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by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The United States killed 37 militants associated with Islamic State and al-Qaeda during two airstrikes carried out this month against terrorist targets in northwest Syria, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced. In a September 29 press release, CENTCOM said it carried out the strikes on September 16 and September 14 respectively. Two of those killed in the strikes were senior leaders of the al-Qaeda-affiliated Hurras al-Deen group, CENTCOM said. No civilians are known to have been killed in the strikes. “On the early morning of Sept. 16, CENTCOM forces conducted a large-scale airstrike on a remote ISIS training camp in central Syria, killing at least 28 ISIS operatives, including at least four senior leaders. The airstrike will disrupt ISIS’ capability to conduct operations against U.S. interests, as well as our allies and partners,” the press release reads. Concerning the September 24 strike, the CENTCOM statement says: “On Sept. 24, CENTCOM Forces conducted a targeted strike in northwest Syria, killing nine terrorist operatives, including Marwan Bassam ‘Abd-al-Ra’uf, a senior Hurras al-Din leader responsible for overseeing military operations from Syria. Hurras al-Din is an Al Qaeda-affiliated organization based in Syria with global aspirations to conduct attacks against U.S. and Western interests.” Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, US Central Command, explained in a statement: “These strikes against leadership and operatives of ISIS and the Al Qaeda affiliate, Hurras al-Din, represent CENTCOM’s commitment to the enduring defeat of terrorist organizations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility and our support to regional stability.” The post US Strikes Terror Targets in Syria, Kills 37 Jihadist Militants appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The United States killed 37 militants associated with Islamic State and al-Qaeda during two airstrikes carried out this month against terrorist targets in northwest Syria, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced. In a September 29 press release, CENTCOM said it carried out the strikes on September 16 and September 14 respectively. Two of those killed in the strikes were senior leaders of the al-Qaeda-affiliated Hurras al-Deen group, CENTCOM said. No civilians are known to have been killed in the strikes. “On the early morning of Sept. 16, CENTCOM forces conducted a large-scale airstrike on a remote ISIS training camp in central Syria, killing at least 28 ISIS operatives, including at least four senior leaders. The airstrike will disrupt ISIS’ capability to conduct operations against U.S. interests, as well as our allies and partners,” the press release reads. Concerning the September 24 strike, the CENTCOM statement says: “On Sept. 24, CENTCOM Forces conducted a targeted strike in northwest Syria, killing nine terrorist operatives, including Marwan Bassam ‘Abd-al-Ra’uf, a senior Hurras al-Din leader responsible for overseeing military operations from Syria. Hurras al-Din is an Al Qaeda-affiliated organization based in Syria with global aspirations to conduct attacks against U.S. and Western interests.” Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, US Central Command, explained in a statement: “These strikes against leadership and operatives of ISIS and the Al Qaeda affiliate, Hurras al-Din, represent CENTCOM’s commitment to the enduring defeat of terrorist organizations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility and our support to regional stability.” The post US Strikes Terror Targets in Syria, Kills 37 Jihadist Militants appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israel last week secured an $8.7 billion US weapons package to support its fighting against Iranian proxies Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Houthi insurgents in Yemen, All Israel News (AIN) reports. The package was agreed upon in Washington on September 26, following negotiations between an Israeli delegation led by Eyal Zamir, director-general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and a US team led by Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Amanda Dory, AIN reports. The funds include $3.5 billion for IDF wartime necessities and $5.2 billion designated for strengthening Israel’s air defense systems, including the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, a developing advanced laser system, AIN said. “The meetings and negotiations aim to maintain Israel’s military edge in the Middle East and support ongoing defense operations,” AIN said in its report. “Zamir expressed gratitude on behalf of Gallant and the Israeli defense establishment for the US government’s steadfast support and commitment to Israel’s security needs,” AIN reported. Israel’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the agreed package illustrates the “strong and enduring strategic partnership between Israel and the United States and the ironclad commitment to Israel’s security.” The post US to Provide $8.7 Billion in Military Aid to Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States, said early Monday that three of its leaders were killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut, the first such attack within the Lebanese capital’s city limits. Separately, Hamas, which attacked Israel on October 6, announced that its chief died in an Israeli strike in Lebanon. It came as Israel stepped up attacks against Iran’s allies in the region. The PFLP said the three leaders were killed in a strike that targeted Beirut’s Kola district. The strike hit the upper floor of an apartment building in the Kola district of Lebanon’s capital. The U.S. State Department designated the PFLP as a foreign terrorist organization on 8 October 1997 and later imposed sanctions on it. Israeli sources identified the killed leaders as Muhammad Abdel Aal, Imad Awda, and Abdel Rahman Abdel Aal. Hamas also reported the death of its leader in Lebanon, Fateh Sherif Abu al Amin. It said he was killed with family members in an Israeli strike on his home in southern Lebanon. Local media reported that the attack happened in the port city of Tyre. BIDEN URGES CALM Yet Washington and observers fear that Israel’s increasing frequency of attacks against Iran-backed groups will plunge the Middle East into a broader armed conflict that could spin out of control and draw in Iran and the United States, Israel’s main ally. When asked if an all-out war in the Middle East could be avoided, U.S. President Joe Biden said, “It has to be.” He said he would talk to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel earlier attacked Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi in Yemen. Both Iran-backed groups are on the terrorist watch lists of numerous nations. The Houthi-run health ministry said at least four people were killed and 29 wounded in airstrikes on Yemen’s port of Hodeidah, which Israel said were a response to Houthi missile attacks, including on Tel Aviv. In Lebanon, authorities said at least 105 people had been killed by Israeli air strikes on Sunday. Lebanon’s Health Ministry has said more than 1,000 Lebanese have been killed and 6,000 wounded in the past two weeks, without saying how many were civilians or combatants. The intensifying Israeli bombardment over two weeks has killed a string of top Hezbollah officials, including its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. MANY ARE FLEEING However, the United Nations has expressed concerns about the impact on the civilian population. The Lebanese government said a million people – a fifth of the population – have fled their homes. Syrians living in southern Lebanon who had fled Israeli bombardment had been sleeping under a bridge in the neighborhood for days, residents of the area said Israel blames Iran-allied groups for the suffering, suggesting they use civilians as human shields. The Jewish nation’s government has vowed to keep up the assault and says it wants to make its northern areas secure again for some 60,000 residents who were forced to flee Hezbollah rocket attacks. Its intentions became apparent as Israeli drones hovered over Beirut for much of Sunday, with the loud blasts of new airstrikes echoing around the Lebanese capital, witnesses said. Displaced families reportedly spent the night on benches at Zaitunay Bay, a string of restaurants and cafes on Beirut’s waterfront. Many of Israel’s attacks have been carried out in the south of Lebanon, where the Iran-backed Hezbollah has most of its operations or Beirut’s southern suburbs. Monday’s attack in the Kola district appeared to be the first strike far within Beirut, which had been recovering after years of civil war. The post Israel Kills Leaders Of Palestine Group PFLP In Beirut; Hamas Chief Also Dead appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Iran-backed Hezbollah has confirmed its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Friday, but Tehran vowed revenge. The group said in a statement: “His eminence, the master of resistance, the righteous servant, has passed away to be with his lord [Allah], who is pleased with him as a great martyr.” Iran was quick to threaten more attacks against Israel through its proxies following the killing of Nadrallah, who led Hezbollah for some 32 years. “By the grace and power of Allah, the blows struck by the Resistance Front on the worn-out, deteriorating body of the Zionist regime will become even more crushing,” said Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei about Hezbollah chief Nasrallah, referring to Israel. “The foul-natured Zionist regime has not become victorious by carrying out this atrocity,” he added. His statement came as a projectile fired from Lebanon crashed in the West Bank, also known as Judaea and Samaria, on Saturday, sparking fires, the Israeli military said. Later, air raid sirens sounded on the outskirts of Jerusalem and the Israel-controlled West Bank, also known as Judaea and Samaria, Israeli sources added. The Israeli military said they were triggered by “a launch from Lebanon toward Israeli territory.” TEL AVIV TARGETED Separately, air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, and loud bangs were heard over the weekend after a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted, the Israeli military said. The Houthis said the attack was timed to coincide with the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu from the United Nations in New York following the killing of Nasrallah. “The resistance will not be broken, and the Jihadist spirit of the Mujahideen brothers in Lebanon and on all fronts of support will grow stronger and bigger,” the Houthis warned. Lebanon declared three days of mourning following Nasrallah’s death. Spontaneous marches of mourners beating their chests while hoisting Hezbollah’s flags happened in various neighborhoods in Beirut during the day, witnesses said. Yet the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief, Herzl Halevi, earlier defended the killing of Nasrallah and other leaders, saying: “Whoever threatens the state of Israel, we’ll know how to get to him: in the north, in the south, and in more distant places.” As fighting continued, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said more than 200,000 people have been displaced by ongoing Israeli air strikes inside Lebanon. Gradi added that some 50,000 Lebanese and Syrian people living there have crossed into Syria. The U.N. official did not mention the estimated 60,000 Israelis who were displaced in northern Israel by Hezbollah attacks. UN CONCERNED U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is “gravely concerned by the dramatic escalation of the events in Beirut in the last 24 hours”. He stressed that “This cycle of violence must stop now. All sides must step back from the brink.” Yet the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief, Herzl Halevi, earlier defended the killing of Nasrallah and other leaders, saying: “Whoever threatens the state of Israel, we’ll know how to get to him: in the north, in the south, and in more distant places.” However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Lebanese people are the new target of “Israel’s policy of genocide, occupation and invasion,” charges Israel vehemently denied. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the fight is against Hezbollah, not the people of Lebanon. Erdoğan, who has been highly critical of Israel’s ongoing war against Hezbollah’s ally Hamas in Gaza, said children were among Lebanese civilians who have been “murdered” by “brutal” Israeli strikes conducted on Lebanon this week. Israel has accused Hezbollah and its ally Hamas of hiding weapons and fighters among civilians. The post Hezbollah Confirms Killing Of Chief Nasrallah As Iran Vows Revenge (Worthy News Focus) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Iran-backed Hezbollah has confirmed its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Friday, but Tehran vowed revenge. The group said in a statement: “His eminence, the master of resistance, the righteous servant, has passed away to be with his lord [Allah], who is pleased with him as a great martyr.” Iran was quick to threaten more attacks against Israel through its proxies following the killing of Nadrallah, who led Hezbollah for some 32 years. “By the grace and power of Allah, the blows struck by the Resistance Front on the worn-out, deteriorating body of the Zionist regime will become even more crushing,” said Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei about Hezbollah chief Nasrallah, referring to Israel. “The foul-natured Zionist regime has not become victorious by carrying out this atrocity,” he added. His statement came as a projectile fired from Lebanon crashed in the West Bank, also known as Judaea and Samaria, on Saturday, sparking fires, the Israeli military said. Later, air raid sirens sounded on the outskirts of Jerusalem and the Israel-controlled West Bank, also known as Judaea and Samaria, Israeli sources added. The Israeli military said they were triggered by “a launch from Lebanon toward Israeli territory.” TEL AVIV TARGETED Separately, air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, and loud bangs were heard over the weekend after a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted, the Israeli military said. The Houthis said the attack was timed to coincide with the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu from the United Nations in New York following the killing of Nasrallah. “The resistance will not be broken, and the Jihadist spirit of the Mujahideen brothers in Lebanon and on all fronts of support will grow stronger and bigger,” the Houthis warned. Lebanon declared three days of mourning following Nasrallah’s death. Spontaneous marches of mourners beating their chests while hoisting Hezbollah’s flags happened in various neighborhoods in Beirut during the day, witnesses said. Yet the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief, Herzl Halevi, earlier defended the killing of Nasrallah and other leaders, saying: “Whoever threatens the state of Israel, we’ll know how to get to him: in the north, in the south, and in more distant places.” As fighting continued, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said more than 200,000 people have been displaced by ongoing Israeli air strikes inside Lebanon. Gradi added that some 50,000 Lebanese and Syrian people living there have crossed into Syria. The U.N. official did not mention the estimated 60,000 Israelis who were displaced in northern Israel by Hezbollah attacks. UN CONCERNED U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is “gravely concerned by the dramatic escalation of the events in Beirut in the last 24 hours”. He stressed that “This cycle of violence must stop now. All sides must step back from the brink.” Yet the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief, Herzl Halevi, earlier defended the killing of Nasrallah and other leaders, saying: “Whoever threatens the state of Israel, we’ll know how to get to him: in the north, in the south, and in more distant places.” However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Lebanese people are the new target of “Israel’s policy of genocide, occupation and invasion,” charges Israel vehemently denied. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the fight is against Hezbollah, not the people of Lebanon. Erdoğan, who has been highly critical of Israel’s ongoing war against Hezbollah’s ally Hamas in Gaza, said children were among Lebanese civilians who have been “murdered” by “brutal” Israeli strikes conducted on Lebanon this week. Israel has accused Hezbollah and its ally Hamas of hiding weapons and fighters among civilians. The post Hezbollah Confirms Killing Of Chief Nasrallah As Iran Vows Revenge (Worthy News Focus) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News VIENNA/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The Freedom Party (FPÖ), known for its anti-migration and far-right views, has won the parliamentary election in Austria, beating the center-right conservatives for the first time, projections showed. Analysts said it was due to use the country’s outsized influence emanating from the alpine nation’s place at the crossroads of Europe to steer the continent toward tighter borders and more inward-looking policies. The FPÖ’s strong showing has been linked to rising anti-immigrant sentiments, post-pandemic anger, inflation, and fears around the war in Ukraine. FPÖ General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz said, “The men and women of Austria have made history today.” He refused to say what kind of coalition his party would try to build. However, analysts doubted that FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl could become Austria’s next chancellor as the second-placed conservative People’s Party has refused to participate in a government led by him. AHEAD OF CONSERVATIVES Projections based on almost complete results gave Kickl’s party 28.8 percent of the vote, more than two points ahead of the conservative People’s Party on 26.3 percent. Yet the FPÖ fell short of a majority following the vote, which some 6.3 million people were eligible to vote in. They are on course to secure about 56 seats in the 183-seat parliament, with the Conservatives on 52 and the Social Democrats on 41 Kickl’s victory is only the latest in a string of far-right election successes in Europe He praised voters for their “optimism, courage, and trust.” His main rival, incumbent Chancellor Karl Nehammer of the People Party (ÖVP), said it’s “impossible to form a government with someone who adores conspiracy theories” The elections are closely watched in other nations, including in neighboring Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is trying to win votes on an anti-migration platform. The post Far-Right Freedom Party Wins Austria’s Elections appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – After 158 U.S. House Democrats voted against deporting sex offenders, including child rapists, and one U.S. Senate Democrat blocked a bill to strengthen protections for unaccompanied minors, a Texas group is again calling on state leaders to act. “Despite the extraordinary efforts of [U.S.] Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-IA, and others, Congress is unwilling to protect children,” Sheena Rodriguez told The Center Square. Rodriguez, the founder and director of Alliance for a Safe Texas, has been calling on the Texas legislature to strengthen state law overseeing facilities housing “unaccompanied alien children” (UACs) in Texas for roughly two years. After meeting with local officials statewide, she discovered a consistent problem: allegations of abuse and neglect of facilities housing UACs in Texas. The facilities are largely funded by taxpayer money and contracted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “What Americans may not realize,” she said, “is the facilities housing UACs run by nongovernmental organizations receiving multimillion dollar contracts with the federal government are also receiving contracts from state governments, including Texas, to house American foster care children.” State Rep. Stan Kitzman, R-Bellville, and state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, filed bills to address the issue. Kitzman’s HB 5000 advanced out of the House State Affairs Committee last year during the regular legislative session but never got a floor vote and died. Kolkhorst’s SB 572 passed the Senate but not the House. Kitzman filed another bill in the third special session, cosponsored by state Rep. Eddie Morales, D-Eagle Pass, which also went nowhere. A bipartisan group of state lawmakers also called on the Office of the Texas Attorney General to investigate claims of alleged abuse and trafficking of UACs in Texas, which went nowhere. Last year, the Texas legislative session was an extraordinary one: lawmakers were involved in a regular legislative session, four special sessions, and the impeachment and trial of the attorney general who was ultimately acquitted. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis called for a grand jury to be convened to investigate alleged abuse of children. It conducted extensive investigations and published multiple reports. It concluded that HHS was “facilitating the forced migration, sale, and abuse of foreign children. This process exposes children to horrifying health conditions, constant criminal threat, labor and sex trafficking, robbery, rape and other experiences not done justice by mere words.” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody also called on Congress to investigate, which resulted in hearings, at which Rodriguez testified. UACs were placed with unrelated individuals and put in situations “where they are subject to abuse, including rape, molestation, and effectively forced to work to pay for their travel to the United States in violation of child labor laws,” Moody said. An HHS Office of the Inspector General report also identified how HHS wasn’t vetting sponsors or protecting UACs in their care. Another IG report said that HHS couldn’t account for more than 100,000 UACs, prompting additional investigations by Congress. Still another found that several hundred thousand couldn’t be found once released into the country. Congressional investigations led by Grassley uncovered multiple issues including UACs being released to MS-13 gang members and alleged traffickers, prompting him to file criminal complaints and Senate Republicans to propose legislatives solutions. At the state level, an Alliance report outlines the need for state regulatory reform and the impact the facilities have on Texas communities. Kitzman isn’t backing down and is again filing a bill next year to address the issue. It’s already gained additional bipartisan interest. At a recent Texas Senate Committee on Border Security, Rodriguez testified in support of it. Rodriguez also testified that since 2021, 62,000 UACs were released to sponsors in Texas, according to data obtained by the New York Times from HHS. The data shows that from January 2021 through May 2023, 27,000 UACs were released to sponsors in Texas who were not their parents; over 6,400 were released to distant relatives or unrelated individuals. She also pointed out that Texas has the greatest number of HHS-contracted facilities for UACs in the country and the most UACs are sent to Texas from the border. No other state has nearly the number of facilities or is receiving the volume of UACs than Texas, The Center Square first reported. At least 52 HHS-contracted facilities were operating in Texas in 2020, according to a GAO report. From fiscal 2015 to 2023, the largest number of UACs by far – 82,391 – were released into Texas, The Center Square first reported. Texas, California and Florida have historically received the most UACs; the number exponentially increases every year. In fiscal 2015, Texas received 3,272. By fiscal 2022, 19,071, according to HHS data. “The federal government continues to fail to protect children, taxpayers, and our communities,” Rodriguez said. “Texas is at the forefront of this crisis. We must not sit idly by. Texas must act.” She’s again calling on Texas officials to conduct an investigation similar to Florida’s and is urging state lawmakers to support and pass Kitzman’s bill. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Texas Advocate Calls on State to Protect Unaccompanied Minors, Texas Children appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Asheville and other parts of western North Carolina were cut off from the world on Saturday, with no roads open into or out of the most populous city in the region and electricity and cell towers limited or inoperable. Fatalities from the storm Helene in the South were more than five dozen, and the Buncombe County numbers – where Asheville is county seat – were not included due to trouble reaching next of kin, said the Emergency Services director. Nearby Spruce Pine collected 24 inches of rain between Tuesday and Saturday, dwarfing the 11-plus in metro Atlanta in a 48-hour period that eclipsed records dating to 1878. Helene, a Category 4 hurricane when she hit the Big Bend of Florida on Thursday night, is forecast to leave behind between $95 billion and $110 billion in damage and economic loss. Property damage alone is forecast by Moody’s to run $15 billion to $26 billion. President Joe Biden on Saturday granted emergency aid to North Carolina through a declaration. “To say this caught us off guard would be an understatement,” Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller said. Commerce and tourism will be impacted for some time by the loss of Interstate 40 between Asheville and Knoxville, Tenn. Two eastbound lanes fell into the Pigeon River about 4 miles into North Carolina. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Asheville Cut Off From World; Damage Estimated $100B in South appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – The U.S. House Oversight Committee is investigating why the Federal Communications Commission fast-tracked a deal that allowed a billionaire Democratic donor to buy a wide swath of American radio stations just weeks before the presidential election. The major radio company Audacy Inc. fell into financial straits, but through a complex business deal Democratic mega donor and billionaire George Soros has gained control of the stations. Deals of this size require FCC approval, but in this case the FCC expedited the approval process. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr raised concerns about the deal at a Congressional hearing, telling lawmakers that “… the FCC is not following its normal process for reviewing a transaction.” “We have established over a number of years one way in which you can get approval from the FCC when you have an excess of 25 percent foreign ownership, which this transaction does,” Carr said. ““It seems to me that the FCC is poised to create, for the first time, an entirely new shortcut.” House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. and Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., sent a letter to FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel Friday raising concerns about the deal. “Despite the unprecedented nature of this action, the FCC majority has apparently decided to approve licenses on an accelerated timeframe for a company in which George Soros has a major ownership stake, and with stations in 40 media markets reaching ‘more than 165 million Americans,’” the letter said. “By all appearances, the FCC majority isn’t just expediting, but is bypassing an established process to do a favor for George Soros and facilitate his influence over hundreds of radio stations before the November election.” Critics of the deal say it gives too much power to a heavily political, and liberal, billionaire just before the election. “I have no idea why Soros would do this unless it was to manipulate the thinking of Americans and the information they listen to,” author and former member of the George W. Bush administration Mike Gonzalez told The Center Square. “Conservative talk radio is huge, and there is no left wing talk radio because it’s just not interesting,” said Gonzalez, who is now at the Heritage Foundation. “Conservative talk radio is one of the few communications that conservatives have not a monopoly on but have a strong handle on, and he has bought stations that have Mark Levin and Sean Hannity and Dana Loesch and Glenn Beck.” Critics also point out that Soros’ business partners in the deal include significant funding from sources overseas. “The Audacy, Inc. deal, which will lead to Audacy, Inc. being partially ‘directly or indirectly controlled’ by foreign individuals or entities holding ‘more than one-fourth of the capital stock’ will require FCC approval to determine whether ‘the public interest will be served by the refusal or revocation of such license,’” the letter said. “In carrying out this statutory mandate under the Communications Act, FCC has years-long established processes and procedures for adjudicating broadcast licenses in such situations, most recently updated in 2016.” Other wealthy media owners have faced scrutiny for potential abuse of their ownership power, such as billionaire Jeff Bezos when he purchased the Washington Post. However, Soros’ influence over so many radio stations may have even more influence over the country than one of the major papers, which Americans usually see as having a certain political leaning. Soros is one of the most strategic and prolific funders of liberal organizations in the U.S. “I don’t know why else he would plunk a pile of money this size unless it was to try to have influence over the thinking of Americans,” Gonzalez continued, adding that “this guy is committed to left-wing causes.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Lawmakers Investigate Soros ‘Shortcut’ to Buying Radio Stations Before Election appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM/TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been taken to a secure location inside Iran amid fears he might be next on Israel’s target list after Israel killed the head of Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah in a strike on Beirut, Worthy News monitored late Saturday. It was seen as the latest show of nervousness by the Iranian authorities following Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warning to Tehran that his nation’s military could reach any place in the Islamic Republic. Israel launched a series of devastating attacks on Hezbollah, Iran’s best-armed and most well-equipped ally in the region. As part of the ongoing campaign, the Israeli military also confirmed Saturday it killed a senior member of Hezbollah’s intelligence in a strike on southern Beirut on Saturday, naming him as Hassan Khalil Yassin. It said Yassin was killed in a strike in the Dahiyeh area of Beirut and that he was “responsible for the identification of civilian and military targets on the northern border and deep within Israeli territory.” The Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh is where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed and where, in January, deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri was assassinated by a drone strike, for which Israel did not claim responsibility. Amid the clashes, Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps, the ideological guardians of the Islamic Republic, ordered all of its members to stop using any type of communication devices after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah blew up earlier this month. MORE TENSIONS Lebanon and Hezbollah say Israel was behind the pager and walkie-talkie attacks that killed dozens and injured thousands. Israel has neither denied nor confirmed it was responsible for the attack. There were further signs of rapidly escalating tensions as Khamenei urged Muslims to unite and confront Israel after the killing of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah. His appeal came as air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and loud bangs were heard after a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted, the Israeli military said. Yemen’s Houthi militants said they had fired a ballistic missile at Ben Gurion International Airport. The Houthis said the attack was timed to coincide with the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu from the United Nations in New York. “The resistance will not be broken, and the Jihadist spirit of the Mujahideen brothers in Lebanon and on all fronts of support will grow stronger and bigger,” the Houthis said. SECOND ATTACK It is the second time in two days that the Houthis have launched an attack on Israel as they mourned their fellow Iran-backed ally, Nasrallah. There were also shots fired in the air and wails and disbelief in Beirut after Hezbollah head Nasrallah was killed, witnesses said. Yet, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant defended the decision to kill Nasrallah, calling him the “murderer of thousands of Israelis and foreign citizens.” U.S. President Joe Biden agreed and called Nasrallah’s killing “a measure of justice,” words echoed by Vice President Kamala Harris. “Hassan Nasrallah was a terrorist with American blood on his hands. Across decades, his leadership of Hezbollah destabilized the Middle East and led to the killing of countless innocent people in Lebanon, Israel, Syria, and around the world. Today, Hezbollah’s victims have a measure of justice,” said Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee. However, Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan was among leaders condemning Israel’s recent attacks in Lebanon, saying they were part of what he called an Israeli policy of “genocide, occupation, and invasion.” Similar statements came from several Arabic leaders, including the Palestinian leadership. They spoke amid reports that an Israeli strike hit an industrial area 500 meters (1,640 feet) from Beirut airport buildings, the closest strike yet to the airport. SECURITY CRISIS The deepening security crisis prompted the U.S. Department of State on Saturday to order some employees at its Beirut embassy and their eligible family members to leave Lebanon after Nasrallah’s killing. The State Department also urged Americans in the country to leave, warning them that the currently limited options to depart might become unavailable if the security situation worsened. “The U.S. embassy strongly encourages U.S. citizens in Southern Lebanon, near the borders with Syria, and or in refugee settlements to depart those areas immediately,” it said. France called on Saturday for an immediate end to Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon and stressed it was opposed to any Israeli ground operation in Lebanon. In remarks following a call with Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged Hezbollah and Iran to refrain from any action that could destabilize the region further. The United Nations echoed similar sentiments, but late Saturday, there were no signs that peace was nearing. The post Iran’s Supreme Leader Rushed To Secure Location After Israel Kills Hezbollah Leaders (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. 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By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – More than 660,000 criminal foreign nationals identified to be deported by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement are freely living in communities nationwide. Among them are those convicted or charged with violent crimes, including homicide, sexual assault and kidnapping, according to information released in response to a congressional request. ICE was requested to provide information about the number of noncitizens on its docket for removal who are convicted or charged with a crime. As of July 21, 2024, “there were 662,566 noncitizens with criminal histories on ICE’s national docket, which includes those detained by ICE, and on the agency’s non-detained docket. Of those, 435,719 are convicted criminals, and 226,847 have pending criminal charges,” ICE Deputy Director Patrick Lechleitner said. This includes criminal foreign nationals convicted of, or charged with, homicide (14,914), sexual assault (20,061), assault (105,146), kidnapping (3,372), and commercialized sexual offenses, including sex trafficking (3,971). An additional 60,268 are on the list for burglary/larceny/robbery; 126,343 for traffic offenses including driving under the influence (DUIs) and 16,820 for weapons offenses. ICE’s national docket refers to illegal foreign nationals who were apprehended by Border Patrol agents who then turn them over to ICE. Despite having a confirmed documented criminal history, ICE released them into the United States. Lechleitner notes that some local jurisdictions “have reduced their cooperation with ICE, to include refusal to honor ICE detainer requests, even for noncitizens who have been convicted of serious felonies and pose an ongoing threat to public safety” due to their so-called “sanctuary city” policies. “However, ‘sanctuary’ policies can end up shielding dangerous criminals, who often victimize those same communities,” he said. Because of local jurisdictions refusing to cooperate with ICE, the agency lifted detainers for 24,796 known criminals and released them into the U.S., he said. The data is from Oct. 1, 2020, through July 22, 2024. Among them, state and local law enforcement agencies refused to comply with 23,591 detainer requests; 1,205 detainer requests were lifted “due to insufficient notice to ICE.” Also during this period, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations issued 2,897 detainers that were declined by state or local law enforcement agencies even after the subject of the detainer request had a subsequent apprehension by ICE ERO, according to the report. Lechleitner also notes that “most noncitizens who are convicted of homicide are typically not eligible for release from ICE custody under §236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act” but “ICE officers may use their discretion in making custody determinations and release noncitizens with conditions.” He says these determinations are made on a “case-by-case basis.” In response, U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, R-TN, said, “It may be shocking to hear that the Biden-Harris administration is actively releasing tens of thousands of criminal illegal aliens into our communities, but their own numbers conclusively prove this to be the case. “This defies all common sense. Under President Biden and his ‘border czar,’ Vice President Harris, DHS law enforcement has been directed to mass-release illegal aliens whom they know have criminal convictions or are facing charges for serious crimes – and these dangerous, destructive individuals are making their way into every city and state in this country. How many more Americans need to die or be victimized before this administration is forced to abide by the laws they swore to uphold? “This is madness. It is something no civilized, well-functioning society should tolerate.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the number was “shocking.” “If accurate, it means that almost 10%” of the criminal illegal foreign nationals released into the country by the Biden-Harris administration “are criminals. It also debunks the narrative that illegal immigrants are less likely to commit crime. We can’t survive four more years of this.” More than 387,000 criminal noncitizens were arrested by ICE ERO agents in fiscal years 2021 through 2023, The Center Square first reported. The majority arrested were citizens of Mexico, Nicaragua, Columbia and Venezuela. The majority of arrests occurred in Dallas and Houston, Texas, according to an ICE online statistical dashboard. The most common arrests are of those convicted of DUIs, drug possession, and assault and criminal (non-civil) traffic offenses like hit-and-run or leaving the scene of an accident, ICE says. Additionally, a separate data point shows that U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol apprehensions of criminal noncitizens totaled nearly 54,000 since fiscal 2021, according to CBP data as of Sept. 16. The majority were for illegal entry and reentry and DUIs. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post ICE: 662,000 Criminal Foreign Nationals to Be Deported Are Living Free Nationwide appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel’s military has confirmed Saturday that it killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and “most” senior leaders of the Iran-backed Islamic group. “Most of the senior leaders of Hezbollah have been eliminated,” military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters. The Israeli military confirmed Worthy News reports late Friday that Nasrallah was hit in a “targeted strike” on Hezbollah’s central headquarters in Dahiyeh, Beirut. The military said he was killed alongside other senior members of Hezbollah – including Ali Karaki, the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front. Lebanon-based Hezbollah had no immediate comment. However, its silence suggested disarray within Hezbollah, which has been designated as an “Islamic terrorist organization” by Israel and most of its allies. Hezbollah has struck Israel with a barrage of rockets and drones, forcing tens of thousands of people to leave parts of northern Israel. COMMUNICATION DEVICES The Israeli air strike meant that Hezbollah fighters woke up Saturday without a clear chain of command. Adding to their problems was that earlier this month, their communication devices, including pagers and then walkie-talkies, exploded in what was believed to be an Israeli operation. Lebanese officials claimed that at least 32 people, including two children, were killed and thousands more injured, many seriously, in those two attacks without specifying how many combatants were among the victims. Israel says it regrets any causalities among innocent residents but blames Hezbollah and its ally Hamas for using civilians as human shields. Despite suffering massive setbacks, Israel was expecting counterattacks Saturday, saying it was on “high alert” and prepared for a wider escalation. Early Saturday, the Israeli military said it carried out several strikes in southern Beirut and eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. MORE STRIKES On Saturday, Hezbollah reportedly launched dozens of projectiles across northern and central Israel and the Israel-controlled West Bank, also known by its Biblical name Judaea and Samaria. Amid the ongoing fighting, Israel said it was activating three battalions of reserve soldiers after sending two brigades to northern Israel earlier in the week to train for a possible ground invasion. The Jewish nation has, in recent days, shifted the focus of its operation from Gaza to Lebanon, where authorities claim heavy Israeli bombing has killed more than 700 people and displaced about 118,000 people. It was unclear how many Hezbollah fighters were among the hundreds killed, but Israel’s military says it has eliminated many Hezbollah and Hamas fighters. The clashes have escalated since October 7 when Hezbollah ally Hamas attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people and abducting about 251 people in what Israel described as the “worst atrocities against Jews since the Holocaust,” also known as the Shoah. Both groups are supported by Iran, prompting Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn Tehran that “there is no place in Iran that Israel can’t reach.” The post Israel: ‘Hezbollah Leader Killed Along With Most Senior Officials’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The Israeli Air Force carried out massive targeted airstrikes in the Lebanese capital of Beirut as part of efforts to eliminate Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Israeli and U.S. sources say. The late Friday attack struck Hezbollah’s main headquarters, and witnesses said the strike shook the Lebanese capital and sent thick clouds of smoke over the city. There were reports of “many casualties” in the multiple strikes. Hezbollah said the Israeli strikes flattened six buildings in what was described as the “heaviest attack in Beirut” in almost a year of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel. The fate of Nasrallah was not immediately clear, but at least one Lebanese security source said Hezbollah’s top officials are usually gathered at the site that was targeted. Israeli officials said they suspect that Nasrallah was in the bunker targeted in the recent bombing, and anyone inside would struggle to survive such an attack. Just hours before the strike, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consulted with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Worthy News learned. ENORMOUS DESTRUCTION A security source told the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that “the extent of the destruction in Dahieh is enormous. Lebanon has reinforced all ambulances and dispatched them to the scene.” It comes after Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets into Israel that prompted counterattacks in which numerous senior Hezbollah figures, including its drone chief, were killed. However, the assassination of Nasrallah would likely dramatically impact Hezbollah, which Iran has backed. Earlier on Friday, Netanyahu made clear to Hezbollah that “Enough is enough,” making clear that attacks against the Lebanon-based group would continue until all citizens fleeing Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel could return. Netanyahu made the remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, where he said that “Israel yearns for peace” but that the Jewish nation must defend itself against “savage murderers.” With smoke rising above parts of Beirut, it became clear that the clashes would continue. The post Israel Targets Hezbollah Leader In Massive Beirut Air Strike appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News NEW YORK/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Dozens of Christian pastors from the United States, Britain, and China will visit Israel to pray and mark the October 7 attacks by Hamas that killed 1,200 people, organizers announced Friday. The 10-day “solidarity trip” to Israel, held from September 30 to October 10, coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, seen as the largest global prayer initiative for Israel in church history. Worthy News learned that the flagship prayer day event will take place in Jerusalem on October 6 and be broadcast worldwide by the God TV channel. At the gathering, the 30 pastors on the solidarity trip will be commissioned as “Watchmen on the Wall,” symbolizing “their lifelong commitment to stand with Israel and combat antisemitism,” said the Eagles Wings movement. Eagle Wings said the trip is part of its ongoing mission, as it has been “building bridges between Christians and Jews for over 25 years. Through education, advocacy, and action, Eagles’ Wings empowers Christians to stand with Israel and combat antisemitism.” Eagles Wings said the pastors’ visit to Israel also serves as a “pivotal moment for the relaunch of the Israel Christian Nexus,” an initiative “to educate and mobilize the global Christian Church in its Biblical mandate to stand with Israel.” RISING ANTISEMITISM The Nexus “seeks to address the rising tide of antisemitism worldwide, uniting Christians in the defense of Israel and the Jewish people,” the movement added. A “significant aspect” of the trip, led by Bishop Robert Stearns and Eagles’ Wings, will be a visit to Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where the pastors will join ongoing vigils in solidarity with the hostages still held captive by Hamas in Gaza, organizers said. Jay Shultz, founder of Adopt-a-Safta, which helps lonely Holocaust survivors, and the Israel-supporting Am Yisrael Foundation, will speak at the event. Schulfz was likely to “support both the hostages and the wider Israeli community affected by the events of October 7”, Eagle Wings added. “It’s amazing to have the opportunity to visit the Holy Land,” said participant Joe Bevelacqua, pastor of the New Chapel in Sparta, Michigan, in comments shared with Worthy News. “The Nation of Israel and the Jewish people must know that the American church is standing behind them wholeheartedly. Opportunities like this engage churches toward this vital cause and at this critical moment.” Corry Robinson, pastor of Engaging Heaven in Charlotte, North Carolina, stressed the importance of “visiting the Holy Land” at this critical moment: “I am excited and honored to visit the Holy Land at such a critical moment. Standing with Israel is standing with the very foundations of our faith, and I believe this is where the Church needs to be in times like these.” The post US, British, and Chinese Pastors In Israel To Pray And Mark Attacks appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BEIRUT/JERUSALEM/NEW YORK (Worthy News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran and its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah that Israel will continue to fight till the Jewish nation can live in peace, and he called for closer ties with Saudi Arabia. “There is no place in Iran that Israel can not reach,” he told the United Nations General Assembly after several diplomats had left ahead of his speech. He said Israel won’t rest till all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since its attack in Israel on October 7 are brought home. Some 1,200 people were killed and 251 kidnapped in Israel by Gaza-based Hamas in last year’s violence, triggering a war in which tens of thousands of people died. And Netanyahu told Hezbollah, “Enough is enough,” making clear that attacks against the Lebanon-based group would continue until all citizens fleeing Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel could return. He also called for a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia, citing the Abraham Accords as an example. The bilateral agreements on Arab–Israeli normalization, mediated by the administration of then-U.S. President Donald J. Trump, were signed between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain on September 15, 2020. CLASHES INTENSIFY Yet, as clashes intensify with Iran-backed groups Hamas and Hezbollah attacking Israel, the United States and other nations have urged Americans to leave the region. However, the American embassy in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, said Friday that it “is not evacuating U.S. citizens at this time” despite advising Americans to leave amid escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. “There is a commercially available flight that U.S. citizens who expressed interest in departing Lebanon will have to book and pay directly with the airline,” it added. Trump, who seeks to return to the White House through elections in November, has condemned the Middle East policies of the administration of outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden. Netanyahu almost had not appeared at this year’s gathering of the U.N. General Assembly, but after he heard the “lies and slander” leveled at Israel, he decided to come and “set the record straight.” “Israel seeks peace; Israel yearns for peace,” he said, adding that Israel must defend itself against “savage murderers.” The post Israel’s PM Warns Iran And Proxies While Seeking Peace With Saudi Arabia appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The head of one of Hezbollah’s arial forces has been killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut, the Lebanese capital, security sources say. Mohammad Surur was reportedly killed when Israel hit Beirut’s southern suburbs on Thursday after several other Hezbollah leaders died in ongoing counter-attacks by Israel against the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed Islamic group. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Sarur oversaw numerous drone and missile attacks on Israeli territory. Over the last few years, he had reportedly been a project leader in drone production and set up drone production sites, several of which were apparently embedded in civilian structures in Beirut and other locations in Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the operation to target him from onboard “the Wing of Zion plane” while en route to the United States, said the Prime Minister’s Office. Israeli Air Force jets targeted a specific floor of a multi-story building in Beirut’s southern Dahieh area, a Hezbollah stronghold, security sources said. The Lebanese Hezbollah-affiliated news outlet Al Mayadeen claimed four had been killed and others were wounded as a result of the strike. DEFYING CEASEFIRE CALLS These figures were complex to verify independently. The latest skirmishes came as Israel on Thursday rejected defied calls from several allies, including the United States, for a halt in fighting following Hezbollah’s attacks on the Jewish nation. “We will not stop until we achieve all our objectives, first and foremost the return of the northern residents to their homes,” Netanyahu said after landing in New York. He added that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would continue with a military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. “Our policy is clear, ” Netanyahu said, so “nobody should misunderstand it.” He spoke as U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, together with ten other countries, urged all parties involved in the violence in northern Israel and southern Lebanon to accept a 21-day ceasefire. The post Hezbollah’s Drone Chief Killed in Beirut appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Ukraine’s Western allies have condemned Russia’s proposed nuclear doctrine changes, which could classify a “massive” aerial attack by a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear-armed state as a “joint attack,” potentially justifying a nuclear retaliation by Russia. President Vladimir Putin proposed the update on Wednesday, which he can approve. The move is widely seen as a direct reference to Ukraine, as Kyiv urges its Western allies to allow the use of long-range weapons to target deep within Russia. The Kremlin’s decision to amend Russia’s nuclear doctrine is a direct response to discussions in the US and UK over whether to allow Ukraine to launch conventional Western missiles into Russian territory. Putin cited an example where Russia receives “reliable information of a massive launch of air and space attack weapons and their crossing our state border” as a scenario that could lead to nuclear retaliation. Speaking on Thursday’s sidelines of the UN General Assembly, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the proposed amendment, calling it “totally irresponsible.” In an interview with MSNBC, Blinken added, “I think many in the world have spoken clearly about that when he’s been rattling the nuclear saber, including China in the past.” European Union foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano condemned the plan as “reckless and irresponsible,” stating, “Not for the first time, Putin is playing [a] gamble with his nuclear arsenal.” He added, “We of course strongly reject these threats.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that changes had been made to “The Foundations of State Policy in the Sphere of Nuclear Deterrence.” When asked if this was a message to the West, he replied, “This should be considered a definite signal.” The post West Condemns Russia’s Nuclear Doctrine appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Chinese officials scrambled to cover up the sinking of a new nuclear-powered submarine at a shipyard near Wuhan in the spring, U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal. The Associated Press reported that China’s first Zhou-class submarine likely sank between May and June, citing an anonymous official. Satellite images revealed cranes in the area, likely used to salvage the vessel from the riverbed. The Zhou-class submarine that sank is the first of its kind in China’s nuclear-powered fleet, featuring a unique X-shaped stern for improved maneuverability. Chinese authorities reportedly rushed to conceal the undisclosed incident. “It’s not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside,” a senior U.S. Defense official told the Wall Street Journal. “In addition to the obvious questions about training standards and equipment quality, the incident raises deeper questions about the PLA’s internal accountability and oversight of China’s defense industry, which has long been plagued by corruption.” The post China’s Newest Nuclear Submarine Sinks appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, be a wise steward! Luke 12:42-46 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward whom his lord shall set over his houseservants, to give them their portion of food in season? 43 Blessed is that servant when his lord comes and finds him so doing. 44 Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, My lord delays his coming, and shall begin to beat the male servants and women servants, and to eat and drink and to be drunk, 46 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect, and at an hour when he does not know. And he will cut him apart, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. The concept of ownership often influences how one can view the world, but if we recognize the truth that our time here is short and we can’t take anything with us, it will change our perspective. We are simply stewards of what has been entrusted to us. I’ve been running Worthy and its sites for 25 years, and I’ve never thought I was an owner but rather a steward of a ministry. But how do we define stewardship? In English, stewardship is the responsibility of safeguarding, nurturing, and enhancing the resources entrusted to you on behalf of another. However, if we dive into the Biblical definitions it will unlock deeper mysteries of stewardship, I believe it will radically transform how we live. The Hebrew word for steward, Sochen, also translates as agent, representative, and even "power of attorney" in legal terms. In Greek, the word for steward, oikonomos, offers an even deeper insight, meaning overseer or superintendent of household affairs. So the concept of stewardship is not only taking care of one’s goods, but also of one’s family. To be a wise steward, one must be found faithful, reliable, and trustworthy. The Hebrew word for "faithful," ne’eman, is closely related to amin, meaning "reliable." Both of these words share the same root as emunah, the Hebrew word for "faith”. Another word derived from this same root is omenet, meaning "nursemaid"—someone entrusted with the responsibility to nurture and raise a household and its children. So in both Hebrew and Greek, there is a deeper revelation about stewardship, it’s not just about goods and possessions, but about how we treat one another! Friend, so stewardship in not simply responsibility over one’s material possessions, but also encompasses our care for people and the relationships we have with one another. When we embrace this Biblical understanding, it will profoundly shape our perspective of life, what we are called to do, and how we live. So let’s choose to live to a higher level of faithfulness, trustworthiness, and love, knowing that this life and all that it entails is ultimately simply on loan to us by God! Shabbat Shalom and have a great weekend! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Baltimore, Maryland) 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: Worthy Chat is back! Join us for a special Worthy Chat Reunion tonight at 8 PM EST. 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 now booking in the following states. Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida! If you know Rabbis, Pastors or Leaders who might be interested in 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 West Condemns Russia’s Nuclear Doctrine Ukraine's Western allies have condemned Russia's proposed nuclear doctrine changes, which could classify a "massive" aerial attack by a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear-armed state as a "joint attack," potentially justifying a nuclear retaliation by Russia. China’s Newest Nuclear Submarine Sinks Chinese officials scrambled to cover up the sinking of a new nuclear-powered submarine at a shipyard near Wuhan in the spring, U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Hezbollah’s Drone Chief Killed in Beirut The head of one of Hezbollah's arial forces has been killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut, the Lebanese capital, security sources say. US, UK, and EU Call for Ceasefire Between “Israel and Lebanon,” No Mention of Hezbollah Terrorists Making no mention of the Lebanese Hezbollah terrorist group that the Israelis have been battling since October 8, the United States, Britain, EU, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and others on Wednesday called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire between “Lebanon and Israel” for diplomats to find a solution to the crisis. Inside the United States Court Approves $600M East Palestine Settlement Nearly 20 months after a Norfolk Southern train derailment pushed the small eastern Ohio community of East Palestine into the national spotlight, a federal judge approved a $600 million settlement. U.S. House Passes Bills to Counter CCP threats Chinese illegal border crossers total over 177,600 since 2021. That's equivalent to 35.5 U.S. Army brigades. New York Mayor Vows To Fight Corruption Charges The mayor of New York vowed to fight corruption charges amid calls for his resignation after U.S. prosecutors presented their case against him. Christian News Displaced Christians Face Starvation In Sudan (Worthy News In-Depth) Displaced Christians in wartorn Sudan are among millions of people “facing starvation”, Christian aid workers said Thursday. China is Advancing Sinicization of Religious Expression, USIRF Warns The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has warned that China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is seeking to elevate China over God through its ongoing policy of Sinicization, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Sinicization aims to impose Chinese nationalism on religious expression and institutions. Uganda: Street Evangelist Severely Beaten for the Gospel A street evangelist in eastern Uganda was hospitalized with head injuries and a broken hand after a mob of Islamists attacked him for sharing the Gospel earlier this month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Christianity is legal in Uganda, although Islamic extremists in the country present a severe threat to believers. Secular Group Asks IRS to Revoke Tax-Exempt Status of Billy Graham Evangelical Association for “Political Campaigning” The US Freedom From Religion Foundation, which advocates for the separation of church and state, has reported the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to the Internal Revenue Service for “illegal political campaigning.” View the full article

By J.D. Davidson | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Nearly 20 months after a Norfolk Southern train derailment pushed the small eastern Ohio community of East Palestine into the national spotlight, a federal judge approved a $600 million settlement. The settlement covers residents, property owners and businesses within 20 miles of the derailment site and subsequent chemical release that happened Feb. 3, 2023. Court-appointed attorneys Seth A. Katz, M. Elizabeth Graham and Jayne Conroy said funds will be distributed in the next few weeks. “This outcome would not have been possible without the resilience and support of the East Palestine community and the broader class of impacted residents and business owners. We look forward to beginning the distribution of funds in the coming weeks to help this community rebuild and move forward,” the attorneys said in a statement. The settlement calls for personal injury payments of $25,000 for those within 2 miles of the derailment and about $1,000 for those 5-10 miles away. Also, those within 2 miles of the site are scheduled to receive $70,000 per household in direct payments, lowering by distance to about $250 per household for those from 15-20 away from the derailment site. The approval comes nearly three months after attorneys said less than 1% of the nearly 200,000 households involved in the derailment settlement opted out of the deal. The settlement is separate from the U.S. Department of Justice’s $310 million settlement with Norfolk Southern. That deal came before last month’s National Transportation and Safety Board’s final report. U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, called that deal premature and said there is a need for railway safety legislation immediately. At a public hearing in June in East Palestine, National Transportation and Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy called Norfolk Southern’s attempts to sway the investigation unprecedented and reprehensible. She reiterated the board’s finding that the eventual vent and burn following the crash was unnecessary, and the report said the crash could have been avoided. It blamed the crash that forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 residents on the wheel bearing of rail car 23, which caught fire, causing the axle to fall off and derail the train. The final report confirmed initial findings released in February and previously reported by The Center Square. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Court Approves $600M East Palestine Settlement appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By J.D. Davidson | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Nearly 20 months after a Norfolk Southern train derailment pushed the small eastern Ohio community of East Palestine into the national spotlight, a federal judge approved a $600 million settlement. The settlement covers residents, property owners and businesses within 20 miles of the derailment site and subsequent chemical release that happened Feb. 3, 2023. Court-appointed attorneys Seth A. Katz, M. Elizabeth Graham and Jayne Conroy said funds will be distributed in the next few weeks. “This outcome would not have been possible without the resilience and support of the East Palestine community and the broader class of impacted residents and business owners. We look forward to beginning the distribution of funds in the coming weeks to help this community rebuild and move forward,” the attorneys said in a statement. The settlement calls for personal injury payments of $25,000 for those within 2 miles of the derailment and about $1,000 for those 5-10 miles away. Also, those within 2 miles of the site are scheduled to receive $70,000 per household in direct payments, lowering by distance to about $250 per household for those from 15-20 away from the derailment site. The approval comes nearly three months after attorneys said less than 1% of the nearly 200,000 households involved in the derailment settlement opted out of the deal. The settlement is separate from the U.S. Department of Justice’s $310 million settlement with Norfolk Southern. That deal came before last month’s National Transportation and Safety Board’s final report. U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, called that deal premature and said there is a need for railway safety legislation immediately. At a public hearing in June in East Palestine, National Transportation and Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy called Norfolk Southern’s attempts to sway the investigation unprecedented and reprehensible. She reiterated the board’s finding that the eventual vent and burn following the crash was unnecessary, and the report said the crash could have been avoided. It blamed the crash that forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 residents on the wheel bearing of rail car 23, which caught fire, causing the axle to fall off and derail the train. The final report confirmed initial findings released in February and previously reported by The Center Square. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Court Approves $600M East Palestine Settlement appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – Chinese illegal border crossers total over 177,600 since 2021. That’s equivalent to 35.5 U.S. Army brigades. The U.S. House has passed several bills to combat national security threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party and People’s Republic of China. They include HR 8631, the “Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act;” HR 8663, the “DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024;” and HR 7404, the “Subterranean Border Defense Act.” “The United States must decouple from Communist China in all facets of our lives,” said U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-FL, who’s been warning about Chinese-Cuban threats. He filed HR 8631 to prohibit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from procuring batteries from six major companies owned and operated in the PRC, including Contemporary Amperex Technology Company, Ltd., and Gotion High Tech. “We were already late to recognize the PRC’s battery threat, and we cannot afford to do it again,” he said. “We must proactively stay ahead and address these threats that undermine the U.S. supply chain and leave our national security at risk.” U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota, R-NY, filed HR 8663 to “provide resources to law enforcement with cutting-edge technology to detect and stop the flow of lethal substances like fentanyl and xylazine before they reach our streets.” The precursors of fentanyl are produced in China and shipped to Mexican cartels, border experts have told The Center Square. The bill provides resources to DHS’ Science and Technology Directorate to improve the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of drug detection equipment used by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. U.S. Rep. Eli Crane, R-AZ, filed HR 7404 to require U.S. Customs and Border Protection to report annually to Congress on its efforts to identify and remediate illegal cross-border tunnels into the United States. “The Biden-Harris Administration has eagerly dismantled our border, leaving Americans inexcusably vulnerable,” he said. His bill will “help forge a desperately needed layer of defense by ensuring that Congress has the necessary data to address the deadly threat of cross-border tunnels.” U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee, R-FL, also filed a bill to create a multi-agency task force to combat CCP and PRC-sponsored cyber actors, including Volt Typhoon. She filed it after federal agencies warned all 50 state governors about “disabling cyberattacks” targeting water and wastewater systems nationwide. The warning describes how Volt Typhoon is targeting information technology of multiple critical infrastructure systems. Its “choice of targets and pattern of behavior are not consistent with traditional cyber espionage,” it states. “Volt Typhoon actors are pre-positioning themselves to disrupt critical infrastructure operations in the event of geopolitical tensions and/or military conflicts.” FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress earlier this year that Volt Typhoon hackers infiltrated U.S. critical infrastructure and installed malware to commit a cyber-attack in the future. DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency also published a report on Volt Typhoon strategies. “The CCP, acting through ‘Volt Typhoon’ and other threat actors, has made a concerted effort to pre-position itself within our networks in order to target and compromise the critical infrastructure Americans rely on every day – from the transportation and water sectors to the energy sector,” Lee said. Her bill “implements a focused, coordinated, and whole-of-government response to all of Beijing’s cyber threats.” “The threat actor ‘Volt Typhoon’ remained undetected and undeterred in our networks for far too long,” U.S. Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, R-TN, said. “The discovery of the new actor ‘Flax Typhoon’ further demonstrates the CCP’s unabashed commitment to infiltrating our critical infrastructure. While intrusions from threat actors like the Typhoons create a dangerous opportunity for espionage, we know they could also serve as open doors for the CCP to manipulate or thwart crucial services Americans rely on in the event of escalation in the Indo-Pacific.” The bills were filed by members of Green’s committee after the greatest number of Chinese nationals illegally entered the U.S. under the Biden-Harris administration. They totaled nearly 160,000 since fiscal 2021 through June, first reported by The Center Square. That number totaled 177,631 through August, according to CBP data. It excludes an unknown number who illegally entered and evaded capture, known as gotaways, which total over 2 million since fiscal 2021, first reported by The Center Square. The majority illegally entering are single, military age men, including those who’ve reportedly breached U.S. military bases. In recent years, Chinese nationals accessed military bases and other sensitive sites nearly 100 times, The Wall Street Journal reported last fall. Officials describe Chinese nationals breaching U.S. military bases as a “potential espionage threat,” the Journal reported. Incidents “range from Chinese nationals found crossing into a U.S. missile range in New Mexico to what appeared to be scuba divers swimming in murky waters near a U.S. government rocket-launch site in Florida.” The number of Chinese illegal border crossers reported under the Biden-Harris administration totals the equivalent of 1,776 U.S. Army companies, or 177 battalions, or 35.5 brigades, nearly 12 divisions, or nearly 4 corps. A U.S. Army company is comprised of 100 soldiers, a battalion of 1,000, a brigade 5,000, a division 15,000, and a corps, 45,000, according to U.S. Department of Defense data. Chinese illegal border crossers total more than the 100,000 U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan at the height of the 20-year conflict. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post U.S. House Passes Bills to Counter CCP threats appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News KHARTOUM (Worthy News) – Displaced Christians in wartorn Sudan are among millions of people “facing starvation”, Christian aid workers said Thursday. “Just yesterday, health experts on the ground assessed the famine and shared this dire warning: starvation in the nation ‘is almost everywhere,’” added David Curry, the president and CEO of the Global Christian Relief group. “Innocent Christian men, women, and children are crying out for help as we speak,” he told Worthy News. “They face the threat of starvation.” In comments shared with Worthy News, Salma, a local church leader in Sudan, suggested that minority Christians are not receiving aid in this Islamic African nation. “Thousands are homeless and wandering without guidance. No humanitarian aid is reaching us.” Yet, “Sadly, this crisis will only escalate as 12 million people have been displaced by the civil war, and now 25 million are in need of food relief. That’s half of Sudan’s entire population,” warned Curry, whose group supports Christians in the Islamic African nation. Christians, who already cope with persecution, are “in desperate need of assistance” as their supplies of food and water run dangerously low, Curry established. The situation is dire, “A refugee camp in [the western region of] Darfur [as it] is overflowing with more than 500,000 displaced people—without enough food and water for everyone,” he explained, citing several sources. CHILDREN SUFFERING “Hospitals are filled with children suffering from such severe malnourishment that they appeared to be mere skin and bone,” noticed Curry, who has appealed for donations for more meals. The starvation adds to the ongoing suffering faced by many Sudanese Christians who also face persecution because of their faith in Christ, suggested the advocacy group Open Doors. It said that a “devastating conflict that broke out in April 2023 is threatening to further undermine the positive steps made towards religious freedom following the ousting of Sudan’s leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019. “The crisis stems from a power struggle between the National Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). More than 9,000 people have been killed and nearly 6 million displaced. More than 165 churches have closed and others have been destroyed,” in the armed conflict, Open Doors said. “Churches have also reported human rights violations such as rape, kidnap and looting. Many Christians have been attacked indiscriminately in areas such as Darfur, the Blue Nile, and the Nuba Mountains region, where government forces and rebel groups are in conflict.” There are long-term concerns that the conflict will give Islamic extremists a renewed foothold in the country. That would mean “undoing the reforms made by the transitional civilian government which gave more freedom to Christians, including abolishing the apostasy law and removing Islam as the state religion,” according to an Open Doors assessment. “More immediately, those who convert to Christianity from Muslim backgrounds continue to face huge dangers. Some will even refrain from telling their children about Jesus, for fear they may inadvertently disclose their parents’ faith to the local community,” the group wrote. FACING HOSTILITY The hostility facing Christians is particularly acute outside the capital, Khartoum, Christians said. “However, the epicenter of the latest conflict is the capital, where most Christians live. Many have been forced to flee, while those who remain may be forced to take sides in the conflict, putting them further at risk,” Open Doors added. The levels of pressure and violence faced by Christians who are ethnic Africans or converts from a Muslim background are exceptionally high, according to Christians familiar with the situation. Over the years, “many” have been arrested and charged with crimes such as espionage, Open Doors concluded. Yet “Despite all these challenges, I’ll stick to my faith and continue to love and serve Jesus,” said a Sudanese convert who her family reportedly excommunicated. Christians comprise roughly 4.3 percent of Sudan’s population of approximately 25 million people, according to Christian researchers. Open Doors ranks Sudan 8th on its annual World Watch List of 50 countries where it says Christians face most persecution for their faith in Christ. The post Displaced Christians Face Starvation In Sudan (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has warned that China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is seeking to elevate China over God through its ongoing policy of Sinicization, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Sinicization aims to impose Chinese nationalism on religious expression and institutions. In a report published the USCIRF warns: “Sinicization, or the complete subordination of religious groups to the CCP’s political agenda and Marxist vision for religion, has become the core driving principle of the government’s management of religious affairs.” “They also forcibly eradicate religious elements considered contradictory to the CCP’s political and policy agenda with ultranationalist overtones,” the USCIRF report continues. “Government officials have installed CCP loyalists as leading religious figures, altered houses of worship with CCP-approved architecture, integrated CCP propaganda into religious doctrines, and otherwise criminalized non-CCP-backed religious activities, all to ensure the stability of CCP rule.” With the CCP advancing an oppressive program of Sinicization of religious expression, China ranks 19 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. “The Chinese Communist Party’s goal is to make sure churches don’t fall out of line with official viewpoints”, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization explains in a 2024 website statement. “In the case of official churches, this means they are encouraged to praise and pledge allegiance to the Communist Party and its ideology. Churches that claim Christ as King are viewed with suspicion, especially since Christianity is seen as a primarily Western influence.” The post China is Advancing Sinicization of Religious Expression, USIRF Warns appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article