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)
LUKE 21:28-29
28 And when these things begin to come to pass,(ALL THE PROPHECY SIGNS FROM THE BIBLE) then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption (RAPTURE) draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree,(ISRAEL) and all the trees;(ALL INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES)
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.(ISRAEL LITERALLY BECAME AND INDEPENDENT COUNTRY JUST BEFORE SUMMER IN MAY 14,1948.)
JOEL 2:3,30
3 A fire devoureth (ATOMIC BOMB) before them;(RUSSIAN-ARAB-MUSLIM ARMIES AGAINST ISRAEL) and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.(ATOMIC BOMB AFFECT)
ZECHARIAH 14:12-13
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB)(BECAUSE NUKES HAVE BEEN USED ON ISRAELS ENEMIES)(GOD PROTECTS ISRAEL AND ALWAYS WILL)
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.(1/2-3 BILLION DIE IN WW3)(THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB EFFECT)
EZEKIEL 20:47
47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
ZEPHANIAH 1:18
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
MALACHI 4:1
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;(FROM ATOMIC BOMBS) and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
And here are the bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either through war or peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and only Israels land. They will have every inch God promised them of this land in the future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the Western Half of Iraq west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11, Gen 15:18, Exe 23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL DEFINATELY OWN IN THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES INHERIT LAND IN THE FUTURE
Ex-mufti rails at plan for Trump train stop at Western Wall-Ikrema Sabri says adding US president's name does not give scheme legitimacy-By AP and TOI staff-DEC 27,17
Ikrema Sabri, a senior Muslim cleric in Jerusalem, on Wednesday denounced an Israeli government plan to dig a railway tunnel under Jerusalem’s Old City, passing near sites holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims — and ending at the Western Wall with a station named after US President Donald Trump.Palestinians will not accept “any change or act in the occupied territories,” said Sabri, a former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.He said that “giving the name of Trump to this project will not give it any legitimacy. It would be just another implementation of the unacceptable decision of President Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz’s plan, currently in the initial stages, involves constructing two underground stations and excavating over two miles (three kilometers) of tunnel beneath downtown Jerusalem and under the Old City. The project would extend Jerusalem’s soon-to-open high-speed rail line from Tel Aviv to the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray.The route will run close to — but not directly under — the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where tradition holds that Jesus was crucified and buried, and the Temple Mount compound. Previous excavations by Israel near the Temple Mount — the spiritual epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — have sparked violent Palestinian protests.Because of those sensitivities, the proposal was expected to meet with heavy resistance from the Palestinians, neighboring Arab countries and the international community.Transportation Ministry spokesman Avner Ovadia said Wednesday the project is estimated to cost more than $700 million and, if approved, would take four years to complete.Katz’s office said the minister advanced the plan in a recent meeting with Israel Railways executives, and has fast-tracked it in the planning committees.Katz said a high-speed rail station would allow visitors to reach “the beating heart of the Jewish people — the Western Wall and the Temple Mount.” He proposed naming the station after Trump “for his brave and historic decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital” earlier this month.Despite the likely opposition to the project, Ovadia said he expects the plans to be approved in the coming year, barring major complications. The Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high-speed line is expected to open next spring.“There’s no reason why this train won’t be built,” he said. “We already know how to deal with no less difficult opposition.”Katz has previously proposed other ambitious infrastructure projects, including an artificial island off the coast of the Gaza Strip that would serve as an air and seaport for the Palestinian territory, and a railway connecting Israel with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states.In an address earlier this month from the White House, Trump defied worldwide warnings and insisted that after repeated failures to achieve peace, a new approach was long overdue. He described his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the seat of Israel’s government as merely based on reality.The move was hailed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and by leaders across much of the Israeli political spectrum. Trump stressed that he was not specifying the boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in the city, and called for no change in the status quo at the city’s holy sites.In May, Trump became the first serving US president to visit the Western Wall.The Tel Aviv-Jerusalem rail project, which is already projected to cost an estimated NIS 7 billion ($1.8 billion) and has been in planning since 2001, is expected to cut travel time to 28 minutes, down from 78 minutes on the old line built during the days of the Ottoman Empire.
Erdogan on Trump’s ‘unacceptable’ recognition: Jerusalem is ‘our red line’-Turkish president also slams Syrian leader Assad as 'terrorist' who 'has killed close to a million of his citizens'-By Agencies and TOI staff-DEC 27,17
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said his country would not tolerate the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.“Jerusalem is our red line. Any steps against Jerusalem’s historic status and holiness are unacceptable,” Erdogan said, adding that his country will work toward international recognition of the Palestinian state and seek the support of the European Union.In a move that delighted much of Israel’s leadership but ignited protests across the Muslim world, US President Donald Trump announced on December 6 that the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and planned to move its embassy there from Tel Aviv.Trump stressed that he was not specifying the boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in the city, and called for no change in the status quo at the city’s holy sites.Erdogan spoke during a visit to Tunisia at the end of a four-day Africa trip focusing on economic issues.At a joint news conference with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, Erdogan called Assad a “terrorist who engaged in state terrorism” and should not be part of Syria’s post-conflict future.“How can we embrace a future with a Syrian leader who has killed close to a million of his citizens?” said the Turkish leader, whose country has seen a flood of refugees from neighboring Syria during the fighting.Turkey, Russia and Iran have taken the lead in Syria peace efforts over the past year. Those efforts remain at an impasse, however, with the opposition insisting that Assad have no role during a political transition and the government refusing to even consider such a demand.Turkey backs the opposition, while Russia and Iran are close allies of Assad and their support has tipped the nearly seven-year war in his favor.The Turkish leader said, “There is no calm in Syria, and with Assad there can never be peace there.”Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim was paying a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met Wednesday with King Salman.The two countries recently have been at odds over regional issues.Following his accession to power in 2015, King Salman sought to improve relations with Turkey to form a so-called Sunni axis against rival Shiite-led Iran. However, the kingdom’s move in June to lead a four-nation boycott of Qatar and cut off ties with the Gulf state led to new tensions with Turkey, which has sided with Qatar.The Turkish prime minister’s office said Yildirim and King Salman exchanged views on “regional challenges and problems.” They also emphasized the importance of Jerusalem’s status and the need for the Islamic world to act in unity to protect the rights of Palestinian “brothers.”Yildirim was also expected to meet Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey discuss Jerusalem, aiding Palestinian ‘brothers’-Saudi King Salman and Turkey's premier sit down for first high-level meeting since US recognized Israel's capital-By AFP and TOI staff-DEC 27,17
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi King Salman and Turkey’s premier on Wednesday discussed boosting ties and the status of Jerusalem, in a first high-level meeting since the US recognized the city as Israel’s capital.Firm US ally Riyadh and NATO member Ankara have both slammed US President Donald Trump’s December 6 decision to upend decades of careful policy by Washington.In a move that delighted much of Israel’s leadership but ignited protests across the Muslim world, Trump announced on December 6 that the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and planned to move its embassy there from Tel Aviv.Trump stressed that he was not specifying the boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in the city, and called for no change in the status quo at the city’s holy sites.But the Saudis only sent a low-level representative to a conference of Muslim nations on the issue hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, amid signs of strains in their relations.The Saudi SPA agency said King Salman received Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Riyadh and discussed “means of boosting bilateral ties and developments in the region,” without providing details.Yildirim’s office in Ankara said the status of Jerusalem and supporting the Palestinians were discussed at the meeting.“The importance of the status of Jerusalem was emphasized and that the whole Islamic world should act with unity to protect the rights of our Palestinian brothers,” the office said, citing Yildirim.He also said that they discussed bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia “one of the most important countries in the Gulf and the Middle East.”Ties between the sides soured following the 2013 ousting of the Muslim Brotherhood president Mohamed Morsi in Egypt, but warmed after King Salman’s accession to the throne 18 months later.However, analysts say there are signs ties are being tested again as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has shaken up the kingdom and amassed power.Turkish officials have avoided public criticism of Saudi Arabia but pro-government press have stepped up attacks on the kingdom, especially over its strong alliance with Trump.Erdogan last week also lashed out at the powerful foreign minister of Saudi’s chief regional ally the UAE after he retweeted a social media post critical of the early 20th century Ottoman governor of Medina.
Iran votes to declare Jerusalem ‘everlasting capital of Palestine’-Resolution passes unanimously in parliament, weeks after US president recognizes city as Israel's capital-By TOI staff-DEC 27,17
Iran’s parliament has voted to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, according to state-run media.The vote, which passed 207-0 in the 290-member Majlis, requires Tehran to recognize Jerusalem as “the everlasting capital of Palestine.”The vote “comes in response to the recent US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in hopes of dealing a blow to Muslims,” the Turkish Anadolu news agency quoted speaker Ali Larijani as saying.In a move that delighted much of Israel’s leadership but ignited protests across the Muslim world, US President Donald Trump announced on December 6 that the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and planned to move its embassy there from Tel Aviv. Trump stressed that he was not specifying the boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in the city, and called for no change in the status quo at the city’s holy sites.Trump’s declaration has been condemned by the Islamic Republic, which is committed to Israel’s destruction.Earlier this week, Hamas’s leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, said that a senior Iranian military commander pledged all of the Islamic Republic’s military resources to help the Gaza-based terror group fight Israel over Jerusalem.“All our of capabilities and potential are at your disposal in the battle for the defense of Jerusalem,” Sinwar said that Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ elite Quds Force, told him over the phone.The statements by Sinwar regarding Soleimani were broadcast Monday by the pro-Iranian Lebanese news outlet al-Mayadeen, and seemed to be from a speech he gave on Thursday in Gaza to young men and social media activists.According to Sinwar, Soleimani asserted that “Iran, the Revolutionary Guards and Quds Force stand with all they have with our people in order to defend Jerusalem so that Jerusalem will endure as the capital of the state of Palestine.”
Government grants settlements NIS 40 million for security, first-aid-PMO denies allocation had anything to do with Netanyahu's sit-down with national religious rabbis a day earlier in which he asked for support amid corruption allegations-By Jacob Magid-DEC 27,17-TOI
Government ministers approved a NIS 40 million ($11.5 million) grant for Israeli local and regional councils in the West Bank on Wednesday.The vast majority of the grant will go toward “special expenses related to the security situation” in the Israeli settlements, and NIS 5.5 million will be used to bolster medical emergency stations throughout the West Bank.The Yesha settlement umbrella council spokesman Yigal Dilmoni told The Times of Israel that the allocation is an annual grant that Israeli local and regional councils receive each year. He added that the amount is nearly identical to what they received in 2016.The grant was approved in a cabinet vote that took place over the telephone. It came just one day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with a group of prominent national religious rabbis — many of them settlers themselves — to request their support as he battles corruption allegations.The Prime Minister’s Office flatly denied any connection between the approved grant and Netanyahu’s meeting the day prior. “This is an annual proposal that passes towards the end of every budget year,” it said in a Wednesday statement.For his part, Dilmoni added that “the issue [of the grant] was never even raised in yesterday’s meeting,” Dilmoni added.During Tuesday’s meeting, Netanyahu took aim at the weekly anti-corruption protests in Tel Aviv calling for his resignation, saying they were part of a broader effort to topple him.The prime minister is currently being investigated in two criminal investigations involving suspicions he accepted gifts and favors from businessmen in exchange for advancing their interests. Police are expected to submit their recommendations in the cases in the coming weeks.While a number of rabbis voiced their support for Netanyahu and dismissed the corruption allegations, others criticized the prime minister for only reaching out when he is “in trouble” and ignoring them when the scenario is reversed.The rabbis raised a number of issues they want to see addressed, among them preventing the integration of women in military combat units and stepped-up construction in West Bank settlements, the Haaretz daily reported.The Peace Now settlement watchdog did not accept the denials by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Yesha Council. “Corruption has a price tag,” the left-wing NGO said in a statement. “Netanyahu is a weak prime minister and blackmailer who is willing to sell the future of Israel in order to survive.”
Stalled by Christmas: Israel’s withdrawal from UNESCO runs into holiday obstacle-Cultural agency's Paris headquarters closed until January 2, but Jerusalem's envoy vows to formally give notice in time 'even if I have to climb over the fence'-By Raphael Ahren-DEC 27,17
Israel’s planned withdrawal from UNESCO by the end of the year has hit a snag with diplomats unable to file the necessary papers on time because the cultural agency’s Paris offices are closed for the year-end holidays. But Israel’s envoy to the organization vowed to overcome these problems and to ensure that Israel will give up its membership.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday instructed Israel’s envoy to the UNESCO, Carmel Shama-Hacohen, to submit a formal letter announcing Israel’s intent to leave the organization, two months after the US formally announced its own withdrawal — partly due to UNESCO’s anti-Israel bias.In order to leave the organization at the same time as the US — at the end of 2018 — Israel would have to formally hand a letter of intent to its director-general, Audrey Azoulay at least one year ahead of time.According to article 2(6) of the UNESCO Constitution, a member state “may withdraw from the Organization by notice addressed to the Director-General. Such notice shall take effect on 31 December of the year following that during which the notice was given.”UNESCO’s headquarters are closed until January 2, which appears to prevent Shama-Hacohen from delivering the letter before the end of the year.But Shama-Hacohen vowed to find a solution to the problem.“Yes, the organization is closed until next year, but the letter will be transmitted in time,” he told The Times of Israel on Wednesday. “Even if I have to climb over the fence, I am still in the age and physical condition allowing me to do so.”Also, the notification is likely to be accepted as long as it is dated and sent before the end of the year, even if UNESCO only receives it after the holidays.Shama-Hacohen — a former lawmaker from Netanyahu’s Likud party — is very supportive of the prime minister’s decision to follow Washington’s lead in leaving the organization, which in recent years has made headlines for passing several resolutions ignoring Jewish ties to the holy sites in Jerusalem.“I think that this is appropriate, given this organization’s biased, one-sided and absurd attitude toward us, and against the background of the US’s strong stand at the UN, which we welcome,” Netanyahu said Sunday about his decision to withdraw.Shama-Hacohen said Friday that UNESCO “has broken records of hypocrisy, incitement and lies against Israel and the Jewish people, while polluting its noble core principles with politicization and diplomatic terrorism that sometimes bordered on anti-Semitism.”The envoy said Israel and the Jewish people “should have been the first to contribute to the organization and the last to leave it, but in the theater of the absurd of UNESCO, nations who have nothing to do with science, education and culture have bankrupted this important organization.”Professional diplomats, on the other hand, were less enthusiastic about leaving UNESCO, arguing that while the US could easily obtain observer status at the organization, Israel has no such prospects. In order to get observer status, a state needs the support of a majority of member states, something which is highly unlikely in Israel’s case due to the automatic Arab majority.Azoulay has acknowledged difficulties in the Paris-based organization, which has been rocked by US funding cuts since 2011 over the admission of Palestine as a member and a series of anti-Israel resolutions.But the 45-year-old former French culture minister, who has already urged the US and Israel not to withdraw from UNESCO, told The Associated Press in October that the Trump administration’s announced plan to pull out of the agency was not tenable in the long term.“I obviously regret their departure … but this ’empty chair politics’ is not sustainable because the United States is also affected by everything that UNESCO does,” she said, speaking at the agency’s Paris headquarters.UNESCO is best known for its World Heritage program to protect cultural sites and traditions, but it also works to fight violent extremism, improve education for girls, promote Holocaust understanding, defend media freedoms and encourage science on climate change.Israel has been infuriated by resolutions that ignore and diminish its historical connection to the Holy Land and have named ancient Jewish sites as Palestinian heritage sites.There have been hopes that Azoulay, the organization’s first Jewish chief who is also of Moroccan descent, would be able to quell the political tempest inside the organization that was created following World War II to promote peace.AP and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in the moon,(MAN ON MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the stars;(ASTEROIDS ETC) 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)
Power returns to Nova Scotia after windstorm left thousands in the dark-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-December 26, 2017
Tens of thousands of Nova Scotians are back on the electrical grid as crews worked Tuesday to repair power lines damaged by a major Christmas Day storm in Atlantic Canada.About 13,000 homes and businesses in Nova Scotia remained without electricity as of about 8 p.m. local time, the province's power utility said.Nova Scotia Power spokeswoman Tiffany Chase said about 139,000 affected customers had their power restored by late Tuesday afternoon.She said more than 700 personnel are working "around the clock" to get the rest of the province back on the grid, including contract crews from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.The utility estimated that 90 per cent of affected customers will see their power come back on by late Tuesday evening, Chase said, and the remaining isolated outages should be resolved by Wednesday afternoon."We know it is the holidays and many people have plans for things like turkey dinners," Chase said."We do appreciate their patience as our crews continue to safely work to restore power to customers as quickly as possible."In total, approximately 158,000 Nova Scotians have been affected by the outages, Chase said, amounting to nearly one-third of the utility's 507,000 customers throughout the province. The province's south shore, Dartmouth and Sydney were among the areas most affected, she said.Chase said as the wind died down, helicopters and vehicles were deployed to survey the damage throughout the province, which included downed trees, snapped power lines and damaged utility poles.The utility has set up four "comfort centres" in Shelburne, Chester, Kentville and Stellarton where Nova Scotians without power can warm up and charge their devices Tuesday and Wednesday.Chase encouraged homeowners to check their meter masts for damage, which they would be responsible for fixing, and must be repaired by an electrician before power can be restored.Paul Mason, executive director of the provincial government's Emergency Management Office, said aside from the power outages, he was not aware of any reports of major infrastructure damage.He warned residents who are using generators, barbecues and other gas-powered appliances to beware of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which killed two people and injured several others during a devastating ice storm in New Brunswick last January that caused widespread power outages for days.Staff Sgt. Robert Fox of Halifax Regional Police said the city's major arteries have been cleared after downed electrical lines, shattered glass and other debris that temporarily disrupted traffic.Fox said he had heard reports of trees crushing cars, a toppled port-a-potty and splintered trunks, but it appeared that property damage in the city has been relatively minor.Scott Ferro, an amateur woodcraftsman who lives near Peggy's Cove, said he and his wife have spent eight hours helping their neighbours move misplaced boulders, clear brush and chop up trees that were knocked over or partially uprooted by the forceful winds.Lawn ornaments, patio furniture and Christmas decorations were strewn across backyards, Ferro said, and some houses have lost shingles and some siding."It just looks more like chaos than any other real damage," he said. "I'm leaving (all the firewood) behind for someone else who needs it. I don't mind doing the hard part."Holly Slauenwhite in Blockhouse on Nova Scotia's south shore said she and her two-year-old son are staying with a friend after sleeping off a candlelit Christmas dinner on Monday under layers of blankets in a home without heat or running water."It doesn't feel like Christmas now, I can tell you that much, because you can't light your Christmas tree," Slauenwhite said. "It was kind of nice having a Christmas dinner without technology in the way, but I'm ready for power."A low-pressure system barrelled across the eastern seaboard and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence over Christmas and was hovering over Newfoundland on Tuesday, Environment Canada said.The weather agency recorded gusts in excess of 100 km/h throughout much of Nova Scotia, reaching hurricane-force speeds at their peak in some areas, preliminary reports indicate.Nova Scotia was also doused in a mix of snow, freezing rain and rain on Christmas Day, and Tuesday's forecast calls for a few centimetres of snow with winds gusting up to 50 km/h as the storm moves away.Environment Canada has issued warnings of severe winds, blowing snow and blizzard conditions in Newfoundland and Labrador, which the agency said could persist until Wednesday in some parts of the province.NL Hydro reported outages early Tuesday affecting Port Saunders, Eddies Cove and Port Au Choix, but said all power was restored by the mid-afternoon.Several flights have been delayed or cancelled in Halifax and St. John's, N.L., and Marine Atlantic has cancelled ferry crossings until Wednesday.Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press.
Toronto is going to be 'bone-chilling' cold into 2018-Sarah Rohoman-Yahoo Canada News-December 26, 2017
The polar vortex system that slammed Toronto with snow has one final parting gift for 2017: frigid temperatures that may break records, says Dan Kottlowski, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.The Toronto temperatures aren’t cold enough to deter Boxing Day shoppers, even though its currently warmer in Iqaluit, but the next few days may have people rethinking their plans.The polar vortex, which creates a pattern of “very, very cold air,” is leaving the Toronto area and heading into Newfoundland. Although it’s on its way to Eastern Canada, it’s leaving behind its “dirty work,” said Kottlowski.“The normal low for today should be around zero or just under and today’s low is much below that,” he said. “It’s like someone opened the freezer door and it’s stuck and won’t close until 2018.”Tomorrow’s forecast may break the 1960 low of -18 C with an expected temperature of -22 C in the evening.As for the rest of the week, Kottlowski expects it to be “bone-chilling cold,” with low temperatures expected to be in the negative teens and negative twenties range.In terms of temperature highs for the next few days, tomorrow is expected to be -12 C, Thursday will be -13 C, Friday -9C, Saturday also -9 C and Sunday will be -12.
Russia to supply Turkey with four S-400 missile batteries for $2.5 billion: Kommersant-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-December 27, 2017
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will supply Turkey with four batteries of S-400 surface-to-air missiles for $2.5 billion under a deal that is almost complete, Sergei Chemezov, head of Russian state conglomerate Rostec, told the Kommersant daily on Wednesday.The deal has caused concern in the West because Turkey is a member of NATO but the Russian missile system cannot be integrated into NATO's military architecture.In addition, relations between Moscow and the Western military alliance are strained, in part because of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli said Ankara would purchase two S-400 systems and four batteries and that all agreements were made, the state broadcaster TRT Haber reported.Turkey will pay 45 percent of the cost up front with Russia providing loans to cover the remaining 55 percent, Chemezov said. Moscow expected to begin the first deliveries in March 2020, he said.Chemezov told Kommersant that Turkey was the first NATO member state to acquire the advanced S-400 missile system.He said the Russian and Turkish finance ministries had already completed talks on financing the deal and that the final documents just needed to be approved.(Reporting by Andrew Osborn in Moscow and Ezgi Erkoyun in Istanbul; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)
Israel wants to build 'Trump station' near Western Wall-[Reuters]-By Jeffrey Heller-YAHOONEWS-December 27, 2017
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel wants to name a train station after Donald Trump to thank him for recognizing Jerusalem as its capital, but the site of the planned building could be as divisive as the U.S. president's declaration.Transport Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday he had chosen a proposed subway stop near the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City - right in the middle of the area that the Palestinians want as their own future capital."I have decided to name the Western Wall station ... after U.S. President Donald Trump for his courageous and historic decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel," Katz said in a statement.The envisaged underground extension of a high-speed rail link between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is still on the drawing board and a transport ministry spokeswoman said other departments still needed to approve it.The announcement was quickly condemned by Palestinian leaders already angered by Trump's Dec. 6 decision to overturn decades of U.S. policy on the city."The Israeli extremist government is trying to race against time to impose facts on the ground in the city of Jerusalem," Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, told Reuters.Trump has said he was simply acknowledged the reality on the ground by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital - but the Palestinians and most world powers have said he undermined the long-held position that Jerusalem's status must be settled by future negotiations.A ministry spokeswoman said the proposed station and underground extension still required the approval of various governmental planning committees, and gave no date for when a final go-ahead might be given. She said she did not know where funds for the estimated $700-million rail add-on would come from.Israel considers all of Jerusalem its capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem - among whose shrines is Islam's third-holiest mosque, Al-Aqsa - as the capital of a state they seek in the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.(Additional reporting by Steven Scheer in Jerusalem and Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Russia to limit U.S. military observation flights: RIA-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-December 27, 2017
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow will limit the scope of U.S. military observation flights over Russia from Jan. 1 next year in retaliation for U.S. curbs on similar Russian flights over the United States, the RIA news agency reported on Wednesday.The United States has accused Russia of flouting the Open Skies Treaty, an agreement designed to build confidence between the countries' militaries which entered into force in 2002, and said it plans to take measures against Moscow.The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported in September that this would include restricting Russian military flights over American territory in response to what it said was Moscow preventing U.S. observation flights over its heavily militarized Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.The United States is reported to have been keen to restrict Russian flights over Alaska and Hawaii as well as limiting the distance of Russian observation flights.RIA on Wednesday cited Georgy Borisenko, a senior foreign ministry official, as saying Moscow would take reciprocal steps to respond to the new U.S. measures from Jan. 1 and limit the territory which U.S. observations flights can fly over.(Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
28 And when these things begin to come to pass,(ALL THE PROPHECY SIGNS FROM THE BIBLE) then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption (RAPTURE) draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree,(ISRAEL) and all the trees;(ALL INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES)
30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.(ISRAEL LITERALLY BECAME AND INDEPENDENT COUNTRY JUST BEFORE SUMMER IN MAY 14,1948.)
JOEL 2:3,30
3 A fire devoureth (ATOMIC BOMB) before them;(RUSSIAN-ARAB-MUSLIM ARMIES AGAINST ISRAEL) and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.(ATOMIC BOMB AFFECT)
ZECHARIAH 14:12-13
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB)(BECAUSE NUKES HAVE BEEN USED ON ISRAELS ENEMIES)(GOD PROTECTS ISRAEL AND ALWAYS WILL)
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.(1/2-3 BILLION DIE IN WW3)(THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB EFFECT)
EZEKIEL 20:47
47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
ZEPHANIAH 1:18
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
MALACHI 4:1
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;(FROM ATOMIC BOMBS) and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
And here are the bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either through war or peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and only Israels land. They will have every inch God promised them of this land in the future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the Western Half of Iraq west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11, Gen 15:18, Exe 23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL DEFINATELY OWN IN THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES INHERIT LAND IN THE FUTURE
Ex-mufti rails at plan for Trump train stop at Western Wall-Ikrema Sabri says adding US president's name does not give scheme legitimacy-By AP and TOI staff-DEC 27,17
Ikrema Sabri, a senior Muslim cleric in Jerusalem, on Wednesday denounced an Israeli government plan to dig a railway tunnel under Jerusalem’s Old City, passing near sites holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims — and ending at the Western Wall with a station named after US President Donald Trump.Palestinians will not accept “any change or act in the occupied territories,” said Sabri, a former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.He said that “giving the name of Trump to this project will not give it any legitimacy. It would be just another implementation of the unacceptable decision of President Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz’s plan, currently in the initial stages, involves constructing two underground stations and excavating over two miles (three kilometers) of tunnel beneath downtown Jerusalem and under the Old City. The project would extend Jerusalem’s soon-to-open high-speed rail line from Tel Aviv to the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray.The route will run close to — but not directly under — the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where tradition holds that Jesus was crucified and buried, and the Temple Mount compound. Previous excavations by Israel near the Temple Mount — the spiritual epicenter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — have sparked violent Palestinian protests.Because of those sensitivities, the proposal was expected to meet with heavy resistance from the Palestinians, neighboring Arab countries and the international community.Transportation Ministry spokesman Avner Ovadia said Wednesday the project is estimated to cost more than $700 million and, if approved, would take four years to complete.Katz’s office said the minister advanced the plan in a recent meeting with Israel Railways executives, and has fast-tracked it in the planning committees.Katz said a high-speed rail station would allow visitors to reach “the beating heart of the Jewish people — the Western Wall and the Temple Mount.” He proposed naming the station after Trump “for his brave and historic decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital” earlier this month.Despite the likely opposition to the project, Ovadia said he expects the plans to be approved in the coming year, barring major complications. The Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high-speed line is expected to open next spring.“There’s no reason why this train won’t be built,” he said. “We already know how to deal with no less difficult opposition.”Katz has previously proposed other ambitious infrastructure projects, including an artificial island off the coast of the Gaza Strip that would serve as an air and seaport for the Palestinian territory, and a railway connecting Israel with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states.In an address earlier this month from the White House, Trump defied worldwide warnings and insisted that after repeated failures to achieve peace, a new approach was long overdue. He described his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the seat of Israel’s government as merely based on reality.The move was hailed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and by leaders across much of the Israeli political spectrum. Trump stressed that he was not specifying the boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in the city, and called for no change in the status quo at the city’s holy sites.In May, Trump became the first serving US president to visit the Western Wall.The Tel Aviv-Jerusalem rail project, which is already projected to cost an estimated NIS 7 billion ($1.8 billion) and has been in planning since 2001, is expected to cut travel time to 28 minutes, down from 78 minutes on the old line built during the days of the Ottoman Empire.
Erdogan on Trump’s ‘unacceptable’ recognition: Jerusalem is ‘our red line’-Turkish president also slams Syrian leader Assad as 'terrorist' who 'has killed close to a million of his citizens'-By Agencies and TOI staff-DEC 27,17
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said his country would not tolerate the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.“Jerusalem is our red line. Any steps against Jerusalem’s historic status and holiness are unacceptable,” Erdogan said, adding that his country will work toward international recognition of the Palestinian state and seek the support of the European Union.In a move that delighted much of Israel’s leadership but ignited protests across the Muslim world, US President Donald Trump announced on December 6 that the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and planned to move its embassy there from Tel Aviv.Trump stressed that he was not specifying the boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in the city, and called for no change in the status quo at the city’s holy sites.Erdogan spoke during a visit to Tunisia at the end of a four-day Africa trip focusing on economic issues.At a joint news conference with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, Erdogan called Assad a “terrorist who engaged in state terrorism” and should not be part of Syria’s post-conflict future.“How can we embrace a future with a Syrian leader who has killed close to a million of his citizens?” said the Turkish leader, whose country has seen a flood of refugees from neighboring Syria during the fighting.Turkey, Russia and Iran have taken the lead in Syria peace efforts over the past year. Those efforts remain at an impasse, however, with the opposition insisting that Assad have no role during a political transition and the government refusing to even consider such a demand.Turkey backs the opposition, while Russia and Iran are close allies of Assad and their support has tipped the nearly seven-year war in his favor.The Turkish leader said, “There is no calm in Syria, and with Assad there can never be peace there.”Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim was paying a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met Wednesday with King Salman.The two countries recently have been at odds over regional issues.Following his accession to power in 2015, King Salman sought to improve relations with Turkey to form a so-called Sunni axis against rival Shiite-led Iran. However, the kingdom’s move in June to lead a four-nation boycott of Qatar and cut off ties with the Gulf state led to new tensions with Turkey, which has sided with Qatar.The Turkish prime minister’s office said Yildirim and King Salman exchanged views on “regional challenges and problems.” They also emphasized the importance of Jerusalem’s status and the need for the Islamic world to act in unity to protect the rights of Palestinian “brothers.”Yildirim was also expected to meet Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey discuss Jerusalem, aiding Palestinian ‘brothers’-Saudi King Salman and Turkey's premier sit down for first high-level meeting since US recognized Israel's capital-By AFP and TOI staff-DEC 27,17
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi King Salman and Turkey’s premier on Wednesday discussed boosting ties and the status of Jerusalem, in a first high-level meeting since the US recognized the city as Israel’s capital.Firm US ally Riyadh and NATO member Ankara have both slammed US President Donald Trump’s December 6 decision to upend decades of careful policy by Washington.In a move that delighted much of Israel’s leadership but ignited protests across the Muslim world, Trump announced on December 6 that the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and planned to move its embassy there from Tel Aviv.Trump stressed that he was not specifying the boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in the city, and called for no change in the status quo at the city’s holy sites.But the Saudis only sent a low-level representative to a conference of Muslim nations on the issue hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, amid signs of strains in their relations.The Saudi SPA agency said King Salman received Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Riyadh and discussed “means of boosting bilateral ties and developments in the region,” without providing details.Yildirim’s office in Ankara said the status of Jerusalem and supporting the Palestinians were discussed at the meeting.“The importance of the status of Jerusalem was emphasized and that the whole Islamic world should act with unity to protect the rights of our Palestinian brothers,” the office said, citing Yildirim.He also said that they discussed bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia “one of the most important countries in the Gulf and the Middle East.”Ties between the sides soured following the 2013 ousting of the Muslim Brotherhood president Mohamed Morsi in Egypt, but warmed after King Salman’s accession to the throne 18 months later.However, analysts say there are signs ties are being tested again as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has shaken up the kingdom and amassed power.Turkish officials have avoided public criticism of Saudi Arabia but pro-government press have stepped up attacks on the kingdom, especially over its strong alliance with Trump.Erdogan last week also lashed out at the powerful foreign minister of Saudi’s chief regional ally the UAE after he retweeted a social media post critical of the early 20th century Ottoman governor of Medina.
Iran votes to declare Jerusalem ‘everlasting capital of Palestine’-Resolution passes unanimously in parliament, weeks after US president recognizes city as Israel's capital-By TOI staff-DEC 27,17
Iran’s parliament has voted to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, according to state-run media.The vote, which passed 207-0 in the 290-member Majlis, requires Tehran to recognize Jerusalem as “the everlasting capital of Palestine.”The vote “comes in response to the recent US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in hopes of dealing a blow to Muslims,” the Turkish Anadolu news agency quoted speaker Ali Larijani as saying.In a move that delighted much of Israel’s leadership but ignited protests across the Muslim world, US President Donald Trump announced on December 6 that the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and planned to move its embassy there from Tel Aviv. Trump stressed that he was not specifying the boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in the city, and called for no change in the status quo at the city’s holy sites.Trump’s declaration has been condemned by the Islamic Republic, which is committed to Israel’s destruction.Earlier this week, Hamas’s leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, said that a senior Iranian military commander pledged all of the Islamic Republic’s military resources to help the Gaza-based terror group fight Israel over Jerusalem.“All our of capabilities and potential are at your disposal in the battle for the defense of Jerusalem,” Sinwar said that Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ elite Quds Force, told him over the phone.The statements by Sinwar regarding Soleimani were broadcast Monday by the pro-Iranian Lebanese news outlet al-Mayadeen, and seemed to be from a speech he gave on Thursday in Gaza to young men and social media activists.According to Sinwar, Soleimani asserted that “Iran, the Revolutionary Guards and Quds Force stand with all they have with our people in order to defend Jerusalem so that Jerusalem will endure as the capital of the state of Palestine.”
Government grants settlements NIS 40 million for security, first-aid-PMO denies allocation had anything to do with Netanyahu's sit-down with national religious rabbis a day earlier in which he asked for support amid corruption allegations-By Jacob Magid-DEC 27,17-TOI
Government ministers approved a NIS 40 million ($11.5 million) grant for Israeli local and regional councils in the West Bank on Wednesday.The vast majority of the grant will go toward “special expenses related to the security situation” in the Israeli settlements, and NIS 5.5 million will be used to bolster medical emergency stations throughout the West Bank.The Yesha settlement umbrella council spokesman Yigal Dilmoni told The Times of Israel that the allocation is an annual grant that Israeli local and regional councils receive each year. He added that the amount is nearly identical to what they received in 2016.The grant was approved in a cabinet vote that took place over the telephone. It came just one day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with a group of prominent national religious rabbis — many of them settlers themselves — to request their support as he battles corruption allegations.The Prime Minister’s Office flatly denied any connection between the approved grant and Netanyahu’s meeting the day prior. “This is an annual proposal that passes towards the end of every budget year,” it said in a Wednesday statement.For his part, Dilmoni added that “the issue [of the grant] was never even raised in yesterday’s meeting,” Dilmoni added.During Tuesday’s meeting, Netanyahu took aim at the weekly anti-corruption protests in Tel Aviv calling for his resignation, saying they were part of a broader effort to topple him.The prime minister is currently being investigated in two criminal investigations involving suspicions he accepted gifts and favors from businessmen in exchange for advancing their interests. Police are expected to submit their recommendations in the cases in the coming weeks.While a number of rabbis voiced their support for Netanyahu and dismissed the corruption allegations, others criticized the prime minister for only reaching out when he is “in trouble” and ignoring them when the scenario is reversed.The rabbis raised a number of issues they want to see addressed, among them preventing the integration of women in military combat units and stepped-up construction in West Bank settlements, the Haaretz daily reported.The Peace Now settlement watchdog did not accept the denials by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Yesha Council. “Corruption has a price tag,” the left-wing NGO said in a statement. “Netanyahu is a weak prime minister and blackmailer who is willing to sell the future of Israel in order to survive.”
Stalled by Christmas: Israel’s withdrawal from UNESCO runs into holiday obstacle-Cultural agency's Paris headquarters closed until January 2, but Jerusalem's envoy vows to formally give notice in time 'even if I have to climb over the fence'-By Raphael Ahren-DEC 27,17
Israel’s planned withdrawal from UNESCO by the end of the year has hit a snag with diplomats unable to file the necessary papers on time because the cultural agency’s Paris offices are closed for the year-end holidays. But Israel’s envoy to the organization vowed to overcome these problems and to ensure that Israel will give up its membership.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday instructed Israel’s envoy to the UNESCO, Carmel Shama-Hacohen, to submit a formal letter announcing Israel’s intent to leave the organization, two months after the US formally announced its own withdrawal — partly due to UNESCO’s anti-Israel bias.In order to leave the organization at the same time as the US — at the end of 2018 — Israel would have to formally hand a letter of intent to its director-general, Audrey Azoulay at least one year ahead of time.According to article 2(6) of the UNESCO Constitution, a member state “may withdraw from the Organization by notice addressed to the Director-General. Such notice shall take effect on 31 December of the year following that during which the notice was given.”UNESCO’s headquarters are closed until January 2, which appears to prevent Shama-Hacohen from delivering the letter before the end of the year.But Shama-Hacohen vowed to find a solution to the problem.“Yes, the organization is closed until next year, but the letter will be transmitted in time,” he told The Times of Israel on Wednesday. “Even if I have to climb over the fence, I am still in the age and physical condition allowing me to do so.”Also, the notification is likely to be accepted as long as it is dated and sent before the end of the year, even if UNESCO only receives it after the holidays.Shama-Hacohen — a former lawmaker from Netanyahu’s Likud party — is very supportive of the prime minister’s decision to follow Washington’s lead in leaving the organization, which in recent years has made headlines for passing several resolutions ignoring Jewish ties to the holy sites in Jerusalem.“I think that this is appropriate, given this organization’s biased, one-sided and absurd attitude toward us, and against the background of the US’s strong stand at the UN, which we welcome,” Netanyahu said Sunday about his decision to withdraw.Shama-Hacohen said Friday that UNESCO “has broken records of hypocrisy, incitement and lies against Israel and the Jewish people, while polluting its noble core principles with politicization and diplomatic terrorism that sometimes bordered on anti-Semitism.”The envoy said Israel and the Jewish people “should have been the first to contribute to the organization and the last to leave it, but in the theater of the absurd of UNESCO, nations who have nothing to do with science, education and culture have bankrupted this important organization.”Professional diplomats, on the other hand, were less enthusiastic about leaving UNESCO, arguing that while the US could easily obtain observer status at the organization, Israel has no such prospects. In order to get observer status, a state needs the support of a majority of member states, something which is highly unlikely in Israel’s case due to the automatic Arab majority.Azoulay has acknowledged difficulties in the Paris-based organization, which has been rocked by US funding cuts since 2011 over the admission of Palestine as a member and a series of anti-Israel resolutions.But the 45-year-old former French culture minister, who has already urged the US and Israel not to withdraw from UNESCO, told The Associated Press in October that the Trump administration’s announced plan to pull out of the agency was not tenable in the long term.“I obviously regret their departure … but this ’empty chair politics’ is not sustainable because the United States is also affected by everything that UNESCO does,” she said, speaking at the agency’s Paris headquarters.UNESCO is best known for its World Heritage program to protect cultural sites and traditions, but it also works to fight violent extremism, improve education for girls, promote Holocaust understanding, defend media freedoms and encourage science on climate change.Israel has been infuriated by resolutions that ignore and diminish its historical connection to the Holy Land and have named ancient Jewish sites as Palestinian heritage sites.There have been hopes that Azoulay, the organization’s first Jewish chief who is also of Moroccan descent, would be able to quell the political tempest inside the organization that was created following World War II to promote peace.AP and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in the moon,(MAN ON MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the stars;(ASTEROIDS ETC) 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)
Power returns to Nova Scotia after windstorm left thousands in the dark-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-December 26, 2017
Tens of thousands of Nova Scotians are back on the electrical grid as crews worked Tuesday to repair power lines damaged by a major Christmas Day storm in Atlantic Canada.About 13,000 homes and businesses in Nova Scotia remained without electricity as of about 8 p.m. local time, the province's power utility said.Nova Scotia Power spokeswoman Tiffany Chase said about 139,000 affected customers had their power restored by late Tuesday afternoon.She said more than 700 personnel are working "around the clock" to get the rest of the province back on the grid, including contract crews from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.The utility estimated that 90 per cent of affected customers will see their power come back on by late Tuesday evening, Chase said, and the remaining isolated outages should be resolved by Wednesday afternoon."We know it is the holidays and many people have plans for things like turkey dinners," Chase said."We do appreciate their patience as our crews continue to safely work to restore power to customers as quickly as possible."In total, approximately 158,000 Nova Scotians have been affected by the outages, Chase said, amounting to nearly one-third of the utility's 507,000 customers throughout the province. The province's south shore, Dartmouth and Sydney were among the areas most affected, she said.Chase said as the wind died down, helicopters and vehicles were deployed to survey the damage throughout the province, which included downed trees, snapped power lines and damaged utility poles.The utility has set up four "comfort centres" in Shelburne, Chester, Kentville and Stellarton where Nova Scotians without power can warm up and charge their devices Tuesday and Wednesday.Chase encouraged homeowners to check their meter masts for damage, which they would be responsible for fixing, and must be repaired by an electrician before power can be restored.Paul Mason, executive director of the provincial government's Emergency Management Office, said aside from the power outages, he was not aware of any reports of major infrastructure damage.He warned residents who are using generators, barbecues and other gas-powered appliances to beware of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which killed two people and injured several others during a devastating ice storm in New Brunswick last January that caused widespread power outages for days.Staff Sgt. Robert Fox of Halifax Regional Police said the city's major arteries have been cleared after downed electrical lines, shattered glass and other debris that temporarily disrupted traffic.Fox said he had heard reports of trees crushing cars, a toppled port-a-potty and splintered trunks, but it appeared that property damage in the city has been relatively minor.Scott Ferro, an amateur woodcraftsman who lives near Peggy's Cove, said he and his wife have spent eight hours helping their neighbours move misplaced boulders, clear brush and chop up trees that were knocked over or partially uprooted by the forceful winds.Lawn ornaments, patio furniture and Christmas decorations were strewn across backyards, Ferro said, and some houses have lost shingles and some siding."It just looks more like chaos than any other real damage," he said. "I'm leaving (all the firewood) behind for someone else who needs it. I don't mind doing the hard part."Holly Slauenwhite in Blockhouse on Nova Scotia's south shore said she and her two-year-old son are staying with a friend after sleeping off a candlelit Christmas dinner on Monday under layers of blankets in a home without heat or running water."It doesn't feel like Christmas now, I can tell you that much, because you can't light your Christmas tree," Slauenwhite said. "It was kind of nice having a Christmas dinner without technology in the way, but I'm ready for power."A low-pressure system barrelled across the eastern seaboard and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence over Christmas and was hovering over Newfoundland on Tuesday, Environment Canada said.The weather agency recorded gusts in excess of 100 km/h throughout much of Nova Scotia, reaching hurricane-force speeds at their peak in some areas, preliminary reports indicate.Nova Scotia was also doused in a mix of snow, freezing rain and rain on Christmas Day, and Tuesday's forecast calls for a few centimetres of snow with winds gusting up to 50 km/h as the storm moves away.Environment Canada has issued warnings of severe winds, blowing snow and blizzard conditions in Newfoundland and Labrador, which the agency said could persist until Wednesday in some parts of the province.NL Hydro reported outages early Tuesday affecting Port Saunders, Eddies Cove and Port Au Choix, but said all power was restored by the mid-afternoon.Several flights have been delayed or cancelled in Halifax and St. John's, N.L., and Marine Atlantic has cancelled ferry crossings until Wednesday.Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press.
Toronto is going to be 'bone-chilling' cold into 2018-Sarah Rohoman-Yahoo Canada News-December 26, 2017
The polar vortex system that slammed Toronto with snow has one final parting gift for 2017: frigid temperatures that may break records, says Dan Kottlowski, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.The Toronto temperatures aren’t cold enough to deter Boxing Day shoppers, even though its currently warmer in Iqaluit, but the next few days may have people rethinking their plans.The polar vortex, which creates a pattern of “very, very cold air,” is leaving the Toronto area and heading into Newfoundland. Although it’s on its way to Eastern Canada, it’s leaving behind its “dirty work,” said Kottlowski.“The normal low for today should be around zero or just under and today’s low is much below that,” he said. “It’s like someone opened the freezer door and it’s stuck and won’t close until 2018.”Tomorrow’s forecast may break the 1960 low of -18 C with an expected temperature of -22 C in the evening.As for the rest of the week, Kottlowski expects it to be “bone-chilling cold,” with low temperatures expected to be in the negative teens and negative twenties range.In terms of temperature highs for the next few days, tomorrow is expected to be -12 C, Thursday will be -13 C, Friday -9C, Saturday also -9 C and Sunday will be -12.
Russia to supply Turkey with four S-400 missile batteries for $2.5 billion: Kommersant-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-December 27, 2017
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will supply Turkey with four batteries of S-400 surface-to-air missiles for $2.5 billion under a deal that is almost complete, Sergei Chemezov, head of Russian state conglomerate Rostec, told the Kommersant daily on Wednesday.The deal has caused concern in the West because Turkey is a member of NATO but the Russian missile system cannot be integrated into NATO's military architecture.In addition, relations between Moscow and the Western military alliance are strained, in part because of Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli said Ankara would purchase two S-400 systems and four batteries and that all agreements were made, the state broadcaster TRT Haber reported.Turkey will pay 45 percent of the cost up front with Russia providing loans to cover the remaining 55 percent, Chemezov said. Moscow expected to begin the first deliveries in March 2020, he said.Chemezov told Kommersant that Turkey was the first NATO member state to acquire the advanced S-400 missile system.He said the Russian and Turkish finance ministries had already completed talks on financing the deal and that the final documents just needed to be approved.(Reporting by Andrew Osborn in Moscow and Ezgi Erkoyun in Istanbul; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)
Israel wants to build 'Trump station' near Western Wall-[Reuters]-By Jeffrey Heller-YAHOONEWS-December 27, 2017
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel wants to name a train station after Donald Trump to thank him for recognizing Jerusalem as its capital, but the site of the planned building could be as divisive as the U.S. president's declaration.Transport Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday he had chosen a proposed subway stop near the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City - right in the middle of the area that the Palestinians want as their own future capital."I have decided to name the Western Wall station ... after U.S. President Donald Trump for his courageous and historic decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel," Katz said in a statement.The envisaged underground extension of a high-speed rail link between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is still on the drawing board and a transport ministry spokeswoman said other departments still needed to approve it.The announcement was quickly condemned by Palestinian leaders already angered by Trump's Dec. 6 decision to overturn decades of U.S. policy on the city."The Israeli extremist government is trying to race against time to impose facts on the ground in the city of Jerusalem," Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, told Reuters.Trump has said he was simply acknowledged the reality on the ground by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital - but the Palestinians and most world powers have said he undermined the long-held position that Jerusalem's status must be settled by future negotiations.A ministry spokeswoman said the proposed station and underground extension still required the approval of various governmental planning committees, and gave no date for when a final go-ahead might be given. She said she did not know where funds for the estimated $700-million rail add-on would come from.Israel considers all of Jerusalem its capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem - among whose shrines is Islam's third-holiest mosque, Al-Aqsa - as the capital of a state they seek in the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.(Additional reporting by Steven Scheer in Jerusalem and Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Russia to limit U.S. military observation flights: RIA-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-December 27, 2017
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Moscow will limit the scope of U.S. military observation flights over Russia from Jan. 1 next year in retaliation for U.S. curbs on similar Russian flights over the United States, the RIA news agency reported on Wednesday.The United States has accused Russia of flouting the Open Skies Treaty, an agreement designed to build confidence between the countries' militaries which entered into force in 2002, and said it plans to take measures against Moscow.The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported in September that this would include restricting Russian military flights over American territory in response to what it said was Moscow preventing U.S. observation flights over its heavily militarized Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.The United States is reported to have been keen to restrict Russian flights over Alaska and Hawaii as well as limiting the distance of Russian observation flights.RIA on Wednesday cited Georgy Borisenko, a senior foreign ministry official, as saying Moscow would take reciprocal steps to respond to the new U.S. measures from Jan. 1 and limit the territory which U.S. observations flights can fly over.(Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
