(Worthy Insights) – The ringleader of an international illegal-alien smuggling conspiracy, a sophisticated network operating along the United States southern border since at least 2018, was extradited from Mexico to the U.S. as the result of a multi-agency investigation.

“Extensive coordination and cooperation” efforts between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement authorities culminated in the extradition of Raul Saucedo-Huipio, 49, according to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) press release.

Saucedo-Huipio allegedly collected fees, coordinated lodging, and worked with smugglers in Central America to transport thousands of illegal aliens across America’s southern border. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – A binational enforcement operation between Mexico and the United States took down a cartel-linked human smuggling operation that reportedly kidnapped migrants attempting to enter the U.S. illegally and then extorted their families for money.

As part of the operation, Mexican authorities executed arrest warrants against Brian Alan Torres Gonzalez and Soledad Morales Nava, a pair of alleged human smugglers.

The Mexican citizens will be prosecuted in Mexico with evidence provided by U.S. authorities, according to a Thursday statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – Planned Parenthood, the nation’s leading abortion provider, is grappling with a growing crisis, according to a recent bombshell article by The New York Times. The report highlights botched abortions, failed procedures, and undertrained staff as the organization struggles both financially and in terms of its operations.

As Planned Parenthood clinics across the U.S. close their doors, the organization faces an increasing number of lawsuits, and many are questioning the future of the embattled abortion provider. The revelations in the Times article paint a bleak picture of an organization already under fire from pro-life groups for years.

One of the most harrowing stories included in the report involves a woman from Albany, New York, who filed a malpractice lawsuit after experiencing complications from an abortion procedure. After the procedure, the woman returned to the clinic with severe pain but was told by staff that nothing was wrong and sent home. Twelve weeks later, she delivered a baby that was alive but ultimately died shortly after birth. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – Hundreds of churches, ministries and individuals have committed to pray for 250 million students worldwide for the Collegiate Day of Prayer on Feb. 27.

The annual event, held on the last Thursday in February, is expecting over 700 individuals and congregations to pray for the students at more than 1,100 campuses.

CDP Executive Director Thai Lam told The Christian Post that while his organization launched their efforts in 2009, the day of prayer focused on colleges and universities traces its origins to a similar observance in the early 19th century. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – President Donald Trump on February 21 fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and dismissed five other admirals and generals in a major shake-up of the top leadership of the U.S. military.

Air Force General CQ Brown, who had served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff since 2023 after being appointed by former President Joe Biden, was ousted in the move, which Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social.

Brown, the second black officer to hold the job of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had been expected to complete his four-year term in September 2027. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – Senior Israeli officials have approached Egypt regarding serious violations of peace agreement terms following mounting evidence of Egyptian military buildup in Sinai that exceeds previously agreed limits, Israel Hayom has learned. Sources familiar with the matter said Egyptian officials proposed US mediation to reduce growing tensions between the nations. The Israeli diplomatic messages were conveyed amid increasingly concerning social media posts showing the Egyptian army allegedly conducting exercises preparing for a potential “invasion” of Israel through Sinai.

In recent discussions between the sides, Egyptian officials expressed their own concerns, stating that “entities with foreign interests aiming to destabilize relations between the countries are responsible for distributing the videos, some edited and some fabricated.” Egypt additionally proposed resolving their Sinai violations through accelerated bilateral dialogue to bridge gaps, suggesting US mediation if direct talks prove unsuccessful. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – Israeli entrepreneur and investor Shmulik Bezalel has traveled the world and donated funds for research to find a treatment for his son Itay who has low-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Itay is one of 254 million children and adults worldwide struggling with neuropsychiatric disorders without a suitable treatment.

Recognizing the limited therapeutic options for neuropsychiatric disorders, Bezalel teamed up with serial entrepreneur Boaz Goldman and neuroscientist Dr. Nisim Perets, and in 2021 founded an Israeli biotech startup with the vision to generate a simulation of the brain and test the efficacy of drugs.

That startup, Itay & Beyond — named after Bezalel’s child Itay — is now developing a drug discovery and testing platform for psychiatric and neurological disorders such as autism, epilepsy, and schizophrenia. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – The Associated Press drew widespread criticism, including from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, for stating that Shiri Bibas and her sons Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 9 months, “died in captivity.”

“Hamas murdered these hostages. They didn’t just ‘die in captivity,’ as if by natural causes,” wrote Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). “Why does AP want to sugar coat this?”

“The terrorists of Hamas murder an infant and a child, as well as a mother, in cold blood and with their bare hands,” stated Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.). “The AP chooses to whitewash the baby killers, calling them ‘militants’ rather than terrorists and claiming the children ‘died’—rather than were murdered—in captivity. Disgraceful.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – A group of American Christian leaders are publicly reaffirming the Jewish people’s right to the biblical heartland of Israel, ahead of a key U.S. decision on Israeli sovereignty over the territory.

The move comes weeks before U.S. President Donald Trump is slated to announce whether or not he supports the Israeli annexation of Judea and Samaria—a goal backed by many evangelicals including some administration officials—amid international plans to rebuild post-war Gaza.

The declaration will be made public on Tuesday at the annual National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention in Dallas, an international association of evangelical communicators, and is expected to be signed by thousands of Christian pastors and religious leaders from across the U.S. before being presented to the American president. [ Source: JNS (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – Larry Sanger, Wikipedia co-founder, philosopher, and writer, was a devout atheist at one point in his life — but that all changed as his own philosophical writings started to challenge his belief system.

“I wrote a series of essays that sort of dismantled some of the reasons that I had for disbelief,” Sanger tells Allie Beth Stuckey of “Relatable.” “My take on it was, what God is essentially is the creator of the universe and a spirit. And he created the universe essentially with a thought, but we have no experience of thoughts bringing things into existence directly.”

“I didn’t conclude that the universe is therefore a simulation, which was Elon Musk’s conclusion,” he continues, adding, “I think that is merely evidence that it’s possible that a creator exists.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – The Israel Defense Forces told the Bibas family that while the bodies of young hostages Ariel and Kfir were positively identified Thursday, the third body was not that of the children’s mother Shiri.

The mother’s body was supposed to be released along with the remains of her two kids as part of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal.

The IDF slammed Hamas in a statement Thursday and demanded Shiri’s body be returned to the Jewish state.

“This is a very serious violation by the Hamas terrorist organization, which is required by the agreement to return four dead hostages,” the IDF reportedly said. “We demand that Hamas return Shiri home along with all of our hostages.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

IDF confirms Bibas children ‘brutally murdered’ in Hamas captivity; third body – not mother’s

The IDF also said that the Bibas family was held by a radical Salafi-jihadist group known as “Lords of the Wilderness”, which is not directly affiliated with Hamas but operates in Gaza. Intelligence reports indicate that the group “brutally murdered” Ariel and Kfir in November 2023.

The third body returned by Hamas as part of the latest hostage deal does not belong to Shiri Bibas, their mother, nor any other known hostage. “This is a severe violation of the agreement, which required Hamas to return four fallen hostages,” the IDF said. “We demand that Hamas return Shiri Bibas along with all remaining hostages.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is already searching for cutting-edge missile defense technologies after President Donald Trump signed a new executive order, calling for an “Iron Dome for America.”

The executive order gave the Department of Defense 60 days to evaluate the U.S. missile defense network and overhaul it with hypersonic weapon sensors, space-based missile interceptors, and other so-called “non-kinetic” missile defense capabilities.

Trump has also tasked military leaders with conceiving new ways to stop incoming threats earlier than ever before, including before they launch. [ Source (Read More…) ]