| Judges press Trump administration on travel ban Posted: 07 Feb 2017 05:29 PM PST  By Dan Levine and Emily Stephenson SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A government lawyer defending President Donald Trump's temporary entry ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries came under intense scrutiny on Tuesday from a U.S. federal appeals court that questioned whether it unfairly targeted people over their religion. The three-judge 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel asked the Trump administration's lawyer tough questions about whether the administration had provided any evidence that people from the seven countries were a danger. Judge Richard Clifton, a George W. Bush appointee, posed equally tough questions for an attorney representing Minnesota and Washington states, which are challenging the ban.
|
| Trump's list of underreported terror doesn't back up claim Posted: 07 Feb 2017 05:08 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — A White House list of what it calls underreported terrorist attacks did not support President Donald Trump's claim that the media are downplaying a "genocide" carried out by the Islamic State group. But it did shine new light on the difficulty in defining the scope, source and motives behind the violence carried out in the name of radical Islam.
|
| Analysis: Trump paints dark picture in defense of travel ban Posted: 07 Feb 2017 04:00 PM PST  The more Donald Trump tries to build support for his refugee and immigration ban, the darker the world seems to get. In defending his policies barring refugees and curbing immigration, the president is ...
|
| In court, Trump administration argues for travel ban Posted: 07 Feb 2017 03:58 PM PST SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's administration asked a U.S. appeals court on Tuesday to rule a federal judge was wrong to suspend a travel ban the president imposed on people from seven Muslim-majority countries and all refugees. "Congress has expressly authorized the president to suspend entry of categories of aliens," attorney August Flentje, special counsel for the U.S. Justice Department, said under intense questioning from a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "That's what the president did here," Flentje said at the start of an hour-long oral argument conducted by telephone and broadcast live online. |
| Trump administration defends travel ban in court Posted: 07 Feb 2017 03:53 PM PST  Justice Department attorneys made the case Tuesday for President Donald Trump's contested travel ban to be reinstated, in a high-stakes hearing before a federal court of appeal in California. The latest twist in the legal showdown comes four days after a federal judge suspended Trump's decree, opening US borders back up to refugees and travelers from the seven mostly-Muslim nations it targeted. Trump's January 27 executive order barred entry to all refugees for 120 days, and to travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, triggering chaos at US airports and worldwide condemnation.
|
| UN urges more airline passenger info in anti-terror fight Posted: 07 Feb 2017 03:16 PM PST UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. political chief on Tuesday urged the world's nations to share information about airline passengers as part of a stepped up response to the growth of "transnational terrorism" sparked by the Islamic State group's expanding areas of attack. |
| US could ask visa applicants for social media passwords Posted: 07 Feb 2017 02:25 PM PST  US embassies could ask visa applicants for passwords to their own social media accounts in future background checks, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Tuesday. "We may want to get on their social media, with passwords," he said.
|
| Homeland Security chief regrets rapid rollout of Trump travel ban Posted: 07 Feb 2017 02:06 PM PST  By Julia Edwards Ainsley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Homeland Security chief John Kelly told a congressional panel on Tuesday he should have delayed U.S. President Donald Trump's travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries and on all refugees so he could brief Congress on the executive order. The temporary ban ignited international protests as the United States revoked 60,000 visas and detained some travelers who landed in the United States unaware the order had been signed while they were in flight.
|
| Tales of woe from US military ahead of likely spending boost Posted: 07 Feb 2017 01:42 PM PST  Top US generals warned lawmakers Tuesday that aging equipment, chronic underfunding and understaffing have severely impacted military readiness, as the Republican-led Congress hopes to usher in a spending bonanza under President Donald Trump. The president has repeatedly said the vast US military is suffering from massive shortages and has vowed a "great rebuilding" of the armed services. Many officials fret that budget caps, known as sequestration, implemented under Barack Obama, have left the military woefully depleted and lacking the readiness to deal with the full array of potential global threats.
|
| France, Britain push US to keep pressure on Islamic State Posted: 07 Feb 2017 01:24 PM PST  France and Britain said Tuesday the US-led coalition battling the Islamic State group must press on and re-take Raqa as President Donald Trump mulled a new strategy to defeat the radical militants. France, the second largest contributor to the 68-country coalition fighting in Syria and Iraq, considers the fight against IS the "number one priority," said Ambassador Francois Delattre. The battle to retake Raqa in Syria is also critical," Delattre told reporters ahead of a Security Council meeting on the threat posed by IS.
|
| Bilateral talks ramp up as Canada tries to avoid US trade ire Posted: 07 Feb 2017 01:22 PM PST  Canadian officials are reaching out to US counterparts in hopes of heading off possible trade disruptions as President Donald Trump prepares to renegotiate or tear up deals that are key to Canada's prosperity. Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan was the latest on Monday to make the pilgrimage to Washington, where he met with US Secretary of Defense James Mattis. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland will follow in his footsteps.
|
| Afghanistan war getting little notice from Trump White House Posted: 07 Feb 2017 12:55 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Afghanistan, America's longest military fight, is getting little attention so far from the Trump administration despite the protracted struggle to rein in the Taliban and battle a stubborn Islamic State affiliate there.
|
| Wounded Warrior Project Empowers Veterans to Find New Fitness Routines Posted: 07 Feb 2017 11:34 AM PST DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Feb. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Veterans recently attended a Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) fitness workshop where they learned new techniques for managing their physical health and wellness. Army veteran Chris Coffee found his new favorite workout was the one he didn't expect to like. |
| Air Force general urges caution in accelerating IS air war Posted: 07 Feb 2017 11:29 AM PST  The head of the US Air Force urged caution Tuesday in increasing the pace of the air war against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. President Donald Trump made accelerating the fight against IS a central plank of his campaign and has pledged to intensify bombing of the jihadist group. General David Goldfein told journalists that air strikes must remain synchronized with the progress of coalition-backed local ground forces, as well as with political and diplomatic efforts.
|
| Turkey's Erdogan says not supporting stronger presidency sends 'positive signal' to militant groups Posted: 07 Feb 2017 10:42 AM PST  Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged Turks on Tuesday to vote in favor of strengthening the presidency in a referendum, saying failure to do so would encourage militant groups trying to divide the nation. Erdogan said he was still evaluating a parliamentary bill on constitutional changes to create an executive presidential system in Turkey and would give a response this week. Once Erdogan approves the bill, a referendum will be held most likely in April, which, if passed, could lead to him holding office until 2029.
|
| Judges in immigration ban case in a 'vacuum,' US security chief Posted: 07 Feb 2017 10:37 AM PST  US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said Tuesday that judges who blocked the White House's immigration ban were living in an academic "vacuum" and did not see the real threat to the country. In their courtrooms, they are protected by people like me," Kelly told a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee. Kelly was speaking after a federal judge in Seattle ordered the Homeland Security Department to halt enforcement of the ban on immigration by refugees and citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries.
|
| The Latest: Kelly says Trump order isn't Muslim ban Posted: 07 Feb 2017 10:32 AM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly's appearance before a congressional committee (all times local):
|
| Tour companies say American travel to Iran up in the air Posted: 07 Feb 2017 10:01 AM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — In recent months Iran has been heating up as a popular off-the-beaten path destination for globe-trotting Americans. Now several tour companies have had to cancel trips there because of visa complications related to President Donald Trump's travel ban.
|
| Irwin Corey, the king of comedic confusion, dies at 102 Posted: 07 Feb 2017 09:27 AM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — Irwin Corey, the wild-haired comedian and actor known for his improvisational riffs and nonsensical style who billed himself as "The World's Foremost Authority," died Monday at his home in Manhattan, according to his son, Richard. He was 102.
|
| The Latest: Serbia arrests 12 for alleged migrant-smuggling Posted: 07 Feb 2017 09:25 AM PST BERLIN (AP) — The Latest on Europe's response to the flow of migrants and refugees seeking to reach and remain on the continent: (all times local): |
| UN says 30,000 have returned to Iraq's Mosul Posted: 07 Feb 2017 07:55 AM PST  KHAZER, Iraq (AP) — Some 30,000 people have returned to Mosul since Iraqi forces launched a massive operation in October to retake the country's second largest city from the Islamic State group, the U.N. said Tuesday.
|
| How the Ninth Circuit will consider the immigration ban case today Posted: 07 Feb 2017 05:50 AM PST Three federal judges will hear arguments at 6 p.m. EST today that could decide the immediate fate of President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration related to refugees and immigrants. Here's a brief explanation of what to expect. |
| Iran's top leader mocks 'newcomer' Trump Posted: 07 Feb 2017 04:41 AM PST  Iran's supreme leader said Tuesday that "newcomer" President Donald Trump had shown the "real face" of the United States, after the American leader accused Iran of being ungrateful ...
|
| Islamic State sees chance to revive fortunes in Trump presidency Posted: 07 Feb 2017 03:35 AM PST  By Samia Nakhoul BEIRUT (Reuters) - President Donald Trump has set out to crush Islamic State when it is already at a low ebb, but Islamists and some analysts say his actions could strengthen the ultra-hardline group by creating new recruits and inspiring attacks on U.S. soil. IS has been weakened in recent months by battlefield defeats, the loss of territory in Iraq, Syria and Libya, and a decline in its finances and the size of its fighting forces. Trump's pledge to eradicate "Islamic extremism" looks at first sight to be yet another blow to Islamic State's chances of success.
|
| Appeals court to hear arguments on Trump's travel ban Posted: 07 Feb 2017 01:31 AM PST  By Dan Levine and Timothy Gardner SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department will face off with opponents in a federal appeals court on Tuesday over the fate of President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries, his most controversial act since taking office last month. Last Friday, U.S. District Judge James Robart suspended Trump's ban, opening a window for people from the seven affected countries to enter the country. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco will hear arguments over whether to restore the ban from Justice Department lawyers and opposing attorneys for the states of Minnesota and Washington at 3 p.m. PST (2300 GMT).
|
| Qatar Airways expects Trump's travel ban to be relaxed: report Posted: 06 Feb 2017 10:10 PM PST  Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker on Tuesday said he expected U.S. President Donald Trump would eventually relax a travel ban targeting seven predominantly Muslim countries, New Zealand media reported. The travel ban, Trump's most controversial act since taking office last month, was halted temporarily on Friday following a ruling by a U.S. judge, but it affected some of the airline's passengers. Al Baker said he expected Trump's business talent would prevail when it came to trade between the U.S. and Gulf countries.
|
| Trump's White House: Five takeaways from Monday Posted: 06 Feb 2017 10:10 PM PST  President Donald Trump returned to Washington Monday from a weekend trip to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida -- stopping off at a US military base where he made the provocative and unexplained claim that the media was deliberately disregarding jihadist attacks. Meanwhile on the other side of the country in California, the US government filed court documents formally defending Trump's controversial travel ban. On Friday, a federal judge ordered the temporary nationwide suspension of the president's executive order that summarily denied entry to all refugees, and travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
|
| Trump's America: A new realm of unpredictable protests Posted: 06 Feb 2017 07:29 PM PST  New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco: the cities are many and so are the anti-Trump protests. The final impact of the protests is yet to be determined, but with Donald Trump's term set to last at least four years and a seemingly unbridled passion welling forth in people not previously civically engaged, the rallies aren't expected to stop soon. "This is the first time I have ever been on the ground helping out people," Mark Hanna, a 29-year-old New York lawyer, who demonstrated and offered his services to travelers impacted by Trump's immigration decree at New York's John F Kennedy airport, told AFP.
|
