World

Obama administration invites Muslim group with terror ties to White House meeting
An executive of the Council on American-Islam Relations (CAIR) has been invited to a meeting at the White House but it did not include the moderate group Muslim Reform Movement, an expert claimed.

Obama pardons 2 prisoners, commutes sentences of 95 others in line with Christmas clemency tradition
President Barack Obama granted commutation of sentences to 95 individuals and pardon to two prisoners. continuing the presidential tradition of granting clemency during Christmastime that is assailed by critics as part of a "broken process."

U.S. House votes to fund 300,000 visas for Muslim migrants despite fears of terrorist infiltration
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill with a vote of 316-113 through the efforts of new House Speaker Paul Ryan with the help of Democrats led by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Terrorists may enter U.S. in the guise of refugees, Homeland secretary admits
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson warned that terrorist organizations like the Islamic State (ISIS) may use the refugee program to enter the United States as the Obama administration said the concerns about this are overblown.

U.S. fast food chain now caters to Muslim consumers, replacing pork with halal beef and chicken
U.S. fastfood chain Burger King is going after the Muslim market in France after it took over hamburger chain Quick's 405 outlets.

Canada panel proposes physician-assisted deaths even for terminally ill kids as young as 12 years old
An advisory panel in Canada has recommended that terminally ill children as young as 12 years old should be given the choice of physician-assisted death.

Schools shut down in Islam calligraphy row
All schools in one district in Virginia in the US were shut yesterday after fierce controversy about a geography lesson where students were asked to trace the Muslim declaration of faith in Arabic calligraphy.

Civil partnerships: ten years on
Nearly 140,000 people have entered into a civil partnership since the first one took place ten years ago today.

A 'milestone' to peace: UN powers unite to endorse plan for Syria
A UN plan to build peace in Syria is a "milestone" to end the conflict, according to US Secretary of State, John Kerry.

Rwandans approve extension of Presidential term
Rwandans voted overwhelmingly to support changes to the constitution that would allow President Paul Kagame to extend his term in office, possibly until 2034, provisional results showed on Saturday.

'Vital' change increases chances EU referendum next year
David Cameron gave his strongest hint yet on Friday that he would hold a referendum on EU membership next year, saying 2016 would see the 28-member bloc finally address Britons' concerns.

Migrants entering Europe in 2015 nears one million
The number of migrants and refugees entering Europe so far this year is expected to reach one million in the coming days after the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) revealed 991,000 have arrived so far.

Putin, Trump swap praises, heralding better U.S.-Russia ties if GOP front-runner wins White House
If Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump continues his winning streak culminating in his election as the next U.S. president in November next year, he may receive his warmest congratulations not from Western leaders who have expressed their displeasure at his inflammatory remarks.

New York pizza shop owner pleads guilty to helping ISIS by recruiting people, raising funds and providing logistics
An owner of a pizza shop in New York has pleaded guilty to providing support to ISIS by recruiting people to join the terrorist group, raising funds and providing logistics.

Key evangelical James Dobson endorses Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz continues to mop up the evangelical vote, having received an endorsement from James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family.

Christian family fleeing ISIS kept in detention centre over a month in US
A Christian family who fled war-torn Syria to the USA in hope of a new life have spent a month separated in detention camps, despite US checks showing they do not pose a security threat.