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By Brett Rowland | The Center Square (Worthy News) – U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Tuesday that as part of the Department of Education’s “final mission,” it would cut its workforce by half. “Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” McMahon said in a statement. “I appreciate the work of the dedicated public servants and their contributions to the Department. This is a significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.” Affected employees will be placed on administrative leave beginning March 21. McMahon said the department would “continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s purview, including formula funding, student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking.” When Trump took office in January, the Department of Education had about 4,133 workers. After Tuesday’s reduction in force, the department’s workforce will total about 2,183 workers. Included in the reduction in force are nearly 600 employees who accepted voluntary resignation opportunities and retirement over the last seven weeks, including: 259 employees accepted the deferred resignation program and 313 employees accepted the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment, according to the department. The Department of Education oversees education policy for schools that receive federal funding, enforces Title IX rules, manages FAFSA, and administers Pell Grants and about 10% of public school funding, among other things. President Donald Trump has long planned to reduce the department’s workforce and potentially dismantle it entirely, returning control of education entirely to the state and local level. National Education Association President Becky Pringle, who leads the largest education union, said Trump was destroying education in the U.S. “Donald Trump and Elon Musk have aimed their wrecking ball at public schools and the futures of the 50 million students in rural, suburban, and urban communities across America by dismantling public education to pay for tax handouts for billionaires,” she said in a statement. “The real victims will be our most vulnerable students. Gutting the Department of Education will send class sizes soaring, cut job training programs, make higher education more expensive and out of reach for middle-class families, take away special education services for students with disabilities, and gut student civil rights protections.” Former President Ronald Reagan wanted to eliminate the Department of Education shortly after it took its modern form as a Cabinet agency in 1980. The department is primarily responsible for providing grants to public school districts and aid to college students. The Congressional Budget Office’s primer on eliminating Cabinet-level departments said savings from closing any such department would depend on multiple factors. “Eliminating a department could result in considerable budgetary savings to the federal government if some or all of the programs operated by that department were also terminated,” according to the CBO. “The amount of savings would eventually be equal to the department’s full budget for the canceled programs, minus any income that the department had received through its operation of those programs. Initially, however, the government could incur one-time costs for terminating programs or activities, such as paying the cost of accrued annual leave and unemployment benefits to federal employees whose jobs had been eliminated or paying penalties for canceling leases for office space.” The CBO also noted that many decisions would have to be made along the way to closure. “In deciding whether to eliminate one or more of the current departments and whether to terminate, move, or reorganize its programs and activities, lawmakers would confront a variety of questions about the appropriate role of the federal government,” according to the CBO. “In particular, lawmakers would face decisions about whether the activities of a department should be carried out by the public sector at all, and if so, whether the federal government was the most effective level of government to conduct them. Even if lawmakers concluded that state and local governments were best positioned to operate a program or activity, they would still have to decide whether the federal government should coordinate particular activities that crossed state borders and whether programs administered by different states should meet national standards. In addition, lawmakers would face choices about how to organize most efficiently the activities of the federal government.” The Department of Education was started in 1867, when President Andrew Johnson signed legislation creating the first such department. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post U.S. Department of Education to Cut Half of Employees appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Casey Harper | The Center Square (Worthy News) – Lower energy prices drove down inflation in February, according new federal data released this week. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data Wednesday showing inflation rose just 0.2% last month, part of a 2.8% rise over the last year. The average annual inflation rate from January’s data was 3%, so overall annual inflation dropped in February. The decrease was partially driven by a decline in energy prices, a key promise of President Donald Trump’s campaign, though whether it will last remains to be seen. The BLS energy index decreased 0.2% on average in the last twelve months now that February’s data is released. “The index for shelter rose 0.3% in February, accounting for nearly half of the monthly all items increase,” BLS said. “The shelter increase was partially offset by a 4% decrease in the index for airline fares and a 1% decline in the index for gasoline. Despite the decrease in the gasoline index, the energy index rose 0.2% over the month as the indexes for electricity and natural gas increased. The index for food also increased in February, rising 0.2% as the index for food away from home increased 0.4%. The food at home index was unchanged over the month.” Egg prices remain high amid an Avian flu outbreak. The White House touted the lower gas prices and airline fares, pointing to cutting regulations and opening up domestic energy production. Trump declared a national energy emergency upon taking office. “Core consumer prices, which is the best measure of inflation, dropped to its lowest level in FOUR years,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X. “This inflation report, much like last week’s jobs report, is far better than the media predicted and the so-called ‘experts’ expected. When will they learn to stop doubting President Trump? As he successfully did in his first term, President Trump is driving down costs through massive deregulation and energy dominance.” Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Annual Inflation Rate Declines in Latest Federal Data appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The European Union announced on Wednesday immediate retaliatory trade measures, imposing new duties on U.S. industrial and farm products in response to the Trump administration’s implementation of 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. The EU’s retaliatory tariffs on textiles, home appliances, and agricultural products will affect approximately $28 billion worth of U.S. goods. European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen told reporters, “The countermeasures we take today are strong but proportionate. As the United States is applying tariffs worth $28 billion, we are responding with countermeasures worth 26 billion euros.” She added, “The EU must act to protect its consumers and businesses.” The European Commission will resume tariffs on U.S. products from April 1, with full enforcement by April 13. These tariffs, strategically placed on goods from Republican-led states such as soybeans in Louisiana, beef and poultry in Kansas and Nebraska, and produce in Alabama, Georgia, and Virginia, aim to pressure the U.S. while minimizing Europe’s impact. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. is one of the EU’s largest trading partners. In 2024, the U.S. exported $370.2 billion worth of goods to the EU, a 0.7% increase from 2023, and imported $605.8 billion from the EU. President Trump is spearheading a campaign to reshape global trade and lessen America’s reliance on foreign sources, which aligns with his “America First” agenda. He claims his tariff policies will create U.S. factory jobs. However, European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen disagrees, saying, “Jobs are at stake. Prices will go up. In Europe and in the United States.” Numerous foreign investors and major businesses have recently committed to making significant investments in the U.S. in the coming years. The post EU Retaliates With Counter-Tariffs After US Tariffs Take Effect appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Stefan Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent LOS ANGELES, USA (Worthy News) – Authorities in the most populous county of the United States have banned meetings of Church on the Beach, which had been holding public beach services for nearly two decades. The decision by Los Angeles County has been challenged by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). “For 18 years, Church on the Beach has been faithfully serving its community by holding worship services on Redondo Beach with proper permits from Los Angeles County,” the advocacy group said in a statement obtained by Worthy News on Tuesday. “Approximately 120 people gather every Sunday morning to worship in God’s creation, with many attendees specifically choosing this setting because they have had difficult or negative experiences in traditional church buildings,” the ACLJ added. The group said its legal team sent a detailed demand letter to officials, outlining the “constitutional violations” of singling out one organization because of its viewpoint and discriminating against members. “Our letter made it clear that the county’s actions violate well-established First Amendment principles as articulated by the Supreme Court in cases like Widmar v. Vincent and Lamb’s Chapel.” The ACLJ warned that it had given Los Angeles County “until March 20, 2025, to provide assurances that this discriminatory policy will be ended and that churches will be free to use the beach under the same generally applicable rules as nonreligious gatherings.” NO PERMITS Yet the Department of Beaches and Harbors recently told the Church on the Beach that it would no longer issue yearly permits for “religious activities,” Worthy News learned. Instead, the county reportedly announced that “grandfathered” groups would be allowed only six annual events, with $250 permit fees required for four. It also is restricting the meetings to specific locations. “The key fact: None of these rules apply to nonreligious groups. Even more concerning, a county official told the pastor that churches ‘don’t need the beach’ because they can ‘meet in a building’ – a statement that demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of both religious freedom and the specific ministry of Church on the Beach,” the ACLJ complained. The Church on the Beach views its mission as reaching at least some of the county’s nearly 9.7 million people with the Gospel who may otherwise not attend worship services. The ACLJ added that the “beach location isn’t merely a preference – it’s a crucial component of their ministry’s outreach to those who might never step foot in a conventional church.” The post Los Angeles County Bans Church On Beach appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Stefan Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent NUUK, GREENLAND (Worthy News) – Greenland’s pro-business opposition Demokraatit party won Tuesday’s parliamentary election, dominated by U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s pledge to take control of the island, official results show. The Demokraatit party—the Democrats—and the second-place party, Naleraq—“Point of Orientation—were beating the incumbent left-wing coalition. Demokraatit, favoring a slow approach to independence from Denmark, secured 29.9 percent of the votes with all ballots counted, up from 9.1 percent in 2021. It was ahead of the opposition Naleraq party, which favors rapid independence, at 24.5 percent. The election outcome comes as the vast island, with a population of nearly 57,000, is caught up in a geopolitical race for dominance in the Arctic: Melting ice caps are making its resources more accessible and opening new shipping routes. Both Russia and China have reportedly intensified military activity in the area. Amid the geopolitical challenges, Trump has vowed to make Greenland—a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark—part of the United States, saying it is vital to U.S. security interests. GREENLANDERS SEEK BUSINESS However, most Greenlanders reportedly rejected this idea. “People want change … We want more business to finance our welfare,” said Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Demokraatit’s leader and a former minister of industry and minerals. That business plan did not appear to include selling Greenland to Trump, the real-estate-mogul-turned-president who once offered to buy the island in a deal that experts say could be worth up to $77 billion. “We don’t want independence tomorrow, we want a good foundation,” Nielsen told reporters in Nuuk. He will now hold talks with other parties to try and form a governing coalition. The ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit party and its partner Siumut, which also seek a slow path towards independence from Denmark, won a combined 36 percent of votes, down from 66.1 percent in 2021. “We respect the election outcome,” said Prime Minister Mute Egede of the Inuit Ataqatigiit party, adding that he would listen to any proposals in upcoming coalition talks. The post Greenland’s Pro-Business Opposition Wins Election appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Stefan Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent OKLAHOMA CITY, USA (Worthy News) – The top court of the U.S. state of Oklahoma has blocked school officials from purchasing Bibles and Scripture-based instructional materials for public school classrooms. Oklahoma’s top education official, Ryan Walters, said the “Bible is indispensable in understanding the development of Western civilization and American exceptionalism, history, and all similar subjects.” He added, “The ongoing attempts to remove it from our classrooms are an attack on the foundation of our country.” However, the Oklahoma Supreme Court, in a ruling seen by Worthy News on Tuesday, barred Walters and the Oklahoma State Department of Education from spending millions in taxpayer dollars on “religious texts and on curriculum.” It made clear that they had first to await the outcome of a related lawsuit against the state. Attorneys for over 30 parents, teachers, and faith leaders suing the state in the Rev. Lori Walke v. Ryan Walters case called the justices’ order “a victory” for religious freedom in Oklahoma. ‘ABUSING POWER’ “Walters has been abusing his power, and the court checked those abuses today,” said lawyers from several groups involved in the case. “Our diverse coalition of families and clergy remains united against Walters’ extremism and in favor of a core First Amendment principle: the separation of church and state.” The lawsuit sought to end the mandate for Bible purchases, which several school districts have ignored. Despite the suit, Walters has continued to send out “requests for proposals” to find sellers. Before the high court’s order, Walters partnered with musician Lee Greenwood to donate “God Bless the USA” branded Bibles to the state. The Bibles are named after Greenwood’s famous song of the same name. President Donald J. Trump has endorsed the Bibles. Walters wants the $59.99 leather-bound “God Bless the USA” Bibles in classrooms throughout the state. Earlier, a legislative panel rejected his $3 million request to fund the effort. BIBLE MANDATE Walter’s efforts angers Colleen McCarty, the executive director of the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, one of the legal nonprofits representing the parents and faith leaders. She claimed that “the Bible mandate” violates both the Oklahoma Constitution and the establishment clause of the First Amendment, which separates church and state. She argued that mandating any “religious text” is a slippery slope. “If you start putting Bibles in schools, then the state’s going to have to start spending money on the Koran, it’s going to have to start spending money on the Torah, it’s going to have to start spending money on the book of Satan,” she said. The Satanic Temple already warned they plan to utilize laws around “religious study” for their purposes. Supporters of Walter’s thinking argue that the Bible is an integral part of the U.S., and future presidents often refer to Scriptures during their inaugurations. The post Oklahoma s Court Bans Bibles From Public Schools appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Stefan Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent DAMASCUS/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Despite allegations of massacres by his forces, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has convinced Kurdish fighters to support him and join Syria’s state institutions by the end of the year. In comments monitored by Worthy News on Tuesday, Syria’s presidency confirmed that the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls much of Syria’s oil-rich northeast, signed the deal with Sharaa. The accord will ensure “the rights of all Syrians in representation and participation in the political process and all state institutions based on competence, regardless of their religious and ethnic backgrounds,” Shaara stressed. The SDF also pledged to help Shaara combat armed loyalists of “the regime” of former President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in a December revolt, well-informed sources said. Shaara signed the agreement with SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi, who called it “a real opportunity to build a new Syria that embraces all its components and ensures good neighborliness.” Separately, Syria’s government reportedly reached an accord with the Druze community after Israel warned Syria’s government not to harm them. The deal with Druze leaders in the southern province of al-Suwayda marks a shift in the region’s relationship with Damascus after years of unrest, said sources with close knowledge about the situation. STATE INSTITUTIONS As part of the agreement, the Syrian government and community leaders will reintegrate al-Suwayda into state institutions. Additionally, some 300 security personnel will be deployed to the province, while 600 local residents will be reinstated into the police force, according to Israeli and Arab sources familiar with the deal. The accords come after Shaara pledged to investigate mass killings of Alewitwa and Christians that were allegedly carried out by his forces and others in recent days. The well-informed United Kingdom-based war watchdog, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), said at least 973 civilians had been killed, including women and children. An additional 300 members of government security forces and 148 Assad-aligned militants were reportedly killed in the clashes as well. The Islamist-led authorities in Damascus have accused armed Assad loyalists of sparking the unrest by sowing civil strife in western Syria. Sharaa said mass killings of members of ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s minority sect were a threat to his mission to unite the country and promised “to punish those responsible,” including his allies, if necessary. VIOLENCE OUTBREAK He blamed the outbreak of violence in recent days on a former military unit backing Assad’s brother and an unspecified foreign power, likely Iran. However, he acknowledged that in response, “many parties entered the Syrian coast and many violations occurred,” including by his Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that led the ouster of President Assad in December. “It became an opportunity for revenge” for years of pent-up grievances, he said in an interview with Reuters news agency, adding that the situation had since been largely contained. The violence in the west was Sharaa’s biggest test since he seized power. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday condemned the killings. Christians were also killed, Worthy News reported, including a Christian father and son, Antoine and Fadi Boutros, who were shot dead in Latakia, Syria’s central port city. On Friday, another Christian died in his home after he was hit by a bullet that appears to have gone astray in the fighting between the two sides, said advocacy group Open Doors. Attempts to end the bloodshed through deals with minorities followed an appeal by heads of Syria’s main churches who condemned the killing of civilians, including women and children. PATRIARCHS’ LETTER The statement, signed by Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X of Antioch, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, and Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Youssef Absi, also urged reconciliation. “In recent days, Syria has witnessed a dangerous escalation of violence, brutality, and killings, resulting in attacks on innocent civilians, including women and children. Homes have been violated, their sanctity disregarded, and properties looted—scenes that starkly reflect the immense suffering endured by the Syrian people,” they wrote. “The Christian Churches, while strongly condemning any act that threatens civil peace, denounce and condemn the massacres targeting innocent civilians, and call for an immediate end to these horrific acts, which stand in stark opposition to all human and moral values,” the church leaders added. The churches “also call for the swift creation of conditions conducive to achieving national reconciliation among the Syrian people.” They “urge efforts to establish an environment that facilitates the transition to a state that respects all its citizens and lays the foundation for a society based on equal citizenship and genuine partnership, free from the logic of vengeance and exclusion. At the same time, they reaffirm the unity of Syrian territory and reject any attempts to divide it,” the statement said. “The Churches call on all concerned parties within Syria to assume their responsibilities, put an end to the violence, and seek peaceful solutions that uphold human dignity and preserve national unity. We pray that God may protect Syria and its people and that peace may prevail throughout the land,” the patriarchs stressed. The post Syria’s Ruling Islamists ‘To Integrate Kurds, Druze,’ After Massacres (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square (Worthy News) – The House voted Tuesday evening to advance a Continuing Resolution that, if passed by the Senate, will fund core government services for the rest of the fiscal year and avoid a government shutdown. The 217-213 vote saw all Republicans vote in favor except Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and all Democrats opposed except Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine. The White House endorsed the CR earlier in the day. With federal programs set to run out of money on March 14 midnight, the long-term stopgap maintains current budgets for most federal programs until Sept. 30. The CR does make some funding adjustments, including slashing $13 billion in non-defense spending, boosting defense spending by $6 billion, and adding $500 million to WIC nutrition program spending from fiscal year 2024 funding levels. It also authorizes billions of dollars for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation efforts, veterans’ health care, and air traffic control safety priorities. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid spending would remain unchanged. “The choice before us was simple: you either support keeping the government open and working for the American people – or you want a reckless government shutdown,” House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., said after the vote. “House Republicans acted to meet the nation’s fiscal deadline.” The CR now moves on to the Senate, where at least seven Democratic votes are necessary for the measure to pass. If the resolution passes the Senate, it will mark the third time Congress punted the deadline to pass the annual 12 comprehensive appropriations bills that provide money for federal agencies to spend on programs each year. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post House Passes Government Funding Stopgap, Cutting Some Projects appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

Friend, learn how to come in, and how to go out! 1 Kings 3:5-9 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?" 6 And Solomon said: "You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" Deut. 28:6-7 "Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 7 "The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. In the Book of Kings, when King Solomon began his reign, God asked him, "What shall I give you?" He replied, "I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in" (1 Kings 3:7). Such a phrase seems curious, yet it holds deep significance. It is echoed throughout Scripture, revealing a principle that intimacy with God leads to victory! When Moses pleaded for a leader to replace him, he asked the Lord for a leader who could lead the Israelites "to go out and come in" so they wouldn't be like sheep without a shepherd (Numbers 27:17). Joshua was chosen. He was one of the two spies, Caleb being the other, who said, "Adonai is with us"- do not fear the giants of the land! (Numbers 14:7-9) After Joshua was appointed leader, he spoke to Caleb, who, at eighty-five, boldly claimed his strength for battle was as strong as ever, "both for going out and for coming in." (Joshua 14:11) Again, this expression surfaces regarding David in 1 Samuel 18. Here, amidst the praises of the people who acclaimed, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7), we see that Israel loved David because "he went out and came in before them." (1 Samuel 18:13) What can we learn from these faithful servants? They all shared a profound intimacy with God. Moses spoke to God face-to-face as one speaks to a friend (Exodus 33:11), Joshua was one with whom the Spirit rested (Numbers 27:18), Caleb followed God wholly with all his heart (Joshua 14:9), and David was known as a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 13:14) Each of these faithful leaders understood the critical importance of entering God’s presence and drawing on His strength and power before stepping out to battle. They faced formidable adversities—enemies, even giants and armies—yet they were victorious. Friend, so cultivate that type of intimacy in your daily walk with the Lord. Begin each day by entering into His presence through worship and prayer before you step out into the world. By doing this, when you go out, you go out with the confidence that the Lord "will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways." (Deut 28:6-7) Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah (George & Obi - Sarasota, Florida | Baht Rivka - Israel | Elianna - Married living in Missouri) Editor's Note: Feel free to share any of our content from Worthy, including Devotions, News articles, and more, on your social platforms. You have full permission to copy and repost anything we produce. Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out! Around the World Ukraine Agrees to 30-Day Ceasefire; US Resumes Military Aid and Intelligence Sharing Following talks in Saudi Arabia, the US has agreed to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which has accepted a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire to facilitate further discussions aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a joint statement. North Korea Fires Missiles And Unveils Nuclear Submarine North Korea has unveiled its first nuclear-powered submarine under construction and fired several ballistic missiles into the sea since Monday in a warning to South Korean and U.S. troops in the area. Ex-Philippine President Duterte Detained Over ‘War On Drugs’ The Philippines’ former President Rodrigo Duterte has been detained after The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for his arrest for his “war on drugs,” according to footage seen by Worthy News. Romania’s Călin Georgescu Appeals Ban From Elections; Tensions High (Worthy News In-Depth) Romania’s pro-Russia politician Călin Georgescu confirmed Monday he had appealed against the country's Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) decision to bar him from participating in May's presidential election, a move that led to riots in the streets of Bucharest. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Israel’s IDF Executes Largest Airstrikes in Two Months on Syrian Regime’s Military Sites The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out dozens of attacks from Monday night into early Tuesday in the most extensive Israeli airstrikes in Syria in over two months, striking military installations affiliated with the newly installed Syrian regime. Alawites: ‘Israel Help End Massacres In Syria’ (Worthy News Focus) Alawite leaders in Syria appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “save them” from the “brutal” Islamic “regime” after more than 1,000 people, including Alawites and Christians, were reportedly killed in recent days. Inside the United States House Passes Government Funding Stopgap, Cutting Some Projects The House voted Tuesday evening to advance a Continuing Resolution that, if passed by the Senate, will fund core government services for the rest of the fiscal year and avoid a government shutdown. Trump Plans to Double Tariffs on Canadian Steel, Aluminum President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum in response to the 25% tariffs Ontario put on electricity going to the U.S. AI Agents Soon Fighting With US Troops (Worthy News Focus) The U.S. Department of Defense has asked a company to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents for military operations and planning. Christian News Christians Fear Britain Could Introduce Blasphemy Legislation British Christian leaders and politicians fear a new working group advising the government on “anti-Muslim hatred /Islamophobia” will lead to blasphemy legislation that would further limit freedom of expression. Worthy Insights ICE arrests Palestinian leader of Columbia’s anti-Israel protests, revoking student visa and green card: lawyer A Palestinian activist who led a coalition of twisted radicals seeking the “total eradication of Western civilization” responsible for riotous protests at Columbia University and Barnard College has been arrested by ICE agents, according to his lawyer. Israel Freed 10 Hostages in a Secret Rescue—So Why Didn’t it Make the Headlines? Under the cover of darkness, Israeli troops executed a daring rescue mission—freeing 10 Indian laborers trapped in a horrifying case of modern-day slavery. And yet, you’ve likely heard little about it. ‘We are living in Pentecost’: Jennie Allen on dream that sparked Gather25, how AI is helping further the Gospel In late February, an estimated 7 million people from 225 countries and territories came together for Gather25, a 25-hour global prayer event led by Bible teacher and bestselling author Jennie Allen. The event, which featured live gatherings in seven locations and over 21,000 groups meeting in churches and homes, marked an unprecedented moment in Christian unity and worship. Bernie Sanders Rally Sparks Outrage after Trans Musician Mocks God with Explicit Song A recent rally held by Democrat Sen. Bernie Sanders, sparked widespread backlash after a trans-musician performed a song mocking God, which included pornagraphic language in its lyrical content. According to The Christian Post, 44-year-old singer and guitarist for the punk band Against Me! Laura Jane Grace, posted the video of the performance, which took place during Sander’s rally in Kenosha, Wisconsin last Friday.View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out dozens of attacks from Monday night into early Tuesday in the most extensive Israeli airstrikes in Syria in over two months, striking military installations affiliated with the newly installed Syrian regime. The recent Israeli airstrikes, the most significant in months, targeted Syria’s expanding military infrastructure, including radar, aerial detection systems, headquarters, and weapons depots under the new regime. The IDF explained, “the presence of these systems in southern Syria poses a threat to Israel and to IDF operations. These targets were struck to eliminate future threats.” Syrian reports detail at least 41 airstrikes targeting military sites across the Damascus countryside, including outposts in Sa’sa and Qatana, positions in Daraa, the 90th Brigade in Quneitra, and areas near Homs and the Lebanese border. The post Israel’s IDF Executes Largest Airstrikes in Two Months on Syrian Regime’s Military Sites appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent (Worthy News) – Following talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the US has agreed to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which has accepted a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire to facilitate further discussions aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, according to a joint statement. At the Jeddah talks, the US was represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, while Ukraine’s delegation included Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Presidential Aide Andriy Yermak, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. “The President wanted this war to end yesterday… So our hope is that the Russians will answer ‘yes’ as quickly as possible, so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations,” Rubio told reporters after the statement was issued. Tuesday’s meeting in Jeddah enabled Washington and Kyiv representatives to resume face-to-face talks following a Feb. 28 Oval Office disagreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over Ukraine’s readiness to negotiate and compromise with Russia. After the dispute, Trump halted all U.S. aid to Ukraine, including intelligence sharing. However, post-Jeddah discussions led to an announcement that the U.S. would resume security assistance and lift its hold on intelligence sharing with Ukraine. National security adviser Mike Waltz stated, “the Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear, that they share President Trump’s vision for peace.” He added that negotiators “got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end,” focusing on long-term security guarantees. The two sides announced that Washington and Kyiv have agreed to swiftly finalize a comprehensive agreement to develop Ukraine’s critical mineral resources. This deal, under discussion for weeks, was jeopardized by a contentious White House meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy last week. Zelenskyy confirmed that both countries are committed to concluding the minerals agreement soon. The post Ukraine Agrees to 30-Day Ceasefire; US Resumes Military Aid and Intelligence Sharing appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

By Brett Rowland | The Center Square (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum in response to the 25% tariffs Ontario put on electricity going to the U.S. Trump’s tariffs, of up to 50%, come amid an ongoing trade spat with Canada. On Monday, the Canadian province of Ontario announced it was going ahead with a 25% retaliatory tariff on electricity exports to the United States expected to affect 1.5 million homes and businesses in Michigan, Minnesota and New York. Ontario Premier Doug Ford estimated the tariffs would mean an additional $69 monthly charge for consumers in the three states. Trump called Ford’s move an “abusive threat.” “Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on ‘Electricity’ coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th.” Trump also said he planned to declare a national emergency in the three states. “I will shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area,” he said on Truth Social. “This will allow the U.S to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada.” Trump further lashed out at Canada, promising to shut down its auto industry. “If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the U.S. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada,” the president wrote. “Those cars can easily be made in the USA! Also, Canada pays very little for National Security, relying on the United States for military protection.” Trump also suggested again that Canada become the 51st American state. “We are subsidizing Canada to the tune of more than 200 Billion Dollars a year. WHY??? This cannot continue. The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State. This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. Canadians’ taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever – And Canada will be a big part of that. The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World – And your brilliant anthem, ‘O Canada,’ will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!” Trump’s trade policies have battered U.S. markets, leading to sharp declines across all three U.S. indexes on Monday. Stocks continued to slump Tuesday after Trump’s latest move. Trump has promised that his tariffs would shift the tax burden away from Americans and onto foreign countries, but tariffs are generally paid by the people who import the products. Those importers then have a choice: They can either absorb the loss or pass it on to consumers through higher prices. He also promised tariffs would make America “rich as hell.” And he’s used tariffs as a negotiating tactic to tighten border security. Trump granted temporary tariff relief to Canada and Mexico last week by exempting goods under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement from tariffs until April 2. On April 2, Trump plans to announce broader reciprocal tariffs against countries that impose tariffs on U.S. goods or keep U.S. goods out of their markets through other methods. Reprinted with permission from The Center Square. The post Trump Plans to Double Tariffs on Canadian Steel, Aluminum appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Stefan Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – The U.S. Department of Defense has asked a company to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents for military operations and planning. It signed a multi-billion dollar deal with AI company Scale AI for the “Thunderforge” initiative, well-informed sources said, despite concerns about the usage of AI by the military. Both tech giants Google and OpenAI initially expressed reservations but have recently reversed rules forbidding the use of their AI technology for weapons development and surveillance, Worthy News learned. Experts say it showed “that Silicon Valley is opening up” to the idea of using its tools by the military. They are believed to have welcomed comments by a senior Pentagon official who reportedly said the U.S. military was looking “to move away” from funding research for “autonomous killer robots” and instead invest in “AI-powered weaponry.” Spearheaded by the U.S. military’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the program will incorporate a team of “global technology partners,” including tech firms Anduril and Microsoft, to develop and deploy AI agents. PROGRAM ROLLOUT Officials said the uses will include “modeling and simulation, decision-making support, proposed courses of action, and even automated workflows.” The DIU explained that the program’s rollout will begin with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. European Command and then spread to other areas. “Thunderforge marks a decisive shift toward AI-powered, data-driven warfare, ensuring that U.S. forces can anticipate and respond to threats with speed and precision,” the DIU stated, adding that the program will “accelerate decision-making” and spearhead “AI-powered wargaming.” “Our AI solutions will transform today’s military operating process and modernize American defense. … DIU’s enhanced speed will provide our nation’s military leaders with the greatest technological advantage,” CEO Alexandr Wang stressed in published remarks. In December, Worthy News reported that AI developer OpenAI and high-tech military manufacturer Anduril Industries were rushing to develop AI technology for the U.S. military amid concerns that China would win the race in this field. The two companies said OpenAI, the creator of the online AI ‘assistant’ ChatGPT, will provide additional capabilities to Anduril’s drones, detection unit, and military software. The post AI Agents Soon Fighting With US Troops (Worthy News Focus) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Stefan Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – The U.S. Department of Defense has asked a company to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents for military operations and planning. It signed a multi-billion dollar deal with AI company Scale AI for the “Thunderforge” initiative, well-informed sources said, despite concerns about the usage of AI by the military. Both tech giants Google and OpenAI initially expressed reservations but have recently reversed rules forbidding the use of their AI technology for weapons development and surveillance, Worthy News learned. Experts say it showed “that Silicon Valley is opening up” to the idea of using its tools by the military. They are believed to have welcomed comments by a senior Pentagon official who reportedly said the U.S. military was looking “to move away” from funding research for “autonomous killer robots” and instead invest in “AI-powered weaponry.” Spearheaded by the U.S. military’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the program will incorporate a team of “global technology partners,” including tech firms Anduril and Microsoft, to develop and deploy AI agents. PROGRAM ROLLOUT Officials said the uses will include “modeling and simulation, decision-making support, proposed courses of action, and even automated workflows.” The DIU explained that the program’s rollout will begin with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. European Command and then spread to other areas. “Thunderforge marks a decisive shift toward AI-powered, data-driven warfare, ensuring that U.S. forces can anticipate and respond to threats with speed and precision,” the DIU stated, adding that the program will “accelerate decision-making” and spearhead “AI-powered wargaming.” “Our AI solutions will transform today’s military operating process and modernize American defense. … DIU’s enhanced speed will provide our nation’s military leaders with the greatest technological advantage,” CEO Alexandr Wang stressed in published remarks. In December, Worthy News reported that AI developer OpenAI and high-tech military manufacturer Anduril Industries were rushing to develop AI technology for the U.S. military amid concerns that China would win the race in this field. The two companies said OpenAI, the creator of the online AI ‘assistant’ ChatGPT, will provide additional capabilities to Anduril’s drones, detection unit, and military software. The post AI Agents Soon Fighting With US Troops (Worthy News Focus) appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article

by Stefan Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent LONDON (Worthy News) – British Christian leaders and politicians fear a new working group advising the government on “anti-Muslim hatred /Islamophobia” will lead to blasphemy legislation that would further limit freedom of expression. In a statement obtained by Worthy News, Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, said that the “rise in anti-Muslim hate crime is unacceptable and has no place in our society. That’s why we’ve committed to defining Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia as a crucial step forward in tackling it and creating a society where everyone feels safe and welcome.” However, David Alton, who chairs Britain’s Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, warned against pursuing any semblance of blasphemy laws in the country. “The U.K. should tread very carefully before incorporating anything which resembles a blasphemy law into British Statute,” Alton said in published remarks. “In jurisdictions which have such laws, I have personally seen how they can be misused against people of other beliefs or no belief – including death sentences and long-term imprisonment.” It was a reference to countries such as Pakistan and Iran, where Christians and others have languished in prisons for years for alleged blasphemy against Islam while some have been killed. Danny Webster, director of advocacy for the U.K. Evangelical Alliance, said Islamophobia should be set within the broader, legal understanding of the freedom to disagree with those of other faiths. ANTI-MUSLIM HATRED “Any definition of anti-Muslim hatred, or Islamophobia, has to safeguard the freedom of others to criticize religious belief and support the freedom for people to change their beliefs,” Webster stressed. If a definition of Islamophobia means that views about perceived identity can be subjectively classed as “hatred,” then this would limit freedom of expression and religious belief, he stressed. “It is vital that we encourage good relationships between people of different faiths, and this is fostered by accepting deep differences and allowing free expression, rather than either criminalizing disagreement or pretending it doesn’t exist,” Webster added. The advisory group’s chair, Dominic Grieve KC, admitted in a statement seen by Worthy News that “Islamophobia is as challenging to define as its existence is undoubted.” However, he stressed, “We need to balance addressing the lived experience of those who are victims of it and the right of British Muslims to feel heard and protected as equal citizens of our country.” He added that these rights should be “with the unwavering requirement to maintain freedom of thought and expression under law for all. I welcome the government’s decision to bring forward this needed work. And I am hopeful that this commission will come up with principles in defining Islamophobia which are compatible with those requirements and can thus help support positive change in our country.” The government suggested that the advisory group is needed as in the year ending March 2024, “there were 140,561 hate crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales,” although that was a “5 percent decrease compared with the previous year.” Yet Alton called it a “ploy” to introduce blasphemy laws that Christians fear could lead to persecution of non-Muslims in Britain and beyond. The post Christians Fear Britain Could Introduce Blasphemy Legislation appeared first on Worthy Christian News. View the full article