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Lebanese-American woman sells ma’amoul to help Beirut after explosion

A Lebanese American woman from Chicago is selling ma’amoul to raise money for Lebanese charities following the explosion on Aug. 4 in Beirut, reported the ABC lifestyle program Localish.

Dani Abboud planned to visit Beirut this year, but had to cancel her trip due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After seeing coverage of the Beirut explosion, she wanted to do something to help her motherland.

WATCH: Chicago Woman Selling Ma’amoul to Help Lebanon

“Ma’amoul is kind of like a cookie traditionally eaten around religious holidays,” Abboud told Localish. “I learned how to make it this past Easter. Getting to give people something as simple as these little cookies makes me feel like I’m giving a better glimpse as to what Lebanese culture is.”

The Beirut explosion rocked the city’s port, causing over 200 deaths, 6,500 injuries, and $15 billion in property damage. Countries all over the world have been sending aid to assist Lebanon in the aftermath.

“For so many people in America and around the world, the only image they ever see of the Middle East is destruction or a war zone or a bombing, and it’s just not like that,” Abboud said.


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My heart is broken over the tragedy in Beirut. My heart is broken over the decades of political corruption, and the undermining western intervention. My heart is broken that, for many people in the world, this is the only view of Lebanon they ever see. My heart is also broken because I can’t be there to help. So, with my limited resources and geography, I have decided to bake. I’m making ma’amoul (a traditional Lebanese sweet) to raise money for the groups actually on the ground, helping the people of Lebanon. Chicago folks, if you send me a receipt showing at least a $10 donation to one of the charities in the link in my bio, I will give you 5 pieces of ma’amoul (first batch is vegan and has a date filling). DM me to coordinate, feel free to share. I don’t have much money, I don’t have much power, but I love my country and my people enough to bake until my fingers fall off, if need be.

A post shared by دانييل (@daniabboud) on


Abboud has raised more than $500 from ma’amoul sales, which she plans to send to charities in Beirut. To learn more about her fundraising efforts, visit her Instagram page.

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 Entertainment

Lebanese-Brazilian artist sings ‘Once Upon A December’ in four languages

Lebanese-Brazilian singer Luciana Zogbi wowed yet again with a stunning cover of ‘Once Upon a December’ in four languages, including English, Arabic, French and Russian.

WATCH: Luciana Zogbi performs ‘Once Upon a December’ on YouTube:

“I’ve always wanted to cover this song from “Anastasia” and no better time to release it than December,” Zogbi wrote on YouTube.

‘Once Upon a December’ is a song from the 1997 Fox Animation Studios film Anastasia. The song was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Lebanese-Brazilian singer Luciana Zogbi is known for her YouTube channel, which has more than 200 million total video views. (Facebook/Luciana Zogbi)
Lebanese-Brazilian singer Luciana Zogbi is known for her YouTube channel, which has more than 200 million total video views. (Facebook/Luciana Zogbi)

The independent multilingual singer shot to fame in 2014 after her cover of John Legend’s “All of Me” went viral, garnering more than 76 million views worldwide.

RELATED: Lebanese-Brazilian singer back with amazing mashup!

Zogbi now has more than 2.4 million subscribers on YouTube.

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 Entertainment

Tiffany Trump, Lebanese boyfriend party on New Year’s Eve at Mar-a-Lago

Tiffany Trump and her Lebanese boyfriend Michael Boulos celebrated New Year’s Eve at President Donald Trump’s New Year’s Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Tiffany Trump shined in a black and gray lace dress while walking the red carpet hand-in-hand with Boulos, who wore a black tuxedo and bow tie.

President Trump’s New Year’s Eve party featured a who’s who of conservative personalities, including the president’s defense attorney Rudy Giuliani, television commentator Lou Dobbs and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson.

Tiffany Trump, 26, met Boulos during a vacation to Mykonos, Greece last summer. Boulos grew up in Nigeria, where his family owns a multibillion-dollar company that trades in vehicles, equipment, retail and construction.

Boulos’ father owns the conglomerate SCOA Nigeria PLC, which has its hand in almost every major industry in Nigeria, including automobile, construction, agriculture, food and drink and infrastructure, according to its stock profile. Nigeria is home to a modest population of Lebanese expats, many of whom have business interests in the African nation.

Tiffany Trump and her Lebanese boyfriend Michael Boulos pose in front of a Christmas tree at the White House. (Instagram/Tiffany Trump)
Tiffany Trump and her Lebanese boyfriend Michael Boulos pose in front of a Christmas tree at the White House. (Instagram/Tiffany Trump)

Boulos recently attended the White House Christmas party with his parents Dr. Massad and Sarah Boulos.

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 News

Man caught on camera stealing shawarma from Beirut restaurant

A likely-hungry thief was caught on camera swiping an entire skewer of shawarma from a restaurant in Beirut.

Surveillance video circulating on Twitter shows the unidentified man enter the Estez Restaurant in the Zalka neighborhood of Beirut, grab a rack of shawarma and take off.

WATCH: Man caught on camera stealing shawarma from Beirut restaurant:

“Look what hunger has done to people,” the restaurant owner said in the video. “Look at where we have ended up in this country.”

A screen capture from surveillance video shows a man stealing a skewer of shawarma from a restaurant in Beirut. (Screen capture/Twitter video)
A screen capture from surveillance video shows a man stealing a skewer of shawarma from a restaurant in Beirut. (Screen capture/Twitter video)

It is unclear if security forces or the restaurant intends to take legal action against the man. Meanwhile, many social media users have come to the defense of the man in wake of the deteriorating financial situation in the Mediterranean country.

Lebanon’s economic crisis has sparked a currency devaluation, restrictions on withdrawals and a serious threat to the country’s banking systems.

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 News

Carlos Ghosn arrives in Beirut on private jet from Turkey, reports say

Ex-Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn arrived in Beirut on a private jet from Turkey, Lebanese media outlets reported early Monday. A family friend confirmed to the Associated Press that Ghosn arrived in his home country, but offered no further details about his whereabouts.

Ghosn released a statement from Beirut criticizing the Japanese justice system, adding that he plans to further speak to media outlets starting next week. The auto tycoon had been under strict bail conditions in Japan, which included the surrender of his passport and the installation of surveillance cameras outside of his residence, Reuters reported.

“I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied,” Ghosn said in a statement released by his public relations firm. “I have not fled justice – I have escaped injustice and political persecution.”

Carlos Ghosn has served as the chairman and CEO of France-based Renault, chairman and CEO of Japan-based Nissan, and chairman of Mitsubishi Motors. (File photo)
Carlos Ghosn has served as the chairman and CEO of France-based Renault, chairman and CEO of Japan-based Nissan, and chairman of Mitsubishi Motors. (File photo)

Ghosn, who holds French and Lebanese passports, was awaiting trial over financial misconduct allegations in Japan. He was facing charges of hiding income and under-reporting his compensation as Nissan’s chairman.

Ghosn’s attorneys have insisted that the charges are part of a conspiracy to oust Ghosn and prevent a fuller merger with Nissan’s alliance partner Renault SA.

The Associated Press reported Monday that a house known to belong to Ghosn in Beirut “had security guards outside with two lights on.” The report added, “The guards denied he was inside, although one said he was in Lebanon without saying how he knew that.”

There was no immediate comment from officials in Japan or Lebanon.

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 Entertainment

Tiffany Trump, Lebanese boyfriend celebrate Christmas in White House

Tiffany Trump and her Lebanese boyfriend Michael Boulos attended the White House Christmas party, photos posted to Tiffany Trump’s Instagram account showed. Boulos also brought his parents Dr. Massad and Sarah Boulos to the affair.

Tiffany Trump, 26, captioned, “It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas” on a photo showing the couple alongside President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Boulos’ parents.


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It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas🎄

A post shared by Tiffany Ariana Trump (@tiffanytrump) on

“Thank you for hosting us for a beautiful Christmas evening!” Boulos posted to Instagram, tagging President Trump and the First Lady.

Tiffany Trump met Boulos during a vacation to Mykonos, Greece last summer. Boulos grew up in Nigeria, where his family owns a multibillion-dollar company that trades in vehicles, equipment, retail and construction.

Boulos’ father owns the conglomerate SCOA Nigeria PLC, which has its hand in almost every major industry in Nigeria, including automobile, construction, agriculture, food and drink and infrastructure, according to its stock profile. Nigeria is home to a modest population of Lebanese expats, many of whom have business interests in the African nation.

Tiffany Trump and her Lebanese boyfriend Michael Boulos pose in front of a Christmas tree at the White House. (Instagram/Tiffany Trump)
Tiffany Trump and her Lebanese boyfriend Michael Boulos pose in front of a Christmas tree at the White House. (Instagram/Tiffany Trump)

According to the Arab News, the Boulos family is from the northern Lebanese village of Kfaraakka, in the Koura District of Lebanon. The politically-connected family often travels back to Lebanon to visit.

The busy Tiffany Trump is a law student at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in sociology and urban studies.

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 Success Stories

Lebanese-Australian singer ‘Faydee’ turned international sensation

Fady Fatrouni, known by his stage name Faydee, is a master of combining pop and Arab sounds and creating exciting and catchy music.

That has been his goal since he was 13-years-old. He always wanted to combine the Middle Eastern culture with western music, he told Lebanese Examiner in an exclusive interview.

His voice might be familiar to U.S. listeners due to his feature in the mega hit song, Habibi (I Need Your Love).

Faydee pushed heavily for the song to contain Arabic undertones and for the name to include the word Habibi.

Faydee is best known for his international hit "Habibi (I Need Your Love)" credited to Shaggy, Mohombi, Faydee and Costi. (Facebook/Faydee)
Faydee is best known for his international hit “Habibi (I Need Your Love)” credited to Shaggy, Mohombi, Faydee and Costi. (Facebook/Faydee)

RELATED: Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary – Lebanese heritage influenced my career

“One of my proudest moments is that the song charted in the top 100 in the U.S.,” Faydee said. “For me that was a surreal thing that the Arabic-English version (of the song) got the most recognition.”

“I want Arabic music to be as accepted as Spanish music is in the pop culture,” he added.

Faydee said his parents initially disapproved of his plans to be a singer, telling him to pursue other careers that were “more tangible.” However, when they realized the talent that their son had, they turned into his biggest supporters.

“For them, the proudest they were of me is when I accepted an award from the Beirut (& Beyond) International Music Festival,” he said. “Seeing me receive an award from the place they grew up was big.”

In the future, Faydee wants to venture into acting and continue to expand his brand by making new Arab-Western fusion music often.

Listen to his single Habibi Albi featuring Leftside by clicking the link below:

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 Lifestyle

Lebanese youth among heaviest hookah users in the world, study says

According to a study published by the Imperial College London, Lebanese youth are ranked among the heaviest hookah smokers in the world.

The study was conducted in 2018 and included smoking estimates for 68 countries. Researchers concluded that 37.2 percent of youth reported using hookah in the past 30 days of a survey, among the highest in the world.

“Waterpipe tobacco smoking is most prevalent in Eastern Mediterranean and European countries, and appears higher among youth than adults,” the study said.

Waterpipe tobacco smoking is most prevalent in Eastern Mediterranean and European countries, according to the study. (File photo)
Waterpipe tobacco smoking is most prevalent in Eastern Mediterranean and European countries, according to the study. (File photo)

The study also added that about 65 percent of Lebanese citizens under 24 have smoked hookah at least once in their life.

RELATED: Study shows 40% of Beirut sleeps less than six hours

Hookah usage in Iran and Egypt were also considered high with usage rates over 10 percent.

In response, the American University of Beirut Medical Center launched a social media campaign to raise awareness of the negative health effects associated with smoking tobacco from a waterpipe.

A copy of the full study is available on the National Institutes of Health website.

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 News

Nadine Labaki falls short at Oscars, but makes Lebanon proud

Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki has fallen short of becoming the first Arab woman to win an Oscar for her film “Capernaum,” which was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards Sunday in Los Angeles.

The film “Roma,” from Mexico, won the Oscar in the Foreign Film category.

The nomination was still a proud moment for Labaki and her cast, which includes a 14-year-old Syrian refugee as its lead actor. It’s also a proud moment for Lebanon, as the tiny Mediterranean nation had an opportunity to showcase its talent on an international stage.

Lebanese director Nadine Labaki said she is proud to represent Lebanon in this year’s Oscar race. (Facebook/Capernaum)
Lebanese director Nadine Labaki said she is proud to represent Lebanon in this year’s Oscar race. (Facebook/Capernaum)

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Sunday congratulated Labaki and her cast for making it as far as the Oscars.

“I wish all the best for Nadine Labaki and the crew of the film “Capernaum” in her Oscar nomination,” Hariri wrote on Twitter. “Our hearts are with you and all of Lebanon is proud of you, Nadine Labaki.”

The drama “Capernaum” follows the story of a destitute boy who files a lawsuit against his parents for raising him into a life of pain and suffering. The film received international acclaim, and was awarded the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

The other nominees for Best Foreign Film included Poland’s “Cold War,” Germany’s “Never Look Away” and Japan’s “Shoplifters.”

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 News

Democratic Rep. Shalala condemns Rep. Omar’s anti-semitic remarks

Freshman Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota is facing swift backlash over her comments suggesting that bi-partisan support for Israel is motivated by money.

Omar has been a vocal critic of the Israeli government and its treatment of Palestinians. She also supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS movement, which promotes boycotts against the state of Israel.

The backfire to her comments came from both sides of the isle, that included Chelsea Clinton and fellow Democratic legislators like Congresswomen Nancy Pelosi and Donna Shalala.

Shalala tweeted, “To suggest members of Congress are ‘bought off’ to support Israel is offensive and wrong.”

Donna Shalala is the second Lebanese American woman to be elected to U.S. Congress. (Facebook/Donna Shalala)
Donna Shalala is the second Lebanese American woman to be elected to U.S. Congress. (Facebook/Donna Shalala)

Related: America’s newest Lebanese American congresswoman – Donna Shalala

Omar has since apologized for her remarks, stating that “anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on this painful history of anti-Semitic tropes.”

She continued, “This is why I unequivocally apologize.”

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