Sun's Output Increasing in Possible Trend Fueling Global Warming
In what could be the simplest explanation for one component of global warming, a new study shows the Sun's radiation has increased by .05 percent per decade since the late 1970s. :: This Space report is submitted for your signs in the sun (Luke 21:25) files.

IFC Special Edition: War in Iraq
The opening salvoes of war in Iraq have been fired. For months, Christians have discussed and debated the difficult questions of war, violence, and justice. Now the attention of the world is focused on the events unfolding in the Iraqi deserts and cities, and Christians and ministries around the world are responding. Gospelcom.net ministries have provided resources to help you find a Biblical perspective on this second Gulf War.

Iraqi Christians Face Unknowns of War
As a U.S.-led war to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein begins, Iraq’s small Christian minority fears more than American bombs. They expect to be targeted by a growing tide of Islamic militancy now being encouraged in the secularized Arab state. Numbering less than 400,000, Iraq’s Christian community has in recent months become the object of overt discrimination by Muslim elements. The attacks have ranged from verbal abuse and graffiti campaigns to stone-throwing and even brutal assassinations. Over the past few weeks, anti-Christian rhetoric has dominated Friday-prayer sermons in Baghdad’s mosques. :: This Religion Today report is submitted for your persecution (Matthew 24:8) files.

Bush Launches Military Strikes On Iraq
Taking the nation to war, President Bush said the conflict in Iraq may be long and difficult but the U.S. troops will succeed at their mission "to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger." :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

The Iraqi Threat For Israel
This IDF webpage contains a general overview of Iraq, its history, its involvement in the two Gulf Wars and their aftermath and the threat Iraq poses to Israel and other countries in the region; the Iraqi armed forces, the missiles and unconventional weapons at its disposal, as well as the Israeli response; and Iraq's blatant violations of human rights as presented by numerous human right's organizations and reports.

Muslim Mob Invades Christian Village in Western Nigeria
More than 100 persons died when a Muslim mob attacked a Christian community in western Nigeria’s Adamawa state apparently in retaliation for the deaths of 16 Muslims three months ago. :: This Religion Today report is submitted for your believers persecuted (Matthew 24:8) files.

Bush, Allies Set Monday Deadline on Iraq
On the brink of war, President Bush and summit partners from Britain and Spain gave the United Nations a Monday deadline to endorse the use of force to compel Iraq's immediate disarmament. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

Saddam Warns of World War if U.S. Attacks
Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein warned Sunday that if Iraq is attacked, it will take the war anywhere in the world "wherever there is sky, land or water." :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

Mystery Outbreak May Be New Strain of Flu
A deadly, mysterious respiratory illness spread largely among health care workers in Asia could be a new strain of flu or even an exotic virus passed from animals to people, a health official said Sunday. :: This AP report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

Palestinian Statehood Plan Said Positive
Palestinian legislators said Saturday the U.S. administration's promise to adhere to last year's "road map" for Palestinian statehood was a positive sign, signaling that President Bush would push for the plan's implementation without any changes. :: This AP report is submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) files.

WHO Sends Alert on Pneumonia-Like Illness
The World Health Organization warned Saturday that a highly contagious and deadly pneumonia-like illness of unknown cause is fast becoming a worldwide health threat. :: This AP report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

U.S. vows to keep pushing for Palestinian statehood by 2005
The United States vowed Monday to stick with its roadmap for a Palestinian state by 2005 even while war clouds gathered over Iraq. :: This Ha'Aretz & AP report is submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) files.

Saudis Won't Allow Churches on Its Land
Saudi Arabia, as the birthplace of Islam, will not allow churches to be built on its land, according to Defense Minister Prince Sultan...On Thursday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency, complained that a new State Department list of countries that severely limit religious freedom omits several that deserve censure, including U.S. ally Saudi Arabia. The commission's annual reports say that religious freedom "does not exist" in the Gulf Kingdom. :: This AP report is submitted for your persecution (Matthew 24:8) files.

Eritrea and Ethiopia Face Food and Funding Crisis
Food shortages in Eritrea have now become critical, and humanitarian efforts are facing a severe funding crisis, the United Nations has warned. :: This ENS report is submitted for your famine (Matthew 24:7) files

Ebola Virus Invades Congo, 81 Dead
Thousands of people have fled a town in the Republic of Congo from fear of contracting the Ebola virus, which has killed more than 80 people in the last two months. :: This Disaster Relief report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

Chaplains: Prelude to War Prompting Soldiers to Seek Christ
Chaplains in the Middle East are reporting a swell of spiritual interest among troops preparing for war -- including capacity crowds at chapel services and numerous professions of faith. "Now is a golden opportunity to reach soldiers for Christ. I am witnessing all the time and it is the soldiers who want to talk about God and their faith," said Maj. Keith Kilgore, a U.S. Army chaplain currently based in Kuwait. :: This Religion Today/Baptist Press report is submitted for your gospel preached to all (Matthew 24:14) files.

Newsweek: Bush Administration Most Resolutely Faith Based in Modern Times
According to a cover story profile in this week's "Newsweek," although President Bush's Christianity is well known, the anticipated conflict in Iraq has highlighted that the president and his administration are "the most resolutely 'faith-based' in modern times, an enterprise founded, supported and guided by trust in the temporal and spiritual power of God." The administration is "dedicated to the idea that there is an answer to societal problems here and to terrorism abroad: give everyone, everywhere, the freedom to find God, too." The report traces the president's "defining journey" of faith, beating a drinking problem after becoming a Christian through a small-group Bible study it describes as "a baby-boomerish mix of self-help, self-discipline, group therapy ... and worship." It tells how he "talks regularly to pastors, and loves to hear that people are praying for him." Insiders say that the atmosphere at the White House is "suffused with an aura of prayerfulness," it adds. According to "Newsweek," aides say that President Bush's "quiet but fervent faith gives him strength but does not dictate policy." He only appears to be "preacher in chief" because of "a confluence of events" -- the 9/11 attacks, the terror alerts and the Columbia shuttle loss -- they say. Meanwhile, the news weekly notes, President Bush has recently been finding comfort and strength in his daily, early morning devotions from Oswald Chambers' classic "My Utmost for His Highest." :: This Religion Today/Charisma News report is submitted for your gospel preached to all (Matthew 24:14) files.

Suicide Bomber Kills 15 in Haifa
A suicide bomber blew himself up aboard a crowded bus in the northern city of Haifa on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens in the first terrorist attack in two months, officials said. :: This Washington Post report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Ezekiel 38:8; Zechariah 12; Luke 21:20) files.

Nigerian Christians Arrested Following Riots
Seventeen Christians from various denominations in Aba, a city in the country's southern Abia state, were arrested last month over reprisal attacks on Muslims. According to Compass Direct, sources said the believers were reacting to "incessant" assaults on Christians in northern Nigeria by Muslim extremists. Religious clashes on Jan. 11 in Central Nigeria's Plateau state left one Christian dead. Joel Nimfa, a Christian leader in the Kanam community, was killed in his farmhouse when Muslim bandits attacked the farm and other Christian settlements. Christian leaders in the northern state of Kaduna filed a lawsuit last month against the Nigerian and the Kaduna state governments and the newspaper, "ThisDay," over last November's religious riots. An article in "ThisDay" has been blamed for the death of 1,000 people and the destruction of about 125 churches in the city of Kaduna, Compass reported. "We are also aware that no amount of wealth can pay for a single human life, and that is why we are demanding compensation for destroyed churches and not for lives," said Joseph Danlami Bagobiri, Catholic Bishop of the Kafanchan Diocese and the chairman of the Kaduna state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria. :: This Charisma News report is submitted for your believers persecuted (Matthew 24: 8) files.

Japan seeks smarter ideas for smart cards
Way too busy to waste any time, on-the-go commuters stream through Tokyo train stations, chatting on mobile phones, listening with disc-player earphones, and flicking "smart cards" instead of stopping to pull out tickets. Although the technology is generally a novelty elsewhere, gadget-loving Japanese commuters have embraced the cards -- plastic embedded with a tiny computer chip, permitting payments without the hassle of coins or making change. :: This CNN report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files on smart cards and mobile commerce.

Weapons That Disable Circuitry May Get First Use in Iraq
As the United States readies for a possible conflict in Iraq, many of the star weapons from the Persian Gulf war of 1991 are back and deadlier than ever. The smart bombs are smarter. The stealth planes are sneakier. Even the ground troops are better equipped than they were a dozen years ago. Yet according to military experts, the biggest technical revelation of another war in the region may not be improvements to old systems but rather a new category of firepower known as directed-energy weapons. :: This New York Times report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files. :: Good idea, let's blind them with science and hit them with technology.

North Korean Fighter Jet Crosses Border
A North Korean fighter jet briefly crossed the western sea border with South Korea on Thursday, and a South anti-aircraft missile unit went into battle position, a South Korean military official said. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Liberian Refugees Face Hunger Problem
Famished children show empty hands, old women stew forest leaves and a father frets over his newborn daughter and exhausted, breast-feeding wife. Food is scarce for thousands of Liberians sheltering here from new fighting in this war-riven West African nation. :: This AP report is submitted for your famine (Matthew 24:7) files.

Ebola Suspected in Republic of Congo
Citing a suspected Ebola outbreak, officials Thursday quarantined a central region of the Republic of Congo and appealed for international help. At least 50 people have died from hemorrhagic fever. :: This AP report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

N. Korea Threatens to Abandon Armistice
North Korea threatened on Tuesday to abandon the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War, accusing the United States of plotting a naval blockade as a prelude to an attack over the communist state's nuclear program. :: This AP report is submitted for your war/rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

U.S. Backs New System for Net, Phone Numbering
The U.S. government is supporting a move to a new standard designed to create a single point of contact for telephone and Internet communications. The new electronic numbering system, also known as ENUM, would give consumers a single number for all their telephone numbers, e-mail and instant messaging addresses, fax numbers and mobile phone numbers. :: This Internet News report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files.

Bin Laden Tape Urges Iraqi Suicide Bombs
An audio tape purported to carry the voice of Osama bin Laden called on Iraqis to carry out suicide attacks against Americans and defend themselves against a U.S. attack. :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Unidentified Illness Kills 5 in China
Anxious residents of southern China stocked up on medicine and wore surgical masks on the streets Tuesday after an unidentified illness killed at least five people, left hundreds hospitalized and sent health officials scrambling to find its source. :: This AP report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

Aircraft Bomb Afghan Rebel Positions
U.S. and coalition jets pounded rebel positions on a central Afghanistan mountainside with bombs and bullets after U.S. ground soldiers came under attack, a U.S. military spokesman said Tuesday. No U.S. injuries were reported. :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Progress Seen in Border Tests of ID System
Immigration officials say they are moving rapidly to meet a congressionally mandated deadline for a sophisticated new identification system to be in use at its 100 most porous entry points over the next year. The system will use ID cards encrypted with digital photos, signatures, biographical information and fingerprints that have been issued by the State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service by the millions over the last five years. :: This New York Times report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files on identification technology.

Plea For Help As Children Start To Die
Two thirds of the population of Eritrea are facing food shortages and 10,000 children are severely malnourished, the UN said on Friday. :: This IRIN report is submitted for your famine (Matthew 24:7) files.

Hamas Urges Muslims to Hit Back if U.S. Attacks Iraq
The founder of the militant Palestinian group Hamas urged Muslims on Friday to attack Western interests around the world if the United States launches a war on Iraq. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Promising New Comet Called NEAT Graces Evening Sky
During the next few weeks skywatchers can look for a recently discovered comet that may become plainly visible in the evening sky, and could possibly shine very brightly, just before a close encounter with the Sun. :: This Space report is submitted for your signs in the heavens and stars (Luke 21:25; Joel 2:30) files.

Cleric charged in case of Muslim soldier killing Christian colleague in Lebanon
A soldier who opened fire in a barracks last year, killing a colleague and wounding four others, was influenced by a Muslim cleric who told him that killing Christians was a Muslim's duty, judicial officials said Wednesday. :: This AP report is submitted for your persecution (Matthew 24:8) files.

Bush Tells Saddam 'The Game Is Over'
Edging closer to war, President Bush declared Thursday "the game is over" for Saddam Hussein and urged skeptical allies to join in disarming Iraq. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

N. Korea Warns U.S. on Pre-Emptive Moves
Pre-emptive attacks on North Korea's nuclear facilities would trigger a "total war," the communist state warned Thursday after Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld labeled the North's government a "terrorist regime." :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Hamas: Ready to Take Over for Arafat
Hamas is prepared to assume leadership of the Palestinian people, a senior Hamas official said Thursday in a rare expression of the goal of the violent Islamic movement. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Ezekiel 38:8; Zechariah 12; Luke 21:20) files.

Powell Presents Evidence Against Iraq
Secretary of State Colin Powell, relying on a stream of U.S. intelligence, urged the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to move against Saddam Hussein because Iraq has failed to disarm, harbors terrorists and hides behind a "web of lies." :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Shuttle Columbia Breaks Apart in Flames

Space shuttle Columbia broke apart in flames as it streaked over Texas toward its landing strip Saturday, killing all seven astronauts. "It's gone," said a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity. :: This AP report is submitted for your fearsome events (Luke 21:11) files.

Promising New Comet Called NEAT Graces Evening Sky
During the next few weeks skywatchers can look for a recently discovered comet that may become plainly visible in the evening sky, and could possibly shine very brightly, just before a close encounter with the Sun. :: This Space report is submitted for your signs in the stars (Luke 21:25) files.

Saddam May Be Creating War Buffer Zone
The sudden expulsion of families from a 20-mile border strip between the autonomous Kurdish north and the rest of Iraq has led to speculation that President Saddam Hussein is clearing a buffer zone to defend against a U.S. invasion from the north. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Is That Really You? Check My DNA
Retinal scans. Fingerprints. Face scans. In the post 9/11 world, these kinds of biometric measures are increasingly used in public places like government offices, airports and rental car kiosks. But one personal identifier may soon trump all others as a tool for security personnel: DNA. :: This Wired report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files.

U.S. Fails to Sway U.N. Council on Iraq
Key members of the U.N. Security Council said Wednesday that the United States has so far failed to convince them that time has run out for a peaceful resolution to the crisis with Iraq. :: This AP report is submitted for your ten kings (Rev 17:12-14) files and rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Bush's Plan for AIDS in Africa
Details on the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a $15 billion effort proposed by President Bush. :: This AP report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

Bush Outlines Case for War With Iraq
President Bush worked to tighten his case against the man he called "the dictator of Iraq" in his State of the Union address, hoping to dispel growing war skepticism among Americans and top allies. Yet even as Bush spoke, a new flare-up of fighting in Afghanistan served as a vivid reminder of troubles elsewhere. :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) files.

A Look at Security Council's Iraq Views
Here's a look at the different views held by the 15 Security Council members regarding potential military action in Iraq. :: This AP report is submitted for your ten kings (Rev 17:12-14) files.

Moscow, In Need of Christian Workers
For decades Moscow was the capital of communism, the heart of atheism. Public worship was prohibited. The proclamation of the gospel was forbidden. Christians surely gathered -- but only in private. The fall of the Soviet Union now has made communist Moscow a relic of the past. However, from an evangelical standpoint, it's hard to tell. Of the city's 12 million citizens, roughly 10,000 are Christian. Baptist missionary Troy Bush believes Muscovites are open to the gospel, and he senses a responsibility to spread Christ's message. :: This Religion Today report is submitted for your gospel preached to all (Matthew 24:14) files.

Jordan: Palestine Should Top U.S. Agenda
Millions of people in the Middle East believe the United States is indifferent to the region's fate, Jordan's King Abdullah said Sunday, urging Washington to commit itself anew to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. :: This AP report is submitted for your covenant with many (Daniel 9:27) and Jordan (Daniel 11:41) files.

Report: Turkey, U.S. Agree on Troops
Turkey's military will allow up to 20,000 U.S. troops to pass through the country into northern Iraq in the event of war, a newspaper report said Sunday. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Turkey (Ezekiel 38:6) files.

Attack Overwhelms Internet, Slows Traffic
A fast-spreading, virus-like infection dramatically slowed Internet traffic Saturday, overwhelming the world's digital pipelines and interfering with Web browsing and e-mail delivery. :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Palestinian Talks Continue 'Smoothly'
Talks were progressing "smoothly" among Palestinian militant leaders meeting for the second day Saturday in an effort to unify their stance on the uprising against Israel. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Ezekiel 38:8; Zechariah 12; Luke 21:20) files. :: How brazen, having a public summit to discuss how best to destroy Israel. Peace partners, indeed.

Allied Jets Hit Iraqi Anti-Aircraft Site
Allied jets attacked an Iraqi anti-aircraft site Saturday in the southern "no fly" zone in response to "hostile acts" by Iraqi air defenses, the U.S. military said. :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

Iraq Faces Massive U.S. Missile Barrage
They're calling it "A-Day," A as in airstrikes so devastating they would leave Saddam's soldiers unable or unwilling to fight. If the Pentagon sticks to its current war plan, one day in March the Air Force and Navy will launch between 300 and 400 cruise missiles at targets in Iraq...The battle plan is based on a concept developed at the National Defense University. It's called "Shock and Awe" and it focuses on the psychological destruction of the enemy's will to fight rather than the physical destruction of his military forces. :: This CBS report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

Chinese House Church Leader Sent to Labor Camp
A 47-year-old house church leader has been sent back to labor camp for 18 months, amid fears that he may not survive a further detention. :: This Religion Today report is submitted for your persecution (Matthew 24:8) files.

Danish Scout Camp Features Nazi Game
A Danish scout group acknowledged it "may have crossed the line" by organizing a game of tag in which adults pretending to be Nazis chased children dressed as Jews around a phony concentration camp. :: This AP report is submitted for your wickedness increases (Matthew 24:12) files.

Clonaid Claims 3rd Clone Is Born
Clonaid, the company that claims to have produced the first human clone, said Wednesday that a third cloned child had been born to a Japanese couple. :: This AP report is submitted for your false christs (Matthew 24:4) files.

Thousands Homeless After Mexico Quake
Ignoring police blockades, residents filtered into the ghostly center of this city Thursday to see what was left of their homes and businesses after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake devastated the area. The quake Tuesday killed 28 people, injured 300 and left 10,000 homeless. :: This AP report is submitted for your quake (Matthew 24:7) files.

3 Israelis Killed in West Bank Shooting
Palestinian gunmen opened fire Thursday on three Israelis walking near a settlement in the West Bank, killing all of them, witnesses and rescue officials said...The militant Islamic Hamas group took responsibility. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Ezekiel 38:8; Zechariah 12; Luke 21:20) files.

Space Shuttle Astronauts Videotape New Arc of Light
Astronauts videotaping thunderstorms from the space shuttle Columbia captured what scientists said on Thursday was a never-before-seen red glowing arc of light paralleling the curve of the Earth. "Two nights ago over Africa was an extraordinary image. We saw a huge horizontal line of air glow which has been brightened by lightning below it which extended to several hundred miles horizontally and we feel it may be something new," said Dr. Yoav Yair. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your signs in the heavens (Luke 21:11,25) files.

American Missionary Told to Leave India
An American missionary wounded in an attack by Hindu nationalists was ordered to leave India within a week for preaching illegally. :: This AP report is submitted for your persecution (Matthew 24:8) files.

Hezbollah Shells Israeli Positions
Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas shelled Israeli positions in a disputed border area Tuesday, the first such attack in months, provoking Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire that wounded two civilians, security officials said. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Ezekiel 38:8; Zechariah 12; Luke 21:20) files.

Strong Quake Shakes Mexico City
A powerful earthquake shook west-central Mexico late Tuesday, sending panicked residents spilling into the streets of major cities and knocking out power to many areas. :: This AP report is submitted for your quake (Matthew 24:7) files.

Inspectors Eye Mobile Iraq Laboratories
Top U.N. officials warned Iraq on Saturday that it is running out of time to cooperate and avoid war, and arms inspectors examined the type of mobile lab the United States says could be used to make biological weapons. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

Inventor's Kin Speaks to Space Station
A century after Guglielmo Marconi ushered in the era of wireless communications, his daughter marked the centennial Saturday by greeting astronauts from close to the same spot where her father sent a historic radio transmission across the Atlantic. :: This AP for your global village (Rev 11:9-10) files. :: Very cool.

The Inconstant Sun
If you thought the sun was an unwavering beacon, you're wrong. Its brightness varies--only by a small amount, but perhaps enough to influence Earth's climate. An experiment called SOLCON on board shuttle mission STS-107 is monitoring the sun's brightness high above Earth's cloudy atmosphere. Researchers say it's crucial data for studies of climate change. :: This NASA Science News report is submitted for your signs in the sun (Luke 21:25) files.

Sen. Feingold Introduces "Total Info" Moratorium Bill
Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) has introduced legislation to place a moratorium on the development of the controversial Total Information Awareness (TIA) project. TIA is a system being developed by Admiral John Poindexter of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that aims to sift though troves of personal information in order to detect potential terrorist activity. Feingold's legislation would stop development of this domestic surveillance system until Congress has had an opportunity to review its implications. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) has also introduced legislation to halt the TIA project. :: This EPIC report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files on our brave new surveillance society.

IBM's New PDA Provides a Measure of Security
An innovative PDA created by IBM and Consumer Direct Link (CDL) promises to reduce the risk of unauthorized entry into the offices, facilities, manufacturing sites or warehouses of businesses and government agencies. The Paron MPC converged device combines the functions of a Linux-based PDA and mobile phone, with the notable additions of a biometric fingerprint-recognition application and security-oriented hardware/software architecture, in addition to Bluetooth wireless capability. :: This News Factor report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files on biometrics and ID tech.

Scientists Develop Simple Test for Plague
Scientists have developed a simple and reliable test to rapidly diagnose plague, a sometimes deadly disease that authorities fear could be used in a bioterror attack. :: This AP report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

Chinese Internet Dissident Put on Trial
Human Rights in China reported Wednesday that police in Shanghai have sentenced the leader of an underground Christian church to 18 months in a labor camp. :: This AP report is submitted for your persecution (Matthew 24:8) files.

S. Asia Cold Weather Kills Nearly 1,000
As fierce winds swept in from the Himalayas, the death toll from a month-long cold spell rose to 986 people in northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh, officials said Monday. :: This AP report is submitted for your fearsome events (Luke 21:11) files.

U.S. Soldiers in Israel for Maneuvers
Hundreds of American soldiers have arrived in Israel for joint maneuvers with anti-missile defenses, aimed at protecting against any Iraqi strikes if the United States attacks Iraq, officials said Tuesday. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Ezekiel 38:8; Zechariah 12; Luke 21:20) and great eagle (Rev 12:14) files.

Israeli Experts Examine Ancient Tablet
Israeli geologists said Monday they have examined a stone tablet detailing repair plans for the Jewish Temple of King Solomon that, if authenticated, would be a rare piece of physical evidence confirming biblical narrative. :: This AP report is submitted for your Temple Mount (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15 & 2 Thessalonians 2:4) files.

Congolese Tell U.N. of Cannibalism, Rape
Villagers backed up reports of rape, looting and cannibalism in northeast Congo, the United Nations said Saturday after a weeklong investigation in the region. :: This AP report is submitted for your wickedness increases (Matthew 24:12) files.

Pakistan Christians Protest Arrest Delay
More than 100 Pakistani Christians rallied Saturday, calling on police to arrest the assailants who attacked a church on Christmas Day and killed three girls. :: This AP report is submitted for your believers persecuted (Matthew 24:8) files.

North Vietnamese Launch Offensive Against Christians
Police used noxious gas recently to break up a worship gathering attended by 40 Christians in the Dien Bien Dong district. :: This Charisma News/Religion Today report is submitted for your believers persecuted (Matthew 24:8) files.

Lawmaker Spreads Word on Ethiopia Famine
Rep. Frank Wolf never thought he'd see anything as bad as the starvation he saw in Ethiopia nearly 20 years ago. Last week he did — on a return visit to the African nation. :: This AP report is submitted for your famine (Matthew 24:7) files.

Imagis Technologies Provides Face Recognition Software to the City of Brentwood
Imagis Technologies Inc. , a leading developer of law enforcement software and biometric systems using advanced facial and image recognition technology, announced today that the City of Brentwood Police Department of Contra Costa County, CA has purchased Imagis' ID-2000 and CABS systems. :: This PR Newswire report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files.

Iraq: U.S. Wants to Subjugate Middle East
Coalition warplanes struck air defense targets in southern Iraq on Wednesday for the second time this week, and a key Iraqi official said the United States and Britain were bent on war with Baghdad to subjugate the Middle East. :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

Microsoft's Gates Touts Consumer Gadgets
Touting an array of "smart" watches and portable video players, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is offering further evidence that the world's largest software company sees slick consumer gadgets as computing's future. :: This AP report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files on pervasive computing.

Britain Orders Ships, Troops to Gulf
Britain ordered a task force of ships and 3,000 Royal Marines to head toward the Persian Gulf and mobilized 1,500 reserve soldiers Tuesday for possible war on Iraq, joining the United States in stepping up military pressure on Saddam Hussein. :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

Flu Surpasses AIDS As Killer in U.S.
Influenza has surpassed AIDS as a lethal killer and contributes to an average 36,000 annual U.S. deaths, largely because of a vulnerable aging population for whom the vaccine is often ineffective, government research shows. :: This AP report is submitted for your pestilence (Luke 21:11) files.

School to Use Eye Scanner for Lunch Fees
A new high school said Wednesday its students will be charged for their lunches with a retina scanning device to prevent poor children who eat for free from being ridiculed in the cafeteria. :: This AP report is submitted for your mark of the beast (Rev 13:16-18) files on ID tech and m-commerce.

Erratic Star That Erupted in 2000 Ready to Blow
An erratic monster star that lobbed 10,000 times the Earth's mass into space when it erupted two years ago is ready to blow again at any time, astronomers said on Tuesday. :: This Reuters report is submitted for your signs in the stars (Luke 21:25) files.

U.S. Planes Strike Southern Iraqi Radar
U.S. warplanes bombed two Iraqi anti-aircraft radars that threatened pilots patrolling the southern no-fly zone, the military said. The planes used precision-guided weapons to target the mobile radar equipment Monday near Al Amarah, about 165 miles southeast of Baghdad. :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

N. Korea Warns 'Sanctions Mean a War'
A defiant North Korea warned that sanctions against it would "mean a war," as thousands of people rallied Tuesday in the communist capital to support the country's military. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Two Suicide Bombers Kill 15 in Tel Aviv
Two suicide [homicide] bombers blew themselves up minutes apart Sunday in a central Tel Aviv area crowded with foreign workers, killing at least 15 bystanders and wounding 40 just three weeks before Israel's general election...There were reports of conflicting claims of responsibility for Sunday's blasts from the Islamic Jihad group and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, a militia linked to Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Ezekiel 38:8; Zechariah 12; Luke 21:20) files. :: I added homicide to the above AP text to note their error. When people kill themselves, it is properly called suicide. When people kill other people, it is called homicide. I wonder why the AP reporter or editor fail understand that distinction?

Reports: 56 Killed in Algerian Fighting
Islamic militants ambushed a military convoy in northeast Algeria and attacked families near the capital, in a bloody weekend of killings that claimed at least 56 lives, Algerian media reported Sunday. :: This AP report is submitted for your nations in distress (Luke 21:25) files. :: Islam, a religion of peace?

Clonaid Claims Second Cloned Human Born
Clonaid, the company that claims to have produced the first human clone, said Saturday a second cloned baby has been born to a Dutch lesbian couple. :: This AP report is submitted for your false prophets (Matthew 24:11) files. :: More information on the Raelians can be found here.

Reports: Britain to Order Troops to Gulf
Defense officials on Saturday refused to confirm newspaper reports that Britain soon will send thousands of troops to the Persian Gulf to increase the pressure on Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29,37) files.

Clash Injures Five Israelis, Palestinian
Israeli troops were fired upon while patrolling the West Bank town of Jenin early Saturday, and five soldiers and one Palestinian were wounded in the ensuing gunfight. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Ezekiel 38:8; Zechariah 12; Luke 21:20) files.

Mideast Leaders Urge U.S.-Iraq Peace
The Turkish and Syrian leaders Saturday urged a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi-U.S. standoff, as Ankara launched a diplomatic initiative to reinforce ties with the Arab world ahead of a possible war. Turkey is opposed to military action in Iraq. :: This AP report is submitted for your Turkey (Ezekiel 38:6) and Syria (Isaiah17:1) files.

Bush Says U.S. Ready for War if Needed
Fired-up soldiers cheered President Bush Friday as he told them they may be called into combat "to secure our country and to keep the peace." :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.

Iraq Preacher Prays for Victory Over U.S.
The preacher at Friday prayers told a story of how God led ancient Arab soldiers to victory over a stronger infidel army, but his message failed to hearten the faithful who fear war with a modern foe - America. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files. :: The mullah prayed that "God save the Iraqi people and give them victory over the Americans." I have news for him, God has rendered a judgment against the Babylonians for their mistreatment of the Jews, a judgment which calls for the total destruction of the geographic region of historical Babylonia now encompassed by modern day Iraq. God's judgment stands.

Clashes in Venezuela Leave Dozens Hurt
Troops fired rubber bullets and tear gas Friday to keep opponents and rock-throwing supporters of President Hugo Chavez from clashing outside the Venezuelan capital's military headquarters. Eighty people were hurt, including three who suffered gunshot wounds. :: This AP report is submitted for your nations in distress (Luke 21:25) files.

At Least 5 Die in Floods Around Europe
Rainstorms flooded towns from Portugal to Germany on Friday, severing power supplies and destroying roads. The storms across Europe have claimed at least five lives, and several people were missing. :: This AP report is submitted for your fearsome events (Luke 21:11) files.

S. Korea Rebuffs North in Nuclear Crisis
South Korea rejected a proposal from the communist North to work together against the United States and told Pyongyang on Thursday to stop saber-rattling. :: This AP report is submitted for your rumor of war (Matthew 24:6) files.

Israel to Launch Test of Arrow Missile
Israel will soon conduct new tests on its Arrow missile interceptor in the hope that it can be perfected for use before a possible attack by Iraq, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said in comments published Thursday. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Ezekiel 38:8; Zechariah 12; Luke 21:20) files.

Brazil's New Leader Pledges to End Hunger
Brazil's first elected leftist president took office Wednesday, pledging to ease the agony of countless impoverished and hungry Brazilians who inhabit South America's biggest country - a fertile land the size of the continental United States. :: This AP report is submitted for your famine (Matthew 24:7) files.

Palestinians Mark Founding of Fatah
Thousands of Palestinians, many carrying assault rifles and dummy rockets, marched in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Wednesday to mark the founding anniversary of Yasser Arafat's Fatah [Militia] movement. :: This AP report is submitted for your battle for Jerusalem (Ezekiel 38:8; Zechariah 12; Luke 21:20) files.

Allied Planes Strike Iraqi Radar System
U.S. and British warplanes attacked an Iraqi mobile radar system Wednesday after it entered the southern no-fly zone, the U.S. military said in a statement. :: This AP report is submitted for your war (Matthew 24:6) and Iraq destroyed (Jeremiah 51:29&37) files.