Examiner Staff

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 Entertainment

Clooney, Alamuddin to wed on September 20

(LONDON, ENGLAND) — Actor George Clooney and Lebanese human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin will be married on September 20 of this year, said a public notice posted at the Chelsea Town Hall in London, England.

The notice announced the marriage of “Amal Ramzi Alamuddin,” 37, to “George Timothy Clooney,” 53, according to a photograph of the official document, which began circulating the Internet early Thursday. By law, a couple’s impending wedding must be displayed at the register for 16 days.

The document also confirms rumors that the Clooney and Alamuddin would be married in Italy, where Alamuddin recently held her bridal shower and where Clooney has a home on Lake Como.

Alamuddin, a Druze whose ancestors hail from Baaqlin, Lebanon, works with the Office of the Prosecutor for the Special Tribunal of Lebanon. Just last week, she launched a book with the American University of Beirut detailing the procedural dimensions of the court.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt was quoted earlier this year welcoming the soon-to-be newlyweds to the country.

“Tell me when George Clooney will be coming to Lebanon so I can greet him in Mukhtara,” he wrote, referring to his home in the Chouf mountains. “I will bring a delegation of Druze sheikhs.”

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 News

Lebanese MPs warned of possible tomato attacks

tomatoes-lebanon(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The so-called “Tomato Revolution,” organized by the Civil Movement for Accountability, mailed their Lebanese lawmakers boxes of tomatoes as a reminder of what will be coming if they extend Parliament’s mandate for the second time in less than two years.

tomato-revolution-lebanonOn May 31, 2013, days before the scheduled parliamentary elections, MPs passed a draft law that extended their mandate for 17 months.

Activists lined up the road leading to Nejmeh Square in Downtown Beirut on that Friday, throwing tomatoes at SUVs and luxury vehicles as they made their way to the Parliament building to vote.

Instead of lining the streets, this year, the Civil Movement for Accountability sent a short notice in a small white box with a tomato inside. A sticker read, “No to extension.”

Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk called it a “funny idea” saying it was “their right to express themselves in politics.”

Despite their efforts, Machnouk says its highly unlikely that a parliamentary election can be held this November.

“From my position as an interior minister, I do not think that the security situation allows for the election to be held in the next months,” he said. “We are all seeing and living these security developments, as we observe the conflict reaching Lebanon. As a preliminary observation, the security situation will prevent the election from being held on time.”

The Parliamentary election is scheduled for November, but is likely to be delayed.

Video of tomatoes being thrown last year:

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A13Fgdoch1U” width=”500″ height=”300″]

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 Lifestyle, New York, News, Success Stories

Lebanese-American becomes Good Morning America anchor

(NEW YORK, NY) — Lebanese-American journalist Paula Faris was promoted to become Good Morning America‘s weekend anchor for ABC News, effective August 8 in New York, replacing outgoing anchor Bianca Golodryga.

Paula-Faris-FamilyFaris, whose father is of Lebanese descent, recently gained exposure as ABC’s reporter at the World Cup in Brazil. Prior to that, she was the network’s World News Now anchor, after joining ABC from NBC Chicago in 2012.

ABC News President James Goldston called Faris “a terrific broadcaster” in his announcement in late July.

Faris will join current co-anchor Dan Harris every Saturday and Sunday morning.

The granddaughter of Lebanese immigrants, Faris met her husband John Krueger while at Cedarville University. They married in 2000 and currently have three children.

Faris, who is 36 years old, was born and raised in Jackson, Michigan. Her family still resides in the area.

“We are just so proud and excited for her,” her mother, Carol Faris, told MLive. “When she told my husband and myself the news of her offer, we were speechless.”

Send your congratulations to Paula Faris on her official Facebook page.

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 News

March 14 says member escaped ambush

nawfal-daou(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The March 14 coalition general secretariat said one of its members, Nawfal Daou, escaped an ambush in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley town of Taybeh on Saturday.

“Nawfal Daou escaped from an armed ambush that was set up for him at 11am in Taybeh,” the group said in a statement released to Lebanese media.

The group says the gunmen fired several bullets onto his vehicle, damaging tires and forcing him out of his car.

“(Daou) was able to flee and reached a nearby house where he contacted Internal Security Forces Information Branch, as well as the Army intelligence directorate in the Bekaa,” they said.

Security forces arrived to the scene of the incident and launched an investigation.

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 News

Lebanon takes further measures to combat risk of Ebola virus

Lebanon-Ebola-Virus(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanon’s Agriculture Ministry banned the import of live animals from African countries hit by the Ebola virus on Friday, as part of the government’s measures to combat the risk of the fatal virus.

Minister Akram Chehayeb banned the import of chimpanzees, gorillas, bats, monkeys, forest antelope, porcupines, or any animal suspected of being a carrier of the disease.

Earlier, the Agriculture Ministry took measures to scan and report passengers with symptoms of the disease before leaving the Beirut airport. The Labor Ministry also suspended work permits for people coming from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.

The World Health Organization says this epidemic is an “extraordinary event” and is causing widespread international risk.

“A coordinated international response is deemed essential to stop and reverse the international spread of Ebola,” the WHO said in a statement after a two-day meeting of its emergency committee.

Meanwhile, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have declared a state of emergency.

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 News

Hariri makes surprise return to Lebanon

84703sb8(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Political and religious leaders congratulated former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in his surprise return to Lebanon on Friday, expressing hope that he would bring new momentum in a country plagued by an ongoing political and security crisis.

Current Prime Minister Tammam Salam hailed Hariri’s decision calling it a “great step which reflects a high sense of patriotism amid the delicate circumstances the country is witnessing.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt described Hariri’s return as “excellent” news, while Speaker Nabih Berri welcomed Hariri with a telephone call early Friday.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea also hailed Hariri’s unexpected reappearance, saying it would boost moderation in Lebanon and improve the performance of the March 14 coalition.

“Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s return will give momentum to the work of March 14. Things will not remain the way they were before his return,” he told a local television station. “Hariri’s return enhances centrist politics and moderation.”

Over three years after he left the country for security reasons, Hariri’s surprise decision to come back to Lebanon prompted Future Movement supporters across Lebanon to celebrate by cruising around cities in their cars with the party’s blue flags waving.

Hariri made his surprise return to Lebanon on Friday in order to manage the spending of the Saudi grant. The former premier had repeatedly claimed that his three-year absence in Lebanon was due to security reasons.

The U.S. and Saudi ambassadors to Lebanon, David Hale and Ali Awad Asiri, paid Hariri a visit at the former premier’s residence in Downtown Beirut to welcome him back. Hariri also received a phone call from Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, Kataeb Party leader Amine Gemayel, head of the General Maronite Council, former Minister Wadih Khazen, and visits from State Minister Nabil de Freij and Information Minister Ramzi Joreige.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai said he hoped “it will be a motivation to the good efforts pushing to overcome of Lebanon’s political and social crisis.”

Hariri also received phone calls from a host of other Lebanese politicians and religious figures, according to sources.

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 City Beat, Detroit, News

Things to Do this Weekend: A Lebanese-American Guide

Screen Shot 2014-08-08 at 6.08.21 PM

Michigan

Bashar Salame Book Signing at Arab Museum

Arab American community member and children’s book author Bashar Salame will visit the Arab American National Museum (AANM) in Dearborn, from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, to meet children and sign copies of his new book, “Let’s Change That! If Animals Can, We Can, Too,” which was published June 24.

Click here for more information.

UCF Lebanese Hawaiian Picnic for Charity

United Cedars Foundation (UCF) will be hosting its 2nd Annual Summer Celebration on August 10, 2014. Members and friends are welcome.

Click here for more information.

Connecticut

Connecticut Lebanese Club Festival

The 55th Annual Lebanese Heritage Festival will feature Lebanese food, music & dancing at the Lebanese Club Headquarters in Wolcott, Connecticut.

Click here for more information.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lebanese-American Food Festival

St. Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church introduces the Pennsylvania Lebanese-American Food Festival this weekend in West Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Click here for more information.

Illinois

Annual Lebanese Forces Chicago Chapter Picnic

The Lebanese Forces Chicago Chapter invites you to their Annual Summer Picnic on August 10th at the Henry A. Proesel Park in Lincolnwood, Illinois.

Click here for more information.

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 Uncategorized

Bus attack injures 7 Lebanese troops

Lebanese army soldiers patrol on their armoured vehicle the Sunni Muslim border town of Arsal

(TRIPOLI, LEBANON) — Seven Lebanese soldiers were injured as their bus came under gunfire in Tripoli early Tuesday morning, after clashes left a young girl killed and seven people wounded.

A statement released by the Lebanese military said a bus carrying soldiers from Maaloula came under fire, leaving seven of the soldiers wounded. The army is reportedly searching for the attackers.

One soldier is said to be in critical condition.

Gunmen reportedly tossed stun grenades, stones, and Molotov cocktails at Lebanese Army soldiers between midnight and 3am, according to security sources.

An 8-year old girl died after being wounded in the Bab al-Tabbaneh area.

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 News

Lebanese officials declare Army support

arsal-lebanon3

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt:

“The sole mission should be expressing solidarity and support with the Lebanese Army and security forces in the face of armed groups and Takfirism. There is no haven or escape for us. (Salvation comes from) support of the state, especially the Army. I wish you we could all stop the hollow political debate about the presidency which is taking place from time to time, so that we can get to the election of the president of the republic and install the foundations of the state and state obligations.”

Hezbollah MP Nawwaf Musawi:

“The aggression surprised all Lebanese today, in pictures that provoked them when they saw the assault on their national dignity, because they realized that the threat that was trivialized by some became imminent and would soon reach their own homes. Everyone in Lebanon now knows that had we not done what we did when we appointed ourselves to defend Lebanon and the resistance then our situation today would have been like Arsal. Security forces, governmental institutions and the Lebanese Army would have been subject to attacks everywhere. For this reason, we are proud to be pioneers in evaluating the size of the Takfiri threat.”

Tripoli MP Mohammad Qabbara:

“What is happening in the heroic Sunni Arsal is nothing but an episode in the Syrian-Iranian series of subjecting the Sunni people. We are warning of transforming the Army from a national institution whose duty is to protect all the Lebanese in to one resembling Al-Maliki’s Army. Had the Army deployed along the border sooner then the country would not have got to where it is today.”

Kataeb Party head Amine Gemayel:

“Without a doubt the Army will win as long as the people rally around them.”

Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil:

“What is happening in Arsal is an armed foreign terrorist force’s occupation of a Lebanese town.”

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