- [Announcer] This is CBN NewsWatch.
- It is Wednesday, April 14, 2021.
Thank you so much forjoining us, I'm Efrem Graham.
Want to begin this half hour with this,
today the president isexpected to announce plans
to completely withdraw from Afghanistan,
but he's extending the May 1st deadline
set by the Trump administration
to September 11th of this year.
As Heather Sells reports,
the plan has drawn fire fromlawmakers in both parties.
- [Heather] The US sent troopsto Afghanistan 20 years ago.
It has helped to largely cripple Al-Qaeda
and kill Osama bin Laden, thearchitect of the 911 attacks.
It has also led to progressin Afghan democracy
and women's rights,
something critics fear couldbe lost if the US pulls out.
- [Antony] Ultimately any peace
that is going to be lastingand that is going to be just
has to be Afghan-led.
- [Heather] Secretary ofstate Antony Blinken says
the president is committed toa complete troop withdrawal.
The decision will end in almost
$1 trillion investment by the US
that's killed more than 2000troops and wounded 20,000.
- I will say that thepresident has been consistent
in his view that there'snot a military solution
to Afghanistan, that we havebeen there for far too long,
that has been his view for some time.
Well-documented, well-reported on.
- [Heather] The word of Biden's decision
led to bipartisan criticism.
Republicans quickly blastedthe president's move
with Senator Mitch McConnellcalling it a grave mistake
and Lindsey Graham adisaster in the making,
and in the House, LizCheney says the pullout
will only embolden the jihadist
who attacked us 20 years ago.
Among Democrats,
Senate Armed ServicesCommittee Chair Jack Reed
is unenthusiastic,
telling a reporterthere is no easy answer.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen said,the US has sacrificed too much
to leave without verifiableassurances of a secure future.
But there was some praise too,
Republican Senator Josh Hawley saying,
it's time for this forever war to end.
And Senator Mike Lee,glad to see us moving out.
On the far left BernieSanders and Elizabeth Warren
are showing strong support.
Some close to Biden sayhis absolute deadline
is based on this simple calculation,
tying a troop withdrawalto security conditions
would be, quote,
a recipe for stayingin Afghanistan forever.
His September 11th date may help,
given a desire among many Americans
to put a painful pieceof history in the past.
Heather Sells, CBN News.
- The Centers for Disease Control signals
it may continue the use ofJohnson and Johnson's vaccine
as soon as Wednesday.
The CDC's advisorycommittee will convene today
for an emergency session
to determine and vote onupdated recommendations for use.
Injections of the vaccinecame to a sudden halt Tuesday
after the FDA called for a pause.
The reason for that pauseis the vaccine caused
a rare blood clottingdisorder in six recipients.
As of Monday, more than 6million doses of this vaccine
had been administered,
it is only a small portion
of the 190 million COVID vaccines.
Most of the shots werefrom Pfizer and Moderna.
Joining us now to talk more
is CBN's medical reporter Lorie Johnson.
So Lorie, is pausing the J&Jvaccine and overreaction?
- Efrem, so many health experts are saying
it is an overreaction thatcould have deadly consequences
if people misunderstandthe facts of this case
and don't get vaccinated.
So here are the facts.
We know that 6.8 million Americans
have gotten the J&J vaccine
and six women have hadthese rare blood clots.
We don't know if the vaccine caused them,
but let's just say that it did,
the chance of thishappening to you is 0.0009%.
So people talk about, oh, it'sa one in a million chance,
actually it's even rarer than that.
So your chance of this happening to you
is so rare that,
you're more at risk of gettingstruck by lightning twice.
You have a 2000% more timeschance of getting blood clots
from birth control pills,
and here's the mostimportant statistic Efrem.
If you have COVID the virus,
you have an 11% chance ofdeveloping blood clots,
oftentimes these blood clots are deadly,
this is something that you and I
have talked about the last year.
Also, of these six women
who got these extremelyrare blood clots, one died,
so we're talking about onedeath out of 7 million people,
that's an extremely good safety record.
In fact, it's better than
many other pharmaceuticalproducts on the market,
including Tylenol.
So a lot of folks say,yes, it is an overreaction
- With that said, when mightthis pause then be lifted?
- Well, it could be as early as today,
and health officials may say
it's okay to get the J&J vaccine
but perhaps women ofchildbearing age, maybe not.
We know that all six of these women
are between the ages of 18 and 48,
or they could say everyone'sstill safe to get the vaccine
although they might put a warning with it,
that there's a very, veryrare incidence of some
extremely rare bloodclots associated with it.
- So what should peoplewho've gotten the vaccine
be looking for?
- Well, again, I'll tellyou the symptoms are
but I'm hesitant to do so
because it kind of creates the impression
that this might happen to you,
but it's just so rarethat it sort of heightens
the people's anxiety about it
but of these six women they had
and for other people who might wonder
what they should be looking for,
we're talking about extremeheadache that doesn't go away,
difficulty breathing,extreme abdominal pain,
and or leg pain that does not subside.
If you have these symptoms
contact your healthprofessional, your doctor.
- So what is happening for those
who were scheduled to get theJohnson and Johnson vaccine?
- Right, so a lot of people were
expecting to get it yesterday,
and when they showed upat the vaccination site
they were given the Pfizervaccine if they wanted it.
So the good news is there'splenty of Pfizer and Moderna
to fill the gap.
And so we're still on track,
even without the J&J vaccine
to meet that goal of vaccinatedeverybody in the country
who wants a vaccine by May 31st.
And as you pointed out earlier,
the J&J vaccine is reallyonly made up about 5 or 6%
of all the vaccines thathave been given so far,
so it's not yet the major player
that many people thought it might be.
- All right, Lorie Johnsonalways appreciate your insight.
Thank you so much.
- Sure.
- The police officer who shotand killed an unarmed man
during a deadly trafficstop in Minneapolis
has now stepped down.
Kim Potter was a 26 yearveteran of the police force
that is the BrooklynCenter Police Department.
Also resigning, the city's police chief.
Those announcements are coming
in the wake of anothernight of unrest in Minnesota
and several cities across the country.
Police in riot gear,
deploying flash bangs andpepper balls on crowds
protesting the death of20 year old Daunte Wright.
A somber day of remembrancein Washington as lawmakers,
including president JoeBiden and US Capitol Police
paid respect to one of their own.
Officer William Evans died inthe line of duty April 2nd,
after a driver struck himwhile trying to break through
Capitol barricades.
Evans is the sixth person tolie in the US Capitol rotunda
and the second Capitol policeofficer this year alone.
Our CBN news Capitol Hillcorrespondent joins us right now
to show us more on the farewell ceremony.
- There's no doubt 2021has been a tough year
for the US Capitol Police,
which in just four monthshas lost three members
including Billy Evans,
an officer known forhis welcoming presence,
dad jokes and big smile.
- Your son, your husband, yourbrother, your dad was a hero.
- [Abigail] President Joe Biden,
who himself has lost awife and two children
spoke at Wednesday's Memorial.
- My prayer for all of you is that
a day will come when you have that memory,
and I said, just smile beforeyou bring a tear to your eyes.
- [Abigail] Officer Evansserved for 18 years.
He tragically died on Good Friday
when a driver rammed
into the North barricadeof the US Capitol,
killing Evans andinjuring another officer.
- His sacrifice recalls scripture,
greater love has no one than this,
that he laid down hislife for his friends.
- [Abigail] Evans is survivedby his wife and two children,
Logan and Abigail.
- Because as long as you have them,
you've got Billy.
- [Abigail] Earlier thisyear, Officer Brian Sicknick
lay in honor on herafter dying from injuries
sustained while defendingthe Capitol on January 6th.
Among others who'vereceived the distinction
reserved for non-governmentor military officials,
include Reverend Billy Graham
and civil rights leader Rosa Parks.
Evan's death comes at a time
when many Capitol police officers
are still dealing with the trauma
of what happened to them on January 6th
and feelings of beingoverworked and understaffed.
Reporting from Virginia,Abigail Robertson, CBN News.
- [Efrem] Coming up, 100,000 rockets
pointed at Israel by Hezbollah.
What will happen if they launch,
and how could the Bidenadministration be the trigger?
The answer, right after this.
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Get your free DVD or bookletof "Protect your Sleep".
- [Announcer] As the worldwatches from the outside.
- It's a big diplomatic tug ofwar here in the Middle East.
- [Announcer] Go inside thestory with "Jerusalem Dateline".
- Israeli archeologists aretalking about a discovery
that could change the thinkingabout the temple Mount.
- [Announcer] Join CBNJerusalem Bureau Chief
Chris Mitchell, and getthe biblical perspective
on the events shaping the world.
- What starts in Israel thenends up going to other places.
- [Announcer] Watch "Jerusalem Dateline"
Friday night at 8:30
on the CBN News channel.
- [Announcer] Life, it'smeant to be lived fully.
Jesus said it, I came to give you life,
life to the fullest,
life in your family,
life in your finances,
life in your body, mind and spirit,
life in your everyday.
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- Israel is making plans
now that it's clear the United States
will likely reenter theIranian nuclear deal.
CBN Middle East Bureau ChiefChris Mitchell shows us
what could happen if an attack from Iran
were actually to happen
and what it would meanfor Israel and Hezbollah
and Iran's proxy army.
- The border here betweenIsrael and Lebanon
is deceptively quiet,
but on the other side of this fence
lies Hezbollah, withmore than 100,000 rockets
that can hit almostanywhere inside Israel.
- All of them were brought to Lebanon
in order to be launchedagainst Israel one day.
- [Chris] Retired LieutenantColonel Sarit Zehavi
studies the danger of Hezbollah,
through her research organization, Alma.
- [Sarit] Hezbollah is theproxy of Iran in the region.
It's the most professionalproxy of Iran in the region.
It's the most equipped,
dangerous proxy of Iran in the region.
And we are here standing,looking in the eyes Hezbollah,
and the people that are raising their kids
just a few feet from us,
every morning looking inthe eyes of Hezbollah.
- I'm standing in the village of Hanita
here on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Behind me you can see childrenplaying in this kindergarten
and over here, you can see howclose the Lebanese border is.
The sense of danger is real,
and ever present for those living here.
In 2006, they lived through a 34 day war
which saw Hezbollah fire nearly4,000 rockets into Israel.
That barrage paralyzed Northern Israel,
chasing a million Israelis to the South
while the rest spent most ofthat month in bomb shelters.
In 2021, the IDF believes
Hezbollah is once againconsidering attacking Israel
in what Zehavi describesas days of battle.
- Days of battle wouldmean that the people
that are living justhere, a few feet from us
would not be able toget out of their home,
because it will be too dangerous,
meaning that their childrenwill hear the sirens
every two weeks and willhave to run for shelter.
This is a reality
that is unbearable forthe people of the North.
- This is the only active border crossing
between Israel and Lebanon.
The UN base is just down theroad within a no man's land,
and I'm standing in an IDF base
that keeps constant watch over Hezbollah.
- Their threat is no joke
and we never underestimate ourenemy, but we keep training,
we keep practicing, we keepon gathering intelligence
and always getting prepared
and keeping readinessfor the next conflict,
for the next fight, makingsure we have the upper hand.
- [Chris] Lieutenant Dalton describes
Hezbollah's military strategyas one of blending in
by creating a virtual civilian camouflage.
- Hezbollah decided to take the step
and make all of itsestablishments in Southern Lebanon
based on civilian clothing,civilian territory,
civilian houses,
really blend itself, camouflageitself into the population
and keep operating in,
so they know to hide,
whether it's taking overcivilian villages or households
and really setting base up over there,
but our intelligence isstrong enough to understand
their work and how they operate
and to really pinpoint thelocation of their bases
inside civilian territory.
- [Chris] Another hiddenweapon in Hezbollah's arsenal
is these undergroundtunnels along the border.
CBN News got a rare look into this one
that took years to build measuringat least 25 stories deep.
It had already crossedinto Israeli territory
before the IDF uncovered and sealed it.
Zehavi's organizationidentified another weapon,
by exposing Hezbollah assemblingprecision guided missiles
inside Beirut.
- What most Americans, mostChristians in the United States,
North America and aroundthe world don't realize
is that Lebanon is important to Iran
because it is the forward operating base
of their most aggressive offensive attack
whenever they decided to attack Israel.
- [Chris] Middle East expert
and author of "The Beirut Protocol",
Joe Rosenberg warns what might happen
as the Biden administration considers
reentering the Iranian nuclear deal.
- If Israel feared thatthe Biden administration
was going to go downsome road of negotiations
that was shortsighted,ill-conceived and dangerous,
Israel might have to attack,to neutralize those sites.
- [Chris] That could trigger Hezbollah.
- Iran would unleash a barrage,
the most devastating missile attack,
maybe in the history of mankind,
they have upwards of I hear150,000 missiles positioned
right across that border,all through Southern Lebanon.
And they would light up the skies
and all the Israel defenses,
all the missile defenses wehave, would do some good,
but it couldn't possiblystop a barrage of thousands
and thousands and thousands ofmissiles coming in every day.
- [Chris] Israel's leadersrealize those dangers.
Some believed the IDF's goal would be
to make its next response so massive
that the next war with Hezbollahwould be known as the last.
Chris Mitchell, CBN News, onthe Israeli Lebanese border.
- [Efrem] Still ahead, sheis one of the younger voices
in a gospel music royal family,
but she's already a recording artist,
an actress and an entrepreneur,and that's not all.
We're going to share KierraSheard Kelly's newest chapter
when CBN NewsWatch returns in a moment.
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- [Announcer] Life is betterwith a good night's sleep.
Get your free DVD or bookletof "Protect Your Sleep" today.
- [Efrem] I'm Efrem Graham,and this is "Studio 5".
Cruise with me, as I discover
the good things happeningin the world of music,
sports, television, and movies.
- When Ryan Coogler was goingto be directing the film,
I knew that somethingspecial was going to happen.
- [Efrem] We'll chat with artists
at the forefront of entertainmentand explore the connection
between popular culture and faith.
- I asked my pastor, I said, well
does that mean I'msupposed to be a preacher?
He says oh no, you already have a pulpit.
- [Announcer] Wednesday night at 8:30
on the CBN News Channel.
- [Announcer] Remember for a moment
what it was like to be a child,
you believed every story you were told,
you saw a world full ofendless possibilities.
What stories will the world's orphaned
and at-risk children believe?
We believe the Bible tells the only story
truly worth believing.
We believe that every child
should have the opportunity to dream,
the chance to take challenges
and turn them into possibilities.
The chance to stand onthe promises of God,
to recognize their place inthe greatest story ever told,
they have their whole lives ahead of them.
There's as a world ofendless possibilities,
they are looking for a story to believe.
We will tell them that story.
Will you join us?
(upbeat music)
(children giggling)
- First, there was choirpioneer Mattie Moss Clark
who gave birth to thelegendary Clark Sisters.
From there, one of those sisters,
Karen Clark Sheard gavebirth to Kierra Sheard,
who is now Kierra Sheard-Kelly.
The newlywed is a recordingartist, actress, entrepreneur
and a first time author.
And Kierra joins us in "Studio 5"
to talk about her new book,"Big, Bold, and Beautiful".
as well as some new music.
♪ as we believe that youprovided my strength ♪
♪ every time I'm getting weaker ♪
- You've written a book,"Big, Bold, and Beautiful"
and you chose to dedicateit to your grandmother.
What made you do that?
- Yeah, I did that because my nana gave me
my first book that changed my life.
She gave me that book Ithink when I was like 17,
I was like in high school
and she showed me that this Christian walk
and this Bible-based livingis not just something that is
only for the pulpit,it's for everyday life.
And so I wanted to do this book because
I don't think she knows,
but so many conversations with her was,
oh, you're going to get me emotional.
It was prophetic, andshe just meant so much,
it was just so manyanswers that she provided
and so this book came from,
you'll see me talkingabout my nana, my mom,
my dad, my grandfather,
and it's literally because
they've been the voice of God in my life.
- The title of the bookis "Big, Bold, Beautiful"
what's the story behind the title?
- So I'm a juicy girl, youcould see it in my face.
And while we are currentlyin a progressive world
where we're getting more intoembracing body positivity,
but I tell the storyof when I was younger,
I think I did my firstrecord when I was 16,
I was bigger than what I am now.
And boy oh boy,
they used to tell me you hadto do photos from the waist up.
And I knew what that waslike to be the big girl
in the crew of other straightsize young girls, you know?
And so after a while itwas kind of eating at me
while I was in wrong relationships,
I would be cheated on and Iwould just immediately feel like
what, am I good enough?
Am I not cute enough?
And I had to make sure I was defining
what beautiful is to me thanit was for everybody else,
because I would just pickand pick and pick at myself.
So I was like, you know what?
I'm changing it.
I'm changing the game.
You ain't going to call me fat baby,
I got the juice.
I'm big, bold and beautiful.
So that's where the title came from.
And I asked them, pleaselet me have this title,
big, bold and beautiful, andso they were so gracious to me
and I think it's going to connect.
So it's not just for the woman who
struggled with her weight,but maybe you have big eyes,
maybe you got a big mouth,
maybe you got this big personalitythat people can't handle,
maybe you got big feet,
or maybe it's justsomething big about you,
where you feel like it's notfitting in a certain space,
and so I'm basically encouragingthe reader to own it,
it's a part of you for areason and figure that part out
and live in it.
- Before I go any further,
I want to dive into, you'rereleasing a deluxe album.
In addition, I mean, youare a busy, busy woman.
Tell me about the new project,
I know it's familiar to some,
but it also has new music, correct?
- Absolutely and I'm soexcited about this new music.
There are songs that we sat on,
one in particular "Live 4 God",
we did that song, I think in 2016,
and we held onto that song andit was just the perfect time.
And it's basically talkingabout live for God,
be bold about it, connectsthe dots with the book,
and then this other songwas "Something Has to Break"
featuring my mother, who putme on the map, by the way
of course with daddy,
you have to come together.
Yes, that song will be thereand then it's another song
that I dedicated to myfather, "A Good Man",
and then there's thissong that is out now,
it's called "Out of My Mind"
and it's very transparent about,
you know, being in and out of my thoughts
and just not being clear,
like, should I think this,should I not think this?
And I think a lot of uscan relate to that story,
but it redirects you
to the central place that we should be in,
and that is with Christ.
So I'm really excited about this music.
♪ he's happy for me ♪
- Kierra's "Big, Bold and Beautiful,
Owning the Woman God Made You"
hits bookstore shelves this week,
in fact, it was released just yesterday.
Her deluxe album wasreleased Friday, April 9th,
you can catch her on "Studio5" this week in The Countdown
along with recording artistsand worship leader, Dante Bowe
you can sample Dante'snew album this evening
on "Studio 5", you can findit on the CBN News Channel,
tonight beginning at 8:30Eastern Standard Time.
Coming up why this old man
is celebrating Christmas all year long.
We will be back withmore of CBN NewsWatch,
it's coming up, right after this.
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- Hey if you're tiredand exhausted all day,
you can't think clearly, andyou really just need a cup
or even a pot of coffeeto get through your day,
then join me, Dr. JoshAxe for this new series
where I'm going to teach you
how to transform your diet
and use essential oils and supplements
to get a better night's sleep.
- [Announcer] Wake up to your best life.
Call 1-800-700-7000 to getyour free DVD or booklet
of "Protect Your Sleep" today.
- [Announcer] It's about the competition.
- I kind of put that pressure on myself
and I think people had expectations.
- [Announcer] It's about overcoming.
- We use this phrase all the time
keep chopping, practicing hard.
- [Announcer] It's aboutgoing the distance.
- You know, I think as a father,
it's my job you know to lead,
just be the best husbandand father I can be.
- [Announcer] Watch "Goingthe Distance" with Shawn Brown
Saturday night at 7:30on the CBN News Channel.
- Orphan's Promise iscommitted to loving and serving
at-risk children,
to helping keep families together,
and to creating opportunities
for strong and sustainablecommunities around the world.
We're working in over 60countries around the world,
and with your help, we can do even more.
There's an old Africanproverb I love that says,
if you want to run fast, run alone.
But if you want to run far, run together.
At Orphan's Promise we want to run far
so we can touch the lives
of as many orphaned andchildren as possible,
but we don't want to go alone.
We're out to change the world
one child, one family,one community at a time.
Will you join us?
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- Well, it may not be Christmas time
anywhere in the world rightnow, but for one elderly man
Christmas is something tocelebrate all year long.
For years, Ira Millerhas devoted his time to
packing Christmas boxes for children
through Operation Christmas Child.
And on his 104th birthday this year,
he packed his 1000th box.
Why does he do it?
He says, I still want to dosomething for the children
who didn't know the Lord.
I return all my thanks to him.
Amen.
Time now for you Wednesdayword and today's word is open.
Remember this, trustGod he opens doors that
no man can shut.
Walk through them.
Be sure though to neverleave him on the other side,
bring him into the room
where he's giving you the space to enter.
He's made room for you,
you must make space for him.
With that word, Iencourage you to make today
a wonderful Wednesday.
Well, that is going to do it
for this edition of CBN NewsWatch.
You can always find more of our programs
on the CBN News channel,
you can find them there at any time,
also at cbnnews.com.
We love to know what youthink about the stories
you've seen here today,
you can email us at theemail address on your screen.
Newswatch@cbn.com,
and of course we're on Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram as well.
Make it a wonderful Wednesday.
We'll see you right back here tomorrow.
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