Saudi King:'We Demand the International Community...Use All Means to Stop the Iranian Regime'

Saudi King Salman on Thursday demanded that the international community “use all means” to counter Iranian threats to maritime navigation and terror sponsorship, charging that the absence of a “firm” response up to now has encouraged an escalation in malign behavior. Read

Bolton: Trump Hopes to Negotiate Trade Deal With ‘A Fully Independent Britain’

Ahead of President Trump’s first state visit to the United Kingdom, National Security Advisor John Bolton said Thursday the president looks forward to negotiating a trade agreement with “a fully independent Britain.” He also raised the possibility of a three-day deal with Canada. Read

Bolton: ‘I Don’t Think the Framers…Ever Intended Impeachment to be a Political Process’

National Security Advisor John Bolton said Thursday Democrats mulling impeachment will “have to think long and hard” before proceeding, adding that he doubted the men who framed the U.S. Constitution “intended impeachment to be a political process.” Read

Ayatollah Says Trump’s ‘Deal of the Century Will Never Be Realized’

As a U.S. delegation led by senior White House adviser Jared Kushner continues to promote a yet-to-be-unveiled Mideast peace plan, the Iran regime’s supreme leader declared Wednesday that the so-called “deal of the century” will never be accomplished. Read

Justice Thomas: SCOTUS Can’t Duck Issue of Sex-, Race-, Disabilty-Selective Abortion Indefinitely

Justice Clarence Thomas argued on Tuesday that the Supreme Court cannot put off indefinitely a decision on whether abortions based solely on race, sex or disability of an unborn child are constitutional. Read

Swedish Teen Joins Arnold Schwarzenegger in Slamming World Leaders Over Climate ‘Emergency’

The inaction of political leaders and corporations in the face of the climate “emergency” will likely be remembered as a crime against humanity, and those who are aware of the consequences but do nothing “must be held accountable,” teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg said Tuesday. Read

US Walks Out of UN-Linked Disarmament Body As Maduro Regime Assumes Presidency

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N.-linked Conference on Disarmament staged a symbolic walkout from the chamber in Geneva on Tuesday to protest the presidency of Venezuela’s Maduro regime. Read

All Germans Encouraged to Wear Jewish Kippa in Response to Anti-Israel Event

The German government’s anti-Semitism commissioner has reversed a warning to Jewish men not to identify themselves by wearing kippas, and is now urging Germans across the country to don the distinctive headwear in an act of solidarity. Read

Trump Plays Down North Korean Short-Range Missile Launches, Contradicting Bolton

President Trump on Monday played down North Korea’s recent short-range ballistic missile launches. Read

Russia: Deployment of 1,500 More US Troops to Mideast Will Increase Risk of War

Russia’s foreign minister on Monday said U.S. plans to send 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East would lead to increased risks of conflict, and he voiced the hope that “sensible voices” arguing against “war against Iran” will be heeded. Read

Pakistan Court Acquits Two Muslims Convicted of Burning Christian Couple to Death

It was one of the most gruesome killings linked to allegations of blasphemy in Pakistan, and now two Muslims convicted of burning alive a young Christian man and his pregnant wife have been acquitted. Read

Ilhan Omar Decries ‘Religious Fundamentalists’ Trying to ‘Impose Their Beliefs on an Entire Society’

Wading into the controversy over the passage of pro-life laws in red states, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Wednesday accused the “religious right” of trying to force its views on the nation, and disputed conservatives’ claims to be motivated by concern for human life. Read

UN Gives Britain Six Months to Vacate Island Where US Has Key Military Base

In a stinging rebuke to Britain and the United States, the U.N. General Assembly by a large margin on Wednesday voted to give Britain six months to leave Indian Ocean islands that are home to the strategically-located U.S. military base at Diego Garcia. Read

Cheers Erupt As House Judiciary Committee Approves ‘Path to Citizenship’ Bills

To whoops of delight, the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday night voted to advance legislation to provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who arrived in the U.S. without legal permission as minors (“Dreamers”) and allow some immigrants with temporary protected status to apply for permanent legal status. Read

Democrats Leery as Shanahan Says Mideast Moves Are ‘About Deterrence, Not About War’

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo briefed lawmakers behind closed doors Tuesday on the current tensions with Iran, characterizing the deployment of military assets as a deterrent which Shanahan said appears to be working. Read

O’Rourke Misleads on Trump’s MS-13 Remarks, Banning of Muslims

Democrat presidential hopeful Robert “Beto” O’Rourke used the first question in a CNN town hall on Tuesday to accuse President Trump of calling immigrants “animals” and an “infestation,” and stating that the president tried to “ban all Muslims” from entering the U.S. Read

CAIR Criticizes Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ Remake: ‘Racism, Orientalism and Islamophobia’

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is criticizing Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin, saying that releasing the movie “during the Trump era” normalizes stereotyping. Read

Rep: Ilhan Omar: ‘The Two Loudest Muslim Women in the Country’ Are Now in Congress

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Monday recalled a comment then presidential candidate Donald Trump made in 2016 about Muslim women not being allowed to speak, and joked that she and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) – “the two loudest Muslim women in the country” – are now in Congress. Read

Ocasio-Cortez Celebrates Democratic Caucus: ‘60 Percent Queer, Women, People of Color, Immigrant’

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Monday night ridiculed Republicans for arguing that the Equality Act would hurt women, contrasting the House GOP – with 13 female members – to the Democratic caucus, which she described as “60 percent queer, women, people of color, immigrant.” Read

Iran’s Zarif Hits Back at Trump: ‘Never Threaten an Iranian’

Responding to President Trump’s weekend Twitter warning directed at the regime in Tehran, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif hit back Monday with a message of his own: “Never Threaten An Iranian.” Read

Trump Warns Tehran: ‘If Iran Wants to Fight, That Will Be the Official End Of Iran’

Turning up the heat on the regime in Tehran again, President Trump tweeted Sunday, “If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran.” Read

Rep. Tlaib Invites GOP’s Amash to Join Her Impeachment Resolution

After Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) at the weekend became the first Republican lawmaker to publicly voice support for President Trump to be impeached, Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib invited him to sign up to her impeachment resolution. Read

As Critics Accuse Administration of Hyping Iran Threat, Trump Talks About Talks

As Democrat lawmakers accuse the administration of hyping the threat posed by Iran, President Trump himself continues to signal a willingness to talk to the regime. Read

Saudi Daily Calls for ‘Calculated Surgical Strike’ on Iran

Saudi leaders on Thursday blamed Iran for recent drone attacks by its Houthi allies on oil installations in the kingdom, and a newspaper close to the government said in a front-page editorial it was time for “surgical” strikes against the Iranian regime. Read

Iran Tensions: Schumer Wants Shanahan, Dunford to Appear in Open Session by Week’s End

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday called on acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford to appear in an open Senate Armed Services Committee hearing before the end of the week to explain what is going on with Iran. Read

Rep. Zeldin Swipes Pelosi Over Anti-Semitism: ‘Madame Speaker, Your House Is Not in Order’

Frustrated that a pro-Israel bill is not progressing, House Republicans on Wednesday signaled plans to force consideration of the measure, amid strong criticism of Democratic leaders’ handling of freshmen accused of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic positions. Read

Foreign Ops Funding Bill Includes Measures Targeting Trump’s ‘Policy of Protecting Life’

The Appropriations Committee in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday will consider a draft bill on foreign affairs and aid funding – including contributions to the United Nations – that provides $13.7 billion more than President Trump’s fiscal year 2020 budget request. Read

CENTCOM Contradicts Coalition Deputy Commander on Increased Iranian Threats in Iraq

U.S. Central Command on Tuesday contradicted the deputy commander of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, who said earlier in the day that there “has been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria.” Read

CAIR: Imam Asked to Deliver Opening Prayer in House of Representatives Is Target of Smears

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wants “all people of conscience” to contact their members of Congress to voice support for an imam whose past statements on Israel and Zionism have drawn fire after he was asked to delivered the opening prayer at the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. Read

China Again Blocks Taiwan’s Participation in World Health Meeting

When the World Health Organization holds its annual general assembly in Geneva this month, Taiwan will not be present, as a major U.N. body once again falls in line with China’s effort to isolate a country which it regards as a rebellious province. Read

US Officials Suspect Iran Is Behind Tanker Attacks Near Gulf

Early investigations into Sunday’s attacks on four tankers near the Persian Gulf suggest that explosives were used to hole the vessels, and unnamed U.S. officials have told wire services that Iran or Iranian proxies are suspected to be responsible. Read

Amid Gulf Tensions, UAE Confirms ‘Sabotage’ of Four Vessels in Waters South of Hormuz

The United Arab Emirates’ foreign ministry confirmed Sunday that four commercial ships had been “sabotaged” near a major oil tanker hub about 80 nautical miles from the Persian Gulf’s Strait of Hormuz, but denied reports claiming that the port itself had been targeted and disabled. Read

Pompeo on John Kerry: Past Secretaries of State Should ‘Get Off the Stage’

Former secretaries of state should “get off the stage” and leave foreign policy to their successors, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday, when asked about John Kerry’s interactions with the Iranian regime since leaving the State Department. Read

After Asia Bibi, No Changes Expected in Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws

Asia Bibi put a name and face to the plight of Christians and other minorities targeted by Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, but many more are suffering, and the government looks unlikely to amend or repeal them. Read

Sarsour at Impeach Trump Event: ‘Xenophobe, Homophobe, Islamophobe …’

Two House Democrats who have introduced measures to impeach President Trump joined other activists outside the Capitol on Thursday handing Congress what they say are ten million signatures urging lawmakers to begin impeachment proceedings. Read

In Swipe at UK Opposition Leader, Pompeo Calls Support for Maduro ‘Disgusting’

In an unusually scathing remark directed at a politician who could be a future British prime minister, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday described as “disgusting” any expression of support – in Britain or the U.S. – for Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela. Read

Venezuela Supreme Court Chief Slams Pence’s ‘Despicable’ Warning

The head of the Venezuelan Supreme Court, a body which critics say is dominated by Maduro regime loyalists, has lashed out at Vice President Mike Pence for warning that the U.S. will hold all of its magistrates accountable if the court “does not return to its constitutional mandate to uphold the rule of law.” Read

Amid Iran Threat Warnings, Pompeo Makes Unscheduled Visit to Baghdad

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid a brief unannounced visit to Baghdad Tuesday, as the U.S. military confirmed that assets being sent to the region in a message to Iran include B-52 long-range strategic bombers. Read

China, Which Incarcerates Millions of Uighurs, Gets Seat on UN Forum for Indigenous Peoples

U.N. member-states on Tuesday handed China a seat on a forum on indigenous peoples, despite objections by the United States, which drew delegates’ attention to the communist government’s incarceration of millions of ethnic Uighur Muslims and other minorities in prison camps. Read

The First Christian Woman Sentenced to Death Under Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws Is Freed

Asia Bibi, the Pakistani mother of four who became the first Christian woman to be sentenced to death in the country for purportedly blaspheming Mohammed, has finally been allowed to leave Pakistan, more than six months after the Supreme Court acquitted her and ordered her release. Read

Pompeo Slaps Down China’s Arctic Ambitions: There Are No ‘Near-Arctic’ States

Ahead of Tuesday’s Arctic Council ministerial meeting, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used a speech in Finland Monday to challenge China’s claim to be a “near-Arctic” country, amid attempts to extend its ambitious Belt-and-Road initiative (BRI) to the vast northern region. Read

Britain Rejects World Court Ruling on Remote Military Base Used by U.S.

The United States on Monday reiterated its support for Britain’s continuing sovereignty over an island group in the Indian Ocean, home to a strategically-located U.S. military base. Read

Pompeo on Biden’s China Comments: ‘Disconnected’ from Reality

Reacting to former Vice President Joe Biden’s comments last week playing down the challenges posed by China, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday they seemed “a little disconnected from the reality that is China today.” Read

Deadly Rocket Barrage: Tlaib Says ‘Our Palestinian People Who Just Want to be Free’ Are Being Dehumanized

Responding to news coverage of the firing of hundreds of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip over the weekend, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) tweeted Sunday, “When will the world stop dehumanizing our Palestinian people who just want to be free?” Read

Bolton Warns Iran: Carrier Strike Group, Bombers on Way to Middle East

The U.S. is sending an aircraft carrier group and a bomber task force to the “U.S. Central Command region” in a message to Iran and its proxies, National Security Advisor John Bolton said late Sunday. Read

Russia Disputes US Claims on Venezuela, Will Counter US Effort at UN

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday Moscow will mobilize like-minded countries at the U.N. to counteract attempts by the U.S. and others to bring about a change of government in Venezuela. Read

New Study: 80 Percent of Persecuted Religious Believers Are Christians

Eighty percent of religious believers who are being persecuted around the world are Christians, and in some regions the scale and nature of the persecution approaches the international definition of genocide, according to a new report commissioned by Britain’s foreign office. Read

Rep. Ilhan Omar Says U.S. Sanctions Were ‘Bullying’ Venezuela’s Maduro Regime

Amid the ongoing standoff between the Maduro regime and opposition supporters in Venezuela, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said Wednesday U.S. sanctions against the socialist regime have contributed to “the devastation” in that country, describing the U.S. policies as “bullying.” Read

China Lifts Objection, Allows UN to Blacklist Veteran Pakistani Terrorist

China has for years blocked U.S.-backed attempts to have a prominent Pakistani terrorist blacklisted by the U.N. Security Council’s sanctions committee, but finally lifted its objection this week – reportedly after a submitted proposal was amended to drop all references to Kashmir. Read

Maduro Says He’s Defeated the ‘Coup,’ Denies He Planned to Leave Venezuela for Cuba

Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro declared late Tuesday that he has defeated a U.S.-backed “coup” and rejected Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s claim that he had been planning to leave for Cuba hours earlier until dissuaded from doing so by the Russians. Read

Pompeo: Maduro Was Ready to Leave Venezuela; Russia Told Him to Stay

On a day of high drama in Caracas, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday afternoon that Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro was believed to have been ready to leave the country hours earlier, but had been persuaded by the Russians not to go. Read

Maduro’s UN Envoy Lashes Out at Trump: ‘The Self-Proclaimed President of The Whole World’

Claiming that the Maduro regime has put down a U.S.-backed “coup” attempt, Venezuela’s U.N. ambassador on Tuesday lashed out at Trump administration officials, accusing them of spreading provocative disinformation and of “gangster-like” behavior. Read