North Korea Fires Missile Over Japan
Japan’s government urged its citizens to take cover on Tuesday as North Korea fired a potentially nuclear-capable ballistic missile over the country.
Faith
Uganda: New converts to Christ severely beaten by Islamic extremists
New cases of violent attacks by Islamic extremists against converts to Christ in Uganda continue to be reported: last month, a father of four in Kaliro District was subjected to forty lashes for leaving Islam, and a 52-year-old mother in neighboring Kibuku District was kicked and beaten with sticks until she sustained severe injuries, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Open Doors Founder Brother Andrew Dead At 94
Dutchman Anne van der Bijl, known as the “Brother Andrew” who founded Christian charity Open Doors and became a voice of voiceless persecuted Christians, has died, his group confirmed Wednesday. He passed away in the Dutch town of Harderwijk at age 94.
England: National Health Service settles case with Christian doctor who spoke about Jesus with a patient
England’s National Health Service (NHS) agreed at the eleventh hour to settle a case brought by a Christian doctor who was subjected to severe disciplinary measures for mentioning his faith in Jesus to a patient, Christian Today (CT) reports. Dr Richard Scott was due to challenge the NHS action in a tribunal in Kent on Monday but before the hearing, the NHS agreed to settle the case.
King Charles III appears at ease as defender of all faiths in UK
In a hushed atmosphere of a south London mosque, a dozen Muslims of all ages wait to sign a book of condolences for Queen Elizabeth II at an interfaith ceremony.
Christians could lose majority status in US by 2050, report says
A new study by the Pew Research Center projects that professing Christians may lose their majority status in America by 2050 if the rate at which young adults are leaving the faith accelerates beyond its current fast pace, Christian Today (CT) reports.
Church Rush To Pakistan’s Flooded Christian Slums
The evangelical Church of Christ (COC) congregation with several branches in flood-stricken Pakistan is rushing with aid to Christian slums, the church’s leader and evangelist told Worthy News on Thursday.
Church in Afghanistan is growing amid harsh conditions
The house church movement in Afghanistan is slowly growing, despite a surrounding environment of brutal tribalism and Islamic extremist violence that forces evangelism and worship to be carried out in secret, Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reports.
Conservatives split from Australian Anglican church over LGBTQ issues
A contingent of conservatives who oppose same-sex marriage has separated from the Australian Anglican church to launch a new denomination called the Diocese of the Southern Cross, Church Leaders reports.
Myanmar: Army restricts aid to civilians including Christians
The Refugees International non-profit organization reported last month that the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) in Myanmar has been restricting humanitarian aid to civilians, notably in areas with large populations of Christians, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Christian Genocide in Nigeria
The ongoing slaughter of Christians in Nigeria at the hands of Islamic extremists meets the established international standards for genocide, the Colson Center reports. The International Christian Concern advocacy group reported in 2020 that between 50,000 to 70,000 Christians have been killed by Islamic terrorists; the Open Doors USA advocacy group reported this year that one Nigerian Christian is killed for their faith every two hours, 13 a day, 372 a month.
Mozambique: Islamic State behead two Christians
Two Christian men in northern Mozambique were beheaded by local Islamic State terrorists on July 30, the Barnabas Fund reports.
Iran has installed three IR-6 centrifuges at enrichment plant
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog said in a report to member states Wednesday that Iran has finished installing three advanced IR-6 centrifuges at its Natanz fuel enrichment plant, Israel Hayom reports.
US: Catholic school entitled to fire employee who entered same-sex marriage, appeals court rules
A federal appeals court in Chicago on Thursday upheld the decision of a Catholic high school to fire a guidance counselor who entered a same-sex marriage after she began her employment there, the Washington Times reports.
Christian university sues Washington state to preserve anti-LGBTQ hiring practices
A Christian university in Seattle is suing the attorney general of Washington state, claiming that his office is interfering with the school’s First Amendment right to follow its religious beliefs and prohibiting staff from engaging in “same-sex marriage and activity,” Courthouse News reports.
Syria: Two killed in terrorist attack on church
Two people were killed, and 12 were wounded in a terrorist rocket attack on the Greek Orthodox Hagia Sophia Church in Al-Suqaylabiyah, Syria last week, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Christ-Centered Pro-Life Pregnancy Center to Reopen After Major Damage from Abortion Activists’ Terror Attack
A New York pro-life medical office and pregnancy center plans to reopen its facility Monday after it was firebombed by pro-abortion radicals.
Iran: Christian converts convicted of house-church membership
Four Christian converts in Iran have been convicted of criminality due to their membership of house churches, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Poll: Majority of Americans believe religious liberty is declining in US
A new poll by Lifeway Research has found that 54% of Americans believe religious liberty is declining in the US, and 59% believe that tolerance of Christianity specifically is declining, CBN News reports. The poll found that evangelical believers are more likely (74%) to say religious liberty is declining than those who are not evangelical (48%).
Three US states allow doctors to refuse to carry out medical procedures against their faith
The Republican-led US states of South Carolina, Arkansas, and Ohio now have laws in place allowing doctors to refuse to carry out certain medical procedures against their religious beliefs, Christianity Today (CT) reports. The religious conscience protection laws affect practices related to gender transition, end-of-life care, contraception, and abortion.