JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER.
1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)
DANIEL 7:23-25
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast (EU,REVIVED ROME) shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,(7TH WORLD EMPIRE) which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.(TRADING BLOCKS-10 WORLD REGIONS/TRADE BLOCS)
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings(10 NATIONS-10 WORLD DIVISION WORLD GOVERNMENT) that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.(THE EU (EUROPEAN UNION) TAKES OVER IRAQ WHICH HAS SPLIT INTO 3-SUNNI-KURD-SHIA PARTS-AND THE REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE IS BROUGHT BACK TOGETHER-THE TWO LEGS OF DANIEL WESTERN LEG AND THE ISLAMIC LEG COMBINED AS 1)
LUKE 2:1-3
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
Post-1989 European order challenged, says Germany-By EUOBSERVER-12. Mar, 09:05
"The post-1989 European order is openly being called into question," German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote in the New York Timess on the eve of a three-day visit to the US. Germany will seek to play an efficient role as Europe’s “chief facilitating officer", he added.
Sweden to spend more on military-By EUOBSERVER-Today, 09:25-MAR 13,15
Sweden's defence minister Peter Hultqvist said Thursday his government will increase military spending the coming five years by 6.2 billion kronor (around €678 million), amidst increasing tension between non-Nato-member Sweden and Russia. “This security situation has worsened and we must respond", the Wall Street Journal quoted Hultqvist as saying.
Draghi says QE already working-By EUOBSERVER-12. Mar, 09:06
"Developments are pointing in the right direction,” ECB president Mario Draghi said in Frankfurt Wednesday, referring to the just-launched QE programme. Interest rates have fallen “in spite of the renewed Greek crisis,” he said. “This suggests that the asset purchase programme may be shielding other euro-area countries from contagion.”
Germany rebuffs Greek demand for war reparations-By EUOBSERVER-12. Mar, 09:04
Germany on Wednesday dismissed Greek demands - made by Greek PM Alexis Tsipras the day before- for war reparations. "It is our firm belief that questions of reparations and compensation have been legally and politically resolved", said chancellor Merkel's spokesperson Steffen Seibert.
Euro 'at good par' with dollar, says French president-By EUOBSERVER-Today, 09:27-MAR 13,15
The euro would be "at good par" with the dollar, French president Francois Hollande said Thursday according to Le Figaro, adding that when the euro was introduced it was "almost" at par with the dollar. A euro was worth $1.0586 on Friday morning, with economists predicting parity within three months.
German finance minister can't rule out accidental Grexit-By EUOBSERVER-Today, 09:26-MAR 13,15
An accidental Greek exit from the eurozone can't be ruled out, German finance minister Schaeuble said Thursday. "As the responsibility, the possibility to decide what happens only lies with Greece, and because we don't exactly know what those in charge in Greece are doing, we can't rule it out".
Greece sends Germany diplomatic complaint By EUOBSERVER-Today, 09:43-MAR 13,15
Greece has complained to Germany over comments made Monday by finance minister Schaueble about his Greek colleague Varoufakis. "The reasons for the specific demarche’s being made to the government of a country that is a friend, partner and ally lie in the substance of what was said," said Athens.
Greece tries to save face in EU debt deal By Honor Mahony-MAR 13,15-EUOBSERVER
BRUSSELS, 13. Mar, 18:00-Greece is to set up its own taskforce to balance out the much-maligned team of EU experts monitoring the country's reform progress, as the delicate dance of words, language, and deeds continues between Athens and its creditors.The announcement followed a meeting between prime minister Alexis Tsipras and Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Friday (13 March).It also came after a week of high-octane rhetoric which saw Tsipras say Berlin had a moral duty to pay Greece WWII reparations and the German finance minister say Greece could accidently leave the eurozone.Juncker, a veteran of EU politics, warned Tsipras that the commission is “not a major player” in talks, but also said “this is not a time for division. This is the time for coming together”.Tsipras, for his part, said he is optimistic that a solution would be found. But he maintained his publicly tough line, adding "there is no Greece problem; there is a European problem”.The leftist politician has been trying to square the demands of his hardline backbenchers with the equally tough demands of his creditors since becoming PM in late January.After much back and forth, the government on 20 February agreed to extend a €240 billion bailout until June but it has been wrangling over what reforms it would have to carry out to get the next tranche of money.Technical talks only began on Wednesday this week in Brussels and Athens. And only after it became clear Greece would not get more money unless the situation on the ground was assessed by commission officials once more - despite these experts being singled out for criticism by Greek politicians.
But now Greece is to set up its own taskforce.
"The Greek government will also create a taskforce to work closely with the commission's taskforce," a commission spokesperson said after Friday's meeting. It would act as a "counterpart" to the commission team.He refused to comment on how much scope commission experts are being given to work, with the return of EU officials to Greece being one of the most public reminders of the concessions Tsipras has had to make since coming to power.In a bid to tone down the political tension of recent days, the spokesperson also refused to say if Juncker had brought up Tsipras' demands for WWII compensation from Germany."I think that we have to give some space and some time for the experts. This is their moment," he said.Juncker and Tsipras also spoke about how to boost growth and jobs in Greece. As a result of their meeting, euro commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis will head up efforts to "to help Greece make best use of EU funds" to achieve this.The commission now also speaks of a "humanitarian crisis" in Greece, using the same language as the Tsipras government. This follows linguistic changes such as now calling the lenders’ "troika" - hated in Greece - "the institutions".But other language is evolving too. German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble spoke for the first time of "Grexident" - Greece accidently leaving the euro - on Thursday, saying it can't be ruled out.Meanwhile, a ZDF poll in Germany showed that a majority of Germans (52%) believe Greece should leave the single currency. Two weeks ago, 41 percent felt this way.Recent media reports also indicated that chancellor Angela Merkel faced a much bigger rebellion by her CDU party over last month's vote in the Bundestag on extending Greece's bailout - something averted following a personal intervention by Schaeuble.
On falling out of the eurozone by accident By Honor Mahony-MAR 13,15-EUOBSERVER
BRUSSELS, Today, 10:12-If there’s one good thing to say about these insult-laden times, it’s that we're seeing the birth of a European public space.Sure, with all the high-blown rhetoric, jibes (intended or otherwise), bad jokes, or simply talking (where silence would have been better), you might wish otherwise. But the new debate is here to stay. At least so long as the eurozone’s architecture remains wobbly. So, for quite some time.It’s been developing in slow, awkward lurches.Like when people in other corners of the EU realised that Slovakia was actually a member state and that it didn’t want to contribute to the 2010 Greek bailout.Or that Finland had a party called the True Finns who weren’t (and still aren’t) keen on helping Greece either.The voices of politicians from these parties echoed across the euro-area.But chest-thumping statements aimed at home constituencies don’t always look so funny when splashed on the pages of newspapers in the rest of Europe.What we are seeing is both the limits and the elasticity of eurozone “solidarity”.Fast forward from 2010 to 2015: Our political space is seething.Greek politicians can no longer address their own people only, they are de-facto speaking to the whole of Europe and beyond.If only the thoroughly loquacious finance minister - Yanis Varoufakis - could see that one interview a week on Greece’s debt plight, not 10, is enough already.
The same applies to German politicians.
’He should read it’ Two events illustrate this nicely.On the eve of the Bundestag's vote on extending the existing Greek bailout by four months, Varoufakis gave a strong interview on Greek radio in which he said debt reduction isn’t off the table.As usual, his words reverberated around all of the EU.His German counterpart, Wolfgang Schaeuble - who personally intervened to ask centre-right MPs to vote in favour of the extension - said he was "stunned" by Varoufakis’ timing.But Schaeuble is equally naive in thinking his cozy chats with German press will stay by the fireside.Speaking after the last meeting of eurozone finance ministers, he allowed himself several jokes at Varoufakis' expense.Relating how the Greek minister had complained about how the media portrays him, Schaeuble said he’d told Varoufakis that he’d made a "stronger impression" on Berlin for the way he talks than on the "substance" of what he says.Schaueble also offered "if necessary" to send Varoufakis a copy of a 20 February declaration that the Greek man had signed. "He should read it”, Schaueble said.The throwaway statement came across as patronising.His words were translated into Greek and Athens has issued a formal complaint to Berlin.The European public space space is more or less here. But politicians are being careless with it.
’Grexident’
Take Monday's eurogroup. Ahead of the meeting, finance ministers lined up to say their bit on Greece. The cumulative effect was deafening. The impression was of all against one. It felt like the EU27 were dishing up moral lectures to Greek people.Or take semantics. Athens has won few real battles since the new government came to power. But it did succeed in getting “the troika” renamed to “the institutions” and now “the Brussels group”. It's small and arguably meaningless on substance.But were the others generous - giving Greece its little, badly needed victory? No. Not particularly.References to “the troika” continued for serveral weeks, often accompanied by smirks and snarky comments.Words matter. And these days they matter more than ever. Schaueble most recently coined the phrase “grexident” meaning that Greece might leave the eurozone by accident.Saying such things makes them more likely to happen.It’s surely a pity that our new European space could see either Greece or Germany insult or joke Greece out of the euro, with all the serious chaos it would bring.
EU explores new migration 'zone' in north Africa By Nikolaj Nielsen-MAR 13,15-EUOBSERVER
BRUSSELS, Today, 09:27-The EU’s migration commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, is to visit Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco amid an Italian-led plan to set up migrant reception centres.Speaking to reporters in Brussels on Thursday (12 March) after a meeting of the bloc’s 28 interior ministers, Avramopoulos said “I intend to visit Tunisia and Egypt, of course Morocco is included in my agenda, in order to create a zone in the area” to fight smuggling and irregular migration.His tour coincides with an Italian-led drive for the EU to create refugee reception centres in northern Africa and, possibly, in Sudan and Niger."It's about a humanitarian mission which would allow Europe to do screening and to dismantle a huge human trafficking market," said Italian interior minister Angelino Alfano.The AP news agency reportsthat interior ministers from France, Germany, and Austria are keen on the idea and that Avramopoulos will also visit Vienna to flesh out details.Italy is pressing the issue amid ever greater numbers of Mediterranean migrant crossings.Around 220,000 people attempted the dangerous route last year, with most setting sail from war-torn Libya. Avramopoulos earlier this month also proposed setting up special immigration attaches in EU delegations to handle asylum requests in the country of origin.But when asked to elaborate on Thursday, he described the idea as “a long term project” and said there is no decision yet.“It is something that we are working on right now, to see whether it is feasible and to see whether it is workable and whether it can prove itself efficient. Yes, the idea was launched, the decision was not made,” he said.Migratory pressure has also increased in the Western Balkans, with calls for more resources to be given to the EU’s border agency Frontex.The six Western Balkan countries registered 108,583 asylum applications last year, representing a 45 percent increase compared to 2013.Latvia’s interior minister Rihards Kozlovskis, speaking on the behalf of the EU presidency, said the border agency needs more money and more staff.
Iraqi forces pause in battle to drive Islamic State from Tikrit-Reuters-By Saif Hameed-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Frustrated by guerrilla tactics from Islamic State militants, Iraqi forces paused for reinforcements on Friday in a major offensive to take back the city of Tikrit.The operation appeared to have stalled for the time being, two days after Iraqi security forces and their mainly Shi'ite militia allies pushed into Tikrit, the home city of executed ex-president Saddam Hussein.A source in the military command said Iraqi forces would not move forward until reinforcements reached Tikrit, of which Islamic State still holds around half. If government forces wrest full control, it will be the first time they have won back a city from Islamic State since it over-ran large areas of the country last year and declared an Islamic caliphate in territory it is holding in Iraq and Syria.From there it has spread fear across the region by beheading Arab and Western hostages and killing or kidnapping members of religious minorities like Yazidis and Christians.In Tikrit, the militants have deployed snipers and turned streets into a labyrinth of home-made bombs and booby-trapped buildings.Forces loyal to powerful Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and known as the 'Peace Brigades' appeared to be positioning themselves to join the government offensive. Up to 1,500 fighters had reached the sacred Shi'ite city of Samarra, south of Tikrit, a source in Sadr's provincial office told Reuters.The deployment came days after Sadr announced the "unfreezing" of his forces' participation in battles against the militants. He had suspended their actions after allegations of abuses committed by other Shi'ite militias during recent operations.One official said he was told that the Peace Brigade fighters intend to push north toward Tikrit on Saturday.Hadi al-Amiri, the head of the Shi'ite paramilitary Badr Organization and now one of the most powerful men in Iraq, said the outcome of the battle for Tikrit was in no doubt, but Iraqi forces needed time."We are not in a hurry, but we have a plan and we are following it," Amiri told state television from the frontline. "Even if the battle drags on for two, three or four days that is okay. We will celebrate the liberation of Tikrit from the enemy.”
IRANIAN ROLE
A victory in Tikrit would give Iraqi forces momentum for the next stage of the campaign to retake Mosul, the largest city under control of Islamic State.But the involvement of Iran, which backs some of the Shi'ite militia at the forefront of the campaign and is also playing a direct role, is a source of unease for some Sunnis in Iraq and across the wider region.Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander Qassem Soleimani has been spotted on the battlefield overseeing the Tikrit offensive. The foreign minister of Sunni Saudi Arabia, Saud al-Faisal, last week said the battle for Tikrit showed how Iran was "taking over" Iraq.Islamic State fighters overran the city last June during a lightning offensive that was halted just outside Baghdad. They have since used the complex of palaces built in Tikrit under the late Saddam as their headquarters.The insurgents were still in control of the presidential complex and at least three other districts in the center of Tikrit on Friday.Iraqi special forces attacked a medical college in southern Tikrit at dawn, but the militants managed to fend them off, killing three soldiers, according to the military command source. A further six people were killed when a Humvee vehicle packed with explosives rammed into an outpost of the Iraqi forces to the west of the city.More than 20,000 Iraqi troops and Shi'ite militias, supported by local Sunni tribes are taking part in the offensive, which began 11 days ago.
OFFENSIVE AROUND KIRKUK
Islamic State spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani said in an audio-recording published on Thursday that its fighters remained "steadfast" and were growing in strength, dismissing its enemies claims of gains in Tikrit as "fake".Adnani warned followers of the danger posed by Shi'ites, using a derogatory term to refer to them: "The rejectionists have entered a new phase in their war against the Sunni people: they have begun to think of taking and controlling the Sunni areas," he said. "They have come to take your homes and belongings, kill your men and rape and enslave your women."Even if the militants are routed from the city, they still hold a vast area straddling the Syrian border where they are likely to regroup, and Iraqi forces have previously struggled to hold ground they have retaken from the extremist group.Islamic State is on the back foot in the north, where Shi'ite militia and Kurdish forces known as peshmerga went on the offensive around the oil-rich city of Kirkuk on Friday.The peshmerga began attacking IS positions near Kirkuk on Monday and have retaken territory and a number of villages to the southwest. Kurdish commanders said they had faced relatively weak resistance, but were being held up by homemade bombs.(Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Egypt unveils plans for new administrative capital-AFP-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) (AFP) - Egypt plans to build a new administrative and business capital east of Cairo that will house five million people, a minister announced Friday at a global investor conference.
The proposed new city was presented to potential investors at the three-day conference, which began Friday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.Unveiling an initial plan in front of global leaders and diplomats attending the conference, Housing Minister Mustafa Kamel Madbuli said the new city will be built between Cairo and the canal city of Suez.He said the proposed 700 square kilometre (270 square mile) city will house up to five million people in 25 residential districts."The idea to build the new city originated from our awareness that Cairo's current population will double in the next 40 years," Madbuli said in a presentation showcasing the details.Cairo's population is expected to grow to 40 million by 2050 from the current 18 million, according to the website of the city.Parliament, presidential palaces, government ministries and foreign embassies would move to the new metropolis from out of Cairo, the minister said, adding these projects would be executed over the next five to seven years at a cost of $45 billion (42.9 billion euros).An overall cost for the new city was not revealed, nor were details on how it would all be funded.Madbuli said the new city will have large green spaces and provide a "better standing of living".It will also have "an international airport, a theme park four times bigger than Disneyland in California, 90 square kilometres of solar farms, and an electric train" to link the new city with Cairo, he added."The master plan is to create a global city with smart infrastructure for Egypt's future, which will provide a multitude of economic opportunities and offer a distinct quality of life," an online plan of the city said.President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hopes investors meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh will help kick-start Egypt's troubled economy.The conference aims to attract billions of dollars into Egypt's economy, and on Friday Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates pledged to offer $ 12 billion dollars (11.4 billion euros) as investment aid to the country.
Iraq militia leader hails Iran's 'unconditional' support-Associated Press-By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and SAMEER N. YACOUB-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) — The U.S. has failed to live up to its promises to help Iraq fight Islamic State extremists, unlike the "unconditional" assistance being given by Iran, the commander of Iraq's powerful Shiite militias alleged Friday.In a battlefield interview near Tikrit, where Iraqi forces are fighting to retake Saddam Hussein's hometown from the militants of the so-called Islamic State, commander Hadi al-Amiri criticized those who "kiss the hands of the Americans and get nothing in return."Iraqi forces entered Tikrit for the first time Wednesday from the north and south. On Friday, they waged fierce battles to secure the northern neighborhood of Qadisiyya and lobbed mortar shells and rockets into the city center, still in the hands of IS militants. Iraqi military officials have said they expect to reach central Tikrit in two to three days.The Iranian-backed Shiite militias have played a crucial role in regaining territory from the Sunni extremists of the Islamic State group, supporting Iraq's embattled military and police forces.An Iraqi government official told The Associated Press that Iran has sold Baghdad nearly $10 billion in arms and hardware, mostly weapons for urban warfare like assault rifles, heavy machine-guns and rocket launchers. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.In November, President Barack Obama authorized the deployment of up to 1,500 more U.S. troops to bolster Iraqi forces, which could more than double the total of American forces in Iraq to 3,100. The Pentagon has made a spending request to Congress of $1.6 billion, focusing on training and arming Kurdish and Iraqi forces. According to a Pentagon document prepared in November, the U.S. is looking to provide an estimated $89.3 million in weapons and equipment to each of the nine Iraqi brigades.The U.S.-led coalition of eight countries has launched more than 2,000 airstrikes in Iraq alone since August 2014, and the U.S. is also hitting the militant group from the air in Syria. Iraqi and U.S. officials have acknowledged the role airstrikes have played in rolling back the militants, saying the air campaign was an essential component in victories at the Mosul Dam, in Amirli, and more recently, in the crucial oil refining town of Beiji.But the U.S. is not taking part in the operation in Tikrit, with U.S. officials saying they were not asked by Iraq to participate.Al-Amiri, the Shiite militia commander who also is head of the Badr Organization political party, said that "help from Iran is unconditional."He warned that Iraq should not sacrifice its sovereignty for the sake of receiving weapons and assistance from the U.S., suggesting the Iraqi government is taking instructions from Washington."Our sovereignty is more important than U.S. weapons," he said. "We can bring weapons from any country in the world."Separately, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's top Shiite cleric, urged the government to step up its support for the Shiite militias and to take care of the families of militiamen killed in battle. His remarks were relayed by his spokesman Ahmed al-Safi in the Shiite holy city of Karbala.As many as 30,000 men are fighting the extremists in Tikrit — most of them volunteers with various Shiite militias, Iraqi officials say. U.S. Gen. Martin Dempsey said Wednesday that up to 20,000 militiamen may be involved.Karim al-Nouri, a spokesman for the Popular Mobilization Forces, the official name of the Shiite militias, said as many as 40 Iranian advisers are also taking part.In its march across Syria and northern and western Iraq, the Islamic State group — also known as ISIS or ISIL — has seized cities, towns and vast tracts of land. Its predominantly Sunni fighters view Shiites as apostates and have carried out a number of massacres.On Friday, a prominent Iraqi Sunni preacher urged authorities to prevent Shiite militias from carrying out revenge attacks on Sunnis in Tikrit. In his appeal, Sheik Abdel Sattar Abdul Jabbar cited reports of Shiite militiamen burning Sunni homes in the battle."We ask that actions follow words to punish those who are attacking houses in Tikrit," Abdul Jabbar said during his Friday sermon in Baghdad. "We are sorry about those acting in revenge that might ignite tribal anger and add to our sectarian problems."Abdul Jabbar said that if the government failed to stop revenge attacks by Shiite militias, Iraq would face reignited sectarian tensions, similar to those it witnessed at the height of Iraq's sectarian wars in 2006 and 2007.Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi last week called on his forces to protect civilians and their property in recaptured areas, vowing zero tolerance for any violations. He also urged Sunnis who may have welcomed the initial onslaught or fought beside the militants to give up their support for IS."I call upon those who have been misled or committed a mistake to lay down arms and join their people and security forces in order to liberate their cities," al-Abadi said.Human Rights Watch said Friday the Shiite militias have engaged in "deliberate destruction of civilian property" after security forces recaptured the town of Amirli and other areas where Sunni militants were driven out. In a report titled, "After Liberation Came Destruction: Iraqi Militias and the Aftermath of Amerli," the rights group cited evidence that militias looted the property of Sunni civilians who had fled fighting, burned their homes and businesses, and destroyed at least two villages."Iraq clearly faces serious threats in its conflict with ISIS, but the abuses committed by forces fighting ISIS are so rampant and egregious that they are threatening Iraq long-term," said Joe Stork, the deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Iraqis are caught between the horrors ISIS commits and abusive behavior by militias, and ordinary Iraqis are paying the price."___Yacoub reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writer Vivian Salama in Baghdad contributed to this report.
Syrian Kurds call for airstrikes on IS in northeast Syria-Associated Press-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
BEIRUT (AP) — A spokesman for Syria's main Kurdish force called on the U.S.-led coalition on Friday to attack Islamic State group positions in northeastern Syria where the jihadis are on the offensive.The call by Redor Khalil came as activists said dozens of Kurdish and IS fighters were killed this week in clashes near the Syrian village of Tal Tamr. IS fighters have also been attacking the predominantly Kurdish northern Syrian town of Ras al-Ayn on the border with Turkey.Khalil, a spokesman for the People's Protection Units, or YPG, also called in his statement for young men in the area to join the battle against IS, saying the jihadi group has brought in reinforcements from Syria and Iraq for the offensive in Tal Tamr and Ras al-Ayn." Everyone is urged to come and defend," Khalil said.Weeks of airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition recently helped tip the balance against IS fighters in their attack on the northern Syrian town of Kobani. Since then, YPG fighters have regained full control of Kobani as well as dozens of surrounding villages." Daesh was not able to achieve its goal in Kobani and it is now trying to achieve that" in Tal Tamr and Ras al-Ayn, Khalil said using an Arabic acronym to refer to the Islamic State group.
Canadian imams issue fatwa against Islamic State-AFP-March 11, 2015 5:32 PM
Ottawa (AFP) - A group of Canadian imams and religious scholars issued a religious edict against the Islamic State group Wednesday, denouncing its threats against and recruitment in Canada.In a fatwa posted online, also endorsed by a US imam from Texas, the 38 scholars argue that "any attack on Canada will be an attack on the freedom of Canadian Muslims."They also forbid Muslims from joining or encouraging others to join IS, saying anyone who helps Muslim youths in particular "to travel secretly or without the consent of parents to join IS... will face the wrath of Allah in this world and in the next world."The fatwa was penned by Imam Syed Soharwardy, head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada in Calgary, and signed by others from across Canada.In it, Soharwardy condemns Canadian, US and other Western nations' policies in the Middle East as "unjust" and "based upon Islamophobia, bias and intolerance towards Muslims."But he also urges young Muslims not to be taken in by the IS group, which he says has fostered anti-Western sentiments for its own gain, and has violated Islamic tenets "in the most horrific and inhumane way.""The behavior and the actions of ISIS/ISIL has consistently proven that they are NOT Muslims and they cannot be trusted by the Muslims," he said."Their struggle cannot be an Islamic struggle and their war cannot be called 'Jihad'. Rather, it is pure terrorism and HARAAM (forbidden)."
FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS
REVELATION 8:7
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
Thousands evacuated in Chile as fire threatens port city Valparaiso-Reuters-MAR 13,15-YAHOO NEWS
SANTIAGO (Reuters) - A forest fire was raging out of control on Friday evening, threatening the Chilean port city of Valparaiso, Chile's emergency service Onemi said.As a precaution, Onemi said 4,500 people were being evacuated from Valparaiso and neighboring Vina del Mar and a state of emergency had been declared.The fire was advancing rapidly, and the numbers being evacuated could shortly rise to 15,000, said Onemi.Forest fires are common in Chile around March time, and have been particularly savage this year after a hot, dry summer. In 2014, a fire in Valparaiso killed 13 people and consumed over 2,000 homes.(Reporting by Rosalba O'Brien, Anthony Esposito and Fabian Cambero; editing by Andrew Hay)
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)
THE FIRST JUDGEMENT OF THE EARTH STARTED WITH WATER-IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THE LAST GENERATION WILL BE HAVING FLOODING
GENESIS 7:6-12
6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
GOD PROMISED BY A RAINBOW-THE EARTH WOULD NEVER BE DESTROYED TOTALLY WITH A FLOOD AGAIN.BUT FLOODIING IS A SIGN OF JUDGEMENT.
U.N. fears 'the worst' after typhoon batters Vanuatu-Reuters-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Widespread casualties are feared after a powerful typhoon battered Vanuatu overnight, triggering flash floods and knocking out telephone lines in the isolated Pacific island nation, aid officials said on Saturday.At least one person has been confirmed dead in Papua New Guinea, one of several other Pacific island nations also affected by the Category 5 storm, named Pam. The United Nations was preparing to deploy emergency rapid response units to Vanuatu on Sunday.“We fear the worst,” Sune Gudnitz, the regional head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said, speaking from Fiji.Gudnitz said the storm's power was comparable to Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the Philippines in 2013. At present, he said, the only information available from Vanuatu has come from isolated reports on social media, describing a terrifying scene as Pam hit the capital, Port Vila, late on Friday. UNOCHA said there was an unconfirmed report that 44 people had died in Vanuatu's northeastern Penama province.“Vanuatu is a very vulnerable place because of its location in the middle of the ocean,” Gudnitz said. “It is possible that there will be a death toll that could be high. I can't give any numbers. I think it is a well-grounded fear.”The UN will attempt to deploy self-reliant rapid response units to Vanuatu on Sunday, but weather could yet prevent them from landing, he said. Vanuatu has a population of around 260,000 and infrastructure there is poor, especially in the outlying islands.“We know that traditionally in the Pacific people are not that keen on leaving for evacuation centers,” Gudnitz said.As the storm bore down on Vanuatu on Friday, aid officials warned that poor construction could put thousands at risk from flash floods and buildings collapsing.In addition to Papua New Guinea, the storm has affected the Solomon Islands.An official with the International Organisation for Migration said a team surveying damage in Papua New Guinea's offshore New Britain region said at least one person was known to have died there.“The floods have destroyed livelihoods and infrastructure. A lot of the damage to houses has come from fallen trees,” said George Gigauri, the IOM's head of mission in Papua New Guinea.(Reporting by Christopher McCall; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Cyclone Pam leaves trail of destruction in Pacific's Vanuatu-Associated Press-By NICK PERR-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
WELLNGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Winds from an extremely powerful cyclone that blew through the Pacific's Vanuatu archipelago were beginning to subside Saturday, revealing widespread destruction and unconfirmed reports of dozens of deaths.Communication systems in many of the hard-hit outer islands remained down, meaning it could take some time before the full extent of the damage caused by Cyclone Pam is known.Chloe Morrison, a World Vision emergency communications officer who is in Port Vila, said the capital's streets were littered with roofs blown from homes, uprooted trees and downed power lines. She said she's hearing reports of entire villages being destroyed in more remote areas.She said there is no power or running water in the capital and that communication remains unreliable."It's still really quite dangerous outside. Most people are still hunkering down," she said. "The damage is quite extensive in Port Vila but there are so many more vulnerable islands. I can't even imagine what it's like in those vulnerable communities."Morrison said the winds seemed to peak between midnight and 1 a.m. Saturday. She said she was in a fully boarded-up cyclone-proof house but still spent a frightening night as a tree and a tin roof from a nearby home hit her house.A westward change of course put populated areas directly in the path of Cyclone Pam's 270 kilometer (168 mile) -per-hour winds. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said there were unconfirmed reports of deaths in Vanuatu's northeastern islands after Cyclone Pam moved off its expected track.Located about a quarter of the way from Australia to Hawaii, Vanuatu has a population of 267,000 spread over 65 islands. About 47,000 people live in the capital.The tiny Pacific island nation has repeatedly warned it is already suffering devastating effects from climate change with the island's coastal areas being washed away, forcing resettlement to higher ground and smaller yields on traditional crops.The cyclone has already destroyed some homes and caused damage to other Pacific islands including Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.David Gibson, acting director of the Vanuatu meteorology and geo-hazards department, said the winds could cause severe damage to the nation's buildings.Alice Clements, a spokeswoman for relief agency UNICEF who is in Port Vila, said Friday the capital was like a ghost town as people took shelter. She said the pelting rain was blown horizontally by the wind.Authorities in New Zealand are preparing for the storm, which is forecast to pass north of the country on Sunday and Monday.
EARTHQUAKES
ISAIAH 42:15
15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
MATTHEW 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places,(DIFFERNT PLACES AT THE SAME TIME) and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
1 Day, Magnitude 2.5+ Worldwide
32 earthquakes - DownloadUpdated: 2015-03-13 21:12:43 UTC-04:00Showing event times using Local System Time (UTC-04:00)32 earthquakes in map area
4.7 Drake Passage 2015-03-13 20:18:44 UTC-04:00 10.0 km
2.6 39km N of San Juan, Puerto Rico 2015-03-13 18:56:40 UTC-04:00 43.0 km
2.8 19km N of Crescent, Oklahoma 2015-03-13 18:54:01 UTC-04:00 1.4 km
2.6 82km N of Tierras Nuevas Poniente, Puerto Rico 2015-03-13 18:11:48 UTC-04:00 24.0 km
4.9 34km ESE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea 2015-03-13 17:18:46 UTC-04:00 103.6 km
4.3 112km WSW of Larsen Bay, Alaska 2015-03-13 15:38:34 UTC-04:00 54.3 km
5.0 31km NNW of Puerto Cisnes, Chile 2015-03-13 15:16:07 UTC-04:00 12.6 km
4.7 79km WSW of Kota Ternate, Indonesia 2015-03-13 14:19:46 UTC-04:00 66.6 km
4.8 22km SE of Taquile, Peru 2015-03-13 13:35:12 UTC-04:00 229.5 km
2.8 7km NNW of Montpelier, Idaho 2015-03-13 13:14:23 UTC-04:00 -3.0 km
2.9 13km NNW of Montpelier, Idaho 2015-03-13 13:09:22 UTC-04:00 -3.4 km
2.9 12km NNW of Montpelier, Idaho 2015-03-13 13:04:13 UTC-04:00 0.1 km
2.9 13km NNW of Montpelier, Idaho 2015-03-13 13:01:35 UTC-04:00 3.0 km
3.4 11km NNW of Montpelier, Idaho 2015-03-13 12:55:27 UTC-04:00 -2.7 km
4.8 119km SW of Chichi-shima, Japan 2015-03-13 12:15:25 UTC-04:00 102.8 km
3.1 29km NNW of Road Town, British Virgin Islands 2015-03-13 12:05:10 UTC-04:00 24.0 km
4.4 17km ESE of Yaizu, Japan 2015-03-13 11:12:49 UTC-04:00 218.5 km
4.4 38km SSE of Gefyra, Greece 2015-03-13 09:33:09 UTC-04:00 32.6 km
2.9 23km NNW of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands 2015-03-13 08:40:06 UTC-04:00 96.0 km
3.2 12km S of Caldwell, Kansas 2015-03-13 06:04:27 UTC-04:00 5.0 km
4.6 249km WNW of Saumlaki, Indonesia 2015-03-13 05:21:52 UTC-04:00 149.6 km
2.7 70km ESE of Lakeview, Oregon 2015-03-13 04:00:45 UTC-04:00 7.3 km
3.2 13km SSE of Guthrie, Oklahoma 2015-03-13 03:38:54 UTC-04:00 5.0 km
3.2 62km ESE of Butte, Alaska 2015-03-13 03:18:12 UTC-04:00 21.2 km
2.8 12km SSE of Guthrie, Oklahoma 2015-03-13 03:14:52 UTC-04:00 5.0 km
2.9 2km SSW of Cushing, Oklahoma 2015-03-13 03:10:24 UTC-04:00 3.5 km
2.9 12km SSE of Guthrie, Oklahoma 2015-03-13 02:49:04 UTC-04:00 5.0 km
4.9 Pacific-Antarctic Ridge 2015-03-13 02:46:45 UTC-04:00 10.0 km
4.7 181km SE of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Russia 2015-03-13 02:46:17 UTC-04:00 33.8 km
3.4 17km NNE of Healy, Alaska 2015-03-13 01:29:09 UTC-04:00 115.5 km
2.8 44km ENE of Sterling, Alaska 2015-03-13 01:26:24 UTC-04:00 37.4 km
2.9 97km N of Suarez, Puerto Rico 2015-03-12 23:43:13 UTC-04:00 43.0 km
DANIEL 7:23-25
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast (EU,REVIVED ROME) shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,(7TH WORLD EMPIRE) which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.(TRADING BLOCKS-10 WORLD REGIONS/TRADE BLOCS)
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings(10 NATIONS-10 WORLD DIVISION WORLD GOVERNMENT) that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.(THE EU (EUROPEAN UNION) TAKES OVER IRAQ WHICH HAS SPLIT INTO 3-SUNNI-KURD-SHIA PARTS-AND THE REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE IS BROUGHT BACK TOGETHER-THE TWO LEGS OF DANIEL WESTERN LEG AND THE ISLAMIC LEG COMBINED AS 1)
LUKE 2:1-3
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
Post-1989 European order challenged, says Germany-By EUOBSERVER-12. Mar, 09:05
"The post-1989 European order is openly being called into question," German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote in the New York Timess on the eve of a three-day visit to the US. Germany will seek to play an efficient role as Europe’s “chief facilitating officer", he added.
Sweden to spend more on military-By EUOBSERVER-Today, 09:25-MAR 13,15
Sweden's defence minister Peter Hultqvist said Thursday his government will increase military spending the coming five years by 6.2 billion kronor (around €678 million), amidst increasing tension between non-Nato-member Sweden and Russia. “This security situation has worsened and we must respond", the Wall Street Journal quoted Hultqvist as saying.
Draghi says QE already working-By EUOBSERVER-12. Mar, 09:06
"Developments are pointing in the right direction,” ECB president Mario Draghi said in Frankfurt Wednesday, referring to the just-launched QE programme. Interest rates have fallen “in spite of the renewed Greek crisis,” he said. “This suggests that the asset purchase programme may be shielding other euro-area countries from contagion.”
Germany rebuffs Greek demand for war reparations-By EUOBSERVER-12. Mar, 09:04
Germany on Wednesday dismissed Greek demands - made by Greek PM Alexis Tsipras the day before- for war reparations. "It is our firm belief that questions of reparations and compensation have been legally and politically resolved", said chancellor Merkel's spokesperson Steffen Seibert.
Euro 'at good par' with dollar, says French president-By EUOBSERVER-Today, 09:27-MAR 13,15
The euro would be "at good par" with the dollar, French president Francois Hollande said Thursday according to Le Figaro, adding that when the euro was introduced it was "almost" at par with the dollar. A euro was worth $1.0586 on Friday morning, with economists predicting parity within three months.
German finance minister can't rule out accidental Grexit-By EUOBSERVER-Today, 09:26-MAR 13,15
An accidental Greek exit from the eurozone can't be ruled out, German finance minister Schaeuble said Thursday. "As the responsibility, the possibility to decide what happens only lies with Greece, and because we don't exactly know what those in charge in Greece are doing, we can't rule it out".
Greece sends Germany diplomatic complaint By EUOBSERVER-Today, 09:43-MAR 13,15
Greece has complained to Germany over comments made Monday by finance minister Schaueble about his Greek colleague Varoufakis. "The reasons for the specific demarche’s being made to the government of a country that is a friend, partner and ally lie in the substance of what was said," said Athens.
Greece tries to save face in EU debt deal By Honor Mahony-MAR 13,15-EUOBSERVER
BRUSSELS, 13. Mar, 18:00-Greece is to set up its own taskforce to balance out the much-maligned team of EU experts monitoring the country's reform progress, as the delicate dance of words, language, and deeds continues between Athens and its creditors.The announcement followed a meeting between prime minister Alexis Tsipras and Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Friday (13 March).It also came after a week of high-octane rhetoric which saw Tsipras say Berlin had a moral duty to pay Greece WWII reparations and the German finance minister say Greece could accidently leave the eurozone.Juncker, a veteran of EU politics, warned Tsipras that the commission is “not a major player” in talks, but also said “this is not a time for division. This is the time for coming together”.Tsipras, for his part, said he is optimistic that a solution would be found. But he maintained his publicly tough line, adding "there is no Greece problem; there is a European problem”.The leftist politician has been trying to square the demands of his hardline backbenchers with the equally tough demands of his creditors since becoming PM in late January.After much back and forth, the government on 20 February agreed to extend a €240 billion bailout until June but it has been wrangling over what reforms it would have to carry out to get the next tranche of money.Technical talks only began on Wednesday this week in Brussels and Athens. And only after it became clear Greece would not get more money unless the situation on the ground was assessed by commission officials once more - despite these experts being singled out for criticism by Greek politicians.
But now Greece is to set up its own taskforce.
"The Greek government will also create a taskforce to work closely with the commission's taskforce," a commission spokesperson said after Friday's meeting. It would act as a "counterpart" to the commission team.He refused to comment on how much scope commission experts are being given to work, with the return of EU officials to Greece being one of the most public reminders of the concessions Tsipras has had to make since coming to power.In a bid to tone down the political tension of recent days, the spokesperson also refused to say if Juncker had brought up Tsipras' demands for WWII compensation from Germany."I think that we have to give some space and some time for the experts. This is their moment," he said.Juncker and Tsipras also spoke about how to boost growth and jobs in Greece. As a result of their meeting, euro commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis will head up efforts to "to help Greece make best use of EU funds" to achieve this.The commission now also speaks of a "humanitarian crisis" in Greece, using the same language as the Tsipras government. This follows linguistic changes such as now calling the lenders’ "troika" - hated in Greece - "the institutions".But other language is evolving too. German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble spoke for the first time of "Grexident" - Greece accidently leaving the euro - on Thursday, saying it can't be ruled out.Meanwhile, a ZDF poll in Germany showed that a majority of Germans (52%) believe Greece should leave the single currency. Two weeks ago, 41 percent felt this way.Recent media reports also indicated that chancellor Angela Merkel faced a much bigger rebellion by her CDU party over last month's vote in the Bundestag on extending Greece's bailout - something averted following a personal intervention by Schaeuble.
On falling out of the eurozone by accident By Honor Mahony-MAR 13,15-EUOBSERVER
BRUSSELS, Today, 10:12-If there’s one good thing to say about these insult-laden times, it’s that we're seeing the birth of a European public space.Sure, with all the high-blown rhetoric, jibes (intended or otherwise), bad jokes, or simply talking (where silence would have been better), you might wish otherwise. But the new debate is here to stay. At least so long as the eurozone’s architecture remains wobbly. So, for quite some time.It’s been developing in slow, awkward lurches.Like when people in other corners of the EU realised that Slovakia was actually a member state and that it didn’t want to contribute to the 2010 Greek bailout.Or that Finland had a party called the True Finns who weren’t (and still aren’t) keen on helping Greece either.The voices of politicians from these parties echoed across the euro-area.But chest-thumping statements aimed at home constituencies don’t always look so funny when splashed on the pages of newspapers in the rest of Europe.What we are seeing is both the limits and the elasticity of eurozone “solidarity”.Fast forward from 2010 to 2015: Our political space is seething.Greek politicians can no longer address their own people only, they are de-facto speaking to the whole of Europe and beyond.If only the thoroughly loquacious finance minister - Yanis Varoufakis - could see that one interview a week on Greece’s debt plight, not 10, is enough already.
The same applies to German politicians.
’He should read it’ Two events illustrate this nicely.On the eve of the Bundestag's vote on extending the existing Greek bailout by four months, Varoufakis gave a strong interview on Greek radio in which he said debt reduction isn’t off the table.As usual, his words reverberated around all of the EU.His German counterpart, Wolfgang Schaeuble - who personally intervened to ask centre-right MPs to vote in favour of the extension - said he was "stunned" by Varoufakis’ timing.But Schaeuble is equally naive in thinking his cozy chats with German press will stay by the fireside.Speaking after the last meeting of eurozone finance ministers, he allowed himself several jokes at Varoufakis' expense.Relating how the Greek minister had complained about how the media portrays him, Schaeuble said he’d told Varoufakis that he’d made a "stronger impression" on Berlin for the way he talks than on the "substance" of what he says.Schaueble also offered "if necessary" to send Varoufakis a copy of a 20 February declaration that the Greek man had signed. "He should read it”, Schaueble said.The throwaway statement came across as patronising.His words were translated into Greek and Athens has issued a formal complaint to Berlin.The European public space space is more or less here. But politicians are being careless with it.
’Grexident’
Take Monday's eurogroup. Ahead of the meeting, finance ministers lined up to say their bit on Greece. The cumulative effect was deafening. The impression was of all against one. It felt like the EU27 were dishing up moral lectures to Greek people.Or take semantics. Athens has won few real battles since the new government came to power. But it did succeed in getting “the troika” renamed to “the institutions” and now “the Brussels group”. It's small and arguably meaningless on substance.But were the others generous - giving Greece its little, badly needed victory? No. Not particularly.References to “the troika” continued for serveral weeks, often accompanied by smirks and snarky comments.Words matter. And these days they matter more than ever. Schaueble most recently coined the phrase “grexident” meaning that Greece might leave the eurozone by accident.Saying such things makes them more likely to happen.It’s surely a pity that our new European space could see either Greece or Germany insult or joke Greece out of the euro, with all the serious chaos it would bring.
EU explores new migration 'zone' in north Africa By Nikolaj Nielsen-MAR 13,15-EUOBSERVER
BRUSSELS, Today, 09:27-The EU’s migration commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, is to visit Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco amid an Italian-led plan to set up migrant reception centres.Speaking to reporters in Brussels on Thursday (12 March) after a meeting of the bloc’s 28 interior ministers, Avramopoulos said “I intend to visit Tunisia and Egypt, of course Morocco is included in my agenda, in order to create a zone in the area” to fight smuggling and irregular migration.His tour coincides with an Italian-led drive for the EU to create refugee reception centres in northern Africa and, possibly, in Sudan and Niger."It's about a humanitarian mission which would allow Europe to do screening and to dismantle a huge human trafficking market," said Italian interior minister Angelino Alfano.The AP news agency reportsthat interior ministers from France, Germany, and Austria are keen on the idea and that Avramopoulos will also visit Vienna to flesh out details.Italy is pressing the issue amid ever greater numbers of Mediterranean migrant crossings.Around 220,000 people attempted the dangerous route last year, with most setting sail from war-torn Libya. Avramopoulos earlier this month also proposed setting up special immigration attaches in EU delegations to handle asylum requests in the country of origin.But when asked to elaborate on Thursday, he described the idea as “a long term project” and said there is no decision yet.“It is something that we are working on right now, to see whether it is feasible and to see whether it is workable and whether it can prove itself efficient. Yes, the idea was launched, the decision was not made,” he said.Migratory pressure has also increased in the Western Balkans, with calls for more resources to be given to the EU’s border agency Frontex.The six Western Balkan countries registered 108,583 asylum applications last year, representing a 45 percent increase compared to 2013.Latvia’s interior minister Rihards Kozlovskis, speaking on the behalf of the EU presidency, said the border agency needs more money and more staff.
Iraqi forces pause in battle to drive Islamic State from Tikrit-Reuters-By Saif Hameed-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Frustrated by guerrilla tactics from Islamic State militants, Iraqi forces paused for reinforcements on Friday in a major offensive to take back the city of Tikrit.The operation appeared to have stalled for the time being, two days after Iraqi security forces and their mainly Shi'ite militia allies pushed into Tikrit, the home city of executed ex-president Saddam Hussein.A source in the military command said Iraqi forces would not move forward until reinforcements reached Tikrit, of which Islamic State still holds around half. If government forces wrest full control, it will be the first time they have won back a city from Islamic State since it over-ran large areas of the country last year and declared an Islamic caliphate in territory it is holding in Iraq and Syria.From there it has spread fear across the region by beheading Arab and Western hostages and killing or kidnapping members of religious minorities like Yazidis and Christians.In Tikrit, the militants have deployed snipers and turned streets into a labyrinth of home-made bombs and booby-trapped buildings.Forces loyal to powerful Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and known as the 'Peace Brigades' appeared to be positioning themselves to join the government offensive. Up to 1,500 fighters had reached the sacred Shi'ite city of Samarra, south of Tikrit, a source in Sadr's provincial office told Reuters.The deployment came days after Sadr announced the "unfreezing" of his forces' participation in battles against the militants. He had suspended their actions after allegations of abuses committed by other Shi'ite militias during recent operations.One official said he was told that the Peace Brigade fighters intend to push north toward Tikrit on Saturday.Hadi al-Amiri, the head of the Shi'ite paramilitary Badr Organization and now one of the most powerful men in Iraq, said the outcome of the battle for Tikrit was in no doubt, but Iraqi forces needed time."We are not in a hurry, but we have a plan and we are following it," Amiri told state television from the frontline. "Even if the battle drags on for two, three or four days that is okay. We will celebrate the liberation of Tikrit from the enemy.”
IRANIAN ROLE
A victory in Tikrit would give Iraqi forces momentum for the next stage of the campaign to retake Mosul, the largest city under control of Islamic State.But the involvement of Iran, which backs some of the Shi'ite militia at the forefront of the campaign and is also playing a direct role, is a source of unease for some Sunnis in Iraq and across the wider region.Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander Qassem Soleimani has been spotted on the battlefield overseeing the Tikrit offensive. The foreign minister of Sunni Saudi Arabia, Saud al-Faisal, last week said the battle for Tikrit showed how Iran was "taking over" Iraq.Islamic State fighters overran the city last June during a lightning offensive that was halted just outside Baghdad. They have since used the complex of palaces built in Tikrit under the late Saddam as their headquarters.The insurgents were still in control of the presidential complex and at least three other districts in the center of Tikrit on Friday.Iraqi special forces attacked a medical college in southern Tikrit at dawn, but the militants managed to fend them off, killing three soldiers, according to the military command source. A further six people were killed when a Humvee vehicle packed with explosives rammed into an outpost of the Iraqi forces to the west of the city.More than 20,000 Iraqi troops and Shi'ite militias, supported by local Sunni tribes are taking part in the offensive, which began 11 days ago.
OFFENSIVE AROUND KIRKUK
Islamic State spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani said in an audio-recording published on Thursday that its fighters remained "steadfast" and were growing in strength, dismissing its enemies claims of gains in Tikrit as "fake".Adnani warned followers of the danger posed by Shi'ites, using a derogatory term to refer to them: "The rejectionists have entered a new phase in their war against the Sunni people: they have begun to think of taking and controlling the Sunni areas," he said. "They have come to take your homes and belongings, kill your men and rape and enslave your women."Even if the militants are routed from the city, they still hold a vast area straddling the Syrian border where they are likely to regroup, and Iraqi forces have previously struggled to hold ground they have retaken from the extremist group.Islamic State is on the back foot in the north, where Shi'ite militia and Kurdish forces known as peshmerga went on the offensive around the oil-rich city of Kirkuk on Friday.The peshmerga began attacking IS positions near Kirkuk on Monday and have retaken territory and a number of villages to the southwest. Kurdish commanders said they had faced relatively weak resistance, but were being held up by homemade bombs.(Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Egypt unveils plans for new administrative capital-AFP-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) (AFP) - Egypt plans to build a new administrative and business capital east of Cairo that will house five million people, a minister announced Friday at a global investor conference.
The proposed new city was presented to potential investors at the three-day conference, which began Friday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.Unveiling an initial plan in front of global leaders and diplomats attending the conference, Housing Minister Mustafa Kamel Madbuli said the new city will be built between Cairo and the canal city of Suez.He said the proposed 700 square kilometre (270 square mile) city will house up to five million people in 25 residential districts."The idea to build the new city originated from our awareness that Cairo's current population will double in the next 40 years," Madbuli said in a presentation showcasing the details.Cairo's population is expected to grow to 40 million by 2050 from the current 18 million, according to the website of the city.Parliament, presidential palaces, government ministries and foreign embassies would move to the new metropolis from out of Cairo, the minister said, adding these projects would be executed over the next five to seven years at a cost of $45 billion (42.9 billion euros).An overall cost for the new city was not revealed, nor were details on how it would all be funded.Madbuli said the new city will have large green spaces and provide a "better standing of living".It will also have "an international airport, a theme park four times bigger than Disneyland in California, 90 square kilometres of solar farms, and an electric train" to link the new city with Cairo, he added."The master plan is to create a global city with smart infrastructure for Egypt's future, which will provide a multitude of economic opportunities and offer a distinct quality of life," an online plan of the city said.President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hopes investors meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh will help kick-start Egypt's troubled economy.The conference aims to attract billions of dollars into Egypt's economy, and on Friday Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates pledged to offer $ 12 billion dollars (11.4 billion euros) as investment aid to the country.
Iraq militia leader hails Iran's 'unconditional' support-Associated Press-By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and SAMEER N. YACOUB-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) — The U.S. has failed to live up to its promises to help Iraq fight Islamic State extremists, unlike the "unconditional" assistance being given by Iran, the commander of Iraq's powerful Shiite militias alleged Friday.In a battlefield interview near Tikrit, where Iraqi forces are fighting to retake Saddam Hussein's hometown from the militants of the so-called Islamic State, commander Hadi al-Amiri criticized those who "kiss the hands of the Americans and get nothing in return."Iraqi forces entered Tikrit for the first time Wednesday from the north and south. On Friday, they waged fierce battles to secure the northern neighborhood of Qadisiyya and lobbed mortar shells and rockets into the city center, still in the hands of IS militants. Iraqi military officials have said they expect to reach central Tikrit in two to three days.The Iranian-backed Shiite militias have played a crucial role in regaining territory from the Sunni extremists of the Islamic State group, supporting Iraq's embattled military and police forces.An Iraqi government official told The Associated Press that Iran has sold Baghdad nearly $10 billion in arms and hardware, mostly weapons for urban warfare like assault rifles, heavy machine-guns and rocket launchers. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.In November, President Barack Obama authorized the deployment of up to 1,500 more U.S. troops to bolster Iraqi forces, which could more than double the total of American forces in Iraq to 3,100. The Pentagon has made a spending request to Congress of $1.6 billion, focusing on training and arming Kurdish and Iraqi forces. According to a Pentagon document prepared in November, the U.S. is looking to provide an estimated $89.3 million in weapons and equipment to each of the nine Iraqi brigades.The U.S.-led coalition of eight countries has launched more than 2,000 airstrikes in Iraq alone since August 2014, and the U.S. is also hitting the militant group from the air in Syria. Iraqi and U.S. officials have acknowledged the role airstrikes have played in rolling back the militants, saying the air campaign was an essential component in victories at the Mosul Dam, in Amirli, and more recently, in the crucial oil refining town of Beiji.But the U.S. is not taking part in the operation in Tikrit, with U.S. officials saying they were not asked by Iraq to participate.Al-Amiri, the Shiite militia commander who also is head of the Badr Organization political party, said that "help from Iran is unconditional."He warned that Iraq should not sacrifice its sovereignty for the sake of receiving weapons and assistance from the U.S., suggesting the Iraqi government is taking instructions from Washington."Our sovereignty is more important than U.S. weapons," he said. "We can bring weapons from any country in the world."Separately, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's top Shiite cleric, urged the government to step up its support for the Shiite militias and to take care of the families of militiamen killed in battle. His remarks were relayed by his spokesman Ahmed al-Safi in the Shiite holy city of Karbala.As many as 30,000 men are fighting the extremists in Tikrit — most of them volunteers with various Shiite militias, Iraqi officials say. U.S. Gen. Martin Dempsey said Wednesday that up to 20,000 militiamen may be involved.Karim al-Nouri, a spokesman for the Popular Mobilization Forces, the official name of the Shiite militias, said as many as 40 Iranian advisers are also taking part.In its march across Syria and northern and western Iraq, the Islamic State group — also known as ISIS or ISIL — has seized cities, towns and vast tracts of land. Its predominantly Sunni fighters view Shiites as apostates and have carried out a number of massacres.On Friday, a prominent Iraqi Sunni preacher urged authorities to prevent Shiite militias from carrying out revenge attacks on Sunnis in Tikrit. In his appeal, Sheik Abdel Sattar Abdul Jabbar cited reports of Shiite militiamen burning Sunni homes in the battle."We ask that actions follow words to punish those who are attacking houses in Tikrit," Abdul Jabbar said during his Friday sermon in Baghdad. "We are sorry about those acting in revenge that might ignite tribal anger and add to our sectarian problems."Abdul Jabbar said that if the government failed to stop revenge attacks by Shiite militias, Iraq would face reignited sectarian tensions, similar to those it witnessed at the height of Iraq's sectarian wars in 2006 and 2007.Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi last week called on his forces to protect civilians and their property in recaptured areas, vowing zero tolerance for any violations. He also urged Sunnis who may have welcomed the initial onslaught or fought beside the militants to give up their support for IS."I call upon those who have been misled or committed a mistake to lay down arms and join their people and security forces in order to liberate their cities," al-Abadi said.Human Rights Watch said Friday the Shiite militias have engaged in "deliberate destruction of civilian property" after security forces recaptured the town of Amirli and other areas where Sunni militants were driven out. In a report titled, "After Liberation Came Destruction: Iraqi Militias and the Aftermath of Amerli," the rights group cited evidence that militias looted the property of Sunni civilians who had fled fighting, burned their homes and businesses, and destroyed at least two villages."Iraq clearly faces serious threats in its conflict with ISIS, but the abuses committed by forces fighting ISIS are so rampant and egregious that they are threatening Iraq long-term," said Joe Stork, the deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Iraqis are caught between the horrors ISIS commits and abusive behavior by militias, and ordinary Iraqis are paying the price."___Yacoub reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writer Vivian Salama in Baghdad contributed to this report.
Syrian Kurds call for airstrikes on IS in northeast Syria-Associated Press-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
BEIRUT (AP) — A spokesman for Syria's main Kurdish force called on the U.S.-led coalition on Friday to attack Islamic State group positions in northeastern Syria where the jihadis are on the offensive.The call by Redor Khalil came as activists said dozens of Kurdish and IS fighters were killed this week in clashes near the Syrian village of Tal Tamr. IS fighters have also been attacking the predominantly Kurdish northern Syrian town of Ras al-Ayn on the border with Turkey.Khalil, a spokesman for the People's Protection Units, or YPG, also called in his statement for young men in the area to join the battle against IS, saying the jihadi group has brought in reinforcements from Syria and Iraq for the offensive in Tal Tamr and Ras al-Ayn." Everyone is urged to come and defend," Khalil said.Weeks of airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition recently helped tip the balance against IS fighters in their attack on the northern Syrian town of Kobani. Since then, YPG fighters have regained full control of Kobani as well as dozens of surrounding villages." Daesh was not able to achieve its goal in Kobani and it is now trying to achieve that" in Tal Tamr and Ras al-Ayn, Khalil said using an Arabic acronym to refer to the Islamic State group.
Canadian imams issue fatwa against Islamic State-AFP-March 11, 2015 5:32 PM
Ottawa (AFP) - A group of Canadian imams and religious scholars issued a religious edict against the Islamic State group Wednesday, denouncing its threats against and recruitment in Canada.In a fatwa posted online, also endorsed by a US imam from Texas, the 38 scholars argue that "any attack on Canada will be an attack on the freedom of Canadian Muslims."They also forbid Muslims from joining or encouraging others to join IS, saying anyone who helps Muslim youths in particular "to travel secretly or without the consent of parents to join IS... will face the wrath of Allah in this world and in the next world."The fatwa was penned by Imam Syed Soharwardy, head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada in Calgary, and signed by others from across Canada.In it, Soharwardy condemns Canadian, US and other Western nations' policies in the Middle East as "unjust" and "based upon Islamophobia, bias and intolerance towards Muslims."But he also urges young Muslims not to be taken in by the IS group, which he says has fostered anti-Western sentiments for its own gain, and has violated Islamic tenets "in the most horrific and inhumane way.""The behavior and the actions of ISIS/ISIL has consistently proven that they are NOT Muslims and they cannot be trusted by the Muslims," he said."Their struggle cannot be an Islamic struggle and their war cannot be called 'Jihad'. Rather, it is pure terrorism and HARAAM (forbidden)."
FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS
REVELATION 8:7
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
Thousands evacuated in Chile as fire threatens port city Valparaiso-Reuters-MAR 13,15-YAHOO NEWS
SANTIAGO (Reuters) - A forest fire was raging out of control on Friday evening, threatening the Chilean port city of Valparaiso, Chile's emergency service Onemi said.As a precaution, Onemi said 4,500 people were being evacuated from Valparaiso and neighboring Vina del Mar and a state of emergency had been declared.The fire was advancing rapidly, and the numbers being evacuated could shortly rise to 15,000, said Onemi.Forest fires are common in Chile around March time, and have been particularly savage this year after a hot, dry summer. In 2014, a fire in Valparaiso killed 13 people and consumed over 2,000 homes.(Reporting by Rosalba O'Brien, Anthony Esposito and Fabian Cambero; editing by Andrew Hay)
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)
THE FIRST JUDGEMENT OF THE EARTH STARTED WITH WATER-IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THE LAST GENERATION WILL BE HAVING FLOODING
GENESIS 7:6-12
6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,
9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.
10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
GOD PROMISED BY A RAINBOW-THE EARTH WOULD NEVER BE DESTROYED TOTALLY WITH A FLOOD AGAIN.BUT FLOODIING IS A SIGN OF JUDGEMENT.
U.N. fears 'the worst' after typhoon batters Vanuatu-Reuters-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Widespread casualties are feared after a powerful typhoon battered Vanuatu overnight, triggering flash floods and knocking out telephone lines in the isolated Pacific island nation, aid officials said on Saturday.At least one person has been confirmed dead in Papua New Guinea, one of several other Pacific island nations also affected by the Category 5 storm, named Pam. The United Nations was preparing to deploy emergency rapid response units to Vanuatu on Sunday.“We fear the worst,” Sune Gudnitz, the regional head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said, speaking from Fiji.Gudnitz said the storm's power was comparable to Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the Philippines in 2013. At present, he said, the only information available from Vanuatu has come from isolated reports on social media, describing a terrifying scene as Pam hit the capital, Port Vila, late on Friday. UNOCHA said there was an unconfirmed report that 44 people had died in Vanuatu's northeastern Penama province.“Vanuatu is a very vulnerable place because of its location in the middle of the ocean,” Gudnitz said. “It is possible that there will be a death toll that could be high. I can't give any numbers. I think it is a well-grounded fear.”The UN will attempt to deploy self-reliant rapid response units to Vanuatu on Sunday, but weather could yet prevent them from landing, he said. Vanuatu has a population of around 260,000 and infrastructure there is poor, especially in the outlying islands.“We know that traditionally in the Pacific people are not that keen on leaving for evacuation centers,” Gudnitz said.As the storm bore down on Vanuatu on Friday, aid officials warned that poor construction could put thousands at risk from flash floods and buildings collapsing.In addition to Papua New Guinea, the storm has affected the Solomon Islands.An official with the International Organisation for Migration said a team surveying damage in Papua New Guinea's offshore New Britain region said at least one person was known to have died there.“The floods have destroyed livelihoods and infrastructure. A lot of the damage to houses has come from fallen trees,” said George Gigauri, the IOM's head of mission in Papua New Guinea.(Reporting by Christopher McCall; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Cyclone Pam leaves trail of destruction in Pacific's Vanuatu-Associated Press-By NICK PERR-MAR 13,15-YAHOONEWS
WELLNGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Winds from an extremely powerful cyclone that blew through the Pacific's Vanuatu archipelago were beginning to subside Saturday, revealing widespread destruction and unconfirmed reports of dozens of deaths.Communication systems in many of the hard-hit outer islands remained down, meaning it could take some time before the full extent of the damage caused by Cyclone Pam is known.Chloe Morrison, a World Vision emergency communications officer who is in Port Vila, said the capital's streets were littered with roofs blown from homes, uprooted trees and downed power lines. She said she's hearing reports of entire villages being destroyed in more remote areas.She said there is no power or running water in the capital and that communication remains unreliable."It's still really quite dangerous outside. Most people are still hunkering down," she said. "The damage is quite extensive in Port Vila but there are so many more vulnerable islands. I can't even imagine what it's like in those vulnerable communities."Morrison said the winds seemed to peak between midnight and 1 a.m. Saturday. She said she was in a fully boarded-up cyclone-proof house but still spent a frightening night as a tree and a tin roof from a nearby home hit her house.A westward change of course put populated areas directly in the path of Cyclone Pam's 270 kilometer (168 mile) -per-hour winds. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said there were unconfirmed reports of deaths in Vanuatu's northeastern islands after Cyclone Pam moved off its expected track.Located about a quarter of the way from Australia to Hawaii, Vanuatu has a population of 267,000 spread over 65 islands. About 47,000 people live in the capital.The tiny Pacific island nation has repeatedly warned it is already suffering devastating effects from climate change with the island's coastal areas being washed away, forcing resettlement to higher ground and smaller yields on traditional crops.The cyclone has already destroyed some homes and caused damage to other Pacific islands including Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.David Gibson, acting director of the Vanuatu meteorology and geo-hazards department, said the winds could cause severe damage to the nation's buildings.Alice Clements, a spokeswoman for relief agency UNICEF who is in Port Vila, said Friday the capital was like a ghost town as people took shelter. She said the pelting rain was blown horizontally by the wind.Authorities in New Zealand are preparing for the storm, which is forecast to pass north of the country on Sunday and Monday.
EARTHQUAKES
ISAIAH 42:15
15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.
MATTHEW 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places,(DIFFERNT PLACES AT THE SAME TIME) and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
1 Day, Magnitude 2.5+ Worldwide
32 earthquakes - DownloadUpdated: 2015-03-13 21:12:43 UTC-04:00Showing event times using Local System Time (UTC-04:00)32 earthquakes in map area
4.7 Drake Passage 2015-03-13 20:18:44 UTC-04:00 10.0 km
2.6 39km N of San Juan, Puerto Rico 2015-03-13 18:56:40 UTC-04:00 43.0 km
2.8 19km N of Crescent, Oklahoma 2015-03-13 18:54:01 UTC-04:00 1.4 km
2.6 82km N of Tierras Nuevas Poniente, Puerto Rico 2015-03-13 18:11:48 UTC-04:00 24.0 km
4.9 34km ESE of Kainantu, Papua New Guinea 2015-03-13 17:18:46 UTC-04:00 103.6 km
4.3 112km WSW of Larsen Bay, Alaska 2015-03-13 15:38:34 UTC-04:00 54.3 km
5.0 31km NNW of Puerto Cisnes, Chile 2015-03-13 15:16:07 UTC-04:00 12.6 km
4.7 79km WSW of Kota Ternate, Indonesia 2015-03-13 14:19:46 UTC-04:00 66.6 km
4.8 22km SE of Taquile, Peru 2015-03-13 13:35:12 UTC-04:00 229.5 km
2.8 7km NNW of Montpelier, Idaho 2015-03-13 13:14:23 UTC-04:00 -3.0 km
2.9 13km NNW of Montpelier, Idaho 2015-03-13 13:09:22 UTC-04:00 -3.4 km
2.9 12km NNW of Montpelier, Idaho 2015-03-13 13:04:13 UTC-04:00 0.1 km
2.9 13km NNW of Montpelier, Idaho 2015-03-13 13:01:35 UTC-04:00 3.0 km
3.4 11km NNW of Montpelier, Idaho 2015-03-13 12:55:27 UTC-04:00 -2.7 km
4.8 119km SW of Chichi-shima, Japan 2015-03-13 12:15:25 UTC-04:00 102.8 km
3.1 29km NNW of Road Town, British Virgin Islands 2015-03-13 12:05:10 UTC-04:00 24.0 km
4.4 17km ESE of Yaizu, Japan 2015-03-13 11:12:49 UTC-04:00 218.5 km
4.4 38km SSE of Gefyra, Greece 2015-03-13 09:33:09 UTC-04:00 32.6 km
2.9 23km NNW of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands 2015-03-13 08:40:06 UTC-04:00 96.0 km
3.2 12km S of Caldwell, Kansas 2015-03-13 06:04:27 UTC-04:00 5.0 km
4.6 249km WNW of Saumlaki, Indonesia 2015-03-13 05:21:52 UTC-04:00 149.6 km
2.7 70km ESE of Lakeview, Oregon 2015-03-13 04:00:45 UTC-04:00 7.3 km
3.2 13km SSE of Guthrie, Oklahoma 2015-03-13 03:38:54 UTC-04:00 5.0 km
3.2 62km ESE of Butte, Alaska 2015-03-13 03:18:12 UTC-04:00 21.2 km
2.8 12km SSE of Guthrie, Oklahoma 2015-03-13 03:14:52 UTC-04:00 5.0 km
2.9 2km SSW of Cushing, Oklahoma 2015-03-13 03:10:24 UTC-04:00 3.5 km
2.9 12km SSE of Guthrie, Oklahoma 2015-03-13 02:49:04 UTC-04:00 5.0 km
4.9 Pacific-Antarctic Ridge 2015-03-13 02:46:45 UTC-04:00 10.0 km
4.7 181km SE of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Russia 2015-03-13 02:46:17 UTC-04:00 33.8 km
3.4 17km NNE of Healy, Alaska 2015-03-13 01:29:09 UTC-04:00 115.5 km
2.8 44km ENE of Sterling, Alaska 2015-03-13 01:26:24 UTC-04:00 37.4 km
2.9 97km N of Suarez, Puerto Rico 2015-03-12 23:43:13 UTC-04:00 43.0 km
