02 Apr 10
Thousands take part in Priestly Blessing at Western Wall
Close to ten thousand worshippers participated in Thursday's Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall which is held during the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot.
Israeli planes 'carry out missile attacks on Gaza'
They said four air strikes took place in open areas near the central town of Khan Younis, the site of a deadly clash last week between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen.
Iran says sanctions will not stop nuclear programme
International sanctions will not stop Iran's nuclear programme, Tehran's most senior nuclear negotiator has said in the face of growing pressure from China and the US over Iran's nuclear ambitions. Following talks in Beijing with Yang Jiechi, China's foreign minister, Saeed Jalili said China agreed that sanctions were "not effective", Reuters reported.
Likud MK: Not even 'Hussein Obama' will remove us from Hebron
Thousands of Israelis gathered Thursday at the Cave of the Patriarchs in the West Bank city of Hebron to celebrate the addition of the location to Israel's list of national heritage sites, a move initiated by the Land of Israel caucus in the Knesset. "The masses that have come here, including the 40 members of the Land of Israel caucus, are a guarantee and proof that no one will move us from the Cave of the Patriarchs, not even Hussein Obama," MK Ayoob Kara (Likud) told the crowd.
Why don’t Norwegians take on anti-Semitism?
Norwegian television aired a broadcast showing Jewish parents and teachers – who did not reveal their identities – blowing the whistle on Norwegian school authorities who are ignoring Muslim students boycotting Holocaust education, a death threat issued to a Jewish student, and statements that the “Jews are to blame for 9/11.”
Verizon Joins AT&T, Deere in Booking Costs From Health-Care Law
Verizon Communications Inc., the second-largest U.S. phone company, became the latest company to record a cost related to the U.S. health-care overhaul, saying it will incur a $970 million expense. The one-time, non-cash cost will be taken in the first quarter, New York-based Verizon said yesterday in a regulatory filing.
Underemployment Rises to 20.3% in March
Gallup Daily tracking finds that 20.3% of the U.S. workforce was underemployed in March -- a slight uptick from the relatively flat January and February numbers. These results are based on March interviews with more than 20,000 adults in the U.S. workforce, aged 18 and older. Gallup classifies respondents as underemployed if they are unemployed or working part-time but wanting full-time work.
Putin Visits Chavez in Russian Bid to Grow in Obama's Backyard
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will pay his first visit to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez tomorrow as Russia seeks to regain lost influence in Latin America through energy and arms deals. The highlight of the one-day trip to Caracas may be the formation of a joint venture to pump oil from Venezuela's Orinoco Belt. Putin also plans to meet Bolivia's Evo Morales, who like Chavez opposes U.S. policy in the region.
Satan behind media attacks on the Pope, asserts Italian exorcist
Noted Italian exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth, commented this week that the recent defamatory reporting on Pope Benedict XVI, especially by the New York Times, was "prompted by the devil." Speaking to News Mediaset in Italy, the 85-year-old exorcist noted that the devil is behind "the recent attacks on Pope Benedict XVI regarding some pedophilia cases."
Thirteen Israeli air strikes hit Gaza Strip
Israeli planes have carried out 13 air strikes on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources have told the BBC. Four of the strikes took place near the town of Khan Younis, where two Israeli soldiers were killed in clashes with Palestinian fighters last week. Israel says the operation was targeting four weapons factories. Reports say three children were injured.
China rescue workers 'hear signs of life' in flood mine
Rescue teams attempting to reach 153 miners trapped in a flooded coal pit in China have heard signs of life from inside, state media has reported. The rescuers heard what sounded like people banging on pipes at the pit in northern Shanxi province colliery, five days after it flooded, CCTV said. More than 100 people managed to escape the flood but the rest were trapped.
US 'revamps air security checks'
The US will announce on Friday that it is to begin profiling US-bound passengers to determine who should get extra screening, reports say. The measures would replace mandatory enhanced screening of all travellers from 14 nations, brought in after the failed attack on a flight in December. Travellers will be picked out according to how closely they match intelligence on potential terrorist threats.
Israel says it’s planning new gestures
Israel has formulated a new list of potential gestures towards the Palestinians, Defense Ministry sources said Thursday, as a top Palestinian Authority minister visited Washington for talks with Obama administration officials. The office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and the Defense Ministry recently compiled new proposals for easing restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank, according to Defense officials.
The war of the roses
Has the fight between US President Barack Obama and Israel become so fetid that it can overcome the fragrance of nearly 10,000 roses? That appeared to be the case on Thursday, when officials in the Prime Minister’s Office made clear that they cannot accept a donation of 800 dozen yellow roses from American Christians who were upset by reports of Obama’s treatment of Binyamin Netanyahu in the White House last week.
Pressure on China as Iran's Jalili holds talks in Beijing
Teheran's top nuclear negotiator met senior officials in Beijing for a second day Friday as US reports said China had dropped its opposition to possible new UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. Saeed Jalili met Wang Jiarui, who heads the Communist Party's international affairs office, a day after China sidestepped questions on whether it had changed its traditional opposition to new sanctions.
