Author: Leslie Stephens

BRUSSELS (AP) – As a fresh wave of the coronavirus sweeps across much of Europe, the reality of the disease struck a summit of European Union leaders on Thursday when one of the 27-nation bloc’s top officials abandoned the meeting to go into self-imposed quarantine.

European Commission President Ursula von …

BRUSSELS (AP) – EU leader Ursula von der Leyen leaves summit, goes into quarantine after staffer tests positive for COVID-19.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) – The Philippine president has approved the lifting of a ban on oil and gas exploration in or near disputed areas of the South China Sea that was imposed six years ago because of escalating territorial tensions with China, an official said Thursday.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi …

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran’s capital has run out of intensive care beds as the country confronts a new surge of infections that is filling hospitals and cemeteries alike. The single-day death toll hit a record high three times this week.

Eight months after the pandemic first stormed Iran, pummeling …

Sweden is rolling out plans to increase its defense spending by roughly 40% over the next five years in an effort to boost its national defense capabilities amid ongoing tensions with Russia.

The Swedish government announced the increase Thursday, saying it will add $3.10 billion (27.5 billion Swedish crowns) by …

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel’s parliament on Thursday voted overwhelmingly in favor of formally ratifying the country’s historic agreement normalizing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates.

Israel and the UAE announced the U.S.-brokered agreement in August, and signed a deal in a White House ceremony last month. Thursday’s approval by …

MIAMI (AP) – Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Florida on Thursday to rally Hispanic voters by highlighting President Donald Trump’s record opposing socialist leaders across Latin America.

Pence told them their support before and on Nov. 3 is crucial in the battleground state to secure Trump’s reelection. About 2.4 …

His record on Israel is so strong that radio host Mark Levin once called him “the first Jewish president,” but President Trump has yet to feel the love from the Jewish electorate.

A Pew Research Center poll released this week showed that 70% of registered Jewish voters support Democratic presidential …

WASHINGTON (AP) – Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse told Nebraska constituents in a telephone town hall meeting that President Donald Trump has “flirted with white supremacists,” mocks Christian evangelicals in private, and “kisses dictators’ butts.”

Sasse, who is running for a second term representing the reliably red state, made the …