Trump Signs COVID Relief Despite Misgivings
U.S. President Donald J. Trump has signed a massive 2.3 trillion dollar coronavirus relief and spending package, averting a government shutdown, despite calling it a “disgrace.”
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Suspect Dies In Nashville Bombing
Authorities say a 63-year-old suspect was killed in a car bombing in Nashville on Christmas Day.
Inventor COVID-Vaccine Wasn’t In Hurry To Take Jab
The co-inventor of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19, and many Americans have one thing in common: they aren’t in a hurry to take the vaccine.
Nashville Bomb Blast Kills 1, Injures 3; President Briefed
An apparent act of terrorism shook the United States on Christmas Day as a car bomb rocked downtown Nashville killing at least one person and injuring three others.
Netanyahu says ‘many, many more’ Arab states to normalize ties with Israel soon
Two days after Israel and Morocco signed their first deals in the process of establishing full diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that “many, many more countries” would be signing normalization agreements with the Jewish state “a lot sooner than people expect.”
Important new report on religious persecution in North Korea: Christians are the most targeted among faith groups
A groundbreaking new study entitled “Persecuting Faith” has found that Christianity is the most persecuted faith in secretive North Korea, Christianity Today reports. Drawing on the testimonies of 117 defectors, the 2020 report was published by the Korea Future Initiative (KFI) in the hope it will inform any future human rights sanctions applied to North Korea by Western countries.
Trump Warns Iran After Rockets Hit US Embassy
U.S. President Donald J. Trump said Wednesday that Iran fired “several rockets” at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, and he warned the Islamic nation of severe consequences if an American is killed.
U.S. Congress Rolling Out $2.3 Trillion Rescue
Congress prepared to vote for a $2.3 trillion rescue package, the most extensive in U.S. history.
Afghanistan Explosion Kills 15 Children
An explosion rocked a religious gathering in eastern Afghanistan, killing 15 children and injuring some 20 people, police and officials confirmed.
Israel’s Missile Defense chief would consider cooperation with Arab Gulf States
Israel’s head of missile defense said Tuesday that he would consider working with Arab Gulf states on mutually beneficial missile defense programs, World Israel News reports.
Trump administration to cut $200m from California funding because of state abortion policy
The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it is slashing California’s healthcare funding by $200 million because a 2014 state law requires insurance providers to pay for abortions, the Washington Examiner reports. In a statement, the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said the 2014 law is in breach of federal anti-discrimination conscience legislation that protects insurers from a requirement to cover abortions.
‘Unbelievable’ snowfall blankets parts of the Northeast
The Northeast’s first whopper snowstorm of the season buried parts of upstate New York under more than 3 feet (1 meter) of snow, broke records in cities and towns across the region, and left plow drivers struggling to clear the roads as snow piled up at more than 4 inches (10 centimeters) per hour.
China infiltrates Western embassies, defense contractors and drug makers with communist operators
A leaked database of nearly 2 million Communist Party members has revealed the lengths to which China’s leaders have gone to place operatives in strategic positions in government and business around the world.
Oman, Indonesia likely next countries to forge ties with Israel
Oman and Indonesia could be next in line to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in the coming weeks, a diplomatic source said Sunday.
Russia test-fires ballistic missiles from nuclear submarine
Russia has confirmed that it successfully test-fired four intercontinental ballistic missiles from a nuclear submarine on Saturday, the Washington Times reports.
Israel normalizes ties with Bhutan
Israel established full diplomatic relations with Bhutan for the first time on Saturday night.
Ex-Jailed Pastor Warns US Christians Of Persecution
A U.S. pastor who spent two years in a Turkish prison for activities linked to his faith warns of upcoming persecution of Christians in the United States.
Leak: ‘China Communists Infiltrate Governments, Companies Worldwide’
A significant leak shows that at least nearly two million Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members work worldwide, including US government agencies and the biggest companies, Australian media reported Sunday.
Hungarian Socialist Party Leader Resigns Over Smuggling Scandal
In a setback for Hungary’s self-declared anti-corruption opposition, a high ranking diplomat resigned after he was allegedly caught smuggling cigarettes through Ukraine’s border.
Morocco, Israel Start ‘Great Light of Peace’
Israel and Morocco agreed Thursday to normalize relations in a U.S. brokered accord that Israel’s prime minister described as “another great light of peace.”