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US Missionary Abducted During Church Service In South Africa

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A US missionary was kidnapped at gunpoint while leading a prayer service at a church in the coastal city of Gqeberha, South Africa, on Thursday evening.

Pastor Josh Sullivan, 45, was taken by four armed and masked men who stormed the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell during his sermon, authorities reported on Friday.

The attackers, who reportedly robbed two cell phones before abducting Sullivan, left the church in a vehicle with the pastor.

SEE ALSO: Gunmen Kidnap Navy Officer, Two Others In Abuja

“They knew him by name,” said Reverend Jeremy Hall, a fellow pastor in the area. “They took him at gunpoint and forced him into his car.”

The abduction took place as Sullivan was hosting a prayer meeting attended by around 30 people, including his wife and six children.

The vehicle was later found abandoned approximately 1.5 kilometers from the church.

Police are investigating the possibility that the kidnapping was motivated by financial gain, with suspicions of ransom demands.

Kidnapping for ransom has been on the rise in South Africa, with criminal gangs increasingly targeting individuals who can bring in large sums of money.

Hall, who is also based in Gqeberha, suggested the incident was likely “financially related,” further adding to concerns about the growing threat of organized crime in the region.

This follows another kidnapping in the same area earlier this week, involving a Chinese national.

Statistics from South African authorities show a disturbing trend, with over 17,000 kidnappings reported during the 2023/2024 financial year — an 11 percent increase from the previous year.

Sullivan, along with his wife and children, moved to South Africa from Tennessee in November 2018 to engage in missionary work.

Investigations are ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this time.

International News

DOJ Confirms Federal Criminal Investigation After Agents Raid Ilhan Omar’s Home

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Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.

Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.

SEE MORE: Trump Sparks Outrage With Shock Proposal to Rename New Mexico

The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.

A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”

The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”

 

 

Details later……….

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Bangkok Underwater: Nearly 4,900 Evacuated as Floods Hit Thailand Capital

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Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.

The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.

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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.

Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.

Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.

Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.

For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.

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‘They Are Dying’ — Trump Explains Why He Rejected Iran’s Hormuz Proposal

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US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.

“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.

SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock

According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.

“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.

“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”

Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”

“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.

“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.

Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.

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