International

Palestinian foreign minister urges Israel to return to talks

The Palestinian foreign minister on Saturday urged Israel to return to talks based on a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ahead of the transition to a new US administration. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki’s comments came in a joint statement with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry and Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. In a

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Middle East

Good News From Israel (December 20, 2020)

In the December 20, 2020 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:

Israeli Covid-19 vaccine goes into Phase 2 trials as Israel rolls out the Pfizer vaccine.
Israel and Bhutan have established full diplomatic relations.
An Israeli smart color sensor can prevent massive food waste.
Israeli irrigation of rice crops saves water and the environment.
An Israeli company won a contract for its robots to clean a million solar panels.
Israel’s Wonder Woman won the first MTV “She-Ro” award.
A lost tribe’s return to Israel is one of three Israeli Chanukah “miracles”. [Michael Ordman]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Georgia’s Senate runoffs: Special interest PACs flood the zone

ATLANTA — Apart from the candidates themselves, political action committees have spent at least $150 million since the November general election to rally voters back to the polls for the Senate runoff, records show. While nearly two-thirds of that spending has come from super PACs connected to either Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell or Minority

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USA

As a Pakistani I want to visit Israel, but my passport would not let me

For the majority of people in Pakistan, Israel is no friend. It is an “apartheid state” that has the blood of millions of Palestinians on its hands. A wicked enemy that is responsible for the suffering, instability and bloodshed in the Middle East and even among some of their own! At least this is how

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International, Middle East

Biden introduces environment team to tackle ‘existential threat’

Washington (AFP) – President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday introduced key members of his environmental team and said his administration would make the fight against global warming a pillar of his drive to rebuild the pandemic-hit US economy. Biden said these nominees will “lead my Administration’s ambitious plan to address an existential threat of our time —

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USA

Who will mind the constituents of Gonzalez and Fletcher?

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher’s ambition to become California’s next Secretary of State, already announced even though the next scheduled election is not until 2022, may adversely impact not one, but two constituencies, unless she and her husband, County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, make careful preparations to avoid such consequences. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, USA

Controversial Israeli chief rabbi visits Dubai to open Jewish school

Israel’s Sephardi Chief Rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, travelled to Dubai on Thursday to inaugurate a Jewish nursery school and officially proclaim Rabbi Levi Duchman as rabbi of the Jewish community in the United Arab Emirates, Israeli media have reported. “During [Chief Rabbi Yosef’s] visit, he will meet with senior Emirati officials, inaugurate the newly certified Jewish

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Jewish Religion, Middle East

Trump downplays Russia in first comments about cyberattack

President Donald Trump downplayed the severity of a massive hacking attack on the U.S. government Saturday and deflected blame from Russia. After refusing for days to comment on the hack, Trump claimed it was being hyped “far greater” by the media “than in actuality.” He also suggested Russia was not really to blame, directly contradicting

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International, USA

Space Force members will be called ‘Guardians’

Somebody might have been watching some Marvel. The U.S. Space Force, a 1-year-old branch of the armed forces, rolled out a new name for its members on Friday: “Guardians.” Vice President Mike Pence announced the name in a news conference celebrating the service’s anniversary. “Soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Guardians will be defending our nation

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USA

Judge rejects another election lawsuit by Georgia US senators

ATLANTA — A federal judge Friday rejected a request by Georgia’s two U.S. senators to segregate ballots cast by newly registered voters in the Jan. 5 runoff election. Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue and other plaintiffs said hundreds of people newly registered to vote in Georgia have previously voted in the November general

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USA

Pompeo blames Russia for massive US cyberattack

Washington (AFP) – Russia was “pretty clearly” behind a devastating cyberattack on several US government agencies that also hit targets worldwide, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. Microsoft said late Thursday that it had notified more than 40 customers hit by the malware, which security experts say could allow attackers unfettered network access to key

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International, USA