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
Israel shutters Gaza crossings to pressure Hamas over border violence-Netanyahu says move to be coupled with other unspecified measures, as government comes under criticism for failing to tackle scourge of blazes caused by kites and balloons-By Raoul Wootliff and Judah Ari Gross-TOI-JUL 10,18
Amid criticism over his government’s response to ongoing violence on the Gaza border, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that Israel will close the Kerem Shalom border crossing that serves as the main entry point for commercial goods and humanitarian aid into the coastal enclave.“We will double our efforts against Hamas,” Netanyahu told his Likud faction meeting in the Knesset to the applause of party activists.The prime minister said that the Kerem Shalom closure will be coupled with “other measures that I won’t go into.”Speaking at his own Yisrael Beytenu party’s faction meeting, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said that he had instructed the IDF “to take a number of steps” to respond to “Hamas provocations” on the border.“They will start to understand that it doesn’t work in just one direction,” he said.“We are not looking for a confrontation or for a military venture but in the way Hamas operates, the [situation] deteriorates and [Hamas] is liable to pay the full price, a much heavier price than Operation Protective Edge,” Liberman added, referring to the 2014 war with the terror organization.On Sunday it was reported that Hamas had begun returning its security forces to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, the first time the terror organization has done so since the start of deadly clashes in late March.Over the past three months, weekly clashes have taken place on the Gaza border, with Israel accusing Hamas of using the demonstrations as cover to carry out attacks and attempt to breach the security fence. The “March of Return” protests have also seen Palestinians fly airborne incendiary devices toward Israeli territory, sparking hundreds of fires in southern Israel and causing millions of shekels in estimated damages.Immediately after Netanyahu spoke, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Kerem Shalom wold be closed to all commercial goods into and out of the Gaza Strip.The army said humanitarian aid, notably food and medicine, would still be allowed into Gaza, but would require special permission from the military liaison to the Palestinians, Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon.According to IDF, the idea of closing Kerem Shalom was proposed by IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and was approved by Netanyahu and Liberman.The military said the closure would continue so long as Palestinians persist in launching incendiary kites and balloons into Israel.“In light of this situation in which the Hamas terror group is taking advantage of the residents of the Strip and launching incendiary and explosive kites and balloons at the communities in the Gaza periphery… these steps are being taken,” the army said.“If this phenomenon continues, these steps will continue and even get worse,” the IDF added.The only cargo crossing between Gaza and Israel has been subject to a strict blockade by both Israel and Egypt for the past 11 years, meant to prevent terrorist groups from bringing weapons into the Strip.The crossing has been closed a number of times in the past three months after sustaining damage from fires set by Palestinian protesters.Rioters first attacked the crossing on May 4. They broke through the gates and, apparently believing they were in Israeli territory, set fire to the fuel lines, according to Israeli officials. In actuality, they were on the Palestinian side of the crossing.A week later, following a violent demonstration along the border, vandals entered Kerem Shalom and significantly damaged the fuel terminal, as well as a conveyor belt used to bring raw construction materials into Gaza and two other belts used to transport animal feed.In addition to closing the crossing, the army said it was prematurely ending the temporary extension to the permitted Gaza fishing zone, which had allowed fisherman to sail up to nine miles from the coast in order to take advantage of the summer fishing season.“The fishing zone will return to a range of six miles,” the army said.The Israeli military accused the Hamas terrorist group of encouraging Palestinians to launch incendiary kites and balloons from Gaza into Israel.“The Hamas terrorist group is response for everything done in the Gaza Strip and for all the consequences of it. Hamas is dragging the residents of the Strip into the abyss,” the army said. “The IDF will continue to act as necessary to preserve the security interests of the State of Israel.Netanyahu’s announcement came after opposition leaders slammed him for what they described as a lackluster response to the border violence and kite fires.Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid told reporters earlier Monday that the prime minister wasn’t doing enough to counter airborne arson attacks.“The prime minister has a new reason why he is doing nothing in Gaza — because he is waiting for the Americans,” Lapid said at his party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset.“For four years he has done nothing regarding Gaza,” he continued. “He knew, we all knew that there would be a new round of violence, but he did nothing. And now the round of violence has come. Our fields are being burned.“The army needs to be given a bigger toolbox to deal with this,” Lapid said.He claimed that Netanyahu is waiting for the Trump administration to present its peace plan and has therefore not acted to stem the arson attacks from Gaza.“One who care about security does not wait for the Americans,” Lapid charged. “He acts on his own. We cannot allow them to decide for us. We need to present our own plan.”Zionist Union chairman Avi Gabbay told his faction meeting that in the four years that have passed since Operation Defensive Edge, Netanyahu has “failed to provide security to the people of Israel.”Speaking a day after the anniversary of the 2014 war, Gabbay said that the government’s efforts regarding Gaza since then have amounted to “nada and nothing.”“It’s clear that Netanyahu is no longer Mr. Security,” he said, referring to a nickname given to the prime minister. “Mr Security would have used the opportunity presented after the war to create a plan, to bring security, to provide us with some forward thinking. Instead: Nothing.”Gabbay also said that the fact that Netanyahu has only visited the Gaza border communities once since the recent outbreak of violence proves that he has lost touch with the needs of residents of the area.“Only someone who doesn’t see his citizens can allow himself not to care for them,” he said.
Gazans say closing crossing a ‘crime against humanity,’ vow response-After Israel announces move in response to border violence, Hamas demands international community step in, Islamic Jihad calls move 'declaration of war,'-By Adam Rasgon and TOI staff-JUL 10,18
The Hamas terror organization called Israel’s decision to close the Kerem Shalom crossing with Gaza a “crime against humanity” on Monday, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the move to respond to cross border violence.“Netanyahu’s approval of additional measures to intensify the siege and prevent the entry of materials and goods to Gaza is a new crime against humanity,” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said.Barhoum also accused the international community of being silent on “the crime of the suffocating siege on the Gaza Strip,” and called on it to take “immediate action” to end the blockade of the Strip.Kerem Shalom, the only cargo crossing between Gaza and Israel, has been subject to a strict blockade by Israel for the past 11 years that is meant to prevent terrorist groups from bringing weapons into the Strip. Egypt also tightly controls the nearby Rafah border crossing into the Sinai.The Islamic Jihad terror group said the step was a “new declaration of war” and vowed to respond.“Once again, the government of Zionist terror announces a war on the Palestinian people by intensifying its oppressive siege that has multiplied the suffering of the Palestinian people for more than 11 years,” it said in a statement.“We are coordinating with the factions and forces to evaluate all developments, including the occupation’s most recent measures, which we are dealing with as a new declaration of war on the Palestinian people,” Islamic Jihad added.Earlier, Netanyahu said Israel will be undertaking measures to pressure Hamas, including closing Kerem Shalom, the main commercial passageway between Israel and the coastal enclave.Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said he had instructed the military “to take a number of steps” to respond to “Hamas provocations” on the border.“We are not looking for a confrontation or for a military venture, but in the way Hamas operates, the [situation] deteriorates and [Hamas] is liable to pay the full price, a much heavier price than Operation Protective Edge,” Liberman added, referring to the 2014 war with the terror organization.Over the past three months, weekly clashes have taken place on the Gaza border, with Israel accusing Hamas of using the demonstrations as cover to carry out attacks and attempt to breach the security fence. The “March of Return” protests have also seen Palestinians fly airborne incendiary devices toward Israeli territory, sparking hundreds of fires in southern Israel and causing millions of shekels in estimated damages.Immediately after Netanyahu spoke, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Kerem Shalom would be closed to all commercial goods into and out of the Gaza Strip.The army said humanitarian aid, notably food and medicine, would still be allowed into Gaza, but would require special permission from the military liaison to the Palestinians, Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rokon.According to the IDF, the idea of closing Kerem Shalom was proposed by IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and was approved by Netanyahu and Liberman.The military said the closure would continue as long as Palestinians persist in launching incendiary kites and balloons into Israel.The crossing has been closed a number of times in the past three months, after sustaining damage from fires set by Palestinian protesters.In addition to closing the crossing, the army said it was prematurely ending the temporary extension to the permitted Gaza fishing zone, which had allowed fisherman to sail up to nine miles from the coast in order to take advantage of the summer fishing season.Netanyahu’s announcement came after opposition leaders slammed him for what they described as a lackluster response to the border violence and kite fires.Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid told reporters earlier Monday that the prime minister was not doing enough to counter airborne arson attacks.“For four years, he has done nothing regarding Gaza,” he said. “He knew, we all knew that there would be a new round of violence, but he did nothing. And now the round of violence has come. Our fields are being burned.”He claimed that Netanyahu is waiting for the Trump administration to present its peace plan and has therefore not acted to stem the arson attacks from Gaza.Zionist Union chairman Avi Gabbay told his faction meeting that in the four years that have passed since the 2014 Gaza war, Netanyahu has “failed to provide security to the people of Israel.”“It’s clear that Netanyahu is no longer Mr. Security,” he said, referring to a nickname given to the prime minister. “Mr Security would have used the opportunity presented after the war to create a plan, to bring security, to provide us with some forward thinking. Instead: Nothing.”Raoul Wootliff and Judah Ari Gross contributed to this report.
Israel puts Palestinian TV station on terror blacklist-Hamas says designation of al-Quds channel is itself 'terror'; Arab MKs condemn move as violating freedom of speech-By Judah Ari Gross and Alexander Fulbright-TOI-JUL 10,18
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman officially designated the al-Quds television network a terrorist organization, his office said Monday, accusing the Lebanon-based outlet of being an arm of Hamas.“According to up-to-date, reliable, cross-checked and diverse intelligence, the al-Quds station is a propaganda wing of Hamas, representing a central platform for distributing the terrorist organization’s messages,” the defense minister’s office said in a statement.The idea to declare the outlet a terrorist organization was proposed by the Shin Bet security service and the Defense Ministry’s department for fighting terrorist with economic tools, Liberman’s office said.Coinciding with the move, reporters and cameramen from the channel based in Israel, as well as employees of a local production company that works with the network, were questioned by police on Monday and told to cease operations, according to the Haaretz daily.The terror designation was slammed by Hamas an act of “terror.”“The decision on the al-Quds channel is another step of terror that joins the other violent decisions Israel has taken against the Palestinian people,” a spokesperson for the group was quoted as saying by Haaretz.In a statement, the channel accused Israel of clamping down on freedom of speech and called on the Palestinian Authority to pressure Jerusalem to rescind the move. It said it would continue to work to “expose the occupation’s crimes.”A number of Arab Israeli lawmakers also condemned the blacklisting.“There is a strong betrayal here of freedom of expression. The defense minister likely wants the media to glorify the occupation and not expose its misdeeds,” Joint (Arab) List MK Ahmad Tibi said at the Knesset.The Israeli military in recent years has shuttered a number of television and radio stations operating in the West Bank over suspected incitement and ties to terror groups.Israeli leaders have spoken out repeatedly about the threat of incitement in Palestinian media, while Palestinian television programs are cited in Shin Bet interrogations of terrorists as sources of inspiration.Adam Rasgon contributed to this report.
Liberman vows ‘strong response’ if Syrian military enters Golan DMZ-Defense chief says Israel will push for 'every tiny detail' of 1974 disengagement agreement to be upheld as Syria regime marches toward border area-By TOI staff-JUL 10,18
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman threatened Syria Monday with a “strong response” should it violate a delicate decades-old ceasefire agreement on the Golan heights as it looks to reclaim pockets of rebel-held territory.Pro-regime Syrian forces have advanced toward the Israeli border in recent weeks, and Israel has called for the 1974 separation of forces agreement between Israel and Syria to be upheld and the demilitarized buffer zone on the border respected.“We’ll respect the disengagement agreement from ’74 and insist on every tiny detail,” said Liberman at the start of his Yisrael Beytenu party’s weekly faction meeting. “Any violations will be met with a harsh response from the State of Israel.”Liberman also reiterated that Israel would not allow Iran to use Syria as a beachhead from which to launch attacks on Israeli territory. “Nothing has changed and nothing is new,” he said.The warning came hours after Israeli planes reportedly bombed an air base in central Syria used by Iranian militia fighters in the latest confrontation between the countries.On Friday, the Israeli military attacked a Syrian position after a mortar shell exploded in the buffer zone between the two countries, in what the military said was a violation of the 1974 agreement that ended the Yom Kippur War.The military said the mortar shell was fired during ongoing battles between Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s forces and opposition groups in the area. The army would not say if it believed the shelling from Syria was intentionally directed at the buffer zone or if it was a stray shot from nearby fighting.The Israel Defense Forces said it would continue to hold Assad’s regime responsible for upholding the 1974 ceasefire agreement between the two countries.“The IDF is not involved in the internal fighting in Syria. At the same time, it will continue to demand the implementation of the ceasefire agreements from 1974, including the preservation of the buffer zone,” the army said.Under the armistice, a demilitarized zone was established between Israel and Syria.The area’s status as a demilitarized zone has made it a de facto safe haven for residents of southern Syria. As a result, tens of thousands of Syrians began fleeing toward this buffer zone to escape a renewed offensive by Assad’s forces, with help from Russia and Iran-backed Shiite militias.Bombing raids by the Russian and Syrian air forces starting last week, along with a ground offensive, have resulted in dozens of deaths and the displacement of more than 300,000 Syrians, according to UN assessments.The tens of thousands of displaced Syrians who have made their way toward the Israeli Golan Heights have settled in overflowing, under-resourced tent cities near the border. In some cases, the displaced person camps are located a few hundred meters from the security fence, clearly visible from Israel.IDF officials have said they do not expect masses of Syrians to attempt to breach the security fence in search of refuge. Syrians in the area have called for both Israel and Jordan to open their borders or to establish safe zones where they can remain without fear of bombings by Syria or Russia.Israel, which has technically been at war with Syria since 1948, has offered humanitarian assistance to residents of the country’s southwest in the past two weeks, including taking in dozens of injured Syrians for medical treatment, but has repeatedly stated that it will not allow refugees to cross the border.Judah Ari Gross contributed to this report.
Egypt denies French conclusion that fire likely caused 2016 plane crash-Top prosecutor claims published report is baseless, says Egyptian investigation found traces of explosives on passengers of EgyptAir flight-By Agencies-TOI-JUL 10,18
CAIRO, Egypt — Egypt on Monday denied a report by French aviation investigators saying that a cockpit fire likely caused the crash of an EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo in 2016.Egypt’s top prosecutor said in a statement Monday that the Egyptian investigation into the crash of EgyptAir Flight 804 is still underway. It said the French report is “baseless,” adding that “traces of explosives were found on the remains of passengers and parts of the plane.”The French investigation agency BEA said Friday that the “most likely hypothesis” is that a fire broke out in the cockpit and “spread rapidly, resulting in loss of control.”The Airbus A320 was flying from Paris to Cairo on May 19, 2016, when it crashed into the southeastern Mediterranean, killing 66 people, including 40 Egyptians and 15 French citizens.French investigators had always leaned towards a mechanical fault as the cause of the crash, saying they suspected that a mobile phone or tablet had caught fire.An official Egyptian investigation suggested the plane had been bombed, claiming traces of explosives had been found on the victims’ remains. But a source close to the French investigation previously said no such traces were found by the team.The BEA said the crew could be heard discussing a fire on the cockpit voice recorder and that the plane’s automatic ACARS messaging system had flagged up smoke on board.It said it was waiting for Egypt to publish its final report into the crash to understand how the two countries arrived at a different conclusion.Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
Top UK diplomat Boris Johnson quits as Brexit tensions jolt government-Foreign secretary becomes the second British minister to quit in past day amid criticism from Brexiteers of May's plan for EU divorce-By Jill Lawless-TOI-JUL 10,18
LONDON (AP) — British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson resigned Monday, adding to divisions over the country’s exit from the European Union that threaten to tear apart Prime Minister Theresa May’s government.May’s office said in a terse statement that the prime minister had accepted Johnson’s resignation and would name a replacement soon.Johnson, one of the best-known and most flamboyant members of the government, quit just hours after the resignation late Sunday of Brexit Secretary David Davis, the government’s top official dealing with the divorce from the EU.Davis said he could not support May’s plan to maintain close trade and regulatory ties with the EU, which he said gave “too much away, too easily.”There was no immediate statement from Johnson, another loud pro-Brexit voice within May’s divided government.If Davis’s resignation rattled May, Johnson’s shook the foundations of her government.The resignations came just days after May announced she had finally united her quarrelsome government behind her plan for a divorce deal with the EU.Less than nine months remain until Britain leaves the bloc on March 29, 2019, and the EU has warned Britain repeatedly that time is running out to seal a divorce deal.Britain and the EU hope to reach broad agreement by October so that EU national parliaments can ratify a deal before Britain leaves. That timetable looks increasingly optimistic, but European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said the EU was available “available 24/7.”Schinas said the bloc “will continue to negotiate in good will, bona fide, with Prime Minister Theresa May and the UK government negotiators in order to reach a deal.”Steve Baker, a junior Brexit minister also resigned. May appointed staunchly pro-Brexit lawmaker Dominic Raab as the country’s new Brexit secretary.Before Johnson quit, May’s official spokesman, James Slack, said Britain wanted to “move forward at pace” in the negotiations.“There is now a new secretary of state and we look forward to moving on,” he said.During a 12-hour meeting on Friday, May’s fractious Cabinet — including Davis — finally agreed on a plan for future trade ties with the EU.The plan seeks to keep the UK and the EU in a free-trade zone for goods, and commits Britain to maintaining the same rules as the bloc for goods and agricultural products.Some Brexit-supporting lawmakers are angry at the proposals, saying they will keep Britain tethered to the bloc and unable to change its rules to strike new trade deals around the world.In a resignation letter, Davis said the “‘common rule book’ policy hands control of large swathes of our economy to the EU and is certainly not returning control of our laws in any real sense.”Davis also said that May’s plan “would be a risk at least of delivering a poor outcome.”His departure was hailed by pro-Brexit Conservative lawmakers, who have long considered May too prone to compromise with the EU. They believe the proposals breach several of the “red lines” the government has set out, including a commitment to leave the bloc’s tariff-free customs union.Some euroskeptic lawmakers dream of replacing May with a staunch Brexiteer, such as Johnson, who in the past has disagreed publicly with his boss.Davis said he did not want his resignation to become a rallying cry for May’s ouster.“I like Theresa May, I think she’s a good prime minister,” Davis said.Davis did not urge other ministers to resign, saying he was in a unique position because the Brexit secretary’s job is to sell the government’s policy.“I’d have to deliver this. I’d have to do something I didn’t believe in,” he told the BBC. “That’s not a tenable position. … Others don’t have that same responsibility.”Under Conservative Party rules, a confidence vote in a leader can be triggered if 48 Conservative lawmakers request one.But leading pro-Brexit legislator Jacob Rees-Mogg said “I don’t think a no-confidence vote is immediately in the offing.” He urged May to abandon her plans and take a tougher line with Brussels.“Friday’s announcement was turning red lines into a white flag, and David Davis has made that so clear in his resignation letter,” Rees-Mogg said.
Hooyah’ — Jubilation as boys confirmed rescued from flooded Thai cave-General in charge of rescue effort says extracting 4 remaining boys and their soccer coach could take multiple operations-By KAWEEWIT KAEWJINDA and STEPHEN WRIGHT-TOI-JUL 10,18
MAE SAI, Thailand (AP) — Eight of the 12 boys trapped in a flooded and labyrinth cave system in far northern Thailand are safe and recuperating in a hospital, after another four were brought out by divers on the second day of a high-stakes rescue operation, a top official said.The boys brought out of the dark, winding cave on Monday are “safe and conscious,” said Chiang Rai province acting Gov. Narongsak Osatanakorn, who is in charge of the rescue effort. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was visiting all eight in the nearby hospital that they were helicoptered to, he said.Monday’s operation began at 11 a.m. and took nine hours, two fewer than Sunday, with rescuers helped by the experience they have accumulated, Narongsak told a news conference punctuated with rounds of applause.“We have more operating personnel. And we have more expertise than yesterday,” he said.But rescuing the remaining five people, who include the boys’ 25-year-old soccer coach, could take more than one operation, Narongsak said.The urgent and dangerous effort has involved the boys diving through the cave’s tight and twisting passages, guided by experienced divers.The Facebook page of the Thai Navy SEALs, who have been central to the rescue operation, was updated Monday night to say “two days, eight boars” — a reference to the Wild Boars, the name of the boys’ soccer team. The message, like most posted by the SEALs, ended with the fighting cheer adopted from the US Navy: Hooyah.Authorities have been rushing to extract the boys, ages 11-16, and their coach from the cave as the annual monsoon bears down on the mountainous region in far northern Chiang Rai province. Workers have been laboring around the clock to pump water out of the cave, and authorities said Monday that heavy downpours overnight did not raise water levels inside.Earlier Monday, Narongsak said the four rescued the day before were in good spirits.“This morning, they said they were hungry and wanted to eat khao pad grapao,” he said, referring to a Thai dish of meat fried with chili and basil, and served over rice.Still, the four were undergoing medical checks in a hospital in Chiang Rai city, the provincial capital, and were not yet allowed close contact with relatives, due to fear of infections. Relatives were able to see them through a glass partition, Narongsak said.The boys and their coach went exploring in the massive Tham Luang Nang Non cave on June 23 after a soccer practice, and were cut off when a rainstorm flooded the cave. A massive international search operation was launched and it took 10 days to locate the boys, who had taken shelter on a dry slope, deep in the complex.The search and rescue operation has riveted people in Thailand and internationally, with journalists from across the globe traveling to this town along the border with Myanmar to report on the ordeal.Authorities have said extracting the entire team from the cave could take up to four days, but two straight days of success raised hopes that it could be done faster.Monday’s mission involved 18 divers from Thailand and abroad.Narongsak said rescuers would meet Monday evening to plan for the next operation. “We believe that we can do even better and it will be a 100 percent success,” he said.“The divers that were assembled from many countries are proud to have conducted this operation until its success,” Narongsak said. “Some of them had gone to rest, some others are preparing for the next operation.”The perilous rescues have involved two divers accompanying each of the boys, all of whom have been learning to dive only since July 2, when searchers found them.Cave rescue experts have said they consider an underwater escape to be a last resort, especially with people untrained in diving.The death Friday of a former Thai navy SEAL underscored the risks. The diver, the first fatality of the rescue effort, was working in a volunteer capacity and died on a mission to place air canisters along the passage to where the boys are, necessary for divers to safely travel the five- to six-hour route.There were several concerns that prompted authorities to move forward with the plan to dive the boys out. One was that it was unknown how safe and dry the area where they had taken shelter would stay, as Thailand’s rainy season, which lasts until at least late October, picks up pace.Another and perhaps more worrying concern was that oxygen levels in the complex were falling close to dangerous levels.
Meet the Regina woman about to be ordained as bishop of a church that defies Catholic doctrine-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-July 10, 2018
The pain from a lifetime of being told a path to priesthood didn't exist for women is the driving force behind a Regina woman's journey to becoming the Canadian bishop of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests (RCWP).Jane Kryzanowski is past retirement age, and has long been inspired by the RCWP's acceptance of women in roles that the traditional Roman Catholic church doctrine rejects, and which Pope Francis has upheld.RCWP Canada is a grassroots women's ministry that ordains women priests on the basis that the Roman Catholic church currently discriminates against women."The whole thing of oppression, suppression, repression of the call of God to women in the Roman Catholic church is very, very painful," Kryzanowski told CBC's Saskatchewan Weekend.The first time she saw women priests get ordained into the RCWP was an ground-shaking moment for Kryzanowski. But up until 2012 she left it to the RCWP to lead the charge in changing women's roles in the Catholic church.That year, Kryzanowski attended a speech by Marie Bouclin, the only Canadian bishop of the RCWP. Bouclin's story felt much the same as Kryzanowski's, and led her to weep when the two talked."It was like this call I had known was there for so many years, was finally exposed again, finally broken open. But also the pain of this never having been a dream that could have been fulfilled," Kryzanowski said..Kryzanowski will take over from Bouclin when she retires later this month. But her path to becoming the new Canadian bishop has been a long and emotional one because, for decades, she bottled up what she describes as a "calling by God" to become a priest.'Who of you wants to be a priest?'Kryzanowski was in elementary school the first time she discovered that the priesthood she coveted was unattainable to women within the traditional Roman Catholic church. A priest had come into her class and asked, "Who of you wants to be a priest?"Kryzanowski's hand shot up, only for the priest to quickly say that only men become priests and that women instead become nuns.So, instead she became a nun.Kryzanowski ended up leaving the convent after eight years, then trying to reassess what her calling.She stayed on working with the Catholic church despite struggling with how it restricts the role of women."That was my spiritual home. That was where I grew up; that was what I knew," she said.In the early 2000s, Kryzanowski worked in a Regina Catholic church. She was doing almost all tasks that a priest would do — except for administering sacraments. It stung for her to not be able to do it all."The question was always, why is this?" she asked."That was very painful for me. There just was no solid theological argument that ever satisfied me when people tried to say this is why you can't be a priest."But a pivotal moment came in 2002, when she saw seven women ordained as Roman Catholic Womenpriests in Germany along the Danube River."It felt that, 'wow, the time has come for this,'" Kryzanowski said.It took another decade, and her emotional moment with Bouclin before Kryzanowski sought priesthood herself and was ordained as a priest within the RCWP.She was priest at a home church in Regina that's one of nine Catholic churches in Canada presided over by RCWPs, according to the group's website.From priest to bishop-Kryzanowski is now taking over the role of the woman who initially inspired her to take that leap of faith.The RCWP community has chosen Kryzanowski has Bouclin's replacement.Kryzanowski said her new job is to "be the pastor to the pastors." She will be a point of contact for them and their communities and support the pastors in whatever way they need.Further to that, Kryzanowski will be a voice to make the concerns of marginalized people known to a wider audience.She is already passionate about justice for women in the church, addressing abuse of women and children by clergy, and wants to make connections with the LGBTQ and Indigenous communities."People on the margins are the people where we really do reach out," Kryzanowski said, noting one of the RCWP priests serves in Vancouver's downtown East Side.Kryzanowski said she has strong women from the Bible to guide her in the pursuit of justice."This is where I am called. This is who I am and what I am to do even in my dying days," she said.
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)
Seismologists should watch words when talking earthquakes, paper argues-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-July 9, 2018
A Canadian seismologist is urging his colleagues to be more careful with their word choices when talking about earthquakes.That message is the focus of a new paper by Geological Survey of Canada seismologist Maurice Lamontagne and his co-author Christine Goulet, aptly titled: Not Everyone Likes to Hear You Say, 'Earthquakes Are Fun.'In the paper, Lamontagne and Goulet note that major seismic events can be exciting to scientists, but that they should be mindful when speaking to the public about them, because such events can often be devastating for the people experiencing them.If they don't, Lamontagne said, scientists risk hurting their credibility and alienating people."We have to show people that we care about them so that they will start listening to what we have to say about aspects like earthquake preparedness, for example," Lamontagne said."We have to remain frank, but also people can connect to you if you show empathy, not only your scientific knowledge."A world away-In the world of social media and the 24-hour news cycle, Lamontagne says earth scientists are often asked to comment about seismic events happening on the other side of the world, which can get them into trouble if they're not careful.In the paper, Lamontagne and Goulet cite such an example involving a foreign geologist who made comments on a major 2011 earthquake in New Zealand."What you say locally is communicated worldwide," Lamontagne said.But it's not just their own credibility scientists should be worried about, Lamontage says; they can combine scientific knowledge with empathy to provide not just information but emotional relief to people who have experienced trauma.Lamontagne first realized this in 1988 after an earthquake in the Saguenay region of Quebec, where he found himself attending post-earthquake meetings in person."After that I realized that, yes, we can talk about scientific aspects, but we can adapt our messages to be of greater use to the people," he said.Focus on the positives-In practical terms, Lamontange says this means verbally acknowledging the trauma of people who have experienced the earthquake in question, and reminding them of resources like counselling.In the paper, Lamontange and Goulet cite research on communicating with people under high stress.For example, people under high stress tend to remember less of what they are told, and tend to focus more on negative messages than positive ones. They recommend bearing this in mind when commenting publicly on major earthquakes."Our credibility will not be based only on the number of diplomas we have," Lamontagne said. "It will be dependent on how we can relate to how people are feeling."With files from CBC Radio One's On the Island.
Forest fire puts northeastern Ontario community under state of emergency-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-July 10, 2018
A forest fire has put people around the northeastern Ontario community of Temagami on evacuation alert, with residents being told to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.The fire that was sparked by a lightning strike Sunday southwest of the town has already seen the forced evacuation of 20 homes in Temagami Shores, about 100 kilometres north of North Bay. An evacuation of nearby provincial parks, including of Finlayson Point and Marten River, has also occurred.Dan O'Mara, acting mayor of Temagami, said the town has declared a state of emergency and has opened the arena in Temagami North for anyone who needs a place to stay.People don't know what to expect, he said Monday morning."I think one of the issues last night was there was a fair amount of kind of a white, smoky haze in the community," he said. "And some of the seniors, we were concerned about. And we had people out just checking in and making sure that everybody was fine."Kim Krech, co-owner of Temagami Marine on Inlet Bay, said a fire broke out Sunday about two kilometres from the business."Right now we are in an evacuation. We are not supposed to be here but I have to look out for my livelihood."She said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry set up sprinklers on all their buildings and fire crews from Temagami and Cobalt were wetting the property around it."I'm very scared by I'm trying to stay calm," says Krech. "Not just our livelihood but those who work for us. It is a big part of Temagami."Daniel Thompson, who owns Gramp's Place, a bait and tackle shop along Highway 11 south of Temagami, said "most people booted it for home yesterday.""Since they were camping in the area, a lot of people left."Marten River and Finlayson Point provincial parks were both evacuated Sunday.'So smoky in front of my house'-Smoke from the fire is visible at Mowatt Landing Cottages, north of Temagami.Owner Trevor Graydon has offered his cottages to people leaving from any active fires in the area."It is so smoky in front of my house, and I'm 30 kilometres from the fire," he said.The OPP and nearby local fire departments have been working with the ministry to beat back the fire."The situation with the fire itself looked good [Sunday] night," said O'Mara. "The concern this morning is the wind and to try and maintain that. I guess there is a concern that depending on which was the wind's blowing [it] could add other issues this morning."Residents of Temagami could be asked to leave if conditions worsen, the OPP said.The ministry says the fire, started by a lightning strike, is now approximately 25 hectares in size.Highway 11 is open, but provincial police are asking people to avoid the area because of smoke.They say the highway could close at any point if visibility becomes an issue.
Torrential rains kill at least 88 in western Japan-[Reuters]-By Kiyoshi Takenaka and Issei Kato-YAHOONEWS-July 9, 2018
KURASHIKI, Japan (Reuters) - The death toll from torrential rain and landslides in western Japan rose to 88 people early on Monday, with dozens still missing after the rescue of more than 2,000 stranded in the city of Kurashiki.Evacuation orders were in place for nearly 2 million people and landslide warnings were issued in many prefectures.In hard-hit western Japan, emergency services and military personnel used helicopters and boats to rescue people from swollen rivers and buildings, including a hospital.Scores of staff and patients, some still in their pajamas, were rescued from the isolated Mabi Memorial Hospital in boats rowed by members of Japan's Self Defence Forces.A city official said late on Sunday that 170 patients and staff had been evacuated, while public broadcaster NHK later said about 80 people were still stranded."I'm most grateful to the rescuers," said Shigeyuki Asano, a 79-year-old patient who spent a night without electricity or water. "I feel so relieved that I am now liberated from such a bad-smelling, dark place."Kurashiki, with a population of just under 500,000, was among the hardest hit by rains that pounded many parts of western Japan, with the death toll exceeding the 77 killed in heavy rains and landslides in 2014 and the highest since a typhoon that killed 98 people in 2004.Television footage showed a massive rescue operation, with 2,310 rescued in the city by evening, according to NHK, while search-and-rescue teams looked for others.LANDSLIDES-The overall death toll from the rains in Japan rose to at least 88 after floodwaters forced several million people from their homes, NHK reported early on Monday.An additional 58 were missing, NHK said, and more rain was set to hit some areas for at least another day.The rain set off landslides and flooded rivers, trapping many people in their houses or on rooftops."This is a situation of extreme danger," an official at the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA), told a news conference.A 3-year-old girl whose home was hit by a landslide in Hiroshima prefecture was found dead by a search team."It's very painful," said one elderly man watching nearby. "I have a granddaughter the same age. If it were her, I wouldn't be able to stop crying."Japan's government set up an emergency management center at the prime minister's office and some 54,000 rescuers from the military, police and fire departments were dispatched across a wide swath of western and southwestern Japan.-'SUDDEN DISASTER'-"There are still many people missing and others in need of help, we are working against time," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Sunday morning.Two sisters from an elementary school of just six pupils on the small island of Nuwa in Ehime prefecture were among the dead. The younger, a first-grader, was a star and the hope of the depopulated island, the principal told NHK."It was such a sudden disaster, I just cannot come to grips with it," the principal said.Emergency warnings for severe rain in 11 prefectures - the most since a new warning system was introduced in 2013 - had been lifted by evening, but advisories for heavy rain and landslides remained in effect in many areas.TV footage showed convenience stores with shelves mostly bare while elsewhere, residents lined up to receive water. Some 276,000 households were without water supply, Kyodo said.Roads were closed and train services suspended in parts of western Japan, while Shinkansen bullet-train services resumed on a limited schedule after being suspended on Friday.The rain began late last week as the remnants of a typhoon fed into a seasonal rainy front.Automakers including Mazda Motor Corp <7261 .t=""> and Daihatsu Motor Co suspended operations at several plants on Saturday and had yet to decide on plans for the coming week.Electronics maker Panasonic Corp <6752 .t=""> said one plant in Okayama, western Japan, could not be reached because of road closures, although it had been closed for the weekend anyway. A decision about next week would be made on Monday, it said.(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka and Issei Kato; Additional reporting by Junko Fujita, Makiko Yamazaki, Maki Shiraki and William Mallard; Writing by Elaine Lies and Linda Sieg; Editing by Darren Schuettler, Jason Neely and Peter Cooney)
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)
Turkey’s Erdogan begins new term with enhanced powers-Turkish president to be feted at his palace by leaders of Venezuela, Sudan and Qatar a day after mass purge of state employees-By Raziye AKKOC and Stuart Williams-TOI-JUL 10,18
ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in for his second term as head of state on Monday, taking on greater powers than any Turkish leader for decades under a new system condemned by opponents as a one-man regime.Erdogan, who has transformed Turkey in 15 years of rule by allowing Islam a greater role in public life and boosting its international stature, took his oath in parliament for a five-year term after his June election victory.“I swear upon my honor before the great Turkish nation that I will work impartially to fulfill the duty I have taken on,” Erdogan said in his oath.The inauguration was to be followed by a lavish ceremony at his palace on Monday evening attended by dozens of world leaders marking the transition to the new executive presidency system.Erdogan will face immediate challenges posed by an imbalanced if fast-growing economy and foreign policy tensions between the West and Turkey, a NATO member.He has also pledged to end the state of emergency that has been in place since the failed July 2016 coup and which has seen the biggest purge in the history of modern Turkey.In what appeared to be the final emergency decree issued just one day before the inauguration, 18,632 public sector employees were ordered dismissed including thousands of soldiers and police officers.Erdogan will this week immediately turn to foreign policy, visiting northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan followed by more challenging encounters at a NATO summit in Brussels where he will meet his US counterpart Donald Trump and other leaders.One-man regime’-The new system, which dispenses with the office of prime minister, was agreed in a bitterly fought 2017 referendum narrowly won by the “Yes” camp. The issue is still polarizing in Turkey.“A partisan one-man regime starts officially today,” said the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper.Its commentator Asli Aydintasbas wrote: “I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say that we entered a ‘second republic’ era,” after the republic set up by Turkey’s secular founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.But the pro-government daily Yeni Safak wrote under the headline “historic day”: “One page is closing in Turkish history and a new page is opening.”The president now sits at the top of a vertical power structure marked by a slimmed-down government with 16 ministries instead of 26 and multiple bodies reporting to him.In one of the most significant changes, the EU affairs ministry, set up in 2011 to oversee Turkey’s faltering bid to join the bloc, is being subsumed into the foreign ministry.Prime Minister Binali Yildirim now goes down in history as the 27th and final holder of the post in Turkey. He is expected to become speaker of the new parliament.-‘Leader of multi-polar world’-The transition ceremony later Monday, to be attended by some 10,000 guests and marked by dozens of gun salutes, has been overshadowed by a deadly train derailment in northwest Turkey on Sunday that left 24 dead.Those attending will include Ankara’s top allies from Africa, the Middle East and the former Soviet Union but relatively few European figures.Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will attend, in a new sign of the warm ties between Ankara and Moscow, as will Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, regarded with disdain by Washington but an ally of Erdogan.Tweeting a video apparently showing himself driving to the airport, Maduro hailed Erdogan as a “friend of Venezuela and leader of the new multi-polar world.”Tenemos las mejores relaciones de cooperación diplomática y económica con el hermano pueblo de TurquÃa para el bienestar de nuestros pueblos. https://t.co/SeDDvikBk2 pic.twitter.com/RwYWYzI4Tf— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) July 9, 2018-Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir is on the guest list as is Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, Turkey’s closest ally in the Middle East. The only EU leaders are set to be Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Hungary’s strongman Prime Minister Viktor Orban.-‘Surprise cabinet’-The new cabinet, due to be announced Monday evening, is expected to have a different look, with pro-government Hurriyet daily columnist Abdulkadir Selvi saying that it was set to “surprise” with figures from outside the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).Current Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu could in theory continue in his job but reports have said Erdogan may choose his spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, or even spy chief Hakan Fidan to succeed him.The markets will keep a close eye on economic appointments, keen to see a steady hand at the helm in a fast-growing economy dogged by double-digit inflation and a widening current account deficit.Erdogan, who first came to power as premier in 2003, won an outright victory in June 24 polls, defeating his closest rival, Muharrem Ince of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) which is now locked in internal battles over its future direction.The AKP failed to win a majority in legislative elections and will need support from its allies in the right-wing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) who could push it into more hardline policies.
Harsh words may mean North Korea seeking deal with Trump-US officials were surprised at fiery statement from Pyongyang following bilateral talks, but many see it as a negotiating tactic-By KEN MORITSUGU-TOI-JUL 10,18
TOKYO, Japan (AP) — North Korea’s vitriolic criticism of the United States following a first round of nuclear negotiations went out of its way to spare one person: US President Donald Trump.In a statement issued just hours after the two-day talks finished on Saturday, North Korea accused the US side of a “unilateral and gangster-like demand for denuclearization,” then added, “We still cherish our good faith in President Trump.”On one level, the sheen of last month’s Singapore summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with broad smiles and handshakes, has yet to wear off. But on another, North Korea may be betting that Trump, the real estate developer-turned-president, will be more willing than his negotiators to ease off his administration’s hard-line positions to make a deal.It fell to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to get the talks going last week. The mood appeared cordial, even jovial, during his two days in Pyongyang. He and the head of the North Korean negotiating team, Kim Yong Chol, cracked jokes during a working dinner, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. On the airport tarmac Saturday before he left, Pompeo sounded positive, saying “we made progress on almost all of the central issues.”So it came as some surprise when North Korea’s state news agency fired out a late-night missive blasting the talks, warning that “we may be shaken in our unshakeable will for denuclearization, rather than consolidating trust.”The statement was widely seen as a negotiating tactic to put the US on the back foot as talks get underway. It also underscores crucial gaps in how the US and North Korea define denuclearization and see the path forward. Unless they can close those gaps, the whole effort may be doomed.The 1,200-word statement, attributed to an unnamed Foreign Ministry spokesman, outlined North Korean thinking at length.It said North Korea put forth several constructive proposals, including a declaration formally ending the 1950-53 Korean War, which it called “the first process of defusing tension.” The statement called for a series of simultaneous actions from both sides, including exchanges to improve relations, the dismantling of a North Korean missile-engine testing ground and talks to return the remains of American soldiers killed in the Korean War.Pompeo acknowledged at a news conference in Tokyo on Sunday that a peace treaty, security assurances for North Korea and denuclearization should be pursued in parallel, but it’s the last item that has been the clear focus of US efforts and its overriding goal: The elimination of North Korea’s nuclear weapons in a way that can be verified by outside experts.North Korea hasn’t said publicly what security assurances it would need to get rid of its nuclear weapons, but in the past they have included the withdrawal of the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea and an end to US-South Korean military drills.Trump suspended some upcoming joint drills in a goodwill gesture after his summit with Kim, causing some consternation among experts about the impact on both countries’ military readiness. North Korea, in its post-Pompeo talks statement, played down the importance of the move, describing it as a “highly reversible step which can be resumed anytime at any moment as all of its military force remains intact in its previously held positions.”Suspending the drills cannot be compared, the statement said, with North Korea’s irreversible destruction of an underground nuclear testing site — though some US analysts have questioned the importance of that move, which was more symbolic than anything else given the relative ease with which new tunnels could be dug and the progress North Korea has already made in developing explosive nuclear devices.Perception gaps? Negotiating points? The larger question is whether North Korea really intends to surrender its nuclear weapons entirely. Some analysts think North Korea is trying to drag out talks in hopes that the US will come around to accepting it as a nuclear weapons state, perhaps in a limited form that couldn’t threaten the US mainland directly.That’s where Trump comes in. Pompeo said in Tokyo that the US and its allies remain committed to the goal of a fully verified, final denuclearization of North Korea. But for political considerations, including the fight for control of Congress in November elections, would Trump make a deal? If not, his high-stakes North Korea gambit could join a long list of failed nuclear deals with Pyongyang.
Kremlin says ‘absurd’ to link it to UK woman’s death from nerve agent-Presidential spokesman dismisses suggestion by Russian envoy to OPCW that poisoning meant to derail Trump-Putin summit-By AFP-TOI-JUL 10,18
MOSCOW, Russia — The Kremlin on Monday said it would be “absurd” to suggest Russia was involved in the death of a British woman exposed to the Novichok nerve agent.“We don’t know that Russia has been mentioned or associated with this,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “We consider that in any case it would be quite absurd.”It was the Kremlin’s first reaction to the poisoning of two British citizens exposed to Novichok near Salisbury in England, where former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned in March.That poisoning sparked a tense diplomatic row between London and Moscow.Peskov added that “we of course very much regret the death of the British citizen.”Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley were taken to hospital last weekend from a house in the town of Amesbury, around 12 kilometers (eight miles) from Salisbury, and were found to have been exposed to Novichok.Police announced Sturgess’s death on Sunday.Russia is “deeply concerned by the continuing appearance of these poisonous substances on British territory,” which “present a danger not just for the British but for all Europeans,” Peskov said.Russia has denied any involvement in the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a nerve agent that was developed in the Soviet Union.Both the Skripals have now been released from hospital and are living in a secret location.Putin has said that if a military-grade nerve agent had been used against them, the victims would have died.Peskov on Monday denied a suggestion by Russia’s representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Alexander Shulgin that the incident appeared to be designed to damage preparations for a meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump in Helsinki this month.“It has nothing to do with the summit,” Peskov said.“It’s more Britain’s problem and the problem of how much Britain is interested in a real investigation.”
Germany examining Iranian request to move $353m back to Tehran-Finance Ministry official says transaction is being checked to ensure there is no possibility of money laundering or terror financing-By AP-TOI-JUL 10,18
BERLIN — Germany’s Finance Ministry said authorities are examining a request from Iran to repatriate hundreds of millions of euros in cash held in a Hamburg-based bank.Bild newspaper reported Monday that the Iranian regime wants to bring home 300 million euros ($353 million) it has in the European-Iranian Trade Bank to have on hand when American financial sector sanctions come into effect.Finance Ministry spokeswoman Jeanette Schwamberger confirmed the request had been made, and said it’s now being checked by financial regulators as are all large transactions involving countries where there might be possible “money laundering or terror financing.”She said “should the checks turn up anything suspicious then the result would be the transaction cannot be completed.”Schwamberger said she has no overall figure for Iranian holdings in Germany.After the Trump administration in May pulled out of a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, Washington vowed to introduce severe sanctions against Iran. The agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, saw previous sanctions lifted from Iran in return for it curbing the weapons-capable aspects of its nuclear program.Iran and the other parties to the agreement — the UK, France, Germany, China, and Russia — have all said they will try to maintain the pact, however, US sanctions will likely influence trade and economic ties between Iran and other countries.Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
French far-right leader to appeal state’s withholding of party funds-Marine le Pen says unpaid public subsidy of €2 million will kill National Front and amounts to a 'coup,' amid investigation into misuse of money-By AP-TOI-JUL 10,18
PARIS (AP) — French far-right leader Marine le Pen said Monday she was appealing a decision by two judges to withhold the payment of a public subsidy which she says will kill her party, adding that it amounts to a “coup.”Speaking on BFMTV, the head of the National Rally party, formerly known as the National Front, said the appeal that was to be lodged Monday morning would not suspend the decision to withhold the funds.Le Pen announced Sunday that €2 million ($2.35 million), nearly half of a 4.5 million euro subsidy the party was allocated for 2018, was being withheld. The funds had been due to be disbursed Monday, she said.“The judges’ decision is a real coup d’etat,” le Pen said, and accused them of acting through political motivations. On Sunday, she said in a statement that the subsidy was essential for the party to meet its running costs such as salaries and rent, and that without it the National Rally had only enough money to last until the end of August. The party set up a website to gather donations from the public.The judicial move came amid an investigation into whether funds for European Parliament assistants were misused, going instead to people working for the party domestically. Politicians from other French parties have also been accused of misusing such funds.Le Pen denies wrongdoing.“No, no, ten times no,” le Pen said when asked by the BFMTV presenter whether she had used European funds to pay for assistants who worked for her party.She said the withholding of funds was illegal as it came during an investigation and therefore didn’t respect the presumption of innocence.
