The Reagan Presidential Library released vintage video of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan meeting with former Lebanese President Amine Gemayel.
When the White House hosted the Lebanese President, Reagan was nearing the end of his first term in office while Gemayel was only in his second of six years.
“Our talks today focused on the next steps in securing Lebanon’s independence,” Reagan said during the 1983 meeting.
Many consider the relationship between the two presidents one of the most extensive and personal of any administrations between the two countries.
The meeting took place just a few months before the Beirut barracks bombings, which killed 241 U.S. and 58 French peacekeepers.
Gemayel visited the White House again in December 1983, where he met with Reagan for a second time.
“My second visit to the White House in the course of the year is a further confirmation for our appreciation for the consistent support President Reagan has given Lebanon,” Gemayel said at the time.
Most of N.S.C. spent on getting ready for visit by Pres. Gemayal of Lebanon. But also on whether to step up our artillery fire on Druze batteries lobbying shells in the direction of our Marines. So far we haven’t done anything. We’re a divided group. I happen to believe taking out a few batteries might give them pause to think. Joint Chiefs believe it might drastically alter our mission & lead to major increases in troops for Lebanon. Met with Gemayal & his cabinet. We emphasized need to work harder for expanding govt. to include some dissident groups. He made a good case that Syria has a block on the main factions. Cabinet Council on “space” & where we go. The issue is whether to move on a program for a permanent manned Space station. I’m for it as I think most everyone is but the question is funding such a new course in face of our deficits. Dave Stockman who opposed my signing the dairy bill came in to brief me on how the bill came to be and how may Reps. & Sens. broke their word on concessions they’d promised in return for the bill. I was never told any of this while it was going on. We’ll have to have a different procedure so this cant happen again. Nancy & I went to Shiloh Baptist Church for P.B.S. Young talent taping. Leontyne Price was mistress of ceremonies. Howard U. choir & young black singers were magnificent. It was a great finish to the day.
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In a review of a new Lebanese bakery in London, Guardian writer Tim Jonze praised the manoushe breakfast item and called it, “the Lebanese breakfast pizza that stole my heart.”
Jonze got to try za’atar, lahmeh bi ajin (beef and lamb), and a unique manoushe that was topped with eggs.
He said they were all tasty, but the cheese manoushe stole his heart!
Jonze said the tasteful dish feels like eating pizza for breakfast. The owners described manoushe as “Perfect at 4 a.m. when the post-party hunger cravings kick in.”
The zataar and cheese manousheh is a staple of Lebanese breakfast. (File photo)
Manoushe is a Levatine-based breakfast meal that has been around for a thousand years. Fortune Magazine reported that Lebanese street food like manoushe is now gaining traction in the U.S.
Most menu items at The Lebanese Bakery are only around $7. The bakery is also offering delivery options in the greater London area.
Read more about the Guardian’s review of the new Lebanese bakery, here.
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A Lebanese tourist didn’t seem to recognize late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel when he walked up to her and introduced himself, the late-night star recalled during a recent monologue.
The tourist was taking a photo of Kimmel’s Hollywood star when the host decided to walk up to her and make her day. But it didn’t go as planned!
The fan was taking a picture of Jimmy Kimmel’s Hollywood star when he approached her. (YouTube screen grab)
He approached the woman and said, “Hi, I’m Jimmy Kimmel.”
The woman replied, “No you’re not!”
He asked where she is from, and she replied Beirut.
Kimmel said he was heading to the movie theatre when he noticed the woman and her child taking a photo of his star. He thought it would be a fun surprise to come up to them.
“I think I might need to hire a publicist in Beirut,” Kimmel joked.
WATCH: Jimmy Kimmel says a Lebanese fan didn’t believe he was Jimmy Kimmel:
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A Kuwaiti court sentenced an Egyptian teacher Sunday to death by hanging after allegedly murdering his Lebanese wife, a Kuwait-based newspaper reported.
The man, whose name and nationality were not released, is said to be 42-years-old. He is accused in the stabbing death of his wife, authorities said.
According to Alqabas.com, the wife was of Lebanese descent and lived in the suburb of Hawally, Kuwait with her husband and children.
The Kuwait Palace of Justice in Kuwait City. (File photo)
In court, the husband claimed self-defense, alleging his wife drew the knife first.
Authorities did not release the wife’s name.
A circulating video on social media purportedly showed the man surrendering to police on the day of the murder.
WATCH: Arrest made in the murder of a Lebanese woman in Kuwait:
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A Lebanese-owned restaurant made the list of the “18 Best New Restaurants in America” recently released by foodie site Eater.com.
The restaurant Maydan is a Middle Eastern-style establishment located in the Washington, DC area.
It is owned by Lebanese-American Rose Previte, whose mother has roots in Detroit, Michigan. She works alongside co-executive chefs Gerald Addison and Chris Morgan.
Eater called on readers to “Zoom in on dishes that particularly reflect Previte’s Lebanese heritage, including spreads like muhammara.” The restaurant offers “a warm greeting at the room-length bar,” Eater added.
Smoked Lamb Shoulder is one of the most popular items on the menu (Eater.com)
In their original review of the restaurant, Eater said Maydan, “proudly and distinctly showcase the traditions of individual North African and Middle Eastern countries.”
The self-described Middle Eastern and North African restaurant serves food that “tells the story of our own travels, from Tangier to Tehran and Batumi to Beirut,” according to their website.
Maydan is located at 1346 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009. For more information, visit their website at this link.
The music experience in Lebanon this summer is already one of the best years on record with performances from Shakira, Mike Massey and the world renowned electronic music festival Tomorrowland.
Now the Chainsmokers are making an appearance at the Byblos International Festival on August 1, and spots are filling up quickly!
All general admission and VIP standing tickets are already sold out. The only tickets available are seats located in zones C and D that overlook the venue.
A waiter at a Saltgrass steakhouse in Odessa, Texas admitted that his post about a racist receipt that read, “We don’t tip terrorist,” was fake.
Khalil Cavil posted on Facebook on July 16th a photo of a $108 bill with a paragraph explaining what happened.
“Last night at work I received this note from one of my tables,” Khalil wrote. “I share this because I want people to understand that this racism, and this hatred still exists.”
Cavil’s post was shared tens of thousands of times and generated about 8,000 comments before it was deleted.
Khalil’s original post has since been deleted (Facebook screen grab)
“I did write it,” Cavil told the Odessa American local newspaper. “I made a mistake. There is no excuse for what I did.”
Restaurant officials said that Khalil is no longer employed at the establishment.
“Racism of any form is intolerable, and we will always act swiftly should it occur in any of our establishments,” said Terry Turney, COO of Saltgrass. “Falsely accusing someone of racism is equaling disturbing.”
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The Chairman and CEO of Société Générale de Banque au Liban (SGBL) Antoun Sehnaoui has bought the Pikes Peak National Bank in Colorado Springs, according to a spokesperson.
Sehnaoui is new the chairman of the Colorado-based bank and plans to use it as a hub for expansion across the United States.
He entered negotiations for the acquisition two years ago as an opportunity to expand around the world.
“(It’s an) excellent opportunity based on the bank’s solid management under an experienced, professional leadership team,” Sehnaoui said in a statement.
Currently, the bank has three locations around the Colorado Springs area with total assets held at almost $89 million. The bank has about 30 employees.
Antoun Sehnaoui is also a film producer and avid collector of the arts. (File photo/Imdb)
Sehnaoui was born in Lebanon in 1972 and moved to the United States during the Lebanese Civil War to study International Finance and Banking at the University of Southern California.
