China Using COVID Surveillance For Crackdown On Dissent
Chinese authorities are using the country’s massive COVID surveillance infrastructure to prevent a protest against the freezing of bank accounts as part of a broader crackdown, depositors say.
China
Nevada lithium mine pits Biden green agenda against radical environmentalists
A northern Nevada mine that is the largest-known source of lithium in the United States for electric car batteries is facing resistance from a radical environmental group and some of its Native American supporters.
World nuclear arsenal expected to increase, “a worrying trend”
A leading international think-tank has warned it expects the world’s nuclear weapons arsenal to grow for the first time in decades, the Guardian reports. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) gave its warning just as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has increased the risk that an atomic bomb may soon be used.
China Alarms US With Private Warnings to Avoid Taiwan Strait (Video)
Chinese military officials in recent months have repeatedly asserted that the Taiwan Strait isn’t international waters during meetings with US counterparts, according to a person familiar with the situation, generating concern within the Biden administration.
Prayers For Jailed Chinese Church Elders
Christians say they “appreciate prayers” for two jailed elders of an independent church in China’s southwestern province of Sichuan as one of them met a lawyer six months after his arrest.
WHO: COVID origins unclear but lab leak theory needs study
Over two years after the coronavirus was first detected in China, and after at least 6.3 million deaths have been counted worldwide from the pandemic, the World Health Organization is recommending in its strongest terms yet that a deeper probe is required into whether a lab accident may be to blame.
US State Department publishes annual report on worldwide religious freedom
he US Department of State has now published its 2021 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, setting out the status of religious freedom in each country in the world, International Christian Concern (ICC reports). The USIRF report to Congress found that a number of countries with poor records on religious freedom had made significant improvements: these countries include Morocco, Taiwan and Iraq, ICC said. However, the situation is extremely severe and/or deteriorating in numerous other countries, including Pakistan and Yemen.
U.S. bars Cuba, Venezuela from Americas summit; Mexican leader sits out
The White House on Monday excluded Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the U.S.-hosted Summit of the Americas this week, prompting Mexico’s president to make good on a threat to skip the event because all countries in the Western Hemisphere were not invited.
US, Taiwan Launch New Trade Pact
The U.S. launched a new trade pact with Taiwan on Wednesday, hoping to forge closer economic ties with the island territory that China claims as its own, while blunting Beijing’s economic clout in the region.
Christians Marry Despite China Crackdown
A Christian couple that was forced to postpone their wedding after Chinese authorities prevented ceremonies were eventually able to marry in southwestern China, Christians confirmed.
Exposed: How China Helps Iran Evade Sanctions Through Multibillion-Dollar Oil Scheme
A network of Chinese petrochemical refiners is behind an upswing in the importation of illicit Iranian crude oil, providing the hardline regime in Tehran with at least $22 billion in revenue since President Joe Biden took office.
China To Help Lead WHO Despite Controversy
There was mounting concern Wednesday that the World Health Organization (WHO) wouldn’t be able to tackle future pandemics after China joined its executive.
US National Guard planning ‘cooperation’ with Taiwan military
The United States is planning on “cooperation” between its National Guard and Taiwan’s military, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Tuesday, deepening security ties in the face of what Taipei’s government complains is a rising threat from China.
China Prevents Christian Wedding
A Christian couple in southwest China was forced to cancel their wedding after Chinese authorities learned it would include a celebration
attended by members and leaders of their church who were later detained, Christians confirmed to Worthy News.
China: Christian coupled jailed and penniless for selling the Bible
A court in China has not only sentenced a Christian couple to seven years in prison for selling the Bible Christian books without permission but has also imposed such punitive fines on the pair that they have been left penniless and with no means to support their four children, Union of Catholic Asian (UCA) News reports.
Taiwan Jets Scramble as China Air Force Enters Air Defense Zone
Taiwan’s air force scrambled on Monday to warn away 30 Chinese aircraft that entered its air defense zone, Taiwan’s defense ministry said.
US Urged To Add Nigeria As ‘Country Of Particular Concern’ After Killing Christians
An influential U.S.-based Christian advocacy group has urged the Biden administration to reverse its “baffling error” and add Nigeria back to its list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC).
China, Russia veto US bid at UN to punish North Korea
China and Russia on Thursday vetoed a US-led bid at the United Nations to toughen sanctions on North Korea over its missile launches, laying bare divisions that Western envoys fear would be exploited by Pyongyang.
‘50 Million Christians To Preach Gospel’
Preparations are underway to turn some 50 million Christians into evangelists over the weekend, with believers worldwide preaching the Gospel, organizers said.
Xi Jinping: China doesn’t need “preachers” on human rights
China’s President Xi Jinping told the UN this week that his country doesn’t need ‘preachers’ to ‘boss’ it around on the issue of human rights, Fox Metro News (FMN) reports. Xi made his remark during a video call with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, despite facing accusations of gross human rights violations against the Uyghur and other Muslim minorities, and of systematically suppressing Christianity nationwide.