Weekly News Brief 3/20/24

Breaking World News

USCIRF Calls For US To Support Iraqi Victims Of ISIS On Anniversary Of Genocide Determination
Marking the eighth anniversary of the 2016 determination by the United States that ISIS carried out a genocide against northern Iraq’s Yazidis, Christians, and Shi’a Muslims two years earlier, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called on the US government to do more to support survivors of the 2014 jihadist campaign that involved mass murders, systematic abductions, rape and sexual slavery, forced labor, and forced religious conversion to Sunni Islam.

Hong Kong Passes Tough Security Law Limiting Liberties
Critics feared losing more civil liberties in Hong Kong on Wednesday after local lawmakers unanimously approved a new national security that grants the government more power to quash dissent.

U.S. Will Stay in NATO If European Nations Pay ‘Fair Share’, Trump Says
 Posted on: Tuesday, March 19, 2024
If re-elected, former President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the U.S. would stay in NATO as long as European countries pay their ‘fair share’ and ‘play fair.’

Latest World News Headlines

Russia’s Re-elected Putin Warns Of World War III – March 18, 2024

Yemen: Houthi Terror Group Has Obtained Hypersonic Missile, “Death to America, Death to Israel” – March 18, 2024

Russia’s Putin Claims Election Victory Amid Protests and Deadly Attacks (Worthy News Radio) – March 18, 2024

Hungary’s Orbán Under Pressure Over Death Navalny (Worthy News Radio) – March 17, 2024

Thousands Protest Government ‘Media Crackdown’ In Slovakia – March 17, 2024

Japan Court Calls Denying Same-Sex Marriage ‘Unconstitutional’ – March 15, 2024

Gunfire Erupts In Haiti As Gangs Frighten Nation – March 15, 2024

Putin Poised To Win Presidential Vote Despite Fighting Inside Russia – March 14, 2024

Biden Administration Renews Iran Sanctions Waiver Allowing $10 Billion For State Sponsor of Terrorism – March 14, 2024

Scores of Migrants Drown In Mediterranean Disaster – March 14, 2024

Breaking Israel News

International Court of Justice Will Hear Nicaragua’s Case Against Germany Over Israel Aid and UNRWA Defunding
As tens of thousands of Nicaraguans are fleeing their homes to escape President Daniel Ortega’s brutal dictatorship, the Nicaraguan government is bringing the German government before the International Court of Justice to demand it stop giving military aid to Israel and start funding the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) again.

Netanyahu Tells Biden To Prepare for Ground Operation in Rafah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed a Knesset committee that the IDF is set to launch a ground operation in Rafah, and he relayed this decision to US President Joe Biden during their phone conversation yesterday.

Syria Reports Israeli Strikes on Military Sites Near Damascus
Syria’s Defense Ministry confirmed that Israeli missile strikes allegedly hit military installations outside of Damascus. The ministry noted that while several military sites were hit, Syrian air defenses managed to intercept a number of the incoming missiles. According to regional intelligence and Syrian sources, these attacks represent an escalation in strikes targeting the fortifications of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which are located in the vicinity of Damascus.

Latest Israel News Headlines

300 Terrorists Arrested, 50 Killed As Raid on Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital Enters 2nd Day – March 19, 2024

Israel: Complex of 2,000 Year-Old Jewish Revolt Bolt Holes Discovered in Galilee – March 19, 2024

Trump Seeks Broader Israel-Mideast Peace – March 18, 2024

Israel Offers Six-Week Gaza Truce for 40 Hostages – March 18, 2024

Israel Raids Gaza’s Shifa Hospital Killing Hamas Senior Commander – March 18, 2024

Iran and Hezbollah Discuss Strategy in Beirut As War Looms In Lebanon – March 17, 2024

Israel Is Fighting ‘Multi-Front War’ and Facing Security Challenges During Ramadan, IDF Chief Says – March 16, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

Poll Finds Most Americans Believe Role Of Religion Is Declining In US
A new poll by the Pew Research Center shows that 80% of US adults now believe that the role of religion in public life is diminishing. The poll was conducted Feb. 13-25, 2024, among a nationally representative sample of 12,693 American adults.


Texas Immigration Law Blocked by Appeals Court Despite Supreme Court Allowing State to Arrest Illegal Immigrants
Just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court authorized its implementation, a federal appeals court overturned its decision, preventing Texas’ new anti-illegal immigration law from taking effect and once again halting its enforcement.

Presumptive Nominees Biden, Trump Sweep Tuesday Primaries
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the presumptive presidential nominees for their respective parties, won big again in Tuesday’s primaries.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

US Conservative Christians Denied Bank Access Under Biden Policies (Worthy News In-Depth) – March 20, 2024

Supreme Court Allows Texas To Enforce New Border Law – March 19, 2024

US: Republican and Democratic Lawmakers Agree To Suspend UNRWA Funding Until 2025 – March 19, 2024

Lawmakers, White House Announce Budget Deal To Keep Government Open – March 19, 2024

Layoffs Continue Nationwide As Economic Concerns Rise – March 19, 2024

Biden Border Policy Critics Lament ‘Migrant Crime Wave’ – March 19, 2024

Trump Can’t Secure $464M For New York Fraud Case, His Lawyers Say – March 18, 2024

Breaking Christian News

Christian Ministry Serves Thousands Of Ukrainian Refugees In Moldova, “Pray For Us”
An international Christian mission has been ministering to thousands of Ukrainian refugees who fled their homes for the former USSR country of Moldova after the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine began two years ago, CBN News reports. Headquartered in Tennessee, USA, Mission Eurasia has outreaches in the 13 countries of the former Soviet Union and Poland.

Uganda: Islamists Murder Christian Man For Leading Muslims To Faith In Christ
Radicalized Islamists murdered a Christian preacher in eastern Uganda earlier this month because he had been leading Muslims to faith in Christ, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Gaza: Palestinians Having Visions Of Jesus, Christians Remain In War Zone To Offer Gospel Hope
Taysir Saada, a former sniper for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), has revealed that Gaza Palestinians caught up in the Hamas war against Israel are having dreams and visions of Jesus and are rejoicing as they accept Him as their Savior, CBN News reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

India: Christian Couples Sentenced To Two Years Imprisonment For “Alluring” Hindu Relative To Become Christian – March 18, 2024

Cuba: Government Continues Crackdown On Christians, Religious Freedom – March 18, 2024

South Korean Christian Ministry Says North Korea Needs Prayer And Evangelism – March 18, 2024

US Missionaries Trapped in Violence-Torn Haiti – March 15, 2024

Wycliffe Associates Bringing Bible Translation Technology to Indigenous Translators Lacking Internet Access – March 15, 2024

Nicaragua: Female Prisoners Assaulted By Jail Staff For Praying Aloud – March 15, 2024

Pakistan: Christian Parents Worry Abducted 10-Year-Old Daughter May Be Sex-Trafficked – March 14, 2024

Weekly News Brief: 11/29/23

Directors of U.S. and Israeli Intelligence Agencies Meet in Qatar

On Tuesday, the Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, and Israel’s Mossad Chief, David Barnea, held discussions with Qatar’s senior officials in Qatar’s capital, Doha.

All 41 Construction Workers Freed In India

All 41 construction workers who became trapped in a tunnel in northern India after a landslide on 12 November have been rescued, officials say.

Hungary Condemned Over Sovereignty Law

The human rights commissioner of the Council of Europe (CoE) has condemned Hungary’s planned sovereignty law that could lead to the jailing of journalists, dissidents, and others “threatening national sovereignty” or “serving foreign interests.”

Latest World News Headlines

Germany: Antisemitic Incidents Increased by 320% Since Oct. 7 Hamas Attack on Israel – November 28, 2023

IAEA Fails to Adopt Resolution on Iran’s Nuclear Program Amid Fears of Escalating Middle East Conflict – November 27, 2023

Damascus Airport Experiences Operational Disruption Again Following Alleged Bombing by Israel Shortly After Resuming Services – November 27, 2023

Ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen at USS Mason rescuing ‘Israel-linked’ tanker – November 27, 2023

US Navy Stops Gunmen’s Attempt to Hijack Israel-Linked Tanker off Yemen – November 26, 2023

Third Tanker Linked to Israel Seized off Yemen – November 26, 2023

Ukraine Remembers Famine as Russian Drones Threaten Supplies (Worthy News Radio) – November 26, 2023

Chinese Hospitals Struggle with Surge in Child Pneumonia Cases, Alarming WHO – November 26, 2023

Kyiv Facing ‘Largest Russian Drone Attack’ In War  – November 25, 2023

NATO Members Ill-Prepared To Fight Russia – November 24, 2023

Breaking Israel News

EU and Arab Nations Agree Two-State Solution to Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is Required After War in Gaza Has Ended

The European Union and the heads of a number of Arab states agreed on Monday that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be resolved through a two-state solution, with EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell adding that the Palestinian Authority should rule the Gaza Strip once the Hamas terror group has been removed from power there, Reuters reports.

US Tells Israel to Avoid “Significant” Displacement of Palestinians in Southern Gaza Once Military Operations Resume

The US has informed Israel that if it resumes its ground offensive to dismantle Hamas in Gaza, it must operate with greater precision to avoid “significant further displacement” of Palestinian civilians in the southern part of the Strip, the Associated Press reports.

Israel Says Dozen Hostages Released

Israel said Tuesday that Hamas had released 12 more hostages, including 10 Israeli citizens and two Thai nationals.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Musk’s Starlink is Coming to Israel – November 28, 2023

US Sends Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Warns Israel to Let Aid Enter Even After Ceasefire – November 28, 2023

Hamas Violates Ceasefire; Israeli Jets Scrambled Over Gaza – November 28, 2023

11 Released Israeli Hostages On Way To Israel – November 27, 2023

Sunday’s Hostage Release Frees 17 Individuals, Including 14 Israelis and 3 Foreign Nationals – November 26, 2023

Hamas Using Hostage Exchange Deals to Employ “Psychological Warfare” in Separating Families – November 26, 2023

Tel Aviv Rally Calling for the Releases of All Hostages Draws Over 100,000 – November 26, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

House Overwhelming Passes Resolutions Recognizing Israel’s Right to Exist and Demands Hamas Release Hostages

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed two measures: one affirming Israel’s right to exist and the other demanding that Hamas, a designated terrorist organization by the U.S., release the remaining hostages from the deadly massacre in Israel on Nov. 7, known in Israel as the “Black Sabbath.”

Biden Sends Email to 813K Borrowers on Student Loan Forgiveness

Approximately 813,000 student loan borrowers received an email from President Joe Biden, informing them of their debt forgiveness due to his actions, the White House said on Tuesday.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Moody’s Dims Credit Outlook for U.S. Federal Government – November 29, 2023

Judge Rejects Nevada Ballot Initiative Seeking to Codify Abortion – November 29, 2023

Trump Pursues Proof of Election Fraud in Federal Criminal Case – November 28, 2023

Biden’s Failed Immigration Policy Projected to Cost Taxpayers $451 Billion Annually – November 28, 2023

Idaho Petitions Supreme Court to Block Lower Court’s Ruling Against Pro-Life Law – November 27, 2023

Over 2,500 NYPD Officers Abruptly Resign – November 27, 2023

US Government Secretly Collecting Trillion Phone Records – November 26, 2023

Breaking Christian News

Pakistan: Islamist Murders Christian Man After Claiming to Hate Jews and Christians

A young Christian man in Punjab, Pakistan, was murdered earlier this month by a Muslim neighbor whose historically violent behavior and claimed hatred of Christians and Jews worsened after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the Hamas Palestinian terror group, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. 

Nigeria: Kano State Islamic Police Threaten to Kill 5 Christian Girls Because “Israel is Killing Our Sisters in Gaza”

Five Christian girls in Nigeria’s Kano state were recently violently harassed by Islamic police who blocked them from going to church and who threatened they might kill them, saying: “Israel is killing our sisters in Gaza,” International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Major Watchdog Group Says Chinese Church Is Not In Decline, Despite Pew Report to the Contrary – November 28, 2023

Nigeria Church Leaders Killed; Grieving Christians Ask Prayers – November 28, 2023

UK: Christian Professor Fired from Bible College Over Social Media Post Against Homosexuality – November 28, 2023

Belarus Pentecostals Appeal Against Liquidation – November 27, 2023

Arizona: Street Evangelist Showing Signs of Recovery After Shooting Attack, “We’re Never Going to Stop Outreaching and Sharing the Gospel” – November 27, 2023

Christian Schoolboy Escapes From Muslim Kidnappers In Nigeria – November 27, 2023

India: Uttar Pradesh Pastor Arrested, Detained for Allegedly Converting Hindus to Christianity – November 23, 2023

News from this Week 4/5/23

Breaking World News

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

One Killed, Dozens Injured In Dutch Train Crash

A double-decker train carrying about 50 passengers derailed in the southern Netherlands early Tuesday, killing one person and injuring 30 others, in what officials called “a black day for the Dutch railway.”

Finland Joins NATO, Doubling Alliance Border With Russia

Finland became the 31st member of the Western NATO military alliance Tuesday in a historic move that Russia had tried to prevent.

NATO Condemns Detention US Journalist While Lawyers Appeal (Worthy News Radio)

Lawyers for a U.S. journalist arrested in Russia on espionage charges have appealed against the decision to hold him in pre-trial detention. The detention of Evan Gershkovich has raised Western concerns, including from the NATO military alliance.

Latest World News Headlines

Senior ISIS commander killed by American-led drone strike in Syria – April 4, 2023

Officials: US Providing Ukraine $2.6 Billion in Military Aid – April 4, 2023

Former President of Kosovo goes on trial at the International Court of Justice for war crimes – April 4, 2023

Saudi Arabia and Egypt move toward rehabilitating Syrian dictator Assad in “victory for Russia and Iran” – April 4, 2023

Saudi Arabia, Six Other OPEC+ Members Announce Surprise New Oil Production Cuts – April 4, 2023

US seeks to keep Yemen-bound ammunition seized from Iran – April 4, 2023

Japan Not Supporting Price Cap On Russian Oil – April 4, 2023

Breaking Israel News

Israel Has Stepped Up Attacks on Iranian, Hezbollah Targets in Syria

On April 2, 2023, Israel reportedly attacked several targets in Syria’s Homs province associated with the Syrian army and Iran-backed militias. Syrian state media reported that five military personnel were injured in the attack.

After airstrikes, Syria warns Israel not to drag region toward ‘total escalation’

Syria’s foreign ministry on Tuesday warned that Israel risked dragging the region toward “total escalation” after another overnight airstrike near Damascus attributed to the Jewish state.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Israel launches fresh strikes on Damascus area, Syrian state media reports – April 4, 2023

Jordan king says Muslims have ‘duty to deter Israeli escalation’ in Jerusalem – April 4, 2023

Mystery drone downed by IDF in Israeli airspace was sent by Iran – April 4, 2023

Tens of thousands protest against judicial overhaul: ‘Negotiations? We won’t move until the danger passes’ – April 2, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

Trump Pleads Not Guilty To Charges

The grim-faced former U.S. President Donald J. Trump pleaded “not guilty” Tuesday to 34 charges related to an investigation into a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

US Manufacturing Reaches New Low

U.S. manufacturing reached its lowest point since the start of the pandemic, according to a report released just as President Joe Biden embarked on a tour of U.S. factories to tout his promise to boost the industry.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Trump In New York To Face Arrest Tuesday – April 4, 2023

Florida Senate oks 6-week abortion ban – April 4, 2023

China land-buying push targets U.S. agriculture, farm acreage – April 2, 2023

Deadly tornadoes produce catastrophic damage across Midwest, South, Mid-Atlantic – April 2, 2023

Op-Ed: Biden Budget Proposal Could put U.S. National Debt at $43.6 Trillion by 2033 – March 30, 2023

Ex-President Trump “Indicted” For Hush Money Prompting Outrage – March 30, 2023

Fewer than 40% of Americans consider God to be important than money, poll finds – March 30, 2023

Breaking Christian News

Nigeria: Christians slaughtered in Benue state attacks

More than 60 Christians were murdered in Nigeria’s Benue state in the last month, as the years-long slaughter of Nigerian Christians by radicalized Fulani herdsmen and Islamic jihadists continues unabated and with impunity.

186 churches file suit against United Methodist Church for not allowing disaffiliation over LGBT issues

The United Methodist Church is being sued by 186 of its congregations in Georgia after it put a “pause” on allowing anymore churches to disaffiliate over an ongoing strenuous debate within the denomination on LGBT issues, the Christian Post (CP) reports.

Scotland: Church leaders say proposed conversion therapy ban could criminalize Christians who teach that homosexual behavior is sinful

A group of twenty Scottish church leaders have written to Scotland’s Minister for Equality expressing their alarm that a proposed government ban on “conversion practices” could result in the criminalization of Christians who teach anyone, including their own children, that the practice of homosexuality is sinful, Christian Today reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Thailand: Asylum-seeking Chinese congregation taken into police custody following expiry of visas – April 4, 2023

US must stand with India’s persecuted Christians, says former Ambassador- at-Large for International Religious Freedom – March 31, 2023

UK: Evangelical Alliance expects increased membership as congregations split from Church of England over LGBT stance – March 30, 2023

Uganda: Pastor murdered by Islamist relatives for refusing to denounce Christ, “We need prayers” – March 30, 2023

India: Christians face ongoing intense persecution, “Please pray for their protection, provision, and peace” – March 28, 2023

Iran: Historic Assemblies of God church building put up for sale by Islamic regime – March 28, 2023