Despite a relatively free press, diverse religious groups and women in prominent positions in the business world and the media, Lebanon ranks surprisingly low when it comes to female representation in politics, and politicians have failed to act on a movement to institute a quota for women in parliament. "Keeping women from public life is not only a loss for women. It is a loss for the parliament," Minister of State for Women's Affairs Jean Oghassabian told The Associated Press. "The main obstacles are mentality, a philosophy of life, and this needs time," he said.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are on opposite sides in many ways — in their divergent branches of Islam, the wars in Syria and Yemen, Lebanese politics and relations with the United States, for example. They have clashed over oil production, religious pilgrimages and who is a terrorist. But both countries are responding to domestic and international pressure over women’s rights.

The initiative, called Broadly Films, was announced by The Hollywood Reporter on Monday morning. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the multi-million dollar three-year project, funded by venture capital company AE Ventures, will assist 36 international filmmakers in funding, developing, and producing short films about "innovation, technology, youth, and women's issues."

Becoming the first Middle Eastern woman to sign a WWE contract is an “honour,” she told Gulf News. “I have personally witnessed the power of WWE and the passion of WWE fans. I look forward to starting on my path to becoming a WWE Superstar.”

across the Arab world. About 90% of them are women. Tarjama offers women the chance to stay home, working from laptops and choosing their shifts to fit around other commitments.