Iraq holds military parade celebrating victory over Islamic State

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An Iraqi military parade celebrating final victory over Islamic State is underway in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, an Iraqi military spokesman told Reuters on Sunday.

from Reuters: World News http://ift.tt/2iLljFf

U.S. top court blocks release of Trump 'Dreamer' immigrant documents

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday granted a request by President Donald Trump's administration to block the release of documents concerning his decision to end a program that shielded from deportation hundreds of thousands of young adults dubbed "Dreamers" brought into the country illegally as children. The nine-member, conservative-majority court, acting despite objections from its four liberal justices, put on hold an order by U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco for the administration to turn over the internal documents by Dec. 22 as part of lawsuits he is overseeing challenging the legality of Trump's September decision. The lawsuits accuse the administration of violating the U.S. Constitution's due process guarantee as well as statutory legal requirements in rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program created by Trump's Democratic predecessor Barack Obama.

Trump has no authority “to give away Jerusalem to an occupying power,” Palestinian official says

Palestinian leaders are vowing to snub the White House following President Trump’s decision Wednesday to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

U.S. Diplomat’s Resignation Signals Wider Exodus From State Department

One diplomat's stinging resignation letter offers a glimpse into the weakening State Department under Trump.

California fires: Year around blazes set to become 'the new normal' as Governor blames climate change

California Governor Jerry Brown has told the state’s residents to get used to destructive wildfires in winter, declaring them “the new normal”. As six major fires ravage southern California, having led to the death of one person and the destruction of hundreds of homes and other buildings, Mr Brown said the state needed to face up to a new challenge. Visiting Ventura County, where the largest of the blazes – the Thomas Fire – is still growing, Mr Brown said drought and climate change mean California faces a “new reality” where lives and property are continually threatened by fire, at a cost of billions of dollars.

UN envoy warns N. Korea 'miscalculation' could trigger conflict

A senior UN envoy warned Saturday there was a grave risk that a miscalculation could trigger conflict with North Korea as he urged Pyongyang to keep communication channels open after a rare visit to the reclusive state. Jeffrey Feltman's trip to the North -- the first by such a high-ranking UN diplomat since 2010 -- kicked off less than a week after Pyongyang said it test-fired a new ballistic missile capable of reaching the US. The United Nations said Feltman met North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho and Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-Kuk and they "agreed that the current situation was the most tense and dangerous peace and security issue in the world today".

'Mississippi Is Ready, Finally, to Tell the Truth.' Inside the State's Historic New Civil Rights Museum

The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum's director explains what it means for the first state-sponsored civil rights museum to open in Jackson