Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Turkey's Erdogan declares three-month state of emergency following failed coup
Turkey's president Wednesday extended the country's state of emergency for three months following last week's failed military coup.
Genocide in homeland exposes rift in Iraqi-American Christian community
The persecution of Christians in Iraq and Syria has exposed a rift among the half-million Chaldeans in the U.S., igniting furious debate as to whether the religious minority -- subjects of ongoing genocide at the hands of ISIS -- should remain in their ancestral home or seek asylum abroad.
More People Killed in Terrorist Attacks in 2015 Than a Year Earlier
The number of people killed in terrorist attacks throughout Europe rose in 2015 from a year earlier, according to the European Union police agency.
Iraqi Christians Take On Islamic State
Video of Sons of Liberty International (SOLI) and Iraqi Assyrian Christian soldiers during the battle against ISIS in Teleskof, Iraq. On May 3, 2016 Islamic State attacked the town of Teleskof, Iraq where Sons of Liberty International (SOLI) has been providing free training to Iraqi Assyrian Christians.
North Korea says missile test simulated attack on South's airfields
North Korea said on Wednesday it had conducted a ballistic missile test that simulated preemptive strikes against South Korean ports and airfields used by the U.S. military, a likely reference to the launches of three missiles on Tuesday.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli Jet Reportedly Strikes Syrian Army Near Golan, Rebels Say
An air strike said to have been carried out by an Israeli jet hit a Syrian army post near the Syrian side of Golan Heights on Wednesday, two Syrian rebel sources told Reuters.
Israel trying to quash discussion of EU document blaming 'occupation' for terrorism
Israel is trying to prevent an internal EU document blaming Palestinian terrorism on the 'occupation' from coming up for discussion in EU institutions in Brussels, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
Police Commissioner: J'lem pride parade to continue as planned
The Jerusalem March for Pride and Tolerance is set to continue on its planned route despite threats by extremist elements to disrupt it, said Jerusalem District Police Commandner Yoram Halevy.

Inside the United States
US appeals court finds that Texas voter ID law is discriminatory
A US appeals court on Wednesday ruled that a Texas law requiring voters to show a government-issued form of photo identification before casting a ballot is discriminatory.
Federal Debt Tops $19,400,000,000,000
The federal debt moved above $19,400,000,000,000 for the first time as of the close of business on Tuesday, according to the data released today by the U.S. Treasury.

U.S. Politics
Trump's VP Pick Mike Pence Headlines RNC, Hopes to Unite Party
"I am a Christian, conservative, and Republican – in that order," GOP Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence said as he took the stage Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention.
Trump makes big fundraising gains in June, but still can't catch Hillary
Donald Trump's fundraising machine picked up steam in June, raking in $26.7 million, but still has a long way to go before it catches the amount raised by Hillary Clinton.
Pence Accepts Vice-Presidential Nomination at GOP Convention
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence accepted the Republican Party's vice-presidential nomination Wednesday night in an address that was equal parts in praise of running mate Donald Trump and blisteringly critical of Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.
Ted Cruz Booed at RNC for Not Endorsing Trump, Says 'Vote Your Conscience'
Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) was booed lustily at the end of his speech Wednesday at the Republican National Convention when he never endorsed GOP nominee Donald Trump.

Christian News
A dozen incidents against Egypt's Copts in 7 weeks
Reflecting what most Copts see as the country turning a blind eye to increased violence against its Christian minority, the Coptic Church's Bishop Makarius tweeted on 17 July 'reminding' president Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi that Copts 'are Egyptian citizens', and that his diocese of Minya 'falls within the country's jurisdiction'.
Nepal Christians await trial in first religious freedom case under new constitution
Nepal's first religious freedom case since the country's new constitution was implemented in 2015 is due to come to trial later this week.
Atheists Try to Stop Schools from Visiting Ken Ham's Ark
The atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) has sent letters to more than 1,000 school districts, warning them of the unconstitutionality of allowing students to visit Ken Ham's newly-opened Ark Encounter.
Assyrian church attacked and burned by militants in Syria
A spokesman for the Assyrian Monitor for Human Rights (AMHR), which on Monday posted photos of the destruction on Facebook, told ARA News: 'Anonymous gunmen stormed the St. Charnel Church for Assyrian Orthodoxes in the Watwatiyah district of Qamishli in the midnight on Monday, and destroyed its contents.'
Group Warns Of Plan 'To Wipe Out Nigerian Christians' Amid New Church Attacks
The chief of an umbrella group representing many of Nigeria's numerous denominations has urged the government to stop an alleged Islamists plan to 'wipe out Christians' in the African nation, where a church was attacked by angry Muslims shortly after a Christian preacher was hacked to death.