Christians in Lands of Persecution Fear Attacks on Easter

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Christians living in countries hostile to Christianity often face increased fears for their personal safety in the run-up to the Easter holiday, Mike Gore, the CEO of Open Doors Australia and New Zealand (an organization that aids persecuted Christians) wrote in an op-ed for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday.

“[F]or many Christians around the world, the anticipation of Easter is accompanied by the fear of an attack. As many Christians gather on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, the risk of violence intensifies. As Christians gather to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, they themselves become targets for violent extremism,” Gore wrote on April 14. . .

Gore on Thursday cited Open Doors statistics which found that “526 Christians have lost their lives while celebrating Easter over the past seven years, with hundreds more injured. Just a year ago, on 28 March 2021, twenty people were injured in a bombing on Palm Sunday in a church in Makassar, south Sulawesi [Indonesia].”

Gore referred to a suicide bombing perpetrated by two Muslim terrorists outside a Catholic church in Makassar that wounded at least 20 people and killed only the attackers. (Read more from “Christians in Lands of Persecution Fear Attacks on Easter” HERE)

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2022: ‘Easter of War’; Pope: Need Risen Christ More Than Ever

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Pope Francis denounced Russia’s “cruel and senseless war” on Ukraine Sunday, praying for Ukrainian victims and refugees.

“May there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, so sorely tried by the violence and destruction of the cruel and senseless war into which it was dragged,” the pontiff prayed in his yearly Easter Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) blessing before a crowd of 50,000 in Saint Peter’s Square.

“In this terrible night of suffering and death, may a new dawn of hope soon appear!” he urged. “Let there be a decision for peace.”

The pope went on to condemn the aggression as an ongoing “flexing of muscles” while people are suffering.

“Please, let us not get used to war! Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace, from our balconies and in our streets!” he said. “May the leaders of nations hear people’s plea for peace.” (Read more from “2022: ‘Easter of War’; Pope: Need Risen Christ More Than Ever” HERE)

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Saudi Prince Rejects Elon Musk’s Twitter Take-Over Bid, Elon Attacks Saudi Arabia’s Hatred of Free Speech

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Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, a billionaire who is also one of Twitter’s largest shareholders, tweeted that he will vote to reject Elon Musk’s $41 billion all-cash bid for the company — leading Musk to question Saudi Arabia’s commitment to free speech.

“I don’t believe that the proposed offer by @elonmusk ($54.20) comes close to the intrinsic value of @Twitter given its growth prospects,” the prince tweeted on Thursday.

“Being one of the largest & long-term shareholders of Twitter, @Kingdom_KHC & I reject this offer.”

Hours later, Musk responded with what seemed to be a jab at Saudi Arabia’s free speech and human rights record.

“Interesting. Just two questions, if I may,” Musk replied to the prince. “How much of Twitter does the Kingdom own, directly & indirectly? What are the Kingdom’s views on journalistic freedom of speech?” (Read more from “Saudi Prince Rejects Elon Musk’s Twitter Take-Over Bid, Elon Attacks Saudi Arabia’s Hatred of Free Speech” HERE)

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Biden Plays Role in Report on Ukraine War Propaganda

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Joe Biden has appeared prominently in an international organization’s new report on the “propaganda” being used in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He’s been dinged for trying to blame his own domestic inflation problem – it’s worse now for American consumers than it has been for more than 40 years – on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who made the decisions to send his army into Ukraine and kill innocent civilians.

The report comes from the Middle East Media Research Institute, which, under the title “The Latest Propaganda War,” talks about how the Ukrainians have been aided in their “messaging,” which encompasses legacy media, social media and more, “by a powerful and indisputable reality, that they were attacked and are defending themselves.”

“The Ukrainians have been very effective in doing the hard work of propaganda, churning out content, capturing the news cycle, carrying out ‘strategic communications, psychological operations,'” the report explained. “In a war, the best content is victory, but if that is not always available, anything will do: compelling anecdotal stories, the other side’s abuses and war crimes, dramatic statements, content that inspires, content that demonizes. All of it has a role to play.” . . .

But it noted a third player in the propaganda fracas: “A Biden administration that is deeply unpopular and fighting for its domestic political life has tried to shift blame for the American inflation building over the past year onto Putin,” the report said. (Read more from “Biden Plays Role in Report on Ukraine War Propaganda” HERE)

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Biden Considering Sending Top Officials to Ukraine (VIDEO)

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President Joe Biden and his aides are deliberating whether he should send a senior administration official or delegation to Ukraine as a show of support amid the Russian invasion.

“We’re making that decision now,” Biden told reporters at Joint Base Andrews Thursday before boarding Air Force One for North Carolina.

A reporter followed up, asking whether Biden himself was “ready to go.” “Yeah,” Biden replied.

(Read more from “Biden Considering Sending Top Officials to Ukraine (VIDEO)” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

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Putin Shrugs off Financial Sanctions as Ruble Rebounds

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Vladimir Putin’s Russia is earning more from its energy exports than it was before it invaded Ukraine, and the ruble has bounced back to its prewar value. Tell us again about those “crippling” sanctions.

Yes, President Joe Biden on Friday signed two bills expanding US financial restrictions on Russia, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says, “We will keep working on additional ways to deny them revenue.”

But none of it can hit that hard as long as Western Europe, utterly dependent on Russia’s oil and gas, can’t stop buying it. And the war has roiled markets enough to spike prices, so Bloomberg Economics anticipates Russia will earn about $320 billion from energy exports this year, up more than a third from 2021.

The United States can’t force Germany et al to start exploiting their own energy resources (though European voters can, and should). But America can steal Russia’s export markets, if Washington is willing to stop suppressing US energy production and start supporting it. (Read more from “Putin Shrugs off Financial Sanctions as Ruble Rebounds” HERE)

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Biden Sending Helicopters to Ukraine in $800M Military Aid Package

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President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that the United States will send Ukraine another tranche of military aid worth $800 million that includes helicopters, artillery systems and rounds, and armored personnel carriers.

The president spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for nearly one hour Wednesday afternoon, just one day after telling reporters in Iowa that he had seen sufficient “evidence” to declare Russian action in Ukraine a “genocide.”

“As Russia prepares to intensify its attack in the Donbas region, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself,” Biden said in a statement. “This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine.”

The president added that the “steady supply of weapons the United States and its Allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion” but claimed that the West “cannot rest” in its support of Zelensky and the “brave Ukrainian people.” (Read more from “Biden Sending Helicopters to Ukraine in $800M Military Aid Package” HERE)

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Zelensky Touts Capture of Putin Friend Viktor Medvedchuk

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A key ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to have been captured by Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, dressed in military camouflage, is seen sitting in a chair in handcuffs in a photo shared on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Telegram account on Tuesday. . .

Putin is godfather to one of Medvedchuk’s two daughters, and the two men have vacationed together in the past. Officials believe Putin was eyeing Medvedchuk to helm a pro-Russian puppet state in Ukraine if Moscow was able to overthrow the government, Newsweek reported.

Medvedchuk was known for his strong pro-Russia political beliefs and was the co-chairman of the eurosceptic Opposition Platform — For Life party until losing that position last month. Zelensky has since suspended the party, citing its links to the Kremlin.

Last year, Medvedchuk was put on house arrest for allegations of treason and looting Ukrainian resources in Crimea. Medvedchuk was believed to have fled house arrest four days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in late February, according to the New York Post. His capture marks a significant moral victory for Zelensky. (Read more from “Zelensky Touts Capture of Putin Friend Viktor Medvedchuk” HERE)

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Putin Vows Russia’s ‘Noble’ Operation in Ukraine Will End in Victory

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Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday pledged victory in Ukraine, brushing off his military’s embarrassing battlefield missteps and casting the invasion as a “noble” fight.

Speaking to space industry workers at the Vostochny Spaceport in Russia‘s Far East region, Mr. Putin said that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have hit a dead end, suggesting that a negotiated cease-fire is not on the horizon and that he is prepared to continue the military campaign for the foreseeable future. The Russian leader also slammed U.S. and allied sanctions imposed since the invasion began Feb. 24 and said his country’s economy will survive the financial onslaught it is facing.

Tuesday’s public comments are Mr. Putin‘s first since his troops withdrew from northern Ukraine last week, effectively ending their ill-fated attempt to capture the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and topple the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Despite clear failures so far, Mr. Putin virtually guaranteed that the Russian mission will succeed.

“I don’t have any doubt at all,” he said, according to Reuters. “Its goals are absolutely clear and noble. There is no doubt that the goals will be achieved.” (Read more from “Putin Vows Russia’s ‘Noble’ Operation in Ukraine Will End in Victory” HERE)

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Russia Warns Finland and Sweden Against Joining NATO

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The Kremlin warned Sweden and Finland on Monday against joining NATO as Russia continues to wage war in Ukraine. . .

Finland is expected to turn in its application by the end of June. Members of Parliament anticipate a security report from intelligence officials this week, and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said the government is expected to finish consideration “before midsummer.”

Sweden’s ruling party has signaled it is warming up to the prospect of applying, a shift from its prior stance, amid the war in Ukraine.

Russia will “re-balance the situation” if both countries join, Peskov said. Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman, warned of “military and political consequences,” according to the report. (Read more from “Russia Warns Finland and Sweden Against Joining NATO” HERE)

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