Weekly News Brief 5/28/25

Featured Stories

Khamenei Urges Iran-Pakistan Unity Against Israel, Praises Nuclear-Armed Ally

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday called for closer cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in confronting Israel, praising Islamabad’s firm stance on the Palestinian issue and highlighting the importance of unity among Muslim nations.

Iran Warns U.S. Will Be Held Responsible for Any Israeli Strike on Nuclear Facilities – May.22.2025

WHO Adopts Landmark Pandemic Agreement After Three Years of Negotiations – May.20.2025

Khamenei Slams Trump Amid Nuclear Talks, Declares Iran Will Boost Military Regardless of U.S. Stance – May.19.2025

Breaking World News

Trump Warns Putin He’s ‘Playing With Fire,’ Considers New Sanctions Amid Stalled Ukraine Peace Talks

President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming that only his leadership has kept Russia from facing devastating consequences amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. In a fiery post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!”

U.S. Air Power Buildup at Diego Garcia Signals Strategic Posturing Near Iran

Satellite imagery has revealed a significant U.S. military buildup at the Diego Garcia air base in the Indian Ocean, suggesting heightened readiness amid rising tensions with Iran. The Pentagon declined to comment, but open-source intelligence analysts say the activity reflects increased aerial and naval capabilities at the key U.S. outpost, located over 2,000 miles from Iran’s southern coast.

France Moves To Legalize Assisted Dying

After an emotional debate, France’s parliament approved a move to legalize assisted dying, despite the devout Catholic prime minister having concerns about the law.

French President’s Face Hit By First Lady; Questions Raised Over Domestic Violence

Lebanese PM Draws Line with Iran, ‘The Days of the Iranian Revolution Are Over’

New Syrian Government Moves to Dismantle ISIS Camps in Eastern Syria

Car Drives Into Liverpool Crowd; Dozens Injured

Trump Blasts Putin Over Ukraine Attacks: Warns of Russia’s “Downfall,” Scolds Zelensky

Nine European Nations Demand Freedom to Deport Criminal Migrants, Slam Human Rights Court Overreach

Sudan Accuses UAE of Terror-Sponsorship as Drone Strikes Ravage Port Sudan

West Allows Ukraine To Attack Russia With Long-Range Missiles

Catholic Priest Freed In Cameroon, One Hostage Dead

Trump Delays 50% Tariff on EU Imports After Call with von der Leyen

Over 50,000 Join Toronto’s ‘Walk With Israel’ in Show of Solidarity Following Embassy Killings

Breaking Israel News

Israel Approves Record Reservist Call-Up Amid Legal Backlash Over Ultra-Orthodox Draft Exemptions

The Israeli government on Monday approved the emergency recruitment of up to 450,000 reservists through August 31, 2025, the highest number since the October 7 Hamas attack. The move comes amid strong legal criticism over the state’s failure to enforce equal conscription, particularly within the ultra-Orthodox community.

Chaos Erupts at Rafah Aid Center Amid Surging Crowds, Security Breach, and Diplomatic Tensions

A newly opened humanitarian aid center in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah descended into chaos Tuesday, as massive crowds of Palestinians breached the compound, prompting an emergency evacuation by American aid workers and private security personnel.

Ancient African Christian Figurines Discovered in Israeli Desert Graveyard

Iran Issues New Threat Against Israel and Rising Tensions

Trump-Netanyahu Call Reportedly Marked by Sharp Disagreements Over Iran Strategy

Netanyahu Marks Jerusalem Day with Bold Declaration of Sovereignty in City of David

IDF Aims to Capture 75% of Gaza in New Ground Offensive to Defeat Hamas

Hamas Rejects Disarmament Talks, Calls Weapons a ‘Red Line’

Breaking U.S. News

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Appeal from Student Barred for “Two Genders” T-Shirt, Alito and Thomas Slam Free Speech Rejection

In a major blow to student free speech rights, the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear the appeal of a Massachusetts seventh-grader who was barred from wearing a T-shirt to school that read, “There are only two genders.” The decision leaves in place a controversial federal court ruling that allowed the school to silence the student while promoting opposing viewpoints.

Senators Worry About Spending, Debt Increase In Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Republicans’ behemoth budget reconciliation bill still faces major hurdles after passing the U.S. House last week, with multiple senators raising concerns about the legislation’s cost.

Texas House Passes Sweeping Parental Bill of Rights, Including Ban on Social Transitioning in Schools

In a major legislative move, the Texas House on Sunday passed the Parental Bill of Rights, a comprehensive education reform package that includes a first-of-its-kind statewide ban on the social transitioning of children in public schools.

Texas Advances Bill Requiring Ten Commandments in Public School Classrooms

Trump Backs Senate Rewrites to Budget Bill, Risking House GOP Deal

Trump Honors Fallen Soldiers During Memorial Day Ceremony (Video)

Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Trump, Attempting to Firebomb U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv

Media, Biden Team Face Ongoing Questions About Former President’s Condition

Stocks Slump After Trump Raises Tensions With EU Tariff Threats

Christian Photographer Wins First Amendment Case Against New York Over Same-Sex Wedding Content

Washington D.C. Shooting Triggers Nationwide Security Surge After Antisemitic Attack

MAHA Report Ties Child Health Crisis to Chemicals, Ultra-Processed Foods

Breaking Christian News

Fulani Herdsmen Kill 42 Christians in Nigeria

Fulani herdsmen killed at least 42 Christians in coordinated attacks on three villages in Taraba state, northeast Nigeria, in the early hours of Saturday, May 24, according to Morning Star News.

Violence Overshadows Christian Rally In Seattle

An investigation was ongoing Sunday into violence that broke against a Christian rally in the U.S. city of Seattle, where believers expressed concern about what they view as efforts to “indoctrinate” children with the LGBTQ+ agenda.

Nearly 2,000 Baptized in Powerful Florida Beach Event Celebrating Faith in Christ

Cuban Pastors Face Prison For Mentioning God

Eight Christians Killed, Farmland Destroyed in Fresh Fulani Attacks in Nigeria

Prayers Urged For Jailed Iranian Christian Woman

Bible Engagement on the Rise in the U.S., Driven by Young Men

1,000 Christian Leaders In Berlin At Evangelism Congress

Weekly News Brief 6/20/24

Breaking World News

Mark Rutte Becomes NATO Secretary General After Romania Withdrawal Bid
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has withdrawn his bid for NATO’s leadership, clearing the way for Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to become the military alliance’s secretary-general.

Terminally Ill Man Meets Government After Losing Right-To-Die Case In Hungary
A terminally ill Hungarian lawyer who lost his right-to-die case at the European Court of Human Rights has met Hungary’s government, which refused to allow active euthanasia.

France President Says Raped Jewish Girl Victim Of ‘Scourge of Antisemitism’
French President Emmanuel Macron warned Wednesday that schools in France are threatened by the “scourge of antisemitism” after a 12-year-old Jewish girl was raped in what police called “a hate crime” amid ongoing attacks against Jewish people.

Latest World News Headlines

North Korea, Russia Sign Military Pact – June 19, 2024

Russian Warships and Nuclear Submarine Have Now Left Cuba – June 19, 2024

Romania To Approve Mark Rutte As NATO Chief – June 19, 2024

Russia’s Putin In North Korea Shopping For Weapons – June 19, 2024

Iran Moving Towards Nuclear Bomb, Computer Models Suggest – June 18, 2024

Ukraine Strikes Russia Despite Nuclear Fears (Worthy News Radio) – June 18, 2024

US and Saudi Arabia Close to Negotiating a Security Pact – June 18, 2024

Iran Defiant in the Face of G7 Statement Condemning Its Nuclear Program – June 18, 2024

Pope Urges End To Massacres In DRC – June 18, 2024

Hungary Has the Right to Ban Assisted Suicide, Europe’s Top Human Rights Court Rules – June 18, 2024

Breaking Israel News

Number of Israeli Hostages Still Alive in Gaza “Could Be As Low As 50”, WSJ Report
The number of Israeli hostages who are still alive in Gaza following their capture by Hamas on Oct. 7 “could be as low as 50,” the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Thursday, June 20. The WSJ report cites hostage mediators and a US official with knowledge of current intelligence on the issue of Israeli captives in Gaza.

Just Over Half of Arab Israelis Feel They Have “Shared Destiny” With Jewish Israelis, Poll
A new poll shows that just over half (51.6%) of Arab Israeli citizens believe Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza has produced a sense of “shared destiny” between them and Jewish Israeli citizens, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Conducted by the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, the survey was presented during a conference titled “The Future of Israel” at TAU on Wednesday.

Hamas Is An “Idea” That Cannot Be Destroyed, Senior IDF Official Says
Amid Israel’s ongoing war to destroy Hamas’ terrorist capabilities in Gaza, a senior spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces has stated that the threat posed by Hamas cannot be eliminated because the jihadist group represents an “idea” that cannot be destroyed by military means, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Israel Warns Of ‘All-Out War’ With Hezbollah Despite US Envoy Visit – June 19, 2024

Israel Announces Approval of Offensive Battle Plans Against Hezbollah Following Terrorist Threat – June 18, 2024

Rafah Offensive Has Destroyed Half of Hamas, Israel Expects Full Control in Two Weeks – June 17, 2024

Netanyahu Dissolves War Cabinet After Gantz Departure – June 17, 2024

International Christian Speaker Nick Vujicic Encourages Wounded Israeli Soldiers – June 17, 2024

Eight Israeli Soldiers Killed In Rafah – June 15, 2024

Overall Palestinian Support for Hamas Increases to Double the Support for Fatah – June 13, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

In First Five Years, 79,000 of DACA Recipients Admitted to U.S. Had Arrest Records
Within five years of a new program created to prevent deportation of minors brought into the country illegally by their parents, nearly 80,000 were released into the U.S. with arrest records. The majority were between the ages of 19 and 22 when they were arrested, according to the latest available data published by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

US Federal Budget Deficit Now Projected to be $1.9 Trillion for 2024
The US Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday published a new report showing the Budget Deficit for the 2024 fiscal year is now projected to be $1.9 trillion – an increase of around $400 billion from a projection offered in February.

ICE Agents Apprehend Fugitives Wanted for Violent Crimes Nationwide
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents continue to apprehend fugitives wanted for committing violent crimes. Many fled to and entered the U.S. illegally to avoid incarceration in their home country.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Biden Announces Widespread Amnesty Plan for Illegal Immigrants – June 18, 2024

Kansas Sues Pfizer for Alleged Misleading Statements About Risks, Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccine – June 18, 2024

More Companies Announce Bankruptcies, Shutter Operations, Citing Inflation – June 18, 2024

Trump Makes His Case for Presidential Immunity – June 17, 2024

More Officials Issue ‘Imminent Terrorist Attack’ Warnings – June 17, 2024

Supreme Court Ruling Upholds Immigration Law and Deportation Process – June 16, 2024

Supreme Court Says Bump Stocks Don’t Turn Firearms into Machine Guns – June 16, 2024

Breaking Christian News

“Unbelievable Revival” Reported in Transnistria, Eastern Europe
Journalists with the US-based Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) have reported that, despite opposition from Moscow, a “remarkable” revival is underway in Transnistria, a Russian-controlled part of Moldova in eastern Europe.

India: 11 Christians Freed After Two Years Imprisonment Under Anti-Conversion Law
Eleven Christians in India’s Madhya Pradesh state have just been released from prison after being jailed in 2022 on baseless charges of forcing people to leave Hinduism for Christianity, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Indonesia: Established Church Faces Eviction for Proximity to Islamic University, “We Hold Onto Hope”
A well-established in Indonesia has been threatened with eviction from its worship center because a new Islamic university has been opened in proximity to it, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. 

Latest Christian News Headlines

DRC: Islamic State Affiliates Murder 80 Christians in Spate of Attacks, “These Attacks Continue Unabated” – June 17, 2024

5 Christian Sanitation Workers Killed In Pakistan – June 13, 2024

Pakistani Christian Young Man Brutally Tortured and Murdered by Employer – June 13, 2024

U.S. Megachurch Pastor Resigns Over “Sin” – June 12, 2024

China: Christian Taken Into Custody for Posting Commemoration of Tiananmen Square Massacre – June 12, 2024

DRC: Islamic Terrorists Murder Nine in Village Attack, “A Trail of Sorrow and Despair” – June 12, 2024

70,000 People Turn Out to Hear the Gospel in Central London – June 11, 2024