Iranian Christians, denied justice, face five years in prison
The sentences of nine Iranian Christian converts were upheld after a judge who has become notorious for persecuting prisoners of conscience barred them from using their own lawyers.
Year: 2020
Saudi Crown Prince Eliminates Opposition
The Saudi crown prince has arrested two former rivals in a move that many see as an attempt to position himself to seize the throne from his 84-year-old father.
Coronavirus fails to be labeled ‘pandemic’ as cases rise
The World Health Organization declined to label the coronavirus a pandemic as the number of cases reached 100,000 over the weekend and extended its reach to 90 countries.
Coronavirus outbreak already at pandemic levels, Israeli health official warns
The novel coronavirus spreading across the world is already at a ‘pandemic’ stage, a top Israeli health official said Thursday, though world health authorities have held off from declaring a global outbreak.
Abortions in England and Wales reach record levels
Abortions in England and Wales have reached record-breaking levels, new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
Pompeo Says Iran Must Be Held Accountable on Nuclear Commitments
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday called on all nations to hold Iran accountable for its nuclear commitments and said Tehran’s failure to report nuclear material was a clear violation of safeguard agreements.
Final results show Likud with 36 seats, Netanyahu bloc short of majority with 58
A full 68 hours after the polling stations closed and exit polls predicted a surge for Likud and its right-wing bloc, the Central Elections Committee on Thursday confirmed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party as the largest after Monday’s general election, with final results giving it 36 seats to rival Blue and White’s 33.
Trump will get a chance at installing a third judge on the influential DC Circuit Court
A judge sitting on the D.C. Circuit Court will retire in September, allowing President Trump the chance to install a third judge on the influential bench.
Russia, Turkey Pull Back From the Brink in Syria With Ceasefire Deal
Russia and Turkey have agreed to a new ceasefire in northwestern Syria, the site in recent weeks of numerous clashes between Turkish and Russian-backed Assad regime forces.
U.S. CDC reports 149 coronavirus cases, including those under investigation
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday reported 149 cases of coronavirus in the country, which includes those reported by individual states that were yet to be confirmed by the agency.
Elizabeth Warren drops out of presidential race
Elizabeth Warren is ending her campaign to become the Democratic nominee for U.S. president, CNN is reporting.
U.S. Senate passes $8.3 billion response to spread of coronavirus
The U.S. Senate voted near unanimously Thursday to approve $8.3 billion in new spending on the U.S. government’s efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Chinese scientists identify two strains of the coronavirus, indicating it’s already mutated at least once
Researchers in China have found that two different types of the new coronavirus could be causing infections worldwide.
Chief Justice Roberts rebukes Schumer’s ‘dangerous’ comments about Gorsuch and Kavanaugh
Chief Justice John Roberts publicly condemned a top Democrat for threatening comments aimed at two justices as the Supreme Court considers a case on abortion.
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.
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.