Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Ya'alon Refused Meetings With Biden and Kerry
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Moshe Ya'alon, Chuck Hagel

Flash 90

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon was denied meetings with top American officials during his visit to the United States this week, The Associated Press (AP) reported on Friday, citing officials in Washington.

While Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon did see Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, the officials said the White House and State Department rejected Israeli proposals for meetings with Vice President Joe Biden, national security adviser Susan Rice and Secretary of State John Kerry.

The officials also revealed that the Obama administration had sought to stop Ya'alon from seeing Power, but the objections were made too late to cancel the meeting.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the snubs.

Ya'alon met with Hagel at the Pentagon on Tuesday. Kerry himself was out of the country until late Wednesday, but the officials said pointedly that a meeting with the secretary of state could have been arranged before Ya'alon departs the U.S.

The State Department declined to comment on internal deliberations about who Ya'alon should see, but noted that the meeting with his counterpart Hagel was "a natural, standard procedure."

Visiting Israeli defense ministers, including Ya'alon's immediate predecessor Ehud Barak, have in the past been granted meetings with senior U.S. officials other than their direct counterparts.

This week's refusals come amid increasingly strained U.S.-Israel relations, particularly over criticism of Kerry by several members of the Israeli cabinet, including Ya'alon, according to AP.

Several months ago Ya’alon was quoted as describing Kerry as "obsessive and messianic."

The U.S. responded with shock, calling the remarks "offensive" and "inappropriate." Ya'alon later apologized for the remarks, stating that he had no intention of "offending" Kerry.

In a more recent incident, Kerry blamed Israel for the rise in global jihadism, insisting that Israel "humiliated" the Palestinian Arabs and that it has led to a "loss of dignity," leading to a recruitment draw toward ISIS. 

In response, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett fired back at Kerry, saying, "Even when a British Muslim beheads a British Christian, there will always be those who blame the Jews.”

"We don't justify terror; we fight terror," he added. "The Israeli-Palestinian conflict statement encourages ISIS, and is a boost to terrorism worldwide."

Bennett’s remarks, however, were met with criticism within Israel. Among those who criticized Bennett was Ya’alon, who said that Bennett's criticism lacks respect for the financial and diplomatic support the U.S. has provided for Israel's right to self-defense against Hamas terrorism.

U.S. Official: 'Islamic State' a Petrostate
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsDW
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

The "Islamic State" has amassed wealth at an unprecedented pace, according to a US Treasury official. IS earns about $1 million a day from black market oil sales alone.

David Cohen, US treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said the "Islamic State" (IS) pulls in 790,000 euros daily, selling up to 50,000 barrels produced in captured refineries.

Speaking to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC, Thursday, Cohen said the group took in at least $20 million in ransom payments this year from kidnappings. He said IS gets several million dollars a month from wealthy donors, extortion rackets and other criminal activities, such as robbing banks.

"With the important exception of some state-sponsored terrorist organizations, ISIL is probably the best-funded terrorist organization we have confronted," Cohen said, using the acronym for IS's former name.

IS had initially tried to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while fighting alongside secular rebels and Islamists, but other groups, including al Qaeda central command, turned against the faction because of its brutality. On its own, the group enjoyed a series of successes when it launched attacks in Syria and Iraq during the summer. Since then, the United States and several other nations have launched airstrikes, targeting the group's oil assets and killing more than 500 members.

'Looting and selling'

IS gets only a small share of funding from deep-pocket donors and therefore does not depend primarily on moving money across international borders. The IS obtains most of its revenue through criminal and terrorist activities, Cohen said. For example, in Mosul, Iraq, IS reportedly goes door-to-door, business-to-business, demanding cash at gunpoint, he said.

"They rob banks," Cohen said. "They lay waste to thousands of years of civilization in Iraq and Syria by looting and selling antiquities. They steal livestock and crops from farmers. And, despicably, they sell abducted girls and women as sex slaves."

Most of the group's money, however, comes from the old-fashioned petroeconomics of extracting oil and selling it to smugglers, who, in turn, transport it outside of IS territory for quick sales. Some estimates have put IS's oil income at three times that of the US Treasury Department, which has found that the group sells oil at substantially discounted prices to a variety of middlemen, including some from Turkey, who then transport the oil for resale.

"It also appears that some of the oil emanating from territory where ISIL operates has been sold to Kurds in Iraq, and then resold into Turkey," Cohen said, adding that the Syrian government has also allegedly arranged to buy oil from IS, proving that the thirst for petroleum and the money it brings in can bridge the more philosophical gaps between sworn enemies in the multifront, multinational war.

Two Oklahoma Earthquakes Recorded Today; Nine Recorded Wednesday
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsTulsa World
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded two Oklahoma earthquakes today and nine Oklahoma earthquakes on Wednesday.

At 1:06 a.m., a 2.7 magnitude quake recorded about 14 miles west-northwest of Pawnee.

Then, at 2:06 a.m., a 3.0 magnitude quake recorded about 10 miles south of Medford.

The largest of the nine Oklahoma earthquakes recorded Wednesday was a 3.5 magnitude quake recorded 10:58 a.m. about 9 miles east-northeast of Mooreland.

During the past seven days, the USGS recorded 45 Oklahoma earthquakes. During the past 30 days, the USGS recorded 133 Oklahoma earthquakes.

The largest during that timeframe was a 4.3 magnitude quake Oct. 10 near Cushing, according to the USGS.

Tthe Palestinians Have No Faith in Abbas
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Palestinian Arabs have lost all faith in Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, according to Avi Naim, Head of the Beit Aryeh Local Council.

"The Palestinian leader is busy with slogans and public relations more than he is concerned for the civilian life of Palestinians in Judea and Samaria. Every Palestinian wants a blue ID card and an opportunity to work in Israel," Naim said on Friday.

"The reality in the Arab countries in the region and in the Gaza Strip have caused the Palestinians to realize that their leadership will not lead them to better places. Recent events in Jerusalem, which are sponsored by groups seeking to inflame the area, and the wild incitement in the mosques on Fridays were unable to causes the expected erosion among the Palestinians and in fact have totally failed," he added.

The Black Flag of ISIS Signifies the Military Tactics of Muhammad
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy New Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;War;Commentary

The Black Flag of ISIS is not new. It has been seen in the West before. The strategy of those who fight under that flag is not new, either. The strategy is world domination under the rule of Islam.

The general Muslim strategy followed by ISIS is explained clearly by Raymond Ibrahim. He writes, “…The spread of Islam by arms is a religious duty upon Muslims in general. Jihad must continue to be done until the whole world is under the rule of Islam…”

What about the military tactics used by ISIS? Are they new to Islam? Will coalition bombing be enough to force ISIS to surrender? At this time, the answer to this question looks to be no. As many ground troops have seen (and some Air Force generals admit), no one has ever surrendered to an airplane.

In her article on the Black Flag, Nina Porzucki writes,

“The flag is often called the Black Standard or the Black Banner. ‘The black banner of Islam as a symbol goes back to the 8th century, when the Second Dynasty of Islam came to power with black banners,’ says Jonathan Bloom, a professor of Islamic Art at Boston College.”

“The white writing that you see at the top of the flag is the first half of an Islamic phrase called the shahada, or declaration of faith, which reads: “There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God.’”

“Another appropriated symbol on the flag is the white circle at its center, which contains the second part of the shahada: "Muhammad is the Messenger of God … The two Arabic phrases, the black color of the flag and even the ancient looking font of the Arabic all work to evoke an image of the historical Islamic caliphate, the massive state that ISIS claims to have resurrected.

The fact that the Black Flag of ISIS makes us look back to the eighth century for their inspiration also means we should look back as well to understand ISIS’s military tactics.

Michael Van Ginkel, in his article “Muslim Military Strategies in the Times of Muhammad,” writes,


“Originally organized in small war bands, the early followers of Muhammad relied on guerrilla tactics to overcome their opposition.”

“Muhammad, however, soon managed to mobilize tribes on a far grander scale, diverging from caravan raids in favor of large scale, organized warfare. Combined with Muhammad's strategies and tactics, the new Muslim military arm would conquer great swathes of land even after its founder's death.”

Add to that,

“Muhammad utilized an array of different tactics to overcome his enemy with minimal losses. By manipulating his opposition through deception, unconventional tactics and diplomacy, Muhammad used war as a means to a strategic end. In addition, he began to evoke psychological warfare through mass killings in order to suppress those who would resist his incursions.”

From what we see reported in the media, the military leaders of ISIS are following the same tactics used by Muhammad more than a thousand years ago. It is uncertain who commands all the ISIS military forces, but whoever he is, that man has knowledge of Muhammad’s way of waging war.

Writing for BreitbartNews, Frances Martel states,

“…Omar al-Shishani, a Chechen Georgian…may be the military leader of all of ISIS…With the exception of the reclusive al-Baghdadi, ISIS has established an organization mostly bereft of high-profile leaders, making it more difficult for those fighting jihad to target leaders and destroy the group from the head down.”

In many ways, Omar al-Shishani’s charismatic leadership of ISIS mirrors that of Mohammad’s leadership. The way he has been fighting the ground war for ISIS is likewise similar to the tactics used by Mohammad.

Tactical advances and withdrawals, controlling large areas of territory, using the media to broadcast terror and fear, the use of oil as a source of revenue and soliciting ISIS recruits from Muslim communities in the West have so far made ISIS unstoppable.

Can the West develop tactics to defeat ISIS and its commanders like Omar al-Shishani? That remains to be seen.

The single most important mistake Western military commanders make at this time is that they mirror the enemy. ISIS is just like us, they believe. All the ISIS jihadists want is to drive SUVs, have a house in a Saudi Arabian suburb and maybe enjoy a pulled pork sandwich once in a while. We can reason with them.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Black Flag should tell us that we will be engaged in a religious war with ISIS. Their inspiration and tactics go back more than a thousand years.

Furthermore, behind ISIS is Islam. This means every Muslim living in the West is a potential ISIS recruit capable of jihad against the West. The beliefs progressives have about moderate or radical Muslims are misguided.

Militarily speaking, there were no moderate or radical Nazis. There were just Nazis. Likewise, there are no radical or moderate Muslims. There are just Muslims. In other words, a moderate Muslim is a nonobservant radical Muslim.

Many progressive leaders in the West do not understand the threat posed by Islam because they cannot get their collective heads around the idea that religion is still a force in the world. Unlike secular progressives, ISIS troops do believe in a god and are willing to die for that god.

War is a hellish business. ISIS is at war with the West. If we want victory in that war, then we must open the doors of a hellish business. This means killing the enemy and destroying their resources until they have had enough and surrender. If you don’t believe it, ask those who fought at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

The knights who fought and died at Lepanto will tell you the counterinsurgency tactics developed by General Petraeus for the conflict in Iraq may not work in a war with ISIS. To be blunt, until we kill the enemy so there is no longer anyone left to fight, there will not be victory. Then, there will be no need for a “population-centric” strategy.

For those who remain unclear what a victory by the West over ISIS and Islam may look like, we suggest that Istanbul will again be called Constantinople and a Baptist church will be built in Mecca. Defeat in that war will look like Dearborn, Michigan.

ISIS is just one strand that is the Gordian knot of Islam. A soon-to-be nuclear Iran, oil from Saudi Arabia, and Russian support for Syria are other strands of the knot. Alexander the Great also confronted a knot like this and unraveled it with one decisive blow.

Report: ISIS U.S.ed Chemical Weapons Against Iraqi Forces
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;War

Chemical Weapons Suits

Reuters

The US is investigating reports that terror group Islamic State (ISIS) used chemical weapons against the Iraqi military, after separate accounts from both an unnamed Iraqi Defense official and hospital workers treating the victims told authorities that chlorine gas had been used. 

Eleven Iraqi policemen were rushed to hospital last month complaining of dizziness, vomiting, and shortness of breath, the Washington Post reported Friday - all symptoms of chlorine gas poisoning. Yellow gas was also seen emanating from the site near where the policemen fell ill. 

This is not the first time ISIS has been linked with chemical weapons attacks, officials said - two other reports making similar accusations were raised last month - but it is the strongest corroboration of facts surrounding an ISIS gas attack thus far. 

In June, ISIS seized a weapons complex thought to have held hundreds of tons of lethal sarin and mustard gasses: the al-Muthanna complex, located 60 miles north of Baghdad, which was a central base of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons program. 

While the US State Department waved off rumors that the plant still held chemical weapons, experts stated to the British Telegraph that the chemical residue left at the site could be weaponized regardless - and that ISIS does, in fact, have chemical weapons experience. 

In the meantime, Iraqi Defense officials told the Washington Post that the weaponry for the current attack was seized from Iraqi water plants now in ISIS territory, not from the complex. 

But the fear remains that this initial attack may only be the beginning, as ISIS trains for larger and larger attacks. Chlorine gas is easy - and legal - to produce and sell, but violates the Chemical Weapons Convention. 

“They use it just to create terror,” an Iraqi official said. “But of course we are very concerned.”

Chlorine gas: a Syrian trend?

Last week, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed that chlorine gas was used in attacks in northern Syria this year - but it is unknown by whom. 

The OPCW, which is the international body seeking to implement global laws banning chemical weapons, said it had found "compelling confirmation" of the use of chlorine, in pure or mixed form.

The attacks took place earlier this year in villages where rebels have been fighting government forces, according to the organization, which has been overseeing efforts to destroy Syria's chemical weapons.

Activists in Syria said several months ago that over 100 people had been killed in a chlorine gas attack in the town of Talmenes in Idlib province, and the United Nations Security Council has called for an investigation into the alleged attack. Since then there were reports of other such attacks.

The US has blamed Damascus for the attacks, even though Syria has emphatically denied that it carried out chlorine gas attacks against civilians. 

Yet a close look at the initial reports of chemical weapons use in Syria in 2013 reveal that the UN report regarding the attacks never conclusively stated that it was Syrian government forces - and not rebel groups - who used the gas against civilian targets. 

Last December, a veteran journalist accused the US of hiding evidence that rebel groups - including ISIS, which began and blossomed in Syria - had also used chemical weapons in the attacks. 

Overall, however, the UN has placed the blame squarely on Syrian President Bashar Assad's shoulders - noting in a special panel in September that Assad's atrocities surpassed ISIS's.

Nine Real Technologies That will Soon be Inside You
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy New Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Commentary

Given the frenzy of interest following the announcement of the Apple Watch, you might think wearables will be the next really important shift in technology.

Not so.

Wearables will have their moment in the sun, but they're simply a transition technology.

Technology will move from existing outside our bodies to residing inside us.

That's the next big frontier.

Here are nine signs that implantable tech is here now, growing rapidly, and that it will be part of your life (and your body) in the near future.

1. Implantable smartphones

Sure, we're virtual connected to our phones 24/7 now, but what if we were actually connected to our phones?

That's already starting to happen.

Last year, for instance, artist Anthony Antonellis had an RFID chip embedded in his arm that could store and transfer art to his handheld smartphone.

Researchers are experimenting with embedded sensors that turn human bone into living speakers.

Other scientists are working on eye implants that let an image be captured with a blink and transmitted to any local storage (such as that arm-borne RFID chip).

But what takes the place of the screen if the phone is inside you? Techs at Autodesk are experimenting with a system that can display images through artificial skin.

Or the images may appear in your eye implants.

2. Healing chips

Right now, patients are using cyber-implants that tie directly to smartphone apps to monitor and treat diseases.

A new bionic pancreas being tested at America’s Boston University, for instance, has a tiny sensor on an implantable needle that talks directly to a smartphone app to monitor blood-sugar levels for diabetics.

Scientists in London are developing swallowable capsule-sized circuits that monitor fat levels in obese patients and generate genetic material that makes them feel "full".

It has potential as an alternative to current surgery or other invasive ways to handle gross obesity.

Dozens of other medical issues from heart murmurs to anxiety have implant/phone initiatives under way.

3. Cyber pills that talk to your doctor

Implantables won’t just communicate with your phone; they’ll chat up your doctor, too.

In a project named Proteus, after the eensy body-navigating vessel in the film Fantastic Voyage, a British research team is developing cyber-pills with microprocessors in them that can text doctors directly from inside your body.

The pills can share (literally) inside info to help doctors know if you are taking your medication properly and if it is having the desired effect.

4. Bill Gates' implantable birth control

The Gates Foundation is supporting an MIT project to create an implantable female compu-contraceptive controlled by an external remote control.

The tiny chip generates small amounts of contraceptive hormone from within the woman's body for up to 16 years.

Implantation is no more invasive than a tattoo.

And, "The ability to turn the device on and off provides a certain convenience factor for those who are planning their family.", said Dr Robert Farra of MIT.

Gives losing the remote a whole new meaning.

5. Smart tattoos

Tattoos are hip and seemingly ubiquitous, so why not smart, digital tattoos that not only look cool, but can also perform useful tasks, like unlocking your car or entering mobile phone codes with a finger-point?

Researchers at the University of Illinois have crafted an implantable skin mesh of computer fibers thinner than a human hair that can monitor your body's inner workings from the surface.

A company called Dangerous Things has an NFC chip that can be embedded in a finger through a tattoo-like process, letting you unlock things or enter codes simply by pointing.

A Texas research group has developed microparticles that can be injected just under the skin, like tattoo ink, and can track body processes.

All of these are much wiser choices than the name of a soon-to-be-ex.

6. Brain-computer interface

Having the human brain linked directly to computers is the dream (or nightmare) of sci-fi.

But now, a team at Brown University called BrainGate is at the forefront of the real-world movement to link human brains directly to computers for a host of uses.

As the BrainGate website says, "using a baby aspirin-sized array of electrodes implanted into the brain, early research from the BrainGate team has shown that the neural signals can be ‘decoded' by a computer in real-time and used to operate external devices."

Chip maker Intel predicts practical computer-brain interfaces by 2020.

Intel scientist Dean Pomerleau said in a recent article, "Eventually people may be willing to be more committed to brain implants."

"Imagine being able to surf the Web with the power of your thoughts."

7. Meltable bio-batteries

One of the challenges for implantable tech has been how to get power to devices tethered inside or floating around in human bodies.

You can't plug them in.

You can't easily take them out to replace a battery.

A team at Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is working on biodegradable batteries.

They generate power inside the body, transfer it wirelessly where needed, and then simply melt away.

Another project is looking at how to use the body’s own glucose to generate power for implantables.

Think the potato battery of grammar school science, but smaller and much more advanced.

8. Smart dust

Perhaps the most startling of current implantable innovations is smart dust, arrays of full computers with antennas, each much smaller than a grain of sand, that can organize themselves inside the body into as-needed networks to power a whole range of complex internal processes.

Imagine swarms of these nano-devices, called motes, attacking early cancer or bringing pain relief to a wound or even storing critical personal information in a manner that is deeply encrypted and hard to hack.

With smart dust, doctors will be able to act inside your body without opening you up, and information could be stored inside you, deeply encrypted, until you unlocked it from your very personal nano network.

9. The verified self

Implantables hammer against social norms.

They raise privacy issues and even point to a larger potential dystopia.

This technology could be used to ID every single human being, for example.

Already, the US military has serious programs afoot to equip soldiers with implanted RFID chips, so keeping track of troops becomes automatic and worldwide.

Many social critics believe the expansion of this kind of ID is inevitable.

Some see it as a positive: improved crime fighting, universal secure elections, a positive revolution in medical information and response, and never a lost child again.

Others see the perfect Orwellian society: a Big Brother who, knowing all and seeing all, can control all.

And some see the first big, fatal step toward the Singularity, that moment when humanity turns its future over to software.

Let the Headlines Speak
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsFrom the internet
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

BREAKING: Judicial Watch Obtains List of Fast and Furious Documents Held Under Obama's Executive Privilege
The scandal required the attention of virtually every top official of the DOJ and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Communications to and from the United States Ambassador to Mexico about the Fast and Furious matter are also described.  

Why Tony Blair is a gay icon
They are individuals who have contributed a great deal in the fight for gay rights. Whether that be visibility, championing equality or defending the dignity of those with HIV and Aids. The title isn’t bestowed on someone simply for being camp or fabulous, but rather for using their time and work to pursue gay rights. That’s the real definition of an icon.  

Scientists convert human skin cells directly into brain cells
By exposing skin cells to a particular combination of cell programming molecules, scientists managed to convert them into brain cells that behave like native cells. The study is unusual because, unlike many cell conversion techniques, the cells did not return to a stem cell stage first - they converted directly into brain cells - thus avoiding the risk of producing many other types of cells.  

21 Asian countries sign MOU on new development bank
Twenty-one Asian countries willing to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as founding members on Friday morning signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing AIIB (MOU). Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the representatives of the 21 nations later in the morning.  

Utah Supreme Court clears way for adoption by partners of same-sex spouses
The Utah Supreme Court on Thursday lifted an order that had blocked spouses in same-sex marriages from adopting their partners' children, state officials said.  

Futures fall on weak Amazon results, Ebola worries
U.S. stock index futures dipped on Friday, putting the S&P 500 on track to trim its weekly gain, following disappointing results from Amazon and as the first diagnosed case of Ebola in New York City raised concerns about the spread of the virus.  

First Case of Ebola in New York City Confirmed
A New York doctor living in Harlem was diagnosed with Ebola on Thursday, after having returned last week from Guinea where he is thought to have treated patients suffering from the epidemic with Doctors Without Borders.  

LOTS OF SOLAR FLARES
Solar activity is high. Since the week began, giant sunspot AR2192 has produced 27 C-class solar flares, 9 M-class flares, and 2 X-flares. The most powerful eruption so far was an X1.6-category blast on Oct 22nd.  

Jerusalem Baby Killed and Civilians Injured in Suspected Terrorist Attack
a convicted Palestinian, terrorist, fugitive took his escape vehicle barreling through a light rail station platform, killing an Israeli-American baby and injuring Israeli and American civilians, leading authorities to suspect the attack was intentional.  

Earthquake at Colombia-Ecuador border triggers fears of volcanic eruptions
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake that recently hit the Colombia-Ecuador border region has triggered fears of eruptions at two volcanoes – Cerro Negro and Chiles – reported Colombia Reports.  

Another earthquake rattles Interior Alaska
Less than three days after a 5.1 magnitude quake rattled Interior Alaska, residents were jolted by another on Thursday morning.  

Two Oklahoma earthquakes recorded today; nine recorded Wednesday
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded two Oklahoma earthquakes today and nine Oklahoma earthquakes on Wednesday.  

Earthquake hits Pakistan
Islamabad, Oct 24 (IANS) An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale jolted northern Pakistan on Friday, a media report said.  

Top Iranian Official: Obama is ‘The Weakest of U.S. Presidents’
The Iranian president’s senior advisor has called President Barack Obama “the weakest of U.S. presidents” and described the U.S. leader’s tenure in office as “humiliating,” ... The comments by Ali Younesi, senior advisor to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, come as Iran continues to buck U.S. attempts to woo it into the international coalition currently battling the Islamic State (IS, ISIL, or ISIS).  

U.S., allies scramble jets almost daily to repel Russian incursions
Russian military provocations have increased so much over the seven months since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine that Washington and its allies are scrambling defense assets on a nearly daily basis in response to air, sea and land incursions by Vladimir Putin’s forces.  

Jerusalem to step up security after second day of violence
Jerusalem will step up its security level following threats made during a second violent day in the city. ...Jerusalem police announced there will be restrictions on who can enter the Temple Mount for Friday prayers, Israel Radio reported. Though Muslim women of all ages will be able to enter the Temple Mount, only men above aged 40 and up will be allowed to enter the area.  

Norway's 'killer robot' technology under fire
The Norwegian government is set to develop a new controversial robot-controlled missile for its fighter jets, but faces opposition from MPs and peace organizations claiming the technology may break international law.  

IS world's wealthiest terror group: Top US official
A top United States administration official has termed the Islamic State (IS) world's wealthiest terror group that generates tens of millions of dollars a month from "deep and diverse" sources that include, black market oil sales, ransoms and extortion.  

Fight against Islamic State at impasse, military commanders say
The Obama administration on Thursday offered a very mixed assessment of progress in the U.S.-led campaign to degrade and defeat the Islamic State, with no serious ground offensive against the militant group likely for at least a year and little sign that the effort to stanch its flow of money has succeeded.  

Doctor in New York City Tests Positive for Ebola
A doctor in New York City who recently returned from treating Ebola patients in Guinea tested positive for the Ebola virus Thursday, becoming the city’s first diagnosed case.  

Foreign central banks cut U.S. bond stakes to lowest since May
Foreign central banks slashed their holdings of U.S. Treasuries at the Federal Reserve to their lowest level since May, Fed data released on Thursday showed.  

Mali becomes sixth West African nation hit by Ebola
Mali confirmed its first case of Ebola on Thursday, becoming the sixth West African country to be touched by the worst outbreak on record of the hemorrhagic fever, which has killed nearly 4,900 people.  

Is Bible Prophecy Relevant?
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy New Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Prophecy;Commentary

If there is a subject in the Bible that is arguably the most debated, divisive, and distorted….it is the subject of Bible prophecy. Under the umbrella of end times teaching, there are primary issues like the Rapture, the Great Tribulation, Israel, the church, and the Second Coming that shape our outlook on the future and even how we now live. We will get to work on some of those issues in future articles. What we will look at now is the elephant in the room. It’s a growing trend to negate Bible prophecy in our day. Believers need to answer this question with clarity and boldness:

Is Bible prophecy relevant?

Prophecy is woven all through the word of God. There is prophecy that identifies certain people, places, and events. What we want to look at together is Bible prophecy as it pertains to end-time events. In writing this article, I must admit some sadness because it’s one thing to debate pertinent issues such as….the likelihood of a particular end-time event coming to fruition in our lifetime, the chronology of the Rapture, or what Mystery Babylon mentioned in Revelation is referring to. It is a given that believers will study and conjecture about these issues right up to the time Jesus returns.

What I find sad and frankly unconscionable, is that we are living in a day when an increasing number of Christians are viewing Bible prophecy as irrelevant or as a distraction.

Some believers may come right out and articulate that Bible prophecy is a distraction. With others, the negating of eschatology may be more subtle. How is end-time theology negated by believers? There are many ways, but here are a few that are very apparent these days:

1. Viewing our fellow Christians who study prophecy...as somewhat off point.

2. Viewing Bible prophecy as a distraction from the here and now.

3. Believing that the study and teaching of Bible prophecy will distract people from the work at hand…including the great commission.

4. Considering the study of the end times and prophecy too difficult or too divisive.

5. The most apparent way many churches, fellowships, and individuals are attempting to negate Bible prophecy is by simply ignoring it.

In neglecting the subject all together, Bible prophecy has become foreign to many churches and Christians. If it is addressed or taught, it is relegated to being a back burner issue. It is met with the same enthusiasm one might expect for a month long sermon series on the countless genealogies in the books of 1st or 2nd Chronicles!

(Truthful) prophetic material is exclusive to Christianity and Judaism because for prophecy to be 100% truthful it has to be 100% accurate and to be 100% accurate, it must be 100% fulfilled to the letter. Our God has a perfect record because everything His prophets have prophesied about has come to pass just as it was written in the Bible. I could write volumes about the spot on accuracy of the word of God, but suffice it to say that the Lord of heaven knows everything and His wisdom is unsearchable.

Isaiah 46:9: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”

God in His divine wisdom has declared the end from the beginning. Far from being a wild shot in the dark, Bible prophecy is declaring future events with pinpoint accuracy as only the Lord can do. Although there are many things we won’t know until we get to heaven, much relevant information has been given to us for our instruction and edification in this life.

There is a significant portion of Scripture that is prophetic. In the book, Ready with an Answer, John Ankerbergand John Weldon have done the digging into the Bible and written about just how prevalent the subject of prophecy is in the Word of God. Here are some facts worth considering:

1. Approximately 27% of the Bible consists of prophetic material.

2. Out of the 66 books in the Bible, 62 contain prophetic material.

3. In the OT & NT, more than 1,800 verses address the Second Coming of Jesus.

If nearly a third of the Bible deals with prophecy, it becomes evident that prophecy is much more than a periphery issue. When we search the Scriptures for references to end-time events, we will quickly see the subject appears frequently. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Joel, Zachariah, and several other books all reference the last days to some degree. Daniel chapter 9 is worth noting because contained therein is a detailed summary of the final seven years preceding the return of Jesus.

God’s prophet writes about the same scenario that Jesus addresses in Matt. 24 and John writes about in Revelation 13. Daniel wrote about the rise of antichrist many centuries before Jesus and John the apostle mention him. This is just another stunning realization of the accuracy of the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke each have a whole chapter focused exclusively on the last days. 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 2 Timothy, and 2 Peter all contain numerous direct references to the last days and Second Coming.

Revelation is the last book in the canon of Scripture and one of the most loved. In Revelation we find a book that lays out in great detail the end-time scenario. Look at how chapter one starts with pointing directly to Jesus and His emphasis on the importance of this book in the life of a believer:

Revelation 1:1-3: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servantsthe things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servantJohn, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”

That is an amazing gift to every believer from God. He gives us His written word for instruction and direction. When He made the things “that must soon take place” known to John, it was for us, His servants, to read, hear, and keep what is written. In Revelation 22, Jesus tells us, “I am coming soon” three times. When we look through the Bible, when we read verses in their context and when we find eschatological prophecy woven throughout its books, chapters, and pages…it makes the point all the more clear:

Bible prophecy isn’t a diversion…it’s enormously relevant today.

I want to address some disturbing trends. I understand there have been some erroneous teaching over the years in the realm of last days events. I know there have been dates set, claims made, and sensational speculation about future events. That is a shame because just as unbiblical teaching departs from the centrality of what God intended for us to know, so does the knee jerk reaction of ignoring Bible prophecy altogether.

It seemed like it wasn’t too long ago when pastors, teachers, and evangelists preached on the subject of Bible prophecy often. What good days they were...when end times events were taught with clarity, boldness, and relevance. Good men of God used hermeneutical skill to interpret Bible prophecy and view it in its proper context.

They knew Bible prophecy reflected the centrality and preeminence of Jesus. They knew Bible prophecy pointed us toward the fulfilling the Great Commission, and they knew that Bible prophecy was not simply just pointing to an ancient moment in time, but much of it has its ultimate and complete fulfillment in the future.

I have to tell you that I’m a bit weary of the soft sell social gospel that is being peddled these days. Teaching on judgment, repentance, atonement, and the Lord’s imminent return have been largely replaced by sermonetes on life enhancement.

When were we, as believers ever mandated to soft sell the gospel and package it in a politically correct box so that we won’t offend anyone’s sensibilities?

That was not the message of the early church. For them, loving His appearing was the blessed hope…not the great distraction. If we have become so wrapped up in our programs and “making church an experience they’ll return for”…it becomes apparent that a growing number of believers aren’t looking for the Lord’s return.

Instead, some are trying to make this life the apex of self fulfillment. That outlook is diametrically opposed to the heart that loves His appearing, is a bold witness and is watching and waiting.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-4: “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.”

Please understand...I believe grace, forgiveness, mercy, and the love of Jesus is paramount. But friends, it can only be paramount to a person who comes to the realization that: He is a wretched sinner before a holy God. The Bible says that godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation. Why would a person repent if they don’t know that Jesus is coming soon and that He is not coming back as their Savior, but as their judge?

Why would someone repent when the only message they hear many teachers in church or on television say is this one?:

“You are a good person, Jesus loves you, and God is going to make your life blessed and wonderful.”

Yes, Jesus loves them and His mercy extends to all sinners right up until the moment they die or Jesus returns. Then it will be too late and they will face judgment.

The core message for 2,000 years has been that we are sinners, we need a Savior, and repent…the kingdom is at hand. The prevailing core message these days has changed from Jesus saves to...accept Jesus to enhance your lifestyle and circumstances.

We need real men and women who will teach the whole word of God and not pick and choose what is not offensive. Paul said that we are an aroma of life to those who are being saved and we are an aroma of death to those who are perishing. Moreover, we need Christian men and women who will be a bold witness for Jesus in light of the reality of His soon return. We cannot peddle the Word of God. As Christians we must warn people that indeed, Jesus is coming soon.

The prevailing winds of apathy and distain for Bible prophecy among even some evangelicals is sad. Recently, I was listening to a 10 part CD series on the book of Revelation while traveling. A nationally known pastor was teaching through the book; why it’s important, how it affirms holy living, and our love for spreading the gospel.

He tells about a sad occasion when he went out to lunch with two other pastor friends. One of the pastors told a joke about the end times and the other one found it funny.

“Hey...did you know Jesus is coming again...and again and again and again?”

I’m not here to cast stones or blame because none of us are perfect. I do want to look at the heart of the issue. What was meant as humor and sarcasm shows a complete and unbelievable disregard and disrespect for Bible prophecy and for the Lord’s soon return. Needless to say, the pastor who was teaching the series on Revelation was floored by what he heard, and stunned that fellow pastors had become so apathetic about a central reality in the Bible.

India: Israel's Next Major Military Ally?
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

Binyamin Netanyahu, Narendra Modi

Avi Ohayon/Flash 90

India's Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is set to make a high-level visit to Israel next month, in the first Home Minister visit since a 2000 trip that began resurgent bilateral ties - the visit comes after India last month approved a $144 million missile purchase from Israel.

Singh, whose position is roughly parallel to Internal Security Minister, is to meet Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on November 6 as part of a four-day trip with senior officials, Indian diplomatic sources told the Times of India on Thursday.

India is currently the largest buyer of Israeli defense hardware, and Israel's military delegation to India is second only in size to its delegation to America. The two countries also have a Joint Working group on counter-terrorism, with bilateral ties flourishing under India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Netanyahu and Modi met in New York last month, where he told him "we are excited about the possibilities of stronger ties with India, and the sky is the limit."

The statement came the same month that Modi approved the purchase of 262 Israeli-made Barak 1 surface-to-air missiles, in a $144 million deal that will arm India's 14 battleships over the course of five years.

The deal had been frozen since a scandal in 2006, when suspicions of corruption by Indian politicians surfaced claiming that they had taken bribes in return for advancing weapons deals. Those suspicions were never proven, and with Israeli-Indian ties flourishing the deal has come back into play.

India has been actively buying Israeli weapons; last year it approved the purchase of 15 Heron drones.

The two countries are also involved in joint military projects, with Israel developing the Barak 8 advanced missile in cooperation with India, further pointing to the strong military ties.

Reportedly India is also looking to sell its Iron Dome anti-missile defense system to India as well, as India is interested in using the system to defend its key assets.

As defense ties with America continue to grow tense, as highlighted in Operation Protective Edge when US President Barack Obama froze the routine transfer of Hellfire missiles to Israel and ordered scrutiny on future shipments, Israel continues to show signs of developing Asian allies such as India, China and Japan.

Houston Pastor: Gay Rights Agenda Systematically Deconstructing Gods Created Order
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsCNS News
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

(CNSNews.com) – Rev. David Welch, one of five pastors who were subpoenaed by the City of Houston to turn over all sermons and other documents and communications related to homosexuality and gender identity, said Wednesday that the move represents a much broader agenda of the city’s lesbian mayor and other gay rights activists.

“This is the result of our allowing these critical institutions to fall into the hands of those who are of an opposite world view who are intentionally and systematically deconstructing God’s created order,” said Welch, executive director of the Texas Pastor Council.

“The ungodly abuse of power and, frankly, just evil abuse of that … steals the freedom and ultimately the moral framework of the culture and ultimately attacks the minds and hearts of our children,” Welch said during a conference call set up by the Family Research Council to encourage pastors across the country to take part in the “I Stand Sunday” rally on Nov. 2 in Houston in support of the Texas clergy, who are fighting the subpoena and an ordinance passed by the city to allow transgender individuals to use any public restroom.

As CNSNews.com reported earlier, Annise Parker, the city’s first lesbian mayor, signed the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance in May. Opposition to the ordinance led local pastors to mount a petition campaign that would force the Houston City Council to repeal the ordinance or make it a ballot referendum.

Although more than three times the required signatures were collected and certified by the city secretary, city attorney David Feldman overrode the certification by claiming mistakes eliminated multiple pages of the petition, resulting in less than the required number needed to overturn the ordinance or put it up for a vote.

The Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s right to subpoena materials from church leaders, and the pastors – who where not party to the ADF lawsuit – have filed their own legal motion seeking a Texas Supreme Court ruling to put the fate of the ordinance back in the hands of the city council.

Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and an ordained Southern Baptist minister, spoke during the conference call about the upcoming event and his support for the pastors.

“My hat is off to the Houston pastors who came under siege by the mayor for simply doing what they’re called to do,” said Huckabee, who will be speaking at the Houston rally, which will take place at Grace Community Church. “And that’s present the word of God.”

Huckabee said the pastors took a stand against the city ordinance because of their religious convictions.

“It’s not that we are against something,” Huckabee said. “It’s just that we unapologetically are in a position where we must stand for something, and that something is biblical truth and natural marriage.”

He said the tone of the Houston rally will not only demonstrate that but also be “reflective of the love of Jesus Christ.”

FRC President Tony Perkins said the mayor’s action reveal a much broader agenda by LGBT activists across the country.

“People are beginning to see the true agenda of what’s behind this,” Perkins said during the conference call. “It’s not about two people who love each other.

“It’s not just about the marriage altar,” Perkins said. “It’s about fundamentally altering the cultural landscape of our country.”

During the conference call, Perkins and the others cited multiple cases in states across the country where people who are opposed to same-sex marriage and own businesses that provide wedding services, including bakeries and wedding chapels, are facing fines and other penalties.

The “I Stand Sunday” event will be streamed live on the event’s website, IStandSunday.com, at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Nov. 2 and rebroadcast at 9 p.m.

Fed Lays Out Scenarios for 2015 Bank Stress Tests
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsReuters
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

An eagle tops the U.S. Federal Reserve building's facade in Washington, July 31, 2013.

The tests were introduced after the 2007-09 financial crisis, and are an increasingly important part of the Fed's toolkit to make sure the largest banks stay safe, and to avoid a repeat of costly taxpayer bailouts. 

Overall, however, the Fed said its "severely adverse" scenario was largely similar to the one it had used in its 2014 run of the so-called stress tests, mandatory for any bank with assets of more than $50 billion.

The Fed can bar a bank from raising shareholder payouts such as dividends or share buybacks if it fails to show it can survive the three increasingly dire hypothetical economic scenarios used in the stress tests.

Reuters reported last week that the Fed is also considering using the tests as one of the tools it could use to prevent a buildup of excessive financial risk in the system, though there was no sign it would do so in 2015.

The Fed's medium-severe, or adverse scenario, assumed a pickup in U.S. inflation and a resulting yield curve that was higher and flatter than in the baseline scenario, making it different from last year's adverse scenario.

Ebola Epidemic Reaches 6th African Country As Mali Announces 1st Case
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsCBC News
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Mali's health minister says the West African country has confirmed its first case of Ebola.

The announcement made on Malian state television Thursday evening by Ousmane Kone said that the patient was a two-year-old girl who had come from neighbouring Guinea.

The child was brought to a hospital in the Malian town of Kayes on Wednesday, and her blood sample tested positive for the virus.

Mali becomes the sixth West African country to report an Ebola case — though nearly all the cases and deaths have occurred in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Senegal and Nigeria had imported cases though both have now been declared Ebola-free.

The World Health Organization says the disease has killed at least 4,877 people and infected 9,936.

China Seeks Stronger Military Ties With Iran
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsThe Times of Israel
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

China’s defense minister said Thursday the world’s most populous country is “ready to enhance” military ties with Iran.

Iran is under severe international sanctions over its nuclear program, which much of the world believes is intended to develop nuclear weapons.

Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan was meeting in Beijing with Iranian Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, commander of Iran’s navy. Wanquan told his Iranian counterpart the two countries have had “good cooperation on mutual visits, personnel training and other fields in recent years,” China’s official Xinhua news agency reported, according to Reuters.

Sayyari said Iran was “ready to enhance bilateral exchanges to push forward cooperation between the two armed forces, especially in naval cooperation.”

According to the Chinese military’s People’s Liberation Army Daily, the Iranian admiral visited a number of Chinese submarines and warships and “listened to an introduction on equipment ability and weapons systems.”

Last month, China sent a missile destroyer and missile frigate to take part in a military exercise with the Iranian navy. The exercise was described by Iranian admiral Amir Hossein Azad as an effort to establish “peace, stability, tranquility and multilateral and mutual cooperation” between the two countries.

The five-day exercise was seen in the West as a signal from Beijing of a new willingness to flex its growing naval power. The exercise marked the first time that Chinese naval vessels sailed in the Persian Gulf, a body of water critical to the world’s oil supply.

Iran has in the past threatened to block the Straits of Hormuz, the narrowest point in the Persian Gulf, if it was attack by the United States or Israel.

Approximately 20% of the world’s petroleum passes through the straits.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visited Beijing in May, meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and other senior officials.

China is a member of the P5+1, the group of six world powers negotiating with Iran over its nuclear capabilities.

While Beijing announces its intention to expand ties with Tehran, it has also sought burgeoning commercial ties with Israel.

Americans See Waning Influence of Religion on Society
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy New Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues;Commentary

Cultural influence by religion appears to be waning, at least according to 72% of respondents in a recent Pew research poll. Just look and listen, and the validity of that response becomes apparent. Changes are happening and happening fast as American society drifts further and further from the traditional values and mores predicated on religious convictions. 

Interestingly, in that Pew poll, most of those who see the influence of religion diminishing view this trend negatively. They would like to see an increased involvement by religion in the affairs of American life, including politics. While our government seems intent upon widening the gap between religious conviction and political expression, apparently, a large segment of the American populace would like to see a reversal of that trend.

Since the 2010 midterm elections, the number of those who would like to see their ministers and religious institutions speak publicly about political issues and elections, has increased. This trend is seen specifically among those who identify as Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical, and not surprisingly, less among those who do not claim a religious affiliation. However, when asked if a minister should endorse a particular candidate publicly, fewer respondents agreed, revealing just how much they would like religion to influence their vote.

Recently, in protest against the IRS restriction on churches endorsing candidates, and perhaps a call to action concerning the 2014 mid- term elections, 1,500 Christian pastors preached politically charged messages from their pulpits on two successive Sundays, October 6 and October 12, some even endorsing particular candidates based on their stance on cultural issues like same sex marriage and abortion. This event, known as, Pulpit Freedom Sunday, organized by the Alliance Defending Freedom seeks to force the US Supreme Court to rule on the controversial restriction on political expression from the pulpit. These 1,500 pastors are among those who seek to reverse the decline in Christianity’s ability to influence American culture.

One such pastor was Jim Garlow of Skyline Church in California, who openly endorsed, from his pulpit, the Democratic candidate in the upcoming election for Representative of California’s 52nd District, in opposition to the Republican opponent’s record on gay rights and abortion. Garlow hopes to send a message to the Republican Party that the Party’s Christian base will not support candidates who do not reflect traditional Christian values.

In times past, religion and particularly Christianity played an important role in” opposing culture and morally questionable values”, according to Reverend Mike Hurt, pastor of Parkway Church in Victoria, Texas, in a recent Victoria Advocate article. "The decline of religion is visible in our culture. We have a Supreme Court that refuses to define marriage, for instance, when in decades past, Christians' voices and the church's voice would have been much louder on the issue," he said. 

However, Hurt refrains from, what he views, as politicizing the pulpit as he has seen the divisiveness of the tactic in his church. He believes that “people from the left and right can be followers of Jesus. Politics is the not the issue we as Christians are meant to address," he explained.

Hurt sees the current loss of cultural influence by Christianity as part of the “hatred” Jesus told His followers to expect. "I think scripturally we know things are going to get worse and many, many more people are going to turn away from religion," Hurt said. "While I think the church will continue to be successful in influencing our people, I'm not sure it will be successful in influencing our society."

Some see the desire for increased religious participation in society as a possible backlash against the current administration that is viewed, at least by many, as being less religious than previous ones. Another hypothesis of Professor Seth Downland, a religious history professor at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington, is nostalgia for days when society was not as “crass and Protestant Christian’s wielded moral control in society.”

Conversely, those who identify with religions other than Christianity may not share the same longing for a return to a society guided by Christian precepts, as evidenced by the Pew polling, but rather perceive the poll response as evidence that we are witnessing an “erosion of Christian privilege” in American society, states John Schlembach a practicing Buddhist, and tend to view the marriage of religion and politics in a negative light.

Regardless of a person’s religious affiliation, or lack thereof, it is hard to argue against American society’s need for a moral reset. 

10 Things About the U.S. News Media That They Do not Want You to Know
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsProphecy New Watch
Categories: Today's Headlines;Contemporary Issues

Do you trust the news media? Do you believe that the information that they are giving you is true and accurate? If you answered yes to either of those questions, that places you in a steadily shrinking minority. 

Yes, on average Americans watch approximately 153 hours of television a month, but for their news they are increasingly turning to alternative sources of information such as this website. Big news channels such as CNN, MSNBC and Fox News are losing hordes of viewers, and they are desperately searching for answers. 

Things have gotten so bad at CNN that they have been forced to lay off hundreds of workers. The mainstream media is slowly dying, but they will never admit it. They are still convinced that they can find some way to turn this around and regain the trust of the American people. But it simply is not going to happen. The following are 10 things about the U.S. news media that they do not want you to know...

#1 The level of trust in the U.S. news media is at an all-time low.

According to a Gallup survey that was conducted last month, only 40 percent of all Americans have a "great deal/fair amount" of confidence in the mass media. That ties the lowest level that Gallup has ever recorded.

#2 The news media is far more liberal than the American people.

We hear much about the supposed "conservative bias" of Fox News, but the truth is that overall the U.S. public considers the news media to be extremely liberal. Gallup found that 44 percent of all Americans consider the news media to be "too liberal", and only 19 percent of all Americans consider the news media to be "too conservative".

And it is a fact that "journalists" are far more likely to give money to Democrats than to Republicans. The following comes from an MSNBC report...

MSNBC.com identified 143 journalists who made political contributions from 2004 through the start of the 2008 campaign, according to the public records of the Federal Election Commission. Most of the newsroom checkbooks leaned to the left: 125 journalists gave to Democrats and liberal causes. Only 16 gave to Republicans. Two gave to both parties.

#3 Fox News is not nearly as "conservative" as you think that it is.

Fox News may be constantly promoting a "Republican agenda", but that does not mean that it is conservative. This is especially true when it comes to social issues. Some of their anchors are extremely socially liberal, one of the top executives at Fox News is a big Hillary Clinton supporter, and 21st Century Fox/News Corp. has given the Clintons more than 3 million dollars since 1992.

#4 MSNBC is in a death spiral.

After years of lying to the American people, the credibility of MSNBC is absolutely shot. Pretty much all MSNBC does is endlessly spew establishment propaganda. One study found that MSNBC only engages in 15 percent "factual reporting" and the other 85 percent is "commentary/opinion".

So it should be no surprise that only 6 percent of Americans consider MSNBC to be their most trusted source for news...


NBC News and sister cable network MSNBC rank at the bottom of media outlets Americans trust most for news, with Fox News leading the way, according to a new poll from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling.

In its fifth trust poll, 35 percent said they trusted Fox news more than any other outlet, followed by PBS at 14 percent, ABC at 11 percent, CNN at 10 percent, CBS at 9 percent, 6 percent for MSNBC and Comedy Central, and just 3 percent for NBC.

#5 Americans are increasingly turning to Facebook and other Internet sources for their news.

At least that is what one recent survey discovered. It found that an astounding 48 percent of Americans got news about government and politics from Facebook within the past week. The numbers for CNN and Fox News were just 44 percent and 39 percent respectively.

#6 Over the past year or so the big three cable news networks have lost an unprecedented number of viewers. 

According to a Pew Research study, the number of prime time viewers for all three networks combined declined by 11 percent in 2013...

In 2013, the cable news audience, by nearly all measures, declined. The combined median prime-time viewership of the three major news channels—CNN, Fox News and MSNBC—dropped 11% to about 3 million, the smallest it has been since 2007. The Nielsen Media Research data show that the biggest decline came at MSNBC, which lost nearly a quarter (24%) of its prime-time audience. CNN, under new management, ended its fourth year in third place, with a 13% decline in prime time. Fox, while down 6%, still drew more viewers (1.75 million) than its two competitors combined (619,500 at MSNBC and 543,000 at CNN).

The decline was even more dramatic for the critical 25 to 54-year-old demographic. From November 2012 to November 2013, CNN's ratings for that demographic plunged by a whopping 59 percent, and MSNBC's ratings for that demographic plummeted by 52 percent.

#7 The big news networks have a love affair with the Obama administration.

Yes, there are reporters that get annoyed by the petty press rules that Obama makes them follow and by their lack of access to the president, but overall there is a tremendously incestuous relationship between the Obama administration and the mainstream news media.

For example, did you know that the president of CBS and the president of ABC both have brothers that have served as top officials in the Obama administration?

And needless to say, Barack Obama does not care for the alternative media much at all. The following is an excerpt from a WND article...

NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd says President Obama was making it “clear” at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend how he feels about the rise of Internet news sites like Politico, Buzzfeed and … well, WND.

“He hates it.”

Appearing on “Meet the Press” Sunday morning following Saturday night’s media, politics and celebrity soiree, Todd explained the president’s disdain for independent online news sources was showing during his speech.

“It did seem … I thought his pot shots, joke-wise, and then the serious stuff about the Internet, the rise of the Internet media and social media and all that stuff – he hates it, OK? He hates this part of the media,” Todd said. “He really thinks that the, sort of, the buzzification – this isn’t just about Buzzfeed or Politico and all this stuff – he thinks that sort of coverage of political media has hurt political discourse. He hates it. And I think he was just trying to make that clear last night.”

#8 Newspaper ad revenues are about a third of what they were back in the year 2000. 

Yes, you read that correctly. As Americans have discarded the print versions of their newspapers, newspaper ad revenues have experienced a decline that is absolutely unprecedented...


It took a half century for annual newspaper print ad revenue to gradually increase from $20 billion in 1950 (adjusted for inflation in 2013 dollars) to $65.8 billion in 2000, and then it took only 12 years to go from $65.8 billion in ad revenues back to less than $20 billion in 2012, before falling further to $17.3 billion last year.

#9 News magazines are also experiencing a dramatic multi-year decline in ad revenues. 

Once upon a time, news magazines such as Time, Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report were must reads.

But those days are long gone.

Ad revenues are way down across the entire industry, and any magazine that can keep their yearly losses to the single digits is applauded for it...

For a third year in a row, news magazines faced a difficult print advertising environment. Combined ad pages (considered a better measure than ad revenue) for the five magazines studied in this report were down 13% in 2013, following a decline of 12.5% in 2012, and about three times the rate of decline in 2011, according to the Publishers Information Bureau. Again, hardest hit was The Week, which suffered a 20% drop in ad pages. The Atlantic fell 17%, The Economist 16%, and Time about 11%, while The New Yorker managed to keep its ad pages losses in single digits (7%).

#10 Even though the mainstream media is dying, they still have an overwhelmingly dominant position.

What would you say if I told you that there are just six enormous media conglomerates that combine to produce about 90 percent of all the media that Americans consume?

If you do not believe this, please see my previous article entitled "Who Owns The Media? The 6 Monolithic Corporations That Control Almost Everything We Watch, Hear And Read"?

This is why "the news" seems to be so similar no matter what channel you watch.

But we aren't just talking about control of the news media. These giant media corporations also own movie studios, newspapers, magazines, publishing houses, video game makers, music labels and even many of our favorite websites.

So we should be thankful that their media monopoly is finally crumbling.

Nobody should have that much power over what the American people see, hear and think about.

'Every Successful Attack Strengthens Arab Terror'
Oct 24th, 2014
Daily NewsArutz Sheva
Categories: Today's Headlines;The Nation Of Israel

Arab rioters (file)

Flash 90

Former senior Shabak (Israel Security Agency) officer Menahem Landau on Friday warned that attempts to ignore the "silent intifada" plaguing Jerusalem and continue as if nothing happened will only encourage more terror attacks.

Landau spoke to Arutz Sheva about the situation after a Hamas terrorist wounded nine people in Jerusalem with his car Wednesday, murdering a three-month-old baby and critically wounding an 18-year-old seminary girl.

"We are witnesses to the fact that this business has not stopped for three months already, and the more they succeed (in attacks) it will entice more and more terrorist attackers," said Landau. "They see there isn't a strong hand on our side, so they will continue."

The statement comes a day after a Border Patrol officer serving in Jerusalem complained "our hands our tied," revealing the police have been limited from above in their ability to quash the terrorism gripping the capital.

According to Landau, Jerusalem Police need to exercise a strong arm against the Arab rioters: "it can't be that they are shooting fireworks at officers and they just disperse them, why don't they give them a quick judgment and arrest them?"

Outlining his suggestion for greater enforcement, the former senior Shabak officer added "give them fines all around, also against minors throwing rocks at the light rail, put undercover officers everywhere. The policy of a soft hand hasn't proven itself. There is a wave of popular violence here without any guiding hand, and that's liable to only get worse."

"They simply hate us"

Speaking about the mentality behind the attacks, Landau continued "these aren't frustrated Arabs without work, we see here Arabs from eastern Jerusalem with blue identity cards (of citizens and permanent residents) that get national insurance."

"They simply hate us from a long time ago and as long as we live together with them and the friction is high this will occur," said Landau. "It is impossible to subjugate motivation and ideology."

Debunking the claims of "Israeli occupation" being the cause of the terror, Landau said "this conflict began way before the (1967) Six Day War; terrorist organizations were founded on the basis of the 'right of return'" for Arab residents of Israel who fled in the War of Independence waged to destroy the nascent modern Jewish state.

Jerusalem Police need a change according to Landau, whose warning comes after Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat recently called for a harsher crackdown on terror after previously trying to hush up the "silent intifada" in his city and ignore the terror.

"There needs to be more manpower, acting more aggressively with a stronger arm. Let them enlist the judicial branch, because it cannot be that they release these kind of detainees after two days," said Landau. "Establishing police stations in Arab neighborhoods has not proven itself, there were attempts to enter Shuafat, Issawiya...but the Arabs don't want us."