Russia Bans Another Rights Group Ahead Of New Year
A Russian court shut down a prominent human rights organization a day after closing another advocacy group amid a broader crackdown on dissent in Russia ahead of the New Year.
Worthy News
Socialite Maxwell Guilty Of Sex Trafficking For Late Billionaire Epstein
Ghislaine Maxwell has been convicted of grooming and trafficking underage girls for billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein, who allegedly committed suicide 28 months ago.
Iranian judiciary grants Christian prisoners 10 days’ holiday
Christian prisoners in Iran were treated to a rare act of mercy by the state as the country’s judiciary granted them 10 days’ leave to be with their families during the Christmas holidays, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reports.
Biden not expected to challenge Israel’s development of Golan Heights for increased Israeli residency
The Biden administration is not expected to dispute Israel’s announcement Sunday that it plans to invest $317.3 million in developing the controversial Golan Heights for increased Israeli residency, the Jewish News Syndicate reports.
China announces draconian restrictions to online Christian activity
China’s Communist regime has announced harsh new restrictions to online religious activities, effectively banning online church services for Chinese believers that are not part of the state-approved Three-Self church movement, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The move follows China’s prior banning of in-person religious gatherings, supposedly due to the pandemic.
China Rolls Out AI Prosecutor
Chinese researchers say they have created the world’s first artificial intelligence “prosecutor” who can charge suspects with “a 97 percent accuracy”.
Ohio Governor signs “Born-Alive” bill into law
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has signed into law Senate Bill 157, the “Born-Alive Infant Protection Act,” which requires doctors to provide life-saving treatment to babies born alive after an attempted abortion or face criminal charges, the Hill reports.
Biden Signs $768 Billion Bill As US Faces Attack
U.S. President Joe Biden signed a $768 billion defense bill amid fears that Russia and China are ahead of the United States in developing new weapons systems such as hypersonic technology.
Evangelist Graham Condemns Satanist Attack On Christmas
American evangelist Franklin Graham has condemned U.S.-based Satanists after they tried “to destroy” Christmas over the weekend.
Poland President Vetoes Media Law, US Happy
Political tensions rose in Poland on Tuesday after President Andrzej Duda vetoed media ownership legislation that could have silenced a U.S.-owned TV network criticizing the government.
Russia Closes Oldest Rights Group
In an Orwellian move that critics view resembling the Soviet-era, Russia’s Supreme Court banned Tuesday one of the country’s oldest and main human rights groups.
Congo attacks show Islamic State’s expansion across Africa
The Islamic State’s foothold across Africa is expanding amid a recent spate of gruesome attacks and there are growing fears in Washington that the terror group, as well as other extremist outfits like it will use the continent as a staging ground for future jihadist strikes against the West.
Afghanistan anti-Taliban resistance begs for U.S. support, gets nothing from Biden
Pro-democracy fighters in Afghanistan‘s Panjshir Valley may be bloodied but are not bowed in opposing the Taliban, who have claimed victory over the entire country, a resistance leader told The Washington Times.
U.S. home prices surge 18.4% in October
U.S. home prices surged again in October as the housing market continues to boom in the wake of last year’s coronavirus recession.
‘Campaign Between Wars’: Israel Struck ‘Dozens’ of Syrian Targets in 2021 to Disrupt Weapons Transfer to Iranian Proxies
The Israeli army said Tuesday that airstrike operations carried out this year hit “dozens” of targets in Syria and have limited the ability of Iran to funnel arms to its proxies in the region.
Syria says it will ‘use all legally available means to retake’ Golan
Syria said Monday that Israel’s plans to double the number of Israeli citizens living in Israeli-annexed Golan Heights mark a “dangerous and unprecedented” escalation between the countries.
India persecution: Spate of Hindu attacks against Christianity over Christmas period
The intensifying persecution of believers by Hindu nationalists in India has now even caught the attention of mainstream international media, with the Guardian UK joining Christian organizations in reporting on a spate of attacks against Christianity in the country over the Christmas period.
Britain: Prosecution withdraws case against UK pastor fined for carrying on ministry to homeless
A British pastor who was fined over £16,000 for running her ministry to the homeless during a UK lockdown was told this month that the prosecution has withdrawn the case against her, Christian Legal Centre reports. Pastor Chizumie Dyer, who runs her ‘Church on the Streets’ ministry in Nottingham, England, was issued fines by police in February 2021.
Texas pastor forgives church vandal; Christmas services continued despite damage
The pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas has extended forgiveness to a vandal who caused between $100,000 – $300,000 damage to the church building on Christmas Eve, CBN reports. Pastor Eric Borchers said the attack would not stop his congregation from enjoying Christmas services as parishioners rallied to clean up the damage.
Gallup: 69% of Americans Identify as Christian
Based on two 2021 polls, Gallup found that nearly 75% of Americans identify with a specific religious faith, including 69% who identify as Christian.