After almost 20 years, Israel rejoins African Union
For the first time since 2002, Israel has rejoined the African Union, a significant diplomatic achievement.
Africa
Yet again Israel delays reopening to individual vaccinated tourists; No new date set
Permission for Individual tourists to enter Israel has been delayed yet again with no new date set and, now, even Israelis may be barred from flying out of their own country as the government weighs limiting all non-essential travel in order to keep out the much-vaunted Delta variant of the coronavirus.
‘Islamic State’ poses growing threat across Africa
Last week, Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum said his country needed technological assistance from its European partners to fight jihadis. He complained of swaths of territory in Mali and Niger being taken over by the so-called “Islamic State” (IS) — known also as ISIS — and its affiliates.
South Africa looting: Government to deploy 25,000 troops after unrest
The South African government plans to deploy 25,000 troops after days of widespread looting and violence.
72 People Killed in South African Riots
Seventy-two people have been killed in riots and looting in South Africa, police said Tuesday, amid protests over the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma.
UN reports increase in world hunger last year equivalent to that of previous five years combined
A multi-agency United Nations report published Monday asserts that a sharp increase in world hunger and malnutrition last year was equivalent to that of the previous five years combined, Reuters reports. According to the UN report, the likely cause of the increase is the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nigeria Searches For Over 100 Abducted Christian Students; Schools Closed
Nigerian authorities were trying to establish contact with kidnappers Friday amid mounting concerns about the plight of more than 100 abducted Christian students.
Lithuania Accuses Belarus Of Supporting Migrants Influx
Lithuania has accused neighboring Belarus of flying in migrants from abroad to send to the European Union where they seek a better life. As a result, the government says it plans to build a barrier on the border and deploy troops to prevent them from crossing illegally into its territory.
Zimbabwe is latest African country to reject batch of COVID-19 vaccine doses
Following in the steps of African countries Malawi and DRC Congo in rejecting batches of COVID-19 vaccine doses, Zimbabwe has refused an African Union donation of three million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses, NewZimbabwe reported on July 5.
Wycliffe Associates Turns to “Old” Technology to Bring the Scriptures to Isolated Language Groups
Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that empowers mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, has begun transmitting Bible translation training and ministry support materials via radio signals.
Global Coalition Fears Islamic State Expansion in Africa
Western powers are promising recent successes by the Islamic State across Africa will not go unanswered, backing plans for a task force to focus on the terror group’s spread from Iraq and Syria to the African continent.
Uganda Detains Imam After Killing Pastor
Security officials in Uganda have detained an imam who confessed to killing an evangelical church leader this month for evangelizing among Muslims, several sources confirmed Thursday.
PM Bennet says Indian variant is spreading, recommends Israelis should not travel abroad
Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Tuesday recommended Israelis should not travel abroad because, he said, the Indian variant of the COVID-19 virus “is spreading rapidly around the world,” Israel News reports. The PM made his remarks three days after a fresh outbreak of COVID-19 was reported in two schools in the northern Israeli town of Binyamina, with 45 people infected.
Top U.S. general warns of ‘wildfire of terrorism’ across Africa
A top U.S. general this weekend warned that a “wildfire of terrorism” is sweeping across Africa as the continent seems poised to become the new global epicenter for Islamic extremism.
Nigeria: Boko Haram release abducted Pastor
Boko Haram Islamic terrorists in Nigeria’s Plateau State have released a Christian pastor they abducted last year, Our Nigeria reports. The release of Reverend Polycarp Zango is a flicker of light in a country that was recently described by US officials as a “killing field for Christians.”
In Isolated Regions of the World, Printing is Essential, Final Step in Bible Translation and the Only Way to Share Scripture
Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that empowers mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, is assisting with printing and distributing newly translated Scriptures through its Print On Demand initiative.
Pastor Among 55 Killed In Congo
Christians in eastern Congo are among those in shock after Islamist militants killed 55 people, including an Anglican pastor, several sources confirmed.
Egypt and Sudan urge Ethiopia to negotiate seriously over giant dam
Sudan and Egypt agreed on Wednesday to coordinate efforts to push Ethiopia to negotiate “seriously” on an agreement on filling and operating a giant dam it is building on the Blue Nile, a joint statement said.
Iran loses voting rights at UN after failing to pay dues
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said this week that Iran will lose its voting rights in the General Assembly after failing to pay its dues to the multilateral organization’s operating budget.
‘Nigeria’s Islamic Boko Haram Leader Dead’; Concerns About Christians
The leader of the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram, whose group killed or kidnapped thousands of Christians, has committed suicide, rival Islamist militants say.