The Arab American News
Author's Posts
We will stick by our principles and keep our promises
December 25th, 20140 Thinking is never wrong. Questioning is never offensive. Last week, our editorial "Questioning the wisdom behind Ashura procession" unfairly sparked outrageous, offended and offensive comments. Unlike what an attention-seeking gossip Facebook page claimed, our editorial did not call for an end to Ashura processions. The article...Palestinian “Santas” protest in Bethlehem
Palestinian protesters wearing Santa Claus costumes scuffle with Israeli soldiers during clashes at Bethlehem checkpoint, West Bank.BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Palestinian protesters festively dressed as Santa Claus marched Tuesday in Bethlehem, a day before the beginning of Christmas celebrations in the West Bank city revered as the...“Islamic State” captures Jordanian pilot in Syria
"Islamic State" extremists with the Jordanian pilot, in Raqqa, Syria, Dec. 24.AMMAN — "Islamic State" militants took a Jordanian pilot prisoner after his warplane came down in northeast Syria on Wednesday, the first captive taken from the U.S.-led coalition battling the jihadi group. Jordan's armed forces said one of its pilots had...Qatar and Egypt discuss reconciliation
CAIRO — Egyptian and Qatari intelligence officials have met in Cairo to discuss reconciliation as part of Saudi-brokered efforts to end an 18-month standoff over Doha's support of the Muslim Brotherhood, security and diplomatic sources said. The sources said Qatar's intelligence chief — Ahmed Nasser Bin Jassim al-Thani — was...Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef fined $6.5 million
CAIRO — A prominent Egyptian satirist has been fined millions of dollars over a dispute with a television channel which suspended his show after it lampooned military leaders, officials said Tuesday. Bassem Youssef, often compared to U.S. satirist Jon Stewart, moved al-Bernameg (The Program) to Saudi-owned channel MBC last year after...Veteran secularist Essebsi wins Tunisia’s first free presidential vote
TUNIS — Veteran Tunisian politician Beji Caid Essebsi won the country's first free presidential election in the final step of a transition to democracy after an uprising that ousted autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. Essebsi, a former Ben Ali official, beat rival Moncef Marzouki with 55.68 percent of the vote against 44.32...Lebanese PM calls rivals to elect president
BEIRUT — Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam called Wednesday on rivals Hezbollah and the Future Movement to facilitate the election of a new president. Speaking following a meeting with Patriarch Beshara Rai at the seat of the Maronite Church in Bkirki, Salam said he hoped that the Hezbollah-Future dialogue, which kicked off Tuesday...Suicide bomber kills 33 anti-“Islamic State” fighters
BAGHDAD — A suicide bomber attacked fighters opposed to the "Islamic State" as they gathered Wednesday to receive salaries south of Baghdad, killing at least 33 people and wounding 55 others, Iraqi police and medical officials said. "The attacker was wearing an Iraqi army uniform, and an explosive vest packed with ball bearings," a...Of $5.4 billion pledged for Gaza, only a fraction delivered
GAZA — Two months after donors pledged $5.4 billion to help rebuild Gaza after the war between Israel and Hamas, Palestinian, U.N. and other officials say barely 2 percent of the money has been transferred. The conference in Cairo had been hailed as a success, with Qatar promising $1 billion, Saudi Arabia $500 million and the United...
New Zaman International center to offer multiple services to needy families
December 19th, 20140 Najah Bazzy, Zaman International president, inside the organization's new centerINKSTER — When Najah Bazzy, a transcultural nurse specialist, visited a refugee family with a terminally ill child in 1996, there was no furniture whatsoever in the house. The baby was lying in a laundry basket atop folded white towels. The...
Residents furious over FEMA rejections
December 19th, 20140 Many households in east Dearborn are claiming they were denied by FEMA, despite severe flooding in their basements.DEARBORN — Residents are left scrambling following the announcement last week that the city would not be held financially liable for the August 11 flood that impacted more than 10,000 homes. Despite the city's...Sony cancels film release date following cyber terrorist threats linked to North Korea
LOS ANGELES — Sony Pictures has canceled the release of a comedy on the fictional assassination of North Korea's leader, in what appears to be an unprecedented victory for Pyongyang and its abilities to wage cyber-warfare. Hackers who said they were incensed by the film attacked Sony Corp last month, leaking documents that...Michigan film incentive positively impacts Arab actors and minority filmmakers
"Home Again," shot in Pontiac this month, involved a diverse group of local actors and producers. DETROIT — Filmmakers have been increasingly capturing Michigan’s unique ambiance with the help of a diverse group of locals— both in front of and behind the camera— since the state approved a film incentive in 2008. Michigan’s...
Dearborn Transit Center dedicated to John Dingell during grand opening ceremony
December 19th, 20140 An old-fashioned locomotive is one of the items on display in the John H. Dingell Transit Center. Photo: Patrick KeatingDEARBORN — On Monday, Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. welcomed dozens of federal, state and local elected officials for the grand opening ceremony at Dearborn’s intermodal passenger rail station,...
State Rep. John Olumba makes racist and ignorant remarks about Chaldeans and Asians
December 19th, 20140 LANSING — While delivering his farewell speech on the house floor Thursday, Dec. 11, State Rep. John Olumba made racist and ignorant remarks about Chaldeans. “Asians and Chaldeans should have a Black misery appreciation day, selling fake hair and looseys to people just looking for fresh air and making a fortune doing......
Environmental groups urge defeat of bill defining burning tires as renewable energy
December 19th, 20140 LANSING — On Monday, environmental groups called on the Michigan Senate to defeat House Bill 5205, which redefines renewable energy to include burning hazardous waste, tires and railroad ties. The bill passed the House on Dec. 4 and was referred to the Senate Energy and Technology Committee on Dec. 9. “Michigan’s actual...
Probe into Wayne County corruption expected to end early 2015
December 19th, 20140 Ficano. DETROIT — The probe into corruption in Wayne County government is expected to come to an end early next year. Federal prosecutors are close to announcing whether Wayne County CEO Robert Ficano will be criminally charged. The corruption probe was launched in 2011 and has resulted in the convictions of four former Ficano aides...
More than $75 million in federal funding will be divided among 12 cities
December 19th, 20140 DETROIT — Twelve cities— including Detroit— will share more than $75 million in federal funding to combat blight and continue driving Michigan’s economic revitalization. The program, proposed by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), is funded under the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Hardest Hit Fund...
U.S., Cuba restore ties after 50 years
December 19th, 20140 WASHINGTON — The U.S. and Cuba agreed on Wednesday to restore diplomatic ties that Washington severed more than 50 years ago, and President Obama called for an end to the long economic embargo against its old Cold War enemy. After 18 months of secret talks, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed in a phone call on Tuesday on a......
Arab Americans take action for U.S. census recognition
WASHINGTON — Every 10 years, we ask you to stand up and be counted on the Census. And every year, we struggle with the fact that there is no category on the Census that makes sense for Arab Americans. For the first time ever, we are close to securing just that – an accurate count of our community. There is currently no category...Fighting terror with terror is futile
The 528-page Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture may come as a shock to many, but would not have surprised the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY). In 1991 and again in 1995, fed up with his dealings with this agency, he introduced a bill for its abolition. Too much secrecy that amounted to a blanket......
Questioning the wisdom behind Ashura processions
December 19th, 20140 The Arbaeen march at Ford Woods park in Dearborn.The local Shi'a have been commemorating Ashura increasingly and more visibly each year. Last weekend about 6,000 people marched from the Karbala center in Warrendale to Ford Woods Park in Dearborn to mark the Arbaeen, the 40th day after the death of Imam Hussain. Ashura is a grand...Saudi Arabia will not reduce oil output despite plunging prices
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia, the largest producer in the OPEC oil cartel, cannot reduce its output, the kingdom's oil minister said on Thursday despite plunging prices. Ali al-Nuaimi added that commodity price fluctuations are to be expected, and he expressed optimism for the future despite crude's price drop of about 50 percent since......
