Weekly News Brief 3/18/25

Breaking World News

U.S. President Trump To Speak Tuesday With Russia’s Putin On Peace In Ukraine
U.S. President Donald J. Trump says he plans to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday and discuss ending the war in Ukraine, which is believed to have killed and injured some 1 million people.

Russia China Defend Iran’s Nuclear Program And Demand End of Sanctions
The United States faces a setback in attempts to build new relations with Russia after Moscow and Beijing called for an end to the “unlawful sanctions” imposed on Iran.

Hundreds of Thousands Rally Against Serbia’s Hardline Leader
Serbia’s hardline President Aleksandar Vucic and his government faced pressure to resign Sunday after hundreds of thousands of people descended on Belgrade for one of the largest mass rallies against his rule.

Latest World News Headlines

Dozens Killed As US Strikes Houthis – Mar.16.2025

Scores Killed In Blaze At North Macedonia Nightclub – Mar.16.2025

Tens Of Thousands Rally Against Hungary’s Orbán – Mar.16.2025

Romania’s Right George Simon Becomes Presidential Candidate – Mar.16.2025

Peruvian Fisherman Found After 94 Days at Sea: ‘I Didn’t Want to Die’ – Mar.16.2025

U.S. Strikes Houthis In Message To Iran – Mar.15.2025

Britain Supports U.S.-Backed Ceasefire for Ukraine – Mar.15.2025

Philippines Ex-President Faces ICC Court As Mothers Mourn Loved Ones (Worthy News In-Depth) – Mar.15.2025

Putin Urges Ukrainian Troops in Russia to Surrender, Citing Trump’s Appeal (Worthy News Focus) – Mar.15.2025

Poland Seeks Stationing U.S. Nuclear Weapons – Mar.14.2025

Breaking Israel News

Israel Launches Airstrikes in Gaza As Cease-Fire Ends
The Israeli Air Force launched a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, targeting Hamas’ infrastructure and several of its mid-level commanders and politburo members as the cease-fire ended late on Monday.

Netanyahu’s Ouster of Key Security Chief Sparks Major Political Crisis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to dismiss Shin Bet director Ronen Bar this week, citing “growing distrust” over time. This marks a major upheaval in Israel’s security leadership during a critical time for the nation.

Israel’s ‘Iron Beam’ to be operational by late 2025
Israel’s Iron Beam laser defense system, set to be operational in roughly nine months, intercepts rockets, drones, and mortars within seconds at a range of up to 7 km using a high-energy fiber laser, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Sunday.

Latest Israel News Headlines

U.S. Proposes Ceasefire Deal to Secure Hostage Release – Mar.13.2025

Israel Rejects UN Report That Accused Israel of “Genocidal Acts” – Mar.13.2025

Israel’s IDF Executes Largest Airstrikes in Two Months on Syrian Regime’s Military Sites – Mar.11.2025

Alawites: ‘Israel Help End Massacres In Syria’ (Worthy News Focus) – Mar.11.2025

Turkey Vetoes Israel’s Participation in NATO Exercise – Mar.10.2025

Israel Airstrikes Target Former Assad Regime Bases in Southern Syria – Mar.10.2025

Israel Cutting Off Power To Gaza – Mar.9.2025

Breaking U.S. News

Trump Declares Biden Pardons ‘Void;’ Cites Digital Signature
In an early morning announcement, President Donald Trump declared Monday that former President Joe Biden’s rash of preemptive pardons issued during his last days in office are “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect.”

Arizona Supreme Court Uses AI-Generated Reporters
Artificial intelligence has arrived at the Arizona Supreme Court.

Court Attempts to Halt Trump Deportations, El Salvador President Says ‘Too Late’
A class action lawsuit was filed on Saturday against the Trump administration after President Donald Trump signed an executive order invoking the Enemy Aliens Act to target, arrest, and remove violent Venezuelan prison gang members, Tren de Aragua (TdA), from the U.S.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Dozens Killed As Violent Tornadoes Hit US – Mar.16.2025

Trump ‘Closing Down’ Voice of America – Mar.15.2025

Government Shutdown Averted Mere Hours Before Deadline – Mar.15.2025

Schumer Says He’ll Now Vote to Approve GOP Spending Bill, Avoid Shutdown – Mar.14.2025

Democrats Gamble With Government Shutdown as Deadline Looms – Mar.13.2025

Report: Foreign-Born Population Hits ‘All-Time High’ – Mar.13.2025

U.S. Department of Education to Cut Half of Employees – Mar.12.2025

Breaking Christian News

India Christians Rally Against Anti-Conversion Law At Huge Protest
Authorities in northeast India are under pressure after at least tens of thousands of Christians protested against the expected implementation of an “anti-conversion” law that they say unfairly targets the Christian minority.

Christian Group Reports Rising Persecution in India
In 2024, Christians in India experienced significant levels of violence and discrimination, with 640 reported cases, a surge in cases since 2014, according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India’s Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC).

UK Court: Christian Can’t Be Prosecuted For Criticizing Koran
A British court has thrown out the prosecution of a Christian preacher who was surrounded by an angry Muslim mob for criticizing the Koran, deemed a holy book by Muslims.

Latest Christian News Headlines

USCIRF Investigates Continuing Christian Persecution in Myanmar – Mar.13.2025

Nigeria Christian Facing Death Sentence Despite Doubts About Trial (Worthy News Focus) – Mar.13.2025

Iran Sentences Christian Converts To Long Prison Terms – Mar.13.2025

Los Angeles County Bans Church On Beach – Mar.12.2025

Christians Fear Britain Could Introduce Blasphemy Legislation – Mar.11.2025

Christian Girl Rescued by Police from Kidnapper in Pakistan – Mar.10.2025

Catholic Priest Killed In Nigeria As Death Toll Of Christians Rise – Mar.6.2025

News from this Week 12/28/22

Breaking World News

The following news is taken in whole or part from Worthy News Ministries.

Taiwan extends mandatory military service amid rising China threat

The mandatory military service in Taiwan has been extended, President Tsai Ing-wen announced on Tuesday.

Serbia Puts Army On High Alert Near Kosovo (Worthy News Radio)

Serbia says it has put the army on high alert near its border with Kosovo while inside Kosovo, Serbs have erected more roadblocks amid escalating tensions. The standoff comes as Serbia and Kosovo accuse each other of preparing for an armed confrontation.

Latest World News Headlines

North Korean drones ‘violate airspace’ – South Korea scrambles fighter jets and and fires warning shots in response – December 26, 2022

Taiwan Claims China Staged Huge Military Incursion – December 26, 2022

Iran to Israel: Strike Our Nuclear Plant, ‘Tel Aviv Will Re Razed to the Ground’ – December 26, 2022

Moscow: ‘Ukraine Attacks Military Deep Inside Russia, Killing 3’ (Worthy News Radio) – December 26, 2022

Ukraine’s president urges Christmas hope despite attacks (Worthy News Radio) – December 25, 2022

Hungary’s Premier: ‘Dissolve EU Parliament’ – December 25, 2022

Russia warns of military confrontation with the United States (Worthy News Radio) – December 25, 2022

Breaking Israel News

As fears for LGBTQ+ rights mount, Israel may appoint first-ever openly gay Knesset speaker

As Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu continues to dole out jobs to fellow lawmakers from his conservative Likud party ahead of the establishment of the new government, it seems increasingly likely that Amir Ohana will be named the next speaker of the Knesset, becoming the first openly gay person to hold the position.

Netanyahu government set for swearing-in Thursday, but hurdles remain

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu will attempt to swear in his governing coalition of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties on Thursday, Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin said Monday, with the former premier looking to retake power before a deadline to get his unruly partners in line.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Biblical Siloam Pool next to Temple Mount to be fully excavated – December 27, 2022

Israeli military holds exercise along Lebanon border – December 26, 2022

Netanyahu to freeze annexation for Saudi peace deal – December 25, 2022

Israel’s Christian population grew 2% last year – Central Bureau of Statistics – December 25, 2022

Breaking U.S. News

House Ways and Means Committee to release Trump tax returns on Friday

The House Ways and Means Committee will release former President Donald Trump’s tax returns on Friday, ending a years-long effort by Democrats to force the 45th president to release his personal finances.

Federal Judge Says San Francisco Can’t Clear Homeless Camps

A federal judge has temporarily banned San Francisco from clearing homeless encampments, saying the city violated its own policies by failing to offer other shelter.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Supreme Court temporarily halts termination of Title 42, will hear case in February – December 27, 2022

White House slams migrant buses to veep’s residence despite releasing 1.4 million border crossers – December 26, 2022

Biden Declares Federal Emergency for Bilzzard-Ravaged New York State – December 26, 2022

Powerful Winter Storm Leaves 19 Dead, and nearly 2 Million Without Power – December 25, 2022

Congress will have spent nearly $100 billion on Ukraine war once $1.7T omnibus bill is enacted – December 25, 2022

New DHS data shows border is deteriorating even before end of Title 42 – December 25, 2022

Drug overdose deaths topped 106,000 in 2021, CDC says in final report – December 25, 2022

Breaking Christian News

Iran: Regime warns Chaldean and Assyrian Christians not to participate in anti-government protests

Christians belonging to the Chaldean Catholic Church and Assyrian Church of the East denominations in Iran have been threatened by state security forces not to join the ongoing nationwide anti-regime protests or even to post support for the uprising on social media, on pain of arrests and persecution, the Christian Post reports.

Algeria: Christian convert from Islam imprisoned for three years on account of his faith

An Algerian Christian man has now been sentenced to three years in prison on account of his faith after having been brought back from Tunisia against his will in 2021, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

India: Hindu extremists attack, displace Christians in pre-Christmas riots

Radicalized Hindu nationalists in India’s Chhattisgarh state carried out a series of violent riots earlier this month, attacking Christian communities in 20 villages during the run-up to Christmas, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. 

Latest Christian News Headlines

Scores Of Christians Killed In Nigeria Ahead Of Christmas – December 25, 2022

Myanmar Military Detains Prominent Church Leader As Unrest Spreads – December 24, 2022

Wife Of Jailed Chinese Church Leader Urges Prayers – December 24, 2022

Gallup: 31% of Americans Go to Church Every Week or Almost Every Week – December 22, 2022

Sudan church burned down by suspected Islamic extremist – December 22, 2022

Persecuted Chinese congregation seeks refuge in the US – December 22, 2022

Uganda: Christian teacher and son violently attacked by Muslim extremists, “We survived by the grace of the Lord Jesus” – December 22, 2022