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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News, reporting from Amsterdam, Netherlands AMSTERDAM (Worthy News) – A Dutch court handed down sentences Tuesday of up to six months imprisonment to the first men to be tried over what had been described as “the first pogrom in the Netherlands since World War Two.” The November unrest erupted in Amsterdam after its football team Ajax took on Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv when mainly Moroccan Muslim crowds launched a “Jews hunt.” The first five defendants, whose ages ranged from 19 to 32, were accused of public violence, theft, and assault. The longest sentence handed out was six months in prison, given to a man accused of kicking one person and punching several others. Another man received a one-month prison sentence after he was found guilty of assaulting Israeli fans and violently ripping a Maccabi scarf from one of them. Another 19-year-old was sentenced to 100 hours of community service for participating in a social media chat group where antisemitic terms were used and for throwing stones at police. Witnesses recalled that attackers asked for passports to decide if someone “was Jewish.” At least one person was thrown into an Amsterdam canal and only allowed to leave the water after saying “Free Palestine,” Worthy News monitored. ‘TOXIC COCKTAIL’ Prosecutors described the events as “a toxic cocktail” of hooliganism, antisemitism, and anger over the war in Gaza. The prosecutor said the violence had “little to do with football” but added that “in this case, there was no evidence of … a terrorist intent and the violence was not motivated by antisemitic sentiment”. The prosecutor added: “The violence was influenced by the situation in Gaza, not by antisemitism.” However, commentators have criticized those conclusions as suspects could be seen shouting “cancer Jews” when burning an Amsterdam Tram, part of the extensive streetcar system in the capital, and “let’s hunt for Jews.” The unrest resulted in five people being briefly hospitalized and left Amsterdam’s Jewish community, including survivors of the Holocaust, or Shoah, in fear. Police detained more than 60 people, including 10 who live in Israel. The investigation into the violence is continuing, and police released images of several suspects they hope to identify. EMERGING VIOLENCE Reports of disturbances began to emerge the day before the football match. Police said Maccabi fans tore down a Palestinian flag from the facade of a building and burned it, shouting “f..k you, Palestine”, attacked a taxi with their belts, and vandalized others. However, some police officials said privately that the Palestinian flag “was aimed at provoking fans” from Israel, a nation still mourning the 1,200 people killed on October 7, 2023, by the Palestinian group Hamas. Police said that an online callout led several taxi drivers with a Muslim background to converge on a casino on the nearby Max Euweplein square, where about 400 Israeli fans had gathered. Police dispersed the drivers and escorted supporters out of the casino. The next day, clashes broke out in central Dam Square, where a large crowd of Maccabi supporters had gathered. The fans were filmed chanting racist, anti-Arab slogans on their way to the Johan Cruyff Arena, according to witnesses. FANS ESCORTED Police escorted the 2,600 fans to the game and dispersed protesters who had defied a ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the stadium. After the match, which Ajax won 5-0, there were numerous assaults, described by the city’s mayor, Femke Halsema, as violent “hit and run” attacks on Israeli supporters. Witness accounts and screenshots of text messages suggest attackers had explicitly targeted Jews, asking people if they were Israeli or to show their passports. Among those leading the international outcry was the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who condemned the clashes as a “planned antisemitic attack against Israeli citizens” and later compared the violence to the murder of an estimated 91 Jews in Nazi Germany in 1938, describing it as “Kristallnacht … on the streets of Amsterdam”. The events also happened while those horrors were commemorated. At an emotionally charged news conference the morning after the unrest, Halsema said the city had been “deeply damaged” by “hateful antisemitic rioters.” Halsema later said she regretted the parallel she had drawn between the violence and “memories of pogroms” as she felt the term had been used as propaganda when it came to describing what had transpired on the streets of Amsterdam. Yet conservative commentators said Halsema had bowed to Muslim pressure amid growing concern about the influx of migrants from Morocco and other Arabic nations. At one point, anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders asked for her resignation. Yet I regret what has happened”, an Uber taxi driver told Worthy News. “I am from Morocco, but I have many Jewish friends. I hope people will stop the polarization.” The post Dutch Court Sentences Men Over Pogrom appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ISTANBUL, TURKEY (Worthy News) – Investigators rushed to the scene of a blast that ripped through an explosives factory in northwest Turkey, killing 11 people and injuring seven. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the injured were treated at nearby hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries. Officials said the blast occurred in Balikesir province, a rural area away from population centers. Balikesir Governor Ismail Ustaoglu said the explosion collapsed the capsule production building, and the surrounding buildings suffered minor damage. “The explosion was due to a technical issue. There is no possibility of sabotage,” he added. He spoke amid concerns in Turkey about possible terror attacks as it fights against Kurdish forces, including in Syria. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a counteroffensive Tuesday against the Ankara-backed Syrian National Army to take back areas near Syria’s northern border with Turkey. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc wrote on social media platform X that public prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the cause of Tuesday’s blast. However, that investigation was due to take time, with witnesses seeing massive devastation. Footage from the scene showed a fireball and smoke rising from the factory building at the time of the blast, as well as the mangled metal framework of the building in the aftermath. As relatives of the dead plunged into mourning, man fire crews were sent to deal with the blaze, while health and security units were dispatched to the area, the government’s communications directorate confirmed. The post Turkey: ‘Explosion Kills 11’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Foreign investments reportedly increased in Israel despite the Jewish nation’s multifront war in Gaza and Lebanon as well its confrontations with Iran and groups in Syria and Yemen. In the first half of this year, overseas investments totaled $11.8 billion, an increase of 15 percent over the same period of 2023, said Israel’s finance ministry in its annual foreign investments report published on Tuesday. Excluding a one-off $15 billion investment by the US’s Intel Corporation, total deals in the first half of 2023 amounted to $7.3 billion by comparison. “The data for 2024 shows an increasing trend in foreign investment transactions to Israel, and we expect the improvement in the security and political environment to support this trend moving forward,” Shmuel Abramzon, chief economist at Israel’s finance ministry, added. Discounting the Intel investment, foreign trade deals in 2023 reportedly reached $17.9 billion, Israel’s lowest level since 2019. The biggest foreign investment deals of 2023 were Intel’s investment at the company’s wafer fabrication site in Kiryat Gat, south of Tel Aviv, the merger of Imperva Inc. with French corporation Thales SA, which totaled around $3.6 billion, and India’s Adani Group’s $1.2 billion investment in the port of Haifa. CHIP INDUSTRY The report showed that almost half the investments were in the semiconductor and chip industry, followed by investments in information technology (IT) and life sciences. Bloomberg News agency and Israel’s financial newspaper Globes first reported Tuesday’s figures. Bloomberg News concluded that the drop in foreign investment in Israel last year was slightly bigger than the 20 percent global decline reported by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). That decline was mainly linked to the ongoing war triggered by the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people. The upheaval over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to reform the judiciary was also attributed to the temporary reduction in foreign investments last year. Yet as Israel fought back, foreign investments picked up amid “the improvement in the security and diplomatic environment,” stresses Abramzon. The post Israel Sees More Foreign Investments Despite Wars appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News NEW YORK/TEL AVIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Two ex-senior agents of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service have, for the first time, revealed details about a deadly operation that targeted thousands of “Hezbollah terrorists” in Lebanon and Syria using exploding pagers and walkie-talkies. Speaking with altered voices and wearing masks to hide their identity, the two retired agents told U.S broadcaster CBS’s news magazine “60 Minutes” that “Operation Pager” took years to prepare. The two men recalled how, on September 17, thousands of pagers used by Hezbollah operatives across Lebanon suddenly began to explode, injuring those holding them and killing over two dozen. A day later, hundreds of walkie-talkies also blew up, injuring or killing scores more. The attacks, which injured up to 4,000 people and killed some 42 others, including key Hezbollah officials, were quickly attributed to Israel. They came as Israel began to step up a counteroffensive against Hezbollah after the Iran-backed group struck the Jewish nation with missiles almost immediately following allied Palestinian group Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack. Some 1,200 people in Israel, primarily civilians, were killed in the Hamas onslaught, and 251 were taken hostage, sparking the war in Gaza. TEN YEARS PLANNING One agent said the operation started 10 years ago using walkie-talkies laden with hidden explosives, which Hezbollah didn’t realize it was buying from Israel, which it has sworn to destroy. “We created a pretend world,” said the retired officer, who used the name “Michael.” Mossad’s motto is based on the Bible verse Proverbs 24:6: “For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” CBS said the Bible verse reminded the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of “smoke and mirrors” –which is “what this operation was all about, starting with those walkie-talkies.” Yet, as walkie-talkies are only worn in battle, Mossad began developing a new device that Hezbollah fighters would have in their pockets all the time: a pager. It started in 2022 after Mossad learned Hezbollah bought pagers from a Taiwan-based company, according to the retired Mossad agents. The pagers had to be slightly larger to accommodate the hidden explosives. They were tested on dummies multiple times to find the right amount of explosive that would hurt only the Hezbollah fighter and not anyone else nearby, the officers stressed. TRYING NUMEROUS RINGTONES Mossad also tried numerous ringtones to find one that sounded urgent enough to make someone pull the pager out of their pocket. The second agent, who went by the name “Gabriel,” said it took two weeks to convince Hezbollah to switch to the heftier pager partly due to fake advertisements on the video-sharing site YouTube. The ads promoted the devices as “dustproof, waterproof, providing a long battery life,” and more. He described the use of “shell companies,” including one based in Hungary, a close ally of Israel, to dupe the Taiwanese firm, Gold Apollo, into unknowingly partnering with Mossad. However, the government of Hungarianrightwing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has vehemently denied that the exploding pagers were produced in Hungary. “Authorities have confirmed that the [Budapest-based] company in question is a trading intermediary, with no manufacturing or operational site in Hungary,” government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács said at the time. “It has one manager registered at its declared address, and the referenced devices have never been in Hungary.” Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, the Italian-Hungarian CEO and owner of BAC Consulting in Budapest said they did not make the pagers used in the attacks and added that she was “just the intermediate.” Her mother, Beatrix Bársony-Arcidiacono, said last year, her daughter received unspecified threats and “is currently in a safe place protected by the Hungarian secret services.” The “Hungarian secret services advised her not to talk to media,” she added. Mossad began the operation based on walkie-talkies, believing that Hezbollah operatives would carry them in their vests – close to their chest and heart. PURCHASING 16,000 WALKIE-TALKIES Former agent “Michael,” said that Hezbollah had purchased 16,000 exploding walkie-talkies manufactured by Mossad “at a good price.” “We created a pretend world. We are a global production company. We write the screenplay, we’re the directors, we’re the producers, we’re the main actors, and the world is our stage.” Yet questions have been raised about the timing of the operation, which Worthy News monitored. Several top Israeli sources said that if the walkie-talkie program had been used in October 2023, it could actually have killed around 15,000 or 16,000 “terrorists,” dwarfing even the results that came after a year of fighting. They suggested that Hezbollah could have been defeated in October last year, “avoiding the need for 14 months of war” with Hezbollah, along with the necessary evacuation of 80,000 northern Israeli residents for months on end. Other senior officials said “the cards were not lined up in October 2023” for this operation and that the walkie-talkie sabotage would not have had maximal results at the time – making “the beepers,” or pagers, a better bet in September 2024, The Jerusalem Post newspaper wrote. Although top Mossad echelons favored the program, Gabriel told 60 Minutes he initially received skepticism from his superiors: “Our director [David Barnea] told us, ‘There is no chance anyone will buy such a big device.’ It took two weeks to convince him.” Ultimately, the pagers were sold to Hezbollah through intermediaries. At 3:30 p.m. local time on September 17, 2024, Mossad remotely activated the explosive pagers across Lebanon. Those carrying the devices received an encrypted message instructing them to press two buttons, triggering the explosion. “If they didn’t push the buttons, it would still explode,” Gabriel explained. OVERWHELMING HEZBOLLAH FIGHTERS The coordinated blasts caused mayhem, with hospitals overwhelmed by thousands of injured fighters. “People were afraid to turn on their air conditioners the next day because they thought they might explode,” said Michael, stressing the psychological toll. One day later, Mossad activated the walkie-talkies that had been dormant for over a decade; some went off during funerals for those killed by the pagers. The two operations injured thousands, killed dozens, and left the organization demoralized and in disarray. The Mossad agents admitted to “60 Minutes” that a few children were mistakenly killed out of the thousands of explosives. “The aim wasn’t to kill,” Gabriel said. “It was to leave Hezbollah with thousands of wounded, proof of our superiority.” However, Israeli commentators questioned those statements, given that the walkie-talkies could kill, but some sources did agree with Gabriel’s characterization “This operation marked a turning point in the war,” commented The Jerusalem Post. In a speech he delivered several days later, then-Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah appeared subdued. “His soldiers saw a broken leader,” Gabriel stressed. Ten days later, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dropped around 85 bombs on Nasrallah’s bunker, killing him. REGIONAL FALLOUT CLEARER “The fallout of this operation extended far beyond Lebanon. It weakened Iran’s influence in the region by crippling Hezbollah, its most potent proxy, and destabilized Syria, contributing to the collapse of the [Bashar Al-]Assad regime,” The Jerusalem Post commented. “Hezbollah is looking around and realizing they are isolated,” Michael said, noting that the operation had ramifications for Gaza as well. While the operation bolstered Israel’s strategic position, it raised ethical concerns. “What about Israel’s moral reputation?” wondered CBS News correspondent Lesley Stahl. Gabriel responded, “There is a prioritization. First, you defend your people, then you worry about reputation.” The operation underscored Mossad’s ability to wage psychological warfare. “We can’t use pagers again,” Gabriel acknowledged, “but they’ll have to keep guessing what’s next.” (With additional reporting by the Worthy News Europe Bureau in Budapest, Hungary.) The post Israel’s Mossad Shares Details About Deadly Devices Operation Against Hezbollah (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News TEHRAN (Worthy News) – A leader of the Church of Iran, one of the Islamic Republic’s largest evangelical house church movements, was free Monday after being released from Minab prison in Hormozgan province in southern Iran, Christians told Worthy News. Matthias (Abdulreza Ali) Haghnejad was reportedly freed on December 14, but his release was confirmed later. Pastor Haghnejad had been serving a six-year sentence on charges including “acting against the security of the country by forming a group and propagating Christianity outside the church and in the house church.” He was also accused of “giving information to the enemies of Islam,” Worthy News learned. Trial observers said the pastor had been acquitted of these same charges in 2014, yet they were reinstated in January 2022. The charges were again introduced after he was acquitted of “endangering state security” and “promoting Zionist Christianity,” for which he spent some three years in jail from February 2019 to December 2021, Christians said. He was detained on the reinstated charges along with two other Christians in Anzali city in Iran’s Gilan Province on December 26, 2022, confirmed by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), an advocacy group supporting them. “Pastor Haghnejad was transferred to Minab prison, which is over 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from his home in Bandar Anzali, in July 2023. [It happened] shortly after [he was] being accused of undermining state security by a couple from the Church of Iran denomination who was pressurized into incriminating him and another Church of Iran leader, Yousef Nadarkhani,” CSW added in a statement sent to Worthy News. “The accusation was made although Pastor Haghnejad has never met the couple, and Pastor Nadarkhani only has a vague acquaintance with them.” EARLY RELEASE Nadarkhani, a well-known pastor in the Church of Iran denomination, was granted early release in February last year from Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, where he served a six-year sentence for his house-church activities. His sentence was originally ten years but reduced following a retrial in May 2020. Nadarkhani, a former Muslim, previously spent three years on death row for “apostasy,” the word used for abandoning Islam, until his acquittal in 2012. CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas told Worthy News that while his group welcomes “the release of Pastor Haghnejad, we maintain he was detained unjustly following a process amounting to double jeopardy.” He added that CSW is urging “the Iranian authorities to release all other prisoners currently imprisoned in relation to their religion or belief,” including Christians. “We also urge Iran to end its effective criminalization of Christianity and to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to freedom of religion or belief for every citizen regardless of their religious affiliation or belief.” Iran’s strict Islamic leadership has come under growing domestic and international pressure to allow more religious freedom in the nation where Christians form a thriving minority. The post Jailed Church of Iran Leader Released appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – China’s government protested U.S. military aid to Taiwan, warning that the U.S. is “playing with fire” and cautioning that such actions “will get the U.S. burned.” China issued a strongly worded statement, saying it “deplores and firmly opposes” President Joe Biden’s authorization of $571 million in military assistance to Taiwan, along with the Department of Defense’s confirmation of $295 million in approved arms sales. The White House authorized the package on Saturday, with the DOD confirming the approval on Friday. The U.S. views Taiwan as a vital partner in the Indo-Pacific region and maintains a “robust unofficial relationship” with the island, according to the U.S. State Department. However, U.S.-China relations remain tense over Taiwan, with Beijing reiterating in Sunday’s statement that Taiwan is “the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations.” The statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the U.S. to cease arming Taiwan and to halt what it described as “dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” Nevertheless, U.S. military sales and aid aim to bolster Taiwan’s defense and deter a potential Chinese attack. In retaliation, China earlier this month imposed sanctions on more than a dozen American companies involved in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The post China Warns US on Taiwan: ‘Playing With Fire’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have reportedly agreed to cease actions against Israel, according to the Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper Al-Akhbar. The leader of the Iraqi Al-Nujaba movement, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, confirmed an agreement with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to refrain from interfering in Syrian affairs and monitor developments, including the policies of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump toward the Middle East and Iran. Speaking to Al-Akhbar, the leader stated, “The factions have decided not to interfere in Syrian affairs and to monitor the situation from a distance while also awaiting the policy directions of US President-elect Donald Trump, particularly regarding the Middle East and Iran.” The leader confirmed that the group would cease all military operations against Israel, stating, “The Islamic Republic of Iran gave us the freedom to decide regarding the Syrian scene and the control of the terrorist groups called Haya’at Tahrir al-Sham.” Although less active than groups like Hezbollah, the Houthis, or Iran itself, Iraqi militias have carried out several drone and missile attacks on Israel since the war began. In September, they launched two drones targeting the city of Eilat. One was intercepted outside Israeli airspace, while the other struck a building in the city. The attack caused fires in the port and near Herod’s Hotel, with shrapnel lightly wounding two individuals. Kazem al-Fartousi, spokesperson for the Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades, another Iranian-backed militia group in Iraq, told Al-Akhbar, “The operations of the factions against Israel were linked to Hezbollah’s operations in Lebanon. When a ceasefire was reached in Lebanon, the Iraqi factions also halted their operations. There are also partners in Iraq with reservations about these operations, and their perspectives must be considered.” He further stated, “The situation is currently under review, and communication is ongoing among the resistance axis to coordinate positions and develop a unified vision.” The post Iranian-Backed Iraqi Militias Declare Halt to Actions Against Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JAYAPURA, INDONESIA (Worthy News) – Hundreds of displaced Christian residents will likely celebrate Christmas outside their homes in an area of Indonesia’s conflict-stricken easternmost Papua province unless Indonesian security forces withdraw there, a bishop says. Bishop Yanuarius Matopai You of Jayapura, the provincial capital, said in a statement that Indonesia’s military should “immediately” leave Papua’s Oksop district. He added that they must “stop all actions that could trigger fear and insecurity among civilians.” Hundreds of Christians reportedly fled the Oksop district in the Pegunungan Bintang regency of Papua Highlands, a province created in November 2022 from Papua’s central and mountainous parts. They ran away as the military started “a special drive” on November 30 aimed at eliminating fighters of the West Papua National Liberation Army, which seeks an independent Papua away from Indonesian control. Pegunungan Bintang police chief Anto Seven told the media that the situation in Oksop “was conducive for the uprooted people,” most of them Christians, to return. However, Bishop You denied Seven’s claims, saying the number of refugees is estimated to have reached 401 people. GROUPS WORRIED He noted that church-backed groups such as the “diocese and the Secretariat for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of the Franciscans of Papua, and the Department of Law and Human Rights of the Evangelical Church in Indonesia (GIDI) had conducted an independent investigation.” The displaced people include more than 30 children aged between two months and 12 years and 115 women, including pregnant and elderly, warned the bishop, citing independent investigations. Catholic Priest Alexandro Rangga, director of the Secretariat for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation of the Franciscans of Papua, said, “The number of refugees does not include those who fled to the forest.” You said the presence of troops and their special drive “prevent the displaced” from returning to their hometowns in the run-up to Christmas. “The situation in Oksop indicates a humanitarian emergency that requires serious attention from all parties,” he noted. Only district heads and village heads can enter Oksop, Worthy News learned. Many refugees are stuck in camps in Oksibil in Pengunungan Bintang regency, according to local Christians. The bishop asked the local government “to provide protection and assistance to the refugees” in return. He also requested that the National Human Rights Commission conduct an independent investigation. PEACEFUL SOLUTION? The bishop also urged the rebels “to refrain from acts of violence and open up space for dialogue to find a peaceful solution.” Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a U.N.-sponsored ballot widely seen as a sham. Since then, a low-level insurgency has simmered in the region that activists say killed up to 500,000 people, though that figure has been complicated to verify independently due to reporting restrictions. Data collected by advocacy group Amnesty International Indonesia showed at least 179 civilians, 35 Indonesian troops, and nine police, along with 23 independence fighters, were killed in clashes between rebels and security forces between 2018 and 2022. Observers say Indonesia’s government, which has sent Javanese and other Indonesians to settle in Papua for decades, is trying to spur economic development to dampen the separatist movement. The suffering of predominantly Christian ethnic groups in the area underscored broader concerns about the plight of Christians in the world’s largest Muslim nation. The post Hundreds of Christians Flee Papua Violence appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it successfully intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward central Israel in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The projectile, which triggered sirens across central and southern Israel, was intercepted before entering Israeli airspace, preventing any potential damage or casualties. Red alert sirens sounded across central Israel as a precaution against the potential landing of interceptor fragments within Israeli territory, the military reported. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, with Houthi official Hezam al-Asad vowing to continue targeting Israel in an X/Twitter post made about 15 minutes after the projectile was launched. “We will not stop until the aggression against our people in Gaza stops,” he wrote. This follows a series of Houthi missile attacks on Israel over the past week. On Saturday, a rocket fired from Yemen struck Jaffa, lightly wounding sixteen people in Tel Aviv with glass shards. Earlier, during the early hours of Thursday morning, Yemen launched a missile toward central Israel, prompting Israel Air Force (IAF) fighter jets to strike Houthi targets in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a. The post Israel Intercepts Ballistic Missile Launched From Yemen appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News VATICAN CITY/WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. President Joe Biden defended his decision to commute the death sentences of 37 inmates Monday, citing “moral and policy” objections, after facing pressure from the Vatican and others opposing capital punishment. Earlier this month, Pope Francis, in his weekly address, prayed for the commutation of America’s condemned inmates, Worthy News monitored. The White House announced that Biden, a Catholic, spoke with Francis Thursday and was scheduled to meet with him at the Vatican next month. Abolitionist groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had called for blanket commutation of all 40 men on the federal death row. They argued that the issue wasn’t the depravity of the convicts’ crimes but “a moral” standard the government should uphold. Capital punishment “is error-prone, racially biased, and a drain on public resources,” stressed the ACLU’s executive director, Anthony Romero. “Although we had hoped President Biden would commute all federal death sentences for those reasons, today’s milestone brings us much closer to our goal of outlawing the death penalty once and for all.” However, Biden left death sentences in place for three inmates found guilty of terrorism or hate-motivated mass killings, including for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who, with his now-dead brother, bombed the 2013 Boston Marathon, killing three and wounding more than 250 others. TREE OF LIFE Robert Bowers, who killed 11 people in the 2018 attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, and Dylann Roof, who in 2015 killed nine at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, also remained on death row. Biden’s move prevents President-elect Donald J. Trump from allowing the execution of most men on federal death row. Those spared include a former Marine who killed two young girls and later a female naval officer. A Las Vegas man convicted of kidnapping and killing a 12-year-old girl, as well as a Chicago podiatrist who fatally shot a patient to keep her from testifying in a Medicare fraud investigation, were among others not facing execution. Two men convicted in a kidnapping-for-ransom scheme that resulted in the killings of five Russian and Georgian immigrants were also spared, along with dozens of others. “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden explained on Monday. But, citing his early experience as a public defender as well as decades in federal office, “I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level,” the president said. “In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.” REPUBLICANS ANGRY While his decision was welcome news for the pope and others opposing the death penalty, Republicans condemned the move. “These are among the worst killers in the world, and this abhorrent decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones,” Trump spokesman Steven Cheung argued. Republican Senator Tom Cotton added on social media platform X: “Democrats can’t even defend Biden’s outrageous decision as some kind of principled, across-the-board opposition to the death penalty since he didn’t commute the three most politically toxic cases.” Worthy News reported earlier that these commutations come after Biden commuted about 1,500 sentences earlier this month and pardoned 39. The decisions came after the president confirmed he issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, covering more than a decade for any potential crimes. Charges against Hunter ranged from “falsifying” records and failing to file tax returns dating to a period when he was hooked on crack, alcohol, and easy cash to “lying” on a mandatory gun-purchase form. The post Biden Defends Commuting Death Sentences After Vatican Pressure (Worthy News Focus) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, what are you doing today? Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers successfully got their “flying machine” off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: “We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.” Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, “How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.” He totally missed the BIG news – this was the first any human had flown!! How often do we do the same with God? We get so caught up in the daily hustle—work, ministry, family life—that we miss the bigger picture of what God is doing all around us. He’s weaving an incredible story, and we’re a part of it! Yet, if we don’t stop to realign our focus on Him, we risk laboring in vain. Friend, let's take a break for a moment, rejoice in the fact that God has an awesome plan in which He has called us to participate, and ask Him for wisdom concerning what He would have us do today. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Dallas, Texas) 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! Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are going to be heading WEST!!! Now booking in the following states: Texas, New Mexico and Arizona …. If you know Pastors, Rabbis or Ministry Leaders who might be interested in some powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the Land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World China Warns US on Taiwan: ‘Playing With Fire’ China's government protested U.S. military aid to Taiwan, warning that the U.S. is "playing with fire" and cautioning that such actions "will get the U.S. burned." Pentagon: US Has 2,000 Troops in Syria, Not 900 as Previously Stated The US Defense Department confirmed Thursday that there are actually around 2,000 American troops currently deployed in Syria, rather than the previously stated figure of around 900, MediaLine reports. The updated information follows the ouster of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamic insurgent group on December 1. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Iranian-Backed Iraqi Militias Declare Halt to Actions Against Israel Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have reportedly agreed to cease actions against Israel, according to the Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper Al-Akhbar. Israel Intercepts Ballistic Missile Launched From Yemen The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it successfully intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward central Israel in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The projectile, which triggered sirens across central and southern Israel, was intercepted before entering Israeli airspace, preventing any potential damage or casualties. Inside the United States Biden Defends Commuting Death Sentences After Vatican Pressure (Worthy News Focus) U.S. President Joe Biden defended his decision to commute the death sentences of 37 inmates Monday, citing “moral and policy” objections, after facing pressure from the Vatican and others opposing capital punishment. Trump Vows to Designate Mexican Cartels as Terrorists, Announces Anti-Drug Ad Blitz President-elect Donald Trump announced on Sunday his intention to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations in an effort to combat the growing influence and violence associated with these groups. In addition, he revealed plans to launch a comprehensive anti-drug advertising campaign within the United States. Biden Stops Execution of Nearly All Death Row Inmates President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 Americans on federal death row on Monday. SCOTUS to Hear Case on Defunding Planned Parenthood Abortion Provider The US Supreme Court on Wednesday (Dec. 18) agreed to consider a request by South Carolina to deny public funding to Planned Parenthood on the grounds that, in addition to providing healthcare services, it is the nation’s leading abortion provider, Reuters reports. Christian News Hundreds of Christians Flee Papua Violence Hundreds of displaced Christian residents will likely celebrate Christmas outside their homes in an area of Indonesia's conflict-stricken easternmost Papua province unless Indonesian security forces withdraw there, a bishop says. Sudan Christians In Crossfire; Prayers Urged With Christmas approaching, Christians urged prayers for their community in war-stricken Sudan, saying they are in the crossfire as a bishop and a pastor were among those being attacked. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – President-elect Donald Trump announced on Sunday his intention to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations in an effort to combat the growing influence and violence associated with these groups. In addition, he revealed plans to launch a comprehensive anti-drug advertising campaign within the United States. This initiative aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and to curb the demand that fuels the cartels’ operations. Trump’s remarks highlight a dual approach to addressing the issue by targeting both the supply chain and the domestic consumption that perpetuates the drug crisis. “I will immediately designate the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations,” Trump declared during a Turning Point conference in Arizona, reaffirming his campaign promise to pursue this designation. Trump’s election platform outlines that upon his return to the White House, he will instruct the Department of Defense to deploy “special forces, cyber warfare, and other covert and overt actions to inflict maximum damage on cartel leadership, infrastructure, and operations.” “We’re going to advertise how bad drugs are for you,” Trump said at a Turning Point conference in Arizona, discussing the planned ad campaign. “They ruin your look, they ruin your face, they ruin your skin, they ruin your teeth.” In recent years, hundreds of thousands of Americans have died from fentanyl overdoses, a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Just 2 milligrams can be fatal, and Mexican cartels often traffic the drug across the U.S.–Mexico border. The post Trump Vows to Designate Mexican Cartels as Terrorists, Announces Anti-Drug Ad Blitz appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 Americans on federal death row on Monday. Biden’s actions mean those convicted will now face life in prison without possibility of parole, not execution. The three who will remain on death row are: Robert Bowers, who was convicted of killing 11 at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa. Dylann Roof, who was convicted of shooting nine at a Black church in Charleston, S.C. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 2013 Boston Marathon bomber convicted of killing three and injuring more than 250 people. “[Biden] believes that America must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level, except in cases of terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder – which is why today’s actions apply to all but those cases,” the White House said in a statement. “When President Biden came into office, his Administration imposed a moratorium on federal executions, and his actions today will prevent the next Administration from carrying out the execution sentences that would not be handed down under current policy and practice.” These commutations come after earlier this month Biden commuted about 1,500 sentences and pardoned 39. Those came just after the president announced he had issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, covering more than a decade for any potential crimes, an unusual and controversial move just before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Democrats have expressed concerns that Trump will prosecute certain political opponents, with some calling for more preemptive pardons for those in D.C. Regardless of the commutation, executing death row prisoners has become such a bureaucratic, labyrinthian difficulty that prisoners can sit for decades on death row. The White House made clear Americans should expect more commutation. “The President’s criminal justice record has transformed individual lives and positively impacted communities, especially historically marginalized communities,” the White House said in a statement. “In the coming weeks, the President will take additional steps to provide meaningful second chances and continue to review additional pardons and commutations.” (Worthy News) – The post Biden Stops Execution of Nearly All Death Row Inmates appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The US Defense Department confirmed Thursday that there are actually around 2,000 American troops currently deployed in Syria, rather than the previously stated figure of around 900, MediaLine reports. The updated information follows the ouster of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Islamic insurgent group on December 1. During a press briefing Thursday, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said he had only just learned there are more troops in Syria than had been announced. “As you know, we have been briefing you regularly that there are approximately 900 US troops deployed to Syria,” Ryder said. “In light of the situation in Syria and the significant interest, we recently learned that those numbers were higher, and so asked to look into it. I learned today that in fact there are approximately 2,000 US troops in Syria.” “As I understand it and as it was explained to me, these additional forces are considered temporary rotational forces that deploy to meet shifting mission requirements, whereas the core 900 deployers are on longer-term deployments,” Ryder continued. “Part of the explanation is the sensitivity from a diplomatic and operational security standpoint,” Ryder added. “Given the difference in what we’ve been briefing and what the actual number is, I just felt that it was important to get you that information.” A delegation of US government officials is set to meet with the interim Syrian government led by HTS in Damascus on Friday, CNN reports. The US officials intend to “discuss transition principles endorsed by the United States and regional partners in Aqaba, Jordan,” a State Department spokesperson said. The post Pentagon: US Has 2,000 Troops in Syria, Not 900 as Previously Stated appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The US Supreme Court on Wednesday (Dec. 18) agreed to consider a request by South Carolina to deny public funding to Planned Parenthood on the grounds that, in addition to providing healthcare services, it is the nation’s leading abortion provider, Reuters reports. Republican-led South Carolina has banned abortion after six weeks’ gestation. However, the case at hand arose in 2018, before the US Supreme Court in 2022 reversed the Roe v Wade ruling which had granted a federal right to abortion up to viability. Launching a lengthy and convoluted legal process, plaintiffs Planned Parenthood affiliate and Medicaid patient Julie Edwards sued the state after South Carolina’s Republican Governor Henry McMaster ordered that Planned Parenthood be barred from participation in the state Medicaid program, Reuters reports. McMaster had argued that abortion providers are unqualified to provide family planning services. The plaintiffs argued that preventing Planned Parenthood from receiving state funds violates a Medicaid Act provision that gives beneficiaries the right to choose their providers. In March, the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. “Preserving access to Planned Parenthood and other providers means preserving an affordable choice and quality care for an untold number of mothers and infants in South Carolina.” However, appealing to the nation’s highest court, South Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services seeks a ruling that the Medicaid Act does not give Medicaid recipients the right to challenge a state’s decision “that a specific provider like Planned Parenthood is not qualified to receive taxpayer funding.” The post SCOTUS to Hear Case on Defunding Planned Parenthood Abortion Provider appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KHARTOUM (Worthy News) – With Christmas approaching, Christians urged prayers for their community in war-stricken Sudan, saying they are in the crossfire as a bishop and a pastor were among those being attacked. In one of the latest known incidents, the bishop of the El-Obeid diocese in Sudan, Yunan Tombe Trille Kuku Andali, “suffered a harrowing ordeal” at the hands of both members of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and those of the opposing rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF). In comments shared with Worthy News, Bishop Trille said he was nearly killed in attacks this month while traveling with a deacon named Joseph. “The ministry team had just arrived in El-Obeid when they were suddenly stopped and harassed by the SAF. The troops seized the small sum of money in U.S. dollars that the bishop was carrying, claiming that it was forbidden currency,“ added Christian advocacy group Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC), which supports Christians in the mainly Muslim north-east African nation. ”During the robbery, the soldiers also physically harmed the two men.“ Shortly after the December 1 incident, ”Bishop Tombe Trille and Deacon Joseph were accosted by RSF members who proceeded to beat the Christian leaders severely,“ VOMC added. The bishop said he believed that the rebels had ”intended to kill“ them, but ”one of the soldiers in the group eventually persuaded the others to stop the beating.“ When the assailants departed from the scene, the assaulted church leaders were reportedly left abandoned with severe head and neck injuries. Christians recalled this is not the first time Bishop Tombe Trille has been dangerously threatened. On April 20, 2023, he and other members of the clergy narrowly escaped death when rockets hit the premises of his residence, destroying the main gate of the cathedral, as well as his home, Worthy News learned. “Thankfully, no one was injured during that incident. Despite the threats against him, the bishop has been a vocal opponent of the ongoing civil conflict in Sudan, publicly urging both sides to lay down their weapons,“ VOMC told Worthy News. PASTOR ATTACKED Separately, Pastor Zubair,” who had bravely stayed with his congregation even when the risks became immense, “ was detained recently, just months after he was injured when a bomb ” landed near his church,” Christians told Worthy News. “When many of his church members decided to flee, Zubair joined them. Unfortunately, the entire group was arrested soon after arriving in their new city. As a church leader, Zubair was severely beaten and verbally insulted, adding to his suffering,“ explained Global Christian Relief charity working in the area. His full name and more details were not immediately released amid security concerns. VOMC urged Christians to “please pray” for the complete healing of Bishop Tombe Trille, Deacon Joseph, and their fellow clergy members,” as they recover “physically and/or emotionally from the attacks perpetrated against them.” The group said it prays that “these Christian leaders, and the many other believers in Sudan who are encountering harassment because of their faith, be divinely protected” from any further threats against them. “In general, pray that there will finally be an end to the long-term civil war in Sudan so that lasting peace and harmony can be established throughout this African nation.” The anti-Christian violence added to mounting social upheaval in Sudan, one the poorest countries in the world, with its 46 million people living on an average annual income of $750. Since the 2021 coup, Sudan has been run by a council of generals led by two military men at the center of this dispute. CLASHES ESCALATE General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the armed forces, is, in effect, the country’s president. Yet experts suggest that his deputy and leader of the RSF, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, has abandoned him. He disagrees with his former boss about the country’s direction and the proposed move towards civilian rule. On Sunday, his RSF said it seized back control of a key logistical base in North Darfur, a day after it was taken by rival forces allied with Sudan’s official army. The conflict between the RSF and the army erupted in April 2023, and some of the fiercest fighting has taken place in North Darfur as the army and allied Joint Forces – a collection of former rebel groups – battle to maintain a last foothold in the wider Darfur region. The Joint Forces and the army said earlier they had taken control on Saturday of the al-Zurug base, which the RSF used during the 20-month war as a logistical base to channel supplies from over the nearby borders with Chad and Libya. Dozens of RSF soldiers were killed, and vehicles destroyed, and supplies were captured as they captured the base, the army claimed. Since fighting picked up in Darfur’s capital, al-Fashir, in mid-April, at least 782 civilians have been killed due to “intense” heavy artillery and suicide drones from the RSF and airstrikes and artillery strikes by the army, according to a United Nations human rights report. The RSF had also been accused of human rights abuses, including the massacre of more than 120 protesters in June 2019. With fighting escalating, there is concern that minority Christians will remain in the crossfire while remembering the birth of Jesus. The post Sudan Christians In Crossfire; Prayers Urged appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – U.S. sanctions on Syria remain intact following a Friday meeting between the U.S. State Department and de facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Golani). However, the bounty on al-Sharaa has been lifted, signaling a notable shift in U.S.-Syria relations. Following a meeting with de facto Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, Washington announced the cancellation of a $10 million reward initially offered by the FBI in 2017 for information leading to his capture. The reward targeted Sharaa, then known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, for his allegiance to Al-Qaeda. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf disclosed the decision during a post-meeting briefing with reporters. “Based on our discussion, I told him we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward offer,” she stated. During the meeting, officials emphasized preventing terrorist groups from posing threats within or beyond Syria, a commitment al-Sharaa affirmed, according to Leaf. She also stated that after discussions with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham representatives, she expects Syria to end Iran’s involvement in the country, breaking ties with the longtime ally of former dictator Bashar al-Assad. “We fully support a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that results in an inclusive and representative government which respects the rights of all Syrians, including women, and Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious communities,” Leaf stated. Leaf states that Washington is advocating for a ceasefire between Turkish-backed forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces near the flashpoint city of Kobane. “We are working energetically, in discussions with Turkish authorities, also with SDF. We think the best way ahead is for ceasefire around Kobane,” she says. The delegation did not discuss ongoing US sanctions on Syria, including the Caesar Act, which has heavily impacted the economy. However, Leaf emphasized the importance of direct engagement with Syrians to rebuild and shape the country’s future. The reward was initially offered by the FBI in 2017 for information leading to the arrest of Sharaa, who was then known by his war name, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, due to his allegiance to Al-Qaeda. The post Biden Administration Removes Bounty On Syria’s New Leader, Signals Policy Shift appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday that its forces carried out a precision airstrike on Thursday in Syria’s Dayr az Zawr Province, targeting ISIS leader Abu Yusif. The strike successfully eliminated him along with another ISIS operative. This action comes as the U.S. intensifies efforts to prevent the terrorist group’s attempts to liberate 8,000 ISIS operatives currently detained in Syrian jails. “This airstrike is part of CENTCOM’s ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond,” the CENTCOM statement read. “This strike was conducted in an area previously controlled by the Syrian regime and Russians.” CENTCOM commander Michael Erik Kurilla emphasized the United States’ determination, in collaboration with regional allies and partners, to prevent ISIS from exploiting the current situation in Syria to regroup. He highlighted the group’s intent to free over 8,000 operatives detained in Syrian facilities. He affirmed that U.S. forces will aggressively target ISIS leaders and operatives, including those planning external operations beyond Syria. “As stated before, the United States — working with allies and partners in the region — will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and reconstitute,” Kurilla emphasized. “ISIS has the intent to break out of detention the over 8,000 ISIS operatives currently being held in facilities in Syria,” he continued. “We will aggressively target these leaders and operatives, including those trying to conduct operations external to Syria.” The post US kills ISIS leader Abu Yusif As Group Tries to Free Operatives in Syria appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Joe Biden on Saturday signed the Continuing Resolution approved by Congress that keeps the federal government operating until March. “The bipartisan funding bill I just signed keeps the government open and delivers the urgently needed disaster relief that I requested for recovering communities as well as the funds needed to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” Biden said in a statement. “This agreement represents a compromise, which means neither side got everything it wanted.” The Senate voted 85-11 to pass the 118-page bill just after midnight Saturday morning to keep the federal government open until March 14. The Continuing Resolution will allocate about $100 billion in disaster relief and extend the Farm Bill, key provisions demanded by both Democrats and Republicans. Although the vote technically happened past the Friday midnight deadline, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget said it has “ceased shutdown preparations” since Biden was expected to sign the bill Saturday. “Though this bill does not include everything Democrats fought for, there are major victories in this bill for American families – provide emergency aid for communities battered by natural disasters, no debt ceiling, and it will keep the government open with no draconian cuts,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on X. “As I have said, the only way to keep the government open is through bipartisanship.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., first introduced what was described as a bloated 1,547-page CR negotiated with Democratic congressional leaders, which tanked Wednesday night after President-elect Donald Trump and ally Elon Musk condemned it for including billions of dollars’ worth of Democrat wishlist items. After hastily meeting with members of Trump’s team, Johnson released a 116-page “skinny CR,” which not only cut most of Democrat’s demands but also included a 2-year debt suspension, per Trump’s request. As expected, Democrats revolted, while a substantial number of Republicans also opposed the bill because of the debt ceiling suspension. On Thursday afternoon, the resolution fell decisively short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass, sending Johnson back to the drawing board. By Friday afternoon, Johnson presented his final deal: a similarly scaled back CR, minus the provision suspending the debt ceiling. It passed the House with 366 favorable votes Friday afternoon before the Senate also advanced it. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Biden Signs Stopgap Funding Bill After Last-Minute Votes in Congress appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President-elect Donald Trump promised to cut “hundreds of billions” in federal spending in 2025 after demanding Congress pass a short-term measure to fund the government that includes lifting the debt ceiling. Trump said he didn’t want to have to raise the debt ceiling during his term. “Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling,” the president-elect wrote on Truth Social. He also promised significant cuts. “The United States will cut Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in spending next year through Reconciliation!” Trump added. That’s less than the $2 trillion in cuts that Trump supporter and Department of Government Efficiency co-leader Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, previously suggested. Musk, who is among the richest people in the world, suggested he could trim $2 trillion from the U.S. budget. Experts have said that figure could be reachable, but was more likely to be accomplished over a decade rather than in a single year. Ramaswamy and Musk have outlined their plans for DOGE, which will include significant reductions in federal regulations followed by mass federal layoffs. Nicholas Bagley, a professor of law at The University of Michigan Law School, called Musk’s and co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy’s goals for DOGE unrealistic during a panel discussion hosted by The Federalist Society. “It’s not an especially realistic approach to pruning the regulatory state,” Bagley said. “The problem is Musk and Ramaswamy are just wrong … The vast majority of regulations on the books are squarely within agencies authorities.” Christopher Walker, a professor of law at The University of Michigan Law School, called DOGE’s goal a “great idea in theory.” “I share some skepticism that this will actually work just because it’s new, it’s different and so far I haven’t seen enough details to give me confidence that they know how they’re going to navigate this,” Walker said. Walker also said that the federal government has plenty of regulations that could be cut after operating for 40 years under the Chevron doctrine, a two-part framework from the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1984 decision in Chevron USA v. National Resources Defense Council. In that case, the high court said that courts resolving challenges to an agency’s interpretation of a statute should be deferential to administrative agencies. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine in June with its decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Gina Raimondo. Musk and Ramaswamy said they plan to use that decision as a guide in their work to cut regulations. “I think that implicates a lot of regulations,” Walker said. Outside groups have projected Trump’s campaign promises will add to the growing national debt. Trump’s plans could increase the debt by $7.50 trillion through 2035, according to the Committee for A Responsible Federal Budget’s analysis. On the spending side, Trump has proposed extending and modifying the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; exempting overtime from taxes; exempting tips from taxes; ending taxation of Social Security benefits; lowering the corporate tax rate to 15% for domestic manufacturers; strengthening and modernizing the military; securing the border and deporting unauthorized immigrants; and enacting housing reforms, including credits for first-time homebuyers. On the revenue side, Trump said he would establish a baseline tariff and add other tariffs; reverse energy and environmental policies and expand production; reduce waste, fraud and abuse; and get rid of the U.S. Department of Education and support school choice. Trump’s campaign promises, if enacted, would increase the U.S. debt from between $1.45 trillion at the low end and $15.15 trillion, with a central estimate of $7.5 trillion, according to the analysis. Committee for A Responsible Federal Budget noted many uncertainties exist in the estimates. The post Trump Promises to Cut ‘Hundreds of Billions’ in Federal Spending Next Year appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News VATICAN CITY/GAZA/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel lashed out at Pope Francis for condemning Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and suggesting the world should investigate whether Israel’s military offensive there constitutes a “genocide” after dozens of Palestinians, including children, allegedly died in weekend attacks. Francis opened his annual Christmas address to the Catholic cardinals who lead the Vatican’s various departments with what appeared to be a reference to Israeli airstrikes on Friday that Hamas-backed medics said claimed killed at least 25 Palestinians in Gaza. In one incident, an Israeli airstrike on a house in northern Gaza on Friday killed ten members of the same family, including seven children, according to the Hamad-run civil defense authority. “The oldest of the seven children was just six years old,” a civil defense spokesperson said, adding that the strike also left fifteen people injured. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) disputed the figures, saying they “eliminated several terrorists operating within a military structure belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, which posed a threat to IDF forces active in the area.” The IDF emphasized that it “adheres to international law,” but Pope Francis seemed to disagree. “Yesterday, children were bombed,” said the pope. “This is cruelty. This is not war. I wanted to say this because it touches the heart.” However, the Israel Foreign Ministry responded angrily, saying on social media platform X: “Cruelty is terrorists hiding behind children while trying to murder Israeli children; cruelty is holding 100 hostages for 442 days, including a baby and children, by terrorists and abusing them.” ‘IGNORING FACTS’ In the statement monitored by Worthy News, the Israeli ministry added, “Unfortunately, the Pope has chosen to ignore all of this, as well as the fact that Israel’s actions have targeted terrorists who used children as human shields.” The Foreign Ministry said that the remarks by the leader of some 1.4 billion Catholics “are particularly disappointing as they are disconnected from the true and factual context of Israel’s fight against jihadist terrorism — a multi-front war that was forced upon it starting on October 7.” The ministry acknowledged that “The death of any innocent person in a war is a tragedy.” However, “Israel makes extraordinary efforts to prevent harm to innocents, while Hamas makes extraordinary efforts to increase harm to Palestinian civilians.” The blame, it said, “should be directed solely at the terrorists, not at the democracy defending itself against them. Enough with the double standards and the singling out of the Jewish state and its people.” The pope is usually careful about taking sides in conflicts, but he has recently been more outspoken about Israel’s military campaign against Hamas, the group that killed some 1,200 people in Israel on October 7, 2023. In recently published book excerpts, Pope Francis said some international experts said that “what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide.” The Hamas-run health ministry says 45,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war against Hamas in Gaza, which has a population of over two million people. Israel has given lower death tolls and says nearly half of those who died were Hamas fighters. The post Israel Fumes Over Pope’s Gaza Remarks After ‘Dozens’ Die In Strikes appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News SANAA/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The U.S. military says it has conducted airstrikes targeting a missile storage facility and a command-and-control post operated by Houthis in Yemen after the Iran-backed group struck Israel, injuring dozens of people. In a statement monitored by Worthy News, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces hit targets in Yemen’s Houthi-held capital, Sanaa. There were no immediate reports of casualties. CENTCOM said the strikes were aimed at “disrupting and degrading Houthi operations,” including attacks on U.S. Navy warships and commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. military also destroyed drones and a cruise missile designed for use against ships, officials said. Houthis have attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea for over a year, seeking to impose a naval blockade against Israel. They claim these actions are “in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,” where it supports Hamas. Houthis have demanded that Israel end its war in Gaza, which Hamas sparked after it entered Israel and killed some 1,200 people, including babies, on October 7, 2023. TEL AVIV HIT Saturday’s U.S. strikes came shortly after a rocket fired from Yemen hit an area of Tel Aviv, Israel’s second most populous city, leaving 16 people injured by shattered glass, the Israeli military said Saturday. Another 14 people had minor injuries as they rushed to shelters when air raid sirens sounded before dawn, the Israeli military explained. The weekend attack on Israel, America’s closest ally, followed Israeli airstrikes hitting Houthi in response to previous missiles fired from Yemen at the Jewish nation and its allies. Thursday’s Israeli strikes caused “considerable damage” to the Houthi-controlled Red Sea ports “that will lead to the immediate and significant reduction in port capacity,” added United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. The port at Hodeida has been key for food shipments into Yemen in its decade-long civil war, though Israel has made clear it tries to avoid hitting civilians. In response to these strikes, the Houthis said they had aimed “a hypersonic ballistic missile” at a military target, apparently in Tel Aviv, that they did not identify. Israel’s military said it was investigating, warning residents that “we emphasize that aerial defense is not hermetic.” BROKEN GLASSES “A flash of light, a blow, and we fell to the ground. Big mess, broken glasses all over the place,” recalled Bar Katz, a resident of a damaged building, when talking to reporters. It was the latest in a series of attacks by Houthis, who launched more than 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel in the past year, according to Israeli officials The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claims the vast majority did not reach Israel or were intercepted by the military and Israeli allies in the region. The group also carried out repeated missile and drone attacks on some 100 merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and said they won’t stop until there is a ceasefire in Gaza. These attacks have forced many carriers to avoid the key waterways, hamstringing global shipping and trade. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has accused both sides of risking further escalation in the region, undermining United Nations mediation efforts. However, Israel’s government has accused the U.N. of showing bias toward Israel at a time when the nation is fighting on multiple fronts in “a battle for its existence.” The post US Strikes Houthis After Rocket From Yemen Injures Dozens In Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News SANAA/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The U.S. military says it has conducted airstrikes targeting a missile storage facility and a command-and-control post operated by Houthis in Yemen after the Iran-backed group struck Israel, injuring dozens of people. In a statement monitored by Worthy News, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that American forces hit targets in Yemen’s Houthi-held capital, Sanaa. There were no immediate reports of casualties. CENTCOM said the strikes were aimed at “disrupting and degrading Houthi operations,” including attacks on U.S. Navy warships and commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. military also destroyed drones and a cruise missile designed for use against ships, officials said. Houthis have attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea for over a year, seeking to impose a naval blockade against Israel. They claim these actions are “in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,” where it supports Hamas. Houthis have demanded that Israel end its war in Gaza, which Hamas sparked after it entered Israel and killed some 1,200 people, including babies, on October 7, 2023. TEL AVIV HIT Saturday’s U.S. strikes came shortly after a rocket fired from Yemen hit an area of Tel Aviv, Israel’s second most populous city, leaving 16 people injured by shattered glass, the Israeli military said Saturday. Another 14 people had minor injuries as they rushed to shelters when air raid sirens sounded before dawn, the Israeli military explained. The weekend attack on Israel, America’s closest ally, followed Israeli airstrikes hitting Houthi in response to previous missiles fired from Yemen at the Jewish nation and its allies. Thursday’s Israeli strikes caused “considerable damage” to the Houthi-controlled Red Sea ports “that will lead to the immediate and significant reduction in port capacity,” added United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. The port at Hodeida has been key for food shipments into Yemen in its decade-long civil war, though Israel has made clear it tries to avoid hitting civilians. In response to these strikes, the Houthis said they had aimed “a hypersonic ballistic missile” at a military target, apparently in Tel Aviv, that they did not identify. Israel’s military said it was investigating, warning residents that “we emphasize that aerial defense is not hermetic.” BROKEN GLASSES “A flash of light, a blow, and we fell to the ground. Big mess, broken glasses all over the place,” recalled Bar Katz, a resident of a damaged building, when talking to reporters. It was the latest in a series of attacks by Houthis, who launched more than 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel in the past year, according to Israeli officials The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claims the vast majority did not reach Israel or were intercepted by the military and Israeli allies in the region. The group also carried out repeated missile and drone attacks on some 100 merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and said they won’t stop until there is a ceasefire in Gaza. These attacks have forced many carriers to avoid the key waterways, hamstringing global shipping and trade. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has accused both sides of risking further escalation in the region, undermining United Nations mediation efforts. However, Israel’s government has accused the U.N. of showing bias toward Israel at a time when the nation is fighting on multiple fronts in “a battle for its existence.” The post US Strikes Houthis After Rocket From Yemen Injures Dozens In Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, peace is powerful! Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. During World War I, in the winter of 1914, on the battlefields of Flanders, one of the most unusual events in history took place. The Germans had been in a fierce battle with the British and French. Both sides were dug in, safe in muddy man-made trenches six to eight feet deep that seemed to stretch forever… but it was Christmas, and what happened next was astonishing, writes Stanley Weintraub, author of the book, Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce. “The Germans set trees on trench parapets and lit the candles. Then, they began singing carols, and though their language was unfamiliar to their enemies, the tunes were not. After a few trees were shot at, the British became more curious than belligerent and crawled forward to watch and listen. And after a while, they began to sing. By Christmas morning, the "no man's land" between the trenches was filled with fraternizing soldiers, sharing rations and gifts, singing and (more solemnly) burying their dead between the lines. Soon they were even playing soccer, mostly with improvised balls.” Though the war had to continue, as commanders on both sides ordered their troops to restart hostilities, this interval of peace during war was extraordinary and unprecedented. Friend, this is the season of peace, and we serve the Prince of Peace, who calls us to be peacemakers. Let’s strive to be people who bring peace wherever we go—in our homes, families, workplaces, and every situation we face. And never forget to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Dallas, Texas) 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! Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are going to be heading WEST!!! Now booking in the following states: Texas, New Mexico and Arizona …. If you know Pastors, Rabbis or Ministry Leaders who might be interested in some powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the Land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World Biden Administration Removes Bounty On Syria’s New Leader, Signals Policy Shift U.S. sanctions on Syria remain intact following a Friday meeting between the U.S. State Department and de facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Golani). However, the bounty on al-Sharaa has been lifted, signaling a notable shift in U.S.-Syria relations. US kills ISIS leader Abu Yusif As Group Tries to Free Operatives in Syria The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Friday that its forces carried out a precision airstrike on Thursday in Syria's Dayr az Zawr Province, targeting ISIS leader Abu Yusif. The strike successfully eliminated him along with another ISIS operative. This action comes as the U.S. intensifies efforts to prevent the terrorist group's attempts to liberate 8,000 ISIS operatives currently detained in Syrian jails. At Least 5 Killed In German Christmas Market Attack Authorities say at least five people have been killed, including a child, and more than 200 injured after a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg. The German chancellor has expressed his shock about the apparent attack. Russian Missiles Rain Down On Ukraine; Numerous Killed and Injured The second oldest church in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, was among sites hit by Russian ballistic missiles and other weapons, killing at least two personals and injuring over 20 people, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said his forces were winning on the bloodstained frontlines. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Fumes Over Pope’s Gaza Remarks After ‘Dozens’ Die In Strikes Israel lashed out at Pope Francis for condemning Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and suggesting the world should investigate whether Israel’s military offensive there constitutes a “genocide” after dozens of Palestinians, including children, allegedly died in weekend attacks. US Strikes Houthis After Rocket From Yemen Injures Dozens In Israel The U.S. military says it has conducted airstrikes targeting a missile storage facility and a command-and-control post operated by Houthis in Yemen after the Iran-backed group struck Israel, injuring dozens of people. Inside the United States Biden Signs Stopgap Funding Bill After Last-Minute Votes in Congress President Joe Biden on Saturday signed the Continuing Resolution approved by Congress that keeps the federal government operating until March. Trump Promises to Cut ‘Hundreds of Billions’ in Federal Spending Next Year President-elect Donald Trump promised to cut "hundreds of billions" in federal spending in 2025 after demanding Congress pass a short-term measure to fund the government that includes lifting the debt ceiling. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MAGDEBURG, GERMANY (Worthy News) – Authorities say at least five people have been killed, including a child, and more than 200 injured after a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg. The German chancellor has expressed his shock about the apparent attack. Christmas cheer has made way for sorrow in Germany as numerous people were killed and injured when a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg. Church bells echoed throughout the city as the victims were remembered. “My family members arrived too late. That’s why they escaped,” a tearful woman said. Officials say the suspected attacker’s motive is unclear, and he has no known links to Islamist extremism. Social media messages suggested that he had been critical of Islam. Whatever the reason, carnage is all that is left. Footage from the scene shows numerous emergency services vehicles attending while people lay on the ground. Further footage then emerged of armed police confronting and arresting a man who can be seen lying on the ground by a stationary vehicle. An unverified video posted on social media purports to show a car plowing into the crowd at the market. City officials said around 100 police, medics, firefighters, and rescue service personnel rushed to the scene. SAUDI CITIZEN DETAINED Reiner Haseloff, the premier of Saxony-Anhalt state, told reporters on Saturday that the suspect – who was arrested – was a 50-year-old Saudi citizen who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had worked as a doctor. He said a preliminary investigation suggested the alleged attacker was acting as a lone wolf. He could not rule out further deaths due to the number of hundreds injured. German chancellor Olaf Scholz said all those who suffered were “innocent victims of a terrible, insane act.” However, there were also signs of hope. Scholtz noted how quickly the police, fire brigade, and emergency services arrived and how many people made their way from very different places to help swiftly and concretely. He said he had a “moving conversation” with some of the emergency services working on the scene, who, through their professionalism and speed, had prevented the situation from being any worse than it was. Scholtz also stressed the devastating effect the attack would have on the lives of many caught up in it, adding that the impact on the rescue workers would also be immense. The post At Least 5 Killed In German Christmas Market Attack appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article