Weekly News Brief 5/22/24

Breaking World News

Russia Begins Drills Involving Non-Strategic Nuclear Weapons
Accusing the West of “provocation,” Russia on Tuesday began training exercises for the “preparation and use” of non-strategic nuclear weapons, the Associated Press reports. The intention to conduct the drills was announced by the Russian Defense Ministry in a statement on May 6.

Vietnam Elects To Lam President; Christian Doubts Remain
Vietnam’s National Assembly elected Public Security Minister To Lam as the country’s new president on Wednesday, but it wasn’t clear whether it would improve the lives of reportedly persecuted Christians in the Communist-run Asian nation.

Christians Suffering In Brazil Flooding Killing Many
Christian aid workers said Wednesday they are rushing food parcels and other relief to Christians in Brazil’s critical agricultural state of Rio Grande do Sul, where flooding caused by massive torrential rains left more than 150 people dead and some 100 missing.

Latest World News Headlines

UN Nuclear Chief: “Iran Has Never Been Closer to Achieving a Nuclear Bomb” – May 21, 2024

Dutch Jewish Journalist Fears Hamas Sympathizers in Netherlands – May 21, 2024

Iran: No Major Outpouring of Grief for “Butcher of Tehran” Raisi – May 21, 2024

One Killed, 30 Injured In Singapore Airlines Turbulence – May 21, 2024

Hungary Detains Cruise Ship Captain Involved In Deadly Collision – May 20, 2024

Iran’s President and Foreign Minister Killed In Helicopter Crash – May 20, 2024

Slovakia’s Shot Premier Spending Pentecost in Hospital – May 20, 2024

Indonesia Plane Crashes In Greater Jakarta; 3 Killed – May 20, 2024

Several Killed In Hungary’s Boat Crash – May 20, 2024

Iran’s President Feared Dead After Helicopter Crashes; Rescuers On Way – May 19, 2024

Breaking Israel News

Ireland, Norway, and Spain Recognize Palestine; Israel Recalls Ambassadors
Ireland, Norway, and Spain announced Wednesday that they would recognize a Palestinian state, prompting Israel to withdraw ambassadors.

Nearly One Million Gaza Civilians Have Evacuated From Rafah
Nearly one million non-combatant Palestinians have now been evacuated from Rafah, a city on the border of Egypt and the Gaza Strip which Israel believes is hiding four remaining Hamas battalions and 128 Israeli hostages.

Anger Over ICC Arrest Warrants Against Israeli Leaders
Leaders of several countries have expressed “unease” and outrage over the International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor’s decision to seek the arrest of Israeli leaders and “Islamist terrorist organization” Hamas for atrocities.

Latest Israel News Headlines

US and Saudi Arabia Discuss Security Deal Which Includes Two-State Solution to Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – May 20, 2024

Gantz Gives Netanyahu Until June 8 to Agree to Gaza Plan or He Will Leave Cabinet, “A War Is Only Won With a Strategic Compass” – May 20, 2024

ICC Chief Pursues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas Leaders – May 20, 2024

’27 Killed In Israeli Air Strike In Gaza As Battles Rage’; Netanyahu Facing Pressure – May 19, 2024

Israel Continues Military Operation in Rafah As 800,000 Flee – May 19, 2024

Israel Army Finds Bodies Hostages; ‘Eliminates Islamic Commander’ – May 18, 2024

First Aid Shipment In Gaza From US Pier – May 17, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

Trump Decides Not to Testify in Hush Money Case
Donald Trump’s defense team rested, wrapping up its side of the case after calling two witnesses, including one who contradicted testimony provided former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen, the prosecution’s star witness.

Federal Data Shows Americans Are Feeling the Pain of Inflation
Newly released survey data from the federal government shows Americans are feeling the pain of high prices.

45 U.S. Senators Introduce Resolution to Block Biden Anti-Second Amendment Rule
Forty-five Republicans U.S. senators filed a Congressional Review Act resolution to block a Biden administration Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rule from being enforced that would require anyone who sells firearms to register as federal firearm licensees.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Federal Scholarship Program Under Fire for Alleged Bias Against Conservatives – May 20, 2024

Prosecutors Rest Their Case Against Trump in Hush Money Trial – May 20, 2024

OLS Task Force Takes Down Human Smuggling Operation – May 19, 2024

US: ‘Armed Intruder Enters Georgia University, One Killed’ – May 18, 2024

Orthodox Jewish Children Attacked in New York – May 17, 2024

US House Demands Biden Delivers Bombs To Israel – May 16, 2024

China’s Growing Threat to U.S. National Security in the Crosshairs of Congress – May 16, 2024

Breaking Christian News

Somalia: Conflict and Insecurity Drive More Than 140,000 New Displacements in Recent Months
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported on Monday that conflict, drought, and massive flooding has caused the internal displacement of 140,000 people in Somalia in the last four months, Medicine Reports.

Nigeria: Military Rescues 350 Hostages Held Captive by Boko Haram
In a rare victory against Islamic terrorists in northern Nigeria, the country’s military forces on Tuesday were able to rescue 350 hostages taken captive by the Boko Haram jihadist organization over a period of years, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Outrage Over Pakistan Sanitation Job Campaign Targeting Christians
A local government-backed advertisement campaign for sanitation workers targeting the Christian minority in Pakistan has highlighted concerns that only Christians should work in these low-paying, dangerous jobs in the mainly Muslim nation.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Kazakhstan: Christians Face Surge in Harassment From Authorities – May 21, 2024

Mexico: 150 Baptist Christians Face Displacement for Their Faith – May 20, 2024

UK: Faith Is More Important to Gen Z Brits Than to Older Generations, Report Finds – May 20, 2024

Christians in Latin America Face Intensifying Persecution – May 16, 2024

Islamic Terrorists Massacre Christians in Democratic Republic of Congo – May 16, 2024

Pakistan: Police Refuse to Arrest Muslim Who Pushed Christian Female Employee Into Electric Cutting Machine – May 16, 2024

Nigeria: Nine Abducted University Students Now Rescued – May 15, 2024

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