Examiner Staff

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 Entertainment

Insane Lebanese starlets take madness to a new level

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — In what appears to be a growing trend of insane Lebanese starlets, a brand new ridiculously nonsensical woman who calls herself “ZeeZee M” has joined the airwaves.

The wannabe Lebanese artist is joining the list of absolutely bizarre women who are trying to make it big with her brand-new ludicrous song called “How Much I Love Eating Bananas.”

The music video features “ZeeZee” flaunting around bananas and singing, “I really like eating bananas. One banana, two bananas…I want two.”

WATCH Zeezee’s outlandish video:

ZeeZee’s new found fame comes after another insane diva, Lara Kay, came out with the song, “Ataloule l A7leim,” or “You Killed My Dreams,” where she protests government actions in skimpy shorts.

WATCH Kay’s claim to fame:

With global terrorism threatening Lebanon and parliament’s inability to elect a president, should we really care about psycho ladies who are trying to capture views on YouTube? We really shouldn’t.

But I guess amid the frenzy of serious politics and sorrowful news, we can look to these freakish women for entertainment.

Freedom is a beautiful thing — isn’t it?

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 City Beat, Detroit, News

Muslim passenger claims harassment on Delta Airlines flight

(DETROIT, MI) — A Muslim woman from Dearborn says Delta Airlines mishandled a harassment case on a flight from Florida to Detroit.

Darlene Hider, 32, said she was with her four kids and husband when another woman yelled, “This is America!” and insulted her because of her Islamic faith.

Instead of asking the woman to stop, Delta flight attendants told Hider to “get your kids and change seats.” She was later moved to the rear of the plane.

“I felt as if I wanted to defend myself but I couldn’t because of the Islamophobia going on,” Hider told BuzzFeed News. “It’s enough that I wear a scarf. We have to prove ourselves every day to people and it gets tiring. I’m not a terrorist. I’m American.”

According to Hider, the flight attendant said: “You are at my wit’s end. You better be quiet before I kick you off this plane!”

Hider’s brother, Abed Ayoub, is the legal and policy director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

“Everyday Muslims and Arabs are discriminated against in America,” Ayoub posted on Twitter. “They are sisters, wives, mothers and don’t deserve this.”

“As a civil rights attorney I work with victims of discrimination all the time. Corporations like Delta need to respond better,” he said.

Brian Kruse, a spokesman for Delta Airlines, say they’re reviewing the situation.

“Delta does not condone discrimination of any kind,” he told the Detroit Free Press on Tuesday.

The president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Samer Khalaf, is now calling on Delta to better train their flight attendants.

“We encourage Delta to take immediate steps to rectify this matter and ensure that their agents are better equipped to address instances of harassment,” he said.

The ADC released a video that they say shows part of the incident. A flight attendant is heard saying: “You want to get off the plane? I’m fixing the problem. If you want, we will take you out.”

WATCH video footage of Hider moving seats:

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 News

Islamic State burn Jordanian pilot alive; Lebanese officials react

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese officials are reacting to the Islamic State’s most recent video, which purportedly shows a Jordanian pilot being burned alive in a cage.

The 22-minute video allegedly shows images of 26-year-old First Lieutenant Maaz al-Kassabeh engulfed in flames.

King Abdullah II cut short his visit to Washington DC and flew back to Jordan where he vowed an “earth-shattering response.”

U.S. President Barack Obama denounced the apparent killing and pledged to “redouble the vigilance” to make sure the Islamic State is “ultimately defeated.”

“It’s just one more indication of the viciousness and barbarity of this organization,” Obama said.

Meanwhile, Jordan hung two Iraqi jihadists, one a woman, on Wednesday in response to the video. The Islamic State demanded the release of the woman, Sajida al-Rishawi, in exchange for a Japanese hostage it later beheaded.

Former Prime Minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati contacted Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Jouda and offered his condolences.

“This has nothing to do with the Islamic religion’s principles,” Mikati said, in a statement published by the Lebanese National News Agency.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri also reacted to al-Kassabeh’s apparent death.

“Neither mind not heart believe the barbaric crime committed against Jordanian pilot Maath Kassasbeh,” he posted on Twitter. “Obscurantism in the name of religion! Sincere condolences to King Abdallah, to the people of Jordan and to the Kassasbeh family.”

Editor’s Note: Lebanese Examiner is still awaiting formal statements from other Lebanese political groups regarding this developing story.

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 News

19-year-old AUB student killed in Lebanon ski accident

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — 19-year-old Melanie Freiha died in a tragic ski accident at the Kfardebian ski slopes on Sunday.

Freiha, a first-year civil engineering student at the American University of Beirut (AUB), died during surgery at Saint George Hospital in Ajaltoun.

LBCI reports that she suffered serious injuries to her ribs and spleen.

Her funeral service will be held Tuesday at 3 p.m. at St. Nicolas Church in Achrafieh. She will be laid to rest in her hometown Makseh, in the eastern district of Zahle.

College Notre-Dame de Jamhour, Freiha’s high school, posted a statement on its website announcing that grade 12 students will be dismissed at 12:10 so they can participate in the funeral service.

AUB also announced it would host a memorial service at the Bechtel Engineering Building on Tuesday at noon.

Freiha was a member of her school’s running team and a leader of its scouts.

“She was full of life, joy and smiles,” wrote one of her friends on Facebook. “I am proud to have met her and known her.”

The Lebanese Forces released a statement mourning Freiha, who was a member of its student group at AUB and the niece of Milad Freiha, the party leader in Makseh.

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 Lifestyle

Baldati.com unites Lebanese villages online

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Baldati.com, Lebanon’s first social media website, is working to re-connect Lebanese villagers and expatriates to their homeland by encouraging village residents and natives to join their e-community.

Baldati launched in 2002 with a goal to virtually connect Lebanese natives and the diaspora with their home village in Lebanon by creating an account and sharing news, events, and media on the e-community page.

Chaker Noon, founder of Baldati, says the site has 1,468 village communities and several sub-projects and programs.

“Residents have a role to promote their village and submit news, photos, and videos on their page and stay in touch with each other,” he said. “Villagers now have a voice to give their opinions and engage in their community’s dialogue.”

Chaker Noon is the dynamic mastermind behind Baldati.com. (Photo © Chaker Noon)
Chaker Noon is the dynamic mastermind behind Baldati.com. (Photo © Chaker Noon)

Besides the benefit of civic participation, Noon says the dialogue serves as a regional media tool that promotes a more pleasant side of Lebanon.

“The people of Lebanon have a more accessible chance to reveal their questions, concerns, ideas, and plans for future development,” he said. “This is about promoting the natural charms of Lebanese villages through the simplicity of community dialogue.”

Baldati's infamous SUV travels around Lebanon for training workshops and wildlife trips. (Photo © Chaker Noon)
Baldati’s infamous SUV travels around Lebanon for training workshops and wildlife trips. (Photo © Chaker Noon)

Baldati also promotes rural development projects, including wildlife tourism packages, hiking trips, youth engagement, and renewable energy programs.

“You shouldn’t have to run for office to be engaged in your community,” Noon added.

After first launching in 2002, Noon began leading a small group of hikers to his hometown of Mayfouk, where he was inspired to launch a more comprehensive NGO that focused on sustainable energy and economic development in Lebanese villages.

Since then, Baldati has included every Lebanese village as part of its digital footprint — moving Lebanon into the Twenty-First Century.

There’s nothing like the charm of Baldati, or ‘My Village’.

To learn more about the organization and to join your e-community, visit Baldati.com.

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 News

U.S. Census Bureau may count Arab Americans in 2020

(WASHINGTON, DC) — The U.S. Census Bureau will begin testing the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) classification for possible inclusion in the 2020 census.

Arab-Americans have previously been classified as ‘white’ by the U.S. government, who said they would consider adding the MENA category if enough positive feedback was sent during public comment.

Community activists say this would be a step forward for Arab-American rights, especially since census inclusion would give access to more political influence and public funding.

Hassan Jaber, Executive Director of the Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services (ACCESS), is leading the effort for inclusion.

“We know the challenges,” said Jaber in comments published by the Associated Press. “It really does take rethinking — who we are as a population and what our needs are, (but) there are specific needs for Arab-Americans that are not being recognized and not being met.”

Jaber serves on the U.S. Census’ National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations. He says although adding the MENA category may find criticism from Republican lawmakers, they are willing to work with all sides in fair and open dialogue.

“Frankly, being under MENA will also give us a chance for the first time for minorities within the Arab communities, such as Chaldeans, Berbers and Kurds, to self-identify,” Jaber said.

The Census Bureau’s 2013 American Community Survey, which had a sample size of about 3 million addresses, estimated that 1.5 million people were of Arab ancestry. This doesn’t include citizens who fit the North Africa category.

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 Entertainment

Lebanese superstar Shakira gives birth to son Sasha

(BARCELONA, SPAIN) — Lebanese-Colombian superstar Shakira gave birth to her second son on Sunday.

“We are happy to announce the birth of Sasha Piqué Mebarak, son of Shakira Mebarak and Gerard Piqué, born January 29 at 9:54pm, in Barcelona,” the birth announcement on Shakira’s website said.

“The name Sasha is of Greek and Russian descent and means ‘defender of mankind’ and ‘warrior.'”

Shakira’s boyfriend Gerard Pique, a Spanish professional soccer player, played for FC Barcelona in Madrid the day before the birth.

Shakira began dating Pique in 2010 and spoke about the joy which she gets from being a mother, saying, “motherhood is everything to me.”

The 37-year-old star, who previously said she wants her own “football team” of “8 or 9 kids,” also gave birth to 2-year-old son Milan in Spain.

© Music Times
© Music Times

Pique’s father, Amador Bernabéu, said baby Sasha looks like his father.

“They’ve told me he looks like Gerard. Milan looked like Shakira when he was born, but this one looks more like his father,” he told Hello! Magazine.

Shakira praised Pique’s “hands-on parenting style.”

“He is very involved with his son. He is always there for him, and that’s a big advantage for me as I cannot imagine it any other way,” she said.

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 News

Dearborn man suspected of killing Irish soldiers deported to Lebanon

(DEARBORN, MI) — A Lebanese man from Dearborn, Mich., accused of kidnapping and killing two Irish United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon in 1980, was deported to Lebanon on Thursday for unrelated offenses.

Mahmoud Bazzi, 72, entered the United States in 1994 and later gave false information in immigration proceedings that led officials to grant him permanent residence status in the United States, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.

Officials say Bazzi was sent on a commercial flight to Beirut under escort by immigration enforcement officers and turned over to Lebanese authorities.

Bazzi’s lawyer says his arrest in Lebanon has nothing to do with the UN peacekeepers case, but Irish officials say otherwise.

“I believe that this is a significant step in the pursuit of justice for Privates Thomas Barrett and Derek Smallhorne who lost their lives while on United Nations peacekeeping duty in Lebanon almost 35 years ago,” Irish Minister Simon Coveney said.

Derek Smallhorne Jr., the son of one of the Irish soldiers who was killed in 1980, said he’s delighted” to hear the news.

“It is now up to the Lebanon government to bring this man to justice and to show the world how they deal with cold-blooded murder,” he said.

But Bazzi’s attorney, Fred Ajluni, said his client is innocent and will likely be freed by Lebanese authorities.

American authorities did not specify whether Bazzi would be charged with war crimes, although his past history in Lebanon played a role in the deportation.

“This removal is the culmination of a sophisticated and meticulous investigation by several U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement components,” said Marlon Miller, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Detroit.

The deportation order followed interviews with Steve Hindy, an American journalist who covered the civil war in southern Lebanon, and John O’Mahony, the Irish soldier who survived.

Both men identified Bazzi as the man who abducted them and five other members of a United Nations peacekeeping group in southern Lebanon.

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 News

Lebanese woman dies after being turned away by three hospitals

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A Lebanese woman died on Saturday after she was denied admission by three hospitals, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

“Amira Al-Akoumi arrived deceased this evening to the As-Salam Hospital in al-Qoubaiyat” in the northern Akkar district, the ministry announced.

Al-Akoumi reportedly visited Al-Youssef, Rahal, and government-run Abdullah Al-Rassi hospitals where she was denied treatment.

“The ministry acted immediately and summoned the owners of the four hospitals for an interrogation at the ministry’s building on Monday morning,” the ministry said. “They were asked to submit reports on how they dealt with Akoumi.”

Health Minister Wael Abu Faour called her death “inappropriate” and ordered an urgent investigation.

This comes after Abu Faour launched an investigation into the death of Louisette Mansour, who also died after being denied admission by several hospitals.

“I am committed to securing the right of all citizens to hospitalization while preserving their dignity, without them having to wait for their fate at the doors of the hospitals,” he said.

Abu Faour says hospitals who deny admission based on financial situations will face consequences by the Health Ministry.

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 News

VIDEO: Lebanese TV reporter throws stone at Israeli border

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese television reporter Nancy Saba of Al-Jadeed TV picked up a stone and threw it at the Israeli border during a stand-up report for the Lebanese network this week.

“From this place, the Israeli enemy had the audacity to fire tear gas at our Lebanese army. From here, I retaliate against the Israeli army,” she said.

Saba was reporting on Hezbollah’s retaliation against Israel for a Jan. 18 Israeli airstrike in southern Syria that killed six Hezbollah members and an Iranian general.

WATCH Saba throw the stone:

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