It’s known as some of the saddest ground in America, a 14-acre plot of Arlington National Cemetery called Section 60 where many U.S. personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan are interred. On Memorial Day this year, President Donald Trump and the man who would be his chief of staff visited Grave 9480, the final resting place of Robert Kelly, a Marine killed Nov. 9, 2010, in Afghanistan. “We grieve with you. We honor you. And we pledge to you that we will always remember Robert and what he did for all of us,” Trump said, singling out the Kelly family during his remarks to the nation that day. Turning to Robert’s father, then the secretary of homeland security, Trump added, “Thank you, John.” The quiet tribute contrasts with Trump’s messy braw...
A state panel on judicial discipline has recommended that Baltimore’s chief judge be removed from his position and not be permitted to serve as a judge in any jurisdiction in the state — the “strongest possible sanction” — according to a decision posted Wednesday. The Commission on Judicial Disabilities, which held a multi-day hearing on allegations against Chief Judge Alfred Nance, found by unanimous vote that he had committed “sanctionable conduct” and referred their recommendations to the Court of Appeals, which has final say. “In the commission’s view, the imposition of a public reprimand or suspension is not commensurate with the serious violation of misconduct in office committed by Judge Nance and does not reassure the...
Migrating pelicans can once again stop by for a mouthful of fish in Israel. The Agriculture Ministry says Wednesday it will keep funding a pet project to feed thousands of Great White Pelicans who fly annually over the country. The idea is to centralize their feeding ground at a central Israeli reservoir so the birds do not harm the livelihood of farmers by poaching fish from nearby breeding grounds. The ministry had previously said it was going to stop the project, claiming it was not responsible for feeding migrating animals passing through from Europe to Africa. But under pressure from farmers and environmentalists, it reconsidered. Israel’s nature reserves authority welcomed the decision and said it hoped funding would continue for the sake of both farmers and pelicans.
A priest and a pastor from the nearby parishes stood along the side of the roadway, holding up a sign that reads, “The end is near!  Turn around before it’s too late!” They resolved to hold up the sign to each passing car in an attempt to save the driver and the passengers from the terrible fate that awaited them.  However, the road had been unusually quiet that morning and they found themselves with little to do.  Finally, they heard the sound of an approaching vehicle.  Straightening up, then edged closer to the road, raising the sign high in the air. “The end is near!” they cried out as the car raced toward them. “Get lost, you religious fanatics!” the driver shouted at them through his open window as the car sped past. &...
President Donald Trump is proving to be an erratic negotiating partner as he punts policy issues to Congress and then sends conflicting signals about what he really wants. His rapid backpedal this week on a short-term health care is the latest example, and it’s left Republicans and Democrats scratching their heads. “The president has had six positions on our bill,” an exasperated Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Wednesday after Trump offered multiple reads on a bipartisan plan to keep health insurance markets in business. Trump ultimately ended with a thumbs-down. Nine months into office, Trump has shown a preference for delegating to lawmakers on everything from health care and immigration to foreign policy. Sometimes he creates situations that demand a congress...
President Donald Trump tells senators that “maybe someday you’ll see my taxes.” The president made the evidently facetious comment in a White House meeting about tax legislation Wednesday with Republicans and Democrats on the Finance Committee. It was a reference to Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns, as past presidents and presidential candidates have done. The comment was confirmed by a Senate aide briefed on the exchange, who demanded anonymity to disclose details of a private meeting.
Canadian province bans public workers from wearing full-face coverings, wearing niqabs and burqas on public transit. The Canadian province of Quebec passed a sweeping ban on full-face coverings Wednesday. The legislation bans public workers from wearing the niqab or burqa and requires citizens to remove their face coverings when taking public transportation or receiving public services. The bill, which passed by a majority of 66 to 51, is the first of its kind in North America. Several European nations ban face coverings, including Muslim veils such as the niqab. France became the first European nation to ban face coverings in 2010. Human rights groups slammed the new law for targeting Muslim women specifically. Philippe Couillard, the premier of Quebec, defended the law. "We are jus...
IDF responds to rocket fire from Syria which hit Golan Heights, destroying Syrian army position. A rocket fired from Syria hit the Israeli side of the Golan Heights Thursday afternoon. The rocket landed in an open field, an IDF spokesperson said, and no injuries or damage were reported. Army officials say the rocket fire was part of the ongoing Syrian civil war, and that the projectile strayed off course and landed in Israeli territory. In keeping with Israel’s deterrence policy, the IDF said, Israeli army units returned fire, striking a Syrian army position. “The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm the sovereignty of the State of Israel or the security of its citizens,” and IDF spokesperson said Thursday evening. “The IDF holds the Syrian government...
A Vermont judge cleared Rabbi Berl Fink of all charges Wednesday relating to his controversial arrest by Vermont State Troopers in August that resulted in Fink being arrested at gunpoint. Fink had led Vermont State Trooper Justin Thompson on a four-mile police chase in August when he failed to pull over for driving 20 miles over the speed limit. Fink said that he did not realize he was being pulled over and could not find a place to do so. When Fink finally stopped, Thompson ordered him at gunpoint to leave the car with his hands up and handcuffed Fink along with his wife and brother. Thompson told Rabbi Fink that “if you don’t do exactly what I say, you’re going to get tased” and yelled at another officer to "check them for weapons". Fink was later cha...
Authorities have released the names of two men who are missing after a helicopter they were in disappeared off the northwest coast of Molokai. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports rescue crews are searching for 27-year-old Jeremy Dossetter and 25-year-old Oliver Kirsch. The helicopter they were in disappeared Monday night. Molokai resident Tim Emmanuel says he saw a red blinking light descend quickly toward the ocean while fishing that night. The U.S. Coast Guard, Navy and Maui Fire Department are conducting the search. The company whose helicopter they were in, Mauna Loa Helicopters, is assisting with the search. The two men were aboard the helicopter for flight training when they left Honolulu and were heading back to Oahu when the airport’s control tower lost communicati...
U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley urged the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to adopt the Trump administration’s comprehensive approach to Iran and address all aspects of its “destructive conduct” — not just the 2015 nuclear deal. She told the council that Iran “has repeatedly thumbed its nose” at council resolutions aimed at addressing Iranian support for terrorism and regional conflicts and has illegally supplied weapons to Yemen and Hezbollah militants in Syria and Lebanon. “Worse, the regime continues to play this council,” Haley said. “Iran hides behind its assertion of technical compliance with the nuclear deal while it brazenly violates the other limits of its behavior, and we have allowed them to get away with it.” &l...
A Palestinian driver on Thursday morning 29 Tishrei, at about 8:40am, tried to crash the Focus Checkpoint in proximity to Beit El. The driver slammed into a police vehicle. Magen David Adom reported there were no injuries. It was explained later the vehicle that slammed into the police car was being pursued by authorities.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions strongly defended President Donald Trump’s firing of James Comey, but at a Senate hearing Wednesday repeatedly declined to discuss private conversations with the president about the dismissal, frustrating Democratic lawmakers who wanted to link the firing of the FBI director to a broader inquiry into Russian election meddling. The repeated, often-testy questioning about the Russia investigation, coming even as Sessions spearheads sweeping changes to the Justice Department in the areas of LGBT rights, criminal justice and immigration, illustrates the extent to which the probe continues to shadow Sessions even though he recused himself months ago. Sessions advised the Senate Judiciary Committee at the outset of his first oversight hearing as attor...
A family feud in Tel Sheva erupted on Wednesday evening into a shooting battle the resulted in one dead and 8 injured. Pahri Abu Taha (23) was shot and killed while standing next to his mother (50), who was injured in the gun battle. Only two weeks ago, Abu Taha’s first son was born. According to initial reports, a man walked into their house and shot them both after a spat of violence erupted between members of their extended family and the Abu Asa family who reside in the same locale. Aside from the mother and son, another seven people were injured in the incident. Among them were two 14-year-old boys. Most of them were injured from gunfire, while some were injured by violence and one was run over by a vehicle. Three of the people were in serious condition while the other f...
A man who authorities say fell under the influence of the Islamic State group was convicted Wednesday of plotting to behead a conservative American blogger for organizing a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest. Jurors found David Wright guilty of all charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries. The 28-year-old from Everett, Massachusetts, faces up to life in prison when he’s sentenced in December. Federal officials called Wright’s conviction a victory for America in its fight against terrorism. “We can all sleep better now knowing that David Wright, a person who wanted to kill in the name of ISIS, will no longer be free to walk the...
According to reports in the British Press outlet Ashar al-Awsat, the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Israel that Moscow has agreed to expand a buffer zone along the Israeli-Syrian border. This buffer zone will be a no-go for Hezbollah and Iranian forces operating in Syria. The agreement came following a meeting held between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman with high-level officers of the Russian military that included Shoigu. According to the report, the KRemlin has agreed to expand the buffer zone around Israel’s northern border from 5 kilometers to 15. High-level Jerusalem officials told the British paper that the Israeli request was to expand the no-go zone to 40 kilometers of Syrian territory. Such a distance is more tha...
An Arab worker was caught in Betar Illit and arrested after uploading photos with a tractor on Facebook with the caption “Hurt them”, indicating that he wanted to run over Jews. The information about him came from the residents of the city, who identified to their horror the caption “hurt them” with the city in the background and picture beside a large tractor. In addition, on his Facebook page, there have been additional posts of support for terrorism and terrorists. Many Arab workers come to the chareidi city every morning, most of them working in construction, but not only as they are found in other areas of employment too. In the past, attempts were made to reduce the number of Arab workers in the city due to security concerns.
Greg Pence, one of Mike Pence’s older brothers, has filed a tax document indicating he will seek the eastern Indiana congressional seat that the vice president and former governor represented for 12 years. He formed the Greg Pence for Congress Committee on Monday, according to a filing with the Internal Revenue Service that was obtained by The Associated Press. Greg Pence, who once ran the family’s now-bankrupt chain of Tobacco Road convenience stores, previously said he had been courted to run for the district, which covers a broad swath of central and southeastern Indiana — including Muncie and Columbus. As the vice president’s brother, he is likely the hands-down favorite to win in the overwhelmingly Republican district. He has a famous name, owns an ant...
Israel has expanded the Gaza fishing zone for the coming months through the end of the Gregorian year. The new expanded regulations go into effect on Wednesday, 28 Tishrei. The decision was made by IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) in coordination with the IDF Southern District Commander and Israel Navy. The explanation is the coming months are the winter fishing season and the move was done to permit Gaza fisherman to maximize the season as is done during the spring fishing season.
Millions of Americans would lose a prized tax break under President Donald Trump’s sweeping revamp of the tax code, but corporations would get to keep it. The Republican proposal would eliminate the federal deduction for state and local taxes, a widely popular break used by some 44 million Americans, especially in high-tax, Democratic-leaning states like New York, New Jersey, California and Illinois. But corporations, which pay billions in local property levies and state income taxes, wouldn’t be affected. Republicans are determined to overhaul the nation’s tax system by year’s end, offering a plan that lowers the corporate tax rate from 36 percent to 20 percent and reduces the number of tax brackets. Trump and the GOP cast the plan as a boon to the middle c...
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