Jews and Muslims on this windswept island in the northern Atlantic Ocean find themselves united against a proposal to ban ritual circumcisions — jeopardizing a fundamental tradition in both religions. “It’s a bedrock of the Jewish people and of the Torah,” said Rabbi Avi Feldman, 27, who moved from Brooklyn to Reykjavik with his wife […]
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Theresa May rattled in Salzburg
The good will is gone this morning in Salzburg — EU leaders have left, and so has the prospect of a Brexit compromise. The 27 heads of other EU countries got together to reject Theresa May’s Chequer’s plan, heating up the negotiations weeks away from the deal deadline. It was a sour surprise for the […]
Lake Victoria ferry disaster in Tanzania: what we know
More than 200 are feared drowned after a ferry capsized and sank on Lake Victoria in Tanzania. The search for survivors and victims was due to resume on Friday morning, following the sinking the previous afternoon. It’s the latest in a series of ferry disasters in the east African country, in which overcrowding has often […]
Brad Pitt’s nonprofit sues architect over ‘defective’ New Orleans homes
Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation, which has been accused of building sub-standard homes for displaced residents of the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, has sued its executive architect over the construction work. Make It Right planned to build 150 well-designed, energy-efficient homes and sell them at affordable rates to former residents, teachers and […]
Kavanaugh accuser lays out conditions for her to testify about alleged assault
WASHINGTON — Lawyers for the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh spoke with attorneys for the Senate Judiciary Committee and laid out conditions for her appearance before the panel, including not being in the hearing room with him and assurances that she will be safe. In nearly an hour-long telephone call in which the […]
Spanish town hosts annual Festival of Near-Death Experiences
A small Spanish village known as Santa Marta de Ribarteme near the border with Portugal hosted its annual Festival of Near-Death Experiences on Sunday. The annual ritual is said to be a pilgrimage of Santa Marta, the patron saint of resurrection–hundreds of participants give thanks or ask for relief from ailments. People who have faced […]
Teen activist turned icon released
Palestinian teen activist Ahed Tamimi and her mother have been released from an Israeli prison. Tamimi became a household name after her arrest while she served an 8-month-sentence, celebrating her 17th birthday behind bars. Last December, Ahed Tamimi, then aged 16, was arrested after footage of her slapping and kicking a fully-armed Israeli soldier in […]
Police warn people against Kiki challenge after injuries reported
Police around the world are warning people against doing the so-called “Kiki challenge” as many are filming themselves jumping out of cars to take part in the social media craze, resulting in injuries. The challenge kicked off online in late June after Youtube comedian Shiggy filmed himself dancing in the street to Drake’s “In my […]
MH370 families are ‘none the wiser’ after 495-page report is released
LONDON — The anguish of families of those on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 was prolonged Monday as an official accident report offered no new findings to explain the disappearance. Investigators said the lack of debris from the doomed flight made it impossible to reach any conclusions about what happened to the Boeing 777 at […]
An impatient Trump drives U.S. push for Afghan peace talks
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s impatience with the 17-year-old war in Afghanistan has prompted U.S. diplomats and commanders to gamble on a bid to kick-start peace negotiations, including holding direct talks with the Taliban, current and former U.S. officials told NBC News. The Taliban has so far welcomed the American overtures and plan to meet […]