January 28, 2017

What to Expect From the First Official Phone Call Between Putin and Trump
As far as the conversation’s subject matter is concerned, all that is known for sure is that Putin will formally congratulate Trump on assuming office as the 45th president of the United States. Otherwise, Peskov and the Kremlin have been tight-lipped about the subjects to be discussed.
Netanyahu to Major Rabbi: Without Faith, I Couldn’t Face the World
The PM told the Rebbe that “we had a big miracle that we’re over a difficult time in the US. Now a new president has been elected and we should pray that he will be good for the Jews and for Israel.”Responding to a question from the Rebbe, Netanyahu described in some detail the great danger Israel faced from Iran, and his tough mission of going to the American Congress to warn the entire world about the Iranian menace, a menace not only to Israel but to the whole planet.
Under Trump Administration, EPA Workers Are Coming Back To Work In Tears
The EPA is undergoing a facelift and some are not happy about it. ProPublica reported that EPA employees are coming into work in tears….. let’s not forget that Middle America has been crying for the past eight years, as Obama’s war on coal has led to coal miners being laid off, which led to the destruction of local economies. So, spare me the sob stories from government bureaucrats.
Trump pledges to prioritize Christians as he freezes US refugee program
President Donald Trump pledged Friday to prioritize Christian refugees in the Middle East as he used his executive power to suspend the U.S.’s refugee resettlement program. Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network that he would favor Christians…“We are going to help them. They’ve been horribly treated,” the president responded.
Syrian army seizes Damascus water source as rebels withdraw
Syrian government forces took back control of an area near Damascus that provides most of the capital’s water supplies after reaching a deal for rebel fighters to withdraw, pro-government media and a monitoring group said. The Syrian army and its allies launched an offensive last month to drive insurgents from the Wadi Barada valley, which they have controlled since 2012, and to recapture a major spring and pumping station.
Trump bars door to refugees, visitors from seven nations
President Donald Trump on Friday put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travelers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries, saying the moves would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks. In the most sweeping use of his presidential powers since taking office a week ago, Trump paused the entry of travelers from Syria and the six other nations for at least 90 days…
Ohio State class teaches students to detect and respond to microaggressions, white privilege
A class to be offered this spring at Ohio State University is an identity politics-based course that in large part is focused on teaching students how to detect microaggressions and white privilege. The course is dedicated to social justice themes, and pledges to…define and address “systems of power and privilege,” advance notions of diversity and inclusion, and prioritize “global citizenship,” its description states.
Yemen: Food crisis could become famine this year, UN warns
The conflict-driven food crisis in Yemen could become a full-blown famine this year, the UN’s humanitarian chief has warned. Two million people need emergency food aid to survive and child malnutrition has risen 63% in a year, Stephen O’Brien told the UN Security Council. A child under five dies every 10 minutes of preventable causes, he said.
Theresa May ‘to discuss trade’ with President Erdogan on Turkey visit
Theresa May is set to discuss a post-Brexit trade deal with Turkey during weekend talks in the country with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The prime minister arrived in Ankara from the US, where she met President Trump. A new trading relationship with Turkey following the UK’s exit from the European Union would form part of discussions, Number 10 said.
German Muslim students protest Holocaust remembrance, attack Israel
Muslim students with Arab and Turkish origins protested participation in an International Holocaust remembrance event for the liberation of the German extermination camp Auschwitz on January, 27­ while the school management showed understanding for their criticism of Israel. “Some Muslims students said they would not participate in the action,” said…a teacher at the school in the city of Gelsenkirchen…
Rouhani in criticism of new US policies: ‘No time to create walls between nations’
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday it was no time to build walls between nations and criticized steps towards cancelling world trade agreements… “To annul world trade accords does not help their economy and does not serve the development and blooming of the world economy,” Rouhani told a tourism conference in Tehran. “This is the day for the world to get closer through trade.”
Obama Can’t Sneak Gun Grab Past Congress
Former President Obama, snubbed by Congress during his eight years in office in almost every attempt to abridge the Second Amendment and grab guns from Americans, is facing one last failure.
North Korea appears to have restarted plutonium reactor: think tank
New commercial satellite imagery indicates North Korea has resumed operation of a reactor at its main nuclear site used to produce plutonium for its nuclear weapons program, a U.S. think tank said on Friday.
Netanyahu interviewed by anti-corruption police for third time
Israeli detectives have interviewed Benjamin Netanyahu for a third time as part of a series of investigations into his conduct in office. Amid reports in the Israeli media that police are close to deciding whether to indict the prime minister, in a post on Facebook he accused his perceived enemies in the media and politics “of an attempted coup by undemocratic means”.
The Rioting for Pay Work Ethic
As a teenager, I could not work summer jobs for minimum wage in order to learn a work ethic. For starters, the communist labor system did not allow for remunerated child employment of any sort, at any age. It was not that hard work was for tractors like American smart-alecky youth say nowadays. There were no teenage jobs to be had. But we learned plenty about work ethic when we helped our families survive and maintain a meager place to live.
Nikki Haley Puts U.N. on Notice: U.S. Is ‘Taking Names’
The American ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki R. Haley, issued a stark warning on Friday to allies and rivals abroad, saying in her first remarks at the headquarters of the world body that the Trump administration would hold to account those who do not back the United States.
Bomb-shelter builder stays busy as customers prep for ‘Trumpocalypse’
Inside his football field-size warehouse an hour’s drive southeast of Dallas, Gary Lynch is busy trying to keep up with orders for his solid-steel bomb shelters.He offers visitors a tour of a 600-square-foot model under construction for a Saudi customer.
Shabab Militants Attack Kenyan Military Base in Somalia
A suicide bomber from the Islamist militant group Shabab rammed a vehicle into a Kenyan military base in southern Somalia on Friday morning, setting off a ferocious firefight that killed dozens of people.
REPORT: Global Terrorism Surged 25% In Obama’s Final Year In Office
According to a newly released report, Global terrorism grew by 25 percent in Barack Obama’s final year in office. The report which shows a sharp spike in terrorism carried out worldwide, comes from the London-based research firm IHS Markit.
Jonathan Cahn calls out Obama, gives charge to Trump
…“Poll after poll foretold a sure Democratic victory if not a landslide,” Cahn said. “The Democrats prepared for victory. The Republicans prepared for defeat … but then something happened. And nobody was sure what exactly what. The election took a strange turn and whatever everybody was sure couldn’t happen, happened. The media was in shock. The Democrats were in shock. Obama was in shock. The Republicans were in shock. Obama was in shock. And it appears Donald Trump couldn’t believe it happened, either.
Goodbye, Obama, you “sleeper cell” traitor and enemy of America… (you won’t be missed) ..Leaving the White House is “sleeper cell” Barack Hussein Obama, an enemy of liberty, a serial liar and someone who meticulously followed a Soviet-style plan of subversion to systematically destroy America. Let’s hope Trump initiates criminal investigations into at least some of the anti-American hucksters and mafia bosses who ran his regime (Lois Lerner, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, etc).
WARNING: Economy Slows to 1.9% Rate in 4Q ’16
The U.S. economy’s expansion slowed in the fourth quarter, and annual growth failed to reach 3% for an 11th straight year, reflecting the huge hurdles the Trump administration faces in trying to speed up a 7½-year-old expansion.

January 27, 2017

3 [Muslim] Men Gang-Rape Young Woman in Sweden, Broadcast It Live on Facebook
Welcome to our brave new digital world in which raping women is all fun and games: Police are reportedly investigating the suspected gang rape of a woman after the attack was live-streamed on Facebook. An online witness said the victim had her clothes pulled off by armed men and was sexually assaulted before cops arrived and turned off the camera.
Hybrid zoo: Introducing pig–human embryos and a rat–mouse
Scientists have published the first peer-reviewed account of creating pig–human hybrid fetuses, a step toward growing animals with organs that are suitable for transplantation into humans. The team that made these chimaeras also reports the creation of mouse–rat and human–cow hybrids on 26 January in Cell. Such modified animals could provide researchers with new models for testing drugs and understanding early human development.
Putin and Trump to Speak on Saturday
The Kremlin announced on Friday that Russian President Vladmir Putin will speak with US President Donald Trump by telephone on Saturday night for the first time since he was inaugurated. The two spoke in November after Trump’s election victory.
German Newspaper Editor: Assassination Easiest Way To End “Trump Catastrophe”
Josef Joffe, the editor-publisher of German weekly Die Zeit, suggests the easiest way to end the “Trump catastrophe” is to murder the president in the White House.
Trump hopes to get along with Russia, ‘knock the hell out of ISIS together
In an interview to Fox News on Friday, Trump said it would be to the advantage of both Russia and the US to mend ties and pool their efforts in the fight against terrorism.  Speaking to Sean Hannity of Fox News, US President Donald Trump said that he looks forward to speaking with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
‘Now is the time to annex Judea and Samaria’
Earlier this month, Land of Israel Lobby Chairman Yoav Kish (Likud) proposed a bill to annex Maaleh Adumim, the third largest Israeli community in Judea and Samaria.
Islamic Cleric: Muhammed Will Marry Virgin Mary in Heaven
Dr Salem Abdel Galil, a theologian at Cairo’s prestigious Al Azhar academy and a former director-general of the Ministry of Religions, said on his television program that “Allah,… will marry the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus peace be upon him, as well as Asiya, Pharaoh’s wife and Kultum, the sister of Moses peace be upon him.”
Media already has verdict: There’s no voter fraud
Our audit team will include world-class technologists, researchers, data miners, statisticians, scholars, analysts, and subject matter experts. This isn’t B team stuff. The integrity of our elections is too important.” Those results then will be released, showing voter fraud does exist. Officials with the group Americans for Legal Immigration PAC have explained they have the world’s largest archive of details about illegal immigration and associated issues such as illegal alien crimes and voter fraud activity
Trump tells Republican lawmakers: Enough talk. Time to deliver
President Donald Trump pushed Republican lawmakers on Thursday for swift action on a sweeping agenda including his planned U.S.-Mexican border wall, tax cuts and repealing the Obamacare law, despite tensions over timetables and priorities.  “This Congress is going to be the busiest Congress we’ve had in decades, maybe ever,” Trump said in a speech to the lawmakers at a Philadelphia hotel.  “Enough ‘all talk, no action.’ We have to deliver,” Trump added.
Theresa May evokes Reagan-Thatcher ties during address to Republicans in which she states US and UK have ‘defined the world’Theresa May has told Republicans in Philadelphia that relations between the UK and the US have “defined the world,” delivering a speech greeted by frequent loud applause. “I speak to you not just as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, but as a fellow Conservative who believes in the same principles that underpin the agenda of your Party,” the Prime Minister said on Thursday
Trump to Sign Executive Order Ending Obama’s Unconstitutional Executive Amnesty
Trump’s action to reverse executive amnesty will likely cause the most controversy of any so far and will certainly result in advocacy groups like the ACLU filing lawsuits. Sanctuary city mayors are also likely to triple down on their battle against federal immigration enforcement efforts. It is important to point out President Obama admitted numerous times he couldn’t issue amnesty through his pen. He did so anyway, knowing it was illegal and unconstitutional
Sanhedrin Calls on President Trump to Uphold Seven Noahide Laws
In an ancient and honored Jewish custom, the nascent Sanhedrin sent a letter to the new leader of the U.S., President Donald Trump, blessing him and calling on him to take the lead in restoring America and the world. The Sanhedrin also called on the new president to acknowledge and uphold the Seven Noahide laws. The letter follows the custom of the Jewish people to bless foreign kings as seen in a verse in Jeremiah
Putin-Trump phone call to take place on Saturday: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will speak by telephone on Saturday, the Kremlin said, a first step towards what Trump has billed as a normalization of relations after three years of tensions sparked by the conflict in Ukraine. Trump will also have a telephone conversation the same day with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and that call is expected to focus on Russia, a source in Berlin familiar with the matter said.
Pence tells Congress to ‘buckle up’ and get ready to enact major change
Vice President Pence told Republican members of Congress on Thursday to “buckle up” and get ready to work with the new Trump administration on everything from repealing Obamacare to confirming a “strict constructionist” to fill the Supreme Court. “My friends, this is our moment,” he told lawmakers… “We got this far because President Donald Trump marshaled a movement unlike any movement in American history.”
Turkish anger as Greece rejects extradition of eight soldiers
Turkey has reacted with anger after a Greek court ruled against extraditing eight Turkish soldiers accused of involvement in an attempted coup. Turkey accused Greece of failing in the “fight against terrorism” and said the decision was “politically motivated”. The eight men fled in a helicopter to Greece after last July’s coup attempt but say they were not involved.
Al-Shabab fighters attack Kenya military base in Somalia
Islamist militant al-Shabab fighters have launched an attack on a Kenyan military base in southern Somalia. The al-Qaeda-linked group says it has killed more than 50 soldiers and seized military vehicles and weapons. But a Kenyan military spokesman said the dawn attack was repelled, the base was not overrun and scores of insurgents were killed in the fighting.
Prime Minister May aligns the UK with GOP on Israel and Iran
Britain’s prime minister embraced the Republican Party on Thursday in a speech to its lawmakers in Philadelphia, characterizing herself as a fellow conservative keen on renewing Western leadership around the world. Addressing a GOP retreat one day before meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, May said that America must continue to fulfill its promise “of freedom, liberty and the rights of man.”
Trump: Too early to discuss moving US embassy to Jerusalem
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that it is “too early” to talk about moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.”I don’t want to talk about it yet,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News. “It’s too early.”
Abbas, Hollande to meet to continue work of Paris peace conference
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and French President Francois Hollande will meet in two weeks to follow up on the results of the international conference which took place in Paris on January 15…Abbas said that he will travel to France on February 7 to thank Hollande and “set into place a clear and defined [international] mechanism,”…
Human-pig HYBRID? Scientists hoping to create part man, part pig organs
A HYBRID human-pig embryo has been injected into a sow’s womb as scientists push the ethical boundaries of science in the hope that they can create lifesaving donor organs.
Brazil Orders 11.5 Million Vaccine Doses Amid Yellow Fever Outbreak
Brazil’s Ministry of Health has ordered 11.5 million doses of yellow fever vaccine to combat the largest outbreak of the disease in 17 years.
Bannon Declares War On The Media: “You Are The Opposition; Keep Your Mouth Shut”
Not one to mince words, Steve Bannon, Trump’s Chief White House strategist, eviscerated the mainstream media during an interview last night.  Commenting on their coverage of the Trump campaign, Bannon lambasted the disconnect of the media from everyday Americans saying, “They don’t understand this country. They still do not understand why Donald Trump is the president of the United States.”
GOP leaders will fork over at least $12 billion for border wall
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will authorize $12 billion to $15 billion for a wall spanning the entire U.S.-Mexico border as soon as Sept. 30, the Republican leaders said Thursday.
GORBACHEV: ‘It looks as if world preparing for war’
The world today is overwhelmed with problems. Policymakers seem to be confused and at a loss.But no problem is more urgent today than the militarization of politics and the new arms race. Stopping and reversing this ruinous race must be our top priority.
Miami-Dade County Is First To Terminate Sanctuary Status
As we noted previously, Trump made it clear that he plans to make good on his campaign pledge to block federal funding to states and cities where local law enforcement refuse to report undocumented immigrants they encounter to federal authorities, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said.
Yazidi Girls Sold as Sex Slaves while Women March against Trump
“Some of those women and girls have had to watch 7-, 8-, and 9-year-old children bleed to death before their eyes, after being raped by ISIS militia multiple times a day.  On January 21, some women’s rights groups organized “Women’s Marches” in many cities.   Ashley Judd, read a poem in Washington D.C. that asked why “tampons are taxed when Viagra and Rogaine are not”.  As Ms. Judd talked about her devastating tragedy, thousands of Yazidi children and women were being forced into sexual slavery in Iraq and Syria at the hands of Islamic State
Organisms created with synthetic DNA pave way for entirely new life forms
Now, the first living organisms to thrive with an expanded genetic code have been made by researchers in work that paves the way for the creation and exploitation of entirely new life forms.
SCIENTISTS have confirmed there is “life” after death
A groundbreaking study has revealed after a person dies certain genes actually kick into life – and fight to bring a person back from the dead.

January 26, 2017

Trump Releases Entire State Department Senior Team
President Donald Trump’s administration has abruptly let go the entire senior team of State Department management officials. The exodus was initially reported as a mass resignation, but later reports clarified that the officials were told to leave by the White House.

A Vatican-Democratic Party Alliance? (Catholics Ask Trump Administration to Investigate)
We were alarmed to discover that, during the third year of the first term of the Obama administration your previous opponent, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and other government officials with whom she associated proposed a Catholic “revolution” in which the final demise of what was left of the Catholic Church in America would be realized.[1]  Approximately a year after this e-mail discussion, which was never intended to be made public, we find that Pope Benedict XVI abdicated under highly unusual circumstances and was replaced by a pope whose apparent mission is to provide a spiritual component to the radical ideological agenda of the international left.
Report: Israel okays historic plan to absorb child refugees from Syria war
Israel has allegedly agreed, for the first time, to grant asylum to some 100 children orphaned by neighboring Syria’s bloody civil war, Channel 10 News reported Wednesday night. According to the report, Interior Minister Arye Deri recently approved the humanitarian plan under which Israel would absorb the child refugees from Syria.
Mexico: We will not pay for Trump border wall
Mexico will not pay for Donald Trump’s border wall, the country’s president has said in a message to the nation. Enrique Pena Nieto said he “lamented” the plans for the barrier, adding that “Mexico doesn’t believe in walls”. But he made no mention of cancelling or postponing a trip to Washington on 31 January to meet the new US president.
Theresa May says US and UK can lead world again, ahead of Trump meeting
Theresa May is to vow to renew the UK’s special relationship with the US “for this new age” as she prepares to meet Donald Trump for the first time. She travels to Philadelphia later to address Republican leaders at an event attended by the US president. She will tell them that after Brexit, a “sovereign, global” Britain wants to enhance ties with its “old friends”.
Trump orders weekly publication of crimes committed by illegals in sanctuary cities
In order to better inform Americans about the impact illegal aliens are having on crime rates in sanctuary cities, President Donald Trump today ordered the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to publish a weekly list of crimes committed by illegals. In an executive order titled “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States,” Trump directed Secretary John Kelly to be transparent with citizens.
Restaurants: The next front for the immigration debate?
The national debate over immigration policy could be coming to a diner near you.  From down-home delis to upscale bistros, dozens of restaurants nationwide are seeking “sanctuary” status, a designation owners hope will help protect employees in an immigrant-heavy industry and tone down fiery rhetoric sparked by the presidential campaign.
The US Navy plans to fire laser weapons off of ships within a year
The U.S. Navy is moving at warp speed to develop lasers with more lethality, precision and power sources as a way to destroy attacking missiles, drones aircraft and other threats.  “We’re doing a lot more with lasers,” Rear Adm. Ronald Boxall, director, Surface Warfare Division, said earlier this month…The Navy plans to fire a 150-kw weapon off a test ship within a year, he said. “Then a year later, we’ll have that on a carrier or a destroyer or both.”
Chile court rejects Palestinian suit
A complaint against three Israeli Supreme Court justices has been rejected in Chile for a second time. The three – Former Judge Asher Grunis, Judge Uzi Feldman, and Judge Nil Handel – had complaints against them for their part in permitting the construction of the West Bank security barrier in the Beit Jala area.
Lebanon claims to have uncovered Israeli spy cell
Lebanese security forces announced Wednesday afternoon that they exposed and captured a spy cell working for the Israeli security services. According to reports in Lebanese newspapers, five members of the cell were arrested in Lebanese territory, two of whom were said to have been born in the country.  One of the suspects is alleged to be a Palestinian refugee while two others are believed to be from Nepal.
U.S. Congress member met with Assad in Syria, discussed peace: CNN
Democratic U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard said on Wednesday she met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria and discussed the possibility of achieving peace. The Hawaii Democrat told CNN in an interview that during her four-day visit, she wanted to get a first-hand view of the suffering of the Syrian people. She said she met with Assad because “we’ve got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we could achieve peace, and that’s exactly what we talked about.”
Turkey says waiting to see outcome of Trump’s Syria safe zones call
Turkey is waiting to see the outcome of U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to order safe zones in Syria, and has long advocated such a plan, Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Huseyin Muftuoglu said on Thursday. Trump said on Wednesday he “will absolutely do safe zones in Syria” for refugees fleeing violence. According to a document seen by Reuters, he is expected to order the Pentagon and State Department in the coming days to craft such a plan.
Dear Bernie, Meet the “Big Mac ATM” That Will Replace All Of Your $15 Per Hour Fast Food Workers
Dear Bernie, as you continue in your never-ending “Fight for $15”, we thought you might benefit from a simple example of how economics work in a real life, functioning, capitalistic society.

Trump Promises Supreme Court Pick Next Week As Cruz Threatens “Nuclear Option” To Bypass Dems
Republicans will need at least eight Democrats to support Trump’s nominee to overcome the 60-vote filibuster hurdle. But Cruz suggested the GOP shouldn’t rule out the so-called “nuclear option” to reduce the threshold to a majority.

German police search homes in crackdown on far-right extremists
About 200 German police searched a dozen homes in six states on Wednesday as part of an investigation into a far-right extremist group suspected of planning armed attacks against police, Jews and asylum seekers, the chief federal prosecutor’s office said.
Google has banned 200 publishers since it passed a new policy against fake news
Google kicked 200 publishers off one of its ad networks in the fourth quarter, partly in response to the proliferation of fake news sites. The company banned the publishers from its AdSense network, an ad placement service that automatically serves text and display ads on participating sites based on its audience. The ban was part of an update to an existing policy that prohibits sites that mislead users with their content.
Economist: Stock Market Gained $2 Trillion in Wealth Since Trump Elected
Club For Growth founder Stephen Moore reacted to reporting that since President Trump was elected, the stock market gained $2 trillion in wealth.
Texas Showdown: Governor, Sanctuary City Clash Over Immigration
Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed to cut funding to Austin’s new sheriff after she announced her county would scale back cooperation with federal immigration officials over deportations, marking a showdown over so-called sanctuary cities that may resonate beyond the Lone Star state.
Universal Wins Bidding War for Michael Bay-Produced Script About Trump-Like Dystopia
Described by sources as a “sci-fun” story rather than “sci-fi,” the tale is set in a dystopian future where a Donald Trump-like president has bankrupt America and China has called in its debts. The Asian giant now owns America and many Americans have immigrated to China looking for work.
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Will Destroy Los Angeles With A Nuclear Bomb If US Continues Threats, Defector Warns
Man, Kim Jong Un just really didn’t like “The Interview.” More than two years after North Korea hacked Sony Pictures over the release of its comedy film portraying the assassination of Kim, the isolated dictator has built up a nuclear arsenal allowing him to destroy Los Angeles with the single push of a button, North Korea’s most senior defector said in an interview this week.
GOP Acknowledges It Won’t Meet Self-Imposed Deadline to Repeal Obamacare
Two days before Republicans’ self-imposed deadline for producing legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, GOP lawmakers acknowledged they were unlikely to meet it. Both the GOP-controlled House and Senate passed budgets this month requiring four committees to deliver proposals by Jan. 27 to roll back major tenets of the 2010 health-care law.
Radio Station Bans Madonna After Comments On Blowing Up White House
A Texas radio station has announced it will no longer air songs from the singer Madonna after comments she made at a rally over the weekend sparked a Secret Service investigation.

Another Live-Streamed Suicide Puts Spotlight on Social Media Ethics
A teenage girl in Miami Gardens, Fla., committed suicide early Sunday morning while streaming live on Facebook, the latest disturbing incident to be spread via this burgeoning—and largely uncharted—broadcast medium.

Trump Admin Prepares Exec Order to End Funding for UN Agencies Giving Full Membership to PA, PLO
The New York Times reported Wednesday in a breaking story that the staff of U.S. President Donald J. Trump is preparing an executive order that would terminate funding for any United Nations agency or other international organization that gives full membership to the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization. In addition, the order terminates funding for programs or activities that fund abortion or circumvent sanctions against Iran or North Korea.

January 25, 2017

Strange bedfellows: The Russian-Turkish-Iranian axis
…Russia, Turkey and Iran are in an ad hoc alliance against Islamic State but which may turn against the West as well. Still, the new alliance might be termed as a marriage of inconvenience where each of the parties has different motives and is acting at cross purposes in partitioning the Syrian bear. Russia has fulfilled a long-held dream of reaching the warm water of the Mediterranean and is casting itself as the hegemon in the region.
Linda Sarsour, Women’s March organizer, works to link civil rights struggles to Palestinian cause
Linda Sarsour briefly mentioned her Palestinian roots as she spoke before her largest audience yet this weekend, when hundreds of thousands marched on Washington and ground the capital to a halt.  The executive director of the Arab American Association of New York served as a national co-chair for the historic Women’s March – a protest against freshly sworn-in President Donald Trump that spread worldwide, with massive sister marches from Los Angeles to Berlin.
Israel advises citizens in Egypt’s Sinai to leave, cites attack risk
Israel on Tuesday advised its citizens in Egypt’s insurgency-hit Sinai peninsula to leave the region, warning of the threat of an imminent attack. Israeli holidaymakers are often warned of the risks they face in Sinai, which borders Israel, but the “Level 1” alert issued by the anti-terrorism directorate is its most severe warning.
Liberman: In next war, IDF won’t stop until the enemy raises the white flag
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said on Tuesday that in the IDF’s next conflict he would instruct the army to use full force, and not take any half measures. Speaking at a conference held by the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, Liberman said, “The next conflict to break out will be with full force. There are no more conflicts with half power or quarter power… We won’t stop in the middle – these are the IDF’s orders at this time.”
Brexit: MPs call for White Paper on EU exit plan
MPs are stepping up their calls for the government to publish its plan for Brexit in a formal policy document. A number of Conservatives have joined Labour in asking for a White Paper on negotiating objectives, arguing it will allow for a fuller debate. It comes after the Supreme Court ruled MPs must vote on whether the government can start Brexit.
Brazil sees sharp rise in yellow fever cases
Health officials in Brazil say there has been a sharp rise in the cases of yellow fever in the country. They said there had been 63 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne illness so far this year, up from seven in the whole of 2016. Most of the cases have been in rural areas of Minas Gerais state, a Ministry of Health statement said.
UN condemns Israel’s West Bank settlement plans
The United Nations has condemned Israeli plans to build more settlements in the occupied West Bank. A UN spokesman said “unilateral actions” were an obstacle to peace based on a two-state solution. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would build 2,500 more homes in Jewish settlements “in response to housing needs”.
ISIS Unveils Weaponized Drone Program in New Video
ISIS supporters on social media were boasting that the terror group now has an air force after the Islamic State released today their first video showing weaponized drones being used against Iraqi forces. ISIS has previously used drone photography in videos to capture aerial shots of battles, and they have also been using drone IEDs that have progressively gotten more advanced.
Bus-Size Asteroid Buzzing Earth Tonight Stars in Slooh Webcast
A bus-size asteroid will safely pass between Earth and the moon today (Jan. 24), and the online Slooh observatory will provide live views of the space rock just hours before its closest approach. The asteroid, called 2017 BX, is about the size of a bus, according to NASA’s Asteroid Watch tracker. NASA estimates that the object is about 28 feet (8.5 meters) wide.
China is controlling the weather and will soon make it rain over an area twice the size of FRANCE
China is spending £138million on the new initiative to solve the drought in its northwestern provinces, according to the South China Morning Post. It’s sending airplanes to spray chemicals like dry ice and silver iodide across the sky to create more rainfall in a technique called cloud seeding. The China Meteorological Administration expects rainfall and snow to be increased over 960,000 sq km as a result.
Trump administration seeks to muzzle U.S. agency employees
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has moved since he took office last week to curb the flow of information from several government agencies involved in environmental issues, in actions that may have been designed to discourage dissenting views. Employees at the Environmental Protection Agency, the Interior Department, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have seen directives from the newly minted leadership seeking to limit how they communicate to the public, according to multiple sources.
‘We are a pro-life Congress’: House votes to make Hyde amendment permanent
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 7 Tuesday, legislation that — if passed by the Senate and signed by the president — would make the Hyde amendment permanent law. The amendment, named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), prohibits the use of taxpayer funds to pay for elective abortion procedures. The bill — dubbed the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act — passed in a 238 to 183 vote, with 11 members not voting.
Life, but not as we know it: Scientists engineer first semisynthetic organism with three-base-pair DNA
Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) claim to have created the first stable semisynthetic organism with extra bases added to its genetic code. The single-celled organism is also able to continually replicate the synthetic base pair as it divides, which could mean that future synthetic organisms may be able to carry extra genetic information in their DNA sequences indefinitely.

Pardon me: Navy sailor in jail for submarine photos pleads for mercy from Trump
A former Navy sailor imprisoned for taking photos inside a submarine has sought a pardon from President Donald Trump, who, as a candidate, often cited his case as unjust. Supporters of Kristian Saucier, 29, say the one-year sentence he drew last summer was overly harsh in light of treatment afforded former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over her illegal private email server, and former President Obama’s granting of clemency to Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning, who leaked classified information.

Suicide bombers are using babies to avoid detection
Babies are terrorists’ newest weapon, Nigerian officials warn. Female suicide bombers carrying infants set off explosive devices in Madagali on Jan. 13 after they were let through a security checkpoint where they were mistaken for civilians, the BBC reported. The women killed themselves, two babies and four others.

Lieberman: ‘In the next conflict—we will not stop until a white flag is raised’
At a conference held by the Institute for National Security Studies on Tuesday, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that the IDF’s orders are to “go in full force.” “If the other side doesn’t yield and raise a white flag, we don’t stop.”

Trump To Sign Executive Order Restricting Immigration From Seven Countries
Having taken on the Keystone pipeline and America’s struggling manufacturing sector in a flurry of executive actions on Tuesday, moments ago Reuters reported, citing several congressional aides and immigration experts briefed on the matter, that on Wednesday Donald Trump will sign several executive orders restricting immigration. The president is expected to sign the orders at the Washington headquarters of the Department of Homeland Security, whose responsibilities include immigration and border security.

Mexico Warns It Is Ready To Quit NAFTA If Trump Crosses “Red Lines”
Under relentless pressure from President Donald Trump, Mexico is said to be ready to discuss changes to trade rules about a product’s country of origin to try to avoid a disruptive fight with the United States over commerce. As the two countries begin a difficult new relationship, Mexico sees possible common ground with Trump on the “rules of origin” of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that binds the two countries and Canada, Reuters reported. However, as AFP adds, even before the talks started, Mexico has drawn red lines ahead of the negotiations with Trump’s administration, warning it could quit the talks and a major trade pact if the discussions hit a wall, no pun intended.

Israel plans more than 2,500 new settler homes to start Trump era
Israel announced plans on Tuesday for 2,500 more settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, the second such declaration since U.S. President Donald Trump took office signaling he could be more accommodating toward such projects than his predecessor.

Police: Man whose drug sentence commuted by Obama is slain
The Federal Bureau of Prison moved the remaining inmates from a Michigan halfway house Tuesday after a man whose drug-related prison sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama was fatally shot there by two men with assault-style rifles who sought him out.

U.N. ‘racing’ to prepare aid for civilians ahead of battle for west Mosul
The United Nations said on Tuesday it is “racing against the clock” to prepare emergency aid for hundreds of thousands of endangered civilians in Mosul with an Iraqi army offensive looming to oust Islamic State from the western half of the city.

Decision looms on Assange extradition to Sweden
Swedish authorities are getting closer to either indicting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on rape charges stemming from an incident in August 2010 or letting it drop, Fox News has learned.

U.K.’s May Faces Brexit Revolt as Lawmakers Challenge Her Power
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is battling a rebellion from her own lawmakers which threatens to complicate her talks over leaving the European Union.

Disgraced newsman Rather thumps Conway for ‘alternative facts’
Disgraced former anchor Dan Rather knows a thing or two about “alternative facts.” So, in a sense, Rather, 85, was the perfect guest for Chris Matthews’ “Hardball” on Monday. But in an ironic twist worthy of an Alanis Morissette lyric, the veteran newsman – who once used forged documents as the basis for a politically damning report about former President George W. Bush – took President Trump’s counselor Kellyanne Conway to task for her language defending Press Secretary Sean Spicer.

Christian University to Send Students to Mosque for ‘Religious Experience’
Students enrolled in a world religions course this semester at Texas Christian University must attend a mosque service as part of the class. The field trip was scheduled to take place on Good Friday – one of the most holy days for Christians – observed as the day Jesus Christ was crucified.

January 24, 2017

Russia and Turkey push Syria’s warring sides to seal truce
Syria’s warring sides met for their first talks in nine months on Monday, with their Russian and Turkish backers pushing to cement a ceasefire that could pave the way for political talks. The meeting in the Kazakh capital comes at a time when Turkey, which backs the rebels, and Russia, which supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, each want to disentangle themselves from the fighting.
Trump’s New CIA Director: “Jesus Is The Only Solution For Our World”
President Trump has nominated his new CIA chief, Mike Pompeo. An evangelical Christian, Pompeo is a well-respected figure in the national security community. He is also an army veteran, and a staunch pro-life advocate.
Congressman Introduces Bill To Withdraw The U.S. From The United Nations
A new bill has been introduced which would allow the United States to withdraw from the United Nations, and is now beginning to turns heads. Representative Mike Rogers from Alabama introduced H.R. 193 American Sovereignty Act of 2017 in early January but is just now getting media exposure. The full bill can be seen here on congress.gov.
Jerusalem Panel Approves New Homes in City’s Eastern Sector
Jerusalem officials approved the construction of hundreds of apartments in the city’s contested eastern sector, feeling freer to act following the inauguration of Donald Trump. “The past eight years have been difficult with pressure from the Obama administration to freeze construction,” Mayor Nir Barkat said in an e-mailed statement. “I believe that we are entering a new era, in which we will be able to continue to build and develop the city for the benefit of all residents, Jews and Arabs alike.” Of the 671 homes approved, 105 were slated for Arab neighborhoods.
Suspected US drone strike kills 3 alleged al-Qaida in Yemen
Suspected U.S. drone strikes have killed three alleged al-Qaida operatives in Yemen’s southwestern Bayda province, security and tribal officials said, the first such killings reported in the country since Donald Trump assumed the U.S. presidency Friday.
Trump Abandons Trans-Pacific Partnership, Obama’s Signature Trade Deal
President Trump formally abandoned the Trans-Pacific Partnership on Monday, pulling away from Asia and scrapping his predecessor’s most significant trade deal on his first full weekday in office, administration officials said.
ISIS reveal first deadly ‘reaper’ drone bomber that mimics US military craft in sick propaganda footage
Islamic State has revealed its chilling new bomb-dropping drone – copied off the US alternative – in a sick propaganda ‘trailer’ released online. The clip taken in the Iraqi city of Mosul shows the jihadis using the weapon against US-backed forces for the first time.
¡No, no puede!’: New White House begins with English-only website as Team Trump breaks with Obama by nixing all Spanish-language content
Donald Trump will not be ‘El Presidente,’ judging from the website his White House launched on Friday. The new whitehouse.gov, unlike the online home of the Obama administration, has no Spanish-language content. Visiting the old White House website address for content ‘en Español’ brings Web surfers to an error page.
Trump Properties Around The Globe Just Became Priority Terror Targets, Experts Say
Just this morning a “progressive” watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York alleging that President Trump is violating the constitution by owning business interests around the globe that are receiving payments from foreign governments (we covered it here:  “Ethics Group Will Sue Trump On Monday Over Foreign Government Payments”).
David Brock Memo Lays Out Plan to Defeat Trump Through Impeachment
Progressives mapped out ways to combat newly sworn-in President Trump at a liberal confab at the swanky Turnberry Isle resort in Aventura, Fla., over the weekend. The confab, organized by Media Matters founder David Brock, attracted more than 100 well-heeled progressive donors who came to plot and scheme ways to neutralize Trump, The Washington Free Beacon reports. The tireless Clinton defender is reportedly aiming to build a liberal donor network for the left that rivals that of the Koch brothers.
Jerusalem mayor says he’s in talks with US about embassy move
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said Monday he has held talks with American officials about moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a day after a White House official said discussions of the controversial transfer were only in their early stages.
Iraqi forces claim recapture of eastern Mosul after 100 days of fighting
Iraqi officials said on Monday government forces had taken complete control of eastern Mosul, 100 days after the start of their U.S.-backed campaign to dislodge Islamic State militants from the city. The deputy parliament speaker announced the capture of the east of the city, Islamic State’s last major stronghold in Iraq, after a meeting with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
Jerusalem’s Old City enters hi-tech world with wi-fi
The Old City will soon join the ranks of the new, when free Wi-Fi is introduced in all four quarters.The wireless network, which is presently in its pilot stage, was initiated by the Jerusalem Development Authority, the Jerusalem Municipality and the Heritage Ministry and cost NIS 2 million.

January 23, 2017

Russia: Obama Sold His Soul To The New World Order
Barack Obama sold his soul to the New World Order and used the United States as the globalist’s military arm to create instability around the world, while disrespecting traditional Western and Christian values at home, according to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Spanish courts deal double blow to BDS movement
Madrid court rules against Rivas Vaciamadrid City Council, annuls decision to boycott Israel. ACOM, an Israel lobby group that works to combat BDS in Spain, dealt a double blow to the boycott movement this past week after garnering two legal victories in municipalities in Madrid and Barcelona.
Southern California Pounded By Intense Storm And Flooding
The tail end of a punishing winter storm system lashed California with thunderstorms and severe winds Monday after breaking rainfall records, washing out roads and whipping up enormous waves. At least four people died and several others were rescued from raging floodwaters during three storms in four days.
Is the New Star Really a Sign of a Messiah for Israel?
In 2022, approximately five years from now, a new star will appear in the night sky. Scientifically speaking, the appearance of this nova is the product of the collision of two other astral bodies. And for six months this new star will—to the naked eye—be the brightest in the heavens. Given that this is the first time that people will be able to witness a moment like this without technology, it’s a significant event in human history, but it may be much more than that. According to one rabbi, this new star is a sign of the coming of the Messiah.
Israeli leader accepts invitation from Trump to visit US
Israel’s prime minister on Sunday accepted an invitation to visit the White House next month in hopes of forging a “common vision” for the region with President Donald Trump that could include expanded settlement construction on occupied territories and a tougher policy toward Iran.
Egypt: Terrorists kill five policemen in the Sinai
At least five Egyptian policemen were killed on Sunday after terrorists opened fire on their vehicle in the central Sinai Peninsula, security officials said, according to the PTI news agency.
Missile failure off Florida? British leader won’t say
The British government is being accused of concealing the failure of an unarmed ballistic missile launch ahead of a debate in Parliament over whether to refurbish the country’s aging Trident nuclear launching system.
Powerful Quake Hits Off Papua New Guinea
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), in its final alert, rescinded the tsunami threats following a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea at 4:30 a.m. UTC Sunday (11:30 p.m. EST).
Pet rats in Illinois, Wisconsin linked to Seoul virus outbreak, CDC says
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Friday that pet rats are the source of an outbreak of Seoul virus infections in Illinois and Wisconsin. The virus has been confirmed in eight patients in an ongoing investigation.
Evangelical Groups Urge Congress to Codify Obama’s Dreamers Action for Undocumented Immigrants
Evangelical groups are calling upon Congress to pass a bipartisan bill inspired by President Barack Obama’s executive order that attempted to extend certain legal protections to millions of undocumented immigrants.
Turkish military says killed 65 Islamic State militants in Syria
Sixty-five Islamic State militants were killed in operations by the Turkish army in support of rebels in northern Syria on Sunday, the Turkish military said on Monday.Turkey launched an operation to drive the jihadists away from the Syrian border five months ago and have been besieging the Islamic State controlled town of al-Bab for weeks.
Netanyahu says Palestinians can have a ‘state minus’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told cabinet ministers Sunday that he was prepared to give the Palestinians a “state minus.”
‘Jerusalem mayor in talks with US officials over possible embassy move’
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat is holding direct talks with White House officials to fulfill President Donald Trump’s pledge to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to the capital, the mayor said on Monday.  Noting that the US president plans on conducting hearings to discuss the contentious move, Barkat called Trump “a true friend of Israel who keeps his promises.
Chile forest fires: Troops join fight against worst fires in decades
Some 1,200 troops and 500 firefighters have joined the effort to control Chile’s worst forest fires in decades. A state of emergency has been declared in a vast area south of the capital, Santiago. The blazes began over a week ago and spread quickly in the dry and particularly hot summer that many South American countries are experiencing.
Syria conflict: Peace talks begin in Astana, Kazakhstan
Fresh peace talks aimed at resolving the Syrian conflict have begun in the Kazakh capital, Astana.  The talks are brokered by Russia and Iran, which back the Syrian government, and Turkey which supports the rebels. For the first time, the opposition delegation has been formed exclusively of representatives of armed groups.
Israel approves settlement homes following Trump inauguration
Israel has approved hundreds of new settlement homes in occupied East Jerusalem, after the staunch pro-Israel US President Donald Trump took office. Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman told AFP: “Now we can finally build.” Israel’s PM reportedly delayed approval given the opposition of Barack Obama, who infuriated Israel by allowing a UN resolution against settlements to pass.
Scientists use mathematical calculations to PROVE the existence of God
SCIENTISTS have ‘confirmed’ the existence of God after proving a mathematician’s theory which suggests that there is a higher power. Two computer scientists say they proved that there is a holy supreme force after confirming the equations. In 1978, mathematician Kurt Gödel died and left behind a long and complex theory based on modal logic
EU should seek new deal with U.S., PM Orban says
The European Union should seek a new deal with the United States as the free trade agreement has failed, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday.  Orban also told an economic conference that Europe should let go of the “illusion of federalism.”  He said seeking new agreements would be a milestone on Europe’s path to improved competitiveness.
US storms: At least 18 dead in Georgia and Mississippi
Severe weather has killed at least 18 people in the US South and injured many more, emergency officials say. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency in seven counties in the state, where 14 people have died. Four people were killed by tornadoes in Mississippi on Saturday.

January 22, 2017

Another round of tornadoes expected as death toll reaches 15 in Southeast US
Residents across the Southeast braced for another round of severe weather on Sunday, after a storm system left at least 15 dead across the region and injured dozens more.

In Blistering Interview, Conway Tells Chuck Todd “We Are Going To Have To Rethink Our Relationship With The Press”
To members of the mainstream media, it would appears ‘size matters’, as the Inauguration crowd-gate debacle continues following Sean Spicer’s unusual press conference yesterday. During a combative interview this morning with NBC’s Chuck Todd, Trump top advisor Kellyanne Conway blasted media “falsehoods,” crushing Todd’s ‘size’ issues by noting that “Presidents aren’t judged by crowd sizes at their inauguration, they’re judged by their accomplishments.”

Ex-WSJ Reporter Finds George Soros Has Ties To More Than 50 “Partners” Of The Women’s March
Former WSJ reporter Asra Nomani asks in the NYT’s “Women In the World” section what is the link between one of Hillary Clinton’s largest donors and the Women’s March? Her answer: “as it turns out, it’s quite significant.”

CNN Declines to Air White House Press Conference Live
CNN this evening declined to air live a press conference with the nation’s new White House Press Secretary, pointing to a growing rift between the embryonic Trump administration and the press corps that covers it and undermining the credibility of Sean Spicer, a longtime Republican operative who has become the new spokesman for President Donald Trump.

Abbas Meets King Abdullah To Coordinate Moves Against Possible US Embassy Relocation to Jerusalem
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II met in Amman on Sunday to coordinate moves against the possible relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Trump: I haven’t forgotten my promise about Jerusalem
At pre-inaugural event in Washington, President-elect Donald Trump tells Israel Hayom he will move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, “and I’m not a person who breaks promises” 

China party paper says no ‘provocation’ can stop its military drills
China’s military will carry out drills regardless of foreign provocations and pressure, the Communist Party’s paper said on Sunday, adding that exercises far out at sea like those conducted recently by its sole aircraft carrier will become normal.

German Press: “That Was No Presidential Speech; That Was A Declaration Of War”
“That was no presidential speech; that was a veritable declaration of war. Threatening in tone. Cold and calculating in logic. Change minus the hope…. In domestic policy, the Trump agenda sounds like a blueprint for civil war; in foreign policy, it sounds like the dawn of a new ice age.”

Fox News Refuses to Renew Contracts for George Will, Ed Rollins
The winds of change at Fox News have blown away two longtime commentators, George Will and Ed Rollins. Also leaving the network are veteran newsman Marvin Kalb and syndicated columnist Cal Thomas.

Pope warns against populism and ‘saviours’ like Hitler
Pope Francis warned against populism, saying it could lead to the election of “saviours” like Hitler. In an hour-long interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais conducted as Donald Trump was being sworn in as US president, the pontiff also condemned the idea of using walls and barbed wire to keep out foreigners.

Iraqi general’s tour suggests tough fight ahead in west Mosul
Residents of east Mosul held up their children and took selfies with Iraqi counter-terrorism commander Lieutenant General Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi after his men cleared Islamic State fighters from their neighbourhoods.

Mexico’s president to meet with Trump amid populist pressure at home
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and U.S. President Donald Trump will meet at the end of this month to discuss trade, immigration and security issues, as the Latin American leader faces increased populist pressure at home.