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

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

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

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

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

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MEDAN, INDONESIA (Worthy News) – Christians gathered in Indonesia on Thursday to pray for survivors and families of victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami 20 years ago that killed some 230,000 people and left deep scarves in the lives of those who were there. “We pray today for them as we will never forget,” said Victoria, an organizer of a regular prayer service and home church in a heavily Muslim area of Medan, the capital and largest city of Indonesia’s North Sumatra province. Victoria, who only uses that name for security reasons, told Worthy News that she remembers the “earth-shaking” on that fateful December 26. “While Medan was further away, even our city shook due to the tsunami and related earthquake.” Many churches were also impacted, including Aceh, the hard-hit Indonesian province. Christians told Worthy News that many Churches were destroyed. “And many people from Aceh rushed to Medan, about 12 hours drive from there,” recalled Victoria. “Many are also near us,” she said, adding that she and other church workers are trying to “reach out” to people still suffering from Aceh. Experts say the tsunami on December 26, 2004, was triggered by a 9.1-magnitude quake off the coast of Indonesia’s Aceh province. HIGH WAVES It sent waves as high as 17.4 meters (57 feet) crashing into the coastlines of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, and nine other countries. In Indonesia, which accounted for more than half the total death toll, hundreds of survivors and family members of the victims visited a mass grave in the Ulee Lheue village, reporters saw. There were scattered flower petals on the stones marking the graves. Many were crying and hugging their family members. Some people weren’t sure if their loved ones were there, as many were buried unidentified, they explained. A memorial was also held in the front yard of Aceh’s Grand Baiturrahman Mosque, where hundreds sat in silence for three minutes before praying together. Sri Lanka marked the day with two minutes of silence at the Peraliya Tsunami Memorial Statue in the town of Galle, the country’s disaster management center said in a short statement. In India’s Tamil Nadu, the worst-hit Indian state, residents lit candles and conducted prayers for those killed two decades ago. MARKING ANNIVERSARY Thailand marked the anniversary near Ban Nam Khem village in southern Phang Nga province by holding religious rites for those who died. Hundreds of people visited the Tsunami Wall, a memorial site next to where the rituals were held, to pay their respects to lost loved ones. “I felt that the waves took my daughter away; I was so mad at it,” said 62-year-old resident Urai Sirisuk, who lost her 4-year-old daughter. Urai said she would not go near the sea, just about 50 meters (yards) away. “I cannot bring myself near it, not even my feet in the sand. I wouldn’t come around here if not necessary, never. The sea took my daughter from me,” she added. For Victoria and other Christians in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation, these are moments to pray for “Christ’s peace and wisdom.” The post Indonesia Christians Remember Deadly Tsunami appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

(Worthy News) – The US-based Eastern European Mission (EEM) Bible distribution ministry recently reported that, amid the continuing devastating war against Russia’s invasion, Ukrainians have requested an increasing number of Bibles to be sent to be delivered in their language, The Christian Post (CP) reports. The increased request for Ukrainian-language Bibles is all the more notable given that Ukrainians are being forced to flee their homes to escape Russian bombardments. Nearly 6.8 million Ukrainian refugees have fled the country, while 4 million are displaced inside it. The request implies Ukrainians are taking the Gospel message with them to wherever they find shelter, CP notes.”God uses evil, and this war is definitely not from a good place, but God will use it,” EEM Vice President Dirk Smith told CP. “We’re seeing Ukrainians travel, and I think it’s why the request for Ukrainian Bibles has increased because you’ve got Ukrainian believers who are migrating, and they’re traveling alongside or staying with Ukrainians who are non-believers,” Smith explained. “And the non-believers are looking at the believers and going, ‘OK, we’re experiencing the same hell, but you’re doing it very, you’re handling this in a different way,'” Smith continued. “With a peace, dare I say, that surpasses understanding. And the non-believers ask, ‘How is that?’ and the believers are there to share Jesus.” Facing down the war, EEM still prints Bibles in Kyiv and Western Ukraine, CP noted. EEM also works with NGOs, ministries, and churches run by Ukrainians on the ground in Ukraine. The post More Ukrainians Are Requesting Bibles Amid War Against Russia appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News OSLO (Worthy News) – A bus carrying dozens of people veered off the road, landing in a lake in Norway and killing several people, authorities say. Thursday’s crash shocking the Nordic nation occurred at around 1:30 p.m. local time in the Hadsel district on the country’s north-western coast, according to officials. The bus came off the road and ended up partially in the Åsvatnet lake, according to public broadcaster NRK, killing at least three people, though the toll could ride. It was thought to have been carrying about 60 people at the time of the crash. “Fatalities have been reported,” Bent Are Eilertsen, Chief of Staff in Nordland Police District, said in published remarks. “We are talking about 60-70 people [in the bus] added rescue leader Ørjan Delbekk, talking to local media. DISASTER TEAM Shortly after news of the tragedy emerged, Nordland Hospital, on red alert, said it had established a disaster team in response to the incident. “[We have] extra resources called in, personnel, ambulances, helicopter and aircraft resources to transport the injured to hospital,” it announced on its website. While the cause of the crash was still being investigated, there were reports of heavy snow drifts and strong winds in the area. The Norwegian Red Cross said on social media that it was sending teams to help with a “serious bus accident” on the E10 road, underscoring its extent. Crashes of this magnitude are relatively rare in Norway, which, according to EU data, performs better than all European Union countries in terms of fatalities per million inhabitants. In 2021, 80 people were reportedly killed, and 569 were seriously injured in road crashes in Norway, a nation of 5.5 million people. The post Norway: Bus Carrying Dozens of Lands In Lake; 3 Killed appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Hundreds of Christians in Syria took to the streets of Damascus on Tuesday to protest the destruction of a Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama, Politico reports. The tree was burned down just over two weeks after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamic insurgent group on December 8. Highlighting Syrian Christians’ concerns that non-Islamic religious freedom may not be respected under the next government, the protest was sparked after a video was posted on social media showing the tree being burned down by masked fighters on Monday evening. “We demand the rights of Christians,” protestors chanted. “If we’re not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don’t belong here anymore,” a demonstrator told AFP. Denying their involvement in the tree burning, the HTS told protestors that the fighters responsible were foreigners, BBC news reports. According to the Syrian Observatory For Human Rights, these fighters were from the Islamist group Ansar al-Tawhid. “Syria is free, non-Syrians should leave,” a number of protestors then began chanting. Notably, another video showed an HTS religious leader holding up a cross as a sign of solidarity and telling protestors that the tree would be restored and lit up by morning, Barron’s reported. The post Syria: Christians Protest Burning of Christmas Tree appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM/GAZA (Worthy News) – Five journalists of a television station linked to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a group designated as a “terrorist organization” by Israel, were killed Thursday in an Israeli air strike on their vehicle in Gaza, the network said. PIJ-backed Al-Quds Today TV claimed that the missile hit their broadcast truck as it was parked in “the Nuseirat camp” in central Gaza despite being identified as a “press” vehicle. The channel identified the five staffers as Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan, Ayman Al-Jadi, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Khalil, Fadi Hassouna, and Mohammed Al-Lada’a. They were killed “while performing their journalistic and humanitarian duty” close to the Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat, the outlet’s statement added. However, the Israeli military stressed its air force had conducted a “precise” strike overnight on a vehicle in Nuseirat with a “terrorist cell” from the PIJ inside. Yet the channel condemned the attack as a “Zionist assault on a broadcast vehicle.” It comes amid broader concerns about the safety of journalists, though some have been accused of being Hamas or PIJ operatives. HUNDREDS KILLED, INJURED The Palestinian Journalists’ Union says that the ongoing war in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 190 journalists, with over 400 others injured since the war began. Israel says it tries to avoid civilian casualties in the war, which was sparked by an attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023. In a separate airstrike in Gaza’s Zeitoun neighborhood, local doctors reported Thursday that five civilians were killed and at least 20 others were injured when a house was struck. Rescue teams said they fear the death toll could rise further as many people remain trapped under the rubble following the apparent Israeli air strike. Israel has accused groups such as Hamas and PIJ of hiding its weapons and fighters among civilians. Since October 7, 2023, more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, though those figures have been complex to verify independently. Israel says nearly half of those killed are Hamas fighters. Over 1,700 Israeli and foreign nationals have been killed in attacks in or originated from Gaza, according to Israeli sources, with more suffering expected in the coming days. The post ‘Five Journalists Killed in Gaza Airstrike’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Tate Miller | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – A religious liberty group, Christian schools, and families from the schools are battling the state of Minnesota for banning certain Christian colleges and universities from using a free college credit program, a ruling a senior counsel called “disgraceful.” The University of Northwestern, St. Paul and Crown College as well as families from the schools are “challenging a Minnesota law” that excludes universities requiring “students to sign a statement of faith from the state’s Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program,” according to a news release from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Becket is a nonprofit that seeks to defend religious liberty, as explained on its website. Becket is helping the affected schools and families in their fight, including filing a federal lawsuit against Minnesota in 2023, according to the Loe v. Jett case details on Becket’s website. When reached for comment, Becket provided the news release. “We raise our children to put their faith at the center of everything they do,” Minnesota parents Mark and Melinda Loe said in the Becket news release. “Unfortunately, Minnesota is depriving kids like ours of the opportunity to get a head start on college at schools that embrace their faith,” the Loes said. “We hope the court will strike this law down and protect all religious students and the schools they want to attend.” Created nearly 40 years ago, Minnesota’s PSEO program enables “high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit for free,” as stated by Becket’s news release. Through the PSEO program, “students have been able to attend any eligible public or private school of their choice,” according to the release. However, in 2023, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz “signed a bill into law that amends the PSEO to exclude religious schools like Crown and Northwestern from participating because of the faith statement requirement from on-campus students,” Becket’s case details state. According to the case details, the statements of faith simply ask if students “will embrace the schools’ religious beliefs for the purpose of upholding a strong Christian community on campus.” When reached twice each for comment, neither Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Commisioner of Education Willie Jett, nor Jett’s assistant Marquetta Stokes responded. However, “Minnesota promised not to enforce the law while the case is ongoing,” according to the case details. Northwestern President Corbin Hoornbeek said in Becket’s news release that “Minnesota wants to single out” the university because of its “unique campus culture which integrates faith and learning.” “We pray the court will recognize that and continue to allow us to help on-campus PSEO students flourish in their faith and education,” Hoornbeek said. President Andrew Denton of Crown College said in the news release that Crown College has been “grateful to extend” its opportunity for biblically-integrated education “to young students who seek to join [Crown’s] Christian community through the PSEO program.” “We pray that the court will continue to allow every student in Minnesota to use PSEO funds at the school that best meets their needs and matches their values,” Denton said. The Center Square reached out to Northwestern’s senior vice president for media Jason Sharp and senior director of marketing Jennifer Clemens, as well as Crown College. None responded. Becket’s vice president and senior counsel Eric Baxter said that “politicians in St. Paul are slamming the door on thousands of high schoolers who want to get a head start on college simply because they’re religious.” “That’s disgraceful: the state should be helping educate its students, not cutting them off from opportunities that will allow them to grow,” Baxter said. “We’re confident the court will strike down Minnesota’s ban for good,” Baxter said. Becket said in the case details that “religious schools should be able to participate in publicly available programs without discrimination, and religious school students should be able to participate in these programs on equal footing as students who attend non-religious schools.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Lawsuit Filed Against Minnesota for Barring Christian Schools From Using Program appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square (Worthy News) – As 2025 approaches, America’s fiscal health is in serious trouble with a ballooning federal debt exceeding 100% of the GDP. It’s projected to get even worse. A year ago, the U.S. national debt amounted to more than $33.8 trillion, according to Senate Republican Joint Economic Committee data. As of Dec. 24, 2024, the debt has climbed to nearly $36.3 trillion, a $2.5 trillion increase within the past 12 months. If the average daily rate of debt growth over the past three years continues, the gross national debt will reach $37 trillion within 5 months, $39.2 trillion in 2026, and $40.95 trillion in 2027, according to the most recent Congressional Budget Office 10-year forecast. Economist Romina Boccia, director of Budget and Entitlement Policy at the Cato Institute, told The Center Square that the “excessively high, and growing unsustainably fast” national debt has “real implications” for the future of the country. Boccia referenced how the high levels of debt caused by federal spending have depressed economic growth, particularly over the past four years, leading to decreases in take-home pay, job opportunities and entrepreneurship. As the debt grows, so does the average interest rate the government is paying. That rate jumped from 2.378% five years ago to 3.155% now. Since one of the key drivers of U.S. debt growth is interest on the debt, a vicious spending cycle has been created, one that lawmakers in the U.S. House Committee on the Budget recently called “completely unsustainable.” The increased rates on the federal debt are also pushing up interest rates economy-wide, affecting home mortgages, car loans and business loans, Boccia said. Unless Congress tackles the other key driver of debt growth – federal spending on entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security – the debt will continue to grow, Boccia said. She supports reforming entitlement programs as the most realistic path toward stability, despite the political unpopularity of the idea. “If entitlement reform continues to be too politically challenging, Congress should establish a fiscal commission to help it get the job done,” Boccia advised. “[D]elegating the policy details to an independent commission … [will] provide legislators with sufficient political cover to allow economically necessary, but politically difficult policy changes to go into effect.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post National Debt Grew By $2.5 Trillion in 2024; Projected to Rise appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – An increasing number of mass graves are being discovered in Syria since the brutal rule of dictator Bashar al-Assad came to an end at the hands of the Islamic insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on December 8, TRT reports. Last week, an international war crimes prosecutor said the mass grave sites in Syria show Assad had operated the “machinery of death” against anyone he considered an enemy. While describing the scenes in Tadamon, a formerly vibrant suburb in southern Damascus, PBS reported: “After almost 14 years of war, it’s a desolate wasteland with more bodies buried underground than people still living above it. Human remains are scattered all around… An air of dread and sanctity hangs over these grounds, where countless souls perished in summary executions.” According to the International Commission on Missing Persons in the Hague there may be a further 66 unverified, mass grave sites in Syria, TRT reports. Meanwhile, the Commission has told Reuters it is “exploding” with new requests for help from the families of disappeared loved ones. Syrian civil defense teams have also received calls from witnesses who saw cars dumping bags of human bones by the side of the road at night, TRT reports. More than 150,000 Syrians are considered missing, according to international and Syrian organizations, including the United Nations. “Since the fall of the regime, we’ve received over 100 calls about mass graves. People believe every military site has one,” civil defense officials have reportedly added. The post Syria: Increasing Number of Mass Graves Coming to Light, Assad Operated “Machinery of Death” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Sudanese civilians are dealing with famine in addition to the death, displacement, maiming, and trauma brought on them by the war for power between Sudan’s National Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that broke out in April 2023, Courthouse News reports. In a report published Tuesday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said famine has now been detected in five areas of Sudan, including in the largest displacement camp, Zamzam, in North Darfur province, Courthouse News reports. Zamzam currently has more than 400,000 people.’ Five other areas in North Darfur may be struck by famine within the next six months, the IPC report shows. A further 17 areas in the Nuba Mountains and the northern and southern areas of Darfur are also at risk of famine. “It is not merely a lack of food but a profound breakdown of health, livelihoods, and social structures, leaving entire communities in a state of desperation,” the IPC notes. Hunger is also widespread, as food is hard to find and expensive, Courthouse news reports. “Aid groups say they struggle to reach the most vulnerable as warring parties limit access, especially in North Darfur province,” Courthouse News noted. The IPC is calling for a ceasefire, asserting that it is the only way to prevent famine from spreading. In a statement, Dervla Cleary, a senior emergency and rehabilitation officer at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, said: “The situation in Sudan is just awful. It is unacceptable in a world like today.” The post Sudan: Civil War Has Now Triggered a Famine appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MAPUTO (Worthy News) – A manhunt was underway Thursday for over 1,500 prisoners who escaped in conflict-stricken Mozambique, where at least 56 people were killed since Monday after earlier Christians were attacked, police and human rights watchers said. The upheaval came while police officers and protesters clashed in the latest wave of unrest over a presidential election that demonstrators claim was rigged by the governing party. At Maputo Central Prison, which housed 2,500 inmates, more than 1,530 prisoners escaped, a police commander, Bernardino Rafael, said at a news conference. Thirty-three prisoners were killed and 15 others wounded in a confrontation with guards trying to prevent detainees from fleeing, he added. “Within the next few hours,” Rafael said, “150 of the escapees were recaptured by the authorities,” suggesting most are unaccounted for. Tensions escalated this week after the nation’s top court on Monday upheld the election result in favor of Daniel Chapo, the candidate for Frelimo, which has governed Mozambique since it gained independence from Portugal in 1975. ISLAMIST FIGHTERS The political instability was expected to lead to more pressure on Christians in the north of the African country, where Islamists killed at least ten more Christians in the closing days of November, Worthy News reported. Fighters from Islamic State Mozambique (IS-M) attacked a Christian village in the Ancuabe District of Cabo Delgado, the worst affected province, “slaughtering six,” said Barnabas Aid, a Christian charity supporting believers in the area. “Four others were captured and killed in the neighboring province of Ituri,” the group told Worthy News. Footage shared with Worthy News showed what witnesses described as “Terrorist men with guns approaching a village across dry and dusty land.” In another attack on November 27, IS-M group fighters burned homes and church buildings in the Chiúre District of Cabo Delgado, but no casualties were reported, Christians said. The unrest comes as Mozambique struggles to recover from Cyclone Chido. The country’s National Institute for Natural Disasters said the storm’s death toll has risen to 120 since it made landfall a week ago. TOLL RISING The death toll has reportedly nearly quadrupled from initial reported figures as rescue workers reach isolated rural areas. Most of those who died were in the province of Cabo Delgado, where hundreds of thousands of people, including Christians, had already fled their homes after years of attacks by the insurgent group backed by the Islamic State. The country’s Natural Disaster Institute said the storm has affected more than 450,000 people. Ahead of this turbulent Christmas season, Christian charity Barnabas Aid had asked Christians to “Pray for an end to the violence in Mozambique.” Ask “that our brothers and sisters, and all who are at risk of attack by Islamists, will be allowed to live in peace,” Barnabas Fund said. “Pray also that the Lord will comfort the bereaved in their time of sorrow,” the group added in remarks shared with Worthy News. The post Scores Killed As Unrest Spread In Mozambique Amid Storm and Elections appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Since their power struggle launched Sudan’s current civil war in April 2023, the Sudanese National Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have destroyed the tentative steps that were taken toward securing religious freedom after the ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, Open Doors reports. Hundreds of churches have closed or been destroyed, and congregations have reported violent attacks on believers including rape and kidnap, Open Doors says. According to Morning Star News, on December 20, yet another church building was targeted during an air strike bombing by the Sudanese Air Force (SAF). This time it was the Baptist Church in Khartoum North’s Al-Azb area, and one congregant was injured. Several civilians were killed in the bombing as their homes were destroyed in the strike as well. In a statement to MSN, the church’s Pastor Philemon Hassan Kharata said: “The Lord is good, and we pray that He protects the souls that are more important than the property and that He comforts the neighbors of the church who died during the strike. We also pray for healing for our brother Bakhit Hassan.” Sudan now ranks 8 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. “There are long-term concerns that the conflict will give Islamic extremists a renewed foothold in the country, undoing the reforms made by the transitional civilian government which gave more freedom to Christians, including abolishing the apostasy law and removing Islam as the state religion,” Open Doors said in a recent report. The post Sudan: Religious Freedom Largely Vanished Since Onset of Civil War, Another Church Bombed appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KYIV/MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Russia’s leading security service suggested Thursday it had uncovered a plot by Kyiv to kill “senior Defense Ministry officials,” prompting Moscow to fire drones at Ukraine, injuring several people. The Federal Security Service, or FSB, the successor of the KGB, said it had detained four Russians who allegedly prepared the planned murders. The FSB said that suspected organizers of the attacks were to kill one of the senior officers “using a remotely controlled car bomb.” It added that another top military official was to be assassinated by “an explosive device hidden in an envelope.” The agency didn’t name the military officers targeted in the alleged plot. The FSB released a video showing the arrest and interrogation of the suspects, who weren’t named. Their arrests came after last week a general accused by Kyiv of ordering the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops was assassinated in Moscow using a bomb hidden in an electric scooter, officials said. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who was chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed outside an apartment building on Ryazansky Prospekt along with his assistant, added Russia’s Investigative Committee. KREMLIN THREATENED With the war getting closer to the Kremlin, Russia fought back using drones Thursday after attacking Ukraine’s infrastructure with missiles on Christmas Day. The Russian drone attack on the central market in the Ukrainian town of Nikopol injured eight on Thursday morning, local authorities said. Seven of those injured were reportedly hospitalized after the strike damaged “multiple stalls at the market,” Dnipropetrovsk governor Serhiy Lysak wrote on social media. The drone strike comes after Russia’s Christmas Day attack on the country’s energy system killed one person in the region. The Ukrainian military said on Thursday that it shot down 20 drones out of 31 launched by Russia overnight. Of the 31 drones, 11 “imitator drones” did not reach their targets due to active engagement from the Ukrainian military, it added. The Russian defense ministry has claimed that Russian forces have captured the village of Hihant in eastern Ukraine. It was one of the latest small victories in the area in a war that has no real winners. MANY KILLED Numerous numerous sources believe that hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and injured in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two. Yet there was some hope Thursday as Russia “is willing to work” with U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump’s incoming administration to improve relations, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. Trump, who returns as president on January 20 styles himself as a master dealmaker and vowed to swiftly end the war in Ukraine, without providing many details. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian counterpart President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have still to agree on end to fighting that even continued around Christmas. However “if the signals that are coming from the new team in Washington to restore the dialogue that Washington interrupted after the start of a special military operation [war in Ukraine] are serious, of course, we will respond to them,” Lavrov told reporters. “But the Americans broke [off] the dialogue, so they should make the first move,” he stressed. However, Pope Francis urged faster action and called for an end to the war in Ukraine in his traditional Christmas Day address in Rome. “May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine. May there be the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation and to gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace,” the pope said The post Russia Uncovers Plot To Kill Defense Officials Amid Drone Strikes In Ukraine appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israeli air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels early Wednesday, marking the second consecutive night and fourth attack in a week targeting central Israel in an escalating near-nightly pattern. The same day, the Houthis also launched a drone that crashed in an open area near Ashkelon in southern Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Sirens blared across central Israel, prompting millions to rush to bomb shelters as a precaution against falling debris from the intercepted missile. This marked the fourth missile attack on Israel by the Houthis in less than a week, following strikes on Thursday, Saturday, and Tuesday. Senior Houthi official Hezam al-Asad mocked Israel on X (formerly Twitter), writing in Hebrew: “How long can four million people be in shelters?” He added, “Run to the shelters, we repeatedly warned you to stop killing Gaza’s children.” A Wall Street Journal report underscored mounting concerns in Washington and among international allies over the Houthis’ access to advanced missile and drone technologies supplied by Iran. Western sources also alleged Russian involvement, citing intelligence suggesting Western ships in the Red Sea are supplying the Houthis. Following the IDF’s interception of a drone launched from Yemen on Monday, after two unsuccessful attempts to intercept ballistic missiles last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Israelis to “remain patient and steadfast.” He also hinted at a coordinated international effort against the Houthis, potentially involving increased U.S. involvement. “We will act with strength, determination, and ingenuity,” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Monday. “Even if it takes time, the result will be the same as with other terrorist arms.” He vowed that Israel’s recent strike in Yemen “will not be the last.” Israeli officials have reportedly discussed plans with their U.S. counterparts to escalate strikes against the Houthis, with American support. However, Ynet News cites sources indicating that Israel will likely intensify its attacks to a decisive level only after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump assumes office on January 20. “The Houthis will pay a heavy price; there will be a ratcheting up of Israeli attacks,” an unnamed source told Ynet News. “But it’s nothing compared to what will happen once Trump enters office. The Americans are planning to impose an embargo on them and sanctions.” The post Houthis Target Israel with Missile and Drone Attacks appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, how dedicated are you? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have of God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. As we mentioned a couple of days ago, Chanukah commemorates the desecration of the holy temple of old (just another attempt of the enemy to wipe out the Jewish people and the things of God), God's great grace and the re-dedication of the temple to Him. While there is no longer a physical temple today, the Bible declares that we, as believers in Yeshua (Jesus), are living temples of God. But we need to recognize that our enemy is constantly at work, trying to erect idols and desecrate our temple in various ways so that we cannot be used to glorify God. How long has it been since we cleansed and rededicated our temple to the Lord? We should be doing it daily! Friend, we want to be more holy -- purer -- more righteous so that we can be found a peculiar people, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, as the scripture says. Let's pull down the strongholds and destroy the idols that pollute us! Let's strive to be a people who shine forth the glory of God today! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Dallas, Texas) Editor's Note: Latest message: The Mysteries of Yeshua's Birth and Chanukah Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce. Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out! Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are going to be heading WEST!!! Now booking in the following states: Texas, New Mexico and Arizona …. If you know Pastors, Rabbis or Ministry Leaders who might be interested in some powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the Land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World Russia Hits Ukraine’s Infrastructure In Christmas Barrage Ignoring Vatican Russia launched a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, ignoring appeals from Pope Francis for a Christmas truce in the war-torn nation and around the world. Dutch King Urges Jews Not To Leave After ‘Pogrom’ And Other Attacks Dutch King Willem-Alexander urged the Dutch Jewish community on Christmas Day to remain in the Netherlands despite concerns about mounting antisemitism. Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crashes, Dozens Killed An Embraer passenger plane flying from Azerbaijan to Russia crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday with 62 passengers and five crew on board, Kazakh authorities announced, saying that 32 people had survived. Ex-Suriname President Bouterse Dies In Hiding After Conviction For Murders Suriname’s ex-president Desi Bouterse, who was on the run after being convicted for political murders, has died, several Surinamese sources say. He was 79. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Houthis Target Israel with Missile and Drone Attacks Israeli air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels early Wednesday, marking the second consecutive night and fourth attack in a week targeting central Israel in an escalating near-nightly pattern. The same day, the Houthis also launched a drone that crashed in an open area near Ashkelon in southern Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Inside the United States Bah, Humbug! Rand Paul Report Details ‘Waste’ in Federal Spending Congress and federal agencies wasted more than $1 trillion of taxpayer money in 2024, according to an analysis published by U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, who has long called for fiscal responsibility and the end of waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer money. Chinese Spies Arrested in California People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operatives and spies continue to be arrested in the U.S. The latest include two Chinese spies in California and several arrested in Guam near a U.S. military installation on the same day as an historic live ballistic missile interception test. Christian News German Christians in Mourning Over Christmas Market Attack Christian churches in Germany are mourning with the loved ones of those who lost their lives or suffered injuries during the terrorist attack on a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports. Congo (DRC): 60 New Believers to Be Baptized in Christmas Day Service, “A Christmas Miracle” A beacon of light and hope in a country devastated by war, dozens of newly Christian believers were to be baptized at a special Christmas Day service in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Christian Today (CT) reports. Vietnam: Christians Arrested Ahead of Christmas, “Following Jesus Can Bring Intense Hostility” Multiple ethnic Montagnard Christian leaders in Vietnam’s Central Highlands region were arrested on December 21 after they began preparing to celebrate Christmas and led congregations in unauthorized worship services, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Sudan: Abused Christian Mother Stands Firm in New Faith A Sudanese refugee and Christian mother whose husband stabbed her for leaving Islam and putting her faith in Christ is reported to be standing firm in her new faith despite her family’s ongoing hostility and the challenge of living in a camp for displaced people, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – Congress and federal agencies wasted more than $1 trillion of taxpayer money in 2024, according to an analysis published by U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, who has long called for fiscal responsibility and the end of waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer money. Wasting taxpayer money and uncontrolled spending has made the national debt worse, he argues, which this year surpassed $36 trillion. “Americans are paying $892 billion in fiscal year 2024 on Uncle Sam’s credit card,” he said, referring to the interest paid on the national debt. In Paul’s Festivus Report 2024, he says “members of both political parties in Congress voted for massive spending bills, filled with subsidies for underperforming industries, continued military aid to Ukraine, and controversial climate initiatives. As Congress spends to reward its favored pet projects, the American taxpayers are forced to pay through high prices and crippling interest rates. “Members of Congress continued to send “Americans’ hard-earned money to foreign countries, funding endless wars, all while STILL ignoring our wide-open southern border,” he said. Highlights of the report include the federal government spending $10 billion “on maintaining, leasing, and furnishing almost entirely empty buildings,” and more than $7 million on various “magical projects.” The U.S. Department of State appears to be a top agency waster of taxpayer money, Paul notes. Highlights include the agency spending: nearly $5 million on influencers; $3 million on ‘Girl-Centered Climate Action’ in Brazil; $2.1 million for Paraguayan Border Security; nearly $900,000 to the Royal Film Commission to produce movies in Jordan; $500,000 to expand the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia’s “#USInvestsInEthiopians social media campaign to a larger national public relations campaign Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo”; $345,434 on football engagement to counter terrorism, $330,000 to censor conservative media; more than $250,000 to Bosnia to fight “misinformation;” more than $123,000 to teach Kyrgyzstan youth how to go viral; more than $108,000 on a non-functioning hotel; more than $32,500 for breakdancing. Other examples Paul cited as wasteful spending include the U.S. Department of the Interior spending $12 million on a Las Vegas pickleball complex and more than $720,000 on wetland conservation projects for ducks in Mexico, according to the report. Also notable in the report was the U.S., Department of Health and Human Services awarding a $2 million grant to study children looking at Facebook ads about food and nearly $420,000 on a “Depressing Study of Lonely, Starved Rats” to determine if lonely rats seek cocaine more than happy rats. The Department of Energy spent “$15.5 billion to push Americans toward electric vehicles they don’t want.” The National Endowment for the Arts spent $365,000 to promote circuses in city parks, awarded the Bearded Ladies Cabaret a $10,000 grant to support a cabaret show on ice skates focused on climate change, and since 2015 has awarded $385,000 for art displays on the High Line. The U.S. Treasury Department granted a failed trucking company a $700 million pandemic-era loan; the National Science Foundation spent nearly $290,000 “to ensure bird watching groups have safe spaces.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture spent $20 million on the Fertilize Right Initiative to advance fertilizer use in Pakistan, Vietnam, Colombia, and Brazil. The Agency for International Development spent $20 million on “Ahlan Simsim” a new Sesame Street show in Iraq; the U.S. Navy is set to waste almost $90 billion on ineffective Navy vessels, the report notes. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Bah, Humbug! Rand Paul Report Details ‘Waste’ in Federal Spending appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operatives and spies continue to be arrested in the U.S. The latest include two Chinese spies in California and several arrested in Guam near a U.S. military installation on the same day as an historic live ballistic missile interception test. In California, a 64-year-old man was arrested on several charges including allegedly acting as a PRC agent while working as a campaign manager for a southern California city council candidate elected in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The operative “allegedly discussed with Chinese government officials how the PRC could ‘influence’ local politicians in the United States, particularly on the issue of Taiwan” and was allegedly involved in operations “to combat ‘anti-China forces’ in the U.S., among other conspiracies. He was also charged with conspiring with another PRC operative who was sentenced to prison last month for acting as anunregistered PRC agent and bribing an IRS agent. In that case, two PRC citizens living in Los Angeles were targeting members of the Shen Yun Performing Arts Center, a multi-agency investigation found. In Guam, U.S. Customs officers arrested PRC citizens who illegally entered near a U.S. military installation, according to the Guam Customs & Quarantine Agency. As part of their investigation, officers learned the PRC operatives were dropped off the coast of Guam by a vessel originating from Saipan, in the U.S. territory of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). On Dec. 10, they apprehended and detained two PRC women. On Dec. 11, they apprehended four PRC men who were all transported by the same vessel originating from Saipan, authorities said. One PRC male was apprehended in the Tanguisson Beach area; three PRC men were apprehended in the vicinity of a U.S. military installation. They were apprehended as the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, working with U.S. Department of Defense partners, “successfully conducted a live intercept of a ballistic missile target, marking the first Ballistic Missile Defense event executed from Guam,” the MDA announced. The operation was conducted off the coast of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins said the successful operation enabled them to “build upon and validate joint tracking architecture and integrated air and missile defense capabilities for Guam.” The flight test was “a critical milestone in the defense of Guam and the region,” Commander, Joint Task Force-Micronesia Rear Adm. Greg Huffman said. “It confirmed our ability to detect, track, and engage a target missile in flight, increasing our readiness to defend against evolving adversary threats.” “Within the context of homeland defense, a top priority for the Department of Defense, Guam is also a strategic location for sustaining and maintaining United States military presence, deterring adversaries, responding to crises, and maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” MDA said. Recognizing the threat posed by the PRC, the Guam Customs & Quarantine Agency has apprehended 152 PRC individuals “who were determined to be in violation of Guam entry laws” since 2022. It’s also involved in a multiagency border security task force targeting illegal entries, which includes the Guam Police Department, Guam Fire Department, Guam Attorney General, Guam Port Authority, Guam Department of Labor, Guam Homeland Security, Guam Department of Agriculture Conservation Division, Marianas Fusion Center, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Customs and Department of Public Safety, US Coast Guard, US Navy, US Customs and Border Protection, US Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, and Federal Bureau of Investigations. The task force is asking its community to contact them with any information related to illegal entry and to remain “vigilant and keep watch for individuals suspected to have made illegal entry to the island or who may be involved in smuggling activities.” Border security and immigration law violations in the CNMI have long been a concern expressed by members of Congress, including the explosion of illegal birth tourism on the islands, The Center Square reported. The recent PRC operatives arrests come as the greatest number of Chinese nationals illegally entered the country in U.S. history under the Biden administration, more than 176,000, The Center Square first reported. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Chinese Spies Arrested in California appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KYIV/MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Russia launched a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, ignoring appeals from Pope Francis for a Christmas truce in the war-torn nation and around the world. Kyiv said the attacks forced the country’s grid operator to limit power supplies on Christmas Day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Wednesday the assault from Moscow included “70 missiles,” some of them ballistic, and more than “100 attack drones.” Russia separately claimed that it downed 59 Ukrainian drones overnight over several regions. It came shortly after Pope Francis decried all violent attacks that “tortured Ukraine, particularly those that have damaged schools, hospitals, and churches throughout the Eastern European nation since it was invaded by Russia in 2022.” He also expressed concerns about at least 147 Ukrainian prisoners of war who have reportedly been killed since February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Some 127 of them were killed in 2024 alone, according to investigators. The Vatican has been involved in mediations on the return of prisoners as well as Ukrainian children held in Russia, Worthy News learned from Vatican sources. Therefore, “May the weapons be silenced and Christmas carols resound!” Francis insisted in his public appeal on Sunday. POWER GRID Yet there were such signs of that Wednesday as Ukraine’s power grid operator, Ukrenergo, restricted electricity as a “precautionary measure” following relentless Russian attacks. Energy Minister German Galushchenko said the step was necessary to “minimize the negative consequences for the energy system.” Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said in published remarks that 500,000 people in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine have been left without heat. Russian forces have attacked energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine multiple times. Yet the Christmas Day missile barrage followed a Moscow assault five days ago on the Ukraine capital, Kyiv, for the first time in almost a month, witnesses said. The attacks come as both sides await the return to the White House of U.S. President-elect Donald J Trump, who has pledged to end the war and suggested Zelenskiy should be “prepared to make a deal.” Zelenskyy has suggested he is “open” to a deal but condemned perceived pro-Russia politicians in Europe, including Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who he said “is weakening Europe” by “helping” Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin finance its war against Ukraine. MEETING PUTIN Fico met with Putin on Sunday in a bid to secure continued access to cheap Russian fossil fuels. A significant deal that allows imports via Ukraine is due to expire at the end of the year. “[Fico’s] key goal is to deal with Russia, and this is what benefits him. This is indeed a big security issue — both for Slovakia and the entire Europe,” Zelenskyy complained. “Why is this leader so dependent on Moscow? What is being paid to him, and what does he pay with?” Zelenskyy wrote. He has also lashed out at Fico’s ally, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of neighboring Hungary, who also held talks with Putin on energy and a peace deal. Brussels accused Orbán of misusing the rotating European Union presidency that Hungary currently holds for unauthorized talks with Putin, who the EU leadership views as Europe’s enemy. Orbán, a close ally of Trump, denies wrongdoing saying “We keep open all the communication lines to the Russians. Otherwise, there would be no chance for peace. This is a strategy. So we are proud of it.” Hundreds of thousands of people are believed to have been killed in Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the Second World War, including numerous civilians and soldiers in recent days. The post Russia Hits Ukraine’s Infrastructure In Christmas Barrage Ignoring Vatican appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Christian churches in Germany are mourning with the loved ones of those who lost their lives or suffered injuries during the terrorist attack on a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports. The attack was carried out by 50-year-old Saudi refugee Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen, who was taken into custody after driving a car into a crowd of people at the market on December 20. The motive for the murderous assault has not been clarified. Media reports have noted Taleb expressed support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party whom he praised for fighting the same enemy as him “to protect Germany.” In any event, it is believed he acted alone. Meanwhile, Christian communities have expressed their condolences and shock at the attack, offering emergency chaplain services and standing with the mourning families through vigils. The Magdeburg Cathedral was opened to anyone needing comfort or to express their condolences in silence and with candles, CDI reports. Amid the outpouring of condolences offered by Christian leaders, the evangelical Idea magazine quoted the regional bishop of the Evangelical Church in Central Germany (EKM), Friedrich Kramer (Magdeburg): “We are horrified by the terrible events at the Magdeburg Christmas market. Our prayers and thoughts are with the victims and their families.” Expressing their shock and grief, the chairwoman of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Bishop Kirsten Fehrs, and the chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Georg Bätzing, said their churches are in mourning, feeling “horror, grief, and sympathy,” and praying for those affected. The post German Christians in Mourning Over Christmas Market Attack appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A beacon of light and hope in a country devastated by war, dozens of newly Christian believers were to be baptized at a special Christmas Day service in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Christian Today (CT) reports. DRC has been torn apart by a war between government forces and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and ranks 41 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. Calling it a “Christmas miracle,” the Church Mission Society (CMS) announced that sixty believers would be baptized on December 25 at a service in Kadirisha, Masisi, to the west of Goma in the eastern DRC, CT reports. Despite the violence and instability, the work of preaching the Gospel and making disciples is continuing in DRC, CT reports. In a statement, Bishop of Goma Martin Gordon said: “In 2023 we carried out hundreds of baptisms across the diocese, and at least 15 parishes have either completed the building of a church or pastor’s house this year or are well on the way to finishing.” CT reports that Bishop Gordon recently ordained five new clergy, including an evangelist, the head of a theological college, and a church minister in a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The latter is all the more important as the fighting has driven hundreds of thousands of Congolese into IDP camps in the last three years. The post Congo (DRC): 60 New Believers to Be Baptized in Christmas Day Service, “A Christmas Miracle” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News reporting from the Netherlands THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (Worthy News) – Dutch King Willem-Alexander urged the Dutch Jewish community on Christmas Day to remain in the Netherlands despite concerns about mounting antisemitism. He made the appeal following what Jewish representatives view as the Netherlands’ “first pogrom” since World War Two. The November unrest erupted in Amsterdam after its football team Ajax took on Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv when mainly Moroccan Muslim crowds launched a “Jews hunt.” The violence caused outrage in Israel and elsewhere, with Israel at one point saying it would send over planes to rescue its citizens. Chief prosecutor René de Beukelaer said earlier this month that officials received 60 to 70 formal complaints from Israel and that “several dozen” people appear to have been attacked. The first five defendants, whose ages ranged from 19 to 32, were convicted Tuesday on charges that included public violence, theft, and assault. Authorities acknowledged that Israeli soccer fans were seen chanting anti-Arab slogans and removing a Palestinian flag but said that did not justify the anti-Jewish violence. Although it was the latest in a series of incidents upsetting Jewish people, including survivors of the Holocaust or Shoah, King-Willem Alexander suggested that emigrating to Israel wasn’t the answer. UNDERSTANDING PAIN However, in his annual televised Christmas address from the “Huis Ten Bosch” palace in The Hague, he made clear he understood their pain. “In Amsterdam, students from the Jewish Maimonides school shared what it’s like to study in a place surrounded by security fences. They explained how they try to keep a low profile on the street and public transport. Simply being yourself and peacefully showing who you are should be natural for everyone in the Netherlands. But sadly, it’s not.” Yet despite the difficulties, he said: “To Jewish Dutch people who tell me they doubt their future here, I say: stay! We belong together.” There are about 30,000 Jews in the Netherlands, where more than 100,000 Jews were killed in the Shoah. However, the king quickly added, “To Dutch Muslims, I say: this is your country too,” amid a broader debate about massive migration from often Islamic countries. He said that they, too, should realize that “every person is of equal worth.” In the Netherlands, he said, “Everyone is free to find solace and inspiration in their own faith or life philosophy. Everyone is free to express themselves. Christians, Jews, Muslims, humanists, atheists—however you see the world, every person is of equal worth.” He said he also understood Palestinian Dutch people who are concerned about the ongoing war in Gaza, sparked by the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, last year. “In [the Dutch town of] Vlaardingen, my wife and I spoke with a group of Palestinian Dutch people. Sixty years ago, the first of them came to our country to work in a margarine factory. They built their lives here with their children and grandchildren. They shared their fears about the fate of family members in their homeland. Their stories spoke of helplessness and despair. Again and again, I am touched by the personal pain that resonates in these accounts.” While “Solving the world’s great problems and bitter conflicts is beyond our power,” it was crucial “that bitterness and hatred do not take root in our streets. We can stand firm against anything that seeks to divide us”, he stressed. BASIC RULES Yet he said it begins “with respecting the basic rules that apply here in the Netherlands,” an indirect reference to violent protests including against Israel and Jewish people. “Everyone is equal under the law. Discrimination is not allowed. And we do not use violence, even when we feel hurt or wronged. These principles are non-negotiable and apply to everyone, always.” He told the Jewish people and other Dutch citizens, “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all the people. This is what the angel said to the shepherds on Christmas Night.” He added, “Good news for all people. Christmas excludes no one. Everyone is welcome and belongs. That includes you.” The king noticed that “God’s Son comes into a broken world and brings us peace. Looking at the many fractures in our world, it’s easy to deeply long for that peace. And how far away we are from it right now!” He acknowledged that “Tensions are palpable, internationally and within our own country. This restlessness makes us uneasy. Where do you find stability? Who can you still trust? Many people feel misunderstood, unwanted, and unprotected.” However, “Christmas—celebrating a new beginning—invites us to use this powerfully. The apostle Paul offered a simple advice in his letter to the Romans: Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn,” the king said. “If we take this to heart, we bring a more beautiful world just a little bit closer.” The post Dutch King Urges Jews Not To Leave After ‘Pogrom’ And Other Attacks appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article