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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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 Food & Drink

Lebanese restaurant named among 38 best eateries in America

A Lebanese restaurant in Michigan has been named among the 38 best restaurants in America by the food network Eater.com.

For the third year in a row, Al Ameer Lebanese Restaurant in Dearborn, Michigan has been named among the best eateries in the nation.

Food critic Bill Addison traveled to 36 cities to come up with his list of America’s “essential” restaurants.

“Among Dearborn’s cache of Lebanese restaurants, this is the paragon,” Addison’s review said.

“Kahlil Ammar and Zaki Hashem’s family business includes an in-house butcher facility, so the unrivaled stuffed lamb (and also lamb liver, a traditional breakfast dish) exhibits exceptional freshness.”

Dearborn, a Detroit suburb, is home to one of the largest concentrations of Arabs outside of the Middle East. Al Ameer is one of several dozen Lebanese restaurants in the diverse city.

Al Ameer's famous stuffed lamb dish. (Eater/Bill Addison)
Al Ameer’s famous stuffed lamb dish. (Eater/Bill Addison)

In addition to the classic Lebanese favorites, Al Ameer is known for its house dishes like stuffed lamb, moujadara, grape leaves and the Al Ameer platter.

Al Ameer Restaurant is located at 12710 West Warren Avenue in Dearborn, Michigan. To visit their website, click here.

To view Addison’s full list of America’s 38 best restaurants, click here.

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 News

Lebanese American cop files lawsuit, claims he was called ‘Beirut Bomber’

A Lebanese American police officer has filed a lawsuit against the San Jose, California Police Department alleging racial discrimination, reported NBC Bay Area.

Officer Nabil Haidar, a Lebanese American and Muslim officer, said his fellow officers called him “Bin Laden,” “Taliban” and “Beirut Bomber” in the days and years following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Haidar hired a California law firm to represent him in his lawsuit against the city of San Jose, the police department and police chief. He also named five other officers.

NBC Bay Area reported that the alleged harassment “escalated to a new height” after the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 to begin the Iraq War.

The lawsuit claimed that police officers allegedly said, “You’re not gonna blow up are you?” Haidar claims his fellow officers imitated his accent while saying, “I’ll kill you all.”

Haidar moved to the U.S. in 1988 and earned a bachelor's degree in criminology. (Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli and Brewer)
Haidar moved to the U.S. in 1988 and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology. (Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli and Brewer)

Haidar’s attorney said he decided to pursue legal action after he was allegedly harassed by a police sergeant at a meeting recognizing veterans.

“Captain, you forgot to mention Nabil. He is an ISIS veteran,” the sergeant allegedly said. “He was with ISIS for two years.”

The San Jose-based Mercury News reported that the city had not yet received a copy of the complaint.

“However, based on the claim filed by Mr. Haidar with the State Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and our subsequent investigation, we have not seen a basis for liability against the City,” City Attorney Rick Doyle said.

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 City Beat

Lebanese film director Khalil Zaarour to appear at Michigan screening

Lebanese film director Khalil Zaarour is set to appear at a Michigan film screening of his 2017 drama “Nour,” which follows the story of a 15-year-old girl forced into marriage.

The Lebanese American Club of Michigan (LACOM) is hosting the screening Oct. 24 at the Landmark Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak, Mich., about 15 miles from Detroit.

The event begins at 7 p.m. with a meet-and-greet with Zaarour, who is traveling from Lebanon. Tickets are $15 per person.

According to its website, “Nour” features the story of a young girl forced to marry a boy she despises.

“Her carefree summer days morph into claustrophobic confinement and household chores,” the film’s synopsis said. “Nour mourns her lost childhood and scattered dreams. Easy summer days full of dreams, love and joy were the world of Nour and her group of friends who are torn apart by an event that changes Nour’s life forever.”

WATCH: Trailer for “NOUR” a film by Khalil Dreyfus Zaarour:

Zaarour is an award-winning writer and director known for his films, “Malaki” and “The Window,” which received the Best Film Award during the 13th European Film Festival.

Khalil Zaarour is an award-winning screenwriter and director. (Facebook/Nour)
Khalil Zaarour is an award-winning screenwriter and director. (Facebook/Nour)

For tickets to “Nour” in Royal Oak, Mich., click here. Zaarour is also appearing at a Washington, D.C. screening of the film, hosted by the LAU Alumni D.C. Chapter. Tickets to the D.C. event can be purchased here.

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 News

Lebanon opens first ‘blind-friendly’ supermarket in the Middle East

Marqet, the first blind-friendly supermarket in the Middle East opened Sept. 27 on Koraytem Main Road in Beirut, as part of a project launched by Lebanese non-profit Red Oak, a press release said.

According to a statement on the Red Oak website, this supermarket initiative coincides with their other recent projects aimed at bringing blind and visually-impaired persons to Lebanese museums.

The Youth Association of the Blind collaborated with Red Oak to train Marqet employees on how to support blind and visually-impaired shoppers during a two-day workshop, the release added.

Red Oak said employees at Marqet have been taught to support blind customers, walk them through the aisles, orientate them, showcase or describe products and help as they check out.

Marquet is Lebanon's first 'blind-friendly' supermarket. (Facebook/Red Oak)
Marquet is Lebanon’s first ‘blind-friendly’ supermarket. (Facebook/Red Oak)

According to Marqet’s website, it’s a one-stop shop for meats, fresh fruits, vegetables and many favorite brands like: La Boulangere Bio, Oslo, Royal Gourmet, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Qi juices, Cocoa & Co. and more.

“Smell the aromas of fresh bread baking in our bakery with its organic section, run your errands supported by our friendly staff, sip a cup of coffee and let our staff handle your order or call us from the comfort of your home and we will deliver,” the site said.

Marqet is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. everyday — including Sundays, delivery is available with no minimum order requirement and customers can find free parking.

For more information, visit: marqetlb.com or redoaklb.org.

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 Lifestyle

Forgotten luxury hotel from Ottoman Empire re-opens in Lebanon

A forgotten luxurious hotel built under Ottoman rule over 100 years ago, in the village of Sofar east of Beirut, officially reopened its doors to the public on Sept. 16 as it celebrated works honoring its past by British artist Tom Young, according to AFP.

AFP offered a look inside the grand space and spoke to Young about his exhibition paying homage to the hotel’s glamorous past, before the civil war forced the building’s doors closed.

“This place is just full of history… it was once one of the greatest hotels in the Middle East,” Young, a 45-year-old painter who has been living in Lebanon for a decade, told AFP.

A sneak peak inside the Grand Sofar Hotel before it opened for public viewing. (Facebook/Tom Young Art)
A sneak peak inside the Grand Sofar Hotel before it opened for public viewing. (Facebook/Tom Young Art)

“It was where kings and princesses and emirs and generals used to meet — also the most famous singers of the day.”

The paintings on display for Young’s exhibition showcase the exclusive parties of high society, lively dance scenes in the ballroom, card games played by the rich and powerful as well as historic political meetings — sometimes held in secrecy.

“Breezing through the Grand Hotel’s seventy five roomed corridors you can almost hear the secret deals being made between generals and ministers as celebrity love affairs nestled in the corners of the Monkey Bar,” Young wrote on his website.

The Grand Sofar Hotel is open to the public for a special art exhibition until Oct. 14. (Facebook/Tom Young Art)
The Grand Sofar Hotel is open to the public for a special art exhibition until Oct. 14. (Facebook/Tom Young Art)

Young’s show will run through Oct. 14, but programming at the Grand Sofar Hotel will also include: music, dance performances, kids workshops and art workshops.

The hotel and exhibition are featured in a video shared by Young on YouTube, take a look inside:

Throughout the exhibition, Young’s website says shuttles to the hotel are available every Saturday of the week from Beirut. Pick-up is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the return is set for 7 p.m.

For more information, visit tomyoung.com or email grandsofarhotel@gmail.com.

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 News

Former Lebanese president tweets, ‘Our hash is the best hash’

Former Lebanese President Michel Sleiman mocked Lebanon’s marijuana industry with a tweet, “Our hash is the best hash.”

Sleiman, who opposes the legalization of marijuana, said Lebanese citizens joked that Lebanese citizens should embrace the culture of marijuana.

“Wake up, Lebanese citizens. Accept the culture of hash. Our hash is the best hash,” he wrote on Twitter.

Lebanese government officials are exploring the potential economic value of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.

RELATED: LAU to study ‘potential medical value’ of marijuana in Lebanon

Minister of Economy and Trade Raed Khoury said marijuana, which is illegal in Lebanon, could diversify the economy and open new markets.

“The quality (of cannabis) we have is one of the best in the world,” Khoury told Bloomberg News, adding that marijuana could become a one-billion-dollar industry.

The Lebanese American University is studying the potential economic value of marijuana in Lebanon. (File photo)
The Lebanese American University is studying the potential economic value of marijuana in Lebanon. (File photo)

Meanwhile, Sleiman joins a growing list of Lebanese officials opposing the marijuana industry. He said Lebanon should look into other industries to grow its economy.

“Lebanon, a country which exported the alphabets, cannot find solutions for its economy other than exporting hash,” Sleiman questioned.

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