Around the World
Russian military 'drills' point to imminent final clash in Syria
Russia’s navy announced it will open 'large-scale drills' in the Mediterranean on Saturday in the latest sign that a major Syrian government offensive against one of the last rebel strongholds in the country is imminent -- a development that the United Nations warns could trigger a fresh refugee crisis in the Middle East nation’s 7-year-old civil war.
U.S., Canadian trade negotiators go down to wire with looming deadline for NAFTA deal
U.S. and Canadian officials on Thursday frantically tried to hammer out final sticking points for a deal to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, with one day left before President Trump’s deadline for an agreement.
U.N. fears chemical weapons in Syria battle with '10,000 terrorists'
The United Nations called on Russia, Iran and Turkey on Thursday to forestall a battle in Syria's Idlib province which would affect millions of civilians and could see both sides using chlorine as a chemical weapon.
Trump threatens to pull US out of World Trade Organization
President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw the US from the World Trade Organization (WTO) if the body fails to change the way it treats America.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
UN: Ceasefire violations may spark Lebanon-Israel conflict
The UN Security Council warned Thursday that violations of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel could lead to a new conflict and urged international support for Lebanon's armed forces and their stepped-up deployment in the south and at sea.

Inside the United States
Trump to sign executive order to boost retirement savings
President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Friday aimed at boosting retirement savings, giving Americans more time to keep their money in tax-deferred accounts and allowing small businesses to band together to offer 401(k)s.
Bruce Ohr named 'half a dozen' FBI, DOJ officials who knew about Trump dossier ties, GOP investigator says
Justice Department official Bruce Ohr gave lawmakers 'a list of half a dozen' senior FBI and DOJ officials who knew about his interactions with people tied to the Trump dossier, according to a GOP congressman.
Consumer spending increases strongly; inflation rising
U.S. consumer spending increased solidly in July, pointing to strong economic growth early in the third quarter, while a measure of underlying inflation hit the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target for the third time this year.
'Abortion Is Self-Care': Shocking Billboard Targets Black Women for Abortions
A new billboard along a Dallas highway encourages African-American women to choose abortion.
Head of California Democratic Party calls for In-N-Out boycott over GOP contribution
The West Coast's most famous burger chain is facing calls for a boycott from the chairman of the California Democratic Party over a contribution to the state's Republican Party, CBS Los Angeles reports. In-N-Out donated $25,000 to the California GOP on Aug. 27, according to a public filing.

Christian News
Franklin Graham on America's Record-Setting STD Numbers: 'Sin Always Has a Cost'
Evangelist Franklin Graham says the steep spike in sexually transmitted diseases in the United States is further proof that there's a 'moral crisis' of sin facing the nation.
Coptic Christians find strength in faith and community of asylum seekers in Virginia
Fayza Estephanos knows exactly how long it has been since she learned that two of her brothers were among 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians kidnapped and beheaded by the Islamic State in 2015 — three years, six months.