The Arab American News
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Bandar, ‘Prince of Jihad’: Expect a Syrian shift in power
August 9th, 20130 In theory, Syrian opposition fighters now have one single commander: Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan. The man, who had a failed military adventure in Beirut, is vying today to alter the balance of power in Syria. But his foes say they will not let him win this time either.Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi intelligence chief, is no ordinary...CIA deputy director: Al-Qaeda replacing Assad is the biggest threat to U.S.
Washington — The second-in-command of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) says that the toppling of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria is the largest threat to United States national security and may help Al-Qaeda acquire chemical weapons.Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell said the prospect of the...Israeli soldiers set Lebanese forest on fire after four soldiers injured by landmine
Israeli forces set fire to woodlands in South Lebanon near the border, the Lebanese National News Agency reported, on Wednesday, August 7.Civil defense and Lebanese army units were working on extinguishing the fire in Houla, the NNA added.The blaze was started after four Israeli soldiers were injured by a landmine after having crossed...Syrian rebels claim attack on Assad convoy, government denies report
Syrian rebels said on Thursday, Aug. 8, they had targeted President Bashar al-Assad's motorcade heading to a Damascus mosque to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, but state television showed him unharmed and the government denied he had been attacked.The Tahrir al-Sham rebel brigade, a unit of the Free Syrian Army, said it fired...Israel to expand West Bank settlements
Israel has given preliminary approval for the construction of more than 800 new homes in Jewish settlements on the occupied West Bank, an Israeli official has said.Guy Inbar, the spokesman for Israel's military-run Civil Administration in the West Bank, said on Thursday, Aug. 8, that initial plans to build 800 new settler homes were...Obama cancels meeting with Putin over Snowden
Washington — President Barack Obama has canceled a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow which was scheduled for September. The move comes after Russia’s recent decision to grant temporary asylum to NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.The U.S. decision is seemingly a diplomatic snub to Russia amid heightened tensions...
Municipal primary election results
August 9th, 20130 Tuesday’s Aug. 6 Primary Election results from races in the cities of Detroit, Hamtramck and Dearborn are listed below. Arab Americans claimed victories in major races. Yemeni American Hamtramck Mayoral Candidate Dr. Abdul Algazali managed to beat the City’s current mayor, Karen Majewski, and first time Dearborn City Council...1.8 million to face cuts in food assistance this fall in Michigan
MICHIGAN — In Michigan, 1.8 million people will see a cut in their food assistance benefits this fall, when a temporary boost to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps — is set to expire, according to a new report from the Washington, D.C.-based Center on Budget and Policy...National group hosts Dearborn iftar with Syrian Ambassador to UN, religious and community leaders
DEARBORN — More than 400 Arab Americans gathered here Friday, Aug. 2 at Greenfield Manor, where Dr. Bashar Al-Jaafari, Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations and Archbishop Louka Al-Khour, deputy patriarch of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, spoke at an Iftar dinner. Those who attended the event are supporters of...Syria’s ambassador to UN discusses opposition, Geneva II and future of Syria
Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, said that the Syrian crisis will be solved at the right moment, when the internal, regional and international dimensions of the war positively overlap.He added that such a solution is not simple and involves aspects that the Syrian government cannot control on its own. "We...
Vacant stores in west Dearborn: A challenge for City, business owners
August 9th, 20130 Dearborn is the birthplace of Henry Ford, an American symbol of innovation and prosperity. The City is also home to the Greenfield Village, Ford Motor Company’s world headquarters and dozens of other cultural, dining and commercial attractions. However, the City’s west side downtown area does not seem to be in the best possible...Lansing woman buys explosive device from garage sale
LANSING — A woman unknowingly purchased an explosive device at a Lansing area garage sale on Sunday, Aug. 4. According to a WXLI- TV report, the Michigan State Police bomb squad successfully defused the bomb, after responding to a call from the woman's house. No injuries were reported.The woman says that she had visited...Head of Detroit FBI steps down, makes tough career choice for family
Detroit--Detroit FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Foley announced this week that he is leaving the City, after less than a year on the job, for personal reasons.Foley has decided to step down to dedicate more time to his family. His decision was made after a family member developed a health problem, during his tenure in Detroit....“Transformer 4” filming in Detroit
DETROIT — The Rosa Parks Transit Center in downtown Detroit was transformed into a movie set this week, as filming commenced in the City on Sunday, Aug. 4 for the "Transformers 4" movie. The bus station and surrounding streets were shut down on Sunday at 5 a.m. and reopened on Monday at 4 a.m. The Detroit Department of...Orr hires auction firm to value DIA art
DETROIT — Emergency Manager Kevin Orr has hired Christie’s Appraisals, a New York-based international auction house, to appraise the City-owned collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Orr said, in a statement on Monday, August 5, that the City's plan has never been to sell art, but the City must know the current value of......
Cancer doctor accused of misdiagnosing patients to enrich himself
ROCHESTER HILLS —A physician is accused of misdiagnosing patients with cancer and making them undergo chemotherapy deliberately to enrich himself. Dr. Farid Fata was arrested Tuesday morning at his Rochester Hills practice by federal agents. He appeared in court Thursday, and faced Judge David Grant who set the conditions of...Duggan surprise victory intensifies Detroit Mayoral race
DETROIT — After a long and challenging start to his campaign, Mike Duggan was finally able to celebrate a victory, after the Primary results came in for the Detroit mayoral race this week.As a write-in candidate, Duggan received the most votes in the Primary, more than any candidate on the ballot, including Wayne County Sheriff Benny...Law Corner: Injured employees usually cannot sue their employer
Michigan, like many states, utilizes a workers’ compensation system to provide for medical care and lost wages for employees who are injured on the job. Under the workers’ compensation system, most employers are required to obtain workers’ compensation insurance. In the event that an employee is injured, or becomes ill...Local men charged with running drug ring
DEARBORN — Six Arab Americans from Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Detroit, were arrested on Friday, August 2 and indicted on federal charges of running a drug ring in a Detroit neighborhood. Mohamed Faraj, 29, and Fouad Faraj, 43, of Dearborn Heights, are accused of leading the ring that allegedly distributed marijuana and......
Ficano initiative aims to generate revenues for financially distressed municipalities
WAYNE COUNTY — An initiative launched by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano is continuing to bring municipal leaders from across the County together to engage in important conversations about generating different streams of revenue for communities that have been struggling financially as a result of the 2008 housing...Report: Russia refuses a lucrative Saudi arms deal in exchange for dropping Assad
Moscow— Saudi Arabia has reportedly offered to buy arms worth up to $15 billion from Russia, and provided a raft of economic and political concessions to the Kremlin, in a bid to weaken Moscow’s support to Syrian President Bashar Assad. Russia refused the offer, according to Arab diplomats.The diplomatic initiatives were anonymously......
Poetry Corner: I do not know the stranger
Mahmoud DarwishAs a part of its continuing effort to share a portion of the literary wealth of Arabic poetry with the English reader, The Arab American News translates a poem by the legendary Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. I do not know the strangerI do not know the stranger, nor his accomplishments...I saw a funeral, so I...Did you know? Yogurt is a nutrient-rich food choice for your diet
Today’s dietary guidelines recommend that Americans consume more nutrient-rich foods that are low in sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol. Yet, few are meeting these goals. Unfortunately, roughly three-fourths of Americans need to improve their diets, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Healthy Eating......
