France’s Macron Orders Third Lockdown, Closes Schools
President Emmanuel Macron ordered France into its third national lockdown Wednesday in an effort to slow a third wave of COVID-19 infecting his country.
Month: March 2021
Biden infrastructure plan funded by corporate taxes, imperiling business support
The Biden administration is planning to fund its massive $2 trillion infrastructure spending package with increased corporate taxes, an approach that puts it at odds with businesses eager for funding for roads and bridges.
Biden pushes $2T infrastructure spending plan
President Joe Biden unveiled Wednesday a $2 trillion infrastructure spending proposal he called the “Build Back Better” plan at an event in Pittsburgh.
Washington state reports ‘vaccine breakthrough,’ hundreds get COVID weeks after being vaccinated
The state of Washington is investigating what officials are calling a “vaccine breakthrough,” after roughly 100 cases of people testing positive for the virus about two weeks after being vaccinated.
Pentagon unveils policies reversing Trump’s transgender ban
The Pentagon on Wednesday unveiled rules reversing Trump administration policies that largely barred transgender individuals from serving in the military, following through on an executive order President Biden signed shortly after taking office.
Likud MKs turn on Rivlin, claim he’s abusing his powers in bid to oust Netanyahu
Likud lawmakers lashed out at President Reuven Rivlin Wednesday, accusing him of being in cahoots with the prime minister’s rivals, after the president urged the various party leaders to engage in “out-of-the-ordinary coalitions, collaborations that cross sectors,” in order to break the extended political deadlock, and lamented the Netanyahu-led government’s failure to pass a budget.
‘Come back home,’ Netanyahu tells right-wing leaders
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed on Wednesday to two right-wing rivals to “come back home” and align themselves with him again to break a deadlock following Israel’s inconclusive election last week.
Debt Up $1 Trillion in First 6 Months of Fiscal 2021
The federal debt has increased by more than $1 trillion in the first six months of fiscal 2021, according to the official figures published by the U.S. Treasury.
Agency Seeks Prayers As Hundreds Die In Myanmar Coup
One of Asia’s leading humanitarian agencies urged Christians Thursday to pray for Myanmar’s “suffering people” after hundreds died in the South Asia nation’s military coup.
Facebook, Instagram Censor Trump Interview Video Off Platforms
The “canceling” of former President Donald Trump continued on Tuesday night as Facebook and Instagram each took down a video of his new on-camera interview with daughter-in-law Lara Trump for her online conservative talk show “The Right View.”
Baltimore City will no longer prosecute prostitution and drug possession
Following a year-long experiment that aimed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in prisons, Baltimore City’s State Attorney has announced the city will no longer prosecute low-level offenses, including drug possession, prostitution, and minor traffic violations, the Christian Post reports. While some have warned against the decision by State Attorney Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore City’s Police Commissioner and its Mayor are in favor of the move.
WHO report fails to quell questions over COVID-19 origins, possible lab leak
A team of international virus experts working with Chinese counterparts failed to pinpoint the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic during a visit to China, amid mounting questions over stonewalling by Beijing and whether the virus escaped from a Chinese research laboratory.
Israel approves Bahrain’s first ambassador to Israel
Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi approved Bahrain’s very first ambassador to Israel on Tuesday, the Jerusalem Post reports. Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani had appointed Khaled Yousif al-Jalahama, the Director of Operations at Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry, to the position of Ambassador to Israel on Sunday.
Texas Senate votes to ban abortion once heartbeat is detected
The Texas Senate has passed a ‘heartbeat’ bill that would ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, Lifesite News reports. Bill 8 is one of three right-to-life bills passed by the state Senate on Tuesday; all three bills are now headed to the Texas House for debate.
SCOTUS will consider allowing Kentucky AG to defend ban on dismemberment abortion method
The US Supreme Court on Monday granted a request by the Attorney General of Kentucky to consider whether he can defend a state prohibition on “dilation and evacuation,” an abortion method that typically involves dismemberment of a live fetus in the second trimester.
‘Abducted Christian Schoolgirl Has Second Child In Nigeria’
An abducted Christian schoolgirl, who refused to convert to Islam, has given birth to a second child while held captive by Islamist militants, several sources confirmed.
G. Gordon Liddy Dies At 90
G. Gordon Liddy, who orchestrated the 1972 Watergate break-in that led to the resignation of U.S. President Richard M. Nixon, has died. He passed away Tuesday at his daughter’s American home in Fairfax County, Va., at the age of 90.
Armenia Condemns Azerbaijan For Demolishing Church
Armenia’s leading cultural authority accuses neighboring Azerbaijan of demolishing an Armenian Church in a disputed area.
US report reaffirms Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, speaks of occupation
The annual United States report on global human rights practices affirmed that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel, but reintroduced language that spoke of Israeli occupation of territory, two-states and gave a nod in the direction of Palestinian Authority rights to sections of Jerusalem.
Sa’ar tells Lapid to ‘step aside’ to let Bennett be PM, before it’s ‘too late’
New Hope party leader Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday urged Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid to “put ego aside,” in an apparent call to let Yamina chief Naftali Bennett serve as prime minister first in a potential rotation deal in a new government.