Prophecy News Watch provided by Worthy Ministries
Prophecy News Watch is a service hosted by Worthy Ministries to provide Christians daily news from a Biblical, and yet Prophetic worldview. Our news is gathered by our Christian News Service, Worthy News. For more about our vision for how we assemble our daily headlines, please read, "What is Worthy News?"
Today's Breaking News
Around the World
U.S. Defense Secretary Carter says Russia is ‘nuclear saber-rattling’
Defense Secretary Ash Carter used a U.S. military changing-of-the-guard ceremony Tuesday to blast Russian aggression in Europe, saying Moscow is “going backward in time” with warlike actions that compel a U.S. military buildup on NATO’s eastern flank.
Germany pushes for European army
Germany is pushing for a European army in the 28-member EU bloc, according to a white paper put forward by the German government. The army is envisaged to have a joint headquarters and shared military plans.
IS Threatens to Publish British Military Secrets
Islamic State has claimed to have hacked Britain's Ministry of Defense and threatened to publish details of British military personnel.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Differences over missile defense, fine print snag U.S.-Israel aid deal
Negotiations meant to enshrine U.S. defense aid for Israel over the next decade have snagged on disputes about the size, scope and fine print of a new multibillion-dollar package, officials say.
Israel seizes tons of chemicals used for rockets on way to Gaza
Israeli security services recently thwarted an attempt to smuggle some four tonnes of chemicals into Gaza, claiming they could be used to manufacture long-range rockets, it was cleared for publication Tuesday.
3 soldiers wounded in vehicular terrorist attack near Talmon
Three soldiers from the Kfir Brigade were wounded, one seriously, in a car-ramming attack in the Binyamin region of the West Bank on Wednesday evening when a Palestinian driver drove his vehicle into them while they were standing near a checkpoint between the settlements of Dolev and Talmon.
Palestinians in Gaza fire mortar shell at soldiers on border, IDF returns fire
Palestinians in Gaza fired a mortar shell at an IDF unit carrying out operational work on the Gaza border fence on Wednesday.
Inside the United States
In N.Y., White House poised to create first monument to gay rights struggle
President Obama is poised to declare the first-ever national monument recognizing the struggle for gay rights, singling out a sliver of green space and part of the surrounding Greenwich Village neighborhood as the birthplace of America’s modern gay liberation movement.
'Cease and desist' order on Bert & Ernie STD, HIV testing promo
Within hours of Washington Secrets posting a story about a new STD and HIV at-home testing firm using Muppets Bert and Ernie in a promotion, 'Sesame Street' said it was issuing a 'cease and desist' letter to the company, Mately.
House of Representatives Bill Would Recognize Magic as 'National Treasure'
A bill to recognize magic as a 'rare and valuable art form and national treasure' was introduced into the House of Representatives Tuesday.
US combat death in Iraq reflects intensifying war
The combat death of a U.S. Navy SEAL who was advising Kurdish forces in Iraq coincides with a gradually deepening American role in fighting a resilient Islamic State, even as the Iraqis struggle to muster the military and political strength to defeat the militants.
Dem AG Targets 90 Conservative Groups in Climate Change Racketeering Suit
The attorney general of the U.S. Virgin Islands is targeting dozens of conservative and libertarian organizations in a racketeering lawsuit against climate change skeptics that has been widely described as an effort to silence political opponents.
U.S. Politics
Ted Cruz Suspends Presidential Campaign
Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) suspended his presidential campaign Tuesday evening following disappointing results out of Indiana.
GOP donors: Not a dime for Trump
The Republican donors who helped Mitt Romney raise $1 billion in 2012 have a target figure in mind for Donald Trump: zero.
Donald Trump wins in landslide in Indiana, Ted Cruz drops out
Trump was headed to a 53 percent to nearly 37 percent victory, even with John Kasich winning less than 10 percent of the vote. Sanders was defeating Clinton by 53 percent to 47 percent.
Donald Trump ousts Ted Cruz from race
Donald Trump won Indiana's primary Tuesday, forcing Sen. Ted Cruz from the race and solidifying himself as the GOP's' presumptive presidential nominee -- a result that was unthinkable to most Republicans just a few months ago.
Bernie Sanders Upsets Clinton in Indiana
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) was declared the winner of the Democratic primary in Indiana Tuesday, dealing an upset to Hillary Clinton.
Christian News
59 Percent of Millennials Say Sunday Is Religiously Insignificant; Only 22 Percent Attend Church, Study Finds
The percentage of Americans who believe that the Sabbath is a religiously significant day has sharply declined since 1978, according to a recent poll.
Missouri State booted student from counseling program over Christian beliefs, says lawsuit
Should Christians who oppose same-sex marriage based on religious beliefs be allowed to obtain degrees in counseling?
Around the World
U.S. Defense Secretary Carter says Russia is ‘nuclear saber-rattling’
Defense Secretary Ash Carter used a U.S. military changing-of-the-guard ceremony Tuesday to blast Russian aggression in Europe, saying Moscow is “going backward in time” with warlike actions that compel a U.S. military buildup on NATO’s eastern flank.
Germany pushes for European army
Germany is pushing for a European army in the 28-member EU bloc, according to a white paper put forward by the German government. The army is envisaged to have a joint headquarters and shared military plans.
IS Threatens to Publish British Military Secrets
Islamic State has claimed to have hacked Britain's Ministry of Defense and threatened to publish details of British military personnel.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Differences over missile defense, fine print snag U.S.-Israel aid deal
Negotiations meant to enshrine U.S. defense aid for Israel over the next decade have snagged on disputes about the size, scope and fine print of a new multibillion-dollar package, officials say.
Israel seizes tons of chemicals used for rockets on way to Gaza
Israeli security services recently thwarted an attempt to smuggle some four tonnes of chemicals into Gaza, claiming they could be used to manufacture long-range rockets, it was cleared for publication Tuesday.
3 soldiers wounded in vehicular terrorist attack near Talmon
Three soldiers from the Kfir Brigade were wounded, one seriously, in a car-ramming attack in the Binyamin region of the West Bank on Wednesday evening when a Palestinian driver drove his vehicle into them while they were standing near a checkpoint between the settlements of Dolev and Talmon.
Palestinians in Gaza fire mortar shell at soldiers on border, IDF returns fire
Palestinians in Gaza fired a mortar shell at an IDF unit carrying out operational work on the Gaza border fence on Wednesday.
Inside the United States
In N.Y., White House poised to create first monument to gay rights struggle
President Obama is poised to declare the first-ever national monument recognizing the struggle for gay rights, singling out a sliver of green space and part of the surrounding Greenwich Village neighborhood as the birthplace of America’s modern gay liberation movement.
'Cease and desist' order on Bert & Ernie STD, HIV testing promo
Within hours of Washington Secrets posting a story about a new STD and HIV at-home testing firm using Muppets Bert and Ernie in a promotion, 'Sesame Street' said it was issuing a 'cease and desist' letter to the company, Mately.
House of Representatives Bill Would Recognize Magic as 'National Treasure'
A bill to recognize magic as a 'rare and valuable art form and national treasure' was introduced into the House of Representatives Tuesday.
US combat death in Iraq reflects intensifying war
The combat death of a U.S. Navy SEAL who was advising Kurdish forces in Iraq coincides with a gradually deepening American role in fighting a resilient Islamic State, even as the Iraqis struggle to muster the military and political strength to defeat the militants.
Dem AG Targets 90 Conservative Groups in Climate Change Racketeering Suit
The attorney general of the U.S. Virgin Islands is targeting dozens of conservative and libertarian organizations in a racketeering lawsuit against climate change skeptics that has been widely described as an effort to silence political opponents.
U.S. Politics
Ted Cruz Suspends Presidential Campaign
Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) suspended his presidential campaign Tuesday evening following disappointing results out of Indiana.
GOP donors: Not a dime for Trump
The Republican donors who helped Mitt Romney raise $1 billion in 2012 have a target figure in mind for Donald Trump: zero.
Donald Trump wins in landslide in Indiana, Ted Cruz drops out
Trump was headed to a 53 percent to nearly 37 percent victory, even with John Kasich winning less than 10 percent of the vote. Sanders was defeating Clinton by 53 percent to 47 percent.
Donald Trump ousts Ted Cruz from race
Donald Trump won Indiana's primary Tuesday, forcing Sen. Ted Cruz from the race and solidifying himself as the GOP's' presumptive presidential nominee -- a result that was unthinkable to most Republicans just a few months ago.
Bernie Sanders Upsets Clinton in Indiana
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) was declared the winner of the Democratic primary in Indiana Tuesday, dealing an upset to Hillary Clinton.
Christian News
59 Percent of Millennials Say Sunday Is Religiously Insignificant; Only 22 Percent Attend Church, Study Finds
The percentage of Americans who believe that the Sabbath is a religiously significant day has sharply declined since 1978, according to a recent poll.
Missouri State booted student from counseling program over Christian beliefs, says lawsuit
Should Christians who oppose same-sex marriage based on religious beliefs be allowed to obtain degrees in counseling?
Today's Breaking News
Around the World
U.S., Russia to meet this week on Syria ceasefire
Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hope to meet by Thursday to find a way to boost the deteriorating ceasefire in Syria.
IS Threatens to Publish British Military Secrets
Islamic State has claimed to have hacked Britain's Ministry of Defense and threatened to publish details of British military personnel.
China blocks US Navy aircraft carrier from Hong Kong port
China blocked a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier from arriving at a port in Hong Kong as tensions ratcheted up over disputed islands in the South China Sea, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed Friday.
Religious freedom under 'sustained assault' around the world, report finds
Citing the Islamic State's attacks on Christians and other religious minorities, rising bigotry against Jews and Muslims in Europe and Beijing's campaign against churches in China, a new U.S. government report said Monday that attacks on religious freedom have grown measurably around the world over the past year.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Palestinian Authority Deceives US, Uses Taxpayer Money To Pay Jailed Terrorists
Palestinian Media Watch, an organization that not only monitors Palestinian media but also does research on issues related to the Palestinian Authority, just released a new report detailing a billion-dollar fraud with money donated to the PA by Western countries, including the United States.
After F-35 makes aliyah, it will get new Israeli identity
The development of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter has been the subject of widespread criticism over performance issues, but the Israeli Air Force has already made extensive preparations to welcome the next-generation aircraft, which will be known as the Adir.
UK Labour chief Corbyn rejects call to denounce Hamas, Hezbollah
British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn rebuffed calls Sunday to denounce contacts with terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah, while declaring that his party is against anti-Semitism, amid a roiling scandal over accusations of widespread anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiments among Labourites.
Inside the United States
In 6 Months Since Budget Deal: Debt Up More Than $1 Trillion
In the six months that have passed since then-retiring House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cut a budget deal with President Barack Obama that suspended the legal limit on the federal debt until March 15, 2017, the federal debt has increased by more than $1 trillion.
Inside the Secret Meeting Where Wall Street Tested Digital Cash
On a recent Monday in April, more than 100 executives from some of the world’s largest financial institutions gathered for a private meeting at the Times Square office of Nasdaq Inc. They weren’t there to just talk about blockchain, the new technology some predict will transform finance, but to build and experiment with the software.
Obama budgets $17,613 for every new illegal minor, more than Social Security retirees get
President Obama has budgeted $17,613 for each of the estimated 75,000 Central American teens expected to illegally cross into the United States this year, $2,841 more than the average annual Social Security retirement benefit, according to a new report.
Conservatives in Congress urge shutdown of IRS
It's a U.S. taxpayer's dream: make the Internal Revenue Service go away, and the largest conservative group in Congress is endorsing just that.
U.S. data is being leaked, ECB study suggests
Key U.S. economic information may have been leaked ahead of its release, judging from the price moves in key equity and bond futures contracts, according to a study released Monday.
U.S. Politics
Trump on track to win GOP nomination on first ballot, delegate analysis finds
Donald Trump was only a tad presumptuous when on April 26 he said, “I consider myself the presumptive nominee — absolutely.”
Obamacare's November surprise
The last thing Democrats want to contend with just a week before the 2016 presidential election is an outcry over double-digit insurance hikes as millions of Americans begin signing up for Obamacare.
Cruz's faltering campaign shows the risks of depending on a few wealthy donors
Ted Cruz, in his outsider's bid for the White House, has depended heavily on the largesse of just three wealthy donors to establish credibility and stay afloat amid a chaotic nominating process that killed off most of his rivals.
Trump trouncing in Calif. by 34 points: Poll
Donald Trump is leading Ted Cruz by a whopping 34 percentage points -- 54%-20% -- among likely Republican voters in California, a SurveyUSA poll for KUSA found.
Obama targets 6 Republicans, shifts Garland message to Democratic takeover of Senate
President Obama took to the airwaves Monday to pressure six Republican senators in their home states over his Supreme Court nominee, amid signs that Democrats are shifting their focus to winning control of the Senate in November rather than filling the high court vacancy.
Christian News
Mosul: IS destroys iconic clock church
Last week, Islamic State jihadists employed explosives to destroy Iraq's iconic Clock Church.
Muslim herders expand into Southern Nigeria
Last week Muslim Fulani herdsmen murdered 45 Nigerians after destroying Christian properties in Enugu State.
Two US Missionaries Beaten to Death in Jamaica
The family and friends of slain U.S. missionaries Randy Hentzel and Harold Nichols are remembering their love for the Lord and devotion to sharing the Gospel.
LGBT Activists 'Out' Christian Schools over Title IX Exemption
Oklahoma Wesleyan University President Dr. Everett Piper says he's not concerned about LGBT activist efforts to 'out' Christian colleges seeking a religious exemption from Title IX.
Jonathan Cahn Calls Out Obama for 'Striking Down' God's Law
Rabbi Jonathan Cahn has called out President Barack Obama and Supreme Court justices for overruling 'the rulings of the Most High' regarding marriage.
Dutch dreamer hopes to bring Noah's Ark replica to Americas
A Dutch carpenter inspired by a dream to build a massive replica of Noah's Ark has a new and equally daunting vision - to bring the 410-foot vessel to the Americas in time for this summer's Olympic Games in Brazil.
Around the World
U.S., Russia to meet this week on Syria ceasefire
Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hope to meet by Thursday to find a way to boost the deteriorating ceasefire in Syria.
IS Threatens to Publish British Military Secrets
Islamic State has claimed to have hacked Britain's Ministry of Defense and threatened to publish details of British military personnel.
China blocks US Navy aircraft carrier from Hong Kong port
China blocked a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier from arriving at a port in Hong Kong as tensions ratcheted up over disputed islands in the South China Sea, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed Friday.
Religious freedom under 'sustained assault' around the world, report finds
Citing the Islamic State's attacks on Christians and other religious minorities, rising bigotry against Jews and Muslims in Europe and Beijing's campaign against churches in China, a new U.S. government report said Monday that attacks on religious freedom have grown measurably around the world over the past year.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Palestinian Authority Deceives US, Uses Taxpayer Money To Pay Jailed Terrorists
Palestinian Media Watch, an organization that not only monitors Palestinian media but also does research on issues related to the Palestinian Authority, just released a new report detailing a billion-dollar fraud with money donated to the PA by Western countries, including the United States.
After F-35 makes aliyah, it will get new Israeli identity
The development of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter has been the subject of widespread criticism over performance issues, but the Israeli Air Force has already made extensive preparations to welcome the next-generation aircraft, which will be known as the Adir.
UK Labour chief Corbyn rejects call to denounce Hamas, Hezbollah
British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn rebuffed calls Sunday to denounce contacts with terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah, while declaring that his party is against anti-Semitism, amid a roiling scandal over accusations of widespread anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiments among Labourites.
Inside the United States
In 6 Months Since Budget Deal: Debt Up More Than $1 Trillion
In the six months that have passed since then-retiring House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cut a budget deal with President Barack Obama that suspended the legal limit on the federal debt until March 15, 2017, the federal debt has increased by more than $1 trillion.
Inside the Secret Meeting Where Wall Street Tested Digital Cash
On a recent Monday in April, more than 100 executives from some of the world’s largest financial institutions gathered for a private meeting at the Times Square office of Nasdaq Inc. They weren’t there to just talk about blockchain, the new technology some predict will transform finance, but to build and experiment with the software.
Obama budgets $17,613 for every new illegal minor, more than Social Security retirees get
President Obama has budgeted $17,613 for each of the estimated 75,000 Central American teens expected to illegally cross into the United States this year, $2,841 more than the average annual Social Security retirement benefit, according to a new report.
Conservatives in Congress urge shutdown of IRS
It's a U.S. taxpayer's dream: make the Internal Revenue Service go away, and the largest conservative group in Congress is endorsing just that.
U.S. data is being leaked, ECB study suggests
Key U.S. economic information may have been leaked ahead of its release, judging from the price moves in key equity and bond futures contracts, according to a study released Monday.
U.S. Politics
Trump on track to win GOP nomination on first ballot, delegate analysis finds
Donald Trump was only a tad presumptuous when on April 26 he said, “I consider myself the presumptive nominee — absolutely.”
Obamacare's November surprise
The last thing Democrats want to contend with just a week before the 2016 presidential election is an outcry over double-digit insurance hikes as millions of Americans begin signing up for Obamacare.
Cruz's faltering campaign shows the risks of depending on a few wealthy donors
Ted Cruz, in his outsider's bid for the White House, has depended heavily on the largesse of just three wealthy donors to establish credibility and stay afloat amid a chaotic nominating process that killed off most of his rivals.
Trump trouncing in Calif. by 34 points: Poll
Donald Trump is leading Ted Cruz by a whopping 34 percentage points -- 54%-20% -- among likely Republican voters in California, a SurveyUSA poll for KUSA found.
Obama targets 6 Republicans, shifts Garland message to Democratic takeover of Senate
President Obama took to the airwaves Monday to pressure six Republican senators in their home states over his Supreme Court nominee, amid signs that Democrats are shifting their focus to winning control of the Senate in November rather than filling the high court vacancy.
Christian News
Mosul: IS destroys iconic clock church
Last week, Islamic State jihadists employed explosives to destroy Iraq's iconic Clock Church.
Muslim herders expand into Southern Nigeria
Last week Muslim Fulani herdsmen murdered 45 Nigerians after destroying Christian properties in Enugu State.
Two US Missionaries Beaten to Death in Jamaica
The family and friends of slain U.S. missionaries Randy Hentzel and Harold Nichols are remembering their love for the Lord and devotion to sharing the Gospel.
LGBT Activists 'Out' Christian Schools over Title IX Exemption
Oklahoma Wesleyan University President Dr. Everett Piper says he's not concerned about LGBT activist efforts to 'out' Christian colleges seeking a religious exemption from Title IX.
Jonathan Cahn Calls Out Obama for 'Striking Down' God's Law
Rabbi Jonathan Cahn has called out President Barack Obama and Supreme Court justices for overruling 'the rulings of the Most High' regarding marriage.
Dutch dreamer hopes to bring Noah's Ark replica to Americas
A Dutch carpenter inspired by a dream to build a massive replica of Noah's Ark has a new and equally daunting vision - to bring the 410-foot vessel to the Americas in time for this summer's Olympic Games in Brazil.
Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Israel, Hamas and Egypt form unlikely alliance against Islamic State affiliate
The Islamic State’s affiliate in Egypt is staging increasingly sophisticated and daring attacks, officials and analysts say, prompting Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian militant group Hamas to form an unlikely alliance against the terrorist group.
Iran to Build Seven New Nuke Plants By 2020
Iran is offering to help the global community construct nuclear power plants, according to a top official, who said that Iran would be home to seven new nuclear plants by 2020, according to recent remarks.
Sons of Hezbollah commanders sent to Europe to evade Syria fighting
Senior commanders in Hezbollah are smuggling their sons to Europe to prevent the Lebanese terror organization from recruiting them to fight in Syria against the rebel factions, the Egyptian news site Arabi 21 reported Monday.
Europe's First Islamic Constitution?
Calls by a top member of the ruling party of Turkey for an Islamic constitution to replace the secular basic law in place in the country, a NATO member and crucial U.S. ally, have been rejected by politicians from all stripes, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, himself a pious Muslim. But as Erdogan is trying to avoid a debate that could harm him politically, the question remains: How should the relationship between state and religion be defined in a country with a 99 percent Muslim population?
Shiite cleric's speech sparks protesters to storm Green Zone, Iraqi Parliament
Protesters inflamed by a Shiite cleric's speech about government inaction and corruption stormed the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad on Saturday and invaded the Iraqi Parliament building.
Turkey PM, Hamas chief meet as Ankara inks defense deal with Qatar
Turkish President Ahmet Davutoglu met Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal in Doha on Thursday during a state visit to the Gulf emirate of Qatar.
Islamic Jihad delegation visits Iran to 'discuss ways to strengthen intifada'
Islamic Jihad representatives are visiting Iran to discuss ways to strengthen the intifada in the West Bank and Jerusalem, Palestinian media reported on Sunday.
Russians 'barrel roll' over another U.S. Air Force plane
A Russian SU-27 conducted a 'barrel roll' Friday over the top of a U.S. Air Force RC-135 which was flying a reconnaissance mission in international airspace above the Baltic Sea, the Defense Department said.
Kerry urges Assad regime to quit bombing contested Aleppo
Secretary of State John Kerry urged Syrian government forces Saturday to stop bombarding the city of Aleppo as it moves in to retake it.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Dead Sea area contains oil worth NIS 1.2 billion
A new report released Sunday by Israel Opportunity Energy Resources LP and filed with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange claimed an oil reservoir near the Dead Sea is worth NIS 1.2 billion ($320 million).
Arab rioters on Temple Mount hurl stones at police
Police and Border Police officers were attacked on Friday by Palestinians throwing stones after Friday prayers in the Old City.
Inside the United States
Arrests in Seattle as May Day marchers take to streets
Seattle police used pepper spray to disperse black-clad anti-capitalist protesters authorities say threw rocks, flares, bricks and Molotov cocktails at officers during a rowdy May Day gathering.
Puerto Rico won't make $370 million in debt payments Monday
Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced that Puerto Rico's government will not make nearly $370 million in bond payments due Monday after a failure to restructure or find a political solution to the U.S. territory's spiraling public debt crisis.
Poll: Not a Single White House Reporter Is a Republican
Not a single member of the White House press corps is a registered Republican, according to survey results recently published by Politico.
U.S. Politics
Southern Baptist Leader Russell Moore Calling on Evangelicals to Stop Trump
Russell Moore, President of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, is leading the evangelical charge against Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump.
Christian News
China's President Outlines Effort to Restrict Religion
Chinese president Xi Jinping is asking leaders in the country to work to reassert the Communist Party of China as the controlling religion in the country.
Police: 2 US missionaries found slain in rural Jamaica
Police in Jamaica say two U.S. missionaries have been found slain in a rural area of the Caribbean island that has long struggled with high rates of violent crime.
Around the World
Israel, Hamas and Egypt form unlikely alliance against Islamic State affiliate
The Islamic State’s affiliate in Egypt is staging increasingly sophisticated and daring attacks, officials and analysts say, prompting Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian militant group Hamas to form an unlikely alliance against the terrorist group.
Iran to Build Seven New Nuke Plants By 2020
Iran is offering to help the global community construct nuclear power plants, according to a top official, who said that Iran would be home to seven new nuclear plants by 2020, according to recent remarks.
Sons of Hezbollah commanders sent to Europe to evade Syria fighting
Senior commanders in Hezbollah are smuggling their sons to Europe to prevent the Lebanese terror organization from recruiting them to fight in Syria against the rebel factions, the Egyptian news site Arabi 21 reported Monday.
Europe's First Islamic Constitution?
Calls by a top member of the ruling party of Turkey for an Islamic constitution to replace the secular basic law in place in the country, a NATO member and crucial U.S. ally, have been rejected by politicians from all stripes, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, himself a pious Muslim. But as Erdogan is trying to avoid a debate that could harm him politically, the question remains: How should the relationship between state and religion be defined in a country with a 99 percent Muslim population?
Shiite cleric's speech sparks protesters to storm Green Zone, Iraqi Parliament
Protesters inflamed by a Shiite cleric's speech about government inaction and corruption stormed the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad on Saturday and invaded the Iraqi Parliament building.
Turkey PM, Hamas chief meet as Ankara inks defense deal with Qatar
Turkish President Ahmet Davutoglu met Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal in Doha on Thursday during a state visit to the Gulf emirate of Qatar.
Islamic Jihad delegation visits Iran to 'discuss ways to strengthen intifada'
Islamic Jihad representatives are visiting Iran to discuss ways to strengthen the intifada in the West Bank and Jerusalem, Palestinian media reported on Sunday.
Russians 'barrel roll' over another U.S. Air Force plane
A Russian SU-27 conducted a 'barrel roll' Friday over the top of a U.S. Air Force RC-135 which was flying a reconnaissance mission in international airspace above the Baltic Sea, the Defense Department said.
Kerry urges Assad regime to quit bombing contested Aleppo
Secretary of State John Kerry urged Syrian government forces Saturday to stop bombarding the city of Aleppo as it moves in to retake it.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Dead Sea area contains oil worth NIS 1.2 billion
A new report released Sunday by Israel Opportunity Energy Resources LP and filed with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange claimed an oil reservoir near the Dead Sea is worth NIS 1.2 billion ($320 million).
Arab rioters on Temple Mount hurl stones at police
Police and Border Police officers were attacked on Friday by Palestinians throwing stones after Friday prayers in the Old City.
Inside the United States
Arrests in Seattle as May Day marchers take to streets
Seattle police used pepper spray to disperse black-clad anti-capitalist protesters authorities say threw rocks, flares, bricks and Molotov cocktails at officers during a rowdy May Day gathering.
Puerto Rico won't make $370 million in debt payments Monday
Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced that Puerto Rico's government will not make nearly $370 million in bond payments due Monday after a failure to restructure or find a political solution to the U.S. territory's spiraling public debt crisis.
Poll: Not a Single White House Reporter Is a Republican
Not a single member of the White House press corps is a registered Republican, according to survey results recently published by Politico.
U.S. Politics
Southern Baptist Leader Russell Moore Calling on Evangelicals to Stop Trump
Russell Moore, President of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, is leading the evangelical charge against Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump.
Christian News
China's President Outlines Effort to Restrict Religion
Chinese president Xi Jinping is asking leaders in the country to work to reassert the Communist Party of China as the controlling religion in the country.
Police: 2 US missionaries found slain in rural Jamaica
Police in Jamaica say two U.S. missionaries have been found slain in a rural area of the Caribbean island that has long struggled with high rates of violent crime.