U.S. President Trump Postpones G-7 Summit After Merkel Refuses To Attend
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday he will postpone until September the Group of Seven (G-7) summit after Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel refused to attend.
Washington
U.S. Officer Detained Over Death Handcuffed Black Man
The fired police officer blamed for the death of a handcuffed black man in the U.S. city of Minneapolis has been detained, officials confirmed.
Britain calls on EU to ‘evolve’ in post-Brexit talks
The United Kingdom’s chief negotiator with the European Union following Brexit called on the bloc to “evolve” in order to make progress in key talks.
Justice Department Slams Nevada Governor for ‘Unequal’ Treatment of Churches in Reopening Guidelines
The Justice Department criticized Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak for treating churches “unequally” in his guidelines for reopening states.
Russia Intercepts U.S. Navy Aircraft Rising Tensions
Two Russian fighter planes intercepted a U.S. Navy aircraft over the Eastern Mediterranean amid rising military tensions between the two superpowers, footage seen by Worthy News showed.
House GOP to sue Democrats to block new proxy voting plan
House Republicans will sue Democrats to block a plan to permit proxy voting on the House floor, aides to Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced Tuesday.
California Allows Limited Reopening for Churches Days After Interventions by US State Department and President Trump
The state of California issued guidelines Monday under which houses of worship may reopen. The Department of Health guidelines were published even though the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s COVID-19 ban on public gatherings could stand. The decision to allow churches to reopen also follows interventions last week by the US State Department, which specified that California’s ban on church gatherings was unfair, and by President Trump, who called on all states to lift bans on religious assemblies.
Retail job losses highest on record as coronavirus wreaks havoc on economy
The already struggling retail industry has experienced catastrophic layoffs amid the coronavirus pandemic that are hitting historic levels.
Pompeo: Russia using Open Skies Treaty for data on cruise missile targets
Russia is using intelligence obtained from U.S. and European overflights under the Open Skies Treaty to plan future cruise missile strikes on infrastructure targets, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo revealed yesterday.
Oregon Supreme Court Holds in Place Stay-At-Home Order Limiting Churches Services to 25 People
Pending judicial review, the Oregon Supreme Court held in place on May 19 Gov. Kate Brown’s stay-at-home orders that limit in-person church services to 25 people, the New York Times reported. Ten churches had filed suit, arguing that the orders placed an undue burden on houses of worship that wanted to have services with social distancing. The state appealed to the Supreme Court after Circuit Judge Matthew Shirtcliff ruled May 18 that Brown overstepped her authority in not seeking legislative approval to extend her stay-at-home orders beyond a 28-day limit.
Russia said pushing ‘mini-summit’ to mend ties between US, Palestinians
Russia is reportedly seeking to arrange a meeting in the coming weeks between US and Palestinian officials to help renew ties between Washington and Ramallah, which have frayed during US President Donald Trump’s presidency.
U.S. To Exit Open Skies Treaty Over Russian Violations
The United States has announced that it will withdraw from the Open Skies treaty because of violations of the agreement by Russia.
US pledges $1.2B for 300M doses of coronavirus vaccine being developed in UK
The United States has committed $1.2 billion to secure the supply of 300 million doses of a potential coronavirus vaccine being developed in the United Kingdom.
Justice Department says California Restrictions on Churches are Unfair
The Justice Department has told California Gov. Gavin Newsom that his current COVID-19 order prohibiting worship services amounts to “unequal treatment of faith communities,” the Washington Examiner reports. In a letter sent Tuesday by the Department’s Civil Rights Division, the governor was told it is apparently unfair that church should be closed when “non-essential” businesses have opened in phase two of California’s Reopening Plan.
Planned Parenthood must return $80 million it received in COVID-19 loans for small businesses
Thirty-seven Planned Parenthood affiliates received a total of $80 million in loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) intended to help small businesses in the COVID-19 pandemic, Fox News has reported exclusively. The federal government now says the abortion provider must pay back the money it received. Explaining its position, the government said Planned Parenthood is a federation of affiliates with over 500 employees and should have known it does not qualify for small business aid.
US issues warning to vessels in Persian Gulf that come too close to Navy ships after Trump threat to Iran
The United States has a message for ships in the Persian Gulf: Don’t come too close to Navy vessels.
Operation Warp Speed sets ‘goal’ of 300 million coronavirus vaccines by January 2021
The Defense Department took pains Friday to emphasize that President Trump’s promise to produce 300 million coronavirus vaccines by January 2021 is a “goal,” while a spokesman also told the Washington Examiner that a shake-up of the Pentagon team acquiring medical equipment did not signify a change in direction.
US Medal of Honor Army Medic Dies
A former U.S. Army medic who received the Medal of Honor in 2018 for his heroic efforts to save the lives of fellow soldiers in Afghanistan has died, his wife and officials confirmed. Staff Sgt. Ronald Shurer II was 41.
Opinion Polls Present Conflicting Results on Palestinian Support for Third Intifada
Recent opinion polls unanimously demonstrate that around 90% of Palestinians reject President Trump’s peace plan, the Washington Institute reports. However, separate polls show different results on Palestinian support for a third intifada as a means by which to resist the plan.
US: “China Hacks Vaccine Research”
The United States has accused China of hacking American vaccine research amid a global coronavirus pandemic.