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 Entertainment

Celine Dion wears power suit by Lebanese designer Rabih Kayrouz

Iconic singer Celine Dion wore a bright yellow power suit by Lebanese fashion designer Rabih Kayrouz during a visit to Southeast Asia.

The Canadian songstress posed for an Instagram photo while sitting on the edge of a window in Bangkok, Thailand.

Dion was in the country as part of her 2018 tour in seven cities across the Asia-Pacific region.

In an Instagram post, Dion said her power suit was designed by fashion house Maison Rabih Kayrouz, which was established in Paris in 2008.

Dion also recognized the other designers in the Instagram post, including her Prada shoes and earrings, Chloe sunglasses and Jennifer Fisher earrings.

Celine Dion wore a yellow power suit made by a Lebanese designer during a visit to Thailand. (Instagram/Celine Dion)
Celine Dion wore a yellow power suit made by a Lebanese designer during a visit to Thailand. (Instagram/Celine Dion)

Designer Rabih Kayrouz was born in Lebanon and immigrated to Paris to study at a well-known fashion school in Paris. He returned to Lebanon and specialized in designing evening gowns and wedding dresses.

In 2015, Kayrouz moved back to Paris to open his own design house, which is located at 38 Boulevard Raspail in Downtown Paris.

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 Food & Drink

Lebanese café to open at Detroit Metropolitan Airport

A Lebanese café will be one of 15 new food and beverage concepts at the North Terminal at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, officials announced.

Anita’s Kitchen, a popular Lebanese restaurant in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale, is expected to open its airport concession by the spring of 2019.

In a news release, the Wayne County Airport Authority Board announced it awarded 10-year contracts to four concessionaires — one of which will operate the Lebanese café.

According to its website, Anita’s Kitchen serves a smorgasbord of hot and cold mezza, salads and signature pita sandwiches such as shawarma, kafta and kabobs.

Anita's Kitchen is located in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale, Michigan. (Facebook/Anita's Kitchen)
Anita’s Kitchen is located in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale, Michigan. (Facebook/Anita’s Kitchen)

“The concessionaires were selected after a rigorous evaluation process,” said Chad Newton, interim CEO of the Wayne County Airport Authority. “We’re confident they will deliver a world-class dining experience for our customers.”

Other food options in the North Terminal are expected to include Air Margaritaville, Brioche Dorée, Cantoro Italian Market Trattoria, among others. Many of the concepts are based in Detroit.

The airport said multiple other concessions will be included in the project. (Photos provided/Detroit Metropolitan Airport)
The airport said multiple other concessions will be included in the project. (Photos provided/Detroit Metropolitan Airport)

“Most of the North Terminal’s passengers are local residents or visitors to our area; they’re not connecting in Detroit to fly to other cities,” said Greg Hatcher, concessions director for the Airport Authority. “When they’re in our terminal, we believe passengers will enjoy seeing local brands they love and those that pique their interest.”

The Detroit Metropolitan Airport welcomed nearly 35 million passengers in 2017 with services from 14 scheduled passenger airlines and 1,100 flights per day, according to a news release.

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 Lifestyle

PHOTOS: Best snapshots from iconic Jounieh fireworks display!

A group of photographers are being recognized for taking the best photos of the iconic fireworks display in the coastal city of Jounieh, Lebanon.

The fireworks celebrate the Jounieh International Festival, which aims to highlight the Mediterranean coastline.

The festival committee shared photos of the winners on Facebook. The winners are:

1st place: Bachir Mouawad

Bachir Mouawad won first place in the Jounieh fireworks photo contest. (Jounieh International Fireworks)
Bachir Mouawad won first place in the Jounieh fireworks photo contest. (Jounieh International Fireworks)

2nd place: Georges Samaha

Georges Samaha won second place in the Jounieh fireworks photo contest. (Jounieh International Fireworks)
Georges Samaha won second place in the Jounieh fireworks photo contest. (Jounieh International Fireworks)

3rd place: Georges Hanna

Georges Hanna won third place in the Jounieh fireworks photo contest. (Jounieh International Fireworks)
Georges Hanna won third place in the Jounieh fireworks photo contest. (Jounieh International Fireworks)

4th place: Carine Assaf

Carine Assaf won fourth place in the Jounieh fireworks photo contest. (Jounieh International Fireworks)
Carine Assaf won fourth place in the Jounieh fireworks photo contest. (Jounieh International Fireworks)

5th place: Jean Daoud

Jean Daoud won fifth place in the Jounieh fireworks photo contest. (Jounieh International Fireworks)
Jean Daoud won fifth place in the Jounieh fireworks photo contest. (Jounieh International Fireworks)
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 Entertainment

VIDEO: Luciana Zogbi combines four trending songs in beautiful mashup!

Lebanese-Brazilian singer Luciana Zogbi combined four trending songs from the Billboard Hot 100 list on a beautiful mashup video posted on YouTube.

The singer included the songs:

  • Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You” featuring Cardi B
  • Shawn Mendes’ “In My Blood”
  • Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa’s “One Kiss”
  • Post Malone’s “Better Now”

WATCH: Luciana Zogbi combines four trending songs in beautiful mashup!

The independent multilingual singer shot to fame in 2014 after her cover of John Legend’s “All of Me” went viral, garnering more than 76 million views worldwide.

Zogbi has nearly 200 million combined video views on YouTube, and 1.8 million subscribers.

Lebanese-Brazilian singer Luciana Zogbi is known for her YouTube channel, which has more than 200 million total video views. (Facebook/Luciana Zogbi)
Lebanese-Brazilian singer Luciana Zogbi is known for her YouTube channel, which has more than 200 million total video views. (Facebook/Luciana Zogbi)

RELATED: WATCH: Lebanese-Brazilian singer back with amazing mashup!

She most recently explored a mashup with lyrics from Havana, Mi Gna, Mi Gente, New Rules, Strip That Down and IDGAF.

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 Entertainment

Vote for this Lebanese-Canadian beauty for Miss Universe Canada!

A Lebanese-Canadian beauty is competing in the Miss Universe Canada competition on Aug. 18 in Toronto.

Rita Houkayem is one of 46 contestants hoping to clinch the Miss Universe Canada title, and move on to the global Miss Universe Pageant.

Lebanese-Canadian beauty Rita Houkayem is one of 46 contestants hoping to become Miss Universe Canada. (Facebook/Rita Houkayem)
Lebanese-Canadian beauty Rita Houkayem is one of 46 contestants hoping to become Miss Universe Canada. (Facebook/Rita Houkayem)

Houkayem, who speaks four languages, holds a master’s degree in International Affairs. She works as a policy analyst for the Canadian government, where she focuses on information and communications technologies.

QUICK FACTS:

  • Height: 5’9
  • Hometown: Toronto, ON
  • Languages: English, French, Arabic, Spanish
  • Occupation: Public Servant

In an interview with Miss Universe Canada, Houkayem expressed pride in her Lebanese roots.

“I have also visited Lebanon numerous times and have fallen in love with it after every trip. It is one of the most intriguing places in the world as it has experienced centuries of conquest and turmoil but remains as one of the most vibrant places. Fun fact, it is the home of the Phoenicians, the civilization that created the foundation for the modern Alphabet and is characterized by charming ancient cities such as Byblos, which is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. To me, this little country conveys a message of hope and resiliency to the world, inhabiting people from eighteen different religious sects, coexisting peacefully despite all their differences.”

In the future, Houkayem hopes to become an international leader in education and development, and a UN ambassador for youth and women.

VOTE HERE: Rita Houkayem for Miss Universe Canada.

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 Business

Subscription box company launches products for Lebanon lovers

A subscription box company created to promote Lebanese culture has launched new boxes perfect for any lover of Lebanon.

The ‘Koullouna‘ concept aims to connect Lebanese expats with local products that celebrate Lebanese culture, tastes, smells and sounds.

According to its website, Koullouna sends surprise themed boxes to a subscriber’s doorstep every month.

The boxes can include:

day3a box 1

The Day3a box

  • Dark chocolate by Eshmoon
  • Strawberry and rose petal jam by Mymoune
  • Sumac by Adonis Valley
  • Amareddine by Al-Rifai
  • Wild thyme by Shams Permaculture
  • A pillowcase by Art7ake
  • A postcard designed by Hoda Adra

jam3a box 1

The Jam3a box

  • A bottle of Almaza
  • Two coasters by Images d’Orient
  • A bag of nuts from Castania
  • A bowl for your nuts by Verdi
  • Zaatar crackers and other nibbles by Rural Delights Cooperative
  • A tote bag by Inoui

sobhiyeh box 1

The Sobhiyeh box

  • 3 healthy bars from Freekeh Bites
  • A Labneh bag from IRAP
  • 2 coffee cups made with recycled glass by GGRIL
  • A pack of Zaatar by The Good Thymes
  • A jar of honey by Miel Du Levant
  • A pack of Coffee by Cafe Najjar
  • A postcard by Mimo Quirks

kankaneh box 1

The Kankaneh box

  • A pair of socks by Sikasok
  • The book “L’Etoile Phoenicienne” by Tania Bonja Honein
  • A bookmark by L’Artisan du Liban
  • A suitcase tag by 10452 DNA
  • A soap by the Soap Museum in Saida
  • A pack of Anis seeds by Abido spices
  • A postcard designed by Cindy Daccache

The subscription cost is about 39 euros, or $45 per month.

Koullouna also has gift options available on their website.

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 Lifestyle

Lebanese man plants cedar tree in town of Lebanon, Tennessee

A Lebanese photographer planted a cedar tree in the small town of Lebanon, Tennessee as part of his mission to visit every city named Lebanon in the U.S.

Fadi Boukaram told WKRN-TV he is on his second tour of U.S. cities named Lebanon. By his count, there are 47 total ‘Lebanon’ cities in the U.S., including in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

Boukaram said the journey was done as a road trip to explore America’s heartland and any potential connections to the country of Lebanon.

Fadi Boukaram visits towns around the U.S. named Lebanon. He posted a Facebook photo in Lebanon, Kentucky. (Facebook/Fadi Boukaram)
Fadi Boukaram visits towns around the U.S. named Lebanon. He posted a Facebook photo in Lebanon, Kentucky. (Facebook/Fadi Boukaram)

Surprisingly, Boukaram told the Nashville ABC-affiliate he found a connection involving a goodwill tour in 1955 from Lebanon to Lebanon, Tennessee.

“What’s interesting to me is the Vice Mayor, who went from Lebanon is actually Lebanese-American. His name was Frank Baddour and he was a dentist and a prominent citizen of Lebanon, Tennessee,” Boukaram said.

The photographer planted a cedar — Lebanon’s national symbol — in a community park near the town’s downtown area.

Boukaram said the town of Lebanon, Tennessee made a special impression on him.

“I started in California and this is the first big Lebanon I passed through,” he added. “I passed through two smaller ones before but they were too tiny, and the weather there is too hot to be able to grow a cedar tree. I love Lebanon, Tennessee. I spent a week here in 2017 when I first came and I just loved it.”

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 Entertainment

France’s former first lady performs at Beiteddine Art Festival in Lebanon

France’s former first lady Carla Bruni performed during the Beiteddine Art Festival at the 200-year-old Beiteddine Palace in Lebanon’s Chouf Mountains.

Bruni, who is married to former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, was invited to perform during the event, which bills itself as “one of the leading festivals in the Middle East.” It was her first visit to Lebanon.

“Thank you beautiful Beirut for your warm welcome,” Bruni posted on Instagram.

The Italian-French singer-songwriter and supermodel is promoting her album “French Touch,” which was released in October 2017.

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy was also spotted supporting his wife on an Instagram photo posted by the Beiteddine Art Festival.

The Beiteddine Art Festival posted a photo on Instagram showing former French President Nicolas Sarkozy attending the concert in Lebanon. (Beiteddine Art Festival)
The Beiteddine Art Festival posted a photo on Instagram showing former French President Nicolas Sarkozy attending the concert in Lebanon. (Beiteddine Art Festival)

The festival was attended by several Lebanese officials, including former President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

According to its website, the art festival is held in July and August, and celebrates the music and cultural contributions of Lebanese artists and global stars.

RELATED: Shakira brings her children to Lebanon ahead of concert!

Born in Italy, Bruni is best known for her career as one of Europe’s top models. In the 1990s, the 50-year-old superstar delved into singing and songwriting.

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 Entertainment

Lebanese singer Elissa reveals battle with breast cancer in music video

Lebanese superstar Elissa revealed her battle with breast cancer in an emotional music video for her latest single, “Ila Kol Elli Bihebbouni,” or “For All Those Who Love Me.”

Elissa shared parts of her journey in the 7-minute video, published by Arab record label Rotana.

The video starts with a clip of Elissa undergoing an MRI scan in December 2017.

“You know that moment when you wonder, ‘Will I ever see the people I love again? Those who love me back?'” she said.

The chilling narration shows the incredible courage of the 46-year-old singer, who still hosted performances during her battle with breast cancer.

WATCH: Elissa reveals battle with breast cancer in emotional music video:

“I do my radiotherapy session, I got to the studio, I finish another session,” Elissa recalled. “I rest for two hours, and go to the studio again. Once a week, I was going live on TV.”

The music video is the first time Elissa revealed her battle with cancer to fans.

The music video begins with video of Elissa undergoing an MRI scan. (Rotana)
The music video begins with video of Elissa undergoing an MRI scan. (Rotana)

“I’ve recovered, I’ve beaten the illness and I won,” she said. “Early detection of breast cancer can save your life.”

RELATED: WATCH: Elissa music video hits 3 million views in first week

On Instagram, the superstar said she wanted the video to be an inspirational message that cancer can be fought.

“This music video shouldn’t make you cry. It’s a reason to smile, be happy, and grateful,” she said. “We can fight cancer if we know about it in early stages. I love you all.”

Elissa, whose real name is Elissar Zakaria Khoury, is a popular Lebanese recording artist, and the first Lebanese singer to receive the World Music Award for Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist in 2006.

She has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.

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 News

Lebanese American attorney to open youth center in Batroun

Prominent Michigan attorney Joumana Kayrouz is planning to fund the construction of a new youth center in the northern coastal city of Batroun, Lebanon, her office announced.

The ‘Youth Hub Center’ will serve as a gathering place for Lebanese youth in the Batroun district. It is set to open in May 2019.

“I want young people in Lebanon and abroad to recognize that important fact and to continue to give back to the country where they were born while pursuing their lives wherever it may take them,” Kayrouz said. “My country opened doors for me and I pray that I am doing all I can to open doors for the next generations of Lebanese talents.”

Kayrouz said the new center is part of a “larger effort” by Lebanese expatriates to support their motherland.

Attorney Joumana Kayrouz is best known for her signature billboard advertisements in metro Detroit. (Law Offices of Joumana Kayrouz)
Attorney Joumana Kayrouz is best known for her signature billboard advertisements in metro Detroit. (Law Offices of Joumana Kayrouz)

The estimated cost for the project was not released.

“The Lebanese Youth Hub is dedicated to the Lebanese youth, where they will congregate to socialize with one another instead of having to connect solely through technology,” said Gebran Bassil, Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, whose hometown is Batroun. “It will be their special place.”

Kayrouz has gained national prominence for her signature billboard advertising. She recently expanded her practice to include family law, criminal law, immigration and bankruptcy.

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