The Arab American News
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Taliban prisoner swap raises questions over Qatar’s role
WASHINGTON — After playing a critical role in the prisoner swap that freed the last American soldier held captive in Afghanistan, Qatar faces new scrutiny by the United States over whether it will enforce restrictions on five released Taliban fighters.Concerns have been expressed by U.S. intelligence officials and Congressional...vBlue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan recognized for excellence in diversity management for fourth consecutive year
DETROIT – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is once again the only company in the state to receive top regional honors on DiversityInc’s Top 10 Regional Companies list for diversity management. For the fourth consecutive year, the Blues edged out over a thousand companies for a spot on the coveted list, which recognizes...Henry Ford College Democracy Institute co-hosts candidates’ forum for Wayne County Executive June 12
DEARBORN — Henry Ford College (HFC) and all three League of Women Voters (LWV) chapters in Wayne County will host a candidates forum for the 14 candidates running for Wayne County Executive on Thursday, June 12. This forum will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Forfa Auditorium, located in the Andrew A. Mazzara Administrative Services and...Dearborn Police continue to see IRS scam related incidents
DEARBORN — The Dearborn Police Department has seen a drastic increase in fraudulent IRS related incidents and would like to caution residents who may be purchasing a Green Dot, or other prepaid debit card, under threat of prosecution for tax issues. Multiple incidents have been reported in which victims received phone calls from...$195 million Detroit aide package approved by state senate
LANSING — On Tuesday, the Michigan Senate passed a package of bills that includes state money to aid Detroit retirees, a key element in the city's plan to adjust its debt and exit the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.The action by the republican-controlled Senate sends the nine bills to Gov. Snyder, who has pushed lawmakers...
State awards new Detroit grocery store $830,000
June 6th, 20140 DETROIT— Parkway Foods, one of the city’s newest grocery stores, was recently awarded an $830,000 grant from the state. Michael Finney, president and CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, said the grant will help bring even more healthy and fresh food offerings to Detroit.A total of $1.2 million in grants and...Saving ADC Michigan from Collapse in 2013?
I read with dismay in The Arab American News' issue number 1476 a question your reporter Ali Harb posed in an interview with ADC Michigan Director Fatina Abdrabboh, to which she answered with even more disturbing and misleading content. "How did you deal with ADC-Michigan staff who are close to your predecessor?" Harb asked...
Israel in political isolation over new Palestinian government
June 6th, 20140 UNITED NATIONS — The United States’ decision to “work with" the new Palestinian government has virtually isolated Israel: the only country so far to have publicly rejected the political alliance between Fatah and Hamas.“Not a single nation has heeded Israel’s futile call to boycott the new unity government," said Riyad...World Cup: Sunday Times report alleges $5 million in Qatari payoffs and FIFA VP calls for potential 2022 re-vote
Another day and another report about the alleged corruption that led to Qatar winning the bid to host the 2022 World Cup over the United States. But the one that emerged on Sunday is different. English outlet The Sunday Times published a detailed report titled "Plot to Buy the World Cup" which tracks a sum...Stressful relationships may raise risk of death
NEW YORK — Worries, conflicts and demands in relationships with friends, family and neighbors may contribute to an earlier death, suggests a new Danish study.“Conflicts, especially, were associated with higher mortality risk regardless of whom was the source of the conflict,” the authors write. “Worries and demands were...Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan marks 10 years of grants to strengthen safety net programs
DETROIT — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan continues its efforts in supporting free health clinics throughout the state of Michigan by announcing the opening of its 2014 grant funding program. Through its Strengthening the Safety Net grant program, free clinics through Michigan are encouraged to apply for a grant of up to $15,000...
Anti-Muslim pastor plans a return to Dearborn with gang of motorcyclists
May 30th, 20140 Jones.DEARBORN — Qur’an-burning Florida pastor Terry Jones announced that he will be returning to the city on June 14, but this time he's bringing a gang of motorcyclists with him.Stand Up America Now, an anti-Islamic group led by Jones that has protested in front of the Islamic Center of America (ICA) and at Edsel Ford High School...
Thousands attend Muslim conference in Dearborn
May 30th, 20140 DEARBORN — Thousands of visitors from around the country attended the 12th Annual Conference of the Holy Prophet Muhammad at the Adoba Hotel over the Memorial Day weekend. Hosted by the Universal Muslim Association of America (UMAA), the convention has attracted more than 3,000 individuals each year as it reaches out to Muslim...
Gov. Snyder signs bipartisan minimum wage increase legislation into law
May 30th, 20140 LANSING— On Tuesday, May 27, Gov. Rick Snyder signed bipartisan legislation that raises Michigan's minimum wage to $9.25 an hour by 2018, a move he said will help hard-working residents without hindering the state's improving economy.Senate Bill 934 increases the minimum wage from $7.40 an hour to $9.25 over the next four years and...
Eliminating blight could cost bankrupt Detroit more than $850 million
May 30th, 20140 DETROIT — Wiping out the abandoned and decrepit buildings that are the hallmark of bankrupt Detroit could cost nearly $1 billion, and more over time, according to a report released on Tuesday by a special task force appointed by President Obama.The report estimates that the city, which filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in......
Santana commits to promote understanding of region’s Arabs and Muslims
May 30th, 20140 Santana.DETROIT — Over the years, Harvey Santana has shown steadfast commitment to defending the region’s Arab and Muslim communities against hate. He has also been a champion for promoting diversity and understanding about immigrants, and other various ethnic groups. Santana, a democratic state representative for the 9th...
Edsel Ford High School allows Friday prayer in empty classrooms for Muslim students
May 30th, 20140 A student prays at Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn.DEARBORN — The call to prayer has sounded and the Friday prayer lecture has started. Muslim students are gathered in an empty classroom in Edsel Ford High School (EFHS) to observe their Friday service and pray. On Fridays, when the bell rings for lunch, about 30 students......
Sudanese woman facing execution for apostasy gives birth in jail
KHARTOUM — A Christian Sudanese woman sentenced to death for apostasy has given birth in jail, a Western diplomat said on Tuesday, May 27."She gave birth to a girl today," said the diplomat, who is familiar with the case of Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, 27. "The mother and the baby seem to be doing OK. It's a cruel treatment to be in...
Pope Francis prays at the wall of separation in Bethlehem
May 30th, 20140 Pope Francis touches the separation wall on his way to celebrate a mass in Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem May 25, 2014. DETROIT — "Bethlehem looks like the Warsaw ghetto." The statement was written above where the head of the Catholic Church, the largest religious institution in the...FBI, in historic policy change, to record interrogations
WASHINGTON — The FBI and several other U.S. federal law enforcement agencies will reverse a policy that has long prohibited the recording of interrogations of people held in custody, a Justice Department memo issued last week said.The new policy, effective July 11, creates a presumption that agents of the Federal Bureau of...American doctor shot dead in Pakistan in suspected sectarian attack
Qamar.ISLAMABAD — An American volunteer cardiologist was shot dead in Pakistan on Monday, a member of his minority Ahmadi community said it is the latest attack on a group that says it’s Muslim but whose religion is rejected by the statet.Mehdi Ali Qamar had taken his wife, young son and a cousin to a graveyard in Punjab......
Political groups seek audit of NYPD surveillance tactics
NEW YORK — A coalition of political activists filed a complaint on Tuesday seeking an audit of New York City police surveillance practices, saying law enforcement overstepped privacy protections and spied on political groups and their members.The complaint was filed with the Office of the Inspector General, a watchdog post...Obama argues for a middle ground approach on foreign policy
WEST POINT, N.Y. — President Barack Obama fought back against critics of his foreign policy on Wednesday, May 28, by insisting U.S. reliance on diplomacy over military intervention was working to resolve global crises like the sanctions in Ukraine and Iran; and he pledged to ramp up support for Syria's opposition.In the commencement......
Dearborn Heights’ Arabs strengthen businesses, increase property values
May 30th, 20140 Lava Lounge in Dearborn Heights.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — At one point considered a “sleepy little town,” the city of Dearborn Heights has experienced an awakening in the last few years, as an influx of Arab American residents have established a large presence there.Soaring property values and new vibrant businesses have turned the city...Stop the mass school killings
I sold Grit newspapers when I was 9- years-old. It was always a great day when I had sold my last Grit for the week. The profit was five cents per paper. Some weeks I made as much as two dollars! I lived in a very rural area, so bicycling up and down the road and knocking on doors took time and was a workout. However, it was......