Displaying items by tag: USA

Worship leader Brooke Ligertwood has shared a remarkable testimony of God’s faithfulness, describing a providential meeting with a Ukrainian woman whose prayers helped shape her journey. While visiting a theological campus in Texas to audit a doctoral course, Ligertwood encountered Ksusha, a Ukrainian theology student studying remotely while living amid the challenges of war. Years earlier, Ksusha had seen a video in which Ligertwood expressed a desire to study theology. Moved by this, she began praying earnestly for God to open that door. In a striking moment of divine orchestration, the two women met in person at the very class Ligertwood had been invited to attend. Ksusha shared how she had faithfully prayed, and together they witnessed the beginning of that prayer being answered. Ligertwood reflected on the experience with awe, recognising God’s personal care and timing.

Donald Trump has warned NATO that it faces a ‘very bad future’ unless its member states help to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to global oil shipments. The waterway is a critical route for around 20% of the world’s oil, and disruption there has already heightened fears of economic instability. European nations now face a difficult choice between maintaining alliances and avoiding deeper involvement in the widening conflict, which Trump started without consulting his allies. Closing the strait was always seen as one of Iran’s main weapons, and Trump’s expectations that destroying the Iranian navy would prevent that from happening have proved unjustified: just by threatening drone strikes on tankers, Iran has effectively closed the strait and driven up oil prices. Trump wants NATO to send warships to escort convoys through the strait, which they are reluctant to do; he has now appealed to China, South Korea, Japan, and Australia to help. Other military options could further escalate the conflict, particularly if key infrastructure becomes a target.

After a nationwide blackout which left the entire population without electricity for 29 hours, Cuba has managed to restore power. The outage, one of several in recent months, reflects a deepening energy crisis caused by fuel shortages and an ageing power grid. Although the national system is now back online, officials warn that electricity supply remains unstable and unable to meet demand. The crisis has been intensified by Donald Trump’s decision to cut off the island’s oil supply from Venezuela and threats to slap tariffs on countries which ship fuel to the nation. He has also upped his rhetoric against Cuba, saying that he could do ‘anything he wanted’ to the country. Many households were already experiencing long daily outages before the collapse, disrupting food, water and essential services. Tensions between Cuba and the USA continue to escalate, although they are engaged in talks aimed at easing the situation. For ordinary citizens, the hardship continues despite partial recovery, as they face ongoing uncertainty and limited resources in daily life.

A federal judge has ruled that the shutdown of Voice of America (VOA) was unlawful, ordering that the broadcaster be restored within a week and that hundreds of journalists be reinstated. The decision follows mass layoffs in January, after Donald Trump appointed Kari Lake to carry out an executive order to close VOA and associated outlets, which his officials accused of left-wing bias. The court found the actions lacked proper legal authority and failed to consider the broadcaster’s mandated role. Before it was wound down, VOA, originally established to counter Nazi propaganda, was broadcasting TV, radio and digital content in almost fifty languages. Its closure raised concerns about the future of independent international broadcasting and access to reliable information. The ruling offers hope for the restoration of its services, though uncertainty remains over potential appeals and future leadership decisions. The case highlights ongoing debates about media independence, government authority, and the role of public broadcasting in a complex global information landscape.

A review of the influential Christian book Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby highlights the enduring impact of its central message: believers should 'watch to see where God is working and join Him’. First published in 2007, it has guided countless Christians, churches, and ministries in discerning God’s will and participating in His work. One remarkable example described in the book comes from Angola Prison in Louisiana. After inmates began studying it, many committed their lives to Christ, leading to the formation of seven inmate-led church congregations within the prison. Reports indicate that violence and drug use significantly declined as lives were transformed. Some prisoners even sensed a call into Christian ministry, and the prison later became a satellite campus for a theological seminary! The book continues to challenge believers to examine their priorities and recognise where God is already at work, encouraging them to join Him in faith and obedience.

A series of videos shared by the White House has sparked debate after mixing footage of the war with Iran with scenes from films, video games, and professional sports. The posts combine real explosions with clips from entertainment franchises and popular culture, including action movies and gaming titles. Critics say the approach risks turning a deadly conflict into spectacle. Actor Ben Stiller and voice actor Steve Downes both objected to the use of their work without permission, calling for the clips to be removed. Church leaders also voiced concern, including Blase J Cupich, the Catholic archbishop of Chicago, who warned that portraying war like a video game diminishes the suffering experienced by those affected. Supporters of the videos argue they highlight the actions of American forces and communicate messages in a digital age shaped by media and entertainment. Meanwhile, Trump has said his ‘excursion’ will soon be over, but ‘not yet’: see

Looking on at the conflict in the Middle East, the president of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Nadia Calviño, has urged Europe to strengthen its ‘strategic autonomy’ more quickly. She warned that conflict and geopolitical uncertainty threaten economic stability and investment. European leaders are particularly concerned about the possibility of another energy shock after Iranian strikes in the Gulf unsettled global markets. Gas prices in Europe recently surged sharply, while oil prices also rose. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 disrupted supplies of cheap Russian gas, Europe has worked to diversify energy sources, turning to partners such as the USA, the Gulf states, and Azerbaijan. Calviño said European businesses have adapted, though higher energy costs still affect competitiveness compared with regions with cheaper power. She also emphasised Europe’s commitment to cooperation, international law and peaceful engagement, expressing hope that diplomatic tensions will ease despite the difficult global environment.

The Middle East has entered a new period of instability following joint United States and Israeli strikes on Iran which reportedly killed more than a thousand people and triggered retaliatory attacks across the region. Among those killed was Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, leaving uncertainty about the future leadership of the country. The strikes, described by US and Israeli officials as necessary to address security threats, have drawn global attention and concern. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting military installations and other sites across several countries in the region. The escalation has disrupted diplomatic efforts surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme and raised fears of a wider conflict. Civilians across the Middle East face growing risks as violence spreads, while thousands of foreign nationals have struggled to leave affected areas. The conflict has also shaken global energy markets and travel networks, reflecting the far-reaching consequences of the crisis. Recent news: at least 87 were killed when a US submarine sank an Iranian tanker (see), and the US Senate voted against a bipartisan measure which would have limited Trump’s war powers (see).

Ecuador and the USA have begun joint operations aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks, according to an announcement from the US Southern Command. The command, which oversees US defence cooperation across much of Latin America and the Caribbean, said the activity is part of efforts to combat illicit drug flows in the region. Ecuador’s defence ministry confirmed the cooperation, describing it as an ‘offensive’ operation but noting that specific details remain classified. The announcement follows comments from president Daniel Noboa, who said the country would work with the USA and other allies in a new phase of action against organised crime, including narcotics trafficking and illegal mining. Ecuador has faced growing challenges from criminal groups linked to international cartels in recent years. The joint initiative reflects wider regional efforts to counter powerful trafficking networks that continue to influence violence, corruption and instability across several countries in the region.

Only two days after Donald Trump, announcing Japanese-backed investments tied to a major trade pact, posted ‘America is WINNING again’, the Supreme Court ruled much of his tariff regime unlawful, angering Trump and creating huge uncertainty across global markets. Almost immediately, he announced new tariffs, which means that most countries - including those that had negotiated preferential agreements - now face a 15% tariff on exports to the USA. Some nations which made concessions, such as the UK and Japan, may gain little advantage, while others, including China and India, have seen tariff reductions without comparable compromises. The new tariffs will be valid for only 150 days, with confusion about what might happen thereafter. Data suggests much of the economic burden of tariffs has fallen on US businesses and consumers. Meanwhile, Trump has drawn widespread incredulity and criticism for using his position to advertise expensive watches bearing his name: see