Russia to West: Assad’s fate is for Syrians to decide
June 22nd, 20120 Britain and U.S. offer Assad clemency and a seat at a UN-sponsored conference on a power transfer The new Western tactic to creating an end to violence in Syria is, yet again, centered on ousting President Bashar al-Assad. Britain and the U.S. are ready to offer Assad clemency should he join a UN-sponsored conference on a power...AAPAC endorsements: A powerful force in local elections
June 22nd, 20120 Gearing up for the August 7 Primary DEARBORN - It's uncertain whether anyone has won an election solely based off of receiving an endorsement from the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC), but the group certainly has had a history of influence in local elections during the last 14 years of its existence. It is a...Showdown looming between Brotherhood and military in Egypt
A banner with a picture of presidential candidate Mohamed Morsy is seen at a makeshift sleeping area used by protesters during a sit-in at Tahrir Square in Cairo June 21, 2012. The Muslim Brotherhood called for a sit-in at Tahrir Square and other squares across the country to step up pressure against the military council as Egyptians...Poll: Obama takes four point lead over Romney
According to a new poll conducted by JZ Analytics over the past weekend U.S. President Barack Obama had a four point lead over Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The poll was conducted June 15-18 among 1149 likely voters. The new poll maintains the gender gap, with Obama continuing his 13 point lead among women...Proposals may endanger voter access
Earlier this week, the House passed a series of bills many say will limit people's access to vote in Michigan. According to opponents of the proposals, Senate Bills 751, 754 and 803 create unnecessary requirements that do nothing to promote fair and safe elections and create unreasonable and burdensome requirements on organizations that...Hundreds petition Saudi King over women’s right to drive
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Following the one year anniversary of the Women2Drive campaign Saudi King Abdullah is being urged to give women the right to drive. Hundreds of people have petitioned Abdullah. The campaign was initially launched June 2011. About 600 signatures were received. According to reports Saudi Arabia is the only...Russia-America tussle over Syria evokes Cold War
June 15th, 20120 The world could slip back into a Cold War over Syria and the sprawling Arab country could break up into two or three warring parts, with unforeseeable consequences for the Middle East, a senior Israeli military commander said."Support for (Syrian President Bashar) Assad from Russia and China is taking us back to the Cold War," he said...Mursi vs. Shafiq, stark contrast in Egypt’s elections
In the first round of elections Egyptians expressed their priorities, but in the runoff round they will express their fears.It was an achievement for Egypt to conduct a democratic presidential election last month. This weekend Egyptians will choose between two ideologically contrasting, authoritarian figures in a decisive second round of...First major victory: Yemen army retakes two Qaeda strongholds
SANA - Yemen's army seized the Al-Qaeda strongholds of Jaar and Zinjibar on Tuesday, officials said, more than a year after the jihadists captured most of the Abyan province. emen's Defence Minister Mohammed Nasser Ahmed (R) shakes hands with army soldiers during a visit to the southern city of Zinjibar June 13, 2012, one day after the...New poll reveals Michigan could be a swing state in Presidential election
June 15th, 20120 DETROIT - Earlier this month the Arab American News reported that Mitt Romney was leading the polls against Barack Obama in Michigan for the presidential race in November. However a new poll conducted through an automated phone survey by Foster McCollum White & Associates and Baydoun Consulting found that Barack Obama was still...Tahrir Square: Round two
CAIRO — The long-awaited verdict in Egypt's "trial of the century"— a life sentence for ousted president Hosni Mubarak and acquittals for most other defendants — has brought the people back to Cairo's Tahrir Square. The controversial court rulings come at a time of extraordinary domestic political upheaval, with Egypt's...Grim outlook for Syria as international rift is widened
June 8th, 20120 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said unarmed UN monitors came under fire Thursday as they tried to reach the scene of the latest Syrian mass killing. Opposition claims government forces killed nearly 80 people, including women and children who were shot, hacked to death and burned in their homes. A boy holds a toy gun in Homs. ...Tens of thousands in Abyan need urgent help
In recent days, fierce fighting, sometimes involving air strikes, has led to a severe deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Abyan governorate, southern Yemen, and hampered the ability of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver urgently needed assistance. A woman holds her malnourished child at a...State board keeps Salamey on ballot after examining Abbatt’s challenges
June 8th, 20120 DEARBORN — The race for 19th District court judge in Dearborn took a turn this week when the Board of Canvassers in Lansing dismissed enough of candidate Candyce Abbatt's challenges against opponent Sam Salamey, which will now allow him to stay on the ballot. The meeting, held on Wednesday, ended with a 4-0 unanimous decision by the...State Rep. Santana seeks reelection, promises passion in public service
June 8th, 20120 In many ways, Democratic State Rep. Harvey Santana who represents Michigan's 10th House District is not your typical politician. The duties he performs on a daily basis aren't generally what most people serving on the state legislature find themselves doing. Representative Harvey Santana-D, Detroit, appearing on Off the Record......
Romney leads in Michigan according to new poll
June 7th, 20120 LANSING — A new poll released by Epic-MRA, based in Lansing has found that Mitt Romney is leading Michigan for the Presidential race against Barack Obama. According to the poll, Romney leads Obmama 46-45 percent respectively. In April, that same poll had Obama leading 47-43 percent. The poll demonstrates that middle class tax...Calls for jihad split Salafist movement
AMMAN — The Arab Spring brought a host of new actors to the political stage. In Jordan, it pushed the Salafists to the fore, where some of the group's more radical elements are now calling for holy war in neighboring Syria.The Jordanian regime is growing increasingly concerned about the possible spillover effects of violence in Syria,...Diane Webb receives support of community leaders in re-election campaign
Wayne County Commissioner Diane Webb, who has officially launched her re-election campaign to continue representing the citizens of Dearborn Heights and Redford Township on the Wayne County Commission, has received the endorsements of the chief elected officials in both communities. Webb is being challenged by Democratic State...Nine years after Saddam’s fall: Human rights in Iraq still face ‘serious problems’
BAGHDAD — Iraq still has "serious problems" in terms of human rights and the situation remains fragile, despite authorities voicing support for addressing shortcomings, a UN report released on Wednesday said. The document expressed concern over the still-high level of civilian casualties, arbitrary arrests and prolonged detentions,......
Egypt: Brotherhood marches on toward presidency
CAIRO - Results of the first post-Mubarak presidential election last week have left most Egyptians stunned, with Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi coming in first and Ahmed Shafiq - ousted president Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister - coming in a close second. The two are now slated to face off in a hotly-contested runoff vote...Houla Massacre deepens Syrian crisis, diplomatic divisions
June 1st, 20120 Europe talks of intervention while Russia and China firmly oppose itKillings ignite diplomatic frenzy against Syrian government A mass burial for the victims took place in Houla.UN monitors in Syria have confirmed that a horrific massacre in the village of Houla has left at least 116 people dead and 300 more injured, including......
Abbatt claims challenges filed are “normal election procedures;” Salamey campaign believes they exhibit “prejudicial overtones”
DEARBORN — 19th District Court judge candidate Candyce Abbatt has issued a response to the media in regards to the challenges she filed against her opponent Sam Salamey in the race for court judge this November, deeming that more than half of the nominating petitions signatures to run for city judge should not qualify. If her...Former Michigan governor says voter ID laws are “un-American”
A new proposed voting law is upsetting many Michigan residents. Under its provisions potential Michigan voters are required to present a government issued photo ID or birth certificate in the process of registering. The law would also increase monitoring of third party registration organizations. Former Michigan Governor Jennifer......