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☆ Priest: My conversion on LGBTQ rights tells an important story
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Opinion Michael Coren | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Some background and context: Until 2013 I was a Roman Catholic, and as a journalist and broadcaster with a fairly high profile, spoke and wrote frequently in support of Catholic sexual teachings. And according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law.” Pope Francis has made some soothing and compromising comments but, at heart, very little has changed. As a result, I was roundly attacked by Christian conservatives, Catholic as well as Protestant. I made a public apology in my syndicated newspaper column for harm caused to the LGBTQ+ community by my writing and broadcasting. I’m now a priest, spend my time trying to preach the genuine song of the Gospels, and write books and columns doing the same.

Persons: Michael Coren, I’ve, –, ” Pope Francis, Pope Francis, ”, Canada’s, John Baird, Baird, I’d, “ Tolle, Augustine, wasn’t, Ezekiel, Samuel, it’s, Jesus doesn’t, Paul’s, It’s, Jesus, Will Jesus, David, Jonathan, We’re, Matthew, Luke, I’m Organizations: Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, CNN, Roman Catholic, Catholic Church, Associated Press, Catholic, Twitter Locations: Canada, Roman, St, Northern Ireland, I’m

REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File PhotoSummary Funds were meant to narrow socio-economic gapsSmotrich says money would go to criminals, militantsLawmakers, colleges criticise decision as racistJERUSALEM, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has frozen funds for Arab towns and Palestinian education programmes in East Jerusalem, citing crime and safety fears and prompting accusations of racism. "Arab citizens are entitled to those funds, which were meant to close the gaps between Arab and Jewish communities," he told Reuters. 'HATRED AND RACISM'Smotrich said a separate 200 million shekels for encouraging academic studies among Palestinians from East Jerusalem would also be frozen until what he described as "extremist Islamic activity" on campus was eradicated. Smotrich said the new East Jerusalem plan would have a total increased budget but that although encouraging academic studies among the city's Palestinians was a worthy cause, this also had unwelcome consequences. Reporting by Henriette Chacar and Maayan Lubell; Editing by James Mackenzie and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Bezalel Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Kan, Moshe Arbel, Mansour Abbas, Yair Lapid, Smotrich, Ameer Bisharat, Israel, Netanyahu, Henriette Chacar, James Mackenzie, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Israeli, Reuters, National Committee of, Facebook, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Thomson Locations: Rahat, Israel, JERUSALEM, East Jerusalem, Smotrich, Arab, Jerusalem, Gaza

☆ An Israeli City Where Compromise and Division Swim Side by Side
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | More About Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Religious difference often drives tension in Israel, not only between Israelis and Palestinians, but also among Jews themselves. For months, the plan has provoked arguments among families and neighbors and drawn hundreds of thousands of mainly secular Israelis into protests. The demonstrations have grown to include a wide swath of society, bringing scientists, businesspeople and military reservists into the streets. Secular and ultra-Orthodox Jews often live in separate areas, with their children educated in separate school systems, generally allowing each community to live by its traditions. And in some cases, people actively embrace a fusion of cultures: Singers from religious backgrounds increasingly play at secular venues to mixed audiences.

Locations: Israel

CNN —Robert Bowers, the gunman who killed 11 worshippers and wounded six others at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018, was unanimously sentenced to death by a federal jury on Wednesday. The jury further found he was eligible for the death penalty on July 13, moving the trial to a third and final sentencing stage. “This is a case that calls for the most severe punishment under the law – the death penalty,” he said. In court, those who survived the shooting testified about hiding in closets and listening to the final words of their friends and loved ones. This is the second federal death penalty case to be prosecuted under the administration of President Joe Biden, who had criticized the death penalty on the campaign trail.

Persons: Robert Bowers, It’s, Biden, Bowers, “, Eric Olshan, ”, “ You’ve, Rob Bowers, You’ve, Judy Clarke, Dave Klug, Dor Hadash, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, I’m, Dor, Joe Biden, Trump Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Immigrant Aid Society Locations: Pittsburgh, New York City

“There are many checks on the legislative and executive branches, but there are simply no checks on the Supreme Court,” Kontorovich said, without citing examples. Video Ad Feedback Hear Netanyahu respond to judicial overhaul plans amid protests 03:17 - Source: CNNUnlike many democracies, Israel does not have a written constitution. While they are a minority in Israel, they have different reasons for backing the judicial plan. The prime minister in his Thursday interview with CNN failed to confirm whether he’d accept a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the “reasonableness” law. Following backlash from the opposition, however, Netanyahu in a statement attempted to reassure the public, saying that Israeli governments “always respect” court decisions.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Eugene Kontorovich, Kontorovich, Netanyahu, ” Kontorovich, Israel “, ”, Tommy Lamm, Ronnie Lottner, “, Naftali Bennett’s, Tamar Hermann, ” Hermann, Gideon Rahat, Bennett, Yair Lapid, Hermann, Israel Democracy Institue Organizations: CNN, White, Israel’s, West Bank, Israel Democracy Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s, Israel Democracy Locations: Israeli, Israel, “

It was a paid ad by a group of high-tech companies protesting against Netanyahu's judicial policies, which analysts say have unleashed a slew of risks, both for Israel's economy and for his own political future. Israel's shekel moved on every twist and turn in parliament as efforts to reach a judicial compromise intensified and finally crashed. For now, Israel's economy is relatively robust, with growth forecast at 3% this year and unemployment at a 3.5% rate. Even if Netanyahu chooses to scrap plans for further judicial changes, damage will be hard to fix. The tech sector has a lot to lose if more controversial judicial changes come because firms need a trusted legal system to protect their intellectual property.

Persons: Netanyahu, Moody's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's shekel, Morgan Stanley, Itzchak Raz, Netanyahu's, They're, Raz, Avi Hasson, Nicholas Farr, Amir Yaron, Amotz Asa, Asa, Shalom Hartman, Maayan Lubell, William Maclean Organizations: Government, Hebrew University, Israel Innovation Authority, Nation Central, Capital Economics, Analysts, Bank, Thomson Locations: JERUSALEM, Israel, Jerusalem

☆ Civil unrest, legal appeals and military disobedience: What Israel may face after Supreme Court law change
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Striking down a Basic Law would be uncharted territory for the Supreme Court, although the court has examined and commented on Basic Laws before. Hazem Bader/AFP via Getty Images People in Tel Aviv, Israel, demonstrate against the judicial overhaul plan on Saturday, July 22. Saeed Qaq/NurPhoto via Getty Images Protesters from Tel Aviv walk the entrance road to Jerusalem after a four-day march on July 22. Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters Protesters block the main entrance to the Ministry of Defense during a protest in Tel Aviv on July 18. Israeli military reservist signs pledge to suspend voluntary military service if the government passes judicial overhaul legislation, near the defence ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel on July 19.

Persons: CNN —, Israel doesn’t, Benjamin Netanyahu, Esther Hayut, ”, ” Hayut, Barak Medina, ” Medina, ” Yohanan Plesner, Ron Dermer, “, Plesner, Netanyahu, Monday, Amir Cohen, Corinna Kern, Oded, Jack Guez, Hazem Bader, Ammar Awad, Aryeh Deri, Shas, Ronaldo Schemidt, Ohad, Mahmoud Illean, Ronen Zvulun, Dar Yaskil, Saeed Qaq, Matan Golan, Eyal Warshavsky, Menahem Kahana, Ilan Rosenberg, Amir Levy, Medina, ” Plesner, Israel, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, ” Dermer, Biden hadn’t, Martin Indyk, Dan Kurtzer, Indyk, Israel hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Law, Supreme, Nation State Law, Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s, of Law, Israel Democracy Institute, Strategic, Israel Medical Association, IMA, High Tech, ”, Reuters, Getty, AP, Protesters, Getty Images, Reuters Protesters, AP People, Ministry of Defense, Air, House Press, New York Times, State Department Locations: Israel’s, United States, Israel, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israeli, AFP, Reuters Israeli

Scores of people set off on a 40-mile trek on foot from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On Tuesday, President Biden held a meeting with Mr. Herzog, who serves as Israel’s mostly ceremonial president, at the White House. Several lawmakers critical of Israel said they would boycott Mr. Herzog’s speech to Congress to protest the Israeli government’s policies. Some members of the Israeli military reserves have campaigned against the law, and labor unions have threatened general strikes. Scores of protesters were also marching from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, carrying blue-and-white Israeli flags and chanting “De-mo-cra-tya!” — Hebrew for democracy.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Biden, Herzog, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, ”, “ Organizations: Doctors, U.S, White, Mr, ”, United States Embassy Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, United States

☆ Israel's workhorse Merkava tank could soon be refilling foreign arsenals depleted by the war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Israel may be about to export its workhorse Merkava tank for the first time. Israel isn't selling the newest version of the 45-year-old Merkava tank family, the Merkava 5, or even the Merkava 4, which is used in front-line Israeli armored units. An Israeli Merkava tank in the Negev desert in November 1997. Israel Defense Forces/Michael ShvadronThough Israel is small, home to less than 10 million people, it's one of the world's top 10 arms exporters. If Merkava tanks are sold overseas, they may yet end up on surprising battlefields.

Persons: Yair Koles, Israel isn't, Antoine GYORI, Merkava, Mark, Michael Shvadron, Israel —, Efraim Inbar, MENAHEM KAHANA, Recep Erdogan, Michael Peck Organizations: Israel, Service, Israel's Ministry of Defense, Haaretz, Cypriot, El, Getty, Israel Defense Forces, United Arab, Morocco —, US Army, Jerusalem Institute for Strategy, Security, Polisario, Iranian, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Arab, European, Turkey, Cyprus, Morocco, Spanish, El Espanol, Israeli, Soviet, Lebanon, Israel's, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Algeria, AFP, Turkish, Russian, Europe, Eastern, Merkavas, Russia, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Forbes

Jerusalem CNN —A Jerusalem court acquitted an Israeli border police officer of “involuntary reckless manslaughter” in the fatal shooting of Eyad al-Hallaq, an unarmed Palestinian man. The defendant was granted anonymity by the court following a request from the Israeli Border Police, according to Khaled Zabarqa, one of the lawyers for the al-Hallaq family. Zabarqa said al-Hallaq had a “special needs” document issued by Israeli National Insurance, a government entity. The victim’s mother, Rana al-Hallaq, told CNN her son didn’t understand or speak Hebrew. The acquitted officer will return to active duty, and participate in a “commander’s course,” according to a Border Police statement released Thursday.

Persons: Eyad, Khaled Zabarqa, ”, Hallaq, Zabarqa, Rana, didn’t, Chana Miriam Lomp, “, ” Itamar Ben Gvir, Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs “, ” Zabarqa, ” “ Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, CNN, Israeli Border Police, Israeli National Insurance, National Security, Jewish Power, Border Police, Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Jerusalem, Jerusalem’s, Israel

☆ Israeli policeman acquitted in killing of autistic Palestinian
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Rana al-Halaq, the mother of Iyad al-Halaq, an unarmed autistic Palestinian man who was shot dead by Israeli police, sits surrounded by pictures of her son in her family home in East Jerusalem, July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Sinan Abu MayzerJERUSALEM, July 6 (Reuters) - An Israeli court on Thursday acquitted a policeman who shot dead an autistic Palestinian in 2020, ruling that the victim was mistaken for a militant under circumstances arising from the "unique intensity" of trying to secure Jerusalem. Prosecutors in 2021 filed negligent manslaughter charges in Jerusalem District Court against the policeman. The Israeli justice ministry department, which oversees investigations of the police, said it will decide how to proceed after studying the verdict. The unarmed Halaq ran away, prompting a pursuit in which one officer shot at his legs and missed, after which the defendant fatally shot him in the stomach, the indictment said.

Persons: Rana, Iyad, Sinan Abu Mayzer JERUSALEM, Miriam Lomp, clasping, Kheiry, Halaq, Dan Williams, Roleen Tafakji, Sinan Abu Mayzer, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, Prosecutors, Court, police, West Bank, Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Thomson Locations: East Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel, Old City

CNN —Remnants of Munich’s main synagogue, which was demolished by the Nazis in June 1938, have resurfaced – much to the amazement of the city’s Jewish community. Construction workers in the southern German city made the discovery while working on the renovation of a weir on the Isar river. Bernhard Purin, head of Munich’s Jewish museum, told CNN that he was surprised to hear the news the following day. Rubble from Munich's main synagogue was discovered at a weir on the Isar river. “The demolition of the main synagogue on Hitler’s orders marked the beginning of exclusion, persecution and destruction.

Persons: Bernhard Purin, “, ”, Mordechai Bernstein, Purin, Leonhard Moll, Charlotte Knobloch, Hitler, ” Katrin Habenschaden Organizations: CNN, Jewish Museum Locations: Munich, Germany, Austria, Jewish Museum Munich, Upper Bavaria, Nazi

☆ Israel to buy 25 more F-35 stealth jets in $3 billion deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Israel has approved the purchase of a third squadron of F-35 stealth fighter jets in a deal worth $3 billion, the Ministry of Defense said on Sunday. Israel was the first country outside the United States to acquire the F-35. In May 2018 its air force chief said that Israel was the first to use the plane in combat. The F-35 is also known as the Joint Strike Fighter and in Israel by its Hebrew name "Adir" (Mighty). Lockheed Martin and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney have agreed to involve Israeli defense companies in the production of aircraft components, the Israeli ministry added.

Persons: Israel, Lockheed Martin Organizations: Ministry of Defense, Lockheed, Israel, Pratt, Whitney Locations: United States, Israel

☆ Opinion | Do Not Panic. It’s Just a Moral Panic.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Pamela Paul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Not to freak you out, but you may be in the middle of a moral panic. A moral panic is the pervasive belief that some great wickedness is threatening society and must be stopped. According to the panic police, if you are worried about children and social media, you are succumbing to moral panic. If you’re troubled about your employees ruining the corporate brand on TikTok, that’s right: moral panic. Trepidations about artificial intelligence, crime, teenage Juul use, policing, gender ideology, privacy, self-driving cars, feminism, A.D.H.D., racism — moral panics, all.

Persons: Nachman Ben, Yehuda, Erich Goode, ” Ben Organizations: Hebrew University Locations: Jerusalem

☆ Is That ‘Hava Nagila’ I’m Hearing at the Club?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Alyson Krueger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

It is played at least once a weekend at Calissa, a Greek restaurant in Water Mill, N.Y., that hosts big-name D.J.s and performers like Samantha Ronson and Wyclef Jean. She said she got the idea after hearing it at restaurants and beach clubs in Mykonos and Ibiza. “We did some research, and we traveled around the Mediterranean, and we heard these very chic clubs and restaurants play this song, and we loved it,” she said. “It’s a song that is about transformation and reinvention, so that is destined to keep happening,” he said. “It’s always had new lives.”The song was written in 1918 by Abraham Zvi Idelsohn, a composer who believed the Jewish people needed new music at a time when Zionism and the push for a Jewish homeland were gaining strength.

Persons: Samantha Ronson, Wyclef Jean, “, ”, Kylie Monagan, Alabina, ” James Loeffler, wasn’t, “ It’s, Abraham Zvi Idelsohn, Loeffler Organizations: University of Virginia Locations: Calissa, Water Mill, N.Y, Mykonos, Ibiza

Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi CNN —Textbooks in Saudi Arabia have been changing. On Israel and the Palestinians, IMPACT-se found moderation, but not yet full acceptance of Israel. “Some in Israel want to see normalization with Saudi so badly that any interaction about Israel will be framed as something positive towards normalization,” he said. In Saudi Arabia, support for normalization stood at 5%. But Podeh and the other experts all agreed: public perceptions of Israel will be shaped by much more than textbooks.

Persons: ”, Mira Al Hussein, Kristin Diwan, Islam Aziz Alghashian, ” Alghashian, Israel, “, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Elie Podeh, “ It’s, ” Podeh, It’s, Diwan Organizations: Abu Dhabi CNN, Monitoring, School Education, IMPACT, Zionism, United, United Arab Emirates ’, University of Edinburgh, ISIS, Muslim Brotherhood, CNN, Saudi Center, International Communication, Ministry, Education, Gulf States Institute, Saudi, Abraham Accords, Arab Center Washington DC, Department of Islamic, Eastern, Hebrew University Locations: Jerusalem, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, United States, Israel, London, Saudi, Palestine, United Arab, Scotland, “, al Qaeda, Washington

CNN —Robert Bowers, the gunman who killed 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, was convicted by a federal jury Friday on all 63 charges against him. Bowers was also convicted of 11 counts of hate crimes resulting in death. The shooting unfolded on a day when the synagogue was hosting three congregations, Tree of Life, Dor Hadash and New Light, for weekly Shabbat services. In addition to the 11 killed, two worshippers and four responding police officers were wounded. Before the shooting, Bowers spent years posting about attacks on immigrants and Jewish people on Gab, a small social media platform used by far-right extremists.

Persons: Robert Bowers, Bowers, David Klug Diane Rosenthal, Cecil, David Rosenthal, ‘, ’, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, ” Myers, ” “, ”, Jonathan Greenblatt, that’s, ” Greenblatt, Dan Frankel, “, Frankel, ” Bowers, Robert Bowers David Klug, Robert Colville, Elisa Long, ” Long, Eric Olshan, ” Olshan, Dor Hadash, Andrea Wedner, Rose Mallinger, ’ ”, Mary Hahn, – Organizations: CNN, U.S, Attorney, Defamation League, Pennsylvania, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Police, Immigrant Aid Society Locations: Maryland, New York

☆ Quantum Computing Advance Begins New Era, IBM Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Kenneth Chang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Quantum computers today are small in computational scope — the chip inside your smartphone contains billions of transistors while the most powerful quantum computer contains a few hundred of the quantum equivalent of a transistor. They are also unreliable. If you run the same calculation over and over, they will most likely churn out different answers each time. “What IBM showed here is really an amazingly important step in that direction of making progress towards serious quantum algorithmic design,” said Dorit Aharonov, a professor of computer science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who was not involved with the research. While researchers at Google in 2019 claimed that they had achieved “quantum supremacy” — a task performed much more quickly on a quantum computer than a conventional one — IBM’s researchers say they have achieved something new and more useful, albeit more modestly named.

Persons: ”, Dorit Aharonov Organizations: IBM, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Google

☆ Prehistoric bird-wing flutes music to the ears of archaeologists in Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The research team made replicas of the fragile originals, which they found emitted high-pitched trills resembling the calls of birds of prey. One theory is that the flutes were used attract the birds of prey - namely the Eurasian Sparrowhawk and the Common Kestrel - to frighten waterfowl, making them easier to catch. Over 500 million birds pass through the Hula Valley each year as they migrate between Europe and Africa, making it a popular destination for bird watchers. The use of flutes to communicate with the birds, Simmons said, was "really cementing that transition to a time when the relationship between humans and animals began to change". Reporting by Dedi Hayun and Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jérusalem, Tal Simmons, Simmons, Dedi Hayun, Ari Rabinovitch, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, REUTERS, de Recherche, Israel Antiquities Authority, Tal Simmons of Virginia Commonwealth University, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem, Ronen, JERUSALEM, Israel, recherche, Europe, Africa, Ain

Hypersonic missiles are those that can travel at a speed beyond Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. Iran unveils its first hypersonic missile 06:13 - Source: CNNIsrael’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was quick to dismiss the potential threat posed to his country. Uzi Rubin, founder and former director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization at the Israeli defense ministry has no reason to believe the missile is not real and functional. Has Iran made it to the A-list among countries that can produce hypersonic missiles? Israel has several missile defense systems.

Persons: Jerusalem CNN — It’s, ”, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Yoav Gallant, ” Iran’s, Uzi Rubin, it’s, Alex Vatanka, Iran’s, John Krzyzaniak, ’, “, Rubin, Israel doesn’t, we’d Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Aerospace, CNN Israel’s, Israel Missile Defense Organization, CNN, Iran, ”, Middle East Institute, Wisconsin, Control, ISIS, United Arab Emirates, Patriot, Area Defense, UAE, Patriots, Iran’s Locations: Abu Dhabi, Jerusalem, Tehran, Tel Aviv, Israel, Iran, Washington ,, United States, Washington , DC, Syria, Iraq, Kurdish, East, Gaza, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ukraine, Yemen, Gulf, Islamic Republic, Persian

☆ OpenAI CEO sees 'huge' Israeli role in reducing risks from the technology
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Steven Scheer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A view shows banners on the Tel Aviv University campus as Sam Altman, CEO of Microsoft-backed OpenAI and ChatGPT creator is due to speak in Tel Aviv, Israel June 5, 2023. REUTERS/Amir CohenTEL AVIV, June 5 (Reuters) - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicted on Monday a "huge role" for Israel in reducing risks from artificial intelligence and eyed investment opportunities in the country even as it debates whether and how to regulate the technology behind ChatGPT. "The energy on making use of the technology and its positive benefits is fantastic to see, and I am sure Israel will play a huge role." Visiting Microsoft Corp's R&D centre in Israel, Altman was asked whether his company might also open a local office. Israel published a 115-page draft AI policy in October and is collating public feedback ahead of a final decision.

Persons: Sam Altman, Amir Cohen TEL, Altman, Isaac Herzog, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Ziv Katzir, Benjamin Netanyahu, Dan Williams, Emelia Sithole, Alex Richardson Organizations: Tel Aviv University, Microsoft, REUTERS, ChatGPT, crisscrossing, Stanford University, European, Israel Innovation Authority, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Amir Cohen TEL AVIV, crisscrossing Europe, Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, India, South Korea, United States, Britain, Canada, U.S

☆ Plague: Oldest known cases in Britain uncovered in mass burial
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A team of researchers excavating mass burial sites in England have detected the DNA of the bacteria that caused the plague in human skeletal remains — and they are the oldest known cases of the disease in Great Britain. The bacterial DNA is thousands of years more ancient than the oldest strain uncovered prior to this latest finding. When it comes to the disease, there is a lot that scientists still don’t know — including how it spread, Swali said. And science may never truly know the severity of the plague 4,000 years ago when it came to humans, Roberts said. And while there are historical records of plague outbreaks, ancient DNA could potentially give us a look even further back, Swali said.

Persons: CNN —, Pooja Swali, Francis Crick, Swali, ”, Benjamin Roberts, ” Swali, Lee Mordechai, pestis, Roberts, ” Roberts, paleogeneticists, Mordechai, ” Mordechai Organizations: CNN, Nature Communications, Francis, Francis Crick Institute, Durham University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Locations: England, Great Britain, Cambridgeshire, London, Somerset, Cumbria, Scotland, United Kingdom, Britain, Europe

☆ The oldest, most complete Hebrew Bible that went missing for 600 years sells for a record $38 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An ancient Hebrew Bible has just sold at Sotheby's auction house in New York for $38 million. The ancient text, written in around 900 AD, is the most complete early copy of the Hebrew Bible. Hence, the auction house says the nearly 800-page Codex Sassoon is "definitively the most significant early biblical manuscript in private hands." It includes 24 books of the Hebrew Bible, divided into the Torah, or "Pentateuch," the Nevi'im, or "prophets," and the Ketuvim, or "writings." The Hebrew Bible is the basis for what Christians call the Old Testament.

☆ Tens of thousands protest against planned Israeli judicial overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The government accuses activist judges of increasingly usurping the role of parliament, and says the overhaul is needed to restore balance between the judiciary and elected politicians. Critics say it will remove vital checks and balances underpinning a democratic state and hand unchecked power to the government. A sea of blue and white Israeli flags, which have become a symbol of the protests, coated a central highway in Tel Aviv. "It scares me that we are still a few hours away at any given moment from turning from a democracy to a dictatorship," Sagi Mizrahi, a 40-year-old computer programmer told Reuters in Tel Aviv. "I'm here because of the judicial system and the laws that are still sitting on the table, it's just scary."

☆ E. Jean Carroll says 'hundreds' of people asked her how to sue their abusers since her win against Donald Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

E. Jean Carroll told Insider she's gotten hundreds of emails from people asking for advice to sue abusers. She was able to sue Donald Trump — and win — because of New York's Adult Survivor's Act. Carroll, a former Elle magazine journalist and writer of the "Ask E. Jean" advice column, won her sexual abuse and defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump earlier this month. Carroll was able to bring the sexual abuse claims against Trump because of New York's Adult Survivor's Act. Carroll praised Kaplan as a "brilliant" person who didn't fear Trump and "thinks three and four moves ahead."

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