Illinois Senate advances plan requiring public schools to teach LGBT history
The Illinois Senate has advanced a plan requiring public schools teach a unit on the role and contributions of gays, lesbians and other LGBT individuals in society.
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Israeli Airstrikes Target Iran’s Presence, Drones in Syria
In recent months, Israel-Iran tensions have evolved from covert and proxy battles to direct confrontations. Early Monday, Israel targeted the Syrian regime’s T-4 military air base in Homs, killing at least seven Iranian personnel. One of the fatalities was a colonel with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC), responsible for overseeing Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) unit. The IRGC ordered Iranian state-affiliated media outlets to retract articles describing the incident.
After gas attack, US, UK, France weigh strike on Syria by end of week
Trump administration officials have consulted with global allies on a possible joint military response to Syria’s alleged poison gas attack, as US President Donald Trump canceled a foreign trip in order to manage a crisis that is testing his vow to stand up to Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Trump cancels South America trip in sign Syria military strike imminent
President Trump canceled plans Tuesday for his first trip to South America, in another sign that he is preparing to order an imminent military strike against Syria over its deadly chemical weapons attack against civilians in a rebel-held suburb of Damascus.
Russia has figured out how to jam U.S. drones in Syria, officials say
The Russian military has been jamming some U.S. military drones operating in the skies over Syria, seriously affecting American military operations, according to four U.S. officials.
Russian lawmaker urges Putin to take ‘military measures’ if US strikes Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin should authorize ‘military measures’ in response to any strike by western powers on Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, according to a senior Russian lawmaker.
Russia vetoes US resolution on Syrian chemical weapons investigation
Russia on Tuesday vetoed a U.S.-led resolution to establish a process for investigating the apparent chemical weapons attack in Syria, during the second consecutive day of debate on the incident at the United Nations Security Council.
Iran Threatens to Restart Nuke Enrichment Program in Matter of Days
Iranian leaders are threatening to restart the country’s contested nuclear enrichment program in just a matter of days as the Trump administration and European allies scramble to address a range of flaws in the landmark nuclear accord ahead of a May deadline that could see the United States walk away from the accord, according to regional reports and administration insiders.
Mueller Investigating Trump Over $150K Donation From Ukrainian Who Gave Clintons $13 Million
The special counsel’s office is investigating a $150,000 donation a Ukrainian businessman made to President Donald Trump’s charity in 2015, according to a new report.
FBI raids offices of Trump attorney Michael Cohen
The FBI on Monday raided the office of Michael Cohen, President Trump’s longtime personal attorney, provoking a bitter rebuke from the president that the special counsel’s Russia probe had entered a ‘whole new level of unfairness.’
DHS to build 20-mile wall along border in New Mexico
Homeland Security began building a border wall in New Mexico on Monday, moving to replace vehicle barriers and outdated mesh fencing with a modern wall that will deter pedestrians attempting to cross in the remove desert west of El Paso.
Trillion-dollar deficits come roaring back under Trump
Republicans’ tax cuts and the new spending bill Congress approved last month will send the economy surging this year to 3.3 percent growth — but will also send the deficit soaring back to the record levels of the early Obama years, the Congressional Budget Office said Monday.
Abbas sets conditions for hearing out Trump’s anticipated peace plan
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday the Ramallah-based Palestinian leadership will only engage with the Trump administration’s anticipated peace plan if it backs a two-state solution and recognizes east Jerusalem as the capital of ‘the State of Palestine.’
PA lifts ‘disguise’ on ‘martyr’ payments, defying Taylor Force Act
After three years of disguising its payments to families of martyrs and imprisoned terrorists, the Palestinian Authority has lifted its veil on those payments in a ‘blatant act of defiance’ against the United States, a new report says.
Trump says US has many options in pondering military strike on Syria
President Donald Trump is threatening an imminent military strike against Syria, vowing to respond ‘forcefully’ to Saturday’s apparent chemical weapons attack on civilians and warning that Russia or any other nation found to share responsibility will ‘pay a price.’
Reports: Israel warned U.S. of Syria strike, Kremlin says left in the dark
Israel gave the United States advance warning of its early Monday morning strike on a military base in Syria, according to initial reports, while the Kremlin charged that it failed to inform Russia.
China to reduce auto tariffs after Trump criticism
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that his country will reduce tariffs on automobiles imported into the country.
Hurricane Maria caused $90B of damage in Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria caused an estimated $90 billion in damage in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the National Hurricane Center said Monday.
Donald Trump signs memorandum to end ‘catch and release’ policy
US President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum to end ‘catch and release’ practice whereby illegal immigrants are released into the United States shortly after their apprehension.
Congress set to battle over food stamps work requirement
Lawmakers are poised this month to wage a major battle over the House version of the Farm Bill, which will call for work requirements in the federal food stamp program that serves the poor.