Today's Breaking News
Around the World
NATO finalizes military build-up to counter Russia
NATO foreign ministers were on Thursday finalizing the alliance's biggest military build-up since the end of the Cold War to counter what they see as a more aggressive and unpredictable Russia.
China says it's ready if US ‘stirs up any conflict’ in South China Sea
China's attempts to claim a nearly 1.4-million-square-mile swathe of open ocean are without precedent and probably without legal merit, but Beijing continues to assert its right to the economically critical zone — and increasingly puts its claims in military terms.
Europe, US open path to business with Iran
The US and Europe have sought to clarify support for doing business with Iran. A host of US non-nuclear related sanctions have made European firms hesitant to enter the Iranian market following a landmark nuclear deal.
US, Britain, France, Germany back business with Iran
Foreign banks and businesses should not hold back from conducting legal business with Iran, Western powers said Friday.
U.S. Special Forces take the fight to ISIS in Libya
U.S. Special Forces and surveillance flights are operating on the ground and over Libya as the West moves to boost security operations in the country to bolster Libya's increasingly desperate fight against ISIS.
Chinese intercept U.S. military plane over South China Sea
A pair of Chinese fighter jets buzzed a U.S. military reconnaissance plane over the South China Sea Tuesday, military officials said.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
White House Launched ‘Venomous Whisper Campaign’ Against Netanyahu to Sell Iran Nuclear Deal
As part of the Obama administration’s strategy to sell the Iran nuclear deal, the White House launched a smear campaign against one of the deal’s biggest critics, Israel’s prime minister, a former policy official told Congress on Tuesday.
Israel close to sealing offshore gas deal after compromise
Israel is expected to finally ratify a deal to put a major offshore gas field online, the energy ministry announced, after a compromise was reached with the US-led consortium of developers.
Ya'alon resigns as defense minister, MK
Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon announced on Friday morning on his Facebook and Twitter feeds that he has resigned from his ministerial position and from the Knesset. He further announced a break from political life.

Inside the United States
Oklahoma Legislature Passes Bill Criminalizing Performing Abortions
The Oklahoma state legislature on Thursday passed a bill that would criminalize performing abortions.
Fed signals interest rate hike firmly on the table for June
Federal Reserve officials felt the U.S. economy could be ready for another interest rate increase in June, according to the minutes from the central bank's April policy meeting released on Wednesday.
Top ICE official: Obama's policies contributed to decreased deportation
A top U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official admitted before the Senate Immigration Subcommittee on Thursday the Obama administration's reforms to deportation policies have caused the decrease in removals of people in the U.S. illegally.
Federal Judge Upholds Virginia Voter Photo ID Law
A federal judge on Thursday upheld Virginia's 2013 law requiring voters to show a valid photo ID at the polls.
Chaos in House after GOP votes down LGBT measure
The House floor devolved into chaos and shouting on Thursday as a measure to ensure protections for members of the LGBT community narrowly failed to pass, after Republican leaders urged their members to change their votes.

Christian News
DR Congo: Christians hacked to death
Jihadists armed with axes and machetes killed at least 17 Christians in the Democratic Republic of (the) Congo on May 3 causing thousands to flee their village.
Tanzania: Third church in four months razed
Yet another church in north-west Tanzania was burnt to the ground this month, but its congregation has refused to stop meeting.