November 7, 2015

Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Hits Eastern Indonesia
A 5.0-magnitude earthquake hit on Saturday the largest Indonesian province of Papua, the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) told RIA Novosti.  

Earthquakes shake the Sooner State Saturday morning near Medford
A total of five earthquakes hit the Medford area early Saturday. The events ranged from magnitude 2.5 all the way up to 4.1.  

Earthquake rattles southcentral Alaska
The Alaska Earthquake Center says it had a preliminary magnitude of 4.5 and was about 28 miles deep. The quake was felt in Anchorage.  

5.3-magnitude quake hits mountainous Venezuela area, causing at least 1 death in landslide
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3 struck a mountainous area of Venezuela's western Merida state. Authorities say one person was killed when a rockslide hit a car.  

4.1 Earthquake Rattles Oklahomans Awake
MEDFORD, Oklahoma - An earthquake woke up many Oklahomans Saturday morning. According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake hit at 5:11:54 a.m., measuring 4.1 and was centered about 9 miles northwest of Medford.  

Study: Supervolcanoes triggered externally
"Typically, when we think about how a volcanic eruption is triggered, we are taught that the pressure in the magma chamber increases until it causes an explosion and the volcano erupts," lead study author Patricia Gregg, University of Illinois professor of geology, said in a press release. "This is the prevailing hypothesis for how eruptions are triggered. At supervolcanic sites, however, we don't see a lot of evidence for pressurization."  

U.S. general sees air strikes against Islamic State picking up
U.S. and coalition forces are likely to increase air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria in coming weeks after a lull in September and October, the head of U.S. Air Forces Central Command said Saturday.  

Earth faces 200 YEARS of solar radiation blasts as 'magnetic poles shift', say NASA
THE Earth could be left powerless to defend against blasts of solar radiation from the Sun for up to 200 YEARS, leaving us at risk from skin cancer and worldwide electronic communication blackouts, NASA scientists have warned.  

CME SPARKS GEOMAGNETIC STORM
Arriving almost a full day earlier than expected, a CME struck Earth's magnetic field on Nov. 6th at 18:00 UT. At first, the impact had little effect. As Earth moved deeper into the CME's wake, however, a G2-class geomagnetic storm broke out.  

Doctors Should Be Allowed to Carry Out Euthanasia on the Mentally Ill
Such patients should be killed even though their illness means they cannot make the choice for themselves, according to an article in the British-run Bioethics journal.  

Scarlet Fever Making a Comeback
An international study led by University of Queensland (UQ) researchers has tracked the re-emergence of a childhood disease which had largely disappeared over the past 100 years.  

CRISPR Gene Editing to Be Tested on People by 2017, Says Editas
Bosley said that because CRISPR can “repair broken genes” it holds promise for treating several thousand inherited disorders caused by gene mistakes, most of which, like Huntington’s disease and cystic fibrosis, have no cure.  

Earthquake rocks northeast Lebanon
Residents of the Bekaa Valley in northeast Lebanon have said that they felt a small earthquake late Friday evening, according to reports from the region.  

Magnitude-6.8 earthquake rocks Chile
A magnitude-6.8 earthquake rocked the central coast of Chile on Saturday, two months after another temblor struck the same area.  

Nearly 600 Earthquakes in San Ramon During Recent Swarm: USGS
A total of 583 small earthquakes have shaken San Ramon, California, in the last three weeks or so – more than five times the record set 12 years ago, according to the latest US Geological Survey updates. "It's the swarm with the largest number of total earthquakes in San Ramon," said USGS scientist David Schwartz, who is more concerned about the size of quakes than he is the total number of them.  

Doubters question 'strange' stock market rebound
The double-digit stock-market rebound after a bruising summer has put European shares back into positive territory for the year, but sentiment around the central-bank-fueled rally remains fragile. Weak trading volumes...have... contributed to the view that investors are being sucked into a market updraft rather than enthusiastically betting on a cyclical upturn.  

Socialists ready to head left-wing coalition in Portugal
Three left-of-centre parties in Portugal say they have reached a deal to form a government after last month's inconclusive general election. It means the centre-right coalition of Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho now looks set to fail in its attempt to stay in office. Socialist Party leader Antonio Costa fought the election promising to ease back on austerity.  

Report: Israel worried Egypt's Sisi might fall to jihadist insurgents
Israeli officials are reportedly growing concerned over the long-term viability of the current Egyptian regime in light of gains made by Islamists in their insurgency. Bloomberg News quoted a former Republican lawmaker...saying that Israeli government figures are beginning to wonder whether Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, can successfully overcome the threats...by Islamic State-inspired Salafist gunmen.  

German official proposes restricted Syrian asylum status
Germany's interior minister said Friday he wants to give many Syrians arriving in the country a form of protection that falls short of full asylum and wouldn't allow them to bring relatives to Germany for two years.  

Why Supreme Court is taking up Obamacare contraceptive mandate again
The United States Supreme Court has agreed to examine whether a government accommodation goes far enough in protecting the religious liberty of nonprofit church groups that object to portions of the contraception mandate in Obamacare.  

Leaders of China, Taiwan to meet for first time in six decades
Leaders of political rivals Taiwan and China will meet on Saturday for the first time in more than 60 years for talks that come amid rising anti-Beijing sentiment on the self-ruled democratic island and weeks ahead of elections.  

Putin Associate Found Dead in DC Hotel
A prominent Russian millionaire with high-level ties to the Kremlin has been found dead inside a Washington hotel, a Russian official and a senior U.S. official told ABC News. Mikhail Lesin, the former head of media affairs for the Russian government who's been accused of curtailing the country’s press freedoms, had been staying at Hotel Dupont when he was found Thursday, according to officials.  

November 6, 2015

Kerry Kills Keystone, Obama Agrees
Barack Obama on Friday rejected the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline... Obama said his decision was based on Secretary of State John Kerry's recommendation that the pipeline was not in the national interest.  

We are angry
Israelis are angry because we see the world's nations have learned nothing from their past, and that we Jews still have to depend only on ourselves to survive.  

Teneo, firm with Clinton ties, declines to answer Senate questions
In its letter, a copy of which was given to Reuters by the committee, Teneo declined to help with most of the panel's queries, including questions about a previously unreported three-hour meeting at the consulting firm's office in 2012 with Cheryl Mills when she was chief of staff to Clinton at the State Department.  

Chemical weapons used by fighters in Syria - sources
Chemical weapons experts have determined that mustard gas was used in a Syrian town where Islamic State insurgents were battling another group, according to a report by an international watchdog seen by Reuters.  

‘Cloud tsunami’: Ominous storm shelf cloud looms over Sydney
Rough weather has moved to Australia’s biggest city, Sydney. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of severe storms across Sydney, the Hunter region, and the South and Central coasts, saying that heavy rainfall and flash flooding may be in store for residents.  

Muslim council calls to ban all Jews from Temple Mount
Muslim council of clerics demands return to pre-1967 status, when Jordanian occupation forbade Jewish visitors completely. Ironically, the announcement read: "the Muslims want Al-Aqsa Mosque to be returned to the situation before 1967, when it was liberated from all occupation and under the rule of the Arabs and the Muslims, since it belongs only to the Muslims."  

INCOMING CME, CHANCE OF STORMS ON NOV 7th
Another round of geomagnetic storms may be in the offing. Sunspot AR2443 erupted on Nov. 4th, hurling a CME into space. The magnetized cloud of plasma is expected to deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on Nov. 7th.  

Egypt – Floods Strike Again – Fatalities in Beheira and Alexandria
One person has died in the recent spate of flooding in Alexandria. Local authorities in Alexandria declared Thursday 05 November 2015 an official day off to give the city time to recover from the flooding once again.

3 Killed in Flash Floods in Amman, Jordan
PETRA, the Jordan News Agency, described the downpour as “a heavy cloudburst of no more than an hour”. The rain started at around 08:00 local time today. Streets and traffic tunnels were flooded and 100s of vehicles were washed away or left stranded.  

Moderate earthquake: M5.5 quake has struck near Nikolski in Alaska
A moderate earthquake magnitude 5.5 (ml/mb) has struck on Thursday, 87 km SSW of Nikolski, Alaska (54 miles). A tsunami warning has been issued near Nikolski in Alaska (Does not indicate if a tsunami actually did or will exist).  

Moderate earthquake, 5 mag has occurred near Finschhafen in Papua New Guinea
A tsunami warning has been issued near Finschhafen in Papua New Guinea (Does not indicate if a tsunami actually did or will exist). The earthquake was roughly at a depth of 77.12 km (48 miles). The 5-magnitude earthquake was detected at 16:11:49 / 4:11 pm (local time epicenter).  

Moderate earthquake, 5.3 mag was detected near Coquimbo in Chile
A moderate earthquake with magnitude 5.3 (ml/mb) was reported 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Coquimbo in Chile on Friday. The earthquake was roughly at a depth of 10 km (6 miles). A tsunami warning has not been issued (Does not indicate if a tsunami actually did or will exist).  

Our World: Showdown at the OK Corral
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with US President Barack Obama next week is likely to look less like a rapprochement than a showdown at the OK Corral. The flurry of spy stories spinning around in recent weeks makes clear that US-Israel relations remain in crisis. Two weeks ago, The Wall Street Journal published a fairly detailed account of the US’s massive spying operations against Israel between 2010 and 2012.  

Toyota invests $1 billion in artificial intelligence in US
Toyota is investing $1 billion in a research company...to develop artificial intelligence and robotics, underlining the Japanese automaker's determination to lead in...cars that drive themselves and apply the technology to other areas of daily life. Toyota Motor Corp...said Friday the company will start operating from January 2016, with 200 employees at a Silicon Valley facility near Stanford University.    
Socialists gather in NYC to plot political overhaul
The Workers World Party is taking to New York City for a two-day conference to show how to spread socialism around the nation and world, and to explain why the time is ripe for such expansion. The event, titled “Putting Socialist Revolution on the Table,” kicks off Saturday at the Shabazz Center and includes panel discussions on Black Lives Matter. It covers women and LGBT leadership, how to be a revolutionary and dispelling myths about China’s socialism.  

Migrant crisis: Germany to fast-track asylum returns
Germany is to speed up the repatriation of failed asylum seekers, after the governing coalition resolved a rift on the issue. Chancellor Angela Merkel said five special centres would handle the applications of asylum-seekers deemed to have little chance of staying. Her Christian Democrats and their junior partners, the Social Democrats, have argued for weeks over the plan.  

UN climate conference: France to impose border controls
France will impose border controls for one month from 30 November for the UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said it was a precaution "because of the terrorist threat or risk of public disorder". "It is by no means a suspension of Schengen," he stressed, referring to the EU free travel zone where passport checks are minimal or non-existent.  

Netanyahu heads to US to push for $50b. military aid package
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to leave for Washington on Sunday in hopes of securing a decadelong, $5 billion a year military aid package to help Israel defend itself against Iran and other regional threats. On Monday, US President Barack Obama plans to host Netanyahu at the White House for their first face-to-face meeting in a year.  

Sheriff Clarke: Obama ‘Is Hallucinating If He Thinks He Has Improved Race Relations in America’
As for President Barack Obama’s claim that his presidency has helped “mobilize America on behalf of issues of racial disparity,” Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. said the opposite is true and Obama is “hallucinating if he thinks he has improved race relations in Ameirca.”  

The "War On Terror" Is The Hoax Foundation Of The Police/Spy State
The “war on terror” was a hoax. Americans were deceived by policymakers, who are pursuing a hegemonic agenda. The American people were too trusting and too gullible and, consequently, Americans were easily betrayed by Washington and by the presstitute media.  

"There's A Total Lack Of Confidence" McCain Warns Obama Of Growing "Military Dissatisfaction"
Conjuring images of "the kind of incrementalism that defined much of the Vietnam conflict," John McCain came out swinging today exposing the frustration top military officers have with President Obama's policies. "There’s a total lack of confidence in the president's leadership," the warmonger raged, adding - as perhaps a veiled threat - "there’s a level of dissatisfaction among the uniformed military that I’ve never seen in my time here."  

Russian plane crash: UK suspects bomb was placed in hold
UK investigators looking at what caused a Russian airliner to crash in Egypt believe a bomb was put in the hold prior to take-off, the BBC has learned. The government decided terrorism was likely after receiving intelligence based on intercepted messages between militants in the Sinai peninsula.  

Palestinian attempts to stab Israeli in W.Bank, shot dead
A Palestinian attempted to stab an Israeli at a junction in the occupied West Bank on Thursday and was shot, police said.  

Iranian president criticizes recent arrests of journalists
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani criticized in remarks published Thursday the recent arrests of journalists amid an ongoing crackdown on expression by the country's hard-liners.  

November 5, 2015

Report: PLO threatens to end recognition of Israel
The Palestine Liberation Organization is threatening to withdraw recognition of Israel, its most senior peace negotiator told an Arab newspaper on Thursday.  

Studies Suggest Sun Triggers Massive Earthquakes
In early 2014, Dr. Christopher Holloman’s team of researchers at The Ohio State University Statistical Consulting Service was able to construct a model that exhibited very strong agreement between solar magnetism patterns and the occurrence of large earthquakes.  

Christian-Jewish Dialogue in Florida Discusses Middle East Peace
“Christian-Jewish Dialogue: Making the World Better Together,” which included a panel discussion between rabbis and pastors and a special Ladino concert featuring Israeli performers Dan Nadel and Lianne Aharony. Baredes said, “For us, this is the beginning of a huge future, showing that together through the culture and friendship, we can make a better future with peace and friendship and pull the communities together.”  

Islamic State behind Russia plane crash: Britain
Britain said on Thursday there was a significant possibility that Islamic State's Egyptian affiliate was behind a suspected bomb attack on a Russian airliner that killed 224 people in the Sinai Peninsula.  

Parallel Universes Found? Seriously, Could Be a Bunch
a researcher at the European Space Agency's Planck U.S. Data Center at the California Institute of Technology, said in a paper there was a chance that fluctuations he found while mapping cosmic microwave background was evidence of a "multiverse," according to the International Business Times.  

Snow in the Rockies and Severe Potential for the Southern Plains
A strong low pressure system will bring snow to the Rockies with severe weather and flooding possible in the southern Plains on Thursday. Well ahead of this system temperatures will be around 20 degrees above normal for the eastern United States.  

Downtown fire causes brief power outage, traffic issues
Evans says an underground transformer was arcing , so crews taped off the area and police blocked Griffin Street between Young and Commerce Streets. He says this is the third incident crews have responded to in the last weeks. On Oct. 23 the same thing happened near Main and Field Streets. Another incident happened Tuesday afternoon on Commerce.  

'Solar storm' grounds Swedish air traffic
Planes were grounded at some of Sweden's busiest airports on Wednesday afternoon because of a "solar storm" interfering with air traffic control radar systems, authorities said. No aircraft were allowed to take off from airports in southern and central Sweden due to a massive geomagnetic solar flare storm causing problems for radar systems.  

Another East Bay Earthquake Added to Slowing Swarm of Shakers
Since the swarm began about three weeks ago, around 540 earthquakes have been recorded in the area.  

Strong earthquake hits Russia’s Kamchatka, no damage done
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake rocked Russia’s Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Thursday, a spokesman for the Kamchatka branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Geophysical Service said.  

Migrant crisis: New footage shows refugee unrest at UK base in Cyprus
Footage has been sent to the BBC from the people being held at a British military base in Cyprus. The asylum seekers, mostly from Syria and Lebanon, say they are all desperate to leave for Europe.  

Strong Earthquake Hits Eastern Indonesia; No Tsunami Threat
The magnitude-6.3 earthquake was centered 28 kilometers (17 miles) northeast of the Alor island chain in East Nusatenggara province, according to Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency.  

Japan same-sex couples recognised in two Tokyo districts
Two districts of Japan's capital Tokyo have started issuing certificates recognising same-sex partnerships. They are designed to encourage landlords and hospitals to treat gay couples the same way as married ones. However, the documents do not provide the same legal status as marriage.  

Life after Ebola: The survivors facing health problems and grief
Many patients who overcame Ebola following the 2014 outbreak are now facing physical and mental health problems, according to survivors groups in Sierra Leone. More than 28,000 cases of Ebola have been reported since the first confirmed case in March 2014 and around 17,000 of those survived.  

Mexico court ruling sparks high hopes for marijuana legalization
Mexico's Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the green light to growing marijuana for recreational use in a landmark decision that could lead to legalization in a country with a bloody history of conflict with drug cartels. Supporters of reform sparked up joints to hail the court's decision, which, while not legalizing use of marijuana, is one of the boldest steps ever taken in that direction in a country long reluctant to liberalize drug laws.  

Details of controversial Pacific trade deal are released
Details of a sweeping Pacific Rim trade deal released Thursday set the stage for a raucous debate in the U.S. Congress but also may provide reassurances to those who worried the agreement could gut protections for the environment, public health and labor. The text of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement between the U.S. and 11 other countries including Japan and Mexico runs to 30 chapters and hundreds of pages.  

Russia 'sent anti-aircraft missile systems to Syria' to back up air campaign
Russia sent anti-aircraft missile systems to Syria to back up its air campaign, the commander of the air force said in an interview published on Thursday. "We sent there not just fighter planes, strike aircraft and helicopters but also anti-aircraft rocket systems," Viktor Bondarev told Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid daily.  

European Union: Three million more migrants could arrive by end of 2016
The European Union is predicting that three million more migrants could arrive in the 28-nation bloc by the end of next year. More than 700,000 people have come to Europe seeking sanctuary or jobs so far this year, overwhelming reception centres and border authorities.  

Netanyahu's new media adviser said Obama's Iran policy is 'modern anti-Semitism'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's choice to serve as the next chief media adviser...posted...on his Facebook page...he refers to US President Barack Obama's response to the premier's Iran speech in Congress as "modern anti-Semitism." Ran Baratz...once criticized Obama for the president's response to the prime minister's planned speech before Congress against the Iran nuclear deal.  

November 4, 2015

At Peace Conference, Arab and Jewish Scholars Discuss Future of the Temple Mount
The conference, held at the Abba Eban Hall at the Truman Institute, will attempt to understand the recent violence centered around the Temple Mount with the stated goal of moving towards a renewal of the peace process and coexistence. The participants will discuss religious rights on the Mount and Muslim issues in east Jerusalem.  

Republicans Score Big Victories From Coast to Coast
Republicans and conservatives notched stunning wins in elections across the country in victories amid voter sentiment fueled by a "year of the outsider." Voters in Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, Mississippi, and in cities like Houston and San Francisco soundly rejected Democratic candidates or Democrat-backed measures.  

Court: Judge properly tossed gay couple's parental request
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A judge properly dismissed a same-sex couple's request for a declaration that one of them is the legal parent of the other's child  

MSNBC panel calls Ben Carson a 'safe negro'
Williams replied by smearing Carson. “Which is one in terms of having the… having the ‘safe negro’ comment on someone that you’re against,” she said. MSNBC liberal commentators are all class.  

The Northwest's Next Big Earthquake Predicted with New Map
Scientists may be able to predict the source of the Northwest's next big earthquake. Researchers have mapped the mantle under the tectonic plate that is colliding with the Pacific Northwest and putting Seattle, Portland and Vancouver at risk of earthquakes and tsunamis.  

First Significant Winter Storm to Impact the Colorado Rockies Wednesday into Thursday
A complex storm system will bring heavy snow and wind to eastern Utah and much of the Colorado Rockies Wednesday into Thursday. Elevations above 7000 feet could see one foot or more of snowfall.  

Obama’s Failure as a Leader Foretold in an Ancient Jewish Prophecy
Barack Obama is a parallel Pharoah figure in today’s world. His suitability for the post has been an issue that has dogged him since before he was elected. His behavior connected to the nuclear deal with Iran was obstinate, as if a divine force was hardening his heart. He showed a clear disregard for national security, providing weapons and resources to Iran while they screamed ‘Death to America’ in the streets.
Current terror wave: 1553 arrests and 437 indictments served

Unprecedented amount of arrests and indictments served since Rosh Hashanah: Significant decrease in stabbing attacks in Jerusalem the last three weeks due to increase in police presence.  

Car bomb kills 6 in Sinai, ISIS in Egypt claims responsibility
A car bomb targeting a policeman's club in the Egyptian city of El Arish killed six people and wounded 10 on Wednesday, security sources said. Islamic State's Egypt affiliate, Sinai Province, claimed responsibility for the attack, which it described as a suicide bombing.  

Three Earthquakes Hit Alor, Damaging Dozens of Homes
TEMPO.CO, Kupang - A 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook Alor, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Wednesday, November 4, damaging dozens of houses in the region.  

5.2 magnitude quake hits
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the quake struck at 1:14 p.m. on Wednesday. The epicenter of the quake was recorded 88 kilometers southwest of Pandeglang regency Banten, at a depth of 10 kilometers. There is no risk of a tsunami from the earthquake, the BMKG reported.  

American Jews growing more religious, poll indicates
American Jews appear to be growing steadily more religious, faster than most other communities in the United States, according to a new Pew poll published Tuesday.  

Houston votes to repeal LGBT nondiscrimination law
Voters in Houston on Tuesday rejected an ordinance to protect gay and transgender people from discrimination, the Associated Press said.  

AURORAS OVER THE USA
A unusual stream of solar wind is buffeting Earth's magnetic field, causing G1-class geomagnetic storms around the poles. The stream is unusual not only because it is very fast (700+ km/s), but also because it has a series of shock waves or "transients" embedded in it--at least 3 so far.  

Iraq's ruling alliance, militias urge PM to seek Russian strikes
Iraq's ruling alliance and powerful Shi'ite militias have urged Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to request Russian air strikes on Islamic State militants, who control large parts of the country, members of the coalition and militias told Reuters.  

Study may have found evidence of alternate, parallel universes
...An astrophysicist says he may have found evidence of alternate or parallel universes by looking back in time to just after the Big Bang more than 13 billion years ago. While mapping the so-called "cosmic microwave background," which is the light left over from the early universe, scientist Ranga-Ram Chary found what he called a mysterious glow, the International Business Times reported.  

Verizon Begins Scanning and Censoring Customer Emails
A news radio station in New York reports that the broadband and telecommunications company Verizon is now scanning customer email. If email contains a hyperlink to a website, the email is rejected and not sent to the recipient...After a customer complained...the corporation told him there isn’t a way to op-out of the program. “Verizon scans the digital signatures ...and all email containing a hyperlink will be considered spam.  

There's a Hole in the Sun That's Going to Make the Skies Dazzle
Get ready for a light show. The sun’s about to spit charged particles our way. And that solar wind of protons and electrons will interact with the Earth’s magnetic field to light up the skies with a dazzling display of color through Wednesday. The solar wind coming out of a hole on the sun will almost certainly spark an aurora that may be seen by millions of people.  

Debt ceiling lifted, and the same day, debt jumps $339B
The U.S. national debt jumped $339 billion on Monday, the same day President Obama signed into law legislation suspending the debt ceiling. That legislation allowed the government to borrow as much as it wants above the $18.1 trillion debt ceiling that had been in place.  

Obama will decide on Keystone pipeline during his term
The White House has said it intends to rule on the fate of the Keystone XL oil pipeline before the end of President Barack Obama's term. The company behind the pipeline, TransCanada, had wanted to delay the approval process until after his term. The White House said on Tuesday "there might be politics at play" in the decision by TransCanada.  

Ash cloud from Indonesia's Mt Rinjani grounds Bali-bound flights
Some flights to and from Bali have been cancelled for a second day due to a drifting ash cloud from Mt Rinjani, east of the Indonesian holiday island. Denpasar Airport was closed on Tuesday, grounding all flights as officials reassessed the risk posed by the plume. All Virgin Australia and Jetstar flights were cancelled on Wednesday, whilst Air Asia said at least 13 of its flights had been affected.  

Taiwan and China to hold historic summit in Singapore
Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Singapore on Saturday - the first ever meeting between leaders of the two sides. Both said the talks would focus on relations across the Taiwan Straits. China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and views the island as a breakaway province which will one day be reunited with the mainland.  

Egypt's President Sisi defends sweeping security laws
President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has defended Egypt's sweeping security laws, insisting he is still taking the country on a path to democracy. Ahead of a visit to the UK, Mr Sisi told the BBC that Egypt was threatened by extremist groups and feared the collapses suffered by its neighbours. He underlined that Egypt's situation was different to that of Europe.  

Ohioans reject legalizing marijuana
Ohioans pushed a monopoly marijuana-legalization proposal out the door Tuesday by a nearly 2-to-1 vote. But the question is, will pot make a comeback?  

The Top Seven Most Christian-friendly Companies Revealed
Faith Driven Consumer recently revealed the top seven companies that are most in-tune with Christians and most effectively marketing to them.  

Egypt's Sisi calls for NATO help in Libya 'vacuum'
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called for NATO powers to help rebuild Libya, beset by violence since an uprising backed by the Western military alliance toppled leader Moamer Kadhafi, in an interview.  

'Ancient Greek citadel' discovered under Jerusalem car park
Israel's antiquities body claimed Tuesday to have solved "one of Jerusalem's greatest archaeological mysteries" by unearthing an ancient Greek citadel -- the Acra -- buried under a car park.  

Billy Graham's Warning to American Churches: 'Prepare for Persecution'
The Rev. Billy Graham has issued a written warning to America's churches: "Prepare for persecution." The renowned preacher and founder of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association penned a commentary that was posted on his website last week and is slated to appear in the November edition of Decision magazine.  

Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Putin?
These are all understandable reasons for Putin’s involvement in Syria, but should Israel be concerned? Not really. Netanyahu met with Putin a couple of weeks ago in a clear ex‎pression of coordination, if not cooperation. It’s extremely unlikely that Putin would cross Israel’s red lines concerning Russian support for Assad, which shouldn’t be extended toencompass support for the Hezbollah terrorists who have assisted their ally Assad.  

November 3, 2015

Yemen’s Rare Cyclone Puts the Country Underwater
cyclones don’t typically hit the Middle East. Last night, that statement flipped to false. Tropical Cyclone Chapala made landfall on Yemen, flooding coastal regions of the desert nation. Chapala is supposed to drop a decade’s worth of rain in days; steep mountains along the coastline push its clouds up and its moisture out.

Number of Americans 'Certain' About God Falls to 63 Percent
The proportion of Americans who say they are "absolutely certain" God exists has dropped sharply from 71 percent to less than two thirds, the Pew Research Center said Tuesday.  

Americans becoming less religious, especially young adults: poll
Americans are becoming less religious, judging by such markers as church attendance, prayer and belief in God, and the trend is more pronounced among young adults, according to a poll released on Tuesday.  

Migrant crisis pushing Germany towards ‘anarchy and civil war’
Germany now is somewhere at the edge of anarchy and sliding towards civil war, or to become a banana republic without any government, says Hansjoerg Mueller of the Alternative for Germany party. Bavarian official Peter Dreier called German Chancellor Angela Merkel to tell her personally that if Germany welcomes a million refugees, his town of Landshut will only take in around 1,800. Any extra will be put on buses and sent to her Chancellery in Berlin.  

One Of The Most Dangerous Volcanoes In North America Is Roaring To Life
More than 25 million people live in the vicinity of North America’s 2nd-highest volcano, and in recent weeks this volcano has been steadily rumbling and has been spewing out massive amounts of black smoke and ash. I have previously written about “the most dangerous mountain in the United States” (Mt. Rainier)....  

What global warming? Antarctic ice is INCREASING by 135billion tonnes a year, says NASA
The US space agency research claims an increase in Antarctic snow accumulation that began 10,000 years ago is "currently adding enough ice to the continent to outweigh the increased losses from melting glaciers.  

SHOCK ALERT: World faces YEAR of CATASTROPHIC weather from most powerful El Nino & La Nina
Scientists are now certain the powerful El Nino warming of waters off the coast of South America which set in earlier this year will be the strongest for almost 20 years and will have catastrophic knock-on effects around the world including in Britain. El Nino is still growing rapidly with a peak forecast around Christmas and latest data suggests it will match the two strongest El Ninos ever recorded....  

Cyclone Chapala in the Arabian Sea Likely to Be Rare, Destructive Landfall in Yemen
Cyclone Chapala is headed for an extremely rare landfall at hurricane strength along the coast of war-torn Yemen late Monday or early Tuesday (mainland U.S. time). While wind damage will be a threat near the point of landfall, the bigger concern will be extremely heavy rainfall in a normally arid region, leading to life-threatening flash floods in a country already suffering a major humanitarian crisis stemming from years of violent conflict.  

GEOMAGNETIC STORM UPDATE
Earth is entering a region of dense and unsettled solar wind. This could be the leading edge of a high-speed solar wind stream originally expected to reach Earth on Nov. 2nd, but now more likely to arrive on Nov. 3rd. NOAA forecasters say a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm is possible during the next 24 hours,  

Small earthquake is measured 17 miles from Bar Harbor
AR HARBOR, Maine — The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude-2.4 earthquake has been measured 17 miles off Bar Harbor.  

Russia steps up push for Syria peace deal, proposes talks
Syrian government officials and members of the country's splintered opposition could meet in Moscow next week as Russia pushes to broker a political solution to the crisis, a senior official said on Tuesday. "Next week, we will invite opposition representatives to a consultation in Moscow," Interfax news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as saying.
ISS Nasa live cam cuts after 'suddenly locking on to mystery glowing UFO'

A UFO hunter claims the ISS camera locked on and zoomed into a “mystery glowing orb”, but after monitoring the ball of light, Nasa cut the live stream... The "Unidentified Flying Object" was visible...between the ISS and Earth, according to Scott C Waring, editor of UFO Sightings Daily... Mr Waring said: "I was watching the space station live cam when I noticed the camera switch to a new camera.
Al-Qaeda Chief Urges 9/11-Style Attacks In New Audio Message

In a new audio message released late Sunday night, Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri urged 9/11-style attacks against the U.S. and praised a recent spate of stabbing attacks by Palestinians against Israelis. The 16-minute message...features al-Zawahiri calling for attacks against “the West,” especially against the U.S. for its support of Israel.  

Archaeological find in Jerusalem's City of David may answer 100-year-old mystery
A recent discovery by the Israel Antiquities Authority in Jerusalem’s City of David may reveal the answer to one of archaeology's most enduring mysteries: the location of the Greek Acra citadel. The exact location of the famous stronghold built by Antiochus IV, to control Jerusalem and monitor activity on the Temple Mount, has long been unknown due to the paucity of architectural remains...  

After reports of Israeli strikes in Syria, Ya'alon issues warning
Israel will respond with zero tolerance to cross-border artillery fire from Syria, weapons trafficking to terrorists, and the distribution of chemical weapons to terrorists, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said on Tuesday. ...It was the first reported attack attributed to Israel since Russia began providing air support to the Assad regime and its allies, who are fighting rebels on the ground.  

Border Patrol Joins Quentin Tarantino Boycott
An organization representing over 16,500 male and female border patrol agents are joining in the national police boycott of director Quentin Tarantino. Comments from Tarantino calling cops “murderers” last week have snowballed into the protest of his forthcoming awards hopeful “The Hateful Eight,” which now includes the National Border Patrol Council.  

Egypt Votes for Israel at UN for First Time in 67 Years
For the first time since Egypt voted for the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, the Arab state has voted in Israel’s favor at the United Nations, this time to support Israel’s bid for membership of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Affairs (COPUOS). The bid passed, admitting Israel to the committee, which governs the exploration and use of space for peace, security and development.  

4.4 Earthquake Near Langston
Oklahoma is shaking again. A relatively large, for Oklahoma, earthquake hit just before 11 this morning near Langston in central Oklahoma. The quake was a magnitude 4.4. There have been a few reports of pictures knocked off walls and nick-knacks scattered, but no injuries.  

Strong earthquake hits in Aleutians; no reports of damage
The Alaska Earthquake Center says the magnitude 5.9 temblor struck at 11:15 p.m. Sunday and was centered in the Bering Sea about 140 miles east of Adak or 1,100 miles southwest of Anchorage. A series of quakes measuring between magnitude 5.2 and 4.2 struck in the same area over the next couple hours.  

BAE Systems and Reaction Engines to develop hypersonic space engine
The SABRE is a scramjet. That is, it reduces the propellant load because it acts as a jet while in the atmosphere and a rocket in space, so it doesn't have to carry as much oxygen to burn the liquid hydrogen fuel. It does so at velocities above Mach 5 (4,500 mph, 7,200 km/h) before flying into space....  

November 2, 2015

Texas woman used in 'blood ritual' while being held captive
"It was a form of witchcraft where they cut her hair and drew blood from her," he said.  

Bomb May Have Blown Up Russian Airbus Flight over Sinai
Egyptian officials suspect that terrorists planted a bomb onboard the Russian Airbus A321 that crashed on Saturday over the Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 crew and passengers.  

Hunters Discover Massive “Gash” in Earth 150 Miles from Yellowstone Caldera
Hunters chasing after the antelope in Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains have come across something quite unexpected: a crack in the earth about 700 yards long and 50 yards wide. The natural phenomenon was first recorded by Randy Becker and then later shared online by SNS Outfitters, an antelope hunting guide service, where the pictures soon started a buzz.  

Russian bombs batter Syria; US jets silent for 3 days
The Russian defense ministry said Monday it had hit 94 targets in just the past 24 hours. US defense officials say Russian sorties have no bearing on coalition actions in Syria, and insist the situation reflects greater discrimination and refinement in terms of which targets are struck  

Cyclone blows through the Persian Gulf
Thousands of oil workers were evacuated from the coast of Oman today as the most powerful cyclone in 60 years roared up the Persian Gulf...  

Report: CIA Recruiting Israeli Soldiers
Channel 2 television reported that the IDF has warned soldiers, especially American "olim," to be careful not to fall into a trap and leak confidential information.  

New Rules of Engagement Result in Safer Security Forces, High Arab Casualties
In late September, 2015, following a critical increase in Arab terrorism, Israel changed the rules of engagement for its security forces. The perceived result has been a decline in injuries and casualties among Israeli police and the military– in part, due to the use of preemptive measures, and a sharp rise in injuries and casualties among Arab rioters and terrorists.  

Voyager probes to receive humanity's final message to the cosmos before contact lost
The probes were launched with the intention of exploring the farthest reaches of Earth’s solar system. Now, as they reach the outer edge of the planetary group, their on-board electricity supply is running out. Scientists are expected to lose contact with the probes in 2,920 days.  

Author to conservatives: Persevere to outlast 'gay revolution'
“Hey, buddy – we’re not going anywhere,” Brown proclaimed in an interview with WND. “We’re not backing down, we’re not bowing down, we’re not caving in, we’re not quitting. We are here for the long haul.” The Supreme Court may have declared “same-sex marriage” a constitutional right, and a majority of Americans now support “same-sex marriage,” but Brown does not believe that means the marriage fight is over.  

Russian airline: The plane that crashed in Sinai must have been damaged by an external force
Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that there are not yet any grounds to rule out any theory for the crash of the Russian airliner in Egypt, including terrorism.  

Magnitude-4.3 earthquake hits central Alaska near small town
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a magnitude-4.3 earthquake hit central Alaska on Saturday night. The agency says the quake's epicenter is 61 miles west of the town of Talkeetna, which has an estimated population of 900, and 97 miles northwest of Anchorage, the state's largest city  

GEOMAGNETIC STORMS LIKELY TODAY
NOAA forecasters estimate a 90% chance of geomagnetic storms on Nov. 2nd-3rd when a fast-moving stream of solar wind is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field.  

A series of earthquakes north of Phoenix jolts residents
A series of three sizable earthquakes, including a magnitude 4.1, jolted Arizona on Sunday evening rattling homes in the Phoenix area.  

Israel is Avoiding the Abyss, For Now
For the past four weeks, Israel and the West Bank have been hit by a wave of stabbing attacks by Palestinian Muslims on Israeli Jews and protests in the West Bank. Palestinian fury derives from claims that Israel planned to change the status quo banning Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, as it is known to Jewish people, or Haram al-Sharif, as it is known to Muslims.  

$20 trillion man: National debt nearly doubles during Obama presidency
When President Obama signs into law the new two-year budget deal Monday, his action will bring into sharper focus a part of his legacy that he doesn’t like to talk about: He is the $20 trillion man. Mr. Obama’s spending agreement with Congress will suspend the nation’s debt limit and allow the Treasury to borrow another $1.5 trillion or so by the end of his presidency in 2017.  

Yemen island hit as Cyclone Chapala heads for mainland
A rare tropical cyclone has hit the remote Yemeni island of Socotra, killing at least one person before heading towards the Yemeni mainland. Many residents took shelter in schools and caves as the storm, named Chapala, brought hurricane-force winds, heavy rain and powerful waves to the island. Photos and videos posted online showed water flowing through the streets of the provincial capital, Hadibu.  

Pope Francis to make official visit to Mexico in February
Pope Francis has announced that he will make his first official visit to Mexico early next year. The Vatican says the Pope's eight-day trip will begin on 12 February. Pope Francis is expected to address issues such as poverty, organised crime and discrimination against migrants who look for a better life in their own country or abroad.  

Turkey election: Erdogan calls on world to respect result
Turkey's president says the world must respect the results of the election, which saw the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) regain its parliamentary majority. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said voters had chosen stability following unrest. With almost all ballots counted, state-run Anadolu news agency said the AKP had won 49.4% of the vote, with the main opposition CHP on 25.4%.  

Jordanian sheikh stirs controversy with fatwa against killing Jews
A senior Jordanian Salafi sheikh... issued a fatwa against killing Jews. Sheikh Ali Halabi said...that Jews can be killed during war only...at other times is a betrayal. When asked by a student if it is permissible to kill Jews in Palestine, the sheikh answered: "Someone who protects you, gives you electricity and water, transfers you money and you work for him and take his money - would you betray him, even if he was a Jew?"  

Unilateral building freeze reportedly implemented throughout east Jerusalem
The Jerusalem Municipality has suspended all building activity in the eastern portion of the capital, which will impact the controversial residential construction plan in Ramat Shlomo... According to the report, the construction freeze order, which will be submitted this week...applies unilaterally to Palestinian and Jewish homes.  

Israel economy minister resigns to allow major gas deal: PM
Israel's economy minister resigned on Sunday, opening the way for the government to greenlight a multibillion dollar gas deal with US energy giant Noble Energy, a statement from the Prime Minister's office said.  

STEALTH AGENDA: New UN Tribunal to Judge US for “Climate Debt”
The official draft text of the climate treaty for the soon-to-start UN Climate Summit in Paris proposes to establish a global Supreme Court that would rule on issues such as “climate justice,” “climate finance,” “technology transfers,” and “climate debt.”  

Putin's Approval Rating Reaches Historic Maximum of Almost 90%
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating has reached historical maximum and hit almost 90%, according to a poll conducted by Russian Public Opinion Research Center (WCIOM).  

Russian plane that crashed in Egypt 'broke up in the air'
A Russian airliner that crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula broke up in mid-air, an official of a Moscow-based aviation agency said on Sunday after visiting the disaster site, but stressed it was too early to draw conclusions from this.  

Haitians Flow Into Cemeteries To Mark Voodoo Day Of The Dead
Revelers streamed into cemeteries across Haiti on Sunday bearing beeswax candles, food offerings and bottles of rum infused with hot peppers to mark the country's annual Voodoo festival of the dead.  

November 1, 2015

UK Becomes First Country To Legalize Genetically Engineered 3-Parent Babies. United States Is Next
The United Kingdom has become the first country to legalize a controversial procedure that allows for the creation of a baby from DNA of three parents. Christian Today reports that the procedure uses DNA from two woman--one the baby’s actual mother--and one man--the baby's father--to create a baby outside the womb. Although some view the new procedure as a scientific breakthrough, others are less than thrilled, and are questioning the ethics of the new procedure.  

U.S. House Speaker Ryan rules out work with Obama on immigration
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said on Sunday it would be ridiculous to work with President Barack Obama on immigration policy reform, saying he cannot trust the president on the issue.  

Will a Jerusalem summit launch the fightback for the free world?
Bringing together a network of like-minded conservative business, security and political leaders from Europe, America, Israel and elsewhere, event organizers say that far from ad hoc interventions by governments, the only real way to tackle the challenges faced by free societies throughout the world is to build and cultivate strong, values-based relationships on a societal level, mobilizing the people to stand strong in defense of the principles they cherish.  

(ALMOST CERTAIN) CHANCE OF STORMS
NOAA forecasters estimate a 90% chance of geomagnetic storms on Nov. 2nd-3rd when a fast-moving stream of solar wind is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. Solar wind speeds could exceed 800 km/s and spark a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm. Sky watchers in the USA should be alert for Northern Lights as far south as, e.g., Oregon and Illinois.  

Hope for a Quick Rebound in Oil Prices Fades
Have oil prices reached the bottom? Goldman Sachs is suggesting oil could hit $20. Although no one has a crystal ball, there is increasing acceptance that a price recovery could take years.  

The Sinai plane crash: Did ISIS do it?
If it is true that jihadists are behind Saturday's Russian plane crash in Sinai, it would have "massive implications" for Egypt and other parties, including Israel, says Professor Yoram Meital, Chairperson of the Chaim Herzog Center for Middle East Studies and Diplomacy.  

Dead comet with skull face to hurtle by Earth on Halloween
A massive space rock that will shave by Earth on Halloween looks like a dead comet with a skull face, NASA said after gaining a closer look at the spooky space object. Astronomers initially thought the object was an asteroid when they spotted it in early October, and named it Asteroid 2015 TB145.  

Earthquake Swarm Tally in San Ramon Keeps Rising, Quakes Now Near 450 in Two Weeks
The earthquake swarms in one San Francisco Bay Area city keeps rising, and according to the US Geological Center's past historical data, has shattered old records. As of Wednesday, the USGS noted that San Ramon, about 45 miles from San Francisco had experienced 446 quakes, including 86 quakes that were a magnitude of 2.0 or higher, since Oct. 13. A total of 28 earthquakes have been documented alone since Tuesday.  

Massive crack opens up in Wyoming mountain
A massive crack the size of seven football fields has formed in the foothills of a mountain range in northern Wyoming. The gaping gash in the Bighorn Mountains has been wowing locals for weeks as it continues to grow to over 750-yards long and about 50-yards wide, according to a hunting outfitter group.  

Students rally in support of officer who flipped girl from desk
A group of Spring Valley High School students walked out of class Friday morning, peacefully protesting the firing of school-resource officer Ben Fields. "They said, 'Bring back Fields.' Everybody was saying that," Spring Valley senior Ty'Juan Fulton, 18, said of the former deputy. Fields also was a coach for the Spring Valley football team.  

Iranian Defense Minister Threatens ‘Bloodthirsty’ U.S. and Israel With ‘An Unforgettable Lesson’
Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Hossein Dehghan on Saturday issued a threat to the U.S. and Israel – who he called “warmongering” and “bloodthirsty” – in the event of a military move against his country. “[O]ur armed forces are always ready to give a response to the U.S. administration and the Zionist regime’s mischiefs,” Dehghan said on Saturday, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency which described the potential Iranian action as “crushing.”  

South China Sea disputes increasing demand for U.S. security presence: Pentagon chief
Disputes over territory in the South China Sea are causing countries in the region to increase their demand for an American security presence, the U.S. defense chief said on Sunday. A U.S. warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of one of China's man-made islands in South China Sea on Tuesday in the most significant U.S. challenge yet to territorial limits Beijing claims around the Spratly archipelago.  

Islamic State seizes central Syrian town near key highway
The Islamic State militant group has expanded its presence in central Syria, seizing control of a town that lies near a highway leading to the capital, Damascus... The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said after intensive clashes with government troops, IS forces captured Mahin in the central province of Homs on Sunday and were now pushing their way northwest toward the majority-Christian town of Sadad.  

UK builds first permanent Middle East base for 40 years
Work has begun to construct Britain's first new permanent military base in the Middle East since 1971. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and naval personnel attended a ceremony to mark the start of construction of HMS Juffair at Mina Salman Port in Bahrain. The establishment is being developed to support Royal Navy deployments in the Gulf through the creation of a permanent and improved base.  

US prisoner release: Nearly 6,000 drug inmates to go free
The US will release nearly 6,000 people jailed for drug crimes in the coming days, an effort to reform policies that led to mass incarceration. About 3,400 inmates were already confined in places like halfway houses. Another 1,700 of the inmates are not US citizens and will possibly face deportation.  

Somalia: Al-Shabab attack kills 15 in Mogadishu hotel
Al-Shabab Islamist militants have attacked a hotel in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, killing at least 15 people. Gunmen used two car bombs to blast their way into the Sahafi hotel compound before storming the building, police said. Victims included at least one MP and the general who led the 2011 offensive that drove al-Shabab out of Mogadishu.  

IDF warns soldiers: Beware of CIA recruitment
Channel 2 reported Sunday that the information security department, part of the IDF's intelligence force, issued a call to its officers and soldiers to beware of recruitment attempts by the CIA. The advisory called on soldiers to "be aware and report any unusual incidences." The warning was issued to all officers and soldiers of the IDF.  

The Continuing Saga of Smart Meters
For those of you who have just heard of smart meters, or have had one placed on your home knowingly or unknowingly, or for those who think that said smart meters are a new development around the world to make it cheaper and easier for you to get electricity, gas and water via the smart grid, think again.  

Storms, tornadoes lash Texas; death toll rises to 6
HOUSTON — The death toll rose to six in Texas as more bodies were recovered on Saturday after another band of strong storms and heavy rain spawned three tornadoes and dangerous flooding in the waterlogged state.  

Crunch talks for Merkel on refugee crisis as thousands more arrive
Nearly 10,000 refugees continued to arrive in Germany daily, police said on Saturday, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the country's stretched border staff ahead of a crunch meeting between Angela Merkel and a Bavarian ally on the crisis.  

Turkey’s Election Could Only Deepen Its Political Divide
The second Turkish election in five months comes at a time of major political crisis, as President Erdogan exerts his authority  

U.S. pledges nearly $100 million to support Syrian opposition as anti-ISIS offensive begins
A newly formed U.S.-backed Syrian rebel alliance launched an offensive against the Islamic State in the northeast province of Hasakah on Saturday, a day after the United States said it would send Special Operations forces­ to advise insurgents fighting the jihadists.  

After vowing to end two wars, Obama may leave three behind
President Obama’s decision to expand the U.S. war effort in Iraq and Syria is a reflection of the conflicting pressures on a commander in chief who doubts that military force alone can end the conflicts in those countries, but who also feels compelled to act in the face of a humanitarian catastrophe and a growing threat to the United States.  

Islamic State claims responsibility for Russian plane crash in Egypt
A militant group affiliated to Islamic State in Egypt claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian passenger plane that crashed in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Saturday, the group said in a statement circulated by supporters on Twitter.