Around the World
Last Islamic State enclave in eastern Syria pounded in U.S.-backed assault
Islamic State’s final enclave in eastern Syria was pounded with air strikes and artillery on Monday in a U.S.-backed assault aimed at wiping out the last shred of its territorial rule that once spanned a third of Syria and Iraq.
Brexit: UK and EU hail breakthrough in talks
British Prime Minister Theresa May said Monday that she had secured legal guarantees from the European Union that should convince British lawmakers to back her Brexit deal.
Russian defense ministry boasts about revived military power
Russia's defense minister says the military has commissioned more than 1,000 new aircraft and thousands of tanks in the past few years.
Iranian president meets Iraqi leader in historic bid for 'new start'
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani began a historic three-day visit to Iraq Monday to strengthen the nations' relationship amid sanctions and isolation efforts by the United States.
U.S. Set to Become World's Leading Exporter of Oil
By 2024, the United States will begin to export more oil than Saudi Arabia and become the world's leading exporter by 2024, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
US senator vows to seek recognition of Israeli rule in Golan
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on Monday vowed to push for U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, in what would represent a new contentious political gift to Israel from the Trump administration.
Trump spending cuts leave military aid to Israel untouched
The 2020 budget proposal that the White House sent to Congress includes the full $3.3 billion aid in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by President Obama.
In Israel, A Stand Out Year For Artificial Intelligence Technologies
Artificial Intelligence technologies in Israel saw significant growth in 2018, in the number of companies raising funding, the amounts invested, as well as new products released, a new report by Start-Up Nation Central shows.

Inside the United States
GOP senators eye 'nuclear' move to change rules on Trump nominees
Senate Republicans are preparing to change the rules to cut down on the time it takes to confirm hundreds of President Trump's nominees later this month.
Trump budget calls for adding almost as much to the debt as Obama did
President Trump’s fiscal year 2020 budget projects that he would add nearly as much to the national debt in eight years as former President Barack Obama did during his tenure.
Republicans brush off Trump budget request
Congress loves to ignore presidential budget requests, and this year, lawmakers are even more eager to dismiss President Trump’s spending blueprint.
U.S. retail sales rise in January; December revised sharply lower
U.S. retail sales unexpectedly rose in January, lifted by an increase in purchases of building materials and discretionary spending, but receipts in December were much weaker than initially thought.

Christian News
Chinese Government Continues Crusade Against Christian Symbolism as Part of 'Sinicization'
A cross was recently removed from Zhongxin Church in Henan, Province, China, and replaced with a Chinese flag, as the Chinese government continues its campaign to reinvent Christianity.
80 Nigerian Pastors Meet with Wycliffe Associates To Accelerate Bible Translation in the Shadow of Boko Haram
Wycliffe associates recently hosted a conference on Bible translation for 80 Nigerian Pastors, in a country where Islamic militancy has displaced millions and led to severe persecution against Nigeria's sizeable Christian population.
Washington State to Churches: 'Pay for Abortions or Break the Law'
The attorneys for a church in Seattle filed a federal lawsuit on Friday against Washington state officials for forcing churches to pay for elective abortions in their health insurance.