Amid National Crisis, Lebanon’s Only English Daily Publishes Blank Edition

Lebanon’s only English-language daily newspaper published an almost fully blank edition on Thursday in protest of the country’s deteriorating conditions. The Daily Star printed on each of its pages only one word or phrase, such as “government deadlock”, “rising public debt”, “increasing sectarian rhetoric”, and “unemployment.” The back page bore Lebanon’s national symbol – the cedar tree – with a caption reading: “Wake up before it’s too late!” Beirut has been dealing with a financial crisis for months, with the country”s debt hovering at around $85 billion, or 150 percent of gross domestic product. Meanwhile, the government has not convened since a shooting in June killed two aides to a Druze minister in what was deemed an assassination attempt. “Despite the worsening political, economic, financial and social problems, there is still time to save [Lebanon]. This requires a collaborative effort from all sides and sacrificing for the good of the country,” the Daily Star said on its website.