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by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Defying fierce opposition, the coalition pushed the 2025 budget through its final Knesset reading on Tuesday, averting a political crisis and securing a crucial victory for Prime Minister Netanyahu. Failure to pass the budget by the March 31 deadline would have automatically triggered new elections, threatening the government’s survival. Lawmakers passed the NIS 755 billion ($205B) budget in a 66-52 vote, with Finance Minister Smotrich calling it a responsible wartime plan that includes support for reserve soldiers and recovery efforts in Israel’s north and south, saying the budget had “everything we need to win on the front and on the home front.” “The State of Israel is facing the longest and most expensive war we have ever known, and by God’s grace, we are succeeding in the mission – supporting all war efforts, placing the reserve soldiers at the top of our priorities with a support package of 9 billion NIS, and managing Israel’s economy responsibly,” Smotrich stated. “We promoted measures that will support growth and allow the Israeli economy to maintain its strength and continue to prosper. This is a war budget and, God willing, it will also be the victory budget,” Smotrich concluded. Following an all-night debate over thousands of defeated opposition reservations, the legislation passed in a final vote Tuesday afternoon. With a March 31 deadline looming, failure to pass the budget would have automatically triggered general elections. The Foreign Ministry will get a NIS 545 million boost, secured by Gideon Sa’ar’s National Unity party, to expand public diplomacy efforts, including weekly media briefings and an AI-powered center for rapid response to global news. “Israel’s public diplomacy is a crucial and life-saving matter, just like weapons on the battlefield,” Sa’ar said. “We are facing a new form of antisemitism, one that targets the Jewish state, delegitimizes it, and dehumanizes it, while applying double standards against us.” However, not everyone praised the budget’s passing, as opposition leader Yair Lapid called it “the greatest robbery in the country’s history.” “Your rulers are rogues and cronies of thieves, everyone avid for presents and greedy for gifts,” Lapid stated, citing the Book of Isaiah. “In a normal country, during a war, during an economic crisis, the government does not have two ministers in the Education Ministry, two ministers in the Finance Ministry, two ministers in the Defense Ministry,” said Yair Lapid, accusing the government of shifting billions of shekels from the middle class to “people who do not work and do not enlist.” Ahead of the final vote, opposition leaders, including National Unity chairman Benny Gantz, blasted the budget as a symbol of the government’s “disconnection and shamelessness.” Gantz warned that while the coalition sees the budget as a path to surviving until 2026, its “arrogance” would only deepen public discontent. He accused the government of abandoning reservists, hostage families, northern residents, and young families, saying the plan lacks “growth engines, incentives for social change, and vision.” Instead of building for the future, Gantz said, the coalition is “taking the wind out of the sails of the Israeli economy.” Opposition lawmakers slammed the government for slashing around NIS 3 billion ($814M) from ministries—which impacts the salaries of teachers and social workers—while leaving ultra-Orthodox institutions and ministries labeled “superfluous” by treasury officials untouched. The post Israel’s Parliament Passes 2025 Budget, Bolstering Netanyahu’s Government Stability appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square (Worthy News) – While Democratic lawmakers and experts said Tuesday that the Biden administration effectively facilitated a crackdown on speech it disliked, they maintained those efforts did not amount to unconstitutional censorship. The claim made by Republicans that the previous administration headed a “censorship industrial complex” – composed of the administrative state, Big Tech, universities and NGOs – is a “myth” according to Mary Anne Franks from The George Washington University Law School. Franks, who authored “The Cult of the Constitution: Our Deadly Devotion to Guns and Free Speech,” told the Senate Judiciary Committee in a hearing Tuesday that the First Amendment does not forbid the government from advocating its preferred viewpoints through a non-government apparatus. “No official can dictate what Americans can say, think, or believe. The First Amendment constrains the government from interfering with freedom of speech,” Franks said. “[But] the government has the right to prefer certain viewpoints, and it is even allowed to communicate those preferences through persuasion, encouragement, and funding.” “What the government may not do is compel private actors to think or speak a certain way through coercion or threats,” Franks added.< During the Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security coordinated with a multitude of entities to censor speech deemed “misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation,” the latter referring to information “based on fact, but used out of context to mislead, harm, or manipulate.” The DHS particularly pushed social media platforms, including Meta, to censor speech not aligned with the administration’s views about the COVID-19 virus and vaccine, Ukraine, and Hunter Biden’s laptop, among other things. The agency even tried to create a “Disinformation Governance Board” in 2022, which would have used “federal law enforcement power to address disinformation,” but paused the project due to backlash. Citing these instances and more, other experts called to testify by Republicans argued that the federal government using non-governmental agencies to facilitate a multifaceted suppression of politically incorrect speech, or control public conversation around certain topics, amounts to the government infringing on free speech. Jonathan Turley, also a professor at The George Washington University Law School, said that the Biden administration “made censorship efforts part of its official mission” that created “a cottage industry of disinformation experts” funded by millions of taxpayer dollars. “For years, many in Congress opposed every effort to expose this censorship system,” Turley added. “With the release of the Twitter files, that narrative collapsed. Emails showed government officials directly targeting individuals and groups for censorship or other forms of speech curtailment.” Benjamin Weingarten, a journalist and contributor to RealClearInvestigations, urged in his testimony that the Republican-controlled Congress act now and shut down any remaining federal censorship initiatives. “Suffice it to say, if we want to preserve our republic, let alone restore it to greatness, we must abolish this censorship regime,” Weingarten said. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Hearing Reveals Scope of Biden Administration Censorship Efforts appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump on Tuesday responded to a report that top administration officials were messaging about national security matters in a leaked group chat, calling it a “glitch.” Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic reported that he was added to a group chat on the messaging app, Signal, apparently mistakenly. Several top administration officials were in the chat, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who mistakenly added Goldberg. Goldberg reported that he knew details about the March 15 airstrikes on the Houthis two hours before the rest of the world because Hegseth posted them in the chat. Hegseth and Vance both lamented having to bail out European partners. Signal is a messaging app known for its encryption and tight security, but it not an approved government channel for classified or sensitive information and immediately drew a wave of criticism for the Trump administration. Trump told NBC news in an interview that he stood by Waltz and called it “the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one.” White House Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on the criticism, saying no classified materials were transmitted. “Jeffrey Goldberg is well-known for his sensationalist spin,” she wrote on X, arguing that “No ‘war plans’ were discussed” and that “no classified material was sent to the thread.” “The White House Counsel’s Office has provided guidance on a number of different platforms for President Trump’s top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible,” she added. “As the National Security Council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldberg’s number was inadvertently added to the thread. Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective. Terrorists were killed and that’s what matters most to President Trump.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Admin Plays Defense After Houthi Strikes Discussed in Leaked Group Chat appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents based in Houston continue to arrest and remove violent criminals illegally in the U.S. In several targeted operations, agents arrested more than 600 criminal foreign nationals, including scores who were previously deported multiple times, confirmed gang members, sex offenders and fugitives. ICE agents recently removed Orbelin Benitez-Carbajal, a criminal Mexican national previously deported and convicted of manslaughter. He was returned to Mexico last week after previously being deported in 2014 and illegally reentering the country last January. His criminal record includes manslaughter and assault in Travis County, driving while intoxicated in Austin and illegal entry in west Texas in January 2024. An-eight time removed Mexico national, Baltazar Pantoja Calderon, was also removed from the U.S. this month. He was convicted on charges of kidnapping, driving while intoxicated, illegal entry and resisting arrest. Each time he illegally entered the U.S., he was caught and returned to Mexico, including this month. Another Mexican national, Leticia Caballero Guadarrama, was removed to Mexico this month after having been removed six times going back to 2002. Her criminal record includes 14 convictions, including six for DWIs, six for theft or larceny, and two for refusing to provide identification to law enforcement. In his more than 30-year career, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford said few things “surprise” him, but Guadarrama’s actions were “shocking. After repeatedly entering the country illegally and getting behind the wheel intoxicated, she has victimized hard-working Texans over and over again by stealing their money and property and then attempted to avoid accountability by refusing to provide law enforcement with identification after she was caught. By carelessly flaunting our system of laws, her actions endangered everyone in the community and have wasted significant taxpayer-funded government resources.” ICE-Houston agents also removed Mexican national Ariel Nunez Figueroa this month who was wanted by Mexican authorities for kidnapping and organized crime. He was allegedly involved in the 2014 murder of 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Teachers’ College, authorities said. He illegally entered the U.S. as a gotaway at an unknown location on an unknown date. Last September, Interpol notified ICE that he was potentially living in the Houston area. ICE agents tracked him down and took him into custody. An immigration judge ordered his removal in January. “For nearly eleven years, this foreign fugitive evaded authorities while the family and friends of those 43 students who were brutally murdered patiently awaited justice for their loved ones,” Bradford said. “Thanks to outstanding teamwork by ICE, Interpol and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, we were able to successfully track him down and remove him to Mexico to face prosecution for his alleged crimes.” In a targeted removal operation, ICE agents arrested nine criminal foreign nationals in the Houston area convicted of a range of sex offenses and other charges. They include a three-time deported Salvadoran charged with continuous sexual assault of a minor; a three-time deported Mexican national convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a minor; Cuban nationals convicted of aggravated sexual assault, sexual battery with a weapon, kidnapping; Vietnamese nationals convicted of abduction with intent to extort money for an immoral purpose, illegal possession of a weapon, burglary, and gross sexual imposition with a minor under age 13; a Mexican national convicted of indecency with a minor; a Philippine national convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a minor and cocaine possession. In a separate one-week operation, working with multiple federal, state and local law enforcement partners, ICE agents arrested 646 illegal foreign nationals, including 543 who’d been charged or convicted of criminal offenses while in the country illegally, including seven documented gang members. Federal agents executed 71 criminal arrest warrants and arrested 543 criminal illegal foreign nationals. Those arrested include: 140 charged or convicted of an aggravated felony or other violent crimes like homicide, aggravated assault, or domestic violence; 34 charged or convicted of sex offenses, including aggravated sexual assault of a minor, possession of child pornography, or rape; 38 convicted of illegal firearms offenses, including unlawful carrying of a firearm, alien in possession of a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm; 52 charged or convicted of illicit narcotics offenses, including drug trafficking, or possession of a controlled substance; 51 charged or convicted of property crimes like burglary or theft; 93 charged or convicted of driving while intoxicated. “In recent years, some of the world’s most dangerous fugitives, transnational gang members and criminal aliens have taken advantage of the crisis at our nation’s southern border to illegally enter the U.S.,” Bradford said. “After illegally entering the country, many of these criminal aliens have gone on to commit violent crime and reign terror on law-abiding residents.” Their arrests, he said, have sent a “resounding message to transnational criminal organizations everywhere that the law enforcement community in the Texas Gulf Coast is more united than ever and will not rest until we’ve eradicated these criminal elements from the country.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post ICE Houston Agents Arrest More than 600 Criminal Noncitizens appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Faced with the task of financing a $4.5 trillion extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Republican lawmakers are considering using an unconventional accounting tactic that would change the price tag from $4.5 trillion to zero dollars. Congressional tax writers and GOP leaders met Tuesday to begin hammering out a compromise budget resolution funding President Donald Trump’s border, defense, and tax policies. Both chambers need to pass the same budget resolution before moving forward in the budget reconciliation process. Due to the deficit impacts of extending the expiring tax cuts, Senate Republicans want to scrap “current law” baseline and instead use “current policy” baseline, which treats renewing the TCJA as an extension of current law rather than new policy. This would make the House’s $4.5 trillion budget resolution, in theory, cost zero dollars rather than trillions. To offset their resolution, House Republicans had originally planned to raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion, cut $2 trillion in other federal spending, and assume that the extension will add $2.6 trillion in economic growth. But Senate Republicans, skeptical of these promises and itching to implement Trump’s agenda as soon as possible, forged ahead with their own, fully offset $342 billion budget resolution that saves the tax cut extension for a later date. After Trump endorsed the House version, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the Senate would keep its version as a “backup plan” while working with the House to make the $4.5 trillion resolution more doable. The Senate is wary of voting on a costly conforming resolution until the House either proves it can find $2 trillion in harmless spending cuts, or decides to use current policy baseline. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has seemed to come around to the idea, telling reporters that switching to the current policy baseline to finance the tax cuts “makes a lot of sense to me.” But almost every tax and budget organization is calling the method a “gimmick” that would explode America’s national debt for decades to come. The Congressional Budget Office, the Tax Foundation, and the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget all agree the TCJA extension will decrease tax revenue for the federal government by at least $4.5 trillion from 2025 through 2034. Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, called the current policy baseline a “sham” in a statement Tuesday. “The attempt by some senators to adopt the current policy baseline … would result in $37 trillion in additional debt over the next 30 years,” MacGuineas said. “Lawmakers should stop making excuses and fake justifications and rise to the important challenge of making our government fiscally responsible.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Republican Lawmakers Eye Fiscal Policy ‘Gimmick’ to Finance Trump Tax Cuts appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – In a rare and courageous act of defiance, Gazan civilians have taken to the streets to protest against Hamas, the Iranian-backed terrorist organization that controls the Gaza Strip. Protesters chanted for Hamas to “get out,” voicing anger over years of oppression and hardship. The growing unrest reflects a shift among Palestinians who are no longer willing to stay silent under Hamas’s rule. Chants echoed through the streets: “Down with Hamas!”; “Hamas out!”; “Stop the war!”; and even “Release the hostages!” As demonstrators flood the streets, Israeli officials remain silent—waiting to see if the protests gain momentum before commenting or revealing their stance concerning the unrest. “It is very early to assess whether this is a local event or a phenomenon that will expand,” a senior Israeli official told i24News. While protests began in northern Gaza, analysts on social media now report the unrest is spreading south. In Khan Yunis, crowds gathered, boldly chanting that Hamas is a terrorist organization. Protests are expected to continue on Wednesday. Anti-Hamas protests are breaking out in northern and southern Gaza, asking "Where is the press?!" Of course, Aljazeera & leftists or "independent" Western media are nowhere to be seen because they will never disrupt the Hamas-centric "resistance" narrative. Expose them all now! pic.twitter.com/GLFAAPKLiB — Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib (@afalkhatib) March 25, 2025 A Gazan currently at the protest in Beit Lahia just sent me this: People are demanding: Down with Hamas! Hamas out! Stop the war! Release the Israeli hostages! Hamas is determined to disperse the protest, but the demonstrators are refusing to return home. People need protection… https://t.co/5sh20wGI3I — Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) March 25, 2025 🚨BREAKING: Anti-Hamas protests in Gaza continue—and this time, not just in the north. A new protest has erupted in the south, in Khan Yunis, with crowds chanting that Hamas is a terrorist organization. pic.twitter.com/1t1LPcx0RB — Ihab Hassan (@IhabHassane) March 25, 2025 Anti-Hamas protests also in north Gaza’s Jabalia. One man says: “There is no food, no medical equipment. We are sitting in garbage. We don't want Hamas. We want Hamas to get out and to end its rule here. We want a national unity government!" Protests planned also for tomorrow. https://t.co/FJkCMqKMGZ pic.twitter.com/LoVMzlosMu — Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) March 25, 2025 Hundreds of Palestinians protest in Gaza this afternoon calling to end the war. Protestors can be heard chanting: "Hamas, get out!" A senior Israeli official tells me: "It is very early to assess whether this is a local event or a phenomenon that will expand." pic.twitter.com/eg8JbbOTIk — Guy Azriel (@GuyAz) March 25, 2025 The post ‘Enough is Enough’: Gazans Rise Up, Demand Hamas Terrorists ‘Get Out’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – In a breakthrough following U.S.-led talks in Saudi Arabia, the White House announced Tuesday that Russia and Ukraine separately agreed to halt military strikes in the Black Sea, marking a tentative first step toward peace. With President Trump pushing for a swift end to the war, U.S. negotiators held separate three-day meetings in Riyadh with Ukrainian and Russian delegations that led to the ceasefire agreement. “The United States and Russia have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea,” the White House said in a statement. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed the agreement on X, stating, “All parties have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.” However, Umerov warned that any movement of Russian warships outside the eastern Black Sea would breach the U.S.-brokered deal, adding on Facebook that if this occurs, “Ukraine will have full right to exercise right to self-defense.” Despite the ceasefire agreement, the Kremlin signaled Tuesday it may withhold full compliance until Russia is reinstated into the SWIFT banking system, casting doubt on the deal’s success. As an incentive, the U.S. offered to “help restore access to the world market” for Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports—the most concrete offer since Western sanctions began in 2022. The post Russia, Ukraine Agree to U.S. Brokered Black Sea Ceasefire appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – The Netherlands has seen a massive rise in euthanasia amid concerns that too many persons with psychiatric illnesses are among those ending their lives. As the first country to legalize ending life to eliminate pain and suffering in 2002, the number of persons dying through euthanasia increased by 10 percent last year, according to figures seen by Worthy News. The regional euthanasia review committees (RTE) showed that the number of euthanasia deaths rose from 9,068 in 2023 to 9,958 in 2024. While the vast majority of people – 86 percent– had an advanced physical disease such as cancer, 219 people died for psychiatric reasons, compared with 138 in 2023. In 2010, there were only two such cases in this country of 18 million people. In a statement, the RTE urged doctors to employ “great caution” with psychiatric conditions. The organization said medics should consult a psychiatric specialist as well as an independent doctor who is part of a network of physicians providing information to colleagues on euthanasia. “The doctor must always call upon psychiatric expertise for these patients,” it stressed. “The aim of this is for the doctor to be well informed and to reflect critically on his or her convictions.” Worthy News learned of at least one case when a woman had a joyful meeting with a friend and family, drinking her last glass of wine, before choosing euthanasia. She had planned it for three years, citing Alzheimer’s disease. DOUBTS REMAIN However, six deaths by euthanasia in 2024 were judged by the RTE to have lacked due care. Those cases included a doctor who failed to consult a psychiatrist. The doctor granted euthanasia to a woman in her 70s who wanted to die “because, after a spinal fracture, she could no longer fulfill her obsessive-compulsive need to clean.” Christian groups such as Schreeuw om Leven (“Cry for Life”) have expressed concern about what they view as the Dutch “death culture.” Cry for Life has organized “pro-Life” marches and other events against abortion and euthanasia practices in the Netherlands. “I don’t like euthanasia. It’s really suicide packaged in a nice word,” said a 90-year-old Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust in an interview with Worthy News. In a controversial move, liberal party D66 has proposed a bill that would allow people over 75 who do not meet the criteria for euthanasia but have a “carefully considered” wish to die to seek help to end their lives. The bill would create a new profession of “end-of-life supporter,” who would have to have at least three conversations over six months with the person making the request. They must be satisfied that the request was “voluntary, properly thought through, and stable.” The post Massive Rise In Dutch Euthanasia Cases Worries Watchdog appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News SHEIKHUPURA, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – A young Christian worker is in critical condition after he was reportedly attacked at his factory in Pakistan’s Punjab province for alleged “blasphemy against Islam.” Waqas Masih, 22, was still in hospital Monday after a Muslim colleague at the Subhan Allah Paper Mills in the Sharaqpur Sharif area of Punjab’s Sheikhupura District slashed his throat, Christians told Worthy News. A photo shared with Worthy News showed him connected to an infusion pump, his neck and parts of his arm bandaged. Friday’s attack happened over allegations that he had committed blasphemy by touching an Islamic textbook “with unclean hands,” Christians said. An eyewitness said, “Waqas collapsed, drenched in blood, with severe injuries to his neck.” His father, Riyasat Masih, explained in published remarks that the factory’s shift in-charge attacked his son “with a cutter blade, slashing his jugular vein.” The suspect, who was publicly identified as Zohaib Iftikhar, did not immediately react. Masih, a member of the Brethren Church and father of six, added that his son “courageously fought back the assailant despite blood gushing out of his throat.” RUSHED TO HOSPITAL Mill management rushed Waqas Masih to a nearby hospital for “emergency treatment” that saved his life. They reportedly handed him over to the police. Masih was later transferred to Mayo Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, where he underwent surgery and was recovering, Worthy News learned. In comments shared with Worthy News, Waqas’s father asserted “that the attack appeared premeditated” as the Muslim coworker “had frequently instigated arguments over trivial matters” in the days preceding the incident. Sources told Worthy News that just one day earlier, on March 20, the two had reportedly quarreled over a minor work-related issue. “The situation escalated when Zohaib accused Waqas of tearing pages from an Arabic textbook on Islamic Studies—a blasphemy accusation that carries severe legal consequences in Pakistan,” said Sardar Mushtaq Gill, the founder of advocacy group LEAD Ministries. Although initially unable to speak due to his injuries, Waqas regained partial consciousness and requested to confirm the incident in a handwritten statement, Worthy News established. “The family has categorically denied the allegation, calling it fabricated and malicious,” Gill stressed, adding that Waqas is the eldest of six siblings living in the Sheikhupura District. CONTRACT WORKER “He had been working as a contractor in the cardboard packaging department at Subhan Allah Paper Mills for the past six months,” Gill recalled. “His mother, Bushra Riyasat, has been employed at a private school in Sheikhupura for nearly a decade. Both father and son had worked together in various paper mills to support their family,” Gill explained. The attack comes at a time of concerns about attacks against Christians on blasphemy charges in the Islamic country. “It is our shared responsibility to ensure that such acts of violence are not tolerated and the perpetrators are held accountable,” Gill remarked. “No individual should have to live in fear for their beliefs,” LEAD added. Pastor Imran Amanat, a prominent leader within LEAD Ministries, called “for prayers for Waqas’s recovery and all those subjected to religious persecution.” He stressed “the importance of unity among compassionate citizens to confront and challenge intolerance in all its forms.” The post Pakistan Christian Recovering Of Throat Slitting For ‘Blasphemy’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News RIYADH/KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – U.S. and Russian delegates wrapped up a day of tense talks on a plan for a ceasefire at sea between Kyiv and Moscow, even as a Russian missile strike in Ukraine wounded scores of people. Washington hoped Monday’s talks in Saudi Arabia would help pave the way for a broader peace deal to end Europe’s biggest land war since World War Two. The White House says an initial maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea would allow the free flow of shipping, though the area has not been the location of intense military operations in recent months. It would also enable Russia and Ukraine to transport much-needed grain to hungry nations more easily. It was unclear if the talks would swiftly result in a new agreement or if they were designed to give the sides cover to discuss a broader agenda. “This is primarily about the safety of navigation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, noting that an earlier agreement on Black Sea shipping brokered in 2022 and failed to deliver what it had promised Moscow. Last week, Moscow already agreed not to attack energy infrastructure in Ukraine over 30 days, with Kyiv pledging similar measures. MINERALS DEAL U.S. President Donald J. Trump negotiated the partial ceasefire with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders in separate phone calls and also expressed hope for a minerals deal with Ukraine. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zekenskyy had an unprecedented public quarrel at the Oval Office but have since mended fences. Additionally, Trump told reporters at the White House that the U.S. is talking to Ukraine about the potential for American firms to own Ukrainian power plants. While he is against military “boots on the ground,” Trump believes that American involvement in Ukraine could serve as a deterrence against Russian aggression. Yet while U.S.-Russian ceasefire talks continued in the luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh, with a Ukrainian delegation on the sidelines, the horrors of war continued. Even as the meeting was underway in Saudi Arabia, where a Ukrainian delegation was present on the sidelines, a Russian missile strike reportedly damaged a school and a hospital in Ukraine’s north-eastern city of Sumy. SCORES INJURED Ukrainian officials said the attack wounded at least 74 people, including 13 children. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday that three people, “including a father and his 5-year-old daughter,” were killed by a Russian drone attack on Kyiv, the capital, while an attack on the city of Zaporizhia Saturday killed a family of three. “Moscow speaks of peace while carrying out brutal strikes on densely populated residential areas in major Ukrainian cities,” the country’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said. “Instead of making hollow statements about peace, Russia must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians.” However, Ukraine also launched a drone attack Monday against an oil pumping station in the Russian city Krasnodar, Russian officials said, despite agreeing not to attack such installations for 30 days. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Despite the clashes, the U.S. delegation was due to shuttle between the two countries to finalize details and negotiate separate measures to ensure the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. PERMANENT CEASEFIRE? “The ultimate goal is a 30-day ceasefire, during which time we discuss a permanent ceasefire. We’re not far away from that,” said the U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff over the weekend. Critics say Moscow appears to be exploiting the window before any broader truce, launching mass drone attacks on Ukraine on Monday. There is also concern in Kyiv that Russia will use a more extensive ceasefire to regroup its military and launch more attacks against Ukraine. However, Ukraine’s army claims to have recaptured a small village in the eastern region of Luhansk – a rare success for its forces in an area almost entirely occupied by Russia since its 2022 invasion of the country. Kyiv officials said troops had “liberated the village of Nadia” over the weekend after a 30-hour operation, during which its soldiers retook about one square mile (2.6 square kilometers) of territory. Its military did not provide details about casualties or the strategic significance of the village. SMALL GAINS Ukraine’s forces reportedly made small gains across the war’s eastern front in recent weeks after suffering significant setbacks in Russia’s Kursk region. Kyiv had entered parts of Kursk hoping to improve its position during peace negotiations. Yet observers say a Russian offensive has stalled due to “a mix of poor weather and troop exhaustion.” Trump has made clear his goal is to silence the weapons on both sides completely. He seeks to end a war that is believed to have killed and injured some 1 million people, many of them young soldiers whose lives had just begun. The post US, Russia Talk About Maritime Truce As Attacks Continue In Ukraine (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, leave the sledgehammers home! 1 Cor 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. Ephesians 2:21-22 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. What an amazing thought that a holy and infinite God dwells within our bodies when we come to faith! This awesome God so desires to inhabit our very beings ... wow! Now imagine how God is constructing this magnificent temple of living stones, believers around the world, and fitting us together into a masterpiece—stones of every color, every size, and differing weight, fitting them TIGHTLY and perfectly together for His glory! Imagine walking into a glorious Temple, a visual masterpiece exemplifying His temple of Living stones…and gazing at the splendor of gold, silver, and precious gems … imagine the awe of the beauty you're taking in! Now brace yourself and imagine a person entering this glorious place, taking a sledgehammer and smashing the walls ... hitting every stone ... doing all he can to desecrate and destroy all this wonder and beauty … you'd say it's the height of insanity, a massive blasphemy against the magnificent work of the Creator! But how often do we ourselves, as His body, pick up our hammers, big and small, and do this destructive work? There is a proverb of Solomon: “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” Our tongues can become "hammers" of destruction and death to His precious children, His Holy Bride, in the Temple of God, His Body. Words can build up … and, sadly, can also destroy! Friend, use words not as hammers of destruction but as skillful building tools inspired by the Holy Spirit to build one another up … polishing each and every precious stone in God's Temple. Our Lord is a builder, the Living Word who says, "Let there be! And it IS! …so let us also be aware before we open our mouths to speak, as we will be judged for every idle word! We have the words of life to speak into anyone's life today. And "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." [Proverbs 25:11] Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (George & Obi - Sarasota, Florida | Baht Rivka - Israel | Elianna - Married living in Missouri) Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce. Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out! Around the World US, Russia Talk About Maritime Truce As Attacks Continue In Ukraine (Worthy News In-Depth) U.S. and Russian delegates wrapped up a day of tense talks on a plan for a ceasefire at sea between Kyiv and Moscow, even as a Russian missile strike in Ukraine wounded scores of people. Trump to Impose 25% Tariff on Venezuelan Oil Purchasers President Trump announced on Monday that a 25% tariff would be imposed on U.S. trade with any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela, a retaliatory move for illegal Venezuelan immigration of criminals into the U.S. and further his policy of securing America's borders. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Strikes Hamas Trucks, Destroys 100+, Some Used in Oct. 7 Massacre (Video) The Israel Defense Forces conducted dozens of airstrikes late Sunday and Monday, destroying over 100 Hamas-owned white pick-up trucks in Gaza, some used in the October 7 terror attack and others for transporting weapons. Inside the United States Pentagon Prepares for ‘Monster’ Challenges with Proposed Golden Dome President Donald Trump's executive order outlining plans for a Golden Dome missile defense system to protect the U.S. from attacks pose "monster challenges" for the Pentagon. U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Key Redistricting Case The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a critical case regarding Louisiana's redrawn congressional districts on Monday. Major Guatemalan Human Smuggling Operation Busted in Arizona, California One of the largest human smuggling operations in U.S. history has been dismantled by federal and local law enforcement officers. Christian News Pakistan Christian Recovering Of Throat Slitting For ‘Blasphemy’ A young Christian worker is in critical condition after he was reportedly attacked at his factory in Pakistan’s Punjab province for alleged “blasphemy against Islam.” Worthy Insights FBI launches Tesla threats task force: ‘This is domestic terrorism’ The FBI said on Monday that it has launched a task force to investigate scores of attacks targeting Tesla, the electric vehicle company headed by Trump administration DOGE chief Elon Musk. Austin Tesla dealership bomb investigation; suspicious devices found The Austin Police Department says it is investigating after suspicious devices were found at a Tesla dealership in North Austin. Israeli security cabinet greenlights independence for 13 Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Saturday that the security cabinet had greenlighted a plan to separate 13 existing Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, internationally known as the West Bank, from their neighboring communities. US could hit debt ceiling as early as mid-July, study shows The US could default on its $36 trillion debt as early as July and no later than October without congressional action, according to a study released Monday. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted dozens of airstrikes late Sunday and Monday, destroying over 100 Hamas-owned white pick-up trucks and vans in Gaza, some used in the October 7 terror attack and others for transporting weapons. The airstrikes targeted pickup trucks across Gaza, including a building used to store several vehicles, the IDF said. The IDF stated that it will continue operations against terrorist groups in Gaza to eliminate threats to Israel and its citizens. https://www.worthynews.com/wordpressimages/2025/03/hamas-trucks.mp4 JOURNALISTS LINKED TO TERROR GROUPS TARGETED The Hamas-run Gaza civil defense authority and Al Jazeera reported that journalist Hossam Shabat was killed Monday by an Israeli drone strike on his car near Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza. Last October, the IDF identified Shabat as a Hamas sniper. The IDF said the documents included personnel lists, training records, phone directories, and salary details proving Shabat and five other Al Jazeera figures were members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad military wings. Separately, journalist Mohamad Mansor of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad-affiliated Falstin Al-Yom channel was killed in an airstrike on his home in Khan Younis. The post Israel Strikes Hamas Trucks, Destroys 100+, Some Used in Oct. 7 Massacre (Video) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News)—President Trump announced on Monday that a 25% tariff would be imposed on U.S. trade with any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela, a retaliatory move for illegal Venezuelan immigration of criminals into the U.S. and further his policy of securing America’s borders. “President Donald J. Trump announced today that the United States of America will be putting what is known as a Secondary Tariff on the Country of Venezuela, for numerous reasons,” President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social. It added, “including the fact that Venezuela has purposefully and deceitfully sent to the United States, undercover, tens of thousands of high level, and other, criminals, many of whom are murderers and people of a very violent nature.” “Among the gangs they sent to the United States, is Tren de Aragua, which has been given the designation of “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” Trump continued The post continued, “We are in the process of returning them to Venezuela—it is a big task!” “In addition, Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the Freedoms which we espouse. Therefore, any Country that purchases Oil and/or Gas from Venezuela will be forced to pay a Tariff of 25% to the United States on any Trade they do with our Country,” Trump stated. https://worthynews-1fe3e.kxcdn.com/wordpressimages/2025/03/trump-truth-social-venezuela-christian-news-864x720.png The announcement may affect China, Venezuela’s most prominent foreign customer, especially since Trump has already imposed universal 25% tariffs on Chinese imports due to the trafficking of fentanyl. Venezuela resumed accepting repatriation flights after a standoff with the Trump administration, with a Homeland Security confirmed flight carrying 199 illegal immigrants, including Tren de Aragua members, landing in Venezuela on Sunday, Fox News reported. The post Trump to Impose 25% Tariff on Venezuelan Oil Purchasers appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump’s executive order outlining plans for a Golden Dome missile defense system to protect the U.S. from attacks pose “monster challenges” for the Pentagon. The Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment is working with the Missile Defense Agency and the military services on the project, said Steven Morani, who is performing the duties of undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington. “Consistent with protecting the homeland and per President Trump’s [executive order], we’re working with the industrial base and [through] supply chain challenges associated with standing up the Golden Dome,” Morani said. In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan wanted to build an air defense system, but technology wasn’t available. Morani said the challenge would be formidable and require a lot of teamwork. “This is like the monster systems engineering problem. This is the monster integration problem,” he said. “This is going to be layers of architecture working together at all group level elevations … to protect the United States … so we’re going to need all the services and agencies that do this kind of work to step up.” Some skeptics say the technology needed to protect a land mass the size of the U.S. still isn’t ready. Israel’s Iron Dome system works only against short-range rockets fired at a country the size of New Jersey. The system Trump envisions would protect the much larger U.S. using multiple layers of defense against a range of potential attacks. Joe Cirincione, a national security analyst with Defense One, estimated that creating an Iron Dome for America would cost $2.5 trillion. “Because Iron Dome is designed to intercept short-range rockets, not intercontinental ballistic missiles,” he wrote. “Each Iron Dome system can defend an area of roughly 150 square miles. We would need to deploy more than 24,700 Iron Dome batteries to defend the 3.7 million square miles of the continental United States. At $100 million per battery, that would be approximately $2,470,000,000,000.” Cirincione noted that “it is technically impossible to build a system that can protect the United States from ballistic missile attack.” Two experts on security issues, Stephen J. Cimbala and Lawrence J. Korb, wrote in the nonprofit “Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists” that Trump’s plan has “serious technology” flaws. “The Trump administration’s ambitious plans for nationwide defenses deserve serious scrutiny about whether they are feasible – from the standpoint of available and foreseeable technology and cost – and desirable, from the standpoint of deterrence stability,” they wrote. Nearly every president since Ronald Reagan has discussed some sort of missile defense system for the U.S. Reagan proposed the “Star Wars” system. In 1992, the U.S. Government Accountability Office concluded a proposed space-based interceptor system known as “Brilliant Pebbles” was based on immature simulations that “use many unproven assumptions.” Some such projects cost billions and were eventually scrapped. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Pentagon Prepares for ‘Monster’ Challenges with Proposed Golden Dome appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Steve Wilson | The Center Square (Worthy News) – The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a critical case regarding Louisiana’s redrawn congressional districts on Monday. The state is defending the existing map and plaintiffs seek an overturn on grounds of racial gerrymander. The case could be pivotal as justices could examine the criteria required of state legislatures under the Voting Rights Act when it comes to balancing representation of minority groups with the drawing of geographically compact districts. The court heard arguments from Louisiana Solicitor General Ben Aguiñaga in the combined Louisiana v. Callais case. The state was required to add a second majority-minority district to the six districts by a court order last year. Justice Sonia Sotomayor suggested that one of the maps offered by the original plaintiffs would have been a better solution since it was more “geographically compact” than the state-drawn maps. During arguments, Chief Justice John Roberts described the newly-drawn District 6 as a “snake.” It stretches along the Red River from Shreveport in the northwestern part of the state to Alexandria and finally down to the majority-Black areas of Baton Rouge. It was drawn by lawmakers to connect multiple majority-Black areas together to create the court-required second majority-minority district. https://worthynews-1fe3e.kxcdn.com/wordpressimages/2025/03/louisana-479x360.webp A map of Louisiana’s redrawn congressional districts. Louisiana Attorney General’s Office Aguiñaga responded that one of the key issues was to preserve the districts of key Republicans, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, the House majority leader. “This court has been clear that states have breathing room to take reasonable efforts to comply with the Voting Rights Act and they may also balance the many other interests that enter the redistricting calculus,” Aguiñaga said. “And so it was perfectly appropriate after two federal courts had found that Louisiana had likely violated Section 2 that the state sought to comply with those rulings and that it exercised its authority to protect favored incumbents and unite preferred communities of interest and accounting for those kinds of political considerations is squarely the Legislature’s prerogative.” Attorney Stuart Charles Naifeh, arguing for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, said “politics is the only reason that the state shows that map over the compact maps that were offered in Robinson,” the original case that was brought in 2022. In its brief before the court, Louisiana officials say that “nobody truly wins in this ‘sordid business’ of ‘divvying us up by race.'” “And if Louisiana were to lose on these facts, that would underscore the injustice of forcing States to run an endless ‘legal obstacle course,’ lined with ‘notoriously unclear and confusing’ precedents,” the brief said. “More than any before it, therefore, this case presents a compelling opportunity for the Court to ‘call home’ – ‘to alter its course’ – rather than ‘continue on.'” The case could have national ramifications. Alabama filed an amicus, or friend of the court, brief. Alabama was also the subject of a lawsuit that sought successfully to create another majority-minority Congressional district. Several other states – Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia – joined the Alabama brief that said constant litigation is making it impossible for legislatures to redraw congressional districts without facing a flurry of lawsuits. The Legislature adopted new maps under Senate Bill 8 to replace the ones drawn in 2022 during a five-day special session called by Gov. Jeff Landry in 2024 to address a court order from U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick to redraw the state’s congressional districts by Jan. 31. Later, a group of “Non African-American” voters filed a lawsuit, saying that the new maps represented an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay to stop a lower court order that would’ve required the districts be redrawn again before the November election. The order was issued in the case known as Robinson v. Landry. Plaintiffs in that case said Black voters were unable to vote for the candidate of their choice with only one majority Black congressional district in the 2022 maps since one third of the state’s population is Black. Dick ordered lawmakers to draw a new map. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Key Redistricting Case appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – One of the largest human smuggling operations in U.S. history has been dismantled by federal and local law enforcement officers. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol and Inglewood Police investigators in California launched an investigation that led to the arrests of four Guatemalan human smuggling ringleaders who were all living illegally in the U.S. They were charged and indicted on multiple counts for orchestrating what law enforcement said was one of the largest human smuggling organizations in America. They were indicted on charges of smuggling roughly 20,000 Guatemalans into the U.S. over a period of five years. Overall, the smuggling operation was active for roughly 12 years nationwide, according to a recently unsealed indictment. Authorities arrested the alleged ringleader, Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, and his alleged right-hand man, Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles. They were arraigned the same day, ordered jailed without bond; a trial is set for next month. Two others charged include Guatemalans Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, a lieutenant in the criminal organization who remains a fugitive, authorities said, and Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, a driver for the smuggling organization. Paxtor-Oxlaj is currently incarcerated in Oklahoma for causing a November 2023 car accident that killed seven, authorities said, including three minors in Elk City, Oklahoma. The accident occurred during a smuggling operation when he was transporting illegal foreign nationals from New York to Los Angeles, authorities said. He was arrested and charged in the Western District of Oklahoma. He had previously been removed from the U.S. in 2010 and illegally reentered as a gotaway – those who illegally enter between ports of entry and intentionally evade capture. A record more than two million gotaways illegally entered the U.S. under the Biden administration, The Center Square exclusively reported. Each of the four Guatemalan men were charged with “conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States, transporting aliens in the United States, and harboring aliens in the United States for private financial gain and resulting in death,” according to the indictment. Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj were also charged with two counts of hostage-taking. According to the indictment, from April 2024 to July 2024, they held hostage two Guatemalan nationals who were smuggled into the U.S. who hadn’t paid their smuggling fees and allegedly threatened to kill them until third parties paid for their release. In a separate and more recent complaint, Obispo-Hernandez was charged with threatening to cut off the heads of an ICE task force officer and his family members. He allegedly made the threats after search warrants were executed at his residence. The Renoj-Matul transnational criminal organization operated for at least a dozen years, specializing in smuggling Guatemalans into the U.S., primarily transporting illegal foreign nationals from Phoenix to Los Angeles, according to the indictment. Renoj-Matual’s associates based in Guatemala allegedly solicited Guatemalans to come to the U.S., charging between $15,000 and $18,000 for each to be smuggled into the U.S., investigators say. Once they reached Mexico, Mexican cartel smugglers transported them through Mexico and across the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona. They were then held hostage in stash houses in Arizona and eventually picked up by Renoj-Matul’s lieutenants, according to the indictment. For an additional fee, the smuggled Guatemalans paid to be transported throughout the U.S., including to Los Angeles. Those who couldn’t pay were allegedly held hostage in a stash house in the Westlake neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles, according to the complaint. Renoj-Matul also orchestrated a process for the human smuggling proceeds to be transported from Los Angeles to Phoenix, given to Mexican smugglers “to pay the expenses incurred by Renoj-Matul’s transnational criminal organization,” according to the complaint. If convicted of all charges, each of the four Guatemalan ringleaders face a maximum sentence of death or life imprisonment. Authorities also arrested two additional illegal foreign nationals and alleged lieutenants in the Renoj-Matul transnational criminal organization. Rolando Gomez-Gomez, who was previously deported, was arrested in South Los Angeles, charged with “one count of being an illegal alien found in the United States following removal.” Juan Lopez Garcia was arrested in Downtown Los Angeles on a civil removal matter. The smuggling bust occurred after a record nearly one million Guatemalans illegally entered the U.S. under the Biden administration, The Center Square reported. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Major Guatemalan Human Smuggling Operation Busted in Arizona, California appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Several senior Hamas officials have been killed in recent airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s military and intelligence sources confirm. Ahmad Salman ’Awj Shimali, the deputy commander of the Gaza City Brigade, and Jamil Omar Jamil Wadiya, the commander of the Shejaiya Battalion, were among those killed in airstrikes in recent days, the military said. Additionally, Hamas and Palestinian media said Sunday that an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis killed Salah al-Bardaweel, a Hamas political leader. Pro-Hamas media said the airstrike killed Bardaweel, a member of its political office, and his wife. They were among at least 19 people killed in overnight attacks in southern Gaza, Hamas-controlled authorities said. The attacks came after Israel carried out a strike in Tyre, south Lebanon, on Saturday, reportedly killing one and wounding seven people in its attempt to destroy Hezbollah. LEBANON STRIKES Israel’s Lebanon strikes were believed to be its deadliest there since the November 27 ceasefire, which had put an end to 13 months of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. Critics saw the strike on Tyre, one of the largest cities in south Lebanon and far from the Lebanese border, as a significant escalation threatening the fragile ceasefire agreement. An Israeli military spokesperson said it targeted “attack command headquarters, terrorist operatives, missile launchers, and a weapons depot of the terrorist Hezbollah.” The wave of Israeli airstrikes was triggered by the launching of three rockets from Lebanon by unknown groups, which were intercepted by the Israeli air force, officials added. Hezbollah denied any involvement in the rocket attacks and stressed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement. It added that Israeli claims that it was behind the strikes were “merely a pretext for continued attacks on Lebanon.” SURVIVORS CONCERNED As fighting continued, 40 survivors of Hamas captivity called on the Israeli government to halt the “endless war.” Israel’s government says it is committed to bringing the remaining hostages home but also says Hamas and Hezbollah should be crushed. Yet, with Israeli strikes resuming, the Jewish nation faces revenge attacks by Hamas’ Iran-backed allies, such as the Houthis. On Sunday, a ballistic missile fired at Israel by the Houthis in Yemen was successfully intercepted by air defenses, the Israeli military said. There were no reports of injuries or damage in the attack, which triggered sirens across central Israel, authorities confirmed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the missile was shot down before crossing the country’s borders. It was the fifth Houthi attack on Israel since the Israel Defense Forces began its renewed offensive against Hamas in Gaza on Tuesday. The missile launch came a day after Houthi rebel media in Yemen accused the United States of attacking the airport in the rebel-held port city of Hodeida. It was the latest such claim since Washington announced heavy strikes against the Iran-backed group a week ago. The post Israel Kills Senior Hamas Leaders appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ISTANBUL, TURKEY (Worthy News) – The anti-Hamas mayor of Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, has been suspended and jailed ahead of a corruption trial despite tens of thousands of protesters demanding his freedom. Ekrem Imamoglu’s detention sparked outrage. His wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, told tens of thousands of demonstrators outside City Hall in Istanbul that the government of long-time president Recep Tayyip Erdogan would pay for targeting the popular opposition figure. “He will defeat you!… You will lose!” she said. “The injustice Ekrem faced… it struck a chord with every conscience. Everyone found something of themselves and the injustices they faced in what was done to Ekrem,” she added. Imamoglu is seen as the main rival of Turkish President Erdogan. His arrest was closely watched in Israel as he called Hamas a “terrorist organization,” unlike Erdogan, who views it as a liberation group. The arrest and imprisonment of the now-suspended Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and other political leaders “constitutes a serious attack on democracy,” France’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Sunday night. The ministry pointed out that Turkey, which Recep Tayyip Erdogan has led for over 20 years, had promised to protect the rights of opposition figures. Freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly are cornerstones of the rule of law, the statement added, highlighting that Turkey — as a Council of Europe member and candidate to join the European Union — had “freely entered into commitments in this area.” EU RELATIONS “The respect of these commitments is a central element of our relations as well as relations between Turkey and the European Union,” the Foreign Ministry said. Istanbul City Hall says 15 million people voted in an opposition primary to select Ekrem Imamoglu, the city’s opposition mayor, as a candidate for the 2028 presidential elections. In cities across the country, supporters headed to symbolic ballot boxes set up to allow non-Republican People’s Party (CHP) members the chance to express their solidarity with Imamoglu. Voting was extended by three-and-a-half hours because of the massive turnout. “Out of 15 million votes, 13,211,000 expressed their solidarity” with Ekrem Imamoglu, the imprisoned opposition figure now suspended as Istanbul’s mayor, it said. The main opposition CHP party organized the long-planned primary to choose Imamoglu as its presidential nominee, with him as the only candidate on the ballot. Imamoglu was elected mayor of Istanbul in 2019 and triumphantly re-elected last year. From Silivri Prison, the arrested mayor praised the symbolic referendum. In a post on social media platform X, Imamoglu said the people had told Erdogan that “enough is enough” and that “the nation will give this government a slap it will never forget.” The post Istanbul Mayor Jailed; Wife Pledges Revenge appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JARANWALA, PAKISTAN (Worthy News) – A Christian human rights lawyer who successfully defended several Christians detained for “blasphemy” against Islam says he survived an assassination attempt Sunday in Pakistan’s Punjab province, Worthy News learned. Tahir Bashir said he had been targeted while on his way to “appear in the court of duty magistrate in [the city of ] Jaranwala regarding a case involving the forced conversion of a young girl.” Bashir added, “Three unknown individuals on a motorbike attempted to stop our vehicle. When we didn’t stop, one of them fired a shot at our vehicle, causing both tires to burst.” Despite this, “the driver managed to continue driving until we reached a safe location. I immediately contacted the police through the 15 emergency [phone] service. The police arrived at the scene and assessed the situation. Additionally, I submitted an application at the concerned police station requesting the registration of a case against the culprits.” Sunday’s attack followed several killings of Christians in recent weeks in Pakistan, a mainly Muslim nation, Worthy News established. In one of the latest reported incidents, Imtiaz Masih, a Christian father of five daughters, was murdered last month, sparking “outrage and distress” among Pakistan’s Christian community, Christians told Worthy News. “On a bright afternoon in Chak Jumro No. 163 RB, District Faisalabad, the victim was ruthlessly gunned down in broad daylight” by suspected Islamic gunmen on February 21, confirmed Christian advocacy group LEAD Ministries. GRIEVING WIDOW “He had no way to defend himself,” said his grieving widow in comments shared with Worthy News. She added that her husband’s faith in Christ “made him an easy target.” Police launched a criminal investigation and detained several suspects, but more details were unavailable on Sunday. LEAD Ministries founder Sardar Mushtaq Gill has called for “a thorough and impartial” investigation into the case. “We are deeply saddened by this senseless tragedy. We must remember that the rights of every person, regardless of their religious background, should be protected under the law,” he told Worthy News. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family, and we implore the authorities to act swiftly to deliver justice in this case, as in all others,” he said. “This is not just about a single murder; it is a call to ensure that all persons, regardless of their religion, are afforded equal protection and justice.” In a region where “religious minorities face increasing challenges,” the murder of Imtiaz Masih “highlights the dangerous reality for many Christians in Pakistan,” he added. “Many fear their voices go unheard, and their pleas for justice are often ignored or delayed. The Masih family’s struggle for justice is not an isolated case but a part of a broader issue of discrimination, injustice, and violence that continues to plague religious minorities in the country,” Mushtaq stressed. The post Christian Lawyer Tahir Bashir Survives Assassination Attempt In Pakistan appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israel escalated its military campaign in Gaza on Sunday, targeting Rafah and ordering civilians to evacuate Tel Sultan. This marks the first reoccupation of a major area in Gaza since fighting resumed on March 18, as well as announcing a key Hamas terrorist was eliminated on a targeted airstrike. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it killed Ismail Barhoum, a senior Hamas political bureau member and head of its finances, in a strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Hamas confirmed his death, stating he was receiving treatment at the hospital after being injured in a previous strike. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz praised Barhoum’s killing, calling him “the new Hamas prime minister in Gaza, who replaced Issam Da’alis, the previous prime minister who was eliminated a few days ago.” The IDF said the strike followed “an extensive intelligence-gathering process” and used a “precision munition” to limit civilian harm. Footage showed the hospital largely intact, with fire visible in one stairwell section. After Barhoum’s killing, Katz said the offensive was “expanding,” and vowed Israel would keep striking until all 59 hostages held in Gaza are freed. The IDF said Sunday that thousands of troops are set to join the renewed ground offensive in Gaza, significantly expanding what had so far been a limited operation against Hamas. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told Israel Channel 12 that the IDF is pushing to expand the offensive, telling political officials, “Hamas is stalling for time, it’s a strategy, not a tactic.” He added, “The IDF’s operation hurts [Hamas] and causes some movement, but it doesn’t lead it to release the hostages. Therefore, there is no choice, the pressure must be increased.” The IDF began reoccupying a second major area within one of Gaza’s four main sectors. Previously, it had only entered one area per sector—north, central, Khan Younis, and Rafah—applying pressure on Hamas. On Saturday night, Israel’s security cabinet approved Katz’s proposal to create a Defense Ministry office to facilitate the “voluntary” departure of Palestinians from Gaza. Since early March, 1,000 Gazans have left the enclave, with another 600 expected to depart this week. Currently, only Gazans needing medical care, those with dual citizenship, and residents with destination visas are permitted to leave the Strip. The post Israel Expands Operations in Gaza, Key Hamas Terrorist Eliminated appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump unveiled a next-generation stealth fighter that can fly alongside drones. Trump showcased the F-47 during an Oval Office meeting Friday with top Pentagon leaders and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The president said his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, tried to scrap the program. The plane has been flying secretly for four years. “America is going to have generations – in the future – of air dominance because of this sixth-generation fighter,” Hegseth said. Trump said the U.S. Air Force is moving ahead with the F-47 program, which Hegseth called the “Next Generation of Air Dominance.” “Nothing in the world comes even close to it,” Trump said. “It’s something the likes of which nobody has seen before in terms of all of the attributes of the fighter jet. There’s never been anything close to it from speed to maneuverability to what it can have for payload.” The president said U.S. Generals picked the name of the plane. Trump returned to the White House in 2025 to become the 47th president. The Air Force picked Boeing to build the sixth-generation fighter after a competitive bidding process, Trump said. “The F-47 will be the most advanced, most capable, most lethal aircraft ever built,” the president said. “An experimental version of the plane has secretly been flying for almost five years and we’re confident that it massively overpowers the capabilities of any other nation.” Trump said the cost of the Next Generation of Air Dominance platform would be kept secret. He also said he wouldn’t reveal how many planes the Air Force had ordered from Boeing. “We can’t tell you the price” Trump said because it would give away details about the technology used to build it and and details about the size of the plane. Trump said Boeing has already starting building the fleet. “A new fleet of these magnificent planes will be built and in the air during my administration,” the president said. Trump said the contract represents “a historic investment” in the nation’s defense industrial base. Trump said U.S. allies have already started calling to see if they can get the plane. Trump said he may share it with allies, but likely a “toned down” version with lesser capabilities. Before Friday’s announcement, the F-35 stealth fighter had been the top fighter jet and the Department of Defense’s most costly aircraft platform. Tesla boss Elon Musk, who is heading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, has been critical of the F-35. In November 2024, days after Trump’s election win, Musk called the F-35 “obsolete.” The Pentagon declined to comment on Musk’s remarks at the time. “The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people,” Musk wrote on X. “This made it an expensive & complex jack of all trades, master of none. Success was never in the set of possible outcomes. And manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed.” Last May, the U.S. Government Accountability Office found the cost of the F-35 program was projected to increase by more than 40% despite plans to use the stealth fighter less, in part because of reliability issues. The U.S. Department of Defense’s F-35 Lightning II is the most advanced and costly weapon system in the U.S. arsenal. It’s a joint, multinational program that includes the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, seven international partners and foreign military sales customers. The Pentagon has about 630 F-35s. It plans to buy about 1,800 more. And it intends to use them through 2088. DOD estimates the F-35 program will cost over $2 trillion to buy, operate, and sustain over its lifetime. The GAO report found the F-35 program fell short of its goals. “The F-35 fleet is not meeting most of its performance goals, including those for availability and for reliability and maintainability, according to DOD and contractor data,” according to the report. “We have consistently found that the F-35 fleet is not meeting its availability goals, which are measured by mission capable rates despite increasing projected costs.” The post Trump Showcases Next-Generation Stealth Plane appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News VATICAN CITY (Worthy News) – Pope Francis has appeared in public for the first time in five weeks after an extensive hospitalization and will soon meet British King Charles III, officials said. The pontiff of more than 1 billion Catholics was wheeled onto a balcony of the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where he waved to thousands of pilgrims who had gathered and addressed them briefly, saying, “Thank you to everyone,” referring to the prayers of well-wishers. An estimated 3000 people, many carrying bright flowers and “welcome home” posters, watched him from the hospital courtyard. He made it a point of recognizing an Italian lady holding a bouquet of yellow flowers to celebrate his homecoming, saying he could see her and waving in gratitude. As he struggled to speak, broadcasters read his Sunday reflection. In it, he appeals for the silencing of weapons in Gaza and the return of hostages. “I am saddened by the resumption of heavy Israeli bombing on the Gaza Strip, causing many deaths and injuries. I call for an immediate halt to the weapons and for the courage to resume dialogue so that all hostages may be released and a final ceasefire reached,” he said. Israel has made clear the air strikes are in response to Hamas’ refusal to release all hostages and are not aimed at civilians. However, Pope Francis highlighted the “very serious humanitarian situation” in the Gaza Strip and urged the warring parties and the international community to improve people’s lives there. PRAYERS SAID He also prayed for people suffering in other armed conflicts, such as in Europe’s biggest land war since World War Two unfolding in Ukraine. At the same time, Pope Francis expressed his “gratitude” for steps taken toward peace in the South Caucasus, where Armenia and Azerbaijan are moving towards a finalized peace agreement. “May this be a sign of hope,” he prayed, “that other conflicts, too, may find a path to resolution through dialogue and goodwill.” Francis said, “The Gospel of the day points to the image of the barren fig tree, spared from being cut down in the hope that it may still bear fruit. It is the same patience we are called to [by God to] cultivate in our daily lives, especially in times of hardship and uncertainty”, said the Pope. After the remarks, the pope, 88, left the hospital in his usual white modest Fiat 500L vehicle but will need another two months to recover at home, the Vatican said. Instead of a palace above St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, the pope chose to live in the Vatican guest house, Casa Santa Marta. He is the first pope to refuse to live in the Papal Apartments since Pope Pius X in 1903. The pope arrived in Vatican City ahead of a busy schedule, including meeting King Charles III. CHARLES’ LETTER Officials said the British monarch is scheduled to meet Pope Francis during a state visit to the Vatican next month, barring any setbacks in the pope’s recovery from double pneumonia. The palace separately confirmed that Charles wrote privately to the pope when he was taken ill. Francis, 88, has been hospitalized since February 14. The visit to the Vatican is seen as symbolic of efforts to build closer ties between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, which split from Rome in the 16th century during the reign of King Henry VIII. Charles, the head of the Church of England, has made building bridges between people of all faiths “a priority” since he ascended the throne two and a half years ago. Charles’ three-day trip begins April 7 and will also include events in Italy and its capital, Rome, which surrounds Vatican City, officials said. The post Pope Leaves Hospital Ahead Of Meeting King Charles appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, turn the world upside down! 1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Watching Yeshua (Jesus) lay down His life to die on the cross was not what His disciples were expecting, but rather a shocking, perplexing, and apparently hopeless ending to what had seemed like a promising fulfillment of Messianic hope. The shattering ordeal of Yeshua's trials, torture, and horrific death must have left them all feeling bereft, miserable, and uncertain of the future. What would they do now? What would their future hold? As deep and depressing as their shock was, Yeshua's disciples had only to wait three days for the restoration of their vision, hope, and joy. A massive inversion of their reality, exactly what He had predicted, His bodily resurrection, was another shock, but this time...indescribable joy, wonder, and phenomenal relief; and a restoration of meaning, purpose, and vision which carried them the rest of their lives. As His disciples, our life often follows this pattern: trial, testing, perplexity, suffering, despair, etc.....which then yields to the opposite feelings and experiences of hope, healing, restoration, relief, and the faith and character which emerge along with vision and renewed purpose. As our Lord knew before He died that He would rise again, He also knows the good things which He portends for the future of His disciples, that is, us, who have been passing through a season of stress and uncertainty. He really, truly wants us to believe in the rest of this wild story; to really and truly accept the fact that He will, again, turn the world upside down as "all things work together for good for them that love God and are the called according to His purpose"! Witnessing and being exposed to the serious and nasty things that are happening around us now, how can we imagine that anything good can emerge from it all? The future seems bleak and downright frightening. But let us remember the Lord's cross -- His disciples' shock and despair...and the predicted, inevitable resurrection which followed! Friend, be at peace, remembering the unalterable pattern God has given us in the revelation of His Son. Enter the new year assured in your faith foundation —and the secure expectation that once again, with Him, as the Apostles did 2000 years ago.....we too, will "turn the world upside down". Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (George & Obi - Sarasota, Florida | Baht Rivka - Israel | Elianna - Married living in Missouri) Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce. Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out! Around the World Istanbul Mayor Jailed; Wife Pledges Revenge The anti-Hamas mayor of Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, has been suspended and jailed ahead of a corruption trial despite tens of thousands of protesters demanding his freedom. Pope Leaves Hospital Ahead Of Meeting King Charles Pope Francis has appeared in public for the first time in five weeks after an extensive hospitalization and will soon meet British King Charles III, officials said. Mass Rallies Against Turkey’s Erdogan Closely Watched In Israel (Worthy News In-Depth) Just days after calling Israel “a terror state that feeds on blood,” Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing the biggest protests in a decade following the detention of his anti-Hamas political rival Ekrem Imamoglu. London’s Heathrow Airport ‘Fully Operational’ After ‘Apocalyptic’ Fire And Power Outage Heathrow in London is “fully operational” after an “apocalyptic” fire at a nearby electrical substation brought Europe's busiest airport to a standstill on Friday, its leadership says. U.S. Deploys a Second Aircraft Carrier to Middle East Amid Trump’s Stern Warning to Iran Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered an additional aircraft carrier to the Red Sea next month, in a substantial ramp-up of U.S. military presence in the Middle East. This rare move is intended to strengthen the Navy's presence, coincides with increased airstrikes on Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, and aligns with President Donald Trump's recent ultimatum to Iran's Supreme Leader concerning its nuclear program. Britain, US Decline To Sign AI Accord Over ‘Global Governance’ Worries Britain and the United States have refused to sign an international agreement on artificial intelligence (AI), citing fears that it could lead to “global governance” and the overregulation of new technology. Indonesia Passes Controversial Military Legislation Students and rights activists have rallied outside Indonesia’s parliament building, where legislators passed changes to a military law that protesters say will bring the Islamic nation closer to dictatorship. EU Fails On Pledging Billions To Kyiv As Hungary Vetoes Statement All European Union countries except Hungary signed a joint statement Thursday backing war-torn Ukraine, but they failed to agree on a 40 billion euro ($43.4 billion) military package for Kyiv. Afghanistan’s Taliban Frees American Prisoner A U.S. man who had been detained in Afghanistan by the ruling Taliban group for over two years has been released, the U.S. State Department confirmed Thursday. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Kills Senior Hamas Leaders Several senior Hamas officials have been killed in recent airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s military and intelligence sources confirm. Israel Expands Operations in Gaza, Key Hamas Terrorist Eliminated Israel escalated its military campaign in Gaza on Sunday, targeting Rafah and ordering civilians to evacuate Tel Sultan. This marks the first reoccupation of a major area in Gaza since fighting resumed on March 18, as well as announcing a key Hamas terrorist was eliminated on a targeted airstrike. Israel’s Supreme Court Issues Injunction Against Dismissal of Security Chief, Netanyahu Responds Israel's Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction Friday halting the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, just hours after the cabinet voted to remove him by April 10. Responding to the order, Prime Minister Netanyahu wrote on X: “There will be no civil war! Israel is a state of law, and the government decides who leads the Shin Bet.” Inside the United States Trump Showcases Next-Generation Stealth Plane President Donald Trump unveiled a next-generation stealth fighter that can fly alongside drones. Hegseth Eliminates $580 Million on Wasteful ‘Woke’ Spending In an ongoing effort to identify and cut wasteful spending at the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the latest round of cuts total more than $580 million. Christian News Christian Lawyer Tahir Bashir Survives Assassination Attempt In Pakistan A Christian human rights lawyer who successfully defended several Christians detained for “blasphemy” against Islam says he survived an assassination attempt Sunday in Pakistan’s Punjab province, Worthy News learned. China Detains Bishop Amid Crackdown On Unregistered Groups China’s communist authorities have rearrested a Catholic bishop over his refusal to join the state-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association overseeing churches, Christians told Worthy News Thursday. Worthy Insights There’s a ‘vast underground city’ below Egypt’s Giza pyramids, scientists’ wild theory claims — but experts debunk it as ‘fake news’ Researchers claim they’ve discovered the legendary Halls of Amenti in a “vast city” beneath Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza — a wild theory that has perplexed archeological experts who dismiss the claims as “fake news.” Report: Israel eyeing full-scale, months-long occupation Israeli political and military leaders are considering plans for a fresh ground campaign in Gaza that could include a military occupation of the entire enclave for months or longer, according to Washington Post reporting. The plans would mark a significant escalation in Israel's 17-month operation. Report: Egypt willing to temporarily relocate 500,000 Gazans to northern Sinai Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has approved a plan to temporarily relocate up to 500,000 Gaza residents—approximately a quarter of the enclave's population—to a designated city in northern Sinai, Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported Friday morning. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM/ISTANBUL (Worthy News) – Just days after calling Israel “a terror state that feeds on blood,” Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing the biggest protests in a decade following the detention of his anti-Hamas political rival Ekrem Imamoglu. More rallies were expected as Imamoglu, Istanbul’s mayor and a potential presidential candidate, was due to be transferred to a courthouse late Saturday for questioning by prosecutors. Imamoglu, 54, faces what his supporters view as “politically motivated” charges of “corruption and aiding terrorist groups.” Saturday’s proceedings came shortly before Imamoglu was likely to be nominated Sunday as the secular opposition Republican People’s Party’s candidate for the 2028 presidential elections. Organizers said the party’s primary, where around 1.5 million delegates can vote, will go ahead as planned. The opposition party has also urged citizens to participate in a symbolic election on Sunday, using improvised ballot boxes across Turkey to show solidarity with Imamoglu. Imamoglu’s arrest on Wednesday had sparked the largest protests since 2013 when Turkey was rocked by mass anti-government demonstrations that left eight people dead, observers said. TRUSTEE MAYOR Yet analysts warn that Imamoglu could be removed from office in Istanbul by a “trustee mayor” if he is officially charged with links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), listed as a “terrorist organization” by Turkey and its Western allies. Dozens of other prominent figures, including two district mayors, were also detained, their plight remaining uncertain Saturday. The tensions in Turkey were due to be closely watched in Israel in part because Imamoglu has called Hamas “a terrorist organization,” further distinguishing himself from Turkish President Erdogan. “Hamas, of course, carried out an attack in Israel that we are deeply saddened by, and any organized structure that carries out terrorist attacks and kills people en masse is considered a terrorist organization by us,” Imamoglu told U.S. broadcaster CNN last year. “We interpret Hamas’s attack as a bad attack, and a very bad situation, as a terrorist attack. But we also represent an understanding that stands against the oppression of Palestinians and the killing of women and children,” Imamoglu added. The comments by the likely presidential candidate came in stark contrast to Erdogan’s criticism of Israel as it fights Hamas, which the president — himself a former Istanbul mayor — openly supports. Erdogan has said that Hamas is “not a terrorist organization” but a “liberation group” fighting to protect Palestinian lands. RED CARPET In January, Erdogan rolled out the red carpet in Turkey for Hamas leader Muhammad Ismail Darwish, who replaced Ismail Haniyeh following his assassination by Israel last year. On Monday, Erdogan labeled Israel “a terror state that feeds on blood” in comments that Jewish leaders perceived as deeply antisemitic. At a fast-breaking dinner during the Muslims’ Ramadan period, Erdogan told military personnel that “The Zionist regime has once again shown that it is a terror state that feeds on the blood, lives, and tears of the innocent with its brutal attacks on Gaza last night.” His comments resembled those of opposition legislator Hasan Bitmez, who suffered a heart attack in parliament in December 2023 after claiming to condemn Israel on behalf of Allah. Bitmez collapsed at the lectern of the Turkish Grand National Assembly following his warning to Israel: “Even if you escape the torment of history, you will not be able to escape the wrath of Allah.” Worthy News reported that he said, “I salute you all,” before collapsing to the ground at the podium, with his head hitting the floor. While Erdogan did not collapse, the arrest of his popular anti-Hamas opponent dashed hopes for those hoping to see better Turkish-Israeli ties. It also came as a setback to protesters who seek an end to Erdogan’s perceived authoritarian rule over Turkey at a time of economic difficulties, though not all may share Imamoglu’s anti-Hamas views. PROTESTS EXPECTED With more protests expected, Republican People’s Party leader Özgür Özel announced “an extraordinary party congress” on April 6 to thwart authorities’ “attempts” to appoint a “trustee chairman” to lead the party. The decision came amid concerns that authorities could annul the party’s last congress, held in 2023, over alleged vote-buying and other irregularities and appoint a handpicked leader. There was also concern over more violence as gunmen opened fire on the Iraqi consulate in Istanbul, the Turkish and Iraqi foreign ministries said. No injuries were reported after Friday’s incident in which unknown assailants riding on a motorcycle and armed with an assault rifle fired eight shots at the building before fleeing, officials said. The Turkish foreign ministry vowed that “the necessary investigation is being carried out meticulously by our security units” and “those responsible will be brought to justice.” It stated that measures were taken to secure Iraqi diplomatic missions in Ankara, Istanbul, and Gaziantep. It was not clear what may have motivated the shooting, but it added to the realization that Turkey would face more instability. On Saturday, authorities announced that a total of 97 people were detained nationwide in the anti-Erdogan protests in which at least 16 police officers were reportedly injured. The post Mass Rallies Against Turkey’s Erdogan Closely Watched In Israel (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News GAINESVILLE/LONDON/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Heathrow in London is “fully operational” after an “apocalyptic” fire at a nearby electrical substation brought Europe’s busiest airport to a standstill on Friday, its leadership says. Heathrow’s chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, said he’s “proud” of how the airport responded to the incident and is “sincerely sorry” for the disruption to at least hundreds of thousands of travelers. Yet questions were raised about whether Heathrow should have been better prepared, given the hub airport’s critical importance—not least to the roughly 250,000 international travelers who were due to fly in or out on Friday. Among those impacted are senior athletes participating in the 2025 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Gainesville, Florida. “We could just arrive before the fire broke out,” Hungarian champion athlete athlete Judit Kovács told Worthy News. “But several of our friends will not make it in time,” added the former Hungarian Athlete of the Year and Olympics sportswoman. “Among those not arriving is Hungarian woman Mária Gosztolai, who, at age 76, is the best shot putter in the world at her age.” Like Kovács, the multiple senior world champion attempted to fly from Budapest, Hungary, through Heathrow to the United States only to be told her flight had been canceled. In addition to famous sportspeople, travelers worldwide were either delayed or did not arrive at their destinations, and numerous planes were redirected, often while in midair. https://worthynews-1fe3e.kxcdn.com/wordpressimages/2025/03/heathrow-travelers-480x360.jpg(Pictured from right to left athletes Judit Kovács, Andrea Simon-Balláné Kalamár, and Noemi Bátori in Budapest before leaving for troubled Heathrow Airport. Photo: Stefan J. Bos for Worthy News.) BROADER CONCERN The fire at Heathrow also underscored that Britain’s National Grid has struggled to keep up with the burgeoning demand for electricity capacity in developing west London. However, the supplier has refused to rule out that Moscow was behind an attack on infrastructure in response to Britain’s support for Ukraine’s war effort against Russia. While local police said there was “no indication” of foul play, counter-terrorism detectives are reportedly investigating if anyone was directly responsible. Critics are calling for an inquiry into what contingency plans Heathrow had available and what it could do about them. “It is not a good look for an airport demanding a third runway to abruptly have no planes on its existing two,” Britain’s The Guardian newspaper wrote. But the left-leaning daily still saw hopeful signs in Friday’s misery, which is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars in lost trade. “Perhaps the fact that a fire described as “apocalyptic” in the night was virtually extinguished by daylight by London’s firefighters; that power was restored before breakfast to most of the 67,000 homes also reliant on the North Hyde substation; and that all that occurred without casualty in the ground or air, also shows a certain resilience worth noting.” The Heathrow fire also stranded passengers more than 1,000 miles (roughly 1,700 kilometers) away in the main airport of Hungary’s capital. It overshadowed the celebratory mood of staff at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport, which just won the “Best in Europe” award from the Airports Council International for the second time in two years. (With additional reporting from London, the United States, and the Worthy News Europe Bureau in Budapest.) (Pictured from right to left athletes Judit Kovács, Andrea Simon-Balláné Kalamár, and Noemi Bátori in Budapest before leaving for troubled Heathrow Airport. Photo: Stefan J. Bos for Worthy News.) The post London’s Heathrow Airport ‘Fully Operational’ After ‘Apocalyptic’ Fire And Power Outage appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article