Recent reports indicate Iran has intensified its crackdown on Christians, following the rearrest of two men. According to Article 18, a UK-based NGO dedicated to religious freedom in Iran, two Christians in their 60s, previously released after serving six years in prison for leading house churches, have been rearrested. Iranian intelligence agents rearrested Nasser Navard […]
Category: Hot News
Ukrainian Orthodox Leader: Russian Church Serves as Kremlin’s Tool “`
While diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine are underway, leaders of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) warn that Russia, under Vladimir Putin, views the conflict as a “holy war” against the West. An OCU delegation, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphany, recently participated in the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C. […]
Wiretaps Reveal Sicilian Mafia’s Recruitment Woes and Nostalgia for ‘The Godfather’ “`
The Sicilian Mafia’s waning power is evident in intercepted communications, revealing discontent among leaders regarding the caliber of new recruits, following the recent arrest of nearly 150 individuals linked to the organization. Wiretapped conversations from last year, obtained before his death in a shootout, captured former Cosa Nostra boss Giancarlo Romano lamenting the decline in […]
Macron convenes emergency EU summit to address Trump’s actions: report “`
French President Emmanuel Macron has convened an emergency summit for European leaders to address the actions of President Trump, according to a fellow European official. As reported by Politico, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski alluded to this meeting during the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. Two EU officials confirmed to Politico that the meeting is […]
Tehran University Students Stage Second Day of Protests Following Student’s Murder “`
Demonstrations continued on Saturday, following the fatal robbery of 19-year-old Amir Mohammad Khaleghi, a business student at Tehran University. Khaleghi was killed Wednesday during a robbery near a campus dormitory, prompting Friday’s protests. Students accused university officials of neglecting campus safety, according to local reports. On Friday, protesters clashed with police near the scene of […]
Rubio’s First Middle East Trip as Secretary of State Begins in Israel
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first Middle Eastern trip began with his arrival in Israel late Saturday. This visit follows President Trump’s widely criticized proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. Trump initially suggested Israel accept Gazan Palestinians on January 25th, a proposal Israel firmly rejected. In a surprising announcement on February 4th, following a Washington […]
Russia identifies detained American as Kalob Wayne Byers
Media outlets have identified Kalob Wayne Byers, a 28-year-old American, as the individual detained in Russia on drug smuggling charges. Russian news agency TASS reported his arrest on February 7th at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport following a K-9 detection of contraband in his luggage. According to Reuters, citing the Moscow City Court’s Press Office, Byers will […]
Israel Releases Prisoners Involved in Palestinian Attacks “`
As part of a recent prisoner exchange for hostages held by Hamas, Israel released 369 Palestinians on Saturday. This group included individuals convicted of involvement in suicide bombings and attempted murders. Thirty-six of those released had been serving life sentences; however, only 12 were permitted to return to their homes in the West Bank and […]
Netanyahu to Convene Security Meeting Amidst Trump’s Hostage Deadline “`
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson confirmed that a meeting will be held at noon Eastern Time on Saturday to discuss the next steps in the ceasefire agreement, coinciding with President Trump’s deadline for Hamas. In a statement, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel is fully preparing for all eventualities, according to TPS-IL. Earlier on […]
Hostage Families Face Critical Period Amidst Uncertain Ceasefire “`
The families of Hamas’s remaining hostages face a critical juncture. Phase one of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage exchange mandates the release of nine more living hostages by month’s end, including three released on Saturday, along with additional deceased hostages. The release of the remaining living hostages hinges on a yet-unagreed-upon phase two. Recent propaganda […]
Vatican: Pope Francis to Remain in Hospital
According to a Vatican spokesperson cited by Reuters, Pope Francis will remain in Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital for continued treatment of a respiratory infection. Reports indicate the Pope’s diagnosis is a respiratory tract infection. Vatican News reported the 88-year-old pontiff had a restful night and, while experiencing a slight fever on Friday, it subsided by […]
Israeli-American Hostage Reunites with Family After 500 Days in Hamas Captivity
Touching photos and video from Saturday show Sagui Dekel-Chen reuniting with his wife after nearly 500 days apart, following his release from Hamas captivity. The footage, taken at an Israeli reception point, depicts the emotional embrace between the 36-year-old and Avital Dekel-Chen. Their reunion also included a warm welcome from his parents. Their third daughter […]
Three More Hostages Freed in Hamas-Israel Ceasefire Deal
As part of a fragile ceasefire agreement, Hamas freed three more hostages on Saturday in exchange for the release of over 300 Palestinian prisoners. The released hostages were identified as Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov (29, Israeli and Russian citizen), Sagui Dekel-Chen (36, American-Israeli citizen), and Yair Horn (46, Israeli and Argentinian citizen). Hamas had abducted the […]
American Detained in Moscow on Cannabis Smuggling Charges
Russian media outlets reported the detention of an American citizen at a Moscow airport for allegedly possessing cannabis gummies. The 28-year-old was apprehended at Vnukovo Airport on February 7th after a Russian Federal Customs Service canine unit detected contraband in his luggage, according to TASS. He had arrived in Russia via Istanbul. The U.S. State […]
Israel Rejects Palestinian Gaza Recovery Plan, Demands Hamas Condemnation
EXCLUSIVE – Israel’s Ambassador Danny Danon strongly rejects the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) “Relief and Early Recovery Plan” for Gaza. Ambassador Danon stated that the PA should prioritize combating terrorism in the West Bank and condemning Hamas before focusing on reconstruction efforts. The PA’s three-phase plan, submitted to the UN Security Council, seeks approximately $3.5 billion […]
Munich Car Attack Suspect’s Actions Driven by Islamist Motives, Says Prosecutor “`
Munich prosecutors announced Friday that the suspect in a car attack that injured over 30 people appears to have been motivated by Islamic extremism. The 24-year-old Afghan national, who identified himself as a bodybuilder and fitness model, was apprehended Thursday after driving his Mini Cooper into a labor union demonstration. The incident occurred near the […]
Hamas to Release Another American Hostage on Saturday “`
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, is releasing hostages this Saturday, including American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen. This follows concerns that a ceasefire agreement with Israel might collapse. Also being released are Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov and Argentine-Israeli Yair Horn. These three, abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, will have spent 497 days in captivity. Dekel-Chen’s […]
Despite differing views on US troops in Ukraine, Hegseth and Vance claim alignment “`
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Friday that deploying U.S. troops to Ukraine is improbable, yet emphasized complete agreement with Vice President Vance’s position. During a joint press conference with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Hegseth addressed the prospect of U.S. troops in Ukraine. While initially dismissing the idea, he later […]
UN Agency Head Accused of Hiring Terrorism Supporters
UNITED NATIONS – Recent presidential actions include halting U.S. funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), an agency facing longstanding accusations of terrorist ties, intensified by the October 7, 2023, Israel-Hamas conflict. Funding cuts, initially implemented in January 2024 by the previous administration, followed Israeli claims […]
Zelenskyy: Russia’s Drone Attack Causes Significant Damage to Chernobyl Shelter
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Russia of a drone attack on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant’s protective New Safe Confinement (NSC) shell. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported an explosion at the Chornobyl site overnight Thursday, heard by their on-site team. A UAV allegedly struck the NSC roof, reportedly starting a fire. Zelenskyy stated […]