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By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump is directing federal agencies to target Mexican cartels and other foreign groups that are a threat to American citizens and national security. Trump’s executive order designates Mexican cartels, the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, Salvadoran La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), and other organizations as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and specially designated global terrorists (SDGTs) under the U.S. Constitution, Immigration and Nationality Act and International Emergency Economic Powers Act. “International cartels constitute a national-security threat beyond that posed by traditional organized crime, with activities encompassing convergence between themselves and a range of extra-hemispheric actors, from designated foreign-terror organizations to antagonistic foreign governments; complex adaptive systems, characteristic of entities engaged in insurgency and asymmetric warfare; an infiltration into foreign governments across the Western Hemisphere,” the order states. “The Cartels have engaged in a campaign of violence and terror throughout the Western Hemisphere that has not only destabilized countries with significant importance for our national interests but also flooded the United States with deadly drugs, violent criminals, and vicious gangs,” Trump’s order states. “They functionally control, through a campaign of assassination, terror, rape, and brute force nearly all illegal traffic across the southern border of the United States. In certain portions of Mexico, they function as quasi-governmental entities, controlling nearly all aspects of society.” TdA and MS13 gang members also pose similar threats, engaging in “campaigns of violence and terror in the United States and internationally are extraordinarily violent, vicious, and similarly threaten the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere,” presenting “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.” In response, Trump said, “I hereby declare a national emergency, under IEEPA, to deal with those threats. “It is the policy of the United States to ensure the total elimination of these organizations’ presence in the United States and their ability to threaten the territory, safety, and security of the United States through their extraterritorial command-and-control structures” to protect Americans and the territorial integrity of the U.S. He directed the secretary of State, secretary of the Treasury, attorney general, secretary of Homeland Security, and director of National Intelligence to take all appropriate action to implement his order. He also instructed them to “make operational preparations regarding the implementation of any decision I make to invoke the Alien Enemies Act … in relation to the existence of any qualifying invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States by a qualifying actor, and to prepare such facilities as necessary to expedite the removal of those who may be designated under this order.” Trump’s order comes after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and 21 Republican attorneys general for years called on the Biden administration to do so. In September 2022, Abbott designated Mexican cartels as FTOs, issuing an executive order designating the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as foreign terrorist organizations,” The Center Square reported. He twice asked former President Joe Biden to do so and received no response. Roughly one year ago, a coalition of 21 Republican attorneys general led by Virginia AG Jason Miyares also made the same request, argued an FTO designation was imperative because cartels are “assassinating rivals and government officials, ambushing, and killing Americans at the border, and engaging in an armed insurgency against the Mexican government,” The Center Square reported. “This dangerous terrorist activity occurring at our border will not abate unless we escalate our response.” They also received no response – until Jan. 20, 2025. The Center Square first reported on cartels using asymmetrical and nontraditional warfare targeting Americans as a reason for Texas to declare an invasion in 2022. No official state declaration was issued and the Texas AG’s office refused to issue a legal opinion on the matter despite numerous requests to do so. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was the only one to declare an invasion before a state legislature and 55 Texas counties declared an invasion, The Center Square exclusively reported. On Trump’s first day in office, he declared an invasion at the southern border, the first president in modern history to do so. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Directs Feds to Target Cartels that Threaten Homeland Security appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump ordered that starting Wednesday, all federal staff working on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion activities will immediately be put on paid leave. That announcement came via a memo from the Office of Personnel Management, essentially the federal government’s human resources department. According to the memo, all DEI offices will be closed, and federal agency leaders have until the end of the month to submit plans on how they will close those offices. All online websites and social media accounts must be removed as well, according to the memo. The immediacy of the action characterizes well Trump’s return to the White House. He issued a flurry of executive orders on a range of topics. Government unions blasted the move. “Ultimately, these attacks on DEIA are just a smokescreen for firing civil servants, undermining the apolitical civil service, and turning the federal government into an army of yes-men loyal only to the president, not the Constitution,” American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley, said in a statement. Kelley said the government already exclusively hires based on merit, but internal documents at places like the Pentagon show racial quota goals for promoting internally, for instance. The news of the memo comes just after an executive order from the president on Monday ended federal DEI programs and ordered the eventual firing of those federal workers. The order called for firing “to the maximum extent allowed by law, all DEI, DEIA, and ‘environmental justice’ offices and positions (including but not limited to ‘Chief Diversity Officer’ positions); all ‘equity action plans,’ “equity” actions, initiatives, or programs, ‘equity-related’ grants or contracts; and all DEI or DEIA performance requirements for employees, contractors, or grantees.” The order also requires federal agencies to create a list of DEI related staff and activities, including federal contractors and other federal programs like “environmental justice” positions which engage in DEI work. Critics have argued for years that federal agencies have become distracted by DEI initiatives. “This order sends a strong message to the American people that our medical professionals will be guided by merit and excellence, not identity politics,” Kristina Rasmussen, executive director of Do No Harm, said in a statement. “For too long medical schools and associations have embedded DEI in admissions, hiring, curriculum, and scholarships, compromising the integrity of the medical profession and the quality of patient care.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Orders Federal DEI Staff Be Put On Leave Immediately appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – In addition to declaring an invasion at the southern border and declaring multiple national emergencies, President Donald Trump issued an order to protect Americans from foreign terrorists and other public safety threats. This order directs federal agencies to implement a range of security procedures authorized by the US Constitution, Immigration and Nationality Act and United States Code. Trump’s stated policy is for the federal government to protect American citizens “from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.” To do this, federal agencies are tasked with strengthening the visa-issuance process to ensure that “aliens approved for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans or our national interests” by identifying them before they are admitted to the U.S. They will also ensure that those already released into the U.S. “do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security.” The order directs the secretary of State, attorney general, secretary of Homeland Security, and Director of National Intelligence to identify all resources to “ensure that all aliens seeking admission to the United States, or who are already in the United States, are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” This includes determining information needed from countries to verify identities of foreign nationals to ensure they don’t pose security or public-safety threats to better adjudicate visas, admission, or other benefits under the INA. The order directs federal agencies to re-establish a uniform baseline for screening and vetting standards and procedures for everyone seeking a visa or immigration benefit of any kind, particularly those coming from regions or nations with identified security risks. They are also directed to provide a report within 60 days to identify countries where vetting and screening information “is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries,” in accordance with the INA. They are also required to identify how many citizens from those countries entered or were admitted into the U.S., and DHS must then “take immediate steps to exclude or remove that alien” unless doing so “would inhibit a significant pending investigation or prosecution of the alien for a serious criminal offense or would be contrary to the national security interests of the United States.” Within 30 days of the order, the agency heads much evaluate and adjust all existing regulations, policies, procedures, and provisions of the Foreign Service Manual, related to grounds of inadmissibility listed in the INA; ensure that sufficient safeguards are in place to prevent any refugee or stateless individual from being admitted to the U.S. without undergoing stringent identification verification; evaluate all visa programs “to ensure that they are not used by foreign nation-states or other hostile actors to harm the security, economic, political, cultural, or other national interests of the United States;” and provide other recommendations. They are also instructed to identify “foreign nationals who have undermined or seek to undermine the fundamental constitutional rights of the American people, including, but not limited to, our Citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion protected by the First Amendment, who preach or call for sectarian violence, the overthrow or replacement of the culture on which our constitutional Republic stands, or who provide aid, advocacy, or support for foreign terrorists.” They are also instructed to evaluate programs designed to ensure lawful immigrants assimilate into the U.S. and recommend measures to “promote a unified American identity and attachment to the Constitution, laws, and founding principles of the United States;” and “protect the American people and our constitutional republic from foreign threats.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Orders Agencies to Protect Americans From Terrorist, National Security Threats appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Citing failure to protect Israel from the October 7 Hamas attack, IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi on Tuesday announced his resignation, Haaretz reports. Halevi will leave his post on March 6. In his letter of resignation to Defense Minister Israel Katz, Halevi said he had long decided to leave but was waiting until the IDF had “the upper hand in all theaters of combat.” That time, Halevi said, had come. He also cited the recent ceasefire agreement including the phased return of the remaining 94 hostages held by Hamas as further evidence that the moment for his departure was “ripe.” “The IDF under my command failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel,” Halevi wrote to Katz. “My responsibility for the terrible failure accompanies me every day, every hour, and will be so for the rest of my life.” In a statement to the reporters hours later, Halevi said a full commission of inquiry should investigate what happened on October 7, 2023. “The military investigation pertains only to the IDF and does not cover all the reasons and areas that could prevent the recurrence of such events. A commission of inquiry or any other external body will be able to investigate and will receive full transparency from the IDF.” “No one concealed information, and no one assisted the enemy in carrying out its brutality,” Halevi added. “Such statements harm loyal service members who are working for the security of the state.” Responding to Halevi’s announcement, Defense Minister Katz said in a statement: “I would like to express my appreciation to the chief of staff and thank him for his contribution to the IDF throughout his years of service as a combat soldier and commander, and for his part in the IDF’s great achievements in the difficult war that was forced upon us.” The post IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Halevi Resigns Over October 7 Failures appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald J. Trump wants to pressure America’s neighbors to renegotiate a continental trade deal by threatening to impose massive tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico as soon as next week, U.S. sources said Tuesday. Trump earlier told reporters “We’re thinking in terms of 25 percent on Mexico and Canada because they’re allowing vast numbers of people” across the border. He also said, in response to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday night, “I think we’ll do it on February 1.” Yet officials now suggest that even if they agree on how to tackle migration and drugs, the president still seeks leverage on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement. The USMCA was crafted during Trump’s first term in office to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. It is up for statutory review in 2026—but Trump hopes to renegotiate it sooner, according to people familiar with his thinking cited by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) newspaper. Trump is reportedly focused on using the threat of tariffs to change automotive rules under the continental trade pact, forcing car plants to move from Canada and Mexico back to the U.S. That has sent major automakers rushing to find ways to satisfy Trump without “blowing up the North American auto supply chain” that extends throughout the three nations, according to one auto-industry executive cited by the WSJ. According to people briefed on the matter, Trump will turn to Howard Lutnick, his pick for Commerce secretary, and Jamieson Greer, his nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, to handle the renegotiation of the USMCA. Automakers ship billions of dollars worth of vehicles and parts daily across the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico. Critics say Trump’s plan for 25 percent tariffs on imports from those countries could severely disrupt those operations. “Most people in the industry are waiting to see what happens and to see what the administration is looking for from Canada and Mexico,” Mark Wakefield, global automotive market lead at AlixPartners, a consulting firm, said on Tuesday. “For now, they assume this is more a negotiating chip than it is something that’s really going to happen, more of an exercise to bring people to the table.” Whether Trump, the deal-maker-in-chief, will compromise remains to be seen. The post Officials: ‘Trump Seeks New Trade Deal Through Tariffs Threats’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News JAKARTA/DENPASAR (Worthy News) – Rescuers in Indonesia have recovered the bodies of dozens of people killed in flash floods or buried under tons of mud and rocks on the nation’s Java and Bali islands, with more heavy rain expected. Since Monday, the human remains of at least 17 people were found in Java, the country’s main island, officials said Tuesday, adding that eight people were still missing. Torrential rains on Monday caused rivers to burst their banks, tearing through nine villages in the Pekalongan regency of Central Java province. “Mud, rocks, and trees tumbled down” on mountainside hamlets, said Bergas Catursasi, who heads the local Disaster Management Agency. He added that the bodies were found in the worst-hit village of Petungkriyono and that they were searching for eight villagers who were reported missing. Eleven injured people managed to escape and were rushed to nearby hospitals, Catursari said. Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Abdul Muhari confirmed that flash floods “swept away villagers and vehicles passing through” devastated villages and triggered a landslide that buried two houses. He said the floods also destroyed two main bridges connecting villages in Pekalongan districts. The provincial Search and Rescue Office explained that a search was suspended Tuesday afternoon due to heavy rain and thick fog and will be resumed early Wednesday. It came as authorities still recalled last month’s disaster, when a landslide, flash floods, and strong winds hit Sukabumi district of West Java province, killing 12 people. BALI SUFFERING Separately, at least eight people were reported killed since Monday in landslides across Indonesia’s tropical island of Bali, and more rains were expected. Worthy News also witnessed motorbike accidents and people struggling to reach safety in heavy rain, including some of the many musicians in Bali driving home on motorbikes after a concert. The BNPB agency announced Tuesday that the eight people killed in Bali died in two locations, “with all victims recovered by a joint search and rescue team.” “Four fatalities were reported in Pikat Village [of] Klungkung Regency, and another four in Ubung Kaja Village [of] Denpasar,” the regional capital, BNPB’s Muhari stressed. Those killed apparently included people in five houses that were destroyed in Denpasar. Seven injured survivors were evacuated and treated, while at least two individuals remain missing, with search efforts ongoing, Worthy News learned. It came as Bali, which is dependent on tourism, was still reeling from extreme weather that killed two tourists and injured several more when a large tree fell on them last month at the popular “Monkey Forest” in Bali’s village of Ubud. The tree incident in the area where monkeys interact with visitors was the latest in a series of disasters caused by strong winds and heavy rains lashing Bali and other parts of Indonesia, killing and injuring numerous people, local Christians told Worthy News. VICTIMS FOUND This week’s disaster victims were found in Denpasar’s “Pikat Village within two days of the landslide, while those in Ubung Kaja were recovered hours after the incident. Rescue efforts were hampered by adverse weather conditions, delaying operations for safety reasons,” Indonesian police said in a statement obtained by Worthy News. Authorities urged residents “to remain vigilant” as heavy rains accompanied by lightning could trigger further landslides or flash floods. “Those living near slopes or rivers should relocate during prolonged heavy rain,” Muhari advised Floods were also reported in several other provinces of Indonesia. Television reports showed police, soldiers, and rescue workers using excavators, farm equipment, and their bare hands to search through the rubble in devastated villages, with locals struggling to find their way out of misery. Others carried victims on bamboo stretchers or in body bags to ambulances or trucks. Officials noted that bad weather, mudslides, and rugged terrain hampered the rescue operation, especially in areas where flooding swept away people who were fishing in rivers or taking shelter from rain. Heavy seasonal rain from about October to March frequently causes flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands where millions live in mountainous areas or near fertile floodplains. Major recent flood-related tragedies began in November when a landslide and flash floods triggered by heavy downpours hit North Sumatra province, leaving 20 dead and two missing. A landslide in the region also hit a tourist bus, killing nine people, Worthy News monitored. Authorities in several regions are under pressure to improve infrastructure, a significant issue in Indonesia, as the world’s fourth most populous nation of more than 280 million becomes one of Southeast Asia’s key economies. The post Indonesia Hit By Deadly Floods, Killing Dozens appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, hmmm, things to ponder! Proverbs 16:9 The mind of a man plans his way: but the LORD directs his steps. As I've been following the news about much of the United States being under a winter storm watch, with snow falling in unexpected places like Galveston, Texas, and Florida, it brought back memories of a story from over ten years ago. It was January of 2011 when we arrived at the airport late Thursday night with our bags and our kiddos, only to find out that our flight was canceled because of a freak accident -- a tractor ran into the plane, of all things! So we repacked our ourselves tightly into a small rental car to make the two-hour drive to get back home to Arad in the middle of the night. Our flight was postponed until Sunday. Sunday came, and we got on the plane. We flew into Atlanta only to find that not only was our connecting flight canceled, but the airport was entirely shut down due to a severe ice storm. There was not one flight out, and all the hotels in the area were booked solid. We had to arrive in Baltimore in time for some scheduled speaking engagements, so we decided to rent a car, despite everyone's wide-eyed stares. Now, normally this is only about a 12-hour drive -- however, because we were driving at a speed between 10 and 20 miles an hour for half of the way, it took us a whopping 22 hours! Fortunately, the ice was so bad that every half an hour, I would have to pull over and break an inch or two of ice off the windshield wipers -- so the freezing weather kept me nice and alert! But we got here safe and all in one piece, thank God. As I was driving, I reflected on how quick we are to blame the devil for difficult circumstances. However, Scripture reminds us that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Looking back, I realized that what seemed like a delay was actually part of God's greater plan—it allowed a dear friend to make an emergency visit to her daughter, provided an opportunity to bless two troubled teens, and opened doors to share and connect with people we might never have encountered between Atlanta and Baltimore. Friend, as believers, we hold steadfast to the promise that "all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose." In times when the world seems to be falling apart, it is precisely then that we must cling to His promises even more. Life may be getting "more interesting," but every strange circumstance, every change in plans, is a chance to trust God more deeply and share His love and the gifts He has entrusted to us. Looking back, it's clear that perhaps God has been orchestrating it all along. Let every moment be an opportunity to trust Him and spread His love. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Phoenix, Arizona) Editor's Note: Latest message: The Mysteries of Yeshua's Birth and Chanukah Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce. Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out! Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are going to be heading WEST!!! Now booking in the following states: Arizona …. If you know Pastors, Rabbis or Ministry Leaders who might be interested in some powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the Land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World Officials: ‘Trump Seeks New Trade Deal Through Tariffs Threats’ U.S. President Donald J. Trump wants to pressure America’s neighbors to renegotiate a continental trade deal by threatening to impose massive tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico as soon as next week, U.S. sources said Tuesday. Indonesia Hit By Deadly Floods, Killing Dozens Rescuers in Indonesia have recovered the bodies of dozens of people killed in flash floods or buried under tons of mud and rocks on the nation’s Java and Bali islands, with more heavy rain expected. Turkish Hotel Fire Kills Scores of People At least 76 people have been killed in a fire engulfing a popular Turkish ski resort, prompting the detention of numerous people, officials say. Australia: Day Care Center Near Jewish Synagogue Firebombed and Sprayed With Antisemitic Graffiti Amid a surge in threats and attacks on Australia’s Jewish community, a childcare center located near a Jewish school and synagogue in Sydney was firebombed and had antisemitic graffiti sprayed on its walls in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Haaretz reports. The center was empty at the time of the attack and there were no reports of injuries. Russia and China Reaffirm Ties Following Trump Inauguration A day after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday had a phone conversation in which they affirmed their two countries’ ties based on ‘shared interests, equality, and mutual benefits,’ the Associated Press reports. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel Launches Large-Scale Counterterrorism Operation in Jenin The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a large-scale counterterrorism operation in Jenin, named "Iron Wall." The operation, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the IDF, involves numerous forces from special units, Shin Bet, and Border Police, and will continue for several days. Inside the United States SCOTUS to Consider Whether Maryland Parents Can Pull Children Out of LGTBQ-Inclusive Lessons The US Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether parents of elementary school pupils in Montgomery County, Maryland can pull their children out of lessons that use storybooks featuring LGBTQ characters and storylines, the Associated Press reports. Trump Issues Series of Border Security Orders ‘To Protect America From Invasion’ President Donald Trump Monday night declared a national emergency at the U.S. southwest border and issued multiple directives to implement border security. Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Government Censorship President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order banning the federal government from taking any action to restrict Americans free speech rights. Trump orders U.S. withdrawal from World Health Organization President Donald Trump on Monday signed scores of executive orders, including one to withdraw from the World Health Organization. Trump Declares National Energy Emergency President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday night declaring a national energy emergency. Christian News Christian University Provides Essential Assistance in Fighting Los Angeles Wildfires Pepperdine University, a Christian college in Malibu, California provided essential assistance in the fight against the horrific Los Angeles Palisades and Kenneth wildfires earlier this month by allowing firefighters access to the school’s Recycled Water Irrigation Reservoir and acting as a hub for coordinating an emergency response for the affected community, Christianity Today reports. Concern Over Pakistan Christians Behind Bars Since 2001 A major human rights group in Pakistan has demanded the immediate release from prison of Christian Anwar Kenneth, who it says has been arbitrarily detained on trumped-up blasphemy charges for over 20 years and faces the death penalty. Sudan: Christian Convert Forced Into Hiding by Muslim Family, “Remember Us in Your Prayers Because of These Challenges We Are Facing” A Christian convert in Sudan’s West Darfur state has been made to divorce his Muslim wife and has been shunned by his Muslim family on account of his new faith in Christ, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Devastated by ongoing civil war, Muslim-majority Sudan ranks 5 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. Worthy Insights Trump Reverses Sanctions on Israelis in Day 1 Executive Order President Donald Trump returned to the White House on Monday with a flurry of executive orders and statements in support of Israel. Trump’s Executive Orders On Immigration Prove Biden Could Have Secured The Border At Any Time One of the first things President Donald Trump did after being sworn in at the inauguration Monday was sign a series of executive orders on immigration and the border. A few of them stand out because they demonstrate how the border could have been secured at any point over the past four years by the Biden administration, without any action or new legislation from Congress. Trump Yanks Security Clearances Of Intel Officials Who Spread Disinformation About Hunter Biden’s Laptop President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday night revoking the security clearances of 51 former intelligence officials who falsely claimed emails from Hunter Biden’s laptop were Russian “disinformation” to help Joe Biden’s 2020 election prospects. The directive also pulls the security clearance of John Bolton, who served as national security advisor in Trump’s first term. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ISTANBUL (Worthy News) – At least 76 people have been killed in a fire engulfing a popular Turkish ski resort, prompting the detention of numerous people, officials say. Tuesday’s early morning blaze at the upscale Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya northern Turkey forced guests to jump from the building, according to witnesses. At least two people reportedly died when trying to jump to safety, with images on social media showing linen hanging from windows used by those trying to escape the burning hotel. The blaze in Kartalkaya, in the Köroğlu mountains of Bolu Province, some 300 kilometers (186 miles) east of Istanbul, occurred during the school winter break. Hotels in the region were packed. As the scale of the disaster became clear, at least nine people, including the owner, “were arrested,” confirmed Turkey‘s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. “We are in deep pain. We have unfortunately lost 66 lives in the fire that broke out at this hotel,” he added after inspecting the site. The minister also said that at least 51 other people were injured in the disaster. Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu expressed concern that at least one of the wounded was in a serious condition. EARLY MORNING BLAZE According to authorities, the fire broke out in the restaurant of the 12-storey wooden-clad Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu Province at around 3.30 a.m. local time. The cause of the fire was under investigation, but there have been broader concerns about the safety of buildings in Turkey. With more victims being found, “a day of national mourning” was declared by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan “to share the grief of the relatives of our brothers who lost their lives in a fire that broke out in a hotel in Bolu Kartalkaya.” He added on social media platform X, “On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, our flags will be flown at half-staff until sunset in our country and our foreign missions.” He pledged that in “any case, those who caused such a disaster to occur, those who were negligent and at fault, will be held accountable before the law.” Yet, “Today is not a day for politics; it is a day for solidarity, for being one and together. I want to express that we expect all actors, including politics, media, and local administrators, to respect the suffering of our citizens.” And the president said that he was praying for the victims and their families. “I convey my condolences and get well wishes to our nation. May God protect our country and our nation from such painful events.” The post Turkish Hotel Fire Kills Scores of People appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Amid a surge in threats and attacks on Australia’s Jewish community, a childcare center located near a Jewish school and synagogue in Sydney was firebombed and had antisemitic graffiti sprayed on its walls in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Haaretz reports. The center was empty at the time of the attack and there were no reports of injuries. The childcare center is not affiliated with the nearby Jewish school and synagogue, but the attackers who scrawled “F— the Jews” (language filtered by Worthy News) on one of its exterior walls were apparently unaware of that, Haaretz noted. Tuesday’s attack was the second such incident in four days in Sydney and follows a string of antisemitic crimes against Jewish communities across the country, Haaretz reports. The surge in incidents has been especially concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne, cities that are home to 85% of Australia’s Jews. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry reported in December that there were more than 2,000 antisemitic incidents recorded in Australia in the year after the Hamas’ October 7, 2023 massive attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza. This figure represents a quadruple rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia from the previous year. The incidents have included vandalization or arson attacks on Jewish schools, restaurants, and synagogues, the torching of cars belonging to Jews, and threatening letters being sent to Jewish owners, Haaretz reports. One Jewish individual suffered burns in an arson attack. The post Australia: Day Care Center Near Jewish Synagogue Firebombed and Sprayed With Antisemitic Graffiti appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The US Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether parents of elementary school pupils in Montgomery County, Maryland can pull their children out of lessons that use storybooks featuring LGBTQ characters and storylines, the Associated Press reports. The case was launched against Montgomery County, Maryland Board of Education in May 2023 by a coalition of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish parents who want to “have the right to opt their children out of classroom instruction regarding family life and human sexuality.” The school district had announced in 2022 that the elementary curriculum would be changed to include storybooks featuring young LGBTQ characters as a means to foster inclusivity. The plaintiffs claim that Montgomery’s new policy violates their right to constitutional rights by requiring their children to participate in lessons that violate their religious beliefs. The plaintiffs argue there are opt-out provisions in sex education classes that could be applied in this case too. The Supreme Court will hear an appeal filed by the plaintiffs after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that the school district is not required to provide an opt-out provision in this case. The high court Justices will hear the case in the spring or during the court’s new term starting in October. The post SCOTUS to Consider Whether Maryland Parents Can Pull Children Out of LGTBQ-Inclusive Lessons appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Pepperdine University, a Christian college in Malibu, California provided essential assistance in the fight against the horrific Los Angeles Palisades and Kenneth wildfires earlier this month by allowing firefighters access to the school’s Recycled Water Irrigation Reservoir and acting as a hub for coordinating an emergency response for the affected community, Christianity Today reports. Pepperdine’s reservoir is maintained to store the school’s recycled and treated water but, as the fires raged, firefighting helicopters were dispatched to take up water from the reservoir and deliver it to firefighters or drop it directly on to fires. Moreover, the school put its campus at the disposal of emergency services fighting the fires. “As local government agencies experience operational challenges due to limited access to their offices and utility providers require on-the-ground response for affected neighborhoods, Pepperdine’s Malibu campus has become a key hub for hosting their response efforts and coordinating their support for the local community,” Pepperdine explains in a website statement. “SoCalGas is using Pepperdine’s Firestone Fieldhouse Parking Lot as its command center, a critical hub for local response efforts. The City of Malibu Emergency Operations Committee conducted their coordinated response efforts on Pepperdine’s Malibu campus,” Pepperdine states. “CAL Fire is using the conference facilities at the Villa Graziadio Executive Center on Pepperdine’s Drescher Graduate Campus.” “In partnership with the City of Malibu, CAL Fire is using Pepperdine’s Civic Center property to position resources such as personnel, vehicles, equipment, and aircraft for immediate deployment in case of an emergency,” Pepperdine adds. The post Christian University Provides Essential Assistance in Fighting Los Angeles Wildfires appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a large-scale counterterrorism operation in Jenin, named “Iron Wall.” The operation, announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the IDF, involves numerous forces from special units, Shin Bet, and Border Police, and will continue for several days. The operation, which began with an aerial UAV strike on terrorist infrastructure, aims to restore security and prevent violence. Palestinian media reported at least eight deaths and 35 injuries, with Palestinian Authority security forces withdrawing as the Israeli action began. The offensive was coordinated with the Palestinian Authority, which shares concerns about Hamas gaining power in Judea and Samaria (West Bank), according to officials. The Cabinet recently made Judea and Samaria an additional war objective due to growing security concerns following the hostage deal’s terrorist release provisions. Despite Palestinian Authority security presence, sources indicate the IDF’s return to aggressive ground operations is necessary to reestablish control, making this operation one of the largest since the war began. “Following Cabinet directives, the IDF, Shin Bet, and Israel Police have initiated Operation ‘Iron Wall’ – a major military operation to eliminate terrorism in Jenin. This advances our goal of strengthening security in Judea and Samaria. We continue our systematic and determined action against the Iranian axis wherever it extends – Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Judea and Samaria. And our reach extends further,” Netanyahu stated. A security source told Israel Hayom that the Jenin operation is of unprecedented scale, responding to immediate terrorist threats. The operation aims to maintain IDF freedom of action in Judea and Samaria while dismantling terrorist infrastructure. The security source described it as “highly significant,” involving intensified aerial measures, a full refugee camp closure, with its duration depending on developments. The operation followed a fragile truce between the Palestinian Authority and terror groups in Jenin, ending a six-week standoff in the northern West Bank city and its refugee camp. The PA had been targeting the Jenin Battalion, a group of operatives linked to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, to demonstrate to incoming U.S. President Donald Trump that Ramallah could maintain order in the West Bank, while also seeking to take control of Gaza from Hamas after the war there. Since the Gaza war erupted on October 7, 2023, violence in the West Bank has escalated. The IDF has arrested about 6,000 wanted Palestinians, including over 2,350 linked to Hamas. The Palestinian Authority reports over 858 deaths, mostly gunmen, rioters, or terrorists, according to the IDF. During the same period, 46 people, including Israeli security personnel, were killed in terror attacks, and seven security forces members died in clashes with terrorists in the region. The post Israel Launches Large-Scale Counterterrorism Operation in Jenin appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A day after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday had a phone conversation in which they affirmed their two countries’ ties based on ‘shared interests, equality, and mutual benefits,’ the Associated Press reports. China stood by Moscow following Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and became a key buyer of Russian oil and gas amid widespread sanctions imposed on Russia by Western powers opposed to the war, AP notes. China also supplied Russia with needed technologies. “We jointly support the development of a more just multipolar global order and work to ensure indivisible security in Eurasia and the world as a whole,” Putin told Xi according to remarks reported by Russian state TV. “Joint efforts by Russia and China play an important stabilizing role in global affairs.” Xi reportedly said that the connections between China and Russia “bring positive energy to reforming and developing the global system,” AP reports. “While neither leader directly mentioned Trump in the televised fragment of their call, the timing of the conversation may signal that Putin and Xi want to coordinate their action in dialogue with the new U.S. administration,” AP noted in its report. Both Putin and Xi have recently expressed optimism about their respective countries’ future diplomatic relations with the new Trump administration. The post Russia and China Reaffirm Ties Following Trump Inauguration appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – A major human rights group in Pakistan has demanded the immediate release from prison of Christian Anwar Kenneth, who it says has been arbitrarily detained on trumped-up blasphemy charges for over 20 years and faces the death penalty. LEAD Ministries Pakistan told Worthy News on Monday that it has “deep concerns over Kenneth’s prolonged detention on death row, raising significant questions about his mental health and the fairness of his trial.” Kenneth, a former government official, was arrested in 2001 after being accused of sending offensive letters containing “defamatory” remarks directed at religious leaders, diplomats, and heads of state. “These letters led to the filing of a [first information report] FIR at the Gawalmandi Police Station in [the city of] Lahore, eventually resulting in his conviction under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, a controversial law criminalizing blasphemy,” LEAD recalled. “On July 18, 2002, the Lahore Additional Sessions Court found Kenneth guilty of “defaming” and “insulting” the Prophet Muhammad, sentencing him to death and imposing a fine of 500,000 Pakistani rupees (about $1,800). Christians told Worthy News that Kenneth’s case has been plagued by delays and procedural complications since his conviction, with his appeal process repeatedly postponed. “Over the years, his health—both mental and physical—has significantly deteriorated, intensifying concerns over his prolonged incarceration. In 2024, a psychiatric assessment confirmed that Kenneth was suffering from Bipolar Affective Disorder and was in a hypomanic state,” said LEAD founder Sardar Mushtaq Gill. MEDICAL REVIEW He told Worthy News that a medical committee reviewing his case recommended that he be immediately admitted to the Punjab Institute of Mental Health for specialized treatment. According to LEAD investigators, Kenneth was transferred from Faisalabad Central Jail to Lahore Central Jail in December 2024 for evaluation, underscoring the urgency of his medical condition. It came after the Supreme Court of Pakistan began reviewing Kenneth’s case. On January 24, 2023, a three-judge panel instructed the Pakistan Bar Council of lawyers to provide Kenneth with legal counsel to ensure a fair trial, trial observers told Worthy News. In March 2024, following the appointment of his defense lawyer, the Supreme Court “sought input from various religious institutions, further complicating the legal process,” LEAD said. “Despite these steps, the lengthy delays have caused ongoing suffering for Kenneth and his family, who have endured emotional hardship for years. His family continues to advocate for his release and the pursuit of justice.” LEAD said it “has now called on authorities to expedite the review of Kenneth’s case and address the serious human rights concerns. The organization is urging the Supreme Court to take immediate action to release Kenneth, stressing that continued delays and his deteriorating mental health are unacceptable.” Human rights advocates worldwide rallied behind Kenneth’s cause, “demanding a fair and transparent legal process that considers both his medical condition and the irregularities surrounding his trial,” the group added. FATE UNCERTAIN As the legal process continues, “the fate of Anwar Kenneth remains uncertain. His case stands as a poignant reminder of the intersection of legal, religious, and human rights challenges in Pakistan,” Gill told Worthy News. Additionally, LEAD said the case underscored that it was crucial that “all those accused of blasphemy and suffering in Pakistani jails be granted speedy justice, highlighting the broader issue of fairness and human rights for all individuals facing such accusations.” LEAD separately emphasized the urgent need to address the exploitation of women, including Christians, “in the manipulation of blasphemy laws” in the Islamic Asian nation. Recent reports have surfaced “indicating that women are being coerced or manipulated into falsely implicating individuals for personal vendettas, financial gain, or other malicious intentions. This form of “honey-trapping” undermines the integrity of the legal system and subjects innocent individuals to grave injustice.” The statement came as new details emerged in recent days about an Islamist gang trapping more than 450 people in false blasphemy charges, including five who have tortured to death in custody, according to human rights lawyers. The “blasphemy business group” devastated numerous families with the collusion of federal investigators, said attorneys Usman Warraich, Imaan Hazir-Mazari, and Rana Abdul Hameed. As frequent targets of blasphemy accusations, Christians in Pakistan are at serious risk of being victimized by the group, rights lawyers said. BLASPHEMOUS CONTENT The Islamist group shares blasphemous content online and then files false charges, blackmailing the families of those accused for large sums of money, the attorneys said. Investigators said most of the victims belonged to lower-income or middle-class levels. More than 150 victims of the “blasphemy racket” are being held in Adiala District Jail; 170 in District Camp Jail and Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore; and 55 in Karachi Central Jail, Warraich said. The gang recruited young men and women who befriended people on social media and lured them to a “safe-house” in the G-8 Sector of Islamabad, he said. “Several young victims honey-trapped by this gang have revealed that when they came to the said house, they were stripped naked and tortured by the gang members who also videotaped their ordeal,” Warraich added in published remarks. “There are about 25-30 people associated with this gang who become plaintiffs after trapping youths from all over Pakistan. Each plaintiff is involved in trapping more than 20 youths.” Five Muslims, including a 22-year-old woman, Fatima Jahangir, were subjected to inhumane torture that ultimately led to their tragic deaths, he said. “An orphan boy named Syed Ali Hasnain was killed in Adiala Jail. A young man from Rawalpindi, Syed Abdullah Shah, was tortured and murdered by this group in collaboration with the FIA,” Warraich stressed. “Fatima Jahangir died in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore, while another 22-year-old boy, Safeer Ullah, lost his life in Camp Jail, Lahore.” YOUTH TORTURES Another youth named Suhan Khan was tortured to death in Karachi Central Jail within three to four days, he told reporters. Khan added that the Islamist gang publicly celebrates whenever a court denies bail or convicts a victim. “Celebrations include distributing sweets, garlanding members, and gifting swords to each other, and the videos are widely circulated on social media,” the attorney recalled. “They also share the names and addresses of the victim families and their lawyers on social media to intimidate them.” LEAD said it “calls for immediate and decisive measures to prevent such abuses.” It was also important “to ensure that the blasphemy laws are not weaponized for personal or political agendas, safeguarding the rights of all individuals and preventing exploitation for the benefit of others,” the group stressed. The post Concern Over Pakistan Christians Behind Bars Since 2001 appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – A Christian convert in Sudan’s West Darfur state has been made to divorce his Muslim wife and has been shunned by his Muslim family on account of his new faith in Christ, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Devastated by ongoing civil war, Muslim-majority Sudan ranks 5 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2025 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted. A resident of El Geneina, West Darfur, the young Christian man put his faith in Jesus exactly one year ago, MSN reports. While his name has been withheld for security reasons, the Christian was ordered to renounce his faith or face the consequences by extremist Muslim and local teacher Sheikh Amaar, a source told MSN. When the Christian refused to renounce Christ, the Sheikh incited his family against him. “You are no longer a member of our family, because you have changed your religion,” his relatives said, forcing him to leave home on October 9, MSN reports. He has taken refuge with other former Muslim converts to Christ who have also gone into hiding from their communities. “Remember us in your prayers because of these challenges we are facing,” one of the Christians in hiding told MSN. In a website report about the situation facing Sudanese Christians from Muslim backgrounds, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization states: “Christians from Muslim backgrounds face violence, imprisonment, being shunned by their families, and may be forced to flee their homes. In the parts of Sudan where intense fighting is ongoing, all Christians are vulnerable to being targeted and persecuted.” The post Sudan: Christian Convert Forced Into Hiding by Muslim Family, “Remember Us in Your Prayers Because of These Challenges We Are Facing” appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump Monday night declared a national emergency at the U.S. southwest border and issued multiple directives to implement border security. Former President Joe Biden “allowed millions of people to pour through our borders from jails, prisons, mental institutions, insane asylums, gang members to be taken off the streets of Venezuela and deposited in our country and not just Venezuela … through an open border policy,” Trump said. “All over the world, they’re emptying their prisons into our country, they’re emptying their mental institutions into our country. It stopped as of one o’clock this afternoon.” After returning to the Oval Office, Trump signed a series of proclamations and executive orders to implement border security measures. Guaranteeing states’ rights Trump first signed a proclamation “guaranteeing the states’ protection against the invasion at the southern border” and “invokes various executive powers related to the ongoing invasion.” Republican governors, led by Texas and Florida, maintain that states have a right to secure their own border under Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3. Biden broke the federal government’s compact with the states, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott argued, as he challenged Biden in court. Trump’s plan is to restore that compact and provide protections to states. Protecting America against invasion Trump also signed an executive order to protect against an unprecedented number of foreign nationals who illegally entered the U.S. “to keep America safe.” He did so after 55 Texas counties were the first and only ones to declare an invasion in the U.S., changing the national conversation, The Center Square exclusively reported. A majority of voters polled believe the U.S. was being invaded. Foreign terrorist designations Trump signed an order to protect America from foreign terrorists and national security risks by designating transnational criminal organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Those designated include Mexican cartels, the violent Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua, Salvadoran gang MS-13 and others. “People have been wanting to do this for years. They are killing our people, 250,00 to 300,000 a year,” Trump said. Declaring national emergency at southwest border Trump signed a proclamation declaring a national emergency at the southern border and signed an executive order including a large number of executive actions: Reinstating Remain in Mexico or “Migrant Protection Protocols” (MPP) Trump created the policy in his first term, which requires asylum seekers to wait outside the U.S. while their claims are processed. After the Biden administration sought to end it, Texas and Missouri sued. A federal judge ruled that ending the MPP was unlawful, The Center Square reported. Ending catch and release Trump terminated the policy for a second time. The Obama-era policy directed federal agents to apprehend illegal border crossers and release them into the country instead of detaining and processing them for removal. Trump ended the policy in his first term, prioritizing detention and deportation. Former President Joe Biden reinstated the policy, which led to more than 14 million foreign nationals illegally entering the country, including more than two million who evaded capture, The Center Square exclusively reported. Finishing border wall construction Trump directed federal agencies to finish building the border wall along the southwest border, completing a project he began in his first term. Biden halted it on his first day in office. Ending parole programs Within minutes of Trump being sworn into office, one program, the CBP One app, was terminated. More than a dozen parole programs created by Department of Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas were also terminated, which ushered in millions of foreign nationals deemed inadmissible under the law. Targeting sanctuary cities Trump directed federal efforts to “crack down on criminal sanctuaries.” More than 200 were identified and already given notice to comply with federal law or face prosecution. Directing U.S. military involvement Trump directed the Secretary of Defense to develop a unified command plan, with U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) overseeing border security and strategic planning to implement territorial integrity of U.S. borders. He’s also directing the deployment of additional federal personnel, including the National Guard, to take operational control of the southern border as he did in his first term. Suspending Refugee Resettlement Program Trump signed an executive order “realigning the U.S. refugee admission program to better align with American principles,” which suspended the federal refugee resettlement program through which communities nationwide received large numbers of illegal foreign nationals impacting crime and straining local resources. DHS increase vetting process Trump directed the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to enhance vetting and screening processes after national security concerns. Under the Biden administration, illegal border crossers were flown into the country who weren’t vetted, The Center Square reported. He also directed the Department of Justice to seek the death penalty for illegal border crossers who kill U.S. citizens, including law enforcement officers. Trump also issued an order providing clarification about the definition of birth right citizenship in the 14th Amendment, following through on a pledge he made last year, The Center Square reported. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Issues Series of Border Security Orders ‘To Protect America From Invasion’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Dan McCaleb | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order banning the federal government from taking any action to restrict Americans free speech rights. The order ensures “that no Federal Government officer, employee, or agent engages in or facilitates any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen.” It also ensures “that no taxpayer resources are used to engage in or facilitate any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen” and “identify and take appropriate action to correct past misconduct by the Federal Government related to censorship of protected speech.” Meta earlier this month ended its practice of censoring posts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads after CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted that the Biden administration pressured the company to remove posts related to COVID-19, the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections – including suppressing the New York Post’s explosive story on Hunter Biden’s laptop – and other matters. “We started building social media to give people a voice,” Zuckerberg said in announcing the decision. “What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it’s gone too far.” Twitter, now X, also removed posts under pressure from the Biden administration before Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk bought the social media platform in 2022. Trump’s executive order also instructs the U.S. Attorney General to investigate past cases of government censorship. “The Attorney General, in consultation with the heads of executive departments and agencies, shall investigate the activities of the Federal Government over the last 4 years that are inconsistent with the purposes and policies of this order and prepare a report to be submitted to the President, through the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, with recommendations for appropriate remedial actions to be taken based on the findings of the report,” the order states. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Government Censorship appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump on Monday signed scores of executive orders, including one to withdraw from the World Health Organization. WHO, based in Geneva, Switzerland, serves as the United Nation’s health agency and is responsible global public health. In his order, Trump said he notified the UN about the proposed withdrawal in 2020 “due to the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.” “In addition, the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments,” according to the proclamation. “China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300% of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90% less to the WHO.” Trump said that the U.S. had long been forced to overpay for WHO during a Monday evening news conference. “We were paying $500 million. It seemed a little unfair to me,” he said. “China pays $39 million and we pay $500 million and China’s a bigger country.” The U.S. has been a part of WHO since 1948, the year the organization was founded. The U.S. withdrawal makes it the only major world power not a member of the 194-country health organization. Trump previously called WHO “a puppet of China.” It will take a year for Trump’s WHO departure to become official. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump orders U.S. withdrawal from World Health Organization appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday night declaring a national energy emergency. Trump announced the order earlier in the day during his Inauguration Speech. “We will drill baby drill,” Trump said. “We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again right to the top, and export American energy all over the world. We will be a rich nation again and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.” The order states that high energy prices are an “active threat to the American people.” “The policies of the previous administration have driven our Nation into a national emergency, where a precariously inadequate and intermittent energy supply, and an increasingly unreliable grid, require swift and decisive action,” the order said. “In light of these findings, I hereby declare a national emergency.” To solve high prices and remedy the “numerous problems” with America’s energy infrastructure, the order stated that the delivery of energy infrastructure must be “expedited” and the nation’s energy supply facilitated “to the fullest extent possible.” This was one of many executive orders the president signed on his first day in office. In another order signed Monday night, Trump declared it was time to unleash American energy. “In recent years, burdensome and ideologically motivated regulations have impeded the development of these resources, limited the generation of reliable and affordable electricity, reduced job creation, and inflicted high energy costs upon our citizens,” the order said. “It is thus in the national interest to unleash America’s affordable and reliable energy and natural resources.” All this will be done through encouraging energy exploration, the elimination the electric vehicle mandates, and safeguarding “the American people’s freedom to choose from a variety of goods and appliances.” The order promises these measures will “restore American prosperity,” “establish our position as the leading producer,” and “protect the United States’s economic and national security and military preparedness.” In an earlier signing of executive orders in front of a crowd of supporters at the Capital One Arena, Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Accords. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Declares National Energy Emergency appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Iranian singer and rapper Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, widely known as Amir Tataloo, has been sentenced to death for blasphemy against Islam, Iranian officials said Monday. The 37-year-old artist, a prominent figure in the country’s underground hip-hop scene, initially received a five-year prison sentence for allegedly insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Worthy News learned. However, trial observers said the case reopened after the prosecutor appealed, leading to a harsher sentence on appeal. Tataloo, whose body is almost entirely covered in tattoos, is known for his outspoken criticism of Iran’s strict Islamic leadership. Through his music and social media platforms, he has regularly condemned Tehran’s reported human rights abuses. His controversial statements and what authorities view as his “defiance of strict cultural norms” made him popular in Iran’s music scene but a target of Islamic authorities. Tataloo is am among several people being prosecuted for blasphemy, including Christians. The post Iran Sentences Singer To Death appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino firmly rejected President Donald Trump’s inaugural claim that the U.S. would “take back” control of the Panama Canal. “We gave it to Panama and we’re taking it back,” Trump declared in his inaugural address. He accused the Panamanian government of disregarding U.S. interests, overcharging American ships — including U.S. Navy vessels — and effectively handing control of the crucial maritime route between the Pacific and Caribbean to China. In his inaugural speech, Trump accused Panama of breaking its promise to remain neutral and claimed that the canal is under Chinese control, stating, “China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn’t give it to China.” In response to Trump, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino firmly rejected the idea of giving up control of the canal, a vital maritime route and crucial source of national pride and revenue. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Mulino reaffirmed Panama’s sovereignty, stressing that the canal will remain under Panamanian control according to the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaty. However, Trump offered no details on how the U.S. would reassert control over the Panama Canal. “We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made, and Panama’s promise to us has been broken,” Trump said. “The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated.” The post Panama’s President Rejects Trump’s Plan to Retake Panama Canal appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Just hours after his inauguration, U.S. President Donald J. Trump promised “immediate pardons” to those convicted of storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. His comments came as Marco Rubio was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as secretary of state at a time of a raging war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East around Israel, and other security challenges. If Trump invokes a broad pardon, it could wipe out the convictions or sentences of many of the nearly 1,600 people who were prosecuted. Trump said Monday evening that he would issue pardons later in the day. Among other executive orders Trump signed to cheers at the arena was one withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement, the pact among almost all nations “to fight climate change.” The United States joins Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the only four countries not party to the agreement. Skeptics, including Trump and at least some scientists, have questioned the human impact on climate change, which they view as a natural phenomenon that has occurred over centuries. Other scientists disagree and support the Paris Agreement. FEDERAL WORKERS Besides pardoning supporters and rushing to leave the global climate accord, Trump ordered federal workers to return to full-time in-person work. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, many state workers stayed home. Some of the Trump administration’s first administrative actions occurred during Trump’s inaugural speech. Federal officials shut down a government application for smartphones that allows migrants to schedule appointments to use ports of entry. Almost a million immigrants used this option while it was active. Incoming officials also said he would end birthright citizenship. However, it is unclear what an executive order would do because the Constitution guarantees citizenship for those born in the United States. Yet Trump expressed pleasure about a last-minute wave of pre-emptive pardons issued by President Biden to protect some of Trump’s adversaries, including General Mark A. Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the longtime government scientist who has been questioned over his COVID measures and involvement in controversial virus development; and all the members of the bipartisan House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. REPUBLICAN SETBACK It came as a setback for Republicans who have accused Dr. Fauci of lying to the U.S. Congress by denying that his agency funded “gain of function” research—the practice of enhancing a virus in a lab to study its potential real-world impact—at a lab in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the COVID-19 pandemic began. For years, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) gave grants to a New York nonprofit called EcoHealth Alliance and used some of the funds to work with a Chinese lab to study coronaviruses commonly carried by bats. Milley reportedly fears being recalled to uniform and court-martialed by Trump for criticizing him. Representative Cheney had similar concerns about being prosecuted. Yer two of those pardoned, Representative Bennie Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi, and former Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, thanked Biden. They said they had been pardoned “not for breaking the law but for upholding it.” The post Trump To Pardon Jan. 6 Rioters; Marco Rubio Confirmed As Secretary of State appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, the stakes are going up! James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning. Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen such radical changes in our society; the definition of marriage, millennia-old norms of gender identity, and bath and locker-room privacy have all been affected by court decisions as a sea change in social mores has swept through the western world. In this context, it was particularly striking to watch President Trump's inaugural address, where one of the loudest ovations came after he declared, "the official policy of the United States is that there are only two genders." For those of us who live a Biblical faith, these societal changes feel like a fulfillment of Isaiah's warning: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" [Isaiah 5:20] These societal changes are also influencing the body of believers as numerous controversies and divisions in churches are challenging leaders and laypeople alike. However, this is not a negative thing, according to the Apostle Paul. He addressed the carnal church in Corinth, where factions had developed, saying, "I hear that there are divisions among you … for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized." [1 Cor. 11:18-19] In today's moral and social climate, those who truly know the Lord and remain faithful to His Word stand out more clearly than ever. Since God's definitions and standards remain unchanging—regardless of societal trends or "scientific" claims—faithful believers will inevitably be distinguished, for better or worse. This provides us with distinct opportunities to represent a God who is "the same, yesterday, today, and forever." Friend, let us continue to remain set apart, reflecting the truth and love of our Heavenly Father. May our faith be truly visible to all, and may His love, joy, and peace shine brightly in our lives for His glory, serving as a witness to a world that desperately needs Him! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (Phoenix, Arizona) Editor's Note: Latest message: The Mysteries of Yeshua's Birth and Chanukah Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce. Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out! Editor's Note: Dear friends — we are going to be heading WEST!!! Now booking in the following states: Arizona …. If you know Pastors, Rabbis or Ministry Leaders who might be interested in some powerful Israeli style Hebrew/English worship and a refreshing word from Worthy News about what’s going on in the Land, please let us know how to connect with them and we will do our best to get you on our schedule! You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information. Around the World Iran Sentences Singer To Death Iranian singer and rapper Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, widely known as Amir Tataloo, has been sentenced to death for blasphemy against Islam, Iranian officials said Monday. Panama’s President Rejects Trump’s Plan to Retake Panama Canal Panama's President José Raúl Mulino firmly rejected President Donald Trump's inaugural claim that the U.S. would "take back" control of the Panama Canal. Nigeria Joins BRICS as “Partner Country” Nigeria on Friday was admitted as a "partner country" of the BRICS bloc of economies formed by Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2009. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Hostage Deal Includes Release of 110 Palestinians Sentenced to Life for Egregious Terror Attacks In exchange for the phased release of 33 living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, Israel on January 19 agreed to the phased release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 110 who are serving life sentences for some of the most egregious murders of Israelis during terror attacks prior to Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. CIA Analyst Pleads Guilty to Publicizing Top-Secret Information on Israeli Plans to Attack Iran A former CIA analyst has pleaded guilty and faces 10 years imprisonment for unlawfully retaining and then posting Top Secret United States National Defense information about Israeli plans to attack Iran on social media in October 2024. Inside the United States Trump To Pardon Jan. 6 Rioters; Marco Rubio Confirmed As Secretary of State Just hours after his inauguration, U.S. President Donald J. Trump promised “immediate pardons” to those convicted of storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Donald J. Trump Inaugurated As 47th President Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, promising a revolution of common sense, a “golden age of America,” and a radical shake-up of the global order. Trump to Declare National Emergency on Border, Issue Executive Orders After being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, President Donald Trump said he will sign “a series of historic executive orders … to begin the complete restoration of America and the ‘Revolution of Common Sense.’” Trump To Call For ‘Revolution of Common Sense’ Donald J. Trump, who at 78 will become America’s oldest president to take office, will call for a "revolution of common sense" during his inaugural address, according to prepared remarks. Outgoing President Biden Moves To Guard Trump Adversaries Against ‘Retribution’ Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden moved just hours before leaving office on Monday to guard some of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s most high-profile adversaries against what he said was a promised campaign of “retribution” by issuing pre-emptive pardons to head off politically driven prosecutions. Trump Taking Over Power Amid Weather and World Concerns Donald J. Trump prepared to make his historic return to the White House on Monday, taking over from a president who, for the first time, admitted publicly that he may not have been fit enough to carry on for another four-year term. Christian News Pakistan Detains Five Over Shooting Christians At least five people were believed to be in Pakistani police custody Monday over the Christmas Day shooting of Christians in Pakistan. Christians Killed In Vietnam; Meetings Raided Christian workers in Vietnam say believers in the Communist-run Asian nation experience “severe persecution,” including violent attacks on church services that killed a Christian leader and his wife and injured a pastor. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – At least five people were believed to be in Pakistani police custody Monday over the Christmas Day shooting of Christians in Pakistan. The shootings outside a pastor’s home in the city of Lahore, which injured three Christians, happened just one day after a confrontation between Pastor Shahzad Siddique and a group of militant Muslim youth, Christians said. “I had returned home from church on Christmas Day and was resting when gunmen opened fire on a gathering outside my house in Maryam Colony,” recalled the pastor in remarks obtained by Worthy News. Witnesses said that though more than a dozen gunmen were involved in an initial attack, no one was wounded at that time. “However, after police arrived at the scene 25 minutes later and began investigating the initial incident, several youths on motorcycles suddenly appeared and opened fire,” Christians said. During the second attack, three people were injured – including Akash Patras, a believer who suffered a severe abdominal wound, confirmed Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC), an advocacy group supporting the Christians. Although one suspect was caught immediately, the others fled on foot, leaving five abandoned motorcycles behind, according to Christians familiar with the situation. SEVERAL ARRESTS Since the shooting, at least four other perpetrators have been arrested, Christians confirmed. While police officials continue their investigations, Worthy News learned that additional security measures have been deployed in the area. Violence against Christians in mainly Muslim Pakistan, including that seen on December 25, is often instigated by “false accusations” of blasphemy against Islam, say human rights workers who add that anti-Christian violence has increased in recent years. VOMC said it had urged its supporters to pray for injured Christians, including “Akash, who is recovering from a severe abdominal wound.” Also, “prayerfully uphold Pakistan’s governing authorities as they work to bring about justice on behalf of this targeted group of believers.” VOMC said it hopes that “Pastor Shahzad and the members of his church will be filled with courage, peace, and greater determination as they seek to serve God despite the opposition they encounter.” Pakistan’s government has come under Western pressure to improve the plight of Christians and other minorities. The post Pakistan Detains Five Over Shooting Christians appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, promising a revolution of common sense, a “golden age of America,” and a radical shake-up of the global order. In a ceremony hosted indoors in the U.S. Capitol due to frigid weather, Trump, 78, prepared to return to the White House in triumph after taking the oath of office from John Roberts, chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. In his inaugural address, he immediately struck a nationalistic tone, vowing to “put America first.” “The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world.” Referring to him surviving an assassination attempt, Trump said: “I was saved by God to make America great again.” Trump did not refer to Ukraine by name but made clear he wanted to end the bloodshed between Kyiv and Moscow. “We will measure our success, not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and most importantly, the wars we never get into … my proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier,” Trump stressed. His inauguration was the first attended by confident foreign leaders: Chinese vice-president Han Zheng, Argentina’s president Javier Milei, and Italy’s premier, Giorgia Meloni. Kamala Harris, Trump’s opponent in last year’s fraught battle for the White House, was also in attendance as JD Vance took her place as vice president. Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee after Biden withdrew from the race in July. She had framed Trump as a fundamental threat to democracy who would exploit his regained power to settle political scores while ignoring the needs of average Americans. The post Donald J. Trump Inaugurated As 47th President appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article