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by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – US President Donald Trump has threatened to slap tariffs on the BRICS 10-member-state intergovernmental organization if the group seeks to replace the American dollar with a new reserve currency, the Hill reports. Trump’s announcement follows fresh on the heels of his decision to impose tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada starting February 1. Not part of the G7, BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa but has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. The BRICS group held discussions over the possibility of creating their own currency system during a summit in Russia in October, but Moscow has since said there are no plans to create a common currency, the Hill reports. “The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar, while we stand by and watch, is OVER,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Thursday. “We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy.” “They can go find another sucker Nation. There is no chance that BRICS will replace the U.S. Dollar in International Trade, or anywhere else, and any Country that tries should say hello to Tariffs, and goodbye to America,” Trump added on Friday. The post Trump Threatens Tariffs on BRICS Nations If They Move Away From US Dollar appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at Andrews Air Force Base on Sunday evening for his scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday. The two leaders are expected to address critical issues, including redrawing the Middle East, the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire, the future of the Gaza Strip, and Iranian nuclear program. Just before Netanyahu departed for Washington on Sunday, Netanyahu expressed his belief that cooperation with the new administration could reshape the Middle East. Netanyahu spoke to reporters on the tarmac in Israel in English, calling his status as the first foreign leader to meet Trump in the White House since the inauguration “a testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance. It’s also a testimony to the strength of our personal friendship.” He expressed confidence that working with Trump could further reshape the Middle East, stating, “Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further, and for the better.” Netanyahu appeared to reference Israel’s ties with Saudi Arabia, as Israel pushes for a negotiating team to discuss official relations with the Gulf state. The Kan public broadcaster reported that the Trump administration seeks to achieve peace between Jerusalem and Riyadh as part of the president’s vision for a “Golden age of peace in the Middle East.” Before departing Israel, Netanyahu told reporters, “My meetings in the US capital will deal with important, critical issues facing Israel and the region — victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages, and dealing with the Iranian terror axis in all its components, an axis that threatens the peace of Israel, the Middle East, and the entire world.” Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump shared that talks with Israel are progressing, specifically mentioning upcoming discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “The discussions on the Middle East with Israel and various and sundry other countries are progressing. While Trump did not provide further details, his comments come as indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are set to resume, focusing on the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. Trump also previewed his upcoming meeting with Netanyahu, adding, “Bibi Netanyahu’s coming on Tuesday, and I think we have some very big meetings scheduled.” On Tuesday, Netanyahu and Trump will meet in the Oval Office as Iran moves closer to developing a nuclear weapon. A recent report by Michael Singh of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy revealed that Iran’s breakout time — the period needed to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a bomb — has shrunk to a week or less by November 2024, down from 3.5 months in November 2020. The post Netanyahu in Washington for High-Stakes Talks with Trump appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump on Saturday declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Canada border, citing an influx of human and drug smuggling coming from Canada presenting a national security threat to Americans. He did so after a record number of illegal border crossers were reported entering the U.S. from Canada, the greatest number of known or suspected terrorists were apprehended coming from Canada, and northern border terrorist arrests soared under the Biden and Trudeau administrations, The Center Square first reported. Unlike the 1,954-mile U.S.-Mexico border, there are no border walls and significantly less technological equipment and agents to patrol the U.S.-Canada border, the longest international border in the world, The Center Square reported. With far fewer agents in the field, less technological surveillance and increased national security threats posed by Canadian policies, U.S. officials have warned about a lack of operational control at the U.S.-Canada border, The Center Square first reported. Trump’s Feb. 1, 2025, executive order “Imposing Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs across our Northern Border” states that the “sustained influx of illicit opioids and other drugs has profound consequences on our nation, endangering lives and putting a severe strain on our healthcare system, public services, and communities.” He declared a national emergency citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, National Emergencies Act, section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, and section 301 of title 3, United States Code. The order expands the national emergency he declared on his first day in office declaring an invasion at the southern border. The national emergency now includes the northern border “to cover the threat to the safety and security of Americans, including the public health crisis of deaths due to the use of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and the failure of Canada to do more to arrest, seize, detain, or otherwise intercept [drug trafficking organizations], other drug and human traffickers, criminals at large, and drugs.” “Gang members, smugglers, human traffickers, and illicit drugs of all kinds have poured across our borders and into our communities. Canada has played a central role in these challenges, including by failing to devote sufficient attention and resources or meaningfully coordinate with United States law enforcement partners to effectively stem the tide of illicit drugs,” the order states. DTOs “are the world’s leading producers of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illicit drugs” that “often collaborate with transnational cartels to smuggle illicit drugs into the United States, utilizing clandestine airstrips, maritime routes, and overland corridors.” While much focus has been on the southern border, “There is also a growing presence of Mexican cartels operating fentanyl and nitazene synthesis labs in Canada,” the order states. Illicit drugs are being shipped into the U.S. from Canada “due to the existing administrative exemption from duty and taxes, also known as de minimis,” under U.S. Code, which has created a public health crisis in the U.S. prompting Trump to designate the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The order points to a Canadian Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre report on the laundering of proceeds of illicit synthetic opioids as domestic production of fentanyl increased primarily in British Columbia. This contributed to Canada’s growing footprint in international narcotics distribution. Last year, the Canadian Parliament held hearings expressing alarm about increased terrorism threats due to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visa policies and U.S. lawmakers called for additional security at the northern border for similar reasons. “Immediate action is required to address threats from Canada,” the order states, “which will not happen unless the compliance and cooperation of Canada is assured.” Trump also imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian goods and a 10% tariff on energy resources effective Feb. 4. If the Canadian government retaliates, the order states that Trump may increase or expand the scope of the tariffs. If the Canadian government fails “to take adequate steps to alleviate the illegal migration and illicit drug crises through cooperative enforcement actions,” additional action will be taken. The order directs several cabinet leaders to coordinate and communicate with him and Congress “on the situation at our northern border.” Once the Canadian government “has taken adequate steps to alleviate this public health crisis through cooperative enforcement actions,” the tariffs may be removed. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Declares National Emergency at Northern Border appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Tate Miller | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – Surveying nearly an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, a poll taken by the New York Times and polling company Ipsos showed that the majority of Americans do not want transgender-identifying men in women’s sports. Of those surveyed, 79% answered that men “should not” compete in women’s sports when posed with the following question: “thinking about transgender female athletes – meaning athletes who were male at birth but who currently identify as female – do you think they should or should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports?” This number has increased from a 2023 The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll that reported 67% of American voters were collectively against men playing in women’s sports. When the 2025 New York Times-Ipsos poll is broken up along political divides, 94% of Republicans, 67% of Democrats, and 64% of Independents or “something else” answered that men should not be in women’s sports. The highest bracket that believes men should be allowed to play in women’s sports are Democrats, equaling 31%. The results of this poll came just before President Trump declared there are only two sexes in America, male and female. The survey was taken from Jan. 2 to 11. When reached for comment, Ipsos vice president for public affairs Mallory Newall repeated the question posed to respondents and said “we cannot speculate on what people meant or interpreted beyond the wording of the question.” Ipsos is a global market research and polling company, according to its description in the poll document. Men in women’s sports has become an issue in recent years, with high school girls such as Payton McNabb getting injured by a male competitor on a volleyball team and former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines becoming an activist defending women’s-only sports after placing second to a transgender female swimming competitor. The Independent Women’s Forum senior legal advisor Beth Parlato told The Center Square that “without female-only athletics, the safety of girls and women is endangered, and men will dominate the playing field, which unfairly takes away awards, opportunities, scholarships and roster spots.” The Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) is a nonprofit women’s organization “dedicated to developing and advancing policies” that “enhance people’s freedom, opportunities, and well-being,” according to its website. IWF has taken a staunch stance against men competing in women’s sports. “Males and females possess unique and immutable biological differences,” Parlato said. “With respect to sports, males have biological athletic advantages over females, as the average male is stronger, bigger and faster. “Furthermore, allowing males in female-only spaces is an invasion of a women’s right to privacy and threatens women’s safety and well-being,” Parlato said. “Defining sex-based terms in law and policy is essential to protect women’s sports and spaces,” Parlato said. Trump’s executive order on two sexes provides “needed clarity to preserve the legal existence of women as distinct from men,” Parlato said. “Protect women’s sports bills at both the federal and state levels must be codified into law to ensure equal athletic opportunities for women and girls.” The NYT-Ipsos survey was “of the American general population” aged 18 and up, interviewing a total of 2,128 people; 1,022 of those polled were Republican/Lean Republican, 1,025 were Democrat/Lean Democrat, and 81 were Independent or “something else.” In a vein similar to transgender-identifying men playing in women’s sports, the poll showed that the majority of Americans are not for sex changes in minors, either. Respondents were asked “thinking about medications used for transgender care, do you think doctors should be able to prescribe puberty-blocking drugs or hormone therapy to minors between the ages of 10 and 18?” A total of 71% of Americans do not think anyone under 18 should have access to such drugs or therapy. Shortly after this poll, Trump signed an executive order “restricting transgender drugs and surgeries for minors,” The Center Square previously reported. (Worthy News) – The post Nearly 80 Percent of Americans Don’t Want Men Playing in Women’s Sports appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is embarking on a tour of Central America to counter China’s influence. The diplomatic tour will take Rubio to meet with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, and Dominican President Luis Abinader. The trip aims to strengthen regional cooperation on other issues, such as illegal migration and transnational crime. The issue over the Panama Canal centers on U.S. concerns that Chinese-linked companies control key access points to the canal, which the U.S. built and later gifted to Panama. “Secretary Rubio’s engagements with senior officials and business leaders will promote regional cooperation on our core, shared interests: Stopping illegal and large-scale migration, fighting the scourge of transnational criminal organizations and drug traffickers, countering China, and deepening economic partnerships to enhance prosperity in our hemisphere,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a statement. Rubio defended his first trip as U.S. Secretary to Panama and cited concerns over Chinese influence at the Panama Canal. In an interview, Rubio said, “Hong Kong-based companies having control over the entry and exit points of the canal is completely unacceptable.” The Secretary of State told SirusXM host Megyn Kelly that the situation needs to end “because if there is a conflict, and China tells them, do everything you can to obstruct the canal so that the U.S. can’t engage in trade and commerce so that the U.S. military and naval fleet cannot get to the Indo-Pacific fast enough, they would have to do it.” President Mulino has previously said it is impossible to negotiate over the canal. However, the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a news conference that Trump thinks it’s unacceptable that the Chinese Communist Party essentially runs the canal. Trump previously criticized the transfer of the Panama Canal to Panama, calling it a costly mistake, and claimed that the treaty governing its use had been violated, arguing that American ships, including those of the U.S. Navy, are being unfairly treated while China has control and said “China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mont., voiced his concerns over China’s increasing control of critical global infrastructure, warning that the U.S. is failing to respond adequately. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Rubio Travels to Panama Amid U.S. Concerns over Canal Control appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, you're battling a defeated enemy! Luke 10:17-20 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us through Your name. And He said to them, I saw Satan fall from Heaven like lightning. Behold, I give to you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the authority of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you. Yet do not rejoice in this, that the evil spirits are subject to you, rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven. When I'm talking with someone who feels beaten down by life, often feeling defeated and struggling, I remind them of a powerful truth from the Bible. It tells us that the enemy is ALREADY defeated! Think about that—each day, as we face our battles, we're actually fighting against an enemy that's been beaten. Let that really settle in your heart! He’s defeated, even though it seems like we're constantly battling against the forces that try to bring us down. So, when you’re up against tough times, don’t let it get you down. Remember, God’s plan is to bring a bit of heaven right here through us. The devil might look like he’s got the upper hand, but he was decisively beaten at the cross of Calvary! Friend, as you face the trials and pains of life, which Yeshua told us we would always keep in your heart that Satan was defeated 2000 years ago. Our enemy causes plenty of problems and pain; nevertheless, if you will remember and truly realize that Satan was defeated 2000 years ago, you will press on with a deep and quiet confidence in Yeshua's victory. Nothing and no one can steal that victory from you because, now and forever, in Yeshua, you have already won! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Phoenix, Arizona) Editor's Note: Latest Video: Worthy Wrap-Up: Reagan, Trump, and the Middle East Condundrum 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 Rubio Travels to Panama Amid U.S. Concerns over Canal Control Newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is embarking on a tour of Central America to counter China's influence. Hundreds Killed in DRC At least 773 people were reportedly killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo’s largest city of Goma and its vicinity last week amid fighting between government forces and Rwanda-backed rebels. Multiple Deaths In Russian Airstrike On School In Kursk Nearly a hundred people were feared to remain under debris early Sunday after Russian forces conducted an airstrike on a school building in the town of Sudzh in Russia’s Kursk region, killing at least four people, Ukraine’s military said. Trump Orders Airstrikes On ISIS In Somalia U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he ordered airstrikes on targets of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, in Somalia, claiming the operation eliminated “many terrorists.” Scores Killed In Attack On Sudan Open Market Fighters with the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have attacked an open market in the Sudanese city of Omdurman, killing 54 people, officials said Saturday. Iran Threatens Regional War If Nuclear Sites Are Attacked Iran threatened Friday to launch a regional war and suggested it could build an atomic bomb if its nuclear sites are attacked by Israel or the Jewish nation’s allies, such as the United States. US Trump Expanding Tariffs To China President Donald J. Trump is expanding trade tariffs on China after announcing similar measures for Canada and Mexico. Koran Burning Refugee Killed In Sweden Sweden says it has detained five people over the killing of an Iraqi refugee who sparked outrage among Muslims by burning the Koran in protest in Sweden in 2023. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Netanyahu in Washington for High-Stakes Talks with Trump Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at Andrews Air Force Base on Sunday evening ahead of his scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday. The two leaders are set to discuss key issues, including redrawing the Middle East, the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire, the future of the Gaza Strip, and the Iranian nuclear threat. Israel Releases Gaza Manager Of Christian Aid Group World Vision Israel has released the Palestinian manager of the Gaza branch of World Vision, a prominent Christian aid organization, who had been behind bars since 2016. Inside the United States Trump Declares National Emergency at Northern Border President Donald Trump on Saturday declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Canada border, citing an influx of human and drug smuggling coming from Canada presenting a national security threat to Americans. Nearly 80 Percent of Americans Don’t Want Men Playing in Women’s Sports Surveying nearly an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, a poll taken by the New York Times and polling company Ipsos showed that the majority of Americans do not want transgender-identifying men in women’s sports. Christian News Pakistan Christians Fear Mob Violence After Arrest Mentally Challenged Believer Tensions remained high Friday in Pakistan’s Punjab Province after local police detained a mentally challenged Christian on charges of blasphemy against Islam, Christians told Worthy News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Worthy News GOMA, DRC (Worthy News) – At least 773 people were reportedly killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo’s largest city of Goma and its vicinity last week amid fighting between government forces and Rwanda-backed rebels. Congolese authorities said the latest fighting marks a significant escalation of a decade-long conflict. The rebels’ advance into other areas was slowed by a weakened military that recovered some villages from them. There were 773 bodies and 2,880 injured people in Goma’s morgues and hospitals, the Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya told media, adding that the death toll could be higher. “These figures remain provisional because the rebels asked the population to clean the streets of Goma. There should be mass graves, and the Rwandans took care to evacuate theirs,” Muyaya warned. Despite the dangers, hundreds of Goma residents returned to the city on Saturday after the rebels promised to restore essentialservices, including water and power. EVERY CORNER They cleaned up the neighborhoods littered with debris from weapons and filled with the stench of blood, witnesses said. “I’m tired and don’t know which way to go. On every corner [there] is a mourner,” said Jean Marcus, 25, one of whose relatives were among those killed in the fighting. Analysts say M23 is the most potent of over 100 armed groups vying for control in Congo’s mineral-rich east. This region holds vast deposits critical to much of the world’s technology. They are backed by about 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to United experts, far more than in 2012, when they first captured Goma and held it for days in a conflict driven by ethnic grievances. On Tuesday, the Tutsi-led M23 rebels seized Goma, East Congo’s largest city and the capital of North Kivu province, home to lucrative gold, coltan, and tin mines. That has added to concerns that Christians are in the crossfire. “The M23 rebel group, reportedly supported by Rwanda, also targets Christian civilians, making the situation even worse,” said Christian advocacy group Open Doors. INDIGENOUS RELIGIONS “Converts from Islam and indigenous religions face pressure from their families to return to their old faiths. Catholic church leaders who speak out for fair elections risk harassment,” the group added. This mix of militant threats, family pressures, and political interference creates a dangerous and fearful environment for Christians in Eastern Congo,” Open Doors explained. It added that in “the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), especially in the eastern region, Christians face severe persecution and violence, frequently from Islamist militants, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF),” warned Christian advocacy group Open Doors. “Allied with the Islamic State group, the ADF abduct and kill Christians and attack churches, leading to widespread terror, insecurity and displacement.” In remarks shared with Worthy News, refugee Jerome noted, “Getting food is our main problem now that we are displaced because we don’t have a place to farm. The situation is very bad. If life goes on like this … it’s hard to live.” Open Doors has ranked the Democratic Republic of the Congo 35th on its annual World Watch List of 50 countries where it says Christians face the most persecution. The post Hundreds Killed in DRC appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Nearly a hundred people were feared to remain under debris early Sunday after Russian forces conducted an airstrike on a school building in the town of Sudzh in Russia’s Kursk region, killing at least four people, Ukraine’s military said. Ukraine had gained control of Sudzha five months ago. The targeted building was serving as a shelter for dozens of civilians, primarily elderly individuals, who were preparing for evacuation, according to Ukrainian sources. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the bombing and added that the school was completely destroyed. He accused Russia of attacking its “own citizens,” as “They destroyed the building while dozens of civilians were inside.” This is “how Russia waged war against [independence-seeking] Chechnya decades ago. They killed Syrians the same way. Russian bombs destroy Ukrainian homes the same way. And even against their own civilians, the Russian army uses similar tactics,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media platform X. “This is a state devoid of civility. And this is an evil that will not stop on its own. But if we act strongly and decisively, even Russia can be forced to stop. And this must be done to ensure the world is safe from Russian bombs,” he told the world. Ukrainian military’s chief described the airstrike on a school as “a deliberate assault” by Russia’s military and stressed that all available resources are being mobilized to rescue survivors. There was no immediate independent verification of the casualties, and Russian authorities have yet to respond to the incident. But it underscored broader concern about a war that is believed to have killed and injured some 1 million people since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The post Multiple Deaths In Russian Airstrike On School In Kursk appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON/MOGADISHU (Worthy News) — U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he ordered airstrikes on targets of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, in Somalia, claiming the operation eliminated “many terrorists.” Trump made the announcement on his social media platforms, Truth Social and Platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “This morning, I ordered precision Military air strikes on the Senior ISIS Attack Planner and other terrorists he recruited and led in Somalia,” Trump wrote. “These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our Allies.” He added that the strikes “destroyed the caves they live in and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians.” Trump criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for allegedly not acting sooner, claiming the U.S. had been targeting the planner for years “Biden and his cronies wouldn’t act quickly enough to get the job done. I did! The message to ISIS and all others who would attack Americans is that ‘WE WILL FIND YOU, AND WE WILL KILL YOU!’” Trump added. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth explained in separate remarks that the airstrikes occurred in the Golis Mountains in the autonomous Puntland region of northern Somalia. SOMALI GOVERNMENT He said the operation was carried out “in coordination” with the Somali government. Somali President Hassan Sheikh’s office confirmed that the U.S. had “informed” them about the strikes. Saturday’s airstrike, the first against Islamic State in Somalia so far this year, was carried out by fighter jets launched from the warship USS Harry S. Truman, currently in the Red Sea, according to defense officials. It comes as Somali forces in Puntland continue a military offensive against ISIS militants hiding in the Cal-Miskaad mountains. Puntland also thanked the United Arab Emirates, which they say “provided air support” to the ongoing offensive. The operations, which started in late December, drove militants from vast areas in the northeastern highlands of Somalia, sources said. The militants, many of them foreigners, have claimed to be carrying out attacks against Puntland forces. FIERCEST CLASHES The fiercest clashes occurred late last week when the regional forces dislodged the militants from Turmasaale, a strategic location about 150 kilometers (93 miles) southeast of Bosaso. The Somali government called Saturday’s airstrikes by the U.S. “a critical step in our shared fight against terrorism.” Since 2022, Somalia has been home to al-Karrar, one of nine regional Islamic State offices established to help sustain the terror group’s capabilities. As a result, Islamic State Somalia has become a key instrument in the ISIS financial network, funneling money to affiliates in Afghanistan and elsewhere in Africa. Experts say it also has become more influential under the leadership of Abdulkadir Mumin, a former militant with the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, who is thought to now head Islamic State’s directorate of provinces, overseeing the terror group’s affiliates in Africa. Some U.S. officials worry Mumin has risen even higher, perhaps acting as the Islamic State’s top emir. Others disagree, but sources familiar with the situation agree that Mumin is a pivotal figure. The U.S. previously targeted Mumin in May of last year. Recent intelligence assessments have shown that Islamic State Somalia has more than doubled in size over the past year and may now boast up to as many as 1,600 fighters, bolstered by an influx of fighters from Ethiopia, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, and Yemen. The post Trump Orders Airstrikes On ISIS In Somalia appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KHARTOUM (Worthy News) – Fighters with the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have attacked an open market in the Sudanese city of Omdurman, killing 54 people, officials said Saturday. The artillery shelling and air attacks on the Sabrein vegetable market also wounded at least 158 others, according to Sudan’s health ministry and other sources. Two more people were reportedly killed and dozens injured on Saturday in an airstrike in the capital, Khartoum, across the Nile from Omdurman. It comes amid mounting concerns about ongoing fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, with minority Christians being in the crossfire of the escalating armed conflict in the mainly Muslim nation. The RSF denied carrying out the attack. The conflict in Sudan started in April 2023, when tensions between the military and RSF leaders exploded into open fighting in Khartoum. It has since spread across the country. More than 28,000 people have been killed, and millions forced to flee their homes. Aid workers say that famine has been declared in parts of the country, where some families have resorted to eating grass to survive. ATROCITIES REPORTED The conflict has been marked by atrocities, including ethnically motivated killing and rape, according to the United Nations and human rights groups. The Hague-based International Criminal Court has said it is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Khalid al-Aleisir, minister of culture and government spokesperson, condemned Saturday’s attack, saying the casualties included many women and children. He stressed that the attack caused widespread destruction. Witnesses told reporters that the artillery shelling came from western Omdurman, where the RSF remains in control and was supported by drones. One resident further south in Omdurman claimed the RSF was firing on multiple streets at once, adding that “rockets and artillery shells are falling,” despite the RSF ’s denial it was involved. Saturday’s attack comes a day after RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo pledged to retake the capital of the Northeast African nation from the army. The post Scores Killed In Attack On Sudan Open Market appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News GAZA CITY/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel has released the Palestinian manager of the Gaza branch of World Vision, a prominent Christian aid organization, who had been behind bars since 2016. Mohammed el-Halabi was among 183 Palestinian prisoners set free on Saturday in exchange for three Israeli hostages held in Gaza. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for allegedly diverting tens of millions of dollars to Hamas. El-Halabi, 47, and World Vision vigorously denied the allegations of financially supporting Hamas, and critics said “independent investigations” found “no proof” of wrongdoing. Israel disagrees. In footage reviewed by Worthy News, freed Palestinian detainees were greeted in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip after their release by Israel as part of a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and the Jewish nation. They arrived after French-Israeli dual national Ofer Kalderon and Israeli citizen Yarden Bibas were handed over to the Red Cross in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, reporters witnessed. Over an hour later, American-Israeli dual national Keith Siegel was handed over to Red Cross officials in Gaza City in the northern part of the enclave. RELEASING PALESTINIANS That prompted Israel to release the Palestinian detainees despite concerns that convicted terrorists and Hamas supporters are among them, potentially creating the breeding ground for a new armed conflict. Some 25 of them are said to have gone to the West Bank, also known as Judaea and Samaria. While seven will be deported to Egypt, with the rest being sent to Gaza. Yet for Israelis being freed Saturday, the joy was overshadowed by the realization of the suffering of those staying behind. Hamas has said that eight of the remaining 20 hostages set to be released under the first phase of the ceasefire deal are dead. After this initial stage, there will still be 79 hostages left behind. Yarden Bibas, an Israeli father who Hamas kidnaped along with his wife and two young children, said he faced an “unbearable reality” after being released by the terror group without his family. Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president, agreed, saying he was “deeply concerned” for the wellbeing of Shiri Bibas and her two sons – Ariel, five, and Kfir, two, who was only nine months old when Hamas gunmen took him. HANDED OVER Bibas, 35, was handed over on Saturday as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel, as well as Siegel, 65, and Kalderon, 54. Under the agreement, living women and children taken hostage by Hamas should have been freed first, Israeli sources said. Hamas, designated as a terror group by Israel and most of its allies, has said the three other members of the Bibas family “were killed in an air strike,” but Israel says it has been unable to verify this claim. Observers say Hamas statements could be a cruel psychological ploy as if also said that soldier Daniella Gilboa had been killed, when in fact she was alive, before her release last week. Israel on Saturday demanded information from mediators who brokered the ceasefire in Gaza on Saturday surrounding the fate of the Bibas family. In a statement, Gal Hirsch, Israel’s hostage coordinator, said: “Yarden has returned home. But his wife Shiri and his children Ariel and Kfir have not. We have been searching for them for a long time, tracking their traces and investigating their fate. “The Bibas family… has been living in constant fear for their lives for a long time…We continue to demand information about their condition from the mediators.” HORRIFIC SYMBOL Images of Shiri’s kidnap and the two red-headed boys – the youngest hostages held by the terror organization – have become symbols of the most deadly day for the Jewish community since the Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, commentators said. The Bibas family said in a statement, “A quarter of our heart has returned to us after 15 long months. There are no words to describe the relief of holding Yarden in our hands, embracing him, and hearing his voice. Yarden has returned home, but the home remains incomplete.” The family added that “Yarden is a father who left his safe room to protect his family, bravely survived captivity, and returned to an unbearable reality.” While the hostages were released, the Rafah terminal that marks the crossing between southern Gaza and Egypt was reopened for the first time since May for medical evacuations. One young girl, whose foot had been amputated, was being loaded into an Egyptian ambulance, witnesses said. EXIT POINT For a period earlier in the war, Rafah was the exit point for Palestinians with dual passports, employed by foreign organizations, or with the financial means and connections to pay to be put on an Egyptian list to leave. But since Israeli forces launched an offensive in and around the southern city of Rafah in May last year, the border has been closed to most people. The opening of the crossing to 50 children and their families was an essential part of the Gaza ceasefire deal that envisages further regular evacuations. Israel countered that it had permitted several medical evacuations since May, including 55 patients in December. However, critics said, “It has been a drop in the ocean.” Last week, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that 2,500 children needed immediate evacuation. Israel’s government has defended its policies, saying Hamas has misused ambulances to transport weapons and fighters. It also recalled that besides the roughly 250 people who were abducted at the time, Hamas murdered some 1,200 people on that “black sabbath” on October 7, 2023. The atrocity sparked a war in which nearly 47,000 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, according to Hamas-controlled authorities. Israel’s government has said, however, that it killed at least 20,000 Hamas fighters, and experts have questioned the death toll provided by the Hamas-led Health Ministry in Gaza. The post Israel Releases Gaza Manager Of Christian Aid Group World Vision appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Iran threatened Friday to launch a regional war and suggested it could build an atomic bomb if its nuclear sites are attacked by Israel or the Jewish nation’s allies, such as the United States. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, reportedly said that “Iran has the ability to build a nuclear weapon, but we choose not to do so” after similar remarks by an adviser of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Late last year, Kamal Kharrazi, the Khamenei adviser, said Iran has the capacity to produce nuclear weapons and is prepared to change its policies on using them if faced with an “existential threat.” Speaking in an interview with Qatar-based Al Jazeera television that aired Friday, Araqchi warned that “if the U.S. intends to attack Iran’s nuclear program, it will be their biggest mistake in history, and we will certainly respond. They know where we can target them.” He stressed that Iran would respond immediately and decisively if its nuclear sites were attacked, which would lead to an “all-out war in the region.” BROADER CONCERNS He spoke amid concern among Iran’s top Islamic decision-makers that U.S. President Donald J. Trump will enable Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike Iran’s nuclear sites while further tightening U.S. sanctions on Tehran’s oil industry. The previous Biden administration had urged Israel not to attack Iran’s nuclear sites, citing concerns about the prospect of broader instability in the Middle East. Analysts say, however, that these worries, coupled with mounting anger within Iran over economic conditions, could drive Tehran toward negotiations with the Trump administration over the fate of its fast-advancing nuclear program. Earlier this month, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denied suggestions that his Islamic Republic plotted to kill then-President-elect Trump after two previous attempts on his life in 2024. Pezeshkian also insisted that Iran’s nuclear program was still “peaceful” but warned Trump against risking “war.” The post Iran Threatens Regional War If Nuclear Sites Are Attacked appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – President Donald J. Trump is expanding trade tariffs on China after announcing similar measures for Canada and Mexico. The White House said that starting Saturday, he will impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10 percent tariffs on goods from China. It did not say whether there would be any exemptions to the measures that critics say could result in swift price increases for foreign goods for U.S. consumers. Trump argues the measures are needed to protect American jobs and also to pressure Canada and Mexico to help tackle illegal migration. “I can confirm that tomorrow, the February 1st deadline that President Trump put into place at a statement several weeks ago continues,” explained White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. She reiterated the plans for a 25 percent levy on Canada and Mexico and confirmed a 10 percent rate on China. EU TARGETED? Leavitt declined to elaborate on when and if tariffs will be imposed on the 27-nation European Union. There is concern in countries such as Germany, where automakers such as Volkswagen have faced their worst crisis in recent history, partly due to rising competition from Chinese companies. Last month, Volkswagen negotiated with the IG Metall trade union to avert plant closures in Germany and avoid immediate compulsory redundancies after massive strikes and protests. However, the two sides agreed to cut more than 35,000 jobs across the country in a “socially responsible manner” by 2030, saving some 15 billion euros ($15.6 billion). Trump’s tariffs would make it more difficult for German automakers to compete in the United States, another crucial market. According to a Worthy News assessment, that would further threaten the future of Germany’s car makers, one of the most important industries in Europe’s largest economies. The post US Trump Expanding Tariffs To China appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – Tensions remained high Friday in Pakistan’s Punjab Province after local police detained a mentally challenged Christian on charges of blasphemy against Islam, Christians told Worthy News. Farhan Javed Masih, 28, was taken into custody in the Ghala Mandi area of Punjab’s central city of Sahiwal after a local Muslim resident, Muhammad Bilal Khan, accused him of “speaking against Islam,” Christians said. He was also accused of making derogatory remarks about Islam’s “sacred figures,” said the suspect’s mother, Parveen Javed. “Farhan, who is reported to be mentally unstable, was taken into police custody as a precautionary measure. It happened after a large crowd gathered, calling for his immediate punishment,” said Sardar Mushtaq Gill, the founder of LEAD Ministries Pakistan, a Christian advocacy group. “The situation has sparked fears of mob violence, with many local Christians fearing for their safety,” Gill told Worthy News. Pastor Imran Amanat, another leader with LEAD Ministries Pakistan, confirmed the arrest and urged Christians worldwide to pray for Farhan’s life and the safety of the Christian community in the area. “The situation is critical. We ask for prayers for Farhan and for peace to prevail in this tense moment,” Pastor Amanat said in remarks sent to Worthy News. The Christian’s mother shared those concerns. Parveen Javed said her son, a member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, had completed a four-year nursing course. He had worked at Adam Welfare Hospital in Sahiwal but was fired in 2023 due to mental illness and drug addiction, she said. HEROIN ADDICT “Farhan had become a heroin addict, which aggravated his mental health,” she was quoted as saying by Christian news service Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “We have tried to get him treated, but it didn’t work. Ever since he lost his job, Farhan used to loiter around the village all day saying absurd things. The entire village knows he is of unsound mind,” she added. Javed, widowed six years ago and mother of three children in Chak 134-9/L village, said Farhan Masih’s mental health started deteriorating after his father’s death. “Getting him arrested for blasphemy will only aggravate his mental condition,” she said in published remarks. He is the latest among at least scores of people being detained on blasphemy charges in Pakistan, an Islamic nation with strict blasphemy legislation, several sources say. “The situation has sparked fears of mob violence, with many local Christians fearing for their safety,” added Gill, a devoted Pakistani Christian who himself fled his home following death threats. He urged authorities to ensure “the protection of all citizens,” regardless of their religious beliefs. “As the situation continues to unfold, local authorities have deployed additional police forces to manage the unrest and prevent further violence,” explained Gill. “The Christian community in Sahiwal remains on edge, hoping for a fair legal process and protection from the rising threats of mob justice.” He said LEAD Ministries Pakistan is “asking for continued prayers not only for Farhan Masih but also for the safety and well-being of Christians in Pakistan, who frequently face threats under the country’s blasphemy laws.” On Friday, Farhan was believed to remain in police custody. “Authorities are working to prevent the situation from escalating further. However, concerns about the potential for mob violence persist, and the Christian community in Sahiwal remains on high alert,” Gill warned. The post Pakistan Christians Fear Mob Violence After Arrest Mentally Challenged Believer appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News STOCKHOLM (Worthy News) – Sweden says it has detained five people over the killing of an Iraqi refugee who sparked outrage among Muslims by burning the Koran in protest in Sweden in 2023. The Swedish prime minister suggested Thursday that “a foreign power” might have been involved in murdering Salwan Momika after he was shot dead near Stockholm, Sweden’s capital. “I can assure you that the security services are deeply involved because there is obviously a risk that there is a connection to a foreign power,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters. The 38-year-old Momika was shot late on Wednesday in a house in the town of Södertälje, close to Stockholm, according to investigators. A Stockholm court dismissed the case against Momika after his death. The trial was prompted by anger over him burning copies of the Koran, deemed a holy book by Muslims. Momika’s defense attorney, Anna Roth, said he had received death threats. “He was quite convinced that he would sooner or later be killed,” Roth told reporters. CONCERNS ABOUT CHRISTIANS Momika, who was born and raised a Christian but later said he was an atheist, had set the Koran ablaze during Eid al-Adha, a prominent Islamic holiday, outside a mosque in Stockholm. By burning the Koran, also spelled as the Quran, he said he was trying to raise awareness about the mistreatment and killing of Christian minorities by Islamists in parts of the Muslim world. “I am warning the Swedish people about the dangers of this book,” Momika had said through a megaphone outside the mosque. His actions came amid concerns about the widely documented mistreatment and even killing or imprisonment of minority Christians in several Islamic countries. However, the response from the Muslim world was swift and furious, with much of the criticism aimed at the Swedish authorities for not stopping the burning. Turkey even threatened to block Sweden’s entry into the NATO military alliance for allowing the burning of the Koran. In Iraq, several hundred people stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad and set parts of it ablaze. Iraq expelled Sweden’s ambassador and directed its ambassador to Sweden to withdraw from its embassy in Stockholm. Egypt called the Koran burning “a disgraceful act.” And Morocco reportedly recalled its ambassador in Sweden. While Swedish authorities condemned Momika’s actions at the time, the Nordic nation had a strong tradition of allowing people to express themselves freely. Police granted him a permit for his planned demonstration after a Swedish court ruled that banning it would “impinge” his right to freedom of speech. MOMIKA FACING PROSECUTION Critics said the permit did not allow him to burn objects. Under pressure from the growing group of Muslims in the country, Momika was charged with “agitation against an ethnic or national group” in four incidents of kicking, stamping on, and burning a Koran. He also made speeches with alleged derogatory statements directed against Muslims and Islam, according to the indictment. “The fact that statements are made in a large square and disseminated is a prerequisite for incitement to racial hatred,” said Anna Hankkio, a Swedish prosecutor who initially brought the charges against Momika. “It is up to the district court to assess whether the burning of the Koran can also be considered incitement against a group of people.” Later that summer, Momika again burned Korans, according to the indictment. Yet this week’s shooting underscored broader concerns among religious rights advocates that it has become dangerous to openly protest against Islam or the Koran in even Western nations such as Sweden. Among others targeted by angry Muslims have been cartoonists and authors. The post Koran Burning Refugee Killed In Sweden appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

(Worthy News) – President Donald Trump announced he will implement 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico beginning Saturday, pointing to illegal immigration, significant trade deficits, and the flow of fentanyl as primary motivators. He also noted that he is evaluating whether to extend these tariffs to include oil from both countries. “Number one is the people that have poured into our country so horribly and so much. Number two are the drugs, fentanyl and everything else that have come into the country. Number three are the massive subsidies that we’re giving to Canada and to Mexico in the form of deficits,” he said. Trump mentioned that the 25% tariff rate “may or may not rise with time,” indicating it could be just the beginning. He also hinted that he is deliberating whether to exempt a major import—oil—from the tariffs, with a decision expected by Thursday evening based on oil prices. According to the Energy Information Administration, the United States imported approximately 4.6 million barrels of oil daily from Canada and 563,000 barrels from Mexico in October, while U.S. daily production averaged nearly 13.5 million barrels. Critics argue that implementing tariffs on Canada and Mexico, key US neighbors and trading partners, could lead to severe economic repercussions, disrupt markets, and risk triggering a trade war by compromising the protections afforded by a trilateral free trade agreement. The post Trump to Impose 25% Tariffs on Canada and Mexico This Saturday appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to combat antisemitism, instructing the Department of Justice to take “immediate action” to deport foreign national college students and resident aliens involved in pro-Hamas protests following the terrorist group’s massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of over 250 hostages. The executive order condemns the “unprecedented wave of vile anti-Semitic discrimination, vandalism, and violence” unleashed by Hamas’ attacks, particularly targeting Jewish students on campuses. It highlights how Jewish students have faced discrimination, denial of access to campus facilities, and intimidation, harassment, and physical threats. The order stresses that U.S. policy will “combat anti-Semitism vigorously” and use “all available and appropriate legal tools” to prosecute and remove those responsible for anti-Semitic harassment and violence. A fact sheet released alongside the order details “immediate action” by the Justice Department to prosecute “terroristic threats, arson, vandalism, and violence against American Jews” and deploy federal resources to address the rise of antisemitism on campuses and in public spaces. The order also directs federal agencies to provide recommendations within 60 days on actions available to the White House, including the removal of “alien students and staff” involved in pro-Hamas activities. “To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you,” Trump was quoted as saying in the fact sheet. “I will also quickly cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses, which have been infested with radicalism like never before.” The post Trump Issues Executive Order to Tackle Antisemitism and Expel Supporters of Hamas appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Brendan Clarey | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump signed an executive order to direct the federal government to promote school choice for families nationwide. The order cited the most recent test score data showing that the nation’s students have not recovered from pandemic-era school closures as a reason for promoting schooling options for families. “When our public education system fails such a large segment of society, it hinders our national competitiveness and devastates families and communities,” the executive order reads. “For this reason, more than a dozen states have enacted universal K-12 scholarship programs, allowing families – rather than the government – to choose the best educational setting for their children.” “These States have highlighted the most promising avenue for education reform: educational choice for families and competition for residentially assigned, government-run public schools,” the order continues. “The growing body of rigorous research demonstrates that well-designed education-freedom programs improve student achievement and cause nearby public schools to improve their performance.” Critics of school choice measures took aim at the research cited by Trump’s executive order. On X, formerly Twitter, researcher Josh Cowen said, “Facts can’t be EO’d into existence.” “Probably should go without saying, but the school voucher evidence referenced in the Trump voucher EO relies on ancient, largely industry-backed, and exaggerations of scant positive results,” Cowen wrote Thursday on the social media platform. The White House’s order follows the Department of Education’s announcement Sunday that it is celebrating National School Choice Week. “It is the policy of my Administration to support parents in choosing and directing the upbringing and education of their children,” Trump’s executive order reads. The executive order requires the secretary of Education to tell states how to use federal funds to support school initiatives and make education freedom a priority in awarding federal grants. It also requires other agencies to review or guidance on expanding school choice programs. • This story first published at Chalkboard News which, like The Center Square, is published by the Franklin News Foundation The post Trump Signs Executive Order Promoting School Choice appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A new study shows there has been a surge in attacks on Christians in Nicaragua over the last two years, with Nicaraguan dictator President Daniel Ortega now specifically targeting evangelical bodies as well as Catholic communities, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports. Titled The Persecution of Christians in Nicaragua 2018-2024, the report was published earlier this month by the France-based European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ). The study documents over 100 attacks against evangelical bodies, adding that these incidents are only the ones that are known to have been reported. “It is important to note that in addition to the repression against the Catholic Church in recent years, there is now increasing repression targeting the evangelical church and other religious denominations,” the ECLJ states in the report. “Although initially these did not seem to be in the government’s crosshairs, it is now clear that they are now part of Ortega’s repressive strategy.” “Unfortunately, the attacks continue to occur with the same intensity,” the report stated. “The number of attacks in the first half of 2024, already equivalent to that of the whole of 2018, underlines the increasing seriousness of these acts.” In a statement that concurs with the ECLJ study’s findings, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization reports: “Hostility toward Christians in Nicaragua continues to intensify: those who speak out against President Ortega and his government are viewed as destabilizing agents. Changes to the law in recent years mean that church leaders are labeled terrorists and coup plotters. The situation has deteriorated significantly since 2018, when widespread protests broke out against the country’s dictatorial regime. Years later, retribution continues against those perceived to have opposed the regime – even those who merely provided shelter and medical assistance during the protests.” While Nicaragua’s main religion is Christianity, the country under Ortega ranks 30 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post Nicaragua: Evangelicals Increasingly Targeted by Ortega Regime appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News GAZA CITY/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners Thursday after Hamas fighters freed seven hostages – two Israelis and five Thais. Large crowds of Palestinians gathered in Ramallah in the West Bank enclave, also known as Judea and Samaria, to welcome the released prisoners in an atmosphere described by reporters as “chaotic but joyous.” Earlier, the hostages were freed in Gaza’s southern Palestinian city of Khan Younis as hundreds of people surrounded their vans in frightening chaos. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they were “shocking scenes” for hostages who were kept for more than 15 long months. An eighth hostage, Agam Berger, was released separately in Jabalia north of Gaza City as part of the controversial ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war. The armed conflict broke out when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting about 250 others in what Israel described as “the worst atrocity since the Holocaust,” also known as the Shoah. Since then, some 47,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to Hamas-ruled authorities who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel maintains it killed about 20,000 Hamas fighters, a figure confirmed by a Hamas commander who said half of the group’s 40,000 combatants had died. Thursday’s releases meant that 15 hostages held by Hamas have been freed since the ceasefire came into effect on January 19. Eighty-two are still being held. The post Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners after Hamas Frees Hostages appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, pray for the harvest in Israel! Matthew 9:36-38 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." I’d like to preface this devotion by offering a few disclaimers: 1. One thing I’ve always stood firmly on, as founder and director of Worthy News, is that we will not report on ministry scandals until investigations have been fully released and the facts are established. 2. I refuse to participate in tearing down a fellow believer— because the enemy does enough damage without me in the mix. 3. I recognize that this devotion is abnormally long and may stir up some emotions, but please bear with me— it’s very important to grasp the full scale of what’s happening so that you can pray with understanding. As a pastor who has traveled extensively and also met and ministered to believers from all walks, backgrounds, and denominations, I feel I have a unique perspective on what is happening in the world and among the Body of Christ. As I look at the big picture, I have noticed that since the recent war broke out in Israel in October of 2023, several ministries that have played a key role in Israel’s spiritual revival have come under intense attack. In April 2023, Mike Bickle, leader of the International House of Prayer, led a massive, unprecedented global prayer effort to mobilize MILLIONS worldwide to pray for Israel (specifically pray for their salvation). Just months later, at a time when Israel needed intercessory prayer the most, a scandal erupted with him that left thousands of his ministry’s young intercessors and those committed to joining in prayer worldwide shocked and discouraged. Rabbi Jonathan Bernis, a leading voice in Jewish evangelism and the head of Jewish Voice Ministries International, which has reached countless Jewish people with the gospel, suffered a sudden life-threatening health crisis just weeks after the war in Israel began. He was on the verge of death until he received a miraculous liver transplant. Still recovering a year later, he, as well, was silenced at a time when Israel needed it the most. Gateway Church in Dallas, one of Israel’s biggest financial supporters, was caught in controversy when its lead pastor, Robert Morris, had to step down. As a result, millions of donor dollars that were helping spread the gospel in Israel and providing aid for Israelis in need were cut off. DayStar Television, the first Christian broadcasting network to ever bring the gospel into Israel— and a generous source of provision for Israel was also hit with controversy. Most recently, Dr. Michael Brown, a well-respected theologian and host of In the Line of Fire, also found himself facing allegations. Brown’s Fire Ministries has been instrumental in discipling countless Messianic Jewish ministry leaders and equipping them to share the gospel more effectively with Jewish people. Dr. Brown has spent years countering the arguments of Orthodox Jewish leaders who reject Jesus and has debated atheists and rabbis alike. Now, at a critical time, his voice, too, is threatened to be silenced. These are just the well-known situations. I know of other circumstances behind the scenes that greatly affect believers in Israel, especially right now. As a pastor, my heart is heavy. I’ve spent a lot of time grieving over and praying through these situations and ministering to people who are struggling in the aftermath. I’m not here to excuse any wrongdoing or weigh in on specific allegations. I am sharing all this to highlight the fact that at a season when Israel is facing the most difficult challenges in her existence and walking through a period of great uncertainty, she has lost a key source of intercession, some major financial supporters, a leading evangelist, a respected theologian, and advocate, as well as a Christian broadcasting network— all at the same time. While Israel is fighting a seven-front war in the natural, she is also facing a massive spiritual battle on every side. These ministries that are under attack have been ministries fully committed to sharing the gospel with the Jewish people. I want you to understand how intense the spiritual assault is against those fighting for Israel’s salvation. True restoration of Israel will only happen when the Jewish people return to their Messiah. Not only that, Israel’s revival is directly connected to our own revival as the Body of Christ – it’s one of the key factors to sparking the next great awakening! Charles Spurgeon, one of the greatest preachers of the 1800s, understood this when he said: "I do not think we attach enough importance to the restoration of the Jews. Those who were the first missionaries, the first apostles to us who are afar off, shall be regathered again. Until that shall be, the church’s glory can never come. Matchless benefits are tied to the restoration of the Jews, for their regathering shall be as life from the dead.” The enemy is prowling, looking for whom he may devour. But know this: God is not finished with the Jewish people! Friend, will you set aside time this weekend to pray? Pray for the salvation of the Jewish people. Pray that God would raise up new leaders, evangelists, intercessors and voices to speak truth in this hour. Pray for the harvesters in Israel and around the world. God has placed you here for such a time as this! Shabbat Shalom and we look forward to seeing you on Monday! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Phoenix, Arizona) Editor's Note: Latest Video: Worthy Wrap-Up: Reagan, Trump, and the Middle East Condundrum 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 Trump to Impose 25% Tariffs on Canada and Mexico This Saturday President Donald Trump confirmed that he will impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico starting Saturday, citing large trade deficits and the flow of fentanyl as key reasons. He also mentioned that he is still considering whether to include oil from these countries in the tariffs. Netherlands Detains Three After Romania Demands Return of Stolen Artifacts (Worthy News In-Depth) Dutch authorities have detained three suspects over the theft of priceless Romania artifacts from a small museum in the Netherlands, including an ancient golden helmet, after Romania threatened with legal action. Israel Condemns Australia’s Antisemitism Attacks Israel has urged Australia to do more to halt an "epidemic of antisemitism" after police said they had foiled an attack involving explosives in a suburb of Sydney, Australia’s biggest city. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners after Hamas Frees Hostages Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners Thursday after Hamas fighters freed seven hostages - two Israelis and five Thais. Inside the United States Trump Issues Executive Order to Tackle Antisemitism and Expel Supporters of Hamas President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to combat antisemitism, instructing the Department of Justice to take "immediate action" to deport foreign national college students and resident aliens involved in pro-Hamas protests following the terrorist group's massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of over 250 hostages. Trump Signs Executive Order Promoting School Choice President Donald Trump signed an executive order to direct the federal government to promote school choice for families nationwide. Trump: ‘No Survivors In Midair Colission’; 67 Killed U.S. President Donald J. Trump told reporters Thursday there were no survivors after Wednesday’s midair collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a military helicopter that killed 67 people. Trump Orders CDC to Immediately Stop All Collaboration with World Health Organization The Trump administration on Monday ordered all public health officials working with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to immediately cease all collaboration with the World Health Organization and "await further guidance," the Associated Press reports. Trump Wants Iron Dome For USA (Worthy News Focus) Inspired by Israel’s ability to protect itself against thousands of missiles and drones fired by enemies, preparations were underway Thursday to develop a new air defense system for the United States. Christian News Nicaragua: Evangelicals Increasingly Targeted by Ortega Regime A new study shows there has been a surge in attacks on Christians in Nicaragua over the last two years, with Nicaraguan dictator President Daniel Ortega now specifically targeting evangelical bodies as well as Catholic communities, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports. Mozambique: Christians Targeted by Islamic Terrorists Amid Political Unrest Missionaries and local Christians in Mozambique are being targeted by Islamic terror groups amid ongoing political protests and upheaval over October’s highly disputed general election results, Mission Network News (MNN) reports. India: Christian Couple Sentenced to Five Years in Jail Under Anti-Conversion Law Christian couple in India’s Uttar Pradesh state has been sentenced to five years in prison for 'attempting to convert' Hindus to Christ in violation of the state’s anti-conversion law, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Missionaries and local Christians in Mozambique are being targeted by Islamic terror groups amid ongoing political protests and upheaval over October’s highly disputed general election results, Mission Network News (MNN) reports. Among many Christian workers facing dangerous conditions in Mozambique, is Johan Grobler of MegaVoice, a US ministry that distributes solar audio Bibles to the Global church. In an interview with MMN last month, Grobler said Islamic terrorists in northern Mozambique have taken advantage of the political unrest to attack Christians and destroy their homes and businesses. “And especially [at Christmas time] when Christians celebrate: unfortunately, often these insurgents take an opportunity to cause fear and harm to Christians,” Grobler said. “It’s really unsafe during the day when most of the protests happen. Unfortunately, the police are very active in responding and shooting. Some people have lost their lives. Buildings have been set alight, and business has come to a standstill. Border crossings have been closed,” Grobler added. Asking for prayer for local Christians, Grobler said: “Pray that they would be steadfast and that the Lord would protect them. For them it’s also difficult, and often they don’t have the means to protect themselves.” Grobler further requested prayer for the release of a shipment of several thousand audio Bibles that has been held up amid the unrest. “So that’s a prayer point, and if it comes through, it will encourage many people,” Grobler said. Battling the rise of Islamist extremism in the north of the country, Mozambique ranks 37 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post Mozambique: Christians Targeted by Islamic Terrorists Amid Political Unrest appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald J. Trump told reporters Thursday there were no survivors after Wednesday’s midair collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a military helicopter that killed 67 people. Trump also suggested that air controllers at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, located near the crash site, may have been unfit to prevent the disaster due to the “diversity policies” of the previous Biden administration. After asking reporters at the White House that he wanted to begin with “a moment of silence for the victims and their families,” he said: “There are no survivors. We grieve for every soul. We are a country in mourning. I speak with you in an hour of anguish. Both planes crashed immediately in the Potomac River.” He stressed that “talented Russian people” were also on board, referring to world-champion skaters and other athletes. “The country is mourning for them,” he said, adding that the United States would enable the human remains to be flown to Russia despite current flight sanctions over its war in Ukraine. Trump lashed out at former President Joe Biden, saying his administration encouraged people with mental and physical disabilities to apply for air control services. “I heard the tapes. American Airlines came in, and then you had a military helicopter. You had a pilot problem there. They should not have been at the same height. Someone should have been able to point that out. You had a confluence of bad decisions.” His Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “We will not accept excuses.” MARIT BASED HIRING U.S. Vice President JD Vance said he understood his boss’s concerns about diversity policies. “We want to hire the best people at air traffic control. Good people were sent away because of the color of their skin.” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed that sentiment. He also said that the Black Hawk helicopter that crashed was on a training mission. “There was some kind of elevation. I want to express my condolences,” he said, adding that an investigation is ongoing. He earlier confirmed that nobody survived the midair collision, saying: “It is going from a rescue mission to a recovery mission,” about the operations in the Potomac River where the planes crashed. “It is a tragedy, a horrible loss of life,e for those 67 souls on that civilian airliner and, of course, the three soldiers in the Black Hawk Helicopter. They are in our prayers, their families, and their communities, as people are being notified,” Hegseth added. The tragedy comes 16 years after a Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane crashed into a house near Buffalo, New York, on February 12, 2009. All 45 passengers, including four crew members, were killed, along with one person on the ground. The post Trump: ‘No Survivors In Midair Colission’; 67 Killed appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The order followed President Donald Trump’s announcement on his first day in office (January 20) that the US would be withdrawing from the WHO it co-founded in 1948. The WHO provides a global platform for tracking and sharing health data, while the CDC offers expertise and resources to manage public health responses. Both agencies advance research to develop vaccines, treatments, and other solutions for diseases and have collaborated extensively. Announcing his decision to withdraw the US from the WHO in an executive order, Trump explained: “The United States noticed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 due to the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.” “In addition, the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments. China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO,” Trump said. The post Trump Orders CDC to Immediately Stop All Collaboration with World Health Organization appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A Christian couple in India’s Uttar Pradesh state has been sentenced to five years in prison for ‘attempting to convert’ Hindus to Christ in violation of the state’s anti-conversion law, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. A special court in Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India has convicted a Christian couple of attempting to convert under the state’s anti-conversion law, sentencing each of them to five years’ imprisonment and fines of 25,000 rupees. Christian couple Jose and Sheeja Pappachan were arrested in January 2023 after Chandrika Prasad Upadhyay, a BJP member serving in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, accused them of trying to convert vulnerable people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from Hinduism to Christianity. The couple deny the allegations, contending they were trying to provide education and encourage sobriety, CSW said. They were remanded in custody for eight months pending trial. In a statement about the conviction and sentencing, CSW Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: “CSW is alarmed by the manner in which Christians in India today are being systematically attacked. For merely exercising their constitutional rights and adhering to their religious convictions, this couple has become the target of a harmful piece of legislation. CSW urges the authorities to objectively investigate the matter and not be influenced by far-right religious rhetoric which has caused immense division in Indian society.” Ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party since 2014, India ranks 11 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post India: Christian Couple Sentenced to Five Years in Jail Under Anti-Conversion Law appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article