USA

San Diego City Council to fight Trump’s travel ban

By Ken Stone Times of San Diego SAN DIEGO — The San Diego City Council on Tuesday voted 8-1 to file a brief in support of the state of Washington in its lawsuit over President Donald Trump’s so-called “travel ban” executive order. Republican Councilman Scott Sherman cast the dissenting vote in closed session. Democratic Councilman […]

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International, Ken Stone, Middle East, San Diego County, USA

National security adviser Michael Flynn resigns over contact with Russia

WASHINGTON — Michael Flynn resigned late Monday as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, following mounting scrutiny over his conflicting accounts of contacts with a Russian diplomat and his admission that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence about the matter. Flynn’s departure, which came after several days in which Trump conspicuously refused to publicly

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International, USA

Humoring the headlines: February 13, 2017

By Laurie Baron SAN DIEGO−In a perfect world: Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer, and President Trump would be wired to a polygraph whenever they made public statements. * Ruth Bader Ginsburg would be immortal. * Israel wouldn’t legitimize many formerly illegal settlements the day after it disbands one. * Three Republican senators would have voted against

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Lawrence Baron, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

U.S. could suggest a price for moving its embassy

By Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — Should President Trump fulfill his campaign promise to relocate the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, it would have major regional and international repercussions. The Trump administration is currently reevaluating the implications of such a move and no final decision has been made. Given the sensitivity and far-reaching

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Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USA

Court upholds airport’s punishment of Orthodox employee who observed Passover; appeal is expected

(c) Edwin Black WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit surprisingly rejected the appeal of Susan Abeles, a Washington D.C. Orthodox Jew, who was punished by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) because she took off work for the last two days of Passover 2013, as she

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Edwin Black, Jewish Religion, USA

In Israel, premature euphoria

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Israel’s right-wing politicians are euphoric. The prophet whom Bible scholars call the Second Isaiah proclaimed King Cyrus (6th century BCE) as the Messiah. I wouldn’t be surprised if some ideologue in Naftali Bennett’s Habayit Hayehudi party wouldn’t want to do the same to President Trump, even though at least

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Middle East, USA

‘Outside-in’ approach to occupy Trump, Netanyahu

By Barry Shaw NETANYA, Israel — As Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sets off to meet President Trump in the White House on Wednesday the rumor is what is being called “the outside-in” strategic policy will be discussed to solve the Palestinian issue. This may be the final shot in trying to revive the failing

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Barry Shaw, International, Middle East, USA

Social Security waits anxiously for Trump to nominate commissioner

BALTIMORE — As he moves quickly to build his administration, President Donald Trump has offered little indication about who he will nominate as the next commissioner of the Social Security Administration — an agency that has gone four years without a permanent leader. The agency faces massive challenges administering its programs to 61 million beneficiaries,

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USA

Why a Boston judge decided to let Trump’s immigration order move forward

A federal judge in Boston on Friday turned down a request from the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts to extend a temporary restraining order (TRO) that prohibits US Customs and border agents from enforcing aspects of President Donald Trump’s immigration and refugee ban. A short time later, though, a different judge — across the

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International, Middle East, USA

Silicon Valley tech companies argue in court filing against immigration ban

SAN FRANCISCO — Stepping up their fight against the president’s immigration ban, some of Silicon Valley’s biggest tech companies — Apple, Google, Facebook and others — have filed a legal brief claiming the executive order “inflicts significant harm on American businesses.” “The Order represents a significant departure from the principles of fairness and predictability that

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International, Middle East, USA

Donald Trump tells U.S. troops ‘justice will prevail’ in fight against Islamic terrorists

In his first address to U.S. troops, President Trump vowed Monday to defeat the “radical Islamic terrorists” abroad and to prevent terrorism from “taking root” in America. “Today we deliver a message in one, very unified voice to these forces of death and destruction: America and its allies will defeat you,” Mr. Trump said at

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International, Middle East, USA

California Republicans ask Trump administration to block bullet train funding

LOS ANGELES — California’s House Republicans have asked the Trump administration to block a pending federal grant for the state’s high-speed rail project until an audit of the project’s finances is completed. The letter, signed by all 14 members of the state’s GOP delegation, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, was sent to Transportation Secretary

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USA