Weekly News Brief 2/4/25

Breaking World News

Swedish Police Say 10 Killed In School Shooting (Update)
At least 10 people have been killed in what the prime minister described as Sweden’s worst mass shooting in the Nordic nation’s history.

Six US Hostages Released From Venezuela Prison, Maduro Accepts Repatriation of Undocumented Migrants in White House Deal
Six American hostages who were imprisoned in Venezuela in recent months were released on Saturday as part of a deal negotiated by White House envoy Richard Grenell.

Trump to Reinstate “Maximum Pressure” on Iran
US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he plans to reinstate the “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran that he practiced during his first term, in order to drive Tehran’s oil exports down to zero and prevent the regime from developing a nuclear bomb, a US official told Reuters.

Latest World News Headlines

Trump to Cut Off Funding to South Africa Over Land Confiscation Law – February 4, 2025

School Shooting In Sweden: At Least Five People Shot – February 4, 2025

Nationalist De Wever Premier Of Belgium – February 4, 2025

Pro-Russia Militia Leader ‘Assasinated’ In Moscow – February 4, 2025

Netherlands, Germany Under Pressure Over Deadly Knife Attacks (Worthy News In-Depth) – February 3, 2025

Trade War Fears Ease as Trump Pauses Tariffs After Concessions from Canada, Mexico – February 3, 2025

Iran Unveils Nuclear-Capable Missile – February 3, 2025

Trump, Mexican President Reach Deal to Delay Tariffs – February 3, 2025

Trump Threatens Tariffs on BRICS Nations If They Move Away From US Dollar – February 3, 2025

Rubio Travels to Panama Amid U.S. Concerns over Canal Control – February 2, 2025

Breaking Israel News

Trump Meets with Netanyahu, Speaks of Permanently Resettling Palestinians
President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, his first meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration.

Trump Administration Prepares New $1 Billion Arms Sale to Israel
The Trump administration has requested congressional approval for a $1 billion arms transfer to Israel, including 4,700 1,000-pound bombs worth over $700 million and Caterpillar-built armored bulldozers valued at $300 million, even as the White House works to maintain a fragile Gaza ceasefire, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Netanyahu Met with Evangelical Leaders in Washington
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with evangelical leaders, including the designated U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, in Washington, D.C., as he met with Evangelical American community leaders ahead of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Netanyahu in Washington for High-Stakes Talks with Trump – February 2, 2025

Israel Releases Gaza Manager Of Christian Aid Group World Vision – February 1, 2025

Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners after Hamas Frees Hostages – January 30, 2025

Trump Urges Arab Nations to Accept Palestinians from Gaza – January 30, 2025

“Antisemitism is Rampant, Diversity is Viewed as a Threat,” UN Human Rights Chief Says – January 29, 2025

No Israeli-Saudi Normalization Agreement Without Palestinian State, Riyadh Ambassador says – January 29, 2025

Israel Orders UN Palestinian Agency To Close In East Jerusalem After Massacre – January 28, 2025

Breaking U.S. News

‘Illegal Takeover’ of USAID Operations by Trump, Musk Draws Ire from Democrats
Foreign aid has become the newest target of the Department of Government Efficiency, with President Donald Trump reportedly planning to merge the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the State department.

Trump Declares National Emergency at Northern Border
President Donald Trump on Saturday declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Canada border, citing an influx of human and drug smuggling coming from Canada presenting a national security threat to Americans.

Nearly 80 Percent of Americans Don’t Want Men Playing in Women’s Sports
Surveying nearly an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, a poll taken by the New York Times and polling company Ipsos showed that the majority of Americans do not want transgender-identifying men in women’s sports.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Trump Issues Executive Order to Tackle Antisemitism and Expel Supporters of Hamas – January 30, 2025

Trump Signs Executive Order Promoting School Choice – January 30, 2025

Trump: ‘No Survivors In Midair Colission’; 67 Killed – January 30, 2025

Trump Orders CDC to Immediately Stop All Collaboration with World Health Organization – January 30, 2025

Trump Wants Iron Dome For USA (Worthy News Focus) – January 30, 2025

Midair Collision Near Washington DC Kills Several; President Trump Briefed (Update) – January 30, 2025

American Airlines Jet Collides with Helicopter Over Potomac – January 30, 2025

Breaking Christian News

Nigeria: Church Elder Shot Dead During Sunday Service
A respected elder of the Celestial Church of Christ, Eagle Parish, in Ogun state, Nigeria, was shot dead when three gunmen invaded the Sunday service on January 19, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

China: Preacher Sentenced to Two Years Imprisonment for Distributing Gospel Literature
A house-church preacher in Guandong, China, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for conducting “illegal business operations” by distributing his church’s Christian literature, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Egypt: Christian Refugee Released After 3 Years in Prison, “I Thank Everyone Who Prayed for Me”
A Christian refugee who was imprisoned in Egypt for belonging to a Facebook group about leaving Islam for Christ has been released after three years of incarceration, ADF International reports. Egypt ranks 40 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.