Next week: House, Senate move on tax reform

Next week: House, Senate move on tax reform

(Worthy News) – House and Senate Republicans will take up separate tax reform proposals next week as they race to complete legislation by the end of the year.

The Senate kicks off its tax reform effort on Monday when it begins marking up the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which would provide $1.5 trillion in tax savings by cutting individual, small business and corporate tax rates.

Senate Republicans unveiled their proposal on Thursday to generally positive reviews from GOP lawmakers, although many complained that the plan delayed the corporate tax rate until 2019. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, suggested the legislation may change in his committee next week as lawmaker mark up the bill. [ Source: Washington Examiner (Read More…) ]

Allegations against Roy Moore roil US evangelical ranks

Allegations against Roy Moore roil US evangelical ranks

(Worthy News) – For many evangelicals, fiery Alabama politician and judge Roy Moore has been a longtime hero. Others have sometimes cringed at his heated rhetoric and bellicose style.

Now, as Moore’s Republican U.S. Senate campaign is imperiled by allegations of sexual overtures to a 14-year-old girl when he was in his 30s, there’s an outpouring of impassioned and soul-searching discussion in evangelical ranks.

“This is one of those excruciating decision moments for evangelicals,” Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said in a telephone interview. “These allegations, if true, are devastating. If true, this is a very big deal.” [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

Allegations against Roy Moore roil US evangelical ranks

Allegations against Roy Moore roil US evangelical ranks

(Worthy News) – For many evangelicals, fiery Alabama politician and judge Roy Moore has been a longtime hero. Others have sometimes cringed at his heated rhetoric and bellicose style.

Now, as Moore’s Republican U.S. Senate campaign is imperiled by allegations of sexual overtures to a 14-year-old girl when he was in his 30s, there’s an outpouring of impassioned and soul-searching discussion in evangelical ranks.

“This is one of those excruciating decision moments for evangelicals,” Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said in a telephone interview. “These allegations, if true, are devastating. If true, this is a very big deal.” [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

Texas town holds 1st Sunday service since church attack

Texas town holds 1st Sunday service since church attack

(Worthy News) – Hundreds of mourners crowded into the tiny town of Sutherland Springs for the first Sunday service since a gunman stormed the First Baptist Church a week earlier, killing more than two dozen people in the worst mass shooting in Texas history.

In a service that was emotional and painful but also uplifting, Pastor Frank Pomeroy shared his personal heartache and a message that the community bound together by faith can move past the evil that attacked the church seven days earlier.

“Rather than choose darkness as that young man did that day, we choose life,” said Pomeroy, whose 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle, was among those killed in the Nov. 5 rampage. His voice cracked as he spoke about losing his child. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

Trump says he backs U.S. intelligence agencies, clarifies Putin’s denial of election meddling

Trump says he backs U.S. intelligence agencies, clarifies Putin’s denial of election meddling

(Worthy News) – President Trump clarified Sunday that he believes the assessment of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia meddled in last year’s presidential election, but also said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is “sincere” in his denials of interference.

“I believe that he feels that he and Russia did not meddle in the election,” Mr. Trump said of Mr. Putin at a news conference in Hanoi with Vietnam’s president. “As to whether I believe it, I’m with our agencies. As currently led by fine people, I believe very much in our intelligence agencies.”

On Saturday, Mr. Trump said the former heads of the FBI, the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence were “hacks” whose judgment he questioned on the matter of Russian meddling. The president, who now has new people heading all three agencies, said Sunday that he has worked “very strongly” with the new leadership in U.S. intelligence. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

Abbas: PA could move to back one-state solution if two states fail

Abbas: PA could move to back one-state solution if two states fail

(Worthy News) – If the two-state solution fails, Palestinians will back a one-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with full rights for all citizens, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday.

In a pre-recorded speech broadcast on large screens in Gaza City as tens of thousands gathered to mark the death of PLO leader Yasser Arafat, Abbas, who has not visited Gaza since his allies were thrown out by Hamas in 2007, hailed his predecessor’s legacy.

“Our Palestinian people, who have always loved you as a great leader, still have that love, respect and loyalty,” he said.

Abbas said the Palestinians were pushing ahead to seal reconciliation and to achieve Arafat’s “dream… for freedom, sovereignty and independence on our Palestinian national soil.” [ Source: Times of Israel (Read More…) ]

Saudis told Abbas to accept Trump peace plan or resign — report

Saudis told Abbas to accept Trump peace plan or resign — report

(Worthy News) – Saudi Arabia last week ordered Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to either accept an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal being put together by the Trump administration, or resign, according to an Israeli report Sunday.

The Trump administration has begun drafting an Israeli-Palestinian peace proposal based on a two-state solution, officials and analysts quoted by The New York Times said on Saturday.

A senior White House adviser said the plan would attempt to tackle controversial issues such as the status of Jerusalem and West Bank settlements. [ Source: Times of Israel (Read More…) ]

Mysterious Radioactive Cloud Hovering Over Europe Traced Back To Russia

Mysterious Radioactive Cloud Hovering Over Europe Traced Back To Russia

(Worthy News) – Authorities traced the origins of a mysterious radioactive cloud that passed over some 28 countries in Europe recently. First discovered over Italy in early October, the cloud was found to have originated sometime in September near the border of Russia and Kazakhstan.

A report issued by France’s Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety Institute (IRSN) detailed the findings. The radioactivity was discovered after monitors in Italy picked up on the ruthenium-106 isotope in the air.

“It’s somewhere in South Russia,” health director for the IRSN Jean-Christophe Gariel told NPR of the origins, noting that it was likely from between the Volga River and the Ural Mountains. [ SourceL IBT (Read More…) ]