Jailed Pastor Refuses To Parrot Canada’s COVID-19 Mantra
A Polish-Canadian pastor facing jail for holding “illegal” church services in Canada refuses to obey a court order to parrot official COVID-19 opinions in sermons.
China
US to rejoin UN Human Rights Council following Trump withdrawal
The United States is rejoining the controversial UN Human Rights Council (HRC) amid concerns that China has used America’s three-and-a-half year absence to grow its influence and power, AFP reports. Former President Trump withdrew the US from the Council in June 2018 to protest what UN Ambassador Nikki Haley described as the body’s “disproportionate focus and unending hostility toward Israel” which is “clear proof that the council is motivated by political bias, not by human rights.”
‘Build Back Better World:’ U.S. races to counter China’s ‘predatory’ Belt and Road initiative
America and its allies are scrambling to establish a global infrastructure funding mechanism to counter the trillions of dollars China has spent to build projects and buy influence through what U.S. officials describe as Beijing‘s “mercantilist” and “predatory” Belt and Road development lending initiative.
Taiwan: President Tsai Ing-wen vows to do ‘utmost’ to defend country from China
The president of Taiwan has vowed to do her “utmost” to defend her country from Chinese claims on its territory.
Pakistan, China Object as UN Human Rights Council Votes to Monitor Abuses in Afghanistan
The U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday adopted a resolution establishing a “special rapporteur” to monitor the human rights situation in Afghanistan over the next year, but not before China offered amendments designed both to water down the text and to point fingers at the United States.
U.S. special operations troop, Marines have been deployed to Taiwan for at least a year, report
A U.S. special operations unit and a group of Marines have secretly been operating in Taiwan to train military forces there as China ramps up its aggression toward the small island nation, according to U.S. officials.
U.S. cutting nuclear warhead stockpile despite major China, Russia buildups
The number of U.S. nuclear warheads declined over the past seven years and currently includes 3,750 nuclear warheads, both weapons deployed on missiles and bombers and many others kept in storage, according to Energy and State Department fact sheets made public this week.
Taiwan defense minister says tensions with China have hit 40-year high
Chiu Kuo-cheng, the defense minister of Taiwan, said Wednesday that tensions between his country and China are at their worst point in four decades.
Damage control: U.S., NATO officials scramble to patch up trans-Atlantic rifts
U.S. and NATO officials worked overtime on both sides of the Atlantic on Tuesday to patch up rifts in the alliance and to tamp down tensions between key members on Afghanistan, a controversial submarine deal, China and other fronts.
China sharply escalates warplane provocations near Taiwan
China’s military stepped up provocative aerial incursions near Taiwan on Monday with its biggest sortie to date, sending 58 warplanes, including 12 nuclear-capable bombers, inside the island’s air defense zone, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said.
U.S. Condemns China’s Mass Incursions Into Taiwan’s Defense Zone
The United States has expressed concern about the unprecedented appearance of Chinese military aircraft in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The self-governing island said a total of 39 Chinese military aircraft entered the ADIZ, airspace dedicated to responding to hostile aircraft. That was one more than the 38 planes the Taiwanese military spotted on Friday.
Christians from nearly 30 countries bless Israel on Sukkot
Christian recording artists and musicians from 28 countries have sent a prayer for God’s peace and blessing to Israel through a special Feast of Tabernacles video of their performing the song “Btfilah Amen” (In Prayer Amen), the Israeli entry at the 1995 Eurovision song contest, the Jerusalem Post (JP) reports.
Biden Hosts In-Person ‘Quad’ Leaders Summit
Leaders of the United States, Japan, India and Australia proclaimed Friday a shared commitment to safeguarding democracy in the Indo-Pacific region, leaving unspoken their common concern about China’s growing power.
China Frees Jailed Canadians After Release Huawei Executive
Two Canadian citizens, former diplomat Michael Kovrig and business executive Michael Spavor who were jailed in China since 2018, have been released.
China Sends Fighter Planes Into Taiwan’s Defense Zone
China sent 24 fighter planes, including two capable nuclear bombers, towards Taiwan on Thursday after the self-governing island said it plans to join an 11-nation Pacific trade group, the Taiwanese military said.
China asks local goverments to get ready for possible collapse of Evergrande
Chinese authorities are asking local governments to prepare for the potential downfall of China Evergrande Group, according to officials familiar with the discussions, signaling a reluctance to bail out the debt-saddled property developer while bracing for any economic and social fallout from the company’s travails.
China: Authorities harass believers celebrating Church’s 5-year anniversary
Police from China’s ruling Communist Party (CCP) descended on the fifth-anniversary celebration of the Shenzhen Trinity Harvest Gospel Church in Huizhou earlier this month, harassing congregants and trying to prevent them from attending the event, China Aid reports.
Documents: ‘US, Chinese Scientists Sought Tried Releasing COVID In China’
The U.S. medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci came under pressure Wednesday after leaked documents showed American and Chinese scientists planned to release coronavirus particles.
Biden to UN: America will comply with Iran deal if Tehran complies
US President Joe Biden used his first address to the UN General Assembly to affirm that America is prepared to resume full compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Iran deal, provided Iran does the same, the Jerusalem Post reports. At the same time, the president said in his speech Tuesday, the US “remains committed to preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.”
Latin, Caribbean Nations Want New Bloc Outside US
The U.S. global influence was further challenged over the weekend, with several Latin American and Caribbean nations aspiring to form their bloc like the European Union.