International

‘Jewish nation-state law’ challenged in Israeli Supreme Court

The Israeli Supreme Court on Tuesday heard a case against a contentious law that defines the country as the nation-state of the Jewish people, marking the beginning of a landmark challenge against legislation that opponents say discriminates against minorities. Critics say the law further downgrades the status of Israel’s Arab minority, which makes up around

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Middle East

Georgia elections chief seeks to end no-excuse absentee voting

ATLANTA — Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Wednesday asked Georgia state representatives to end no-excuse absentee voting, a proposal that would limit the voting method over 1.3 million people used in the presidential election. Raffensperger wants to reduce absentee voting after promoting it during the coronavirus pandemic, when he mailed ballot applications to

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USA

Echoes of Bitter Georgia Senate Races Reach California

Mirroring the negative advertising campaigns  in Georgia criticizing the opponents of the candidates they favor, Christians United for Israel issued a press release rebuking Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, for anti-Israel statements he made in the past (but which he has since recanted), while Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California) blasted Warnock’s opponent,  U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, for selling millions of dollars in personal stocks before news of the impacts of the COVID pandemic were generally known by the public. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, International, Middle East, Obituaries & memorials, San Diego County, USA

Dr. Miguel Cardona First Latino Nominated for Secretary of Education

Dr. Miguel Cardona nomination is another sign the Biden administration is committed to having a Cabinet that reflects America.The nomination of the former school teacher is a drastic 180 from current education secretary Betsy Devos. As the Secretary of Education, Devos has single handedly destroyed an already weekend public education system in favour of providing

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USA

Israel-Morocco Ties May Lure Moroccan Diaspora Home

Morocco’s relationship with Israel can be a gateway for Moroccan-Jewish people – along with other members of Morocco’s diaspora – to return to the land of their origins and join this national effort to restore long-held sacred locations that epitomize the country’s embracing of its intercultural self. Collaborations are crucial to sharing knowledge lest it be ever forgotten, to inspiring the world, and to making the lives and livelihoods of the Moroccan people better today. [Yossef Ben-Meir, Ph.D]

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International, Middle East, Yossef Ben-Meir

Top WH coronavirus official Deborah Birx retiring soon

Washington (AFP) – Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, has said she plans to retire after helping the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden with its transition. The 64-year-old physician and global health expert, who has faced frequent criticism in her current role, suggested that recent media coverage had unfairly dragged her

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USA

Labor Party head resigns as Israel lurches to new elections

The head of Israel’sLabor Party said Wednesday he will not seek re-election as leader of the former ruling party as the country enters its fourth election campaign in two years. The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, dissolved at midnight after the government failed to pass a national budget for 2020 amid bitter coalition disputes between its two

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Middle East

Morocco signs ‘normalisation’ agreement with Israel in ceremony attended by king

Morocco formally signed a normalisation agreement with Israel during a visit to the presidential palace by an Israeli delegation on Tuesday. Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani signed the declaration in the presence of King Mohammed VI, who announced the resumption of ties with the occupying state. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior White

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Middle East, USA

Trump questions loyalty of Pence as GOP hardliners push to overturn election results

President Donald Trump is reportedly questioning the loyalty of Vice President Mike Pence as the commander-in-chief pushes ever more extreme measures to overturn his election loss. After another round of White House scheming with right-wing allies, Trump is focused on the vice president’s largely ceremonial role of presiding over a Jan. 6 session of Congress

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USA

Israel parliament dissolves, sparking fourth election in two years

Israel’s parliament dissolved on Wednesday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fractured ruling coalition failed to pass a budget, triggering a fourth election in two years and renewing an unprecedented political crisis. The coalition led by Netanyahu and his former election rival, Defence Minister Benny Gantz, had been inching towards collapse for weeks, undermined by mutual

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Middle East

Trump rejects Covid relief bill, calling it ‘a disgrace’

Washington (AFP) – President Donald Trump on Tuesday rejected a $900 billion bipartisan Covid stimulus package, calling it “a disgrace” and demanding that lawmakers more than triple relief payments to Americans. While he did not explicitly say he would not sign the bill, which passed overwhelmingly Monday in both houses of Congress, Trump made clear

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USA

San Diegan wins posthumous plaudits for his rendition of a Chinese musical

Romance of the Western Chamber is a 2 1/2- hour musical based on a play that first appeared in China as Xi Xiang Ji in the 13th century. It is a lovely love story of a poor 23-year-old man and rich 19-year-old woman who fell in love at first sight. The original play ran for about 20 hours. It was the most famous love story in Chinese literature and was made into a movie and several Beijing operas. It was adapted and turned into a musical by the late Dr. Howard Rubenstein, a San Diego physician and playwright who wrote ten very interesting plays. Rubenstein revised the play into modern English, reduced its time, and had Max Lee write music for it.

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA