CP World Report: Linsanity, Santorum, NY Churches in Public School, Syria

By World Report, The Christian Post in partnership with Crossroads, Friday, February 17, 2012

The U.N General Assembly has passed a nonbinding resolution endorsing the Arab League plan for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to step down. The vote was 137 in favor; and 12 against, with 17 abstentions. The symbolic resolution condemns al-Assad's violent crackdown in Syria.

Meanwhile The U.S. has hit Iran's intelligence ministry with sanctions , claiming it had supported Syria's crackdown on dissidents, fueled repression at home and aided Al-Qaeda.

And, as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad showcased his country's nuclear program to the world, Republican Presidential contender Rick Santorum warned about the threat of a nuclear arms race in the middle east due to Iran developing nuclear capabilities. It was during a campaign stop in Idaho….

And…..Police officials in thailand say Iranian suspects -- arrested for street bombings in Bangkok this week -- were actually targeting Israeli diplomats. Thailand's police chief says the devices were similar to bombs targeting Israelis in India and Georgia this week.

the Nigerian Christmas day bomber"who tried to blow up a packed airliner on Christmas Day 2009 has been sentenced to life in prison by a U.S. judge . 25 year old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab declared he was "proud to kill in the name of God" before being handed the sentence for attempting to murder 289 people on board the Detroit-bound Northwest Airlines Flight. Prosecutors say the botched attack, was a plot by slain Al-Qaeda preacher Anwar al-Awlaqi..

Good news may be near for dozens of New York City churches currently out of a building. Through the continued efforts of the Alliance Defense Fund, a new injunction may be granted-- by U.S. District Court Chief Justice Loretta Preska-- delaying the eviction of churches from city schools. A ban on churches using public school buildings for worship service on the weekends went into effect last Sunday.

A group of about a 100 Christian Indonesian refugees who fled their country because of religious persecution 10 years ago have appealed to President Barack Obama for help in an open letter. They've been living in New Jersey and New Hampshire illegally, and are facing imminent deportation . Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country – where Christians have been known to have suffered wide-spread religious persecution .

IN SPORTS….

"Linsanity" has officially spread to the White House. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney revealed to reporters that the President adores Jeremy Lin's talent, which led the Knicks to six victories over the last two weeks. And… a sudden victory over the Raptors in Toronto, with half a second left to play on Valentines day. But who has Linsanity the most? Tough to say, his aunt is among the candidates……

Shu-Zi Soong watches her nephew's games, cheering enthusiastically, and she sports a Jeremy Lin t-shirt.

So while the devout Christian Jeremy Lin is being dubbed the Tim Tebow of basketball, what is Tebow up to these days? Well, he put down his playbook and picked up a kids book this week. That's because he's teaming up with Pizza Hut and the "Book It"reading program to help get kids interested in reading. To do that, he'll read his own favorite childhood book in a webcast: Doctor Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham." In exchange for his time, the reading program says it will make a donation to Tebow's charity.

And that concludes this edition of WR, I'm CW.