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Woman accused of mailing ricin laced letters to Obama gets plea deal
New Boston, Texas — A Texas actress accused of mailing ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors, according to federal court documents.Shannon Guess Richardson, 36, whose acting career included minor television roles, had attempted to blame her...New York Arab shop owners charged for duping customer out of $1 million lottery ticket
Long Island, New York — A Long Island convenience store owner and his son, accused of duping a customer who spoke limited English out of a $1 million winning lottery ticket, were charged on Saturday, November 23, with grand larceny. The 34-year-old Hispanic man bought a $10 "Unwrap The Cash" scratch-off game at the Peninsula...Dying Chicago lesbian gets judge’s OK to wed ahead of new law
REUTERS — A Chicago woman who is dying of cancer could wed her lesbian partner as early as this week after a federal judge ordered local officials to issue them a marriage license six months before an Illinois law recognizing gay unions takes effect.The cancer patient, Vernita Gray, 64, and her partner, Patricia Ewert, 65, had argued...First book printed in America sells for record $14.2 million
NEW YORK — The Bay Psalm Book, one of 11 surviving copies of the first book printed in America, sold for $14.2 million on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Sotheby's in New York, setting a new world auction record for any printed book.Although it had been estimated to fetch up to $30 million, it easily surpassed the previous mark of $11.5 million,...Katy Perry under scrutiny from Asian groups for “racist performance”
Los Angeles — Pop star Katy Perry landed in hot water at last week's American Music Awards. The singer stirred controversy with her opening act, after she dressed a la geisha in a cleavage-baring kimono, while singing her latest hit single "Unconditionally." The "Teenage Dream" singer was called out for being insensitive. A Wall...The plot thickens: Gaza is flooded with sewage and conspiracies
The latest punishment of Gaza may seem like another familiar plot to humiliate the strip to the satisfaction of Israel, Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestinian Authority, and the military-controlled Egyptian government. But something far more sinister is brewing.This time, the collective punishment of Gaza arrives in the form of raw sewage that is...Obama’s Middle East grand strategy
President Obama is on a diplomatic offensive on several fronts in the Middle East. The six-month interim agreement between the major world powers, five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the European Union, and Iran to restrain its nuclear program is being described as the most important development in their relations since...An embittered Riyadh may weigh nuclear option
UNITED NATIONS - Saudi Arabia’s unyielding opposition to last week’s interim nuclear agreement with Iran has triggered speculation about its own projection of military power in the Middle East.As the Wall Street Journal pointed out early this week, the Saudis may conclude that international acceptance of a nuclear program of any kind...
Beirut suicide bombers were followers of Assir
November 29th, 20130 BEIRUT — DNA tests revealed that the two suicide bombers behind the attack on the Iranian embassy in Beirut resided in South Lebanon and were followers of Salafi cleric Ahmad al-Assir.It was a sluggish weekend in Saida and its environs; the double suicide bombing of the Iranian embassy in Beirut resulted in a series of shocks for the...WHO: Syria polio cases spread to Damascus and Aleppo
BEIRUT — The World Health Organization said on Tuesday, Nov. 26, that additional polio cases had been confirmed in two new areas of Syria, including near Damascus and in the northern city of Aleppo near Turkey. UNICEF has joined the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to launch a huge immunization campaign against polio in...Rebels reject ceasefire for Geneva talks as Syrian army advances in Damascus Countryside
DAMASCUS — The commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) said on Tuesday, Nov. 26, his group would shun a planned peace conference in Switzerland in January and would pursue its fight to topple President Bashar al-Assad regardless.General Salim Idriss's stance highlights how hard it will be for international mediators to get...NSA leaks: Radicals call for jihad by day and watch porn by night
WASHINGTON - The National Security Agency planned to discredit Islamist "radicals" by spying on their online pornography habits, The Huffington Post reported Wednesday, Nov. 25, citing a document leaked by ex-intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.The eavesdropping agency focused on how propagandists for the violent extremists could be...Dubai to host Expo 2020
DUBAI - The sky above the world's tallest building was illuminated by fireworks on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 26, as Dubai was named host city of the Expo 2020.The city, part of the United Arab Emirates, fought off competition from Brazil, Turkey and Russia in its much-hyped bid to run the exhibition.The exposition is an acclaimed...Egypt to vote on a new constitution in December
CAIRO - Egypt will hold a referendum on an amended constitution in December, the group drafting it said on Tuesday, Nov. 26, an important step in an army-backed roadmap meant to lead to elections.Hours before the timing of the referendum was announced, protesters took to the streets in defiance of a law passed on Sunday requiring police...Benghazi declares civil disobedience after deadly clashes
BENGHAZI — Local officials called for civil disobedience including strikes for three days from Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi after deadly clashes between radical Islamist fighters and the army.The call issued by Benghazi's city council came as defense ministry officials, according to a source, were in......
Poll: Americans overwhelmingly support Iran nuclear agreement
November 29th, 20130 Washington - Americans back a newly brokered nuclear deal with Iran by a 2-to-1 margin and are very wary of the United States resorting to military action against Tehran even if the historic diplomatic effort falls through, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed on Tuesday.The findings were rare good news in the polls for President Barack Obama,...Judge to rule on Detroit bankruptcy Dec. 3
DETROIT — The judge overseeing Detroit's historic bankruptcy petition set Dec. 3 as the date for issuing his decision on whether the cash-strapped city qualifies as bankrupt under federal law, according to a court filing posted Monday.U.S. Judge Steven Rhodes will hand down his ruling in federal bankruptcy court in Detroit at 9 a.m....Massachusetts mall Santa charged with groping coworker
BOSTON — A man who worked as a Santa Claus in a Massachusetts shopping mall has been ordered not to put the red suit back on until a court resolves a charge that he groped an adult coworker over the weekend.The man, Herbert Jones, 62, was arrested on Saturday, November 23, and charged with one count of indecent assault and battery on a...Law corner: A dog who takes a bite out of a guest takes a bite out of his owner’s wallet
In Michigan, a dog’s owner has a legal responsibility to ensure that the dog does not injure people. Specifically, the dog bite statute provides:(1) If a dog bites a person, without provocation while the person is on public property, or lawfully on private property, including the property of the owner of the dog, the owner of the......
Iranian Americans, scholars react to historic Iran nuclear deal
November 28th, 20130 Iranian and Arab Americans in communities across the country are expressing enthusiasm about the historic agreement between Iran and six world powers that was finalized on Sunday, Nov. 24.The deal between Iran and the six major nations, which include the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, places constraints on Tehran’s...
Imad Hamad leaves ADC Michigan; Attorney Fatina Abdrabboh to head local chapter amid growing calls for reform
November 27th, 20130 DEARBORN - The former Director of Michigan’s regional office of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC-MI) Imad Hamad announced, on Friday Nov. 22, that he was no longer with the civil rights group. The announcement of Hamad’s retirement comes after heavy pressure had built over the last several months for him to......
Imad Hamd leaves ADC Michigan; Attorney Fatina Abedrabboh to head local chapter
The former head of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee of Michigan, Imad Hamad announced today that he is no longer with the civil rights group. Attorney Fatina Abedrabboh is now the new ADC-Michigan Director. A statement released by Hamad today read, “First and foremost, I extend my...Students celebrate Oman’s National Day at UMD
DEARBORN — The Omani Student Association (OSA) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UMD) celebrated Oman's National Day, on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the "Victor's Den," a student center in the university's residential complex, The Union. The students turned the celebration into an opportunity to promote their home......