Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Islamic State Uses Chainsaw to Hack Nine Iraqi Teens in Half
Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) jihadists reportedly tied nine young men to iron poles in Mosul before hacking them in half with a chainsaw.
Attack on Christian colony in Pakistan leaves 5 dead
A group of militants attacked a Christian colony near Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar early Friday, triggering a shootout in which four attackers were killed and one Christian died, police and the military said. Three security officials and two civilian guards were wounded in the attack.
U.S. imposes sanctions on 'Putin's bridge' to Crimea
Companies building a multi-billion dollar bridge to link the Russian mainland with annexed Crimea, a project close to the heart President Vladimir Putin, were targeted by the United States in an updated sanctions blacklist on Thursday.
Treasury Department hits Russia with additional sanctions
The U.S. Treasury Department announced additional sanctions on Russia to pressure it to comply with the Minsk Protocol and withdraw all military personnel from Ukraine.
Magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes off New Zealand
The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting a strong magnitude-7.1 earthquake about 100 miles off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Russia a ‘more balanced’ peacemaker than US, says PLO official
A senior official in the Palestine Liberation Organization praised Russia this week as a more “credible” and “balanced” third-party facilitator for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks than the US.
High Priest is Chosen by Sanhedrin, Temple Service Could Be One Week Away
A significant step was recently taken towards reinstating the Temple service when the nascent Sanhedrin selected Rabbi Baruch Kahane as the next Kohen Gadol (high priest). The selection was made as a precaution for Yom Kippur. If the political conditions should change, allowing the Jews access to the Temple Mount, they will be required by Torah law to bring the sacrifices. Rabbi Kahane is confident that if that should happen, Temple service could begin in less than one week.
PA official calls on US to compel Israel to freeze settlements
Palestinian Authority Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeinah called on the United States to compel Israel to freeze settlement construction, in a press release to Wafa, the official PA news site.
Netanyahu may meet with Obama this month
Netanyahu is scheduled to land in New York on September 21 and, in addition to his speech at the General Assembly, is expected to meet with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and participate in a meeting between European heads of state.

Inside the United States
Hurricane Hermine makes landfall in Florida
Hurricane Hermine made landfall on Florida's northwest coast early Friday, flooding streets, toppling trees and knocking down power lines.
National debt hits $19.5 trillion
The national debt hit $19.5 trillion for the first time ever this week, a little more than seven months after it hit the $19 trillion mark.
California Passes Pro-Planned Parenthood Bill Criminalizing Undercover Recording of Abortion Clinics
California lawmakers have passed a Planned Parenthood-backed bill that creates a criminal offense for deceptively recording conversations with abortion clinic employees, a move that comes after the release of last year's highly controversial undercover Planned Parenthood videos.
State Dept Dodges, Confuses Press on Multiple Issues Involving Iran Deal
State Department spokesman John Kirby confused the press and dodged multiple issues involving the Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, during Thursday's press briefing.
GOP chairman blasts White House for stiff-arming Senate, predicts Paris climate deal will 'fail'
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works denounced on Thursday the anticipated move by President Obama to enter into the Paris climate accord, accusing him of working around Congress on a deal doomed to failure.

U.S. Politics
Clinton Threatens Military Action over Cyberattacks
Hillary Clinton on Wednesday called for the U.S. to begin treating cyberattacks like any other assault on the country.
House Republicans find success separating from Trump
Polling data in half a dozen competitive races conducted jointly by House Republican candidates and the National Republican Congressional Committee in recent weeks show that while Trump is trailing Hillary Clinton in geographic regions across the country, House GOP candidates are outperforming their nominee. The GOP candidates are also leading their Democratic opponents.
Trump Maintains Hardline Immigration Stance: 'We'll Build a Great Wall'
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made it clear during a speech in Arizona Wednesday night that he plans to stick with his hard stance on immigration.

Christian News
ISIS on a mission to exterminate Christians
The so-called Islamic State will not stop until it has 'exterminated' all other religious groups, according to a former Islamic extremist now working in counter-terrorism.
Algerian Christian appeals, 'I only wrote against radical Islam and terrorism'
Slimane Bouhafs will hear on 6 September whether his appeal against a five-year prison sentence for blasphemy has been successful.