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 Entertainment

Donald Trump’s daughter is dating a Lebanese man. Yes, he’s a billionaire.

President Donald Trump’s daughter Tiffany Trump is dating Lebanese billionaire Michael Boulos, according to the pop culture magazine Page Six.

Trump, 25, met Boulos during a vacation to Mykonos, Greece this summer. Boulos grew up in Nigeria, where his family owns a multibillion-dollar company that trades in vehicles, equipment, retail and construction.

Sources told Page Six that Tiffany Trump brought Boulos to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving.

“Tiffany is happy she has so far been able to keep things with Michael under the radar,” the source said. “But she introduced him to her family at Thanksgiving, and he comes across as a very intelligent young man from a great family.”

RELATED: This Lebanese-American lawyer sued the Trump administration and won

Tiffany Trump was born in 1993 to President Donald Trump and actress personality Marla Maples, Trump's second wife. (File photo)
Tiffany Trump was born in 1993 to President Donald Trump and actress personality Marla Maples, Trump’s second wife. (File photo)

So, who is Michael Boulos?

Boulos is the son of Massad Boulos, who owns the conglomerate SCOA Nigeria PLC. The company 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.

Page Six reported that Boulos was born in Lagos, and attended an elite international school in the nation’s largest city. His brother Fares is an actor and rapper who performs by the stage name Farastafari.

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.


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Take me back ?☀️?#sunrise

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It is not clear how long Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos have been dating. She recently broke up with her long-time boyfriend Ross Mechanic.

The busy Tiffany 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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 Entertainment

‘Min Mekhde’ Facebook star Amal Hamadeh dies at 41

Amal Hamadeh, the Facebook star known for her infectious humor, has died after suffering from a stroke, according to Annahar Newspaper.

Hamadeh was 41.

The social media starlet rose to fame after being interviewed about the state of Lebanese politics, social culture and celebrities.

Hamadeh went viral after a street interview aired on Future TV where she claimed there are “no more men” in Lebanon.

RELATED: COMEDY: Lebanese woman rants against men, politics

In 2015, a hilarious video surfaced where she demanded that actress Myriam Fares reveal “min mekhde.”

VIDEO: Myriam Fares: Min Mekhde?

RELATED: Myriam Fares announces pregnancy but doesn’t reveal ‘min mekhde’

Annahar Newspaper reported that Hamadeh died on her way to the Al Najdah Hospital in Nabatieh. She was vomiting and had complained of a headache, the Beirut-based Daily Star newspaper reported.

Amal Hamadeh brought many smiles to Lebanese TV and social media audiences. (YouTube screen grab)
Amal Hamadeh brought many smiles to Lebanese TV and social media audiences. (YouTube screen grab)

Lebanese singer Elissa reacted to the news of Hamadeh’s death on Twitter.

“I was very upset to hear about Amal Hamadeh’s death,” Elissa said in a tweet. “Although her comments could be harsh, at a time of death we can’t but pray for her soul. May she rest in peace.”

The funeral arrangements have not yet been released.

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 Success Stories

Lebanese actress Darine Hamze and convictions she will never give up on

Darine Hamze is one of the most well well-known daring actresses in the Middle East. She is known for taking on diverse and courageous roles on Lebanese TV shows and movies.

Darine spoke exclusively with Lebanese Examiner about what drives her everyday and the causes that keep her going.

How did you get started in the acting?

I was first introduced to acting during my early elementary boarding school days, at Sabis Ashwicke Hall, England, UK, when I was 8 years old. There I participated in all school plays and first discovered my love for acting. Which naturally lead to me studying drama acting and cinema in University and my MA was also cinema in the University of Westminster, UK.

What are some causes in Lebanon that you are passionate about?

Funny you ask that, since I have just founded an NGO called “Ibram” with a group of friends and family that works on crime prevention and youth empowerment. It is actually a kind of tribute to my father’s memory, since he was brutally murdered by (thieves) on the streets of Beirut. And I feel it is my responsibility now to follow up on this cause since it is very personal.

Hamze has performed in dozens of films where she is known for taking on challenging and complex roles. (Provided photo)
Hamze has performed in dozens of films where she is known for taking on challenging and complex roles. (Provided photo)

As you travel all across the world, what do you think of the Lebanese diaspora outside of Lebanon?

It saddens me actually to think of it, since separation is always hard experience to live. My brother is one of them, and I think almost every Lebanese family now has a son, or father or husband or daughter living abroad to find better living means. Unfortunately this hs been happening for many many years now, maybe it is the Lebanese’s destiny since our Phoenician ancestors.

What are some current or future projects you are working on that your fans should look forward to?

I have a new series that will be screening starting 2019, and am preparing for a new movie. There is also a lot of activities that I will be participating in for our NGO Ibram in Lebanon.

RELATED: Actress Shannon Elizabeth: I’m proud of the Lebanese side of my life

What would you like to say to the younger generation, that consider you a role model?

I say to them, follow your heart and intuition. Be true to yourselves, be creative and never compromise for your integrity cause that is what you will have at the end of your path. And do good not wrong, and be kind as much as you can, and stay courageous when things get bad around you, but know it is only a phase and everything passes.

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 News

This Lebanese-American lawyer sued the Trump administration and won

Head CNN attorney Ted Boutrous recently won the company’s lawsuit against President Donald Trump and his administration over their decision to revoke journalist Jim Acosta‘s press credentials to the White House.

A few days later, federal Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered the White House to return Acosta’s press pass, according to CNN.

In the lawsuit, Boutrous and CNN claimed a “wrongful revocation” of Acosta’s credentials and argued that the Trump administration “violated CNN and Acosta’s First Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their Fifth Amendment rights to due process.”

Lebanese American CNN lawyer Ted Boutrous appears on CNN to talk about the case involving Jim Acosta's press credentials. (CNN screen grab)
Lebanese American CNN lawyer Ted Boutrous appears on CNN to talk about the case involving Jim Acosta’s press credentials. (CNN screen grab)

Acosta clashed with President Trump during a news conference this month with questions about immigration and the special counsel’s investigation. The CNN correspondent would not give up the microphone after the president attempted to move on to another reporter.

CNN hired attorney Ted Boutrous to defend Acosta and attempt to restore his credentials. Boutrous is a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, and is of Lebanese descent.

RELATED: Meet Donna Shalala: America’s new Lebanese American congresswoman and fierce Trump critic

Boutrous has a history of representing clients in major cases such as Standard Fire Insurance Co. v. Knowles, Hollingsworth v. Perry and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes.

WATCH: Boutrous talks about the lawsuit on CNN:

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 Lifestyle

Lebanon’s InterContinental Mzaar among 50 most scenic mountain resorts

The InterContinental Mzaar Mountain Resort and Spa in Lebanon was recently listed in the 50 most scenic mountain resorts by U.S. News & World Report.

The resort was featured alongside worldwide favorites like the Gstaad Palace in Switzerland and Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado.

Located about one hour northeast of Beirut, the resort has over 135 furnished rooms and suites along with conference facilities and exquisite variety of dining venues, according to their website.

Related: Day3a of the Day: Faraya— a summer retreat and snow destination

Read the U.S. News full listing:

“Experience luxury amid snowy peaks at this InterContinental hotel less than 32 miles northeast of Beirut. Though you could easily spend your entire vacation skiing and snowmobiling in winter or hiking and rafting in summer, be sure to take advantage of the resort’s cinema, shops, heated indoor pool and kids fun center. Or, retreat to your Alpine chalet-inspired room or the on-site spa for a massage, facial or body treatment. When you’ve worked up an appetite, sit for a meal at one of six restaurants that serve everything from Japanese fare to Lebanese mountain cuisine to American classics.”

The InterContinental Mzaar Mountain Resort and Spa was named among the world's most scenic mountain resorts. (Facebook/InterContinental Mzaar)
The InterContinental Mzaar Mountain Resort and Spa was named among the world’s most scenic mountain resorts. (Facebook/InterContinental Mzaar)

To learn more about the resort and reserve your room for a future visit, click here.

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 Entertainment

Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra wows in dress by Lebanese designer

Strutting down the streets of Amsterdam, Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra stopped her Instagram fans mid-scroll early November when she posted photos of herself in a heavenly-looking feathered dress by Lebanese designer Georges Chakra.

Chopra, who is set to marry American singer and former boyband member Nick Jonas, was in the Netherlands celebrating her days as a #bachelorette before her upcoming nuptials.

According to Emirates Woman, Chopra enjoyed another bachelorette celebration at Tiffany & Co. in New York City before flying out to party with more close friends in the Dutch city.


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Featherweight Champion of the world… #Bachelorette #FauxNotFur @georgeschakraofficial

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She paired her intricate Chakra-designed mini dress with a white faux fur coat and classic red-bottomed Christian Louboutin heels. Covered in crystals, a curtain of delicate white feathers fanned out from the dress.

“Featherweight Champion of the world… #Bachelorette #FauxNotFur @georgeschakraofficial,” the actress captioned her glamour shots.

Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra is set to marry former 'Jonas Brothers' boyband member Nick Jonas. (Facebook/Priyanka Chopra)
Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra is set to marry former ‘Jonas Brothers’ boyband member Nick Jonas. (Facebook/Priyanka Chopra)

The Lebanese fashion house later re-posted Chopra’s photos on its Instagram account, and added that the “white long sleeve beaded cocktail dress with feather detailing and long sleeved feather duster” came from the Georges Chakra Couture 2018 Collection.

According to Georges Chakra’s website, the designer began his work in “war-clad Beirut” and set up a small studio in his home’s living room before expanding his workshop to Paris in 2002. He then debuted his first collection on the French runway for Haute Couture Fashion Week.

His work has also been featured in the 2006 movie “The Devil Wears Prada,” and his ready-to-wear-line, Edition by Georges Chakra, was launched and presented at New York’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in 2009, his site said.

Chakra’s elaborate work and haute couture designs have since become a favorite among actresses and pop stars across the globe, his site said, and his work often turns heads at couture shows during Paris Fashion Week.

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 Business

Lebanese-Brazilian Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn arrested for misconduct

Carlos Ghosn, the towering Lebanese-Brazilian CEO of Nissan, has been fired and arrested amid an investigation into alleged income misconduct.

An internal probe found that Ghosn allegedly underreported his salary and used company assets for personal gain, according to multiple media reports.

Ghosn, 64, is credited as a major figure and turnaround master in the global automobile industry. Ghosn has yet to respond publicly to these allegations.

Japanese prosecutors said Ghosn, 64 and a second Nissan board member, Greg Kelly, were taken into custody on suspicion of violating financial laws by filing false statements.

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)

The two men allegedly collaborated to under-report Ghosn’s income by about 5 billion yen, or $44 million, over a five-year period ending in March 2015.

The maximum punishment for filing a false financial statement is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 10 million yen, or $89,000, reported CNN Business.

“Nissan deeply apologizes for causing great concern to our shareholders and stakeholders,” the company statement said. “We will continue our work to identify our governance and compliance issues, and to take appropriate measures.”

The auto executive is known globally for his turnaround efforts at Renault and Nissan, where he helped steer the companies out of financial crisis.

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 Success Stories

Meet Donna Shalala: America’s new Lebanese American congresswoman

Florida voters have sent a Lebanese American woman to Congress — a 5-foot-tall powerhouse Democrat who beat out a Latino Republican in a hotly contested Midterm race.

Donna Shalala, 77, is the second Lebanese American woman to hold a seat in U.S. Congress. The first was Ohio congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar, who served from 1977 to 1993.

Shalala is arguably one of the most qualified freshman members of Congress. She previously served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton, and as president of the University of Miami from 2001 to 2015.

The political veteran and fierce Trump critic beat her Republican opponent Maria Elvira Salazar with 51.7 percent of the vote.

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)

“Mr. President, ready or not here we come,” Shalala told supporters during a victory speech in Florida. “Tonight I want you to hear a message of unity.”

Shalala was born in Cleveland to a Maronite Catholic Lebanese family — the daughter of Edna Smith and James Abraham Shalala. Her mother, a prominent Ohio attorney, practiced law for 50 years before retiring at age 91.

Her mother is recognized in Ohio as the first female attorney of Lebanese descent to practice law in Cleveland. Shalala, who will serve a large Latino population in her district, told NBC News she has an “extensive network of cousins throughout Latin America.”

“Lebanon has a long history of migration to the Americas, so while her grandparents settled in Miami at the turn of the century, their brothers and sisters settled in Cuba, Brazil, and Mexico,” NBC News reported.

Shalala will be sworn in Jan. 3 in Washington, D.C.

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 News

Ackawi cheese recalled in U.S. over Listeria health concerns

A brand of Ackawi cheese has been recalled in the U.S. after a routine inspection discovered positive tests for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Consumers who purchased the Green Cedar Ackawi cheese bearing a “sell by” date of March 26, 2019 or later are urged not to consume the cheese, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Inspectors said the health concerns were discovered Nov. 9 during a routine inspection by the FDA and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause a serious and sometimes fatal infection that primarily affects young children, older adults, and persons with weakened immune systems.

“Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeriosis can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women,” the FDA said in a news release.

The recall affects Green Cedar Dairy Ackawi Cheese bearing a "sell by" date of March 26, 2019 or later, according to the FDA. (FDA provided photos)
The recall affects Green Cedar Dairy Ackawi Cheese bearing a “sell by” date of March 26, 2019 or later, according to the FDA. (FDA provided photos)

The recalled Ackawi cheese was distributed at retail locations in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, Michigan. There have been no reports of any major health impacts as a result of consumption.

Anyone with any questions regarding the recall can contact Hussam Harb, Plant Manager at Green Cedar Dairy at 313-584-4499.

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 City Beat

Detroit museum to host Lebanese pop singer Yasmine Hamdan concert

Lebanese pop singer-songwriter, Yasmine Hamdan, has garnered global attention since the release of her debut solo album, “Ya Nass,” in 2013 and patrons headed to the Detroit Institute of Arts can enjoy a free show from the rising star on Dec. 7.

Hamdan will perform at 8 p.m. as part of the city museum’s Friday Night Live! Series, which often packs the Rivera Court performance area.

In a release, the museum called Hamdan’s album a “personal, modern take on Arabic pop music.”

The same album was lauded by NPR as a redefinition of Middle Eastern music in 2014. Reviewer Banning Eyre called Hamdan “one of the most free-thinking and inventive artists singing in Arabic today.”

A 2014 review from the UK-based outlet The Guardian said Hamdan deserves to be the next female celebrity from the Arab-speaking world.

“She has a sultry, seductive voice and gift for melody that is reminiscent of Souad Massi, and her best songs rely on acoustic guitar rather than the swirling synths,” the review said.

Hamdan's arrangements include elements of Western electronic, pop and folk music, according to the DIA. (Photo provided/Yasmine Hamdan)
Hamdan’s arrangements include elements of Western electronic, pop and folk music, according to the DIA. (Photo provided/Yasmine Hamdan)

Hamdan has performed on four continents, and recorded a song for the 2013 vampire film “Only Lovers Left Alive” directed by Jim Jarmusch, a release said.

As part of their Arab Film Series, the Dearborn-based Arab American National Museum will be hosting a free screening of the film on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A with Hamdan. Register for the event at the AANM website.

To learn more information about the free Detroit Institute of Arts concert, click here.

In a song called “Beirut,” featured on the album, Hamdan sings:

“Beirut, a flower out of its season, what a waste if it withered.”

Take a look at the video for the song:

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