CIA announces Director Gina Haspel’s retirement
The CIA announced Tuesday that Director Gina Haspel is leaving the agency, ending a three-decade spy career that shattered a glass ceiling.
Month: January 2021
Trump’s 1776 Commission releases report denouncing ‘problems of progressive education,’ 1619 Project
The Trump administration’s 1776 Commission has released a report denouncing “the problems of progressive education” and recent endeavors like the 1619 Project, which has been denounced by some historians.
Trump delivers farewell address, says ‘movement we started is only just beginning’
Less than 24 hours before he leaves office, President Trump on Tuesday delivered a farewell address, decrying the violence that occurred at the Capitol on Jan. 6 but pledging “the movement we started is only just beginning.”
Biden pick for HHS position poised to become first openly transgender official confirmed by Senate
Biden announced his intent to nominate Dr. Rachel Levine for the position on Tuesday, and should she get confirmed by the Senate, she would be the first openly transgender to be confirmed in U.S. history.
Iran says it is producing half a kilo of 20% enriched uranium every day
The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, said Monday that the country was producing almost 500 grams of uranium enriched to 20 percent purity a day, after beginning to do so earlier this month in breach of the 2015 nuclear accord.
China officials raid homeschool house run by persecuted megachurch: Members post “Please Pray!”
Police and government officials last week raided a homeschool house run by the highly persecuted Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China, the Christian Post (CP) reports. Following the raid on January 14, members of the 5,000-strong ERCC congregation took to social media imploring Christians around the world to pray for them.
U.S. declares China engaged in genocide against Uighurs
The U.S. government on Tuesday declared that China’s communist government is guilty of carrying out genocide and crimes against humanity against Uighur ethnic minorities and others in western China.
Syrian and Israeli officials reportedly had a Russia-brokered meeting last month
The Asharq Al Awsat Arabic international newspaper reported Sunday that Russia hosted a meeting for Syrian and Israeli officials at the Russian airbase in Hmeimim, Syria last month, Jewish Press reports. Neither Damascus nor Jerusalem has confirmed the report.
India: Christians persecuted even during lockdown in 2020
The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) has reported that, even in the midst of coronavirus lockdowns affecting the whole country for months, there were over 300 incidents of religious persecution against Christians in India last year, International Christian Concern said. In its report, EFI noted that Christian persecution has more than doubled since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi and his right-wing nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014.
Nine Iraqi soldiers killed and dozens wounded in airstrikes near Baghdad
An Iranian media network has said nine Iraqi army soldiers were killed and dozens were wounded in airstrikes near Baghdad, Iraq on Monday night, Israel National News (INN) reports. Citing an Iraqi security source, the Al-Alam network said the strikes had targeted Iraqi army and Shiite militia positions.
Netanyahu says Israel may need to extend lockdown, pleads with Haredim to comply
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Monday that Israel will likely need to extend its current lockdown restrictions, despite its successful vaccination campaign.
City of David recognized as ‘testament’ to US Judeo-Christian heritage
The City of David was recognized as a “testament to America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and founding principles” by the US Embassy in Jerusalem and the US Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad at a special ceremony on Monday.
Protests at state houses so far remain small amid heavily guarded capitals across U.S.
The large gatherings and possibly armed protests anticipated by the FBI at statehouses across the country ahead Wednesday’s presidential inauguration did not materialize this weekend.
2,000 National Guard members deputized by US Marshals; more will be sworn in by police
Some 2,000 National Guard members were sworn in as deputies by the U.S. Marshals Service, one of several civilian law enforcement agencies that will assign special police duties to the troops ahead of Inauguration Day.
Experts Probing Virus Origin Quarantine in Wuhan As Pompeo Calls Again For Lab Scrutiny
International experts probing the origins of the novel coronavirus are holding virtual meetings from their Wuhan hotel rooms as they work their way through a mandatory 14-day quarantine period which began last Thursday, after the Chinese government eventually allowed the team to enter the outbreak epicenter city.
‘Every Person Is Made in the Holy Image of God’: President Trump Declares National Sanctity of Human Life Day
For the first time in nearly 50 years, pro-lifers won’t assemble for the annual March for Life event in Washington. Instead, because of concerns related to the pandemic and safety issues around the Capitol, organizers want participants to stay home and attend virtually. The event takes place, Friday, January 29th.
Joe Biden Undoing Trump Policies After Inauguration With Executive Orders
Joe Biden will sign a series of executive actions undoing U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s key policies within hours after taking the oath of office on Wednesday, his top aid says.
Kremlin Critic Navalny Jailed For Month After Returning Home
A Russian court has jailed the nation’s most prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny for 30 days despite several countries’ calls to release him immediately. The decision came shortly after Navalny was detained following his return from Germany, where he received medical treatment for nerve agent poisoning.
Dozens of Pygmy citizens slaughtered by Islamist militia in DR Congo: “Impotent government does nothing”
Forty-six Pygmies were slaughtered by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) Islamist militia group in Ituri province in eastern DR Congo on Thursday, the Defense Post reports. Described as a “terrorist group” by International Christian Concern (ICC), the ADF is accused of slaughtering over 1000 Congolese citizens in the last year.
India: Hindu nationalist leader threatens violence unless local authorities shut all churches in tribal areas
A Hindu nationalist leader in India’s Madhya Pradesh state has demanded that local authorities shut down all churches in the state’s tribal areas, falsely claiming that Christians are carrying out mass conversions on “gullible indigenous peoples,” International Christian Concern reports. Head of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Azad Prem Singh threatened violent action if his January 11 demand is not met within 30 days.