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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Middle East leaders have a “strong desire” to see expansion of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords that led to the normalization of ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Israel and Bahrain. Speaking to the right-wing Breitbart News outlet, Rubio said what was behind the mass killing by Iran-backed Hamas in Israel on October 7 “in some ways was an effort to stop that [expansion of the Accords] from happening.” He added, “I think no nation, no regime on the planet, is more freaked out and anti-Abraham Accords expansion than Iran, which is why they were involved in getting Hamas to do October 7.” Despite the effort, Rubio revealed that “there is a lot of countries out there that would love to enter the Abraham Accords” after the war in Gaza is over and that “makes Israel feel that their security interests are taken into account.” He declined to name countries willing to join the Abraham Accords, only saying, “We’ve had more and more countries sort of come forward and say they would like to join as well from the region, including Africa. So I think it’s something we can build on, and to me, it would be one of the great developments of this term.” Rubio also defended the U.S. decision to vote against a Ukraine-led resolution at the United Nations to condemn Russia for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and then sponsor a separate resolution that called for an end to the war. PEACE TALKS He explained that the developments come amid upcoming peace talks with both sides and renewed ties between Washington and Moscow. Rubio admitted that the U.S. tries to somewhat “peel” Russia off China amid a broader U.S. strategy to combat Communist-run China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI), a global infrastructure development strategy. Under the BRI, launched more than a decade ago, China invests in more than 150 countries and international organizations through road, rail, energy, and digital infrastructure projects and the development of ports. Yet the U.S. has expressed concern about China’s growing influence and proposes its own strategies under President Donald J. Trump, the self-declared deal-maker-in-chief. While Moscow welcomed Trump’s proposed talks on Ukraine and improving U.S.-Russia ties. However, Beijing has reportedly reacted less enthusiastically to U.S. attempts to weaken Russian-Chinese relations and tackle BRI, calling it an idea “doomed to fail.” Despite these tensions, Rubio maintained that “the world enjoys” having Trump as “first off, he shoots straight and says what he means, but then also because he stands for common sense in diplomacy.” The post Rubio: More Nations Seeking To Join US-Brokered Abraham Accords appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Several European leaders were left shellshocked, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was pleased after U.S. President Donald J. Trump broke off a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a heated exchange. Trump berated Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for being “disrespectful” Friday in an extraordinary Oval Office meeting, then abruptly called off the signing of a minerals deal with the U.S. that Trump said would have moved Ukraine closer to ending its war with Russia. “Strong men make peace, weak men make war,” Orbán wrote on social media platform X in a reaction to the fast unfolding events. “Today, President @realDonaldTrump stood bravely for peace. Even if it was difficult for many to digest. Thank you, Mr. President!” he added. However, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, strongly disagreed with Trump, saying, “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.” She added on X: “Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine. We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the aggressor.” Kallas was already angered this week when, after arriving in Washington, she was told that a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been canceled due to “scheduling issues.” She had flown to the American capital with the expectation to sit down with her counterpart and talk about Trump’s push to launch negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, which has rattled Europe. THANKFUL TO US Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was among the other European leaders shocked after Trump told Zelenskyy he should show more respect and be thankful to the American people. “Dear @ZelenskyyUa, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone,” Tusk wrote on social media platform X late Friday. “There is an aggressor: Russia,” added French President Emmanuel Macron. “ There is a victim: Ukraine. We were right to help Ukraine and sanction Russia three years ago and to keep doing SO,” he said on X. “By “we,” I mean the Americans, the Europeans, the Canadians, the Japanese, and many others. Thank you to all who have helped and continue to do so. And respect to those who have been fighting since the beginning-because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, their children, and the security of Europe,” Macron stressed. With tensions reaching boiling point, Zelenskyy soon turned to social media to say: “Thank you, America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.” Yet by that time it appeared too little too late. Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, summarized the meeting. She held her head in her hands in reaction to the heated exchanges between American President Trump and President Zelenskyy. (With additional reporting by the Worthy News Europe Bureau in Budapest.) The post Several European Leaders Shell-Shocked But Orbán Pleased After Zelenskyy-Trump Standoff appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – A news conference at the Oval Office in the White House turned into an unprecedented quarrel with U.S. President Donald J. Trump calling his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy “disrespectful.” It happened in the last 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute engagement after Zelenskyy urged skepticism about Russia’s commitment to diplomacy, citing Moscow’s years of broken commitments on the global stage. Zelenskyy wants the U.S. to remain committed to war-torn Ukraine, which has been fighting a full-scale Russian invasion since February 24, 2022. The tensions began with U.S. Vice President JD Vance telling Zelenskyy, “Mr. President, with respect. I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.” Zelenskyy then tried to object, prompting Trump to eventually raise his voice and say, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.” “You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have,” Trump added. It was an astonishing display of open antagonism in the Oval Office, a setting better known for somber diplomacy. At the end of an unprecedented heated meeting at the Oval Office Trump told Ukrainian President leader Zelenskyy directly: “The problem is, I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States. And your people are very brave. But you’re either going to make a deal or we are out and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out.” NOT PRETTY Trump warned: “I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out. But you don’t have the cards but once we sign that deal. You’re in a much better position [with the deal], but you’re not acting at all thankful and that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest.” The angry American president then wrapped up the tense conversation which was played out in front of the world media. “This is going to be great television, I will say,” Trump said as understatement as the meeting broke up. The White House communications team quickly clipped videos of the exchange and shared them on social media. Several Trump aides did so as well. “President Trump and Vice President Vance will always stand for America and those who respect our position in the world. America will never be taken advantage of,” said Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president who shared one of the videos. “Thank you @POTUS for standing up not only for America, but for the American warfighter,” the Defense Department’s rapid response account posted on social media platform X. Not everyone was welcome at the news gathering. It happened as Trump was meeting with Zelenskyy. Russia news agency TASS was not on the approved media list, according to the White House, and when the press office learned the reporter was in the Oval Office, he was escorted out by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. OVERSHADOWING DEAL The tensions completely overshadowed the expected economic deal Trump told Zelenskyy about at the start of their exchange broadcast live for the world to see. Trump said Ukrainian soldiers have been unbelievably brave and talked up a multi-billion dollar economic agreement on minerals between their two countries. “It is a big commitment from the United States,” Trump said. He added that the United States has little of the rare earth minerals that are abundant in Ukraine, and stressed those resources will support uses in the U.S. including artificial intelligence and military weapons. Zelenskyy talked up the prospect for liquid natural gas exports to Europe, but gently disagreed when Trump repeated his claim that Europe “did much less” than the United States to support Ukraine against Russia. Zelenskyy called Russian President Vladimir Putin a killer and a terrorist and told Trump there should be “no compromises with a killer.” He brought printed photos to show Trump, but journalists in the room could not see them. The post US President Trump Calls Ukrainian Leader Zelenskyy ‘Disrespectful’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, Worthy News BUCHAREST/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Romanian prosecutors say they have launched a criminal investigation against Calin Georgescu, the perceived far-right frontrunner in last year’s canceled presidential election, who is seen as an ally of Russia. Authorities said Georgescu was detained and questioned over several accusations Wednesday, including promoting antisemitism and criminal actions. His spokesperson said the interrogation came the day he was to officially declare his presidential candidacy in the rescheduled elections in May. The previous December ballot in which he participated was canceled over alleged Russian interference in favor of Georgescu, a strong critic of the NATO military alliance and Western support for war-torn Ukraine. Moscow denied meddling in the election. On Wednesday, after questioning Georgescu for several hours, prosecutors said they were formally investigating him on charges of “forming an antisemitic organization, promoting war criminals and fascist organizations, and communicating false information.” U.S. Presidential adviser Elon Musk condemned the charges. “They just arrested the person who won the most votes in the Romanian presidential election,” Musk said on his social media platform X. “This is messed up.” US ANGRY Earlier, other members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration criticized Romania for annulling the previous election after it became clear that Georgescu had won the first round. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the cancellation meant Romania “does not share American values,” while billionaire Musk called the chief judge of the top court annulling the vote a “tyrant.” Romanian authorities also said Wednesday they had raided 47 addresses of people and associations connected to Georgescu, who has praised Romania’s 1930s fascist leaders as patriots and martyrs. Despite the controversies, he remains voters’ top choice in opinion polls ahead of the May rerun, although it remains unclear whether he will be allowed to run. Among others held by police was Horatiu Potra, a former member of the French Foreign Legion and military contractor in the Democratic Republic of Congo whose security firm provides bodyguards for Georgescu. Prosecutors said a large cache of weapons and hidden cash was found during the raid. The tensions came a day after Romania’s three opposition far-right parties filed a motion of no confidence in the pro-European coalition government. The move was likely to fail, but analysts say it may boost the parties’ public profile ahead of a re-run presidential election. PRESIDENT RESIGNS Earlier this month, outgoing Romanian President Klaus Iohannis resigned ahead of an impeachment vote sparked by the cancellation of last year’s presidential election. Opponents had been pushing to suspend him over his decision to remain in office until a new vote in May. Romania’s top court controversially annulled the December election because of allegations of Russian state meddling that Iohannis had helped raise, observers said. The centrist, pro-EU leader cited “national security concerns,” but critics and presidential candidates said his actions were undemocratic. Iohannis was replaced by Senate Speaker Ilie Bolojan, head of the Liberal Party and a ruling coalition member. He took over as interim president with limited powers until the May election in Romania, a member state of the European Union and the NATO military alliance. Georgescu, who says he will not give up running for president, has admired both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The post Romania: Criminal Investigation Against Pro-Russia Presidential Candidate appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MOSCOW/ISTANBUL/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that his contacts with U.S. President Donald J. Trump and his administration had “inspired hope” as both sides began talks on how to restore relations and end the war in Ukraine. Putin’s remarks came on ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House after he complained about feeling left out of talks on the future of his nation that Moscow invaded three years ago. As Zelenskyy prepared to meet Trump, U.S. teams held six hours of talks in Turkey on Thursday to restore their embassies’ normal functioning, officials said. The talks focused narrowly on the conditions of each other’s diplomats. The gathering provided an early test of the two countries’ ability to reset broader relations amid a Trump administration outreach effort that has alarmed Washington’s European allies and Kyiv. In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Istanbul talks were expected to be the first in a series of contacts to build confidence and remove “irritants” in bilateral relations. In an example of judicial cooperation, the office of Russia’s prosecutor general announced that Dmitry Koshelev, wanted by Moscow on suspicion of stealing $1.5 million from a courier at gunpoint in 2014, was being deported from the United States on Thursday. Washington described Thursday’s talks as “constructive.” The post Russia’s President Sees ‘Hope’ In Talks With US appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ATHENS (Worthy News) – Massive protests were underway in Greece on Friday on the second adversary of the nation’s deadliest train crash after a report blamed human error, outdated infrastructure, and significant systemic failures for the head-on collision killing 57 people. Evdokia Tsagli told reporters she remembers laughing moments before her train wagon spun through the air. The ordeal lasted seven seconds. For Tsagli, “It was like eternity.” “I think I said over 100 times to myself, ‘When is it gonna stop?'” she recalled. On February 28, 2023, her carriage in a Greek passenger train landed on top of the dining car ahead, flames consuming the wreckage. The train, carrying hundreds — many of them university students — collided head-on with a freight train near Tempe, 375 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens, the capital. An independent 178-page report written by an independent investigative committee found that a station master’s routing mistake sent the passenger train onto the same track as an oncoming freight train. The collision, which killed 46 passengers and 11 staff, including both train drivers, left many survivors with physical and mental wounds that will take long to heal. Investigators also highlighted poor training, staff shortages, and a deteriorating railway system that lacked automated safety controls, noting a chronic lack of public investment during the 2010-18 financial crisis. That did little to prevent protests on Friday, with thousands expected to remember the victims and pressure authorities to improve infrastructure. The post Greece Faces Report On Deadliest Train Crash As Protests Start appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Negotiations between Israel and Hamas on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire began in Cairo Thursday amid mounting concerns the truce will collapse. Thursday’s talks in Egypt’s capital came on the day that a well-informed Israeli source revealed that “Israel does not intend” to withdraw from a strategic corridor in Gaza in the coming days. Under the terms of the deal, Israel was due to start pulling its soldiers out of the Philadelphi Corridor, an 8.6-mile-wide (14 kilometers) strip of land by Gaza’s border with Egypt, on Saturday. The unnamed Israeli official said on Thursday that the Jewish nation’s army would remain there to prevent weapons smuggling by Hamas, despite objections from Hamas and Egypt. Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, suggested Israel’s military presence remains necessary there as he recently saw smuggling tunnels there. However, Egypt claims it destroyed such tunnels years ago and that it has prevented smuggling through a military buffer zone. Hamas has said any Israeli attempt to stay in the corridor would be a “blatant violation” of a ceasefire agreement, which took hold in January. However, both sides still showed readiness to adhere to other terms of the ceasefire, with Hamas releasing the remains of four hostages in exchange for over 600 Palestinian prisoners. DOZENS REMAINING According to Israel, there are 59 remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, 24 of whom are still believed to be alive. At Thursday’s talks, officials from Israel, Qatar, and the United States started “intensive discussions” on the ceasefire’s second phase in Cairo, Egypt‘s state information service said. Observers said it would be difficult to reconcile a deal with the war objectives of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has called for dismantling Hamas’ governing and military capabilities. Despite suffering heavy losses in the war, Hamas has still emerged as a force during the ceasefire, and the group says it will not give up its weapons. U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to visit the region in the coming days. He seeks to help end a war that has killed tens of thousands of people, including many Hamas fighters as well as civilians used as human shields by the group, officials say. The post Israel-Hamas Negotiations Begin as Truce Threatens to Unravel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BUDAPEST/BUCHAREST/FORT LAUDERDALE (Worthy News) – Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who were charged with human trafficking in Romania, arrived Thursday on a private jet in the United States after Romanian authorities lifted travel restrictions on the siblings following questions about the case from U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s administration. The Tates, who are devoted Trump supporters and have millions of followers online, and two Romanian women were arrested in Bucharest in late 2022. They were formally indicted last year on charges they participated in a criminal ring that lured women to Romania, where allegedly they were sexually exploited. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. All four deny the allegations. Andrew Tate, 38, a former professional kickboxer and self-described misogynist who has amassed more than 10 million followers on X, has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and that there is “a political conspiracy” to silence him. He and Tristan Tate, 36, are vocal supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump. Andrew Tate runs an online academy that teaches young men “how to get rich and attract women.” He moved to Romania years ago after first starting a webcam business in Britain. The former kickboxer leaped to fame in 2016 when he appeared on the British version of the reality television show Big Brother but was removed after a video emerged that appeared to show him attacking a woman. Rights activists have described Tate’s views as extremely misogynistic and capable of radicalizing men and boys to commit harm offline. He has been banned from several social media platforms amid concerns about his views and the ongoing criminal investigation. ROMANIAN PROSECUTION Romanian authorities said in 2023 that the brothers made at least seven victims adding that Andrew raped at least one of them repeatedly and coerced the women through threats of violence and financial ruin. The brothers had been held under house arrest on and off since 2022 and were ordered to remain in the country awaiting trial. In 2024, a second indictment was filed that mentioned 35 alleged victims of trafficking, including one who was 15 years old at the time. Yet a first criminal case failed when the Bucharest court of appeals decided not to start the trial and sent the files back to prosecutors, citing “flaws in the indictment.” In April, another court, the Bucharest Tribunal, ruled that a trial could start but didn’t set a date. Pending the completion of the ongoing criminal investigation, the Tates were under judicial control, a light preventative measure under which they were required to check in with the police at regular intervals. However, in a surprise move, Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, announced Thursday that prosecutors approved a request “to change the travel restrictions” on the Tates. Still, it did not say who made the request. That enabled them to effectively flee the country in style, with a private jet awaiting the fashionable-dressed young men. What happened to the two Romanian women arrested with them was unclear. The Tates flight came shortly after Emil Hurezeanu was asked about their case at the Munich Security Conference by Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell. Well-informed sources said a request was made to return the brothers’ passports and allow them to travel while they wait for court proceedings to conclude. NO PRESSURE? Yet the Romanian minister denied the Trump administration had pressured him, but those words did little to convince critics. Cristi Danilet, a former judge in Romania’s northern city of Cluj, said that any bilateral agreement on lifting the “preventative measure” would be unprecedented. “If it is true, it means that there is no more rule of law and sovereign countries,” he said in published remarks. On Thursday, U.S. President Trump appeared caught off guard when asked about the sibling’s arrival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, around midday. “I just know nothing about it. We’ll check it out. We’ll let you know,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office at the White House while hosting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. However Starmer rushed to add: “Obviously it involves, there is an English element here. So, obviously, it is important that justice is done. And human trafficking is obviously, to my mind, a security risk.” Starmer referred to the fact that the Tates have double U.S. and British citizenship. Four British women who accused Andrew Tate of sexual violence and physical abuse are suing him in Britain after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute him. The women said Thursday in a joint statement that they are “in disbelief and feel re-traumatized” by news that the travel restrictions were lifted. Matthew Jury, a lawyer with McCue Jury & Partners, which represents the women, called the decision to lift the travel ban “disgusting and dismaying.” SEXUAL AGGRESSION In March, the Tate brothers appeared at the Bucharest Court of Appeal in a separate case after British authorities issued arrest warrants over allegations of sexual aggression in a case dating back to the period from 2012 to 2015. The appeals court granted the British request to extradite the Tates only after concluding legal proceedings in Romania. Late last year, a court in Britain ruled that police could seize more than 2.6 million pounds ($3.3 million) from the pair to cover years of unpaid taxes and freeze some of their accounts. Andrew Tate called it “outright theft” and said it was “a coordinated attack on anyone who dares to challenge the system.” Speaking to reporters at the airport, Andrew Tate repeated his insistence that the siblings had done nothing wrong. “We live in a democratic society where it’s innocent until proven guilty. And I think my brother and l are largely misunderstood. There’s a lot of opinions about us, things that go around about us on the internet,” he said. In other developments Thursday, a court ruled in favor of an appeal by the Tates to lift the seizure of multiple assets, according to Tate spokesperson Mateea Petrescu. LUXURY ITEMS She said the assets include six luxury vehicles, land and properties, and company shares. All previously frozen bank accounts have been unfrozen. “While some assets remain under precautionary seizure, this ruling marks a significant step toward justice,” she said. Yet the rich and famous men aren’t welcome in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis said, adding he regretted the accused sex trafficker’s return. “We have no involvement in that. I read about it through the media. Clearly, the federal government has jurisdiction,” DeSantis said on Thursday. “Florida is not a place where you’re welcome with that type of conduct.” DeSantis added that Florida’s attorney general looked into the Tates and the “state hooks and jurisdictions” available to deal with them. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier took to social media on Thursday to announce a “preliminary investigation.” “Florida has zero tolerance for human trafficking and violence against women. If any of these alleged crimes trigger Florida jurisdiction, we will hold them accountable,” Uthmeier said. But conservative commentator Candace Owens said it was an “utterly deranged thing for a Governor of any state to say. American citizens will NOT be allowed back on American soil, per [Ron DeSantis].” Yet conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro weighed disagreed. “America does not need more self-proclaimed pimps and terror supporters with outstanding criminal allegations of sex trafficking and a history of pornographic distribution, plus a grift ‘university’ that suckers young men out of thousands of dollars,” he said. The post Influencers Tates Arrive In US Despite Rape And Trafficking Charges In Romania (Worthy News Investigation) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Muslims in eastern Uganda attacked and stabbed an evangelist who, along with his team, had converted a Muslim widow to Christianity during an open-air preaching session on February 15, according to Morning Star News. Robert Kasozi, a 39-year-old evangelist known as Mulokole, was stabbed in the stomach, while three of his co-workers were beaten during an attack in Kiwanga village, Goma Sub-County, Mukono District, according to a local source cited by MSN. After the evangelist and his team led a 75-year-old widow, Hasifa (name changed for security reasons), to Christ in a public prayer, a relative and a shopkeeper became enraged, according to a local source. A local source told MSN, “A relative of Hasifa named Jawadi and a shopkeeper witnessed everything—he came out of the shop and began shouting the Islamic slogan, ‘Inna lillahi wa Inna ilayhi raji’un [Indeed to Allah we belong and to him we shall return],’ and [jihadist slogan] ‘Allah akbar [God is greater].’” She said that a crowd of Muslims gathered and began insulting the evangelists. “A Muslim came and attacked Kasozi, piercing him in the stomach with a knife,” the source said. “While other attackers were shouting, ‘You infidels, why do you come to spread a wrong message in our city? Don’t you know this city belongs to Muslims? Stop what you’re doing now, because we know that Jesus is not the Son of God but a messenger from God, just like our prophet Muhammad.’” “Other Muslims started beating the three evangelists as Kasozi was lying in a pool of blood. They also grabbed their Bibles and tore them into pieces.” Although some of the assailants were known to area residents, none have been arrested. Kasozi, who was taken to a hospital for treatment and is still recovering, said, “I am going to file a case after leaving the hospital.” Along with Kasozi, three other evangelists were injured in the attack: Alice Nanduja, 27, James Bazanya (also known as Kyuma Kya Yesu), and Frank Biribawa. Although Uganda’s constitution and laws guarantee “religious freedom,” including the right to “propagate” faith and convert, Christian converts often face attacks in practice. Muslims comprise about 12% of Uganda’s population, but Christians face the most pressure in the eastern regions, where Muslim communities are highly concentrated. The post Uganda: Muslims Stab Evangelist in Attack appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Morgan Sweeney | The Center Square (Worthy News) – U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House Thursday to further discuss the U.S. and Europe’s role in brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine. Starmer thanked President Donald Trump for the actions he’s taken so far to prepare the way for a peace deal between the two countries, and said the U.K. wants to partner with the U.S. to make it a lasting negotiation. “Thank you for changing the conversation to bring about the possibility that now we can have a peace deal,” Starmer told Trump. “We want to work with you to make sure that peace deal is enduring, that it lasts, but it’s a deal that goes down as a historic deal that nobody breaches, and we’ll work with you to make sure that absolutely happens.” But Starmer also, like French President Emmanual Macron, challenged Trump’s assertion that the U.S. has given more aid to Ukraine than any European country and won’t get any of it back, while “Europe’s money is guaranteed.” “We are not getting all of ours [back.] I mean, quite a bit of ours was gifted. There were some supplements, but mainly it was gifted,” Starmer said. After Trump and other American leaders met with Russian officials last week in Saudi Arabia to discuss an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, the U.S. sided with Russia in voting against a United Nations resolution condemning Russia as the aggressor in the war. The Europe-backed resolution still overwhelmingly passed with only 16 countries voting with Russia and the U.S. Macron met with Trump Monday. He acknowledged that Europe needs to continue to play a central role in supporting Ukraine’s efforts, while thanking the president for having “substantive conversations” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Like Starmer, Macron voiced his desire to see a long-term, stable peace in Ukraine. Trump has indicated that he anticipates a peace deal in the near future. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post UK Prime Minister Discusses Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal in White House Visit appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Morgan Sweeney | The Center Square (Worthy News) – The Trump administration wants to purge more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s foreign aid contracts, in addition to approximately $60 billion in global U.S. assistance, according to a new memo. The latest figures come from an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press. Since President Donald Trump took office just over one month ago, he and the newly established Department of Government Efficiency have worked to drastically cut the agency’s spending, in part by laying off or terminating most of its staff. A federal judge had issued a court order requiring the administration to release nearly $2 billion in foreign aid by Wednesday night, but Chief Justice John Roberts intervened and temporarily blocked the order. Sunday night, the administration placed “all USAID direct hire personnel,” with some exceptions, on administrative leave globally, and announced that 1,600 employees would be let go. Employees working in the Ronald Reagan Building have been directed to retrieve their personal belongings, if applicable, in 15-minute supervised shifts on Thursday and Friday. One of the lawsuits challenging the administration’s actions against the agency claims it is acting illegally because “the dismantling of USAID was not authorized by Congress” and is “inconsistent with statutes establishing and funding USAID.” The Trump administration has consistently defended its actions, saying that President Donald Trump is rightfully acting within his power as chief executive and that district court judges have exceeded their authority by interfering with the president’s “basic executive authority.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Admin Doubles Down On Cuts to USAID With Plan for 90% Reduction appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israeli Military Intelligence and the Southern Command ignored more than five warnings, such as new SIM activations in Gaza and unusual Hamas activities. Dismissing these as routine, they overlooked signs of the impending October 7 attack. On this day in 2023, Hamas and other terrorists groups launched an unprecedented invasion from Gaza into southern Israel, coinciding with Simchat Torah and marking the start of the ongoing Gaza war. The IDF’s findings from the October 7 investigation, though expected, reveal a bleak scenario. A major revelation was the magnitude of the intelligence breakdown, with the surprise and operational disarray on October 7 surpassing even the setbacks of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. In contrast to 1973, when Israel received early warnings of an Arab attack and debated mobilizing reserves amidst clear war signals, this time no such indications were detected. One of the main investigations concluded, “There was no one who saw or detected any sign of this event in advance, not even at the lowest intelligence level.” It added, “The surprise was total — situational and fundamental — against a strategic deception that lasted years, an operational deception leading up to the attack and a tactical deception throughout the night before the invasion.” There were no discussions about calling up reserves. The investigation into the events revealed significant shortcomings in Israel’s Unit 8200 intelligence operations, which had long prioritized tracking high-ranking Hamas leaders while neglecting lower-level commanders and operatives. This oversight extended to the numerous communication devices activated on the night of October 7 and throughout the day. The report noted, “There was no geolocation data from Military Intelligence—not even on October 7—despite thousands of terrorists’ phones and radios operating for hours inside Israel. We were deaf and blind on both sides of October 7, even on Friday afternoon, when Hamas began preparing for the invasion—from dozens of operatives initially briefed on the plan, to hundreds by Friday evening, and to thousands of Gazans overnight.” It was further revealed that one detained terrorist had even managed to make a farewell call to his family and contact his commander in Gaza to report returning for a forgotten RPG. The conclusion of the investigation emphasized, “Enhanced preparedness could have been achieved without compromising intelligence sources. There was no negligence that night, but there was a rigid mindset—no one understood or declared it a time-sensitive event requiring immediate action. If a single authority had had the full picture that night, it is likely an alert would have been issued.” It highlighted a missed chance for the IDF to adjust longstanding flawed assumptions and potentially disrupt the invasion. The military admitted that Hamas orchestrated a complex deception across several levels, leading to a fatal ambush, manipulating its “Jericho Wall” defense strategy—a scenario of a potential Hamas attack on Israel. Moreover, the investigation revealed that during a classified General Staff meeting on July 27, 2022, Brig. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, who later became the IDF’s Southern Command chief on October 7, directed preparations for a conflict with Hamas based on the “Jericho Wall” plans, but ultimately, no actions were implemented. Despite over 10 warning signs in the two years leading up to the conflict, IDF intelligence did not adjust its assumptions. “We read the signals but we didn’t see what they actually said. There was a false sense of security,” admitted IDF officials. Nonetheless, the investigation found no evidence of negligence or dereliction of duty among the intelligence officers. Israel’s extensive border defenses along Gaza, both above and below ground, gave rise to a false sense of security and prompted Hamas to devise alternative invasion strategies that circumvented tunnels. This confidence led to fewer troops being stationed at the border. On October 7, the IDF’s strategy for managing conflicts crumbled along with the belief that attacks could be held at the border fence. “The concept was deeply entrenched—there was no systematic effort to challenge it,” the investigation report stated. The intelligence failure of October 7 allowed around 6,000 terrorists to infiltrate Israel at 119 different points. According to IDF reports, this group included 3,800 members from the “elite Nukhba forces” along with 2,000 from Hamas and other terrorist organizations. The tragedy of October 7 resulted in the death of 1,139 individuals, comprising 695 Israeli civilians (including 38 children), 71 foreign nationals, and 373 security personnel. The Nova music festival was particularly hard hit, with 364 civilians killed and many injured. Additionally, about 250 Israelis, both civilians and soldiers, were captured and taken to Gaza, either alive or deceased, including 30 children. The post October 7 Report Finds Major Intelligence Lapses Resulted in Tragic Massacre (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed a negotiation team to “travel to Cairo for talks Thursday evening.” Israeli officials are hopeful to secure the release of additional hostages by as early as Saturday, although “discussions have not yet commenced” and the timeline is still uncertain. The delegation to Cairo, led by Hostages and Missing Coordinator Gal Hirsch, includes Netanyahu’s political advisor Ophir Falk, and other IDF and Shin Bet representatives. Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanua announced Thursday morning the organization’s “commitment to all agreement terms and readiness to begin negotiations on the second phase of the hostage deal.” He spoke to the Qatari channel Al Arabi, stating that Hamas is prepared to either extend the first phase of the hostage agreement or merge both phases, adhering to Hamas’ self-defined red lines in negotiations with Israel. al-Qanua also claimed that the first phase of the agreement has been completed and emphasized Hamas’ adherence to all conditions “despite Israel’s continuous delaying tactics.” As the first phase of the hostage deal nears completion, including the final release of deceased hostages, this sets the stage for the next phase of negotiations. An Israeli official stated Thursday that Israel will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor—a buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border—on the 42nd day of the hostage deal, despite Qatar and Egypt-brokered agreements calling for an IDF pullout. “We will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor. We will not permit Hamas murderers to return with pickup trucks and rifles on our borders, and we will not allow them to rebuild their arsenal through smuggling operations,” a Israeli security source told Times of Israel. The post Netanyahu Orders Cairo Mission to Further Hostage Negotiations appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Mexico agreed to extradite 29 cartel members on Thursday, including former Sinaloa cartel founder Rafael Caro Quintero and former Zetas leader Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, to the United States, amid efforts to avert US tariff threats linked to illegal migration and drug trafficking. According to a joint statement from the Mexican Attorney General’s Office and the security ministry, the US Justice Department requested the extradition of the cartel members, which Mike Vigil, former DEA chief of international operations, described as “historic.” Vigil noted that Mexico typically extradites only a few suspects at a time and suggested this larger group was sent “hoping that it will have a positive impact on the tariff negotiations.” The announcement came as top Mexican officials visited Washington to persuade the Trump administration against imposing 25% tariffs on all Mexican imports starting March 4. Two high-profile cartel members extradited to the U.S. include Rafael Caro Quintero, whom the United States has pursued for over 40 years following his conviction in Mexico for the 1985 murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena. Miguel Ángel Treviño, known as one of Mexico’s most violent cartel figures, has been wanted by the U.S. since 2013 and is currently facing multiple drug charges in Texas federal courts. The releases coincide with President Donald Trump intensifying pressure on Mexico to halt the illegal influx of fentanyl into the United States, with tariffs set to be imposed on Tuesday. “The drugs continue to pour into our country, killing hundreds of thousands of people,” Trump told reporters on Thursday. “We’re losing substantially more than 100,000 people. I mean, dead.” The post Mexico Extradites 29 Cartel Members to US for Prosecution appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, take a break -- enjoy your Shabbat rest! Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Leonardo da Vinci, who excelled at many things -- as a painter, sculptor, poet, architect, engineer, city planner, scientist, inventor, anatomist, military genius, and philosopher said a wise thing: "Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer, since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power of judgment...Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller, and more of it can be taken in at a glance, and lack of harmony or proportion is more readily seen." Have you found this to be the truth? We have! Any time we step back from a situation or project and take some time away, we undoubtedly gain new perspective and insight about it. Now, I know not all of us can take a week-long vacation at a luxurious resort to take time away from our difficulties, but we can, and must take a retreat with the Lord (which by the way, can be much more restful)! The Word says He makes me to lie down and green pastures -- It doesn't say He'd like us to, if we could try to take some time from our busy schedules -- it says He makes us! Friend, it's time to take a rest from all the things that make us weary today -- ministry work included. Let's take some time out with the Lord and get quiet before Him. He has so many things He wants to reveal, if we would only give Him a chance to show us! He's has so many ways He wants to refresh us and refill our empty places, if we would only be obedient to His call! Shabbat Shalom ... we'll see you on Monday! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (George & Obi - Dallas, Texas | Baht Rivka - Israel | Elianna - Married living in Missouri) 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 UK Prime Minister Discusses Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal in White House Visit U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House Thursday to further discuss the U.S. and Europe’s role in brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine. Indonesia’s Aceh Province Canes Gay Men Two young men in Indonesia's strict Islamic-ruled Aceh province were publicly caned Thursday after an Islamic Shariah court convicted them of having sex with each other, witnesses said. Poland Supreme Court: ‘IKEA Wrong To Fire Christian Over LGBTQ+ Remarks’ Poland’s Supreme Court has thrown out an appeal by the Swedish furniture giant IKEA against a Christian employee who was fired for criticizing the LGBTQ+ movement quoting the Bible. Israel-Palestinian Conflict October 7 Report Finds Major Intelligence Lapses Resulted in Tragic Massacre (Worthy News In-Depth) Israeli Military Intelligence and the Southern Command ignored more than five warnings, such as new SIM activations in Gaza and unusual Hamas activities. Dismissing these as routine, they overlooked signs of the impending October 7 attack. On this day in 2023, Hamas and other terrorists groups launched an unprecedented invasion from Gaza into southern Israel, coinciding with Simchat Torah and marking the start of the ongoing Gaza war. Netanyahu Orders Cairo Mission to Further Hostage Negotiations Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed a negotiation team to "travel to Cairo for talks Thursday evening." Israeli officials are hopeful to secure the release of additional hostages by as early as Saturday, although "discussions have not yet commenced" and the timeline is still uncertain. Inside the United States Trump Admin Doubles Down On Cuts to USAID With Plan for 90% Reduction The Trump administration wants to purge more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s foreign aid contracts, in addition to approximately $60 billion in global U.S. assistance, according to a new memo. Mexico Extradites 29 Cartel Members to US for Prosecution Mexico agreed to extradite 29 cartel members on Thursday, including former Sinaloa cartel founder Rafael Caro Quintero and former Zetas leader Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, to the United States, amid efforts to avert US tariff threats linked to illegal migration and drug trafficking. SCOTUS Pauses Judge’s Order Requiring $2 Billion in Foreign Aid to Be Paid Out U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts late Wednesday paused a lower court's ruling requiring the Trump administration to release $2 billion in foreign aid payments. Christian News Uganda: Muslims Stab Evangelist in Attack Muslims in eastern Uganda attacked and stabbed an evangelist who, along with his team, had converted a Muslim widow to Christianity during an open-air preaching session on February 15, according to Morning Star News. Worthy Watch ‘USAID sending $40 million per week to Taliban’ “Per week, $40 million in taxpayer money is ending up in the hands of the Taliban,” according to testimony before a Congressional committee on Thursday. Worthy Insights Op-Ed: This is a window of opportunity for an attack on Iran Israel is approaching a critical decision regarding a potential strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. This comes against the backdrop of alarming advancements in various components of Iran's nuclear project and an understanding that this moment presents a strategic opportunity, given Iran's relative weakness and Israel's close coordination with the new US administration. CIA employees mocked Pat Robertson’s death, trashed Christians in leaked chats: report Employees at the Central Intelligence Agency mocked the death of the late televangelist Pat Robertson, according to internal chat logs leaked to journalist Christopher Rufo. Planetary Parade 2025: Rare Photo Captures Earth And 7 Planets For The First Time Ever In a groundbreaking feat, photographer Josh Dury, 27, also known as the "Starman", is believed to have captured the first-ever image of all seven planets, plus Earth, in a single frame. Gallup: US Trust in Media Hits 50-Year Low A new poll shows that the level of trust Americans have in mainstream media outlets to fairly and accurately report the news has dropped to the lowest level in more than 50 years since Gallup began tracking media trust in the United States. RFK Jr Pauses Multi-Million Dollar Contract To Develop New COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical trials for a new COVID-19 vaccine were halted after a multi-million contract authorized by the Biden administration to develop the inoculation was paused by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump’s ICE Racks Up Over 20,000 Arrests In Single Month The Trump administration is arresting illegal migrants at a break-neck pace, far outpacing the rate at which the Biden White House nabbed those living unlawfully in the country. Americans Overwhelmingly Support Israel’s Right to Defend Itself, Poll Finds An overwhelming majority of Americans support Israel’s right to defend itself, according to a poll released Thursday. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BANDA ACEH, INDONESIA (Worthy News) – Two young men in Indonesia’s strict Islamic-ruled Aceh province were publicly caned Thursday after an Islamic Shariah court convicted them of having sex with each other, witnesses said. Dozens of people saw the caning at a hall in Banda Aceh, Bustanussalatin city park. Two other people were also sentenced to 34 and 8 strokes each for gambling, Worthy News learned. The flogging in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, marked the fourth time that Aceh caned people for homosexuality since Shariah, or Islamic law, was enforced in 2006. Authorities introduced Shariah as a concession made by the government to end a long-running separatist rebellion, but Christians say it impacts minorities and others deemed not to live according to strict Muslim standards. “It’s really very dangerous in Aceh,” a church worker who supported women from the region told Worthy News, speaking anonymously. Aceh is the only province in Indonesia to practice Shariah law, punishing those seen as guilty of violating Islamic rules, such as the two gay men hit Thursday. A reporter saw that the men, aged 24 and 18, were whipped across the back “dozens of times” by a team of five enforcers wearing robes and hoods. GIVEN BREAK They were given a break to drink after 20 strokes, and their wounds were treated. The college students were detained in November when residents “suspected them” of being gay and broke into their rented room. As they were caught naked and hugging each other, the attackers took them to Sharia police, sources said. There were no indications that police had detained those illegally entering the students’ rooms. A Shariah court on Monday sentenced the two men to receive 85 and 80 strokes, respectively, but they were reportedly caned 82 and 77 times after a remission for time spent in prison. One of them had to be carried because he was too weak to move after the last lash, a reporter witnessed. Indonesia’s central government granted Aceh the right to implement Islamic Shariah law in 2006 to end a decades-long separatist war, but human rights groups and Christians expressed concern. Aceh implemented an expansion of Islamic bylaws and criminal code in 2015 that extended Shariah law to the province’s non-Muslims, including Christians and others who account for about 1 percent of the 5.5 million population, according to official data. MORE LASHES The region allows up to 100 lashes for morality offenses, including gay sex and sex between unmarried people, according to sources familiar with the Shariah rule in the area. Caning is also a punishment in Aceh for gambling, drinking alcohol, women who wear tight clothes, and men who skip Friday prayers. Human rights activists say the law violates international treaties signed by Indonesia protecting the rights of minorities. Indonesia’s national criminal code doesn’t regulate homosexuality, but the central government doesn’t have the power to strike down Shariah law in Aceh. However, an earlier version of the law that called for people to be “stoned to death” for adultery was reportedly dropped because of pressure from the central government in Jakarta. Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation, is Southeast Asia’s largest economy partly due to reforms linked to the economy and freedom. Yet critics suggest that allowing Aceh to continue its Shariah practices undermines Indonesia’s more open society. The post Indonesia’s Aceh Province Canes Gay Men appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WARSAW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Poland’s Supreme Court has thrown out an appeal by the Swedish furniture giant IKEA against a Christian employee who was fired for criticizing the LGBTQ+ movement quoting the Bible. This week’s verdict, as seen by Worthy News Thursday, concerned a ruling by the lower Kraków Regional Court, which ordered IKEA to keep Janusz Komenda in his job. The legal wrangling began in 2019 after IKEA published an article on its internal intranet computer network asking staff to participate in pro-LGBTQ+ events. In response, Komenda wrote a comment criticizing the policy, citing two Bible verses condemning homosexual practices. Angered by his remarks, the store’s management dismissed him. Yet the Regional Court ruled that his termination was unlawful and ordered his reinstatement. IKEA challenged the decision but lost again at the top court. The court based its decision on the need for workplaces that were “free of ideological indoctrination ” and where staff could express their values and beliefs. INCLUSIVE CULTURE The court ruled that IKEA’s definition of inclusive culture was unsatisfactory as it failed to tolerate alternative views. “If we define an inclusive culture as one that fully integrates diverse employees through representation, openness, and fairness, then the exclusion of the plaintiff from the employee community due to his religious beliefs and differing worldview contradicts the appellant’s own rhetoric of inclusivity,” the court stated. Paweł Szafraniec of the Ordo Iuris Ordo think-tank’s Centre for Litigation, who acted as attorneys for Komenda, said the Supreme Court’s verdict as a landmark decision for employee freedom of speech. “With this decision, the Supreme Court strengthens the barrier against big companies imposing leftist ideology on their employees, disciplining and ultimately firing those who refuse to conform,” the statement said. Szafraniec added he also felt the court’s verdict defended Christian values in Poland, a heavily Catholic nation that shrugged off decades of communist dictatorship in 1989. “The court also reinforced the right of Christians to defend their values, especially in Poland, where they make up a significant part of society,” he wrote. LGBTQ+ ACTIVISTS The ruling came amid an ongoing debate about this issue in other former communist countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary, where the right-wing government criticized LGBTQ+ activists. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government suggested that Hungary’s annual Budapest Pride march should be in a “closed venue” this year rather than on a city center avenue as in previous years, citing “child protection.” Orbán, a close ally of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, told supporters on Saturday that Pride organizers “should not even bother” this year as the event would be a “waste of money and time” without going into detail. For decades, Pride participants processed down Andrássy Avenue, a spacious, tree-lined street in Budapest’s city center not far from the Worthy News Europe Bureau. The post Poland Supreme Court: ‘IKEA Wrong To Fire Christian Over LGBTQ+ Remarks’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Dan McCaleb | The Center Square (Worthy News) – U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts late Wednesday paused a lower court’s ruling requiring the Trump administration to release $2 billion in foreign aid payments. U.S. District Judge Amir Ali had ordered the Trump administration to pay out the money by midnight Thursday. Ali was appointed to the bench by former President Joe Biden. In an emergency filing with the U.S. Supreme Court, the Trump administration argued it would take weeks to disburse the funds. “The court’s 11:59 p.m. 30-some-hour deadline thus moved all the goalposts,” acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote to the Supreme Court. “It is not tailored to any actual payment deadlines associated with respondents’ invoices or drawn-down requests, or anyone else’s. And it has thrown what should be an orderly review by the government into chaos.” Roberts gave plaintiffs suing the Trump administration until noon Friday to respond to the pause. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post SCOTUS Pauses Judge’s Order Requiring $2 Billion in Foreign Aid to Be Paid Out appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News TEHRAN/VIENNA (Worthy News) – The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog warned Wednesday that Iran had accelerated its production of near-weapons-grade uranium amid mounting tensions between Tehran and Washington. The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said in its latest report that as of February 8, Iran has 274.8 kilograms (605.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 percent. That’s an increase of 92.5 kilograms (203.9 pounds) since the IAEA’s last report in November. That material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90 percent, according to experts. The revelations came after reports that Iran has stepped up air defenses around its nuclear sites amid concerns of an imminent attack by Israel and the United States. U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s administration says Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons, a view shared by Israel. Yet the IAEA suggested that Iran acceleratedits nuclear program since Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the United States. The IAEA has warned that time is running out for diplomacy to impose new restrictions on Iran’s activities before the country has a nuclear weapon. Tehran claims that its nuclear program is for “peaceful” purposes, but Israel and most of its allies, including the United States, have their doubts. The IAEA seemed to share these concerns. “The significantly increased production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon state to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern,” the IAEA said. The post IAEA: Iran Almost Has Nuclear Weapon appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ABUJA (Worthy News) – A Nigerian pastor was recovering from his injuries Wednesday after gunmen shot him and severed his fingers while abducting six worshipers from a Pentecostal church in Nigeria’s southern Delta state of Nigeria, his wife and other sources said. Police Public Relations Officer of the State Command Bright Edafe confirmed the Saturday evening attack at Elyon Paradise Ministry Church in the town of Asagba Ogwashi. The perpetrators have not been identified. The church’s pastor, Apostle Divine Omodia, was hospitalized and receiving treatment, according to Nigerian sources. Those missing from the church have been named as Helen Onwuamaeze, Ariyo Emmanuel, Chike Okolo, Blessing Waye and two security guards. “I was lying down with my baby in the church hall while some men were outside with my husband when suddenly we heard gunshots,” the pastor’s wife, Faith Omodia, recalled in published remarks. “We saw bullets in the church, so they were shooting inside the auditorium. One of them saw me where I was hiding and shot at me, but it did not penetrate; I just saw fire.” The wife said that the gunman shot her husband, with the bullet severing two of his fingers. Others said they “cut off” his fingers. “The gunmen came into the church and forced everyone in the church building out. Some of the men who were outside discussing with my husband had already escaped,” she was quoted as saying by Nigerian media. “The women inside were all brought out of the church building and made to lie down outside. They then left with some members and ordered the rest of us to go back into the church building.” CONCERNS REMAIN Christians said they remain concerned as the kidnappers have not called to demand a ransom for the release of the abducted victims since the incident occurred. One of the church pastors, Steve Victor Onuchukwu, said after the attack, there was “serious concern” for the fate of their pastor as a medical team battled to keep him alive. It was the latest in numerous attacks in Nigeria, described as one of the most violent nations for Christians. Thousands have been killed in attacks linked to several Islamist groups or their affiliates and Muslim crime gangs, according to a Worthy News assessment. The nation ranks 7th on the annual World Watch List of 50 countries, where advocacy group Open Doors says Christians face the most persecution for their faith. Some 3,100 Christians were killed, and at least 2,830 Christians were kidnapped in Nigeria in 2024, far more than in other countries in the same year, according to the World Watch List. “While Christians used to be vulnerable only in the Muslim-majority northern states, this violence continues to spread into the Middle Belt and even further south,” Open Doors noted. “The attacks are shockingly brutal. Many believers are killed, particularly men, while women are often kidnapped and targeted for sexual violence. More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world.” The militants also destroy homes, churches, and livelihoods, Christians told Worthy News over the years. More than 16.2 million Christians in sub-Saharan Africa, including high numbers from Nigeria, have been driven from their homes by violence and conflict, according to official estimates. Millions now live in displacement camps. The post Nigeria: Pastor Shot, Church Members Kidnapped appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News NEW DELHI (Worthy News) – Some 50 Christians were attacked during a Sunday service in western India, the latest in a series of attacks targeting churches in the mainly Hindu nation, Worthy News learned Wednesday. The attack by suspected Hindu extremists in India’s Rajasthan state began when a group of about 200 people stormed a church building in Bikaner city, witnesses said. At least three attendees of the February 16 service were “severely injured,” while most others were left with bruises all over their bodies after being struck with iron rods, according to Christians familiar with the situation. The assailants vandalized the property before police arrived, Christians said. In a statement released by the advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the church pastor recalled that “a new member” attended the service that day and was seen sending cell phone text messages minutes before the mob entered the church. The pastor, who remained anonymous for security reasons, added that the new member “ran out of the building.” MOB DISPERSED Members of the mob reportedly informed local police that forceful conversions were taking place at the church. The mob dispersed the moment the police arrived at the scene, Christians said. “When the police questioned the victims, they accused them of forceful conversion and warned the pastor’s children that they should not turn out like their father,” added CSW in a statement. “The police subsequently escorted the pastor, his wife, and a few other Christians to the Mukta Prasad police station at the mob’s insistence. However, they were not charged with forceful conversion as the attackers (complainants) were not able to provide any evidence.” The Christians chose not to file a complaint out of fear of reprisals, and the police have not taken any action against the alleged perpetrators of the attack, Worthy News learned Wednesday. It was in a month when the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill 2025 was tabled in Rajasthan’s Legislative Assembly, the state’s legislature. If the bill becomes law, the burden of proof will shift to those accused of forceful conversion to prove their innocence. MORE LAWS In 2024, the neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh passed the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, which significantly altered its 2021 anti-conversion law, increasing jail terms and fines, according to sources familiar with the legislation. The United Christian Forum (UCF), an Indian-based monitoring and help group, said attacks against Christians rose from 127 incidents in 2014 to 834 in 2024. CSW’s Founder, President Mervyn Thomas, said in a statement that “CSW is concerned by the rising numbers of reported attacks on Christians and other religious minorities in India.” He said that Christians have been increasingly subjected “to assaults, humiliation, and the loss of their livelihoods and belongings by far-right religious nationalists who make clearly baseless accusations of forceful conversion.l Yet “those who carry out these attacks enjoy complete impunity. We urge the local authorities to be proactive and take firm and swift action against the perpetrators of such crimes,” he added. Christians comprise just over two percent of India’s mainly Hindu population of more than 1.4 billion people, according to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The post India Church Attack Injures Dozens appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – A prominent U.S. based think tank says the years long decline of Christianity in the United States has ended, amid reports of “revival” gatherings at campuses across the nation. Pew Research Center began conducting its Religious Landscape study in 2007 as Christianity in the U.S. faced a steady and precipitous decline, with those identifying as “Christian” decreasing from 78 percent in 2007 to 62 percent in 2024. However, this hemorrhaging appears to have halted. The Pew Research Center’s latest Religious Landscape Study found that the share of U.S. adults identifying as Christian has remained relatively stable since 2019, hovering between 60 percent and 64 percent. Some 62 percent of adults currently describe themselves as Christians, according to the latest survey conducted from July 2023 to March 2024. It comes at a time of renewed interest in the Christian faith among students, Worthy News documented. Thousands of students gather at college campuses nationwide for worship, prayer, and baptisms. Organizers say the movement, fueled by various campus groups, has seen unprecedented attendance and commitments to faith. POWERFUL EXPERIENCE Cale Matlock, a student at the University of Arkansas, described the experience this week as powerful. “It was awesome, just having 10,000 people that all love Jesus and are worshipping God,” Matlock told the U.S.-based Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). However the Pew Research Center suggested that despite these recent developments young adults in general are still present “less religious” than those of older generations. Devoted Christians have argued that this may be a positive development as personal faith in Christ as expressed by the students at revival meetings has nothing to do with religion. “It is inevitable that older generations will decline in size as their members gradually die,” the researchers wrote in their report. “We also know that the younger cohorts succeeding them are much less religious. This means that, for lasting stability to take hold in the U.S. religious landscape, something would need to change,” the Pew Research Center added. At the same time, “the religiously unaffiliated” share of 29 percent appeared to have stabilized in recent years after a long period of sustained growth. The latest survey marks the third in the Pew Research Center’s series of Religious Landscape studies. The nonpartisan think tank started the project in 2007, surveying more than 35,000 people across all 50 states about their religious affiliations, beliefs, practices, and social and political views. MORE DATA The second study was conducted in 2014. To fill in the gaps between studies, the center incorporated annual data from the random-digit-dialing phone surveys it conducted until 2019 and the National Public Opinion Reference Survey it has administered since. A breakdown of the survey’s Christian respondents shows most of those questioned (40 percent) identified as Protestants, followed by Catholics at 19 percent. Up to five percent identified with other religions, including 2 percent who were Jewish, while Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus represented 1 percent each. The report was published after U.S. President Donald J. Trump made clear he wanted the Christian faith to play a more prominent part in societies. He created a new White House Faith Office led by prosperity-teaching Pastor Paula White-Cain to establish a Justice Department task force to root out anti-Christian bias. He has also vowed to create a Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty. MORE FAITH At the National Prayer Breakfast on February 6, Trump lamented the decline of faith in the United States and called on the nation to “bring God back” into its life. “We have to bring religion back,” he told lawmakers on Capitol Hill. “We have to bring it back much stronger. It’s one of the biggest problems that we’ve had over the last fairly long period of time.” He has stressed that surviving an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally in July 2024 reinforced his belief in God. Reliving that moment at a prayer breakfast, he noted that if he had not turned his head at the last moment, the bullet that pierced the upper part of his right ear likely would have killed him. “God did that,” Trump said of his miraculous survival, adding that the experience “changed something” in him. “I believed in God, but I feel much more strongly about it.” Yet the survey shows that not all Americans share his enthusiasm. As for the unaffiliated, 5 percent were atheists, 6 percent were agnostics, and 19 percent identified as “nothing in particular.” The post Decline Christianity Has Ended In US, Report Finds appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israel received the bodies of four hostages, held by Hamas in Gaza for over 16 months, in a low-key, nighttime transfer on Wednesday, avoiding the dramatic displays seen in previous handovers. The final phase of the ceasefire’s initial stage began late Wednesday when the Red Cross went to the Gaza Strip for the handover. Early Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reported that the Red Cross received the coffins and transferred them to the Israel Defense Forces. In return for the remains of four slain hostages, Israel agreed to free over 600 Palestinian prisoners, including many serving multiple life sentences for deadly terrorist attacks. This release, previously delayed by dissatisfaction in Jerusalem over Hamas’s handling of prior handovers, was part of a broader exchange deal. The Israel Prisons Service announced that the release of Palestinian prisoners would proceed only after the bodies of the four hostages were confirmed to have arrived in Israel. Additionally, an Israeli source indicated that the bodies must be positively identified before finalizing the prisoner release, a process expected to take several hours. Among the prisoners scheduled for release, 50 are serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis. The list includes Nael Barghouti, the longest-held prisoner, incarcerated for 44 years for the murder of 27-year-old Israeli bus driver Mordechai Yekuel in 1978 near Ramallah. Also set to be released is Ammar Zaban, a key Hamas figure who led the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades during the Second Intifada. The post Hamas Quietly Transfers Remains of 4 Hostages to Israel During Late-Night Operation appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald J. Trump effectively launched a trade war against the European Union, saying the 27-nation bloc was formed “to screw” the United States and that he seeks to introduce 25 percent tariffs on imported EU goods. He added that the tariffs would be 25 percent “in general, ” affecting several sectors, including car makers. “Look, let’s be honest, the European Union was formed in order to screw the United States,” Trump told reporters as he gathered his cabinet for the first time. “That’s the purpose of it, and they’ve done a good job of it. But now I’m president.” Trump told his cabinet meeting that the European Union has “really taken advantage of us,” echoing the claims of being treated “unfairly” that he has levied not only at the EU but at China, Canada, the mainstream media, and Democrats. Analysts say a 25 percent tariff on imported cars would be a game-changer for the global auto industry, which is already reeling from uncertainty caused by Trump’s tariff drama. It would mean another setback for Germany, Europe’s largest economy, where car makers such as Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are already struggling due to plunging demand, particularly in China. MORE TARIFFS Asked if he planned to also impose his tariffs on Canada and Mexico on March 4 after a 30-day suspension, Trump said the tariffs would start on April 2. He has said he had paused the levies to see whether they would limit the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs across the border. “The European Union is a different case than Canada, a different kind of case; they’ve really taken advantage of us in a different way,” he added. “They don’t accept our cars, they don’t accept essentially our farm products. They use all sorts of reasons why not, and we accept everything from them, and we have about a $300 billion in deficit with the European Union.” Asked what he would do if the EU retaliates, Mr Trump said: “They can’t. I mean, they can try, but they can’t.” He added, “They can retaliate, but it cannot be a successful retaliation because we just go cold turkey; we don’t buy anymore.” “If that happens, we win.” In response to Trump’s comments, a spokesperson of the EU’s executive European Commission said, “The EU will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade, including when tariffs are used to challenge legal and non-discriminatory policies.” HEIGHTENED TENSIONS The European Union “is the world’s largest free market” of 450 million people. “And it has been a boon for the United States,” the spokesperson added. The threat of tariffs comes amid heightened transatlantic tensions after Trump shocked European leaders last week by calling Ukrainian President Zelenskyya a “dictator with no elections.” Zelenskyy accused Trump of living in a “Russian disinformation bubble.” Besides planning 25 percent tariffs on most goods imported from the United States’ biggest trading partners—Mexico, Canada, and the EU—Trump already imposed a 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports. He has said reciprocal tariffs assessed against all countries based on their particular tariff rates on U.S. exports will be implemented in April. (With additional reporting by the Worthy News Europe Bureau in Budapest.) The post Trump Seeks 25 Percent Tariffs On EU Goods, Raising Trade War Prospect appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Mossad Director David Barnea described the September 17, 2024 operation that targeted Hezbollah with explosives embedded in their beepers as the “turning point” in the war against the terrorist organization. On September 17, 2024, thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah terrorists detonated simultaneously, killing 30 and injuring 4,000, primarily terrorists. The pagers were remotely detonated months after they were first adopted by the terrorists. Barnea told the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) that the beeper operation was “a clear example of the realization of our mission,” emphasizing that it “reflects a deep understanding of the enemy, intelligence mastery, technological superiority, and exceptional operational capabilities.” He described the operation as a “turning point” in the northern conflict, noting it marked “the beginning of the 10 days that shifted the balance in our favor, from the exploding pagers to the elimination of Nasrallah and the subsequent ceasefire agreement.” Barnea commended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for greenlighting the operation against Hezbollah, despite internal opposition and rebutted former defense minister Yoav Gallant’s claim that delays lessened its effectiveness. “The preparatory infrastructure for the operation was established in late 2022, with the first shipment of 500 pagers arriving in Lebanon just weeks before the horrific massacre of October 7,” Barnea stated. He emphasized that an earlier launch would not have achieved the same impactful results. By September 2024, he explained, “Ten times more beepers were detonated than at the start of the war, and twice as many radios were used.” “The decision to launch the operation on September 17, 2024, presented a significant dilemma. In discussions about approval, two valid schools of thought emerged,” Barnea stated. He concluded, “The prime minister ultimately decided against the prevailing opinion, and now we are witnessing the outcome.” The post Mossad Chief: Hezbollah Beeper Op Was War’s Turning Point appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article