UN envoy bound for Yemen, Saudi Arabia for Yemen war talks
The United Nations’ envoy for Yemen is heading to the region this weekend to talk with government and rebel leaders as international efforts aimed at ending Yemen’s civil war continue.
News
Authorities Order Closure of another Church Building in Algeria
The official notice that a village pastor in Algeria received on Sunday (Dec. 30) confirmed what he had heard – his church had been ordered to close.
Pompeo accepted almost all Netanyahu’s requests, senior Israeli official says
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had almost all of his requests accepted during his meeting in Brazil with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a senior Israeli diplomatic official said Wednesday.
Hamas, Fatah tensions rise; accuse each other of collaborating with Israel
Tensions between Hamas and Fatah have intensified in the past few days as the two Palestinian rival parties continue to exchange allegations and insults.
No deal to end shutdown; Trump says ‘could be a long time’
No one budged at President Donald Trump’s closed-door meeting with congressional leaders Wednesday, so the partial government shutdown persisted through Day 12 over his demand for billions of dollars to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. They’ll all try again Friday.
House Democrats slip abortion language into bill to end partial shutdown
House Democrats have inserted language to expand abortion access into a bill to end the partial government shutdown set for a vote Thursday.
Trump gives no timetable for Syria, wants to protect Kurds
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States would get out of Syria slowly ‘over a period of time’ and would protect the U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in the country as Washington draws down troops.
Trump Signs Bill Expanding Criminal Code on Church Vandalism to Protect Religious Nonprofits
President Donald Trump has signed a new bill into law to increase punishments for miscreants who damage or destroy the properties of churches or religiously affiliated organizations.
Egypt confronts water ‘poverty’ in shadow of Ethiopia’s dam
Anxiety over water is growing in Egypt as Ethiopian leaders press forward with plans to build a massive dam that officials here fear will block the flow of the Blue Nile.
‘I’m Ready to Go!’ Trump Signals Willingness to Make a Deal – But Not Without a Wall
President Donald Trump says he’s ready to negotiate with Democrats to end the partial government shutdown, which is now entering its eleventh day.
Pompeo to Netanyahu: U.S. still committed to protecting Israel
Syria and Iran were on the agenda Tuesday when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met in Brasilia against the backdrop of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s inauguration.
US, Israel quit UN agency UNESCO, claiming anti-Israeli bias
The United States and Israel officially quit the U.N.’s educational, scientific and cultural agency at the stroke of midnight, the culmination of a process triggered more than a year ago amid concerns that the organization fosters anti-Israel bias.
US fires tear gas across Mexico border to stop migrants
U.S. authorities fired tear gas into Mexico during the first hours of the new year to repel about 150 migrants who tried to breach the border fence in Tijuana.
Trump concedes: No ‘rush’ out of Syria, we’ve ‘almost’ eradicated ISIS
President Trump claimed Monday that he never said the U.S. would ‘rush out’ of Syria despite reporting that indicated he had ordered a rapid withdrawal.
Under Trump, budget deficit projected to reach $1 trillion
President Trump, like his predecessors, has done virtually nothing to stop America’s runaway debt train.
China’s Xi says Taiwan independence would be disaster, calls for peaceful ‘reunification’
Taiwan independence would lead to ‘disaster’, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday, pledging efforts for peaceful ‘reunification’ with the self-ruled island but warning China would not renounce the use of force.
Facebook Apologizes after Banning Franklin Graham for ‘Hate Speech’
Evangelist Franklin Graham was banned from Facebook last week over a post he wrote two years ago and now Facebook is apologizing.
Kim Jong Un says he’s willing to meet Trump at any time, in New Year’s message
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Tuesday that he is prepared to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at any time, but warned that he would pursue an alternative course if Washington kept up sanctions on Pyongyang.
Iran denounces Brazil’s plan to move embassy to Jerusalem
Iran has denounced plans by Brazil’s newly elected president to move its embassy to Jerusalem.
Iranian cargo plane suspected of bringing arms to Hezbollah departs Tehran
A Fars Air Qeshm cargo 747 airliner left Tehran at 8 a.m. on Sunday and landed in Damascus at 10:30 a.m., returning to Tehran at 5 p.m. The 747 allegedly transported weapons to Hezbollah in September, according to a report from Fox News that was based on Western intelligence assessments. The aircraft also made suspicious flights in July and August to Damascus and Beirut.