Weekly News Brief 10/29/25

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

Netherlands To Host Preparations For Historic Russia War Tribunal

The Netherlands announced on Tuesday that it has agreed to serve as the host country for preparing the “Russia Tribunal,” an international court aimed at holding Russian political and military leaders accountable for their roles in the war in Ukraine.

Dutch Elections Seen As Decisive For Nation’s Direction Amid Deep Divisions

Dutch voters will go to the polls on Wednesday in snap parliamentary elections seen as crucial for the future direction of the Netherlands, which is facing a housing and social crisis amid a fierce debate about the ongoing influx of asylum seekers.

Mexican Journalist Found Murdered As Fears Grow Over Press Freedom

A journalist in northwest Mexico has become the latest victim in the deadly climate facing the country’s press. Miguel Ángel Beltrán — a crime reporter who covered drug trafficking, cartel influence, and local corruption on social media — was reportedly found murdered Saturday along a highway between the state of Durango and the resort city of Mazatlán in neighbouring Sinaloa. His death was confirmed on Monday by the Durango state prosecutor’s office.

Hurricane Melissa Slams Jamaica With Record-Breaking Winds, Floods

Ireland Elects Pro-Palestine President In Rebuke To Establishment Parties

Trump Warns Putin Over Russian Nuclear Missile Test Amid Escalating War Tensions

Trump Cancels Trade Talks with Canada After Ontario Uses “Fake” Reagan Ad Criticizing Tariffs

U.S. Deploys Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to Latin America Amid Rising Tensions With Venezuela

Hurricane Melissa Strengthens Toward Jamaica, Could Reach Category 5

EU Summit Stalls on Russian Assets as Lithuanian Airspace Violation Heightens Tensions

Russia Says It Successfully Tests Nuclear-Powered “Burevestnik” Missile With 14,000-Kilometer Flight

Europe’s Leaders Press For Global Sanctions On Russian Oil

Breaking Israel News

Israel Launches “Powerful Strikes” in Gaza After Hamas Breaks Ceasefire, Fakes Hostage Recovery

Israel carried out a new wave of “immediate and powerful strikes” across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after Hamas fighters opened fire on Israeli troops near Rafah and faked the recovery of a hostage’s body in violation of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

Gaza Deal Turns Terrorists into Millionaires

The latest Gaza ceasefire deal has unleashed a shocking consequence: the creation of 160 Palestinian terrorist millionaires, each enriched through years of “pay-for-slay” stipends from the Palestinian Authority (PA) while serving prison sentences for murdering Israelis. Now freed under the U.S.-brokered Gaza agreement, many of these convicted killers have walked out of Israeli jails not only unrepentant–but wealthy, celebrated as heroes, and financially rewarded for their crimes.

Israel Says Four Hostage Bodies Still Missing in Gaza, Presses Hamas for Return

Israel does not know the location of four of the remaining 13 bodies of hostages still held in Gaza, as pressure mounts on Hamas to resume returning the remains under the cease-fire and hostage-release agreement, according to Israeli sources familiar with the talks.

Israel-Backed Militias in Gaza Seek to Build ‘New Gaza’ Without Hamas, Sky News Reports

Rubio: Gaza Security Force Must Include Nations Approved by Israel

First Assyrian Inscription Ever Found in Jerusalem Confirms Biblical-Era Links Between Judah and Assyria

Netanyahu and Rubio Hail ‘Days of Destiny’ Amid U.S. Fury Over West Bank Annexation Bill

Hamas Operating Underground Prisons to Crush Internal Dissent

Vance Meets Netanyahu, Reaffirms U.S. Support for Israel’s Security and Gaza Reconstruction Plan

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

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

Breaking U.S. News

‘There Is No Excuse:’ Air Traffic Controllers, Pilots Urge Congress To End Shutdown

As air traffic controllers and other federal workers missed a full paycheck Tuesday, growing numbers of labor unions and advocacy groups are calling on Congress to end the record-long government shutdown.

Vance Says U.S. Troops Will Get Paid Friday Despite Shutdown

Vice President J.D. Vance said Tuesday that 1.3 million U.S. troops will get a paycheck on Friday despite a congressional funding lapse and stalemate that has partially shuttered the federal government for the last 28 days.

Illegal Border Crossings In September Historically Low

Illegal border crossings in September were historically low, representing a 92.4% drop from a record high reported in September 2023.

President Trump Hints At Third Term Despite Constitutional Ban

Democrat-friendly Labor Union Urges Congress To Pass GOP Funding Bill, Open Govt

Newsom Says He Will Consider Running For President

Trump Administration Pursues “Golden Fleet” to Reinvent U.S. Navy for Future Conflicts

Anonymous Donor Gives $130 Million to Pentagon to Cover Military Pay During Shutdown

Democrats Tank GOP Bill To Pay Troops, Essential Workers During Govt Shutdown

U.S. National Debt Tops $38 Trillion for First Time Amid Mounting Fiscal Warnings

Pro-Life Leaders Urge Congress to Reject Obamacare Subsidy Extension Without Hyde Protections

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

Breaking Christian News

Christian Missionaries Attacked In Northern India; Eight Police Officers Suspended

Eight police officers in northern India’s Jammu and Kashmir region have been suspended “for their failure” to stop an attack on Christian missionaries by Hindu nationalists last week, according to Christian human-rights investigators.

Anti-Christian Violence Escalates In Southern Egypt (Worthy News In-Depth)

A tense calm returned Tuesday to a rural area in southern Egypt’s Minya Province after sectarian violence broke out following online accusations that a young Christian man was in a relationship with a Muslim girl, several Christian sources told Worthy News.

Islamic Militants Kill Scores Of Christians In Mozambique; Thousands Displaced (Worthy News In-Depth)

Dutch Christian Music Pioneer Wim Pols Dies

US Missionary Pilot Abducted By Islamic State Militants

Kyrgyz Pastor ‘Suffers Brain Injuries’ After Reported Torture, UN Experts Raise Alarm

Nearly One In Five U.S. Churchgoers Have Been Directly Involved In Abortion, Study Finds

Weekly News Brief 3/18/25

Breaking World News

U.S. President Trump To Speak Tuesday With Russia’s Putin On Peace In Ukraine
U.S. President Donald J. Trump says he plans to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and discuss ending the war in Ukraine, which is believed to have killed and injured some 1 million people.

Russia China Defend Iran’s Nuclear Program And Demand End of Sanctions
The United States faces a setback in attempts to build new relations with Russia after Moscow and Beijing called for an end to the “unlawful sanctions” imposed on Iran.

Hundreds of Thousands Rally Against Serbia’s Hardline Leader
Serbia’s hardline President Aleksandar Vucic and his government faced pressure to resign Sunday after hundreds of thousands of people descended on Belgrade for one of the largest mass rallies against his rule.

Latest World News Headlines

Dozens Killed As US Strikes Houthis – Mar.16.2025

Scores Killed In Blaze At North Macedonia Nightclub – Mar.16.2025

Tens Of Thousands Rally Against Hungary’s Orbán – Mar.16.2025

Romania’s Right George Simon Becomes Presidential Candidate – Mar.16.2025

Peruvian Fisherman Found After 94 Days at Sea: ‘I Didn’t Want to Die’ – Mar.16.2025

U.S. Strikes Houthis In Message To Iran – Mar.15.2025

Britain Supports U.S.-Backed Ceasefire for Ukraine – Mar.15.2025

Philippines Ex-President Faces ICC Court As Mothers Mourn Loved Ones (Worthy News In-Depth) – Mar.15.2025

Putin Urges Ukrainian Troops in Russia to Surrender, Citing Trump’s Appeal (Worthy News Focus) – Mar.15.2025

Poland Seeks Stationing U.S. Nuclear Weapons – Mar.14.2025

Breaking Israel News

Israel Launches Airstrikes in Gaza As Cease-Fire Ends
The Israeli Air Force launched a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, targeting Hamas’ infrastructure and several of its mid-level commanders and politburo members as the cease-fire ended late on Monday.

Netanyahu’s Ouster of Key Security Chief Sparks Major Political Crisis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to dismiss Shin Bet director Ronen Bar this week, citing “growing distrust” over time. This marks a major upheaval in Israel’s security leadership during a critical time for the nation.

Israel’s ‘Iron Beam’ to be operational by late 2025
Israel’s Iron Beam laser defense system, set to be operational in roughly nine months, intercepts rockets, drones, and mortars within seconds at a range of up to 7 km using a high-energy fiber laser, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Sunday.

Latest Israel News Headlines

U.S. Proposes Ceasefire Deal to Secure Hostage Release – Mar.13.2025

Israel Rejects UN Report That Accused Israel of “Genocidal Acts” – Mar.13.2025

Israel’s IDF Executes Largest Airstrikes in Two Months on Syrian Regime’s Military Sites – Mar.11.2025

Alawites: ‘Israel Help End Massacres In Syria’ (Worthy News Focus) – Mar.11.2025

Turkey Vetoes Israel’s Participation in NATO Exercise – Mar.10.2025

Israel Airstrikes Target Former Assad Regime Bases in Southern Syria – Mar.10.2025

Israel Cutting Off Power To Gaza – Mar.9.2025

Breaking U.S. News

Trump Declares Biden Pardons ‘Void;’ Cites Digital Signature
In an early morning announcement, President Donald Trump declared Monday that former President Joe Biden’s rash of preemptive pardons issued during his last days in office are “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect.”

Arizona Supreme Court Uses AI-Generated Reporters
Artificial intelligence has arrived at the Arizona Supreme Court.

Court Attempts to Halt Trump Deportations, El Salvador President Says ‘Too Late’
A class action lawsuit was filed on Saturday against the Trump administration after President Donald Trump signed an executive order invoking the Enemy Aliens Act to target, arrest, and remove violent Venezuelan prison gang members, Tren de Aragua (TdA), from the U.S.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Dozens Killed As Violent Tornadoes Hit US – Mar.16.2025

Trump ‘Closing Down’ Voice of America – Mar.15.2025

Government Shutdown Averted Mere Hours Before Deadline – Mar.15.2025

Schumer Says He’ll Now Vote to Approve GOP Spending Bill, Avoid Shutdown – Mar.14.2025

Democrats Gamble With Government Shutdown as Deadline Looms – Mar.13.2025

Report: Foreign-Born Population Hits ‘All-Time High’ – Mar.13.2025

U.S. Department of Education to Cut Half of Employees – Mar.12.2025

Breaking Christian News

India Christians Rally Against Anti-Conversion Law At Huge Protest
Authorities in northeast India are under pressure after at least tens of thousands of Christians protested against the expected implementation of an “anti-conversion” law that they say unfairly targets the Christian minority.

Christian Group Reports Rising Persecution in India
In 2024, Christians in India experienced significant levels of violence and discrimination, with 640 reported cases, a surge in cases since 2014, according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India’s Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC).

UK Court: Christian Can’t Be Prosecuted For Criticizing Koran
A British court has thrown out the prosecution of a Christian preacher who was surrounded by an angry Muslim mob for criticizing the Koran, deemed a holy book by Muslims.

Latest Christian News Headlines

USCIRF Investigates Continuing Christian Persecution in Myanmar – Mar.13.2025

Nigeria Christian Facing Death Sentence Despite Doubts About Trial (Worthy News Focus) – Mar.13.2025

Iran Sentences Christian Converts To Long Prison Terms – Mar.13.2025

Los Angeles County Bans Church On Beach – Mar.12.2025

Christians Fear Britain Could Introduce Blasphemy Legislation – Mar.11.2025

Christian Girl Rescued by Police from Kidnapper in Pakistan – Mar.10.2025

Catholic Priest Killed In Nigeria As Death Toll Of Christians Rise – Mar.6.2025