Carlos Slim Helu is the world’s richest man

Forbes Magazine late on Wednesday named ( son of Lebanese immigrant ) Mexican telecom mogul Carlos Slim Helu as the world’s richest man in its annual ranking, dethroning Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Slim’s wealth was estimated at $53.5 billion by Forbes, compared with Gates’ $53 billion. Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett came in third with $47 billion.
Other billionaires in the Arab World : (more…)

Lebanon continues to inspire fashion designers

Two up and coming designers with roots in Lebanon will be competing in the “Oscars Designer Challenge 2010”, a competition to have the winning dress worn during the Oscars ceremony.

Rania Salibi is a Lebanese-American who graduated from Lebanon’s Sagesse High School in 2002. Salibi relocated to Los Angeles in 2005 to pursue her dreams of fashion design. “Living in Lebanon influenced my design perspective towards the Mediterranean and European flavor. I enjoy European art and history and the richness of Mediterranean culture.”

Hagop Ari Sheuhmelian the designer behind the couture house of Pogah. The origins of Ari’s artistic expression came together through his upbringing in both Lebanon and Syria. (more…)

Murdoch to own Rotana and LBC

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is close to buying a stake in Rotana Media, the broadcaster and music group owned by Saudi billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al Saud, according to a report in Tuesday’s Financial Times.

The newspaper, citing sources familiar with discussions between the two groups, said that the deal would see News Corp take an initial stake of about 10 percent for an undisclosed sum, with an option to take this up to about 20 percent in time.

It will also include the prince’s interest in LBC Sat, the Lebanese broadcaster, the newspaper said.

The deal would mark Murdoch’s most significant investment so far in the Middle East media industry. It will also tie News Corp closer to one of its largest shareholders: Prince Alwaleed’s Kingdom Holdings owns 7 per cent, or 56m shares, of News Corp’s class B stock and is the largest shareholder outside the Murdoch family, the newspaper said.

The Financial Times said that Rotana already shows programming from News Corp’s Fox channels in Saudi Arabia through its free-to-air television network. (Arabian Business)

Rihanna’s Grammy Awards outfit was designed by Elie Saab

Rihanna looked stunning at the 2010 Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Sunday (January 31) in Los Angeles.
The 21-year-old “Hard” singer wore a high neck, open back crepe gown with chiffon applique, stone and feather detailing at the bodice from Elie Saab Haute Couture.
Rihanna (born Robyn Rihanna Fenty ) is a Barbadian recording artist and model. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers. She subsequently signed a contract with Def Jam Recordings after auditioning for then-label head Jay-Z.
Elie Saab, 45 is a Lebanese fashion designer.
In 1982, Saab launched his own Beirut-based fashion label when he was 18 years old. His main workshop is in Lebanon, a country to which he remains deeply attached. He also has workshops in Milan and Paris.
The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys—are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry.

A Lebanese jailed in Jordan for smuggling drugs

A Jordanian military tribunal on Wednesday sentenced three people, including a 42-year-old Lebanese, to 15 years’ hard labor for smuggling 11 kilos of cocaine into the country.
“Two men, a Jordanian, 25, and a 42-year-old Lebanese, as well as a Brazilian woman, 27, brought 11 kilos of cocaine from Brazil to Jordan in order to take it to Lebanon,” a court official told AFP.
“They were arrested at Amman’s international airport in January last year.”

Lebanese military fired on Israeli jets

Lebanese military forces fired on Israeli jets flying over the southern part of the country in a possible sign of renewed border tensions.
The Lebanese military said it fired on four Israeli planes flying over southern Lebanon on Tuesday. A military statement said no hits were recorded, though Lebanese gunners were able to force the planes to a higher altitude for safety.
Andrea Tenenti, a spokesperson for the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, said the Israeli incursion was a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions dealing with Lebanese security issues. UPI

Killer of Filipina housekeeper of Lebanese ambassador in vienna arrested

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Killer of the 30-year-old Filipina housekeeper who worked at the Lebanese ambassador’s residence in the Austrian capital was found and arrested by the Austrian security authorities according to the Lebanese ministry of Foreign affairs. He pleaded guilty and acknowledged that the motives were emotional and personal . The ambassador, Izhaya al-Khoury, was out of the country, but cut short his trip and returned as soon as he heard about the murder . The ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Austrian authorities for finding the killer within such a short period ( 48 hours)

Lebanese army arrests 5 armed Palestinians in Baalbeck

The Lebanese army command issued a statement in which it stated that it raided a house in Baalbeck , arrested 5 Palestinians and confiscated arms, ammunition , money and electronic instruments and is currently interrogating them before handing them over to the judicial authorities

STL requests fingerprints of all Lebanese nationals

The Lebanese authorities approved Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) Prosecutor General Daniel Bellemare’s request to provide him with “the fingerprints of all Lebanese nationals,” Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida has reported Friday.
This action could be related to a report published last May by the German magazine der Spiegel which revealed that Hezbollah is behind the assassination of Lebanon’s former PM Rafik Hariri who was killed in 2005

Obama: We want to strengthen Lebanese armed forces…

U.S. President Barack Obama for the first time has met Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. Their discussions at the White House on Monday focused