Christmas trees have been lit across Lebanon as Muslims join Christians in celebrating the festive season.
Hazem Shareef insists on neutrality as victory in pop contest turns political, with regime claiming him as a supporter and opposition websites saying his father was victim of regime sniper.
A film which documents the growth of Iran's Green Movement was banned from an international film festival in Beirut.
Revolutionary Egyptian musician takes up 'artist-in-residence' offer, and denies he applied for asylum.
Ziad Rahbani has alienated himself from Lebanese and Arab audiences.