January 2, 2015

Turkish President outrageously cites ADOLF HITLER in example of an effective government
He said: “Yes. There is nothing to say that you can't have a presidential system in a unitary state. "There are already some examples in the world today, and also some from the past. “You see it when you look at Hitler's Germany.  

Yes, it’s really 'volcano season,' say scientists
Think you’ve got enough to worry about with collapsing economy, terrorism, wars and rumors of wars? Think again. Have you been paying attention to what appears to be an increase in volcanic activity across the planet?..the European Science Foundation concluded that large volcanic eruptions posed the greatest risk to human survival – greater, in fact, that an asteroid collision with earth  

Defiant Iran pledges to ramp up missile program, in challenge for Obama
A series of Iranian officials vowed on Friday to expand Tehran's missile capabilities, a challenge to the United States which has threatened to impose new sanctions even as the vast bulk of its measures against Iran are due to be lifted under a nuclear deal.   
4.5-Magnitude Quake Shakes Off Calif. Coast; No Tsunami Threat
A preliminary report from the U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-4.5 quake struck at 9:11 p.m. Friday at a depth of about five miles. It was located about 40 miles southwest of Eureka and about 250 miles northwest of San Francisco. The National Tsunami Warning Center says there is no danger of tidal problems and officials in Humboldt County say there are no reports of damages or injuries.  

6.4 magnitude earthquake hits northeastern China Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/50416279.cms?utm_source=contentofinter
The quake struck Linkou in Heilongjiang Province at 12:22 AM (local time) at a depth of 580 km, the China Earthquake Networks Centre said. No casualties were reported so far, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.  

5.8 magnitude earthquake hits parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad
Parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Islamabad were rattled on Saturday by a 5.8-magnitude earthquake.  

Earthquake hits Northern New Jersey overnight
Northern New Jersey felt a rumble Saturday morning after it was hit with an earthquake.  

Putin names United States among threats in new Russian security strategy
A new appraisal names the United States as one of the threats to Russia's national security for the first time, a sign of how relations with the west have deteriorated in recent years. The document, "About the Strategy of National Security of Russian Federation", was signed by President Vladimir Putin on New Year's Eve...  

Gunmen attack India air force base near Pakistan border
Four gunmen have been killed in an overnight attack on an Indian air force base near Pakistani border, officials say. Two soldiers at the Pathankot base were also killed in a gun battle lasting several hours. Operations at the base are continuing, with some reports saying gunmen are holed up in the base.  

Obama considers unilateral action on US gun violence
President Obama has said he wants to take unilateral action to tackle the problem of gun violence in the US. In his first weekly address of 2016, Mr Obama said he would meet Attorney General Loretta Lynch to discuss possible actions. He said he would seek to use his executive powers as president because the US Congress had failed to address the problem.  

Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Saudi Arabia executes top Shia cleric
Saudi Arabia has executed the prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the interior ministry said. He was among 47 people put to death after being convicted of terrorism offences, it said in a statement. ...Shia-lead Iran said Saudi Arabia would pay a "high price" for the execution.  

Israel strikes Hamas terror targets in Gaza in response to rocket fire
In response to Friday night's firing of rockets on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, the Israel Air Force attacked early on Saturday morning two military installations and two terrorist infrastructure targets belonging to Hamas in the coastal territory. "The Hamas terror organization is solely responsible for all terror activity that emanates from the Gaza Strip," the IDF said in a statement.  

Category 3 cyclone cutting a devastating path through the Pacific
TONGA has declared a pre-emptive state of emergency as severe tropical cyclone Ula batters the tiny Pacific kingdom and tracks towards Fiji, where many Australians are believed to be holidaying.  

China restructures military as Xi eyes `strong Army`
Shanghai: China has unveiled changes to the structure of its military described by President Xi Jinping as "a major policy decision to realise the Chinese dream of a strong army", state media reported.  

Obama plans curbs on guns
President Obama will press ahead with a set of executive actions on guns next week despite growing concerns in the United States over terrorism that have dampened some Americans’ enthusiasm for tighter firearms restrictions.  

Crazed Oklahoma man freaks out town with tattooed swastika face and devil costume
Michael Carter, 26, was nabbed Wednesday after causing a ruckus at a Whataburger and later locking himself in a Kum & Go bathroom — but it was his fully tattooed face and a bizarre mask and devilish red costume that raised eyebrows, according to a report obtained by The Smoking Gun.  

Gun Sales Surge In Switzerland As Army Chief Warns "Arm Yourselves"
It would appear the people of Switzerland have been listening to their military leaders. Having recently been warned by the Swiss army chief of growing social unrest, SwissInfo reports applications for gun permits in Switzerland increased by 20% between 2014 and 2015, according to a survey conducted in 12 cantons. But while the army proposes "arm yourselves," Swiss crime prevention officials warn against the false sense of security that guns bring.  

Gaza rockets strike Israel: army
Rockets fired by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel on Friday, without causing casualties or damage, the Israeli army said. "Moments ago multiple rockets were fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip," a statement read. "Forces are searching the area."  

Iran has more missiles than it can hide: General
Iran's Revolutionary Guards have so many missiles they don't know where to hide them, a senior commander said at Friday prayers, after the United States threatened to impose fresh sanctions.  

January 1, 2016

Is the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Shifting from a Political to a Religious War?
So the current Palestinian uprising is solely political? Not so, says Adnan Abu Amer, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the National University for Open Education. From his perspective, some worrying trends indicate, “we are regressing into a religious war.”  

Is China preparing for a SPACE war? Nation may be creating a military unit to 'achieve control of low Earth orbit', claim experts
The Space Force will be created within the People's Liberation Army. It will include nuclear missiles, electronic forces and cyber threat units. Recently, China conducted its sixth test of a hypersonic strike vehicle.  

Millions of Jews Inciting Muslims by Praying for Rebuilding Holy Temple
Orthodox and Conservative Jews pray every day for rebuilding the Holy Temple. The radical Islamic agenda calls that "incitement." From the Muslim point of view, millions of Jews are inciting Mohammed’s followers by praying every day that the Holy Temple be rebuilt.  

Kim Jong Un says he's ready for war in New Year speech
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he is ready for war if provoked by "invasive" outsiders, in his annual New Year's speech. In the address, his fourth since becoming leader in 2011, Kim spoke of the need to increase the "political and military might" of his country "in every way," according to the official Korean Central News Agency.  

Obama to impose new gun control curbs next week
President Obama will meet with Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch on Monday to finalize a set of executive actions on guns that he will unveil next week... White House officials declined to comment...But according to those familiar with the proposal, who asked for anonymity...the president will expand new background-check requirements for buyers who purchase weapons from high-volume gun dealers.  

China creates three new military units in push to modernize army
China has created three new military units and will update equipment as well as modernizing its command structure, state media said on Friday, as part of a major overhaul of the armed forces announced by President Xi Jinping in November. Xi's push to reform the military coincides with China becoming more assertive in its territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas.  

Newly released Clinton emails reveal 'reckless' security risk
State Department releases new batch of private emails including 275 classified ones, exposing her confusion and faulty devices. Defense Intelligence Agency director Michael Flynn, who last April said it was "likely" spies breached into Clinton's emails. Clinton used the private email address during her entire four years as secretary of state, despite the fact that US President Barack Obama signed in a law saying government email accounts must be used on official business.  

Russia security paper designates Nato as threat
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an updated national security paper describing Nato's expansion as a threat to the country. The paper says Russia's "independent domestic and foreign policy" has triggered a "counter-action" from the US and its allies. It accuses these countries of striving to dominate global affairs.  

Munich 'not under imminent IS threat' - German officials
German officials say there is no sign of any imminent terror attack, after an alert that shut down two Munich railway stations on New Year's Eve. "The situation has eased a bit again," said Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann. Munich's main station and Pasing station reopened in the morning. He said the temporary closure had been necessary because the intelligence service had got a "specific" warning.  

Another Hong Kong worker at anti-Beijing bookshop 'disappears'
Another associate of a Hong Kong bookshop specialising in titles critical of the Chinese government appears to have disappeared. Last month four other employees of the same bookshop and publishing house, including its owner, went missing. Their colleagues believe they have been detained because of their work.  

Rwanda's Paul Kagame to run for third presidential term
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has confirmed that he will seek re-election for a third term in 2017. The announcement was expected after a referendum approved constitutional changes to allow him to run for three further terms and could potentially see him to stay in power until 2034. Mr Kagame said Rwandans had made clear they wanted him to lead the country after 2017, and he could only accept.  

Strong earthquake strikes Indian Ocean south of Australia
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 has struck the Indian Ocean far south of Australia,  

Large earthquake shakes Edmond area on New Year's Day
A large earthquake rocks the Edmond area early Friday morning at 5:39 a.m. The U.S. Geological Survey originally reported today's earthquake as a 4.4 magnitude, but adjusted the magnitude to a 4.2 a few minutes later. So far there are no reports of damage, but Edmond Electric reports 4,400 power outages.  

Islamic chants blast from F-16 toys on Christmas
The F-16 toy Bjorn Thorpe bought his son for Christmas came with an unexpected feature: Islamic prayers. The Washington state man purchased a toy jet from Amazon.com, expecting it to blast sounds of missiles and afterburners. The toy, created by China-based WolVol, instead sounded like its pilot was headed to Mecca.  

Russian Imperialism Meets Illusions of Ottoman Grandeur
Earlier in 2015, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he found it difficult to understand what Russia was doing in Syria, since "it does not even border Syria." By that logic, Turkey should not be "doing anything" in the Palestinian territories, Somalia, Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan or any of the non-bordering lands into which its neo-Ottoman impulses have pushed it.  

This Is What Stocks Do During Hyperinflation
One of the classical refrains for buying stocks is that they preserve purchasing power and add value, even under such extreme monetary conditions as hyperinflation, or in other words, on a relative basis, local equities when denominated in a stable currency, will increase in value even as the local currency disintegrates.  

Fire engulfs downtown Dubai's high-rise Address hotel
Firefighters battled a blaze that engulfed a luxury hotel in Dubai Thursday night while a spectacular New Year's fireworks display lit up the night sky nearby.  

Iran's president orders stepped-up missile production
President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday ordered the accelerated production of missiles in response to possible new U.S. sanctions. In a letter to the defense minister published on the president's website, Rouhani said Iran won't accept any limitations on its missile program.  

December 31, 2015

Crusading former Pentagon chief says nuke danger is growing
The 88-year-old former defense secretary is troubled by the risks of catastrophe from the very weapons he helped develop. Atop his list: a nuclear terror attack in a major U.S. city or a shooting war with Russia that, through miscalculation, turns nuclear. A terrorist attack using a nuclear bomb or improvised nuclear device could happen "any time now - next year or the year after," he said in an interview with reporters earlier this month.  

Large Hadron Collider discovers 'mega particle that could hold key to other dimensions
SCIENTISTS believe they have discovered a new "game changing" particle through the bizarre experiments of the Large Hadron Collider.  

Increased activity at Vanuatu volcanoes
Disaster authorities in Vanuatu are closely monitoring unprecedented simultaneous increases in activity at three of the country's volcanoes. The Vanuatu Geohazards Department has put out level 2 alerts for both the northern and southern volcanoes of Ambrym and Tanna with local communities and tourists banned from visiting the rim of these craters.  

Rising tensions over EU migrant influx exposed as TWO THIRDS of Germans expect ISIS attack
A shock poll revealed the deep-seated fear that jihadi maniacs who have sneaked into Europe disguised as refugees will wreak carnage on the streets of European cities. The disturbing survey, carried out by respected pollsters YouGov, showed that 66 per cent of Germans believe an Islamist terror attack is inevitable within the next year.  

Paris Concert Crowd Was Singing ‘Kiss The Devil’ The Moment Terror Attacks Began
Amazingly, the song that was playing the moment the shooting started was called ‘Kiss The Devil‘, and here are some of the lyrics from that tune:  

Iranian Rocketfire ‘Close Call’ With US Vessel in Strait of Hormuz
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards fired a rocket close to an American military vessel on Saturday, in the Strait of Hormuz. The missile was test-fired 1.3 kilometers (barely 3/4 of a mile) from the USS Harry S. Truman. U.S. Central Command told Reuters the drill was “provocative, unsafe and unprofessional.”  

ISIS plotting 'to slaughter THOUSANDS' in 2016 in bid to spark huge FINAL BATTLE with West
The sick terror group will activate hundreds of sleeper cells in "dozens of countries" in an unprecedented bid to destabilise western governments and spark a huge military retaliation in the Middle East. The shock claim, from one of the world's leading authorities on the death cult, comes amid fears of a New Year's Eve terror plot in London and other major world cities.  

China preps for space warfare
Following recent tests of anti-satellite missiles and near-space hypersonic vehicles, China’s military will soon create a new Space Force...a sign Beijing is preparing for future space warfare. Military analysts say...the unit will be part of a new Strategic Support Forces service that will include nuclear missiles...along with an electronic information forces, cyber warfare units and electronic and signals intelligence.  

Online surveillance is OK for most
A majority of Americans say they support warrantless government surveillance of the Internet communications of U.S. citizens, according to a new poll by The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. It's at least somewhat important for the government to sacrifice freedoms to ensure safety, most say in the survey.  

Freak storm pushes North Pole 50 degrees above normal to melting point
A powerful winter cyclone — the same storm that led to two tornado outbreaks in the United States...has driven the North Pole to...50 degrees above average for this time of year. From Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning...pressure drop was recorded in Iceland: 54 millibars in just 18 hours. This triples the criteria for “bomb” cyclogenesis...a rapidly intensifying mid-latitude storm.  

This Is the Year's Weirdest Weather Moment Yet
It will be a "meteorological marvel," he writes. "In a region famous for ship-sinking waves and relentless blizzards, this storm may stand out for its sheer intensity." Expect 230mph winds "roaring across the North Atlantic at aircraft cruising altitudes," and lots more rain for an already soaked UK.  

Syria conflict: 'At least 16 dead' in three restaurants blasts
At least 16 people have been killed and 30 wounded in three blasts in a Kurdish-controlled city in Syria, a monitoring group has said. The attacks targeted restaurants in Qamishli, near the border with Turkey, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). At least one of the blasts was a suicide attack, the Observatory said.   

Migrant crisis: Merkel urges Germans to see 'opportunity'
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to use her New Year's speech to urge Germans to see the influx of refugees as an opportunity for the future. Warning against support for xenophobic groups, she says "it's important we don't allow ourselves to be divided". Germany has taken in more than a million asylum seekers this year, far more than any other European country.  

Exclusive: Microsoft to warn email users of suspected hacking by governments
Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday it will begin warning users of its consumer services including Outlook.com email when the company suspects that a government has been trying to hack into their accounts. The policy change comes nine days after Reuters asked the company why it had decided not tell victims of a hacking campaign, discovered in 2011, that had targeted international leaders of China's Tibetan and Uighur minorities in particular.  

California Methane Leak is Environmental Disaster in Slow Motion
Since October, the gas has been spilling out of a former oil field-turned-storage site owned by Southern California Gas Company at the rate of 70,000 pounds per hour, CBS reports, equal to roughly a quarter of the state's methane emissions. Residents knew something was wrong when they kept getting sick. Headaches, nosebleeds, nausea and other issues were reported by the locals of this town located in the San Fernando Valley  

Egyptian warplanes bomb targets near Gaza border
Palestinian witnesses in the Gazan side of Rafah said on Thursday that Egyptian warplanes hit targets in the Egyptian side of Rafah. ...Egyptian army have demolished thousands of homes in the Egyptian side of Rafah during the past year to create a buffer zone with nearby Gaza, an effort by Egypt to end what it says is the smuggling of arms via secret tunnels.  

'Hamas activated cells to carry out suicide attacks, target Israeli political figures'
Amid a wave of lone wolf terror attacks that has plagued Israel over the past three months, Hamas has decided to renew military activities against the Jewish state, including suicide bombings, Beirut-based daily Al-Akhbar reported on Thursday. "Hamas sleeper cells have received orders to strike targets inside occupied Palestine," Al-Akhbar quoted Hamas sources as saying.  

Moderate earthquake, 5.4 mag has occurred near Southeast Indian Ridge
A moderate earthquake magnitude 5.4 (ml/mb) has struck on Saturday, Southeast Indian Ridge (0 miles). A tsunami warning has not been issued.  

Moderate earthquake, 5.7 mag was detected near Masachapa in Nicaragua
A moderate earthquake with magnitude 5.7 (ml/mb) was detected on Thursday, 68 kilometers (42 miles) from Masachapa in Nicaragua. The earthquake was roughly at a depth of 36.49 km (23 miles). Global time and date of event 31/12/15 / 2015-12-31 10:57:00 / December 31, 2015  

British Floods: Raging River Destroys Bridge Dating From 1700
Widespread flooding across northern Britain has turned streets into raging torrents, forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes and destroyed many historic buildings including a bridge dating back to 1700.  

Jihadi Couple Who Plotted London Bomb Attack Jailed For Life
A husband and wife convicted of plotting to bomb a shopping mall or subway train on the anniversary of London's 2005 terror attack have been sentenced to life in prison.  

Brussels Cancels New Year's Eve Festivities Over Terror Threat
Brussels canceled its New Year’s Eve fireworks display and other festivities because of a “significant” risk of a terrorist attack.  

U.S.-trained commandos in Philippines kill 10 militants
U.S.-trained army commandos in the Philippines killed 10 al Qaeda-linked militants in a clash on a southern island, a military spokesman said on Thursday, as security forces intensify a search for foreign hostages.  

North Korea says top aide to leader Kim dies in car crash
A senior North Korean official and a top aide to leader Kim Jong Un has died in a car accident, state news agency reported on Wednesday, the latest dramatic death or disappearance in the close circle of deputies to the country's leader.  

Freed Afghan village reveals key to Taliban 'success'
Flanked by shaggy-haired gunmen, commander Ghulam Farooq peered out from a hilltop at the biggest military prize of his storied career as a warlord -- a mud-walled Afghan village captured after five years of Taliban control.  

December 30, 2015

Rabbi Reveals Conflict Between Russia and Turkey the Precursor to Messiah
According to the understanding passed down in his family, Rabbi Shtern explained that each letter in the entire verse is used in an acronym for: אם תום אלף שישי רובו יפול קיסר רוסיה אלכסנדר אז תהינה כמה מלחמות בעולם אז חריבה רוסיה ירושלים תבנה הגלות יסור מעלינו יבוא משיחנו. At the end of six thousand the Caesar of Russia Alexander will fall, there will be several wars in the world, Russia will be destroyed and Jerusalem will be built, the Diaspora will leave us, and the Messiah will come.  

Iran conducts 'provocative' live rocket tests near US ships
Iran's navy conducted rocket tests last week near US warships and other commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the American military has said. The tests threaten to cause new tensions between the two nations following their landmark nuclear deal. Iran fired "several unguided rockets" about 1,370m (1,500 yards) from two US vessels and a French frigate, US military spokesman Kyle Raines said.  

US storms: Missouri floods close Mississippi near St Louis
A five-mile (8km) section of the Mississippi River near St Louis, Missouri, has been closed to vessels as rising water levels caused "hazardous conditions", the US Coast Guard said. Storms and tornadoes have lashed the region in recent days, swelling rivers and causing flash flooding. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said 13 people in the state had died in the floods.  

Israel-Indian missile system Barak 8 carries out successful trial in Indian Ocean
The Israeli-Indian developed Barak 8 missile system carried out two successful interceptions from an Indian Navy ship over the past day. Israel Aerospace Industries said that the weapons system successfully hit its target and completed a series of three tests that demonstrate its readiness.  

Netanyahu: We've been in Hebron, Cave of the Patriarchs for 4 millennia, we will not be moved
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his condolences to the family of Gennady Kaufman, the Israeli who was stabbed by a terrorist in the West Bank near the Cave of the Patriarchs... "...I say to all those who wish to uproot us from the Cave of the Patriarchs: with the exception of a few years in the previous century, we have been there close to 4,000 years,"..."And there we will stay forever. You cannot defeat us," he added.  

A Special Message from Pastor John Hagee Regarding His Book In Defense of Israel
...It has come to my attention that my choice of language and some of the interpretation...in Chapter Ten has caused some confusion and actually led some readers to question whether I believe that Jesus is the Messiah... I have decided to release a new edition of In Defense of Israel with an expanded Chapter Ten. The new version will make the same point as the prior one, but using language which cannot mislead anyone about my bedrock belief that Jesus was and is Lord, Savior and Messiah.  

MEP says Turkish EU bid now linked to refugee issue
Faced with the worst migrant crisis since World War II, the EU is in the process of negotiating with Turkey on a refugee action plan. The 28-nation bloc has offered Turkey funds to reduce the flow of asylum seekers coming into Europe in exchange for easier visa travel rules for Turkish citizens.  

Latinos: Fastest-growing group of Muslims in US
Latinos in the U.S. are considered to be the fastest-growing demographic as well as the fastest-growing group of Muslims in America, the Press-Enterprise reported. Although the statistics haven't been widely tracked, there are an estimated 150,000 Islam converts among the Latino community in the U.S.  

With ISIS Rising in Europe, Queen Elizabeth Boldly Declares Faith in Christ
"It is true," she said, "that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: 'The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.'"  

Officials warn thousands of homes in Missouri, Illinois threatened by floods
Federal officials were monitoring 19 vulnerable levees on the rising Mississippi River and its tributaries, warning that hundreds of homes in Illinois and Missouri could be threatened by a rare winter flood that already forced the partial closure of interstate highways and widespread evacuations.  

Putin calls for cooperation with US in message to Obama
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a New Year's message to US President Barack Obama, has called for cooperation between their countries to respond to international challenges.  

4.8 earthquake rattles Northwest Washington
A 4.8 earthquake has rattled northwestern Washington and Vancouver Island, according to the USGS. The quake struck at 11:39 p.m. and was centered about 11 miles east of Victoria, B.C. at a depth of about 36 miles.  

Islamic State suffers double blow as Ramadi falls, leaders killed
U.S.-led forces have killed 10 Islamic State leaders in air strikes, including individuals linked to the Paris attacks, a U.S. spokesman said, dealing a double blow to the militant group after Iraqi forces ousted it from the city of Ramadi. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi planted the national flag in Ramadi after the army retook the city center from Islamic State  

Turkey supports ISIS, wants to revive Ottoman Empire – Syria’s UN envoy
Syria’s envoy to the UN has accused Turkey of supporting terrorist groups and covering for their invasion into Syria. Urging the UN to end Ankara’s “violations and crimes,” Bashar al-Ja’afari also warned that Erdogan’s goal is to “revive” the Ottoman Empire.  

Most Americans back Trump's call to halt Muslim influx
Americans are strongly backing GOP presidential primary front-runner Donald Trump’s suggestion that all Muslim immigration be halted until the nation can figure out how to handle the threat of imported terrorists. Nearly 70 percent of those responding to a poll question about halting refugees from Syria agreed with Trump, and almost the same percentage said America should ban all Muslim immigration at least temporarily.  

Moderate earthquake, 5 mag strikes near La Gomera in Guatemala
A moderate earthquake magnitude 5 (ml/mb) strikes 10 kilometers (6 miles) from La Gomera in Guatemala on Tuesday. A tsunami warning has not been issued (Does not indicate if a tsunami actually did or will exist). The earthquake was roughly at a depth of 88.44 km (55 miles). Date and time of earthquake in UTC/GMT: 30/12/15 / 2015-12-30 03:25:35 / December 30, 2015 @ 3:25 am.  

Earthquake hits Greater Victoria, shakes houses
An earthquake shook Greater Victoria at 11:39 p.m. Tuesday. The U.S. Geological Survey reported it as a 4.8 magnitude quake while it registered as 4.3 at the Natural Resources Canada website. There were no immediate reports of damage, but it was strong enough shake buildings. Greater Victoria residents reported the quake lasted several seconds, with some saying they felt it in two waves within about 30 seconds.  

4.4-magnitude quake strikes near San Bernardino
An earthquake of 4.4 magnitude struck about 4 miles from San Bernardino, Calif., on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, jangling nerves but not resulting in any reports of damage.  

Obama to Require Background Checks for All 'In the Business' of Selling Firearms
The next shoe to drop on gun control may come by mid-January, when President Barack Obama is expected to issue an executive order requiring everyone "in the business" of selling firearms to perform background checks.  

Migrant crisis: Over one million reach Europe by sea
More than one million refugees and migrants have reached Europe by sea since the start of 2015, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says.  

The guy made famous by 'The Big Short' for predicting the housing crash has a dark warning
Michael Burry thinks the “risk-pricing mechanism” of the global economy is broken and we’re “building up terrific stresses in the system.” Burry is the central character of “The Big Short,” a blockbuster now in theaters that focuses on the latest financial crisis.  

US criticizes Russia over civilian deaths in Syria
The United States criticized Russia on Tuesday for killing hundreds of civilians in airstrikes in Syria and accused Moscow of undermining hopes for a cease-fire between Bashar Assad's government and leading rebel groups.  

A Massive Solar Storm will Hit Earth Before New Year's Eve
A massive solar eruption is about to hit Earth, and the resulting northern lights could be spectacular just before New Year's Eve for those in the right latitudes. NOAA forecasts the aurora borealis will dip clear down to Oregon, with a small chance of even the Bay Area seeing the northern lights.  

Orthodox Rabbis Bring Jesus Home for Christmas
“Jesus brought a double goodness to the world,” declare the group of well-known rabbis. “On the one hand he strengthened the Torah of Moses majestically… and not one of our Sages spoke out more emphatically concerning the immutability of the Torah,” and on the other hand “he removed idols from the nations.”  

December 29, 2015

Bill Calling for Non-Muslim Prayer on the Temple Mount Brings Prophetic Vision One Step Closer
The Third Holy Temple is at the core of the Jewish view of the End of Days. A new bill was recently proposed by member of Knesset Bezalal Smotrich that, if passed, would allow Jews and Christians to pray on the Temple Mount.  

The Latest Hagee Heresy: “In Defense of Israel”
If this volume lives up to the promotion, namely that Jesus did not claim to be, and was not, the promised Messiah of Old Testament literature, it is heresy at its worst. If the promo is some sort of theological subterfuge designed to accelerate sales, it is duplicity in its vilest manifestation.  

Pope Francis assures atheists: You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven
In comments likely to enhance his progressive reputation, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter to the founder of La Repubblica newspaper, Eugenio Scalfari, stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences.  

Large earthquake rocks Oklahoma early Tuesday morning; damage & power outages reported
A powerful earthquake rattled many Oklahomans out of bed early Tuesday morning. The U.S. Geological Survey reports a 4.3 earthquake hit near Midwest Boulevard and Covell Road at 5:39 a.m. Casey Moore, City of Edmond Spokesperson says right after the quake 4.400 customers in east Edmond were without power.  

Trident nuclear deterrent under threat from underwater drones, expert warns
Rapid advances in underwater drone technology – autonomous underwater vehicles that can be controlled by ship- or land-based operators – threaten to make the controversial Trident nuclear submarines vulnerable, according to Paul Ingram, the chief executive of the British American Security Information Council  

Here comes Storm Frank: NASA release pic of WORST STORM in year to smash into UK TONIGHT
Coastal regions are on alert for violent 120mph gales to send colossal waves tumbling over sea defences over the next 48 hours. More than month’s worth of rain is forecast to fall in Scotland and the north with flood-hit regions braced for more misery. It will be followed by a bitter Arctic plunge unleashing freezing winds and dumping inches of snow in parts of Britain, experts warn.  

'Affluenza' teen and his mother detained in Mexico
The hunt for an 18-year-old Texas man who had pleaded guilty in the drunk-driving deaths of four people, but avoided jail time by successfully claiming his family's affluence — or "affluenza" — was to blame, ended Monday night when Mexican authorities detained him and his mother in a popular resort city.  

Court rules raising hands permitted on Temple Mount
The Jerusalem District Court accepted Monday the appeal of the Temple Mount activist Yehuda Etzion, and in canceling his expulsion from the holy site ruled that it was permitted to raise one’s hands while visiting there.  

SUNSPOT ERUPTS, HURLS CME TOWARD EARTH
After several days of pent-up quiet, big sunspot AR2473 erupted on Dec. 28th (12:49 UT), producing a slow but powerful M1.9-class solar flare.  

'Shadow CIA' 2016 Forecast: Turkey Set to Make a 'Military Move' Into Syria
"This is the year when Turkey, nervous but more politically coherent than it was last year, will likely make a military move into northern Syria while trying to enlarge its footprint in northern Iraq," the Texas-based think tank noted in its forecast for 2016. The intelligence company maintains that Washington will likely "facilitate" Ankara's predicted "heavy air campaign" in Syrian provinces bordering Turkey.  

Papua New Guinea Rocked by 5.6-Magnitude Quake
The quake was registered at 01:51 GMT. The epicenter was located about 92 kilometers (57 miles) south of the town of Panguna at the depth of 47.2 kilometers.  

5.1 magnitude earthquake jolts Swat, adjoining areas
A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit parts of Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, the met office said. The quake’s epicenter was determined at Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush Mountain range with a focal depth of 186 km, the met office said.  

Palmyra arch from Syrian heritage site to be recreated in London's Trafalgar Square
A monument from a temple in the ancient city of Palmyra destroyed by so-called Islamic State (IS) is to be recreated in London's Trafalgar Square. The 2,000-year-old arch is all that remains of the Temple of Bel, part of the Syrian Unesco World Heritage site, captured by militants in May. It will be recreated from photographs, using a 3D printer.  

Pakistan suicide bombing kills 'at least 22' in Mardan
A suspected suicide attack at a government office in north-west Pakistan has killed at least 22 people, police say. The bomb went off outside the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) office in the town of Mardan. A splinter faction of the Pakistani Taliban said it carried out the attack, which left more than 30 others wounded.  

IDF Inaugurates New All-Commando Brigade
The new brigade, dubbed the Commando Brigade, will be comprised solely of infantry special-operations units removed from their previous chain of command structures to create this new tactical formation.“The dangerous winds blowing from Lebanon, threats by the Islamic State, the escalation in Judea and Samaria as well as threats from the southern border, demand the capability of the personnel in this new brigade now more than ever,  

ISIS fatwa aims to settle who can have sex with female slaves
Islamic State theologians have issued an extremely detailed ruling on when "owners" of women enslaved by the extremist group can have sex with them, in an apparent bid to curb what they called violations in the treatment of captured females. The ruling or fatwa has the force of law and appears to go beyond the Islamic State's previous known utterances on the subject, a leading Islamic State scholar said.  

Oil slump weighing on housing markets in Texas, North Dakota
There's a dark side to those delightfully low gas prices: Housing markets are slumping in communities that were recently flush from the U.S. shale oil fracking boom.  

State Dept. counts 'bringing peace' to Syria as a 2015 win
The State Department is counting "bringing peace" to Syria as one of its wins in 2015. A boastful recap of the State Department’s accomplishments, written by spokesman John Kirby, includes the bold subheadline of "Bringing Peace, Security to Syria" above a more modest entry talking about U.S. aid for those affected by the country's turmoil and the U.S. push for a political transition from President Bashar Assad.  

ISIS Finally Comes After the Jews
The Kurds have essentially been the only group doing anything to battle ISIS on the ground and save Yazidi men, women, and children from enslavement and death.  

A Nervous George Soros Lashes Out At Donald Trump: He Wants You To Be Afraid
It appears The Establishment has decided to bring in the big guns to dislodge The GOP's nightmare scenario as Donald Trump goes from strength to strength in the polls. Writing in an op-ed for The Guardian, billionaire puppet-master George Soros urges Americans "to resist the siren song of the likes of Donald Trump," adding that "the terrorists and demagogues want us to be scared. We mustn’t give in."  

December 28, 2015

Florida Muslim Leader Commemorates Hamas, Calls Jews Monkeys and Pigs
When South Florida Muslim leader Sofian Zakkout wants people to believe he is a man of peace, he speaks or writes it in English. But when Zakkout wants to show his true colors and curse Jews or call for violence against people, he does so in Arabic. This month, Zakkout’s real self came out once again, as he labeled Jews the “grandsons of monkeys and pigs,” while commemorating the 28th anniversary of Hamas.  

Strong deep earthquake below the coast of Saint-pierre, Martinique
Although relatively close to the island of Martinique the quake only resulted in a max. moderate shaking due to the depth of the hypocenter. Most important Earthquake Data: Magnitude : 5.6 GMT/UTC Time : 2015-12-28 06:55:30  

An Actual Death Panel in Texas
The Act, which was signed into law in 1999 by then-Governor George W. Bush, allows hospitals to withdraw life-sustaining treatments if an ethics committee agrees that further treatment is futile. Their only responsibility to the family is a written ten-day notice.  

Saudi mufti: ISIS are soldiers of Israel
"his threat against Israel is entirely false. The reality of ISIS is that they are soldiers of Israel."  

Exclusive: Seized documents reveal Islamic State's Department of 'War Spoils'
Islamic State has set up departments to handle "war spoils," including slaves, and the exploitation of natural resources such as oil, creating the trappings of government that enable it to manage large swaths of Syria and Iraq and other areas.  

2,000-strong Kentucky mall brawl leads to shutdown, no arrests
"As they were responding to those disturbances, others were breaking out. ... Disturbances started to feed on themselves,” police spokesman Dennis McDonald said. "They were just overwhelmed with the number of calls for service and reports of disorder." The officers had to call for backup, and 50 more officers arrived from five different agencies.  

At Least 24 Dead After Texas Tornadoes and Midwest Flooding
At least 24 people have been killed and one person is missing after tornadoes barreled through Texas and heavy rain inundated parts of the Midwest. The Dallas area was ravaged by several massive tornadoes that left at least 11 people dead Saturday night. Five people died in a flash flood in Illinois, and eight deaths have been confirmed in Missouri...  

Surveillance powers will help to unmask online bullies
Police are to use sweeping new surveillance powers to unmask anonymous internet bullies and bring them to justice. A new power that forces internet providers to retain web browsing information will help police to hunt down and identify the most serious cyberbullies and trolls, Theresa May has said.  

80 primary school pupils a year seeking help to change gender – charity
Up to 80 primary school-aged children a year in the UK are now seeking help towards potentially changing their gender amid signs of classmates encouraging each other to do so... In some cases children as young as four are already in the process of “transitioning” to another sex, according to Susie Green, chair of Mermaids, a charity which provides support for families of children and teenagers with gender identity issues. Islamic State leader Baghdadi goads West in rare audio statement
The leader of the self-declared Islamic State issued a defiant message to the West, warning “crusaders” not to dare fight on his turf. ..."Crusaders and Jews don't dare to come on the ground because they were defeated in Iraq and Afghanistan,"... "Jews, soon you shall hear from us in Palestine which will become your grave," the voice, purporting to be Baghdadi, is heard saying.  

Gonorrhoea 'could become untreatable'
Gonorrhoea could become an untreatable disease, England's chief medical officer has warned. Dame Sally Davies has written to all GPs and pharmacies to ensure they are prescribing the correct drugs after the rise of "super-gonorrhoea" in Leeds. Her warning comes after concerns were raised that some patients were not getting both of the antibiotics needed to clear the infection.  

Five ways to celebrate a digital Christmas
Log on to a virtual church and talk about Star Wars...Everyday Church Online...runs virtual services every Sunday for a net-based congregation from around the world. Everyone's invited to log on and chat while a recorded sermon is streamed... Carry out a Christmas mission in a virtual world...Guardians of Ancora is a recently launched, free-to-play fantasy game available on Android, iPhone and Kindle platforms...  

Dozens dead in US Christmas storms
At least 43 people have been killed over the past five days by severe storms across southern and western parts of the United States. Flash floods, tornadoes and now snow have destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses and snarled transport links. The National Weather Service has issued tornado warnings for Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Mississippi.  

Syria fighters' evacuation from Zabadani 'under way'
Dozens of Syrian rebel fighters are being evacuated from the village of Zabadani near the Lebanese border under a UN-brokered deal. A convoy of buses and ambulances has reached Zabadani to take the fighters, and some civilians, to Beirut. The evacuation is part of a truce agreed in September covering Zabadani and two towns in the north which had been under siege from rebel forces.  

Anti-Islamic State journalist murdered in Turkey
An anti-Islamic State activist and filmmaker has been shot dead by assassins in broad daylight in Turkey. Naji Jerf, 38, was shot with a silenced pistol in downtown Gaziantep, near the Syrian border, Turkish media reported. Mr Jerf was the film director for Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), a group of journalists who risk their lives daily to report on IS abuses.  

Milan and Rome ban cars as pollution rises
Two of Italy's largest cities, Milan and Rome, are restricting car use as smog levels build up. Milan is banning cars, motorcycles and scooters for six hours a day over the next three days. In Rome, cars with odd-numbered plates have been banned for nine hours on Monday. On Tuesday, cars with even-numbered plates will be restricted.  

'Department of Slaves' and other ISIS horrors revealed in documents seized by US
Islamic State has set up departments to handle "war spoils," including slaves, and the exploitation of natural resources such as oil... The hierarchical bureaucracy, including petty rivalries between officials, and legal codes in the form of religious fatwas are detailed in a cache of documents seized by US Special Operations Forces in a May raid in Syria that killed top IS financial official Abu Sayyaf.  

Sudan Hopes for Strategic Partnership with Russia
"We are counting on this ministerial committee to improve relations with Russia in all fields, we consider it the most successful ministerial committee and we hope to become a strategic partner of Russia," the vice president said at the end of the third Sudanese-Russian Joint Ministerial Committee.  

Magnitude-4.2 quake strikes northwest of Barstow
A magnitude-4.2 earthquake struck about 26 miles northwest of Barstow in the Mojave Desert early Sunday and could be felt in the Victor Valley and as far as Los Angeles, according to U.S. Geological Service.  

Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' returns to German market in new form
For 70 years since the Nazi defeat in World War II, copyright law has been used in Germany to prohibit the publication of "Mein Kampf" — the notorious anti-Semitic tome in which Adolf Hitler set out his ideology.  

Damage from sinking land costing California billions
A canal that delivers vital water supplies from Northern California to Southern California is sinking in places. So are stretches of a riverbed undergoing historic restoration. On farms, well casings pop up like mushrooms as the ground around them drops.  

2015: The Year That Exposed The "Experts" And Left The "Smart-Crowd" Dumbfounded
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. We were all told by the “experts” and the so-called “smart crowd” ad nauseam the economy and markets of 2015 were “ready for lift off.”  

Shale's Running Out of Survival Tricks as OPEC Ramps Up Pressure
In 2015, the fracking outfits that dot America’s oil-rich plains threw everything they had at $50-a-barrel crude. To cope with the 50 percent price plunge, they laid off thousands of roughnecks, focused their rigs on the biggest gushers only and used cutting-edge technology to squeeze all the oil they could out of every well.  

December 27, 2015

Magnitude 5.2 quake hits Siargao Island
A 5.2-magnitude earthquake yesterday rattled Siargao Island residents and tourists along the islands’ Pacific Ocean facing coastal areas.  

Media Watchdog Blasts Haaretz, Daily Mail for Anti-Israel Bias in “Dishonest Reporting” Awards
Among this year’s winners are left-wing Israeli newspaper Haaretz and Britain’s Daily Mail. Also listed are the New York Times, reporter Brian Williams, and MSNBC.  

The truth behind ISIS leader's threats against Israel and Jews
Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's rare statement...in which he threatened Israel and Jews, bares witness more to the fact that he and his organization are under pressure... Baghdadi addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "The Israelis thought that we forgot Palestine and that they diverted our attention from the issue, but that is not the situation. We have not forgotten Palestine for a moment," he stressed.  

Nasrallah: Israelis hiding like rats along border, Kuntar revenge will come
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, speaking on the...assassination of Samir Kuntar, praised the terrorist...saying he was an icon for the school of resistance... "The Israelis are hiding like rats along the border," he said. They are worried and they should be worried along the border and inside Israel. Their threats will not benefit them."  

Ukrainian legislator toasts Adolf Hitler
A video of a Ukrainian opposition lawmaker saluting Adolf Hitler made its way online...days after his country’s President apologized for Ukrainian collaborators’ role in the Holocaust... ...Artyom Vitko...a member of the Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko, can be seen sitting in the back of a car wearing camouflage fatigues and singing along to a song by a Russian neo-Nazi band extolling the virtues of the Nazi dictator.  

Webb Attacks Clinton With Eye on Independent Run
When Jim Webb quit the Democratic presidential race on Oct. 20 amid low poll numbers and a minimal debate presence, the former Virginia senator left open the possibility he'd return for a White House run in a different political guise. Now he appears to be edging closer to making good on it.  

Jerusalem knife attacker shot dead, Israeli police say
A Palestinian man tried to stab an Israeli police officer on Saturday near Jerusalem's Old City and was killed, a police spokeswoman said.  

Over 100,000 flee flooding in Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay
More than 100,000 people have had to evacuate from their homes in the bordering areas of Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina due to severe flooding in the wake of heavy summer rains brought on by El Niño, authorities said on Saturday.  

Islamic State leader Baghdadi goads West in rare audio statement
The leader of the self-declared Islamic State issued a defiant message to the West, warning “crusaders” not to dare fight on his turf. In a rare public statement - his first in seven months - Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi said Western countries had "learned from" previous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

In Sweden, a Cash-Free Future Nears
Parishioners text tithes to their churches. Homeless street vendors carry mobile credit-card readers. Even the Abba Museum, despite being a shrine to the 1970s pop group that wrote “Money, Money, Money,” considers cash so last-century that it does not accept bills and coins.  

Tornadoes sweep through Dallas area; significant damage
Tornadoes swept through the Dallas area after dark on Saturday evening causing significant damage while a blizzard was blanketing parts of New Mexico and West Texas with snow, the latest in the nation's freakish winter weather pattern that sent temperatures plunging to near zero wind chill in the western Plains even as numerous record highs are forecast for the eastern U.S.  

Boko Haram kills at least 14 in Christmas Day attack in Nigeria
At least 14 people were killed and several others injured by Boko Haram gunmen in a Christmas Day attack on a village in northeastern Nigeria, vigilantes said Saturday.