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Peres, Shimon

(Encyclopedia)Peres, Shimon shēˈmōn pârˈĕs [key], 1923–2016, Israeli politician, b. Wiszniew, Poland (now Vishnyeva, Belarus) as Shimon Perski. His family immigrated to Palestine in 1934; his grandparents, ...

Eli

(Encyclopedia)Eli ēˈlī [key], in the Bible, high priest and judge of Israel, teacher of the boy Samuel. ...

David, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)David, d. c.970 b.c., king of ancient Israel (c.1010–970 b.c.), successor of Saul. The Book of First Samuel introduces him as the youngest of eight sons who is anointed king by Samuel to replace Sau...

Hariri, Rafik

(Encyclopedia)Hariri, Rafik or Rafiq räfēkˈ härēˈrē [key], 1944–2005, Lebanese tycoon and political leader, b. Sidon. The son of a poor Sunni Muslim farmer, he moved to Saudi Arabia in 1965. After teaching...

Ohira, Masayoshi

(Encyclopedia)Ohira, Masayoshi, 1910–80, Japanese political leader, prime minister (1978–80) of Japan. After serving in the house of representatives, he became foreign minister (1962–64, 1972–74) and minist...

Goh Chok Tong

(Encyclopedia)Goh Chok Tong gō chôk tông [key], 1941–, prime minister of Singapore (1990–2004). After holding government and business positions, he was elected to Singapore's parliament in 1976 and served in...

Nakasone, Yasuhiro

(Encyclopedia)Nakasone, Yasuhiro yäˌso͝ohēˈrō näˌkäsōˈnā [key], 1918–2019, Japanese political leader and prime minister (1982–87). He served in the Diet after 1946. A political ally of Kakuei Tanaka...

Kenny, Enda

(Encyclopedia)Kenny, Enda ĕnˈdä [key], 1951–, Irish politician. After teaching primary school, he was elected to the Irish parliament in 1975, winning his late father's seat and becoming the body's youngest me...

Turner, John Napier Wyndham

(Encyclopedia)Turner, John Napier Wyndham, 1929–2020, Canadian prime minister (1984). Born in England, he immigrated (1932) to Ontario with his Canadian-born mother after she was widowed. Trained as a lawyer, he ...

Hannah

(Encyclopedia)Hannah, in the Bible, Samuel's mother. Her song is recalled in the Magnificat. The names Anna and Ann are variants of Hannah. ...