What we’re watching Friday

Maliki heads to the White House
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki meets with President Barack Obama to discuss Iraq’s insurgency and ask for more U.S. military aid. The AP reported in October that more than 5,000 Iraqis have been killed in attacks since April. Most of the attacks have been claimed by al-Qaida.

Food stamps cut
More than 47 million Americans who receive food stamps will see their benefits go down starting Friday when a temporary increase under a 2009 stimulus program ends. A family of four will receive $36 less a month.

One-third of Texas abortion clinics are out of business
A federal appeals court allowed most of Texas’ new state abortion restrictions to take effect. As of Friday, one-third of the state’s clinics are effectively barred from performing abortions. A panel of judges at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that Texas could require doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital, overturning a decision by a district judge Monday, who ruled the requirement unconstitutional.

Female Islamists detained in Egypt
Egyptian police detained 22 women from the Muslim Brotherhood early Thursday morning. Reuters reports that a senior security official said the women were detained for “using force to disrupt traffic during protests, membership of an outlawed group and distributing illegal leaflets.” Former president Mohammed Morsi, who was forcefully removed from power in July, will appear in court Monday on charges of inciting murder and violence.