Biden to host ASEAN summit for Southeast Asian leaders
US President Joe Biden will host a Special Summit for leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Washington next month, the Washington Examiner reports.
Security
Israel Shooting Down Palestinian Rocket As Tensions Mount
Israeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip, targeting a “weapons manufacturing site” for Hamas, the Israeli military said.
Judge Rules Federal Transport Mask Mandate Unlawful
A U.S. judge in Florida said on Monday that a mask mandate on public transportation is unlawful, overturning a Biden administration effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
UN Security Council to hold emergency consultation on Jerusalem unrest
The UN Security Council will convene an emergency closed-door session Tuesday to discuss recent unrest in Jerusalem, a UN diplomat said Monday.
Thousands Gather for Traditional Priestly Blessing at Western Wall
Thousands of Jews flocked to the Western Wall on Monday for the priestly blessing in Jerusalem.
Detained Iran Pastor Briefly Home For Easter
A detained pastor of Iran’s largest evangelical network of house churches spent Easter Sunday with his family but was due to return to prison Monday, Worthy News learned.
Taiwan Condemns China Military Drills
Taiwan has condemned China’s military for conducting military drills nearby while U.S. lawmakers visited the island.
Indonesia Jails Christian YouTuber For 10 Years
Christians urged prayers Wednesday after a Muslim-background Christian was sentenced to ten years in prison for “blasphemy” and hate speech in Indonesia’s West Java Province.
Biden Sends Arms Against Claims of Russia ‘Genocide’
U.S. President Joe Biden has announced an additional $800 million in military assistance to Ukraine after calling Russia’s actions in Ukraine “genocide,” prompting criticism from France.
Sri Lanka Christians Pray After Buddhist Attack
Evangelical Christians in bankrupt Sri Lanka were weighing their options Friday after new details emerged of a Buddhist mob storming a church and injuring one believer.
Vietnam Church Face Tense Easter After Raid
Devoted Christians in northwestern Vietnam faced a challenging Easter after government officials raided a Catholic Church service in the region.
Hamas calls for escalation against Israel
Leaders of the Hamas terror group which rules Gaza called for an escalation against Israel Wednesday, after Israeli counter-terrorism agents made arrests in the West Bank town of Silwad and after a Jewish extremist group called for sacrifices to be made on the flashpoint Temple Mount during the month of Ramadan, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.
Iran: Imprisoned pastor is granted 5-day home leave
A pastor in Iran who is serving a six-year prison sentence for ‘acting against national security by ‘promoting Zionist Christianity,’ has been granted a five-day furlough to be with his family, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. Yousef Nadarkhani was released from Evin prison on 13 April, for reasons that are not clear.
Russia warns nuclear expansion assured if Sweden and Finland join NATO
Nuclear expansion will inevitably make its way to the Baltics if Sweden and Finland join NATO, according to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
China: Pastor risks imprisonment to preach the Gospel
The pastor of a house church in China has said he will continue to preach the Gospel despite the risk that he could be imprisoned by the authorities for doing so, Christian Headlines (CH) reports.
Bankrupt Sri Lanka Asks Expats For Help
Sri Lanka has urged its citizens overseas to send home money after announcing a default on its $51 billion foreign debt amid anti-government protests.
5 killed, 18 arrested in widespread IDF raids in Judea, Samaria
The IDF carried out extensive raids throughout Palestinian towns and cities in Judea and Samaria late Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning, arresting some 18 terror suspects and seizing weapons.
Russian Intelligence Chief Thrown Into Maximum Security Jail in Shakeup Over Disaster in Ukraine: Reports
A senior Russian military intelligence officer has been detained in a Moscow maximum security prison, with President Vladimir Putin apparently blaming him for massive failures in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Biden pledges $800M in military aid to Ukraine
President Biden on Wednesday pledged to provide more than $800 million in weapons, ammunition and other security aid to Ukraine.
Russia Warns Finland, Sweden Against Joining NATO
Moscow has warned Finland and Sweden against joining the U.S.-led NATO military alliance after both nations expressed concerns about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.