UN says the Damascus-proposed conditions for aid delivery to northwest Syria are 'unacceptable'
The United Nations agency responsible for overseeing humanitarian aid has described conditions placed by the Syrian government on aid deliveries from Turkey to northwest Syria as “unacceptable.”
2023-07-16 01:15
King Charles III’s visit to France will include a state dinner at Versailles and a stop in Bordeaux
King Charles III will travel to France later this month for a state visit that was postponed in March due to fears that protesters demonstrating against President Emanuel Macron’s economic policies would disrupt the pageantry
2023-09-06 19:27
Oklahoma approves first-ever taxpayer-funded religious school in case expected to draw legal battle
An Oklahoma school board has approved the creation of a publicly funded online Catholic school, teeing up a constitutional legal battle over whether taxpayers should foot the bill for religious schools. The nation’s first-ever religious charter school was approved by the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board on 5 June, authorising the St Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School to be run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa – and supported by taxpayer dollars. Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, who has presided over a sweeping agenda against abortion access and transgender healthcare in the state, called the vote “a win for religious liberty and education freedom in our great state.” “Oklahomans support religious liberty for all and support an increasingly innovative educational system that expands choice,” he said in a statement. “Today, with the nation watching, our state showed that we will not stand for religious discrimination.” Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which led opposition in a recent US Supreme Court case involving whether a high school football coach can effectively force his student athletes to pray with him on the field, is preparing to take legal action in Oklahoma. “It’s hard to think of a clearer violation of the religious freedom of Oklahoma taxpayers and public-school families than the state establishing the nation’s first religious public charter school,” president and CEO Rachel Laser said in a statement. “This is a sea change for American democracy,” she added. The group and other civil rights organisations are expected “to take all possible legal action to fight this decision and defend the separation of church and state that’s promised in both the Oklahoma and US Constitutions,” Ms Laser said. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond also warned the board a vote to support a publicly funded religious school would clearly violate the state’s Constitution and expose the state to costly litigation. “The approval of any publicly funded religious school is contrary to Oklahoma law and not in the best interest of taxpayers,” he said in a statement. “It’s extremely disappointing that board members violated their oath in order to fund religious schools with our tax dollars. In doing so, these members have exposed themselves and the state to potential legal action that could be costly.” The move from the Republican-appointed board on 5 June comes as GOP officials and right-wing institutions across the country push for taxpayer dollars to support religious schools, with a Supreme Court signalling a willingness to direct public funds towards such schools despite explicit First Amendment protections. “State and federal law are clear: Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and open to all students,” Ms Laser added. “ In a country built on the principle of separation of church and state, public schools must never be allowed to become Sunday schools.” This is a developing story Read More Tennessee drag ban is struck down by federal judge: ‘Unconstitutionally vague and substantially overbroad’ Bible banned from Utah school district for ‘vulgarity and violence’ in revenge for conservative attacks on literature Oklahoma’s Supreme Court struck down two abortion bans. But a 113-year-old law is severely restricting access
2023-06-06 05:51
US, Japan and South Korea agree on new security pledge ahead of Camp David summit
The United States, Japan and South Korea are set to sign on to a new security pledge
2023-08-18 17:48
Cash bail disproportionately impacts communities of color. Illinois is the first state to abolish it
Critics of cash bail as a condition of pretrial release say it is especially unfair to Black people and other people of color
2023-09-12 12:19
Who is Tracy Piper? Bella Hadid's GoFundMe appeal for 'holistic healer' friend as she battles Lyme disease sparks backlash
Bella Hadid's recent Instagram story, wherein she shared and donated to Tracy Piper's GoFundMe initiative, has sparked backlash
2023-08-12 22:45
Dorset beach tops Lonely Planet's list of world's best winter visits
The Jurassic Coast beach beats off competition from Iceland and France to come out on top.
2023-11-29 14:25
Ex-Trump aide appears at Miami court to testify before federal grand jury, AP source says
A former top aide to Donald Trump has appeared in federal court in Miami to for testimony to a grand jury investigating potential classified-document mishandling and obstruction at the ex-president’s Palm Beach property
2023-06-08 00:26
Conor McGregor gives quick take on Dillon Danis vs Logan Paul: 'I was impressed'
Logan Paul also called out Conor McGregor in a post-match interview
2023-10-15 14:00
Trial rescheduled for April for former N.D. lawmaker accused of traveling for sex with minor
A federal judge has rescheduled the trial for a former North Dakota lawmaker accused of travel to Prague with the intent of paying for sex with a minor
2023-11-15 02:53
IShowSpeed challenges KSI to a fight, Internet says YouTuber 'would knock him out first round'
IShowSpeed and KSI are well acquainted with one another, having worked together on several occasions
2023-11-29 13:54
Biden administration slow to act as millions are booted off Medicaid, advocates say
Error-ridden state reviews have purged millions of the poorest Americans from the Medicaid program in recent months
2023-11-14 13:48
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