Midwestern US endures worst of polar vortex, all-time record lows broken
Records have been shattered as the polar vortex unleashed the harshest cold in years on the midwestern United States during the final days of January.
Worthy News
PM hails energy ‘revolution’ as Leviathan edges closer to completion
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed a ‘tremendous revolution’ in the country’s energy independence on Thursday as he marked the arrival of the foundations, also known as jackets, of Noble Energy’s offshore Leviathan gas platform.
Army simulates attack on gas rigs in most complex naval drill in decades
The Israel Navy this week simulated an attack on the country’s natural gas platforms, including a live-fire test of sea-to-sea missiles to destroy an ‘enemy ship,’ the military said Thursday.
EU rejects fresh Brexit negotiations
European leaders stood firm late Tuesday after the British parliament voted to send Prime Minister Theresa May back to Brussels to renegotiate the EU-backed withdrawal agreement.
US spy agencies doubt North Korea will give up its nukes
In an assessment casting doubt on US President Donald Trump’s goal of a nuclear-disarmed North Korea, US intelligence agencies told Congress on Tuesday that the North is unlikely to entirely dismantle its nuclear arsenal.
FBI finds no motive for Las Vegas shooting, closes probe
The FBI has found no clear motive for the killing of 58 people by a sniper firing down at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas in 2017, the agency said on Tuesday as it closed an investigation into the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Iran: Proxies in Lebanon, Gaza will respond with ‘hellfire’ to Israeli attacks
Iran will continue supplying high-precision missiles to its proxies in Lebanon and Gaza so they would be able to respond to Israel’s ‘acts of stupidity with hellfire’ said the country’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani on Tuesday.
Supreme Court in Pakistan Upholds Acquittal of Asia Bibi
Pakistan’s Supreme Court today upheld its acquittal of Christian mother Aasiya Noreen (better known as Asia Bibi), leaving her free to leave the country after spending nine years on death row in Pakistan’s most high-profile blasphemy case.
OB/GYN Blasts N.Y. Law: ‘Absolutely No’ Medical Reason for 3rd-Trimester Abortion
A message from an obstetrician/gynecologist who has delivered more than 2,500 babies has gone viral after he proclaimed there is ‘absolutely no’ medical reason to abort an unborn infant in the third trimester.
A cure for cancer? Israeli scientists say they think they found one
A small team of Israeli scientists think they might have found the first complete cure for cancer.
Iran, Syria Strike Deals to Advance Economic Cooperation
Syria and Iran signed on Monday 11 agreements, memoranda of understanding and an executive program to boost bilateral cooperation in the economic, cultural, scientific, infrastructure, services, investment and housing fields.
Nearly 900,000 immigration cases outstanding as 82,000 hearings canceled during shutdown
A data research group estimates that more than 82,000 immigration hearings were canceled because the judges were furloughed during the partial government shutdown.
Shutdown costs pegged at $3 billion as government reopens
The U.S. economy was expected to lose $3 billion from the partial federal government shutdown over President Donald Trump’s demand for border wall funding, congressional researchers said on Monday as 800,000 federal employees returned to work after 35 days without pay.
Brexit: Britain faces ‘accidental’ no-deal, EU warns
Britain risks an accidental crash-out of the EU, warned the deputy to EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday. In some of her toughest remarks, Sabine Weyand slammed Prime Minister Theresa May’s handling of the divorce talks.
Brazil Investigates If US Missionary Encroached on Isolated Amazon Tribe
An American missionary in Brazil is under investigation and possibly faces charges of genocide for entering protected lands inhabited by an isolated tribe in the Amazon.
Senate advances bill that allows states to penalize companies boycotting Israel
After weeks of a shutdown-inspired filibuster, some Senate Democrats relented Monday and joined Republicans to advance a bill to give state and local governments a green light to penalize companies that boycott Israel.
Houston police: Two suspects dead after shooting that left five officers injured
Two suspects are dead after a shooting on Monday that injured five Houston police officers, including four who were hit by gunfire as they attempted to serve a search warrant at a home where drug selling was suspected, the police chief said.
CBO report: Deficit to hit $897 billion in 2019, $1 trillion by 2022
The federal deficit will rise to $897 billion this year but isn’t expected to surpass $1 trillion for another three years, the Congressional Budget Office said in a report Monday.
Rivlin predicts Iran will ‘worsen its attacks on Israel’s north’
President Reuven Rivlin said Monday that he believes Iran will step up its attacks on the north of Israel in retaliation for IAF air strikes on Iranian facilities in Syria.
Abbas to reshuffle government, appoint new PM
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to shake up his government, Palestinian officials say.