US imposes financial sanctions on Iran’s foreign minister
The United States on Wednesday imposed financial sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, as part of its escalating campaign of pressure against the Islamic Republic.
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Senate confirms Kelly Craft as US envoy to UN
The Senate has confirmed Kelly Craft to become the next US. envoy to the United Nations despite Democratic concerns about her inexperience and potential conflicts of interest.
In future Gaza war, Israel said aiming to weaken Hamas — but not topple it
The Israeli military’s plan for a potential future conflict in the Gaza Strip is to hit Palestinian terror group Hamas hard, but not to attempt to defeat it entirely, leaving it weakened but still capable of controlling the Strip, military officials told Hebrew-language media on Wednesday at the conclusion of a large-scale drill.
A Give-Away Of Sensitive U.S. Military Technology’: Trump Vetoes Resolutions Blocking Saudi Arms Sales
A series of arms sales by the Trump administration to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia were pushed through Monday, after Republicans and Democrats failed to buoy resolutions blocking the sales against vetoes from Trump.
Leaked Report Reveals Culture of Corruption At Highest Level of UNRWA
A leaked UN report details abuses at the highest level of the UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
A Turning-Point in Tehran-Moscow Military Relations’: Iran and Russia Shore Up Ties in Planned Naval Exercise
Russia and Iran moved to strengthen their military ties this week, ahead of a joint Russian-Iranian naval drill slated to take place between the Indian Ocean and contested strait of Hormuz over the next year.
Israel said to hit Iranian sites in Iraq, expanding strikes on missile shipments
Israel has expanded its operations against Iranian targets to Iraq, where Air Force jets have struck twice in ten days, a report said Tuesday morning.
US formally asks Germany to ‘help secure’ Strait of Hormuz
The United States has formally asked Germany to join a European naval mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the US embassy in Berlin said Tuesday.
North Korea fired ‘multiple’ projectiles off east coast, South Korea reports
North Korea fired multiple unidentified projectiles off its east coast Wednesday, South Korean officials said, just days after the secretive regime fired two short-range missiles from the same region.
California governor signs law demanding Trump release tax returns for spot on primary ballot
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Tuesday that would force presidential candidates to release their tax returns in order to appear on the state’s primary ballot, a move apparently aimed at President Trump.
Pompeo: US will maintain Strait of Hormuz, as Iran continues to reject talks
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed on Monday that the United States will keep the Strait of Hormuz open to maritime traffic amid increasing tensions with Iran, which has repeatedly rejected U.S. overtures to come to the negotiating table.
40% of Americans Believe in Creationism
Forty percent of U.S. adults ascribe to a strictly creationist view of human origins, believing that God created them in their present form within roughly the past 10,000 years. However, more Americans continue to think that humans evolved over millions of years — either with God’s guidance (33%) or, increasingly, without God’s involvement at all (22%).
Celebrating New Religious Freedom Law, Bolivian Evangelicals Push for More
After 183 years as a Roman Catholic nation, Bolivia officially became a secular country in 2009, when a new constitution, promulgated by the administration of its first indigenous leader, President Evo Morales, dropped any mention of the historic faith of its Spanish colonial rulers, bolstering the position of its pre-colonial religions.
CA Legislators Blame Religious People For High LGBT Suicide Rates
Legislators in California have discovered yet another way to make it clear that mainstream religions holding to the sexual teachings of their sacred texts have no business doing so in the Golden State. Why? Because these faiths, which billions of good people worldwide happily hold, do not embrace homosexuality. This includes the three largest: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Moderates warn that Sanders, Warren risk throwing 2020 to Trump
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock tried to pump the brakes Tuesday night after watching the more progressive Democrats stake out left-leaning territory on border crossings, health care for undocumented immigrants and “Medicare for All” over three debates.
US to extend Iran nuclear sanctions waivers
The Trump administration will reportedly announce the renewal of sanctions waivers this week allowing foreign firms to work on Iran’s civil nuclear program.
Church of the Apostles discovered near Sea of Galilee, archaeologists say
The Church of the Apostles, which is said to have been built over the house of Jesus’ disciples Peter and Andrew, has been discovered near Israel’s Sea of Galilee, according to a team of American and Israeli archaeologists.
Judge dismisses DNC lawsuit against Trump campaign, Russia over election interference
A federal judge in New York on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) alleging that the Trump campaign, WikiLeaks and the Russian government had conspired to interfere in the 2016 election.
Trump to launch peace conference with Arab leaders in Camp David
Senior White House advisor Jared Kushner is set to invite Arab Mideast leaders to a peace conference in the U.S. during his visit to the region, launched on Wednesday.
Hong Kong protests condemned by China as ‘horrendous’ as state media calls on ‘forceful’ action to end unrest
Another weekend of violent clashes between protestors and police in Hong Kong spurred officials in China on Monday to blame Western forces for the strife — while also calling for authorities to take more “forceful” action to restore order in the city.