Sweden Raising Terror Threat After Koran Burnings
Sweden on Thursday raised its terrorist threat level to the second-highest level possible amid heightened security fears over several burnings of the Koran, deemed a holy book by Muslims.
Month: August 2023
Germany to buy Israel’s Arrow 3 missile defense system in largest-ever Israeli arms deal
The US Ministry of Defense on Thursday announced it has approved the $3.5 billion sale of Israel’s Arrow 3 missile defense system to Germany, in what is Israel’s largest security deal ever, Ynet News reports. Senior officials in the German and Israeli defense ministries will be convening to ratify the deal.
US: Retail spending rises despite higher interest rates and high inflation
Retail spending in the United States rose in July at a much faster rate than it did in the previous month, reflecting what analysts believe is continued resilience from US consumers despite higher interest rates and still-high inflation. July was also the fourth consecutive month that retail sales increased.
Pig kidney functioning normally one month after transplant into brain-dead man
In a breakthrough for organ transplant medical research, the kidney of a genetically modified pig is reported to be working normally one month after surgeons at America’s NYU Langone Health Institute transplanted it into a brain-dead man on July 14, Time reports.
Switzerland Closes World’s Largest Tunnel After Derailment
Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s longest rail tunnel once viewed as a human miracle, will be closed for months for passenger services after a derailment, the country’s primary railway operator SBB acknowledged Thursday.
Idaho Appeals Court Upholds Block of Transgender Athletes Law
A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a decision blocking Idaho’s first-in-the-nation ban on transgender athletes in girls and women’s sports.
Widespread blackouts in Lebanon, airport running on electric generators
Lebanon’s al-Zahrani and Deir Ammar power stations, in the south and north of the country respectively, have ceased operations due to the operating company’s financial debt, the Electricity Authority of Lebanon announced Wednesday evening.
Parents can’t sue school district for hiding students’ gender transitions: 4th Circuit
A panel of federal judges has ruled that a group of parents doesn’t have standing to challenge a Maryland school district policy enabling officials to keep children’s gender transitions a secret from their parents.
Putin, Raisi Hold Call, Discuss Possible Iranian Membership Of BRICS
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi discussed Iran’s possible future membership of the BRICS grouping during a phone call on Thursday, Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing the Kremlin.
Tens of Thousands of Armenian Christians Cut Off by Military Blockade in Dire Straits
Tens of thousands of Armenian Christians are languishing in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, due to a military blockade that is cutting them off from the outside world.
Hunter Biden tax charges dismissed by federal judge following plea deal breakdown
Hunter Biden’s misdemeanor tax charges have been dismissed by a federal judge in Delaware, an expected move after his “sweetheart” plea deal fell through last month during his first court appearance in the case.
Pakistan Detains Over 100 Muslims Over Anti-Christian Violence (Worthy News Investigation)
More than 100 were arrested, and criminal investigations were launched against hundreds of others in east Pakistan city after thousands of Muslims burned churches and vandalized homes, Christians and officials said Thursday.
TX Targets America’s Largest Abortion Provider with $1.8B Lawsuit
Texas wants Planned Parenthood to give back millions of dollars in Medicaid reimbursements — and pay far more in fines on top of that — in a lawsuit that appears to be the first of its kind brought by a state against the largest abortion provider in the U.S.
Appeals court wants limits on abortion pill access, sending case to Supreme Court
The abortion drug mifepristone should be more tightly regulated than it is now, with limits on the drug at seven weeks of gestation and requirements that patients obtain the pill in person instead of through the mail, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.
25% of world population faces extreme water stress every year, report says
A new report shows that 25 countries, home to 25% of the world’s population, face extremely high water stress every year, using up almost their entire annual supply of water. Titled the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, the report was prepared by the World Resources Institute (WRI).
Chairman of US Joint Chiefs will visit Israel to assess IDF readiness for war
The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, is set to visit Israel next week to address concerns and assess the Israel Defense Forces’ readiness for war following months of nationwide protests against the government’s judicial reform program, i24News reports.
Muslims Burn Churches In Pakistan
Angry Muslim crowds have torched two churches in Pakistan’s Punjab province, forcing Christians to flee their homes after blasphemy allegations, footage sent to Worthy News early Wednesday shows.
Archaeologists unearth the most ancient city gate ever found in Israel
Archaeologists have uncovered a 5,500-year-old city gate in southern Israel, the most ancient city gate ever unearthed in the Holy Land, the Jerusalem Post reports. Discovered close to city fortifications, the gate represents the beginning of urbanization in the Land of Israel and the Levant.
Merchant Ship Leaves for Black Sea as Ukraine-Russia Battles Rage (Worthy News Radio)
Ukraine said Wednesday that its forces entrenched themselves on the outskirts of Urozhaine after recapturing the settlement in the Donetsk region of Russian troops. The announcement came while a merchant ship left the Ukrainian port of Odesa, despite concerns Russia could target vessels in the Black Sea amid attacks that reportedly killed several people.
Indonesia: Muslims demonstrators damage, disrupt two churches
Muslim protestors blocked worship services from taking place at two separate churches in northern Indonesia earlier this month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. While Christianity is legal under the Indonesian Constitution, the Muslim-majority country ranks 33rd on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.