News in :90 – Nov. 19, 2019

The Trump administration on Monday said it no longer considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be a violation of international law, reversing four decades of American policy and further undermining the Palestinians’ effort to gain statehood.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. is repudiating the 1978 State Department legal opinion that held that civilian settlements in the occupied territories are “inconsistent with international law.” Israeli leaders welcomed the decision while Palestinians and other nations warned that it undercut any chance of a broader peace deal.

Chief Justice John Roberts is ordering an indefinite delay in the House of Representatives’ demand for President Donald Trump’s financial records to give the Supreme Court time to figure out how to handle the high-stakes dispute.

This order comes after Trump made an emergency appeal last week to ask the Supreme Court to block the enforcement of a subpoena issued by a House committee to Trump’s accountants.

Roberts’ order Monday contains no hint about what the court ultimately will do.

University of St. Thomas Doctorate of Social Work student, ZaDonna Slay, was named one of 80 United State of Women Ambassadors. Ambassadors are trained to lead gender equity movements in their local communities. Slay will serve as an ambassador for her community in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

The Obama Administration’s White House Council on Women and Girls created the United State of Women as a national organization fighting for full gender equity. Throughout the year, USOW offers training opportunities for ambassadors and provides hands-on support for projects as well as connecting them with experts.

With interests in voting rights and empowerment, Slay hopes to create change in her community by working with ambassadors from other nearby communities and local organizations to help women “understand the power of their voice” when it comes to voting.

Maddie Peters can be reached at pete9542@stthomas.edu.