Displaying items by tag: USA

US President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping new sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, after shelving plans for peace talks with Vladimir Putin. The move marks a major policy shift, as Trump had previously resisted sanctions while urging Europe to end purchases of Russian oil. Frustrated by Moscow’s failure to negotiate, he said his conversations with Putin “don’t go anywhere,” calling the sanctions “tremendous” and expressing hope they could be lifted if Russia agrees to halt its war in Ukraine. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures target the Kremlin’s “war machine,” which is heavily funded by oil exports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the action as a “good signal,” urging continued global pressure. The sanctions follow similar steps by the UK and EU, which also banned Russian liquefied gas imports by 2028. Despite economic pressure, Russia insists it remains “immune” and continues airstrikes across Ukraine, where civilian casualties—including children—remain high.

Christian singer and songwriter Forrest Frank has announced he will no longer attend awards shows, including the Dove Awards and Grammys, saying he already holds 'the greatest award of all time' — salvation in Christ. In a video on TikTok, Frank explained his conviction that he should not receive trophies for something created 'from Jesus and for Jesus.' He said he wrestled with this decision last year and has now chosen 'a stance of nonparticipation’, preferring to model humility rather than seek recognition. Frank clarified that he is not refusing to shine as a light in dark places but to avoid stages that glorify human achievement. Though nominated in several top categories, he declared that his real prize is having his 'name written in the Book of Life’. His statement challenges Christian artists to reconsider the tension between cultural acclaim and eternal reward, reminding believers that earthly fame will fade, but the name of Jesus endures for ever.

The US government shutdown has entered its second week as the Senate again failed to pass competing bills to restore funding, deepening the political stalemate. Democrats and Republicans remain divided over whether to pair any funding bill with healthcare measures, particularly an extension of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. The lapse in funding has forced federal offices, national parks, and agencies to close, with mounting pressure from unpaid workers and disruptions at airports and air traffic control centres (see) House speaker Mike Johnson insists the GOP’s short-term funding bill is sufficient, while a top Democrat has accused Republicans of refusing to negotiate. Donald Trump continues to urge Democrats to accept the Republican plan, though some within the GOP have hinted at compromise. Without agreement, hundreds of thousands of military and civilian personnel will soon miss paychecks, further straining families and testing public patience with political gridlock.

At the age of nine, John O’Leary suffered burns over his entire body in a gasoline explosion, losing all his fingers and facing little chance of survival. His remarkable journey of recovery, faith, and purpose is now portrayed in Sony’s upcoming film ‘Soul on Fire’. Directed by Sean McNamara, the film depicts how O’Leary transformed tragedy into triumph, discovering hope in Christ and encouragement through others. Legendary baseball announcer Jack Buck became a key supporter, visiting John in hospital and later welcoming him to the Cardinals. John’s family, especially his mother and sister, modelled sacrificial love, urging him to cling to God and fight for life. Today, O’Leary speaks globally, teaching gratitude as essential, even in prison cells or painful trials. He insists God redeems all suffering for good, turning victims into victors. Based on his bestselling book ‘On Fire’, the film shows how faith, love, and gratitude can ignite resilience, inspiring countless lives worldwide.

Joe and Nancy’s journey to Christ began amid the hippie counterculture of Southern California. They first met in 1969 at a friend’s home during a police drug raid, and their instant connection led them into a shared search for meaning. Drawn into the psychedelic scene, they explored Eastern mysticism, following gurus like Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Meher Baba. Yet, when Meher Baba died without fulfilling his promise of a world-changing word, their spiritual hunger deepened. Living in Hawaii, they discovered Christian literature and later, through Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, Nancy encountered the Gospel powerfully. Desperate for truth, she accepted Christ and was soon baptised. Joe initially resisted but was later moved to repentance and baptised the same day. Married in 1970, they have remained in church fellowship ever since. Now celebrating 55 years together, their enduring testimony shows how God redeems searching hearts with lasting love and truth.

The memorial service for Charlie Kirk at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium blended elements of political rally and charismatic evangelical worship, yet its defining feature was the bold proclamation of the Gospel. Speaker after speaker - from Ben Carson and Marco Rubio to JD Vance and even Donald Trump Jr - clearly articulated salvation through Christ. The most powerful moment came when Erika Kirk forgave her husband’s assassin, declaring that the forgiveness she has received through Jesus must also be extended to the one who made her children fatherless. Her testimony of grace was a profound witness before millions watching worldwide. Even Donald Trump appeared touched, seemingly showing an awareness of the cost of true faith and forgiveness. The service became a reminder that the Gospel is for all - even those we may struggle to accept. The legacy of Charlie Kirk now points beyond politics to the transforming power of Christ, challenging Christians everywhere to live and proclaim forgiveness and grace.

Colombian president Gustavo Petro has condemned recent US airstrikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, calling them an ‘act of tyranny’ and urging criminal proceedings against US officials if Colombians were killed. The strikes, authorised by Donald Trump and reportedly responsible for 17 deaths this month, target vessels suspected of trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics, especially near Venezuela, Colombia’s neighbour. Legal experts and UN officials have questioned the legality of these actions, describing them as possible extrajudicial executions. Petro argued that deadly force is unnecessary, citing Colombia’s long history of cooperative drug interdictions without fatalities. He stressed that the principle of proportionality is violated ‘if you use anything more than a pistol’. The White House maintains that Trump will use ‘every element of American power’ to combat narcotics. He has designated several drug-trafficking organisations and criminal groups in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America as terrorist organisations, and the US military has bolstered its forces in the southern Caribbean over the last two months.

At New Birth Church in Georgia, Pastor Jamal Bryant recently turned an altar call into an unexpected job fair. During a September service, he invited unemployed members to the altar for prayer, then asked hiring managers present to share opportunities. The response was immediate: directors, supervisors, and business owners stepped forward, resulting in over 300 job offers for struggling congregants. Bryant praised the church’s faith in action, noting the need amid rising black unemployment, which recently reached 7.5%, the highest since late 2021. Economists warn the downturn is hitting black communities disproportionately, particularly as cuts in federal employment take effect. While national leaders debate solutions, New Birth showed what a church family can achieve by caring for one another in practical ways. Stories like this echo the early church’s example of meeting both spiritual and material needs. God is still using His people to bring provision, dignity, and hope.

The massive 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote refinery has delivered its first US gasoline export, signalling a new chapter in global fuel trade. The tanker Gemini Pearl discharged about 320,000 barrels of gasoline at Sunoco’s Linden facility in New York harbour, with Vitol purchasing the cargo from Switzerland-based Mocoh Oil and selling most of it to Sunoco. The shipment meets stringent US motor fuel standards, a key milestone for the refinery after many startup delays. Two more USA-bound cargoes are en route. While these exports demonstrate Dangote’s potential to reshape energy flows and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports, further US deliveries may pause soon because the refinery’s gasoline unit is expected to undergo two to three months of repairs, according to an industry monitor. Meanwhile, the refinery has also begun direct fuel supplies to marketers in Nigeria, which potentially could put an end to the country's shortages. See

Across the USA, a historic spiritual shift is unfolding as Millennials and Gen Z turn to faith in record numbers. At the premiere of CBN’s new film The Revival Generation, one commentator compared it to the Jesus Movement of the 1970s, describing it as 'seismic’. Former presidential candidate Dr Ben Carson says cultural conditions are ripe for revival, noting that past awakenings often followed crises. He sees growing openness among young people weary of empty alternatives and hungry for truth. The American Bible Society reports a 29% rise in Bible use among Millennials from 2024 to 2025, with Gen Z engagement increasing from 11% to 15%. Congressman Marlin Stutzman says this generation is searching beyond the flood of online information, longing for stability that only truth provides. From college campuses to local communities, many discern God stirring a new movement of faith, bringing hope to a generation eager for transformation.