GOP bill would prohibit abortion coverage in multi-state health plans

Anti-abortion legislation in southern states

Sixty House Republicans and one House Democrat have sponsored legislation that would block multi-state health plans from offering coverage for elective abortions.

'TRADITIONAL' MARRIAGE

Billy Graham endorses N.C. amendment to ban same sex marriage

billgraham-commons

Rev. Billy Graham on Wednesday encouraged the residents of North Carolina to vote for Amendment One, a ballot initiative that would define marriage as solely between a man and a women in the state’s constitution.

Pelosi condemns continued raids on pot dispensaries

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler / Shutterstock.com.

President Barack Obama’s emphasis on raiding medical marijuana dispensaries drew a rebuke from none other than House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) this week, who warned in a prepared statement that she has “strong concerns” about her political ally’s policy.

COLD WAR 2.0

Russia threatens attack against U.S. missile shield

Patriot missiles via AFP

Russia said Thursday its dispute with the United States over missile defence was near a “dead end” and warned it might have to deploy new rockets in Europe to take out elements of the controversial shield.

CELEBRATING REASON

Charlotte, New Orleans issue National Day of Reason proclamations

[Statue of Thomas Paine via Guy Erwood / Shutterstock.com]

At least two cities on Thursday recognized the National Day of Reason, a celebration intended to be a secular alternative to the National Day of Prayer.

REPUBLICAN DOGMA CHALLENGED

Report: Tax breaks can reduce economic growth

Ms. Moneybags photo via Shutterstock.

Cutting taxes is not an effective way to increase economic growth, according to a report released Thursday by The Hamilton Project.

Science

Contraception use on the rise as more teens delay sex: Study

More US teenagers are postponing sex than in 1995, and hormonal contraceptive use is up…

Australia had tree-climbing sheep-sized marsupials

Sheep-sized relatives of modern-day wombats lived in Australian treetops 15 million years ago, a palaeontologist said Thursday…

Aspirin works as well as blood thinner in heart patients

SpaceX delays ISS launch again

Tech News

13 million Facebook users fail to use privacy controls

Many users of Facebook are unaware of the privacy risks from the massive social network…

Activision uses convicted felon Oliver North to sell ‘Call of Duty’

Col. Oliver North, a man convicted on multiple counts during the Iran-Contra scandal — who…

Media

German court orders artist not to kill puppies onstage

A German court has ordered an artist not to go through with plans to kill…

Ex-policeman held in phone-hacking inquiry

A former police officer was arrested Thursday as part of aninvestigation into alleged bribery related to the phone-hacking…

World

Israel’s Supreme Court hears hunger striker appeal

Two Palestinians who have been on hunger strike for 65 days appeared before Israel’s Supreme Court on Thursday to appeal…

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called mounting journalist deaths ‘outrageous’

UN leader Ban Ki-moon on Thursday led international outrage at the growing number of journalists killed in the line of…

Egypt’s military promises fair election, power turnover

Egypt’s military rulers vowed Thursday that this month’s presidential election will be fair and moved to assure the public it…

Australia delays Lockheed fighter jet order to save money

Australia said Thursday it will delay its order of 12 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) jets by two years to…

U.S. News

Alabama House panel approves two anti-abortion bills

The Alabama House House Health committee approved two pieces of legislation on Thursday that would…

Bush torture lawyer Yoo granted immunity from Padilla lawsuit

John Yoo, a former Department of Justice attorney who crafted legal memos authorizing the Bush…

Courtney Love loses rights to Kurt Cobain’s image

Courtney Love is no longer the keeper of Kurt Cobain’s public image, according to a…

Student forgotten in cell by DEA files $20 million torture lawsuit

Daniel Chong, the 23-year-old student at UC San Diego who was left in a Drug…

US says ready to help blind Chinese activist

The United States said Thursday it was ready to help Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng if he sought…