Chick-Lit and Cupcakes in the City: A Lebanese author attracts a crowd for newly launched book, Summer Blast

Kitsch cupcakes in celebration of a new Lebanese-authored novel, more in female publishing with the release of new Al-Qaeda spawned lady's mag, A presage for Libya, and Dietary Digest of tips.

Cupcakes, chicks and brains: Lebanese writer Dania el-Kadi enjoys her moment of booksigning in Dubai.

Mich Cafe [3]

Lebanese Book Launch Combines Chic-lit with Cupcakes!

A Lebanese event that brings together chicks with cupcakes to celebrate Arab women in a high brow bookish way: Dania El-Kadi launches her novel Summer Blast- When War Threatens to Interrupt Lebanese Women's Plans- at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. She also brings her literary signing pen to Dubai's financial district at Lebanese, female talent-owned, Kitch Cupcakes, making it an all round Lebanese Ladies Affair. Here, Micheline's own take on a whole session of community bonding over cake and book success. Her account does justice to a pretty pleasant affair (as we were there to corroborate- ed.) Thanks for supporting, documenting and blog-launching the book and Lebanon's publishing success via local publisher Turning Point Books who launched to big titles at the Fair in Summer Blast and Life as a Leb-neh Lover! A pleasure to meet and tweet, Mich Cafe!:- Celebrating a rise in women authors in the Middle East. "The Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) was transformed into a literary fest on Friday (March 18) for the launch of Lebanese writer Dania El-Kadi’s debut novel, Summer Blast."

The Arabist [4]

5 questions few are asking about Libya

A stern word of warning for the potential mine-field this international intervention could unravel. And yes it could get worse than the mired battle-field it currently occupies. Watch the proverbial bloody space. "Not to rain on anyone's parade, but while I'm glad that the multinational intervention is giving cover to Libyan insurgents, I'm rather shocked at the desultory coverage of what might come out of the military intervention. A tragedy has been taking place in Libya, whose people deserve help, but that doesn't mean not thinking through consequences. Here's a shot at it:"

Ana Naddoush [5]

To interfere or not to interfere?

"So the war has started in Libya. Or – in reality it has been going on for several weeks now – but today the Western world joined in."

Paty M's Nutrition World [6]

100 Ways to help YOU Lose Weight!

A compendium of tried and tested tips. Probably not nearly faddish or alternative enough, but the good news is they actually work. Pick and mix- this isn't all or nothing (nor is that plate, she wisely reminds us, 'leave the table eight-tenths full') "Just came across this fantastic article on Stumble Upon from My Toronto Weight Loss where they asked a variety of diet related questions to some of the top dietitians in the States! Below is what they told them in simple to follow tips, they’ve learned from successful experience with thousands of clients. Some tips are new and some you’ve probably heard before, but they’re just repeated because they actually work."

THE EMIRATES ECONOMIST [7]

Al Qaeda launches women's magazine: Al-Shamika

London has provocatively titled it Cosmo Jihad and such like, as Al Bawaba mentioned last week. "The 31-page glossy, Al-Shamikha, which translates loosely as "The Majestic Woman" features a niqab-clad woman posing with a sub-machine gun on its cover."