Weekly New Brief 5/15/24

Breaking World News

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Shot Outside Bratislava (Worthy News Radio)
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has been shot and injured in an apparent assassination attempt outside the capital Bratislava. The motives of the gunman were not immediately clear, but it comes after a period of political turmoil in the Eastern European nation.

Macron Condemns Graffiti Attack on Paris Holocaust Memorial, “Odious Anti-Semitism”
French President Emmanuel Macron and other officials have forcefully condemned Tuesday’s antisemitic graffiti attack on Paris’ Wall of the Righteous Holocaust Memorial, AFP reports. 

EU Introduces Unprecedented Migrant Policies
After years of debate, the European Union is introducing new migration and asylum rules that include tougher borders and shared responsibility among the bloc’s 27 members amid concerns about a massive influx of millions of migrants from mainly Muslim nations in recent years.

Latest World News Headlines

Scores Killed In Indonesia Flooding – May 14, 2024

Jordan Joins “Eager Lion” International Military Exercise With 22 Other Nations, Israel Not Joining – May 14, 2024

WHO Moving Towards Global Health Directives Despite Mounting Criticism, Critics Say (Worthy News In-Depth) – May 14, 2024

Solar Storms With Northern Lights Seen Worldwide Impacting Harvests, Radio Signals – May 13, 2024

Dutch Police Breakup Violent Anti-Israel Protest At Amsterdam University – May 13, 2024

Iran Threatens To Weaponize Nuclear Program – May 13, 2024

Australia Sentences Teenage Killer To 14 Years – May 13, 2024

China’s ‘Flag Police’ In Hungary; Premier ‘Bows for Dictator’ Opposition Says – May 13, 2024

Pope Offers Role In Exchange Ukrainian And Russian POWs Amid Concerns About Their Treatment (Worthy News Radio) – May 13, 2024

Recipient Of World’s First Pig Kidney Dies At 62 – May 12, 2024

Breaking Israel News

Israel Advances Further into Rafah, Over 450,000 Palestinians Displaced

Israeli tanks advanced deeper into eastern Rafah on Tuesday, reaching residential areas of the southern border city, where over a million displaced individuals had sought refuge amid the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Israel Escalates Strikes on 120 Terror Targets Across Gaza Amid Mass Evacuation from Rafah
The Israeli military has intensified its operations in northern and central Gaza and Rafah, urging more neighborhoods to move to designated safe zones over the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, Israeli aircraft struck over 120 Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip, as detailed in a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday.

Israel Commemorates its 76th Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict with Hamas
Israel began its 76th Independence Day with subdued celebrations due to ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The annual torch-lighting ceremony was pre-recorded and broadcast Monday night, marking the first Independence Day since the escalation of hostilities on October 7.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Arab Nations Reject Israeli Invitation to Join Civil Administration of Post-War Gaza – May 13, 2024

Israel Starts Most ‘Difficult Memorial Day’ Since Foundation – May 12, 2024

Israel Condemns UN Decision To Almost Recognize Palestinian State – May 12, 2024

‘Israel’s Emergency Government Near Collapse’ – May 12, 2024

Netanyahu: ‘Israel Determined To Enter Rafah’ – May 10, 2024

Israel’s Netanyahu Suggests Rafah Operations Continue Despite Suspension of US Aid – May 9, 2024

Israel’s Premier Encourages Eurovision Contestant Faces With Protests – May 9, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

Anti-Abortion Activist Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years Imprisonment for Clinic Blockade
A pro-life activist with a history of organizing blockades of abortion clinics has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for leading the blockade of an abortion facility in Washington, DC, in 2020.

Bipartisan Members of Congress, Jewish Professors Oppose Antisemitism Bill
A coalition of Republican and Democratic lawmakers, nearly 700 Jewish professors, and others oppose an antisemitism bill sent to the U.S. Senate, arguing it’s unconstitutional and doesn’t adequately address antisemitism.

House Approves Bill To Add Citizenship Question To Census, Change How Congressional Seats Are Apportioned
Voting along party lines, the Republican-led House has approved a bill that would break with 230 years of practice by adding a question on citizenship to the census: the move would cut non-citizens from the decennial count and reduce the number of seats held by states with high non-citizen populations relative to other states.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

U.S. Spending on Interest Tops National Defense, Medicare – May 13, 2024

Report: 70% of Banks Target Clients Based on Conservative, Religious Beliefs – May 13, 2024

Fentanyl Coming to U.S. Becoming More Deadly, DEA says – May 12, 2024

Terrorist Watch List Apprehensions at Northern Border Continue to Break Records – May 12, 2024

Senators: Protestors Calling For Violence Against Jews Should Be on No-Fly List – May 9, 2024

Extending Trump Tax Cuts Would Add $4 Trillion To Deficit, CBO Says – May 9, 2024

Judge Says Setting Trial Date In Classified Documents Case Would Be ‘Imprudent’ – May 8, 2024

Breaking Christian News

Florida Church Baptizes More Than 1,600 People In One Day
Pastor Joby Martin, founder and lead pastor of Florida’s The Church of Eleven22 reports that his church witnessed a record 1,614 people publicly declare their faith in Jesus through baptism during an annual one-day Gospel event earlier this month, Crosswalk reports. The yearly event took place at Hanna Park Beach in Jacksonville, Florida on May 5.

China: Two Imprisoned Church Leaders In Poor Health
Concerns are intensifying for the health of two house church leaders in eastern China who have been imprisoned on charges of alleged fraud, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Pennsylvania: Pastor Says God Protected Congregants When Tornado Smashed Into Their Building
The pastor of a Christian ministry in Pennsylvania says God protected his congregants when a tornado tore into their church building during a worship service Saturday, ripping off the steeple and a roof, and smashing windows Crosswalk reports. According to the National Weather Service, the twister was probably an EF-2 tornado with winds between 111-135 mph.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Chinese Church is Fastest-Growing Church in Britain – May 13, 2024

Azerbaijan is Country of Particular Concern, USCIRF says – May 13, 2024

Indonesia House Church Raided As Anti-Christian Violence Spreads – May 12, 2024

US Pastor Forgives Gunman Who Nearly Killed Him – May 12, 2024

Music Ministry Sees Over 34,000 Professions Of Faith In Christ, “Gen Z Is On Fire” – May 9, 2024

USA: Pastor Says God Protected Him From Gunman Whose Firearm Jammed In Church Service – May 9, 2024

Algerian Pastor Sentenced To Prison Over “Unauthorized Worship” – May 9, 2024

Weekly News Brief: 10/18/23

Jordan, Egypt Don’t Accept Gaza Refugees; 1 Million Face Uncertainty

Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians faced an uncertain future Wednesday in wartorn Gaza after Jordan’s king Jordan told them they weren’t welcome in Jordan or Egypt.

Biden admin set to allow Iran UN sanctions on ballistic missile program to expire: ‘Huge victory for Tehran’

The Hamas war against Israel is slated to be given a potent shot in the arm if the U.S. and its European allies allow U.N. sanctions to be lifted on Iran’s capability to purchase and supply missiles to enemies of the U.S. and Israel, according to experts on Tehran.

Protesters Storm Israeli Embassy In Jordan; Fires Seen

Protesters have stormed the Israeli Embassy in Jordan’s capital, Amman, as violence broke out throughout the Middle East, and witnesses said they attempted to torch the building.

Latest World News Headlines

Jordanian King says Mideast on brink of “abyss” but Gazan refugees cannot flee to Jordan – October 17, 2023

UNSC rejects Russian resolution on Israel-Hamas war which does not condemn Hamas  – October 17, 2023

Belgian Police Kill Suspected Islamist Gunman; ‘Attack Possible Linked To Gaza Conflict’ – October 17, 2023

Iran can’t access $6 billion from hostage deal, Biden official tells Dems – October 16, 2023

Man Shouting “Allahu Akbar” Kills Two In Brussels – October 16, 2023

Poland Opposition Claims Victory In Elections – October 16, 2023

Iran: US ‘can NOT renege’ on deal to transfer $6 billion through Qatar for hostages – October 15, 2023

Breaking Israel News

Lebanon Rockets Target Israel As Frontlines Spread

With sirens wailing in northern Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said Wednesday that “nine rocket launches from Lebanon” were detected.

US, Israel Agree On Limited “Life-Saving” Aid To Gaza

U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Israel had agreed to let “life-saving” humanitarian aid into Gaza, but the Jewish nation’s government made clear it was limited in scope and would be allowed only to enter from Egypt.

Latest Israel News Headlines

IDF says Hamas terrorists may be hiding in Israel’s Negev desert – October 18, 2023

PA to give families of Hamas terrorists nearly $3 million in “pay for slay” scheme – October 18, 2023

US President Joe Biden Praises Israel’s Bravery And Blames Militants For Hospital Massacre – October 18, 2023

Israel Prepares for Biden’s Arrival as the War with Hamas Continues – October 17, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

US Defense Department to pay $1.8 in settlement of vaccine mandate cases

A Florida District Court has ordered the US Defense Department to pay $1.8 million in legal fees as settlement for two lawsuits that challenged a former requirement that all American troops be vaccinated against COVID-19, Military.com reports.

Jordan fails to win House speakership in second round of voting

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, failed in the second round of voting in the House speaker election on the House floor Wednesday.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Republicans Fail to Elect Jim Jordan as House Speaker on First Ballot – October 17, 2023

House drafts bill to strike Iran proxies amid Israel-Hamas war – October 17, 2023

Trump is appealing gag order in 2020 election interference case – October 17, 2023

Israel war: Sixty-three Democrats demand Biden take stronger stance against Iran – October 17, 2023

U.S. selects roughly 2,000 troops for potential deployment to support Israel – October 16, 2023

Prior to recent attack on Israel, antisemitic incidents in US at historic levels – October 16, 2023

Biden to Push Israel, Ukraine Aid Package Well Over $2 Billion This Week – October 16, 2023

Breaking Christian News

India: Christians face intensified persecution, imprisonment

The International Christian Concern (ICC) aid organization reports that Christians in India’s Uttar Pradesh state are on high alert; emboldened by upcoming state elections, radicalized Hindus have intensified their attacks on believers, imprisoning a greater number of them. 

Jordan, Egypt Don’t Accept Gaza Refugees; 1 Million Face Uncertainty

Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians faced an uncertain future Wednesday in wartorn Gaza after Jordan’s king Jordan told them they weren’t welcome in Jordan or Egypt.

Indonesia: Permit for Christian school withdrawn following pressure from Islamic groups

A Christian in school in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, has been told its permit will be withdrawn following pressure applied on local officials by Muslims, including members of the banned Islamic Defenders Front (IDF), Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

11 Church of England Bishops Reject Denominational Blessings for Same-Sex Couples – October 16, 2023

India: Radical Hindus attack, hospitalize Christians in Chhattisgarh state – October 16, 2023

Texas church reports “record-breaking” number of baptisms this year – October 12, 2023

Nigeria: Jihadists continue onslaught against Christians in Kaduna state, 30 abductions in one attack – October 12, 2023

Nepal: Pastor to spend year in jail for allegedly converting Hindus to Christianity – October 11, 2023

US Christian anti-trafficking ministry has rescued more than 40,000 women and children from sexual predators – October 11, 2023

Chinese government continues crackdown on Christianity – October 10, 2023