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Report: Lebanese women lead among female social media users in the Middle East

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A new report published by the Dubai School of Government’s Governance and Innovation program says that Lebanon is in the top five most active Arab countries on social media. In particular, Lebanon has the highest rate of female social network users in the region, according to the report.

The report is a recurring series that highlights and analyzes usage trends of online social networking across the Arab region. Researchers analyze data on Facebook and Twitter users in all 22 Arab countries, in addition to Iran, Israel and Turkey.

Most active countries include:

  • Qatar
  • UAE
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Bahrain

NUQ_Internet_10_SocialNetworks-1024x512

THE NUMBERS

  • Female users of Facebook in Lebanon total 45 percent of total users.
  • Lebanon is sixth in the region on Twitter. Lebanese women on Twitter is highest in the region.
  • Lebanon ranks fifth with LinkedIn users. Lebanese women are again the highest subscribers in the region.
  • Since 2013, Lebanon has seen an 8 percent increase in Facebook users, with about 140,000 new users.
  • English is used by 78 percent of Facebook users in Lebanon.
  • 60 percent of Lebanese social media users fall between the ages of 15 and 29. 40 percent are 30 and above.
  • Internet users in the Arab world reached the global average in 2014, with 82 million users at 22 percent penetration rates.

 

Interactive Facebook Statistics:

Interactive Twitter Statistics:

Interactive LinkedIn Statistics:

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 City Beat, News

64 students get all-expense-paid trip to Lebanon

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — 64 students of Lebanese descent will have an opportunity to travel to Beirut, Lebanon as part of the Maronite Foundation Academy, an initiative aimed at introducing young Lebanese immigrants to their country of origin, from August 2 until August 17.

Selected candidates undergo online sessions that build their knowledge about Lebanon and the Maronite heritage. After successfully completing their online courses, the selected candidates have an opportunity to travel on a two-week trip to Lebanon, all expenses covered by the Maronite Foundation.

During their stay in Lebanon, the candidates will get to bond with their roots and get further in touch with the history of Lebanon and the Maronite Heritage through various site visits and seminars, given by prominent figures.

“Your hard work on the online courses and the family referrals paid off! I was especially happy to read your insightful answers to the questions about the Lebanese culture!” wrote Nada Salem Abisamra, the director of CLFW, on Facebook.

The winners include:

NameCountry
Maria Sofia Gomez MansurArgentina
Janet Mitre CanaanArgentina
Clara Inés AntonioArgentina
Laila Roxina MoliternoArgentina
Arz Charbel Juri GallarArgentina
Rhonda HawachAustralia
Natalie SpiridonAustralia
Monica AounAustralia
Gebran HabibAustralia
Pascale EsberAustralia
Rita MikhaelAustralia
Sandra KaltoumAustralia
Charbel DoumitAustralia
Tanya RaffoulAustralia
Shawn TorbeyAustralia
Jacob KahwajiAustralia
Andre RizkAustralia
Yussif Sharbel Santiago SelemeBolivia
Tatiana AzziBrazil
Felipe Torres WakedBrazil
Liliane AbdallaBrazil
Pedro Augusto Lara El-CorabBrazil
Eli KhouriBrazil
Rebeca BayehBrazil
Pauline TradCanada
Michael KmeidCanada
Marc Abi khalilCanada
Tatiana SalibaCanada
Wendy SfeirCanada
Christine NassifCanada
Ziad WehbéCanada
María Fernanda Sade MoránChile
Yuseff Amin Henriquez SakerColombia
Jose KhalilColombia
Sharpel PetriCyprus
Salvador Pichardo YapurDominican Republic
Maria Jose Reshuan LandivarEcuador
Luz Gabriela Rodriguez DagerEcuador
Christina MehannaFrance
Gilberto Najera AbrahamMexico
Yamel Kahwagi AbrahamMexico
Estefania Farah IsperMexico
Odeth RicoMexico
Juan Ramon Kuri AzarMexico
Ada Chikhani AhuedMexico
Lorena Manira Ghiglione FadlalaParaguay
Jussef HendePeru
Angela WitherdenSouth Africa
Maria Teresa LahoudSpain
Mario GebrayelUK
Cecilia Alem GarciaUruguay
Jonathan BoukarimUSA
Hannah MeryUSA
Anastasia TannousUSA
Julie DaccacheUSA
Veronica WakedUSA
Rita SaikaliUSA
Jeremy AllamUSA
Marwa NouhraUSA
Fadi TaljUSA
Jihan NicholasUSA
Shedhy MaksoudVenezuela
Stefania Requejo WavraVenezuela
Jorge GonzálezVenezuela
According to the Maronite Academy Facebook page, the goals of the Maronite Foundation are to:

  • Re-connect the ties between the Maronites in Lebanon and their fellow Maronite diaspora across the globe.
  • Strengthen the Maronite Heritage and legal citizenship affiliation to the land of Cedars.
  • Promote Lebanon as the spiritual motherland of Maronites worldwide.
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 News

Hariri, Kerry agree presidential void must end

(PARIS, FRANCE) — Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri held a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday, to discuss the ongoing presidential void and the steps to strengthen security forces in Lebanon.

324744_img650x420_img650x420_cropThe hour-long breakfast in Paris was attended by a number of U.S. officials, according to the Associated Press. Kerry and Hariri reportedly discussed the impact of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the efforts needed by the international community to help the country cope with the influx of refugees.

According to AFP, Kerry and Hariri also discussed Wednesday’s suicide bomber who blew himself up at a Beirut hotel to escape arrest, the third explosion in the country in less than a week.

“It’s all very sensitive that this not be symptomatic,” a senior State Department official said after the Paris talks. “We strongly condemned the bombing and are hoping that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

Three suicide bombers blew themselves up in Lebanon this week, raising concerns of a return to last year’s series of deadly attacks, mostly linked to the crisis in Syria.

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 News

First national laboratory for olive oil testing launched in Lebanon

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The first Lebanese National Laboratory for the testing of olive oil was opened on Thursday in Kfarshima by the Agriculture Ministry. The project is reportedly being funded by the Italian Embassy in Beirut.

324858_img650x420_img650x420_crop“We inaugurate the National Laboratory for testing the Lebanese olive oil, where it will be possible to conduct all kind of tests according to International requirements and standards,” said Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb at the launching ceremony. “The laboratory has been accomplished thanks to the Italian grant.”

The laboratory, the first of its kind in the country, will allow ministry experts to assess and control the quality of Lebanese olive oil. The laboratory was established in part due to a grant donated by the Italian government, which backed several projects aimed to improve Lebanese olives and oil.

“The achievement we are celebrating today is the result of a long-standing commitment of the Italian Cooperation in the Lebanese Agriculture sector,” said Giuseppe Morabito, the Italian Ambassador to Lebanon. “The olive tree is the symbol of peace. I wish this project will bring us hope and peace. Italy will continue to stay in Lebanon in spite all the difficulties,” he said.

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 News

World: Lebanon needs a president

lebanon-presidency

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The international community expressed disappointment in Lebanon’s inability to elect a president on Wednesday, urging leaders to quickly end the presidential vacuum that has left the country’s top Christian post empty, U.N. Special Coordinator to Lebanon Derek Plumbly said.

“We call on Lebanon’s leaders and Members of Parliament to engage intensively to ensure the election of a president without further delay,” Plumbly told reporters after meeting with Maronite Patriarch Rai in Bkirki. “Lebanon’s long standing democratic tradition and the challenges the country presently faces mean that this is indeed a matter of great importance to us all.”

324543_mainimgU.S. Ambassador David Hale, Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin, Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Jiang Jiang, U.K. Ambassador Tom Fletcher, the French Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires Jerome Kochhar and U.N. Special Coordinator to Lebanon Derek Plumbly attended the meeting. Plumbly said the patriarch told international ambassadors that he was “concerned” over the parliament’s continued inability to elect a leader.

“We share that concern,” he said. “The process of selecting a new president must remain a Lebanese one. At a time of conflict and instability in other parts of the region, and when Lebanon itself faces multiple economic, humanitarian and security challenges, a prolonged vacuum in the highest office of the Lebanese state would indeed be a matter of grave concern.”

The meeting with international leaders come after Rai held seperate meetings with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces head Samir Geagea.

Since April, lawmakers have been unable to elect a new head of state. An eighth round is now scheduled for July 2.

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 Entertainment, News

Fairouz releases music video paying tribute to late husband Assi Rahbani

fairouz-new-music-video

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese diva Fairouz recently released her first music video in years, paying tribute to her late husband Assi Rahbani. The 6-minute video integrates elements of the Christian “Ave Maria” prayer.

Assi Rahbani was a Lebanese composer, musician, and producer. His son Ziad Rahbani also became known as a very successful artists in music and theatre.

For many years, Fairouz and Assi collaborated on projects to create what was widely known as the “golden era” of Lebanese music.

The new music video was produced and directed by Fairouz and Assi Rahbani’s daughter, Rima Rahbani, who continues to serve as Fairouz’s manager.

Watch the music video below:

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3G7kkmJdZ8″ width=”500″ height=”300″]

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 News

Suicide bombers blow themselves up at Beirut’s Duroy hotel

duroy-hotel

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Two suicide bombers blew themselves up on the fourth floor of the Duroy Hotel in the Raouche district on Wednesday, according to the Daily Star.

324592_mainimgAt least two security personnel were reportedly wounded in the explosion. This is the third Beirut blast in less than a week.

News media is reporting a raging fire inside the hotel as plumes of smoke continue to cover Beirut’s skyline.

The explosion came only two days after a suicide bomber killed a General Security sergeant in the Beirut suburb of Tayyouneh.

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 News

Another bomb blast shakes Beirut

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A suicide bomber detonated a vehicle packed with explosives near a checkpoint early Tuesday, causing several deaths and injuries, _75761335_75761330according to Lebanese security officials.

The explosion occurred just after midnight near the Abu Assaf cafe, where the Associated Press reports dozens of people gathered to watch the World Cup.

The National News Agency said 12 people were wounded following the bombing. It was the second explosion in a week and comes amid mounting regional tensions over dramatic events in nearby Iraq.

On Friday, a suicide bomber detonated his car near a police checkpoint in eastern Lebanon, killing a policeman and wounding several other people.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpQi9vuDJ1o” width=”500″ height=”300″]

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 News

Salam visiting Kuwait to “thank” delegates for “moral and financial” support

Tammam Salam

(KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT) — Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam arrived in Kuwait on Sunday, starting a day-long official visit in response to an invitation by Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

Salam was accorded an official reception at Kuwait International Airport where he was welcomed by the Kuwait’s Prime Minister and delegates.

Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received the visiting Salam at Seif Palace on Sunday, where they discussed bilateral ties, tackled issues of common interests and touched on the latest regional and international developments.

Salam also reportedly “(thanked) our Kuwaiti brothers for their moral and financial support for Lebanon.”

Meanwhile, Salam told reporters that Lebanese security forces were on high alert following intense security issues on Friday.

“Security and stability in the country are widely available,” Salam said en route to Kuwait.

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 City Beat, Detroit, News

Lebanese-Americans go “Back to Roots”

back-to-roots

(DETROIT, MI) — At the end of June, three Lebanese-Americans from Detroit will join a group of fifteen Lebanese North Americans on a trip to Beirut, Lebanon, as part of the “Back to Roots Summer Academy.”

Back to Roots is a two-week program that introduces North Americans of Lebanese descent to the “natural beauty, rich culture, historical significance, and political landscape” in Lebanon.

back-to-rootsAll expenses including lodging and transportation are covered, except for international flight reservations, according to Anthony Sader, assistant U.S. Director of Back to Roots.

“Typically, (the participants) wake up bright and early, they might have a lecture from a professor or somebody who is educated on a certain subject. Then we travel and meet other prominent people, like the patriarch, president, and other important leaders,” Sader said.

When asked if the participants will meet the Lebanese president this year, Sader smirked. “We’ll see if we have one.”

Back to Roots is funded by the Lebanese Information Center (LIC), an independent, non-profit research institute headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. The group is “non-religious” and “non-political,” according to Sader.

Fundraisers across the country are hosted year-round to collect donations to pay for the summer program. The Midwest chapter recently hosted a fundraiser at Alexander’s Lebanese Cuisine in Warren. Click here to see photos.

If you’re interested in learning more information about Back to Roots, visit BTRLebanon.org. For donation information, click here.

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