The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed the release of A Dao, a pastor of the Montagnard Evangelical Church of Christ. Vietnamese authorities had arrested him on August 18, 2016, after he returned to Vietnam from a conference about religious freedom in East Timor. “I am delightedContinue Reading

In Angeles City, Philippines, authorities apprehended 546 people for not wearing face mask in public–which is going against a strict ordinance to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Violation of Ordinance No. 546 comes with a penalty of a PHP 1,000 fine for first time offenders –individuals not wearingContinue Reading

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected business, commerce, investments and tourism in the Philippines? I had the opportunity to discuss this with the Chairman of the Board of Boracay Beach (BBI)  and successful entrepreneur—Grace Tolentino. Robert Herriman: Can you start out by telling the audience a little about yourself? Grace Tolentino:Continue Reading

New guidelines to regulate the film content have been issued by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which concerns Catholic directors who fear that programs teaching the Christian faith will be erased. According to UCA News, the National Administration of Radio and Television has banned filming 20 categories of content includingContinue Reading

Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group and the Palestinian terrorists, Hamas, on Monday condemned Israel’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank is an “aggression against the Palestinian people” and called for unity to confront it. Joining the outcry is the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), “a national organization of revolutionariesContinue Reading

It is reported scantily in Philippines media of the rape and murder of 15-year-old Fabel Pineda. According to one report (computer translated), the teen from Brgy. Daclapan, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur in the northern Philippines was killed by dual assassins while riding with relatives on a motorcycle. Cabugao Police Station P/CaptainContinue Reading

Four aid workers and a private security worker have been abducted by Islamist militants in northeast Nigeria. In a video seen on Monday by Reuters, the hostages identified themselves and said they each worked for different organizations. With just their heads and shoulders showing against leafy plants outdoors, they namedContinue Reading

Philippines health officials are advising the public against the practice of “tuob”, or steam inhalation for the treatment of COVID-19 as it can be harmful. DOH Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire said there is no scientific evidence proving that inhalation of steam with salt, lemon, and other ingredients could preventContinue Reading

A Tampa man, Muhammad Al-Azhari, is being indicted for assisting Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and violating the U.S. firearm laws. Al-Azhari, 23, charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, Islamic State, and violating the National Firearms Act, a ccordingContinue Reading

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports that the coronavirus has taken a hold upon Yemen saying “Unfortunately, it is no longer anything but obvious that the virus is circulating widely across the whole of Yemen”. “Five years of fighting had caused Yemen’s healthcare system to collapse in large parts… Now COVID-19Continue Reading