Atheist Awarded $150,000 After Kentucky Rejected ‘IM GOD’ License Plate
A federal judge has ordered the state of Kentucky to pay more than $150,000 in legal fees stemming from a lawsuit against the state Transportation Cabinet.
War
Top EU diplomat wants European strategy for Middle East peace
In light of US President Donald Trump unveiling of his Middle East peace plan in January, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the bloc needs to formulate a European initiative to facilitate the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.
Christians deploy to help east Africans against locust swarms ‘as big as major cities’
Christian aid groups, along with pesticide-wielding UN troops, are deploying to eastern Africa to fight a locust swarm that experts say is the worst to hit the region in 70 years and could grow by 500 times between now and June.
Health expert: Coronavirus could establish ‘foothold’ in US
An American health expert is warning that the Chinese Coronavirus could soon ‘take a foothold in the US,’ where so far only 13 cases of the virus have been identified.
Senate Passes Bipartisan War-Powers Resolution to Limit Trump’s Ability to Attack Iran
The Senate voted 51-45 on Wednesday to pass a War Powers resolution aimed at curtailing President Trump’s ability to wage war against Iran, with eight Republicans voting with the Democrat-led measure in a bipartisan —but likely symbolic — check against the White House.
415 million children grow up in war zones, Save the Children reports
Nearly one in six children around the world — 415 million children in all — were living in a conflict zone in 2018, more than double the figure recorded in 1995, according to a report released Thursday by Save the Children.
Pastor in India framed for breaking Hindu idols, arrested by police after suffering abuse from extremists
A pastor in India and his family were held hostage for several hours by Hindu radicals who accused him of carrying out forced conversions and defacing Hindu idols, police blaming and arresting the pastor afterwards.
Christian town in northern Israel attacked by extremist ‘hate crimes’
Israeli authorities are investigating ‘nationalistic hate crimes’ against a majority Christian town in northern Israel where extremists vandalized vehicles and buildings in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Erdogan Threatens Military Escalation in Syria
Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is threatening to escalate fighting against Syrian government forces following Monday’s killing of Turkish soldiers. The warning comes in the face of calls for restraint from Moscow, but Erdogan is facing growing domestic pressure for an uncompromising stance.
Efforts Under Way in US Senate to Limit Trump’s Iran War Powers
U.S. lawmakers are poised to revive the debate over ground rules for a potential conflict with Iran, more than five weeks after President Donald Trump ordered the airstrike that killed Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.
Half-a-million insect species face extinction: scientists
Half of the one million animal and plant species on Earth facing extinction are insects, and their disappearance could be catastrophic for humankind, scientists have said in a ‘warning to humanity’.
President’s budget plan aims to cut deficit by $4.6 trillion in 10 years, balance budget in 15
President Donald Trump’s $4.8 trillion budget proposal presented to Congress today boosts funds for the military and veterans and implements mandatory reforms for all agencies in an attempt to cut the deficit by $4.6 trillion over the next decade.
NATO official warns of rising China as new threat
A senior NATO official expressed concern about the rise of China as a global power in a speech recently, calling on the communist regime to join existing missile agreements with the US and Russia.
Heavy rain in Australia extinguishes major wildfire, causes flash flooding
After weeks of devastating wildfires, Australia’s east coast is now experiencing major flash flooding caused by downpours across the region.
Republican Warns Religious Rights Could be Threatened as LGBT Bill Flies Through VA Legislature
The Commonwealth of Virginia could become the first southern state to ban LGBT discrimination.
FBI director admits: Yes, surveillance of Carter Page was illegal
FBI Director Christopher Wray agreed that the Justice Department and the FBI illegally surveilled Carter Page when they used British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s unverified dossier to obtain four Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants against the Trump campaign associate.
Florida Lawmakers Considering Ban on Sex-Change Surgeries for Children
Following South Dakota, one lawmaker in Florida is proposing legislation that would outlaw sex-change procedures for children.
China Cuts Tariffs on $75 Billion of US Imports
China cut tariffs on $75 billion of U.S. imports including soybeans, pork and auto parts Thursday in a trade truce with Washington while Beijing struggles with a costly virus outbreak.
Iowa mess gets worse: Analysis finds inconsistencies in over 100 official caucus-site reports
The Iowa Democratic Party’s woes in reporting results from its presidential nominating caucuses are multiplying, with an analysis of official results finding inconsistencies in more than 100 precincts.
Abbas blames rash of attacks on Trump peace plan; Hamas praises ‘revolution’
The office of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said a major escalation in West Bank violence Thursday was the fault of US President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan, which was unveiled last week.