(tense music)
- [Announcer] This is CBN Newswatch.
- And thank you so much for joining us.
I'm Efrem Graham.
Isis claims it hastaken 700 people hostage
from a Syrian refugee camp.
And the hostages include several
American and European citizens.
Russia's president told reporters Thursday
Islamic militants tookthe hostages during a raid
on a village controlledby US backed forces.
Vladimir Putin also claims the terrorists
have executed some of the hostages
and are planning to kill more.
CBN InternationalCorrespondent George Thomas
joins us now with moreon this developing story.
So George, what are the specific details
of this Isis hostage situation.
- So let's go to a map.
We have a map here thatshows exactly where
this attack took place.
It's about 250 milessoutheast, northeast rather,
of the capital city ofDamascus in a province
called Deir Ez-Zur and according to
Russian reports on October13th, Isis militants
attacked a village in Deir Ez-Zuir,
took about 130 families,close to about 700 individuals
and the British SunNewspaper has images showing
these men piled up in theback of pickup trucks,
folks who had come in from the desert,
the desert area justnorth, south of the region,
came in and captured them.
And Russia's president Vladimir Putin
said today in Sochi thatamong the Islamic hostages
in that area, more than700 people including
a US and Western citizens were captured.
- Have the terrorists made any demands?
- This is what we know so far.
What they're saying is theywant about 200 to 300 Isis
fighters that have beencaptured by US Forces
to be released.
They also want areas,territory that is in control
by US Forces on the easternbank of the Euphrates,
they want the US towithdraw from these areas.
If their demands are not met,
they are warning thatthey will kill 10 hostages
every day, accordingto Russia's president.
Today he said, 10 were killed yesterday.
- Bring us up to date on what is happening
in the last rebel heldstronghold in Syria.
- It's a stronghold known asIdlib and I think we have a
map of this area.
It is in essence, it is thelast rebel held area in Syria.
For the last seven years,
folks, fighters havebeen trying to dislodge,
the President Basharal-Assad and in essence
there are about 30,000fighters, 10,000 of whom are
foreign fighters that are holed up
in this particular province.
In the last few months,Russia, backed by Iranian
and Turkish forces havesurrounded the province
and they're been trying to get in there.
The United States hasintervened, basically telling
the Russians and the Turks to hold off.
There are close to aboutthree million citizens
that are caught in the crossfire.
There is some negotiationto try and get these
various foreign fightersas well as Isis fighters
to lay down their arms and to create
a safe passage corridor that will allow
civilians to come outof Idlib and hopefully
deescalate the situation.
- Alright, thank you George for the update
on that developing story.
Much appreciated.
- You're welcome.
- Secretary of State MikePompeo briefed the President
on his trip to SaudiArabia and Turkey and says
he told Saudi rulers theUS takes the disappearance
of journalist JamalKhashoggi very seriously.
- They made clear to methat they too understand
the serious nature of thedisappearance of Mr. Khashoggi.
The also assured me that they will conduct
a complete thoroughinvestigation of all of the facts
surrounding Mr. Khashoggiand that they will do so
in a timely fashion.
- He also said the USwill decide how to respond
after learning theoutcome of investigations
by the Kingdom and Turkey.
Khashoggi is feared dead after entering
the Saudi Consulate in Istanbulmore than two weeks ago.
Turkish authorities say hewas tortured and killed.
The Saudis have denied involvement.
Pompeo also said that intalks with the Saudis,
he stressed America's long standing
strategic relationship with the Kingdom.
Senior InternationalCorrespondent, Dale Hurd
joins us now with more on this story.
So it sounds like theUS remains cautiously
committed to the Saudis,but what is the incident
doing to the relation betweenSaudi Arabia and Turkey?
- Frenemies, frenemies.
Which is what they'vebeen for a long time.
Turkey used to control the Middle East
at the beginning of thelast century, they declined.
Oil made the Saudis powerful.
Saudi Arabia is the big playerin the neighborhood now.
People say Turkey wants torevive the Ottoman Empire.
They have some sharedinterests and they have
some opposite interests.
Turkey is pro-MuslimBrotherhood, Saudi Arabia
is anti-Muslim Brotherhood.
- There have been someposts on social media
that Turkey may somehowbe behind the incident
as a way to damage US Turkish relations.
Any possibility?
- Yeah, conspiracytheory, but if you've ever
seen the movie, sometimes they're true.
Look, Khashoggi was in love,he wanted to get married.
He made an appointmentat the Saudi Embassy
to get a certificate sohe could get remarried.
The knew he was coming.
They're used to torturing people.
They were upset withhim because he refused
to join the government as an advisor.
And they do what they do best,
actually they botched it.
I mean, they're used to torturing people.
And I think they accidentally killed him.
And I think this is just a gift
that was handed to the Turks.
- Oh, wow, will this incidentchange US-Saudi relations
or weaken Saudi's standingin the Arab world?
- Long term, it's hard to say.
But our excuse used to be oil.
For this strangerelationship with the Saudis.
It's one of the most barbaricregimes, still, in the world.
And we don't have to go down the list but,
they're beheading peoplein the streets, right?
Criminals or dissidents.
But Iran is in the neighborhood,we need Saudi Arabia
as a buttress against Iranian influence.
I think that we're gonnacontinue to get burned though,
by this relationship.
Unless Saudi Arabia cleans up its act,
some people are callingfor the Crown Prince
to get the boot, because he'sthe heir apparent right now.
Our being allied with regimes like this,
it's gonna get us every time.
- The President hassaid he's being cautious
and waiting until theresults of the investigation.
How soon do you think we'reactually gonna know something?
- I think we already know.
And so this is all like Kabuki theater.
It's just pretend drama and
we're gonna find out,somebody's gonna take the
fall in the assassination squad.
The Saudi government'sgonna act like they were
acting on their own.
They weren't.
And we're gonna pretend to believe them.
- And so likely, sanctions,not gonna happen, will?
- I think that they'regonna let the Senate vent
and get it out of theirsystem and the White House
is gonna try and reinthis in and move ahead.
- Political theater indeed.
Alright, thank you DaleHurd for that report.
Twitter is allowing Nation of Islam Leader
Louis Farrakhan tocontinue using social media
despite his posts of videoand anti-Semitic comments.
Farrakhan made the comments in a Detroit
celebration of the 23rd anniversary
of the Million Man March.
His post read, "I'm not an anti-Semite,
"I'm an anti-Termite."
A Twitter spokesperson reportedly said
that Farrakhan's account could remain
because it didn't contradictany current policies.
However it is working on its standards
to expand its hatefulconduct policy to include
content that de-humanizes others.
Former Atlanta Fire Chief, Kelvin Cochran
wins a victory for his faith.
The city is paying him 1.2 million dollars
after a federal judge rules
his dismissal is unconstitutional.
Mr. Cochran and hisattorney, David Cochran,
with the Alliance DefendingFreedom, joins us right now
with more on this case.
First of all, Kelvin, what isyour reaction to this ruling?
- I'm just overjoyed at the outcome of it.
The judge ruled that thepolicy was unconstitutional.
And the city decided to settle.
And I'm just thankful to God for that.
- David, why is this awin, not just for Kelvin
but also others?
- Well, it's a giant win,not only because of the
First Amendment here, is put into place,
but these situations arehappening all around the country.
Anybody who watches thenews, watches your program
realized that the bakers,the photographers,
people all over thecountry are being targeted
for their beliefs, andthis sends a message
to local government that hostility against
people of faith will come at a high price.
- When it comes to this hostility, David,
why do you think employerstake steps like this
when Freedom of Religion issuch a foundational right
in our Constitution?
- Well, it's incredible.
I think it's a lot todo with the political
correctness that goes around.
It has to do with some groups on the left
who have a loud voice who pressure local
municipalities, which ispart of what happened here.
But I think people of faithjust need to be vigilant
and take a stand and do what the Chief did
and say look, enough is enough.
- Kelvin, what's God done in your life
through this experienceand what's next for you?
- Well, I've seen a side ofGod that I've never seen before
even though I've been raisedin church most all of my life.
Things that we've celebratedthat's happened in the lives
of people in the Bible,Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego
and Daniel, I'veexperienced them firsthand.
Hopefully, this vindicationmay open up some other
doors of opportunitiesin the Fire Service.
But if that doesn'thappen, I'm gonna continue
to serve at my churchand continue to serve
God in men's ministryand continue to fight
for religious liberty.
- Kelvin, I know this hasto have been a difficult
time for you.
What would you adviseand say to other people
who may be facing similarpersecution in their workplace?
- Well, first of all, Godhas prepared us for that.
You wouldn't be goingthrough it if he hadn't
prepared you for it.
And then the short, simplething is if you have to make
a choice between living out your faith
and keeping your job, accordingto our faith and our God
that we serve, the best thingto do is live out your faith
and let God deal with the consequences.
- David Courtman, how wouldyou advise people legally?
- I think the best thingis just get informed
about what's going on.
Obviously, the ADF is here,we've represented the Chief
all these years, free of charge.
It's been great tobecome friends with him.
But really know what your rights are.
Our faith is not meantto be put away in silence
or within the four walls of the church.
We have the God given right that enshrined
in our Constitution to be ableto discuss that in public.
And that's really the key.
If faith is that important to you,
you need to be able toexercise it without penalty
and without fear of losingyour job or your career.
- Kelvin I know thishas been a long fight.
What's kept you going?
- Well, just my faith in God.
And just worshipping everyday in my own private time,
having a strong wifeand supportive family,
a church family atElizabeth Baptist Church
that supportive and havingAlliance Defending Freedom
to fight as God's attorneys in the earth.
- What's been the most difficult part
of this journey thus far?
- Well, just the time element of it.
I knew that God was gonna vindicate me.
You just do not know when he's gonna act.
But thanks be to God,the four years is over
and I'm just super grateful.
- Alright, Kelvin andDavid, thank you both
for your time.
Much appreciated and God bless you both.
- God bless you.- Thank you very much.
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- Coming up, the latest on federal funding
for research that includes the purchase
of aborted baby body parts.
We've got the storycoming up right after this
on CBN Newswatch.
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Undercover investigationsreveal the market for
aborted baby body parts issignificant in the industry.
CNS Reporter, TerryJeffrey has been tracking
the practice for years.
He joins us now withmore on this practice.
So Terry, tell us aboutthe federal contract
of 13 million dollars forthe University of California
at San Francisco.
- The National Institutesof Health has a long-running
contract with the Universityof California at San Francisco.
It's a seven year contract.
It's optionally renewable.
Each year, the next renewal date is
December 5th of this year.
It's got two more years on it.
But according to thesolicitation at the NIH
put out for this contract,the contractor's required
to produce two differenttypes of quote, unquote,
"humanized mice."
And each of these twotypes of humanized mice
need to be made with humanfetal liver and thymus
and they have to makeone cohort, so to speak,
of each of these mice each month,
one of them being 50 mice that are made
from one donor baby,another being up to 40 mice
made from one donor baby.
So if the contractfollows the solicitation,
which by the way, Ipublished with my story,
then the contractor UCSFwould have to get tissue
from two late termaborted babies every month
to make these mice forthe federal government
that has contracted for them to be made.
- So how common is this medical research?
They need the tissueto make humanized mice?
- Yes, it's very common.
The NIH itself estimatesthat in fiscal year 2018,
that just ended, they spent $103 million
on research using human fetal tissue.
This year they're estimatingthey're gonna spend
about 95 million.
UC San Francisco is by nomeans, the only medical school
or research institute around the country
that is getting federalmoney, either through
a contractor or a grant tomake these kind of mice.
They're being made all over the country.
And I will say the literaturethat people at UCSF
who are working under this contract,
have put out in medicaljournals, they describe
one type of mouse thatthey transplant with human
fetal intestine, that comesfrom babies that they say
were aborted for non-medical reasons
in an elective terminationat 18 to 24 weeks gestation.
Another type of mouse thatthey make under this contract
they say they were makingwith human fetal liver
and thymus from babies at20 to 24 weeks of gestation.
So we're talking aboutorgans that come from babies
who are aborted in lateterm in order to allow
this federally funded research,
in this case under a federalcontract, to go forward.
- Why is the federalgovernment continuing to
make these grants?
Are there not alternatives?
- Well, one of the things,I ask 16 specific questions
to HHS, which oversees the the NIH about
this particular contract,
They didn't answer my specific questions
but they did give me a statement
which I published in full.
And in the statement they didpoint out that there's one
program they're sponsoring right now,
to try and make these kindof mice with umbilical
cord blood and see if that works.
Now, the type of mouse,and yeah, hopefully
that will work.
Because then they wouldn'tneed an aborted baby
to make these mice.
But the type of micethis contract calls for
specifically requires humanfetal liver and thymus
and at those ages ofgestation that I talked about
that they mentioned in their literature.
- Alright, Terry Jeffrey,thank you so much
for your work.
We appreciate your time.
- Thank you.
(swoosh)
- Still ahead, what exactlydo Americans believe
these days about God, about Jesus,
about the Bible, about sin?
We'll explore the answers next.
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For the first time,most US Evangelicals say
God accepts the worship of all religions.
It's part of a state of theology survey
by Ligonier Ministries.
Many might considerthese results startling.
Ligonier's Doctor StephenNichols is here now
with more, he's also the President of
Reformation Bible College.
So, Dr. Nichols, wereyou surprised by what
you found in this survey?
- There were a fewthings that surprised us.
We're very glad we did this.
We wanted to just take thetheological temperature,
as it were, of justthe American population
in general, but alsoAmerican Evangelicals.
We found one startlingthings, as you mentioned,
that statistic regardingthose that God accepts
the worship of Judaism,Islam and Christianity,
53 percent of Evangelicalsagree with that.
- Wow, now you also askedpeople about what they believe
about God and Jesus Christ?
- We did.
We have a question about the Trinity.
And it's just a straightforward statement
about the Trinity.
And remarkably, themajority of the American
population agrees withthe statement and affirms
what we would call atraditional view of the Trinity.
But then we asked thequestion, if Jesus is
created by God.
Now that's actually afourth century heresy.
It was dealt with at a church council.
And when you look at the statistics there,
when it comes to the American population,
the general population,just a slight majority
agree that Jesus was created by God,
which is to say they would have
been condemned at that council.
But to Evangelicals, 71percent agree with it.
So seven out of 10 Evangelicals
would have been condemnedat the Council of Nicaea
and they think that Jesuswas a created being.
And that statement really diminishes
the true and unmitigateddeity of Jesus Christ.
And that's of course, a very crucial
theological piece to believe in.
- Indeed, do most Americansstill believe in sin?
- Interestingly, they do butthey want to minimize it.
They say that everyone may sin a little.
But most people are good (audio fails)
Sin deserves eternal damnation.
And typically in these surveys, you know,
you see the likert scale,a sort of even going across
with strongly agree,strongly disagree, etc.,
this one spiked.
Americans do not like to think that that
even the smallest sinis worthy of damnation.
Of course, what do we find in scripture,
that God is holy, holy, holy.
And so we need to be reminded of that.
- Indeed.
Do they believe that the Bibleis the inerrant Word of God?
- A slim majority but here'sthe interesting thing.
Does the Bible hold today?
So we put some ethical questions to them.
And so the question weput to them was this.
The Bible's condemnationof homosexual behavior
no longer applies today.
And the reason we putthe question that way
is we think this getsat a crucial question.
Are we gonna follow what scripture says,
or are we sort of goingto listen to the culture
of the day and to the moment?
And on that score, a slightmajority agree with that
statement, that no longer applies.
But what is a little bit concerning here,
is that when we, we can breakthis down demographically,
when we go to Millennials,those ages 18 to 34,
we see that they are eightpercent ahead of the general
population in agreeingwith that statement.
So we're seeing thatMillennials are shaped
almost by an entirelydifferent world and culture
by those who came of age, who are over 34
on these very crucial issues.
We also asked an issueregarding gender identity.
And there we found the same thing
that the Millennials wereabout five percent away
from the general population.
- Real quick, whatimplications do these findings
have, do you think, for us as Christians.
- I think we should use them,I think we should study them.
I think they can helpus both in the church,
to help us understandin the church the task
we have of teaching, of knowing the gospel
and being able to contend for the gospel
and proclaim the gospel.
But I think it also helps us understand
what we're dealing with in culture.
I mentioned this statistic of looking at
what Millennials believe.
I think it's very helpfulas we try to understand
the world in which that group
it was shaped in.
And as they are coming intobe, what their views are.
The other thing that's interesting here,
is we did a UK poll, we'regonna release the results
of that, to compare US and UK results.
- Alright, we look forwardto that, thank you so much
for your insight.
- Oh, my pleasure, thanks for having us.
(swoosh)
- Coming up, Kathie LeeGifford has a hew book out
with a big challenge for children.
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Kathie Lee Gifford has anew book out for children.
It's called The Gift that I Can Give.
It focuses on what childrencan do to make the world
a better place with actionsas simple as being kind
or giving someone a hug.
Gifford hopes to showchildren the countless ways
to show God's love.
I had a chance to speakwith her about the book
and you can see that interview on Studio5,
right here on our news channelor online at CBNNews.com.
And that is gonna do for this edition
of CBN Newswatch.
Thank you so much for watching.
Remember you can find moreof our exclusive coverage
of the issues you care most about
at CBNNews.com.
We'd love to know what youthink about the stories
you see here.
You can do that byemailing newswatch@CBN.com.
Thank you so much for watching.
Good-bye and God bless.
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