Weekly News Brief: 1/4/23

Iran Attacks US Military Bases 118 Times (Worthy News Investigation)


Iranian militias have attacked American bases in Syria and Iraq at least 118 times since October 17, including five times since the start of 2024, injuring scores from U.S. forces, Worthy News learned Wednesday.

Scores Killed As Aftershocks Hit Japan


Aftershocks shook parts of Japan on Wednesday as the death toll from a series of strong earthquakes rose to 62, authorities said, prompting Pope Francis to pray for the nation.

Over 100 Killed At Tomb Of Assassinated Iranian General


More than 100 people have been killed and scores injured by two bombs near the tomb of Iran’s General Qasem Soleimani on the fourth anniversary of his assassination by the United States, Iranian officials said Wednesday.

Latest World News Headlines

Israel Warns Of World War III With Iran After Deadly Red Sea Clash, Nuclear Arms Race – January 3, 2024

Saudi Arabia Officially Joins BRICS – January 2, 2024

Five Dead At Japanese Coastguard Plane In Collision With Passenger Aircraft – January 2, 2024

US Announces Aircraft Carrier Strike Group Returning Home After Extended Deployment in Middle East – January 1, 2024

Japan Issues Tsunami Warning After Strong Earthquakes – January 1, 2024

Scores Killed As Russia Steps Up Attacks On Ukraine (Worthy News Radio) – January 1, 2024

Thousands Rally Against Serbia’s ‘Fraudulent Vote’ – January 1, 2024

Russia Strikes Ukraine With Missiles and Drones, Killing Many (Worthy News Radio) – December 29, 2023

Russia and Iran Sign Bilateral Trade Agreement, Ditches the Dollar – December 28, 2023

UN Condemns Indonesia’s Attacks Against Rohingya Refugees – December 28, 2023

Breaking Israel News

Hezbollah Leader Blames Israel’s Aggression For Killing Hamas Official


The leader of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, Hassan Nasrallah, has blamed “flagrant Israeli aggression” for the death of the deputy Hamas leader on Tuesday.

Turkey Detains 33 Individuals on Charges of Spying for Israel


On Tuesday, Turkish authorities reported the arrest of 33 individuals for allegedly spying on behalf of Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency. The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Turkish Interior minister, who accused the suspects of targeting foreigners living in the country.

Hamas Says Deputy Head Killed in Lebanon


Hamas, condemned as a terrorist organization by Israel and most of its allies, says its deputy head, Saleh al-Arouri, has been killed in a blast in Beirut.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Israel Supreme Court Strikes Down Judical Overhaul Legislation – January 1, 2024

Israel Air Strikes Kill 19 Pro-Iran Fighters – December 31, 2023

Israel Hits Airport, Military Sites In Syria – December 29, 2023

Two-Thirds Of Arab Israelis Feel Part Of Israel And Its Problems, New Poll Shows – December 28, 2023

Israel Under Pressure For Ceasefire Condemns Hitler Remarks – December 28, 2023

IDF Chief ‘Approved Plans’ in North as Towns Near Lebanon Face Intense Hezbollah Fire – December 28, 2023

Israel Fighting Multi-Front War, Israeli Defense Minister Says – December 26, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

Trump Appeals Colorado Supreme Court’s Removal From Ballot to U.S. Supreme Court


Former President Donald Trump fulfilled a promise made last month to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled he wasn’t constitutionally eligible for the state’s Republican presidential primary ballot in March.

Border Residents to Congress: ‘Stop Holding Press Conferences, Shut Down the Border’


As another Republican congressional delegation arrived in Eagle Pass, Texas, Wednesday to hold another news conference and meet local residents, many Texans living at the border say they are fed up and want Congress to shut down the border.

Indiana: Christian Couple Petition SCOTUS to Review State’s Removal of Gender-Confused Son From Their Home


A Christian couple in Indiana have filed a petition asking the US Supreme Court to review the state’s Department of Child Services (DCS) removal of their son from their home because they refused to use the female name and pronouns he had chosen for himself, CBN News reports.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Over 200 US Service Members Demand Accountability From Military Leaders’ “Lawlessness” and “Experimentation” in Enforcing COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate – January 3, 2024

National Debt Passes $34 Trillion – January 2, 2024

Trump Files Appeal of Maine’s Ballot Disqualification – January 2, 2024

Harvard President Gay Resigns After Allegations of Antisemitism and Plagiarism – January 2, 2024

Idaho Judge Allows Lawsuit Requesting Clarification on Exemptions to State Abortion Ban – January 2, 2024

US: Economy at Risk as Office Building Owners Struggle to Repay $117 Billion in Commercial Mortgages Due This Year – January 2, 2024

Iowa: Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Law Which Bans Certain Books and Prohibits Discussion of LGBTQ Issues in Elementary Schools – January 2, 2024

Breaking Christian News

Mauritania Christians Thank God for Release of 15 Brethren Arrested After Circulation of Baptismal Video


Local Christians are thanking God as Mauritania authorities have now released 15 believers who were arrested after video footage of their participation in a baptismal ceremony in November triggered local Muslims to demand their imprisonment on the grounds of illegal proselytization, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Nigeria: Boko Haram Kills Two Christians in Christmas Day Attack


The Boko Haram Islamic jihadist terror group killed two Christians during a murderous rampage through a predominantly Christian village in Nigeria’s Adamawa state on Christmas Day, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Former PLO Terrorist Who Converted to Christianity Hopes Israel-Hamas war Will Cause Gaza Palestinians to Accept Christ


Amid reports that Muslims around the world are accepting Jesus at extraordinary levels through dreams, a Palestinian who fought Israel with the Palestinian Liberation Organization before he became a Christian in the 1990s has stated he hopes the Israel-Hamas war will lead Gaza Palestinians to accept the Gospel, the Christian Post (CP) reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Muslims Are Encountering Christ Through Dreams at Levels Not Seen for Over 1,000 years, Assemblies of God Missionaries Say – January 2, 2024

Uganda: Islamic-State Affiliates Slaughter 10 Christians in Run-Up to Christmas, “The Christians Will Not Celebrate the Birth of Issa [Jesus]” – January 1, 2024

‘Muslim Son Kills Mother In Uganda For Praying To Jesus’ – December 31, 2023

Nigeria President Orders Arrests After Massacre of 160 Christians – December 28, 2023

Christian Athletes Ministry Records Over 51,500 Decisions for Christ in 2023 Fiscal Year – December 28, 2023

Canada: 15 Churches Were Torched in 2023, Four in Alberta Alone – December 28, 2023

Nigeria: At Least 160 Christians Massacred in “Well Coordinated” Genocidal Christmas Attacks – December 27, 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