US House passes $US95 billion Ukraine, Israel aid package, sends to Senate
Washington DC, US Reuters The US House of Representatives on Saturday with broad bipartisan support passed a $US95 billion legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, over bitter objections from Republican hardliners. The legislation now proceeds to the Democratic-majority Senate, which passed a similar measure more than two months ago. US leaders […]
Brazil Senate votes to limit decisions by Supreme Court justices
Brasilia, BrazilReuters Brazil’s Senate took the lead on Wednesday to curb what lawmakers see as judicial overreach by the country’s Supreme Court and passed a constitutional amendment that limits the ability of justices to rule on issues individually. The bill, that still needs lower chamber approval, stipulates that laws or measures decided by Brazil’s Congress […]
Thailand election winners make way for allies after PM bid fails
Bangkok, ThailandReuters Thailand’s election-winning Move Forward party on Friday made way for runner-up and alliance partner Pheu Thai to try to form the next government, after its leader’s bid was twice thwarted this month by a military-backed Senate. The progressive Move Forward and populist Pheu Thai have the lion’s share of the 500 lower house […]
Australian Senate paves way for landmark referendum on Indigenous voice in constitution
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia’s Senate passed legislation on Monday that paves the way for the country to hold a landmark referendum later this year on whether to recognise its Indigenous people in the constitution. In a final vote in the upper house of parliament, 52 voted in favour of the bill while 19 voted against, allowing […]
Republican “red wave” turns into a ripple, Georgia Senate headed to runoff
Alpharetta, Georgia/Phoenix, Arizona, USReuters Republicans made modest gains in US midterm elections but Democrats performed better than expected, as control of the Senate hinged on three races that remained too close to call on Wednesday afternoon. The Georgia US Senate race between Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker will go to a 6th December […]
Americans cast final ballots in election to determine control of Congress
Royal Oak, Michigan/Phoenix, Arizona, USReuters Americans on Tuesday cast the final ballots in closely fought elections that will determine whether Republicans win control of Congress, which would give them the power to block much of President Joe Biden’s agenda in the next two years. Motivated by concerns about high inflation and crime, voters were poised […]
Long delayed, Deborah Lipstadt nomination for US anti-Semitism envoy passes committee
RNS Following an eight-month-long delay, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday approved the nomination of noted anti-Semitism scholar Deborah Lipstadt to be the State Department’s envoy to combat and monitor anti-Semitism. The nomination now heads to the full Senate. Deborah E Lipstadt, nominated to be Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, with […]
Updated: Australian religious schools would lose existing rights under amendments to the Religious Discrimination Bill, says Australian Christian Lobby
Updated 5.30pm (AEDT)Sydney, Australia Key rights currently enjoyed by Australian Christian schools under existing laws would be lost if amendments to the Federal Government’s package of Religious Discrimination Bills are passed, the Australian Christian Lobby warns. The coalition’s proposed Bill has been pulled from debate in the Senate on Thursday after five MPs crossed the […]
Brazil Senate committee approves report calling for Bolsonaro to be indicted
Brasilia, BrazilReuters A Brazilian Senate investigative committee approved a report on Tuesday that calls for President Jair Bolsonaro to be indicted for nine crimes related to his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including crimes against humanity. The report, which is more than 1,300 pages long and took the opposition-controlled committee about six months to prepare, […]
117th US Congress, like the old, is overwhelmingly Christian, heavily Protestant
RNS The 117th session of Congress got off to a testy start on Sunday, including an opening prayer from an ordained member whose pairing of “A-woman” with the traditional “Amen” raised both hackles and questions about the meaning of the word. But what is rarely at question is the religious composition of Congress, as the […]