International

During Layover, Flight Crew Goes ‘Above and Beyond’ for 5-Year-old Flying Solo

This 5-year-old was all set to have a safe flight as an unaccompanied minor last month – but then the kindness of the crew made it even better Since Southwest Airlines reportedly allows children aged 5 and up to travel unaccompanied (as long as it is either a nonstop flight or non-plane change layover), Aisley […]

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Travel and Food, USA

Michelle Obama Pens Heartfelt Birthday Tweet For Barack

As Donald Trump tweeted his grievances about Russia and the Republican Party Friday morning, the former first lady of the United States was busy making the president’s favorite social media platform a warmer, more nostalgic space. Michelle Obama penned a heartfelt tribute to former President Barack Obama on Twitter for his 56th birthday, sharing photos

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USA

‘Death by a thousand cuts’: Empty State Department offices sap morale, some staffers say

WASHINGTON — For four years, Ira N. Forman served as the U.S. special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism, a State Department post in which he advocated on behalf of Jewish communities at risk around the globe. He resigned, as required for political appointees, on Jan. 20, the day President Donald Trump took office. But

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International, USA

Anti-tourist demos spread from Barcelona to Mallorca

Barcelona attracts millions of holidaymakers each year for its sun-soaked beach front and bustling nightlife, but some locals are growing fed up with tourists. In late July, a group of masked men targeted an open-top tour bus, slashing its tires and scrawling graffiti onto its sides. Some terrified tourists on board first thought it was

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International, Travel and Food

California preparing to sue Trump administration

WASHINGTON — California is poised to sue the Trump administration over the president’s latest attempt to punish jurisdictions tagged by the Justice Department as “sanctuary cities” that harbor undocumented immigrants, according to two sources close to the case. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra — in conjunction with other California city and county attorneys — is

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International, USA

‘Pharma Bro’ Martin Shkreli convicted of securities fraud

NEW YORK — Businessman Martin Shkreli, once dubbed the “most hated man in America” for raising prices for critical drugs, was found guilty Friday of two counts of securities fraud and one of conspiracy in a federal court in Brooklyn. The baby-faced and gutter-mouthed 34-year-old, often known as “Pharma Bro,” had been charged with eight

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USA

Isaac Artenstein: Telling frontier Jewish stories

Isaac Artenstein from Bettina Hanna on Vimeo. By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — Filmmaker Isaac Artenstein likes to tell good stories, especially unknown ones, and if those stories inform and entertain others, even better. He feels that the Jews of the Southwest have an untold story as the narrative has been mostly about the Anglo

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Jewish History, Mimi Pollack, San Diego County, USA

Rules protecting special counsel may not be enough if Trump decides to fire him

WASHINGTON — As President Donald Trump looks at ways to get rid of the special counsel leading the investigation of Russian meddling in last year’s election, the intricate rules designed to ensure the independence of such probes may be about to face their first real test. The rules were put in place nearly 20 years

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USA

Trump, having vowed to make Mexico pay for border wall, begged Pena Nieto to stop saying no in public

WASHINGTON — Throughout the campaign, Donald Trump revved up supporters with a vow to build a border wall and force Mexico to pay for it. The promise deeply offended Mexicans, and in a testy phone call shortly after taking office, Trump all but begged his Mexican counterpart to stop embarrassing him by publicly refusing to

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International, USA

‘Cosmopolitan’ is a dog whistle word once used in Nazi Germany and Communist Russia

The White House press briefing on Wednesday was a little strange. Trump policy advisor Stephen Miller was at the podium to defend the president’s new immigration proposal, which would prioritize high-skilled immigrants who already speak English. Miller faced pushback from reporters, including a heated back-and-forth with CNN’s Jim Acosta, who quoted the Statue of Liberty’s

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Jewish History, USA