Weekly News Brief 1/8/25

Breaking World News

France Detains Founder Of ‘Rape Site’
The founder of a website used by Dominique Pelicot to recruit strangers to rape his wife has been arrested in France after scores of men were jailed over one of the nation’s worst abuse cases.

Investors Alarmed Over China’s Economy (Worthy News Analyse)
Investors are reportedly increasingly concerned that China risks sliding into an economic malaise that could last decades.

Last Days Of Syria’s Assad Marked By ‘Chaos and Betrayal’
The final days of Syria’s autocratic President Bashar al-Assad “unfolded in complete chaos,” with him being used as “a puppet” by various nations, a senior aid revealed Wednesday.

Latest World News Headlines

Iran Steps Up Drills Amid Nuclear Bomb Threat (Worthy News Focus) – January 8, 2025

French Far-Right Politician Jean-Marie Le Pen Dies At 96 (Worthy News In-Depth) – January 7, 2025

Indonesia Joins BRICS Amid Tensions With Trump – January 7, 2025

At Least Scores Killed In Tibet Quake – January 7, 2025

France: Iran’s Nuclear Program Reaching ‘Point Of No Return’ – January 6, 2025

Killed Indian Journalist Found In Septic Tank – January 6, 2025

Canada’s Trudeau Announces Resignation – January 6, 2025

North Korea Launches Missile That Flies Over 1,000 Kilometers – January 6, 2025

Austria Bracing For Anti-Migrant Chancellor – January 5, 2025

South Korea Rolling Out New Digital IDs – January 5, 2025

Breaking Israel News

Israel Will Insure Hezbollah Will Not Rebuild in Lebanon
Israel is committed to preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding in Lebanon and has stated that the Israel Defense Forces will remain in place until Hezbollah is fully dismantled, according to Brig.-Gen. Amir Avivi, founder and chairman of HaBithonistim.

Outgoing Biden Administration Approves $8 Billion Arms Deal for Israel
The US State Department has notified Congress “informally” of an $8 billion proposed arms deal with the Jewish state, Axios reported exclusively on Friday, January 3.

Hamas Shows Video Of Israeli Hostage
Family members faced more agony on Sunday after fighters of Hamas released a video of an Israeli hostage held in Gaza since its October 2023 attack.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Israel Reportedly Strikes Defense Facilities Near Aleppo, Syria (Video) – January 2, 2025

New Government Report Shows Tens of Thousands Emigrated from Israel in 2024 – January 2, 2025

From Jan. 1, All Visitors to Israel Must Apply for Online Digital Authorization to Enter – January 1, 2025

Rare 2,000-Year-Old Coins Found in Jordan Valley During Hannukah – January 1, 2025

Netanyahu Leaves Hospital Early To Vote For ‘War Bill’ – December 31, 2024

1,700 Year-Old Oil Lamp Engraved with Menorah Uncovered in Jerusalem – December 31, 2024

Israel Launches Operation in Syria – December 30, 2024

Breaking U.S. News

‘Apocalyptic’ Wildfires Raging Through California; 400,000 Without Power
Massive wildfires raged through neighborhoods of Los Angeles, America’s second-largest city, and surrounding areas in the U.S. state of California late Wednesday, where tens of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes.

Republicans Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Impose Term Limits
Republicans in Congress led by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to impose term limits for members of Congress.

‘We Want the Law Enforced:’ U.S. House Passes Bill to Detain Criminal Migrants
The U.S. Senate is set to vote on the Laken Riley Act, a bill that empowers law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants accused of crimes, after the House passed it 264-159 on Tuesday.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Trump Not Ruling Out Military Action Over Panama Canal and Greenland – January 7, 2025

Meta To Fire Factcheckers And Reduce Censorship (Worthy News Focus) – January 7, 2025

Biden-Trump Standoff Over Offshore Drilling – January 7, 2025

Trump won: Presidential Election Results Certified – January 6, 2025

Republicans Tell Johnson ‘Zero Room for Error’ after House Speaker Re-Election – January 3, 2025

Deadly Blasts Rocking New Orleans And Trump Hotel Involved Same Rental Firm (Worthy News Focus) – January 3, 2025

Washington, D.C. Police to Increase Police Presence After New Orleans Attack – January 2, 2025

Breaking Christian News

Indonesia Muslims Rally Against Church Construction (Worthy News Investigation)
Muslims have threatened massive protests against the construction of a Catholic church in Indonesia’s West Java Province in the latest standoff over Christian worship in the world’s largest Muslim country.

Shooting Kills Christian Mother In Pakistan; Daughter Injured
A Christian mother was killed and her teenage daughter critically injured after being shot in Pakistan’s city of Gujranwala by suspected Muslims who condemned their faith in Christ, well-informed sources told Worthy News.

Christians Torched To Death In Uganda For Abandoning Islam
Christians in eastern Uganda are facing a period of grief after a former Muslim couple and their adult son were reportedly burned to death for abandoning Islam and turning to faith in Christ.

Latest Christian News Headlines

International Christian Concern Publishes 2025 Global Persecution Index, “Imprisonment, Torture, Assassination” – January 6, 2025

Massachusetts Congregation Opens Church as Warming Center for Homeless – January 6, 2025

Islamic Fighters Attack Sudan Church, Injuring Several – January 4, 2025

Christian Farmer Murdered in Pakistan (Worthy News Exclusive) – January 4, 2025

Turkey Detains Suspects Over Church Shooting (Worthy News Investigation) – January 3, 2025

Pastors Shot In Vietnam Amid Crackdown – January 2, 2025

India: Hindu Nationalists Attack Christians Across India During Christmas Season – January 2, 2025

Breaking World News 1/25/23

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

Germany, US To Send Tanks To Ukraine

In a significant policy shift, Germany decided Tuesday to send tanks to Ukraine while the U.S. is edging closer to making a similar announcement as early as Wednesday, officials and news reports said.

Raped Woman’s Daughter Killed In Haiti; Nun Seeks Safe House

At night, when Mamaille stares up at the ceiling in her shack, she can see the sky through a rash of bullet holes left in her metal roof after a stretch of gang fighting in Haiti last summer.

European Union backs off from calling Iranian Revolutionary Guards a ‘terror group’

The European Union is set Monday to impose sanctions on several more Iranian officials suspected of playing a role in the crackdown on protesters, but won’t add the Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary Guard to the EU’s terror group blacklist.

Latest World News Headlines

Russia Says No Date Set for Talks With U.S. on Nuclear Arms Treaty – January 23, 2023

The rotation of the Earth’s inner core may be reversing, scientists have found in a study that sheds new light on geological processes occurring deep within our planet. – January 23, 2023

‘Great Pain’ Remembered as Britain’s Ex-Premier Johnson Visits Ukraine (Worthy News Radio) – January 23, 2023

CIA chief Burns meets Ukraine’s Zelensky in Kyiv as Washington ups support – January 22, 2023

U.S. announces $2.5B military package for Ukraine – January 22, 2023

US army says its forces captured three Islamic State members in Syria raid – January 22, 2023

Chris Hipkins To Replace Jacinda Ardern As New Zealand’s Premier – January 22, 2023

Breaking Israel News

TV report claims joint US-Israel air drill will bomb ‘Iranian nuke sites’ in Negev

As part of an ongoing drill between the Israeli Air Force and United States Central Command, American B-52 strategic bombers will drop live ammunition on targets in southern Israel on Wednesday.

U.S., Israel launch military exercise to send message to Iran, others

The United States and Israel began a massive joint military exercise in Israel on Monday to show adversaries like Iran that Washington is not too distracted by the war in Ukraine and the threat from China to mobilize a large military force, a senior defense official said.

Latest Israel News Headlines

Hezbollah erects new watchtowers on Lebanon border as IDF builds defensive wall – January 23, 2023

Some 100,000 Israelis protest against govt’s judicial reforms – January 22, 2023

Netanyahu fires Deri ‘with a heavy heart’ after High Court nixes convicted minister – January 22, 2023

US Military, National Security Personnel Meet with Israel’s New Government – January 19, 2023

Breaking U.S. News

Again Mass Shooting In California; 7 Killed

Seven people were killed, and one was critically injured in a shooting

13 Faith Leaders Sue, Claim MO Abortion Ban Violates Separation of Church and State

Thirteen clergy from six faith traditions filed a lawsuit against the State of Missouri on Jan. 19, claiming that the state’s ban on abortion constitutes an imposition of a Christian belief and thus violates the separation of church and state. The clergy also stressed that the abortion ban violates their religious beliefs.

Latest U.S. News Headlines

Border Patrol Council head says number of terrorists coming across the border has been skyrocketing – January 24, 2023

California in the midst of a Mega Drought; Not Seen in 1200 Years – January 24, 2023

Classified Documents Found At Former US Vice President Pence’s Home – January 24, 2023

Thousands attend March for Life anti-abortion rally in Washington DC – January 24, 2023

Ex-FBI Agent Arrested Over Ties With Russia (Worthy News In-Depth) – January 23, 2023

US Shooting Death Toll Rises To 11; Gunman Identified – January 23, 2023

DOJ Discovers Six More Biden Classified Documents – January 22, 2023

Breaking Christian News

Nigeria: 17 more Christians murdered amid ongoing slaughter; “violations are carried out with impunity”

As rights advocates raise questions about the silence of world powers in the face of the ongoing years-long devastating slaughter of Christians in Nigeria, 17 more Christians were murdered by suspected Fulani militants in Nigeria’s Bauchi and Benue states between Friday and Sunday, Morning Star News reports. 

UK: Christian teacher may be banned from teaching for his views on transgenderism and same-sex marriage

A Christian teacher in England may be permanently prohibited from teaching in the UK after referring to a female transgender student as a “girl” and telling another student he is opposed to same-sex marriage, the Christian Post (CP) reports.

Latest Christian News Headlines

Malta: Formerly gay Christian man faces jail accused of promoting ‘conversion therapy’ – January 23, 2023

Church of England publishes draft prayer of blessing for same-sex marriages – January 23, 2023

Pakistan: National Assembly votes to make controversial blasphemy laws even harsher – January 19, 2023

Christian persecution sweeping across Africa may result in “vast humanitarian catastrophe,” report says – January 19, 2023

Nigeria: Five women abducted, pastor shot and wounded in Katsina church terror attack – January 19, 2023

Church of England: homosexual couples cannot marry in church but clergy can hold blessings for same-sex civil partnerships – January 19, 2023

Northern Chinese Church Leader Sentenced To Two Years Imprisonment – January 19, 2023