February 2017
New threats to US Jewish centers
(CNN)More bomb threats were called into Jewish community centers and day schools Monday, in at least 12 states, according to statements from the Anti-Defamation League and JCCA. Many affected institutions were declared clear and have returned to regular operations.The threats targeted JCCs in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, […]
China considers paying couples to have a second child
After abolishing the one-child policy, Communist party mulls financial incentives to parents who have more than one baby China is considering introducing birth rewards and subsidies to encourage people to have a second child, after surveys showed economic constraints were making many reluctant to expand their families, the state-owned China Daily has reported. The idea […]
Uber executive resigns after failing to disclose prior sexual harassment claim
Setback is the latest sign of turmoil at Uber, which recently found itself in a separate sexual harassment firestorm and faces a major lawsuit from Google The top engineering executive at Uber has resigned, adding to the companys turmoil a week after the company found itself in an unrelated sexual harassment firestorm. Amit Singhal, whose […]
‘Open the doors’: the Catholic churches hiding targets of Dutertes drug war
Despite the climate of fear in the Philippines, a growing number of churches have opened their network of safe houses to people at risk of being killed The Catholic church in the Philippines is operating a network that hides addicts and others targeted in president Rodrigo Dutertes bloody drug war, priests have told the Guardian. […]
Navy secretary nominee Philip Bilden withdraws
(CNN)President Trump’s nominee for secretary of the Navy, Philip Bilden, has withdrawn his name from consideration, Bilden and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said Sunday in statements. Both Bilden’s and Mattis’ statements said Bilden’s business interests created complications. He recently retired from a private equity investment management firm, according to a White House statement. “After […]
Trump to call for substantial increase in military spending, cuts to several federal agencies
(CNN)President Donald Trump will call for a substantial increase in military spending and look to safeguard Social Security and Medicare from any cuts in his first major step toward compiling a budget proposal for the coming fiscal year, a senior administration official told CNN on Sunday. The White House on Monday will issue the outlines […]
Jimmy Kimmel sticks it to Donald Trump in Oscars opening monologue
Kimmel opens the Academy Awards show with digs at the president and the political division in the US as well as his comedy nemesis, Matt Damon Jimmy Kimmel skewered Donald Trump and the Academys record on diversity in his opening monologue for the Oscars, thanking the president and saying: Remember last year when it seemed […]
The Salesman wins best foreign language Oscar
Protest vote against Donald Trumps travel ban suspected to be partly behind Iranian director Asghar Farhadis surprise victory Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has won the best foreign language Oscar in Los Angeles, for a second time, for domestic drama The Salesman. Farhadi, 44, did not attend the ceremony because he said that the conditions that […]