International

S. China Sea Dispute Hangs on Philippine Leadership of ASEAN

A bloc of 10 Southeast Asian nations has a chance to open tough discussions next year on how to handle China’s contested expansion in the South China Sea as the Philippines, one of Beijing’s chief maritime rivals, becomes the organization’s chair with authority to set its 2017 agenda. President Rodrigo Duterte, who will chair ASEAN

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International

CIA refuses House intel committee request for briefing on Russia hacking probe

WASHINGTON — Capitol Hill tensions over handling of the alleged Russian cyber-hacking scandal boiled over late Wednesday, as the chairman of the House intelligence panel blasted U.S. spy agency officials for declining to brief the committee this week. In a blunt statement that exposed raw feelings and hinted at deeper conflicts, Rep. Devin Nunes, a

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International, USA

Fox News Analyst To Join Trump’s National Security Team

President-elect Donald Trump tapped Monica Crowley to join his cabinet as senior director of strategic communications for the National Security Council Thursday. Crowley had previously been mentioned as a potential pick for press secretary. “I am deeply honored, humbled and grateful to be asked by the President-elect to join the extraordinary national security team he

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USA

North Carolina Gov.-elect Roy Cooper to state lawmakers: Go home

RALEIGH, N.C. — Responding to the General Assembly’s effort to limit his power before he takes office Jan. 1, Gov.-elect Roy Cooper said it’s time for lawmakers to go home. “Major changes in the way state government operates should be done deliberately, with input from all parties, particularly something as important as elections and making

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USA

Employee disciplined for observing Pesach’s last 2 days

By Edwin Black WASHINGTON, D.C. Susan Abeles’ saga began in 2013 when she took time off to observe the last two days of Passover, just as she had done annually for the past 26 years. During those years, Abeles, an Orthodox Jew, worked for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), mainly as a data specialist.

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Edwin Black, Jewish Religion, USA

AJC condemns massacres by Syria, Iran and Russia

NEW YORK (Press Release) — The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is horrified by the wanton destruction of Aleppo, Syria’s third largest city, by the Bashar al-Assad regime, Russia and Iran. “For more than five-and-a-half years, Syrian President Assad has waged a ruthless war against his own people, leaving well over 500,000 dead, millions displaced within

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Middle East, USA

Calls grow for MK to resign over sexual harassment claims

Knesset speaker and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle say Nissan Slomiansky should step down; Jewish Home MK denies allegations By Raoul Wootliff Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (L) and committee chairman Nissan Slomiansky attend a Constitution, Law, and Justice, Committee meeting, February 23, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) In a rare move, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein

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Middle East

At final Hanukkah party, Obama extols religious freedom, ignores elephant in room

Five weeks before Trump assumes power, president tells American Jews: ‘We look forward to working with you on the other side’ By Eric Cortellessa Mika Almog, granddaughter of the late former Israeli president Shimon Peres, lights a menorah candle as Rabbi Rachel Isaacs says a blessing during a Hanukkah reception in The East Room at

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Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA