WHO against coronavirus vaccine passports for the time being, spokesperson says
The World Health Organization (WHO) does not back the use of coronavirus vaccine passports for travel, a spokesperson said.
Month: April 2021
After receiving government mandate, Netanyahu says viable coalition ‘within reach’
After receiving the mandate to form the next government from President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on fellow lawmakers Tuesday to end their boycotts of him and join his coalition In an effort to avoid unprecedented fifth elections in two years.
Increased Christian persecution in Ethiopia
While Christians in Ethiopia were already subject to persecution, they have seen intensified attacks against them amid the extreme violence of the current conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), International Christian Concern reports.
California megachurch continues legal fight against COVID-19 restrictions
John McArthur’s Grace Community Church in Los Angeles County, California filed new documents Friday in an ongoing legal fight over the freedom to hold indoor services amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Just the News reports.
UK court: Franklin Graham festival was discriminated against by local authorities
A British court has ruled that the 2018 UK Lancashire Festival of Hope featuring Franklin Graham was subject to discrimination by local authorities which removed festival bus advertisements reading only “Time for Hope,” Assist News reports. The Blackpool Borough Council and Blackpool Transport Services were found to have violated the UK’s Equality Act 2010 by discriminating against the Festival specifically because of Graham’s religious views on homosexuality.
Canada pastor ejects COVID-19 health inspectors
Pastor Artur Pawlowski of the Cave of Adullam Church in Alberta, Canada has been filmed ejecting coronavirus health inspectors and police who arrived at his church during a Passover service Saturday.
LGBT coalition files class action to end discrimination in federal-funded religious institutions
Thirty-three current and former LGBT students of federal-funded religious colleges have filed a class action suit asking an Oregon District Court to rule that the religious exemption to Title IX as applied to ‘sexual and gender minority students is unconstitutional. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that protects students in federal-funded education programs from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Algerian Christian becomes suicidal following persecution and imprisonment
Algerian Christian Slimane Bouhafs has struggled with suicidal thoughts after being imprisoned for violating Algeria’s blasphemy laws and then being further persecuted for his faith upon seeking refuge in Tunisia, Morning Star News reports. Algeria ranked 24th and Tunisia ranked 26th on the Open Doors’ 2021 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
Increased persecution in India; Christians attacked by Tribal Animists
Rights groups report that Christian persecution in India has worsened since Hindu nationalist prime minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014. Whereas in 2013 India ranked 31st on the Open Doors’ 2021 World Watch List of countries where Christians are persecuted, it now ranks 10th.
“Heaven and Earth:” Two films present evidence for major Scriptural events
There is now available for purchase a two-film DVD Set which seeks to present factual evidence that the Star of Bethlehem which led the wise men to Jesus’ manger, and the Earthquake which followed His death on the Cross, were historical ‘bookend’ events in Jesus’ life. Titled Heaven and Earth, the DVD package contains the films The Star of Bethlehem and the Christ Quake, both of which were directed by Stephen Vidano.
Abducted Church Worker Rescued From India Brothel
The wife of an evangelical pastor in eastern India has been freed after she was abducted, sold, and locked up in a brothel for nearly a month, Worthy News learned Monday.
Bulgaria’s Controversial Premier Wins Election But Future Uncertain
The party of Bulgaria’s longtime prime minister leading the European Union’s ranked “most corrupt nation” has won parliamentary elections but without enough votes to govern alone, initial official results showed.
Arkansas GOP Gov. Hutchinson vetoes anti transgender health care bill
Arkansas GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed a bill Monday that would have made the state the first in the nation to restrict gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors.
Putin Signs Law that Paves the Way to Him Ruling Until 2036
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a controversial bill that opens the door for him to potentially remain in power until 2036.
Russia threatens US interests in Arctic with military buildup
As ice thaws in the Arctic, Russia is building up a military presence unseen since the end of the Cold War, as revealed by recent reports and confirmed by the Pentagon on Monday.
US Treasury chief calls for global minimum corporate tax
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Monday said she was working with G20 countries to adopt a global minimum corporate tax rate that would stem the erosion of government revenues.
Vaccine skepticism runs deep among white evangelicals in US
In a March poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 40% of white evangelical Protestants said they likely won’t get vaccinated, compared with 25% of all Americans, 28% of white mainline Protestants and 27% of nonwhite Protestants.
Netanyahu calls trial against him ‘witch hunt,’ warns of damage to rule of law
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at prosecutors on Monday, accusing them of waging a “witch hunt” against him aimed at unseating a democratically elected leader.
Strained Saudi-US ties will likely bring Gulf kingdom closer to Israel
American-Saudi ties have been growing increasingly strained in recent months—a development that will likely see the Sunni power draw even closer to Jerusalem, Israeli observers have told JNS.
Netanyahu gets most support after Lapid, Bennett fail to close deal
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received more endorsements to form the next government than Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid on Monday, making it likely that he will receive the first mandate from President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday.