Hungary’s Orbán Condemns President Biden Over Totalitarian Remarks
Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has condemned U.S. President Joe Biden for calling him an “authoritarian tug.”
Terrorism
US intensifies strikes on al-Qaeda-affiliated targets in Somalia
The US is intensifying counter-terrorism airstrikes against al-Qaeda affiliates who have increased their attacks in Somalia since the withdrawal of hundreds of American troops this year, Bloomberg News reports. The US Africa Command has confirmed that airstrikes were carried out on July 20 and 23 and on Aug. 1.
Biden Names First Muslim Religious Freedom Ambassador
The White House announced Friday a slate of nominations and appointments for top religious affairs roles, including the first Muslim American nominated to be the US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom (IRF).
Christian Evangelist Stabbed In London For Preaching To Muslims
Christian evangelist Hatun Tash says she survived a knife attack by a suspected Muslim in London “thanks to God’s grace.”
Israel will “look into” NSO Pegasus spyware allegations
Israel’s National Security Council has announced it is “looking into” allegations that Israeli-made NSO Pegasus spyware has been used to illegally spy on a range of people including French President Emmanuel Macron, Ynet News reported Tuesday.
US alarmed as Saudi lawsuits threaten to expose secrets
Two lawsuits pitting Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler against a former intelligence czar threaten to expose highly sensitive US government secrets, prompting Washington to consider a rare judicial intervention, documents show.
Knesset fails to renew family reunification law as opposition MKs vote against government
After opposition MKs and a member of PM Naftali Bennet’s Yamina party voted against the new coalition government Tuesday, the Knesset failed to renew the temporary family reunification law which blocks the automatic granting of Israeli citizenship or residency to Palestinians who are married to Israeli citizens, the Times of Israel reports. Considered necessary to Israel’s security, the law has been renewed every year since its inception in 2003: that opposition MKs voted against its re-extension this time is understood as a political move to signal no confidence in the government.
Global Coalition Fears Islamic State Expansion in Africa
Western powers are promising recent successes by the Islamic State across Africa will not go unanswered, backing plans for a task force to focus on the terror group’s spread from Iraq and Syria to the African continent.
Bomb Destroys Brazil Bible Memorial; More Attacks Expected
A bomb attack seriously damaged the Memorial to the Bible in northeastern Brazil amid mounting anti-Christian sentiments in the South American nation, Christians say.
48% of Gaza war casualties associated with terror groups – intel report
At least 48% of the Palestinians killed during the May 10-21 Gaza conflict were associated with terrorist groups, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center reported Tuesday.
Top U.S. general warns of ‘wildfire of terrorism’ across Africa
A top U.S. general this weekend warned that a “wildfire of terrorism” is sweeping across Africa as the continent seems poised to become the new global epicenter for Islamic extremism.
Belarus Parades Opposition Journalist At News Conference
Several journalists and diplomats left a news conference in Belarus after authorities unexpectedly paraded the detained opposition journalist Roman Protasevich at the briefing. With Protasevich appearing under duress, the uniformed officials gave their version of the Ryanair passenger plane diversion of May 23.
Kidnapped Nigerian Pastor Freed, Colleague Killed
A retired Nigerian church pastor has been freed after being kidnapped in an attack in which another minister was killed, Christians told Worthy News.
Indonesia Police Uncover Terrorist Plot Against Churches
Police in Indonesia have uncovered an Islamist terrorist plot to attack several churches and assassinate a church leader in the country’s Christian-majority province of Papua, Worthy News learned Thursday.
Blinken will ask Congress for $75 million aid to Palestinians
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Tuesday that he will ask Congress for $75 million in aid to the Palestinians for 2021, the Jerusalem Post reports. Making his announcement after a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, Blinken added that the US will also reopen its consulate in Jerusalem.
Belarus Detains Journalist After Forcing Plane To Land
European leaders have condemned Belarusian authorities after a passenger plane traveling between two European capitals was forced to land, and a prominent opposition journalist was detained.
AG Garland: DOJ budget seeks additional $85M for ‘domestic terrorism’ probes
According to statements delivered by Attorney General Merrick Garland to members of the House on May 4th, the 2022 budget request for the Biden Administration’s Department of Justice is seeking an additional $85 million in order to investigate domestic terrorism.
Biden Defends Multi-Trillion Spending, Condemns Trump
Joe Biden used his first address to Congress as the 46th U.S. president to indirectly condemn his predecessor and sell multi-trillion budget plans for social programs and U.S. infrastructure.
US eyes major rollback of Iran sanctions to revive nuclear deal
The Biden administration is considering a near wholesale rollback of some of the most stringent Trump-era sanctions imposed on Iran in a bid to get the Islamic Republic to return to compliance with a landmark 2015 nuclear accord, according to current and former US officials and others familiar with the matter.
Kerry Denies Telling Iranians About Covert Israeli Operations; State Dept. Says It Was Public Knowledge
Facing calls for his resignation, President Biden’s climate envoy John Kerry on Monday denied as “unequivocally false” claims that he had informed Iran’s foreign minister about covert Israeli military strikes against Iranian facilities in Syria.