Saudi Arabia bans Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca over fears about coronavirus
Saudi Arabia has banned citizens and residents from performing the Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca over fears about the coronavirus.
Month: March 2020
US Strikes Taliban For Attacking Afghan Forces, After Trump Says Taliban Wants to ‘Cease the Violence’
President Trump said Tuesday he had ‘a good, long [phone] conversation’ with the leader of the Taliban and that the group wants to ‘cease the violence.’
With 99% of votes counted, right-wing bloc slips to 58 seats, 3 shy of majority
As votes cast in so-called double envelopes in the Knesset elections were being tallied, the Central Election Committee updated the count Wednesday morning, giving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and the centrist rival Blue and White led by Benny Gantz an extra seat apiece, leaving the premier’s bloc of right-wing supporters at 58 seats.
House approves $8.3B to battle coronavirus
The House passed an $8.3 billion measure to fund the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 11 lives and infected more than 100 people in the United States.
IDF halts major air defense drill with US as coronavirus restrictions intensify
The Israel Defense Forces called off a major air defense exercise with the United States on Wednesday night, a day after it launched, following stricter safety restrictions issued by the Health Ministry aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
Damascus says Israeli airstrikes target bases near Homs, southern Syria
Damascus said early Thursday that Israel was carrying out airstrikes in central and southern Syria and that its air defenses had engaged the missiles.
California governor declares state of emergency after coronavirus death
The US death toll from coronavirus infections rose to 11 on Wednesday as new cases emerged around New York City and Los Angeles, while Seattle-area health officials sought to allay anxiety amid the nation’s largest outbreak.
Dirty banknotes may be spreading the coronavirus, WHO suggests
Banknotes may be spreading the new coronavirus so people should try to use contactless payments instead, the World Health Organization has said.
Turkey reignites refugee crisis in Europe
The Greek military and police are clashing with refugees rushing to cross the border from Turkey as islanders to the south cope with hundreds of new arrivals.
Biden wins seven states on Super Tuesday, Sanders takes two – network projections
A resurgent Joe Biden was projected to win seven large states on Tuesday, and front-runner Bernie Sanders captured two states with several others too close to call on the biggest day of voting in the 2020 Democratic presidential nominating race.
Netanyahu within one or two seats of forming ruling majority, left-wing MKs expected to defect
With 92% of the vote counted Tuesday from unprecedented third elections in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing bloc were slated to beat rival Benny Gantz and the Blue and White party with 59 seats in the 120-member Knesset.
Iranian Christian man denied asylum in UK after judge claims he won’t face persecution in Iran
An Iranian Christian convert from Islam has been denied asylum in the UK after a judge concluded he would not face a ‘real act of persecution’ by staying in his home country.
Disappeared Iranian convert rediscovered after more than a month in prison
An Iranian convert from Islam arrested during anti-government protests following the downing of a Ukrainian jet in Tehran last month was released on bail from Iran’s most dangerous prison after over a month during which her whereabouts were not known.
Pastor of Wuhan church says coronavirus an “opportunity to glorify God”
A church in Wuhan, China recently testified to God’s grace in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak that has infected 90,000 people and killed 3,100 people worldwide.
Al-Qaida-linked terrorists order Christians to leave northeast Kenya
Somali terrorist group al Shabab has ordered all Christians to leave three counties in northern Kenya, where the group hopes to give their jobs to local Muslims.
WV Governor Signs Born-Alive Bill Protecting Babies Who Survive Abortion
On Monday, Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) signed a bill requiring doctors to provide medical care to a baby that survives an abortion.
Fed Makes Emergency Rate Cut to Shield US Economy From Coronavirus
The Federal Reserve, in a rare emergency step, cut short-term rates by half a percentage point on March 3 to protect the U.S. economy from the growing fallout of the global coronavirus outbreak.
Parental Consent for Abortion Bill Passes in Florida, Gov Expected to Sign Into Law
A bill requiring parental consent before a minor can have an abortion recently passed in the Florida State Legislature and now awaits the governor’s signature; Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he will sign the bill into law.
Rivlin likely to task Netanyahu with forming government on first day of trial
President Reuven Rivlin is set to task a candidate with forming a government on or before March 17, the same day Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu’s criminal trial begins.
Russia Sends 4th Warship to Syria Amid Turkey Tensions
The Russian Navy has dispatched a fourth warship to Syria’s Mediterranean coast as tensions over the northwestern province of Idlib spiral with Turkey, amateur ship spotters reported Monday.