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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – One of Europe’s most prominent anti-Islam politicians was on his way to Budapest to address the world’s largest conservative radical right gathering where like-minded leaders seek to chase out “the liberal order” in upcoming elections. Geert Wilders of the Dutch Party for Freedom, or PVV, arrives in the Hungarian capital for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) amid concerns that growing migration from Islamic nations contributed to rising antisemitism in his native Netherlands. His ally and friend, Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, shares Wilders views. “He was among the first to congratulate me when I won the recent Dutch elections,” Wilders said in an interview. Ahead of his arrival, Orbán opened the two-day gathering on Thursday in a speech that stressed the need for right-wing forces to end the world’s “liberal order” and defeat the “progressive world spirit.” Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd, Orbán urged his audience to support former U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s reelection bid, saying: “Let’s make America Great again, Let’s make Europe great again.” Orbán suggested that the multiple court cases faced by Trump on allegations such as financial wrongdoing and obstruction of justice were political trials. “If necessary, they will use government agencies against us — as my American friends say, ‘weaponizing state institutions,’” Orbán said. “This happens to us Hungarians constantly in Brussels. This is what is happening to President Trump in America, and we encourage him to fight for his own truth not only in the elections but also in the courts.” He added: “Go Donald Trump, go European sovereigntists! Let’s saddle up, put on our armor, head to the battlefield, and begin the election battle!” EU, US ELECTIONS European Union elections in June and U.S. presidential elections in November, Orbán said, could launch a new “era of sovereignty” modeled on Hungary, which he claimed was a “conservative island.” “These elections coincide with major shifts in world political and geopolitical trends,” Orbán stressed. “The order of the world is changing, and we must usher our cause to triumph in the midst of these changes. Progressive liberals feel the danger. Replacing this era means replacing them.” Yet CPAC was also seen as a welcome distraction from his political troubles following several scandals. In recent months, several senior officials, including the president and justice minister, were forced to resign over a scandal involving a presidential pardon to a man implicated in a child sexual abuse case at an orphanage. Additionally, more details emerged about corruption following a leaked recording suggesting government officials encourage removing files in corruption cases. Emerging from the scandals was political newcomer Péter Magyar, a former insider within Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party who shot to prominence through his allegations of massive corruption and cronyism among the country’s leaders. Magyar this month mobilized about 100,000 anti-Orbán demonstrators in central Budapest, according to Worthy News estimates, and he announced a new party that will participate in EU elections. CRACKDOWN CRITICIZED Orbán, Europe’s longest reigning leader, had brushed aside allegations of corruption, rule-of-law concerns, and a perceived crackdown on critical media. He has been angered over the decision by Brussels to postpone billions of euros (dollars) in EU funding over these issues. Orbán said his government had been punished over its decision to stand up against LGBTQ+ “propaganda,” its decision to defend traditional family and Christian values and anti-migration policies. Hungary’s refusal to send weapons to Ukraine but instead push for peace talks also created tensions with the West. Orbán spoke at the third Hungarian iteration of CPAC, an event that this year features numerous radical rights figures, including U.S. media personality Jack Posobiec, Republican Paul Gosar of Arizona, and Wilders. Another speaker of the rightwing nationalist Vlaams Belang or ‘Flemish Interest’ party, legislator Tom Van Grieken, agreed with Orbán’s assessment. Van Grieken said conservatives will unite in the interest of Europe today. He joked that although being a politician from Brussels, he “won’t ban CPAC,” referring to a similar conference in the Belgian capital, which was briefly broken up by police last week. Organizers declared CPAC a “no woke zone” where critical journalists, including from Worthy News, aren’t welcome. Coverage would be possible at “future events when and if your organization becomes significantly less woke,” journalists were told. The post Anti-Islam Leaders At Hungary’s CPAC Conference appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, we are the "bikoreem" of creation! Leviticus 23:10-12 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. This season of the Resurrection also occurs during a significant Old Testament feast day, the feast of “Firstfruits” (Hebrew, “bikoreem”). When Yeshua (Jesus) rose from the dead he was the firstfruit of the resurrection. On that day the keys of Hell and Death were obtained by our Lord. The apostle Paul connected the resurrection with the feast of Firstfruits in his letter to the congregation at Corinith. "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." Remember in the Garden of Gethsemane that all the disciples had fled in terror because of their connection with Yeshua. Yet not much later they experienced an astounding transformation which empowered them to preach the gospel fearlessly and face all kinds of suffering and martyrdom. What inspired this transformation? The resurrection... the living, breathing Lord who appeared to them in a glorious resurrected body. No longer were they concerned about this life, having experienced the reality that death's power had been absolutely overcome and there was nothing remaining in this world to threaten or shake their complete confidence in eternal life. The letter of James identifies believers in Jesus as "a kind of firstfruits of all He created"; [James 1:18]. Through our faith In the Lord's resurrection, we have received His Holy Spirit and gained His resurrection life and power. It is a power over the fear of death, an overcoming power which enables us to endure and triumph over every kind of threat, problem, affliction, every trial or test involving suffering, pain, even the greatest anguish this life can bring. It's the same power that filled the Lord's disciples and transformed them from terrified men into fearless witnesses. We are no longer bound by the circumstances of our lives – but, as "firstfruits" who share in the resurrection life of our Lord, are empowered to endure, be transformed by, and ultimately overcome everything we face. Paul exults in this wondrous triumph, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." And then he offers this exhortation, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Friend, we are the “bikoreem”, the "firstfruits" of the resurrection and we are no longer bound by the troubles and problems of this world. We can "count them all joy" as "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" we know that our labor is not in vain! Shabbat Shalom and have a great weekend! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX) (Baltimore, Maryland) Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out! Editor's Note: We are planning our summer Tour so if you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World Most Central Banks To Have Digital Currencies The World Economic Forum (WEF) suggests that nearly all central banks plan to have their digital currencies as part of global efforts to remove cash transactions from the world economy. Ukraine’s President Thankful For $61 Billon US Aid Package, But Challenges Remain Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the United States on Wednesday after President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package that includes about $61 billion in military assistance for Kyiv. Russia Vetoes Space Arms Race Resolution Russia on Wednesday declined to help prevent an arms race in space as it vetoed a U.S.-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution. Israel-Palestinian Conflict 2,000 Year-Old Clay Token Uncovered at Temple Mount May Have Been Used by Pilgrims to Second Temple Researchers working near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem have uncovered a 2,000-year-old clay token they believe may have been used by Jewish pilgrims to exchange for offerings during visits to the Biblical Second Temple before it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, Christian Headlines reports. IDF Reports Elimination of Half of Hezbollah Commanders in South Lebanon Following Strikes on 40 Hezbollah Locations In response to escalated attacks during the Passover holiday, Israel targeted multiple sites associated with Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. Following these operations, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had successfully eliminated half of Hezbollah's commanders in the region. Inside the United States USA: Supreme Court Considering Whether Idaho Abortion Ban Supersedes Federal Emergency Care Requirement The US Supreme Court is considering whether a near-total ban on abortion passed by the state of Idaho has precedence over a federal law that requires that doctors provide patients with medical care - that might include an abortion - in emergency situations, Reuters reports. Arizona Lawmakers Vote To Repeal Civil War-Era Abortion Ban The Democratic-led Arizona House of Representatives have voted to repeal a Civil War-era total ban on abortion which could soon go into effect unless the Republican-led Senate votes to keep it on the books, Reuters reports. The ban was passed by the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1864, before Arizona became a state in 1912. Florida Passes Law Allowing Chaplains In Public Schools Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis last week signed into law a bill that allows public schools the option of permitting volunteer religious chaplains to counsel students on campus, CBN News reports. The law has been strongly criticized by the ACLU of Florida, the Interfaith Alliance, the National Education Association, and The Satanic Temple. Christian News Egypt: Islamic Extremists Destroy Homes in Christian Village Islamic extremists destroyed homes and property belonging to a Christian community in Minya Province, Egypt earlier this week after hearing rumors about plans to build a church in the area, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. Christian Rights Group Renews Call For End To India’s Anti-Conversion Laws A UK-based Christian advocacy organization has renewed its calls for India to revoke the harsh anti-conversion laws that have been abused by Hindu nationalist extremists to persecute Christians across the vast nation, Christian Today (CT) reports. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Islamic extremists destroyed homes and property belonging to a Christian community in Minya Province, Egypt, earlier this week after hearing rumors about plans to build a church in the area, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. The Christian village of Al-Fawakher in Minya Province was raided by extremists on April 23, CSW said. According to CSW sources, local police and firefighters were called, and they acted fast to bring the situation under control. A police investigation has been launched to arrest the perpetrators, including those who incited the violence by spreading a false rumor about the church building, CSW said. Commending the authorities for their quick intervention, CSW President Mervyn Thomas added in a statement: “An unacceptable culture of intimidation and discrimination is still far too prevalent in this region despite positive steps taken by the Egyptian authorities in recent years, and the personal commitment of President Sisi to fight sectarian extremism and promote equality of citizenship. Egyptian citizens should all be free to practice any religion or belief of their choosing without fear of threats or physical violence.” In a website statement about the situation facing Christians in Egypt, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization noted: “President al-Sisi and his government regularly speak positively about Egypt’s Christian community—which, through the Coptic church, is long and historic. He purposely includes both Muslims and Christians in Egypt’s identity. However, this stance does not always extend to areas outside of major urban centers—authorities are known to ignore or downplay the concerns of Egyptian believers.” Muslim-majority Egypt ranks 38 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post Egypt: Islamic Extremists Destroy Homes in Christian Village appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News GENEVA (Worthy News) – The World Economic Forum (WEF) suggests that nearly all central banks plan to have their digital currencies as part of global efforts to remove cash transactions from the world economy. “Over 98 percent of the global economy’s central banks are researching, piloting or deploying central bank digital currency (CBDC),” added the WEF in a report seen by Worthy News. “There is an opportunity to harness this innovation in central bank money to enhance systemically important payments and securities transactions between financial institutions,” the WEF stressed. The report, ‘Modernizing Financial Markets With Wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency,’ called CBDCs “ideal for systemically important transactions despite the emergence of alternative payment instruments.” Additionally, “Wholesale central bank digital currency (wCBDC) is a form of [Central Bank Money also known as] CeBM that could unlock new economic models and integration points that are not possible today,” the report stressed. “Wholesale CBDCs” would be used mainly by banking institutions, governments, and global corporations, while “Retail CBDCs” would be for the regular population, according to experts. The WEF urged policymakers and other leaders to investigate the possibilities of digital systems in its report co-authored with Accenture, a global professional services firm. Yet not everyone shares its enthusiasm. “Every person that cares about economic freedom should be wary of CBDCs as perhaps the biggest threat to human liberty since the attempted introduction of vaccine passports,” said ZeroHedge, an opinionated financial news site. “After the pandemic agenda was defeated and the plan to exploit public fear to create a perpetual medical autocracy was exposed, [WEF founder] Klaus Schwab and his merry band of globalists slithered back into the woodwork,” ZeroHedge added. “To be sure, we’ll be seeing them again one day,” the site commented, referring to the report. The post Most Central Banks To Have Digital Currencies appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News)— Researchers working near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem have uncovered a 2,000-year-old clay token they believe may have been used by Jewish pilgrims to exchange for offerings during visits to the Biblical Second Temple before it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, Christian Headlines reports. The token was discovered by the Temple Mount Sifting Project, an organization that is sifting through more than 9,000 tons of dirt that was dumped in the Kidron Valley following illegal renovations carried out by the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement at the Temple Mount in 1999. “[The token] depicts a wine jar, aligning with the Mishnaic text that discusses ‘nesachim,’ a term for the wine libation poured on the Temple altar and also used to refer generally to all the offering components,” the archaeologists said in a statement. “It is plausible that this token was intended for Greek-speaking pilgrims, possibly including Jews from the diaspora.” The researchers noted that the Jewish Mishna “confirms the presence of Greek writing in the Temple, noting in another chapter of Tractate Shekalim (3:2) that baskets in the treasury chamber were marked with Greek letters.” The token is inscribed with the word ‘Doulês,’ the name of its owner, Christian Headlines reports. “This name was common in Thrace, Macedonia, and the northern regions of the Black Sea, areas where Jews had settled by the late Hellenistic-Early Roman periods,” the researchers said. The post 2,000 Year-Old Clay Token Uncovered at Temple Mount May Have Been Used by Pilgrims to Second Temple appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The US Supreme Court is considering whether a near-total ban on abortion passed by the state of Idaho has precedence over a federal law that requires that doctors provide patients with medical care – that might include an abortion – in emergency situations, Reuters reports. The Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in the state’s appeal against a lower court ruling that the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act 1986 (EMTALA) has precedence over Idaho’s abortion ban in situations of conflict. Passed in 2020, and triggered into effect in 2022 following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v Wade, Idaho’s law bans abortion in all circumstances unless the procedure is needed to prevent the woman’s death. Doctors who violate the law face 2-5 years in prison and the loss of their medical license. EMTALA requires that hospitals covered by the federal Medicare program must “stabilize” patients with emergency medical conditions. Hospitals may face lawsuits by patients who do not receive the care they need. Questions raised by the justices during oral arguments indicated no consensus has yet been reached. “Within rare cases, there’s a significant number where the woman … her life is not in peril, but she’s going to lose her reproductive organs, she’s going to lose the ability to have children in the future unless an abortion takes place,” Democratic-appointee Justice Elena Kagan noted. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito countered that EMTALA requires the “unborn child” to be given stabilizing care. “Performing an abortion is antithetical to that duty,” Alito said. The post USA: Supreme Court Considering Whether Idaho Abortion Ban Supersedes Federal Emergency Care Requirement appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The Democratic-led Arizona House of Representatives have voted to repeal a Civil War-era total ban on abortion which could soon go into effect unless the Republican-led Senate votes to keep it on the books, Reuters reports. The ban was passed by the 1st Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1864, before Arizona became a state in 1912. The ban was revived by Arizona’s state Supreme Court on April 9: the law can potentially be implemented since the US Supreme Court in 2022 revoked the federal right to abortion up to viability, leaving the issue of abortion up to individual states to decide. Democratic officials and lawmakers condemned the state Supreme Court’s decision. Vowing that her office would not enforce the ban, Democratic Atty. Gen. Kris Mayes said in a statement: “Today’s decision to reimpose a law from a time when Arizona wasn’t a state, the Civil War was raging and women couldn’t even vote will go down in history as a stain on our state.” Wednesday’s vote in the Arizona House of Representatives passed 32-28, with three Republican lawmakers crossing party lines to join all 29 Democrats in voting to repeal the 1864 abortion ban, Reuters said. The GOP holds a 16-14 majority in Arizona’s Senate and could vote on the ban from May 1, Reuters reports. In the event the Senate decides to dispense with the 1864 ban, Arizona’s 2022 law which bans abortion at 15 weeks’ gestation will remain in place. The post Arizona Lawmakers Vote To Repeal Civil War-Era Abortion Ban appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – In response to escalated attacks during the Passover holiday, Israel targeted multiple sites associated with Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. Following these operations, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had successfully eliminated half of Hezbollah’s commanders in the region. The intense military operation featured a major airstrike on the town of Ayta ash-Shab, targeting around 40 Hezbollah positions in just a few minutes. The IDF deployed both fighter jets and artillery in this assault, focusing on weapons depots and other critical infrastructure utilized by Hezbollah for its activities against Israel. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remarked during a visit to the IDF Northern Command after receiving an operational update and touring the border, “There is continuous offensive action by IDF forces in all of southern Lebanon as well as in other parts of Lebanon. The operational results are very impressive.” “Half of the Hezbollah commanders in south Lebanon have been eliminated… and the other half hide and abandon south Lebanon to IDF operations,” Gallant stated. Gallant highlighted that the main goal of the IDF is to facilitate the safe return of the tens of thousands of Israelis who have been displaced due to ongoing attacks by Hezbollah. “We are considering various strategies to secure this goal, and the upcoming period will be crucial,” he stated. Since October 8, forces led by the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah have regularly attacked Israeli communities and military positions along the border to support Gaza during the ongoing conflict. These attacks have led to eight civilian deaths and the loss of 11 IDF soldiers and reservists. There have also been several attacks from Syria, although they have not resulted in any injuries. During the ongoing skirmishes, Hezbollah has reported 287 of its members killed by Israel, primarily in Lebanon and some in Syria. Additionally, in Lebanon, 54 operatives from other terrorist organizations, a Lebanese soldier, and at least 60 civilians, including three journalists, have also died. The IDF has announced its intention to establish a safe and secure buffer zone along the Lebanon border to safeguard residents from the threat of terrorism posed by Hezbollah. Since October 2023, Israel has evacuated approximately 60,000 residents from the northern border towns, who have been displaced from their homes. The post IDF Reports Elimination of Half of Hezbollah Commanders in South Lebanon Following Strikes on 40 Hezbollah Locations appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News NEW YORK/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Thousands shouting “God loves Israel!” and “Israel is not alone!” gathered outside the gates of Columbia University in New York City on Thursday to protest against the “rising antisemitic spirit on college campuses across America.” American missionary and musician Sean Feucht, who organized the rally, said it was “time to worship, time to take a stand” for Israel. “We stand here to protest against the rising antisemitic spirit on college campuses across America,” Feucht told the crowd after they marched towards the university carrying Israeli flags. “We say it started here; it’s going go and here.” It’s necessary, he said, as “All of America has seen is hate and violence.” He and others arrived at the university following a daring march near police, keeping them away from pro-Palestine crowds that had been occupying the university grounds. The pro-Israel protest came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced “antisemitism on campuses in the United States” after pro-Palestine Harvard students began staging an encampment in Harvard Yard on Wednesday. Netanyahu slammed university administrators for not doing more to stop the campus protests and called for widespread condemnation of the demonstrations. HORRIFIC ATTACKS “What’s happening on American college campuses is horrific. Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities,” Netanyahu said. “It’s unconscionable. It has to be stopped. It has to be condemned and condemned unequivocally.” In the past week, students at Columbia University, Yale University, and MIT have engaged in similar encampments and protests on their campuses. Elsewhere in the Boston area, students at Tufts University and Emerson College have set up encampments as well. Netanyahu the university protests to rallies held in Germany almost 100 years ago, as the Nazi party rose to power on a wave of anti-Jewish hate. He echoed concerns voiced by supporters of Israel over the safety of Israeli or Jewish students as the protests intensified. Some have pointed to antisemitic incidents, including attacks against Jewish students, and argued that university leaders are enabling intimidation and hate speech. “Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities,” claimed Netanyahu. Reports of antisemitic harassment by protesters surfaced over the weekend, with footage showing a masked protester outside Columbia carrying a Palestinian flag which appears to chant, “Go back to Poland!” STEALING FLAG One Columbia student wrote on social media that some protesters had stolen an Israeli flag from students and tried to burn it, adding that Jewish students were splashed with water. Chabad at Columbia University, a chapter of an international Orthodox Jewish movement, said some protesters had hurled expletives at Jewish students as they walked home from campus over the weekend and had said to them, “All you do is colonize” and “Go back to Europe.” “We are horrified and worried about physical safety” on campus, said the statement, adding that the organization had hired additional armed guards to escort students walking home from Chabad. A rabbi has urged several Jewish students linked to Columbia University to stay home as tense confrontations on campus sparked condemnation from the White House and New York officials. The atmosphere is so charged that Columbia officials announced students could attend classes and possibly take exams virtually during Passover, a significant Jewish holiday period. Tensions at Columbia, and many universities, have been high ever since the October 7 terror attack on Israel by Hamas killed some 1,200 people, including raped women and babies, triggering Israel’s declared war against Hamas. However, the situation at Columbia escalated in recent days after university officials testified before the U.S. Congress last week about antisemitism on campus and pro-Palestinian protests on and near campus surged. Christians gathering on Thursday prayed and sang for peace in Israel and beyond. The post Christians Protest Antisemitism At US Universities appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A UK-based Christian advocacy organization has renewed its calls for India to revoke the harsh anti-conversion laws that have been abused by Hindu nationalist extremists to persecute Christians across the vast nation, Christian Today (CT) reports. Using India’s ongoing national elections as a springboard, the Release International organization has highlighted the fact that, while India claims to be the world’s largest democracy, non-Hindu religious groups are being targeted both in law and in criminality against them. “We have seen a dramatic rise in intolerance towards Christians since the BJP first swept to power in 2014,” Paul Robinson, CEO of Release International, said in a statement. “Our partners in India report pastors beaten, churches attacked, and prayer meetings disrupted at the hands of ultra-right wing Hindu militants. At the same time, states in India are passing anti-conversion laws which prevent Christians from sharing their faith with Hindus,” Robinson said. The Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) confirmed the situation, citing an ‘unprecedented’ 601 cases of persecution against Christians in India in 2023, CT reports. Notably, the EFI said the recorded incidents only “scratch the surface.” In a current website statement about the situation facing Christians in India, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy group reports: “More and more states are also implementing anti-conversion laws, creating an environment where any Christian who shares their faith can be accused of a crime, intimidated, harassed and even met with violence…Christians who convert from Hinduism are the most vulnerable to persecution across India, particularly communities who have faced historical oppression or discrimination such as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Additionally, church leaders and their families can be particular targets in places that are heavily influenced by Hindu extremists.” Ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party for nearly 10 years, India now ranks 11 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christian are persecuted. The post Christian Rights Group Renews Call For End To India’s Anti-Conversion Laws appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis last week signed into law a bill that allows public schools the option of permitting volunteer religious chaplains to counsel students on campus, CBN News reports. The law has been strongly criticized by the ACLU of Florida, the Interfaith Alliance, the National Education Association, and The Satanic Temple. Passed by the Republican-led Florida legislature by a wide margin, HB 931 will come into effect on July 1, CBN said. The law allows volunteer chaplains to “provide support, services, and programs to students as assigned by the district school board or charter school governing board.” Addressing concerns that the law is intended as a means of religious indoctrination, DeSantis said in a statement that school districts are not required to bring in chaplains and neither are students required to see them. “It’s our view that if school districts want to bring in chaplains to offer voluntary services, they’re within their right to do so,” DeSantis said. “It’s totally voluntary for a parent or a student to participate. No one’s being forced to do anything. But to exclude religious groups from campus, that is discrimination.” Announcing their intention to push back against the law, The Satanic Temple reportedly announced it would be offering the services of “chaplains” from their organization. Responding to concerns that this might be allowed, DeSantis said: “We’re not playing those games in Florida. That is not a religion. That is not qualified to be able to participate in this.” In a separate statement criticizing the law, the ACLU of Florida said: “Public schools are not Sunday schools and chaplains are not school counselors. Allowing chaplains to assume official positions — whether paid or voluntary — in public schools as counselors or other support staff will undermine this right by creating an environment ripe for evangelizing and religious coercion of students in violation of the First Amendment to the US Constitution.” The post Florida Passes Law Allowing Chaplains In Public Schools appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON/KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the United States on Wednesday after President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package that includes about $61 billion in military assistance for Kyiv. “Today’s American military aid package for Ukraine is vital. I thank all Americans who work in defense enterprises and every state that manufactures weapons that are now really protecting democracy and our way of life,” Zelensky wrote on social media platform X. Zelensky pledged to “make every effort to compensate for the half-year spent in debates and doubts” as his army struggles to keep out Russian invaders. Earlier in the day, wearing a U.S.-Ukrainian flag pin and speaking from the White House, Biden said it was a “good day for America, a good day for Ukraine, and a good day for world peace.” Biden said the aid package he signed is “going to make America safer. It’s going to make the world safer. And it continues America’s leadership in the world.” The package also includes $26 billion for Israel and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific. TIKTOK BAN? Separately, the package includes a bill that could eventually lead to the banning of social media platform TikTok in the United States. It gives the Chinese parent company ByteDance roughly nine months to sell it, or it will be banned from application stores in the United States. The signing of the aid package was the culmination of months of tense negotiations and personal lobbying from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. It led to a split among U.S. House Republicans that continues to threaten the leadership position of House Speaker Mike Johnson. Hardline House conservatives opposed further U.S. funding to Kyiv and threatened to oust Johnson over his handling of the negotiations. Conservatives in Congress have opposed additional assistance for what they view as an “unwinnable war,” an opinion shared by ex-U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who seeks re-election in November. The post Ukraine’s President Thankful For $61 Billon US Aid Package, But Challenges Remain appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MOSCOW/NEW YORK (Worthy News) – Russia on Wednesday declined to help prevent an arms race in space as it vetoed a U.S.-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution. Moscow’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia vetoed the resolution that called on countries to prevent an arms race in outer space. The vote came after Washington accused Moscow of developing an anti-satellite nuclear weapon to put in space, an allegation that Russia has denied. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow was against putting nuclear weapons in space. “Today’s veto begs the question: Why? Why, if you are following the rules, would you not support a resolution that reaffirms them? What could you possibly be hiding?” U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council after the vote. “It’s baffling, and it’s a shame.” Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia countered that Washington is trying “to tarnish Moscow” and said Russia “would shortly begin negotiations with council members on its own, not just [weapons of mass destruction]. But you don’t want that … Let me ask you that very same question: Why?” Nebenzia asked Thomas-Greenfield in the council. The draft resolution was put to a vote by the U.S. and Japan after nearly six weeks of negotiations. It received 13 votes in favor, while China abstained and Russia cast a veto, adding to concerns that an arms race among the world’s most influential nations moves toward the stars. The post Russia Vetoes Space Arms Race Resolution appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The United States confirmed Wednesday that it secretly shipped long-range missiles to Ukraine for use in its conflict with Russia. The missiles, which Kyiv already used twice, were contained in a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine that U.S. President Joe Biden approved on March 12, U.S. sources said. The confirmation came while Biden signed into law an aid package providing military assistance to Ukraine after the Senate passed a bill containing nearly $61 billion in aid to Ukraine. Additionally, $26 billion in military aid will be transferred to Israel and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific. However, before the aid package was passed, the U.S. already sent ATACMS, short for Army Tactical Missile System, at President Biden’s order, said U.S. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel. The missiles were used for the first time in the early hours of April 17, launched against a Russian airfield in Crimea that was about 165 km (103 miles) from the Ukrainian front lines, U.S. officials said. Ukraine reportedly used the weapon a second time overnight against Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine. ‘SIGNIFICANT NUMBER’ White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that a “significant number” of the missiles had been sent to Ukraine and said “we will send more.” U.S. officials declined to say how many missiles had been delivered. Yet they have a longer striking distance — up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) than the version of the weapon with a range of roughly 165 kilometers (103 miles) provided by the U.S. in October. “We did not announce this at the onset to maintain operational security for Ukraine at their request,” Patel said. Yet the Pentagon initially opposed the long-range missile deployment, fearing the loss of the missiles from the American stockpile would hurt U.S. military readiness, according to sources familiar with their thinking. There were also concerns that Ukraine would use them to attack targets deep inside Russia. However, Russia’s use of North Korean-supplied long-range ballistic missiles against Ukraine in December and January led to a change of heart, a U.S. official said. WARNING RUSSIA Another factor in U.S. decision-making was Russia’s targeting of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, added the official speaking on condition of anonymity. “We warned Russia about those things,” the official said. “They renewed their targeting.” Also high on Ukraine’s shopping list is ammunition, with the U.S. pledging to ramp up production of shells from 30,000 a month to 100,000 by next summer. Ukraine used over 2 million shells during the 26-month war, a rate of more than 75,000 a month, said General James Mingus, the Army’s vice chief of staff. Kyiv how hopes it will soon receive more weapons as Russia pushes forward in a war that has already killed and injured hundreds of thousands of people, officials say. The post US Sent Secretly Long-Range Missiles To Ukraine appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, inspect your temple! Matthew 21:10-14 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. There is a long-standing tradition of cleaning one’s house in the springtime – hence the term “spring cleaning”. One source for this tradition is certainly the Jewish Passover (Pesach). Each spring as the holiday approaches observant householders in Israel and around the world perform a meticulous cleaning of their homes, especially to be sure there is no leaven in the house before Pesach begins. Leaven, in scripture, is often a metaphor for sin and impurity; and this season of the year is often a time for emphasizing “spiritual housecleaning”. When Yeshua (Jesus) entered Jerusalem for the last time in His earthly life, before the Passover, and just before He was sacrificed, He went to the Temple and “cleansed” it by driving out the money changers and religious merchandisers. Apparently, these were “religious” people with impure motives, and the Lord considered them to be “leaven” in his Father’s house. Immediately after this, the Lord miraculously healed the blind and lame. Friend, we can also be “religious” people with impure motives; seeking financial gain, or prestige, from “spiritual” activity, when the Lord desires a devoted heart of worship and prayer in His “house”. Perhaps this is why we see so few miracles in our lives and “ministries”. Let us also do a “housecleaning” for impure motivations. The Lord may then be freer to work His miracles through us. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX) (Baltimore, Maryland) Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out! Editor's Note: We are planning our summer Tour so if you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World US Sent Secretly Long-Range Missiles To Ukraine The United States confirmed Wednesday that it secretly shipped long-range missiles to Ukraine for use in its conflict with Russia. Iran Rapper Sentenced To Death Over Protests Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi - who was arrested during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests that swept Iran in 2022 - was sentenced to death, Salehi's lawyer, Amir Raesian, said Wednesday. Europe, US Seek More Sanctions Against Iran But Warn Israel The United States and European allies are imposing new sanctions on Iranian military leaders and weapon makers to punish Iran for its April 14 missile and drone attack on Israel, but they urge the Jewish nation not to retaliate strongly amid fears of a broader war. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Protesters Accusing Israel Government Of ‘Abandoning Hostages’ Scuffle With Police; Arrests Reported Protesters chanting "We won't allow the abandonment of the hostages" and "their time is running out, a deal is on the table” scuffled with police near the residence of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and at least two arrests were reported. Israel Defense Minister Calls on US Not to Sanction IDF Battalion Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has asked the US not to proceed with proposals to sanction the IDF’s Netzach Yehuda (Judea Forever) battalion for alleged human rights violations against Palestinians in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). Israel Prepares Invasion Of Rafah; Massive Tent City Seen As Israel observed Passover on Wednesday, its military stepped up efforts to pressure Hamas to free hostages during this holiday period as it prepared to invade Rafah, one of the last standing cities in the Gaza Strip. Inside the United States Leading US Media Discuss Tackling Trump In Regular ‘Off-The-Record’ Calls America’s leading legal commentators are reportedly holding regular “off-the-record” conference calls on how to tackle former U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s legal issues. USA: Jewish University Students Fear For Safety Amid Anti-Israel Campus Protests Jewish students at some of America’s most important universities have expressed fear for their safety as increasingly intense mass protests against Israel take hold on US college campuses, CBN News reports. President Biden Plans Climate Emergency Impacting Energy Industry U.S. President Joe Biden plans to declare a “national climate emergency” in what critics say is an effort to block American energy development while appeasing his environmentalist donor base, Worthy News learned Wednesday. Christian News Myanmar: US Calls For Release of Imprisoned Baptist Pastor The US has called for the release of a Baptist pastor in Myanmar who was re-arrested and imprisoned by the ruling military junta just hours after being unexpectedly released with other prisoners last week, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. India: Pastor and Brother Attacked by Sikhs With Swords, “We Warned You Not To Convert People” A pastor and his Christian brother in India’s Punjab state were severely wounded last week after a group of warrior Sikhs attacked them with swords on account of their faith in Christ, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. India ranks 11 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The US has called for the release of a Baptist pastor in Myanmar who was re-arrested and imprisoned by the ruling military junta just hours after being unexpectedly released with other prisoners last week, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Rev. Dr. Hkalam Samson, a respected church leader and former chair of the Kachin Baptist Convention, is serving a six-year sentence he received in April last year for alleged unlawful association, incitement of opposition to the Tatmadaw regime, and terrorism, ICC reports. Samson is renowned as an advocate for the rights of religious and ethnic minorities in Myanmar. On April 17, in celebration of the Buddhist New Year festival of Thingyan, Tatmadaw officials released 3,300 prisoners, including Samson, ICC said. However, the pastor was taken back into custody that same night. Calling for Samson’s release, the US Department of State said in a press release on April 17: “We join the international community in condemning the sentencing of Reverend Dr. Hkalam Samson and call for his immediate and unconditional release…Burma’s brutal military regime has targeted Rev. Dr. Samson, a prominent, well-respected religious figure, for his courageous work, including advocating for freedom of religion or belief.” “Reverend Dr. Samson has devoted his pastoral career to supporting peace efforts, drug eradication, advocating for justice and equality for Kachin Christians and throughout Burma, and facilitating the safe and voluntary return of more than 100,000 displaced Kachin people to their homes,” the State Department said. “We urge the regime to cease its unconscionable repression against religious actors, communities, and houses of worship in Burma and end the violence.” Controlled by the brutal Burmese Army (Tatmadaw), Buddhist-majority Myanmar ranks 17 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post Myanmar: US Calls For Release of Imprisoned Baptist Pastor appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Protesters chanting “We won’t allow the abandonment of the hostages” and “their time is running out, a deal is on the table” scuffled with police near the residence of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and at least two arrests were reported. Wednesday’s rally came hours after Hamas published a video of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, the first proof that he survived being badly wounded during his capture on October 7. Goldberg-Polin, then 23, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival during Hamas’ attacks on Israel when more than 1,200 people died and hundreds were taken hostage. He was shown in the undated video with part of his left arm missing several inches above the hand. “Another video of a hostage has been published – as if Hamas is the one running the show – as if there is no government. We have no mother and father. There’s no responsibility; it’s thrown aside. Come now to Aza Street, in front of the Prime Minister’s Residence, to demand an end to this disaster already,” said groups organizing the protest. One unidentified friend of Goldberg-Polin’s told The Jerusalem Post newspaper that “It’s a disgrace that he’s still [in Gaza] and the country is silent.” Police said they were working to keep the peace, noting that some protesters lit fires, set off fireworks, and overturned trash cans. TWO DETAINED Two of the protesters were arrested by police for starting a fire and disorderly conduct, officials said. “Israel Police will allow the freedom of protest according to the law, but will act with the tools and powers at our disposal against rioters and violent rioters, whatever they may be, and all those who harm or attempt to harm public peace and security,” police added. Reporters also noticed that demonstrators blocked the road and lit a bonfire in the street while fireworks and flares were launched in the area. A large number of police officers were present at the scene amid mounting frustration about what critics view as Prime Minister Netanyahu’s inability to rescue the remaining hostages. Fear in Israel has been growing that most of the 133 hostages still held by Hamas since October 7 have died. Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet has denied reports that only 40 hostages are still alive, saying it was the “personal opinion” of the Britain-based Daily Mail newspaper’s writer. The post Protesters Accusing Israel Government Of ‘Abandoning Hostages’ Scuffle With Police; Arrests Reported appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi – who was arrested during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests that swept Iran in 2022 – was sentenced to death, Salehi’s lawyer, Amir Raesian, said Wednesday. He was sentenced on charges of “corruption on earth” in the strict Islamic Republic, but Raesian said he would appeal the verdict. The rapper was detained in October 2022 amid nationwide protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who had been arrested by the feared morality police for allegedly violating strict Islamic dress codes. The Iranian Fars News Agency referred to Salehi as “one of the leaders of the riots” and said he tried to flee the country while being arrested. He was sentenced in July to six years and three months in prison but was released on bail after the Iranian Supreme Court found “flaws” in the original sentence. The rapper was then rearrested in December after publishing a video saying he was tortured while detained. Raesian stated that his appeal against the death sentence comes as there were several “inconsistencies” in the new verdict. He added that the court in Iran’s central city of Isfahan that sentenced Salehi referred to the Supreme Court’s decision as “advice.” It comes amid a broader crackdown by Iran’s Islamic rulers on dissent. Christians, including former Muslims, have also been targeted by authorities, with several serving or facing lengthy prison sentences or even the death penalty for their faith in Christ, according to rights activists and churches. The post Iran Rapper Sentenced To Death Over Protests appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – America’s leading legal commentators are reportedly holding regular “off-the-record” conference calls on how to tackle former U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s legal issues. Members of the Zoom chat group, all part of the “Anti-Trump Cinematic Universe,” denied that their weekly online sessions are aimed at derailing Trump’s re-election bid or sending him to jail, Politico Magazine reported Wednesday. The gathering, held every Friday, is hosted by Trump critic Norman Eisen, a legal analyst at broadcaster CNN and ex-senior official in the administration of then-President Barack Obama, according to sources familiar with the calls. Eisen convened the group since 2022 when Trump’s legal woes mounted in the aftermath of the attack on the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., by rioters claiming to be Trump supporters. Eisen was also a vital member of the team of lawyers assembled by U.S. House Democrats to handle Trump’s first impeachment trial. Regular attendees on Eisen’s call reportedly include Bill Kristol, the longtime conservative commentator, and Laurence Tribe, a prominent liberal constitutional law professor. Also joining is John Dean, a White House counsel under President Richard Nixon before pleading guilty to obstruction of justice in the “Watergate scandal.” He was prosecuted for his role in the 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate complex in Washington under the direction of the White House. CONSERVATIVE LAWYER Among others attending the calls is George Conway, a conservative lawyer and co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, Politico Magazine reported. Andrew Weissmann, who was a senior prosecutor on Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia investigation and is now a legal analyst at the MSNBC network, is another regular on the calls, Worthy News learned. Jeffrey Toobin, a pioneer in the field of cable news legal analysis, is said to be another member of the crew. The rest of the group apparently includes recognizable names from politics, law, and media, such as Obama-era U.S. Attorneys Harry Litman, Barbara McQuade, and Joyce White Vance. Litman is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, a cable news regular, and a podcast host. McQuade and Vance co-host a podcast and are under contract with MSNBC. Two other call participants linked to MSNBC include Jennifer Rubin, an opinion writer for The Washington Post newspaper who often covers Trump’s legal affairs. The other person is Mary McCord, an ex-federal prosecutor and high-ranking official in the Justice Department who co-hosts an MSNBC podcast with Weissmann, sources said. Karen Agnifilo, a former senior prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and CNN commentator, is an occasional attendee, as is Elliot Williams, a former federal prosecutor who provides commentary on CNN, Politico explained. NO STRATEGY Members of the group have denied they gathered to streamline their thoughts and strategy towards Trump before they air their views to millions of Americans. They point out there’s not always consensus during their sessions. For example, they said, CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig engaged “in a cordial but pointed exchange” with Luttig during his guest appearance. Honig and others “expressed skepticism” about arguments for Trump’s disqualification from presidential elections due to his perceived role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually ruled that Trump could not be thrown off the Colorado ballot by the state for his conduct during the January 6, 2021, violence. “It feels almost like a seminar in law school,” a participant in the group was quoted as saying. Most calls comprise “deliberation, debate, and discussion,” albeit “with a distinct anti-Trump tilt to it,” the participant added. Yet critics could wonder whether regular Friday sessions between influential U.S. media personalities on Trump could add to public concerns over perceived liberal bias in mainstream media. “Trump has claimed that there is a legal conspiracy against him, and there is a risk that news of a group such as this could give Trump and his allies an attractive target,” noted Ankush Khardori, a Politico Magazine senior writer “Trump’s claims of an organized conspiracy might be bunk, but there are other potential problems with the Friday Zooms: There is a risk, for instance, that the calls could breed groupthink or perhaps help dubious information spread, where it might then reach people watching the news,” Khardori warned. The post Leading US Media Discuss Tackling Trump In Regular ‘Off-The-Record’ Calls appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has asked the US not to proceed with proposals to sanction the IDF’s Netzach Yehuda (Judea Forever) battalion for alleged human rights violations against Palestinians in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). An exclusively male battalion made up of ultra-Orthodox and religious nationalist soldiers, Netzach Yehuda has been accused of violations against Palestinians in the West Bank before – particularly in the case of 78-year-old Palestinian-American Omar As’ad who died while being detained by the battalion in 2022. Referencing reports that the US is preparing to sanction the battalion, Gallant said on Sunday: “I call on the US administration to withdraw its intention to impose sanctions on the Netzach Yehuda battalion.” “Damage to one battalion affects the entire defense establishment—this is not the right path for partners and friends,” Gallant added. “Our friends and our enemies are closely watching the ties between Israel and the United States, now more than ever.” Gallant went on to discuss Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. In a readout of the conversation delivered on Sunday night, the US State Department said: “[Gallant and Blinken] discussed efforts to protect Israel’s security and negotiations to secure the release of hostages, enable an immediate ceasefire, and increase the flow of life-saving humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The secretary also underscored the importance of measures to de-escalate tensions in the region.” The post Israel Defense Minister Calls on US Not to Sanction IDF Battalion appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Jewish students at some of America’s most important universities have expressed fear for their safety as increasingly intense mass protests against Israel take hold on US college campuses, CBN News reports. Pro- Palestinian/anti-Israel protests at Yale, New York University, and Columbia University have caused the cancelation of classes and the arrests of dozens of protestors. Anti-Israeli protests in support of Hamas and the Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank swept across the world in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas massacre of 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis, the rape, torture and wounding of hundreds of others, and the kidnapping of around 250 more women, children, babies and men on Oct. 7 last year. Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza to destroy Hamas’ terror infrastructure and rescue the remaining 136 hostages has exacted a tragically heavy toll in terms of civilian casualties and humanitarian suffering because Hamas strategically hides behind its women and children and underneath hospitals and schools. The Palestinian terror group which has ruled Gaza since 2007 murders dissidents and also denies food and supplies to its population, claiming their survival is the responsibility of world organizations. Nevertheless, the anti-Israel protests in US colleges and in major cities around the world were launched even before the ground incursion into Gaza began. In its report Wednesday, CBN News referenced a video that was taken at the Columbia University campus showing Jewish students being told by protestors to “go back to Poland.” The students appeared afraid and searched for the police. Another video shows a Jewish Columbia student telling a reporter:”I was there today and it made me physically sick hearing the things they were saying and doing. So, over this [Passover] holiday I kind of just want to try to avoid it as best as I can for my own safety.” CBN also referenced a photo of a demonstrator standing in front of pro-Israel students holding a sign with an arrow pointing to them saying: “Al-Qasam’s [Hamas’ military wing] next targets.” A further video shows Shai Davidai, a Jewish assistant professor at Columbia Business School being denied access to the campus he is employed to teach on while college officials stand by in apparent approval of his obstruction. “I am a professor here, I have every right to be everywhere on campus. You cannot let people who support Hamas on campus and me, a professor, not go on campus. let me in now.” In a statement, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) said: “Students are scared, they’re afraid to walk on campus, they don’t deserve that. I’ve never seen a level of protest that is so person to person, that is so visceral.” The post USA: Jewish University Students Fear For Safety Amid Anti-Israel Campus Protests appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. President Joe Biden plans to declare a “national climate emergency” in what critics say is an effort to block American energy development while appeasing his environmentalist donor base, Worthy News learned Wednesday. Biden’s top advisers have resumed talks on declaring such an emergency “to reduce carbon dioxide emissions” ahead of upcoming presidential elections, according to sources familiar with the meetings. The declaration would give Biden wartime powers to limit oil and liquefied natural gas exports, suspending offshore drilling and halting the industry’s ability to transport its products via pipelines and trains. “The average American is certainly not demanding a climate emergency declaration. It’s the losing team of left-wing Democrat activists and the shrinking base of elites who are,” U.S. Oil and Gas Association President Tim Stewart said in published remarks. “It’s not about climate; it’s about control: Control over the entire U.S. economy, control of production, manufacturing, distribution, and consumption. If you control energy, you control all these things. Which means you have control of the people.” Stewart compared the use of emergency powers to measures used by federal, state, and local governments to restrict citizens’ freedoms and choices during the COVID-19 pandemic. INCREASING SUPPORT For Biden, it would mean shoring up support among billionaires and others funding both the “climate alarmist movement” and Democrat Party campaigns, including his own for re-election, critics say. “By now, we have gotten used to incredibly damaging and stupid decisions from the Biden administration, but the idea of declaring a ‘climate emergency’ is in a class by itself,” said Tom Pyle, President of the Washington DC think tank Institute for Energy Research. “As with the freeze on new LNG permits, the only emergency President Biden is seeking to address with this latest threat is his slippage in the polls among young voters,” he added in comments to The Telegraph newspaper. The White House denies wrongdoing. “President Biden has treated the climate crisis as an emergency since day one and will continue to build a clean energy future that lowers utility bills, creates good-paying union jobs, makes our economy the envy of the world, and prioritizes communities that for too long have been left behind,” said White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez. It wasn’t immediately clear when the additional climate emergency declaration measures would be rolled out. But with elections in November, commentators suggest the fossil fuel energy industry should prepare for a rocky road ahead. That’s music to the ears of the far-left activist group The Sunrise Movement. “The pressure is working. Let’s keep it up,” they wrote on social media platform X. The post President Biden Plans Climate Emergency Impacting Energy Industry appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM/GAZA (Worthy News) – As Israel observed Passover on Wednesday, its military stepped up efforts to pressure Hamas to free hostages during this holiday period as it prepared to invade Rafah, one of the last standing cities in the Gaza Strip. Satellite images appeared to show Israel building a tent city as it prepares to evacuate more than one million Palestinians who have sought refuge in Rafah. Yet a Palestinian health official later said the tent camp was being set up to house displaced people who are currently sheltering in a hospital and “is not related” to any impending military operation. Ahead of the expected invasion into the southern Gaza City, troops were also active in the north of Gaza as part of declared efforts to surround and destroy Hamas. Broadcaster Al Jazeera, which Israel has accused of biased reporting, said “fears are rising” for tens of thousands of civilians in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya as Israeli troops attack the city “with extreme force” and order Palestinians to flee immediately. It added that three family members were killed and four wounded after an Israeli air strike destroyed their home in southern Rafah city. The news came amid reports that Gaza medics continue to search for bodies on the grounds of Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis, where more than 300 bodies have been recovered so far. ‘BASELESS, UNFOUNDED’ Israel’s military said claims that it buried bodies in a mass grave there were “baseless and unfounded.” But it did say that during a two-week operation at the hospital in February, troops “examined” bodies buried by Palestinians. “The examination was conducted in a careful manner and exclusively in places where intelligence indicated the possible presence of hostages. The examination was carried out respectfully while maintaining the dignity of the deceased,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. The United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said he was “horrified” by “the destruction” of the Nasser and Al Shifa medical facilities in Gaza that Israel claims have been used by Hamas for its military operations. At least 34,262 Palestinians have been killed and 77,229 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. These figures have been impossible to verify independently, and the Hamas authorities do not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Israel says it launched the war in Gaza after it was attacked on October 7 when Hamas killed some 1,200 people and took hundreds as hostages. ENTERING RAFAH With frustration mounting over the roughly 130 hostages still held, Israel’s military appeared to prepare to enter Rafah. The presence of a massive tent city nearby underscored the struggle to find shelter in Gaza, where some 80 percent of people have fled their homes, according to Palestinian officials and aid workers. More than half of the territory’s population of roughly 2.3 million sought refuge in Rafah, according to several estimates. In what commentators and residents of the city saw as a sign of an imminent invasion, the military confirmed that it was working on relocating civilians to a safe zone a few miles (kilometers) away along the Mediterranean coast. Just a day earlier, Israeli warplanes hit Rafah sites, adding to concerns among civilians sheltering there that a ground assault would soon follow. Marwan Shaath, a 57-year-old resident of Rafah, told reporters, “Our bags have been packed for months now for the time of the evacuation.” Western allies have urged Israel not to invade Rafah, but Israel insists that the push is needed to eliminate Hamas fighters sheltering in a network of tunnels beneath the city. The IDF says they also want to capture or kill Hamas leaders presumed to be in Rafah and ensure the release of the remaining hostages captured during the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel. The post Israel Prepares Invasion Of Rafah; Massive Tent City Seen appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The United States and European allies are imposing new sanctions on Iranian military leaders and weapon makers to punish Iran for its April 14 missile and drone attack on Israel, but they urge the Jewish nation not to retaliate strongly amid fears of a broader war. The European Union’s European Council President Charles Michel called additional Sanctions “a clear signal that we want to send: We need to isolate Iran.” He said details would be forthcoming in the next few days. However, Michel’s announcement came shortly after the foreign ministers of Britain and Germany visited Israel to urge restraint in its response to Iran’s assault. Britain’s and Germany’s foreign ministers, David Cameron and Annalena Baerbock, visited Israel on Wednesday to urge restraint in its response to Iran’s assault. Yet Netanyahu said after the meeting that while he appreciated “all kinds of suggestions and advice,” he “want to make it clear: We will make our own decisions, and the State of Israel will do everything necessary to defend itself.” So far, Israel is reported to have launched an airstrike on a military base in Iran with missiles capable of evading Iranian radar. They targeted a crucial component of the air defense system that safeguards Iran’s nuclear facilities, Israeli sources said. HITTING IRAN The air strike in central Iran hit a site near the city of Isfahan, part of a network protecting Iran’s highly classified Natanz nuclear facility nearby, Worthy News monitored. Israel had earlier warned that it won’t allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons, though the Islamic Republic claims its nuclear program is “peaceful.” Yet American and European officials suggest that they hope their sanctions will encourage Israel not to increase retaliation against Iran. Tehran has so far said that the Israeli strike had done only limited damage to its infrastructure. White House officials said U.S. sanctions target leaders and entities connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran’s Defense Ministry, and the Iranian government’s missile and drone programs. The sanctions also seek to block exports by Iran’s steel industry that bring Tehran billions of dollars in revenue, they said. “I’ve directed my team, including the Department of the Treasury, to continue to impose sanctions that further degrade Iran’s military industries,” President Joe Biden said in a statement. “Let it be clear to all those who enable or support Iran’s attacks: The United States is committed to Israel’s security.” Britain said it had imposed sanctions on seven people and six entities linked to Iran’s regional military activity and its attack on Israel, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a “reckless act and a dangerous escalation.” CONDEMNING BEHAVIOR “These sanctions — announced with the U.S. — show we unequivocally condemn this behavior, and they will further limit Iran’s ability to destabilize the region,” Sunak said in a statement. Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, welcomed the new sanctions. “This is our opportunity to form a global front and a regional coalition against Iran, together with the U.S., the EU, and moderate Arab states, to stop the serpent’s head that threatens global stability,” Katz wrote on social media. “We must stop Iran now before it’s too late.” But critics warn the sanctions may not curb military activity by Iran, which has continued despite hundreds of Western sanctions, in part through illicit shipments of oil. It was also far from clear that the sanctions would persuade Israel not to strike Iran further in retaliation for this month’s attack. Last October, the Biden administration announced similar sanctions on the Iranian drone and missile programs, which officials claimed were aimed at “frustrating” Iran’s ability to produce the weapons it used to hit Israel. Israel and its allies shot down some 99 percent of them, several security sources confirmed. The post Europe, US Seek More Sanctions Against Iran But Warn Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A pastor and his Christian brother in India’s Punjab state were severely wounded last week after a group of warrior Sikhs attacked them with swords on account of their faith in Christ, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. India ranks 11 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. On Apr. 18, four Sikhs belonging to the traditional Nihang warrior group attacked Pastor Gurjeet Singh and his younger brother Gurdeep Singh in Sultanwind village, Amritsar District, MSN reports. Pastor Singh has led a house church in Sultanwind for 10 years. In a statement to MSN, Daljit Kaur, the pastor’s wife, said the attackers approached her brother-in-law outside the house where a worship service was about to start, saying: “We have warned you earlier as well to not conduct church and not convert people, but you have not paid heed.” The men then assaulted her brother-in-law Gurdeep, striking him with swords Kaur stated. Pastor Singh rushed out to help his brother, and the attackers turned on him too, MSN reports. “To protect his head, Gurjeet shielded every blow with his hand and thus sustained severe cuts on both his hands, his arm, his palm and they almost chopped off his thumb,” Kaur said. The brothers were hospitalized and each had to have surgery. The Sikhs accused the two men of conducting church services and luring villagers to become Christians. “My husband was threatened twice by the Nihang Sikhs earlier, but he did not tell me anything about the threat – he knew I would begin to worry,” Kaur said. In a statement to MSN, local church leader Pastor Vishnu Dev said: “I am very disturbed at the brutal attack on the brothers. If the police do not conduct fair investigation and just action, we will gather together and protest against the authorities and demand justice.” The post India: Pastor and Brother Attacked by Sikhs With Swords, “We Warned You Not To Convert People” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article