Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Syrian army on verge of major victory in Aleppo
The Syrian army and its allies made key gains in the embattled city of Aleppo late on Tuesday. President Bashar al-Assad's forces pushed into rebel-held areas of the Old City, essentially driving opposition forces out of their last urban stronghold.
At least 54 killed in Indonesia earthquake
A strong undersea earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Aceh province early Wednesday, killing at least 54 people.
Could the European Union fall apart?
It has been a dreadful year for the European Union. It has just got a lot worse. Next year could transform a looming existential threat into a terminal reality. The end of a joint 60-year project to transform the politics of an entire continent is now a distinct possibility.
Iran's new theme park for children provides uniforms, war games against U.S., Israel
Roller coasters are for the offspring of the 'Great Satan'. Iran's Islamic Republic prefers its kids instead to be 'revolutionaries' who, as early as 8-years-old, are aware of the nation's enemies and how to fight them.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli map reveals thousands of Hezbollah positions along border
The Israeli military on Tuesday posted a map of southern Lebanon to Twitter, on which it marked Hezbollah positions, infrastructure and armaments along a section of the Israeli border.
Israel blamed for strikes on Hezbollah sites near Damascus
Hezbollah sites near the Syrian capital, Damascus, were targeted Tuesday night by airstrikes, killing and injuring a number of fighters in the Shiite militia group, according to Syrian news reports.
Obama: Diplomacy that produced Iran deal needed for Mideast peace
US President Barack Obama touted the effectiveness of the nuclear deal with Iran Tuesday in his final address on national security, and said such feats of diplomacy could be a model by which to achieve Mideast peace.
Comptroller report says Israel has failed to prepare for rocket threat
Israel faces major deficiencies in its preparations for protection against rocket and missile threats posed by Hamas and Hezbollah, State Comptroller Yosef Shapira said in a report released on Tuesday.
Biblical sheep in Israel for first time in millennia
The sheep have landed. After three years of high-level negotiations between the Israeli and Canadian governments, 119 heritage sheep, which trace their lineage back 5,000 years to the Middle East, began arriving in Israel on November 30. It is the first time that the breed, called Jacob's sheep, has been represented in Israel since biblical times.
Netanyahu: Submarines needed to ensure Israel can destroy those threatening it
Israel's military must be strong enough to be able to annihilate anyone who threatens to annihilate the Jewish state, and for that reason is arming itself with weapons such as the F-35 stealth fighters and submarines, the prime minister said on Tuesday.

Inside the United States
Trump Mulls Releasing 'Hidden' Details of Iranian Nuclear Deal
President-elect Donald Trump may release details of the Iranian nuclear deal the Obama administration kept hidden from the public, The Daily Beast reported on Monday.
Trump introduces Mattis as defense secretary nominee at N.C. victory rally
President-elect Donald Trump brought his victory tour to North Carolina Tuesday night, introducing his nominee for Secretary of Defense not far from the country's biggest military base, Fort Bragg.
Japanese tech billionaire Masayoshi Son meets Trump, pledges $50 billion for US
Japanese tech billionaire Masayoshi Son said on Tuesday in New York that he would invest $50 billion in new startups in the United States, and create 50,000 new jobs.
Michigan court shoots down recount request, but it's not over yet
The Michigan Court of Appeals ordered the state's Board of State Canvassers on Tuesday to 'reject the Nov. 30, 2016 petition of former presidential candidate Jill Stein that precipitated the current recount process.' At about the same time, a higher court seemed to be saying, let the recounts roll.
Obama, who illegally invaded Libya, lectures Congress on constitutional war powers
President Obama, who invaded Libya in 2011 without even asking for congressional approval, took the occasion on Tuesday -- in his final 45 days in office -- to lecture Washington about constitutional and democratic conduct of war.

Christian News
Christians Win Nepal's First Anti-Evangelism Case
A court in Nepal has dropped a case against eight Christians, the first religious freedom dispute since the country's new constitution was implemented last year.