VP Mike Pence to Visit Egypt, Jordan and Israel Later This Month
In his first trip to the Middle East as vice president, Mike Pence is scheduled to visit several countries and leaders in the region later this month.
Trump
Trump to unveil initiative to bring broadband to rural America
President Donald Trump plans to unveil an agriculture initiative seeking to bring broadband internet connection to rural America at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention.
Arab League to lobby UN to recognize Palestinian state
Arab states will soon embark on a diplomatic drive to persuade the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital on territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said.
Over 100 companies giving ‘Trump Bonuses’ after tax victory, ‘tsunami building’
The number of companies offering employee bonuses, pay hikes, and increases in benefits in reaction to President Trump’s December tax reform victory is now over 100, with thousands of workers impacted and charities too.
Trump, GOP leaders at Camp David set ambitious 2018 agenda
President Trump emerged Saturday from a meeting with Congress’ Republican leaders at Camp David and outlined an ambitious legislative agenda for 2018, including the budget, infrastructure, a border wall, immigration and beefing up the military.
Donald Trump overturns Obama bans on drilling as he moves to vastly expand US offshore oil
Donald Trump’s administration has announced plans to vastly expand oil and gas drilling in nearly all US coastal waters, reversing protections in the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific.
Trump’s pressure on Pakistan is major test of new strategy to end war in Afghanistan
The Trump administration’s strategy for ending the war in Afghanistan and defeating terror groups in the region faces its first major test in its confrontation with Pakistan.
Pentagon: Trump agreed to delay US-South Korean exercises
In a possible opening for diplomacy, the Trump administration on Thursday agreed to delay joint military exercises with South Korea until after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
Trump lawyers send cease and desist to Steve Bannon over comments in tell-all book
President Trump’s lawyers sent a letter to former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon on Wednesday night, insisting he stop making derogatory comments about Trump and his family.
Trump torches Steve Bannon after disparaging book excerpts: Steve ‘not only lost his job, he lost his mind’
President Trump slammed his former chief strategist just hours after excerpts of a forthcoming book about the presidency revealed Steve Bannon had made disparaging comments about Trump’s family and personal habits.
Koreas set up stunning direct bilateral talks with Trump, Olympics pressures mounting
North and South Korea are suddenly on a fast track to direct bilateral talks without the United States or China — an unexpected development at a moment of heightened tensions that intelligence sources say is being driven by several factors, including Pyongyang’s desire to sidestep Trump administration-backed sanctions.
US warns it won’t fund UN refugee agency if Palestinians reject talks
The US on Tuesday threatened it would cut aid to the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency if Ramallah refused to come to the negotiating table for relaunched peace talks.
Sen. Hatch to retire, opening door for possible Romney run
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said Tuesday he will not seek re-election after serving more than 40 years in the Senate, opening the door for 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney to run for his seat.
Trump threatens to cut off US aid to Palestinians over Jerusalem dispute
Acknowledging his push to broker peace in the Middle East has stalled, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority, asking why Washington should make ‘any of these massive future payments’ when the Palestinians were ‘no longer willing to talk peace.’
Iran protests spread nationwide, now ‘far bigger than 2009’
Pictures and videos coming out of Iran are starting to look more like a full-on revolution than a protest movement, but American news agencies continue to be slow to react, describing the historic protests as mostly about the country’s weak economy and chastising President Trump for cheering them on.
House expands Russia probe to FBI, Justice use of unconfirmed dossier to snare Trump
The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has expanded its 2016 election investigation from a starting point of Russian interference to an end-game that focuses on federal law enforcement and how it conducted a drive to snare President Trump and his people.
Hamas calls US ambassador ‘racist,’ says all ties should be cut with DC
The Palestinians should cut all ties with the United States because of ‘racist’ and ‘ignorant’ comments US Ambassador David Friedman made to The Jerusalem Post last week, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said on Saturday.
Thousands of Palestinians take part in anti-Trump protests
Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets of Gaza and the occupied West Bank for the fourth Friday in a row in protests against U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
White House, Congress prepare for talks on spending, immigration
The White House said on Friday it was set to kick off talks next week with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders on immigration policy, government spending and other issues that need to be wrapped up early in the new year.
Trump redoubles support of Iran protests, saying the ‘world is watching’
President Trump on Saturday again expressed his support for Iran’s growing anti-government protests, saying oppressive regimes ‘cannot endure forever” and that “the world is watching.’