International

Trump’s ‘hire American’ order aims to reshape skilled-worker visa program

WASHINGTON — Returning to a favorite campaign theme at a time when his domestic agenda has stalled, President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered a review of a visa program that he said has undercut American workers, declaring his move a “powerful signal” of his administration’s commitment to “finally put America first.” The White House said […]

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International, USA

‘If there is danger to life, it is an obligation to force-feed’

The hunger strike now being held by jailed terrorists comes with various ramifications, starting with the expected rioting on Palestinian streets and possibly beyond, and extending to the question of the Israeli government”s ability to stand up to this sort of struggle. Among other things, a hunger strike like this leads to the question of

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Jewish Religion, Middle East

Cuba to boost tourism with bigger ships

HAVANA – Cuba’s tourism industry, now its most dynamic economic sector, is looking to boost visitor numbers by attracting larger cruise ships. International cruise operators, such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line, have regularly sailed into Cuban ports. The plan is to expand the ports’ infrastructure to accommodate larger passenger ships. Jose Manuel

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International, Travel and Food, USA

Israel must not yield to hunger-striking Palestinians, says lawmaker

Tel Aviv (dpa) – Israel must not yield to demands being made by more than 1,000 “shameless” Palestinian prisoners on an indefinite hunger strike, top Israeli lawmaker Tzachi Hanegbi said on Tuesday. “This is a gang of shameless guys, of merciless murderers,” Hanegbi told Israel Radio. Calling their demands baseless, Hanegbi argued that the strike

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Middle East

Egyptian author gives voice to homosexuals in taboo-breaking novel

Mohammed Abdel-Nabi’s novel on homosexuality is one of six works competing for the Arab world’s top literary prize on April 25. Even though same-sex relations remain taboo in his home country, the author tells dpa that Egyptian society is becoming receptive to discussion on issues long regarded as off-limits. Cairo (dpa) – For the second

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International

BOOK REVIEW: ‘John Quincy Adams and the Politics of Slavery’

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS AND THE POLITICS OF SLAVERY By David Waldstreicher and Matthew Mason Oxford University Press, $29.95, 308 pages Good biography should not just bring the subject individual into clearer focus, it also should inform us about how that life has something to tell us about current events. This meticulously annotated selection from the

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, USA

Take a Tour of Russia’s Giant New Arctic Military Base

Russia’s Ministry of Defense has unveiled the country’s newest Arctic military base on one of the northernmost points of its remote Franz Josef Land archipelago. Moscow has invited internet users on a virtual tour around the facility known as Arkticheskiy Trilistnik or ‘Arctic Trefoil’. Despite its college dorm aesthetics, the base can comfortably support 150

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International

Trump’s First Easter Egg Roll Was One for the Books

President Donald Trump’s family and cabinet did more than just host 21,000 people for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday—they finally got caught reading. First lady Melania Trump perched on a seat before a crowd of children and read aloud “Party Animals,” a 2010 book by TV host Kathie Lee Giffords, telling

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, USA

UK: Theresa May calls snap general election to be held on June 8

May calls early election UK Conservatives odds-on favourites Opposition Labour Party welcomes call British Prime Minister Theresa May has called an early election for June 8. May says she needs to strengthen her hand in divorce talks with the European Union and hopes the poll result will shore up support. Standing outside her Downing Street

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International

Man kills 3 people in shootings in downtown Fresno; officials probe any terror links

FRESNO, Calif. — A Fresno man known for advocating black separatism and making militant comments on social media shot and killed three people in downtown Fresno on Tuesday before surrendering to authorities and uttering the phrase, “Allahu akbar,” according to the Fresno Police Department. The suspect was identified as Kori Ali Muhammad, a 39-year-old man

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USA

Carrier strike group wasn’t headed toward N. Korea, despite Trump’s saber-rattling

WASHINGTON — An aircraft carrier strike group that the Trump administration had said was headed toward North Korea in a powerful show of force has instead spent the past week thousands of miles away — and heading in the opposite direction. Adm. Harry Harris, who heads U.S. Pacific Command, initially announced in a news release

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International, USA