WORLD Radio News - WORLD Radio News: 3-20-26 (2/3)

Episode Date: March 20, 2026

The latest headlines in three minutes from WORLD updated three times throughout the day.Sign-up for the daily Sift email at thesift.org.Support sound journalism, grounded in facts and Biblical truth at wng.org/donate.Additional support comes from WatersEdge. Competitive rates and supporting churches. 4.55% APY on a 13-month term investment. WatersEdge.com/invest

With World Radio News, I'm Kent Covington. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters in Jerusalem that Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missile production have been devastated. We're saying that Iran can no longer make new ballistic missiles and it can no longer refine uranium, a critical step toward making a nuclear weapon. The Prime Minister delivered a portion of his remarks in English as well, explaining the goal. Removing both of these threats before they're buried deep underground and become immune from aerial attack. Netanyahu also addressed claims by some that Israel coerced the United States into launching military strikes against Iran.

Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? President Trump always makes his decisions on what he thinks is good for America. Netanyahu also said Israel's military won't strike any more Iranian oil and gas infrastructure per President Trump's request. That comes after Wednesday's strike on the South Pars field. Hours earlier, Pentagon Chief Pete Higgzeth said he'll be seeking more funds for the war in Iran, even as the administration says it likely won't last much longer. It takes money to kill bad guys, so we're going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we're properly funded. The requested sum is reportedly $200 billion.

Hengzeth said the mission is to eliminate grave threats in Iran and then leave no nation-building or quagmires as with some wars of the past. China says a deal it struck with Washington last October to curb fentanyl trafficking is producing results. World's Kristen Flavin has more. Authorities in the Hubei province say a task force has investigated 22 fentanyl-related cases, arresting seven people and shutting down more than 200 websites since December. China's Ministry of Public Security reportedly ordered the crackdown under a deal in which Beijing

agreed to target fentanyl precursors. Those chemicals are often exported to the U.S., either directly or indirectly, killing tens of thousands of Americans each year. In exchange, the Trump administration cut fentanyl-related tariffs from 20 to 10%. U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Intelligence helped break at least one case. For World, I'm Kristen Flavin. New applications for U.S. unemployment benefits fell last week to 205,000. That was better than analysts expected and near historically low levels. Labor Department reported Thursday that claims dropped 8,000 from the previous week, below the 215,000 analysts set forecast.

The Healthy Weekly figures contrast with February's weaker monthly jobs report. For World Radio, I'm Kent Covington. For more sound journalism grounded in facts in biblical truth, visit worldradiot.News. Additional support comes from Waters Edge, competitive rates, and supporting churches. 4.55% APY on a 13-month-term investment. Watersedge.com slash invest.