International

Iraqi General: Bombing of Mosul’s Grand Mosque a ‘Historical Crime’

Islamic State fighters on Wednesday blew up Mosul’s Grand Mosque of al-Nuri, one of Iraq’s most important architectural and religious landmarks, as security forces closed in on the historic site, according to Iraqi and U.S. commanders. They dismissed claims by IS propagandists accusing coalition warplanes of destroying the mosque where jihadist leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi […]

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Middle East

Kushner in Middle East

With no previous diplomatic experience, Jared Kushner has been talking peace in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump’s special adviser, who also happens to be his son-in-law, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a friend of his father, in Jerusalem. Ok, I’m confused now. Is Jared Kushner the Secretary of State? If not,

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Middle East, USA

These American kids are adapting to new lives in El Salvador after their dad was deported

When Waldo Martínez left Sensuntepeque in the early ’90s, escaping El Salvador’s civil war, he never thought he’d be back 25 years later with an American wife and four Las Vegas-born kids. Sensuntepeque is a picturesque town about two hours from San Salvador. Cobbled streets weave around the mountain; old stone buildings dot the bustling

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International, USA

Silicon Valley’s Congressman Has Questions For Jeff Bezos

Ro Khanna represents Silicon Valley in Congress and he has raised campaign cash from Internet moguls — but that doesn’t mean he thinks antitrust regulators should go easy on the tech industry. Instead, the freshman Democratic congressman this week became the first federal lawmaker to raise red flags about Amazon’s proposed acquisition of Whole Foods

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Travel and Food, USA

Trump Says He Doesn’t Want Poor People in Cabinet Roles

President Donald Trump defended his appointment of several billionaires—including the former President of Goldman Sachs—to his Cabinet and senior posts at a 2020 election campaign rally in Iowa Wednesday. “In those particular positions I just don’t want a poor person. Does that make sense?” Trump said during the rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, referring mainly

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USA

In landmark ruling, El Al ordered to end policy of asking women to move seats

Holocaust survivor Renee Rabinowitz wins suit against Israel’s national carrier over flight attendants’ request she change place after ultra-Orthodox man refused to sit beside her By Raoul Wootliff Passengers observes the runway from a window at Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, April 21, 2013. (Flash90) Israel’s national carrier El Al must no longer

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Middle East, Travel and Food, USA

Texas man buys a billboard to deliver a Texas-sized message about Donald Trump and the media

Billboard seen in Texas! pic.twitter.com/9qm8jlqJfl — Cari Kelemen (@KelemenCari) June 22, 2017 A man from Boerne, Texas bought a billboard to announce his “breakup” with ABC News over its Russia coverage and to proudly declare “The Russians didn’t elect Donald Trump. I did.” In full, the billboard reads: ABC News: I grew up with you.

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International, USA

ADL report: KKK fractured but still active in 33 states

NEW YORK (Press Release) — Despite internal disorder and splintered membership, the organized Ku Klux Klan movement remains active in 33 states, according to a new report from the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Center on Extremism, which has tallied just over 40 total affiliated groups across the country. The report, “Despite Internal Turmoil, Klan Groups Persist,”

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USA

FBI investigates Flint airport attack as ‘act of terror’; suspect yelled ‘Allahu Akbar,’ agent says

DETROIT—The FBI says the stabbing of a police officer at a Flint airport is being investigated as an “act of terror,” carried out by a man who yelled “Allahu Akbar” before attacking the officer in the neck with a 12-inch Amazon Jungle Survival Knife. “Suffice to say, he has a hatred for the United States,”

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USA

Arkansas bar to decide on potential discipline against Hillary Clinton

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton escaped criminal charges last year but her legal troubles may not be over – the Arkansas state bar has promised a decision by next month on disciplinary action. And the State Department continues to probe Mrs. Clinton’s mishandling of classified information, with an eye toward deciding whether she and

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USA

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick resigns

SAN FRANCISCO — One week after taking a leave of absence from the $70 billion company he founded, ride-sharing firm Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick has resigned. The embattled executive stepped down Tuesday in response to a letter signed by several of Uber’s shareholders, said a person familiar with the situation who asked not to be

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USA

Reflections on the Lipinsky S.D. Jewish Festival

By Mimi Pollack SAN DIEGO — The 24th Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts festival, directed and produced by Todd Salovey, was a learning and poignant experience for me. I learned about the art of Boris Malkin [1908-1972] a talented painter, graphic artist, and book illustrator from Belarus. His dark work reflected the anti-Semitism

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Mimi Pollack, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USA

Noisy argument endemic to Israeli, U.S. democracies

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Democracy is a noisy business. Neither Israelis nor Americans need to be reminded. The commotions surrounding Donald Trump and Benyamin Netanyahu have a history, one longer than the other reflecting Bibi’s span at the top of government, and the noise focused on both seems to be ascending. Will they end

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA