The Arab American News
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Lebanon’s grand mufti joins call for international investigation into blast, early parliamentary elections
August 21st, 20200 BEIRUT — On Wednesday, Lebanon’s leading Sunni grand mufti joined calls for early parliamentary elections and an international investigation into the explosion at the Beirut port, which he said deepened the country’s existential crisis. At least 179 people were killed and 300,000 left effectively homeless when massive amounts of...Trump administration classifies teachers essential workers during pandemic
August 21st, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. (REUTERS) – On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security classified teachers as essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic as the Trump administration presses schools nationwide to bring students back to class. The move comes as new COVID-19 infections have fallen for four weeks in a row in Texas and...Trump must give his tax returns to NY prosecutor, judge rules
August 20th, 20200 NEW YORK (REUTERS) — Donald Trump cannot block a prosecutor’s subpoena for eight years of his tax returns, a federal judge ruled on Thursday, in the latest setback in the U.S. president’s longstanding effort to keep his finances under wraps. U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in Manhattan rejected Trump’s claims that the...Governor Whitmer signs bipartisan “Return to Learn” legislation for school districts
August 20th, 20200 LANSING — On Thursday, Governor Whitmer signed the bipartisan “Return to Learn” bills she and legislative leaders agreed upon on last Friday. The package of bills has new, more flexible instructional requirements for school districts for the 2020-2021 school year. It also provides significant financial security to...Trump expects Saudi Arabia to join UAE-Israel deal
August 20th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, President Trump said he expected Saudi Arabia to join the agreement announced last week by Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize diplomatic ties and forge a broad new relationship. “I do,” Trump replied when asked at a White House news conference if he expected Saudi Arabia to join...Julia Yezbick explores the uncertainty of belonging, identity in “Marratein, Marratein”
August 19th, 20200 DETROIT — The ART X Detroit (AXD) festival, a twice-yearly festival showcasing works from Kresge Foundation fellows conducting projects in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck, celebrated those works in a virtual celebration on Wednesday evening. AXD organizers say the 22 commissioned pieces showcased this year reflect on “the...Subdued atmosphere dominates protest in front of the Lebanese embassy in Washington, D.C.
August 18th, 20200 By Laura Albast WASHINGTON, D.C. — Between 50 and 60 individuals from the Lebanese diaspora gathered in front of Lebanon’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Sunday afternoon. They demonstrated to show solidarity with, and demand justice for, the victims of the Beirut blast. Compared to the demonstrations held last year at the...U.N. tribunal convicts main defendant in Hariri assassination case
August 18th, 20200 LEIDSCHENDAM, Netherlands — On Tuesday, a U.N.-backed tribunal convicted Salim Jamil Ayyash, allegedly a member of the Hezbollah group, of conspiring to kill former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in a 2005 bombing that set the stage for years of confrontation between Lebanon’s political forces. Hariri, a Sunni Muslim...13 commissioners selected to redraw election districts statewide
August 17th, 20200 LANSING — Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced on Monday the final selection of 13 commissioners for the state’s first ever Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. The commissioners were randomly selected by an independent accounting firm, Rehman LLC, from a final pool of 180...Trump defends U.S. Postal Service changes as Democrats mount pressure
August 17th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. (REUTERS) — On Monday President Trump denied trying to undermine the Postal Service’s ability to handle a flood of mail-in ballots ahead of the November election, as Democrats prepared to move against changes his administration has set in motion. “No, we’re not tampering,” Trump said in an interview with...Lebanese continue their recovery efforts and demand reform, U.S. joins Beirut blast probe
August 14th, 20200 BEIRUT — Another day of unrest and protests in Beirut on Thursday, as Lebanese security forces tried to stop angry protesters from approaching a meeting of MPs. The MPs gathered for the first time since the port side blast that killed 172 people on Tuesday, Aug. 4, with dozens still missing. The death and injury toll (estimated...Palestinians call Israel-UAE normalization deal treason and stab in the back
August 13th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Israel and the United Arab Emirates reached a "historic" deal on Thursday that will lead to a full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two nations in an agreement that President Trump helped broker. Under the agreement, Israel has agreed to suspend applying sovereignty to areas of the West...WHO director: Half of daily 100,000 COVID-19 cases in Americas are in the U.S.
August 11th, 20200 BRASILIA (REUTERS) — More than 100,000 cases of COVID-19 are being reported daily in the Americas, half of them in the U.S., and there are worrisome spikes in countries that had outbreaks controlled, such as Argentina and Colombia, World Health Organization Regional Director Carissa Etienne said on Tuesday. “Our region remains......
Dearborn Schools to start year online, with optional in-school support
August 11th, 20200 DEARBORN — The Dearborn Public Schools Board of Education agreed Monday night for the district to start the school year online for all students. Students from preschool through high school will take classes online at least until the first week of October. The board will reevaluate conditions later in September to see if it is...Mnuchin sees possible virus deal, but no talks set with Congress
August 10th, 20200 WASHINGTON (REUTERS) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday that the Trump administration and Congress could reach a coronavirus aid deal as soon as this week, but Democratic aides said the two sides have not spoken since talks collapsed last Friday. With negotiations at a standstill, it was unclear whether......
“Possibility of external interference”: Lebanon’s president expands blast probe
August 7th, 20200 BEIRUT (REUTERS) — Lebanon’s president said on Friday an investigation into the biggest blast in Beirut’s history would examine whether it was caused by a bomb or other external interference, as residents tried to rebuild their shattered lives after the explosion. The search for those missing has intensified, as rescuers sifted...In solidarity: Western Union allows money transfers to Lebanon for zero fees and paid out in U.S. dollars
August 7th, 20200 DENVER – Western Union announced that it is offering zero-fee, international money transfers paid out in U.S. dollars to Lebanon, as the country grapples with its recent tragedy amidst other economic and pandemic-related threats. “We owe the people of Lebanon recognition for their spirit of resilience, especially during times of...Trump says coronavirus vaccine possible around Nov. 3 election
August 6th, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — An optimistic President Trump told a radio talk show on Thursday it was possible the U.S. would have a coronavirus vaccine around the time of the Nov. 3 election. Trump's own White House experts have not been this positive about the timeline of a supposed COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, many around the world have...Beirut reels from huge blast as death toll climbs to at least 135
August 5th, 20200 BEIRUT — On Wednesday, Lebanese rescue teams pulled out bodies and hunted for missing people in the wreckage caused by a massive warehouse explosion that sent a devastating blast wave across Beirut, killing at least 135. Prime Minister Hassan Diab declared three days of mourning from Thursday as early investigations blamed......
White House seeks deal this week with congressional Democrats on coronavirus bill
August 4th, 20200 WASHINGTON — White House negotiators vowed on Tuesday to work “around the clock” with congressional Democrats to try to reach a deal on coronavirus relief by the end of this week, as the pandemic takes a heavy toll on American life. Following an afternoon meeting of the four main negotiators, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin...Trump threatens to sue the state of Nevada over mail-in ballots
August 3rd, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. — More drama over mail-in ballots on Monday as President Trump threatened to sue the state of Nevada over its mail-in ballot initiative. The threat came after Democratic lawmakers in the state passed a bill on Sunday that ensures every Nevada resident would receive a ballot in the mail ahead of the November......
Lebanese foreign minister quits over slow reforms, Aoun adviser takes over
August 3rd, 20200 BEIRUT (REUTERS) — Lebanon named the president’s diplomatic adviser as new foreign minister on Monday after Nassif Hitti quit the post, blaming a lack of political will to enact reforms to halt a financial meltdown, which he warned could turn Lebanon into a failed state. Foreign donors have...Congressional Democrats, White House still at impasse over coronavirus bill
August 2nd, 20200 WASHINGTON, D.C. (REUTERS) — The top Democrats in Congress are not close to a deal with the White House to pump more money into the U.S. economy to ease the coronavirus’ heavy toll, both sides said on Saturday, after an essential lifeline for millions of unemployed Americans expired. “This was......