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by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief (Worthy News) – The United States has ordered the evacuation of non-essential diplomatic personnel from Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait amid rising fears of a regional military escalation over Iran’s advancing nuclear program and threats against U.S. forces. U.S. Embassy staff in Baghdad were informed Wednesday of a mandatory departure order for non-critical staff, while the State Department also authorized voluntary departures for diplomats and military families in Bahrain and Kuwait. The Pentagon is reportedly on standby to assist with any necessary evacuation, signaling a sharp rise in concern over regional instability. The Baghdad embassy has been operating with reduced staffing since earlier periods of unrest, but the new directive highlights fresh concerns about imminent threats tied to Iran’s hostile rhetoric and stalled nuclear talks. An Iraqi security source confirmed to Reuters that embassy evacuation preparations were underway. The Associated Press reported that dependents of U.S. military personnel stationed across the region have also been given the option to leave voluntarily. This comes as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran have stalled, prompting fears that the situation could spiral into open conflict. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors is expected to vote this week on a resolution censuring Iran for its lack of cooperation—an action that could trigger a snapback of U.N. sanctions under the 2015 nuclear deal framework. Iran responded defiantly. Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh declared Wednesday that while Tehran still favors diplomacy, it is fully prepared for war. “If conflict is imposed on us, the opponent’s casualties will certainly be more than ours,” he said. “America must leave the region because all its bases are within our reach.” Iran’s mission to the United Nations issued a separate statement rejecting U.S. threats, saying, “Threats of overwhelming force won’t change the facts. Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon, and U.S. militarism only fuels instability.” In a rare move, the United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a maritime security advisory, warning ships traveling through the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Strait of Hormuz to exercise extreme caution amid rising military tensions. The area, which handles a significant portion of global oil shipments, has been a hotspot for past maritime confrontations with Iran. Meanwhile, in Israel, speculation is growing that a unilateral preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure could be imminent. Yaakov Bardugo, a media personality closely aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Israeli radio: “In my view, we are very close to striking Iran. The Americans aren’t delivering results.” President Donald Trump also expressed growing doubt about the success of nuclear negotiations. In a podcast interview Tuesday, Trump admitted, “I did think so, and I’m getting more and more—less confident about it.” He reiterated that while war is not the preferred option, “we will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.” Outgoing CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Kurilla told Congress this week that military options have already been submitted to President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “We are prepared to act,” Kurilla said, adding that any independent Israeli action could increase risk to U.S. forces in the region. As diplomatic options dwindle and military preparations intensify, the Gulf region appears to be teetering on the brink of conflict—raising fears for U.S. personnel and threatening the stability of vital global energy and trade routes. The post U.S. Orders Evacuation of Non-Essential Personnel from Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait Amid Iran Tensions appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Worthy News) – In a dramatic showdown that could end Benjamin Netanyahu’s historic tenure as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, the Knesset is set to vote Wednesday on a preliminary bill to dissolve itself and trigger early elections amid escalating tensions over ultra-Orthodox military exemptions. Hours ahead of the vote, Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs and coalition whip Ofir Katz engaged in urgent negotiations with Haredi representatives, attempting to prevent the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism (UTJ) parties from supporting the opposition-backed motion. The dispute centers on controversial legislation to draft yeshiva students into military service–an explosive issue that has fractured Netanyahu’s fragile 68-member ruling coalition. Despite intensive backchannel talks and proposed compromises–including delaying personal sanctions on draft dodgers–no agreement had been reached as of midday, according to Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik. In a unified move, opposition parties announced Wednesday morning they would remove all other bills from the agenda to focus entirely on dissolving the government. “The decision was made unanimously and is binding on all factions,” they declared in a joint statement, including support from Arab parties Ra’am and Hadash-Ta’al. Haredi Support Still Uncertain While both Shas and UTJ had previously stated their intent to support the dissolution bill due to the coalition’s failure to pass draft exemptions, uncertainty lingered. According to the ultra-Orthodox outlet Kikar Hashabbat, Shas members were awaiting final instructions. Reports suggested Shas was pressuring UTJ’s Degel HaTorah faction to delay their support for a week to give Netanyahu more time to forge a deal. “We will vote in favor of dissolving the Knesset if there is no breakthrough,” said one senior official from the Haredi bloc. “But the goal is not elections–it’s the regulation of the status of yeshiva students.” Meanwhile, Jerusalem Affairs Minister Meir Porush was reportedly lobbying to reverse Agudat Yisrael’s decision to support dissolution, acting on behalf of senior rabbis–including Belz Hasidic leader Yissachar Dov Rokeach–who argue that now is not the time to collapse the government amid an ongoing war in Gaza. Netanyahu Under Mounting Pressure The political crisis comes as Netanyahu faces declining approval ratings and mounting pressure over his handling of the war in Gaza and longstanding corruption allegations. A March poll from the Israel Democracy Institute showed 70% of Israelis believed Netanyahu should resign following his decision to abandon a March ceasefire with Hamas. Religious Zionism party head and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned in a Knesset speech that dissolving the government during wartime would pose an “existential danger” to Israel. “History will not forgive anyone who drags the State of Israel into elections during a war,” he said. Netanyahu, for his part, has fought to delay the vote. His government flooded Wednesday’s Knesset agenda with coalition-sponsored bills, hoping to push the dissolution vote into the evening. Finance Minister Smotrich even took the dais for over an hour to stall proceedings. The Enlistment Bill at the Center The core of the dispute lies in long-delayed legislation addressing military exemptions for Haredim–an issue thrust into the spotlight by the war’s demands on Israel’s military. Proposed sanctions on draft evaders include travel restrictions, loss of state housing discounts, revoked driver’s licenses, and exclusion from subsidized academic programs. Reservist groups have added pressure, calling for genuine enlistment reform to ease the burden on existing soldiers. Still, significant gaps remain over when and how sanctions would be applied. Spokesperson Maayan Samun, representing Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chair Yuli Edelstein (Likud), said any proposal negotiated outside Edelstein’s office “must be discussed with us” and affirmed the law would be “fair and effective.” A Nation on Edge If the bill to dissolve the Knesset passes its preliminary vote Wednesday, it would still require three additional votes to take effect. If it fails, the opposition cannot reintroduce similar legislation for six months–effectively buying Netanyahu time to reassert control. Should it succeed, however, elections would be scheduled within 90 days, and the government would enter caretaker mode. That outcome could spell the end of Netanyahu’s reign and usher in a new political era. “The ultra-Orthodox don’t really care about the war or the economy,” said Shuki Friedman of the Jewish People Policy Institute. “Their focus is one thing–getting exemptions for their yeshiva students.” With both coalition and opposition forces digging in, the fate of Netanyahu’s government now hangs in the balance. The post Netanyahu’s Coalition on the Brink as Knesset Faces Crucial Dissolution Vote appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff (Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the Trump administration to mediate talks with Syria’s newly installed government, in a move that could signal a dramatic shift in the Middle East, Axios reported Wednesday. The Israeli leader reportedly expressed his desire to negotiate with interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during a visit last week by Tom Barrack, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey. Netanyahu hopes to initiate discussions on a renewed security arrangement as a precursor to a comprehensive peace agreement — the first between the two nations since the 1974 disengagement agreement. “We want to try and move towards normalization with Syria as soon as possible,” a senior Israeli official told Axios. Talks would build on the foundations of the 1974 deal, updating security understandings and potentially demilitarizing southern Syria, while stopping short of requiring a full Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights. Israel has made clear its red lines: no Iranian or Hezbollah presence, no Turkish military bases, and a continuing U.S. role in the UN peacekeeping force monitoring the ceasefire. Barrack, who visited Syria a week before arriving in Israel, reportedly described the current tensions between the countries as “a solvable problem” and recommended beginning with a non-aggression pact. Israeli officials initially opposed the al-Sharaa-led government, labeling it a terrorist regime due to its jihadist affiliations. However, following a surprise policy reversal by President Trump — including the lifting of U.S. sanctions and a high-profile meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh — Israeli airstrikes in Syria tapered off by mid-May. Since then, covert meetings between Israeli and Syrian officials have taken place in third-party countries, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations. “It is better for us that the Syrian government is close to the U.S. and Saudi Arabia than Turkey,” said a senior Israeli official. The potential for a peace deal comes amid a significant regional realignment, with Iranian-backed forces reportedly withdrawing from Syria and a growing perception in Jerusalem that Damascus is moving into the American-Saudi orbit. If realized, the talks would mark the first direct negotiations between Israel and Syria since 2011. The post Netanyahu Seeks Trump Mediation in Breakthrough Talks with Syria’s New Government appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff WASHINGTON D.C. (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump voiced deepening skepticism this week over the likelihood of securing a revised nuclear agreement with Iran, even as his administration pushes ahead with diplomatic talks aimed at halting Tehran’s uranium enrichment program. In a candid interview on Miranda Devine’s new podcast Pod Force One, Trump said Iran appears to be stalling in negotiations and warned that the regime’s reluctance casts serious doubt on the possibility of reaching a peaceful resolution. “I don’t know,” Trump said when asked if a deal was still possible. “I did think so, and I’m getting more and more — less confident about it. They seem to be delaying… but I am much less confident of a deal being made.” The president made clear that while he prefers diplomacy over military conflict — “it would be nicer to do it without warfare, without people dying” — he remains adamant that Iran will not be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon “with or without a deal.” Trump’s comments come as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard issued a sobering public warning about the escalating risks of nuclear war. In a video statement posted Tuesday following her visit to Hiroshima, Gabbard cautioned that the world is “closer to the brink of nuclear annihilation than ever before.” “This is the reality of what’s at stake,” she said. “Political elite warmongers are carelessly fomenting fear and tensions between nuclear powers… Perhaps it’s because they’re confident they’ll have access to nuclear shelters for themselves and their families that regular people won’t.” Gabbard’s message, delivered against the backdrop of Hiroshima’s devastation, criticized what she described as reckless leadership across multiple global flashpoints. “It’s up to us, the people, to speak up and demand an end to this madness,” she said. The grim remarks by Gabbard and the wavering tone of the president come at a pivotal time for U.S. foreign policy. In addition to the nuclear standoff with Iran, the Trump administration is also juggling complex cease-fire negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, as well as efforts to stabilize the Israel-Gaza conflict. Despite his uncertainty about Iran’s intentions, Trump reiterated his bottom line: “They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.” I recently visited Hiroshima, and stood at the epicenter of a city scarred by the unimaginable horror caused by a single nuclear bomb dropped in 1945. What I saw, the stories I heard, and the haunting sadness that remains, will stay with me forever. pic.twitter.com/TmxmxiGwnV — Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) June 10, 2025 The post Trump Expresses Doubts Over Iran Nuclear Deal as Gabbard Warns of Nuclear Catastrophe appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff (Worthy News) – A high school student in New York has become the latest battleground in the fight for religious liberty as school officials face allegations of extreme religious censorship in violation of federal law and the U.S. Constitution. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has issued a legal demand to the Carmel Central School District on behalf of Jenna, a ninth-grade student at Carmel High School, after the teen’s Christian beliefs were repeatedly targeted by administrators. Jenna’s attempts to lead a student Bible club were met with systematic obstruction, including the removal of posters, bans on Bible verses, and even censorship of the group’s name. Jenna’s club, originally called the “Good News Club,” was approved only after months of persistence. But according to the ACLJ, the approval was effectively meaningless: school officials removed her posters from hallways, citing “too many Bible verses” and prohibiting the use of a cross or any Scripture references. They also barred the use of the club’s name, despite its being the subject of a landmark 2001 Supreme Court case — Good News Club v. Milford Central School — that upheld students’ rights to form such groups. “This is viewpoint discrimination in its purest form – and it’s unlawful,” the ACLJ stated. “Her posters were censored because they were Christian.” Despite complying with every restriction, Jenna faced further retaliation. When her club planned to show a faith-based video series meant to encourage students struggling with mental and spiritual challenges, school administrators tore down her revised posters again and banned the entire video series, citing unspecified “complaints.” Even more disturbing, according to the ACLJ, the school “took over” the student club, dictating what religious materials could be used and monitoring promotional content for being “too religious.” These actions, the legal team argues, violate both the First Amendment and the federal Equal Access Act (EAA), which mandates that student religious groups be treated equally to secular ones. “Students do not forfeit their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate,” the ACLJ emphasized, referencing the landmark Tinker v. Des Moines Supreme Court ruling. “School officials cannot act as censors of religious content simply because of disagreement or discomfort.” The ACLJ’s demand letter calls on Carmel Central School District to immediately halt its censorship and issue written assurances that Jenna’s club will be treated equally and allowed to function without interference. If not, the organization is prepared to take legal action. This isn’t the first case of its kind. The ACLJ recently secured a victory in Texas on behalf of a fifth-grade student with special needs who was told she couldn’t hand out slips of paper with Bible verses. “We fought and won in Texas, and we plan to fight and win in New York,” the group said. At the heart of the case is a question of basic rights: whether public schools can silence Christian students simply because their message is rooted in faith. For Jenna and her defenders, the answer is clear. “The freedom to live out your faith is not limited to adults or to Sunday mornings,” said the ACLJ. “It belongs to our children – at school, at home, and everywhere in between.” The post High School Bans Bible Verses, Forces Christian Club to Strip Faith Content appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief (Worthy News) — The United States is prepared to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure if necessary, according to Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, who confirmed Tuesday that President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have been presented with a full range of military options. Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, Gen. Kurilla said CENTCOM continues to assess force posture daily amid escalating tensions with Tehran. “I have provided the Secretary of Defense and the President a wide range of options,” he said, cautioning that an independent Israeli military strike on Iran could endanger U.S. personnel throughout the region. Kurilla’s remarks come days after President Trump reportedly warned Israeli leaders against acting unilaterally while U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations remain underway. Still, Trump has reiterated that if talks collapse, Israel will be part of any coordinated U.S. military action. In a sweeping assessment of regional threats, Kurilla described Iran as the central destabilizing actor, asserting that Tehran has operationalized its entire proxy network since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel. “Iran’s objective remains the same—preserve the regime, spread their ideology, and destroy the State of Israel,” Kurilla told lawmakers. Hezbollah, once a cornerstone of Iran’s deterrence strategy, has suffered significant losses, Kurilla noted. High-profile figures like Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Hassan Nasrallah have been “neutralized,” while weapons supply lines through Syria have collapsed. “Soleimani’s vision of a Shia Crescent has been shattered,” Kurilla said, calling the collapse of the Assad regime a strategic blow to Tehran. Kurilla also outlined Iran’s direct military engagement, citing major missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory in April and October 2024. Nearly 500 projectiles were launched, with only one casualty—a Palestinian from Gaza—thanks to integrated regional air defenses under CENTCOM’s MEAD (Middle East Air Defense) initiative. Turning to Yemen, Kurilla said Iran-backed Houthis remain an entrenched threat. Despite U.S.-led strikes degrading their capabilities, the group has carried out more than 300 attacks targeting maritime vessels and Israel. “There are IRGC experts in Yemen helping them manufacture weapons,” Kurilla said, warning the Houthis continue to exploit smuggling routes across the Red Sea. In Syria, CENTCOM is working with Kurdish and Arab partners to stabilize territory reclaimed from ISIS and prevent Iranian influence from taking root amid post-war reconstruction. Kurilla praised Turkey’s recent contributions and emphasized the importance of a unified front to bolster a new Syrian government framework. On Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Kurilla expressed grave concern over Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile. “If the regime decides to sprint to a nuclear weapon, it could produce weapons-grade material in approximately one week,” he warned. CENTCOM, he said, stands ready to act if diplomacy fails. General Kurilla concluded by urging U.S. policymakers to seize the strategic momentum in the region. “We now have an unprecedented opportunity to advance the vision of a prosperous and integrated Middle East,” he said. Cooperation with Israel and regional allies, he stressed, remains the cornerstone of U.S. deterrence strategy and long-term security in the region. The post CENTCOM Commander Outlines Iran Strike Plans, Warns of Proxy Threats and Regional Instability appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff LOS ANGELES (Worthy News) — A federal judge on Tuesday rejected California Governor Gavin Newsom’s bid to restrict the National Guard’s presence in Los Angeles to the immediate vicinity of federal buildings, allowing military reinforcements to remain active across broader areas of the city amid ongoing riots sparked by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer declined to impose immediate limits on National Guard activity, instead calling for a hearing Thursday to evaluate arguments from both the state of California and the U.S. Department of Justice. Both sides have until 1:30 p.m. Thursday to submit their briefs, CNN reported. Breyer did not comment on the merits of the case, though the ruling preserves federal authority for now. Trump Vows to “Liberate LA” from “Third World Lawlessness” as Tensions Escalate The legal clash came just hours after President Donald Trump, speaking from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, vowed to “liberate Los Angeles” from what he described as “Third World lawlessness,” blaming city officials and sanctuary policies for the explosion of violence over the past five nights. “Generations of Army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and Third World lawlessness,” Trump said in a fiery address to U.S. troops. “Very simply, we will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean, and safe again.” Defending his decision to deploy 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to Los Angeles, Trump warned that without military support, the city would be “burning” like it did during the wildfires of January. He added that the federal forces are there to protect ICE agents enforcing his mass deportation orders “from the attacks of a vicious and violent mob.” The unrest began Friday following a wave of federal ICE raids targeting criminal illegal immigrants in Los Angeles, where local leaders have refused to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Protests quickly escalated into violence, with demonstrators clashing with law enforcement and waving foreign flags, most notably Mexican and Palestinian banners. “This is a full-blown assault on peace, on public order, and on national sovereignty,” Trump declared. “Within the span of a few decades, Los Angeles has gone from being one of the cleanest, safest, and most beautiful cities on Earth to being a trash heap under the control of transnational gangs and criminal networks.” The violence has prompted renewed calls from lawmakers, such as Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), for the president to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807, which would permit federal troops to conduct law enforcement operations on domestic soil. Cotton argued in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that the riots in Los Angeles, marked by the prominence of foreign flags, are “worse” than those seen in Minneapolis after the death of George Floyd in 2020. In response to the escalating crisis, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency Tuesday night and announced a curfew for parts of downtown. “We reached a tipping point,” Bass said after revealing that 23 businesses were vandalized on Monday night alone. As both legal and political battles intensify, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on Los Angeles—now ground zero in a conflict between federal enforcement and progressive resistance movement, with nationwide “No Kings Day” protests scheduled on June 14. The post Judge Denies Newsom’s Bid to Limit National Guard as Trump Vows to ‘Liberate LA’ from ‘Third World Lawlessness’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff LONDON (Worthy News) – The United States and China have reached a tentative agreement to ease tensions over critical minerals and export controls, following two days of high-level trade talks in London. The handshake deal, announced June 11, now awaits final approval from President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a Truth Social post Tuesday, President Trump said the agreement would see China supply “full magnets and any necessary rare earths” in exchange for continued access by Chinese students to U.S. colleges and universities — a trade-off he called “always good with me.” “We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, China is getting 10%. Relationship is excellent!” Trump posted in all caps, expressing enthusiasm over the deal’s terms. The framework, negotiated by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, builds on a May 12 consensus reached in Geneva. U.S. officials said it specifically addresses China’s rare earth export restrictions, which had threatened U.S. defense and tech sectors. The U.S. side emphasized that any final steps hinge on leadership approval in Washington and Beijing. “President Trump’s got to approve it,” Lutnick told reporters in London. “The Chinese side has to take that back to their president. Once that’s done, we will be back on the phone together and will begin to start to implement this agreement.” According to Lutnick, the deal places “meat on the bones” of the Geneva agreement by securing critical rare earth elements and easing student visa restrictions, while potentially lifting recent U.S. sanctions tied to Huawei and other Chinese firms. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce confirmed in a statement that “a principled consensus” was reached on the implementation of prior agreements and “made new progress in resolving the economic and trade concerns of both sides.” The talks follow months of rising trade friction, triggered by Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” tariff announcement. China responded with heavy duties on U.S. goods and tightened controls on rare earth exports, including samarium, dysprosium, and scandium–materials essential for aerospace and defense manufacturing. In response, the Trump administration had escalated restrictions on Chinese tech firms and revoked student visas linked to the Chinese Communist Party. Under the new deal, those measures are expected to be lifted “in a balanced way,” according to Lutnick. Still unclear are broader issues such as China’s trade surplus with the U.S. and semiconductor export controls. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett noted that while rare earth exports from China resumed in June, they remained below agreed levels. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also attended the London negotiations. Bessent is expected to provide further details during congressional testimony on Wednesday. Though U.S. stock markets showed little movement in pre-market trading following the announcement, analysts say the tentative deal signals a potential thaw in relations between the world’s two largest economies. “President XI and I are going to work closely together to open up China to American Trade,” Trump posted. “This would be a great WIN for both countries!!!” The post U.S. and China Reach Tentative Trade Deal on Rare Earths, Student Visas in London Talks appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. (Worthy News) – A federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners can remain in effect while legal challenges continue, handing a major procedural victory to the administration as it defends the tariffs as essential to national and economic security. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted the Trump administration’s request to stay a lower court decision that had blocked the tariffs, which were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The law allows the president to regulate foreign commerce during a national emergency, a designation Trump declared to combat trade deficits, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration. “Both sides have made substantial arguments on the merits,” the court wrote in its order. “Having considered the traditional stay factors, the court concludes a stay is warranted under the circumstances.” The court also noted the case raises “issues of exceptional importance” and will be reviewed by the full panel of appeals judges in an expedited process, bypassing the standard three-judge review. Oral arguments are set for July 31. At the heart of the dispute is the 10% baseline tariff President Trump imposed on nearly all imports beginning April 2, after escalating duties targeting China, Canada, and Mexico. The administration says the tariffs are necessary to rebalance the global trade system and address what Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described as a “$1.2 trillion trade deficit” that constitutes a national emergency. The legal challenge originated after the U.S. Court of International Trade struck down the tariffs on May 28, ruling that IEEPA does not give the president unlimited authority to levy broad tariffs on virtually every country. The decision followed lawsuits filed by small businesses and attorneys general from 12 states who argued that Trump had exceeded his legal authority. The plaintiffs claim that longstanding trade imbalances do not meet the emergency threshold under IEEPA. In response, the Trump administration appealed, and Tuesday’s stay allows the tariffs to remain in place as the case progresses. A separate district court ruling had previously blocked the tariffs in favor of two family-owned toy companies, but that decision is under appeal in the Fourth Circuit and remains unaffected by this ruling. The administration maintains that tariffs are central to Trump’s economic and foreign policy agenda. “Rest assured, tariffs are not going away,” Secretary Lutnick told Fox News on June 1. “He has so many other authorities… Congress has given this authority to the president, and he’s going to use it.” President Trump echoed that sentiment on Truth Social, warning that a judicial defeat could cripple U.S. economic sovereignty. “This would mean the Economic ruination of the United States of America,” he wrote, accusing foreign governments of attempting to hold America “hostage with their anti-American tariffs.” The outcome of the appeals process could reshape the legal boundaries of presidential power over international trade, especially under emergency declarations. The full Federal Circuit will now weigh whether Trump’s sweeping use of IEEPA stands on firm constitutional ground or represents an overreach of executive authority. The post Federal Appeals Court Upholds Trump’s Tariffs During Ongoing Legal Battle, Citing “Exceptional Importance” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff (Worthy News) – More than 1,500 protests are scheduled across the United States on Saturday, June 14, as part of the “No Kings Day of Defiance,” a nationwide demonstration aimed at opposing what organizers call the Trump administration’s growing authoritarianism. The mass movement will take place the same day President Donald Trump stages a multimillion-dollar military parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating Flag Day, the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, and his own 79th birthday. Spearheaded by progressive groups such as Indivisible and supported by over 100 “pro-democracy” organizations, the “No Kings” protest is being described as the largest single-day anti-Trump action of his second term. Organizers said their goal is to send a clear message: “In America, we don’t do kings.” “This is a nationwide day of defiance,” said Ezra Levin, Indivisible’s co-founder, in an interview with MSNBC. “It’s about standing up and saying that democracy will reassert itself in the face of authoritarian breakthrough.” The protests will occur in every U.S. state and several territories, spanning from small towns to major cities including Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Notably, no formal demonstration is planned for Washington, D.C., as organizers aim to shift the national spotlight away from Trump’s parade. Tensions Escalate Over Immigration Raids The protests come amid growing unrest over federal immigration enforcement actions. A wave of demonstrations erupted in Los Angeles on June 6 following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that resulted in the detention of dozens of undocumented immigrants. The situation escalated into violent clashes, with rioters hurling rocks, blocking traffic, and looting businesses. Law enforcement responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. More than 100 individuals were arrested. President Trump authorized the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles on June 7–despite objections from California Gov. Gavin Newsom–sparking criticism from civil liberties groups and legal experts. “This military escalation only confirms what we’ve known: this government wants to rule by force, not serve the people,” No Kings organizers wrote in a statement. In Philadelphia, at least two officers were injured in clashes near ICE offices, and similar incidents were reported in Austin and San Francisco. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reaffirmed the administration’s stance on enforcement, stating on Tuesday, “ICE will continue to enforce the law… You lay a hand on an officer, you will be prosecuted.” Parade and Protest: A Clash of Symbols Trump’s planned parade on June 14 features more than 6,700 troops, military tanks, flyovers by war-era aircraft, and a performance by the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team. The event, costing between $25 million and $45 million, is being framed as a show of patriotic strength. But critics argue it’s a theatrical display of dominance. “Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV spectacle for his birthday,” reads the No Kings website. “But real power doesn’t rise from Washington. It rises from everywhere else.” Trump downplayed the protest movement but issued a warning on Tuesday: “For those people that want to protest, they’re going to be met with very big force. These are people that hate our country.” Flag Day, typically a low-profile observance of the 1777 adoption of the U.S. flag, is now caught in the crossfire of rising political tension. Organizers of No Kings Day say the date’s symbolism — aligned with military celebrations and presidential pageantry — makes it the ideal moment to stand against “authoritarianism”. Roots of the Movement The “No Kings” phrase gained traction in late 2024, following Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent in a presidential immunity case. Her warning that the ruling turned the president into “a king above the law” inspired grassroots organizers and lawmakers alike. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) soon introduced the “No Kings Act,” aiming to limit presidential immunity. Anti-Trump protests under the “No Kings” banner first appeared on Presidents Day in February and have since evolved into a broader movement opposing executive overreach. Ads for the June 14 protests appeared in major newspapers nationwide, reportedly funded by Walmart heiress Christy Walton, though the Walton Family Foundation has not confirmed involvement. As June 14 approaches, the nation braces for a day of historic demonstrations. While President Trump plans to deliver remarks, swear in new Army recruits, and receive a ceremonial flag, millions across the country are expected to protest against the administration. The significance of June 14 runs deep in American history. The Second Continental Congress was in full session from June 1775 to 1777, laying the groundwork for American independence. The creation of both the Army in 1775 and the national flag in 1777 occurred in this early revolutionary context, giving June 14 a symbolic weight in American founding history—a day tied to the birth of liberty, national identity, and resistance to tyranny. The post Nationwide ‘No Kings Day’ Protests Set to Challenge Trump appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief ROME (Worthy News) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had reasons to celebrate Wednesday as most Italians followed her call to stay away from a referendum on easing citizenship laws for migrants. In a significant setback for the leftist opposition, official results showed that the vote was declared invalid as fewer than the required 50 percent of eligible voters bothered to cast ballots. “I am not surprised. In this hot summer weather, many prefer to go to the beach rather than to visit a polling station,” Hungarian-Italian Agnese Tiberi told Worthy News. A coalition of political parties, unions, and civil society groups had promoted the five-question referendum. The proposals included halving the period of residence required to apply for Italian citizenship by naturalisation to five years from 10, and strengthening job protection. However, in a nation already overwhelmed by migrants fleeing war, persecution, and poverty, often from Muslim countries, easing the rules wasn’t seen as realistic by Meloni and her populist rightwing government. Meloni went to her voting station on Sunday but did not pick up her ballot paper to not contribute to the votes reaching quorum. GOING TO BEACH Government officials had “strongly urged Italians to snub the vote “and go to the beach instead.” It seemed to have worked with only about 30 percent of voters participating in the referendum. The government said the result had been a defeat for the leftist opposition, which had said the passage of the referendum would have sent an “eviction notice” to Giorgia Meloni. “It has been a big defeat for the left, which strengthens the government,” predicted Antonio Tajani, the deputy prime minister and leader of Forza Italia party, one of the coalition parties Results showed differences in voting between the labour-related measures and the question about easing citizenship rules, which was far more contentious given Meloni’s hard line against mass migration. More than 85 percent of those who participated in the two-day vote backed stronger protection for workers, but roughly a third opposed speeding up the procedures for gaining citizenship. Analysts said it indicated divisions among progressive voters on the issue of migration. MODERATE LEFT “There is a part of the more moderate left-wing electorate that does not share the [progressive]parties’ positions on migrants. They are not against them, but they want laws that can limit entry and citizenship,” explained polling expert Antonio Noto. The data suggested some of Italy’s right-leaning voters had defied calls from their parties’ leaders to boycott the referendum and had likely helped boost the “No” vote on citizenship. Pollsters noticed voters in wealthier cities, including Milan and Turin, strongly supported reforming citizenship rules. However, that number decreased in the suburbs, suggesting that lower-income voters are more conservative on the issue. The outcome underscored that many voters still back the fiercely anti-migrant Meloni, who has remained popular since taking office in October 2022 as leader of a right-wing coalition. This week, a poll from the SWG institute put her Brothers of Italy party at just above 30 percent, up from the 26 percent it won in a 2022 national election. The main opposition center-left Democratic Party (PD) stood at 23 percent in the survey. The post Italy’s Citizenship Referendum Fails appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief reporting from Budapest, Hungary BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary’s government made clear Wednesday it won’t back down for a “resistance movement” announced at a rally attended by more than 20,000 people filling the square in front of Hungary’s Parliament in Budapest. With national elections approaching next year and his party trailing in opinion polls, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is using increasingly authoritarian tactics to stay in power, his critics say. On Tuesday, protesters rallied against his policies, including a draft law that would allow the government to blacklist critical media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The bill would enable the government to monitor, restrict, penalize, and potentially ban organizations it deems “a threat to Hungary’s national sovereignty,” especially those receiving funding from abroad. The law’s passage, comparable to Russia’s “foreign agents” legislation, was recently delayed until Parliament’s autumn session amid mounting domestic and international pressure. The latest controversy follows a move by Orbán’s Fidesz party to push through a law in March and a constitutional amendment the following month that effectively bans public LGBTQ+ events. However, despite these measures, “It looks increasingly likely that most people are fed up with the actions of this regime and there appears to be a real chance that next year, after 16 years, the ruling Fidesz party won’t be the one to form the government,” said musician Dénes Sallai. SEVERAL SPEAKERS He was among several prominent speakers who addressed the crowd, which also expressed concern about reported massive corruption. On Wednesday, leaked details emerged about Orbán’s move to purchase two luxury BMW cars worth over 1.2 million euros ($1.4 million) for his fleet of vehicles. Family members and friends came already under EU and opposition scrutiny over controversial tenders that made some multi-millionaires and even billionaires in some cases. Yet, the rightwing government made it a point Wednesday to warn of the dangers by those opposing its “pro-Christian”, “anti-migration” and “illiberal” policies. It sent to the Worthy News Europe Bureau in Budapest an English translation of Orbán’s recent comments to a rally of the Patriots for Europe group he founded. “We were ruled over by NGOs and media networks paid for from Brussels and Washington. They mocked the family, they mocked the nation, and they mocked Christianity,” Orbán said. “And in the meantime, we were invaded by migrants paid for by [Hungarian-born U.S. billionaire George] Soros and Brussels. We rebelled. We organised the patriotic Right. We swept away the Left,” Orbán stressed. NEW CONSTITUTION “We created a new constitution: It says that sovereignty is inviolable. It says that Christian cultural identity must be protected by all state organs,” he added. Orbán also noted that the constitution he helped formulate “says that a father shall be a man, and a mother shall be a woman. It says that the protection of children takes precedence over all other rights.” He said his government promotes families and wants women to have more children through tax breaks, such as “lifelong no-income tax for working mothers.” Then, “we built a fence, and we pushed the migrants out. Only those receiving permission may enter,” Orbán explained. He added that these policies prevented the antisemitism and riots seen in other European nations. Orbán has accused the opposition of working with Ukraine and globalist groups to sow discord in society. However, the opposition has strongly denied those accusations and says Orbán tries to distract attention from its own bad policies, which include the failing healthcare situation and economic difficulties for millions. “I think that the corruption in this country, as well as the inequality and the social situation we have, is not a good thing. We are still so far from Europe. I think we have to try to reach a change while we still can,” said protester Piroska Hajdú. Orbán once asked about the corruption allegations, said he was not dealing with business, and asked reporters to move on to the next question. The post Hungary’s Government Facing ‘Resistance Movement’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Two men who abandoned Islam and turned to faith in Christ have been forced to flee Iran, where they were sentenced to 12 years in prison each on charges linked to possessing “multiple copies of the Bible,” Christians told Worthy News. Mehdi Rahimi, 49, and Kia Nourinia, 55, who were at an undisclosed location Wednesday, received the verdict in April from an Islamic Revolutionary Court in their home city of Tabriz, northwest Iran. They were sentenced under Article 500 of the Penal Code for “propaganda activity of deviant Christian Zionist beliefs opposed to the system of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Worthy News learned. They were each sentenced to 10 years in prison for these charges. Additionally, the Christians were also convicted under Articles 22 and 24 of “smuggling prohibited goods,” referring to the Bibles for which they received an additional two years imprisonment each. “On top of the prison sentences, they received fines equivalent to over $1,000 each, as well as being told they must pay the court 10 times the value of the Bibles in their possession,” confirmed Article18, a non-profit organisation advocating on behalf of its persecuted Christians.” Trial observers said Judge Hassan Fathnezhad also sentenced them to 15 years of deprivation of social rights, such as group membership. The difficulties began when the two Christians’ homes were raided by Ministry of Intelligence agents in November, as part of a broader operation that also targeted Christian converts in the cities of Tehran, Mashhad, and Bandar Abbas, Article18 said. NOT RETURNING It is understood that Rahimi, also known as Samuel, was outside Iran during the raid on his home and has not returned, while Nourinia fled the country after the raid. “The Christians were therefore tried in absentia, with the only evidence against them being the Bibles and other Christian literature found in their homes,” Christians noticed. In his verdict, the judge reportedly described the Bibles and other confiscated Christian literature as “deviant” and “misleading”. He added that the confiscated books, as well as the Christians’ mobile phone and other electronic devices, would be given to the Ministry of Intelligence for their “research”. Article18’s director, Mansour Borji, explained that the crackdown seems to be a new trend in the strict Islamic nation. “For the last few years, a new trend has emerged of Persian Bibles printed outside Iran being considered ‘smuggled goods’, to give Revolutionary Court judges additional weapons with which to penalise those involved in their distribution.” He added: “In this case, the judge has reached his decision solely based upon a report by Ministry of Intelligence officers and without any other form of investigations, as the defendants were not available for interrogation.” Christians, who urged prayers for the two men, suggested to Worthy News that Iran’s Islamic leaders are concerned about the spread of the Christian faith among Muslims. ‘UNDERMINING ISLAM’ “Unrecognised converts from Islam to Christianity face severe religious freedom violations, primarily from the government and, to a lesser extent, from society and their families,” added advocacy group Open Doors in an assessment. “The government views these converts as a threat, believing they are influenced by Western countries to undermine Islam and the regime,” the group noted. “Both leaders and ordinary members of Christian groups are often arrested, prosecuted, and given long prison sentences for ‘crimes against national security.” Open Doors has ranked Iran 9th on its annual World Watch List of 50 nations where it says Christians face the most persecution for their faith. It estimates there are at least 800,000 Christians in Iran, though some sources say it may be more than 1 million. Elam Ministries, a mission group founded by Iranian church leaders, sees a Christian revival in the country. “In 1979, there were an estimated 500 Christians from a Muslim background in Iran. Today, there are hundreds of thousands—some say more than 1 million. Whatever the exact number, many Iranians are turning to Jesus as Lord and Savior.” The post Christian Converts Flee Iran After Jail Sentence appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief PARIS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – A French middle school employee was stabbed to death by a 14-year-old student in northeastern France on the same day that, elsewhere in Europe, in Austria, at least 11 people died after a school shooting, officials confirmed. Tuesday’s stabbing of a 31-year-old school assistant happened while pupils’ bags were being checked outside the school gates in the French municipality of Nogent, said the National Gendarmerie, France’s law enforcement service. The alleged attacker, who has no criminal record, was restrained and detained by police monitoring the inspections, said prosecutor Denis Devallois. One officer was slightly injured, he added. The teenager is held at the gendarmerie of Nogent while being interrogated, explained the Haute-Marne Prefecture, the regional authority The suspect is “a young man from a family where both parents work, who does not present any particular difficulties”, Education Minister Élisabeth Borne added at the scene in Nogent. “The young people are shocked,” Borne noticed. “They are also very shocked to see that one of their classmates could commit such a horrific act. And this classmate was very well integrated in the middle school.” On Tuesday, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said the government plans to test adding security gates at schools following the attack. FRENCH PRESIDENT The French President Emmanuel Macron also pledged to increase security. “While she was looking after our children in Nogent, an educational assistant lost her life, a victim of senseless violence,” Macron said. “The nation is in mourning and the government is mobilised to reduce crime,” Macron added on social media. The victim, a former hairdresser who had been working at the school since September, was the mother of a young boy, said one of her cousins, Aurore. “She was a very cheerful, very kind person.” As the extent of the tragedy became clear, French lawmakers observed a minute’s silence in parliament. Prime Minister Bayrou stressed that the stabbing showed “a breakdown of the society in which we live.” He noted that “This is not just an isolated incident.” BROADER PROBLEM France has been shocked by attacks on teachers and pupils by other schoolchildren as part of a general reported rise in youth crime. In April, a student killed a girl and wounded several other pupils in a stabbing spree in the western city of Nantes. Government figures released in February show that reports of bladed weapons in schools have jumped by 15 percent in the last year. The education ministry said 6,000 checks in schools between March 26 and May 23 resulted in the seizure of 186 knives. Tuesday’s attack came while Austria plunged into three days of national mourning after at least 11 people died in a shooting at a secondary school in the southern city of Graz. Among those who died Tuesday was the alleged attacker, described by Austrian media as a former pupil. The post Teenage Student Kills French School Assistant Amid ‘Breakdown of Society’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, Worthy News DALLAS, USA (Worthy News) – Southern Baptist delegates have endorsed a ban on same-sex marriage and agreed to demand that the U.S. Supreme Court overturn a 10-year-old ruling that legalized it in the United States. They also called for legislators to curtail sports betting and to support policies that promote childbearing, while seeking a ban on pornography. Tuesday’s votes came during an annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. More than 10,000 church representatives attended the two-day gathering in Dallas, Texas, to set the Southern Baptists’ agenda. Tuesday’s resolution doesn’t use the word “ban,” but it left no room for legal same-sex marriage in calling for the “overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God’s design for marriage and family.” The resolution, which was overwhelmingly voted for, called for “laws that affirm marriage between one man and one woman.” The Southern Baptist denomination has long opposed gay marriage, but Tuesday was the first time its members have voted to work to end it legally, church observers said. PRIDE MONTH It comes during Pride Month, a month-long observance in the United States and other countries dedicated to what activists call “the celebration” of the LGBTQ+ “contributions” of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer culture. Expanding on conservatives’ success in overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, Southern Baptists believe they may eventually be able to reverse the same-sex marriage enabling ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. Experts say reversing the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell decision would not amount to a nationwide ban. At the time of that ruling, 36 states had already legalized gay marriage. However, “What we’re trying to do is keep the conversation alive,” said Andrew Walker, an ethicist at a Southern Baptist seminary in Kentucky who wrote the resolution. The measure opposing same-sex marriage was part of a long resolution under the title, “On Restoring Moral Clarity through God’s Design for Gender, Marriage, and the Family.” It includes calls for defunding abortion services provider Planned Parenthood as well as for “parental rights in education and healthcare.” CONTROVERSIES DISCUSSED The resolution also demands ensuring “safety and fairness in female athletic competition,” a reference to the debate over transgender women in women’s sports. The Southern Baptist Convention was also expected to debate internal controversies, including a proposed ban on churches with women pastors. There are also calls to defund the organization’s public policy arm, whose anti-abortion stance hasn’t extended to supporting criminal charges for women having abortions. Despite critics questioning its conservative views, Southern Baptists have begun seeing signs of life within their roughly 47,000 congregations. While there were about 12.7 million members in 2024, a 2 percent decline from the year before, official church data suggested that church attendance and baptisms were up. The hundreds of thousands of baptisms being reported annually also suggested an ongoing vitality in the pews and part of what evangelical leaders view as a revival in several parts of the U.S. and other nations. The post Southern Baptists Agree On Banning Same-Sex Marriage appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, Worthy News JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The group backing self-declared climate justice warrior Greta Thunberg and other activists in their attempt to reach Gaza by sea has been co-founded by a Hamas operative, British and Israeli sources say. Zaher Birawi emerged as a key member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the journey of a dozen activists on board the Gaza aid vessel Madleen. Birawi, a Palestinian-British journalist, reportedly describes himself as a Coalition founding member. Those on board tried to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip until their boat was intercepted early Monday by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who detained the 12 activists. Birawi attended the launch of the Madleen in Sicily, Italy, and broadcast the event live online, Worthy News monitored. The journalist has also been photographed with former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed by an airstrike on Gaza in July 2024, reported British newspaper The Telegraph. Birawi denies any connection to illegal acts within the scope of terror-linked crimes. In 2021, he won a legal case against a financial database that he said incorrectly placed him on a terrorism list. NO LEGAL SENTENCE “There has never been any legal sentence passed against me by any official authority in any state anywhere in the world, and…never have I been found to have been involved in any illegal acts which could be deemed within the scope of terrorism crimes,” Birawi reportedly said at the time. However, both the Israeli and British parliaments have previously named Birawi for alleged Hamas ties, reported The Telegraph newspaper. “He is listed as a trustee of a UK-registered charity, Education Aid for Palestinians, and publicly available video shows him hosting a 2019 event in London titled Understanding Hamas,” British Labour legislator Christian Wakeford told the House of Commons in October 2023. In 2013, Israel designated Birawi as a Hamas operative in Europe, and he is also the chairman of the EuroPal Forum, which was designated as a terror organization by Israel in 2021. The revelations apparently linking the self-declared co-founder of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to Hamas underscored Israel’s concerns about the group. Following Monday’s detention, eight of the 12 activists refused to sign deportation papers and were detained pending a court hearing. Represented by lawyers, they argued they were illegally detained in international waters. ‘BLOCKADE NECESSARY’ Israel says a naval blockade is necessary to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons into the coastal enclave. The Israeli military said its naval forces had “diverted” the Madleen at sea within what it described as “the blockade-enforcement zone, in accordance with international law.” The military added in a statement that the flotilla members had “repeatedly refused Israel’s offer to offload their cargo and pass it into the Gaza Strip through operational land crossings, without breaching the blockade.” Thunberg and three others signed the documents and were on a flight out of Israel. Israel’s Foreign Ministry shared a photo purportedly showing the disgruntled 22-year-old sitting on board the plane moments before the flight departed Israel’s Ben Gurion airport. She flew Greta to France alongside French activists before heading home to her native Sweden, despite publicly declaring opposition to air travel. “What would I stay in an Israeli prison? I do more good outside of Israel than if I am forced to stay here for a few weeks,” she said. NO TO FOOTAGE Before her deportation, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he’d instructed IDF officials to show the activists the complete, unedited footage of the October 7, 2023, attacks as recorded by Hamas body cameras. “It is appropriate that the anti-Semitic Greta [Thunberg] and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organization they came to support and for whom they work is, what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself,” he stressed. Later, he told reporters: “Greta and her flotilla companions were taken into a room upon their arrival to the screening of the horror film of the October 7 massacre… when they saw what it was about, they refused to continue watching.” The minister said, “The anti-Semitic flotilla members are turning a blind eye to the truth and have proven once again that they prefer the murderers to the murdered and continue to ignore the atrocities committed by Hamas against Jewish and Israeli women, adults, and children.” Some 1,200 Jews were killed and about 251 abducted by Hamas, which sparked Israel’s war in Gaza. The Hamas-controlled authorities say Israel’s military has since killed more than 54,000 people without differentiating between combatants and civilians. Israel claims some 20,000 Hamas fighters are among those killed. The post Hamas Backs Greta Thunberg’s Gaza Mission, Investigation Suggests (Worthy News Investigation) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief VIENNA/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Austria has declared three days of mourning after its worst shooting since World War II left at least 11 people dead Tuesday at a secondary school in Graz, the nation’s second largest city. Officials confirmed that the shooter was believed to be a 21-year-old Austrian man, a former student at the school who had not completed his studies there. Armed with two legally owned weapons—a pistol and a hunting rifle—he opened fire in two separate classrooms of Graz’s large Dreierschützengasse secondary school, according to authorities. Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said nine victims, including six females and three males, died at the scene. After the attack, the young man reportedly took his own life. His body was found in a school bathroom. Karner confirmed that the presumed shooter “acted alone and was among the dead.” While most of the victims were students, the mayor of Graz, Elke Kahr, had earlier said that an adult, thought to be a teacher at the school, was also among the fatalities. RUSHED TO HOSPITAL Authorities confirmed that 12 others were injured and rushed to the hospital. The Red Cross charity said “nine of them are in serious condition,” with two critically injured. One of the wounded has since died, officials said without elaborating. While no official motive was given for the tragedy, local media reported that the alleged shooter “had been bullied during his school years.” A farewell letter was found at his home, according to the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung. Visibly moved, Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker announced a minute’s silence for 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday to start three days of mourning for the victims of Austria’s deadliest postwar mass shooting. The attack on Tuesday morning in the southern city of Graz was “a dark day in the history of our country”, an act of “unimaginable violence” and “a national tragedy that has shocked us all”, he told reporters. The European Commission, the European Union’s executive, also expressed its shock over the bloodshed in Austria, an EU member state. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “Schools stand for youth, hope, and the future. It is unbearable when they become places of death and violence.” The tragedy was expected to fuel debate on Austria having some of the most liberal firearm regulations in Europe. PERMITTED FIREARM Residents aged 18 or older are permitted to own a firearm, with some exceptions allowing 16-year-olds to acquire guns for hunting purposes. The law states that all such weapons must be registered within six weeks of acquisition. Austria ranks among the highest in Europe for civilian gun ownership, with about 30 guns per 100 residents, according to the 2017 Small Arms Survey, a Geneva research group. While countries such as Cyprus, Finland, and Iceland report slightly higher rates, experts say Austria remains an outlier on the European continent. Globally, Austria ranks 12th in the world for gun ownership, though significantly lagging behind the country with the highest rate: the United States. While Tuesday’s shooting was the worst in decades, the alpine nation of 9 million has recorded two public mass shootings in the period between 2000 and 2022, according to research by the Rockefeller Institute of Government. The most recent incident occurred in November 2020, when a gunman killed four people and wounded 23 others. Last year, authorities said they thwarted a planned attack targeting a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. US SHOOTINGS Yet there were more than 500 “mass shootings” recorded in the United States last year, reports the Gun Violence Archive (GVA). The GVA defines such incidents as those involving four or more people shot, either injured or killed, excluding the perpetrator. Tuesday’s incident in Austria came on the day that fellow EU member state France was shocked by the deadly stabbing of a 31-year-old school assistant by a teenager. The attack occurred while pupils’ bags were being checked outside the school gates in the French municipality of Nogent, according to the National Gendarmerie, France’s law enforcement service. French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou called the tragedy part of “a breakdown of the society in which we live.” The post Austria Mourns Victims Of Worst School Shooting Since World War Two appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, you're just passing through! John 14:2-3 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also. 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. When the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years, they traversed a rugged, unpredictable landscape — mile after mile of mountains, valleys, rocks, and desert sands — as they journeyed from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. They didn't build homes or cities along the way. They lived in tents, always ready to move when God gave the word. Their lives were shaped by transition — constant change, daily dependence, and unwavering trust in the Lord's leading. And that, friends, holds a powerful truth for us today: this life is a journey, not a final stop. We are not home yet. We are travelers, passing through on our way to the place Yeshua (Jesus) Himself has gone ahead to prepare. Paul echoes this hope in 2 Corinthians 5:1: "For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Everything in this life--each season, trial, joy, or sorrow--is temporary. It's part of the wilderness we pass through as we move toward something better, something eternal. Like the Israelites, we move from one phase of life to another. Childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age--each is like a tent we live in for a time. Our moments of success and seasons of struggle, the highs and lows--they all come and go. Even our bodies, Scripture reminds us, are like tents--fragile, temporary, not meant to last forever. So what does this mean for us? It means we should not get too comfortable with this world. This isn't where we settle. We are pilgrims, called to walk by faith, not by what we see, but by what we know is coming--"the things which are not seen... for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Whatever season you're in right now--whether joyful or painful--remember, it's not forever. One day, every tent will be taken down. And for those who belong to Him, there is a permanent home waiting -- a mansion built by God, not with human hands, but eternal in the heavens. So I urge you today: live like a traveler, not a settler. Don't anchor your heart to what won't last -- whether possessions, status, or fleeting seasons of life. Hold loosely to this world and tightly to your calling. Fix your eyes on the eternal. Travel light. Walk with purpose. Stay ready. Friend, because this world is not your home--you're only passing through. And soon--sooner than we think--the One who went ahead to prepare a place for you will return again to bring you home. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (George, Baht Rivka & Obi - Baltimore, Maryland | Elianna - Married living in Missouri) Editor's Note: We are calling all FEARLESS, DEVOTED men and women of God to come pray, worship, and SERVE in the Land while also enjoying a life-changing experiential tour! We are leading an incredible 10-day, 10-night journey from October 19–30. As always, we’re keeping the group to just one bus to ensure a more personal and intimate experience — so space is limited! Read More... Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce. 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! Around the World Peter Thiel Warns of “Antichrist System” Rising Through Global Tech and AI Surveillance Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel has reignited theological and political debate after warning that modern technology--particularly artificial intelligence and global data systems--could provide the infrastructure for what the Bible calls the Antichrist. Think Tank: IAEA Uncovers Iran’s 2003 Nuclear Weapon Test Cover-Up A leading Washington, D.C.-based think tank has revealed that Iran conducted and subsequently concealed a series of nuclear implosion tests in 2003, a critical step in developing a nuclear weapon. The findings, published by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), are based on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) confidential report dated May 31, 2025. Russia to Build Eight Nuclear Reactors in Iran Amid Rising Tensions with West Iran has announced a major expansion of its civilian nuclear program through a new agreement with Russia to build eight nuclear power plants, including four in the southern coastal province of Bushehr, home to the country's only operational reactor. 10 Dead In Austria’s School Attack At least 10 people, including seven students and adults, have been killed in a school shooting in Graz, Austria’s second largest city, its Mayor Elke Kahr confirmed. India Searches For Missing Crew As Container Ship Explodes The Indian Coast Guard was frantically searching for missing crew members after an explosion and subsequent fire were reported onboard a Singapore-flagged container ship off the coast of Kerala in southern India. Soldiers Injured As Explosives Rock Japan Island An explosion at a storage site for unexploded ordnance at a U.S. military base on Japan's southern island of Okinawa injured four Japanese soldiers, in the first such accident in decades, the military said. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Iran Threatens Israeli Nuclear Sites Amid Stalled U.S. Talks and IAEA Warnings Iran threatened on Monday to target Israel's undisclosed nuclear sites if its own nuclear infrastructure is attacked, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). The warning marks a significant escalation amid faltering negotiations with the United States over Tehran's controversial nuclear program. Israel Launches Naval Strike on Yemen’s Houthi-Controlled Port Amid Rising Missile Threats The Israeli military launched a rare naval strike early Tuesday against Houthi military infrastructure at the port of Hudaydah in western Yemen, marking the first time the Israeli navy have been used in direct strikes during the current war. The move comes in response to a series of missile and drone attacks launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels against Israeli territory. Inside the United States Trump Defends Military Deployment to Los Angeles as Anti-ICE Riots Continue President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his decision to deploy thousands of California National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, as the city entered its fourth night of violent protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump warned that without federal intervention, the destruction in the city would have been far worse. Trump Unveils “Trump Accounts” for Newborn Americans: $1,000 Investment at Birth to Fuel Future Prosperity President Donald J. Trump announced a bold new initiative Monday aimed at giving every newborn American a financial head start: the creation of special "Trump Accounts" as part of the sweeping "One Big Beautiful Bill" currently moving through Congress. Declassified Intel Reveals Biden Admin Used January 6 to Inflate Domestic Terrorism Threat Newly declassified intelligence has revealed that the dramatic rise in domestic terrorism cases cited by the Biden administration as justification for expanding federal law enforcement power was overwhelmingly based on a single event: the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. RFK Jr. Fires Entire CDC Vaccine Panel, Pledges Overhaul to Restore Public Trust In a sweeping and controversial move, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday dismissed all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), citing longstanding conflicts of interest and a lack of transparency. The decision has sparked outrage across the medical and public health communities. San Diego Has 2nd Fatal Plane Crash Within Weeks; 6 Killed The U.S. city of San Diego struggled Tuesday with the aftermath of a second fatal plane crash in the area within weeks after a small plane crashed off the coast in the Pacific shortly after takeoff, killing all six people on board, officials said. Christian News U.K. Supreme Court Upholds Christian Mother’s Right to Express Biblical Beliefs in Landmark Ruling The U.K. Supreme Court has delivered a final and resounding victory to Christian mother Kristie Higgs, refusing to hear an appeal from a secondary school that dismissed her over social media posts expressing concerns about LGBTQ+ materials taught to children. Worthy Insights Late-night host Stephen Colbert praises female portrayal of Jesus: ‘Long overdue’ Late-night host Stephen Colbert, a self-described Roman Catholic, recently said a female portrayal of Jesus is "long overdue" during an interview with the bisexual actress set to star as Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Hollywood Bowl this summer. Christian Baker Terrorized by Disturbing Threats, Legal Chaos Over Cake Refusal Won’t Back Down The attorney for a Christian baker who has been targeted by California officials over her refusal to make a cake for a same-sex couple is hoping to take the shocking case to the U.S. Supreme Court. View the full article

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his decision to deploy thousands of California National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles, as the city entered its fourth night of violent protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump warned that without federal intervention, the destruction in the city would have been far worse. “If I didn’t ‘send in the troops’ to Los Angeles the last three nights that once beautiful and great city would be burning to the ground right now,” the president wrote on social media, comparing the chaos to January’s wildfires, which destroyed more than 25,000 homes in the area. President Trump authorized the deployment of 4,000 California National Guard members and 700 U.S. Marines to restore order after anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles erupted into widespread violence. Demonstrators have clashed with police, set vehicles ablaze, and vandalized businesses in what some officials are now describing as an outright “insurrection.” The unrest escalated further Monday night when rioters looted a prominent Apple store in downtown Los Angeles. Video from the scene shows dozens of masked individuals in hoodies ransacking the store, with at least one person smashing a side window to escape with stolen merchandise. Despite the chaos, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass have condemned the federal deployment, calling it both unnecessary and inflammatory. On Monday, Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging that federalizing the National Guard unlawfully infringes on California’s sovereignty. Trump hit back, blaming state and city leadership for failing not only to control the violence but also to address the housing crisis following the fires. “The federal permitting is DONE,” he posted. “Call your incompetent governor and mayor.” The president also signaled that he may invoke the Insurrection Act if violence continues. “If there’s an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. We’ll see,” he told reporters. “But I can tell you, last night was terrible.” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller escalated the rhetoric, accusing Mayor Bass of enabling the unrest by suggesting that ICE’s presence was to blame for the riots. “This is the definition of insurrection,” Miller said. “L.A. and California leadership demand the right to illegally import unlimited foreigners… and if they are not so permitted they will allow mobs to target ICE with impunity.” Underlying the protests are widespread misconceptions about federal immigration enforcement. Critics have decried ICE’s recent tactics as authoritarian and even likened them to Nazi-era roundups. Democratic Rep. Norma Torres of California posted a video demanding, “ICE get the f– out of LA.” ICE officers have reported a 400% increase in assaults nationwide, including attacks with rocks and fireworks in Los Angeles. Despite being a sanctuary city, Los Angeles cannot legally block federal officers from executing arrests. Much of the current backlash stems from the stark contrast between enforcement policies under President Trump and the Biden administration. “We just had four years of absent-minded policy and lack of enforcement, which fuels this,” an ICE official said. ICE has taken a more assertive posture under Trump, including the arrest of Newark’s mayor after he attempted to enter a detention facility and the rescinding of Biden-era arrest limitations. As a result, arrests of non-criminal immigrants have quadrupled, though ICE says that over 75% of detainees still have criminal convictions or pending charges. Meanwhile, the FBI has launched an investigation into the funding behind the riots. “The FBI is investigating any and all monetary connections responsible for these riots,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. Despite calls for de-escalation, political tensions remain high. House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to call for Governor Newsom’s arrest but suggested he “should be tarred and feathered.” As unrest continues and President Trump considers further federal action, the standoff between state and federal authorities is poised to escalate, with the nation watching closely. Adding fuel to the fire, numerous accounts on X are reporting that left-wing activists are planning to “rise up” nationwide on June 14th, calling it a “day of defiance.” The post Trump Defends Military Deployment to Los Angeles as Anti-ICE Riots Continue appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff (Worthy News) – The U.K. Supreme Court has delivered a final and resounding victory to Christian mother Kristie Higgs, refusing to hear an appeal from a secondary school that dismissed her over social media posts expressing concerns about LGBTQ+ materials taught to children. The ruling effectively ends a nearly seven-year legal battle, affirming that Christians and other people of faith can express deeply held beliefs without fear of professional retaliation. Higgs, 48, a former student counseling assistant at Farmor’s School in Gloucestershire, had been fired in January 2019 for posting on Facebook–under her maiden name–about gender identity content being introduced at her son’s Church of England primary school. “I am relieved and grateful to the Supreme Court for this common-sense decision,” Higgs said. “Christians have the right to express their beliefs on social media and in other non-work-related settings without fear of being punished by their employer.” Higgs’ case was backed by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which called the decision a “landmark victory for religious freedom and freedom of speech in the workplace.” The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the school’s appeal effectively upholds a February Court of Appeal judgment that overturned earlier rulings justifying Higgs’ dismissal. “The Court of Appeal confirmed, loud and clear, that ideological censorship in the workplace, particularly against sincerely held Christian convictions, is illegal,” said Andrea Williams, CLC’s chief executive. “This is a decisive closure to an extraordinary case with far-reaching implications for all people of faith in the United Kingdom.” In its February decision, the Court of Appeal ruled that Higgs’ dismissal constituted unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. The court emphasized that expressing opposition to same-sex marriage and gender ideology based on biblical teaching is protected by law. It rejected the school’s argument that Higgs had been dismissed for her language rather than her beliefs, stating the response to her posts was “unquestionably disproportionate.” The judges noted that her Facebook posts–made in a private capacity–contained no reference to the school and were unlikely to cause real reputational harm. “There was no evidence that the reputation of the school had been damaged. Its concern was about potential damage in the future,” the ruling stated. The case also exposed potential bias in the initial tribunal proceedings. According to CLC, one of the panel members in the 2020 employment tribunal was LGBT advocate Debbie England, who had been affiliated with Stonewall and Common Purpose–groups that promote LGBTQI+ rights and policies. The CLC argues that had England’s affiliations been known at the time, a recusal would have been likely. Higgs had posted two messages in October 2018 expressing concern about school materials such as Jacob’s New Dress and Red: A Crayon’s Story, which she believed introduced gender confusion. She shared a petition titled “Stop supporting LGBT indoctrination,” directed at then-Education Secretary Damian Hind. Though the school claimed her posts could be seen as “homophobic,” the court disagreed. “Even if the language of the reposts passes the threshold of objectionability, it is not grossly offensive,” the judges said, noting that Higgs had never mistreated students and had an unblemished employment record. “This is not just about me,” Higgs said. “Too many Christians have suffered discipline or marginalization at their work because of their faith. The Court of Appeal has now set a clear standard to protect people like me.” Legal observers say the case sets a precedent that shifts the burden onto employers to justify dismissals of employees who express religious beliefs. The February ruling reaffirms that such actions must be “prescribed by law, proportionate, and necessary in a democratic society.” “This authoritative judgment reshapes the law on freedom of religion in the workplace,” said the Christian Legal Centre, calling it the first time a U.K. employment court has presumed that dismissals for manifesting Christian faith are unlawful unless proven otherwise. As public debate intensifies over the balance between equality and free expression, the final word from the Supreme Court is clear: biblical beliefs have a protected place in British society–and in the workplace. The post U.K. Supreme Court Upholds Christian Mother’s Right to Express Biblical Beliefs in Landmark Ruling appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief (Worthy News) – A leading Washington, D.C.-based think tank has revealed that Iran conducted and subsequently concealed a series of nuclear implosion tests in 2003, a critical step in developing a nuclear weapon. The findings, published by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), are based on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) confidential report dated May 31, 2025. According to the ISIS analysis, the tests were a preparatory phase for what nuclear experts call a “cold test”—the full assembly of a nuclear device using a non-fissile core made of natural or depleted uranium instead of weapons-grade material. Such tests simulate the detonation process of a nuclear bomb without producing a nuclear explosion, allowing a nation to perfect the triggering mechanism. The IAEA report details four explosive experiments carried out in Marivan, involving “full-scale hemispherical implosion systems.” These tests used high explosives to generate spherically inward shockwaves—intended to compress a nuclear core—without the inclusion of enriched uranium or EDNS (Explosively Driven Neutron Sources). This method, long associated with nuclear weapons development, confirms that Iran was progressing toward weaponization two decades ago. The IAEA findings also expose new links between Iran’s clandestine testing sites—Marivan, Lavisan-Shian, Varamin, and Turquz-Abad—and previously unaccounted nuclear material. ISIS emphasized that this is the first time the IAEA has definitively tied these facilities to the mystery of missing fissile material, raising renewed concerns over Iran’s long-denied nuclear ambitions. Tehran has consistently denied seeking to build a nuclear bomb, maintaining that its uranium enrichment—now reaching levels far beyond civilian energy needs—is purely peaceful. However, the technical nature of the 2003 tests and Iran’s systematic efforts to hide them from international inspectors paint a sharply contrasting picture. The new revelations are expected to intensify scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear program at the IAEA board meeting being held this week and could reignite international calls for accountability. The report also underscores the growing fears in Israel and the West, as Iran, whose regime remains openly hostile toward Israel, appears to have crossed multiple red lines in its pursuit of nuclear capabilities. In response to the escalating nuclear concerns, U.S. President Donald Trump held a 40-minute phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening. Trump urged restraint, emphasizing diplomacy as the preferred solution and cautioning against unilateral Israeli military action that could derail ongoing negotiations with Tehran. Trump confirmed that a “reasonable proposal” had been submitted to Iran, with a response expected within days. Following the call, Netanyahu convened a high-level security meeting with top defense, intelligence, and cabinet officials. The Israeli leadership remains wary of U.S. diplomatic overtures and is reportedly preparing for the possibility of independent military action should talks collapse. According to senior U.S. officials, Trump reminded Netanyahu that “the second option is still on the table”—a veiled reference to military intervention, though he stressed that diplomacy remains the first choice. Iran, for its part, has rejected any deal that limits its uranium enrichment, calling the program a “non-negotiable” right. Talks are set to resume Sunday in Muscat, with enrichment and oversight remaining the central points of contention. As Trump stated at a White House event, “We’re trying to make a deal so there’s no destruction and death… This is not the time to escalate while we’re trying to resolve the issues.” With Iran defiant, Israel watchful, and U.S. diplomacy hanging by a thread, the coming days may prove pivotal in determining whether the region moves toward resolution or confrontation. The post Think Tank: IAEA Uncovers Iran’s 2003 Nuclear Weapon Test Cover-Up appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. (Worthy News) – President Donald J. Trump announced a bold new initiative Monday aimed at giving every newborn American a financial head start: the creation of special “Trump Accounts” as part of the sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill” currently moving through Congress. The proposed policy would provide every U.S. citizen born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, with a government-seeded investment account worth $1,000 at birth. The accounts will be tax-deferred, track a major stock index, and allow annual private contributions of up to $5,000 from parents, relatives, employers, churches, and other organizations. “This is a pro-family initiative that will help millions of Americans harness the strength of our economy to lift up the next generation,” Trump said during the Invest America Roundtable, surrounded by leading CEOs and lawmakers. “It’s about giving our children a stake in America’s future from the very first day.” Children would gain partial access to their accounts at age 18 to fund education, training, or first-home purchases, with full access available at age 30. The goal, Trump said, is to promote long-term financial literacy and wealth-building through the power of compounding interest. Corporate America Cheers the Move The initiative received praise from industry leaders at the roundtable, including: Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies: “This is a simple yet powerful way to transform lives. These accounts could make a lifetime of difference for millions.” David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs: “This connects future generations directly to the vitality of America’s markets.” Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber: “It’s not just an account; it’s a launchpad that builds hope from day one.” Brad Gerstner, CEO of Altimeter Capital: “This makes America an ownership society again. Kids will feel like they’re in the game.” Speaker of the House Mike Johnson echoed the enthusiasm: “Trump Accounts are all about setting the next generation up for success. It’s investing in Americans from the very beginning.” How It Works — and Who Pays The Trump Administration estimates the program will cost $3.6 billion over four years, assuming 3.6 million annual births. However, Trump insisted Monday that “there will be absolutely no cost to taxpayers,” citing a new 3.5% remittance tax on funds sent overseas as the primary funding mechanism. Formerly dubbed “MAGA Accounts” — an acronym for “Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement” — the accounts were renamed by House Republicans before passage to avoid overt campaign branding. Big Potential, But Not Without Skepticism The potential payoff is significant. A $1,000 investment in the S&P 500 made in 2007 would be worth $5,590 today. Over 31 years, that figure jumps to more than $22,000, according to FactSet data. Still, not everyone is convinced. Ann Reilley, CEO of Alpha Financial Advisors, said the accounts may not stack up favorably against established tax-advantaged options like 529 plans or Roth IRAs. “It seems like the administration is complicating things for no reason,” Reilley told Yahoo Finance. Despite criticism, the administration remains optimistic about the program’s future. House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith called it “a game-changer” for new parents: “Whether a child lives on a city block or a county road, this will make a real difference in their life.” With bipartisan attention now focused on the bill’s final passage, Trump’s vision of a financially empowered generation is poised to take its first legislative steps. The post Trump Unveils “Trump Accounts” for Newborn Americans: $1,000 Investment at Birth to Fuel Future Prosperity appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff (Worthy News) – Newly declassified intelligence has revealed that the dramatic rise in domestic terrorism cases cited by the Biden administration as justification for expanding federal law enforcement power was overwhelmingly based on a single event: the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. The revelation comes from a “Special Analysis” report jointly produced by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), declassified in April 2025 by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The report, authored initially in early 2022, found that 61 percent of all domestic terrorism investigations in 2021 were related to the Capitol riot. Even more striking, 78 percent of all domestic terrorism arrests that year stemmed from the same incident. The intelligence findings have confirmed long-standing criticisms from civil liberties advocates and Republican lawmakers who argued that the Biden administration exaggerated the domestic terrorism threat in order to justify sweeping new powers and policies. Critics say the administration deliberately obscured how much its statistics relied on January 6 data to portray a nationwide surge in extremist threats. “If not for January 6, the number of terrorism cases would have declined,” said one congressional investigator. “Instead, they were artificially inflated to support a political narrative.” One Event, Thousands of Cases The report shows that FBI domestic terrorism cases doubled in 2021 — from 1,400 to 2,950 — due primarily to January 6. That surge, authorities had claimed, demonstrated an urgent and escalating national security threat. But the new data tells a different story. Excluding Capitol riot-related cases, domestic terrorism investigations would have decreased in 2021. The declassified charts further reveal that without January 6, arrests for domestic terrorism would have fallen below 2020 levels. Despite this, top Biden administration officials repeatedly cited the rise in cases to push through new enforcement priorities. In June 2021, the White House unveiled a “National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism,” which prominently referenced the Capitol riot while comparing it to deadly historical attacks like the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and the 1921 Tulsa massacre — events that claimed dozens, even hundreds, of lives. January 6, by contrast, resulted in no deaths directly attributable to rioters. DOJ, FBI Leaders Repeatedly Cited Inflated Figures The Biden DOJ, led by Attorney General Merrick Garland, prioritized the January 6 investigation as the department’s “most resource-intensive” in history. Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen announced the formation of a new “domestic terrorism unit” in January 2022, citing an “elevated threat” tied to ideologically driven violence. FBI Director Christopher Wray and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas echoed this justification in multiple congressional hearings. “The number of FBI domestic terrorism investigations has more than doubled,” Wray said in testimony repeated in 2022 and 2023 — without revealing that most of those cases stemmed from a single day. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report in 2023 failed to distinguish how many cases were tied to January 6, citing data limitations imposed by DOJ and the FBI. Internal reports would later admit that a “significant portion” of the increase in 2021 investigations stemmed from the Capitol riot — a phrase now seen as a severe understatement. Whistleblowers: ‘We Were Told to Inflate the Numbers’ FBI whistleblowers who came forward in 2022 and 2023 have now been vindicated. They claimed that agents were pressured to label January 6-related cases as domestic terrorism and to spread those cases across field offices nationwide — giving the false impression that DVE (domestic violent extremism) was surging in cities across the country. According to a 2023 House Judiciary report, the FBI avoided its usual protocol of assigning cases to their originating field office — in this case, Washington, D.C. — and instead opened thousands of individual cases across multiple jurisdictions. This created the illusion of a widespread domestic terrorism problem rather than a concentrated investigation stemming from one event. “By opening a separate case for each individual,” said whistleblower Stephen Friend, “they’ve turned one case into a thousand cases.” Former FBI intelligence analyst George Hill and Special Agent Garret O’Boyle both testified that every January 6 case was labeled as domestic terrorism, regardless of the individual’s actual behavior or threat level. Trump Pardons, Pressure on Biden Agencies Earlier this year, President Donald Trump issued sweeping pardons and commutations to hundreds of January 6 defendants, arguing that the Biden DOJ had politicized the prosecutions. In response, FBI Director Kash Patel, recently confirmed under the Trump administration, criticized the Biden-era approach, saying it had eroded public trust in federal law enforcement. “There is no excuse,” Patel said, “for misleading the American people about the nature of a threat in order to gain power.” The revelations come amid renewed scrutiny over federal handling of both the Capitol riot and the nationwide unrest that followed the 2020 death of George Floyd. While the DOJ opened over 800 domestic terrorism cases tied to 2020’s violent riots, that number was still dwarfed by the thousands of cases opened due to January 6 alone. Critics say the government pursued Capitol riot defendants with far more aggression than those involved in the 2020 violence — a claim FBI leadership has repeatedly denied despite internal discrepancies. Conclusion: A Manufactured Crisis? The newly released documents and whistleblower testimony have triggered calls for congressional oversight and accountability, particularly concerning how federal agencies define and categorize domestic terrorism. What was once labeled the most urgent terror threat to the homeland now appears to have been built on a foundation of manipulated data — all revolving around one day, one event, and one politically useful narrative. As House Republicans put it in their 2023 report: “January 6 was the black swan that the Biden administration turned into a nationwide domestic terror campaign — on paper.” The post Declassified Intel Reveals Biden Admin Used January 6 to Inflate Domestic Terrorism Threat appeared first on Worthy Christian News. 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by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff (Worthy News) – In a sweeping and controversial move, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday dismissed all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), citing longstanding conflicts of interest and a lack of transparency. The decision has sparked outrage across the medical and public health communities. Kennedy, once one of the nation’s most prominent anti-vaccine activists and now the top U.S. health official under the Trump administration, announced the mass ouster in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. He argued that the panel had become a rubber-stamp body plagued by bias and secrecy, and that a complete overhaul was necessary to “re-establish public confidence in vaccine science.” “The committee has become little more than a rubber stamp,” Kennedy wrote. “It has never recommended against a vaccine–even those later withdrawn for safety reasons. A clean sweep is needed.” Kennedy said new members will be appointed within two weeks, with the panel’s next meeting scheduled to take place in Atlanta. He has not yet disclosed who will fill the vacant seats. Major medical organizations and former health officials immediately condemned the move. Dr. Tom Frieden, former CDC director and current head of Resolve to Save Lives, warned the action “makes our families less safe.” “This is a dangerous and unprecedented action,” Frieden said. “Politicizing ACIP will undermine public trust under the guise of improving it.” Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, called the firings “a coup.” “He is breaking a promise,” Benjamin said. “It’s not how democracies work. It’s not good for the health of the nation.” Kennedy defended his decision by pointing to multiple federal investigations over the past two decades that documented lapses in conflict-of-interest enforcement among ACIP members. He cited a 2009 HHS Inspector General report, which showed that 97% of financial disclosure forms were incomplete, with the CDC taking no meaningful corrective action. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a physician who had supported Kennedy’s confirmation despite concerns, acknowledged the backlash and said he spoke to Kennedy after the firings. “Now the fear is that ACIP will be filled with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion,” Cassidy said in a post on social media. Kennedy has already made headlines by rescinding CDC guidance recommending COVID-19 vaccination for healthy children and pregnant women. His department is also investing $500 million into a new universal vaccine initiative dubbed “Generation Gold Standard,” while the CDC is re-examining data on autism rates, including any possible links to childhood immunization. As of Monday evening, the CDC webpage listing ACIP members had been taken down. Kennedy vowed that the reconstituted panel will be “independent, transparent, and scientifically rigorous,” and promised the new members will not be drawn from what he calls a “network of conflicted insiders.” “The public must know that unbiased science guides the recommendations from our health agencies,” he said. “This will ensure the American people receive the safest vaccines possible.” The post RFK Jr. Fires Entire CDC Vaccine Panel, Pledges Overhaul to Restore Public Trust appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff (Worthy News) – Iran threatened on Monday to target Israel’s undisclosed nuclear sites if its own nuclear infrastructure is attacked, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). The warning marks a significant escalation amid faltering negotiations with the United States over Tehran’s controversial nuclear program. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., claimed it has obtained detailed intelligence on Israel’s classified nuclear infrastructure. In a statement, the IRGC said it is now prepared to “immediately counter” any Israeli strike by launching retaliatory attacks on “secret” nuclear sites in the Jewish State. “Access to this information and the completion of the operational cycle have enabled the warriors of Islam to immediately counter any potential attack by the Zionist regime,” the IRGC stated, alleging it now possesses a “vast quantity of strategic and sensitive information.” Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib echoed those claims, describing the data as a “treasure trove” of intelligence related to Israel’s nuclear capabilities. However, no evidence has been presented publicly to substantiate those assertions. The threats arrive as nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, mediated by Oman, appear to have reached an impasse. Iran recently dismissed a proposal from U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff as “unacceptable.” Tehran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed it would submit a counter-proposal in the coming days. President Donald Trump, who had previously expressed cautious optimism about the negotiations, struck a more guarded tone this week. “They are tough negotiators,” he said Monday, adding that he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid any actions that might derail the fragile diplomatic track. Meanwhile, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, raised alarms over Iran’s nuclear activity. In an interview published by the Jerusalem Post and broadcast on i24NEWS, Grossi revealed that traces of uranium were detected at Iranian sites where no nuclear material should be present. Grossi also warned that a military strike by Israel could backfire, potentially driving Iran to abandon the Non-Proliferation Treaty altogether and openly pursue a nuclear weapon. “A strike could have an amalgamating effect, solidifying Iran’s determination,” he said. “I’m telling you this because they have told me so directly.” Despite Iran’s aggressive rhetoric, Grossi expressed doubt that Israel would launch an immediate strike. “The Iranian nuclear program runs wide and deep,” he said. “Disrupting it would require overwhelming and devastating force.” As the rhetoric intensifies and talks hang in the balance, the region teeters on the edge of yet another potential flashpoint with global implications. The next round of U.S.-Iran negotiations is scheduled to take place in Oman this week. The post Iran Threatens Israeli Nuclear Sites Amid Stalled U.S. Talks and IAEA Warnings appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article