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(Worthy News) - Turkey promised to help stem the flow of migrants to Europe in return for cash, visas and renewed talks on joining the EU in a deal struck on Sunday that the Turkish prime minister called a "new beginning" for the uneasy neighbors. Leaders of the European Union met Turkish premier Ahmet Davutoglu in Brussels on Sunday to finalize an agreement hammered out by diplomats over the past month, as Europeans struggle to limit the strain on their 28-nation bloc from taking in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. A key element is 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) in EU aid for the 2.2 million Syrians now in Turkey. The money is intended to raise their living standards and so persuade more of them to stay put rather than attempt perilous crossings to the EU via the Greek islands. [ Source ] Related News Stories: U.S.-Turkey Deal Aims to Create de facto 'safe zone' in northwest Syria Turkey and the United States have agreed on the outlines... Europe hit by migrant flood of biblical proportions Europe has been flooded by over 350,000 Middle East migrants... Obama Needs Just One More Vote to Seal Iran Deal Supporters of the international nuclear agreement with Iran moved within... View the full article

(Worthy News) - Pope Francis has told worshippers in a mosque in the Central African Republic that "Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters". He was speaking to Muslims who had sought shelter in the capital Bangui after nearly three years of violence between Christians and Muslims. The mosque visit was seen as perhaps the most difficult part of his Africa tour, a BBC correspondent says. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Pope Francis goes off script in Jerusalem and calls Muslims 'dear brothers' Pope Francis kicked off his Monday with a swing through... Pope Hosts Unprecented Prayer Meeting Among Jews, Christians and Muslims at Vatican (Video) Pope Francis hosted the Israeli and Palestinian Presidents at the... Can Pope Francis Bring Peace to the Middle East? Pope Francis' upcoming visit to Israel and the West Bank... View the full article

(Worthy News) - The International Monetary Fund is expected to approve inclusion of China's yuan in its SDR basket of elite currencies on Monday, rewarding Beijing's strong pursuit of the global status. The IMF executive board is scheduled to meet Monday to decide on the recommendation by staff experts earlier in November to include the yuan, also known as the renminbi, alongside the US dollar, euro, Japanese yen and British pound in the grouping. While not a freely traded currency, the SDR (special drawing right) is important as an international reserve asset, and because the IMF issues its crisis loans -- crucial to struggling economies like Greece -- valued in SDRs. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Yuan Set to Join IMF Basket in Step Toward Currency Big Leagues China's yuan is poised to enter the big leagues of... Currency wars in emerging markets hammer global stocks Developing world devaluations have sent global stock markets into a... Russia and China join forces in "de-dollarization" of currency reserves According to the statement made by Vladimir Putin during his... View the full article

(Worthy News) - The intelligence community was scheduled to stop collecting Americans' phone metadata Sunday — but still wants three more months to continue looking through the billions of phone call records it already has, as it tries to see whether its replacement snooping program is working. The secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is considering the National Security Agency’s request for continued access to the records, the director of national intelligence said in a statement Friday. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Congress sends NSA phone-records bill to president Congress approved sweeping changes Tuesday to surveillance laws enacted after... Government Can Need Not Turn Over Records in Light of National Security The U.S. government need not turn over a secret surveillance... House passes curbs on NSA phone surveillance In an overwhelming vote, the House moved the U.S. closer... View the full article

(Worthy News) - The Israel Air Force attacked Syrian army and Hezbollah targets in the area around Qalamoun in Syria overnight Saturday, Israel Radio reported citing Syrian forces. The Lebanese media outlet Almustaqbal reported that there were dead and wounded Hezbollah fighters in the attack which hit the area close to the Lebanese border. Last week, Israel reportedly attacked targets in the same area of Syria. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Israel Strikes Military Targets in Syria The Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck nine army positions in... Israel Air Force strikes Gaza targets following rocket attack on South The Israel Air Force struck two Hamas targets in southern... Syrian opposition: IAF struck Hezbollah, regime targets near Syria-Lebanon border Sources in the Syrian opposition claimed Tuesday that the Israeli... View the full article

(Worthy News) - President Obama's open-door immigration policy is set to accept more immigrants from Muslim nations over the next five years than the entire population of Washington, D.C., according to federal documents. Figures from the Department of Homeland Security show that the president has already issued 680,000 green cards to immigrants from Muslim nations over the past five years. Unless Congress changes his policy, that number will be repeated in the next five years. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Feds 'Dumping' Illegal Immigrants in Arizona, Gov. Brewer Says Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Friday she is "disturbed and... Border Sheriff Says Influx of Illegal Immigrants Like Hurricane Katrina Officials say that nearly a thousand illegal immigrants a day... Most Illegal Immigrants From Border Surge Skipped Court Date After Release Tens of thousands of illegal immigrant women and children streamed... View the full article

(Worthy News) - The Russian military has deployed its sophisticated S-400 missile battery and radar array in Syria, a Russian state-run media outlet claimed Thursday. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had announced Wednesday that the system would be deployed in Latakia, in northwest Syria, in response to Turkey shooting down a Russian warplane the day before. This nigh-impossible speed that would be required to bring in and activate the system in barely 24 hours has prompted some to question whether the S-400 system had been in place well before the Turkish military shot down the Su-24M aircraft, or if it is in place at all. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Putin's motives questioned as Russia targets pro-Western rebels, not Islamic State, in Syria Russian President Vladimir Putin, ignoring Washington, escalated his war in... Russia Deploys Tactical Nukes in Crimea Russia is moving tactical nuclear weapons systems into recently-annexed Crimea... Russia starts Syria drone surveillance missions: U.S. officials Russia has started flying drone aircraft on surveillance missions in... View the full article

(Worthy News) - The Islamic State has likely radicalized thousands of people in the United States, according to a new report, raising concerns that supporters of the terrorist group could be plotting domestic attacks similar to the recent shootings and bombings in Paris. The Threat Knowledge Group, an organization led by the counterterrorism experts Sebastian and Katharine Gorka, has compiled a list of 82 individuals in the United States who were affiliated with the Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) and apprehended by law enforcement officials, including those who traveled or attempted to travel to Iraq and Syria, launched domestic attacks, or participated in recruiting or fundraising. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Italy to Push for 'United States of Europe' Matteo Renzi, the Italian Prime Minister, said that Italy will... FBI Rounding Up Islamic State Suspects The FBI has been rounding up more potential "lone wolf"... Congressional Report: ISIL's Islamic State will be 'Launch Pad' for Attacking U.S. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) ultimately... View the full article

(Worthy News) - A number of anti-Israeli resolutions are expected to pass on Monday at the United Nations ahead of next week's anniversary of the 1947 UN vote to partition the British Mandate of Palestine into two states. Twenty resolutions are to be proposed at the meeting, including ones calling for the Palestinian right of return, placing responsibility for terror on Israel while disregarding the terrorism in Israel in recent weeks, and accusing Israel of changing the status quo at the Temple Mount compound. Israel will mark the anniversary next Sunday – but because that's during the weekend, UN General Assembly is set to meet this Monday. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Border Bill Expected to Pass House on Thursday House Republican leaders expressed confidence Monday that they would round... Netanyahu: Security barrier saves lives, anti-Israel incitement makes it necessary Israel wouldn't need the security barrier, if acts of incitement... U.N. Gaza Probe Panel Proves Anti-Israel Bias The head of the UN's Gaza probe, Canadian legal expert... View the full article

(Worthy News) - Fourteen air forces have begun operating in Syrian airspace as a result of Operation Inherent Resolve, the air coaliton against ISIS. The air arms of the Syrian, Russian, Israeli, American, Jordanian, Australian, French, British, Turkish. Saudi, Canadian, Qatari, French and Bahraini armed forces have all operated within the Syrian airspace since the operation's onset. The downing of a Russian Su-24 fighter bomber by Turkish Air Force F-16's, adjacent to the Turkish Syrian border on Tuesday, provided yet another example of the increasing complexity which has emerged as a result of the sheer number of combat aircraft operating above the failing state. The growing presence of foreign combat aircraft in Syrian airspace has created serious complications for regional air arms, which previously only had to contend with a bruised but not beaten Syrian Air Force. [ Source ] Related News Stories: 'Islamic State' Overruns Syrian Base and Beheaded Syrian Soldiers The Islamic State have released images of captured soldiers being... Pentagon Reportedly Preparing to Overhaul Syrian Rebel Force The New York Times says U.S. defense officials are drawing... Revival Breaking Out in Islamic Countries A revival is taking place in the Islamic world as... View the full article

(Worthy News) - Sources in the Syrian opposition claimed Tuesday that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) attacked positions and personnel belonging to the Syrian regime and Hezbollah in the area of Qualamoun, on the Syria-Lebanon border. The sources claimed that the Monday attack killed 13 Syrian troops and Hezbollah fighters and left dozens wounded, including four seriously. The report has not been confirmed by Syrian officials. An opposition website claimed that IAF planes circled the skies of Qualamoun, on the outskirts of Damascus, and made four sorties in the area. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Syrian Army, Hezbollah Launch Attack to Capture Territory Near Golan Heights Hezbollah, Syrian army forces and Iranian officers have drawn close... Hezbollah seizes hills from al-Qaida in Syrian province bordering Israel Hezbollah fighters captured two hilltops from al-Qaida's Syria-wing Nusra Front... Hezbollah says will attack Nusra Front inside Syria Hezbollah's leader said on Tuesday his Lebanon-based militant group will... View the full article

(Worthy News) - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization will hold an emergency meeting Tuesday after Turkey's military shot down a Russian jet fighter, and defended its action as one that fell "within the framework of engagement rules." An official told the AP that the purpose of the meeting is to "for Turkey to inform allies about the downing of a Russian airplane." Turkey reported that two of its F-16s shot down a jet fighter after it crossed into Turkish airspace from Syria and ignored 10 warnings over the course of five minutes to cross back into Syria airspace. Russia separately confirmed that one of its jets had been shot down by shellings from the ground. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Satellite Images show Russian Tanks in Ukraine, NATO says NATO provided new satellite images that reveal Russian tanks are... Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Head Plan Historic Meeting An historic meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of... Turkey Opens Key Air Bases for US Strikes On ISIS Turkey will open up Incirlik Air Force Base, about 250... View the full article

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Corespondent (Worthy News) - Christians in the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak are struggling against government-funded ploys to entice them to convert to Islam. According to Barnabas Aid, Christians have been resisting state-sanction Islamization strategies for more than 20 years. These strategies often include the promise of an education, which for poor farming families can lead to employment and an end to their poverty. The Malaysian government often sends Muslims teachers to rural regions where most of the students are not Islamic. Government agencies also run Islamic nursery schools where young Christains are vulnerable to proselytization. Land Development Minister Tan Sri James Masing admitted that parents' fears of forced conversions to Islam were not without foundation in light of previous cases of forced conversions in Sarawak. Related News Stories: Boko Haram Targets Christians in Nigeria Officials confirmed Sunday that suspected Islamists killed more than 100... Why the Muslim Brotherhood targets Christians A pogrom against Christians is in keeping with the Muslim... Full Coverage: Israel Strikes 550 Targets in Gaza; Hamas Targets Dimona Nuclear Reactor Israel has destroyed 550 targets in Gaza, while Hamas continued... View the full article

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) - In early November, a group of Muslims attempted to burn four Christian families alive by setting their homes in the village of Kamarpara, Bangladesh, on fire, but neighbors helped them to escape the flames. According to Barnabas Aid, Muslims had accused the Christians of practicing witchcraft. But according to survivor Ramni Das, the real reason for the attacks was to take possession of their property. "For more than a year, Muslim youths from a neighboring village accused us of practicing witchcraft and told us to leave the village," said Das. "They abused us in public and threw bricks at our houses." Bangladeshi Christians represent only 1 percent of a population that is 90 percent Islamic. Related News Stories: Turkey: Arson Attack at Bible Correspondence School An electrical fire in Istanbul's Bible Correspondence School on Dec.... Pastors in Bangladesh Arrested for Evangelizing Muslims Two pastors in northwestern Bangladesh could face up to two... Christians in Niger still recovering from attacks on churches after Charlie Hebdo massacre Christians in Niger are still recovering from violent attacks in... View the full article

(Worthy News) - Hamas and Hezbollah officials discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian and Lebanese arenas in Beirut on Sunday, as well as ways of coordinating their moves against Islamic State. Naim Qassem, deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah, received the Hamas delegation, headed by Musa Abu Marzouk, the deputy head of Hamas, and Osama Hamdan, who is in charge of external affairs in the Islamist movement. [ Source ] Related News Stories: UN Security Council Meet to Discuss Israel, Palestinian Conflict The UN Security Council will meet on Thursday at 10... Russia Invites Hamas Leader to Moscow to Discuss Palestinian State Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and exiled Hamas leader Khaled... Hamas Invites Hezbollah to Join in the War (Video) Hamas wants Hezbollah to join the three-week-old conflict with Israel,... View the full article

(Worthy News) - President Vladimir Putin has eased an export ban on nuclear equipment and technology to Iran, a Kremlin decree published on Monday showed, after Tehran struck a deal with world powers on its nuclear program in July. The decree, issued on the same day as Putin arrived in Iran on an official visit, said Russian firms were now authorized to export hardware and to provide financial and technical advice to help Iran with three specific tasks. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Iran, Russia Boost Nuclear Ties The heads of Iran and Russia's state-run nuclear agencies discussed... Putin's motives questioned as Russia targets pro-Western rebels, not Islamic State, in Syria Russian President Vladimir Putin, ignoring Washington, escalated his war in... Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran During a press conference in Geneva this month, the UN... View the full article

(Worthy News) - Russia's President Vladimir Putin approved a plan on Monday to begin the transfer of the advanced S300 anti-aircraft system to Iran as he attended talks with leaders in Tehran. Several Iranian media outlets quoted the Iranian ambassador to Moscow as saying that the transfer of the weapons system had begun. The talks were expected to focus on the Syrian crisis and an international peace plan to end the conflict. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Assad's Fate Likely to Top Agenda During Putin's Iran Russia's President Vladimir Putin was in Tehran on Monday for... Russia begins Syria air strikes in its biggest Mideast intervention in decades Russia launched air strikes in Syria on Wednesday in its... Iran nuclear talks: What will Tehran do with an extra $100 billion? Iran stands to reap a windfall gain of about 25... View the full article

(Worthy News) - Russia's President Vladimir Putin was in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian leaders expected to focus on the Syrian crisis and an international peace plan intended to end the conflict. The visit comes as Russia, the United States, France and others are talking about possible joint action against the Islamic State group following the terror attacks in Paris and the downing of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt. Putin's trip also comes on the heels of agreement on an incomplete peace plan that calls for talks between Assad and his foes. [ Source ] Related News Stories: Putin calls on Middle East nations to unite behind Assad in fight against 'evil' in Syria In a surprise meeting with Syria's foreign minister, Russian President... Coordinated Iran-Russian military forces arriving to save Syria's Assad Russia and Iran are coordinating the dispatch of military forces... Obama huddles with Putin, backs France's pursuit of deadly terrorists, on sidelines of G-20 summit President Obama said Sunday at an international summit that America... View the full article

The State Department issued a rare worldwide travel alert Monday evening for U.S. citizens amid several terror threats overseas. View the full article

The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a French-sponsored resolution Friday calling on all nations to redouble and coordinate action to prevent further attacks by Islamic State terrorists and other extremist groups. View the full article

The Islamic State is using a variety of new tactics, including encryption and control of local resources in Iraq and Syria, that make it more difficult to defeat without a greater U.S. presence in the Middle East, analysts said on Friday. View the full article

U.S. actions in the Middle East helped Islamic State to gain influence, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said, according to Interfax. View the full article

Paramilitary forces from Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard have held a war game simulating the capture of Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque from Israeli control, state media reported Saturday. View the full article

A recent U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) report found that 73 aviation workers, employed by airlines and vendors, had alleged links to terrorism. View the full article

China continues to oppress members of religious groups and often singles out those representing them for torture. View the full article