Security forces raid Beirut hotel; arrest 17

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(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Security forces arrested 17 men on Friday after raiding the Napoleon hotel on Hamra Street in Beirut. According to sources, forces received a tip that terror suspects linked to a plot to assassinate Speaker Nabih Berri had sought refuge there.

322847_mainimg200 police officers from the Internal Security Forces’ Information Branch and General Security reportedly blocked all roads leading to the hotel starting at 10am.

A conference for Nabih Berri’s Amal Movement today was cancelled due to “security reasons,” according to NBN-TV. Security officials wouldn’t confirm if the raid was linked to the Amal conference, but said it was pointed to “high risk.”

For several hours, six police jeeps reportedly blocked the entrances to the hotel with about 20 police officers keeping journalists, tourists, and people passing by from approaching the facility.

According to security sources, 12 suspects of Lebanese, Palestinian, and Pakistani nationalities had been arrested in the hotel. Another five suspects were arrested in the surrounding areas, including the Casa D’or Hotel, where police arrested one suspect.

Security forces have blocked several roads in and around Beirut, including those leading to Berri’s residence in Ain al-Tineh, the Kuwaiti Embassy, UNESCO and the military hospital in Badaro.

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Suicide bombing strikes Lebanese checkpoint

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A suicide bomber killed two people and wounded at least 20 others at a security checkpoint in Beirut on Friday. The checkpoint lies on the main highway joining Lebanon and Syria’s capitals, according to Lebanese police.

The checkpoint is located in an area where Lebanese Sunni Muslim militants opposed to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad have launched previous attacks on areas under control of the Shi’ite Hezbollah movement.

Police said the bomber was stopped at the checkpoint to be searched and then blew himself up, which suggested he may have been heading to another target.

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Arab Museum salutes career, contributions of entertainment icon Casey Kasem

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(DEARBORN, MI) — Funeral services will be held Sunday for American entertainment icon and proud Arab American Casey Kasem, who died Sunday in a Washington State hospital following a long illness. He was 82.

The service will be held at the American Druze Society’s cultural center in Eagle Rock, Calif. Kasem was an active member of the Druze, a religious community with ancestral ties to present-day Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. He was a founding member of the American Druze Foundation and played an integral role in establishing the Society’s Southern California cultural center.

Manal Saab, who chairs both the American Druze Foundation board and the Arab American National Museum’s National Advisory Board, was a personal friend of Kasem’s. She recalls his dedication to his faith and community. “Casey was different than most celebrities. He always picked up the phone and he never said no to helping. My husband Ghassan and I had a personal relationship with Casey. He was Lebanese, Druze, and from Michigan. Casey had the chance to visit Lebanon with his family in 1997, and the Lebanese people embraced him with relentless celebration.”

Casey Kasem has long been celebrated as an iconic voice of American radio and music, and is also recognized as one of the most famous Arab Americans. He was born Kamel Amin Kasem in Detroit on April 27, 1932, to Lebanese immigrant father and Lebanese American mother. Like many Arab immigrants to Detroit at that time, Casey’s father Amin owned a grocery store. In the 1950s, his mother and aunt owned a grocery store in Fenton, Mich. (near Flint), where Arab immigrants were also succeeding in the grocery business.

Kasem is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, where he began his career by performing bit parts in radio dramas. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army who served as a DJ during the Korean War. In the summer of 1970, in collaboration with fellow Arab American broadcaster Don Bustany and other partners, Kasem launched his syndicated radio program, American Top 40, on just five radio stations. Soon the program was heard “coast to coast” on hundreds of stations and later became a TV show. Classic episodes remain on the air today. Kasem also had a successful career as a voice-over actor, most notably as an NBC announcer and the voice of Shaggy (“Zoinks!”) on the children’s cartoon Scooby Do, Where Are You!.

In addition to his numerous accolades and awards, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1981) and induction into the Radio Hall of Fame (1992), Kasem has always been proud of his Arab heritage. “Whenever I can,” he said in a 1983 interview, “I like to let people know that I am Lebanese, that I am Arabic, and that’s my heritage. I’m an American first, but at the same time I feel strong ties going way back.” Several obituaries recount how Kasem’s entertainment career was inspired by listening to his older relatives’ one-upsmanship style of storytelling as a kid.

Throughout his career, Casey Kasem fought against media stereotyping of Arabs and Arab Americans, and has always encouraged young Arab American media producers. He has given selflessly to many Arab American causes, including the Arab American National Museum, lending his sonorous voice to its Making An Impact permanent exhibit and donating multiple items for display, including his Hollywood Walk of Fame plaque and the American Top 40 sign that hung on the program’s Ventura Boulevard studio in Los Angeles. Kasem has been an honorary member of the AANM’s National Advisory Board since the Museum opened in 2005.

“I fondly recall listening to American Top 40 as a child,” says Devon Akmon, AANM director. “Knowing that Casey and I shared our Lebanese heritage gave me a great sense of pride from an early age. His contributions to American popular culture and his advocacy for the Arab American community will be forever celebrated at the AANM.”

Casey Kasem’s legacy also includes the new $2 million Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Druze and Arab Studies at Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, a first-of-its-kind program. Casey’s daughter, Kerri, also a great friend of the Arab American National Museum, is following in her father’s footsteps professionally and through her community involvement.

Source: Arab American National Museum

Casey Kasem: How Lebanese culture influenced his storytelling style and life outside radio

By Lara Akl, Communications & Marketing Manager at House of Lebanon

(Los Angeles, CA) — He is known as the iconic voice of American radio. For decades, Casey Kasem brought millions of listeners together across the country through his nationally syndicated countdown radio show American Top 40. With his warm unique voice, he was able to connect on an emotional level and build distant relationships with millions of followers.

House of Lebanon is saddened by the loss of not only the iconic radio legend, but also the Lebanese American figure, whose legacy brought pride to the Lebanese people-casey-kasem (1)and Arab American community. Becoming a famous legendary radio host and a national American figure, Kasem never forgot about his Lebanese heritage. His cultural background influenced his presentational style as a radio host, was present in his children’s upbringing, and incented him to become a passionate advocate on Lebanese Americans and Arab Americans causes.

As a radio presenter, Kasem was known for short stories he told in between songs during his show. People not only excitedly awaited to learn the number one song, but they looked forward to listen to his feel-good narratives. Kasem used storytelling in his show drawing on his Lebanese background and upbringing. “I was drawing on the Arabic tradition of storytelling one-upmanship,” he told the New York Times in 1990. “When I was a kid, men would gather in my parents’ living room and tell tales and try to outdo each other. I couldn’t understand the language, but I was fascinated…. I was doing trivia before anyone was doing trivia.”

Casey and KerriOn a family and personal level, Kasem was a proud Lebanese American. Born in 1932, Kemal Amin “Casey” Kasem was the son of Lebanese immigrant parents. He was raised in Detroit, Michigan, and had a large extended family. As a Lebanese American father, he wanted his children to learn about their background. Interviewing his daughter Kerri Kasem on March 5, 2014, she told House of Lebanon how “growing up, we used to go spend our summers in Michigan and Detroit with my grandparents. I, my brother, and my sister were surrounded by our large extended Lebanese family. As a family, we regularly gathered around Lebanese food, played cards and danced.” She finished by saying how “family and cultural ties are extremely important for my father. He wanted us to learn about our heritage, our Lebanese Druze culture, and where his family came from. He wanted us to keep attached to our roots.”

Kasem wanted his culture, history, and heritage to be known to everyone. That’s why he supported a Lebanese American organization like House of Lebanon and foresaw the value of establishing the first Lebanese American Cultural Center in Los Angeles. He showed his commitment to our cause by donating to House of Lebanon several times. “We are deeply saddened to lose an active figure like Casey Kasem,” expressed Judge James Kaddo, Chairman of House of Lebanon. “He was a man of conscience, a humanitarian, and an advocate not only for the Lebanese American Community, but also for the Arab American community as a whole.”

As a Lebanese American public figure, Kasem advocated for Arab Americans cause. He was against American mainstream media’s depiction of Arab Americans. In James Zoghby’s words, president of the Arab American Institute, “no one has done more in Hollywood to challenge the negative stereotypes of Arabs in the media than Casey.” Kasem promoted the accomplishment and contributions of Arab Americans. He wrote a brochure published by the Arab American Institute entitled “Arab-Americans: Making a Difference.”

Casey Kasem will be greatly missed. Our condolences to all of his family and children. House of Lebanon is committed to continue working hard on establishing the first Lebanese American Cultural Center that Casey Kasem supported.

 

About House of Lebanon

House of Lebanon is a non-profit organization located in Los Angeles. Its mission is to preserve, communicate, and celebrate Lebanese heritage and culture.

For more information visit www.houseoflebanon.com

Lara Akl is the Communications and Marketing Manager at House of Lebanon.

Zgharta mayor dies in serious car accident

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(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The mayor of Zgharta, Lebanon died on Thursday following a serious traffic accident on the Karantina highway.

322365_mainimgEngineer Toufik Moawad was driving a black Audi Q7 at 4:45 am when he rear-ended a parked truck, according to the National News Agency.

Mouawad was rushed to nearby Haddad Hospital where he died from his injuries.

Several other accidents were reported across Lebanon on Thursday, leaving at least five people injured, according to the Traffic Management Center.

A pick-up truck reportedly overturned on the Jiyyeh highway, resulting in two injuries and heavy traffic along the highway.

An individual was also injured when his vehicle overturned along the Emile Lahoud highway. The Traffic Management
Center also reports two other injuries after a vehicle overturned on Qob Elias-Chtaura main road.

Cyrine Abdel Nour calls on world to help refugees

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(BEIRUT, LEBANON) Lebanese singer and actress Cyrine Abdel Nour appeared in a United Nations video on Thursday, calling on the world to help Lebanon with the overwhelming number of Syrian refugees that continue to enter Lebanon.

“I have a story to tell you. The story of a small country hosting more than one million refugees. It is a story of pain, fear and loss,” Abdel Nour said. “To help Lebanon and all the families who were torn away from home because of war, help us tell this story.”

Watch the video below:

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Lebanon fails to elect president for seventh time

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(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri Wednesday postponed a seventh session to elect a new president for Lebanon as the rival political parties, who have not agreed on a consensus candidate to replace former President Michel Sleiman, failed to secure the needed quorum.

The eighth session was scheduled for July 2, a departure from the usual one-week intervals between sessions.

After announcing the postponement, Berri went straight into a meeting with a Future Movement delegation headed by former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to discuss the controversial salary raise.

Also present at the meeting at Berri’s office in Parliament were Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil and Education Minister Elias Bou Saab.

The scene in Parliament was a familar one, as only 63 of the 128 lawmakers had arrived at Parliament headquarters in Downtown Beirut by the scheduled noon start for the legislative session.

Berri has called seven failed sessions since April, all of which have been boycotted by Free Patriotic Movement Michel Aoun and his allies, citing lack of agreement on a consensus president.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, who has presented himself as a presidential candidate, said the problem does not lie with him or with his rival, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.

“The problem is the continuous boycott of Parliament,” Geagea told a news conference.

“Let those acting in a representative capacity agree on two or three candidates and take them to Parliament,” he added.

For his part, Aoun has warned that a prolonged presidential vacuum in Lebanon would push the country into an “explosive” political situation.

“If we reach parliamentary polls [scheduled for November] before holding the presidential election, then the political situation in Lebanon will explode,” he said in a TV interview Tuesday.

The Future parliamentary bloc again blamed the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition for disrupting the voting sessions.

“The solution lies in the hands of those who are blocking this deadline, namely March 8 forces that fail to participate in the parliamentary voting sessions,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting Tuesday. “Lawmakers need to commit to their constitutional duty regarding the election of a new president in the upcoming voting session.”

The bloc said a presidential vacuum must not be allowed to continue.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, who arrived in Paris Tuesday, will miss the voting session due to his work schedule.

Jumblatt will reportedly meet former Prime Minister Saad Hariri Friday over a working dinner hosted by the leader of the Future Movement at his residence in Paris.

Meanwhile, Future Movement sources denied that Hariri and Jumblatt would discuss the possibility of supporting a consensus presidential candidate.

“Discussing such an issue is in the hands of Christian parties and [those] who represent them. The role of Muslim parties is a helping rather than a decisive factor,” one source told The Daily Star.


Source: The Daily Star

Original Article

Rome Conference increases support for Lebanese army

(ROME, ITALY) — The countries participating in the Rome Conference to support the Lebanese army affirmed their readiness to provide it with special technical support.

The Conference, which was held in the Italian capital Rome yesterday, stressed in its closing statement the importance of Lebanon’s efforts with the support of the international community to enhance the Lebanese armed forces’ capabilities and improve their abilities to carry out their duties.

The statement welcomed the “participation of 43 countries as well as international and regional bodies in the meeting” which represented a strong signal of the international community’s unity to support the sovereignty, stability and security of Lebanon. It also welcomed the additional international support offered in line with the capacity development plan presented by the United States, the Lebanese armed forces’ long term partner.

It pointed out that the United States intends to provide additional assistance, in the areas of counter-terrorism, border security and other relevant areas.

Participants expressed their appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s additional support to be implemented by the governments of the Riyadh, France and Lebanon, as well as the additional assistance to the Lebanese armed forces during the ministerial meeting. They welcomed the willingness of Turkey, Brazil, Cyprus, Egypt, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain to provide training in several areas and to strengthen cooperation with the Lebanese forces in security-related sectors.

The statement called for more international support as a means of strengthening the Lebanese armed forces’ capacities to assume greater security responsibilities in southern Lebanon and in the Lebanese territorial waters.

The participants announced their full support for the Lebanese government in performing its duties during this transitional period and in accordance with the provisions of the constitution until a new president is elected and stressed on the importance of electing a new president as soon as possible to preserve security and stability in Lebanon.

The one day conference was co-sponsored by the Lebanese government and the United Nations.

Source: The Middle East Monitor

Original Article

Beirut’s central district to close Wednesday and Thursday for Parliament

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Several roads in Beirut’s central district will close on Wednesday and Thursday as Parliament meets to discuss the presidential void.

According to the Internal Security Forces, the roads connecting Zoukak al-Blat to Markaziah Center and Annahar Newspaper to Banks Street will close starting at 7am both days.

Roads are expected to reopen both days at the end of each session.

Report: 3 million Internet users in Lebanon by 2017

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(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — A recent study conducted by Dubai-based research firm, Madar Reserach and Development Center, says the number of internet users in Lebanon is expected to reach 3.2 million people by 2017. The report, which was published in a Byblos Bank report says that 69.2 percent of the Lebanese population will be using the internet by the end of 2017.

As of 2012, 2 million, or 45.1 percent of Lebanese actively used the internet.

Lebanon, according to the report, will have the 5th highest numbers of internet users in the Arab world in 2017, coming behind Bahrain (87.4 percent), Kuwait (73.7 percent), Morocco (72.4 percent) and the United Arab Emirates (72.2 percent).

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