5 things you need to know Tuesday

Representatives of North and South Korea meet Tuesday in the Demilitarized Zone for the first talks between the nations in two years. North Korea said it would send a large delegation to next month's Winter Olympics in South Korea, a notable diplomatic breakthrough between the two countries after months of rising tensions over the North's missile and nuclear weapons programs.

US senator says no evidence of ‘sonic attacks’ in Cuba

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake says the U.S. has found no evidence that American diplomats in Havana were the victims of attacks with an unknown weapon. Flake, a Senate Foreign Relations Committee member and a longtime leading advocate of detente with Cuba, met Friday with high-ranking Cuban officials including Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and officials from the Interior Ministry, which oversees domestic security and works with foreign law-enforcement agencies.

What House wants $18 billion to pay for wall over the next decade

The White House says that they will ask Congress for $18 billion over the next decade to build more than 300 miles of a new border wall along the US-Mexican border. The figures are the first hard numbers suggested by the White House and came in response to congressional negotiators who are trying reach and agreement with Democrats to fund the government after January 19. Trump has promised "a big, beautiful wall" with Mexico as a centerpiece of his presidency but offered few details of where it would be built, when and at what cost.

Trump seeks $18 billion to extend border wall over 10 years

The Trump administration has proposed spending $18 billion over 10 years to significantly extend the border wall with Mexico, providing one of its most detailed blueprints of how the president hopes to carry out a signature campaign pledge. The proposal by Customs and Border Protection calls for 316 miles of additional barrier by September 2027, bringing total coverage to 970 miles , or nearly half the border, according to a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the matter.

Trump Seeks $18B To Extend Border Wall Over 10 Years

The Trump administration has proposed spending $18 billion over 10 years to significantly extend the border wall with Mexico, providing one of its most detailed blueprints of how the president hopes to carry out a signature campaign pledge. The proposal by Customs and Border Protection calls for 316 miles of additional barrier by September 2027, bringing total coverage to 970 miles , or nearly half the border, according to a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the matter.

Romney could become Trump’s new Washington foe

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch's announcement Tuesday that he would not seek an eighth term cleared the way for an all-but-certain run by the former Massachusetts governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee, who now lives in Utah and is enormously popular among voters there. But that popularity doesn't necessarily extend to Trump's White House, where establishment Republicans such as Romney are often viewed with deep skepticism.

Departing GOP lawmakers warn that their party could lose majorities in 2018

Republicans could easily lose their congressional majorities in 2018, two retiring GOP lawmakers warned Sunday, pointing to a lack of diversity in the party and President Donald Trump's pattern of catering to his narrow conservative base as likely harbingers of bad news for their party. "When you look at some of the audiences cheering for Republicans sometimes, you look out there and you say, 'Those are the spasms of a dying party,' " Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said on ABC's "This Week."

Young immigrants to wait until 18 to learn their fate in US

The fate of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants living here illegally and facing deportation will be decided next year, a Republican senator says. Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake said Wednesday he received assurances from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., that the Senate will vote in January on bipartisan legislation.

Senator expects January vote on fate of young immigrants

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said Wednesday that party leaders have assured him the Senate will vote in January on bipartisan legislation to protect certain young immigrants from deportation. Flake, who had pressed for a guarantee during talks for his support on the tax bill, said in a statement he was pleased that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was committed to bringing the immigration bill "we are currently negotiating to the Senate floor in January."

Senate Approves GOP Tax Plan, House to Revote Wednesday

In a vote in the early Wednesday morning hours, the Senate approved the final version of the first overhaul of the US tax code in more than 30 years, handing President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans their most significant legislative victory of 2017. The bill passed along party lines, 51-48 with the final result announced by Vice President Mike Pence who presided over the vote.

Can the Republican Party shake off Roy Moore?

Even though Roy Moore lost the Alabama Senate race to Doug Jones, observers on both sides of the aisle believe Moore will forever be a stain on the face of the Republican Party . Accused of sexual abuse by eight women -- one of whom was only 14 at the time -- critics say GOP support of Moore proves the Republican Party has lost its morals.

Democrats just won Alabama – and their clearest path yet to taking back the Senate

Supporters celebrate after media began to call the election for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Doug Jones, at his election night party in Birmingham, Alabama, Dec. 12, 2017. Democrats didn't just win Alabama on Tuesday night.

Medics in bio suits at Israeli embassy for training

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