Mike Pence: ISIS is guilty of genocide against Christians

The Trump administration is raising alarms about the Islamic State committing genocide against Christians, a conclusion that President Obama’s team reached reluctantly only last year. In a speech Thursday that didn’t receive much press attention in Washington, Vice President Mike Pence told the World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians that atrocities are being committed […]

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Middle East, USA

After being booed at college graduation, Illinois governor says he’d ‘love to boo our system as well’

CHICAGO — Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday was booed by Chicago State University students and their families during a commencement ceremony at the school, an outburst the governor called “negative feedback” while adding he’d “love to boo our system as well.” The university has been among those hit hardest by the ongoing state

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Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

UC regents take first steps to investigate alleged interference in state audit surveys

University of California regents took the first steps Thursday to investigate allegations that central administrators improperly interfered with a state audit on the financial operations of the UC office of the president. In a unanimous vote at a hastily arranged special meeting, the Board of Regents authorized the hiring of an independent investigator to assist

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Science, Medicine, & Education, USA

Former British PM Tony Blair writes open letter to Macron in Le Monde

Former British prime minister Tony Blair has penned a letter to President-elect Emmanuel Macron delineating the lessons he learned from his so-called Third Way program in the UK and outlining what he believes is the best path forward. That Blair would see a bit of himself in the young French soon-to-be leader is understandable; many

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International

Kentucky appeals court sides with business owner who refused to print gay pride T-shirts

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Court of Appeals on Friday sided with Hands On Originals, a Lexington business that refused to print T-shirts in 2012 for Lexington’s Gay and Lesbian Services Organization because the company’s owner said he had religious objections to “pride in being gay.” In a 2-to-1 decision, a panel of appeals judges

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USA

Spanish parliament approves motion to exhume Franco’s remains

Spain’s opposition parties voted on Thursday to move the remains of fascist dictator Francisco Franco out of a state-funded mausoleum, in a non-binding parliamentary motion the government is likely to resist. The motion, backed by parties on the left and centre, reflected growing pressure from campaign groups and politicians to turn the site into a

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International

Donald Trump threatens James Comey in tweet: Better hope there are no ‘tapes’

President Trump tweeted a veiled threat Friday toward former FBI Director James B. Comey over possible tapes of their conversations. “James Comey better hope there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!” Mr. Trump posted on Twitter. James Comey better hope that there are no “tapes” of our conversations

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USA

Former Los Angeles County sheriff sentenced to 3 years in prison

LOS ANGELES — Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has been sentenced to three years in prison, marking an end to a corruption scandal that has roiled the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for several years. In going after Baca, federal prosecutors meticulously worked their way up the department’s ranks, charging lower-level figures and

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USA

Israel public radio and TV helped olim adjust

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — What exactly lies behind the closing of Israel’s Broadcasting Authority after its seven decades of serving the public is a subject for speculation. Politics, finances and greed are part of the picture for sure, although other reasons have been posited. The radio, followed by

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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast