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by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Late Monday night, sirens were triggered across central Israel as air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), this was the seventh such nighttime attack in less than two weeks. The missile was successfully intercepted before it could reach Israeli territory. The sirens, which sent millions into shelters, rang out just minutes after reports of a US-British attack on the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. According to the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah channel, the international coalition carried out two strikes targeting a Houthi weapons depot in southern Hodeidah. The missile was intercepted before entering Israeli airspace, the military reported, triggering sirens across central Israel shortly after 11:00 p.m. as a precaution against falling debris. While there was no major damage, a large fragment did crash in the Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef neighborhood near Beit Shemesh, close to Jerusalem. The missile launch caused brief disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport, with arrivals and departures temporarily halted due to concerns over falling debris, according to Ynet news. Last week, the Houthis launched five missiles from Yemen, triggering sirens in Jerusalem, the Judea region, the Dead Sea, and the northern Negev. The IDF reported that the missiles were intercepted outside of Israeli territory. Despite the attacks on Yemen by Israel and coalition countries, the Houthis continue to threaten and vow to attack Israel repeatedly, claiming it is a sign of “support for the Palestinians,” until “the siege is lifted and the attacks against Gaza are stopped.” The post Israel Shoots Down Ballistic Missile Fired From Yemen, Triggers Alarms Across Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, it only gets better in God! Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. As the world celebrates the end of 2024 and enters into 2025 tonight, it looks toward the conclusion of yet another year. However, God has not been working on his plan according to the Gregorian calendar- rather, according to His own calendar. For example, when Yeshua (Jesus) was crucified and became the Lamb of God slain for the world, it was on the Biblical feast of Passover (Pesach in Hebrew). When He rose again from the dead, His resurrection was on the feast of first fruits. Fifty days later, the Holy Spirit was poured out during the Hebrew Feast of Shavuot or better known as Pentecost. This marked the beginning of the harvest season, and we've been in the midst of the great harvest for the past 2000 years. The fall feasts have yet to be fulfilled prophetically, however we as believers are groaning for the world's redemption! While the world focuses on life now -- youth, beauty, health, and ability -- these things fade away, and according to the world, life goes downhill in the autumn of life. However, as believers, we realize that it's completely the opposite in God. The best is yet to come for those of us who are believers! In the Chronicles of Narnia, famed Christian author C.S. Lewis poetically concludes his novel by writing these truths. "And as He spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before." God is saving the best for last! While things of the world get worse, become old and fade away. The things of God only get better! Rejoice and look toward the day when there is no more death, no more sorrow, and no more pain because in Him all these things will pass away. Make 2025 your best year yet in the Lord! Throw away all the worldly pursuits and pursue God like you've never done before -- because the greatest celebration awaits us! Friend, with another year under our belts as we close out 2024 -- let's go into 2025, remembering that the best is yet to come -- soon enough, we'll enter a time where "every chapter is better than the one before!" 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 China Extends Feared Detention Centers Corruption suspects in China prepare for a Chinese New Year behind bars across the Communist-run nation. Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly built or expanded more than 200 specialized detention facilities nationwide to interrogate those allegedly involved in graft. China Hacks US Treasury In Major Security Breach’ Investigations into a significant security breach were ongoing Tuesday after China-backed experts allegedly managed to hack the U.S. Treasury Department's computers, “stealing” documents in what officials called a "major incident.” Russia, Ukraine Exchange Hundreds Of Prisoners Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates, officials confirmed. Scores Killed In Ethiopia As Truck Crashes After Wedding Authorities say at least 71 people have died in southern Ethiopia after a truck packed with passengers plunged into a river after returning from a wedding event. NATO Sceptic Croatian President Wins Election Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, a critic of the European Union and NATO aid to Ukraine, won the first round of presidential elections on Sunday. Still, he did not receive enough votes to avoid a runoff on January 12. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Launches Operation in Syria The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a major operation in Quneitra, a strategically significant city in southwestern Syria near the Golan Heights. Syrian sources have confirmed that Israeli tanks have surrounded government buildings and issued evacuation orders, according to Sky News Arabia on Monday. Israel Shoots Down Ballistic Missile Fired From Yemen, Triggers Alarms Across Israel Late Monday night, sirens were triggered across central Israel as air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), this was the seventh such nighttime attack in less than two weeks. The missile was successfully intercepted before it could reach Israeli territory. Inside the United States Trump Endorses Speaker Johnson to Keep Leadership Post President-elect Donald Trump on Monday endorsed Speaker of the U.S. House Mike Johnson to keep his leadership role when a new Congress is sworn in after the first of the year. Venezuelan Prison Gang Crime, Arrests Confirmed in 22 U.S. States Of the more than 14 million illegal border crossers reported under the Biden administration, an unknown number of violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua prison gang members illegally entered the country. Southern US Tornadoes Kill at Least Four Dozens of tornadoes swept the southern United States at the weekend, killing at least four people, Axios reports. Christian News Nigeria: “14 Christians murdered after church carol service,” “A trail of grief and trauma” Three days before Christmas on December 22, suspected Fulani Islamic terrorists in Nigeria’s Plateau state ambushed and murdered 14 Christians, including a pregnant woman and her 1-year-old daughter, shortly after a carol service at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Pastor and Family Members Killed In Colombia A Protestant pastor in northern Colombia was killed, along with two family members, after being attacked while having lunch following a church service on Sunday, Christians told Worthy News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Three days before Christmas on December 22, suspected Fulani Islamic terrorists in Nigeria’s Plateau state ambushed and murdered 14 Christians, including a pregnant woman and her 1-year-old daughter, shortly after a carol service at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The ECWA community has around 1,000 Christians living 22 miles from Plateau state’s capital, Jos, ICC said. Those killed on Sunday were part of Nigeria’s Irigwe people, a predominantly Christian population that has been vulnerable to violent attacks by Fulani terrorists. “The Irigwe people, a predominantly Christian group, have faced ongoing adversity, including violence and displacement by Fulani ethnic militias, with more than 2,000 Christians killed since 2016,” ICC said in its report. “This recent incident adds to a troubling history of attacks that often coincide with significant Christian celebrations.” In a 2024 website report about the devastating violence perpetrated against Nigerian believers, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization states: “Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the Muslim-majority north, continue to live under immense pressure and to be terrorized with devastating impunity by Islamic militants and armed “bandits.” More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year, than everywhere else in the world combined.” “The attacks are often brutal in nature and can involve destruction of properties, abductions for ransom, sexual violence and death. Believers are stripped of their livelihoods and driven from their homes, leaving a trail of grief and trauma,” Open Doors attests. With more believers killed on account of their faith in this country than in the rest of the world combined, Nigeria ranks sixth on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post Nigeria: “14 Christians murdered after church carol service,” “A trail of grief and trauma” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Dozens of tornadoes swept the southern United States at the weekend, killing at least four people, Axios reports. Causing flight cancelations and delays for holiday travelers, the severe storm system triggered tornadoes in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas, Axios said. Two of those killed were in Mississippi, in Adams County and Lowndes County respectively, Axios reports. Multiple injuries and storm damage were also reported in the state. A third death occurred in a storm-related road accident in Iredell County, North Carolina and a fourth person was killed in the Liverpool area south of Houston, Texas on Saturday. The region north of Houston reported damage to 300 buildings and injuries to eight people. The Storm Prediction Center issued a rare “moderate risk” outlook – level 4 out of 5 on the threat scale – for parts of Mississippi and Louisiana, along with a major “Particularly Dangerous Situation” tornado watch for southeastern Arkansas, central and southwestern Louisiana, southwestern Mississippi and southeastern Texas on Saturday, Axios said. “Widespread damage was also reported in Athens, Ala., where the National Weather Service said on X Sunday preliminary information showed EF-1 tornado damage with estimated 100 mph wind speeds ‘with a max path width of 160 yards,’” Axios noted. The post Southern US Tornadoes Kill at Least Four appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BOGOTA (Worthy News) – A Protestant pastor in northern Colombia was killed, along with two family members, after being attacked while having lunch following a church service on Sunday, Christians told Worthy News. Gunmen on a motorcycle reportedly fired repeatedly at the family of Pastor Marlon Lora, 43, before fleeing the scene, instantly killing him, his wife Yorley Rincon, 40, and his daughter Ángela, who is 24. The youngest family member, his son Santiago, 21, survived but remains in critical condition, Christians said. Sunday’s shootings occurred just meters (feet) away from the national police station in the city of Aguachica in the country’s northern Cesar Department area, prompting “a swift” response from authorities, confirmed advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide(CSW). It was not immediately clear who was responsible, but a senior CSW official told Worthy News that there were indications that leftist rebels were responsible. CSW’s Director of Advocacy, Anna Lee Stangl, told Worthy News that “the government continues its post-conflict negotiations with armed groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN).” The ELN, a Marxist–Leninist guerrilla insurgency group, “is known to target religious leaders in areas where it operates – such as in the Aguachica region” where the pastor was killed, she said. BIBLICAL CHURCHES Pastor Marlon Lora and his wife, Yorley Rincon, led the Prince of Peace Villaparaguay Church, part of the Missionaries Biblical Churches (IBM) denomination, Worthy News learned. “Pastor Lora held a leadership role overseeing 35 urban and rural churches across Aguachica, Pelaya, San Alberto, San Martin, and other regions in Santander, frequently traveling to support these congregations,” CSW added. Pastor Giovanni Bermúdez, the couple’s immediate supervisor, said Pastor Lora had expressed concern about “possible threats” to another pastor without mentioning his difficulties. In comments shared with Worthy News, Pastor Bermúdez noted that Lora “was like many of us pastors. We keep quiet about many things so that everything runs smoothly, even while we carry heavy burdens inside.” Pastor Divanit Alfonso Calle, president of the Association of Pastors of Aguachica, said Pastor Lora’s role as a board member within the organization “had not caused any conflicts or threats.” He said that the pastor and his family “were well-loved by the Christian community in the municipality. The couple’s children were active in the local church and led ordinary lives.” His daughter Ángela worked as a communications and journalism professional for Aguachica’s public utilities company, while his son Santiago is a systems engineering student, said Christians familiar with the situation. MORE CASES Yet the murder of Pastor Marlon Lora and his family is not an isolated case. “Last month, brothers Ever and Gerson García Vélez, active members of a faith community in Valle del Cauca, were murdered by three men on their own farm,” CSW told Worthy News. Also in November, evangelical Pastor Salvador Zapateiro Mercado was killed “under suspicious and unexplained circumstances in Cartagena” while watching a soccer match at a local shop, Christian investigators added. In August, the home of pastoral couple Rodian Rodriguez and Kelly Medina was reportedly torched by neighbors angered about church services they held outside their residence, Christians said. The attacks come as the Office of the Ombudsman in Colombia warned of “a worrying trend” of rising “religious freedom violations” targeting “religious leaders,” including Christians. Between January and September 2024, incidents “infringing on the right to freedom of religion or belief” increased by 31 percent, “rising from 13 cases in 2023 to 17 in 2024”, said CSW, citing official data. “Specifically, death threats saw a staggering 50 percent increase, from four cases in 2023 to eight in 2024.” CSW’s Stangl told Worthy News that “Despite the grave dangers faced by religious leaders, the Colombian government has stripped them of their status within the National Protection System” aimed at protecting communities. “We urge the government to recognize victims from the religious sector,” including devoted Christian leaders “within the framework of the individual peace accords,” she added. The reported violence has overshadowed a historic peace accord signed in 2016 with the largest guerrilla group in the country, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), following years of fighting. The post Pastor and Family Members Killed In Colombia appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ADDIS ABABA (Worthy News) – Authorities say at least 71 people have died in southern Ethiopia after a truck packed with passengers plunged into a river after returning from a wedding event. Local officials say the accident happened in the Sidama Region, some 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. Wosenyeleh Simion, a spokesperson for Sidama’s government, said the truck returned from “a wedding ceremony” and missed the Galena Bridge in the state’s Bona Zuria district. Soon, the overloaded vehicle plunged into the water, the official added. He said besides those killed in late Sunday’s tragedy, at least a handful more people are “in a critical condition” in hospital. Delays in rescue efforts in the remote village were also blamed for the high number of casualties. Villagers said they tried to save people from the raging river only with sticks, confirming to footage seen by Worthy News. MUSIC HEARD A villager, Serak Boko, said that music was blasting out of the truck moments before the accident, and people dressed in suits were dancing and waving. “The area always has regular accidents around the river as it is poorly constructed,” added resident Fasil Atara when talking to reporters, referring to the road lacking bumps and warnings. With desolate infrastructure and overcrowded public transportation, Ethiopia has had similar accidents. In August, 38 people reportedly died after a bus rolled over in Amhara region. The latest tragedy highlighted broader concerns about traffic safety in Ethiopia and other African countries, where authorities say many people cannot afford safe transportation. They “are often largely ignored in the planning, design, and operation of roads, while road traffic injuries and deaths disproportionately affect lower socioeconomic groups,” added the World Resources Institute, a global research center. Officials said people often travel on the backs of trucks, a practice that, combined with the road’s sharp curves and steep slopes, contributed to the accident’s severity. The road’s hazardous nature has made it a frequent site of major accidents, according to investigators. The post Scores Killed In Ethiopia As Truck Crashes After Wedding appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Preparations were underway Monday for an upcoming state funeral in Washington for Jimmy Carter, the Democratic president who died Sunday at 100, leaving behind a legacy of Christian-faith-inspired works and efforts to reach peace in the Middle East and other areas. U.S. President Joe Biden said he ordered the state funeral in the nation’s capital to remember “an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian.” Biden separately designated January 9 as “a national day of mourning.” While the White House didn’t immediately announce specific plans, experts said state funerals for presidents usually include lying in state at the U.S. Capitol and a memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral. The U.S. stock market has traditionally closed on the day of presidential funerals, although exchange overseers made no immediate announcement. Biden, President-elect Donald J. Trump, and former President Barack Obama paid tribute to his Middle East peace efforts and a long post-presidential run of humanitarian work by Carter, who won a Nobel Peace Prize. He passed away peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, the same age where he was born more than a century earlier as James Earl Carter Jr. on October 1, 1924. WISE SANITARIUM Carter came to the world at the Wise Sanitarium, where his mother worked as a registered nurse, making him the first American president to be born in a hospital. Obama praised Carter for inspiring generations while teaching Sunday school at the Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains “for most of his adult life.” He also recalled how Carter, as president, oversaw the historic Camp David Accords signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978. The Accords, which included a peace treaty between the two neighbors, followed twelve days of secret negotiations at Camp David, the famed retreat for U.S. presidents. “He believed some things were more important than reelection – things like integrity, respect, and compassion,” Obama said in a statement. Biden’s statement, issued during his year-end vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands, included a tribute to Carter’s efforts to “eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his post-presidential work, which the prize committee described as “decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” On Sunday evening, Biden commended Carter for his courage and humility in remarks at the Company House Hotel in St. Croix. BYGONE ERA? President Biden called Carter a “remarkable leader”. He added: “Some look at Jimmy Carter and see a man of a bygone era. [But] I see a man, not only of our time but for all times.” Biden said he spoke with several of Carter’s friends and family members who were planning services. When asked if Trump could learn anything from Carter, Biden responded: “decency,” adding that “everybody deserves a shot.” The Trump transition team didn’t immediately respond with a comment. Trump said Carter was a “truly good man” who “worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect.” “While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our Country and all it stands for,” Trump added on his Truth Social media platform. TRUMP CONTROVERSY Trump frequently brought up Carter during the 2024 election campaign, seeking to use him as a reference point for Biden’s presidency. “Biden is the worst president in the history of our country, worse than Jimmy Carter by a long shot,” Trump said at a campaign stop in Manhattan in April. “Jimmy Carter is happy because he has had a brilliant presidency compared to Biden.” During Trump’s first term in office, Carter criticized Trump, at one point accusing him in an interview of being “careless with the truth.” Yet Carter and his wife attended Trump’s inauguration in 2017. Both are survived by their four children, Jack, James, Donnel, and Amy, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The post US Prepares State Funeral For Late President Carter appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent ZAGREB/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, a critic of the European Union and NATO aid to Ukraine, won the first round of presidential elections on Sunday. Still, he did not receive enough votes to avoid a runoff on January 12. Election officials said Milanovic, backed by the opposition Social Democrats, won 49.1 percent support after ballots from all polling stations had been counted. His primary challenger, Dragan Primorac – the candidate of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) – won 19.35 percent support. Despite his rhetoric perceived as populist, Milanovic is seen by Croatian voters as a counterweight to the HDZ government, where Thirty ministers had to resign for corruption allegations. Official data showed that some 3.8 million Croatians could vote for eight presidential candidates, including three women, but less than half bothered to cast ballots. Independent candidate Marija Selak Raspudic came third with 9.25 percent support. Though the post of president is primarily ceremonial, he has a say in foreign policy, defense, and security matters. Milanovic, known for his harsh criticism of the government, sent a reconciliatory message, saying he would offer a hand to the government during uncertainty. “My program offers everything that Croatia needs – unity, a better life, a care for the youth… a care for pensioners,” he said. The post NATO Sceptic Croatian President Wins Election appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – An exclusive report by Israel’s KAN News on Sunday revealed that Israel executed a commando raid in September on an underground Iranian missile production facility near Maysaf, Syria. The operation targeted two key sites: the Syrian defense industry’s Scientific Studies and Research Center and an underground facility operated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Israeli defense officials informed KAN News that Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center has been monitored by Israel for over a decade. The report further stated that after detecting Iran’s transfer of precision missile project components into the facility, Israel formulated operational plans to counter the escalating threat. According to the report, the decision to launch the strike was driven by concerns about the ongoing conflict and the potential for the Iranian missile factory to start mass-producing missiles. KAN News reported that the weapons from the raided facility were allegedly intended for Hezbollah. The operation, conducted around 200 kilometers from Israeli territory, was considered urgent to prevent the facility from reaching full production capacity, according to the report. The post Israel Conducts Covert Raid on Iranian Missile Site in Syria appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is alert and recuperating following successful prostate surgery at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, according to a late Sunday statement from his office. The statement also noted that the prime minister has been transferred to a fortified recovery ward underground. “The surgery ended successfully without complications,” announced the Prime Minister’s office. “The prime minister has woken up, is in good condition and is completely conscious.” He will remain under observation in the fortified recovery ward for several days. On Sunday, Netanyahu’s defense attorney asked the Jerusalem District Court to cancel this week’s scheduled hearings where the premier was set to testify in his criminal defense trial. The court promptly granted the request and announced that the hearings are slated to resume the following week, on Monday, January 6. They also expressed wishes for the prime minister’s complete recovery. The post Netanyahu Recuperates Following Successful Prostate Surgery appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BUDAPEST/JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Worthy News) -Jimmy Carter, the dedicated Christian who was America’s 39th president and won the Nobel Peace Prize, has died at age 100, his son says. Friends and commentators remembered him on Sunday as a president whose term was beset by crises while in office. Carter brought together Israel and Egypt with the Camp David Accords. However, his time in office was marked by a slumping economy and a hostage crisis in Iran. During the Carter presidency, some 53 United States diplomats and citizens were held hostage in Tehran from November 4, 1979, to their release on January 20, 1981. All of the hostages were released the day U.S. President Ronald Reagan was inaugurated. At the same time, the U.S. unfroze $8 billion in Iranian assets. Although Carter’s presidency was remembered by critics more for its failures than successes, his post-presidency was seen by friends and foes many as a model for future chief executives. DYING AT HOME He passed away peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday, the Carter Center said. “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” added Chip Carter, the former president’s son. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs,” he stressed. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs,” Chip Carter added in an emotionally charged statement. A Democrat, Jimmy Carter served as president from January 1977 to January 1981 after defeating incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford in the 1976 U.S. election. Carter was swept from office four years later in an electoral landslide as voters embraced Republican challenger Reagan, the former actor and California governor. Yet, a dedicated Christian, Carter continued as a Bible teacher and missionary, supporting faith-based organizations such as Habitat for Humanity (HfH), which built homes for the homeless. A Worthy News reporter recalled an encounter with Carter, who was working for HfH in Hungary shortly after the collapse of Communism. TWO DEDICATED HUMANITARIANS “We have been deeply honored to have two of the world’s most distinguished humanitarians as dedicated Habitat volunteers for more than 35 years,” HfH said. “Throughout their involvement with the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter were tireless advocates, active fundraisers, and some of our best hands-on construction volunteers.” In 2002, Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts “to promote human rights and resolve conflicts” worldwide, from Ethiopia and Eritrea to Bosnia and Haiti. Some of that work also started during his presidency: Earlier this year, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said, “The Hungarian nation would always think of Carter as the U.S. president who had returned the Holy Crown, the symbol of Hungary’s 100-year statehood and Christian tradition,” to Hungary. Carter decided to return to Budapest “the Crown of King St. Stephen”, which had been in American custody since the last days of World War II, to improve relations with then Communist-run Hungary. Orbán said Carter had shown “brave commitment” to the Hungarian nation, which Russian forces had occupied for decades. He congratulated former U.S. Carter on his 100th birthday this year, saying he was “proud to join thousands worldwide on this significant day in expressing my respect and appreciation of a family man, a devoted Christian, and a unique life journey.” HOLDING ‘SPECIAL PLACE’ Orbán said Carter held a “special place” in the hearts of Hungarians, having earned their respect and “won our hearts.” He added that the former president had shown “brave commitment” to the Hungarian nation, which Russian forces had occupied for decades. In recent years, Carter has experienced several health issues, including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. Carter decided to receive hospice care in February 2023 instead of undergoing additional medical intervention. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, died on November 19, 2023, at age 96. He looked frail when he attended her memorial service and funeral in a wheelchair. As the nation reflects on his legacy, specifically that of his faith, Maranatha Baptist Church deacon Zac Steele recalled Carter attending the Plains, Georgia, church where he famously taught Sunday School. “He paid attention to people,” Steele said. “If people think it was a theatrical show for many years for him to just use the church as a platform to speak, that is absolutely false.” STRONG CHRISTIAN FAITH The former peanut farmer-turned-world-famous leader had a strong faith in Christ. As the son of a church deacon who taught Sunday school and was baptized at age 11, Carter experienced a Christian conversion in 1967 that, he said, became the basis for his social and political ethic. Following his 1966 defeat in Georgia’s gubernatorial election, Carter said at the time he came to realize “my relationship with God was a very superficial one,” He went on eye-opening mission trips to Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and continued to study theologians like Paul Tillich and Reinhold Niebuhr. “It was clear that he knew his Bible and he read his Bible very seriously and consistently,” said Randall Balmer, author of “Redeemer” and a Dartmouth College historian. “I think that shaped him in many ways personally but also politically throughout his career.” Carter would say he is now with his “Savior,” Jesus Christ. As the mourning began, Carter was remembered Sunday as a man who impacted generations in America and beyond. (With additional reporting from Washington and the Worthy News Europe Bureau in Budapest.) The post Jimmy Carter, 39th President, Dies At 100 appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – Members of the violent Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), continue to expand criminal operations nationwide, including in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Virginia. As the border crisis escalated under the Biden administration, a record number of Venezuelan illegal border crossers, more than one million, were reported and TdA violence expanded nationwide. Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members are known for violence, murder, kidnapping, extortion, bribery and human and drug trafficking and are linked to more than 100 law enforcement investigations nationwide. The following represent a few of numerous examples of confirmed TdA arrests. In the case of a murdered Ecuadoran national and green card holder found in a Stamford, Conn., hotel, authorities in New York arrested a Venezuelan TdA-connected couple illegally in the country found in possession of the victim’s belongings. They face stolen property, grand larceny and fleeing justice charges. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer request was placed on them, Stamford Advocate reported. The woman illegally entered in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and was released by Border Patrol agents; the man illegally entered as a gotaway, Fox News reported. “Our investigation revealed both parties are in this country illegally from Venezuela,” Rensselaer Police Chief Warren Famiglietti said. “Both parties are believed to be affiliated with Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal organization from Venezuela.” In New Jersey and New York, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continue to arrest confirmed TdA members; multiple news outlets continue to report on TdA members being arrested for allegedly committing gruesome crimes against Americans and migrants. New York City’s so-called sanctuary city policies have contributed to violent criminals being released onto the streets instead of being held in jail, critics argue. In a reversal of these policies, after President-elect Donald Trump was elected, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he will cooperate with ICE to target and remove the most violent offenders. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo says sanctuary city policies only create a public safety risk. “Sanctuary jurisdictions undermine public safety and put our communities at unnecessary risk,” Genalo said after ICE agents apprehended a TdA member convicted by a Bronx County Supreme Court of criminal possession of a weapon. “New York City and state leaders should reevaluate the policies that prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with ERO,” he said. “It is unconscionable this felon was running free in New York for the last three weeks when he could have immediately been apprehended upon release from local custody. Thankfully, through the due diligence of our courageous officers and our law enforcement partners, this individual was swiftly apprehended and denied the ability to reoffend.” He’s referring to one of eight illegal foreign nationals arrested by New York Police Department officers in March on felony weapons and drug charges who has an extensive criminal record and local jurisdictions refused to cooperate with ICE. The TdA member’s criminal history began prior to arriving in New York after he illegally entered the U.S. near El Paso, Texas, in September 2022. Instead of being detained and processed for removal, ICE released him into the country through a Biden administration Alternatives to Detention parole program. He was among the millions identified by ICE for removal, according to the latest ICE data. ICE ERO NYC agents also arrested a TdA member convicted by a Queens County Criminal Court of second-degree assault, with multiple pending felony charges. He also illegally entered the U.S. in Texas and in June 2022 was enrolled in ATD. Roughly one year later, he was arrested in New York multiple times on multiple felony charges, ICE says. ICE agents in New York also arrested a TdA member wanted by Peruvian authorities for conspiracy, assault and aggravated theft. He was also among the eight violent illegal border crossers arrested by NYPD officers in March on multiple felony charges, ICE states. In Virginia, Fairfax County Police Chief Ken Davis confirmed TdA members are involved in retail theft and several were arrested on grand larceny charges, ABC 7 News reported. A Virginia Fusion Center Intelligence Bulletin issued last month warns that TdA’s threat presents challenges for law enforcement in the commonwealth and TdA members have been confirmed in the Washington, D.C., Central and Northern Virginia areas. While the governors of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York don’t appear willing to work with the incoming Trump administration, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin earlier this month proposed a “No Sanctuary Cities” budget requiring state and local law enforcement officials to comply with ICE. “Criminals who are in the United States illegally will be turned over to ICE. We must stop the cycle of violence and crime that is being enabled by some local governments,” Youngkin said. “Virginia is not a sanctuary state, and we must be clear that we will not allow localities to become ‘sanctuary cities.’ If local governments turn their backs on their citizens in order to pander to pro-illegal immigrant groups, we will cut off their funding.” The post Violent Venezuelan Gang Expands Operations in Northeast, Mid-Atlantic appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, let the light break through! Judges 7:16-19 Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a shofar into every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and torches inside the pitchers. And he said to them, "Look at me and do likewise; watch, and when I come to the edge of the camp you shall do as I do: When I blow the shofar, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the shofars on every side of the whole camp, and say, 'The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!' " So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the shofars and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. When God called Gideon to lead Israel against their enemies, He wanted to show that a small army empowered by God was more effective than the largest armies. But notice how they fought – without weapons that an army would normally use. They fought with shofars and lamps! They fought with weapons that the world would consider ineffective, yet triumphed mightily over their enemies. They shouted as loud as they could, sounded the shofar, and broke the vessels that held the fire so that their lamps burst through with brightness. This breaking of the lamps of clay holds a powerful metaphor for us. If we too are "earthen vessels" holding the fire of God – the Spirit of God within us, then a "breaking" of the outer man is necessary for His inner light to burst through. Victory can come out of brokenness. Our old life of self, often called the "old man", when truly crucified and broken, will give way to the release of the Lord's Spirit of God in our lives. The death of our Lord has broken the power of our self-life since we were crucified with Him. Walking in that awareness brings light and victory. Friend, let the love, joy, peace, and all the fruit of the Spirit breakthrough in your life. Your old life of Self has been and is being broken, as Yeshua's victorious light shines through your earthen vessel this Chanukah season. 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 Georgia’s Pro-Western President Refuses To Step Down (Worthy News Radio) Georgia’s pro-Western head-of-state said Sunday that she would remain the “only legitimate president” despite a new leader being sworn in following a controversial election. Salome Zourabichvili made the comments amid a turbulent inauguration of her successor, a former soccer star who critics view as a far-right pro-Russian politician. At Least 179 Killed In South Korea Crash (Worthy News In-Depth) Authorities say that among the 181 people aboard the Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, all but two were killed after the aircraft crashed during an emergency landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday morning local time. Crimea Facing Ecological Disaster After Deadly Oil Spil Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula, annexed by Russia a decade ago, still faced an ecological disaster Sunday from a major oil spill, two weeks after two tankers were hit by a storm in the Black Sea, killing one crew member, Russian officials announced. Azerbaijan Says Russia Caused Plane Crash (Worthy News Radio) Azerbaijani government sources and survivors say a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. The United States also suggested that Russia was behind the crash, raising concerns about air safety in the region amid an ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. US Suggests Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Was Downed by Russian Air Defense The United States said Friday that it has evidence suggesting Russian air defense systems may have shot down the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan this week. Russia Accused Of Involvement In Air Crash (Worthy News Investigation) Russia’s aviation authority claimed Friday that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed on Wednesday “deviated” from its planned destination of Grozny “due to heavy fog and Ukrainian drones.” NATO to Bolster Military Presence in Baltic Sea The NATO chief announced Friday that the military alliance would strengthen its presence in the Baltic Sea following Russia's suspected sabotage of an undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia. South Korea’s Acting President Impeached South Korea's political crisis deepened Friday as the opposition-controlled parliament voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo despite loud protests by governing party lawmakers. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Conducts Covert Raid on Iranian Missile Site in Syria An exclusive report by Israel's KAN News on Sunday revealed that Israel executed a commando raid in September on an underground Iranian missile production facility near Maysaf, Syria. The operation targeted two key sites: the Syrian defense industry's Scientific Studies and Research Center and an underground facility operated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Netanyahu Recuperates Following Successful Prostate Surgery Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is alert and recuperating following successful prostate surgery at Jerusalem's Hadassah Medical Center, according to a late Sunday statement from his office. The statement also noted that the prime minister has been transferred to a fortified recovery ward underground. Inside the United States Jimmy Carter, 39th President, Dies At 100 Jimmy Carter, the dedicated Christian who was America’s 39th president and won the Nobel Peace Prize, has died at age 100, his son says. Violent Venezuelan Gang Expands Operations in Northeast, Mid-Atlantic Members of the violent Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), continue to expand criminal operations nationwide, including in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Virginia. NASA Probe Calls Home After Close Encounter With Sun NASA Probe Calls Home After Close Encounter With Sun The U.S. space agency says its Parker Solar Probe has called home after it survived the closest human-backed approach to the sun in recorded history. Christian News Sri Lanka: Evangelicals Warn Government Proposal May Restrict Religious Freedom A national evangelical association in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka has raised concerns that a new government proposal may restrict freedom of religion or belief for minority faith groups in the country if enacted, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports. Pakistan: Middle-Aged Christian Woman Jailed for Blasphemy A 50-year-old Christian woman in Punjab Province, Pakistan has been jailed after being charged with committing blasphemy by allegedly burning books containing Islamic scripture, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Pakistan: Hope for Christian Youth Jailed on Blasphemy Charges A 17-year-old Christian youth who is incarcerated in Punjab Province, Pakistan has been granted bail in one of three cases against him of blasphemy - although he will remain in prison over Christmas because of the remaining two cases, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News TBILISI/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Georgia’s pro-Western head-of-state said Sunday that she would remain the “only legitimate president” despite a new leader being sworn in following a controversial election. Salome Zourabichvili made the comments amid a turbulent inauguration of her successor, a former soccer star who critics view as a far-right pro-Russian politician. https://www.worthynews.com/wordpressimages/2024/12/WorthyNewsRadioDec29.mp3 Despite opposition protests, Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former soccer player turned politician, was sworn in as Georgia’s president in parliament. The 53-year-old former Kavelashvili was popular as a player for the English soccer team Manchester City in the 1990s. But that changed when he joined politics as a legislator of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which critics say has become increasingly far-right and authoritarian. He was also the only candidate to become the country’s head of state. For the first time, the president was chosen not by a national election but in parliament by a direct ballot of a 300-member electoral college comprised of legislators and local government delegates. Because the four main opposition groups have boycotted parliament since October’s disputed legislative elections, Kavelashvili was sure to win. Election officials said Kavelashvili’s Georgian Dream party won the October elections, but its declared victory was overshadowed by fraud allegations, prompting massive protests. GEORGIAN TRADITIONS After taking the oath, Kavelashvili praised Georgian “traditions, values, national identity, the sanctity of the family, and faith.” He added, “Our history clearly shows that, after countless struggles to defend our homeland and traditions, peace has always been one of the main goals and values for the Georgian people.” Yet outside, the ousted President Zourabichvili refused to step down. She made clear to thousands of supporters that she was not in a hurry to hand over the keys to the presidential palace, saying that she would remain with the people, whether outside or inside the palace. She clarified that the palace would remain empty as long as there was, in her words, “no legitimate president.” She added, “I am the only legitimate president.” The political standoff underscored broader tensions between the Georgian Dream and pro-Western opposition. Georgian Dream legislators passed Russian-style laws targeting media and non-government groups that receive foreign funding and the LGBT community. WESTERN SANCTIONS It refused to join Western sanctions on Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and called the West the “global war party.” Critics said that made “a mockery” of Georgia’s stated aim of joining the EU and NATO military alliance. Opinion polls show that most Georgians back the country’s path to the EU, which is part of the constitution. But in November, the country’s ruling party said the government would not seek EU accession talks until 2028. It has led to ongoing protests and mounting concerns that Georgia’s New Year will be far from happy amid social and political upheaval. The post Georgia’s Pro-Western President Refuses To Step Down (Worthy News Radio) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MUAN (Worthy News) – Authorities say that among the 181 people aboard the Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, all but two were killed after the aircraft crashed during an emergency landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday morning local time. The death toll would mark South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster and the first major casualty incident involving a low-cost carrier in the country’s history. South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, arrived at Muan International Airport at 12:55 p.m. local time to oversee the response to the disaster. At the crash site, Choi said, “No words of consolation will be enough for the families who have suffered such a tragedy.” He promised full government support for bereaved families. He arrived while rescue teams continued to search the wreckage, where more bodies remained inside the fuselage. Two survivors, one passenger and one crew member, were pulled from the tail section and received treatment at a nearby hospital, officials said. The deadly crash occurred when the Boeing 737-800 attempted a belly landing at around 9:03 a.m. local time after its landing gear reportedly failed to deploy, witnesses said. Witnesses reported hearing loud “bang” noises before the aircraft struck the airport’s perimeter wall, breaking into two pieces and bursting into flames. Local broadcaster MBC aired footage that appeared to show a bird strike incident as the plane was descending. Although an investigation into the cause of the crash was ongoing, Jeju Air chief executive Kim E-bae had already issued an official apology and said he was praying for the victims. “First, we bow our heads in apology to everyone who has trusted Jeju Air. At approximately 9:03 AM on 29 December, flight 7C2216 from Bangkok to Muan caught fire while landing at Muan International Airport,” he stressed in a statement monitored by Worthy News. DEEPEST CONDOLENCES “Above all, we express our deepest condolences and apologies to the families of the passengers who lost their lives in this accident. At present, the cause of the accident is difficult to determine, and we must await the official investigation results from the relevant government agencies.” Yet, “Regardless of the cause, as CEO, I feel profound responsibility for this incident. Jeju Air will do everything possible to manage this accident promptly and support the families of those aboard. We will also do our utmost to determine the cause of the accident in cooperation with the government.” He added, “Once again, we pray for those who lost their lives in this accident and offer our deepest apologies to their bereaved families.” As the extent of the tragedy became clear, Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was among the first world leaders to express her condolences to the families of the deceased and injured on the social media platform x. Shinawatra said she asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate “whether Thai passengers were on this plane and what the current situation is.” Earlier reports indicated two passengers onboard the Jeju Air flight were Thai nationals. Ambassadors from around the world also offered messages of condolence. Philip Goldberg, the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, said on social media: “I was heartbroken to hear about the tragedy at Muan Airport this morning. My sincerest condolences go out to the victims and their loved ones, and my thoughts are with the people of Korea during this difficult time.” THOUGHTS, PRAYERS German ambassador to South Korea Georg Schmidt agreed, writing: “Very best wishes for the injured and all involved in the rescue efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with South Korea.” British Ambassador to South Korea Colin Crooks wrote: “Deepest condolences to the families of those who perished in this morning’s dreadful air accident at Muan.” It came as an economic setback as the South Korean government reportedly designated Muan an enterprise city for the Honam (Southwest) region, where South Korea and China have reportedly agreed to develop an industrial complex in a joint venture. The crash was considered the first significant test for the acting president, Choi Sang-mok. He assumed office on Friday after South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach the previous acting president, Han Duck-soo. Han had served as interim leader following the impeachment of then-president Yoon Suk Yeol earlier this month over his controversial martial law declaration. SHORT-LIVED DECLARATION The short-lived declaration roiled the country, with mass protests on Saturday calling for Yoon’s removal. South Korea’s impeachment process means Yoon has been “suspended from his duties” while a constitutional court decides whether to confirm his impeachment. If it does, he will be permanently removed from office. The crash in South Korea is the second major plane disaster known to the world after the Christmas Day crash involving Azerbaijan Airlines. That tragedy killed 38 of the 67 passengers on board during an emergency landing in Kazakhstan. Despite these accidents, experts say flying remains by far the safest form of public transportation. The post At Least 179 Killed In South Korea Crash (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula, annexed by Russia a decade ago, still faced an ecological disaster Sunday from a major oil spill, two weeks after two tankers were hit by a storm in the Black Sea, killing one crew member, Russian officials announced. One tanker sank, and another ran aground on December 15 in the Kerch strait between Russia and Crimean, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency. One crew member was killed after the Volgoneft 212 split in half, with 12 rescued, while all 14 crew aboard the Volgoneft 239, which ran aground 80 meters (262 feet) from the shore near the port of Taman, were also rescued, according to officials. Both ships reportedly carried mazut, a low-grade heavy fuel oil used in various applications across the former Soviet Union and Iran, which they were transporting for the Russian Navy. As the cleanup operation was underway, Russian President Vladimir Putin already called the oil spill an “ecological disaster” in a region that he claims is under full control of Russia. Thousands of volunteers were mobilized for clean-up operations, but some Russian scientists and environmentalists criticized this as “insufficient.” Natalia Gozak, director of the Greenpeace Ukraine group, warned that the environmental impact could be compared to the wide-scale flooding caused by the June 2023 explosion at the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine while it was under Russian control. LARGE ZONE Experts said the dam’s destruction flooded a zone the size of Kyiv, the capital, wiping out wildlife and more than half a million hectares of natural habitats. According to authorities, the tankers in this month’s disaster had 9,200 tonnes of fuel oil on board, about 40 percent of which was feared to have spilled into the sea. “The situation is truly critical,” acknowledged the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov. “It is unfortunately impossible to calculate for the moment the extent of the environmental damage, but specialists are working regularly on it,” he said. The Moscow-installed governor of Crimea, Sergei Aksionov, said on the social media platform Telegram he had declared a state of emergency “because of the oil products spill in the Kerch strait.” On Saturday, Russia’s transport ministry said that “all polluted aquatic areas that have been identified have been cleaned” and “no recurring pollution has been detected.” But the emergency situations minister, Alexander Kurenkov, was more cautious. He said: “The threat of a new fuel oil leak in the Black Sea from the tankers and spills on the coast persists.” The disaster further raised concerns in Kyiv, which still hasn’t given up hope, at least publicly, that Crimea will one day be “returned” to Ukraine. The post Crimea Facing Ecological Disaster After Deadly Oil Spil appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BAKU/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Azerbaijani government sources and survivors say a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. The United States also suggested that Russia was behind the crash, raising concerns about air safety in the region amid an ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. https://www.worthynews.com/wordpressimages/2024/12/WorthyNewsRadioDec28.mp3 Azerbaijani government officials say a Russian missile was fired at Flight 8432 during drone air activity above Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechnya region. Azerbaijan Airlines suggested that the crash, in which scores of people died, occurred due to what it called “external physical and technical interference.” The United States said Friday that it, too, has evidence suggesting Russian air defense systems may have shot down the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan this week. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the evidence went beyond circulated images of the damaged aircraft Shrapnel apparently hit the passengers and cabin crew as it exploded next to the aircraft mid-flight. Footage showed that passengers appeared to pray and prepare for a crash. DAMAGED AIRCRAFT Azerbaijani government officials said the damaged aircraft was not allowed to land at any Russian airports despite the pilot’s requests for an emergency landing. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus. But without any possibility of coming down safely in Russia, the pilot attempted to land in Kazakhstan. But that went wrong. After crossing the Caspian Sea, the plane went down about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the city of Aktau, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. Witnesses were in shock. As the investigation continued, Azerbaijan observed a national “day of mourning” for the victims of the tragedy, which also left all 29 survivors injured. DEVIATION CLAIMS Russia’s aviation authority claimed Friday that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed on Wednesday “deviated” from its planned destination of Grozny “due to heavy fog and Ukrainian drones.” Moscow also said it wanted to await the outcome of an ongoing investigation. However, a growing number of experts seem to agree that Russian air defense systems were to blame in an area where Ukrainian drones are attacking Russian targets. It’s Kyiv’s response to Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Yet it has become clear that a growing number of civilians, including air passengers, have become victims of Europe’s deadliest conflict since the Second World War. The post Azerbaijan Says Russia Caused Plane Crash (Worthy News Radio) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – NASA Probe Calls Home After Close Encounter With Sun The U.S. space agency says its Parker Solar Probe has called home after it survived the closest human-backed approach to the sun in recorded history. NASA announced Friday that the spacecraft sent a signal following its successful attempt to pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometers) of the scorching star. The agency said it received an all-clear message from Parker on Thursday night confirming it survived the journey. “Flying this close to the Sun is a historic moment in humanity’s first mission to a star,” said Nicky Fox, who leads the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the sun, Parker has since flown straight through its crownlike outer atmosphere, or corona. Scientists hope to understand better why the corona is hundreds of times hotter than the sun’s surface and what drives the solar wind, the supersonic stream of charged particles constantly blasting away from the sun. “By studying the Sun up close, we can better understand its impacts throughout our solar system, including on the technology we use daily on Earth and in space, as well as learn about the workings of stars across the universe to aid in our search for habitable worlds beyond our home planet,” Fox stressed. It’s the fastest spacecraft built by humans and reached 430,000 miles per hour (690,000 kilometers per hour) at its closest approach. NASA said it is outfitted with a heat shield that can withstand scorching temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,370 degrees Celsius). “It both is our closest, friendliest neighbor,” NASA’s Joe Westlake explained, “but also, at times, is a little angry.” With its close brush complete, the craft is due to circle the sun at this distance through at least September. The post NASA Probe Calls Home After Close Encounter With Sun appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The United States said Friday that it has evidence suggesting Russian air defense systems may have shot down the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan this week. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the evidence went beyond circulated images of the damaged aircraft. “We have seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems,” he added. The White House announced that Washington offered its assistance in investigating the incident. “An investigation is currently underway involving Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan,” Kirby said. “We have offered our assistance with that investigation, should they need it.” The Azerbaijani government suggested that the plane was shot down. “The investigation will determine what type of weapon caused the external impact,” explained Azerbaijan’s Minister of Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, in published remarks. The crash on Wednesday claimed the lives of 38 of the 67 passengers onboard. Experts believe the damage to the wreckage indicates that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane was struck from the outside. Moscow said it wants to await the investigation’s outcome. Survivors of the crash in Kazakhstan also reported hearing explosions before the aircraft went down. “Witnesses stated they heard the sound of an explosion outside, followed by the plane being hit by something,” said Nabiyev, without specifying who might have fired the weapon. At the time of the crash on Christmas Day morning, Ukrainian drones were reportedly targeting the region where the plane was scheduled to land. The investigation is closely followed in the Netherlands, where many lives were devastated when Russian-backed forces shot down a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur in July 2014, officials said All 283 passengers, most of them Dutch citizens, and 15 crew were killed. Contact with the aircraft, a Boeing 777-200ER, was lost when it was about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the Ukraine–Russia border. The shoot-down of flight MH17 occurred during the war in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region over territory controlled by Russian separatist forces. The post US Suggests Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Was Downed by Russian Air Defense appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A national evangelical association in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka has raised concerns that a new government proposal may restrict freedom of religion or belief for minority faith groups in the country if enacted, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports. In a statement, the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) warned that the government’s proposal follows a circular issued in 2022 which requires registration for new worship centers, including churches. “Protestant Christian churches, but especially independent, evangelical churches across Sri Lanka, face uncertainty and potential infringement on their religious freedom due to the existing circular and proposed mandatory registration,” Mike Gabriel, head of the Religious Liberty Commission of the NCEASL, said in a press statement. “Often, churches are asked by the police and local authorities to either register or discontinue churches and religious activities.” “This undermines constitutional guarantees for religious freedom and non-discrimination in Articles 10, 14, and 12 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka,” Gabriel said. “Mandatory registration of places of worship undermines not only the freedom of religion or belief as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) but also the freedom of assembly and association.” “Often, churches are asked by the police and local authorities to either register or discontinue churches and religious activities,” Gabriel added. “The government of Sri Lanka should refrain from implementing any law/circular/cabinet memorandum making it mandatory to register a place of worship in the country. If registration is deemed necessary, there should be a transparent and streamlined voluntary process that upholds religious freedom and non-discrimination.” The post Sri Lanka: Evangelicals Warn Government Proposal May Restrict Religious Freedom appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A 50-year-old Christian woman in Punjab Province, Pakistan has been jailed after being charged with committing blasphemy by allegedly burning books containing Islamic scripture, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The mother of two children, Shazia Younis was arrested by Gojra Saddar police in Toba Tek Singh District, Punjab Province on December 21, MSN reports. She was accused by local mosque leader Atta Ul Mustafa of burning Islamic books outside her home in Chak No. 180-GB Mongi Bangla village. She was then charged under Section 295-B of Pakistan’s widely condemned blasphemy law with insulting Islam. Shazia faces life imprisonment if convicted. Hardline Islamists have abused Pakistani blasphemy laws to persecute Christians and this exact alleged crime has been brought against believers in the past. “Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws are often used to target minority groups, but Christians are disproportionately affected,” the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization explains in a 2024 website report. “Indeed, roughly a quarter of all blasphemy accusations target Christians, who only make up 1.8% of the population.” In a statement to MSN, Gojra-based attorney Haneef Matto said Shazia was sent into judicial custody on the day of her arrest. “According to their neighbors, Shazia’s husband Younis and her two sons, one of whom is married, have gone underground due to security fears. They are a poor family, and Shazia’s husband and sons earn a livelihood as daily wage laborers.” Ruled by an Islamic regime with harsh blasphemy laws, Pakistan ranks 7 on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post Pakistan: Middle-Aged Christian Woman Jailed for Blasphemy appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MOSCOW/BAKU/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Russia’s aviation authority claimed Friday that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed on Wednesday “deviated” from its planned destination of Grozny “due to heavy fog and Ukrainian drones.” Rosaviatsia’s statement came accusations that the aircraft had come under Russian air defense fire before it crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 of the 67 people on board. As the investigation continued, Azerbaijan observed a national “day of mourning” for the victims of the tragedy, which also left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for unclear reasons. Worthy News learned it soon crashed while trying to land in Kazakhstan’s southwestern city of Aktau. Azerbaijan Airlines suggested that the crash occurred due to “external physical and technical interference.” A survivor of the crash said he heard “a loud bang” as the plane began its descent into Grozny, Chechnya. “After the bang, the plane started behaving strangely,” the passenger said. “I thought the aircraft would break apart and that I would die.” AIRCRAFT DESCENDING After crossing the Caspian Sea, the plane went down about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Aktau. Cellphone footage showed the aircraft descending steeply before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said earlier that the pilots diverted to Aktau after “a bird strike.” However, the agency changed that narrative Friday after commentators alleged that holes in the plane’s tail section indicated it could have come under fire from Russian air defense systems fending off a Ukrainian drone attack. Both countries have been involved in Europe’s bloodiest war in decades after Russia’s military invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian drones had previously attacked Grozny, the provincial capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, and other regions in the country’s North Caucasus. DRONE ATTACK Some Russian media claimed that another drone attack on Chechnya happened on Wednesday, although it wasn’t officially confirmed. Concerns about air safety for civilian aircraft in the region prompted Osprey Flight Solutions, a Britain-based aviation security firm, to warn its clients that a Russian military air-defense system likely shot down the “Azerbaijan Airlines flight.” Osprey analyzes carriers still flying into Russia after Western airlines halted their flights during the war. The company’s CEO, Andrew Nicholson, said that Osprey had issued more than 200 alerts regarding drone attacks and air defense systems in Russia during the war. But those warnings came too late for those aboard Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190. Kazakh officials said the passengers on the airplane included 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyzstan nationals. The post Russia Accused Of Involvement In Air Crash (Worthy News Investigation) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BRUSSELS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The NATO chief announced Friday that the military alliance would strengthen its presence in the Baltic Sea following Russia’s suspected sabotage of an undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed the move on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, emphasizing the alliance’s “commitment to regional security.” Rutte added he had spoken with Finnish President Alexander Stubb to discuss the ongoing investigation into the damaged cable. During their talks, Rutte expressed NATO’s “full solidarity and support” for Finland in addressing the situation. “NATO will enhance its military presence in the Baltic Sea,” he stressed. On Friday, Stubb announced that Finland and Estonia had jointly decided to need an enhanced NATO presence in the Baltic region. He said the military presence would improve critical infrastructure protection and enforce European measures against Russia’s shadow fleet. The Estlink 2 power cable was damaged on Wednesday, with the Russian ship Eagle S. emerging as a prime suspect. As more details about the incident emerged, Estonia said Friday it had launched a naval operation to safeguard another vital power connection, the Estlink 1 cable. FINNISH FORCES Stubb said the Eagle S. might have caused “even greater damage had it not been intercepted by Finnish forces.” Finland is currently investigating the tanker. Stubb pledged that “if the probe confirms sabotage and identifies a state actor as responsible,” Finland will “immediately” disclose the findings. Separately, the European Union announced Friday it was preparing additional sanctions against Russia in response to the recent damage to international power and data cables in the Baltic Sea. The EU’s executive commission said these measures aim “to specifically target Russia’s shadow fleet,” a network of vessels allegedly used to evade existing sanctions. The Commission said the Russian oil tanker allegedly involved in sabotaging an electricity cable between Finland and Estonia is part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which “threatens safety and the environment while simultaneously funding Russia’s war budget.” In a joint statement, the European Commission and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the shadow fleet as a growing risk. “We will propose additional measures, including sanctions, to dismantle this fleet,” they declared. The proposed sanctions are designed to tighten economic pressure on Moscow and disrupt the operations of the shadow fleet, which often uses flags from other nations to obscure its ties to Russia, the EU said. MORE SANCTIONS With more EU sanctions underway and NATO expanding its presence in the Baltic Sea, Moscow prepared for a response that was due to involve energy supplies. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already warned that Russia and Ukraine will not finalize a new natural gas transit agreement for European supplies before the end of the year, warning that “Gas prices in Europe will rise again.” “There is no contract, and it’s impossible to finalize one in three or four days,” Putin warned in televised remarks. Worthy News learned that the current natural gas transit agreement, signed in 2019, will expire at the end of December. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his country would stop transporting Russian natural gas unless guarantees are provided the Kremlin “will not profit” from it financially while waging war against his nation. The move means nations such as the Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovakia will no longer receive pipeline gas from Russia and must turn to more expensive liquefied natural gas. Although the affected supply represents a small portion of Europe’s total natural gas needs, the disruption has already pushed prices higher in an energy market that remains on edge. NATURAL GAS Putin claimed that Russia “is ready” to supply natural gas to Europe through the Yamal pipeline in Poland. However, Poland terminated its transit agreement for the pipeline in 2022, effectively closing this route for now. Hungary, heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies, has condemned what it views as Brussels’ war-mongering. The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán supports U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump’s declared attempt to reach an “immediate ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine. Orbán says he seeks to end a war that is believed to have killed hundreds of thousands of people since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The post NATO to Bolster Military Presence in Baltic Sea appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A 17-year-old Christian youth who is incarcerated in Punjab Province, Pakistan has been granted bail in one of three cases against him of blasphemy – although he will remain in prison over Christmas because of the remaining two cases, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Akash Karamat, a student from a poor Christian family in Sargodha, Punjab Province, has been in prison since his arrest on August 27 last year, MSN reports. “Akash was accused of writing blasphemous posters and desecrating the Quran in areas of Sargodha, allegedly in retaliation for the Aug. 16, 2023, Muslim mob attacks on multiple churches and homes of Christians in Jaranwala,” MSN said in its report. Giving hope to his family that he may be released on bail for the remaining cases, on December 19 Akash was granted bail in the most serious case, one which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment if he is convicted, MSN reports. In a statement to MSN, Akash’s attorney, Asad Jamal, said: “Karamat and his co-accused, Zimran Asim, were implicated falsely in all three cases. Asim has already been freed on bail in all three cases, and we believe that Karamat will also get justice.” In a separate statement, Akash’s father, Karamat Masih, told MSN about the impact his son’s incarceration has had. “We’ve suffered a lot since the time police arrested Akash on these false charges. I used to earn a livelihood for the family through my tailoring shop, but after Akash was arrested, we were forced to close it down and leave our home to save ourselves from violence. We’ve been surviving hand-to-mouth since then.” Ruled by an Islamic regime with harsh blasphemy laws, Pakistan ranks 7 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post Pakistan: Hope for Christian Youth Jailed on Blasphemy Charges appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News SEOUL (Worthy News) – South Korea’s political crisis deepened Friday as the opposition-controlled parliament voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo despite loud protests by governing party lawmakers. The single-chamber National Assembly passed Han’s impeachment motion with a 192-0 vote, less than two weeks after suspending previous President Yoon Suk Yeol’s powers. Observers said the impeachment of Han, the acting president since Yoon was impeached on December 14 for declaring martial law on December 3, pushed South Korea’s once-vibrant democratic success story into uncharted territory. Lawmakers with the governing People Power Party boycotted the vote. They surrounded the podium where assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik was seated, shouting that the vote was”invalid” and demanding Woo’s resignation. No violence or injuries were reported. Han’s impeachment means he will be stripped of the president’s powers and duties until the Constitutional Court decides whether to dismiss or reinstate him. Friday’s vote added to uncertainty over the political direction of the strategically located Asian nation. It is a key ally of the United States, which has 28,500 troops there, according to the U.S. Congressional Research Service obtained by Worthy News. After the vote, Han said he was “saddened” by what the unfolding events “meant for the next generation” but accepted the outcome. “I respect parliament’s decision, and in order to avoid further chaos and uncertainty, I will suspend my duties in accordance with relevant laws,” he added. He cautioned that he would await the Constitutional Court’s decision to review the impeachment motion. The ruling People Power Party objected to Han’s opposition-led impeachment and said it had filed a constitutional petition. The post South Korea’s Acting President Impeached appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article