Fox-news/world/religion/persecutions

• Pope Leo calls for world free from persecution while honoring Holocaust victims - Pope Leo calls Holocaust Remembrance Day 'painful remembrance' during Vatican audience, urging vigilance against genocide and building societies rooted in respect.
• Ted Cruz urges US to arm Iranian protesters as militias threaten ‘total war’ against America - Ted Cruz responds to reports describing rapidly deteriorating situation as Iran-backed militias threaten 'total war' against America. He called for the U.S. to arm Iranian protesters.
• Iranian security forces gun down amateur boxer as father searches morgues for missing son: source - Iranian security forces allegedly killed amateur boxer Sepehr Ebrahimi during ongoing protests near Tehran. The death adds to Iran's rising protest toll of at least 6,126 people killed.
• Another Christian community at risk in Africa as extremists and war take their toll - Sudan civil war reportedly kills 150,000 people and displaces 13 million as Christians face daily terror. Government forces allegedly killed 11 Christians on Christmas Day.
• Iran accused of sex assaults on teenage prisoners, while families charged to recover remains of loved ones - Iran's prosecutor general Mohammad Movahedi claims government crushed nationwide protests as death toll reaches 544 with over 10,681 arrested.
• Armed militias fire heavy machine guns through Tehran streets in deadly night attacks - Iran protests enter day twenty-four with 4,519 confirmed deaths as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei backs security forces amid nationwide demonstrations.
• Iran locks nation into ‘darker’ digital blackout, viewing internet as an ‘existential threat’ - Iran enters 22nd day of internet shutdown with limited connectivity restored as NetBlocks reports shift toward "filternet plus" censorship scheme whitelisting only business services.
• Iran accused of killing 16,500 in sweeping ‘genocide’ crackdown: report - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledges thousands killed in Iran protests as regime allegedly accelerates executions to more than eight per day.
• Viral protest video against Iran’s supreme leader sparks copycat demonstrations worldwide - Viral video shows Iranian refugee lighting cigarette with burning photo of supreme leader, sparking global defiance movement amid Iran protests.
• Iran regime opened fire with live ammunition on protesters, doctor says: ‘Shoot-to-kill’ - Iranian protests that began Dec. 28 saw security forces shift to live ammunition by January 8, with over 3,000 deaths estimated nationwide.