Weekly News Brief 3/20/24

Breaking World News

USCIRF Calls For US To Support Iraqi Victims Of ISIS On Anniversary Of Genocide Determination
Marking the eighth anniversary of the 2016 determination by the United States that ISIS carried out a genocide against northern Iraq’s Yazidis, Christians, and Shi’a Muslims two years earlier, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called on the US government to do more to support survivors of the 2014 jihadist campaign that involved mass murders, systematic abductions, rape and sexual slavery, forced labor, and forced religious conversion to Sunni Islam.

Hong Kong Passes Tough Security Law Limiting Liberties
Critics feared losing more civil liberties in Hong Kong on Wednesday after local lawmakers unanimously approved a new national security that grants the government more power to quash dissent.

U.S. Will Stay in NATO If European Nations Pay ‘Fair Share’, Trump Says
 Posted on: Tuesday, March 19, 2024
If re-elected, former President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the U.S. would stay in NATO as long as European countries pay their ‘fair share’ and ‘play fair.’

Latest World News Headlines

Russia’s Re-elected Putin Warns Of World War III – March 18, 2024

Yemen: Houthi Terror Group Has Obtained Hypersonic Missile, “Death to America, Death to Israel” – March 18, 2024

Russia’s Putin Claims Election Victory Amid Protests and Deadly Attacks (Worthy News Radio) – March 18, 2024

Hungary’s Orbán Under Pressure Over Death Navalny (Worthy News Radio) – March 17, 2024

Thousands Protest Government ‘Media Crackdown’ In Slovakia – March 17, 2024

Japan Court Calls Denying Same-Sex Marriage ‘Unconstitutional’ – March 15, 2024

Gunfire Erupts In Haiti As Gangs Frighten Nation – March 15, 2024

Putin Poised To Win Presidential Vote Despite Fighting Inside Russia – March 14, 2024

Biden Administration Renews Iran Sanctions Waiver Allowing $10 Billion For State Sponsor of Terrorism – March 14, 2024

Scores of Migrants Drown In Mediterranean Disaster – March 14, 2024

Breaking Israel News

International Court of Justice Will Hear Nicaragua’s Case Against Germany Over Israel Aid and UNRWA Defunding
As tens of thousands of Nicaraguans are fleeing their homes to escape President Daniel Ortega’s brutal dictatorship, the Nicaraguan government is bringing the German government before the International Court of Justice to demand it stop giving military aid to Israel and start funding the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) again.

Netanyahu Tells Biden To Prepare for Ground Operation in Rafah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed a Knesset committee that the IDF is set to launch a ground operation in Rafah, and he relayed this decision to US President Joe Biden during their phone conversation yesterday.

Syria Reports Israeli Strikes on Military Sites Near Damascus
Syria’s Defense Ministry confirmed that Israeli missile strikes allegedly hit military installations outside of Damascus. The ministry noted that while several military sites were hit, Syrian air defenses managed to intercept a number of the incoming missiles. According to regional intelligence and Syrian sources, these attacks represent an escalation in strikes targeting the fortifications of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which are located in the vicinity of Damascus.

Latest Israel News Headlines

300 Terrorists Arrested, 50 Killed As Raid on Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital Enters 2nd Day – March 19, 2024

Israel: Complex of 2,000 Year-Old Jewish Revolt Bolt Holes Discovered in Galilee – March 19, 2024

Trump Seeks Broader Israel-Mideast Peace – March 18, 2024

Israel Offers Six-Week Gaza Truce for 40 Hostages – March 18, 2024

Israel Raids Gaza’s Shifa Hospital Killing Hamas Senior Commander – March 18, 2024

Iran and Hezbollah Discuss Strategy in Beirut As War Looms In Lebanon – March 17, 2024

Israel Is Fighting ‘Multi-Front War’ and Facing Security Challenges During Ramadan, IDF Chief Says – March 16, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

Poll Finds Most Americans Believe Role Of Religion Is Declining In US
A new poll by the Pew Research Center shows that 80% of US adults now believe that the role of religion in public life is diminishing. The poll was conducted Feb. 13-25, 2024, among a nationally representative sample of 12,693 American adults.


Texas Immigration Law Blocked by Appeals Court Despite Supreme Court Allowing State to Arrest Illegal Immigrants
Just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court authorized its implementation, a federal appeals court overturned its decision, preventing Texas’ new anti-illegal immigration law from taking effect and once again halting its enforcement.

Presumptive Nominees Biden, Trump Sweep Tuesday Primaries
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the presumptive presidential nominees for their respective parties, won big again in Tuesday’s primaries.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

US Conservative Christians Denied Bank Access Under Biden Policies (Worthy News In-Depth) – March 20, 2024

Supreme Court Allows Texas To Enforce New Border Law – March 19, 2024

US: Republican and Democratic Lawmakers Agree To Suspend UNRWA Funding Until 2025 – March 19, 2024

Lawmakers, White House Announce Budget Deal To Keep Government Open – March 19, 2024

Layoffs Continue Nationwide As Economic Concerns Rise – March 19, 2024

Biden Border Policy Critics Lament ‘Migrant Crime Wave’ – March 19, 2024

Trump Can’t Secure $464M For New York Fraud Case, His Lawyers Say – March 18, 2024

Breaking Christian News

Christian Ministry Serves Thousands Of Ukrainian Refugees In Moldova, “Pray For Us”
An international Christian mission has been ministering to thousands of Ukrainian refugees who fled their homes for the former USSR country of Moldova after the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine began two years ago, CBN News reports. Headquartered in Tennessee, USA, Mission Eurasia has outreaches in the 13 countries of the former Soviet Union and Poland.

Uganda: Islamists Murder Christian Man For Leading Muslims To Faith In Christ
Radicalized Islamists murdered a Christian preacher in eastern Uganda earlier this month because he had been leading Muslims to faith in Christ, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Gaza: Palestinians Having Visions Of Jesus, Christians Remain In War Zone To Offer Gospel Hope
Taysir Saada, a former sniper for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), has revealed that Gaza Palestinians caught up in the Hamas war against Israel are having dreams and visions of Jesus and are rejoicing as they accept Him as their Savior, CBN News reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

India: Christian Couples Sentenced To Two Years Imprisonment For “Alluring” Hindu Relative To Become Christian – March 18, 2024

Cuba: Government Continues Crackdown On Christians, Religious Freedom – March 18, 2024

South Korean Christian Ministry Says North Korea Needs Prayer And Evangelism – March 18, 2024

US Missionaries Trapped in Violence-Torn Haiti – March 15, 2024

Wycliffe Associates Bringing Bible Translation Technology to Indigenous Translators Lacking Internet Access – March 15, 2024

Nicaragua: Female Prisoners Assaulted By Jail Staff For Praying Aloud – March 15, 2024

Pakistan: Christian Parents Worry Abducted 10-Year-Old Daughter May Be Sex-Trafficked – March 14, 2024

Weekly News Brief; 7/19/23

North Korea Detains US Soldier

U.S. President Joe Biden faced another foreign policy crisis Tuesday as defense officials confirmed that the person crossing unauthorized into North Korea was an American soldier.

US Deploys Nuke Sub to South Korea

The United States deployed a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea on Tuesday for the first time in four decades, as the allies warned North Korea that any use of the North’s nuclear weapons in combat would result in the end of its regime.

Russia Attacks Ukraine Ports After Ending Grain Deal (Worthy News Radio)

Russia has warned Ukraine of security risks if it continues shipping grain out of Ukrainian Black Sea ports without Moscow’s approval. The Kremlin made the announcement after pulling out of a grain deal and then ordering overnight air strikes on Ukrainian port cities.

Latest World News Headlines

Russia Ends Grain Deal After Bridge Attack – July 17, 2023

Around 700 million people worldwide are facing hunger, UN reports – July 17, 2023

U.S. sending F-16 fighter jets to protect ships from Iranian seizures in Gulf region – July 17, 2023

Last Grain Ship Leaves Ukraine Worrying Africa – July 17, 2023

EU, Tunisia Sign Migration Deal After Disasters – July 17, 2023

Iran Resumes Enforcing Hijab After Deadly Protests – July 16, 2023

Thousands Attend Budapest Pride Protesting Hungary’s LGBT Law – July 16, 2023

Breaking Israel News

Two Syrian soldiers injured in alleged Israeli strikes near Damascus

Two Syrian soldiers were injured after alleged Israeli airstrikes targeted sites in the Damascus area on Tuesday night, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA.

Laser air defenses coming to Israeli border communities soon

Within approximately 18 months, Israel is expected to deploy the world’s first laser defense systems, on borders that have Iranian-backed terrorist armies on the other side.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Israeli protesters block highways in ‘day of disruption’ against Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan – July 18, 2023

Biden invites Netanyahu to Washington during first conversation in 4 months – July 17, 2023

Netanyahu Vows Crackdown on Military No-Shows in Judicial Protest – July 17, 2023

Netanyahu Allies ‘Shocked’ Israel’s High Court will Hear Petition to Disqualify Prime Minister – July 16, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

US officially cuts all funding to Wuhan Institute of Virology

The US government on Monday officially cut off all future federal funding for the controversial Wuhan Institute of Virology from which it is suspected the COVID-19 virus originated, citing the lab’s violation of safety protocols and refusal to submit required documents on security, the New York Post reports. The US decision will affect new contracts, grants, and other transactions at the Institute.

House Democrat seeks to eliminate “husband” and “wife” from federal law

A House Democratic lawmaker have proposed legislation to eliminate the terms “husband” and “wife” from federal law in favor of gender neutral terminology.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Court ruling for web designer may not protect others opposing same-sex weddings – July 18, 2023

House to vote on pro-Israel resolution ahead of President Herzog’s visit – July 17, 2023

Jan. 6 defendant appeals to Supreme Court in case that could upend hundreds of riot charges – July 17, 2023

Iowa judge blocks state’s six-week abortion ban – July 17, 2023

Despite Supreme Court ruling, Biden unveils $39 billion in new student loan debt forgiveness – July 16, 2023

Biotech Lab Working to Create Lab-Grown Human Eggs – July 16, 2023

Fed Set to Raise Rates in July Despite Inflation Slowdown – July 13, 2023

Breaking Christian News

Indonesia Christians: ‘Muslim Crackdown On Congregations’ (Worthy News In-Depth)

Indonesian Christians said Tuesday that several church congregations have been “disbanded” by angry Muslim protesters and local authorities. “In one of them, my children worship,” a concerned Christian told Worthy News.

Indonesia: North Sumatra Christian worship service again disrupted by Muslims

A Christian congregation in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, had its worship service disrupted by Muslim protestors for the second time in two months on July 2, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. 

Mali: Hundreds of civilians killed by Islamic State fighters, “please pray”

Survivors of Islamic State attacks in Mali have given testimony to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) organization that indicates hundreds of civilians in the north-west African country were killed by jihadists in the first half of this year alone, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Mali has been plagued by a staggering rise in Islamic terror attacks since jihadists took over much of its northern section in a coup in 2012.

Latest Christian News Headlines

India: 400 violent attacks on Christians in first half of 2023 – July 18, 2023

Pakistan: Christian man charged with blasphemy is refused bail – July 17, 2023

Uganda: Young man murdered for his faith two weeks after accepting Christ – July 17, 2023

Angry Muslim Crowds Try To Attack Pakistan Christians – July 16, 2023

Afghanistan: Christians face death but the Gospel is going forward – July 13, 2023

Pakistan: Christian man detained on charges of blasphemy for sharing Facebook post with Bible verse – July 13, 2023

There is “no religious freedom in China,” Chinese pastor tells US House Select Committee – July 13, 2023