Category: World News

The persecution of Christians in parts of the world is at near “genocide” levels, according to a report ordered by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.  The review, led by the Bishop of Truro the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen, estimated that one in three people suffer from religious persecution.  Christians were the most persecuted religious group, it found.

Mr Hunt said he felt that “political correctness” had played a part in the issue not being confronted.

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• Religious persecution ‘a threat to everyone’
• Pope decries killing of Christians

The interim report said the main impact of “genocidal acts against Christians is exodus” and that Christianity faced being “wiped out” from parts of the Middle East.  It warned the religion “is at risk of disappearing” in some parts of the world, pointing to figures which claimed Christians in Palestine represent less than 1.5% of the population, while in Iraq they had fallen from 1.5 million before 2003 to less than 120,000.  “Evidence shows not only the geographic spread of anti-Christian persecution, but also its increasing severity,” the Bishop wrote.  “In some regions, the level and nature of persecution is arguably coming close to meeting the international definition of genocide, according to that adopted by the UN.”  The foreign secretary commissioned the review on Boxing Day 2018 amid an outcry over the treatment of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who faced death threats after being acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan.

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• London hate crime soars since NZ attacks

Its findings come after more than 250 people were killed and more than 500 wounded in attacks at hotels and churches in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.  Mr Hunt, who is on a week-long tour of Africa, said he thought governments had been “asleep” over the persecution of Christians but that this report and the attacks in Sri Lanka had “woken everyone up with an enormous shock”.  He added: “I think there is a misplaced worry that it is somehow colonialist to talk about a religion that was associated with colonial powers rather than the countries that we marched into as colonisers.

‘Atmosphere of political correctness’

“That has perhaps created an awkwardness in talking about this issue – the role of missionaries was always a controversial one and that has, I think, also led some people to shy away from this topic.  “What we have forgotten in that atmosphere of political correctness is actually the Christians that are being persecuted are some of the poorest people on the planet.”  In response to the report, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Marie van der Zyl, said Jews had often been the targets of persecution and felt for Christians who were discriminated against on the basis of their faith.  “Whether it is in authoritarian regimes, or bigotry masked in the mistaken guise of religion, reports like the one launched today remind us that there are many places in which Christians face appalling levels of violence, abuse and harassment,” she said.

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President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence hosted a Rose Garden ceremony for the National Day of Prayer Thursday morning, and the president spoke about the power of prayer while also announcing practical steps to protect religious freedom.  “Our Nation’s honored tradition of prayer has sustained us and strengthened our trust that God will continue to watch over and accompany us through the best of times and the darkest hours. May we as Americans never forget the power of prayer and the greatness of our Creator,” Trump declared in his day of prayer proclamation.  The president made news by announcing new conscience protections for religious health care providers so that they’re not forced to violate their religious beliefs about abortion.  “Just today we finalized new protections of conscience rights for physicians, pharmacists, nurses, teachers, students and faith-based charities,” Trump said.  “Every citizen has the absolute right to live according to the teachings of their faith and the convictions of their heart. This is the bedrock of American life. To protect this heritage my Administration has strongly defended religious liberty,” he said.  And he cited other important faith-based actions he’s taken, like working to liberate preachers from the IRS threats they’ve faced because of the Johnson Amendment, which bans non-profits like churches and ministries from supporting or opposing political candidates.

He further explained his support for religious freedom in his proclamation, saying, “Our Nation acknowledges that religious liberty is a natural right, given to us by our Creator, not a courtesy that government extends to us. The First Amendment recognizes the freedom of religion and safeguards this right against government infringement.”  The president went on to cite the success of prison reform efforts, and then turned to a real-life example of the power of faith helping fight the drug crisis in America. He called up a recovering opioid addict named Ashley Evans, who briefly shared how faith has restored her life.  “Finding God saved my life. It’s been incredible,” Ashley said. “It’s been a journey, but without Him, I could not do this… God has been with me every step of the way and everything has worked out.”  She said it’s only “by the grace of God” that she’s now free. And she also thanked her behavioral health worker Angie Dennis whom Trump called up to the podium as well.

Angie explained she helped Ashley by sharing with her, “The biggest honor I could have was to pass along to Ashley that it’s a relationship with Jesus, it’s not a religion or a bunch of rules. It’s just that personal relationship. And if you trust Him and do your part, then trust Him and ask for help for the rest. He’ll open doors that no one can close.”  As he thanked them for sharing their story, Trump declared, “Prayer works miracles and prayer saves lives.”  The president went on to cite the verse from Isaiah 40:31, that those who hope in the Lord will “run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” He said that’s how he and Vice President Pence have survived two tough years so far in the White House.  “Today we pray for America,” Pence said in some prepared remarks. “And as we pray, let’s pray with confidence, as was inscribed in those ancient words millennia ago, that if His people, who are called by His name will humble themselves and pray, that He’ll do like He’s always done through the long and storied history of this nation: He’ll hear from Heaven and He’ll heal this land, this one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

In closing, President Trump said, “We once again place our hopes in the hands of our Creator.”

Later, Pastor Paula White prayed the closing prayer, speaking God’s word over President Trump, citing Psalm 139:16 that God has ordained every one of his days. She also declared the White House to be holy ground and launched into spiritual warfare, asking God to watch over the president and his family.

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As Sri Lankan authorities worry about the potential of more suicide attacks by the group behind the Easter Sunday bombings, one Muslim activist is issuing an urgent warning to Christians around the world about the growing and very real threat of radical Islam.

“If Christians don’t wake up, if Christians leaders don’t wake up, then we Muslims who fled from extremists can’t help you anymore,” said Mohammad Tawhidi, a Muslim author from Australia. “We tried warning you.”

Tawhidi, a third-generation Iranian-born Muslim and author of The Tragedy of Islam, says political correctness is allowing radical Muslims with their dangerous and deadly ideology, to flourish.

“When we come to the West and try to warn the governments and intelligence agencies about what is happening, about the people we fled from, we have this new political correctness agenda that tells us that ‘oh, we are the racists, we are the ones who are traitors and the extremists need to be understood and embraced’.”

Tawhidi says even though the Islamic terror group ISIS lost its territory in Syria and Iraq, the group’s followers and sympathizers are still actively planning mayhem.

“We are fighting a real caliphate, not a so-called caliphate, this is the true extremist Islamist militant ideology that is taking over our lands and our countries,” Tawhidi warned.

This week, a German newspaper published an exhaustive study of all Islamic terror attacks around the world since the September 11, 2001, strikes on America.

According to the German newspaper Die Welt Islamic extremists have carried out 31,211 attacks in the last 18 years.

Those attacks have killed 146,811 people around the world. Most of the victims have been Muslims.

The newspaper analyzed all the information gathered by the Global Terrorism Database at the University of Maryland to come up with the number of attacks and lives lost.

The list concludes with the recent attacks in Sri Lanka that killed at least 253 people and injured more than 500 when suicide bombers targeted churches and hotels on the island nation.

Tawhidi, who describes himself on his website as “Muslim scholar, thinker and educator,” says he’s on a mission to tackle the “spread of Islamic extremism” and believes the key is to reform Muslim societies and their mindset.

“Look, I’m a Muslim, but I cannot live in an Islamist theocracy,” Tawhidi told CBN News. “I can live in a Christian government, based on their constitution, because that is where peace lies. I cannot live in a place where ISIS rules the area.”

“No Muslim with a brain that works would want to live under ISIS,” Tawhidi added.

For more, watch author Mohammad Tawhidi share his views on how America can fight the forces of radical Islam.

Follow George Thomas on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for stories and insights from a fresh and unique persepective.

RUSSIA has secretly installed nuclear missiles in Venezuela a US politician has sensationally claimed in a chilling echo of the Cuban Missile Crisis.  Republican congressman Mario Diaz-Balart said he believes Vladimir Putin’s hidden nukes are now a direct threat to the “national security” of the United States.  He made his astonishing allegations hours after Venezuela was pushed to the brink of civil war when opposition leader Juan Guaido called for rival Nicolas Maduro to be ousted from office.  Diaz-Balart told Fox News if Maduro stays in power it could be “an open door for the Russians and for the Chinese and for others to increase their activity against our national security interest.”  Journalist Tucker Carlson then asked: “Are you suggesting they are going to invade?”  “The closest we ever came to nuclear war was because the Russians put missiles, right, nuclear missiles in Cuba,” replied Diaz-Balart.  “Are you saying the Russians will put nuclear missiles in Venezuela?” Carlson asked.  “What I am suggesting is that they are already there,” answered Diaz-Balart, without offering any evidence to back up his claim.

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About 108,000 millionaires migrated across borders last year, a 14 percent increase from the prior year, and more than double the level in 2013, according to Johannesburg-based New World Wealth. Australia, U.S. and Canada are the top destinations, according to the research firm, while China and Russia are the biggest losers. The U.K. saw around 3,000 millionaires depart last year with Brexit and taxation cited as possible reasons.  Wealth migration figures point to present conditions — such as crime, lack of business opportunities or religious tensions — but can also be a key future indicator, said Andrew Amoils, head of research at New World Wealth.  “It can be a sign of bad things to come as high-net-worth individuals are often the first people to leave — they have the means to leave unlike middle-class citizens,” he said.

Top Destinations

Australia tops most “wish lists” for immigrants because of its perceived safety, no inheritance tax and strong business ties to China, Japan and South Korea. It also stands out for its sustained growth, having escaped the financial crisis largely unscathed and avoided recessions for the past 27 years.  The U.S. was the second most popular destination in 2018, with New York City, Los Angeles, Miami and the San Francisco Bay area the preferred options.

China, India

China’s tightening grip on capital outflows in recent years has placed many of the country’s wealthier citizens in the crosshairs of the taxman, leading to a shift of assets and people. Some rich Asians also move to developed countries looking for more comfort or to improve their children’s education.  The outflow of high-net worth individuals from China and India isn’t particularly concerning from an economic standpoint as far more new millionaires are being created there than are leaving, New World Wealth said.  “Once the standard of living in these countries improves, we expect several wealthy people to move back,” Amoils said.

Volatile emerging markets continued to fuel movement, with Turkey losing 4,000 millionaires last year, the third straight year that many have left. About 7,000 millionaires left Russia last year as the country grappled under sanctions imposed over its annexation of Crimea.  The desire for privacy is also prompting rich individuals to reconsider their place of residence.  Under the Common Reporting Standard, launched by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development in 2017, banks and other financial institutions are disclosing data on foreign account holders to their local tax authority. Authorities automatically exchange relevant information with their counterparts overseas annually, allowing governments to zero in on tax evaders. More than 100 jurisdictions have joined CRS, setting a new precedent for the global exchange of data on offshore assets.  This trend is reflected in the growth in demand for second passports and residencies.  “Many wealthy people are looking for opportunities to reduce risks associated with spreading information about their accounts,” said Polina Kuleshova of Henley & Partners, which provides citizenship advice and publishes rankings such as the Quality of Nationality Index.

A record 26 percent of global millionaires will begin to plan for emigration this year, according to Knight Frank’s 2019 wealth report.

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Police have also temporarily been granted increased stop search powers in south London . Met Police officers will also have the power to stop and search on the streets — without proving reasonable grounds to suspect that person is carrying a weapon.  Knife arches are going to be used at schools across south London in a bid to tackle the growing problem of knife crime in the capital . The latest crackdown on weapon carrying has been introduced in Lambeth, Wandsworth and Merton in south London.  Scotland Yard is desperately trying to beat back the surging knife crime trend — which saw a 17-year-old boy stabbed “six times” in broad daylight over the weekend.  Knife arches will be introduced in schools across the three south London boroughs to tackle the growing amount of youth violence.

KNIFE ARCHES IN EFFECT

Chief Superintendent and Basic Command Unit (BCU) for south west London Sally Benatar said: “Knife arches will be in place at schools over the next two weeks and officers have increased reassurance patrols around the Balham area in light of last Wednesday’s stabbing.  “We prioritise effective safeguarding, and our schools officers are working hard to protect and educate our young people in the dangers of carrying knives. “Previously cops had to prove reasonable grounds to suspect a person is carrying a weapon to stop and search them. But now officers in parts of south London will be able to stop and search people in the street for no reason at all.

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Bangladesh has erupted into fury over the burning death of a young woman who courageously reported an incident of sexual harassment to the local authorities and suffered the ultimate consequence.

What Is The Background?

Nusrat Jahan Rafi, 19, from a small town 100 miles (160 km) south of Dhaka, was attending a madrassa, or Islamic school when the sexual assault took place. Rafi recounted that her headmaster summoned her to his office before touching her inappropriately. Realizing the seriousness of her situation, Rafi did the right thing — fled the room and went to the authorities.  Unfortunately, in an extremely conservative Muslim religious society, matters of sexual harassment and assault remain rather taboo subjects. To her bemusement, Rafi found herself being filmed when making a statement to the police. Understanding the danger she would be in if the footage were released, she attempted to cover her face.  The police officer can be heard telling her that it is “no big deal” and repeatedly asks her to stop hiding.  But as soon as her identity was revealed, it was too late — the mobile phone footage was leaked to the local press and the brave young woman immediately found herself in grave peril.

What Happened Next?

With most cases of sexual assault and harassment going unreported, Rafi became a prime target for those who disapproved of her attempted legal action. Then, after police decided to arrest the headmaster, things got even worse.  Before long, the mob had gathered momentum, and a group of people were protesting outside the police station, demanding the headmaster’s release. According to the BBC, the protest had been arranged by two male students and “local politicians were allegedly in attendance.”  Still, the courageous teen kept attending school, working hard and attempting to complete her studies.  Then, on April 6, the worst-case scenario became a stark reality. As Rafi’s brother walked his sister to her exams, he was stopped and she was asked to follow a female student to the rooftop.  “I tried to take my sister to school and tried to enter the premises, but I was stopped and wasn’t allowed to enter,” said Rafi’s brother, Mahmudul Hasan Noman.

Informed that one of her friends was getting beaten up, Rafi dutifully followed the girl, only to find an aggressive group burqa-wearing students who demanded that she immediately withdraw her allegations. When she refused, they doused her with gasoline and lit a match.  Police Bureau of Investigation chief Banaj Kumar Majumder noted that the killers wanted “to make it look like a suicide.” But Rafi, determined as ever, managed to survive after her cowardly attackers fled. Barely alive, she had suffered burns that covered some 80 percent of her body.  Before she succumbed to her devastating injuries, she had one final message of defiance. “The teacher touched me — I will fight this crime till my last breath,” she said in the ambulance.

On April 10, Nusrat Jahan Rafi died.

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The Trump administration has agreed to settle a lawsuit with a dozen Central American families who challenged the government’s cancellation of a program that was designed

The Mexican government is powerless to control the cartels at our border. But somehow when it comes to belligerently confronting our own soldiers on our own soil, the Mexicans seem to muster the personnel and temerity to defend their side of the border. Moreover, they apparently have the unbridled impudence to complain about armed American citizens defending our border, while they have permanently transformed our country in the worst way imaginable through their disrespect of our sovereignty. This is clearly no longer about immigration, but about a pure invasion that requires a military buildup.

On April 13, at around 2 p.m. Central Time, a group of five or six suspected Mexican soldiers approached an unmarked vehicle of two U.S. soldiers stationed at the border in El Paso County, Texas, and ordered them out of the vehicle. According to Newsweek, which obtained the “serious incident report,” the soldiers were in fact active duty members of B Battery, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, not from a National Guard unit. The Mexican soldiers disarmed one of the U.S. soldiers and placed his sidearm in the U.S. vehicle.

While the soldiers were parked south of the border fence near Clint, Texas, they were north of the Rio Grande riverbed, which placed them “appropriately in U.S. territory,” according to Maj. Mark Lazane, a spokesman for NORTHCOM. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Defense (DOD), after inquiring of the Mexican government, were informed that the Mexican soldiers thought that the Americans were south of the border. “Throughout the incident, the U.S. soldiers followed all established procedures and protocols,” according to NORTHCOM.

NORTHCOM confirmed that there are approximately 2,800 service members assigned to the border mission. “This includes approximately 1,200 on the Mobile Surveillance Camera mission, plus about 1,000 service members hardening ports of entry in Texas and New Mexico. There are approximately 200 personnel as part of a crisis response force, with the remainder being headquarters and logistics personnel supporting the mission.”

When I asked both NORTHCOM and the State Department if our government had conveyed our concerns to Mexico and asked for an apology, both departments declined to comment.

Zach Taylor, a retired 26-year veteran of the Border Patrol who has formed a group of retired border agents to better educate the public on the border, told CR that he is convinced these Mexican soldiers were making a political statement. “At the reported location the Rio Grande River is distinct and easily identified in relation to the actual international boundary,” asserted Taylor, who still lives near the border in Arizona. “That one of the supposed Mexican soldiers took one sidearm from an American and put it in the American vehicle is curious, as if the Mexicans knew exactly who they encountered, where they were encountered, and were simply making a statement. What the purpose of that statement was is open to broad speculation, but on the face of it, this was probably political – as in showing that to Mexico, borders mean nothing.” Taylor confirmed that he regularly saw this behavior during his time in the Border Patrol.

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