Examiner Staff

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 Lifestyle

7 unquestionable facts about your Lebanese mom

Lebanese moms are unique. On this Mother’s Day, we pay tribute to the gem of the family with 7 universal facts about every Lebanese mom.

1. Your mom will never let you go hungry

One of her most important goals in life is to make sure you never starve. Your mom makes enough food for the whole family and more — just in case a few neighbors stop by.

2. No matter what job you hold, in your mom’s eyes you’re a “manager” or “director”

No matter what you do in life, in your mom’s eyes, you’re a star.

3. She yells over international phone calls

Your mom gets fired up when making a long distance call. She hasn’t realized phone connections have made significant improvements over the past decade.

4. She has a strange obsession with television soap operas

Do not disturb your Lebanese mom when the soap opera begins.

5. Turkish coffee keeps her going

Nothing can come between your mom and her coffee.

6. You are constantly compared to other successful people

Fady is married, has two kids, and a good-paying job — what are you waiting for?

7. She would do anything for you

Your mom loves you so much that she’s willing to literally “bury” (to2borni) herself for you.

Happy Mother’s Day to our graceful, glamorous and loving Lebanese moms!

There aren’t enough adjectives to describe you!

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 News, Success Stories

AUB appoints Lebanese-American Dr. Fadlo Khuri as new president

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The American University of Beirut (AUB) has voted to elect Fadlo R. Khuri, MD, as the 16th president of the university.

Dr. Khuri, who has been an AUB trustee since 2014, is presently Chairman of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA.

He will be installed as the successor to Dr. Peter Dorman, who has served AUB since his appointment in March 2008.

The announcement followed an intensive international search commissioned by the AUB Board of Trustees that included direct input from AUB faculty, staff, and global alumni communities.

AUB Board Chairman Dr. Philip S. Khoury, who co-chaired the search committee with Trustee Dr. Huda Zoghbi, said they were searching for a candidate that had international recognition and proven ability.

“The committee was particularly attentive to the needs of the university as defined by its own constituents,” Khoury said. “We found great consistency in the attributes AUB students, faculty, alumni, and other stakeholders identified as critical for the university’s leadership and we are completely confident that Dr. Khuri embodies those attributes.”

Dr. Khuri was born in Boston, Massachusetts and brought up in Beirut, where he attended AUB from 1981-82. He moved to the US in 1982, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Yale University, in New Haven, CT, and his MD from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, in New York, NY.

He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Boston City Hospital, Boston, MA, and his fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Tufts-New England Medical Center.

“President-elect Khuri is a highly accomplished educator and researcher and an articulate voice on the imperative of liberal arts education in the Arab world,” said Khoury. “Equally important, he is a person of profound personal integrity.”

Dr. Khuri has led the recruitment of over 90 faculty including 60 clinical investigators to Emory University, helping oversee an increase in adult cancer patients from 143 in 2002 to over 650 in 2014.

“It is a genuine honor and a privilege to have been selected to lead AUB into its 150th year,” said Dr. Khuri. “The legacy of this remarkable, world class institution is evident in the breadth and depth of contributions its faculty, students and alumni have made to every aspect of life in Lebanon, the region and the world.”

Incumbent President Peter Dorman, who announced his intention to resign in June of last year, will take a sabbatical with the intention to return to the AUB faculty in 2016.

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 News

Lebanese-American launches bid to replace resigned Illinois congressman

(PEORIA, IL) — Lebanese-American State Sen. Darin LaHood announced he would run for Congress in a seat vacated by embattled Republican Congressman Aaron Schock.

LaHood, 47, is the son of former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who represented the central and western Illinois district for 14 years.

“This is going to be a competitive race. I’m going to work really hard, and I’m going to leave no stone unturned,” Darin LaHood told WMBD-AM.

Schock announced on Tuesday he would resign at the end of this month, amid mounting allegations that he spent thousands of dollars in lavish office decorations and inappropriate travel reimbursements.

LaHood, a Republican, said he’s disappointed and surprised at Schock’s announcement.

“No one wants to see someone’s career end like that,” LaHood said.

LaHood spent nine years as a state and federal prosecutor before becoming a state senator in Peoria, Illinois.

Political strategists view LaHood as an early frontrunner in a congressional district considered “solid Republican.” He also has name recognition due to his father’s established political record in the area.

Ray LaHood served in Illinois’ 18th Congressional District from 1995 to 2009 before President Obama appointed him as Secretary of Transportation.

Darin LaHood, a Maronite Catholic, is married and has three children. He earned his law degree from John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

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 Lifestyle, TV

VIDEO: American urban cyclists navigate Beirut traffic

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Two American tourists explored Lebanon’s capital city on fixed gear bikes recently, navigating through thick Beirut traffic and touring the city’s juxtaposing ancient and modern cultures.

Nico Deportago-Cabrera of Chicago and Austin Horse of New York are bike messengers through Red Bull’s urban cycling endorsement program.

Bike messengers typically work for courier companies who carry and deliver items by bicycle. They’re often found in busy metropolitan areas, where bicycle travel is less subject to city traffic jams, parking limitations, and fees or fines.

Beirut narrow roads and chaotic drivers are often difficult to navigate on bikes. Deportago-Cabrera said he enjoyed the challenge.

“The streets are narrow and the lane markers are merely suggestions,” he said. “At times the gaps are too narrow for even a bike to transverse.”

WATCH the cyclists speed through Beirut’s thick traffic:

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 Success Stories

Michigan governor taps Lebanese-American to serve as state treasurer

(DETROIT, MI) — Michigan Governor Rick Snyder named Lebanese-American businessman Nick Khouri the new state treasurer, who will replace outgoing treasurer Kevin Clinton, according to Snyder’s press office.

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Nick Khouri.

“Nick’s expertise in tax policies and financial issues will be a great asset as we continue working to reinvent state government,” Snyder said. “His strong track record of proven service in both the private and public sectors will be essential in this critical state role.”

Khouri, 57, previously served as senior vice president of corporate affairs at DTE Energy in Detroit, where he oversaw governmental and regulatory relations and community affairs.

He also served as vice president of Public Sector Consultants, where he focused on public infrastructure and state and local tax policy. In the 1990s, Khouri was the state’s chief deputy treasurer and chief economist of the Senate Fiscal Agency.

State records show Khouri has been a registered lobbyist for DTE since 2012, which drew criticism from some Democrats.

“Putting a registered lobbyist in charge of all taxpayer dollars is no way to create public trust in government,” said Democratic Party Chairman Lon Johnson.

Khouri earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from University of Michigan and a master’s degree in economics from Michigan State University.

Khouri’s appointment is effective April 20. His annual salary will be $174,204, according to state records.

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 Business

ArabNet conference highlights creative arts in Beirut

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — ArabNet Beirut, Lebanon’s three-day festival of digital creativity, e-business, and entrepreneurship, is back for its 6th edition.

More than 80 elite speakers and 700 attendees will convene in Beirut on March 17-19 to share international and regional perspectives on e-commerce, digital media, and innovation.

ArabNet Beirut will tackle the growing role of banks in the entrepreneur ecosystem, including entrepreneurship opportunities in the MENA region.

It will also host seminars that will teach video production for the web, online customer service, fashion, and entertainment.

“Lebanon is a key regional hub for digital business and entrepreneurship,” said Omar Christidis, founder and CEO of ArabNet. “This is evident by the interest that major global companies have taken in investing and acquiring Lebanese web sites and apps.”

Christidis said the recent acquisition of Lebanese company Shahiya.com by a Japanese company for $13.5 million is a small example of the potential for digital entrepreneurship.

The conference is held in collaboration with the Central Bank of Lebanon, Choueiri Group, BankMed, and The Beirut Digital District.

Speakers include several Beirut-based digital entrepreneurs and e-commerce experts, including chief officers of Souq.com, the largest e-commerce site in the Arab world.

The ArabNet TechFair will see more than 40 companies and start-ups from Lebanon and the Levant region showcasing their investment offerings.

For more information about ArabNet Beirut, visit arabnet.me.

The ArabNet Beirut conference will attract 700 digital professionals and entrepreneurs for a three-day networking and e-learning event. (Photo by Natheer Halawani)
The ArabNet Beirut conference will attract 700 digital professionals and entrepreneurs for a three-day networking and e-learning event. (Photo by Natheer Halawani)
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 Business

9 Reasons to Invest in Lebanon

(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — At the heart of the Middle East and the crossroads of three continents, Lebanon is where the East meets the West.

A convergence point of trade routes for thousands of years and a unique cultural and religious melting pot, The Land of the Alphabet is rising again as a regional and international hub for trade, finance, services, culture, and tourism.

In addition to a free-market economy based on a long tradition of government-supported liberalism, a sophisticated banking system, a developed legal framework, a superbly skilled workforce, and an exceptional lifestyle, Lebanon offers a large number of investment opportunities in all sectors of the Lebanese national economy.

IDAL, the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon, is the sole public agency responsible for promoting investments in Lebanon, identifying and marketing opportunities, guiding international companies to establish prime business positions, and assisting investors in accessing a wealth of untapped economic potential.

Here are your top 9 reasons to invest in Lebanon:

1. Strategic Geographical Location

Lebanon’s location on the crossroads of three continents — Europe, Asia, and Africa – has long influenced the tiny Mediterranean country’s unique cultural and economic history. Drawing on unique interactions with Babylonians, Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, and Turks, Lebanese economic traditions have urbanized into a unique liberal position at the center of the Eastern Mediterranean.

2. Free Market Economy

Based on a long tradition of liberal investment policies, free enterprise and private initiative are the drivers of the Lebanese economy. Lebanon also boasts a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition.

3. Liberal Financial Environment

With a free foreign exchange market, full currency convertibility policies, and no restrictions on the inward or outward movement of capital, Lebanon has an ideal banking structure for conducting business in the MENA region.

4. Untapped Investment Opportunities

Lebanon offers investors a wide array of investment opportunities in all sectors of the economy, especially in tourism, agriculture, and energy. Furthermore, Lebanon represents a point of entry to a large regional market.

5. Moderate Tax Rates

With maximum tax rates of 15% for companies and 20% for individuals, Lebanon’s fiscal charges are among the most moderate worldwide.

6. Qualified and Competitive Workforce

Lebanon’s workforce is well educated and multi-talented. Skilled labor is widely available, yet at moderate fees. According to the World Bank, 70% of the population generates an annual income of less than USD 10,000.

7. New and Expanding Infrastructure

With state-of-the-art telecommunications, expanding port facilities, and an ambitious road rehabilitation program, Lebanon’s infrastructure is quickly becoming one of the best in the region. Poor mobile communication systems allow for economic possibilities to grow the emerging market.

8. Unique Living Environment

Thousands of years of history, optimal climatic conditions, a very rich culture, and a vibrant nightlife justify Lebanon’s “Pearl of the East” surname.

9. Facilities and services for Investors

The Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) is one of the most comprehensive programs in the MENA region which aim to retain investments in Lebanon. IDAL’s “One-Stop-Shop” Service offers investors a fast and seamless way to obtain the official permits and licenses needed to implement their projects.

For more information about investment opportunities in Lebanon, visit investinlebanon.gov.lb.

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 News

Shot sportscaster credits Lebanese-American trauma surgeon with recovery

(SAN DIEGO, CA) — A San Diego sports anchor who was shot outside of his home said he credits Lebanese-American trauma surgeon Dr. Fady Nasrallah with his miraculous recovery.

Kyle Kraska was shot on Feb. 10 by house painter Mike Montana over a financial disagreement over paint work on Kraska’s home. Montana is now charged with premeditated attempted murder and could face nearly 38 years to life in prison if convicted.

Kraska, an Emmy-award winning broadcaster with San Diego CBS affiliate KFMB-TV, spent over a month recovering from the shooting.

Prosecutors say the sportscaster was shot six times from several feet away, including twice in the upper body.

Kraska miraculously survived after undergoing several rounds of surgery under the leadership of Dr. Fady Nasrallah at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Calif.

Kraska returned to work this week and recognized Dr. Nasrallah for his “work ethic.”

“I just want you to know how much I love you, how much I loved your care, your thoughtfulness, your patience, your work ethic,” said Kraska in an on-air address to Dr. Nasrallah. “I love the fact that you stayed with me through the night, operating on me many times, and you refused to let me die.”

Dr. Nasrallah graduated from American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine in 2001, then completed a residency in General Surgery at Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, CT from 2003 to 2008.

Kraska adds that he’s thankful for Dr. Nasrallah’s dedication to his recovery.

“I’ll never be able to repay you and I’ll never be able to thank you enough times,” he said. “But I want you to know that you’re right here in my heart.”

WATCH Kraska’s thank you to Dr. Nasrallah:
CBS News 8 – San Diego, CA News Station – KFMB Channel 8

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 News

U.S. removes Hezbollah, Iran from terror threat list

(WASHINGTON, DC) — Hezbollah and Iran are no longer on the list of U.S. terror threats, according to an annual security assessment issued by James Clapper, director of the U.S. National Intelligence.

In a previous report from January 2014, the list included Iran and Hezbollah in the “Terrorism” section, citing “direct threats” to the interests of U.S. allies.

But this year, the assessment praised Iran and Hezbollah for its attempts to “dampen sectarianism” and “deescalate tensions with Saudi Arabia.”

The report adds that Hezbollah faces threats from ISIS and the al-Nusra Front along Lebanon’s borders.

In recent months, the U.S. sent military aid to the Lebanese Army to assist the country’s fight against ISIS in border towns. Hezbollah and the U.S. have since become de-facto allies with a common target to combat ISIS.

“Sunni extremists are trying to establish networks in Lebanon and have increased attacks against Lebanese army and Hezbollah positions along the Lebanese-Syrian border,” the report said.

The report, under the title the Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Communities, was released on February 26, 2015 to the U.S. Senate and was recently declassified by Times of Israel newspaper.

The U.S. policy change comes as the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany aim to outline a deal that would prevent Tehran from making a nuclear bomb.

The parties hope to reach a full accord by July 1.

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 City Beat, Detroit

Lebanese-American comedian ‘NEMR’ to visit Michigan, DC

(DETROIT, MI) — Lebanese-American comedian ‘NEMR’ will visit Detroit, Mich. and Washington, DC in April to appear in several comedy venues, including the Lebanese Collegiate Network student convention on April 10.

NEMR is credited with establishing English comedy skits in the Middle East and for advocating on behalf of Lebanese youth and encouraging them to stay in Lebanon.

He’s also an accomplished comic with six full feature specials and a prime-time television show called “A Stand Up Comedy Revolution.” He holds the record for biggest show in every major country in the Middle East, which sold out to 4,000 people in Beirut last July.

NEMR grew up in San Diego, California before moving back with his family to Lebanon where his career in comedy took off.

The comedian will appear at the Lebanese Collegiate Network Convention in Ann Arbor, Mich. on April 10, Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, Mich. on April 12, and the Howard Theatre in Washington, DC on April 16.

For tickets and information for the DC show, click here. For more information about the Royal Oak show, click here.

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