At least four people dead, 130 rescued after Nashville floods
At least four people died and 130 others have been rescued after 7 inches of rain flooded Nashville, Tennessee, this weekend, authorities said.
War
Iran-backed Houthis launch new attacks on Saudi Arabia while “exchanging ideas” with U.S.
Saudi Arabia said on Friday that its air defense systems had intercepted a ballistic missile over the southern city of Najran. It was the latest in a series of escalating attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have consistently targeted Saudi infrastructure in retaliation for the Saudi-led war against their insurgency in neighboring Yemen.
Ohio professor who rejected transgender pronouns can sue university: U.S. appeals court
A federal appeals court on Friday revived a philosophy professor’s lawsuit against a public university in southern Ohio that reprimanded him for refusing to address a transgender student by her preferred pronouns.
EU, Britain Battle Over Vaccine Supplies
European Union leaders agreed to toughen export controls of coronavirus vaccines amid a row with Britain over deliveries. At an online summit attended by U.S. President Joe Biden, they also stressed the importance of a reliable global supply chain of COVID-19 jabs.
Pakistan Considers Death Penalty As Only Punishment For Blasphemy
Rights activists fear that Pakistani law enforcement authorities will make the death penalty the only punishment for blasphemy against Islam.
Iran blamed as Israeli-owned ship said hit by missile near Oman
As the shadow war between Iran and Israel appears to be heating up at sea, another Israeli-owned vessel reportedly came under missile fire in the Gulf of Oman early Thursday morning, possibly by Iranian forces.
Athens becomes first city to adopt Prince Charles’ Earth Charter
The Prince of Wales has called on major cities around the world to set an example and join the “drive towards greater sustainability” as Athens has become the first city to adopt his Terra Carta (Earth Charter).
We Must Start Planning For a Permanent Pandemic
For the past year, an assumption — sometimes explicit, often tacit — has informed almost all our thinking about the pandemic: At some point, it will be over, and then we’ll go “back to normal.”
Christian Middle East Broadcaster Awarded
A Christian broadcaster that claims to reach 25 million people in the Middle East and North Africa — has received a prestigious award from National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), the world’s largest association of Christian communicators.
North Korea Fires Missiles, Provoking Tensions
North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan in the first such test since Joe Biden became U.S. president.
Massive ship runs aground in Suez Canal, blocks the waterway
A gigantic, fully loaded container ship has run aground and become wedged across Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking all other vessels from passing through, and threatening the viability of a pandemic-beleaguered global shipping system, the Associated Press reports. The MV Ever Given, a Panama-flagged ship that transports cargo between Asia and Europe, ran aground Tuesday for reasons that were still not clear on Wednesday.
California anti-hate bill may block Christians and pro-lifers from joining police force
A California bill intended to ensure police candidates have no connection to hate groups may ultimately prevent conservative Christians and pro-life advocates from joining the force, Christian Headlines reports. Titled the “California Law Enforcement Accountability Reform Act,” bill AB 655 will be heard by the state’s Assembly Public Safety Committee on April 6.
German Pastor Facing Deportation From Turkey
A German pastor who faces expulsion from Turkey urged prayers Tuesday as he awaits the outcome of a trial that could effectively ban him from the country, supporters said.
Facebook to restrict groups that break its rules
Responding to claims that it has driven some of its users to harmful extremism, Facebook announced Wednesday that it will restrict the reach of user groups and individuals that break its rules, NBC reports.
Pakistan: High Court changes life sentence to death penalty for Seventh Day Adventist accused of blasphemy
The High Court in Lahore, Pakistan has changed a life sentence to the death penalty in the case of a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church charged with sending a blasphemous text message in 2011, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Giving its decision on March 10, the High Court ruled in favor of Islamist group Khatam-e-Nabuwwat Forum, which argued that 36-year-old Sajjad Masih should be sentenced to death rather than life imprisonment for his transgression.
US-Mexico border traffickers earned as much as $14M a day last month: sources
Criminal organizations trafficking women, children, families and single adults over the U.S.-Mexico border earned as much as $14 million a day in February, according to border patrol sources.
Black Lives Matter protesters march to popular grocery store and trap customers inside
Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters marched to a Wegmans grocery store in Rochester, New York, trapping customers inside on the anniversary of Daniel Prude’s arrest.
North Korea fired missiles after US military exercises with South Korea
North Korea fired off short-range missiles over the weekend after it denounced the U.S. for moving forward with joint military exercises with South Korea, Fox News has confirmed.
U.S., allies announce sanctions on China over Uyghur ‘genocide’
The United States and its allies in Canada, Britain and the European Union on Monday announced sanctions on several Chinese officials alleged to have links to what U.S. officials say is a genocidal campaign against Uyghur Muslims.
U.S. Condemns Attacks Against Saudi Territory From ‘Iranian-Aligned’ Groups
The U.S. State Department says Secretary of State Antony Blinken has “strongly condemned” recent attacks against Saudi territory from “Iranian-aligned groups” in the region, and discussed cooperation to end the war in Yemen in a call with Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister.