Ahead of the premiere of the final series of Game of Thrones, banners supporting the show's hero Jon Snow have popped up around Beirut, pocking fun at local politics and causing hilarity among Beirutis.
“The people of Beirut support Jon Snow in his battle against the White Walkers” read one banner hanging above a busy bridge. “Cersei Lannister, be smart; our strength is in our unity”, said another.
“Whoever put this is a national hero”, tweeted one person. “Beirut banners weigh in on global GOT premiere anticipation. I love my people”, wrote another.
In a style mimicking local political banners, the banners are signed “friends of Faysal Al-Timrawi”.
Al-Timrawi, a 32-year old Beiruti architect who put the banners up three nights ago with the help of two friends, told The National that the idea was to make fun of the local tradition of hanging placards in the streets to show one's support to a politician.
“Political banners are everywhere in Beirut but no-one reads them. But now everybody knows that Beirutis are supporting Jon Snow!”, said Al-Timrawi.
Placards paid for by locals traditionally appear in towns and villages as soon as a politician pays a visit. Similarly, banners with “we are all with you” written on them materialised all over Lebanon when people thought that Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned under duress in November 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
*Mild Game of Thrones spoilers ahead*
Al-Timrawi is also, of course, a passionate fan of the series and its hero, Jon Snow.
“I’m addicted! When Jon Snow died three seasons ago, we received guests at my house in the traditional way the Lebanese offer condolences”, he says. Much to his relief, Jon Snow later resurrected.
The banners’ idea came to Al-Timrawi as he was recently watching re-runs in anticipation of the final season which will be broadcast in the UAE on April 15. He says: “I thought, why not keep busy in the meantime?”.
Al-Timrawi and his friends quickly recovered from the one incident that marred their campaign. After one banner was taken down anonymously, they put a new one up instead that read, "The white walkers took down the banners … but we will not be silenced", referring to electric blue-eyed undead zombies threatening to kill all things alive in Game of Thrones.
Arsenal's pre-season fixtures
Thursday Beat Sydney 2-0 in Sydney
Saturday v Western Sydney Wanderers in Sydney
Wednesday v Bayern Munich in Shanghai
July 22 v Chelsea in Beijing
July 29 v Benfica in London
July 30 v Sevilla in London
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Iraq negotiating over Iran sanctions impact
- US sanctions on Iran’s energy industry and exports took effect on Monday, November 5.
- Washington issued formal waivers to eight buyers of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue limited imports. Iraq did not receive a waiver.
- Iraq’s government is cooperating with the US to contain Iranian influence in the country, and increased Iraqi oil production is helping to make up for Iranian crude that sanctions are blocking from markets, US officials say.
- Iraq, the second-biggest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, pumped last month at a record 4.78 million barrels a day, former Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said on Oct. 20. Iraq exported 3.83 million barrels a day last month, according to tanker tracking and data from port agents.
- Iraq has been working to restore production at its northern Kirkuk oil field. Kirkuk could add 200,000 barrels a day of oil to Iraq’s total output, Hook said.
- The country stopped trucking Kirkuk oil to Iran about three weeks ago, in line with U.S. sanctions, according to four people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified because they aren’t allowed to speak to media.
- Oil exports from Iran, OPEC’s third-largest supplier, have slumped since President Donald Trump announced in May that he’d reimpose sanctions. Iran shipped about 1.76 million barrels a day in October out of 3.42 million in total production, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
- Benchmark Brent crude fell 47 cents to $72.70 a barrel in London trading at 7:26 a.m. local time. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was 25 cents lower at $62.85 a barrel in New York. WTI held near the lowest level in seven months as concerns of a tightening market eased after the U.S. granted its waivers to buyers of Iranian crude.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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