When the leader of Turkey’s main secular opposition party began a march for justice from Ankara to Istanbul, it caught everyone by surprise. But as the protest nears its endpoint, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces tough options. In a country that has seen a silencing of virtually all forms of opposition against the government, a
Turkey’s ‘Justice March’ leaves Erdogan with difficult options Read More »
InternationalOngoing excavation works in Mexico City have confirmed the existence of a legendary, and terrible, edifice: the Aztec tower of skulls. Stock photo. Image credits Peter Dargatz. As Spanish soldiers first made their way to the sprawling Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1521, they came upon a terrible and terrifying sight: the tzompantli. Our first
Aztec tower of skulls unearthed in Mexico City Read More »
InternationalSPRINGFIELD, Ill. —The Illinois Senate voted Tuesday to override Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s vetoes of an income tax increase and budget, key steps toward ending a three-year impasse. The quick Senate action capped a whirlwind Independence Day at the Capitol. Rauner vetoed the 32 percent increase in the income tax rate a couple of hours
Illinois Senate votes to override governor’s veto of budget, tax increase Read More »
USAWASHINGTON — The White House confirmed only Tuesday that the most highly anticipated meeting of President Donald Trump’s tenure — with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin — will take place Friday in Germany. But among advisers mindful of the many pitfalls, both domestic and global, preparations have been intense for some time. The meeting of the
Stakes are high for Trump’s meeting with Putin Read More »
International, USASeven candidates — including Herzog, ex-leader Peretz, former Kulanu minister Gabbay — fight it out Tuesday to helm opposition, pose future challenge to Netanyahu By Marissa Newman Workers holding large campaign posters during a rally supporting Labor party leader Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv on June 26, 2017, (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90) Tens of thousands of Labor
Labor sets sights on new leader as first-round voting begins Read More »
Middle EastAs Burundi plunges into a deeper political and human rights crisis, a new report highlights the role of the radicalised ruling party’s youth league – the Imbonerakure – in the rising violence against opponents and civilians. The roots of the present crisis in Burundi, a central African country scarred by years of an ethnic-based civil
Burundi – Burundi crisis deepens as government militias spread terror Read More »
InternationalThe pop diva may or may not have actually sang her hits, but even if the crowd was at times distracted, she didn’t stop dancing across the stage By Joshua Davidovich Britney Spears performs in Tel Aviv on July 3, 2017. (Miriam Alster/Flash90) Just a few days after rejecting claims that she lip syncs, telling
More theater than singalong as Britney Spears busts her butt in Tel Aviv Read More »
Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual ArtsInterior minister says conversion bill was designed to prevent efforts to fast-track citizenship, which he claims Israel’s Reform leader supports; Gilad Kariv slams ‘shameful lies’ By Marissa Newman Shas party leader Aryeh Deri leads a Shas faction meeting at the Knesset on July 3, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90) Interior Minister Aryeh Deri on Monday attacked Israeli
Deri suggests Reform Jews would convert illegal migrants en masse Read More »
Jewish Religion, Middle EastSACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is seeing an increase in hate crimes. There were 931 incidents in 2016, an 11.2 percent spike over 2015, the state Department of Justice reported Monday. More than half of those involved bias based on race, ethnicity or national origin. The second-most-common incidents were based on sexual orientation. Race-based hate crimes
Hate crimes rise in California, state report says Read More »
USAORLANDO, Fla. — Gov. Rick Scott signed a death warrant on Monday for a Jacksonville man, scheduling what would be Florida’s first execution since January of 2016. Mark Asay was convicted of shooting and killing two people in Jacksonville in 1987: Robert Lee Booker and Robert McDowell. Scott set his execution for Aug. 24 at
By Rabbi Ben Kamin OCEANSIDE, California — When I think of America, I see myself back in 1968—fifteen years old and in the regalia of the Woodward High School Marching Band. I played clarinet and performed, to my cosmic joy, as the occasional Assistant Drum Major. In February, the month in which the above photo
Be a drum major for justice Read More »
USAIsrael’s envoy Danny Danon and capital’s Mayor Nir Barkat lead diplomats on visit to archaeological site believed to be home of biblical king By Stuart Winer and Times of Israel staff Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, center, gestures as Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon, second right, looks on during a visit by UN ambassadors from nine
9 UN ambassadors view Jewish roots to Jerusalem on City of David tour Read More »
International, Middle EastThe tragic story of a 10-month old British baby who is on life support in a London hospital has focused a spotlight on an often-fatal rare genetic disease called mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. The case even caught the attention of President Trump on Monday, who tweeted that “if we can help” the boy, Charlie Gard,
Trump tweeted about a dying boy. Here’s what you need to know about his rare disease Read More »
Science, Medicine, & Education, USAWASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday touted the “great jobs numbers” since he took office — numbers that his own administration’s official statistics show aren’t all that great. Trump said in a tweet that “at some point the Fake News will be forced to discuss our great jobs numbers, strong economy” and other successes
Trump touts ‘great jobs numbers’ that aren’t so great Read More »
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