Weekly News Brief: 11/29/23

Directors of U.S. and Israeli Intelligence Agencies Meet in Qatar

On Tuesday, the Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, and Israel’s Mossad Chief, David Barnea, held discussions with Qatar’s senior officials in Qatar’s capital, Doha.

All 41 Construction Workers Freed In India

All 41 construction workers who became trapped in a tunnel in northern India after a landslide on 12 November have been rescued, officials say.

Hungary Condemned Over Sovereignty Law

The human rights commissioner of the Council of Europe (CoE) has condemned Hungary’s planned sovereignty law that could lead to the jailing of journalists, dissidents, and others “threatening national sovereignty” or “serving foreign interests.”

Latest World News Headlines

Germany: Antisemitic Incidents Increased by 320% Since Oct. 7 Hamas Attack on Israel – November 28, 2023

IAEA Fails to Adopt Resolution on Iran’s Nuclear Program Amid Fears of Escalating Middle East Conflict – November 27, 2023

Damascus Airport Experiences Operational Disruption Again Following Alleged Bombing by Israel Shortly After Resuming Services – November 27, 2023

Ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen at USS Mason rescuing ‘Israel-linked’ tanker – November 27, 2023

US Navy Stops Gunmen’s Attempt to Hijack Israel-Linked Tanker off Yemen – November 26, 2023

Third Tanker Linked to Israel Seized off Yemen – November 26, 2023

Ukraine Remembers Famine as Russian Drones Threaten Supplies (Worthy News Radio) – November 26, 2023

Chinese Hospitals Struggle with Surge in Child Pneumonia Cases, Alarming WHO – November 26, 2023

Kyiv Facing ‘Largest Russian Drone Attack’ In War  – November 25, 2023

NATO Members Ill-Prepared To Fight Russia – November 24, 2023

Breaking Israel News

EU and Arab Nations Agree Two-State Solution to Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is Required After War in Gaza Has Ended

The European Union and the heads of a number of Arab states agreed on Monday that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be resolved through a two-state solution, with EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell adding that the Palestinian Authority should rule the Gaza Strip once the Hamas terror group has been removed from power there, Reuters reports.

US Tells Israel to Avoid “Significant” Displacement of Palestinians in Southern Gaza Once Military Operations Resume

The US has informed Israel that if it resumes its ground offensive to dismantle Hamas in Gaza, it must operate with greater precision to avoid “significant further displacement” of Palestinian civilians in the southern part of the Strip, the Associated Press reports.

Israel Says Dozen Hostages Released

Israel said Tuesday that Hamas had released 12 more hostages, including 10 Israeli citizens and two Thai nationals.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Musk’s Starlink is Coming to Israel – November 28, 2023

US Sends Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Warns Israel to Let Aid Enter Even After Ceasefire – November 28, 2023

Hamas Violates Ceasefire; Israeli Jets Scrambled Over Gaza – November 28, 2023

11 Released Israeli Hostages On Way To Israel – November 27, 2023

Sunday’s Hostage Release Frees 17 Individuals, Including 14 Israelis and 3 Foreign Nationals – November 26, 2023

Hamas Using Hostage Exchange Deals to Employ “Psychological Warfare” in Separating Families – November 26, 2023

Tel Aviv Rally Calling for the Releases of All Hostages Draws Over 100,000 – November 26, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

House Overwhelming Passes Resolutions Recognizing Israel’s Right to Exist and Demands Hamas Release Hostages

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed two measures: one affirming Israel’s right to exist and the other demanding that Hamas, a designated terrorist organization by the U.S., release the remaining hostages from the deadly massacre in Israel on Nov. 7, known in Israel as the “Black Sabbath.”

Biden Sends Email to 813K Borrowers on Student Loan Forgiveness

Approximately 813,000 student loan borrowers received an email from President Joe Biden, informing them of their debt forgiveness due to his actions, the White House said on Tuesday.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Moody’s Dims Credit Outlook for U.S. Federal Government – November 29, 2023

Judge Rejects Nevada Ballot Initiative Seeking to Codify Abortion – November 29, 2023

Trump Pursues Proof of Election Fraud in Federal Criminal Case – November 28, 2023

Biden’s Failed Immigration Policy Projected to Cost Taxpayers $451 Billion Annually – November 28, 2023

Idaho Petitions Supreme Court to Block Lower Court’s Ruling Against Pro-Life Law – November 27, 2023

Over 2,500 NYPD Officers Abruptly Resign – November 27, 2023

US Government Secretly Collecting Trillion Phone Records – November 26, 2023

Breaking Christian News

Pakistan: Islamist Murders Christian Man After Claiming to Hate Jews and Christians

A young Christian man in Punjab, Pakistan, was murdered earlier this month by a Muslim neighbor whose historically violent behavior and claimed hatred of Christians and Jews worsened after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the Hamas Palestinian terror group, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. 

Nigeria: Kano State Islamic Police Threaten to Kill 5 Christian Girls Because “Israel is Killing Our Sisters in Gaza”

Five Christian girls in Nigeria’s Kano state were recently violently harassed by Islamic police who blocked them from going to church and who threatened they might kill them, saying: “Israel is killing our sisters in Gaza,” International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Major Watchdog Group Says Chinese Church Is Not In Decline, Despite Pew Report to the Contrary – November 28, 2023

Nigeria Church Leaders Killed; Grieving Christians Ask Prayers – November 28, 2023

UK: Christian Professor Fired from Bible College Over Social Media Post Against Homosexuality – November 28, 2023

Belarus Pentecostals Appeal Against Liquidation – November 27, 2023

Arizona: Street Evangelist Showing Signs of Recovery After Shooting Attack, “We’re Never Going to Stop Outreaching and Sharing the Gospel” – November 27, 2023

Christian Schoolboy Escapes From Muslim Kidnappers In Nigeria – November 27, 2023

India: Uttar Pradesh Pastor Arrested, Detained for Allegedly Converting Hindus to Christianity – November 23, 2023

News from this Week 9/7/22

Nuclear deal with Iran off the table for time being, US has indicated to Israel

A new nuclear deal between Iran and world powers is off the table and will not be signed in the foreseeable future, The Times of Israel’s sister site Zman Yisrael has learned. This is the message that was conveyed to Prime Minister Yair Lapid in his recent conversations with US President Joe Biden and other administration officials.

Suspect In Canada Mass Killings Found Dead; Other Attacker Still Running

One of the two men suspected of carrying out a massacre within an indigenous community in western Canada has been found dead, police confirmed.

Britain’s New PM Liz Truss Facing Unrest

Liz Truss became Britain’s prime minister on Tuesday after Queen Elizabeth II asked her to form a government as the nation faces its biggest challenges in years.

Latest World News Headlines

Europe’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant Of Grid As Fire Raises Concerns – September 7, 2022

Somalia is facing catastrophic deadly famine, UN says – September 5, 2022

Liz Truss Britain’s Next Prime Minister Amid Recession Fears – September 5, 2022

Dutch Minister Resigns Over Nitrogen Rallies – September 5, 2022

Court Deals Blow To Russian Press By Revoking Novaya Gazeta Print License – September 5, 2022

Iran says it’s considering purchase of advanced Sukhoi Su-35 jets from Russia – September 5, 2022

Kenya’s Supreme Court Confirms William Ruto As Presidential Winner – September 5, 2022

Breaking Israel News

Lapid: Israel will act as it “sees fit” to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear bomb

As the Vienna talks on reviving the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Iran nuclear agreement appear to have faltered yet again, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid warned Tuesday that Israel will act as it sees fit to thwart Iranian efforts to obtain a nuclear bomb, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.

IDF publishes 2002 intelligence document warning of Syria’s nuclear aspirations

The Israel Defense Forces have published a previously secret intelligence document from 2002, in which the Military Intelligence Directorate warned Syria may be seeking to launch a military nuclear program, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Alleged Israeli airstrikes target Syrian airports for second time in week – September 6, 2022

Israel, US conduct joint missile-defense exercise – September 5, 2022

In signal to Iran, Israeli jets again escort US nuclear-capable bombers through region – September 5, 2022

IDF Has Arrested 1,500 Terror Operatives, ‘Lack of Governance’ By The PA in West Bank to Blame For Violence: Chief of Staff – September 5, 2022

Breaking U.S. News

Senate Democrats Could Link Same-Sex Marriage, Gov’t Funding Bills: Source

Democratic leadership in the U.S. Senate could add language protecting gay marriage rights to a stopgap bill to keep the federal government funded in a bid to increase pressure on Republicans to support it, a Democratic source said on Tuesday.

Tropical Storm Earl expected to become hurricane

Tropical Storm Earl is expected to become a hurricane later this week.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Mass Shootings Sweep Democrat-Run Cities During Labor Day Weekend – September 6, 2022

Disney normalizes the occult, distributes animated series centering on 13-year-old daughter of Satan – September 5, 2022

Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Plan Might Cost Up to $1 Trillion – September 5, 2022

Judge Grants Trump Bid for Special Master in Document Search – September 5, 2022

California school district tries to shut down private Christian school over building concern – September 5, 2022

Biden Asks Congress For $11.7 Billion In Additional Funds For Ukraine – September 4, 2022

Battle over ‘In God We Trust’ displays at Texas schools may hinge on state’s First Amendment rights – September 4, 2022

Breaking Christian News

Ireland: Christian teacher jailed for contempt of court following school row over transgender pronouns

A Christian teacher in Ireland has been jailed for contempt of court after being suspended from the school he taught at for refusing to address a transgender student by their preferred pronoun, Christian Today (CT) reports.

Somali pastor violently attacked by father-in-law for leaving Islam

A Somali pastor sustained severe injuries when his Somali father-in-law violently assaulted him last month for refusing to return to Islam, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Somalis believe they are born Muslim, and anyone who leaves Islam can be charged with apostasy and sentenced to death.

Nigeria: Christian man hacked to death at National Youth Service Corps headquarters

A young Christian man serving with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nigeria’s Adamawa state was hacked to death with machetes on August 26 in what is believed to have been a targeted attack, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Philippines Charismatic Pastors Step Up Evangelism In Devastated Mindanao – September 4, 2022

Mozambique: Christians in danger as Islamic terror insurgency continues – September 1, 2022

Uganda: Three former imams face death threats after conversion to Christianity – September 1, 2022

Christian radio station forced out of Ukraine by Zelensky’s anti-Russian language law – August 31, 2022

Nigeria: Christian woman murdered while cleaning her church – August 30, 2022

Somalia: Christians vulnerable as death toll reaches 21 in al-Shabaab attack – August 30, 2022

Nigeria faces ‘sustained campaign to wipe out Christianity’ while government does nothing – August 29, 2022