On Eve of Talks With US, Taliban Threat to Kill Journalists Draws Criticism

On the eve of another round of talks between U.S. and Taliban officials, the radical Islamist group’s recent threat to kill journalists drew sharp criticism on Thursday from the top United Nations official in Afghanistan. Read

Democratic Candidates on Which Relationship They’d ‘Reset’ as President: Iran, China, NATO

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wants to engage with Iran, former Vice President Joe Biden wants to save NATO from falling apart, Sen. Bernie Sanders is looking to the United Nations, and Rep. Eric Swalwell would start his presidency by “breaking up with Russia.” Read

CAIR Wants Democratic Debate Moderators to Ask About ‘Muslim Ban’

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is unhappy that President Trump’s immigration proclamation restricting entry to people from five Muslim countries did not feature substantively in Wednesday night’s first Democratic presidential debate. Read

Booker, Gabbard, Klobuchar Portray Obama’s Iran Nuclear Deal as Imperfect

Several of the Democrats running for their party’s 2020 presidential nomination gave a less than resounding endorsement during Wednesday night’s NBC News debate for President Obama’s 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, characterizing it as imperfect. Read

Democratic Candidates on Greatest Geopolitical Threat: China, Climate Change–and Trump

Asked during Wednesday night’s debate to name the “greatest geopolitical threat to the United States right now,” ten Democrats running for the presidency offered a range of replies including China, Russia, nuclear war, climate change – and President Trump. Read

Ryan, Gabbard Offer Sharply Contrasting Views on Afghanistan

The two House Democrats in Wednesday night’s presidential debate tussled over U.S. policy in Afghanistan, with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) calling for the withdrawal of American troops, and Rep. Tim Ryan (Ohio) arguing that without ongoing engagement, the terror threat will grow. Read

Donations Pour In For Christian Rugby Star Punished For Posts on Homosexuality

A Christian advocacy group has come to the aid of an Australian rugby star who lost his multi-million dollar contract after sharing online his religious views on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Read

Pompeo Visits India Amid Spat Over Religious Freedom Violations

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is visiting India Wednesday, just days after his department, in a major annual report, highlighted serious incidents of religious persecution there, including “an increase in attacks against religious minorities and the perceived diminishing space for religious freedom.” Read

Pompeo: Taliban Is Misleading About Timeline for Withdrawal

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday voiced optimism about the Afghanistan peace talks process currently underway, but said contrary to Taliban’s assertions, the U.S. has not yet agreed on a timeline for withdrawing its troops from the country. Read

Kerry Called Him ‘a Patriot.’ Now US Sanctions Loom Against Iran’s ‘Moderate’ Foreign Minister

Iran’s globe-trotting foreign minister, Javad Zarif, will be designated for U.S. sanctions later this week, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at the White House on Monday. Read

UN Rights Chief: ISIS Fighters and Families Must be Tried or Released, Allowed to Return Home

The top U.N. human rights official called Monday for governments to ensure that the tens of thousands of captured ISIS fighters and their family members are put on trial, or released. Read

Trump Warns Iran: I’m Not Looking For War, But If One Breaks Out ‘It’ll Be Obliteration’

President Trump told the Iranian regime during an interview aired on NBC’s “Meet The Press” on Sunday that he was not looking for war – but that if war breaks out, “it’ll be obliteration like you've never seen before.” Read

Iran Remains on Terror-Financing Blacklist, Int’l Taskforce Toughens Supervision of Banks

In a move largely overshadowed by tensions over Iran’s provocative recent actions, the global anti-money laundering and terror-financing body on Friday reimposed a restriction on Iran which had been suspended for the past three years, ratcheting up pressure on Tehran just ahead of new U.S. sanctions due to be announced on Monday. Read

As US, Iran Tussle Over Location of Downed Drone, Trump Says ‘This Country Will Not Stand For It’

The Pentagon Thursday disputed Iran’s claim that it shot down a U.S. military surveillance drone after it crossed into Iranian airspace, and President Trump called Iran’s action “a very big mistake,” warning that “this country will not stand for it.” Read

Syrian Refugee Accused in Plot to Bomb Pittsburgh Church – to Kill Nigerian Christians

A 21-year-old Syrian refugee inspired by ISIS is due to appear in federal court in Pittsburgh Friday on charges relating to a plot to blow up a church in the city, apparently selected as a target because it has Nigerian congregants. Read

Pompeo Urges Russia to Hand Over MH17 Shootdown Suspects After Murder Charges Announced

Investigators into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine five years ago announced criminal charges Wednesday against four men – a former colonel in Russia's FSB intelligence service, two former employees of the GRU military intelligence agency, and a Ukrainian national. Read

‘You Lie!’ Heckler Yells as GOP Lawmaker Notes Democrats’ Links to Slavery, Jim Crow Laws

During a congressional hearing Wednesday on the contentious issue of reparations for slavery, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) was accused of lying as he pointed out that the Democratic Party was the party historically associated with slavery and Jim Crow laws. Read

Trump Says He Did Not Ask Shanahan to Withdraw From Secretary of Defense Contention

President Trump said Tuesday he had not asked acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan to stand down but that it was the nominee’s decision. Read

Trump on The Democratic Party: ‘More Radical, More Dangerous, And More Unhinged’

The Democratic Party “has become more radical, more dangerous, and more unhinged than at any point in the modern history of our country,” President Trump said on Tuesday night. Read

Shanahan: 1,000 More Troops to Mideast; The US ‘Does Not Seek Conflict With Iran’

The Department of Defense is sending about 1,000 more U.S. troops to the Middle East, acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan announced on Monday night, linking the move to recent Iranian belligerence in the region. Read

Turkish Leader Hails ‘Martyr’ Morsi After Muslim Brotherhood Leader Dies During Trial

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and senior Turkish officials hailed as a “martyr” Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Morsi, who died in a Cairo courtroom on Monday, six years after a military takeover abruptly ended his tenure as Egypt’s first freely-elected president. Read

Huge Hong Kong March Prompts Gov’t Apology; Protestors Want Extradition Bill Scrapped

Hong Kong authorities at the weekend responded to mass protests by suspending a controversial extradition bill, but their hopes of defusing the political crisis were dashed Sunday when residents turned out for what some are describing as the largest protest in the territory’s history. Read

Tanker Attacks Blamed on Iran: Pompeo Says Some Countries ‘Just Wish This Would Go Away’

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday rejected suggestions that allies do not believe the U.S. claim that Iran is behind recent provocative actions near the Persian Gulf, although he said he would “concede there are countries that just wish this would go away, and they want to act in a way that is counterfactual.” Read

Sen. Cotton: Iran’s ‘Unprovoked Attack on Commercial Shipping Warrants Retaliatory Military Strikes’

As the Trump administration works to convince allies that Iran was responsible for last week’s attack on two tankers near the Persian Gulf, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said Sunday that “this unprovoked attack on commercial shipping warrants retaliatory military strikes.” Read

U.S Assessment Blames Gulf Tanker Attacks on Iran

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday accused the Iranian regime of responsibility for attacks on two tankers near the Persian Gulf, and slapped down his Iranian counterpart for a tweet insinuating some sort of anti-Iran conspiracy behind the incident. Read

House Panel to Examine Slavery Reparations; 2020 Democrat Hopefuls Back Legislation

The divisive issue of reparations for the descendants of slaves will feature in a congressional hearing next week for the first time in 12 years, at a time when many of Democratic 2020 presidential contenders are supporting legislation calling for examination of the issue. Read

Russia, China Slam Bolton’s Claim That They ‘Sow Disinformation’ About the Administration

The Russian and Chinese foreign ministries on Wednesday hit back indignantly at National Security Advisor John Bolton’s claim that they and other countries antagonistic to the U.S. are spreading disinformation about policy rifts within the Trump administration. Read

China Accuses US of Stoking Hong Kong Protests Against Extradition Bill

As U.S. lawmakers expressed support for Hong Kong residents’ protests against a proposed law allowing extradition to the communist-ruled mainland, Chinese officials and state media lashed out Wednesday at what they called outside interference in the country’s affairs. Read

American Medical Association: Call It ‘Physician-Assisted Suicide,’ Not ‘Aid-in-Dying’

Advocates of assisted suicide are dismayed that the largest association of physicians in the U.S. has decided to continue using the term “physician-assisted suicide” rather than euphemisms such as “medical aid-in-dying.” Read

British MP Asks If British Gov’t Covered Up Hezbollah ‘Bomb Factory’ Because of Iran Nuclear Deal

A British lawmaker is calling for answers after it was revealed at the weekend that authorities swooped on a Hezbollah “bomb factory” in London four years ago – just weeks after Britain, the U.S. and others concluded the nuclear deal with the regime in Iran, Hezbollah’s chief sponsor and patron. Read

State Department Responds to Zarif’s Threat: ‘We Aren’t Impressed’

Following a blustery statement from Iran’s foreign minister warning that the U.S. cannot expect to “be safe” if it continues with its sanctions and isolation campaign, the State Department responded bluntly on Monday: “We aren’t impressed.” Read

As Freedoms Erode, Hong Kong Protests Bill Allowing Suspects to be Handed Over to Beijing

Uneasy about a persistent chipping away of Hong Kong’s purported legal independence at the hands of the communist government in Beijing, hundreds of thousands of residents of the city have taken to the streets again, this time in opposition to a proposed bill to allow extradition to mainland China. Read

McAleenan: Mexico OKs ‘More Than Tenfold’ Increase in Troops to Its Southern Border

President Trump on Sunday dismissed as false a New York Times report saying his much-touted immigration deal with Mexico contained nothing new, and his stance was backed up later in the day by acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan. Read

North Korea Bristles at Being Called a ‘Rogue State’

North Korea has condemned a recent Pentagon report for describing it as a “rogue state,” calling it a “hostile” act that makes clear the United States’ ultimate goal is the overthrow of the regime, and warning of “countermeasures.” Read

Biden Reverses Himself, Again, on Amendment Restricting Taxpayer Funding For Abortion

Twenty-four hours after Joe Biden’s campaign gave assurances that he still supports a 43-year-old prohibition on federal funding for certain abortions, the former vice president announced Thursday night – after taking flak from other 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls – that he no longer does. Read

Survey: 46% of Voters Support Tariffs to Force Mexico to Get Tougher on Illegal Immigration, Drugs

Six in ten likely U.S. voters believe Mexico has not been aggressive enough in stopping the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States, almost seven in ten feel the same way when it comes to illegal drugs – and almost half favor the use of tariffs to compel Mexico to get tougher on both. Read

Senators Plan Bipartisan Bid to Block ‘Emergency’ Arms Sales to Saudis, Emiratis

President Trump’s plan to sell $8.1 billion worth of arms to Arab allies without congressional review faced a new challenge Wednesday when a group of senators – including a generally consistent ally of the president – announced they will introduce multiple joint resolutions in a bid to block the sales. Read

UK Labour Leader Corbyn Tries to Link Trump’s Criticism of London Mayor to ‘Islamophobia’

Britain’s left-wing opposition leader on Tuesday criticized President Trump for his scathing comments about London Mayor Sadiq Khan – “particularly today on the wonderful festival of Eid” – and said he was proud the capital has a Muslim mayor. Read

‘Yes We Can!’: Democrat-Controlled House Passes ‘Path to Citizenship’ Bill

More than eight years after the House passed a previous iteration of the Dream Act, the Democrat majority on Tuesday passed the latest version to cheers and chants of “Yes we can,” a day after the Trump administration indicated the president would veto it if it ever reaches his desk. Read

FY 2019 Refugee Admissions Up Year-to-Year; 79.6% Christians

Two-thirds of the way through the fiscal year, the Trump administration is on track to keep refugee admissions for FY 2019 below the record-low ceiling of 30,000 which it set last fall, even as the monthly admission figures slowly pick up. Read

Palestinian-American Linda Sarsour Irked by New Bipartisan Black-Jewish Caucus

Three U.S. lawmakers on Monday announced the establishment of a bipartisan Congressional Black-Jewish Caucus, and immediately drew a backlash from Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour. Read

30 Years After China Crushed Tiananmen Square Protests, UN Silent

As millions of people around the world remember communist China’s violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square 30 years ago, the United Nations is silent. Read

Biden Swipes Trump Over Brunei LGBT Abuses, But Obama Administration Embraced the Sultanate

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday sought to link the Trump administration’s LGBT policies at home to attacks on LGBT individuals abroad, saying the U.S. should refuse to cooperate with governments responsible for violations, “as we did in our administration.” Read

Pompeo: US Ready to Talk to Iran ‘Without Preconditions’

The Trump administration is prepared to hold talks with Iranian regime representatives “without preconditions,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday. Read