live alongside each other. The project, which originates in Germany, is now being implemented in Israel, Egypt and Morocco too. But, as Claudia Mende found out, interfaith dialogue does not progress quickly
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Women's rights in Lebanon
Campaign exposes "victim-blaming" attitudes to rape
Most abusive and discriminatory acts against women and girls in Lebanon are the direct result of unequal treatment of men and women within the Lebanese law and the influence of a patriarchal society that thrives on the control and oppression of women. By Narod Haroutunian
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Book review: Pierre Jarawanʹs "The Storyteller"
Reconciling histories
Originally published in German in 2016 at the height of the refugee crisis, Pierre Jarawanʹs debut novel deftly captures the multi-layered existence of those who are forced to leave their homeland. Newly available in English, "The Storyteller" is a moving tale of the quest for personal identity. Richard Marcus read the book