Facebook Probe Into Vaccine Doubters
Social media giant Facebook is conducting an extensive behind-the-scenes study of doubts by U.S. users about vaccines as part of efforts to crack down on what it views as dangerous ideas, Worthy News monitored.
War
Persecuted Iranian Christians Receiving Shelter In Hungary After International Pressure
An Iranian Christian father and his young son, who were detained on the Hungarian-Serbian border for 527 days, have been moved to a home in northwest Hungary following international pressure. A Baptist church helped Abouzar Soltani, a convert from Islam to Christianity, and his 12-year-old-son Armin to find an apartment in the Hungarian city of Győr, Worthy News learned.
European, Arab diplomats try to revive Mideast peace efforts
Leading European and Arab world diplomats announced potential “small steps” Thursday toward reviving Mideast peace efforts after upcoming Israeli and Palestinian elections.
U.S. losing military edge in Asia, as China appears poised to attack Taiwan, top admiral warns
The leader of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command says America is losing its military edge as China becomes more emboldened and aggressive in the Pacific.
Rivlin, IDF chief to visit 3 European countries to discuss Iran threat
President Reuven Rivlin will travel to Germany, France, and Austria next week to speak to their presidents about the growing threat from Iran’s nuclear program and the International Criminal Court’s decision to open a probe into alleged war crimes by Israel and Palestinian terror groups.
Microsoft hack heralds new era of mass-scale cyberwar
Last week’s discovery of a massive new cyberattack that targeted flaws in Microsoft’s Exchange Server indicates the world has entered into the age of mass-scale cyberwar, Axios reports. The Microsoft hack affected some 30,000 small businesses and organizations in the US and many more globally, and follows the SolarWinds massive hack in December.
Pope Prays For Iraq’s Persecuted Christians
Pope Francis has visited Iraq to reassure the nation’s dwindling Christian community of his prayers after years of Islamic attacks and persecution.
Texas Gov. deploys National Guard to Mexico border in ‘Operation Lone Star,’ slams Biden policies
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the state’s Department of Public Safety will deploy the Texas National Guard to the United States-Mexico border as part of “Operation Lone Star” to prevent Mexican cartels and traffickers from smuggling people and drugs into the state.
Iran will “raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground” if Israel attacks nuclear program
Responding to Israel’s recent announcement that it will strike Iran’s nuclear program on its own if the world does nothing, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said Sunday that his country would “raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground” if Israel should attack, the Times of Israel reports.
Hungary’s Ruling Party Leaves Largest European Group Amid Tensions
The ruling Fidesz party of Hungary’s outspoken Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has left the largest center-right political group within the European Parliament after tensions over his perceived autocratic style.
Indonesia appoints evangelical Christian as national police chief
Indonesia has appointed an evangelical Christian as its new national police chief, thwarting opposition from Islamic groups in the predominantly Muslim country, the Christian Post reports. Commissioner General Listyo Sigit Prabowo was sworn in on January 27. and is the first Christian to hold this post in 50 years.
Middle East In Biblical City of Ur, Pope Urges Inter-Religious Tolerance, Fraternity
Pope Francis has addressed an interfaith gathering of Iraq’s religious and ethnic groups in Ur, said to be the birthplace of Abraham, the common patriarch for Jews, Christians and Muslims. He drove home the need for respect and unity, and he used the opportunity to condemn violent religious extremism.
Pope Prays Amid Ruins of Iraqi Churches Destroyed by IS
Pope Francis was in northern Iraq Sunday where he prayed in the ruins of churches destroyed by the Islamic state and celebrated an open-air Mass.
U.S. deploys B-52 bombers to Middle East in warning to Iran
The U.S. military on Sunday delivered a pair of clear warnings to Iran, with the Air Force dispatching two B-52H “Stratofortress” bombers to the Middle East while Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed to “hold people accountable for their acts” if Americans are targeted.
China tells Biden to reverse ‘dangerous practice’ on Taiwan
China’s foreign minister warned the Biden administration on Sunday to roll back former President Donald Trump’s “dangerous practice” of showing support for Taiwan, the island democracy claimed by Beijing as its own territory.
US Democrats Pass Controversial Voting Law
U.S. House Democrats voted for the most extensive overhaul of the nation’s election law in at least a generation despite unanimous Republican opposition and warnings is could undermine democracy.
House passes George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
The US House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act Wednesday, in an effort to increase police accountability and end practices that facilitate the use of excessive force against unarmed citizens, USA Today reports. Drafted by Democrats, the bill was first introduced in the last Congress after the death in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020.
New Zealand downgrades tsunami threat after 8.1-magnitude quake
Officials in New Zealand on Friday downgraded a tsunami warning after multiple powerful earthquakes struck off the coast earlier in the day.
Number Of ‘Unaccompanied Minors’ Crossing Border On Pace To ‘Shatter’ Records
The number of unaccompanied minors jumping the United States-Mexico border seeking asylum has risen dramatically over the last several weeks and, according to the Domestic Policy Council, which briefed President Joe Biden on the situation Tuesday, that number is growing and is likely to exceed the record by a shocking 45%.
Eritrea releases Christian prisoners but is accused of attacking churches
Eritrea has released a further 21 Christian prisoners, but Eritrean forces are accused of attacking churches in neighboring Ethiopia, Christian Today reported Tuesday. Despite these accusations, rights advocates believe the Eritrean release of Christian prisoners may constitute an effort to seek favor with Ethiopia’s Protestant prime minister: Eritrea has freed a total of 171 Christian prisoners since August last year.