Weekly News Brief 3/14/24

Breaking World News

Wilders Won’t Become Dutch Premier Despite Election Victory
The leader of the Dutch Anti-Islam Party for Freedom (PVV) said Wednesday he won’t become the next prime minister of the Netherlands despite his party’s election victory, but he didn’t rule out such a role in the future.

Putin Warns West of Nuclear War: ‘Weapons Exist In Order to Use Them’
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West that his country was technically ready for a nuclear war although he was not rushing to use nuclear weapons, however, his nuclear saber rattling was a warning to the West as NATO troops are being considered for deployment in Ukraine and stated, “Weapons exist in order to use them.”

Several Killed in Russian Bomb and Drone Strikes, Aide Dissident Attacked (Worthy News Radio)
Ukrainian officials say at least three people were killed in overnight Russian drone and bomb attacks in eastern Ukraine as fighting intensifies. Elsewhere, the top aide of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was attacked outside his home in Lithuania amid growing fears of Russian operations in Europe. The reported Russian attacks come a day after Moscow acknowledged that Ukraine-backed paramilitary groups had entered Russia.

Latest World News Headlines

Ukraine-Backed Troops Enter Russia As Fighting Escalates – March 12, 2024

China, Iran, and Russia Launch Major Naval Drill – March 12, 2024

Europe Confronts Rising Terror Threats with Over a Million Asylum Seekers Arriving – March 12, 2024

Iran Authorities Killed, Tortured, Raped Civilians Connected to Mahsa Amini Protests – March 11, 2024

Dutch anti-Islam Leader Wilders Meets Israel’s President – March 11, 2024

Ukraine Condemns Pope ‘White Flag’ Suggestion As Russian Strikes Kill Several – March 11, 2024

Far-Right Surges In Portugal Elections – March 11, 2024

Dutch King Defies Muslim Calls To Stay Away From Opening Holocaust Museum – March 11, 2024

US Embassy Evacuated By US Military in Haiti – March 10, 2024

US Role In Yemen Increasing After Attacks (Worthy News Focus) – March 10, 2024

Breaking Israel News

Israel Eliminates Hamas Military Leader in Lebanon
On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that an airstrike led to the death of a senior Hamas leader in Lebanon who was responsible for worldwide attacks against Jews.

Israel Edges Closer to Rafah Invasion, Defense Minister Hints
During a Wednesday visit to the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suggested that a military operation by the Israel Defense Forces targeting Hamas units in Rafah will happen “soon.”

Israel: Researchers Hope Cosmic Rays Can Help Uncover History Of Ancient Jerusalem
Israeli researchers have installed a muon detector in a cavern under Jerusalem’s Old City in the hope it will use subatomic particles created by cosmic rays to send images of previously inaccessible ancient passageways, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.

Latest Israel News Headlines

US Mulls Private Sea Operation For Gaza Ahead Of Military Port – March 12, 2024

Massive Rocket Barrage During Ramadan As Israel Approaches Full-Scale War with Hezbollah – March 12, 2024

Netanyahu Plans Invasion of Rafah Despite ‘Red Line’ Set by Biden – March 11, 2024

Clashes Between Police and Worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound on First Night of Ramadan – March 10, 2024

Five Killed In US Airdrop In Gaza As Israel Ponders Arming Civilians – March 8, 2024

US To Open Aid Port For Gaza – March 7, 2024

Israel Will Allow Unrestricted Muslim Access to Temple Mount During Ramadan, Netanyahu Says – March 6, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

Judge Dismisses Counts Against Trump In Georgia Election Interference Case
A state judge on Wednesday dismissed some of the charges against former President Donald Trump in the Georgia case that accuses the former president of trying to interfere with the 2020 election.

Trump, Biden Secure Party Nominations After Georgia, Mississippi Primary Wins
Former President Donald Trump picked up 59 delegates after winning Georgia Tuesday, and with another victory in Mississippi and an expected win in Washington state, he will exceed the necessary delegate count to become the presumptive Republican nominee.

White House Asked For Changes To Hur Report On Classified Documents
The White House asked Special Counsel Robert Hur to make changes to descriptions of President Joe Biden’s memory in Hur’s bombshell report on how the president handled classified documents.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

White House Bypasses Congress To Send $300 Million of ‘Emergency’ Military Aid to Ukraine – March 12, 2024

America Lost Over 140,000 Farms Between 2017-2022 – March 12, 2024

FBI Director: Smuggling Organizations Connected to ISIS Coming Through US Border – March 12, 2024

Biden Budget Packed With Tax Hikes, Increases National Debt – March 11, 2024

SCOTUS To Decide If Emergency Room Doctors Are Required To Perform Abortions – March 11, 2024

Court Hands Texas A Win In Lawsuit Over Federal Border Wall Construction – March 10, 2024

Fact Check: Biden’s Claim He Cut The Deficit Challenged As False – March 10, 2024

Breaking Christian News

Pakistan: Rights Advocates Demand Safeguards Against Blasphemy Law Abuses
Alarmed at the number of people charged and incarcerated for blasphemy in Pakistan, rights advocates are demanding legislative charges to protect against blatant Islamic extremist abuse of blasphemy laws to persecute not only those of minority faiths but Muslims as well, Christian Daily reports.

Africa: YWAM Missionary Deaths Highlight Inadequate Road Safety Across The Continent
he tragic deaths of 11 YWAM missionary leaders in a road traffic accident in Tanzania last month has highlighted the neglect of road safety measures across the African continent, Christian Daily reports. The 11 missionaries had been participating in the “Executive Masters in Leadership” course, based at YWAM Arusha, Tanzania when a truck suffered a brake failure and crashed into the bus they were traveling in on Feb. 24, killing them and severely injuring others.

Haiti: Churchgoers Increasingly Targeted For Abduction By Gangs, “We Must Bear Our Cross And Follow Christ”
 Posted on: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
As Haiti continues to struggle under the brutal grip of lawless gangs who have now succeeded in pressuring President Ariel Henry to resign, a Catholic archbishop is warning that churchgoers in the small Caribbean state are being abducted at an alarming rate, the Christian Post (CP) reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

India: Assam State Lawmakers Seek To Ban Christian Prayer For Healing – March 12, 2024

Slaughter of Christians Continue in Nigeria – March 12, 2024

Christian Women/Girls Increasingly Subject To Forced Marriage In Oppressive Countries, Report – March 12, 2024

Vietnam: Government Designates As “terrorists” Two Rights Groups Which Support Christian Montagnard Community – March 11, 2024

Gunmen Kidnap Hundreds Of Children In Nigeria – March 8, 2024

UK Police Will Pay Damages To Street Evangelist After Trying To Censor His speech – March 7, 2024

Liberty University Agrees To Pay Record $14 Million Fine For Violations Of Crime Reporting Legislation – March 7, 2024

Weekly News Brief: 9/28/23

African leaders tell UNGA: Africa must be treated as a global partner, not sidelinedAfrican leaders delivered an unequivocal message to the UN General Assembly last week that Africa is a global power that deserves to be treated by the West as an equal partner and not sidelined as a charity case, the Associated Press reports.Mexico: Increased femicide rate directly related to organized crime, experts say

Lethal violence against women in Mexico has steadily increased in recent years, and experts believe that the phenomenon is directly related to Mexican militarization and organized crime, Global Citizen reports. According to data released by Mexico’s National Public Security System, 43,000 women were killed in the country between 2006 and 2021.Ethiopia: Tigray conflict has left more than 10,000 survivors of sexual violence

The UN-backed international commission of human rights experts on Ethiopia reported this week that the recent conflict in the country’s Tigray region has left at least 10,000 survivors of rape and sexual violence, the Associated Press reports. The commission added that all sides in the war had committed atrocities, including mass killings, rape, starvation, and destruction of schools and medical facilities.

Latest World News Headlines

20 Killed In Nagorno-Karabakh Depot Blast; Thousands Of Armenian Christians Flee (Worthy News In-Depth) – September 26, 2023Iran and Turkey’s proxies may back tribes against US in Syria – September 25, 2023Hungary Not Rushing To Back Sweden’s NATO Membership – September 25, 2023Belarus Jails Journalist Vyacheslau Lazarau For ‘Extremism’ – September 25, 2023Several Killed As Clashes Rock Kosovo Monastery – September 25, 2023Netherlands Asks Pakistan To Halt Death Threats Against Anti-Islam Politician, Judge – September 25, 2023France Withdraws Ambassador, Troops From Niger After Coup; Impact On Christians Unclear – September 25, 2023

Breaking Israel News

Germany, U.S. slam Netanyahu’s Middle East map presented at UNGerman Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer on Monday, expressed the country’s reservations over a map exhibited by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his address to the UN General Assembly.‘2030 is when the merge happens,’ OpenAI president tells Netanyahu of coming man-machine merger

In a recent discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, OpenAI President Greg Brockman expressed his belief that 2029 will see the emergence of artificial general intelligence (AGI) — AI that reaches and then far surpasses human-level intelligence. He further stated that in 2030, humanity and artificial intelligence will merge.

Latest Israel News Headlines

IDF strikes Hamas post in Gaza after multiple provocations over Yom Kippur holiday – September 25, 2023WSJ: Israel cooperating with US on Saudi bid to enrich uranium – September 24, 2023Saudis: Peace must include Palestinian state, east Jerusalem as capital – September 24, 2023Israel unveils IDF’s new AI-powered ‘Barak’ super tank – September 24, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

Federal judge rules Texas ‘drag ban’ unconstitutionalA bill conservative Texas lawmakers said they passed to protect children from obscene drag performances is an unconstitutional restraint on speech, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

North Carolina passes bipartisan bill requiring age verification for access to pornography websitesWith overwhelming bipartisan support, the North Carolina Legislature passed a bill Thursday that requires age verification on websites that publish pornography and other material considered harmful to minors under the age of 18, the Associated Press (AP) reports.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Federal court strikes down California ban on gun magazines for second time – September 26, 2023Credit card losses are rising at the fastest pace since the Great Financial Crisis – September 26, 2023Congress faces looming government shutdown – September 25, 2023Biden makes border history with most immigrant encounters in August ever recorded – September 24, 2023Biden issues veto threat against DHS funding bill – September 24, 2023Newsom Vetoes Bill Allowing Judges To Consider Whether A Parent ‘Affirms’ Child’s Gender Identity During Custody Disputes – September 24, 2023Pro-life group warns federal 15-week abortion ban may pressure states to ‘water down’ restrictions – September 24, 2023

Breaking Christian News

Less than half of religious refugees can gain U.S. entry, Christian groups report

The U.S. is no longer a “safe haven” for people fleeing religious persecution, according to a new report noting massive declines in U.S. arrivals by Christian, Jewish and Muslim refugees, among others.‘50,000 Mosques Closed In Iran’ As Christianity Spreads

Recent comments by a senior Iranian cleric that around 50,000 of Iran’s 75,000 mosques are closed highlight the growth of Christianity in Iran and disillusion with “the regime’s use of Islam to justify its authoritarian rule,” a prominent human rights activist told Worthy News on Monday.India: More than 500 attacks Hindu nationalist attacks against Christians recorded in 2023

There have been 525 attacks by Hindu nationalists against Christians across India this year alone, Christian Today (CT) reports. Ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, India ranks 11TH on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Nigeria: Fulani herdsmen continue slaughter of Christians – September 25, 2023Mozambique: 11 Christians murdered by Islamic State-affiliated terrorists, “only prayer can sustain us” – September 25, 2023India: Pastor kept in jail for 23 days on anti-conversion charges with no witnesses – September 25, 2023Over 1,000 students attend Texas A&M Corpus Christi worship event; 124 baptized – September 22, 2023California Baptist church considering AI to protect itself against shooters – September 21, 2023Pakistan Christian Couple Longer In Jail Despite Doubts Over Blasphemy – September 21, 2023India: Christian orphanage denied renewed operating permit in Madhya Pradesh state – September 20, 2023

News from this Week 4/27/22

Ancient temple to Zeus unearthed in Sinai

Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered the ruins of an ancient temple to the Greek god Zeus in the Sinai Peninsula, the Associated Press reports. The discovery was announced by Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Ministry on Monday.

Russia Frees U.S. Ex-Marine In Prisoner Swap

U.S President Joe Biden says Russia has freed former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed from detention on what Moscow confirmed was a prisoner swap to secure the return of its pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko.

White House says Iran is ‘a few weeks or less’ from bomb breakout

The US said Tuesday that Iran’s nuclear breakout time was down to weeks, and blamed the previous administration, as negotiations between Tehran and world powers continued to stall.

Latest World News Headlines

US close to admitting failure of Iran nuclear talks, Israeli officials claim – April 26, 2022

40 Nations Support Ukraine As Moscow Warns Of Nuclear Conflict – April 26, 2022

Russia’s new missile, touted by Putin, can carry hypersonic weapons, officer says – April 25, 2022

French President Expected In Ukraine After Re-election (Analysis) – April 25, 2022

US Secretaries In Ukraine Amid Russian Attacks Marring Orthodox Easter – April 25, 2022

Re-elected French President Facing Challenge – April 24, 2022

French presidential election: Macron defeats Le Pen to secure second term – April 24, 2022

20 Million At Risk Of Starvation In Africa – April 22, 2022

Russian President Orders Blockade Ukraine Steel Plant In Mariupol – April 21, 2022

Breaking Israel News

Syria reports Israeli attack near Damascus for the 3rd time in under a month

Syrian state media reported an Israeli attack near the capital Damascus in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday morning, the third such report from Syria this month.

U.S., Israeli security officials meet in Washington, discuss Iran ‘concerns’

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met Monday with his Israeli peer, Eyal Hulata, “to discuss a range of regional and global security issues,” including Israel’s “concerns” about Iran, the White House said in a statement.

Latest Israel News Headlines

New survey shows that around half of all Israelis fear a second Holocaust – April 25, 2022

IDF shells targets in Lebanon after rocket fired into Israel – April 24, 2022

Renewed Clashes at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount – April 22, 2022

Palestinian adviser to Abbas: Jews not connected to land, ‘occupation’ to disappear – April 21, 2022

Islamic Jihad shows off ‘tunnel city’ as it readies for next campaign against Israel – April 21, 2022

Breaking U.S. News

Oklahoma becomes first state to ban nonbinary identification on birth certificates

Oklahoma residents will no longer be permitted to identify as nonbinary on their birth certificates.

Supreme Court considers Biden effort to end Trump ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy

The Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday over President Joe Biden’s bid to end former President Donald Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy, which makes asylum-seekers coming from the southern border reside in Mexico while awaiting immigration hearings.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Durham: GPS Fusion employees emailed reporters unverified dirt on Trump for negative news stories – April 26, 2022

Conservative SCOTUS majority appears to favor school football coach dismissed for public prayer – April 26, 2022

Ohio university will pay $400,000 damages to professor it punished for using wrong pronouns with transgender student – April 26, 2022

Montana AG fights to lift 9-year-old ‘preliminary’ injunction on abortion law – April 25, 2022

Judge temporarily blocks Biden from ending Trump-era immigration restriction – April 25, 2022

Don’t Say Marijuana: Washington State Bans Use of ‘Racist’ Word for Cannabis – April 25, 2022

Twitter Accepts Elon Musk’s $44 Billion Takeover – April 25, 2022

SCOTUS to hear case of Washington state high school football coach fired for praying – April 24, 2022

The Satanic Temple sues Pennsylvania school over after school club denial – April 24, 2022

Musk Secures $46.5 Billion Funding to Buy Twitter Raising Hopes Of Free Speech – April 22, 2022

Breaking Christian News

International Christian ministry center destroyed, Bibles burned, in Ukraine fighting

The Mission Eurasia Christian ministry had one of its training centers in Ukraine destroyed, and a stockpile of Bibles burned, during fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces last month, CBN News reports. In a social media post about the incident, Mission Eurasia confirmed that all of their members were safe, although their field headquarters in Irpin was destroyed.

Egypt Frees Nine Christians Detained At Rally

Egypt has released nine Christians detained after protesting against the Egyptian authorities’ refusal to permit their church to rebuild, Christians told Worthy News.

Latest Christian News Headlines

‘US Religious Freedom Report May Harm Christians’, Charity Warns – April 26, 2022

New poll: Less than half of lay Christians think missions are mandated for all believers – April 26, 2022

North Korean Christian radio station works to reach more people with the Gospel – April 25, 2022

Iran: Christian woman begins jail term for leading evangelical church – April 25, 2022

China: Authorities trace and harass baptismal party – April 25, 2022

Hungary Church Group Divers Aid To Ukraine’s Mourning Bucha – April 25, 2022

Myanmar Army Raiding Churches – April 24, 2022

Muslims Kill Two In Pakistan Pastor’s Home – April 24, 2022

Egypt Registers Hundreds Of Churches Amid Hostilities – April 22, 2022

Pastor: ‘Pakistan Evangelicals Expand In Lahore Despite Hardships’ – April 22, 2022