A New Perspective on Constantine

(Worthy News) – In a bid to sustain trade and economic relations with Iran, the European Union is looking to its so-called “blocking statute” that will forbid European companies from complying with enacted U.S. sanctions.

Germany is a major trade partner to Iran, and its economy ministry pledged Monday to “guarantee” investment and exports to Iran. Debate continues, however, over whether companies will choose to stay.

Much is at stake, as President Trump underlined in a tweet Tuesday: “Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States.” [ Source: CNS News (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – The State Department sought for a second day to avoid inflaming a spiraling diplomatic row between Saudi Arabia and Canada Tuesday, calling on both sides to sort out their differences over a delicate human rights dispute.

While department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said U.S. officials have raised human rights concerns with the Saudis in the past, she stressed that Riyadh and Ottawa “need to diplomatically resolve this together.”

Saudi Arabia moved Sunday to expel the Canadian ambassador from Riyadh and declared a freeze on all new trade deals between the two countries, following Canada’s demand that the Saudis free women’s rights activists and others arrested in the Kingdom. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – On Monday, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, in conjunction with the top diplomats of Britain, France and, for that matter, Germany, released a joint statement expressing “deep regret” over the re-imposition of American sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

“We are determined to protect European economic operators engaged in legitimate business with Iran,” the politicians wrote. “This is why the European Union’s updated Blocking Statute enters into force on 7 August to protect EU companies…from the impact of US extra-territorial sanctions.”

The “blocking statute”—a law enacted in one jurisdiction to obstruct the application of a law enacted in another jurisdiction—essentially prohibits EU firms from complying with US sanctions and provides mechanisms that allow businesses to recover any resulting damages while negating potential foreign court rulings against them.

For good measure, the EU committed to the “preservation and maintenance of effective financial channels with Iran, and the continuation of Iran’s export of oil and gas.”[ Source: Jerusalem Post (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – Former Michigan state Rep. Rashida Tlaib has won the Democratic nomination to run unopposed for the House seat long held by former Rep. John Conyers, setting her up to become the first Muslim woman elected to Congress.

No Republicans or third-party candidates ran in Tuesday’s District 13 primary race, meaning Tlaib is set to win the seat in November’s election and begin serving a full two-year term in January. The special primary race to serve the last two months of Conyers’ term was still too close to call as of early Wednesday morning, with Tlaib and Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones were neck and neck. The winner of that race will also run unopposed in November’s election.

Tlaib, 42, served in the Michigan House from 2009 until 2014. She defeated five other candidates to win the nomination to run for a full term representing the heavily Democratic district, which covers much of Detroit and some of its suburbs. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – The largest wildfire ever recorded in California needed just 11 days to blacken an area nearly the size of Los Angeles — and it’s only one of many enormous blazes that could make this the worst fire season in state history.

Some 14,000 firefighters from as far away as Florida and even New Zealand are struggling to curb 18 fires in the midst of a sweltering summer that has seen wind-whipped flames carve their way through national forest land and rural areas, threaten urban areas and incinerate neighborhoods.

Some of the largest fires have erupted just within the past few weeks as the state has seen record-setting temperatures — and the historically worst months of wildfire season are still to come. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – President Trump declared victory in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District on Tuesday night, as Republicans he endorsed won their primaries and possibly a critical special election.

The National Republican Congressional Committee claimed a win in Ohio’s 12th, too. “Congratulations to Congressman-Elect [Troy] Balderson on his hard-fought victory tonight,” said NRCC chairman Steve Stivers in a statement. “Nancy Pelosi and her liberal donors flooded this district with money and ads in an attempt to buy this seat. However, Troy’s focus never wavered from the issues central Ohioans care about like fighting opioids, creating jobs, and lowering taxes.”

So did the Republican National Committee. “Today, the voters of Ohio’s 12th District elected a true conservative committed to pro-growth policies that have already brought new jobs and economic confidence to the state under President Trump’s leadership,” said RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. “Voters are tired of Democrats’ message of resist and obstruct, and [Democratic nominee] Danny O’Connor’s empty campaign rhetoric was no exception. With President Trump’s support that helped lead him to victory, Troy Balderson’s win tonight is another example of the so-called ‘blue wave’ being nothing but a ripple.” [ Source: Washington Examiner (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – Officials from Gaza Strip-based Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) met on Tuesday with Russian officials in Moscow, drawing concern from Israel.

A delegation led by PIJ Deputy Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhla and other senior leaders, including Mohammed al-Hindi and Anwar Abu Taha, first arrived in the Russian capital on Monday.

During an “in-depth and lengthy” meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov the following day, PIJ officials emphasized the importance of Palestinian national reconciliation and their opposition to the Trump administration’s efforts to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, the Islamist group shared in a statement. [ Source: Algemeiner (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – Italian Maj. Gen. Stefano Del Col replaced Irish Maj. Gen. Michael Beary as the new commander of the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon on Tuesday — a development that was welcomed by a top Israeli diplomat.

“UNIFIL is an important force, with more than 10,000 soldiers,” Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said in a statement. “Its more robust mandate is designed to push back against the blatant, unauthorized arms buildup of Hezbollah, a proxy of Iran, in southern Lebanon. With a new commander, there is a new opportunity to fulfill more of this important mission.”

Danon’s office explained: “UNIFIL’s mandate has been to restore peace and security to the Israeli – Lebanese border. Following the Second Lebanon War in 2006, its mandate was expanded to include monitoring the area between the Blue Line and Litani River, and keep it free of armed personnel, other than Lebanese government or UNIFIL forces. Last September, the US and Israel worked together to further expand UNIFIL’s mandate by authorizing patrols with Lebanese forces and requiring reports when peacekeepers run into Hezbollah roadblocks.” [ Source: Algemeiner (Read More…) ]

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(Worthy News) – China is in the midst of an “ambitious new effort” to lessen or even eradicate the influence of Christianity and religion from the country, according to an investigation by the Associated Press.

An in-depth story by AP described churches being shut down, Bibles being seized and restrictions being placed on other religions, too. Crescents have been removed from mosques and Tibetan children removed from Buddhist temples and placed in public schools.

One Christian named Guo described an incident in which Chinese officials interrupted a church meeting and told everyone to leave. They then ordered church leaders to remove a cross, a Bible verse and a painting of the Last Supper off the wall. Guo didn’t give his full name out of fear of government repercussions. [ Source: Christian Headlines (Read More…) ]

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