The popular arts and crafts chain Hobby Lobby has agreed to forfeit over 5,500 ancient artifacts and pay $3 million in a civil settlement after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint asserting that the items had been illegally shipped into the country from a dealer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The company denies any intentional […]
Southern Mexico (Mission Network News) — First experiences are often exciting to have, and sometimes even more exciting to watch. Think of when you saw a baby take their first steps, or a child perform in their first music recital, or an adult buy their first house. Celebration and joy thrum through the newness of […]
(Middle East Concern) — Iranian Christians request prayer for Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, Amin Afshar Naderi and Hadi Asgari, who face long prison sentences. Following a hearing on June 11, Judge Ahmadpour issued his verdict on July 3 and 4. Pastor Victor was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, Amin to 15 years (possibly including time […]
(Haaretz) — A newly discovered massive layer of fiery destruction confirms Pharaoh Merneptah’s boast that he “seized Gezer,” say archaeologists concluding their tenth season of excavations in the ancient Canaanite city – and report finding actual human remains there for the first time: two adults and a child, the latter still wearing earrings. The ancient […]
(The Guardian) — The Welsh and Scottish governments will offer free abortions to Northern Irish women, their leaders have confirmed, after the UK government said last week it would fund the procedures in order to head off a Commons revolt on the Queen’s speech. The confirmation came as the Democratic Unionist MP Ian Paisley Jr […]
(The Independent) — Evolution will no longer be taught in Turkish secondary schools after being described as a “controversial subject” by the government. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has personally approved the change, which will be part of a new national curriculum being published later this month. The head of the education ministry’s curriculum board, Alpaslan Durmuş, said a section on […]
(Voice of America) — Police and aid groups say more than 60 percent of illegal prostitutes in Belgium are trafficked from Nigeria. Many are only teenagers and almost all come from Benin City, a city in the south of Nigeria. Rosa was sexually exploited by Nigerian traffickers and had to prostitute herself on the streets […]
SPALDING, Lincolnshire — A recently-aired documentary that centered on a plot between a young teenage girl and her boyfriend to kill her mother has made public the boy’s confession for the first time. Lucas Markham and Kim Edwards, then 14, were both sentenced to 17 years in prison last year after Markham admitted guilt and Edwards was […]
BANGKOK, Thailand — A distraught man in Thailand recently pulled a knife on a police officer in taking out his frustration, but the incident ended much differently than expected. The 45-year-old man, whose name has not been released, entered the Huay Kwang police station on June 17, and pointed a knife at Officer Anirut Malee. But instead of […]
(The Independent) — Angela Merkel has voted against same-sex marriage in Germany because she believes that “marriage is between a man and woman.” Despite her opposition, the Bundestag voted to legalize equal marriage by 393 votes to 226, and the chancellor said she hoped the move would improve social cohesion. “For me, marriage in German law […]