Jailed Kremlin Critic Navalny Wins Europe’s Rights Prize
Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been awarded the European Parliament’s top human rights prize for his “bravery” in challenging autocratic President Vladimir Putin.
News
Groups Urge UN Chief To Halt Myanmar’s ‘Crackdown On Religious Freedom’
More than 100 rights groups and individuals urged United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to address “increased” religious rights violations in Myanmar, also known as Burma.
Israel, UAE to launch joint space projects, including Beresheet 2 Moon mission
Israel and the United Arab Emirates finalized an agreement on Wednesday to collaborate on a number of space projects, including a joint launch of the “Beresheet 2” space mission to the moon, Israel’s second upcoming attempt to land an unmanned spacecraft on the lunar surface by 2024 when the countries expect to plant their flags alongside each other.
For the first time, surgeons successfully attached a kidney grown in a pig to a human patient
A team of New York surgeons have successfully attached a kidney that was grown in a genetically altered pig to a human patient and found that the organ functioned normally.
GOP senators block Democrats’ election reform bill from advancing
A voting rights and election reform bill failed Wednesday to advance in the evenly-split Senate after 50 Republicans senators voted against it in a procedural vote.
China, Russia navy ships jointly sail through Japan strait
A group of 10 naval vessels from China and Russia sailed through a strait separating Japan’s main island and its northern island of Hokkaido on Monday, the Japanese government said, adding that it is closely watching such activities.
Chile: Two more churches destroyed in ongoing wave of arson attacks
In the latest of a wave of arson attacks on churches in Chile, two churches in the Biobio region were burned to the ground on October 12, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. The attacks on both Protestant and Catholic churches in Chile began in 2015.
India: Another church attacked by Hindu nationalists, congregants severely injured
Over 200 Hindu extremists, including middle-aged women, attacked a church in northern India on October 3, beating up worshippers, causing severe injuries, and looting church and personal property, Morning Star News (MSN).
Suburb in Kurdistan Region to become largest Christian district in Middle East
A suburb in the Kurdistan Region is to be given autonomous administrative control and become the largest Christian district in the Middle East, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani made the announcement this month about the Erbil suburb of Ankawa.
North Korea Fires Missile From Submarine
Regional tensions rose further Tuesday after North Korea confirmed it fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile off its east coast on Tuesday.
Archaeologists uncover first evidence of Crusader camp in northern Israel
Archaeologists excavating in northern Israel have uncovered evidence of a European Crusader encampment in the Galilee region, All Israel News (AIN) reports. The Crusaders had conducted military campaigns in the Levant to liberate the Holy Land from Muslim control between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
Haiti Gang Demands $17 million For Kidnapped American Missionaries
Haiti’s government said Tuesday that a gang that abducted American and Canadian missionaries is asking for $17 million – or $1 million each – to release them.
Afghan Christian Girls Fear Being Abducted As Taliban Brides
Young Christian women and underaged girls in Afghanistan have appealed for help as they fear being abducted as brides for Islamist Taliban fighters, a Christian broadcaster announced Tuesday.
Conservative Catholic Wins Hungary’s Opposition Primaries For Prime Minister
After winning Hungary’s first-ever primaries, a conservative Catholic mayor has become the opposition’s prime ministerial candidate.
Nigeria: Boko Haram attack Christian community, murder two; “please pray”
Boko Haram Islamic terrorists murdered two Christians and set many homes on fire during an October 5 attack on a Christian community in Chibok in Nigeria’s Borno state, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Over 3,400 Christians in Nigeria have been murdered by Islamic militants this year.
China: Government targets Christian schools, detains staff
hinese government authorities in recent days have raided Christian schools and detained staff members who have not been heard of since, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. It is believed the raids were triggered by the ruling Communist Party’s “Administrative Measures for Religious Institutions” which came into effect on September 1 and which extend governmental control of religious schools in China.
Nigeria “killing field”: Fulani militants murder two Christians and child
The slaughter of Christians by Islamic extremists in Nigeria continues: on Friday 15 October, Fulani militants murdered a father and his 8-year old son together with the driver for a representative of rights organization International Christian Concern (ICC) as the three traveled on a motorbike in Plateau state, ICC reports. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom said in its annual report this year that Nigeria is becoming a killing field for Christians.
China: Street evangelist released after 6th detention this year
A street evangelist from China’s Hunan province has been released after being imprisoned by Chinese authorities for the sixth time this year, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Chen Wensheng of Hengyang City had been detained from September 26 to October 11 for sharing the Gospel on the street.
‘We’re Preparing for All Options’: Israel Ramps Up Military Plans Against Iran
Israel is advancing military plans to confront Iran’s nuclear program and oppose the Islamic Republic’s growing influence in the region.
Record number of container ships waiting to enter ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach
The major backlog of container ships at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is the worst its ever been, with 100 ships waiting to enter and unload as of Tuesday. The two ports account for 40 percent of all shipping containers entering the U.S.