Back in October, former Republican presidential candidate Pat Robertson said that God told him Donald Trump would win the election. He encouraged people to get out and vote before adding, “It’s going to lead to civil unrest, and then a war against Israel and so forth,” but the televangelist is now singing a different tune. […]
Wilmington (United States) (AFP) – President-elect Joe Biden said Tuesday he will ask the US Congress to pass another Covid-19 relief bill after taking office in January. “Congress did its job this week. And I can and I must ask them to do it again next year,” Biden said in a pre-holiday address to the
Biden says will ask Congress to pass another Covid relief bill Read More »
USA
Two chairs in the California game of political musical chairs have now been filled. Alex Padilla, the California Secretary of State, has been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to fill out the remainder of the U.S. Senate term of Vice President-elect Kamilla Harris. It is the first time that a Latino will have represented California in the Upper House of Congress. Padilla, like Harris, is a Democrat. He will face the voters in the 2022 elections, coinciding with the time Harris’ first and only Senate term would be near its conclusion. To replace Padilla as Secretary of State, Newsom chose Assemblywoman Shirley Weber of San Diego, who previously had served our city as a member of the San Diego Unified School District board and as a professor at San Diego State University. Her colleague, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who had announced she plan to campaign for the job, graciously commented: “While I would’ve loved the opportunity to serve, I fully appreciate the need to amplify Black women in our state. Shirley Weber is an icon and will serve California well.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Alex Padilla named as California’s next U.S. Senator; Shirley Weber to replace him Read More »
Donald H. Harrison, USA
Solarwinds, a network management software company, was recently discovered to have had malware inserted into its products. Its clients’ systems have been compromised for as long as nine months. Someone—possibly the Russians, possibly the Chinese—has been inside the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Treasury Department and major American industries. The list gets longer every day. [Shoshana Bryen and Stephen D. Bryen}
U.S. Must Make Cyber-Security a Top Priority Read More »
International, Middle East, Shoshana Bryen, Stephen D. Bryen, USA
“I saw Uriel deplane his Nefesh B’Nefesh flight, I looked at Orin, and I said, ‘Let’s make Aliyah.’ And that was it,” recalls Liora Green regarding her son’s immigration to Israel in August 2019. Indeed, the Green family did not need any further convincing. A year later — and in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic — Liora and Orin Green as well as their children Merav, 14, and Dalia, 11, made Aliyah from La Jolla to join Uriel, 20. Another sibling, Eyal, 17, is completing his studies at Southern California Yeshiva (SCY) High and plans to make Aliyah in June 2021. [Jacob Kamaras]
La Jolla family immigrates to Israel Read More »
Jacob Kamaras, Lifestyles, Middle East, San Diego County, USA
Despite multiple failures, President Donald Trump and his campaign team are continuing in their efforts to overturn the results of the November election – and they are now seeking help from the Supreme Court with a new petition. The petition, which seeks an overturn of Pennsylvania Supreme Court decisions that denied requests to allow the
Trump Asks Supreme Court To Overturn Biden’s Pennsylvania Election Victory Read More »
USA
Washington (AFP) – US lawmakers on Monday approved a $900 billion relief package for the world’s biggest economy that will provide a long-sought boost for millions of Americans and businesses battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Overwhelming approval in the Senate and House of Representatives clears the way for the legislation to be sent to President Donald
US Congress approves $900 bn stimulus package Read More »
USA
We’re up against a deadline. Presumably, if the Israeli government does not pass a budget today, the Knesset goes home and there’ll be an election, perhaps within three months. There have been several options, including a postponing of the deadline, and lots of discussion. Perhaps an enactment of a 2020 budget, that’ll serve the country for the next week! [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Seems like old times: Coalition squabbles Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA
In one of her last communications to constituents before her 20 year career as a congresswoman ends, Susan Davis of San Diego outlined the bipartisan bill that will send Covid relief to millions of Americans. Her letter follows:
Rep. Susan Davis explains the coronavirus relief package Read More »
San Diego County, USA
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chris Coons (D-De.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) on Monday released the following statements on securing passage of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (S.712) as part of the end-of-year funding legislation approved by the Senate today. (Senate Foreign Relations Committee Press Release)
Senate approves bill on American hostages named for Robert Levinson Read More »
International, Middle East, USA
Newark (United States) (AFP) – US President-elect Joe Biden received a Covid-19 vaccine live on television Monday in a campaign to boost Americans’ confidence in the jabs. The 78-year-old incoming president got the Pfizer vaccine at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. His wife Jill received the shot earlier, the presidential transition team said. Biden
Biden receives Covid-19 vaccine live on TV Read More »
USA
The Hooligans is Ghenie’s fourth solo exhibition at Pace Gallery, comprised of nine paintings and three drawings, all produced during this last year. It is a sustained engagement with European painting, including J.M.W. Turner, the Impressionists, and post-Impressionists, particularly Van Gogh and Gaugin. Ghenie remarks in a statement about this new body of work: “When I look at the Impressionists, I have the strange feeling that I am looking at something very schizophrenic. Behind those harmless colorful landscapes there is an incredible, destructive force; camouflaged. It is an act of hooliganism.” [Sam Ben-Meir, Ph.D]
The artist as ‘hooligan’ on exhibit at NYC’s Pace Gallery Read More »
Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Sam Ben-Meir, USA
Washington (AFP) – A statue of Robert E. Lee, a commander for the pro-slavery South during the US Civil War, was removed from the Capitol building early Monday, officials said, part of a reckoning with the country’s history of racism. “Last night, Virginia removed its statue of Robert E. Lee from the U.S. Capitol,” tweeted
Statue of Confederate general Lee removed from US Capitol Read More »
USA
Washington (AFP) – The US Justice Department announced charges Monday against a Libyan former intelligence agent who allegedly built the bomb that exploded aboard Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland exactly 32 years ago. Attorney General Bill Barr said that “Abu Agela Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi” helped build the device that blew up the aircraft
US charges Libyan ‘bombmaker’ over 1988 Lockerbie attack Read More »
International, Middle East, USA