Culture Connoisseur Badge Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment. More about badges | Request a badge Washingtologist Badge Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area. More about badges | Request a badge Post Writer Badge This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer. Post Contributor Badge This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story. More about badges | Request a badge Post Recommended Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post. You must be logged in to report a comment. You must be logged ... Continue reading →
AMMAN, Jordan -- A prominent Palestinian writer who was jailed in Syria for nearly three weeks described the facilities as "human slaughterhouses," saying security agents beat detainees with batons, crammed them into stinking cells and tied them to beds at night. Salameh Kaileh, 56, was arrested April 24 on suspicion of printing leaflets calling for the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who is fighting a 15-month-old uprising against his rule. Kaileh's story offers a rare inside glimpse into the conditions faced by detainees held by the country's feared security services. "It was hell on earth," Kaileh told The Associated Press on Sunday, nearly a week after Syrian forces released him and deported him to Jordan. Speaking at his friend's home in an Amman suburb, ... Continue reading →
JERUSALEM (AP) — With a pair of Jewish ex-major leaguers on his roster, the new coach of Israel's team in the World Baseball Classic says his squad is already a legitimate contender.Former All-Star catcher Brad Ausmus said Shawn Green and Gabe Kapler have committed to play for him, and he's hopeful that other Jewish big leaguers, including All-Stars such as Ryan Braun, Kevin Youkilis and Ian Kinsler, will join the cliub.The scenario of having a star-studded lineup could make Israel, a country where few people know the difference between a home run and a strikeout, an unlikely powerhouse."I feel pretty good about the potential of this team," Ausmus told The Associated Press on Monday during his first visit to the Jewish state. "I never guarantee ... Continue reading →
VIENNA // Austria's defence minister has called Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, "unbearable" because of his insistence on hawkish policies regarding the Middle East peace process and Iran. Sunday newspaper Die Presse quoted Norbert Darabos as saying that Israel's government is using "external enemies" to divert attention from domestic social problems. The centre-left politician is also quoted as saying that Mr Lieberman "is unbearable as a member of the Israeli government." Mr Lieberman's office declined to comment on Darabos' remarks. Mr Darabos told the paper that Israel's recent government shake-up that led to the inclusion of the centrist Kadima party is a hopeful sign "which could reduce the radicalisation" of the country's policies. Israel considers Iran, a country it suspects of developing a nuclear weapons, ... Continue reading →
ROSH HAAYIN, Israel - Israeli entrepreneur Shai Agassi has begun rolling out the world's first nationwide electric car network. Now, will the drivers come? After more than $400 million in outlays and months behind schedule, dozens of electric cars have hit the road in Israel, the test site Agassi chose for his Better Place venture. Four stations where the cars can get a new dose of juice when their batteries run out are operating, and the plan is to ramp that number up within months. The concept: to wean the world from oil and eliminate the biggest hurdles to environmentally friendly electric cars — high cost and limited range. To do this, Better Place has jettisoned the fixed battery. Instead, drivers can swap their depleted ... Continue reading →
RAMALLAH, West Bank—After years of neglect, the Palestinians are going green.In a society preoccupied with the struggle for independence from Israel, protecting the environment has often been sidelined -- as evidenced by the ubiquitous sight of burning trash and piles of garbage bags on sidewalks in this city of 30,000 north of Jerusalem.Trying to raise awareness, officials are encouraging thousands of children to collect compost, visit recycling centers and plant trees. The hope is that the young generation will learn good habits, and maybe teach their parents something about conservation."We try to send a message to our parents to reduce the use of paper, even the one we use in the bathroom or for cleaning purposes, and to reduce the use of plastic," said Mayar ... Continue reading →
Kent D. Johnson, kdjohnson@ajc.com Divided DeKalb school board OKs a three-year contract for new superintendent Cheryl Atkinson. Is she starting at a disadvantage? Six years after Hurricane Katrina loading...Free: Get DealSwarm alerts by email | Today's deal Continue reading →
By DALIA NAMMARI The Associated Press RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad replaced almost half of his West Bank-based Cabinet on Wednesday, a clear sign that efforts to end the Palestinian political split are stuck. Election 2012: Across the nation A unity deal reached in February was to have ended five years of separate Palestinian governments, one run by Fayyad in the West Bank and the other by the Islamic militant Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Under its terms, President Mahmoud Abbas was to head an interim unity government ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections. However, repeated disagreements between the two factions as well as within them have held up implementation. By rearranging the Cabinet in the West Bank, Fayyad and his ... Continue reading →
