International

Tony Awards: Broadway honors ‘Hamilton’ on a night dimmed by tragedy

NEW YORK — An air of both celebration and sobriety hung over the Tony Awards on Sunday, as one of the biggest hits in Broadway history was honored hours after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” took 11 prizes, including director, score and the top honor of best musical. The hip-hop

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Man with weapons, potential explosives ‘wanted to harm’ LA gay pride parade, chief says

LOS ANGELES — Authorities on Sunday were trying to determine the intentions of an Indiana man with a cache of weapons, ammunition and explosive-making materials in his car and apparent plans to attend the L.A. Pride festival in West Hollywood. Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks said on Twitter that the 20-year-old man told one

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USA

Iran furious over report Khomeini engaged with US ahead of revolution

Iranian leaders have expressed outrage over a report alleging extensive contacts between the founder of the Islamic Republic and Washington ahead of the 1979 Islamic revolution. A BBC report, based on recently declassified documents, has indicated that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini sent repeated calming messages to then-president Jimmy Carter ahead of his takeover of the country.

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Middle East, USA

Rabbi Group Creates Dictates That Synagogues Accept All Transgender Congregants

A group of conservative rabbis recently voted to implement a resolution that creates “safe spaces” in synagogues for transgender congregants. The Rabbanical Assembly, an international association of Conservative Rabbis, passed the “Resolution Affirming the Right of Transgender and Gender Non Conforming” in late May. The resolution seeks to establish “the full welcome, acceptance, and inclusion

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Jewish Religion, USA

San Diego site of 2 major presidential campaign moments

By Chris Jennewein When historians write the the history of the 2016 presidential campaign, they may conclude that Donald Trump‘s unorthodox campaign finally crashed and burned in San Diego. It’s a long way to November 8, and almost anything can happen, but two events in San Diego have left an indelible mark on his campaign: On May 27,

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Chris Jennewein, San Diego County, USA

Greece will soon recognize Palestinian state, ruling party says

The Greek government will soon officially recognize the state of Palestine, the country’s ruling Syriza party told Palestinian lawmakers on Saturday, the Palestinian Legislative Council said in a statement. According to Palestinian news agency Ma’an, the Greek pledge came during a meeting between a Syriza delegation and Palestinian MPs in Ramallah, although no specific time

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International, Middle East

‘No end in sight’

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The title of this column is another way of expressing the view that there is no solution anywhere on the horizon for the Israel-Palestinian conflict. We’ve recently been through the media routine that is standard after a significant incident of terror. In this case, four individuals were killed at an

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East