اليوم السابع 7

Reports: Military Stages Coup in Myanmar, Suu Kyi Detained https://ift.tt/eA8V8J A military coup was taking place in Myanmar early Monday and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was detained under house arrest, reports said, as communications were cut to the capital.

Pakistani Christian Nurse Tied up, Tortured by Co-Workers After Falsely Accused of Blasphemy https://ift.tt/eA8V8J A Christian nurse in Pakistan was accused of blasphemy against Islam following a disagreement she had with a Muslim co-worker. The dispute led to an alleged assault against the woman, who is now in hiding for her safety.

Church Leaders in Scotland Take Legal Action Against Govt. For Outlawing, Criminalizing Public Worship https://ift.tt/eA8V8J A group of Scottish church leaders is pursuing legal action against the Scottish Minsters' decision to close churches and outlaw public worship during the current COVID lockdown.

Pakistan Court Orders Man Accused in American's Death Freed https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of a Pakistani man convicted and later acquitted in the gruesome beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002. 

Francis Chan Forced to Leave Hong Kong, Visa Request Denied in Aftermath of Communist Takeover https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Religious persecution by China's communist party has reached well-known evangelist and author Francis Chan after authorities in Hong Kong rejected his visa.

'Urgent': Massacre of 700+ Ethiopian Christians Points to Bigger Crisis as Refugees Flee Escalating Violence https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Up to two million Ethiopians are facing starvation amid intense fighting between the government and rebel groups in the northern part of that country. Fighting increased last week in the Tigray region, spurring reports of a bloody massacre at a church in the Ethiopian city of Aksum that killed over 700 people.  

Argentina's New Law Legalizing Elective Abortion Takes Effect https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Argentina's landmark abortion law went into effect Sunday, guaranteeing abortion up to the 14th week of pregnancy and beyond that in cases of rape or when a woman's health is at risk.

Operation Blessing Marks First Anniversary of Philippine Volcanic Eruption by Giving Livelihood to Survivors https://ift.tt/eA8V8J January 12th marked one year since the devastating Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines. It forced tens of thousands from their homes and the evacuation cost 39 lives.  

Trapped for 2 Weeks, 11 Workers Rescued From China Gold Mine https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Eleven workers trapped for two weeks by an explosion inside a Chinese gold mine were brought safely to the surface on Sunday.

12-Year-Old Christian Girl Rescued in Pakistan, Forced to Marry Muslim Man While in Captivity for 5 Months https://ift.tt/eA8V8J A Pakistani Christian girl was rescued from a Muslim man who reportedly abducted, raped, and forced her to marry him.

UK Chief Scientist Says New Virus Variant May be More Deadly https://ift.tt/eA8V8J There is some evidence that a new coronavirus variant first identified in southeast England carries a higher risk of death than the original strain, the British government’s chief scientific adviser said Friday -- though he stressed that the data is uncertain.

Thousands of Hong Kongers Locked Down to Contain Coronavirus https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Thousands of Hong Kong residents were locked down in their homes Saturday in an unprecedented move to contain a worsening coronavirus outbreak in the city.

Germany to Hold COVID Restriction Violators in Detention Centers https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Germans caught flouting COVID-19 quarantine rules will be held in detention centers, according to several recent reports.

Catholic Priest Brutally Murdered in Northern Nigeria, Brother Still Held by Kidnappers https://ift.tt/eA8V8J A Catholic priest was kidnapped and murdered last week in northern Nigeria by a group of unidentified armed men who first asked for ransom money from the priest's diocese before killing him. 

750 People Massacred at Ethiopian Church, Alleged Hiding Place of the Ark of the Covenant https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Numerous media outlets are reporting the massacre of 750 people at the Maryam Tsiyon Church in Aksum, Ethiopia. 

Known as the 'Billy Graham of Africa', Evangelist Stephen Lungu Dies of Complications from COVID-19 https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Stephen Lungu, a well-known evangelist and retired CEO of African Enterprise (AE), died Jan. 18 in Malawi in southeastern Africa from COVID-19 complications.  He was 78.

Two of the World's Most Tyrannical Regimes Are Celebrating Trump's Departure https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Two of the world's most dangerous regimes, known for violating human rights on a broad scale and threatening U.S. national security and global peace, couldn't be happier that President Trump is no longer in office, clearly relieved that he'll no longer be around to hold them accountable.

Twin Suicide Bombings Rock Central Baghdad, at Least 28 Dead https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Twin suicide bombings ripped through a busy market in the Iraqi capital Thursday, killing at least 28 people and wounding 73 others, officials said.

Hong Kong Christians Prepare for Possible Persecution from China https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Hong Kong is changing as China tightens its grip on the city, and Christians there are preparing for increased persecution.

Chinese Officials Raid, Ransack Homeschool Filled with Children from Persecuted Church https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Chinese police and other communist officials raided a house in Chengdu, China on Thursday where children of Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) were being homeschooled.

Pompeo Says China's Policies on Muslims Amount to 'Genocide' https://ift.tt/eA8V8J On his way out the door, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has hit China with new sanctions by declaring that China’s policies on Muslims and ethnic minorities in western Xinjiang Province constitute a “genocide.”

Christian Astronaut Says Sunrise, Sunset From Outer Space Remind Him of Psalm 30 https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Astronaut Victor Glover recently reflected on the beauty of a sunrise and sunset from outer space, adding that they remind him of a Bible verse in Psalms. 

Kremlin Foe Navalny Jailed for 30 Days After Surviving Nerve Agent Poisoning https://ift.tt/eA8V8J A Russian judge on Monday ordered opposition leader Alexei Navalny jailed for 30 days, a ruling that comes after the leading Kremlin critic returned to Russia from Germany where he was recovering from nerve agent poisoning that he blames on President Vladimir Putin's government. 

Iranian Guard Holds Anti-Warship Ballistic Missile Drill https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard conducted a drill Saturday launching anti-warship ballistic missiles at a simulated target in the Indian Ocean, state television reported, amid heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program and a U.S. pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Muslim Mob in Uganda Kills Man One Week After His Conversion to Christianity https://ift.tt/eA8V8J A mob of radical Muslims killed a man in Uganda one week after he converted to Christianity.

George Orwell's '1984' Tops Amazon's Best-Seller List https://ift.tt/eA8V8J We’re living through an era in which novelist George Orwell’s book “1984” seems less like fiction and more like a blueprint of what’s to come.

Damaged Roads, Lack of Gear Hinder Indonesia Quake Rescue https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Damaged roads and bridges, power blackouts and lack of heavy equipment on Saturday hampered rescuers after a strong earthquake left at least 46 people dead and hundreds injured on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island.

Mexican President Compares Social Media Censorship to Spanish Inquisition, Calls for Global Action https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Mexico’s president vowed Thursday to lead an international effort to combat what he considers censorship by social media companies that have blocked or suspended the accounts of U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Mexican President Compares Social Media Censorship to Spanish Inquisition, Calls for Global Action https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Mexico’s president vowed Thursday to lead an international effort to combat what he considers censorship by social media companies that have blocked or suspended the accounts of U.S. President Donald Trump. 

1-in-8 Christians Now Persecuted for Their Faith - Here Are the Most Dangerous Countries to Be a Christian in 2021 https://ift.tt/eA8V8J The watchdog organization Open Doors USA says levels of Christian persecution are at a record high around the world. The group announced the 2021 World Watch List this week. The report ranks the top 50 countries where it is the most dangerous to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

Prophets Apologize for Getting It Wrong on Trump Reelection - Here's How to Determine Who's a 'False Prophet' https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Several well-known Christian prophets who predicted that President Donald Trump would win a second term have been asking for forgiveness, saying they made a mistake. But does that make them "false prophets"?

Pastors Call on Christians to Ditch the Fear and Political Conspiracy Theories https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Political conspiracy theories helped fuel last week's Capitol Riot, and some continue to spread, even in the church. Now, key pastors are stepping up to condemn them as dangerous lies.

China Says It's Doing Great After Coronavirus. It's Not.  https://ift.tt/eA8V8J China has been busy trying to show the world that it offers a better, more stable, and prosperous way than the US and that its economy has recovered from coronavirus while other nations are still stuck in lockdowns. But is that true?

Christian Families Banned from Worship in One Indian State as Persecution Worsens https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Christians in India are facing more persecution as the Indian government tries to enforce the Hindu religion across the country. 

Trump Admin Slams Cuba with New Terrorism Sanctions in Waning Days https://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Trump administration on Monday re-designated Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” in a move that hits the country with new sanctions shortly before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

Police in Pakistan Locate Bodies of Christian Sisters, Killed for Refusing to Convert to Islam https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Pakistani police discovered the bodies of two Christian women in Lahore on Jan. 4 who were reportedly killed by their Muslim supervisors for not converting to Islam.

Indonesia Jet Carrying 62 Passengers Goes Missing on Domestic Flight https://ift.tt/eA8V8J A Sriwijaya Air passenger jet carrying 62 people lost contact with air traffic controllers after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Saturday on a domestic flight, officials said.  

After Brutal War, Armenia's Christians Say Birth of Christ Gives Them Hope for 'Rebirth of Our Nation and Our Dreams' https://ift.tt/eA8V8J In October, fighting broke out between two former Soviet-held countries, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The short war resulted in more than 5,000 dead and 100,000 displaced. Now it's winter in Armenia. The cold weather might be brutal, but the citizens of this historically Christian nation make it through by drawing on warm traditions of faith and family. 

'We Simply Desire to Worship Our Lord': Canadian Church Fined for Holding In-Person Worship Service https://ift.tt/eA8V8J A Canadian church was fined for a second time due to holding an in-person worship service, despite orders banning large gatherings during the pandemic.

About 50 Hong Kong Activists Arrested Under New Security Law https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Hong Kong police arrested about 50 former lawmakers and pro-democracy activists Wednesday for allegedly violating the new national security law by participating in unofficial election primaries for the territory's legislature last year.

14 Alleged Chinese Secret Agents Were Apprehended in 2020, Working for US Colleges and Universities https://ift.tt/eA8V8J More than a dozen college professors and researchers working for America's higher education institutes were arrested last year for their affiliation with China.

UK Courts Accused of 'Euthanasia by a Back Door' After Ordering Withdrawal of Vital Treatment for Foreign Citizen https://ift.tt/eA8V8J A judge in the UK has ordered doctors to withhold life-sustaining treatment from a middle-aged Polish man hospitalized with a brain injury, despite evidence showing his improvement.

UK Prime Minister Orders New Virus Lockdown for England https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday a new national lockdown for England until at least mid-February to combat a fast-spreading new variant of the coronavirus, even as Britain ramped up its vaccination program by becoming the first nation to start using the shot developed by Oxford University and drugmaker AstraZeneca.

Iran Starts 20% Uranium Enrichment, Seizes South Korean Ship https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Iran began enriching uranium Monday to levels unseen since its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and also seized a South Korean-flagged tanker near the crucial Strait of Hormuz, a double-barreled challenge to the West that further raised Mideast tensions.

China's Communist Government Increasing Pressure Against Church in Hong Kong: Report https://ift.tt/eA8V8J China’s communist government is increasing its pressure on the Catholic Church in Hong Kong following the passage in May of the National Security Law, which gives mainland China jurisdiction in the once-autonomous region.

Iran Plans 20% Uranium Enrichment 'As Soon As Possible' https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Iran said Saturday it plans to enrich uranium up to 20% at its underground Fordo nuclear facility “as soon as possible,” pushing its program a technical step away from weapons-grade levels as it increases pressure on the West over the tattered atomic deal.