Weekly News Brief 1/8/25

Breaking World News

France Detains Founder Of ‘Rape Site’
The founder of a website used by Dominique Pelicot to recruit strangers to rape his wife has been arrested in France after scores of men were jailed over one of the nation’s worst abuse cases.

Investors Alarmed Over China’s Economy (Worthy News Analyse)
Investors are reportedly increasingly concerned that China risks sliding into an economic malaise that could last decades.

Last Days Of Syria’s Assad Marked By ‘Chaos and Betrayal’
The final days of Syria’s autocratic President Bashar al-Assad “unfolded in complete chaos,” with him being used as “a puppet” by various nations, a senior aid revealed Wednesday.

Latest World News Headlines

Iran Steps Up Drills Amid Nuclear Bomb Threat (Worthy News Focus) – January 8, 2025

French Far-Right Politician Jean-Marie Le Pen Dies At 96 (Worthy News In-Depth) – January 7, 2025

Indonesia Joins BRICS Amid Tensions With Trump – January 7, 2025

At Least Scores Killed In Tibet Quake – January 7, 2025

France: Iran’s Nuclear Program Reaching ‘Point Of No Return’ – January 6, 2025

Killed Indian Journalist Found In Septic Tank – January 6, 2025

Canada’s Trudeau Announces Resignation – January 6, 2025

North Korea Launches Missile That Flies Over 1,000 Kilometers – January 6, 2025

Austria Bracing For Anti-Migrant Chancellor – January 5, 2025

South Korea Rolling Out New Digital IDs – January 5, 2025

Breaking Israel News

Israel Will Insure Hezbollah Will Not Rebuild in Lebanon
Israel is committed to preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding in Lebanon and has stated that the Israel Defense Forces will remain in place until Hezbollah is fully dismantled, according to Brig.-Gen. Amir Avivi, founder and chairman of HaBithonistim.

Outgoing Biden Administration Approves $8 Billion Arms Deal for Israel
The US State Department has notified Congress “informally” of an $8 billion proposed arms deal with the Jewish state, Axios reported exclusively on Friday, January 3.

Hamas Shows Video Of Israeli Hostage
Family members faced more agony on Sunday after fighters of Hamas released a video of an Israeli hostage held in Gaza since its October 2023 attack.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Israel Reportedly Strikes Defense Facilities Near Aleppo, Syria (Video) – January 2, 2025

New Government Report Shows Tens of Thousands Emigrated from Israel in 2024 – January 2, 2025

From Jan. 1, All Visitors to Israel Must Apply for Online Digital Authorization to Enter – January 1, 2025

Rare 2,000-Year-Old Coins Found in Jordan Valley During Hannukah – January 1, 2025

Netanyahu Leaves Hospital Early To Vote For ‘War Bill’ – December 31, 2024

1,700 Year-Old Oil Lamp Engraved with Menorah Uncovered in Jerusalem – December 31, 2024

Israel Launches Operation in Syria – December 30, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

‘Apocalyptic’ Wildfires Raging Through California; 400,000 Without Power
Massive wildfires raged through neighborhoods of Los Angeles, America’s second-largest city, and surrounding areas in the U.S. state of California late Wednesday, where tens of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes.

Republicans Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Impose Term Limits
Republicans in Congress led by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to impose term limits for members of Congress.

‘We Want the Law Enforced:’ U.S. House Passes Bill to Detain Criminal Migrants
The U.S. Senate is set to vote on the Laken Riley Act, a bill that empowers law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants accused of crimes, after the House passed it 264-159 on Tuesday.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Trump Not Ruling Out Military Action Over Panama Canal and Greenland – January 7, 2025

Meta To Fire Factcheckers And Reduce Censorship (Worthy News Focus) – January 7, 2025

Biden-Trump Standoff Over Offshore Drilling – January 7, 2025

Trump won: Presidential Election Results Certified – January 6, 2025

Republicans Tell Johnson ‘Zero Room for Error’ after House Speaker Re-Election – January 3, 2025

Deadly Blasts Rocking New Orleans And Trump Hotel Involved Same Rental Firm (Worthy News Focus) – January 3, 2025

Washington, D.C. Police to Increase Police Presence After New Orleans Attack – January 2, 2025

Breaking Christian News

Indonesia Muslims Rally Against Church Construction (Worthy News Investigation)
Muslims have threatened massive protests against the construction of a Catholic church in Indonesia’s West Java Province in the latest standoff over Christian worship in the world’s largest Muslim country.

Shooting Kills Christian Mother In Pakistan; Daughter Injured
A Christian mother was killed and her teenage daughter critically injured after being shot in Pakistan’s city of Gujranwala by suspected Muslims who condemned their faith in Christ, well-informed sources told Worthy News.

Christians Torched To Death In Uganda For Abandoning Islam
Christians in eastern Uganda are facing a period of grief after a former Muslim couple and their adult son were reportedly burned to death for abandoning Islam and turning to faith in Christ.

Latest Christian News Headlines

International Christian Concern Publishes 2025 Global Persecution Index, “Imprisonment, Torture, Assassination” – January 6, 2025

Massachusetts Congregation Opens Church as Warming Center for Homeless – January 6, 2025

Islamic Fighters Attack Sudan Church, Injuring Several – January 4, 2025

Christian Farmer Murdered in Pakistan (Worthy News Exclusive) – January 4, 2025

Turkey Detains Suspects Over Church Shooting (Worthy News Investigation) – January 3, 2025

Pastors Shot In Vietnam Amid Crackdown – January 2, 2025

India: Hindu Nationalists Attack Christians Across India During Christmas Season – January 2, 2025

News from this Week 10/20/22

Breaking World News

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

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss resigns after less than 2 months in office

Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned Thursday after less than two months in office amid pressure following a reversal of economic policies that led to economic instability.

Britain Says Russian Warplane Fired Missile Close To U.K. Spy Aircraft Over Black Sea

A Russian fighter jet last month released a missile near an unarmed British spy plane in international airspace over the Black Sea, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told Parliament on October 20.

Central Bank Digital Currencies Spark Outrage; Dutch Queen Questioned

Dutch Queen Maxima has come under pressure over embracing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), which could enable governments to control people’s spending.

Latest World News Headlines

Russia’s Putin declares martial law in 4 annexed Ukrainian regions – October 19, 2022

Hundreds Die In Nigeria’s Worst Flooding In Decade – October 19, 2022

Russian Missiles Destroy Ukraine’s Infrastructure After Crash – October 18, 2022

US fighter jets intercept Russian bombers near Alaska – October 18, 2022

Saudi prince sends threat to the West after Biden warns of consequences for kingdom – October 17, 2022

NATO kicks off nuclear drills amid tensions with Russia over Ukraine war – October 17, 2022

Netherlands In Turmoil Over Cruise Ships For Migrants (Worthy News In-Depth) – October 17, 2022

Breaking Israel News

Israeli military launches week-long drill across northern Israel

The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday it had begun a week-long military drill across northern Israel, as tensions remained high with the Lebanese Hezbollah terror group.

Hamas in first Syria visit in decade as relations thaw

A Hamas delegation arrived in Damascus Wednesday for talks with President Bashar Al-Assad in the first such visit since the Palestinian Islamist group severed ties with Syria a decade ago.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Israel eyes blockchain tech to issue government bonds – October 19, 2022

Israel’s PM Against Jewish Prayer At Temple Mount, Arabs Welcome – October 19, 2022

Gantz, Netanyahu both reiterate Israel’s unwillingness to sell weapons to Ukraine – October 18, 2022

Russian ex-president: If Israel sends weapons to Ukraine it will destroy Moscow ties – October 17, 2022

Breaking U.S. News

Biden announces release of 15 million barrels of emergency reserve oil

President Joe Biden has announced he will release 15 million barrels of oil from America’s emergency Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a move analysts say is intended to show voters in next month’s midterm elections that he is concerned about high gas prices, USA Today reports.

Texas has seized over 336 million ‘lethal doses’ of fentanyl during Operation Lone Star, DPS says

A border security mission launched by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has resulted in 336 million “lethal doses” of fentanyl being seized since it began earlier this year, enough to kill the entire population of the United States, he said.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

DOJ prosecutors believe they have enough evidence to charge Trump after Mar-a-Lago raid: Report – October 19, 2022

California: 2020 wildfires wiped out all state reductions in greenhouse gas emissions since 2003 – October 19, 2022

Report: The US military is “weak” and risks inability to properly defend America’s interests – October 19, 2022

Biden pledges to prioritize abortion rights codification if Democrats increase House majorities in midterms – October 18, 2022

House GOP preps bills for first 100 days if Republicans capture majority – October 18, 2022

Prosecutor says U.S. voting leak to Chinese workers ‘probably largest data breach in U.S. history’ – October 18, 2022

Supreme Court to hear major elections challenge and LGBT, religious rights dispute in December – October 18, 2022

Breaking Christian News

Iran Christians Freed From Troubled Evin Prison

Iranian authorities have freed two Christian converts from one of Iran’s most notorious prisons after a fire there killed eight inmates and injured dozens of others, well-informed Christians told Worthy News Wednesday.

Iran: Concerns raised for Christian couple jailed in harsh prison for house church activity

There has been increasing concern for the well-being of an Iranian Christian couple who were imprisoned in a notoriously harsh Tehran jail in August following their convictions for leading and belonging to a house church, the Christian Post reports.

Several Killed In Nigeria Church Attack

Suspected Islamic gunmen have attacked a church in north-central Nigeria during a service, killing a woman and her young daughter, as part of an ongoing anti-Christian campaign, authorities say.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Myanmar: Baptist pastor murdered in his home – October 18, 2022

India government stalling on affirmative action for Dalit Christians – October 18, 2022

China: Christian man fined over $20,000 for illegal religious activity – October 17, 2022

Ukrainian church driven underground in Russian-occupied areas – October 17, 2022

Hungary Urges More Support For Persecuted Christians – October 16, 2022

Pastors Reveal Troubled US Economy Is Having Negative Impact on Churches – October 13, 2022

Nigeria: ISWAP murder three more Christians – October 13, 2022