NEWS SUMMARY AT THIS HOUR

In a late night vote, Israel's Parliament passed the "nation-state" bill also called the Nationality Law by a 62-55 vote.

The bill allows the state of Israel to encourage the establishment of Jewish only communities.  It was hailed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who said after passage: "This is a defining moment. long live the state of Israel!"

Arab members of the Parliament tore up the law after it was passed with opposition members saying it downgrades the status of Arabs in Israel.

The former British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson spoke from the back benches of the House of Commons in what was dubbed his "farewell speech" today.   Johnson said Prime Minister Theresa May was "dithering" about Brexit  but it is "not too late to save Brexit".

Johnson sat in the same spot that a resigned cabinet minister, Geoffrey Howe, did 28 years ago when he made a speech leading to the resignation of then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

"Mr. Brexit" Nigel Farage said on his radio show today that "I'd be perfectly happy for Boris to take over from May, I really would, or anybody else who actually believed in Brexit",

The appeal of British nationalist activist Tommy Robinson was heard by a panel of three High Court judges in London today.

Robinson was arrested May 25th while live streaming video outside a child sex grooming trial in Leeds involving Muslim defendants.   He was sentenced within hours to 13 months in jail and last month was moved to a prison with a large Muslim population where threats forced him to choose solitary confinement.

Robinson appeared by video link from his prison with the courtroom today and smiled as he recognized friends and family in the courtroom.

The judges will write an opinion which they said will be ready by the end of the month.

British singing legend Sir Cliff Richard has won his lawsuit against the BBC for invasion of privacy.

In 2014 the BBC reported on an investigation into an allegation of child sex abuse in the 1980's against Cliff Richard and broadcast live video from a  helicopter of a raid on his home.   The investigation was later dropped for lack of evidence.

A High Court judge said today his privacy was violated by the video of the police raid as well as the use of his name by the BBC.

The High Court in London ruled initial damages of 210-thousand pounds with 65 percent to be paid by the BBC and the rest by the South Yorkshire Police that provided news tips to the BBC about their investigation into Richard and the raid on his home.

Richard settled earlier with the South Yorkshire Police for 400-thousand pounds.

The BBC said it is considering an appeal of today's decision.

In Las Vegas tomorrow the sentencing hearing for Todd Engel, convicted last year in connection with the April 2014 standoff near Cliven Bundy's ranch in Nevada, is set.   Charges against Bundy, his sons and other key defendants in the case have been dropped because of what US District Judge Gloria Navarro called 'flagrant misconduct' for withholding evidence from the defense including details of federal law enforcement snipers placed in the area of the ranch.

Engel is appealing to be freed from prison and appealing his conviction.  Now Judge Navarro will have to consider what to do next at tomorrow's hearing and there's hope she will release Engel  instead of imposing a sentence.

Two other men remain jailed in connection with the case.   Greg Burleson, convicted last year with a 68 year sentence and Jerry Delemus, who pled guilty and was sentenced to 87 months.

Philadelphia's sweet drink tax is legal.   That's the ruling from Pennsylvania's Supreme Court.  It was a 4-2 ruling by the elected court that is dominated politically by Democrats.

The tax brought 79 million dollars into the city's government last year and now the city says the court ruling will allow the money to be spent.

California's Supreme Court has removed a ballot measure from this fall's election that would have divided California into three states.  The court will now review the ballot measure which is being challenged by an environmentalist group before making a final judgement on whether the measure will appear in a future election or not.

In eastern Syria, the US backed Syrian Democratic Forces say they've taken 16 villages and towns in an 11-hundred square kilometer area from Islamic State.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the remains of Americans killed in the Korean War will be returned in the coming weeks.   This is part of an agreement reached between President Trump and North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un at their summit last month in Singapore for the return of service members remains.

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel is not taking her usual summer holiday in the Italian Alps.
There's plenty of speculation in political circles about the meaning of her decision,  She's gone there with her husband Joachim Sauer since 2008.  But this year only her husband and his son from a previous marriage are booked at the usual hotel, according to a German newspaper.

No comment from Merkel's office about the matter.  Some speculate she may need to stay in Germany because her hold on power is tenuous.  Merkel and her husband will do something together they usually do this summer, attend the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth.