CARNEY TAKES AWAY OUR CARBON CHECKS AFTER APR.EVEN THOUGH HES NOT EVEN IN POWER OFFICIALLY TILL MARCH 24.AND HE WILL PROBABLY CALL AN ELECTION IN A WEEK OR SO.

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)

CARNEY TAKES AWAY OUR CARBON CHECKS AFTER APR.EVEN THOUGH HES NOT EVEN IN POWER OFFICIALLY TILL MARCH 24.AND HE WILL PROBABLY CALL AN ELECTION IN A WEEK OR SO.

EZEK 39:11-16
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: (IN THE JORDAN VALLEY) and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.
12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.
13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord God.
14 And they shall sever out men of continual employment, (NUCLEAR SPECIALISTS) passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
15 And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog.
16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.

MEANING OF HAMONAH
Hamonah, ham-o'-nah (Heb.)-- host; multitude; noise; tumult; commotion of mind. The prophetic name of a city that is mentioned in conjunction with Hamon-gog: "And Hamonah shall also be the name of a city.
Metaphysical meaning of Hamonah (mbd) - Truth Unity

Strong's Lexicon-Hamonah: Hamonah-Original Word: הֲמוֹנָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location-Transliteration: Hamownah
Pronunciation: hah-mo-NAH-Phonetic Spelling: (ham-o-naw')
Definition: Hamonah-Meaning: Hamonah

Word Origin: Derived from the Hebrew root הָמוֹן (H1995), meaning "multitude" or "abundance."Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Greek equivalent for "Hamonah" in the Strong's Greek Dictionary, as it is a specific Hebrew proper noun. However, the concept of a multitude or abundance can be related to Greek words like πλῆθος (G4128), meaning "multitude."Usage: The term "Hamonah" is used as a proper noun referring to a specific location mentioned in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. It is associated with the aftermath of a significant battle, symbolizing the multitude of the slain.Cultural and Historical Background: In the context of the Hebrew Bible, names often carry significant meaning and are used to convey theological and prophetic messages. "Hamonah" is mentioned in the book of Ezekiel, a prophetic text that addresses the restoration of Israel and the judgment of the nations. The name reflects the abundance of God's judgment upon the enemies of Israel, serving as a reminder of divine justice and sovereignty.

GODS PROMISED LAND FOR ISRAEL.

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.

FINALLY THE EUROPEAN UNION IS TALKING ABOUT HAVING THEIR OWN ARMY.AND IT MUST HAPPEN.
REVELATION 19:16-21
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.(JESUS RETURNG TO EARTH LITERALLY ON A WHITE HORSE WITH THE RAPTURED CHRISTIANS 7 YEARS EARLIER)
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.(2ND TIME GOD-JESUS TELLS THE 500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS TO GET READY TO EAT HUMAN FLESH.THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN GOD TOLD THE 500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS-TO EAT RUSSIA,GERMAN,ARAB, MUSLIM BODIES FOR 7 MONTHS IN EZEK 38 @ 39.
19 And I saw the beast,(E.U WORLD LEADER) and the kings of the earth, and their armies,(HERE IT SAYS THE E.U WILL HAVE ITS OWN ARMY) gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, (JESUS) and against his army.(RAPTURED CHRISTIANS)
20 And the beast (E.U WORLD LEADER) was taken, and with him the false prophet (POPE FRANCIS) that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Zephaniah 2:1-15
1 Gather together, yes, gather,O shameless nation,
2 before the decree takes effect[a] -before the day passes away like chaff—before there comes upon you the burning anger of the Lord, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the Lord.
3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands;[b] seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.
4 For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted.
5 Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left.
6 And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures, with meadows[c] for shepherds and folds for flocks.
7 The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall graze, and in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the Lord their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes.
8 “I have heard the taunts of Moab (JORDAN) and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory.
9 Therefore, as I live,” declares the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, and a waste forever.The remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.”
10 This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the Lord of hosts.
11 The Lord will be awesome against them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the lands of the nations.
12 You also, O Cushites, shall be slain by my sword.
13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria,(SYRIA) and he will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert.
14 Herds shall lie down in her midst, all kinds of beasts;[d] even the owl and the hedgehog[e]  shall lodge in her capitals; a voice shall hoot in the window; devastation will be on the threshold; for her cedar work will be laid bare.
15 This is the exultant city that lived securely, that said in her heart, “I am, and there is no one else.” What a desolation she has become, a lair for wild beasts! Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.Sa'ar: No free meals; talks possible if more hostages freed Israel halts aid into Gaza, citing Hamas refusal to extend first phase of truce
Footnotes-a -Zephaniah 2:2 Hebrew gives birth, b-Zephaniah 2:3 Or who carry out his judgment, c-Zephaniah 2:6 Or caves, d-Zephaniah 2:14 Hebrew beasts of every nation, e-Zephaniah 2:14 The identity of the animals rendered owl and hedgehog is uncertain

Scientist Says He Found Evidence Our Entire Universe Is Trapped Inside a Black Hole-Victor Tangermann-Sat, March 15, 2025 at 8:15 a.m. EDT.

A researcher has made a puzzling discovery while analyzing observations taken by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.While analyzing images for the telescope's Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), Kansas State University associate professor of computer science Lior Shamir found that out of the 263 galaxies examined, two thirds of them rotated clockwise, while only a third rotated counterclockwise, as detailed in a paper published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.This challenges the assumption that any given universe would have half of them spinning one way, with the rest spinning counter to that, according to a press release about the discovery."It is still not clear what causes this to happen, but there are two primary possible explanations," said Shamir in a statement. "One explanation is that the universe was born rotating. That explanation agrees with theories such as black hole cosmology, which postulates that the entire universe is the interior of a black hole."The findings add credence to an existing, Russian doll-like theory called "Schwarzschild cosmology," which suggests that our galaxy is trapped within a black hole, which in turn is located inside another universe.As Space.com reports, this would imply that other observed black holes could be wormholes, otherwise known as Einstein-Rosen bridges, to other universes, which are unobservable to us due to the black holes trapping light within them."I think that the simplest explanation of the rotating universe is the universe was born in a rotating black hole," University of New Haven theoretical physicist Nikodem Poplawski, who champions the theory that we're surrounded by doorways to other universes and wasn't involved in the research, told Space.com. "A preferred axis in our universe, inherited by the axis of rotation of its parent black hole, might have influenced the rotation dynamics of galaxies, creating the observed clockwise-counterclockwise asymmetry.""The discovery by the JWST that galaxies rotate in a preferred direction would support the theory of black holes creating new universes, and I would be extremely excited if these findings are confirmed," he added.But Shamir's findings still leave the possibility that the Milky Way's own rotation could have influenced the galaxies' unusual distribution of spin rotation.Since the Earth rotates around the center of the Milky Way, researchers expect light from galaxies rotating in the opposite direction to be brighter, causing the discrepancy in the JADES observations, Shamir suggests.In other words, the velocity at which the Milky Way rotates may be influencing our celestial measurements, which had previously been considered negligible."If that is indeed the case, we will need to re-calibrate our distance measurements for the deep universe," he said in the statement. "The re-calibration of distance measurements can also explain several other unsolved questions in cosmology such as the differences in the expansion rates of the universe and the large galaxies that according to the existing distance measurements are expected to be older than the universe itself.”More on black holes: Scientists Discover Black Hole So Gigantic That You Will Quiver in Existential Terror

Messy springtime mix will leave B.C. residents seeking drier grounds-Forecast Centre-Sat, March 15, 2025 at 1:03 p.m. EDT

An active and wet pattern will continue for the B.C. coast as we head through the mid-month mark. Temperatures will also be colder-than-normal, so snow levels will be low enough to bring an abundance of snow to ski areas.Visit our Complete Guide to Spring 2025 for an in-depth look at the Spring Forecast, tips to plan for it and much more!This will help to put a dent in the major deficits in alpine snowpack, but could have a significant impact on travel through mountain passes at times, as well.Snow is also possible in some parts of the Lower Mainland this weekend, with some areas picking up a quick few centimetres, as temperatures hover near the freezing mark.Low elevation snow chances for the Lower Mainland this weekend-A weak system moved into southern B.C. during the pre-dawn hours on Saturday, drawing in cooler air. Temperatures at sea level will sit between 1-2°C, staying closer to the freezing mark just above the surface.As a result, low elevation snow is possible for parts of the Lower Mainland, including Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, and Mission, where a few quick centimetres could fall.We could also see some heavy, wet snow fall over parts of the Interior and highway passes.Exact snowfall amounts and locations are difficult to forecast, though, with such a wide ranging elevation difference in such a short distance.Temperatures will slowly rise by a couple of degrees throughout the day, but still remaining below seasonal.The heaviest of the rain is forecast to fall through Saturday, with some coastal areas in line to pick up between 40-80 mm. There is also the chance for folks to hear a rumble or two of thunder as a chance for a non-severe thunderstorm moves into the region Saturday afternoon.The rain will then ease throughout Sunday, leaving behind lingering showers and flurries.The colder-than-normal temperatures are likely across western Canada through early next week, but then temperatures will begin to trend milder.Be sure to check back for the latest weather updates across British Columbia.

The Weather Channel-Tornado Outbreak Ongoing: Strong Tornadoes, Damaging Wind Gusts, Large Hail Likely Today In The South-Jonathan Belles-Sat, March 15, 2025 at 11:50 AM EDT

The South will be in the crosshairs of potentially strong, long-tracked tornadoes, widespread damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding as a tornado outbreak roars eastward.NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued a 5 out of 5 "high risk" of severe weather for Saturday. This threat level is rare, usually only on a severe weather forecast two to three times each year, and is generally used only when supercells are capable of strong tornadoes, or long-lived squall lines are expected to produce widespread damaging winds.In their Saturday morning discussion, the SPC noted that "a tornado outbreak is expected across the central Gulf Coast States and Deep South into the Tennessee Valley. Numerous significant tornadoes, some of which should be long-track and potentially violent, are expected this afternoon and evening."Take this threat seriously and know ahead of time where your safe shelter is and have multiple ways to receive warnings, especially since the severe storms could threaten at night in some locations.This is day two of the ongoing tornado outbreak. Numerous tornadoes touched down on Friday into early Saturday in the mid-South and Midwest, including several near St. Louis, a damaging tornado in Rolla and one in Hartville, Missouri.Saturday-Saturday Night Forecast: TORNADO OUTBREAK EXPECTED-Thunderstorms are ongoing in a wavy line and in clusters from Louisiana to Tennessee. Numerous warnings of severe weather are in effect.NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" tornado watch for eastern Louisiana and much of Mississippi through 6 p.m. CDT, including Jackson and Tupelo, Mississippi, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Strong tornadoes, wind gusts up to 75 mph and very large hail are possible in this area.The SPC has also issued a tornado watch for parts of southeastern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, northwestern Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee until 1 p.m. CDT.-Locations: The Deep South has the highest risk for severe storms, including parts of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle. That includes Atlanta; Birmingham, Huntsville and Montgomery, Alabama; Chattanooga and Nashville, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; New Orleans; and Pensacola, Florida.The level 5 out of 5 risk for widespread severe storms is from central Mississippi to eastern and central Alabama. This area includes Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and Jackson and Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This is where atmospheric conditions will be most conducive for producing tornadic supercell thunderstorms. You should be in your storm shelters in this area from mid-afternoon into the evening, if not overnight hours, in this area shaded in darker red above.At least some severe weather could extend as far north as Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania.-Timing: Severe Thunderstorms will grow in intensity this afternoon in parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley and the Tennessee Valley. The most widespread severe weather will unfold in the afternoon and into the overnight hours, spreading from west to east across the threat areas shown above. As an example, the peak threat of severe weather won't reach the Atlanta metro until the evening or overnight hours.-Threats: NOAA's Storm Prediction Center says numerous significant tornadoes, and some long-track tornadoes are expected. In addition, the storms are likely to produce widespread damaging wind gusts and large hail. Flash flooding from heavy rain could impact northern parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky.Sunday's Forecast-Locations: The cold front might produce additional bouts of severe storms from the mid-Atlantic states to the Southeast as the weekend ends. That includes Charleston, South Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C.Sunday's Severe Weather Forecast-Timing: Leftover storms from overnight, some possibly severe, will likely be ongoing in the morning in parts of the East. A combination of those storms possibly intensifying and new storms developing will keep the threat of severe weather going through the afternoon.-Threats: Damaging wind gusts are the primary concern, but a few tornadoes are possible. Localized flash flooding could also occur in spots.Classic Setup-The setup is familiar for March and the rest of spring, with a sharp southward plunge of the jet stream swinging out of the West toward the central and eastern states.At the same time, the jet stream energy helps to form a strong low-pressure system along a cold front that draws increasing moisture north from the Gulf.That combination of ingredients triggers the formation of numerous thunderstorms, some of which could rotate and produce tornadoes in addition to widespread damaging winds and hail.

Sixteen dead as powerful storms and tornadoes batter southern and central US-Josh Salisbury-SAT, March 15, 2025 at 12:32 p.m. EDT

At least sixteen people have been killed as a series of tornadoes and storms hit the US Midwest and south overnight, police said.At least 10 people were killed in Missouri while officials were assessing the destruction from powerful thunderstorms in parts of Arkansas, Illinois, and Mississippi.Officials in Arkansas said on Saturday morning that three people died in Independence County and 29 others were injured across eight counties as storms passed through the state overnight."We have teams out surveying the damage from last night's tornadoes and have first responders on the ground to assist," Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.On Friday, meanwhile, authorities said three people were killed in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle.Twenty-six tornadoes were reported but not confirmed to have touched down late on Friday night and early on Saturday, said David Roth, a meteorologist at the US National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center."Today there is a high risk for more tornadoes across Alabama and Mississippi. The chance is 30%," he said. "That's pretty significant."The deaths included a man who was killed after a tornado ripped apart his Missouri home."It was unrecognizable as a home. Just a debris field," said Coroner Jim Akers of Butler County, describing the scene that confronted rescuers when they arrived."The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls." Rescuers managed to save a woman in the home, Mr Akers said.Extreme weather conditions, including hurricane-force winds, are forecast to affect an area home to more than 100 million people.Winds gusting up to 80 mph were predicted from the Canadian border to Texas, threatening blizzard conditions in colder northern areas and wildfire risk in warmer, drier areas to the south.High winds also knocked out power to more than 260,000 homes and businesses in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, according to the website poweroutage.us.As the storms regain strength, the highest possible risk of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms is on Saturday night, forecasters said.The storms will move east throughout the day on Saturday and could hit as far east as the Florida Panhandle and Atlanta by midnight, according to forecasters.

Tornadoes strike US South, killing 13 people amid rising risk-Tornadoes rip through Missouri-By Rich McKayMAR 14,25

ATLANTA (Reuters) -At least 13 people were killed in Arkansas and Missouri as a series of tornadoes hit the U.S. Midwest and Southeast overnight, raking a path of destruction that was still being assessed on Saturday, police said.Twenty-six tornadoes were reported but not confirmed to have touched down late on Friday night and early on Saturday as a low-pressure system drove powerful thunderstorms across parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri, said David Roth, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center."Today there is a high risk for more tornadoes across Alabama and Mississippi. The chance is 30%," he said. "That's pretty significant."Two of the tornado deaths occurred in southern Missouri in the Bakersfield area of Ozark County, about 270 miles (434 km) southeast of Kansas City, and a third death was reported in Butler County, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and other officials said.Seven others were killed in the storms, the Missouri Highway Patrol said on X, without giving details.Three other deaths from the overnight storms occurred in Arkansas, the state's Department of Emergency Management reported on its website, adding that there were 29 injuries.As the storms regain strength, the highest possible risk of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms is on Saturday night, forecasters said.The storms will move east throughout Saturday and could hit as far east as the Florida Panhandle and Atlanta by midnight, according to the NWS.(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Rod Nickel)

The Weather Network-Rare ‘high risk’ severe storm outbreak could fuel intense twisters-Forecast Centre-Fri, March 14, 2025 at 4:08 PM EDT

A rare ‘high risk’ for severe weather is in effect Saturday for parts of the U.S. Deep South as a dangerous multi-day severe storm outbreak gets underway.Several distinct rounds of severe weather are likely through the weekend. Each round of storms could produce widespread damaging wind gusts, intense tornadoes, and large hail.We could even see some rumbles of thunder creep into Ontario this weekend as the region falls under this powerful storm’s influence.DON'T MISS: ‘This is a tornado emergency’: How forecasters warn of grave danger-Powerful storm system responsible for severe weather-A robust Colorado low developing on Friday is responsible for the severe weather outbreak unfolding across the central and southern U.S. into this weekend.This will be a powerful low-pressure system that could rival the intense storm we saw just last week. The system’s minimum central air pressure could drop to around 976 mb, which may threaten some monthly air pressure records for the month of March in places like Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota.Significant damaging wind threat on Friday-The year’s first moderate risk for severe thunderstorms—a four out of five on the categorical scale used by the U.S. Storm Prediction Center (SPC)—is in effect for a wide swath of the Mississippi River valley, including the cities of St. Louis, Missouri; Des Moines, Iowa; and Memphis, Tennessee.An intense squall line could develop across the region, packing significant wind gusts of 120-160+ km/h. These wind gusts could lead to widespread tree damage and power outages. Embedded tornadoes are also possible.These storms will begin in the late afternoon hours and continue pushing east overnight into early Saturday morning.Intense winds and dry air wrapping around the western side of the Colorado low will give rise to extremely favourable conditions for wildfire development across the southern Plains states on Friday.The SPC issued a high-end extremely critical fire weather risk for a large swath of Texas and Oklahoma as gusty winds and low humidity spread over the region. Given the conditions present on Friday, a “wildfire outbreak appears likely” according to the SPC. Multiple fires were already burning as of early Friday afternoon.High risk tornado outbreak possible on Saturday-The main event arrives Saturday. The SPC issued a high risk—a full level five out of five—for portions of Mississippi and Alabama ahead of Saturday’s risk for severe weather.A high risk indicates forecaster confidence in a significant tornado outbreak across the affected areas. Saturday is only the 66th day since Jan. 1, 2000, that the SPC has issued a high risk, and it's exceptionally rare for the agency to issue a high risk a day in advance.Storms will start in the southern U.S. and Midwest during the late morning hours, again pushing east as the day wears on.Intense, long-track tornadoes are possible throughout portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. This includes the cities of New Orleans, Mobile, Birmingham, and Atlanta. The greatest risk for intense tornadoes will fall in and around the high risk area.Thunderstorms in the region could also produce widespread wind gusts of 120+ km/h, as well as hail the size of golf balls or larger.Historically, this is right around where you would expect tornado activity to ramp up as spring takes hold across North America.Storm tracks into Ontario with thunder risk-Our low-pressure system will track into northwestern Ontario late Friday, potentially bringing the risk for some non-severe thunderstorms as the system moves into the region.Focus will turn toward southern Ontario looking ahead to this weekend. The first round of rain moving into southwestern Ontario on Saturday morning could bring some embedded thunderstorms into the region.A secondary low will develop off a cold front and kickstart an additional round of widespread rain over the region for our Sunday. Embedded thunderstorms are possible throughout all of southern Ontario—and could even push into northeastern sections of the province.Localized ponding, pooling, and flooding is also possible with the incoming rain and mild temperatures causing snowmelt.

The Clarion Ledger-Significant, long-tracked tornadoes likely on Saturday in MS. Here's what you need to know-Brian Broom, Mississippi Clarion Ledger-Fri, March 14, 2025 at 9:38 AM EDT

Mississippi may see isolated severe weather on Friday with hail, damaging winds and tornadoes possible, but on Saturday the threats are more widespread, and strong tornadoes are expected."The main threat we're really highlighting is going to be tomorrow (Saturday)," said Nicholas Fenner, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson. "Some of those tornadoes could be strong and long-tracked."Typically, strong tornadoes are anything that are EF2 tornadoes or stronger. The peak for that timing is really going to be mid-afternoon into the evening."In addition to significant and possibly numerous tornadoes on Saturday, the National Weather Service warns of golf ball-sized hail and damaging winds up to 70 miles per hour. Fenner said those winds could result in downed trees and power lines along with damage to homes and other structures.Those same threats are possible on Friday, but storms producing them should be fewer than are expected on Saturday. While the entire state could experience severe weather, the highest risk area in Mississippi is from Yazoo City northeast to Tupelo and south to the coast.The main threat is from 10 a.m. through 10 p.m. on Saturday. Fenner also warned of possible flash flooding."These storms could produce heavy rain," Fenner said. "That is worth people taking note of that isolated flash flooding could occur."KHON Honolulu-Rotating funnel-shaped cloud-Approaching cloud of debris-Dark or green-colored sky-Large, dark, low-lying cloud-Large hail-Loud roar that sounds like a freight trainIf you notice any of these signs take cover immediately and stay tuned to local radio and TV stations, a NOAA weather radio or the internet.If under a tornado warning, the National Weather Service advises the following:Stay Weather-Ready: Continue to listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about tornado watches and warnings.At Your House: If you are in a tornado warning, go to your basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. Don't forget pets if time allows.At Your Workplace or School: Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.

Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately if a tornado is approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Neither is a mobile home or tent. If you have time, get to a safe building.In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.National Weather Service forecast for the Jackson area-Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.Friday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 4 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.Saturday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 5 p.m, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 77. South wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. West southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. North northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.National Weather Service forecast for the Hattiesburg area-Friday: Patchy fog between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.Friday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Cloudy, with a low around 68. South southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 11 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 77. South wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 53. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Tornadoes, damaging winds likely in Mississippi Friday and Saturday

DANIEL 2:37-45
37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

DANIEL 7:17-26
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

THE WORLD IN 10 WORLD TRADE BLOCS LEAD BY THE EUROPEAN UNION THE WORLD LEADER, NOT AMERICA.I PREDICT.

THE EUROPEAN UNION AND REVIVED ROMAN WORLD GOVERNMENT
DANIEL 2:31-33,36-43, DAN 7:3-8,17

First From Daniel Chapter 2

1 EGYPT
2 ASSYRIA
3 BABYLON (HEAD OF GOLD) DAN 2:31-32,36-38, DAN 1:1
4 MEDO-PERSIANS (CHEST & ARMS OF SILVER) DAN 2:32,39, DAN 9:1
5 GREECE (WAIST & HIPS OF BRONZE) DAN 2:32,39, DAN 11:2
6 ROME (2 LEGS OF IRON) DAN 2:33,40, ROM 1:6
7 REVIVED ROME (EU) (FEET IRON & CLAY) DAN 2:33,41-43,10 TOES

Now From Daniel Chapter 7

1 EGYPT
2 ASSYRIA
3 BABYLON (LION WITH EAGLES WINGS) DAN 7:4, DAN 1:1
4 MEDO-PERSIANS (BEAR ON HIND LEGS) DAN 7:5, DAN 9:1
5 GREECE (LEOPARD 4 WINGS, 4 HEADS) DAN 7:6, DAN 11:2
6 ROME (HUGE IRON TEETH) DAN 7:7 (10 HORNS), ROM 1:6
7 REVIVED ROME (EU) DAN 7:8,19-20,23-25 10 HORNS, 10 KINGS
REV 17:9,12, 10 HORNS, 10 KINGS, 7 HILLS ROME. REV 13:1 BEAST WITH 7 HEADS. THE E.U LEADER OF WORLD GOVERNMENT DAN 2:40-45, 7:7-8,23-25,27, 8:23, REV 13:3,7,8,12,14,16

REVELATION 17:10-12
10 And there are seven kings (7TH WORLD EMPIRE IN HISTORY) five are fallen, (EGYPT, ASSYRIA, BABYLON,:MEDO-PERSIAN,GREECE and one is,(IN POWER IN JOHNS DAY-ROME) and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh,(FUTURE-REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE-EUROPEAN UNION TODAY) he must continue a short space.(7 YEARS OF WORLD DOMINATION-BUT 3 1/2 YEARS OF NEW WORLD ORDER OR ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT)
12 And the ten horns (10 WORLD TRADE BLOCS OR REGIONS) which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

REVELATION 17:12-13
12 And the ten horns (10 WORLD TRADE BLOCS-NATIONS) which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind,(WORLD SOCIALISM) and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

We shall have World Government, whether or not we like it. The only question is whether World Government will be achieved by conquest or consent.James Paul Warburg appearing before the Senate on 7th February 1950

Like a famous WWII Belgian General,Paul Henry Spock said in 1957:We need no commission, we have already too many. What we need is a man who is great enough to be able to keep all the people in subjection to himself and to lift us out of the economic bog into which we threaten to sink. Send us such a man. Be he a god or a devil, we will accept him.And today, sadly, the world is indeed ready for such a man.

DICK MORRIS-This truly creates a global economic system. From now on, don’t look to Washington for the rule making, look to Brussels.

THE CLUB OF ROME FOUNDER AURELIO PECCEI WANTS THE WORLD IN 10 REGIONAL TRADING BLOCKS

HERES WHAT THE WORLD WOULD LOOK LIKE (SINCE THERE WILL BE WORLD GOVERNMENT IN THE FUTURE)-UPDATED VERSION

01 CANADA, U.S.A, MEXICO
02 EUROPEAN UNION,WESTERN EUROPE
03 JAPAN
04 AUSTRALIA,NEW ZEALAND, S AFRICA, ISRAEL AND PACIFIC ISLANDS
05 EASTERN EUROPE
06 SOUTHERN, CENTRAL AND LATIN AMERICAS
07 NORTH AFRICA, AND MIDEAST (MOSLEMS)
08 CENTRAL AFRICA
09 SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
10 CENTRAL ASIA

THE CLUB OF ROME WANTS A WORLD CHARISMATIC DICTATOR (EITHER RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL OR SCIENTIFICAL) TO HEAD THIS WORLD GOVERNMENT. REV 13:3,7-8, DAN 7:23-24

WORLD POWERS IN THE END TIME

NORTH - RUSSIA EZEK 38:1-2, 39:1-2
SOUTH - EGYPT DAN 11:42
EAST - CHINA DAN 11:44,REV 16:12
WEST - EUROPEAN UNION DAN 7:23-24 (NOT THE U.S.A)
http://israel7777777.blogspot.ca/2012/03/10-world-trade-blocs-one-world.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2006/09/how-eu-takes-world-control.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2012/05/one-world-religion-crislam.html

FINALLY THE EUROPEAN UNION IS TALKING ABOUT HAVING THEIR OWN ARMY.AND IT MUST HAPPEN.
REVELATION 19:16-21
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.(JESUS RETURNG TO EARTH LITERALLY ON A WHITE HORSE WITH THE RAPTURED CHRISTIANS 7 YEARS EARLIER)
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.(2ND TIME GOD-JESUS TELLS THE 500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS TO GET READY TO EAT HUMAN FLESH.THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN GOD TOLD THE 500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS-TO EAT RUSSIA,GERMAN,ARAB, MUSLIM BODIES FOR 7 MONTHS IN EZEK 38 @ 39.
19 And I saw the beast,(E.U WORLD LEADER) and the kings of the earth, and their armies,(HERE IT SAYS THE E.U WILL HAVE ITS OWN ARMY) gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, (JESUS) and against his army.(RAPTURED CHRISTIANS)
20 And the beast (E.U WORLD LEADER) was taken, and with him the false prophet (POPE FRANCIS) that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

The countries most likely to join UK and France in sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine-Defence chiefs are expected to discuss the plans in Paris next week after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need for "new, substantial steps".By Jacob Paul-08:02, Fri, Mar 7, 2025 |

Up to 20 countries could join Britain and France in a European peacekeeping force if one were deployed to Ukraine in a post-war settlement. British officials have refused to reveal the exact countries joining the much-anticipated coalition but the group reportedly consists "largely of European and commonwealth partners".Several governments have publicly backed Sir Keir Starmer's plan to put boots on the ground in Ukraine. Emmanual Macron has also thrown his weigh behind a European peacekeeping force. The Prime Mininster and French President have called for a "coalition of the willing" to protect Ukraine once a deal is reached to end Russia's war. Australia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Turkey have all suggested they would be prepared to offer their soldiers. Denmark, Sweden, and Canada have not ruled out involvement.Ukrainian soldiers continue in direction of Niu YorkSome European governments appear more scepitcal but are still keen to play some kind of peacekeeping role.Poland, for example, has said it wants commitments to ramping up NATO's eastern flank before committing troops.Italy has the largest military in Europe, with around 338,000 troops. France is next with an estimated 304,000. Spain has around 199,000 soldiers, making it Europe's third-largest military, while Poland and Germany are fourth and fifth-largest, respectively.Defence leaders from the nations are expected to meet in Paris next week for a fresh round of talks.It comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly discussed the strategy with Macron at a meeting with EU leaders on Thursday.He stressed the "need for new, substantial steps" after the US paused weapons shipments following Zelensky's explosive publicly broadcast row with Donald Trump in the Oval Office.Zelensky added: "We have an absolutely clear shared vision that real and lasting peace is possible through co-operation between Ukraine, all of Europe, and the United States."Last Sunday, Sir Keir urged leaders to step up at a "once in a generation moment" for security in Europe as he unvieled a four-point plan for peace in Ukraine after meeting with counterparts at a summit.The Prime Minister announced it had been agreed "a group" will work "with Ukraine on a plan to stop the the fighting and then discuss that with the US and take it forward together".He said: "Every nation must contribute to that in the best way that it can, bringing different capabilities and support to the table, but all taking responsibility to act, all stepping up their own share of the burden. So we agreed some important steps today."First, we will keep the military aid flowing and keep increasing the economic pressure on Russia to strengthen Ukraine now."Second, we agreed that any lasting peace must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, and Ukraine must be at the table. Third, in the event of a peace deal, we will keep boosting Ukraine’s own defensive capabilities to deter any future invasion."Fourth, we will go further to develop a coalition of the willing to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee the peace. Not every nation will feel able to contribute but that can’t mean that we sit back."Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency, the UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others. Europe must do the heavy lifting."

'THE WORLD NEEDS ACTION' Keir Starmer issues stark warning to Putin & reveals military chiefs will meet in UK to thrash out Ukraine peace plans-The PM said we must be ready to deploy as a 'coalition of the willing' Summer Raemason, News Reporter-Published: 10:18, 15 Mar 2025Updated: 13:51, 15 Mar 2025

SIR Keir Starmer has issued a stark warning to Putin and reveals military chiefs will be meeting in the UK to discuss peacekeeping plans.In a press conference held today the prime minister announced leaders will meet in London on Thursday for peace deal talks.During the brief conference the PM outlined plans secure a ceasefire and affirmed Britain's "unwavering commitment" to Ukraine.Sir Kier said: "Robust and credible security arrangements are the best way to ensure that any deal ends in a lasting peace."We agreed military planners would convene again in the UK this week to progress practical plans for how our militaries can support Ukraine's future security."We will build up Ukraine's own defences and armed forces, and be ready to deploy as a 'coalition of the willing' in the event of a peace deal, to help secure Ukraine on the land, at sea and in the sky."In the event of a ceasefire, the PM emphasised the need for "strong monitoring arrangements" so that violations of the deal are identified and called out.He continued: "We agreed that in the case that President Putin refused to agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, we would need to increase our efforts to strengthen Ukraine, weaken Russia's war machine and ratchet up pressure on President Putin to convince him to come to the negotiating table."To deliver this, we will accelerate our military support, tighten our sanctions on Russia's revenues and continue to explore all lawful routes to ensure that Russia pays for the damage it has done to Ukraine."This comes as the prime minister said Vladimir Putin will “sooner or later” have to “come to the table”.The PM urged world leaders to keep up the pressure on Russia for an unconditional ceasefire.Britain's prime minister vowed to "strain every sinew" to ramp up economic pressure on Moscow until they agree to a ceasefire.Starmer has already vowed to "work around the clock" to help deliver peace to Europe.He has been Kyiv's biggest ally in recent weeks with the UK set to be a part of a crucial "coalition of the willing" meeting later today to further support Ukraine.Sir Keir Starmer hosted further talks today after warning Vladimir Putin not to play games with a proposed ceasefire.The Prime Minister held a video call with as many as 25 potential members of the "coalition of the willing", nations that could take part in any peacekeeping operation.They included leaders from Europe, Canada, Ukraine, Australia and New Zealand as well as officials from the EU commission and Nato.He said: "If (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is serious about peace, it’s very simple, he has to stop his barbaric attacks on Ukraine and agree to a ceasefire."We have to keep pushing ahead, pushing forward, and preparing for peace and a peace that will be secure and that will last.”After speaking to French president Emmanuel Macron and Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store yesterday, Sir Keir warned: "We can't allow President Putin to play games with President Trump's deal."The Kremlin's complete disregard for President Trump's ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace."It comes as Russia has continued to resist proposals for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire put forward by Ukraine and the US earlier in the week.Sir Keir added: "Putin is trying to delay, saying there must be a painstaking study before a ceasefire can take place, but the world needs to see action, not a study or empty words and pointless conditions."My message to the Kremlin could not be clearer: stop the barbaric attacks on Ukraine, once and for all, and agree to a ceasefire now. Until then we will keep working around the clock to deliver peace."Meanwhile, Donald Trump appeared more upbeat about securing a deal with mad Vlad as he boasted about having some good news on the potential ceasefire.He said he is getting "pretty good vibes out of Russia" that could save "millions of lives".The US has held "very good and productive discussions" with both Ukraine and Russia in the past 48 hours, he added.The US President teased the positive update during a speech at the Department of Justice in Washington.He told the Full Measure television programme: "I think (Putin's) going to agree. I really do. I think I know him pretty well and I think he's going to agree."But he said that it will not easy, and again claimed that Ukrainian troops in Kursk remain "surrounded" and in "grave danger".Putin has demanded the surrender of Kursk troops, asking that they lay down their weapons and give up the fight.However Ukraine's military have rejected any idea that its brave troops are being trapped as they brandished the suggestions as "false".What is the "Coalition of the Willing"? By Lydia Doye-The "Coalition of the Willing" is a coalition of countries which have all pledged their support to Ukraine.Countries in the coalition could end up sending soldiers to act as peacekeepers in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.The initiative was first presented by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on March 2, which hosted European and Canadian leaders.It is now being led by the UK and France, as part of a plan to achieve peace in Ukraine.Saturday's meeting will bring together European nations, the EU Commission, Nato, Canada, Ukraine, Australia and New Zealand.The valiant fight on the battlefield comes as talks around a ceasefire are intensifying with Trump and Putin drawing closer to holding a crunch phone call.The Russian despot met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday night as mad Vlad sent him back to Washington with a special message, the Kremlin has claimed.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed Putin and Witkoff spoke about arranging a time for the Russian leader and Trump to speak soon.A date or time is yet to be agreed as Putin wanted Witkoff to pass on some private information to Trump first.Meanwhile, one of Putin's closest cronies has attacked Britain after Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged Russia to agree to a ceasefire.Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev posted online that Lammy and Britain can "shove their idea back where it came from".He said: “UK updates Trump - Russia should accept the proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine without any conditions, says the British Foreign Secretary.“Britain and its minister can shove their idea back up where it came from, diplomatically speaking.”Ukraine's President Zelenskyy shared his thoughts on X last night.He wrote: "Today has been a day full of diplomacy and negotiations that could bring us closer to peace."Now on the table is the U.S. proposal for unconditional ceasefire in the sky, at sea, and on the frontlines."Ukraine accepts this proposal, and from here, we can begin a swift move towards guaranteed security, the end of this war and a reliable peace."Our teams worked very well at the meeting in Saudi Arabia, and contacts with the American side are ongoing."We are committed to a constructive approach. And it is still crucial to pressure Russia into being constructive, to put an end all these Russian manipulations that could only prolong the war."I am grateful to everyone who is supporting Ukraine now and our efforts toward peace."Today, I heard many right words about the need to end the war. I heard a lot of approval for Ukraine’s position."We continue our work to unite everyone who can truly help, who can strengthen diplomacy and bring peace closer."What have world leaders said about the ceasefire? By Lydia Doye-Putin said on Friday that the situation is starting to move.The Russian leader flattered Trump and said: "We know that the new administration headed by President Trump is doing everything to restore at least something of what was basically destroyed by the previous US administration."Trump responded by hinting at some good news, and said he had "very good and productive discussions" with both Russia and Ukraine.Meanwhile, Zelensky said he sees a "good chance" for an end to the war.But he stressed that "only decisive actions can end this war".Starmer echoed Zelensky's messaged and called on Putin to stop playing games.Starmer spoke ahead of his "Coalition of the Willing" meeting and said he would work around the clock to achieve peace.News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. View our online Press Pack. For other inquiries, Contact Us. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)

Opinion-Conrad Black: We must throw Carney out of office at first chance-Sat, March 15, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. EDT.

I recently received the following series of rhetorical exhortations from a friend who, like many Canadians, is unable to discuss President Donald Trump rationally. He wrote: “Imagine America deporting an academic from Columbia University for criticizing Israel. Imagine a President who repeats every morning that he is at war with Canada with the intent to achieve Anschluss. Imagine an American population that stands meekly by as its president acts as a dictator, internally and globally, no check, no balance, no accountability. Compare the quality of leadership in America with that of Russia and China these days.”The accusation against the individual in question is that his espousal of the virtues of Hamas, his violation of his attested purpose of being in the United States, (he is a graduate and has nothing else to do with Columbia now), and some of his incitements in what appears to be a constant occupation of haranguing antisemitic malcontents, is a violation of the terms of his admission and entitles the U.S. government to remove him. The matter will be determined by the courts.President Trump has never stated that he is at war with Canada and the invocation of Hitler’s seizure of Austria in the Anschluss of 1938, (which unfortunately was welcomed by most Austrians), is a defamatory and scurrilous outrage. It is perhaps the most imaginative adaptation of the entire Democratic Party 2024 campaign playbook of comparing Trump to Hitler, for which the Democrats were properly rewarded with a bone-crushing defeat. Anyone who imagines that there are any conceivable circumstances in which the United States would resort to military force against Canada is in desperate need of profound psychiatric counselling. Given the collapsed state of our public health-care system, (which the transitioning leaders of the federal Liberal party constantly tell us is indicative of our moral and practical superiority over the United States), it is hard to imagine that my febrile friend will find the medical attention he badly needs.Donald Trump has been the subject of the greatest perversions of the Constitution of the United States and particularly the Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the Bill of Rights of any president in the history of that country. He has not in any respect exceeded the constitutional powers of the presidency. A number of his initiatives have been legally challenged and are working their way through the appeal process. The clause: “no check, no balance, no accountability” is a perfectly accurate description of the clangorous nonsense about Trump that this country has swallowed. Trump wants to adjust tariffs with this and other countries. His reference to the 51st state is designed to be annoying, but was caused by our failure to pay for our own defence for the past 30 years, our steady trade surplus (which Trump exaggerates but Justin Trudeau did not know enough to dispute), and because Trudeau suggested Canada would collapse if U.S. tariffs were raised. Of course it won’t and if necessary we will show Trump that. But can we please have the maturity not to compare him with Hitler? We’re talking about tariffs, not world war and millions of innocent victims of death camps.It is hard to imagine that any rational adult Canadian believes that Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are more capable and successful leaders than Trump. Putin unleashed an aggressive war, which has caused the displacement of more than 10 million people and probably at least 1.25 million casualties, most of them his own countrymen and most of those combat deaths. When some of the mercenaries that he has engaged defected from the front lines and marched on Moscow, they were greeted with enthusiasm by the Russian people. Putin routinely murders his domestic political opponents. Russia is suffering from acute economic hardship, chronic alcoholism, a steadily shrinking population, and its only geostrategic relevance to the world is the possibility of it becoming a basket of natural resources for the delectation of China. In defiance of all historic Russian nationalist logic, Putin is throwing his country into a desperate embrace with China. He has been reduced to dependence on the antediluvian tyrannies of Iran and North Korea and whatever happens, his war in Ukraine has been a disaster — Russia’s worst military fiasco since the Russo Japanese War (1905). He has conspicuously failed to subdue a vastly smaller and more vulnerable country that Russia had ruled for 300 years.Chinese President Xi is now presiding over a country that is economically stagnant, debt-ridden and precarious. Where 10 years ago it was impossible to set foot out of doors without some passer-by telling you that China was about to surpass the United States as the world’s greatest economy, there is no suggestion of that now. The Chinese minister of defence, a number of prominent Chinese Communist Party grandees and financial magnates have abruptly disappeared over the last few years. China has alienated all of its neighbours and caused India, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Indonesia to group together with Australia, New Zealand, and the United States in an informal revival of the Cold War containment strategy that was so successful opposite the Soviet Union.Because there is such widespread ignorance of Asian history in the West it is assumed that ancient China has a sophisticated foreign policy, but under Xi, exactly the reverse is true. The famous Belt and Road Initiative, which the Sinophilic cheering section was touting as the wave of the future, has not created any prosperity for those who have participated in it and has squandered immense sums of money that the Chinese government does not have. The fact that Mark Carney has suggested the Chinese yuan could serve as a world reserve currency merely indicates the intellectual bankruptcy of the incoming prime minister, rather than any justified commendation of the totalitarian dictatorship of the so-called People’s Republic, which remains a largely command economy, is the world’s most authoritarian despotism and claims it can find anyone in the vast population in ten minutes because of its ubiquitous monitoring apparatus.Can we please come to our senses and assure that the coming election is about the failure of the Trudeau government and the authoritarian socialist and irrational environmental opinions of Mark Carney? Donald Trump is a foreign leader and we will deal with him from a position of strength, provided we have a serious government.

The Canadian Press-Trump demands unprecedented control at Columbia, alarming scholars and speech groups-Collin Binkley And Jake Offenhartz-Fri, March 14, 2025 at 9:25 p.m. EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration brushed aside decades of precedent when it ordered Columbia University to oust the leadership of an academic department, a demand seen as a direct attack on academic freedom and a warning of what’s to come for other colleges facing federal scrutiny.Federal officials told the university it must immediately place its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department under “academic receivership for a minimum of five years.” The demand was among several described as conditions for receiving federal funding, including $400 million already pulled over allegations of antisemitism.Across academia, it was seen as a stunning intrusion.“It’s an escalation of a kind that is unheard of,” said Joan Scott, a historian and member of the academic freedom committee of the American Association of University Professors. “Even during the McCarthy period in the United States, this was not done.”President Donald Trump has been threatening to withhold federal funding from colleges that do not get in line with his agenda, from transgender athletes’ participating in women’s sports to diversity, equity and inclusion programs. On Friday, his administration announced investigations into 52 universities as part of his DEI crackdown.But he has held particular fervor for Columbia, the Ivy League campus where a massive pro-Palestinian protest movement began with a tent encampment last spring. Officials continued to ratchet up pressure on the school Friday, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche saying the Justice Department is investigating whether it hid students sought by the U.S. over their roles in the demonstrations.Trump and other officials have accused the protesters as being “pro-Hamas,” referring to the militant group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.The letter also demands that Columbia ban masks on campus meant to conceal the wearer’s identity “or intimidate others,” adopt a new definition of antisemitism, abolish its current process for disciplining students and deliver a plan to ”reform undergraduate admissions, international recruiting, and graduate admissions practices.”The letter “obliterates the boundary between institutional autonomy and federal control,” said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education.For generations, the federal government has given colleges space to manage their own affairs, within the constraints of federal law. The Supreme Court has long treated academic freedom as an extension of the First Amendment. Higher education leaders say autonomy is what sets America’s colleges apart and makes them a destination for top international scholars.Trump has never hidden his contempt for the country’s most prestigious colleges, and he’s aggressively pressing his will. The federal government has almost never used its authority to cut off money from schools and colleges. But along with the initial action at Columbia, a Trump administration letter sent Monday to 60 colleges promised that penalty if they fail to make their campuses safer for Jewish students.Still, few predicted the Trump administration would pursue the type of control it’s demanding at Columbia.Putting an academic department under receivership is “beyond the authority of the federal government and would violate academic freedom and the First Amendment,” said Erwin Chemerinsky, a constitutional law scholar and dean of the Berkeley School of Law.“It is chilling to see the government try to control universities in this way,” he said.Academic receivership is a rarely used practice that puts an academic department under the oversight of a professor or administrator outside the department. It’s sometimes used to reset a department in financial or political turmoil.The letter didn’t specify who should take control of the department at Columbia. Scott, of the AAUP, said the department appeared to be singled out because it was viewed as being overly critical of Israel.“Receivership is a nice way of basically saying get rid of the department,” Scott said.The Trump administration announced last week it was pulling $400 million in contracts from Columbia and reviewing another $5 billion in grants over complaints of antisemitism. The cuts have already affected research studies at Columbia’s medical center, which has long relied on grants from the National Institutes of Health.U.S. government agencies said they made the cuts because of the school’s "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.” Some Jewish groups and the president's supporters have argued the government should be free to condition funding to colleges as it does other entities.The university said it’s reviewing the Trump administration’s letter. “We are committed at all times to advancing our mission, supporting our students, and addressing all forms of discrimination and hatred on our campus,” it said in a statement.Meanwhile, it’s leaving college leaders across the U.S. on edge. Mitchell, of the American Council on Education, said college presidents he spoke with were aghast at the letter.“It doesn’t matter whether they’re in red states or blue states or whether they’re religious institutions or sectarian institutions. This is not the government’s role,” he said.The letter was condemned by some faculty members and free speech groups.“Half of this stuff you can’t just do and the other half is insane,” said Joseph Howley, a Columbia professor of classics. “If the federal government can show up and demand a university department be shut down or restructured, then we don’t have universities in this country.”The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression called it “a blueprint to supercharge censorship” at colleges.“Our colleges need to protect free expression and comply with anti-discrimination laws, but important civil rights investigations cannot be resolved by ad hoc directives from the government,” said Tyler Coward, the group’s lead counsel for government affairs. ___Binkley reported from Washington, D.C.___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.Collin Binkley And Jake Offenhartz, The Associated Press

The Canadian Press-Head of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has been killed, Iraqi prime minister says-Qassim Abdul-zahra-Fri, March 14, 2025 at 10:28 p.m. EDT

BAGHDAD (AP) — The head of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has been killed in Iraq in an operation by members of the Iraqi national intelligence service along with U.S.-led coalition forces, the Iraqi prime minister announced Friday.“The Iraqis continue their impressive victories over the forces of darkness and terrorism,” Prime Minister Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, or “Abu Khadija,” was “deputy caliph” of the militant group and as “one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world," the statement said.On his Truth Social platform Friday night, U.S. President Donald Trump said: “Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters” in coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdish regional government.“PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!” Trump posted.A security official said the operation was carried out by an airstrike in Anbar province, in western Iraq. A second official said the operation took place Thursday night but that al-Rifai's death was confirmed Friday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.The announcement came on the same day as the first visit by Syria’s top diplomat to Iraq, during which the two countries pledged to work together to combat IS.Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein said at a news conference that “there are common challenges facing Syrian and Iraqi society, and especially the terrorists of IS.” He said the officials had spoken “in detail about the movements of ISIS, whether on the Syrian-Iraqi border, inside Syria or inside Iraq” during the visit.Hussein referred to an operations room formed by Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon at a recent meeting in Amman to confront IS, and said it would soon begin work.The relationship between Iraq and Syria is somewhat fraught after the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad. Al-Sudani came to power with the support of a coalition of Iran-backed factions, and Tehran was a major backer of Assad. The current interim president of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharaa, was previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani and fought as an al-Qaida militant in Iraq after the U.S. invasion of 2003, and later fought against Assad's government in Syria.But Syrian interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani focused on the historic ties between the two countries.“Throughout history, Baghdad and Damascus have been the capitals of the Arab and Islamic world, sharing knowledge, culture and economy,” he said.Strengthening the partnership between the two countries “will not only benefit our peoples, but will also contribute to the stability of the region, making us less dependent on external powers and better able to determine our own destiny,” he said.The operation and the visit come at a time when Iraqi officials are anxious about an IS resurgence in the wake of the fall of Assad in Syria.While Syria’s new rulers - led by the Islamist former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham - have pursued IS cells since taking power, some fear a breakdown in overall security that could allow the group to stage a resurgence.The U.S. and Iraq announced an agreement last year to wind down the military mission in Iraq of an American-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group by September 2025, with U.S. forces departing some bases where they have stationed troops during a two-decade-long military presence in the country.When the agreement was reached to end the coalition’s mission in Iraq, Iraqi political leaders said the threat of IS was under control and they no longer needed Washington’s help to beat back the remaining cells.But the fall of Assad in December led some to reassess that stance, including members of the Coordination Framework, a coalition of mainly Shiite, Iran-allied political parties that brought current Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani to power in late 2022.———-Associated Press staff writer Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report.Qassim Abdul-zahra, The Associated Press.

The Canadian Press-Russia and Ukraine trade overnight aerial attacks after Putin sets out conditions for ceasefire-Samya Kullab-Sat, March 15, 2025 at 11:31 a.m. EDT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia and Ukraine traded heavy aerial blows overnight, with both sides reporting Saturday more than 100 enemy drones over their respective territories.The attacks comes less than 24 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss details of the American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine.Putin told a press conference on Thursday that he supported a truce in principle but set out a host of details that need to be clarified before it is agreed. Kyiv has already endorsed the truce proposal, although Ukrainian officials have publicly raised doubts as to whether Moscow will commit to such a deal.Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Saturday, after virtual talks between Western allies hosted by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Zelenskyy voiced Ukraine’s support for the 30-day full ceasefire proposal to discuss a longer-term peace plan, but said Russia would attempt to derail talks with conditions and “buts”.Starmer has told allies to “keep the pressure” on Putin to back a ceasefire in Ukraine, hailing Ukraine as the “party of peace.” Starmer said Putin will “sooner or later” have to “come to the table.In a statement earlier on Saturday, Zelenskyy had accused Moscow of building up forces along the border.“The build up of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy. It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war,” he said.However, Zelenskyy stressed that if Russia did not agree with the U.S. proposal there would be “specific, harsh and straightforward” response from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.He also said that Kyiv’s troops were maintaining their presence in Russia’s Kursk region after Trump said Friday that “thousands” of Ukrainian troops had been surrounded by the Russian military.“The operation of our forces in the designated areas of the Kursk region continues,” Zelenskyy said. “Our troops continue to hold back Russian and North Korean groupings in the Kursk region. There is no encirclement of our troops.”Ukraine’s air force said Saturday that Russia had launched a barrage of 178 drones and two ballistic missiles over the country overnight. The attack was a mixture of Shahed-type drones and imitation drones designed to confuse air defenses. Some 130 drones were shot down, while 38 more failed to reach their targets.Russia attacked energy facilities, causing significant damage, striking energy infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, Ukraine’s private energy company DTEK said in a statement on Saturday. Some residents were left without electricity.“The damage is significant. Energy workers are already working on the ground. We are doing everything possible to restore power to homes as soon as possible,” the energy firm said.Falling drone debris in Russia’s Volgograd region sparked a fire in the Krasnoarmeysky district of the city, close to a Lukoil oil refinery, according to Gov. Andrei Bocharov, who provided no further details. Nearby airports temporarily halted flights, local media outlets reported. No casualties were reported.The Volgograd refinery has been targeted by Kyiv’s forces on several occasions since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, most recently in a drone attack on Feb. 15.___ Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed to this report. ___Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-Samya Kullab, The Associated Press

Why a French nuclear attack submarine is in Halifax-CBC-Fri, March 14, 2025 at 5:10 p.m. EDT-James Liddell

A French nuclear-powered attack submarine, the FS Tourville, surfaced in Halifax, Nova Scotia earlier this week, sparking baseless rumors it was in response to Donald Trump’s annexation threats towards Canada.The submarine's arrival is actually related to Canada's C$60 billion ($42 billion) plan to modernise its submarine fleet.The FS Tourville, a French Navy Suffren-class submarine, is equipped with advanced weaponry and designed for long-duration missions, including intelligence gathering.The visit aims to showcase French expertise and strengthen defence cooperation between France and Canada, particularly in navigating icy northern waters.Canada plans to put between six and 12 new submarines into service, with the first replacement to be delivered by 2035, and the French Naval Group is vying for the contract.

Saturday hostage rallies set to draw thousands as families end 1st week of encampment-Protests to take place as Netanyahu convenes the cabinet a day after negotiators returned from Doha; families forum slam meeting as belated: ‘The opportunity is now’By ToI Staff Today, 2:57 pm-MAR 15,25

Weekly pro-hostage deal and anti-government rallies are expected to draw thousands of people on Saturday night, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to discuss negotiations for the release of hostages with Israeli officials who returned from Doha on Friday.The rallies come a week after families and supporters began an open-ended round-the-clock encampment outside the IDF’s headquarters in Tel Aviv.As part of the encampment, families held a Friday night Shabbat dinner at Hostages Square, across the street from the headquarters’ northern gate; and on Saturday morning, the encampment’s daily jog drew hundreds of people — a large uptick in participants.The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which has invited the public to join “Operation Kirya Cordon,” will hold its central rally in the evening at Hostages Square.In a press release on the rally, the forum demanded that Israel secure a deal to return the remaining 59 hostages “in a single, immediate release.”“The opportunity is now, and there won’t be another time,” said the forum. “If an agreement is not reached soon, the living hostages may die in the tunnels, and we won’t be able to locate and return the deceased for proper burial.”The Hostages Square rally is set to feature speeches by Etty Israeli, aunt of slain captive soldier Itay Chen; Yotam Cohen, brother of captive soldier Nimrod Cohen; Liran Berman, older brother of hostage twins Gali and Ziv Berman; Hadassa Lazar, sister of Shlomo Mantzur, whose remains were returned to Israel last month as part of the Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal; Maya Shmiel, cousin of captive Eitan Horn and of Iair Horn, who was released on February 15 as part of the deal; and Nira Sharabi, wife of slain captive Yossi Sharabi and sister-in-law of Eli Sharabi, who was released on February 8.In addition to Hostages Square, dozens of smaller rallies will take place around the country, including in Jerusalem, Kiryat Gat and the Sha’ar HaNegev Junction in the south.A block away from Hostages Square, anti-government hostage families and supporters are expected to hold their weekly protest outside the Kirya’s main entrance on Begin Road.They will be joined by protesters marching from an earlier anti-government demonstration at Habima Square, which will highlight “Qatargate” — the investigation of alleged ties between Netanyahu’s top aides and the Gulf state.The Habima Square protest is set to feature speeches from The Democrats chief Yair Golan, former deputy attorney general Dina Zilber, and Shikma Bressler, a prominent activist in demonstrations against the government’s overhaul plan to weaken the judiciary.The protests will take place during Netanyahu’s scheduled meeting with senior officials at his office in Jerusalem to discuss developments in the hostage-ceasefire talks. The Families Forum has slammed the premier for not meeting with officials as soon as the negotiators returned on Friday.The talks are said to be based on a “bridge proposal” by Steve Witkoff, the White House Middle East envoy, to extend the ceasefire’s first phase until April 19 and continue the exchange of living Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.Witkoff said Friday that Hamas was making a “very bad bet” if it did not accept the offer.Israel has accused Hamas of evading Witkoff’s proposal, most recently after the terror group on Thursday offered to release US-Israeli captive IDF soldier Edan Alexander and the remains of four other dual nationals. The Families Forum slammed the offer as “passport-based” discrimination.An Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel on Friday that Hamas’s offer was based on its talks with US hostages envoy Adam Boehler on March 4. The Hamas-US meeting triggered outrage in Israel, which reportedly leaked the talks’ existence in a bid to thwart them.Alexander, 20, is slated for release in a potential second phase of the hostage deal, which would see Hamas release the remaining 24 hostages still thought to be alive. All of the remaining living hostages are men abducted on October 7, 2023, when the terror group invaded southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.The 42-day first phase, which expired on March 2, saw Hamas release 33 hostages, some living and others dead, in exchange for some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, including over 270 serving life terms in connection with the murders of dozens of Israelis.The January 19 deal between Israel and Hamas was supposed to transition from phase one to phase two on March 2, with negotiations on the second stage slated to begin on day 16 of the first stage.However, for almost a month, Israel refused to hold serious negotiations on the terms of phase two, which would require Israel to withdraw from Gaza and agree to permanently end the war — a red line for Netanyahu’s right-wing flank, which has threatened to topple the government.In addition to the 24 hostages still thought to be alive, Hamas also holds the bodies of 35 captives confirmed dead by the IDF — 34 abducted in the Hamas onslaught, and Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed in the 2014 Gaza war.

French, German officials opt out after Israel invites far right to antisemitism conf.Bernard-Henri Levy and Berlin’s antisemitism czar withdraw from this month’s Jerusalem event after learning who else is on Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli’s guest list-By ToI Staff Today, 6:39 pm-MAR 15,25

French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy and two German officials have canceled their participation in an Israeli government-organized conference on combating antisemitism at the end of the month after learning that far-right European figures have been invited.The March 26-27 conference is being organized by Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli, who has worked to strengthen Israel’s relationship with Europe’s far-right parties, which Israel had long boycotted due to their ties to antisemitism and Nazism.Prominent far-right figures on the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism’s guest list include Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right French National Rally party; Marion Marechal, a far-right French Member of the European Parliament; and Hermann Tertsch, a far-right Spanish Member of the European Parliament.Levy, one of France’s most prominent public intellectuals and a staunch defender of Israel, was scheduled to be a keynote speaker at the event. But he told the French daily Le Monde that he informed President Isaac Herzog that he would not attend because of the far-right guests.Felix Klein, Germany’s antisemitism czar, told Haaretz he had been unaware of the guest list when he confirmed his attendance, and canceled after seeing who was slated to speak at the event.Volker Beck, a former Bundestag member, also announced he would not attend, writing on X: “If we associate ourselves with extreme right-wing forces, we discredit our common cause; it also goes against my personal convictions and will have a negative impact on our fight against antisemitism within our societies.

”Officials at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, which is hosting the event, told Haaretz they were “surprised to hear who the invitees were, as it was clarified that the purpose of the conference is combating antisemitism.” They added that they had not yet received a guest list but would examine it once they did.This is the first official Israeli government event to which members of Europe’s radical right have been invited.Chikli’s outspoken support for the European far-right has drawn condemnation from European countries.In December, Romania’s Ambassador to Israel condemned Chikli for holding a phone conversation with presidential candidate Calin Georgescu, who has praised Romanian leaders who oversaw the deaths of some 280,000 Jews during the Holocaust.French President Emmanuel Macron complained to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Chikli after he publicly endorsed the presidential candidacy of National Rally’s Marine Le Pen in the recent election.The National Rally, currently led by Bardella, has made efforts in recent years to disassociate itself from its antisemitic origins. “My presence in Jerusalem for this major conference against antisemitism demonstrates our absolute commitment to this fight,” Bardella told Le Journal du Dimanche.The conference is offering guests a tour of the West Bank, in which “participants shall explore the diverse aspects of life and coexistence in the region, delve into ancient biblical sites, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the region’s strategic importance.”Other notable attendees include Herzog, Netanyahu, Argentine President Javier Milei, Anti-Defamation League head Jonathan Greenblatt, and evangelist Mike Evans.Notably, no members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party were invited. The far-right faction made significant gains in last month’s national election, coming in second in the polls.

ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 526-At least 9 said killed in IDF strike in north Gaza; 2 killed in Lebanon strike-Israel says it targeted terror operatives in Strip, while Palestinians say aid workers, journalists among dead; IDF says Hezbollah member hit in the north-By Emanuel Fabian-and Agencies Today, 4:43 pm-MAR 15,25

At least nine people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya on Saturday, Palestinian media reported.The Shehab news agency cited the Palestinian Journalists Protection Center (PJPC) as saying that three journalists were among the dead.The IDF confirmed carrying out the strikes, saying it targeted terror operatives “that posed a threat to IDF troops in the area.”Meanwhile, Lebanese media reported an Israeli drone strike on a car in the southern town of Borj al-Mlouk, located just north of the Israeli border town of Metula. Two people were killed in the strike, Lebanese media said.The IDF confirmed carrying out that airstrike as well, saying it targeted a Hezbollah operative who was “engaged in terror activity.”In Gaza, medics said the strike hit a car, with several people critically injured and casualties inside and outside the vehicle.Witnesses told Reuters that the people in the car were with the Al-Khair Foundation in Beit Lahiya, and that they were accompanied by journalists and photographers at the time of the strike.The IDF has said in the past that the Al-Khair Foundation, a Muslim non-profit based in Britain and Turkey, is an aid group that transfers funds to terror groups in Gaza “under the guise of humanitarian activity” and that the organization has employed at least one senior Hamas official.The IDF said it identified “two terrorists operating a drone that posed a threat to IDF troops in the area.” The two operatives were targeted in a strike, and a short while later, “a number of additional terrorists collected the drone operating equipment and entered a vehicle,” the military said.The group of operatives that had collected the equipment was targeted in a second strike, the IDF added.One of those killed in the strike was named by Palestinian reports as Mahmoud Isleem, a drone photographer who has worked for Turkey’s Anadolu news agency.In a statement, the Hamas terror group said the strikes were a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire.Earlier Saturday, the IDF said it carried out a strike against three terror operatives who were spotted trying to plant bombs in the ground in the Netzarim Corridor area of the central Gaza Strip, close to where troops were operating.Israeli forces are still deployed to a buffer zone along the Gaza border amid the ceasefire, and the IDF has repeatedly warned Palestinians against approaching the area.In Lebanon, the military said it “struck a Hezbollah terrorist who took part in terrorist activity in the area of Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon.”The strikes in Lebanon and Gaza come amid ceasefires on both war fronts, but Israel has said it will continue to act against terror operatives who are in breach of the truces and who pose a threat to its forces.A November 27, 2024, truce in Lebanon largely halted more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. The fighting came after the terror group attacked Israel on October 8, 2023, in support of ally Hamas, which invaded from Gaza a day earlier. The persistent rocket fire from Lebanon displaced some 60,000 Israeli civilians.Last month, Israel withdrew all its forces from southern Lebanon, except from five strategic points, saying it had received a green light from the US to remain at those posts and citing the need to prevent Hezbollah from returning to the area and threatening Israel.In Gaza, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal that began on January 19, which has seen 33 Israelis returned. Talks are underway to potentially extend the first phase or move to the second stage of the agreement, although Israel has said there could be a return to fighting.

Woman lightly hurt by celebratory gunfire as Syrian Druze visit nearby tomb in Israel-Incident condemned by Druze leadership: ‘Whoever shoots is not one of us’; local residents say police stood by and didn’t take action-By ToI Staff and AFP Today, 11:44 am-MAR 15,25

A woman was lightly injured by celebratory gunfire on Friday night as dozens of Syrian Druze clerics visited a revered shrine in northern Israel, the Kan public broadcaster reported.As the delegation visited Israel for their community’s first pilgrimage to the tomb of Nabi Shuaib near Tiberias in the Galilee since Israel’s creation in 1948, a number of nearby communities reported shooting in the air.Residents of the northern Israel communities told the outlet that their properties were damaged by the gunfire and accused police of standing by and not taking action. There was no comment from police on the incident.“We understand the sentiments of the celebrants, but there is also concern because, for the first time, dozens of people from Syria are being brought here, and we know nothing about them,” an unnamed resident told Kan.With the delegation set to visit the Druze town of Peki’in on Saturday, the spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, Sheikh Muafak Tarif, has warned against any further gunfire and condemned the Friday night incident, Kan said.The broadcaster said a warning was issued by the Druze leadership ahead of the visit, reading: “Whoever dares to shoot in Peki’in is actually shooting at us. Whoever shoots is not one of us.”On Friday, three buses carrying the Syrian clerics crossed the armistice line at Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights and headed to northern Israel, escorted by military vehicles.Followers of the esoteric monotheistic faith are mainly divided between Syria, Lebanon and Israel.A source close to the delegation said that the visit followed an invitation from the Druze community in Israel but had been met with “strong opposition” from other Druze in Syria.The Druze account for about three percent of Syria’s population and are heavily concentrated in the southern province of Sweida.In Israel, there are around 150,000 Druze, with most of those living in Israel holding Israeli citizenship and serving in the army.However, of the some 23,000 living in the Golan Heights, most do not hold Israeli citizenship and still see themselves as Syrian nationals.Israel seized much of the strategic Golan Heights from Syria in a war in 1967, later annexing the area in 1981 in a move recognized by the US in 2019 but not by most of the international community.The pilgrimage comes as Israel has voiced support for Syria’s Druze and mistrust of the country’s new Islamist leaders.Following the ousting of longtime Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December, Israel carried out hundreds of airstrikes on Syria and sent troops into the demilitarized buffer zone of the Golan in southwest Syria.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that southern Syria must be completely demilitarized, warning that his government would not accept the presence of the forces of the new Islamist-led government near its territory.During a visit to military outposts in the UN-patrolled buffer zone between Israel and Syria on Tuesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israel would remain in the area and ensure the protection of the Druze.In early March, following a deadly clash between government-linked forces and Druze fighters in the suburbs of Damascus, Katz said Israel would not allow Syria’s new rulers “to harm the Druze.” Druze leaders immediately rejected Katz’s warning and declared their loyalty to a united Syria.

Trump administration weighs travel ban or restrictions for dozens of countries-New York Times reports Bhutan on 43-nation list for unclear reasons, Russians may also see some limits-By ToI Staff and Reuters Today, 11:19 am-MAR 15,25

The Trump administration is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, The New York Times reported Friday.US officials told the outlet that the 43 countries impacted would be divided into three separate groups, with different levels of restrictions.The first group of 11 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Cuba, North Korea and Bhutan, among others, would be set for a full visa suspension. It was unclear why Bhutan was on the list, the report said.In the second group, 10 countries, including Russia, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan, would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas, as well as other immigrant visas. Business travelers from countries on that list could be allowed to enter the US.The report noted that the potential inclusion of Russia on the list came as US President Donald Trump was resetting relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow.In the third group, countries that include Belarus, Pakistan, St. Lucia and Turkmenistan, among others, would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance if their governments did not make efforts to address perceived deficiencies within 60 days, the report said.The Times said it was unclear if the ban would impact people from those countries who already hold visas, or if it would only be for new permits.US officials speaking on the condition of anonymity told the newspaper that the list had been created a number of weeks ago and could see changes.The move harkens back to Trump’s first-term ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the US to detect national security threats.That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their “vetting and screening information is so deficient.”Trump’s directive is part of an immigration crackdown he launched at the start of his second term.He previewed his plan in an October 2023 speech, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and “anywhere else that threatens our security.”Shift was planned, at Trump's request, before Hamas talks were leaked.

Boehler pulls his nomination to serve as US presidential envoy for hostage affairs-US official tells ToI that Adam Boehler will continue to assist Witkoff’s efforts to secure the release of hostages from Gaza, amid anger in Israel over his direct talks with Hamas-By Jacob Magid-Today, 5:05 am-MAR 15,25

Adam Boehler has withdrawn his nomination to serve as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, a senior US official told The Times of Israel on Friday, clarifying that he will continue to manage the file, which deals with efforts to release Americans wrongfully detained or held captive worldwide, but from a lower-level position that does not require Senate confirmation.Boehler will continue to work on the issue on behalf of US President Donald Trump and in particular will keep assisting special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff’s efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages from Gaza, a second US official told The Times of Israel.The second US official said Trump asked Boehler to report to him as a special government employee at White House instead of the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs (SPEHA) role he was originally tapped to fill because the latter position “comes with red tape” that the administration would prefer to avoid.But the move was announced as Jerusalem still reels over the unprecedented direct talks Boehler held with Hamas in recent weeks, which were aimed largely at securing the release of dual US-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander and four slain dual US-Israeli citizens held hostage in Gaza.The talks were completely coordinated with Witkoff, but Israel was not fully informed ahead of time and has directed its ire at Boehler since learning about the meetings and leaking them to the press on March 4, the senior US official said.According to the first US official, Boehler began preparing to withdraw his nomination several weeks ago, before the secret talks with Hamas were revealed.Boehler sought to calm concerns in Israel over the talks with Hamas during a series of interviews on Sunday, but his comments defending the talks and sometimes dismissing Israeli objections further enraged Jerusalem.Among the remarks that prompted Israeli anger were Boehler’s contention that “the most productive [approach] is to realize that every piece of a person is a human and to identify with the human elements of those people and then build from there,” and his repeated references to Israeli hostages as “prisoners” — while at the same appearing to describe Palestinian prisoners as “hostages.”Boehler also said that while he understood the concerns of Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, “I don’t really care about that that much — no offense to Dermer.”“We’re the United States. We’re not an agent of Israel,” Boehler declared.Dermer, who is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top confidant, lobbied US officials to sideline Boehler from involvement on the Israel file, and Israeli frustrations were also voiced to Senate Republicans, some of whom took Jerusalem’s side and expressed their own concerns to the White House, the senior US official said.Trump appointed Boehler to serve as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs back in January, but his confirmation hearing had yet to be scheduled.Boehler will continue to deal with hostage affairs, but with the title of special government employee, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told The Times of Israel.“Adam played a critical role in negotiating the return of Marc Fogel from Russia,” Kelly continued. “He will continue this important work to bring wrongfully detained individuals around the world home.”“Adam Boehler is President Trump’s Special Envoy and will continue his work to bring all Americans home through a whole-of-government approach. President Trump is following through on his promise to Americans and Adam is committed to his agenda,” a third US official told The Times of Israel.As special presidential envoy for hostage affairs (SPEHA), Boehler would only have been legally mandated to assist in efforts to secure the release of hostages and wrongfully detained Americans. Those categories do not include thousands of other Americans worldwide who are held abroad for other reasons or who do not fit into the legal definition of hostages or those wrongfully detained.Those who do not fall within the SPEHA mandate include 23 Americans who have been held in Kuwait for years on drug offenses. Given that he has not been confirmed as SPEHA, Boehler was able to play a key role in securing their release, with six of them returning to the US two days ago.Involvement in such an effort would have been more legally complicated had Boehler been confirmed as SPEHA.“President Trump’s mission of bringing all Americans home expands beyond the SPEHA mandate and involves coordination across government agencies,” the second US official said.While Boehler’s appointment to the new special government employee post has not yet been formally announced by the Trump administration, the new role “will add, not subtract, to the work Adam is doing to bring Americans home,” the second US official said.Witkoff has yet to publicly comment on Boehler’s status in the administration. He has worked this week to advance talks with Hamas on the original track in which Egypt and Qatar serve as mediators between the US and Israel.Witkoff on Friday dismissed as disingenuous a Hamas offer to release Edan Alexander — who is the last known living American-Israeli hostage — and the remains of four unidentified dual nationals. The envoy called on Hamas to instead accept his “bridge proposal” that would extend the ceasefire deal’s first phase and see Hamas release living hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.A senior Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel that Hamas’s offer Friday morning was based on what the Palestinian terrorist organization discussed with Boehler on March 4. At the time, Hamas held off on agreeing to the terms that were then being discussed.Though Hamas’s statement did not specify the nationalities of the slain hostages slated for release along with Alexander, the Arab diplomat who spoke to The Times of Israel said they were the four remaining American-Israelis in captivity — Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai and Judy Weinstein.Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

Rubio declares South African envoy ‘persona non grata’: He hates Trump and US-Ssecretary of state calls Ebrahim Rasool, a harsh critic of Israel who has backed his country’s ICC genocide case, a ‘race-baiting politician’By Reuters and ToI Staff Today, 2:33 am-MAR 15,25

WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday declared Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s ambassador to the US, persona non grata, calling the envoy a “race-baiting politician” who hates America and President Donald Trump.“South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country,” Rubio said in a post on social media platform X. “We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA,” Rubio said.Rasool had presented his credentials to former President Joe Biden on January 13, marking the start of the envoy’s tenure, according to the South African embassy’s website, which said this was Rasool’s second stint in Washington.The US State Department and South Africa’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Ties between the United States and South Africa have deteriorated since Trump cut US financial aid to the country, citing disapproval of its land policy and of its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Washington’s ally Israel over the war with Hamas in Gaza, a probe that Rasool has voiced support for.In a Semafor report earlier this week, a South African cited Rasool’s strident criticism of Israel — with the news site describing him as one of the South African government’s “most ardent pro-Palestine voices” — as the reason for his struggle to secure meetings with US officials.He has also appeared to express support for Hamas, posting a photo to Facebook in September 2023 of a scarf that he said was signed by the terror group’s then leader Ismail Haniyeh and which he received during an “ITI programme with Hamas to share strategic wisdom in the face of Arab ‘normalisation,’ further Israeli occupation , & US approval.”Trump has said, without citing evidence, that “South Africa is confiscating land” and that “certain classes of people” are being treated “very badly.”South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, who is close to Trump, has said white South Africans have been the victims of “racist ownership laws.”South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law a bill in January aimed at making it easier for the state to expropriate land in the public interest, in some cases without compensating the owner. He has defended the policy and said the government had not confiscated any land. The policy was aimed at evening out racial disparities in land ownership in the Black-majority nation, he said.

Protesters urge intifada, declare: 'Resistance is glorious' Another Columbia anti-Israel protester arrested, 3rd ‘self-deports’, US feds say-Arrest comes after detention of university activist Mahmoud Khalil sets off widespread uproar; federal agents visit campus housing; hundreds protest outside college gates-By Luke Tress 14 March 2025, 11:36 pm

NEW YORK — A Palestinian student protester at New York’s Columbia University has been arrested, and another whose visa was revoked “self-deported,” the US Department of Homeland Security said on Friday.The announcement came after federal agents last Saturday detained a campus protest leader, Mahmoud Khalil, setting off furious backlash. The arrests are part of a wider crackdown on anti-Israel activism on US campuses by the Trump administration.The department said Friday that Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was arrested by Newark, New Jersey, immigration officers for overstaying an expired student visa.Her visa expired in January 2022 due to “lack of attendance,” the statement said, adding that Kordia was arrested after partaking in “pro-Hamas protests” at Columbia in April 2024. Around that time, activists took over a campus building and held an unauthorized protest encampment.The other student, Ranjani Srinivasan, from India, had her visa revoked on March 5 for “supporting Hamas and terrorist activities,” the Department of Homeland Security said. Srinivasan was a doctoral student in urban planning at Columbia on a student visa. She used a US Customs and Border Protection app to “self-deport” on Tuesday, the department said.“It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live and study in the United States of America. When you advocate for violence and terrorism that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday told reporters at a meeting in Canada that the administration intends to revoke more student visas.On Thursday, federal agents visited two university residences but did not make any arrests, the interim university president, Katrina Armstrong, said in a campus email. Armstrong said she was “heartbroken.”Khalil’s detention has set off widespread uproar and daily protests in New York, including on Friday, when several hundred protesters gathered outside Columbia in support of Khalil.The protesters chanted, “Intifada people’s war” and “Resistance is glorious.”“It is right to rebel, Columbia go to hell,” they chanted.Crowd chants “resistance is glorious” outside Columbia pic.twitter.com/mM8mozyjXx— Luke Tress (@luketress) March 14, 2025The protest took place off campus on Broadway Ave., outside Columbia’s main gate. The campus is only accessible to those with a Columbia ID.It was not clear how many of the protesters were students. Many had their faces covered with masks or keffiyehs. They held signs that said “Free Mahmoud” and “The people want the fall of the regime.”Police set up metal barricades all around the protest area. Two helicopters hovered overhead, and onlookers watched from balconies and windows on campus.The demonstration was backed by an array of Muslim and anti-Israel activist groups.The coalition of Columbia protest groups, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, on Friday posted photos of an “anonymous submission” showing red paint splattered on the Columbia president’s mansion alongside graffiti that said “Free them all” and an inverted triangle, a Hamas symbol.Also Friday, the US Justice Department said it was looking into what it said were possible violations of terrorism laws during the protests at Columbia. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the investigation was part of President Donald Trump’s “mission to end antisemitism in this country,” calling it a pushback that was “long overdue.”On Thursday, federal officials sent a letter to university leaders outlining steps Columbia must take to secure its federal funding. The Trump administration cut $400 million in funding for Columbia last week over campus antisemitism and threatened billions more.The letter said the university must enact discipline against student protesters, institute a mask ban, adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, create a plan for admissions reform, and put the academic department covering the Middle East under academic receivership, meaning an outside figure, not from the department’s faculty, would take the helm of the department.Amid the pressure from the administration, Columbia on Thursday said it had expelled, suspended and revoked the degrees of students who forcibly took over the campus building last year. There were no details about the number of students punished.Columbia University Apartheid Divest claimed that 22 students had been sanctioned.Khalil, originally from Syria, is a green card holder and a recent graduate. He was a leader of the Columbia University Apartheid Divest and was detained outside his home in New York on Saturday.The White House has said Khalil is being deported for distributing pro-Hamas propaganda. Days before his detention, he attended a protest at Barnard where activists distributed Hamas material. Federal immigration laws prohibit non-citizens from espousing support for terror groups. Columbia University Apartheid Divest, for which he served as an organizer and spokesperson, in the past also voiced support for terror groups and violence.Khalil’s supporters say he is being persecuted for his activism, in violation of free speech protections. He has not been charged with a crime.In a Thursday court filing, Khalil’s lawyers said he was a Palestinian who grew up in Syria. When the war broke out in Syria, his family was displaced and is now dispersed in Europe and West Asia. Khalil entered the US on a student visa in 2022 to pursue a graduate degree at Columbia, completing the program in December.Khalil became a lawful permanent resident in 2024 and is married to a US citizen who is pregnant with their first child.He previously worked at a British embassy, interned with the United Nations, and has Algerian citizenship, the court filing said. He was a leader of the protest encampment last spring, serving as a mediator between the protesters and the university administration.The Thursday court filing was an amended complaint that came after a judge ordered Khalil to be allowed phone calls with his lawyers. Khalil told his lawyers he “felt as though he was being kidnapped” as federal agents gave him little information while he was whisked across the country to the detention facility where he is being held in Louisiana.Khalil’s legal team is pushing for his release in a federal court in Manhattan.Reuters contributed to this report.

Witkoff: Hamas has deadline for accepting 'bridge' proposal-Citing its private demands, Witkoff rejects Hamas offer to free Edan Alexander, 4 dead hostages-Dismissed by Israel, Hamas terms said to be belated response to its aborted direct talks with US; Trump envoy reveals details of his ‘bridge’ proposal; Rubio calls Hamas ‘savages’By Jacob Magid-Today, 12:56 am-MAR 15,25

White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Friday dismissed as disingenuous a Hamas offer earlier in the day to release captive soldier Edan Alexander — the last known living American-Israeli hostage — and the remains of four unidentified dual nationals.Rather than accepting his own “bridge proposal,” Witkoff said in a statement, “Unfortunately, Hamas has chosen to respond by publicly claiming flexibility while privately making demands that are entirely impractical without a permanent ceasefire.”“Through our Qatari and Egyptian partners,” he explained, “Hamas was told in no uncertain terms that this ‘bridge’ would have to be implemented soon — and that dual US-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander would have to be released immediately.”With its response, “Hamas is making a very bad bet that time is on its side. It is not. Hamas is well aware of the deadline, and should know that we will respond accordingly if that deadline passes,” the top Trump aide warned without elaborating.Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday denounced Hamas as “savages” and said they should be treated as such.A senior Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel that Hamas’s proposal Friday morning was based on what the Palestinian terrorist organization discussed with US hostage envoy Adam Boehler on March 4. At the time, Hamas held off on agreeing to the proposal.Israel was furious about being left in the dark on the direct US-Hamas talks, and leaked their existence later that day, a US official told The Times of Israel earlier this week. On Friday, Israel slammed Hamas’s delayed agreement as a ploy to avoid committing to Witkoff’s proposal to extend the ceasefire’s first phase, which expired March 2, until April 19.The rare statement issued by Witkoff on Friday indicated that Hamas’s response to Boehler may have come too late for Washington, which was now taking a harder line on Hamas.Witkoff went public with many of the key terms of his own “bridge proposal,” submitted to negotiators in Doha on Wednesday.Accepting Israel’s stance, Witkoff’s “bridge proposal” would extend the ceasefire deal’s first phase and see Hamas release living hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. He did not specify how many living hostages or how many Palestinian security prisoners.Numerous reports have suggested that the Witkoff proposal requires Hamas to release five living hostages and the remains of 10 others, but this has not been confirmed. Israel has reportedly pushed for more living hostages. There are believed to be 24 living hostages in Gaza, as well as 35 confirmed by Israel to be dead.Witkoff revealed that he and National Security Council Mideast director Eric Trager arrived in Doha on Wednesday to present the “bridge proposal” to extend the ceasefire deal’s first phase until after Ramadan and Passover. The Muslim holy month ends on March 29, while the weeklong Jewish holiday ends April 19.The “phase one extension” would give Israel and Hamas more time to negotiate a permanent ceasefire, said Witkoff. “The US would work toward a durable solution to this intractable conflict during the extended ceasefire period,” he said.The phase one extension offered by Witkoff would also see the resumption of humanitarian aid delivery into Gaza, which Israel halted at the original end date of the first phase about two weeks ago, with the subsequent backing of the Trump administration.He did not specify how many Palestinian prisoners Israel would be released for each hostage, saying only that the swap would be “in accordance with previous formulas.”Rubio said Friday that the swaps Israel has made were “ridiculous trades — 400 people for three.”“These are nuts,” said Rubio, speaking to reporters after a meeting with G7 counterparts in Quebec. “On top of that, you see the condition these people are being released in.”“Our priority as the US government is always that we care about all hostages,” said Rubio. “We want all the hostages released.”“We’re sitting around as the world, sort of accepting that it’s normal and okay for you to go into a place, kidnap babies, kidnap teenagers, kidnap people who have nothing to do with any wars, that are not soldiers… and taking them and putting them in tunnels for almost a year and a half,” said Rubio. “We’re acting like this is a normal exchange. This is an outrage. They should all be released.”Referring to Hamas’s latest proposal, Rubio continued: “I’m not going to comment on what we’re going to accept or not accept, other than [to say that] all of us — the whole world — should continue to say that what Hamas has done is outrageous, it’s ridiculous, it’s sick, it’s disgusting.”“We’re just dealing with some savages. That’s it. These are bad people, terrible people, and we need to treat them as such,” he said.Boehler proposal requires resumption of aid, 2nd-phase talks-Hamas’s statement on Friday did not specify the nationalities of the four slain hostages slated for release along with Alexander. However, the Arab diplomat who spoke to The Times of Israel said they were the four remaining American-Israelis in captivity — Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai and Judy Weinstein.In exchange for Alexander and the four dead captives, Hamas is demanding a number of Palestinian prisoners, a resumption of aid delivery to Gaza and an Israeli commitment to enter talks on the ceasefire-hostage deal’s second phase, the diplomat said, confirming reporting in The New York Times.Once Israel agrees in principle to the deal, Hamas is willing to negotiate the identities of Palestinian prisoners to be released, said the official, who revealed that the deal was Boehler’s proposal from earlier this month.While the secret US talks with Hamas were fully coordinated with Witkoff, Boehler has been the target of Israeli ire, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer has lobbied Trump aides to have the hostage envoy barred from dealing with the issue.A senior US official told The Times of Israel on Thursday that Boehler would continue assisting Witkoff in his efforts. However, Witkoff has been mum on the matter, and Rubio has said the direct talks with Hamas were a “one-off,” and that future negotiations would be held on the original channel led by Witkoff.Boehler has said he hoped to break the logjam in negotiations.The 24 hostages presumed to be alive who are still held by Hamas: Top row, from left: Elkana Bohbot, Matan Angrest, Edan Alexander, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Alon Ohel. Second row, from left: Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Bipin Joshi, Rom Braslavski, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman. Third row, from left: Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn. Bottom row, from left: Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio, Ariel Cunio, Tamir Nimrodi, Pinta Nattapong. (Hostages Families Forum)-The deal between Israel and Hamas that took effect on January 19 was supposed to transition from phase one to phase two on March 2, with negotiations on the second stage slated to begin on the 16th day of the first stage. However, for almost a month, Israel refused to hold negotiations on the terms of phase two, which would require Israel to withdraw fully from Gaza and agree to permanently end the war — a red line for the government’s right-wing flank.After the first phase expired, Israel, with the White House’s subsequent backing, halted the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Under the ceasefire agreement, the flow of aid was to continue as long as talks for the second phase were ongoing.The first phase saw Hamas release 33 women, children, civilian men and those deemed “humanitarian cases,” in exchange for some 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, including over 270 serving life terms in connection with the murders of dozens of Israelis.The second phase would see Hamas release 24 hostages still believed to be alive, including Alexander. All are young men abducted on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.Another 35 hostages who were confirmed by Israel to be dead are held captive in Gaza. They include 34 kidnapped in the Hamas onslaught and a soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza war. The slain captives would be returned in the deal’s potential third phase.Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

Trump orders strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and issues new warning-Smoke rises over a cityscape-Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes in Sana, Yemen, on Saturday.By Michelle L. Price, Lolita C. Baldor and Samy Magdy-March 15, 2025 1:53 PM PT

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sana, on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said nine civilians were killed.“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the U.S. leader sent a letter to the top Iranian leader offering a path to restarting bilateral talks on Iran’s advancing nuclear program. Trump, like previous U.S. presidents, has said he will not allow the program to lead to atomic weapons.The Houthis reported a series of explosions in their territory Saturday evening. Images circulating online show plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sana airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility.At least nine people were killed, said Anees al-Asbahi, spokesman for the Houthi-run Health Ministry. In a statement on social media, he said another nine were wounded Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won’t deter them and they would retaliate against the United States.“Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,” Amer said on social media.The airstrikes come a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing in waters off Yemen in response to Israel’s blockade on Gaza. There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid coming into Gaza and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas if their fragile cease-fire in the war isn’t extended as negotiations continue over a second phase.The Houthis had described their warning as taking hold in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.The Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, during their campaign targeting military and civilian ships between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this year, when the tenuous cease-fire in Gaza took effect.The attacks greatly raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced economic problems and launched a crackdown on dissent and aid workers at home amid Yemen’s decade-long stalemated war that’s torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.The U.S., Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel’s military declined to comment.The Houthi media office said the U.S. strikes hit “a residential neighborhood” in Sana’s northern district of Shouab. Sana residents said at least four airstrikes rocked the Eastern Geraf neighborhood in Shouab district, terrifying women and children in the area.“The explosions were very strong,” Abdallah al-Alffi said. “It was like an earthquake.”The Saturday operation against the Houthis was conducted solely by the U.S., according to an American official. It was the first strike on the Houthis under the second Trump administration, and it comes after a period of relative quiet in the region.Such broad-based and preplanned missile strikes against the Houthis were launched multiple times by the Biden administration in response to frequent attacks by the Houthis against commercial and military vessels in the region.The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are in the Red Sea and were part of the mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region.Trump announced the strikes as he spent the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla.“These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said.Price, Baldor and Magdy write for the Associated Press. Baldor reported from Washington and Magdy reported from Cairo. AP White House correspondent Zeke Miller contributed from Washington.