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 News

US delivers weapons to Lebanese Army

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The United States government delivered a shipment of weapons and military equipment to the Lebanese Armed Forces on Friday, oneweapons-to-lebanon of the first of many anticipated handovers to boost Lebanon’s security forces in the face of growing threats from terrorists.

The shipment included M-16 rifles, anti-tank system, and many sizes of mortars, which were handed to the Army at the Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport, according to security sources.

The United States previously donated several billions of dollars in supplies to the Lebanese Army over the last decade, but the majority of donations were strictly nonlethal equipment. They included armored personnel carriers and light aircraft and communication systems.

France and the United Kingdom have also pledged military aid, while Saudi Arabia announce a$1 billion donation to the Lebanese Army.

The five days of clashes in Arsal, the worst spillover yet from the more than 3-year-old Syrian civil war, left 19 soldiers dead. Tensions rose again Thursday in the border region after the Army shelled militant positions in the outskirts of Arsal and ISIS claimed to have beheaded one captive Lebanese soldier.

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 News

Lebanese hotel owners warn possible bankruptcy

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese hotel owners warned of imminent bankruptcy on Thursday, blaming the dramatic drop in tourism, political instability, and security for the decline in hotel revenue.

The Syndicate of Hotel Owners said that the “hotels are in danger” of closing down as a result. They are calling on the Lebanese government to lift entry taxes to facilitate the flow of tourists through the Rafik Hariri International Airport.

The statement said the Syndicate was in the process of preparing a petition to be handed to the government and the Parliament, listing demands to help them overcome the crisis.

The Tourism sector in Lebanon has been an important contributor to the local economy, representing a major source of income and employment.

But travel bans by Arab Gulf countries prompted by political and regional instability have served a painful blow to the sector in recent years.

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 News

Gemayel says all sects must unite against extremism

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Former Lebanese president and Kataeb leader Amin Gemayel said Thursday that extremist takfiri groups are harmful to both Muslims and Christians, and called for all sects to combat the extremism sweeping the Middle East.

“The whole Middle East region is going through a very difficult phase, especially with the extremist takfiri thought, which not only tarnishes Islam but harms Arabs and humanity as a whole,” he said.

Gemayel said that the bid to combat terrorism was a responsibility of all parties and factions, regardless of religious leanings. He added that the initiative of the heads of Eastern churches, led by Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai, should be supported by all factions in Lebanon and the Middle East.

He said an initiative by the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Egypt’s highest Sunni religious authority, to hold a Muslim-Christian spiritual summit was taking shape with the support of other religious parties.

“The responsibility [to fight extremism] is not restricted to one patriarch or to one sect, but it is the responsibility of all us who feel how dangerous the situation is and must act,” Gemayel added.

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 Lifestyle, News

Michael Kors opens first standalone store in Lebanon

Picture 341(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — American fashion brand Michael Kors hosted a grand opening party Tuesday for the opening of its first store in Beirut, Lebanon.

Michael Kors, who built the successful brand, said Lebanon was a perfect choice for a new store.

“Fashion and style have really become global over the past few years. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to open stores in new regions around the world, and I think Lebanon, which has always been renowned for its sophistication, is the perfect choice for our newest location,” he said.

While the brand already sells at department stores, the 126-square meter space on Fakhry Bey Street in the Beirut Souks area is the first standalone store in the country.

The popular brand is the latest foreign label to open a shop in spite of its security issues in Lebanon. Other high-end brands that have opened standalone stores in Downtown recently include clothing brand Joseph and shoe maker Roger Vivier.

“It’s always exciting entering a new country,” said John D. Idol, the company’s CEO. “The Middle East is a key piece of our expansion strategy, and Beirut is a shopping destination for many fashion and luxury customers. We’re looking forward to introducing them to our jet set lifestyle.”

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 Lifestyle

U.S. program honors Lebanese students

lsac

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The Lebanese State Alumni Community, an association for U.S. State Department program participants, honored new alumni during an annual reception Monday, at Padova Hotel in Sin al-Fil.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, David Hale, recognized and thanked Lebanese alumni of U.S. government-funded educational and cultural programs at the event.

“All of you in this room were selected for these programs because of the leadership you show in your field,” Hale said. “We knew you would carry the experience back home, to share with others, upon completion of your program.”

Ambassador Hale also addressed the 150 attendees as “individuals who have made a difference in Lebanon and who continue to prove me correct whenever I talk about the long standing and strong partnership that exists between the United States and Lebanon,” he said.

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 Entertainment

Yahoo Maktoob partners with Mazzika

Yahoo_Logo11(NEW YORK, NY) — Yahoo Maktoob has announced a partnership with Mazzika to provide premium exclusive Arabic video content as well as archived and new music releases on Yahoo Maktoob Celebrity and Yahoo Maktoob Screen.

Mazzika, an Arab music production and distribution company, owns 14 music labels including regional stars like Tamer Hosny, Amr Diab, and Ragheb Alama. As of today, new music videos and artist releases from Mazzika will become available to view first on Yahoo Maktoob prior to their official launches. Music fans will also have access to unique content including behind-the-scenes videos and exclusive interviews with some of the most famous Arab stars in the region.

Amira Rashad, head of media at Yahoo Maktoob, said: “Our partnership with Mazzika is a step forward in enhancing the overall music offering on our entertainment sites and providing entertaining and inspiring content to enrich people’s online daily habits.”

Reem Raouf, marketing director at Mazzika Group, added: “We are delighted to partner with Yahoo Maktoob in order to bring some of the best content from the music industry online to its wide audience in the region, whether it is recently released video clips, exclusive photos, or all of the latest news on your favorite stars.”

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 City Beat, Detroit, News

Yalla Eat! Culinary Walking Tour Explores Dearborn’s Warren Avenue in September

arab-american-national-museum(DEARBORN, MI) — Who’s ready for some conspicuous cultural consumption? The Arab American National Museum (AANM) says, “Yalla (Arabic for ‘let’s go’) eat!”

AANM’s Yalla Eat! Culinary Walking Tour is an immersive cultural activity that takes the Museum experience into the community. On Tuesdays and Saturdays from Sept. 13-30, Museum docents will offer guided tours of select markets, bakeries and specialty food retailers along Warren Avenue in East Dearborn, amid the largest concentration of Arabs in the United States.

yalla-eat

Culinary tourists will learn how Arab Americans began to revitalize this shopping district in the early 1980s, turning vacant storefronts into a thriving cultural retail destination. Participants will also explore the diverse current offerings of Arab and Middle Eastern food businesses along Warren Avenue – all founded by immigrants and family run – meet and talk with the owners, enjoy some free samples and do some old-school shopping.

“Before supermarkets like Kroger and Meijer, you would have to visit multiple family-owned stores to secure all of your groceries,” says Dr. Matthew Jaber Stiffler, AANM researcher and culinary guide.

“We could not begin to replicate that experience inside the Museum walls, so we are taking our audiences into the community itself,” Stiffler continues. “It’s a way of embedding the AANM into its hometown while supporting small businesses that represent vital economic activity in Dearborn.”

Yalla Eat! tickets are $20 per person; $15 AANM Members and are available online at www.arabamericanmuseum.org/yallaeat.

The ticket price includes the guided tour, a Yalla Eat! tote bag, food samples, and one free admission to the Arab American National Museum. Tickets are only available online, no walk ups. Minimum six, maximum 12 people per tour date.

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 City Beat, Detroit

Lebanese American Heritage Club helps homeless Detroiters

lahc

(DEARBORN, MI) — The Lebanese American Heritage Club (LAHC)’s Youth Leadership Committee took to the streets of Detroit on Saturday, August 23 to distribute bags filled with foods and nutritional supplies to homeless Detroiters.

lahc 1

The effort, which has been ongoing at the LAHC, is a part of the “Feeding our Neighbors” program.

In a statement, the LAHC said:

“We appreciate the commitment and dedication of the YLC members who continue to work hard in order to help others in need and bring smiles to the faces of members of the Metro Detroit community.”

For more information on the programs, visit www.lahc.org.

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 Photos

PHOTOS: Lebanese Forces Detroit host annual picnic

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(SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI) — The Lebanese Forces Detroit Chapter hosted their annual summer picnic at Stony Creek Metropark on Sunday, offering catered food by Ike’s Restaurant, children’s activities, and card games.

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 City Beat, Detroit, News

Lebanese Forces Detroit host annual picnic

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(SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI) — The Lebanese Forces Detroit Chapter hosted their annual summer picnic at Stony Creek Metropark on Sunday, offering catered food by Ike’s Restaurant, children’s activities, and card games.

A mobile video game trailer also gave kids an opportunity to play Wii, PS3, and XBox 360 games in an air conditioned truck.

“This was our last opportunity to say farewell to summer and bring everyone together before things start getting cold,” said Tony Malouf, president of the local Lebanese Forces chapter.

Several Lebanese Forces members engaged in political discussions about the ongoing presidential void in Lebanon. Malouf says parliament members that are supposedly “boycotting” the election are “not doing their job.”

“It’s their duty to elect a president. Here in the United States, we are talking with congresspeople and senators, trying to orchestrate a free election there.”

Malouf also said Lebanese who support the March 8 movement and other offshoots are “(seeing) what’s best for Syria and other countries.”

He expressed condolences to the family of American journalist James Foley, who was reportedly beheaded by ISIS, and said Lebanon needs to “stay out” of the region’s chaos.

“The whole Middle East will be affected by ISIS and our biggest reason why ISIS came to Lebanon is because what Hezbollah did in Syria. Hezbollah interfered and now we pay the price.”

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