Weekly News Brief: 6/26/24

Breaking World News

International Court Indicts Top Russia Officials

The International Court of Justice (ICC) has indicted Russia’s former defense minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the staff of the Russian Armed Forces, for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

WikiLeaks’ Assange Pleading Guilty For Espionage
Julian Assange, the founder of the secrets-leaking website WikiLeaks, was freed by a court on the U.S. Pacific island territory of Saipan on Wednesday after pleading guilty to violating U.S. espionage law in a deal that will see him return home to Australia.

Several Killed As Crowd Storms Kenya Parliament
Kenya’s president condemned the deadly storming of parliament on Tuesday, the most direct assault on the government in decades, and said it was “a national security threat.”

Latest World News Headlines

EU Membership Talks With War-torn Ukraine – June 25, 2024

Africa Has Seen a Massive Surge in Islamic Jihadist Terrorism Since 2008, Top US General says – June 25, 2024

Wikileaks Says Jailed Founder Assange Left Britain After Striking Plea Deal With US – June 25, 2024

Dozens Killed In China Flooding – June 25, 2024

Hungary Fumes Over EU’s Use Of Russian Assets To Buy Weapons For Ukraine – June 25, 2024

Iran Enhances Underground Nuclear ‘Bunker’, Heightening Fears of Accelerated Weapons Development – June 24, 2024

Hungary Under US, EU Pressure Over LGTBQ+ Policies – June 24, 2024

Russia’s Dagestan Region Mourning As 19 Are Killed at Churches, Synagogues (Worthy News Radio) – June 24, 2024

Drone, Missile Strikes Kill Numerous People In Russia and Ukraine (Worthy News Radio) – June 23, 2024

15 Police Killed, 12 Injured In Shooting At Russian Synagogues and Churches (Worthy News In-Depth) – June 23, 2024

Breaking Israel News

Israel Court: ‘Ultra-Orthodox Must Serve In Army’ (Worthy News Focus)
In a historic move, Israel’s High Court of Justice has decided that the state must draft ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the army, prompting government anger but praise from the opposition.

Gallant Tells US: “Time Is Running Out” to Prevent Iran From Obtaining a Nuclear Bomb
Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant has told US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin that “time is running out” to stop Iran, the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism, from obtaining a nuclear bomb, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.

Wife of Israeli PM Accuses Israeli Army Chiefs Of ‘Coup’ Against Her Husband, Sources Say
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, has accused military chiefs of “attempting to carry out a coup against her husband,” Israeli sources say.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Hezbollah Is Using Beirut Civilian Airport to Store Iran-Made Weapons For Use Against Israel – June 25, 2024

U.S. Military Chief Doubts Ability to Support Israel in Conflict with Hezbollah – June 24, 2024

Netanyahu: Intense Rafah Military Operation Against Hamas Nearing End, Shifts Focus to Hezbollah – June 24, 2024

Armenia Officially Recognizes State of Palestine, Reprimanded by Israel – June 24, 2024

Thousands of Iran-Backed Fighters Ready to Join Hezbollah in All-Out War Against Israel – June 24, 2024

Netanyahu Points to ‘Dramatic Drop’ in U.S. Arms Deliveries – June 23, 2024

U.S. Aircraft Carrier Strike Group Positioned in Mediterranean Sea Amid Tensions with Lebanon – June 23, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

Feds Can’t Find Foreign Nationals Released Into US As Terrorism Threats Heightened
Nine months after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General expressed alarm that under the Biden administration, DHS agencies couldn’t locate where illegal foreign nationals were after they released them into the U.S., ongoing problems persist and terrorism threats are heightened.

Louisiana: Families File Suit to Challenge Law Requiring the Ten Commandments to be Displayed in K-College Classrooms
Several families, including clergy, are suing the state of Louisiana over a new law that requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in an “easy-to-read, poster-sized” format in all public classrooms from kindergarten to colleges, Reuters reports.

Supreme Court Sides With Biden Administration Over Online Free Speech
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court decided in a landmark case that the Biden administration may pressure social media companies to restrict content it considers harmful, including topics related to COVID-19 and election security, in order to censor speech on the internet.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

US House Passes Bill to End Persecution of Falun Gong in China, Targets Forced Organ Harvesting – June 26, 2024

Judge Keeps Trump Under Partial Gag Order Ahead of Sentencing – June 25, 2024

Federal Judges Block Biden’s Plan to End Student Loan Repayments – June 25, 2024

Trump Encourages Christians to Vote, Supports Displaying Ten Commandments in Schools – June 24, 2024

Supreme Court Decision on Presidential Immunity Looms Large – June 24, 2024

Trump Calls for Drug Tests Before First Presidential Debate – June 24, 2024

Supreme Court Will Hear Tennessee Gender-Affirming Care Ban Case – June 24, 2024

Breaking Christian News

Pakistan: Court grants Bail to 52 Islamists Accused of Lynching Elderly Christian, “There’s Very Little Hope for Justice for the Victim”
Following reported pressure from a powerful hardline Islamic group, a court in Punjab Province, Pakistan last week granted bail to 52 Islamists accused of lynching 74-year-old Nazeer Masih Gill in Sargodha on May 25 over false blasphemy accusations, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Laos Detains Devoted Christian Villagers (Worthy News In-depth)
There was concern Tuesday about the plight of a Lao church leader and five other Christians who were detained in central Laos amid a crackdown on Christian worship in the openly communist Asian nation, representatives told Worthy News.

India: Rajasthan State Considering Implementation of Anti-Conversion Law
Lawmakers in India’s Rajasthan state are considering approving the type of anti-conversion law that has led to the intense persecution of Christians and other non-Hindus in Indian states that already have such legislation.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Iran: Five Christian Converts Sentenced to Prison Terms on Unspecified Charges, “Conversion From Islam to Christianity is Illegal in Iran” – June 25, 2024

Christians In Kyrgyzstan Fear More Hostilities Despite Law Rejection (Worthy News Focus) – June 24, 2024

Fire Hits Nigeria’s Christ Embassy Megachurch After Controversies – June 24, 2024

Christian Sports Ministry to distribute 200,000 Bibles – June 24, 2024

Iraq Forcing Christian Woman To Convert To Islam – June 22, 2024

Mob Kills Man In Pakistan For Koran ‘Desecration’ – June 21, 2024

Bodies Found Of Murdered Christian Passengers In Nigeria – June 20, 2024

Weekly News Brief 6/20/24

Breaking World News

Mark Rutte Becomes NATO Secretary General After Romania Withdrawal Bid
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has withdrawn his bid for NATO’s leadership, clearing the way for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become the military alliance’s secretary-general.

Terminally Ill Man Meets Government After Losing Right-To-Die Case In Hungary
A terminally ill Hungarian lawyer who lost his right-to-die case at the European Court of Human Rights has met Hungary’s government, which refused to allow active euthanasia.

France President Says Raped Jewish Girl Victim Of ‘Scourge of Antisemitism’
French President Emmanuel Macron warned Wednesday that schools in France are threatened by the “scourge of antisemitism” after a 12-year-old Jewish girl was raped in what police called “a hate crime” amid ongoing attacks against Jewish people.

Latest World News Headlines

North Korea, Russia Sign Military Pact – June 19, 2024

Russian Warships and Nuclear Submarine Have Now Left Cuba – June 19, 2024

Romania To Approve Mark Rutte As NATO Chief – June 19, 2024

Russia’s Putin In North Korea Shopping For Weapons – June 19, 2024

Iran Moving Towards Nuclear Bomb, Computer Models Suggest – June 18, 2024

Ukraine Strikes Russia Despite Nuclear Fears (Worthy News Radio) – June 18, 2024

US and Saudi Arabia Close to Negotiating a Security Pact – June 18, 2024

Iran Defiant in the Face of G7 Statement Condemning Its Nuclear Program – June 18, 2024

Pope Urges End To Massacres In DRC – June 18, 2024

Hungary Has the Right to Ban Assisted Suicide, Europe’s Top Human Rights Court Rules – June 18, 2024

Breaking Israel News

Number of Israeli Hostages Still Alive in Gaza “Could Be As Low As 50”, WSJ Report
The number of Israeli hostages who are still alive in Gaza following their capture by Hamas on Oct. 7 “could be as low as 50,” the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Thursday, June 20. The WSJ report cites hostage mediators and a US official with knowledge of current intelligence on the issue of Israeli captives in Gaza.

Just Over Half of Arab Israelis Feel They Have “Shared Destiny” With Jewish Israelis, Poll
A new poll shows that just over half (51.6%) of Arab Israeli citizens believe Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza has produced a sense of “shared destiny” between them and Jewish Israeli citizens, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Conducted by the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, the survey was presented during a conference titled “The Future of Israel” at TAU on Wednesday.

Hamas Is An “Idea” That Cannot Be Destroyed, Senior IDF Official Says
Amid Israel’s ongoing war to destroy Hamas’ terrorist capabilities in Gaza, a senior spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces has stated that the threat posed by Hamas cannot be eliminated because the jihadist group represents an “idea” that cannot be destroyed by military means, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Israel Warns Of ‘All-Out War’ With Hezbollah Despite US Envoy Visit – June 19, 2024

Israel Announces Approval of Offensive Battle Plans Against Hezbollah Following Terrorist Threat – June 18, 2024

Rafah Offensive Has Destroyed Half of Hamas, Israel Expects Full Control in Two Weeks – June 17, 2024

Netanyahu Dissolves War Cabinet After Gantz Departure – June 17, 2024

International Christian Speaker Nick Vujicic Encourages Wounded Israeli Soldiers – June 17, 2024

Eight Israeli Soldiers Killed In Rafah – June 15, 2024

Overall Palestinian Support for Hamas Increases to Double the Support for Fatah – June 13, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

In First Five Years, 79,000 of DACA Recipients Admitted to U.S. Had Arrest Records
Within five years of a new program created to prevent deportation of minors brought into the country illegally by their parents, nearly 80,000 were released into the U.S. with arrest records. The majority were between the ages of 19 and 22 when they were arrested, according to the latest available data published by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

US Federal Budget Deficit Now Projected to be $1.9 Trillion for 2024
The US Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday published a new report showing the Budget Deficit for the 2024 fiscal year is now projected to be $1.9 trillion – an increase of around $400 billion from a projection offered in February.

ICE Agents Apprehend Fugitives Wanted for Violent Crimes Nationwide
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents continue to apprehend fugitives wanted for committing violent crimes. Many fled to and entered the U.S. illegally to avoid incarceration in their home country.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Biden Announces Widespread Amnesty Plan for Illegal Immigrants – June 18, 2024

Kansas Sues Pfizer for Alleged Misleading Statements About Risks, Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccine – June 18, 2024

More Companies Announce Bankruptcies, Shutter Operations, Citing Inflation – June 18, 2024

Trump Makes His Case for Presidential Immunity – June 17, 2024

More Officials Issue ‘Imminent Terrorist Attack’ Warnings – June 17, 2024

Supreme Court Ruling Upholds Immigration Law and Deportation Process – June 16, 2024

Supreme Court Says Bump Stocks Don’t Turn Firearms into Machine Guns – June 16, 2024

Breaking Christian News

“Unbelievable Revival” Reported in Transnistria, Eastern Europe
Journalists with the US-based Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) have reported that, despite opposition from Moscow, a “remarkable” revival is underway in Transnistria, a Russian-controlled part of Moldova in eastern Europe.

India: 11 Christians Freed After Two Years Imprisonment Under Anti-Conversion Law
Eleven Christians in India’s Madhya Pradesh state have just been released from prison after being jailed in 2022 on baseless charges of forcing people to leave Hinduism for Christianity, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Indonesia: Established Church Faces Eviction for Proximity to Islamic University, “We Hold Onto Hope”
A well-established in Indonesia has been threatened with eviction from its worship center because a new Islamic university has been opened in proximity to it, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. 

Latest Christian News Headlines

DRC: Islamic State Affiliates Murder 80 Christians in Spate of Attacks, “These Attacks Continue Unabated” – June 17, 2024

5 Christian Sanitation Workers Killed In Pakistan – June 13, 2024

Pakistani Christian Young Man Brutally Tortured and Murdered by Employer – June 13, 2024

U.S. Megachurch Pastor Resigns Over “Sin” – June 12, 2024

China: Christian Taken Into Custody for Posting Commemoration of Tiananmen Square Massacre – June 12, 2024

DRC: Islamic Terrorists Murder Nine in Village Attack, “A Trail of Sorrow and Despair” – June 12, 2024

70,000 People Turn Out to Hear the Gospel in Central London – June 11, 2024

Weekly News Brief 6/6/24

Breaking World News

European Parliament Elections Kick Off In Netherlands (Worthy News Radio)
The Netherlands kicked off four days of voted in the European Union when almost 400 million voters can elect 720 members of the European Parliament at a time of turmoil across the continent.

UN Nuclear Agency Board Rebukes Iran for Non-Cooperation
The board of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency on Wednesday passed a resolution censuring Iran for its ongoing refusal to cooperate with the agency’s nuclear watchdog inspectors, the Associated Press reports. The resolution was introduced by France, Germany and Britain.

Massive Voting Underway In Europe At Time Of War
In the second-biggest exercise in democracy behind India’s recent elections, almost 400 million voters will elect 720 members of the European Parliament (EP) from beyond the Arctic circle to the edges of Africa and Asia at a time when Europe faces its most significant armed conflict since World War Two.

Latest World News Headlines

Recovering Slovakia’s PM Forgives Shooter But Blames Opposition – June 6, 2024

Russia’s Putin Threatens West With Long-Range Missiles, Nuclear Weapons (Worthy News In-Depth) – June 5, 2024

German Far-Right Politician Wounded In Knife Attack – June 5, 2024

Gunman Attacks US Embassy in Beirut, Injuring Guard Before Being Shot – June 5, 2024

Dutch Fishing Town Urk Welcomes Jews After Antisemitic Attacks – June 5, 2024

Houthis Launch Missiles at American Vessel in Red Sea – June 4, 2024

Germany: ‘Islamist Extremist Kills Police Officer’; Several Injured (Worthy News Focus) – June 4, 2024

US/South Korea Clash with Russia/China at UNSC Meeting – June 4, 2024

North Korea Sends 900 Balloons Filled with Trash/Excrement into South Korea – June 4, 2024

WHO: ‘Pandemic Treaty By 2025’ Despite Global Outcry – June 3, 2024

Breaking Israel News

US Signs $3 Billion Deal Providing 25 More F-35 Fighter Jets to Israel
Despite recent diplomatic fissures over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, the United States on Tuesday officially signed off on a $3 billion deal to provide Israel with 25 additional F-35 fighter jets, bringing to 75 the total number of coveted US stealth planes provided to Israel, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Tuesday’s deal ensures Israel’s qualitative military edge in the Middle East, and is funded by US military aid.

IDF Destroys Major Hamas Tunnel and Rocket Launcher Hidden Under UN Post
Amid talks to bring about the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces operating in the Gaza city of Rafah on Wednesday destroyed a major Hamas tunnel and deactivated ready-to-fire rocket launchers that were hidden in a UN post in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Israel and Hezbollah Draw Closer to Full-Scale War
While still deeply entrenched in a war against Hamas in Gaza, Israel is coming closer to a full-scale war with Hezbollah in Lebanon as well, the Wall Street Journal says in a report that references the views of Israeli officials.

Latest Israel News Headlines

AI-Created Gaza Picture Raises Concerns (Worthy News Analysis) – June 5, 2024

Iranian General Reportedly Killed In Alleged Israeli Strike in Syria – June 4, 2024

Israel: More Than 100,000 Protestors Call for Netanyahu’s Resignation, Hostage Deal – June 4, 2024

Prominent Hezbollah Terrorist Killed As Fires Rage Across Northern Israel – June 3, 2024

Israeli Defense Minister Says ‘We Are Steadily Choking Hamas” and Preparing For Alternative Government in Gaza – June 2, 2024

Biden Calls for End of War, Netanyahu Calls Deal ‘Non-Starter’ Unless Conditions Met – June 2, 2024

Hamas Publishes Hostage Video As Biden Reveals Ceasefire Plan – May 31, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

Border Experts: Biden Plan Will Bring Another 2 Million Into Country a Year
Former Border security leaders serving under multiple presidents and whose careers span decades in law enforcement say President Joe Biden’s “border security” announcement Tuesday won’t secure the border but instead will facilitate more illegal immigration, bringing in another two million people into the country illegally a year.

Number of US Job Openings Falls to Lowest Level in 3 Years
Statistics published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday show that job openings in April were at their lowest level since 2021, Newsweek reports.

US House Approves Bill to Punish ICC for Israel War crimes Investigation
The US House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bipartisan bill to impose sanctions on International Criminal Court officials who target American or Israeli citizens for investigation or prosecution, the Washington Times reports.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Biden Announces ‘Border Security’ Measures Five Months Ahead of Election – June 4, 2024

Excess Deaths Remained Elevated Even After COVID-19 Vaccines, Study Finds – June 4, 2024

GOP Senators Slam Biden’s Immigration Executive Order – June 4, 2024

California Senate Passes Bill to Ban Teachers From Notifying Parents of Student Gender Transitions – June 4, 2024

Congress Probes Federal Funds for Antisemitic Indoctrination, Terrorism – June 3, 2024

Trump Calls on Supreme Court After Hush Money Conviction – June 3, 2024

Russian State TV Predicts US ‘Civil War’ If Trump Imprisoned – June 2, 2024

Breaking Christian News

India: 15 Christian Families Denied Basic Amenities for Refusal to Renounce Christ
Council authorities in India’s Chhattisgarh state have denied basic human necessities to 15 Christian families who refuse to renounce Christ and worship a local Hindu god, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

700,000 Prisoners To Be Reached With Gospel in 70 Nations’ (Worthy News Mission Watch)
Two major Christian organizations working in jails have agreed to “share the Gospel” of Christ with hundreds of thousands of prisoners and their families.

Nigeria: Fulani Terrorists Murder Assemblies of God Pastor and Four Other Christians
Christians in Plateau state, Nigeria are devastated after Fulani terrorists murdered an Assemblies of God pastor, his wife, and three other church members less than one week after Christian Irigwe and Muslim Fulani leaders met to discuss an end to the decades-long slaughter of believers by radicalized Islamic militants.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Pakistan: Elderly Christian Man Accused of Blasphemy Dies from Wounds Inflicted by Islamic Mob – June 5, 2024

Wycliffe Associates Undergoes Efforts to Supply Printed Bibles to Persecuted Christians in North Africa and the Middle East – June 4, 2024

Nicaragua: US Missionary Remains Wrongfully Charged With Fraud, Colleagues Still in Prison – May 30, 2024

2.5 Billion Christians Invited to Participate in Gather25 Commissioning Event – May 30, 2024

Myanmar: Military Junta Rounds Up Dozens of Christian Leaders – May 30, 2024

Christian Ministry to Release First-Ever JESUS Movie in ASL for Deaf People – May 29, 2024

Severely Persecuted Yemeni Christian Suffering Deteriorating Health in Egyptian Prison – May 29, 2024