Weekly News Brief: 6/26/24

Breaking World News

International Court Indicts Top Russia Officials

The International Court of Justice (ICC) has indicted Russia’s former defense minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the staff of the Russian Armed Forces, for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

WikiLeaks’ Assange Pleading Guilty For Espionage
Julian Assange, the founder of the secrets-leaking website WikiLeaks, was freed by a court on the U.S. Pacific island territory of Saipan on Wednesday after pleading guilty to violating U.S. espionage law in a deal that will see him return home to Australia.

Several Killed As Crowd Storms Kenya Parliament
Kenya’s president condemned the deadly storming of parliament on Tuesday, the most direct assault on the government in decades, and said it was “a national security threat.”

Latest World News Headlines

EU Membership Talks With War-torn Ukraine – June 25, 2024

Africa Has Seen a Massive Surge in Islamic Jihadist Terrorism Since 2008, Top US General says – June 25, 2024

Wikileaks Says Jailed Founder Assange Left Britain After Striking Plea Deal With US – June 25, 2024

Dozens Killed In China Flooding – June 25, 2024

Hungary Fumes Over EU’s Use Of Russian Assets To Buy Weapons For Ukraine – June 25, 2024

Iran Enhances Underground Nuclear ‘Bunker’, Heightening Fears of Accelerated Weapons Development – June 24, 2024

Hungary Under US, EU Pressure Over LGTBQ+ Policies – June 24, 2024

Russia’s Dagestan Region Mourning As 19 Are Killed at Churches, Synagogues (Worthy News Radio) – June 24, 2024

Drone, Missile Strikes Kill Numerous People In Russia and Ukraine (Worthy News Radio) – June 23, 2024

15 Police Killed, 12 Injured In Shooting At Russian Synagogues and Churches (Worthy News In-Depth) – June 23, 2024

Breaking Israel News

Israel Court: ‘Ultra-Orthodox Must Serve In Army’ (Worthy News Focus)
In a historic move, Israel’s High Court of Justice has decided that the state must draft ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the army, prompting government anger but praise from the opposition.

Gallant Tells US: “Time Is Running Out” to Prevent Iran From Obtaining a Nuclear Bomb
Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant has told US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin that “time is running out” to stop Iran, the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism, from obtaining a nuclear bomb, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.

Wife of Israeli PM Accuses Israeli Army Chiefs Of ‘Coup’ Against Her Husband, Sources Say
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, has accused military chiefs of “attempting to carry out a coup against her husband,” Israeli sources say.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Hezbollah Is Using Beirut Civilian Airport to Store Iran-Made Weapons For Use Against Israel – June 25, 2024

U.S. Military Chief Doubts Ability to Support Israel in Conflict with Hezbollah – June 24, 2024

Netanyahu: Intense Rafah Military Operation Against Hamas Nearing End, Shifts Focus to Hezbollah – June 24, 2024

Armenia Officially Recognizes State of Palestine, Reprimanded by Israel – June 24, 2024

Thousands of Iran-Backed Fighters Ready to Join Hezbollah in All-Out War Against Israel – June 24, 2024

Netanyahu Points to ‘Dramatic Drop’ in U.S. Arms Deliveries – June 23, 2024

U.S. Aircraft Carrier Strike Group Positioned in Mediterranean Sea Amid Tensions with Lebanon – June 23, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

Feds Can’t Find Foreign Nationals Released Into US As Terrorism Threats Heightened
Nine months after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General expressed alarm that under the Biden administration, DHS agencies couldn’t locate where illegal foreign nationals were after they released them into the U.S., ongoing problems persist and terrorism threats are heightened.

Louisiana: Families File Suit to Challenge Law Requiring the Ten Commandments to be Displayed in K-College Classrooms
Several families, including clergy, are suing the state of Louisiana over a new law that requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in an “easy-to-read, poster-sized” format in all public classrooms from kindergarten to colleges, Reuters reports.

Supreme Court Sides With Biden Administration Over Online Free Speech
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court decided in a landmark case that the Biden administration may pressure social media companies to restrict content it considers harmful, including topics related to COVID-19 and election security, in order to censor speech on the internet.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

US House Passes Bill to End Persecution of Falun Gong in China, Targets Forced Organ Harvesting – June 26, 2024

Judge Keeps Trump Under Partial Gag Order Ahead of Sentencing – June 25, 2024

Federal Judges Block Biden’s Plan to End Student Loan Repayments – June 25, 2024

Trump Encourages Christians to Vote, Supports Displaying Ten Commandments in Schools – June 24, 2024

Supreme Court Decision on Presidential Immunity Looms Large – June 24, 2024

Trump Calls for Drug Tests Before First Presidential Debate – June 24, 2024

Supreme Court Will Hear Tennessee Gender-Affirming Care Ban Case – June 24, 2024

Breaking Christian News

Pakistan: Court grants Bail to 52 Islamists Accused of Lynching Elderly Christian, “There’s Very Little Hope for Justice for the Victim”
Following reported pressure from a powerful hardline Islamic group, a court in Punjab Province, Pakistan last week granted bail to 52 Islamists accused of lynching 74-year-old Nazeer Masih Gill in Sargodha on May 25 over false blasphemy accusations, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Laos Detains Devoted Christian Villagers (Worthy News In-depth)
There was concern Tuesday about the plight of a Lao church leader and five other Christians who were detained in central Laos amid a crackdown on Christian worship in the openly communist Asian nation, representatives told Worthy News.

India: Rajasthan State Considering Implementation of Anti-Conversion Law
Lawmakers in India’s Rajasthan state are considering approving the type of anti-conversion law that has led to the intense persecution of Christians and other non-Hindus in Indian states that already have such legislation.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Iran: Five Christian Converts Sentenced to Prison Terms on Unspecified Charges, “Conversion From Islam to Christianity is Illegal in Iran” – June 25, 2024

Christians In Kyrgyzstan Fear More Hostilities Despite Law Rejection (Worthy News Focus) – June 24, 2024

Fire Hits Nigeria’s Christ Embassy Megachurch After Controversies – June 24, 2024

Christian Sports Ministry to distribute 200,000 Bibles – June 24, 2024

Iraq Forcing Christian Woman To Convert To Islam – June 22, 2024

Mob Kills Man In Pakistan For Koran ‘Desecration’ – June 21, 2024

Bodies Found Of Murdered Christian Passengers In Nigeria – June 20, 2024

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