China bans Christmas activities
Chinese government authorities increased their persecution of Christians this Christmas season by banning numerous worship services and carol events, the Christian Post reports.
Security
Iran warns U.S. and Israel not to cross “red lines” in Persian Gulf
Iran warned both the US and Israel Monday that they must not cross “red lines” in the Persian Gulf, the Washington Times reports. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh issued the warning amid reports that Israel had sent submarines to the Gulf and that US nuclear submarines had gone through the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coast.
Biden says Trump Pentagon endangering public by stalling transition
US President-elect Joe Biden said Monday that Donald Trump’s appointees at the Pentagon were stalling on the transition, and warned that the United States faces security risks as a result.
U. S. House Backs More Stimulus; Rejects Trump’s Defense Veto
In a rare sign of agreement, the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives has voted 275-134 to meet President Donald J. Trump’s demand for $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks.
Nigeria Militants Kill 11 Christians Over Christmas
Christians in northeast Nigeria plunged into mourning after Islamist militants killed at least 11 people on Christmas Eve, church sources and officials said.
Nashville Bomb Blast Kills 1, Injures 3; President Briefed
An apparent act of terrorism shook the United States on Christmas Day as a car bomb rocked downtown Nashville killing at least one person and injuring three others.
Nigeria Fighters Kill and Kidnap Christians
Christian farming communities reportedly faced new attacks and abductions on Christmas Eve by suspected Islamic Fulani fighters who recently killed dozens of Christians.
Trump issues 26 more pardons, commutations including Stone, Manafort
President Donald Trump granted 26 new pardons and commutations on Wednesday including additional pardons for individuals involved in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
FBI blames Iran for online hit list of U.S. election officials
The FBI on Wednesday blamed Iran for creating a website in the weeks following the U.S. presidential election that called for the deaths of American election officials.
Trump Vetoes Defense Bill, Rejects It As ‘Gift to China and Russia’
U.S. President Donald J. Trump vetoed a massive defense spending bill saying the law was “a gift to China and Russia” putting “the interests of the Washington D.C. establishment” over American service members.
President Pardons Convicted Supporters
U.S. President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday pardoned 15 people, but he did not extend amnesty to death row people.
Hungary’s Opposition Unites Against Autocratic Prime Minister
Six Hungarian opposition parties say they unite to oust the increasingly autocratic Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has suffered in the polls amid ongoing corruption scandals.
3 rockets fired toward US embassy in Iraq
At least three rockets targeted the US embassy in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone on Sunday, Iraqi security officials said, sparking fears of renewed unrest, as next month’s anniversary of the slaying of an Iranian general draws near.
PA, Jordan and Egypt call for resumption of peace talks
The Palestinian Authority, Egypt and Jordan on Saturday stressed the need to urge Israel to return to negotiations in order to reach a final settlement on the basis of a two-state solution to ensure the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state along the pre-1967 lines, with east Jerusalem as its capital.
America Blames Russia For Massive Cyberattack
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blamed Russia for one of the largest cyberattacks on American government agencies and private companies in recent memory. Russia has denied involvement in the scandal.
North Korea Executes Captain For Hearing U.S. Broadcasts
Authorities in North Korea have publicly executed the owner of a fishing fleet for secretly listening to broadcasts by U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA) and other media outlets, Worthy News learned Friday.
Nigeria Army Rescues Abducted Boys
Nigeria’s army said Friday it had rescued all 344 schoolboys who were kidnapped a week earlier by Islamic militants in the nation’s troubled northwest.
‘Worst hacking in US history’: Agencies said to fear nuclear networks accessed
US officials suspect a massive hacking operation that hit numerous government agencies and has been linked to Russia breached networks tied to the country’s nuclear weapons stockpile, Politico reported Thursday.
Indonesia Detains Islamic Leaders Amid Rising Extremism
Indonesian security forces have detained hardline Islamic leaders with suspected links to terrorism amid concerns among Christians about growing Islamic extremism.
Senate Hearing Examines Voting Irregularities, Ken Starr Points to ‘Clear Violation of the Law’ in PA
The Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing Wednesday to examine irregularities in the 2020 election.