EARTHQUAKES IN DIVERSE PLACES

• Massive Earthquake Kills over 2,400 in Northwest Afghanistan
• More Powerful Quakes Shake Calamity-Hit Western Afghanistan

RUSSIA AND THE KINGS OF THE EAST

• China foreign minister: Beijing, Moscow must deepen cooperation
• Putin says accepted Xi’s invitation to visit China in October
• A Wary China Eyes Ties With Russia, North Korea
• North Korea Says Cooperation With Russia ‘Natural’ for Neighbors
• North Korean Leader Vows ‘Unconditional Support’ for ‘All Decisions’ by Putin
• North Korea test-fires missiles as part of mock ‘nuclear attack’
• Yoon: Seoul will not ‘stand idly by’ if Russia and North Korea make weapons deal
• China announces ‘strategic partnership’ with Syria
• China’s recent military activities ‘abnormal’: Taiwan defence minister
• China VP warns at UN of ‘strong will’ on Taiwan
• India issues ‘strong protest’ to China over map

THE PALESTINIAN STATE?

• King Abdullah: Middle East security impossible without Palestinian state
• Only way to solve conflict is independent Palestinian state, says top Saudi diplomat
• Saudis say Palestinians must be part of Israel peace deal, says Blinken

 

NEWS FROM ISRAEL

• Hamas issues terror threat to Israel: ‘We will return to the Intifada’
• Report: New Hamas rocket has one ton warhead, can hit Israel’s northern border
• Israel warns Hamas: There will be a response to any firing of rockets from Gaza
• Mossad director warns Iran: ‘Harm to Israelis will lead to strike in heart of Tehran’
• Syria airstrikes: ‘Proof thunder of Israel’s jets is loudest,’ Gallant says

NEWS FROM IRAN

Ayatollah Khamenei Marks $6 Billion 9/11 with Speech Celebrating America’s Demise
• Iranian President: We’ll Spend Money from Prisoner Swap How We Want
• Iran to toughen penalties for women who breach dress code
• Iran Bans Weightlifter for Life Over Handshake With Israeli

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

• Azerbaijan Pursues ‘Elimination of the Entire Christian Population and Its Churches’ in Nagorno-Karabakh
• Report: Islamist Massacres of Christians a ‘Regular Occurrence’ in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Terrorists Kidnap Two Christians, Kill Baptist Pastor in Nigeria
• 2 Teens Arrested for Plotting Attack on Christian Middle Schoolers

PLAGUES AND PESTILENCES

• Bird flu changes could raise risk of widespread transmission to humans

PLAGUES & PESTILENCES

• CDC: Researchers Suggest Leprosy May Become Endemic in Florida
• ‘Disease X’ — UK Scientists Start Developing Vaccines for Unknown Pandemic

SANCTITY OF LIFE

• Quebec Doctor Warns Euthanasia No Longer a ‘Last Resort’
• Canada: Suicidal Patient Says Clinician Asked If She Had Considered Euthanasia

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

• Pakistan: Muslim Mob of 10,000 People Burns Down Hundreds of Christian Homes, Churches, over ‘Blasphemy’
• Pakistan arrests two Christians accused of blasphemy day after riots

THE RUSSIAN BEAR AWAKENS

• Russia’s Medvedev hints at future Russian invasion of Georgia
• Putin Ally: When We Finish with Ukraine, We’re Going Into Europe
• Russian intel. director: America no longer dominates international field
• Russia Launches Baltic Naval Drills, Ratcheting Up Tensions With European Neighbors
• Russian warship fires warning shots to stop cargo ship in Black Sea
• Russia and China Sent Large Naval Patrol Near Alaska
• Russia, North Korea Aim for Closer Cooperation

NORTH KOREAN MADMAN

• Kim Jong Un tells North Korea arms factories to boost capacity
• Kim Jong Un fires top military brass, orders troops to prepare for ‘offensive’ war
• North Korean leader oversees test of strategic cruise missiles
• North Korea calls itself a ‘responsible nuclear power’