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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary braced on Sunday for the Danube River, Europe’s main waterway, to reach record levels as massive rainfall caused deadly flooding across Central and Eastern Europe, damaging homes and leaving many without power. The difficulties came after at least five people died and thousands of homes were damaged by flooding in neighboring Romania’s eastern region on Saturday, officials said. A firefighter also died during a flood rescue in Austria, and one person drowned in Poland as torrential rain caused by Storm Boris continued to wreak havoc across Central and Eastern Europe, authorities said. The Austrian province surrounding the capital, Vienna, has been declared a disaster area, and its leaders have described “an unprecedented extreme situation.” Surging river levels also put authorities on alert elsewhere in the region, including in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, where some 50 people died in flooding in 1997. Officials in Slovakia even warned of the threat of flooding in Bratislava, the country’s capital, and similar situations were expected in Budapest. The Tirol control center said that Southern Germany and parts of Austria were also struggling with German and Austrian mountain rescuers working to find a person buried by an avalanche in the northern Alps. Officials explained that the avalanche struck in the Karwendel Mountains in Austria’s state of Tirol, not far south of the German border in the Vomp municipality. SAVING LIVES Tirol’s police said the man was a member of a hiking group of around 30 people who had come from the German state of Bavaria. The rest of the group were reportedly safe and accounted for. However, others were not so lucky, with rescue workers trying to save lives as authorities expected more rainfall following summer with soaring temperatures in Central and Eastern Europe. In Romania, flooding affected eight counties, the country’s emergency unit said, and its Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu visited hard-hit Galati county, where four people were reportedly found dead, about 5,000 homes were damaged, and 25,000 were without power. Footage monitored by Worthy News showed streets flooded with muddy water, silt, and debris as rescuers led residents to safety. “The priority is obviously to save lives. At this moment, we have all the necessary logistics to intervene quickly,” Ciolacu stressed. Elsewhere, residents of several towns along the Czech-Polish border were evacuated as rivers rose past alert levels. “We are facing a critical night, full mobilization is required,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on social media platform X. ANTI-FLOOD MEASURES Authorities announced that the Czech capital, Prague, which also suffered catastrophic floods in 2002, had implemented preventative anti-flood measures. In the Czech Republic, northern and Czech media said that northeastern areas bore the brunt of the deluge, and 51,000 households had their electricity supply cut off. Forecasters warned that some parts of the country could see more than a third of the average annual rainfall by Sunday, and Environment Minister Petr Hladik urged people in the worst-hit areas to prepare to leave their homes. In the village of Visnova, 140 kilometers (87 miles) north of Prague, resident Roman Christof told media his cottage had escaped damage because it was built on higher land. He added that others were less fortunate. “I feel sorry for the neighbors,” he said while surveying the floodwaters. Flood barriers were installed in Prague, a city of more than 1.3 million people, on the banks of the Vltava River, spanned by the picturesque 14th-century Charles Bridge. PREVENTIVE MEASURES The city heavily invested in preventive measures after the 2002 floods, which swept into the subway system and forced tens of thousands of people from their homes. Prague Zoo, located along the Vltava, was closed to visitors, and Czech Railways said services on dozens of routes were disrupted. As a precaution, a hospital evacuated patients in Brno, the country’s second-biggest city. In Glucholazy, a historic town in southwestern Poland near the Czech border, firefighters piled hundreds of sandbags alongside a swollen river and evacuated some residents. Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said weather forecasts looked unfavorable, with very heavy rainfall to fall around the Czech border area over the next 24 hours, feeding rivers into Poland. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer summarized expressed feelings in numerous impacted nations, saying: “The coming days will still be extremely difficult and challenging for the affected population and the emergency services.” He noted that several federal states in his alpine nation were affected, and the situation was deteriorating, particularly in the northeastern state of Lower Austria. As in several other countries, Austria’s emergency services worked with district governors and municipalities to prepare for evacuations. The post Several Killed As Flooding Hits Europe appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – Pakistani authorities detained a police officer who allegedly shot dead a man for “blasphemy against Islam” following the recent killing of a Christian on similar charges, Worthy News established Saturday. The fatal shooting happened Thursday inside a highly protected police station in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, a day after the victim, a Muslim, was arrested for making “derogatory remarks” about the prophet Muhammad. A senior local police officer, Muhammad Baloch, told reporters that they had arrested the policeman involved in the shooting and registered a murder case against him. He did not name the detainee. Christians told Worthy News that the blasphemy suspect, Abdul Ali, was taken into custody on Wednesday in the Kharotabad neighborhood. A mob of dozens of residents then surrounded the police detention facility and demanded that he be handed over to them so they could kill him, according to witnesses. Police officials reported the protesters also had thrown a grenade at the building, but the resulting blast did not cause any casualties. They said the violence forced them to transfer Ali to the police station in the central garrison area of Quetta, where he was fatally shot “inside the lockup by an on-duty policeman” on Thursday. FUNERAL PREVENTED Activists of a religious party later prevented Ali’s family from burying him in his hometown of Pishin, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Quetta, forcing those attempting to carry out the burial to flee the graveyard along with the body, according to sources familiar with the situation. In Islamabad, the national capital, an Islamic party senator, Abdul Shakoor Khan, while speaking in the upper house of parliament, expressed solidarity with the alleged killer. Khan vowed to help get him a lawyer for his legal battle. “We will not tolerate anyone issuing blasphemous remarks against the Holy Prophet,” Khan added. The killing of a blasphemy suspect while in custody “is unusual but highlights ongoing tensions related to religious offenses,” said advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). The group stressed that the attack added to “a troubling pattern of violence” against blasphemy suspects in Pakistan. CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas told Worthy News that while his group “expresses its deepest condolences to the family of Abdul Ali,” his death raises concerns about Pakistan’s rule of law situation. “Regardless of the accusations against him, it was the duty of the police to protect him, and thus, it is extremely worrying that he was shot and killed while in custody. Who will ensure the safety of such victims when the police itself is involved in such acts of violence?“ he stressed. SENSITIVE ISSUE Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in majority-Muslim Pakistan, where mere allegations have led to mobs lynching scores of suspects, even some in police custody. Insulting the Koran, deemed a holy book by Muslims, or Islamic beliefs is punishable by death under the country’s blasphemy laws, though in practice, suspects are languishing in jails, often for years. Thursday’s killing of a blasphemy suspect in custody by a police officer, however, is the first known case of its kind in Pakistan, observers said. “This attack has occurred at a time when the European Union’s special envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) is on a mission to Pakistan. This incident further demonstrates the timeliness of this visit, and we call upon the EU to raise these concerns with the authorities and ensure that sufficient protections are provided to any person accused of blasphemy,” Thomas added. He said the “EU Delegation was also right to say that engagement on FoRB challenges is important for Pakistan’s future re-application to the EU’s generous tariff concession for exports from Pakistan.” The latest blasphemy violence occurred after, in early June, a 73-year-old Pakistani man from the minority Christian community died in a hospital a week after being violently attacked by a mob following blasphemy accusations in his native Sargodha district in central Punjab province. PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN “Pakistani Christian Lazar (Nazir) Masih passed away in the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi in Punjab Province on June 3, just over a week after he was violently attacked by an extremist mob following an accusation of blasphemy,” CSW confirmed to Worthy News. Days later, on June 20, a Muslim man from Punjab was visiting the scenic Swat Valley in the northwestern Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when a mob violently lynched him for allegedly desecrating the Koran, CSW and other sources said. Domestic and international rights groups have long sought reforms in the blasphemy laws, arguing they are often misused to settle personal vendettas or to target Pakistani minority communities. Hundreds of suspects, including Christians, are behind bars in Pakistan as fear of retaliation from extremist Islamic groups deters judges from moving their trials forward, Christians say. “The continued criminalization of blasphemy is wholly incompatible with Pakistan’s national and international commitments to freedom of religion or belief and a dangerous driver of religious extremism in the country,” CSW’s Thomas added. “The government must take strict measures to hold those responsible for such acts to account and to curb the misuse of the blasphemy laws, with the aim to repeal these laws as a matter of urgency.” The post Pakistan Detains Police Officer For Killing Blasphemy Suspect appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration demands two permanent seats for African nations in the United Nations Security Council and an elected seat for a small-island developing nation. The plan would transform the 15-member top body of the global organization, which has been essentially unchanged for decades and is mired in dysfunction and disagreements between existing permanent members. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced the proposal as part of her nearly four-year effort to give more say to countries long isolated from decision-making on world peace and security. Her announcement comes as the United Nations General Assembly prepares to convene on September 22-24. It was unclear if negotiations surrounding the reforms would be ready by the general assembly’s time. However, a senior administration official said the U.S. is prepared to pursue “text-based negotiations,” prepare amendments, and “get to work on a resolution for a vote in the general assembly to amend the U.N. Charter.” POWER LIMITS Yet Thomas-Greenfield later said Washington opposes giving veto power to the African countries holding the two permanent seats because that would make the Security Council’s work “dysfunctional.” Critics said her view showed the limits in how much power Washington wants to give to any other country. While Security Council resolutions are legally binding, targeted countries often ignore them. However, Thomas-Greenfield still believes the proposal would increase the influence of long-ignored nations. Africa has three non-permanent seats on the Security Council, but that doesn’t allow African countries “to deliver the full benefit of their knowledge and voices,” she said. “That is why, in addition to non-permanent membership for African countries, the United States supports creating two permanent African seats on the council. It’s what our African partners seek and what we believe is just.” The move also highlights the geopolitical reality nearly 80 years after the end of World War Two, with Africa increasing its political and economic clout. COLD WAR The Security Council held its first session on January 27, 1946, but its efforts were complicated by the Cold War between the West, the Soviet Union, and satellite states. Yet it authorized military interventions in several armed conflicts, and following the collapse of the Moscow-led Soviet Union, U.N. peacekeeping efforts increased. Since the early 1990s, the Security Council has authorized military and peacekeeping missions in Kuwait, Namibia, Cambodia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Security Council still consists of fifteen members. Among them are the five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, who were the victors of World War II or their recognized successor nations. The post US Wants Permanent African Seats In Security Council appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News GAZA CITY/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The U.N. secretary-general has condemned Israel for attacking a school in central Gaza that killed “at least 18 people,” including staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Antonio Guterres said that six UNRWA staff members, as well as children and women, were among the dead after the September 11 “Israeli airstrikes” hit a school serving as a shelter in the Nuseirat refugee camp. “A school turned shelter for around 12,000 people was hit by Israeli airstrikes again today. Six of our UNRWA colleagues are among those killed. These dramatic violations of international humanitarian law need to stop now,” he said in a statement monitored by Worthy News. The attack raised the number of UNRWA staff killed in the armed conflict to 220, according to U.N. estimates. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) countered that the military targeted a command-and-control center in the compound. The IDF says it is taking steps to reduce the risk of harm to non-combatants in Gaza while battling “Hamas terrorists” who use Palestinian civilians as human shields. However, Guterres’ spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the September 11 “incident must be independently and thoroughly investigated to ensure accountability. ” EFFECTIVE PROTECTION “The continued lack of effective protection for civilians in Gaza is unconscionable. Civilians and the infrastructure they rely on must be protected, and the essential needs of civilians met,” he added. “The [U.N.] secretary-general calls upon all parties to refrain from using schools, shelters, or the areas around them for military purposes. All parties to the conflict have the obligation to comply with international humanitarian law at all times,” Dujarric stressed without mentioning Hamas by name. Hamas denies using civilians as human shields, shrugging off evidence it placed its forces and weapons near or in civilian structures such as hospitals, schools, or churches. Following the strike on the school, several other Palestinians reportedly died in Israeli strikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis on Friday, while earlier since Wednesday, at least 19 died in assaults throughout the enclave, said Hamas-backed sources and media. It was not clear whether the reported death toll at the school had been counted among these mentioned figures. U.N. chief Guterres urged the United States in an interview with broadcaster Al Jazeera to pressure Israel to end its “devastating war” on Gaza. However, “I know the American political life sufficiently to know that will not happen.” His comments came while foreign ministers from several Muslim and European countries urged the international community to take “active steps” to implement “the two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including through the universal recognition of the State of Palestine. FREE REIGN Israel’s government says that would give Hamas and its allies free reign to attack Israel as they seek the destruction of the Jewish nation. Yet, despite the war, the first phase of a U.N.-led polio vaccination drive officially ended with about 560,000 children receiving their first dose in 12 days, U.N. officials said. The World Health Organization, the U.N.’s children’s organization UNICEF, and UNRWA called for another round of “humanitarian pauses” in Gaza, fighting for the second phase of the polio vaccination campaign to proceed. The Gaza war was triggered on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, according to estimates by the Hamas-run health ministry. Yet Israel has questioned those figures and says nearly half of those killed are Hamas combatants. Separately, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi’s body arrived in Turkey’s western Aydin province as the family of the slain American-Turkish activist prepared for her funeral and burial on Saturday. Israel’s military said it was “highly likely” that Eygi, 26, was killed by Israeli fire “indirectly and unintentionally” last week in the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria, the other Palestinian enclave. However, the Palestinian Authority said autopsy by experts revealed that she had been targeted directly by Israeli forces. Tensions have risen in the area between Palestinians and Jewish settlers amid mounting fears the Gaza war will turn into a broader regional armed conflict. The post UN Chief Condemns Israel For Attacking School; Military Says It Targeted Hamas (Worthy News Focus) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, does it seem that the tests are getting harder? Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. I don't know about you, but it seems that the tests we're going through are getting harder and harder. Do you remember when you took tests in high school? At the time they may have seemed hard. But imagine if you had to take an elementary school test when you were in high school. You'd probably think – oh this is so simple. So if it seems that the testing of your faith is more intense – it simply means that you're graduating to new levels of faith! Our faith is being tested, and as we pass each "faith" test, we're finding different means of being tested. I suppose in a few years, we'll look back and think to ourselves – wow that was a hard test, but now it doesn't look so difficult! Friend, if you're going through a tough time right now, be encouraged because it simply means that God is graduating you to new levels of faith! The harder the tests, the greater the difficulty – the greater the reward, an increased blessing awaits you! Stay focused, stay alert and remember that God is trying to stretch your faith so that you can accomplish even more for His Kingdom! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Missouri) (Baltimore, Maryland) 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 now booking in the following states. Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida! If you know Rabbis, Pastors or Leaders who might be interested in 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, Ukraine Exchange Prisoners In UAE Mediated Deal (Worthy News Radio) Russia and Ukraine say they have exchanged 206 prisoners of war in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates. The weekend exchange was welcomed by Ukraine’s embattled president, whose forces have struggled to halt the ongoing Russian invasion of his nation. DRC Sentences Dozens To Death Over Coup Dozens of people, including Americans, faced a tense Sunday after a military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) handed down death sentences to them over an alleged coup attempt. Several Killed As Flooding Hits Europe Hungary braced on Sunday for the Danube River, Europe’s main waterway, to reach record levels as massive rainfall caused deadly flooding across Central and Eastern Europe, damaging homes and leaving many without power. US Wants Permanent African Seats In Security Council Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration demands two permanent seats for African nations in the United Nations Security Council and an elected seat for a small-island developing nation. Israel-Palestinian Conflict UN Chief Condemns Israel For Attacking School; Military Says It Targeted Hamas (Worthy News Focus) The U.N. secretary-general has condemned Israel for attacking a school in central Gaza that killed “at least 18 people,” including staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Inside the United States FBI: 2nd Assassination Attempt on Donald Trump’s Life Thwarted, Gunman Arrested U.S. Secret Service agents shot at and later arrested a man with an AK-47 rifle near Donald Trump's West Palm Beach, Fla., golf club Sunday afternoon while Trump was on the course. The FBI said it is investigating the incident as an attempted assassination of the former president, the second in two months. Shots Fired At Former President Trump’s Golf Course Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump was safe after “multiple shots” were fired near his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, several sources say. Faith-based voter effort to court Hispanic Nevadans A faith-based event encouraging Hispanics to get out and vote is coming to Las Vegas. Christian News Pakistan Detains Police Officer For Killing Blasphemy Suspect Pakistani authorities detained a police officer who allegedly shot dead a man for “blasphemy against Islam” following the recent killing of a Christian on similar charges, Worthy News established Saturday. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West and members of the NATO military alliance that they will be “at war with Russia” if Ukraine is given the green light to use long-range missiles on targets inside his country. Putin made the threat before Friday’s meeting between him and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss Ukraine’s possible use of British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles on Russian soil. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a three-nation that put the issue of permitting Kyivto use long-range missiles back on the table during a Ukraine-focused European tour in Poland on Thursday “It would mean that NATO countries, the U.S., European countries, are at war with Russia,” Putin told Russian state TV on Thursday. “If that’s the case, then taking into account the change of nature of the conflict, we will take the appropriate decisions based on the threats that we will face.” “Russia started this conflict,” Starmer responded, speaking to journalists on board his flight to the United States. “Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. Russia can end this conflict straight away.” Any guidelines agreed upon for the British weapons at the two-hour summit in Washington could also then pave the way for the Ukrainians to fire U.S.-supplied ATACMS — a tactical ballistic missile system — at airfields and army bases deep inside Russia, according to experts familiar with the talks. RUSSIA’S REACTION Russian government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov suggested the meeting between Starmer and Biden was a mere formality and that a deal had already been done, vowing Russia’s response “will be appropriate.” Ukraine’s American allies have long resisted giving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the green light to use their long-range ballistics against the Kremlin’s forces inside Russia, fearing Moscow could then escalate the war by retaliating against a target inside NATO, such as the critical weapons supply hub in the Polish city of Rzeszów. Yet opinions are changing after a reported large shipment of Iranian missiles to Russia that the British authorities fear will offer a critical firepower boost to Putin. Tehran’s apparent support comes just as his army extends its grip in eastern Ukraine with advances on the strategic city of Pokrovsk. Yet critics have accused NATO of saber-rattling that could lead to a broader wad involving the U.S. and Russia, which are both nuclear superpowers. The post Russia Warns Of War With West appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Reports are emerging of an apparent Israeli Special Forces operation targeting an Iranian missile production facility in Syria that was involved in manufacturing weapons for Hezbollah according to various media sources. This past Sunday, a series of reported Israeli airstrikes targeted military sites in central Syria, resulting in at least 14 deaths, 43 injuries, and igniting fires. Syrian media indicated that the strikes impacted a scientific research center in Masyaf, known for its association with the production of chemical weapons and precision missiles by the Syrian regime and Iranian forces. While the Israeli government has not commented on the operation, details from a New York Times report suggest that Israeli Special Forces descended via helicopter, planted explosives within the Iranian-built facility, and removed sensitive information. The Times cited Israeli, American, and independent sources suggesting that the Scientific Studies and Research Center was involved in developing chemical, biological, and potentially nuclear weapons, as well as precision-guided missiles supplied to Hezbollah for targeting northern Israel, with assistance from Iran. Meanwhile, an opposition Syria TV network appeared to confirm the New York Times report, stating that Israeli helicopters did not land but hovered as Special Forces rappelled down ropes. The report also describes violent clashes resulting in several Syrian casualties and the capture of two to four Iranians. Additionally, it mentions that a Russian communications center was among the sites targeted in the operation. According to a separate report by Axios, citing three sources familiar with the operation, the elite Shaldag unit of the Israeli Air Force conducted the raid. Axios also reports that Israel notified the US prior to the operation and received no objections from the White House. Also on Thursday, Israel Channel 12 News cited researcher Eva J. Koulouriotis, who reported that a “security source” identified the operation as an IDF mission targeting an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facility involved in developing ballistic missiles and drones, and providing logistical support to Hezbollah. Koulouriotis posted on X that airstrikes were used to target roads around the facility to prevent Syrian troops from accessing the area. Following this, Israeli helicopters carrying Special Forces approached with support from combat helicopters and drones. The troops entered the compound, removed equipment and documents, and planted explosives to destroy the facility. Israeli intelligence reportedly tracked the site’s construction for over five years under the codename “Deep Layer,” and determined that airstrikes alone would not be enough to fully neutralize the threat. Israel has not commented on the operation, as it rarely acknowledges specific operations in Syria. The post Israel Special Forces Raid Iranian Weapons Facility in Syria appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BERN (Worthy News) – Switzerland will likely implement a digital identity document (ID) by 2026 after both chambers of parliament approve the necessary steps despite voters rejecting a previous law enabling the scheme. Worthy News learned Thursday that the so-called e-ID Act will be referred back to the Swiss parliament’s lower house, the National Council, to resolve any disagreements on individual data protection and cyber security issues. Swiss authorities said the 100 million francs (US$113.3 million) scheme aims to give people more options to confirm their identity. The Federal Council, Switzerland’s government, stressed that ”Use of the e-ID is voluntary and free of charge.” In a statement monitored by Worthy News, the company added that the e-ID “can be used both on the internet—for example, when ordering a criminal records extract online—and in face-to-face situations—for example, in shops as proof of age when buying alcohol.” The Federal Council said, “Anyone who has a Swiss identity card, a Swiss passport, or a foreign national identity card issued in Switzerland will be able to apply for an e-ID. In response to feedback from the consultation process, the Federal Council proposes that the e-ID be issued online and at passport offices.” DEBATE ONGOING However, Swiss sources said the government is still debating how to proceed with its technical implementation and “trust infrastructure.” In July, a Swiss government commission recommended that e-ID data “be kept exclusively in a government digital wallet.” Swiss officials say that private wallet makers will be able to store and present the electronic ID in the future if they comply with council regulations. Yet the scheme is rolled out despite voters throwing out a law governing the proposed electronic identity system in a 2021 referendum amid fears about data protection. The result was seen as a blow to plans by parliament and the government, but a few years later, both seem to agree on the need for an e-ID for people living in Switzerland. These developments are part of a broader effort by several governments to digitalize the identities of voters and others under their control. The post Switzerland To Rollout Digital ID By 2026 appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, death to the flesh! Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. When we study a translation of a Scripture passage we often miss out on the nuances hidden in the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament). Often, it’s not that a word is mistranslated, but that rendering the meaning in one English word is difficult if not impossible. One such word is the word "flesh". The often-used Greek word for "flesh", "sarx", forms the etymological root for our English word, "sarcophagus". Sarcophagi are ornately adorned stone coffins where the mortal flesh of humans (usually significant in some way during their lifetime) becomes entombed. They can be quite ornate and beautifully crafted. Thus, the Greek word for "flesh", ironically, carries in its meaning a hint of the mortal nature of the stuff we are made of, and the vessel to which it is destined. Normally, the simple word "flesh" doesn't necessarily connote "mortality"...unless you spend some time thinking about it... Our flesh can also be made beautiful, and many spend quite a bit of time and resources beautifying it. Yet our "sarx", or mortal human body is also a kind of "sarcophagus" since it's destined to decay, a temporary vessel no more eternal than a coffin. The apostle Paul affirms that he is "crucified with Christ"; that his mortal flesh with its irrevocably sinful tendency and bondage to decay, has been identified with the Messiah in His death on the cross. Throughout his epistles, Paul frequently warns believers not to live a life "after the flesh", that is according to its predilections and desires. Living that way could be described as being trapped within a “coffin”. Yet Paul says in another place that "we carry this treasure in jars of clay"...[2 Cor. 4:7] i.e. that the "sarcophagi" in which we walk around are vessels of resurrection life-- the very life of Messiah which was regenerated by His Spirit in us. The great mystery and challenge of a believer's life is that we have the constant choice whether to be a walking self-serving "sarcophagus", or a living breathing jar of clay filled with God's Holy Spirit and bearing all the fruit of love, joy, peace, etc. Friend, your "sarx" can be a self-serving coffin, or a life-giving vessel. If you are born from above, the sinful nature of your body has been crucified with Christ, and your constant life choice will be the extent to which you recognize that reality, and are filled with the resurrection life which the new birth affords. You were not given a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. Don't be an ornate living tomb; be a life-giving, spirit-filled jar of clay! Shabbat Shalom and have a great weekend! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Missouri) (Layfayette, Indiana) 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 now booking in the following states. Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, Tennessee! If you know Rabbis, Pastors or Leaders who might be interested in 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 Warns Of War With West Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West and members of the NATO military alliance that they will be “at war with Russia” if Ukraine is given the green light to use long-range missiles on targets inside his country. Switzerland To Rollout Digital ID By 2026 Switzerland will likely implement a digital identity document (ID) by 2026 after both chambers of parliament approve the necessary steps despite voters rejecting a previous law enabling the scheme. US Orders One of Two Aircraft Carriers to Return Home From Middle East The United States Defense Department has ordered the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier to return home after it spent several weeks in the Middle East in case Israel needed to be defended from threatened attacks by Iran and its proxies, and to protect US troops, the Associated Press reports. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier will remain in the area. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Special Forces Raid Iranian Weapons Facility in Syria Reports are emerging of an apparent Israeli Special Forces operation targeting an Iranian missile production facility in Syria that was involved in manufacturing weapons for Hezbollah according to various media sources. Inside the United States Texas Hotel Shut Down for Harboring Tren De Aragua, Violent Illegal Border Crossers A hotel in El Paso, Texas, has been shut down for harboring violent illegal border crossers, including Venezuelan Tren De Aragua prison gang members. City of Aurora Officials Dispel Claims City Taken Over by Venezuelan Gangs Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and City Council Member Danielle Jurinsky released a statement saying that their city has not been taken over by a Venezuelan gang and were critical of unnamed media and social media sites inaccurate claims. U.S. Borrowing Tops $1.9 Trillion So Far This Year The federal government borrowed $1.9 trillion in the first eleven months of fiscal year 2024, including $380 billion in August, a startling amount as federal watchdogs sound the alarm on spending. Since 2021, U.S. Has Seen Greatest Number of Canadian Illegal Border Crossers in History The greatest number of Canadians who’ve illegally entered the U.S. or attempted to illegally enter in recorded U.S. history has been reported under the Biden-Harris administration and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration. Christian News UK National Week of Prayer: October 12-20, 2024 Christians across the United Kingdom will participate in the National Week Of Prayer (NWOP) event for the country and other nations from 12 to 20 October 2024, Christian Today (CT) reports. NWOP is a partnership of diverse Christian denominations and ministries that are united in their commitment to “pray for the nations and let faith rise.” Bangladesh: Christians and Hindus Persecuted by Islamist Parties Religious rights advocates have warned that Christians and Hindus in Bangladesh are experiencing intensified persecution as the country’s interim government has allowed the previously banned Jamaat-e-Islami Islamic party to have free reign in the country, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) reports. Arizona Street Evangelist Returns to Preaching After Being Shot in the Head, “Because of His Love, I’m Still Here” A street evangelist who was shot in the head while sharing the Gospel in Glendale, Arizona last year has credited the love and grace of God for a remarkable recovery that defied his doctors’ expectations and allowed him to return to preaching, ABC15 reports. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – A hotel in El Paso, Texas, has been shut down for harboring violent illegal border crossers, including Venezuelan Tren De Aragua prison gang members. El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez sued Gateway Hotel, owned by Gigante Enterprises LLC and Howard Yun, a South Korean immigrant, for allegedly violating multiple public nuisance laws and endangering the community. The lawsuit was filed in El Paso County 120th District Court and asked the court to issue an injunction to shut down the hotel, according to the complaint. A judge granted her request on Monday; occupants had until Thursday to vacate the premises. Gateway Hotel’s recent history is dubious. It’s previous owner was convicted on smuggling and money laundering charges in 2011; the city condemned the building in 2014. It remained vacant until Yun received a conditional certificate of occupancy in 2018. The hotel has operated for six years without a valid certificate of occupancy in violation of city requirements, the lawsuit states. In the last two years, there were 693 service calls made indicating “habitual criminal activity … that contributes to the overall blight this business brings to downtown El Paso,” the complaint states. Surveillance footage accompanied the complaint appearing to show “at least one gun being shot, another used to threaten, men holding knives and another man with a hatchet assaulting people and causing damage to the hotel in front of a security guard.” The type of crimes allegedly committed on the property include narcotics trafficking, aggravated assault, criminal trespass, assaultive conduct/fights, two terroristic threats, criminal mischief, arson, theft, burglary, prostitution, among others, the complaint states. The El Paso Fire Department attested to “habitual criminal activity, trash and fire hazards;” the El Paso Police Department to “an increase of suspected gang members using the property” and “continuous incidents of criminal activity” that increased “with the introduction of the Tren De Aragua organization into the hotel.” One officer’s affidavit states hotel management “is negligently allowing gang activity to infiltrate the area;” “allowing illegal activity (consuming drugs, gang activity, illegal dumping);” and will “continue to threaten public safety if allowed to conduct ‘business as usual.’” Sanchez’s Nuisance Abatement Team files civil lawsuits “to mitigate and/or combat common and public nuisances occurring on properties,” including crimes like “prostitution, human trafficking, drug trafficking, narcotics related crimes, crimes involving firearms, robbery, massage therapy code violations, alcohol violations and other various aggravated crimes,” her office explains. “The purpose of a nuisance abatement lawsuit is not to charge a person with a crime, but rather prove that the business/property owner allowed the illegal activity to occur on their property and failed to make reasonable attempts to stop it.” The El Paso ruling comes as Tren de Aragua gang members have infiltrated apartment complexes and hotels and committed a range of violent crimes nationwide. They’ve been released into the U.S. by the Biden-Harris administration after illegally entering the country and through a new CHNV parole program created by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Since fiscal 2021, a record number of Venezuelan illegal border crossers have been reported, nearly 856,000 – the greatest number in U.S. history. Another 115,000 Venezuelans were granted parole through the CHNV program. The overwhelming majority are single military age adults, according to CBP data. The CHNV program has been directly linked to perpetrators committing violent crimes against Americans; Tren de Aragua gang members are being arrested nationwide, The Center Square has reported. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has demanded answers from the Biden-Harris administration about how many criminal Venezuelans have been released into the U.S. and why. “The Biden administration has full knowledge that prisoners from other countries are making their way into the United States through our wide-open border,” Moody said in March before the Venezuelan gangs made recent national news. She wants to know why “the Biden administration is releasing criminal illegal aliens in U.S. prisons directly into the interior, rather than deporting them back to their country of origin.” Also in March, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, both Florida Republicans and Cuban Americans, warned, “Tren de Aragua is an invading criminal army from a prison in Venezuela that has spread their brutality and chaos to U.S. cities and small towns. If left unchecked, they will unleash an unprecedented reign of terror, mirroring the devastation it has already inflicted in communities throughout Central and South America, most prominently in Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. The breadth of Tren de Aragua’s operations encompasses murder, drug and human trafficking, sex crimes, extortion, and kidnapping, among other brutalities.” The U.S. Department of State has designated the gang, which began in the Tocorón Prison in Aragua, Venezuela, as a transnational criminal organization. It’s offering up to $12 million in rewards for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of its leaders who are believed to be in Columbia and Venezuela. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Texas Hotel Shut Down for Harboring Tren De Aragua, Violent Illegal Border Crossers appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and City Council Member Danielle Jurinsky released a statement saying that their city has not been taken over by a Venezuelan gang and were critical of unnamed media and social media sites inaccurate claims. “The entire city of Aurora was not taken over,” Jurinsky stated on X late Tuesday night. “Several Apartment complexes were taken over by Tren de Aragua and people suffered because of it.” Coffman and Jurinsky’s statement was endorsed by the police department. It stated: “We would like to clear the record about the widely reported presence of Tren de Aragua (TdA) in Aurora and across the metro area. We want to provide an update about the facts of the situation and the Aurora Police Department’s collaborative, ongoing efforts to investigate and aggressively pursue criminal activity linked to TdA members and associates.” It continued: “TdA has not ‘taken over’ the city. The overstated claims fueled by social media and through select news organizations are simply not true. Again, TdA’s presence in Aurora is limited to specific properties, all of which the city has been addressing in various ways for months.” The statement said that the police department has identified 10 people with links to the Venezuelan gang and has arrested eight of them. Aurora police are part of a special task force that is working with local, state and federal agencies to address the gang. The city stated that this particular criminal element is a regional issue. “For some time, well before concerns about TdA in Colorado generated national attention, APD had been arresting people for various criminal activities who had suspected, but not necessarily confirmed, TdA connections,” the statement said. The gang issue became a national story after videos circulated on X of the gang and its members taking over apartment complexes that led the mayor to seek an emergency court order to clear apartments that have been targeted by Venezuelan gangs, as previously reported by The Center Square. Donald Trump mentioned the gang presence in Aurora in Tuesday night’s presidential debate. “You look at Aurora in Colorado, they are taking over the towns, they are taking over the buildings. They are going in violently,” Trump said. [ Source (Read More…) ] The post City of Aurora Officials Dispel Claims City Taken Over by Venezuelan Gangs appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square (Worthy News) – The federal government borrowed $1.9 trillion in the first eleven months of fiscal year 2024, including $380 billion in August, a startling amount as federal watchdogs sound the alarm on spending. Those borrowing figures come from the the latest Monthly Treasury Statement from the Treasury Department. Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said that is roughly $6 billion borrowed per day this fiscal year “America faces steep fiscal challenges in the very near future – next year alone, we’ll need to confront the multi-trillion dollar question of extending the 2017 tax cuts, we’ll need to raise the debt ceiling, and we’ll need to address the expiration of discretionary spending caps,” she said. “In just three years, the national debt will be at a higher share of the economy than any point in history. And in less than a decade, the Social Security retirement trust fund will go insolvent, leaving beneficiaries with automatic and across-the-board cuts without action.” She said it’s time for former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris to dig into the issues. “Given these pressing deadlines, it’s more important than ever for the presidential candidates to take seriously the threats posed by high and rising debt and deficits,” MacGuineas said. “Yet the debate earlier this week was another opportunity for fiscal clarity that fell flat – instead, we heard far more about what the candidates propose for new spending and tax cuts than we heard about how they will pay for them.” She said the candidates need to come up with a plan. “Both elected officials and candidates for our nation’s highest office will need to pivot towards the specifics on deficit reduction – and soon – if we’re ever going to see a more responsible federal budget become a reality,” she said. The research arm of Congress has given similar warnings. A Congressional watchdog told President Joe Biden and Congress in February that the federal government is on an “unsustainable long-term fiscal path.” The report from the U.S Government Accountability Office said federal spending levels couldn’t be supported long term. “The federal government faces an unsustainable long-term fiscal path,” according to the U.S Government Accountability Office report. “We project that debt held by the public as a share of the economy will more than double over the next 30 years and will grow faster than the economy over the long term if current revenue and spending policies are not changed.” U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro said Congress must take action. “Congress and the administration must act to move the nation off the untenable long-term fiscal course on which it is currently operating,” said Dodaro, who leads the GAO. “The federal debt level is growing at a rate that could threaten the vitality of our nation’s economy and the safety and well-being of the American people. Both spending and revenue issues need to be addressed as part of a comprehensive long-term plan.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post U.S. Borrowing Tops $1.9 Trillion So Far This Year appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Christians across the United Kingdom will participate in the National Week Of Prayer (NWOP) event for the country and other nations from 12 to 20 October 2024, Christian Today (CT) reports. NWOP is a partnership of diverse Christian denominations and ministries that are united in their commitment to “pray for the nations and let faith rise.” The event is backed by leaders from diverse denominations and traditions including the Orthodox Archbishop of London, CT reports. Open Doors UK & Ireland, 24-7 Prayer, CARE, and the Evangelical Alliance are also among those who will be participating in the prayer week. “There is nothing more powerful for us to do, than to pray. Stand together, pray together,” Archbishop Angaelos told CT. “When we gather together, the Lord is in our midst. This week of prayer, let us pray for our nation for those deprived the right to believe or have their own faith.” Father Dominic Robinson, from Central London Catholic Churches, said in a statement: “We want to invite you to gather for the National Week of Prayer as Christians together, remembering our need for God, thanking God for His great gifts, and praying as Christians together for the reawakening of the soul of our nation.” Kamesh Flynn, the project coordinator, added in a statement to CT: “Throughout the past few months, we have been humbled at how open and engaged people across the nations have been in committing to praying for the nation as a Church collectively. No matter the denomination, individual area of influence, or whether you are gathering three people or 3,000 people, we believe this is a moment for the UK to return to God and flourish in the identity found in Him.” The post UK National Week of Prayer: October 12-20, 2024 appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Religious rights advocates have warned that Christians and Hindus in Bangladesh are experiencing intensified persecution as the country’s interim government has allowed the previously banned Jamaat-e-Islami Islamic party to have free reign in the country, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) reports. The Bangladeshi interim government was formed after weeks of protests led to the ousting of long-serving prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Now living in India, Hasina was criticized for leaving her pro-democracy roots and becoming increasingly autocratic. However, Christian advocates warn the country’s move toward Islam is dangerous for non-Muslims. In addition to Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned as a terror group, a second previously banned Islamist organization, Hizb ut-Tahrir, is also understood to be gaining influence, CSI said. “At a rally held in early August, Hizb ut-Tahrir made its anti-minority stance clear,” CSI said in its report. Threatening Christians and Hindus on the street, this group has reportedly called for Bangladesh to become a Muslim-only country. “They demonstrated in front of our office and house. They were carrying swords and firearms,” a local CSI partner said. “For five nights running they threatened all the Christians in the area. They marked the gates with the cross.” “In public and private universities, colleges, high schools, and elementary schools principals and teachers from minority communities have been forced to resign and their positions given to the followers of Jamaat-e-Islami,” the CSI partner said. “Now that the process is underway, it is assumed that no members of religious minorities will again be hired as teachers in any educational institution,” he added. “Many of the Christians who were given jobs in the judicial sector and in various law enforcement agencies, including the police, under the previous government have been sacked and transferred to remote areas,” the CSI partner continued. “Minority leaders have been accused in various cases and their religion has been used before the mention of their name, such as adding Christian before the name Vipul and referring to Christian Vipul. This is understood as a reflection of religious hatred.” The post Bangladesh: Christians and Hindus Persecuted by Islamist Parties appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The United States Defense Department has ordered the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier to return home after it spent several weeks in the Middle East in case Israel needed to be defended from threatened attacks by Iran and its proxies, and to protect US troops, the Associated Press reports. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier will remain in the area. The US has boosted its naval presence in the Middle East since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas triggered a full-scale war in Gaza which had threatened to extend across much of the rest of the region. The Islamic terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi Islamic terror group in Yemen have launched attacks against Israel in solidarity with Hamas. Supporting all these groups is Iran. In the first direct attack by Iran on Israel, the Tehran regime launched a barrage of drones and missiles at the Jewish state in April: this was announced as retaliation for a strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria that was attributed to Israel. Iran’s attack failed to make any impact, with the US, the UK, France, and Jordan joining with Israel to intercept the missiles. Iran again threatened a massive attack against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. With tensions reaching boiling point in the region, the USS Roosevelt was later joined by the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Middle East. “US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered the Roosevelt to extend its deployment for a short time and remain in the region as the USS Abraham Lincoln was pushed to get to the area more quickly,” AP explained in its report. “US commanders in the Middle East have long argued that the presence of a US aircraft carrier and the warships accompanying it has been an effective deterrent in the region, particularly for Iran,” AP noted in its analysis. The post US Orders One of Two Aircraft Carriers to Return Home From Middle East appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A street evangelist who was shot in the head while sharing the Gospel in Glendale, Arizona last year has credited the love and grace of God for a remarkable recovery that defied his doctors’ expectations and allowed him to return to preaching, ABC15 reports. Father of two and military veteran Hans Schmidt was preaching at the corner of 51st and Peoria avenues in Glendale on November 15, 2023, when the shooting happened. With a bullet in his brain, Schmidt was so severely injured that he was placed on life support and induced into a medical coma. Schmidt was not expected to survive, his wife Zulya told ABC15 as she and her husband recounted the story of his shooting and recovery for the first time. “Even the neurosurgeon said, ‘Nothing we can do.’ The detective said, ‘We’ll know more after the autopsy.’ That’s kind of when it became real,” Zulya said. “There was no hope. Those days felt like really long. I was scared I’d never hear his voice again.” However, after a month, Hans woke up and spoke for the first time. “It’s a miracle, absolutely a miracle,” Hans told ABC15. “I should not be alive, realistically, I should be dead. And because of His grace and His love, I’m still here.” With fragments of a bullet still in his brain as it is too dangerous to remove them, Schmidt is back to preaching at the corner of 51st and Peoria avenues in Glendale, ABC15 said. He still has to have daily speech and occupational therapy but he is expected to be able to return to work a relatively normal life. Concerning forgiveness for the attacker, Schmidt said: “I don’t think that holding a grudge against him is going to change anything. I think it’s important to forgive people. And I forgive him.” The post Arizona Street Evangelist Returns to Preaching After Being Shot in the Head, “Because of His Love, I’m Still Here” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – The greatest number of Canadians who’ve illegally entered the U.S. or attempted to illegally enter in recorded U.S. history has been reported under the Biden-Harris administration and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration. Since fiscal 2021 through July 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 150,701 Canadians illegally entered or attempted illegal entry into the U.S. The majority were apprehended at the US-Canada border, followed by other locations nationwide, with a small number at the US-Mexico border, according to the data. The greatest number of Canadians encountered or apprehended by CBP or Border Patrol agents was in fiscal 2022 of 47,126. U.S. officials at the northern border reported the most of 40,600; the next greatest number was reported nationwide totaling 6,413, followed by 113 at the southwest border, according to the data. In fiscal 2023, the numbers were slightly less, totaling 44,700, with the majority reported at the northern border of 37,169, followed by 7,431 nationwide and 100 at the southwest border. These numbers are up significantly from fiscal 2021, of 22,371. The majority in 2021, 16,193, were reported at the northern border, followed by 6,178 nationwide and 76 at the southwest border. The overwhelming majority are single military age adults. Several retired CBP officials have pointed out that not all Canadian border crossers are native-born but include foreign nationals who received Canadian travel documents. Canadian citizens for years have legally traveled to the U.S. for work and as tourists. Another record-breaking number coming from Canada is over 1,100 individuals on the U.S. terrorist watch list, referred to as known or suspected terrorists (KSTs), who attempted to illegally enter the US-Canada border since fiscal 2021, The Center Square first reported. This is the greatest number in U.S. history under any administration. They total more than a U.S. Army battalion. They are being apprehended by U.S. authorities, not Canadians. They include an Iranian with terrorist ties living in Canada and a Canadian woman previously arrested by Texas officials for claiming to threaten to kill former President Donald Trump. Canadian authorities claim to thoroughly vet so-called refugees when permitting entry. One granted entry in 2018 was a member of ISIS who was granted citizenship this year and went on to allegedly plot a terrorist attack against Canadians, The Center Square reported. Some members of the Canadian Parliament continue to express alarm about increasing terrorist threats under the Trudeau government after the ISIS member was only arrested after French authorities notified Canadian authorities about his alleged terrorist connection. Another recent example is Canadian authorities taking nine years to arrest a Canadian woman on terrorism-related offenses after she traveled to Syria in 2015 to join ISIS, The Center Square reported. More recently, a Pakistani national living in Canada was arrested after announcing his plan to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish Center in Brooklyn, New York, after publicly expressing his support for ISIS for nine months, according to a Department of Justice announcement. Members of Congress have introduced bills to secure the northern border, created a northern border security caucus. The U.S. House impeached Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the border crisis. Republican lawmakers have also demanded increased security after Canadian authorities expanded a visa program to Palestinians, expressing concerns about a vetting process that may not identify those who support the terrorist organization Hamas. Ushered into power by Palestinian voters in 2006, Hamas holds a majority in the Palestinian Authority’s government. The U.S. State Department designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. All officially reported CBP data excludes gotaways, those who evaded capture and illegally entered the U.S. They total over 2 million, The Center Square first reported. Officials have expressed concerns about how many unknown gotaways are in the U.S. connected to countries of foreign concern, state sponsors of terrorism and terrorist organizations. Several hundred connected to ISIS have illegally entered the U.S., authorities confirmed this year. Despite claims by Canadian authorities that “the Canada-U.S. border is the best-managed and most secure border in the world,” numerous U.S. border security officials disagree, telling The Center Square the CBP data alone disproves their claim. The number of Canadian illegal border crossers is not comparable to the nearly 3 million Mexican illegal border crossers under the Obrador administration since fiscal 2021. Among them, more than 22,000 Mexicans were apprehended by U.S. federal agents after illegally entering or attempting entry from Canada. CBP data indicates that illegal border crossers holding travel documents from Canada and Mexico, America’s NAFTA partners, appear to be circumventing U.S. immigration law. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Since 2021, U.S. Has Seen Greatest Number of Canadian Illegal Border Crossers in History appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Russia has come under a wave of suspected Ukrainian drones, including its capital, Moscow, killing one woman, injuring six other people, and forcing the temporary closure of three of the capital’s airports, officials said. The mass assault on Russia, which was believed to be one of the most significant drone attacks since the start of its war with Ukraine, came as the United States announced more sanctions on Iran for supplying Moscow with ballistic missiles used in its offensive against Ukraine. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said cooperation between Moscow and Tehran threatens broader European security. Blinken revealed that Washington had privately warned Iran that providing ballistic missiles to Russia would “constitute a dramatic escalation.” He said the new sanctions would be imposed later Tuesday. “Russia has now received shipments with these ballistic missiles and will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine, against Ukraine,” Blinken added, citing “intelligence” that he stressed has been shared with U.S. allies and partners worldwide. He spoke at a news conference in London before visiting Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, alongside Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy. They met after Russian officials said they shot down 144 Ukrainian drones around Russia in a wave of attacks that killed one woman, set residential buildings on fire, and grounded flights in Moscow. MOSCOW GOVERNOR The governor of Moscow, Andrei Vorobyov, said several flats in two high-rise apartment buildings in Ramenskoye in the Moscow region were set on fire. Vorobyov explained that a 46-year-old woman died and three people were injured in Ramenskoye, while 43 people were evacuated to temporary accommodation centers. There were also reports of more injuries. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the strike showed the need for Russia to continue its war in Ukraine, saying: “We must continue the military operation to protect ourselves from such displays of this regime.” Russia’s defense ministry said that of the 144 drones its air defenses intercepted, half were in the western border region of Bryansk, 20 were in Moscow, and 14 were over the Kursk region. State media reported that the strikes shut down four airports in Moscow, and more than 30 domestic and international flights that serve the Russian capital were suspended before most continued operations later in the day. However, Moscow made clear it would continue its war against Ukraine and said it had captured at least three villages in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. The defense ministry also said it had “liberated” the town of Krasnohorivka, also in Donetsk. The post US Sanctions Iran For Supplying Russia With Missiles; Moscow Under Attack appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By J.D. Davidson | The Center Square (Worthy News) – State taxpayer dollars are heading to an Ohio city to combat a growing refugee population gaining national attention and straining public safety and health care services. Gov. Mike DeWine announced the state plans to spend $2.5 million to expand primary care services in Springfield, and the Ohio State Patrol will help the Springfield Police Department with traffic enforcement beginning Wednesday morning. “I want the people of Springfield and Clark County to know that as we move forward, we will continue to do everything we can to help the community deal with this surge of migrants,” DeWine said. “The federal government has not demonstrated that they have any kind of plan to deal with the issue. We will not walk away.” Previously, the state had initiated other programs to deal with the growing Haitian refugee population, which has grown since 2020 to around 15,000 in the city of nearly 60,000 under the Temporary Protected Status program. The Temporary Protected Status program gives migrants whose home countries are considered unsafe to live and work in the U.S. The programs Ohio established in Springfield include: • creating a school-based health clinic in the Springfield City School District to expand primary care access for school children and their parents. • increasing support for vaccinations and health screenings through the local health department. • allocating additional funds to the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services for translation services. • providing funding to Clark State College for services to teach English to Haitians. • providing driving simulators and offering driver education classes targeted to the Haitian community. • working with the Springfield School District to maximize existing resources and provide ongoing support to deal with the surge of migrant students. The state’s new programs come on the heels of Springfield City Manager Brian Heck’s letter to federal lawmakers in July outlining what he called the city’s housing crisis due to the influx of migrants. Earlier this week, Attorney General Dave Yost directed his staff to find legal ways to stop the influx of migrants after communities around the state have complained of being inundated and overwhelmed. Republican vice presidential candidate and Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance spent this week saying refugees were stealing and eating the pets of Springfield residents. Former President Donald Trump repeated the false claims Tuesday night during a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. Springfield city officials and the Springfield Police Department have said the claims are untrue. The Springfield News-Sun reported Monday that the claims originally came from a Springfield Facebook group that did not cite first-hand knowledge. Instead, the poster said a neighbor’s daughter’s friend lost her cat and found it hanging from a branch in a Haitian neighborhood. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported people are combining the Haitian refugee issue with a Canton woman’s arrest in August. A YouTube video falsely purports to show police officers confronting a Haitian woman in Springfield about to eat a cat. The Canton Repository reports the video is Canton Police Department body cam footage from an August incident in Canton, nearly 200 miles northeast of Springfield. Cleveland.com reported Heck released a statement Monday that said the reports are false, and refugees have not participated in other reported illegal activities. “There have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community,” the statement said. “Additionally, there have been no verified instances of immigrants engaging in illegal activities such as squatting or littering in front of residents’ homes. Furthermore, no reports have been made regarding members of the immigrant community deliberately disrupting traffic.” The post Ohio Plans More Help for Springfield’s Refugee Issue appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israel is understood to have been behind Sunday night’s air strikes on a target in Syria which experts believe is used to develop unconventional weapons and missiles, the New York Times reports. At least 18 people were killed and dozens injured according to Syria’s state media. Although Syria blames Israel for the attacks, the Israeli government has neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the strikes which hit targets in and around the town of Masyaf in northwestern Syria, NYT reports. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told NYT that the strikes targeted the Scientific Studies and Research Center, where work on “developing short- and medium-range precision missiles” is conducted. “Independent experts, Israeli officials and the U.S. government have described that institute as a center of weapons research and development, aided by Syria’s ally Iran, with the work being done there including chemical, biological and potentially nuclear weapons as well as missiles used by Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed militia group in Lebanon that is fighting Israel,” the NYT said in its report. United States citizens have been banned by the US government from doing business with the center since 2005, NYT reports. In 2007 the US Treasury Department then went on to freeze the assets of center subsidiaries, listing the S.S.R.C. as the “Syrian government agency responsible for developing and producing nonconventional weapons and the missiles to deliver them,” NYT added. The post Syria: Deadly Air Strikes Target Center That Reportedly Develops Unconventional Weapons appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News PHILADELPHIA, USA (Worthy News) – Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump accused each other of being “weak” and “lying” in their first debate of the 2024 U.S. presidential election as both seek to win the race to the White House. Their exchanges at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia came as moderators from ABC, the U.S. network that hosted the debate asked Harris and Trump for their stances on the economy, abortion, “climate change,” and foreign policy, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas wars. During the 90-minute debate, they also argued over several topics such as tariffs, trade wars, and migration. A key issue was a discussion over the economy, as prices have reportedly risen over 22 percent on average since Harris took office as vice president. Harris countered she had a plan to address those costs, specifically pointing to a more considerable child tax credit and a $50,000 tax deduction for those starting small businesses. Critics said she did not say how she would pay for it. Harris attempted to move away from those questions, accusing Trump of “inviting trade wars” and adding that he sold American chips to China to help it “improve and modernize their military.” The vice-president also condemned Trump for a social media post that said: “Thank you, President Xi” over the Chinese president’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘RESPECTED PERSON’ Trump claimed China, Russia, and North Korea feared him during his time in office, citing a statement from Hungary’s prime minister. “The most respected and most feared person was Donald Trump,” Trump claimed Viktor Orbán said. On abortion rights, Trump said he brought the issue back to states, while Harris cited Trump’s Project 2025, saying bans deny women care. Harris delivered a lengthy attack on abortion limits, speaking passionately about women denied emergency care and victims of incest unable to terminate their pregnancies due to statewide bans that have increased since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated a nationwide right in 2022. Three Trump appointees were in the majority of that ruling. Trump strongly defended his policies to give the abortion issue back to the states, saying it had divided the nation. Harris and Trump also discussed the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict. When asked about Israel and Hamas, Trump said Harris “hates” Israel and that under her leadership, “Israel will not exist.” His comments came after Harris highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza resulting from Israel’s military actions, which were triggered by Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. Harris said “Israel has a right to defend itself”, adding that “how it does so matters, because it is also true [that] far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed – children, mothers”. ‘TWO-STATE SOLUTION’ On Israel, Trump stressed there would be no war if he were president as Harris called for a “two-state solution” and end to war. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war was also mentioned, with Harris telling Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is a dictator who will eat you for lunch” while Trump called her “the worst vice-president in history.” The presidential nominees also debated many hot-button domestic issues, such as immigration, fracking, and crime. Harris slammed Trump for convincing U.S. lawmakers to kill a bipartisan border security bill that would have added 1,500 more border agents. Trump repeated what his critics describe as “unfounded rumors” about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, alleging that they were using pets as food. He also denied having anything to do with the attacks on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Harris said: “The president of the United States incited a violent mob to attack our nation’s capital, to desecrate our nation’s capital.” SURPRISE HANDSHAKE The debate got underway with a surprise handshake between the two opponents, who had never met before. Harris approached Trump at his lectern, introducing herself by name in what was the first handshake at a presidential debate since 2016. Observers said the encounter was particularly important for Harris. Opinion polls show that more than a quarter of likely voters feel they do not know enough about her. After all, Harris entered the race only seven weeks ago after frail President Joe Biden’s sudden exit. At one point, Trump said he still did not know the race of Harris, who is of Black and South Asian heritage, but “that’s up to her.” Debate moderators asked Trump about statements he made questioning Harris’ race and suggesting the vice president had not been honest about her identity. “I don’t know. I mean, all I can say is I read where she was not Black,” Trump answered. “And then I read that she was Black, and that’s O.K. Either one was O.K. with me. That’s up to her.” In closings, Harris said she was focused on the future as Trump countered by calling the U.S. “a failing nation.” While she held off on attacking Trump in her closing statement, the former president did not do the same. Instead, he seized on Harris’s years in the vice presidency to argue that she would be an ineffective leader. “So, she just started by saying she’s going to do this, she’s going to do that. She’s going to do all these wonderful things. Why hasn’t she done it?” Trump asked. FIXING BORDER? “She’s been there for three-and-a-half years. They’ve had three-and-a-half years to fix the border. They’ve had three-and-a-half years to create jobs and all the things we talked about. Why hasn’t she done it? She should leave right now, go down to that beautiful White House, go to the Capitol, get everyone together, and do the things you want to do, but you haven’t done it, and you won’t do it because you believe in things that the American people don’t believe in.” Trump warned, “We’re a failing nation. We’re a nation that’s in serious decline.” He noticed that “We’re being laughed at all over the world. All over the world, they laughed. I know the leaders very well; they’re coming to see me. They call me. We’re laughed at all over the world. They don’t understand what happened to us as a nation.” He concluded by calling Harris “the worst vice president in the history of our country.” And with that, the debate ended. Harris’ running mate Tim Walz said after the debate that Harris showed her “vision” while JD Vance, on Trump’s ticket, called them “platitudes.” Asked about Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris, even Matt Gaetz, the Republican Florida congressman, declined to attack the pop star directly. “I love her songs, but I want to live in a world where liberals make my art and conservatives make my laws and policies,” he replied. The post Harris Trump Accuse Each Other Of Being ‘Weak and Lying’ In 1st Debate appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Despite warnings and outcry from local and international religious rights groups, Fulani Islamic terrorists are continuing to murder Christians in Nigeria with impunity, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than in the rest of the world combined: well over 50,000 believers have been murdered by Islamic terrorists since jihadist terrorism took hold in the country in 2009. In the latest attack, Fulani extremists raided the Christian town of Daffo in Plateau state on September 3, and murdered six people, ICC reports. On the same day, four other Christians were murdered in Kwatas, 23 miles from Daffo. As other officials have done periodically, Plateau State Governor Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang condemned the attacks, ICC reports. However, next to nothing has been done to protect Nigerian Christians from the ongoing slaughter. “Violence by Islamic extremist groups such as Fulani militants, Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State in West African Province) increased during the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, putting Nigeria at the epicenter of targeted violence against the church,” the Open Doors international Christian advocacy group explains in a current website report. “More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year, than everywhere else in the world combined,” Open Doors attests. “The attacks are often brutal in nature and can involve destruction of properties, abductions for ransom, sexual violence and death. Believers are stripped of their livelihoods and driven from their homes, leaving a trail of grief and trauma.” “The government’s failure to protect Christians and punish perpetrators has only strengthened the militants’ influence,” Open Doors notes. The post Nigeria: Fulani Terrorists Continue Slaughter of Christians with Impunity appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday (September 10) that the upcoming November 5 ballot will contain Amendment 3, a measure that would enshrine the right to abortion up to viability in the state constitution, the Missouri Independent (MI) reports. Allowing voters to decide the issue, Missouri’s highest court reversed a lower court’s ruling that Amendment 3 should be removed from the ballot. After the US Supreme Court’s 2022 reversal of Roe v Wade removed the federal right to abortion up to viability and reverted the issue to the states to decide individually, Missouri banned abortion with some exceptions for medical emergencies. Amendment 3 was proposed by the ACLU for Missouri and the Missourians for Constitutional Freedom organization and certified by the ballot by Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, MI reports. The case arose when plaintiffs including state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, and state Rep. Hannah Kelly filed suit requesting a court order the Amendment be removed from the November ballot. In a statement about the decision, the Missouri Republican Party said: “This ruling marks the most dangerous threat to Missouri’s pro-life laws in our state’s history.” Separately, Tori Schafer, an attorney with the ACLU of Missouri, said in a statement: “What this decision really says today is that we deserve to be on the ballot. That people deserve to make this decision for themselves.” The post Missouri Supreme Court Allows Abortion Rights Measure on November Ballot appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Brazil’s isolated northwest Amazon region is experiencing a remarkable spiritual revival with an unprecedented number of local residents putting their faith in Christ and new churches being planted through the missionary activity of evangelical believers, CBN News reports exclusively. Having heard of the revival, CBN sent reporters to the Amazon River, a region of more than 6 million square miles of South America and home to 30 million Amazonians. “The Amazon River here in the northern part of Brazil is filled with hundreds of these small tributaries that in essence snake through the jungle, and over the many years evangelical Christians have been traversing these waters in an attempt to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the Amazonian people,” the CBN team explain. “The Catholic Church held a near-monopoly in the region. Today, evangelical Christianity is reshaping the region’s spiritual fabric, leading to new converts and churches,” they said. Missionary Josué Bengtson, pastor of the Belem Foursquare church, the first Foursquare church to be planted in the region, told CBN: “Those early days were definitely much, much more difficult than today.” “Back when we started evangelizing in this region, we had just a few workers and, in some municipalities, pastors had to walk 10 to 15 km to open a congregation,” Bengtson added. “In the first six months of this year we baptized 14,500 people. Our goal for this year is to baptize over 30,000 people,” Bengtson said. The post Brazil: Remote Amazonian Region Experiences Revival, “In the First Six Months of This Year We Baptized 14,500 People” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – During the presidential debate on Tuesday night, Vice President Kamala Harris deflected when answering questions on the ongoing border crisis. When asked “why did the administration wait until six months before the election to act” on the border crisis, and if she would have done anything differently from President Joe Biden, Harris didn’t answer the question. She deflected by repeating the claim she’s previously made that she prosecuted transnational criminal organizations when she was the attorney general of California from 2011 to 2017. “I’m the only person on this stage who has prosecuted transnational criminal organizations for the trafficking of guns drugs and human beings,” she said. She also repeated a claim that she would sign a U.S. Senate border bill that went nowhere in the Democratic controlled Senate. “Some of the most conservative members of the United States Senate came up with the border security bill which I supported,” she said. “That bill would have put 1,500 more border agents on the border to help those folks who are working there right now overtime trying to do their job.” While a U.S. senator, Harris opposed increasing funding to hire thousands of new Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and advocated for eliminating ICE detention facilities, which house the most violent criminals, The Center Square reported. She has also more than once called for abolishing ICE altogether. The Senate border bill would have expanded current failed policies, critics claim, codify mass migration and nullify state sovereignty\. Harris also repeated a claim that former President Donald Trump “got on the phone, called up some folks in Congress, and said, ‘kill the bill.’ And you know why? Because he’d prefer to run on a problem instead of fixing a problem.” The bill failed because many Senate Democrats didn’t support it and their campaigns began distancing themselves from Biden-Harris border policies, which the majority of Americans oppose, according to numerous polls. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, also said it was dead on arrival. He called on the Senate to pass what he, and others say, is the strongest border security bill, HR 2, which the Senate refused to consider. When asked about being appointed “to address the root causes of migration,” she did not cite one example of a root cause or what she did to address it, fix it or remedy it. Nor did she address the record more than 12.5 million foreign nationals who illegally entered the country under her watch, including two million who evaded capture. They total more than the individual populations of 45 states. If illegal border crossers were a state, they’d be the sixth most populous state ahead of Illinois, The Center Square reported. Nor did she address the record number of known or suspected terrorists who’ve been apprehended attempting to enter the U.S., more than 1,700 since fiscal 2021, the greatest number in U.S. history. When asked about her flip-flopping on issues like building a border wall, she repeated the claim that “her values haven’t changed.” This is after The Center Square and other news outlets fact checked her opposition to border wall construction and funding for years. At no point during the debate did she outline her plan for border security, deportation of violent criminals, or express condolences to Americans whose families have been murdered and raped by criminal foreign nationals who were released into the country under her watch. Biden-Harris parole programs have been directly linked to violent criminals who illegally entered and remained in the country who then went on to commit violent crimes against Americans, The Center Square has reported. Earlier this year when endorsing Trump for president, the brother of Maryland resident Rachel Morin, who was raped and murdered by a Venezuelan illegally in the country, said, “My sister’s death was preventable. The monster arrested for killing Rachel entered the US unlawfully after killing a woman in El Salvador. Joe Biden and his designated ‘border czar’ Kamala Harris opened our borders to him and others like him, empowering them to victimize the innocent. Yet to this day, we have not heard from Joe Biden or Kamala Harris. They never apologized. “When Rachel was killed, President Trump called my family to offer his condolences. He wanted to meet with us. He cared. That is leadership. And we need real leadership back in the White House.” Houston angel mom mother Alexis Nungaray, who also endorsed Trump, said she never heard from Harris even after she came to a Houston fundraiser after her daughter was strangled to death by two Venezuelan men illegally in the country. They were released into the country because of Biden-Harris policies, she said, which had to change. “We’re losing very innocent people to heinous crimes that shouldn’t be happening in the first place.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post FACT CHECK: In presidential debate, Harris deflects on border record appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article