
The Arab American News
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Recognizing Black contributions and atoning for our past
February 9th, 20180 We need Black History Month, not only to teach us about often unacknowledged African American scientists, inventors, political leaders and scholars who have made significant contributions to our collective history, but to remind us of America's forgotten crimes of slavery and racism. By Dr. James J. Zogby This is Black history...Hot tea tied to higher cancer risk for smokers and drinkers
February 9th, 20180 Drinking scalding hot tea is associated with an increased risk of esophageal tumors in people who also smoke and drink alcohol, two habits that already make many cancers more likely, a Chinese study suggests. Among Chinese adults who drank at least one beer, cocktail or glass of wine daily, those who also consumed burning hot tea...Many people take dangerously high amounts of ibuprofen
February 9th, 20180 Many adults who use ibuprofen and other so-called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs take too much, increasing their risk of serious side effects like internal bleeding and heart attacks, a U.S. study suggests. About 15 percent of adults taking ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or other NSAIDs like aspirin, naproxen (Aleve),...Saudi man in Oklahoma charged with ties to al Qaeda
February 9th, 20180 WASHINGTON — A Saudi man who attended flight school in Oklahoma was charged on Tuesday with visa fraud for allegedly having lied about attending an al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan in 2000, the U.S. Justice Department said. A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Naif Abdulaziz M. Alfallaj, 34, after his...Draft DHS report called for long-term surveillance of Sunni Muslim immigrants
February 9th, 20180 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security called on authorities in a draft report from late January to continuously vet Sunni Muslims coming into the U.S. who fit an "at-risk" demographic profile. The report, obtained by Foreign Policy Magazine, reviews 25 terrorist attacks in the United States between October 2001 and...Trump administration may target immigrants who use food aid, other benefits
February 9th, 20180 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration is considering making it harder for foreigners living in the United States to get permanent residency if they have received certain public benefits such as food assistance, in a move that could sharply restrict legal immigration. The Department of Homeland Security has drafted rules seen...World’s most powerful rocket launches electric supercar on path to Mars
February 9th, 20180 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The world's most powerful rocket, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, roared into space through clear blue skies on its debut test flight on Tuesday from a Florida launch site in another milestone for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's private rocket service. The 23-story-tall jumbo rocket, carrying a cherry red Tesla...Property values rising in Detroit
February 9th, 20180 DETROIT — It took more than 15 years, but the city of Detroit experienced its first net increase in residential property values, according to an announcement from the city. The increase suggests that property values are rising as revitalization efforts reach more of Detroit's neighborhoods, officials said. "We think that it's...Dearborn acknowledges Former Mayor Orville Hubbard’s racism with new plaque
February 9th, 20180 DEARBORN — After much contention from residents and even within the Dearborn Historical Commission, the late Mayor Orville Hubbard's statue has a new plaque that acknowledges his hatred for Blacks. The statue's placement, prominently displayed outside the Dearborn Historical Museum on Brady Street, is already controversial. But just...Arab American officer saves Huron Township woman
February 9th, 20180 HURON TOWNSHIP — Ahmed Kassem, a Huron Township police officer, was praised Wednesday for using his instincts in finding an abandoned snow blower, which led him to the aid of a resident who had suffered a medical emergency and was stuck in her garage for more than 24 hours. Kassem was on patrol at 2:19 a.m. when he noticed a snow...Funds for governor’s race near $17 million
February 9th, 20180 LANSING — The amount of money raised for the soon-to-be open governor's seat is nearly $17 million, according to reports. These figures are more than double amount last time the seat was available in 2010. The numbers represent both the eight Republican and four Democratic candidates for the August primary. "In general, each race...Gov. Snyder appoints Publisher Osama Siblani to the State Officers Compensation Commission
February 9th, 20181 LANSING — On Thursday, Feb. 8, Gov. Snyder announced the appointment of The Arab American News Publisher Osama Siblani to the State Officers Compensation Commission. Snyder named Siblani, of West Bloomfield, along with Phyllis Browne of DeWitt, Gerald Hildenbrand of Plainwell and Dan DeGrow of Burtchville. The SOCC is a seven-person...Air strikes kill 31, including children, in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta
February 7th, 20180 BEIRUT — Air strikes killed 31 civilians including 12 children in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region near Syria’s capital Damascus on Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It said Syrian government air strikes and artillery hit the towns of Douma, Beit Sawa and Hammouriyeh in the insurgent-controlled...Trump wants military parade in Washington
February 7th, 20180 WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump has ordered Pentagon and White House officials to begin planning a military parade in Washington similar to the Bastille Day parade he witnessed in Paris in July, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday. At a meeting at the Pentagon on Jan. 18 that included Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint...‘Losing opportunities’, Lebanon campaigns for more women in parliament
February 7th, 20180 BEIRUT — In a country where women occupy only three percent of the parliament seats, Lebanon’s first women’s affairs minister - a man - is supporting a campaign to attract more female politicians. The government’s decision to appoint him as women’s minister in 2016 attracted some criticism. But Jean Oghassabian said the......
Rashida Tlaib seeks Conyers’ seat, would be first Muslim woman in Congress
February 6th, 20180 DETROIT — Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat, has officially thrown her hat in the race for Michigan's 13th congressional district. The seat was left open by longstanding U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit), who retired in December amid sexual harassment allegations. "Serving in the U.S. Congress is about much more than voting on bills,"...Yemen’s Islah party suspends membership of Nobel laureate Karman
February 6th, 20180 DUBAI — Yemeni Nobel Prize winner Tawakkol Karman was suspended from a party allied with President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after she accused the Saudi-led coalition that backs him in the country’s civil war of acting as occupiers. Karman won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for her role in Arab Spring protests that ousted authoritarian......
New SpaceX jumbo rocket set for debut test launch in company milestone
February 6th, 20180 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A new SpaceX jumbo rocket in line to become the world’s most powerful launch vehicle in operation was set for its highly anticipated debut test flight on Tuesday from Florida, carrying a Tesla Roadster as a mock payload. Liftoff of the 23-story-tall Falcon Heavy was slated for as early as 1:30 p.m. EST at...Cash or custody: Israel kicks off deportation of African migrants
February 5th, 20180 JERUSALEM — Israel has started handing out notices to 20,000 male African migrants giving them two months to leave the country or risk being thrown in jail. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is offering the migrants, most of whom are from Sudan and Eritrea, $3,500 and a plane ticket to what it says is a safe...Syrian rebels down Russian plane, kill pilot
February 3rd, 20180 DAMASCUS/MOSCOW - Syrian rebels shot down a Russian warplane on Saturday and killed its pilot on the ground after he ejected from the plane, Russia’s defense ministry and Syrian rebels said. The SU-25 came down in an area of northern Idlib province that has seen heavy air strikes and fighting on the ground between Syria’s...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......