Federal judge says Trump travel ban lawsuit will proceed
A lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of denying nearly all visa applicants from countries under President Donald Trump’s travel ban will move forward, a U.S. judge said Thursday.
Month: December 2018
Oversight panel hearing on Clinton Foundation blows up
A congressional hearing on the Clinton Foundation turned into a fiasco on Thursday after Republicans clashed with their own witnesses — two private investigators who refused to turn over documents that they claimed showed evidence of criminal wrongdoing at the Clinton Foundation.
Nancy Pelosi due to be America’s oldest House speaker
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is on course to become the oldest person in history to hold the speaker’s gavel now that she has secured a deal to give her at least two more years as the top House of Representatives leader.
U.S. appeals court narrows order on Trump birth control rules
A federal appeals court on Thursday narrowed an order that had blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from enforcing new rules that undermine an Obamacare requirement for employers to provide insurance that covers women’s birth control.
Australia to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Saturday
Officials in Canberra have said they expect Australia to announce an anticipated but contentious move to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, AFP reported Friday.
Israel fears new wave of West Bank terror attacks
The IDF searched Thursday night for the Palestinian who killed two soldiers at a bus stop near Route 60 as a surge of unrest gripped the West Bank amid rising fears of a new wave of terror attacks against Israelis.
EU extends sanctions on Russia over Ukraine
European Council President Donald Tusk announced Thursday that EU leaders had agreed to extend comprehensive sanctions against Russia.
Senate votes to end US support for Saudi war, bucking Trump
The Senate approved a resolution Thursday to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, dealing a significant blow to President Trump amid heightened tensions over the death of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
EU rules out Brexit renegotiation, vows to avoid Irish backstop with free trade deal before 2021
European Union leaders on Friday once again ruled out changes to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal agreement. But they reassured British Prime Minister Theresa May that they would try to finalize a new UK-EU free trade deal before 2021.
Irish abortion bill passes in senate
A bill to legalize abortion services in the Republic of Ireland has passed all stages of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament).
Town ignores atheists’ warnings, keeps Christian cross in Christmas lights display
To the delight of many Christians, a town in Christian County, Missouri, has reversed its decision to take down an illuminated cross from its Holiday display.
6 Christian organizations win legal battle against Obamacare birth control mandate
Six Christian organizations have won their years-long legal battles against an Obama-era federal mandate ordering the provision of contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs in their employee health care plans.
IDF official: Hezbollah unable to produce precision weapons
Hezbollah’s missile arsenal has been static for years and the organization lacks the industrial ability to convert, upgrade or produce precision weapons, Director of Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Tamir Heyman said Tuesday.
GOP leaders still lack funding plan as shutdown looms
Top House Republicans are at a standstill on exactly how to keep the government open next week amid mounting fears of a Christmastime shutdown on Capitol Hill.
Church of England to offer baptism-style services to transgender people to celebrate their new identity for first time
The Church of England has encouraged its clergy to create baptism-style ceremonies for transgender people to welcome them into the Anglican faith.
EU ‘ready to examine’ more Brexit assurances to Britain
The European Union ‘stands ready to examine whether any further assurance can be provided’ to Britain over the Irish backstop and their tentative divorce agreement, a draft seen by Reuters showed on Thursday.
Defying Trump, U.S. Senate advances measure to end support for Saudis in Yemen
In a rare break with President Donald Trump, the Senate voted on Wednesday to move ahead with a resolution to end U.S. military support for the Saudi Arabian-led coalition in the war in Yemen and lawmakers vowed to push for sanctions against the kingdom in the new year.
EU rules out Brexit renegotiation, again
The EU is not preparing a legal document on the backstop, as requested by British prime minister Theresa May, for the EU summit starting on Thursday (13 December) – as EU officials are calling the political crisis unfolding in London a mess.
House joins Senate to pass farm bill
The House passed a new farm bill Wednesday sending the legislation, which passed the Senate earlier in the week, to the White House for President Donald Trump’s signature.
Pentagon’s new strategy means balancing act in Africa for U.S. special ops
The Pentagon’s decision to draw down 10 percent of its counterterrorism operations in Africa comes as Russia and China are aggressively ramping up efforts to expand their influence on the continent.