Around the World
State Dept. says it will impose “snap back” sanctions on Iran, despite US withdrawal from Nuclear Deal
As the US believes Iran has continued to develop nuclear weapons, and as the United Nations arms embargo on Iran expires next month, the State Department announced Wednesday that it is pressing forward with “snap back” sanctions that are provided for under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Iran Nuclear deal, Fox News reports. Under the terms of the JCPoA, snapback sanctions can be re-imposed if Iran is perceived to be violating the terms of the agreement. However, as the Trump administration withdrew from the JCPoA in 2018, UNSC members Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia have unequivocally stated the US has no authority to unilaterally enforce snapback sanctions once the current embargo is lifted on October 18.
Hungary's Anti-Migrant Orbán Keeps Borders Closed Amid Coronavirus
Hungary's fiercely anti-migration Prime Minister Viktor Orbán says his nation is facing "a second wave of coronavirus infections" and will keep its borders closed to most foreigners, despite European Union concerns about that decision.
Belarus Protest Organizer Charged With Undermining National Security
Political and social unrest is rising in Belarus after a protest organizer was charged with undermining national security. Authorities in have linked Maria Kolesnikova to what they view as attempts to destabilize the former Soviet nation.
EU Chief Von der Leyen Wants Britain and Russia in First Union Speech
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen has given her first State of the Union speech with angry words about Britain's plans to renegotiate its divorce deal with the EU.
FBI Director Wray: Chinese theft has 'perverse effect' of US taxpayers funding Beijing’s advancement
FBI Director Christopher Wray said intellectual property theft campaigns against the United States by the Chinese government, including economic espionage aimed at U.S. government-funded research, has the “perverse effect” of U.S. taxpayers funding China’s rise.
US officials plan to move forward with enforcing UN sanctions on Iran
State Department officials said Wednesday that it will push forward with U.S. sanctions against Iran, and will impose sanctions on anyone who violates the United Nations arms embargo -- despite its expiration next month under the 2015 nuclear deal.
Second defector's knowledge of Chinese bioweapons reaches U.S.
U.S. intelligence agencies recently increased their knowledge of China’s covert biological weapons program with the help of a defector from the People’s Liberation Army, according to people familiar with the incident.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Top Israeli, UAE officials say new ties will make countries ‘close family’
Israeli and Emirati officials are working hard to show that the new normalization agreement signed Tuesday between the two countries marks a new period of closeness and friendship.

Inside the United States
Vandalism and looting in 2020 will cost insurance industry from $1 billion to $2 billion in claims
It is estimated the insurance industry will have to pay between $1 billion and $2 billion in claims related to vandalism and looting that followed the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police on May 25, Axios reports.
FBI Director Wray: 'Antifa is a real thing,' FBI has cases against people identifying with movement
FBI Director Chris Wray made clear that Antifa is not a made-up, right-wing conspiracy theory and that the FBI has cases involving those connected to it.
The US Air Force has built and flown a mysterious full-scale prototype of its future fighter jet
The U.S. Air Force has secretly designed, built and flown at least one prototype of its enigmatic next-generation fighter jet, the service’s top acquisition official confirmed to Defense News on Sept. 14.
William Barr decries 'criminalization of politics'
Attorney General William Barr gave a speech condemning the “criminalization of politics” while calling for line prosecutors to be reined in and Justice Department leadership to assert itself.
FBI opens new Chinese investigation every 10 hours
The FBI is opening a new counterintelligence probe of Chinese-linked threats “every 10 hours,” bureau Director Christopher Wray told Congress on Thursday, underscoring the threat Beijing poses to U.S. interests.
‘Sci-fi awesome’ smart bullet downs a cruise missile
An incoming cruise missile can be shot out of the sky — from an Army M109 Paladin-based 155mm howitzer, no less.
Study: Up To 95 Percent Of 2020 U.S. Riots Are Linked To Black Lives Matter
Contrary to corporate media narratives, up to 95 percent of this summer’s riots are linked to Black Lives Matter activism, according to data collected by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED). The data also show that nearly 6 percent — or more than 1 in 20 — of U.S. protests between May 26 and Sept. 5 involved rioting, looting, and similar violence, including 47 fatalities.

Christian News
New survey: Christians are less motivated to address racial injustice this year than last year
While the police killing of George Floyd sparked a nationwide and international conversation about racism and its effects, a new survey has found that practicing US Christians are less likely to acknowledge racial injustice this year (43%) than they were in 2019 (46%). Moreover, there was an increase in the percentage of those who said race is not a problem in America at all (19% in 2020, up from 11% in 2019), Barna reports.
24/7 National Strategic Prayer Call Begins '50 Days of Blessing' in Park Across from White House
Since the election in 2016, one prayer organization has held gatherings around the country online and in person. Now they've launched around-the-clock worship in the days leading up to the November elections.