The Arab American News
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Lebanon, Israel clash over offshore energy, raising tensions
February 2nd, 20180 BEIRUT — President Michel Aoun said on Thursday that Lebanon was using diplomatic means to counter Israel's stance regarding an offshore energy block in disputed territory on their maritime border. On Wednesday Israel described as "very provocative" Lebanon's first offshore oil and gas exploration tender and said it would be a...Protests erupt in response to Bassil’s slur against Berri, Aoun urges forgiveness and stability
February 2nd, 20180 BEIRUT — On Tuesday, President Michel Aoun called for forgiveness and stability in Lebanon after a political row involving his son-in-law triggered street protests and deepened a rift with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil called Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri a "thug" in a closed meeting. Berri...Lebanon will not force Syrian refugees to return
February 2nd, 20180 BEIRUT — Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said on Thursday that Lebanon would not force refugees to return to Syria but called for more international help in dealing with the refugee crisis. More than a million Syrians fled into neighboring Lebanon after war broke out in their country in 2011 and now account for about a...Palestinian President Abbas to address U.N. Security Council amid U.S. tensions
February 2nd, 20180 UNITED NATIONS — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will address the United Nations Security Council on Feb. 20 during the body's monthly meeting on the Middle East amid tensions over the United States decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Since President Trump broke from decades of United States policy with his Dec....Syrian opposition will work with Sochi proposal under U.N. guidance
February 2nd, 20180 ISTANBUL — Syria's opposition will cooperate with proposals made at a Russia-hosted conference this week to rewrite the country's constitution as long as the process remains under U.N. auspices, the chief opposition negotiator said on Thursday. Participants at Tuesday's meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in Russia - which is a...‘Whitewashing’ genocide in Myanmar
February 2nd, 20180 By Ramzy Baroud Although the genocide of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar has gathered greater media attention in recent months, there is no indication that the international community is prepared to act in any meaningful way, thus leaving hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees stranded in border camps between Myanmar and...Pence’s Middle East
February 2nd, 20180 The real danger of seeing the world through a narrow ideological lens is that while the lens may be your own, the world being viewed through it is not yours to control. By Dr. James J. Zogby Vice President Pence's recent foray into Middle East politics has been nothing short of a disaster. Because he sees the world through the lens...The danger facing Lebanon is bigger than Bassil’s loose tongue
February 2nd, 20180 In the last decisive moments, Lebanon avoided the edge of a cliff and perhaps saved fragile peaceful coexistence among its people, which for the past few days has been hovering over that fine edge. A telephone call from President Michel Aoun to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was enough to defuse a potential civil war that would have...Gallup: Uninsured Americans rises most in near decade
February 2nd, 20180 WASHINGTON — The number of Americans without healthcare insurance rose by 3.2 million people between 2016 and 2017, or 1.3 percentage points to 12.2 percent, according to a Gallup poll released on Tuesday, the biggest jump in the uninsured rate in nearly a decade. Several factors likely contributed to the jump, Gallup said,...Pollution and southwest Detroit
February 2nd, 20180 By Omar Abdel-Baqui The Latino Press "These particles and chemicals can penetrate our body and enter our bloodstream and wreak havoc on health. We have only recently realized the serious damage PM2.5 can cause." - Guy Williams, president & CEO of Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice Residents of southwest Detroit...Arab Americans undeterred despite failure to get MENA category on 2020 Census
February 2nd, 20180 "Accurate Census information ensures equal opportunity access to public resources, particularly for historically marginalized groups." -ADC DEARBORN — A promising decade-long endeavor by America's most targeted communities to gain political and social leverage hit a roadblock after the U.S. Census Bureau rejected the addition of a...Wayne County Treasurer offers free mobile app to pay delinquent tax bills
February 2nd, 20180 DETROIT — Wayne County Treasurer Eric R. Sabree has introduced a new mobile app that allows people to pay their delinquent tax bills or payment plan installments via a free mobile app that accepts credit cards or checks. "We are very pleased to offer a mobile app that will give Wayne County taxpayers even greater convenience in...This is why Arabs are questioning Hollywood Oscar nominations, boycotting ‘The Post’
February 2nd, 20180 Not so subtle agenda – Hollywood, Washington and Israel sprung from the same DNA. By Farah Harb Hollywood and Washington have been two faces on the same coin for the past century, where political messages have often been imported through Hollywood's media content. As renowned scholar Jack Shaheen has pointed out through......
U.S. State Department designates Hamas leader as “terrorist”
January 31st, 20180 WASHINGTON - The State Department said on Wednesday it had designated Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Hamas Movement, as a "terrorist". The State Department said in a statement that Haniyeh, along with two active groups in Egypt and one in the Palestinian territories, were listed as specially designated "global terrorists". It...DHS extends TPS for current Syrian holders, but refuse to re-designate Syria
January 31st, 20180 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took a decision to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 7,000 Syrian beneficiaries residing in the U.S. Today’s decision only allows current TPS holders to renew their status and remain temporarily in the U.S. However, DHS refuse to......
U.S. defends role of Lebanon army as Israel threatens to attack it
January 31st, 20180 BEIRUT — The United States pledged continued support for Lebanon’s military on Wednesday, calling it a potential counterweight to Iranian-backed Hezbollah, even as Israel said the two forces were indistinguishable and fair game in any future war. Such a public difference of opinion between the allies was remarkable enough, but...USA Gymnastics says all directors have resigned after abuse scandal
January 31st, 20180 LANSING — USA Gymnastics, the sport’s U.S. governing body, said on Wednesday that all its remaining directors have now resigned following revelations that the longtime team doctor had sexually abused numerous athletes under his care. A USA Gymnastics spokeswoman on Friday had said that the full board intended to resign. The U.S....Two former Michigan governors to lead MSU out of quagmire
January 30th, 20180 LANSING - Michigan State University will name former Michigan Gov. John Engler to be interim president, according to Detroit Free Press sources. Engler, a Republican, is a MSU graduate. He is expected to be named to the position at a special 9 a.m. MSU board meeting Wednesday. Also coming on board is another former Michigan...Lebanon President Aoun urges forgiveness, stability after protests
January 30th, 20180 BEIRUT ― Lebanese President Michel Aoun called for forgiveness and stability on Tuesday after a political row involving his son-in-law triggered street protests and deepened a rift with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Berri supporters set tires ablaze and blocked roads on Monday in protest against comments by Aoun’s son-in-law,......
Protests erupt in response to Bassil’s slur of Berri, Aoun urges forgiveness and stability
January 30th, 20180 BEIRUT - President Michel Aoun on Tuesday called for forgiveness and stability in Lebanon after a political row involving his son-in-law triggered street protests and deepened a rift with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Gebran Bassil called Nabih Berri “a thug” in a video that went viral on social media in Lebanon. Berri...New Lebanese ambassador to Washington takes office
January 26th, 20181 WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, former Bloomfield Hills, Mich. resident Gabriel Issa presented his Letter of Credence to President Trump in the Oval Office, accrediting him as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Lebanon to the United States of America....
Abadi: Iraq’s reconstruction may cost $100 billion
January 26th, 20180 DAVOS, Switzerland — Iraq called on Thursday for foreign investors to help it rebuild after defeating ISIS and making progress in reuniting the country, saying it would need up to $100 billion to fix crumbling infrastructure and war-torn cities. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said help was needed with dozens of projects, as Iraq...Syrians talk peace in Vienna prior to Russian meeting
January 26th, 20180 VIENNA — U.N.-brokered peace talks with the Syrian government and the opposition began on Thursday, a few days before separate negotiations hosted by Damascus's close ally Russia that the West views with suspicion. "The meeting was good," the head of the Syrian government delegation, Bashar al-Ja'afari, told Reuters as he left the......