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Vatican Looks to Heavens for Signs of Alien Life
Nov 11th, 2009
Daily NewsAP - ARIEL DAVID
Categories: Today's Headlines

VATICAN CITY — E.T. phone Rome. Four hundred years after it locked up Galileo for challenging the view that the Earth was the center of the universe, the Vatican has called in experts to study the possibility of extraterrestrial alien life and its implication for the Catholic Church.

"The questions of life's origins and of whether life exists elsewhere in the universe are very suitable and deserve serious consideration," said the Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, an astronomer and director of the Vatican Observatory.

Funes, a Jesuit priest, presented the results Tuesday of a five-day conference that gathered astronomers, physicists, biologists and other experts to discuss the budding field of astrobiology — the study of the origin of life and its existence elsewhere in the cosmos.

Funes said the possibility of alien life raises "many philosophical and theological implications" but added that the gathering was mainly focused on the scientific perspective and how different disciplines can be used to explore the issue.

U.S. Officials: We Punished Netanyahu With Media Blackout
Nov 11th, 2009
Daily NewsIsrael Today
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

Senior US diplomatic sources have confirmed that the media blackout and shroud of secrecy surrounding Monday's meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama was the result of strained relations between the two leaders.

Speaking to Israel's Army Radio on Wednesday morning, one unnamed US diplomat said the Obama Administration had become unhappy with what is viewed as Netanyahu's efforts to manipulate its policies during press briefings, and imposed the media blackout on Monday's meeting as a means of bringing the Israeli leader back in line.

The official also accused Netanyahu of indirectly pressuring Obama via Jewish-American lobby groups.

A day earlier, another US official told the Wall Street Journal that Obama and his staff had been severely disappointed with what Netanyahu said or didn't say during his meeting with the president.

"We had an idea that he might bring something out to push the [peace] process forward," the official said. "But he's kept it in his pocket."

That dissatisfaction came just a little more than a week after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton openly praised Netanyahu for implementing "unprecedented" and even unnecessary concessions for the sake of restarting peace talks with the Palestinians.

It would seem Israeli gestures have a shelf-life of only about one week in Washington these days.

The Palestinians mark the 5th anniversary of Yasser Arafat's death and say the revolution is not over
Nov 11th, 2009
News UpdateJimmy DeYoung
Categories: Jimmy DeYoung News

Thousands of Palestinians came to the grave site of their former leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah to mark the five years since his death and Yasser Arafat's successor, Mahmoud Abbas, said the revolution is not over, it may be the longest revolution in history and perhaps the last revolution in the world.

Yasser Arafat was the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization for 35 years and the iconic leader of the Palestinian people was able to unite them behind their cause, but he was also the one who abandoned the armed struggle in the 1990's and signed the Oslo Peace Accords.

Jimmy's Prophetic Prospective on the News

As the Palestinian people marked the fifth anniversary of Yasser Arafat's death, they also called for the revolution to continue, a scenario found in Bible prophecy for the last days.

The iconic leader of the Palestinian people for over 35 years, Yasser Arafat, was the one who was able to unite the Palestinians into the armed struggle against the Jewish state of Israel and he led the way until his death some five years ago. Arafat, a terrorist in the true sense of the word, supposedly abandoned the armed struggle in 1993 when he signed the Oslo Accords, the peace agreement between the Palestinians and the state of Israel.

This present-day struggle is the same as the prophetic scenario found in Bible prophecy for the Palestinians and the Israelis. The ancient Jewish prophets, Ezekiel, Malachi and Obadiah reveal the struggle and its conclusion in their prophetic books. Malachi wrote that the Edomites, the Palestinian people of today, would return and rebuild their nation, Malachi1:1-6. Ezekiel, in Ezekiel 35, foretells of the armed struggle that would result in Palestinians killing the Jews and then taking their land. Obadiah in his prophecy, says this struggle will continue until the Messiah, Jesus Christ, returns and gives the victory to the Jewish people, Obadiah 15-18.

The statement that the Palestinian revolution is not over is evidence that Bible prophecy will be fulfilled.

Sweden's First Lesbian Bishop Consecrated in Uppsala
Nov 11th, 2009
Daily NewsThe Local
Categories: Today's Headlines;Moral Decline

The Church of Sweden on Sunday ordained a female pastor as the country's first openly homosexual bishop, just weeks after approving gay marriages.

Eva Brunne, 55, was consecrated as the Bishop of Stockholm in a ceremony at Uppsala cathedral, just north of the Swedish capital, the Church of Sweden said in a statement.

Along with Brunne, another female pastor, Tuulikki Koivunen Bylund, was ordained to take over as Bishop of Härnösand in northern Sweden.

The ceremony marked the first time in the history of the Swedish church that two women had been consecrated as bishops at the same time.

Brunne is in a civil union partnership with another woman. Together they are the guardians of a three-year-old child.

The Church of Sweden, which was the state church until 2000, had backed the parliament's adoption of the gay marriage law, which took effect on May 1. But its synod only approved church weddings on October 22.

Sweden, already a pioneer in giving same-sex couples the right to adopt children, becomes one of the first countries in the world to allow gays to marry in a major Church.

Around three-quarters of Swedes are members of the Lutheran Church

State Dept: U.S. Wants All Jews Out of 'west Bank'
Nov 11th, 2009
Daily NewsIsrael Today
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel;Peace Process

One of the top US State Department officials on Tuesday acknowledged that the ultimate goal of US Middle East policy is to cleanse all of Judea and Samaria of Jews and hand that territory in its entirety over to the Palestinian Arabs.

Speaking at the Middle East Institute, Under Secretary for Political Affairs William J. Burns stated:

"Our goal in the region is clear: two states living side by side in peace and security; a Jewish state of Israel, with which America retains unbreakable bonds, and with true security for all Israelis; and a viable, independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967, that ends the daily humiliations of Palestinians under occupation, and that realizes the full and remarkable potential of the Palestinian people."

Burns added that while the Obama Administration appreciates Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's partial settlement freeze, it does not go nearly far enough. Burns was certainly aware that to the Palestinians, his words would be interpreted to mean that Israel must expel all 250,000 Jews living in Judea and Samaria, as well as the tens of thousands of Jews who live on the eastern side of Jerusalem.

Burns' remarks came just a day after Obama and Netanyahu met at the White House in what has now been revealed to be a less than friendly encounter.

Israel was fully expecting a fresh wave of American pressure following Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' threat to quit if he doesn't get what he wants

Netanyahu Can Expect Chilly Reception in Paris, As Well
Nov 11th, 2009
Daily NewsIsrael Today
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Paris on Wednesday, where he was expected to receive as chilly a reception as he did earlier in the week from the Obama Administration in Washington.

A day before Netanyahu's arrival, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner declared on French radio that the Israelis had lost their desire for peace.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor responded in a statement to the Associated Press: "If he really thinks that Israelis have given up hope, which is arguable, than he should not evade the question of why - what disappointed them so."

Kouchner's remarks also ignored the fact that Netanyahu has for weeks been saying he is ready to restarted unconditional peace talks with the Palestinians immediately.

Muslims Attack Worship Service in Uganda
Nov 11th, 2009
Daily NewsCompass Direct News
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Church;Persecution

NAIROBI, Kenya, November 11– About 40 Muslim extremists with machetes and clubs tried to break into a Sunday worship service outside Uganda’s capital city of Kampala on Nov. 1, leaving a member of the congregation with several injuries and damaging the church building. Eyewitnesses said the extremist mob tried to storm into World Possessor’s Church International in Namasuba at 11 a.m. as the church worshipped. A member of the congregation who was taking photos of the worship service – and then the attack – was beaten, sustaining several injuries. Since then many in the church have received threats from area Muslims, but police have taken no action against the assailants, church leaders said. Congregants are living in fear, said Pastor Henry Zaake, noting that last Sunday (Nov. 8), attendance decreased from 250 to 100 people. “We have reported the matter to the central police station, and we are surprised that no action has been taken,” Pastor Zaake said. “So far no person has been arrested as a result of this mayhem. It is as if the police are not concerned about our security and lives.”

Iran to Obama: It's Either U.S. or Israel
Nov 11th, 2009
Daily NewsIsrael Today
Categories: Today's Headlines;Anti-Israel

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday told US President Barack Obama he must choose between supporting Israel and supporting Iran and its allies. America can't have it both ways, Ahmadinejad insisted.

In his speech at an Islamic economic summit in Turkey, Ahmadinejad reminded Obama of his campaign promise to bring the US closer to the Muslim world, and reminded the American leader that doing so would be impossible so long as he was also maintain a friendship with the "Zionist regime."

Eu to Choose First President on Nov 19: Reinfeldt
Nov 11th, 2009
Daily NewsAFP
Categories: Today's Headlines;Revived Roman Empire

European leaders will hold a special summit next week to choose the future EU president and a foreign policy supremo, the Swedish EU presidency announced Wednesday.

"After an introductory round of consultations with his fellow heads of state and government, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has decided to convene an extra informal summit on 19 November," the EU presidency said in a statement.

It is hoped that the 27 European heads of state and government will reach agreement at the dinner summit on the key new posts created by the EU's reforming Lisbon Treaty, ratified this month.

"My prime minister is going to start a second round of consultations and hopefully we will be able to present the candidates next Thursday," Roberta Alenius, spokeswoman for Reinfeldt told AFP in Stockholm.

However, filling the two posts is proving more difficult than many had expected.

The Swedes wound up a first round of talks with no consensus for either post and many names swirling around, the spokeswoman said.

The British government still backs former premier Tony Blair, despite unpopularity in some European quarters over his support for the war in Iraq.

Others see Britain as on the periphery of the European project as it has joined neither the euro currency nor the passport-free Schengen area.

Current British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday that his foreign secretary David Miliband "was never a candidate" for the foreign affairs post.

British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson, a former EU commissioner, said he had been sounded out for the job left open by Miliband.

The current favourite to become president of the EU council is Belgium's centre-right Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, who has French and German support according to diplomats.

However the discreet negotiator, busy keeping feuding Dutch-speaking Flemish and the francophone parties together in his national coalition government, could find himself overshadowed by his main backers and, if chosen, find his role reduced to facilitator and consensus builder.

That could leave the way clear for a more forceful foreign policy chief, taking a firm platform to the likes of the China, Russia and the United States.

Reinfeldt, in a Swedish press interview Wednesday, underlined the difficulties involved in choosing the two key diplomats.

"My discussions show how important it is to have a good balance in the choice of posts," he told the daily Dagens Nyheter.

"The balance between left and right is very important for many, but also between big and small nations, between north and south, men and women," said Reinfeldt.

"It's difficult to fill all the criteria," he added.

Many European countries, including France, hope to seal a deal this week.

In theory the Lisbon Treaty would allow the president's post to be agreed via a qualified majority of EU member states. In practice everyone wants a unanimous decision.

Reinfeldt, who has found it hard to hide his frustration at Franco-German pressure, according to media reports, told the London Times that he might have to resort to the majority option.

He said qualified candidates for the EU president's post would essentially be former or current prime ministers.

The Swedish leader also faces a demand from Poland that shortlisted candidates undergo interviews.

Other names mentioned for the president's post have included Dutch Prime Minister Peter Balkenende and former Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga.

For the foreign affairs post, former Italian prime minister Massimo D'Alema is being talked about as a strong candidate in the event of Miliband's regularly stated unavailability.

Sweden has led the discussions since Czech President Vaclav Klaus formally ratified the Lisbon treaty on November 3

Art' Commentary.......This may be one of the most significant events of our lifetime to date.

 

Dahlan: We May Seek UN Resolution on Palestinian State
Nov 11th, 2009
Daily NewsYnet News - Ali Waked
Categories: Today's Headlines;Peace Process

Senior Fatah member Mohammad Dahlan says PA may seek Security Council resolution on borders of Palestinian state; PA government says it will continue to implement plan aimed at ending occupation

Taking steps towards statehood? The Palestinian Authority is looking into the possibility of turning to the Security Council and urging it to adopt a resolution recognizing the Palestinian state’s borders, senior Fatah member Mohammad Dahlan said Tuesday.

The PA will seek a state in line with the 1967 borders, including east Jerusalem, Dahlan said. He added that all options were open at this time, including the possibility of a unilateral declaration of Palestinian independence.

An American veto in the Security Council would prove that the White House is uninterested in the two-state solution, he said, pledging to “continue to fight Netanyahu’s plans, politically and diplomatically.”

Dahlan’s remarks came as the Palestinian Authority government announced Tuesday evening that it is determined to continue the implementation of a plan aimed at establishing Palestinian state institutions.

The process will be undertaken in line with a document presented by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad about two months ago.

 The PA announced that it continues to work on implementing the scheme, known as “Palestine: Ending the Occupation, Establishing the State.” The Palestinians said the plan will be implemented on the ground, without considering the various areas (A, B, and C) enforced on the Palestinians across the West Bank.

 “We are continuing to build the state on all the land occupied in 1967,” the statement said, urging the international community to take urgent action and assume its responsibility for salvaging the peace process in face of the current impasse.