North Korea In Lockdown Over COVID-19
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has imposed a national lockdown, with state media saying his nation faces the “biggest emergency incident” after confirming its first COVID-19 outbreak.
China
DIA: Intel suggests COVID virus was lab-engineered
Army Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, revealed in prepared Senate testimony this week that some U.S. intelligence agencies — not identified by name — believe the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic may have been genetically modified in a laboratory and not transmitted naturally from an animal host in China, where it was first identified.
China surrounds Taiwan for massive invasion ‘rehearsal’ drills
The Chinese military deployed forces all around the island of Taiwan over the weekend in a set of large-scale military drills that one Chinese military analyst called a “rehearsal of possible real action.”
WHO Pushes Global Pandemic Treaty (Worthy News In-Depth)
The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing a global pact that critics fear will give it absolute power over global biosecurity.
China says it conducted military exercises near Taiwan
China’s armed forces carried out another round of exercises near Taiwan last week to improve joint combat operations, the People’s Liberation Army said on Monday (May 9), after the Chinese-claimed island reported a spike in activity.
Son Dictator Marcos To Win Philippines Poll, Surveys Say
Voters in the Philippines went to the polls Monday in a presidential election that put the son and namesake of the late dictator against a human rights lawyer.
China Bans Popular Christian Website In Crackdown
One of China’s most popular Christian websites has been closed down by the ruling Chinese Communist Party as part of its ongoing crackdown on Christianity, well-informed Christians confirmed Thursday.
Chinese Communist Party Orders Millions More To Stay Home
Beijing tightened restrictions on millions of residents following a surge of COVID-19 cases, Chinese state-run media reported Thursday.
Massive Chinese Fleet Seen Barreling Towards US Naval Base
The largest Chinese aircraft carrier group reportedly ever assembled is conducting combat training near a U.S. naval base in Japan, according to multiple Chinese media sources on Tuesday.
North Korea preparing nuclear test for first time in years, intelligence officials say
Western intelligence officials say North Korea is preparing to conduct a nuclear weapons test for the first time in over four years. Renewed tensions on the peninsula prompted China’s atomic envoy to meet his South Korean counterpart in Seoul on Tuesday calling the situation “severe.”
Iran Nuclear Deal Said Near Death, but West Not Ready to Pull Plug
Western officials have largely lost hope the Iran nuclear deal can be resurrected, sources familiar with the matter said, forcing them to weigh how to limit Iran’s atomic program even as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has divided the big powers.
China shuts down well-established Christian website
China’s ruling Communist Party (CCP) has shut down a well-established Christian website as part of a nationwide “Sinicization” program designed to promote Chinese patriotism and make religious groups submit to CCP ideology, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
US and UK held talks regarding China’s threat to Taiwan
The United States has held high-level talks with the UK over how they can co-operate more closely to reduce the chances of war with China over Taiwan and to explore conflict contingency plans for the first time, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the situation.
France Rolls Out Digital ID Despite Global Concerns
French President Emmanuel Macron faces a backlash after he authorized the creation of a digital identity document for France following his re-election last Sunday.
China: Authorities trace and harass baptismal party
Authorities in China used technology to trace and harass members of the Shenzhen Trinity Gospel Harvest Church after they carried out Easter baptisms in the sea by Shenzhen city earlier this month, the Christian Post reports.
Taiwan Condemns China Military Drills
Taiwan has condemned China’s military for conducting military drills nearby while U.S. lawmakers visited the island.
Iran says preliminary deal reached to release funds frozen abroad
Iran’s foreign minister said Wednesday that a preliminary deal had been reached with a foreign bank over frozen funds belonging to the Islamic Republic.
China: Pastor risks imprisonment to preach the Gospel
The pastor of a house church in China has said he will continue to preach the Gospel despite the risk that he could be imprisoned by the authorities for doing so, Christian Headlines (CH) reports.
Chinese Christian in US to give evidence of abuses in Xinjiang detention camp
A Christian citizen of China has arrived in the US to provide evidence supporting a case submitted to the International Criminal Court that China has committed crimes against humanity at its detention camps in Xinjiang, Axios reports. Detained and tortured in a Xinjiang camp for 10 months, Ovalbek Turdakun gave thanks to God after he and his wife and child arrived safely in Washington DC on April 8.
China: Authorities seize another Catholic bishop to unknown location
Chinese authorities are continuing to persecute Catholic clergy that are not approved by the state: on April 7 police seized Bishop Shao Zhumin of Zhejiang and took him to an undisclosed location, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. To date, the Chinese government has seized over 10 Catholic leaders, including two in January, and their whereabouts are still not known.