Two lawmakers reluctantly propose bill to draft women

WASHINGTON – Two Republican congressmen who are military veterans have introduced a bill requiring women to register for the draft.

Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Ryan Zinke of Montana announced Thursday that the legislation is aimed at provoking a fuller discussion of the Pentagon’s decision to open all combat jobs to women.

Hunter and Zinke say the decision ignores research from the Marine Corps and special operations forces. They also say the decision was made without considering whether women should be drafted and potentially serve on the front lines.

Hunter says it’s unfortunate the bill had to be introduce and he might even vote against his own bill.

Nations pledge billions in aid to help refugees from Syria

LONDON – World leaders pledged more than $10 billion Thursday to help fund schools, shelter and jobs for refugees from Syria’s civil war, money that British Prime Minister David Cameron said “will save lives, will give hope, will give people the chance of a future.”

But participants at the aid conference in London acknowledged that prospects for ending the conflict have rarely been worse: Peace talks are suspended, fighting is intensifying, and millions of Syrians are suffering.

“The situation in Syria is as close to hell as we are likely to find on this Earth,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Associated Press