Around the World
Global Coalition Fears Islamic State Expansion in Africa
Western powers are promising recent successes by the Islamic State across Africa will not go unanswered, backing plans for a task force to focus on the terror group’s spread from Iraq and Syria to the African continent.
Iran-backed militias said to fire projectiles at US base in Syria
Pro-Iranian militias fired several shells at a US base in eastern Syria’s Al-Omar oil field on Monday night, causing damage but no casualties, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Putin, Xi Agree To Extend 20-Year-Old Friendship Treaty
Russia and China extended a 20-year-old friendship treaty, the latest in a series of moves that have drawn Moscow and Beijing closer together.
‘Mega comet’ 60 miles wide is about to fly through the solar system
Comet 2014 UN271 was first observed during a mission called the Dark Energy Survey in 2014, but skywatchers didn't realize that the data was showing a comet until just this month.
With Reagan’s Arrival, 2 US Carriers Are Now Supporting Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal
The Ronald Reagan carrier strike group is now in the Middle East to help support the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, the Navy announced Friday.
U.S. Airstrikes Target Iran-Backed Militia; Several Killed
The U.S. confirmed Monday that it launched airstrikes against facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel and America share the same values even if they sometimes disagree on policy, Lapid tells Blinken
Israel and the United States share the same basic values even if they may disagree on how to achieve their goals, Israeli Foreign Minister told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a meeting in Rome on Sunday, the Jerusalem Post reports. America is Israel’s most important and loyal ally, Lapid reiterated, adding that the two countries’ new governments come from a very long and strong tradition of close friendship and cooperation.
Biden tells Rivlin he won’t allow Iranian nukes on his watch
US President Joe Biden sought to assure Israel that he would not tolerate a nuclear Iran as he met with outgoing Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Monday amid growing angst over the US administration’s effort to reenter the Iran nuclear deal.

Inside the United States
Federal judge tosses FTC and states’ antitrust lawsuits against Facebook
A federal judge on Monday dismissed antitrust lawsuits against Facebook brought by the Federal Trade Commission and by attorneys general for 46 states plus D.C. and Guam.
Conservatives frustrated by Supreme Court’s repeated refusals to take up transgender cases
The Supreme Court took a pass Monday on a legal challenge over shared restrooms for transgender students at a Virginia high school, fueling frustration among right-tilting court-watchers eager for the conservative majority to resolve the intensifying legal clash over gender identity.

Christian News
Nigeria Christian “killing fields:” 18 Christians murdered in June, “please pray”
As Islamic militants continue the slaughter of Christians in Nigeria, suspected Fulani Muslim militants murdered a Christian doctor in Niger state and 17 other Christians in Plateau state this month, International Christian Concern reports. At least 1500 Christians have been killed by Islamic militants this year alone; the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said in its 2021 annual report that Nigeria has become a “killing field for Christians.”
Christian Convert Loses Appeals Court Hearing
Iranian Christians have urged prayers for a Christian convert after an appeals court upheld his 10-month prison sentence for “propaganda against the regime,” Worthy News learned.
India persecution: Tribal animists force Christians to leave their homes
More than 50 Christians from 13 families have recently been forced to leave their villages and escape into the jungle of India’s Odisha state by tribal animists enraged at the believers’ faith in Christ, Morning Star News reported Friday. India ranks 10 on the US Open Doors Watch List of countries that persecute Christians.
Pakistan court upholds life sentence for Christian accused of sending text messages against Islam
A court of appeals in Pakistan has upheld the life sentence of Zafar Bhatti, a Christian man who was convicted and imprisoned in 2017 for supposedly sending insulting text messages Islam’s prophet Mohammed, Morning Star News reports. Pakistan is one of nine nations the US has designated a “Country of Particular Concern” for severe violations of religious freedom.

Worthy Watch
New Study Finds COVID-19 ‘Very Well Adapted’ To Specifically Infect Humans
Op-Ed: The day after Lebanon implodes