Set up Archive Pages

A three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday in a case testing the limits of religious freedom and anti-discrimination laws, as the state of Washington seeks to overturn an injunction shielding a church-run nonprofit from enforcement of hiring restrictions under state law.

Two Chinese nationals have been charged in what federal officials are calling a “grave national security threat” after allegedly smuggling a dangerous biological pathogen into the United States with the intent to conduct research at the University of Michigan. Authorities say the scheme involved a toxin-laced fungus capable of decimating America’s agricultural system and causing severe illness in humans and livestock.

More than a month after coordinated attacks on Easter Sunday by Hindu nationalist groups, several Christian churches in Gujarat remain closed, exposing a rising tide of religious persecution even as India experiences significant Christian revival over the past two decades.

Iran is rebuilding its air defense systems around key nuclear sites amid fears of potential Israeli or U.S. strikes, according to the Financial Times. Satellite imagery and intelligence reports show Tehran has moved missile launchers, including Russian-made S-300s, to protect uranium enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow.

Israel’s military said it struck Syria early Wednesday after a “barrage of rockets” launched by forces in southern Syria and Houthis in Yemen entered Israel, forcing millions to seek shelter.

The biggest evacuation in the German city of Cologne since the Second World War is underway after the discovery of three unexploded bombs dropped by Allied forces 80 years ago.

More than 100 Christians, including children, pastors, farmers, and “even people attending a funeral,” have been killed and around 5,000 displaced in attacks by Islamist militants in Nigeria, a Christian advocacy group confirmed Tuesday.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) firmly rejected accusations Tuesday night that its troops were responsible for the killing of civilians at humanitarian aid distribution points in Gaza, calling the claims “total lies” and accusing Hamas of manipulating the narrative.

In a striking reversal of recent years’ economic sluggishness, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta has sharply revised its GDP growth forecast for the second quarter of 2025, now predicting a robust 4.6% surge–up from its earlier estimate of 3.8%.

The United States has issued a stark warning to its key allies, the United Kingdom and France, against unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state during a high-stakes United Nations conference set for June 17 in New York, Middle East Eye reported Tuesday.