International

Arab-Israeli lawmaker faces charges for smuggling phones to prisoners

Tel Aviv (dpa) – Israel’s attorney general has approved the indictment of an Arab-Israeli lawmaker for smuggling mobile phones to Palestinian prisoners, a Justice Ministry statement said Thursday. Basel Ghattas, a member of the Joint List of Arab parties, is facing charges including breach of trust by a public servant and use of property “for

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Middle East

Is Kris Kobach’s immigration policy too much even for Trump?

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s hesitation in hiring immigration hard-liner Kris Kobach reflects the next president’s indecision on how to approach the biggest issue of his presidential campaign. As a candidate, Trump promised to build a wall on the southern border, deport 11 million immigrants who are in the United States illegally, ban all Muslims from

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USA

La Paz’s water is running out as Bolivia suffers its worst drought in 25 years

The rugged Dakar Rally auto race is about to blaze through Bolivia. But to many Bolivians, the timing could not be worse. Thousands of La Paz residents have been protesting these days. Now they’re also shouting online with the hashtag #AguaSíDakarNo — “yes to water, no to Dakar.” In other words, they wish authorities would

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International, The World We Share

Campaign rhetoric, post-election hate crimes draw Jewish historians into fray

Since Election Day, scholars and curators of Jewish history have consistently issued one message: Watch out By Ben Sales Participants in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named for the late Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas, Nov. 20, 2016. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) NEW YORK — In the two

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USA

Obama regrets lack of gun control and immigration reform, touts accomplishments elsewhere

President Obama said Thursday that he’s leaving the country in great shape for President-elect Donald Trump, and his few regrets include his inability to enact gun control and immigration reform. In his “exit memo” to the nation, Mr. Obama said the U.S. has added more than 15 million jobs, lowered the poverty rate, provided health

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International, USA

Former Kosovo PM Arrested En Route To Trump Inauguration

Former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who was tried for war crimes at the Hague, reportedly was arrested Wednesday in France en route to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration due to a 1999 Serbian arrest warrant. Kosovo, a partially recognized state from the former Yugoslavia, shares strong diplomatic relations with France. Kosovo Minister of Justice

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International, USA

Two Israelis arrested for calling for attacks on Azaria judges

Police see wave of online incitement against 3 members of military court after manslaughter conviction for soldier who killed incapacitated Palestinian assailant By Times of Israel staff A protester against the verdict in the Azaria trial holds up a sign outside the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv on January 4, 2017, that calls IDF

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Middle East

Talladega College marching band will perform at Trump inauguration despite uproar, president says

The president of Alabama’s oldest private historically black college announced Thursday that the decision for the school’s marching band to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration will stand despite several days of backlash. The Talladega Marching Tornadoes initially accepted an invitation this week to march in the parade at the Jan. 20 event, but a surge

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USA

Kerry’s Speech: Some Continuity, Some Disconnect

The secretary’s latest remarks beg the question: at a time when Israelis and Palestinians are clearly unable to strike a grand deal, why not put ideology aside, jettison the administration’s all-or-nothing approach, and lay out more modest parameters on settlements, incitement, and other concrete issues? In the waning days of the Obama administration, Secretary of

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International, Middle East, USA

‘Only Russia’s senior-most officials’ could have authorized campaign data thefts, U.S. intelligence officials testify

WASHINGTON — Three U.S. spy chiefs testified publicly for the first time Thursday that the Kremlin’s most senior leaders approved a Russian intelligence operation aimed at interfering in the U.S. presidential race, a conclusion that President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly challenged. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was joined by Adm. Michael Rogers, head of

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International, USA