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by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Reversing more than 20 years of prior policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Australia on Tuesday voted in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution that calls for Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza to the pre-1967 borders, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. The resolution passed by 157-8 votes with seven abstentions and the United States and Israel voting ‘no.’ The UNGA resolution was brought shortly after the International Criminal Court’s issuance of arrest warrants against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on November 21 for crimes against humanity allegedly committed against the people of Gaza during the ongoing war triggered by last year’s October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The UNGA resolution expressed “unwavering support, in accordance with international law, for the two-state solution of Israel and Palestine” and called for the two states to live “side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders.” In a statement, spokesperson for Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Canberra had approved the resolution to “contribute to peace and a two-state solution.” “On our own, Australia has few ways to move the dial in the Middle East. Our only hope is working within the international community to push for an end to the cycle of violence and work toward a two-state solution,” Wong said. In its report, TOI observed that the last time Australia voted for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 borders was back in 2001. However, TOI noted: “Over the past year has largely departed from its policy of voting against or abstaining from pro-Palestinian resolutions in the UN. In another shift Tuesday, the country abstained on a resolution giving resources to a UN office on Palestinian rights, changing its position held since 2003.” The post Australia Approves UNGA Resolution for Israel to Withdraw from West Bank and Gaza appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A Christian farming village in northern Nigeria’s Plateau state is working to build community safety after a courageous brother was killed defending them from an attack by suspected Islamic Fulani extremists last month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. A member of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in the Bokkos local government area of Plateau state, 56-year-old Yusufu Thomas Makruhup, died during an attack on his community on November 26, ICC reports. “Yusufu was a cornerstone of our community,” a church leader told ICC. “His courage inspires us to recognize the strength within us, even in the face of challenges.” Yusufu’s death has caused his neighbors, local leaders, and religious organizations to focus on how to build and maintain community safety, ICC reports. “We must come together with security forces and government authorities to implement sustainable and effective solutions,” the chairman of the local security committee told ICC. Preparing for attacks during the Christmas season, a local pastor told ICC: “By fostering collaboration between local communities, security forces, and government leaders, we can break the cycle of violence. This is just the beginning of our journey. We will emerge stronger, ensuring that sacrifices like Yusufu’s are honored and remembered.” More Christians are killed on account of their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined, as they are the targets of relentless Islamic jihadist terrorism. The post Nigeria: Christians Mourn Islamic Murder of Courageous Brother, Work to Fortify Community appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday told the White House that the Biden administration would not be allowed to request congressional approval for a further $24 billion in aid for Ukraine by the end of the year, explaining that incoming President-elect Trump should be the one to make such a request, the Hill reports. Although there has been wide bipartisan support for providing military aid to Ukraine in the face of the ongoing invasion by Russia, Trump has criticized the amounts being given as wasteful and as diverting resources from other US priorities. Had it been approved, the Biden administration’s latest request would have provided additional aid for Ukraine through 2026, the Hill reports Second in line to the presidency, Johnson told a House Republican Leaders press conference on Wednesday that he was “not planning” to add aid for Ukraine to a continuing resolution to fund the government. “As we predicted and as I said to all of you, weeks before the election, if Donald Trump is elected it will change the dynamic of the Russian war on Ukraine, and we’re seeing that happen,” Johnson said. “So, it is not the place of Joe Biden to make that decision now, we have a newly elected president and we’re going to wait and take the new commander-in-chief’s direction on all that so I don’t expect any Ukraine funding to come up now,” Johnson stated. The post House Speaker Denies White House Request for $24 Billion Additional Aid for Ukraine appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The US Navy is turning a costly misstep into a strategic advantage by retrofitting the guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt with the Navy’s first shipborne hypersonic weapon, according to Defense News. The move is understood to be a response to pressure from Russia and China, which have recently tested hypersonic weapons. Defense News said the Zumwalt is at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, where it will be fitted with the US Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missile system, which was developed jointly with the US Army. The system will allow the launch of hypersonic glide vehicles traveling at seven to eight times the speed of sound. “In choosing the Zumwalt, the Navy is attempting to add to the usefulness of a $7.5 billion warship that is considered by critics to be an expensive mistake despite serving as a test platform for multiple innovations,” Defense News explained in its report. “The Zumwalt was envisioned as providing land-attack capability with an Advanced Gun System with rocket-assisted projectiles to open the way for Marines to charge ashore. But the system featuring 155 mm guns hidden in stealthy turrets was canceled because each of the rocket-assisted projectiles cost between $800,000 and $1 million.” “Once the system is complete, the Zumwalt will provide a platform for conducting fast, precision strikes from greater distances, adding to the usefulness of the warship,” Defense News said. The post US Navy is Fitting USS Zumwalt Destroyer With First Ship-Borne Hypersonic Missile appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Artificial intelligence (AI) developer OpenAI and high-tech military manufacturer Anduril Industries are rushing to develop AI technology for the U.S. military amid concerns that China will win the race in this field. The two companies said OpenAI, the creator of the online AI ‘assistant’ ChatGPT, will provide additional capabilities to Anduril’s drones, detection unit, and military software. A key part of the deal is to improve Anduril technology used to detect and shoot down drones that threaten American forces and those of allies, the statement said. The Pentagon buys these tools the military start-up to help counter the proliferation of cheap drones on battlefields all over the world. After an Iranian-made drone killed three U.S. service members at a base in Jordan this year, the U.S. military established that the drone probably had not been detected and that no weapon existed on the base to destroy it. Iran is a close ally of China, which is striving to become the world’s second military power. “Our partnership with Anduril will help ensure OpenAl technology protects U.S. military personnel and will help the national security community understand and responsibly use this technology to keep our citizens safe and free,” Sam Altman, OpenAl’s chief executive officer, said in a statement. ‘PIVOTAL MOMENT’ The arrangement comes at what the two companies call a “pivotal moment” in the accelerating race between Washington and Beijing to dominate Al for military purposes. “If the United States cedes ground, we risk losing the technological edge that has underpinned our national security for decades,” the companies warned in a joint statement. Anduril and OpenAl said the partnership would focus on developing and “responsibly” deploying Al for national security mission at a time of global concerns about the technology. Dutch and South Korean officials confirmed that a United Nations General Assembly committee adopted the U.N.’s first-ever resolution on AI’s “responsible” military use last month. “The Netherlands wants better global agreements on the military use of AI” amid concerns the technology could otherwise lead to a global arms race and deaths, the Dutch government said in a statement punished by Worthy News in November. “That is why we, together with South Korea, submitted the very first resolution on this topic to the United Nations. This resolution was adopted on 6 November 2024,” the government added. The Netherlands and South Korea initiated the resolution at a time when both nations were among the global leaders in the chip production-related industry. The calls on responsible use of AI also come as the head of Britain’s armed forces warned Wednesday that the world faces a “third nuclear age,” with China posing a significant threat to the West. NUCLEAR ARSENAL Admiral Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defense Staff, said China’s nuclear arsenal is expanding more quickly than any other country and is set to be on a par with the United States and Russia by 2030. With AI rapidly spreading, China may learn even faster than the U.S. how to maintain a military advantage, experts fear. However, contracts with the U.S. military have been controversial with employees at consumer tech companies, including sparking protests inside Alphabet-owned tech giant Google in 2018. Yet, in a turbulent world, the Al industry has recently shown more openness to such deals. In November, OpenAl rival Anthropic announced a partnership with firms Palantir Technologies and Amazon to provide U.S. intelligence and defense agencies access to its technologies. Tech giant Meta Platforms reportedly opened up its Al models to U.S. defense agencies and contractors last month as the world’s battlefields increasingly turn into electronic warfare. The post US Firms Rush To Rollout AI For Military (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The United States Supreme Court on Wednesday (December 4) heard oral arguments in a landmark case to determine whether Tennessee can ban puberty blockers, hormonal treatments, and sex-change surgeries for minors who identify as transgender. Filed as United States v. Skrmetti, the case was brought by the Biden administration, which argues Tennessee’s ban on sex change treatments for minors discriminates against young transgender people “on the basis of sex.” Notably, while arguing that Tennessee’s law is discriminatory, US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said that there may be instances where state restrictions on sex-change treatments for adolescents may indeed be warranted, CP reports. Referencing a West Virginia ban on such treatments for teenagers at risk of suicide, Prelogar said: “The West Virginia Legislature changed course and imposed a set of guardrails that are far more precisely tailored to concerns surrounding the delivery of this care.” “I think a law like that is going to fare much better under heightened scrutiny precisely because it would be tailored to the precise interests and not serve a more sweeping interest like the one asserted here in having minors appreciate their sex,” Prelogar said. Arguing in defense of the Tennessee ban, state Solicitor General J. Matthew Rice told the court the law is not discriminatory because it is based on “medical purpose,” not on sex identification, CP reports. “Just as using morphine to manage pain differs from using it to assist suicide, using hormones and puberty blockers to address a physical condition is far different from using it to address psychological distress associated with one’s body,” Rice said. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the matter in the summer of 2025. The post SCOTUS Hears Arguments Against Tennessee Law Banning Sex-Change Treatments for Minors appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – Islamic terrorist incidents increased under President Joe Biden, according to several reports, as a majority of Americans polled say terrorism dangers increased under his watch. “The number of Islamist terrorist incidents targeting the United States increased in 2024 after several years of reduced activity, with federal and state authorities arresting individuals in seven different incidents on charges related to five unsuccessful plots and two actual attacks,” an analysis published by the Anti-Defamation League states. The analysis is not all inclusive. It excludes several incidents, including authorities stopping a 9/11-style terrorist attack plotted by a Lebanese man in Houston, and terrorist threats related to ISIS and Hamas posed by those in Canada, The Center Square first reported. The ADL’s Center on Extremism claims to track Islamic-related terror incidents, reporting six in the U.S. between 2021 and 2023. It cites examples of authorities arresting those with links to Islamic terrorist organizations, for providing material support to terrorist groups, traveling overseas to join them, or plotting an attack against Americans. In 2024, ADL identified seven Islamic-related terrorist incidents. Three of the most recent occurred in October – in Illinois, Arizona and Oklahoma. On Oct. 26, authorities in Chicago arrested 22-year-old Sidi Mohammed Abdullahi after he shot a Jewish man on his way to synagogue, stayed at the scene and proceeded to shoot at responding officers and emergency personnel. Before he shot at police, he was reportedly recorded on video shouting “Allahu Akbar.” At a detention hearing last month, prosecutors said he’d identified several synagogues and Jewish schools to target. Abdullahi illegally entered the country in March 2023 from Mauritania, West Africa. He was processed by Border Patrol agents in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection San Diego Sector and released into the country under the Biden administration’s “catch and release” policy. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the policy on his first day in office. The policy, as well as multiple Biden administration-created parole programs, have been linked to illegal foreign nationals who committed violent crimes against Americans. Had he not been released into the country, the shooting would not have occurred, critics argue. On Oct. 18, in Peoria, Arizona, authorities arrested a 17-year-old male for allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired attack against Phoenix Pride parade attendees. He allegedly planned to use an explosive remote-controlled drone. He was charged as an adult with the class 2 felonies of terrorism and conspiracy to commit terrorism. On Oct. 7, the one-year anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel, federal authorities in Oklahoma City arrested an Afghan national released into the U.S. by the Biden administration for plotting a 9/11-style Election Day terrorist attack on American soil, The Center Square reported. He was allegedly affiliated with ISIS’s subsidiary in Afghanistan and Pakistan, ISIS-K; two of his brothers were arrested on similar charges by French authorities. In September, a Pakistani national was arrested by Canadian authorities for attempting to illegally enter the U.S. He reportedly planned a mass shooting targeting Jews in New York in support of ISIS, claiming it would be the “largest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.” He was indicted in New York and charged with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Also in New York, in August, a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran was arrested for attempting to “commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries and murder-for-hire as part of a scheme to assassinate a politician or U.S. government official on U.S. soil.” He was indicted in September for his alleged murder-for-hire plot “straight out of the Iranian regime’s playbook,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said. In July, federal authorities arrested a Jordanian national in Orlando. In August, he was indicted on four counts of threatening to use explosives and one count of destruction of an energy facility. According to court documents, he targeted and attacked Orlando area businesses for their perceived support of Israel. The report comes as a recent Rasmussen Reports survey found that many Americans believe that danger related to terrorism increased under Biden. The majority, 59%, said the U.S. is likely to be the target of a major terrorist attack under Trump’s term; 24% said it’s very likely. It also comes as the greatest number of individuals on the U.S. terrorist watch list have been apprehended by U.S. authorities at the northern border, more than 1,200, the greatest number in U.S. history of any administration, The Center Square first reported. While the Biden administration has never acknowledged the record number of illegal border crossers or terrorist threats coming from Canada, Trump has already made demands that Canada increase its border security. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Reports: Islamic Terrorist Incidents ncreased under Biden appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Donald J. Trump appointed Peter Navarro, his former adviser who served prison time for “refusing” to cooperate with a congressional investigation, as his senior counselor. Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that Navarro helped with his first-term “Buy American, Hire American” mission and “moved every one of my Tariff and Trade actions FAST.” Navarro, described by analyses as “a prominent China hawk,” was a key White House adviser in Washington’s trade confrontations with Beijing during Trump’s first presidency. Over that period, the U.S. moved away from striking new trade deals to expand business abroad and instead focused on measures to bring back manufacturing and protect American workers. “During my First Term, few were more effective or tenacious than Peter in enforcing my two sacred rules, Buy American, Hire American,” Trump noted Wednesday. “He helped me renegotiate unfair Trade Deals like Nafta and the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), and moved every one of my Tariff and Trade actions FAST….” In his new post, Trump stresses that Navarro’s mission “will be to help successfully advance and communicate the Trump Manufacturing, Tariff, and Trade Agendas.” TOUGH QUESTIONS Yet opponents were due to ask tough questions about Navarro, who served four months in prison after being convicted of “contempt of Congress.” He ignored a subpoena from the U.S. House of Representatives committee investigating the January 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol building. Navarro reportedly claimed credit for a plan to overturn the announced 2020 election results. Trump maintains the elections were unfair. During the 2023 trial, prosecutors said Navarro “chose allegiance” to Trump over complying with the subpoena from lawmakers. Navarro’s attorneys argued the state had not proven the trade adviser “willfully” ignored the subpoena. Even after Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Navarro remained a loyal public defender of Trump as he continued to claim that the results of the vote had been rigged and victory stolen from him. On Wednesday, Trump wrote that Navarro had been “horribly treated by the Deep State, or whatever else you would like to call it.” Another Trump nominee facing controversy is for proposed secretary of defense, former Fox News broadcaster’s weekend anchor Pete Hegseth. He continues to be dogged by allegations about his past, including heavy drinking and sexual assault charges that he denies. The post Trump Appoints Peter Navarro, Who Served Prison Time, As Counselor appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, let the light shine in the darkness! Matthew 16:13-16 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." This groundbreaking conversation took place at Caesarea Phillipi, which lies today in the modern-day reserve of the Banias in the Golan Heights region of Israel. The city was established by Ptolemaic Greeks, a Hellenistic community where the worship of the god Pan was centered. Reviled by the Jews of Yeshua's time and considered by them the most idolatrous place in the entire Galilee, to this day it remains a place of nature worship and deep paganism. Why did Yeshua (Jesus) deliberately take his disciples to the most sinful, pagan place to reveal who He was? Why not in the temple courts, or the tomb of Jeremiah or one of the prophets, where He might feel more at home and welcomed? No, Yeshua revealed who He really was... in the darkest corner of Israel. Now that tells me that the Lord is not shy about shining His light in dark places, and that includes the ones inside me. Psalm 139 tells me that He is intimately acquainted with all of them –that I can forget about keeping secrets from Him. It seems He rather delights in walking into enemy territory and taking ground. Those areas of my life that I don’t want anyone else to see, (and usually can hide from them) – He wants to visit, speak His word, illuminate and cleanse the place! The places where I'm darkest and weakest are His greatest opportunities to be glorified through repentance, transformation, and healing. Friend, take time to open before God the dark areas of your life, trusting in His perfect and patient love for you. He wants to reveal His forgiveness and beauty right where you are most ashamed and miserable. The gates of Hell shall not prevail against a saint whose faith and courage invite Yeshua deep into the hidden areas of his soul, to be cleansed and given over to Him. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Melbourne, Florida) Editor's Note: Latest video: Syria Collapses; Is Isaiah 17 on the horizon? 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: Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas …. 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 French President Macron to Address Nation After Government Falls French President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation on Thursday after the government lost a no-confidence vote, Worthy News learned. Global Debt Hits Record $323 Trillion, Triggering Fears of an Incoming Debt Tsunami Global debt soared by over $12 trillion in the first three quarters of 2024, reaching a record $323 trillion, driven by falling borrowing costs and increased risk appetite, according to the latest Global Debt Monitor report by a banking trade group. Russia-Ukraine War Impacting Children (Worthy News Radio) Pope Francis expressed concern Wednesday that “war is a human defeat” after new evidence emerged that the Russia-Ukraine war impacted those whose lives have just begun. Investigators say Ukrainian children were stripped of their Ukrainian identity and placed with Russian families. Israel-Palestinian Conflict UN Assembly Rushes On Two-State Solution In Palestine-Israel Conflict The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday rushed to achieve a “two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” amid ongoing clashes in Gaza between what is left of Hamas and Israel’s military. Inside the United States Reports: Islamic Terrorist Incidents ncreased under Biden Islamic terrorist incidents increased under President Joe Biden, according to several reports, as a majority of Americans polled say terrorism dangers increased under his watch. Trump Appoints Peter Navarro, Who Served Prison Time, As Counselor Donald J. Trump appointed Peter Navarro, his former adviser who served prison time for “refusing” to cooperate with a congressional investigation, as his senior counselor. US Select Committee Publishes Final Report on COVID-19 Pandemic, “Virus Likely Leaked from China Lab” The US Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic published a 520-page report on the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday (December 2). The report concluded that the virus was most likely "leaked" from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, and reported bipartisan findings on the advancement and management of the crisis in the US. Chief Of America’s Biggest Health Insurer Killed In ‘Targeted Attack’ The head of America’s biggest health insurer, UnitedHealthcare, has been killed in an apparently “targeted attack” following an early morning shooting outside an investor meeting in New York, police say. Christian News Syria: Christians Worried for Their Safety Amid Insurgency Christians in Syria are understood to be concerned for their safety as the Islamist insurgent group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham has launched an ongoing major attack on the dictatorial Iran and Russia-backed regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Crosswalk reports. Persecuted Iranian Christians Struggle for Asylum in Georgia, Report A new study shows that persecuted Iranian Christians seeking asylum in the former Soviet state of Georgia are unfairly vulnerable to deportation as Georgian authorities routinely deny their claims, Article 18 reports. Worthy Insights ‘This Could Redraw the Map of the Middle East’: How Assad’s Struggles in Syria Reflect a Weakened Iran With Hezbollah decimated, Iran significantly weakened, and Russia preoccupied with its war on Ukraine, Syrian opposition forces enjoyed ripe conditions for the surprise offensive they launched last week. Those forces are closer than ever to deposing dictator Bashar al-Assad, experts told the Washington Free Beacon, emphasizing the Iranian regime's ever-loosening grip on the Middle East. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News PARIS (Worthy News) – French President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation on Thursday after the government lost a no-confidence vote, Worthy News learned. Michel Barnier, 73, became France’s shortest-serving prime minister since the 1958 founding of the Fifth Republic, its current republican system of government. He was ousted when the far-right opposition National Rally of Marine Le Pen joined leftist parties to bring down the government. The vote was sparked by Barnier’s decision to use a constitutional mechanism called Article 49.3, which enables legislation to be adopted without a vote but opens the door to no-confidence motions. He made the move after a last-minute concession was not enough to win support from the influential far-right National Rally (RN). Yet the development risked further unsettling investors, who have already pushed up France’s borrowing costs beyond those of countries like Spain and Greece. France now has a caretaker government, and President Macron must appoint a new prime minister who, analysts say, faces the same political turmoil and divided parliament as Barnier. BARNIER BACK? In theory, Macron could reappoint Barnier, who had been in power since September. Yet Barnier did appear to rule himself out on Tuesday evening. “I want to serve,” he told media. “But what does it mean if I fall tomorrow and the day after you find me back here as if nothing had happened?” Bernard Cazeneuve, 61, a former French prime minister and interior minister under Socialist President Francois Hollande, is among those being named as possible successors. Already considered a possible prime minister this summer, observers say picking him could help Macron fracture the left-wing bloc by capitalizing on Cazeneuve’s ties to his former party. Sébastien Lecornu, 38, is also mentioned. He is seen as a skilled politician who, in 2022, became the youngest defense minister since the French Revolution. “He’s a Macron loyalist who’s originally from the center-right Republicans party,” commented Bloomberg News agency. François Bayrou, 73, a veteran centrist leading the MoDem party and a key ally for Macron in parliament, is also seen as a possible prime minister. Currently the high commissioner for government planning, Bayrou supports proportional representation in parliamentary elections, which the National Rally has also requested. Jean Castex, 59, a former prime minister under Macron known for his southern French accent and management skills, is also seen as a contender for the prime minister’s job. He is the head of the RATP, the state-owned company operating the Paris metro. The post French President Macron to Address Nation After Government Falls appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Global debt soared by over $12 trillion in the first three quarters of 2024, reaching a record $323 trillion, driven by falling borrowing costs and increased risk appetite, according to the latest Global Debt Monitor report by a banking trade group. The Institute of International Finance (IIF) report suggests that sovereign debt could rise by a third to nearly $130 trillion by 2028, increasing global repayment risks. Meanwhile, debt in emerging markets is nearing a record $105 trillion, or 245% of GDP, up from $99 trillion in Q4 2023. The report noted that declining borrowing costs and narrowing sovereign and corporate spreads fueled a rapid accumulation of debt, particularly in the third quarter of 2024. This rise in global debt marked the third-largest quarterly increase on record, following significant surges in Q2 and Q4 of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The third-quarter increase, which occurred before the U.S. election in November, was only surpassed by the debt spikes in 2020 when countries and companies rushed to borrow. “Rising trade tensions and supply-chain disruptions threaten global economic growth, increasing the likelihood of mini boom-bust cycles in sovereign debt markets as inflationary pressures resurface and public finances tighten,” the report stated, adding that the increased interest cost as a result could “exacerbate fiscal strains” and make debt management increasingly difficult. The report warned that global climate commitments, highlighted by the upcoming COP29 conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, could exacerbate the rise in debt. The summit will focus on strengthening nations’ climate commitments, prioritizing emissions reduction targets and boosting climate finance, particularly for emerging markets. “Moreover, given the chronic underestimation of actual government spending needs in official public debt statistics, debt levels could rise even higher, particularly when accounting for the climate-related spending required to stay on track with net-zero targets and national climate commitments,” said the IIF. The IIF stated that fully meeting global emissions reduction targets could add an extra $38 trillion to global debt by 2028. “Under such a scenario, global government debt levels could reach $170 trillion by 2028, with emerging markets expected to record a sharp build-up in external debt as global efforts to mobilize $1.3 trillion of external funding annually to emerging markets by 2035 gain momentum following COP29 in Baku.” The post Global Debt Hits Record $323 Trillion, Triggering Fears of an Incoming Debt Tsunami appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Christians in Syria are understood to be concerned for their safety as the Islamist insurgent group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham has launched an ongoing major attack on the dictatorial Iran and Russia-backed regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Crosswalk reports. Pool Prior to the current offensive which began last week, war-torn Muslim majority Syria ranked 12 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. In a statement to CBN News following the insurgents’ capture of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, on November 27, Analyst Jonathan Spyer, a Syria expert from the Middle East Forum said: “This is unprecedented for the rebellion. The rebellion never held all of Aleppo, and it was expelled from all of Aleppo because it held the eastern part of the city for a while in 2016.” “There is some cause for legitimate concern here because, in the past, when we’ve seen HTS and its predecessor organizations Al Nusra, which was at one time the franchise of al-Qaida in Syria – well, we’ve seen them take over areas in the past where Christians live,” Syper explained. “Christians have been treated badly up to and including forced conversions to Islam and other acts of that nature. So, nothing terrible has happened yet. But certainly, we should be watching carefully because this is an area of legitimate concern,” Syper added. The post Syria: Christians Worried for Their Safety Amid Insurgency appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A new study shows that persecuted Iranian Christians seeking asylum in the former Soviet state of Georgia are unfairly vulnerable to deportation as Georgian authorities routinely deny their claims, Article 18 reports. Titled “The Plight of IRANIAN CHRISTIANS Seeking International Protection in Georgia,” the newly published study was conducted by Article18, CSW, Open Doors and Middle East Concern. Among the reasons given to deny asylum, Georgia’s authorities often claim the Christians’ faith is not genuine and they should therefore be safe in Iran. The new report also cites Georgia’s “burgeoning relationship with Iran,” “intolerance of expressions of Christianity other than Georgian Orthodox”, “and the consequence is that several hundred Iranian Christians currently seeking asylum in Georgia have little hope of being permitted to remain in the country for long,” as further reasons for denial of asylum. “The asylum-seekers therefore face an uncertain future, with little hope of being recognised as refugees but having few alternative options to access international protection,” the report says. “Several individuals whose asylum claims have been rejected in Georgia have already spent years as refugees in neighbouring countries such as Turkey, and say they no longer know what to do, nor where to go,” the report continues. “They appeal to the Georgian authorities to recognise the legitimacy of their claims, and to the international community to open up new safe, legal routes for resettlement,” the report notes. Ruled by a harsh Islamic regime which has imprisoned and tortured believers in Christ on account of their faith, Iran ranks 9 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post Persecuted Iranian Christians Struggle for Asylum in Georgia, Report appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News)—The US Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic published a 520-page report on the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday (December 2). The report concluded that the virus was most likely “leaked” from a laboratory in Wuhan, China, and reported bipartisan findings on the advancement and management of the crisis in the US. Titled “After Action Review of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Lessons Learned and a Path Forward,” the report is available online. Introducing the report, Committee Chairman Brad Wenstrup (Republican) said it “will serve as a road map for Congress, the Executive Branch, and the private sector to prepare for and respond to future pandemics.” Concerning the origins of the COVID-19 virus, the committee reported bipartisan consensus on the following five points: The virus possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature. Data shows that all COVID-19 cases stem from a single introduction into humans. This runs contrary to previous pandemics where there were multiple spillover events. Wuhan is home to China’s foremost SARS research lab, which has a history of conducting gain-of-function research at inadequate biosafety levels. Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) researchers were sick with a COVID-like virus in the fall of 2019, months before COVID-19 was discovered at the wet market. By nearly all measures of science, if there was evidence of a natural origin it would have already surfaced. The committee further identified seven bipartisan findings on the progress of the pandemic and its management in the US as follows: The U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The Chinese government, agencies within the U.S. Government, and some members of the international scientific community sought to cover up facts concerning the origins of the pandemic. Operation Warp Speed was a tremendous success and a model to build upon in the future. The vaccines, which are now probably better characterized as therapeutics, undoubtedly saved millions of lives by diminishing the likelihood of severe disease and death. Rampant fraud, waste, and abuse plagued the COVID-19 pandemic response. Pandemic-era school closures will have an enduring impact on generations of America’s children and these closures were enabled by groups meant to serve those children. The Constitution cannot be suspended in times of crisis and restrictions on freedoms sow distrust in public health. The prescription cannot be worse than the disease, such as strict and overly broad lockdowns that led to predictable anguish and avoidable consequences. The post US Select Committee Publishes Final Report on COVID-19 Pandemic, “Virus Likely Leaked from China Lab” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News NEW YORK, USA (Worthy News) – The head of America’s biggest health insurer, UnitedHealthcare, has been killed in an apparently “targeted attack” following an early morning shooting outside an investor meeting in New York, police say. UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson, 50, was shot outside the Hilton Hotel early Wednesday, where the company’s investor conference was being held. Police said Thompson had been rushed to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The shooting reportedly began during Thompson’a arrival, as the alleged attacker was waiting for him and shot the executive from about 20 feet (7 meters) away before fleeing on foot. Thompson had a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Mount Sinai West in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead, police and other sources said. The New York Police Department (NYPD) said no immediate arrests were made and that the investigation was ongoing. The NYPD described the suspect as “a White man wearing a cream-colored coat, black and white sneakers, a gray backpack, and a black face mask.” No possible motives for the apparent assassination were immediately announced. FINANCIAL WORLD SHOCKED His murder shocked the financial world as the 20-year veteran of UnitedHealth, Thompson, was one of the company’s most senior executives. The company’s investor presentations were underway as news began to spread of the shooting, according to sources familiar with the situation. Ryan Langston, an analyst in the audience, said people have started getting phone notifications. Then Andrew Witty, the chief executive of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, addressed the audience. “We’re dealing with a very serious medical situation,” Witty said, according to people who were in the audience. Langston said the room “quickly turned very somber, very quiet.” He added, “People, including myself, were calling their families. I let them know I was OK.” Thompson went by the nickname “BT” and regularly presented the firm at investor events and on earnings calls, according to people knowing him well. MASSIVE UNIT The insurance unit he oversaw ass due to bring in $280 billion in revenue this year and is the country’s largest health insurer, according to estimates. In 2021, he became the chief executive officer of the UnitedHealthcare insurance division after working in finance positions across the business. A certified public accountant, Thompson graduated from the University of Iowa with a business degree in 1997. He worked at the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) before joining UnitedHealth. Thompson’s sister-in-law, Elena Reveiz, said she was still processing the news of his death. “He was a good person, and I am so sad,” Reveiz said. He is survived by his wife Paulette ‘Pauley’ Thompson, 51, and their two children. His wife is a practicing physical therapist for Park Nicollet Health Services with over 20 years of experience. The post Chief Of America’s Biggest Health Insurer Killed In ‘Targeted Attack’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MOSCOW/KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Pope Francis expressed concern Wednesday that “war is a human defeat” after new evidence emerged that the Russia-Ukraine war impacted those whose lives have just begun. Investigators say Ukrainian children were stripped of their Ukrainian identity and placed with Russian families. https://www.worthynews.com/wordpressimages/2024/12/WorthyNewsRadioDec4.mp3 As fighting intensifies ahead of possible peace negotiations, a U.S. State Department-backed investigation has identified 314 Ukrainian children taken to Russia in the early months of the war in Ukraine. Researchers say it was part of a systematic, Kremlin-funded program to “Russify” them. Yale’s School of Public Health, which conducted the research, said Russian presidential aircraft and funds were used in a program that took children from occupied Ukrainian territories. They were allegedly stripped of their Ukrainian identity and placed with Russian families. In March 2023, the international criminal court issued arrest warrants for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and his child rights’ commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, for the alleged war crime of deportation of Ukrainian children. However, in a previous interview, Lvova-Balova denied wrongdoing. “They thanked our soldiers for saving, helping, and not abandoning them. For getting them out of the airstrikes,” she claimed. “Since when do words of gratitude constitute propaganda? Those are ordinary, sincere human emotions. No one has been forced to take [Russian citizenship, as Ukraine often claims,” Lvova-Balova wondered in an interview with the Vice news outlet. Yet her words have done little to convince those searching for their children of Ukraine, which insisted on Tuesday that membership of the NATO military alliance NATO was the only “real guarantee” for its security. NATO UMBRELLA Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has even suggested putting territories he controls under the NATO umbrella while a diplomatic solution could be found for Russian-occupied regions. However, foreign ministers from the alliance sidestepped Kyiv’s push for an invitation at their meeting ahead of Donald J. Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency. Yet, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said they would continue providing Kyiv with military aid as, in his words, peace talks have to be done from a position of strength. “i would say more military aid and less discussions on what a peace process could look like,” he argued. “You and I will – are smart enough to think of many ways how to deal with that, but we have to bring Ukraine to that position that it can start, and it can only start when they are in a position of strength,” Rutte stressed. There is concern among critics that this approach will mean more bloodshed in a war that has already killed and injured hundreds of thousands of people. “Pray for peace,” Pope Francis said. Yet, as the near three-year-long war continues, many Ukrainian children will soon face another Christmas without their biological parents. The post Russia-Ukraine War Impacting Children (Worthy News Radio) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BUDAPEST/JERUSALEM/NEW YORK (Worthy News) – The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday rushed to achieve a “two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” amid ongoing clashes in Gaza between what is left of Hamas and Israel’s military. Delegates adopted a resolution calling for the organization of a high-level conference aimed at implementing relevant resolutions and effectively achieving a Palestinian state next to Israel. Senegal introduced the resolution, which was co-sponsored by numerous countries. It passed with 157 votes in favor, eight against, and seven abstentions. In addition to Israel, the other countries that voted against the resolution were Hungary, one of the European Union’s most pro-Israel nations, along with Argentina, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and the United States. Cameroon, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Georgia, Paraguay, Ukraine and Uruguay abstained. The resolution stressed the need for a “two-state solution” and “a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.” It said it was crucial to have a “High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.” The resolution stipulates that the Conference will be held from June 2 to 4, 2025, in New York and will be preceded by a preparatory meeting to be held in May 2025. It also called for the adoption of a declaration outlining a roadmap for the “peaceful resolution” of the Israeli-Palestinian Arab conflict and the establishment of a two-state solution. Israel has condemned these resolutions as awarding Hamas for its massacre of 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, 2023, which also saw the abduction of some 250 people. The resolution demands that Israel “bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible, to cease immediately all new settlement activities and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to put an end to its unlawful acts.” Related articles: ‘UN should recommend force if Israel is not stopped.’ ‘When someone tells you who they are, believe them.’ ‘Biden’s coddling of Abbas allows him to spew more hate.’ ‘We won’t stop striking Hezbollah, make no mistake.’ Rejecting any demographic or territorial changes in “the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip,” the resolution underscores “that the acquisition of land by force is illegal and undermines the two-state solution.” It further demands the immediate cessation of all forms of violence, including military attacks, destruction, and acts of terror. The post UN Assembly Rushes On Two-State Solution In Palestine-Israel Conflict appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, who are you now? 1 Samuel 17:26-29 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" And the people answered him in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him." Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?" David's faith and courage in volunteering to fight Goliath were an embarrassment to his big brother Eliab, an officer in King Saul's army. I imagine his thinking went something like this; “If my little brother wins everybody will ask, 'How come you didn't go out and fight him?'” The Bible records that Eliab “burned with anger at David and asked, 'Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is...'” These are devastating words from an older brother. Before David could defeat Goliath he first had to overcome the attitudes, accusations, and words, of those close around him. The defeat of Goliath had massive implications for Israel and for the Lord. Satan had staked a great deal on Goliath's terrifying power. So wherever the enemy had an opportunity in the sinful attitudes of David's friends and family he maximized them, realizing that David truly had the anointing of God to turn the tide of battle. And God allowed David to be tested by his own closest kin. If there is a true Goliath in your life and you are appointed to slay him be assured you will face similar tests from those close by. When you make decisions to step out and follow God it will put pressure on others to do the same. Their shame and lack of faith will move them to attack, belittle and criticize you. It will come from among those closest to you, especially if your calling sets you apart! Friend, be careful around those who say, “I knew you when...” in an attempt to label, libel, or limit you – much like David's brother Eliab tried to hinder him. David was empowered by the Lord to slay Goliath – if you have that same Spirit and calling then humbly step aside and say, "What have I done now? Isn't there a real job to be done?" Then go ahead, and do it. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Melbourne, Florida) Editor's Note: Latest video: Syria Collapses; Is Isaiah 17 on the horizon? 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: Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas …. 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 Syria: Iran-Backed Militia Arrive to Help Assad Fight Insurgency As Syria’s army struggles to fend off the surprise insurgency launched last week by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Iran-backed militias entered the country on Sunday to lend support to the Syrian forces, Reuters reports. The insurgents first attacked Syria’s second-largest city of Aleppo and then moved into Idlib and Hama province. South Korea’s Military Says Martial Law In Place Despite Parliament’s Rejection South Korea’s military warned Tuesday that martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol would remain in place “until he lifts it” despite the parliament’s majority vote against it. US Announces Additional $725 Million Military Aid Package for Ukraine The United States announced on December 2 a new $725 million military aid package for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against the Russian invasion launched in February 2022, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reports. Houthis Fire Seven Missiles/Drones at US Vessels in Arabian Sea Describing their actions as a demand for the blockade of Gaza to be lifted, Houthi Islamic insurgents in Yemen fired seven missiles and drones at American warships and merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, December 1, Straight Arrow News (SAN) reports. Romania In Turmoil After Parliamentary Elections (Worthy News Radio) Romania’s pro-EU and pro-NATO parties appeared to be holding off the far right in a parliamentary election on Sunday, but the strength of the radical vote suggested that an ultranationalist, pro-Russian candidate could still win the presidency this month. French Government Heading To Collapse Despite Warnings About Economy The French government was facing collapse Monday after far-right and left-wing parties said they would back a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Michel Barnier, despite his warnings it could further threaten the nation’s already challenging economy. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Netanyahu Vows to Enforce Ceasefire with an “Iron Fist” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a rare government meeting in the northern city of Nahariya on Tuesday, stating, "to deliver a clear message to the North: We're committed to the North." He added, "We are enforcing the ceasefire and, with an iron fist, acting against any violation – minor or serious." Israel Thanks Trump For Threatening Hamas Over Hostages Israel’s prime minister praised U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump on Tuesday for indirectly threatening Hamas with force unless they release all hostages ahead of his January 20 inauguration. Inside the United States Canada Pledges to Improve Border Security After Meeting With Trump Official A leading member of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet says that Canada will bolster its border security after meeting with President-elect Donald Trump's Commerce Secretary nominee, Howard Lutnick. Grand Canyon U Wins Nonprofit Status Lawsuit Against Department of Education The U.S. Department of Education (ED) may soon recognize Grand Canyon University’s nonprofit status after the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit remanded the school’s case back to the department. View the full article

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – A leading member of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet says that Canada will bolster its border security after meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s Commerce Secretary nominee, Howard Lutnick. Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc made the comments to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation after Trump threatened broad 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico if they do not help stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. “As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” Trump said in a statement last week threatening the 25% tariff.. “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem,” Trump continued. “We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!” Trudeau flew to Palm Beach to meet with Trump over the weekend to try to dissuade Trump on the tariff issue. Under the Biden administration, a record 14 million illegal border crossers were reported, including two million gotaways exclusively reported by The Center Square. The majority were apprehended at the southwest border but a record number of roughly 200,000 were apprehended at the northern border, the most in US history under the Biden and Trudeau administrations, The Center Square first reported. The majority of those on the terrorist watchlist have been apprehended at the northern border, over 1,200, the greatest number in US history, under the Biden and Trudeau administrations, The Center Square reported. Trump’s pick for border czar, Tom Homan, has warned of the threat at the US-Canadian border for years, telling The Center Square, “There’s always been a national security vulnerability there; it remains a national security vulnerability. There are hundreds of miles of open border that is not being patrolled and that’s just a stone-cold fact.” Homan told 7News in Watertown, New York, that the Trump administration plans to place more agents at the northern border and end the catch-and-release policies of the Biden administration. “If you’re gonna cross the St. Lawrence River or the lake or on foot, they need to know, you can come, but you’re going to be arrested. You’re not going to be released and we’re going to remove you. There’s not going to be like the Biden Administration where we process ya and release ya and you don’t show up in court. “You’re not walking away. We’re gonna lock you up. So more agents, we’ll end catch and release and President Trump will need to work with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and say look, you need to enforce the immigration laws you have because this is a gateway to the U.S.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Canada Pledges to Improve Border Security After Meeting With Trump Official appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Tate Miller | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – The U.S. Department of Education (ED) may soon recognize Grand Canyon University’s nonprofit status after the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit remanded the school’s case back to the department. The university announced that “in a significant win for Grand Canyon University, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in a 3-0 decision, held that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) acted unlawfully by applying the incorrect legal standard in determining GCU’s nonprofit status and remanded the case back to ED.” Grand Canyon University’s nonprofit status was denied by ED back in 2019, even after the state of Arizona, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education (AZPPSE) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) gave their approval, according to GCU’s news release. Neither the IRS nor ED responded to The Center Square’s two requests for comment. “The Ninth Circuit held that ED exceeded the authority granted to it under the Higher Education Act in its unprecedented decision against GCU and remanded it back to apply the correct standard under the Higher Education Act,” GCU stated. “In light of the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, the IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and independent valuations, we are hopeful that the Department will act in good faith and render a quick decision recognizing the university’s nonprofit status,” GCU said. GCU’s Communications and Public Relations Executive Director Bob Romantic told The Center Square that “the Ninth Circuit decision is the latest example of common sense prevailing when it ruled that the Department of Education greatly overstepped its authority in refusing to acknowledge our nonprofit status. “We look forward to the day when, either through the court system or a change in the administration, we can put the federal government’s targeted actions against GCU behind us,” Romantic said. In 2021, the university was “forced to file [its] nonprofit lawsuit against” ED, Romantic said. Romantic told The Center Square that GCU has “never understood” ED’s “rationale” in denying the university its nonprofit status. ED “historically has always deferred to the IRS on nonprofit status and has approved nearly identical transactions involving other universities,” Romantic said. “We went through a very detailed and thorough process with the IRS to earn our lawful nonprofit status and every other relevant regulatory agency approved or acknowledged that status,” Romantic said. “Whether for ideological reasons or otherwise, the Department clearly made an exception in our case that the courts rightfully determined was outside their scope of authority,” Romantic told The Center Square. Romantic explained that “GCU was a nonprofit institution from its inception in 1949 until 2004 when it took on an investor to prevent closing and gain access to capital to grow the university. “The primary purpose of returning to our historical nonprofit status was to ensure that our students had the same access to research opportunities and grant writing as other nonprofits, to create a development office for philanthropic purposes, to earn full NCAA privileges and to ensure the longterm [sic] legacy of the institution,” Romantic said. GCU has “realized all of those benefits in the past six years as a lawfully recognized nonprofit institution,” and will gain various funding with ED’s recognition. Romantic referred to an American Principles Project report, pointing out that ED imposed fines on the private, Christian GCU and Liberty University that totalled “more than the fines for all other universities over the last seven years combined,” along with other apparent enforcement action disparities against faith-based and career schools since 2021. Romantic said that based on President-elect Donald Trump’s public comments, GCU is looking forward “to an administration that, rather than using federal agencies to harass universities to which they are ideologically opposed, will reduce bureaucracy while applying regulations fairly and equitably.” Romantic additionally said that GCU supports “stripping back the DOE’s scope to its primary purpose of administering Title IV financial aid and doing it really well.” Executive director of AZPPSE Kevin LaMountain told The Center Square that it had three reasons for recognizing GCU as a nonprofit institution. “GCU is owned by Gazelle University, Inc., a non-profit entity,” LaMountain said, and GCU’s accreditor the HLC “approved the change of ownership and recognizes GCU’s non-profit status.”. The third reason is that “as a non-profit organization, GCU is considered tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,” according to LaMountain. When reached for comment, the HLC’s Public Information Officer Laura Janota told The Center Square that “when an institution plans a change that impacts its corporate control or structure, it must be able to demonstrate to HLC its continuing ability to meet HLC requirements,” linking the requirements. “HLC conducts a thorough review of the intended change, known as a change of control,” Janota said. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Grand Canyon U Wins Nonprofit Status Lawsuit Against Department of Education appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a rare government meeting in the northern city of Nahariya on Tuesday, stating, “to deliver a clear message to the North: We’re committed to the North.” He added, “We are enforcing the ceasefire and, with an iron fist, acting against any violation – minor or serious.” Netanyahu said Israel “will not return to the situation of October 6 – neither drip by drip, nor in zigzags,” referring to the day before Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, when 1,200 people were killed and roughly 250 were taken captive as hostages. Earlier today, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that if the recently implemented ceasefire with Hezbollah collapses, Lebanon will no longer be exempt from blame for attacks. As ceasefire mediators France and the US urged both Jerusalem and Beirut to control the fighting and prevent the deal from collapsing, an Israeli airstrike near Damascus International Airport in Syria killed a senior Hezbollah officer. “We will work with all our might to enforce all the understandings of the ceasefire agreement, and we show maximum response and zero tolerance,” Katz said during a visit to the northern border areas, where 60,000 residents were evacuated last October when Hezbollah began cross-border fire in support of Hamas amid the Palestinian terror group’s war with Israel. Katz said that Lebanon must “authorize the Lebanese army to enforce their part, to keep Hezbollah away beyond the Litani [River] and to dismantle all the infrastructure.” “If they don’t do it and this whole agreement collapses, then the reality will be very clear. First of all, if we return to war, we will act strongly, we will go deeper, and the most important thing they need to know is that there will no longer be immunity for the state of Lebanon,” Katz emphasized. The 60-day Israeli-Lebanon ceasefire, brokered by France and the US and signed on November 27, 2024, seeks to reduce tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, particularly between Israel and Hezbollah, after intense cross-border clashes. Shortly after the ceasefire agreement, insurgent groups in Syria launched a major offensive, seizing Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city. The post Netanyahu Vows to Enforce Ceasefire with an “Iron Fist” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel’s prime minister praised U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump on Tuesday for indirectly threatening Hamas with force unless they release all hostages ahead of his January 20 inauguration. Trump said there will be “all hell to pay” if hostages held in Gaza are not released by the time he returns to the White House. Dozens of people taken during the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack remain unaccounted for. On Monday, the Israeli military said an Israeli-American soldier who is believed to be a captive had, in fact, been killed last October. Without mentioning Hamas by name, Trump posted online the same day: “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied history of the United States of America.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump on Tuesday for issuing the toughly worded statement saying “Hamas is required to release the hostages.” He added, “President Trump put the emphasis in the right place, on Hamas, and not on the Israeli government, as is customary [elsewhere].” ‘HELL TO PAY’ Netanyahu spoke at the start of a cabinet meeting where others also hailed the pledge that there would be “hell to pay” in the Middle East unless all hostages held in the Gaza Strip were released. “How refreshing it is to hear clear and morally sound statements that do not create a false equivalence or call for addressing ‘both sides,’ but rather clarify who are good and who are bad,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. “This is the way to bring back the hostages: by increasing the pressure and the costs for Hamas and its supporters, and defeating them, rather than giving in to their absurd demands.” Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said simply on social platform X, “Thank you, President Trump.” Likewise, the families of the missing hostages expressed their gratitude. “It is now evident to all: the time has come. We must bring them home NOW,” the families forum said. Those sentiments were not shared in Gaza. “We were hoping that the new administration would bring with it a breakthrough,” said Mohammed Dahlan, who is among hundreds of thousands of Gazans fleeing their homes due to the fighting. AGREEING WITH ISRAEL “It seems [Trump] is in complete agreement with the Israeli administration and that there are apparently more punitive measures ahead,” he told Reuters news agency. Hamas-run authorities say more than 44,000 people have been killed since Israel launched attacks against Hamas in October last year. Israel has given somewhat lower numbers and says about half of them are Hamas fighters hiding among civilians. The war was triggered when Hamas entered southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and kidnapping about 250 others. Over 60 living hostages and the bodies of about 35 others taken captive on October 7, 2023, but believed to be dead, are still in Gaza, according to Israeli authorities. The post Israel Thanks Trump For Threatening Hamas Over Hostages appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – As Syria’s army struggles to fend off the surprise insurgency launched last week by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Iran-backed militias entered the country on Sunday to lend support to the Syrian forces, Reuters reports. The insurgents first attacked Syria’s second-largest city of Aleppo and then moved into Idlib and Hama province. Iran has long been an ally of Syrian dictator President Bashar Assad and sent thousands of Shiite fighters to help him regain lost territory at the height of the Syrian civil war which began in 2011. The current insurgency is part of the broader longterm conflict with various factions vying for control of the war-torn country. In a statement to Reuters, a Syrian army officer said dozens of Iran-aligned Iraqi Hashd al Shaabi fighters from Iraq had crossed into Syria through a military route near Al Bukamal crossing on Sunday night. “These are fresh reinforcements being sent to aid our comrades on the front lines in the north,” the officer said. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Assad in Damascus on Sunday to confirm Tehran’s ongoing support for his regime.“I clearly announced full-fledged support to President Assad, government, army, and people of Syria by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Araghchi said. The post Syria: Iran-Backed Militia Arrive to Help Assad Fight Insurgency 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 military warned Tuesday that martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol would remain in place “until he lifts it” despite the parliament’s majority vote against it. In an unannounced late-night television address, Yoon announced martial law for the first time in more than four decades since the end of the military dictatorship in the late 1980s. Yoon told the nation late Tuesday that the move was necessary as “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces” working with the opposition were trying to overthrow the free democracy.” Protesters soon arrived at the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, where reporters heard people screaming and chanting. At the same time, security forces and police buses filled the area with their sirens. According to South Korean media, lawmakers arrived there to vote on the martial law declaration, some breaking through police barriers and entering through windows. The South Korean National Assembly then voted to block President Yoon‘s martial law declaration, with 190 lawmakers in the 300-seat assembly in favor. The result drew applause from the gathered lawmakers, witnesses said. Yoon, who was elected president in 2022, has been in a near-constant political standoff with the opposition, which controls Parliament. PLUNGING APPROVAL RATINGS Amid the turmoil, his government faced plunging public approval ratings, which critics say may have contributed to declaring martial law. The measure enables Yoon, 63, to replace the civilian government by military rule and suspend civilian legal processes for military powers. The martial law he announced contained six mandates, with alleged violations resulting in arrest and search or seizure without a warrant. “All political activities – including those of the legislature, the National Assembly – are prohibited. Any act that “attempts to overthrow the liberal democratic system is prohibited,” the order said. Additionally, “Fake news, manipulation of public opinion, and false propaganda” are also prohibited. And the news media is “under martial law control,” ending press freedom. Strikes, work stoppages, and protests that “incite social unrest” are prohibited. According to the law, medical workers “have 48 hours to return to work or face punishment.” However, even Han Dong-hoon, the chairman of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s People Power Party, called the president’s declaration of martial law “wrong” in a statement on Tuesday. “We will stop it along with the people,” he said. Yet, as security forces gathered in the streets of Seoul, it was not immediately clear when the nation would return to a sense of normalcy. The post South Korea’s Military Says Martial Law In Place Despite Parliament’s Rejection appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The United States announced on December 2 a new $725 million military aid package for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against the Russian invasion launched in February 2022, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reports. The announcing of a new tranche of US aid for Ukraine follows last month’s announcement by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that a first shipment of landmines was being delivered to the Ukrainian army because Russia had begun using dismounted infantry units instead of vehicles to advance, RFE reports. In a press release confirming the latest aid package to Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “As part of the surge in security assistance that President Biden announced on September 26, the United States is providing another significant package of urgently needed weapons and equipment to our Ukrainian partners as they defend against Russia’s ongoing attacks. The package includes Stinger missiles; Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) munitions; ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition; Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS); Non-persistent antipersonnel landmines; Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems; Tube-launched, Optically guided, Wire-tracked (TOW) missiles; small arms and ammunition; demolitions equipment and munitions; equipment to protect critical national infrastructure; and spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation, Blinken said. “The United States and more than 50 nations stand united to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression,” Blinken added. The post US Announces Additional $725 Million Military Aid Package for Ukraine appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article