3 positive stories you might have missed

Dear readers,

Turtles nesting defies conflict on Sour’s beach

On the Mansouri beach in Sour a remarkable scene unfolds at dawn amid the distant rumble of shelling: endangered sea turtles, oblivious to human conflicts, instinctively emerge to lay their eggs on the sand, less than 20 kilometers from the border with Israel. Miraculously, despite the ongoing cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah disrupting and destroying many aspects of daily life, the nesting season for these turtles has continued uninterrupted - thanks to dedicated volunteers and marine biologists giving a helping hand. Read Sally Abou AlJoud’s heartwarming article here.

Lebanon’s thriving ice-cream scene

With September temperatures staying in their 30s, it’s still very much ice cream season in Lebanon. The beloved ‘bouza’ has a long history. But did you know that historians think ice cream initially made its way to Europe from the Middle East ? Read Amanda Haydar’s vivid explanation of Lebanon’s long standing love affair with ice cream here. Warning: It may trigger your cravings and urge you to run out and buy some scoops of Ashta !

Why you’re next car journey may be smoother

If you’ve become fatigued by the number of lumps and bumps you have to drive over on the roads of Lebanon, then you’ll be pleased to hear that the Public Works Ministry has decided to rehabilitate several intranational highways and roads this year, especially in recent weeks, in various regions from southern Lebanon to areas close to the Lebanese-Syrian border. L’Orient Today’s Malek Jade explains more.

Very best,

Olivia Le Poidevin

Head of L’Orient Today