A major offensive launched by U.S.-backed Syrian forces in the country's east will likely lead to the downfall of Islamic State’s last major stronghold, but will not spell the end of the extremist group, analysts believe.

The Trump administration will impose tariffs on $200 billion more in Chinese goods starting next week, escalating a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies and potentially raising prices on goods ranging from handbags to bicycle tires.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that he had struck a deal with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to table a planned offensive against the Syrian rebel stronghold of Idlib, a last-minute agreement that led all sides of the 7-year-old conflict to breathe a sigh of relief despite a host of unanswered questions about whether the so-called demilitarized zone will hold.

During an alleged Israeli airstrike within Syria, Russia claims one of its military aircraft disappeared with 14 people on board.

Hours after an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Damascus airport in Syria, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed the country’s policy of employing military action to prevent weapons transfers to the enemies that pose an immediate threat.

North and South Carolina continue to recover after Florence dumped over 20 inches of rain in some areas, which claimed the lives of at least 31 people.

President Trump on Monday ordered the Justice Department and FBI to immediately declassify key documents related to the FBI’s investigation on Russian actions during the 2016 presidential election -- including text messages from former FBI Director James Comey and other top officials.

On September 14, al-Shaabab, a Somali-based terrorist organization, executed two Christians, according to International Christian Concern (ICC).

This summer, Christians in China are experiencing an escalating wave of persecution unseen since Mao's Cultural Revolution.