JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER.
1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)
LUKE 21:28-29
28 And when these
things begin to come to pass,(ALL THE PROPHECY SIGNS FROM THE BIBLE)
then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption (RAPTURE)
draweth nigh.
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree,(ISRAEL) and all the trees;(ALL INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES)
30
When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that
summer is now nigh at hand.(ISRAEL LITERALLY BECAME AND INDEPENDENT
COUNTRY JUST BEFORE SUMMER IN MAY 14,1948.)
JOEL 2:3,30
3 A
fire devoureth (ATOMIC BOMB) before them;(RUSSIAN-ARAB-MUSLIM ARMIES
AGAINST ISRAEL) and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the
garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea,
and nothing shall escape them.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.(ATOMIC BOMB AFFECT)
ZECHARIAH 14:12-13
12
And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the
people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume
away while they stand upon their feet,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and
their eyes shall consume away in their holes,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB)
and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.(DISOLVED FROM
ATOMIC BOMB)(BECAUSE NUKES HAVE BEEN USED ON ISRAELS ENEMIES)(GOD
PROTECTS ISRAEL AND ALWAYS WILL)
13 And it shall come to pass in that
day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they
shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand
shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.(1/2-3 BILLION DIE IN
WW3)(THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB EFFECT)
EZEKIEL 20:47
47 And say
to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the
Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour
every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall
not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be
burned therein.
ZEPHANIAH 1:18
18 Neither their silver nor
their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath;
but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for
he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
MALACHI 4:1
1
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;(FROM ATOMIC
BOMBS) and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be
stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of
hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
And here
are the bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either through
war or peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and only
Israels land. They will have every inch God promised them of this land
in the future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia, Israel,
Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the Western Half
of Iraq west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11, Gen 15:18,
Exe 23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL DEFINATELY
OWN IN THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES INHERIT LAND
IN THE FUTURE
Palestinian teen shot in Jerusalem embassy
Gaza border protests dies of wounds-Hamas-run health ministry says
Mahmoud al-Gharabli, 16, had been in critical condition since sustaining
a head injury on May 14; death brings day's death toll to at least
63-By AFP and TOI staff-JUL 4,18
A Palestinian teen shot
by Israeli forces in May during major clashes on the Gaza border died of
his wounds on Wednesday, the Hamas-run health ministry said.“Mahmoud
al-Gharabli, 16, died after being injured in the head east of Gaza City
on May 14,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said.Gharabli’s death
brings the number of Palestinians killed on that day — when thousands
approached the heavily guarded border fence as the United States moved
its Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem — to at least 63,
according to the health ministry.Since the organized protests and
clashes began along the Gaza border on March 30, more than 130
Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire. Dozens of the fatalities
were members of terror groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have
acknowledged.Israel said its troops were defending the border and
accused Hamas of trying to carry out terror attacks under the cover of
the protests.The protests at Israel’s border peaked on the day
al-Gharabli was injured, when some 40,000 Gazans protested along the
fence and violent clashes took place between troops and Palestinians.In
addition to the border protests, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have
launched countless kites, balloons and inflated latex condoms bearing
flammable materials, and occasionally explosives, into Israeli
territory, sparking near-daily fires that have burned thousands of acres
of farmland, parks and forests.The Israeli military says it has
insisted its soldiers adhere to the rules of engagement to defend
Israeli civilians and security infrastructure from attacks cloaked by
the protests.But Israeli leaders have been split on how to respond to
those responsible for the airborne arson attacks, with some calling for
the IDF to shoot the kite flyers and balloon launchers on sight, while
others argue that it would be a step too far.The IDF has carried out
multiple warning strikes in recent weeks at groups of Gazans preparing
to launch incendiary devices toward Israel. The army has said repeatedly
that it will act to prevent the launch of the airborne incendiary
devices and explosives.Last Wednesday, the Israeli military carried out a
number of strikes in Gaza in response to the launches. Terror groups in
Gaza launched over a dozen rockets toward Israel in retaliation for the
strikes, setting off warning sirens and sending thousands of Israelis
to bomb shelters.In recent weeks, the military has adopted a policy of
targeting Hamas positions in response to repeated incendiary kite and
balloon attacks from Gaza in an effort to force the group, which rules
the coastal enclave, to stop launching the arson devices and to force
others in the Strip to abandon the tactic as well.However, Hamas is
attempting to maintain that the near-constant airborne arson attacks,
which have burned thousands of acres of Israeli land, do not warrant
retaliatory strikes by Israel and therefore accuses Jerusalem of
violating the tacit ceasefire between the two sides.“Bombings will be
answered with bombings,” Hamas said after its rocket attacks last
week.Israeli leaders have warned that the military is prepared to take
more intense offensive action against the phenomenon.
Netanyahu:
Rouhani’s attempts to stave off US sanctions will fail-PM says Iran
displaying 'brazen gall' in seeking European economic guarantees, even
as it plans attacks on the continent-By TOI staff-4 July 2018
Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said Iranian President Hassan
Rouhani will fail in his bid to stave off American sanctions during his
ongoing lobbying trip to Europe to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal.Rouhani
arrived late Tuesday in Vienna hoping to boost economic cooperation to
help offset the return of US sanctions following Washington’s pullout
from the historic deal. His visit came after the arrest of an Iranian
diplomat, along with five others, over an alleged bomb plot against
opposition exiles in Paris.The prime minister accused Iran of
“hypocrisy” in seeking European support, even as its diplomat was
implicated in planning an alleged bomb attack.“This week there was an
example of Iran’s boundless hypocrisy and brazen gall,” Netanyahu said,
speaking at the Underground Prisoners Museum in Acre. “This week the
president of Iran met with leaders in Europe in order to try and
overcome President Trump’s sanctions regime – and I tell you that this
attempt will fail – even as Iran planned a terrorist attack on French
soil in Europe.”“It was no coincidence that this attack was thwarted,”
the prime minister added cryptically, possibly hinting at an Israeli
link to the foiled attack.In May, the prime minister said that Israel’s
security services and intelligence services had prevented terrorist
attacks in over 30 countries, and in January said that Israel has
prevented hijacked airplanes from crashing into European cities.On
Tuesday, after the plot was uncovered, Netanyahu had urged European
countries to call off planned talks with Iran over preserving the
nuclear deal.The prime minister on Wednesday called on Europe to stop
funding Iran.“Stop financing the terrorist regime that is financing
terrorism against you on your soil,” he said. “Enough with the policy of
appeasement and weakness regarding Iran.”Netanyahu said Israel would
continue to act to protect itself.“Against those who threaten to destroy
Israel we are taking strong action to ensure the future of Israel,” he
said. “Even when we are the few against the many and when it is
necessary to stand against the entire world we do this here, in our
region; we do it in the international arena, we break down wall after
wall, and sometimes it is necessary to break down walls of hypocrisy.”In
a move staunchly backed by Israel, US President Donald Trump
unilaterally pulled out of the nuclear agreement nearly two months ago
and reinstated sanctions, to the ire of the other signatories — China,
France, Germany, Britain and Russia — which along with the European
Union have continued to back the accord.The nuclear deal has been the
cornerstone of Rouhani’s policy of greater openness with the West, and
the US departure has seen him severely criticized by ultra-conservatives
at home.Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has demanded Europe
provide a number of economic guarantees in order for Tehran to continue
its commitment.Increasing the pressure on Iran’s European partners, he
ordered preparations be made to quickly restart nuclear activities in
case talks collapse.AFP contributed to this report.
IDF
chief visits Golan Heights as masses of Syrians flee to the area-Israel
reportedly working with UN forces to set up safe zones near the border
to protect the tens of thousands displaced by dictator Assad's renewed
offensive-By Judah Ari Gross-TOI-4 July 2018
IDF chief
Gadi Eisenkot and other top military officers traveled to the
Israel-Syria border on Wednesday to hear updated assessments from
soldiers in the field about the battle raging next door between Syrian
dictator Bashar Assad’s forces and rebel groups in the Daraa province,
the army said.“During the visit, the IDF chief of staff held a
situational assessment about the fighting in Syria and the preparedness
of the Northern Command,” the army said in a statement.Last month, Assad
and his Russian allies launched a renewed offensive against rebel
holdouts in the country’s southwest. Bombing raids by the Russian and
Syrian air forces, along with a ground offensive, have resulted in
dozens of deaths and the displacement of over a quarter of a million
Syrians, according to UN assessments.Tens of thousands of displaced
Syrians have made their way toward the Israeli Golan Heights, settling
in overflowing, under-resourced tent cities near the border. In some
cases, the displaced person camps are located some 100 meters from the
security fence, clearly visible from Israel.The Walla news site on
Wednesday reported that Israel was quietly working with the United
Nations Disengagement Observer Force, which is meant to keep the peace
between Israel and Syria, in order to set up “safe zones” near the
border where Syrian civilians can be spared the Assad regime’s
onslaught.Israel, which has technically been at war with Syria since
1948, has offered humanitarian assistance to residents of the country’s
southwest, including taking in injured Syrians for medical treatment,
but has repeatedly stated that it will not allow refugees to cross the
border.“The IDF is tracking what is happening in Syria and is prepared
for a variety of scenarios in order to protect the security situation
along the border. The IDF will continue to provide humanitarian aid to
residents of the area in Syrian territory, and will also prevent the
entrance of refugees into the territory of the State of Israel,” the
army said Wednesday.During this trip, Eisenkot heard from the head of
the Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Yoel Strick, and Brig. Gen. Amit Fisher,
who commands the 210th Bashan Division, which guards the Syrian
border.He was joined on his visit by the head of the IDF Operations Maj.
Gen. Aharon Haliva, the head of the IDF Planning Directorate Maj. Gen.
Amir Abulafiya and the head of the Military Intelligence’s Research
Division Brig. Gen. Dror Shalom.Eisenkot visited the United States this
week on an official work trip, in part to discuss the recent
developments in southern Syria as well as Iran’s military entrenchment
in the war-torn country.The US, Russia and Jordan are said to be in
negotiations over the fate of the largely rebel-held Daraa and Quneitra
provinces of southern Syria. Since the start of Assad’s offensive, a
number of towns in Daraa have surrendered, while others have rebuffed
offers for so-called “reconciliation” and vowed to fight.The UN Security
Council was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to
discuss the Syrian army’s offensive against rebel groups in southern
Syria that has forced some 300,000 people to flee toward the Jordanian
and Israeli borders, diplomats said.Sweden, which holds the rotating
Security Council presidency, requested the closed-door meeting along
with Kuwait, Swedish diplomats said Tuesday.The United Nations estimates
that between 270,000 and 330,000 Syrians have fled since the bombings
began in the southwestern province of Daraa on June 19.For Thursday’s
meeting, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will
report to the 15 Council members about the humanitarian situation in
Daraa.The increased violence “indicates yet another failure by the
parties of the conflict to protect civilians and civilian
infrastructure,” Sweden’s UN mission said.“Efforts must be intensified
to de-escalate violence, also to enable the UN cross-border convoy from
Jordan that is on standby at the border to deploy as soon as
possible.”Jordan and Israel have said their borders would remain closed,
even as tens of thousands of Syrians have fled the government
offensive.Jordan, which has recorded some 650,000 Syrian refugees to the
UN on its soil, says it can no longer accept more. It too has provided
some humanitarian aid to the displaced Syrians.“Intense air and
ground-based strikes have reportedly continued in multiple areas in
Syria’s Daraa Governorate, resulting in the death and injury of
civilians and the largest displacement in the area since the conflict
began,” UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters.“The situation of
internally displaced people at the Jordanian border is precarious,
aggravated by dusty desert winds and high temperatures of up to 45
degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit).”He pointed to local reports of at
least 12 children, two women and one elderly man who have died near the
Jordanian border from scorpion bites, dehydration and disease spread
through contaminated water.Haq said the Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights had urged Jordan to open its border
and for other countries in the region to welcome the civilian
refugees.More than 350,000 people have been killed since Syria’s brutal
civil war began in 2011, with millions more displaced. All international
calls to halt the offensive in Daraa have so far fallen on deaf
ears.AFP and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
Police find 'items of interest' at home linked to accused killer Bruce McArthur-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-July 4, 2018
Toronto
police say "items of interest" yet to be identified have been found at a
property where accused serial killer Bruce McArthur worked as a
landscaper.Police had already found the remains of seven men buried in
planters at the property in midtown Toronto, but resumed digging at the
property on Wednesday.McArthur, 66, has been charged with first-degree
murder in the deaths of eight men with ties to Toronto's gay
village.Police spokeswoman Meaghan Gray says investigators originally
did a dig at the property over the winter and nothing was found.She says
it was decided to revisit all the properties where McArthur worked
again when the springtime hit and the thaw was done.Gray says canine
units found "a number of different spots" of interest on the property
when they returned in the spring."We did find ... items of interest,"
Gray said Wednesday evening."They have been taken away by the coroner's
office where they will undergo testing and, until the coroner has been
able to do their testing, I'm unable to confirm exactly what it is,"
Gray said.Police dogs also searched about 100 other properties with
links to McArthur's landscaping business but found nothing, she said.The
excavation began Wednesday and is expected to last multiple weeks, Gray
added.McArthur, currently in custody at a western Toronto jail, is
alleged to have killed Selim Esen, Skandaraj Navaratnam, Andrew Kinsman,
Majeed Kayhan, Dean Lisowick, Soroush Mahmudi, Abdulbasir Faizi and
Kirushna Kanagaratnam.His case is scheduled to return to court on July
23.The Canadian Press.
Israel's Shin Bet spy service partners with private start-ups-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-July 4, 2018
JERUSALEM
(Reuters) - Israel's domestic intelligence service Shin Bet said on
Wednesday it had teamed up with seven private Israeli start-ups to find
unconventional approaches to technological challenges.The start-ups,
chosen from among 100 contenders for the maiden Shin Bet accelerator,
focus on realms like artificial intelligence, data-based prediction,
automated document scanning and screening out disinformation, an agency
spokesman said."This move reflects our understand that there are brains
on the outside, people who may not have the personality or skills for
government employment, but who do have a novel approach and technologies
that we might want," the spokesman said.Each start-up won a $50,000
grant to develop a response for a task set by the Shin Bet, whose roles
include counter-espionage, counter-terrorism and security for Israeli
government officials and diplomatic missions abroad. Tel Aviv
University's venture capital fund TAU Ventures is also involved in the
accelerator.The Shin Bet's outreach to the private sector follows a
similar move by its overseas intelligence counterpart Mossad, which last
year set up a fund offering grants of up to 2 million shekels
($548,000) per project to acquire new spy ideas.(Writing by Dan
Williams; Editing by Tova Cohen)
OZONE DEPLETION JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH DUE TO SIN
ISAIAH 30:26-27
26
Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and
the light of the sun shall be sevenfold,(7X OR 7-DEGREES HOTTER) as the
light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of
his people,(ISRAEL) and healeth the stroke of their wound.
27 Behold,
the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the
burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his
tongue as a devouring fire:
MATTHEW 24:21-22,29
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22
And except those days should be shortened,(DAY LIGHT HOURS SHORTENED)
there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake (ISRAELS SAKE)
those days shall be shortened (Daylight hours shortened)(THE ASTEROID
HITS EARTH HERE)
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days
shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and
the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be
shaken:
REVELATION 16:7-9
7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
9
And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God,
which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him
glory.
At least 17 deaths in Quebec attributed to heat-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-Jul. 4, 2018, 10:57 p.m.
The
sweltering heat and suffocating humidity that have blanketed Eastern
and Central Canada have contributed to the deaths of at least 17 people
in Quebec over the last few days, health officials said Wednesday. And
with the muggy temperatures expected to persist for at least another two
days, authorities are urging people to remain vigilant.Montreal health
officials said there have been 12 heat-related deaths since the weekend,
while authorities in the Eastern Townships region east of Montreal are
attributing another five deaths to the weather.Authorities were also
investigating a possible 18th heat-related death in the Mauricie region
between Montreal and Quebec. The person had complained of the heat and
breathing difficulties and died after paramedics had arrived.Medical
officials said, however, that it was unclear whether the person had an
underlying health issue that was the main cause of death.Dr. Melissa
Genereux, head of public health in the Eastern Townships, told a news
conference the victims are all adults — either seniors or people
suffering from chronic illness. The deaths were not concentrated in any
specific municipality."There are still two days left of particularly hot
weather with particularly high humidex levels," Genereux said. "We're
inviting the population to be vigilant for the next two days — for
themselves as well as those close to them."Officials across the province
advised people to drink plenty of water and check in on neighbours or
relatives and, if need be, get them to a place where air conditioning is
available."It could save a life," Genereux said.Environment Canada says
a heat warning remains in effect for an area spanning southwestern and
northeastern Ontario through southern Quebec and into the Atlantic
region, with above normal temperatures and humid conditions likely to
stick around into Thursday.Dr. David Kaiser, physician-manager at
Montreal's public health authority, said officials aren't surprised by
the number of deaths in the metropolis."We would prefer having no deaths
related to heat but with four days of intense heat and especially hot
nights, we expect to see an impact on people's health," Kaiser said.He
said the Montreal heat exposure victims were between 50 and 80."None of
the people we've identified in the last four days had air conditioning
at home," Kaiser noted.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted condolences
to the relatives of the Quebec victims.No deaths have been reported in
other provinces. In Ontario, a spokeswoman for the coroner's office said
it couldn't confirm if there were any heat-related deaths, adding it
could take weeks or several months to complete such probes.Kaiser said
one reason Quebec has been reporting so many deaths is because it's part
of the province's extreme heat plan, where health officials work in
tandem with first responders and emergency rooms to track down potential
cases of heat-related illnesses and deaths."We go out to the
paramedics, we go out to the hospitals and we ask them to make sure to
identify any deaths they believe are related to heat and that allows us
to intervene more quickly," Kaiser said.He cited a case in recent days
in which a death in a home for the elderly led authorities to move five
other people deemed at risk to a facility equipped with air
conditioning.Police and firefighters also continued to go door to door
in areas identified as having people considered at high risk: those with
chronic illness or mental-health problems, those who live alone and
people without air conditioning at home.Also on Wednesday, the ambulance
service that serves a large swath of the Montreal area called on people
to refrain from calling unless it is a real emergency.Urgences-sante
said it has been inundated by the volume of calls — 1,200 calls per day
in Montreal and nearby Laval over the past four days, which is 30 per
cent more than usual on busy days.Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian
Press.
Americans celebrate July 4 with fireworks, parades, salutes-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-July 4, 2018
NEW
YORK — With backyard barbecues and fireworks, Americans celebrated
Independence Day by participating in time- honoured traditions that
expressed pride in their country's 242nd birthday.But this
quintessential American holiday was being marked with a sense of a
United States divided for some, evidenced by competing televised events
in the nation's capital.From New York to California, July Fourth
festivities ranged from the lively and to the lighthearted, with Macy's
July Fourth fireworks and Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest.The
day's events also were stately and traditional, with parades lining
streets across the country and the world's oldest commissioned warship
firing a 21-gun salute to mark the 242 years since the signing of the
Declaration of Independence.For some Western states, however, the
holiday was a bit more muted as high wildfire danger forced communities
to cancel fireworks displays.Here are some highlights of Wednesday's
festivities:-OLDEST WARSHIP-The USS Constitution has sailed in Boston
Harbor and fired its guns again to mark Independence Day.The world's
oldest commissioned warship still afloat left its berth at the
Charlestown Navy Yard on Wednesday morning. It glided through the
harbour to mark 242 years since the signing of the Declaration of
Independence.The ship, nicknamed Old Ironsides, travelled to Fort
Independence on Castle Island to fire a 21-gun salute. The ship's
commander saluted the crowds gathered there.-A Navy sailor on board
recited the Declaration of Independence during the cruise.-A HISTORIC
PARADE-Crowds lined the streets in a Rhode Island town to see what's
billed as the nation's oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration.
Begun in 1785, the Bristol parade typically attracts about 100,000
people to the seaside town.This year's was a scorcher: Temperatures
hovered near 90 degrees when the parade began late Wednesday morning,
and some marchers were treated for heat exhaustion and taken off the
route.-DUELING CELEBRATIONS-The country's longest-running live national
July Fourth television tradition is PBS' broadcast of music and
fireworks from the U.S. Capitol's West Lawn. But it's facing new
counterprogramming this year from the White House, which is hosting its
own concert and view of the National Park Service's fireworks show.PBS'
"A Capitol Fourth" has the bigger stars, including The Beach Boys, Jimmy
Buffett, Pentatonix, Chita Rivera, Luke Combs and The Temptations. It
will be hosted by John Stamos.The entertainers on the 90-minute White
House event airing on the Hallmark Channel include singer-songwriter
Sara Evans, pianist Lola Astanova and two former "American Idol"
finalists. Both shows will include the fireworks display from the
National Park Service.First lady Melania Trump said the White House show
would allow Americans to "tune in from their homes and be part of the
festivities." PBS declined to comment.-LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT SKIES-In
New York, the Macy's fireworks show over the East River promises 25
minutes of sparkle and ahhhh plus the West Point Band and entertainers
including Kelly Clarkson, Ricky Martin and Keith Urban on NBC's
broadcast.But some places in the American West have cancelled their
planned July Fourth fireworks because of high wildfire danger, and
others are doing drone light displays instead of pyrotechnics.In
Colorado, the wildfire danger forced some communities to cancel their
fireworks. However, other shows will still go as planned in Denver,
Colorado Springs and Fort Collins.The small mountain town of Silverton,
in southwestern Colorado, called off the fireworks part of its annual
Independence Day party, but the rest of Wednesday's celebration is still
on, including live music a water fight with firefighters. Aspen will
have a fire-proof drone light display above town.-NEW AMERICANS, DIVIDED
AMERICA-This was the first Fourth of July that many people were able to
call themselves U.S. citizens after participating in naturalization
ceremonies across the country.In New Hampshire, more than 100 people
from 48 countries became U.S. citizens during a ceremony at the
Strawbery Banke museum in Portsmouth as part of the museum's annual
American Celebration. A ceremony also was held aboard the USS New
Jersey, where dozens of people from countries including Vietnam and
Bangladesh were sworn in.The new citizens pledged allegiance to a
country where some people lament that the ability to debate respectfully
the toughest issues of the day seems hopelessly lost.Several people
were arrested Wednesday after hanging a banner from the Statue of
Liberty's pedestal that called for abolishing U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement. Later, a protester climbed the statue's base,
forcing the evacuation of Liberty Island, and stayed there for hours
before police removed her.-LGBTQ PARADE PARTICIPANTS-Utah LGBTQ groups
marched for the first time in a prominent July Fourth festival in the
conservative city of Provo after years of organizers blocking them from
participating.The groups were met by cheers and rainbow flags as they
marched Wednesday morning in the America's Freedom Festival
parade.Participants included a centre for LGBTQ youth and an
organization that works to bridge divides between the LGBTQ community
and the Mormon church.The groups' parade application was initially
denied this year by festival organizers who said participants cannot
focus on political or social issues but should instead focus on
patriotism.County officials threatened to pull $100,000 in taxpayer
money from the privately organized event until festival organizers
struck a deal allowing the groups to participate.-HOT DOG EATING
HISTORY-Defending champions Joey "Jaws" Chestnut and Miki Sudo held on
to their titles at the Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating
contest. They each downed dozens of wieners and buns in front of
thousands of spectators at the annual seaside affair at New York's Coney
Island.Chestnut surpassed his previous record by two hot dogs, gobbling
down 74 franks and buns in 10 minutes. He won the Mustard Belt and his
11th title.Sudo held on to her title as the top women's competitor,
chomping 37 franks and buns to take home the top prize for the fifth
consecutive year.-FIREWORKS ACCIDENTS-A large tree branch fell on
spectators during a fireworks display in western Illinois late Tuesday,
killing two men and injuring five other people. Rock Island County
sheriff's officials said dozens of people were sitting near the tree at
the time.In Maryland, a man was hospitalized with "catastrophic
injuries" to his hands after setting off fireworks at a large outdoor
party where several attendees took illegal fireworks, investigators
said.The Associated Press.
EARTH DESTROYED WITH THE EARTH IN NOAHS DAY(BECAUSE OF SIN,VIOLENCE AND GODLESS PEOPLE)
GENESIS 6:11-13
11
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with
violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the
earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and,
behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
HOSEA 4:1-3
1 Hear
the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a
controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth,
nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3
Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein
shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of
heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
DEUTORONOMY 28:22-24
22
The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and
with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword,
and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until
thou perish.
23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
24 The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25
And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in
the moon,(MAN ON MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the stars;(ASTEROIDS ETC)
and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION)
the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing
them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those
things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of
heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)
Magnitude 5.1 quake jolts Albania, no injuries reported-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-July 4, 2018
TIRANA,
Albania — An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.1 struck off
western Albania Wednesday, authorities said. No injuries or damage were
reported.The Institute of Geosciences, Energy, Water and Environment
reported that the quake occurred at 0901 GMT (11:01 a.m. local time)
around 18 kilometres (11 miles) underground near Lalesi Bay, a spot
frequented by tourists some 30 kilometres (18 miles) west of the
capital, Tirana.It was followed minutes later by a series of weaker
quakes, with the strongest measuring magnitude-4.3, according to the
institute.The tremor was felt strongly in Tirana, and some people left
buildings and went out in the streets fearing further quakes.Emergency
officials told The Associated Press no one was injured. The Defence
Ministry reported 40 buildings with cracked walls in Tirana and two
other districts.Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj called on people not to panic
but to avoid buildings "until authorities clarify the
circumstances."Albania is in an earthquake-prone area, registering
quakes every few days, though most are not felt.The Associated Press.
Hurricane Fabio rapidly losing strength far off west Mexico-[Associated Press]-YAHOONEWS-July 4, 2018
MEXICO
CITY (AP) — Hurricane Fabio is rapidly weakening, and forecasters say
it should slow to a tropical storm Thursday as it heads deeper into the
Pacific away from Mexico.The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the
storm's sustained winds had fallen to 80 mph (130 kph) by late
Wednesday. It was centered about 885 miles (1,420 kilometers)
west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula and
was moving west-northwest at 14 mph (22 kph).The center said Fabio would
continue weakening throughout Thursday and was likely to degenerate
into a remnant low-pressure system Friday. At one point, forecasters had
thought Fabio might become a major hurricane.
U.S. swelters on Fourth of July but relief in sight-[Reuters]-By Brendan O'Brien-YAHOONEWS-July 4, 2018
MILWAUKEE
(Reuters) - Tens of millions of Americans from the Midwest to the East
Coast faced brutally hot temperatures and stifling humidity on the
Fourth of July holiday on Wednesday, but forecasters said cooler, drier
air is on the way by the weekend.Heat advisories and excessive heat
warnings were in effect through Wednesday night, with heat index values –
which combine temperature and humidity – in major U.S. cities such as
New York and Chicago expected to reach well above 90 degrees Fahrenheit
(32°C), the National Weather Service (NWS) said."Relief is on the way,
but don't expect it before Friday night," said Richard Bann, a
meteorologist with the NWS Weather Prediction Center in College Park,
Maryland."But it will cool off," Bann said. "Instead of being in the 90s
(Fahrenheit), it'll dip into the mid-80s and with less
humidity.""There's a system of cool, dry air scooting across Canada and
will dip down into the Midwest, parts of New York and New England by
this weekend. And there's a good chance for showers Friday night for
much of the area."Until then, the dangerous heat wave will continue to
sizzle a large swath of the U.S. Midwest and East Coast.At least four
people have died due to the heat over the last week, including a
Pennsylvania woman who died while working in her garden on Saturday and a
man who was running a race in New York on Sunday, CNN reported.For the
Fourth of July holiday, Dan Petersen, an NWS meteorologist, warned
people celebrating outside to remain in the shade and drink plenty of
fluids."Anyone outside in locations with expanded areas of heat is going
to have to take precautions," he said. "This is the peak of summer –
the hottest time of the year."Later this week, a storm front is expected
to roll through and cool down the Eastern Seaboard for the weekend,
Petersen said. It is likely to provide relief to Washington, D.C. and
Philadelphia on Friday night before heading down to the Carolinas.In a
reversal of normal patterns, Petersen said, the hot weather will head
west, hitting the central United States late in the week before reaching
Los Angeles and San Diego on Friday.(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in
Milwaukee, additional reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by
Matthew Lewis and Phil Berlowitz)
Scientists warn of possible eruption at restless Alaska volcano-[Reuters]-YAHOONEWS-July 01, 2018
ANCHORAGE,
Alaska (Reuters) - A “nuisance” volcano on a remote Alaska Aleutian
island is showing signs of a potentially disruptive explosion in the
coming days that could disrupt air traffic, scientists said on
Wednesday.Cleveland Volcano, a 5,676-foot (1,730-meter) peak about 950
miles (1,500 km) southwest of Anchorage, has been extruding lava from
its crater – a sign of something more serious to come in the next days
or possibly weeks, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.The
observatory, jointly operated by federal, state and University of Alaska
scientists, has raised Cleveland’s alert code to “orange,” one level
below the “red” status indicating an ongoing and major eruption that
could affect aviation.Cleveland is one of Alaska’s most restless
volcanoes and has been trembling and belching bits of ash on and off for
about the past 15 years.“It’s sort of a little nuisance volcano,” said
University of Alaska scientist Jeff Freymueller, coordinating scientist
with the Alaska Volcano Observatory.But the recent days’ formation of
lava, if the volcano’s history is any guide, is a precursor to more
powerful activity, Freymueller said. The lava acts like a cap on
Cleveland’s vent, and there is a good chance of a powerful explosion to
blow off that cap, he said.A big Cleveland ash cloud could interfere
with commercial air traffic. “Things that get to 30,000 feet, or even
close to that, would start affecting trans-Pacific flights,” Freymueller
said.In 2001, the volcano produced such an explosion, sending ash as
high as 40,000 feet (12,000 meters). Most of Cleveland’s recent ash
clouds have risen to no more than half that height, according to the
observatory’s records.“The problem is we can never be sure it won’t do
something bigger,” Freymueller said. That is the reason for the “orange”
alert, he said. “We just have to keep watching and make sure we have
the information out.”(Reporting by Yereth Rosen in Anchorage; Editing by
Dan Whitcomb and Lisa Shumaker)
WORLD POWERS IN THE LAST DAYS (END OF AGE OF GRACE NOT THE WORLD)
EUROPEAN UNION-KING OF WEST-DAN 9:26-27,DAN 7:23-24,DAN 11:40,REV 13:1-10
EGYPT-KING OF THE SOUTH-DAN 11:40
RUSSIA-KING OF THE NORTH-EZEK 38:1-2,EZEK 39:1-3
CHINA-KING OF THE EAST-DAN 11:44,REV 9:16,18
VATICAN-RELIGIOUS LEADER-REV 13:11-18,REV 17:4-5,9,18
WORLD TERRORISM
OH
BY THE WAY WHEN THE MEDIA SAYS ALLU-AK-BAR MEANS GOD IS GREAT LIE. IN
ISLAM ALLU-AK-BAR MEANS OUR GOD IS GREATER OR GREATEST. THIS IS HOW THE
MEDIA SUCK HOLES UP TO ISLAMIC-QURANIC-MUSLIMS. BY WATERING DOWN THE
REAL MEANING OF THE SEX FOR MURDER DEATH CULT ISLAM. TO MAKE IT SOUND
LIKE A PEACEFUL RELIGION (CULT OF DEATH AND WORLD DOMINATION).
GENESIS 6:11-13
11
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with
violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the
earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and,
behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
GENESIS 16:11-12
11
And the angel of the LORD said unto her,(HAGAR) Behold, thou art with
child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;(FATHER OF
THE ARAB/MUSLIMS) because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And
he (ISHMAEL-FATHER OF THE ARAB-MUSLIMS) will be a wild (DONKEY-JACKASS)
man;(ISLAM IS A FAKE AND DANGEROUS SEX FOR MURDER CULT) his hand will be
against every man,(ISLAM HATES EVERYONE) and every man's hand against
him;(PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM BEING BEHEADED) and he (ISHMAEL
ARAB/MUSLIM) shall dwell in the presence of all his
brethren.(LITERAL-THE ARABS LIVE WITH THEIR BRETHERN JEWS)
ISAIAH 14:12-14
12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,(SATAN) son of the
morning!(HEBREW-CRECENT MOON-ISLAM) how art thou cut down to the ground,
which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine
heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars
of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the
sides of the north:
14 I (SATAN HAS EYE TROUBLES) will ascend above
the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.(AND 1/3RD OF
THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN FELL WITH SATAN AND BECAME DEMONS)
JOHN 16:2
2
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that
whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.(ISLAM
MURDERS IN THE NAME OF MOON GOD ALLAH OF ISLAM)
Assad’s
regime pounds south Syria after rebels say talks with Russia
failed-Damascus relaunches offensive to take rebel-held Daraa and
Quneitra, bordering Israel and Jordan-By Layal Abou Rahal-JUL 4,18
BEIRUT,
Lebanon (AFP) — Syria’s regime and its ally Russia resumed air strikes
on the south of the country on Wednesday after rebels said talks over a
government takeover had “failed.”Seven years into Syria’s devastating
civil war, President Bashar Assad has set his sights on retaking the
southern region considered to be the cradle of the uprising against
him.Russia has been backing a two-week offensive by Assad’s forces
against rebels in the southern provinces of Daraa and Quneitra,
bordering Jordan and the Israeli Golan Heights.But it is simultaneously
brokering talks with rebel towns for negotiated surrenders in a
carrot-and-stick strategy that Russia and the regime have used in the
past to retake swathes of rebel-held territory.More than 30 towns have
already agreed to return to regime control, and talks in recent days
have focused on remaining rebel territory in Daraa province’s western
countryside and the southern half of the provincial capital.On Wednesday
afternoon, rebels met with a Russian delegation to deliver their
decision on Moscow’s proposal for a regime takeover of the rest of the
south.About 90 minutes after the meeting was set to begin, the joint
rebel command for the south announced the talks had
“failed.”“Negotiations with the Russian enemy in Busra al-Sham have
failed, after [Moscow] insisted on the surrender of heavy weapons,” it
said in an online statement.“No negotiations under threat,” it later
added on Twitter, demanding talks “under the auspices of the United
Nations.”-‘Final answer’-Spokesman Ibrahim Jabbawi said the talks had
not produced “any results” because Moscow had insisted rebels hand over
their heavy arms in one go.“The session ended. No future meetings have
been set,” Jabbawi told AFP.After the talks collapsed, Russian and
regime aircraft resumed strikes on several parts of the province for the
first time in four days, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights monitor said.A source close to the talks said rebels would be
willing to hand over their heavy weapons in several phases.The meeting
followed an hours-long session on Tuesday, in which rebels proposed that
the army withdraw from recaptured towns and grant fighters and
civilians unwilling to live under regime control safe passage to
rebel-held territory elsewhere.Moscow had roundly rejected the terms and
responded with a counter-proposal, the source said.It told negotiators
that population transfers were not on the table in the south, although
it had agreed to them in other areas like Eastern Ghouta and
Aleppo.Russia insisted the army would return to its pre-2011 positions
and local police would take over towns in coordination with Russian
military police.The source had said before Wednesday’s meeting that the
rebels were expected to give their “final answer.”“Today will be the
last round — either the rebels agree to these terms, or the military
operations resume,” the source said.Moscow has used tough deadlines in
the past with rebels but has sometimes extended them.That blend of
military pressure and negotiated surrenders has expanded the regime’s
control of Daraa province to around 60 percent — double what it held
when it began operations on June 19.-‘Human decency’-The violence has
displaced between 270,000 and 330,000 people, according to the United
Nations, many south to the border with Jordan or west to near the
Israeli Golan Heights.Both countries have kept their borders closed,
despite mounting calls by rights groups to let Syrians escape to
safety.On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch demanded both Jordan and Israel
allow asylum seekers in.“The abject refusal by Jordanian authorities to
allow asylum seekers to seek protection not only goes against their
international legal obligations, but against basic human decency,” said
HRW’s Lama Fakih.Some displaced families whose hometowns had fallen back
under regime control have returned, but even that journey holds
risks.Eleven members of a single family were killed overnight in a land
mine blast as they returned to Al-Mseifra, which had “reconciled” with
the government, the Observatory said Wednesday.More than 140 civilians
have died since the assault began.World powers have criticized the
operation for violating a ceasefire announced last year by Washington,
Amman and Moscow, but that has not halted the blitz.The United Nations
Security Council on Thursday will hold a closed-door emergency meeting
on the offensive.Residents and displaced Daraa natives gathered in front
of UN offices in a rebel-held town in Quneitra province to protest
global inaction.They “ask the United Nations and the world for
protection and international guarantees” for their lives, said
opposition official Ali Salhadi.
Defense official to
Israeli TV: Syrian troops in buffer zone will be targeted-In message to
Assad, military source says Israel will strictly enforce 1974 ceasefire
agreement along its northern border-By TOI staff-JUL 4,18
In
a warning to Syrian President Bashar Assad, a defense official on
Wednesday told local television that Israel considers Syrian regime
forces that enter the demilitarized buffer zone between the two
countries to be a legitimate target.The Israeli official told Channel 10
the military has deployed units from the Combat Intelligence Corps near
the border to track Syrian forces returning to the area as part of the
regime offensive to retake rebel-held territory in southern Syria.The
official stressed that Israel would strictly abide by the 1974 ceasefire
agreement with Syria.“The agreement is the basis for any future
security reality after Assad returns to [Israel’s] northern border,” he
said. “Any Syrian troops who break it will be attacked.”The
Disengagement of Forces agreement between the two countries says Syria
may have no more than 75 tanks and 6,000 soldiers within 10 kilometers
of the United Nations buffer zone.On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu also called for upholding the 1974 UN ceasefire agreement,
which established the buffer zones between the two countries.The United
Nations Disengagement Observation Force (UNDOF), responsible for
supervising the ceasefire between Israel and Syria, asked the two
countries several months ago for permission to install warning systems —
like ground radar to warn of unauthorized infiltrators and equipment to
check for explosive devices — in the zone, Channel 10 news reported on
Wednesday.According to the 1974 deal, both Israel and Syria must approve
any new equipment brought into the zone by the UN.Senior UN officials
and Israeli security officials told Channel 10 that Jerusalem had agreed
to the request but Damascus rejected it.According to the report, Israel
believes the Syrians were reluctant to approve the request over fears
the UN supervisors will use radar to track the activities of the Syrian
army or other Assad-aligned forces when they regain control of the
border area.During the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, most of
the UN forces have withdrawn from the buffer zone out of concern for
their safety. The UN sought the new equipment so that it can ensure the
security of its troops and allow them to ultimately return to the area,
an outcome the TV report said Israel favors and the Syrians
oppose.Earlier on Wednesday, the Walla news site reported that Israel
was quietly working with the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force
in order to set up “safe zones” near the border where Syrian civilians
can be spared the Assad regime’s onslaught.Israel and Syrian regime
forces have sporadically exchanged fire over the past seven years,
frequently due to errant fire landing on the Israeli side of the Golan
Heights. The exchanges have largely been contained, with both Assad
troops and Israel said avoiding a broader confrontation. Israel has also
targeted Syrian military facilities and air defense systems in the
dozens of airstrikes it carried out across the border to curb Iranian
military entrenchment in the country.On Wednesday, IDF chief Gadi
Eisenkot and other top military officers traveled to the Israel-Syria
border to hear updated assessments from soldiers in the field about the
battle raging next door between Assad’s forces and rebel groups in the
Daraa province, the army said.Last month, Assad and his Russian allies
launched a renewed offensive against rebel holdouts in the country’s
southwest. Bombing raids by the Russian and Syrian air forces, along
with a ground offensive, have resulted in dozens of deaths and the
displacement of over a quarter of a million Syrians, according to UN
assessments.Tens of thousands of displaced Syrians have made their way
toward the Israeli Golan Heights, settling in overflowing,
under-resourced tent cities near the border. In some cases, the
displaced person camps are located some 100 meters from the security
fence, clearly visible from Israel.Israel, which has technically been at
war with Syria since 1948, has offered humanitarian assistance to
residents of the country’s southwest, including taking in injured
Syrians for medical treatment, but has repeatedly stated that it will
not allow refugees to cross the border.The US, Russia and Jordan are
said to be in negotiations over the fate of the largely rebel-held Daraa
and Quneitra provinces of southern Syria.Since the start of Assad’s
offensive, a number of towns in Daraa have surrendered, while others
have rebuffed offers for so-called “reconciliation” and vowed to
fight.After a failed attempt at reaching an agreement on a government
takeover, on Wednesday evening Syria’s regime and its ally Russia
resumed airstrikes on the south of the country.Judah Ari Gross and AFP
contributed to this report.
Russia: Complete Iranian
withdrawal from Syria is ‘absolutely unrealistic’-Sergey Lavrov says
Putin and Trump will discuss situation in southern Syria on July 16; US
said to seek full Iranian pullout, as does Israel-By Agencies and TOI
staff-4 July 2018
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
said Wednesday that it would be “absolutely unrealistic” to expect Iran
to completely withdraw from Syria.Speaking after a meeting with his
Jordanian counterpart in Moscow, Lavrov said a proposed ceasefire deal
in the southern region brokered by Russia, Jordan and the US envisioned
the withdrawal of non-Syrian forces and the deployment of Syrian troops
along the border with Israel.But Lavrov said Iran is one of the key
powers in the region, and that it would be “absolutely unrealistic” to
expect it to abandon its interests in the country. He said regional
powers should discuss mutual complaints and negotiate a
compromise.Israel has repeatedly said it will not tolerate an Iranian
military presence in Syria, and has recently acknowledged carrying out
airstrikes on Iranian targets in the country. Israel has also struck
Syrian air defense systems that fired at Israeli fighter jets during the
raids.Jerusalem has accused Tehran of seeking to gain a foothold in the
border area as forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad have made
gains in clearing out rebel groups there. The US and Israel view Iran’s
extensive military presence in Syria as a threat to Israel and have
threatened action.Russia and Iran have provided crucial military support
to Assad’s forces, helping them turn the tide in the civil war, but
Israel has also coordinated its military strikes in the territory with
Iran-allied Moscow.Lavrov on Wednesday said Russian President Vladimir
Putin and US President Donald Trump would discuss the situation in
southern Syria at their upcoming summit on July 16.Last week the
Arabic-language Al-Hayat newspaper reported that Trump would make a full
Iranian pullout from Syria territory a priority at that meeting.US
officials, the diplomat was quoted as saying, are convinced that Russia
would be unwilling to “pay a heavy price” for Iran’s continued presence
in Syria.The diplomat, who was not identified in the report, also said
Washington had given Israel a “green light” to strike Iranian military
assets in Syria.Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi arrived in Moscow
Wednesday for talks as the Russian-backed regime offensive in the south
of Syria was pushing tens of thousands of refugees toward the borders
with Jordan and Israel.Ahead of the trip, Safadi said he hoped there
would be “more steps forward to contain this crisis and prevent more
destruction.”He added that Amman has open channels with Damascus and
Moscow and the talks will focus on reaching a ceasefire and halting the
displacement.Meanwhile, Syrian rebels were facing a deadline Wednesday
in negotiations with regime ally Russia to either agree to tough
surrender terms in the south or come under a renewed military
onslaught.Moscow has been backing a two-week offensive by Syrian
President Bashar Assad’s forces against rebels in the southern provinces
of Daraa and Quneitra.But it is simultaneously brokering talks with
rebel towns for negotiated surrenders in a carrot-and-stick strategy
that Russia and the regime have successfully used in the past.More than
30 towns have already agreed to return to regime control and talks were
focused on remaining rebel territory in Daraa’s western countryside and
the southern half of the city.Rebels were set to meet with a Russian
delegation on Wednesday afternoon to deliver their decision on Moscow’s
proposal for a regime takeover of the rest of the south, a spokesman for
the opposition’s southern operations said.
CBC privacy breach was bigger, broader than 1st announced-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-July 4, 2018
A
privacy breach at CBC/Radio-Canada was larger than initially reported,
involving 23,675 employees, former employees, contractors and others,
internal documents show.The corporation said on May 16 — when it first
announced the breach — that 20,008 people were affected. That's the
number it reported to Daniel Therrien, the privacy commissioner of
Canada.But the corporation knew by at least May 11 that the actual total
was larger, emails obtained under the Access to Information Act show.A
CBC spokesman, Douglas Chow, confirmed the larger number. "We also
decided to send letters to incorporated outside contractors whose
business information was potentially impacted and in the same spirit of
transparency," he said.Delay in notification? The corporation said in a
news release issued May 16 there had been a break-in at a secure CBC
office, and computer equipment was stolen containing confidential
information. RCMP and local law enforcement were notified immediately,
security video footage was turned over and an arrest warrant was issued,
CBC said at the time.The CBC release did not identify the location,
though RCMP have indicated the break-in was being investigated by Ottawa
police. The release also did not say when the incident happened. Ottawa
police did not respond to questions.The internal emails show that CBC
officials were already dealing with the breach as of May 7, nine days
before the corporation issued a mass email to employees warning them
about the incident.Some letters of warning to employees, dated as early
as May 7, were put in the mail, though those were not expected to arrive
before the mass emails.Chow defended the apparent delay, saying "we
acted as quickly as possible" after calling police."We then determined
what information and which individuals may be affected. Then we set up
the proper support for notifying individuals and answering their
questions," he said."As soon as these support measures were in place, we
began informing individuals who could potentially be affected."A
confidential information sheet created by CBC officials sometime before
May 7 suggests a strategic reason for the delay.Under the heading "off
the record as necessary," it says: "We have been cautioned that right
now, it is important that we not indicate to the thief that they may
have something of greater value than they realize."The missing equipment
has not been located or returned, though Chow said there's no evidence
that anyone has accessed the confidential information, which was
password-protected.The stolen information included letters to employees,
records of employment, year-end tax slips, SIN numbers, bank account
numbers and pay levels for people who had worked with CBC over the
previous 18 months.Executive-level employees at CBC were not affected
because their pay is administered by a separate system.Not serious
enough-CBC has budgeted $300,000 to pay Equifax, a credit-monitoring
firm, to offer identity-theft and credit-fraud services to anyone
affected by the breach. Employees and others have until Aug. 31 to sign
up free for one year. (Monthly charges are normally $15.99.) The service
includes up to $50,000 in identity-theft insurance.The internal
documents also show CBC suffered six privacy breaches in 2017-2018 — one
of which involved the loss of a USB key containing confidential
information, which has not been recovered. There were two breaches the
year before, and just one in 2015-2016.Chow said none of these earlier
incidents was serious enough to report to the privacy commissioner, and
the break-in incident is the only one recorded so far this fiscal
year.Tobi Cohen, a spokesperson for the federal privacy commissioner,
said "we are still following up on this breach report.""We have not
received any complaints related to the breach … We have not received
further information related to police actions."Jonathan Spence,
president of the CBC branch of the Canadian Media Guild, said the union
is still waiting for answers to some of its questions about the
incident.Last year, Equifax reported a massive security breach of its
own computers. It reported approximately 100,000 Canadians were affected
by the breach, which may have allowed unauthorized people to access
clients names, addresses, social insurance numbers (SIN) and, in limited
cases, credit card numbers.Note: The writer is among the CBC employees
who were notified of the privacy breach by email and letter.Follow
@DeanBeeby on Twitter.
