Mario Draghi Italy’s New Prime Minister
The former head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, has been sworn-in as Italy’s prime minister after political turmoil over coronavirus policies.
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U.S. House Prosecutors Fear Future of Nation Without Trump Conviction
Democratic House prosecutors rested their case in the impeachment trial against former U.S. President Donald J. Trump on Thursday with a warning.
14 State Attorney Generals condemn Biden for cancelling Keystone XL oil pipeline
Fourteen Republican state attorneys general have signed a letter to President Biden, telling him that his cancellation of permits needed to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline will cause dramatic economic suffering to local communities. The attorneys have asked the President to reconsider his decision.
Senior IDF commander says Hamas has 30,000 men, 7,000 rockets, dozens of drones
The Hamas terrorist group ruling Gaza has replenished its arsenal since a 2014 war with Israel and now has a vast collection of rockets, guided missiles and drones, a senior Israeli military commander said Thursday.
China rapidly expanding military assets in South China Sea, admiral says
China’s military increased both warship and warplane missions in the South China where two U.S. aircraft carriers recently conducted operations to bolster international rights to the seas there, the commander of a carrier strike group in the region said.
Trial Video Shows Mob Threatening Vice President Pence
Former President Donald J. Trump’s impeachment trial continued Wednesday with prosecutors playing chilling security video of rioters searching the U.S. Capitol for the Vice President, chanting: “Hang Mike Pence!”
UN Security Council fail to agree joint declaration on Syria
The United Nations Security Council was unable to reach agreement on a joint declaration about the devastating war in Syria after yet another round of UN peace talks on Tuesday, i24News reports. It was hoped a new declaration would revive the grid-locked peace talks.
U.S. Senate Agrees On Trump Impeachment Trial Amid Frustration Over Lawyers
Amid tight security, a divided U.S. Senate voted 56 to 44 on Tuesday to hold the impeachment trial of ex-president Donald J. Trump, despite his lawyers’ argument that it is unconstitutional.
Haitians Alarmed After President Retires 3 Supreme Court Justices
Haitian President Jovenel Moise has retired three Supreme Court justices, two days after announcing a foiled coup attempt.
IDF: Hezbollah likely to initiate limited battles with Israel in 2021, not war
The Israel Defense Forces does not anticipate the outbreak of a large-scale war in the coming year, but does expect that Hezbollah and other terror groups will likely initiate more limited rounds of violence, according to its annual intelligence assessment.
Eritrea: Government frees 70 Christians imprisoned for years without trial
The government of Eritrea has released 70 Christians who had been in prison for between two to twelve years without trial, International Christian Concern reports. However, rights advocates do not believe this action by the military dictatorship signals a change in its abusive stance toward Evangelical Christians.
Ex-U.S. Secretary Schultz Dies At 100
Former U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz, who spent most of the 1980s trying to end the Cold War and reach Middle East peace, has died. He was 100.
ICC has jurisdiction to probe Israel, Hamas for war crimes, pretrial judges rule
In a major decision released Friday, a pretrial chamber of the International Criminal Court determined that The Hague has jurisdiction to open a criminal investigation against Israel and the Palestinians for war crimes alleged to have taken place in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
US Senate approves amendment to keep embassy in Jerusalem
The United States Senate voted 97-3 to support an amendment to the COVID-19 budget resolution that affirmed the country’s intention to keep its embassy in Jerusalem.
EU Furious As Russia Expels German, Swedish, and Polish Diplomats
Amid mounting international pressure over its perceived crackdown on dissent, Russia has expelled three diplomats from Germany, Sweden, and Poland, prompting an angry response from the European Union. Moscow says the diplomats joined unauthorized protests supporting opposition activist Alexei Navalny, who was jailed earlier this week.
US warship crosses through Taiwan Strait for first time in Biden presidency
The USS John S. McCain sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, its first such operation since Joe Biden took office.
Biden to withdraw US support from Saudi-led coalition against Houthis in Yemen
US President Joe Biden will announce in his foreign policy speech on Thursday that the US will no longer support the “offensive operations” in the Yemen war, his National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said.
International Court Convicts Ugandan Commander For War Crimes
The International Criminal Court in The Hague has convicted a former commander in the notorious Ugandan rebel group Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) of dozens of war crimes and crimes against humanity ranging from multiple murders to forced marriages. Dominic Ongwen faces a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.
U.S., Russia Extend New START Nuclear Arms Treaty For 5 Years
Russia and the United States have formally extended the New START nuclear arms-control treaty for another five years, just days before it was set to expire.
Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope files election slate, heavy with ex-Likud MKs
Former Likud lawmaker Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope party filed its party slate Wednesday evening, rounding off the major parties to register for March’s election on the first of two days to do so.