WorthyNewsBot

By Christian Wade | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – A Christian school is challenging a Maine law requiring religious schools that receive money from a taxpayer-funded tuition program to abide by the state’s anti-discrimination laws. A federal lawsuit, filed in 2023 by the First Liberty Institute on behalf of Crosspoint Church, argues that changes to the state’s school choice program by the Legislature, in response to the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Carson V. Macon, are unconstitutional and discriminatory. In February, a U.S. District Court judge denied the plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction, but they appealed. In a filing this week to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, lawyers for the plaintiffs argue that the changes are discriminatory and point out that “until recently,” Maine exempted religious schools from certain nondiscrimination provisions “to accommodate their religious beliefs.” “Without the exemption, religious schools are subject to administrative investigations, complaints, and financial penalties of thousands of dollars if they offer instruction or make hiring decisions consistent with their sincerely held religious beliefs,” they wrote in the appeal. “This ‘poison pill’ is designed to deter religious schools from participating and thus perpetuates the religious discrimination at the heart of the state’s prior sectarian exclusion.” The Supreme Court’s ruling in Carson V. Macon stemmed from a lawsuit filed by several families seeking tuition for their students to attend Bangor Christian School, operated by Crosspoint Church, but was blocked by changes to the law that excluded the school from the tuition program. Advocates praised the landmark ruling as a major victory for school choice programs. It paved the way for more states to divert more public dollars to private religious schools. It was the latest in a series of cases in which the high court sided with religious institutions challenging state policies that barred them from receiving education-related funds that were available for secular but not religious schools. Shortly after the Carson V. Macon ruling, Maine’s Democratic-controlled Legislature updated the tuition program rules to require recipients of school choice funding to follow the state’s Human Rights Act, which requires religious schools to accept and hire LGBTQ+ students and employees. Violations of the state’s Human Rights Act carry penalties of up to $20,000 for a first offense, $50,000 for a second violation and $100,000 for subsequent violations. That includes schools that receive public money and unlawfully discriminate against students and employees. Crosspoint sued to block the changes from being enforced, but U.S. District Judge John Woodcock Jr. denied the plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction, saying they were “unlikely to succeed on the merits” of the legal challenge. In his ruling, Woodcock noted that the state had denied Crosspoint and other plaintiffs “the fruit of their victory” by changing the law following the Supreme Court’s ruling. Depending on how the appeals court rules, the case could end up back before the Supreme Court. In a statement, the institute argues that the lower court’s ruling recognized that the lawsuit “raises important legal questions” and said the court’s decision “is a prelude to bringing the legal challenge to a higher court.” “Families should be free to choose the educational option that works best for them without the State’s unconstitutional interference,” Camille Varone, First Liberty Institute’s associate counsel, said in a statement. “Maine excluded religious schools from its school choice program for over 40 years, but the U.S. Supreme Court made it clear that such religious discrimination must end.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Church Appeals Ruling Over Maine’s Anti-Discrimination Law appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (Worthy News) – A tense calm returned to the streets of Brazil’s most populous city on Sunday after thousands protested against a ban on X, formerly known as Twitter. Demonstrators, some clad in the yellow-and-green colors of Brazil’s flag, poured onto Sao Paulo’s Av. Paulista. Many carried signs referring to the ban on the social media platform, and images of Musk abounded during Saturday’s rally. “Thank you for defending our freedom,” read one banner praising the tech entrepreneur. Saturday’s march is a test of former President Jair Messias Bolsonaro‘s capacity to mobilize turnout ahead of the October municipal elections, even though Brazil’s electoral court has barred him from running for office until 2030. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered X’s nationwide ban on August 30, after months of feuding with Musk over the limits of free speech. The powerful judge has spearheaded efforts to ban “far-right” users from spreading “misinformation on social media. He also ramped up his clampdown after diehard Bolsonaro supporters ransacked Congress and the presidential palace on Jan. 8, 2023, in an attempt to overturn Bolsonaro’s defeat in the presidential election. The post Thousands Protest X Ban In Brazil appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – In rapidly escalating tensions, a gunman crossing from Jordan killed three Israeli civilians at the Allenby Bridge border in the Israel-controlled West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria, before security forces shot him dead on Sunday, Israeli authorities said. It was the first attack of its kind along the border with Jordan since Palestinian Islamist group Hamas assaulted southern Israel on October 7, triggering the war in Gaza that has increased anxiety across the region. The gunman – identified by the Israeli military as Jordanian Maher Jazi – approached the Allenby Bridge crossing from the Jordanian side in a truck, then got out and opened fire, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. Security personnel “eliminated” the gunman, and the IDF checked the truck over for signs of explosives, a statement added. Israeli sources said Jazi was a 39-year-old who had worked as a truck driver. Video footage showed the attacker walking to the terminal and firing his weapon three times before he was shot dead. Jordan said it is investigating the incident, which happened in an Israeli-controlled area where Jordanian vehicles offload goods entering the Judea and Samaria Area. The border point has now been closed from both sides, the Israel Airports Authority said, as were two land crossings between Israel and Jordan. VICTIMS NAMED Israeli media reported the victims were named Yohanan Shchori, 61, Yuri Birnbaum, 65, and Adrian Marcelo Podzamczer, whose age was not given. The three men were believed to be guards working at the border crossing but were not military or police. The Allenby Bridge crossing, near the Judea and Samaria Area’s city of Jericho, has been the scene of violence in the past: In 2014, Israeli soldiers fatally shot a Jordanian judge of Palestinian origin at the crossing, heightening tensions between the neighboring nations. Last year, a Jordanian member of Parliament was reportedly charged in a Jordanian court with trying to smuggle weapons through the crossing into the West Bank. Following Sunday’s attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the gunman as “an abhorrent terrorist” and extended his condolences to the families of the victims. It was not immediately clear how the gunman managed to take a weapon into the Israeli-controlled part of the crossing. The motive of the attacker was not immediately clear. Hamas — which has called on people in Jordan to escalate protests and violence against Israel — praised the attack but did not take credit for it. The post Gunman From Jordan Kills 3 In Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Kenneth Schrupp | The Center Square (Worthy News) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to use the state’s taxpayer funded home down payment equity exchange program that would have provided up to $150,000 to qualifying illegal immigrant homebuyers. Newsom’s veto cited the program’s “finite funding,” which received no money this year and ran out of funding in 11 days last year, and the state’s budget situation, which required the cutting, shifting, and deferral of spending by $47 billion this year. “Governor Newsom listened to our calls and rightfully vetoed the bill to give illegal immigrants free home loans,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones, R-San Diego, in a statement celebrating the veto. California’s Dream for All Shared Appreciation Loans program allows applicants to secure “loans” of up to $150,000 or 20% of the home’s purchase price — or, about what a typical down payment is — with zero down payment on this state “loan,” and no payments. In exchange, the state receives the original loan amount plus 20% of the appreciated gain when the home is refinanced, sold, or transferred. Last year, 1,700 applicants were selected by lottery to access the program’s $255 million in funds. It’s not clear what happens if a family decides to hold on to a home as there are no provisions on how long a property can be held for, which means certain kinds of trusts could potentially allow the loan to not be paid back. Democrats argued those applying for the funds have to work to qualify for mortgages and are thus paying taxes, while Republicans argued the program, which ran out of funds in 11 days, is already overcrowded. With the state facing an estimated 4.5 million home shortage and the cost of housing cited as the top factor for residents considering leaving the state, the government has been setting out to increase housing supply largely by zoning and subsidizing price-controlled housing. However, this need to reduce housing costs by expanding the supply of housing is at ends with the state’s financial interest produced by this program, which incentivize the state to keep housing prices high and allow them to grow further to ensure the loan-for-equity program does not lose money and force the government to cut spending. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Newsom Vetoes Bill Giving Illegal Immigrants Taxpayer-Funded Down Payments appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News HONG KONG/BEIJING/MANILA/HANOI (Worthy News) – Asia’s most powerful storm this year hit northern Vietnam on Saturday after tearing through China’s southern island of Hainan, where it killed two people, injured dozens, and forced hundreds of thousands to flee, officials said. Super Typhoon Yagi, the world’s second-strongest tropical cyclone in 2024, landed at Vietnam’s coastal provinces of Quang Ninh and Haiphong with wind speeds reaching up to 149 kilometers per hour (92 miles per hour), state media reported. Before landing, strong winds felled a tree, killing a woman in the capital, Hanoi, local media said Saturday. Quang Ninh is home to the UNESCO World Heritage site Ha Long Bay, known for its many towering limestone islands. Local media reported that hundreds of cruises were canceled before the typhoon landed. Haiphong is an industrial hub home to large factories, including electric vehicle maker VinFast and Apple supplier Pegatron. The typhoon has also triggered power outages in large parts of Quang Ninh and Thai Binh provinces, media reported. POWERFUL TYPHOON Vietnamese meteorological authorities described the typhoon as “one of the most powerful typhoons in the region over the past decade. ” It made its way to the Southeast Asian country after devastating the Chinese province of Hainan. Yagi also devastated areas elsewhere, including in the Philippines, where it reportedly killed at least 16 people. Soon after, Yagi slammed into Wenchang city in the north-east of Hainan island with winds of 223 kilometers per hour (138 miles per hour) on Friday, according to state media.she Yagi is the strongest typhoon to hit Hainan since Rammasun in 2014, which killed 46 people. China’s weather agency called it the most powerful typhoon that made landfall in autumn. Some 400,000 people in Hainan island were evacuated to safe ground ahead of Yagi’s arrival. Trains, boats, and flights were suspended while schools were shut. The Indo-Pacific Tropical Cyclone Warning Center warned in an advisory earlier this week that Yagi, which has doubled in strength after wreaking havoc in the northern Philippines early this week, is an “extremely dangerous and powerful” super typhoon that could make a “potentially catastrophic” landfall. CATEGORY 5 According to experts, a super typhoon is equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. Local media reported that shortly after it made landfall, Hainan experienced widespread power outages, affecting about 830,000 households. Emergency teams of about 7,000 people said power was restored to 260,000 homes by late Friday. Authorities have ordered all tourist attractions to close since Wednesday, warning of “massive and destructive winds.” It was a significant setback for the lucrative tourism industry. With its white sand beaches, luxury hotels, and duty-free shops, Hainan has been dubbed “China’s Hawaii.” The world’s longest sea crossing, the main bridge linking Hong Kong with Macau and Zhuhai in Guangdong, was also closed. MAKING LANDFALL The storm made landfall for a second time in Guangdong late Friday evening. Its winds exceeded 200 kilometers per hour (320 miles per hour) amid massive rainfall. Hainan is no stranger to typhoons. However, experts said that just nine of the 106 typhoons that had landed in Hainan since 1949 were classified as super typhoons. With Vietnam striking on Saturday, much of Asia anxiously watched to see when the region would move into less turbulent times. In a show of defiance, financial hub Hong Kong will end its decades-long practice of shutting markets during severe storms on September 23. Yet Hong Kong scrapped trading of its $4.9 trillion stock market on Friday after the weather bureau prolonged a storm warning, which was likely the final time a typhoon forced a trading halt. The post Super Typhoon Yagi Devastating Asia appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News VILNIUS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Europe’s leading human rights watchdog says Britain, the European Union, the United States, and others an artificial intelligence (AI) treaty amid concerns the technology threatens fundamental freedoms and human rights. The Council of Europe called the “Al Convention” the first legally binding agreement on AI, which spread worldwide. The accord, which has been in the works for years, was adopted in May after discussions between 57 countries. It addresses the risks Al may pose while promoting responsible innovation. We must ensure that the rise of AI upholds our standards rather than undermining them,” Council of Europe Secretary-General Marija Pejcinovic Buric stressed. She said that the text was an “open treaty with a potentially global reach” and urged more countries to sign it and for countries that had already done so to ratify it. The Council explained that the treaty “provides a legal framework covering the entire lifecycle of AI systems.” “It promotes AI progress and innovation while managing the risks it may pose to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law,” it stressed. The AI Convention was opened for signature at a conference of Council of Europe justice ministers in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. It comes just months after EU ministers gave final approval to the bloc’s own Artificial Intelligence Act, which aims to regulate the use of AI in “high-risk” sectors. “This Convention is a major step to ensuring that these new technologies can be harnessed without eroding our oldest values, like human rights and the rule of law,” Britain’s justice minister, Shabana Mahmood, said in a statement. The Al Convention mainly focuses on protecting the human rights of people affected by Al systems. It is separate from the EU Al Act, which entered into force last month. The post Britain, EU, US Sign First Global AI Treaty appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM/BERLIN (Worthy News) – Uncertainty remained Saturday over the future of ceasefire talks after a previously unseen Hamas document quoted by a major German newspaper revealed the “psychological warfare” carried out by its fighters since they kidnapped 251 hostages during their October 7 attack in southern Israel. The document shared by the Bild (”Picture”) tabloid showed that Hamas is abusing hostages held in Gaza and psychologically torturing their families to improve its position in hostage-ceasefire talks with Israel. Hamas also seeks to ultimately recover military capabilities destroyed during the ongoing war, according to sources familiar with the document. The Hamas document, reportedly written earlier this year, was said to have been approved by Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, which has been designated as an Islamic terrorist organization by Israel and most of its allies. It was found on Sinwar’s computer and shed light on the organization’s negotiation strategy, said Bild, adding that two independent sources verified the file. “Continue to exert psychological pressure on the families of the prisoners, both now and during the first phase (of the ceasefire), so that public pressure on the enemy government increases,” the Hamas document reportedly said. “During the negotiations for the second phase, Hamas will allow the Red Cross to visit some of the prisoners as a gesture of goodwill and to convey messages to their relatives,” the document was quoted as saying. VIDEOS PUBLISHED Since October 7, Hamas regularly published videos of the hostages criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and begging for him to secure their release. Many have since died. Israeli sources said earlier this week that Eden Yerushalmi, whose body was recovered from Gaza last weekend along with five others after they were murdered, appeared “to have been starved and had lost 10 kilos in captivity, weighing only 36 kilos (79 lbs) when she was recovered.” Yet despite the suffering, the Bild report said Hamas is not seeking a fast end to the war in Gaza. The Hamas document suggested that it purposely draws out hostage-ceasefire negotiations to increase pressure on the government and “exhaust” the military. However, Hamas has listed significant demands for Israel, including the release of 100 prisoners and terrorists serving life sentences in Israeli prisons. The group’s document also mentioned a “political maneuver,” suggesting that Hamas negotiators should propose that “Arab forces be stationed along the eastern and northern borders” with Israel. That would create “a buffer to prevent the enemy from entering Gaza after the war ends until they [Hamas] have reorganized their ranks and military capabilities,” added the report. The Bild noted that the document does not mention the so-called Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt, which is understood to be one of the current sticking points in ongoing indirect negotiations. BLAMING ISRAEL Hamas is reportedly insistent that Israel should be blamed for the failed negotiations. The document stated that if Israel rejects a deal proposed by the U.S., “the media must be made aware that Hamas agreed, but that the deal failed due to ‘Israel’s stubbornness.’” Hamas should not be “held responsible for the failure of an agreement,” the report quotes the document as saying. Israel maintains that Hamas can’t be trusted and says it must be destroyed to prevent another October 7 attack. The violence was described as the worst atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, also known as the Shoah. Besides those kidnapped, some 1,200 people, including raped women and babies, were massacred by Hamas. The post File: ‘Hamas Waging Psychological Warfare’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON/MANAGUA (Worthy News) – More than a dozen Nicaraguans with the U.S.-based evangelical group Mountain Gateway are among some 135 prisoners released by Nicaragua’s government after months of negotiations with the United States, several sources confirmed. About 13 Nicaraguan pastors and attorneys affiliated with Mountain Gateway, which has its headquarters in Texas, were released this week from jail after what the White House described as “their wrongful imprisonment.” They had been detained last December and were convicted in March of “money laundering” and sentenced to up to 15 years in prison, Worthy News learned. They were also fined nearly $1 billion, said sources familiar with the case. “This is the day we have prayed and believed God for,” Jon Britton Hancock, founder of Mountain Gateway, said in a statement confirming their release. “These pastors and attorneys have suffered greatly for the sake of the Gospel, but it has not been in vain. The Kingdom of God is advancing because of their persecution. Today, we cry tears of joy because our brothers and sisters are free!” The White House said the United States secured their freedom and that of dozens of political prisoners following talks with the government of autocratic President Daniel Ortega, who has often expelled individuals he sees as hostile to his rule in recent years. Since 2018, Ortega’s government has intensified a crackdown on his domestic political opponents, detaining and jailing critics on charges including “conspiracy and treason” and stripping many of their citizenship. Those targeted also include Catholic church leaders, who had sought to mediate between the government and opponents during deadly anti-government protests. Eric Jacobstein, a senior U.S. diplomat for Western Hemisphere Affairs who was involved in the negotiations, was in Guatemala City to greet some of the released prisoners. He said Washington would continue to push Managua to respect human rights. “One personal reaction I had in having conversations with some of these individuals is the true pettiness and cruelty of the regime,” he added. The prisoner release follows a larger one last year when more than 200 individuals were flown to the U.S., including former opposition presidential candidates who had sought to challenge Ortega in his 2021 reelection bid. Ortega labeled those prisoners as “mercenaries” seeking to overthrow him. In January, Nicaragua also expelled 19 Catholic clergy to the Vatican, including Ortega’s most prominent critic, Bishop Rolando Alvarez. He had previously been convicted of “treason” and sentenced to a 26-year prison term. Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo’s office confirmed that the plane carrying the 135 Nicaraguans landed in Guatemala early Thursday morning. In Guatemala, they can request to go on to another country, which, for many, will likely be the United States. U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement that “No one should be put in jail for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights of free expression, association, and practicing their religion.” The post Nicaragua Frees US Ministry Pastors, Attorneys And Political Prisoners appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – An American woman was shot and killed Friday during a protest against Israeli settlements in the Palestinian town of Beita in the occupied West Bank, also known as Judaea and Samaria, multiple sources confirm. The U.S. State Department identified the woman as Aysenur Eygi. Three activists who were at the protest on Friday said Israeli soldiers had shot the woman, but the Israeli military said it was looking into the reports. “We are aware of the tragic death of an American citizen, Aysenur Eygi, today in the West Bank,” the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, added in a statement. “We offer our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.” The 26-year-old was born in Turkey and volunteered with the “anti-occupation International Solidarity Movement.” She died in hospital on Friday after being shot in the head during a regular protest in Beita near Nablus, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. The White House said in a statement it was “deeply disturbed” by the killing and seeking an Israeli investigation. WEEKLY CONFRONTATIONS A paramedic, Fayez Abdul Jabbar, told Al-Quds News Network: “We usually have weekly confrontations at Jabal Sabeeh. During these confrontations, the army fired two live bullets: one hit a foreigner, and the other hit another person, whose injury is less severe.” He added that Eygi was treated in the car on the way to the hospital. Fouad Nafaa, the head of the Rafidia hospital in Nablus, said doctors tried to resuscitate her, but the patient died on the operating table. There have been growing tensions between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank. Critics have blamed settlers who view the area as part of the Biblical Israel, and several Western allies, including the United States, imposed sanctions on several individuals. The post American Woman Killed In West Bank Protests appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Daily attacks by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization on Israeli targets, ongoing since October 7, reached their highest point in August, according to data released by the Shin Bet security agency on Thursday. According to Army Radio, statistics compiled by Israel’s domestic intelligence service, Shin Bet, revealed that 1,307 rockets were fired at Israel from the northern front, including Lebanon and Syria, in August. This amounts to an average of just over 40 rockets per day, with the vast majority originating from Lebanon. According to Army Radio, the surge in Hezbollah attacks aligns with an increase in Israeli airstrikes targeting and eliminating Hezbollah operatives. In August, 51 terrorists from various groups, primarily Hezbollah, were killed – a significant rise compared to previous months. More than 80,000 residents from northern border communities have been evacuated since the war began, remaining displaced from their homes for nearly a year. Many have accused the government of not doing enough to combat Hezbollah and ensure their safe return home. The post Hezbollah Launches Most Rockets in August, Highest Monthly Total Since War Began appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News LONDON (Worthy News) – Britain’s recently elected prime minister, Keir Starmer, faced political turmoil Thursday as a public inquiry into the devastating 2017 London Grenfell Tower blaze that killed 72 people blamed the disaster in part on failings by the government. Additionally, the construction industry and, most of all, the firms involved in fitting the exterior with flammable cladding were blamed. The fire ripped through the 23-storey social housing block during the early hours of June 14, 2017, in what was Britain’s deadliest blaze in a residential building since World War Two. “The simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable,” noted inquiry chair Martin Moore-Bick. He also said: “Not all of them bear the same degree of responsibility for the eventual disaster. But as our reports show, all contributed to it in one way or another, in most cases, through incompetence, but in some cases, through dishonesty and greed.” The inquiry found that the companies involved in maintaining and refitting the apartment tower were most responsible for the disaster. ‘DISHONEST’ COMPANIES Additionally, the investigators expressed concern about companies that “dishonestly” marketed combustible cladding materials as safe. The inquiry also criticized the then-government, the local authority of Kensington and Chelsea, the industry, regulatory groups, specific individuals, and an “ill-prepared fire brigade” for years of inaction over fire safety in high-rise blocks. The report’s recommendations include more rigid fire safety rules, a national fire and rescue college, and a single independent regulator for the construction industry. But the advice comes too late for those still mourning their loved ones. Prime Minister Starmer apologized to the relatives of victims and survivors on behalf of Britain. “It should have never happened,” he told them, and they had failed for years. The post Britain’s Government Partly Blamed For London Tower Tragedy appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Kenneth Schrupp | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Hunter Biden, the sole surviving son of President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty Thursday in Los Angeles to avoid a trial on nine federal tax charges that include three felonies and six misdemeanors. The charges involve failing to file and pay $1.4 million in taxes, filing falsely, and claiming false and fraudulent business deductions. The House Oversight Committee found the Biden family and associates received more than $20 million from overseas, including entities in China and Russia. The indictment alleges Hunter Biden spent this money on drugs and prostitutes while not paying taxes. “Between 2016 and October 15, 2020, the Defendant spent this money on drugs, escorts and girlfriends, luxury hotels and rental properties, exotic cars, clothing, and other items of a personal nature, in short, everything but his taxes,” the indictment said. Hunter Biden pleaded guilty under an Alford plea, in which one maintains one’s innocence while admitting the prosecution has enough evidence to find one guilty. This is different from a nolo contendere plea, which unlike the Alford plea does not require special court approval, and is often entered in which the defendant neither admits or disputes the charges. While a nolo contendere plea is often viewed as a tacit admission of guilt, the Alford plea is viewed as a relatively lesser admission of guilt. Hunter Biden now avoids a public trial that would involve witnesses detailing his life during the period in which he allegedly committed tax fraud. Hunter Biden was investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission for securities fraud under the Trump administration, and was found guilty of felony gun charges for lying about his drug use on a gun purchase form and possessed a firearm while using illicit drugs. Hunter Biden is set to be sentenced for his gun charges, for which he can face up to 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines, on November 13, a week after the 2024 presidential election. The post Hunter Biden Pleads Guilty to Tax Charges, Avoids Public Trial appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A young Christian mother in China has been in police detention for a month after being arrested for helping to develop a Christian app called “Song of Songs,” China Aid reports. Xin Ruoyu from Guangzhou was arrested by Shandong police last month and has been kept in an extrajudicial “black room” for a month, China Aid was told by a local source who knows her. In her early 30s and the mother of a small child, Xin Ruoyu was described by the source as a “loving, caring, and very frail” woman. The “Song of Songs” app that Xin Ruoyu was working on is a Gospel app that was being developed specifically for Chinese-speaking Christians. “It offers hundreds of thousands of Chinese and foreign hymns and music videos, various versions of hymn books, and sheet music, providing everything one might need,” China Aid said in its report. “Song of Songs” is an Old Testament allegoric poem attributed to King Solomon. A letter that has been circulating among Chinese house churches has called for prayer for Xin Ruoyu, China Aid reports. “The prayer letter asks for God to strengthen her faith, grant her a healthy body, and provide comfort and care for her family,” China Aid said. Ruled by the paranoid, authoritarian Chinese Communist Party (CCP) which has steadily and increasingly cracked down on Christianity, China ranks 19 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. The post China: Christian Mother in Police Detention for Developing “Song of Songs” Gospel App appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Sixty-two people were baptized after hearing the Gospel at a gathering of around 1,500 attendees on the Corpus Christi campus of Texas A&M University last week, the Christian Post (CP) reports. The August 29 meeting was organized by New Life Church, Corpus Christi Texas, which has a Young Adults ministry that is a recognized student organization at the Texas A&M Corpus Christi campus, CP reports. In an interview with the Christian Post, New Life Young Adults Pastor Tarik Whitmore said he opened the meeting with a Gospel message based on Isaiah 6: the “conviction, cleansing, and commissioning that follows a genuine encounter with God.” “This was followed by testimonies from students and former students — sharing how God saved them, set them free, healed them physically, and is now using them to change the lives of others,” Whitmore said.“As the altar was opened, there was an invitation given to profess faith in Jesus through water baptism, receive prayer for healing, and receive prayer for the baptism of the Holy Spirit,” Whitmore continued. “The night continued with students and young adults sharing testimonies in real-time of salvation, healing, deliverance, and being filled with the Spirit,” Whitmore attested. “The night concluded with a commissioning of those who wanted God to use them on their college campus — All declaring, ‘Here I am. Send me!’” The post More Than 60 People Baptized Following Gospel Message at Texas A&M University appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Following a recent surge in imports, the US trade deficit reached its highest level in over two years, Reuters reports. Countries incur a trade deficit when the value of their imports is higher than the value of their exports. According to a statement issued by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US trade deficit increased by 7.9% to $78.8 billion, the highest it has been since May 2022, Reuters reports. Imports increased 2.1% to $345.4 billion. Goods imports rose 2.3% to $278.2 billion, the highest since June 2022,” Reuters said in its report. “They were boosted by an increase in capital goods, which increased $3.3 billion to a record high, mostly reflecting computer accessories,” Reuters said. The value of exports rose by 0.5% to $266.6 billion. Goods exports increased by 0.4% to $175.1 billion. Exports of motor vehicles, parts, and engines fell by $1.7 billion to their lowest level since June 2022. Consumer goods exports decreased by $800 million, Reuters said. Reuters noted in its analysis that: “While the surge in imports reported by the Commerce Department on Wednesday would subtract from gross domestic product, it was an indication of strong domestic demand and inconsistent with financial market fears of a recession.” The post US Trade Deficit at Highest Level in Over Two Years appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A Christian school in Vermont that was banned from local sporting activities for refusing to play against teams with transgender athletes on them has filed an appeal after being told by a lower court that the ban will remain in place, the Christian Post (CP) reports. Mid Vermont Christian School was issued the ban by the Vermont Principals’ Association in March 2023, after the school forfeited a girl’s basketball game against the Long Trail Mountain Lions because the latter had a biologically male transgender player on its side, CP reports. Mid-Vermont filed suit against the VPA in the District Court of Vermont, seeking to have the ban lifted. When that petition failed, a brief was filed with the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals, CP reports. “To justify its expulsion decision, the VPA invoked discretionary policies applied on a ‘case-by-case basis’ and subject to individualized exceptions,” the Mid Vermont appeal brief states. “And though the VPA penalized Mid Vermont, it lets other schools forfeit games for secular reasons, such as illness, injury, and refusing to play against an athlete with a COVID-19 mask exemption.” Accusing the VPA of religious discrimination which interferes with Mid Vermont’s Constitutional right to freedom of religion, the appeal brief asserts: “VPA’s actions independently trigger strict scrutiny because they excluded an otherwise eligible religious school from a public benefit solely because of its religious exercise.” “This Court should … direct the district court on remand to enter a preliminary injunction ordering Mid Vermont’s reinstatement and prohibiting the VPA from enforcing its policies against Mid Vermont in the ways described in Mid Vermont’s motion for a preliminary injunction,” the appeal says. The post Vermont: Christian School Files Appeal Against Sports Ban Over Transgender Policy appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, check your connections! James 4:7-10 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Over the past month, I decided to purposely disconnect from all social media and I must say, despite the craziness in the world -- I found myself more at peace, by simply disconnecting. And speaking of being disconnected, one missionary tells of his experience about being assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering this problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years. When a new missionary came to take over his station, he proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started. As he was talking, the young missionary picked up the hood only to find that the only trouble was a loose cable. He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and the engine roared to life. For two years, needless trouble had become routine -- but the power was there all along -- and the only thing that was needed was a better connection! So it is for us as believers, we can walk through this life stumbling and struggling ... having a loose connection with God -- or we can determine to be steadfastly connected to Him -- and His unlimited power. As James clearly says, "Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you," so we have the choice to be as close or as distant as we want to the King of Kings! God's decision to be intimate with us was already made when He displayed His love for us through the sacrifice of His Son! Now it's in our hands ... what kind of relationship do we want? Friend, so let's resolve to spend some time under the hood, double checking those connections, and making whatever adjustments necessary to get better connected to God -- and His omnipotent power. Amazingly, if you go through the self-inspection process -- you'll begin going through personal revival -- and true revival begins one person at a time -- perhaps it'll be you this weekend! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Missouri) (Cincinnati, Ohio) 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 now booking in the following states. Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia, Tennessee! 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 Britain’s Government Partly Blamed For London Tower Tragedy Britain’s recently elected prime minister, Keir Starmer, faced political turmoil Thursday as a public inquiry into the devastating 2017 London Grenfell Tower blaze that killed 72 people blamed the disaster in part on failings by the government. Russian Scientist Gets 15 Years Jail In Crackdown A prominent Russian physicist began serving a lengthy prison sentence as part of a more extensive crackdown on scientists allegedly aiding Ukraine and threatening Russia’s security. Turkey Applies For BRICS Membership, Frustrating West (Worthy News Focus) NATO military alliance member Turkey has requested to join the BRICS bloc of major emerging market nations despite concerns it will move away from the West amid significant global security challenges. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Hezbollah Launches Most Rockets in August, Highest Monthly Total Since War Began Daily attacks by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization on Israeli targets, ongoing since October 7, reached their highest point in August, according to data released by the Shin Bet security agency on Thursday. Inside the United States Hunter Biden Pleads Guilty to Tax Charges, Avoids Public Trial Hunter Biden, the sole surviving son of President Joe Biden, pleaded guilty Thursday in Los Angeles to avoid a trial on nine federal tax charges that include three felonies and six misdemeanors. US Trade Deficit at Highest Level in Over Two Years Following a recent surge in imports, the US trade deficit reached its highest level in over two years, Reuters reports. Countries incur a trade deficit when the value of their imports is higher than the value of their exports. Vermont: Christian School Files Appeal Against Sports Ban Over Transgender Policy A Christian school in Vermont that was banned from local sporting activities for refusing to play against teams with transgender athletes on them has filed an appeal after being told by a lower court that the ban will remain in place, the Christian Post (CP) reports. Christian News China: Christian Mother in Police Detention for Developing “Song of Songs” Gospel App A young Christian mother in China has been in police detention for a month after being arrested for helping to develop a Christian app called “Song of Songs,” China Aid reports. More Than 60 People Baptized Following Gospel Message at Texas A&M University Sixty-two people were baptized after hearing the Gospel at a gathering of around 1,500 attendees on the Corpus Christi campus of Texas A&M University last week, the Christian Post (CP) reports. Indonesia Pastor Worships Outdoors After Church Removal An evangelical pastor in Indonesia says he is resuming worship services despite being removed from a store where his congregation had been meeting in a show of defiance toward authorities of the world’s largest Muslim nation. Sudanese Christians Vulnerable to Atrocities in Ongoing Civil War Sudan’s tiny Christian community has been subject to targeted extreme violence as well as to the general horror inflicted by the ongoing latest war to be unleashed on civilians, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JAKARTA (Worthy News) – An evangelical pastor in Indonesia says he is resuming worship services despite being removed from a store where his congregation had been meeting in a show of defiance toward authorities of the world’s largest Muslim nation. Pastor Herri Soesanto and his Good God Church (Gereja Gembala Baik, or GAB) were forced to leave the Simpang Tiga Shopping Compound in the Jombang Regency in East Java province. Christians said about 50 government officials sealed the shop where the church gathered on August 19. However, photos obtained by Worthy News on Thursday showed Christians holding their regular worship service outside on the shop’s terrace, sitting on makeshift mats in soaring temperatures. “Even in conditions like this, we continue to fight because we believe that everything we do is based on Truth,” said Pastor Soesanto in a message shared with Worthy News. He added that “the legal process is ongoing. As a result of this locking, our congregation cannot worship solemnly.” GROWING ISLAM Christians told Worthy News his difficulties highlight the growing influence of Islamic extremists in the region. “Many terrorists are coming from there, including those linked to the Bali bombings in 2002 that killed more than 200 people,” said a house church leader whose name is known to Worthy News. News of the standoff came as Pope Francis visited Indonesia in part to promote what he calls “interreligious dialogue.” Mosques in the area of Jakarta where the pope held meetings were told not to issue their noisy call for prayers. But elsewhere, mosques remained far from silent, including in the Jombang Regency, where Soesanto and his church struggle to worship, noted Victoria, a church worker. “The opposition is interesting as Jombang Regency was among the first places where Dutch missionaries preached Christ during the colonial era.” Indonesia ranks 42th on the annual World Watch List of 50 countries, where advocacy group Open Doors says Christians suffer most for their faith in Christ. “The situation for Christians has been deteriorating in recent years, with Indonesian society increasingly influenced by conservative interpretations of Islam. Polls regularly show that especially young people hold conservative views, and by-laws on Islamic dress are becoming more common,” Open Doors warned. The post Indonesia Pastor Worships Outdoors After Church Removal appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Sudan’s tiny Christian community has been subject to targeted extreme violence as well as to the general horror inflicted by the ongoing latest war to be unleashed on civilians, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Chronically devastated by wars and humanitarian crises, Sudan was beginning to recover strength after ousting brutal Islamic dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. An interim Western-supported government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok took over from the Bashir regime and began to work toward the peace and religious tolerance it had promised. However, Hamdok was deposed during a 2021 military coup organized jointly by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group formed in 2013 that operated on behalf of the Sudanese government to fight insurgents. Once the coup was accomplished, the SAF and RSF turned on each other in a bid for ultimate power in April last year, triggering the current civil war that has killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions more. In particular, ICC said in its report: “The well-equipped SAF often bombs churches, indiscriminately injuring or killing those sheltering inside, including women and children.” “A tiny minority in a country rocked by militancy and instability, Sudan’s Christians are in a particularly vulnerable place today,” ICC attests. “International efforts to quell the conflict have produced few results, and little seems to be happening to address the targeted violence against Christians caught in the crosshairs. The international community must increase its efforts to bring peace to Sudan and to protect the country’s fragile Christian population.” The post Sudanese Christians Vulnerable to Atrocities in Ongoing Civil War appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Sudan’s tiny Christian community has been subject to targeted extreme violence as well as to the general horror inflicted by the ongoing latest war to be unleashed on civilians, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Chronically devastated by wars and humanitarian crises, Sudan was beginning to recover strength after ousting brutal Islamic dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. An interim Western-supported government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok took over from the Bashir regime and began to work toward the peace and religious tolerance it had promised. However, Hamdok was deposed during a 2021 military coup organized jointly by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group formed in 2013 that operated on behalf of the Sudanese government to fight insurgents. Once the coup was accomplished, the SAF and RSF turned on each other in a bid for ultimate power in April last year, triggering the current civil war that has killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions more. In particular, ICC said in its report: “The well-equipped SAF often bombs churches, indiscriminately injuring or killing those sheltering inside, including women and children.” “A tiny minority in a country rocked by militancy and instability, Sudan’s Christians are in a particularly vulnerable place today,” ICC attests. “International efforts to quell the conflict have produced few results, and little seems to be happening to address the targeted violence against Christians caught in the crosshairs. The international community must increase its efforts to bring peace to Sudan and to protect the country’s fragile Christian population.” The post Sudanese Christians Vulnerable to Atrocities in Ongoing Civil War appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – A prominent Russian physicist began serving a lengthy prison sentence as part of a more extensive crackdown on scientists allegedly aiding Ukraine and threatening Russia’s security. Worthy News learned that in a trial reminiscent of the Soviet era, the Moscow city court found Alexander Shiplyuk, the 57-year-old director of a top Siberian science institute, guilty of “state treason” after a trial held behind closed doors. He was sentenced to 15 years on “treason” charges in the latest prison term for a scientist working on the country’s hypersonic missile program. Well-informed sources said Thursday that over a dozen senior Russian scientists have been detained in recent years. At least three, including Shiplyuk, worked at the prestigious Khristianovich Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics in Novosibirsk, Siberia’s largest city and a central scientific. Experts have said the trials indicate a modern “spy mania” and growing paranoia among Russian political elites regarding its military production following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. CLASSIFIED INFO The Russian independent news outlet Novaya Gazeta reported that Shiplyuk was suspected of sharing classified information at a scientific conference in China in 2017. Shiplyuk denied the allegations, saying the information he presented was publicly available in open sources. In May, Russia sentenced Anatoly Maslov, a 78-year-old professor of aerodynamics at the same institute and a colleague of Shiplyuk, to 14 years in prison on treason charges. Russian media said he was accused of passing classified data related to Russia’s hypersonic missile program to German intelligence. This was embarrassing for Russia, which has promoted itself as a world leader in hypersonic missiles, cutting-edge weapons capable of carrying payloads at up to 10 times the speed of sound to punch through air defense systems. “Russia’s loose definition of espionage makes it easy to bring cases against scientists,” observed journalist Pjotr Sauer in The Guardian newspaper. INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS Accusations include “their participation in international projects, even those initiated long before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” he added. There have already been instances of scientists dying in pre-trial detention. In October 2022, Valery Mitko, an 81-year-old Russian scientist arrested on high treason charges, died while under house arrest after several heart attacks. Last year, Dmitry Kolker, 54, the director of the Laboratory of Quantum Optics at Novosibirsk State University, who was being held in a spy investigation, died two days after his arrest while being treated in a hospital for stage 4 cancer. More deaths behind bars are expected as the lengthy sentences mean the accused experts could spend the rest of their lives in prison. The post Russian Scientist Gets 15 Years Jail In Crackdown appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ISTANBUL/MOSCOW (Worthy News) – NATO military alliance member Turkey has requested to join the BRICS bloc of major emerging market nations despite concerns it will move away from the West amid significant global security challenges. Several sources confirmed Turkey’s move, including the spokesman of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, Worthy News established Thursday. “Our president has many times stated that we want to become a BRICS member… The process is now under way,” said Omer Celik, on behalf of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Separately, Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs aide, told reporters that Turkey’s application “for full membership” in the bloc that Russia this year chairs will be considered. The BRICS alliance was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined in 2010 as Moscow and Beijing sought to counter the West’s global influence. BRICS recently expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has also said it’s considering joining, and Azerbaijan and Malaysia have formally applied. Ahead of his country’s BRICS membership application, which was due to be approved soon, President Erdogan said Turkey also wants to be a partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). POLICY DIFFERENCES The SCO, a security, political, and economic club launched in 2001 by Russia, China, and Central Asian states, was established as a counterweight to Western alliances. Analysts say Turkey’s decisions come after differences with the U.S. and European Union over issues ranging from Israel, Russia, migration, security, and economic policies to its treatment of the Kurdish minority and critical thinkers. On Israel, for instance, Turkish President Erdogan has said NATO can’t continue its partnership with the Israeli administration, angering Washington and other Western capitals. However, in a recent interview monitored by Worthy News, Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler stressed that Turkey’s membership in NATO does not prevent it from developing relations with the other blocs. Turkey has been frustrated by being sanctioned by the United States and removed from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 due to its acquisition of Russian S-400 defenses. Yet since then, Ankara has been working to procure 40 Block-70 F-16 fighter jets and 79 modernization kits from Washington. The deal was approved after Turkey blessed Sweden’s NATO membership bid after intense talks. JETS ACQUISITION Guler said the acquisition of the jets underscored Turkey’s ongoing commitment toward NATO. “We are pleased with the accord reached on the procurement of the F-16s and modernization, and we hope the project will be completed without a problem until the last jet is delivered,” he stressed. “Apart from that, our priority is to fulfill our responsibilities to NATO as an important ally and to strengthen the solidarity with our allies. Our focus should be that NATO is prepared, determined, and strong,” Guler added. Yet Turkey’s moves toward BRICS and perhaps SCO did little to ease tensions as Ankara seeks to expand its geopolitical footprint. Erdogan said he would invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to discuss normalizing ties, which Ankara severed after the 2011 Syrian war. Assad has said talks could only happen if they focus on core issues, including the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the north of Syria. In a sign of Turkey’s growing influence, Guler said the neighbors could meet at a ministerial level again “if suitable conditions are created” as part of what is viewed as Ankara’s regional charm offensive launched in 2020. The post Turkey Applies For BRICS Membership, Frustrating West (Worthy News Focus) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Kenneth Schrupp | The Center Square (Worthy News) – – A federal appeals court sided with Elon Musk and X Corporation against a California law requiring companies to report and create definitions for a wide variety of speech violations, finding the law violates the First Amendment by unlawfully compelling companies to provide opinions on contentious matters, including defining what hate speech or misinformation is. The Ninth Circuit Court reversed a lower district federal court’s ruling initially in favor of California, and instructed the district court to enter a preliminary injunction on portions of the law, AB 587. AB 587, signed into law in 2022, was marketed as a transparency-oriented measure to have social companies make their content moderation policies and statistics available in public reports filed with the California Attorney General starting in January of 2024. The law requires social media companies to create and define moderation categories for hate speech, racism, extremism, radicalization, disinformation, misinformation, harassment and foreign political interference. Companies would have to explain how their policies address content in these categories, share how much content was flagged and acted upon, and how much this content was viewed and shared, with companies that fail to comply required to pay fines of up to $15,000 per day and potential other civil penalties if the California Attorney General files suit. AB 587 author Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino wrote the bill will ensure “social media companies moderate or remove hateful or incendiary content on their platforms,” and that he hopes the bill will “pressure them” to “eliminate hate speech and disinformation.” In the original September lawsuit, X said the law would “pressure social media companies to eliminate or minimize content that the government has deemed objectionable.” A district court judge upheld AB 587 in December, claiming the reporting requirements were “purely factual” and the law does “does not provide for any potential liability stemming from a company’s content moderation activities per se.” The Ninth Circuit’s ruling focused on the requirement for content category reports and definitions, finding the reports were tantamount to requiring companies to give opinions on contentious issues. “In effect, the Content Category Report provisions compel every covered social media company to reveal its policy opinion about contentious issues, such as what constitutes hate speech or misinformation and whether to moderate such expression,” wrote the Ninth Circuit. “Insight into whether a social media company considers, for example, (1) a post citing rhetoric from on-campus protests to constitute hate speech; (2) reports about a seized laptop to constitute foreign political interference; or (3) posts about election fraud to constitute misinformation is sensitive, constitutionally protected speech that the State could not otherwise compel a social media company to disclose without satisfying strict scrutiny,” continued the ruling. The court’s order for an injunction applies only to the sections relating to defining and reporting data on content violation categories. Social media companies will still be under the remainder of AB 587’s requirements, which include semi-annually creating publicly viewable reports to California on the current terms of service, how automated systems enforce the terms of service, how companies respond to user-reported violations, and what actions the companies take against violators. The post Musk Legal Victory to Pause California Misinformation, Hate Speech Reporting Law appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – During a press briefing to foreign media on Wednesday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his stance that Israel cannot abandon the 7.8 mile long Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border without first implementing a viable plan to prevent weapons smuggling into the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu stated that Israel could consider leaving the Philadelphi Corridor during Phase Two of a hostage deal, as part of discussions surrounding a permanent ceasefire. However, Netanyahu also stated “the conditions that we shall have for a permanent ceasefire must include a situation where the Philadelphi corridor cannot be perforated.” However, Hamas has demanded that Israel withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor and the rest of the Gaza Strip before Phase One can begin. During the press conference, Netanyahu detailed how the Philadelphi Corridor “became completely porous” following Israel’s unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2005. He explained that Hamas began smuggling weapons into Gaza through the corridor, “despite Egypt’s policy to prevent it.” As a result of this smuggling, “rockets, missiles, drones, ammunition, weapons manufacturing equipment, and tunnel drilling tools all made their way into Gaza,” Netanyahu explained. “Once we left the Philadelphi Corridor,” Netanyahu stated, “Iran could carry out its plan to turn Gaza into a base, a terrorist enclave, that would endanger not only the communities around it, but would endanger Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beersheba.” “You have to understand the centrality of the Philadelphi Corridor to the arming of Gaza, to the arming of Hamas,” Netanyahu emphasized. Addressing proposals that weapons smuggling through the Philadelphi Corridor into Gaza could be stopped without an IDF presence, Netanyahu remarked, “Show me someone who can actually prove, not just on paper, not in words, not on a slide, but on the ground, day after day, week after week, month after month, that they can truly prevent the recurrence of weapons smuggling.” Netanyahu added that if such a credible plan were presented, “we’re open to considering it. But I don’t see that happening… and until it does, we’re staying there.” Addressing the suggestion that Israel could withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor and return if necessary, Netanyahu responded, “When we want to come back [to Philadelphi], we’ll pay an exorbitant price in many fields,” including the potential loss of troops. “We’re in now, [if] we leave, we won’t [be able to] come back. You know it. Everybody here knows it. Everyone knows the pressure that will be placed on us to prevent our return and the price we’ll have to pay if we try. It’s just not going to happen,” Netanyahu concluded. The post Netanyahu Stands Resolute On Philadelphi Corridor: ‘If We Leave, We Won’t Be Able to Return’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Israeli authorities reported that over 100 rockets were launched at northern Israel on Wednesday by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization. In Kiryat Shmona, some of the rockets directly struck homes, sparking fires. Police and emergency teams quickly responded to the scene to provide assistance and assess the damage. Earlier Wednesday, Israeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah rocket launchers in the southern Lebanese towns of Kounine and Qabrikha, both of which had been used in previous attacks on Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced today. The military also released footage of the strikes, showing targets linked to recent hostilities. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the rocket barrage, stating that its fighters had targeted Israeli military positions. The IDF also reported that overnight, air defenses shot down a drone approaching Israel from the east. The drone did not enter Israeli airspace, according to the military. The Iran-backed group, Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed responsibility for the drone, stating it was an attempt to target the Haifa port. The post Hezbollah Fires Rocket Barrage in Northern Israel appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article