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)
2020 AMERICAN ELECTION RESULTS BY STATE TRUMP VS LOSER LIBERAL SLEEPY (SLOPPY JOE) BIDEN.
ON D-74 OF THE TRUMP WIN OF THE PRESIDENCY. SAT JAN 16, 21.
January 20 — Inauguration Day. The new presidential term begins at noon.
UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION I WILL DO THE COVID-19 TOTALS HERE.
WORLD OVER ALL CASES 94,433,200 DEAD 2,020,385 AS OF SAT JAN 16,2021
OK CHRISTIANS AND TRUMP SUPPORTERS. WE HAVE TO WATCH AND FILM ANYBODY LIBERALS-ANTIFA-BLACK LIVES MATTER WHOS A DEMOLIB AROUND YOU. STARTING TODAY THE HITLER CNN AND MEDIA CLAIM THE RIOTING WILL BEGIN. IN STATE CAPITALS. WE HAVE TO CATCH THESE DEMOLIBNUTS SETING UP AND PAYING OFF THE RIOTERS AROUND AMERICA. TO BLAME THE TRUMP SUPPORTERS. SO WATCH-OBSERVE AND CAPTURE THESE DEMOLIB CRIMINALS ON TAPE TO GET AROUND THE WORLD QUICK. AND STOP THESE DEMOLIB PAID OFF ANTIFA-BLACK LIVES MATTER-ANTISEMETIC TRUMP HATERS FROM SETTING UP THE FALSE FLAGE AGAINST TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND CHRISTIANS. THE HITLER PROPAGANDA MEDIA WILL TELLING THE PROTESTERS WERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO OVER THE AIR. SO WERE EVER THE MEDIA SAYS THE PROTESTERS WILL BE. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AND CAMERAS RUNNING. CATCH THESE DEMOLIB NUTS PAID OFF FAKE RIOT MOB OF RIGHT WING DOMESTIC EXTREMISTS ON TAPE AND SPREAD AROUND THE NET QUICK.
MAYOR STEVE ADLER SAID THE AUSTIN TEXAS STATE CAPITAL IS CLOSED FROM TODAY TILL WED AFTER THE FAKE-ILLEGAL INAUGURATION. AND ALSO THE LAME-BRAIN-LAME-STREAM HITLER PROPAGANDA EXTREMIST RIOT PERMOTING MEDIA CNN AND LEFT-NUT CASES. ARE NOW TRYING TO DESTROY AND ARE JELOUS OF MIKE LINDELL OF MY PILLOWS.COM. BECAUSE HES TRUMPS FRIEND. AND TRUMP YESTERDAY ALLOWED MIKE TO MEET WITH HIM AT THE WHITEHOUSE AND TALK ABOUT HOW THE DNC AND DEMOLIBNUTS FIXED THE ELECTION BY VOTER FRAUD AGAINST TRUMPY. NOW PILOSI IS CALLING FOR OTHER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS TO BE CHARGED. THE OTHER 2 THEY CLAIM SAID RHETORIC AT THE RALLY AND PROTEST A WEEK AND A HALF AGO. THE DEMONUTS ARE GOING TO CHARGE LAWMAKERS $5,000 FOR 1ST OFFENCE OF NOT GOING THREW THE METAL DETECTERS AT THE WHITEHOUSE NOW. AND 10,000 FOR A SECOND OFFENCE. ALREADY ANY ONE WHO DOES NOT WEAR A FACE MASK GETS A 1,000 FINE. TAKIN OUT THEIR PAY.
Norway urgently changes Covid vaccine guidance after 23 die in days following Pfizer jab-NORWAY has reported 23 elderly people have died just days after taking the COVID-19 vaccine.By Steven Brown-Sat, Jan 16, 2021 | UPDATED: 00:31, Sat, Jan 16, 2021
The European nation reported that 23 elderly people have died within days of taking the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, with 13 of those deaths said to be related to "side effects". All those who suffered supposed side effects were nursing home patients and at least 80 years old.Despite the deaths, health officials have not expressed concern but instead plan to adjust their guidance on who should receive the vaccine.Steinar Madsen, medical director with the Norwegian Medicines Agency, said: "It is quite clear that these vaccines have very little risk, with a small exception for the frailest patients."Doctors must now carefully consider who should be vaccinated."Those who are very frail and at the very end of life can be vaccinated after an individual assessment.”Pharmaceutical firm Pfizer - whose vaccine is also being distributed in the UK - said it is “aware of the reported deaths”.A spokeswoman for the company said: "Norwegian authorities have prioritised the immunisation of residents in nursing homes, most of whom are very elderly with underlying medical conditions and some which are terminally ill."(The Norwegian Medicine Agency confirms) the number of incidents so far is not alarming, and in line with expectations."All reported deaths will be thoroughly evaluated by (the agency) to determine if these incidents are related to the vaccine. “The Norwegian government will also consider adjusting their vaccination instructions to take the patients’ health into more consideration."Besides those that died, nine had suffered serious side effects including allergic reactions, strong discomfort and severe fever.Seven had less serious ones such as pain at the injection site. Norway have reported more than 57,000 cases and 500 coronavirus-related deaths so far. Pfizer told Norway it would receive 18 percent fewer doses than expected next week, according to Geir Bukholm, director of infection control at NIPH.“This temporary reduction will affect all European countries,” he said. “It is as yet not precisely clear how long time it will take before Pfizer is up to maximum production capacity again.”In the UK, the Government has issued guidance on potential side effects of the Pfizer jab.On cdc.gov, they wrote: “These side effects usually start within a day or two of getting the vaccine. “They might feel like flu symptoms and might even affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.”These symptoms include pain, swelling and redness in the arm which got the shot as well as chills, tiredness and headaches.The Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine - much like the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab - requires two doses.IT was the first vaccine to be approved in the UK. Pfizer has said it has tested the vaccine's efficacy only when the two vaccines were given up to 21 days apart.But the chief medical officers said the "great majority" of initial protection came from the first jab.They said: “The second vaccine dose is likely to be very important for duration of protection, and at an appropriate dose interval may further increase vaccine efficacy."In the short term, the additional increase of vaccine efficacy from the second dose is likely to be modest; the great majority of the initial protection from clinical disease is after the first dose of vaccine."
Trump-backing pillow salesman visits White House, suggests declaring martial law-Mike Lindell photographed with documents floating using Insurrection Act, later says he believes he has proof China helped steal the 2020 election-By TOI staff and Agencies-JAN 16,21-Today, 5:27 pm
Republican donor and pillow salesman Mike Lindell, an ally of outgoing US President Donald Trump who has pushed baseless accusations of fraud in the 2020 election, was photographed at the White House Friday with documents floating the possibility of declaring martial law in the final days of Trump’s presidency.Zoomed in photos of a document held in Lindell’s hand as he visited the West Wing showed text fragments that included the words “…BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO SAVE THE…THE CONSTITUTION,” as well as “Insurrection Act now as a result of the assault on the…” and “…martial law if necessary upon the first hint of any…”Lindell later told the Daily Beast he had presented the president with documents he believed proved China and other countries had helped steal the election.He said Trump had told him to show his documents to attorneys, who rejected the claims but also said they would “look into it.”@MyPillowUSA CEO Michael Lindell shows off his notes before going into the West Wing at the White House on Friday, Jan 15, 2021 in Washington, DC. pic.twitter.com/AY6AyJNSyE— Jabin Botsford (@jabinbotsford) January 15, 2021-In the wake of the election, which he has repeatedly claimed was stolen from him despite no evidence to support this, and despite multiple courts rejecting all such claims, Trump has increasingly surrounded himself with a band of extreme loyalists, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and attorney Sidney Powell. Flynn has also suggested the possibility of declaring martial law as the president fights to overturn the election results.Lindell has no credentials beyond being the owner of the My Pillow brand. On Friday he posted on Facebook: “Keep the faith everyone! We will have our president Donald Trump 4 more years!”President-elect Joe Biden is set to be sworn in on Wednesday, January 20. Amid fears of violence, governors across the US are calling out National Guard troops, declaring states of emergency and closing their capitols to the public.State officials hope to avoid the type of violence that occurred January 6, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, leaving a Capitol Police officer and four others dead.The FBI has warned of the potential for violence at all state capitols and has said it is tracking an “extensive amount of concerning online chatter,” including calls for armed protests.Governors across the country are sending thousands of National Guard troops to Washington, DC, where the National Mall has been closed to the general public as part of an intense security effort.Meanwhile, Trump is expected to leave Washington Wednesday morning just before Biden’s inauguration to begin his post-presidential life in Florida.Refusing to abide by tradition and participate in the ceremonial transfer of power, Trump will instead hold his own departure ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before his final flight aboard Air Force One.Officials are considering an elaborate send-off event reminiscent of the receptions he’s received during state visits abroad, complete with a red carpet, color guard, military band and even a 21-gun salute, according to a person familiar with the planning who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a formal announcement.Trump will become only the fourth president in history to boycott his successor’s inauguration. And while he has said he is now committed to a peaceful transition of power — after months of trying to delegitimize Biden’s victory with baseless allegations of mass voter fraud and spurring on his supporters who stormed the Capitol — he has made clear he has no interest in making a show of it.He has not invited the Bidens to the White House for the traditional bread-breaking, nor has he spoken with Biden by phone. Vice President Mike Pence has spoken with his successor, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, calling her on Thursday to congratulate her and offer assistance, according to two people familiar with the call. Pence will be attending Biden’s inauguration, a move Biden has welcomed.While Trump spends the final days of his presidency ensconced in the White House, more isolated than ever as he confronts the fallout from the Capitol riot, staffers are already heading out the door. Many have already departed, including those who resigned after the attack, while others have been busy packing up their offices and moving out personal belongings.Trump will leave Washington with his future deeply uncertain, two weeks after his supporters sent lawmakers and congressional staffers scrambling for safety as they tried to halt the peaceful transition of power. While Trump was once expected to leave office as the most powerful voice in the Republican Party and the leading contender for its 2024 nomination, he has been shunned by much of the party over his response to the violence.His encouragement of the mob led the US House this week to impeach him for “incitement of insurrection,” and made him the first US president to be impeached twice. A Senate trial is expected after he leaves office.
Investigators probing if US Capitol attack was planned with help from insiders-Some attackers appeared organized as videos and online communications point to possible plots; Pelosi says any lawmakers who aided intruders will face consequences-By Paul Handley-JAN 16,21-Today, 5:30 am
AFP — Attackers in organized columns, a woman shouting instructions on a megaphone, and suspicious tours the day before: investigators are probing the possibility that the January 6 attack on the US Capitol was planned, with help from insiders.Disturbing videos, photos and online communications point to potential conspiracy.In one video, more than a dozen men wearing assault force-type garb push up the Capitol steps in a line, cutting through the dense crowd toward the building’s doors.In another, a woman in a pink hat gives directions via megaphone to others inside the building, telling them where to go.And several men, including two who made it inside the Senate chamber, carried zip ties that could be used to restrain hostages.Some officials said many of the pro-Trump protestors who broke into the offices of top legislators like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to know how to navigate the maze-like Capitol.“They knew where to go,” senior Democrat James Clyburn told CBS News. “Yes, somebody on the inside of those buildings were complicit in this.”‘Breadcrumbs’ of organization-Prosecutors have arrested dozens so far and say more than 200 could be charged. But they have not used the words “conspiracy” or “plot” to describe the unprecedented assault on the US legislature.Michael Sherwin, the Washington federal prosecutor overseeing the investigation, said Friday they see “breadcrumbs of organization” including communications between those inside the building and outside.He said it was a “Tier 1 top priority” for law enforcement to determine if there was an “overarching command and control” and “organized teams” in the breach of the Capitol.“This is going to take weeks if not months to find out the actual motivations of some of these groups,” he said.But, he added, “There is no direct evidence at this point of kill-capture teams and assassinations,” he said.‘Reconnaissance’ the day before-Analysts say much of the activity on January 6 was chaotic, disorganized and more typical of a spontaneous riot.But Representative Mikie Sherrill said Wednesday that groups of Trump supporters had toured the Capitol for “reconnaissance” a day before the attack, calling the visits “suspicious.”The visitors “could only have gained access to the Capitol Complex from a Member of Congress or a member of their staff,” the former Navy helicopter pilot and other lawmakers said in a letter to Capitol security.“The ties between these groups inside the Capitol Complex and the attacks on the Capitol need to be investigated.”-Taking the building-Much focus is on one video. In it, several protestors inside a Capitol room are regrouping to figure out where to go after their initial success entering the building.The woman with the bullhorn shouts from just outside through a broken window.“Hey guys, I’ve been in the other room,” she says. “In the other room on the other side of this door right here where you are standing, there is a glass that somebody, if it’s broken, you can drop down into a room underneath it.”“There’s also two doors in the other room. One in the rear, and one to the right as you go in,” she says. “So people should probably coordinate together if you’re going to take this building.”Yet, that doesn’t add up to a sweeping conspiracy or cogent plan.Matthew Feldman of the Center for Analysis of the Radical Right in Britain said that’s typical of political violence.At the moment, with limited evidence on communications and other links, he said, “It is impossible to establish causality.”Those people who made up the herd did not appear organized, but within them clearly there were people who were organized.”At the same time, he noted that the crowd included members of the violent Three Percenters, Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, some who traveled to Washington from as far as Hawaii.Their presence, the discovery of pipe bombs planted nearby, and the apparent threats to capture members of Congress or the vice president, were signs of “terror” plotting, he said.“You had a riotous mob… and within that you had domestic terrorists” who were “clearly planning something.”Pelosi on Friday added fuel to the idea that there was planning and coordination, without saying how far it could go.“Justice is called for as we address insurrection perpetrated against the Capitol last week,” Pelosi said.“If, in fact, it is found that members of Congress were accomplices to this insurrection, if they aided and abetted the crime, there may have to be actions taken beyond the Congress in terms of prosecution for that,” she said.
States declare emergencies, close capitols amid threats of inauguration violence-Governors call in National Guard troops, put up fences, issue warnings ahead of expected demonstrations-By DAVID A. LIEB-JAN 16,21-Today, 2:43 am 1
AP — Responding to warnings of potentially violent demonstrations, governors across the US are calling out National Guard troops, declaring states of emergency and closing their capitols to the public ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next week.Though details remain murky, demonstrations are expected at state capitols beginning Sunday and leading up to Biden’s succession of US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. State officials hope to avoid the type of violence that occurred January 6, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, leaving a Capitol Police officer and four others dead.The FBI has warned of the potential for violence at all state capitols and has said it is tracking an “extensive amount of concerning online chatter,” including calls for armed protests.Governors across the country are sending thousands of National Guard troops to Washington, DC, where the National Mall has been closed to the general public as part of an intense security effort. More than a dozen governors also have called out the Guard to protect their own state capitols and aid local law enforcement officers.“We are prepared for the worst, but we remain hopeful that those who choose to demonstrate at our Capitol do so peacefully, without violence or destruction of property,” Michigan State Police Col. Joe Gasper said Friday, as Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the Guard’s role.Crews installed a six-foot fence around the Michigan Capitol ahead of expected protests, and ground-level windows were boarded up at a nearby building that houses the governor’s office. Gasper said an increased state police presence would remain at the statehouse at least through mid-February.Armed civilians stand on the steps of the Michigan state capitol building after a rally in support of US President Donald Trump in Lansing, Michigan, January 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)-Some windows also were boarded at capitols in Wisconsin and Illinois, both of which activated the National Guard to help with security. Though the Wisconsin Capitol already was closed to the public because of the coronavirus, Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ administration told those who had been coming into the Capitol to instead work remotely for the rest of the month.Law enforcement officials were reducing parking around the capitol building in Madison this weekend and urging people to avoid the area as they braced for potential unrest. There was only one known organized event for the day, an anti-fascist demonstration where free food, drinks and clothes were to be distributed.California Governor Gavin Newsom is mobilizing up to 1,000 National Guard members over concerns of civil unrest. State officials on Thursday erected a chain link fence around the Capitol, bolstering other temporary and permanent barriers. The California Highway Patrol is refusing to issue permits for rallies at the Capitol.“We’re treating this very seriously and deploying significant resources to protect public safety, critical infrastructure and First Amendment Rights,” Newsom said in a video message. “But let me be clear: There will be no tolerance for violence.”Other governors were encouraging people to stay away from capitol buildings during the coming days. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, closed the Capitol until after Biden’s inauguration and activated hundreds of National Guard members. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, a Republican, said Friday that officials “decided to err on the side of caution” and close the Capitol from Monday through Wednesday.Citing the possibility of armed protests, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly on Friday began a one-week restriction on public access to the Capitol. Only those who have business with the Legislature or governor’s office will be allowed inside, and they will have to provide an email showing they have a meeting or are testifying to a legislative committee.Kelly and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf closed their Capitol buildings for a couple days next week, coinciding with the presidential inauguration. The Pennsylvania Capitol complex already had been closed to the general public because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the new order advises state employees who work in person to take off Tuesday and Wednesday; Monday is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.“While we are not aware of any specific threats at this time, we want to act with an abundance of caution to keep employees safe,” Wolf’s administration said on its website.Uncertainty heading into the weekend was a common theme among state officials and law enforcement officers. Many were enhancing security based on past demonstrations or general warnings but without specific expectations about how many protesters, if any, would show up outside state capitol buildings in the coming days.The National Guard is supplementing security at Washington’s capitol, where people broke a gate and entered the grounds of the governor’s mansion last week. But Washington State Patrol spokesman Chris Loftis said Friday that there are “no known explicit threats” detailing the time, place and action of future demonstrations.“We cannot be dismissive of the possible dangers but we should not be alarmists either,” Loftis said in an email to media. The state patrol “has been directed to meet this discomforting uncertainty with caution, preparedness, resolve, and calm — certainly, a wise course of action for all.”Legislatures in several states, including Indiana and Michigan, also were canceling or limiting their work next week.Oregon’s Legislature will convene Tuesday. But the House and Senate have canceled floor sessions and committee hearings, and there will be no in-person meetings. Senate President Peter Courtney, a Democrat from Salem, said the decision was made after consulting with police. Last month, a violent crowd entered the Oregon Capitol, fought with police and damaged the building.The Republican-led South Carolina House and Senate won’t convene in full session next Tuesday or Wednesday, and committees will meet virtually. The Capitol building will be closed from Saturday through Wednesday “out of an abundance of caution,” state and local authorities said in a joint statement.Republican leaders of the Missouri House also canceled session for next week. Though several House members had expressed security concerns following the unrest in the nation’s capitol, a written statement from GOP leadership cited a rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Capitol building as a reason for the cancellation.Governors in Maryland, New Mexico and Utah all declared states of emergency ahead of potential demonstrations. Fencing was installed in a wide radius around the New Mexico Capitol. Utah’s order allows authorities to close the Capitol grounds through next Thursday, the day after Biden’s inauguration.“We respect the right of Utah residents to peaceably assemble as guaranteed in the US Constitution,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, said in a statement. “But we draw the line at threats to physical safety or to the Utah Capitol building. No violence of any kind will be tolerated.”
Explainer-What you need to know ahead of a very different presidential inauguration-Amid pandemic and threats of violence, Biden’s swearing-in on January 20 will be one of the most unusual in American history, but will still feature many of the traditional staples-By ASHRAF KHALIL-JAN 16,21-Today, 8:08 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Between the still-raging pandemic and suddenly very real threat of violence, the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris next Wednesday at 12 p.m. (EST) promises to be one of the most unusual in American history.Here’s what we know:Can I attend? Probably not.DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is flat-out telling people to stay home. Airbnb says it is canceling all reservations to prevent people from coming to the capital. Local activists are calling for Bowser to close down all hotels, but she has declined to go that far. Downtown roads and metro stations will be closed and authorities are so determined to keep people away that they’ve considered closing all the bridges from Virginia.Capitol Police guard the US Capitol in Washington, January 15, 2021, ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)-What’s going to be different? Almost everything!The outgoing president traditionally attends the inauguration to symbolize the peaceful transfer of power. But Donald Trump, who falsely claimed that the election was riddled with fraud, has refused to be there. Vice President Mike Pence plans to attend.Forget a parade with crowds of people cheering on the new president and vice president. And there will be no inaugural balls for Biden, Harris and their spouses to dance the night away.Planners had originally sought to retain some time-honored aspects of a normal inauguration, just less crowded and within the boundaries of COVID-19 protocols. But in the wake of the violent January 6 mob attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters, all semblance of normality might be gone.Downtown Washington DC has been turned into an armed camp. The National Mall is sealed to the public and the Washington Monument has shut down. 21,000 National Guard troops will be on the job on January 20, alongside DC police and multiple federal law enforcement agencies.What’s going to be the same? Like their predecessors, Biden and Harris will take their oaths of office outside the Capitol Building. Jennifer Lopez will perform and Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem. Biden, according to the inauguration website, will give a speech to the nation, “laying out his vision to defeat the pandemic, build back better, and unify and heal the nation.”Afterwards, Biden and Harris will complete the traditional “Pass in Review” inspection of troops from all service branches, a ritual that symbolizes the peaceful transfer of power to a new Commander in Chief.Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Harris and second gentlemen Douglas Emhoff will later visit Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They will be joined by former presidents and first ladies Barack and Michelle Obama, George W. and Laura Bush, and Bill and Hillary Clinton.Then-US Vice President Joe Biden lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, November 11, 2014, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)-So what events are there? Planners have laid out several days of shows, presentations and virtual events, including:Saturday January 16 at 7 p.m. (EST): “America United” — a welcoming event featuring musical performances and celebrity appearances.Sunday January 17 at 8 p.m. (EST): “We the People” — a virtual concert hosted by Keegan-Michael Key and Debra Messing. Monday January 18: A national day of service and volunteerism to coincide the Martin Luther King Jr. Day. At 8 p.m. (EST), an MLK-themed special will be broadcast.Tuesday January 19 at 5:30 p.m. (EST): A memorial ceremony to pay tribute to those killed by COVID-19. The ceremony will include illuminating buildings, ringing church bells around the nation and a lighting ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool.Wednesday January 20 at 8:30 p.m. (EST): Tom Hanks will host a 90-minute prime time special with remarks from Biden and Harris and performances by Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi and Demi Lovato.Lady Gaga performs during a drive-in rally for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden at Heinz Field, November 2, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)-Will there be violence? The inauguration comes just two weeks after the insurrection at the Capitol by Trump supporters as Congress was confirming Biden’s victory.Law enforcement officials insist they won’t be caught flat-footed this time and the FBI has warned of armed protests and potential attacks being planned by militant Trump supporters in DC and in every state capital.Tensions will be high through January 20 and beyond. Officials warned on Friday that the increased fortification of the Capitol and White House could drive potential insurgents to seek out softer targets in DC or elsewhere around the country.
E3: Iran making uranium metal, a nuke component, has ‘grave military’ potential-Britain, France and Germany say Tehran has ‘no credible civilian use’ for the material, which it says it is now researching in breach of nuclear deal-By Agencies and TOI staff-JAN 16,21-Today, 4:16 pm
BERLIN, Germany — European powers on Saturday voiced deep concern over Iran’s plans to produce uranium metal, warning that Tehran has “no credible civilian use” for the element.“The production of uranium metal has potentially grave military implications,” said the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany, the so-called E3, in a joint statement.Uranium metal can be used as a component in nuclear weapons. Iran had signed up to a 15-year ban on “producing or acquiring plutonium or uranium metals or their alloys” under the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015 with world powers.“We strongly urge Iran to halt this activity, and return to compliance with its JCPOA commitments without further delay if it is serious about preserving the deal,” said the ministers.Their call came after Iran told the UN nuclear watchdog on Wednesday that it was advancing research on uranium metal production, saying it is aimed at providing advanced fuel for a research reactor in Tehran.File: In this photo released on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, a truck containing a cylinder of uranium hexafluoride gas leaves Ahmadi Roshan uranium enrichment facility in Natanz to the Fordo nuclear facility for the purpose of injecting the gas into Fordo centrifuges (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP)-The landmark 2015 deal between Iran and the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions has been largely in tatters since US President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed harsh sanctions.The Iranian government has signaled a readiness to engage with President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office on January 20 and who has expressed willingness to return to diplomacy with Tehran.The Iranian breaches have included exceeding the stockpile limit on enriched uranium, enriching beyond the permitted purity level, and using more advanced centrifuges than permitted under the deal.Iran recently informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of its plans to increase enrichment to 20 percent, a technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.A decision to begin enriching to 20% purity a decade ago nearly triggered an Israeli strike targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities. The tensions only abated with the 2015 deal, which saw Iran limit its enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.Tensions have increased since the assassination in late November of Iranian nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.In the aftermath of the attack, which Iran blamed on Israel, hardliners in Tehran pledged a response and Iran’s parliament passed a controversial law calling for expanded nuclear activity and for an end to IAEA inspections.The law also demanded Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization “operate a facility of metal uranium production” within five months.Iran says all of its breaches of the 2015 deal’s limits are reversible, but insists that the US has to come back to the deal and lift sanctions first.European nations have warned that Iran’s moves risk “compromising the important opportunity for a return to diplomacy with the incoming US administration.”Earlier this week the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog said that there were “weeks” left to salvage the nuclear deal.Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said at the Reuters Next conference that Tehran was advancing “quite rapidly” toward enriching uranium to 20 percent, as it has announced it would, in breach of the accord. He said the IAEA has assessed Iran will be able to produce some 10 kilograms a month.
Air force head: 'New drone achievements' to be unveiled soon-Iran says ballistic missiles destroy target 1,800 km away in anti-warship drill-Said to have range that could hit Israeli targets, missiles fired at ‘hypothetical hostile enemy ships’ in Indian Ocean-By Agencies and TOI staff-JAN 16,21-Today, 2:13 pm
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted a drill on Saturday launching anti-warship ballistic missiles at a simulated target in the Indian Ocean, state television reported, amid heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program and a US pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.Footage showed two missiles smash into a target that Iranian state television described as “hypothetical hostile enemy ships” at a distance of 1,800 kilometers (1,120 miles). The report did not specify the type of missiles used. That range could put the missiles in striking distance of Israeli targets.Iran’s armed forces chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri was present on the second day of the drill, alongside Guards chief Major General Hossein Salami and aerospace commander Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh. The IRGC is designated as a terrorist group by the US.Using “long-range missiles for maritime targets indicates that if the enemies… show any ill will towards our national interests, maritime trade routes or territory, they will be targeted and destroyed by our missiles,” Sepahnews quoted Bagheri as saying.“We do not intend to carry out any attack,” he said, adding that the exercise showed Iran’s readiness to defend itself “with all its strength” against any aggressor.Meanwhile, the Iranian Air Force chief, Brigadier-General Aziz Nasirzadeh, said Saturday that Tehran had plans to unveil “new drone achievements in the near future,” according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.On Friday morning, the Guard’s aerospace division launched several surface-to-surface ballistic missiles against simulated enemy bases, state TV reported.It said the drill included Zolfaghar and Dezful solid-fuel ballistic missiles. Bomb-carrying drones were also deployed. The Dezful, a version of the Zolfaghar, has a 700-kilometer (430-mile) range and 450-kilogram (992-pound) warhead.In this photo released on January 15, 2021, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, missiles are launched in a drill in Iran. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard forces on Friday held a military exercise involving ballistic missiles and drones in the country’s central desert, state TV reported, amid heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program and a US pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic. (Iranian Revolutionary Guard/Sepahnews via AP)-Iran has missile capability of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles), far enough to reach archenemy Israel and US military bases in the region. Last January, after the US killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, Tehran retaliated by firing a barrage of ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing US troops, resulting in brain concussion injuries to dozens of them.In recent weeks, Iran has increased its military drills. On Wednesday, Iran’s navy held a two-day short-range missile drill in the Gulf of Oman. Last Saturday, the Revolutionary Guard held a naval parade in the Persian Gulf. A week earlier, Iran held a massive drone maneuver across half the country.Additional footage continues to be released. pic.twitter.com/1gUjQSR1WP— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) January 15, 2021-The IRGC unveiled last week one of its “strategic missile bases” located on the “shores of the Persian Gulf,” according to the corps’ Sepahnews website.Iranian state television showed underground tunnels and depots of missiles in the south of the country near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.“Our logic in defending the territorial integrity, the independence of the country, and the achievements of the Islamic Revolution is strengthening,” said the top commander of the IRGC, Gen. Hossein Salami, according to Mehr News. “What you see today is one of several IRGC Naval Strategic Missile facilities.”The IRGC is designated a terrorist organization by the US.Tensions have again been rising in the waning days of the administration of US President Donald Trump, as Iran ramps up pressure on the West over the US sanctions campaign against the Islamic Republic.Iran resumed enriching uranium to 20 percent last week, well in excess of the threshold set out in its landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.In 2018, Trump withdrew from the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and reinstated US sanctions that had been lifted against Iran, plunging it into recession.The decision to enrich uranium to 20% — below the 90% required for an atomic bomb, but a relatively short technical step from that benchmark — was not initiated by President Hassan Rouhani’s relatively moderate government, but by parliament, which conservatives have dominated since last year.After the assassination of top scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh on November 27, which Tehran blamed on Israel, deputies approved a bill requiring Iran to resume uranium enrichment to 20% purity, as it had been doing before the JCPOA, and to stock 120 kilograms (265 pounds) of uranium each year.
US says Bahrain, UAE are ‘major security partners’ after normalizing Israel ties-White House says agreement with Jerusalem ‘reflects their extraordinary courage, determination and leadership’; notes 2 nations have long taken part in US military exercises-By Jon Gambrell-JAN 16,21-Today, 9:24 am
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United States called Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates “major security partners” early Saturday, a previously unheard of designation for the two countries home to major American military operations.A White House statement tied the designation to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates normalizing ties to Israel, saying it “reflects their extraordinary courage, determination and leadership.” It also noted the two countries long have taken part in US military exercises.It’s unclear what the designation means for Bahrain, an island kingdom off Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf, and the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, while the UAE’s Jebel Ali port is the busiest port of call for American warships outside of the US. Bahrain hosts some 5,000 American troops, while the UAE hosts 3,500, many at Al-Dhafra Air Base.In this September 15, 2020 file photo, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, US President Donald Trump, Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a photo on the Blue Room Balcony after signing the Abraham Accords during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)-Already, the US uses the designation of “major non-NATO ally” to describe its relationship with Kuwait, which hosts the forward command of US Army Central. That designation grants a country special financial and military considerations for nations not part of NATO.The US military’s Central Command and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The 5th Fleet referred queries to the State Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The White House designation comes in the final days of US President Donald Trump’s administration. Trump forged close ties to Gulf Arab countries during his time in office in part over his hard-line stance on Iran. That’s sparked a series of escalating incidents between the countries after Trump unilaterally withdrew from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.It also comes after Bahrain and the UAE joined Egypt and Saudi Arabia in beginning to resolve a yearslong boycott of Qatar, another Gulf Arab nation home to Al-Udeid Air Base that hosts Central Command’s forward operating base. That boycott began in the early days of Trump’s time in office after he visited Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip.
Trump gives top award to Morocco’s king for normalizing with Israel-US president grants rare Legion of Merit to King Mohammed VI; Moroccan ambassador accepts award in private ceremony-By AP-JAN 16,21-Today, 2:27 am
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has awarded a top US honor to King Mohammed VI of Morocco, citing his decision to begin normalization of relations with Israel.The Legion of Merit is a rarely awarded decoration that can only be bestowed by the president, and typically on heads of state or government of other countries.The honor comes after the United States in December recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara territory, including the disputed area between southern Morocco and Mauritania. Morocco, in turn, agreed to resume partial diplomatic ties with Israel in the near future, establish direct flights between the nations, and promote economic and technological cooperation.Trump has sought to make bolstering regional support for Israel as a countermeasure to Iranian aggression a signature foreign policy legacy of his administration.King Mohammed was not in Washington to accept the award. Morocco’s ambassador to the US, Princess Lalla Joumala, accepted it on his behalf in a private ceremony, according to a White House statement.Trump in his final days in office has spent time honoring friends and allies with the presidential awards.Earlier this week, Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, one of his fiercest GOP allies, in a private ceremony at the White House.The White House also announced this week that Trump would be awarding New England coach Bill Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl winner, the Medal of Freedom, but Belichick declined to accept the award.
Associated Press-Semeru volcano on Indonesia's Java island spews hot clouds-Sat, January 16, 2021, 8:36 AM
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Mount Semeru, the highest volcano on Indonesia’s most densely populated island of Java, spewed hot clouds as far away as 4.5 kilometers (nearly 3 miles) on Saturday.There were no immediate evacuations, but the National Disaster Mitigation Agency warned people who live in the villages on the slopes of the 3,676-meter (12,060-foot)-high mountain to be vigilant in looking for signs of danger.Agency spokesperson Raditya Jati said that people around the river basin on the slopes of the mountain should beware of high rainfall intensity that can trigger lava floods.Indonesia’s Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center did not raise Semeru’s alert status, which already had been at the third-highest level since it began erupting in May. The volcano spewed hot ash for 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) in early December, triggering panic among villagers.Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 250 million people, sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Government seismologists monitor more than 120 active volcanoes.A strong earthquake shook Indonesia’s Sulawesi island early Friday, killing at least 46 people.
Pompeo hits Iran, China, Cuba in last-minute sanctions push-Days before leaving office, US hits Chinese steel company and UAE-based building materials firm for working with Iran Shipping Lines-By Shaun Tandon-JAN 16,21-Today, 6:39 pm
WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday imposed sanctions on three of his primary targets — China, Iran and Cuba — in a last-minute push aimed in part at boxing in President-elect Joe Biden.Five days before he turns in his keys at the State Department, Pompeo vowed to punish China over its clampdown in Hong Kong — a stance backed by Biden — but moved further away from Biden’s goal of easing tensions with Iran and Cuba.Pompeo condemned as “appalling” the massive operation on January 6 in Hong Kong in which China rounded up 55 people including an American lawyer, John Clancey.“We condemn PRC actions that erode Hong Kong’s freedoms and democratic processes and will continue to use all tools at our disposable to hold those responsible to account,” Pompeo said, referring to the People’s Republic of China.Pro-democracy activist Lester Shum speaks to the media after leaving Western police station in Hong Kong on January 7, 2021. Shum was granted bail the day after more than 50 Hong Kong opposition figures were arrested under a new national security law (Peter PARKS / AFP)-President Donald Trump’s outgoing administration slapped sanctions on six people over the detentions, including Tam Yiu-Chung, Hong Kong’s sole delegate to China’s top lawmaking body, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.It earlier took action against Hong Kong’s top leader, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who acknowledged that as a result, she was no longer able to use a credit card or hold a bank account.China last year pushed through a draconian security law in Hong Kong after widespread and sometimes violent protests that sought to preserve freedoms guaranteed to the financial hub before Britain handed back the territory in 1997.Antony Blinken, who will appear for a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday to be Pompeo’s successor, has vowed that the next administration “will stand with the people of Hong Kong and against Beijing’s crackdown on democracy.”But the Biden administration is expected to shift course on Cuba and Iran, on which hardline stances have become points of pride in Trump’s Republican Party, which saw a boost in support in the crucial state of Florida from Cuban-Americans.On Friday, the Treasury Department said it was imposing sanctions on Cuba’s interior minister, Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas, days after Pompeo said he was putting the island back on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.People wearing masks as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus walk in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)-Pompeo pointed to the arrest in 2019 of Cuban dissident Jose Daniel Ferrer, who was held in a prison run by the interior ministry “where he reported being beaten, tortured and held in isolation.”“The Castro regime’s repression of fundamental freedoms requires the condemnation and action of all countries that respect human dignity,” Pompeo said, referring to former presidents Fidel and Raul Castro.Biden has promised to pay attention to human rights in Cuba but also to bring back some of former president Barack Obama’s policies to normalize ties, including by allowing Cuban-Americans to visit and send money.Biden is also eager to return to a nuclear accord negotiated by Obama with Iran, believing that Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy that included a sweeping ban on oil sales has failed to curb Tehran on any front.Pompeo announced fresh actions Friday on a Chinese steel company and a UAE-based building materials firm for working with Iran Shipping Lines, which is already under US sanctions.Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced the sanctions against his colleague as the work “of a regime that leaves a legacy of isolation and defeat in foreign policy.”The US actions are sure to prompt calls of hypocrisy by China as the roundup in Hong Kong came the same day as Trump supporters violently rampaged through the US Capitol in an effort to block the ceremonial certification of Biden’s victory.Pompeo condemned the violence but has fiercely defended Trump’s record amid rising speculation that he will seek the presidency himself in 2024.The former Kansas congressman was fiercely criticized this week by the editorial page of the Kansas City Star which said his tenure had resulted in the world seeing the United States “with a mixture of sorrow, anger and pity.”“He has spent the last few months doing his best to wreck the foreign policy of the incoming Joe Biden administration,” the editorial said.“America will be better when he leaves office. Kansas will be much better if he decides to stay away from his adopted home state forever.
