World News

Iran says tens of thousands of students are preparing themselves for suicide attacks against Israel, in revenge for the Israeli offensive against militants of the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip.

Japan has asked several companies to help it develop more geothermal power plants linked to its 108 active volcanoes, about 10 percent of the world’s total.

A tense calm returned Sunday, January 4, to Kosovo’s second largest and most ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, following clashes between Serbs and ethnic Albanians in which at least six people were injured.

Recovery work continued Monday, January 5, after at least four people were killed and dozens more injured as two powerful earthquakes hit Indonesia over the weekend, cutting power lines and destroying buildings, officials said.

The European Union was to hold a special meeting Monday, January 5, to discuss a major energy crisis, after Russia accused Ukraine of stealing natural gas destined for Europe.

A strong earthquake rattled Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan for about a minute on Sunday. A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the northeastern province of Badakhshan in the Hindu Kush mountains, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

January 19, 2005 (MEMRI) — The following are excerpts from the televised confessions of Muayed Al-Nasseri, who commanded Saddam Hussein’s “Army of Muhammad” throughout 2004. The confessions were aired by an Iraqi TV channel that operates from the UAE, Al-Fayhaa TV, and were monitored and translated by the MEMRI TV Project.

“What’s needed is …something analogous to the ancient acropolis, where today’s diversity of national and ethnic customs and religious traditions can be celebrated and upheld for the enrichment of everybody….The new acropolises will… provide opportunity for sacred expression needed to bind the people of the planet into a viable, meaningful, and sustainable solidarity.”[2] [Dean James Morton, Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, 1996 UN Conference on Human Settlements]

The science of transgenics is moving forward despite bad publicity surrounding genetically modified foods. When it involves ‘enhancing the human species,’ the Bible has something to say.

NEW YORK (BP)–A small group of policy experts will be watching the actions of the United Nations Millennium Summit for further evidence of what one analyst described to CNSNews.com as a “frightening” push for global governance.

New York — A kind of spiritual bonhomie was on public display during much of the Millennium World Peace Summit, with religious leaders, attired in their vestments and finery, issuing carefully crafted declarations and prayers for peace.

NEW YORK (BP)–Nearly 2,000 religious and spiritual leaders from throughout the world gathered for the Aug. 28 opening of a United Nations-affiliated conference on world peace amid controversy over the nature of the meeting and the exclusion of a prominent international figure.

WASHINGTON (BP)–Congress’ annual review of China’s human rights record before granting the Beijing government favored trade status came to an end Sept. 19 when the Senate resoundingly approved permanent relations with the communist giant.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–North American Mission Board (NAMB) officials have announced plans next year to conclude a series of talks with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church about the Bible’s role in the Christian faith.

Islam is exploding across sub-Saharan Africa at a rate even statisticians are having difficulty quantifying, and its growth, fueled by seemingly limitless funding from petroleum sales, is impacting the economy of the region, the political outlook, and other faiths.

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (July 29, 2000) (Assist) – A London-based pastor who has churches in Sri Lanka has issued an urgent prayer plea for Sri Lanka’s embattled evangelical Christian community.

GWERU, Zimbabwe (BP)–Screams pierced the air as invaders forced their way onto the farm just outside Gweru, Zimbabwe.

The attackers forcibly marched frightened farm workers to the workers’ living compound, where they beat the workers with axes, picks and heavy sticks. Others they forced to strip to their underclothes in the middle of the Zimbabwe winter and then sing and dance by the firelight.

Following is the official statement by Rabbi Michael Melchior, deputy Foreign Minister of Israel, delivered by Ambassador Mordecai Yedid on Monday at the Durban conference on racism.

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is back on everyone’s radar screen again, after his forces reportedly ventured into Saudi territory and killed a soldier, while a recent training exercise using chemical weapons turned deadly for at least 20 elite Iraqi commandos.

LAGOS, Nigeria (Compass) — The head of the Nigerian Bible Society recently released the casualty figures of Christians killed and churches destroyed during the February and May religious clashes between Muslims and Christians in Kaduna, the capital city of northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state.