If antisemitism has long plagued France, dating back to the Middle Ages, it's now metastasizing in new, alarming ways, according to a recently published book by French journalist Nora Bussigny. Titled "Les Nouveaux Antismites" ("The New Antisemites"), it exposes virulent Jew-hatred endemic to many far-left organizations in France, infiltrated by Bussigny as part of a lengthy undercover investigation. Using a false identity, Bussigny uncovered pervasive antisemitism and anti-Zionism, now a common denominator among diverse groups that often disagree on other matters. "I saw with my own eyes to what degree Islamists, far-left so-called progressive' militants and feminist, LGBT and ecological activists are closely linked in their shared hatred of Jews and Israel," Bussigny told The Times of Israel during a recent interview on Zoom. Read more
When Donald Trump, said he would "rescue" protesters if Iranian authorities started shooting, Siavash Shirzad believed the US president. The 38-year-old father had seen protests rise up before, only to be brutally crushed by authorities. But this was the first time in his life that the president of the United States had promised to help demonstrators. Reassured, Shirzad took to the streets, ignoring his family's warnings and joining the growing crowds. Authorities started shooting, but no help came. On 8 January, the internet was shut off and Iran went dark, Shirzad was shot at a protest in Tehran and died of his wounds hours later, leaving behind a 12-year-old son. "Siavash hoped until the very end that Trump's help would arrive," his cousin said, speaking anonymously for fear of repercussions. "We told him: Don't go, it's dangerous.' But he gave a firm answer: Trump said he supports us, I'm going.'" Read more
Today, it's not just U.S. foes that find themselves scrambling to reinterpret Trump's grandiose ultimatums in the wake of the stunning Venezuela operation. Partners and allies as well are now viewing Trump's open vow to pursue a more assertive policy across the Western Hemisphere in a far more serious light, one bound to have repercussions across the globe. Read more
Nasa's mega rocket has been moved to the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, as the final preparations get underway for the first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years. Over almost 12 hours, the 98m-tall Space Launch System was carried vertically from the Vehicle Assembly Building on the 4-mile (6.5km) journey to the pad. Read more
The post-1945 financial order: Europe buys US debt, America stations troops in Europe. Simple. Elegant. Mutually beneficial for seventy years.
When (Z) served as a TA for History of Religions (back then, History 4), and for History of Christianity (back then, History 161), the phrase that professor S. Scott Bartchy surely used more than any other was "radical inclusivity." That is the nutshell version of how Jesus' version of Judaism was different from what came before. He largely rejected various forms of ritual purity (particularly keeping kosher) and said, "What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them." Yehshua ben Yosef did not prefer to figure out who was in the tent, and who was outside, but instead to try to make the tent as big as is possible (and to treat even those who are outside the tent with kindness and decency).
This Week in Schadenfreude: Kennedy Center Performers Keep Opting Out It's been long enough since we wrote a "schadenfreude" (excepting the bonus schadenfreude earlier this week) that we did not realize that the last one was ALSO about the Kennedy Center. We guess that institution has become a vergence in the schadenfreude force.
New documents show the crew on board the United States' newest aircraft carrier are growing increasingly frustrated by design flaws that lead to regular failures in the ship's toilet system.
The U.S. Department of Justice has formally moved to block the appointment of an independent monitor or special master to oversee the release of Epstein-related records in the long-closed criminal case of Ghislaine Maxwell"arguing that no federal court has the authority to compel such disclosures. In a six-page letter filed tonight, to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, prosecutors contend that recent efforts by members of Congress to force production of the so-called "Epstein files" amount to an improper attempt to reopen a concluded criminal case and to create a form of judicial oversight that Congress itself did not authorize. In short, the government's filing makes clear that"absent new legislation explicitly authorizing court enforcement"the DOJ believes no court can force it to produce the Epstein files, regardless of public pressure or congressional intent.
The first US-brokered sale of Venezuelan crude oil under Donald Trump's new energy plan went to Vitol, a global oil trading firm whose senior US-based trader was a major donor to Trump's 2024 re-election campaign.
Vitol Full of Crooks
An 11-year-old boy faces homicide charges after shooting and killing his father in Perry County, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Police said Clayton then entered the bedroom and shouted, "Daddy's dead." Troopers at the scene also said they heard Clayton tell his mother, "I killed Daddy." Read more
The US State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for
The US State Department is pausing immigrant visa processing for
In the two years since the Connecticut Department of Transportation released guidance for cities and towns interested in installing speed or red-light cameras, fewer than 10% of the state's municipalities have submitted and won approval of their plans.
The Justice Department (DOJ) is investigating whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats, impeded federal immigration enforcement through public statements they made, two people familiar with the matter told the Associated Press.
A federal judge on Friday ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to limit their tactics against protesters in Minnesota, as federal immigration enforcement officers confront demonstrators rallying after a woman was killed by an ICE officer last week.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez wrote in her order that ICE cannot retaliate against, arrest or detain "persons who are engaging in peaceful and unobstructive protest activity." Read more
