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  1. By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News TAIPEI (Worthy News) – Taiwan’s defense ministry said Thursday that 20 Chinese fighter jets and eight warships were seen over the past 24 hours around the democratically-ruled island, the highest number in days. The presence of the Chinese military in the area highlighted fears about an expected invasion, despite officials saying last week that U.S. troops are “permanently stationed” in Taiwan. In remarks seen by Worthy News, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said that the “20 [People’s Liberation Army] (PLA) aircraft and 8 [People’s Liberation Army Navy] PLAN vessels” operated around Taiwan “since Wednesday 6 a.m. up until 6 a.m. [local time] today.” Of these, 14 fighter jets crossed the “median line of the Taiwan Strait,” an unofficial 90 miles (145 kilometers) wide boundary and buffer zone between the island and China, the Ministry confirmed. Taiwan’s military “monitored the situation and employed [combat air patrol] CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities,” it added in a statement. China has made clear it views Taiwan as part of its territory, and Beijing hasn’t ruled out annexing the territory by force or necessary. The involvement of 8 Chinese warships in the latest stand-off raised concerns in Taiwan and the United States, which regards the island as part of its strategic interests. “SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES” China’s Navy has “significant advantages” over its U.S. rival, including a more extensive fleet and greater shipbuilding capacity, as Beijing seeks to project its power across the oceans, the United States Navy warned last year. While the U.S. has about 470 ships in active service and the reserve fleet, China has the largest navy per number of boats in the world with over 780 ships, official data shows. Thursday’s announcement follows days of smaller but significant Chinese military operations around Taiwan, Worthy News monitored. Last week saw the largest number of Chinese warplanes detected around Taiwan involving 36 Chinese military aircraft in 24 hours till 06:00 am local time on Friday, March 22, Taiwanese defense officials said. As tensions rose, Taiwan tested its air defenses on Tuesday in early morning drills using surface-to-air missiles and air, land, and naval forces. Taipei said it would continue to intensify training, backed by the U.S., due to frequent Chinese military activities nearby. “In the face of Chinese aircraft and ships frequently encroaching into Taiwan’s surrounding sea and air space, the Air Force will continue to increase its training intensity to deal with potential threats,” the Air Force added. MILITARY MODERNIZATION Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has overseen a military modernization program, including developing new Taiwanese-made equipment. Much of the focus has been on the navy, which is massively outgunned and outnumbered by China’s fleet. Her policy was likely to continue after her second presidential term expires on May 20 when she is succeeded by her vice president, Lai Ching-te, who recently won the presidential elections. Taiwanese and American officials have also said this month that U.S. forces are being stationed permanently on the island, a move that was likely to upset Beijing. Asked if U.S. Army Green Special Forces, also known as Green Berets, were in Taiwan permanently, Taiwanese defense chief Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters it was “a fixed thing.” The minister said, “No matter the situation, there may be blind spots or shortcomings. So we need to communicate with our allies—whether it is a team, a group, or a country.” In comments seen by Worthy News, Chiu added, “We can learn from each other to see what strengths we have. This is a fixed thing.” In 2021, President Tsai revealed U.S. instructors were conducting “occasional” training with Taiwanese armed service members. Chiu’s statement was seen as the first confirmation of the long-term nature of the activities. He previously warned that China may be able to invade Taiwan as early as next year, though its military activities suggested it could be earlier. The post China Threatens Taiwan With More Jets And Ships (Worthy News Focus) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  2. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A new poll by Gallup shows that just 30% of Americans attend a religious service every week or nearly every week in 2024, compared to an average of 42% attending every week or nearly every week twenty years ago. Among the major US religious groups surveyed, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) were the most faithful to attend weekly or nearly weekly services, with 67% doing so. Protestant Christians came second, with 44% attending services every week or nearly every week, Gallup said. Muslims and Catholics followed at 38% and 33% respectively. “Three in 10 Americans say they attend religious services every week (21%) or almost every week (9%), while 11% report attending about once a month and 56% seldom (25%) or never (31%) attend,” Gallup reported. “Majorities of Jewish, Orthodox, Buddhist and Hindu Americans say they seldom or never attend religious services,” Gallup said. Gallup noted in particular that young adults are especially unlikely to attend services regularly. “Specifically, more 18- to 29-year-olds, 35%, say they have no religious preference than identify with any specific faith, such as Protestant/nondenominational Christian (32%) or Catholic (19%). Additionally, young adults, both those with and without a religious preference, are much less likely to attend religious services — 22% attend regularly, eight points below the national average.” “Church attendance will likely continue to decline in the future, given younger Americans’ weaker attachments to religion,” Gallup noted. The post USA: Just Three In Ten Americans Attend Weekly Religious Services, Poll appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  3. By Sarah Roderick-Fitch | The Center Square (Worthy News) – The closure of the Port of Baltimore caused by the ship collision that collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge will likely have a greater impact on the local economy, but the ultimate strain may be on increased and longer ground transport, according to supply chain experts. The Port of Baltimore ranks first in the nation for importing and exporting automobiles, light trucks, farm and construction machinery, and imported sugar and gypsum. In 2023, the port handled nearly 850,000 automobiles and light trucks, the most in the U.S. The port also ranks second in the nation for exporting coal and sixth for importing coffee. The port leads the nation for roll-on/roll-off cargo. The port’s proximity to the Midwest, especially Michigan, the epicenter of the car industry, makes it ideal for transporting automobiles and farm equipment. According to the state of Maryland, “The Port of Baltimore generates nearly $3.3 billion in total personal income and supports 15,330 direct jobs and 139,180 jobs connected to Port work. The Port also generates more than $395 million in taxes and $2.6 billion in business income. It serves over 50 ocean carriers making nearly 1,800 annual visits,” Tinglong Dai, professor of operations management and business analytics at Johns Hopkins University, believes the port closure will be “minimal and transitional,” and the economic impact will be localized. The professor said since the crash, some ships have already been rerouted, which he cited as an example of flexibility in the industry. Echoing Dai’s optimism is Dr. Philip T. Evers, associate professor of supply chain management at the University of Maryland. He said since the pandemic, supply chain firms have done a better job preparing for these types of events, underscoring that “many supply chain firms have focused on risk and resiliency since Covid. They may be able to minimize the cost hikes.” Evers explained to The Center Square that cargo ships must pass Norfolk before reaching Baltimore, which would offer a convenient alternative for ships to load and offload. Joe Harris, senior director of media relations for the Port of Virginia, told The Center Square that within hours of the crash, one of the terminals at the Virginia International Gateway had processed a rerouted container ship, saying they “anticipated these diverted volumes to increase.” Experts believe the short- and long-term issue will be the bridge and rerouting of ground transportation, which could add additional strain to the already congested I-95 corridor. Trucks utilized the 1.6-mile Key Bridge – it carries I-695 traffic on the southeastern loop of Baltimore – as a quicker way to bypass Baltimore, and it was vital to trucks carrying hazardous material since they were prohibited from using any of the tunnels around the city. Nick Klein, vice president of sales at OEC Group’s Midwest Region, specializing in logistics, is concerned about the trucking industry and how longer transit may affect costs. “The bridge collapsing will further strain the trucking industry and in turn hike up prices due to longer transit times,” Klein told The Center Square. “Ships will be routed to Norfolk VA Port or New York/New Jersey Ports and importers/consumers will pay more for trucking from Norfolk or New Jersey to the Metro Baltimore area, and beyond.” During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore could not provide a timeline for when operations at the Port of Baltimore will resume. The Port of Baltimore has halted services indefinitely. Benjamin Schafer, professor of civil and systems engineering at Johns Hopkins University, believes the cleanup effort to open the shipping channel could take weeks if not months. He anticipates reconstructing the bridge could take several years, costing hundreds of millions. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Bridge: Experts Expect Regional Economic Impact In, Near Baltimore appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  4. By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BEIJING (Worthy News) – Beijing has condemned the United States and Britain for imposing sanctions over alleged Chinese government-backed cyberattacks affecting millions of people. American and British government officials point the finger at a computer hacking group known within the cybersecurity community as Advanced Persistent Threat 31 (APT 31) APT 31, also known as Zirconium, Violet Typhoon, Judgment Panda, and Altaire, is run by China’s Ministry of State Security from the city of Wuhan, where investigators believe the coronavirus pandemic began due to lax safety rules. The group’s yearslong campaign allegedly targeted White House staffers, senators, journalists, and companies – including Pentagon contractors and British parliamentarians, Britain’s election watchdog, and members of the European Parliament, affecting millions. The group was also accused of targeting government officials worldwide who criticized Beijing. China, a strictly ruled communist nation, has also been accused of high-profile attacks in the past: In 2020, tech giants Google and Microsoft warned that APT 31 targeted the personal emails of campaign staff working for Joe Biden. Britain’s government says APT 31 was also linked to a hack of Microsoft Exchange email server software in 2021 that compromised tens of thousands of computers worldwide. The post Beijing Condemns US British Attacks appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  5. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – As the slaughter of Christians by Islamic extremists in Nigeria continues unabated and with impunity, unidentified gunmen murdered six people, including a pastor, in Nasarawa state in the north of the country at the weekend, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Rights groups estimate that as many as 80,000 Christians have been murdered by Islamic terrorists in Nigeria since jihadism took hold in the country in 2009. Pastor Kingsley Orshase and two farmers were shot dead as they fished by a local river in the Kadarko community of Keana Local Government Area, Nasarawa state, at around 4 pm on Friday, Mar. 22, ICC said. Three other farmers were shot and killed on Sunday morning in the same area. Ruled by an Islamist government, Nigeria ranks sixth on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. “Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the Muslim-majority north, continue to live under immense pressure and to be terrorized with devastating impunity by Islamic militants and armed ‘bandits,’” the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization reports on its website. “More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year, than everywhere else in the world combined,” Open Doors reports. “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 post Nigeria: Gunmen Slaughter A Pastor And Five Farmers In Nasarawa State, “A Trail of Grief and Trauma” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  6. Friend, have a heart after God! Psalms 89:3-4 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. [Selah in Hebrew means “pause and ponder this!”] Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David [in the Hebrew New Testament it’s written - Yeshua HaMashiach ben David], the son of Abraham. New Testament genealogies of Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus the Christ) all identify Him as the son of king David. It was universally understood from the Tenach (OT) that the messiah would be descended from David and that he would restore the Davidic monarchy to its ultimate and most universal expression, even that this king would reign and sit on the throne forever. Why was Yeshua's identification with David so significant? One reason is that David is the only man in the Bible about whom the Lord said, this is “a man after My own heart”. Yet we know well David's imperfections ... adultery and murder -- so why would God say this about him? I believe it was David's lifelong love for and abandoned worship of the Lord, and also his contrite heart (Ps. 51) and the depth of his sorrow and repentance which showed this relationship to be the most important and precious in his life. God isn’t expecting perfection from us -- His Son has provided that. Yeshua alone is the Man whose heart and actions are flawless. But David exemplified a man whose love and respect for his God were constant, if imperfect, a man after God's own heart. And this is the heart that God is seeking today, contrite, worshipful, and filled with respect and love for our God. Friend, David provides a wonderful example for us who are as imperfect as he was. We may fall and fail miserably – but its how we get up that makes the difference. Our constant desire to preserve this most precious of all relationships will show that we too have a heart after God. I know I want to hear Him say, "Yes, you are truly someone after my own heart!" Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX) (Baltimore, Maryland) Editor's Note: We posted 4new videos on YouTube -- Purim, Palm Sunday, New Year and New Beginnings | Is there a Great Harvest Coming? | The Simchat Torah War - Is this a Water Breaking Moment of Revival? | Eclipses, Red Heifers, Purim and a Move of God! 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: We are planning our summer Tour so if you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World Beijing Condemns US British Attacks Beijing has condemned the United States and Britain for imposing sanctions over alleged Chinese government-backed cyberattacks affecting millions of people. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Condemns US Role In UN Ceasefire Resolution Israel’s Foreign Minister has condemned the U.S. decision to withhold a veto on a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for “an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” saying it will make it more difficult to free hostages. Israel Ready To Release Hundreds Of Palestinians For 40 Hostages; Hamas Wants More Israel has agreed to release “some 700-800 Palestinian prisoners” in return for 40 hostages as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, but Hamas rejected the deal, several Israeli sources said Wednesday. Israel Has No “Moral Right” To Cease War Against Hamas, Defense Minister Says As Israel’s strongest ally, the United States, has now joined the European Union and the UN in demanding an immediate ceasefire in the war against Hamas, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that Jerusalem has “no moral right” to stop fighting before it has completely dismantled the Palestinian terror group’s capabilities in Gaza, Israel365 News reports. Inside the United States USA: Just Three In Ten Americans Attend Weekly Religious Services, Poll A new poll by Gallup shows that just 30% of Americans attend a religious service every week or nearly every week in 2024, compared to an average of 42% attending every week or nearly every week twenty years ago. Bridge: Experts Expect Regional Economic Impact In, Near Baltimore The closure of the Port of Baltimore caused by the ship collision that collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge will likely have a greater impact on the local economy, but the ultimate strain may be on increased and longer ground transport, according to supply chain experts. Christian News Nigeria: Gunmen Slaughter A Pastor And Five Farmers In Nasarawa State, “A Trail of Grief and Trauma” As the slaughter of Christians by Islamic extremists in Nigeria continues unabated and with impunity, unidentified gunmen murdered six people, including a pastor, in Nasarawa state in the north of the country at the weekend, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Vietnam: Evangelical Pastor Found Dead After Encounter With Police A Vietnamese evangelical pastor whose body was found hanging in a cemetery in Vietnam’s Dak Lak Province is believed by local Christians to have been killed by government authorities who had forced him to renounce his faith in Christ and leave his church, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. View the full article
  7. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A Vietnamese evangelical pastor whose body was found hanging in a cemetery in Vietnam’s Dak Lak Province is believed by local Christians to have been killed by government authorities who had forced him to renounce his faith in Christ and leave his church, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Repeatedly harassed, beaten, and threatened by Vietnamese authorities opposed to his leadership of the Evangelical Church of Christ in the Central Highlands in Dak Lak Province, Pastor Y Bum Bya was found dead under on March 8, shortly after police requested a meeting with him to return a previously confiscated phone, ICC said. Local authorities declared Pastor Y Bum Byar had died by suicide, but local Christians who know the high level of persecution he endured prior to his death are not convinced. A friend of the pastor’s said in a statement: “He was a very gentle man, very faithful to the Lord. People who are faithful to God will never dare to commit suicide because committing suicide is no different from killing someone else. They really hate this man. Second, their purpose of killing him was to threaten the remaining members of the Evangelical Church of Christ. For many years now, they have wanted to eliminate the church.” Referencing the Evangelical Church of Christ in Dak Lak specifically, the US International Religious Freedom Report of 2022 said in a statement about Vietnam’s approach to religious minorities: “Government officials in different parts of the country reportedly continued to monitor, interrogate, arbitrarily detain, and discriminate against some individuals … Authorities reportedly demanded those detained to cease affiliation with unregistered religious groups and to refrain from providing ‘negative’ reports to international organizations.” ICC added in its report: “While the Vietnamese government promotes the façade of provision of religious freedom, realities such as the repeated beating and denunciation forced upon Pastor Y Bum Bya demonstrate the lack of freedom faced by devout religious figures. We pray that a true and lawful investigation into the death of Y Bum Bya will occur in Vietnam.” The post Vietnam: Evangelical Pastor Found Dead After Encounter With Police appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  8. By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel’s Foreign Minister has condemned the U.S. decision to withhold a veto on a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for “an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” saying it will make it more difficult to free hostages. Israel Katz told local Army Radio it was “a moral and ethical mistake” by the U.S. as it led to Hamas’s rejection of Israeli terms for a truce and hostage deal in exchange for prisoners. The U.S. move to abstain from the ceasefire vote prompted Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a scheduled trip to the United States by two of his top advisers. Hamas, deemed a terrorist organization by Israel, “is building on the fact that… there will be a ceasefire without it needing to pay a thing,” Katz stressed in comments monitored by Worthy News on Wednesday. He said that the U.N. Security Council’s first ceasefire resolution on Gaza, “especially its Arabic language” version, is that “Hamas does not need to rush” into a deal. Minister Katz clarified that Israel wouldn’t back down despite commentators saying the resolution is “legally binding.” The minister said the resolution would only make Israel increase military pressure “to prove” its commitment to releasing the hostages and taking down Hamas. “In our view, there was a message, a no-good message, to anyone on Hamas’s side, that the U.S. does not support Israel as much, and so we need to prove, militarily, that we will stand by our goals,” he explained. BIDEN FACING BACKLASH U.S. President Joe Biden, who faces elections this year, had come under mounting pressure from within his own Democratic Party to push for a ceasefire in Gaza amid a mounting death toll. Israel says it has killed over 13,000 Hamas fighters since the start of the war, without providing evidence, and claims to have largely dismantled the group in northern Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry claims more than 32,000 people have been killed in Gaza and more than 74,000 wounded, but it doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants. The ministry says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead, a figure that has been impossible to verify in an enclave with virtually no press freedom. Some 1,200 people were killed in Israel and another 253 people abducted when militants launched a surprise attack out of Gaza on October 7, triggering the war, Israeli authorities say. About 134 hostages are believed to be still held by Hamas. Despite the tensions with the U.S. over how to end the war, Katz said ties between Jerusalem and Washington “remain strong.” He noted an upcoming meeting with U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and described President Biden’s position as the result of pressure from a “radical wing” within the Democratic Party. The post Israel Condemns US Role In UN Ceasefire Resolution appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  9. By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel has agreed to release “some 700-800 Palestinian prisoners” in return for 40 hostages as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, but Hamas rejected the deal, several Israeli sources said Wednesday. Last week, Worthy News quoted officials close to the talks as saying that Israel “offered a six-week ceasefire” during the prisoner exchanges with Hamas, which is holding Israelis. During mediated talks, Israel agreed to a compromise proposed by the U.S. regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released, Israeli media reported. However, Hamas reportedly told mediators that it would maintain its original position of a ceasefire “including the withdrawal of Israel’s military from the Gaza Strip.” The group deemed a terrorist organization by Israel, also demands the return of Palestinians to their homes and exchanging prisoners, Worthy News monitored. It was unlikely that Israel would agree with the withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza now. The Israeli government says it seeks the destruction of Hamas because it massacred 1,200 people in Israel on October 7 following previous attacks. It also kidnapped some 253 people, of whom 134 hostages are still held by Hamas, according to Israeli officials. PROVIDE RELIEF Without naming its atrocities, Hamas demanded “to halt the aggression against our people in Gaza and provide relief and assistance to them.” They also stressed “the return of displaced persons to their homes and the withdrawal of occupation forces from the sector.” Israel says much relief has either been taken by Hamas or sold on markets for high prices, causing hardship. Hamas said its demands are part of a “comprehensive framework” of “principles and foundations deemed necessary for an agreement.” The Hamas-run health ministry claims more than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war against Hamas, but those figures have not been verified independently. Both sides are under pressure to reach a deal after, on Monday, the United Nations Security Council, for the first time, adopted a resolution calling for “an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza. The United States shifted its position and abstained from voting, prompting an angry reaction from Israel, which also canceled a high-level visit to Washington. The post Israel Ready To Release Hundreds Of Palestinians For 40 Hostages; Hamas Wants More appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  10. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – As Israel’s strongest ally, the United States, has now joined the European Union and the UN in demanding an immediate ceasefire in the war against Hamas, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that Jerusalem has “no moral right” to stop fighting before it has completely dismantled the Palestinian terror group’s capabilities in Gaza, Israel365 News reports. Israel completely, unilaterally, withdrew from Gaza in 2005, forcibly removing Jewish civilians from their homes in the hopes that this would enable the Palestinians to begin building a state. The jihadist group Hamas was immediately elected in 2006, in what was the last parliamentary election in the enclave. Since then, and with the specifically stated aim of destroying Israel at the cost of destroying its own people, Hamas took the many billions of dollars which poured in from the world and, instead of building a state, used the funds to enrich its leaders, to build a vast network of tunnels beneath civilian infrastructure in which to hide themselves and their weapons behind civilians, and to wage a continual war of terror against Israel. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas carried out the worst assault on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, slaughtering around 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis, and torturing, raping, and kidnapping hundreds of other women, children, and babies among men and soldiers. This event triggered Israel’s ongoing defensive war in Gaza, with the aim of dismantling Hamas once and for all. The world’s support for Israel soon wore off and, amongst accusations of war crimes and genocide, on Monday the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2728 (2024), calling, again, for an immediate ceasefire. For the first time, the US refused to veto the motion, and it passed. While the resolution calls for the immediate release of the remaining 136 Israeli hostages (including women and tiny children), there is no mention of Hamas’ atrocities on Oct. 7: the resolution equates Israel with Hamas. In Washington to meet White House officials on Monday, Gallant warned: “The lack of a decisive victory in Gaza may bring us closer to a war in the north. I came here to reflect the importance of strengthening the IDF and empowering the State of Israel. I will stress the importance of destroying Hamas and returning the hostages.” The post Israel Has No “Moral Right” To Cease War Against Hamas, Defense Minister Says appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  11. by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – In response to Hezbollah’s missile strikes on the Mount Meron air traffic control base, Israel confirmed it targeted Hezbollah sites Tuesday afternoon near Zboud, Lebanon, and also hit Iranian-linked targets in eastern Syria early Tuesday, aiming at Iranian operatives and assets involved in smuggling arms to West Bank terrorists. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that their airstrike was directed at a “military compound of Hezbollah’s aerial unit,” located in the vicinity of Zboud, within the Baalbek District, more than 110 kilometers (around 70 miles) distant from Israel’s border. Early Tuesday, the IDF stated that several projectiles, thought to be anti-tank missiles, were fired from Lebanon at the Meron base. The IDF confirmed that the strike did not cause injuries or affect the unit’s abilities. IDF Hits Iran-Linked Targets in Eastern Syria, Over 15 Reported Dead Earlier in the day, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted predawn airstrikes on Tuesday in eastern Syria, targeting Iranian operatives and assets connected to an attempt to smuggle sophisticated arms to West Bank terrorists, the Times of Israel reported. Over 15 individuals were reportedly killed in airstrikes conducted by the IAF in the Deir Ezzor and al-Bukamal regions near Syria’s border with Iraq. On Monday, Israel’s Shin Bet disclosed it had foiled efforts by two Iranian units to smuggle sophisticated weapons to Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank. In retaliation, the airstrikes targeted assets linked to this Iranian-based operation. At least ten airstrikes were directed at Iran’s Unit 4000, a Special Operations Division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Intelligence Organization, and Unit 18840, the special operations unit of the IRGC’s Quds Force in Syria, according to Israeli defense sources. Israel continues to prepare for war with Hezbollah Last Tuesday, the IDF announced the creation of the Heharim, or “Mountain,” Brigade, as a strategic initiative in response to escalating tensions along the northern border with Lebanon and Syria. Under Colonel Liron Appleman’s leadership, the brigade will operate within the contentious areas of Mount Hermon (also known as Jabal al-Sheikh) and Mount Dov (referred to as Shebaa Farms), under the jurisdiction of the 210th Division. Brigadier General Zion Ratzon, the commanding officer of the 210th Division, stated, “The establishment of the brigade will provide a high-quality operational response and enable preparation for both defensive and offensive measures in a variety of scenarios that correspond to the terrain and the enemy in the region,” emphasizing its capability “on both fronts simultaneously—Lebanon and Syria.” The post Israel Strikes Lebanon and Syria As It Prepares For War In the North appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  12. By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BALTIMORE, USA (Worthy News) – Authorities said Tuesday that emergency workers were suspending the search for six people missing after a major bridge collapsed in the city of Baltimore in the U.S. state of Maryland. “Based on the length of time that we’ve gone in this search… (and) the water temperature… at this point, we do not believe that we’re going to find any of these individuals still alive,” said Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath. The warning followed Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s appeals for prayers for the loved ones and the victims as well as those involved in search and rescue operations after Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed when it was hit by a cargo ship that had a power issue. Video captured the moment the large cargo vessel slammed into a support column at 1:28 am Eastern Standard Time, causing the entire span to fall into the water below. The 948-foot (288.95 meters) vessel, as long as three football fields placed end to end, had experienced a momentary loss of propulsion and dropped anchors as part of emergency procedures before impact, its management company reported. The Singapore-flagged Dali, owned by Grace Ocean, rammed into one of the pillars of the bridge, officials said, adding that all 22 crew members aboard the vessel were accounted for. While six people on the bridge remained missing, two were rescued from the cold water, including one injured and hospitalized, officials said. “There are no signs of terrorism,” Moore told reporters. MAYDAY MESSAGE Before the accident, the vessel had radioed a “mayday” emergency message, which investigators said prevented a higher death toll as the bridge was quickly closed off. Authorities said they had been dealing with “a pitch-black disaster” as the tragedy unfolded early Tuesday. Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, named after the poet who wrote the lyrics to the U.S. national anthem, used to carry around 34,000 vehicles a day across one of the busiest harbors in the United States, officials said. The 2,632.3 meters (1.6 miles) long steel arch-shaped continuous through truss bridge, which opened in 1977, spanned the lower Patapsco River and outer Baltimore Harbor as part of the crucial Interstate 695 Highway in Baltimore. Its collapse, within seconds of being struck by a container ship, raised questions and highlighted broader concerns about the state of American infrastructure. “The extent of the damage to the bridge superstructure appears disproportionate to the cause, a matter for future investigation,” said Toby Mottram, structural engineering professor at the University of Warwick. “It’s evident that the pier couldn’t withstand the impact energy, leading to its failure and subsequent collapse of the steel truss and reinforced concrete deck superstructure,” he noticed. It was likely to cause significant economic damage for as long as it continued to block shipping in the Port of Baltimore. DRAMATIC DESTRUCTION The bridge’s dramatic destruction shut the port for maritime traffic, which last year accounted for more than 52 million tons of foreign cargo worth some $80 billion, Moore’s office said. Baltimore is the deepest harbor in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and handles the highest volume of autos and light trucks in the United States, as well as the most significant quantities of imported sugar and gypsum. It generates around $3.3 billion in total personal income each year, according to the Maryland State Archives, and brings in almost $400 million in annual tax revenues. Alongside its use as a major port for so-called roll-on/roll-off container shipping, the Port of Baltimore also serves as a cruise terminal. Over 50 ocean carriers use the port annually, making almost 1,800 trips annually. It is the ninth-busiest U.S. port regarding foreign cargo handling and foreign cargo value and is directly responsible for more than 15,000 jobs while supporting almost 140,000 more, according to official data. “We’re going to do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers,” U.S. President Joe Biden pledged in a brief address from the White House. REBUILDING BRIDGE “I’m directing my team to move heaven and earth to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge as soon as humanly possible,” Biden said. It was a setback for the president, who had pledged to invest $110 billion in extra funding to repair roads and bridges and support major transformational projects across the country. “This is gonna take some time,” he said about the rebuilding of the collapsed bridge in Baltimore. The closure also threatened to disrupt supplies of goods ranging from coal to sugar. It could create bottlenecks and increase delays and costs on the Eastern seaboard, experts say. This wasn’t the first time the ship that destroyed the bridge caused damage after revelations, as it was also involved in an accident in the port of Antwerp, Belgium. The Antwerp port authorities said the container ship Dali hit a quay on July 11, 2016, as it tried to exit the North Sea container terminal. A 2016 inspection of the vessel conducted in Antwerp found it had a structural issue, including “hull damage impairing its seaworthiness,” reported Equasis, a public database for the shipping industry. Yet Maryland’s governor pledged that the state would restore its iconic bridge in a way that remembers the victims. But for now, a ship is wedged into debris from what was the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Some construction workers were on the bridge when it collapsed, Baltimore’s Mayor Brandon Scott said, adding that the incident is “an unspeakable tragedy.” The post Six Feared Dead In Baltimore Bridge Collapse, Governor Urges Prayers appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  13. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A new study shows that the number of US women who had self-managed medical abortions increased by nearly 28,000 in the six months following the US Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision to revoke the federal right to abortion up to viability through its decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization.’ Titled ‘Provision of Medications for Self-Managed Abortion Before and After the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization Decision,’ the study was published by the JAMA network on Mar. 25. Numerous Republican-led US states immediately banned abortion or implemented 6-week gestational limits following the Dobbs ruling. As a result, JAMA reports, around 32,360 fewer abortions were carried by physicians in clinics and hospitals. At the same time, between July-December 2022 the number of medical abortions carried out by women at home far exceeded the pre-Dobbs level. “In the 6-month post-Dobbs period (July 1 to December 31, 2022), the total number of provisions of medications for self-managed abortion increased by 27 838 (95% credible interval [CrI], 26 374-29 175) vs what would have been expected based on pre-Dobbs levels,” the study authors said. “Accounting for nonuse of medications, actual self-managed medication abortions increased by an estimated 26 055 (95% CrI, 24 739-27 245) vs what would have been expected had the Dobbs decision not occurred,” the JAMA report reads. “Results suggest that a substantial number of abortion seekers accessed services despite the implementation of state-level bans and restrictions,” the study concludes. The post USA: Number Of Self-Managed Medical Abortions Increased Substantially Following Revocation Of Federal Right To Abortion appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  14. By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. tech giant Nvidia has unveiled an eerily life-like robot that, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), will assist people, including with “work that humans do not want to do” despite ethical concerns. Commentators have watched with amazement as the humanoid robots provided overly realistic responses and movements. Nvidia’s genderless AI creatures also seemed able to distinguish between different environments and explain their decisions. Critics called their actions falling into the “uncanny valley,” where distinguishing between authentic and synthetic becomes almost impossible. Concerns have also risen about the use of robots as inhumane war machines. But Nvidia’s versions appeared friendly, even more or less smiling, for now, as they carried heavy equipment or carried out farming. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang enthusiastically showcased the robots, including small knee-high Star Wars film resembling Disney robots, at the firm’s technology conference last week. He explained that the company’s new GR00T, or ‘Generalist Robot 00 Technology’ system, is built to handle the operation of robots. SOFTWARE AND CHIPS It is also part of efforts by Nvidia, which provides software and chip products for the mobile computing and automotive industry, to remain dominant in AI, which is expected to grow into a multi-trillion market by 2032. The company claims its revenue rose 206 percent over the prior year in its last quarter of 2023 due to the surge in AI interest and demands. “We have now the necessary technology to imagine generalized humanoid robotics. In a way, it is much more easier [than other technologies]. We have a lot more imitation training that we can provide the robots because we [humans] are structured in a very similar way,” Huang stressed. Questions remained about how far the interaction between humans and robots will go. If it’s up to Nvidia, that could be in every aspect of life, including in complicated surgeries and other tasks improving or extending people’s lives. And with the world getting ‘colder’ in human relations despite climate activists warning of a ‘warmer’ planet, robots could also be used as companions for people seeking care. OpenAI, the U.S.-based artificial intelligence research group, has already developed the ‘Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer’ or ChatGPT, enabling users to steer talks with a robot towards a desired style and language. BROADER ROLE It is part of OpenAI’s plan to roll out “highly autonomous systems that outperform humans at most economically valuable work.” Yet, concerns have been raised about these developments within churches. Already in 2019, the U.S.-based Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) investigated AI when Russell Moore was still president there. Moore noted that “It’s also critical that the church insist AI be used in ways consistent with the truth that all people possess dignity and worth, created as they are in the image of God.” The robots seemed a far cry from that image. The post US Tech Giant Unveiling Eerily Life-Like Robots; Churches Critical About AI appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  15. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – As Nigeria’s government turns a blind eye to the slaughter of tens of thousands of the nation’s Christians by Islamic jihadists, authorities in Katsina state are being sued for banning Christian groups from meeting and worshiping on two university campuses, Premier Christian News (PCN) reports. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has filed suit against two Katsina’s two public colleges after authorities “indefinitely prohibited” Christian worship and meetings on their premises, PCN reports. Muslim students at both schools have been allowed to continue exercising their faith on campus. One Christian university student in Katsina said in a statement to PCN: “We only want to be able to freely gather and worship as Christians on equal terms with other religious faiths. It is wrong that our universities are preventing us from exercising our most basic, fundamental rights.” CAN is represented by attorney Sean Nelson of Alliance Defending Freedom International. Asserting that the actions by the universities are “unjust,” Nelson said in a statement: “The world continues to watch as Nigerian authorities regularly violate the religious freedom rights of their citizens.This kind of discrimination against Christian students cannot be allowed to spread.” “These two universities should immediately revoke these discriminatory policies and allow Christians on their campuses to gather and worship freely,” Nelson said. Ruled by an Islamic government, Nigeria ranks six on Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post Nigeria: Two Public Universities Ban Christian Meetings On Campus But Allow Islamic Religious Activity appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  16. Friend, go into the highways and byways! 1 Samuel 22:1-2 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. When David was anointed king over Israel, he didn’t take his place at the throne immediately. He had to wait, and bide his time, until Saul was removed from power, before arriving at his destined place as King. Like His father David, Yeshua (Jesus) was received as Israel's king/messiah at the triumphal entry, (often called "Palm Sunday"), and then, "anointed" King of the Jews, ironically receiving His true title from the Romans, while hanging on a cross. But He is still waiting to reveal His identity as King on earth, during the Millennial reign when His kingdom will replace the kingdoms of this world at His second advent. [Rev. 11:15]. Now, while David was waiting for his kingship to become a reality, he was chased and persecuted by Saul, driven into the wild, outlying places in the Land. There, he found other outcasts who became his followers; men who were in distress, in debt, or discontented in one way or another; those who felt they had no part in this life any longer. Rather than casting these people away from him, because, after all he was a king, David drew them to himself, by the anointing on his life and the strength of his character; and they, of all people, recognized that he was the chosen King of Israel. David's true kingly nature embraced these lowly men and transformed them into a mighty army. Yeshua does exactly the same with us, even while He has been rejected as king of this world. Outcasts, broken, indebted, despised, discontented people [1 Cor. 1:26-28] are chosen out of the world, and transformed by Him into mighty vessels to serve his kingdom purposes while we wait and pray for His kingdom to come. Friend, perhaps you’ve been in distress, or struggling with debt, or discontented with life...have you met the outcast King of the Jews? Have you decided to follow the One whose own received Him not? Have you recognized that His present kingdom is not of this world, because He's waiting for His house to be filled, before He returns? If you, an outcast, have recognized the One whom the world has not known, press on, following and serving Him! He has called you to be a mighty man of war, as were the men who surrounded King David. Only remember, your battle is not with flesh and blood. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX) (Baltimore, Maryland) Editor's Note: We posted 4new videos on YouTube -- Purim, Palm Sunday, New Year and New Beginnings | Is there a Great Harvest Coming? | The Simchat Torah War - Is this a Water Breaking Moment of Revival? | Eclipses, Red Heifers, Purim and a Move of God! 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: We are planning our summer Tour so if you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World US Tech Giant Unveiling Eerily Life-Like Robots; Churches Critical About AI U.S. tech giant Nvidia has unveiled an eerily life-like robot that, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), will assist people, including with “work that humans do not want to do” despite ethical concerns. Britain’s Cancer-Suffering Princess Thankful For Prayers, Support As Christians continue to pray for them, Britain’s Prince and Princess of Wales say they are “extremely moved” by the outpouring of support following Kate Middleton’s announcement that she was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Strikes Lebanon and Syria As It Prepares For War In the North In response to Hezbollah's missile strikes on the Mount Meron air traffic control base, Israel confirmed it targeted Hezbollah sites Tuesday afternoon near Zboud, Lebanon, and also hit Iranian-linked targets in eastern Syria early Tuesday, aiming at Iranian operatives and assets involved in smuggling arms to West Bank terrorists. Israel: ‘EU Plans On Palestinian Statehood ‘Rewards Terrorism’ Israel warned Monday that European Union plans to recognize a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would effectively mean rewarding terrorism. Inside the United States Six Feared Dead In Baltimore Bridge Collapse, Governor Urges Prayers Authorities said Tuesday that emergency workers were suspending the search for six people missing after a major bridge collapsed in the city of Baltimore in the U.S. state of Maryland. USA: Number Of Self-Managed Medical Abortions Increased Substantially Following Revocation Of Federal Right To Abortion A new study shows that the number of US women who had self-managed medical abortions increased by nearly 28,000 in the six months following the US Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision to revoke the federal right to abortion up to viability through its decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization.’ Baltimore Bridge Collapses After Cargo Ship Hit One of America’s iconic bridges, a kilometers (miles) long bridge in the U.S. city of Baltimore, collapsed into the Patapsco River early Tuesday after being hit by a container ship, footage showed. Christian News Nigeria: Two Public Universities Ban Christian Meetings On Campus But Allow Islamic Religious Activity As Nigeria’s government turns a blind eye to the slaughter of tens of thousands of the nation's Christians by Islamic jihadists, authorities in Katsina state are being sued for banning Christian groups from meeting and worshiping on two university campuses, Premier Christian News (PCN) reports. Haiti: Christian Ministry Attacked By Armed Gang An international Christian aid organization which runs a hospital, school, and church in Haiti narrowly escaped a massacre of its staff when armed gang members tried to shoot their way into its operational compound, CBN News reports. View the full article
  17. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – An international Christian aid organization which runs a hospital, school, and church in Haiti narrowly escaped a massacre of its staff when armed gang members tried to shoot their way into its operational compound, CBN News reports. Founded by American medical doctor David Vanderpool, the LiveBeyond humanitarian development organization was established to serve the poor struggling to survive in disaster areas, including in Haiti. Already devastated by decades of political instability and the crushing effects of recent earthquakes, Haiti is reeling on the brink of total collapse: there have been no elections for around 10 years, and brutal gang leaders now control much of the country. On March 21, the LiveBeyond headquarters located 20 miles out of the capital city Port au Prince came under fire by gang members who arrived at the compound and began shooting at the gate to try and get in, CBN News reports. The ministry’s security guards were able to drive the gunmen away, saving the lives of at least 120 staff members. “Our security personnel repelled the attack, so nobody was injured. But it’s just constant gunfire, constant danger,” Vanderpool said in a statement to CBN News. “This is sort of the culmination of gangs running the country for the last three or four years. The government has collapsed. The president was assassinated in 2021. The judiciary was also terminated as well as parliament. So there’s not been an effective government in place since 2021 and the gangs have had full run of the country.The chaos has spread to other parts of the country as well.” “It’s one of the most dangerous places in the world right now,” Vanderpool continued. “It just really demands some kind of intervention. There has got to be some international intervention. It’s a very, very dire situation,” he said. “We make the case that it’s the poor and it’s the people whom we serve who are the most vulnerable, and they’re the ones that are suffering the most, Vanderpool attested. “We really are wanting people to pray because the people of Haiti are under a tremendous amount of pressure.” The post Haiti: Christian Ministry Attacked By Armed Gang appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  18. BALTIMORE, USA (Worthy News) – One of America’s iconic bridges, a kilometers (miles) long bridge in the U.S. city of Baltimore, collapsed into the Patapsco River early Tuesday after being hit by a container ship, footage showed. The Baltimore City Fire Department was at the scene early Tuesday local time, saying seven people and several vehicles fell into the water when the tragedy happened. The fire department said a large vessel hit a column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge at around 01:30 Eastern Standard Time (05:30 Universal Time). Videos on social media showed the bridge descending into the water early Tuesday. It was not immediately clear how many casualties there were, but a massive rescue and recovery operation was underway. The 2,632.3 meters (1.6 miles) long steel arch-shaped continuous through truss bridge, which opened in 1977, spanned the lower Patapsco River and outer Baltimore Harbor carrying Maryland Route 695 in Baltimore, Maryland. With the scene still covered in darkness, the local Maryland Transportation Authority said all lanes were closed in both directions for an “incident” on the bridge and later posted that traffic was being detoured. The main span of 1,200 feet (366 meters) was reportedly the third-longest span of any continuous truss globally. It was also the longest bridge in the Baltimore metropolitan area. SEARCHING VICTIMS As rescuers continued to search for victims in the Patapsco River, footage emerged of the dramatic collapse, causing vehicles to fall into the water below. The coastguard in Baltimore said the vessel that hit the bridge was a container ship flying under a Singapore flag. The vessel, called “Dali,” was headed through Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, as its final destination, according to Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder maps and datacenter, Worthy News learned. “At least seven vehicles, including at least one tractor-trailer-sized vehicle, have collapsed into the water,” Baltimore City Fire spokesman Kevin Cartwright confirmed with local broadcaster WTOP. He added that a dive team was deployed to help those in the river, Worthy News monitored. Baltimore Mayor Brendon Scott said he knew the situation and would be en route to the bridge with other city and state leaders. “Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway,” he said in a post on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. It was not clear why the cargo ship crashed into the bridge. The weather appeared to be cloudy with calm winds around the time of the accident, according to several weather reports observed by Worthy News. The post Baltimore Bridge Collapses After Cargo Ship Hit appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  19. By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News LONDON (Worthy News) – As Christians continue to pray for them, Britain’s Prince and Princess of Wales say they are “extremely moved” by the outpouring of support following Kate Middleton’s announcement that she was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment. The couple also asked for privacy after the royal family sparked controversy by issuing a photograph of her with three children to mark Mother’s Day on March 10. News agencies later withdrew the picture due to an assessment the image had been altered. The princess later described herself as a keen amateur photographer, saying she “edited” the photograph. Those remarks added to concerns she was hiding health issues: On Friday, the 42-year-old Princess Middleton explained that she had been diagnosed with cancer. I was She said that when she had abdominal surgery in January, it was not known that there was any cancer. “However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team, therefore, advised that I should undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.” The Princess of Wales added: “It has taken us time to explain everything to [our children] George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.” She said the family now needs “some time, space and privacy.” KING ALSO ILL Her video came less than two months after Buckingham Palace revealed that King Charles III, 75, is undergoing treatment for cancer. Speaking in Belfast on March 21, Queen Camilla told well-wishers that her husband is “doing very well.” Princess Kate concluded her message by saying her thoughts were with everyone affected by cancer. “For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.” Soon after the future queen’s announcement, the Church of England posted a prayer for her health on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Archbishop Justin Welby, the head of the Church of England, said his prayers are with the entire family. “I take this opportunity to praise her for her spirit of optimism in the face of such difficult news, and am pleased to hear that she is feeling stronger every day.” “Her bravery in sharing in this way and her continued commitment to supporting others speaks to her compassion and sense of service,” the archbishop added. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster echoed those sentiments, writing: “I salute the courage of the Princess of Wales in speaking so openly about her personal health.” He added, “Not only does she give encouragement to all who carry the burden of ill health, but she also speaks so movingly of the importance of her family life.” PRAYERS IN SUFFERING Bishop Stephen Wright of the Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said in a post on social media platform X that he acknowledged Kate’s message “with prayers for the Princess of Wales, her family and for all who are suffering with cancer.” Soon after, Princess Middleton and her husband said they are “both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the U.K., across the Commonwealth, and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message,” Kensington Palace confirmed in published remarks. “They are extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time,” the statement added. Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, Northern Ireland, said he is “praying for the gifts of healing, courage and serenity for Princess Catherine, Prince William and their children.” He added: “A diagnosis of cancer is a life changing moment for anyone, with all the uncertainty and worry it brings – and all the more so for a young mother. Please keep them and all those living with cancer in your prayers these days.” The post Britain’s Cancer-Suffering Princess Thankful For Prayers, Support appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  20. By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BRUSSELS/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel warned Monday that European Union plans to recognize a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would effectively mean rewarding terrorism. The Israeli foreign ministry condemned a joint announcement on the sidelines of last Thursday’s European Council meeting in Brussels issued by Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Malta. The four EU members announced they had “agreed on the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages and a rapid, massive and sustained increase of humanitarian aid into Gaza.” However, “Recognition of a Palestinian state following the October 7 massacre sends a message to Hamas and the other Palestinian terrorist organizations that murderous terror attacks on Israelis will be reciprocated with political gestures to the Palestinians,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat stressed. It was a reference to what has become known as the “Black Sabbath” in Israel, when Hamas killed 1,200 men, women, and children in the Jewish nation while some 253 people were abducted. Haiat added that a “resolution of the conflict will only be possible through direct negotiations between the parties.” The spokesperson wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that “Any engagement in the recognition of a Palestinian state only distances reaching a resolution and increases regional instability.” NATIONS DECLARATION Yet the four EU nations issuing a declaration signed by their prime ministers — including Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who abruptly resigned last week, said they “agreed that the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region is through implementing a two-state solution.” They explained that their plan would involve “Israeli and Palestinian States living side-by-side, in peace and security. We discussed together our readiness to recognize Palestine and said that we would do so when it can make a positive contribution and the circumstances are right.” Haiat countered that the “comments of the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, about recognizing a Palestinian state, as well as the joint statement by Spain, Malta, Slovenia, and Ireland about their readiness to recognize a Palestinian state, constitute a reward for terrorism.” Yet amid the controversy, Spain appeared to be moving away from its threat to recognize a Palestinian state unilaterally, as was suggested last November by Sanchez. In Brussels, Sanchez said Madrid prefers coordinating recognition with other EU member states. “We want to take this step united. It’s a decisive step in order to lay the foundations of a lasting peace,” he told media. Sanchez also argued that the four leaders represented all sides of the political spectrum, with Spain and Malta governed by center-left parties, Slovenia by a Liberal party, and Ireland by a centre-right party. That showed “a broad consensus” that the recognition of the State of Palestine “is necessary” for any future peace process, he noted. SLOVENIA PM Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob also pledged a greater effort at the United Nations to secure recognition of a Palestinian state. Golob said that conditions for doing so may be “ripe” within “a few weeks, maybe a month.” However, the EU’s decision-making European Council President Charles Michel said last Friday that recognition was “not yet” on the 27-member bloc’s agenda. “The debate on the recognition of Palestine was not on the table,” Michel said following the Brussels meeting, without ruling it out soon. “But I will share with you what I think about it. I think that if the idea is to start a kind of process so it’s possible to take into account steps that could be made on both sides – by the Palestinian Authority, for instance, and by Israel – then it could be a useful process.” Yet their pro-Palestinian views seem to gain ground within the EU, though EU member states such as Hungary remain firmly support Israel’s government. The post Israel: ‘EU Plans On Palestinian Statehood ‘Rewards Terrorism’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  21. Friend, go into the highways and byways! 1 Samuel 22:1-2 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. When David was anointed king over Israel, he didn’t take his place at the throne immediately. He had to wait, and bide his time, until Saul was removed from power, before arriving at his destined place as King. Like His father David, Yeshua (Jesus) was received as Israel's king/messiah at the triumphal entry, (often called "Palm Sunday"), and then, "anointed" King of the Jews, ironically receiving His true title from the Romans, while hanging on a cross. But He is still waiting to reveal His identity as King on earth, during the Millennial reign when His kingdom will replace the kingdoms of this world at His second advent. [Rev. 11:15]. Now, while David was waiting for his kingship to become a reality, he was chased and persecuted by Saul, driven into the wild, outlying places in the Land. There, he found other outcasts who became his followers; men who were in distress, in debt, or discontented in one way or another; those who felt they had no part in this life any longer. Rather than casting these people away from him, because, after all he was a king, David drew them to himself, by the anointing on his life and the strength of his character; and they, of all people, recognized that he was the chosen King of Israel. David's true kingly nature embraced these lowly men and transformed them into a mighty army. Yeshua does exactly the same with us, even while He has been rejected as king of this world. Outcasts, broken, indebted, despised, discontented people [1 Cor. 1:26-28] are chosen out of the world, and transformed by Him into mighty vessels to serve his kingdom purposes while we wait and pray for His kingdom to come. Friend, perhaps you’ve been in distress, or struggling with debt, or discontented with life...have you met the outcast King of the Jews? Have you decided to follow the One whose own received Him not? Have you recognized that His present kingdom is not of this world, because He's waiting for His house to be filled, before He returns? If you, an outcast, have recognized the One whom the world has not known, press on, following and serving Him! He has called you to be a mighty man of war, as were the men who surrounded King David. Only remember, your battle is not with flesh and blood. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX) (Melbourne, Florida) Editor's Note: We posted 4new videos on YouTube -- Purim, Palm Sunday, New Year and New Beginnings | Is there a Great Harvest Coming? | The Simchat Torah War - Is this a Water Breaking Moment of Revival? | Eclipses, Red Heifers, Purim and a Move of God! 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: We are planning our summer Tour so if you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World People Soon Paying With Hand, Face And Eyes A Taiwan-based company expects people to soon pay for goods and services through their “facial recognition, fingerprints, eye scans, and handprints.” Italy, France Raise Terror Alert After ISIS Claims Moscow Attacks (Worthy News Alert) European Union nations, including Italy and France, stepped up security measures Monday amid concerns that the Islamic State group, or ISIS, will extend its operations in Europe after claiming Friday’s attacks near Moscow that killed at least 137 people. Russia Mourning Worst Terror Attack In Decades Russia saw massive expressions of grief Sunday as the official death toll of shootings at a concert hall near Moscow rose to at least 137. EU To Use Frozen Assets For Wartorn Ukraine European Union leaders have agreed to use proceeds from billions in frozen Russian assets to help wartorn Ukraine, despite Hungarian warnings Kyiv “will never win” against Russia. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Netanyahu Calls Off Delegation to U.S. After UNSC Vote Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called off the scheduled visit to Washington by a delegation headed by his senior aides Ron Dermer and Tzachi Hanegbi following the US's decision not to use its veto against a UN Security Council resolution, supported by Russia and China, which demanded a ceasefire without making it contingent with the release of hostages held by Hamas. UN Security Council Passes Resolution Calling For An “Immediate Ceasefire” in Gaza (Worthy News Alert) The United Nations Security Council has, for the first time, adopted a resolution calling for “an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza as the United States shifted its position and abstained from voting. Inside the United States Former U.S. President Wins Request To Reduce Bond To $175 Million A panel of New York appellate judges came to former U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s aid Monday, ruling that he must post a $175 million bond within ten days. The initial bond of nearly a half billion dollars was decreased by more than $275 million. More Than 11 million Have Illegally Entered U.S. Since Fiscal 2021 According to U.S. Customs and Border protection data, 9.4 million foreign nationals illegally entered the U.S. in fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023 and through the end of February 2024. Including another more than 2 million gotaways, reported by The Center Square, combined, they total an estimated 11.4 million, more than the population of 43 U.S. states. They also total more than the population of all individual U.S. cities, including the largest city of New York City, and are greater than the populations of roughly 150 countries. Gay Couples Soon To Have Children As Scientists Create Human Embryos Scientists at a prominent American university are getting closer to “creating” human embryos without women enabling gay couples to have children of their own. Christian News India: Mob of 200 Hindus Attack Methodist Church in Telangana State, Five Christians Arrested More than 20 Christians were injured, and five were arrested and imprisoned on false pretenses, after a mob of some 200 Hindus attacked their Methodist church in India’s Telangana state earlier this month, Open Doors reports. Kenya: Former Muslim Evangelist Murdered for Leading Muslims to Christ A former Muslim evangelist was murdered in Kenya earlier this month by Islamic extremists enraged that he had been leading Muslims to faith in Christ, Morning Star News reports. 3-Day Evangelistic Event On U.S. Southern Border: “Jesus Is The Only Answer” Convinced that Jesus is the only answer to the decades-long crisis of illegal immigration on the United States’ southern border with Mexico, an evangelist leader of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) is hosting ‘Revival On The Border,’ a 3-day evangelistic and prayer event that will be held in Texas from March 27-29. View the full article
  22. By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News TAIPEI (Worthy News) – A Taiwan-based company expects people to soon pay for goods and services through their “facial recognition, fingerprints, eye scans, and handprints.” Jean-Philippe Niedergang, a regional CEO of global payment industry leader Castles Technology, said using “a totally personal and irreplaceable mechanism, biometric payment will significantly reduce fraud.” He said payments at “points of sale,” such as in stores and restaurants will “allow for greater efficiency in the automated payment process by reducing waiting times for customers.” Niedergang noticed that the “use of fingerprints as a means of verification on smartphones has encouraged the development of ‘biometrics,’” referring to human characteristics. He cited a survey by the Dentsu Data Lab agency conducted in 14 countries in 2021, showing that “81 percent of respondents would be willing to use fingerprints instead of PIN codes.” A survey conducted by bank card company Visa showed that “79 percent of French people trust biometrics as a secure means of authentication.” Additionally, the Groupement des cartes bancaires CB, France’s national interbank network, reportedly claimed that 52 percent of French people “prefer to use their fingerprint instead of their PIN code.” BIOMETRIC CHALLENGES However, he acknowledged that biometrics still face “cost, security, and data storage” concerns. “The risk that irreplaceable biometric information could be obtained by hackers raises doubts among consumers,” he admitted. “The storage of this encrypted information raises questions in the evolution of biometric payments. Who should be responsible for ensuring the security of biometric information, the bank or the payment terminal provider? This issue largely depends on the trust of the users.” However, despite concerns, he expects the move to pay with face, eyes, and fingers to continue. “The contactless biometric payment card is currently the only biometric payment method on the market.” However, its “evolution towards other formats such as the pattern of veins on a hand or facial recognition is expected to be the next step,” Niedergang stressed. “The biometric technology already used in smartphones and its level of acceptance show that the consumer market is ready to engage in this new innovative era in the financial sector.” The post People Soon Paying With Hand, Face And Eyes appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  23. By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News NEW YORK (Worthy News) – A panel of New York appellate judges came to former U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s aid Monday, ruling that he must post a $175 million bond within ten days. That is down from nearly over $275 billion dollars as previously demanded. The move would stop Attorney General Letitia James from taking his assets, such as the Trump Tower in New York City, while he appeals. Trump’s lawyers, in a court filing last week, said that it was “impossible” for him to get an appeal bond of $454 million to satisfy the judgment in that amount, having approached more than 30 surety companies without success. Earlier Monday, Trump had raged in a post on his Truth Social media platform that he might be forced to sell his “babies” — real estate assets — to satisfy the large judgment amount while he appeals the verdict in the case. A judge found that he and other defendants for years “fraudulently inflated” the stated value of properties, charges Trump vehemently denies. Trump’s lawyers previously suggested that the appeal bond in the case be set at $100 million, significantly lower than the $175 million demanded now. His two adult sons, his company, the Trump Organization, and two executives who all were co-defendants in the case owe about $10 million in additional damages. SURETY COMPANIES None of the surety companies were willing to write a $464 million check without Trump posting cash or some other liquid asset, the attorneys wrote in their filing with the appellate division. Because of the size of the fraud judgment, the companies insisted that Trump show “cash reserves approaching $1 billion,” according to his lawyers. But neither Trump nor the Trump Organization company has that amount of cash on hand, the filing claimed. While Trump is technically a multi-billionaire, much of his cash is believed to be in the bricks of his many real estate. Yet there was some hope on Monday that Trump, who claims to be a successful dealmaker, was now able to stop the clock on collection. It would prevent the state from seizing the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s assets while he appeals. Seizing assets is a standard legal option when someone doesn’t have the cash to pay a civil court penalty. TRUMP TOWER In Trump’s case, potential targets could include his Trump Tower penthouse, aircraft, Wall Street office building, or golf courses. As Trump arrived Monday at a different New York court for a separate hearing in his alleged “criminal hush money” case to silence an adult film star over her suspected relations with her, he didn’t say whether he’d obtained a bond. In the hush money case, a judge said the criminal trial against Trump will begin on April 15 with jury selection. During a hearing Monday, the judge dismissed the former president’s motion to toss out the indictment altogether or delay the trial further. Trump’s attorneys had sought sanctions against the Manhattan District Attorney’s office after more documents of discovery were turned over. The former president is charged with 34 counts of allegedly “falsifying” business documents related to the repayment of Michael Cohen for hush-money payments made before the 2016 election. That money was paid to cover up an alleged affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels, according to investigators. LEGAL CHALLENGES Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied the affair The legal challenges come as he prepares for a rematch with U.S. President Joe Biden in November. With the hush money trial set to start in April, it will be the first of Trump’s four criminal trials to begin. It is potentially the only one to occur before the presidential election, trial observers said. Despite the legal wrangling that critics say challenges his image as a successful businessman, Trump still leads in the polls in the run for the White House. The post Former U.S. President Wins Request To Reduce Bond To $175 Million appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  24. (Worthy News) – More than 20 Christians were injured, and five were arrested and imprisoned on false pretenses, after a mob of some 200 Hindus attacked their Methodist church in India’s Telangana state earlier this month, Open Doors reports. The unprecedentedly violent attack on the Telangana Christian community came after the Methodist Church in the Janwada village area of Rangareddy district was informed its building would be torn down in order for a road to be widened, MSN reports. While there are other worship centers along the road, only the church was slated for demolition. When the Christians protested, the mob turned on them. In a statement to MSN, one of the church members whose name is withheld for security reasons, said: “The argument became strong, and suddenly around 200 people barged into the church with hockey sticks, stones and wooden sticks. When the believers tried to stop them, they beat them mercilessly and broke everything that was inside the church. Even children and women suffered injuries, and some men required 10 to 18 stitches to cover the injuries they sustained. It was so painful to see their situation.” “The church believers are from poor backgrounds, and most of them are uneducated. They were not prepared or never expected such persecution,” the church member said. The believers reported the matter to police, who intervened, but they arrested and detained five church members as well. “The believers did not do any harm but still the police arrested five believers along with others,” the church member said. “When we filed a case against the attackers, they filed a counter case on 26 believers for attempted murder. The imprisoned believers were terrified and forced to sign some documents in favor of the attackers. So, the attackers got bail and were released from prison immediately, whereas the believers were released on bail only two weeks later.” Ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, India ranks 11 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post India: Mob of 200 Hindus Attack Methodist Church in Telangana State, Five Christians Arrested appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  25. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A former Muslim evangelist was murdered in Kenya earlier this month by Islamic extremists enraged that he had been leading Muslims to faith in Christ, Morning Star News reports. A resident of Bugiri, Uganda, evangelist Ismail Wafula was murdered on March 8 during an attack on himself and three fellow evangelists after they spent four days preaching the Gospel in Busia, Kenya, close to the Ugandan border, MSN reports. The missionary team were on their way home when they were ambushed by a group of at least 10 Islamic extremists who blocked their way, a survivor, evangelist Rooney Masaba told MSN. “The attackers began asking us many questions and said not to involve Muslims in open-air outreach,” Masaba said. “The Muslims further questioned us that they were not happy about the conversion of their fellow Muslims, especially their relatives during their door-to-door mission outreach,” Masaba continued. “This led the discussion getting more tense, and there and then one of the Muslims got hold of Ismail Wafula and pierced him with a sharp knife on the neck, chest and in the stomach, and he sustained terrible wounds on the head. He then fell down bleeding.” Other members of the Islamic mob tore the Christians’ Bibles up and began assaulting the remaining missionaries. “We started screaming, wailing and calling for help,” Masaba said. “Thank God there came an approaching vehicle that arrived as well as some people living close by.” The attackers escaped and the Christians were taken to hospital where Wafula was pronounced dead, MSN reports. While Christianity is the majority religion in Kenya, Muslims who leave Islam for Christ are particularly to Islamic persecution in the country, as are evangelists. The post Kenya: Former Muslim Evangelist Murdered for Leading Muslims to Christ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
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