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by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A pastor and his wife in India’s Madhya Pradesh state have each been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and a $300 fine after being found guilty of forcibly/ fraudulently trying to convert a Hindu couple to Christianity, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party for almost a decade, India ranks 11 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted; prior to the BJP’s ascension to power in 2014, the country ranked 31 on the WWL. Pastor Ramesh Ahirwar and his wife Sakshi Ahirwar of Viveknagar Bhansa village near Sagar, Madhya Pradesh were arrested in October 2021, MSN reports. The arrest followed an accusation by the Hindu extremist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) party that the couple had abducted a woman from a neighboring village in order to convert her and her husband to Christianity by force or fraudulent means. The couple were convicted under the state’s anti-conversion law by a district court on March 11. “I am shocked at the conviction, the charges against us are baseless and utterly untrue,” Pastor Ahirwar told MSN. “I am not discouraged, because whatever is happening to us is according to the Bible. But, when we look at the children, we fear what will happen to them when we are sent to jail.” Madhya Pradesh is one of 12 Indian states which have anti-conversion laws that have been abused to persecute Christians and other minority groups. “Christians around the nation of India find themselves increasingly under threat,” the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization reports in a website statement. “This hostility is often driven by an ongoing belief among some Hindu extremists that Indians ought to be Hindu—and any faith outside of Hinduism is not welcome in India.” The post India: Pastor and His Wife Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Alleged Forced Conversion of Hindus appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – The Biden administration will pause its replenishment of the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves because oil has become too expensive, the White House said. Earlier in his term, Biden drained about half of the U.S. oil reserves down to their lowest level in decades in order to try to lower gas prices, which surpassed a record national average of more than $5 per gallon in 2022 before coming back down. Now, Biden’s effort to replenish those reserves have been stalled. Critics warn that lower oil reserves are a national security issue for the U.S. If the reserves are low when a larger war or crisis occurs, refilling the reserves could be much more difficult and certainly more expensive. “It’s pure insanity to watch the Biden Administration cut American oil production and then claim they can’t refill our critical reserve because of the price,” Daniel Turner, founder and executive director for Power The Future, said in a statement. “Joe Biden drained the SPR for political reasons, cut our domestic production for his climate agenda and now he’s leaving our critical reserve more vulnerable because he’s incompetent. As a result, Americans are paying more at the pump, more at the grocery store and our SPR is less full during a time of rising turmoil in the Middle East.” Biden has taken fire from Republicans for hindering U.S. oil production and lowering the reserves. The Biden administration has increased regulatory pushback for oil domestic production while raising ongoing concerns about climate change. “The Biden administration’s war on U.S. energy is crippling hardworking Americans and has led to our Strategic Petroleum Reserves being at their lowest levels since the 1908s,” U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Reverse course and restore U.S. energy dominance!” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Biden Cancels Replenishment of Strategic Oil Reserves appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – Federal leaders have warned all 50 state governors of “disabling cyberattacks” targeting water and wastewater systems nationwide reportedly being perpetrated by Iranian and Chinese state actors. The attacks have the potential “to disrupt the critical lifeline of clean and safe drinking water, as well as impose significant costs on affected communities,” Michael Regan, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, and Jake Sullivan, the assistant to the president for National Security Affairs, warned. Their warning came months after an Iranian government-linked group targeted a water authority in Pennsylvania because it was using Israeli-made technology, and after several municipal water districts in north Texas were the victims of ransomware attacks. The warning also came after millions of Americans’ identities were stolen last year by Russian cyber criminals whose information had been put into a MOVEit software used by federal agencies and state agencies in Louisiana and Oregon. Maryland’s Johns Hopkins University and Georgia’s statewide university system, among others, were also hit by the Russian hackers, according to multiple news reports. However, Regan and Sullivan identified “two recent and ongoing threats” posed by Iranian and Chinese cyberattacks targeting U.S. water systems. They said, “threat actors affiliated with the Iranian Government Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps” have carried out malicious cyberattacks against U.S. critical infrastructure entities, including drinking water systems. “In these attacks, IRGC-affiliated cyber actors targeted and disabled a common type of operational technology used at water facilities where the facility had neglected to change a default manufacturer password,” they warned. They also said a People’s Republic of China state-sponsored cyber group, Volt Typhoon, has compromised information technology of multiple critical infrastructure systems, including drinking water in the U.S. and U.S. territories. Its “choice of targets and pattern of behavior are not consistent with traditional cyber espionage,” they warned, adding that “Volt Typhoon actors are pre-positioning themselves to disrupt critical infrastructure operations in the event of geopolitical tensions and/or military conflicts.” The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s also published a report identifying in detail the strategies Volt Typhoon uses to target vulnerable systems, hack into them and steal information. It also offers ways for companies to prevent cyberattacks and mitigate damages. According to a recent Congressional Research Service report, federal agencies have attributed 30% of cyberattack campaigns nationwide to actors operating on behalf of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, and 30 to criminal actors seeking financial gain. Among the several tactics identified in the report, North Korean agents have targeted companies using blockchain technologies; Russians have targeted defense contractors to steal weapons and vehicle research and spy on communications; Iranians have spied on and stolen data from private sector organizations and the telecommunications, defense, and energy sectors; Chinese have targeted multiple companies and academic institutions to steal intellectual property and personal information. Ransomware, malvertising, hacks and leaks and money laundering were among the many crimes cited in the report. Regan and Sullivan called on state governors and local government leaders to “comprehensively assess their current cybersecurity practices to identify any significant vulnerabilities, deploy practices and controls to reduce cybersecurity risks where needed, and exercise plans to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a cyber incident.” They also pointed to resources made available through the EPA, CISA, the American Water Works Association, the National Rural Water Association, and the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Feds Warn Governors of Cyberattacks Targeting Water Systems appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, ChiefInternational Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – A U.S. court ordered Iran and Syria on Wednesday to pay $ 191 million over the 2018 Hamas killing of an American citizen living in Israel. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that Ari Fuld’s family and estate are entitled to compensation due to Iran and Syria’s “support for terrorism.” An armed attacker of Hamas, deemed a terrorist group by Israel and most of its allies, targeted Fuld on September 16, 2018, while he was shopping in the Gush Etzion Junction area in the West Bank enclave, investigators say. He was targeted by “a Hamas terrorist” wielding an eight-inch blade, court documents said. After stabbing Fuld multiple times in the back and neck, “the teenage terrorist” attempted to harm a woman at a nearby shop. However while injured, Fuld still managed to chase and “shoot the terrorist,” according to court documents. The court said it found “satisfactory evidence” that Hamas was responsible for the attack that killed Fuld, including online posts in which Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack. The court also found “the terrorist sought” out an “English-speaking Israeli soldier of American origin.” ‘TRAGIC EVENT’ “The stabbing that killed Mr. Fuld was a tragic event, and money cannot fully account for the harm that these defendants have inflicted,” Senior Judge Royce Lamberth explained. “Iran and Syria have, once again, provided material support to Hamas and thereby facilitated the savage murder of a husband, father, son, and brother to these plaintiffs.” Both nations actively support Hamas and lycee groups seeking the destruction of Israel. While issuing the massive 191 million dollars in compensation, the judge argued the “court’s ruling today cannot erase plaintiffs’ pain.” However, “it can begin the process of affording them due compensation for their loss,” he added. Both countries were unlikely to sign a cheque immediately amid growing tensions and conflicts in the Middle East. This week, Tehran vowed revenge for a reported Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria that killed at least a dozen people. Two Iranian generals, five Iranian officers, four Syrian citizens, and a member of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia were reported as victims of Monday’s attack, officials said. Others were wounded, and the consulate building was completely destroyed, according to several sources. The post Iran, Syria Ordered To Pay $191 Million Over Hamas Killings In Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, prepare for war! Isaiah 59:17,19 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak. So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in, like a flood The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Over the last week, tensions have escalated significantly following the assassination of an Iranian General and several terrorist leaders within the Iranian Embassy compound in Damascus. This week also coincides with the conclusion of Ramadan, during which there have been heightened calls from terrorist groups for attacks against Jewish and Christian communities. The war drums are beating ... and the question is -- how should we as believers respond? First, we have to win the spiritual battle that we're currently fighting! Whether you realize it or not, we as believers have been at war since we came to faith! "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Thus Paul instructed us in Ephesians. We fight against the kingdom of Satan. We fight with spiritual weapons; prayer, the Word of God, faith in His truth, and His power– these are not carnal weapons but spiritual. We are seated in the heavenlies with Him [Ephesians 1:20], and in His authority, we make our stand. The enemy's weapons are temptations, fiery darts of doubt and disbelief, discouragement, weariness, earthly pleasures. Thus the enemy distracts us from and disarms us in the battle position. But what soldier goes to war without taking the equipment necessary for war? A soldier on the battlefield without his weapons is useless and helpless and in great danger. So it is in the spiritual realm. We need to actively take up our spiritual armor and weapons to fight the enemy. And we have this promise -- when the enemy comes in -- like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall raise up a standard against Him! Are you ready to make your stand in this day? Friend, now, today, war is a very real threat in the physical realm – but it's already been here for millennia in the spiritual realm. So by all means necessary take up the armor of God today – stand with Him in faith and win your battle, one day at a time -- win the battle over your thoughts and your actions. YHVH Tz'vaot, "The LORD of Hosts" is with you, to strengthen, equip, and overcome; and His victory is assured! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX) (Baltimore, Maryland) Exciting news! My wife’s song, Rise Up, surpassed One Million views yesterday! People from all over the world, from the furthermost corners of the earth are hearing this song and being encouraged that God is still with us— He is still fighting for us! He has a plan and a purpose for each one of us who trust in Him, and that our battle is not in vain! All the glory to God! Thank you to each one of you who have listened, liked and shared! If you have not heard it yet, here is the link…. Editor's Note: New Videos -- Earthquakes, Al Quds Day and Imminent War | Israel Strikes in the Heart of Damascus, Cicadas, and Revival | Prophecy to be fulfilled, Ai, and Cern! | Star Spangled Banner, Eclipses, and the Red Heifer Shabbat!" Be sure to watch, share, and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! 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: We are planning our summer Tour so if you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World Ukraine’s President Lowers Draft Age As Death Toll Mounts With thousands dying on the battlefields, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed legislation lowering the draft age from 27 to 25 to shore up the army’s dwindling forces over two years into the war with Russia. Thailand: Major News Channel Replaces Human Presenters With AI Reporters Amid worldwide debate about the effect of Artificial Intelligence technology on the global workforce, Thailand, this week, introduced its first AI reporters on one of its leading television news channels, the Washington Times reports. Taiwan Hit By Worst Quake In Decades; Several Killed, Hundreds Injured At least nine people were killed, 900 injured, and dozens of buildings damaged in Taiwan’s most powerful earthquake in 25 years, authorities said Wednesday. Turkey’s President Faces Political Setback Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faced his most significant political challenge in recent memory Tuesday as official results confirmed that his party suffered its worst defeat in more than two decades in this weekend’s local elections. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Iran, Syria Ordered To Pay $191 Million Over Hamas Killings In Israel A U.S. court ordered Iran and Syria on Wednesday to pay $ 191 million over the 2018 Hamas killing of an American citizen living in Israel. Iran and Hezbollah Vow To “Punish” Israel for Strike that Killed Top IRGC General Sworn to the destruction of Israel, the Islamic regime in Iran and the Hezbollah Islamic terror group in Lebanon promised Tuesday they will “punish” Israel for Monday’s air strike on Tehran’s consulate in Syria which killed a top general from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and six other people, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Inside the United States Biden Cancels Replenishment of Strategic Oil Reserves The Biden administration will pause its replenishment of the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves because oil has become too expensive, the White House said. Feds Warn Governors of Cyberattacks Targeting Water Systems Federal leaders have warned all 50 state governors of “disabling cyberattacks” targeting water and wastewater systems nationwide reportedly being perpetrated by Iranian and Chinese state actors. Four Pro-Life Activists Face Prison After Convictions For Blocking Access To Abortion Clinic Four pro-life activists face a potential prison term and/or a fine after being convicted Tuesday of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act by blocking access to an abortion clinic in Tennessee in 2021. Christian News Christian Kenyan Traders Killed In Somalia For Evangelizing Among Muslims Six Kenyan traders were shot dead in Somalia by suspected Islamic fighters for spreading their faith in Christ among Muslims, Christians said Monday. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – With thousands dying on the battlefields, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed legislation lowering the draft age from 27 to 25 to shore up the army’s dwindling forces over two years into the war with Russia. Kyiv and Moscow have both faced heavy losses on the battlefield in Europe’s deadliest armed conflict since World War Two. However, Russia has benefited from a significant advantage in manpower, according to military experts. On Wednesday, Russia’s defense ministry claimed more than 100,000 people had signed up to serve in the country’s armed forces since the start of the year. Zelensky’s latest move will allow Ukraine to call up more people to replenish its reserves after volunteer numbers dropped. He said in December that half a million more soldiers needed to be mobilized to prepare for expected massive fighting against invading Russian forces this summer. The mobilization also comes as Kyiv suffered setbacks after Russian troops recently captured the strategic town of Avdiivka after bloody battles. In February, Zelensky said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, but U.S. officials estimate that 70,000 Ukrainians were killed and as many as 120,000 injured. 880,000 FORCES In January 2024, Zelensky said Ukraine’s armed forces numbered 880,000, but critics noted that he did not specify how many were fighting on the more than 1,200 kilometers long (745 miles) frontline in the country’s southeast. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said more than 600,000 of his troops are fighting in Ukraine, but he has not revealed how many have lost their lives there. A classified U.S. intelligence report released in December estimated that 315,000 Russian soldiers had been either killed or wounded since the war began. Washington claims almost 90 percent of Russia’s military personnel were put out of action at the start of the invasion. Kyiv says it urgently needs more military aid, prompting NATO military alliance foreign ministers in Brussels to discuss plans for a 100 billion euro ($108 billion) five-year fund to provide long-term military support for Ukraine. Asked if the figure was correct, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the framework was yet to be decided but added that Ukraine needed more money for many years. “Make no mistake, Ukraine can rely on NATO support now and for the long haul,” he added. The post Ukraine’s President Lowers Draft Age As Death Toll Mounts appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Four pro-life activists face a potential prison term and/or a fine after being convicted Tuesday of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act by blocking access to an abortion clinic in Tennessee in 2021. Eva Edl, Eva Zastrow, James Zastrow, and Paul Place were found guilty of blocking access to the Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee on March 5, 2021. The prosecution was brought by the Department of Justice and the one day bench trial took place at the Fred Thompson federal courthouse in Nashville. The defendants asserted during the trial that they had engaged in a peaceful protest against abortion, a practice they stated is contrary to their faith as Christians. They said they were at the clinic to peacefully pray and sing, and persuade women not to have abortions. A two-hour long video posted to Facebook showed a large group of protestors sitting and standing along a corridor inside the clinic, singing and reading from the Bible, and filming. The defendants were arrested after refusing to leave the clinic upon being ordered to do so by police. The DOJ asserted the defendants were not prosecuted for their beliefs but for conduct which violated the FACE Act. Signed by President Bill Clinton in May 1994, the FACE Act prohibits “the use of physical force, threat of physical force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure, intimidate, interfere with or attempt to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person who is obtaining an abortion.” The Act does not prohibit distributing literature, carrying signs, shouting, singing hymns or Counseling. The defendants will be sentenced on July 30. FACE carries prison terms of up to six months in prison and up to up to $10,000 in fines for a first offense. Those with prior convictions face the possibility of longer prison terms and fines. The post Four Pro-Life Activists Face Prison After Convictions For Blocking Access To Abortion Clinic appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Sworn to the destruction of Israel, the Islamic regime in Iran and the Hezbollah Islamic terror group in Lebanon promised Tuesday they will “punish” Israel for Monday’s air strike on Tehran’s consulate in Syria which killed a top general from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and six other people, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. The strike has been attributed to Israel although the Israeli government has not confirmed or denied it. Designated by the US as the world’s biggest sponsor of state terrorism, Iran supports the Hamas and Hezbollah Islamic terror groups which are fighting against Israel. As a major ally of the brutal Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad – another sworn enemy of Israel – Iran has a strong military and diplomatic presence in Syria. In a report Tuesday, Iran’s state TV said the Iranian regime’s Supreme National Security Council had met on Monday to decide on a “required” response to the strike in Syria’s capital city of Damascus, TOI reports. Among those killed in the strike were Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who led the Quds force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Lebanon and Syria until 2016, and his deputy, Gen. Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi. Five officers were also killed. Blaming Israel for the strike in a website statement, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: “The evil Zionist regime will be punished at the hands of our brave men. We will make them regret this crime and the other ones,” TOI reports. In a separate statement, Hezbollah said Gen. Zahedi had helped to “develop and advance” their “work” in Lebanon, TOI reports. “This crime will certainly not pass without the enemy receiving punishment and revenge,” Hezbollah said. The post Iran and Hezbollah Vow To “Punish” Israel for Strike that Killed Top IRGC General appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Amid worldwide debate about the effect of Artificial Intelligence technology on the global workforce, Thailand, this week, introduced its first AI reporters on one of its leading television news channels, the Washington Times reports. Thailand’s Nation TV news channel on Monday evening saw female AI reporter Natcha and her male counterpart, Nitchan, presenting the “Nation News Alert” segment, the Times said. “As a leading news station focused on innovation, Nation TV channel 22 saw an opportunity to use generative AI to increase our news presentation capability,” Apirawee Pichayadecha, Nation TV’s managing director, said in a statement. “We have used AI to create female news reporter Natcha and her male counterpart Nitchan, who will be the first news reporters in Thailand.” “AI reporters will help support the work of our editorial department, allowing [human] reporters to have more time to focus on gathering and verifying information,” Pichayadecha added. “News reporting by Natcha and Nitchan will be accompanied by automatic closed captions that will make viewers feel like they are listening to real persons.” Pichayadecha noted that China and India are already using AI for enhanced data processing and analysis in order to improve productivity and news quality, the Times reports. The post Thailand: Major News Channel Replaces Human Presenters With AI Reporters appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Worthy News’ George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos HUALIEN, TAIWAN (Worthy News) – At least seven people were killed, hundreds injured, and dozens of buildings damaged in Taiwan’s most powerful earthquake in 25 years, authorities said Wednesday. However, strict building regulations and widespread public disaster awareness appeared to have staved off an even more deadly catastrophe despite a 7.4 quake shaking the democratically-ruled island, witnesses said. The quake’s epicenter, initially estimated at 7.4 and later slightly heavier, was near Hualien, the city on the east coast of Taiwan on the Pacific Ocean with a reported population of nearly 100,000, local authorities explained. Besides those killed and nearly 730 injured Wednesday, dozens of buildings were damaged, prompting tsunami warnings that extended to Japan and the Philippines before being lifted, according to officials. Footage obtained by Worthy News showed at least one multi-story building in Taiwan tilting but miraculously still standing after the quake hit at 7:58 am local time. Rescue teams worked nearby and elsewhere as the quake damaged buildings and triggered landslides in several areas. The fire department in Hualien County said that “two buildings had collapsed and some people are believed to be trapped,” including in Hualien. DAMAGE SPREADING In a televised national briefing, Taiwan’s National Fire Agency said 26 buildings were reported “to tilt or collapse,” confirming footage seen by Worthy News. Train lines were damaged, and schools and workplaces were closed across large areas of Hualien Taiwan’s electricity operator, Taipower, said more than 87,000 households were without electricity. Witnesses said violent shaking was felt in Taipei, with aftershocks continuing throughout the day. The city’s subway service was briefly suspended, and some offices and schools said they would send staff home for the day. TSMC, Taiwan’s leading manufacturer of advanced chips, responsible for producing most of the world’s advanced semiconductors, also evacuated its production lines. Global internet monitor Netblocks said that internet outages were being registered in parts of Taiwan after the quake. JAPAN CONCERNED Amid the destruction, Taiwanese officials warned of more tremors in the coming days. “The earthquake is close to land, and it’s shallow. It’s felt all over Taiwan and offshore islands,” said Wu Chien-fu, director of Taipei’s Central Weather Administration’s Seismology Center, in published remarks. As the disaster unfolded, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said his nation stood ready to provide any assistance necessary to Taiwan. Kishida stressed that he was deeply saddened to hear about the earthquake and referred to Taiwan on social media as Japan’s “neighbor across the sea.” No similar statements were observed from mainland China, which views Taiwan as its territory and hasn’t ruled out taking it by force. Taiwanese authorities said the quake was “the strongest” since a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck in September 1999, killing around 2,400 people in the deadliest natural disaster in the island’s history. Experts called the scale “exponential,” meaning each unit increase corresponds to about 31.6 times more energy released. ATOMIC BOMB The destructive power of earthquakes escalates dramatically with magnitude: a Level 5 quake is like the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb that destroyed the Japanese city in World War Two. However, a Level 6 is comparable to ten such explosions. The Level 7 releases energy equivalent to roughly 32 massive blasts, highlighting the sheer force of these seismic events, Worthy News learned. The 7.4 earthquake in Taiwan is equivalent nearly 1,900,000 tons of TNT exploding. Officials are closely monitoring developments as strong aftershocks persistently jolt the island country. Following the major earthquake, there have been 13 tremors with magnitudes over 5 on the Richter Scale, and a total of 28 quakes exceeding 4.7 in magnitude within the last 12 hours. The 7.7 earthquake in Taiwan prompted tsunami warnings on the island as well as southern Japan and northern Philippines. However, Japan and the Philippines said they have since lifted their warnings. Yet Japan’s Meteorological Agency warned that aftershocks of similar intensity to those felt in Taiwan may be likely over the next week across the region. The post Taiwan Hit By Worst Quake In Decades; Several Killed, Hundreds Injured appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MOGADISHU/NAIROBI (Worthy News) – Six Kenyan traders were shot dead in Somalia by suspected Islamic fighters for spreading their faith in Christ among Muslims, Christians said Monday. The merchants were reportedly killed on Good Friday in the Somali border town of Dhobley by gunmen of the Islamic extremist al-Shabab group. The men had been selling plastic utensils and other household goods in the area to support their families and as a cover to evangelize among Muslims, well-informed believers added. “Our brothers had been doing business to support their families, but also sharing the love of Jesus Christ to the Muslims in Dhobley,” a Christian leader in northern Kenya said in published remarks. The leader spoke to the Christian news service Morning Star News (MSN) on condition of anonymity. “Two members of our church recently reported that several Muslims were secretly attending the evening prayers. This is probably what could have caused the al-Shabab to kill them for spreading Christianity in the area.” He identified the murdered Christians as Joseph Githonga and Simon Karimi of the East Africa Pentecostal Church, Peter Muthuri and Thomas Muthee of the Kenya Assemblies of God, and James Mwendwa and John Kathure of the Anglican Church. BROADER CONCERNS It comes amid broader concerns about Christians in Somalia. “The dangers of being a Christian in Somalia are extreme. Most, if not all, are converts from Muslim backgrounds, making them a high-value target for al-Shabab, a militant group that has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the country,” said well-informed advocacy group Open Doors. “If discovered, believers could be killed on the spot,” the group added. Open Doors has ranked Somali, a strict Islamic nation, number 2 on its annual World Watch List of 50 countries where it says Christians face the most persecution. “Somali society is overwhelmingly conservative, and leaving Islam is regarded in many places as a betrayal of the Somali culture and clan,” Open Doors stressed. “Christian converts face intense pressure from their family and local community, which can lead to harassment, intimidation, and even death. Even being suspected of converting from Islam to Christianity can lead to life-threatening danger,” the group added. Local police pledged to increase security following the Good Friday attack, but questions remained about whether that would prevent more violence. ATTACKS INCREASE Christians said various forms of violence and suicide bombings have continued for years, as have attacks targeting Christians. “This has led to many Christians fleeing for their lives, with some even opting to leave the country altogether,” Open Doors noticed in a recent assessment. Open Doors said it currently “supports Somali believers across the Horn of Africa through discipleship training and by equipping them to cope with severe persecution.” Yet it remains risky, with local authorities saying that attacks have increased along the volatile Kenya-Somalia border, Worthy News learned. Kenya’s involvement in the fight against terrorism in Somalia has made its citizens and troops a prime target for retaliatory attacks by al-Shabab operatives, according to experts. The deadliest known terror attack on Kenyan soil by al-Shabab fighters occurred at Garissa University College on April 2, 2015, where gunmen stormed the campus, reportedly killing over 140 students and injuring many others. The post Christian Kenyan Traders Killed In Somalia For Evangelizing Among Muslims appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ISTANBUL (Worthy News) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faced his most significant political challenge in recent memory Tuesday as official results confirmed that his party suffered its worst defeat in more than two decades in this weekend’s local elections. With most votes counted, Erdogan’s main rival, Ekrem Imamoglu, led by ten percentage points in the mayoral race in Istanbul, Turkey’s most populous city. His Republican People’s Party (CHP) retained Ankara, the capital, by a resounding margin and gained 15 other mayoral seats in cities nationwide. Yet the loss of Istanbul suggested a shift among voters demanding reforms analysts suggested. The nationwide municipal votes on March 31 undermined President Erdogan’s control after two decades of running Turkey, underscoring the NATO military alliance member’s deeply divided political landscape. It reinforced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as the president’s chief rival. OPPOSITION HOPES He reasserted the opposition as a political force and reinforced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as the president’s chief rival. “Those who do not understand the nation’s message will eventually lose,” Imamoglu, 53, told thousands of jubilant supporters late on Sunday, some chanting for Erdogan to resign. “Tonight, 16 million Istanbul citizens sent a message to both our rivals and the president,” said the former businessman, who entered politics in 2008 and is now widely touted as a likely presidential challenger. Erdogan, who in the 1990s was also mayor of his hometown, Istanbul, had campaigned hard ahead of the municipal elections, which analysts described as a gauge of both his support and the opposition’s durability. It was unclear whether the changes would impact Turkey’s Christian minority, which has experienced persecution and even killings in several parts of the country. Turkey had also faced international pressure to improve religious and political rights in a nation where journalists and other perceived critics of Erdogan’s perceived authoritarian style have been jailed. The post Turkey’s President Faces Political Setback appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM/TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Furious protestors were seen burning American and Israeli flags in Iran on Tuesday, just hours after Tehran vowed revenge for a reported Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria that killed at least a dozen people. Two Iranian generals, five Iranian officers, four Syrian citizens, and a member of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia were reported as victims of Monday’s attack, officials said. Several others were wounded, and the consulate building was completely destroyed, according to several sources. Gulf monarchies Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar condemned the strike as fears grow of a widening regional conflict. The 22-state Arab League group slammed Israel, saying it aims to “expand the war and push the region to chaos.” However, the United States, Israel’s closest ally, said Tuesday it did not know about the Israeli strike and played no role in the attack. Yet the Iranian official news agency IRNA said Tuesday that Iran relayed an important message to the U.S. late Monday, delivered through a Swiss envoy in Tehran. DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS Switzerland looks after U.S. interests in Iran, as Washington and Tehran have no diplomatic relations. IRNA suggested that the message made clear that Iran holds the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, responsible for the strike. It came as a U.S. defense official said that an attack drone was detected and destroyed by U.S. forces at Al-Tanf Garrison in Syria on Monday afternoon. No injuries and no damage to infrastructure were reported. The drone was near the base, but it was unclear whether it was targeting the base, added the official who spoke anonymously amid security concerns. With Iranian money and weapons, Hezbollah, as well as Hamas and other Palestinian groups, have been fighting Israel, which is conducting military operations in Gaza. Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah along the Israeli-Lebanese border have increased since the war in Gaza began nearly six months ago. Iran vowed to retaliate and said its Supreme National Security Council met on Monday to decide on a ‘required’ response to the strike. “We will make them regretful about the crime and similar acts,” warned Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei without elaborating. DIRECT ATTACK It was not clear if Iran would directly attack the U.S., risking a dangerous confrontation with Israel and Washington, or if it would continue to rely on proxies, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. As tensions rose, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who received a call Tuesday from Iran’s foreign minister, condemned the strike on the Iranian Consulate. He reaffirmed on Tuesday “the principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises,” explained his spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Guterres also said diplomatic personnel “must be respected in all cases in accordance with international law.” Israel had not commented on the strike, but the government has made clear it will crack down on “terrorism” and not allow anti-Israel Iran to develop nuclear weapons. There has been concern about the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, though Tehran insists it is for “peaceful purposes.” The post Israeli, US Flags Burned In Tehran After Israel Strikes Iranian Consulate appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, stand strong! Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. An official of a mission board, who knew it takes more than just desire to make a missionary, was appointed to examine a candidate for the mission field. He told the young man to be at his house at six o'clock in the morning. The young man complied and arrived a six o'clock sharp. The examiner kept him sitting alone in the room until ten. Then he finally came in and said abruptly, " Young man, can you write your name? A little taken aback by the simplicity of his question, the man paused. Before he could get a word out, the examiner blurted, "What, you don't know what it is?" The mission board official put him through a series of questions of that nature and then went to report to the mission board. "Okay," he said, "he will do." I tried his patience for hours and hours and he did not break down; Then I insulted him and he did not lose his temper. This candidate answered with patience, fortitude, and gentleness. His faith was vindicated by the very quality of his character. He will make a good missionary." Whether we realize it or not -- we all are in the mission field. Our patience is bound to be tested in ways we've never imagined and we'll most likely find it unfair and unkind at times. But standing strong in the Lord in the face of offensive treatment and enduring seasons of long-suffering is a testimony in and of itself -- and that will win souls! Friend, are you weary from the walk? Get your second wind! Count it all joy! You have endured much and you will see victory! Not only here on earth but when we meet the Lord! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX) (Baltimore, Maryland) Editor's Note: New Videos -- Israel Strikes in the Heart of Damascus, Cicadas, and Revival | Prophecy to be fulfilled, Ai, and Cern! | Star Spangled Banner, Eclipses, and the Red Heifer Shabbat!" Be sure to watch, share, and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! 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: We are planning our summer Tour so if you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World Israeli, US Flags Burned In Tehran After Israel Strikes Iranian Consulate Furious protestors were seen burning American and Israeli flags in Iran on Tuesday, just hours after Tehran vowed revenge for a reported Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria that killed at least a dozen people. U.S. Informs Iran It “Had No Involvement” in Israeli Strike in Damascus A U.S. official stated that the United States informed Iran it "had no involvement" and lacked prior knowledge of an Israeli attack on a diplomatic facility in Syria, which resulted in the death of a high-ranking Iranian general, Axios reported on Tuesday. Police: ‘Sixth-grader Killed In Finnish School Shooting’ A child has died and two others have been seriously wounded in a shooting at a school in Finland carried out by a minor, police said. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Knesset Passes Law To Block Al Jazeera Broadcasts In Israel Israeli lawmakers on Monday passed legislation that would shut down the Qatari state-funded news outlet Al Jazeera in Israel in the event the prime minister decides content being aired by it or other foreign media outlets “harms in a real way” the country’s national security, the Jerusalem Post reports. Israel’s Premier Says ‘Unintended’ Strike Killed 7 Aid Workers in Gaza (Video) Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that his nation’s military carried out an “unintended strike” on “innocent people in the Gaza Strip” that reportedly killed seven international aid workers. Israel: Ultra Orthodox Men To Be Drafted Into The Military Starting April 1, Supreme Court Rules Ultra-Orthodox parties are in “shock” following last week’s Supreme Court ruling that some 13,000 previously exempt Yeshiva students of army age must be recruited into the Israel Defense Forces starting on April 1. Inside the United States Florida Supreme Court Maintains 6-Week Abortion Restriction but Allows November Ballot Referendum on Abortion The Supreme Court of Florida upheld the state's 15-week abortion ban on Monday; however, it also allowed a pro-abortion rights ballot measure to proceed to a vote in November. Chinese Nationals Illegally Entering U.S. In Record Numbers Since 2021 The number of Chinese nationals illegally entering the U.S. – primarily single, military age men – has skyrocketed under the Biden administration. Trump Posts $175M Bond in New York Fraud Case Former President Donald Trump has posted a $175 million bond in his New York civil fraud trial, blocking the seizure of his assets while the case is being appealed. USA: Christian Foster Parents’ License Revoked Over Transgender Ideology A Christian couple who fostered children in Washington state have filed a federal lawsuit after their license to foster was withdrawn on the grounds of their stated refusal to relate to children on the basis of preferred gender identity rather than actual biological sex. Christian News Pakistan: Presbyterian Church Building Burned To The Ground In Suspected Arson Attack A Presbyterian church building in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan was burned to the ground in a suspected arson attack on Saturday, one day after a local Muslim threatened that he would not allow the congregation to celebrate Easter in their building, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Nigeria: Seven Christians “Brazenly” Slaughtered in Benue State Attack In yet another “brazen” murderous assault on Christian communities in Nigeria, Fulani jihadist herdsmen slaughtered seven people in attacks on villages in central Nigeria’s Benue state last month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Well over sixty thousand Christians have been murdered by Islamic terrorists since Sharia law and jihadism took hold in swathes of north and central Nigeria in 2009. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A U.S. official stated that the United States informed Iran it “had no involvement” and lacked prior knowledge of an Israeli attack on a diplomatic facility in Syria, which resulted in the death of a high-ranking Iranian general, Axios reported on Tuesday. On Monday, an Israeli airstrike near the Iranian embassy in Damascus on Monday claimed the lives of at least six people, including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a general in the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who oversaw operations in Lebanon and Syria. A U.S. official told Axios that the United States informed Iran it “had no involvement” and lacked prior knowledge of an Israeli attack on a diplomatic facility in Syria. Israeli and U.S. officials reported that Israel informed the Biden administration shortly before launching its air strike without seeking U.S. approval. A U.S. official noted that a brief Israeli notification had come as military jets were already airborne. However, Axios reported that Israel did not detail the specifics, such as the target being a building within the Iranian embassy compound. U.S. and Israeli officials expect an escalation in hostilities in the region between Israel and Iranian-backed terrorist groups. The post U.S. Informs Iran It “Had No Involvement” in Israeli Strike in Damascus appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The Supreme Court of Florida upheld the state’s 15-week abortion ban on Monday; however, it also allowed a pro-abortion rights ballot measure to proceed to a vote in November. In a 6-1 ruling, the Supreme Court of Florida dismissed a lawsuit against the 15-week abortion restriction, which was argued based on the privacy clauses of the Florida Constitution. According to the Miami Herald, “pholding the current law triggers a six-week abortion ban that legislators passed last year to become operative.” The law in Florida, which includes narrow exceptions for cases of rape and incest, will be enforced 30 days following the court’s ruling on Monday. Katie Daniel, State Policy Director for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, lauded the decision as “the victory for unborn children who have a heartbeat and can feel pain,” declaring that the ruling aligns with “the views of the majority of Floridians who want to protect babies and serve mothers and families.” However, in a separate decision, the Florida Supreme Court, in a 4-3 ruling, endorsed a November ballot initiative spearheaded by Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF), a coalition of left-wing and pro-abortion groups. Their 2024 ballot initiative to voters aims to ensure “no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider,” with an exception for the Florida Constitution’s clause on parental notification for minors’ abortions. Florida’s Republican Attorney General, Ashley Moody, appealed to the Florida Supreme Court to dismiss the voter initiative, arguing that its ambiguous wording failed to meet the legal criteria for inclusion on the ballot. Florida Governor DeSantis released a statement expressing his dissent with the court’s second ruling, maintaining his stance that the amendment’s wording is deceptive. Nonetheless, during the oral arguments, Florida Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz remarked, “The people of Florida aren’t stupid. They can figure it out.” The post Florida Supreme Court Maintains 6-Week Abortion Restriction but Allows November Ballot Referendum on Abortion appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – The number of Chinese nationals illegally entering the U.S. – primarily single, military age men – has skyrocketed under the Biden administration. Of the more than 140,000 Chinese who’ve illegally entered the country since fiscal 2021, one recently was apprehended at a Marine Corps base at the southwest border. El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino reported that Border Patrol agents “responded to a call from the Marine Corp Base about a Chinese national who entered the base without authorization, ignoring orders to leave.” The Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona, is not far from the El Centro Sector, which lies directly west of the CBP Yuma Sector. The El Centro Sector spans 71 linear miles along the border with Mexico in primarily desert and mountainous terrain. To its east is the Yuma Sector, which covers all of Nevada, a southeastern section of California and the western part of Arizona. The MCAS Yuma is where all Marine Corps tactical aviation units train, and is home to multiple squadrons, including fighter, air combat, and aviation weapons and tactics squadrons. A Naval Air Facility Base is located in El Centro, California, 15 minutes from the Mexico border and is a key training location for pilots. The Chinese national was “confirmed to be in the country illegally,” Bovino said and “his purpose and intent behind his actions are still being investigated.” Of the record number of Chinese nationals illegally entering the U.S. along the southwest border, the majority are entering California; at the northern border, the majority are entering in New York, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. Since fiscal 2021 through February 2024, 140,839 Chinese nationals illegally entered the U.S. nationwide, excluding those who evaded capture. In fiscal 2021, 23,471 Chinese nationals illegally entered the U.S. nationwide. This number increased to 27,756 in fiscal 2022 and to 53,700 in 2023. Current numbers are on track to exceed previous fiscal years, with 36,912 having been apprehended through February 2024. The greatest number to illegally enter in a single month was 8,518 in December 2023. From fiscal 2021 through February 2024, nearly 50,000 illegally entered through the southwest border. Nearly half that number, over 24,000, illegally entered at the northern border over the same time period. Of those illegally entering from Mexico, the majority are being apprehended in California, totaling a record more than 35,000, according to CBP data. In fiscal 2021, 263 Chinese were apprehended. By February 2024, fiscal year to date, 22,098 have been apprehended. The second greatest number have been apprehended in Texas of over 26,000 over the same time period, according to the data. Of those illegally entering from Canada, the majority are being apprehended in New York of over 10,400 over the same time period. In every state and sector, nearly all being apprehended are single adults. The majority of the single adults are military age men, officials told The Center Square. The post Chinese Nationals Illegally Entering U.S. In Record Numbers Since 2021 appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News HELSINKI (Worthy News) – A child has died and two others have been seriously wounded in a shooting at a school in Finland carried out by a minor, police said. The 12-year-old suspect was taken into custody after three other 12-year-olds were shot at the Viertola school in the city to the north of the capital, Helsinki, officials confirmed. Education Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson broke into tears when speaking to the media hours after the attack in a country where gun violence among youths is rare. The children had just returned from the Easter holiday when the bloodshed began early Tuesday. “One 12-year-old child will never again return home from school,” the minister explained. Initially, reports said three were injured, but one of them soon died, according to police. The suspect ran off as soon as police arrived and was eventually detained “in a calm manner” in the northern Siltamaki district of Helsinki at 09:58, according to investigators. The arrest of the boy was made without further violence in the Helsinki suburb of Siltamaki, 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south of the Viertola school in Vantaa district, police added. PASSING CAR A video taken from a passing car showed the suspect being pinned down beside a road in the area. It wasn’t immediately clear what motivated the suspect to open fire in a classroom early Tuesday. Children under the age of 15 are not criminally liable in Finland. The suspect has not been remanded in custody and will be placed in the care of social services after further questioning, according to sources familiar with the case. The suspect reportedly used a gun licensed to a close relative. Gun ownership is widespread in Finland, and children over 15 can have licenses to use other people’s firearms. The many firearms have been linked partly to a strong military tradition in the Nordic nation, which shares a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border with Russia. Worried about a possible armed confrontation with Russia, Finland joined the NATO military alliance in April 2023, just over a year after Moscow invaded Ukraine. Finland has long had one of the highest murder rates in Western Europe, but experts say those cases, often related to alcohol or domestic abuse, usually involve knives rather than guns. The post Police: ‘Sixth-grader Killed In Finnish School Shooting’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A Presbyterian church building in Rawalpindi District, Pakistan was burned to the ground in a suspected arson attack on Saturday, one day after a local Muslim threatened that he would not allow the congregation to celebrate Easter in their building, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. In a statement to MSN, Rev. Adeem Alphonse of the United Presbyterian Junior Church in Gujar Khan said a suspected arsonist had burned down his church building in the early hours on Saturday morning. “The huge fire burned everything inside the church, including holy books, the sound system, furniture and curtains, etc. Pastor Alphonse said. “We strongly suspect that it’s a case of arson, but the police and administration are trying to hush up the matter by terming it an outcome of a short-circuit in the electricity wiring.” The church’s congregation believes the fire was started by a Muslim known as Sheikh Ahmed, a businessman who wants the church’s plot of land for a plaza he is developing, MSN reports. Ahmed had come to the church on Good Friday and disrupted the ongoing service by trying to tear down tent coverings set up outside the building, Pastor Alphonse said. “When the police stopped Ahmed from causing unrest, he threatened our church elders that he will not let us have Easter service at any cost,” Pastor Alphonse said. “We resumed our Good Friday service thinking that the police would talk sense into him, but I was shocked when I received a telephone call the same night that my church was burning. Everything inside was reduced to ashes. When we checked the electricity wiring, we did not see any signs of a short-circuit.” Despite the congregation’s report to police that they believe Ahmed was behind the fire, City Police Officer Rawalpindi Syed Khalid Mehmood Hamdani said in a press statement it was caused by a short circuit. Nevertheless, investigations were said to be ongoing. Islamic-majority Pakistan ranks seven on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post Pakistan: Presbyterian Church Building Burned To The Ground In Suspected Arson Attack appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – In yet another “brazen” murderous assault on Christian communities in Nigeria, Fulani jihadist herdsmen slaughtered seven people in attacks on villages in central Nigeria’s Benue state last month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Well over sixty thousand Christians have been murdered by Islamic terrorists since Sharia law and jihadism took hold in swathes of north and central Nigeria in 2009. The recent attacks in Benue state began on March 19 and lasted through March 20, MSN reports. With no resistance from the Nigerian army or security services, terrorists targeted the Yongia Ukambie Tiev and Ukembrergya-Tswarev Christian communities in the state’s Logo County, Rev. Jonathan Adagbe, chairman of the Logo Local Government Council, told MSN. “The attacks were carried out by the herdsmen who were accompanied by a group of terrorists,” Pastor Adagbe said. “These herdsmen act brazenly and attack Christians at will and with impunity. No one dares challenge their terrorist acts; not even the military or other security agents are able to curtail their activities against Christian communities.” In a separate statement to MSN, Christian Community leader Joseph Anawah added: “The herdsmen, whom we believe are working alongside terrorists, attacked our villages for two days, beginning on Tuesday, 19 March,” Anawah told MSN. “The terrorists started attacking our villages at about 4 pm and continued on Wednesday, 20 March. So far, we know that seven Christians were killed during the invasion on our villages.” More Christians are murdered in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined. According to the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization, 4,118 Nigerian Christians were killed for their faith from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023. The post Nigeria: Seven Christians “Brazenly” Slaughtered in Benue State Attack appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Christian Wade | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – Former President Donald Trump has posted a $175 million bond in his New York civil fraud trial, blocking the seizure of his assets while the case is being appealed. Last week, a state appeals court gave Trump and his co-defendants 10 days to post the bond after reducing the amount he needed to ante up from the initial $464 million judgment. The bond Trump posted Monday was backed by Knight Speciality Insurance Company, according to court filings, which is part of a consortium run by Los Angeles-based billionaire Don Hankey. Trump attorney Alina Habba predicted that the former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee will be vindicated when the court hears the appeal. “As promised, President Trump has posted bond,” Habba said in a statement. “He looks forward to vindicating his rights on appeal and overturning this unjust verdict.” Trump is appealing a ruling by Superior Court Judge Arthur Engoron in a civil fraud lawsuit brought by James in 2022, accusing the judge of “errors of law and/or fact, abused its discretion, and/or acted in excess of its jurisdiction.” Engoron found that Trump, his company and top executives, including his sons Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, deceived banks and insurers by inflating the value of his family’s wealth on financial statements used to secure loans. He also ordered Trump and his co-defendants to pay penalties. The ruling also stipulates that the former president’s sons can’t serve as officers or directors of any New York corporation for two years. The judge also fined Trump’s sons $4 million each. Trump is required to file a surety bond to back the monetary judgment while the court considers his appeal. Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat who brought the fraud charges, had threatened to seize some of Trump’s assets if he didn’t pay the fines. If Trump doesn’t win his appeal, he will have to pay more than $450 million — with interest — from the initial judgment in the fraud case. The civil case is one of Trump’s many legal challenges as he campaigns for president. He is also appealing another verdict in New York after a jury awarded writer E. Jean Carroll $83 million in damages stemming from her defamation lawsuit. Last month, a federal judge approved Trump’s $91.6 million bond in that case while the appeal is considered. Trump has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the indictments are part of a politically motivated “witch hunt” to keep him off the ballot. On Monday, Trump took to social media to blast the bond payment, referring to it as “money I can’t use on my campaign. Just what Crooked Joe wanted. WITCH HUNT!” “The case was a fabricated ELECTION INTERFERENCE con job, so bad for New York, where businesses are fleeing & violent crime is flourishing,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “The Crooked Judge, to suit his narrative, valued Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, at $18,000,000, when it is worth 50 to 100 times that amount. He ruled I was guilty before he ever saw the case.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Posts $175M Bond in New York Fraud Case appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israeli lawmakers on Monday passed legislation that would shut down the Qatari state-funded news outlet Al Jazeera in Israel in the event the prime minister decides content being aired by it or other foreign media outlets “harms in a real way” the country’s national security, the Jerusalem Post reports. While the legislation includes safeguards to protect against abuses, the United Nations and the United States have raised concerns it may pose a threat to freedom of the press. Introduced by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, the decision to try and pass the law came after the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the IDF reported that Al Jazeera coverage of the war against Hamas in Gaza had been revealing the location of IDF troops in its broadcasts, thus endangering soldiers. The law provides that if the prime minister believes a media outlet is broadcasting content that threatens national security, he can ask the communications minister to bring a resolution to the government to block that media’s television broadcast in Israel and shut down its offices, among other provisions, JPost reports. In its report the Jerusalem Post listed a number of hurdles the law states must be overcome before a media outlet can be shut down in Israel: “First, for the government to approve the move, all of Israel’s security agencies must provide an opinion and present it to the government, including the “factual foundations” that prove that there is “real harm” to national security; second, the decision will only apply for 45 days, needs to be re-approved every 45 days, and expires on July 31; third, the decision must be brought before the president or vice president of a regional court within 24 hours, and the judges have three days to rule on “changing” the decision or limiting the period of its applicability.” The post Knesset Passes Law To Block Al Jazeera Broadcasts In Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Worthy News’ George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos JERUSALEM/GAZA CITY (Worthy News) – Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that his nation’s military carried out an “unintended strike” on “innocent people in the Gaza Strip” that reportedly killed seven international aid workers. https://www.worthynews.com/wordpressimages/2024/04/IsraelRegretsLoss.mp4 The strike that killed staff of the United States-based World Central Kitchen (WCK) led the charity to suspend delivery Tuesday of food aid to Gaza. Netanyahu said officials were “checking” the overnight tragedy “thoroughly” and “will do everything for this not to happen again.” Soon after, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, expressed his sorrow over “the tragic death” of WCK personnel. “Last night, an incident took place in Gaza that resulted in the tragic death of World Central Kitchen employees as they fulfilled their vital mission of bringing food to people in need,” Hagari stressed in English-language remarks. The dead were from “Palestine, Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom” and also included a US-Canada citizen, WCK confirmed. Hagari said he “just spoke to WCK Founder, Chef Jose Anders, and expressed the deepest condolences of the Israel Defense Forces to the families and the entire World Central Kitchen family.” INTERNATIONAL LAW He pledged that “a professional military committed to international law, we are committed to examining our operations thoroughly and transparently.” Though an Israeli investigation was still ongoing, the WCK already claimed that its staff members were killed in a “targeted attack” by the Israeli military. The WCK team was traveling in a deconflicted zone in two armored cars branded with the WCK logo and a soft-skin vehicle,” the charity explained in a statement. “Despite coordinating movements with the [Israeli army], the convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route.” Erin Gore, the CEO of the charity, said, “This is not only an attack against WCK, but this is also an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable.” The WCK said the strike came as its staff delivered food from its latest shipment to Gaza, where critics say “hundreds of thousands of Palestinians” have been “pushed to the brink of famine” by Israel’s offensive. Israel has blamed “Hamas terrorists” and their allies for food shortages, saying these groups are often taking away aid or selling it for prohibitive high prices at markets AFTERMATH UNFOLDING Yet, as the aftermath of the overnight tragedy unfolded, there was growing world pressure on Israel with footage showing the bodies of those killed at a hospital in the central town of Deir el-Balah. Several of them appeared to wear protective gear with the charity’s logo. The bodies of the aid workers were taken to a hospital in the southern city of Rafah on the Egyptian border. The foreigners’ bodies will be evacuated out of Gaza, and the Palestinian driver’s body will be handed to his family in Rafah for burial, according to officials familiar with the situation. As more bloody details emerged, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Tuesday the death of an Australian aid worker, Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom, saying his government expects “full accountability.” “This is a human tragedy that should never have occurred. That is completely unacceptable,” Albanese told media. Albanese said humanitarian workers and all innocent civilians “need to be provided with protection.” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski asked Israel’s ambassador to Poland for an urgent explanation. Sikorski also expressed condolences to the family of the Polish worker killed and to all civilian victims in the Gaza Strip. In Washington D.C., White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the United States is “heartbroken and deeply troubled” by the deadly strike. AID IMPACTED “Humanitarian aid workers must be protected as they deliver aid that is desperately needed, and we urge Israel to investigate what happened swiftly,” Watson said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Tuesday his country’s government was working to verify the reported deaths of British nationals in the strike. “These were people who were working to deliver life-saving aid to those who desperately need it,” Cameron stated. “It is essential that humanitarian workers are protected and able to carry out their work.” European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the attack and called for an investigation. “Despite all the demands to protect civilians and humanitarian workers, we see new innocent casualties,” Borrell added. Israel’s leadership has blamed Hamas for the human suffering, saying it was forced to launch a campaign to eliminate “Hamas terrorists” after their October 7 attack on Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken as hostages. Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 32,900 people, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The Israeli military has questioned those numbers and says more than one-third of those mentioned as killed were “Hamas terrorists” and their allies. Yet the overnight Israeli strike on the WCK group was seen by several aid groups as marking a significant setback to efforts to deliver relief by sea, a route that has been developed due to Israeli operations in Gaza. Cyprus, which has played a vital role in establishing a sea route to bring food to the territory, said ships that recently arrived were turning back — with some 240 tons of undelivered aid. The post Israel’s Premier Says ‘Unintended’ Strike Killed 7 Aid Workers in Gaza (Video) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A Christian couple who fostered children in Washington state have filed a federal lawsuit after their license to foster was withdrawn on the grounds of their stated refusal to relate to children on the basis of preferred gender identity rather than actual biological sex. Seasoned foster parents who cared for vulnerable children for nine years, Shane and Jennifer DeGross were told in 2022 that the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families had implemented new regulations requiring carers to call foster children by their preferred gender pronouns and take them to specific cultural events such as Gay Pride parades. The DeGrosses told the Department they were requesting the renewal of their foster-care license because they would “love and support any child who is placed in [their] home.” However, the couple said, they could not adopt the language and behaviors the Department required because this was contrary to their faith. The Department denied the couple’s request for an exemption, and refused to renew their license. In a press release announcing they had filed a lawsuit on behalf of the DeGrosses, attorneys with the Alliance Defending Freedom organization noted: “From 2017 to 2021, Washington state’s foster-care system served over 10,000 children annually. Due to a shortage of available care, children have had to sleep in hotels and, in some cases, the cars of case workers. An audit of Washington’s foster-care system revealed that these ‘emergency placements’ are ‘traumatic experiences for [foster] children.’” “Washington state officials are putting their own ideological agenda ahead of children who just need a loving home. Despite the DeGrosses’ faithful service as foster parents for nine years, the state disqualified them simply for having views that Washington does not like,” the ADF statement reads. The post USA: Christian Foster Parents’ License Revoked Over Transgender Ideology appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Ultra-Orthodox parties are in “shock” following last week’s Supreme Court ruling that some 13,000 previously exempt Yeshiva students of army age must be recruited into the Israel Defense Forces starting on April 1. A matter of longstanding contention in a country at continual war with surrounding enemies since its independence in 1948, Haredi men have been exempt from Israel’s mandatory conscription of all 18-year-olds. Young Israeli men are required to serve for three years and then enter the reserve forces, while women serve for two years. Up to now, Haredi students have also received a stipend from the state to study at Yeshiva instead of serving in the army: students received between 470 ($127) and 800 ($218) shekels per month from the state. With the government having been unable to pass a law exempting Yeshiva students from the military, Israel’s highest court ruled Thursday that, as of April 1, the state must begin drafting Haredi men. The court ordered the state to present an affidavit by the end of April explaining what steps it will be taking to follow through on the ruling. Moreover, the court ruled that, as of April 1, the state can no longer pay stipends to Yeshiva students who do not serve in the army. “[Hamas’s attack against Israel on] October 7 highlighted Israel’s need for a much larger army, which means the country no longer has the luxury to grant deferments to 13,000 able-bodied young men,” the Jerusalem Post noted in a report. In a statement to Israeli media, Barak Seir, a former adviser to Ariyeh Deri who leads the Shas Haredi party, said: “From the moment that the court ruled, the Haredi parties have been in utter shock. They were stunned by the ruling that funding will stop this Monday…This is the worst situation the Haredim have ever been in.” The post Israel: Ultra Orthodox Men To Be Drafted Into The Military Starting April 1, Supreme Court Rules appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article