U.S. Approves 2nd COVID Vaccine Ahead of Christmas
The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal Friday, hours after Vice-President Mike Pence received another coronavirus jab live on television.
War
U.S. Legislators Want Hearing On Voter Fraud
Republican legislators demand an urgent probe into “election fraud” after high ranking U.S. officials reported irregularities and even foreign meddling in the presidential election.
‘It looks like a war zone:’ Minneapolis developers shy away from city projects after unrest and calls to ‘defund the police’
Developers have long had challenges navigating the aggressively liberal agenda of the Minneapolis City Council, but for some, the move to cut police funding was the last straw.
Parents Kidnapped Nigeria Schoolboys Fear Radicalization
Families of more than 300 Nigerian kidnapped schoolboys fear they may face similar pressures as Christian schoolgirls abducted earlier by Islamist militants.
UK and Mexico sign post-Brexit continuity deal
The UK and Mexico signed a continuity agreement Tuesday that will permit trade between them to continue on current terms after Britain leaves the European Union’s common trade policy on December 31, Reuters reports.
International Criminal Court will not investigate China’s alleged abuses against Uighur Muslims
The International Criminal Court has refused calls to investigate alleged Chinese government oppression of Uighur Muslims, saying it has no jurisdiction to do so because China is not a signatory to the ICC, VOA reports. The ICC announced its decision in a report published by the office of prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on December 14.
U.S. Confirms Cyberattack Hit Government Networks, Says It’s Ongoing
The U.S. government has confirmed that a recent cyberattack affected its networks and said the attack was “significant and ongoing.”
Army warns: U.S. homeland bases at risk of ‘deliberate and direct attacks’
U.S. Army bases face the real risk of “deliberate and direct attacks” from enemies and must implement new strategies to strengthen their defenses, the Army warned Monday in a major new report that painted an alarming picture of the threats that confront military installations at home.
Hungary Approves ‘Anti-Gay’ Constitution
Hungary has adopted an amendment to its constitution that effectively bans the adoption of children by same-sex couples. The legislation also loosens oversight of public funds despite corruption concerns and detailed rules governing war times.
New paper warns Israel, Iran on collision course
The US is making a mistake by leaving the Middle East to its own devices and this could lead to a conflagration between Israel and Iran, wrote former Turkish MP Aykan Erdemir and former US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman in an article for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Chinese Jailed Pastor Publishes Poetry Encouraging Believers
Chinese Pastor John Cao, who serves a seven-year jail term in China, has written a poetry book urging believers to realize that Jesus Christ will never forsake them. Christ, he adds, gives treasures nobody can take away.
China Prosecutes Christians For Selling Audio Bibles
China is prosecuting Christian businessmen for selling audio versions of the Bible in a government effort to “eradicate pornography and illegal publications,” rights groups confirmed.
Russia test-fires ballistic missiles from nuclear submarine
Russia has confirmed that it successfully test-fired four intercontinental ballistic missiles from a nuclear submarine on Saturday, the Washington Times reports.
Israel normalizes ties with Bhutan
Israel established full diplomatic relations with Bhutan for the first time on Saturday night.
‘Climate Concerns’ Overshadow 5th Anniversary Of Paris Deal Summit
The U.S. government stayed away from a weekend summit marking the fifth anniversary of the controversial Paris Agreement on climate change, where world leaders expressed worries about Earth’s future.
Ex-Jailed Pastor Warns US Christians Of Persecution
A U.S. pastor who spent two years in a Turkish prison for activities linked to his faith warns of upcoming persecution of Christians in the United States.
Britain, EU Agree To Keep Talking Over Deal
London and Brussels have agreed to continue talks on a crucial trade deal to avoid Britain’s turbulent exit from the European Union’s orbit by the end of the month. The announcement followed difficult negotiations between the two sides to prevent a messy divorce on Sunday.
Hungary Suing EU Over Rule Of Law Demands
Hungary warned Friday that it would launch a case at the European Union’s top court against the linking of EU funds to respect the rule of law.
EU, Britain Face Messy Divorce After Talks Breakdown
European leaders have warned that Britain’s exit from the European Union will likely be without a crucial deal on $1 trillion in annual trade. Britain already quit the EU in January, but it remained in the EU single market and customs union during a transition period.
U.S. Military Denies Blocking Biden To Meet Spy Agencies
The U.S. military has rushed to deny reports that it has blocked Joe Biden, who claimed victory in the presidential election, and his team from meeting with intelligence agencies.