Millions in India bracing for impact from vigorous Cyclone Tauktae
Cyclone season is off to a roaring start in the Indian Ocean, as rapidly intensifying Tauktae marks the region’s first named storm of the year.
India
WHO Urges Rich Nations Not To Vaccinate Children
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged rich nations not to vaccinate children. Instead, the WHO says, the jabs should be donated to the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX).
State Dept. releases International Religious Freedom report
The US State Department has published its International Religious Freedom (IRF) Report for 2020, providing an overview of religious freedom and persecution around the world, International Christian Concern reports. This year’s IRF condemned countries including Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and China for their abuses of religious freedom, and stated that the US would continue to address the issue.
Indian Christians suffering greatly in COVID-19 wave; “Please Pray for India”
The International Christian Concern organization has called on the global Church to pray for Christians in India who are suffering greatly, fighting to survive amid a devastating wave of COVID-19 that is tearing through the country. “As members of the global Church, we must bear this burden as our own. Please join ICC in praying for India and all those suffering due to the current COVID-19 crisis,” ICC said in a report.
China’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Exceeded The Rest Of The Developed World Combined, Report
China’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 exceeded those of the U.S. and the rest of the world’s developed nations combined for the first time.
Record-breaking 536 abortion restrictions introduced since January
According to data supplied by the Guttmacher Institute, this year has so far already seen an unprecedented 536 abortion restrictions introduced across 46 states. Sixty-one of these restrictions have become law across 13 states.
Religious Freedom Report: 14 nations are “Countries of Particular Concern”
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) published its 2021 Annual Report earlier this month, redesignating 10 nations as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) and recommending to the State Department that India, Russia, Syria, and Vietnam now be given that designation as well.
Indiana law: House of Worship are “essential”
Indiana’s Governor Eric Holcomb (R) has signed a new law determining that houses of worship provide essential services, and no restrictions may be placed on them during a declared emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Christian Missionaries Die Of COVID In India
Christian missionaries and church leaders already suffering persecution in several areas are among those dying of severe symptoms of COVID-19 raging in India, aid workers say.
Two-thirds of world’s population live in countries which violate religious freedom
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has published a report showing that around 5.2 billion people live in countries where religious freedom is severely violated and restricted, International Christian Concern reports. These countries include China, India, and Pakistan, which have the world’s largest populations.
Bill aims to declassify intel of any potential link of COVID origins to Wuhan Institute of Virology
Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Mike Braun of Indiana have introduced legislation to declassify intelligence pertaining to any potential connections between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the genesis of the COVID-19 pandemic.
India persecution: Christian family confined to home after tribal animists attack
A Christian family is confined to their home after being attacked and harassed by tribal animists in India’s Jharkhand state, Morning Star News reports. India now ranks 10th on the US Open Doors Watch List of countries where Christians are persecuted: the country ranked 31st in 2013, just before Hindu nationalists Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in May 2014.
Indianapolis Mourns Eight Killed In FedEx Shooting
Indianapolis was plunged into mourning Friday after a gunman killed eight people and then himself at a FedEx facility in the sprawling U.S. city, officials said.
Ex-Vice President Pence Feels ‘Blessed’ With Pacemaker
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, a devoted Christian, thanked hospital staff Thursday after receiving a pacemaker. “My family has been truly blessed by the work of these dedicated healthcare professionals,” Pence said in published remarks.
WHO Demands More Vaccines To Poor Nations
The World Health Organization (WHO) says severe coronavirus vaccine shortages in scores of impoverished nations undermines its global coronavirus jabs plan.
India persecution: Gujarat passes anti-conversion law
Gujarat has become the latest Indian state to pass anti-conversion legislation which primarily targets Christians and Muslims accused of forcing poor Hindus to convert to their respective faiths, International Christian Concern reports. Gujarat is currently led by the Hindu nationalist party Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP), which is also India’s governing power.
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.
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.
Facebook data on millions of user accounts leaked online in latest breach
Data from hundreds of millions of Facebook users was leaked online on Saturday, including personal information such as phone numbers, full names, and email addresses. The leaked data from 533 million users in 106 countries was posted on an obscure hacking forum.
Coronavirus: ‘Double mutant’ Covid variant found in India
A new “double mutant” variant of the coronavirus has been detected from samples collected in India.