US and Russia to hold talks on January 10, official says
The United States and Russia are set to hold dialogue on nuclear arms control and tensions over a military build up around Ukraine on January 10, a White House official said on Monday.
Security
DRC: Suicide bomber kills five in Christian area
Five people were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Christmas Day when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a hotel restaurant in North Kivu, an area where Christians are known to live, Christian Today (CT) reports.
Russia withdraws 10,000 troops from Ukrainian border ahead of planned negotiations next month
Russia has withdrawn over 10,000 troops from the Ukrainian border as it prepares to enter security discussions with the Biden administration in the new year.
Christians Pray As Militants Behead Mozambique Pastor
Christians urged prayers for a grieving widow in northern Mozambique after her husband, a pastor, was beheaded by Islamic militants.
Russia Doesn’t Rule Out Invasion Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has indirectly warned the West that his troops will invade Ukraine unless it gives immediate security guarantees.
UK data suggest hospitalization 50-70% less likely with Omicron than Delta
Preliminary data suggest that people with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus are between 50 and 70 percent less likely to need hospitalization than those with the Delta strain, Britain’s public health agency said Thursday.
Philippines Christians Fear Looting After Typhoon
Christians in the Philippines‘ central Province of Bohol wracked by super Typhoon Rai pleaded for prayers, food and water Wednesday after the governor feared looting amid growing hunger.
Chinese authorities continue raids on Christian schools
China’s communist regime raided two more Christian schools last week, as part of its ongoing effort to suppress Christianity in the country, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India’s Southern Christians Fear Sad Christmas With Anti-Conversion Law
Christians in India’s southern state of Karnataka anticipated a sad Christmas as details emerged of a perceived “draconian” law proposal against religious conversions.
Russia’s Putin says NATO, West to blame for surging tensions
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday the U.S. and its allies, not the Kremlin, are to blame for rising tensions in Europe that have revived talk of war.
Myanmar: Christian pastor dies during interrogation by Burmese Army
A Christian pastor in Myanmar died during a brutal interrogation by the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) earlier this month, Myanmar Now reports. Following the February 1 military coup, the Tatmadaw is trying to violently impose Buddhism on the whole of Myanmar; Christians currently make up around 8.2 percent of the country’s population.
Russia warns of military action as fears mount of Christmas invasion of Ukraine
Russia upped the ante Monday in its dangerous standoff with Ukraine, openly warning of military action if President Biden and America’s NATO allies ignore a list of demands Moscow announced late last week — a far-reaching list that some key U.S. lawmakers have dubbed a “pretext to war.”
Israeli companies exported cruise missiles to China without permit
Three Israeli companies and 10 suspects were indicted on Monday after they were found to have exported cruise missiles to China without a permit.
IDF and Shin Bet Use New Technologies to Catch Terrorists as Quickly as Possible
The Shin Bet and the IDF caught the terrorists who killed yeshiva student Yehuda Dimentman in a shooting attack this week with remarkable speed, due in part to new technology that Israel’s security forces have deployed to fight terrorism in the West Bank.
‘Threat Posed By Iran’ High On Agenda As U.S. National-Security Adviser Travels To Israel For Talks
U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan will visit Israel this week for discussions likely to be dominated by a perceived threat from Iran amid U.S. concerns that the time Tehran would need to develop a nuclear weapon has become “unacceptably short.”
Mozambique: Many of 600 women and girls abducted and enslaved by ISIS-affiliate are still missing
A terrorist group linked to Islamic State (ISIS) has abducted and enslaved over 600 women and girls in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province since 2018, and many of the abductees are still missing, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports.
Russia’s Putin Goes To China’s Winter Games Despite Genocide Reports
Russian president Vladimir Putin has pledged to attend the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing as he seeks closer ties with China at a time tensions with the West.
Sri Lankan Businessman Lynched To Death In Pakistan (Worthy News In-depth)
Pakistani police say they have detained seven “prime actors” in the horrific killing of a Sri Lankan businessman lynched and burned by an angry Muslim mob over alleged “blasphemy” against Islam.
Migrants Van Crash Kills 7 In Hungary
Hungarian police have detained the driver of a van carrying illegal migrants after it crashed in southern Hungary, killing seven people and injuring four others, Worthy News learned Wednesday.
India State Tables Anti-Conversion Law Amid Anti-Christian Violence
Christians were concerned Wednesday as the Hindu-led government of India’s southwestern state of Karnataka was to table a harsh anti-conversion law amid attacks against churches.