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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News VIENNA/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Austria’s fiercely anti-migration Freedom Party (FPO) was likely to appoint its first chancellor after being invited by the Alpine nation’s president to explore forming a government in what amounted to a political earthquake in this country of roughly 9 million people. FPO leader Herbert Kickl was to meet Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen late Monday morning in Vienna, the capital, as efforts to form a centrist coalition collapsed. With Kickl on his way to take over the next administration, conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer resigned. “Unfortunately, I have to tell you today that the negotiations have ended and will not be continued by the People’s Party,” Nehammer from the conservative People’s Party said in published remarks. He complained that “destructive forces” in the Social Democratic Party “gained the upper hand,” adding that his People’s Party (OVP) could not agree on a program that “is against economic competitiveness.” The OVP’s newly-named interim leader, Christian Stocker, said Sunday he had his party’s approval to negotiate toward a coalition led by the FPO, which won more seats than any other party in September’s federal election. Austria’s shift to the right underscored a broader trend in the European Union, where a growing number of voters blame massive immigration from mainly Muslim nations for the current economic difficulties. The EU nation borders Hungary, where the long-time rightwing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán erected a massive fence along the border with Serbia to halt back migrants, many of whom fled war, persecution, and poverty. Nehammer said he would step down as chancellor and party chairman of the OVP in the coming days to enable an “orderly transition.” He has held both posts since late 2021. The post Austria Bracing For Anti-Migrant Chancellor appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News SEOUL (Worthy News) – Despite political turmoil, South Korea rang in the New Year with a digital pledge to citizens aged 17 and over: They will soon be able to store their resident registration cards on their smartphones. A trial has begun in nine regions across the country, with the Ministry of Interior and Safety evaluating the system’s stability before expanding the program nationwide by March, officials said. The ministry announced that these new “mobile [identification documents or] IDs” use “blockchain and encryption” technologies to keep personal information “safe” and avoid fraud. Observers called it a milestone moment as South Korea seeks to dump its traditional physical ID system introduced in 1968, a development closely watched by other Asian nations. Worthy News learned that in late 2023, when South Korea prepared to expand its digital ID toolbox, some 15 government officials from Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, visited the country to study its digitalization efforts. “The age of digitalization has presented countries around the globe with unique opportunities and challenges. For Indonesia, the introduction of a digital ID system is not just a technological advancement but a strategic necessity,” the World Bank Group said in a statement seen by Worthy News. “It promises to revolutionize how citizens interact with government services, enhance the efficiency of public service delivery, and significantly improve data security and integrity,” it argued. INDONESIA INTERESTED “By adopting a digital ID system, Indonesia can streamline administrative processes, bolster economic growth, and ensure a more inclusive and equitable access to government services for its diverse population,” the World Bank Group added. This is the fourth type of mobile identification card issued by the South Korean government, following the mobile driver’s license, the national veterans’ registration card, and the overseas Korean identification card, which have all been introduced since 2021. The nine regions included in the latest test of digital car registration include Sejong City, HongCheon County in Gangwon Province, Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province, Geochang County in South Gyeongsang Province, Seo-gu District in Daejeon, Gunwi County in Daegu, Ulju County in Ulsan as well as Yeosu city, and Yeongnam county in South Jeolla province, officials said. Although critics expressed concern about privacy issues, the digitalization of IDs seems unstoppable in Southeast Asia. There were no indications Sunday that the launch of a new digital ID system in South Korea was undermined by a standoff between the country’s military and forces of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. South Korean investigators have again asked the country’s acting president to order the presidential security service to comply with an arrest warrant for Yoon over his brief declaration of martial law last month. The post South Korea Rolling Out New Digital IDs appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News GAZA CITY/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Family members faced more agony on Sunday after fighters of Hamas released a video of an Israeli hostage held in Gaza since its October 2023 attack. Liri Albag, described by local media as a soldier, was 18 when she was captured by Hamas, designated as a Palestinian terror organization by Israel and most of its allies. She was taken on October 7, 2023, at the Nahal Oz base on the Gaza border along with six other women conscripts, five of whom remain in captivity. In total, Hamas abducted about 250 people That day while killing some 1,200 others in the biggest attack against Jews since the Holocaust, also known as Shoah. In the undated, three-and-a-half-minute video recording, Albag, now 19, called in Hebrew for the Israeli government to secure her release as part of a broader ceasefire deal. The video came as Israel intensified attacks on Gaza, with the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry saying on Sunday that 88 people had been killed in bombardment over the past 24 hours. Death figures released by the health ministry and other Hamas-led authorities have been complex to verify independently. Additionally, Hamas officials decline to differentiate between combatants and civilians when mentioning victims. Yet, local authorities claimed that the latest round of Israeli activities in Gaza included a strike on a home in Gaza City on Saturday that killed 11 people, including seven children. SEARCHING FOR SURVIVORS Footage showed residents searching through rubble for survivors and the bodies of the dead wrapped in shrouds. “A huge explosion woke us up. Everything was shaking,” neighbor Ahmed Mussa told the media. “It was home to children, women. There wasn’t anyone wanted or who posed a threat.” The Israeli military stressed on Sunday that it had struck more than 100 “terror targets” in the Gaza Strip over the past two days and “eliminated dozens of Hamas terrorists.” As fighting continued, Liri Albag’s parents said it had torn their hearts to pieces to see the video showing their abducted daughter. They urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “make decisions as if your children were there.” The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters, which represents hostage families, said the sign of life from Liri was “harsh and undeniable proof of the urgency in bringing all the hostages home.” However, it did not authorize the release of the Hamas video. In a call to Lira Albag’s parents, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said his country’s delegation would remain at the negotiating table until all hostages were returned home. Israeli officials have previously described the release of such videos by Hamas as psychological warfare ahead of a possible ceasefire deal. Last month, a senior Palestinian official reportedly said talks to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal were mostly complete, but key issues still needed to be overcome. The post Hamas Shows Video Of Israeli Hostage appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KHARTOUM (Worthy News) – Christians in Islamic-ruled Sudan were recovering from their injuries on Thursday after Muslim fighters reportedly attacked a church service in the nation’s Al Jazirah state with 14 Christians. Militants of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) raided the gathering in the town of Al Hasaheisa in Sudan’s Al Jazirah state on Monday, December 30, Christians said. In published remarks, church Secretary Joseph Suliman said some 177 Christians of the Sudanese Church of Christ (SCOC) were praying and fasting for the end of the military strife in Sudan. Mina Joseph, the 18-year-old daughter of a church elder, was among those who sustained serious injuries and were in critical condition, Suliman told Christian News agency Morning Star News (MSN). The RSF also destroyed tables and chairs in the worship building in the 10 a.m. local time assault, Christians told Worthy News. The RSF, which controls the area, has prevented the church members and other Christians from leaving the area, according to Christian sources. “They have attempted to flee the area several times, but they were prevented by RSF,” Suliman confirmed. POWER STRUGGLE The crisis comes amid a power struggle between Sudan’s official National Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). More than 9,000 people have been killed and nearly 6 million displaced in a conflict that also impacts churches, according to advocacy group Open Doors. “More than 165 churches have closed, and others have been destroyed. Churches have also reported human rights violations such as rape, kidnap, and looting,” the group. Open Doors ranks Sudan 8th in the annual World Watch List of 50 nations, where it says Christians face the most persecution for their faith. “More immediately, those who convert to Christianity from Muslim backgrounds continue to face huge dangers,” it added. “Some will even refrain from telling their children about Jesus, for fear they may inadvertently disclose their parents’ faith to the local community.” It has led to” long-term concerns that the conflict will give Islamic extremists a renewed foothold in the country, the reforms made by the transitional civilian government, Open Doors warned. Reforms, including “more freedom to Christians, including abolishing the apostasy law and removing Islam as the state religion,” are once again under threat, the group explained. The post Islamic Fighters Attack Sudan Church, Injuring Several appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News GUJRANWALA, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – Christians in Pakistan’s Punjab province are mourning Suleman Masih, a 25-year-old Christian farmer, who they say was “brutally murdered” by “Muslim landlords” on New Year’s Day. The January 1 attack in the village of Kot Asad Ullah near the city of Gujranwala came after the “Masih family was falsely accused [of wrongdoing],” said Sardar Mushtaq Gill, the founder of LEAD Ministries Pakistan, a Christian advocacy and charity group. “The land they cultivated was forcibly taken from them,” added Gill in an interview with Worthy News. “Despite this, the heartless Muslim perpetrators were not satisfied [with the land] and went on to murder the young man. He was shot ín the stomach and his younger brother Dawood, who was also attacked, narrowly survived his injuries,” Gill said. Video footage shared by local believers with Worthy News showed Christians praying and crying near the body of the deceased. Gill suggested that the murder was linked to Muslim anger over Masih’s faith in Christ and jealousy about his success as a respected farmer. “They killed him because he is Christian and mostly Muslims became jealous that a non-Muslim was able to settle here as a farmer. He had been threatened in the past and was previously [falsely] accused of blasphemy against Islam. But due to fear, he never complained to police,” Gill told Worthy News. He added that Masih leaves behind a woman he planned to marry soon and an extended family “for whom he was the sole breadwinner.” “His brutal murder has not only stolen a young life but has left his family, including his parents and siblings, without the primary support they relied on for their well-being. The killing of Suleman Masin plunged them into further hardship, compounding the injustice they have already suffered,” Gill explained. NO ARRESTS One of the suspects was identified publicly as influential Muslim Muhammad Jabbar, “whose killers” allegedly carried out the attack. Jabbar did not immediately comment on those allegations. No suspects were detained Saturday, but Gill said LEAD Ministries Pakistan “stands in solidarity with the family.” He confirmed that a LEAD-backed pastor is in the area and will receive “free legal support” if needed. “We urge all institutions to deliver justice for this oppressed family and ask everyone to pray for their strength and comfort during this difficult time.” The attack comes at a period of concern about the treatment of devoted Christians in Pakistan, where an attack in Jaranwala on August 2023 saw the destruction of over 20 churches and almost 100 homes. The Jaranwala violence was in response to allegations that two believers had desecrated the Koran, charges they denied. Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws are often used to target minority groups, but Christians are disproportionately affected, Worthy News established. Roughly a quarter of all blasphemy accusations target Christians, who only make up 1.8 percent of the over 250-million-strong population, according to Christian researchers. The post Christian Farmer Murdered in Pakistan (Worthy News Exclusive) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News SEOUL (Worthy News) – South Korean anti-corruption investigators have failed to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol after a nearly six-hour standoff with his security team on Friday. Early Saturday, it was unclear when and if they would try again to detain Yoon. Witnesses said that on a frigid day in Seoul, a team from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), backed by some 2,700 police officers, surrounded Yoon’s residence in Seoul’s Yongsan district. His security team blocked investigators from executing the arrest warrant for insurrection related to Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law a month ago. With about a thousand protesters gathered outside his residence, the investigators called off their efforts at 1:30 p.m. local time due to safety concerns for on-site personnel. “It was judged that it was virtually impossible to execute the arrest warrant due to the ongoing stand-off,” the CIO said in a statement. The standoff plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in years. WARNING POLICE After suspending the arrest effort, Yoon’s legal team said the CIO had “no authority” to investigate the insurrection. Regrettably, it had tried to execute an “illegal warrant” in a sensitive security area, the lawyers claimed. The statement warned police against supporting the arrest effort. Additionally, Yoon’s presidential office filed a criminal complaint against three broadcasters and YouTube video-sharing site channel owners For “unauthorized filming” of the presidential residence as it was “a secured facility directly linked to national security.” A former prosecutor, Yoon defied investigators’ attempts to question him for weeks. The last time he left the residence was on December 12, when he went to the nearby presidential office to make a televised statement to the nation. FIGHT CONTINUES Yoon pledged to his viewers that he would fight efforts to oust him. As the standoff unfolded this weekend, 74-year-old Pyeong In-su was holding U.S. and South Korean flags outside Yoon’s residence on Friday, saying police had to be stopped by “patriotic citizens.” He hopes U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump will come to Yoon’s aid. “I hope after Trump’s inauguration he can use his influence to help our country get back on the right track,” he added, waving both flags with the message: “Let’s go together” in English and Korean. While pro-Yoon groups criticize their opponents as being subservient to North Korea, they openly praise the United States. They remind followers that the United States liberated Korea from Japanese colonial rule and defended it during the Korean War of 1950-53. Yoon supporters have described America as “a divine” protector of democracy embedded in Christian values. The post South Korean Forces Fail To Detain Impeached President appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Following a tense and interrupted first roll call, enough Republican U.S. representatives ultimately voted for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., winning him re-election in a tight 218-216 vote. In his acceptance speech, Johnson pledged to ensure fiscal responsibility, secure America’s borders, extend 2017 tax cuts, end electric vehicle mandates, promote national defense, and roll back the administrative state, among other objectives. “This is a powerful new coalition of our country, it’s a coalition that insists that we purge the policies of ‘America last’ and we bury them in the graveyard of history’s mistakes,” Johnson said. “To that end, this Congress will renounce the status quo, and we will listen to the voice of the people.” “These objectives and these aims don’t have an R or a D behind them, they have a USA. That’s what we’re about,” he added, followed by a burst of applause. But several Republicans still harbor some doubts about Johnson’s ability to stand his ground against the demands of Democrats. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy from Texas, one of the seven who initially stalled on supporting Johnson’s re-election bid, issued a warning following Johnson’s win. “Everything we do needs to set the Congress up for success and to deliver the Trump agenda for the American people,” Roy posted on X. “Speaker Johnson has not made that clear yet, so there are many members beyond the three who voted for someone else who have reservations.” In the initial vote for speaker Friday, three Republicans initially voted for other members of the caucus, causing Johnson to appear to be two votes shy of securing reelection. But two of those initial holdouts changed their votes after a brief recess, securing the win for the speaker. Roy also joined 10 other Republicans in a statement released on X following the vote, telling Johnson that “there is zero room for error.” “Today, we voted for Mike Johnson for Speaker of the House because of our steadfast support of President Trump and to ensure the timely certification of his electors,” the lawmakers wrote. “Speaker Johnson must prove he will not fail to enact President Trump’s bold agenda.” Johnson’s rocky path to re-election was hardly guaranteed with such a slim and contentious Republican majority. Unable to afford more than one Republican dissenter, he faced grim odds at first when 10 members of his own party initially withheld their vote or voted for other candidates. Seven Republicans refused to vote until the end of the roll, while the remaining three — Reps. Thomas Massie from Kentucky, Ralph Norman from South Carolina, and Keith Self from Texas — each initially voted for other Republican candidates instead of Johnson. But after a brief recess, during which Johnson left the House floor with Norman and Self engaged in deep discussion, the two ended up supporting him, cinching his win. “My sole focus was advancing the Trump agenda. To ensure this, I expressed concerns to Speaker Johnson about fiscal responsibility and holding the line on deficit spending – key priorities for my constituents,” Self explained on X. “After receiving firm assurances from the Speaker, that Republicans in the House will have strong representation during the budget reconciliation process – a cornerstone of President Trump’s agenda – I changed my initial vote.” The president-elect, who endorsed Johnson, applauded the election results Friday afternoon on social media. “Congratulations to Speaker Mike Johnson for receiving an unprecedented Vote of Confidence in Congress. Mike will be a Great Speaker, and our Country will be the beneficiary,” Trump said. “The People of America have waited four years for Common Sense, Strength, and Leadership. They’ll get it now, and America will be greater than ever before!” The post Republicans Tell Johnson ‘Zero Room for Error’ after House Speaker Re-Election appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News HARARE (Worthy News) – A young boy who disappeared in northern Zimbabwe after wandering into a game park teeming with lions and elephants has miraculously survived five agonizing days alone in the jungle, Worthy News learned Saturday. Tinotenda Pudu strayed into the Matusadona Game Park and ended up “sleeping on a rocky perch, amidst roaring lions, passing elephants… and just the unforgiving wild,” before being found by rangers, said Mutsa Murombedzi, a member of Zimbabwe’s parliament. The legislator wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter that the boy walked at least 23 kilometers (14 miles) from his home in the rural town of Kariba. The Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority confirmed the incident but said the child was seven years old rather than eight, as the legislator suggested. It also estimated that the boy walked 49 kilometers (30 miles) from home, even further than previously thought. Officials said that the southern African nation’s Matusadona Game Park is home to zebras, elephants, hippos, and antelopes—but it also hosts some 40 lions, making it an incredibly dangerous environment. Murombedzi explained that Tinotenda used his knowledge of wildlife and survival skills to stay alive. He reportedly ate wild fruits and dug small holes in dry riverbeds with a stick to find water—a technique he had learned growing up in a drought-prone region. BEATING DRUMS The legislator recalled that the local Nyaminyami community members organized a search and rescue mission, beating drums daily to guide the boy back home. Despite their efforts, it was park rangers who eventually located him. On the fifth day, Tinotenda heard a ranger’s vehicle and ran toward it, but he narrowly missed being seen, Murombedzi wrote. Yet, the rangers soon discovered “fresh little human footprints and scoured the area and found him. This was probably his last chance of being rescued” following days in the wilderness, she stressed. “After five long, harrowing days in the jungle near Hogwe River, which feeds into Ume River, the boy has been found alive by the incredible rangers” from the Matusadona Game Park, the legislator explained. While the boy was described as extremely weak and rushed to hospital for medical care, his survival was hailed as a testament of courage and “the power of prayer.” “Above all, we thank God for watching over Tinotenda and leading him back home safely. This is a testament to the power of unity, hope, prayer, and never giving up,” Murombedzi added. The post Boy Miraculously Survives Days Between Lions In Zimbabwe Game Park appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News NEW ORLEANS/LAS VEGAS (Worthy News) – Two deadly incidents on New Year’s Day in the United States, including suspected Islamic terrorism in New Orleans and an explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck at President-elect Donald J. Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas, involved vehicles of the online car-sharing firm Turo. Early Wednesday, 42-year-old Army veteran Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar rammed a pickup truck into a crowd in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter – killing 14 people and injuring some 30 others celebrating the New Year. And police fatally shot Jabbar in a firefight that followed the crash. Just hours after, outside of President-elect Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas, a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosives also burst into flames, killing the driver and injuring seven people. The person inside, identified as active-duty U.S. Army Green Beret Matthew Livelsberger, suffered a gunshot wound to the head before the explosion, investigators said. Livelsberger, 37, had recently returned from an overseas assignment in Germany and was on approved leave when he died, according to investigators. Officials reportedly learned through interviews that he may have gotten into a fight with his wife about relationship issues shortly before he rented the Tesla and bought the guns. TRUMP NOT INSIDE Trump, who survived two assassination attempts, was not inside the building at the time of the explosion, Worthy News established. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) stressed there was no indication of a connection between the New Orleans attack and the explosion Wednesday of a Tesla Cybertruck filled with explosives outside Trump’s Las Vegas hotel. The FBI continued to hunt for clues about Jabbar but said its investigation so far showed he was not aided by anyone else in the attack, which killed an 18-year-old aspiring nurse, a single mother, a father of two, and a former Princeton University football star, among others. Investigators were also trying to understand more about Jabbar’s path to radicalization, which they suggested culminated with him picking up a rented truck in Houston on December 30 and driving it to New Orleans the following night. The FBI recovered a black Islamic State group flag from his rented pickup. Investigators reviewed five videos posted to the social media platform Facebook, including one in which he said he originally planned to harm his family and friends but “was concerned that news headlines would not focus on the “war between the believers and the disbelievers.” Additionally, Jabbar claimed that he joined the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, before last summer, and he provided a previous will, the FBI said. Turo said it is “shocked and saddened” about FIRM OUTRAGED Wednesday’s events and that “our hearts are with the victims and their families.” The company added that it is “outraged by the misuse of our marketplace by the two individuals who perpetrated these acts.” While both incidents involved vehicles rented through Turo, the FBI has said it found “no definitive link” between the New Orleans attack and the Las Vegas explosion. Still, the incidents have spotlighted the car-sharing platform, allowing car owners to rent their vehicles directly to other nearby drivers or “guests.” “Hosts” set their prices, availability, and delivery options for renters to choose from and book via Turo’s website or mobile application, an app. Today, Turo bills itself as “the world’s largest car-sharing marketplace.” It says it operates through a network of hosts in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and France. The post Deadly Blasts Rocking New Orleans And Trump Hotel Involved Same Rental Firm (Worthy News Focus) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ISTANBUL (Worthy News) – Turkish police have detained several suspects over their alleged involvement in the New Year’s Eve shooting of a Protestant church in Istanbul, Turkish officials announced Friday. Security footage reviewed by Worthy News appeared to confirm the December 31 attack on the Çekmeköy branch of the Kurtuluş Kilisesi Derneği (Association of Salvation Church) denomination. At least one bullet was shot from a car and “passed through the iron shutters and glass front, lodging in the wall,” witnesses said. One of the assailants was heard shouting, “We will not allow you to brainwash our Muslim youth! O infidels, you will be defeated and gathered together and exiled to hell.” The pastor, who wasn’t named publicly, “requests prayer after the building was shot at on the evening of December 31,” Christians told Worthy News. In comments shared with Worthy News, the pastor noticed that the police “were quick to respond to the incident, and the neighbors have expressed their sadness over the event.” SUSPECTS SEEN Footage seen by Worthy News showed special police raiding a building before accompanying one of the suspects, a man in his 30s. Two suspects were identified as 33-year-old Serkan P. and Veysi A. 33. Veysi A. allegedly “confessed” that they went to the church and fired a shot, but Serkan A. reportedly suggested the attack wasn’t religiously motivated but “over a debt issue.” A third suspect was later named V.A., who was 37 or 38 during his arrest. “It was determined that the incident was carried out by [these] three people in a commercial vehicle that came to the area,” said the Istanbul Governorship in charge of the Istanbul region. “The individuals were referred to the courthouse after their procedures at the police station,” it added in comments monitored by Worthy News. All three individuals had criminal records ranging from fraud to “intentential wounding” of one or more persons, officials said. KEEPING FAITH The church said it “is disturbed but is responding with faith that God will bring good out of the attack.” This wasn’t the first attack against the church in the Çamlık Neighborhood of Istanbul’s Çekmeköy District, Worthy News learned. The same Kurtuluş Kilisesi Derneği church there was previously targeted on December 18, 2023, when two assailants were caught on security cameras ripping the signs off of the church, Christians told Worthy News. “The event was reported to police, who apprehended the perpetrators. The church has also received numerous threats through social media,” added Middle East Concern (MEC), an advocacy group supporting the church. It comes amid broader concerns among rights activists about the treatment of devoted Christians in Turkey, a mainly Muslim nation, where there have been several sometimes deadly attacks against churches and missionaries, Worthy News documented. In comments shared with Worthy News, Christians urged prayers that the “perpetrators will repent of their actions, God will encourage and strengthen the pastor and church, and that more people will become curious about Jesus Christ through this incident’s publicity.” The post Turkey Detains Suspects Over Church Shooting (Worthy News Investigation) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News SEOUL (Worthy News) – South Korea plunged into its worst political crisis in years on Friday as police and anti-corruption investigators attempted to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Footage confirmed by Worthy News showed an ongoing standoff unfolding at Yoon’s residence in Soul, the capital, after a Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for his detention on Tuesday. The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) said early Friday that the presidential security team blocked some 80 police and investigators who entered the compound to detain him. Yoon’s lawyers challenged a warrant on Thursday, saying it cannot be enforced at his residence. They cited a law that protects locations potentially linked to military secrets from search without the consent of the person in charge. According to sources familiar with the case, the order to arrest him is valid for one week. Yoon’s defense team also argued that the CIO, leading a joint investigation with police and military investigators, “lacks the authority to investigate rebellion charges.” They said police officers assisting in detaining Yoon could even be arrested by the “presidential security service or any citizens.” MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS Yoon, 64, is wanted for questioning in multiple investigations, including accusations of leading an insurrection – a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The charges are linked in part to his decision to declare martial law in a surprise late-night address on December 3, claiming opposition lawmakers had “paralyzed state affairs.” He added that the move was necessary to “safeguard a liberal South Korea” from the threats posed by “anti-state elements.” Yet legislators of the country’s parliament, the National Assembly, including some members from Yoon’s party, voted to reverse his declaration about six hours later. Analysts said Yoon’s order faced fierce backlash from protesters and lawmakers across the political spectrum as it revived painful memories of South Korea’s authoritarian past. Following the reversal of his decision to declare martial law, Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly on December 14, 2024. If investigators manage to detain Yoon, they will likely ask a court to allow “a formal arrest,” according to experts, adding that without such a request, he will be released after 48 hours. LONG STANDOFF The hours-long standoff on Friday added to political turmoil in the country: Prime Minister Han Duck-soo served briefly as acting president until his impeachment on December 27, 2024. Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok assumed the role of acting president, but questions remained Friday about who will eventually control the crisis-ridden nation. State media in autocratically-ruled neighboring North Korea were quick to say the South is in “chaos” and paralyzed politically over the attempt to arrest impeached President Yoon. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) gave a rare commentary about the South’s political turmoil in recent weeks and included no quoted officials. Observers noted that it was also speedier than before, as Pyongyang did not comment on Yoon’s martial law declaration on 3 December until a week after it failed. “In puppet South Korea, an unprecedented impeachment took place following the December 3 martial law incident,” KCNA wrote. “A detention warrant was issued for the president, paralyzing state affairs and further deepening social and political chaos.” North Korean state media often refers to the South’s leaders and institutions as being a “puppet” of its key security ally, the United States. “Foreign media have criticized South Korea as being thrown deeper into a political storm,” KCNA added. The commentary was published in North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper, which, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap, was an apparent attempt to highlight the North Korean government’s “stability by comparison.” The post Standoff Over Arrest Warrant For South Korea’s President (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News HANOI (Worthy News) – A pastor in Vietnam’s Central Highlands was recovering from his injuries Thursday after being shot in his left knee with a rubber bullet while riding a motorbike home, Worthy News learned. In remarks shared with Worthy News, the 62-year-old Pastor Y Hung Ayun, who leads an independent ent house church in Tara Puor village in Dak Lak province, recalled that two men “with faces covered” rode a motorbike alongside him. One of them, “the passenger,” shot twice before they escaped, he said. “Pastor Y Hung believes that the attack was a warning for him to stop his work as a house church pastor,” Christians told Worthy News. The attack comes in a period of reported pressure on independent churches in the region, although it was not immediately clear who carried out the shootings In an earlier incident in the same province, Pastor Y Pho Eban, the 57-year-old leader of a 200-strong independent house church in Cue village, “was shot in the leg” on September 25, Christians said. He was apparently left with a minor fracture and other injuries. The bullet was removed in hospital, but weeks later, he is reportedly still unable to walk properly. HOUSE CHURCH LEADER The pastor believes he was “shot because of his position as leader of a house church,” Worthy News learned. In November, district police summoned five church members and warned them against attending worship at Y Pho’s home, saying, “He is a bad person and is about to be arrested,” according to Christians with close knowledge of the situation. Christian charity Barnabas Aid expressed concern that the pressure and attacks violate Vietnam’s constitution, which states that citizens “can follow any religion or follow none.” Yet the pressure on devoted Christians continues in the Communist-run Asian nation, especially against those worshiping outside government-sanctioned churches, Worthy News established. The 2018 Law on Belief and Religion requires authorities “to protect” religious freedom but bans any religious activity that could “harm social order and/or national unity,” words that have been used to target house churches. “Authorities closely monitor unregistered independent house churches and target their leaders for harassment and intimidation,” added Barnabas Aid, a Christian charity supporting believers in the area. “For many Christians in Vietnam, following Jesus can bring intense hostility and even violence,” said advocacy group Open Doors in a separate assessment. PRAYERS URGED “While historical Christian communities, like Roman Catholic churches, enjoy some freedom, both non-traditional Protestants and those who convert from indigenous religions face intense pressure and violence for their faith,” the said advocacy group added. The group noted that Christians are especially vulnerable “in the remote areas of central and northern Vietnam.” Barnabas Fund said it had urged believers to “Pray that both pastors” who were recently shot in the Central Highlands “will make a full physical and psychological recovery from the incidents and be able to pursue their leadership roles unhindered.” It was also crucial to “Pray that local authorities in Vietnam will understand unofficial house churches as a source of social cohesion and unity rather than a threat to social order.’” The group said it hopes both congregations “will draw strength from following their Lord” and being able “to take joy even in sharing in His suffering,” as described in the Bible. According to Christian researchers, some 9.6 million people identify as Christians in Vietnam, a nation of about 105 million where Buddhism has many followers. The post Pastors Shot In Vietnam Amid Crackdown appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Several Arab media outlets reported on Thursday evening that Israel conducted strikes on facilities associated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense, situated to the east of Aleppo. According to the Syrian radio station Sham FM, the strikes targeted a defense facility and a scientific research center near the city of al-Safirah, close to Aleppo. The Saudi television channel Al-Hadath reported that “the attacks in Syria, which appear to be Israeli, targeted defense factories in the area of the city of As-Safira, east of Aleppo.” The channel also noted that the city houses “some of the largest defense factories in Syria.” The Russian news agency Sputnik reported that three Israeli fighter jets flew over the city of Aleppo, launching several missiles targeting military factories and scientific research centers. Israel has not yet confirmed any activity in Syria. However, the Jewish nation has consistently conducted covert operations in Syria to prevent terrorists from arming and launching attacks against Israel. Earlier today, Israel released footage of a clandestine operation involving 120 commandos who penetrated deep into Syria to destroy an Iranian-backed Hezbollah missile factory in September 2024, https://www.worthynews.com/wordpressimages/2025/01/idf-destorys-missile.mp4 The post Israel Reportedly Strikes Defense Facilities Near Aleppo, Syria (Video) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Washington, D.C. Police say they are stepping up security in light of the recent attack in New Orleans as the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20 draws near. The anniversary of the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol and the funeral of Jimmy Carter just a few days later have created major security needs as well. The Metropolitan Police Department in a statement expressed sympathies in light of the New Orleans attack and said it was increasing security. “While there is no known threat to the District of Columbia, out of an abundance of caution, MPD has heightened its security posture across the city in light of recent events,” the department said. MPD promised an “increased police presence” and to work with federal and state law enforcement to assess threats. “While we do not discuss specifics regarding operations, tactics, or staffing, the community will notice an increased police presence throughout the city,” MPD said. “Whenever an incident occurs in the country, MPD closely monitors the situation, evaluates intelligence, and assesses our security posture. As the nation’s capital, we maintain a heightened level of security at all times to ensure the safety of our residents, businesses, and visitors.” The FBI is investigating the attack, which is a suspected terrorist attack that killed 15 and left 35 injured. An Islamic State group flag was reportedly found on the attacker’s vehicle. This attack comes alongside a Cybertruck filled with explosives outside of Trump hotel in Las Vegas left one dead and many more injured. Biden convened an emergency national security meeting Thursday because of the New Orleans attack. “As a matter of practice, the Secret Service does not discuss the means and methods used for our protective operations,” Matthew Young, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, told The Center Square. “What we can say is that we will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in assessing the ever-changing threat landscape and will adjust our security plans as needed.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Washington, D.C. Police to Increase Police Presence After New Orleans Attack appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square (Worthy News) – At a news briefing on Thursday. Gov. Jeff Landry shared the ongoing efforts between state, local and federal officials to respond to the attack in New Orleans’ famous French Quarter, which left 15 dead, including the shooter. In the early hours of New Year’s Day, a 42-year-old Texas man and Army veteran, identified by authorities as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, drove a rented pickup truck into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The attack left at least 15 people dead and dozens injured. The FBI is treating the incident as an act of terrorism. Countering previous reports, the FBI currently believes Jabbar acted alone, though they are examining any official ties and communications with international terrorist organizations. Landry said the state has deployed resources and personnel from across the state to support the investigation and ensuring the city is safe for Thursday’s Sugar Bowl, including the Louisiana National Guard. Landry said that his office and the state have been in communication with the New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The agency has also forwarded critical incident response assets, including hostage rescue teams, bomb technicians, and crisis management coordinators, to process the crime scene and provide victim assistance. According to Christopher Raia, the Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, the FBI is reviewing hundreds of hours of surveillance footage from the French Quarter and surrounding areas to piece together a timeline of events. Investigators believe Jabbar picked up the rented Ford F-150 in Houston, Texas, on December 30 and drove to New Orleans on New Year’s Eve. He posted five videos to Facebook between 1:29 a.m. and 3:02 a.m. on Jan. 1, proclaiming his allegiance to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, and explaining his motivations. FBI bomb technicians discovered two functional improvised explosive devices inside coolers near Bourbon Street. Both devices were safely neutralized. Officials have ruled out reports of additional explosive devices. In one video, Jabbar stated that he had initially planned to harm family and friends but ultimately decided against it, citing his desire to highlight the “war between the believers and the disbelievers.” Jabbar also left a will and testament. The post FBI Now Says New Orleans Attacker Likely Acted Alone appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Law enforcement officials confirmed that 37-year-old former Army veteran Matthew Livelsberger, who lived in Colorado Springs, was behind the rented Cybertruck explosion at the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Authorities confirmed that Livelsberger died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound prior to the explosion, which injured seven bystanders. Officials say there was no information as of Thursday connecting Livelsberger to a terrorist group. The driver of the Cybertruck was identified as Master Sgt. Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a U.S. Army special operations soldier who originally enlisted in 2006 until 2012. Livelsberger, who was on leave at the time of his death, served in the National Guard from March 2011 to July 2012 before joining the Army Reserve from July 2012 to December 2012. Livelsberger then entered the active-duty Army in December 2012. Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news conference Thursday said his office is still waiting for DNA confirmation of the driver’s identity, and that the attack was unrelated at this time to the attack in New Orleans. Livelsberger was the one identified driving the vehicle at each location as authorities retraced the route taken from Colorado to Nevada, McMahill said. Officials stated that investigations into the explosion are underway. The explosion occurred just before 9 a.m. on New Year’s Day near the hotel’s main entrance, and federal, state, and local authorities are jointly investigating. FBI’s Denver field office, the Denver Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Colorado Springs Police Department confirmed activity at a residential address in Colorado Springs related to the explosion in Las Vegas but no further information would be provided at that time. Local authorities confirmed a detonator possessed by Livelsberger initiated the explosion, which included fire mortars and camp fuel canisters found stuffed into the back of the Cybertruck. President-elect Donald Trump took to his social media platform, blaming President Joe Biden’s open border policy, “I said, many times during Rallies, and elsewhere, that Radical Islamic Terrorism, and other forms of violent crime, will become so bad in America that it will become hard to even imagine or believe.” Investigators confirmed that the vehicle was driven from Colorado and arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Livelsberger reportedly drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard for about an hour before entering the valet area of the Trump Hotel. Seven people were injured. Two were briefly hospitalized before being released, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The department has issued increased officer presence across the community, including the Las Vegas strip. This attack came on the same day as fifteen people were killed on Bourbon Street after a man plowed his car into a crowd. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen and U.S. Army veteran from Houston, rented the F-150 Lightning truck and improvised explosive devices that were found in both the truck and in two different locations in the French Quarter, body armor, and an ISIS flag hanging from the tailgate. The two suspects behind the separate attacks used Turo, a rental car app, to book the vehicles used at both locations. “After the attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas, @NYPDPC and I have been in constant communication,” posted New York City Mayor Eric Adams on X. The mayor said that while there were no immediate threats to the city at the time, the heightened security was “out of an abundance of caution.” He stated that the city will have heightened security and increased NYPD presence at relevant locations, including at Trump Tower and in Times Square. The post Driver of Cybertruck Shot Himself in Head Before Vegas Explosion appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, stay on guard! Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Anyone who has traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland has probably seen the Edinburgh castle. It is a tower of seemingly insurmountable strength. However, long ago that castle was attacked and seized. One place in the fortress was protected by its steepness and impregnability, they thought, so no guards were posted there. But at an obvious weak spot was where the most guards were stationed. Wouldn't you know that at an opportune time, the attacking army sent a small band up that unguarded slope and surprised the garrison into surrender. Where the castle was strong, there it was weak. In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin wrote: "There is perhaps no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility". I guess the even best of us struggle with pride in our lives -- wait, come to think of it -- it's most likely the best of us that struggle with pride the most! Friend, the enemy of our souls would like nothing more than to cause us to stumble -- especially in the areas we feel most secure!! We need to be on guard. Let's never put our hope in our own strengths, or anyone else's for that matter. We must remind ourselves continuously that it is the Lord who is our strength, and He alone. Shabbat Shalom, and have a blessed weekend! We'll see you on Monday! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Dallas, Texas) Editor's Note: Latest message: The Mysteries of Yeshua's Birth and Chanukah 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! Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are going to be heading WEST!!! Now booking in the following states: New Mexico and Arizona …. If you know Pastors, Rabbis or Ministry Leaders who might be interested in some powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the Land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World Standoff Over Arrest Warrant For South Korea’s President (Worthy News In-Depth) South Korea plunged into its worst political crisis in years on Friday as police and anti-corruption investigators attempted to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. France Launches Airstrikes Against ISIS Targets in Syria As Syrians look toward an uncertain future following the ousting of dictator Bashar al-Assad by Islamic rebels last month, France announced Tuesday that its military carried out targeted airstrikes against Islamic State (Daesh) positions in Syria on Sunday, i24News reports. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Reportedly Strikes Defense Facilities Near Aleppo, Syria (Video) Several Arab media outlets reported on Thursday evening that Israel conducted strikes on facilities associated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense, situated to the east of Aleppo. New Government Report Shows Tens of Thousands Emigrated from Israel in 2024 A new report by the Israeli government’s Central Bureau of Statistics shows that in the year following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, nearly 60,000 Israelis left the country and did not return, i24News reports. Inside the United States Washington, D.C. Police to Increase Police Presence After New Orleans Attack Washington, D.C. Police say they are stepping up security in light of the recent attack in New Orleans as the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20 draws near. FBI Now Says New Orleans Attacker Likely Acted Alone At a news briefing on Thursday. Gov. Jeff Landry shared the ongoing efforts between state, local and federal officials to respond to the attack in New Orleans’ famous French Quarter, which left 15 dead, including the shooter. Driver of Cybertruck Shot Himself in Head Before Vegas Explosion Law enforcement officials confirmed that 37-year-old former Army veteran Matthew Livelsberger, who lived in Colorado Springs, was behind the rented Cybertruck explosion at the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Christian News Pastors Shot In Vietnam Amid Crackdown A pastor in Vietnam’s Central Highlands was recovering from his injuries Thursday after being shot in his left knee with a rubber bullet while riding a motorbike home, Worthy News learned. India: Hindu Nationalists Attack Christians Across India During Christmas Season Amid an ongoing surge in the persecution of Christians in India by Hindu nationalists, Hindu extremists carried out violent assaults against believers celebrating Christmas in many states across the country last month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Argentina Enjoys “National Evangelization Day” While Christians in many nations face persecution and discrimination, evangelicals in Argentina were free to share the Gospel across the country as they celebrated “National Evangelization Day” on December 28, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Amid an ongoing surge in the persecution of Christians in India by Hindu nationalists, Hindu extremists carried out violent assaults against believers celebrating Christmas in many states across the country last month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The violent attacks against Christians during Christmas 2024 are understood to have been carried out by the Sangh Parivar organizations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. Attacks were reported in Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha among other Indian states. ICC notes that the attacks occurred despite PM Modi’s decision to attend the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) in New Delhi, an apparent attempt at reconciliation and a call for unity. Ignoring such calls, the attacks took place during Christmas celebrations in churches, schools, public areas, and even homes, ICC said In one instance, two Christian women and a man in Odisha state were severely beaten for allegedly trying to convert Hindus to Christianity. “Then, the women were tied to a tree and were forced to chant the names of Hindu gods and goddesses,” ICC said. In another Odisha incident, a pastor and his pregnant wife were attacked in their church and made to trample on Bibles and chant the names of Hindu gods, ICC said. In Punjab, a Pentecostal pastor was attacked for allegedly trying to convert Hindus to Christianity, ICC said. In Rajasthan, Hindu extremists assaulted teachers and pupils in schools that were celebrating Christmas. “In many cases, Hindu nationalists acted brazenly despite the presence of police,” ICC noted. Now led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party since 2014 and ranks 11 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post India: Hindu Nationalists Attack Christians Across India During Christmas Season appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – While Christians in many nations face persecution and discrimination, evangelicals in Argentina were free to share the Gospel across the country as they celebrated “National Evangelization Day” on December 28, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports. The extraordinary Evangelization day was organized by Youth with a Mission (YWAM) together with the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of Argentina (ACIERA) and the Argentine Bible Society (SBA) among others, CDI reports. Aiming to bring the message of hope and salvation in Jesus Christ to Argentinians in more than 400 cities around the country, organizers set up more than 4,000 prayer tables in public spaces such as squares, shopping mall entrances, and pedestrian areas, at which they shared the Gospel and offered to pray for people, CDI said. “Other volunteers spread love and faith in creative ways, such as giving hugs while wearing Christmas hats and clown noses—a gesture that captured the attention of passersby and created openings to convey messages of compassion and hope,” CDI said in its report. The day also offered music, moments of reflection, and a TV broadcast produced by Canal Luz and hosted by Pastor Alejandro Espínola (secretary of ACIERA) and Paula Rodríguez (YWAM), with contributions from Pablo Espínola. “During the three-hour broadcast, pastors and evangelists were interviewed both in the studio and via video calls, while correspondents from various parts of the country provided detailed reports on the activities taking place,” CDI said. The post Argentina Enjoys “National Evangelization Day” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A new report by the Israeli government’s Central Bureau of Statistics shows that in the year following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, nearly 60,000 Israelis left the country and did not return, i24News reports. Published on January 2, the CBS report reviews population data for 2024. It shows that 82,700 Israelis left the country in 2024, and only 23,800 returned, i24News reports. According to the CBS, the principal reason for this unusually high negative migration figure is emigration to other countries rather than travel for business or leisure purposes. The CBS report also shows that immigration – Aliyah – to Israel stood at 32,800 by the end of 2024, a decrease of about 15,000 from 2023, i24News said. Israel’s population growth rate also slightly slowed during 2024, growing by 1.1 percent, compared to 1.6 percent in 2023, i24News. Reporting on the CBS statistics, i24News further noted that in November it had published “disturbing” data showing that 117,000 Israelis had stopped living in Israel since the October 7 attack and the consequent war in Gaza – “a figure three times higher than the data from previous years.” The post New Government Report Shows Tens of Thousands Emigrated from Israel in 2024 appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – As Syrians look toward an uncertain future following the ousting of dictator Bashar al-Assad by Islamic rebels last month, France announced Tuesday that its military carried out targeted airstrikes against Islamic State (Daesh) positions in Syria on Sunday, i24News reports. The French strike were similar to a strike the US carried out against ISIS in Syria on December 23, Reuters notes. Two ISIS operatives were killed and one wounded in that attack, the US said. France has carried out strikes on ISIS targets in Syria since 2015, after Islamic State unleashed a series of deadly terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13 that year. The attacks left 130 people dead and led to France’s decision to escalate its military activity against the terror group. In a statement on the social media platform X on Tuesday, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said Sunday’s strikes were part of France’s ongoing commitment to defeat ISIS. “Our armies continue their commitment against Daesh,” Lecornu said. France also supports Iraqi troops in their fight against ISIS. Through its Operation Chammal, Frances mobilizes around 600 troops, 10 Rafale jets, one frigate, one AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft, as well as refueling and patrol planes, i24News notes. The post France Launches Airstrikes Against ISIS Targets in Syria appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Authorities are investigating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, which killed one person and injured seven, as a potential terrorist attack. Video footage captured the truck spontaneously detonating outside the hotels’s front entrance. Local authorities confirmed that one person inside the truck was killed, according to media reports. While speaking to the nation, President Joe Biden confirmed that federal authorities were investigating the incident and any possible links to the New Orleans terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve. “[W]e’re tracking the explosion of a cyber truck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Law enforcement and the intelligence community are investigating this as well, including whether there’s any possible connection with the attack in New Orleans. Thus far, there’s nothing to report on that score,” he said. The individual who died was inside the Cybertruck at the time of the incident. Authorities have not yet identified the person or determined their gender, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The post Feds Investigating Tesla Truck Explosion At Trump Hotel As Possible Terror Attack appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, learn what this means! Matthew 24:15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), As we conclude the celebration of Chanukah tonight, I want to highlight the prophetic significance of this feast. Yeshua (Jesus) gave a remarkable parenthetic instruction in the middle of His Olivet discourse on the time of His coming and the end of the age. While it is unlikely that He himself said this, He certainly inspired Matthew to insert, "..let the reader understand", concerning this critical event prophesied by Daniel, the Abomination of Desolation. His exhortation intended us (the readers of Matthew's gospel) to learn what this means. Many people have approached me over the years and asked, why do you believe we are in the last days? My response is to point to Yeshua's words, “When you see ALL of these things" … [Matthew 24:33] Many of the signs He pointed to are nearly everyday occurrences in our world, yet this Abomination of Desolation is unquestionably a critical crossroad in human history, as indicated by this unique parenthetic exhortation. What exactly are we intended to understand? The Feast of Chanukah is instructive about it. A Greek monarch named Antiochus Epiphanes "sacrificed a great swine at the image of Moses, and at the altar of God that stood in the outward court, and sprinkled them with the blood of the sacrifice. He commanded likewise that the books, by which they were taught to hate all other nations, should be sprinkled with the broth made of the swine's flesh. And he put out the lamp (called by them immortal) which burns continually in the temple. Lastly he forced the high priest and the other Jews to eat swine's flesh,” according to the ancient Greek historian Diodorus of Silicy. His intention was to eliminate the worship of YHVH, the Jewish Sabbath, and Biblical worship, by desecrating the altar and destroying the Torah scrolls in the temple, so as to erect an altar to Zeus, the king of the Greek pantheon. This act of desecration has been historically referenced as an "abomination of desolation", thus becoming a type of the future event prophesied by Yeshua in Matthew 24. The Maccabean revolt recounts the virtually miraculous victory over Antiochus by a small but relentless army of zealous Jews. Many are familiar with this narrative, yet there are events that took place during Chanukah that aren’t widely spoken of. A recently published book written by a reader of Worthy News, “The Last Days Pride Parade” [The Last Days Pride Parade|eBook] details some of the strange cultural shifts taking place today which reflect the times of the Maccabean revolt. There are elements and seasons in history which seem to repeat. We should take note of this... Friend, may we suggest that "let the reader understand" points to this prophetic/historical parallel between Antiochus and the coming Man of Sin who will perform the final Abomination of Desolation? The signs of this eventuality are growing by the day. Yeshua wants us to learn what this means, to grow in the exciting realization that we're living in the last paragraph of this age and that the Lord’s return is at the very door. This understanding shouldn’t paralyze us with fear, or cause us to hide away, but rather to ‘light a fire’ (pun intended since its’ the festival of lighting candles) with a sense of divine urgency about the hour in which we are living! Daniel said, “And the wise among the people shall make many understand”. Prophetic parallels provide an excellent opportunity to do just that. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Dallas, Texas) Editor's Note: Latest message: The Mysteries of Yeshua's Birth and Chanukah 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! Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are going to be heading WEST!!! Now booking in the following states: Texas, New Mexico and Arizona …. If you know Pastors, Rabbis or Ministry Leaders who might be interested in some powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the Land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World Several Killed In Montenegro’s Restaurant Shooting Several people have died in a shooting at a restaurant in Montenegro near the Balkan nation’s historical capital of Cetinje, police said Wednesday. Biden Announces $2.5 Billion in Security Aid for Ukraine as His Presidency Winds Down With just three weeks remaining of his presidency, US President Joe Biden has re-emphasized his commitment to helping Ukraine resist Russia’s invasion: on Monday, December 30 he announced the provision of nearly $2.5 billion in security assistance for Ukraine. Israel-Palestinian Conflict From Jan. 1, All Visitors to Israel Must Apply for Online Digital Authorization to Enter Triggering concerns for Israel’s already struggling tourism industry, the government has announced that, as of January 1, 2025, all foreign visitors must now apply online for digital authorization to enter the country, even those from countries such as the US and UK that were once visa-exempt, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Rare 2,000-Year-Old Coins Found in Jordan Valley During Hannukah Israeli archaeologists digging in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) on Friday unearthed a rare collection of ancient coins they believe belonged to King Alexander Jannaeus, a Hasmonean high priest who ruled over Judea from around 103–76 BC, CBS News reports. Inside the United States Feds Investigating Tesla Truck Explosion At Trump Hotel As Possible Terror Attack Authorities are investigating the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, which killed one person and injured seven, as a potential terrorist attack. 10 Killed, Scores Injured In New Orleans After ‘Islamic Truck Attack’ Ten people were killed and 30 injured when a vehicle drove into a crowd in an apparent Islamic “act of terrorism” in the U.S. city of New Orleans before the suspect was shot dead, law enforcement officials confirmed Wednesday. Christian News Uganda: Christian Father Murdered for Leaving Islam A Christian father was murdered by Islamic extremists in eastern Uganda earlier this month, after he and his wife received death threats for leaving Islam and putting his faith in Christ, Morning Star News reports. Sudan: RSF Paramilitary Group Attacks Church Service While fighting each other for the power to rule Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been killing and attacking civilians, not least Christians, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A Christian father was murdered by Islamic extremists in eastern Uganda earlier this month, after he and his wife received death threats for leaving Islam and putting his faith in Christ, Morning Star News reports. James Mukenye Habiibu, 29, converted to Christianity together with his wife in January 2022. He was found stabbed to death in Kagumu Sub-County, Kibuku District, Uganda on December 17. Habiibu leaves behind three children, ages 2, 4, and 7, MSN reports. Habibu’s wife, whose name is withheld for security reasons, told MSN that his relatives began threatening them after they became Christians. “The whole family threatened to kill us if we continued with the Christian faith,” she said. One message left for Habib by a relative read: “Soon we are going to behead you and get a big reward from Allah,” Habibu’s wife said. Habibu was last heard on December 16 when he left his home for a gospel outreach with another evangelist from a Presbyterian church in Buseta. “At about 7:30 p.m. I received a call from my husband telling me of people who have been following/tracking him for about half an hour and requesting prayers,” his wife said. “Since then, there was no communication from him.” The next morning his wife was told Habibu had been killed. “A neighbor escorted me, and when we arrived at the scene of the incident, I found my husband lying in a pool of blood,” she said. “The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented,” MSN said in its report. “Uganda’s constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate one’s faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Uganda’s population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.” The post Uganda: Christian Father Murdered for Leaving Islam appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – While fighting each other for the power to rule Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been killing and attacking civilians, not least Christians, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Since conducting a military coup and deposing the fledgling transitional democratic government that took over from brutal dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, the SAF and the RSF have destroyed all steps taken to promote religious liberty in Muslim-majority Sudan: the war-torn country ranked 8 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. In the latest violent attack against Christians in Sudan, militants from the RSF targeted a prayer meeting at the Sudanese Church of Christ (SCOC) congregation in the town of Al Hasaheisa in Al Jazirah state on Monday, December 30, MSN reports. Accusing the Christians who had gathered of supporting the SAF, the militants attacked congregants and destroyed property. Fourteen congregants were severely wounded, including the 18-year-old daughter of a church elder, MSN reports. “The RSF has often accused civilians of supporting SAR as they attack, rape, kidnap and loot,” MSN said in its report. In a 2024 website statement about the effect of the war on Christians, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization said: “There are long-term concerns that the conflict will give Islamic extremists a renewed foothold in the country, undoing the reforms made by the transitional civilian government which gave more freedom to Christians, including abolishing the apostasy law and removing Islam as the state religion.” The post Sudan: RSF Paramilitary Group Attacks Church Service appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article