The Arab American News
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Dutch girl arrested after tweeting terror threat to American Airlines
NEW YORK — A 14-year-old Dutch girl who threatened a terrorist attack in a tweet to American Airlines was arrested in Rotterdam on Monday — but that didn't stop a copycat from tweeting a similar threat to another airline.A Twitter user named "Sarah" wrote on Twitter over the weekend that she was a member of Al Qaeda and that she...Utah woman charged for killing six infants
UTAH — A judge set bail at $6 million on Monday for a Utah woman suspected of killing six infants after giving birth to them, then stuffing their bodies into cardboard boxes which were found at a house where she used to live.Police said Megan Huntsman, 39, admitted under questioning that she strangled or suffocated the babies...Asian Americans challenge Philadelphia’s refusal to provide language access to voters
PHILADELPHIA — On Wednesday, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) filed a complaint against the Philadelphia City Commissioners for refusing to provide language assistance to Asian American voters, in violation of the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance (FPO).Jerry Vattamala, Staff Attorney in AALDEF's...U.S. court deportations fall 43 percent over five years
WASHINGTON — Deportations through U.S. immigration courts have fallen 43 percent in the past five years as the federal government brought fewer cases before those courts, according to Justice Department data analyzed by the New York Times on Wednesday.The figures come as President Barack Obama and House Republicans clashed openly...Are Chaldeans Arabs too? I hope so!
Amer Zahr.Before I moved to Ann Arbor in 1995, I had never met a Chaldean. Ok, in truth, I had never heard of a Chaldean. But as a freshman at the University of Michigan, and in no small part due to my curiosity and blind (and sometimes misguided) love for my fellow Arabs, I came to meet many Chaldeans, and some have...ACCESS’ honoring of LaHood was a bad choice
Last weekend, the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) held its 43rd annual dinner in downtown Detroit at the Renaissance Center. Much was to be celebrated at the event, including the announcement of a $2 million endowment to be awarded to the Arab American National Museum from Arab American...Iraq shuts down infamous Abu Ghraib prison
BAGHDAD — Iraq has closed Abu Ghraib prison, which was made infamous by Saddam Hussein's regime and U.S. occupation forces, due to security concerns following a mass breakout last year, the justice ministry said Tuesday, April 14.The country is suffering a protracted surge in violence that has claimed more than 2,550 lives so far...Rebel videos, photos show U.S.-made rockets in Syria
DAMASCUS — Recently emerged videos and photos show Syrian rebels armed with what experts say are U.S. anti-tank rockets. These are the first significant American-built armaments to be seen in the country since the outbreak of the civil war three years ago.Although it was not possible to independently verify the footage – most...Israeli army abducts five Lebanese shepherds
BEIRUT — Israeli forces crossed into Lebanon on Thursday, April 17, and abducted five people from the Bastra farms of the southern town of Shebaa, the Lebanese state news agency reported. Lebanon's National News Agency identified the kidnapped as Hassan and Ismail Qassem Zahra, Nouhad Awad, Wafa Moussa, Woroud Moussa.Television...Israel appropriates more land in West Bank
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israel has carried out a new land appropriation in the occupied West Bank, Israeli newspaper Haaretz said on Sunday, April 13.The newspaper said the Defense Ministry declared nearly 250 acres of territory in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc just south of Jerusalem "state land."Asked by Reuters about the report, the...Algeria’s Bouteflika expected to win presidential re-election
ALGIERS —Algerians voted on Thursday, April 17, in an election President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is expected to win after 15 years in power, despite speaking only rarely in public since suffering a stroke in 2013.With the dominant National Liberation Front (FLN) party, allied movements and unions behind him, many Algerians believe...Yemen’s al-Qaeda leader vows to attack America
SANAA — The leader of al Qaeda's wing in Yemen has vowed to attack the United States, in a video apparently showing a gathering of the group celebrating a mass jailbreak of fighters.In February, attackers mounted a bomb, grenade and gun assault on the main prison in Sanaa in which 29 inmates, including 19 jailed for terrorism-related...Saudi spy chief and architect of Syria policy relieved of his duties
RIYADH — Saudi Arabian intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the architect of Riyadh's attempts to bring down Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been removed from his post, state media reported on Tuesday, April 15.His departure, months after he was quoted warning of a "major shift" from the United States over its Middle...
Dearborn cafes offer stadium-like experience to soccer fans
April 18th, 20140 DEARBORN — When Barcelona FC plays Real Madrid, we behold soccer's greatest rivalry. One does not have to cross the Atlantic Ocean to witness the intensity of the competitiveness between the teams' supporters. On Wednesday, April 16, during the final of the Spanish cup, the fierce contention between the fans could be observed among...Syrian troops retake Maaloula, three Lebanese reporters killed
DAMASCUS — Syrian soldiers backed by Hizbullah fighters recaptured the town of Maaloula, north of Damascus, on Monday, April, 14, further squeezing rebels' supply routes through the Qalamoun mountains into Lebanon.Islamist fighters, some from the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, had taken over part of the ancient Christian town in December......
CAIR-MI encourages American Muslims to fight Islamophobia at annual banquet
April 18th, 20140 LIVONIA — The Council on American Islamic Relations of Michigan (CAIR-MI) celebrated its 14th annual banquet, "Faith in Freedom," on Sunday, April 13 at Burton Manor in Livonia. CAIR has chapters across the United States and is the largest Muslim civil liberties organization in the country. About 800 people attended the event,...Law corner: GM covered up deadly defects, but now seeks to go free on technicality
Since General Motors announced the massive ignition switch defect recall of millions of its vehicles on February 7, a tremendous amount of information has been made public. The recall began with a couple makes and model years and has swelled into a recall of seven different makes and models of vehicles spanning eight model years.......
Detroit property owners establish fund to clean Business District
DETROIT—A group of property owners in downtown Detroit will establish a $4 million annual fund to provide additional street cleaning and landscaping improvements in the central business district.The program, Downtown Detroit Business Improvement Zone (BIZ), will replace Clean Downtown program and cover more areas of the city.BIZ will...Palestinian American activist Yusif Barakat seeks U.S. Senate seat
DETROIT—Despite his limited political experience and lack of campaign funds, Palestinian American activist Yusif Barakat is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate. And he thinks he can win. Barakat, 78, describes himself as an "idealist and a dreamer." He was elected in 1970 as Oakland County Commissioner and ran unsuccessfully for...Easter and America’s hope
They are holding on to the instilled American dream they saw in grandpa or even mom and dad. It's about the attainable dream of living securely with a job, a house, a car and trips to the grocery store. Don't forget a trip to the doctor when necessary. Many Americans can remember people in their family retiring at 55 - 65 years old....
Hundreds attend Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church “Eggstravaganza” Easter egg hunt
April 16th, 20140 DEARBORN—Hundreds of children and parents turned out to the Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church's "Eggstravaganza" Easter egg hunt last Saturday afternoon.The event had generated controversy and national media attention earlier this month when local parent and attorney Majed Moughni had complained about flyers being distributed at local......
$2 million legacy contribution pledged to Arab American Museum at ACCESS dinner
April 13th, 20140 DETROIT— Arab American entrepreneur Russell J. Ebeid announced a $2 million legacy contribution to the Arab American National Museum (AANM) at ACCESS' 43rd annual dinner at the Renaissance Center in Detroit on Saturday, April 12. ACCESS handed its "Arab American of the Year" awards to former Secretary of Transportation Ray...
UMD Faculty Congress votes down boycott and divestment resolutions
April 13th, 20140 (L-R) Philosophy Professor David Skrbina, Chair of Faculty Senate John Poster, UMD Chancellor Daniel Little. PHOTO: Ali Harb/TAANDEARBORN — The University of Michigan-Dearborn Faculty Congress voted on Monday, March 7 against a resolution that calls for forming a divestment committee to look into the human rights records of companies......
Egypt court upholds jailing of leading pro-democracy activists
CAIRO — An Egyptian appeals court on Monday, April 7, upheld the jailing of three leading figures of the 2011 pro-democracy uprising, tightening a crackdown on secular activists opposed to the army-backed government.Critics see their case as an attempt to stifle the kind of political street activism common since the uprising that...Thirteen car bombs rip through Iraq
BAGHDAD — Attacks across Iraq, including 13 car bombs, killed at least 18 people Wednesday, April 9, highlighting the persistent danger from militants 11 years after American forces captured Baghdad.The latest violence is part of a protracted surge in nationwide bloodshed that has killed more than 2,400 people so far this year.Eight......