Supreme Court upholds law recognizing Israel as ‘nation-state’ of Jewish people
Israel’s Supreme Court rejected 15 petitions aimed at repealing the nation-state law on Thursday afternoon, effectively upholding the law.
Month: July 2021
6.0 CA quake: Several earthquakes centered near California-Nevada border felt across SF Bay Area
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck south of Lake Tahoe near the California-Nevada border Thursday afternoon.
Chinese Christian family obtains political asylum in US after escaping China’s Communist regime
A Christian family from China has obtained political asylum in the US after the Chinese Communist Party raided their local church and subjected them to months of harassment and interrogation, International Christian Concern reports. The Ruiting family of six were helped to the US by the nonprofit ChinaAid and the Taiwan Association for China Human Rights.
Iran persecution: Three former Muslims become Christians sentenced to prison under new law
Three former Muslims in Iran are the first Christians to be given prison sentences under Article 500, a new amendment to Iran’s penal code that aims to block the spread of the Gospel in the country, Morning Star News reports. Iran ranks 8 on the US Open Doors Watch List of countries that persecute Christians.
Uganda persecution: Islamic extremists burn pastor to death
In the latest act of violent persecution against Christians in Uganda, Islamic extremists burned a pastor to death on June 30, leaving a note by his remains saying: ‘Your enmity to Islam is what you have reaped,’ Morning Star News reports.
Louisiana passes bipartisan law: women must be informed of abortion-reversal pill
Louisiana has passed a bipartisan law requiring medical abortion providers to inform women that there is an abortion reversal pill if they change their mind about ending the pregnancy at an early enough stage, the Christian Post reports. Passed by the Republican-controlled legislature, and signed by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards on Friday, Act 483 will go into effect on August 1.
Dutch Police Detain Suspects In Shooting of Journalist
Dutch authorities say they have detained two suspects, including a rapper involved in shooting journalist Peter R. de Vries, known for his courageous reporting on the Dutch underworld.
Haiti President Killed At 53, Plunging Impoverished Nation Into Uncertainty
Gunmen assassinated Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse and wounded his wife in an overnight raid on their home Wednesday, when the impoverished Caribbean country already endured gang violence, including kidnappings of church leaders and others.
Prepare for mandatory COVID vaccines in September, Army tells commands
The Army has directed commands to prepare to administer mandatory COVID-19 vaccines as early as Sept. 1, pending full Food and Drug Administration licensure, Army Times has learned.
Recent Iran blast appears ‘designed to disrupt supply of centrifuges to nuclear sites’
The reported June 23 blast that rocked a building linked to Iran’s nuclear program in the city of Karaj, west of Tehran, appears to have disrupted the ability of the Islamic Republic to feed key nuclear program sites with new centrifuges.
Trump: Free Speech Under Attack; Suing Twitter, Facebook, Google
President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that he is filing a “major class action lawsuit against the Big Tech giants,” including Facebook, Google, Twitter and their CEOs.
Rockets strike Iraqi base where Americans are housed, wounding two and damaging mosque: authorities
In the latest in a series of assaults on U.S. interests in Iraq, more than two dozen rockets were launched Wednesday against an air base where American troops are stationed, wounding two service members and damaging a mosque, officials confirmed.
IRS gives nonprofit Christians Engaged tax-exempt status after saying efforts favor GOP
The First Liberty Institute said Wednesday the IRS has granted tax-exempt status to the nonprofit group Christians Engaged after denying the request on the argument that Bible teachings are typically affiliated with the Republican Party and candidates.
Israel pushing US to keep Trump sanctions on Iran, even if nuke deal resurrected
Recognizing that the Biden administration is intent on returning to the Iran nuclear agreement in its original form, Israel has focused on convincing the US to leave in place sanctions instituted by former president Donald Trump after the 2015 accord was signed, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel on Wednesday.
Federal judge halts effort to block portions of Georgia voting law
A federal judge on Wednesday blocked a motion that would halt the implementation of some aspects of Georgia’s new voting reform law.
Pennsylvania ‘forensic investigation’ seeks election materials
A Pennsylvania Republican lawmaker requested “information and materials” from multiple counties for a “forensic investigation” of the 2020 election, marking the first step toward creating a copycat of the partisan audit in Maricopa County, Arizona.
House Republicans unveil legislative plan to break up Big Tech and stop censorship
Under pressure to come up with a conservative approach to holding Big Tech companies accountable, House Republicans announced on Wednesday an agenda that would make it easier to break up tech companies in court and challenge unfair censorship.
World Bank: $480M needed for short-term Gaza recovery
A World Bank report estimates that it will cost $485 million in recovery for damage caused in the Gaza Strip during 11 days of fighting between Israel and Palestinian terror groups in May.
Belarus President’s Challenger Sentenced To 14 Years Jail
A former challenger of the autocratic president of Belarus has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. Viktor Babaryko received the penalty for alleged financial wrongdoing, charges he says are politically motivated. The jail term is another setback for thousands of people demanding change in the former Soviet nation.
Dutch Reporter Peter R. De Vries Shot In Amsterdam
Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was shot and injured in Amsterdam after participating in a television show, authorities confirmed Tuesday.