Iran nuclear talks resume in Vienna; EU diplomat warns of ‘difficult’ work ahead
Negotiators trying to save the landmark Iran nuclear deal resumed discussions on Monday with the EU chair warning of “difficult” work ahead.
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Kenya: Somali-born Christian survives murder attempt by Islamists
A Somali-born Christian convert in northeastern Kenya is recovering after four ethnic Somali Muslims attempted to murder him for leaving Islam to follow Christ, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The population of Kenya is 80% Christian but converts from Islam remain vulnerable to attacks from radicalized Muslims.
UN Condemns Myanmar Christmas Eve Massacre (Worthy News In-depth)
The new United Nations special envoy to Myanmar has condemned escalating violence in the country after the ruling army reportedly killed up to 38 people on Christmas Eve.
Myanmar: Save the Children aid group says two members missing since Christmas Eve massacre
The international Save the Children aid organization reported Saturday that two of its members were missing in Myanmar after the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) murdered 35 civilians on Friday and burned the bodies beyond recognition, the Washington Times reports. The slaughter on Christmas Eve was the latest atrocity committed by the Tatmadaw in seeking to control Myanmar and impose Buddhism as the national religion.
Israeli airstrikes said to hit key Syrian port of Latakia, causing ‘massive’ damage
Syrian state media said Israeli warplanes fired missiles on the port of the coastal city of Latakia early Tuesday causing large explosions and fires, the second alleged strike in a month on the key facility.
Biden signs $768.2 billion defense spending bill into law
President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act into law Monday, authorizing $768.2 billion in military spending, including a 2.7% pay raise for service members, for 2022.
Biden declares ‘no federal solution’ to unrelenting waves of COVID-19
President Biden on Monday delivered a cryptic warning to the nation’s governors when he said there is “no federal solution” to the COVID-19 outbreaks and called on the states to do more.
‘Iran deal put us on cruise control heading over a cliff,’ former envoy warns
Former Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer this week defended his government’s positions that encouraged the United States to leave the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and supported Israel’s current position that the US must leave a military option on the table and signal that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons
Lapid: Israel Will ‘Act Alone’ Against Iran ‘If Necessary’
Israel will “act alone” to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear-threshold state “if necessary,” Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said on Monday, as negotiations between Tehran and world powers were set to resume in Vienna.
Russia ‘not bluffing’ on NATO rollback, warns of ‘large-scale conflict in Europe’
Russia will not drop a demand that NATO “be rolled back” to its 1997 boundaries, according to a senior Russian envoy, a requirement backed by the threat of “a large-scale conflict in Europe” arising out of Ukraine.
Israel Fortifies ‘Northern Shield’ Along Lebanese Border to Protect Civilians Against Rocket Attacks
Israel announced on Monday that it expanded a program to install rocket-proof protection in the homes of another three communities located along the country’s northern border with Lebanon.
Israel Sees Drop in Severe Cases Amid Latest Covid Outbreak
The number of serious coronavirus cases dropped on Monday, even as daily infections continue to increase amid the fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Israel, the latest Health Ministry data reveals.
US and Russia to hold talks on January 10, official says
The United States and Russia are set to hold dialogue on nuclear arms control and tensions over a military build up around Ukraine on January 10, a White House official said on Monday.
Myanmar atrocity: Burmese Army burns 35 civilians alive on Christmas Eve
Myanmar’s Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) burned alive at least 35 civilians, including elderly people and children, in Karenni state on Christmas Eve, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. The Tatmadaw rogue army has been slaughtering and displacing non-Buddhists since it overthrew Myanmar’s democratically elected government in a February 1 coup.
DRC: Suicide bomber kills five in Christian area
Five people were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Christmas Day when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a hotel restaurant in North Kivu, an area where Christians are known to live, Christian Today (CT) reports.
Hungarian Christmas Cheer In Shoeboxes
Hungarian churches and charities have begun distributing support to thousands of impoverished children, including those who lost parents amid the raging coronavirus pandemic.
US Missionaries At Christmas After Haïti Escape
Seventeen U.S.-based missionaries kidnapped in Haiti could celebrate Christmas in freedom after most of them miraculously escaped the street gang 400 Mawozo, who held them for two months, a spokesman said.
Pfizer to continue distributing version of COVID-19 vaccine not fully approved by FDA
Pfizer’s vaccine against COVID-19 has been fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration, yet the pharmaceutical giant is still providing distributors across the country with an earlier version of the vaccine that predates FDA’s full approval.
Weather disasters around world cost $20 billion more than last year: NGO
The ten most expensive weather disasters this year caused more than $170 billion in damage, $20 billion more than in 2020, a British aid group said Monday.
Army set to kick out troops who won’t take the COVID-19 vaccine
The U.S. Army next month will begin kicking out soldiers who refuse to take the COVID-19 vaccine and aren’t in the process of seeking an exemption to the Department of Defense’s vaccination policy.