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by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Christians in Syria have reported they are worried for their futures as the country gets used to a new Islamic government following the ousting of dictator Bashar al-Assad on December 8 last year. Prior to the recent ousting of Assad, war-torn Syria had ranked 18 on the Open Doors World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. Christians under Assad faced murder and abductions, as well as workplace discrimination and sexual violence. When the insurgent Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted Assad and set up a transitional new government, there was widespread joy and a sense of freedom among Syrians. However, Christians have expressed concerns about how the new government will act toward them. “The war may be over, but now we are plunging into the unknown,” Christian school principal May Bitar told La Croix International. “I try to reassure my teachers and students—that’s my role—but inside, I’m terrified. Do you think I’ll have to wear a hijab or take off my cross?” “They talk about citizenship and religious freedom,” Archbishop Joseph Tobji, the Maronite leader in Aleppo, told La Croix separately. “They assure us our lives won’t change—but we’re waiting to see their actions.” A Christian source in Syria whose name is withheld for security purposes told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): “People avoid being on the streets after 5pm. There are jihadists on the streets, using megaphones to call on people to convert to Islam and telling women to veil.” “Fear is really very pronounced – Christians cannot work, many stay home,” the Christian said. The post Christians in Syria Concerned for Their Future appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States is withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council and that it will not resume funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) the Associated Press reports. Trump made the two announcements during an official visit to Washington by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and amid his additional declarations that the United States will “take over” Gaza and “own it” and turn it into the equivalent of the French Riviera for “all people” after permanently moving the two million Indigenous Gaza Palestinians out to other countries. The United Nations Human Rights Council consists of 47 Member States elected directly and individually by a majority of the 193 states of the UN General Assembly. Elections take place every year. The United States and Israel have criticized the Council for being overly critical of Israel. Trump withdrew the US from the council during his first 2016-2020 term, and the Biden administration announced in September last year that the US would not be seeking reelection to the body. UNRWA was established in 1949 to aid Arabs who fled or were forced to leave their homes during Israel’s war of independence in 1948. In the aftermath of the Hamas October 7 attack on Israel, the Biden administration suspended funding to UNRWA following reports that a number of staffers in the organization were also members of Hamas. Trump has now said funding to UNRWA will not be resumed. “I’ve always felt that the U.N. has tremendous potential,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “It’s not living up to that potential right now. … They’ve got to get their act together.” The post Trump Announces US Withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council and Terminates Funding to UNRWA appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News RIYADH/GAZA/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Saudi Arabia warned Wednesday it would not establish ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state after U.S. President Donald J. Trump suggested again that the United States should take over Gaza. Riyadh also denied Trump’s claim that Saudi Arabia was “not demanding” a Palestinian homeland. “Saudi Arabia rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their land,” Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry stressed in a statement Wednesday, adding that its stance towards the Palestinians “is not negotiable.” Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman affirmed the kingdom’s position in “a clear and explicit manner” that does not allow for any interpretation under any circumstances, the ministry said Saudi Arabia, one of the most influential Middle Eastern nations, was among several countries condemning Trump’s move. Hamas, which sparked the war by attacking Israel on October 7, 2023, and killing about 1,200 people, including babies and pregnant women, while abducting hundreds, condemned Trump’s calls for Palestinians in Gaza to leave. The group designated as a terror organization by Israel, the U.S., and others called Trump’s proposal an “expulsion from their land.” One Hamas figure described the remarks as “absurd” and “ridiculous.” At the same time, the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations said that world leaders and people should respect Palestinians’ desire to remain in Gaza. TOP DIPLOMATS Earlier at a meeting in Cairo on Saturday, top diplomats from Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar also rejected any forcible displacement of Palestinians. On Friday, state-linked media in Egypt broadcast footage of people protesting near Egypt’s border with Gaza against Palestinian displacement. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told his U.S. counterpart Trump on Saturday that the world was relying on him “to reach a permanent and historic peace agreement” to end the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Sisi called Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza and divide its roughly 2 million people among friendly neighbors “an injustice that we cannot take part in.” However, he also said he was “determined to work with President Trump, who seeks to achieve the desired peace based on the two-state solution.” There have also been reactions from Western allies, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterating that his government continues to support a two-state solution in the Middle East, “where both Israelis and Palestinians could live in peace and security.” “We’ve supported a ceasefire, we’ve supported hostages being released, and we’ve supported aid getting into Gaza,” he told reporters Wednesday in Canberra when asked about Trump’s remarks. “That is consistent with what Australian governments have always done, which is to provide support.” AVOIDING QUESTION Albanese did not directly respond to reporters’ questions about how he would characterize Trump’s Gaza plan but did not publicly endorse it. “I’m not going to have a running commentary on statements by the president of the United States,” he said instead. “I’ve made that very clear.” Inside the United States, Democrats predictably slammed Trump’s plan, with Democratic senator Chris Murphy saying of Trump: “He’s totally lost it.” Democratic representative Jake Auchincloss described the proposal as “reckless and unreasonable” and called for an examination of Trump’s motives, which he said often contained a “nepotistic, self-serving connection.” Yet even some Republicans condemned the proposal, including Justin Amash, a former Republican member of the U.S. Congress who says his father was expelled from his home by Israeli forces in 1948. “If the United States deploys troops to forcibly remove Muslims and Christians – like my cousins – from Gaza, then not only will the US be mired in another reckless occupation, but it will also be guilty of the crime of ethnic cleansing. No American of good conscience should stand for this.” Advocacy groups such as Amnesty International shared those views. Yet, while hosting the Israeli prime minister on Tuesday, Trump called Gaza a “symbol of death and destruction” and added that the only reason people want to go back there is because they have nowhere else to go. He said Gaza could become “the Riviera of the Middle East” where “the world’s people” could live, echoing previous sentiments of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who said Gaza had “very valuable waterfront property.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.”The Israeli leader said, “We have to finish the job in Gaza,” and stressed, “Israel will end the war by winning the war.” Despite the international criticism, Netanyahu praised Trump for “thinking outside the box with fresh ideas.” Netanyahu that Trump is ” willing to puncture conventional thinking.” The post Saudi Arabia Warns Israel Over US Controlling Gaza appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square (Worthy News) – A coalition of House Republicans has filed two amicus briefs supporting President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants. The lawmakers asked a federal court in Washington and another in Massachusetts to deny Democratic states attorney generals’ requests for a preliminary injunction on Trump’s order, which those states and dozens of others claim violates the Constitution. The citizenship clause found in the 14th amendment states that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” That phrase has been interpreted over the last 150 years to guarantee citizenship to any child born in the United States – with a few exceptions – regardless of whether the mother is residing in the country legally. But the Republican lawmakers, led by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, argue in the briefs that Trump’s order is indeed constitutional because the 14th amendment was meant to apply only to American citizens and recently freed slaves, not illegal immigrants and tourists who come to the U.S. explicitly to have children. “Because the Fourteenth Amendment does not confer citizenship on the children of illegally present aliens, and because Congress has not done so by statute, the other branches cannot confer such citizenship on their own,” the brief states. “The Executive Order at issue here properly ensures that rule is followed within the executive branch, and thus the Order should not be enjoined.” The term “jurisdiction,” they further argue, does not mean territorial jurisdiction, but national jurisdiction, which requires allegiance to the U.S. government (this is why Trump’s executive order specifically excludes children of lawful permanent residents). The 17 U.S. representatives who joined Jordan include: Tom McClintock from California Victoria Spartz from Indiana Robert Onder from Missouri Brad Knott from North Carolina Mark Harris from North Carolina Russell Fry from South Carolina Brandon Gill from Texas Chip Roy from Texas Lance Gooden from Texas Troy Nehls from Texas Wesley Hunt from Texas Ben Cline from Virginia Michael Baumgartner from Washington Glenn Grothman from Wisconsin Scott Fitzgerald from Wisconsin Harriet Hageman from Wyoming “The Left has misused and abused birthright citizenship for too long. President Trump’s executive order must be swiftly enacted,” Gill posted Tuesday on X. “I’m proud to join @JudiciaryGOP Chairman Jordan in signing this amicus brief supporting President Trump’s executive order.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Birthright Citizenship Ban Gets Legal Support from House Republicans appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – A new bipartisan bill introduced in Congress on Tuesday would cap the interest rate that credit card companies can charge at 10%. The bill has bipartisan support from unusual bedfellows: U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. “When large financial institutions charge over 25% interest on credit cards, they are not engaged in the business of making credit available,” Sanders said in a statement. “They are engaged in extortion and loan sharking. We cannot continue to allow big banks to make huge profits ripping off the American people. This legislation will provide working families struggling to pay their bills with desperately needed financial relief.” President Donald Trump promised on the campaign trail to put a 10% limit on interest for credit cards, less than half of what many cards now charge. “President Trump has promised to cap interest rates at 10% to provide temporary and immediate relief for hardworking Americans who are struggling to make ends meet and cannot afford hefty interest payments on top of the skyrocketing costs of mortgages, rent, groceries and gas,” Trump’s campaign said in September of last year. Americans hold over a trillion dollars in credit card debt. The bill would keep the 10% cap in place for five years. Backers of the bill say credit card companies continue to hike interest rates to unfair levels. Critics of the bill say lower credit individuals will not be able to get credit cards. “Working Americans are drowning in record credit card debt while the biggest credit card issuers get richer and richer by hiking their interest rates to the moon,” Hawley said. “It’s not just wrong, it’s exploitative. And it needs to end. Capping credit card interest rates at 10%, just like President Trump campaigned on, is a simple way to provide meaningful relief to working people. Let’s do it.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Bipartisan Bill Would Cap Credit Card Interest at 10% appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the controversial nominee for U.S. Health and Human Service secretary, will move forward in the confirmation process after advancing through the Senate Finance Committee in a tight vote. The committee voted 14-13 Tuesday to advance Kennedy, with all Democrats in opposition to the candidate whom they see as an unqualified wild card. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., argued the HHS needs a “serious person at the helm” and said Kennedy “seems more obsessed with chasing conspiracy theories than chasing solutions.” Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, has spent decades calling out industry influence over regulatory agencies like the Food and Drug Administration, but hassle criticized for questioning the safety and efficacy of certain vaccines. He has also brought attention to the role ultra-processed foods and chemical additives play in rising chronic disease rates, a focus he promises to continue if confirmed. The HHS secretary oversees the nation’s largest healthcare programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. Kennedy stumbled over his answers and seemed uncertain on specifics when U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., asked the candidate during his hearing last week about potential improvements to Medicaid and Medicare. Despite expressing serious doubts, Cassidy, a doctor and vaccine advocate, ultimately voted to move Kennedy’s confirmation process forward. “I’ve had very intense conversations with Bobby and the White House over the weekend and even this morning,” Cassidy said on X minutes before the vote. “With the serious commitments I’ve received from the administration and the opportunity to make progress on the issues we agree on, like healthy foods and a pro-American agenda, I will vote yes.” Kennedy’s nomination will now proceed for a final vote to the Senate floor, which just confirmed oil and gas tycoon Chris Wright as energy secretary Monday evening in a bipartisan 59-38. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post RFK Jr. Advances Past Committee Opposition, Heads to Senate Floor appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency has been aggressively identifying and eliminating a wide swath of federal spending since President Donald Trump took office. Now, a new subcommittee in the House bearing a similar name, Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE), is taking a look at National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, both of which are partially funded by the federal government. Subcommittee chair Majorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., accused NPR and PBS of “systematically biased content” and invited the heads of both groups to testify before Congress. “The Subcommittee is concerned by National Public Radio’s (NPR) blatantly ideological and partisan coverage and looks forward to your participation in our upcoming hearing,” Greene wrote in a letter to NPR. “This hearing is an opportunity for you to explain to Congress and the American people why federal funds should be used for public radio – particularly the sort of content produced by NPR.” NPR has been under fire for years for its perceived liberal bias. Greene pointed to NPR’s coverage of the Hunter Biden laptop story, the Russian collusion story, and most recently its coverage of Elon Musk’s salute at a rally that many Democrats alleged was a Nazi salute. Musk is at the helm of DOGE, which has been on a spree of federal cuts, along with Trump’s decision to wipe out entire DEI teams and departments within the federal government. Up next could be funding for NPR and PBS. Critics of Musk and Trump point out most of the groups’ funding does not come from the federal government. “This sort of bias betrays the principles of objective reporting and undermines public trust. As an organization that receives federal funds channeled through its member stations, PBS should provide reporting that serves the entire public, not just a narrow slice of like-minded individuals and ideological interest groups,” Greene wrote in a letter to PBS. Trump’s head of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, opened up an investigation into PBS and NPR, saying it may have violated the law by airing commercials. NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher released a statement in response: “NPR programming and underwriting messaging complies with federal regulations, including the FCC guidelines on underwriting messages for noncommercial educational broadcasters, and Member stations are expected to be in compliance as well,” she said. “We are confident any review of our programming and underwriting practices will confirm NPR’s adherence to these rules. We have worked for decades with the FCC in support of noncommercial educational broadcasters who provide essential information, educational programming, and emergency alerts to local communities across the United States.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post NPR and PBS Funding in the Spotlight as DOGE Committee Eyes Cuts appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Following a visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the weekend, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino announced his intention to terminate major trade and development pact with China and stated he is interested in American investment in Panamanian infrastructure instead, the New York Post reports. After meeting with Rubio during the Secretary of State’s first official trip abroad, Mulino told reporters that Panama will allow its 2017 trade and development pact involving China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” to expire, the Post reports. Mulino’s announcement follows recent threats by US President Trump to seize control of the Panama Canal, claiming “American ships are being severely overcharged” and accusing China of “operating” the waterway, the Post notes. “Secretary Rubio informed President Mulino and [Foreign] Minister [Javier] Martínez-Acha that President Trump has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat to the canal and represents a violation of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal,” a State Department readout of the Rubio meeting says. “Secretary Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty,” the readout states. In any event, Mulino added that the Canal remains under sovereign Panamanian control, the Post reports. The post Panama to End Major Trade and Development Agreement with China appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – President Trump proposed Tuesday that the U.S. could take over the Gaza Strip, suggesting it could “own it” and even remove Palestinians from the area. Without ruling out the possibility of deploying American troops, he envisioned transforming Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” At a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump said the U.S. will “be responsible” for clearing Gaza, including removing unexploded bombs. Calling it a “hellhole” even before Israel’s bombing, he proposed a “long-term ownership position” to turn it into a global economic and entertainment hub, predicting “phenomenal” results like the French Riviera. “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Mr. Trump said. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous, unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings.” Mr. Trump said an “economic development” in Gaza would create “unlimited jobs and housing for people of the area,” bringing regional stability. Calling it a decision not “made lightly,” he claimed, “Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land,” adding that “the world’s people,” including Palestinians, could live there afterward. Trump said the 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza should relocate to “numerous sites or one large site” rather than remain there. Calling Gaza an “unlucky” place and a “symbol of death and destruction for many decades,” he argued it shouldn’t be rebuilt and reoccupied by those who have “stood there and fought for it and lived there and died there and lived a miserable existence there.” “Instead, we should go to other countries of interest with humanitarian hearts,” he said, adding that there are “many.” He proposed building “domains” for relocation, funded by “neighboring countries of great wealth.” The post Trump Proposes U.S. Takeover and Redevelopment of Gaza appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, his first meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration. Trump spoke alongside Netanyahu to reporters about his hopes of permanently resettling Palestinians from Gaza to somewhere else. “I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza,” Trump said, referring to about 1.8 million Palestinians. The meeting comes amidst an uneasy ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war as hostages are exchanged. Netanyahu and Trump spoke to reporters Tuesday afternoon. Trump said he thinks Egypt, Jordan and other countries will accept Palestinians even if they have previously said they would not. “Gaza is not a place for people to be living,” Trump added, saying Palestinians would rather go somewhere other than Gaza if they had an alternative. “Why would they want to return?” Trump said, saying pictures of the area show it is a demolition site. Trump said several areas could be built up using funds from rich nations somewhere outside of Gaza to stop the death of Palestinians. Hamas is officially designated a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department and kicked off the war with an Oct. 7, 2023 attack on hundreds of Israeli civilians. Since then, Israel has carried out a sustained bombing campaign that has killed Hamas’ leadership and militants while level entire swaths of Gaza and creating a humanitarian crisis. Trump blamed “poor leadership” in the Biden administration for the Oct. 7 attack. “It would have never happened … not even a little bit, not even a chance,” Trump said. “We are faced with a very complex and difficult situation, but we’ll solve the problem,” he added. Before the meeting, Netanyahu released a statement saying the meeting would include talks about defeating Hamas, getting back hostages and “dealing with the Iranian terror axis in all its components – an axis that threatens the peace of Israel, the Middle East and the entire world.” Iranian backed militant groups have continued launching attacks on Israel, in particular the northern part of the country where thousands of Israelis have been forced to evacuate. Israel carried out a large coordinated series of missile strikes on Oct. 25 of last year that, among other things, destroyed Iranian facilities researching nuclear weapons. White House and military officials as well as lawmakers have a series of meetings planned with Netanyahu this week. “The decisions we made in the war have already changed the face of the Middle East,” Netanyahu said. “Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further and for the better.” “I believe that we can strengthen security, broaden the circle of peace and achieve a remarkable era of peace through strength,” he added. The post Trump Meets with Netanyahu, Speaks of Permanently Resettling Palestinians appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, be a bold voice for Him! Isaiah 52:7-8 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the Lord brings back Zion. In the 4th century lived a Christian named Telemachus, in a remote village, tending his garden, and spending much time in prayer. One day, he believed he heard the voice of God telling him to go to Rome, so he obeyed, setting out on foot. Some weeks later, weary from his journey, he arrived in Rome about the time of a great festival.The little man followed the crowd surging through the streets into the Colosseum. He saw the gladiators standing before the Emperor and proclaiming, "We who are about to die salute you." Then Telemachus realized that these men were going to fight to the death for the entertainment of the cheering crowd. So he cried out in a loud voice, "In the name of Christ, Stop!" Yet the games began, so he pushed his way through the crowd, climbed over the wall and dropped onto the floor of the arena. The entire Colosseum watched this tiny figure rushing toward the gladiators, crying, "In the name of Christ, STOP !!!" The gladiators thought it was part of the show and began laughing. But in a few moments, they realized it was not part of the show, and then the crowd became angry. Telemachus stood his ground, insistently pleading with the gladiators to stop their bloody show, when one of them plunged a sword into the saint's body. He fell to the sand. As he was dying, his last words were, "In the name of Christ, STOP!!!" Then a strange thing happened. The gladiators stood there looking at the tiny Christian lying there dead. A hush fell over the Colosseum. Way up in the upper rows, a man stood and made his way to the exit. Others followed. In dead silence, one by one, everyone left the Colosseum. The year was 404; and that day saw the last battle to the death between gladiators in the Roman Colosseum. Telemachus' martyrdom initiated an historic ban on gladiator fights by the Roman Emperor Honorius. Never again in the great stadium did men kill each other for the entertainment of the crowd. One tiny man's bold voice -- one voice -- reshaped Roman history, and saved thousands of lives, by fearlessly proclaiming the truth in God's name! Friend, you may be a little man, or woman, spending time alone with Yeshua (Jesus). And He may be preparing you in the quiet place, for a moment when you will be called to raise your voice in some public square or stadium, to fearlessly stand for His truth, even if it might cost your life. Remember Telemachus, whose voice changed the world because God's word was behind it. Boldness is not bravado, but is rooted in deep conviction based on deep relationship and unswerving obedience. And its effects resound through history. So cultivate that intimate relationship with Him, and be ready to be launched into the arena of death-dealing humanity. Your lack of fear and your love for others will reveal the Yeshua whom you love, to many souls. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Nevada) Editor's Note: Latest Video: Worthy Wrap-Up: Reagan, Trump, and the Middle East Condundrum Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce. Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out! Around the World Panama to End Major Trade and Development Agreement with China Following a visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the weekend, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino announced his intention to terminate major trade and development pact with China and stated he is interested in American investment in Panamanian infrastructure instead, the New York Post reports. Swedish Police Say 10 Killed In School Shooting (Update) At least 10 people have been killed in what the prime minister described as Sweden’s worst mass shooting in the Nordic nation’s history. Six US Hostages Released From Venezuela Prison, Maduro Accepts Repatriation of Undocumented Migrants in White House Deal Six American hostages who were imprisoned in Venezuela in recent months were released on Saturday as part of a deal negotiated by White House envoy Richard Grenell. Trump to Reinstate “Maximum Pressure” on Iran US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he plans to reinstate the "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran that he practiced during his first term, in order to drive Tehran’s oil exports down to zero and prevent the regime from developing a nuclear bomb, a US official told Reuters. Trump to Cut Off Funding to South Africa Over Land Confiscation Law US President Donald Trump has announced he is suspending all US funding to black-majority South Africa over the country’s recent implementation of Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, a bill that allows the government to confiscate privately owned land for a public purpose or in the public interest. School Shooting In Sweden: At Least Five People Shot At least five people were shot at a Swedish school Tuesday, officials said, adding that emergency services have responded massively to the ongoing attack in the town of Örebro, 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Stockholm, the capital. Nationalist De Wever Premier Of Belgium Conservative nationalist Bart De Wever has been sworn in as Belgium’s new prime minister after he toned down his rhetoric to make the nation’s Dutch-speaking Vlaanderen (Flanders) region an independent country. Pro-Russia Militia Leader ‘Assasinated’ In Moscow The founder of a pro-Russian militia group in eastern Ukraine, seen by Kyiv as a "criminal mastermind", has been assassinated in Moscow, Russian officials announced Monday. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Trump Proposes U.S. Takeover and Redevelopment of Gaza President Trump proposed Tuesday that the U.S. could take over the Gaza Strip, suggesting it could "own it" and even remove Palestinians from the area. Without ruling out the possibility of deploying American troops, he envisioned transforming Gaza into "the Riviera of the Middle East." Trump Meets with Netanyahu, Speaks of Permanently Resettling Palestinians President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, his first meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration. Inside the United States Trump Birthright Citizenship Ban Gets Legal Support from House Republicans A coalition of House Republicans has filed two amicus briefs supporting President Donald Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants. Bipartisan Bill Would Cap Credit Card Interest at 10% A new bipartisan bill introduced in Congress on Tuesday would cap the interest rate that credit card companies can charge at 10%. RFK Jr. Advances Past Committee Opposition, Heads to Senate Floor Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the controversial nominee for U.S. Health and Human Service secretary, will move forward in the confirmation process after advancing through the Senate Finance Committee in a tight vote. NPR and PBS Funding in the Spotlight as DOGE Committee Eyes Cuts The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency has been aggressively identifying and eliminating a wide swath of federal spending since President Donald Trump took office. Christian News Nigeria: Church Elder Shot Dead During Sunday Service A respected elder of the Celestial Church of Christ, Eagle Parish, in Ogun state, Nigeria, was shot dead when three gunmen invaded the Sunday service on January 19, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News OREBRO, SWEDEN (Worthy News) – At least 10 people have been killed in what the prime minister described as Sweden’s worst mass shooting in the Nordic nation’s history. The gunman was believed to be among the dead following the shooting at the Risbergska school for adult education in Örebro, some 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Stockholm, the capital. Dramatic video footage emerged showing students sheltering under tables during the attack. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said, however, that parents can feel safe sending their children to school in Sweden starting Wednesday. “We must not spread further fear because the vast majority of schools are very safe places,” he told the nation. “I trust that, and I hope others trust that.” The prime minister added that he has “very close relatives” whose children “were sheltering in place at their school today.” He also thanked the emergency services, whose work was “a matter of life and death.” The prime minister stressed, “Many, many parents have an important task ahead of them when it comes to talking to their children. ” ‘HEINOUS ACT’ However, “My thoughts, the thoughts of all of Sweden, are now with first and foremost with those who are the direct victims of this heinous act,” he said. “Your grief is our grief. We are with you.” Gunnar Strommer, the justice minister, said taking in the magnitude of Tuesday’s events is difficult. “We know that about ten people have been killed, and many others are injured,” he explained. “Our police and healthcare workers are taking care of these people.” He confirmed that “The primary suspect is now considered to be one of the people that died. It was a person not known to the police previously.” Strommer cautioned, “We still don’t know why this happened or the motives. We hope to have those answers.” As the search for answers continued in a grieving nation, Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf described the shooting as a “terrible atrocity” in a statement from the Royal House. “With sadness and dismay, my family and I have received the information about the terrible atrocity in Orebro,” he said. EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES “We send our condolences tonight to the families and friends of the deceased. Our thoughts at this time also go to the injured and their relatives, as well as to others affected,” the king added. “My family and I would like to express our great appreciation for the police, rescue, and medical personnel who worked intensively to save and protect human lives on this dark day.” It came as doctors struggled to save the lives of those who were rushed to hospital. The regional authorities confirmed that the number of people taken to Örebro University Hospital after the attack has risen to six. At least five people were suffering from gunshot wounds, including four undergoing surgery, one of whom is considered critically injured, officials said. The fifth and the sixth people are considered to have “minor injuries,” a hospital update added. None of those admitted to hospital so far were children, according to authorities. The shooting shocked the nation, which had recently joined the NATO military alliance and was known for its relatively safe and open society. The post Swedish Police Say 10 Killed In School Shooting (Update) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Six American hostages who were imprisoned in Venezuela in recent months were released on Saturday as part of a deal negotiated by White House envoy Richard Grenell. The first openly gay person to hold a Cabinet-level position, Grenell served as acting director of national intelligence in 2020 during Trump’s first administration and currently serves as Trump’s new Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions. Under the terms of the deal Grenell negotiated, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accepted the repatriation of Venezuelans who entered the United States illegally. The deal also allows U.S.-based oil companies to stay in Venezuela under existing sanctions exemptions, the Wall Street Journal reported. “It is so good to have the Venezuela Hostages back home, and, very important to note, that Venezuela has agreed to receive, back into their Country, all Venezuela illegal aliens who were encamped in the U.S, including gang members of Tren de Aragua,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social site. “Venezuela has further agreed to supply the transportation back,” Trump noted. “We are in the process of removing record numbers of illegal aliens from all Countries, and all Countries have agreed to accept these illegal aliens back.” As of the most recent estimates before 2025, some seven million Venezuelans have fled their home since the mid-2010s due to their country’s economic collapse, political instability, social unrest and crime, and healthcare crisis. The post Six US Hostages Released From Venezuela Prison, Maduro Accepts Repatriation of Undocumented Migrants in White House Deal appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he plans to reinstate the “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran that he practiced during his first term, in order to drive Tehran’s oil exports down to zero and prevent the regime from developing a nuclear bomb, a US official told Reuters. Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, had unsuccessfully sought to revive the Obama-era 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Iran deal. Greatly critical of the JCPoA, Trump withdrew the US from the treaty during his first term and later condemned Biden’s efforts to revive it as having allowed Tehran to drive up its oil exports exponentially, progress its nuclear program, and arm terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah in the Middle East. Trump will sign a presidential memorandum that orders sanctions and enforcement mechanisms on those violating existing sanctions, the US official told Reuters. The Trump administration will implement a campaign “aimed at driving Iran’s oil exports to zero,” the official said. The US Energy Information Administration estimates that Tehran’s oil exports were worth $53 billion in 2023 and $54 billion in 2023, Reuters reports. “Output during 2024 was running at its highest level since 2018, based on OPEC data,” Reuters said. Sharing Trump’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear aspirations, Britain, France, and Germany told the United Nations Security Council in December that they are ready to reinstate international sanctions on Iran. The post Trump to Reinstate “Maximum Pressure” on Iran appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – US President Donald Trump has announced he is suspending all US funding to black-majority South Africa over the country’s recent implementation of Expropriation Act 13 of 2024, a bill that allows the government to confiscate privately owned land for a public purpose or in the public interest. “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY, ump said in a post on his Truth Social social media site on Sunday. The United States won’t stand for it, we will act. I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Although South Africa’s infamously harsh white supremacist regime of Apartheid was brought down in 1994, a 2017 government report shows that 72% of the country’s land remained white Afrikaner-owned, despite Afrikaner people making up only 7.3% of the population. There has long been an outcry over the need for land reform to address past injustices of racial segregation and the Expropriation Act 13 apparently seeks to answer that call. Following a parliamentary process that began in 2020, Expropriation Act 13 repeals the apartheid-era Expropriation Act 63 of 1975 and aims to align expropriation law with South Africa’s Constitution. The act says that property must not be expropriated arbitrarily or for a purpose other than a public purpose or in the public interest, for instance, to build roads, schools, and hospitals, or to further the government’s commitment to land reform. The new law allows for expropriation without compensation if it is “just and equitable and in the public interest” to do so, for example, if the property is not being used. The legislation will have a severe impact on property rights, with some analysts arguing it is unconstitutional and others assessing it is racist against white people. In a post on his own social media site, X, white South African and top Trump advisor Elon Musk demanded to know from South African president Cyril Ramaphosa: “Why do you have openly racist ownership laws?” The post Trump to Cut Off Funding to South Africa Over Land Confiscation Law appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News OREBRO, SWEDEN (Worthy News) – At least five people were shot at a Swedish school Tuesday, officials said, adding that emergency services have responded massively to the ongoing attack in the town of Örebro, 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Stockholm, the capital. Local authorities said four people had been admitted to hospitals in the area after the attack. The age or extent of their injuries is not currently known. There were no immediate reports of possible deaths. Swedish media reported that an automatic weapon may have been used in the shootings at the Risbergska school in Örebro. Authorities said the situation remains dangerous. Shots were also fired at police, according to local news reports, although no injuries were reported in that confrontation. Police later described the attacker as a man and added that he may be among the injured. His motives were not immediately clear. Authorities declined to confirm the age or the profile of the injured. Students who escaped or were outside have been accommodated in schools located next to the affected area, Worthy News learned. SHOCKING NATION The shooting shook the area around the school, which says on its website that it mainly deals with adult education. It works with people over 20 years old and offers various training and language courses for immigrants to Sweden. The Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer called the situation “very serious” in a Nordic nation that views itself as open and tolerant and recently joined the NATO military alliance. The Left party leader, Nooshi Dadgostar, said her thoughts are with those affected and stressed that the country needs to “find our way out” of violence. Teresa Carvalho of the Social Democrats also expressed similar sentiments. The post School Shooting In Sweden: At Least Five People Shot appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BUDAPEST/BRUSSELS (Worthy News) – Conservative nationalist Bart De Wever has been sworn in as Belgium’s new prime minister after he toned down his rhetoric to make the nation’s Dutch-speaking Vlaanderen (Flanders) region an independent country. His premiership also followed seven months of tough talks on moving Belgium further to the right, a move welcomed by nationalist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has long been isolated within the European Union. De Wever and Orbán were already seen smiling at an EU event. The coalition agreement struck Friday allowed the 54-year-old to take the oath of office before King Philippe in a ceremony at the royal palace in Brussels. From there, he was due to head straight to a gathering of European Union leaders a few blocks away for talks on defense and transatlantic relations. Brussels hosts the EU institutions, including the 27-nation bloc’s European Parliament. Split between French- and Dutch-speaking communities and with a highly complex political system, Belgium has seen records-breaking protracted coalition discussions – reaching 541 days in 2010-11. This time, five groups sought to forge a coalition after June elections that failed to produce a clear majority – with talks led by De Wever’s conservative N-VA, which claimed the most seats. The new government brings together three parties from Dutch-speaking Flanders: De Wever’s N-VA, the centrist Christian Democrats, and the leftist Vooruit (Onward). FRENCH SPEAKING It includes two from French-speaking Wallonia: the centrist Les Engages and the centre-right Reformist Movement. Together, they hold an 81-seat majority in Belgium’s 150-seat parliament. Coalition talks over plugging the country’s budget deficit—4.4 percent of gross domestic product in 2023—hit a wall during the summer. Belgium is one of seven European Union countries facing disciplinary action for running a deficit above 3 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), violating the EU’s fiscal rules. De Wever, the mayor of Antwerp since 2013, pushed for cuts in social benefits and pension reforms that have already sparked opposition from labor unions. He is also critical of migration, an essential issue in Belgium, where many have arrived from mainly Muslim war-torn and impoverished nations. De Wever’s N-VA was part of a right-leaning ruling coalition between 2014 and 2018. He takes over as prime minister from Alexander De Croo, whose seven-party coalition took 493 days to emerge in 2019-20. De Croo had stayed as caretaker leader after the June elections, enabling them to take his time hammering out a complex government agreement. The post Nationalist De Wever Premier Of Belgium appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The founder of a pro-Russian militia group in eastern Ukraine, seen by Kyiv as a “criminal mastermind”, has been assassinated in Moscow, Russian officials announced Monday. Armen Sarkisyan died Monday at a Moscow hospital from injuries sustained in a bombing in an upmarket residential complex in the north-west part of the city, some 12 kilometers (7 miles) from the Kremlin, medical services said. He had reportedly been flown to the hospital by helicopter and placed in intensive care but succumbed to his injuries. The Russian Investigative Committee said, “Despite the assistance provided, one of the victims died in a medical facility.” Others – including one of Armen Sargsyan’s bodyguards – were also reportedly seriously injured, with some sources saying one of them died. Sargsyan will be remembered as the leader of the “Arbat” battalion. He was born in Horlivka, a city in Ukraine’s Donetsk region that Russia has occupied since 2014. Writing on the social media platform Telegram, the town’s mayor, Ivan Prikhodko, said Sargsyan’s “most significant achievement was the creation and leadership of [Arbat], a separate special forces battalion.” Prikhodko said Sargsyan was also the head of the Boxing Federation of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic. KURSK REGION The “Arbat” battalion has been known to operate in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops are still present after they launched a surprise offensive there in August. Kyiv did not immediately react to his death, but there have been several assassinations of high-profile supporters of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in Moscow and occupied areas. Senior Russian naval officer Valery Trankovsky and Russian prison boss Sergei Yevsyukov died after car bombs exploded in Russian-occupied Ukraine in late 2024. And in December, a high-ranking general in the Russian armed forces and his assistant were reportedly killed in Moscow by Ukraine’s security service. Kyiv described Sargsyan as a suspect in “recruiting prisoners to fight in Ukraine.” Ukrainian authorities also put him on “an international wanted list” in May 2014 for his alleged involvement in murders carried out in the center of Kyiv. Ukrainian intelligence sources said Sargsyan was part of the inner circle of fugitive former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. CAREFULLY PLANNED “The assassination attempt on Sarkisyan was carefully planned and was ordered. Investigators are currently identifying those who ordered the crime,” a law enforcement told Russian media. Images shared on social media showed rubble and plaster strewn across a heavily damaged entrance hall with blown-out windows and doorways. Olga Voronova, a 36-year-old mother of three who lived in the building next door to the explosion, said she was “very scared” and did not understand how the blast could have happened. “We have quite serious security guards; they ask every car at the checkpoints, and we order passes for guests, even family members,” the woman added. She isn’t alone. Several Russians faced similar attacks as Kyiv brought the war closer to the Kremlin ahead of possible negotiations on ending a Russia-Ukraine war that is believed to have killed and injured one million soldiers. The post Pro-Russia Militia Leader ‘Assasinated’ In Moscow appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

(Worthy News) – A respected elder of the Celestial Church of Christ, Eagle Parish, in Ogun state, Nigeria, was shot dead when three gunmen invaded the Sunday service on January 19, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Aged 54, Yomi Adetula was known by his church community as a man devoted to prayer and service. “Adetula was a man of God who dedicated himself to serving the community,” Adewale Amos, a local community leader, told ICC. “We face challenges from groups that oppose spiritual efforts, and we must advocate for greater awareness and collective action to protect the rights of Christians to worship freely.” Ogun State Police are investigating Adetula’s murder and seeking to apprehend the killers, ICC reports. While tens of thousands of Christians have been murdered by Islamic terrorists, the gunmen who killed Adetula reportdly belong to a local cult that has been targeting believers in Christ, ICC said. Home to 106, 608, 000 Christians (46% of the population), Nigeria nevertheless ranks seven on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of the top 50 countries that are most dangerous for Christians. “Jihadist violence continues to escalate in Nigeria, and Christians are particularly at risk from targeted attacks by Islamist militants, including Fulani fighters, Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province),” Open Doors reports in a website statement. “These increased under the rule of former president Muhammadu Buhari, putting Nigeria at the epicentre of targeted violence against the church. The government’s failure to protect Christians and punish perpetrators has only strengthened the militants’ influence.” The post Nigeria: Church Elder Shot Dead During Sunday Service appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A house-church preacher in Guandong, China, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for conducting “illegal business operations” by distributing his church’s Christian literature, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Preacher Deng Yanxiang of the Shengjia House Church in Foshan, Guandong was sentenced by the People’s Court of Shunde District in Foshan on January 17, ICC reports. “The charges were tied to the church’s publications, including Daily Bible Readings and Interpretations, which were sold and distributed to locals,” ICC said in its report. Local believers have attested that the Chinese government often uses the “illegal business operations” catch-all to hinder the evangelical activities of house churches. In a website statement referencing the attitude of the Chinese government toward house churches, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy group explains: “Unregistered churches, even those once tolerated, are considered illegal and increasingly put under pressure, as authorities seek to enforce regulations and tighten policies. State-approved churches come under strong ideological pressure, and smaller congregations are often forced to merge to make a larger church that is easier for the state to control.” Preacher Yanxiang will be released in May as he has been in prison since his arrest in August 2023, ICC said. Ruled by the authoritarian Chinese Communist Party, China ranks 15 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post China: Preacher Sentenced to Two Years Imprisonment for Distributing Gospel Literature appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The Trump administration has requested congressional approval for a $1 billion arms transfer to Israel, including 4,700 1,000-pound bombs worth over $700 million and Caterpillar-built armored bulldozers valued at $300 million, even as the White House works to maintain a fragile Gaza ceasefire, the Wall Street Journal reported. The proposed arms sale, funded by U.S. military aid, coincides with Netanyahu’s Washington visit, where he will meet Trump to discuss ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, along with broader regional tensions. Netanyahu and Israeli officials are urging Trump to advance an $8 billion arms deal, initially requested under Biden, for bombs, missiles, and artillery rounds. The Biden administration informed key congressional leaders of the $8 billion arms sale in January before leaving office, but approval remains stalled due to a hold by some Democratic lawmakers, a congressional official said. A spokesman for the Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee stated, “We continue engagement with the administration on a number of questions and concerns” regarding the deal but declined to elaborate. The Trump administration is urging congressional leaders to lift the hold on arms sales, requiring approval from the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees before formal notification. The post Trump Administration Prepares New $1 Billion Arms Sale to Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with evangelical leaders, including the designated U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, in Washington, D.C., as he met with Evangelical American community leaders ahead of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Danny Ayalon, Israel’s former Ambassador to the United Nations, wrote on X about the future U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee: “I have known Mike for decades—he is a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people. I look forward to our collaboration in strengthening the unwavering alliance between the State of Israel and the United States.” Jewish Insider reported that Netanyahu currently has no scheduled meetings with American Jewish leaders, a group with whom he has had a more complex relationship over the years. Earlier in the day, Orthodox American Jews staged a protest against Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump at the White House, asserting that he should not be welcomed in the U.S. They condemned him, stating, “The murderer Netanyahu is genocidal, anti-Semitic, and irreligious and should not be admitted to America.” Later in the evening, Netanyahu met with the Trump administration’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, at the Blair House guest residence in Washington, where he is staying this week. Witkoff was joined by U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, with the ongoing ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza as the primary focus of their discussions. The post Netanyahu Met with Evangelical Leaders in Washington appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BERLIN/AMSTERDAM/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Governments in the Netherlands and Germany were under pressure Monday to halt the influx of migrants from mainly Muslim nations as more details emerged about deadly knife attacks in which children were among those killed. In the Netherlands, police announced they had detained a man of Moroccan and Dutch nationality suspected of fatally stabbing an 11-year girl in the Dutch town of Nieuwegein. The girl was attacked Saturday in the street at 3:00 p.m. local time, and medics were unable to save her life, according to police investigators. Earlier reports had wrongly identified the man as coming from Syria, police added. “In the immediate vicinity, the police arrested a 29-year-old suspect based on information from bystanders and others,” a statement from the Utrecht regional police added. The authorities did not indicate the motives for the attack, but police said they were investigating reports that the suspect had been acting “confused” in the week ahead of the attack. Residents said they had been “concerned about the man’s behavior for some time, and three complaints had been made to the police about him.” The dead girl and her family “came from Eritrea, and the girl had celebrated her 11th birthday on Friday,” neighbors said. Police also told Dutch radio the girl may have been “a random” victim. GERMANY’S AFD In neighboring Germany, Europe’s largest economy, the once isolated, fiercely anti-migration Alternative für Deutschland or Alternative for Germany (AfD) party received more endorsements Monday despite concerns about pro-Nazi views within its ranks. Polls suggest the AfD could become one of the nation’s largest parties amid mounting anger about violence linked to Muslim asylum seekers. German police revealed that they detained a 28-year-old Afghan man over a knife attack in a park in the German city of Aschaffenburg on January 22 that killed two people, including a toddler. With less than a month left in a campaign for early elections dominated by debate on immigration and asylum policy, the country’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, condemned it as an “act of terror.” Police said a two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man who reportedly attempted to help the child were killed. Two other victims were severely injured in the stabbing, whose motive was not immediately clear, police added. Local media reports said the attacker targeted a group of children from a daycare center who were in the park. The suspect lived in an asylum center in the area, news outlet Der Spiegel reported. Other media reported the man had been treated for “psychological problems.” Election frontrunner Friedrich Merz, head of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said he was deeply shocked by the violence. “This can’t go on,” he stressed in a statement. “We must and we will re-establish law and order.” REMIGRATION DEMANDS Alice Weidel, co-leader of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland, running second in the polls, posted on social media platform X: “Remigration now!” referring to her party’s highly controversial call for mass deportation of migrants and asylum seekers. Both parties have not ruled out governing together, and the AfD backed the CDU’s proposals for strict migration rules. According to police, at least 160,000 people marched in Germany’s capital, Berlin, and other cities on Sunday in protest. Organizers said 250,000 people participated in the Berlin rally. Yet in Hungary, fiercely anti-migration Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Monday announced AfD leader Alice Weidel’s visit to Hungary on social media. “Berlin has always been a city of walls. It’s time to tear another one down,” Orban said on the social media platform X. Orbán told Switzerland’s Neue Zuercher Zeitung newspaper that Weidel herself had initiated her visit to Hungary. “The AfD could get 20 percent of the vote [in Germany’s February 23 national election]. If its head wants to talk to me, why should I say no?” the newspaper quoted him as saying in an interview. Its success would mirror the success of the Dutch anti-Islam Partij Voor de Vrijheid, or Party for Freedom (PVV), which became the largest party in the Netherlands and is now part of the government. The AfD also received endorsement from U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, a government efficiency adviser to U.S. President Donald J. Trump. The party also received an unprecedented 5 million euros ($5.2 million) in financial donations, announced in Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, on Monday. MILLIONS GIVEN Germany’s Bundestag disclosed that the AfD received its largest-ever donation, 2.3 million euros ($2.4 million), from a far-right Austrian politician on February 1. That followed two contributions from German business people in January totaling almost 2.5 million euros ($2.6 million). Each was individually larger than the total in declared donations that the party received in any given year of its 10-year history, officials said. Musk, the world’s richest man, endorsed the AfD before Trump’s January 20 inauguration. Yet the AfD’s rise has worried at least some Jewish people and others who recall that Björn Höcke, leader of the AfD party in the state of Thuringia, has twice been fined by a German court for using a banned Nazi slogan. The phrase “Everything for Germany” (“Alles für Deutschland”) was a slogan of the Nazi stormtroopers and engraved on their daggers. Alexander Gauland, an AfD co-founder, former party leader, and current Member of Parliament, has engaged in Holocaust trivialization on several occasions. In a 2018 speech to the AfD youth wing, he said, “Hitler and the Nazis are just a speck of bird poop in more than 1,000 years of successful German history.” Gauland also said in 2017 that Germans should be “proud of the achievements of German soldiers in two world wars.” AfD leaders have also threatened to deport German citizens of non-ethnic-German heritage, saying, “Islam does not belong in Germany. The AfD sees the spread of Islam and the presence of over 5 million Muslims, whose numbers are constantly growing, as a great danger to our state, our society, and our system of values.” AfD members were also exposed as participants in a November 2023 secret meeting of far-right extremists in Potsdam, including Austrian neo-Nazi Martin Sellner, who discussed a mass deportation plan for foreigners and “non-assimilated” Germans as part of AfD’s strategy should it be elected to govern Germany. DEPORTATION PLAN Following the exposure of the secret meeting, AfD politicians initially denied participating. Still, just weeks later, they began actively campaigning with the slogan “remigration,” which was the term used at the meeting for the mass deportation plan. The prospect of the AfD becoming part of a government prompted a 99-year-old Holocaust survivor to return his federal order of merit to the German president. Albrecht Weinberg’s move came after an anti-immigration motion in parliament passed with the support of the AfD. Weinberg, whose parents were murdered in Auschwitz, told The Guardian newspaper that he was “horrified.” He added: “You know German history? You know then how some people posing as democrats in 1933 abused the legal, political process to get into power? What happened in the Bundestag on Wednesday reminded me of Germany in 1933 of how [Adolf] Hitler and the Nazi party managed to come to power through legitimate means.” Analysts say, however, that while most Germans do not want the nation to return to the antisemitic Nazi era, there is genuine concern about the extremism among Muslim migrants following recent deadly violence, including stabbings and other attacks. The post Netherlands, Germany Under Pressure Over Deadly Knife Attacks (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, obtain the fullness of joy! John 16:23-24 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. As we ask in His name, and we see our prayers being answered, we realize how real and faithful our God is. But I want to focus on the life that is overflowing with JOY! Have you ever met someone who just seemed radiant with joy? Joyful people always seem to be overflowing with life. No matter the obstacles the enemy throws their way, they always seem to live in victory. You’ll also find that they are spending time in the prayer closet...because the outflow of prayer is JOY! When we commune with God at that intimate level, dwelling in His presence, as the Psalmist says, “In your presence is fullness of joy!" [Psalm 16:11] Friend, prayer is intimately connected to the joy in your life. If you’re struggling with anxiety about the future, or the present, or a deep concern that is robbing your joy … it's time to enter your prayer closet, set the time apart, and determine to enter His presence. The Lord's joy will strengthen you from that place. Try it and see. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Nevada) Editor's Note: Latest Video: Worthy Wrap-Up: Reagan, Trump, and the Middle East Condundrum Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce. Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out! Around the World Netherlands, Germany Under Pressure Over Deadly Knife Attacks (Worthy News In-Depth) Governments in the Netherlands and Germany were under pressure Monday to halt the influx of migrants from mainly Muslim nations as more details emerged about deadly knife attacks in which children were among those killed. Trade War Fears Ease as Trump Pauses Tariffs After Concessions from Canada, Mexico Major markets pared some losses after President Donald Trump paused his plans for 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada while starting talks with China on a 10% additional tariff over fentanyl smuggling. Iran Unveils Nuclear-Capable Missile Israel faced another major security threat Monday after Iran unveiled a nuclear-capable ballistic missile that it said was capable of traveling 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles), making the Jewish nation within reach of the Islamic Republic. Trump, Mexican President Reach Deal to Delay Tariffs Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the U.S. agreed to pause tariffs on imports from her country after agreeing to a border deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump Threatens Tariffs on BRICS Nations If They Move Away From US Dollar US President Donald Trump has threatened to slap tariffs on the BRICS 10-member-state intergovernmental organization if the group seeks to replace the American dollar with a new reserve currency, the Hill reports. Trump’s announcement follows fresh on the heels of his decision to impose tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada starting February 1. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Trump Administration Prepares New $1 Billion Arms Sale to Israel The Trump administration has requested congressional approval for a $1 billion arms transfer to Israel, including 4,700 1,000-pound bombs worth over $700 million and Caterpillar-built armored bulldozers valued at $300 million, even as the White House works to maintain a fragile Gaza ceasefire, the Wall Street Journal reported. Netanyahu Met with Evangelical Leaders in Washington Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with evangelical leaders, including the designated U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, in Washington, D.C., as he met with Evangelical American community leaders ahead of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Inside the United States ‘Illegal Takeover’ of USAID Operations by Trump, Musk Draws Ire from Democrats Foreign aid has become the newest target of the Department of Government Efficiency, with President Donald Trump reportedly planning to merge the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the State department. Christian News China: Preacher Sentenced to Two Years Imprisonment for Distributing Gospel Literature A house-church preacher in Guandong, China, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for conducting “illegal business operations” by distributing his church’s Christian literature, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Egypt: Christian Refugee Released After 3 Years in Prison, “I Thank Everyone Who Prayed for Me” A Christian refugee who was imprisoned in Egypt for belonging to a Facebook group about leaving Islam for Christ has been released after three years of incarceration, ADF International reports. Egypt ranks 40 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. View the full article

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Foreign aid has become the newest target of the Department of Government Efficiency, with President Donald Trump reportedly planning to merge the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the State department. Trump has already made Secretary of State Marco Rubio the acting administrator of USAID and halted the agency’s work via a foreign funding freeze, moves Democratic lawmakers say amount to an “illegal takeover.” The changes follow DOGE leader Elon Musk’s social media announcements over the weekend that Trump is planning on dismantling USAID entirely, a claim that Rubio dismissed Monday when he told reporters that the goal is “not about ending the programs that USAID does per se,” but rather ensuring it operates in a responsible, America-centric way. “USAID has a history of sort of ignoring that and deciding that there’s somehow a global charity separate from the national interest,” Rubio said. “These are taxpayer dollars, and we owe the American people the assurances that every dollar we are spending abroad is being spent on something that furthers our national interest.” With a staff of roughly 10,000, USAID oversees humanitarian aid and development programs in about 120 countries. The agency’s scope has expanded over the years to include more and more controversial programs. Musk called the organization “evil” and “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” in social media posts Sunday. He referenced investigations showing USAID was involved with coronavirus research in Wuhan, China, in 2019, as well as allegations that the agency funded censorship and gender ideology initiatives abroad. USAID received roughly $32 billion in fiscal year 2024, which it has spent to address global food insecurity, AIDS/HIV prevention, and humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, among other things. Democrats held an emergency public press conference Monday afternoon, accusing Trump and Musk of violating the law by defying Congress. “Congress has appropriated foreign assistance to protect U.S. interests and global stability. The Trump freeze on foreign assistance has halted vital humanitarian aid and medical deliveries that have already been paid for,” Rep. Johnny Olszewski, D-Md., said. “It’s not only a complete waste of American tax dollars, it’s directly ceding the competition for influence to U.s. adversaries like China.” Democrats pledged to fight the changes and especially Musk’s influence over administrative decisions. “Congress writes the law, not Elon Musk,” Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., added on social media. “We will not abide an illegal takeover of the United States government by a billionaire who nobody voted for.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post ‘Illegal Takeover’ of USAID Operations by Trump, Musk Draws Ire from Democrats appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article