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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Air raid sirens wailed throughout Kyiv Monday as a dozen world leaders arrived in the Ukrainian capital on the 3rd anniversary of the war that broke out with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. “Danger of missiles over the entire territory of Ukraine,” warned the Ukrainian air force on social media platform Telegram, referring to a Russian Mig-31 fighter jet that reportedly took off with missiles on board. There was no immediate confirmation from Moscow, but it came just hours after Ukraine’s military said its drones struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Ryazan Oblast. Kyiv views oil refineries to be “legitimate military targets” as “profits from the fossil fuel industry fund Russia’s war machine.” At least five explosions were reportedly heard near the facility, and Ryazan Oblast Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed that falling drone debris had caused a fire at “one of the enterprises” in the region. Malkov added no one was injured in the attack on the Ryazan Oil Refinery, one of Russia’s five largest oil refining facilities, about 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. Kyiv claims fuel produced at the enterprise is used for Russian missile strikes against Ukraine, but those allegations could not be verified. The Ryazan Oil Refinery previously suspended operations due to damage from Ukrainian drone attacks on January 24 and January 26, industry sources said. EUROPE WORRIED The strikes underscored concerns in Europe over how the war will end. News emerged Monday that leaders of the 27 European Union countries will, therefore, hold an emergency summit on March 6 to discuss the next steps for Ukraine and Europe’s security. European Union’s European Council President Antonio Costa announced that he is convening the summit in Brussels. Costa added, “We are living a defining moment for Ukraine and European security.” Since the EU leaders last met on February 3, U.S. President Donald J. Trump and his administration have raised doubts about American support for Ukraine and decades of commitment to defending European allies. However, in Kyiv, several world leaders rallied around Ukraine, including the president of the European Union’s executive European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Costa, and the leaders of Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway, Spain and Sweden. There were no signs that the U.S. sent a representation to Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the Second World War. The post Air Raid Sirens In Kyiv As World Leaders Arrive For Third Anniversary appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News CARDIFF/LONDON (Worthy News) – Wales is the first part of Britain to roll out a facial recognition system that critics claim will turn Brits into “walking barcodes” and “a nation of suspects.” The technology, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), captures the faces of every person passing through an area covered in real time. It then compares them to a database of those described in reports as “wanted criminals.” Additionally, police use an application, or ‘app’ in short, on their smartphones to confirm someone’s identity. Officials say the app, Operator Initiated Facial Recognition (OIFR), has already been tested by 70 officers across South Wales and will be used by South Wales Police and Gwent Police. Police claim photos taken using the app will “not be retained.” Footage captured in private areas such as homes, schools, medical facilities, and places of worship will only be used in situations “relating to a risk of significant harm,” police pledge. HUMAN RIGHTS Human rights activists complain that this goes even further than what British police used so far for surveillance based on live facial recognition: vans with one camera. Critics say the move to position a host of security cameras in the central zone of Wales’ capital, Cardiff, is “a significant expansion” of the technique. While police claim increasing live facial recognition “really enhances” their ability to do their jobs, the Big Brother Watch privacy group isn’t convinced. The group has condemned the move as a “shocking” development. It says the system creates an “Orwellian biometric surveillance zone,” referring to George Orwell’s novel 1984 and its Big Brother character watching anyone. Capturing everyone’s biometric data is turning Brits into “walking barcodes” and “a nation of suspects” and is a waste of public money, argues Big Brother Watch’s Senior Advocacy Officer Madeleine Stone. “This network of facial recognition cameras will make it impossible for Cardiff residents and visitors to opt out of a biometric police identity check,” Stone warns in remarks seen by Worthy News. Police explain that the new facial recognition system can be used on unconscious or dead people to help officers identify them quickly “so their family can be reached with care and compassion.” QUICK DETENTION In cases where someone is wanted for a criminal offense, law enforcement authorities say the system will “secure their quick arrest and detention.” British police add that cases of mistaken identity can be quickly resolved without the need to visit a police station or custody suite. Assistant Chief Constable Nick McLain of Gwent Police calls embracing the technology an “integral part of effective policing and public safety.” “The use of this technology always involves human decision-making and oversight, ensuring that it is used lawfully, ethically, and in the public interest,” he says. “We have a robust scrutiny process in place to ensure accountability and testing found no evidence of racial, age or gender bias.” Authorities stress that the main aim is to provide security during the international Six Nations rugby event, which ends on March 15. However, police also describe the move as “semi-permanent,” suggesting that similar projects could expand across Britain. Yet over the three years that live facial recognition was used at sporting venues the technology has not led to any arrests, rights activities argue. “No other democracy in the world spies on its population with live facial recognition in this cavalier and chilling way,” Stone notes, adding, “South Wales Police must immediately stop this dystopian trial.” The post Wales Introduces Britain’s AI-Powered ‘Orwellian Facial Recognition’ System (Worthy News Focus) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, self conscious? Matthew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Everywhere we look today, there’s some kind of “self-help” advice—books, podcasts, videos, websites, even world-famous speakers—all telling us how to feel better about ourselves. And yet, so many of us still wrestle with self-doubt, even as believers! But let’s think about this for a second. Did Yeshua (Jesus) ever say, “Just feel good about yourself”? No, He actually told us to crucify ourselves! If we go around hating ourselves and even feeling condemnation over our faults and sins, what we are really doing is focusing on our self! My wife said something really wise the other day: Self-consciousness is not God-consciousness. And that’s the truth. God doesn’t want us fixated on ourselves -- He wants our eyes on Him! When we lay down our flesh and surrender fully, it’s no longer us trying to live this life -- it’s about Him living through us! And if our old self is crucified, there’s no self left to hate, no self left to condemn. That’s real freedom! We’re free to serve the Lord and let Him do amazing things through us. Friend, so let’s stop looking in the mirror and start looking up—because the more we focus on Him, the more He shines through us! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (George & Obi - Phoenix, AZ | 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 UN Resolution on Ukraine War Anniversary Passes Despite Opposition from U.S. and Russia The United States voted against a European-backed resolution in the United Nations General Assembly that demanded Russia immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine, reaffirm Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and strongly condemned Russia's invasion on the third anniversary of the war. Air Raid Sirens In Kyiv As World Leaders Arrive For Third Anniversary Air raid sirens wailed throughout Kyiv Monday as a dozen world leaders arrived in the Ukrainian capital on the 3rd anniversary of the war that broke out with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Wales Introduces Britain’s AI-Powered ‘Orwellian Facial Recognition’ System (Worthy News Focus) Wales is the first part of Britain to roll out a facial recognition system that critics claim will turn Brits into “walking barcodes” and “a nation of suspects.” Hungary Blocks New EU Military Aid for Ukraine On 3rd Anniversary Of War Hungary will veto a new multibillion-euro European Union military aid package for Ukraine, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed Monday. Budapest also opposes “the automatic extension of sanctions” against Russian individuals, saying it prefers peace talks about ending the three-year war between Ukraine and Russia. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Launches Numerous Raids in Syria to Enhance Golan Security The Israel Defense Forces announced on Monday that Brigade 474 of Division 210 executed multiple brief incursions beyond Israel's buffer zone into southern Syria, capturing weapons and military gear left by the old Syrian army. The army also released footage from a recent operation showcasing the seized armaments. Hezbollah’s Economic Crisis: War Exacerbates Financial Instability Hezbollah, the Iranian backed terrorist group is struggling to fulfill its financial commitments to its followers. The U.S.-designated terrorist organization, Hezbollah acts as a quasi-government in Lebanon, providing jobs and services and compensating families of fighters and others affected by conflict, however the recent war's financial burden has put these payments at risk, according to a new report by the Wall Street Journal. Inside the United States Trump Issues Executive Order Tightening Restrictions on Chinese Investments in U.S. President Trump signed a national security memorandum on Friday directing the Federal Government to restrict Chinese investments in the U.S. that pose a threat to national security. Trump Says Tariffs on Schedule as Pause Deadline Nears President Donald Trump said Monday that his tariff plans for Mexico and Canada will move forward "on time" as the end of the 30-day pause on the 25% import duty approaches. Christian News International Court Asked To Condemn Nicaragua Over Jailing Pastors A leading international court is deliberating on whether to punish Nicaragua after it sentenced 11 Nicaraguan pastors and ministry leaders to prison and forced them to pay millions in fines for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in massive evangelism campaigns. Worthy Insights Federal judge rejects AP’s bid to overturn White House ban on outlet’s access to key areas A federal judge on Monday denied the Associated Press' request to immediately restore its access to select areas of the White House, after the administration pulled the outlet's access to the Oval Office and Air Force One earlier this month. 300 Rush Altar to Receive Christ During Regular Church Service: ‘It’s Absolutely Incredible’ Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship is encouraging fellow pastors to make it a habit to share the Gospel message and invite people to accept Christ as their Savior after every message they preach. Elon Musk defends Netanyahu under criminal indictment ;’Deep State Is Everywhere’ Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, tasked by former President Donald Trump with leading massive cuts to the U.S. government, weighed in Monday on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing trial, claiming that the "deep state is everywhere." NYC’s notorious Roosevelt Hotel shelter will be migrant-free in coming months, Mayor Eric Adams says The notorious migrant shelter and arrival center at Manhattan’s Roosevelt Hotel will close in a couple of months, Mayor Eric Adams said Monday — as data showed the number of asylum seekers entering the city’s care has dropped nearly 200% since the crisis’ peak. Olmert reveals for first time map of Palestinian state he offered Abbas Former prime minister Ehud Omert has for the first time revealed the map for a two-state solution that he showed to Mahmoud Abbas in 2008, and spoke of how he urged the Palestinian Authority president to sign the document right there and then. Apple Announces Unprecedented Job-Creating Investment Days After CEO Met with Trump Apple announced Monday that it will be investing over $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years — its largest capital investment ever. Trump’s MAGA Policies Are Widely Popular; New Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll Shows A new Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll shows that most Americans support President Trump's agenda to "Make America Great Again," which includes beefing up the southern and northern borders and deporting criminal illegal aliens, unleashing DOGE on the corrupt federal bureaucracy, ending all toxic forms of DEI initiatives in the federal government, military, and corporate America, and ensuring the nation is energy independent. Meanwhile, approval for the Democratic Party has collapsed to record lows as radical leftist lawmakers double and triple down on woke policies. ICE Nabs Notorious Smuggler of Illegal Aliens The ringleader of an international illegal-alien smuggling conspiracy, a sophisticated network operating along the United States southern border since at least 2018, was extradited from Mexico to the U.S. as the result of a multi-agency investigation. Cartel-linked human smuggling operation that kidnapped migrants dismantled by US, Mexico A binational enforcement operation between Mexico and the United States took down a cartel-linked human smuggling operation that reportedly kidnapped migrants attempting to enter the U.S. illegally and then extorted their families for money. Planned Parenthood Faces Crisis as Clinics Close and Malpractice Allegations Mount Planned Parenthood, the nation's leading abortion provider, is grappling with a growing crisis, according to a recent bombshell article by The New York Times. The report highlights botched abortions, failed procedures, and undertrained staff as the organization struggles both financially and in terms of its operations. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BRUSSELS/KYIV/BUDAPEST(Worthy News) – Hungary will veto a new multibillion-euro European Union military aid package for Ukraine, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó confirmed Monday. Budapest also opposes “the automatic extension of sanctions” against Russian individuals, saying it prefers peace talks about ending the three-year war between Ukraine and Russia. The announcement by Hungary’s top diplomat came while EU foreign ministers were meeting in Brussels to coordinate a response to U.S.-Russia negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine. Elsewhere in Kyiv, a summit was underway attended by world leaders on the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began with an opening address, watched by 15 world leaders, including EU leaders and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It came while in Brussels, a proposal from EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to ramp up military and financial support for Kyiv was also on the table. Kallas will travel to Washington on Tuesday to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio but already said that the “Russian narrative is strong in the U.S.,” referring to President Donald J. Trump’s recent remarks calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator without elections. Other leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, are also in Washington this week to meet Trump. They will discuss Ukraine amid concerns Europe won’t be invited for crucial peace talks with Russia, which invaded its neighbor on February 24, 2022. Yet all 27 EU member states must approve any new aid or security guarantees to Kyiv, giving Hungary the power to stall key decisions. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government, which maintains close ties with Russia, has called for peace talks rather than increased military support. HASTY CEASEFIRE However, Russia rejects what it calls “a U.S. push for a hasty ceasefire” in Ukraine, warning of “serious consequences” if talks move too quickly. “A ceasefire without long-term agreements will only lead to renewed fighting and a worse conflict, including for U.S.-Russia relations,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told state news agency RIA on Monday. Moscow and Washington are set to hold diplomatic talks later this week, but the Kremlin insists any deal must address its security concerns. Amid the diplomatic wrangling, the presidents of the European Union’s executive European Commission, the European Parliament, and the EU Council of prime ministers tried to show unity, reaffirming “full support” for Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion. “We stand firmly behind Ukraine and will not waver. Peace, security, and justice will prevail,” wrote Ursula von der Leyen, Roberta Metsola, and António Costa in a joint statement. The leaders called for continued global support to achieve “a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on Ukraine’s terms.” ‘IMPERIALIST OBSESSION’ During a visit to Kyiv, the wartorn capital, Von der Leyen announced Monday that Ukraine will receive an additional 3.5 billion euros ($3.7 billion) in EU financial aid next month. “Putin’s attack on Ukraine is driven by imperialist obsession. Supporting Ukraine remains Europe’s top priority,” she wrote in a letter to Zelenskyy. She visited Kyiv while EU foreign ministers in Brussels began discussing a significant boost in military funding for Kyiv. The bloc also unveiled its 16th sanctions package against Russia, targeting key sectors of its economy, but without Hungary’s support, those plans remain wishful thinking. The post Hungary Blocks New EU Military Aid for Ukraine On 3rd Anniversary Of War appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israel deployed tanks in Jenin for the first time in over 20 years on Sunday, signaling an extended military presence in northern Samaria as it intensifies counterterrorism operations in the region. For the first time since 2002, Israel deployed tanks in Judea and Samaria following bus bombings in Bat Yam and Holon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to intensify the conflict during a rare visit to the Tulkarem refugee camp. During a troop visit and briefing by commanders, Netanyahu stated, “In the past year, we have greatly increased our activity. We are entering the terrorist strongholds, clearing entire streets used by terrorists, their homes. We are eliminating terrorists and commanders.” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to “increase the intensity of the activity to thwart terrorism” in Judea and Samaria, stating that troops will remain “for the coming year” and that Palestinians who have fled cannot return. “We will not allow the return of residents, and we will not allow terrorism to return and grow,” he emphasized. Katz also instructed the military to prepare for “an extended stay” in emptied Judea and Samraria urban areas, from which about 40,000 Palestinians have fled — a figure confirmed by the United Nations. Since launching “Operation Iron Wall” in Judea and Samaria on January 19, Israeli forces have arrested over 200 terror suspects, eliminated 71 deemed security threats, and confiscated more than 300 weapons and explosives. They have also uncovered a bomb-making laboratory. Additionally, since the October 7 attacks, Israeli forces have detained 6,000 Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, with around 40 percent linked to Hamas. The post Israel Deploys Tanks in West Bank Near Jenin for First Time in Two Decades, Escalating Anti-Terror Operations appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Thousands dressed in black converged at Beirut’s Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium to mourn Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli airstrike five months ago. As Israeli jets flew low overhead just as the funeral began, the crowd chanted “Death to Israel, death to America, we respond to your call, Nasrallah.” At the funeral, attendees displayed Hezbollah flags and Nasrallah’s photos, reaffirming their support for the terrorist group despite recent losses in conflicts with Israel. Nasrallah, instrumental in turning Hezbollah into a major military threat with Iran’s support, was a prime target in Israel’s escalated campaign last year that notably debilitated the terrorist group. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the overflight during Nasrallah’s funeral sent a “clear message” to Israel’s adversaries. “Israeli Air Force aircraft currently flying over Beirut, over the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, convey a clear message: Whoever threatens to destroy Israel and attack Israel — it will be their end,” he stated. Katz further declared, “You will specialize in funerals, and we will specialize in victories.” The post Thousands Chant ‘Death to Israel’ at Nasrallah’s Funeral Amid Israeli Jet Flyovers appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Tate Miller | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – The U.S. Department of Education under the Trump administration says that race-based decisions in education – including race-based hiring, admissions, and scholarships – are unlawful, and any institution that does not comply with the department’s antidiscrimination requirements will face loss of federal funding. “The Department of Education will no longer allow education entities to discriminate on the basis of race,” Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for Civil Rights at the department, told The Center Square. “This isn’t complicated,” Trainor said. “When in doubt, every school should consult the SFFA legal test contained in the [Dear Colleague letter]: ‘If an educational institution treats a person of one race differently than it treats another person because of that person’s race, the educational institution violates the law.’” Trainor also said that “additional guidance on implementation is forthcoming.” Trainor’s Dear Colleague letter states that federal law “prohibits covered entities from using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life.” “The Department will vigorously enforce the law on equal terms as to all preschool, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions, as well as state educational agencies, that receive financial assistance,” according to Trainor’s letter. “If an educational institution treats a person of one race differently than it treats another person because of that person’s race, the educational institution violates the law,” Trainor wrote. Schools have until the end of the month to begin complying with the letter’s content. According to Trainor’s letter, “the Department intends to take appropriate measures to assess compliance with the applicable statutes and regulations based on the understanding embodied in this letter beginning no later than [Feb. 28], including antidiscrimination requirements that are a condition of receiving federal funding,” Trainor wrote. Trainor said in his letter that “the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), which clarified that the use of racial preferences in college admissions is unlawful, sets forth a framework for evaluating the use of race by state actors and entities covered by Title VI.” Since 1964, Title VI has existed to prohibit racial discrimination in federally-funded programs, as stated by the Department of Justice. “Although SFFA addressed admissions decisions, the Supreme Court’s holding applies more broadly,” Trainor wrote. “Educational institutions have toxically indoctrinated students with the false premise that the United States is built upon ‘systemic and structural racism’ and advanced discriminatory policies and practices,” Trainor wrote. “Proponents of these discriminatory practices have attempted to further justify them – particularly during the last four years – under the banner of ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (‘DEI’),” Trainor wrote. “The Department will no longer tolerate the overt and covert racial discrimination that has become widespread in this Nation’s educational institutions,” Trainor wrote. “The law is clear: treating students differently on the basis of race to achieve nebulous goals such as diversity, racial balancing, social justice, or equity is illegal under controlling Supreme Court precedent,” Trainor wrote. Visiting fellow in higher education at The Heritage Foundation Adam Kissel told The Center Square that “the DEI party in education is over.” “The Supreme Court was quite clear that racial discrimination in higher education is illegal,” Kissel said. “The U.S. Department of Education has clarified that workarounds and winks, including facially neutral programs that are designed to achieve racially disparate outcomes, violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” Kissel said. Kissel also recommended that “the department should quickly issue guidance emphasizing that some provisions of its legacy Title VI regulations are no longer good law.” “The department’s legacy civil rights regulations are built on toleration of discriminatory ‘affirmative action’ preferences and practices that are no longer allowed,” Kissel said. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post U.S. Education Department: DEI is a Civil Rights Violation appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – The policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the world’s largest Baptist church organization, wants the U.S. Congress to end the alleged killing of “millions of preborn sons and daughters” by defunding Planned Parenthood, America’s biggest abortion provider. “As you begin the important debate about budget reconciliation, we, as Southern Baptists and Christians, are making a simple request of you: defund Planned Parenthood,” says a petition by SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). “For too long, taxpayer dollars, $700 million last year alone, have been given to this organization that profits from ending life,” stresses the petition obtained by Worthy News. “End this egregious assault on the consciences of millions of pro-life Americans that has resulted in the unconscionable loss of millions of preborn sons and daughters at the hands of this organization. It’s time to take this significant step toward establishing a true culture of life. Now is the time to defund Planned Parenthood,” it adds. In published remarks, ERLC President Brent Leatherwood said that the effort is timely as the Congressional debate over the annual federal budget is ongoing. He hopes that the Republican Party will use its majorities in the U.S. Congress, including the Senate and House of Representatives, to finally “defund” the abortion giant. Leatherwood said the ERLC is pressing “pro-life senators” to rely on a procedural fast-track process called budget reconciliation. This process allows legislators to pass a budget with a simple majority instead of the typical 60-vote threshold in the Senate. RECONCILIATION PROCESS Republicans hold a 53-seat majority in the 100-member chamber, plus a current 218-215 majority in the House of Representatives, with two vacancies. “And with the reconciliation process beginning with a Republican House, a Republican Senate, and a Republican-controlled White House,” Leatherwood said, “we think now is the time to follow through on those commitments and fully defund Planned Parenthood so that taxpayer resources aren’t going to this sort of horrific behavior and activity.” As of February 19, the petition included a list of more than 50 leaders in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, including seminary presidents R. Albert Mohler Jr. and David Dockery, Charlotte, North Carolina; pastor and SBC President Clint Pressley; and Dallas-area pastor Jack Graham, a former Southern Baptist Convention president. Leatherwood said he expects more pastors and lay people to sign the petition in the coming days. He plans to take it to Congress. “We’re going to be delivering that message to the House of Representatives and, in particular, the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Budget Committee, to tell them that this needs to be a priority as they are saving taxpayer resources,” he stressed. “With a Republican-controlled House, Republican-controlled Senate, this is the moment to act on those historic pledges.” While Christians are divided about involvement in politics, supporters of the petition view it as a Biblical mission to help end massive abortions. ‘PREBORN SANCTITY’ “Southern Baptists affirm the sanctity of every human life, including the preborn,” the petition notes. “Scripture testifies that every person is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and that life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13-16). The Baptist Faith and Message proclaims that children, from conception, are ‘a blessing and heritage from the Lord.’ As followers of Christ, we must advocate for protecting vulnerable preborn lives and oppose organizations and practices that undermine the value of life.” It complains that “Planned Parenthood’s predatory, deceptive, and destructive practices are destroying preborn lives at the expense of the American taxpayer.” There was no immediate reaction from the White House. Still, Vice President JD Vance says the administration of his boss, Donald J. Trump, advocates for government policies and cultural values that encourage Americans to “choose life” and “start families.” He said last week at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, that [People need to] stop thinking about babies as inconveniences to be discarded. We’ve got to start thinking of them as blessings to cherish.” Vance noted that the United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling that had enabled nationwide abortions completely changed the abortion debate. The latest Supreme Court move allows the will of the people to speak on the life issue” and removes it from “unelected bureaucrats” and “unelected judges.” PRO-LIFE CULTURE Vance suggested advancing a culture of life by supporting “pro-life” pregnancy centers, enacting policies to bring costs down, enabling people to raise families, changing perceptions about abortion, and encouraging people to choose life. “Maybe they’ll start thinking of babies as the blessings that we all know that they are,” Vance stressed. Vance referred to President Donald Trump as the “most pro-life president in American history” for nominating three of the justices who joined the majority opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade. Catholic critics noted he did not address concerns about Trump’s recent executive order to expand and reduce the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Critics say that in the fertility treatment procedure, human embryos “are routinely destroyed.” In addition, Vance spoke about his Christian faith, noting Christianity is centered on the fact that “the Son of God became man, He died, and then He raised himself from the dead.” “One lesson that flows from that is that we shouldn’t fear death,” he added. “There are much more terrible things than just losing one’s life. You could lose one’s soul.” In addition, Vance spoke about his Christian faith, noting Christianity is centered on the fact that “the Son of God became man, He died, and then He raised himself from the dead.” One lesson that he said “flows from that is that we shouldn’t fear death. There are much more terrible things than just losing one’s life. You could lose one’s soul.” The post Baptists Want US To Defund Planned Parenthood Over Abortions 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 remains in critical condition at the hospital, with blood tests indicating the 88-year-old pontiff is suffering from early-stage kidney failure, the Vatican suggested in a health update late Sunday. Earlier in the day, the Vatican released a written message from the pope urging people to pray for him. The Argentine church leader has been hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for over a week due to double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. Despite the onset of kidney failure, the Vatican stated that the pope remains mentally alert, though his condition remains critical. However, the Vatican added in a statement seen by Worthy News that the pope “has not experienced any further respiratory crises.” He received two units of concentrated red blood cells with beneficial effects, and his hemoglobin levels have risen. The thrombocytopenia remains stable; however, some blood tests show early, mild renal insufficiency, which is currently under control,” the Vatican added. MANAGING MASS “High-flow oxygen therapy continues through nasal cannulas,” the Vatican explained, adding that Francis “remains alert and well-oriented. The complexity of the clinical situation and the necessary time for the pharmacological treatments to show results require that the prognosis remain guarded.” However, the Vatican said he managed to participate in a Mass with “those who have been taking care of him during these days of hospitalization. ” Francis, who has chronic lung disease, was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome on 14 February after a week-long bout of bronchitis worsened. In Rome, the face of Francis, the pontiff of more than a billion Catholics, flashed on the television screens in buses, trams, or streetcars amid anxiety among residents. In St. Peter’s Square, part of Vatican City in the heart of Rome, tourists were seen with people anxiously awaiting news about the pope. The post Pope Francis Remains in Critical Condition Amid Early-Stage Kidney Failure appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KYIVBUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is willing to step down “immediately” if it secures peace for Ukraine and suggests to trade his resignation for the country’s membership of the NATO military alliance. He spoke Sunday after Russia carried out its most significant drone attack on Ukraine so far, ahead of the 3rd anniversary of the war, which broke out when Moscow invaded its neighbor on February 24, 2022. “If peace for Ukraine is at stake, I am ready to leave my post immediately. I can exchange it for NATO membership if those are the terms,” Zelenskyy told reporters Sunday. Both the United States and Russia are against Ukraine joining NATO. At a press conference in Kyiv, Zelenskyy also expressed his desire to work with U.S. President Donald J. Trump as a partner rather than just a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow. “I really want it to be more than just mediation. That is not enough,” he stated. Zelenskyy requested an urgent meeting with Trump to discuss a deal granting Washington access to Ukraine’s natural resources in exchange for security guarantees. He wants the meeting to occur before Trump talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a potential peace agreement. Yet many of the mineral resources the Trump administration is seeking as compensation for U.S. wartime support are located in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine, Vice Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko revealed Sunday. $350 BILLION “Unfortunately, an estimated $350 billion worth of valuable and rare materials are currently in temporarily occupied territories,” Svyrydenko explained. Much of this wealth lies in the eastern Donbas region, controlled by pro-Russian forces since 2014 and later seized by Russian troops. Frustration is growing in Washington over Ukraine’s reluctance to accept U.S. proposals for the $500 billion resource compensation deal. Zelenskyy has reportedly rejected the offer, viewing it as “a sell-off” of Ukraine’s natural assets. He maintains that any agreement must include military guarantees from the U.S. Ukraine is rich in oil, coal, lithium, titanium, uranium, and rare earth metals—key resources for global industries Yet, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said a potential accord between the United States and Ukraine over mineral resources would not include military security guarantees, contracting Zelenskyy’s views. In an interview with broadcaster Fox News, Bessent said such a deal would instead serve as an “implicit U.S. guarantee” of heavy investment in Ukraine’s economic future. “I call it an economic security guarantee,” he explained. DEAL SOON? Despite tensions, both sides insist negotiations are ongoing. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, explained Sunday that he expects a deal to be finalized in the coming week. However, it was not immediately clear how the different views on ending the war could be reconciled. Zelensky also noted that Ukraine is still waiting “on approximately $15 billion” in previously pledged U.S. military aid. He hopes that meetings with foreign leaders on Monday—the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion—will mark a “turning point” in the armed conflict. Yet uncertainty over Trump’s stance on Ukraine has sparked fears in Kyiv, including Ukraine’s reliance on the Starlink satellite communication system, owned by Trump ally Elon Musk. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Sunday that Ukraine is exploring alternatives, as both Musk and Trump have opposed prolonging the war. There are concerns that Trump could use Starlink as leverage against Zelenskyy, say sources familiar with the president’s thinking, potentially pressuring Ukraine into accepting terms more favorable to the U.S. European Union leaders share Zelenskyy’s concerns, and they will hold an “emergency European Council summit” on March 6 in Brussels, Belgium. European Council President António Costa confirmed the gathering on social media platform X. They are due to focus their attention on the bloodshed in Ukraine and European defense strategy, European sources said. The post Ukrainian President Open To Resign In Exchange For NATO Membership appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BERLIN/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU), led by Friedrich Merz, has won the German Federal Election, known for its anti-migration stance and considered right-wing, emerged as the second-largest faction, exit polls showed Sunday. If confirmed as expected, the outcome would put Merz, 69, on the path to becoming the next chancellor of Europe’s largest economy. Yet it marked a significant shift to the right in German politics as the AfD became the nation’s second-largest political force, despite concerns about past neo-Nazi tendencies within its ranks. The conservative Merz, who rules out forming a coalition government with the AfD, will need to ally with at least one party, most likely outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats. Scholz’s ruling “traffic light coalition” of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and Alliance 90/The Greens, named after the parties’ traditional colors, red, yellow, and green, collapsed last year over a budget deficit. Merz promised “to fix” most problems in four years, including massive migration, economic difficulties, and a car industry struggling to catch up with China‘s electric vehicles flooding the European markets. Yet, with a strong AfD and economic headwind, it was unclear whether he could realize his ambitious political agenda. ISLAMIC VIOLENCE Sunday’s voting came in a nation still in shock after several attacks linked to Islamic migrants, including a stabbing near the Holocaust Museum in Berlin, which injured a 30-year-old Spanish tourist on Friday. Amid mounting public anger over these and other attacks, many voters turns their back to the established parties, the outcome suggested. The AfD will almost double from over 10 to nearly 20 percent, its most significant success ever, according to forecasts. The Social Democrats likely achieved their worst result ever in the Bundestag, Germany parliament with a reported 16 percent of the vote. The CDU/CSU will reach 29 percent, exit polls showed. The Greens and the far-left Die Linke were both clearly above the electoral threshold of 5 percent with 13.5 and 8.5 percent respectively. However the liberal Free Democratic Party or FDP, which left Scholz’s government at the end of last year, may not return as it received just 4.9 percent of the votes, according to forecasts. The new party, BSW, a split from Die Linke, would remain just below the 4.7 percent threshold. The post Christian Democrats Win German Vote, ‘But AfD Second’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russia launched more than 200 drones in an overnight attack ahead of the third anniversary of the war against Russia. The attacks, the worst in the armed conflict so far, reportedly killed at least one civilian and was the latest bloodshed in Europe’s most brutal conflict in decades. https://www.worthynews.com/wordpressimages/2025/02/WORTHYNEWSRADIOFEB242025.mp3 It meant another night of suffering for many people in Ukraine. Here in the capital, Kyiv, residents have been awakened by the sound of drones and explosions. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the multi-wave drone attacks on the capital damaged several residential houses and cars. Although there were no immediate reports of casualties here, at least one civilian reportedly died in the Kryvyi Rih area. It was the latest reminder of why Ukraine and Russia are under pressure to launch peace talks. The attacks came as the conflict approaches its third anniversary on Monday. Both sides maintain that they do not target civilians, but observers say many cities and towns have been devastated by a war that is believed to have killed and injured more than one million people. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 267 drones during the overnight assault, with 138 drones intercepted and 119 others going off the radar due to electronic warfare jamming. They added that three ballistic missiles were also being fired under orders of Moscow. DRONE ATTACK Ukraine’s embattled President Zelenskyy said the latest drone attack was Russia’s “aerial terror” and called for unity among his nation’s allies. He added on social media that on the eve of the third anniversary of the full-scale war, Russia “launched the largest attack since Iranian drones began striking Ukrainian cities and villages.” The full-scale began on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a massive invasion of Ukraine. “I have taken the decision to carry out a special military operation,” Russian President Vladimir Putin told his nation and the world” at the time as thousands of Russian troops marched and rolled into Ukraine. “Anyone who tries to interfere with us or threaten our country and our people should know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead to consequences the likes you have never experienced in your history,” Putin warned. That’s why, after months of tensions, air raid sirens wailed even in the capital, Kyiv. Millions were shocked, and many, mostly women and children, prepared to leave the wartorn nation. “I never thought this could happen,” recalled emotional teacher Olena Kurilo, who suffered a facial wound. “I never thought this would truly happen in this lifetime,” she stressed, holding back tears.”We wrote poems about the war. I myself am a director and an educator. We studied the history, but we never thought this would happen on our land,” the woman added, wearing a bandage over her head. But it did happen. With more than one million people reported killed and injured, many wonder when the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War Two will end. The post Ukraine Suffers Record Drone Attack Ahead Of 3rd Anniversary (Worthy News Radio) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, be bold in Him! Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. For 2000 years now, humans all over the world can do what was possible for only one single man, (Israel's high priest) before the death and resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus). We can enter the Holy of Holies, the very Presence of the almighty God, without dying. When we pray, we have direct access to God, our Father, not on our own merit, since our own righteousness is but filthy rags [Isaiah 64:6], but on the merit and perfection of His only Son. We have a High Priest “who knew no sin, and yet became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him!” [2 Cor 5:21] Through His blood … in His righteousness … we are able to approach God boldly, with all confidence that He desires to answer our prayers! Friend, enter boldly into His presence by what Yeshua (Jesus) has done, is doing, and will do for you. It is the Father’s will to glorify His Son. Our prayers do that when they conform to His will. So be bold in your prayer life… participate in the very will of God as a new creation. by entering His Holy Presence with the confidence, His own righteousness has provided for you. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Los Angeles, California) 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 Pope Francis Remains in Critical Condition Amid Early-Stage Kidney Failure Pope Francis remains in critical condition at the hospital, with blood tests indicating the 88-year-old pontiff is suffering from early-stage kidney failure, the Vatican suggested in a health update late Sunday. Ukrainian President Open To Resign In Exchange For NATO Membership Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is willing to step down “immediately” if it secures peace for Ukraine and suggests to trade his resignation for the country’s membership of the NATO military alliance. Christian Democrats Win German Vote, ‘But AfD Second’ Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU), led by Friedrich Merz, has won the German Federal Election, known for its anti-migration stance and considered right-wing, emerged as the second-largest faction, exit polls showed Sunday. Ukraine Suffers Record Drone Attack Ahead Of 3rd Anniversary (Worthy News Radio) Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russia launched more than 200 drones in an overnight attack ahead of the third anniversary of the war against Russia. The attacks, the worst in the armed conflict so far, reportedly killed at least one civilian and was the latest bloodshed in Europe’s most brutal conflict in decades. France, Germany Shocked By Knife Attacks Killing One, Injuring Several France and Germany are reeling from knife attacks linked to Islamic extremism and antisemitism in which at least one person was killed and six injured. Europe In Turmoil As Russia-US Design World Order (Worthy News Focus) “I am thinking of leaving the Netherlands if there is a war again in Europe,” says Aafje van Kampen, a Dutch painter and graphic artist who happens to be the mother of a Worthy News agency reporter. Mexico Worried About Possible US Intervention Changes Constitution Mexico’s president unveiled constitutional reforms Thursday amid concerns over possible American military intervention in her country after U.S. President Donald J. Trump designated six Mexican drug cartels as “foreign terrorist” organizations. Outrage in Kyiv Over Trump’s Remarks: ‘We Are a Sovereign Nation’ Ukraine has reacted angrily and in disbelief to U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is “a dictator with only four percent public support.” Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Deploys Tanks in West Bank Near Jenin for First Time in Two Decades, Escalating Anti-Terror Operations Israel deployed tanks in Jenin for the first time in over 20 years on Sunday, signaling an extended military presence in northern Samaria as it intensifies counterterrorism operations in the region. Thousands Chant ‘Death to Israel’ at Nasrallah’s Funeral Amid Israeli Jet Flyovers Thousands dressed in black converged at Beirut's Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium to mourn Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli airstrike five months ago. As Israeli jets flew low overhead just as the funeral began, the crowd chanted "Death to Israel, death to America, we respond to your call, Nasrallah." Hamas Releases Six Hostages After Handing Over Mother’s Body Hamas released six Israeli hostages on Saturday, just hours after it handed over the body of hostage Shiri Bibas, a mother whose two children were killed. Israel Mourns as Netanyahu Vows Justice for Young Victims of Hamas Atrocity (Video) Israeli citizens were shocked when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday recounted the horrific events leading to the deaths of Ariel Bibas, aged 4, and Kfir Bibas, aged 1. Their bodies were returned to Israel on Thursday without their mother. Netanyahu Calls to Expand Counterterror Operation After Bus Bombings Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced intensified Israeli counterterror efforts after Thursday's attempted bus bombings. The operation led to the detention of about 90 suspects and the confiscation of over 15 weapons. Inside the United States U.S. Education Department: DEI is a Civil Rights Violation The U.S. Department of Education under the Trump administration says that race-based decisions in education – including race-based hiring, admissions, and scholarships – are unlawful, and any institution that does not comply with the department’s antidiscrimination requirements will face loss of federal funding. Chinese Spies, Human Smugglers, Violent Criminals Latest ICE Arrests in Florida An alleged Chinese spy, human smugglers and violent criminals are the latest to be arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agents in Florida. Christian News Baptists Want US To Defund Planned Parenthood Over Abortions The policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the world’s largest Baptist church organization, wants the U.S. Congress to end the alleged killing of “millions of preborn sons and daughters” by defunding Planned Parenthood, America’s biggest abortion provider. Worthy Insights Hundreds of ministries to pray for 250 million students in Collegiate Day of Prayer Hundreds of churches, ministries and individuals have committed to pray for 250 million students worldwide for the Collegiate Day of Prayer on Feb. 27. Trump Fires Top U.S. General In Major Shakeup Of Pentagon Leadership President Donald Trump on February 21 fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and dismissed five other admirals and generals in a major shake-up of the top leadership of the U.S. military. Israel challenges Egypt on secret Sinai military buildup Senior Israeli officials have approached Egypt regarding serious violations of peace agreement terms following mounting evidence of Egyptian military buildup in Sinai that exceeds previously agreed limits, Israel Hayom has learned. Israeli scientists fuse ‘brain tissue’ and electronic chips to test autism treatment Israeli entrepreneur and investor Shmulik Bezalel has traveled the world and donated funds for research to find a treatment for his son Itay who has low-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Itay is one of 254 million children and adults worldwide struggling with neuropsychiatric disorders without a suitable treatment. ‘Associated Press’ slammed for saying Bibas kids, their mother ‘died in captivity’ The Associated Press drew widespread criticism, including from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, for stating that Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months, “died in captivity.” US Christians reaffirm Israel’s right to biblical heartland ahead of Trump annexation decision A group of American Christian leaders are publicly reaffirming the Jewish people’s right to the biblical heartland of Israel, ahead of a key U.S. decision on Israeli sovereignty over the territory. ‘Demons exist’: Wikipedia Co-Founder Shares How Studying Hollywood Cults Led Him to Christ Larry Sanger, Wikipedia co-founder, philosopher, and writer, was a devout atheist at one point in his life — but that all changed as his own philosophical writings started to challenge his belief system. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News PARIS/BERLIN/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – France and Germany are reeling from knife attacks linked to Islamic extremism and antisemitism in which at least one person was killed and six injured. In the latest attack in the French city of Mulhouse, near the German border, a man stabbed multiple people, killing one person and injuring five others, investigators said. French President Emmanuel Macron has described the incident Saturday as “a terrorist attack” carried out by an attacker who reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” or “Allah is the Greatest.” Saturday’s violence resulted in the death of a 69-year-old Portuguese man who tried to intervene, officials said. Two parking attendants and three police officers were reportedly injured. One officer was wounded in the carotid artery, another in the chest, while three other police persons sustained lighter injuries, French media said. Local media reported that the 37-year-old perpetrator, who was not immediately identified, has been arrested while police cordoned off the area. France’s public prosecutor said Saturday that the suspect “was on an anti-terror watch list” and had previously been convicted of “promoting terrorism.” ACT OF TERRORISM French President Macron described the attack as an “act of terrorism of Islamist nature,” adding there is “no doubt” about this. Macron also announced that Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who was traveling to Mulhouse, added, “My government is determined to eradicate terrorism from our territory.” The French attack came shortly after news emerged that a man who stabbed a 30-year-old Spanish tourist near the Holocaust Memorial in neighboring Germany’s capital, Berlin, on Friday was a 19-year-old asylum seeker from Syria. The tourist was “seriously injured” but has been stabilized in hospital, authorities said. Germany’s Public Prosecutor’s Office explained that the “perpetrator had an antisemitic motive.” The German leading daily Bild reported that the suspect was “a 19-year-old man” residing in a refugee shelter in Leipzig. Police were searching the facility amid concerns that the attack was “politically motivated,” according to sources familiar with the situation. German television cited sources as saying that the suspect intended to “kill Jews.” It is not the first time Germany has witnessed a knife attack by an asylum seeker; similar incidents occurred last year in Aschaffenburg and Solingen. The latest violence came ahead of Sunday’s elections in Germany, where the anti-migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was expected to win many votes. The post France, Germany Shocked By Knife Attacks Killing One, Injuring Several appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News GAZA CITY/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Hamas released six Israeli hostages on Saturday, just hours after it handed over the body of hostage Shiri Bibas, a mother whose two children were killed. However, Israel delayed the handover of more than 600 Palestinians it was due to free from its prisons in exchange amid mounting anger over the way the group transferred the bodies of dead hostages. Hamas reportedly handed over the body of hostage Shiri Bibas to the Red Cross late Friday. The organization has transferred the remains to Israeli authorities, according to Israeli media citing a senior official. [Israel Defense Forces] IDF representatives are in contact with the family,” the military said. On Thursday, Hamas released four bodies. One was supposed to be that of Shiri Bibas, but forensic examination revealed that it was a Palestinian woman. The bodies were handed over of her young children Kfir and Ariel, who were aged nine months and four years when Hamas kidnapped them during their October 7, 2023 attack in Israel. Hamas claimed that there “may have been a mix-up or misidentification of the bodies due to the bombings by the Israeli occupation.” The hostages released by Hamas on Saturday included an Ethiopian-born Israeli and a Bedouin man, both with a history of mental illness, who had both been held captive for a decade after they wandered into Gaza. WIRE FENCE Avera Mengistu, aged 39, crossed a barbed wire fence on the Gaza beach in September 2014. “Our family has endured 10 years and five months of unimaginable suffering. During this time, there have been continuous efforts to secure his return, with prayers and pleas, some silent, that remained unanswered until today,” Mengistu’s family said in a statement. Hisham al-Sayed, 36, a Bedouin from the Negev desert, walked into Gaza from the east in April 2015 and was detained by Hamas. “Why were they holding someone like that who did nothing wrong? He’s a man of peace, a man who wanted to reach Gaza. He loves Gaza; he did not go there as an aggressor,” Sayed’s father, Shaaban, told Israeli public radio earlier in the week. “This was more painful for us than everything else.” Five of the hostages released on Saturday were handed over in ceremonies that Hamas has used for propaganda and that have been condemned as “cruel and disrespectful” by the Red Cross. In one ceremony, Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, and Eliya Cohen were posed alongside armed and masked Hamas fighters in front of a large propaganda poster, witnesses said. Shem Tov kissed two Hamas fighters on the head and blew kisses to the crowd assembled to watch the release, but it was unclear whether the hostage had been under duress to do so. The release of six Israelis yesterday brought to 25 the number of hostages freed by Hamas in the first phase of the ceasefire. FOUR BODIES They also handed over four bodies of hostages who had been killed during the conflict and are due to hand over four more in the coming week, officials said. However, under the terms of a ceasefire deal, Israel was supposed to free 602 Palestinians from its prisons, of which 445 had been captured in the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the war. They were due to be released inside Gaza. Of the remaining 157 Palestinians freed, some were due to be deported, while others were transferred to the West Bank. Of them, 50 had been serving life sentences. Yet Israel wasn’t in a hurry to release them after condemning Hamas’ treatment of hostages, after this week’s display of the bodies of the four dead hostages, including children. The head of the Israeli prison service, Kobi Yakobi, sought to use the exchanges to make political points. Palestinians freed in an exchange the previous week had been made to wear T-shirts with an Arabic inscription: “We will not forget, and we will not forgive.” On Saturday, Yakobi reportedly prepared sweatshirts for the Palestinians being handed over that said: “I will pursue my enemies and overtake them, and I will not return until they are destroyed,” as well as bracelets inscribed: “The eternal people do not forget. I will pursue my enemies and overtake them.” VIOLENT CRIME As tensions rose in Gaza, Israeli diplomats outside the country faced new threats, including in Sweden, where police announced the arrest of three men near the Israeli embassy in Stockholm on Friday. They are suspected of preparing “a violent crime,” but according to the police, it was still too early to determine whether the diplomatic mission was the target. Swedish broadcaster TV4, citing anonymous sources, reported that the men had planned an attack on the embassy. A police spokesperson declined to comment on the possible motive. The arrests took place near the diplomatic mission but not on its premises, according to the police. Swedish police increased security around Israeli and Jewish buildings in the country last year following a shooting near the Israeli embassy. The post Hamas Releases Six Hostages After Handing Over Mother’s Body appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israeli citizens were shocked when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday recounted the horrific events leading to the deaths of Ariel Bibas, aged 4, and Kfir Bibas, aged 1. Their bodies were returned to Israel on Thursday without their mother. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation in a speech, marking a day of profound grief and unrelenting sorrow for Israel. “Today is a tragic day, it’s a day of boundless sorrow, of indescribable pain. Four-year-old Ariel Bibas, his baby brother one-year-old Kfir and 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz were brutally murdered by Hamas savages,” he stated, visibly moved by the gravity of the events. Netanyahu recounted the somber return of their bodies to a mourning nation, emphasizing the collective memory and resolve of Israel. “Their bodies return home to a nation in mourning. A nation that will never forget and never forgive the evil that cut down these beautiful souls.” He reflected on the harrowing events of October 7th when Hamas militants killed 1,200 Israelis, describing the anxious wait and hope for the survival of hostages taken by Hamas. Despite the despair, some hostages were brought home, though not all could be saved. The Bibas children, Netanyahu noted, symbolized the innocent victims of this brutal conflict. Netanyahu then shared a heart-wrenching image of the Bibas brothers, urging people to imagine the terror they faced. “Here is a photo of the Bibas brothers. These perfect children, again, were four years old and less than one year old when the Hamas savages snatched them from their mother’s arms. She fought like a lioness to protect her boys. Just imagine their horror. Imagine their confusion. Perfect little children who never hurt a soul.” He fiercely condemned the atrocities, declaring that the perpetrators do not deserve to live freely. “A baby, for the love of G-d. They languished in captivity until Hamas murdered them in cold blood. Who kidnaps a little boy and a baby and murders them? Monsters. That’s who.” In a stark warning, Netanyahu called for global condemnation and action, stating, “Today the heavens shake. The entire civilized world should condemn these horrific murders. The entire civilized world should join Israel in demanding the immediate release of all the hostages. All of Israel is united in grief.” Concluding his speech, Netanyahu vowed relentless pursuit of justice for the victims. “And as the Prime Minister of Israel, I vow that I will not rest until the savages who executed our hostages are brought to justice. They do not deserve to walk this earth. Nothing will stop me. Nothing.” He closed with a somber tribute to the lost lives, dedicating their memory to the fight against terror. “Ariel, Kfir and Oded: I am so sorry we couldn’t save you from the monsters who did this. We honor your kind and loving souls, so tragically cut down by evil terror. May your memories forever be a blessing and a reminder to all of us that we must fight this evil and eradicate it from the face of this earth.” The post Israel Mourns as Netanyahu Vows Justice for Young Victims of Hamas Atrocity (Video) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced intensified Israeli counterterror efforts after Thursday’s attempted bus bombings. The operation led to the detention of about 90 suspects and the confiscation of over 15 weapons. Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited Tulkarm, directing the IDF to escalate operations in the West Bank and monitor terrorists released during the ceasefire. In the Tulkarem refugee camp, Netanyahu stated, “will launch additional operational activity against terror centers” following bomb detonations on four buses. “We have greatly increased our activity in the past year,” he said. “We are entering the terrorist strongholds, clearing entire streets used by terrorists, their homes. We are eliminating terrorists and commanders.” Netanyahu also instructed the Israel Police and Shin Bet to “increase preventive activity in Israeli cities against further terrorist attacks.” The bus explosions, which occurred in buses parked in Bat Yam, caused damage but no injuries. A security source revealed that “explosive devices weighing between four and five kilograms were found, intended to detonate tomorrow morning and kill hundreds of civilians.” Shin Bet, officially the Israel Security Agency and Israel’s internal security service responsible for counterterrorism, counterespionage, and security intelligence within Israel, is currently investigating the incident. The post Netanyahu Calls to Expand Counterterror Operation After Bus Bombings appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – An alleged Chinese spy, human smugglers and violent criminals are the latest to be arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agents in Florida. One recent arrest was of a Chinese-Canadian national charged with three counts of using an unmanned aircraft to photograph vital defense installations and equipment at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Xiao Guang Pan, 71, used an unmanned aircraft to photograph vital defense installations and equipment at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base over a period of three days in January, according to a criminal filing. He allegedly took aerial photographs of Space Launch complexes, a payload processing facility, a submarine wharf, and munitions bunkers, according to the complaint published by ICE. Federal law prohibits unauthorized photographs from being taken of vital defense installations. Pan faces a maximum of one year in federal prison on each count. He is among several alleged Chinese operatives who’ve been arrested in more than 60 espionage-related cases in the last few years, The Center Square reported. Off Florida’s coast, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents disrupted a maritime smuggling attempt on Tuesday, apprehending 24 illegal foreign nationals and seizing two vessels. After AMO Multi-Role Enforcement Aircraft (MEA) aircrew detected a vessel off the coast of Bimini, Bahamas, they notified two AMO Coastal Interceptor Vessel maritime crews of their location, course and speed. Within a few hours, CBP AMO Marine Interdiction Agents intercepted a 27-foot twin-engine Sea Ray near Elliott Key, Florida. They then discovered multiple people on deck and others concealed under the aft seat. None possessed valid documentation to enter or remain in the U.S. and were transferred to U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous to be repatriated. During questioning, the vessel’s operator disclosed a plan to rendezvous with a second boat. While transiting inshore, AMO agents located and interdicted that boat also, which was also found east of Elliott Key. On board was a U.S. citizen and a lawful permanent resident, one of whom was participating in the smuggling operation ICE said. In total, they apprehended 21 Chinese nationals, one Ecuadorian, one Colombian, and one Dominican adult male suspected of being the smuggler, and seized both vessels. In another instance, CBP AMO agents intercepted a maritime smuggling attempt and apprehended 13 foreign nationals off the coast of Florida. This came about after CBP AMO Marine Interdiction agents with the Miami Marine Unit identified a suspicious vessel operating without navigation lights and the operator of the vessel initially failed to comply when agents told him to stop. They interdicted the vessel, a single-engine 18-foot center console, operated by an adult male Bahamian national. Once on board, they found 12 foreign nationals attempting to illegally enter the U.S. With the exception of one individual who was taken to a local hospital for medical issues, the rest were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous to be repatriated. Under Trump, the U.S. Coast Guard has expanded its existing role in repatriation efforts, The Center Square reported. In another multi-agency targeted operation in Palm Beach County, ICE and Border Patrol agents arrested 32 illegal foreign nationals with a range of criminal convictions. They include drug possession, prostitution, illegal re-entry, resisting an officer, robbery, probation violation, fraud (illegal use of a credit card), larceny, cocaine possession, driving under the influence and possession of stolen property. Among them were a 30-year-old Venezuelan man with criminal convictions for resisting arrest, drug possession and robbery; a 44-year-old Haitian female with criminal convictions for battery, drug possession, prostitution, and narcotic equipment possession; a 24-year-old Cuban male with criminal convictions for fraud, failure to appear, larceny, and probation violation; a 25-year-old Guatemalan male with criminal convictions for illegal re-entry, cocaine possession, and driving under the influence. Those arrested were citizens of Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Cuba, and Nicaragua – all living in the U.S. illegally. They remain in custody pending removal proceedings. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Chinese Spies, Human Smugglers, Violent Criminals Latest ICE Arrests in Florida appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News AMSTERDAM/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – “I am thinking of leaving the Netherlands if there is a war again in Europe,” says Aafje van Kampen, a Dutch painter and graphic artist who happens to be the mother of a Worthy News agency reporter. Her words echo sentiments among a growing number of Europeans amid mounting concerns that U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will decide their future. With heavily underfunded armed forces, Europe seems to be left alone without strong support from the United States. Trump warned this week his nation would not participate in a peacekeeping mission after the war in Ukraine is over. European leaders have told citizens to prepare for war amid concerns that Russia will move into the Baltics and Poland if the U.S. abandons the NATO military alliance. Yet even without such a dramatic step, there is concern that Trump won’t respect NATO’s founding Article 5, which says that its members “agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all” and that actions be taken to protect the ally. “It’s a bit premature to talk about the death of NATO,” said Samantha de Bendern, a Russia expert with Chatham House, a London-based think tank. “It certainly seems to be weakened.” FIERCE DEBATE She commented during a debate aired by French broadcaster France 24 entitled, “The death of Nato? Europe in crisis over Trump-Putin talks.” Don’t tell that to Aafje van Kampen, who, at 83, now again fears war will spread to generations that grew up in peace. She still remembers “my mom” asking her to “do as if you are sleeping” when hiding food beneath her in the blankets of the baby carrier. German soldiers would take away food during the Dutch famine of 1944–1945, also known as the Hunger Winter (from Dutch Hongerwinter), near the end of World War II. Up to 22,000 people died, including in Amsterdam, the capital, where Van Kampen still recalls the raids of Nazi Germany’s forces searching for Jews who were then sent to death camps. Several Dutch nationals even cooperated with them, betraying neighbors who were hiding Jewish people. Some 4.5 million were affected and survived, thanks to soup kitchens. “I still remember me eating soup with sand in it. Elderly people who remembered better times reacted with emotion when I said: “It’s nice, tasty, Mom.” At one point, a German soldier took her on his lap, and others laughed at the little girl, Aafje. “My mother just took me away, she was in shock, although I think it were just young soldiers perhaps missing their families too.” REPEATING HISTORY? Many decades later, she believes war will come at any time. Some military talking heads, often retired generals and analysts who remain a safe distance from the frontlines, claim that Russia has been weakened and will be happy with a peace deal. Yet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said he fears Russia won’t stop at Ukraine. Moscow still occupies parts of Georgia and Moldova, a nation sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania, a NATO member state. To contain the armed conflict, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are preparing troops in Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached, but other European leaders remain hesitant. Feeling emboldened by Trump’s rhetoric about Europe’s alleged incompetence, Moscow has warned it won’t accept the presence of European soldiers in Ukraine. Starmer and Macron will visit Trump in the coming days to convince the self-declared “deal-maker-in-chief” to remain engaged in Europe. For a starter, it didn’t help that Zelenskyy angered Trump by saying he “lives in this disinformation bubble” and that the American leader was parroting Russian propaganda Trump’s allies then cast doubts about Zelenskyy, with presidential adviser Elon Musk accusing him of allowing an American pro-Russian blogger and journalist, Gonzalo Lira, to “die in a Ukrainian prison.” ZELENSKYY DICTATOR? Earlier, Trump had already called the Ukrainian leader a “dictator without elections” with an approval rating of “four percent,” though polls showed 57 percent of voters still trust him. By then, transatlantic relations had already gone downhill, as U.S. Vice President JD Vance condemned the European Union at the Munich Security Conference as an undemocratic mammoth with little appreciation for borders and security. He suggested that the EU had allowed millions of migrants from mainly Muslim nations to enter, often without proper documents. Vance accused European leaders of “betraying democratic values,” giving several examples, including about a middle-aged man and army veteran who was detained in Britain for silently praying near an abortion clinic. He also noted attempts to refuse anti-migration, often deemed as “far-right nationalist parties,” into government and for seeking to curtail the spread of “far-right viewpoints,” which he called “censorship.” He also called it profoundly undemocratic to annul recent presidential elections in Romania over allegations that they were compromised by Russian interference. A far-right pro-Russian candidate was on track to win the elections before the results were canceled. Also last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth deeply troubled Europeans with suggestions the U.S. might pull troops out of Europe because Washington does not view the security of Europe as a crucial concern. BIGGER THREAT China is seen as a bigger threat to America’s peace and security, and Trump said, “There was a beautiful ocean” between America and Europe facing military upheaval. Europeans worry that Trump may seek to draw down forces in Europe as part of a bigger deal with Putin to reorder the security framework in Europe and forge a new world order. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio began to re-establish ties with Russia by meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Saudi Arabia for talks. In a first step toward normalizing relations, Washington and Moscow agreed to allow the restaffing of embassies, Worthy News reported at the time. Russia’s foreign ministry said the two “sides agreed to establish a dialogue to identify ways to resume cooperation in the economy, including energy, outer space exploration, and other areas of mutual interest.” It added that both sides wanted to see the Ukraine war come to an end, but the Kremlin stressed the “importance of eliminating the root causes of the conflict.” Moscow insists that it cannot allow Ukraine to become a NATO member and demands the removal of NATO forces and weapons from its borders. That, in turn, could make NATO members such as Poland and the Baltics less secure, analysts warn. Back in the Netherlands, Aafje van Kampen calls her nation and Europe naive. She doesn’t exclude continuing her craft in faraway countries. “Look, if war starts here, I want to spend my last days in Bali or another far safer place. I think many people have forgotten what war means.” For Ukrainians and Russians, this already has become a reality, with more than a million people believed to have been killed and injured. The post Europe In Turmoil As Russia-US Design World Order (Worthy News Focus) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY (Worthy News) – Mexico’s president unveiled constitutional reforms Thursday amid concerns over possible American military intervention in her country after U.S. President Donald J. Trump designated six Mexican drug cartels as “foreign terrorist” organizations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned that the “Mexican people will not accept under any circumstances interventions, interference or any other act from abroad that could be harmful to the integrity, independence, and sovereignty of the nation.” On Thursday, the designation of eight Latin America-based criminal organizations was published in the U.S. Federal Register, carrying out a January 20 executive order by Trump. The list includes Sinaloa, Jalisco, Zetas, Gulf Cartels, Cartel Unidos, and “La Nueva Familia Michoacana.” Other criminal entities — including the Venezuelan group Tren de Aragua and the Salvadoran gang Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13 — were also named. The U.S. hopes the designation, something usually reserved for terrorist groups with political rather than economic objectives, will increase pressure on the groups. However, Sheinbaum said in comments monitored by Worthy News that she would not accept foreign interference in Mexico’s ongoing battle against drug cartels. LIMITING ‘FOREIGN AGENTS’ The president seeks to enshrine current limits on the operations of “foreign agents” into the constitution and establish harsher penalties for gun trafficking. “What we want to make clear in the face of this designation is that we do not negotiate sovereignty,” she warned. Sheinbaum said Mexico was not consulted when the Trump administration designated the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Terrorist designations against criminal syndicates have sparked debates over national sovereignty and whether such moves could justify extended actions by the U.S. government abroad. Observers noted that tensions between the two neighbors could escalate if Washington believes it now has broader authority to operate against any cartel activity in Mexican territory. It is also part of Trump’s plan to crack down on “illegal migration.” The post Mexico Worried About Possible US Intervention Changes Constitution appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukraine has reacted angrily and in disbelief to U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is “a dictator with only four percent public support.” Instead of weakening Zelenskyy, Trump’s comments appeared to have strengthened his position at home, with both supporters and critics rallying behind the Ukrainian leader, critics say. “Ukraine is a sovereign state, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy is its legitimate president until a new one is elected. Only Ukrainians have the right to decide when and under what conditions they change their government,” former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said in a statement. Tymoshenko, a leading opposition figure, also dismissed Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine should hold elections despite the ongoing war. “Elections in wartime are impossible and immoral because our soldiers cannot participate. Without them, elections would never be legitimate. Launching a political campaign now would tear the country apart when we need unity and stability more than ever,” she stressed. Zelenskyy’s foes and friends alike have condemned Trump’s remarks. “We may like or dislike Zelenskyy, we may praise or criticize him, but he is OUR president,” Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov wrote on social media. “No liar in Moscow or Washington has the right to attack him.” Election officials in Ukraine have also pushed back on Trump’s claim that Zelenskyy is a dictator. “We are already preparing for the first elections after the war. But security is essential,” said Olga Aivazovska, a senior official at Ukraine’s election watchdog. Trump also alleged that the U.S. has shouldered 90 percent of the financial burden of supporting Ukraine, but data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy contradicts this. Of the roughly $278 billion in aid Ukraine has received, Europe contributed $138 billion, while the U.S. provided nearly $120 billion, according to investigators. UNITED NATIONS CONCERNED Elsewhere, Washington is raising eyebrows at the United Nations by refusing to back a resolution condemning Russian aggression and reaffirming Ukraine’s sovereignty, diplomats said. Officials said Thursday that the resolution has the support of 50 countries and is seen as a test of international backing for Ukraine. “In previous years, the U.S. has consistently supported such resolutions for a just peace in Ukraine,” a diplomatic source told reporters on condition of anonymity. The shift comes as Trump has openly criticized U.S. military aid to Kyiv and other foreign assistance. As discussions continue on securing Ukraine’s future, leaked details about a proposed international peacekeeping force have raised concerns among military experts, Worthy News learned. Sources said the force, reportedly led by Britain and France, would consist of around 30,000 troops, relying heavily on air power rather than direct deployment along the front lines. In the Netherlands, one of the other countries debating such a mission, Ukraine expert Bob Deen warned that the proposed force might not be sufficient, depending on the scope of its mandate and the responses of Russia and the U.S. “What happens if Russian air defenses target incoming aircraft? Or if a Russian convoy moves toward the front line—do you attack?” Deen wondered. He stressed that for the mission to succeed, it is crucial that Russia does not oppose it and that the U.S. is willing to provide military backing if needed. “So far, those guarantees remain unclear,” added the expert of Clingendael – the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, a think tank and academy. The post Outrage in Kyiv Over Trump’s Remarks: ‘We Are a Sovereign Nation’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Ukraine has reacted angrily and in disbelief to U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is “a dictator with only four percent public support.” Instead of weakening Zelenskyy, Trump’s comments appeared to have strengthened his position at home, with both supporters and critics rallying behind the Ukrainian leader, critics say. “Ukraine is a sovereign state, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy is its legitimate president until a new one is elected. Only Ukrainians have the right to decide when and under what conditions they change their government,” former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said in a statement. Tymoshenko, a leading opposition figure, also dismissed Trump’s suggestion that Ukraine should hold elections despite the ongoing war. “Elections in wartime are impossible and immoral because our soldiers cannot participate. Without them, elections would never be legitimate. Launching a political campaign now would tear the country apart when we need unity and stability more than ever,” she stressed. Zelenskyy’s foes and friends alike have condemned Trump’s remarks. “We may like or dislike Zelenskyy, we may praise or criticize him, but he is OUR president,” Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov wrote on social media. “No liar in Moscow or Washington has the right to attack him.” Election officials in Ukraine have also pushed back on Trump’s claim that Zelenskyy is a dictator. “We are already preparing for the first elections after the war. But security is essential,” said Olga Aivazovska, a senior official at Ukraine’s election watchdog. Trump also alleged that the U.S. has shouldered 90 percent of the financial burden of supporting Ukraine, but data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy contradicts this. Of the roughly $278 billion in aid Ukraine has received, Europe contributed $138 billion, while the U.S. provided nearly $120 billion, according to investigators. UNITED NATIONS CONCERNED Elsewhere, Washington is raising eyebrows at the United Nations by refusing to back a resolution condemning Russian aggression and reaffirming Ukraine’s sovereignty, diplomats said. Officials said Thursday that the resolution has the support of 50 countries and is seen as a test of international backing for Ukraine. “In previous years, the U.S. has consistently supported such resolutions for a just peace in Ukraine,” a diplomatic source told reporters on condition of anonymity. The shift comes as Trump has openly criticized U.S. military aid to Kyiv and other foreign assistance. As discussions continue on securing Ukraine’s future, leaked details about a proposed international peacekeeping force have raised concerns among military experts, Worthy News learned. Sources said the force, reportedly led by Britain and France, would consist of around 30,000 troops, relying heavily on air power rather than direct deployment along the front lines. In the Netherlands, one of the other countries debating such a mission, Ukraine expert Bob Deen warned that the proposed force might not be sufficient, depending on the scope of its mandate and the responses of Russia and the U.S. “What happens if Russian air defenses target incoming aircraft? Or if a Russian convoy moves toward the front line—do you attack?” Deen wondered. He stressed that for the mission to succeed, it is crucial that Russia does not oppose it and that the U.S. is willing to provide military backing if needed. “So far, those guarantees remain unclear,” added the expert of Clingendael – the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, a think tank and academy. The post Outrage in Kyiv Over Trump’s Remarks: ‘We Are a Sovereign Nation’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square (Worthy News) – The Pentagon plans to move some money around to pay for President Donald Trump’s military priorities, including building an Iron Dome for America that would protect the country from missile attacks. Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses said the Pentagon will put forward budgets “that revive the warrior ethos, rebuild our military, and reestablish deterrence.” At the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Salesses said the Pentagon will come up with $50 billion in offsets from the Biden administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget. The offsets are targeted at 8% of spending, which will be used from Trump’s plans. “To achieve our mandate from President Trump, we are guided by his priorities including Securing our borders, building the Iron Dome for America, and ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing,” Salesses said. “The Department of Defense is conducting this review to ensure we are making the best use of the taxpayers’ dollars in a way that delivers on the President Trump’s defense priorities efficiently and effectively.” In December, President Joe Biden signed a bill authorizing $895 billion for defense spending in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. It’s unclear how much Trump can get done on major objectives such as creating an Iron Dome-like defense system for the U.S. with $50 billion. Joe Cirincione, a national security analyst with Defense One, estimated last month that creating an Iron Dome for America would cost something like $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.” The Department of Defense has not passed a financial audit in the past seven years. Last November, Department of Defense’s annual audit once again resulted in a disclaimer. That means the federal government’s largest agency can’t fully explain its spending. The 2024 disclaimer was expected. And it’s expected again in 2025 and 2026. The Pentagon previously said it will be able to accurately account for its spending by 2027. It’s not clear how Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency could affect Pentagon spending. Billionaire Elon Musk, who is advising Trump on matters related to DOGE, has repeatedly said the Department of Defense would get scrutiny. Musk also called the Pentagon’s most expensive project, the F-35 stealth fighter, “obsolete.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Pentagon Looks to Offset $50B in Spending for Trump Priorities appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk floated the idea of sending some the money that the Department of Government Efficiency saves directly back to taxpayers, but the checks aren’t in the mail yet. On Thursday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said the White House is considering how to divvy up the savings. Miller said 20% of the checks would go toward paying down the U.S. debt, which stands above $36.2 trillion. Another 20% would go back to taxpayers. The remaining 60% would be added to next year’s budget, Miller said. “You can transfer into the next fiscal window and then lower the overall spending level,” he told reporters Thursday during a White House news briefing. “That means you can achieve a permanent savings that way.” Miller’s comments Thursday came after Trump said he was considering the idea Wednesday. “We’re thinking about giving 20% back to the American citizens and 20% down to pay back debt,” Trump said. The checks aren’t in the mail – at least not yet. Miller said it would be worked on through the Congressional reconciliation process. The House is working on one spending bill and the Senate another. “The president has great confidence in both chambers to deliver on his priorities,” Miller said. DOGE said it has saved $55 billion so far, but has only posted about 20% of the contracts it said it has cancelled. James Fishback, the co-founder of investment firm Azoria, came up with the idea on social media and got Musk’s attention. Musk said he’d check with the boss. Fishback proposed a “DOGE Dividend” or tax refund check with $400 billion that’s 20% of the targeted $2 trillion in DOGE savings. Fishback estimated that if the savings were divided among taxpaying households, it could result in $5,000 per household. Miller and other White House officials said they couldn’t immediately say when the checks would be put in the mail. DOGE has until July 4, 2026, to submit its final plan to Trump. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump eyes sending checks to Americans from DOGE savings (Video) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, find your (His) peace! Philippians 4:5-7 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. “Don’t be anxious”…even though it's a perfectly natural response to mounting threats; sickness, finances, employment, uncertainty, emotional stress, family crises...Nevertheless, it says, "Don't be anxious about anything". Instead, pray! But does that really work? How many can affirm, even testify, that praying relieves anxiety about real and present threats and dangers? Anxiety is a powerful emotional condition, even expressing in physical symptoms; stomach upsets, cramps, heart palpitations, headaches, ruminations, muscle contractions, indigestion, cold extremities, dilated pupils, numbness, emotional outbursts, fits of anger, etc. etc. And there are all kinds of prescribed and/or self medications, including everything from beer to valium, or simply the internet... But is prayer really and truly an effective solution for anxiety? If you can honestly answer "Yes", you are not a novice at praying. Psalm 62:8 ... "Trust in Him at all times, people, pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah (which kind of means 'pause for an easy breath')." When you pour out your heart to someone, is time a factor? When you know she's really listening and caring about your situation, and has something to offer, do you expect to feel better after you have emptied your soul? It sounds simple, even perfunctory, but praying out your anxiety implies really trusting the Person you're talking to, and taking the time to empty your heart and soul before Him. That's what God wants you to do. If and when you do that, and thoroughly, you may find yourself in a peace (a "shalom") which passes comprehension, because you hardly expected it when you started out. What’s amazing about this passage is the hidden mystery of that Shalom, a Hebrew word with such wonderful compound meaning it requires a basketful of English words to be inadequately translated: peace, completeness, prosperity, safety, contentment, health, blessing, and rest, among others. Friend, see if you can manage to experience this when anxiety strikes. Test it and see for yourself if praying can really alleviate your fears. God’s peace is there for you and it will pass all understanding; and most especially in these times … wouldn’t it be great to constantly walk in that shalom, His shalom? Shabbat Shalom! Until next week, have a blessed weekend! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Phoenix, Arizona) 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 Iran Executed at Least 975 People in 2024, Marking a 17% Rise from the Previous Year Iran carried out nearly 1,000 executions last year, marking what human rights organizations have condemned as a "horrifying escalation" in the use of capital punishment, according to a U.N. human rights watchdog group. Brazil’s Ex-Leader Indicted In Alleged Coup To Kill Current President Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro, an ally of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, has been formally charged in an alleged plot to assassinate the current leader of Brazil and others. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Iran Plans Extensive Missile Strikes in Operation True Promise III (Video) The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that Iran is poised to conduct Operation True Promise III involving extensive missile strikes on U.S. and Israeli targets, according to a recent interview translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). Nation Grieves as Four Hostages’ Bodies Return to Israel After 503 Days After 503 days, Israel received the coffins of four hostages—baby Kfir Bibas, his brother Ariel, their mother Shiri, and 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz—abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, massacre. Multiple Buses Explode in Suspected Coordinated Terror Attack, Police Say Multiple buses exploded in central Israel in a suspected terror attack, with all devices timed for simultaneous detonation for tomorrow morning, Israel Police and Hebrew media report. Trump Ends Security Assistance To Palestinian Authority U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s move to freeze foreign aid has brought security assistance to the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) to a halt amid concerns the United States had indirectly paid for terrorism, officials say. Inside the United States Pentagon Looks to Offset $50B in Spending for Trump Priorities The Pentagon plans to move some money around to pay for President Donald Trump's military priorities, including building an Iron Dome for America that would protect the country from missile attacks. Trump eyes sending checks to Americans from DOGE savings (Video) President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk floated the idea of sending some the money that the Department of Government Efficiency saves directly back to taxpayers, but the checks aren't in the mail yet. Schools in at Least 46 States Embrace DEI, Face Losing Federal Funding A newly released report details thousands of schools that embrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies. Trump’s Ban on Federal Funds for Illegal Immigrants Could Halt Billions in Payments Trump’s executive order to halt federal spending on illegal immigrants could save U.S. citizens up to $278 billion over the next decade, aligning with past cost analyses. Vance to Drug Cartels, Human Traffickers at CPAC: “Get Out of the US” Vice President JD Vance issued a strong warning to drug cartels and human traffickers operating within the United States, emphatically stating that they need to "get the hell out" of the country. His forceful remarks underscored his administration's commitment to tackling the serious issues of drug trafficking and human exploitation on American soil. Kash Patel Confirmed by Senate as FBI Director The GOP-led Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's nominee, Kash Patel on Thursday, as the new FBI director, marking another victory for Trump and addressing recent claims of politicization within the bureau. Christian News 70 Christians Discovered Beheaded in Church in the DRC Seventy Christians were discovered beheaded in a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking the latest tragic attack on believers in the country, according to Open Doors. Worthy Watch Trump Administration Names Mexican Cartels as Terrorist Organizations The Trump administration is officially designating eight Latin American crime groups as “foreign terrorist organizations,” intensifying pressure on cartels operating in the U.S. and those supporting them. Worthy Insights Body returned by Hamas was not Shiri Bibas — IDF declares ‘serious violation’ as remains of her 2 kids positively ID’d The Israel Defense Forces told the Bibas family that while the bodies of young hostages Ariel and Kfir were positively identified Thursday, the third body was not that of the children’s mother Shiri. How A US Iron Dome Could Reshape Global Nuclear Relations The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is already searching for cutting-edge missile defense technologies after President Donald Trump signed a new executive order, calling for an “Iron Dome for America.” Meet the Israeli robotic system set to transform warfare Israel-based defense company Plasan recently introduced the All-Terrain Electric Mission Module (ATeMM), a cutting-edge system designed to enhance military mobility and efficiency. The system supports a wide range of battlefield applications, including logistics, energy, munitions and sensors. Christian Leaders Set To Unveil West Bank Resolution at Dallas Event American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI) has announced a press conference at the upcoming National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) International Christian Media Convention in Dallas, Texas. The event will unveil a resolution reaffirming what the drafters believe to be the Jewish people’s right to what the document calls the biblical heartland of Israel—referred to in the resolution as “Judea and Samaria” but known internationally as the West Bank. Massive Microsoft Quantum Computer Breakthrough Uses New State Of Matter Microsoft announced Wednesday that it has invented an entirely new kind of quantum computer. Its new quantum chip, Majorana 1, is a quantum processor analogous to transistors in classical computers’ semiconductor chips and offers a path to million-qubit systems in a single relatively small quantum computing fridge. Christian girls’ basketball team to face trans athlete in playoff game as California defies Trump’s order As California continues to defy President Donald Trump's recent executive order forbidding trans athletes from competing in girls' sports, the state's residents will see the ramifications of that decision play out on a basketball court this week. Ai solves superbug mystery in 48 hours – after it took scientists 10 years to crack A scientific mystery that took 10 years to solve was cracked in two days by Google’s artificial intelligence. Two Israeli soldiers forced to flee Amsterdam after being doxxed online Two serving IDF soldiers who fought in Gaza had to flee Amsterdam and return to Israel after a pro-Palestinian organization tracked them down and doxxed them on social media, Israeli media reported on Tuesday. King Charles III accepts Jewish-Muslim ‘reconciliation accord’ in wake of distrust sown by war King Charles III accepted an accord of reconciliation from the leaders of several major Jewish and Muslim groups in the UK on Wednesday. View the full article