The Arab American News
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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...New health findings can help combat common ailments
From high blood pressure, to cancer, serious ailments often strike, despite our best efforts to maintain good health.With the rapid pace of medical advancements and treatment options emerging, conventional medical wisdom can sometimes lag behind innovations in disease management. Furthermore, there’s often little attention paid to...Community rallies in support of International Al-Quds Day
DEARBORN — Rallies in support of International Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day are held locally and throughout the Middle East and the world each year on the last Friday of Ramadan. This year community members gathered on Aug. 2 outside of Dearborn City Hall. Demonstrators held up signs, banners and flags, in support of...
Dearborn Primary election results: Three first time Arab American candidates advance
August 7th, 20130 DEARBORN-The Primary election results are in, and despite a low turn-out, three first time Arab American city council candidates landed in the Top 14, and will be advancing to the November elections.Mike Sareini, with 5,302 votes, came in second place on the ballot. He received endorsements from both the Arab American Political Action...Power confirmed as ambassador to the UN
WASHINGTON - Samantha Power easily won Senate confirmation as President Barack Obama's next ambassador to the United Nations on Thursday, August 1.The Senate voted 87-10, in favor of Power, a former White House national security staffer and former journalist, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her book "A Problem from Hell," a study of U.S....Russia grants Snowden asylum
MOSCOW - Russia granted American fugitive Edward Snowden one year's asylum on Thursday, Aug. 1, allowing the former U.S. spy agency contractor to slip quietly out of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, after more than five weeks in limbo, and angering the United States.The White House, which wants Snowden sent home to face trial for...Iran nominee seen as olive branch to United States
If Iran's president-elect wanted to signal his determination to rebuild relations with the United States and strike a "grand bargain," he could hardly do better than pick Mohammad Javad Zarif as his foreign minister.Iranian news agencies reported on Monday that Zarif, a former ambassador to the United Nations and Tehran's leading...UN: July deadliest month in Iraq since 2008
The UN has released the latest casualty figures and expressed concern about the high number of dead and wounded who were killed in the month of July. According to United Nations Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), 1,057 Iraqis were killed and another 2,326 were wounded in July 2013.The number of civilians, including civilian police, killed was...Iraqi refugee repays Australian government for welfare assistance
AUSTRALIA — Sam Eisho, an Assyrian Iraqi refugee, who first settled in Australia in 1999, after fleeing Saddam Hussein’s regime, repaid the country’s government over $18,000, after becoming a successful businessman. Sam EishoEisho says that he felt it was his obligation to pay the government back the money in welfare assistance he...Assad visits troops in Daraya, assures them of victory
Damascus — State television said Assad visited the town of Daraya, southwest of Damascus, on Thursday, Aug. 1, to meet members of the security forces.A picture posted on the presidency's Facebook page showed Assad, in a suit, shaking the hand of a uniformed soldier. Behind them was a scene of war; wires hanging from electricity pylons...Ex-envoy to Israel to oversee Mideast “peace talks”
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday named a former ambassador to Israel as the top envoy to negotiate the new round of talks between Israel and officials from the western-backed Palestinian Authority.Just hours before Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were to resume talks frozen for three years, Kerry said......
Saudi Arabia sentences secular activist to 600 lashes, seven years prison
RIYADH - A Saudi court sentenced, on Monday, a rights activist to seven years in jail and 600 lashes for setting up a "liberal" network and alleged insults to Islam, activists said."Raef Badawi has been sentenced to seven years in jail and 600 lashes," lawyer Waleed Abualkhair wrote on his Twitter account, adding that the judge ordered...Political developments activate the Mideast peace process
The Palestinians have been urging for peace talks for years. Surprisingly, a new round of negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis starts this week in Washington, DC. What has brought Israel’s hard line Prime Minister Netanyahu to the peace table?Possibly four recent political developments have softened the current Israeli......
We must rid our justice system of racial and class bias
In conjunction with the observance of the 85th birthday of the late Martin Luther King, Jr. in January, the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights is organizing a community-wide conversation with the goal of ridding our justice system of racial and class bias.Representatives of police agencies and courts, together with clergy, interested...Egypt’s rulers tell pro-Morsi protesters to clear the squares
Egypt's army-backed government warned supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi, on Thursday Aug. 1, to abandon their Cairo protest camps, promising them a safe exit, if they gave up without a fight.The appeal, made by Interior Ministry spokesman Hany Abdel Latif on state television, followed the government's declaration, on July 31,...What you need to know for Election Day
• If you experience any difficulty on Election Day and need assistance, whether it’s regarding getting translation in Arabic, or if you have questions about your ballot, or voting in general, AAPAC volunteers will be at The Arab American News’ office until the polls close, to assist voters. AAPAC members can be reached on Election...
Our Endorsements: They deserve your vote on August 6
August 2nd, 20130 The Arab American News (TAAN) has announced its endorsements for the Aug. 6 primary elections. TAAN is endorsing every candidate who has received endorsements from the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC). The following candidates were recently endorsed by AAPAC. TAAN is supporting the same candidate endorsements......
Local campaigns gear up for Primary during Ramadan, energize youth
August 2nd, 20130 DEARBORN — This year's municipality race has, without a doubt, generated some hype from the local Arab and Muslim American communities, as three Arab American candidates vie for the mayoral position and four other Arab American candidates look to fill one of seven positions on the city council.However, even with the large Arab American...
Dearborn mayor discusses future plans, sale of City Hall and relations with Arab community
August 2nd, 20130 DEARBORN — After the passing of the late Mayor Michael Guido in 2006, no one could argue that John B. “Jack” O’Reilly, Jr. didn't have the experience and know-how that was needed to take over the post of Mayor of Dearborn. O'Reilly and his family are deeply rooted in the City. Their service dates back to when his father was......
Mother creates app to help autistic son better communicate
YPSILANTI — One local mother has created an app to help her autistic son communicate more effectively. Nabeela Jaffer’s son, Salman, 16, has experienced difficulty communicating verbally throughout his life. He was diagnosed with autism at age four. The struggles he faced trying to communicate is what inspired Jaffer to create...Preliminary hearing for suspect in Family Dollar murders postponed
DEARBORN — The preliminary hearing of Lavere Bryant, who is accused of the murder of two Family Dollar store employees in Dearborn, was postponed this week until August 21, upon his state-appointed attorney's request.Judge Sam Salamey of the 19th District Court ordered the postponement of the hearing on Wednesday, July 31, after......