Around the World
Russia, Turkey extend deadline to clear Syria's demilitarized zone
Russia and Turkey agreed Thursday to allow opposition groups more time to exit Syria's western Idlib province as they work to establish a demilitarized zone, the United Nations said.
Russians 'will go to heaven' in event of nuclear war: Putin
Russians will 'go to heaven' as martyrs in the event of nuclear war because Moscow will only ever use nuclear weapons in retaliation, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
Putin says ISIS took 700 hostages in Syria
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Islamic State militants had seized nearly 700 hostages in part of Syria controlled by U.S.-backed forces and issued an ultimatum promising to execute 10 people every day.
Trump says Saudi journalist likely dead, threatens ‘severe’ consequences
President Donald Trump said Thursday it 'certainly looks' as though Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is dead, and he threatened 'very severe' consequences if the Saudis are found to have murdered him.
Saudi Arabia transfers $100 million to U.S. on day of Pompeo visit to discuss missing journalist
The United States received a payment of $100 million from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the same day Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Riyadh to discuss the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a State Department official confirmed Wednesday amid global calls for answers in the case.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Report: Israeli stealth jets flew over Iran
Israeli stealth planes reached Iran and returned without anyone noticing, Kuwaiti daily newspaper Al-Jarida reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources.
Report: Hamas agrees to curb Gaza border violence to facilitate truce with Israel
Hamas has decided to scale back the violent weekly protests along Gaza's border with Israel in an effort to bring down the number of casualties among the protesters, the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al-Hayat reported Thursday.
U.S. closes diplomatic mission to Palestinian Authority, merges with U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem
The U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem primarily responsible for outreach to Palestinians will be absorbed by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday, merging previously separate missions in an effort to increase 'efficiency' and 'effectiveness.'

Inside the United States
Trump’s list: 289 accomplishments in just 20 months, ‘relentless’ promise-keeping
The Trump administration’s often overlooked list of achievements has surpassed those of former President Ronald Reagan at this time and more than doubled since the last tally of accomplishments after his first year in office, giving President Trump a solid platform to run for re-election on.
Trump threatens to send in military to shut down U.S. border to Mexico
President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to deploy the military and close the southern US border if Mexico does not halt a caravan of Central America migrants heading north, raising the risk of huge disruptions to trade.
Democratic candidates for Congress have raised a record-shattering $1 billion this election
Democratic candidates running for Congress this year collectively raised more than $1 billion for their campaigns -- a record-shattering sum that highlights the party’s zeal to retake the House and Senate and underscores the enormous amount of money flowing into the midterm races.
Texas Dems ask noncitizens to register to vote, send applications with citizenship box pre-checked
The Texas Democratic Party asked noncitizens to register to vote, sending out applications to immigrants with the box citizenship already checked 'Yes,' according to complaints filed Thursday asking prosecutors to see what laws may have been broken.
Wall St. slides as Saudi Arabia, Italy add to economic concerns
U.S. stocks fell more than 1 percent on Thursday as the European Commission issued a warning regarding Italy’s budget and concerns mounted over the possibility of strained relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia, further denting investors’ appetite for risk amid global trade tensions and rising interest rates.

Christian News
Turkey Arrests Another Pastor Just Days after Pastor Brunson is Released
After releasing pastor Andrew Brunson just days ago, Turkish authorities detained another U.S. missionary.

Around the World
UK, EU agree to take more Brexit time after no-result summit
European Union leaders gave themselves several more weeks - perhaps until the end of the year - to clinch a friendly divorce with Britain before their separation, after a Brexit summit Wednesday avoided any friction but also produced no tangible results.
ISIS 'far from defeated' despite territorial losses, Joint Chiefs chairman warns
The Islamic State remains 'far from defeated,' one of the nation’s top generals warned Tuesday, seeming to break with President Trump’s assertion that the terrorist group was '99 percent' beaten after four years of U.S.-led military action in Syria and Iraq.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu threatens ‘forceful’ response to Gaza as violence surges
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel would 'act forcefully' in response to a predawn rocket attack from the Gaza Strip that struck a Beersheba home, as a shaky calm appeared to return to the area.
Gaza rocket hits Be'er Sheva home, IAF retaliates
A rocket fired from Gaza landed on a Be'er Sheva home while another landed in the sea off the shores of a city in central Israel early Wednesday morning, prompting an IAF retaliatory attack in the strip.
Israel, US send secret delegation to Ukraine to train against S-300
Israel and the United States sent a secret military delegation to Ukraine to test the Russian-made S-300 missile defense system, which Moscow recently provided to Syria, Hadashot TV news reported Monday, citing Syrian and Russian news outlets.
IDF says 20 Gaza targets bombed, including tunnels; blames Hamas for rockets
The Israeli military bombed 20 'military facilities' in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning, the army said, in response to a predawn rocket attack that struck a home in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, causing damage but no injury.

Inside the United States
Trump Ask Cabinet to Cut Next Year's Budgets by 5 Percent
Dubbing it the 'nickel plan,' President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he's asking every Cabinet secretary to cut their next-year's budgets by 5 percent.
Trump sets record, appoints the most federal appeals judges in first two years
President Trump is smashing the record for appointing judges to the powerful federal appeals courts with 29 picks confirmed, helping him put his stamp on the judiciary well beyond the Supreme Court.
Mueller ready to deliver core findings on Trump probe after midterms: report
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is set to issue findings of some of the core aspects of his investigation into the alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia shortly after the November midterm elections, Bloomberg reported.

Christian News
'They Have No Other Help': High Risk Missionary and Team Rescue Persecuted Christians in Iraq
From the war-torn Middle East to the silent suffering of military veterans in the United States, one former US Marine is changing lives all over the world – and he's giving all of the glory to God.

Around the World
US to enter trade talks with Japan, European Union, Britain
The Trump administration is formally notifying Congress that it plans to pursue trade agreements with the European Union, Japan and Britain.
ISIS fighting to the death in Syria, frustrating US-backed final offensive
Islamic State fighters trapped in Syria are putting up fierce resistance, using civilians as human shields, setting deadly booby traps, and hiding in underground tunnels, all the while frustrating efforts by U.S.-backed Syrian fighters to deal a final blow to the terrorist caliphate.
Trump says Saudi prince vows ‘full’ probe into missing journalist
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and been assured that a 'full' probe into the disappearance of a critical journalist was underway.
U.S. tops World Economic Forum's 'Global Competitiveness Report' for first time in a decade
Organizers of the annual Davos conference ranked the United States first in their ranking of the world’s most competitive economies for the first time in a decade Wednesday, saying the No. 1 spot reflects a new methodology and long-term factors more than recent policies of the Trump administration.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Trump's envoy reveals plan to unite Gaza and West Bank
The White House's peace plan entails intentions to unify the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Jason Greenblatt, US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, told Ynet on Tuesday.

Inside the United States
Heated U.S. congressional races on pace to break fundraising records
This year’s U.S. congressional campaign season is on pace to break fundraising records, driven in part by unprecedented hauls by at least five candidates from both major parties, according to a Reuters analysis of campaign finance disclosures.
Mysterious paralyzing illness found among kids in 22 states
U.S. health officials on Tuesday reported a jump in cases of a rare paralyzing illness in children, and said it seems to be following an every-other-year pattern.
Fired FBI Director Andrew McCabe was witness to alleged leak about Trump, Michael Flynn, documents show
The FBI initiated an investigation in March 2017 concerning an alleged, previously unreported media leak about President Trump and former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn -- and since-fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe was a witness in the probe, newly released documents publicly posted by the FBI show.
'Gosnell' Movie Depicting Abortion Clinic Horror Breaks Top 10 at Box Office
'Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer,' the movie which depicts the story of real-life abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, broke in the top 10 at the box office its opening weekend.

Christian News
Middle East Christians Risking All, Preaching in Deadly Muslim Areas
Christians are continuing to share the Gospel even in highly dangerous areas in the Middle East where the Islamic State terror group remains on the minds of the people.

Around the World
Koreas to reconnect roads, rail, U.S. concerned over easing sanctions
The two Koreas agreed on Monday to begin reconnecting rail and road links, another step in an improving relationship in spite of U.S. concerns that the rapid North-South thaw could undermine efforts to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.
EU paves way for Russia sanctions over chemical weapons
The European Union on Monday unveiled a legal framework to allow sanctions against the use of chemical weapons.

Saudi Arabia considers saying activist Jamal Khashoggi was killed by mistake, reports say
The Saudi government is considering whether to say that rogue intelligence operatives murdered activist and writer Jamal Khashoggi by mistake inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul earlier this month, multiple media outlets reported Monday.
Future energy: Inside the nuclear fusion reactor that will 'recreate sun on earth'
A nuclear reactor that uses the same energy source as the sun is taking shape in the south of France.
'Hyperalarming' study shows massive insect loss
Insects around the world are in a crisis, according to a small but growing number of long-term studies showing dramatic declines in invertebrate populations. A new report suggests that the problem is more widespread than scientists realized. Huge numbers of bugs have been lost in a pristine national forest in Puerto Rico, the study found, and the forest's insect-eating animals have gone missing, too.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
First day of Knesset overshadowed by talk of elections
The Knesset opened its winter session on Monday amid speculation about when the parliament will be dispersed and when the next election will be initiated.
Australia considers moving embassy to Jerusalem
Australia’s prime minister said on Tuesday he was open to shifting the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in line with President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize the contested holy city as Israel’s capital.

Inside the United States
America’s budget deficit jumps by 17% as spending surges
The U.S. federal budget deficit rose in fiscal 2018 to the highest level in six years as spending climbed, the Trump administration said Monday.
New York City Legalizes 'Third' Gender 'X' on Birth Certificates, Mayor Signs Bill
As of Jan. 1, 2019, the 'third' gender, designated as 'X' instead of 'M' or 'F,' will be an officially recognized option for birth certificates in the largest city in the United States.
FBI Has Evidence That 'Directly Refutes' Premise of Trump-Russia Probe, GOP Rep Says
Republican lawmakers have hinted for months that the FBI failed to provide federal judges on the surveillance court with information that undercut the government’s premise for opening the Trump-Russia probe in 2016.

Christian News
Christian Filmmakers Appeal to 8th Circuit to Make Films Celebrating Marriage Between One Man, One Woman
Two Christian filmmakers will appear before the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Paul Tuesday to challenge Minnesota state law which they say illegally forces them to produce and create films expressing messages that contradict their core beliefs.