UN Watchdog: ‘North Korea’s Restart Of Nuclear Enrichment Plant Deeply Troubling’
The United Nations nuclear watchdog warned Monday that nuclear-armed North Korea appears to have restarted its plutonium-producing reprocessing reactor.
Media
Taliban: ‘US Kills Suicide Bomber In Afghanistan’
Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban says the United States has carried out an airstrike targeting a suicide bomber in a vehicle Sunday who wanted to attack the Kabul International airport.
US Drone Strike Kills “Planner” Of Kabul Attacks
The United States has carried out a drone strike against an Islamic State (IS) group “planner” in eastern Afghanistan after an attack outside Kabul’s airport killed 13 U.S. troops and at least 169 Afghans, officials say.
Court upholds death sentence for white supremacist who murdered nine at South Carolina black church
The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld the conviction and death sentence of Dylann Roof, a young, self-confessed white supremacist who murdered nine members of a South Carolina black congregation in 2015, Voice of America (VOA) reports. The unanimous three-judge panel rejected arguments that Roof should have been ruled incompetent to stand trial for the killings at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
Afghanistan’s Taliban Rulers Appoint Former U.S. Terror Suspect As Defense Minister
Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban group has appointed a suspected terrorist who was held at the U.S.-run Guantanamo Bay prison facility as acting defense minister. The Islamist rulers named ex-detainee Abdul Qayyum Zakir, a mullah or Muslim mosque leader, as a minister, reported the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel citing a Taliban source.
China Businessmen Jailed After Selling Audio Bibles, Christian Symbols Removed
China’s communist authorities have jailed four Christian businessmen for selling audio Bibles amid a government crackdown on Christians engaged in “illegal” faith-related activities, trial observers told Worthy News.
Pentagon orders all U.S. military troops get vaccinated for COVID-19
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday ordered all U.S. service members be vaccinated immediately for COVID-19.
House Capitol riot committee issues sweeping records requests for communication between Trump and his children, top staffers, and right-wing media personalities
The House select committee probing the January 6 insurrection is escalating its efforts to put together a picture of former President Donald Trump’s communications with key allies and right-wing media personalities in the lead up to the Capitol riot.
Emboldened Iran To Hold War Drills With Russia and China
Iran is set to hold a series of war drills with Russia and China, as the hardline regime celebrates the United States’ bungled evacuation in Afghanistan and boosts its enrichment of nuclear weapons-grade uranium to historically high levels.
Canada Pastor Facing Prison Warns Of Communist Dictatorship In US, West
A Polish-born Canadian pastor who faces a four-year prison term in Canada for leading church services despite coronavirus restrictions says the “tyranny” of formerly communist Poland has reached the West.
India persecution: Mob of Sikhs and Hindus invade church and break pastor’s wife’s leg, “please pray for us, our lives are threatened”
A mob of Sikhs and Hindus armed with swords and wooden rods attacked a church meeting in India’s Punjab state last month, breaking the leg of a pastor’s wife and slashing the head of a teenaged congregant, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. India ranks 10 on the Open Doors USA World Watch List of top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Somaliland Frees Jailed Christians After Prayers
A group of Christians in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland have been released from detention after charges related to alleged crimes against the state religion of Islam were dismissed following prayers, Christians said Monday.
New Survey: Majority of born again US Christians believe Jesus is not only path to salvation
A new study by Probe Ministries has shown that over 60% of born-again US Christians aged 18 to 39 believe that, in addition to Jesus, Buddha, and Muhammad offer paths to salvation as well, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Afghanistan persecution: Taliban have a “hit-list” of Christians to murder
The leader of the underground church in Afghanistan has given a first-hand ground report, explaining that believers are in grave danger and that the Taliban have a “hit-list” of Christians they are searching for to murder, the Christian Post (CP) reports. Known as “Pastor X” for security reasons, the church leader gave his report to the Global Catalytic Ministries non-profit organization.
Twitter Hosts Taliban, Other Sites Closed
While it has banned former U.S. President Donald J. Trump from its service, the social networking site Twitter continues to host accounts of high-profile officials linked to the Islamist Taliban group.
Gunmen Kill Nuns In South Sudan
Pope Francis has offered condolences to victims’ families after two Catholic nuns were shot and killed along a highway in South Sudan.
President Biden Under Pressure As Taliban Hunts Girls, Journalists And U.S. Allies
Taliban fighters ruling Afghanistan have begun hunting for Afghan girls to marry while seeking to kill journalists, Christians, Hazara men, and people who worked for the U.S.-led military, several sources say.
Russia Warns West Not To Intervene In Afghanistan
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West not to interfere in Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul, amid signs that China and Russia are increasing their footprint there. The authoritarian leader said Western nations “must stop the irresponsible policy of imposing foreign values from abroad.”
Lebanon: Fuel price skyrockets 66% after subsidy cut
Lebanon’s government has decided to increase the price of fuel by a whopping 66%, as it attempts to partially reduce fuel subsidies.
Iran’s Internet Restrictions Threaten Underground Church
Christians in Iran meeting mostly in secret house groups to avoid detection by police face new challenges as the Islamic government seeks more internet restrictions, according to sources familiar with the situation.