A New Perspective on Constantine

(Worthy News) – Zimbabwe’s hopes to move past the long, damaging reign of ousted President Robert Mugabe hung in the balance Wednesday amid expanding violent protests and charges of ballot fraud over the results of the first post-Mugabe presidential election Monday.

Zimbabwe’s state broadcaster said three people were killed after military units employing live ammunition, tear gas and water cannons swept into the capital of Harare to disperse opposition supporters protesting preliminary results appearing to give a big victory to President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mr. Mnangagwa is a former top aide to Mr. Mugabe who broke with him politically two years ago and promised major economic and political reforms.

According to unofficial results released Wednesday by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) picked up at least 109 seats in the 210-seat Parliament. The opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), whose followers earlier this week were celebrating an apparent upset victory based on their own projections, managed to win 41 seats. As of Wednesday, the winners of the remaining 58 seats had yet to be declared. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

The post Zimbabwe's hopeful election gives way to deadly violence appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

(Worthy News) – A federal appeals court ruled President Trump’s executive order punishing sanctuary cities by withholding money is unconstitutional — but in a twist, the court cleared the way for the government to carry out the policy in much of the country.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Mr. Trump tried to steal Congress’s powers when his administration added new conditions to Justice Department grants by requiring cities and counties to cooperate with immigration authorities.

But the appeals court vacated Judge William H. Orrick’s nationwide injunction, saying he hadn’t proved there was a need to apply his ruling outside California. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

The post Court rules Trump anti-sanctuary policy unconstitutional appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

(Worthy News) – Congress is taking big strides to defuse President Trump’s shutdown threat, working to pass as many spending bills as possible before next month’s deadline so most of the government will remain open no matter what Mr. Trump demands on border security.

On Wednesday, the Senate cleared a $154 billion package that funds the Food and Drug Administration, the IRS and other programs for 2019. Senators now have passed seven of the 12 bills needed to keep the government open. The House has passed six.

Those measures still need to be reconciled in a conference committee, but lawmakers are pushing to have as many as nine bills completed before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, putting those operations on firm footing and outside the reach of a government shutdown. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

The post Lawmakers defuse Trump's shutdown threat by passing partial spending bills ahead of deadline appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

(Worthy News) – The Syrian army is expected to complete its takeover of the country’s southwest, near the border with Israel, in the next day or two. This will allegedly restore a familiar situation, in which Syria’s regime is once again stable, even if under the auspices of Russia.

This would seem to be an ideal situation, especially if reality on the ground reverts to the one that existed before the civil war began in 2011, when Syria and Israel both adhered to the 1974 cease-fire agreement in full. This would restore peace and quiet to the Golan Heights, which could once again become Israel’s most tranquil frontier.

The key word here is “if.” Unfortunately, the chances of this becoming reality are slim. The Syrian army may regain control on the ground, but it will not be the only armed presence near the border. Russia will be there too, and its presence is both a blessing and a curse. [ Source: Israel Hayom (Read More…) ]

The post Hezbollah likely to replace ISIS on Israel's northern border, IDF says appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

(Worthy News) – Twenty-nine fires erupted in Israeli communities ‎near the Gaza Strip border Tuesday, as Palestinian ‎arson terrorism continued to wreak havoc near the ‎volatile frontier. ‎

One incendiary balloon sent over the Gaza border ‎landed on a parked vehicle in the Eshkol Regional ‎Council, damaging its roof. No injuries were ‎reported in the incident.‎

Sdot Negev Regional Council head Tamir Idan leveled ‎harsh criticism at the government over what he ‎called its tolerance of the situation. ‎[ Source: Israel Hayom (Read More…) ]

The post 29 fires erupt as Palestinian arson terrorism ‎continues to scorch western Negev appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

(Worthy News) – President Donald Trump met with inner city pastors Wednesday to discuss prison reform, workforce development and partnering with the faith-based community.

“Throughout our history America’s churches and religious leaders have called for change and have inspired us to care and bring hope back to those in need,” Trump said.

The White House is working to push the passage of the First Step Act through the Senate aimed to improve criminal justice reform and rehabilitation. [ Source: CBN News (Read More…) ]

The post 'You Always Have a Friend at the White House': Trump Sits Down With Faith Leaders appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

(Worthy News) – Tens of thousands of people are expected to march for equal rights for the LGBT community under heavy police protection Thursday afternoon in what is being billed as the largest-ever gay pride parade in Jerusalem.

Three years after a deadly knife attack by an ultra-Orthodox zealot, security at the annual parade remains high, with the two-kilometer route in central Jerusalem slated to be heavily guarded by thousands of police officers.

Organizers say some 30,000 people are expected to take part in the march, which will begin at Plumer square at 5 p.m. and end at Independence Park after winding its way down Keren Hayesod Boulevard, Hillel Street and Moshe Ben Yisrael Street. [ Source: Times of Israel (Read More…) ]

The post Under heavy police guard, Jerusalem readies for city’s largest-ever Pride Parade appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

(Worthy News) – The US Senate easily passed a $716.3 billion defense authorization bill Wednesday that includes funding for Israel to defend itself against Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as ramping up military spending and bolstering America’s posture against Russia while avoiding policy changes that would have antagonized US President Donald Trump.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed 87 to 10 in the Senate a week after clearing the House of Representatives, and now heads to the White House for Trump’s signature.

The bill includes “the quantity and type of precision guided munitions that are necessary for Israel to combat Hezbollah in the event of a sustained armed confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah,” and “other armed groups and terrorist organizations such as Hamas.” [ Source: Times of Israel (Read More…) ]

The post US Senate passes huge defense bill including $550 million for Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

(Worthy News) – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard is expected to put 100 gun boats in the Persian Gulf sometime in the next 48 hours to practice “swarm” tactics simulating actions which could potentially shut down the Strait of Hormuz, where roughly 10 percent of the world’s oil passes through each year, two U.S. officials said Wednesday.

Iran normally conducts its annual “swarm” exercise in the fall, but officials said the event has been moved up likely due to recent threats made between President Donald Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in recent days.

In a statement about the exercise, Navy Capt. Bill Urban, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said: “We are aware of the increase in Iranian naval operations within the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. We are monitoring it closely, and will continue to work with our partners to ensure freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce in international waterways.” The Arabian Gulf is also known as the Persian Gulf. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

The post Iran planning Gulf 'swarm' drill involving 100 gun boats within days, US officials say appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

(Worthy News) – It’s steady as she goes for the Fed this time around, as many investors had pretty much baked in. After a June hike of the benchmark federal-funds rate to a range between 1.75% and 2%, the Fed concluded this week’s meeting Wednesday by standing pat and keeping rates right there.

The economy continues to look healthy by most measures, the Fed’s statement said, but rate policy remains “accommodative” to support what the Fed called “ strong labor market conditions and a sustained return to 2% inflation.” Still, the Fed arguably seems to be preparing investors for a possible rate hike by the time of its next meeting in September.

The Fed sees risks to the economy as “roughly balanced,” and said that “further gradual increases in the target range for the federal funds rate will be consistent with sustained expansion of economic activity, strong labor market conditions, and inflation near the Committee’s symmetric 2 percent objective over the medium term.” [ Source: Forbes (Read More…) ]

The post Holding It Steady: Fed Leaves Rates Unchanged Amid Positive Growth Talk appeared first on Worthy Christian News.