UN says an estimated 2.3 million people have fled Venezuela
An estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans had fled the crisis-wracked country as of June, mainly to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, the United Nations said Tuesday.
Month: August 2018
Russia exerts growing clout in Middle East as it begins patrols in Golan Heights
Russian military police have begun patrolling the demilitarised zone between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights, highlighting Moscow’s increasing clout as a Middle Eastern power broker following its intervention in the civil war there.
US, Afghan forces battle Taliban in Ghazni
Although the Taliban overran a base in northern Afghanistan, and Afghan forces were battling insurgents for a fifth day in the eastern city of Ghazni on Tuesday, the U.S. military reported that the city ‘remains under Afghan government control.’
Army Chaplain Faces 6 Months in Prison after Not Affirming Same-Sex Couple
A U.S. Army chaplain is facing a dereliction of duty charge and potentially six months in a military prison after not accepting a same-sex couple in a marriage retreat, even though he ensured the two women they could take part in the next scheduled retreat with a different chaplain, according to his attorney.
Pennsylvania Couple Fined for Using Farm for Bible Study, Prayer Groups
A couple in Pennsylvania has been served a cease-and-desist order for using their 32-acre farm for private prayer groups.
Evacuations, rescues as ‘historic’ floods hit northeastern U.S.
New Jersey declared a partial state of emergency on Tuesday as forecasts for further heavy rainfall posed new danger in parts of that state, New York and Pennsylvania, where rescuers hauled people from waterways, flooded cars and homes.
New Gallup Poll Shows Democrats Favor Socialism Over Capitalism
More Democrats have a favorable view of socialism than those who have a favorable view of capitalism, according to a Gallup poll released Monday.
Stunning findings on report of Catholic Church abuse: Pa. priests molested more than 1,000 children
Hundreds of priests were said to have molested more than 1,000 children — and possibly many more — since the 1940s, and senior church officials, including a man who is now the archbishop of Washington, D.C., allegedly covered up the abuse, according to a grand jury report released Tuesday.
Egypt summons Palestinian groups for Israeli truce, unity talks
Representatives of various Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip headed to Cairo on Tuesday for talks with Egyptian intelligence officials on the possibility of reaching a truce agreement with Israel, and ending the Hamas-Fatah power struggle.
Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal ‘virtually done,’ paper reports
After a two-day lull in violence along the Gaza Strip-Israel border, the Los Angeles Times quoted a senior Israeli official Monday as saying that a cease-fire agreement with Hamas, the Islamist organization that rules Gaza, is ‘virtually done.’
Hezbollah chief claims terror group stronger than IDF, ready for war
The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement said Tuesday that US sanctions against Iran and his Iran-backed group will not have major effects on them and will not lead to regime change in Tehran.
Transgender candidate Christine Hallquist wins Democratic nomination for Vermont governor
A former utility executive from Vermont has become the first transgender candidate to win a major political party’s nomination for governor.
Taliban blindsides U.S. forces with surprise Afghan offensive
The Taliban is on the verge of dramatically expanding its control over southern and eastern Afghanistan in a surprise offensive that has caught Afghan and American forces off guard and thrown a vexing new wrench into the Trump administration’s strategy for ending the nearly 17-year-old war there.
Peter Strzok, face of anti-Trump resistance in government, fired from FBI
FBI agent Peter Strzok became a face of anti-Trump resistance within the government. It’s now cost him his job.
Trump signs new defense policy bill that rebuilds military, boosts troop pay
President Trump signed a $716 billion defense bill Monday that authorizes hundreds of new planes, ships and tanks — and delivers a substantial victory to the administration by watering down penalties on a Chinese telecom company.
Netanyahu said to have held recent secret meeting with al-Sisi
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a clandestine meeting in May with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to a foreign diplomatic source.
China Shuts Down Six Churches, Forces Members to Leave by Bribing, Threatening Jobs
China’s Communist Party forced six churches in Beijing to shut down after attempts to bribe members to leave failed, a new report has revealed.
Israeli-Palestinian support for two states at 20-year low, poll says
Support for a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at the lowest point in two decades, according to new polling data released on Monday by two academicians.
Southern Baptist Convention Creates New Evangelism Group to Equip Pastors, Church Plants
The Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board has announced the creation of a new evangelism and leadership group meant to help pastors and church plants.
Trump prevents F-35 transfer to Turkey
US President Donald Trump authorized the defense policy bill containing a clause delaying the transfer of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.