Friday morning news: January 6, 2023

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Biden border actions » Speaking from the White House, President Biden announced new rules Thursday aimed at curbing a record surge of migrants at the southern border.

BIDEN: The actions we’re announcing today will make things better but will not fix the border problem completely. There’s more that has to be done.

He said the United States will immediately begin turning away people from several countries who cross the border illegally.

BIDEN: If you’re trying to leave Cuba, Nicaragua, or Haiti or have agreed to begin a journey to America, do not, do not just show up at the border. Stay where you are and apply legally from there.

He said the United States will accept 30,000 people per month from those Nations and Venezuela for two years. But he added that those who cross illegally will not be eligible.

The president also announced that he will visit the southern border on Sunday for the first time since assuming office.

House speaker » The House of Representatives is still without a speaker. Republican debate over who will wield the gavel stretches into a fourth day today.

When the speaker election votes were counted again on Thursday …

AUDIO: The honorable Kevin McCarthy of the state of California has received 200.

That was 18 votes shy of what the Republican leader needed to become speaker.

That was just one of several speakership votes. The House has now voted more than 10 times without electing a speaker.

It’s the first time that’s happened in more than 160 years.

Putin calls for ceasefire » Vladimir Putin is calling for a temporary cease-fire this weekend in Ukraine. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: Putin claimed Thursday that he ordered his armed forces to observe a unilateral, 36-hour cease-fire in Ukraine this weekend. He says that’s in honor of the Eastern Orthodox Christmas holiday, which is celebrated on Jan. 7th.

Putin called on Ukraine to participate in the ceasefire, but Kyiv says the Kremlin is merely trying to buy time as it regroups from losses.

Most people in Ukraine celebrate Christmas on December 25th. And on Christmas Eve, Russian shelling killed 11 Ukrainian civilians.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Ukraine aid » Meantime, Western allies are moving to more heavily arm Ukraine.

Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said for the first time Washington is sending several dozen Bradley armored fighting vehicles, which closely resemble tanks …

RYDER: That will be able to carry mechanized infantry into battle and again, afford protection on the battlefield under combat conditions.

That’s part of another nearly $3 billion in US military aid.

Germany will supply armored personnel carriers and a Patriot missile battery. And France will send AMX-10 armored combat vehicles often referred to as a tank killer.

Pope funeral » Tens of thousands of people paid tribute to Benedict XVI at a rare requiem Mass Thursday.

Bells tolled and the crowd applauded as pallbearers emerged from St. Peter’s Basilica and placed Benedict’s simple cypress coffin before the altar in the square outside.

Pope Francis led the ceremony. It was the first time in modern history that a sitting pontiff presided over the funeral of the previous pope.

FRANCIS: [Latin]

It is rare for a pope to retire from office as Benedict did a decade earlier.

CVS, Walgreens to sell abortion pill » The nation's two largest pharmacy chains plan to begin selling abortion drugs.

After the Biden administration approved new FDA rules to allow retail sales of the drugs, CVS and Walgreens reportedly plan to carry the abortion pills.

Pro-life groups are calling on the pharmacy giants to reconsider ahead of possible organized boycotts of the chains.

SC strikes down heartbeat law » Meanwhile, the South Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday struck down that state’s pro-life heartbeat law. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: The decision comes nearly two years after Republican Gov. Henry McMaster signed the measure into law. It protected unborn babies as soon as they have a detectable heartbeat—with some exceptions.

Pro-abortion activists immediately sued over the law.

Justice Kaye Hearn wrote in the majority opinion that the law violates privacy protections in the state constitution.

Republican state House Speaker G. Murrell Smith, Jr., responded saying the justices "followed the path of … Roe v. Wade by creating a constitutional right to an abortion where none exists."

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Hamlin » Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin woke up Thursday from a medically induced coma after what doctors called “remarkable improvement” in his condition.

Dr. Timothy Pritts with University of Cincinnati Medical Center said Hamlin has started communicating in writing.

PRITTS: He expressed surprise that he had not been with the world for two days. And, you know, we talked to him about all of the support that’s been given really across the country for him and his family during this time.

Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a game Monday night.

Doctors say he still has a ways to go, but they’re optimistic.

I'm Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org. 

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