Dec 30 Former Afghanistan commander warns of plans to cut troops By Kevin Freking, Associated Press The former top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said Sunday that withdrawing up to half the 14,000 American troops serving there would reduce the incentive for the Taliban to negotiate a peace deal after more than 17 years of war. Continue reading
Dec 30 Year 1 a mixed bag for businesses in California’s pot market By Michael R. Blood, Associated Press At year's end, California's effort to transform its longstanding illegal and medicinal marijuana markets into a unified, multibillion-dollar industry remains a work in progress. Continue reading
Dec 30 Minimum wage rising in 20 states and numerous cities By David A. Lieb, Associated Press New minimum wage requirements will take effect in 20 states and nearly two dozen cities around the start of the new year, affecting millions of workers. Continue reading
Dec 30 No talk of solution to shutdown, president tweets blame By Zeke Miller, Associated Press President Donald Trump was firing Twitter barbs at Democrats this weekend as talks to end a weeklong partial government shutdown remained at a stalemate. Continue reading
Dec 30 Congo voters barred over Ebola vote anyway, by the thousands By Al-Hadji Kudra Maliro, Associated Press Thousands of men and women gathered in Beni on Sunday to cast paper ballots despite a electoral commission decision to ban an estimated 1 million people from voting in areas affected by a deadly Ebola outbreak. Continue reading
Dec 30 16 dead in election violence as Bangladesh goes to the polls By Julhas Alam, Emily Schmall, Associated Press More than a dozen people reportedly died in election-related violence in Bangladesh on Sunday, as voters went to the polls to decide whether to give Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a third consecutive term amid critics' claims that her leadership has… Continue reading
Dec 29 More health exams instituted for migrant children at border By Associated Press More thorough initial health screenings for migrants, as well as secondary screenings, will be held for every child in Border Patrol custody following the deaths of two Guatemalan children this month, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Continue reading
Dec 29 Military women, female veterans are shifting away from GOP By Hope Yen, Jennifer McDermott, Associated Press Long seen as a bastion of support for Republicans, the face of the U.S. military and its veterans is changing — and perhaps too is their political bent. Continue reading
Dec 29 Nielsen visits Arizona city on 2nd day of border tour By Associated Press Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen went to an Arizona border city Saturday on the second day of a southwest tour following the recent death of another Guatemalan migrant child in U.S. government custody . Continue reading
Dec 29 Egypt says its security forces killed 40 militants By Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press Egypt said Saturday its security forces have killed 40 militants in raids on their hideouts in the Sinai Peninsula and the Greater Cairo area, just hours after a roadside bomb targeted a tourist bus in the capital, killing three Vietnamese… Continue reading