Incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Thursday morning defended the racial makeup of Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees, during his first official briefing on the eve of the president-elect’s Inauguration. Related: Schedule of events for Donald Trump’s Inauguration In a 45-minute briefing that included remarks from Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who has been the
Sean Spicer Defends Trump’s Cabinet Picks Read More »
USABanjul (dpa) – A last minute attempt to convince Yahya Jammeh to give up his role as Gambian president before Wednesday’s midnight deadline failed, according to sources in the country’s capital. Mauretanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz allegedly made a last-ditch effort late Wednesday night to persuade Jammeh to stand down after more than two
Gambian president Jammeh refuses to leave after deadline passes Read More »
InternationalThe National Security and Defense Committee in the Lithuanian parliament is pushing to increase the country’s defense spending to over 2.5 percent of GDP, breaking well into the NATO threshold. Although NATO members have agreed to invest at least two percent of their gross domestic product on defence spending, only four countries besides the U.S.
Lithuanian Politicians Push for Defense Spending Hike Read More »
InternationalAmong the 273 people who were pardoned or had their sentences commuted this week by outgoing President Barack Obama was 74-year-old Puerto Rican nationalist Oscar López Rivera. “Oscar,” as he’s known to supporters, was linked to a Puerto Rican nationalist group, the Armed Forces of National Liberation, which carried out bombings and other crimes in
Death Row inmate Ricky Gray, 39, was put to death Wednesday night by the state of Virginia. Eleven years ago, Gray walked into a family’s home on New Year’s Day and killed two young girls and their parents by slashing their throats and then setting their home ablaze. Gray reportedly showed no emotion as he
PALM BEACH, Fla. — The genteel people of Palm Beach, home to the old-money fortunes of captains-of-industry scions, once ridiculed even their wealthy Kennedy neighbors — with their Irish Catholicism, Hollywood paparazzi and family scandals — as contemptible nouveau riche. Then came Donald Trump. Immediately branded by the notoriously insular locals as a vulgar arriviste,
Haughty Palm Beach learns to love Trump, once a scorned outsider Read More »
USAWomen’s health is an important issue for singer Noura Mint Seymali. Breast cancer awareness, specifically. Noura Mint Seymali is from Mauritania, in West Africa. And she wants to make sure women, especially women in Africa, get their annual screenings. Noura Mint Seymali is pictured here before her evening performance in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in
From Mauritania: A song for breast cancer awareness Read More »
International, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsThe latest update from central Italy now where… A full-scale operation is underway after a mountain hotel was buried by an avalanche on Wednesday. More than 20 guests and ten staff are missing at the Hotel Rigopiano in the village of Farindola. At least one person is reported to have been killed. Rescuers are saying
30 missing in hotel buried by avalanche in Italy Read More »
InternationalNew York, Ramallah- South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley seconded criticism of the United Nations by the new U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and many of their fellow Republicans before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, especially for what she termed its “bias” against Israel. At her Senate confirmation hearing, Haley slammed the Obama administration for allowing “mistreatment”
Trump Nominee for U.N. Ambassador Supports Moving U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem Read More »
Middle East, USASouleymane Guengueng tells me his story in the Bronx, where he lives on the 16th floor of a 21-story housing project with his wife and three kids. He’s stylish, wearing a green collared shirt and his signature fedora. “I am a survivor of torture,” he says, sitting on his couch. “I have fought for human
How this torture survivor from Chad made good on ‘a pact with God’ Read More »
International, USAMembers of group kept away from site after refusing to undergo body searches, which the High Court had banned By Times of Israel staff Members of the Women of the Wall group praying outside the entrance to the Western Wall after they were denied entry to the site for refusing to undergo body searches, despite
Women of the Wall denied entry to Western Wall Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastFred Turbide of Edmonton, Alberta, was a devoted husband and father of four who was looking forward to enjoying his retirement with his family. Then the brokers of 23Traders got hold of him By Simona Weinglass The late Fred Turbide with his wife Maria Chaves-Turbide (Courtesy) A 61-year-old Canadian man has committed suicide after losing
Fleeced by Israeli binary options firm, Canadian man commits suicide Read More »
Middle EastThe National Endowment for the Arts, the independent federal agency that promotes and funds art in American communities, will be eliminated if the Trump administration has its way, the Hill reported Thursday. The NEA provides direct grants to art agencies and artists throughout the country. In 2015, the agency awarded grants in every Congressional district,
Donald Trump Wants To Eliminate The National Endowment For The Arts Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USATEHRAN, Iran — A historic high-rise in the heart of Tehran caught fire and collapsed Thursday in a giant cloud of smoke, killing dozens of firefighters who were battling the blaze, Iranian news media reported. At least 50 firefighters were killed in the collapse of the 17-story Plasco building, a symbol of modernity that was
50 firefighters killed in Iran as burning high-rise collapses Read More »
Middle East