From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Israeli-born economist confirmed head of Brazil’s Central Bank
Ilan Goldfajn, an Israeli-born economist, was named governor of the Central Bank of Brazil on May 17, 2016. (Marcus Moraes)
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) — Ilan Goldfajn, an Israeli-born economist with an acknowledged career in both the public and private sectors, was confirmed Tuesday as president of Brazil’s Central Bank.
Goldfajn, 50, a Haifa native who was raised in Rio de Janeiro, has served as chief economist at Itau, Brazil’s largest private bank, and deputy to the bank governor of Brazil, as well as adviser to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Click here for the full story
From PressTV
Saudis threaten military force in Syria if talks fail
Saudi Arabia has threatened to use military force against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if ongoing political talks fail to bring peace to the conflict-stricken nation.
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir made the announcement following an International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting held in Vienna on Tuesday.
“We believe we should have moved to a ‘Plan B’ a long time ago,” he added.”The choice about moving to an alternative plan, the choice about intensifying the military support (to the opposition) is entirely with the Bashar regime.”
The Saudis are among the most aggressive supporters of removing Assad from power and are the staunchest backers of militant groups trying to overthrow the Syrian government.
“If they do not respond to the treaties of the international community… then we will have to see what else can be done,” he added.
The latest round of UN-brokered indirect talks, which began in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 13, were brought to a halt after the Saudi-backed main opposition group, the High Negotiation Committee (HNC), walked out of the discussions and declared a “new war” against the Syrian government.
The 17-nation ISSG talks were aimed at discussing the stalled negotiations, challenges in maintaining a shaky February ceasefire, and the delivery of UN humanitarian aid to various areas across the war-ravaged country.
Following the Tuesday talks, the ISSG released a statement calling on the international community to prevent any material or financial support from reaching Daesh and Nusra Front and dissuade any party to the truce from cooperating with the terrorists.
UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which has also displaced over half of the Arab country’s pre-war population of about 23 million.
From PressTV
We may solve Daesh issue ourselves, Turkish president says
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Tuesday that Ankara may take unilateral action against the Takfiri Daesh terrorists in Syria if no help is provided by partners in a multi-national coalition against the militants.
Erdogan said Turkey will stand on its own and deal with Daesh if alleged attacks by the group on the border town of Kilis are not properly addressed by the US-led coalition, which has purportedly been striking Daesh positions in Syria over the past months.
“We will overcome the Islamic State (Daesh). We will solve that issue ourselves if we don’t receive help to prevent those rockets from hitting Kilis,” Erdogan told an international meeting of ministers in Istanbul.
Rocket attacks by Daesh on Kilis, a town just across the border with Syria, has seen a surge in recent weeks, prompting Turkish authorities to warn about potential air and ground operations into the Syrian territory to push back the group.
Turkey has been carrying out airstrikes on Daesh positions in Syria and Iraq as part of the so-called international coalition while it also hosts fighter jets from members of the coalition at the Incirlik Air Base south of the country.
Click here for the full story
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Melania Trump: Attacks on Jewish reporter went ‘too far’ but were ‘provoked’
Left to right, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump with his wife, Melania, along with daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, at a campaign rally in Waterloo, Iowa, Feb. 1, 2016. (Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Melania Trump said critics who deluged a reporter with anti-Semitic abuse went too far, but also said the reporter “provoked” the onslaught with her critical profile of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s wife.
“I don’t control my fans,” Melania Trump told DuJour, a lifestyle magazine in an article posted Tuesday, “but I don’t agree with what they’re doing. I understand what you mean, but there are people out there who maybe went too far. She provoked them.”
Melania Trump was asked about the anti-Semitic abuse received by Julia Ioffe, a reporter who wrote a critical profile of the former model for GQ. Ioffe, who is Jewish, has been flooded with death threats and anti-Semitic rhetoric via email, phone calls and on social media. She has filed a police complaint because of the threats.
Click here for the full story
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Sheldon Adelson appeals to Republican Jewish leaders to support Trump
Sheldon Adelson attending the fourth Annual Champions Of Jewish Values International Awards Gala in New York City, May 5, 2016. (Steve Mack/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Sheldon Adelson asked other Republican Jewish leaders to back Donald Trump.
The Associated Press obtained an email Adelson sent to more than 50 members of the Republican Jewish Coalition in which he asks them to support Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
Adelson, a casino magnate and major backer of pro-Israel causes, says he is convinced Trump will be a “tremendous president when it comes to the safety and security of Israel,” the AP reports.
Click here for the full story
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Donald Trump to meet with Henry Kissinger
Former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger visiting Fox Business Network at FOX Studios, Dec. 18, 2015, in New York City. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)
(JTA) — Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential front-runner, reportedly will meet with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
The meeting, first reported by the Washington Post, is scheduled to take place this week. Several news outlets confirmed the meeting.
Trump and Kissinger, 92, have spoken by telephone several times, according to the Post, but this would be their first face-to-face meeting.
Click here for the full story
From Russia Today
Bill Clinton angers Poland & Hungary by saying ‘US-freed’ countries ‘want Putin-like dictatorships’
Published time: 18 May, 2016 05:26
Leader of the Law and Justice party Jaroslaw Kaczynski (L) and Former U.S. President Bill Clinton. © Reuters
Former Polish PM and ruling party chair Jaroslaw Kaczynski slammed Bill Clinton for sharp remarks he made on the state of democracy in Poland, in which he claimed democracy had become “too much trouble” for it and Hungary.
Click here for the full story
From Russia Today
Palestinian clown held by Israel without trial for months despite global pleas to set him free
Published time: 16 May, 2016 14:04
Palestinian clown and circus trainer Mohammad Abu Sakha arrested by Israeli military and held for five months without charge or trial © Palestinian Circus School
A clown from the West Bank’s Palestinian Circus School has been held without trial by Israel for over five months. Mohammed Abu Sakha helped disabled children before he was detained by the Israeli military without charge.
Nine-year-old Muhammad has lost a friend. He used to enjoy being helped and looked after by Abu Sakha, whom he hasn’t seen since the middle of December.
“When he is with me, I feel there is no difference between me and other children,” Muhammad told RT’s Paula Slier. “When I would stand and fall, he would come behind me and hold me.”
Like many other children at the Palestinian Circus School, Muhammad is disabled and 24-year-old Abu Sakha, who was a clown, would go out of his way to make the boy’s life better.
Muhammad’s mother, Amal Barghouti, has also noticed a change in her son’s behavior. Abu Sakha used to give up his spare time to take him on motorcycle rides or help to teach him to walk. However, since the clown’s arrest, she says her son’s progress has been hindered.
Click here for the full story
