The Arab American News
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Hollywood star Angelina Jolie visits Syrian refugee children in Lebanon
BEIRUT - Hollywood star and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) envoy Angelina Jolie met orphaned Syrian refugee children in Lebanon and called for an end to the war across the border, on Monday, Feb. 24. Syria's nearly three-year war has forced millions to flee the country, most of them to neighboring countries like Lebanon,...Israeli airstrike tests Hizbullah readiness, group vows to respond
BEIRUT - Hizbullah on Wednesday, Feb. 26, confirmed an Israeli air raid two days earlier on one of its positions in Lebanon and vowed to respond "at the appropriate time" to the "blatant aggression"."On Monday night... the Israeli enemy's warplanes bombarded a Hizbullah position on the Lebanese-Syrian border, near the area of Janta in...At least 31 killed in Baghdad motorbike market bombing
BAGHDAD - At least 31 people were killed and 51 wounded when a motorcycle rigged with explosives detonated in Baghdad's Sadr City, on Thursday, Feb. 27, Iraqi medical and police sources said. The motorcycle was parked in a second-hand market in the Shi'a Muslim neighborhood that sells used bikes and was filled with people, mostly young...Iraqi leaders give conflicting answers on reported Iran arms deal
BAGHDAD - Iraqi officials gave contradictory accounts on Tuesday, Feb. 25, about whether or not Baghdad had agreed to buy $195 million worth of arms and ammunition from Iran as reported by Reuters, a deal that if confirmed could damage Iraqi-U.S. relations.The Defense Ministry denied any such deal had been made, while a senior Iraqi...Egypt’s bread ‘smart cards’ could solve subsidy-abuse problem
CAIRO — A device resembling a credit card swiper is revolutionizing some of Egypt's politically explosive bread lines and may help achieve the impossible -- cutting crippling food import bills.Authorities who hope to avoid protests over subsidized loaves sold for the equivalent of 1 U.S. cent have turned to smart cards to try to manage...Dumping the A-word and moving on
Arab and Muslim Americans have launched something, and this time, it’s actually good. What I’m talking about is a new social media campaign to end the use of the word “abed.” The movement hopes to finally convince Arab Americans that using “abed” (or its plural form “abeed”) is just plain wrong.The literal...Omar and the checkpoint: Palestinians’ daily nightmare
Omar is a 7-year-old boy from Gaza. His family managed to obtain the necessary permits that allowed him to cross the Erez checkpoint to Jerusalem, through the West Bank, in order to undergo surgery. He was accompanied by his father. On the way back, the boy and his father were stopped at the Qalanidya checkpoint, separating occupied East...Confronting mental illness could save lives
In the past month, the Arab American community has witnessed the suicides of two young, promising individuals. On January 21, Asil Srour Makki took her own life, and on February 7, Shady Bazzi killed himself. Both were residents of Dearborn. Both committed suicide in their own home. And both used guns.It has been...
Google ordered to remove anti-Islamic film from YouTube
February 28th, 20140 A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday, February 26, ordered Google Inc to remove from its YouTube video-sharing website an anti-Islamic film that had sparked protests across the Muslim world.By a 2-1 vote, a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Google's assertion that the removal of the film "Innocence of Muslims"...Second wave of retired cops and firefighters arrested over 9/11 fraud charges
This week, nearly 30 retired New York City firefighters and police officers have been arrested for falsely claiming Social Security benefits in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.The news comes on the heels of over 100 arrested retired firefighters and police officers in January, as a result of a...
John Dingell, the dean of Congress, to retire after 58 years in the House
February 28th, 20140 DEARBORN — The longest serving member of Congress will retire at the end of the year. After 58 years in Congress, U.S. Representative John Dingell (D-Mich.) announced on Monday, Feb. 24, that he would not seek reelection in November, drawing the curtain on 29 Congressional terms.Dingell, of Dearborn, 87, a World War II veteran, was...
Detroit NAACP President Rev. Wendell Anthony: There cannot be two Detroits
February 28th, 20140 DETROIT — With the city at a crossroads, dealing with a state-led bankruptcy and a newly elected mayor, Reverend Wendell Anthony enters his 21st year as the leader of the largest chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Despite a decline in population over the last few decades, Detroit is...
O’Reilly discusses challenges, goals and future during State of the City address
February 28th, 20140 DEARBORN - On Wednesday, February 26, Mayor Jack O'Reilly held his State of the City address at City Hall, where he summarized previous accomplishments and outlined future goals. Those in attendance included Dearborn City Council President Susan Dabaja, Councilman Mike Sareini, Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad, Dearborn Chief Judge...
Westland Mayor Bill Wild discusses Wayne County CEO candidacy, pledges to implement business experience if elected
February 28th, 20140 DEARBORN — Westland Mayor William "Bill" Wild enjoys the business aspect of politics. He says he balanced Westland's 2-year budget and created a $5-million surplus, without raising taxes or cutting essential services, by using the experience of managing his own small business. Now he is running for Wayne County executive to...Two attempted attacks on chemical weapon convoys
New York - There were two attempted attacks on Syrian convoys transporting chemical weapons late last month, Syrian authorities told the international mission overseeing the removal and destruction of its toxic arsenal, according to a U.N. report on Thursday, Feb. 27.The monthly report to the U.N. Security Council of the joint mission of......
A selective view of ‘democracy’
A familiar conventional wisdom about how the last two U.S. administrations have approached democratization abroad has come up repeatedly in connection with crises in several foreign countries. George W. Bush is seen as the president who tried to promote democracy actively and proactively, even using military force in the effort, while...
Activists spread awareness on plight of Bahrainis during uprisings
February 28th, 20140 DEARBORN — On Tuesday, Feb. 18, Students for Islamic Awareness (SIA) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UMD) hosted a forum exposing the struggles of Bahrainis during the small island country's revolution. The event, titled “Bahrain: An Uprising in the Shadows,” was co-sponsored by the Arab Student Union of UMD and the...Saudis warned against arming rebels
Meanwhile, Russia warned last week Saudi Arabia against supplying Syrian rebels with shoulder-launched missile launchers, saying such a move would endanger security across the Middle East and beyond.The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned" by news reports that Saudi Arabia was planning to buy...MPAC: Court ruling in favor of NYPD surveillance threatens civil liberties
WASHINGTON D.C. — This week, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) expressed its disappointment with a federal ruling that the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) surveillance of Muslims in New Jersey was “a lawful effort to prevent terrorism.” Eight plaintiffs brought the suit against New York City, claiming that the......
175 rebels killed in ambush
Earlier, the Syrian army killed at least 175 militants, most of them foreigners, in an ambush in insurgent-held eastern outskirts of Damascus, state media said on Wednesday, Feb. 26.However, the Syrian National Coalition disputed the government report, saying the people killed were civilians trying to escape the siege imposed by...Ficano administration discusses deficit elimination plan
DETROIT — Members of Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano’s administration say the newly proposed deficit elimination plan would rid the County of its accumulated $175 million debt by Sep. 30, 2015. The state and Wayne County Commission would have to approve the plan before it is fully implemented. “There are a lot of......
Washington state expected to enact college aid for undocumented immigrants
WASHINGTON — Washington is set to become the fifth state to offer college financial aid to students brought into the country illegally by their parents.Democratic Governor Jay Inslee is expected on Wednesday to sign legislation that provides grants to students whose families meet income and residency guidelines. California, Illinois,...
Islamic Center co-founder Khalil “Chuck” Alawan passes away
February 28th, 20140 DEARBORN — Khalil Alawan, one of the Islamic Center of America's (ICA) original founders passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 26. He was 83 and widely referred to as "Chuck." Family members tell The Arab American News he died of heart failure. His dedication to spreading awareness and breaking down misconceptions about Islam touched the......
