All Articles

 Business

Chinese company to fund renovation of railroad from Tripoli to Syria

A Chinese construction company will soon submit a proposal to finance the reconstruction of a railway from the city of Tripoli to the Lebanese-Syrian border, the Daily Star reported.

Eliana Ibrahim, president of the China Arab Association for Promoting Cultural and Commercial Exchange, told the Daily Star the project was in the initial stages, and she could not name the company.

Lebanese Economy Minister Raed Khoury recently attended the Arab States Cooperation Forum hosted by China and received positive feedback about future Chinese investment in Lebanon.

Chinese foreign Minister Wang Yi met with several of his Arab counterparts, including Raed Khoury of Lebanon (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China)
Chinese foreign Minister Wang Yi met with several of his Arab counterparts, including Raed Khoury of Lebanon (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China)

The railroad would provide a route to transport goods from Syria to a port on the Mediterranean Sea and help solidify Chinese involvement in the region for years to come.

RELATED: Beirut’s airport to receive simulation technology from New Zealand

This comes three days after the President of China Xi Jinping pledged $1.6 billion in financial aid to countries in the Middle East, that included Jordan, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.

Comments Off on Chinese company to fund renovation of railroad from Tripoli to Syria 3708
 Entertainment

WATCH: Highlights from Shakira’s performance in Lebanon!

Shakira’s performance during the Cedars International Festival in Lebanon drew a crowd of over 14,000 people, organizers announced.

The Colombian-Lebanese superstar performed during the opening night of the festival as part of her “El Dorado World Tour.”

WATCH: Highlights from Shakira’s visit to Lebanon!

A swarm of fans and local media welcomed Shakira at the airport, where she was spotted with her two children Milan and Sasha.

“I am very happy to be here in Lebanon,” she said. “This is the land of my ancestors and I’m very proud of my heritage — my Lebanese heritage.”

She also visited her grandmother’s hometown of Tannourine, where officials inaugurated the ‘Shakira Square’ in her honor.

Shakira gets ready for her performance during the Cedars International Festival. (Facebook/Cedars International Festival)
Shakira gets ready for her performance during the Cedars International Festival. (Facebook/Cedars International Festival)

“I have always thought of my family like the cedars,” Shakira said. “These beautiful trees have been transplanted to Columbia to produce fruit — like the fruit of these Cedars.”

In a statement, festival organizers said they invited Shakira to “send a message of peace from the cedars and from Lebanon to the world.”

1 3615
 Entertainment

Shakira brings her children to Lebanon ahead of concert!

Shakira arrived at the Beirut International Airport Thursday with her two children ahead of her performance at the Cedars International Festival in the northern town of Bsharri.

The Colombian-Lebanese superstar is in Lebanon as part of her “El Dorado World Tour,” where she is set to perform before 14,000 people during the festival’s opening concert.

Shakira arrives at the Beirut International Festival. (Chamoun Daher/Cedars International Festival Facebook)
Shakira arrives at the Beirut International Festival. (Chamoun Daher/Cedars International Festival Facebook)

A swarm of fans and local media welcomed Shakira at the airport, where she was spotted with her two children Milan and Sasha.

“I am very happy to be here in Lebanon,” she said. “This is the land of my ancestors and I’m very proud of my heritage — my Lebanese heritage.”

A swarm of fans and local media greeted Shakira at the airport. (Chamoun Daher/Cedars International Festival Facebook)
A swarm of fans and local media greeted Shakira at the airport. (Chamoun Daher/Cedars International Festival Facebook)

Her son Milan echoed her sentiments.

“I am happy to be here in Lebanon,” Milan said.

WATCH: LBC-TV coverage of Shakira’s arrival to Beirut International Airport:

In a statement, festival organizers said they invited Shakira to “send a message of peace from the cedars and from Lebanon to the world.”

RELATED: Shakira to perform in Lebanon during Cedars International Festival

Music manager Wassim Slaiby, who directs the Anghami music distribution company, helped bring Shakira to Lebanon.

Shakira arrives with her two children Milan and Sasha. (Chamoun Daher/Cedars International Festival Facebook)
Shakira arrives with her two children Milan and Sasha. (Chamoun Daher/Cedars International Festival Facebook)

“We are confident that the concert will be exceptional,” Slaiby said. “We will continue to attract world stars through Anghami and allow them to enjoy Lebanon and the Middle East.”

The Cedars International Festival aims to honor Lebanon internationally through the beauty of the Lebanese cedars.

1 6446
 News

Jbeil District to ban all use of plastic bags by the end of 2018

The municipality of Jbeil will ban all use of plastic bags by the start of 2019, officials confirmed.

In a memo issued by the municipality, the local government has urged all supermarkets and retail outlets to replace plastic bags with eco-friendly alternatives by the start of next year.

The municipality is attempting to cut down some of its waste, and is urging other cities and municipalities to follow suit.

In the published memo, Jbeil Mayor Wissam Zaarour is asking the owners of establishments to replace plastic bags with eco-friendly ones (Facebook/Municipality of Jbail-Byblos)
In the published memo, Jbeil Mayor Wissam Zaarour is asking the owners of establishments to replace plastic bags with eco-friendly ones (Facebook/Municipality of Jbail-Byblos)

Many Lebanese environmental groups praised the decision, including Greenpeace Mediterranean global campaign.

“The Jbeil municipality got it right,” Julien Jreissati, a Greenpeace campaigner, told The Daily Star. “Our path out of this garbage crisis starts by reducing the amount of waste we produce.”

RELATED: Wind Power industry in Lebanon industry attracts bids from 40+ companies

The memo’s release comes just two days after Starbucks announced it will stop using disposable plastic straws by 2020 in a effort to eliminate some of the 335 million tons of plastic waste produced globally every year.

Comments Off on Jbeil District to ban all use of plastic bags by the end of 2018 1994
 Lifestyle

Beirut named in world’s top 15 cities by Travel + Leisure magazine!

Beirut was named in the world’s top 15 cities Tuesday in a list released by the New York-based Travel + Leisure magazine.

The magazine ranked Beirut as the fifteenth best city in the world with a score of 87.04 out of 100.

The score took into consideration the city’s landmarks, culture, cuisine and friendliness, among other categories.

Beirut was named in the world's top 15 cities. (Travel + Leisure magazine)
Beirut was named in the world’s top 15 cities. (Travel + Leisure magazine)

“Jaw-dropping architecture, distinctive restaurants, a rich array of cultural offerings, and intriguing shops are a must,” Travel + Leisure wrote in the article. “A teeming street life, a friendly population, and a harmonious relationship with nature are equally essential.”

Magazine readers voted for their favorite cities from November 2017 to March 2018. The combined votes helped determine the list of world’s best cities, Travel + Leisure added.

FULL LIST:

  1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
  2. Oaxaca, Mexico
  3. Udaipur, India
  4. Ubud, Indonesia
  5. Kyoto, Japan
  6. Florence, Italy
  7. Luang Prabang, Laos
  8. Hoi An, Vietnam
  9. Chiang Mai, Thailand
  10. Charleston, South Carolina
  11. Mexico City, Mexico
  12. Cape Town, South Africa
  13. Rome, Italy
  14. Istanbul, Turkey
  15. Beirut, Lebanon

In a previous article about the rankings, Travel + Leisure said its readers were drawn to Beirut despite Lebanon’s instability and challenges.

“Beirut’s food is unsurpassed,” said one fan, while another added: “The nightlife is the experience of a lifetime.”

1 6990
 News

Lebanese man accused of scamming World Cup fans out of $250k

A Lebanese man is accused of scamming World Cup fans from Saudi Arabia out of $250,000, the Russian news agency TASS reported.

The Lebanese citizen, who resided in Moscow, was charged with fraud in absentia for the alleged scam. The unidentified man is now on the run.

According to TASS, the Lebanese man told Saudi fans he would arrange a flight from Moscow to the southern city of Volgograd in return for 15.6 million rubles, or $252,000.

After he collected the money, the man vanished and could not be reached.

Saudia Arabia team at the World Cup. (File photo)
Saudia Arabia team at the World Cup. (File photo)

“The police have found out that a Lebanese native registered in Moscow was behind this crime,” a source told the TASS news agency. “He has been charged in absentia, measures are being taken to detain him.”

Russian news agency Interfax reported that a Saudi man gave the suspect about 220,000 euros on June 24. The suspect said he would arrange for flights from the man and his friends.

The fans were set to travel to Volgograd to watch Saudi Arabia play Egypt in their final World Cup group phase match.

Saudi Arabia won the match 2-1.

Comments Off on Lebanese man accused of scamming World Cup fans out of $250k 1664
 Food & Drink

Pizza shop in California serves Lebanese garlic chicken pizza

A pizza shop in a suburb of Los Angeles is known for literally marrying the Lebanese and Latino cultures, and creating unique pizza dishes influenced by both cultures.

Lebanese owner Ali Chahine and his Hispanic wife Brenda Torres are the masterminds behind Big Al’s Pizzeria in Maywood, California.

The couple told KABC-TV the restaurant combines the best of both cultures, and draws foodies from Los Angeles and Orange counties.

“My parents are Lebanese and I met my wife about 17 years ago and I learned how to speak Spanish to get along,” Chahine told the ABC station.

WATCH: KABC-TV showcases a ‘fusion of Lebanese-Mexican cultures’

The restaurant is best known for their famous Lebanese Garlic Chicken Pizza, which features garlic pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, chicken, tomatoes, turnips, pickles, parsley and buttermilk ranch.

A pizza shop in California is known for its Lebanese garlic chicken pizza. (Facebook/Big Al's Pizzeria)
A pizza shop in California is known for its Lebanese garlic chicken pizza. (Facebook/Big Al’s Pizzeria)

Chahine said the pizzeria was recognized in Yelp’s Top 100 places to eat in the U.S. in 2015 and 2018.

“We got a lot of Latinos and Central Americans here in Maywood,” Chahine said. “Then Bell’s right next door and we got a lot of Muslim community, cause we cater the Halal meat to everyone.”

Big Al’s Pizzeria is located at 6044 Atlantic Boulevard in Maywood, California. For more information, click here.

1 2340
 News

Fire extinguished at American University of Beirut Medical Center

A fire at the American University of Beirut Medical Center was extinguished Tuesday, and operations returned to normal, officials announced.

In a statement, AUBMC said the blaze started on the second floor of the building, and was quickly contained.

“The fire occurred in the fiber scrubber outside the walls of the building,” the statement said. “Smoke was discharged directly into the open air.”

A fire was extinguished Tuesday at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. (Lebanese National News Agency)
A fire was extinguished Tuesday at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. (Lebanese National News Agency)

Administration officials said the AUBMC Plant Eningeering Team and Emergency Response Team were “very responsive in taking the necessary action to extinguish the fire promptly and secure the location.”

Operations were not interrupted, and hospital staff returned to business as usual, AUBMC officials added.

AUBMC is a 420-bed hospital and academic center that provides comprehensive medical care for patients in Lebanon.

The medical center is located on Cairo Street in Beirut’s Hamra area.

The center expanded in 1970 with a state-of-the-art medical center in Beirut. The building has an elaborate outpatient facility, an emergency department, research laboratories, classrooms and offices for academic staff, according to its website.

Comments Off on Fire extinguished at American University of Beirut Medical Center 1678
 News

Beirut’s airport to receive simulation technology from New Zealand

Air traffic control at the Beirut International Airport will receive advanced simulation technology from New Zealand to better train its employees on air traffic protocol and flight data.

The International Civil Aviation Organization announced an agreement made between Airways New Zealand and Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The agreement includes a Total Control LC tower simulator and two radar simulators, which will be used by instructors to oversee air traffic in training scenarios, Airways New Zealand said in a statement.

Beirut's airport will receive simulation technology from New Zealand. (Airways New Zealand)
Beirut’s airport will receive simulation technology from New Zealand. (Airways New Zealand)

“We are proud to partner with (Lebanon) as they work to enhance their ATC training using our highly advanced simulation technology,” said Sharon Cooke, CEO of Airways New Zealand. “We’re equally proud to have Airways technology and expertise being installed in a region where air traffic movements are growing rapidly yet there’s a critical gap for the training of air traffic controllers.”

The new technology will imitate full air traffic control using the latest flight data in the region. There are also 3D graphic displays which allow employees and trainees to simulate weather events.

The Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport is Lebanon’s only operational commercial airport.

Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation is responsible for operating air traffic control and controlling Lebanese airspace.

1 3101
 Lifestyle

Lebanese-owned WHITE nightclub ranked in world’s top 20!

Lebanese-owned nightclub WHITE Dubai ranks as the twentieth best club in the world, according to an annual list released by DjMag.com.

WHITE Dubai was the only club in the Middle East to rank in the top 50.

Originally founded in Beirut in 2006, the nightclub expanded and opened a location in Dubai on the Meydan Racecourse Grandstand Rooftop in 2013.

WHITE Dubai was listed as among the top nightclubs in the world. (WHITE Dubai)
WHITE Dubai was listed as among the top nightclubs in the world. (WHITE Dubai)

Founded in 1991, DjMag is a British magazine for electronic dance music fans and DJs. The magazine releases a list of the most popular nightclubs in the world every year.

On Thursday’s, WHITE is home to the Bizaaar, which plays a mix of local genres. On Friday’s, the club plays music from international house and tech-house stars like Claptone and Dubfire.

RELATED: Study shows 40% of Beirut sleeps less than six hours

The club can fit 2,500 people and has been the venue of recent performances by Rick Ross, Sean Paul, Jason Derulo and Wiz Khalifa.

To view the current full list of the best clubs in the world, click here.

Comments Off on Lebanese-owned WHITE nightclub ranked in world’s top 20! 5272

Send this to friend