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PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN ON FRIDAY SIGNED A BILL BANNING
AMERICANS FROM ADOPTING RUSSIAN CHILDREN.
CBS News reports the measure is part of a harsh response to
a U.S.
law targeting Russians deemed to be human rights violators. Although some top
Russian officials, including the foreign minister, openly opposed the bill,
Putin signed it less than 24 hours after receiving it from Parliament, where
both houses passed it overwhelmingly.
The law also calls for closure of non-governmental
organizations receiving American funding if their activities are classified as
political.
The bill has angered Americans and Russians who argue it
victimizes children to make a political point, cutting off a route out of
frequently dismal orphanages for thousands of children.
THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO GEORGE H.W. BUSH IS REASSURING PEOPLE
ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT.
Bush is in intensive care at Houston's
Methodist Hospital. According to CBS News, he told
Bush family and friends in an email Thursday that the former president
"would ask me to tell you to please put the harps back in the
closet." The aide, Jean Becker, said, "He has every intention of
staying put."
She added that Bush, who is 88, will be in the hospital for
a while, explaining that Bush had a severe case of bronchitis which then
triggered a series of complications, "partially brought on by the fact
that he also has a form of Parkinson's disease."
U.S.
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE FELL SHARPLY IN DECEMBER.
Consumer confidence fell from 71.5 to 65.1 as Americans
worried that political bickering in Washington
could slow the economy and raise unemployment. Economists watch consumer
confidence for hints about the consumer spending that drives most U.S. economic
activity. Other reports Thursday were more optimistic. The number of Americans
signing up for unemployment compensation last week fell to the lowest level in
more than four years.
Thursday's report from the Labor Department says first-time
jobless claims fell by 12,000 to a nationwide total of 350,000.
Also, the Commerce Department says November's new home sales
hit the fastest pace in more than two years.
THE U.S HAS SHUT DOWN ITS EMBASSY IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN
REPUBLIC.
The U.S has temporarily shut down its embassy and evacuated
its employees in the Central
African Republic because of a rebel threat
to the government. The State Department says its urging all parties in the
country to begin peace talks because of the threat.
So far, rebel forces have managed to capture ten cities, and
are threatening to overthrow the president because they claim he did not
implement an earlier peace accord.
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ARE MEETING AT THE
WHITE HOUSE TODAY TO TRY TO REACH A DEAL BEFORE THE FISCAL CLIFF.
The president has asked congressional leaders to join him
for a summit at the White House today for last-ditch effort to reach a deal
before the so-called "fiscal cliff" hits on January first. The fiscal
cliff indicates a series of deep spending cuts and tax increases that will
automatically go into effect if another deal isn't reached.
Also on Thursday, House Speaker John Boehner announced that
he would call the House into session this weekend, and Senate Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell entered into negotiation with the White House, signaling
interest in cutting a deal.
According to the Washington Post, McConnell said quote,
"We'll see what the president has to propose. Hopefully, there is still
time for an agreement of some kind that saves the taxpayers from a wholly
preventable economic crisis."
RETIRED ARMY GENERAL NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF HAS PASSED AWAY.
General Schwarzkopf passed away on Thursday at the age of
78. General Schwarzkopf, also known as Stormin' Norman, was the commander of
U.S-led invasion that forced Iraqi forces out of Kuwait in the Gulf War of 1991. The
general passed away in his home of Tampa,
Florida.
General Schwarzkopf was a highly-decorated Vietnam
veteran, and retired from active service in 1991.
THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT HAS DENIED HOBBY LOBBY'S REQUEST FOR AN INJUNCTION IN ITS CASE
AGAINST THE HHS MANDATE.
Hobby Lobby Stores and sister company Mardel Inc. sued the
government, claiming the mandate violates the owners' religious beliefs. The
Christian Post reports the High Court denied a request to block part of the
federal health care law that requires employee health-care plans to cover the
morning-after pill and other emergency contraceptives. The high court's ruling
doesn't specifically address the merits of the case, but denies the company's
request for the time being while the case plays out in the lower courts.
Company officials must now decide whether to violate their
faith or face fines of $1.3 million a day beginning Jan. 1 if they ignore the
law.
Opponents say the drugs cause abortions and that the U.S. has no
business mandating insurance coverage for them.
There are currently over 40 cases pending on the
contraceptive mandate.
OUTSPOKEN CNN SHOW HOST PIERS MORGAN HAS SPARKED FIERCE
REBUKE AFTER TELLING MEGACHURCH PASTOR RICK WARREN THAT THE BIBLE SHOULD BE
AMENDED TO INCLUDE GAY MARRIAGE.
Morgan made the controversial statements in an
interview with Warren
on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight on Monday. According to The Christian Post,
during the conversation, which primarily focused on the separation of Church
and State as it relates to the Constitution, Morgan put forth the argument that
there should be "an amendment to the Bible" specifically regarding
same-sex marriage because, Morgan insisted, the Bible is "inherently
flawed" in terms of the teachings and doctrines.
Warren
disagreed with Morgan's comments, defending the Bible as truth. He responded,
"Not a chance" to the idea of amending the scriptures.
BUILDING 429'S HIT "THIS IS NOT WHERE I BELONG"
HAS BEEN NAMED SONG OF THE YEAR.
The Billboard 2012 end-of-the-year charts name "This Is
Not Where I Belong" as the number one Christian song of the year. The song
managed to stay at number one on the Billboard National Christian Audience
chart for fifteen weeks earlier this year.
The song is part of the band's fifth studio project, Listen
to the Sound, which was released in May 2011.
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