The Arab American News
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Saudi Arabia and Turkey destined to lose in Syria
Residents make repairs after an airstrike on the rebel held al-Fardous neighbourhood of Aleppo, Feb. 18The battle of Aleppo is upon us and the game is about to be over. Syria is at a historic crossroads. The Turkish-Saudi camp is nervous and angry at its inability to change the balance of power that was tilted by the Russian...How Antonin Scalia’s death reshapes the 2016 election
The U.S. Supreme Court is supposed to be the solution to gridlock. But as the death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia makes painfully apparent, gridlock is now overtaking the court. When the political system threatens to break down in gridlock — as it did during the recount following the 2000 presidential election — the Supreme...Black History Month: An opportunity to strengthen ties that bind us
As we approach the end of Black History Month, we reaffirm our appreciation of the African American experience. African Americans have driven the evolution of civil rights in this nation, edging the United States closer to its promise of freedom and justice for all. They paved the way for fellow people of color and other ethnic groups...‘Game-changing’ mortgage program aims to increase Detroit homeownership
Mayor Mike Duggan. DETROIT — Mayor Mike Duggan announced a new "game-changing" initiative Thursday morning to assist new and existing homeowners who receive low mortgages because of depreciated appraisal values. Homeowners and prospective home buyers who could not previously borrow money from a bank to repair or buy a house in...Sanders gets endorsement from first Muslim congressman
MINNESOTA — After defending Democratic presidential hopeful Barnie Sanders on several occasions, Representative Keith Ellison, the first Muslim Congressman, has endorsed the Vermont senator for the 2016 presidential race. "This is not a ‘no you can’t’ campaign. This is not a diminish your dreams kind of campaign. This is a...Pope says Trump ‘not Christian’, Trump calls comment ‘disgraceful’
NEWBERRY, S.C. — Pope Francis assailed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's views on U.S. immigration as "not Christian" on Thursday, prompting the billionaire businessman to reprimand the religious leader as "disgraceful" for questioning his faith.No stranger to controversy, Trump, the longtime party front-runner in...March 1 is the deadline for Yemenis to apply for TPS
The deadline for eligible nationals of Yemen (and people without nationality who last habitually resided in Yemen) to register for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is Tuesday, March 1. The TPS designation for Yemen runs from September 3, 2015 through March 3, 2017. Yemen was designated for TPS because of the ongoing armed conflict in...
DHS adds Yemen, Libya and Somalia to Visa Waiver Program restrictions
February 19th, 20160 WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it is continuing its implementation of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 with the addition of Libya, Somalia, and Yemen as three countries of concern, limiting Visa Waiver Program travel for certain individuals...The Weeknd’s six degrees of Arab connections
The Weeknd with Palestinian American girlfriend Bella Hadid. LOS ANGELES — R&B singer The Weeknd must love Arabs. He is currently dating a Palestinian American. He is managed by two Middle Eastern men and is currently featured on a song with a Canadian Palestinian rapper. The "Earned It" singer is no longer being private...Iraq sentences 40 ISIS militants to death
BAGHDAD — An Iraqi court sentenced 40 captured members of ISIS to death on Thursday for the killing of hundreds of soldiers after their capture by the terrorist group as it swept across northern Iraq in 2014, a judicial spokesman said. The slaughter of 1,700 soldiers after they fled from an ex-U.S. army base outside the northern...
Islamophobia and hate groups rise at alarming rate
February 18th, 20160 MONTGOMERY, ALA. — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has released its annual Year in Hate report and the data depicts a country with extraordinary political and racial tensions. Established in 1971 to make promise of the newly re-enacted civil rights laws, the SPLC’s strategy is to fight hate, teach tolerance and seek...U.S. Rights groups sue over ‘Muslim-free’ Oklahoma gun range
OKLAHOMA CITY - Two U.S. activists groups filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday against a rural Oklahoma gun range, arguing that it violated U.S. civil rights laws by posting a sign that said the business was "Muslim free" and barring a Muslim from shooting there.The lawsuit by the Council on American-Islamic...Turkey blames Kurdish militants for Ankara bomb
Turkish officials at a ceremony of a soldier killed in clashes with Kurdish militants, Ankara, Feb. 18.ANKARA — Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu blamed a Syrian Kurdish militia fighter working with Kurdish militants inside Turkey for a suicide car bombing that killed 28 people in the capital Ankara; and he vowed retaliation in...U.N. aims to air drop food to ISIS-besieged city in eastern Syria
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations plans to make its first air drops of food aid in Syria, to Deir al-Zor, an eastern town of 200,000 besieged by ISIS militants, the chair of a U.N. humanitarian task force said on Thursday. U.N. aid agencies do not have direct access to areas held by ISIS, including Deir al-Zor, where civilians face...Mona Hammoud appointed to Wayne County Ethics Board
Mona HammoudDEARBORN — Mona Hammoud, of Dearborn, has been appointed to the Wayne County Ethics Board by the Wayne County Commission.Commission Chairman Gary Woronchak, D-Dearborn, nominated Hammoud for the appointment, which was approved by the Commission at its Feb. 18 meeting.Hammoud is a vice president for PNC bank, where she has......
Hezbollah chief threatens to bomb Israeli gas facilities if Beirut is attacked
BEIRUT — Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah threatened to attack Israeli gas facilities if Israel targets Beirut. Nasrallah said Tuesday that his group would bombard the Israeli coastal city of Haifa if a future confrontation escalates. "Israel knows Hezbollah has missiles and rockets that can strike anywhere in its...Trump: I’ll be neutral on Palestinian-Israeli conflict
WASHINGTON - Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he'll give solving the conflict between Israel and Palestine "one hell of a shot." During an MSNBC town hall, the Republican presidential candidate said that he had some doubt that he could settle the complex, decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. But he said that he......
Ted Cruz would declare Jerusalem ‘eternal capital of Israel’ first day in office
Washington- While his opponent Donald Trump said he would take a neutral stance on the Palestine-Israeli conflict, Republican Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz only recognizes one side. On Cruz’s website, one of nine main platform issues is ‘Stand with Israel," where he says on the first day of office, his administration would...Crestwood School District placing $35 million bond proposal on ballot
DEARBORN HEIGHTS ― The Crestwood School District Board of Education has approved a resolution to place a bond proposal of $35 million on the May 3 ballot.The bond seeks to upgrade technology in classrooms, building infrastructure, safety and security in all schools within the Crestwood School District and is expected to...Legendary journalist and historian Heikal dies at 92
Mohamed Hassanein HeikalCAIRO — Mohamed Hassanein Heikal, the Arab world's best known political commentator, died on Wednesday at age 92, Egyptian state television reported.The leading Egyptian journalist rose to prominence as editor in chief of Egypt's Al-Ahram, widely regarded as the newspaper of record in the Arab world during his...Apple opposes order to help FBI unlock San Bernardino shooter’s I-phone
CALIFORNIA - In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a U.S. magistrate has ordered Apple to assist the government in unlocking the iPhone of San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook. The FBI is seeking information that may be on Farook's employer-issued phone as it investigates the Dec. 2 shootings that left 14 people dead. At the time......
Radioactive material stolen in Iraq raises security fears
A sign indicating radioactive material is shown in Anaheim, California, 2011.BAGHDAD — Iraq is searching for "highly dangerous" radioactive material stolen last year, according to an environment ministry document and seven security, environmental and provincial officials who fear it could be used as a weapon if acquired by ISIS.The...
Sanders woos Arab Americans during Dearborn visit
February 17th, 20160 Local Arab Americans pose with Sanders at the Dearborn UAW.DEARBORN – “When he talks about shutting the door of America to Muslims, all he’s talking about is scapegoating minorities,” Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders told a diverse crowd of local residents at the UAW Local 600 hall in Dearborn. “We will not......
Attorney: FBI seduced, manipulated man accused of supporting ISIS
February 17th, 20160 Khalil Abu-RayyanDETROIT — The Dearborn Heights man accused of supporting ISIS and planning an attack on a church was seduced and manipulated by an FBI agent, his attorney said. At a detention hearing on Tuesday afternoon, Todd Shanker, the court-appointed attorney of 21-year-old Khalil Abu-Rayyan, argued that his client is not a...Dearborn Police arrest garage bandit
Dearborn - In the early morning hours of February 11th, 2016, Dearborn Police Officers responded to the 24000 block of Boston in regards to a male who had been found inside the residence garage and scared off by the family dog. Officers obtained a description of the suspect from the homeowner and spread out in......