Lebanon's Storms Add Insult to Injury for Syrian Refugees
As the latest winter storm tore across the Levant this weekend, Syrian refugees suffered disastrous conditions in Lebanon. Lebanon, a country of only four million, is host to around 1.2 million refugees from neighboring Syria. Lebanon's already insufficient infrastructure is further damaged by powerful storms such as the one that hit the region this weekend, and services such as electricity and roads tend to falter in bad weather. Three Syrian refugee children in northern Lebanon perished when an "electrical short" caused by the winter storm ignited a fire in their tent.
Source: Global Voices
Obama Outlines His Vision for a Likeable, Watered-Down Version of Islam
In this satirical piece, Obama envisions a moderate, lighter approach to Islam to contrast the hardline approach taken up by the likes of Daesh extremists. The American president hopes that some "aspects of Islam could perhaps be toned down a bit to become more acceptable in the eyes of western liberals," who apparently are "uncomfortable" with stricter interpretations of Islam. No comment on whether or not Obama will share his vision with US ally Saudi Arabia.
Source: Karl reMarks
Lessons in Yemeni Machiavellianism
Political analyst Sama'a Al-Hamdani argues that Yemen's Houthi movement gained influence by taking advantage of political turmoil and using Machiavellian tactics, such as torturing protestors and censoring the media. While these strategies were useful in gaining power, the movement does not have the capability to successfully govern Yemen.
Source: Tabsir
Cars, drugs, and virginity tests dominate Iranian film festival
This year's installment of the Fajr film festival, a showcase of Iranian cinema, is a disappointing "sea of mediocrity." In the past, Fajr has been celebrated for its "exploration of the deep layers of Iranian society." This year's showing of films drowning in glittery shallow plots and luxury cars felt out of place at a fine arts festival. While more experienced, well-known directors produced disappointments, the best films were from first-time directors who took subtler, more nuanced approaches to their work.
Source: Tehran Bureau
