USA

Southcom commander warns Congress of growing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela

WASHINGTON — The admiral in charge of the U.S. Southern Command testified at Congress Thursday that while the region is “stable,” the situation in Venezuela is worsening and could trigger a humanitarian crisis requiring regional intervention. “The enormous economic instability that’s taking place in Venezuela affects the entire region,” Adm. Kurt Tidd told the Senate […]

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International, USA

United States launches military strikes against Syria, despite warnings from Russia

NBC News reports that the United States has resumed strikes against Syrian targets, firing over 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles in an attack against a single airfield inside the country. The airfield in western Syria is believed to be the same airfield used by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to launch the Sarin gas attack that killed

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Middle East, USA

Lawsuit alleges Seattle mayor sexually abused troubled teen in 1980s

SEATTLE — A 46-year-old Kent man sued Seattle Mayor Ed Murray on Thursday, claiming Murray “raped and molested” him over several years, beginning in 1986 when the man was a 15-year-old high school dropout. The lawsuit in King County Superior Court, filed under the man’s initials, “D.H.,” alleges Murray sexually abused the crack-cocaine-addicted teen on

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USA

Americans worry about anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim violence

NEW YORK (Press Release)–Two new public opinion polls commissioned by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reveal important trends among Americans in terms of their views of Jews and other religious minorities. The surveys reveal that while anti-Semitic attitudes in the United States have increased slightly to 14 percent, the vast majority of Americans hold respectful opinions of

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USA

Orthodox rabbi, education pioneer appointed advisor to Friedman

Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, an Orthodox rabbi from New York who works in various capacities in Jewish education, has been appointed to serve in an advisory role in the U.S. Embassy in Israel. He will work alongside newly-appointed Ambassador David Friedman, a State Department official confirmed this week. Rabbi Lightstone is currently the Chief Creative Officer

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Middle East, USA

Secret Service agent assigned to Mike Pence charged with soliciting prostitution: Report

A Secret Service agent tasked with protecting Vice President Mike Pence has been suspended from the force and stripped of their security clearance after being allegedly caught with a prostitute last week at a Maryland hotel. Police took an unidentified member of Mr. Pence’s security detail into custody late last week after responding to reports

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USA

US Secretary of State Tillerson blames Assad forces for Syria gas deaths

Some of the 72 victims of the recent suspected gas attack in northern Syrian were buried on Wednesday as their families grieved. One man lost his twin daughters and his wife. “It was an airstrike by the criminal air force. I took my wife and children out of the house. Five minutes later, we started

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International, Middle East, USA

Devin Nunes says he’s temporarily stepping aside from Russia probe

WASHINGTON — House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes said Thursday he’s temporarily stepping aside from the Russia probe amid accusations he may have improperly disclosed classified information. Nunes, R-Calif., said he was stepping down temporarily as head of the House probe into whether Trump associates colluded with Russia during last year’s election. In a statement,

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International, USA

Senate Republicans rewrite the rule book to secure Gorsuch Supreme Court confirmation

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Thursday dramatically curtailed the historic filibuster and stripped Democrats of their ability to block Judge Neil Gorsuch from the Supreme Court — thus ensuring his confirmation, securing an important Trump administration victory and shaping future nominations in ways yet to be seen. In a far-reaching move, Republicans by a party-line

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USA

Gravitating to the familiar at the Fleet

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO –While I gravitated on Wednesday, April 5, to an exhibit featuring the image of Albert Einstein and another portraying the cells that I imagine Jonas Salk grappled with while developing the vaccine against polio, my grandchildren—Sky, 10, Brian, 8, and Sara, 6 – were transfixed by a room filled

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Turkish – Western alliance seriously fraying

By Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The growing tension between Turkey and its Western allies, which was further heightened during the Obama administration, is narrowing the space for cooperation between the two sides and in fact is progressively worsening. Erdogan’s hope that he and President Trump would improve their ties as members of NATO has dramatically

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Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USA