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Throwback: ‘World Strictest Parents’ shoot episode in Lebanon

The ‘World’s Strictest Parents’ TV show shot an episode in Lebanon in 2009 — and nearly 10 years later, it’s still worth watching!

For the sixth episode of season 2, British teenagers Debbie McQueen and Daniel Drinkwater lived with the Hajjar family in Lebanon.

The strict parents were former policeman Abdulsalam and nurse Iman. They are a Sunni Muslim family in Beirut, according to BBC.

For the week they spent in Lebanon, the teenagers found it hard to follow a strict dress code and zero alcohol tolerance policy.

A handful of times throughout the episode they were found crying and emotionally breaking down because of stress.

The British-based show’s concept is to send undisciplined teenagers to stay with a strict family somewhere around the world for a week.

Watch the episode preview below:

For more information on the episode, click here.

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 Entertainment

Amal Clooney shines in canary-yellow dress at Royal Wedding

Amal and George Clooney are the latest power couple to arrive at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding — and Amal looked like a ray of sunshine!

She wore a beautiful canary-yellow dress as she walked alongside George into the Windsor Castle grounds.

lebanese amal and george clooney at royal wedding 2

Amal’s Stella McCartney dress was accessorized with Gianvito Rossi nude pumps, and a side-tipped hat with a yellow-netting front and ochre-colored crystals.

Oh, and George was also there.

He wore a grey power suit with a pale yellow tie.

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According to PEOPLE magazine, Meghan Markle and Amal have known each other for a while.

Their friendship started when Meghan moved to Britain, and was introduced to Amal by a mutual friend.

Amal, a Lebanese-British human rights lawyer, married George in 2014.

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 News

Lebanese actress protests Gaza deaths during Cannes Film Festival

French-Lebanese actress Manal Issa used the spotlight during the Cannes Film Festival in France to protest the Israeli army’s killing of Palestinians on the Gaza border.

Issa held a sign that said, “Stop the Attack on Gaza” as she made her way to the premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story.

The actress was protesting Israeli forces for killing dozens of protesters and injuring hundreds.

Issa recently starred in a film about the Syrian revolution called “My Favorite Fabric,” which also premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. She also appears in the drama “Parisienne” and the thriller “Nocturama.”

According to Reuters, 60 people were killed on Monday in Gaza by Israeli gunfire or tear gas.

Palestinian authorities called the attacks a “massacre of protestors” on the day the U.S. opened its embassy in contested Jerusalem.

Several other stars and producers joined Arab activists in a protest during the Cannes festival.

Hollywood actor Benicio del Toro participated in a moment of silence for Palestinian victims.

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 City Beat

Maronite church in Virginia to hold large Lebanese food festival

Members of a Maronite Catholic community in Virginia are planning a large Lebanese food festival from May 18 to May 20 on church grounds.

St. Anthony Maronite Church in Glen Allen, Virginia will serve up a smorgasbord of Lebanese dishes — everything from spinach and cheese pies to shawarma sandwiches.

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The three-day festival is a glimpse into Lebanese food, dessert and culture for the Virginia town and its nearby communities.

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For the first time this year, festival organizers invited members of the St. Rafqa Choir from Lebanon to perform folk and religious music on Friday and Saturday night.

Admission is free, but food prices range from $2 to $9. The festival is fundraising opportunity for the church.

For a full list of menu items, click here. For more information about the festival, click here.

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 Entertainment

Barcelona football star Cesc Fàbregas marries Lebanese girlfriend

Barcelona football star Cesc Fàbregas married his Lebanese girlfriend Daniella Semaan during a picture-perfect wedding ceremony at the lavish Cliveden House in Berkshire.

The Cliveden House is the same venue where Meghan Markle will spend the night before marrying Prince Harry.

Fàbregas, 31, and his longtime girlfriend, 42, shared photos of the big day to social media.

The Lebanese-born Semaan posted, “Just married to this handsome man that I adore.”

Fàbregas and Semaan have three children together, 5-year-old Lia, 3-year-old Capri and 1-year-old Leonardo, who all attended the wedding.

Semaan has two other children from a previous marriage to Lebanese property tycoon Elie Taktouk.

The happy couple met in 2011 when Semaan asked him for an autograph at a Japanese restaurant in London.

Fàbregas plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the Spain national team.

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 News

Lebanese group forced to shut down first gay pride week in Arab world

A Lebanese LGBTQ group was forced to cancel a major gay pride festival after authorities detained the organizer and forced him to sign a pledge abandoning the event, Reuters reported.

Beirut Pride is the first gay pride week in the Arab world. Last year the opening event was cancelled due to safety concerns for LGBTQ attendees.

The 2018 Beirut Pride week was set to run from May 12 to May 20.

In a statement, organizer Hadi Damien said he was taken into custody during a public reading of a theater play. He spent the night at a police station where he was questioned by censorship officials, he added.

“The conversation with the director at the censorship office did not go very far, and questions about Pride, its importance and program became paramount,” Damien wrote.

Lebanon is widely seen as more socially liberal than most other Middle Eastern countries, but LGBTQ communities say they face intense discrimination by society and government.

According to Lebanese law, “any sexual intercourse contrary to the order of nature” is punishable by up to one year in prison, according to The New York Times.

The Lebanese Interior Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Damien said he signed a pledge ending Beirut Pride week under the advice of an attorney.

Ghenwa Samhat, executive director of LGBTQ rights organization Helem, told Reuters that Lebanese rights groups often face government pressure.

“These things are not new to us,” Samhat said. “People can still express themselves in public places, there are placers friendly to LGBTQ+, where they face no problems.”

It is not clear if the group plans to organize any other events, or if they plan to dispute the pledge.

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 News

Report: Homeless woman found dead in Beirut had $1M in bank account

A homeless woman found dead Tuesday in Beirut may have possessed more than $1 million in a Lebanese savings account, An-Nahar reported.

The Beirut-based newspaper said the 52-year-old woman, identified as Fatima Othman, was initially found with $3,000, or LBP 5,000,000.

A further investigation located a savings account in her name worth about $1.2 million, or LBP 1.7 billion.

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According to An-Nahar, the authenticity of the documents remains unknown.

The photos have created a social media firestorm, with many users asking how she had so much money.

Othman was found dead in Beirut’s southern Ouzai district, according to the Internal Security Forces. She died of natural causes.

Residents told Gulf News that Othman lived in the street for more than 20 years, and frequently rented a car from the neighborhood.

Her body was returned to her family in Akkar where she was buried, security officials said.

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 Lifestyle

How Instagram’s ‘Rich Kids of Beirut’ spend their fortunes

Lebanon is the 12th most billionaire-dense country in the world, according to Business Insider — and the country’s most affluent children sure know how to spend their family fortunes.

The Instagram page @richkidsdebeirut shows off the day-in-the-life of Lebanon’s elite.

From imported cars to expensive designer clothes, the small Mediterranean nation has its fair share of rich kids.

The only problem these kids have is choosing which car to take for the day.

Some of the cars are customized and imported from other countries, like Dubai.

Courtesy of @dubaiamazingcars

A post shared by RICH KIDS OF BEIRUT (@richkidsdebeirut) on

The best views money can buy.

? #richkidsofbeirut #rkob

A post shared by RICH KIDS OF BEIRUT (@richkidsdebeirut) on

Enjoying Eid in style.

Savoring the beautiful Mediterranean sunset.

Couple goals.

Before takeoff.

Champagne overlooking over the city.

Champagne over Beirut ? #richkidsofbeirut #rkob #beirut

A post shared by RICH KIDS OF BEIRUT (@richkidsdebeirut) on Mar 22, 2018 at 2:26am PDT

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 Lifestyle

WATCH: Epic wedding entrance captures Lebanese and Assyrian cultures!

As we’ve shown you before, Lebanese tend to take things a step further with their weddings. This epic fusion of Assyrian and Lebanese cultures is no exception!

In their most recent video, the Australian-based YouTube channel Iconic Films captured Anthony and Karolin’s wedding, and showcased the best of their Lebanese and Assyrian cultures.

The Iconic Films team captures weddings around the world and “are passionate about constantly challenging themselves from a creative and technological aspect.”

Congratulations to Anthony and Karolin!

Watch the incredible wedding entrance here:

You can also watch the full wedding, by clicking here.

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 Food & Drink

Pippa Middleton’s favorite London restaurant is Lebanese

Pippa Middleton’s favorite restaurant is a Lebanese chain known for its home style dishes served in a souk-like setting, Women and Home reports.

Comptoir Libanais is a popular restaurant chain with multiple locations in greater London and Manchester.

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One of the restaurant locations is in South Kensington branch near Middleton’s home, Women and Home added.

The pregnant Pippa Middleton is the younger sister of Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.

In 2013, paparazzi spotted Middleton and her mother Carole Middleton having lunch at Comptoir Libanais. Prince William has also previously visited the restaurant.

It is not clear what they usually order.

comptoir libanais pippa middleton 1 leThe restaurant chain was started by Algerian-born chef Tony Kitous. The restaurateur said the business aims to have an authentic dining experience.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s food that’s affordable and easy to know – healthy, light and you can enjoy it every day of the week,” Kitous said on his website. “Comptoir Libanais means ‘Lebanese counter’ and that’s exactly what it is: somewhere you can eat casually, with no fuss. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort, style or authenticity of food just because the dining is casual.”

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