US: Refugees From 11 Countries Will Face Extra Screening
The Trump administration is hardening refugee admissions to the United States by looking deeper into the background of applicants from 11 “high-risk” countries. Officials declined to name the “high-risk” countries during a call with reporters Monday to announce the changes, but they have been widely reported as: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, […]
Bayonne settles lawsuit with Muslim group clearing the way for mosque
BAYONNE — The city has reached a $400,000 settlement with a local Muslim group that will allow the organization to build its community center in its original location on the east side of the city. By settling with the nonprofit Bayonne Muslims, who filed a federal lawsuit against the city in May, Bayonne will avoid […]
Trudeau decries Islamaphobia a year after Quebec mosque attack
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Monday for Canadians to stand up against Islamophobia and discrimination as he paid tribute tribute to six Muslims killed a year ago at a Quebec mosque. Trudeau lamented that acts of hate and discrimination have become “commonplace” or “even tolerated,” saying in parliament that “it should never have come to […]
Women In Iran Are Ripping Off Their Hijabs As Protest
Young women in Iran are part of a new generation of activists as they protest their country’s restrictive dress code. Following the example of one woman who became a symbol of popular protest in December, Iranian women now are standing on telecoms boxes and removing their headscarves. At least six images of women removing their […]
Pakistan Launches Application to Combat Cyberextremism
In an effort to combat extremism online, Pakistan’s government has launched an application that will allow its citizens to report websites that publish extremist content and hate speech. Called Surfsafe, it was developed by Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and works in both Android and iOS devices. NACTA is a government body responsible for […]
Microsoft takes $13.8 billion tax charge, but results still beat expectations
SEATTLE — Microsoft reported a $6.3 billion loss in its second quarter, reflecting a huge charge stemming from last year’s tax reform legislation. Without that charge, the results were better than analysts expected. The Redmond company’s fiscal second-quarter earnings reflect a $13.8 billion tax payment related to Microsoft profits held overseas. The software giant holds […]
Police question Tariq Ramadan over sex abuse claims
French police have questioned prominent Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan over allegations over rape and sexual assault. Two women filed complaints against Ramadan for an alleged rape in 2009 and an alleged sexual assault in 2012. Ramadan, a professor of Islamic studies at the University of Oxford, has denied the allegations. One of the women claims […]
Poll: Trump’s SOTU Was Least Popular on Record
President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address Tuesday night drew the least popular ratings from Americans around the country since data became available 20 years ago, according to a poll. The long, almost record-setting address, drew “very positive” responses from 48 percent of those polled, with 22 percent registering at “somewhat positive” and […]
In World First, Children Given New Ears Grown From Their Own Cells
In a historical world first, Chinese scientists have successfully given new lab-grown ears to 5 different children. Not only that, but they were grown using the children’s very own cells. The children, who were all between the ages of 6 and 10, were born with microtia; a condition where the shape and cartilage of their […]
Neo-Nazis and white supremacists celebrate Trump’s SOTU
US President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address has garnered praise among white supremacists, neo-Nazis, conspiracy theorists and other far-right social media users. On Tuesday, Trump delivered his first State of the Union, the annual speech the president presents to a joint session of the United States Congress. In the speech, Trump vowed to […]