Baldwin’s Trump Leads SNL Cast in Hallelujah Rendition

A cold open to the SNL season finale on Saturday saw Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump leading a rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, joined by Kate McKinnon’s Kellyanne Conway, Beck Bennett’s Mike Pence, and Scarlett Johansson as Ivanka Trump. The teaser capped a week of turmoil at the White House, and alluded to McKinnon’s November 13

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Correa blames Sweden for WikiLeaks founder Assange’s five lost years

Quito (dpa) – Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa on Saturday blamed Sweden for five lost years in the life of Julian Assange due to its investigation of rape charges against the WikiLeaks founder. “We have good news today,” Correa said in a televised address in Quito, a day after Sweden announced that the charges against the

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International, USA

Israel’s Netanyahu Under Pressure as Probes Gather Pace

In the absence of any substantial political rivals, escalating corruption probes into the conduct of Benjamin Netanyahu present the most significant threat to his eight-year tenure as Israel’s prime minister and highlight the controversial connections between the country’s politicians, media and businessmen. Israel’s political elite has frequently been the focus of corruption allegations in recent

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Middle East

Welcoming Jews on the periphery

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — Reform/Liberal/Progressive (henceforth Progressive) Judaism often reaches Jews that other movements don’t get to. This may not apply to the United States and a handful of other comparatively large Diaspora communities, but it’s definitely true of countries where there’re a few Jews and where the traditional congregations are too insecure

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International, Jewish Religion, Middle East, USA

Social media frenzy as Ivanka Trump steals hearts of young Saudis

Riyadh (dpa) – Saudis took to social media on Saturday to praise US President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, with at least one proposing marriage in a video posted on Twitter. Wearing a long-sleeved, black-and-white dress with no head scarf, Ivanka landed in the Saudi capital on Saturday morning as part of Trump’s visit to the

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Middle East, USA

India’s goal-oriented foreign policy unafraid to punch above its weight

The first two years of the Narendra Modi government seemed like a series of unending picture postcard moments as New Delhi engaged the three world capitals that matter the most-Washington, Beijing and Islamabad. One, a distant strategic partner, and the other two, neighbouring strategic challenge and security nightmare. So there was Prime Minister Modi and

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International, Middle East

Trump discusses Syria, arms with Saudi king amid lavish welcome

Riyadh (dpa) – US President Donald Trump and Saudi King Salman discussed Syria, oil and arms on Saturday, as Trump received a lavish welcome in the Saudi capital Riyadh to kick off his first international trip as president. In a short chat after having the traditional coffee with cardamom, both leaders talked about oil, natural

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Middle East, USA

The unbelievable heroic story of Ireland’s overlooked ‘Oscar Schindler’

Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty was wanted for saving hundreds of Jews in Rome during elaborate disguised operations that earned him the name ‘Scarlet Pimpernel’ By Michael Riordan DUBLIN — As the Gestapo surrounds the palace of an Italian anti-Fascist aristocrat, an Irish priest dashes to the cellar. He is wanted by the Nazis for his role

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International, Jewish History, Middle East

Rouhani re-elected Iranian president comfortably

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani won re-election by a comfortable margin over his main arch-conservative challenger, buoyed by high voter turnout, according to official results. The Iranian Interior Ministry said Rouhani won 56.9 percent of the vote, compared with 38.6 percent for his closest rival, former Attorney General Ebrahim Raisi. Two other candidates also…

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Middle East