Knesset to approve bill legalizing settlements on private Palestinian land
The Knesset is likely to pass into law on Monday the controversial
settlements bill that retroactively legalizes close to 4,000 settler
homes on private Palestinian property. News that the Knesset would hold a
second and third reading on the bill was first delivered to the
residents of the Ofra settlement during a Jerusalem meeting with Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief-of-staff Yoav Horowitz on Saturday
night.
Yemen al-Qaeda: US commandos raid stronghold
The US has carried out a commando raid on an al-Qaeda stronghold in
central Yemen, killing 14 militants, the military says. One US soldier
died and three were injured. Several Apache helicopters were reported to
have taken part in the operation in al-Baida province. Three al-Qaeda
leaders were among those killed in a battle lasting 45 minutes in a
village in Yakla district. Earlier reports suggested a higher death
toll.
Trump puts Bannon on security council, dropping joint chiefs
President Donald Trump is reshuffling the US National Security Council
(NSC), downgrading the military chiefs of staff and giving a regular
seat to his chief strategist Steve Bannon. Mr Bannon, formerly the head
of the populist right-wing, Breitbart News website, will join high-level
discussions about national security. The order was signed on Saturday.
Iran says to ban U.S. visitors in retaliation to Trump move
Iran said on Saturday it would stop U.S. citizens entering the country
in retaliation to Washington’s visa ban against Tehran and six other
majority-Muslim countries announced by new U.S. President Donald Trump.
“While respecting the American people and distinguishing between them
and the hostile policies of the U.S. government, Iran will implement the
principle of reciprocity until the offensive U.S. limitations against
Iranian nationals are lifted,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.
House to take first crack at repealing Obama-era regulations
Determined to reverse eight years of a Democratic administration, House
Republicans are on track to overturn a handful of rules finalized in
President Barack Obama’s final months in office to deal with climate
change, federal contracting and background checks for gun ownership.
Opponents criticize the regulations as job killers that will hold the
U.S. economy back. Now, they’re turning to an oversight tool used
successfully only once before to void a rule issued by a federal agency.
Expect More Conflict Between Cities and States
With the federal government and most states controlled by conservative
Republicans this year, Democrats are looking to Democratic cities and
counties to stand up for progressive policy. But they may want to temper
their expectations. State lawmakers have blocked city action on a range
of economic, environmental and human rights issues, including liberal
priorities such as minimum wage increases, in recent years.
David’s Sling nearing operational readiness
The joint Israeli-US missile defense system known as David’s Sling—part
of Israel’s multi-layered missile defense program—is nearing operational
readiness and has been cleared to be presented to potential customers
abroad, such as Poland. David’s Sling is part of Israel’s anti-missile
defense program, and is meant to intercept tactical ballistic missiles,
medium- to long-range rockets, and cruise missiles fired at ranges of
40km to 300km.
Netanyahu tweet causes standoff with Mexico
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tweet in support of Trump building a
wall on the US-Mexico border has incensed Mexican diplomatic officials.
The Mexican government sent a strongly worded letter to the Israeli
government, saying “the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs has
expressed to the Israeli government – via its embassy in Mexico – the
Mexican government’s absolute shock, disappointment in, and rejection of
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s statement regarding the construction of a
wall on the border.”
FBI request for Twitter account data may have overstepped legal guidelines
The FBI appeared to go beyond the scope of existing legal guidance in
seeking certain kinds of internet records from Twitter (TWTR.N) as
recently as last year, legal experts said, citing two warrantless
surveillance orders the social media company published on Friday.
Twitter said its disclosures were the first time the company had been
allowed to publicly reveal the secretive orders, which were delivered
with gag orders when they were issued in 2015 and 2016.
Trump, the Mideast conflict and the Jordanian option
…a new American administration…presents the opportunity for Israel to
take the lead in advocating a far more ambitious initiative – a major
investment in the economic prosperity and political stability of the
Kingdom of Jordan…Jordan has the potential (once again) to become a
major stabilizing influence on Palestinian politics, which would serve
the interests of Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian people itself.
President Trump “doesn’t mind some humor,” but thinks his son is off limits.
Trump on Thursday for the first time shared his displeasure with a
“Saturday Night Live” writer who came under fire for tweeting that
10-year-old Barron Trump will “be this country’s first homeschool
shooter.”
Fears grow over jihadist cyber threat
Jihadists have yet to shut down a power grid, paralyse a transport
network or banking system or take over a key industrial site from afar,
but experts say the threat of such a cyber attack should be taken
seriously.
Trump order sets military buildup in motion
President Donald Trump on Friday took the first formal step to undertake
a costly military buildup, signaling what could be a major turnaround
from years of relying on a smaller, more agile force and within strict
spending limits mandated by Congress.
The
shocking aftermath of ISIS’ trail of destruction: Iraqi troops discover
the iconic tomb of the prophet of Jonah smashed to smithereens as they
retake parts of Mosul
Iraqi forces battling Islamic State in Mosul have unveiled the
destruction left behind by the jihadis who levelled one of the city’s
most well-known Muslim shrines. ISIS destroyed the Nabi Yunus shrine and
mosque – built on the reputed burial site of a prophet known in the
Koran as Yunis and in the Bible as Jonah – which was a popular
pilgrimage site.
Trump and Putin make counter-terror top priority in first call
Donald Trump held a series of phone calls with world leaders on Saturday
– including one with Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin said both sides had
agreed to make fighting “international terrorism” – including so-called
Islamic State and “other terrorist groups” in Syria – a top priority.
California Could Cut Off Feds In Response To Trump Threats
The state of California is studying ways to suspend financial transfers
to Washington after the Trump administration threatened to withhold
federal money from sanctuary cities, KPIX 5 has learned.
The Trap Is Set: “Both Sides Are Utterly Unprepared For What’s Coming”
If there’s one thing that should be absolutely clear in the current
political environment in America, it’s that there exists a deep
division between the people of this nation. Both of sides of the aisle
argue vehemently about what’s best going forward, sometimes to the point
of physical violence. And though the election of President Donald Trump
speaks volumes about the sentiment of Americans, the following video
report from Storm Clouds Gathering warns that both sides are utterly
unprepared for what’s coming.
Chicago turns to tech to curb murder rate: Will it work?
In recent months, Chicago has come under fire for violence and police misconduct. Could new technology help?
ACLU wins emergency, national stay of Trump’s refugee ban
A federal judge granted an emergency stay Saturday to temporarily allow
people with valid visas who landed in the U.S. to stay in the country,
following chaos and detentions after President Donald Trump’s executive
order related to immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.
When The Rich Become Preppers, It’s Time To Worry
The message here is clear enough: The wealthy have caught onto the idea
that the probability of a major social disruption is high enough to
merit serious action. Prepping is now becoming “a thing.”