White House Shooter Charged With Assault
More details emerged Wednesday about a shooting near the White House that prompted security agents to remove President Donald Trump from a press briefing briefly.
Media
Belarus Opposition Leader Flees To Lithuania Amid Crackdown
The primary political opponent of the longtime president of Belarus has reportedly fled the nation amid a massive police crackdown on protests. Lithuania says it provides shelter to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who earlier brought her young children outside the country. Tuesday’s announcement came after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner in Sunday’s presidential poll despite mounting opposition against his rule.
Over 100 people arrested in apparently organized outbreak of looting and unrest
Amid ongoing violence and looting in Chicago, over 100 people were arrested Monday after 13 police officers were injured during a night of unrest, the Washington Examiner reports. In a statement, Police Superintendent David Brown said the unrest “was not an organized protest” but “an incident of pure criminality” that reportedly began after officers shot and wounded a 20-year-old man who had opened fire on them.
Lebanese Christians Suffering More Misery After Deadly Beirut Blast
The Beirut blast that killed 160 people adds to the suffering of Christians who already face food shortages and social unrest due to the coronavirus crisis, aid workers say. Their warnings came shortly before the government resigned Monday amid public outcry over the explosion, triggered by ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse at the Beirut port.
California pastor holds services for 1,000 people in defiance of COVID-19 court order
Defying a California court order issued amid coronavirus concerns, the leader of Godspeak Calvary Chapel, Ventura County held indoor church services for around 1,000 people on Sunday, the Washington Examiner reports. Prior to holding the services, Pastor Rob McCoy described the county rules on indoor services as “draconian” and stated that no one in his church was infected with COVID-19.
Japan Recalls 75th Anniversary Of World’s First Nuclear Bombing
Japan on Thursday marked the 75th anniversary since the world’s first atomic bomb attack, but the coronavirus pandemic meant events were curtailed.
Trump bans dealings with Chinese owners of TikTok, WeChat
US President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered an unspecified ban on “transactions” with the Chinese owners of the consumer apps TikTok and WeChat.
Facebook Removes President Trump Post Over Virus “Misinformation”
Social media giant Facebook confirmed Wednesday that it removed President Donald Trump’s post of a Fox News television interview in which he claimed that children are “almost immune” from COVID-19.
Hundreds of Thousands of Homeless After Blast Devastates Beirut
Hundreds of thousands of people, including many Christians were homeless in Beirut on Wednesday after an explosion killed at least 135 people and injured 5,000 others.
Lebanon Mourns As Blasts Kills Dozens, Injures Thousands
Lebanon’s prime minister has declared a national day of mourning after his nation’s worst explosion in years devastated Beirut killing scores of people and injuring thousands.
Americans’ distrust in media at alarming levels, poll reveals
Americans’ distrust for the news media to tell the story straight has reached unprecedented levels, an alarming development for any functioning democracy, a new poll reveals.
US Troop Size in Afghanistan Will Reduce to 4,000 ‘Very Soon’, Trump Says
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan will be reduced to “anywhere from 4,000 to 5,000” troops by November this year.
Israeli court upholds block on Palestinian Authority payments to terrorists
The Tel-Aviv District Court ruled in favor of an Israeli government crack-down on Palestinian Authority (PA) payments to convicted terrorists in prison, Israel Hayom reported.
Uganda Christians murdered for preaching the Gospel to Muslims
Reports emerged this week that Islamic extremists in eastern Uganda have murdered a pastor and a church member for preaching the Gospel to Muslims, the Christian Post reported Saturday. Pastor Peter Kyakulaga and parishioner Tuule Mumbya of Church of Christ were beaten and drowned in a lake in Lugonyola village in the Gadumire Sub-County of Kaliro District on June 22. Church leaders have reportedly asked the local Christian community not to retaliate, but to be in prayer instead, the Christian Post said.
In largest protest yet, over 10,000 rally against Netanyahu in Jerusalem
Thousands of Israelis protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his official residence in Jerusalem on Saturday evening, in the biggest rally to be held in the capital since the recent start of anti-government protests.
Pompeo warns TikTok users’ personal info could be going ‘directly to the Chinese Communist Party’
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo supported President Trump’s proposed ban of social media phenomenon TikTok, explaining to Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” just how use of the app exposes Americans to having their personal information sent straight to the Chinese government.
Tech giants CEOs grilled by lawmakers from both parties
At a congressional hearing Wednesday, lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties questioned the CEOs of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google, to understand whether these dominant companies have become “corporate bullies” that systemically buy out or destroy competitors, CBS News reports. The hearing is especially pertinent as the COVID-19 economic disaster has crushed small and larger businesses worldwide while these tech giants have grown richer by the billions of dollars. The CEO of each company gave evidence virtually to the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust.
Police ‘No-Go Zone’ in Area Where George Floyd Died; Violence Spirals Out of Control
The area in Minneapolis where George Floyd died while in police custody has become something of a shrine to the movement for racial equality.
Trump appears to walk back tweet about delaying the election
President Trump appeared to walk back statements about postponing the presidential election, instead saying he was pleased to get the media finally to “start talking about” the safety of voting by mail.
Concerns Growing Over Press Crackdown in Hungary
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has urged the European Union to help end an alleged government crackdown on independent media in Hungary.