Monday, September 30, 2019

Trump:2 Jews,4 Women Are "Democrat Savages;" Disgraces 6 House Reps Seeking to Impeach Him

President Donald Trump attacked what he called "Democrat savages" in a vicious new twist on September 28, referring to four congresswomen of color and Jewish lawmakers Jerry Nadler (NY) and Adam Schiff (Calif.), the Huff Post website reports today (September 30, 2019).

Nadler is head of the House Judiciary Committee, while Schiff leads the Intelligence Committee, both key groups in the impeachment inquiry against Trump.

The four congresswomen Trump called "Democrat savages" are Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of NY, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Min., Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Mass., and Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Mich. The women are among at least 223 House Democrats who support the impeachment inquiry.

The House impeachment inquiry follows a whistleblower complaint that Trump urged Ukraine's president in a July phone call to dig up dirt on his political rival for president, Joe Biden.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Fire Kills One on Greek Migrant Isle of Lesbos; Refugee Camp Houses Thousands of Migrants

A fire broke out today (September 29, 2019) at a container inside a crowded refugee camp on the eastern Greek island of Lesbos close to Turkey, and one person was killed, according to the Euro News website.

Refugees clashed with police as thick smoke rose over the Moria camp, which currently houses about 12,000 refugees in overcrowded conditions, and firefighters fought to extinguish the blaze.

Police said one burned body was taken to a hospital in the island's capital, Mytilini, for identification by the coroner.

Police sent reinforcements to the island to help restore order. They could not immediately reach an area of containers, where there were unconfirmed reports of a second burned body.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Rep.Rashida Tlaib Sells "Impeach the MF" Shirts; Uses Profanity in Mich.Campaign Re-election Run

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib is taking calls for President Donald Trump's impeachment to her own T-shirt line: "Impeach the MF," the USA Today website reports today (September 28, 2019).

Tlaib's T-shirt launch came hours after the public release of a whistleblower report that said the president "used the power of his office" to solicit help from Ukraine in discrediting political rival Joe Biden.

"Lean in with me to hold this lawless President accountable," Tlaib, who represents Michigan's 13th Congressional District, said on Twitter on September 26.

The majority of House Democrats -- including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi -- have now come out in support of an impeachment inquiry.

Friday, September 27, 2019

US Sending Missiles and Troops to Saudi Arabia; Sent in Response to Iran's Attack on Saudi Arabia

The U.S. is sending a Patriot missile battery and four ground-based radar systems to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said yesterday, as the first steps to help the kingdom protect itself against Iranian attacks, the Worthy News website reports today (September 27, 2019).

Two more Patriot batteries and a missile defense system will go later if needed, and the deployment will involve 200 troops.

Military commanders have been working since last week to iron out what military aid to send to Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. action comes in response to what U.S. officials say was a brazen and unprecedented cruise missile and drone attack by Iran on Saudi oil facilities on September 14.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Population of Israel Rises 21% Since Last Year; Report Shows 9M Citizens Live in Israel Today

A report released this week by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics shows the population of the state of Israel increased 2.1% since last year, the Jerusalem Post website reports today (September 26, 2019).

Today, there are 9.1 million citizens in Israel, of which some 6.7million (74%) are Jewish, the report states.

The country's citizens also include 1.9 million Arabs (21%) and 0.4 of "others," including Christians and other minority groups.

Israel's population includes 3.3 million immigrants. Twenty-eight thousand people immigrated to Israel in 2018.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

New Report Warns against US Pullout from Syria; Syria May Remain a Haven for Russia,Iran for Yrs.

A panel of former national security officials and other experts is calling for the White House and lawmakers to "halt the U.S. military withdrawal" from Syria or face potentially dire consequences, the VOA News website reports today (September 25, 2019).

The conclusion -- at odds with plans announced last year by U.S. President Donald Trump -- is part of a final consensus report by the Syria Study Group, charged by lawmakers with helping the country craft U.S. strategy going forward.

"The Group believes that the U.S. is still able to exercise influence over the conflict's path and that it must do so given the threats the conflict poses to American interests," according to the report submitted to Congress yesterday.

The report warns that it could be years before Syria ceases to be a haven for both terrorist groups and U.S. adversaries such as Iran and Russia.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Trump Provides $25M to Protect Rel. Freedom; Initiates a Meeting at the UN on Rel.Persecution

President Trump yesterday announced  $25 million in funding to protect religious freedom around the world, and asked the world's governments to join together to end religious persecution, the Christian Headlines website reports today (September 24, 2019).

Trump also announced an initiative comprised of a "coalition of U.S. businesses for the protection of religious freedom."

Trump was speaking at a meeting of religious persecution he convened at the United Nations. with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other international officials.

Trump became the first American president to hold a meeting at the U.N. on religious persecution.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Govt.May End Funding Univ. Mideast Program; Says It Backs Islam,Not Christianity or Judaism

The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funds for a college program promoting Islam, the Clarion Project website reports today (Septemer 23, 2019).

The Duke University--University of North Carolina Consortium for Middle East Studies received $235,000 last year from the government for the program which was to promote foreign language instruction to prepare students for careers in diplomacy.

An investigation showed that the program unfairly promoted "the positive aspects of Islam" but not Christianity or Judaism.

The investigation into the program was ordered by Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos due to its "severe anti-Israel bias and anti-Semitic rhetoric."

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Chasidic Jew Assaulted and Robbed in Brooklyn; Four Men Cornered Man; Punched, Kicked Him

A Chasidic Jewish man was assaulted and robbed in Brooklyn on September 17, the Jewish News website reports today (September 22, 2019).

Police said the attack in the heavily Jewish Williamsburg neighborhood is not being considered a hate crime because no antisemitic slurs were made.

Instead, police are calling the incident a random attack and robbery.

Four men cornered the man, then punched and kicked him. The victim,24, surrendered his cellphone to his attackers.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Bird Population Drops Markedly in US,Canada; Decline Denotes a Widespread Ecological Crisis

Scientists have found that bird population dropped 29 percent since the 1970s in the U.S. and Canada, the Worthy News website reports today (September 21, 2019).

Researchers blamed habitat loss and degradation, the chemical eradication of insects and cats.

"Birds are in crisis," said Peter Marra, co-author of the study.

"The take-home message is that our findings add to mounting evidence with other recent studies showing massive declines in insects, amphibians and other taxa, signaling a widespread ecological crisis," Marra added.

Friday, September 20, 2019

US Abortions at Lowest Rate Since Roe V. Wade; Pro-Life Advocates Say This Is Due to New Laws

A new report from a leading pro-abortion research organization released this week indicates that the abortion rate in the U.S. is at its lowest level since abortion was made a national right in 1973, the Christian Post website reports today (September 20, 2019).

However, pro-lifers warn that the report does not tell the whole story.

The new report from the pro-choice Guttmacher Institute found that the abortion rate dropped to 13.5 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 in 2017 -- the lowest rate recorded since abortion was legalized in 1973 through the supreme court ruling in Roe v. Wade.

Pro-life advocates have welcomed the findings of declining abortion in the U.S., but believe that this is due to several factors. For example, several states have passed laws specifying how late into a pregnancy an abortion can legally be performed.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Iran's Foreign Minister Warns Trump on Attack; Says US or Arabian Mil. Strike Will Lead to War

Iran warned President Donald Trump today (September 19, 2019) against being dragged into all-out war in the Middle East following an attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities which Washington and Riyadh blame on Tehran, according to the Newsmax website.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has described the strike on September 14 that halved Saudi oil output as an act of war and has been discussing possible retaliation with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies.

Trump yesterday struck a cautious note, saying there were many options short of war with Iran. He ordered more sanctions on Tehran.

Iran's foreign minister said Iran "won't blink" if it has to defend itself against any U.S. or Saudi military strike, which he said would lead to "all-out war."

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

NYC Presbyterian Church Has Pagan Sculpture; Hosts 15-Foot Sculpture of Slavic God Sviatovid

A Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation in New York City has garnered controversy for its decision to host a pagan sculpture on its property, the Christian Post website reports today (September 18, 2019).

The United Presbyterian Church of Binghamton hosted a 15-foot sculpture known as Sviatovid.

The sculpture, which was created by Bart Kresa Studio designer Akira Wakul, was put on display at the church earlier this month as part of the LUMA Festival.

Sviatovid was a local Slavic god of war, fertility, and abundance in the Baltic region of Europe.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

US Blames Iran for Saudi Oil Facilities Attacks; Trump: US Is Prepared for a Conflict with Iran

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper blamed Iran for a series of attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, and said the Pentagon was considering its options, the Washington Examiner website reports today (September 17, 2019).

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen took credit for the strikes on September 14, which disrupted 5 percent of the world's daily oil supply, but American officials believe Iran was directly responsible.

"The U.S. military, with our interagency team, is working with our partners to address this unprecedented attack and defend the international rules-based order that is being undermined by Iran," Esper said.

Esper added he briefed President Donald Trump yesterday. Trump said it "certainly would look like" Iran was behind the attacks, and the U.S. "is more prepared" for conflict than any country in history.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Suspect Nabbed for Destroying Min.Synagogue; Adas Israel Synagogue Is Burned to the Ground

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the fire that burned to the ground a historic synagogue in northern Minnesota, the JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) website reports today (September 16, 2019).

The Adas Israel Synagogue in Duluth, Minnesota caught fire on the morning of September 9.

The building was more than 100 years old.

Matthew James Amiot, 36, who is homeless, was arrested on September 13 on a first-degree arson charge. He will appear in St. Louis County court in Duluth on September 23, according to reports.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Justice Kavanaugh Hit with Sexual Misconduct; Flashed Private Parts to Women at Yale Parties

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh is facing a new allegation of sexual misconduct, the Alter Net website reports today (September 15, 2019).

The new allegation was discovered during a 10-month investigation by reporters Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly.

Deborah Ramirez, a freshman at Yale when Kavanaugh was also a Yale freshman, said Kavanaugh pulled down his pants and thrust his penis at her during a dorm part, causing her to inadvertently touch it.

At a different dorm party during Kavanaugh's freshman year at Yale, another classmate, Max Stier, said she saw Kavanaugh with his pants down and his penis being pushed into the hand of a female student.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Girl,10, Forced to Marry 22-Year-Old Man in Iran; Girl Seen Smiling, Unaware of What Is Happening

In what is viewed by many people as a case that supports child rape, an innocent 10-year-old girl has been forced to marry a 22-year-old man in Iran, the Metro (British) website reports today (September 14, 2019).

The case has provoked widespread condemnation as the girl appears to be smiling, clearly unaware of what is really happening.

Iran's Sharia Law has set the legal age of marriage for a girl at 13, and for a boy at 15.

However, marriage can still be carried out at a younger age with the consent of the father or paternal grandfather and the permission from a court judge.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Trump Plans Substantial Middle Class Tax Cut; Pelosi to OK It Only If Taxes Hiked on Wealthy

President Trump said yesterday that he plans to announce a middle class tax cut within the next year, The Hill website reports today (September 13, 2019).

"It will be a very substantial tax cut," Trump said at a Baltimore retreat with House Republicans.

Any tax proposal from the White House would face an uphill battle in Congress, with a House controlled by Democrats.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has indicated she would be open to middle class tax cuts, but only if they are offset by taxes on the wealthy.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Pope Says He's Not Afraid of Cath.Church Split; Says Conservative US Catholics Want a Schism

Pope Francis said he does not fear a schism within the Roman Catholic Church, as criticism grows among conservatives of his liberal views on migrants, the protection of the environment, and allowing divorcees to receive communion, the Yahoo News website reports today (September 12, 2019).

Speaking on board the papal plane on his recent return from a trip to Africa, the Pope said he had been unfairly labelled "a Communist" by critics, with the most vocal being conservative Catholics in the United States.

Francis said there had been masny doctrinal splits during the 2,000-year history of the Christian Church, although he prayed there would not be another.

"I am not afraid of schisms; I pray that there will be none, because what is at stake is people's spiritual health," he told journalists on board the plane.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Arabs Call Israeli PM's Annex Plan "Aggression;" Netanyahu to Annex Jordan Valley If Re-elected

Arab foreign ministers condemned a plan by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex parts of the occupied West Bank as "aggression," the Jerusalem Post website reports today (September 11, 20019).

Netanyahu said yesterday he plans to annex the Jordan Valley, if  he wins a closely contested election next week.

Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 war with the Arabs.

Fighting for his political life after an inconclusive election in April, Netanyahu also said he would annex all of the settlements Israel has established in the West Bank.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Bronx Teen Sentenced 14 Years for Fatal Stabbing; Stabbed Classmate to Death in Bronx High School

The Bronx teen who fatally stabbed a classmate was sentenced to 14 years in prison today (September 10, 2019), according to the NY Daily News website.

Abel Cedeno, 20, sat with a stunned expression as Bronx Supreme Court Justice Michael Gross handed down the sentence for the 2017 killing of 15-year-old Matthew McCree.

Judge Gross declined to offer Cedeno youthful offender status, citing the seriousness of the charges.

Cedeno was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter, assault and criminal weapons possession at his bench trial on July 15. He faced a maximum of 50 years in prison for the killing inside now-shuttered Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in the Bronx.

Monday, September 9, 2019

Illegal Immigration on US Border Drops by 20%; US,Mexico Increase Methods to Reduce Migrants

Illegal immigration at the southern U.S. border dropped by 20 percent from July to August, the U.S. border chief said today (September 9, 2019), attributing the decrease to White House efforts and critical steps by the government of Mexico, according to the Washington Times website.

Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, said border patrol nabbed 66,000 people at the border last month, down from 82,000 in July and a sharp drop from a peak of over 140,000 in May.

"The president has made it very clear that he's going to use every tool available to him and his administration to address this crisis at the southern border," Morgan said.

Morgan also said Mexico has "stepped up" as a great partner, even dispatching a national guard division for border security.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Trump Ends Taliban Peace Talks after Bombing; Killing US Soldier Shows Taliban against Peace

U.S. President Donald Trump said today (September 8, 2019) he was canceling the peace talks with the Taliban leaders and the President of Afghanistan after a car bombing in Kabul yesterday killed one U.S. soldier and 11 others, according to the Euro News website.

Trump said the leaders were supposed to come to Camp David -- the country retreat of U.S. presidents -- for secret talks today.

The administration had been working on a peace settlement to end a war that has been going on for the past 18 years -- the longest war in American history.

Trump's decision to call off peace talks with the Taliban follows nine rounds of U.S. negotiations with the militant group.


Saturday, September 7, 2019

"Free Palestine" Debases Barcelona Synagogue; Confusing Synagogue with Israel Shows Racism

"Free Palestine" was spray-painted this week on the front door of the largest synagogue in Barcelona, Spain, the JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) website reports today (September 7, 2019).


The vandalism took place on September 4 at the Synagogue of the Jewish Community of Barcelona. Police have no suspects.


News of the synagogue incident has prompted much rebuke online.


"Confusing a synagogue with the state of Israel reflects a racist mentality," Jaume Padros, president of the Official College of Physicians of Barcelona, wrote on Twitter.

Friday, September 6, 2019

Bernie Sanders for Abortion to Slow Pop.Growth; "US Women Have Right to Control Own Bodies"

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders endorsed abortion to curb population growth during a town hall meeting this week, saying it's a solution that would work "especially in poor countries" around the world, the Christian Headlines website reports today (September 6, 2019).


Sanders and nine other Democrats took part in a CNN town hall on the climate, but it was Sanders' comment about abortion that sparked the most response from pro-lifers.


"Women in the United States of America have a right to control their own bodies," Sanders said.


He added, "I think especially in poor countries around the world... where women do not necessarily want to have large numbers of babies... is something I very, very strongly support."

Thursday, September 5, 2019

UGCC Seeks Ukraine Support from the Vatican; Seeks Synod to Strengthen Eastern Rite Church

Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) are meeting at the Vatican for a synod aimed at strengthening the Byzantine Rite church's ties with Rome, the Religion News website reports today (September 5, 2019).

Ukrainian Greek Catholics -- who make up the world's largest Eastern Catholic Church -- are in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, and more distinct from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which recently secured its independence from Russia.

In addressing the UGCC's 47 bishops yesterday, the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, stressed the importance of maintaining the "clear" identity of the Ukrainian Catholic community and expressed sympathy for Ukraine as a whole.

When the Ukrainian Orthodox Church officially declared independence from the Russian church last January, its decision was met favorably by the Catholic community in Ukraine, which still carries the scars of Soviet persecution and genocide.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Trump Uses $3.6B in Mil.Funds for Border Wall; Schumer:Slap in Face to Armed Service Members

President Donald Trump is moving forward with his plan to redirect billions in military funds toward wall construction at the U.S.-Mexico border, the Daily Caller website reports today (September 4, 2019).

The Trump administration is calling lawmakers whose districts will be affected, telling them a plan to divert $3.6 billion from military construction projects to the southern border wall will be executed this week.

"It's a slap in the face to the members of the Armed Forces who serve our country that President Trump is willing to cannibalize already allocated military funding to boost his own ego..." Senate Minority Leader Schumer said.

Around half of the funding will come from construction projects within the U.S., while the other half will be taken from construction projects outside the country.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Ocasio-Cortez Defends Her Criticism of Israel; Says Her View Relates to Netanyahu's Policies

U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) defended her past criticism of Israel to Israeli television last night, saying it is directed at the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, not the entire country, The Times of Israel website reports today (September 3, 2019).

In comments to Israeli TV, Ocasio-Cortez also rejected accusations by President Donald Trump that she discriminates against the Jewish state, saying the "cudgel of anti-Semitism" cannot be used to ward off criticism of Israel's "unjust and inhumane policies."

Ocasio-Cortez is one of four Democrat congresswomen that Trump has repeatedly cast as "anti-Israel" and "anti-Semitic."

The four -- Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan -- have been extremely critical of the Jewish state and its inhumane policies.