Sesame Street introduces hijabi muppet
April 13th, 20160 DETROIT – Sesame Street has welcomed a purple-toned female Muppet with multi-colored yarn hair — and sometimes a hijab — into its cast of colorful characters. Zari, is an eager 6-year-old from Afghanistan who will focus on girls’ empowerment, health and emotional well-being, the production company said. The...Tourists keep vandalizing Trump’s Hollywood Star
HOLLYWOOD – Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was installed in 2007 without much noise or fanfare. However, now the sight has become the subject of vandalism and graffiti. In the last month, numerous tourists have expressed their dismay at the reality star’s turn as a...D-list celebrities endorse Trump, A-listers plan to leave country
HOLLYWOOD – While Hillary Clinton boasts A-list celebrity backing such as actor George Clooney and pop superstars Beyonce, Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry – Republican frontrunner Donald Trump seems to be racking up an unimpressive roster of celebrity supporters. Tila Tequila, the reality television...Batman v Superman filmed in Detroit, features thousands of Michiganders
DETROIT - The biggest movie of 2016 has arrived, and all throughout the film are Detroit landmarks and thousands of Michigan actors.The $250 million budget blockbuster extravaganza starring Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman, was shot in Detroit during the summer of 2014. Local residents who watch the film will be...“The Simpsons” predicted Trump would be president
HOLLYWOOD - “The Simpsons” predicted Donald Trump would be president in an episode that aired 16 years ago. The March 2000 episode is now garnering attention for accurately predicting America’s current political climate. The writers of the episode “Bart to the Future” said they conjured up the idea of Trump being...Local Iraqi-American musician lands on “The Voice”
Laith-Al-Saadi.ANN ARBOR — "The Voice" season 10 has landed an Iraqi-American contestant from Ann Arbor.Laith-Al-Saadi’s blind audition aired on NBC’s top rated show on Tuesday night. Al-Saadi performed the song "The Letter", a cover of The Box Tops and Joe Cocker. This season’s coaches are Pop superstar Christina...Lebanese band Mashou’ Leila to perform in Detroit
DETROIT — Lebanese band Mashrou' Leila will perform on Saturday, June 4. The acclaimed five-member alternative rock band has a large following of young listeners in the Middle East, despite its unconventional music that does not follow the trends of Arabic pop songs. The band was formed in February 2008 at the American...Internet sensation Noel Kharman back with another Fairuz mashup
Noel KharmanWhen Palestinian artist Noel Kharman made her own cover of Adele's song "Hello" in November 2015, she became an instant Internet sensation. And it's no wonder that the teenage Palestinian's mashup of the British singer's hits with one of Lebanese diva Fairouz's songs titled "Keefak Eta" (How are You?) went viral...Nancy Ajram breaks Arabic YouTube record with 40 million views
BEIRUT — Nancy Ajram's music video for her hit single "Ma Tegi Hena" (Why Don't You Come Over Here) has broken the record for the most-watched Arabic music video on YouTube. With more than a whopping 40 million views, Nancy proved that her music is still relevant and she's on top of her game after more than a decade in the...Oscar nominees urged to skip Israel trip
LOS ANGELES — On Wednesday Oscar-nominated celebrities were urged to skip a $55,000 trip to Israel offered as part of an awards gift bag. Two U.S.-based groups campaigning for an end to Israel's occupation of the Palestinian Territories made the plea in a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times that appeared five days before the...
Al-Ameer restaurant receives national award
February 24th, 20160 Co-owners Khalil Ammarand Zaki HashemDEARBORN — If you search "Arabic food in Dearborn on Google," Al-Ameer Restaurant emerges as the top suggestion. The restaurant's reputation has now exceeded the reviews of local food enthusiasts. On Tuesday, Al-Ameer was announced as a recipient of the James Beard Foundation America’s Classics...The Weeknd’s six degrees of Arab connections
The Weeknd with Palestinian American girlfriend Bella Hadid. LOS ANGELES — R&B singer The Weeknd must love Arabs. He is currently dating a Palestinian American. He is managed by two Middle Eastern men and is currently featured on a song with a Canadian Palestinian rapper. The "Earned It" singer is no longer being private...Kanye West says he is in debt, asks Mark Zuckerberg for $1 billion
WestRapper and fashion designer Kanye West, who says he is $53 million in debt, has asked Facebook Inc's Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg to invest $1 billion into his "ideas."West asked his Twitter followers to urge Zuckerberg to support him. "World, please tweet, FaceTime, Facebook, instagram, whatever you gotta do to get Mark...Beyoncé blasted by civil rights groups for possible Israel concerts
ISRAEL - Just days after a controversial Super Bowl performance, pop super star Beyoncé is now under fire for planning to perform two concerts in Tel-aviv this summer. Beyoncé performed her new song “Formation” at the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday, where she faced criticism for its #BlackLivesMatter...Mohammed Assaf to perform at charity concert in Dearborn
Mohammed AssafDEARBORN — Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf will perform in a charity concert at Fordson High School on Friday, March 4.The profit from the event will go to Gaza hospitals, according to Palestinian American activist Daad Katato. Assaf rose to popularity after wining TV talent show Arab Idol in 2013. He garnered......
Anger in Italy as nude statues covered for visiting Iranian president
Plywood boxes concealed the nude statues at the museum in Rome. Photo: APROME — Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi came under fire on Tuesday after ancient nude statues in Rome's Capitoline museum were covered up to avoid any possible offense to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who is visiting the country.Italy and Iran will sign up...Arab American rapper slams Trump in new song
Yung Tokes.PHOENIX — Rapper Mohamad Tokko, AKA "Yung Tokes", a Dearborn native dropped a song, accompanied by a music video, as a response to business tycoon and presidential candidate Donald Trump’s bigoted comments. Following Trump’s controversial plan last year to ban Muslims from entering the United States, Muslims and their......
Celine Dion’s husband, René Angélil, dies after cancer battle
Rene Angelil and Celine Dion. LAS VEGAS - René Angélil, the husband of award-winning Canadian singer Celine Dion, died on Thursday at the age of 73 after a long battle with cancer, Dion announced.Angélil was of Lebanese and Syrian descent. "It's with profound sadness that we are announcing that René Angélil, 73, died this...
Mr. Robot creator says “Shukran” to family after Golden Globe Award
January 12th, 20160 Sam Esmail after "Mr. Robot" won the Best TV Drama at the Golden Globe Awards, Jan. 10. Photo: ReutersAs the internet goes haywire over Lady Gaga’s awkward Leonardo DiCaprio nudge at the 73rd annual Golden Globe Awards, an acceptance speech had Arabs talking and feeling proud.The new show, Mr. Robot, won an award for Best Television...Dolce & Gabbana launches line of hijabs and abayas
PHOTO: STYLE.COM/ARABIAThe designers Dolce & Gabbana are used to creating headlines. The unveiling of their first collection of their collection specifically designed for Muslim women did just that. Dolce & Gabbana is debuting a line with abayas and hijabs, a first for the brand.Style.com Arabia revealed the line for the...Model Gigi Hadid: ‘I’m half Palestinian and proud of it’
Hadid. LOS ANGELES -- Gigi Hadid is proud to be half-Palestinian. The 20-year-old model declared as much on social media after bonding with friends during a henna night. "Had the best night with some of my oldest friends last night," she captioned a photo of the group's henna-tattooed hands. "Feel so......
NFL Player Oday Aboushi calls out Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim policies
HOUSTON - Houston Texan guard Oday Aboushi is joining the many Muslim-Americans speaking out against Donald Trump's anti-Muslim policies. "It's more alarming that a person is proposing something like this," Aboushi told Yahoo Sports. "It's such a small-minded idea. How can you punish a whole religion based off a few people? If people...Actor Samuel L. Jackson: Muslim Americans are the new Blacks
LOS ANGELES - Actor Samuel L. Jackson came to the defense of Muslim Americans while doing promotion for his new film “The Hateful Eight,” out in theaters on News Years Eve. During an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Jackson said Muslim Americans are “the new young black men” and that he had hoped the San Bernardino......
Book review: In “Seydou’s Christmas Tree” a Christian man learns a Christmas lesson from a Muslim boy
Joel Thurtell, Karen Fonde, Seydou Bukari, Assana Bukari and Fati Bukari.There were many times when the traveler had to pinch himself to believe where he was. His almost daily journeys to his project's construction site were breathtaking as he rode his Yamaha 80 motorcycle along the dirt path. Sparsely planted shrubs, gigantic trees...30 percent of Republicans would support bombing fictitious ‘Aladdin’ town
WALT DISNEY, AGRABAH - Thirty percent of Republicans say they would support bombing Agrabah, and 13 percent say they would oppose that measure. Most, about 57 percent, were simply unsure. If you’re unclear about where Agrabah is, that’s not because your Middle East geography is rusty. That’s......