February 2011

U.S. Treasury freezes American assets of Iran’s Refah Bank

WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release) – The U.S. Department of Treasuryon Thursday designated Bank Refah for providing financial services to the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA). In recent years, Bank Refah has facilitated millions of dollars of weapons-related purchases by MODAFL. These purchases included missiles and […]

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Travel and Food

Behind the REAL curtain, not the one in Oz, Wizard wins admiration of local Munchkins Adira Rosen and Megan Spector

 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—In The Wizard of Oz, the title character turns out not as nice as he is reputed to be, but it’s just the opposite backstage at the Civic Theatre where the touring Broadway San Diego production has been pulling in the crowds.  There’s just nobody nicer than Robert John Biedermann,

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Donald H. Harrison

BGU developing smart robots to pick ripe fruit

 BEER-SHEVA, Israe; (Press Release)– Robotics researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have received a $1.3 million grant (977,840 €) to develop intelligent sensing and manipulation algorithms for robots that can sense and pick high value crops. The project is part of the European Union Seventh Framework Program (FP7) “cRops” (Clever Robots for Crops).  cRops

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Travel and Food

A bissel this, a bissel that—San Diego Jewish news and chatter

(column 19, February 17, 2011) Compiled by Donald H. Harrison Jewish organizations The National Conflict Resolution Center will honor retired Anti-Defamation League regional director Morris Casuto and anti-apartheid playwright Athol Fugart at a March 10 dinner at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel.  Casuto will receive a lifetime achievement award. * David Brog, executive director of Christians

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County

Students studying ethical farming to converge on SDJA

SAN DIEGO (Press Release)– Almost 60 college students from the University of Pennsylvania, New York University and Cornell University will visit San Diego Jewish Academy (SDJA) in March to volunteer at the school’s garden as part of Jewish Farm School’s alternative spring break program.  “For the third year, we are delighted to host college students

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San Diego Calendar, San Diego County

ADL has another group to defend from prejudice: journalists

NEW YORK (Press Release)… The Anti-Defamation League (ADL)  said Thursday it was deeply troubled by the dozens of violent attacks on journalists covering pro-democracy protests in Egypt and in other countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Scores of reporters were subjected to violent beatings, detentions, assaults and equipment seizures during the protests in Egypt. 

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Travel and Food

Palestinians try to repair image in light of leaks, Egypt’s revolution

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–In the wake of the Egyptian revolution, pundit Tom Friedman fears Israel will not take this opportunity to strike a deal with the Palestinians. “If Israelis tell themselves that Egypt’s unrest proves why Israel cannot make peace with the Palestinian Authority, then they will be talking themselves into becoming

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Middle East

Ancient Jericho tower may have exploited sunset on longest day of year

TEL AVIV (Press Release)— Discovered by archaeologists in 1952, a 28-foot-high stone tower discovered on the edge of the town of Jericho has puzzled scientists ever since. Now, eleven centuries after it was built, Tel Aviv University archaeologists at the ancient site Tel Jericho are revealing new facts about the world’s first “skyscraper.” Recent computer-based

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Science, Medicine, & Education

Likud–on matters of policy and propriety–seems to have advantage in Israeli politics

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Benyamin Netanyahu has come in for some shrill criticism from locals and outsiders. Their most recent brief is to reiterate doubt about his sincerity with respect to the peace process with the Palestinians, and his reluctance to cheer what they see as the democratic tide of protest against Hosni Mubarak. Thursday’s

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Middle East

Israeli tension over intentions of Iranian warships

JERUSALEM (WJC)–Two Iranian warships bound for Syria have withdrawn a request to sail through the Egyptian-controlled Suez Canal.  Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman had announced on Wednesday night that the ships were en route to Syria via the canal, which connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. However, on Thursday the ships stopped in an

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Middle East

Bipartisan coalition would require U.S. businesses to disclose to SEC any dealings with Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – As American businesses continue to invest in Iran’s energy sector, funding Iran’s illicit quest for nuclear weapons, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) and Mark Kirk (R-Illinois), and U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (D-Florida) and Dan Burton (R-Indiana) Wednesday introduced the Iran Transparency and Accountability Act. The bipartisan legislation would require companies to

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Travel and Food