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...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...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...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...Arrest warrant issued for prominent pro-Syria leader in Lebanon
BEIRUT — Military Investigative Judge Riyad Abu Ghayda issued on Thursday, April 10, an arrest warrant in absentia for pro-Assad figure Rifaat Eid and 11 of his associates over their alleged involvement in clashes in the northern city of Tripoli.Abu Ghayda’s warrants are based on articles in the Penal Code, which could lead to the...Egypt court sentences four men to prison for homosexuality
CAIRO — A court in Egypt sentenced four men to up to eight years in prison on Monday, April 7, for practicing homosexuality, a judicial official said.Prosecutors had accused the men of holding "deviant parties" and dressing in women's clothes. Three were sentenced to eight years and the fourth to three years in prison.Prosecutors have...Yemen border attack kills two Saudi soldiers
RIYADH — Two Saudi soldiers have been killed in a clash with unidentified gunmen who fired on them from across the border with Yemen, the interior ministry said Thursday, April 10.A border guard patrol in the southwestern province of Asir "came under heavy gunfire on Wednesday morning from unknown sources inside Yemeni territory," said...Bomb kills air force officer in Benghazi
BENGHAZI — A Libyan air force officer was killed Wednesday, April 8, and his wife and daughter were seriously injured, when a bomb placed under their car exploded in the eastern city of Benghazi, officials said.Benghazi was the cradle of the 2011 revolution that ousted long-time dictator Moamer Gaddafi, and has since been plagued by...Tunisia prosecutor seeks death penalty for rapist policemen
TUNIS — Tunisia's public prosecutor appealed a seven-year jail term on Monday, April 7, for two policemen jailed for rape, and demanded a retrial with a view to seeking the death penalty."The prosecution relates to the characterization of the facts as sex under duress with the threat of violence, under Paragraph 227 of the Penal Code,...Syrian army retakes Rankous, official says election on time
DAMASCUS — The Syrian army regained full control of Rankous in the Qalamoun region, Al-Manar television and Syrian state news agency reported on Wednesday, April 9.Regime forces continued to hunt down remnants of “terrorist” groups on the outskirts of the area known as the Northern Neighborhood and surrounding mountains after...
Kerry slams Israel for faltering Mideast peace
April 11th, 20140 WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry suggested on Tuesday, April 8, that Israel's announcement of plans to build about 700 housing units in East Jerusalem was the proximate cause for the near collapse of its peace talks with the Palestinians.However, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Kerry was not seeking to...Palestinians asked to spy in exchange for medical treatment
GAZA CITY - “If you want to live and receive medical treatment, you have my number, so you can call me and agree to my request. You will then get medical help, and survive.” The request, the patient said, was from an Israeli intelligence officer looking to recruit him in exchange for treatment. The 28-year-old......
Lebanon passes domestic violence law, activists consider it inadequate
BEIRUT — Hundreds of protesters rallied outside Parliament in downtown Beirut Tuesday, April 1, as the Parliament voted to approve a domestic violence law that activists criticized for falling short of providing women full protection from abuse.Women's rights group Kafa denounced legislators for not considering a list of amendments...Bombs kill two at Cairo University
CAIRO — A series of explosions outside Cairo University killed two people on Wednesday, April 2, including a police brigadier-general, in what appeared to be a militant attack targeting security forces.There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Islamist militants have carried out many similar operations against police and...Debbie Dingell holds fundraiser in Dearborn, vows to promote diversity
Dingell.DEARBORN - Over the years, Debbie Dingell, a candidate in the race for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, has strengthened relationships between different ethnic groups. Dingell, a longtime advocate for Arab American issues, says as congresswoman she would continue working to bring people of various backgrounds...Julie Plawecki runs for state representative in Michigan’s 11th House District
Julie Plawecki.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Julie Plawecki, a longtime teaching professional and 20-year resident of Dearborn Heights, has announced her candidacy for the 11th House District. Plawecki, 52, was approached by community leaders late last year to fill the seat, which consists of portions of Dearborn Heights, Livonia, Westland......
Tony Guerriero announces candidacy for Dearborn 19th District Court Judge
DEARBORN — Tony Guerriero. will be a candidate for the position of Dearborn 19th District Court Judge this fall. He was raised in Dearborn’s south end on Salina Street. Guerriero is a first generation Italian American. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the School of Management at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He...
Syria accuses rebels of planning gas attack near Damascus
April 4th, 20140 DAMASCUS - Syria is charging in a letter to the United Nations that opposition groups are planning a toxic gas attack in a rebel-held area near Damascus, so they can then blame it on government security forces.In a letter dated March 25 and circulated by the U.N. this week, Syria's U.N. envoy, Bashar Ja'afari, said his government had......
Iraq forces kill dozens of militants near Baghdad
Baghdad — Iraqi soldiers killed more than 40 militants in clashes near Baghdad on Thursday, April 3, as anti-government fighters edged close to the capital just weeks before national parliamentary elections.The firefight was the latest in a surge in bloodshed over the past year, amid fears insurgents could seek to destabilize the April...Protesters and police clash in Bahrain
MANAMA — Anti-government demonstrators clashed with police who fired tear gas and birdshot in Bahrain on Thursday, April 3, following a funeral procession in a village south of the capital Manama, witnesses said.The violence in the village of al-Eker outside the capital Manama came ahead of the Formula One Grand Prix, an annual event......