Iran-backed militia in Syria says it’s ‘fully prepared’ to battle Israel
The head of a large Iranian-backed Iraqi militia that has been fighting in Syria said his group was ‘fully prepared’ to fight Israel if Damascus asked it to.
Month: November 2017
Suicide attack targets area southeast of Baghdad
Two attackers shot several civilians on Monday in the Nahrawan area southeast of Baghdad before one blew himself up and the other was killed by security forces, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said, without providing official casualty figures.
Russia seeks two-day ceasefire in Damascus suburb; dozens killed by air strikes
Russia proposed a two-day ceasefire on Monday in the last major rebel stronghold near the Syrian capital Damascus, where warplanes killed at least 41 people in two days of air strikes as Russian-backed government forces tried to capture the area.
Israel’s Iron Dome system deployed on ships for first time
Israel’s military has for the first time deployed its Iron Dome rocket defense system aboard a ship.
Bali volcano: 150,000 people to evacuate erupting Mt Agung, airport closes for another day
About 150,000 people will leave their homes on the slopes of Mount Agung, Bali’s Governor says, as the volcano’s eruptions grow more powerful, while the island’s main airport will close for another 24 hours due to ashfall.
WHO: Plague outbreak in Madagascar is slowing
Madagascar’s ‘unprecedented’ outbreak of plague is slowing, but responders cannot afford to ease off the fight until the risk of transmission dies down in the spring, the World Health Organization said Monday.
Grijalva’s secret deal with ex-staffer exposes Capitol Hill ‘hush fund’ to cover up bad behavior
Rep. Raul M. Grijalva quietly arranged a ‘severance package’ in 2015 for one of his top staffers who threatened a lawsuit claiming the Arizona Democrat was frequently drunk and created a hostile workplace environment, revealing yet another way that lawmakers can use taxpayer dollars to hide their misbehavior on Capitol Hill.
Supreme Court shoots down gun cases, upholds ban on assault weapons and open-carry
The Supreme Court announced Monday it had declined to hear two Second Amendment cases, leaving intact gun control laws in Maryland that restrict the types of weapons that can be bought, and in Florida that largely prevent gun owners from carrying their weapons in the open.
Egypt reeling from attack on mosque in Sinai that killed 305
Egypt was reeling Sunday from the horrific militant attack on a mosque in northern Sinai that killed 305 people two days earlier — the deadliest assault by Islamic extremists in its modern history and a grim milestone in a long-running fight against the insurgency led by an Islamic State affiliate.
Mexico volcano erupts shooting ash and smoke into the air
A volcano in Mexico has erupted, spewing smoke and ash more than two miles into the air.
Analysis: Senate Tax Plan Will Reduce Taxes for Most Taxpayers, Gives Biggest Cuts to Moderate-Income Families
The Senate’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will reduce taxes for most households and will give the biggest cuts to those with moderate incomes and those with children, according to an analysis from the Tax Foundation.
Iran army chief vows next war will see ‘eradication’ of Israel
Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), issued new threats against Israel on Thursday, vowing that any future conflict will be the Jewish state’s last.
Iran: Christian convert loses appeal against 10-year sentence for ‘missionary activities’
An Iranian convert to Christianity has had his 10-year prison sentence upheld after losing his appeal.
Saudi prince vows new Islamic alliance ‘will wipe out terrorists from earth’
Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince vowed to ‘pursue terrorists until they are wiped from the face of the earth’ as officials from 40 Muslim countries gathered Sunday in the first meeting of an Islamic counter-terrorism alliance.
Church vandalism won’t be probed as bias crime after arrest
Prosecutors say several acts of vandalism committed at five predominantly black churches in northern New Jersey are no longer being investigated as possible bias crimes.
Russian President Putin signs ‘foreign agent’ media law
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that allows the government to list any foreign media operating in the country as a foreign agent.
Iran warns it would increase missile range if threatened by Europe
The deputy head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned Europe that if it threatens Tehran, the Guards will increase the range of missiles to above 2,000 kilometers, the Fars news agency reported on Saturday.
Church of Sweden Opts for Gender Neutral Terms, Drops ‘He’ When Referring to God
The Church of Sweden is making a few changes when it comes to how clergy refer to God the Father.
FBI failed to warn US targets of Russian hackers
The FBI failed to notify scores of US officials that Russian hackers were trying to break into their personal Gmail accounts despite having evidence for at least a year that the targets were in the Kremlin’s crosshairs, The Associated Press has found.
UK has 10 days to make Brexit progress
The UK has ten days to make progress in Brexit negotiations for the EU leaders to unlock the next phase of talks on trade and future relations.