US warns it won’t fund UN refugee agency if Palestinians reject talks
The US on Tuesday threatened it would cut aid to the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency if Ramallah refused to come to the negotiating table for relaunched peace talks.
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Sen. Hatch to retire, opening door for possible Romney run
Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said Tuesday he will not seek re-election after serving more than 40 years in the Senate, opening the door for 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney to run for his seat.
Gunman kills two Christians at alcohol store south of Cairo
A masked gunman shot dead two Christian brothers at their alcohol shop south of Cairo on Monday, security sources said.
As protests persist, Rouhani warns Iran will respond to ‘lawbreakers’
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday said his country would respond to ‘rioters and lawbreakers,’ a day after attempting to strike a conciliatory tone with protesters demonstrating against the regime across the country.
Hamas calls US ambassador ‘racist,’ says all ties should be cut with DC
The Palestinians should cut all ties with the United States because of ‘racist’ and ‘ignorant’ comments US Ambassador David Friedman made to The Jerusalem Post last week, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said on Saturday.
Persecution Trends Report Lists Top Countries of Concern for 2018
A group which monitors Christian persecution around the world has released a new report listing countries where attacks and restrictions on Christians are likely to increase. These include China, India and Nigeria.
Iran warns against ‘illegal gatherings’ as fresh protest reported in Tehran
The Iranian government warned people against further protests on Saturday after two days of demonstrations sparked by anger over an array of economic problems even as a fresh demonstration was reported at the University of Tehran.
2 protesters killed in Iran as government tries to thwart activists with social media crackdown
Two demonstrators were reportedly killed overnight as the Iranian government struggled to contain anti-government protests spreading throughout the country.
Trump declares war on slavery, human trafficking
On Nov. 1, American Urban Radio Network’s White House correspondent April Ryan asked Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders if President Trump believes slavery was wrong.
PM warns Iran, Hamas not to tangle with IAF’s ‘tremendous firepower’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran and Hamas on Wednesday not to act against the Jewish state, as it has the strongest air force in the region, with the ability to reach targets at all distances.
Hezbollah, Syrian forces advance on rebels 7 miles from Israel
Hezbollah and Syrian army forces have reportedly launched an assault on a besieged Syrian rebels’ stronghold some 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) from Israel’s border, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel will not accept Iranian proxies on its frontier.
Israeli security officials warn situation in Gaza may lead to new military conflict
Senior Israeli security officials have told the Security Cabinet that the current situation in Gaza resembles the one that existed just before Operation Protective Edge in 2014, warning that it might lead to a new military conflict with Hamas.
After Islamic State’s defeat, a massive bill to rebuild Iraq
The Iraqi government estimates $100 billion is needed nationwide to rebuild cities and towns left in ruins by more than three years of war against the Islamic State group. Local leaders in Mosul, the biggest city held by IS, say that amount is needed to rehabilitate their city alone.
Brrr! After Record Snow, Bitter Cold Ahead for Northern US
Freezing temperatures and below-zero wind chills socked much of the northern United States on Wednesday, even setting a record in a Minnesota city so cold it’s called the Icebox of the Nation, and will stay put for days to come as snow-hardened Erie digs out from a record snowfall.
IDF warns Gaza tensions could erupt into new conflict — report
The Israel Defense Forces has reportedly warned senior government ministers the situation in the Gaza Strip is incendiary and could lead to a new round of violence with Hamas.
Federal agents found fetuses in body broker’s warehouse
Federal agents discovered four preserved fetuses in the Detroit warehouse of a man who sold human body parts, confidential photographs reviewed by Reuters show.
Top Hamas official says Palestinian unity deal collapsing
Hard-line Hamas Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar said on Thursday that the reconciliation deal with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction was collapsing, just 10 weeks after the agreement was reached.
Russian warships in UK waters keep Royal Navy busy over Christmas
The Royal Navy monitored a series of Russian warships around Britain over Christmas, as the Defence Secretary said Britain would not be intimidated.
Pope Francis laments ‘winds of war’ blowing around the world
Lamenting ‘the winds of war’ blowing around the world, Pope Francis in his traditional Christmas message on Monday called for a two-state solution to find peace in the Middle East and prayed that confrontation can be overcome on the Korean Peninsula.
‘It’s time for us to rebuild our country’: Trump hopes to deal with Democrats on infrastructure
The White House on Sunday said President Trump wants to introduce an infrastructure package in January and reach for a deal with Democrats, a pivot toward bipartisanship after Republican-only efforts on health care and taxes produced mixed results this year.