Around the World Hungary: ‘Ukraine Rejects Christmas Truce With Russia’ (Worthy News Focus) Hungary’s prime minister has accused the president of neighboring war-torn Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of rejecting his proposal for a Christmas truce and a large-scale prisoners' exchange with Russia. Dutch Citizens Urged To Keep Cash Amid Russia Threats Banks in the Netherlands, one of Europe’s leading data center nations, appealed to customers on Wednesday to have cash “due to geopolitical tensions” after the government urged citizens to keep a backpack at home with emergency items. Bali Rattled By Monkey Forest Accident Killing Two, Injuring Several Authorities on Indonesia’s tropical island province of Bali warned Wednesday of more extreme weather after two tourists died and several were injured when a large tree fell on them at the popular Monkey Forest in Bali’s village of Ubud. Syria: US and Allies Working to Keep Chemical Weapons Out of Terrorists’ Hands Concerned that the recent toppling of Syria’s government will allow Islamic terror groups to fill the power vacuum left by ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad, the United States and its regional allies are seeking to ensure that chemical weapons accumulated by the fallen regime do not fall into the wrong hands, Axios reports. Assad notoriously used chemical weapons against his own peopl during the Civil War that has wracked Syria since 2011. Syrian Freed Prisoners Relive Horrors (Worthy News In-Depth) Thousands of inmates have stumbled out of blood-stained horror prisons since rebel forces overran Damascus on Saturday, with many confirming accounts from Christians who were held there. IAEA Warns Iran Is Enriching Uranium Close to Nuclear Bomb Grade, “No Civilian Justification” The United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned on Thursday that Iran is rapidly enriching uranium to close to nuclear bomb-grade, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Poland: ‘Peace Talks On Ukraine Might Start This Winter’ As Causalities Hit 1 Million (Worthy News Focus) Poland’s prime minister suggested Tuesday that peace talks on the war in Ukraine might start within weeks and said Warsaw wants to play a leading role in ending Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War Two. Dutch Authorities Detain 3 Over Deadly Blasts Authorities in the Netherlands announced Tuesday that three people have been detained over the explosions and fire at an apartment block in The Hague that killed at least six people and injured four. Syria: US Will Stay to Prevent Return of ISIS, Carried Out Strikes on ISIS Targets Following the ouster of Syria’s despotic President Bashar al-Assad by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamic rebel forces on Sunday, the United States announced it will maintain a presence in the country and take steps to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State, Reuters reports. Mohamed al-Bashir Appointed Syria’s Prime Minister After Reconciliation Talks Mohamed al-Bashir announced Tuesday that he has been appointed “caretaker prime minister” of the transitional Syrian government until March 1, 2025. Dutch King Shaking As Blasts Hit The Hague, Killing 6 King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands is "in shock" after explosions destroyed apartments, killing six people in The Hague, the world’s judicial capital and seat of the Dutch government and parliament. Britain’s ‘Unprecedented Antisemitism’ Sparks Protests Britain’s government was under pressure Monday to tackle growing hatred towards Jews in the country after a report and tens of thousands of protesters noted “unprecedented levels of antisemitism” at university campuses and beyond. European Nations Pause Syrian Asylum Applications Despite Christian Concerns Several European nations have paused application procedures for Syrian asylum seekers due to the “fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime” despite reported warnings by Assad’s Christian envoy about Islamic threats to Christians there, Worthy News established Monday. Iran Announces Successful Launch of Heaviest Payload on Domestically-Made Rocket Amid the West’s ongoing concerns about Tehran’s nuclear program and suspected intentions to build an atomic bomb, Iran on Friday announced it successfully launched its heaviest-ever payload into space using a domestically manufactured rocket, DW reports. A payload is the cargo or mission equipment that is carried into space on a rocket. Australia: Antisemitic Incidents Surge by Over 300% Since Oct 7 Attack, “Go Back to the Gas Chambers” The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) states in a new report that, in the year since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, Australia saw an unprecedented 316% increase in antisemitic incidents. Syria’s Ousted President In Russia Syria’s ousted President Bashar al-Assad has arrived in Moscow after fleeing his country, according to Russian state media and Iranian officials. Trump Talks Peace With Ukraine’s Zelensky Around Opening Of Notre-Dame U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a fire damaged the Paris landmark. Assad Toppled in Syria; Damascus Falls Syria’s 50-year Assad dynasty abruptly ended this weekend when a lightning 10-day rebel offensive overran government-held territory and seized Damascus with little resistance. Bashar al-Assad, who ruled for nearly 25 years, fled by plane to an unknown destination as rebels took the capital. Ukraine Awaiting Guns Banned In Canada Canada’s Liberal government has pledged to donate banned firearms to Ukraine, which is facing a blood-stained Christmas with Russian troops backed by North Korean forces capturing more territories. Explosions Rock Dutch Flats, Killing Five; Police Searching For Suspects At least five people died, and four others were injured in explosions rocking a block of flats in the Dutch city of The Hague, and local authorities did not rule out a deliberate attack.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Destroyed 80% of Syrian Major Military Assets in Operation Bashan Arrow Israel announced this week that its airstrikes have destroyed 70-80% of Syria's military capabilities following the rapid collapse of President Bashar Assad's regime in Damascus. Syria: Israel Denies IDF Tanks Are Approaching Damascus, “Israel Does Not Intervene in the Internal Syrian Conflict” Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday denied reports that IDF tanks have entered Syria and are approaching Damascus following the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Sunday, the Jerusalem Post reports. At the same time, the IDF said it has carried out hundreds of strikes against military targets in Syria to ensure that weapons and equipment that may be used against neighboring Israel do not fall into the hands of “hostile elements” entering the power vacuum left by Assad. Israel Strikes Syria Amid Chemical Weapons Concerns Israel struck more than 100 targets in Syria in less than 12 hours on Monday, a war monitor said, after the Israeli military admitted it crossed into Syrian territory to protect the Jewish nation amid concerns about chemical weapons. Fragment of 16th Century Ming Dynasty Bowl Uncovered on Mount Zion In a remarkable find, archaeologists have uncovered an inscribed fragment of a 500-year-old genuine Chinese Ming Dynasty porcelain bowl on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, Ha’aretz reports. Israel Launches Airstrikes in Syria and Secures Syrian Side of Mount Hermon Israeli Air Force jets struck dozens of targets across Syria on Sunday, neutralizing weaponry at risk of falling into hostile hands amid the rapid collapse of the Assad regime. Israel also secured the Syrian side of Mount Hermon to expand the demilitarized buffer zone and strengthen key defensive positions along the border. Israel Strikes Chemical Weapons Factory in Syria Israel struck a chemical weapons factory belonging to the former regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to prevent it from falling into rebel hands. The attack occurred just days after the United Nations Security Council was warned about potentially large quantities of unaccounted-for chemical warfare agents in Syria. Israel Rushing Reinforcements To Golan Heights As Syria’s Fighting Escalates Israel rushed to send reinforcements to the Golan Heights as they border Syria, where Islamic rebels rapidly gain territory, threatening long-time Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad’s grip on power. Israel ‘Eliminates Hamas Chief Of Aerial Attacks’ Israel's military said Friday it had “eliminated” a mastermind of aerial attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, when 1,200 people were killed by Hamas and other air strikes targeting Israeli forces. Egypt Presents New Ceasefire Proposal to Hamas Egypt has presented Hamas with an updated proposal to free some of the roughly 100 remaining hostages and initiate a ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli officials said. Australia Approves UNGA Resolution for Israel to Withdraw from West Bank and Gaza Reversing more than 20 years of prior policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Australia on Tuesday voted in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution that calls for Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza to the pre-1967 borders, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. The resolution passed by 157-8 votes with seven abstentions and the United States and Israel voting ‘no.’ UN Assembly Rushes On Two-State Solution In Palestine-Israel Conflict The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday rushed to achieve a “two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” amid ongoing clashes in Gaza between what is left of Hamas and Israel’s military. Netanyahu Vows to Enforce Ceasefire with an “Iron Fist” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a rare government meeting in the northern city of Nahariya on Tuesday, stating, "to deliver a clear message to the North: We're committed to the North." He added, "We are enforcing the ceasefire and, with an iron fist, acting against any violation – minor or serious." Israel Thanks Trump For Threatening Hamas Over Hostages Israel’s prime minister praised U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump on Tuesday for indirectly threatening Hamas with force unless they release all hostages ahead of his January 20 inauguration. Israel, Hezbollah In Deadliest Clashes Since Announcing Truce Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon blamed each other for the deadliest clashes since their ceasefire came into effect last week, adding to global fears that the region will remain embroiled in armed conflicts. Trump Issues Stark Warning to Hamas: Release Hostages or ‘There Will Be All Hell To Pay’ President-elect Donald Trump warned that Hamas would face severe consequences if the hostages taken on October 7 are not released before he takes office in January.
Christian News Syria: Christians Vulnerable As Rebel Militants Capture Their Humanitarian Aid The US-based Global Christian Relief ministry has reported that humanitarian supplies delivered for 20,000 Christians in Syria have been hijacked by militants with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamist rebel group which captured Aleppo and toppled the Syrian government on Sunday, December 8, Crosswalk reports. Nepal Experiences Growing Interest in Christianity While converts to Christianity in Nepal are vulnerable to persecution from radical Hindu groups and from within their own indigenous communities, positive reports are emerging of the Gospel’s advancement in the isolated mountainous country. There are now 1.3 million Christians in Nepal, 4.4% of a population of 30.5 million, and that number is reportedly growing. US Prison Ministry Set to Deliver 65,000 Christmas “Hope Packs” to Inmates Worldwide An American prison ministry is set to deliver 65,000 Christmas “Hope Packs” to incarcerated men and women in 18 US states and 20 countries internationally, CBN News reports. There are currently more than 11 million incarcerated people around the world, with over 2 million in the United States. Nigeria: Pastor and Christian Student Murdered Amid Surge of Violence in Taraba State Amid a wave of violence against Christians in north-eastern Nigeria’s Taraba state, suspected Islamic extremists murdered a pastor and a female Christian student in separate attacks last week, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Nigeria: Fulani Herdsmen Slaughter 96 Christians, “They Overwhelmingly Attacked Our People, Shooting Anyone in Sight” Continuing their years-long slaughter of Nigeria’s Christians, Fulani herdsmen murdered at least 96 Christians in neighboring Benue and Taraba states since October 22, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Tens of thousands of Christians have been murdered by Islamist terrorist groups including Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, and Islamic State West Africa Province since Islamic jihadism took hold in Nigeria in 2009. Louisiana: Elderly Pastor Sees the “Best” Ministry of His Life After Starting Roadside Prayer Station An 82-year-old pastor in Louisiana is enjoying the “best” ministry of his life after setting up a roadside prayer station at a busy intersection, Baptist Press (BP) reports. Indonesia Muslim Villagers Ban Christmas Choir Practice A Christian choir in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi province pondered Monday how to perform this Christmas after local Muslims objected to their rehearsal. Syria Christians Face Islamic Challenges After Overthrow Of President (Worthy News In-Depth) There was mounting concern Sunday about Syria’s Christian minority after Islamic rebels captured the capital, Damascus, forcing longtime autocratic President Bashar al-Assad to flee the nation. Nigeria: Christians Mourn Islamic Murder of Courageous Brother, Work to Fortify Community A Christian farming village in northern Nigeria’s Plateau state is working to build community safety after a courageous brother was killed defending them from an attack by suspected Islamic Fulani extremists last month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Syria: Christians Worried for Their Safety Amid Insurgency Christians in Syria are understood to be concerned for their safety as the Islamist insurgent group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham has launched an ongoing major attack on the dictatorial Iran and Russia-backed regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Crosswalk reports.