Secretary of State John Kerry rushed back to the Middle East today (March 31, 2014) to try to salvage peace talks -- possibly by releasing Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard to push Israel to free Palestinian prisoners -- the Forward (Jewish) website reports.
Requesting anonymity, a U.S. official said the release of Pollard -- who has been serving a life sentence in the United States since 1987 for spying for Israel -- was "on the table" as a possible element in a Middle East peace deal as an incentive to Israel.
Kerry -- who flew to Israel from Paris -- held two-hour talks in Jerusalem today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sources close to the talks -- who declined to be identified -- said that under the proposed arrangement to extend the negotiations beyond April, Pollard, now 59, would be freed before the start of Passover in two weeks. However, when asked today about Pollard's possible early release from prison, White House spokesman Jay Carney indicated only that Pollard was convicted of espionage and is serving his life sentence.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Man Swept to Sea During Calif. Baptism Ceremony; Firefighters and US Coast Guard Searched for Him
A man remains missing after he was swept out to sea yesterday morning during a California baptism ceremony, the Raw Story website reports today (March 31, 2014).
Mauro Cervantes -- pastor of Santa Maria Church of Jesus Christ Light of the Sky -- said the 43-year-old man and two others were swept out into the Pacific Ocean just before 10 a.m. at the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve. The two others returned safely to shore, Cervantes said.
The pastor added that about 25 people attended the baptism ceremony, which the church performs two or three times a year.
Firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard searched for the missing man, whose name has not been released.
Mauro Cervantes -- pastor of Santa Maria Church of Jesus Christ Light of the Sky -- said the 43-year-old man and two others were swept out into the Pacific Ocean just before 10 a.m. at the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve. The two others returned safely to shore, Cervantes said.
The pastor added that about 25 people attended the baptism ceremony, which the church performs two or three times a year.
Firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard searched for the missing man, whose name has not been released.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
EXCLUSIVE: Israel Will Free 400 Pal. Prisoners; But PA Must Extend Peace Talks for 6 Months
Israel has offered to release a new group of 400 Palestinian security prisoners -- in addition to the fourth and final group of longtime terrorism convicts who were set to go free this weekend -- if the Palestinian Authority (PA) agrees to extend peace talks for another six months, The Times of Israel website reports exclusively today (March 30, 2014). The United States -- anxious to arrange for the continuation of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks -- supports the offer.
As of last night, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was insisting that the fourth group of longtime prisoners first be released before he would consider extending the talks beyond their current April 29, 2014 deadline.
Israel has refused to free the final group of some 26 prisoners -- whom the PA insists must include several Israeli Arabs -- unless Abbas first agrees to extend the talks. Israel has also balked at releasing Israeli Arabs.
Under the new Israeli offer, Israel would determine which additional 400 security prisoners would go free, sources said. Israel is believed to be holding close to 5,000 Palestinian security prisoners.
As of last night, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was insisting that the fourth group of longtime prisoners first be released before he would consider extending the talks beyond their current April 29, 2014 deadline.
Israel has refused to free the final group of some 26 prisoners -- whom the PA insists must include several Israeli Arabs -- unless Abbas first agrees to extend the talks. Israel has also balked at releasing Israeli Arabs.
Under the new Israeli offer, Israel would determine which additional 400 security prisoners would go free, sources said. Israel is believed to be holding close to 5,000 Palestinian security prisoners.
Taliban Attack Election Commission HQ in Kabul; Police Kill All 5 Armed Militants Wearing Burqas
Taliban militants attacked the main Afghan election commission's headquarters in Kabul yesterday -- the latest in a series of audacious assaults threatening to scare voters away just a week before Afghans go to the polls -- the Washington Times website reports today (March 30, 2014).
It was the third attack in Kabul in five days claimed by the Taliban. The Islamic militant movement has promised a campaign of violence to disrupt the April 5 elections to choose the country's next president and provincial council members.
The five attackers disguised themselves as women -- wearing the all-encompassing burqa -- to sneak unnoticed into a building that overlooked the heavily fortified Independent Election Commission's headquarters on the eastern edge of the capital, officials said.
Afghan police killed all five militants after a four-hour standoff, Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Ayub Salangi said. Two policemen were wounded in the firefight after security forces surrounded the building. None of the dozens of employees and other people -- who had been hiding inside the election commission headquarters -- was injured, Salangi added.
It was the third attack in Kabul in five days claimed by the Taliban. The Islamic militant movement has promised a campaign of violence to disrupt the April 5 elections to choose the country's next president and provincial council members.
The five attackers disguised themselves as women -- wearing the all-encompassing burqa -- to sneak unnoticed into a building that overlooked the heavily fortified Independent Election Commission's headquarters on the eastern edge of the capital, officials said.
Afghan police killed all five militants after a four-hour standoff, Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Ayub Salangi said. Two policemen were wounded in the firefight after security forces surrounded the building. None of the dozens of employees and other people -- who had been hiding inside the election commission headquarters -- was injured, Salangi added.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Suicide Bomber Explodes Car in Eastern Lebanon; One Killed, Several Wounded in Arsal Near Syria
Lebanese security officials say a suicide car bomb exploded today (March 29, 2014) at an army checkpoint in eastern Lebanon near the Syrian border, killing at least one soldier and wounding several others, the VOA News website reports.
Today's attack took place in the border town of Arsal, which has seen a spillover from the Syrian civil war.
The region is home to thousands of Syrian refugees, as well as Syrian rebels and their allies, who have fled a Syrian army offensive aimed at securing towns and villages along the Lebanese border.
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has been fighting alongside forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Today's attack took place in the border town of Arsal, which has seen a spillover from the Syrian civil war.
The region is home to thousands of Syrian refugees, as well as Syrian rebels and their allies, who have fled a Syrian army offensive aimed at securing towns and villages along the Lebanese border.
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has been fighting alongside forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Egypt Muslims Kill 4 at Coptic Orthodox Church; Muslim Radicals Often Go into Frenzy on Fridays
Muslim protesters in Egypt attacked a Coptic Orthodox Christian Church yesterday in the Cairo suburb of Ain Shams, killing four people, the Spero Forum website reports today (March 29, 2014).
Among the dead are a 25-year-old journalist and a Coptic Christian worshiper.
When Egyptian security forces intervened, violence spread throughout the surrounding neighborhood.
Muslim radicals are frequently whipped up into frenzy by their religious leaders on Fridays when they gather for Islamic prayer.
Among the dead are a 25-year-old journalist and a Coptic Christian worshiper.
When Egyptian security forces intervened, violence spread throughout the surrounding neighborhood.
Muslim radicals are frequently whipped up into frenzy by their religious leaders on Fridays when they gather for Islamic prayer.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Study: Being Married Makes for a Healthy Heart; Divorced, Widowed Linked to Higher Heart Disease
Being married makes for a healthy heart, while being divorced or widowed is linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease, according to a study of 3.5 million people released today (March 28, 2014), the AFP (Agence France-Presse) website reports.
The study is the largest of its kind to show heart health is linked to marital status, and was presented at the American College of Cardiology conference.
People who were divorced had a higher likelihood of any vascular disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease when compared to single people, according to the study.
Widowers showed slightly higher odds of any vascular disease and coronary artery disease, also when compared to people who had never been married.
"The study demonstrates that other risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and being sedentary also increases with being divorced or widowed," said Suzanne Steinbaum, director, women and heart disease, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
The study is the largest of its kind to show heart health is linked to marital status, and was presented at the American College of Cardiology conference.
People who were divorced had a higher likelihood of any vascular disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular disease when compared to single people, according to the study.
Widowers showed slightly higher odds of any vascular disease and coronary artery disease, also when compared to people who had never been married.
"The study demonstrates that other risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and being sedentary also increases with being divorced or widowed," said Suzanne Steinbaum, director, women and heart disease, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
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