February 20, 2016

Pro-Hezbollah hackers: We penetrated Israeli sites, security feeds
A pro-Hezbollah hacker group calling itself We Are Coming claims it penetrated 5,000 Israeli websites, including some containing sensitive security data, in 2015, as well as security camera feeds, Lebanese network Al-Manar declared this week. Pro-Hezbollah news outlets in Lebanon have reported in the past that the group successfully breached Israeli websites and Facebook pages.  

Egypt's Sisi pledges crackdown on police abuses after shooting
The Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has said that police officers guilty of human rights abuses will face tougher action under new laws. His remarks follow a protest in Cairo after a taxi driver was shot dead by a policeman during a dispute over a fare. The case was the latest of many alleged cases of police brutality in Egypt.  

Libya air strike: Two Serbs feared dead in US attack on IS
Two Serbian nationals held hostage in Libya since November are believed to have been among those killed in Friday's air strikes by US warplanes, the Serbian government says. The jets targeted positions of the self-styled Islamic State group (IS) in the city of Sabratha. The kidnapped Serbs, Sladjana Stankovic and Jovica Stepic, worked at the Serbian embassy in Libya.  

EU deal gives UK special status, says David Cameron
David Cameron says a deal struck with EU leaders will give the UK "special status" and he will campaign with his "heart and soul" to stay in the union. The agreement, reached late on Friday after two days of talks in Brussels, gives the UK power to limit some EU migrants' benefits. It also includes a treaty change so the UK is not bound to "ever closer union" with other EU member states, he said.  

Cyclone Winston hits Fiji's main island Viti Levu
The most powerful storm to hit Fiji has made landfall on the Pacific nation's main island, Viti Levu. Cyclone Winston brought winds of over 320 kph (200 mph), torrential rain and waves of up to 12m (40ft). Flights have been cancelled, evacuation centres activated and a nationwide curfew put in place.  

China replaces securities regulator Xiao Gang
China has removed the head of its securities regulator as it tries to tackle major volatility in its stock markets. Xiao Gang was replaced by Liu Shiyu as the chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), state media report. Mr Xiao was in charge when China's markets crashed in mid-2015.  

Have Israel's missile defense systems hit a snag?
Last year the Defense Ministry outlined a list of successful trials of air defense systems....Following several crises...progress has slowed down... Maariv Hashavua, has learned that one of the conditions of the significant increase in defense support put in place by the government in Washington DC was a marked increase in efforts to compromise with the Palestinians, in an effort to renew political negotiations.  

The Global Oil Glut Is So Great, Tankers Take The Long Route Around Africa To Find A Buyer
While we have previously observed the massive glut of oil product in the US, which has led to such arcane developments as a "parking lot" of oil tankers outside of Galveston, TX...  

Hezbollah’s ‘Nuclear Bomb’: We Can Kill Tens of Thousands of Israelis by Hitting Toxic Gas Tank
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations has called on U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to condemn a veiled threat by the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah – a member of Lebanon’s caretaker government – to kill tens of thousands of Israelis by firing missiles at a toxic gas storage tank in Israel’s third-largest city.  

US air strike kills dozens at IS camp in Libya
A US air strike on a jihadist training camp in Libya killed dozens of people Friday, probably including a senior Islamic State group operative behind attacks in Tunisia, officials said.  

Russia warns Assad on vow to retake all of Syria
Russia's envoy to the UN on Friday warned long-term ally President Bashar al-Assad over his vow to retake all of Syria, saying he faced dire consequences if he did not comply with Moscow over the peace process.  

European leaders strike deal to try to keep Britain in the E.U.
Prime Minister David Cameron vowed late Friday to wage a relentless campaign to keep Britain in the European Union after striking a deal with fellow leaders that he said would transform the country’s relationship with the 28-member bloc.  

February 19, 2016

Decision Imminent for Green Beret Who Confronted Afghan Child Rapist
A decision is imminent regarding whether Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland will be kicked out of the Army for confronting an Afghan child rapist while serving in Afghanistan in 2011.  

Electron state-changing device could be used in quantum computing
An international team of researchers has found a way to control the spin of electrons – from a normal state to excited and back again – in a silicon-based material, and in the process to get them to release microwave photons.  

China: Sanctions won't resolve North Korea tensions
China is voicing concerns after U.S. President Barack Obama signed a bill imposing tougher sanctions on North Korea. The bill, which aims to cut the last remaining lifelines to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile technology, will blacklist third-party individuals and entities that engage in North Korea trade. ‘I would eat my shoe’: McAfee tells FBI he can open San Bernardino iPhone for free
John McAfee, a computer security pioneer, has offered to crack a phone belong to a San Bernardino shooter free of charge in just three weeks – if the agency drops its “back door” order to Apple, which he says is “the beginning of the end of the US.”  

Germany says Syria ceasefire talks to take place this afternoon
BERLIN - A task force set up to discuss a planned cessation of hostilities in Syria will meet for the first time in Geneva on Friday afternoon, the German foreign ministry said.  

Franklin Graham to Pope: 'Build a Bridge to Donald Trump'
The Rev. Franklin Graham Thursday suggested that Pope Francis "build a bridge" to Republican front-runner Donald Trump because "who knows where he may be this time next year."  

Pope rebuffed after attack on Trump, immigration stance
Pope Francis’ criticism of Donald Trump on Thursday prompted a stinging response by conservative pundits and brought Republican rivals to the billionaire presidential candidate’s defense. The head of the Roman Catholic church gave into temptation and got political at the conclusion of a trip to Mexico.  

MAGNETIC EXPLOSION ON THE SUN
A magnetic filament snaking across the sun's southern hemisphere exploded during the late hours of Feb. 18th. Debris flew away from the sun in the form of a coronal mass ejection (CME), but the storm cloud does not appear to be heading for Earth.  

Hold Up, Did We Just Crack Time Travel?
This detection supports Einstein’s general theory of relativity in a way that revolutionizes scientific understanding of how space and time behave in extreme environments, and astrophysics will never be the same. That includes mankind’s pursuit of time travel.  

Small Earthquake Rattles New Jersey Town
A small earthquake shook a New Jersey community Thursday evening, prompting concerned residents to call 911.  

UK's Labour probes alleged anti-Semitic behavior at Oxford student club
The national student organization of Britain's Labour party has opened an investigation into allegations of anti-Semitis behavior among the members of Oxford University's Labour students club. According to witnesses, members of the organization expressed support for Hamas and sang songs praising missile attacks on Tel Aviv, among other things.  

South Florida Jewish Community Concerned Over Bizarre Encounters
South Florida’s Jewish community is on edge over the odd behavior of two women. “These two people came into one of the temples in the community. One, if not two, walked inside the temple,” said Yona Lunger of the two Middle Eastern women in question. ...“Showing the Koran, asking certain questions that raised concerns, enough to alert the police department,” said Lunger.  

'Consequences' for the US if it quits Paris climate deal
The US faces "diplomatic consequences" if a new President decides to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement. American climate envoy Todd Stern said the reaction would be far greater than when the US left the Kyoto Protocol under President Bush. Many countries are worried that a Republican victory in November's presidential election would see the US walk away from the landmark Paris deal.  

IS increases use of child soldiers, says US report
The number of children who have died fighting for so-called Islamic State (IS) in the last year is nearly twice the previous estimate, a report says. Researchers at Georgia State University tracked IS propaganda and eulogies over 13 months. The propaganda claimed 89 boys aged eight to 18 had been killed fighting in a number of different combat roles.  

Barack Obama imposes new North Korea sanctions
President Obama has signed off new expanded sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear programme, weeks after it launched a long-range rocket. The country has refused to stop its nuclear programme and the bill was easily passed last week by Congress. The sanctions attempt to cut off money North Korea needed to develop miniaturised nuclear warheads.  

Islamic State: Bombing strikes militants in Libya
The New York Times newspaper cited an anonymous official saying US planes had carried out the air strikes. It said the target was a top Tunisian jihadist linked to two terror attacks last year, including a resort shooting that killed 30 British nationals. Recent reports say top IS commanders - followed by many fighters - have moved to Libya from Iraq and Syria.  

Syrian opposition leader pushes for buffer zone near Israel border
Visiting Syrian opposition leader Kamal al-Labwani called on Thursday for a small safe zone to be created near Israel’s border in Syria. Asked if he really has enough power on the ground in Syria to create a buffer zone, Labwani told The Jerusalem Post that the goal is “to protect civilians and some military groups could be able to cooperate with me.”  

Palestinian leader gives wife-beating tips on Gaza TV
A top spiritual leader in the Palestinian territory of Gaza told a television audience last week how and when men can beat their wives, advising not to hit them in a way that “makes the face ugly.”  

Matt Drudge slams ‘media cover-up’ of Hillary Clinton’s declining health
Drudge Report creator Matt Drudge slammed what he called a “media cover-up” of Hillary Clinton’s “flaring hypothyroidism” after the Democratic presidential candidate suffered another coughing fit on the campaign trail.  

Syrian rebels say reinforcements get free passage via Turkey
Syrian rebels have brought at least 2,000 reinforcements through Turkey in the past week to bolster the fight against Kurdish-led militias north of Aleppo, rebel sources said on Thursday.  

US: Russian fighter jet sale to Iran would violate arms ban
The Obama administration said Thursday that a proposed Russian sale of fighter jets to Iran would violate a U.N. arms embargo on Tehran, setting up another standoff related to last year's nuclear negotiations. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said transferring the Sukhoi-30 jets, comparable to American F-15E fighter bombers, requires the U.N. Security Council's approval.  

Palestinians kill Israeli in West Bank supermarket
Two Palestinian teenagers wielding knives fatally stabbed an Israeli and seriously wounded another at a supermarket in the West Bank on Thursday before they were shot and wounded by an Israeli bystander, the military said.  

Apple vs. the FBI: Here's where everyone stands
You might have heard: The U.S. government wants Apple to unlock an iPhone 5C that belonged to San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook. The order, handed down by a U.S. magistrate judge, demands Apple (AAPL) write new software that would help the FBI get around the passcode so it can search the phone for evidence. And Apple isn't playing ball.  

February 18, 2016

Merkel's Europe Faces Judgment Day at EU Summit
Angela Merkel is facing an impossible task at this week's EU summit and returning to Germany without reaching her objectives could lead to her resignation, Deutsche Welle reported.  

Moderate earthquake 5.8 mag, 60 km NNW of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
A moderate earthquake magnitude 5.8 (ml/mb) has struck on Wednesday, 60 km NNW of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (37 miles). The epicenter was at a depth of 119.26 km (74 miles). Exact location of event, depth 119.26 km, -27.6226° West, -56.2123° South. Event id: us10004qp2. Ids that are associated to the earthquake: us10004qp2. A tsunami warning has not been issued (Does not indicate if a tsunami actually did or will exist).  

Magnitude-5.9 earthquake jolts East Halmahera
akarta (ANTARA News) - An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted East Halmahera area in North Maluku early on Thursday morning.  

Turkey blames Kurdish militants for Ankara bomb, vows response in Syria and Iraq
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu blamed a Syrian Kurdish militia fighter working with Kurdish militants inside Turkey for a suicide car bombing that killed 28 people in the capital Ankara, and he vowed retaliation in both Syria and Iraq. A car laden with explosives detonated next to military buses as they waited at traffic lights near Turkey's armed forces' headquarters, parliament and government buildings in...Ankara...  

Venezuela raises petrol price for first time in 20 years
Venezuela is raising petrol prices for the first time in 20 years, although the president claims it will still be the cheapest in the world. President Nicolas Maduro said pump prices of premium fuel would rise from the equivalent of $0.01 a litre to about $0.60 (£0.40). The cost of lower grade petrol would rise to about $0.10 a litre.  

Kenya 'kills' al-Shabab intelligence chief in Somalia
A Kenyan air strike has killed the intelligence chief of Somalia's militant Islamist group al-Shabab, an army statement has said. Mohammed Karatey and 10 other al-Shabab commanders were killed in the strike in southern Somalia on 8 February, it added. He played a key role in last month's deadly attack on a Kenyan military base in neighbouring Somalia, the army said.  

Students in Brooklyn College demand ‘Zionists off campus’
Approximately 10 Brooklyn College students who interrupted a faculty meeting called for “Zionists off campus” among its list of demands. A faculty member at the Tuesday afternoon meeting told JTA that along with the demand on Zionists, the students called one faculty member a “Zionist pig.” The educator who spoke to JTA wished to remain anonymous.  

Report: Israel strikes Syrian army outposts south of Damascus, monitor says
Three Israeli rockets allegedly hit Syrian army outposts south of Damascus on Wednesday, reported the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict. Meanwhile, a pro-Syrian government military source denied reports that Israel carried out air strikes inside Syria The IDF said it does not respond to such foreign reports.  

Catholic Church in Israel blames Jewish state for current Palestinian violence
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which represents the Catholic Church in the region, accused Israel on Thursday of responsibility for the recent wave of Palestinian violence, saying Israeli policy has created despair and frustration among Palestinians leading them to carry out acts of terrorism.  

Decorated Iraq vet whose bravery was immortalized in a statue 'attacked in hate crime': Marine says he was beaten and robbed by teens who aske
The marine, who had survived ambushes in Fallujah at the height of the Iraq War, was taken unaware again — and this time he was unarmed and without backup. One of the teens hit him in the head him from behind, knocking him to the floor, where the gang beat him savagely before robbing him. Marquez told police that one youth hit him in the head with a handgun.  

China leads global U.S. debt dump
he largest owner of U.S. debt, China sold $18 billion of U.S. Treasury debt in December. And it's not alone. Japan sold even more: $22 billion. In the past year, Mexico, Turkey and Belgium have also lowered their holdings of U.S. debt, all of which have led to a record annual dump by central banks.  

'Zero Days' director says U.S. government secrecy trend 'appalling'
The director of a new documentary outlining U.S. plans for an extensive cyber attack on Iran said on Wednesday he was angry and appalled by the rapidly growing trend towards secrecy in the U.S. government.  

Radioactive material stolen in Iraq raises security concerns
Iraq is searching for "highly dangerous" radioactive material whose theft last year has raised fears among Iraqi officials that it could be used as a weapon if acquired by Islamic State.  

Covertly, Israel prepares to fight boycott activists online
Israel is using its world-leading expertise in cyber security to take on the growing threat of the global pro-Palestinian movement to boycott Israel.  

Israeli archaeologists discover 7,000-year-old settlement
Israeli archaeologists said Wednesday they have unearthed a 7,000-year-old settlement in northern Jerusalem, describing it as the oldest discovery of its kind in the area. Israel's Antiquities Authority said the excavation exposed two houses with well-preserved remains and floors containing pottery vessels, flint tools and a basalt bowl.  

February 17, 2016

China sends missiles to contested South China Sea island
China has deployed anti-aircraft missiles on a disputed South China Sea island in a major escalation of tensions with the United States over the world’s most lucrative shipping lanes. Taiwan’s defence ministry told The Telegraph that it has confirmed the existence of the missiles on an island in the Paracel chain that are occupied by Beijing but also claimed by Taipei and Vietnam.  

Earthquake Prediction California: New Quake Strikes Fears Of The Big Thing To Come
The quake was “high up there, even for California standards,” said Rafael Abreu, a geophysicist of the USGS Earthquake Information Center in Colorado. In the last 10 days, there have been two earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 nearby. The earthquake has raked up the fears of a major earthquake hitting California as predicted by scientists last year.  

Latest Version of Monopoly is Called “Ultimate Banking” and is Completely Cashless
The war on cash has been in the works for a very, very long time, but the propaganda campaign to convince an always gullible public to accept the scheme seems to have been hatched in earnest late last spring. For example, here are a few excerpts from the post, Martin Armstrong Reports on a Secret Meeting in London to Ban Cash:  

Eagles of Death Metal Singer: French Gun Control Saved No One in Paris Attacks
Jesse Hughes, singer for the Eagles of Death Metal and survivor of the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks, is finally speaking out against the French gun control laws he said not only failed to protect French citizens, but actually aided the attackers. “Did your French gun control stop a single […] person from dying at the Bataclan?”  

Hezbollah Threatens It Can Hit Israel With a Low-Tech Weapon That Will Pack the Punch of a Nuclear Bomb
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has threatened to attack an ammonia storage facility in northern Israel, a move he said would pack the punch of a nuclear weapon, resulting in hundreds of thousands of fatalities.  

Moscow’s alliance with Iran and Hezbollah threatens strategic Israeli interests
GOVERNMENTS AND pundits were stunned last September when Russia sent an expeditionary force into Syria. The immediate goal seemed to be to safeguard the survival of the beleaguered Bashar Assad regime and Russian naval assets in the port of Tartus. But it soon became clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin had other major strategic goals.  

Knesset Defense Committee Chairman in Brussels: Talks Need Brave Palestinian Leader
“there is not one Israeli who does not want peace with the Palestinians, but this calls for a return to the negotiating table in order to discuss all the disputes, with a brave leader on the other side who openly agrees to relinquish the Palestinians’ right of return to the State of Israel’s territory.”  

Cheney calls Trump 'a liberal Democrat'
Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Donald Trump “sounds like a liberal Democrat” following the billionaire’s recent claims that the George W. Bush administration lied to start the Iraq War and failed to prevent the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  

700,000+ CIA docs close to release as ‘national security geek’ nears Kickstarter goal
Known as CREST, the CIA Records Search Tool allows anyone to search the documents, but only if they wish to make the trip there. Even then the only way to share any findings is to print, scan, and upload, which so far has only happened with about 1 million out of the total 11 million pages in the archive.  

Obama in wonderland? US ‘schizophrenic’ on Syria as Kurds, govt forces advance
The US president has claimed that Russian involvement in Syria is a sign of weakness and has pressed for regime change in Damascus, brushing aside ongoing peace talks and ignoring steady gains by the Syrian army and Kurdish forces against terrorists.  

Austria tightens border control in an attempt to deal with migrant crisis
Austria announced that the country is returning its border control and inspection along its borders with Italy, Slovenia and Hungary, in an attempt to control the flow of migrants entering its territories.  

How a 300-Year-Old Vision Predicted a Global Economic Crisis That Could Bring Messiah
His teachings are still studied in depth and his book, the Tanya, is widely read by Jews around the world. Chabad is exceptional in that it emphasizes the concept of Messiah in a manner generally eschewed by other branches of Judaism.  

Hezbollah Leader Irked by Growing Sunni Arab Ties with Israel
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah appeared upset with reports that Sunni Arab leaders are increasingly viewing Israel as an ally in the fight against Iran.  

Kurds' advance in Syria divides U.S. and Turkey as Russia bombs
The rapid advance of U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, taking advantage of Russian air strikes to seize territory near the Turkish border, has infuriated Ankara and threatened to drive a wedge between NATO allies.  

Donald Trump Is Still Planned Parenthood’s Favorite Republican
In August, Planned Parenthood released a statement applauding Donald Trump. The abortion industry made nice to Trump because he first made nice to them.  

UK Latest Nation to Boycott BDS
New British government directives are aiming to prevent public bodies, universities, and student unions from boycotting Israeli products, The Independent reported Sunday. According to The Sunday Times, the move “follows mounting concern among Jewish leaders about anti-Semitism.”  

Magnitude 4.8 Quake Strikes Near Big Pine, California, East of Fresno
Police and fire departments in Bishop said they felt the quake, describing it as a "big boom and some rattling." So far, there have been no reports of significant damage or calls for service, Bishop police said.  

Syria crisis: Aid lorries set off for besieged areas
Aid convoys are preparing to deliver desperately-needed food and medicine to five besieged towns in Syria. A spokesman for the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) told the BBC lorries had begun leaving Damascus. They will head to rebel-held Madaya, Zabadani and Muadhamiya, near the capital, and to the pro-government northern villages of Foah and Kefraya.  

China 'has deployed missiles in South China Sea' - Taiwan
China has deployed surface-to-air missiles on a disputed island in the South China Sea, Taiwan says. Satellite images taken on 14 February appear to show two batteries of eight missile launchers and a radar system on Woody or Yongxing Island in the Paracels. The presence of missiles would significantly increase tensions in the acrimonious South China Sea dispute.  

Report: Russia will send first S-300 missile system to Iran on Thursday
Russia will send the first S-300 air defense missile system to Iran on Thursday... The missile system will be delivered under the terms of an earlier contract. RIA reported earlier on Wednesday that Russia will sign this year a contract with Iran to supply a batch of its Sukhoi Su-30SM multi-role fighter jets to the Islamic Republic.  

Archaeologists discover 7,000-year-old Jerusalem settlement
Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority recently unearthed the remains of a well-preserved 7,000-year-old settlement in northern Jerusalem from the Chalcolithic period, dating back to the 5th millennium BCE. The discovery was made by the Authority prior to the laying of a road in the Shu’fat neighborhood, the IAA said on Wednesday.  

Russia, Iran coordinate moves on Syria
The Iranian defense minister Gen. Hossein Dehghan left Tehran on Monday on a visit to Russia at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. In an arrival statement in Moscow, he said, We are seriously with the Syrian government and nation and we have had decisive cooperation with Russia, which has resulted in a change of power balance and creation of a new situation for Syria.  

The Obama administration enables anti-Semitism at the United Nations
The Times of Israel reports that United States ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power is in Israel: “Bias has extended well beyond Israel as a country, Israel as an idea,” she said of the UN and particularly the UN Human Rights Council. “Israel is just not treated like other countries,” she added during a Q&A session, while also maintaining that there are legitimate criticisms of the Jewish state.  

Why is America losing faith in its military?
As the United States military recovers from two decade-long wars – neither of which were won decisively – and endures significant downsizing, do Americans think it's still the best in the world? The answer is increasingly 'no,' according to a new Gallup poll. Last year the number of Americans who thought they were protected by the world's strongest military was 59 percent, but this year that number has dropped to 49 percent – the lowest figure in the 23 years Gallup has recorded the trend.  

China sends missiles to contested South China Sea island: Taiwan
China has deployed an advanced surface-to-air missile system to one of the disputed islands it controls in the South China Sea, Taiwan and U.S. officials said, ratcheting up tensions even as U.S. President Barack Obama urged restraint in the region.  

Cracking down on Pyongyang is difficult. Here's why
Repeatedly over the past six weeks, since the morning North Korea surprised the world with its fourth nuclear test, the United States, South Korea, Japan and their allies have vowed to get tough on Pyongyang.  

This is the beginning of the end for US shale oil
We're witnessing the slow death of US shale oil production. Shale oil producers have long been seen as the most vulnerable group in the oil crash, but have proven far more resilient than markets expected. And in the last 18 months oil prices have crashed about 70% while US-based production in 2014 led the global oil market.  

February 16, 2016

Top secret CIA poison dart gun 'gives targets deadly HEART ATTACKS and leaves no trace'
A WHISTLEBLOWER has claimed the CIA developed a "heart attack gun" laced with deadly poison to carry out assassinations. ...the toxin would not appear in an autopsy – so there would be "no way of perceiving that the target was hit".  

Hawaii declares state of emergency over Zika virus, dengue fever outbreak
Hawaii Gov. David Ige declared a state of emergency to fight mosquito borne illnesses including dengue fever and the Zika virus. The state has been in the midst of a dengue fever outbreak on Hawaii's Big Island, where there were more than 250 confirmed cases. There have been no locally transmitted cases of the Zika virus in Hawaii, Ige said in a news conference Friday.  

Michael Savage: 'Was Scalia murdered?'
With confirmation that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead Saturday morning with a pillow over his head and his clothes unwrinkled, nationally syndicated talk-radio host Michael Savage called for an investigation on the level of the presidentially appointed probe into President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963.  

France presents Israel, Palestinians with peace plan
Israeli and Palestinian officials say France has presented the two sides with a proposal for an international peace conference.  

‘Christians are under pressure in many developed countries’ – Russian Patriarch Kirill
In an exclusive interview to RT's Ed Schultz Patriarch Kirill stressed the importance of his meeting with Pope Francis in Cuba, which he said came “at the right time.”   

US Ambassador to UN: “UN is Part of the Problem”
US Ambassador Samantha Power vigorously criticized the UN’s bias against Israel in her speech at the Israel Middle East Model UN Conference at the American International School in Even Yehuda.  

Obama Reluctantly Signs BDS Bill Recognizing Territories as Part of Israel
A trade bill which passed a senate vote Thursday is set to be signed into law by US President Barack Obama, despite his objections to its pro-Israel portions.  

5.7M earthquake adds shaking to gales on Tongatapu
A short tremor was felt in Tongatapu tonight at around 4:03 am. The earthquake rattled houses and woke people, who stayed indoors sheltering from the gale force winds and heavy rains brought to Tonga overnight by Tropical Cyclone Winston.  

Thousands of Blacktip Sharks Clog the Coastline of Florida in Palm Beach County
People aren’t the only ones heading to Florida for warmer weather. Over 10,000 sharks have situated themselves just off the Palm Beach County coastline for the winter, although further north than usual. The blacktip sharks are only several hundred feet away from the shore, according to Stephen Kajiura, an associate professor at Florida Atlantic University whose research interests include the sensory biology of fish.  

Negative central bank interest rates now herald new danger for the world
The world's tentative experiment with negative interest rates got off to an unremarkable start. Sweden's Riksbank - the world's oldest central bank - became the first major monetary authority to cross the rubicon and take its main policy rate into the red exactly a year ago to the month (see map above).  

Doctors 3D-print 'living' body parts
Custom-made, living body parts have been 3D-printed in a significant advance for regenerative medicine, say scientists. The sections of bone, muscle and cartilage all functioned normally when implanted into animals. The breakthrough, published in Nature Biotechnology, raises the hope of using living tissues to repair the body.  

Antonin Scalia death: Obama to act after Senate returns next week
A new US Supreme Court judge to replace justice Antonin Scalia will be nominated by the president after next week, the White House has said. There will be no announcement before the Senate returns on 22 February, said deputy press secretary Eric Schultz. Republicans have demanded President Barack Obama - a Democrat - leave the nomination to his successor next year.  

Earthquakes hit Greece just MILES from popular holiday hotspot
THREE earthquakes have struck the Greek city of Patras, just miles from holiday hotspot Zakynthos. The initial quake, which measured 5.3 on the richter scale, struck the area just before 9pm local time. Two more aftershocks, each measuring around 3 on the scale then followed.  

Four oil producing nations agree to freeze output
Oil ministers from three Opec countries, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela, as well as Russia, have agreed to freeze oil output at January levels, as long as others follow suit. The announcement came after the four ministers met in Doha on Tuesday. The move is designed to support the oil price, which has dropped sharply in recent months.  

Russia rejects Syria war crimes claim over hospital attacks
Russia says it "categorically rejects" accusations of war crimes over the bombing of hospitals in Syria. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "those who make such statements are not capable of backing them up with proof". Up to 50 people were killed in missile attacks on at least four hospitals and a school in rebel-held areas of northern Syria on Monday.  

Senior Palestinian official calls on Jews to 'return to country of origin'
Palestinian Authority envoy to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Ibrahim Khreisheh, said that all Jews living in Israel "should all return to their country of origin,"... In an interview with Palestinian Authority TV earlier this month, Khreisheh posited that Jews are not indigenous to the land of Israel, and their presence today is a product of years-long colonization.  

First Chinese train arrives in Tehran to revive Silk Road
Iran's state TV says the first Chinese commercial train has arrived in Tehran to revive the Silk Road — an ancient network of trade routes running through Asia.  

Britain wants to ban boycotts on Israeli goods
The British government intends to ban public institutions in the country from themselves banning the purchase of goods from Israel. It will unveil rules later this week that will make it harder for local town halls and public universities to enact boycotts on Israeli products, spurred by growing popular anger around the collapse of the Middle East peace process.  

EU future not what it once was with 2 big crises at summit
After decades of often unbridled expansion and increasing prosperity, the once-robust European Union is this week looking at its biggest challenge — crumbling from within, says EU President Donald Tusk.  

White House says expects China will support new sanctions on North Korea
President Barack Obama's top national security adviser Susan Rice said on Monday that she expects China will support new international sanctions on North Korea for its recent rocket launches.  

Missiles in Syria kill 50 as schools, hospitals hit; Turkey accuses Russia
Turkey on Monday accused Russia of an "obvious war crime" after missile attacks in northern Syria killed scores of people, and warned Kurdish militia fighters there they would face the "harshest reaction" if they tried to capture a town near the Turkish border.  

Germany expects 500,000 refugees this year: newspaper
The German government expects 500,000 refugees to come to Germany this year, German newspaper Rheinische Post cited sources from the Federal Labor Office as saying.  

'Severe' 6.0 magnitude earthquake hits New Zealand's south coast – just two days after another massive tremor rocked Christchurch
A 'severe' 6.0 magnitude earthquake has hit off the south coast of New Zealand just two days after Christchurch was rocked by a powerful quake. The 10km-deep earthquake struck 160km south-west of Snares Islands at 8.28am on Tuesday, with shaking felt near Roxburgh, Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch. 

February 15, 2016

Turkey issues new threats to Kurdish forces in Syria
Turkey has promised the "harshest reaction" if Kurdish forces try to take the key town of Azaz in northern Syria. Over the weekend Turkey shelled the Kurdish YPG militia as it made advances in the area. Syria said the Turkish shelling was a violation of its sovereignty and called on the UN to act.  

Russia-Ukraine road blockades hit trade
Hundreds of goods lorries are stuck on roads in Russia and Ukraine because of tit-for-tat economic blockades. On Monday the Ukrainian government said Russian lorries would no longer be allowed to transit through Ukraine. The move came after Russia said it had stopped 152 Ukrainian lorries en route to Kazakhstan. Russia accused Ukrainian nationalists of preventing Russian lorries reaching Belarus.  

Bosnia-Herzegovina applies to join European Union
Bosnia-Herzegovina has formally applied to join the 28-nation European Union - a milestone in its efforts to overcome political and ethnic divisions. More tough negotiation and reforms lie ahead if it is ever to join the EU... Bosnia's move comes more than two decades after it emerged from a three-year conflict that cost about 100,000 lives, when Yugoslavia fragmented.  

New Libya cabinet proposed to replace dual governments
Libya's internationally-backed presidency council has proposed a new cabinet for the country which has had two competing governments since 2014. The proposed council will be put to a vote in parliament this week. The BBC's Rana Jawad says Western powers hope that this will be Libya's future unity government.  

Missiles hit school and hospital in Syrian border town, 14 dead
AMMAN- At least 14 civilians were killed when missiles hit a children's hospital, a school and other locations in the rebel-held Syrian town of Azaz near the Turkish border on Monday, a medic and two residents said. They said at least five missiles hit the hospital in the town center and a nearby school, where refugees fleeing a major Syrian army offensive were sheltering.  

'Europe's Jews are worried - and for a good reason'
The Weimar Republic, Germany’s flawed experiment in democracy in the 1920s, has become today’s paradigm for the failure of state and society. By the end of Weimar...vigilantes...claimed they were keeping the streets safe while beating up vulnerable minorities, above all Jews. So it is shocking when citizens in Germany and France — and elsewhere in Europe — increasingly cite Weimar when discussing their society today.  

North Korea's Kim orders more rocket launches
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised scientists involved in the country's recent rocket launch that he said struck a "telling blow" to enemies and ordered them to press ahead with more launches, state media reported Monday.  

China exports fall 11.2% in January, imports down 18.8%
China's exports fell 11.2 percent on-year in January, while imports declined 18.8 percent, clocking far bigger slides than expected by analysts. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a 1.9 percent drop in January exports, and a 0.8 percent drop in imports.  

Europe's Convinced U.S. Won't Solve Its Problems
Europe is facing a convergence of the worst crises since World War II, and the overwhelming consensus among officials and experts here is that the U.S. no longer has the will or the ability to play an influential role in solving them.  

Box Office: Michael Moore's 'Where to Invade Next' Marks Career Low
Michael Moore's Where to Invade Next wasn't greeted by a victory march at the box office, where its per-theater average ranked below those of the filmmaker's previous offerings.  

Israel fears Gaza 'tunnel' war waged by Hamas
The last Gaza war began in the air with rockets that Hamas militants fired at Israel. Now, Israelis living next door to the Palestinian territory see worrisome signs that the next war will be waged underground.  

February 14, 2016

New Zealand's Christchurch rocked by 5.7 magnitude quake, cliffs collapse into sea
A strong 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Christchurch in New Zealand on Sunday, causing cliffs to collapse into the sea but no major damage to the city, which was devastated by a 2011 quake which killed nearly 200 people. The epicentre of Sunday's quake on New Zealand's south island was 15 kms (9 miles) east of Christchurch and at a shallow depth of 15 km (9 miles), said the country's seismological body Geonet.  

Oklahoma rattled by state's third-largest earthquake; 5.1 recorded near Fairview
The third-largest earthquake in recorded state history rocked parts of western Oklahoma on Saturday morning near the site of other large, recent temblors. The quake registered a magnitude of 5.1 and was recorded northwest of Fairview at 11:07 a.m., according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Geological Survey.  

Israel’s New Gun Lobby Hopes to Ensure Right to Bear Arms
Following in the footsteps of America’s influential National Rifle Association (NRA), a lobby which has considerable sway in Congress, a Likud MK is establishing a gun lobby here in Israel’s Knesset. MK Amir Ohana will formally launch the initiative on Monday with a caucus aimed at protecting and widening the rights of Israelis to own and carry firearms.  

Hawaii governor signs emergency proclamation on Zika, other illnesses
The governor of Hawaii has signed an emergency proclamation regarding Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Gov. David Ige signed the declaration Friday as "a preventative measure" to guard against Zika, dengue fever and other diseases, his office said in a statement.  

Fierce Battle Erupts Over Next Supreme Court Judge Following Death of Justice Scalia
News of the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on Saturday almost immediately sparked a massive debate in the political arena over the weighty question of whether or not President Barack Obama should attempt to fill the opening on the bench during his remaining time in office.  

EU talks will go down to the wire, says Philip Hammond
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says Britain needs a "robust deal" for staying in the EU, when European leaders meet at a summit on Thursday. Prime Minister David Cameron is seeking EU reform before Britain votes in an in/out referendum before 2018. "There are still a lot of moving parts," Mr Hammond told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.  

Syria conflict: Turkey presses on with assault on Kurds
A Turkish assault on positions claimed by Kurdish fighters in northern Syria has continued into a second day. On Saturday, Turkey began shelling the militia, which it says is linked to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The YPG militia, which is based in Syria, has rejected a demand by Turkey to leave areas it has seized, saying Islamists would return if it left.  

China bank chief says 'speculators' caused yuan fall
Chinese central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan has accused "speculative forces" of targeting the country's currency, the yuan. He said there was no reason for the yuan to keep depreciating in value and that China would not let international speculators dominate market sentiment. Mr Zhou's remarks come as Chinese markets prepare to reopen on Monday after a week-long New Year holiday.  

Report: Minister's comments lead to Egypt canceling Netanyahu meeting
Egypt has canceled a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Cairo, Arab media reported Sunday. The announcement comes after Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said earlier this month that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the flooding of several Hamas tunnels linking Egypt to the Gaza Strip, to a certain extent, "due to Israel's request."  

Iran Plays and Backstabs the US: Iran Dumps Dollar in Trade
he Islamic Republic declared that it is moving away from the US dollar for use in trades and that Tehran welcomes replacing dollar with other currencies.  

Justice Antonin Scalia's death quickly sparks political battle
Justice Antonin Scalia's death immediately triggered a monumental election-year battle in Washington over whether President Barack Obama should choose a successor who could tilt the Supreme Court toward liberals.  

Pope condemns Mexico 'drugs cancer'
Pope Francis has urged Mexico's leaders to provide "true justice" to citizens hit by drug violence in the country. Speaking on the first day of his five-day visit to Mexico, he said drug trafficking was a cancer that devoured and destroyed Mexican society.  

Syrian army gains ground around Aleppo, looks to Raqqa
Russia said on Saturday a Syria ceasefire plan was more likely to fail than succeed, as Syrian government forces backed by Russian air strikes took rebel ground near Aleppo and set their sights on the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa province.  

North Korea took 70 percent of Kaesong wages for weapons program: South Korea
South Korea said 70 percent of the U.S. dollars paid as wages and fees for the suspended Kaesong industrial project, run jointly with the North, had been diverted for Pyongyang's weapons program and luxury goods for leader Kim Jong Un.  

Turkey strikes Kurd, regime forces in Syria, mulls ground attack
Turkey hit Kurdish and Syrian regime targets on Saturday as Ankara mulled a ground assault with Saudi troops, further complicating efforts to end the war just days after the US and Russia agreed on a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria within a week.  

Krauthammer: CBS Republican Debate Was "Thermonuclear War," "We Went From WWE To The UFC"
Charles Krauthammer analyzes the Saturday night Republican presidential debate moderated by CBS News. Krauthammer said if the previous debates had been World War I or II, then this debate was a thermonuclear war.