Christian Imprisoned for 5 years for Blasphemy in Pakistan Granted Release
A Christian accused of blasphemy in Pakistan, who spent 5 years in prison for allegedly insulting the prophet Lut, was released and acquitted of charges June 6th.
Month: July 2019
‘We Still Have Things Up Our Sleeve,’ Senior Administration Official Says as Trump Rolls Out New Sanctions on Iran
As part of the new sanctions on the regime promised by President Trump Wednesday, the US will revoke waivers for Iran’s non-military nuclear program.
‘You Will Go to a Worse Place Than This’: Muslim Uighurs Conscripted into China’s Communist Schools, Report Reveals
China’s Communist thought transformation camps were recently exposed in a BBC report that toured one of the facilities where more than a million Uighur Muslims have been imprisoned.
Netanyahu: ‘We Are Preparing for a Campaign’ Against Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a wider military offensive in the Gaza strip to be launched shortly, seeking to alleviate concerns of residents in the coastal enclave of Ashkelon Thursday.
Gallup poll shows more pro-lifers than pro-choicers
Gallup released its annual public-opinion poll on abortion policy, and its results contain some good news for abortion opponents. According to the survey, a plurality of Americans now identify as pro-life, with 49 percent of respondents calling themselves ‘pro-life,’ and 46 percent calling themselves ‘pro-choice.’ This is the first Gallup poll since 2013 in which a higher percentage of respondents identified as ‘pro-life’ rather than ‘pro-choice.’
Support for legal abortion matches its 24-year high: Poll
Sixty percent of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, the most in ABC News/Washington Post polls since 1995. More also say their state should make it easier, rather than harder, for women to have access to abortion, with a plurality favoring no change in the status quo.
US lawmakers look to legalize pot in ‘historic’ marijuana reform hearing
U.S. lawmakers weighed reforming pot laws in what advocates called a ‘historic’ hearing Wednesday, with numerous members of Congress saying they wanted to loosen federal laws, even legalize marijuana.
Pompeo assures Christian Zionists that Israel allows conversions to Christianity
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has made a point of reminding a conference of Christian Zionists that Israel permits conversions to Christianity, just weeks after his department reported on the difficulties converts face there.
EU, Israel, Egypt express unease about Turkey’s gas drilling off Cyprus
Turkey said on Wednesday it rejected Greek and European Union assertions that Turkish drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus was illegitimate, and said they showed the EU could not be an impartial mediator on the Cyprus problem.
Turkey Warns US Against ‘Wrong Steps’ in Addressing NATO Ally’s Purchase of Russian Missile System
Turkey remained firm in its commitment to purchase the Russian S-400 missile defense system Wednesday, saying the US ought to look out if it went ahead with its threatened sanctions against the sole Middle East NATO member.
International Pressure Increases on Iran as IAEA Verifies Breach of 2015 Nuclear Terms
A closed-door meeting of the UN atomic watchdog agency in Vienna Wednesday determined that Iran had indeed breached the 3.76% uranium enrichment limit of the 2015 nuclear deal, confirming reports from Iran Monday that it had ramped up its enrichment to 4.5%.
UK: Iranian vessels tried to block British vessel in Gulf
Britain said Thursday that three Iranian vessels unsuccessfully tried to impede the passage of a British commercial vessel through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a further escalation of tensions over a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
TV: Israel intelligence foiled 50 Islamic State, Iranian attacks in 20 countries
Israeli intelligence agencies have prevented dozens of Islamic State terror group and Iran-sponsored attacks in various countries around the world by providing local authorities with key information, according to a television report on Tuesday.
Hamas conducts massive surprise drill simulating IDF incursion into Gaza
Amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hamas, the Gaza-based terror group launched a highly unusual training exercise Tuesday night that simulated the capture of IDF special forces operating in the territory.
U.S. Eyes Military Coalition To Safeguard Key Shipping Lanes Amid Iran Tensions
The United States is moving forward with plans to form a military coalition to safeguard strategic shipping lanes off Iran and Yemen amid raised tensions with Iranian leaders.
Trump Administration Expediting Initial Screenings of Asylum-Seekers
The Trump administration is gearing up to expedite initial screenings of immigrants seeking asylum, moving to interview immigrants within one calendar day.
Trump threatens veto of House defense bill over spending levels, wall
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday threatened he would veto a massive defense bill being considered by the House of Representatives, saying it provides less money than he wants for the military and disagreeing with some of its policy provisions.
Judge’s order on government lawyer shake-up adds hurdle for Trump in U.S. Census dispute
A judge in New York on Tuesday denied the U.S. Department of Justice’s request to shake up the legal team that was handling cases on the 2020 Census, adding another hurdle to the Trump administration’s bid to put a contentious citizenship question on the survey.
Secret meetings between U.S., Iran officials in Iraq
Secret meetings between United States officials and Iranian representatives were conducted in a hotel in Erbil, Iraq, i24News reported Tuesday evening. The Iranian representatives are led by Hassan Khomenei, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei.
Early Rain Covenant Church Member Escaped to Taiwan: ‘No Long Safe’ for Christians in China
More information has surfaced regarding the lockup of 100 members of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China, in December.