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Saturday, December 31, 2016

December 31, 2016

‘Obama Sees Himself As God’ — Russia Sanctions
Obama sees himself as God hovering over the country dispensing goodies to the extent that he’s got control.” “He figures, ‘I’ve got control here. No one can stop me, and it may be somewhat irreversible.'”  
‘Russian hackers’ penetrate US power grid with ‘outdated Ukrainian malware’
A Vermont utility sounded the alarm after finding malware code on a laptop that the FBI and DHS had touted as associated with Russian hackers. However, cybersecurity specialists say the code came from an outdated Ukrainian hacking tool.  
Dershowitz: 'Obama's presidency will go into the dustbin of history'
Prominent author and Harvard Professor Emeritus of Law Alan Dershowitz sharply criticized ... Obama in an interview with the Israel Hayom newspaper on Friday, saying he believes “Obama will join Jimmy Carter as somebody who will always stand against Israel, but who will be tossed into the dustbin of history when it comes to the Middle East.”  
Congress looks at options against UN over Israel action
Republicans in both houses of Congress are preparing resolutions that would condemn the United Nations for its recent actions on Israel, as their leadership considers more drastic legislative measures that would sanction the international body.  
2016 Was The Year of the Deplorables
I feel like a "Duck Dynasty" guy living in a "Modern Family" world – where right is wrong, wrong is right – it’s as if our values have been turned upside down. Obama called us "bitter." He said we were the kinds of people who cling to guns and religion.  
Magnitude-5.6 quake strikes off Fukushima
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 struck off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture early Saturday, the Meteorological Agency said. No tsunami warning was issued.  
Yearender - Indonesia records highest number of natural disasters in 2016
Indonesia was battered by 2,342 natural disasters in 2016, the highest in the past 14 years, making it one of the most violent years in recent memory. According to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the number of natural disasters increased by 35 percent during 2016 from 1,732 in the previous year, with flooding, landslides and whirlwinds still dominating.  
Obama to meet lawmakers in attempt to protect health law
President Barack Obama plans to meet Democratic lawmakers in Congress next week to discuss how to protect his signature healthcare law from Republican efforts to dismantle it, a White House official said on Friday. Obama, who is leaving office on Jan. 20, will attend a meeting with Democrats from the House of Representatives and the Senate on Wednesday, the official said.  
China considering strong measures to contain Taiwan: sources
China's military has become alarmed by what it sees as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's support of Taiwan and is considering strong measures to prevent the island from moving toward independence, sources...said. Three sources said one possibility being considered was conducting war games near the self-ruled island that China considers as a breakaway province. Another was a series of economic measures to cripple Taiwan.  
Volcano Activity Strengthening Around The World
Volcanoes Campi Flegrei in Italy, Sakurajima in Japan, Pavlof in Alaska, Popocatépetl in Mexico and Iturrialba in Costa Rica among others showed signs of reawakening in the last semester of 2016, sounding the alarm among the scientist community that warns about a chain of imminent eruptions.  
Iraq Baghdad: 28 dead as twin bombs rip through market
At least 28 people have died in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in a double bombing claimed by so-called Islamic State (IS). The explosions happened one after another in the busy al-Sinak market. More than 50 people were injured. Police said a roadside bomb exploded near a car spare parts shop, then a suicide bomber detonated his device among the crowd that had gathered.  
Year of the Russian bear
Even its critics have to admit that Russia was 2016’s dominant superpower. At a time when the European Union began to fray and the US drowned in political strife and shame, Russia emerged from the geopolitical shadows, where it had been lost for a quarter of a century, displaying imperial vision, vigor and sway.  
Mexican man charged with rape had 19 deportations, removals
A Mexican man accused of raping a 13-year-old girl on a Greyhound bus that traveled through Kansas had been deported 10 times and voluntarily removed from the U.S. another nine times since 2003, records obtained by The Associated Press show.  
Black Lives Matter offshoot embraces anti-Semitism, engages with terrorists
Over the Christmas weekend, Chicago surpassed the 750-murder mark for 2016. But as blacks lay dying on the streets of Chicago’s South and West Sides, a Black Lives Matter offshoot is more interested in traveling overseas to learn “resistance” from terrorists.  
Obama’s petty attempts to sabotage Trump are bound to fail
It’s easy to come up with several different reasons for the Obama administration’s moves against Russia and Israel. The repudiation of his policies in last month’s election would have wounded a normal person’s ego, to say nothing of someone as vain as Obama. To rub it in, the press has left the setting to follow the rising sun, reporting so much about Trump that Obama had seemed quite forgotten.  
Anthony Bourdain slams ‘privileged’ liberals for ‘utter contempt’ of working class
Celebrity chef and self-described “privileged Eastern liberal” Anthony Bourdain slammed his fellow leftist elites this week, arguing that their disdain for working-class Americans helped create “the upswell of rage and contempt” that propelled Donald Trump to the presidency.  
Israel issues travel warning for its citizens in India
Israel has issued a warning for its citizens travelling to India ahead of the new year celebrations citing a "concrete basic threat" and advised to avoid parties and gatherings particularly in south-west part of the country.  
British leader Theresa May breaks with John Kerry’s condemnation of Israel
British Prime Minister Theresa May condemned a blunt speech this week by Secretary of State John F. Kerry on the state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, an unusual move that boosted Britain’s relations with the incoming Trump administration at the expense of President Obama.  
5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Japan's East Coast: US Geological Survey
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake hit near Japan's east coast on Saturday, the US Geological Survey said. The moderate quake hit at a shallow depth of 11 kilometres (6.8 miles), 244 kilometres northeast of Tokyo, just after 5:00 am (2000 GMT).  

Friday, December 30, 2016

December 30, 2016

Morici: 'Smarter' Trump Needs Time to Undo 8 Years of Obama Damage
"I have no doubt that Mr. Trump's a heck of a lot smarter than Barack Obama but Barack Obama had eight years to do this damage so it's going to take a lot of time to undo it," Morici told Bill Tucker on "The Steve Malzberg Show." "Executive orders can generally be reversed but not all,"  
Top Bible Prophecy Stories of 2016 By Jan Markell
Zechariah 12:3 became a blunt reality on December 23. This was the day the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to come against Israel. America abstained which is essentially voting with the other members. She symbolically became the world's burdensome stone. This was initiated and instigated by the President of the United States which means terrible repercussions are coming to this land.  
Christians, Jews Vow to Stand Together at Trump’s Inauguration
In the wake of deteriorating relations between Israel and the US culminating in the disastrous UN vote last Friday, Tommy Waller, a Christian from Tennessee, is bringing a delegation of Israeli Knesset members to Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20th.  
Coast Guard search launched after plane vanishes in Ohio
The Columbus-bound Cessna Citation 525 departed Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland late Thursday night and disappeared from radar about two miles over Lake Erie. Why remains unclear. The group on the plane apparently had just left the Cleveland Cavaliers game,  
Canadian MP: As PM, I will move Canadian embassy to Jerusalem
Candidate for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada Kellie Leitch vowed to move the Canadian Embassy to Jerusalem if elected PM.  
Syrian blood isn't red enough for Obama
Ezri Tubi points out the hypocrisy in the American administration's fixation on Israel while ignoring carnage in Syria. (video)  
Britain, edging towards Trump, scolds Kerry over Israel
Britain scolded U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for describing the Israeli government as the most right-wing in Israeli history, a move that aligns Prime Minister Theresa May more closely with President-elect Donald Trump. Kerry's public rebuke of Israel has unsettled some allies such as Britain.  
HERE COMES THE SOLAR WIND (AGAIN)
2016 might get one more blast of auroras before the year is over. Another stream of solar wind is heading for Earth, and it could arrive before New Year's Eve. The wind is flowing from a coronal hole (CH) in the sun's atmosphere...  
Barack Obama has turned his back on America’s staunchest allies, writes STEPHEN POLLARD
THERE could be no more fitting ending to Barack Obama’s disastrous presidency than the two set-piece foreign policy events that took place in the US on Wednesday.In their own ways each demonstrated just why the day cannot come too soon when this most overrated and inept president disappears from public office.  
Russia to eject US diplomats in response to sanctions
Russia on Friday announced plans to expel 35 US diplomats and ban US diplomatic staff from using a dacha and a warehouse in Moscow in retaliation to Washington's sanctions, Russian news agencies reported. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted by the agencies as saying he had proposed the measures to President Vladimir Putin.  
Earthquakes, bushfires, floods and thunderstorm asthma wreaking havoc in 2016
Earthquakes, bush fires, floods and, in Australia, previously little-known thunderstorm asthma were among the natural disasters that made headlines around the world in 2016. It seemed like a year of earthquakes.  
RING OF FIRE FEARS: Indonesia struck by HUGE earthquake - villagers flee their homes
AN earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck today off the island of Sumbawa in eastern Indonesia, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. There was no tsunami warning issued.  
Over 6,500 earthquakes rocked Japan in 2016
The number of noticeable earthquakes that struck Japan in 2016 exceeded 6,500, three times more than in the previous year, the Japan Meteorological Agency said Friday.  
Netanyahu responds to UN by tweeting this video clip of Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn’t thrilled with the United Nations’ 14-0 vote...which bars the Jewish state from establishing settlements in Palestine-claimed lands — and he made that clear with a tweet Thursday afternoon. In the tweet, the Israeli prime minister shared a short reel of clips featuring President-elect Donald Trump criticizing the U.N., adding: “I could not have said it better myself.”  
Look to the sky for New Year's Eve comet
Apart from the traditional fireworks and illuminated ball in Times Square, look for a blazing comet to light the night sky on New Year’s Eve. The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory said a comet may be visible as people welcome in 2017 on Saturday. “Say farewell to 2016 in cosmic style by looking up to see the #NewYearsEve #comet on December 31,” the laboratory said in a Wednesday Instagram post.  
Bears Ears and Gold Butte: Obama creates two nature preserves
President Barack Obama has unilaterally designated two new "national monument" nature preserves in the western US states of Nevada and Utah. The Bears Ears National Monument and the Gold Butte National Monument will protect areas rich in Native American artefacts from energy drilling. Some Republicans in those states are opposed to the move and say it amounts to a federal land-grab.  
Venezuela: President Maduro extends money swap deadline
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has again extended the deadline to withdraw from circulation the country's most common currency note. The deadline had been set for 2 January but will now be on 20 January. Mr Maduro said he did not want Venezuelans to worry about exchanging the currency near the New Year festivities.  
In strong attack on Israel, German foreign minister says settlements jeopardize peace
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a staunch proponent of the Iran nuclear deal, has slammed Israel in a series of tweets and statements since last Friday’s Security Council resolution condemning Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria. In a statement issued to Germany’s largest circulation daily...the Foreign Ministry claimed that “a democratic Israel is only achievable through a two-state-solution.” 
Russia moves to expel US diplomats in response to sanctions
The Russian foreign ministry has called for the expulsion of 35 US diplomats in response to a similar move by Washington. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev accused the outgoing administration of President Barack Obama of ending in "anti-Russian death throes".  
With the two-state solution a distant dream, Palestinians ask if it's time to push for a one-state solution
Palestinians see prospects for the so-called two-state solution disintegrating, a growing number are mulling over a provocative alternative: a single binational state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean.  
Israeli TV Reports Netanyahu Probe Expected Within Days
An Israeli TV channel reported Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is suspected of receiving valuable gifts from two businessmen. The Channel 2 segment was the latest in a series of reports in Israeli media saying that police are close to opening a criminal investigation against the prime minister.  
Russian Embassy in UK responds to sanctions with 'lame duck tweet'
The Russian response to Barack Obama’s announcement that he was expelling 35 diplomats over the alleged cyber attack on the US election, was fast, and in some cases, rather amusing.  
Modi Set to Face Fallout From His 50-Day Cash Promise to India
Short of a miracle, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi will fail to meet his own 50-day deadline to restore order to the country’s economy and ease the hardship faced by ordinary citizens following the chaos of his sudden currency ban.  
Obama’s Treachery Exposed
After watching all the pomp and circumstance of the presidential inauguration of January 20, 2009, I remember turning to my husband Steve and saying: “The sole mission of Barack Obama and his henchmen is to destroy Israel.”  

Thursday, December 29, 2016

December 29, 2016


It’s Pretty Clear Why Obama Wouldn’t Have Fared So Well Against Donald Trump
Politico’s Bill Scher unceremoniously yanked the one remaining leg out of President Barack Obama’s stool in a Wednesday op-ed that described Obama’s prospects had he run against President-elect Donald Trump.  
Chief rabbi: US has forsaken Israel, we can trust only in the Lord
“Sometimes, we need to be reminded from above that we can count on no one but our Father who art in heaven,” Yosef told followers at the Western Wall. “Even America… forsook us last week at the UN.” He added: “We mustn’t forget that the hearts of kings and captains are in the hands of the Lord, and we can count on no one but (the Lord).”  
Europe elections in 2017 that could DESTROY EU: Votes in France, Germany and Netherlands
A SERIES of elections and referendums across Europe in the new year could plunge the EU into chaos as a wave of populism sweeps the continent. Victories for parties such as Le Pen’s Front National and the German AfD could spark a slate of Brexit-style referendums which might spell the end of the EU  
White House On Defense After Being Exposed as Architect of Anti-Israel U.N. Action
Senior Obama administration officials are scrambling to provide explanations after multiple reports, including in the Washington Free Beacon, identified the White House as being a chief architect of a recent United Nations resolution condemning the state of Israel, according to conversations with multiple former and current U.S. officials.  
Jimmy Carter to Obama: Grant Recognition to ‘State of Palestine’ at UN
Jimmy Carter is urging incumbent President Barack Obama to support an anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations Security Council that would allow the Palestinian Authority to evade its obligation to negotiate a final status agreement and skip directly to independent statehood.  
Aiming for Technological Superpower Status, China Buys Up German Companies
The acquisition of German companies by Chinese investors has reached record levels. According to financial consulting firm Ernst & Young, investors from mainland China and its financial hub Hong Kong have purchased 58 German companies in the first ten months of 2016, which is 19 more than the total purchased a year earlier.  
'War' coming between U.S., U.N.
He explained that Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., already has started work on ways to keep U.S. money away from the U.N., because “the U.N. has made it impossible for us to continue with business as usual.” The senator said Republicans in Congress likely “will feel like this is a betrayal of Israel and the only response that we have is the power of the purse.”  
Netanyahu tells Kerry: Israel doesn't need to be lectured about peace by foreign leaders
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a fiery retort, both in Hebrew and in English, to US State Secretary John Kerry's speech on Wednesday, telling the American diplomat: "Israel does not need to be lectured about peace by foreign leaders."  
Trump: The UN doesn't solve problems, it causes them
“When do you see the United Nations solving problems?” he added. “They don’t. They cause problems. So, if it lives up to the potential, it’s a great thing, and if it doesn’t, it’s a waste of time and money.” The remarks are a continuation of a tweet posted earlier this week by Trump, in which he said the UN is simply “a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time”.  
U.S. appeals court rejects SEC's use of administrative law judges
A divided federal appeals court has ruled that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's in-house administrative judges are not constitutionally appointed, raising the prospect that the U.S. Supreme Court may need to address the issue.  
POWERFUL QUAKE ‘Severe’ 5.5 earthquake rocks New Zealand’s South Island close to where 7.8 quake killed two last month
A SEVERE earthquake has hit New Zealand’s South Island. The 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit near Kaikoura at around 3.30pm which is the same place which experience a 7.8 magnitude quake in November. 
Trump Said to Discuss Veterans’ Care Overhaul With Hospital CEOs
President-elect Donald Trump met...with leaders of top U.S. nonprofit hospital systems to discuss overhauling health care for veterans, including by allowing them to more readily visit hospitals outside the Veterans Affairs system. The group weighed public-private partnerships and other options that would make it possible for veterans to go to any hospital for care, inside the VA system or outside of it...  
Satellite spots MASSIVE object hidden under the frozen wastes of Antarctica
SCIENTISTS believe a massive object which could change our understanding of history is hidden beneath the Antarctic ice. The huge and mysterious “anomaly” is thought to be lurking beneath the frozen wastes of an area called Wilkes Land. It stretches for a distance of 151 miles across and has a maximum depth of about 848 metres.  
Over two dozen earthquakes hit near Lake Tahoe within four hours
Over two dozen earthquakes have been reported to hit the California-Nevada frontier early Wednesday morning, with tremors being felt as far north as Sacramento as well as San Francisco and Las Vegas. The earthquakes struck near Lake Tahoe, and their rumblings were felt across areas of both states, KTVN reported. There were no immediate reports of problems.  
Israel-Palestinians: Netanyahu condemns John Kerry speech
Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned as biased a speech by outgoing US Secretary of State John Kerry on Israeli-Palestinian issues. Mr Kerry said the prospect of a peace deal based on a two-state solution was in grave jeopardy. ...Mr Netanyahu said he was disappointed with the speech, which he said was "unbalanced" and "obsessively focused" on settlements.  
Syria conflict: Government agrees truce with rebels - Putin
The Syrian government and rebel groups have agreed a ceasefire and to begin peace talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced. The ceasefire is due to come into force at midnight (22:00 GMT) Thursday. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said earlier that Turkey and Russia would act as guarantors under the plan.  
DR Congo floods leave 50 dead in Boma
At least 50 people have died and thousands have been left homeless after severe flooding in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Torrential rain caused the Kalamu river, which flows through the city of Boma, to burst its banks on Tuesday. The bodies of some of the victims had ended up in neighbouring Angola, after being carried away by the surge, a local governor said.  
Trump on Kerry speech: Something's going on and it's 'very unfair' to Israel
US president-elect Donald Trump commented on US Secretary of State John Kerry's Middle East speech on Middle East peace late on Wednesday, saying that it "speaks for itself." Speaking to press outside of his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said that he and Kerry "have different views." Later on during the conference, the president-elect said that "Israel has been treated very, very unfairly by a lot of different people."  
Abbas: I will renew negotiations, if Israel halts settlements, abides by agreements
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas responded to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech late Wednesday night, saying he is prepared to resume negotiations if Israel halts settlement construction and abides by signed agreements. “The minute the Israeli government agrees to cease all settlement activities....the Palestinian leadership stands ready to resume permanent status negotiations...  
MKs warn: Shas Western Wall bill will drive away American Jews
Shas’ proposal to criminalize non-Orthodox worship at the Western Wall will divide the Jewish People, MK Nachman Shai (Zionist Union) warned in a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed by 30 lawmakers from the coalition and opposition. “American Jews are angry and so is their leadership,” Shai said Thursday, calling the Shas proposal “poison.”  
U.S. records fewest tornado deaths in 30 years
From floods to wildfires, 2016 featured several weather disasters, but a big, deadly tornado outbreak was not one of them. Tornadoes killed only 17 Americans this year, the fewest in 30 years and the second fewest since accurate records began in 1950. In 1986, 15 died, which is the least on record, according to the Storm Prediction Center.  
Mysterious illness tied to marijuana use on the rise in states with legal weed
For more than two years, Lance Crowder was having severe abdominal pain and vomiting, and no local doctor could figure out why. Finally, an emergency room physician in Indianapolis had an idea.  
Philippines president claims he dropped kidnapper from helicopter
The foul-mouthed president of the Philippines, who earlier this month admitted to personally shooting and killing three men and using a powerful painkiller in excess of a doctor’s order, said Tuesday he also had dropped a kidnapping suspect from a helicopter – and he would do it again.  
On Dec. 31, an extra ‘leap second’ will be added to our universal clocks — because of waves
The year 2016 will last a little longer. You’ll need to wait a second! As massive as our planet is, the Earth still “brakes” for ocean waves. Remarkably, this pale blue dot decelerates thanks to the braking action of ocean tides. In fact, our planet decelerates 2 milliseconds per day per century, according to the Naval Observatory. The final effect is that the planet’s rotation slows compared to atomic clocks.  
Apparently driving while caffeinated is now a crime
If you picked up a coffee this morning on your way to work you were driving in the same condition that Joseph Schwab was when he was pulled over and arrested for “driving under the influence.” Schwab, a California man who was pulled over by an agent of the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control department, is now fighting back.  
Turkey’s Erdogan Drops Bombshell Claim: 'Confirmed Evidence' US-Led Coalition Forces Supported ISIS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday made the bombshell claim that he has “confirmed evidence” that U.S.-led coalition forces provided support to terrorist groups in Syria, including ISIS.  
TX Rep Drafting Bill to Defund UN: 'They Don't Need Our Money to Be Anti-Semitic'
Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert (R) told Kimberly Guilfoyle he is drafting a bill that will halt all US funds to the United Nations until they rescind a resolution condemning Israeli settlements.  

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

December 28, 2016

Erdan calls John Kerry's upcoming Middle East peace speech 'pathetic'
"It's pathetic to present a [peace] plan at the last minute when he hasn't managed to change anything for his entire time in office," Erdan said late on Tuesday night. "It's unfortunate that the Obama Administration, that erred for years in the Middle East, is trying to make sure that the chaos will last far past its tenure,"  
Magnitude 6.3 quake hits Japan, no tsunami warning
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 hit eastern Japan on Wednesday, but no tsunami warning was issued, public broadcaster NHK said. There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries.  
What the hack? The leaks that shaped 2016
The past 12 months could be defined as the year of leaks, with hackers and whistleblowers revealing a massive trove of information, affecting entities around the world. The effects of 2016's leaks range from allegedly swaying the results of the US elections to exposing the inner workings of governments over decades.  
YESHA Council Envoy: Kerry is a liar, he's not saying the truth
"When I met with Kerry a few weeks ago, I understood that we're talking about a person who is disconnected from reality and looking to make headlines. He's a person who takes sides in an argument and confuses facts with wishes.  
Federal Appeals Court Invites Trump’s AG To Enter Clinton Email Scandal
A federal court ruled Tuesday the U.S. attorney general can still get involved in supervising the release of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s emails, offering President-elect Donald Trump an opportunity to intervene in the controversial case.  
2 earthquakes struck near Lake Tahoe, rumblings felt across region
Two earthquakes struck early Wednesday near Lake Tahoe, and their rumblings were felt across areas of two states. There were no immediate reports of problems. The U.S. Geological Surveys says the two magnitude 5.7 temblors were both centered in a remote area of Nevada near the California line, about 70 miles southeast of Lake Tahoe.  
4.1 Magnitude Earthquake Registered Off Central Oregon Coast
An earthquake has been recorded off Oregon’s central coast. The U.S. Geological Survey says the 4.1 magnitude earthquake hit Tuesday at 7:51 a.m. Pacific. It struck about 269 miles west of Corvallis.  
European Union chief says open borders are the best way to fight terrorism
Europe’s governing body is doubling down on its immigration “values” — even after three of its member countries have been attacked by terrorists in just the last year. Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, which serves as the executive body of the European Union, said Monday that open borders are still the best way to combat international terrorism, the Berlin Morning Post reported.  
Mexico eyes border, migration as leverage in talks with Trump
Mexico aims to defend free trade with the United States by using border security and immigration policy to gain leverage in talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump... To defuse Trump's threats to disrupt trade and investment, policymakers say Mexico aims to strike a balance between hearing out his concerns over illegal immigration and U.S. jobs, and adopting a firm posture to protect its own economic interests.  
US says claim it supported IS in Syria is 'ludicrous'
The US has described as "ludicrous" a claim by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that it supported so-called Islamic State (IS) in Syria. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said there was no basis for such an accusation. The Turkish leader earlier said he had evidence and also said the US had supported the Kurdish YPG and PYD groups.  
Syria conflict: Turkey and Russia 'agree ceasefire plan'
Turkey and Russia have agreed on the terms of a proposed ceasefire in Syria, where they back opposing sides in the civil war, Turkish state media report. The Anadolu news agency cited an unnamed source as saying the two states were working to ensure the ceasefire would start after midnight (22:00 GMT). "Terrorist organisations" would be excluded from the deal, the source added, without giving further details.  
Seven charged with attempted murder of Berlin homeless man
Seven young migrants have been charged with attempted murder in Germany after they allegedly tried to set a homeless man alight on Christmas Day. Six of the suspects, aged between 15 and 18, surrendered to police immediately after CCTV pictures of the incident in Berlin were released. The victim, who was attacked in an underground station, was unharmed.  
Nigeria's Sultan of Sokoto rejects gender equality bill
Nigeria's most senior Muslim cleric has rejected a new gender equality bill, which proposes that women and men inherit an equal share. The Sultan of Sokoto, Mohamed Sa'ad Abubakar, said Muslims would not accept the violation of Islamic law guaranteeing men a greater share. Nigeria's main Christian body has welcomed the bill, saying its religion permitted equal inheritance.  
Mumps spreads on college campuses
..."Mumps kind of sounds like this archaic thing," Brown said. "We get vaccinated for it...I just didn't think that it was possible that I would get it." But mumps is back...fueled in part by its spread on college campuses. Since classes began at the University of Missouri in August, school officials have identified 193 mumps cases on campus. Nationwide, more than 4,000 cases have been reported...  
Leaked documents claim UN anti-settlement resolution orchestrated by US, PA co-op
Prior to the UN Security Council vote on anti-Israeli settlement resolution 2334, US Secretary of State John Kerry met with a Palestinian delegation in early December in Washington to discuss the draft, agreeing to cooperate... According to the report, Kerry along with US National Security Adviser Susan Rice, met with Secretary General of the PLO Executive Committee Saeb Erkat and Majed Faraj, head of the Palestinian Authority's General Intelligence Service.  
Vote on new Israeli homes in east Jerusalem said canceled ahead of Kerry speech
Amid heightened tensions between Jerusalem and Washington over the US’s abstention in last week’s UN resolution, the Jerusalem Municipality will reportedly cancel a Wednesday meeting to approve hundreds of Jewish residential units beyond the 1949 Armistice Line. ...the municipality contended that the resolution had no bearing on the city’s master plan for Jewish or Arab construction.  
Erdogan accuses West of backing IS, breaking promises in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said the West was breaking promises in Syria, accusing Ankara's partners of backing "terror groups" including IS jihadists in the country.  
U.S. appeals court revives Clinton email suit
In a new legal development on the controversy over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's emails, an appeals court on Tuesday reversed a lower court ruling and said two U.S. government agencies should have done more to recover the emails.  
CNBC's John Harwood Blames "White Fear" For Democrat Losses Under Obama
As the latest testament to his extreme impartiality as CNBC's chief Washington Correspondent, Harwood sent out the following tweet storm aimed at all of "those making [the] silly argument that Obama hurt [the] Democratic Party" to confirm, once and for all, that "white fear" (aka racism) was responsible for democratic losses in Congress under Obama's leadership and not his failed policies.  
India's Prime Minister Has Singlehandedly Crushed The Economy With His Reckless Cash Ban
oday’s piece should be seen as a bit of a followup to yesterday’s post, India’s Demonetization Debacle Highlights the Dangers of Monetary Monopoly. While yesterday’s piece was more philosophical/strategic in nature, today’s zeroes in on some of the devastating real world impacts of Narendra Modi’s insane and inhumane cash ban. It’s hard to overstate the damage this policy has done to India’s economy. Modi is quickly solidifying his place as one of monetary history’s biggest idiots.  
John Kerry To Deliver Obama’s Plan To Solve The Israel-Palestinian Conflict
John Kerry will deliver a speech outlining the Obama administration’s plan to solve the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians Wednesday, said Department of State spokesman Mark Toner Tuesday While it remains unclear what exactly Kerry will say, it is believed that the speech will center on four core issues regarding a potential two-state solution:  
Trump family faces antisemitic backlash following Hanukka tweets
President-elect Donald Trump was bombarded with antisemitic tweets from his social media followers shortly after he tweeted "Happy Hanukkah" alongside a picture of a menorah on the first night of the Jewish festival of lights.  
Gingrich to Congress: Condemn Obama over anti-Israel resolution
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich urged Congress on Monday to condemn the Obama administration for allowing the resolution against Israeli “settlements” to pass the UN Security Council. “Why is the Obama team waging war against Israel? Why are they taking steps to isolate and then kill a democracy and an ally?  
Romania earthquake: 5.6 tremor felt in Bucharest, Bulgaria and Moldova
An earthquake (cutremur) with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 has struck near Focșani in eastern Romania, with shaking felt as far away as the capital Bucharest and parts of nearby countries, including Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine.  

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

December 27, 2016

What’s All This Sudden Concern About Executive Power?
After eight years of his wanton tyranny, the party that would like the federal government to grow so powerful that it runs every American life is suddenly concerned about giving the president too much power. What a remarkable time to discover this concern.  
Mexico's Colima volcano erupts, making 1.5 mile ash plume
the Interior Ministry's public safety coordinator, said in a statement that the latest eruption occurred early Tuesday, and created an ash plume about 1.5 miles tall. Ash could fall up to 30 miles away from the volcano, he said. The Colima volcano -- known by Mexicans as the Volcano of Fire is in Mexico's Colima state. Authorities have also declared an exclusion zone in neighboring Jalisco state.  
3.3M earthquake strikes near Los Angeles
A 3.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast near Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The strike happened at 5:58 a.m. Eastern, according to the USGS. The earthquake took place 10 kilometers southwest of Malibu, California.  
GOP moves to block 'disorderly conduct' in House chamber
The House of Representatives will vote on new rules in January that include fines for members of Congress who take pictures or broadcast audio or video from the floor of the House chamber, in addition to other rules clarifying conduct seen as disorderly during Congressional sessions. In addition to fines, the legislation includes penalties for breaking new rules that include referrals to the House Committee on Ethics and other sanctions.  
ALIEN LIFE BOOST: 2017 could be the year we FINALLY confirm ET existence, say experts
With several probes around different planets and a rover on Mars, experts are hopeful that 2017 could finally be the year that humans discover life on other worlds. Scientists were excited earlier this year when strange signals were detected from deep space. While many experts state that it is likely to be another false alarm, there is hope that significant news will arise from it either way.  
The First Step Towards Building the Third Temple: A Synagogue on the Temple Mount
Yaakov Hayman, the head of Yishai, an NGO dedicated to reinstating Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount, is preparing to submit a survey map to the Israeli government to build four synagogues, one in each corner of the Temple Mount compound, a critical turning point steering Israel in the right direction towards prayer at Judaism’s holiest site.  
Israel urges Jews to leave France as Benajmin Netanyahu continues to lash out after UN vote
Israel’s defence minister has urged French Jews to leave France and move to the Jewish state as the Israeli government continued to lash out at the international community in the wake of UN resolution criticising its settlements in the occupied West Bank. Four days after the US allowed the UN Security Council to censure Israeli settlement building, Israel’s government is on a heated rhetorical campaign against the 14 countries that voted against it.  
Russia calls U.S. move to better arm Syrian rebels a "hostile act"
Russia said on Tuesday that a U.S. decision to ease some restrictions on arming Syrian rebels had opened the way for deliveries of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, a move it said would directly threaten Russian forces in Syria.  
CHINA-CHONGQING-EARTHQUAKE
Pupils are evacuated to a playground after earthquake at Xichan Elementary School in Dazu District of Chongqing, southwest China, Dec. 27, 2016. A 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit Chongqing on Tuesday morning. So far, no casualties have been reported.  
Missing From The Fake News Debate: Evidence It Had Any Impact
As 2016 draws to a close, the ongoing debate regarding “fake news’ has pressed forward, but notably absent from the debate is any evidence that “fake news” impacted voters’ decisions on whom to vote for in last month’s election.  
Netanyahu defends response to UN vote: 'Israel will not turn the other cheek'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved from an offensive to defensive posture on Monday regarding the UN Security Council vote, rebuffing criticism that his angry response was too aggressive and saying that Israel will not “turn the other cheek.”  
Russia calls U.S. move to supply Syria rebels weapons a hostile act
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it viewed a U.S. decision to ease restrictions on weapons supplies to Syrian rebels as a "hostile act" which threatened the safety of Russian warplanes and military personnel, the RIA news agency reported. RIA quoted the ministry as saying the administration of Barack Obama was attempting to complicate the situation in the world before Donald Trump took over the White House in January.  
Fears Growing Islamic State Successfully Weaponizing Refugees
Western security officials are increasingly worried that the Islamic State terror group may be a step ahead of their renewed efforts to stop terrorist infiltration of their countries. Fears once centered on IS using migrant and refugee flows to sneak in highly trained operatives bent on carrying out attacks. Now they have expanded to include an equally dangerous possibility.
Monte dei Paschi sees funding gap grow
Italian lender Monte dei Paschi is facing a capital shortfall of €8.8bn (£7.5bn), higher than the €5bn previously estimated by the bank, the European Central Bank has said. It comes after Italy approved a €20bn fund to prop up its embattled banking sector on 23 December. Monte dei Paschi had asked for a capital injection to stay afloat.  
Turkish police in court for first Istanbul trial over coup plot
Twenty-nine police officers have gone on trial in a Turkish prison accused of trying to overthrow the government in the failed July coup. It is the first trial of alleged plotters to take place in Istanbul since the abortive coup. Turkey has arrested some 40,000 people and sacked even more after parts of the army and police tried to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.  
High Court to hear petition for transparency for Israel’s secretive atomic agency
An NGO announced on Tuesday that the High Court of Justice will hear its petition to compel the secretive Israel Atomic Energy Commission to become more transparent through broad Knesset legislation. The hearing will be the first time in history that a judicial body will exercise oversight over the Israeli IAEC.  
US soldiers 'heading to the front line' in new Iraqi push against Islamic State in Mosul
Iraqi forces are preparing for a fresh push against Islamic State-held Mosul 'within several days' a US general has said, as American soldiers prepare to get closer to the front line than ever before in the two month campaign to take the jihadi stronghold.  
Earthquake recorded in Oman
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit Arab Sea on Monday morning at 11:26am 820 kilometers from Salalah, an official from Sultan Qaboos University Seismological Center said.  
Philippines battered by typhoon and earthquake
Manila/New Delhi, Dec 26 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 5.2 on Richter scale hit the Philippines coast in the wee hours of Monday morning while Powerful typhoon Nock-Ten continues to batter the nation, according to media sources.  
Leah Remini challenges Church of Scientology to sue her over alleged lies
eah Remini isn’t backing down on her stance against Scientology. Amidst the success of her searing A&E docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, the actress and author could soon be living the harsh reality of the latter portion of the program’s title. During Friday’s episode of Larry King Now, Remini welcomed a lawsuit from members of the controversial religious organization, which she followed for 34 years between 1979 and 2013.  
Alaska volcano erupts, sends up ash cloud
A volcano in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands has erupted again. The Alaska Volcano Observatory says an eruption that produced ash started just after 2 p.m. Monday at Bogoslof (BOH-goh-slawf) volcano about 850 miles southwest of Anchorage.  
Bloody Year in Chicago Continues with 12 Killings Over Christmas Weekend
Two men gunned down on a porch in Chicago on Christmas Day were among 12 people slain in the city, where an epidemic of killings continued during the holiday weekend. The killings were among 27 shooting incidents occurred from Friday evening to Sunday evening, according to Chicago police. Police said 90 percent of the victims had gang affiliations.  
Pennsylvania professor under fire for 'white genocide' tweet
A Drexel University professor, whose tweet that he wanted a "white genocide" for Christmas sparked a fire storm of criticism from the school and social media users, said on Monday his comment was satirical.  

Monday, December 26, 2016

December 26, 2016

Fed Up With United States Trickery, Netanyahu Takes Drastic Actions
In what may be an unprecedented stage in Israel-US relations, Netanyahu placed the bulk of the blame on the United States. Specifically, on outgoing President Barack Obama who used the opportunity to take a parting shot at the Israeli Prime Minister.  
Keith Ellison Backs Out of Radical Muslim Conference
Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison cancelled his scheduled appearance the Muslim American Society’s annual conference, where he was slated to deliver the keynote address. Ellison’s name and picture, which were previously featured prominently on the convention website’s homepage, have been removed completely. He was also removed from the full list of convention speakers.  
World War 3 tensions rise as China sends WAR FLEET towards Taiwan
MILITARY tensions have been raised after China sent a fleet of warships towards Taiwan in what it called a “routine exercise” in the South China Sea.  
Netanyahu: ‘According to UN, Maccabees Did Not Liberate Jerusalem, They Occupied Palestinian Territory’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lit the second candle on Chanukah Sunday night at the Western Wall, saying he hadn’t planned to be at that place at that time, but “in light of the UN resolution, I thought that there was no better place to light the second Chanukah candle than the Western Wall.”  
Israel to approve 100s of new homes in East Jerusalem in defiance of UNSC resolution – reports
The Jerusalem Local Planning and Construction Committee is expected on Wednesday to approve permits to build 618 apartments in Jewish neighborhoods across the Green Line, Haaretz reported. According to other Israeli media reports, the Committee might approve as many as 5,600 homes in response to the United Nations Security Council resolution which condemned Israeli settlement activities and called for a halt to illegal construction.  
Israel Recalling U.S. Ambassador
In response to the United States’ decision to abstain from a controversial U.N. vote, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday summoned his country’s U.S. ambassador back to his country. Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Dan Shapiro has been called back to Israel....  
Trump Receives Standing Ovation At Christmas Eve Church Service
President-elect Donald Trump and future first lady Melania Trump received a standing ovation Christmas Eve when they arrived unannounced at a 10:30 p.m. church service. Trump attended a Christmas Eve church service at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, a historic church just a short drive from his Mar-a-Lago Estate in South Florida.  
Remembering North Korea's Christian martyrs
Christmas is a time of great celebration for the world's two billion or so Christians. In one part of the planet, though, the lights are out. There is not be a flicker of recognition of the festival in North Korea - or not in public. It may be celebrated secretly, particularly as 2016 is the anniversary of a great Christian martyrdom on the banks of the Taedong river in Pyongyang.  
Man Easily Enters Germany Dressed As ISIS Fighter
A masked man holding an Islamic State flag took a video of himself entering Germany to show just how non-existent border controls are in the country.  
U.N. watchdog exposes secret concessions in Obama’s Iran deal
President Barack Obama, in addition to allegedly financially empowering Iran and setting them up for future development of nuclear weapons, also apparently stood behind...“secret exemptions” contained in the...Iran Deal. ...The International Atomic Energy Agency...posted documents revealing...exemptions in January that permit the country to stockpile uranium in excess of the 300 kilogram limit set by the nuclear deal, experts said.  
Berlin plans ‘center of defense against fake news’ ahead of elections – report
The German government is seeking to create a center of defense against disinformation ahead of next year’s elections, in the wake of ongoing “fake news” and "Russian hackers" hysteria... The Federal Press Office in the Chancellery, which has a staff of over 500 professionals, will take the leading role in establishing the fake news defense center...  
Revealed: British councils used Ripa to secretly spy on public
Councils were given permission to carry out more than 55,000 days of covert surveillance over five years, including spying on people walking dogs, feeding pigeons and fly-tipping... A mass freedom of information request has found...two-thirds of the 283 that responded – used the government’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) to gather evidence via secret listening devices, cameras and private detectives.  
China's 1st aircraft carrier sails into South China Sea
China's first aircraft carrier and five other warships passed by Taiwan and sailed into the contested South China Sea on Monday, Taiwan's Defense Ministry said. The ships, led by the Liaoning, sailed past the Pratas Islands, also known as the Dongsha Islands, a Taiwan-controlled atoll in the northern part of the South China Sea, according to the ministry.  
Death knell sounds for Obama doctrine as Aleppo falls to Assad loyalists
The fall of the rebel-held Syrian city of Aleppo to Russian- and Iranian-backed forces loyal to President Bashar Assad sounds the death knell for the outgoing Obama administration’s hands-off counterterrorism doctrine, analysts say. The final batches of anti-Assad fighters vacated formerly rebel-held areas of eastern Aleppo on Friday, officially bringing the city...under the regime’s control.  
Iran says will only pay half price for new Boeing planes
Iran's official IRNA news agency is reporting the deputy transport minister as saying that his county will only pay half of the announced price for 80 new Boeing planes... Iran announced earlier this month that it had finalized the deal, which was made possible by last year's landmark nuclear agreement.  
Fighting back: How Indonesia's elite police turned the tide on militants
As the world battles a spike in assaults and plots by Islamist militants, Indonesia's anti-terrorism unit is drawing praise for stemming a wave of bloody attacks in the sprawling Muslim-majority nation. Indonesia has foiled at least 15 attacks this year alone and made more than 150 arrests, disrupting plots ranging from suicide attacks in Jakarta to a rocket attack from Indonesia's Batam island targeting Singapore.  
Rabbi uses National Menorah lighting to trash Obama UN move
The rabbi in charge of the National Hanukkah Menorah lighting used the ceremony...to criticize the Obama administration's decision to allow the United Nations to pass a resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and portions of Jerusalem as illegal. Rabbi Levi Shemtov...turned an Obama administration official's speech about "fighting darkness with light" on its head...  
Australia flood: Uluru national park closed after huge rainfall
A record amount of rainfall has led to the closure of Australia's famous national park at Uluru. Waterfalls appeared all over the landmark, also known as Ayers Rock, at the heart of the park in central Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) described the massive Christmas storm as a twice-a-century weather event. 
Former US envoy to Israel: 'Nasty' language directed at Obama 'unacceptable'
The harsh language being levied from Jerusalem against the Obama administration in the wake of a UN resolution condemning Israeli settlements is "unprecedented" and "unacceptable,"... In an interview...Dan Kurtzer, who severed under...George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005, said that it should be "no surprise to people that the international community...has strong opposition to what Israel is doing in the West Bank."  
France's Le Pen Promises to Withdraw from EU and NATO if Elected
I'd like to be able to say France withdrawing from the EU is a potential downside catalyst for stocks. However, these days nothing matters. Stocks would go up if nuclear war was initiated wordwide. There's literally nothing that can stop stocks from heading higher. But in the event you're still nostalgic about news, France's Le Pen wants stronger ties with Moscow, out of the EU and NATO -- in an effort to make France great again.  
Kim Jong-un bans Christmas, makes North Korea worship grandma
Kim Jong-un is the Grinch who stole Christmas. North Korea’s tubby tyrant wants the few Christians in the hermit state to spread cheer only to celebrate his grandma, Kim Jong-suk – not the birth of Jesus.  
Berlin plans ‘center of defense against fake news’ ahead of elections – report
The German government is seeking to create a center of defense against disinformation ahead of next year’s elections, in the wake of ongoing “fake news” and "Russian hackers" hysteria generated during the election cycle in the United States. The Federal Press Office in the Chancellery, which has a staff of over 500 professionals, will take the leading role in establishing the fake news defense center, Der Spiegel reported quoting a note from an anonymous Interior Ministry staff member.  
A&E Cancels KKK Docuseries Following Criticism
A&E has pulled the plug on its upcoming docuseries centered on the KKK. The network announced their plans to scrap the project, which was intended to serve as a close look at anti-hate extractors focused on helping people leave the Ku Klux Klan, in a statement released Saturday.  
Is California splitting away? Group believes California should form its own nation
California’s been described as a nation unto itself. Could it be? “Yes California,” a pro-secession group, filed paperwork with the state attorney general in November for a proposed 2018 ballot measure to strike language in the state constitution binding California to the United States.  
World Pakistan Threatens Nuclear Attack On Israel
Concern about the effects of fake news racheted up a notch Sunday with a tweet from Pakistan’s defense minister threatening nuclear war with Israel on the mistaken belief Israel’s defense minister had threatened Pakistan if it sent troops to Syria.  

Sunday, December 25, 2016

December 25, 2016

Super Typhoon Nock-ten makes landfall on the Philippines
This storm will bring destructive winds, massive storm surge flooding and torrential rainfall to the islands through Monday night, including Manila, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Nock-ten is the strongest northwest Pacific tropical cyclone this late in the season since Susan in 1963 and Hester in 1952. The winds of 155 mph also make it the strongest tropical cyclone anywhere in the world on Christmas Day since 1960.  
Obama’s Christmas Gift to Israel: A Stab in the Back
Netanyahu’s message was unabashed: “Israel rejects the anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms. At a time when the Security Council does nothing to stop the slaughter of half a million people in Syria, it disgracefully gangs up on the one true democracy in the Middle East, Israel, and calls the Western Wall ‘occupied territory. “The Obama administration not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN, it collaborated with the UN behind the scenes.”  
Chile earthquake tsunami warning lifted
A tsunami alert issued after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake off the coast of southern Chile has now been lifted. The quake struck at 14:22 GMT on the island of Chiloe, about 40km (25 miles) south-west of Quellon, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.  
'Europe's Christian legacy in danger' Archbishop of Vienna in warning about migrant crisis
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn said he had come to “rethink” his stance on the migrant crisis during a special Christmas TV discussion programme with Protestant Bishop Michael Bünker. The Cardinal, who is tipped as a possible future leader of the Roman Catholic church, said he was no longer convinced that Europe should accept all arrivals.  
Merkel electoral crisis as German far-right AfD party surges in poll after Berlin attacks
GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing an electoral backlash as her party loses support following the terror attack in Berlin this week. Now the far right group is set to make significant gains in next year's election after tripling its support.   

Vladimir Putin Seems to Be Preparing for 'Serious Changes in Global Politics'
"I think that the Russian government and personally President Vladimir Putin are now preparing for new serious changes in global politics. These changes stem from the fact than soon new US President Donald Trump will soon enter office," Brieger pointed out.  
Feds' secret 'Super Search Engine' about to be not so secret?
A magistrate judge has ordered the federal government to turn over hundreds of pages of information about a super-secret spy-on-Americans program that is run by AT&T called Hemisphere.  
Netanyahu warns ministers against declarations of annexation
Speaking at a Likud party forum meeting, PM warns that any declarations pertaining to annexation or construction in the West Bank could precipitate further maneuvers prior to expiration of Obama's tenure; 'I have no doubt that the Obama administration initiated the decision.'  
Ted Cruz: Cut US funding to UN until reversal of Israel vote
Republican Senator from Texas takes to Twitter, saying he spoke to Netanyahu to send him Hanukka greetings along with the assurance of "strong support in Congress." "I anticipate this vote will create a backlash in Congress against the United Nations," Graham said. "The organization is increasingly viewed as antisemitic and seems to have lost all sense of proportionality.  
Choir and soldiers on board Russian plane that crashed into the Black Sea
A Russian military plane with 92 people on board has crashed into the Black Sea on its way to Syria, Russian news agencies reported. 92 people on board are feared dead. Russian agencies, citing unnamed security sources, said the TU-154 aircraft had crashed in the sea near the southern Russian city of Sochi after disappearing from radar screens early this morning.  
China's 1st aircraft carrier heads for Western Pacific
China's first aircraft carrier has set off for the Western Pacific for an open-sea training exercise, the Defense Ministry said. State media said Sunday that it is the first time that the Liaoning, which was commissioned by the Chinese navy in 2012, has headed to "distant sea waters." The Western Pacific region stretches from China to New Zealand and encompasses countries in the Pacific, Oceania and parts of Asia.  
Israel settlements: Netanyahu orders UN ties review
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will re-assess its ties with the United Nations. The move comes after the Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building on occupied land. The resolution was passed after the US refused to veto it, breaking with long-standing American practice.  
Super typhoon Nock-Ten threatens Philippines
Thousands of people are being urged to leave their homes in the Philippines as a super typhoon roars towards the country's east coast. With winds of up to 150mph (240km/h), Nock-Ten is due to make landfall in the Bicol region on Christmas Day, the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center says. The Philippines' weather office said sustained winds were up to 175km/h.  
Ted Cruz: Cut US funding to UN until reversal of Israel vote
Texas Senator Ted Cruz called on the US to stymie funding to the United Nations until a reversal of Friday's vote at the UN Security Council to end Israeli settlement building. ...Cruz's remarks came as an apparent endorsement of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina's plan to...punish those who pushed for the resolution with a cut in US aid— as well as the UN itself...  
Netanyahu blames Obama for UN resolution, summons ambassadors
Sunday morning's cabinet set the stage for several strong comments from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the major one was that the prime minister has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the ambassadors of the 12 countries in the Security Council with whom Israel has diplomatic ties for a talk in which Netanyahu is expected to reprimand them for the anti-Israel resolution that was passed on Friday.  
Russian military plane headed for Syria 'disappears from radar'
A Russian military plane headed to Syria has disappeared from radar after taking off from the southern city of Adler, local news agencies reported the defence ministry as saying Sunday.  
Why It’s So Dangerous To Be Christian In The Middle East(video)
Why It’s So Dangerous To Be Christian In The Middle East  
Lindsey Graham Warns UN: 'Congress Is a Player on Foreign Policy'
Sen. Lindsey Graham Saturday again blasted the U.N. Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlements and reiterated his pledge to "lead the charge to withhold funding until they repeal this resolution."  
U.S. forces embedding more to help Iraqis retake Mosul: commander
U.S. forces assisting Iraqi troops to retake Mosul from Islamic State are embedding more extensively, a senior commander said on Friday, a move that could accelerate a two month-old campaign which has slackened after quick initial advances.  
Now it’s the liberals who are arming up
When it looked all but certain that Hillary Clinton was going to win the presidency, nervous gun rights advocates reported stockpiling guns and ammunition they feared would no longer be available if the Democrat won the White House.  
Vengeance is Mine, says the LORD
Yes, stand and applaud, damnable delegates to the Security Council who last night achieved your long-held goal of prohibiting Israel from building homes for Jews in the Jews’ own land. Soon you’ll be laughed to scorn.  
The Radical Jesus: How Would The Baby In A Manger Fare In The American Police State?
Jesus was good. He was caring. He had powerful, profound things to say - things that would change how we view people, alter government policies and change the world. He went around helping the poor. And when confronted by those in authority, he did not shy away from speaking truth to power.