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 Business

Report: Arab newspaper Al-Hayat closes office in Lebanon

Pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat closed its office in Beirut Saturday in an effort to cut costs and downsize its operations, Agence France-Presse reported.

The Saudi-owned news organization was founded in Lebanon in 1946, and survived multiple bombing attempts before the Lebanese Civil War forced its shut down in 1976.

The newspaper reopened its Beirut offices in 1988, but was quickly bought out by Saudi Prince Khalid bin Sultan.

After 30 years in business, a source told AFP the office closed this weekend as a result of downsizing and “financial reasons.”

“This closure is part of a decision to close all foreign bureaus for financial reasons and transfer the headquarters to Dubai,” the source told AFP.

Al-Hayat shut down its office in Beirut. (File photo)
Al-Hayat shut down its office in Beirut. (File photo)

Al-Hayat has been experiencing changes in its news operation since the beginning of 2018, when the newspaper closed its main headquarters in London and moved to the Gulf.

The newspaper stopped printing in Lebanon, and could soon change its operation to serve readers in the Gulf only, AFP added.

Al-Hayat was founded by journalist Kamel Mroueh, who was later assassinated, as a daily Arabic newspaper.

The newspaper’s Beirut office employed about 100 people.

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 News

Beirut airport security arrest man with $108k in counterfeit cash

A Romanian man was arrested Friday at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut after being found with counterfeit money and suspected stolen jewelry, officials announced.

Lebanese Internal Security Forces recovered $108,200 USD and 350 euros in counterfeit cash from the traveler, who was planning to fly to Romania from Beirut.

It is not clear why he was in Lebanon, officials added.

The 34-year-old man, identified only by the initials V.L., also had $50,000 worth of suspected stolen jewelry in his bag.

Security forces said the jewelry, mostly diamond, belonged to a woman who lost the items. Investigators returned the jewelry to the woman after the recovery.

Photos posted to the Lebanese Internal Security Forces Facebook page show several bags of money and the suspect’s Romanian passport.

Counterfeit money seized at the Beirut airport. (Lebanese Internal Security Forces)
Counterfeit money seized at the Beirut airport. (Lebanese Internal Security Forces)

Lebanese security officials are still investigating the case.

According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, an estimated $70 million in counterfeit bills are in global circulation.

U.S. officials said counterfeit money can be identified by holding the bill up to a light and looking for a holograph of the face image.

The bill should also reveal a thin vertical strip containing text that spells out the bill’s denomination.

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 News

Lebanese shipping pioneer Jacques Saadé dies at 81

Jacques Saadé, a pioneer in global shipping and transportation, has died at age 81, officials confirmed.

Saadé, who was born in Lebanon in 1937, was the founder of the France-based shipping company CMA CGM Group.

The entrepreneur immigrated to France near the start of the Lebanese Civil War, and started a maritime shipping operation with four employees and a single ship.

With only one container, Saadé started a maritime service between Marseilles and Beirut.

“He anticipated major developments in world trade and was convinced that the container would have a determining role in world maritime transport,” the company said in a news release.

CMA CGM Group grew quickly, as he developed links between North Europe, North Africa and Asia. Saadé opened an office in Shanghai in 1992 after recognizing the major shipping opportunities in China.

By 2006, the company was recognized as the third largest container shipping company in the world.

Jacques Saadé was the founder of CMA CGM Group. (CMA CGM Group)
Jacques Saadé was the founder of CMA CGM Group. (CMA CGM Group)

Saadé died in Marseilles on June 24.

“I learned with a great sadness the death of M Jacques Saadé, CMG CGM’s founder, family-owned company and french flagship,” said Edouard Philippe, the prime minister of France. “From China, where he was one of the first to foresee the incredible potential, tribute to this visionary entrepreneur.”

In a statement, the company said he was always attentive to strengthening the ties between France and Lebanon.

Saadé is the recipient of the Admiralitäts-Portugaleser, one of the highest decorations of the city of Hamburg. He also received Lebanon’s National Order of the Cedar.

The company is now run by his son, Rodolphe Saadé. CMA CGM Group has more than 30,000 employees worldwide, and a fleet of 494 vessels.

Read more about Jacques Saadé at this link.

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 News

Lebanese man stabbed to death during World Cup argument

A Lebanese man was killed Wednesday after an argument about a World Cup game turned heated inside a Beirut coffee shop.

Mohammad Zahar was fatally stabbed while celebrating Brazil’s win with a group of friends in the suburb of Hay El Sellom.

Zahar, a Brazil supporter, allegedly got into a heated argument with a Germany supporter inside the coffee shop.

The Germany supporter, identified only by his initials H.K., allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Zahar.

The two were neighbors, media reports said.

Brazil supporters at the World Cup. (File photo)
Brazil supporters at the World Cup. (File photo)

Germany was knocked out of the World Cup after a 2-0 loss to South Korea. Brazil scored twice against Costa Rica.

Lebanese security officials have not released any information about the suspect.

1 2036
 Entertainment

Game of Thrones star Rose Leslie wears Elie Saab dress on wedding day

Game of Thrones actress Rose Leslie wore a stunning dress by Lebanese designer Elie Saab for her wedding to English actor and producer Kit Harington.

Leslie, who plays Ygritte in the Game of Thrones series, wore a beautiful gown featuring lace sleeves, a tight waist and trailing veil. She also carried a white bouquet, and wore a white floral crown.

A wedding was held Saturday in Aberdeenshire, Scotland area. The wedding reception was held at Leslie’s family estate, Lickleyhead Castle, in the Aberdeenshire village of Auchleven.

Photo posted on Kit Harington's Instagram page reads, "Mr. and Mrs. Harington." (Instagram/Kit Harington)
Photo posted on Kit Harington’s Instagram page reads, “Mr. and Mrs. Harington.” (Instagram/Kit Harington)

Leslie and Harington met while on the set of the HBO show in 2012. Harington plays the role of Jon Snow, King of the North, in Game of Thrones.

Co-stars Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner and Emilia Clarke were spotted at the wedding, among a list of other A-list celebrities.

?❤️ . #roseleslie #kitharington #couple #wedding

A post shared by Kit Harington (@kitharingtonn) on

Lebanese designer Elie Saab has dressed major VIPs, including Queen Rania of Jordan, Angelina Jolie, Celine Dion and Taylor Swift.

Saab has a main workshop in Lebanon, with other locations in Milan and Paris. His couture collections are available in Paris, London and Beirut, with clothing sold in more than 160 global retailers.

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 News

Female police officers in shorts cause a stir in Lebanon

A group of female police officers are causing a stir in a Lebanese town, and it’s not because of their profession.

In an attempt to attract more tourists, the town of Broumana changed its dress code to black shorts and a t-shirt — for its female officers only.

The mayor of Broumana Pierre Achkar said the change was meant to modernize outfits.

“Ninety-nine percent of the tourists in the Mediterranean region wear shorts,” Achkar told RT. “(We want to) change the bleak picture of Lebanon in the West, and to bring tourists from the West.”

The new dress code for female police officers in Broumana includes black shorts. (Facebook/Brummana)
The new dress code for female police officers in Broumana includes black shorts. (Facebook/Brummana)

A Twitter user compared the female officers’ uniforms to their male counterparts, and said that women should not be used as “tourist attractions.”

“It’s a great initiative to engage more women in municipalities,” the user wrote. “The only problem is that they’re clearly not in standard police uniforms but are being exploited (and) sexualized by their employers.”

Despite these arguments, one of the female officers said she doesn’t see an issue with the shorts, and hopes to come back next year.

“We have accepted it with enthusiasm and we still hope that it will return in every summer season,” Samata Saad told RT.

11 6233
 Lifestyle

VIDEO: Beautiful timelapse captures sunset in Jounieh

A beautiful timelapse posted on YouTube captured the sun setting from the coastal city of Jounieh, about 20 kilometers north of Beirut.

The camera angle overlooks a part of the Jounieh Bay and Mediterranean Sea from Harissa, and shows the sun slowly disappear behind the clouds.

WATCH: Beautiful timelapse captures sunset in Jounieh

Jounieh is known for its seaside resorts and bustling nightlife.

Once a quiet town, the coastal city has emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Lebanon, according to Lebanon.com.

Timelapse video shows the sun setting from Jounieh. (YouTube screenshot)
Timelapse video shows the sun setting from Jounieh. (YouTube screenshot)

Many high-rise buildings, hotels and resorts are located in Jounieh, and upscale restaurants and stores are plentiful in shopping districts.

There are plenty of beautiful locations to watch the sunset in Lebanon — and Jounieh certainly ranks high on any list!

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 Entertainment

Amal Clooney attends American University of Beirut gala in London

Lebanese human rights attorney Amal Clooney looked glamorous Saturday while attending a gala dinner for the American University of Beirut alumni group in London.

The 40-year-old Lebanese-British barrister wore a burgundy sleeveless gown designed by Italian dressmaker Alberta Ferretti. It featured a ruched waistline and a beautiful velvet texture.

An invitation lists Amal Clooney and her father as guest speakers at an AUB alumni event. (WAAAUB UK Chapter/Facebook)
An invitation lists Amal Clooney and her father as guest speakers at an AUB alumni event. (WAAAUB UK Chapter/Facebook)

She accessorized the look with black pumps, diamond earrings and a silver clutch.

Clooney spoke during the WAAAUB Annual Gala Dinner held at the glamorous Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London.

WAAAUB stands for the Worldwide Alumni Association of the American University of Beirut. The alumni group has chapters in countries all over the world.

According to their Facebook page, the group was formed as a “platform to allow fellow AUBites in the UK and abroad to network and socialize while also raising funds to support AUB’s financial aid program.”

The Saturday program included remarks by Clooney and her father Ramzi Alamuddin. The ticket price was about $230.

Her father is from Baakline, a village in the Chouf district. He received an MBA degree at the American University of Beirut and was the owner of COMET travel agency.

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 News

Duo accused of stealing from 10+ churches in Mount Lebanon

The Lebanese Internal Security Forces have arrested two men in connection with multiple robberies of churches in Mount Lebanon.

Two suspects, identified only by their initials T.S. and H.S., were arrested Wednesday in Burj Hammoud, officials announced. They were born in 1990.

The duo allegedly confessed to taking money from church collection boxes to fund their suspected drug addictions, officials said.

Two men are accused of stealing from more than 10 churches in Mount Lebanon. (Lebanese Internal Security Forces)
Two men are accused of stealing from more than 10 churches in Mount Lebanon. (Lebanese Internal Security Forces)

Security forces believe money was stolen from churches in the following areas:

  • Jbeil
  • Chawieh
  • Bolonia
  • Ballouneh
  • Ain El Delbi
  • Jiyeh
  • Lehfed
  • Mastita
  • Bchalle
  • Zouq El Kharab

Officials added that marijuana and heroin were recovered from their vehicle.

“In response to the thefts, the Internal Security Forces Information Division initiated procedures to identify and arrest the two gang members,” a statement said.

The duo have a criminal history that includes theft and drug abuse.

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 News

Hariri to attend FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Moscow

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri will make an official visit to Russia to attend the opening ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup, Russia’s press service reported.

Hariri will reportedly visit Moscow from June 12 to June 14 and stay near the Luzhniki Stadium, where the World Cup will be held.

George Shaaban, Hariri’s advisor for Russian affairs, told news agencies he is setting up meetings with Russian leaders.

Russian president Vladimir Putin holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy at a pre-tournament ceremony in Moscow, September 2017. (Administration of the President of Russia)
Russian president Vladimir Putin holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy at a pre-tournament ceremony in Moscow, September 2017. (Administration of the President of Russia)

Hariri is planning to meet with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his visit, Shaaban said.

The tournament’s opening ceremony begins June 14, and will be followed by the first match between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Lebanon has taken part in World Cup qualifiers since 1994 but has yet to appear in the finals.

The visit is Hariri’s tenth visit to Moscow. His last visit was in September 2017, Russia’s press service added.

RELATED: Report: Tele Liban to broadcast the World Cup in Lebanon for free

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