Iran will retaliate if newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump nixes the July 2015 nuclear agreement, the Islamic Republic’s top diplomat said this week, according to the semi-official state news agency Mehr. “We will surprise him the same way he likes to surprise the others,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying during a visit to Myanmar. “It is up to the US to decide to behave in front of the international community,” Zarif stated. “It seems the others are worried about Trump’s in-campaigning remarks, especially about the issue of Palestine and some other issues, but we are not at all worried, and we wait to see.” Referring to the nuclear deal agreed to a year and a half ag...
President Donald Trump moved to repair his tumultuous relationship with America’s spy agencies on his first full day in office, but his bridge-building visit to CIA headquarters Saturday quickly morphed into a platform for the new commander in chief to complain about media coverage of his inauguration, misstating the size of his crowd. Standing in front of a memorial for fallen CIA agents, Trump assured intelligence officials, “I am so behind you.” He made no mention of his repeated criticism of the intelligence agencies following the election, including his public challenges of their high-confidence assessment that Russia meddled in the White House race to help him win. “There is nobody that feels stronger about the intelligence community and CIA than Donald Trum...
In a global exclamation of defiance and solidarity, more than 1 million people rallied at women’s marches in the nation’s capital and cities around the world Saturday to send President Donald Trump an emphatic message on his first full day in office that they won’t let his agenda go unchallenged. “Welcome to your first day, we will not go away!” marchers in Washington chanted. Many of the women came wearing pink hats to mock the new president. Plenty of men joined in, too, contributing to surprising numbers everywhere from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles to Mexico City, Paris, Berlin, London, Prague and Sydney. The Washington rally alone attracted over 500,000 people according to city officials — apparently more than Trump’s inau...
President Trump Delivers Speech At CIA Headquarters
Russia says relations with the United States "completely fell apart" during President Obama's second term -- but Moscow is confident that "reason will prevail" as Donald Trump takes office Friday. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was one of the world leaders weighing in on America's transfer of power Friday. He promised in a Facebook message, "We are ready to do our share of the work in order to improve the relationship." He referenced "the new administration," but did not mention Trump by name. President Vladimir Putin probably didn't watch the inauguration, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "It is a long event. But of course he will familiarize himself with it." However, people across Russia had plenty of opportunities to watch President Trump's ...
President Donald Trump’s first executive order targets the sweeping “Obamacare” law by giving federal agencies broad leeway to chip away at the measure. But Trump still needs Congress to do away with the law for good. Trump signed the executive order in the Oval Office Friday, hours after being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. The one-page directive gives agencies authority to grant waivers, exemptions and delays of provisions in the Affordable Care Act. But until it becomes clear what steps federal agencies take as a result, its full impact on Americans and their health insurance is uncertain. Here’s a look at Trump’s executive order: ——— Q: What does the order do? A: Trump’s order states that federal agencies...
 Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, continued to improve Saturday as they recover from illnesses at Houston Methodist Hospital, a family spokesman said. “President Bush is breathing well without any mechanical assistance, his spirits are high, and he is looking forward to getting back to a regular schedule,” spokesman Jim McGrath said. Bush, 92, entered the hospital a week ago after experiencing breathing difficulties that doctors determined were related to pneumonia. Physicians on Wednesday inserted a breathing tube, a ventilator was employed to assist his breathing and he was moved into intensive care. The tube was removed Friday.  “President Bush will be remaining in the ICU for observation for a few more days,” McGrath said. &l...
The moment Donald Trump swears the oath of office and lifts his hand from the Bible as the 45th president of the United States on Friday, the clock begins on his first 100 days. And within hours, the man who campaigned as an outsider vowing to shake up Washington will have his chance to start rolling back his predecessor's legacy while forging his own.  The president-elect is set to take the oath shortly before noon, after spending Thursday meeting with supporters and getting his team in place. He met Friday morning with the Obamas. Incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer would not give specific details about the extent and timing of Trump's promised actions to turn back some of President Obama's policies -- but he promised a "robust" start.  "Make...
 Nielsen estimates 31 million viewers watched TV coverage of President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Friday. That audience total, measuring continuous coverage by 12 broadcast and cable networks, soundly beat the 20.6 million who viewed President Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013. But a president’s second swearing-in typically logs a drop-off in viewership. Obama’s first inauguration in 2009 was seen by 37.8 million people. Fox News Channel was by far the most-watched network of all, cable or broadcast, with 8.43 million viewers. Cable rivals CNN had 2.46 million and MSNBC had 1.35 million. NBC was the most-watched broadcast network with 5.8 million viewers, followed by ABC (4.9 million) and CBS (4.6 million). The most-watched inauguration since 1...
 Rabbi Marvin Hier delivers a prayer at Inauguration Day 2017
The 45th president of the United States speaks outside the Capitol building on Inauguration Day. During his inaugural address, Trump told the American people that this was "their celebration."He echoed themes that were repeated throughout his campaign, promising not to leave "the forgotten men and women" behind, and calling for a return of power to the people as opposed to politicians in Washington.   Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: thank you. We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and restore its promise for all of our people. Together we will determine the course of America and the world for many, many years to come. We wil...
Donald Trump is now the 45th president of the United States. He’s just taken the oath of office on the West Front of the Capitol. The combative billionaire businessman and television celebrity won election in November over Democrat Hillary Clinton, and today he’s leading a profoundly divided country — one that’s split between Americans enthralled and horrified by his victory. The unorthodox politician and the Republican-controlled Congress are already charting a newly conservative course for the nation. And they’re promising to reverse the work of the 44th president, Barack Obama. Up next is Trump’s inaugural address — where the new commander in chief is expected to set out his vision for the country’s next four years.
The US military shot down President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration team’s bid to have tanks and missile launchers rolling down his parade route Friday, according to a report. “They were legit thinking Red Square/North Korea-style parade,” an inauguration team source told the Huffington Post, referring to grandiose military parades in Moscow and Pyongyang that are often considered displays of bellicosity. Trump has made showing off US military might part of his platform. The military “may come marching down Pennsylvania Avenue,” Trump told the Washington Post this week. “That military may be flying over New York City and Washington, DC, for parades. I mean, we’re going to be showing our military.” Several sources involve...
A California student who previously believed Israel was “akin to an apartheid state” had a complete about-face after visiting the country, San Diego State University’s independent student newspaper The Daily Aztec reported on Wednesday. According to the report, SDSU political science and international security and conflict resolution senior Erin Gonzalez said she had expected the worst before her trip, but discovered the place wasn’t at all as she had envisioned. Rather, she encountered a society that embraces all religions and cultures, she said. Gonzalez, who is not Jewish, traveled to Israel as part of a “Fact Finders” program, hosted by the school’s Hillel chapter, to enable SDSU students to experi...
The former security guard from rural Illinois walked into a tent behind the Lincoln Memorial and gave a bear hug to the man who would soon become the most powerful leader in the world. “Hey, Donald Trump,” said Shane Bouvet, with all the casualness of a 24-year-old. The president-elect beamed back: “This is the greatest guy.” The unlikely meeting occurred after Trump said he read a profile of Bouvet in The Washington Post and was impressed by his story. Bouvet, a struggling single father, had spent nights working and days volunteering on Trump’s unlikely presidential campaign. The volunteer efforts earned Bouvet an invite to an inaugural ball. But just weeks ago he was unsure he could pay for a proper suit and shoes to wear for the festivities. A friend st...
 My fellow Americans, It’s a long-standing tradition for the sitting president of the United States to leave a parting letter in the Oval Office for the American elected to take his or her place. It’s a letter meant to share what we know, what we’ve learned, and what small wisdom may help our successor bear the great responsibility that comes with the highest office in our land, and the leadership of the free world. But before I leave my note for our 45th president, I wanted to say one final thank you for the honor of serving as your 44th. Because all that I’ve learned in my time in office, I’ve learned from you. You made me a better President, and you made me a better man. Throughout these eight years, you have been the source of goodness, resilience,...
By the time of Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration on March 4, 1861, seven states had already voted to leave the Union and more were expected to follow. Officials in Washington were deeply concerned Confederates would make an attempt on Lincoln’s life as he rode in an open carriage to the Capitol with outgoing President James Buchanan. There was a scramble to assemble military and police protection for the event. Officials are equally concerned about the safety of President-elect Donald Trump as he, like Lincoln, will ride to the Capitol for his inauguration on Friday. Some 28,000 military and police members will be assigned to keep Trump safe and to also protect the thousands expected to attend the inauguration. So out of the ordinary was the military and police presence for Linc...
Obama Leaves Oval Office For Final Time As President
President Barack Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama are welcoming President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, to the White House. The Obamas have greeted the Trumps at the grand North Portico, the column-lined entrance facing Pennsylvania Avenue. Obama told Trump that it was good to see him. They exchanged pleasantries, and Melania Trump brought a gift for Michelle Obama. Melania Trump initially reached to shake Michelle Obama’s hand, but the first lady instead gave her a hug. The families will have coffee and tea at a reception that’s closed to the media.
He was the greatest prophet of all time.  He was the man who would face down a powerful pharaoh, split the sea and spend forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai receiving the Torah.  And it is in this week’s parsha we are privileged to witness his birth.  But joy quickly turns to sadness as Yocheved is forced to place her precious son in in his little reed basket in the Nile.  Miriam watches as the basket is carried away by the current.  As Divine Providence would have it, the daughter of Pharaoh (Bityah) was bathing by the river, sees the basket and saves the little boy.    The child grew up, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became like her son. She named him Moses, and she said, "For I drew him from the water (Exodus 2:10...
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