My Way News - Egypt's coup puts fearful Christians in a corner
My Way News reports: "While Islamists are on the defensive in Cairo following the military
coup that ousted President Mohammed Morsi, in Assiut and elsewhere in
Egypt's deep south they are waging a stepped-up hate campaign, claiming
the country's Christian minority somehow engineered Morsi's downfall.
[...] The hostility led a coalition of 16 Egyptian rights groups to
warn on Wednesday of a wave of violence to come, and to demand that the
post-coup authorities protect the Christians who are 10 percent of the
population, and suffer chronic discrimination."
Comment: Please join me in praying for the church in Egypt, that they will persevere with grace and faith, reacting with love and not fear or a desire for revenge.
Thursday, August 08, 2013
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Nations in Distress
My Way News - Tunisia unease grows as thousands protest leaders
My Way News reports: "Tens of thousands of Tunisians filled the streets of their capital to protest the government, deepening the sense of unease in a country once seen as a regional beacon for the transition to democracy."
My Way News reports: "Tens of thousands of Tunisians filled the streets of their capital to protest the government, deepening the sense of unease in a country once seen as a regional beacon for the transition to democracy."
Pestilence
My Way News - Scientists plan controversial lab-made bird flu
My Way News reports: "Since it broke out in China in March, the H7N9 bird flu has infected more than 130 people and killed 43. Some of the world's leading flu researchers argue that genetically altering that virus in high-security labs is key to studying how it might mutate in the wild to become a bigger threat to people, maybe even the next pandemic."
My Way News - Evidence suggests new bird flu spread among people
My Way News reports: "Chinese scientists have found the strongest evidence yet that a new bird flu strain is sometimes able to spread from person to person, but they are emphasizing that the virus still does not transmit easily. The strain known as H7N9 was first reported by Chinese authorities in March. As of the end of May, there were 132 cases and 37 deaths in China and Taiwan linked to the virus."
My Way News reports: "Since it broke out in China in March, the H7N9 bird flu has infected more than 130 people and killed 43. Some of the world's leading flu researchers argue that genetically altering that virus in high-security labs is key to studying how it might mutate in the wild to become a bigger threat to people, maybe even the next pandemic."
My Way News - Evidence suggests new bird flu spread among people
My Way News reports: "Chinese scientists have found the strongest evidence yet that a new bird flu strain is sometimes able to spread from person to person, but they are emphasizing that the virus still does not transmit easily. The strain known as H7N9 was first reported by Chinese authorities in March. As of the end of May, there were 132 cases and 37 deaths in China and Taiwan linked to the virus."
Tuesday, August 06, 2013
Persecution
My Way News - Nigerian Islamist group accused of heinous crimes
My Way News reports: "The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court says that after a preliminary investigation she believes that acts attributed to the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram are likely crimes against humanity. [...] Nigeria declared a state of emergency on May 14 to fight an Islamic uprising by militants in the northeast who want to impose Islamic law across a country divided almost equally between the predominantly Muslim north and mainly Christian south."
My Way News reports: "The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court says that after a preliminary investigation she believes that acts attributed to the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram are likely crimes against humanity. [...] Nigeria declared a state of emergency on May 14 to fight an Islamic uprising by militants in the northeast who want to impose Islamic law across a country divided almost equally between the predominantly Muslim north and mainly Christian south."
Monday, August 05, 2013
Fearsome Events
My Way News - Deaths from heavy rains up to 53 in Pakistan
My Way News reports: "Heavy rains that caused flash floods and collapsed houses in different parts of Pakistan have killed 53 people over the past three days, a Pakistani official said Monday. Civil and military authorities have launched rescue and relief efforts to deal with the crisis, said Brig. Kamran Zia, a senior member of the National Disaster Management Authority. He said the deaths from the flooding span the entire country."
My Way News reports: "Heavy rains that caused flash floods and collapsed houses in different parts of Pakistan have killed 53 people over the past three days, a Pakistani official said Monday. Civil and military authorities have launched rescue and relief efforts to deal with the crisis, said Brig. Kamran Zia, a senior member of the National Disaster Management Authority. He said the deaths from the flooding span the entire country."
Friday, August 02, 2013
Persecution
My Way News - Nigeria: Death toll in blasts in Christian area 27
My Way News reports: "A Christian leader says he carried three bodies from this week's multiple blasts in the northern Nigerian city of Kano to a military hospital, raising the toll to at least 27 dead. Tobias Itika of the Christian group Ohaeneze said Friday the three were not counted in a toll from two other hospitals. He said other victims were treated at an orthopedic hospital but he did not have an exact figure. Two other hospitals reported treating 20 wounded."
My Way News reports: "A Christian leader says he carried three bodies from this week's multiple blasts in the northern Nigerian city of Kano to a military hospital, raising the toll to at least 27 dead. Tobias Itika of the Christian group Ohaeneze said Friday the three were not counted in a toll from two other hospitals. He said other victims were treated at an orthopedic hospital but he did not have an exact figure. Two other hospitals reported treating 20 wounded."
Rumors of War / Persia
My Way News - Iran: Proposed new US sanctions blow to nuke talks
My Way News reports: "Iran's foreign ministry says possible new U.S. sanctions will not change Tehran's nuclear policy, but could complicate talks with world powers. Thursday's state TV report follows U.S. House passage of calls to tighten sanctions on Iran's oil sector, which already is under major pressures from Western economic measures seeking to rein in Iran's nuclear program. The U.S. plan now moves to the Senate. [...] Iran and world powers seek to resume talks after Sunday's swearing-in of moderate President Hasan Rouhani, who has urged for more international outreach."
My Way News reports: "Iran's foreign ministry says possible new U.S. sanctions will not change Tehran's nuclear policy, but could complicate talks with world powers. Thursday's state TV report follows U.S. House passage of calls to tighten sanctions on Iran's oil sector, which already is under major pressures from Western economic measures seeking to rein in Iran's nuclear program. The U.S. plan now moves to the Senate. [...] Iran and world powers seek to resume talks after Sunday's swearing-in of moderate President Hasan Rouhani, who has urged for more international outreach."
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Fearsome Events
My Way News - Bacon fries on pavement as heat wave grips China
My Way News reports: "The heat wave - the worst in at least 140 years in some parts - has left dozens of people dead and pushed thermometers above 40 degrees C (104 F) in at least 40 cities and counties, mostly in the south and east. Authorities for the first time have declared the heat a "level 2" weather emergency- a label normally invoked for typhoons and flooding. [...] Climate scientists usually caution that they can't attribute a single weather event like the Chinese heat wave to man-made global warming. But 'human-caused warming sure ups the odds of heat waves like this one,' said Jonathan Overpeck of the University of Arizona. The Chinese heat wave 'gives a very real face to what global warming is all about,' he wrote in an email."
My Way News reports: "The heat wave - the worst in at least 140 years in some parts - has left dozens of people dead and pushed thermometers above 40 degrees C (104 F) in at least 40 cities and counties, mostly in the south and east. Authorities for the first time have declared the heat a "level 2" weather emergency- a label normally invoked for typhoons and flooding. [...] Climate scientists usually caution that they can't attribute a single weather event like the Chinese heat wave to man-made global warming. But 'human-caused warming sure ups the odds of heat waves like this one,' said Jonathan Overpeck of the University of Arizona. The Chinese heat wave 'gives a very real face to what global warming is all about,' he wrote in an email."
Doomed Damascus
My Way News - Massive weapons depot blast in Syria kills 40
My Way News reports: "Rebels sent a wave of rockets slamming into regime strongholds in the central city of Homs on Thursday, triggering a succession of massive explosions in a weapons depot that killed at least 40 people and wounded dozens, an opposition group and residents said."
My Way News reports: "Rebels sent a wave of rockets slamming into regime strongholds in the central city of Homs on Thursday, triggering a succession of massive explosions in a weapons depot that killed at least 40 people and wounded dozens, an opposition group and residents said."
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
War
My Way News - Pentagon: Afghan forces will need help beyond 2014
My Way News reports: "The Pentagon said Tuesday it is offering no 'zero option' for the number of troops that would remain in Afghanistan after the U.S. combat mission ends in December 2014. It said in a report to Congress that 'substantial' long-term military support will be needed to ensure that Afghans can hold off the Taliban insurgency."
My Way News reports: "The Pentagon said Tuesday it is offering no 'zero option' for the number of troops that would remain in Afghanistan after the U.S. combat mission ends in December 2014. It said in a report to Congress that 'substantial' long-term military support will be needed to ensure that Afghans can hold off the Taliban insurgency."
Monday, July 29, 2013
Covenant With Many
My Way News - Israel, Palestinians resuming talks after 5 years
My Way News reports: "Israeli and Palestinian teams flew to Washington on Monday to end five years of diplomatic stalemate and prepare for a new round of Mideast peace talks, though optimism was in short supply after two decades of failed attempts to reach a deal."
My Way News - Analysis: Mideast peace deal seems far off
My Way News reports: "The contours of Israeli-Palestinian peace are clear, experts say: If only the sides summon up the will, the inevitable outcome is two states roughly along the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as a shared capital and a finessing of the Palestinian refugee issue. The notion of a virtually preordained eventual result has been around for decades."
Comment: The press is both hyping the peace talks and also underscoring how unlikely a deal is. Still, the press has it's moments. For example, can you spot the factual error in this AP photo caption? Pretty glaring mistake, but it points to the problem of the depth of historical baggage that the peace talks have to deal with.
My Way News reports: "Israeli and Palestinian teams flew to Washington on Monday to end five years of diplomatic stalemate and prepare for a new round of Mideast peace talks, though optimism was in short supply after two decades of failed attempts to reach a deal."
My Way News - Analysis: Mideast peace deal seems far off
My Way News reports: "The contours of Israeli-Palestinian peace are clear, experts say: If only the sides summon up the will, the inevitable outcome is two states roughly along the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as a shared capital and a finessing of the Palestinian refugee issue. The notion of a virtually preordained eventual result has been around for decades."
Comment: The press is both hyping the peace talks and also underscoring how unlikely a deal is. Still, the press has it's moments. For example, can you spot the factual error in this AP photo caption? Pretty glaring mistake, but it points to the problem of the depth of historical baggage that the peace talks have to deal with.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Covenant With Many
My Way News - Israelis, Palestinians to US next week for talks
My Way News reports: "An Israeli and a Palestinian official say preliminary peace talks agreed to after a shuttle mission by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry are to begin in Washington on Tuesday. Israeli-Palestinian talks on the terms of a Palestinian state have been frozen for five years, and both sides have low expectations of the new U.S. peace push."
Comment: This seems to be a tactical move on the part of the Obama team to lower expectations while working forcefully behind the scenes to move the process along. Given the enormous concessions they expect from Israel and almost nothing at all asked of the Palestinians, this is not a welcome development.
My Way News reports: "An Israeli and a Palestinian official say preliminary peace talks agreed to after a shuttle mission by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry are to begin in Washington on Tuesday. Israeli-Palestinian talks on the terms of a Palestinian state have been frozen for five years, and both sides have low expectations of the new U.S. peace push."
Comment: This seems to be a tactical move on the part of the Obama team to lower expectations while working forcefully behind the scenes to move the process along. Given the enormous concessions they expect from Israel and almost nothing at all asked of the Palestinians, this is not a welcome development.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Nations in Distress
My Way News - Egypt braces for day of rival rallies
My Way News reports: "Political allies of Egypt's military lined up behind its call for huge rallies Friday to show support for the country's top general, pushing toward a collision with Islamist opponents demanding the return of the nation's ousted president. [...] Islamists also plan pro-Morsi rallies on Friday, raising the possibility of street clashes, as has happened repeatedly in recent weeks."
My Way News - Officials: Cafe bombings, attacks kill 42 in Iraq
My Way News reports: "Emboldened militants in Iraq set up their own checkpoint to kill drivers and bombed crowded cafes Thursday in the deadliest of a series of attacks that killed at least 42 people, authorities said. More than 550 people have been killed in violent attacks so far this month, according to an Associated Press count, as violence continues during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan."
My Way News - UN: More 100,000 now dead in Syria's civil war
My Way News reports: "The number of dead in Syria's civil war has passed 100,000, the U.N. chief said Thursday, calling for urgent talks on ending 2 1/2 years of violence even as President Bashar Assad's government blasted the United States as an unsuitable peace broker. In the latest example of the relentless carnage, a car bomb killed at least 10 people and wounded 66 in a pro-regime, residential area near the capital."
My Way News reports: "Political allies of Egypt's military lined up behind its call for huge rallies Friday to show support for the country's top general, pushing toward a collision with Islamist opponents demanding the return of the nation's ousted president. [...] Islamists also plan pro-Morsi rallies on Friday, raising the possibility of street clashes, as has happened repeatedly in recent weeks."
My Way News - Officials: Cafe bombings, attacks kill 42 in Iraq
My Way News reports: "Emboldened militants in Iraq set up their own checkpoint to kill drivers and bombed crowded cafes Thursday in the deadliest of a series of attacks that killed at least 42 people, authorities said. More than 550 people have been killed in violent attacks so far this month, according to an Associated Press count, as violence continues during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan."
My Way News - UN: More 100,000 now dead in Syria's civil war
My Way News reports: "The number of dead in Syria's civil war has passed 100,000, the U.N. chief said Thursday, calling for urgent talks on ending 2 1/2 years of violence even as President Bashar Assad's government blasted the United States as an unsuitable peace broker. In the latest example of the relentless carnage, a car bomb killed at least 10 people and wounded 66 in a pro-regime, residential area near the capital."
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Jerusalem Security
My Way News - Iran denounces EU Hezbollah blacklisting
My Way News reports: "Iran says the European Union's decision to blacklist the military wing of Lebanon's Hezbollah was 'strange' and 'uncalculated.' Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araghchi told a news conference in Tehran Tuesday that the decision by the EU to place the Shiite militant group on its terror list serves Israel's interests and will only complicate the situation in the Middle East."
Comment: I guess we knew that was coming. At least Iran knows that financial and military assistance to Hezbollah will be under much greater scrutiny.
My Way News reports: "Iran says the European Union's decision to blacklist the military wing of Lebanon's Hezbollah was 'strange' and 'uncalculated.' Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araghchi told a news conference in Tehran Tuesday that the decision by the EU to place the Shiite militant group on its terror list serves Israel's interests and will only complicate the situation in the Middle East."
Comment: I guess we knew that was coming. At least Iran knows that financial and military assistance to Hezbollah will be under much greater scrutiny.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Jerusalem Security
My Way News - EU declares Hezbollah's military wing terror group
My Way News reports: "The European Union placed the military wing of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group and political party, on its terror list Monday in a major policy change toward the Middle East. [...] The action came after prolonged diplomatic pressure from the United States, the Netherlands and Israel, which consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization. [...] Israel also welcomed the European decision. It fought a bitter monthlong war with Hezbollah in 2006, and has accused Hezbollah of carrying out attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets around the world."
Comment: Hezbollah is also a major Iranian proxy, it will be interesting to see how Tehran reacts.
My Way News reports: "The European Union placed the military wing of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group and political party, on its terror list Monday in a major policy change toward the Middle East. [...] The action came after prolonged diplomatic pressure from the United States, the Netherlands and Israel, which consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization. [...] Israel also welcomed the European decision. It fought a bitter monthlong war with Hezbollah in 2006, and has accused Hezbollah of carrying out attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets around the world."
Comment: Hezbollah is also a major Iranian proxy, it will be interesting to see how Tehran reacts.
Mark of the Beast
dvice.com - New payment system could let you buy groceries with your face
DVICE reports: "Uniqul, a company based out of Finland, is getting ready to release a new payment system that uses facial recognition. Instead of using a credit card to make purchases, this new facial recognition software, which is linked to a customer's bank account, will allow you to pay for your groceries by gazing into a camera. Not only will this speed up the often unbearably long lines at the supermarket, but it could also be more secure than any other payment system currently available."
DVICE reports: "Uniqul, a company based out of Finland, is getting ready to release a new payment system that uses facial recognition. Instead of using a credit card to make purchases, this new facial recognition software, which is linked to a customer's bank account, will allow you to pay for your groceries by gazing into a camera. Not only will this speed up the often unbearably long lines at the supermarket, but it could also be more secure than any other payment system currently available."
Monday, July 22, 2013
Covenant With Many
My Way News - Israel premier fast-tracking peace referendum bill
My Way News reports: "Israel's premier announced Monday he is fast-tracking legislation that would allow him to put any peace deal with the Palestinians to a national referendum - an apparent attempt to silence hard-liners in his party and coalition government. [...] Polls have suggested a majority of Israelis support the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, but many groups are vehemently opposed, including hard-liners among Israel's West Bank settlers. Some issues to be settled in a peace deal are particularly explosive, including a partition of Jerusalem, home to major religious shrines and claimed by both sides as a capital."
My Way News - Analysis: Resumption of Mideast talks not assured
My Way News reports: "Disagreements that blocked Israeli-Palestinian negotiations for the past five years have not been fully resolved, despite U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's recent announcement of progress, and there's no clear path to a resumption of talks."
My Way News reports: "Israel's premier announced Monday he is fast-tracking legislation that would allow him to put any peace deal with the Palestinians to a national referendum - an apparent attempt to silence hard-liners in his party and coalition government. [...] Polls have suggested a majority of Israelis support the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, but many groups are vehemently opposed, including hard-liners among Israel's West Bank settlers. Some issues to be settled in a peace deal are particularly explosive, including a partition of Jerusalem, home to major religious shrines and claimed by both sides as a capital."
My Way News - Analysis: Resumption of Mideast talks not assured
My Way News reports: "Disagreements that blocked Israeli-Palestinian negotiations for the past five years have not been fully resolved, despite U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's recent announcement of progress, and there's no clear path to a resumption of talks."
Friday, July 19, 2013
Covenant With Many
My Way News - Kerry wins step to resuming Mideast peace talks
My Way News reports: "After a rush of last-minute talks with Palestinian officials, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sealed a step toward relaunching the long-halted Mideast peace process, announcing Friday that Israel and the Palestinians had agreed on a basis for returning to negotiations."
My Way News reports: "After a rush of last-minute talks with Palestinian officials, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sealed a step toward relaunching the long-halted Mideast peace process, announcing Friday that Israel and the Palestinians had agreed on a basis for returning to negotiations."
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Mark Update
Jerusalem Post - Amidst controversy, biometric database is launched
The Jerusalem Post reports: "After years of debate and controversy, the Interior Ministry launched a pilot program of its biometric database, inviting residents to sign up for the new identification card at the ministry office in Rishon Lezion. [...] The biometric database program was first approved by the Knesset in 2009, and in June 2011 the Knesset Science and Technology Committee approved the ordinances needed to establish the database."
The Jerusalem Post reports: "After years of debate and controversy, the Interior Ministry launched a pilot program of its biometric database, inviting residents to sign up for the new identification card at the ministry office in Rishon Lezion. [...] The biometric database program was first approved by the Knesset in 2009, and in June 2011 the Knesset Science and Technology Committee approved the ordinances needed to establish the database."
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
King of the North
My Way News - Putin says war games show Russia's military power
My Way News reports: "President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia can be proud of its military, which has shown a 'high degree' of combat readiness during the nation's biggest war games in more than two decades. 'Today we can be proud of our army,' Putin said. The maneuvers, which began Friday and continue through this week, involve 160,000 troops and about 5,000 tanks and other armored vehicles across Siberia and the far eastern region in a massive show of the nation's resurgent military might. The exercise also involved 70 Pacific Fleet ships and 130 aircraft, including Tu-95 strategic bombers."
My Way News reports: "President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia can be proud of its military, which has shown a 'high degree' of combat readiness during the nation's biggest war games in more than two decades. 'Today we can be proud of our army,' Putin said. The maneuvers, which began Friday and continue through this week, involve 160,000 troops and about 5,000 tanks and other armored vehicles across Siberia and the far eastern region in a massive show of the nation's resurgent military might. The exercise also involved 70 Pacific Fleet ships and 130 aircraft, including Tu-95 strategic bombers."
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