Weekly News Brief 10/21/25

Featured Stories

Israel Renames Operation Iron Swords to “War of Revival” as Gaza Fighting Resumes

Israel’s Cabinet on Sunday officially approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to rename Operation Iron Swords as the War of Revival, even as clashes with Hamas resumed in southern Gaza following a week-long ceasefire.

Trump Declares “Dawn of Peace” in Historic Knesset Speech as Hostages Return Home on Hoshanah Rabbah – Oct.13.2025

Trump Warns Iran Against Renewing Nuclear Program, Says U.S. ‘Will Take Care of It’ If Necessary – Oct.6.2025

Breaking World News

Crown Jewels Worth $102 Million Stolen In France’s Dramatic Louvre Heist

French authorities said Tuesday that crown jewels stolen in a daring daylight heist at the Louvre Museum over the weekend are worth an estimated 88 million euros ($102 million) — excluding their immense historical value to France.

Khamenei Tells Trump to ‘Keep Dreaming’ Over Claims U.S. Destroyed Iran’s Nuclear Program

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that American airstrikes had wiped out Iran’s nuclear industry, telling the president to “keep dreaming.”

Armenian Clergy Arrests Deepen Church-State Rift As Christians Face Regional Pressure

Concerns mounted Monday over the fate of a bishop and 12 clergymen of the Armenian Apostolic Church who were detained amid a deepening standoff between church leaders and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government — a dispute unfolding as Christians in the region face growing pressure.

Russia Rejects Europe’s Frontlines Proposal For Ukraine As Trump-Putin Summit In Doubt

US, Australia Sign $8.5 Billion Rare Earth Deal To Counter China

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Says He Would Join Trump-Putin Summit If Invited

EU Agrees To Phase Out Russian Gas and Oil By 2028

EU Criticizes Hungary For Hosting Putin-Trump Summit

Austria Clears Way For More EU Sanctions Against Russia

U.S. Strike Kills Three Alleged Narco-Terrorists Linked to Colombian Rebel Group

Trump Backs Down On Tomahawk Missiles For Kyiv In Talks With Zelenskyy

Vietnamese Christians Impacted As Typhoon Bualoi Kills Dozens Across Vietnam And Southeast Asia

Breaking Israel News

Vance Confident Gaza Ceasefire Will Hold, Warns Hamas of ‘Obliteration’ if Deal Collapses

U.S. Vice President JD Vance voiced optimism Tuesday that the fragile Gaza ceasefire would endure, even as he warned Hamas of total destruction should it fail to disarm under President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan.

Vance Optimistic With Gaza Peace Plan; Reiterates No U.S. Troops To Be On The Ground

No U.S. troops will be on the ground in Gaza, Vice President JD Vance reassured Americans during a visit to Israel on Tuesday.

Netanyahu Vows to Continue War on Hamas, Warns of ‘New Threats’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened the Knesset’s winter session Monday with a defiant speech, pledging to continue Israel’s war against Hamas while defending the temporary ceasefire tied to ongoing hostage negotiations.

Trump Warns Hamas Over Ceasefire Violations: “They’ll Be Eradicated If We Have To”

Hamas Refuses to Commit to Disarmament, Floats 3–5 Year Truce as Mass Executions Shock Gazans

Israel Marks Two Years Since October 7 Massacre as Netanyahu Vows ‘Struggle Isn’t Over’

Houthis Announce Death of Senior Military Chief in Israeli Airstrike

Israel Presses Hamas to Return Remaining Hostage Remains as Trump Says ‘Nobody Is Getting Left Behind’

Netanyahu Warns Hamas to Disarm or Face “All Hell Breaking Loose” as Trump Insists on Compliance with Gaza Peace Plan

Israel Freezes Rafah Crossing Reopening, Accuses Hamas of Violating Ceasefire Deal by Withholding Hostage Bodies

All 20 Living Hostages Released by Hamas Returned to Israel; Families Reunited Amid Dispute Over Deceased Hostages

Breaking U.S. News

DHS Arrests 480,000 Illegal Immigrants in Nine Months; 70% Have Criminal Records

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has arrested more than 480,000 illegal immigrants in the past nine months — with 70% of them convicted of crimes or facing criminal charges — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday.

Senate Democrats Block Bill To End Government Shutdown For 11th Time

For the 11th time, U.S. Senate Democrats blocked legislation Monday evening to reopen and fund the federal government, indicating that Republicans’ strategy of waiting out the opposition isn’t working.

Ongoing federal funding lapse now longest full government shutdown in history

The federal government has broken an unfortunate record: its 20th day of closure marks the longest full government shutdown ever.

Supreme Court To Consider Drug User Gun Possession Case

US Army, Contractors Constructing Miles Of Border Wall Barriers In Arizona

D.C. Leads Thousands Of ‘No Kings’ Protests Nationwide

No progress on funding as Trump cuts programs amid shutdown

U.S. Government Shutdown Drags On as Senate Fails Again to End Debate Over Funding Bill

Oklahoma Drops Controversial Plan to Distribute Bibles in Public Classrooms

Trump, Patel Tout ‘Historic’ Crime Crackdown

President Trump Awards Late Charlie Kirk Medal Of Freedom At Emotional Ceremony

Mass Shooting in South Carolina Leaves 4 Dead, Dozens Wounded

Breaking Christian News

Texas Churches Vandalized With Anti-Trump Graffiti During “No Kings” Protests

Two San Antonio pastors are speaking out after their churches were vandalized over the weekend amid nationwide “No Kings” protests targeting the Trump administration.

Two North Carolina Churches Targeted in Suspected Arson Attacks

Authorities are investigating two suspected arson attacks on churches in a small North Carolina town after fires were deliberately set late Friday night.

International Day of Prayer For Persecuted Church Also Online

Turkey Expels Hundreds of Christians Under “National Security” Label, Rights Groups Warn

Church and Christians Evicted in Pakistan Persecution

Beijing Zion Church Pastor Detained as China Launches Sweeping Crackdown on House Churches

Christian Father Murdered In Pakistan

News from this Week 2/22/23

Breaking World News

The following news is taken in whole or part from Worthy News Ministries.

US officials: Russia carried out failed “Satan II” nuclear missile test ahead of Biden visit to Ukraine

US officials have stated Russia carried out a failed test of its intercontinental “Satan II” ballistic missiles ahead of President Joe Biden’s surprise visit to Ukraine this week, the London Standard reports.

Russia Will Never Be Victorious In Ukraine,’ Biden Says

U.S. President Joe Biden has told a crowd in Poland that “Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, never.”

Activists Condemn Jailing Belarus Journalist

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has decried Belarusian authorities for sentencing journalist Yury Hladchuk to 2.5 years in prison.

Latest World News Headlines

Genocide Watch warns of possible new war between Armenia and Azerbaijan this year – February 21, 2023

Russia Suspends Key Nuclear Treaty; NATO Concerned (Worthy News Radio) – February 21, 2023

President Biden Visiting War-Torn Ukraine Pledged More Military Aid – February 20, 2023

Again Powerful Earthquake In Turkish-Syrian Border Area – February 20, 2023

Kosovo Has 15th Independence Anniversary Amid Tensions – February 20, 2023

Iran: Protests erupt for first time in weeks – February 20, 2023

China Considers Sending Weapons to Russia Further Escalating Tensions – February 20, 2023

Breaking Israel News

4.5-magnitude tremor felt in Israel amid uptick in seismic activity

The Israel Geological Institute said a 4.5-magnitude tremor was recorded in the country on Wednesday morning, for the second time this week.

Netanyahu said to huddle repeatedly with military brass over possible attack on Iran

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly held a series of secret high-level meetings with top military officials aimed at upping preparations for a possible confrontation with Iran.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Israel: Tens of thousands protest government bill to restrict Supreme Court power – February 21, 2023

Israel passes several judicial reforms on first reading – February 21, 2023

Senior Boeing official in Israel to push sale of advanced F-15 jets for Iran strike – February 21, 2023

Israel hits back at UN Security Council for denouncing West Bank settlement activity – February 20, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

Supreme Court Hears Arguments Concerning Tech Giants’ Liability for Social Media Content

The Internet could soon face a significant transformation, courtesy of the Supreme Court.

Moderna enters R&D collaboration for mRNA gene-editing therapies

Moderna Inc will collaborate with privately-owned Life Edit Therapeutics Inc under an agreement to discover and develop mRNA gene-editing therapies, the companies said on Wednesday.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Supreme Court rejects ACLU challenge to state laws banning anti-Israel boycotts – February 21, 2023

Democratic governors form alliance on abortion rights – February 21, 2023

IRS leaked thousands of Americans’ tax filings; Congress demands to know if it was political – February 21, 2023

Coast-to-coast winter storm to blast millions with threats of blizzard – February 20, 2023

James O’Keefe ousted from Project Veritas after power struggle with board – February 20, 2023

Brain implant startup backed by Bezos and Gates is testing mind-controlled computing on humans – February 20, 2023

U.S. Police Detain Man After Mississippi Mass Shooting – February 19, 2023

Breaking Christian News

Nicaragua Removes Citizenship Church Leaders And Many Others

Nicaragua has stripped more than 90 people of their Nicaraguan citizenship, including the bishop of Managua and a Catholic priest, as part of a crackdown on opponents of the country’s autocratic President Daniel Ortega.

Pakistan Christian Family Faces Deportation Despite Death Threats (Worthy News In-Depth)

A Christian family who fled Pakistan after angry Muslim crowds torched their home and one of them was nearly beaten to death, face forced deportation from Thailand, Worthy News established.

China: Government persecution of Christians worsened last year, report says

The US-based ChinaAid persecution watchdog organization attests in a new report that China’s ruling Communist Party intensified its notorious harassment and mistreatment of Christians in the country last year, the Christian Post reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

10 Anglican Archbishops say Church of England is “disqualified” as “Mother Church” over blessings for same-sex marriages – February 21, 2023

Persecuted Christians in South Asia Bravely Translating the Bible with Help from Wycliffe Associates – February 21, 2023

Nigeria: Christian leaders mark 5th year in captivity of schoolgirl Leah Sharibu abducted by Boko Haram – February 21, 2023

Mozambique: Imprisoned missionaries denied bail – February 21, 2023

20,000 Join Asbury Revival in Weekend Explosion, but Outpouring Will Now Be Moved Off Campus – February 20, 2023

Six Egyptian Coptic Christians released by kidnappers in Libya – February 20, 2023

Asbury University revival moving to new sites to accommodate people arriving from around the world – February 20, 2023