USA

Genealogy show unlocks Holocaust family tragedy for Scarlett Johansson

By TOI staff In the forthcoming episode of the PBS series “Finding Your Roots,” American Jewish actress Scarlett Johansson discovers the tragic fate of her relatives who died in the Holocaust. Johansson is overcome by emotion when she learns for the first time that her great uncle died in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi […]

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Jewish History, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Israel to postpone controversial ‘annexation’ bill: source

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to postpone a vote on a controversial bill that critics say would amount to the de facto annexation of Israeli settlements surrounding Jerusalem, an official said Saturday. The bill had been expected to be voted on by a ministerial committee on Sunday, in a move that would fast-track its

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Middle East, USA

Gal Gadot pulls out of event for Brett Ratner amid sexual harassment scandals

By TOI staff Israeli actress Gal Gadot withdrew from an awards dinner honoring director Brett Ratner amid growing scrutiny of sexual harassment in Hollywood following the allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein. Gadot was scheduled to present the Tree of Life award at event for Jewish National Fund on Sunday before deciding to cancel her appearance,

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Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Campus Anti-Zionists Reveal Their Anti- Semitism

By Richard L. Cravatts, PhD BOSTON — In the campus war against Israel, the all too familiar refrain from student anti-Israel activists, many of whom form the loose coalition of groups and individuals spearheading the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, is that their quarrel is only with Israel and its government’s policies, not with

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International, Middle East, Richard L. Cravatts, USA

Wisconsin governor orders ban on boycotts of Israel

MADISON, Wisconsin (Press Release) – Wisconson Governor Scott Walker issued Executive Order #261 Friday prohibiting state agencies from contracting with any business entity that discriminates against Israel. The executive order was issued as Governor Walker leads a 15-member trade delegation to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The trade mission runs through November 2. “We stand firmly against

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Middle East, USA

Pentagon chief at Korea’s demilitarized zone: ‘Our goal is not war’

WASHINGTON — Days after North Korea threatened to test a nuclear weapon above ground, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis visited the Demilitarized Zone that divides that country from South Korea and declared: “Our goal is not war.” On Friday, he visited the heavily fortified border area, where U.S. and South Korean troops maintain a constant

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International, USA

The JFK documents are out, and the new wrinkles in history are aplenty

jfk assassination President Donald Trump has blocked the release of hundreds of records on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, bending to CIA and FBI appeals, while the National Archives came out Thursday night with a hefty cache of others. “I have no choice,” Trump said in a memo, citing “potentially irreversible harm” to

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USA

California Assemblyman was disciplined after woman claimed he groped her

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra was disciplined after a human resources investigation eight years ago, when a female Capitol staffer accused him of “inappropriate and unwelcome physical contact,” the Los Angeles Times has learned. Elise Flynn Gyore said Bocanegra, at the time chief of staff to then-Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, groped her and followed

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USA

Washington, Lee memorials to be removed from church sanctuary in effort to be ‘welcoming’ to all

An historic Episcopal parish where George Washington frequently worshiped has decided to remove a memorial plaque honoring the nation’s first president, saying the decision was out of a desire to provide a “welcoming” worship space for all visitors. The church will also remove a similar memorial plague honoring Robert E. Lee, the commander of Confederate

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USA

OpEd: No room for reasonable discourse on college campuses

On Tuesday, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake became the latest Republican to denounce President Trump. Flake blasted Trump’s “reckless, outrageous, and undignified” behavior, echoing recent statements by Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker and former President George W. Bush. Under Trump, Flake argued, American politics has become a nonstop slugfest of invective and falsehood. “We must never regard

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Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Jeff Bezos zipping past Bill Gates as world’s richest person as Amazon stock surges

SEATTLE — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos seemed poised to capture the title of the world’s richest person, hurtling past Microsoft counterpart Bill Gates, as the value of his stake in the online retailer surged after an upbeat earnings report. Shares of both Amazon and Microsoft soared toward record highs on Friday, bolstered by strong quarterly

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Travel and Food, USA

When Girl With Winning Score is Denied Title, Runner-up Offers Trophy: ‘I didn’t win, you did’

It may be the 21st century, but this archaic golf tournament rule said that Emily Nash could not be given a trophy or award for her score – even though she played better than all the boys. The 16-year-old was allowed to compete on the Lunenburg High School boy’s team in the Central Mass Division

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Sports & Competitions, USA