December 19, 2015

3.1 Earthquake Strikes near San Ramon, California
A shallow magnitude 3.1 earthquake was reported Saturday morning in San Ramon, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 12:34 a.m. Pacific time at a depth of 5.6 miles.  

Chile earthquake: Strong tremor strikes east of Ovalle
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 has struck east of the city of Ovalle in Chile's Limarí province, seismologists say, with shaking felt over a large area.  

In Barack Obama’s America, ISIS Wins and Americans Die
So last night Barack Obama says he has not watched enough cable television to know that Americans were upset about Paris and California. Consider that for a minute. Maybe the Democrats who whisper that he has Aspergers are right. The President did not watch enough television to understand that people were upset.  

U.N. endorses Syria peace plan in rare show of unity among big powers
The United Nations Security Council on Friday unanimously approved a resolution endorsing an international road map for a Syria peace process, a rare show of unity among major powers on a conflict that has claimed more than a quarter million lives. The resolution gives a U.N. blessing to a plan negotiated previously in Vienna that calls for a ceasefire, talks between the Syrian government and opposition, and a roughly two-year timeline to create a unity government and hold elections.  

Turkish official: Deal with Israel 'close'
Turkey and Israel are “close” to an agreement on a deal to normalize ties after positive progress was made on Ankara's key demands in closed-door negotiations, a Turkish official said on Friday,  

Putin says easy to work both with Assad and US on Syria conflict
"Regarding the Syrian crisis, we find it easy to work both with President Assad and the American side. I have recently spoken about this with (US) President (Barack) Obama, and with our friends from Saudi Arabia, and from other Arab nations," Putin said.  

INCOMING SOLAR STORM CLOUDS
A pair of CMEs billowed away from the sun on Dec 16th. NOAA forecasters say that both are likely to hit Earth on Dec. 18th and 19th. These are relatively minor storm clouds. Nevertheless, the double blow could spark G2-class geomagnetic storms over the weekend.  

Students Sing "Allah Akbar" at Holiday Concert
Nothing says Merry Christmas like a Ramadan song – at least in Blaine, Minnesota. There was a big controversy after Thursday’s holiday concert at the local high school – when the teenagers belted out a praise song to Allah. I’m sure a number of Lutherans along with other Protestant parents spewed their egg nog when they heard their offspring singing, “Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar.”  

Did you feel Friday's quake?
Did you feel the earthquake today? The one that happened in Lake Ontario?  

Earthquake strikes near popular tourist destination of Vanuatu
A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck northeast of the islands of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean. This quake occurred on December 19, 2015, 02:10:53 UTC.  

Moderate quake hits parts of Uttarakhand
A moderate earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale rocked parts of Uttarakhand in the wee hours today. Epicentred in the India-Nepal border region, the earthquake occurred at 3.47 am, the MeT department here said.  

Scientists Ponder How to Create Artificial Intelligence That Won’t Destroy Us
...Scientists, recognizing their work is breaking out of the research lab and into the real world, grappled during a daylong summit on Dec. 10 in Montreal with such ethical issues as how to prevent computers that are smarter than humans from putting people out of work, adding complications to legal proceedings, or, even worse, seeking to harm society.  

Gay couples could soon have children with traits of BOTH fathers: 'Multiplex parenting' could allow up to 32 people to contribute to child
Scientific advances will soon allow children to have any number of parents, legal experts warn. The arrival of ‘multiplex parenting’ is a ‘mere matter of time’ as the techniques have been shown to work on mice, according to a study. In theory, any number of parents from three upwards – of either sex – could contribute DNA to create a baby.  

Massive spending bill and tax plan passes US Congress
US congressional leaders have passed a $1.1 trillion (£730 billion) spending bill, avoiding a government shutdown. The massive bill includes both Republican-backed initiatives and Democratic priorities. The spending bill, passed in combination with a tax plan, easily made it through the House and Senate.  

Migrant crisis: EU needs 'massive' resettlement programme
The head of the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has urged European leaders to set up a "massive" refugee resettlement programme. Antonio Guterres said moves to speed up the processing of asylum seekers in Greece was welcome but "not enough". He was speaking as a new UN report warned that the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide would "far surpass" a record 60 million this year.  

China pollution: Factories closed by Beijing smog
Cars were forced off the road and factories closed in Beijing on Saturday after the city was once again blanketed by hazardous smog. The government issued a level-four red alert on Friday - the most serious of a four-tier warning system. The alert, the second in as many weeks, means schools have to close and half the vehicles banned.  

China accuses US of B-52 'provocation' over Spratly Islands
China has accused the US of "serious provocation" after it flew B-52 bombers near one of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Chinese military personnel were put on "high alert" during the incident on 10 December, and issued warnings to leave. The Pentagon said it was looking into the complaint.  

Turkey fires back at Iraq over troops, says Iraq undermines global ISIS fight
Turkey accused Iraq on Friday of undermining the global fight against Islamic State militants by taking its complaint about the deployment of Turkish troops in northern Iraq to the United Nations Security Council. The 15-member council met on the issue on Friday at the request of Iraq and Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari who asked the body to adopt a resolution demanding Turkey withdraw its troops immediately.  

Sanders regains access to voter files after bitter fight over data breach
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders regained access to crucial voter files on Friday after taking the Democratic National Committee to court and accusing party leaders of trying to undermine his White House bid and help rival Hillary Clinton.  

Ancient Sword ‘Could Prove Romans Discovered America Before Columbus’
An ancient sword found in water near Oak Island in Nova Scotia offers proof the Romans found America, a researcher has claimed. If true, the sword - found by fishermen in shallow waters - would rewrite history, with Roman explorers having found America a millennia before Columbus.  

Khomeini grandson gets cautious election blessing from the top
A grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini is expected to seek election early next year to the body that chooses Iran's supreme leader and is said to have the cautious blessing of the incumbent, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.  

Israeli troops kill three Palestinians in W.Bank, Gaza unrest
Two Palestinian drivers Friday tried but failed to run down Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank, with one attacker shot dead and the other wounded, Israeli officials said.  

German-made submarine heads to Israel for delivery
The latest German-built Dolphin-class submarine INS Rahav is en route to Haifa to be delivered to the Israeli Navy. INS Rahav, given the Hebrew name for Greek god of the seas Poseidon, is one of the Israeli Defense Force's most expensive weapons. The vessel's voyage to Haifa comes roughly a decade after the Israeli government placed the order to German defense contractor Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft.  

Israel’s Fruitful Week in Science and Its Secret to Success
For a country the size of New Jersey that seems to always be on the verge of war, it is unlikely that Israel would be one of the world’s science superpowers. But somehow, the State of Israel defeats all odds.  

December 18, 2015

Global Reading of Shema Prayer Announced for Monday Amid Growing Crisis Around World
The prayer event is intended to be a response to the conflict over the Temple Mount and the increasingly tense situation in Syria, which many leading rabbinic leaders have declared part of the Messianic process.  

Global Reading of Shema Prayer Announced for Monday Amid Growing Crisis Around World
The prayer event is intended to be a response to the conflict over the Temple Mount and the increasingly tense situation in Syria, which many leading rabbinic leaders have declared part of the Messianic process.  

Migration CRISIS: Germans and French back plan for 2,500-strong border force
Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande agreed to support the move during talks at an EU summit in Brussels. The proposed force, which also includes a coastguard, is set to get sweeping powers to deploy armed guards on the bloc's external borders. Britain is not expected to be part of the formation of the scheme which is focused on the Schengen passport-check free zone, but could be asked to contribute border guards in the future.  

Calais migrants 'armed with iron bars and hammers' launch mass bid to reach UK
Locals in the lawless port town went online this afternoon to report that a number of migrants brought traffic to a standstill and are storming the entrance to the tunnel. Squadrons of French riot police, known as the CRS, are apparently at the scene and there were reports of violent clashes in the streets.  

Scientists manipulate rat consciousness, could treat brain injury
By flashing laser pulses at specific areas of rats' brains, scientists were able to either wake the rodents or put them to sleep, which may help in developing treatments for brain injuries and neurological disorders.  

World to Observe Day of Atonement as UN Makes Yom Kippur Official Holiday
The UN on Thursday recognized Yom Kippur as an official United Nations holiday. And so, from next year on, there will be no official meetings at the UN on Yom Kippur and employees can take the day off and go out to not have lunch.  

Sadness, shame and blame at Yale over First Amendment repeal video
Members of the Yale University community on Thursday responded with a mix of embarrassment, sadness and literal disbelief to a viral video showing students there freely signing a petition that calls for the repeal of the First Amendment.  

Is Russia gearing up for war with Turkey?
After the downing of its jet by Turkey Moscow also rushed its latest S-400 air defense system to the Hmeimim base in Syria. That system has a range and capacity that far outstrips the weaponry on board the Moskva, meaning the ship may not have much strategic necessity. But by dispatching a key warship like the Moskva - with its crew of some 500 - the Kremlin seems to be making a clear statement of strength.  

Putin gives Russian Constitution priority over international court rulings
President Vladimir Putin has signed into law the bill allowing the Constitutional Court to overrule the decisions of international courts if such decisions contradict the principle of supremacy of the Russian Constitution.  

Saudi official: Arab culture 'immersed in hatred'
Ibrahim Al-Buleihi, a member of Riyadh's Shura Council - the formal advisory body to Saudi Arabia's absolute monarchy, affirmed that Arab culture's "hatred of the other" is to blame for the Islamic State (ISIS) attacks in Paris,  

CNN Sashays With Satanists
On Dec. 13, as many Christians celebrated the third Sunday of Advent and rejoiced over the incarnation of Jesus Christ, CNN was celebrating Satan. Literally. Ling's stars of the week were the leaders of a "Satanic Temple" based in Detroit. Within four minutes, CNN was promoting a bitter young man named Michael Mars whose idea of recreation in his bedroom was spraying fake blood into the face of a statue of the mother of Jesus.  

Wiesenthal Center applauds Vatican’s statement on the divine covenant with the Jewish people
The Simon Wiesenthal Center applauds a new Vatican document that instructs Catholics not to target Jews for conversion, affirms G-d’s continued covenant with the Jewish people, and asks Catholics to work with Jews to eradicate anti-Semitism.  

6.5 Magnitude Earthquake CHIAPAS, MEXICO
Magnitude M 6.5 Region CHIAPAS, MEXICO Date time 2015-12-17 19:49:57.4 UTC Location 15.86 N ; 93.30 W Depth 126 km  

Japan's far-flung island defense plan seeks to turn tables on China
Japan is fortifying its far-flung island chain in the East China Sea under an evolving strategy that aims to turn the tables on China's navy and keep it from ever dominating the Western Pacific Ocean... The United States, believing...Japan in particular - must help contain growing Chinese military power, has pushed Japan to abandon its decades-old bare-bones home island defense in favor of exerting its military power in Asia.  

Israel and Turkey reach 'understanding' on restoring ties
Israel and Turkey have reached a preliminary agreement on normalising relations, an Israeli official said. Ties broke down after the Israeli navy raided a flotilla trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza in 2010. Ten Turkish activists were killed. The deal will see Israel compensate families of those killed while Turkey will drop all claims against Israel, the unnamed official said.  

EU renegotiations: Pathway for deal found - Cameron
David Cameron has said there is a "a pathway to a deal" on new terms for Britain's membership of the EU after talks with other leaders. The prime minister set out his reform demands, which include controversial plans to curb access to benefits for migrants, at a dinner in Brussels. He said "good progress" has been made but it would be "hard work" to get a deal by his February deadline.  

Libya militia chases away US troops
US forces flown to Libya to support government troops had to leave after landing because of demands from a local militia group, US officials say. It follows reports that 20 US special forces troops, equipped with advanced weaponry, landed on Monday at an airbase in western Libya.  

Khomeini grandson gets cautious election blessing form Iran's incumbent supreme leader
A grandson of the leader of Iran's 1979 revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, is expected to seek election early next year to the body that chooses Iran's supreme leader and is said to have the cautious blessing of the incumbent, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Registration opens on Thursday for the election that is likely to see the first member of the family of Iran's revolutionary founder test his popularity at the ballot box.  

‘Israel, Iran have fastest growing defense budgets in Middle East’
Israel and Iran have the fastest growing defense budgets in the Middle East while other Gulf Arab states cut spending due to falling oil prices, according to a report published Thursday. Worldwide, though, defense spending increased because of security threats, with many Western governments deciding not to make cuts, London- based global intelligence firm IHS said.  

UN Security Council adopts resolution to cut off ISIS funding
The UN Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution to cut off funds for the Islamic State... Measures such as asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo will be taken against the Islamic State, also known as the IS, ISIS and Daesh that controls large swaths of Syria and Iraq, including oil and gas fields, according to the resolution.  

Report: German spies again cooperating with Syrian secret service
Germany's spy agency is working again with Syrian President Bashar Assad's secret service to swap information on Islamist militants...despite Berlin's opposition to Assad staying in power under any peace deal in Syria. Citing well-informed sources, the mass-circulation newspaper said German foreign intelligence BND agents had been traveling regularly to Damascus for some time for consultations with Syrian colleagues.  

US poised to lift sanctions on Iran under nuclear deal
The United States appears poised to lift at least some sanctions against Iran — possibly as early as January — as members of Congress urge a swift, robust U.S. response to Tehran's recent ballistic missile test.  

Putin Praises Donald Trump as 'Bright and Talented'
In Vladimir Putin's view, Donald Trump is "bright and talented." But as much as those words sound overtly like praise, there are some murky nuances. The most unequivocally favorable part of the comments the Russian leader made Thursday to a scrum of reporters after his annual year-end news conference was about the Republican presidential aspirant's claims that he wants to improve relations with Russia.  

Thousands RIOT after officials threaten to build asylum centre in tiny town in Netherlands
Police fired warning shots in a bid to disperse the crowd in Geldermalsen, Netherlands where 2,000 people joined the protest. Pictures and videos of the incident showed dozens of youths tearing down fences, throwing beer bottles and fireworks at police, and chanting slogans against the proposed centre for asylum-seekers in the town of 27,000.  

India’s nuclear explosive materials are vulnerable to theft, U.S. officials and experts say
The sites are spread out over vast distances: from the stony foothills of the Himalayas in the north down to the red earth of the tropical south. Shuttling hundreds of miles in between will be occasional convoys of lightly-protected trucks laden with explosive and fissile materials — including plutonium and enriched uranium — that could be used in civilian and military reactors or to spark a nuclear blast.  

Parents Question Choice To Sing ‘Allahu Akbar’ At Holiday Concert
Some parents in the Anoka-Hennepin School District are questioning a choir teacher’s decision to use a song about Ramadan performed in Arabic at a holiday concert.  

December 17, 2015

Sweden: Muslim Migrants Batter Gay Man to Death, Wrap Snake Around His Neck
Two Muslim migrants in Sweden have been charged with the hate crime murder of a gay man after they allegedly battered the victim to death before dressing him up in women’s clothing and wrapping a snake around his neck.  

Merkel's Refugee Mini-Summit Threatens EU Split
The consequences of the mass migration have thrown the European Union into chaos, with the Schengen borderless zone called into question. Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Denmark are among the countries which have — to a greater or lesser extent — closed their borders or imposed border controls.  

Turkey Detains 27 Russian Ships in Retaliation for Russia’s Detaining 8 Turkish Vessels
Turkey has tightened its inspections of Russian ships docked in its harbors in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and has so far detained 27 Russian ships which failed to meet sailing criteria. This move is in retaliation for the Russian authorities detaining Eight Turkish ships in Russian ports, denying them permission to travel since Nov. 24, the day when Turkey downed a Russian military jet. The Turks said the Russian ships were too old to sail.  

High School Seniors Now Prefer Marijuana to Cigarettes
More students in the 12th grade said they smoked pot every day, compared to those who smoke daily cigarettes...It’s the first time since the survey began in 1975 that daily marijuana use surpassed cigarettes. The “Monitoring the Future” survey released on Wednesday shows that 6% of 12th graders used marijuana every day—about the same rate as last year—while 5.5% of seniors reported smoking cigarettes daily.

Secret deal quadruples foreign workers in U.S.
This provision would quadruple the number of H-2B visas for low-skilled foreign “guest workers.” It would allow more than a quarter-of-a-million foreign workers to enter the U.S. each year and work in the construction industry, hotel-motel services, truck drivers, food processing, forestry and many other fields that don’t require a college education.  

US issues travel warning for Israel
The warning states that tourists should be able to locate the nearest bomb shelter. It also advised that the "security situation can change day to day, depending on the political situation, recent events, and geographic area."  

Does ISIS pose a WMD threat?
The risk of ISIS employing chemical, biological, and radiological warfare agents is real. ISIS does not display any degree of morality or fear of consequences.  

Netanyahu signs controversial natural gas deal
"The gas was given to us as a gift from God," he said prior to signing the deal. "He gave us huge gas reserves and turned us into an important force on the international front."  

Sydney weather: Bureau of Meteorology confirms Kurnell was hit by a tornado
Residents of the beachside southern Sydney suburb had little warning of just how damaging the storm would be with a tornado warning issued at 10.27am and the record breaking winds hitting Kurnell less than five minutes later. The Bureau said tornadoes were a "relatively rare phenomenon in Australia" and when they do happen they were usually on the lower end of the tornado intensity scale.  

SOLAR STORM TARGETS EARTH
A pair of CMEs billowed away from the sun on Dec. 16th, and at least one of them appears to be heading for Earth. Propelled in our direction by an erupting filament of magnetism.  

Migrant crisis: Dutch town riots over asylum centre plan
A meeting in a Dutch town to discuss whether to build a new centre for migrants had to be abandoned when some opponents rioted. Protesters in Geldermalsen tore down fences and threw fireworks at police who responded with warning shots. European countries are facing record numbers of refugees and other migrants entering Greece illegally from Turkey.  

Putin pours fresh scorn on Turkey for downing Russian jet
Russian President Vladimir Putin has used crude language in a furious new attack on Turkey over the downing of a Russian combat jet last month. The incident on the Syria-Turkey border was a "hostile act" but Russia was "not the country" to run away, he told his annual news conference. He saw "no prospect" of ties improving with Turkey, which Russia has put under sanctions, under its current leaders.  

China summons US envoy over Taiwan arms deal
China has summoned a senior US envoy in protest after Washington announced it would sell two warships to Taiwan. Vice-Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang made "solemn representations" with Kaye Lee, the US charge d'affaires, China's foreign ministry said. The arms deal, worth $1.83bn (£1.22bn), comes as tensions rise over China's island-building in the South China Sea.  

Fifth Israel Navy submarine leaves Germany for Haifa port
The Israel Navy's fifth Dolphin submarine, and second new-generation AIP (air independent propulsion) platform has left its German manufacturing center for a 3000 mile journey to its home base at Haifa naval base, a senior naval source said Thursday. The INS Rahav is carrying some 50 personnel, and "minimal weapons needed to protect itself," before its arrival in Israel next month.  

Turkey mistreated scores of migrants, says Amnesty
Turkey has detained and mistreated scores of migrants, pressuring some to return to war zones, a new report by Amnesty International says. The group says EU pressure on Turkey to stem migration to Europe has resulted in the "forcible transportation" of hundreds of migrants.  

US Fed raises interest rates by 0.25%
The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates by 0.25 percentage points - its first increase since 2006. The move takes the range of rates banks offer to lend to each other overnight - the Federal Funds rate - to between 0.25% and 0.5%.  

China threatens sanctions against firms in Taiwan arms sale
China is threatening sanctions against companies involved in the U.S. government's $1.83 billion sale of navy frigates and other military equipment to Taiwan.  

Rouhani: U.N.'s closure of probe into Iran's nuclear past is political victory
President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday a U.N. watchdog's closure of investigations into Iran's past nuclear activities is a political victory for the country, lifting the main obstacle to implementing Tehran's deal with world powers.  

Yemen's truce in danger of collapse; prisoner swap blocked
A ceasefire between Yemen's Houthi group and a Saudi-led alliance was in danger of collapse on Wednesday, each side accusing the other of violating the truce, as peace talks went into a second day in Switzerland. 

December 16, 2015

Team led by Middle Eastern Woman Caught Surveilling U.S. Facility on Mexican Border
A Middle Eastern woman was caught surveilling a U.S. port of entry on the Mexican border holding a sketchbook with Arabic writing and drawings of the facility and its security system, federal law enforcement sources tell Judicial Watch.  

Planned Parenthood Reportedly ‘Steam-cooks’ Aborted Fetuses before Disposing of Them
An investigation into Planned Parenthood clinics in Ohio has found that they not only dump fetal remains in a landfill after abortions, but they also “steam-cook” the fetuses.  

Egyptian warplanes using Israeli airspace
Egyptian Air Force makes unprecedented flights over Israeli territory, likely with IDF permission, en route to bombing Islamic State targets in the Sinai.  

North Korea sentences Canadian pastor to hard labor for life
North Korea's highest court has sentenced a South Korea-born Canadian pastor to hard labor for life for subversion, the North's official KCNA news agency reported on Wednesday.  

Ban Ki-moon Winds Down UN Post by Bashing Israel as Reason for Intifada
Ban Ki-moon, who leaves his post in two weeks, blamed Israel for the Arab violence in a scathing speech in Jakarta His speech, delivered by a U.N. official in Indonesia, was one of his most off-balanced anti-Israel addresses ever.  

Russia says can breach US missile defence shield
Russian missiles will be able to breach the anti-missile defense shield being built by the United States, the head of Russia's strategic missile forces was quoted as saying on Wednesday.  

‘We see Syria fundamentally very similarly’ – Kerry after talks with Putin, Lavrov
The US stands ready to work with Russia,” Kerry told journalists after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lavrov on Tuesday. He added that the two countries’ officials had “a productive day” and the discussions had been “constructive.”  

Sweden offers support to free up French troops fighting Islamic State
Sweden said on Wednesday it would send a transport plane and logistical support to Mali and other parts of Africa to free up French forces stationed there and let them join the fight against Islamic State.  

Star Wars: This Is How The Laodicean Church Celebrates The Birth Of Jesus Christ
New Jersey Church Hosting Living Star Wars Nativity. Tim Lucas, tells us exactly what his reasoning behind the Star Wars Christmas themed manger is. In his own words he says that while we may have the “greatest story” in the world, that that story itself, the gospel, lacks sufficient power to draw people in.  

Bering Sea Storm Among Strongest Non-Tropical Cyclones on Record; Gusts Hit 122 MPH in Alaska
The lowest barometric pressure in the storm was estimated to be 924 millibars at 9 p.m. Alaska time on Saturday night, or 1 a.m. EDT Sunday, according to an analysis done by NOAA's Ocean Prediction Center. That ties a Bering Sea storm in November of last year that also had a lowest estimated pressure of 924 millibars.  

How NASA Sees El Niño Effects From Space
This winter, weather patterns may be fairly different than what's typical -- all because of unusually warm ocean water in the east equatorial Pacific, an event known as El Niño. Because of El Niño, California is expected to get more rain, while Australia is expected to get less. Since this El Niño began last summer, the Pacific Ocean has already experienced an increase in tropical storms and a decrease in phytoplankton.  

A Church, a Synagogue, and a Mosque Under One Roof?
Three religious leaders in Germany, representing Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, are spearheading a project to build a proposed shared prayer space, called the House of One, on the now-empty site of a 13th century Berlin church.  

John Kerry: Oh, by the way, the U.S. is no longer asking for regime change in Syria
“The United States and our partners are not seeking so-called regime change,” Kerry told reporters in the Russian capital after meeting President Vladimir Putin. A major international conference on Syria would take place later this week in New York, Kerry announced…  

Hillary Clinton's Debate Commentary: Muslims Have Nothing To Do With Terrorism
Muslims have quite a bit to do with terrorism, and the vast majority of the victims of terrorism are Muslims who are killed by other Muslims.  

Iran's October missile test violated U.N. ban: expert panel
Iran violated a U.N. Security Council resolution in October by test-firing a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, a team of sanctions monitors said, leading to calls in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday for more sanctions on Tehran. The White House said it would not rule out additional steps against Iran over the test of the medium-range Emad rocket.  

UN-sponsored conference accuses Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' in Jerusalem
An official UN press release about a conference held this week in Indonesia accuses Israel of "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians. "In Jerusalem, a policy of ethnic cleansing was pushing Palestinians out of the city. Since September, the situation had erupted," the press release states, quoting comments made at the conference.  

Jihadis send LETTERS to EU civilians ordering them to convert or die
Bloodthirsty Daesh Islamists posted notes through the doors of dozens of random neighbours in several cities across Sweden, including the capital Stockholm, threatening to murder "non-believers" in a terrifying campaign of violence. Sweden is now on lockdown after the chilling letters pledged to behead innocent civilians and then "bomb your rotten corpses afterwards".  

The stealth superwing: Next generation 'Air Dominance' fighter jet that will have built in laser weapons...
Northrop Grumman has revealed a tantalising image of a new stealth 'superjet' capable of firing laser weapons. The so called 'sixth generation fighter' is rumoured to fly at supersonic speeds, although Northrop Grumman...say the specifications are still secret.  

America's painkiller epidemic grips the workplace
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...recently referred to...prescription painkillers — as "a growing epidemic that is gripping our country." ...A new survey...conducted by the National Safety Council (NSC), along with Indiana's attorney general, concluded that 80 percent of Indiana employers have been impacted by prescription drug misuse and abuse by employees.  

Chinese Submarine Practiced Missile Attack on USS Reagan
A Chinese attack submarine conducted a simulated cruise missile attack on the aircraft carrier USS Reagan during a close encounter several weeks ago, according to American defense officials. The targeting incident near the Sea of Japan in October violated China’s 2014 commitment to the multinational Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea...  

UN's Ban Ki-Moon accuses Israel of 'breeding' Palestinian terror attacks
In a message delivered on his behalf to a conference on the Rights of Palestinian people and the situation in Jerusalem organized this week in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon said that the recent Palestinian attacks on Israelis are “bred from nearly five decades of Israeli occupation.”  

Nearly 900 housing units approved in Jerusalem's contested Gilo neighborhood
The Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee on Wednesday approved 891 additional housing units in the southeast Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo according to multiple media reports. In April, construction commenced for 708 Jewish homes in the contested neighborhood in a forested area, drawing the ire of both Palestinian activists and environmentalists alike. Gilo is over the 1949 Armistice Line.  

Saudi Arabia Spends Billions to Get Asia Hooked on Its Crude Oil
At the heart of Korea’s Onsan Refinery lies a street called “A.I. Naimi Road,” an homage to Saudi Arabia’s oil minister. The reason: state-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Co. holds a 65 percent stake in the complex.  

Majority Of Millennials Have Under $1,000 In Savings
Millennials are projected to number 75.3 million for 2015, surpassing a projected 74.9 million for Baby Boomers. The Millennials will therefore comprise a greater percentage of the population than Baby Boomers for the first time. To gain insight into the saving habits of Millennials, we recently performed a survey of those from the ages of 18 to 34. We received 2,585 responses to our survey. The results of our survey found that over 50% of Millennials have less than $1,000 in savings.  

Republican candidates clash over how to counter IS
Republican presidential candidates sparred over national security issues and how best to counter the so-called Islamic State (IS) in the first debate since attacks in California and Paris.  

Why Saudi Arabia's coalition against terror might not be all it appears
A group of Muslim countries announced Tuesday a coalition aimed at doing what the United States and other powers have long called on the Islamic world to do: make the war on the Islamic State and other Islamist terror groups its own.  

North Korea sentences Canadian pastor to hard labor for life: Xinhua
North Korea's highest court has sentenced a South Korea-born Canadian pastor to hard labor for life for subversion, China's official news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.  

December 15, 2015

Affirmed: At Least Two Clinton Emails Were 'Top Secret'
Fox News’ Catherine Herridge has received confirmation from the intelligence community that at least two of the emails Hillary Clinton received on her private, unsecure server as secretary of state were not only classified, but “top secret.” The sources, who were not authorized to speak on the record, told Fox News that while the emails were indeed “top secret” when they hit Clinton’s server, one of them remains “top secret” to this day  

Kerry’s True Disdain for Netanyahu Shines Through in Revealing Interview
The article cites several examples of Israeli officials’ “insulting” behavior, including the controversial speech against the Iran nuclear deal which Netanyahu gave to Congress without the White House’s permission.  

Torah Scroll Being Written to Present to Messiah Upon His Arrival
Rabbi Yosef Berger, one of the rabbis in charge of King David’s Tomb in Jerusalem’s Old City, has been dreaming of a project for over a year – one Torah scroll to unify all of Israel. Recent global events have forced Rabbi Berger to move ahead quickly with his dream as he wants to be able to personally present this Torah as a gift to the Messiah.  

North Korea conflict could become 'trans-regional,' U.S. official says
"As you start to look at intercontinental ballistic technology, cyber capabilities, space capabilities, information operations and so forth, it's pretty hard to see how even a regional conflict would actually be anything other than trans-regional, multi-domain and multi-functional," the U.S. official said.  

Britain 'to quit' EU over migrants: New poll shows we’re on course for exit
Fifty-one per cent of people who expressed a firm opinion in a survey of more than 10,000 adults across the country supported exit from the European Union. The survey also showed that the European migrant crisis meant 45.5 per cent of voters were “more likely” to back withdrawal from the EU.  

Syrian Army Foils Attacks in Hama, Kills Over 100 Terrorists
The Syrian Army repelled a string of attacks on their fighting positions by militants from the Jaish al-Fatah terrorist group in the northern part of Hama province, the Army reported. Over 100 terrorists were killed.  

As pension reform crunch nears, Greek coalition looks fragile
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' governing majority is looking fragile as crunch time approaches for a pension reform that will test his resolve to impose painful measures to satisfy Athens' international creditors. While Tsipras remains Greece's dominant politician, with no challenger in sight, Athens is awash with rumors of an "ecumenical government" combining technocrats with consensual politicians if he loses his majority.  

Economic pain in U.S. heartland as likely Fed hike nears
America's heartland, the vast area in the middle of the country that produces much of the nation's food and energy and is home to many of its traditional manufacturers, is sending warning signals that all is not well with the economy.  

Saudi unveils huge anti–ISIS coalition
Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday the creation of a massive anti-ISIS terror fighting intiative that joins together 34 nations. Among the nations that have united, Reuters reported: “Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan and several Gulf Arab and African states.  

ISIS in America: 3 charged with terror–tied crimes
A 30-year-old Maryland man named Mohamed Elshinawy was arrested and accused in a court hearing of receiving almost $9,000 from ISIS to finance a terrorists attack in the United States. And that’s just after a couple of Illinois men were arrested and charged with planning to attack a military armory with grenades.  

Vatican: Jews don't need Christ to be saved
Jews can secure eternal salvation without converting to Christianity, senior Catholic theologians say in a report published Thursday...The belief that the only way to salvation is through belief in Christ is a fundamental tenet of every strand of Christianity.  

Putin-Erdogan 'peace talks' collapse
Russia on Monday said a summit between President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan penciled in for December 15 had been cancelled,  

Hezbollah has lost 1/3 of its fighters in Syria
Hezbollah has lost more than one-third of its fighting forces in Syria, Israeli experts estimated Tuesday, including some 1,300-1,500 soldiers since the Syrian Civil War began nearly five years ago. 5,000 Hezbollah terrorists have been injured in the fighting as well...  

2.1- magnitude earthquake shakes near New Madrid
Residents in southeast Missouri likely felt a small shake as they were waking up Tuesday morning. A 2.1 magnitude earthquake rattled six miles south of New Madrid at 5:41 a.m.  

Evangelical preacher on trial after branding Islam 'satanic'
An evangelical preacher from Northern Ireland who branded Islam satanic has been charged with spreading a "grossly offensive" message. In a May 2014 sermon, James McConnell told worshippers at the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in Belfast: "Islam is heathen. Islam is satanic."  

Oklahoma reports surge in earthquakes during 2015
As 2015 nears its end, 850 earthquakes of magnitude three or greater have stirred the state of Oklahoma. Compared to 584 of the same magnitude in 2014 and 109 in 2013, the trend is clear: earthquakes are on the rise. ...Jeremy Boak, director of the Oklahoma Geological Survey, said it’s less widely known that the state has been taking steps toward combating the pattern of induced seismicity.  

Syria conflict: Kerry seeks to narrow divisions with Russia
US Secretary of State John Kerry is in Moscow for talks on ways to bridge gaps over possible Syria peace talks. Ahead of his meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Mr Kerry said he hoped to find common ground. Later, he will meet President Vladimir Putin, as the two nations seek to narrow the gap on which groups should be included in the planned talks.  

Australia conducting 'freedom of navigation' flights in South China Sea
The Australian military is carrying out "freedom of navigation" flights over disputed islands in the South China Sea, the BBC has uncovered. In November, US B-52 bombers flew over the area angering China. The US insists on its right to make such flights. In a recent civilian flight, a BBC team intercepted radio communications showing the Australian military is also operating such flights in the area.  

Saudi Arabia to lead Muslim coalition against terrorism
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced the formation of a 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism, according to a joint statement published on state news agency SPA. "The countries here mentioned have decided on the formation of a military alliance led by Saudi Arabia to fight terrorism, with a joint operations center based in Riyadh to coordinate and support military operations," the statement said.  

Kerry: I Don’t Know the Endgame for Israel — But Neither Do the Israelis
Expressing renewed exasperation over the United States’ inability to forge a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, Secretary of State John Kerry says he has no idea how the more than 60-year-old conflict will come to an end.  

Two-thirds of Palestinians support knife attacks: poll
Two-thirds of Palestinians support the ongoing wave of stabbings against Israelis, with the same percentage backing a larger armed uprising, a poll released on Monday found.  

Bitcoin Or Gold: Did The Alleged Bitcoin Creator Just Settle Once And For All What Is More Valuable?
Apparently, Australian tax authorities had questioned Wright in the past and according to a number of sources (and documents obtained by Wired and Gizmodo), there appears to have been some manner of dispute over how his bitcoin holdings should be taxed. The attention accorded to Wright on the heels of the two articles published late last Tuesday might have prompted the ATO to move in once and for all, although authorities claimed at the time that there was no connection between the new “revelations” about Wright’s identity and the raids.  

Bill Gross: High-yield pain is start of something
Stresses in the high-yield bond market mark the start of a new trend, according to bond expert Bill Gross, but it's not necessarily cause for panic.  

Feminist Academics Join Destroy-Israel Movement
The National Women’s Studies Association has voted by a huge majority to join the worldwide Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Their annual conference passed the measure by a 653-86 vote, and their full membership of 12,000 will vote on it in the next two months.  

December 14, 2015

People are calling Sam's Club CEO 'racist' after she gave an interview about diversity
Sam's Club CEO Rosalind Brewer is being accused of discriminating against white men following a CNN interview where she discussed the importance of workforce diversity.  

New Chief of Mossad Calls on God for Help in Defending Israel
Cohen recognized divine providence in Israel when he stated, as reported by Walla, “Without siyata de’shamaya (“heavenly aid” in Aramaic), the State of Israel would not have been established.”  

How much more depraved can ISIS get? Group's Sharia judges order children with Down's syndrome and other disabilities to be killed in chilling
ISIS have issued a fatwa which orders children with Down's syndrome and other disabilities to be killed in a chilling echo to the workings of the Nazis,  

Powerful Alaska Storm Ties Strongest on Record
A potent storm approaching western Alaska this weekend has tied the strongest recorded storm to impact the region. This storm comes a little over a year after ex-Super Typhoon Nuri became the most powerful system on record to cross Dutch Harbor, Alaska...  

Winter Storm Echo Spreading Heavy Snow From West to Upper Midwest
Winter Storm Echo will continue to spread a blanket of heavy snow throughout the Rockies on Monday before shifting into the northern Plains and Upper Midwest Tuesday into Wednesday. Echo brought heavy snow to the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades of the Pacific Northwest over the weekend.  

More than 700,000 evacuated as Typhoon Melor reaches Philippines
More than 700,000 people were evacuated in the Philippines on Monday as Typhoon Melor reached sustained winds up to 130 mph. The fierce storm, known locally as Nona, is bearing down on coastal areas with heavy winds and rain. Melor intensified rapidly over the weekend as it moved toward the eastern island of Samar,  

'We have a LIMIT' Turkey runs out of patience with Russia after warship FIRES on boat
TURKEY'S Foreign minister has said patience with Russia "has a limit" after a Russian warship fired a warning shot at a Turkish ship in the Aegean Sea, raising tensions further between the two nations.  

Russia continues military buildup around Turkey
Russian garrisons are being deployed near the Armenia's border with Turkey on the Armenian government's request, media reported Monday. According to local media, the decree to send the troops to Armenia was already signed by Russian President Putin, and the deployment will start soon.  

Obama Praises 196-Country Climate Deal; Republicans Say Pact Not Legally Binding
"This agreement is no more binding than any other 'agreement' from any Conference of the Parties over the last 21 years," he said, according to CNN. "Senate leadership has already been outspoken in its positions that the United States is not legally bound to any agreement setting emissions targets or any financial commitment to it without approval by Congress."  

Erdogan Rejects Demands to Pull Out Turkish Troops From Iraq
Erdogan declared on Friday he would not bow to Iraqi demands he withdraw Turkish troops from a camp close to the Islamic State-held city of Mosul, and Baghdad said it would ask the UN Security Council to order them to leave. read more: http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/1.691371  

Twitter warns of 'state-sponsored' attacks designed to obtain sensitive data
Twitter has warned some users their accounts may have been targeted by "state-sponsored actors," allegedly attempting to obtain sensitive data, such as email and IP addresses, as well as phone numbers. It's the first time the microblogging service has issued such a warning. A Winnipeg-based non-profit Canadian organization Coldhak reported having received a warning from Twitter and posted a copy of the letter online.  

Sarin materials brought via Turkey & mixed in Syrian ISIS camps – Turkish MP to RT
Islamic State terrorists in Syria received all necessary materials to produce deadly sarin gas via Turkey, Turkish MP Eren Erdem has told RT, insisting there are grounds to believe a cover up has taken place.  

Quantum physics problem proved unsolvable: Godel and Turing enter quantum physics
certain mathematical questions are `undecidable' - they are neither true nor false, but are beyond the reach of mathematics. What we've shown is that the spectral gap is one of these undecidable problems. This means a general method to determine whether matter described by quantum mechanics has a spectral gap, or not, cannot exist. Which limits the extent to which we can predict the behaviour of quantum materials, and potentially even fundamental particle physics."  

Scientists teach machines to learn like humans
A team of scientists has developed an algorithm that captures our learning abilities, enabling computers to recognize and draw simple visual concepts that are mostly indistinguishable from those created by humans.  

Seismic activity intensifies in Azerbaijan
Seismic activity intensified in Azerbaijan as the country faced about 7,000 earthquakes in 2015. Magnitude of more than 80 earthquakes ranged from 3.1 to 5.9, and tremors of 17 were felt, the Republican Seismological Service Center reported.  

Rabbi Tapped for Hanukkah Reception by White House Pushes Black Lives Matter, Gun Control, ‘Justice for Palestinians’
A rabbi and Black Lives Matter activist used her speech at last week’s official White House Hanukkah reception to promote the Black Lives Matter movement, gun control, open immigration for “all” and “justice for Palestinians.” Susan Talve, a Reform rabbi, also altered one of the Hebrew blessings...before lighting the candles of the menorah, adding the female equivalent to the word “forefathers.”  

Planned Parenthood files federal lawsuit against Ohio health department
Attorneys for Planned Parenthood sued Ohio on Sunday, asking a judge to block what it argues is an attempt by the state's top attorney to stop the organization from providing abortion services, court filings showed. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Cincinnati on behalf of three Planned Parenthood locations where abortions are performed, is seeking a restraining order and a preliminary injunction against the state of Ohio.  

IS conflict: Turkey withdraws some troops from Iraq camp
Turkey is withdrawing some of its troops stationed at a base in Iraq, the country's state-run news agency says. Anadolu quoted military officials as saying a 10- or 12-vehicle convoy had left Bashiqa camp and was moving north. Turkey has deployed troops near the city of Mosul, which is controlled by the jihadist group Islamic State, since 2014 to train Iraqi Kurdish forces.  

US joins Hungary protest over pro-Nazi Homan statue
US and other diplomats joined a rally in Hungary against a planned statue honouring a pro-Nazi minister who fomented anti-Semitism in the 1930s. The diplomats were with several hundred Hungarians at a candle-lit protest in Szekesfehervar, southwest of Budapest. The town's mayor says a private foundation is entitled to honour Balint Homan with a life-size bronze statue.  

Erdogan talks of positive impact of improved Turkey-Israel ties
In the midst of a deep crisis with Russia, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan...made his first conciliatory statement toward Israel in years on Monday... “This normalization process has a lot to offer to us, to Israel, to Palestine and also to the region,” the Turkish daily Habertürk quoted Erdoğan as saying on a return trip from Turkmenistan. “The region needs this.”  

India's Failing Gold Monetization Scheme: Seizure Imminent?
India’s newest gold monetization scheme has been a colossal failure. After one month, it has netted only one kilogram (2.2 pounds avoirdupois) out of an estimated 20,000 tonnes (44 million pounds avdp) of privately-held gold. Why is that? Well, let’s look at how the program works.  

The Neocon's Hegemonic Goal Is Driving The World To Extinction
My warning that the neoconservatives have resurrected the threat of nuclear Armageddon, which was removed by Reagan and Gorbachev, is also being given by Noam Chomsky, former US Secretary of Defense William Perry, and other sentient observers of the neoconservatives’ aggressive policies toward Russia and China.  

Dozens die in strikes on Syrian school district, other areas
Intense air and missile strikes on a school district and other areas in insurgent-held Damascus suburbs killed dozens of people on Sunday, including children, a monitoring group and local rescue workers said.  

Hispanic activists vow to flood voter rolls with 1 million immigrants, punish Trump, GOP at polls
Immigrant rights activists have vowed to sign up 1 million immigrants — mostly Mexicans — for citizenship and then quickly register them to vote in time to punish Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans at the polls in November for their harsh rhetoric.  

Earthquake swarm shakes east-central Idaho
BOISE, Idaho — More than 40 small earthquakes were recorded in east-central Idaho last week in what experts say is another earthquake swarm in the region.  

Putin Tells Defense Chiefs to Strengthen Russian Nuclear Forces
President Vladimir Putin ordered defense chiefs to strengthen Russia's strategic nuclear forces amid rising tensions with the U.S. over the global balance of power. New weapons should go to "all parts" of the nuclear triad of air, sea, and land forces, Putin told a Defense Ministry meeting in Moscow on Friday. Action must also be taken "to improve the effectiveness of missile-attack warning systems and aerospace defense."  

December 13, 2015

Colorado ACLU Chairman Resigns After Writing About Shooting Trump Supporters
Wirbel’s Facebook post read: ....If you are voting for him I will have to shoot you before election day.’  

Homeland Security deployed hi-tech spy plane which scoops up tens of thousands of phone calls at one time above San Bernardino for days after massacre
Federal investigators looking into the San Bernardino massacre deployed a spy plane overhead after the attacks in an apparent attempt to find additional suspects, Daily Mail Online can reveal. The Department of Homeland Security is said to have put up the single engine craft over the California city and ordered it to make repeated circles overhead.  

Saudi Arabia: First woman councillor elected
A woman has won a seat on a municipal council for the first time in Saudi Arabia, after the kingdom lifted its bar on women taking part in elections. Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi won a seat in Mecca province in Saturday's vote. Women have also won in several other regions in the country, including Jeddah and Qatif, reports suggest.  

COP21: Paris climate deal is 'best chance to save planet'
The climate deal reached in Paris is "the best chance we have to save the one planet we have", US President Barack Obama has said. He said it could be a "turning point" towards a low-carbon future. China, the world's biggest polluter, also hailed the deal, as did India. But some campaigners said it did not go far enough to protect the planet.  

Pakistan market bombing kills 15 people in Kurram
At least 15 people have been killed by a bomb blast in a crowded market in a town in northwest Pakistan's Kurram tribal agency, near the Afghan border. More than 40 people were hurt in the blast at the Eid Gah clothes market in the town of Parachinar. TV images showed people fleeing over ground covered in clothes and debris.  

'Mein Kampf' for sale in British bookshop at airport in Amman, Jordan
Looking for your next airport read? Flying through Jordan? Though it might make you cringe, it's possible to pick up a copy of Mein Kampf at a popular British bookstore there. It sounds a bit strange, but large multinational British bookseller WH Smith was spotted recently selling Adolf Hilter's anti-Semitic manifesto Mein Kampf at its branch at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman.  

IDF officer detained in Britain on war crime allegations from Gaza war
A retired IDF officer was detained for questioning in recent weeks upon landing in Britain on allegations that he was involved in war crimes during the Gaza war in the summer of 2014. The reserves officer was questioned for hours and was only released following Foreign Ministry intervention. The British authorities subsequently apologized to the officer.  

Russia fires warning shots at Turkish ship
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday one of its warships, the destroyer Smetlivy, had been forced to fire warning shots at a Turkish vessel in the Aegean Sea to avoid a collision... It said in a statement that the Turkish fishing vessel...had failed to respond to earlier warnings, but had sharply changed course after shots were fired before passing within just over 500 meters of the warship.  

Jews for Jesus denounces Vatican for no converting Jews policy
The Jews for Jesus organization has denounced the Vatican for saying that the Catholic Church must not try to convert Jews to Christianity. David Brickner, executive director of Jews for Jesus, said in a statement issued Friday that his organization finds the position “…egregious, especially coming from an institution which seeks to represent a significant number of Christians in the world.”  

'We are all Jews': Israel honors US soldier who stared down Nazi 70 years ago
It was January, 1945 and Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds had a gun to his head. The commandant of the Stalag IXA POW Camp near Ziegenhain, Germany, ordered Edmonds, of the 422nd Infantry Regiment, to turn over the Jewish-American soldiers under his command. Edmonds and his men – Jews and non-Jews alike – stood together in formation. "They cannot all be Jews," the German said, looking over the more than 1,000 POWs.  

Death toll from day of clashes in Burundi capital rises to nearly 90
Nearly 90 people were killed during Friday's clashes in the Burundian capital, the army said on Saturday, the worst outbreak of violence in Burundi since a failed coup in May.  

Cruz opens up 10-point lead on Trump in Iowa
Ted Cruz has soared ahead of Donald Trump in a new Iowa poll, opening up a 10-point lead in the critical first-in-the-nation voting state.  

Kurt Russell: 'Absolutely Insane' to Think Gun Control Will Stop Terrorists
Actor Kurt Russell put gun control activists on blast during a recent interview. "If you think gun control is going to change the terrorists’ point of view, I think you’re, like, out of your mind," Russell said to anti-gun Hollywood reporter Jeffery Wells while promoting his new film, "The Hateful Eight." "I think it’s absolutely insane.”  

Christian female fighters take on IS in Syria
Babylonia has no regrets about leaving behind her two children and her job as a hairdresser to join a Christian female militia battling against the Islamic State group in Syria.