Weekly News Brief: 9/28/23

African leaders tell UNGA: Africa must be treated as a global partner, not sidelinedAfrican leaders delivered an unequivocal message to the UN General Assembly last week that Africa is a global power that deserves to be treated by the West as an equal partner and not sidelined as a charity case, the Associated Press reports.Mexico: Increased femicide rate directly related to organized crime, experts say

Lethal violence against women in Mexico has steadily increased in recent years, and experts believe that the phenomenon is directly related to Mexican militarization and organized crime, Global Citizen reports. According to data released by Mexico’s National Public Security System, 43,000 women were killed in the country between 2006 and 2021.Ethiopia: Tigray conflict has left more than 10,000 survivors of sexual violence

The UN-backed international commission of human rights experts on Ethiopia reported this week that the recent conflict in the country’s Tigray region has left at least 10,000 survivors of rape and sexual violence, the Associated Press reports. The commission added that all sides in the war had committed atrocities, including mass killings, rape, starvation, and destruction of schools and medical facilities.

Latest World News Headlines

20 Killed In Nagorno-Karabakh Depot Blast; Thousands Of Armenian Christians Flee (Worthy News In-Depth) – September 26, 2023Iran and Turkey’s proxies may back tribes against US in Syria – September 25, 2023Hungary Not Rushing To Back Sweden’s NATO Membership – September 25, 2023Belarus Jails Journalist Vyacheslau Lazarau For ‘Extremism’ – September 25, 2023Several Killed As Clashes Rock Kosovo Monastery – September 25, 2023Netherlands Asks Pakistan To Halt Death Threats Against Anti-Islam Politician, Judge – September 25, 2023France Withdraws Ambassador, Troops From Niger After Coup; Impact On Christians Unclear – September 25, 2023

Breaking Israel News

Germany, U.S. slam Netanyahu’s Middle East map presented at UNGerman Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sebastian Fischer on Monday, expressed the country’s reservations over a map exhibited by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his address to the UN General Assembly.‘2030 is when the merge happens,’ OpenAI president tells Netanyahu of coming man-machine merger

In a recent discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, OpenAI President Greg Brockman expressed his belief that 2029 will see the emergence of artificial general intelligence (AGI) — AI that reaches and then far surpasses human-level intelligence. He further stated that in 2030, humanity and artificial intelligence will merge.

Latest Israel News Headlines

IDF strikes Hamas post in Gaza after multiple provocations over Yom Kippur holiday – September 25, 2023WSJ: Israel cooperating with US on Saudi bid to enrich uranium – September 24, 2023Saudis: Peace must include Palestinian state, east Jerusalem as capital – September 24, 2023Israel unveils IDF’s new AI-powered ‘Barak’ super tank – September 24, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

Federal judge rules Texas ‘drag ban’ unconstitutionalA bill conservative Texas lawmakers said they passed to protect children from obscene drag performances is an unconstitutional restraint on speech, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

North Carolina passes bipartisan bill requiring age verification for access to pornography websitesWith overwhelming bipartisan support, the North Carolina Legislature passed a bill Thursday that requires age verification on websites that publish pornography and other material considered harmful to minors under the age of 18, the Associated Press (AP) reports.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Federal court strikes down California ban on gun magazines for second time – September 26, 2023Credit card losses are rising at the fastest pace since the Great Financial Crisis – September 26, 2023Congress faces looming government shutdown – September 25, 2023Biden makes border history with most immigrant encounters in August ever recorded – September 24, 2023Biden issues veto threat against DHS funding bill – September 24, 2023Newsom Vetoes Bill Allowing Judges To Consider Whether A Parent ‘Affirms’ Child’s Gender Identity During Custody Disputes – September 24, 2023Pro-life group warns federal 15-week abortion ban may pressure states to ‘water down’ restrictions – September 24, 2023

Breaking Christian News

Less than half of religious refugees can gain U.S. entry, Christian groups report

The U.S. is no longer a “safe haven” for people fleeing religious persecution, according to a new report noting massive declines in U.S. arrivals by Christian, Jewish and Muslim refugees, among others.‘50,000 Mosques Closed In Iran’ As Christianity Spreads

Recent comments by a senior Iranian cleric that around 50,000 of Iran’s 75,000 mosques are closed highlight the growth of Christianity in Iran and disillusion with “the regime’s use of Islam to justify its authoritarian rule,” a prominent human rights activist told Worthy News on Monday.India: More than 500 attacks Hindu nationalist attacks against Christians recorded in 2023

There have been 525 attacks by Hindu nationalists against Christians across India this year alone, Christian Today (CT) reports. Ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, India ranks 11TH on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Nigeria: Fulani herdsmen continue slaughter of Christians – September 25, 2023Mozambique: 11 Christians murdered by Islamic State-affiliated terrorists, “only prayer can sustain us” – September 25, 2023India: Pastor kept in jail for 23 days on anti-conversion charges with no witnesses – September 25, 2023Over 1,000 students attend Texas A&M Corpus Christi worship event; 124 baptized – September 22, 2023California Baptist church considering AI to protect itself against shooters – September 21, 2023Pakistan Christian Couple Longer In Jail Despite Doubts Over Blasphemy – September 21, 2023India: Christian orphanage denied renewed operating permit in Madhya Pradesh state – September 20, 2023