Weekly News Brief 8/20/25

Featured Stories

Chinese Tech Firm Unveils Plan for World’s First Pregnancy Robot

A Chinese technology company has announced bold plans to release what it calls the world’s first gestation robot–a humanoid machine designed to carry a baby in an artificial womb embedded within its abdomen.

Historic Handshake In Alaska As Trump Meets Putin On Ending War – Aug.15.2025

Australia to Recognize Palestinian State at UN, Sparking Sharp Israeli Backlash – Aug.11.2025

Russia and China Conduct Joint Anti-Submarine Drills After Trump Deploys U.S. Nuclear Subs Near Region – Aug.6.2025

Breaking World News

Iran, Belarus Sign Strategic Agreements to Counter Western Sanctions

Iran and Belarus signed a wide-ranging package of agreements Wednesday aimed at boosting cooperation in defense, industry, and trade while presenting a united front against Western sanctions.

German Jets Scrambled as Russian Strikes Hit Near NATO Border Amid Peace Talks

Two German fighter jets were scrambled overnight from Romania as Russia unleashed one of its largest missile and drone attacks in weeks on Ukraine, with strikes landing less than a mile from NATO territory.

Bishops Warn of Creation in Crisis Amid Disasters

Europe’s church leaders have warned of a “world in crisis” as wildfires, floods, melting glaciers, and deadly heatwaves devastate communities across Europe and Asia. Their concern comes ahead of the 2025 Season of Creation, the annual period of prayer for the environment running from September 1 to October 4.

US Considering Budapest for Putin–Zelenskyy Talks

China to Unveil New Extra-Large Underwater Drones at September Military Parade

Trump Moves Toward Trilateral Peace Talks With Russia and Ukraine

Flooding Kills Hundreds In Pakistan, Kashmir, and Nepal

Trump: ‘No Ceasefire Needed In Ukraine Before Peace Deal’

Bolivia Rejects Socialism as Evangelical Momentum Builds

Zelenskyy Urges U.S. and Europe to Stand With Ukraine as Russia Escalates Attacks (Worthy News Radio)

Earthquake on Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day Injures Dozens, Damaging Church in Sulawesi (Video)

European and NATO Leaders to Join Zelenskyy in Washington for Talks With Trump (Worthy News Radio)

Breaking Israel News

Hamas Cell Attempts Raid on IDF Encampment in Khan Younis; 3 Soldiers Wounded, 10 Terrorists Killed

A cell of at least 18 Hamas operatives attempted to raid an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) encampment in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza on Wednesday morning, in what the military described as a rare and unusual incident.

Israel Moves Forward With Massive Reservist Mobilization Ahead of Gaza City Offensive

Israel is preparing to issue tens of thousands of emergency call-up orders to reservists beginning Wednesday, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) finalize operational plans for a large-scale ground assault on Gaza City, defense officials confirmed.

Israeli Scientists Prepare First Human Trial of Lab-Grown Spinal Cord Implant

A groundbreaking medical experiment in Israel may soon give paralyzed patients the ability to walk again. Researchers at Tel Aviv University, working through biotech company Matricelf, are preparing to perform the world’s first human transplant of a lab-grown spinal cord segment, following years of pioneering laboratory and animal studies.

Trump: Only Destruction of Hamas Will Free Hostages as Mediators Push Ceasefire Deal

Cyprus President Warns of Iranian Nuclear Threat, Reaffirms Alliance with Israel

Massive Protests Sweep Israel as Families Demand Hostage Release, End to Gaza War

Over 200 Global NGOs Urge UN to End Reliance on UNRWA, Back Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

IDF Launches Major Offensive, Destroys Dozens of Terror Targets, Seals Massive Hamas Tunnel Network

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

Arab Nations Condemn Netanyahu Over ‘Greater Israel’ Remarks

Israel in Talks With Five Nations on Possible Resettlement of Gazans

Breaking U.S. News

Nebraska, Trump Administration Open “Cornhusker Clink” Detention Center

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced Monday that the state is partnering with the Trump administration to open a new detention center for illegal immigrants in a remote corner of the state.

Trump Announces Massive Social Security Cleanup — 275,000 Illegal Aliens Removed, 12.4 Million Dead Records Wiped

On the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act last week, President Donald J. Trump declared his administration’s sweeping effort to “Make Social Security Great Again,” celebrating both his new tax relief for seniors and an unprecedented fraud cleanup inside the system.

Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Drag Show Ban at West Texas A&M

A federal appeals court on Monday overturned a ban on student-run drag shows at West Texas A&M University, ruling that the school’s president violated students’ constitutional rights to free expression.

S&P Global Reaffirms U.S. Credit Rating, Says Trump Tariffs Cushion Deficit Impact

Hurricane Erin Forces Evacuations in North Carolina as Category 4 Storm Threatens East Coast

Trump Pledges Executive Order to Scrap Mail-In Ballots, Voting Machines

National Guard Troops in Washington to Begin Carrying Weapons as Trump Expands Crime Crackdown

Non-Partisan Foundation States Average American Will Save Over $3,000 Because of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”

Study Finds 84% of Mail-Order Abortion Pills Going to States With Bans; Pro-Life Advocates Urge Trump Administration to Act

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

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

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

Breaking Christian News

Prayer House Shut Down in Indonesia Amid Church Closures, Mob Attacks (Worthy News Focus)

Rights activists say local authorities in Indonesia’s West Java province have shut down a Christian prayer house and evicted its evangelist leader, underscoring broader concerns about religious freedom in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.

Eritrea Pressured To Release 7 Church Leaders Jailed For Decades (Worthy News In-Depth)

Christian advocacy groups are intensifying calls for Eritrea to release seven church leaders who have been held without trial for more than two decades.

3,800-Year-Old Inscriptions in Sinai May Reference Moses, Stirring Debate Among Scholars

Poll Shows Surge of Faith Among UK Youth, Pointing to a “Quiet Revival”

Bible Revival Among Gen Z Sparks Talk of Prophetic Times

Christian Aid Group Samaritan’s Purse Sends Massive Aid To Gaza (Worthy News In-Depth)

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

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

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 2/4/25

Breaking World News

Swedish Police Say 10 Killed In School Shooting (Update)
At least 10 people have been killed in what the prime minister described as Sweden’s worst mass shooting in the Nordic nation’s history.

Six US Hostages Released From Venezuela Prison, Maduro Accepts Repatriation of Undocumented Migrants in White House Deal
Six American hostages who were imprisoned in Venezuela in recent months were released on Saturday as part of a deal negotiated by White House envoy Richard Grenell.

Trump to Reinstate “Maximum Pressure” on Iran
US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he plans to reinstate the “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran that he practiced during his first term, in order to drive Tehran’s oil exports down to zero and prevent the regime from developing a nuclear bomb, a US official told Reuters.

Latest World News Headlines

Trump to Cut Off Funding to South Africa Over Land Confiscation Law – February 4, 2025

School Shooting In Sweden: At Least Five People Shot – February 4, 2025

Nationalist De Wever Premier Of Belgium – February 4, 2025

Pro-Russia Militia Leader ‘Assasinated’ In Moscow – February 4, 2025

Netherlands, Germany Under Pressure Over Deadly Knife Attacks (Worthy News In-Depth) – February 3, 2025

Trade War Fears Ease as Trump Pauses Tariffs After Concessions from Canada, Mexico – February 3, 2025

Iran Unveils Nuclear-Capable Missile – February 3, 2025

Trump, Mexican President Reach Deal to Delay Tariffs – February 3, 2025

Trump Threatens Tariffs on BRICS Nations If They Move Away From US Dollar – February 3, 2025

Rubio Travels to Panama Amid U.S. Concerns over Canal Control – February 2, 2025

Breaking Israel News

Trump Meets with Netanyahu, Speaks of Permanently Resettling Palestinians
President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, his first meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration.

Trump Administration Prepares New $1 Billion Arms Sale to Israel
The Trump administration has requested congressional approval for a $1 billion arms transfer to Israel, including 4,700 1,000-pound bombs worth over $700 million and Caterpillar-built armored bulldozers valued at $300 million, even as the White House works to maintain a fragile Gaza ceasefire, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Netanyahu Met with Evangelical Leaders in Washington
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with evangelical leaders, including the designated U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, in Washington, D.C., as he met with Evangelical American community leaders ahead of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Netanyahu in Washington for High-Stakes Talks with Trump – February 2, 2025

Israel Releases Gaza Manager Of Christian Aid Group World Vision – February 1, 2025

Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners after Hamas Frees Hostages – January 30, 2025

Trump Urges Arab Nations to Accept Palestinians from Gaza – January 30, 2025

“Antisemitism is Rampant, Diversity is Viewed as a Threat,” UN Human Rights Chief Says – January 29, 2025

No Israeli-Saudi Normalization Agreement Without Palestinian State, Riyadh Ambassador says – January 29, 2025

Israel Orders UN Palestinian Agency To Close In East Jerusalem After Massacre – January 28, 2025

Breaking U.S. News

‘Illegal Takeover’ of USAID Operations by Trump, Musk Draws Ire from Democrats
Foreign aid has become the newest target of the Department of Government Efficiency, with President Donald Trump reportedly planning to merge the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the State department.

Trump Declares National Emergency at Northern Border
President Donald Trump on Saturday declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Canada border, citing an influx of human and drug smuggling coming from Canada presenting a national security threat to Americans.

Nearly 80 Percent of Americans Don’t Want Men Playing in Women’s Sports
Surveying nearly an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, a poll taken by the New York Times and polling company Ipsos showed that the majority of Americans do not want transgender-identifying men in women’s sports.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Trump Issues Executive Order to Tackle Antisemitism and Expel Supporters of Hamas – January 30, 2025

Trump Signs Executive Order Promoting School Choice – January 30, 2025

Trump: ‘No Survivors In Midair Colission’; 67 Killed – January 30, 2025

Trump Orders CDC to Immediately Stop All Collaboration with World Health Organization – January 30, 2025

Trump Wants Iron Dome For USA (Worthy News Focus) – January 30, 2025

Midair Collision Near Washington DC Kills Several; President Trump Briefed (Update) – January 30, 2025

American Airlines Jet Collides with Helicopter Over Potomac – January 30, 2025

Breaking Christian News

Nigeria: Church Elder Shot Dead During Sunday Service
A respected elder of the Celestial Church of Christ, Eagle Parish, in Ogun state, Nigeria, was shot dead when three gunmen invaded the Sunday service on January 19, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

China: Preacher Sentenced to Two Years Imprisonment for Distributing Gospel Literature
A house-church preacher in Guandong, China, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for conducting “illegal business operations” by distributing his church’s Christian literature, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Egypt: Christian Refugee Released After 3 Years in Prison, “I Thank Everyone Who Prayed for Me”
A Christian refugee who was imprisoned in Egypt for belonging to a Facebook group about leaving Islam for Christ has been released after three years of incarceration, ADF International reports. Egypt ranks 40 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Pakistan Christians Fear Mob Violence After Arrest Mentally Challenged Believer – January 31, 2025

Nicaragua: Evangelicals Increasingly Targeted by Ortega Regime – January 30, 2025

Mozambique: Christians Targeted by Islamic Terrorists Amid Political Unrest – January 30, 2025

India: Christian Couple Sentenced to Five Years in Jail Under Anti-Conversion Law – January 30, 2025

Significant Shift: American Protestant Churches Increasingly Identify as Non-Denominational Evangelicals – January 30, 2025

China Detains Tibet House Church Members – January 28, 2025

California: Christian Charity Reports Surging Interest in Gospel Amid Wild-Fire Relief Efforts – January 28, 2025