Antoun Issa

Latest posts by Antoun Issa

Lebanon: Bloggers push for Daily Star revamp

  12 February 2010

Lebanese bloggers are waging an online campaign to push the country's only English online newspaper to revamp its website. One blogger even takes the effort to redesign a mock - which his colleagues hope will prompt a change at The Daily Star, turning the "1920's Russian steam boat" into a 21st century cruise liner.

Australia: An Australia Day of Celebration and Protest

  27 January 2010

Celebrated on January 26, this year's Australia Day was characterized by an increase of flag-waving patriotism. However, the day was also commemorated with the Great Australian Internet Blackout, where Australians protested the government's plan for an internet filter.

Palestine: Twitter accused of silencing Gaza tribute

  29 December 2009

Twitter has been accused of attempting to silence tributes to Gaza one-year after an Israeli onslaught devastated the Palestinian enclave. Pro-Palestinian and human rights activists used the influential Twitter to express support for the besieged territory. Tweets using the hashtag #Gaza flooded in on December 27th, peaking at number 3 on Twitter's top ten Trending Topics list.

Australia pushes internet censorship; Twitter erupts

  21 December 2009

Australia's Communications Minister Stephen Conroy declared his determination last week to push through mandatory internet censorship of a government-defined blacklist of websites, sparking an online frenzy in blogs and on Twitter. News of the proposed internet censorship propelled the issue to a “trending topic” on Twitter for several hours, under...

Lebanon Ups the Ante in the Hummus War

  25 October 2009

As many as 300 Lebanese chefs gathered yesterday in Beirut to make the largest ever plate of hummus in an attempt to claim the reigns in ownership of the popular chick pea dip. The new world record is part of an ongoing campaign in Lebanon to reaffirm the country's claim to a number of dishes being produced in Israel - with the ownership of hummus being one of the main quarrels.

Lebanon: Bloggers React to Iran Crisis

Only a week after its own tight elections, Lebanese bloggers have been intently watching the fallout from Iran's disputed polls. The turmoil in Iran - a key power broker in Lebanon and main supporter of the powerful Lebanese Shia group Hezballah - has received mixed reactions. Whilst many of the bloggers are resisting to choose a side in Iran's dispute, they have plenty to say on other fronts.

Lebanon: From the Election Campaign Trail

Campaigning for the Lebanese parliamentary elections in June is in full swing, and the Lebanese blogosphere is not skipping a beat. As expected, the Lebanese blogosphere is keeping a close eye on election developments and offering plenty of insight, writes Antoun Issa.

Australian film on Lebanese gangs talk of the town

An Australian film depicting Lebanese gang life in Sydney's western suburbs has sparked more than a series of reviews. “The Combination“ was pulled from several cinemas in Sydney after brawls broke out, following the screenings and the controversial film has been the talk of the town, receiving wide media attention, writes Antoun Issa.

Lebanon: Christopher Hitchens’ Beirut Scuffle Sparks Debate

  27 February 2009

Former leftist turned conservative writer Christopher Hitchens ran into trouble in Beirut last week when he attempted to deface a poster/memorial of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), a Hezbollah ally. Versions of the event claim a heavily intoxicated Hitchens shouted obscenities at the party, ultimately resulting in an altercation with several SSNP members nearby. These allegations have sparked a debate across continents, writes Antoun Issa.

Lebanon: A Civil Marriage Valentine

  15 February 2009

Renewed calls for Lebanon to allow civil marriages were made in a Valentine ceremony at a Beirut bar over the weekend. Several inter-religious couples staged mock weddings at a bar in Beirut's trendy Gemmayze district to protest the country's stiff marriage laws. Antoun Issa has more in this post.