US, Brazil probe sect accused of abuse, trafficking

US, Brazil probe sect accused of abuse, trafficking

Ten former members of the Word of Faith Fellowship church say they have been contacted by U.S. federal and state authorities investigating allegations of abuse, forced labor and visa fraud after a series of Associated Press stories about the North Carolina-based evangelical sect, which has branches in Brazil and Ghana and affiliations in other countries.

In Brazil, the federal police told AP the justice department has asked for a 2012 inquiry to be reopened into complaints that Word of Faith Fellowship’s two churches in the country were illegally sending minors to the United States. The country’s foreign ministry said it was contacting the U.S. consulates in Brazil and U.S. law-enforcement agencies for more information and added that its embassy in Washington, D.C., was trying to reach Brazilians who came to the U.S. via the church.

This week, AP revealed how Word of Faith Fellowship took over two congregations in Brazil and created a pipeline of young laborers who say they were brought to the U.S. and forced to work for little or no pay.

Judge: Baby Charlie Gard will end life in hospice, not home

LONDON

Critically ill baby Charlie Gard will be transferred to a hospice and taken off life support unless his parents and a hospital agree on a plan that could potentially keep the child alive for a bit longer, a British judge ruled Wednesday.

High Court judge Nicholas Francis gave 11-month-old Charlie’s parents and the hospital that has been treating him until noon today to come to terms on an end-of-life care plan for the infant’s final hours or days.

The baby suffers from a rare genetic disease, mitochondrial depletion syndrome, which has caused brain damage and left him unable to breathe unaided. Recent tests found Charlie has irreversible muscular damage.

Sanctions bill hits hurdle over North Korea penalties

WASHINGTON

A new package of financial sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea has a hit a snag in the Senate, where the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee has objected to the House’s decision to include penalties targeting Pyongyang in the legislation.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., told reporters Wednesday that he preferred to keep the North Korea sanctions in a separate bill that would be considered by the Senate. The last-minute hurdle may prevent passage of the measure before Congress breaks for its August recess.

But Corker insisted House and Senate Republicans would come up with a solution that ensures the bill becomes law.

Not-guilty plea in crash recorded on Instagram

LOS BANOS, Calif.

A California teenager pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony charges of vehicular manslaughter and drunken driving after she lost control of her car while livestreaming on Instagram and recording a crash that killed her younger sister.

Obdulia Sanchez, 18, appeared via remote camera in Merced County Superior Court, dressed in yellow inmate garb. She pleaded not guilty to all six counts and responded a “little bit” when the judge asked whether she understood the charges against her.

Ramnik Samrao, a public defender who represents Sanchez, said the teen believes she killed her sister.

Associated Press