With the passing of Richard Scolyer, we have lost one of our brightest lights and one of our biggest hearts. As the joint 2024 Australian of the Year, Professor Scolyer took his place in the national spotlight with determination and purpose as he very publicly dealt with his glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Every day, this remarkable man – the cancer specialist who became his own subject – took us into his confidence, and he lifted us all in the process. Richard’s journey was difficult and confronting. “My uncertain path”, as he termed it with characteristic understatement. Yet it was one he travelled with courage, determination, and a grace that never ceased to be remarkable. The way he shared it with us was an act of profound generosity. He showed us what it means to hope, and to keep searching for solutions. He showed us how to stand firm against fear and stay true to yourself. Now Richard’s journey is done, yet his legacy will always be with us. The recently established Richard Scolyer Chair at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse proudly bears his name. And one day when a cure is found, Richard’s name will be spoken. The hearts of all Australians go out to his wife, Dr Katie Nicholl, and their children, Emily, Matthew and Lucy. And may Richard Scolyer rest in peace.

My cat Provolone has a specific vendetta against my Peloton, sitting directly on the console the second I start pedaling, and I didn't understand the pattern until my husband pointed it out from the couch. "He only does it when you're actually trying," he said. "Watch, do an easy ride." I did an easy ride. Provolone stayed on the windowsill, unbothered, barely glancing over. I switched to an interval class the next morning, out of spite mostly, wanting to prove him wrong. Forty seconds into the first sprint, Provolone was already crossing the room at a dead sprint of his own, launching onto the console and sitting directly on the resistance display like he was personally vetoing the effort. "He thinks you're in danger," my husband said, entirely serious. "Cats read heavy breathing and fast heart rates as distress. You sound like you're being chased by something. He's coming to check." I didn't believe that until I found an actual study confirming something close to it — cats responding to labored human breathing as a potential emergency, especially cats bonded closely enough to notice a baseline. I've started narrating my workouts out loud now, mid-sprint, just to reassure him. "I'm fine, buddy, this is on purpose." He doesn't seem convinced. He still comes every single time, sits on the display, waits out the interval like a tiny, disapproving lifeguard. My husband finds this hilarious. I've started doing easy rides more often than I probably should, mostly just for the peace.

Let's consult the historical record to see what the Aztec society was up to when the Spanish conquered it. First, from Cortes: “They have a most horrid and abominable custom which truly ought to be punished and which until now we have seen in no other part, and this is that, whenever they wish to ask something of the idols, in order that their plea may find more acceptance, they take many girls and boys and even adults, and in the presence of the idols they open their chests while they are still alive and take out their hearts and entrails and burn them before the idols, offering the smoke as sacrifice. Some of us have seen this, and they say it is the most terrible and frightful thing they have ever witnessed… not one year passes in which they do not kill and sacrifice some fifty persons in each temple; and this is done and held as customary… not one year has passed… in which three or four thousand souls have not been sacrificed in this manner.” And now Bernal Diaz del Castillo: “The dismal drum of Huichilobos sounded again, accompanied by conches, horns and trumpet-like instruments. It was a terrifying sound, and when we looked at the tall cue [temple] from which it came we saw our comrades who had been captured in Cortes’ defeat being dragged up the steps to be sacrificed. When they had hauled them up to a small platform in front of the shrine where they kept their accursed idols we saw them put plumes on the heads of many of them; and they made them dance with a sort of fan in front of Huichilobos. Then after they had danced the papas [priests] laid them down on their backs on some narrow stones of sacrifice and, cutting open their chests, drew out their palpitating hearts which they offered to the idols before them.” ... “Every day we saw sacrificed before us three, four or five Indians whose hearts were offered to the idols and their blood plastered on the walls, and their feet, arms and legs of the victims were cut off and eaten… Every wall of this chapel and the whole floor, had become almost black with human blood, and… the stench was worse than in a Spanish slaughter-house.” ... “When we arrived at the great market place, called Tlaltelolco, we were astounded at the number of people and the quantity of merchandise that it contained… Let us begin with the dealers in gold, silver, and precious stones, feathers, mantles, and embroidered goods. Then there were other wares consisting of Indian slaves both men and women; and I say that they bring as many of them to that great market for sale as the Portuguese bring negroes from Guinea…. They brought some of them tied to long poles by means of collars around their necks so they would not escape, and others left loose.” ~~ This is what the Spanish conquered in the name of Christendom - a Stone-Age society consumed with ritualistic human sacrifice, cannibalism and slavery.

ChinaAid Welcomes Release of Pastor Ezra Jin to US, Calls for Freedom for All Prisoners of Faith MIDLAND, Texas — July 5, 2026 — ChinaAid welcomes with profound gratitude the release of imprisoned Chinese house church pastor Ezra Jin (Pastor Jin), who arrived safely in Los Angeles on July 4, 2026, after being released directly from detention in China. According to information received by ChinaAid from trusted sources, Pastor Jin was released from detention and transported to the United States in an extraordinary diplomatic arrangement. Chinese officials reportedly informed him that his release resulted from discussions between U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and was presented as a goodwill gesture coinciding with America’s Independence Day. Pastor Jin had spent months in detention because of his Christian faith and ministry. His unexpected freedom is an answer to countless prayers offered by Christians around the world and demonstrates once again that sustained international advocacy can save lives and restore freedom. “We rejoice with Pastor Ezra Jin, his family, and the global Body of Christ on this remarkable Independence Day miracle,” said Rev. Dr. Bob Fu, Founder and President of ChinaAid. “We thank Almighty God for hearing the prayers of His people. We are deeply grateful to President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and all U.S. officials who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure Pastor Jin’s freedom. Their unwavering commitment demonstrates that principled leadership and persistent diplomacy can make a life-saving difference.” Dr. Fu continued: “While we celebrate Pastor Jin’s freedom, our hearts remain with the countless pastors including 8 other jailed pastors and coworkers from Zion Church, priests, bishops, house church Christians, Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, and other prisoners of conscience who remain unjustly imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party. We respectfully call on President Trump and his Administration to continue making religious freedom and the release of all prisoners of faith a top priority in every engagement with Beijing. True progress in U.S.-China relations must include freedom for those imprisoned simply because they choose to believe.” ChinaAid also expresses its appreciation to members of Congress, international religious freedom advocates, churches, and countless individuals around the world whose prayers and advocacy helped keep Pastor Jin’s case before senior U.S. officials. As Americans celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Pastor Jin’s arrival on American soil serves as a powerful reminder that the universal longing for religious liberty transcends national borders. ChinaAid will continue to advocate tirelessly until every prisoner jailed for peacefully exercising his or her faith is released. “Freedom for Pastor Jin is a tremendous victory,” Dr. Fu added. “But our work is not finished until every prisoner of faith is free.” Media Contact: ChinaAid Association Email: media@chinaaid.org

BREAKING STORY: ChinaAid Welcomes the Release of Pastor Ezra Jin to the United States, Calls for Freedom for All Prisoners of Faith MIDLAND, Texas — July 5, 2026 — ChinaAid welcomes with profound gratitude the release of imprisoned Chinese house church pastor Ezra Jin (Pastor Jin), who arrived safely in Los Angeles on July 4, 2026, after being released directly from detention in China. According to information received by ChinaAid from trusted sources, Pastor Jin was released from detention and transported to the United States in an extraordinary diplomatic arrangement. Chinese officials reportedly informed him that his release resulted from discussions between U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and was presented as a goodwill gesture coinciding with America’s Independence Day. Pastor Jin had spent months in detention because of his Christian faith and ministry. His unexpected freedom is an answer to countless prayers offered by Christians around the world and demonstrates once again that sustained international advocacy can save lives and restore freedom. “We rejoice with Pastor Ezra Jin, his family, and the global Body of Christ on this remarkable Independence Day miracle,” said Rev. Dr. Bob Fu, Founder and President of ChinaAid. “We thank Almighty God for hearing the prayers of His people. We are deeply grateful to President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and all U.S. officials who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure Pastor Jin’s freedom. Their unwavering commitment demonstrates that principled leadership and persistent diplomacy can make a life-saving difference.” Dr. Fu continued: “While we celebrate Pastor Jin’s freedom, our hearts remain with the countless pastors, priests, bishops, house church Christians, Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, and other prisoners of conscience who remain unjustly imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party. We respectfully call on President Trump and his Administration to continue making religious freedom and the release of all prisoners of faith a top priority in every engagement with Beijing. True progress in U.S.-China relations must include freedom for those imprisoned simply because they choose to believe.” ChinaAid also expresses its appreciation to members of Congress, international religious freedom advocates, churches, and countless individuals around the world whose prayers and advocacy helped keep Pastor Jin’s case before senior U.S. officials. As Americans celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Pastor Jin’s arrival on American soil serves as a powerful reminder that the universal longing for religious liberty transcends national borders. ChinaAid will continue to advocate tirelessly until every prisoner jailed for peacefully exercising his or her faith is released. “Freedom for Pastor Jin is a tremendous victory,” Dr. Fu added. “But our work is not finished until every prisoner of faith is free.” Media Contact: ChinaAid Association Email: media@chinaaid.org

I bet you never knew that right in the beating heart of New York City sits the site of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil prior to 1995. You might have even walked past the shrapnel holes without even noticing them. On September 16, 1920, a wagon packed with 100 pounds of dynamite exploded on Wall Street, leaving 38 dead and hundreds injured. It was likely carried out by radical Italian anarchists who entered this country not to build, but to destroy. That horrific attack forced a brutal, honest question that Washington is STILL trying to answer today: Who do we let in? As Calvin Coolidge warned back then, there is absolutely NO ROOM in America for anyone who comes here with the avowed intention of opposing our government and tearing our system down. He was right. When a system allows unvetted millions to bypass the rule of law, it ceases to be an immigration system. It becomes a national security failure.