5.8-magnitude earthquake shakes Islamabad

5.8-magnitude earthquake shakes Islamabad, parts of KP and GBPublished on: January 19, 2026 1:00 PM

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake on Monday rattled Islamabad, with tremors also felt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Swat and Gilgit-Baltistan's Hunza, causing momentary panic among residents. The Pakistan Meteorological Department's National Seismic Monitoring Centre reported that the quake originated at a depth of 10 kilometres, with its epicentre in Balochistan's Sonmiani.

Data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a magnitude of 5.9 and a depth of 35 kilometres, placing the epicentre about 50 kilometres north-northwest of Barishal. Despite the intensity, there were no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage. Residents in the affected regions reported feeling strong tremors, prompting temporary evacuations and safety measures. 

This earthquake comes just weeks after a 5.2-magnitude tremor struck parts of Karachi on December 16, 2025, causing widespread alarm. Pakistan is located along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it prone to frequent seismic activity. The region has a history of devastating earthquakes, including the 7.6-magnitude quake in 2005 that killed more than 73,000 people and left 3.5 million homeless, mainly in Azad Kashmir.

5 Years Hard Labor Sentence For Defending The Faith Online

5 Years Hard Labor Sentence For Defending The Faith Online

PNW STAFF 

In January 2026, Augustinos Samaan, a 37-year-old Coptic Christian and scholar of comparative religion, was sentenced to five years of hard labor in Egypt -- not for committing a crime, but for defending his faith. 

Through his YouTube channel, with over 100,000 subscribers, Samaan peacefully discussed Christian beliefs, countered anti-Christian narratives, and sought to educate rather than provoke. Yet the government saw his faith as a threat and his online presence as a crime.

Samaan's arrest was swift and brutal. Masked officers stormed his home in the early morning hours, confiscating his books, laptop, and personal papers. He was accused of "joining a terrorist organization" and "spreading false news" before the charges were quietly altered to "contempt of religion." 

Even the legal process was designed to intimidate: he was tried without notifying his family or lawyers, and his defense has had no real access to the case files. Justice, in this instance, was little more than a performance -- a warning to anyone daring to speak openly about their faith.

This case is not an isolated tragedy. Across Egypt and many other nations where Islam dominates public life, Christians face the daily reality of persecution, especially those who have left Islam or speak out in defense of their faith. Blasphemy and apostasy laws are wielded less as tools for maintaining harmony than as instruments to silence minority voices. 

Expressing one's beliefs peacefully, educating others, or challenging prevailing narratives can lead to harassment, imprisonment, and even death. Faith becomes an act of courage, each word spoken a quiet rebellion against fear.

Samaan's ordeal is a reminder of how fragile religious freedom can be when it is conditional. On paper, Egypt's constitution guarantees freedom of belief and expression. In practice, those rights are subordinated to laws protecting the majority faith, leaving minorities like the Copts vulnerable to discrimination and abuse. The result is a system where Christians must navigate not only societal prejudice but also a legal landscape that can punish them for existing.

The courage of people like Samaan cannot be overstated. He stands among countless others who refuse to hide their faith despite overwhelming pressure to conform or remain silent. His sentence is intended to break him, to send a message that defending Christianity is dangerous. 

Yet, history shows that persecution rarely extinguishes belief -- it often strengthens it. For every Christian silenced, there are countless more inspired to continue speaking, teaching, and living boldly in the light of their convictions.

Augustinos Samaan's story is more than a case of injustice in Egypt; it is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom of conscience worldwide. Christians, particularly those who leave Islam or challenge dominant religious narratives, continue to pay a high price for their faith. And yet, even behind prison walls, the human spirit proves resilient. Faith persists where fear seeks to dominate. Courage shines in the shadows. And hope -- though tested -- refuses to be silenced.

Anti-ICE Protestors Storm Church in St. Paul, Shout Down Pastor, Harass Parishioners

Anti-ICE Protestors Storm Church in St. Paul, Shout Down Pastor, Harass Parishioners

Cristina Laila

Don Lemon live-streamed as anti-ICE protestors stormed Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday.

The former CNN host announced on Saturday that he was going to Minnesota to report on ICE operations.

“I’ve seen enough. I’m heading to Minnesota to report on ICE and bring you the truth,” Don Lemon said in an Instagram post on Saturday.

“I’ll be live on YouTube tomorrow, tune in!” Lemon said.

On Sunday, Don Lemon livestreamed as anti-ICE protestors stormed a church in St. Paul because the pastor supposedly worked for ICE.

“This is the beginning of what’s going to happen here,” Lemon said as anti-ICE protestors shouted down the pastor and harassed parishioners.

“They’ve stopped the service — a lot of people, a number of people have left,” Lemon said.

Don Lemon actually claimed that the protestors who interrupted a church service to harass Christians in a place of worship are protected by the First Amendment.

“This is what the First Amendment is about, the freedom to protest,” Don Lemon said. “I’m sure people here don’t like it, but protests are not comfortable.”

Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, said the Justice Department is investigating the anti-ICE protestors.

“The Civil Rights division is investigating the potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshippers,” Harmeet Dhillon said in response to the video.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said the DOJ is investigating the leftists who stormed the church on Sunday.

More, video

DOJ Now Investigating Disgraced Don Lemon and Radical Anti-ICE Mob for Potential Criminal Violations Following Minneapolis Church Disruption

A full-blown assault on Christian worship unfolded Sunday morning in Minnesota as a radical anti-ICE mob stormed a church service, shut down prayer, and harassed parishioners while disgraced former CNN host Don Lemon live-streamed the chaos.

The mob descended on the sanctuary because the church’s pastor reportedly also serves as a field director with ICE.

Lemon telegraphed his stunt the day before, boasting on Instagram that he was headed to Minnesota to “report on ICE” and urging followers to tune in to his live broadcast.

On Sunday, cameras rolled as agitators shouted down the pastor, disrupted prayer, and scattered congregants.

“This is the beginning of what’s going to happen here,” Lemon said on his stream as the service was derailed. Moments later, he admitted the obvious: “They’ve stopped the service—a lot of people have left.”

This wasn’t reporting. It was participation.

Far-left activist Nekima Levy Armstrong publicly praised the disruption on social media, thanking a roster of agitators and media allies—including Lemon, while declaring “judgment” had come to the “House of God.” The post reads like a victory lap over silencing Christian worship.

Friends, Here is a clip of our demonstration this morning at Cities Church in St. Paul. David Easterwood is a Pastor at this church and the

Acting Field Director for the ICE office in St. Paul. It's time for judgment to begin and it will begin in the House of God!!! Thank you to all of the activists who showed up + independent journalists Georgia Fort, Don Lemon, DawokeFarmer2, Brixton Hughes. Special thanks to Monique Cullars Doty, Chauntyll Allen, Satara Strong-Allen for co-organizing this mission from Black Lives Matter Minnesota & Black Lives Matter Twin Cities Metro, along

with Racial Justice Network.

The disruption has now triggered a full federal investigation.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on X:

“President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship. The Department of Justice has launched a full investigation into the despicable incident that took place earlier today at a church in Minnesota.”

Dhillon added that the Civil Rights Division is investigating potential violations of the federal FACE Act, which protects access to houses of worship, and noted that the FBI has been activated to assess related offenses.

In another post, Dhillon made clear that activists and so-called journalists are not shielded by the First Amendment when they disrupt religious services:

“A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest! It is a space protected from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws! Nor does the First Amendment protect your pseudo journalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice!”

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Anti-Ice Mob Storms Sunday Service Shutting Down Worship

Don’t Be Fooled, We Live In A Time Unlike Any Other In Human History

Don’t Be Fooled, We Live In A Time Unlike Any Other In Human History

J Brentner

I often hear statements such as, “Today is no different than any other time in history; look at what happened in the last century with its deadly wars and oppression.” Others point to New Testament times when immorality across the Roman Empire rivaled that of our day, as if to say there’s nothing new about our day.

How do we answer such objections? Is our day truly unique in we live in the season of Jesus’ imminent appearing?

The most telling difference between today and no other time in all of Church history is this: since 1948, Israel has existed as an independent nation capable of entering into the covenant with antichrist that will start Daniel’s seventieth week. The extensive preparations for another temple and animal sacrifices also tell us that we live in the shadow of the rapidly approaching Tribulation period.

Beyond what we see happening with Israel, I believe there’s something else that demonstrates we live at a time like no other: It’s the intensity of what we see.

The worldwide death toll from abortion now exceeds one billion, which alone puts today in a category all its own in terms of violence and immorality. And at no other time since John wrote the book of Revelation have we witnessed so many world developments pointing to the nearness of the seals of Revelation 6, which have progressed to the point where many errantly say they have already begun.

Perilous Times on Steroids

There have always been people who fit Paul’s vivid characteristics of the last days in 2 Timothy 3:1-9. However, what we see today is nothing less than “perilous times on steroids.”

The headlines of the past twelve months show that we live at a time like no other when people “are lovers of money.” We recently learned that estimates of the fraud from fake childcare centers in Minnesota has risen to eight billion dollars. In a recent statement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said that as much as ten percent of the U.S. budget, somewhere between $300 and $600 billion, is stolen every year. Is that not mind-boggling? Power and corruption have always existed, but the scope of today’s greed and dishonesty have reached new heights.

Just a cursory glance at the apostle’s list tells me that much has changed in just the past sixty years. People have always been “lovers of self,” but has this not reached epidemic proportions with the advent of cell phones with built-in cameras? Many were “arrogant,” and “brutal” back in the 1960s, but what we see today is a whole new ballgame.

The Scoffing

The books of Jude and 2 Peter depict the last days as a time of scoffing. When Jude wrote about it, he referred to “the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus” concerning the latter day mocking (Jude 17-18). Notice that the reference is plural; it wasn’t just Peter who had this to say about the mocking:

“Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation’” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Today, the ridicule of our belief in the Rapture has reached new heights.

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Persia’s Gog-Magog Motivation?

Persia’s Gog-Magog Motivation?

Terry James

Most observers of Bible prophecy and developments toward eventual fulfillment—from the pre-Trib perspective—believe a motivation for the Gog-Magog attack of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 will involve economics. It seems, as a matter of fact, that perhaps the primary motivation will be monetary.

The scriptural basis for this presumption derives from the following:

Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. (Ezekiel 38:9–12)

The “evil thought” in this Ezekiel prophecy, though, will have at its root in the mind of the Gog spirit indwelling the leader of this satanic coalition the dark idea of stealing all the riches Israel is blessed with.

This motivation, it more and more appears, will be not only from just the desire to take Israel’s riches, but also from the determination to turn around all the coalition members’ (Gog-Magog nations’) abject, dismal economic conditions.

And this monetary-fiscal failure is ever more evident within the economic conditions of these major players that will lead the Gog-Magog assault, according to today’s news cycles.\

But we’re looking here at the Gog-Magog coalition member called “Persia.”

This, of course, is the area now called “Iran.”

The stories of Iran’s radical Muslim regime coming under assault by the Iranian people continue to mount. And it is reported that the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini has made arrangements to go into exile in Moscow at any moment.

It’s easy to postulate that the wrathful unrest of the people who now occupy the land of ancient Persia will cause Iran’s evil leaders to eagerly join with Russia, Turkey, and the rest of the Gog-Magog force in the assault against God’s chosen nation and people.

The “evil thought” of the one called “Gog” will almost certainly center around deflecting the anger and rage of the millions of people under these regimes’ dictatorships.

We are perhaps witnessing now the buildup toward solidifying that coalition Ezekiel spoke of thousands of years ago

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