Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I'm off for my holiday break and wanted to wish you all a happy and joyous Christmas. I know that the news we link to here is often grim but I'm sure that most of you who visit this site are Christians who understand that beyond the headlines we know that God is sovereign and always in control. We know that this effort to be watchful has a purpose and a focus, and that focus is on Jesus Christ.

We watch the signs of His return, but this season is all about the First Coming and not the Second Coming, so as we turn to our families and friends to celebrate the holidays we offer thanks and praise to God and above all, celebrate Jesus as the reason for the season.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
lyrics by Charles Wesley

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

War

Syrian gov't says it has retaken control of battle-scarred Aleppo - UPI.com
UPI reports: "After weeks of intense fighting, the Syrian government on Thursday said it's finally got control of the entire city of Aleppo -- one of its biggest victories in the bloody civil war, which is now in its sixth year. The Syrian army announced on state TV the "return of security to Aleppo" after months of control by U.S.-backed opposition forces."

Comment: This is a great victory for Syria and Assad's Russian and Iranian allies.

Gog Alliance

Karlov assassination in Turkey will likely bring Russia, Turkey closer - Business Insider Business Insider reports: "The assassination on Monday of Russia's ambassador to Turkey at an art gallery in Ankara is unlikely to fracture relations between the two countries as they work to improve their tumultuous relationship, analysts said. [...] statements released by Russian and Turkish officials in the aftermath of Karlov's death suggested Moscow and Ankara were determined not to let the incident derail their rapprochement. [...]
Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, called the assassination an attempt to 'undermine' Russia-Turkey ties and derail Moscow's attempts to find, with Iran and Turkey, a solution for the Syria crisis."

Russia, Turkey could grow even closer after envoy's slaying:
AP reports: :"The assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey could actually bring the two regional powers closer together, with Russia reaping political benefits by arguing that it has paid a high price for fighting terrorism as Turkey, embarrassed by its security breaches, increasingly coordinates with Russia in neighboring Syria. The two nations were already trying to resolve their differences over the war in Syria since Turkey shot down a Russian military jet along the Syrian border last year. The measured reactions of their leaders to the killing Monday night [...]  shows they want to stay on the path toward reconciliation. High-level officials from Russia and Turkey, as well as Iran, went ahead with a previously scheduled meeting Tuesday in Moscow on the Syrian crisis."

Comment: These are very  interesting news reports suggesting that in the aftermath of the assassination of the Russian ambassador, Turkey and Russia will likely grow closer rather than drift apart. This is because, they say, Russia will cooperate with Turkey on the investigation and on finding a common strategy on Turkey. So, it looks like the growing alliance between the major powers mentioned in Ezekiel of Russia, Iran and Turkey will not be set back by the latest developments.

Famine

Dust Bowl would obliterate modern crops - UPI.com
UPI reports: "If the conditions of the Dust Bowl were replicated today, modern agriculture would be devastated, according to scientists at the University of Chicago. Researchers analyzed how extreme drought and heat would affect maize, soy and wheat crops in the United States. The results show conditions similar to the 1930s would drastically reduce modern crop yields. [...] Though agricultural practices have evolved since the 1930s, most changes have privileged yield over resilience and sustainability. As a result, scientists suggest many staple crops remain vulnerable to extreme weather."

Covenant With Many

Trump taps hardliner David Friedman as U.S. ambassador to Israel - UPI.com
UPI reports: "President-elect Donald Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to Israel is his bankruptcy attorney and campaign adviser David Friedman, a controversial hardliner whose appointment promises big changes in U.S. Mideast policy. [...] Friedman's views contrast decades-long American policy on Israel. In one immediate example following his nomination, Friedman said he looked forward to serving as ambassador 'from the U.S. embassy in Israel's eternal capital, Jerusalem.'"

Wars & Rumors of War

Several dead after truck crashes into Berlin holiday market - UPI.com
UPI reports: "At least nine people were killed and dozens were hurt Monday when a truck driver, apparently intentionally, plowed through a group of people gathered at a holiday market in the German capital, authorities said. The commercial truck ran into revelers at the holiday market in Breitscheidplatz, on the west flank of Berlin near a major rail station. The death toll was initially reported at nine, but may climb. At least one person inside the truck was killed, Berlin police said."

Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov assassinated in Ankara - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was shot to death Monday while giving a speech at a photography exhibit in Ankara. Russia's Foreign Ministry confirmed Karlov's death, Hurriyet Daily News. Three other people were taken to central Ankara's Guven Hospital with injuries. The gunman was shot dead at the scene. During the attack, he made remarks about the Syrian war, according to a graphic video on the Dutch website nos.nl: 'Don't forget Aleppo! Don't forget Syria! As long as our brothers are not safe, you will not enjoy safety. ... Whoever has a share in this oppression will pay for it one-by-one.'"

Comment: It looks like the jihadists went on a rampage today. I can't help wonder if this was a coordinated attack? 

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

China grabs underwater drone from U.S. ship in South China Sea - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A Chinese naval ship has captured a $150,000 U.S. underwater drone in the South China Sea. The autonomous underwater vehicle, used to measure ocean conditions and map the ocean floor, was stolen as a U.S. crew watched nearby, a U.S. defense official told CNN Friday. The incident took place around noon Thursday, local time, about 40 miles west of the Philippines, according to Fox News."

Comment: This is an interesting development. It will be worth keeping an eye on this story to see how the U.S. responds. 

Rumors of War - King of the North

EU votes to extend Russia sanctions for another 6 months - UPI.com
UPI reports: "European leaders meeting in Belgium to address a list of concerns voted Thursday to lengthen economic sanctions against Russia, over its 2014 acquisition of a region of Ukraine and military acts in Syria. European Union leaders granted the extension after concern was raised by members that parts of the Minsk Protocol peace agreement -- which established a cease-fire after months of fighting between Russia and Ukraine -- weren't being fulfilled."

U.S. intelligence: Russian President Vladimir Putin approved hack of Democrats - UPI.com UPI reports: "U.S. intelligence officials are now convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally involved in the hacking of Democrats' computers to interfere in the U.S. presidential election, senior U.S. intelligence officials told two media outlets. NBC first reported Wednesday the officials had "a high level of confidence" Putin approved the hacking. CBS sources confirmed it Thursday. NBC's sources said the intelligence came from diplomatic sources and spies working for U.S. allies."

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

China's state tabloid denounces U.S. 'arrogance,' calls for weapons buildup - UPI.com
UPI reports: "China's state tabloid is calling for the expansion of defense spending on nuclear weaponry in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's critical stance toward Beijing. The editorial published Wednesday in the Global Times comes at a time when China is imposing a penalty on an unnamed U.S. automaker for monopolistic behavior. The state newspaper suggested Beijing should not be pushed out by a militarily powerful United States."

U.S. warns China about South China Sea aggression - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific sought to reassure worried allies and tell leaders in China that the United States will not allow the South China Sea to be blocked off. [...] The Chinese have been constructing artificial reefs in the South China Sea expected to be used as military bases, in addition to chasing other ships out of the waterway and violating what nations in the region claim as their own territorial waters."

Comment: I don't think it's inevitable but there is very high likelihood that the next great war will be between the U.S. and China. The U.S. has become accustomed to fighting small wars against weak opponents but China is a near-peer competitor and the scale and damage of such a war would be huge. Let's hope calmer heads prevail. Perhaps under Trump we will have more trade and less conflict?

Covenant With Many

France postpones Middle East peace conference until January - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A French-sponsored peace conference on the Mideast has been moved from late December to early January, the Palestinian envoy to France said. [...] The conference was scheduled to begin on Dec. 21. Neither Palestine, which approves of the meeting, nor Israel, which strongly opposes it, was invited to attend. Israel prefers direct negotiation with the Palestinian Authority, without preconditions or involvement from other countries."

Comment: Well, that's ok, I'm sure the French know what they are doing and will use the additional time wisely to come up with new and creative ways to blame Israel and champion the Palestinians. 

Persecution

Islamic State claims responsibility for Egypt church bombing - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Islamic State claimed Tuesday it was behind a church bombing in Egypt and said it plans to target more Christians there in the future. Shafik Mahmoud Mohamed Mostafa was sent to the Coptic Christian cathedral by the Islamic State, the group said in a statement, where he detonated a suicide bomb in the latest attack on Christians in Egypt, killing himself and 25 others."

Comment: Praying for the church in Egypt, that their hearts will not be guided by the values of tribalism but by Christian values of mercy, compassion and forgiveness. 

Global Government

Antonio Guterres sworn-in as next U.N. secretary general - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Former Portuguese leader Antonio Guterres was sworn-in Monday as the ninth secretary general of the United Nations, officially succeeding Ban Ki-moon after a decade of the South Korean's leadership. Guterres was chosen as the next secretary general in October, and will formally assume the role on Jan. 1. But the swearing-in ceremony was held Monday. During the ceremony, Guterres spoke about his vision for U.N. leadership in a changing international landscape."

Comment: I'm somewhat reluctant to embrace the idea of the UN as an emerging world government that plays an active role in the end times. I think it's a useful debating club right now but it's not very powerful.  That may change in the future, so it's important to keep up with trends and developments.

Persecution

Bomb kills 25 at Egypt's main Coptic Christian cathedral- AP
The AP reports: "A bomb ripped through the chapel in the cathedral complex in central Cairo, killing 25 people and wounding another 49, mostly women and children, one of the deadliest attacks on the country's Christian minority in recent memory. [...] One of the worst previous attacks against Christians by Islamic militants was a 2011 bombing at a church in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria that killed 21. The Islamic State group also has targeted Christians in the Sinai Peninsula, where it primarily goes after security forces. [...] Egypt's Christians have long complained of discrimination, saying they are denied top jobs in many fields, including academia and security forces."

Comment: Please join me in praying for the church in Egypt. I've often wondered if Christians in Egypt had a special kind of pride knowing that Jesus lived there for a time in his youth? At any rate, this is a difficult time for Christians in the entire Middle East and they deserve our support and our prayers. 

War

U.S. to send 200 more troops to Syria to combat Islamic State - UPI.com
UPI report: "The United States will send an additional 200 troops to Syria to assist rebel groups in capturing the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced. Speaking at the annual IISS Manama Dialogue security gathering on Saturday in Manama, Bahrain, Carter said special forces trainers, advisers and bomb disposal teams will join the 300 U.S. troops already in Syria, the BBC reported."

Pestilence

Zika-linked birth defects surge in Colombia: CDC - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The tragedy of hundreds of babies born with devastating birth defects linked to the Zika virus is no longer confined to Brazil, a new report confirms. Colombia is now also experiencing a surge in these cases of infant microcephaly. It's a birth defect where newborns whose mothers contracted the mosquito-borne virus in pregnancy are born with too-small skulls and underdeveloped brains."

Comment: I've been wondering what happened to the Zika outbreak. It dominated the headlines for a while and then disappeared. I suppose this is going to be a seasonal disease that just sort of lurks in the background but never goes away until they perfect the cure.  

Earthquakes

7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes off Solomon Islands - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean on Friday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake at 4:38 a.m. was centered 42 miles southwest of Kirakira, the USGA said. The quake was at a depth of 30 miles. No injuries or damage has been reported."\

 USGS: 6.5 magnitude quake in ocean off California coast - AP
The AP reports: "A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California on Thursday, jolting residents of the coastal town of Ferndale but bringing no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The quake hit at 6:50 a.m. in the Pacific Ocean about 100 miles west of Ferndale, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a statement there was no threat of a tsunami."

Death toll in Indonesia earthquake passes 100 - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The death toll in Indonesia's Aceh province passed 100 early Thursday as a massive search for missing people after a 6.5-magnitude earthquake Wednesday has been mounted in flattened parts of the area. Officials report 102 people have been confirmed dead in Aceh province since the earthquake struck around 5 a.m. Wednesday, 99 of whom were found in Pidie Jaya, the district hit hardest by the quake."

Comment: There's been quite a noticeable uptick in major quakes lately.

Famine

Major famine imminent in Nigeria as Boko Haram attacks cripple economy - ABC News ABC News (AU) reports: "The United Nations believes as many as 75,000 people could die in north-eastern Nigeria in the next 12 months unless there is a renewed contribution from the international community. Already close to five million people need food assistance. There are predictions of a major famine, mainly due to the insecurity brought about by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. The jihadist group claims to have established a caliphate in West Africa. It regularly carries out suicide bombings, kidnappings and merciless assaults on entire villages."

Comment: So many of the recent famines in history have been man-made, a result of war and corruption more than a lack of rainfall. 

Earthquakes

6.5 magnitude earthquate in Indonesia kills at least 25 - UPI.com
UPI reports: "At least 25 people died in an earthquake in Aceh province in Indonesia, with officials reporting many buildings are damaged and there may be many people trapped in the remaining rubble. The 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit undersea off Sumatra Island Wednesday morning, about 12 miles from the town of Sigli, but no tsunami warning was issued by meteorological officials in Indonesia."

Persecution

Ransomed: The freeing of 226 Christians from Islamic State
AP reports: "The Assyrian Christians were seized from the Khabur River valley in northern Syria, among the last holdouts of a dwindling minority that had been chased across the Mideast for generations. They trace their heritage to the earliest days of Christianity, their Church of the East founded by the apostle known as Doubting Thomas. To this day, they speak a dialect of Aramaic, believed to be the native language of Jesus. But most also speak Arabic and some Kurdish, the languages of the neighbors who have long outnumbered them. In a single night of horror on Feb. 23, 2015, IS fighters attacked the Christian towns simultaneously, sweeping up scores of people and sending everyone from 35 towns and villages fleeing for their lives. [...] How much was ultimately paid to free the Khabur Christians remains a mystery. The bishop, the only person with a full accounting, declined to speak to The Associated Press. Those involved give him credit for saving the lives not just of the hostages but those of hundreds of other Assyrians who have left in hopes of building a better life outside the war zone. The Khabur valley has been all but emptied of its Christians."

Comment: What an incredible story. Please join me in praying for all those Christians still being held by the Islamic State. The broadcast media probably will not report this story, it goes against the approved narrative, but thank you to the reporters of the Associated Press for their coverage of this story and the larger story of the plight of Christians throughout the Middle East. 

Mark of the Beast

Amazon planning app-based 'Go' stores in U.S. next year - UPI.com
UPI reports: "E-commerce giant Amazon.com on Monday unveiled plans to open brick and mortar app-based grocery stores in the United States -- a venture the company hopes will fill an enduring need for millions of Americans. The company announced Amazon Go, which will feature a no-checkout process called "Just Walk Out Shopping" -- in which shoppers can enter the convenience-style store, take what they need and walk out. Advanced retail technology automatically detects what items were taken and bills customers' Amazon accounts."

Comment: It's been a while since we've had a good MOTB update so I'll repeat my usual caveat: no, I'm not saying this is the MOTB, just an interesting tech trend to keep an eye on. After all, the implications of this are huge. Amazon has a technology that will do two very important things at the same time: it validates your identity and it processes the transaction.  If this process is seamless it could revolutionize retail. It's not a stretch to say the same kind of process could be used down the road to implement the mark.

War - Doomed Damascus

Assad's forces retake half of rebel-held Aleppo - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Syrian government forces have taken about half of the rebel-held portion of Aleppo, military leaders said, bringing an end in sight to the bloody six-year stalemate in the city. Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have held the gains made in the week since they took control of a key housing district at the center of the eastern portion of the war-torn city. A top Syrian general told the BBC that government forces have reduced by half the amount of territory in the city under rebel control."

Comment: The battle for Aleppo is almost over. Somehow I suspect that Damascus will never again know peace. 

Rumors of War - King of the North

Ukraine tests missiles in Black Sea, drawing Russia's anger - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Ukraine began surface-to-air missile tests Thursday over the Black Sea, after Russia threatened to shoot the projectiles down. The Ukrainian military declared the tests of the S-300 medium-range missiles a success. [...] Although the missiles came within 18 miles of Crimean airspace, Ukraine moved the perimeter of the test area, apparently to calm Russian concerns [...] Crimea, formerly Ukrainian territory, was annexed in 2014 by Russia."

Persecution

Yahoo News Digest — Indonesia protest draws 200K Muslims angry over Christian governor
Yahoo News reports: "At least 200,000 conservative Muslims rallied peacefully in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Friday in the second major protest against Indonesia’s minority Christian governor, Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja, who is being prosecuted for alleged blasphemy."

Comment: The real offense is that he is a Christian in a Muslim majority country.

Pestilence

U.N. apologizes to Haiti for role in cholera outbreak, offers new plan to help - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The leader of the United Nations apologized to the people of Haiti Thursday for the organizations' failure to help the island nation deal with a six-year-long cholera outbreak, offering a multi-year plan to solve the problem and take action to prevent a recurrence in the future. [...] The outbreak, which has affected more than three-quarters of a million people, was made even worse earlier this year when Hurricane Matthew shredded the island."

Gog Alliance

Russia gets permission to use Iran's Hamadan air base for Syria airstrikes - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Russia is considering using Iran's Hamadan airbase to launch airstrikes on insurgents in Syria if its aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, leaves Syria's coastline on the Mediterranean for a new mission, Russian and Iranian officials said. [...] Iran allowed Russia to operate from the base in mid-August. The jets returned to Russia after completing their anti-terror mission one week later. Iran became uneasy about the situation because the Iranian constitution prohibits the presence of any foreign forces on Iranian soil."

Comment: An alliance of prophetic importance is growing stronger. This is noteworthy. 

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

Experts divided on impact of new U.N. North Korea sanctions - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The United Nations Security Council adopted a new sanctions resolution that will target North Korea's nuclear weapons program by tightening restrictions on coal exports. But some experts are skeptical sanctions Resolution 2321 is enough to alter Pyongyang's ability to proliferate weapons of mass destruction, Yonhap reported. The latest sanctions also ban exports of copper, nickel, silver, zinc and even the sale of statues, the BBC reported Wednesday."

Comment: Quick question: Have the previous sanctions worked? 

Covenant With Many

AIMonitor - Will Trump's win prompt EU to adopt independent Mideast policy?
The AIMonitor reports: "The European states, as expressed by many of their leaders in the past months, are concerned about Trump’s lack of experience in foreign and security matters, by his pro-Russian stance and his various expressions against the EU, NATO and free trade deals. He is viewed in most EU capitals as an American nationalist and isolationist who intends to bolster the US military. [...] Therefore, EU policy planners have been requested to focus on developing independent EU policy engagements on a two-state solution. Such engagements will express EU goals in this context. [...] the EU will propose that, within a two-state solution, both Israel and Palestine will be offered the highest nonmember status, namely membership in the European Economic Area. The EU will also use its economic clout to encourage the parties to advance toward a two-state solution, both by economic and scientific incentives and, possibly, by punitive measures."

Comment: According to this report, one possible result of the "Trump effect"  in international affairs would be to bolster the EU role in negotiating a Middle East peace deal. As you know, more EU involvement is something many Bible prophecy commentators have been expecting for many years. We don't yet know what a Trump foreign policy will look like, but we should watch carefully for any hints as to what his Mideast policy will be. If the U.S. stands down, the EU is waiting in the wings to take over the search for peace in the volatile region.

War

Syrian military captures part of rebel-held Aleppo as civilians flee - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Syrian military continued its progress to retake Aleppo, scene of some of the worst fighting in the four-year-old civil war in Syria, capturing several districts in the city on Sunday and driving out rebel militants. Government sources say Syria has retaken about one-third of the area controlled by rebels in eastern Aleppo, moving neighborhood by neighborhood. Thousands of civilians have fled the city to safer ground as the battle there intensifies."

Comment: How's the civil war in Syria going? Pretty good for the government, not so good for the rebels.  Would it be fair to say that the U.S. and allies have pretty much signed off on a government victory? Well played Vlad, well played.

Future Fear - Roaring Waves

Scientists: Unchecked Arctic melting may bring irreversible change - UPI.com
UPI reports: "In the Arctic Resilience Report, released Friday, the team of scientists said Arctic ice is melting faster than ever before and it will probably only get worse. In fact, the ecological change currently happening in the Arctic region is unprecedented, they say, and could one day become irreversible. [...] If the Greenland sheet melted away completely, global sea levels would rise by about 25 feet, the report warns."

Comment: Everyone knows that climate change is a myth, right? Nothing to see here folks, move along, move along. 

Pestilence

Zika babies may look fine at birth, display defects later: CDC - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Babies exposed to the Zika virus in the womb can look normal at birth but later show signs of the devastating birth defect microcephaly and other brain abnormalities, researchers reported Tuesday."

Comment: That there can be delayed symptoms is pretty scary. I wonder how they are doing on that Zika vaccine? 

Earthquakes

Major 6.9 earthquake hits Japan near site of deadly '11 tsunami - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A powerful earthquake rocked the east coast of Japan early Tuesday, in the same area a quake-induced tsunami killed more than 15,000 people five years ago. The quake, measured at a magnitude of 6.9 by the U.S. Geological Survey, hit off the coast about 20 miles southeast of the town of Namie at about 6 a.m. local time Tuesday. The Japan Meteorological Agency measured the quake at 7.3. [...] Tectonic activity that produces earthquakes and volcanic eruptions is common in Japan and other nations in the Pacific Rim, which is commonly referred to as the 'Ring of Fire.'"

War - Persecution

AP - Iraqi troops face stiff resistance from IS in eastern Mosul
The AP reports: "In the heavily damaged town of Bashiqa, about 13 kilometers (8 miles) northeast of Mosul's outskirts, Christians rang the bells of Saint George's church for the first time to celebrate its liberation from IS, which was driven out earlier this month. [...] Men prepared a large cross to mount on the rooftop, replacing one destroyed by the extremists. [...] Bullet holes marked the walls inside the church courtyard, strewn with garbage and graffiti left by the extremists, including some of their names. Much of the church's inside had been smashed, with rubble strewn across the ground and holy inscriptions covered with black paint. [...] The church graveyard was desecrated, with graves broken into and tombstones smashed and painted over."

Comment: I came across this news report earlier today. At first glance, it appears to be a report about how the war against the Islamic State is going in Iraq. As I continued reading the article I found some interesting insights into how the war is going for the small Christian community and their efforts to return to a town church destroyed by IS. Please join me in praying for the church in Iraq.

Pestilence

WHO no longer considers Zika a global health emergency - The Washington Post
The Washington Post reports: "The Zika virus that has spread to more than 50 countries is no longer considered an international public health emergency, the World Health Organization declared Friday. But the change in designation does not represent a downgrading of Zika's importance, officials said. [...] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been leading the Zika response in the United States and playing a major surveillance and research role in Brazil and other countries. It stressed Friday that despite the "technical declaration" by the WHO, Zika infection continues to be a serious threat to pregnant women, babies born to pregnant women with Zika and their families."

Comment: It's nice to have some good news to share for a change. 

Rumors of War

How did Hezbollah get U.S. armored personnel carriers? - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah showed off U.S.-made armored personnel carriers alongside Russian-made tanks in a military parade in Syria, but U.S. officials have no idea how they got them. Images of the parade, held in Qusayr, Syria, are raising concern about terror groups in the Middle East using U.S. military armored personnel carriers distributed as part of aid to various nations in the region."

Comment: The U.S. is the largest arms-seller in the world so we can't be too surprised when our military hardware ends up far from the point of sale. 

Wickedness Increases

Parents, religious groups protest Portland, Ore., After School Satan Club - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Worried parents and religious groups in Portland, Ore., protested the inaugural meetings of the After School Satan Club at local elementary and middle schools, which were started as part of an effort to counter evangelical Christian after-school organizations. [...] After School Satan Clubs are located in cities that include Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle and Salt Lake City."

Comment: This is what happens when a society is unable to make value judgements because that would be politically incorrect. 

Persecution

AP - Gasps, tears as Iraqis return to IS-destroyed parish
The AP reports: "There were gasps, followed by tears at a small church in northern Iraq as a group of Christians returned to their parish Sunday to find that everything had been destroyed, including the statue of the Virgin Mary, which Islamic State militants had decapitated before they left. A confessional had been turned into a closet, a tomb had been desecrated, red prayer benches were burned. [...] Keramlis, a Christian town on the Nineveh plains in northern Iraq, fell to IS in August 2014 [...] The town was retaken by Iraq forces three weeks ago as part of the push for Mosul, but most of its homes were destroyed in the process. [...] Christians once constituted a sizeable minority in Iraq, but their numbers have dwindled since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion as many have emigrated to the West to escape violence."

Comment: It's really a shame what's happening to Christian communities in the Middle East. You may think it's just Iraq but really, it's happening in the entire region. Please join me in praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters living in the Middle East. 

Wars & Rumors of War - King of the North

Russia's naval buildup off Syria grows alarmingly - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Russian naval buildup in the eastern Mediterranean off Syria has reached disturbing proportions and threatens to intensify the war in Syria, a clear challenge to the United States and NATO made more pointed because it is taking place as Donald Trump prepares to become the United States' commander-in-chief. Some military experts said they suspect the naval force that Russia has assembled in the eastern Mediterranean presages a significant intensification of Russia's air and missile strikes against rebel forces battling its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. [...] Others see it as a glorified train­ing exercise [...] to consolidate Russian President Vladimir Putin's push to reinstate Moscow's Cold War influ­ence in the region."

Comment: This article suggests two reasons for the Russian military buildup in Syria. There's another equally plausible reason: it's a demonstration of new hardware for arms buyers. After all, Russia sells an enormous amount of weaponry all over the world and the Syrian conflict provides a showcase for all the latest hardware. Personally, I think it's actually a combination of the three.

Signs in the Moon

AP - Supermoon to light up sky beginning Monday morning
AP reports: "The brightest moon in almost 69 years will be lighting up the sky this week in a treat for star watchers around the globe. The phenomenon known as the supermoon will reach its most luminescent in North America before dawn on Monday. It will reach its zenith in Asia and the South Pacific on Monday night. Across the international dateline in New Zealand, it will reach its brightest after midnight on Tuesday local time. [...] The moon will be at its brightest this week because it is coming closer to the Earth along its elliptical orbit than at any time since January 1948."

Comment: Many Bible prophecy commentators are noting the relationship between this supermoon and the founding of the modern state of Israel in 1948, as if this sign is a prophetic bookend of some kind marking the end of an era. Could there be something to that?

Earthquakes

Tsunami warnings for New Zealand after 7.8-magnitude earthquake - UPI.com
UPI reports: "New Zealand warned a 'destructive tsunami' is possible for the country's east coast after a strong 7.8-magnitude earthquake rattled the South Island. The earthquake struck early Monday, about 2 a.m. local time, just outside Christchurch, the biggest city on South Island, the U.S. Geological Survey said."

War

Four killed, 17 wounded in U.S. military base suicide bombing in Afghanistan - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A suicide bomber killed four Americans and wounded 17 other people at a U.S. military base in Afghanistan on Saturday. [...] The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in which the suicide bomber entered the large and heavily guarded base around 5:30 a.m. dressed as a day laborer a foreign security source told the Wall Street Journal. Upon entering the base the bomber stood in a line with Afghan laborers reporting for duty and detonated the explosives on his vest, the BBC reported."

Nations in Distress

Report: China building new military base near North Korea border - UPI.com
UPI reports: "China is building on its military presence at its border with North Korea, a source in North Korea tells Radio Free Asia. [...] North Korea is responding to the new measures by deploying about 20 soldiers to monitor the situation [...] 'The Chinese leadership seems to preparing for the collapse of the North Korean regime,' the source said."

Comment: The collapse of the North Korean government would prompt both a humanitarian and military crisis for the region. China probably has a plan to make sure that such collapse did not benefit South Korea and their U.S. ally.  

Rumors of War - Persia - King of the North

Iran can't have military presence in Syria, Israel tells Russia - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Republic of Iran cannot be allowed to have a military say in how things turn out in civil war-torn Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Russian counterpart Thursday.[...] 'Israel, Russia, the United States and many other countries share the objective of defeating the Islamic State,' Netanyahu told Medvedev. 'At the same time, we are also concerned by the second actor promoting radical Islam, Iran, which champions the destruction of Israel and also supports 360-degree terror on five continents.' Netanyahu is right about Iran's disdain for Israel. Tehran has never been shy about expressing its hope that the Jewish nation will someday be wiped off the face of the Earth."

Comment: This is an extraordinary news report that highlights how the conflict in Syria is placing Israel on a collision course with Russia and Iran. Things seem to be relatively friendly between Russia and Israel right now, but the strategic tensions are real and will only grow stronger over time. 

Pestilence

DNA-based vaccine protects against Zika in animal study - UPI.com
UPI reports: "An experimental Zika vaccine shows promise, researchers report. In animals infected with Zika virus, the synthetic DNA-based vaccine was 100 percent effective in protecting against infection, brain damage and death, the study found. [...] More than 2,000 children have been born with microcephaly or birth defects of the central nervous system in Brazil, the nexus of the Zika outbreak in South America, according to the World Health Organization. More than 60 countries have reported mosquito-borne transmission of Zika virus."

Comment: This is great news, I'm sure a lot of mothers-to-be in the outbreak zones will be relieved to know that a vaccine is in the works. 

Persecution

North Korea continues to persecute citizens for practicing religion - UPI.com
UPI reports: "North Korea continues to persecute citizens for their religious beliefs, going as far as physically battering victims until they lose control of their bowel movements, according to a South Korean NGO report released this week. In its annual white paper on North Korea's record on religious freedom, the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights said those caught practicing religions not sanctioned by the state face imprisonment and even death, according to local news service Christian Today."

Comment: Please join me in praying for persecuted believers in North Korea. 

Covenant With Many

Israel won't attend French peace conference, wants direct talks with Palestinians - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Israel has rejected France's invitation for a Middle East peace conference in Paris later this year and instead reiterated hopes to meet directly with Palestinians. French envoy Pierre Vimont was informed of Israel's intentions at a meeting Monday with Israel's acting national security adviser and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's diplomatic adviser in Jerusalem."

Comment: France continues their agenda to internationalize Mideast peace talks even as we continue to hear rumblings about Obama seeking to solidify his legacy  with a last minute peace deal. It's unclear how Obama views the French effort, which seems to be taking place in the vacuum of American leadership. Given the stakes, I'd rather blame France for dividing the covenant land of Israel and allow the inevitable divine wrath to fall on Paris rather than Washington.

War

Turkey, U.S. agree on long-term plan to capture, govern Raqqa, Syria - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Turkish and U.S. military leaders agreed on a long-term plan to seize and hold the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, Syria, the U.S. Defense Department announced. The statement Sunday quoted U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joe Dunford, who after meeting in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart, Gen. Hulusi Akar, said, 'The [U.S.-led] coalition and Turkey will work together on the long-term plan for seizing, holding and governing Raqqa.' "

Comment: The battle for Mosul is ongoing and plans are now underway to conquer the Islamic State capital of Raqqa.  It appears that the war against IS has entered a decisive phase.

Earthquakes

40 buildings damaged in Cushing, Okla., earthquake - UPI.com
UPI reports: "More than 40 buildings in Cushing, Okla., were damaged by a 5.0-magnitude earthquake that could be felt 250 miles away in Dallas, Texas. The earthquake struck Sunday evening, four miles below the surface, and was centered one mile west of Cushing, a city between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. The quake could be felt as far away as Dallas and Kansas City. Although the U.S. Geological Survey downgraded its magnitude from the originally announced 5.3-magnitude, the earthquake remains the state's 5th largest ever recorded."

War

Islamic State launches counter-offensive south of Mosul - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Islamic State launched a counter-attack Saturday in the outskirts of Mosul, pushing Iraqi government forces back from some of the gains they reported Friday. Islamic State fighters emerged from deeper within the embattled city and launched a fierce attack on Iraqi forces using mortars, shoulder-mounted missiles and suicide bombers in vehicles masquerading as civilians fleeing the bloodshed. The heaviest fighting was in the Gogjali district on the city's southern edge, an area the Iraqi military declared 'liberated' on Friday."

Comment: So, how's the battle for Mosul going? We knew there would be some reverses and it would not be easy. That is proving to be the case. Is the "new" Iraqi army professional and steady enough to hold the course this time? Stay tuned!

Rumors of War - King of the North

U.S. intelligence officials on guard for potential Russian election hacks - UPI.com
UPI reports: "U.S. intelligence officials said they are preparing for the potential of Russian cyber meddling on the eve of a presidential election and in the days afterward. Officials told The Washington Post and NBC News they view it as unlikely the Russians have the ability to directly hack election systems and sway the outcome of the race, but cautioned they may ramp up their steady efforts to influence voters and sow doubts that could delegitimize the outcome for some voters."

Comment: It's an extraordinary testament to Russia's lack of respect or fear of the U.S. that they would even dare interfere in the U.S. presidential election. You would think that would be a self-evident "red line" that they would not dare cross. The ability of the U.S. to respond to such attacks in not in doubt. The consequences of a full-scale cyberwar though, definitely in doubt, as it would be unprecedented. Perilous times indeed.

Pestilence

CDC reports first U.S. cases of drug-resistant fungus Candida auris - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that 13 cases of Candida auris have occurred in the United States. Candida auris is an infectious fungus known to resist most drugs and treatments. Infections are sometimes fatal, and are identified by white patches on the tongue or other parts of the body. According to the CDC, 7 cases occurred between May 2013 and August 2016. The remaining 6 were found after the initial report, and are currently under investigation. Researchers with the agency discussed the infection events in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report."

War

Iraqi forces roll into Mosul for first time in two years - UPI.com
UPI reports: "For the first time in more than two years, Iraqi government troops are on the ground in Mosul and ready to take on Islamic State fighters determined to stand their ground in what's been the terror group's biggest stronghold. Iraqi special forces soldiers entered the less-populated eastern city limits on Thursday afternoon, and planned to establish a foothold there before attacking the urban centers of Iraq's second-largest city. The long-awaited showdown with the Islamic State is now at hand, after Iraqi and U.S.-backed coalition forces have been pushing toward Mosul for weeks."

Two U.S. soldiers, dozens of Afghan civilians die in Kunduz attack - UPI.com:
UPI reports: "Two U.S. Special Operations soldiers and more than 30 Afghan civilians died Thursday during a battle in Afghanistan's Kunduz province, military officials said. Afghan government troops and elite U.S. forces on a 'train, advise, assist' mission were targeting Taliban commanders northeast of the city of Kunduz when they came under heavy gunfire, officials from the U.S.-led coalition said. "

Comment: No rumors here, just real war. 

Pestilence

Ebola virus mutated to become more infectious, scientists say - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Mutations in the Ebola virus boosted its ability to infect people during the 2013-2016 epidemic in West Africa, two independent teams of researchers say. By the time the epidemic ended, more than 28,000 people had been infected and more than 11,000 had died."

Comment: So glad that's over. I know there are many here in the U.S. who became cynical about the epidemic, largely because of how the media overplayed it, but it's important to remember the human cost in Africa. 

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

U.S., South Korea commanders affirm 'ironclad' alliance - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The United States' top military commander in South Korea said war with North Korea ought to be avoided, but preparations must be made in the case of a worst-case scenario. [...] North Korea's multiple provocations in 2016 have raised tensions on the peninsula."

Comment: I love the understated way the U.S. representative said that war should be avoided. Any conflict that could draw in the U.S. and China on opposite sides should indeed be avoided.

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

Moscow, Tokyo working on a peace treaty draft, Russian lawmaker says - UPI.com
UPI  reports: "Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Japan on Dec. 15, Moscow and Tokyo are working on the draft of a peace treaty [...] Japan and Russia have not signed a World War 2 peace treaty on account of the former's claim to the Southern Kurils. On a few occasions, Russia has offered the islands of Shikotan and the Habomai Archipelago to Japan as a final settlement. These offers were rejected by Japan, fearing a political backlash among former residents of the islands."

Comment: The South China Sea and the Korean peninsula are not the only possible flash points for conflict in Asia, Russia and Japan could easily come to blows over these disputed islands. 

Rumors of War

13 civilians killed in Kashmir shelling - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Thirteen civilians -- seven in India and six in Pakistan -- were killed in cross-border shelling from both sides of the Line of Control in the disputed region of Kashmir, military officials said. Indian authorities said two of the fatalities were children -- ages 5 and 7 -- and 22 were injured in the mortar bombs on their side since Monday. In Pakistan, eight were reported injured Tuesday. India's Border Security Force said it destroyed 14 Pakistani posts in return fire."

Comment: We should all pay attention when nuclear armed neighbors India and Pakistan exchange gunfire across the Kashmir border. 

Kings of the East - King of the North

Russia walks tightrope in supplying arms to India and China - UPI.com
UPI reports: "India is the world's biggest weapons importer, with the country's defense spending expected to cross a staggering $250 billion over the next decade. Russia expects to grab a sizable chunk of this pie by supplying high-performance fighter aircraft, submarines, missiles and aircraft carriers. Meanwhile, China is also stocking up on advanced Russian weapons in its bid to match U.S. military power in the Asia Pacific. As Moscow exports increasingly powerful weapons to New Delhi and Beijing, it will have to strike a balance so that neither side feels threatened or weakened by these acquisitions."

Comment: There's nothing like a little friendly competition to spur weapons sales.  Will Russia's arms exports convince China and India that they, like Russia, have the capability to project power into the Middle East? Stay tuned!

Earthquakes

15,000 housed in shelters after 2 months of earthquakes in Italy - UPI.com
UPI reports: "More than 15,000 people are being housed in temporary shelters in Italy after a series of earthquakes in the country's central region, including a 6.6-magnitude temblor Sunday, emergency officials said. There have not been reports of deaths due to the earthquake, the epicenter of which was 40 miles southwest of Perugia near Norcia -- a town already trying to recover from a previous series of large quakes."

False Christs

'Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath' to premiere on A&E Nov. 29 - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A&E Network says its new docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath will debut Nov. 29. The eight-episode program is meant to give 'a voice to victims of the Church of Scientology despite public attempts to discredit them,' the cable network said in a press release. Hosted by Remini, an actress, TV personality and a former follower of the controversial religion, the show will also feature 'a team of former, high-ranking Scientology insiders who understand the inner workings and policies of the organization.'"

Comment: Isn't it extraordinary that people continue to make up new religions? Jesus said there would be false Christs who offer fake salvation, but why bother with a fake when you can get the real thing?

Earthquakes

Italy rocked by another earth quake, felt in Rome - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Following days of tremors, another powerful earthquake hit central Italy Sunday with tremors felt in Rome and other cities. Dozens of historic buildings have reportedly been destroyed by the 6.6 magnitude earthquake with dozens of others heavily damaged, The Guardian reported. The quake's epicenter was about 40 miles southwest of Perugia near the town of Norcia, which was already trying to recover from a previous series of large quakes. Many of the town's residents had already evacuated due to quakes on Wednesday. No deaths have been reported, but a number of people are injured."

Rumors of War

Russian, U.S. fighter planes over Syria nearly collide in midair - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A Russian fighter plane flew dangerously close to a U.S. plane over eastern Syria, U.S. defense officials said Friday. [...] Russia flies constant air patrols over Syria, most over the city of Aleppo, and routinely passes through airspace in which planes of the U.S.-led coalition can be found, officials said. The Pentagon regularly points out examples of unsafe or unprofessional behavior in air operations."

Comment: Rarely in history have the military forces of two nuclear armed rivals who are not at war comes so close, on a frequent basis, to accidentally engaging each other. It's not in the headlines all that much, but the situation remains as it has been for some time, Syria is a tripwire that could easily lead to a wider Mideast war involving Russia and the United States.

Global Government

Experts: Russia, U.S., China will determine the future of the world - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Politicians and experts from 35 countries, including Russia, the United States, China, India and Australia are meeting in Sochi through Thursday for the 13th annual gathering of the Valdai Discussion Club. The group meets every year at different locations in Russia to share views on the problems facing the global community today. This year, participants have stressed the irreversibility of the changes currently taking place in world politics, predicting tectonic shifts in the global political order in the very near future."

Comment: Global problems need global solutions, this is the new mantra. Of course, there have always been global problems, so why then do they act as if this is a new thing? 

Earthquakes

Moderate 5.5 magnitude quake felt in Italy - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A strong aftershock rattled central Italy late Wednesday, a couple hours after a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 6.4 magnitude aftershock hit a short time after the first quake was recorded at 7:10 p.m. local time Wednesday. The first quake was centered in Macerata, which is located about 140 miles northeast of Rome. The shaking was reportedly felt in the Italian capital."

Persecution

Canadian pastor detained in North Korea hospitalized - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A Canadian pastor detained in North Korea has been hospitalized for two months due to deteriorating health. Hyeon Soo Lim, founder of Light Presbyterian Church in Toronto, has been in North Korea custody since January 2015. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor last December."

Comment: Please join me in praying for Pastor Lim and the persecuted church in North Korea.

Gospel Preachd to All

Is God really dead? How Britain lost faith in the church - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Is God dead? Fifty years ago, on April 8, 1966, a Time magazine cover asked just that question. The same could be asked in Britain today. The Church of England recently announced it was considering dropping the requirement for weekly church services in parish churches in the wake of dwindling attendance that shows no sign of bouncing back for at least a generation. Low church attendance is frequently in the news, but looking deeper into the phenomenon reveals what the underlying issues really are."

Comment: How's the church doing in England? Not very well according to this opinion piece but the situation is more interesting and more complicated if you look at other denominations, particularly at evangelical churches. The article is worth a read and it's also worth praying for revival.

Persecution

Christian Today - The Threats Faced By Christian Refugees In Germany
Christian Today reports: "The Christian persecution charity released on Monday a case study on a centre for refugees in Rotenburg, central Germany. Researchers found that Christians living in the centre had faced death threats from Muslim refugees, and 'sentencing' by unofficial 'Sharia councils'. On 10 July, a number of Christian refugees returned from church to find a notice in one of the rooms that said: 'To all Muslims: now is the time to behead the unbelievers'. The Christians were temporarily moved to live in a local church to avoid attack."

Comment: Please join me in praying for these Christians being persecuted in the heart of Europe. 

Jerusalem Peace - Covenant With Many

Israel thanks Italy for stance on UNESCO Jerusalem resolution
AFP reports: "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked his Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi on Saturday for his stance against a resolution adopted by UNESCO on Jerusalem. The UN cultural agency on Tuesday adopted an Arab-sponsored resolution condemning Israel's actions at a flashpoint holy site in east Jerusalem, deepening anger in the Jewish state. On Friday, Renzi strongly criticised the resolution, saying that Rome -- which had abstained in the vote -- would now oppose it."

Comment: The notion that there's no Jewish connection to the Temple Mount is absurd, so the real story here is not that one European country broke ranks with the UN position, it's that most of them haven't.  Congratulations to Italy for taking a stand for Israel!

War

Islamic State 'sleeper cells' kill dozens in Kirkuk - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Islamic State militants on Friday attacked Iraqi government buildings in the northern city of Kirkuk as well as a nearby power plant, killing dozens of people about 100 miles away from Mosul, Iraqi officials said. Three police stations and an Iraqi political party headquarters were attacked within Kirkuk in the Kirkuk Governorate, whose governor later said the attack carried out by IS sleeper cells had been 'foiled.' At least six police officers and 16 civilians died in Kirkuk, while at least 13 died in the power plant attack in the nearby Dibbis village."

Comment: So, the Islamic State counterattacked but not in Mosul, in Kirkuk. Interesting strategy.  I wonder if that means there will be a lot more bombings and insurgent-style attacks around Iraq as the battle for Musul continues?

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

China deploys air force on disputed South China Sea island - UPI.com
UPI reports: "China confirmed it has stationed troops in the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. Beijing's People's Liberation Army Daily reported on Thursday the Chinese military has deployed airmen on Woody Island, also known as Yongxing Island in China. The report comes more than a year after Chinese President Xi Jinping said China is not pursuing militarization of another cluster of islands, the Spratlys, during his state visit in September 2015. At the time China had already broken a pledge to halt reclamation and had built three runways on artificial islands at the Fiery Cross and Subi reefs."

Comment: So much for not militarizing the islands. It's only a matter of time before some small naval incident sparks a major war between all these competing countries.  The scary thing is that there are elements within the Chinese military that are actively seeking this so they can demonstrate their resolve and show off their new navy and air force.

Pestilence

CDC: Zika testing for all pregnant women in Miami-Dade County - UPI.com
UPI reports: "U.S. health officials are now recommending that all pregnant women who have recently spent time in any part of Miami-Dade County in Florida be tested for Zika infection. Previously, testing had only been urged for pregnant women who had been in areas of the county where Zika had been spreading locally. [...] The Zika epidemic has been centered in Latin America and the Caribbean, with Brazil reporting the largest numbers of infections and microcephaly."

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

North Korea threatens pre-emptive strike, ridicules THAAD decision - UPI.com
UPI reports: "North Korea warned the United States and South Korea on Wednesday that even 'minor signs of aggression' against Pyongyang would be met with the wholesale destruction of Seoul and the presidential Blue House. [...] In the same article, North Korea ridiculed the South Korean decision to deploy a U.S. missile defense system, also known as THAAD, calling the goal of deterrence a 'foolish delusion.'"

Comment: It's rather amazing that the situation with North Korea isn't a bigger issue in the U.S. presidential election. Have journalists even asked the candidates about it? 

War

Slow fight for Mosul could take a while, officials say - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Coalition forces in Iraq are slowly and steadily marching toward the contested northern city of Mosul, but pockets of armed resistance from militant insurgents along the way suggest it will be a protracted fight, at least according to military strategists. Iraqi government, Kurdish, Peshmerga and other forces, some of whom are trained by the Pentagon, have been gearing up for the Mosul Offensive for weeks to take back the town from the Islamic State terror group. Monday marked the start of the campaign, which by all accounts might take a while."

King of the North

Vladimir Putin's not so secret, secret plan to gain influence - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Over the past decade and a half, Putin has become convinced that the United States is no longer trustworthy. The rot began in 2001 with the unilateral abrogation of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty by George W. Bush, followed by the disastrous Iraqi intervention two years later that Putin insisted would be a catastrophe. The expansion of NATO, the stationing of anti-ballistic missiles in Europe and the overtures to Georgia and Ukraine to join the Atlantic alliance all convinced Putin that Russia was being physically surrounded, internationally marginalized and, worse, disrespected. The 2011 Libyan raid that catalyzed a civil war was the final straw."

Comment: It's always instructive to see the world through the eyes of another person. No two people perceive the world exactly the same way, nor do countries. In my opinion, the U.S. failed to follow Churchill's dictum (In War: Resolution, In Defeat: Defiance, In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Good Will) after winning the Cold War. A little magnanimity and good will would have gone a long way. It's not too late, of course, but relations can never be repaired if fault is not acknowledged.

Persecution

Angry Muslims Say Teen Christian Boy Must Die For 'Insulting Islam' - Christian Today
Christian Today reports: "An angry mob of 80 Muslims has confronted a Christian boy, demanding he is hanged. The mob also threatened to burn his family to death for a Facebook post they claim insulted Islam. The case is just the latest of rising persecution of Christians in Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country."

Comment: This is a dangerous time for Christians in Pakistan, please join me in praying for the believers there. 

War

'Heavy losses' for Islamic State in battle for Mosul, Iraqi forces say - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Iraqi security forces on Monday said the Islamic State has had 'heavy' losses of militants and equipment as the long-awaited battle for Mosul wages. [...] Mosul is considered one of the most important battles in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq, as it is considered the militant Islamist group's last major stronghold in the country."

Rumors of War - Persia

How have Iran's military capabilities developed since 1979? - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The watershed moment for Iran's defense was when Tehran connected with China. As Iran began buying in high volume directly from China, it gradually moved away from Eastern bloc suppliers and, according to Rafiqdoost, it was this burgeoning Iranian-Sino defense relationship that prompted Russia to begin selling weapons to Tehran. Since then, Iran became the most important export market for Russian defense products, including fighter aircraft such as the MiG-29 and Su-24, submarines such as the Kilo-class, and air defense systems such as the recently delivered S-300 — even if business has not always been smooth."

Comment: This is a great overview of the development of the Iranian military since the Islamic revolution. 

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

U.S. detects failed North Korean midrange missile test - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The U.S. military said it detected a failed missile test by North Korea on Friday, their seventh such test this year. U.S. Strategic Command said the test was for a Musudan intermediate missile. It occurred at 10:33 p.m. Friday in the northwest city of Kusong. The missile failed to launch and detonated on the ground, the Pentagon said. [...]  Though the North has successfully detonated nuclear bombs, they have not shown the capacity to develop bombs small enough they could be fit onto a missile in order to deliver a nuclear payload. Nor, as Friday's test shows, have they perfected the missile technology itself. All the tests are in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions banning them."

Comment: It looks like Obama will let his successor worry about what to do about North Korea. Because this problem is so fraught with danger I suspect nothing much will be done until the North is very close to fitting a nuclear warhead on a missile. The real question is for the intelligence services, how will they know when the North is close enough that an attack will deter them?  

Peace of Jerusalem - Temple Mount

Yahoo News - Israel slams UNESCO over 'Occupied Jerusalem'
Yahoo News reports: "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted UNESCO for holding a vote Thursday on 'Occupied Palestine' saying the Paris-based UN cultural body has lost its legitimacy. The resolutions put forward by several Arab countries including Egypt, Lebanon and Algeria, were adopted at committee stage and are to be submitted Tuesday to UNESCO's executive body. Participants said 24 votes were cast in favour and six against with 26 abstentions and two absentees. The resolutions refer to 'Occupied Palestine' and aim to 'safeguard the Palestinian cultural heritage and the distinctive character of East Jerusalem', according to a text seen by AFP. [...] The status of Jerusalem is the thorniest issue of the decades-long Palestinian conflict. Israel captured east Jerusalem during the 1967 war and later annexed it -- in a move not recognised by the international community -- declaring all of the city its unified capital. The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their promised future state."

Comment: Once again the UN's anti-Israel bias is evident for all to see. To deny the Jewish connection to the Temple Mount flies in the face of history, archeology and culture. That they couldn't even use the term "Temple Mount" is an example of the extreme political agenda at work. As for east Jerusalem, in all of human history when a country or kingdom wins territory in war then it's settled. That's why they fight wars, to settle territorial claims. This concept is apparently not applied to Israel even though they won the territory fair and square, somehow it's still "contested" and "claimed" by the Palestinians. There's nothing to say that Israel couldn't give it to the Palestinians in a final peace agreement, but until they do, the territory belongs to Israel. Not that the UN will ever recognize that.

Rumors of War

Missiles fired at U.S. warship of coast of Yemen for second time this week - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A U.S. Naval destroyer off the coast of Yemen was targeted by missiles for the second time in a week, and military commanders are now threatening retaliation as it becomes apparent rebel forces in the country are responsible for the attacks."

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

Seoul strengthening plan to remove North Korea leadership in case of strike - UPI.com
UPI reports: South Korea's military is planning to significantly enhance operational capabilities to strike the North Korean leadership should Pyongyang be first to launch a nuclear attack. [...] The disclosure of Seoul's latest plans comes at a time when more U.S. North Korea experts are arguing in favor of pre-emptive strikes against the Kim Jong Un regime, if there is evidence North Korea was preparing an attack against the United States or its allies, according to Yonhap."

Pestilence

Zika virus can damage fetal brain late in pregnancy: Study - UPI.com
 UPI reports: "The Zika virus may harm a baby's brain even if the mother is infected just before giving birth, a new study suggests. It had been believed that Zika infection posed a threat to a baby's brain only if the mother was infected during the first trimester. Since the Zika outbreak began in Brazil in April 2015, thousands of babies have been born with the devastating birth defect known as microcephaly, in which the head and brain are abnormally small."

Pestilence

U.N. raising funds to stop post-hurricane cholera outbreak in Haiti - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The United Nations made an emergency appeal for $120 million in humanitarian aid for Haiti, devastated last week by Hurricane Matthew. [...] Among the fears is a renewed outbreak of cholera, which severely impacted the country in 2010. Thirteen people have died of cholera in Haiti since the hurricane, Interim President Jocelerme Privert said. The disease is spread through water or food contaminated with bacteria, and can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting, leading to extreme dehydration. Medical officials in the southwestern part of the country say they have run out of anesthetics and antibiotics."

Rumors of War - King of the North - Doomed Damascus

Russia to build permanent naval base at Tartus, Syria - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A supply base for the Russian navy at Tartus, Syria, will be expanded to a permanent naval base, Russian Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov said Monday. The current facility, on the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and Lebanon, has only a single pier, dates to 1977 and the Soviet era, and is used as a repair station and supply center for the Russian navy, its only base in the Mediterranean. [...] the upgraded base will have comprehensive defense systems and other capabilities lacking in the current supply post. An advanced anti-missile system already arrived at Tartus to protect the port and warships from airstrikes, Russia confirmed last week.

Russia: U.S. actions a threat to our national security - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Tensions continue to rise between the United States and Russia as the Russian foreign minister said Sunday recent actions and statements threaten his country's national security. [...] The relationship between leaders in Russia and the United States has gotten rockier in the last several weeks as the two countries have publicly disagreed over how to intervene in the civil war in Syria.

Comment: I remember a time when the idea that Russia was the "King of the North" and would have a strategic interest in the Middle East was mocked. Now, it seems like Russia's presence and power in the Middle East grows on a daily basis. It's extraordinary. Time to go back and read Ezekiel.

Away Message

I'll be off for a week or so as a storm rages. Looking forward to returning when the sea is calm. Mark 4: 35-41

War - Nations in Distress

Three bombings in Baghdad kill eight people - UPI.com
UPI reports: "At least eight people died and 25 were injured in Baghdad on Sunday after three bombing attacks, including one claimed by the Islamic State. The deadliest attack, in which six people died in western Baghdad's Iskan district when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt, was carried out by the Islamic State."

Islamic State feels the heat as showdown over Mosul nears - UPI.com
UPI reports: "As the showdown approaches with the Iraqi Army, backed by the Shia-dominated militias and Kurdish Peshmerga with aerial support by the U.S.-led coalition forces, Islamic State militants are preparing for a protracted war over Mosul. Residents said trenches were dug around the city and neighborhoods on the corners were cleared of residents. All areas on the city border were said to have been booby-trapped. "

Comment: The war against the Islamic State is moving along on multiple fronts, but the bloodiest battle is going to be the battle for Mosul.

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

Unrest in Kashmir after clashes between protesters and armed forces - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Indian armed forces and protesters continued to clash after soldiers shot and killed 19-year-old Waseem Ahmad on Friday amid unrest in Kashmir. Ahmad was shot by soldiers who were firing back against protesters who reportedly threw stones at an army convoy, police said. Witnesses to the incident disputed official's response saying Ahmad was not demonstrating when government forces opened fire. [...] Eighty-seven people have died in the region since the conflict began on July 9."

Pakistan military prepares for a possible Indian attack - The Washington Post:
The Washington Post reports: "Military officials are calling it a routine exercise, but the thunderous spectacle of Pakistani fighter jets touching down on a major highway Wednesday and Thursday, with commercial flights suspended and traffic blocked for hours, has fueled public speculation that something much more ominous is afoot. The display of military readiness, which included a late-night jet flyover Thursday above this capital city, has come amid an unusually tense showdown with India, Pakistan’s nuclear-armed rival, following a militant attack Sunday that killed 18 Indian soldiers in the disputed border region of Kashmir. [...] Indian officials have accused Pakistan of sending the armed attackers across the de facto border into the Indian portion of Kashmir."

Comment: One of the word's major-war tripwires is not settling down. 

Earthquakes

6.2-magnitude earthquake strikes 80 miles from Japan's east coast - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck about 80 miles off the east coast of Japan at a depth of about 6 miles on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The Japanese city nearest to the quake is Katsuura with a population of about 22,300. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami warning related to the earthquake."

Famine

AFP - Five million Somalis now going hungry
AFP reports: "Five million Somalis, or more than two out of five people in the country, do not have enough to eat, the United Nations said Tuesday, calling for extra funds for food aid. The latest figures represent an increase of 300,000 food insecure people since February, said the UN's humanitarian affairs office, OCHA. [...] Harvests have been hit this year by a severe drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon which occurs every five to seven years. Worst hit by hunger are the estimated 1.1 million people displaced from their homes by conflict, some of them forced to move several times during the past two decades."

Comment: People don't really talk much about famine anymore. That's doesn't mean it's not happening. 

Pestilence

More must be done to fight 'superbugs': U.S. gov't report - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" remain a major public health threat, and only a multipronged attack can address the problem, a new U.S. government report warns. [...] Scientists have long known that bacteria have ways of thwarting the drugs designed to kill them. But in recent decades, overuse and misuse of antibiotics have fueled a global spread of drug-resistant bugs, which include Clostridium difficile, or C-diff, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA."

Comment: It's pretty scary to think that our antibiotics might fail. I'm glad they are working on the problem.  Let's hope they have both the time and the funding they need.

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

India scrutinizes Pakistan after 18 soldiers killed in Kashmir - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Demands are growing in India for a response to Pakistan for the killing of 18 Indian soldiers in the disputed province of Kashmir. Initial reports said four gunmen believe to be members of Jaish-e-Muhammad, a Pakistan-based militant group, stormed an army base Sunday in Uri, near the Pakistan-India border in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 17 soldiers. An eighteenth died of his injuries after he was transferred to Delhi. Senior government leaders in New Delhi blame Pakistan's military for helping launch the attack, the BBC reported Monday, and are urging retaliation. A response will likely escalate tension between the countries."

Comment: Kashmir does not make the news as often as other tripwires like North Korea, the South China Sea, or the Persian Gulf, but it remains just as volatile. It's a place where a small spark could lead to war between the two nuclear powered neighbors and the results could be catastrophic.

War

Minnesota mall attacker identified as American born in Kenya - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The man who stabbed nine people at a Minnesota mall before being fatally shot has been identified as an American born in Kenya. CNN identified the suspect as Dahir A. Adan, 22, according to federal law enforcement sources and two Somali community leaders in contact with Adan's family. [...] The Amaq News Agency posted a statement online Sunday, saying, 'The executor of the stabbing attacks in Minnesota yesterday was a soldier of the Islamic State and carried out the operation in response to the citizens of countries belonging to the crusader coalition.'"

Suspect is shot and captured in New York-area bombings - AP
AP reports: "A New Jersey police officer responding to a call about a hoodied vagrant curled up asleep in a bar doorway roused him and quickly recognized the bearded face of perhaps the most wanted man in America. Ahmad Khan Rahami — identified in an FBI bulletin just hours earlier as a man wanted in the weekend bombings in New York City and New Jersey — pulled a gun, shot the officer and triggered a running gun battle in the street that ended with Rahami wounded and in custody Monday, authorities said. "

Comment: As difficult as it is to deal with lone wolf attacks, the authorities did an admirable job in apprehending the suspects with little loss of life.

Pestilence

Zika virus: Miami Beach transmission zone expands - CNN.com
CNN reports: "The Zika virus transmission zone in Miami Beach has tripled in size, Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday night. [...] The new zone was set after the Department of Health identified five people, two males and three females, in the area who all experienced Zika symptoms within one month of one another. The virus poses a particular threat to pregnant woman due to its link with neurological disorders in unborn children."

Comment: Did you notice how they release this information on a Friday night? It's picked up by news media and reported on Saturday but really, how many people are paying close attention on a busy almost-Fall weekend?  Announcing bad news on a Friday is a tried-and-true tactic recommended by PR people but you would think that news relating to public health and safety would be treated a bit better than your average scandal or damage-control spin.

War

U.S. forces face unexpected backlash from allied rebels - UPI.com
UPI reports: "American special operations troops have arrived in Syria to help Turkish forces fight the Islamic State, but it appears that some of the U.S.-backed rebel fighters there aren't too happy about that support. Several videos appeared on social media channels by Friday, showing allied members of the Free Syrian Army -- fighters the Pentagon has propped up with financing and logistical support -- expressing a multitude of contempt for American troops who came to help. American commandos, in fact, were reportedly forced to flee in some areas when they encountered severe abuse and insults from FSA members."

Comment: I know the "fog of war" can be bad, but how is it that the fog would stretch all the way to Washington and the decision-makers at the Pentagon who thought backing the FSA was a good idea to begin with? Right, that's not fog, it was the cool aid. Perhaps now the Pentagon will understand that giving such groups arms and financing didn't turn them into "moderate" jihadists.  I'm almost glad the American people are too busy to pay attention to this, it's a real mess.

Wickedness Increases

New Mexico mother sought out men to rape her daughter - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A New Mexico mother admitted she sought out men to rape her daughter in the weeks leading up to the girl's eventual killing, police said."

Comment: I think we sometimes get so desensitized by the media that "evil" as a concept no longer registers. The average person now personally witnesses more evil acts  than people ever did in past ages. Does it matter that the murder you witnessed tonight was on a police procedural on TV? You watched another human being getting killed. But, that's ok, it was fake, all in good fun. Fun? When did watching someone being killed get equated with fun? How is it that we can call that entertainment? But for all of that, true evil still exists and from time to time we hear of actions so evil they shock us despite our jaded sensibilities. The above news story is one such event. You'll note that I'm only quoting one sentence of the news report with this word of caution: it's really shocking. Read it if you dare but remember your mind will go there and you will be forced to think about what that mother did to her child.

Ten Kings - Final Kingdom

EU permanent military headquarters proposed by Jean-Claude Juncker - UPI.com
UPI reports: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker proposed on Wednesday the EU establish a military headquarters to build toward a permanent common defense force. Juncker made the comments in Strasbourg, France, during the annual state of the union address, which was partly devoted to the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the 'Brexit' vote. He said the U.K.'s departure should increase the necessity for greater European cooperation in defense."

Comment: We all know that NATO is the most successful military alliance in history. Why then does the EU leader think his organization needs a military wing? Wouldn't an EU military wing undermine the Western alliance by diverting funds away from NATO and dividing the loyalties of member countries? Who benefits from such an arrangement? More importantly, what does it mean for the grater Euro-Med region?

Global Government

U.S. tech firms urge Congress to allow internet domain changeover | Reuters:
Reuters reports: "Major technology companies including Facebook, Google and Twitter are urging Congress to support a plan for the U.S. government to cede control of the internet's technical management to the global community, they said in a joint letter dated on Tuesday. The U.S. Commerce Department has primary oversight of the internet's management, largely because it was invented in the United States. Some Republican lawmakers are trying to block the handover to global stakeholders, which include businesses, tech experts and public interest advocates, saying it could stifle online freedom by giving voting rights to authoritarian governments."

Comment: Letting the UN take over administrative control of the internet is a very bad idea. The U.S. hosts the admin side of internet governance and this has meant that techies run it. It's not political. If they turn it over to the UN it will become political and most likely a tool for repressive regimes to exert greater control over internet traffic. It will be a sad day for freedom and for the original promise of the internet if that happens. In my opinion this is all part of the anti-American, anti-Israel and anti-Western spirit at work in the world.