International

Donald Trump threatens James Comey in tweet: Better hope there are no ‘tapes’

President Trump tweeted a veiled threat Friday toward former FBI Director James B. Comey over possible tapes of their conversations. “James Comey better hope there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!” Mr. Trump posted on Twitter. James Comey better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations […]

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USA

Former Los Angeles County sheriff sentenced to 3 years in prison

LOS ANGELES — Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has been sentenced to three years in prison, marking an end to a corruption scandal that has roiled the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for several years. In going after Baca, federal prosecutors meticulously worked their way up the department’s ranks, charging lower-level figures and

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USA

Israel public radio and TV helped olim adjust

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — What exactly lies behind the closing of Israel’s Broadcasting Authority after its seven decades of serving the public is a subject for speculation. Politics, finances and greed are part of the picture for sure, although other reasons have been posited. The radio, followed by

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

7 Israeli Arabs indicted for raising millions for outlawed group

Suspects affiliated with banned Northern Branch of Islamic Movement, deemed a terror group, received cash from Turkey and UK By Times of Israel staff Suspected members of the Islamic Movement’s Northern Branch are brought to Jerusalem District Court, on May 11, 2017. (Hadas Parush/Flash90) Seven senior members of the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement

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Middle East

Senate approval of Trump’s trade chief could speed up NAFTA talks

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday signed off on President Donald Trump’s nominee to become the nation’s chief trade representative, ending more than four months of delays that the administration blamed for slowing its initiatives on trade, including efforts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. There was never much doubt that Robert Lighthizer,

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International, USA

How Russian State Media Got an Oval Office Exclusive

Russia has ridiculed the U.S. media after a bitter row about the exclusive access to the Oval Office given to a photographer with a Russian state news outlet. Alexander Scherbak, a photographer with Russia’s Itar-Tass, was the only media representative at the first ever meeting between Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and U.S.

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International, USA

Brazil’s ex-president Lula declares innocence in corruption probe

Rio de Janeiro (dpa) – Brazil’s former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said his accusers “had nothing” Thursday after testifying in court in a massive corruption scandal. “I thought that my accusers were going to show a document, a payment, some proof. But they had nothing,” he said in an emotional speech to thousands

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International

For first time, majority of Jewish Israelis want marriage outside rabbinate

Survey by religious pluralism group finds greatest support among secular, with 13% of religious Zionists backing them up By Times of Israel staff Young girls peak through a curtain next to the bride at an ultra-Orthodox wedding on January 18, 2016. (Yaakov Lederman/Flash90) A poll released Wednesday to mark the upcoming Lag B’Omer holiday indicates

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Middle East

Texas Bill Allows Religious Discrimination for Adoption

The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill that allows adoption agencies and foster carers to reject applicants based on their religious beliefs and lifestyle choices. The bill will let state-funded and private organizations make decisions about prospective parents based on their religious beliefs, meaning that couples who are gay, Jewish, Muslim or interfaith

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USA