Rebel Force Attacks Churches in Burma
Ethnic Wa rebels this month shut down churches or destroyed their buildings and temporarily detained several clergymen in eastern Burma (Myanmar), sources said.
China
Abbas said planning UN event aimed at thwarting Trump’s peace plan
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will host a conference on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week to review ways to torpedo the Trump administration’s plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace, Israeli television reported Monday.
EU, Iran set financial “vehicle” to ease trade between them
Five world powers and Iran agreed late Monday to establish a financial facility in the European Union to facilitate payments for Iranian imports and exports including oil, a key move sought by Tehran following the U.S. pullout from the 2015 nuclear deal and its re-imposition of sanctions.
US sanctions China military agency for buying Russian arms
A Chinese military agency and its director are facing U.S. sanctions over the purchase of Russian weapons, the State Department announced Thursday.
Trump imposes tariffs on $200B more of Chinese goods
The Trump administration will impose tariffs on $200 billion more in Chinese goods starting next week, escalating a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies and potentially raising prices on goods ranging from handbags to bicycle tires.
One Nation Under Xi? This is why Christian Persecution in China is Escalating
This summer, Christians in China are experiencing an escalating wave of persecution unseen since Mao’s Cultural Revolution.
Typhoon Mangkhut hits mainland China, lashes Hong Kong, dozens dead in Philippines
The world’s strongest storm this year, Typhoon Mangkhut, continued its path of destruction across Southeast Asia over the weekend, reaching mainland China on Sunday afternoon after pummeling Hong Kong and killing dozens in the Philippines.
Bigger, stronger and faster than Florence: Super typhoon Mangkhut heads for Philippines at 280km/h
Countries across south-east Asia are issuing emergency alerts and thousands are being evacuated as two typhoons barrel down on the region.
Chinese officials burn bibles, close churches, force Christian to denounce faith amid ‘escalating’ crackdown
The Chinese government is destroying crosses, burning bibles, closing churches and forcing Christian believers to sign papers renouncing their faith as the crackdown on religious congregations in Beijing and several provinces intensifies.
US suspects Russia behind ‘attacks’ on diplomats in Cuba and China
Intelligence agencies investigating mysterious suspected sonic attacks on US diplomats in Cuba and China believe that Russia is the main suspect, officials told NBC news on Tuesday.
Chinese Authorities Tear Down Crosses and Close Down Churches in Henan
According to ChinaAid, Henan authorities have continued to tear down crosses across China.
US trade deficit surges, hits all-time highs with China and EU
According to data released by the US Commerce Department on Wednesday, the US trade gap increased 9.5 percent to $50.1 billion in July, from a revised $45.7 billion in the prior month.
Pentagon Plans to Deploy Space-Based Missiles
The Pentagon is studying the deployment of space-based missiles and new sensors to counter the growing threat of high-speed missile attacks from China and Russia, senior defense officials said Tuesday.
China reports new African swine fever case as virus spreads
China reported another outbreak of deadly African swine fever late on Monday, its third new case in two days, as the highly contagious disease spreads rapidly through the world’s top pork producer.
China’s African Swine Fever Outbreak Could Spread to Korea, SE Asia
The Korean peninsular and Southeast Asia may be next to report outbreaks of African swine fever after the rapid onset of the deadly pig disease in China, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
Russia to hold biggest military drills since Cold War
Russia will flex its military muscles and hold the biggest war games since the Cold War era next month, including almost 300,000 troops and 1,000 aircraft, the Russian defense ministry said Tuesday, leading NATO to warn of a ‘more assertive Russia.’
U.S. government to pay $4.7 billion in tariff-related aid to farmers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday its farm aid package would include $4.7 billion in direct payments to farmers to help offset losses from retaliatory tariffs on American exports this season.
No sign of progress as U.S.-China trade talks wrap up
Trade talks between the U.S. and China failed to produce any visible sign of progress, reducing the prospects of a deal soon, people closely tracking the talks said.
U.S. and China officials meet as Thursday tariff deadline looms
U.S. and Chinese officials met for the first time in more than two months to try find a way out of their deepening trade conflict, but there was no evidence that the low-key discussions would halt a new round of U.S. tariffs due on Thursday.
China Shifts to Iranian Tankers to Keep Oil Flowing Amid US Sanctions
Chinese buyers of Iranian oil are starting to shift their cargoes to vessels owned by National Iranian Tanker Co (NITC) for nearly all of their imports to keep supply flowing amid the re-imposition of economic sanctions by the United States.