JEDDAH: Lebanese star Elissa played at the magnificent Olympia theater in Paris on Friday, becoming just the sixth Arab singer to perform on the historical stage after Umm Kulthum, Abdel Halim Hafez, Ahlam, Najwa Karam and Hakim.
“Thank u #Olympia #paris #ELISSA what a night,” she wrote on social media. “One of my best concert(s) ever i m overwhelmed #olympia.”
Elissa performed several tracks from her latest album “Saharna Ya Lail,” as well as some of her biggest hits from the past, to a houseful of Arab music lovers in Paris.
The 45-year-old singer also celebrated her birthday on stage by cutting a cake, with the audience humming “Happy Birthday.”
Elissa wore a white flowing dress for the night, with some on social media comparing the singer to Egyptian-Italian singer and actress Dalida, who is remembered for the iconic white dresses she wore during her performances at Olympia.
On Saturday, as Lebanese leader Saad Al-Hariri announced his resignation as prime minister, Elissa tweeted prayers for her homeland.
“Coming back to a country whose instability is killing me. Pray for #Lebanon this is the only thing we can really do,” she wrote.
Arab star Elissa creates history at Olympia Paris
Arab star Elissa creates history at Olympia Paris
Policewoman honored for soothing crying baby when her mother fell unconscious at Beirut airport
- ISF honors first adjutant for comforting and feeding baby-milk to scared infant whose mother was rushed to hospital
- Social media users praise policewoman for her ‘humane and empathetic’ act after photos went viral
BEIRUT: A Lebanese policewoman who comforted an infant and fed her milk while her mother was hospitalized after falling unconscious at Beirut airport was honored for what social media users dubbed a ‘humane and empathetic’ act.
First Adjutant Nadia Nasser was on duty when the unidentified baby’s mother suffered a sudden illness and fell unconscious at a checkpoint inside Beirut International Airport earlier this month.
Photos of Nasser holding the months-old baby in her arms, preparing a milk bottle and feeding her went viral across social media, where users described the policewomen’s act as ‘motherly, compassionate and humane’ behavior.
Brig. Gen. Moussa Karnib of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces honored Nasser on Friday for caring for the infant for almost two hours at the airport after her mother was rushed to a hospital.
A media statement said the first adjutant was honored upon the directives of ISF’s Director General Maj. Gen. Raed Abdullah, after she took personal initiative on Feb. 2 to comfort the infant.
Commenting on Nasser’s photos that went viral, a user called Sami said she should be promoted for her ‘selfless and empathetic’ act.
Another user, Joe, commented: “She should be rewarded.
“This is how loyalty and love for one’s job and country are built,” wrote a user called Youssef.
Media reports said that when the incident happened, the baby’s fear and cries prompted Nasser to take the initiative to comfort and remain beside her until her mother’s condition stabilized.
ISF’s statement did not clarify whether Nasser and the baby accompanied the mother in the ambulance or how they were reunited later.
