Weekly News Brief 1/7/26

Featured Stories

U.S. Says Maduro Ousted After Caracas Strikes; Trump Claims America Will “Run” Venezuela Temporarily

U.S. President Donald J. Trump said Saturday that the United States will temporarily “run” Venezuela after American forces carried out large-scale military strikes in the capital Caracas and detained Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, according to U.S. officials.

US Captures Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro In Strikes; Leader Flown Out Of Country – Jan.3.2026

At Least Five Killed as Iran Protests Enter Fifth Day Amid Deepening Economic Crisis – Jan.1.2026

Breaking World News

Tear Gas Fired at Tehran Grand Bazaar as Iran Protests Enter Second Week, Currency Hits New Low

Iranian security forces confronted large demonstrations at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on Tuesday with tear gas and a heavy police presence, as nationwide protests entered a second week and the country’s currency plunged to a historic low.

Rubio Says U.S. Aims to Buy Greenland as Trump Keeps Military Option on Table

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers during a closed briefing Monday that recent White House rhetoric about Greenland does not signal an imminent U.S. invasion, emphasizing instead that the administration’s preferred goal is to purchase the island from Denmark, according to people familiar with the discussion.

Britain And France Prepare Ukraine Troop Deployment As U.S. Backs Security Guarantees

Britain and France, both members of the NATO military alliance, have agreed to prepare for the deployment of troops to Ukraine if the war-torn country reaches a peace deal with neighboring Russia.

Venezuela Cracks Down After U.S. Seizure of Maduro, Journalists Detained and Paramilitaries Deployed

Dutch Court Jails Father And Brothers For “Honor” Killing Of 18-Year-Old Woman

Vondelkerk Fire Shakes Amsterdam In Deadly New Year (Worthy News In-Depth) (VIDEO)

Maduro, Wife Plead Not Guilty In First Court Appearance

Iran Regime in ‘Survival Mode’ as Protests Spread Nationwide, Trump Warns of U.S. Action

Scores of Men Killed in South Africa’s Circumcision Practices, Sparking Spiritual Debate

Criminal Investigations After Swiss Bar Fire Kills Dozens (Worthy News Radio)

Search Intensified For Missing Spanish Family After Tourist Boat Sinks In Indonesia

Bulgaria Adopts Euro Amid Celebration And Public Concern

Breaking Israel News

Israel, Syria, U.S. Announce Joint Security Mechanism in Rare Step Toward De-Escalation

Israel, Syria and the United States have agreed to establish a new “joint fusion mechanism” aimed at enhancing security coordination, intelligence sharing and military de-escalation, marking the most significant formal cooperation between Jerusalem and Damascus in decades.

Netanyahu: Israel and U.S. United on Iran as Protests Rock Islamic Republic

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel and the United States are in full agreement on how to confront Iran, describing his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump as a strategic partnership that will drive continued Israeli security successes in 2026.

Israel, Syria to Resume U.S.-Mediated Talks as Trump Presses for Security Deal

Senior Israeli and Syrian officials are set to resume high-level negotiations this week in talks mediated by the United States, marking a renewed diplomatic push after months of stalled progress, according to reports by i24NEWS and Axios.

Trump, Netanyahu: Hamas Must Disarm for Peace Plan to Move Forward

Trump Gives Israel Green Light to Act Against Hezbollah if Disarmament Fails

Immigration From U.S. and Europe to Israel Surges in 2025 Despite Overall Decline in Arrivals

Israel Enforces New NGO Registration Rules, Bars 37 Groups From Gaza and West Bank

Israel, U.S. Give Hamas Two-Month Deadline to Disarm

Boeing Awarded $8.6 Billion Contract for F-15s as U.S. Military Aid to Israel Continues

Trump Signals Backing for Israeli Action Against Iran, Warns U.S. Will Act on Nuclear Threat

Netanyahu Seeks Firm U.S. Guarantees on Gaza, Hostages, and Hamas Disarmament Ahead of Trump Summit

Breaking U.S. News

Trump-Led Federal Crackdown Slashed Violent Crime in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Tuesday that a federal crime crackdown in the nation’s capital has led to dramatic reductions in violent crime, crediting the effort to President Donald Trump’s public safety initiative.

White House Pushes Back on Jan. 6 Narrative, Accuses Democrats of Political Rewriting

The White House marked the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach by launching a new website aimed at challenging what it says is a Democrat-driven distortion of events and years of politically motivated prosecutions against Americans who participated in protests that day.

Ninth Circuit Revives Christian Ministry’s Fight to Defend Faith-Based Hiring Rights

A federal appeals court has handed a key win to religious liberty advocates, allowing the Union Gospel Mission of Yakima to move forward with its constitutional challenge against Washington state’s hiring restrictions.

ICE Deploys Facial-Recognition Technology to Accelerate Immigration Arrests Under Trump

Democrats Accused of Flip-Flop After Trump Removes Venezuelan Dictator Maduro

Congress Faces Govt. Shutdown Date, Health Care Bills, Epstein On Return

U.S. Senate Races Will Decide Balance Of Congress In 2026

Zohran Mamdani Sworn In As New York City’s Mayor

Trump Pulls National Guard From Democrat-Run Cities After Court Defeats, Warns Troops Could Return

Federal Crackdown Targets Massive Fraud Networks in Minnesota

AG Vows Continued Probe Into Alleged ‘Government Weaponization’ Under Obama, Biden

Suspect In Jan. 6 Pipe Bomb Case Confesses, According To Officials

Breaking Christian News

Sudan Drone Strike Kills Christians on Way to Christmas Worship

At least 11 Christians were killed and 18 others seriously wounded when a drone operated by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) struck civilians traveling to Christmas celebrations in South Kordofan state on Dec. 25, according to local sources.

Pastor Seriously Injured in Machete Attack Outside Church in Eastern Uganda

A Christian pastor was seriously injured after being attacked by a group of Muslim assailants wielding sharp objects in eastern Uganda, according to an exclusive report by Morning Star News.

Angry Villagers Destroy Christian Homes in Laos, Pastor Tied to a Pole for Evangelism

Tens Of Thousands Of Christians Celebrate Christmas and the New Year In Indonesia’s Capital (VIDEO)

Pakistani Christian Girl, 14, Abducted and Raped, Family Says

Pakistan Pastor Murder Case Takes Dramatic Turn As Police Name Wife, Lover As “Masterminds” (Worthy News Investigation)

Christians Blocked From Christmas Worship In Indonesia’s West Java Amid Extremism Concerns

Weekly News Brief 9/17/25

Featured Stories

U.S. and U.K. Seal $42 Billion “Tech Prosperity Deal” on AI and Innovation

The United States and the United Kingdom have signed a sweeping technology pact that will bring $42 billion in American tech investment into Britain, cementing closer transatlantic ties in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and nuclear energy.

US Tech Helped Build China’s ‘Digital Cage,’ Trapping Families, Christians and Uyghurs – Sep.10.2025

Trump Task Force Report Alleges Biden Administration Weaponized Federal Government Against Christians – Sep.7.2025

Canadian Study Links Abortion to Higher Risk of Psychiatric Hospitalization – Sep.4.2025

Breaking World News

Several Nations Threaten Eurovision Boycott Over Israel (Worthy News In-Depth) (Video)

Several nations have threatened to boycott the world’s largest televised song competition if Israel participates.

U.S. Designates Four Iran-Aligned Militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

The U.S. Department of State on Wednesday announced the designation of four Iran-backed militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), escalating pressure on Tehran and its network of proxies across the Middle East.

Protests, Clashes, and Chants of ‘Death to Khamenei’ Mark Third Anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s Death in Iran

Iran erupted in protests overnight as thousands took to the streets to mark the third anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death, the young Kurdish woman killed in custody by the regime’s morality police after refusing to wear a hijab.

Dutch Jewish Leader Files Police Complaint Against Punk-rap Duo Bob Vylan Over Hate Speech

Russia Bombards Ukraine as Zelenskyy Urges Stronger Air Defenses And US Sanctions (Worthy News Radio)

Trump and Starmer Set to Launch “Golden Age” of Nuclear Power with Landmark U.S.-U.K. Deals

U.S. Military Conducts Second Strike on Venezuelan Vessel, Killing Three in Escalating Anti-Drug Campaign

Trump Cites China In Call To Scrap Quarterly Reports For US Companies

Nepal Death Toll Climbs To 72 Amid Anti-Corruption Protests Fueled By Social Media Ban

NATO Rolls Out Eastern Flank Defense After Drone Incursions (Worthy News Radio)

London Sees Massive “Unite the Kingdom” Rally Led by Tommy Robinson, Featuring Elon Musk, Tribute to Charlie Kirk

Free Media Awards For Journalists In Troubled Hungary, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Azerbaijan

Breaking Israel News

Israel Declares ‘Iron Beam’ Laser Defense System Operational, Set for Nationwide Deployment

Israel on Wednesday announced that its long-awaited laser air defense system, known as the “Iron Beam,” is now fully operational following a series of advanced tests. The Defense Ministry and developer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems said the first batteries will be delivered to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) by the end of the year, marking a historic first for military technology worldwide.

EU Proposes Sanctions on Far-Right Israeli Ministers, Threatens Trade Suspension Amid Gaza War

The European Commission on Wednesday formally unveiled a proposal to sanction far-right Israeli ministers and partially suspend the European Union’s association agreement with Israel, marking a dramatic escalation of Europe’s response to the war in Gaza.

Netanyahu, Rubio and Huckabee Reopen 2,000-Year-Old Pilgrimage Road in Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Monday formally opened the restored Pilgrimage Road in Jerusalem’s City of David, the ancient thoroughfare once used by Jewish worshipers ascending to the Temple Mount during the Second Temple era.

IDF Launches Second Phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots in Gaza City

Israel Reportedly Backs Druze Fighters in Syria as U.S. Pressures Damascus Toward Security Pact with Jerusalem

IDF Tanks Enter Heart of Gaza City as Ground Invasion Begins

Israel’s Netanyahu Accepts Responsibility For Qatar Strike As U.S. Backs His Campaign Against Hamas

Israel Fires Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles at Hamas Leaders in Qatar

UN General Assembly Endorses Declaration for Palestinian Statehood, Israel Calls It a “Prize for Terror”

IDF: Over 200,000 Flee Gaza City as Operation “Gideon’s Chariots II” Looms

Qatar to Host Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit After Israeli Strike on Hamas Leaders in Doha

Breaking U.S. News

Fed Cuts Rates for First Time This Year, Signals More to Come

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered interest rates for the first time in nine months, citing signs of a cooling labor market and persistent uncertainty in the U.S. economy.

Trump Says Biden DOJ Tried to “Force Charlie Kirk Out of Business” Through FBI Election Probe

President Donald Trump on Tuesday night accused the Biden administration of targeting slain conservative leader Charlie Kirk and his organization, Turning Point USA, as part of a sweeping FBI investigation that he said was designed to silence political opponents.

Charlie Kirk Assassination Exposes Biden’s Politicized Terrorism Narrative, Inflated Data

The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has reignited fierce debate over how the United States defines and confronts domestic terrorism, exposing political fault lines in the Biden administration’s approach to intelligence and law enforcement.

Trump Announces First-Ever Midterm GOP Convention Ahead of 2026 Elections

Legislation To Designate Antifa A Terror Organization To See House Action

Death Penalty To Be Sought For Charlie Kirk Assassination

Trump ‘100%’ Supports Designating Antifa A Domestic Terror Organization

Memorial Service Set For Charlie Kirk; Kelly Calls For Unity

Senate Republicans Cement ‘Nuclear Option,’ Permanently Changing Voting Rules

Comfort In The Hill Country: Crosses That Point To Jesus, Salvation, Redemption

Much Of World Mourns Charlie Kirk As Widow Vows To Continue His Christian Legacy

Suspected Attacker Of Charlie Kirk Surrenders After Father’s Plea And Talk With Pastor

Breaking Christian News

Gunmen Kill 22 At Niger Baptism Ceremony And Nearby, As Christian Farmer Escapes Attack (Worthy News Investigation)

Suspected Islamist gunmen on motorbikes have killed at least 22 people in Niger, including about 15 at a baptism ceremony and seven more nearby, officials and witnesses said. In neighboring Nigeria, a Christian farmer in the Abuja area separately told Worthy News he miraculously escaped armed men raiding his land.

Pakistan Flood Boat Capsize Kills 9 Amid Wider Crisis Impacting Millions, Christians Included

At least nine people have died in Pakistan’s Punjab province when a rescue boat capsized during flood relief efforts, authorities confirmed over the weekend amid massive death and destruction that also impacted the Islamic nation’s tiny Christian minority.

US Pastor Felipe Ascencio Shot Dead at Home; Ramona Church Community Mourns

Archaeologists Unearth Roman Council Hall in Laodicea Marked with Early Christian Symbols

Christians in Pakistan Shaken By Killings and Exploitation

Christians Plead For Help As Deadly Floods Devastate Pakistan And Indonesia

Report Warns Christian Persecution Rising In Turkey

Chinese Pastor Zhao Huaiguo Dies ‘After Years Of Persecution’

Weekly News Brief 8/14/25

Featured Stories

Australia to Recognize Palestinian State at UN, Sparking Sharp Israeli Backlash

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday that Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September, aligning with recent moves by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada.

Breaking World News

Ukraine and Britain Discuss Security Guarantees Ahead of Trump-Putin Summit (Worthy News Radio)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has discussed potential security guarantees for his war-torn nation with Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer during talks in London, ahead of Friday’s highly anticipated U.S.-Russia summit on ending the war in Ukraine.

Trump Administration Moves to Designate Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organization, Rubio Confirms

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday that the Trump administration is advancing efforts to officially designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization — a move long championed by Republican lawmakers and many Middle East allies.

Trump Warns Russia Of ‘Very Severe Consequences’ If Talks Fail Over Ceasefire In Ukraine

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia will face “very severe consequences” if he does not agree to a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine during their upcoming summit in Alaska.

Breaking Israel News

IDF Preparing to Call Up 80,000-100,000 Reservists for Gaza City Offensive

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is preparing for one of its largest reserve mobilizations in decades, as military leaders finalize plans for a massive ground offensive to capture Gaza City.

Arab Nations Condemn Netanyahu Over ‘Greater Israel’ Remarks

Several Arab nations and the Arab League issued sharp condemnations Wednesday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to endorse the vision of a “Greater Israel” during a televised interview.

Israel in Talks With Five Nations on Possible Resettlement of Gazans

Israel is engaged in discussions with five countries — Indonesia, Somaliland, Uganda, South Sudan, and Libya — over the potential voluntary resettlement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, according to a report by Israel’s Channel 12.

Breaking U.S. News

Trump’s “Golden Dome” Missile Shield Takes Shape — Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome and Reagan’s “Star Wars” Vision

The Trump administration’s ambitious “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative is moving forward, with newly revealed U.S. government plans showing a four-layer shield — one space-based and three ground-based — designed to protect the American homeland from ballistic missile attacks.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump-Era Religious Liberty Protections for Employers

A federal judge appointed by President Obama has struck a blow to religious liberty, overturning protections that allowed faith-based employers to decline covering abortion and contraceptives in their health insurance plans.

Trump Deploys National Guard, Takes Control of D.C. Police in Sweeping Crackdown on Crime and Homelessness

National Guard troops and hundreds of federal agents have been deployed across Washington, D.C., after President Donald Trump invoked emergency powers to take direct control of the city’s police force and launch an aggressive campaign against violent crime and homelessness in the nation’s capital.

Breaking Christian News

Pakistan Police Detain 80 Christian Villagers For ‘Terrorism’ (Worthy News Investigation)

Pakistani Christians urged prayers Thursday after police reportedly detained some 80 Christian villagers, including children, in Pakistan’s Punjab province on disputed “terrorism” charges.

U.S.-Backed Christian Mission Rescues Thousands of Orphans in Russia, Ukraine in ‘Race against Evil’

A U.S.-based Christian mission says it works to rescue “thousands of orphaned teenagers” across the former Soviet Union from a “race against evil” — a fight to keep them from “being sucked into prostitution, slavery, and organized crime.”

Weekly News Brief 1/16/25

Breaking World News

Russia Launches Missiles Drones At Ukraine
Russia launched missiles and drones at Ukrainian energy facilities on Wednesday, one day after Kyiv claimed it carried out its most significant aerial attack of the war on Russian army factories and energy hubs hundreds of kilometers (miles) from the frontline.

Ukraine Launches Largest Aerial Strike on Russian Territory to Date
In its biggest aerial strike against Russia to date, Ukraine fired six US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles and UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, and launched one of its largest drone attacks on Russian territory overnight on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

Pakistan: Violent Islamist Gang Traps Innocent People Into Blasphemy Charges, Human Rights Lawyers Say
An Islamist gang in Pakistan has targeted and trapped more than 450 people, including Christians, into being wrongfully charged with blasphemy, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Latest World News Headlines

Russia, Iran To Ink Partnership On Military Cooperation, Trade And Energy – January 14, 2025

NATO Chief: ‘Ukraine Not Strong Enough For Peace Talks With Russia’ (Worthy News Focus) – January 14, 2025

China’s Invasion Barges Signal Potential Invasion of Taiwan – January 14, 2025

Europe Must Tackle Antisemitism as Jews Leave in Thousands, Leader Warns – January 14, 2025

Hungary’s Jews Mourn Star Ágnes Keleti, Olympian and Holocaust Survivor – January 13, 2025

Jewish Community Targeted In Protests Over Egypt Youth’s Death In Italy – January 13, 2025

Islamists Seek To Topple’ Egypt’s Sisi After Ousting Syrian Leader (Worthy News Investigation) – January 12, 2025

Yemen Rocked By Deadly Gas Blast After Houthis Attack US Warship, Tel Aviv – January 12, 2025

Egypt: Archaeologists Uncover 3,600-Year-Old Tombs and Artifacts Near Luxor – January 10, 2025

Iranian General: ‘Ouster Assad Major Defeat For Iran’ (Worthy News In-Depth) – January 9, 2025

Breaking Israel News

Negotatiators From Israel, Hamas Reach Ceasefire
Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza, officials said on Wednesday, in the hope of ending the 15-month-war that has killed thousands.

Biden Praises Ceasefire Deal Between Hamas And Israel
After 15 long months of bloodshed in Gaza sparked by the Hamas massacre of 1,200 people in Israel, a hostage and ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel was reached Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden said.

Iran Accuses Israel of Placing Explosives in Iranian Centrifuge
Iran’s Vice-President for Strategic Affairs, Mohammad Javad ZarMif, has accused Israel of planting explosives in Iranian centrifuge equipment, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Holocaust Survivors Tell Their Stories on 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation – January 14, 2025

Israel’s FireDome Wildfire Defense System May Offer Hope For California – January 14, 2025

Hamas Rebuilding Despite Israeli Attacks (Worthy News Analyse) – January 14, 2025

Hamas-Israel Ceasefire Nearing – January 13, 2025

Palestine Group Launches Global Hunt For Israeli Soldiers (Worthy News Investigation) – January 12, 2025

Israel Advances In-House Weapons Production With Two Major Deals – January 9, 2025

Ancient Mosaic Floor with Deuteronomy Bible Verse Uncovered in Southern Israel – January 9, 2025

Breaking U.S. News

Both Sides Raise Concern of Weaponized Justice Department at Bondi Hearing
Accusations of weaponizing the U.S. Department of Justice were hurled by Republicans and Democrats during the confirmation hearing of Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi Wednesday.

Rubio: U.S. Foreign Policy Must Serve National Interests
Safety, strength and prosperity will be the key objectives of the U.S. Department of State under the second Trump administration, Secretary of State nominee Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said during his confirmation hearing Wednesday.

Republicans Introduce Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act
Republicans in the U.S. Senate and House introduced the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which President-elect Donald Trump has said he will sign.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Over 1,000 Inmates Battle LA Wildfires, Earning Pathways to Firefighting Jobs – January 14, 2025

FBI, DHS Warn of Likely Terrorist Attacks – January 14, 2025

House Passes Bill to Ban Transgender Students from Women’s Sports – January 14, 2025

Republican Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Allow Concealed Carry Across US States – January 13, 2025

Zuckerberg Criticizes Biden’s Social Media Censorship Policy, Ends Fact-Checking Program – January 13, 2025

Supreme Court to Consider Reinstating Preventative Care Insurance Coverage Requirements – January 13, 2025

Death Toll Rising In California Fires – January 12, 2025

Breaking Christian News

Africa: Most Deadliest Region for Christians
Africa remains the deadliest region for Christians, with Nigeria ranking as the country where a Christian is most likely to be killed for his or her faith, according to a new report by the Global Christian Relief (GCR) charity and advocacy group.

YouVersion Bible App Saw Nearly 800,000 Installations on First Sunday of 2025
The hugely popular YouVersion Bible App was installed nearly 800,000 times on January 5 this year alone, the Christian Post reports. Launched in 2008 by the US-based Life.Church ministry, YouVersion is available in 2,100 languages and has been installed on 850 million devices worldwide.

Colombia: Christian Leaders and Family Killed in “Premeditated, Targeted Assassinations”
Two protestant Christian church leaders and three Christian family members were recently assassinated in two premeditated incidents in Colombia, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Nigeria: Two Kidnapped Church Pastors Released Amid Ongoing Violence – January 14, 2025

India: Christian Couple Released on Bail Amid Surge in Persecution – January 14, 2025

India: Christian Woman Stripped and Brutalized by Hindu Nationalists on Boxing Day – January 13, 2025

Dozens Of Christians Killed In Nigeria’s Christmas Season Attacks (Worthy News Focus) – January 13, 2025

US Churches Broken In Fires Keep Faith Amid Flames (Worthy News Focus) – January 12, 2025

India Christians Reeling From Attacks (Worthy News Focus) – January 10, 2025

Nigeria: Christians Warned to Remain on High Alert as Fulani Militias Continue Murderous Rampage in Plateau state – January 10, 2025