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  1. By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BRUSSELS (Worthy News) – The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) launched a central bank digital currency system despite worries the move would lead to more control over people’s finances. SWIFT, the world’s biggest network ensuring transactions and interbank lending between nations, connects over 11,500 banks and institutions in more than 200 countries. It also manages trillions of dollars worth of transactions per day. Nick Kerigan, SWIFT’s chief of innovation, said this system should be operational within 12 to 24 months, Kerigan said its latest trial took six months and involved a 38-member group of central banks, commercial banks, and settlement platforms. It has been one of the most significant global collaborations on CBDCs and “tokenized” assets to date, officials said. Yet critics fear the process will lead to removing cash. While using physical money requires a simple hand-to-hand exchange, payment cards, and smart devices cannot function without various technologies. If one of these technologies runs into problems, this could directly affect the payments they facilitate, critics warn. The post SWIFT Launches Digital Currency System appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  2. by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – In a strategic move to enhance its northern front’s preparedness, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a surprise drill, engaging all levels of its command and operational units under the direction of the Operations Division. This extensive readiness exercise, which also saw the participation of the General Staff, coincided with a series of rocket launches by Hezbollah into Israeli territory on Thursday, signaling a day marked by heightened military activity which underscores the growing anticipation among analysts of an inevitable conflict with Hezbollah. The Israeli military emphasized that the drill’s objective was to strengthen the IDF’s readiness for various scenarios in the northern arena.’ Meanwhile, Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed terrorist organization, launched multiple rocket attacks on northern Israeli communities on Thursday, activating incoming rocket sirens and provoking retaliatory shelling from the military. Notably, two rockets struck the communities of Shlomi and Goren in the afternoon, causing significant property damage, as reported by Ynet, although no injuries were reported from these attacks. Amidst ongoing cross-border hostilities, many residents have evacuated northern areas, leaving these communities largely deserted. On Thursday, the White House urged Israel and Lebanon to prioritize de-escalation amid rising tensions, emphasizing the importance of peace along their border. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated, “Restoring calm along that border remains a top priority for President Biden and for the administration, and it has to be of utmost importance, we believe, as well for both Lebanon and Israel,” highlighting the administration’s commitment to stability in the region. The IDF’s surprise drill comes as the Israeli Air Force (IAF) announced earlier in the week that it had approved a new training program aimed at bolstering the IAF’s preparedness for potential conflicts, particularly in the northern arena and other regions, in light of extended combat scenarios. “The training program will focus on increasing the Air Force’s readiness for war in the northern arena and in other theaters, amid prolonged combat,” the IDF stated. The comprehensive drills are designed to cover “massive, long-range strikes, flights deep in enemy territory, decision-making in war conditions… and surprise exercises will be held for the various units,” ensuring readiness without disrupting the IAF’s ongoing operations across various fronts, including the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The post Israel Holds Surprise Drill For War As Hezbollah Continues To Fires Rockets appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  3. by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Reports indicate that on Thursday, airstrikes believed to be conducted by Israel targeted a location near Damascus, targeting a site used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, followed by attacks near Aleppo aimed at demolishing sites connected to the defense industry. Merely two hours prior to the airstrike, leaders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hezbollah, the Syrian Army, and the Iran-supported Popular Mobilization Forces convened at the building that was later targeted near Damascus, as reported by the Syrian Capital Voice news outlet. Sky News Arabia reported, based on information from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, that an airstrike targeting a facility in the Sayyida Zeinab district, approximately six miles south of Damascus, resulted in the death of “several” Syrians affiliated with Hezbollah. Additionally, the attack wounded five individuals. The Sayyida Zeinab region near the capital is recognized as a stronghold for Iranian-backed militias and has been the focal point of numerous suspected Israeli airstrikes since the onset of the conflict. These strikes have reportedly resulted in the targeting and elimination of several IRGC officers on multiple occasions. These are just few of series of alleged Israeli airstrikes in Syria over the past week. Late Monday night, one Syrian soldier was killed in alleged Israeli airstrikes targeting Aleppo International Airport in northern Syria, with the strikes causing heavy damage and shutting down the airport. These airstrikes come less than a week after alleged Israeli airstrikes targeted the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) in Masyaf, southwest of Aleppo, which reportedly resulted in injuries to two civilians and caused material damage. This event also led to a number of fires in the area. Israel rarely acknowledges conducting strikes in Syria, yet Israeli officials have consistently emphasized that the IDF will take all necessary actions to thwart Iran’s attempts to target Israel through its proxies The post Multiple Israeli Airstrikes Allegedly Occur Throughout Syria appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  4. By Worthy News’ Johan Th. Bos and Stefan J. Bos AMSTERDAM/AMSTELVEEN (Worthy News) – The Netherlands, long known as one of the most liberal and tolerant nations in Europe, is reeling from the worst antisemitic attacks since World War Two. In the latest incident, a Jewish woman whose daughter serves in the Israeli army was threatened by pro-Palestine protesters in Amstelveen near Amsterdam, the capital. The nurse in Amstelveen, a city with a sizeable Jewish community, said the three women at her shouted that she was “a child molester.” “It feels like the Second World War when the addresses of the Jews were passed on [to the Nazis ],” she told the Netherlands’ De Telegraaf (The Telegraph) newspaper. “They have been on a witch hunt for over a month, but this visit to my home was a low point,” she added. The pro-Palestine activists also published video footage about her daughter as she served in the Israeli military. Additionally, posters have been distributed in the area with her name and address, she said. Worthy News did not publish her name amid security concerns. “People even came to my work with [Palestinian] flags. They walked around looking for me,” she said. The woman was absent during the incident, but her colleagues and manager faced these moments. In a reaction, Amstelveen Mayor Tjapko Poppens said security had been stepped up as it was “unacceptable that a resident is intimidated this way,” especially in a city with a synagogue, a Jewish hospital, and a large Jewish community. Tjapko, who visited the woman, wrote in a letter to the municipal council “that people are free to express their opinions about the situation in the Middle East, but that in no way justifies the use of aggression.” In the letter shared with Worthy News, he said, “Amstelveen is a diverse city where every varied background, orientation or religion should feel safe and at home. There is no place for discrimination and antisemitism in our municipality.” The Amstelveen attacks came days after angry pro-Palestine protesters interrupted a concert from Dutch Jewish singer Lenny Kuhr by activists calling her a terrorist and shouting genocide. Kuhr, 77, has spoken out against the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, in which some 1,200 people were killed. The singer has several grandchildren who are army conscripts in Israel, one of whom was wounded during the attack on October 7. While she has vowed to continue her performances, at least one theater suspended ticket sales, citing security fears. Earlier survivors of the Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, were confronted by antisemitic slogans during this month’s opening of the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam. Phia Baruch, a royally decorated Dutch Jewish journalist and author who survived the Holocaust, said she understood the pain of the Jewish people, especially in this Easter and Passover period. “In a way, the Jewish people go through a kind of crucifixion with all these attacks,” she told Worthy News. Baruch recalled that the antisemitic incidents are especially difficult for the Netherlands as two-thirds of Dutch Jews were killed in the Holocaust, more than any other European country. Some 102,000 Dutch Jews were among the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. “Yet I still have hope that most Dutch people reject antisemitism.” Critics have linked antisemitism against members of the Netherlands’ 45,000 Jewish people, in part to the growing influence of Islam following years of massive immigration. “Stop the hatred towards Jews,” said Geert Wilders, who leads the anti-Islam Party for Freedom (PVV). He and leaders of a dozen other parliamentary parties signed a declaration against antisemitism. “We see with horror that hatred towards Jews is returning in places where everyone should be safe and free can come together. Antisemitism not only appears to be something from a long time ago but flares up again. This is not demonstrating for a cause; this is intimidation. That has to stop, now,” they wrote. They condemned the attacks, such as against a Jewish singer and the halting of ticket sales due to fear of more antisemitism. “Even a performance by a Jewish Dutch person is no longer safe. This is not an incident. A line has been crossed here that we hoped would never be crossed again in our country. The safety and freedom of Jewish Dutch people are at stake. The freedom to come together, commemorate, celebrate, and express yourself culturally – to live,” they added. “That’s why we stand up. Let us stand firm for our Jewish community for the great good of freedom and security. Don’t remain silent, but speak out loudly against antisemitism. Because if Jewish Dutch people are unsafe in our country, then we all have to stand up,” the parties wrote. “Let no one be silent anymore; stop anti-Semitism now, in any form: today, tomorrow, and in the future.” Baruch said she remains hopeful. “I still think most Dutch people are against antisemitism.” Yet, with synagogues and Jewish schools requiring additional security and antisemitic attacks continuing, at least some Jewish people are considering moving to Israel, leaving the Netherlands behind. The post Netherlands Reeling From Antisemitism appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  5. By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-Calif., on Thursday demanding he hold a full impeachment trial for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Jonhson sent the letter to Schumer saying articles of impeachment for Mayorkas would be delivered to the Senate on April 10. The letter comes after the House narrowly voted last month to impeach Mayorkas, pointing to the border crisis and unprecedented illegal flow of foreign nationals and drugs into the U.S. since President Joe Biden took office. Johnson said Mayorkas was impeached “for high crimes and misdemeanors, including his willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and his breach of the public trust.” “The evidence on both charges is clear, comprehensive, and compelling, and the House’s solemn act to impeach the first sitting Cabinet official in American history demands timely action by the Senate,” he added. In particular, Johnson and the House Republicans who voted to impeach Mayorkas argue that he has intentionally refused to enforce immigration laws currently on the books and created new migration programs that violate those laws. Since Biden first took office, more than 11 million illegal immigrants have entered the U.S., overwhelming border communities and the major cities in which they settle. The border crisis also led to hundreds of people with known or suspected terrorist ties being apprehended trying to enter the U.S. illegally and an unknown number to successfully enter the country undetected. Fentanyl overdoses also have soared, with Mexican drug cartels exploiting the U.S.’ more open borders. “He refused to comply with the requirements of the immigration laws passed by Congress. In fact, he directed, through a series of memoranda, DHS employees to violate U.S. immigration laws,” Johnson said in the letter. “Consequently, the Secretary is responsible for releasing millions of illegal aliens into the interior and creating unlawful mass-parole programs. Throughout his tenure, he has repeatedly lied to Congress and the American people about the scope of the crisis and his role in it. His unlawful actions are responsible for the historic crisis that has devastated communities throughout our country, from the smallest border town in Texas to New York City.” In his letter, Johnson went on to point out that Congress has Constitutional authority to impeach Mayorkas. “We call upon you to fulfill your constitutional obligation to hold this trial,” Johnson said. “The American people demand a secure border, an end to this crisis, and accountability for those responsible. To table articles of impeachment without ever hearing a single argument or reviewing a piece of evidence would be a violation of our constitutional order and an affront to the American people.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott met with Johnson Thursday in Austin to discuss the ongoing impact of the border crisis. According to a news release from the governor’s office, Abbott urged Johnson “to pass border security legislation that will help stop illegal crossings between ports of entry along the southern border.” Abbott also shared details with the speaker about Operation Lone Star, Texas’ border security mission. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post U.S. House Speaker Demands Senate Hold Mayorkas Impeachment Trial appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  6. Friend, know Him and the power of the resurrection! Philippians 3:8-11 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. In today's world of Smart Phones, tablets and instant Internet access, there are many things that we can "know." "How long is the Golden Gate Bridge?" Pop out your iPhone, ask "Siri", the golden-voiced digital encyclopedic genius, and you'll have the factual answer in seconds. But there's more to the Golden Gate than just length; truly another "dimension" of knowledge and understanding of the bridge over San Francisco Bay, which might be acquired from the 95-year-old retired construction worker who spent 2 years of his life building it. The knowledge you'll glean from his salt-parched lips will hold you spellbound as he describes wrestling with massive cables in stormy bay weather, or nearly losing his balance leaning over to paint an inaccessible bolt. There are facts -- head knowledge, and there is the knowing of and from experience. We all know this, and it's why we prefer the mechanic who has been fixing cars for 35 years over the novice who just graduated from vocational training school. Friend, the apostle Paul wanted experiential knowledge of the Lord Jesus. He wanted fellowship with His sufferings, experiential resurrection power, even, if it were possible, the absolute death of his sin nature. Paul wanted the actual reality of the living Messiah manifested in his life, and he knew and believed this to be his inheritance in the death and resurrection of the Lord. Paul wanted to know Yeshua intimately and personally and share in the Lord's own experiences. This Passover Resurrection Day season as we celebrate and meditate on the factual reality of what happened in Jerusalem 2000 years ago, we might also join the apostle Paul in his own sincere passion; "that I may know Him...." Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX) (Baltimore, Maryland) Editor's Note: We posted a brand new video last night -- "Star Spangled Banner, Eclipses, and the Red Heifer Shabbat!" Be sure to watch, share, and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! 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 SWIFT Launches Digital Currency System The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) launched a central bank digital currency system despite worries the move would lead to more control over people’s finances. Netherlands Reeling From Antisemitism The Netherlands, long known as one of the most liberal and tolerant nations in Europe, is reeling from the worst antisemitic attacks since World War Two. Australia: Faith Leaders Say Proposed School Law Reform Endangers Religious Freedom Leaders of more than twenty Christian, Muslim, and Jewish organizations in Australia have sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warning him that religious freedoms are in danger of unwarranted restriction following the publication on Thursday of the Australian Law Reform Commission's (ALRC) report on faith-based schools, Christian Today reports. China Threatens Taiwan With More Jets And Ships (Worthy News Focus) 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. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Holds Surprise Drill For War As Hezbollah Continues To Fires Rockets In a strategic move to enhance its northern front's preparedness, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a surprise drill, engaging all levels of its command and operational units under the direction of the Operations Division. This extensive readiness exercise, which also saw the participation of the General Staff, coincided with a series of rocket launches by Hezbollah into Israeli territory on Thursday, signaling a day marked by heightened military activity which underscores the growing anticipation among analysts of an inevitable conflict with Hezbollah. Multiple Israeli Airstrikes Allegedly Occur Throughout Syria Reports indicate that on Thursday, airstrikes believed to be conducted by Israel targeted a location near Damascus, targeting a site used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, followed by attacks near Aleppo aimed at demolishing sites connected to the defense industry. UNRWA and Hamas Cooperate In Educating Children To Seek Destruction Of Israel, Report An international peace monitoring group has warned in a new report that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which provides aid and education to Palestinians has actively perpetrated Hamas’ genocidal hatred of Jews through school books which teach children that Israel must be destroyed and that violent jihad and martyrdom to this end are glorious aims, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Inside the United States U.S. House Speaker Demands Senate Hold Mayorkas Impeachment Trial U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-Calif., on Thursday demanding he hold a full impeachment trial for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Christian News Belarus: Evangelical Pastor Imprisoned After Praying For Ukraine A pastor in Belarus was sentenced to 15 days in prison earlier this month after praying that the Russian invasion of Ukraine would end, Christian Daily (CD) reports. India: Christians Faced “Alarmingly Steep Rise” In Violent Persecution Over Last Year, Report The Religious Liberty Commission of Evangelical Fellowship of India (RLC) warns in a new report that Christians in India faced an “alarmingly steep rise” in violent persecution against them in the year leading up to the spring elections of 2024. The RLC gave its assessment in its latest annual report titled “Hate and Targeted Violence Against Christians in India, 2023.” View the full article
  7. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Leaders of more than twenty Christian, Muslim, and Jewish organizations in Australia have sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warning him that religious freedoms are in danger of unwarranted restriction following the publication on Thursday of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) report on faith-based schools, Christian Today reports. The much anticipated ALRC report recommends that Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act be amended to make it illegal for faith-based schools to expel or fire LGBTI+ students and staff based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The faith organizations’ letter asserted that the ALRC recommendations would “prevent the overwhelming majority of faith-based schools from preferring persons who share and authentically live out their faith” and possibly “extinguish their distinct and authentic character,” Christian Today reports. In a statement the Australian Christian Schools Alliance described the report as “a direct attack on faith and freedom of belief in Australia” and asserted that “Christian education as we know it will cease to exist.” AACS Executive Officer Vanessa Chen said: “If these ALRC recommendations are adopted, it means the government can tell Christian schools who we can employ, what we can believe and teach.” PM Albanese, who leads Australia’s Labor party, responded to the letter in a statement saying the recommendations would only be enacted if there was bipartisan support for this course of action. ‘I think Australians don’t want to see the culture wars and the division out there. I want this to be an opportunity for unity going forward, and that’s why we’ve provided the legislation to the opposition,” Albanese said. The post Australia: Faith Leaders Say Proposed School Law Reform Endangers Religious Freedom appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  8. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A pastor in Belarus was sentenced to 15 days in prison earlier this month after praying that the Russian invasion of Ukraine would end, Christian Daily (CD) reports. Bordering both Russia and Ukraine, Belarus is led by authoritarian President Aleksandr Lukašenko, a strong supporter and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who ordered the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Rev. Alyaksandr Zaretski, the pastor of an evangelical church in Belarus’ Vitebsk Region, had been imprisoned by the authorities even prior to his latest detention, CD reports. The church leader was first imprisoned for two weeks following a sermon he preached on Feb. 18 in which he called for the Russian military to leave Ukraine. Pastor Zaretski was due to be released on Mar. 8 but was rearrested on March 5 or 6 (sources differ) under a law pertaining to “violation of the order of organization and holding of mass events.” In his sermon, the pastor said: “Let’s pray for those who are in prisons for falsified reasons…Let’s pray for Ukraine, come to prayers for Ukraine.” Three witnesses to the sermon reported him to the Chashnytskyi District Executive Committee which then had him arrested. Concerning the violation of religious freedom in Belarus, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reported in December last year: “The religious freedom situation in Belarus continues to deteriorate as Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka subjugates every aspect of social life to the state’s security and bureaucratic apparatuses.” “Christian religious leaders of all denominations are often detained, fined, imprisoned, and forced into exile for activities that the state perceives as political in nature,” the USCIRF said. The post Belarus: Evangelical Pastor Imprisoned After Praying For Ukraine appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  9. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The Religious Liberty Commission of Evangelical Fellowship of India (RLC) warns in a new report that Christians in India faced an “alarmingly steep rise” in violent persecution against them in the year leading up to the spring elections of 2024. The RLC gave its assessment in its latest annual report titled “Hate and Targeted Violence Against Christians in India, 2023.” India has been ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party almost continuously since 2014. The country now ranks 11 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. Noting that the number of violent incidents against India’s Christians rose from 413 in 2022 to 601 at the end of 2023, the RLC emphasized an unwillingness on the part of the authorities to hold perpetrators to account. “The year leading up to the general elections in the spring of 2024 has seen an unfortunate increase in divisive rhetoric and inflammatory language,” the RLC says in the report. “The same was not adequately addressed by official channels and sometimes it seemed to have been condoned in large and sensitive states of the Union.” “The resulting sense of immunity in sections of society has led to a painfully large number of incidents of violence against the Christian Community, and religious minorities in general,” the report reads. The RLC reports that a primary tool of persecution is the increasingly widespread abuse of harsh anti-conversion laws used by Hindu extremists to suppress Christianity and other minority religions. “For Christians, the main whip hand is the false bogey of proselytisation which is used to justify horrific crimes against the community,” the RLC said. Calling on both the Indian government and the international community to take action to protect Christians and other religious minorities, the RLC said: “The escalating violence against Christians in India demands immediate attention and action from both national and international stakeholders. Upholding constitutional rights and combating intolerance are essential steps towards fostering a more inclusive and harmonious society.” The post India: Christians Faced “Alarmingly Steep Rise” In Violent Persecution Over Last Year, Report appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  10. by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – An international peace monitoring group has warned in a new report that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which provides aid and education to Palestinians has actively perpetrated Hamas’ genocidal hatred of Jews through school books which teach children that Israel must be destroyed and that violent jihad and martyrdom to this end are glorious aims, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Based in the UK and Israel, the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) has long warned about UNRWA’s collusion with Hamas in Gaza and with Palestinian jihadism generally. The organization is concerned with monitoring school curricula around the world and in the Middle East especially. Among many examples of UNRWA’s hostility to the Jewish nation, the new IMPACT-se report references an UNRWA geography book showing a map with no “Israel” on it, only “Palestine” in its place. In another example, an Islamic studies book highlights the importance of “terrorizing the enemy” and of martyrdom. “Arabic language and reading comprehension are taught to UNRWA students using violent imagery, including the use of “explosive belts” and texts glorifying martyrdom,” the IMPACT-se report says. “The cooperation between UNRWA and Hamas is absolutely undeniable,” Marcus Sheff, CEO of IMPACT-se said in a statement. In particular, Sheff said, this cooperation fueled jihadist radicalization which ultimately led to Hamas’ genocidal attack against Israeli civilians on Oct. 7 last year. “The end result of that radicalization is that among the thousands who went over the border on October 7 and committed acts of murder, rape and abduction, it is statistically probable that the majority went to UNRWA’s schools,” Sheff said. “The UNRWA curriculum is what they were brought up on, and it teaches about jihad and martyrdom being the most important meanings of life, and that Jews are liars and frauds.” The post UNRWA and Hamas Cooperate In Educating Children To Seek Destruction Of Israel, Report appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
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