Washington (AFP) – US President Donald Trump vetoed a broad defense funding bill sent to him by Congress Wednesday, complaining that it helps Russia and China and objecting to provisions to rename military bases. The bipartisan bill was passed by high enough margins in both chambers of Congress for lawmakers to — in theory —
Trump vetoes sweeping US defense bill Read More »
Travel and Food
ATLANTA — Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Wednesday asked Georgia state representatives to end no-excuse absentee voting, a proposal that would limit the voting method over 1.3 million people used in the presidential election. Raffensperger wants to reduce absentee voting after promoting it during the coronavirus pandemic, when he mailed ballot applications to
Georgia elections chief seeks to end no-excuse absentee voting Read More »
USA
Mirroring the negative advertising campaigns in Georgia criticizing the opponents of the candidates they favor, Christians United for Israel issued a press release rebuking Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, for anti-Israel statements he made in the past (but which he has since recanted), while Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California) blasted Warnock’s opponent, U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, for selling millions of dollars in personal stocks before news of the impacts of the COVID pandemic were generally known by the public. [Donald H. Harrison]
Echoes of Bitter Georgia Senate Races Reach California Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USA
Dr. Miguel Cardona nomination is another sign the Biden administration is committed to having a Cabinet that reflects America.The nomination of the former school teacher is a drastic 180 from current education secretary Betsy Devos. As the Secretary of Education, Devos has single handedly destroyed an already weekend public education system in favour of providing
Dr. Miguel Cardona First Latino Nominated for Secretary of Education Read More »
USA
Morocco’s relationship with Israel can be a gateway for Moroccan-Jewish people – along with other members of Morocco’s diaspora – to return to the land of their origins and join this national effort to restore long-held sacred locations that epitomize the country’s embracing of its intercultural self. Collaborations are crucial to sharing knowledge lest it be ever forgotten, to inspiring the world, and to making the lives and livelihoods of the Moroccan people better today. [Yossef Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
Israel-Morocco Ties May Lure Moroccan Diaspora Home Read More »
International, Middle East, Yossef Ben-Meir
Washington (AFP) – Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, has said she plans to retire after helping the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden with its transition. The 64-year-old physician and global health expert, who has faced frequent criticism in her current role, suggested that recent media coverage had unfairly dragged her
Top WH coronavirus official Deborah Birx retiring soon Read More »
USA
The head of Israel’sLabor Party said Wednesday he will not seek re-election as leader of the former ruling party as the country enters its fourth election campaign in two years. The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, dissolved at midnight after the government failed to pass a national budget for 2020 amid bitter coalition disputes between its two
Labor Party head resigns as Israel lurches to new elections Read More »
Middle East
Morocco formally signed a normalisation agreement with Israel during a visit to the presidential palace by an Israeli delegation on Tuesday. Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani signed the declaration in the presence of King Mohammed VI, who announced the resumption of ties with the occupying state. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior White
Morocco signs ‘normalisation’ agreement with Israel in ceremony attended by king Read More »
Middle East, USA
President Donald Trump is reportedly questioning the loyalty of Vice President Mike Pence as the commander-in-chief pushes ever more extreme measures to overturn his election loss. After another round of White House scheming with right-wing allies, Trump is focused on the vice president’s largely ceremonial role of presiding over a Jan. 6 session of Congress
Trump questions loyalty of Pence as GOP hardliners push to overturn election results Read More »
USA
Israel’s parliament dissolved on Wednesday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fractured ruling coalition failed to pass a budget, triggering a fourth election in two years and renewing an unprecedented political crisis. The coalition led by Netanyahu and his former election rival, Defence Minister Benny Gantz, had been inching towards collapse for weeks, undermined by mutual
Israel parliament dissolves, sparking fourth election in two years Read More »
Middle East
Washington (AFP) – President Donald Trump on Tuesday rejected a $900 billion bipartisan Covid stimulus package, calling it “a disgrace” and demanding that lawmakers more than triple relief payments to Americans. While he did not explicitly say he would not sign the bill, which passed overwhelmingly Monday in both houses of Congress, Trump made clear
Trump rejects Covid relief bill, calling it ‘a disgrace’ Read More »
USA
Romance of the Western Chamber is a 2 1/2- hour musical based on a play that first appeared in China as Xi Xiang Ji in the 13th century. It is a lovely love story of a poor 23-year-old man and rich 19-year-old woman who fell in love at first sight. The original play ran for about 20 hours. It was the most famous love story in Chinese literature and was made into a movie and several Beijing operas. It was adapted and turned into a musical by the late Dr. Howard Rubenstein, a San Diego physician and playwright who wrote ten very interesting plays. Rubenstein revised the play into modern English, reduced its time, and had Max Lee write music for it.
San Diegan wins posthumous plaudits for his rendition of a Chinese musical Read More »
International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
The Real Housewives franchise may celebrate affluent women in various regions throughout the United States, but it’s fair bet none of them ever led a fight for fair working conditions on the Lower East Side, including protesting soaring prices of food or unfair rents. For that, it took Jewish women, most of them housewives and mothers, who organized themselves into a fighting force that today would be almost unimaginable. Their story was told recently by Jennifer Young, a historian, writer, and former Director of Education at the YIVO Institute, who was asked by the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy to speak on “Radical Housewives: Jewish Women’s Activism on the Lower East Side and Beyond.”
Radical Housewives: NYC Jewish Women’s Activism Read More »
Jewish History, USA
Wilmington (United States) (AFP) – President-elect Joe Biden said Tuesday that the perpetrators of a massive cyberattack on the US government, unofficially blamed on Russia, must face consequences, and assailed President Donald Trump over his response to the threat. “We can’t let this go unanswered,” Biden said in pre-holiday remarks to the American people. “That
Biden says huge cyberattack cannot go unanswered Read More »
International, USA