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WORLD NEWS

Warrants

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammad Deif.

Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of using “starvation as a method of warfare” and committing crimes against humanity, including murder and persecution. Netanyahu’s office dismissed the ICC’s “absurd” and “false” actions, while Israeli leaders across the spectrum condemned the warrants as antisemitic and a “moral disgrace.”

Deif is accused of war crimes, including murder and hostage-taking in the October 7, 2023 attack. Deif is presumed dead by the IDF. 

The ICC lacks enforcement power, and neither Israel nor the U.S. recognizes its jurisdiction. However, the warrants could lead to arrests if they travel to countries recognizing ICC authority, including much of Europe.

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
War puts the evil of this world on full display and reminds us of the dire need for the ultimate redemption of this world. Jesus came as light to shine in the darkness. Pray that the Middle East would experience the darkness-penetrating light of Christ.

“That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.”
John 1:5 (CSB) (read full passage)

POLITICS

Withdrawn

Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for Attorney General yesterday.

Gaetz faced increasing scrutiny over investigations into alleged sex trafficking by the DOJ (which declined to bring charges) and the House Ethics Committee (which is deadlocked on releasing its report). Gaetz, who denies all allegations, said his confirmation had unfairly become “a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.”

Last night, President-elect Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department instead.

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth is also feeling some heat. Local police released a report confirming he was accused of sexual assault in 2017. Police investigated the encounter—which Hegseth says was consensual—but no charges were brought. In 2023, Hegseth paid his accuser to sign an NDA, saying he feared the allegations would cost him his Fox News career.

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CHOOSE HUMILITY
Whether allegations are flying at a powerful politician or a random person, Christians always root for justice and fairness. Confess your own sin and urge your neighbors to side with the final victor and ultimate judge, Christ our King. 

“God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” 
Acts 17:30-31 (CSB) (read full passage)

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U.S. NEWS

Case Closed

Laken Riley’s attacker has been convicted of murder. 

Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student, was attacked and killed in February while jogging on a University of Georgia trail. DNA identified a 26-year-old Venezuelan migrant who entered the country illegally in 2022 as Riley’s suspected attacker. 

The defendant chose a judge trial rather than a jury, believing it difficult to find impartial jurors in the area. Wednesday, he was found guilty on all 10 counts, including malice murder and aggravated assault with the intent to rape; he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The case garnered national attention and fueled the debate over immigration. Trump posted his approval of the verdict, saying: “It is time to secure our Border, and remove these criminals and thugs from our Country.”

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Join us in praying for the family of Laken Riley as they continue to grieve even in light of a guilty verdict (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

“Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in your fatherly care, that, casting their grief on you, they may know the consolation of your love.”
The Book of Common Prayer

U.S. regulators want the hammer dropped on Google. The Justice Department is asking a judge to break up the tech giant by forcing the sale of its Chrome browser—a rare and extreme measure. Officials say the breakup is essential to prevent Google from squashing competition. Google says the Justice Department is pursuing "a radical interventionist agenda.”
 

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted in the U.S. on charges of securities fraud and conspiracy. The charges stem from an alleged bribery scheme involving his company, Adani Green Energy, which sought to secure government contracts for a massive solar energy project in India. The indictment claims Adani misled investors while secretly paying millions in bribes to officials.
 

Two people are dead after a “bomb cyclone” exploded over the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday. High winds and rain from a winter-hurricane-type storm downed trees, caused widespread power outages, blocked roadways, and battered homes. Washington state faced more dangerous rain, flooding, and snow in a second system that peaked yesterday.
 

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced Wednesday that Capitol-building single-sex bathrooms “are reserved for individuals of that biological sex.” Johnson said private in-office and unisex facilities are available and that all lawmakers deserve “dignity and respect.” The policy comes as Congress welcomes its first transgender member, Sarah McBride (D-DE), who said, “I’m not here to fight about bathrooms, I’m here to fight for Delawareans.”
 

The dystopian robot takeover is upon us! (According to baseball purists anyway). MLB announced it will begin testing robot umpires to confirm challenged calls at 13 Spring Training ballparks. Human umpires will still call balls and strikes, and each team has a set amount of phone-a-robot challenges. The earliest regular-season robot rollout would be in 2026.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

There are always 12 black dots showing; how many can you see?

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