Two-thirds of churchgoers fail Bible knowledge quiz
Around two-thirds of churchgoers have a poor understanding of the Bible and failed a biblical literacy quiz, according to a report released Tuesday by Lifeway Research.
Lifeway Research conducted an online survey of 2,012 Americans from Aug. 12-29 who identify as Protestant, nondenominational, Catholic or Orthodox Christian and attend church in a typical month, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2% at the 95% confidence level.
Houthis demand $51 billion from Saudi Arabia to end attacks
Yemen’s Houthi rebel group is demanding $51 billion in exchange for ending its attacks on Saudi Arabia, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Saudi Arabia reached out to the Houthis following attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and the seizure of territory commanding the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
In response, the Houthis demanded reparations for the damage caused to them during the years of fighting and an extended blockade, to the tune of $51 billion sources told WSJ. They also demanded that Saudi Arabia officially recognize their sovereignty over all of Yemen.
California city makes history allowing throuples, foursomes to legally register as partners
Throuples, foursomes and other multi-partner relationships can now register as domestic partners in a Los Angeles County city after its city council unanimously approved new legal protections for polyamorous couples.
West Hollywood passed the ordinance Tuesday after it was introduced by Mayor John Heilman.
The measure allows people in relationships involving multiple partners to officially register with the city, granting them certain rights, including hospital visitation and additional tenant protections.
Judge Orders Iowa to Allow Satanic Temple Holiday Event With Krampus Contest at State Capitol
Chief U.S. District Judge Stephanie M. Rose of the Southern District of Iowa ordered the state on Nov. 2 to allow The Satanic Temple to hold a holiday event in the Capitol rotunda on Dec. 12, after state officials denied the group’s applications three years in a row. Rose granted a preliminary injunction against Mark Campbell, director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services. President Barack Obama nominated Rose in February 2012, and the Senate confirmed her that September.
Saudi Arabia, Syria sign military, financial pacts in Riyadh as ties between countries deepen
The Saudi and Syrian defense ministries signed a military cooperation agreement on Wednesday during Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Riyadh, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the second time in a month, as relations between the two countries continue to deepen.
Although details of the military agreement have not been made public, Reuters previously reported that Syria was considering assisting in the war against the Iran-backed Houthis.
Turkey’s parliament set to ratify defence pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan as Houthi attacks mount
Turkey’s parliament is set on Wednesday to ratify a defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan that includes a collective defence clause, committing NATO’s second-largest army to Riyadh’s defence as it faces attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.
Ratification gives Ankara a formal mutual defence obligation toward Saudi Arabia, but it does not on its own send Turkish forces there. Deploying military personnel would require a separate mandate from parliament.
Ghana kicks off enforcement of compulsory biometric verification
Ghana’s National Identification Authority (NIA) has begun a nationwide exercise to ensure that institutions comply with new rules requiring biometric authentication of customers before providing services.
The measure is part of the country’s National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, otherwise known as L.I. 2523. The regulations were signed in March and came into effect on June 9.
Under the regulations, institutions offering public and private services are prohibited from relying on visual inspection of national ID cards (Ghana Cards), photocopying or scanning them as a means of verifying customers’ identities. They must use approved biometric verification methods linked to the NIA’s national identity database.
Starbucks Eyes “Customer Recognition” To Speed Up Drive-Thru Orders
Starbucks wants its drive-thru to know who you are before you order, the company’s Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol revealed during the coffee giant’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call.
He said Starbucks is “exploring experiences that recognize participating customers as they arrive, present personalized digital menus, and make payment more effortless.”
Niccol added, “We’re early in this work, and we’ll test, learn, and scale what works.”
Trump says ‘largely true’ Iran war to blame for Republican midterm losses but he would ‘do it again’
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump acknowledged that the Iran war was a key factor in his party’s midterm election losses, though he insisted the conflict was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.