2010

California is broke, its 12.1 percent unemployment rate is among the highest in the nation, housing prices have plunged, home foreclosures have skyrocketed and a drought is threatening the state's dwindling water supply. There also are plenty of other issues for would-be U.S. senators to debate, including the battered economy and a massive effort to overhaul the nation's health care system.

Since July 2007, some 60 fatal shootings of unarmed migrants have occurred on the Egypt-Israel border.

While migrants often lose their lives accidentally when traveling in over-crowded boats, or trying to cross remote land borders, I know of no other country where so many unarmed migrants and asylum seekers appear to have been deliberately killed in this way by government forces.

Jerusalem Journalists Association asks PM to urgently appoint IBA minister and chairman.

In a visit to Qatar and Saudi Arabia this week, Hillary Clinton said that Iran "is moving toward a military dictatorship," and continued the Administration's campaign for tougher sanctions against that country.

UNITED NATIONS -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Tuesday that the international convention banning cluster bombs has received the 30 ratifications required and will enter into force on Aug. 1.

Cluster bomblets are packed by the hundreds into artillery shells, bombs or missiles, which scatter them over vast areas. Some fail to explode immediately and can lie dormant for years until they are disturbed, often by children attracted by their small size and bright colors. A bomblet can kill or maim someone within 10 to 50 yards (meters).

2010's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, which includes such beauties as Israeli supermodels Bar Refaeli and Esti Ginzburg, includes a photo of a model posing near a World War II-era German fighter plane, complete with Nazi swastikas.
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President Obama made clear at his impromptu press conference today that his engagement policy with Iran has proven to be diplomatically useful, but nevertheless a barren enterprise given Iran's defiant determination to accelerate its uranium enrichment program.

New stamps have been issued by the Israel Postal Authority in 2010, depicting settling the Arava desert and honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Next week, Bibi Netanyahu will be celebrating his first (and may it be the last) anniversary of his February 10 election victory.

After one year in office, Bibi's got reasons to be fairly pleased with himself. Security-wise, 2009 was the quietest year in the past decade.

About three weeks ago the New York Times published a list of recommended tourist sites for 2010. Damascus came in seventh and the writer wondered whether the Syrian capital was the "new Marrakesh." Ancient buildings in the Syrian capital are turning into boutique hotels, trying to emulate the popular Moroccan city, he wrote. The Old Vine Hotel, a luxurious 17th-century, nine-bedroom boutique hotel, a two-minute walk from the Grand Mosque of the Umayyads, is offering a room for 140 euros a night. Cheaper than Eilat.
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