The Ray Hanania Radio Show-Arab News

Arab Radio: The turmoil in Lebanon; & Tahanie Aboushi's candidacy in Manhattan

Arab Radio: A look at the turmoil in Lebanon; and Tahanie Aboushi's candidacy in Manhattan New York

Wednesday August 4, 2021 at 8 AM EST

Season 1, Episode 18

The Ray Hanania Radio Show this morning at 8 AM EST (3 PM Riyadh, 4 PM Dubai):

Segment 1, we look at Arab American political empowerment with civil rights attorney Tahanie Aboushi @TahanieNYC who ran for Manhattan District Attorney General in New York. Though she did not win she ran an impressive campaign and came in 3rd place … I call that the equivalent of winning the Bronze Medal … which is a huge achievement at the Tokyo Olympics.

In Segment 2 we speak with Paul Salem of the Middle East Institute about the political turmoil in Lebanon … what is causing it, why did Saad Hariri not form a government, the recent EU sanctions endorsed by the United States against the government … efforts to address corruption in the government … one year after the massive explosion at a warehouse at Beirut’s port that took the lives of 214 people, there are still no repairs, no answers … A report from Human Rights Watch pointing a finger at government corruption has been ignored …

“The Ray Hanania Show which is brought to you by Arab News at ArabNews.com on the US Arab Radio Network …

we’re broadcasting live on WNZK AM 690 in Greater Detroit and WDMV AM 700 in Greater Washington DC … and streamed live on Facebook.com/ArabNews and also on ArabRadio.US

For more information on the radio show and other podcasts visit www.ArabNews.com.

07-28-21 Coronavirus and the Arab World; the politics of COVID and Tunisia

A look at the Coronavirus in the Arab World; politics and COVID in Tunisia

Season 1, Episode 17

Wednesday July 28, 2021 at 8 AM EST

This morning we look at the impact COVID is having on the Arab World and then delve into the tragic reversal of Tunisia which was one praised as handling the pandemic better than any other country, but collapsed under the pressure of corruption and politics led by the Annahda Islamist Political Party and now has one of the worst COVID infection rates in the world.

The Middle East and North Africa is witnessing a surge in Covid-19 cases aggravated by the Delta variant of the virus, and it is expected to get worse.

Tunisia is among five African states in the throes of a devastating third wave of COVID-19 infections. The country, with a population of 11.69 million, has reported more than 18,600 deaths since the pandemic was declared in March last year.

To help us understand how serious this Coronavirus threat is, and if it is dissipating or worsening, we have several experts and journalists:

Dr. Zaher Sahloul is the president of MedGlobal, Medical NGOs dedicated to a world without healthcare disparity. MedGlobal sends medical missions of doctors, nurses and medics to help underserved populations and refugees and provide healthcare to areas of war and disasters.

ArabNews journalist Rebecca Anne Proctor covers Arab World and Gulf news stories, and has worked to support SOS Children’s Village Lebanon worked with refugees and orphans at SOS in the Bekaa Valley in 2008 as part of her field work for her MA in Conflict Resolution. Proctor is former Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar Art and Harper’s Bazaar Interiors, and now is an independent journalist and broadcaster covering current affairs in the Middle East and Africa.

Ammar Ben Aziz is an Editor at Al Arabiya news channel which broadcasts from Dubai. He is a former supervisor at CNN Arabic and Editor at Skynews Arabia. He was the Executive producer at Al Hurra News Channel. 

The Ray Hanania Radio Show broadcast live in Detroit on WNZK AM 690 radio and in Washington DC on WDMV AM 700 radio. The show was simulcast on the US Arab Radio Network at ArabRadio.us and video-cast at Facebook.com/ArabNews.

You can listen to the radio podcast of the interview at www.ArabNews.com/RayRadioShow.

07-21-21Eid Haj, and Ethiopia-Egypt Nile Dam controversy

07-21-21Eid Haj, and Ethiopia-Egypt Nile Dam controversy

Season 1, Episode 16

Radio Show Guests/Topics

Wednesday July 21, 2021 at 8 AM EST

We have a great lineup of guests and topics this morning … I want to begin by offering my best wishes to all Muslims on this important Holiday this week … Eid al Udha … Eid Mubarak everyone … I hope you have a blessed Eid holiday ..

First, we’re going to look at the Hajj to Saudi Arabia and how the Saudis have protected Haj pilgrims during this important Eid al Udha holiday with Arab News reporter Mohamed Al-Kinani who is in Mecca. The cell phone connection may be weak but we will try nonetheless.

Then we will examine the mounting crisis between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that is significantly reducing water flow from the Blue Nile, which provides a majority of the water to the Nile as it runs north through Sudan and Egypt. The project is creating a large reservoir of water but that is reducing the water flow significantly and potentially can create havoc for Egypt whose river communities depend on the water for their crops and industries …

https://arab.news/8n7a3

With us this morning are two journalists, the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief at the Ethiopian Ifriqiyah Media and Communications agency, Omer Redi Ahmed who is based in Washington DC, and we have Egyptian American journalist and political analyst Mohamed Elsetouhi from the New York bureau of Frontcom LLC. Elsetouhi previously worked for Alghad TV an

The Ray Hanania Radio Show is broadcast live on WNZK AM 690 in Greater Detroit and WDMV AM 700 in Greater Washington DC … and streamed live on Facebook.com/ArabNews and also on ArabRadio.US

 

Arabs at NASA; Dearborn Mayoral Elections Aug.3

Arabs at NASA; Dearborn Mayoral Elections Aug.3 

Season 1, Episode 15

The Ray Hanania Radio Show

Wednesday July 14, 2021 at 8 AM EST

We have a great lineup of guests and topics this morning …

This morning in Segment 1 we’ll look at the Arab Americans who work at NASA with NASA engineer Dr. Hasan Almekdash. Dr. Almekdash is a biostatistician at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, KBR Space Science Human Health and Performance under the Flight and Medical Operations Division. He also provides significant consulting support to the Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences Division at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). 

Later in Segment 2 we will be looking at the August 3 elections for Dearborn Mayor with two election specialists Dennis Denno of Denno Research and Kyle Melinn from the MIRS Newsletter.

Dennis Denno founded Denno Research in 2004.  He understands what candidates, corporations, non-profits, associations, and issue-advocates need in a pollster.  He knows the power that well-timed, quality polls have on a political or marketing campaign.  For over 30 years he has helped candidates and elected officials shape issues and communicate with constituents.

Kyle Melinn is the editor and vice president of the Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS), a daily online political news service covering state government and politics. A professional journalist for 25 years, Melinn has covered the state Capitol for the last 20 with MIRS.

But first … I want to wish Muslims around the world an early Eid Mubarak  for the Eid al Udha celebration that begins Monday …

we’re going to take a quick break here at “The Ray Hanania Show brought to you by Arab News at ArabNews.com on the US Arab Radio Network …

we’re broadcasting live on WNZK AM 690 in Greater Detroit and WDMV AM 700 in Greater Washington DC … and streamed live on Facebook.com/ArabNews and also on ArabRadio.US

Flooding in Dearborn; the Israel UAE Peace agreement July7 on Arab Radio

Flooding in Dearborn; the Israel UAE Peace agreement on Arab Radio

Season 1, Episode 14

Radio Show Guests/Topics

Wednesday July 7, 2021 at 8 AM EST

We have a great lineup of guests and topics this morning …

This morning in Segment 1 we’ll look at the terrible tragedy of the massive flooding that hit homes on Saturday June 26 in the Dearborn region damaging and destroying thousands of homes on the east side of Dearborn … we have activist Imad Hamad who is the executive director of the American Human Rights Council whose home was completely destroyed who will share his story … and we have invited the Dearborn City Council president Susan Dabaja to join us … President Dabaja held a public community forum last night to help homeowners in the city of Dearborn where the population is more than 40 percent Arab American … the flooding issues has become a major political issue in the upcoming battle for mayor in Dearborn to succeed Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly who announced he is retiring … that primary election is August 3 … and already some eight candidates have announced their intentions to run to succeeded O’Reilly … many of them Arab Americans … we’ll look at that election battle next week July 14 here on The Ray Hanania Show, but for now let’s welcome Imad Hamad …

Later in Segment 2 we will discuss the UAE agreement with Israel … we have former US Ambassador to the UAE John Rakolta with us … he served as the US Ambassador from 2019 until the end of 2020 and was at the forefront of the negotiations ….

The Ray Hanania Radio Show is brought to you by the US Arab Radio Network and sponsored by Arab News Newspaper at ArabNews.com.

we’re broadcasting live on WNZK AM 690 in Greater Detroit and WDMV AM 700 in Greater Washington DC … and streamed live on Facebook.com/ArabNews and also on ArabRadio.US

Watch the Video version of the show by clicking this link: 

https://www.facebook.com/ArabNews/videos/182141130560419

Lebanon turmoil and what must be done: Arab Radio June 30, 2021

Lebanon turmoil the focus on Arab Radio Show

Season 1, Episode 13

#ArabRadio host Ray Hanania talks with American Task Force on Lebanon President Ed Gabriel and Arab News Gulf Regional Manager Sarah Sfeir on the show June 30, 2021 in Detroit and Washington DC

Radio Show Guests/Topics. Wednesday June 30, 2021 at 8 AM EST. We have a great lineup of guests and topics this morning … This morning’s topic is Lebanon.

We’ve seen turmoil consume Lebanon over the past few years … this week the government lifted fuel subsidies and gasoline prices jumped more than 35 percent … which is a huge and prohibitive increase …. Almost a year ago, Beirut witnessed a massive explosion at its port … one that many believed was somehow tied to Hezbollah

 

The gross domestic product has dropped more than 20 percent and the Lebanese pound has lost 90 percent of its value against the U.S. Dollar … there’s a banking crisis, too, in a city that was once the world’s jewel …

Anyone who has been to Lebanon knows how beautiful that country is and remembers the elegance and magic of Beirut … but today things seem bleak …

A bright side is that the famous singer Fayrouz who is 86 years old turned to social media and sent a selfie of herself with her daughter Rima on Twitter maybe reminding people that despite the challenges Lebanon has a brilliant and beautiful culture and people … it gave everyone in Lebanon I’m told a mental boost …

We’re going to look at all that with two individuals who love Lebanon and who understand those challenges

Ed Gabriel president of the American Task Force on Lebanon and former Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco from 1997-2001 and Lebanon analyst and Arab News Gulf regional manager Sarah Sfeir based in Lebanon

But first … we’re going to take a quick break here at “The Ray Hanania Show brought to you by Arab News at ArabNews.com on the US Arab Radio Network …

We’re broadcasting live on WNZK AM 690 in Greater Detroit and WDMV AM 700 in Greater Washington DC … and streamed live on Facebook.com/ArabNews and also on ArabRadio.US

Click this link to watch the Video Radio Show Stream from Facebook or use the widget below to listen and watch the show.

Get the podcast at ArabNews.com/RayRadioShow

Show summary:

On this week’s show, Ray Hanania held a discussion with Ed Gabriel, president of the American Task Force on Lebanon and former Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco from 1997-2001, and Sarah Sfeir, Lebanon analyst and Arab News Gulf regional manager based in Lebanon, on the turmoil consuming Lebanon over the past few years. They discussed the tough conditions Lebanese citizens must endure and how the people elected to help them have become the problem. Through the American Task Force on Lebanon and Secretary Blinken there has been a push to focus on the corruption occurring in the Lebanese government. The ATFL believes, according to Ed Gabriel, that three immediate actions should be taken.

1.     The U.S. should take leadership with other foreign countries on a common plan to help Lebanon.

2.     Increase humanitarian aid through nonprofit organizations so the money is not lost to the corrupt government.

3.     Support the Lebanese armed forces.

The U.S. has already joined together with France to put pressure on the Lebanese government although nothing is being done on the ground. Hanania, Gabriel and Sfeir agreed that there needs to be an international mobilization to help Lebanon and one of the first steps needs to be a reform in the Lebanese government.

You can hear the show in Detroit on WNZK AM 690 radio (8 AM and 5 PM EST), in Washington DC on WDMV AM 700 Radio (8 AM EST) AND watch it live stream on Facebook.com/ArabNews as well as on the US Arab Radio Network at ArabRadio.us. 

Ray Hanania Radio: Cong. Mark Pocan, Jonathan Gornall on Ethiopian Damn

Ray Hanania Radio: Cong. Mark Pocan, Jonathan Gornall on Ethiopian Damn

June 23, 2021 Wednesday 8 AM EST

In Segment 1: We’ll be speaking with Congressman Mark Pocan for Wisconsin’s second congressional district in 2013 following 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly. A small business owner, union member, and lifelong advocate for progressive causes, Rep. Pocan fights for policies that promote economic and social justice and support for families of south central Wisconsin.

In the 117th Congress, he serves on the House Appropriations Committee where he sits on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee; the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee; and the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. He also serves on the House Education and Labor Committee and the Joint Economic Committee.

Congressman Pocan just returned from a trip to the Middle East about the growth of the pro-justice pro-Arab movement in the US Congress and they seem to be making more and more waves … and it was a trip that Pocan took to Israel many years ago that opened his eyes to the disparity in how Palestinians are treated. He is a strong voice for Palestinian rights.

Congressman Pocan is also among 50 members urging president Biden to redirect $50 billion saved through the withdrawal of US Troops from Afghanistan from the Defense Dept Budget to put an end to endless wars, and re-invest the money into jobs, healthcare, climate security and housing …

In Segment 2: We’ll speak with Jonathan Gornall on the newly launched Arab News GERD deep dive a look at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam … How will Egypt be impacted by Ethiopia filling its GERD reservoir? The primary purpose of the dam is electricity production to relieve Ethiopia’s acute energy shortage and for electricity export to neighboring countries. With a planned installed capacity of 6.45 gigawatts, the dam will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa when completed, as well as the seventh largest in the world.

Gornall is a British author and journalist formerly with The Times of London, is a features writer for Arab News. Now based in the UK, he lived and worked in the Middle East for several years.

Link for reference: 

https://www.arabnews.com/BattleForTheNile

broadcasting live on

WNZK AM 690 in Greater Detroit

and

WDMV AM 700 in Greater Washington DC

… and streamed live on

Facebook.com/ArabNews

and also on

ArabRadio.US

Mayor Dilkens of Windsor on anti-Muslim hate crime: Arab Radio

Mayor Dilkens of Windsor on anti-Muslim hate crime: Arab Radio

The Ray Hanania Radio Show on WNZK AM 690 Radio, WDMV AM 700 Radio, US Arab Radio Network ArabRadio.us and streamed live at Facebook.com/ArabNews featured interviews with:

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens on the June 6 hate crime attack that killed 4 members of one family who were out for a stroll. The city and country are with the family and surviving son, and support diversity and cultural richness. Hate does not reflect our values, Mayor Dilkens said during the radio show interview.

In Segment 2, Noor Nugali, Assistant Editor in Chief, Arab News, discusses her recent interview with John Kerry, who was appointed by President Biden as his Special Envoy on Climate and the environment.

Yemen Reporter Saeed Al-Batati on Houthi violence; Cornelia Meyer on Global Anti-Corruption Coalition

Yemen Reporter Saeed Al-Batati on Houthi violence; Cornelia Meyer on Global Anti-Corruption Coalition

On this week’s "The Ray Hanania Radio Show," guests included Saeed Al-Batati, an Arab News reporter, discussing  the violence in Yemen and the lack of coverage over the tragedies occurring there, and Business writer Cornelia Meyer on the Global Anti-Corruption Coalition as well as the lack of vaccinations for Third World Countries and the recent Aramco Bond issue

Segment 1: Reporter Saeed Al-Batati talked about his coverage of Yemen.

This week the Iranian Houthis fired a missile that killed 17 people, including a 5-year-old child. A 5-year-old child who was unlucky twice in her short life, once in the fact that she born in a country that is unsafe, and the second time when she was killed during a barrage of attacks. Saeed is a Yemeni reporter and during the interview he expressed his frustration with the lack of coverage and outrage over the horrible mistreatment of Yemeni citizens by the Iranian Houthis. He then went on to discuss how this lack of coverage removes any pressure on the Houthis and eliminates any possibility for things to change for the better.

In Segment 2,Cornelia Meyer, Arab News Op-Ed columnist and business writer, discussed several issues from corruption to vaccinations. To begin they discussed the Global Anti-Corruption Coalition, which shows the nations bonding together to fight anti-corruption on a global scale and gives more support to national efforts. Even though it might not seem the most crucial during Covid-19, as Cornelia stated during the interview, “You have to keep the eye on the ball.” Corruption is a global problem that will continue through elections, pandemics, wars, etc and it cannot be overlooked.

Following the discussion about the Global Anti-Corruption Coalition, Ray and Cornelia discussed vaccinations in the Middle East and the wide disparity in vaccinated population percentages between developed and developing countries. It is important for 1st world countries such as the USA to help lesser developed countries because unless the whole world gets vaccinated, there will be a continuous development of new mutations of the virus.

The interview then shifted to the USA and the new bill passed by the Senate aimed to bolster technological and industrial capacity in the technology and innovation space. While the US seems to be a very divided country, with Republicans and Democrats constantly disagreeing, having China as a common foe managed to unite the opposing sides and pass the bill by 68-32 votes.
The segment with Cornelia then finished off with a discussion about the recent Aramco Bond issue.

You can hear the show live every Wednesday morning at 8 AM EST in Detroit on WNZK AM 690 radio (8 AM and 5 PM EST), in Washington DC on WDMV AM 700 Radio (8 AM EST), and online at ArabRadio.us.

AND you can watch the live radio show stream on Facebook.com/ArabNews.

Arab Radio Frank Kane on Frankly Speaking, and Ali Safavi on Iran June 2, 2021

Arab Radio Frank Kane on Frankly Speaking, and Ali Safavi on Iran June 2, 2021

In SEGMENT 1 we’ll speak with Frank Kane the host of the flagship News program for Arab News, “Frankly Speaking” … Frank has interviewed many guests in politics and business during his first season including the Saudi Investment Minister Khaled AlFalih, and the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz …. His latest interview is with the Exiled Crown Prince of Iran Reza Pahlavi …

In SEGMENT 2, we will be looking the violence in Iran and Iran’s elections with Ali Safavi a board member of the NCRI … were talking about the violent regime of the Iranian Mullahs, their oppression, their support of international terrorism and their drive to build a nuclear weapon and their planned so-called elections coming soon

The Ray Hanania Radio Show brought to you by Arab News at ArabNews.com on the US Arab Radio Network, broadcasting live on WNZK AM 690 in Greater Detroit and WDMV AM 700 in Greater Washington DC; and streamed live on Facebook.com/ArabNews and also on ArabRadio.US