Weekly News Brief 5/31/23

Breaking World News

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

US to give Ukraine a further military aid package of about $300 million

The US is expected to announce this week that it will be sending Ukraine a new military aid package totaling up to $300 million and including additional munitions for drones, the Associated Press reports.

Brazilian’s President Seeks Regional Currency

Brazil’s president has proposed creating a regional trade currency for South America as part of broader efforts to ditch the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency.

Russia Threatens Using Nuclear Weapons After Moscow Attacks (Worthy News In-Depth)

Russia’s president accused Ukraine of terrorism after drones hit Moscow, the capital, and at least one of his allies suggested using nuclear weapons in response.

Latest World News Headlines

Chinese jet conducts ‘aggressive’ maneuver in front of U.S. surveillance plane – May 30, 2023

Biden threatens sanctions after Uganda passes one of world’s most extreme anti-gay laws – May 30, 2023

Dutch Abortion ‘To Save The Planet’ Sparks Christian Outcry – May 30, 2023

Russia’s Capital Moscow Hit By Drones – May 30, 2023

Dozens Of Babies Die In Sudan Orphanage – May 30, 2023

Kosovo Attacks Injure Dozens Of NATO Troops (Worthy News In-Depth) – May 30, 2023

US and Saudi Arabia issue joint call for extension of ceasefire in Sudan – May 30, 2023

Breaking Israel News

Israel: Iran ‘close to point of no return’

Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met with European counterparts in Slovakia on Tuesday and called for unity in countering the Iranian threat before it is too late.

IDF launches major drill focused on preparing for all out multi-front war

The Israel Defense Forces on Monday launched a large-scale two-week-long drill across the country, simulating a potential multi-front war.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Israeli airstrikes said to hit targets in Syrian capital – May 28, 2023

Near the Western Wall, Jewish radicals shout at Christian Evangelicals to ‘go home’ – May 28, 2023

Israel: Knesset passes national budget, judicial reform back on the agenda – May 25, 2023

Israeli scientists make breakthrough in Autism Spectrum Disorder research – May 25, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

Debt limit deal clears House panel, setting up floor debate

The House Rules Committee on Tuesday evening advanced a bipartisan bill to raise the debt limit and avert a national default, paving the way for a floor debate in the lower chamber on Wednesday.

Freedom Caucus threatens ouster as McCarthy rushes forward with debt-limit vote

Speaker Kevin McCarthy is rushing forward a vote on a bipartisan agreement to hike the nation’s debt limit until after the 2024 election, even as a brewing revolt from hard-right members of the House Freedom Caucus casts doubt on his future as leader.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Dept of Homeland Security classifies US as “heightened threat environment:” faith-based institutions and minorities among vulnerable groups – May 30, 2023

Republicans speak out against US debt-ceiling deal, in sign of rocky road ahead – May 29, 2023

Biden and McCarthy reach a final deal to avoid US default and now must sell it to Congress – May 28, 2023

US Could Run Out Of Cash By June 5 – May 27, 2023

Militia Leader Gets 18 Years Over Capitol Attack – May 26, 2023

McCarthy threatened with GOP rebellion over rumored debt-limit deal with Biden – May 25, 2023

Musk’s Neuralink cleared for human test of brain implants – May 25, 2023

Breaking Christian News

Nigeria: 50 members of Plateau Baptist Convention murdered by jihadists

Fifty members of the Baptist Conference in Nigeria’s Plateau state have been killed in a recent spate of attacks by Islamic jihadists in Mangu and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Nigeria Christians Fear New Muslim President And Muslim VP (Worthy News-Focus)

Nigerian Christians expressed concern Monday after two Muslims were sworn in to lead volatile Nigeria as president and vice president.

Indonesia: Muslim extremists disrupt two church services; “If a church is seen to spreading the gospel, they soon run into opposition”

Christians on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island were recently prevented from worshiping when mobs of Muslim extremists disrupted two separate services in Binjai, North Sumatra Province, and in Riau, Pekanbaru Province in southern Sumatra, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. On May 19, a mob of Muslims interrupted a worship service at a café in Binjai, 13 miles from Medan, MSN reports. The mob was led by Uztad Alfan Daulay, who halted the midday service at the café where the Mawar Sharon congregation met in Jalan Sultan Hasanuddin, Setia village. On the same day, … Read more

Latest Christian News Headlines

North Korea: Two-year old boy sentenced to life in prison after parents found with Bible – May 30, 2023

Burkina Faso: 15 more civilians slaughtered as jihadist insurrection continues – May 30, 2023

Gunmen Attack Sudan Churches As Conflict Escalates – May 25, 2023

Australian Missionary Released After 7 Years In Captivity – May 25, 2023

Pakistan:Two Christian youths charged and detained for alleged blasphemy – May 25, 2023

Most pastors are “extremely stressed,” survey finds – May 24, 2023

India: Nearly 400 churches destroyed, 64 Christians killed in Manipur violence – May 24, 2023

Top News from this Week- 1/11/22

Breaking World News

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

Sweden Says it Can’t Meet All of Turkey’s Demands; NATO Entry Now Up to Ankara

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has called on Turkey to lift its block against Sweden’s accession to the transatlantic alliance, after Stockholm acknowledged it cannot meet Ankara’s demands.

U.S. Navy seizes over 2,100 Iranian assault rifles in Gulf of Oman bound for Yemen

The U.S. Navy said Tuesday that it seized over 2,100 assault rifles from a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Oman that it believes came from Iran and were meant for the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Latest World News Headlines

Peru: At least 17 dead amid protests calling for President Boularte to resign – January 11, 2023

Iran sentences 3 more protestors to death for “waging war against God” – January 11, 2023

Brazil’s Ex-President Condemns Brasilia Attack – January 11, 2023

Australia hit by ‘one-in-100-year’ floods as hundreds airlifted to safety – January 9, 2023

U.S. says return to 2015 Iran nuclear deal not at the top of the agenda – January 9, 2023

US approves over $3 billion in new military aid package for Ukraine – January 9, 2023

Brazil Police Regaining Control Over Protests – January 9, 2023

Breaking Israel News

Netanyahu: In a democracy there will be no call to civil riots

In a democratic country, the leaders of the opposition are not arrested, just as the government ministers are not called Nazis, the Jewish government isn’t called the Third Reich and the citizens are not called to start a civil rebellion,” PM Benjamin Netanyahu told President Herzog in a call on Tuesday, Maariv reported.

Israeli officials meet Abraham Accords counterparts in Abu Dhabi ahead of Negev Forum summit

Senior Israeli officials and their counterparts from Abraham Accords countries attended a two-day meeting in Abu Dhabi this week to prepare for the upcoming Negev Forum summit in Morocco later this year, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. High-level delegations from Egypt and America, including US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, also participated in the meeting.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Israel Rebukes U.N., Palestinian Authority for Emergency Session on Temple Mount – January 9, 2023

Israel Removing Palestinian Flags – January 9, 2023

US, Israeli Air Forces Practice Joint Flights, Target Strikes in Latest Exercise – January 8, 2023

Israeli Jews Support Christians after Church-Run Cemetery Desecrated – January 8, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

Pentagon ditches COVID vaccine mandate for troops

The Pentagon is formally dropping a controversial COVID-19 vaccine mandate for troops, according to a memo from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

House Oversight Republicans Reveal Six Things ‘We Will Investigate’

Accompanied by the ominous sound of a bell tolling, a video by House Oversight Republicans lists six scandals the new House Republican majority will investigate in order to “get answers the American people deserve.”

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Misplaced Classified Documents In President Biden’s Former Office On Iran, Ukraine, UK – January 11, 2023

Atheists refute claims abortion bans violate religious freedom – January 9, 2023

U.S. House to vote on rules that will constrain McCarthy’s power – January 9, 2023

House to Vote on Bill Aimed at Slashing $72 Billion From IRS – January 9, 2023

Pro-Life Pregnancy Center Begins Own Investigation to Find Terrorists Who Firebombed Facility Last Summer – January 9, 2023

House Speaker fight foreshadows larger debt ceiling battle on the horizon for GOP – January 8, 2023

Idaho Supreme Court upholds state’s near-total abortion ban – January 8, 2023

Breaking Christian News

Iran: Pastor re-arrested and imprisoned, no reason given

A pastor in Iran who is serving a six-year prison sentence on account of his religious activity was suddenly re-arrested on December 26 while on officially approved leave from his jail, Article 18 reports.

Uganda: Pastor in critical condition after poisoning by Muslim extremists

A pastor in western Uganda is still fighting for his life in hospital, weeks after he and a couple he had recently led to Christ were poisoned by local Islamic extremists, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Violent attacks by radicalized Islamists against Christians in Uganda are being increasingly reported, although Muslims are a minority group in the country, and Christianity is legal.

Post-pandemic attendance at worship services has significantly declined, report shows

A new report shows that, while religious identity among US adults has remained “mostly stable” since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Americans who regularly attend worship services has declined significantly, the Washington Times reports. The report was published by the American Enterprise Institute on Thursday.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Iran Detains Christian Converts, Prayers Urged – January 5, 2023

NY Christian ministry shelters over 150 people during historic blizzard – January 4, 2023

Pakistan Christians Help Family Of Raped, Killed Widow – January 3, 2023

Dozens Of Christians Kidnapped In Nigeria After Mass Killings – January 2, 2023

Uganda: Evangelist almost completely blind after acid attack by Islamic extremists – January 2, 2023

Pakistan Christian Girl Awaits Justice After Abuse – January 2, 2023

Afghanistan Christians Fear Imminent Death – January 1, 2023

News from this Week 1/4/23

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

China, Russia to Boost Ties ‘At All Levels’ in 2023 Despite U.S. Pressure

Determined to thwart the ongoing efforts of the United States to simultaneously counter both of its top rivals, China and Russia have made a joint resolution to increase their cooperation on a variety of fronts in the New Year.

Russia to modernize nuclear forces in 2023, add more multi-warhead nukes

Russia is bolstering its strategic nuclear forces in 2023 with further deployment of multi-warhead nuclear missiles and further modernization of its long-range strategic bomber division, the Russian Defense Ministry announced this week.

Putin’s Military Criticized After Deadliest Ukraine Attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin faced embarrassment Tuesday after one of Ukraine’s deadliest attacks on Russian troops was reportedly caused by the unauthorized use of mobile phones.

Latest World News Headlines

UK set to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terror organization – January 3, 2023

Zelensky signs controversial law to increase governmental control of Ukrainian media – January 3, 2023

One-third of world economy expected to be in recession in 2023, says IMF chief – January 2, 2023

Ukraine says it shot down 39 Iran-made kamikaze drones during wave of Russian air strikes, “one terrorist has found another” – January 2, 2023

Ukraine Facing New Year “Terror” – January 2, 2023

Croatia Welcomes 2023 With Euro And Schengen – January 2, 2023

Brazil’s Controversial Lula Sworn In President – January 1, 2023

Breaking Israel News

Ben Gvir faces dilemma as activists ask to hold Passover sacrifice on Temple Mount

A fringe religious group on Monday night asked newly installed National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for permission to perform the Passover ritual sacrifice on the Temple Mount this coming spring.

Hezbollah chief: Middle East could ‘explode’ after Ben-Gvir’s Temple Mount visit

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah warned on Tuesday of consequences for Israeli Cabinet member Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.

Latest Israel News Headlines

UN Security Council slated to meet on widely decried Temple Mount visit by Ben Gvir – January 3, 2023

UN General Assembly condemned Israel more than all other countries combined last year – January 3, 2023

Blinken tells Israel’s new FM: US will oppose steps that undermine 2-state solution – January 2, 2023

Syria says IAF strikes briefly put Damascus airport out of service, kill 2 soldiers – January 2, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

Christian affiliation dominates roster of 118th Congress; majority is Protestant

A higher percentage of members of the 118th Congress, 88%, identify as Christian than the share of Christians in the U.S. population, which stands at 63%, a Pew Research Center analysis revealed Tuesday.

Bomb Cyclone to Hit California Days After Deadly Floods

California is set to get battered by another intense rainstorm, just days after a previous storm caused severe flooding throughout the Golden State.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

US House Adjourns After Not Electing Speaker – January 3, 2023

S&P 500 companies suffer worst losses since 2008 global financial meltdown – January 3, 2023

Trump takes fire from right after blaming abortion issue for GOP midterm defeats – January 2, 2023

Appeals Court Upholds Florida School Board’s Bathroom Policy – January 2, 2023

Ohio School Board Ignores Parents, Clergy with Trans Bathroom Policy Even as US Court Issues Big Trans Ruling – January 2, 2023

U.S. sees major housing price correction, nearly the largest since World War II – January 2, 2023

Ex-President Trump Under Pressure Over Tax Returns – January 1, 2023

Breaking Christian News

Pakistan Christians Help Family Of Raped, Killed Widow

Christians in Pakistan said Tuesday they will support five orphans left behind after their widowed mother was gang raped and killed by five suspected Muslim men, now in custody.

Dozens Of Christians Kidnapped In Nigeria After Mass Killings

Christians in northern Nigeria were searching Tuesday for scores of believers reportedly abducted in a Christmas Day attack by Islamic fighters that killed at least one person.

Uganda: Evangelist almost completely blind after acid attack by Islamic extremists

Islamic extremists enraged at the preaching of the Gospel sprayed acid in the face of evangelist Pastor Frank Mutabaazi in Kampala, Uganda last month, causing severe burns and almost completely blinding him, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. While Christianity is legal in Uganda, Christians have come under increasing violent attacks from extremists in the minority Muslim population.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Pakistan Christian Girl Awaits Justice After Abuse – January 2, 2023

Afghanistan Christians Fear Imminent Death – January 1, 2023

Nigeria Islamists Burn Homes After Killing Christians – December 30, 2022

Christian Families Expelled From India Town – December 30, 2022

‘Nigerian Woman Still In Jail For Condemning Christian’s Death’ – December 30, 2022

China Frees Church Elder, But Online Gathering Interrupted – December 29, 2022