STOCK MARKETS FALLS BIG TIME IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS.

JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER. 1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)

STOCK MARKETS FALLS BIG TIME IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS.

FEARFUL SIGHTS AND GREAT SIGNS FROM HEAVEN

LUKE 21:11,25-26
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.so was not yet deemed a threat to land.
25 And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in the moon,(MAN ON MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the stars;(ASTEROIDS ETC) and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)

EARTHQUAKES

MATTHEW 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places,(DIFFERNT PLACES AT THE SAME TIME) and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

REV 8:7
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

JAMES 1:11
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

The Hebrew noun accurately translated “oven” refers to a “baking oven” as distinct from a kiln or smelting furnace—both of which burn much hotter. (The Hebrew nouns for “kiln” or for “smelting furnace” are more likely to appear in contexts of God's wrath or judgment.)
21 They have roused me to jealousy with a non-god, they have exasperated me with their idols. In my turn I shall rouse them to jealousy with a non-people, I shall exasperate them with a stupid nation.
22 Yes, a fire has blazed from my anger, it will burn right down to the depths of Sheol; it will devour the earth and all its produce, it will set fire to the footings of the mountains.
23 I shall hurl disasters on them, on them I shall use up all my arrows.

Rising odds asteroid that briefly threatened Earth will hit Moon-by AFP Staff Writers.

Paris (AFP) April 3, 2025-An huge asteroid that was briefly feared to strike Earth now has a nearly four percent chance of smashing into the Moon, according to new data from the James Webb Space Telescope.The asteroid, thought to be capable of levelling a city, set a new record in February for having the highest chance -- 3.1 percent -- of hitting our home planet than scientists have ever measured.Earth's planetary defence community leapt into action and further observations quickly ruled out that the asteroid -- called 2024 YR4 -- will strike Earth on December 22, 2032.But the odds that it will instead crash into Earth's satellite have been steadily rising.After the Webb telescope turned its powerful gaze towards the asteroid last month, the chance of a Moon shot is now at 3.8 percent, NASA said."There is still a 96.2 percent chance that the asteroid will miss the Moon," NASA said in a statement on Thursday.Richard Moissl, head of the European Space Agency's planetary defence office, told AFP that this aligned with their internal estimates of around four percent.The new Webb data also shed light on the size of the space rock, which was previously estimated to be between 40 and 90 metres (131 to 295 feet).It is now believed to be 53 to 67 metres, roughly the height of a 15-storey building.This is significant because it is bigger than the 50-metre threshold for activating planetary defence plans.If the asteroid still had a more than one percent chance of hitting Earth, "the development of one or more deflection missions would already be starting now", Moissl said.There are a range of ideas for how Earth could fend off an oncoming asteroid, including nuclear weapons and lasers.But only one has been tested on an actual asteroid. In 2022, NASA's DART mission successfully altered a harmless asteroid's trajectory by smashing a spacecraft into it.- 'Perfect opportunity' -While no one wanted to need to test Earth's defences on the potentially hugely destructive asteroid 2024 YR4, many scientists are hoping it will strike the Moon."The possibility of getting a chance for an observation of a sizeable Moon impact is indeed an interesting scenario from a scientific point of view," Moissl said.It could offer up a range of information that would be "valuable for planetary defence purposes," he added.Mark Burchell, a space scientist at the UK's University of Kent, told New Scientist that a Moon hit would be "a great experiment and a perfect opportunity".And on Earth, "telescopes would certainly see it, I would say, and binoculars might see it," he added.The asteroid is the smallest object ever targeted by the Webb telescope.Webb's measurements of the space rock's thermal data indicate that it "does not share properties observed in larger asteroids", the European Space agency said in a statement."This is likely a combination of its fast spin and lack of fine-grained sand on its surface," it said, adding that this was more common in fist-sized asteroids.More information will come when Webb again observes the asteroid again next month.

India navy delivers aid to quake-hit Myanmar.

New Delhi, April 5 (AFP) Apr 05, 2025-India's navy on Saturday delivered hundreds of tonnes of food aid to earthquake-hit Myanmar, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met reclusive junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.India was among the first countries to rush aid and rescue teams to its war-torn neighbour after a devastating 7.7-magnitude quake on March 28.The death toll from the earthquake has risen to more than 3,300, Myanmar state media said Saturday.More than one week after the disaster, desperate survivors remain without enough food and shelter.The latest aid from India comprised 442 tonnes of food including rice, cooking oil, noodles and biscuits, the Indian embassy in Yangon said.The consignment arrived via an Indian navy ship, INS Gharial, at Thilawa port.Modi held a rare face-to-face meeting on Friday with Min Aung Hlaing on the sidelines of the Bangkok BIMSTEC meeting -- the grouping of the seven nations on the Bay of Bengal."India is doing whatever is possible to assist our sisters and brothers of Myanmar in this critical time," Modi was quoted as saying in a government statement on Friday.India's foreign ministry said that Modi told the junta chief that there was "no military solution to the conflict", and stressed the "importance of early restoration of a democratic process through inclusive and credible elections".Min Aung Hlaing's armed forces have ruled Myanmar since a 2021 coup, when they wrested power from the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking a multi-sided conflict.The junta leader had issued a rare appeal for international aid following the earthquake, indicating the severity of the crisis.Previous military regimes in the country have shunned foreign assistance even after major natural disasters.Sri Lanka also sent a medical team and a plane loaded with supplies, many funded by donations from Buddhist temples, to Myanmar, a defence official said.Colombo has pledged more than $1 million to help quake victims in the fellow Buddhist nation.burs-abh/pjm/sco

Myanmar Earthquake Didn’t Spare Naypyitaw’s Elite Enclaves-Maung Kavi-by Maung Kavi-April 4, 2025

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was in his office in Naypyitaw when the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar last Friday.“I took half the table” to protect himself, he recalled at a junta-organized donation event for earthquake victims four days later.“Then my security team suggested going outside, so I went and stood outside for about an hour,” he added.

Myanmar Junta Abandons Gov’t Workers in Earthquake Rubble-April 3, 2025

That restful hour for the junta boss turned Myanmar’s second-largest city Mandalay and Sagaing into hell, killing and wounding people and trapping hundreds beneath the rubble.The earthquake also caused widespread destruction in Naypyitaw Union Territory, which is under the direct authority of Min Aung Hlaing. According to locals, it damaged government buildings, roads, bridges, employee housing, hospitals, hotels, dams, apartments, and other official facilities, resulting in hundreds of casualties.The official death toll for the whole of the country keeps rising, reaching 3,145 as of Thursday evening.The regime initially refused to disclose the scale of damage in Naypyitaw, but the junta boss, during a visit to Parliament the same day, publicly admitted that it was massive. On Friday, one week after the quake, the junta announced that Naypyitaw had the second highest death toll with 511 after Mandalay’s 2,053.Government offices in the capital sustained significant damage.During an emergency meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers on Sunday, the Foreign Ministry published a photo of chief diplomat Than Swe sitting outside his damaged office, which showed parts shearing off from ministry buildings.Other photos published by the ministry show officials receiving the Chinese ambassador and a World Food Programme delegation in a makeshift tent in the ministry compound.The National Disaster Management Committee, the highest-level body responsible, lost its office in the earthquake, forcing it to hold meetings in a tent in the grounds of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief, and Resettlement.There are reports that the area known as the Row of Six Mansions—the Naypyitaw residences of military bigwigs including former dictator Than Shwe, his deputy Maung Aye, former president Thein Sein, and former Union Election Commission chair Tin Aye—also sustained damage.“The Row of Six Mansions was also affected, but only ceilings, pillars, and porticoes were damaged,” a minister’s personal staffer told The Irrawaddy. “There were no reports of casualties.”The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.What is certain is that photos of the presidential palace shared on social media shortly after the quake show collapsed ceilings and walls and broken chandeliers.Yin Yin Nwe, one of Min Aung Hlaing’s advisors, wrote on Facebook: “I had to take shelter under a big table. It was rough. Only when it calmed down a bit did I cautiously grab my laptop and run outside.”The minister’s staffer said many buildings in the military’s war office were damaged.“Many residential buildings and staff housing collapsed,” he said.He estimated the death toll in Naypyitaw at around 400 to 450 given that approximately 250 bodies arrived at hospitals there last Friday and Saturday.But even in elite enclaves the junta failed to carry out any effective rescue and relief operations, leaving civil servants and their families buried under the collapsed Khayay Housing Complex and other staff housing in Zabuthiri Township.A government employee said teams of junta officials did visit the collapsed sites, but without doing anything to help.

How Myanmar junta is using earthquake to crush rebels | Russia, China helping with weapons? Published on Apr 04, 2025 10:57 PM IST

Myanmar is reeling from a deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake, but the devastation goes beyond natural disaster. With over 3,000 dead and counting, the country’s civil war rages on. Instead of a humanitarian pause, Myanmar’s military launched airstrikes just hours after the quake. Is the junta using the disaster to tighten its grip? History suggests yes. In 2008, after Cyclone Nargis killed 100,000 people, the military held a rigged referendum to cement its power. Now, with elections set for December, is history repeating itself? Meanwhile, Russia and China continue to shield Myanmar’s military, supplying weapons and blocking UN action. China plays both sides, brokering ceasefires while securing its economic interests. Russia, on the other hand, has doubled down—signing a nuclear deal with the junta just last month. So, where does this leave the people of Myanmar? Can international aid reach them without empowering the military? Or will Myanmar be left to suffer in silence—trapped between rubble and repression? Ananya Dutta decodes in this episode of Grey Zone.

SCHUMER IS A BRAIN-DEAD HITLER LIKE BIDEN.

GOP senator calls Schumer ‘Fuhrer’; minority leader’s office: ‘Textbook antisemitism’Bernie Moreno says Democrats ‘follow the Fuhrer Schumer’s orders’; Anti-Defamation League calls comment ‘despicable’By Grace Gilson Today, 9:42 pm-APR 4,25

JTA — A Republican US senator called Chuck Schumer “Fuhrer” on Thursday, using Adolf Hitler’s title as an epithet for the US Senate minority leader, who is Jewish.“Here’s the main thing you’ve got to understand. Republicans are independently minded. Democrats are monolithic sheep that follow the Fuhrer Schumer’s orders,” Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio said to reporters while discussing US President Donald Trump’s proposed tax cuts.A Schumer spokesperson responded, “That’s textbook antisemitism, so we won’t comment on it.” A range of Jewish groups also condemned the statement.Moreno is the latest Republican to insult Schumer using language referencing the New York Democrat’s Jewish identity. In March, Trump falsely told reporters that Schumer was no longer Jewish while criticizing his lack of support for a Republican-drafted funding bill.“Schumer is a Palestinian as far as I’m concerned. He’s become a Palestinian. He used to be Jewish. He’s not Jewish anymore. He’s a Palestinian,” Trump said.It was one of multiple instances in which Trump has used “Palestinian” as a pejorative to refer to Schumer. He also once (falsely) called Schumer a “proud member of Hamas.”Schumer, who lost many relatives in the Holocaust, released a book last month titled “Antisemitism in America: A Warning.”He has been vocal about his Jewish identity throughout his political career. He’s also been one of the staunchest Democratic supporters of Israel on Capitol Hill, though he has become increasingly critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, condemned Moreno’s statement in a post on X.“It’s despicable and inexcusable to compare a Jewish leader in the Senate to Adolf Hitler,” he wrote. “Nazi analogies in politics trivialize the Holocaust and the memory of the 6 million Jews who were murdered, including dozens of members of @SenSchumer’s own family.”

Despite withdrawing, US still managing to influence UN Human Rights Council-Diplomats say US lobbying succeeds in blunting Pakistani effort to set up highest-level UN investigation on Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza-By Reuters Today, 11:08 am-APR 5,25

GENEVA — Two months after US President Donald Trump announced a halt to American engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council, Washington is influencing its work by applying pressure publicly and behind the scenes, seven diplomats and rights workers said.The United States left its seat empty during a six-week session of the 47-member council ending on Friday, but its lobbying and pressure had some success, the sources told Reuters.They said the US, which has accused the council of an anti-Israel bias, had focused on blunting a proposal by Pakistan on the creation of an International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), the most rigorous type of UN investigation, on Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza.The version of Pakistan’s proposal that was passed on Wednesday by the council, whose mission is to promote and protect human rights worldwide, did not include the creation of the IIIM.The council already has a commission of inquiry on the Palestinian Territories, but Pakistan’s proposal would have created an additional probe with extra powers to gather evidence for possible use in international courts.A March 31 letter sent by Brian Mast, Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, and James R. Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, cautioned against voting the proposal through.“Any HRC member state or UN entity that supports an Israel-specific IIM…will face the same consequences as the ICC faced,” the letter said.It appeared to be referring to sanctions approved by the House of Representatives on the International Criminal Court in protest at its arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister over Israel’s campaign in Gaza.The final version of Pakistan’s proposal referred only to an invitation to the UN General Assembly to consider an IIIM in the future.Two Geneva-based diplomats said they had received messages from US diplomats before the change of wording asking them to oppose the new investigation.“They were saying: ‘back off on this issue’,” said one, who spoke on condition of anonymity.Reuters could not establish whether the revision was a direct result of US actions.A US State Department spokesperson said it was complying with the executive order signed by Trump on Feb. 4, withdrawing the US from the council and would not participate in it, adding: “As a matter of policy, we do not comment on private diplomatic conversations.”Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Geneva did not respond to a request for comment.“The US seems to be trying to have it both ways. It doesn’t want to pay for or participate in the UN but it still wants to boss it around,” said Lucy McKernan, Deputy Director for United Nations at Human Rights Watch’s Geneva office.The US was once the top donor to the UN rights system, but Trump has said the UN is “not being well run,” and aid cuts by his administration have forced scalebacks.The US and Israel are not members of the council but, like all UN member states have informal observer status and a seat in the council’s meeting chamber.

Talks likely to also focus on Gaza, Iran-Netanyahu set to meet Trump in Washington on Monday in bid to reverse tariffs-White House talks would make prime minister first foreign leader to negotiate in person with Trump on new trade policy; Rubio also talks tariffs, Iran and Gaza with premier-By ToI Staff and Reuters Today, 12:36 pm-APR 5,25

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House on Monday to discuss sweeping recently announced tariffs with US President Donald Trump, Israeli officials said on Saturday.It would be Netanyahu’s fourth trip to Washington since the war in Gaza began and his second since Trump took office in January. The visit would also make Netanyahu the first foreign leader to negotiate in person with Trump over the US president’s sweeping new tariff policy, which included a 17% tariff on Israeli goods.Netanyahu’s office has not confirmed the visit, but three Israeli officials confirmed the trip to Reuters. The surprise invite by Trump came in a phone call on Thursday with Netanyahu, who is presently on a visit to Hungary, when the Israeli leader raised the tariff issue, according to the Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.The Axios news site first reported the planned trip, saying that the two leaders would likely also discuss the war in Gaza and the Iran nuclear crisis.However, Axios said the day of Netanyahu’s trip could still change because the premier would have to request that judges in his corruption case cancel his planned testimony this week. Channel 12 and the Kan public broadcaster also cited an Israeli official saying the meeting would take place on Monday but that the details were not final.Meanwhile, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Friday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with Netanyahu “to underscore US support for Israel.” They discussed “the situation in Gaza and the Administration’s resolve to free the hostages in Gaza and recently announced tariffs,” Bruce said.Trump had also spoken with representatives from Israel, India and Vietnam to negotiate trade deals that could alleviate the proposed tariffs on those countries before the levies take effect next week, CNN reported Friday, citing a senior adviser.Netanyahu’s office did not comment on the call with Rubio or reported trade talks, and the White House has not commented on the report that the premier would go to Washington on Monday.Trump had told reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday that Netanyahu “may very well be coming next week.”The US president also said he wants to “solve the Gaza problem” and hold direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program — even though Netanyahu thinks a new US-Iran nuclear deal is extremely unlikely and wants to discuss a potential strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, according to a senior Israeli official cited by Axios.According to the news site, Trump’s comment that Netanyahu could visit “next week” surprised Netanyahu and his office, as well as members of the US president’s own staff.Trump had spoken hours earlier with Netanyahu and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, while Netanyahu was visiting Budapest. According to Netanyahu’s office, the conversation focused on Hungary’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court and “the next steps that can be taken on this topic,” following the arrest warrants issued by the ICC in November against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.During the call, Axios reported, Netanyahu brought up the new US tariffs, and Trump suggested the premier come to the White House to discuss them.A senior Israeli official had told reporters in Budapest on Friday that Netanyahu discussed the tariffs with Trump. “I believe we will enter a dialogue with them, said the official. “In the end, most of it is solvable.”Trump’s 17% tariff on unspecified Israeli goods caught Jerusalem off guard. Earlier in the week, in a bid to forestall such a harsh penalty by Israel’s single largest trade partner, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had scrapped all remaining tariffs on American imports.Netanyahu’s previous trip — the first by a foreign leader since Trump’s inauguration — came some two weeks after Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire and hostage release deal.The deal was reached on January 19 — the day before Trump’s inauguration — some 15 months after the Gaza war was sparked on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages.The deal’s 42-day first phase expired on March 2 amid Netanyahu’s refusal to proceed to the second phase, which would have required a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war in exchange for Hamas’s release of all remaining living hostages, with Israel freeing large numbers of Palestinian terrorists and security prisoners. There are 59 hostages still held in Gaza, 35 of whom have been confirmed by Israel to be dead. Israel resumed hostilities in the Strip on March 18.Netanyahu has insisted the war end only once Hamas’s governing and military capabilities had been demolished. Hamas, meanwhile, has rejected a series of US-backed offers to extend the first phase while continuing to gradually free hostages.Lazar Berman and Jacob Magid contributed to this report.

AFWERX backs Slingshot AI tech to monitor suspicious satellite activity by Clarence Oxford-Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 03, 2025

Slingshot Aerospace has been selected by AFWERX to support the U.S. Department of Defense with advanced machine learning tools under its Rapid Analysis of Photometric Tracks for space Object identification and behavior Recognition (RAPTOR) initiative. This program aims to enhance situational awareness in low Earth orbit by analyzing the behavior of satellites and other spaceborne objects.Through RAPTOR, Slingshot will deliver real-time insights into satellite maneuvers and other activity of interest to U.S. Space Command. These capabilities are expected to bolster the ability of defense personnel to detect covert mission shifts and prepare timely responses."Protecting our national interests demands the utmost focus on maintaining dominance and situational awareness in the space domain," said Tim Solms, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace. "The Department of Defense must achieve comprehensive visibility and intelligence on covert and adversarial activities in space. RAPTOR delivers unparalleled awareness to safeguard critical assets, strengthen mission readiness, and uphold the security of our nation and its allies."The core of the RAPTOR program relies on Slingshot's Global Sensor Network, which collects massive volumes of photometric data nightly. These observations are used to create distinct light signatures for space objects, a process known as photometric fingerprinting. These fingerprints help identify, track, and profile satellites, even in the case of deliberate concealment or unplanned loss of custody.Applications of this technology include detecting orientation changes that may indicate a shift in mission, reacquiring lost objects in orbit, and distinguishing between intermingled satellites. In the event of foreign satellite launches, RAPTOR can evaluate their digital fingerprints to deduce purpose, design, and potential threats.Currently, Slingshot tracks roughly 14,500 active satellites and debris fragments through more than 4.5 million nightly photometric observations. These are analyzed by its proprietary Agatha AI model to detect nuanced shifts in behavior or physical properties."Establishing a comprehensive fingerprint database for all objects in orbit enables us to precisely identify an object's nature and infer its potential mission objectives," commented Dr. Dylan Kesler, Vice President of Data Science at Slingshot Aerospace. "By applying machine learning across our network, we can identify unexpected behavior and use those insights to support our partners' defense missions."The RAPTOR project is funded under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II program led by AFWERX, which serves as the innovation hub of the U.S. Air Force.

Can NATO agree a deal on spending that satisfies Trump? By Max DELANY.

Brussels, Belgium (AFP) April 4, 2025-US President Donald Trump is demanding NATO allies massively ramp up defence spending to five percent of GDP -- a level that looks well out of reach for many.But with countries across the alliance scrambling to boost budgets, could a deal for a new target be reached by NATO's June summit that allows Trump to claim a win?- What Washington wants? -Trump, like other US presidents, has long accused European allies of taking US protection for granted and underspending on defence.But he has taken a tougher line and threatened not to defend countries who he thinks are scrimping.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NATO counterparts on Thursday they must agree a "realistic pathway" to five percent, and that means Washington would also have to spend more too.Rubio conceded Europe could not be expected to make the hikes "in one year or two".- What's the current level? -Faced with Russia's war on Ukraine, NATO allies have already ramped up spending in recent years.As Trump stokes fears over US reliability, more plans for further increases are being announced."This is probably the biggest increase in defence spending here on the European side of NATO since the end of the Cold War. But we still need more," NATO chief Mark Rutte said.Rutte says in order to fulfil plans to counter Russia then countries have to spend well above three percent.Multiple diplomats said NATO's internal estimates put the figure at between 3.5 and 3.7 percent.Those feeling most threatened by Russia are already well ahead, with Poland and the Baltic States vowing to hit five percent soon.Germany has paved the way for a major splurge and the EU has announced measures to bolster spending.But some countries -- such as Spain, Italy and Canada -- are still well below NATO's current two percent target.The United States -- by far NATO's largest spender in dollar terms -- last year spent slightly less than 3.4 percent of GDP on defence.- What would five percent take? -Reaching five percent would be a massive undertaking for countries already struggling with financial strains.It would mean an increase of over $1.1 trillion a year across NATO, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.For the United States that would mean adding over $400 billion."For some countries like Poland, and even Greece, this is an attainable goal given their threat perceptions," said Ian Lesser from the German Marshall Fund think tank."For others it is surely out of reach given the mood in society and other spending needs."One way to pad the figures could be to expand the definition of what counts for military spending to include things like border security, roads and cyber security.But Rutte has pushed back.Officials say another possible obstacle could be if the trade war being unleashed by Trump hits European finances."Five percent in the short term in unfeasible," Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever told local media."It's a bit complicated to demand things of us after launching a trade war, after we've been humiliated and insulted all the time."- Compromise on the cards? -So far most European allies have been non-committal on how far they're willing to go."There is agreement that we need to do more and that we will work towards the summit in The Hague on maybe setting a new target," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide."Five percent is, of course, much more than the US itself spends, and it's a very high ambition, and we are not ready to commit to a number at this time."Diplomats said Rubio did not lay out any clear timeframe for when Washington expects NATO to hit five percent, giving hope of wriggle room for a compromise deal by the summit.Discussions are expected to start in earnest at NATO in May and diplomats say they're looking to be creative to help satisfy all.If the United States doesn't accept a straight agreement to hike spending to somewhere over three percent, then diplomats have suggested staggering any vow.That could mean setting a more realistic figure in the short term, with the five percent as a longer-term goal.The hope is that any agreement would allow Trump to claim victory -- and keep him on board both within the alliance and on the Ukraine war."It could just be a great success," said one NATO diplomat.

China logs 15th orbital mission with launch of Tianlian II-04-by Clarence Oxford.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 30, 2025-China executed its 15th space launch of the year late Wednesday night, successfully placing a new data relay satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC), the nation's primary aerospace contractor, confirmed the mission.Lifting off at 11:55 pm local time, a Long March 3B rocket deployed the Tianlian II-04 satellite into its designated orbit. The launch also marked the 565th flight in the Long March series, highlighting the reliability and continued utilization of China's workhorse launch vehicle.Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, a CASC subsidiary, the Tianlian II-04 is designed to provide vital telemetry, tracking, command, and data relay functions. It will support crewed missions, Earth-observation satellites, and operations aboard the Tiangong space station.This satellite is the fourth installment in the Tianlian II line, which represents the second generation of China's space-based data relay infrastructure. The series began with the launch of Tianlian II-01 in March 2019, also from Xichang.China's earlier Tianlian I system, composed of five satellites launched between 2008 and the mid-2010s, was instrumental in key milestones such as docking operations during human spaceflight missions.Engineers noted that the Tianlian II satellites incorporate enhancements over their predecessors, including increased communication capacity, greater payload support, and extended operational lifespans.The Long March 3B launcher, developed by another CASC arm, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, is a mainstay in China's space program. Optimized for geostationary transfer orbit missions, it can carry up to 5.5 metric tons and has also been used to place payloads into medium-Earth and lunar-bound trajectories.

HOARDING OF GOLD AND SILVER

JAMES 5:1-3
1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

REVELATION 18:10,17,19
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.(IN 1 HR THE STOCK MARKETS WORLDWIDE WILL CRASH)
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

EZEKIEL 7:19
19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed:(CONFISCATED) their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.

MARK OF THE BEAST (engraved microchip in your hand or forehead)

REVELATION 13:16-18
16 And he(FALSE POPE) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, (SLAVE) to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:(CHIP IMPLANT)
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.(6-6-6) A NUMBER SYSTEM

REVELATION 16:1-2
1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

I KNOW THIS MARK WILL BE A MICROCHIP IMPLANT UNDER THE SKIN. LETS LOOK UP WHAT THE WORD MARK SAYS IN REVELATION 13:16-18, 14:9,11, 15:2, 16:2, 19:20, 20:4-ALL THESE VERSES FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION SPEAK OF THIS DICTATORS MARK. NOW LETS SEE WHAT IT MEANS FROM STRONGS EXAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE. UNDER MARK PAGE 684.MARK UNDER MARK. THE OLD TESTAMENT IS UNDER HEBREW AND THE NEW TESTAMENT IS UNDER GREEK. SO WHEN WE LOOK UNDER REVELATION 13:16-17 WE SEE IT IS UNDER GREEK, SO WE GO TO GREEK IN THE BACK SECTION AND GO TO 5480 TO SEE WHAT IT SAYS THIS MARK WOULD BE. SO LETS GET TO IT.MARK IN STRONGS GREEK 5480 XAPAYUA CHARAGMA, KHAR-AG-MAH: FROM THE SAME AS 5482: A SCRATCH OR ETCHING, I.E STAMP (AS A BADGE OF SERVITUDE), OR SCULPTURED FIGURE-(STATUE):-GRAVEN, MARK FROM 5482 XAPAE CHARAX, KHAR-AX; FROM XAPAOOW CHARASSO (TO SHARPEN TO A POINT; AKIN TO 1125 THROUGH THE IDEA OF SCRATCHING); A STAKE, I.E (BYIMPL.) A PALISADE OR RAMPART (MILITARY MOUND FOR CIRCUMVALLATION IN A SIEGE): - TRENCH FROM 1125 YPAPOE GRAPHO, GRAF-0; A PRIM. VERB; TO "GRAVE", ESPEC. TO WRITE; FIG. TO DESCRIBE:-DESCRIBE, WRITE (-ING, -TEN).G5516-GO TO G4742-666 - STRONGS NT 4742: στίγμα - στίγμα, στιγματος, τό (from στίζω to prick; (cf. Latinstimulus, etc.; German stechen, English stick, sting, etc.; Curtius, § 226)), a mark pricked in or branded upon the body. According to ancient oriental usage, slaves and soldiers bore the name or stamp of their master or commander branded or pricked (cut) into their bodies to indicate what master or general they belonged to, and there were even some devotees who stamped themselves in this way with the token of their gods (cf. Deyling, Observations, iii., p. 423ff); hence, τά στίγματα τοῦ (κυρίου so Rec.) Ἰησοῦ, the marks of (the Lord) Jesus, which Paul in Galatians 6:17 says he bears branded on his body, are the traces left there by the perils, hardships, imprisonments, scourgings, endured by him for the cause of Christ, and which mark him as Christ's faithful and approved votary, servant, soldier (see Lightfoots Commentary on Galatians, the passage cited). (Herodotus 7, 233; Aristotle, Aelian, Plutarch, Lcian, others.)

THE INVENTOR OF THE MICROCHIP IMPLANT-CARL SANDERS MICROCHIP ENGINEER LEADER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgH9D6n4ZWo

THE MICROCHIP IMPLANT IN YOUR RIGHT HAND OR FOREHEAD.

LEVETICUS 19.28
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

FAMINE

EZEKIEL 5:16
16  When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:

REVELATION 6:5-6
5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.(A DAYS WAGES FOR A LOAF OF BREAD)

MATTHEW 24:7-8
7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

DEUTORONOMY 28:24
24  The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

AS OF 10.45AM THE DOW IS DOWN 1,501 POINTS DOWN.AT 3.05PM THE DOW WAS DOWN 2,105 POINTS.THE DOW ENDED DOWN 2,231.07 OR 5.50 %

Dow Jones plunges more than 1,600 points as stock market recoils from Trump tariff shock-By Edited By Updated on: April 4, 2025 / 7:08 AM EDT / CBS News

Stocks cratered in the U.S. on Thursday as anxious investors tried to assess the potential economic impact of the latest round of Trump administration tariffs.The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 1,679 points, or 4%, to close at 40,546. The S&P 500 sank 274 points, or 4.8%, its biggest one-day drop since Covid-19 torpedoed financial markets in 2020. That amounts to a loss of roughly $2 trillion, according to data from FactSet.The tech-heavy Nasdaq also suffered its worst session since the pandemic, dropping more than 1,050 points, or nearly 6%. That nosedive reflects investor concerns about how steep tariffs on China, Taiwan, Vietnam and other manufacturing hubs could impact technology companies, analysts said.Futures trading overnight pointed to more deep declines at the opening. As of 6:45 a.m. EDT, the Dow was down a whopping 1.053 points, the S&P 142 points  and the Nasdaq 531.50 points, according to Bloomberg.Asian stocks fell further Friday, though markets in Shanghai, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia were closed for holidays, limiting the extent of the day's declines, The Associated Press reported. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 lost 2.8% while South Korea's Kospi sank 0.9%.European markets lost more ground, the AP said. Germany's DAX fell 2%. The CAC 40 in Paris was off 1.6%. And Britain's FTSE 100 declined 1.7%. Shares of Apple, which has diversified its international supply chains in recent years but which still makes most of its iPhones in China, dropped nearly 10% Thursday. The new duties raise the nominal U.S. tariff rate on China to 54%."Investor psychology has been destroyed, and dip buyers are nowhere to be seen," equity analyst Adam Crisafulli, head of Vital Knowledge, said in a research note. "All the efforts to spin recent events positively are increasingly falling flat."Highlighting the extent of the losses: Nearly every major industrial sector suffered declines, with tech players, banks, retailers, apparel makers and airlines among the hardest hit. Best Buy shares sank roughly 18%, United Airlines fell 16% and Nike slid 16%, while even AI powerhouse Nvidia saw its stock drop nearly 8%.President Trump on Wednesday announced a 10% baseline tariff on all U.S. trading partners and increased levies on dozens of countries that charge higher taxes on American exports. Mr. Trump has said the goal is to make global commerce more fair, spur companies to expand in the U.S. and generate federal revenue. Experts warn that sharply ramping up tariffs on imports, coupled with any retaliatory measures from other nations, could drive up inflation, dampen spending by consumers and businesses, and hurt economic growth. "Market uncertainty is likely to remain elevated in the weeks ahead, as investors consider likely downgrades to consensus U.S. economic and earnings growth forecasts, the risk of a tit-for-tat escalation in tariffs and the potential scope for tariffs announced to be negotiated down," Solita Marcelli, Chief Investment Officer Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management, said in a note to investors.Appearing on CNN Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed confidence that the Trump administration's economic policies would pay off. Commenting on global financial markets sliding overnight, she said, "To anyone on Wall Street this morning, I would say trust in President Trump."Souring sentiment-Financial markets surged after Mr. Trump was re-elected in November, with Wall Street counting on lower taxes and deregulation to fuel corporate profits. Other investors bet on the Trump administration threatening tariffs mostly as a way to pressure other countries into making concessions on trade, rather than a full-fledged push to change the terms of global commerce.But after hitting all-time highs in February, stocks have turned tail as the White House makes clear it wasn't bluffing. Indeed, investors have been left stunned by the speed and scale of Mr. Trump's tariffs. In contrast to his first term, when he implemented levies on roughly $380 billion worth of goods over four years, Mr. Trump has imposed more than $3 trillion in tariffs in the less than three months since his return to power, according to the Economic Policy institute, a left-leaning think tank. "Markets may actually be underreacting, especially if these rates turn out to be final, given the potential knock-on effects to global consumption and trade," said Sean Sun, portfolio manager at Thornburg Investment management.Including its Thursday dive, the S&P 500 is now down 8.2% this year, the Dow has sunk 4.7% and the Nasdaq has tumbled 14.3%.Despite the angst on Wall Street, economists note that the U.S. continues to grow, and most still put relatively low odds on a recession. Hiring around the U.S. also remains healthy, with the nation's unemployment rate hovering around 4%. For borrowers, meanwhile, further signs the economy is at risk of stalling could encourage the Federal Reserve to lower its benchmark interest rate. The central bank last cut rates in December of 2024, but has kept them steady since then as policy makers seek to douse inflation.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Stocks, oil slump as China retaliates and Trump digs in heels.

New York, April 4 (AFP) Apr 04, 2025-Equities and oil prices extended a global rout for markets Friday after China hit back over President Donald Trump's tariff blitz with its own mammoth levy on US goods, inflaming international trade war fears.The Chinese government said Friday it would impose an additional 34 percent tariffs on all imports of US goods, making it the first major nation to unveil retaliatory measures.Despite the market turmoil, Trump insisted that "my policies will never change" and urged the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates.Meanwhile, Wall Street stocks endured another bruising round of selling, with the S&P 500 sinking six percent and the Nasdaq falling into a bear market, defined as a 20 percent drop from a recent high."We've essentially got an escalating trade war," said Jack Ablin of Cresset Capital. "We're at the beginning of a global slowdown if these tariffs remain in place."The losses increased somewhat following remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday, who warned of the risk of higher unemployment and higher inflation due to tariff increases he characterized as "significantly larger than expected."Wall Street investors shrugged off data showing the US economy added 228,000 jobs last month, much higher than analysts expected."Sentiment is so fragile right now," Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, told AFP."Investors are firmly in the 'get me to cash now' phase, on fears that other nations will follow China's lead, and of course that the US president will respond to China's tariffs with even more charges," he said."This trade war is like nothing we've seen for years, perhaps decades."European markets ended the day sharply lower, with Frankfurt and London sinking nearly five percent.The dollar rebounded against the euro and pound, having fallen sharply Thursday on fears of a recession in the United States.But oil futures plummeted around seven percent, having already plunged some six to seven percent Thursday on the prospect of weaker demand.News that OPEC+ had unexpectedly hiked crude supply more than planned added to the heavy selling.The price of copper -- a vital component for energy storage, electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines -- also fell sharply.Beijing on Friday also imposed export controls on seven rare earth elements, its commerce ministry said, including gadolinium -- commonly used in MRIs -- and yttrium, utilized in consumer electronics."Another jolt of fear has shot through markets as China's threat of retaliation has materialized," said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown."The big concern is that this is a sign of a sharp escalation of the tariff war which will have major implications for the global economy," she said.- Key figures around 2050 GMT -New York - Dow: DOWN 5.5 percent at 38,314.86 (close)-New York - S&P 500: DOWN 6.0 percent at 5,074.08 (close)-New York - Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 5.8 percent at 15,587.79 (close)-Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 5.0 percent at 20,641.72 (close)-Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 4.3 percent at 7,274.95 (close)-London - FTSE 100: DOWN 5.0 percent at 8,054.98 (close)-Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.8 percent at 33,780.58 (close)-Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: Closed for a holiday-Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday-West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 7.4 percent at $61.99 per barrel-Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 6.5 percent at $65.58 per barrel-Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0962 from $1.1052 on ThursdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2893 from $1.2968-Dollar/yen: UP at 146.98 yen from 146.06 yen-Euro/pound: DOWN at 85.01 pence from 85.22 pence-burs-jmb/sla

Iran’s currency falls to record low against dollar amid spiraling tensions with US-Rial trading at over 1 million to the dollar as Trump ramps up pressure on Tehran; vice president fired for taking a luxury cruise to Antarctica-By Nasser Karimi and Jon Gambrell Today, 2:43 pm-APR 5,25

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran ’s rial currency traded Saturday at a record low against the US dollar as the country returned to work after a long holiday, costing over 1 million rials for a single greenback as tensions between Tehran and Washington likely will push it even lower.The exchange rate had plunged to over 1 million rials during the Persian New Year, Nowruz, as currency shops closed and only informal trading took place on the streets, creating additional pressure on the market. But as traders resumed work Saturday, the rate fell even further to 1,043,000 to the dollar, signaling the new low appeared here to stay.On Ferdowsi Street in Iran’s capital, Tehran, the heart of the country’s money exchanges, some traders even switched off their electronic signs showing the going rate as uncertainty loomed over how much further the rial could drop.“We turn it off since we are not sure about the successive changes of the rate,” said Reza Sharifi, who works at one exchange.Iran’s economy has been severely affected by international sanctions, particularly after US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. At the time of the 2015 deal, which saw Iran drastically limit its enrichment and stockpiling of uranium in exchange for lifting of international sanctions, the rial traded at 32,000 to the dollar.After Trump returned to the White House for his second term in January, he restarted his so-called “maximum pressure” campaign, targeting Tehran with sanctions. He again went after firms trading Iranian crude oil, including those selling at a discount in China.Trump, meanwhile, has written to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, trying to jumpstart direct talks between Tehran and Washington. So far, Iran has maintained it is willing to engage in indirect talks, but such discussions under the Biden administration have failed to make headway.Meanwhile, Trump is continuing an intense airstrike campaign targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, the last force in Tehran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” able to attack Israel after other groups were mauled by Israel during its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip and with Hezbollah in Lebanon.Mehdi Darabi, a market analyst, said he believed that foreign pressures in recent months caused “expectations for the possibility of a decrease in oil sales and more inflation, and it caused a higher rate for hard currencies,” according to Tehran’s Donay-e-Eqtesad economic newspaper.Economic upheavals have evaporated the public’s savings, pushing average Iranians into holding onto hard currencies, gold, cars and other tangible wealth. Others pursue cryptocurrencies or fall into get-rich-quick schemes.Meanwhile, internal political pressure remains inflamed still over the mandatory hijab, or headscarf, with women still ignoring the law on the streets of Tehran. Rumors also persist over the government potentially increasing the cost of subsidized gasoline in the country, which has sparked nationwide protests in the past.The falling rial has put more pressure as well on Iranian reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian. In March, when the rate was 930,000 rials to the dollar, Iran’s parliament impeached his finance minister, Abdolnasser Hemmati, over the crashing rial and accusations of mismanagement.Anger over government spending also saw Pezeshkian fire his vice president in charge of parliamentary affairs, Shahram Dabiri, for taking a luxury cruise to Antarctica, state media reported. Though Dabiri reportedly used his own money for the trip with his wife, the Instagram photos posted of his trip angered the Iranian public, scraping by to survive.“In a situation where the economic pressures on people are huge and the number of deprived people is massive, expensive recreational trip by officials even by their own personal fund is not defendable and reasonable,” Pezeshkian said in firing Dabiri, who so far hasn’t offered any public explanation for his trip.

China hits back at Trump with 34% tariffs on US goods as global market rout deepens-Beijing, which says it will file lawsuit against tariffs at WTO, announces export controls on rare earth elements used in medical tech; Asian and European marks continue to spiral-By Luna Lin, Sam Davies and Sebastian Smith Today, 5:27 pm-APR 4,25

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China announced 34 percent tariffs on US imports on Friday, the first major economy to fire back against US President Donald Trump’s severe new levies in an escalating global trade war that sent markets deep into the red.Countries and companies alike weighed their options and the EU readied for talks with US officials. Potential responses could include retaliatory tariffs or other measures that could escalate a trade war that has raised fears of recession.China — one of the United States’ top trading partners — was first, announcing that tariffs of 34% on all American imports would come into effect from April 10 and saying it would file a suit at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the tariffs.It also said it would impose export controls on a number of rare earth elements used in medical technology and consumer electronics.China’s customs administration said it had suspended imports of chicken from two US suppliers, Mountaire Farms of Delaware and Coastal Processing. It said Chinese customs had repeatedly detected furazolidone, a drug banned in China, in shipments from those companies.Additionally, the Chinese government said it has added 27 firms to lists of companies subject to trade sanctions or export controls.Asian and European stock markets added to their losses after a bloodbath on Thursday that sent New York’s broad-based S&P 500 index down 4.8%, its biggest drop since the COVID pandemic in 2020.In Europe, Frankfurt sank by 5% after midday on Friday while Paris shed more than 4% and London was down almost 3.8%.Tokyo’s Nikkei index closed 2.8% lower, with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba describing Trump’s tariffs as a “national crisis.”Trump dismissed the turmoil on Thursday, insisting to reporters as he left for a weekend at his Florida golf resort that stocks will “boom.”Trump announced 10% import duties on all nations, due to kick in on Saturday, and far higher levies on imports from dozens of specific countries taking effect next week.Countries have slammed the tariffs but, with the exception of China, have so far withheld retaliatory measures, offering talks with the US.EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic is due to speak with US counterparts on Friday after Trump hit the 27-nation bloc with a 20% tariff.Sefcovic said on Thursday the EU would act in “a calm, carefully phased, unified way” and allow time for talks but he also warned the bloc “won’t stand idly by, should we be unable to reach a fair deal.”French ‘patriotism’France and Germany have said the EU could respond by imposing a tax on US tech companies.Economy Minister Eric Lombard urged French companies to show “patriotism” after President Emmanuel Macron argued it would send the wrong message if they pressed ahead with investments in the US.Lombard said the EU’s retaliation would not necessarily involve tit-for-tat tariffs and could use other tools, pointing to data exchange and tax as levers that could be used.“The response can be very strong but we should not respond with exactly the same weapons the US used as, if we do, it can also have a negative effect in Europe,” he told news network BFMTV.In Tokyo, Ishiba called for a “calm-headed” approach to negotiations with Trump, who targeted Japanese products with a 24% levy.Local media reported that Japanese officials were attempting to organize a call between Ishiba and Trump, who held apparently friendly talks at the White House in February.Auto shift-Companies were also scrambling to adapt to the new trade order.Separate tariffs of 25% on all foreign-made cars also went into effect this week, and Canada swiftly responded with a similar levy on US imports.Stellantis — the owner of Jeep, Chrysler and Fiat — paused production at some Canadian and Mexican assembly plants.Japanese carmaker Nissan said on Friday it would revise plans to reduce production in the US.The company also said it would stop selling two vehicle models in the US market that are made at a factory in Mexico.Sweden’s Volvo Cars, owned by China’s Geely, said it would increase its production of vehicles in the US and probably produce an additional model there.Trump says he wants to make the US free from reliance on foreign manufacturers, in a massive economic reshaping that he likened to a medical procedure.Amid howls of protest abroad, and even from some of Trump’s Republicans who fear price rises at home, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urged patience.“Let Donald Trump run the global economy. He knows what he’s doing,” Lutnick said on CNN.Republican Senator Mitch McConnell broke ranks with Trump, slamming tariffs as “bad policy.”Preserving long-term prosperity “requires working with our allies, not against them,” McConnell said.Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, head of the WTO, which helps manage global trading, warned the upheaval may lead to a contraction of “one percent in global merchandise trade volumes this year.”AP contributed to this report.

EU to invest €1.3 billion in digital identity wallet, AI, cybersecurity-Apr 1, 2025, 10:39 am EDT    | Lu-Hai Liang

The EU Commission has allocated €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) for technological investment that it sees as “strategically important” for the future of the continent.The investment will drive the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) work programme for 2025 through 2027. While that’s the umbrella for various technologies, tech sovereignty is the aim as the EU seeks to become more competitive with powers such as the U.S. and China.“Securing European tech sovereignty starts with investing in advanced technologies and in making it possible for people to improve their digital competences,” said Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.She continued: “With the opportunities under the Digital Europe Programme, we are ensuring that new technologies – and with them new potential – reach European citizens, businesses and public administrations.”Priorities under the DIGITAL work programme include generative AI applications, with consideration of the health and care sectors, and testing “immersive environments” otherwise known as virtual worlds. Boosting cyber resilience by targeting cybersecurity solutions; facilitating the EU Digital Identity Wallet architecture and the European Trust Infrastructure, and promoting its adoption in member states; and developing digital skills by boosting EU education and training institutions’ capacity.In addition, support for the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) is a priority as this network of hubs will provide companies and the public sector with access to technical expertise and technology testing, and which will promote the employment of AI around Europe. There will be funds for Destination Earth, an award-winning initiative that is building a digital twin of the Earth to support climate adaptation and disaster risk management, to build an even more powerful model.Funds will also go towards stimulating the development of “efficient, high-quality, interoperable” digital public services. Innovations across these priorities will be accelerated with the new Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), which awards the STEP Seal quality label to “promising projects” that’ll boost their standing for access to public and private funding.Under the current Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027) the total budget is €8.1 billion ($8.7 billion) and includes other EU funding initiatives such as Horizon Europe, EU4Health, InvestEU, and the Connecting Europe Facility. The first calls for proposals for the DIGITAL work programme are expected to launch this month, with additional funding opportunities coming throughout this year.Partnering with India could amplify EU tech sovereignty, think tank argues-As tensions between the EU and the Trump administration underline the dangers of the EU’s reliance on U.S. technology, analysts are exploring whether India could inspire and partner the EU in its goal for tech sovereignty.Chloe Teevan and Gautam Kamath, head of digital economy and governance at think tank ECDPM and an independent consultant and associate with ECDPM, respectively, co-write on the shared aims of the EU and other global powers like India and Brazil that are concerned by technological dependence on the United States.The authors mention the seminal September 2024 Draghi report on EU competitiveness, which has helped to drive EU urgency on the matter, which emphasized developing advanced technologies. Not long after, the EuroStack initiative was launched from Brussels which calls for a new European approach to tech infrastructures “across the technology stack” from hard infrastructure to software platforms.“Indeed, other countries have already had great success in building parts of the stack and their successes could be important learning opportunities for the EU,” the authors write.“Most notably, India’s digital public infrastructure – composed of digital ID, digital payments, data exchange and most recently a new e-commerce layer, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) – provides universally accessible public and private digital services to its population of nearly 1.4 billion people.”They observe that by building this “interim layer” of digital infrastructure from the ground up, in partnership with the private sector, and by using it to connect public and private services, India demonstrated that this infrastructural approach to digital services could be rolled out at scale.On February 28, the EU and India agreed to cooperate across multiple parts of the digital stack, but a “wider exchange” is needed, the authors argue. The full post can be found on the London School of Economics’ blog here.Linux Foundation Europe launches European digital sovereignty initiative-The Linux Foundation Europe has launched the NeoNephos Foundation, which will focus on collaboration and innovation in open cloud infrastructure and European digital sovereignty.“Linux Foundation Europe is proud to support the launch of NeoNephos, which represents a significant step forward in supporting Europe’s cloud sovereignty goals through open source,” said Gabriele Columbro, general manager of Linux Foundation Europe.The aim will be to develop open, interoperable technologies for the needs of European companies and governments. Founding members of the NeoNephos Foundation include Clyso, Cyberus Technology, Deutsche Telekom, SAP, TNO – ECOFED and 23 Technologies GmbH. NeoNephos is one of the first open-source outcomes of the EU investment program IPCEI-CIS.

Mobbeel: Should robots receive legal identity?-Apr 2, 2025, 2:01 pm EDT    | Masha Borak

The dawn of autonomous AI agents has opened new questions on whether they should be granted a legal identity. The debate is complex as it entails the question of responsibility.Despite the controversies, some companies believe that it’s just a matter of time before we will need an identity verification method for non-humans such as AI agents, chatbots and robots.“Identity verification methods for AI agents would need to be specifically designed for them, as current systems are built to distinguish humans from machines – not one machine from another,” Rafael Campillo, chief marketing officer at identity verification firm Mobbeel Solutions.Authenticating a machine would be a complex challenge requiring a multi-layered approach that would factor in how the AI was built and trained and whether its behavior aligns with expectations, Campillo explains in a recent blog post.Each AI could have a unique “digital DNA” or an “algorithm fingerprint” that includes its neural network architecture and historical decision-making patterns recorded on a blockchain. An AI program that approves loans, for instance, could be identified by its risk-assessment patterns.The second criterion would be metrics such as processing speed in critical tasks and statistical deviations in outputs. Campillo calls this “behavioral biometrics for AI.” One example would be an AI agent focused on trading shares that claims to make conservative investments but operates as high risk, meaning that its behavioral footprint would expose inconsistencies.The AI agent would also have “dynamic authenticity certificates,” digital certificates that don’t just identify an AI but also track its evolution in real time. This would include NFTs, smart contracts and timestamping.“When an AI is created, an NFT could be minted to reflect its ethical boundaries and purpose,” writes Campillo. “Unlike static certificates, this would update automatically via smart contracts – logging every major change, from new learning capabilities to unexpected deviations.”While companies such as Mobbeel are coming up with possible paths toward legal identities for AI, governments are still debating how to approach the problem.In the European Union, lawmakers proposed introducing “electronic personality” or “e-personality” to ensure robots that make autonomous decisions are responsible for the damage they may cause. In 2017, the European Parliament published a resolution that includes recommendations on Civil Law Rules on Robotics.The question, however, remains unresolved. One part of the debate argues that AI agents and robots are ultimately tools and should not be considered legal entities as that would diminish the responsibility for their actions by the humans that created them. Another part claims that legal personhood for AI agents cannot be based on either the model of natural persons or legal entities.“Undoubtedly, this remains a controversial topic with much debate still ahead,” says Campillo.

Decentralized identity sector fills up with chips off the old blockchain-Biometric digital ID schemes abound, promising robust ecosystems while shunning vowels-Apr 3, 2025, 12:17 pm EDT    | Joel R. McConvey

The whirlwind dance of decentralized identity continues, as firms look to leverage decentralized ledger technology, or blockchain, as a secure way to codify digital ID and enable secure identity verification. The space is getting crowded with new entrants, each of which offers a variation on the same themes, in pursuit of the same goal: scale up.LQDTY partners with Telos ID to launch biometric blockchain transactions-Liquidity.io, a fintech company that uses blockchain to facilitate the trading of assets, has announced the launch of LQDTY, a Layer 1 blockchain platform “designed to revolutionize blockchain usability, security and compliance,” which features biometrics from Telos ID.A release says LQDTY’s features include biometric key shard verification and advanced Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) compliance mechanisms, and a sponsored transaction model that eliminates gas fees for end users by shifting transaction costs to developers.Telos Corporation’s integration means LQDTY will benefit from the upcoming release of Telos’ identity-as-a-service (IdaaS) product, ONYXPlus. Power the release, “LQDTY transactions can involve a verifiable biometric signature before approving and processing a transaction that requires a high level of identity assurance.” Modalities include facial recognition and fingerprint recognition for ID verification.Telos intends to launch the ONYXPlus biometric reusable digital identity platform sometime in 2025. The firm’s CEO John B. Wood says that “as a leader in digital identity, management, and identity vetting solutions, Telos and its ONYXPlus platform will provide valuable insight into the vision for a sovereign and portable identity ecosystem for all.”Beyond its partnership with Telos, LQDTY promises many of the same benefits as its peers in the decentralized ID space. It promotes “a developer-friendly environment with a comprehensive Software Development Kit (SDK) and APIs to facilitate efficient dApp deployment.” It says “enterprises can leverage LQDTY’s decentralized identity and credential management system to enhance security and streamline compliance.”And, it boils down to cryptocurrency: “LQDTY’s native token, LQDTY, serves as the foundation of its economy, driving transaction execution, governance participation, and staking incentives,” says the release. “With plans to introduce decentralized financial products such as traditional futures, perpetual futures, and options trading, LQDTY is set to transform blockchain-based financial services.” A roadmap for the platform includes an upcoming testnet launch, ecosystem partnerships, and a public mainnet rollout.IDNTTY makes (upper) case for identity service on independent blockchain-To be sure, there is an increasing need for firms to differentiate themselves in the growing market for decentralized identity, crypto and proof-of-personhood (PoP) schemes. Exhibit A is IDNTTY, a blockchain company that has issued a release that reads much like LQDTY’s.“IDNTTY, a company dedicated to building open and decentralized systems, has officially launched its latest innovation: an identity service built on its own independent blockchain network,” says the release. “Designed to challenge traditional centralized solutions, this new service brings the power of self-sovereign identity to everyone, giving users complete control over their digital presence.”The branding and key terms vary. IDNTTY promises “Community-Verified Trust,” enabling users to create and customize their digital identities and control what information is shared. It promises “the flexibility to expand and enhance identities with verifiable credentials” so that “individuals, companies and communities can add trusted proof of skills, achievements and memberships with ease.” The company highlights use cases from digital achievement badges to cafe loyalty programs.Since it’s definitely not the name, IDNTTY is pushing the idea that “what sets IDNTTY apart isn’t just its technology – it’s the company’s vision.”“Rather than focusing solely on network creation,” it says, “it prioritizes building real-world, next-generation solutions that are reliable, efficient and genuinely useful. Its blockchain operates on a trusted Proof-of-Stake consensus, ensuring a sustainable and secure foundation for digital identity management.”The sales pitch is nice – who doesn’t love collecting points? – but is ultimately unconvincing in positioning IDNTTY as significantly different from its competitors.World releases Mini Apps upgrade that aims for “immersive experience”The need for a fresh pitch is only increasing, as the firms with the deepest pockets and biggest names attached burrow into mainstream partnerships to establish bulwarks. The largest and shiniest of these is World, the iris biometrics, PoP and crypto wallet scheme launched by Sam Altman, ostensibly in response to the AI he himself created at OpenAI.In keeping with the massive ambitions unveiled at last year’s livestreamed rebranding event, World continues to scale. A new post on the World Blog says the ecosystem’s Mini Apps are scaling with it, with the release of Mini Apps 1.2 and a new Developer Rewards pilot program.Mini Apps are native web applications that diversify uses for the World Network, and World (along with its partner Tools for Humanity) wants people to build more of them. The new upgrade promises faster speed for significantly improved load times, haptic feedback for “a more immersive experience,” a couple UX upgrades, and a search function.World suggests that, “with more than 150 Mini Apps available and over 10M WLD transacted within Mini Apps, these updates make it fun and easy to engage with your favorite ones, which ultimately increases discoverability and retention for developers.”Further incentive to build comes in the form of the new Developer Rewards program. Launched April 1, it pays out WLD tokens to qualifying developers monthly, “based on how many verified humans use and benefit from their applications.” The program follows the January launch of the World Build Mini App incubator initiative.Humanity Protocol partners with Kaito on Yapper Credentials-Another name in the decentralized identity mix is Humanity Protocol, one of Asia’s first Web3 unicorns, which also continues to scale, and also has big plans. A release says a new partnership with Kaito, an “AI-driven Web3 information platform” that monitors and tracks data, enhances self-sovereign identity (SSI) verification across the crypto ecosystem. It does so by making Kaito an official Identity Validator on Humanity Protocol, responsible for issuing “Yapper Credentials,” which categorize crypto users into distinct tiers.These are specified as Inner CT, who are “recognized and influential members of the Crypto Twitter (CT) community;” Emerging CT, who are “up-and-coming contributors making a mark in the space;” and Yappers, “general Kaito users who have signed up but do not yet fall into the above categories.”Humanity Protocol also recently integrated into the ApeChain ecosystem. A blog says that “by embedding Proof of Humanity (PoH) into ApeChain, we’re making dApps more Sybil-resistant, governance more transparent, and digital identity more powerful than ever before. With ApeChain as a zkProofer, developers on both Humanity Protocol and ApeChain can now build without limits.”The language of blockchain continues to be obtuse to most people; ApeChains and tokens, ZKP and SSI, LQDTY and IDNTTY, Yappers and Orbs. But for the moment, firms in the sector have a clear, common goal: build ecosystems of users, apps, credentials and currency – and do it as fast as you can.

Biometrics and identity papers become new US immigration battleground-Apr 3, 2025, 3:24 pm EDT    | Anthony Kimery

On March 12, 2025, the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published an interim final rule that reactivates a long-dormant provision of U.S. immigration law that requires certain noncitizens to register with the federal government and always carry proof of that registration. The move represents a major shift in immigration enforcement policy and introduces new risks for millions of individuals living in the United States.Issued without public input, the impending rule – set to take effect April 11- has sparked significant controversy and has led to a federal lawsuit being filed by immigrant advocacy organizations.The rule mandates that all noncitizens over the age of 18 must carry documentation confirming their registration with DHS. While the rule clearly states the requirement to carry proof, it does not outline how federal authorities will determine whether the person holding the document is its legitimate owner. This lack of specificity has prompted concerns over enforcement, potential abuse, and the creation of a system that could invite racial profiling or wrongful prosecutions.Although the rule does not delve into the verification process, it does require that registrants provide biometric data, including fingerprints, during registration. This biometric information is collected to ensure accurate identification and is associated with the individual’s registration record.These biometrics are stored and associated with an individual’s registration file, meaning that identity verification, in theory, can be accomplished by matching the individual’s biometric data to the data on file. In this way, DHS plans to enforce identity integrity by relying on unique biometric identifiers as a confirmation mechanism.However, the practical application of this verification remains vague, especially in field scenarios involving federal officers and day-to-day interaction with law enforcement. Presumably, in situations where identity verification is necessary, authorities may rely on the biometric data collected during the registration process to confirm that the individual carrying the registration document is its legitimate holder.The rule was enacted under the guise of a procedural regulation, thereby sidestepping the traditional notice-and-comment process that allows the public to offer feedback and the agency to revise the rule accordingly. This decision has drawn substantial criticism from immigrant advocacy groups and legal experts who argue that the rule is not merely procedural but has profound substantive impacts on millions of lives. These groups contend that the rule should have gone through the normal regulatory process to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness.In response to the rule, the American Immigration Council (AIC), in collaboration with several other advocacy organizations, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The lawsuit, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, argues that the rule is unlawful on multiple fronts.The plaintiffs include several nonprofit membership-based organizations such as the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, United Farm Workers, CASA, and Make the Road New York. They claim that DHS violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to engage the public in a rulemaking process, and that the rule is confusingly written, overly broad, and capable of generating chaos during implementation.“This rule is an invitation for widespread abuse,” said Michelle Lapointe, legal director at the American Immigration Council. “We’re talking about a new reality in the United States, in which anyone perceived to be an immigrant would have to carry their identity documents any time they leave the house and be prepared to show them to law enforcement on demand, at risk of being arrested. The United States is not a ‘carry your papers’ country, and this rule jeopardizes the freedoms and rights of millions of people who live here.”The legal filing emphasizes the rule’s activation of a World War II-era statute that has remained largely unused in peacetime and in the post-9/11 era, except under very narrow circumstances. Historically, registration of noncitizens has been limited to those applying for immigration benefits, and there has not been a mechanism for immigrants who entered without authorization to register post-arrival. The March 12 rule alters this dynamic by establishing a pathway for those not previously registered to do so now, with the caveat that failure to register – or to carry proof of registration – could result in criminal prosecution.The implications of the rule are far-reaching. Millions of individuals, particularly those who entered the country without inspection and have never had contact with federal immigration authorities, now face a difficult dilemma. By choosing to register, they risk exposure to immigration enforcement and potential removal proceedings. By choosing not to register, they face the risk of criminal prosecution.“The Trump administration promises aggressive and widespread enforcement of the registration rule though it is both vague and internally contradictory.  The result will be immediate, rampant racial profiling, including the mistaken targeting of U.S. citizens and others who have legal status, furthering the sickening abuses we have witnessed to date,” said Ben Johnson, Executive Director at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).This situation is made even more complex by the fact that many undocumented immigrants are already deemed registered under existing DHS classifications, such as those who hold work permits or who have previously been placed in removal proceedings.Nevertheless, the new rule introduces uncertainty, especially since it does not clearly define which categories of immigrants are considered registered. For example, individuals with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status may be excluded from the definition of registered unless they also possess a work permit. Such ambiguities are causing confusion and fear among immigrant communities and advocacy organizations.The rule also grants DHS a powerful enforcement tool: the criminalization of noncompliance. Under 8 U.S.C. §1302 and §1306, noncitizens 14 or older who fail to register within 30 days of arrival, or who do not carry proof of registration, can be criminally prosecuted. While being in the U.S. without authorization is currently a civil violation, this rule effectively converts certain aspects of undocumented presence into criminal offenses. This move hearkens back to failed legislative attempts like the 2005 Sensenbrenner bill, which sought to criminalize unlawful presence.“People who choose to submit a ‘registration’ form may be opening themselves up to being arrested by immigration authorities and placed in removal proceedings. People who choose not to submit the form, on the other hand, may be in danger of criminal prosecution,” the American Immigration Council said. “Additionally, the Trump administration’s policy raises the possibility that immigrants who are registered – regardless of lawful status – might be criminally charged and penalized for failing to carry proof of their registration with them at all times.”Another concern is the government’s treatment of the rule as a procedural regulation. Critics argue that the rule introduces a new substantive requirement: a universal federal registration system for noncitizens, paired with a criminal penalty for noncompliance. This, they assert, is far from procedural and demands full public scrutiny. The failure to allow public comments has not only undermined democratic participation but also neglected opportunities to identify and resolve potential problems before implementation.The lawsuit filed by the American Immigration Council and its partners seeks to halt the rule’s enforcement, at least until a proper rulemaking process can be completed. Their legal challenge contends that the regulation will disproportionately burden immigrants and will likely result in discriminatory enforcement practices. It also warns that the implementation could lead to widespread confusion and fear, particularly among communities with limited access to legal resources or understanding of the immigration system.The Trump administration, through DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, has openly stated that the rule is designed to encourage self-deportation. This stark admission reveals the administration’s broader goal of creating an environment so inhospitable that undocumented immigrants choose to leave the country voluntarily. This strategy, critics argue, is morally questionable and legally dubious, particularly when implemented through opaque regulatory processes without public participation.As the rule’s effective date of April 11 approaches, immigrant communities and advocacy groups are bracing for what they describe as a dramatic escalation in enforcement and surveillance. The legal challenge now underway may determine whether the rule will stand as a legitimate tool of immigration control or be struck down as an overreach that violates fundamental rights and administrative law principles. Either way, the outcome will have lasting implications for the millions of immigrants living within U.S. borders and for the nation’s broader approach to immigration policy and civil liberties.

Explosion in identity and payments fraud forces governments, private companies to act-UK sees formation of data sharing fraud squad as easy access to tech democratizes fraud-Apr 1, 2025, 1:34 pm EDT    | Joel R. McConvey

A common enemy can bring together unlikely allies, and right now the common enemy of banks, tech and telecoms firms is fraud. According to the UK Office for National Statistics, fraud accounts for around 41 per cent of all crimes in England and Wales, costing an estimated £6.8 billion (US$7.3 billion) each year. In the U.S., data breaches are having more severe consequences, and payment fraud is growing like a bad mold across the digital financial landscape. Injection attacks, deepfakes and other products of generative AI are getting easier to execute and distribute. The problem has become severe enough to force responses from both governments and the private sector.Supergroup of UK banks, tech and telecom firms bands together to fight fraud-The Financial Times reports on a plan by some of the UK’s biggest companies to begin sharing live fraud data, in a united front against a fierce and fast-advancing foe.A joint statement from the coalition says that after a period of testing, it is transitioning to real-time exchange of fraud indicator data, such as suspicious URLs or unusual transaction activity. Signatories include Barclays, Lloyds, Santander, Nationwide, HSBC, NatWest and Monzo on the financial side, as well as tech giants Amazon, Google, Match Group and Meta, and telecoms groups BT and Three.Ruth Evans, chair of Stop Scams UK, a cross-sector umbrella group leading the initiative, says that “by making this pledge, our members are redoubling their efforts to create a safer environment for all businesses and consumers online.”The previous testing period in 2023 saw relatively little data exchanged compared to what is now possible. Stop Scams UK CEO Mark Tierney says the scheme has since changed “exponentially” with the implementation of automated systems that can process data much faster.Per the Times report, many are calling for a stronger government response to the fraud problem. Fraud minister Lord Hanson is developing a new fraud strategy that enables safe, speedy and effective exchange of data.TransUnion, Sift, BioCatch highlight scale of fraud in U.S. in new publications-New reports from TransUnion and Sift lay out the scale of fraud in the U.S.TransUnion’s H1 2025 Update to the State of Omnichannel Fraud Report shows that the severity of primary data breaches increased by 34 percent from a year earlier, with the primary U.S. Breach Risk Score (BRS) rising from 4.1 to 5.6 out of 10, and third party rising from 4.2 to 5.2.In a release, Steve Yin, global head of fraud at TransUnion, says that “breach severity is a leading indicator of future fraud. This year’s growth in severity means organizations must be even more diligent moving forward and work even harder to defend against the oncoming identity fraud attacks such as those in account creations, social engineering scams, and account takeovers.”The report identifies communities and gaming as industries seeing the highest rates of digital fraud globally. Communities, which encompasses online dating and forums, showed the highest rate of suspected digital fraud attempts, with nearly 12 percent of all attempted community transactions suspected to be fraudulent. Video gaming does not fare much better, at 11 percent, while online gambling and retail both come in at 8 percent.Everybody fraud now: easy access to data, tech makes fraud an easy side hustle-Meanwhile, Sift’s newly published Q1 2025 Digital Trust Index reveals what a release calls an “alarming trend in the democratization of payment fraud,” noting that “34 percent of consumers have seen offers to participate in payment fraud online – an 89 percent increase over 2024.”Once thought to be the purview of shady hacker types in hoodies, fraud is now not just a risk for individuals, but also a lure. “The democratization of fraud through the widespread availability of stolen payment information and validation tools – easily found and purchased online – is luring ordinary consumers into cybercrime,” says Kevin Lee, SVP of customer experience, trust and safety at Sift.The trend is particularly concerning in that it appears to appeal to young people; per the report, “among those who personally participated in or know someone who has participated in payment fraud (23 percent of all surveyed consumers), 32 percent of Gen Z and 43 percent of Millennials admitted to personally participating in payment fraud schemes.”Industries that showed the highest attack rates include ticketing and reservations at 7.4 percent, social media at 5.2 percent, and transportation at 4.8 percent. A summary of the report on Sift’s website says “high-demand events, such as the Taylor Swift concerts, have forced ticketing platforms to process transactions more quickly to meet customer expectations, opening the door to more fraudulent activities. As a result, the ticketing industry saw an 85 percent rise in attempted payment fraud year-over-year.”Data from BioCatch shows young people just as vulnerable as the elderly-BioCatch is not letting Europe off the fraud hook; its new report notes that France lost an estimated €4.5 (~US$4.8) billion to fraud in 2023.In a release, BioCatch Director of Global Fraud Intelligence Tom Peacock says “57 percent of French citizens say they’ve received scam messages and 13 percent report having fallen victim to a scam.” But the figure swells to 72 percent – with 16 percent falling victim – among those 35 and younger.Peacock notes that, “while many might find it tempting to stereotype the elderly as the most vulnerable targets for scammers, in France, data shows young people both receive more scam attempts and fall victim to those attempts more often than those from older generations. ”Investment scams are also on the rise, having tripled over the last three years. Per the report, more than 3 percent of all French citizens – an estimated 22.7 million people – admitted to losing money to this type of scam. The long-term consequences can be damaging psychologically; BioCatch data shows that “six months after falling victim to a scam, some victims still log into their online banking accounts twice as frequently as they did before they lost any money, suggesting feelings of anxiety, mistrust and fear.”Feedzai takes a look at account takeover fraud-A new report from Feedzai looks at account takeover fraud (ATO), which cost U.S. adults approximately $23 billion in 2023. ATO crime has risen steadily in recent years; per a release, data shows that bank accounts saw the most significant surge in ATO activity from 2021 to 2023, with a 10 percent rise.The report says global fraud losses are expected to reach $5 trillion, but several avenues for preventing ATO attempts are available, including behavioral biometrics, malware detection and device fingerprinting.NEC says face biometrics can stop fraud – if systems are good-NEC likewise has things to say about fraud and how it impacts people. “People don’t think about security until it fails,” says a new post from the facial biometrics provider. “But what they remember is how the experience made them feel. If onboarding feels seamless, they stay. If transactions feel safe and smooth, they come back. If something feels off – or clunky – they look elsewhere. Experience builds trust – and trust is everything.”In NEC’s view, biometric technology can make all the difference, provided it’s done right. “Financial institutions globally are increasingly adopting facial biometrics, liveness detection, and AI-powered fraud prevention solutions to deliver secure digital ID experiences to customers,” it says, citing numbers from Research and Markets showing that the global biometrics market in financial services was valued at $5.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $15.2 billion by 2030.As customers embrace biometrics, care must be taken to choose the right tools. High-quality, effective biometric solutions can, of course, significantly reduce fraud and enhance user experiences. But it’s not enough for firms to come in waving flags that say “biometric authentication.” Not all biometrics are created equal: “low-quality implementations create more issues, such as increased false acceptances, frustrating false rejections, and exploitable security vulnerabilities.”Facial biometrics, says NEC, offer high identity assurance levels and are nearly impossible to counterfeit. “With NEC’s advanced facial biometric technology, financial institutions can securely verify digital IDs in real-time, covering everything from digital banking apps to high-value transactions and administrative access.”

DIF Labs showcases identity, privacy and digital assets projects in its inaugural cohort-Apr 3, 2025, 6:12 pm EDT    | Lu-Hai Liang

DIF Labs has brought together its inaugural Beta Cohort of teams that want to solve some of the toughest challenges where identity, privacy, and digital assets intersect.DIF Labs is dedicated to progressing impactful, real-world projects that are reshaping industries through decentralized identity. In its first cohort they chose three projects from Veranon, Linked Claims, and Ordinals Plus.Veranon was presented by Alex Hache who spoke on their protocol that enables private, unique use of pre-verified identity with web services. “AI is advancing rapidly, and we will have continued need for human-centric web services, and that’s what Veranon is hoping to contribute,” Hache explained. The protocol allows users to prove their personhood while preserving their anonymity, thereby keeping bots out while protecting privacy.It does this using Semaphore, a zero-knowledge group membership protocol. Managers verify user identity documents, adding their Semaphore identity commitments to a group. Subjects then generate zero-knowledge proofs to demonstrate membership without revealing their actual identities.Linked Claims put forward verified skill credentials that can be endorsed by peers, mentors, and educational institutions, creating a “web of trust” around digital claims that are signed, portable, and machine-readable.Brian Richter presented Ordinals Plus, a project that adds an identity layer to Bitcoin ordinals, with decentralized identity creating a more robust and trustworthy ecosystem for digital assets, according to Richter. Bitcoin Ordinals are a protocol where users can inscribe data such as images or text onto the smallest units of Bitcoin (satoshis) to create unique digital assets, which are similar to NFTs, on the Bitcoin blockchain. By connecting the ordinals to identity Ordinals Plus hopes to address a trust gap in this growing ecosystem. The emphasis is on privacy, scalability and seamless integration with existing W3C VC and DID standards.More on the three projects can be found here. The next cohort, Beta Cohort 2 kicks off on May 20 with submission opening in late April. DIF Labs offers mentorship and guidance to help teams refine their concepts, with DIF Labs an initiative of the Decentralized Identity Foundation.

Trust Stamp Denmark chosen for Mastercard’s impact tech partnership program-Apr 3, 2025, 5:52 pm EDT    | Lu-Hai Liang

Identity company Trust Stamp has been chosen as one of the five companies to join the Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV 2025 program.The competitive program selects for impact-driven technology companies addressing critical global challenges through strategic partnerships. The Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV program will provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and strategic resources to companies that develop scalable and impactful technologies.Trust Stamp Denmark is focused on advancing financial inclusion, supporting humanitarian aid efforts, and enabling digital access for underserved communities. Trust Stamp emphasizes “privacy-first identity” and by collaborating with Mastercard the company will scale and extend the reach of its solutions.“Financial and societal inclusion is at the core of our mission and by working with Mastercard we have the potential to improve the lives of tens of millions of people,” said Jonathan Patscheider, Vice President of Trust Stamp Denmark.Trust Stamp is focused on security and privacy as it irreversibly converts biometrics into tokens using its proprietary technology, while delivering interoperable identity solutions to underserved communities without compromising personal data.“By advocating for adaptable identity solutions and breaking vendor lock-in, we, together with partners in the MASSIV PROGRAM, can empower governments and organizations to implement sustainable and future-proof digital identity systems that prioritize universality, security, and privacy,” commented Patscheider.More information on the five companies, including Trust Stamp, to join the Mastercard Lighthouse MASSIV 2025 program can be found here.The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is partnering with Mastercard on Lighthouse MASSIV, which is a free of charge startup partnership program that focuses on the Nordic and Baltic region. “With just less than eight years to achieve the goals put forward in the 2030 Agenda, we need all hands-on deck now,” Marcos Neto, Director Sustainable Finance Hub at UNDP.“This urgency highlights the importance of programs such as Lighthouse MASSIV, through which impact start-ups receive targeted support to work strategically towards the SDGs as well as learning how to incorporate impact measurement to reduce their carbon footprint, enable fair economic growth, and secure inclusive development and management,” Neto continued.

Judge blocks Arkansas age assurance law, blasts it as hatchet job on free speech-Decision in favor of NetChoice could be harbinger of legislation collapse in other states-Apr 3, 2025, 2:57 pm EDT    | Joel R. McConvey

A U.S. District Court has struck down Arkansas’ age assurance law, handing a win to NetChoice, the industry lobby group that represents the world’s most powerful tech firms, challenging laws they deem unconstitutional and/or inconvenient.In a rather gloating release, NetChoice quotes the Court decision in NetChoice v. Griffin: “if the legislature’s goal in passing Act 689 was to protect minors from materials or interactions that could harm them online, there is no evidence that the Act will be effective in achieving that goal.”Judge Timothy Brooks’ ruling gives NetChoice plenty of ammo, saying the legislation “takes a hatchet to adults’ and minors’ protected speech” and deeming it to be an ineffective “content-based restriction on speech.” The age assurance law is now blocked from taking effect, and NetChoice has obtained its first permanent injunction.“The court confirms what we have been arguing from the start: laws restricting access to protected speech violate the First Amendment,” says Chris Marchese, director of the NetChoice Litigation Center. “And while we are grateful that this law has been permanently struck down and free speech online preserved, we remain open to working with Arkansas policymakers to advance legislation that protects minors without violating the Constitution.”Marchese argues that the ruling “protects Americans from having to hand over their IDs or biometric data just to access constitutionally protected speech online,” and “reaffirms that parents – not politicians or bureaucrats – should decide what’s appropriate for their children.”It remains to be seen whether or not these arguments, and the Arkansas decision, will convince the rest of the U.S.Senator says Colorado age assurance bill takes cues from Project 2025-In Colorado, there is opposition to Senate Bill 201, AKA the “Require Age Checks for Online Sexual Materials” bill. In an opinion piece for the Colorado Sun, State Senator Nick Hinrichsen notes the risks associated with sharing personal information related to sexuality and legal adult content consumption – especially in a cultural climate that has shown an appetite for both Christian moralism and public humiliation as political tools.Hinrichsen says the roots of the Colorado legislation “can be traced back to the conservative agenda outlined in Project 2025,” referencing the notorious blueprint for conservative reform associated with the Trump administration. “Neither the government nor private entities should be in the business of tracking what consenting adults view online, especially when the risks of leaks and misuse are so high.”He argues that “the First Amendment protects access to legal content, including adult material” and that SB 201 “creates an “unconstitutional burden on lawful expression, ignoring the fact that less restrictive, more effective solutions – like parental controls – already exist.” Moreover, he notes the “dangerous implications” beyond the bill’s stated intent, raising concerns that resources for LGBTQ+ youth and reproductive health could easily be labeled as “harmful content” by ideologically motivated politicians.Hinrichsen ultimately believes the law will set a “dangerous precedent for government overreach, privacy violations and censorship,” which will disproportionately harm marginalized communities.FTC’s COPPA Rule stalled in Trump suspension of regulations-Critics of age assurance laws may take some comfort from coverage in MLex, which looks at how the current administration’s unorthodox approach to government – and, particularly, its freezing of the activities of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) –         has delayed action on age legislation.Madeline Hughes writes that, “while Republicans are working to pass legislation, the regulatory freeze implemented by the Trump administration has left the updated Children’s Online Privacy Protection (COPPA) Rule that would limit the third-party use of children’s data in limbo.”And, she says, “the removal of the FTC’s two Democratic commissioners has also created friction in a typically bipartisan area of agreement.”The FTC is tasked with protecting children online under COPPA. Its newest COPPA Rule, adopted in a unanimous 5-0 decision in mid-January, requires parents to opt in to third-party advertising and limits companies’ ability to monetize children’s data. When Donald Trump was inaugurated, it was still waiting to be published in the Federal Register – required for any rule to go into effect.Trump’s freeze on regulatory bodies has now left the law hanging.

Australia urged to cut stored data duplication, stand up digital ID commish-Consensus in responses to data retention review-Apr 3, 2025, 2:26 pm EDT    | Chris Burt

Australia’s government could make it easier for businesses to retain less data, meeting a goal it has set for itself, by instead requiring them to use a reliable identity verification method like the Australian Government Digital Identity System (AGDIS), stakeholders say.The Law Council of Australia makes this argument in a submission responding to the latest update on the Commonwealth Data Retention Review. The Discussion Paper for the Data Retention Review was published by the Department of Home Affairs and the Attorney-General’s Department in February.The principle of minimizing data retention requirements, particularly for personal information, is one of four proposed in the Discussion Paper.Draft Principle 1 states that agencies should consider the necessity of data retention and minimize requirements for it as much as possible.The Council approves of the proposal in Draft Principle 2 for limited periods to be specified for data retention provisions, which are needed for alignment with the Australian Privacy Principles enacted a decade ago.Similarly, the Governance Institute of Australia sees the Government Digital ID verification system launch without reduced retention requirements as duplicating data handling.“Where businesses have viewed or verified customer information through third party ID providers, the requirement to store this information should be abolished,” the Institute recommends in its response.The body also argues that Australia needs a dedicated digital ID regulator, which would take responsibility from the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).The preference for AGDIS is also shared by the Property Council of Australia, which notes that its members are preparing for compliance with anti money-laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) reforms that kick in on July 1, 2026.The OAIC published a new regulatory strategy for digital ID just weeks ago, which notes that “organizations collecting this information are often just as uncomfortable about holding ID documents as most people are about sharing them.”

Rights groups urge US executive branch to keep gov’t agency AI inventory-Open letter argues for preservation of minimum safeguards-Apr 2, 2025, 4:15 pm EDT    | Chris Burt

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget should preserve existing AI transparency and safety protections as it acts on Executive Order 14179, the American Civil Liberties Union and a host of other advocacy groups say in an open letter.The ACLU says Memorandum M-24-10’s provisions on inventories of government AI use cases and the minimum practices for AI uses that impact people’s rights and safety are too important to be set aside as the Trump Administration goes about “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence.”The new Executive Order comes along with a repeal of the Biden Administration’s EO 14110, but not the Memorandum, which followed from it.A year ago, the World Privacy Forum called the Memorandum “a seismic policy shift” for biometrics providers and users.AI is already playing a part in people’s lives, the ACLU argues, and the noted provisions are mandated by the Advancing American AI Act and the AI in Government Act of 2020. The group further says that President Trump’s Executive Order 13960, in directing agencies to build public trust and confidence in AI by protecting Americans’ rights and freedoms, laid the groundwork for Memorandum M-24-10.ACLU identifies rules around risk assessments and facial recognition in law enforcement and replicating a person’s likeness of voice without consent as important rights protections built into the Memorandum.Access Now, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), New America’s Open Technology Institute and a pair of Christian groups are also among the 13 signatories to the letter.M-24-10 also specifies that data used in AI should be assessed for bias, and disparities that might lead to bias mitigated. NIST’s assessments of demographic differentials predate the Memorandum, however, with a specific FRVT on demographic effects published in 2019, and FRTE 1:1 reports including demographic data all the way back to 2017.A blog post from the Open Technology Institute argues that the AI inventory published by the Department of Homeland Services is particularly important to preserving public rights and safety.DHS’ own 2024 AI use case inventory specifies 18 “rights-impacting cases” each in law enforcement and facial recognition among its AI deployments.The Open Technology Institute calls DHS’ AI inventory “an essential element of public accountability.”

INVENTION OF THE ATOMIC BOMB.

2 PETER 3:10-11
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements (NUKES) shall melt with fervent heat,(BLAST) the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.(BUT ITS NO END OF THE WORLD HOGWASH)
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,(BY NUKES INCLUDING 3 BILLION PEOPLE) what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

NUCLEAR WEAPONS WILL BE USED.

JESUS SHED HIS BLOOD FOR US THAT WE CAN BE SAVED FOREVER.AND DURING WW3 PEOPLES BLOOD WILL BE SHED AS A JUDGEMENT FOR HATING HIM AND ISRAEL.GOD IS NOT MOCKED.

ZEPHANIAH 1:2-3
2  I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
3  I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.

PSALMS 97:3
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

EZEKIEL 5:15-17
15  So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the (ARAB/MUSLIM) nations that are round about thee,(ISRAEL) when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.
16  When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:
17  So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts,(WHEN RUSSIA/MUSLIMS GET DEFEATED THIER BODIES GET EATEN BY BIRDS,ANIMALS IN ISRAEL MIGRATION SEASON) and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee;(NUKES) and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.

REVELATION 14:18-20
18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the city,(JERUSALEM) and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.(200 MILES) (THE SIZE OF ISRAEL)

ISAIAH 66:15-18
15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire,(NUKES) and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

ISAIAH 26:21
21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity:(GOD/ISRAEL HATE AND BRAKING OF HIS COMMANDMENTS) the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.(WW3,1/2 earths population die - 3 BILLION).

ISAIAH 13:6-13 KJV
6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:(FROM FRIGHT)
8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

ISAIAH 24:17-23 KJV
17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.
19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

2 TIMOTHY 3:1
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous (DANGEROUS) times shall come.

JOEL 2:3,30

ZECHARIAH 14:12-13
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their eyes shall consume away in their holes,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB)(BECAUSE NUKES HAVE BEEN USED ON ISRAELS ENEMIES)(GOD PROTECTS ISRAEL AND ALWAYS WILL)
13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.(1/2-3 BILLION DIE IN WW3)(THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB EFFECT)

EZEKIEL 20:47
47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

ZEPHANIAH 1:18
18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

MALACHI 4:1
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;(FROM ATOMIC BOMBS) and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

REVELATION 8:7
7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

REVELATION 9:18
18 By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(ATOMIC BOMBS)(RUSSIA CHINA DESTROYED BY ISRAELS ATOMIC BOMBS)

REVELATION 16:12-16
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates;(WERE WW3 STARTS IN IRAQ OR SYRIA OR TURKEY) and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon,(SATAN) and out of the mouth of the beast,(WORLD DICTATOR) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(FALSE POPE)
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.(WERE 2 BILLION DIE FROM NUKE WAR)
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

PROOF HALF ON EARTH DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD (8 BILLION ON EARTH)

REVELATION 6:7-8 (8 BILLION- 2 BILLION = 6 BILLION)
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth,(2 BILLION) to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).

REVELATION 9:15,18 (6 BILLION - 2 BILLION = 4 BILLION)
15 And the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels were loosed,
18 By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMBS)

HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION.(THESE VERSES ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)

LUKE 17:34-37 (8 TOTAL BILLION - 4 BILLION DEAD IN TRIB = 4 BILLION TO JESUS KINGDOM) (HALF DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD JUST LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS)(GOD DOES NOT LIE)(AND NOTICE MOST DIE IN WAR AND DISEASES-NOT COMETS-ASTEROIDS-QUAKES OR TSUNAMIS)
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other shall be left.(half earths population 4 billion die in the 7 yr trib)
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.(Christians have new bodies,this is the people against Jerusalem during the 7 yr treaty)(Christians bodies are not being eaten by the birds).THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES.BECAUSE NOT HALF OF PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE CHRISTIANS.AND THE CONTEXT IN LUKE 17 IS THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION OR 7 YR TREATY PERIOD.WHICH IS JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH.NOT 50% RAPTURED TO HEAVEN.

MATTHEW 24:37-42 (THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-SURE NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
42 Watch therefore:(FOR THE LAST DAYS SIGNS HAPPENING) for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

NAHUM 3:13
13 Behold, your troops are women in your midst. The gates of your land are wide open to your enemies; fire has devoured your bars.

DR DOCTORION-ANGEL OF THE MIDEAST
"The angel showed me that the United Nations shall be broken in pieces because of the crisis in the Middle East. There shall be no more United Nations. The angel with the sickle shall reap the harvest.

Colombia, which cut ties with Israel, to replace aging Israeli fighter jets with Swedish-Bogota says maintaining Kfir aircraft too complicated after severing relations with Jerusalem last year, though previous governments had also planned to replace them-By AP and ToI Staff Today, 7:51 pm-APR 4,25

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia said Thursday it will buy up to 24 fighter jets from Swedish company Saab to replace aging Israeli aircraft whose maintenance has become complicated after the South American nation broke diplomatic ties with Israel over its war with the Hamas terror group.Colombia’s Aerospace Force chief commander, Carlos Fernando Silva, said Thursday they are still working on the details of the contract with Saab, so in the end the number of planes could be less than 24.Sweden’s Defense Minister Pal Jonson confirmed on X that negotiations are under way.Colombia has 22 Israeli-made Kfir fighter jets purchased in the late 1980s, and any maintenance can only be done by an Israeli firm.Those aircrafts were used in several attacks on remote guerrilla camps that debilitated the then-Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The offensives helped push the rebel group into peace talks that resulted in its disarmament in 2016.Although the new purchase plans were announced amid a lack of diplomatic relations with Israel, the last three governments in Colombia already had cited intentions to replace the Kfir jets.The administration of current President Gustavo Petro started reviewing specific offers from countries like France, the United States and Sweden.The Aerospace Force chief commander said that the Kfir planes will continue to operate for now. Once the new contract is finalized, the old planes will be replaced as the new ones arrive.The Swedish ambassador to Colombia, Helena Storm, said that this announcement shows the good bilateral relations between the two countries.Colombia announced in 2024 that it was breaking diplomatic relations with Israel over the Israel-Hamas war, amid an escalation of tensions between Bogota and Jerusalem.Last month, Petro posted footage of himself in Qatar holding a picture of Israel replaced with a Palestinian state.Colombian President Gustavo Petro holds a picture showing a Palestinian state on Israel’s territory, during a visit to the Thumama Medical Center in Doha, Qatar, February 14, 2025. (Screen capture: X/Gustavo Petro, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)-Petro has described the ongoing war in Gaza, which began with the Hamas terror group’s October 7, 2023 massacre and hostage-taking in southern Israel, as a “genocide” by Israel against Palestinians.Israel has denied all accusations of genocide and insists that all its war-fighting is in accordance with international law, noting its own efforts to avoid civilian casualties despite the Hamas terror group’s systematic use of human shields.Bogota also supports South Africa’s case in the International Court Justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

Thousands to rally for hostages as Hamas warns it won’t move them to safety as IDF advances-Ex-captives Omer Wenkert, Gadi Mozes and Liri Albag to speak at Hostages Square rally highlighting freedom message of upcoming Passover festival-By ToI Staff Today, 3:04 pm-APR 5,25

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend weekly rallies on Saturday night calling for a deal to free the hostages held by Hamas, a day after the terror group warned that it will not move captives out of a Gaza area of Gaza that the military called to evacuate ahead of an expected advance.The demonstration will highlight the freedom message of the upcoming Passover festival that starts next Saturday evening.This week’s rally at Hostages Square comes as family members have repeatedly expressed concern for the fate of the hostages since Israel resumed hostilities in Gaza last month, ending the ceasefire and hostage release deal that Israel reached with Hamas in January.These fears were heightened on Friday when the Hamas terror group said in a statement that it would not move living Israeli hostages out of areas in the Gaza Strip that the Israel Defense Forces has ordered to be evacuated in recent days. Hamas said the Israeli government would be at fault if captives were killed.The IDF has issued evacuation orders for the entire Rafah area, Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood, and other areas in the Strip’s north. The statement also said that Hamas was keeping the hostages “under strict security measures, which are extremely dangerous to their lives.”Hamas has previously said it would execute hostages if Israeli troops are seen approaching areas where they are being held. In August, Hamas murdered six hostages in Rafah as Israeli forces were operating nearby.Former hostages Liri Albag, Omer Wenkert and Gadi Mozes are set to address Saturday’s rally.In a press release on the Hostages Square rally, the Hostages Families Forum highlighted that the weeklong festival of freedom will take place while 59 captives remain in Gaza, 24 of whom are still believed to be alive.“Everyone can and must be returned in a deal — now,” said the Forum. “History will remember who knew and stayed silent, and who got up and acted. ”Saturday’s rally comes after a senior Israeli official told reporters on Friday that Israel would not agree to end the war in Gaza in exchange for the hostages because Hamas is demanding guarantees that would bar Israel from resuming operations in the Strip again.Besides Wenkert, Mozes and Albag — all of whom were released as part of the most recent ceasefire deal — the Hostages Square rally was set to feature speeches by Herut Nimrodi, mother of captive soldier Tamir Nimrodi; Amit Ben-Dor Gus, a friend of US-Israeli captive soldier Edan Alexander; Dani Miran, father of hostage Omri Miran; and Zamir Haimi, uncle of Tal Haimi, whose body was snatched to Gaza after he was killed defending Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak during the Hamas onslaught.Dozens of smaller hostage rallies are set to take place across the country, including in Kiryat Gat, Jersualem and the Sha’ar HaNegev Junction in the south.The Hostages Square rally will take place in tandem with an anti-government hostage families’ protest a block away, in front of the Begin Road entrance to the IDF headquarters. The protest is expected to be bolstered by participants coming from an earlier anti-government demonstration at Habima Square, featuring speeches from Yesh Atid lawmaker Yoav Segalovitz and Tzipi Livni, a former justice and foreign minister.Protesters at Habima Square typically assail Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his bid to weaken the judiciary, fire the Shin Bet chief and codify a blanket exemption from military service for the ultra-Orthodox community, whose political representatives are a key part of Netanyahu’s coalition.Alleged criminal ties between Hamas-backer Qatar and top aides to Netanyahu have also featured prominently in the Habima protests. On Monday, the premier testified in the case, which is being investigated by the police’s Lahav 433 serious crimes unit.Netanyahu’s aides have denied wrongdoing, and he has slammed the probe as a witch hunt.

IDF raids Syrian outpost, dismantles Assad-era military supplies-The site had previously served as a headquarters for a unit within the former Syrian regime.By JERUSALEM POST STAFF-APRIL 5, 2025 13:11

The IDF's Paratrooper's Brigade, under the command of Division 210, over the past week, raided a southern Syrian outpost, dismantling out-of-service tanks, armored personnel carriers, and artillery used by the former Syrian regime, the military announced Saturday. The troops confiscated additional weapons, including mortars and dozens of rockets.The site had previously served as a headquarters for a unit within the former Syrian regime. The military said these activities are for the purpose of removing threats to Israel, and specifically, threats posed to the residents of the Golan Heights. The IDF killed several armed targets who fired on troops in the Tasil area of southern Syria on Wednesday night, the military confirmed Thursday. Additionally, troops confiscated weapons and destroyed terror infrastructure. Defense Minister Israel Katz said these strikes were "a warning for the future."Katz's threat Katz stated that Israel's armed forces would remain in buffer zones within Syria and act against threats to its security, warning Syria's government it would pay a heavy price if it allowed forces hostile to Israel to enter.Syrian news sources reported armed clashes between the IDF and pro-Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) combatants in Daraa, southern Syria, in the early hours of Thursday morning.Over the past week Israel has conducted airstrikes across Syria, the military confirmed, which the HTS-led Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned.The Israeli air force struck the military airport in Hama, which was almost entirely destroyed, and dozens of civilians and soldiers were injured overnight between Wednesday and Thursday. The IAF operated across Syria overnight to prevent the use of military bases and facilities left in the country from the Assad regime. The IDF began operating in Syria when Hayat Tahrir al-Shams took power in early December to preemptively stop a sudden invasion by Syrian jihadists.Amichai Stein contributed to this report.

IDF expands ground operations in Gaza in North and South-According to security assessments, taking control of the Morag Axis will allow for the isolation of Rafah from Gaza to prevent transfer of weapons.By AMIR BOHBOT-APRIL 5, 2025 08:15

The IDF expanded ground operations in Gaza overnight Friday, in the North and South, and took control of several areas in Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, Rafah, and the Morag Axis.In the early hours of Saturday morning, the Israeli air force and artillery batteries operated to target terrorist objectives and support the operating troops.On Friday evening, both ground troops and the Israeli air force struck in Rafah, Khan Yunis, Shuja'iya, Gaza City, and Beit Hanoun.Troops are advancing according to plans, a security source said. "Unlike in the past, we have no intention of detailing the next moves to the enemy," the source claimed, adding that "In line with the intensified fighting, IDF spokesperson is releasing information through various media outlets to the Palestinians in order to guide them to shelters."During the day on Friday, the military killed numerous terrorists and dismantled Hamas infrastructure, including a command and control center that was used for planning and executing terror attacks, the IDF said in a statement.The IAF also conducted a series of extensive air strikes east of Gaza City on Thursday night.In an operation supported by the 401st Brigade’s Fire Control Center, the IAF killed a terrorist who served as a deputy company commander in Hamas's Nukhba force.How the renewed fighting will increase pressure on Hamas -IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Eyal Zamir instructed the IDF spokesman to impose ambiguity on the military plan while simultaneously expanding safety margins through an increase in the number of aircrafts in the air, round-the-clock artillery fire, intelligence support from the IDF Intelligence Directorate, and Shin Bet (Israel's Security Agency).According to security assessments, the renewed control of the axis will significantly increase the pressure on Hamas leadership and raise the likelihood of disorder against Hamas, combined with the closure of border crossings and the prevention of humanitarian aid.According to the assessments, taking control of the Morag Axis will allow for the severing of Rafah from Gaza and create isolation for the city from the transfer of weapons, ammunition, terrorists, and access to large food storage and equipment concentrated in Gaza."Until the fighting began, Hamas chief Mohamed Sinwar had all the time in the world to rebuild military capabilities and plan attacks on the IDF and Israeli civilians, a security source added.The new reality in the Gaza Strip forces Sinwar to divide his attention to internal matters as well due to concerns about protests, looting, demands to leave combat zones, and even a potential exit from the Gaza Strip, rebellion, and desertion.

US strikes lead to ‘heavy Houthi losses’ - report-Overall, the US has carried out strikes in eight of the twenty-one governorates of Yemen, the report claimed.By SETH J. FRANTZMAN-MARCH 26, 2025 09:42

A report at Al-Ain media in the UAE says that recent US strikes in Yemen have caused heavy losses among the Iranian-backed Houthis. The report says that “the US military has intensified its airstrikes on Houthi militia bases, facilities, and command centers in their main stronghold in Saada Governorate, northern Yemen.”Saada governorate is one of the largest governorates in Yemen and includes an area in northwest Yemen along the border with Saudi Arabia. The capital of the region is Saada city. The city has a population of around 50,000 and is in the mountains, around 1,800 meters above sea level.“The US military launched a new series of airstrikes early Wednesday morning, targeting militia barracks and hideouts east of Saada city and Al Salem district in the same governorate,” Al-Ain reported.Locals said they heard loud explosions in the area. The report said that ballistic missile systems may be in this area, as well as Houthi command centers. “The Houthis acknowledged five airstrikes, including two on Saada city and three on Al Salem district, amid continued intensive US airstrikes.”The report goes on to say that over the last two days, between March 24 and 25, the Houthis have suffered some of the heaviest airstrikes since the US began this operation on March 15. The strikes have included more than 15 raids on the Sahar and Kitaf districts in Saada, in addition to two raids on the town of Qahza, southeast of Saada."This escalation comes after the Houthis announced their ninth attack on the US aircraft carrier Truman in the Red Sea.Overall, the US has carried out strikes in eight of the twenty-one governorates of Yemen, the report claimed.The Houthis continue to claim attacks on the US. They say they have been targeting the USS Harry Truman, an American carrier that is leading operations against the Houthis. The Houthis say they will continue to target Israel.“In a statement early on Wednesday, the Yemeni armed forces said its missile, drone, and naval forces struck the targets in response to US attacks against the Arab country and on the 10th anniversary of the Yemeni National Resistance on March 26,” Iran’s IRNA media claimed.“In line with defending the rights of the Palestinian people in Gaza and to continue supporting them, the Yemeni [Houthi] drone unit targeted the Israeli military positions in the occupied Jaffa," the statement read.

$1 million operation: Hamas paying Negev Bedouins to smuggle drones into Gaza Strip - report-Despite only being worth between 100,000 and 150,000 shekels, each drone smuggling operation costs one million dollars.By JERUSALEM POST STAFF-APRIL 5, 2025 00:23

Hamas has been collaborating with Bedouins in the Negev to smuggle drones into the Gaza Strip for the past several weeks, N12 reported on Friday.Each drone is smuggled into the Gaza Strip at a rate of one million dollars per drone; at least ten drones have been delivered.The drones are worth only NIS 100,000 to 150,000 each and can carry up to 70 kilograms of cargo.Hamas is expected to modify the drone for military use in combat against IDF troops.None of the transferred drones have returned to Israeli territory, N12 reported.The smugglers are expected to be paid through cash transferred through Egypt and Jordan.A stronger response-Police called for stricter investigations of such incidents, calling for an escalation in responses."Drones are coming to Gaza and could become a deadly weapon [of war]," police announced. "This is aid to the enemy during wartime. It is impossible to investigate this as a criminal incident. The perception must change. It pays off for the Bedouin smuggler, even when he is caught - he is sentenced in the most serious case to months in prison and receives a million dollars."The IDF struck drones in the southern Gaza Strip in early March, in which two people were injured.The IDF had tracked the drone flying into Gaza from southern Israel and struck the people who had come to collect it.

Congress members push to strengthen Abraham Accords-The new initiative will help US diplomats become familiar with the promise and complexity of the Accords and other normalization agreements.By SETH J. FRANTZMAN-APRIL 4, 2025 22:15

A new bipartisan effort in Congress could see support aimed at cementing the Abraham Accords via education and training. The Abraham Accords were signed in 2020 between Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Other countries, such as Morocco and Sudan, have joined the accords over the last five years. However, the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, was an attempt to derail the process of regional integration and coexistence that the Accords helped foster. In addition, other countries that may want to join the Accords have been waiting for their chance. Democrat Congressman Brad Schneider and Republican Congressman Abraham J. Hamadeh are supporting the “Peace Act to Strengthen the Abraham Accords,” according to a statement on April 3.The text of the bill says it is “to promote education and training to United States diplomatic personnel relating to the Abraham Accords and other normalization agreements with Israel, and for other purposes.”Arizona Congressman Hamadeh’s office put out a statement saying that he “is proud to reach across the aisle to work with Congressman Brad Schneider to introduce the Promoting Education on the Abraham Accords for Comprehensive Engagement (PEACE) Act, which will strengthen U.S. diplomatic engagement by institutionalizing training on the Abraham Accords and other normalization agreements at the U.S. State Department.”Reshaping the Middle EastThe bill envisions several ways that the US can strengthen the Accords. “Foreign Service Institute and other relevant Department of State training facilities with courses focused on the Abraham Accords, peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan, and other such normalization agreements relating to Israel as determined by the Secretary of State. Such courses shall be developed to provide an understanding of these agreements’ diplomatic history, implementation strategies, and implications for regional peace,” the bill read."As an advocate for the U.S. maintaining a strong leadership position in the Middle East, I am proud to join Rep. Brad Schneider in introducing the PEACE Act. This legislation will serve to strengthen our great nation's diplomatic engagement by institutionalizing pro-America, pro-Israel training on the Abraham Accords," Congressman Hamadeh said.“The Abraham Accords have reshaped the Middle East, proving that peace with Israel is not only possible, but profoundly beneficial for the entire region,” Congressman Schneider, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Abraham Accords Caucus, said."Our future diplomats must be equipped to advance regional cooperation instead of fashionable anti-normalization rhetoric, in order to bring long-term stability and security to the region. The fact that our bill has bipartisan support sends a clear message to friend and foe alike - the U.S. is committed to the peace and prosperity promised in President Trump’s Abraham Accords,” Congressman Hamadeh added.Hamadeh’s office noted in a statement that he believes the new Peace Act “is vital to maintaining the United States’ leadership role in the Middle East while ensuring future diplomats are equipped to advance regional cooperation. Congressman Hamadeh is committed to shaping bipartisan foreign policy that provides long-term stability and security in the region.” The new initiative will help US diplomats become familiar with the promise and complexity of the Accords and other normalization agreements. This will also help the US remain committed to the Accords.This congressional push comes at an important time. The Trump administration is involved in talks in the region and is considering the next steps with regard to Iran and the Houthis. In addition, Israel continues to fight Hamas in Gaza. There is an opportunity for more stability and peace in the region. However, it will require investment and support from the US and other countries.  

Hamas: Half of living hostages in areas IDF is trying to operate in-"We have decided not to move these captives from those areas and to keep them under strict security measures - but their lives are in extreme danger."By JERUSALEM POST STAFF-Updated: APRIL 5, 2025 10:43

Half of the living hostages are in areas that the IDF has attempted to evacuate recently, Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida said in a statement on Friday."We have decided not to move these captives from those areas and to keep them under strict security measures - but their lives are in extreme danger," he said."If Israel is concerned for the lives of these hostages, Netanyahu must immediately enter negotiations for their release," he continued. "The Netanyahu government bears full responsibility for the lives of the hostages. If it truly cared about them, it would have honored the agreement signed in January, and most of them would likely already be home."Living hostages-A week ago, Israel conveyed its counteroffer to the Gaza deal mediators in full coordination with the US, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement, following reports that Hamas agreed to the Egyptian proposal to release five live hostages.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a series of consultations following the proposal received from the Gaza deal negotiators.The five hostages would be released in exchange for renewing the ceasefire in Gaza until after Passover and beginning negotiations on a long-term ceasefire, an Israeli official told Walla.In early March, Hamas said it was only willing to release one living hostage, Edan Alexander, and return four bodies of hostages with dual citizenship in exchange for extending the ceasefire by 50 days.

Israel, US must strike down Iran's nuclear threat, new JINSA head tells ‘Post’ - exclusive-New JINSA President Michael Makovsky: "Everyone always says attacking Iran is a last resort...we are getting to that moment of last resort."By YONAH JEREMY BOB-APRIL 4, 2025 20:01

Iran’s nuclear program may need to be struck in multiple rounds of aerial strikes in order to finally end the country’s atomic threat, Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) President Michael Makovsky told The Jerusalem Post in a recent interview.As the Trump administration’s deadline for the Islamic Republic to agree to a new nuclear deal winds down to one to two months, one of the objections to Israel or the US attacking the nuclear program is the idea that the Iranians could just rebuild it.This could mean that Jerusalem or Washington take on a large risk and may face significant retaliation without even achieving the longer-term objective of stopping a nuclear Iran.Responding to this possibility, Makovsky stated, “So hit them again. Unfortunately, you might have to, if they keep trying to rebuild [the nuclear program]. You are not going to be able to get everything [in one strike]. Israel can’t.“America could do something to be helpful. Refueling, helping with air defense, making sure Tehran understands that they could be a target if they try to widen the war to Dubai or Riyadh. I could see [US President Donald] Trump doing that. His interest is for the war to stay limited,” said the JINSA president.Pressed about the idea that there may be later opportunities for such an attack, as long as Tehran is not actively moving toward developing a nuclear weapon, and only engaging in some of the related nuclear activities, he demurred.“Everyone always says attacking Iran is a last resort. Now we’re hitting that point where it seems like we are getting to that moment of last resort. This may be the last opportunity. And then later we just hit them again,” if need be.If we “keep doing that [attacking] and they’ll make it harder and bury things [elements of the nuclear program] further underground, [nevertheless] until this regime falls and there is a new regime that doesn’t want to pursue nuclear weapons, and cares about the welfare of their citizens,” there is no real other choice, he said.What about using the maxim pressure campaign to coerce Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei into refraining from moving closer to a nuclear weapon, in lieu of an attack? Makovsky stated, “The maximum pressure campaign will be especially helpful after an attack. It is more important after an attack than before an attack. Iranian society is very vulnerable. There is terrible mismanagement in the economy. The people’s welfare is ignored. The fact that they have heating issues in the country with the largest natural gas reserves is mind-boggling to even imagine.”In other words, an attack on the nuclear program along with the maximum pressure campaign could have a much greater combined chance of weakening Iran’s regime.Another option is if Khamenei does make concessions and agree to a new nuclear deal, as Trump has said is his preference.Opposing this, Makovsky said, “No, you have to attack. That [a new deal] would just be kicking the can down the road. I think there is no choice. And for people in the US who say they do not want another war: first of all, there could be an option that it could be contained, especially if the US would go after Tehran if it tried to widen any war.”In fact, Makovsky said that the only positive development about Trump’s move to open new nuclear talks with Iran was that “at least he set a deadline” which can get all efforts against the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program moving.Makovsky warned that “time is short and the Iranian are masters at drawing things out. They squeeze the other side while they are advancing their nuclear program.“Trump and Witkoff see themselves as master negotiators. They’re going up against real masters,” he noted.However, he also stated, “The US has lots of cards to play, and Trump is playing them better than [former US president Joe] Biden. Hitting the Houthis and holding Iran responsible is way overdue. I really commend him a lot. Biden should have been doing this from the beginning. Trump deserves credit.”Continuing, he said, “There is some debate about where the Iranians are in developing their nuclear program. Some say they are not weaponizing, so therefore we have time. Obviously, regarding uranium enrichment, we have no time,” given that Tehran has already enriched enough uranium to the 60% and 20% levels to convert to the 90% weaponized level for several weapons in a very short time.Many estimates say that enough weaponized uranium for one weapon could be prepared in around one week, while several could be prepared within a few months.“First of all, we should always be suspicious [whether] we [really] know so much. We have to be very humble,” he said.Moreover, he cautioned that there are three trends supporting the idea that time is running out on negotiating with Tehran.One, he said, is that time is running out for Israel “to settle accounts with Iran regarding October 7, not because they instigated the attack, but because they were preparing, helping, and training Hamas.” Put differently, if not for Iran’s help, Hamas could never have pulled off the October 7 invasion.Two, Makovsky suggested that “Israel has learned from October 7. Before, Israel thought: we’ll hit them [only] when tomorrow is too late,” but now Jerusalem’s attitude is more along the lines that “the opportunity might not come again. What Israel did on October 26: neutralizing the S-300s, and obviously effectively neutralizing Hezbollah as a threat – this is an opportunity now to do something,” before Iran becomes less vulnerable.Three, the JINSA head said time is running out for Israel “to restore its deterrent posture. This became more acute. They [Israelis] have been warning about doing this for 25 years. If you don’t do it [attack] when there is an existential threat or you keep saying it is [an existential threat], what happens to your deterrence posture?”He added, “It is the same with the US, but America is so strong that it can get away with it,” without using force as often.Converting US military aid to Israel to joint R&D in long-term-On March 11, it was disclosed that the Heritage Foundation was rolling out a plan to reduce US military aid to Israel in a gradual process over multiple decades. Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter withdrew his planned appearance at the Heritage event where the plan was due to be rolled out and the think tanks took some hits from the pro-Israel sphere.Responding to this, Makovsky said, “Knowing the people involved, I know their motivations are coming from a good place. They are not people who are hostile to Israel. They care about Israel and are trying to figure out the best way forward. I give the Heritage people credit for trying to figure this out.“Eventually, that is where the aid has to go – toward joint R&D. Where it should be spent, I am not sure,” he stated.Next, he said, “Israel’s GDP per capita is higher now than before. Right now, we still cannot talk about it. Now, Israel needs more military support. But over the longer term, we’ll want to head toward more joint R&D.”Also, he noted a November vote in Congress in which “19 Democratic senators out of 50, led by Bernie Sanders, voted to withhold aid to Israel after the election. So that is 38% of the Democrats. A few Republicans supported it,” but mostly not.“Americans don’t like foreign aid. Politically, it’s challenging in the near term.... I am less worried for now, but this is about deep in the future. Americans are pro-Israel.... But in the longer term, in the decades ahead this could be different.”Syria-Lebanon-Next, Makovsky was questioned about how, when, and under what conditions the IDF should withdraw from its buffer zone in southern Syria, including the Syrian Hermon.Responding, he said, “I would not be in any rush to leave. We have to see what kind of government this is going to be.... I wrote something years ago after the Syrian civil war started, suggesting we should push for a federalized Syria.“What people in the West don’t understand, which Israel understands more, since Israelis live in the region, is that this region was all Ottoman 100 years ago. Then it was divided up, and mostly artificial states were created, with borders drawn by drunk cartographers who were blindfolded,” he added.Further, he said, “there are Kurdish areas spread out over four different countries. They were the biggest losers. Winston Churchill installed Sunni Arabs in control of majority-Shi’ite Iraq; and Abdullah, who was from another minority, in control of Transjordan. They had no idea about Sunni versus Shi’ite issues.”Makovsky said that the “mix of ethnicities are explosive over time.... Many people view Israel’s border as always fungible, but with other states, they say, ‘no this is sacrosanct.’ Really? Why? Are borders sacrosanct? ISIS and the Iranians have proven they are not.“Israel has changed its view. Before, Israel always thought you wanted a strong capital in Syria, so you had an address. Now Israel has come to learn some of the value of a weak capital in Syria. Israel has bombed so many things and can do whatever they want,” said the JINSA chief.Continuing, he remarked that maybe a strong Sunni state which blocks Iranian influence and smuggling in the area would be in Israel’s interest, but that if Syria goes more in the direction of the Muslim Brotherhood, as it might go with support from Turkey, that would not be in Jerusalem’s interest.Regarding the IDF’s five outposts in Lebanon, he said, “I would be in no hurry to leave them either. The Lebanese army needs to take over, and UNIFIL is a joke.”Gaza-Regarding Gaza, Makovsky thought that the Trump Gaza plan opened up a wider conversation about problems that had been ignored.While he does not have a clear solution for what should happen with managing Gaza in the long-term, he hopes some non-Hamas locals will be involved, and acknowledges that most Palestinians probably would not leave Gaza. He has issues with both the latest Egypt plan for rebuilding and with a long-term military occupation.In fact, mostly he said that Israel should focus on its security needs, such as making sure that however Gaza’s future develops, the Jewish state retains a security zone, like it has in Lebanon and Syria.“Israel needs to do what it needs to do for its security. People in the Israeli South have to feel safe to make sure there is not another October 7,” he concluded.

Female IDF observers in West Bank receive personal weapons-Combat Intelligence battalions that have yet to receive personal weapons are expected to do so in the coming months.By JERUSALEM POST STAFF-APRIL 4, 2025 18:29

Female IDF observers in Combat Intelligence Battalion 636 in the West Bank were issued personal weapons this week as part of the IDF’s ongoing efforts to implement lessons learned from the events of October 7, N12 reported on Friday.The initiative was announced as early as last year. The process of distributing personal weapons to female observers across all sectors is progressing, the report noted.Combat Intelligence battalions that have yet to receive these weapons are expected to do so in the coming months.In early December, the IDF’s Ground Forces Command released a document detailing the lessons learned from the October 7 massacre, which emphasizes strategies for improving combat capabilities, including enhanced protection for female observers.As part of these improvements, the IDF has decided to move observation posts further from the borders in the north and Gaza.Improving IDF observer security across the board-The IDF is also distributing Micro-Tavor rifles to commanders and female observers at these posts, mapping and securing observation posts across various sectors, and improving logistical support for female soldiers, including renovations to food facilities and housing.This report comes following an incident about a week ago in which the Urim observation base near the Gaza border was left completely unsecured. The gate remained open, and no security personnel were present.For 12 hours, 60 female observers were left without protection, as the base’s gate was left unsupervised.

Trump overrides Biden, approves $24M assault rifle deal for Israel Police-The State Department sent a notification to Congress on March 6 for the $24 million sale, saying the end user would be the Israeli National Police.-By REUTERS-APRIL 4, 2025 16:04

The Trump administration moved forward with the sale of more than 20,000 US-made assault rifles to Israel last month, according to a document seen by Reuters and a source familiar with the matter, pushing ahead with a sale that the administration of former president Joe Biden had delayed over concerns they could be used by extremist Israeli settlers.The State Department sent a notification to Congress on March 6 for the $24 million sale, saying the end user would be the Israeli National Police, according to the document.The rifle sale is a small transaction next to the billions of dollars worth of weapons that Washington supplies to Israel. But it drew attention when the Biden administration delayed the sale over concerns that the weapons could end up in the hands of Israeli settlers, some of whom have carried out attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities accused of committing violence in the West Bank, which has seen a rise in settler attacks on Palestinians.On his first day in office on January 20, Trump issued an executive order rescinding US sanctions on Israeli settlers in a reversal of US policy. Since then, his administration has approved the sale of billions of dollars worth of weapons to Israel.The March 6 congressional notification said the US government had taken into account "political, military, economic, human rights, and arms control considerations."The State Department did not respond to a request for comment when asked if the administration sought assurances from Israel on the use of the weapons.Close ties-Settler violence had been on the rise prior to the eruption of the Gaza war, and has worsened since the conflict began over a year ago.Trump has forged close ties to Netanyahu, pledging to back Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. His administration has in some cases pushed ahead with Israel arms sales despite requests from Democratic lawmakers that the sales be paused until they received more information.The US Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly rejected a bid to block $8.8 billion in arms sales to Israel over human rights concerns, voting 82-15 and 83-15 to reject two resolutions of disapproval over sales of massive bombs and other offensive military equipment.The resolutions were offered by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.The rifle sale had been put on hold after Democratic lawmakers objected and sought information on how Israel was going to use them. The congressional committees eventually cleared the sale but the Biden administration kept the hold in place.The latest episode in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict began with a Hamas attack on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023 with gunmen killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, oversees the Israeli police force. The Times of Israel newspaper in November 2023 reported that his ministry has put "a heavy emphasis on arming civilian security squads" in the aftermath of October 7 attacks.

Trojan Horses in Space: Cyber Threats Hidden in Satellite Networks-by Clarence Oxford.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 31, 2025-Most of us like satellites. They power our televisions. Allow us to find our way home from anywhere on the planet.They keep us connected to our loved ones, and they do it all from space. Floating in low orbit, these silent sentinels provide so much of the infrastructure for our modern lives.And they do this invisibly. When was the last time you saw a satellite? Or even thought about one? Right. It doesn't come up much. And yet these invisible assets have the potential to give with one hand and take with the other, creating major cyber security risks.Satellite OverviewSatellites form networks by communicating with each other and ground stations on Earth. They're essentially high-tech relay stations positioned miles above us. These networks transmit everything from TV signals to GPS coordinates to internet data. Modern satellite networks can include thousands of individual satellites working together. Starlink, for example, has over 7,000 satellites orbiting Earth.The risks come from how these networks operate. Each satellite is basically a computer in space - with software that can be hacked. The signals traveling between satellites and Earth can be intercepted or jammed. And because satellites are hard to physically access once launched, fixing security flaws becomes extremely difficult. A compromised satellite could potentially spy on communications, disrupt critical services, or even be used to attack other satellites.This invisible infrastructure surrounds us every day. Weather forecasts, military communications, financial transactions, and emergency services all rely on satellite networks. Yet most of us never think about their security until something goes wrong. As we become more dependent on these space-based systems, protecting them becomes increasingly important for our daily lives and national security.What Could Happen-So how bad could this get? A doomsday scenario would involve the total disruption of services. Everything you trust your satellite for, immediately out the window. That's GPS support. Cell service. TV signals. It's also weather forecasts.The impact would be hard to fully conceptualize. On the one hand, we existed as a species without satellites for most of human history. On the other hand, we've really come to depend on them. This James Bond-like scenario really isn't likely.The group perpetrating this level of attack would need almost unimaginable resources, and a willingness to face incredible repercussions. An enemy nation engaging in this type of attack would most likely be initiating a war scenario.Smaller breaches are more likely. This involves compromised consumer data. Maybe very short-term disruptions of service. It's the sort of thing you hear about, and dislike, without really feeling the impact personally. On par with any other data breach. Marriott mishandled my information. Oh no! But how does it actually impact your life?Understand, of course, that the security community already understands these risks. This might all be new information to you, but it's not new information. Encryption technology is constantly developing alongside the risk of new threats. Occasionally, a threat will outpace our ability to catch it. For the most part though, satellites keep doing their good work without interruption.How Worried Should You Be?Satellite networks face real cyber threats today. Hackers can target satellites to steal data or disrupt services. This affects everything from phone calls to GPS. It is a threat that our national government takes seriously.A concern for nations all over the world. Modern satellites have better security, but many older ones remain vulnerable. Attacks could impact military communications, weather forecasting, and internet access. However, space agencies and companies are working hard to strengthen defenses.Do you ever read about a security breach and think something like "Oh no! None of us are safe in the digital age." This followed by the thought, "But in what way does this story actually affect me?" Right. Because there are thousands of people working tirelessly all over the world to make sure that it doesn't.The laws are antiquated, sure. International space law doesn't fully address cyber attacks on satellites. The UN Outer Space Treaty from 1967 wasn't written with cyber threats in mind. Some countries have their own laws with penalties for satellite hacking. But enforcement across borders remains difficult.Government-backed attacks pose a special risk. Nations might use satellite hacking for espionage or during conflicts. Bad actors will act badly.That doesn't mean you should lose sleep over the problem of satellite technology. At the time of writing, Spring is upon us. Enjoy the warmer weather. Maybe start thinking about exciting events. The Master's. Horse racing. Review past Kentucky Derby winners to make future predictions.If you're going to look up, do it to enjoy a beautiful blue sky, or maybe admire the stars. Let the pros worry about satellite networks.

China floats battle barges in Taiwan invasion plans-By Sam DAVIES.

Beijing (AFP) April 4, 2025-Vast new Chinese barges spotted off the country's south coast could be used to land heavy equipment and thousands of personnel in a possible invasion of Taiwan, defence experts say.Beijing this week launched what it called "punishing" drills around Taiwan, sending jets and warships in a rehearsal for a blockade and assault on the self-ruled island.And a memo from US Naval War College has revealed another potential weapon in Beijing's arsenal -- barges that can connect via extendable ramps to form an 820-metre-long (half-mile-long) pier from deep waters to land.With retractable legs that can push into the sea floor, the Naval War College said they could create a platform for personnel and "hundreds of vehicles" an hour to land on Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory."These barges are clearly meant to facilitate amphibious invasion against Taiwan," Wen-Ti Sung, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, told AFP.Wargaming of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan long assumed that Beijing's People's Liberation Army (PLA) would have been forced to rely on small amphibious landing vessels to get ashore.Only a handful of Taiwan's beaches are suitable for large-scale amphibious landings -- giving Taipei a critical edge in the defence of the island."These barges may enable Chinese forces to make landings even on the more challenging terrains of the Taiwanese coastline," Sung said.This, he added, "gives the Chinese military a greater selection of potential landing spots, and spreads Taiwanese defences thin".Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC obtained by AFP show the system deployed in the waters off Zhanjiang city of Guangdong, southern China, at the end of March.In a programme on state TV last month discussing the barges, military commentator Wei Dongxu touted their ability to transport large numbers of heavy equipment onto an island "while keeping their feet dry"."Once the naval and air forces effectively control the air and sea, then this... barge will appear," he said."It can be said that it is a sign of victory."And another three barges, dubbed Shuiqiao ("water bridge" in Chinese) by analysts, are under construction in southern China, the US Naval War College said.- 'Any means possible' -"They embody the seriousness with which China under President Xi Jinping is pursuing absorption of Taiwan by any means possible," Andrew Erickson, professor at the US Naval War College's China Maritime Studies Institute, told AFP."China... would not waste resources on such a specialized, dedicated system if it were not bore-sighted on taking Taiwan by threat, or use, of force."China could harness its world-leading shipbuilding industry to rapidly build many more barges at affordable cost, Erickson said.Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan in recent years and held multiple large-scale exercises around the island that are often described as rehearsals for a blockade and seizure of the territory.US officials say President Xi has ordered his military to be ready for an invasion of Taiwan by 2027.And during this week's drills, Taiwan's defence ministry said it had detected 21 warships, 71 aircraft and four coast guard vessels around the island on Tuesday.China's Shandong aircraft carrier also took part.The drills, held less than a month after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te called China a "foreign hostile force", saw Beijing practice striking "key energy sites" and ports, Beijing's military said.- 'Hard to hide, hard to defend'-But despite the bravado from Beijing, defeating well-prepared Taiwanese defenders and performing a successful invasion of the island still poses major challenges to China's modernising military.And the barges are still no panacea for the logistical woes that will plague any future invasion.The barges "appear vulnerable to attacks from land, air, and sea", the US Naval War College said."There are reasons why these capabilities aren't commonly touted as particularly viable," said Rorry Daniels, managing director of the Asia Society Policy Institute."They're... hard to hide, hard to defend, slow to move.""You need air superiority for them to work and it's not clear to me that Beijing could establish air superiority over Taiwan."US Naval War College's Erickson said they "cannot hope to survive in isolation".Though still appearing to be in a trial phase of their deployment, the barges could be aimed at sending a message to Taiwan's leaders.Beijing is saying "'We are actively problem-solving the issues that we see with a full-scale invasion of Taiwan,'" said Daniels."'And you should be worried about that.'"

India's Modi clinches defence, energy deals in Sri Lank.

Colombo, April 5 (AFP) Apr 05, 2025-India secured defence and energy deals with neighbouring Sri Lanka on Saturday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, seen as a move to counter rival China's growing influence in the region.Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake rolled out the red carpet for Modi and conferred on him the country's highest civilian honour for "the deep personal friendship" shown to the smaller neighbour."We believe that our security interests are aligned," Modi said during a televised ceremony from Dissanayake's office in the capital."Our security is interdependent and interconnected."A five-year defence cooperation agreement provides training of Sri Lankan military personnel in India as well as information and technology sharing.Dissanayake applauded what he called "India's rise as a world power, not just a regional power"."I have reiterated our position to Prime Minister Modi that Sri Lankan territory will not be allowed to be used by anyone to undermine India's security," he added.India has previously objected to Chinese submarines and research vessels which have called at the main seaport in Colombo.Sri Lanka has not allowed Chinese submarines to dock since 2014, after India raised concerns over two such visits.Last year, Colombo imposed a ban on foreign research vessels following New Delhi's accusations that Chinese ships were being used to spy on India.On Saturday, Dissanayake welcomed Modi -- the first foreign dignitary to visit Colombo since the leftist leader swept to power last year -- with a 19-gun salute.- Balancing China -The two leaders also celebrated the start of construction of a 120-megawatt solar power project, developed as a joint venture between the two nations.The solar plant, located in the island's northeastern Trincomalee district, had been stalled for years but was reinvigorated with New Delhi's backing.Modi's visit comes as Colombo grapples with the competing interests of New Delhi and Beijing.India has become concerned about China's influence in Sri Lanka, which it sees as falling within its sphere of interest.Dissanayake's first foreign visit was to New Delhi in December, but he followed it with a visit to Beijing in January, underscoring Sri Lanka's delicate balancing act.China has emerged as Sri Lanka's largest single bilateral creditor, accounting for more than half of its $14 billion bilateral debt at the time the island defaulted on its sovereign debt in 2022.Beijing was also the first to restructure its loans to Sri Lanka, a move that helped pave the way for the island to emerge from its worst economic meltdown.In January, Colombo announced it had signed an agreement with a Chinese state-owned company to invest $3.7 billion in an oil refinery in the island's south.The deal would mark Sri Lanka's largest single foreign investment and is seen as crucial for its economic recovery.Modi's visit to Sri Lanka followed a summit in Thailand and a string of meetings with leaders of neighbouring nations as he sought to shore up India's regional ties.On the sidelines of the Bangkok BIMSTEC meeting -- the grouping of seven nations on the Bay of Bengal -- Modi held a rare face-to-face meeting with Myanmar's junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing.He also held talks on Friday with the interim leader of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus -- the first such meeting since a revolution in Dhaka ousted New Delhi's long-time ally Sheikh Hasina and sent relations into a tailspin.India had been the biggest benefactor of Hasina's government, and her overthrow prompted Yunus to make his first state visit last month to China.Modi also met on Friday in Bangkok with his Nepali counterpart, KP Sharma Oli -- their first meeting since Oli returned to power last year -- as well as Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan.

North Korea's Kim fires new sniper rifle while visiting troops.

Seoul, April 5 (AFP) Apr 05, 2025-North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has test-fired a newly developed sniper rifle, state media said Saturday, as he inspected special forces whose training he said bolstered "actual war capability for guaranteeing victory".Such units are among the thousands of troops that South Korea's spy agency says Pyongyang has deployed to Russia to support Moscow's war against Ukraine.During the visit to a special operations unit on Friday, Kim said the "actual war capability for guaranteeing victory in the war field is bolstered up through intensive training," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.He added that their training is "the most vivid expression of patriotism and loyalty to the country," according to the agency.Images released by state media showed Kim peering through the scope of a sniper rifle that KCNA said was going to be "newly supplied to special operation units".Other images showed him pointing to the bullseye of a target, crouching alongside heavily camouflaged soldiers, and smiling and waving to troops.Kim supervised "automatic rifle firing drills and sniper rifle firing drills" and, after personally test-firing the weapon, expressed "great satisfaction over the performance and power of the sniper rifle developed in our own way", KCNA said.Kim's visit to the special forces came on the same day that South Korea's Constitutional Court upheld president Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment over his disastrous martial law declaration, booting him from office and triggering fresh elections.Yoon had defended his December 3 attempt to subvert civilian rule as necessary to root out "anti-state forces" and what he claimed were threats from North Korea.KCNA reported Yoon's dismissal for the first time on Saturday, citing foreign media.South Korea's opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is seen as a frontrunner in the next election, experts say, and his party has taken a more conciliatory approach towards North Korea.US President Donald Trump, who met Kim three times during his first administration, said this week that he is in "communication" with Kim and intends to "do something at some point", according to Seoul's Yonhap news agency.

Russian missile strike kills 14 in Ukraine leader's home city-Kyiv, Ukraine, April 4 (AFP) Apr 04, 2025

A Russian ballistic missile strike on Volodymyr Zelensky's home city of Kryvyi Rig killed 14 people on Friday, including six children, the Ukrainian leader said.The missile struck a residential area near a children's playground and wounded more than 50 people, according to the head of the city's military administration.Unverified videos on social media appeared to show bodies lying on a street, while another showed a plume of smoke rising into the evening sky."It was preliminarily a ballistic missile attack. As of now, 14 people have been killed, including six children," Zelensky said on Telegram.The rescue operation was ongoing, he added."There is only one reason why this continues -- Russia does not want a ceasefire and we see it. The whole world sees it," he said."And only the world's pressure on Russia, all efforts to strengthen Ukraine, our air defence, our forces -- only this will determine when the war will end."The Ukrainian leader was born in Kryvyi Rig, which had a pre-war population of around 600,000 people.US President Donald Trump's administration has been pushing for a speedy end to the more than three-year war, holding talks with both Russia and Ukraine.Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional and full ceasefire, while Ukraine has accused Moscow of dragging out talks with no intention of halting its offensive.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier on Friday that Trump was not "going to fall into the trap of endless negotiations" with Russia over its three-year invasion."We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not," he said.- 'War crime' -Kryvyi Rig, in Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region, is about 60 kilometres (37 miles) from the front line but has regularly been targeted by Russian drones and missiles.A previous Russian ballistic attack on the city on Wednesday killed at least four people and wounded more than a dozen others.Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the city's military administration, said the missile landed near a children's playground.Zelensky said the attack showed diplomacy was an "empty word" for Russia."A ceasefire could have been reached by now and it is Putin who rejects it," he said in his evening address.Five apartment buildings were damaged, interior minister Igor Klymenko said.He said police had blocked off the area to maintain order."The police are documenting the consequences of Russia's war crime and accepting statements from the victims," Klymenko added.Social media video from the scene showed a car in flames, while people could be heard shouting.Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian official tasked with countering disinformation, described the missile involved in the attack as an "Iskander".The Iskander is a Russian ballistic missile system that can have a range of up to 500 kilometres (311 miles)."This is a deliberate strike to kill a large number of people," Kovalenko said.

Military confrontation 'almost inevitable' if Iran nuclear talks fail: French FM-Paris, April 2 (AFP) Apr 02, 2025

France's foreign minister warned on Wednesday that a military confrontation with Iran would be "almost inevitable" if talks over Tehran's nuclear programme failed."In the event of failure, a military confrontation would appear to be almost inevitable," Jean-Noel Barrot said in parliament, adding that it would severely destabilise the region.Earlier Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron chaired a meeting on Iran.US President Donald Trump has threatened that Iran will be bombed if it persists in developing nuclear weapons. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has promised to hit back."Our confidence and our conviction remain intact," Barrot said. "Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons.""Our priority is to reach an agreement that verifiably and durably constrains the Iranian nuclear programme," he added.Since taking office in January, Trump has reinstated his "maximum pressure" policy, which in his first term saw the United States withdraw from a landmark 2015 agreement on Iran's nuclear programme and reimpose sanctions on Tehran.Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapon, which Tehran has denied, insisting that its enrichment activities are solely for peaceful purposes.The 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers required Iran to limit its nuclear processing in exchange for sanctions relief.- Complaint against Iran --Barrot also announced that France would "soon" lodge a complaint against Iran at the International Court of Justice over the fate of two detained French nationals.The complaint would be filed over "the violation of the right to consular protection", he said, referring to Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, who were detained in Iran in May 2022 on accusations of seeking to stir up labour protests.Western countries have for years accused Iran of detaining their nationals on trumped-up charges in a policy of state hostage-taking to use them as bargaining chips to extract concessions."We are going to step up pressure on the Iranian regime even further," Barrot said.He also said "additional European sanctions against Iranian officials responsible for the policy of state hostage-taking" would be announced in the coming days.Cecile's sister Noemie Kohler praised the announcement, expressing hope that this will help "move the case forward.""It is a major turning point, because Cecile and Jacques' fundamental rights have been violated from the start," she told AFP."This decision testifies to the mobilisation of France at the highest level," said Noemie Kohler.Cecile Kohler's last spoke with her family in early March."It's very difficult for us because we have a feeling that she is starting to lose hope," her sister said.In March, French national Olivier Grondeau, detained by Iran in 2022 on security charges but described by his family as an innocent tourist, was returned to France after being released.

China says ends two-day Taiwan drills with simulated strikes on key ports, energy sites-By Joy Chiang with Mary Yang in Pingtan.

Taipei (AFP) April 2, 2025-China's military on Wednesday said it had completed two days of live-fire exercises that included simulated strikes on key ports and energy sites aimed at Taiwan, the self-ruled island it claims as its own.The surprise manoeuvres were condemned by Taiwan, while the United States called them "intimidation tactics". They came less than a month after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te called China a "foreign hostile force".Named "Strait Thunder-2025A", the drills were in the middle and southern parts of the Taiwan Strait as well as the East China Sea, the military said.By Wednesday evening, a People's Liberation Army spokesman Shi Yi said "the Eastern Theater Command has completed all designated tasks of the joint exercises carried out from April 1 to 2".Earlier, he said that Wednesday's exercises were meant to "test the troops' capabilities" in areas such as "blockade and control, and precision strikes on key targets".The military also said it had held long-range live-fire drills and practised hitting "simulated targets of key ports and energy facilities".AFP journalists saw fighter jets circling over the island of Pingtan, the closest Chinese territory to Taiwan and which houses a military base.China's Shandong aircraft carrier was also carrying out drills testing the ability to "blockade" Taiwan, the Eastern Theater Command said.Beijing's foreign ministry warned the "punishment will not stop" until Taiwan's leaders cease pushing for what it says is independence from China.The democratic island of 23 million people is a potential flashpoint between China and the United States, which is Taiwan's most important security partner.The US State Department said Beijing's "aggressive" military activities and rhetoric towards Taiwan "only serve to exacerbate tensions and put the region's security and the world's prosperity at risk".The UK Foreign Office said it was "concerned" over the Chinese drills, calling them "part of a pattern of activity which is increasing tensions and risking dangerous escalation in the Taiwan Strait."Chinese leaders oppose Washington's support for Taiwan and detest Lai, whom they call a "separatist".- 'Abyss of misery' -Wednesday's drills came a day after China sent its army, navy, air and rocket forces to surround Taiwan, prompting Taipei to dispatch its own air and maritime forces.Taiwan's defence ministry said there was no live-fire near the island on Wednesday.By early afternoon, 36 Chinese aircraft, 21 warships and 10 coast guard boats had been detected around Taiwan.That compares with Tuesday's count of 21 warships, 71 aircraft and four coast guard vessels."Pursuing Taiwan independence will only endanger Taiwan and plunge Taiwan compatriots into an abyss of misery," said Chinese Ministry of Defence spokesman Zhang Xiaogang in a statement Wednesday.Major General Meng Xiangqing, professor at the PLA National Defence University, warned more drills could follow."As long as Taiwan independence separatists dare to cross the line, the PLA will definitely act," Meng told state broadcaster CCTV.- 'Robust' deterrence -Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan in recent years and held multiple large-scale exercises around the island that are often described as rehearsals for a blockade and seizure of the territory.Tensions have escalated since Lai took office in May 2024, adopting tougher rhetoric than his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen.While Taiwan sees itself as sovereign, most nations, including the United States, do not recognise its claim to statehood and instead have formal diplomatic ties with China.Last month, Lai called China a "foreign hostile force" and proposed 17 measures to combat growing Chinese espionage and infiltration.US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed "robust, ready and credible deterrence" in the strait during a visit to the region last week.Taipei analyst Wen-Ti Sung said China was using "stress test after stress test" to gauge the strength of US support for Taiwan and other allies in the region."China is creating occasion after occasion for the Trump administration to publicly show how its support is weaker or more conditional than in years past," Sung told AFP.The United States is legally bound to provide arms to Taiwan, but Washington has long maintained "strategic ambiguity" when it comes to whether it would deploy its military to defend the island from a Chinese attack.burs-amj-mya/dhw/acb/gvWeibo

Finland's colossal bomb shelters a model for jittery Europe By Anna KORKMAN.

Helsinki (AFP) April 4, 2025-Swimming pools, playgrounds and amusement parks: Finland's underground facilities, which can double as bomb shelters, have emerged as an inspiring approach as Europe ramps up preparedness after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Finland shares a 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia. Its network of civil defence shelters is an integral part of its preparedness strategy, which harks back to just before World War II.Blasted into Helsinki's granodiorite bedrock dozens of metres underground, people of all ages swim and splash in the pools or relax in saunas in the cavernous Itakeskus swimming hall.The complex is one of Finland's 50,500 civil defence shelters which have space for around 4.8 million of its 5.6 million population.Intended to accommodate up to 3,800 people, the pools can be emptied of water and turned into a bombproof shelter within 72 hours."This is the world's biggest civil defence shelter facilitating a swimming hall," Teemu Raatikainen, who has been the head of maintenance for almost 30 years, proudly explained as he gave AFP a tour.Finland's security strategy based on long-term investments in both the military and preparedness -- including civil defence shelters -- has attracted international interest after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the deteriorated security situation across Europe."We always have this multi-use -- peacetime use and wartime use -- of our shelters," Jarkko Hayrinen, a senior rescue officer at Finland's interior ministry explained, as he showed AFP another one of Helsinki's large bomb shelters.- Blast-proof tunnels -With space for 6,000 people, the Merihaka shelter in central Helsinki houses an underground playground, several ball courts and a gym."The shelters are very well maintained because people are using them in normal times," Hayrinen said.The Finnish "cultural mindset" of involving all sectors of society in security has become something of a "trademark" for Finland after it joined the NATO military alliance in 2023, said Matti Pesu, a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs."And the civil defence shelters are a real tangible symbol of how the authorities are preparing to protect citizens in emergency situations," he added.High-level guests such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Denmark's King Frederik X and Queen Mary have recently been given guided tours through the zigzagging blast-proof tunnels of the Merihaka shelter.- Long tradition -"The first act on building defence shelters was adopted already in 1939, two weeks before the Winter War started," Hayrinen said, referring to the Soviet Union's invasion of Finland which lasted more than a 100 days."Finland was not prepared for defending civilians during wartime and it was a hard lesson for us," he added.The Nordic country now has bomb shelters to protect almost all its citizens, with Helsinki providing space for 900,000 persons -- enough to host all the capital's residents and thousands more.Designed to withstand explosions, building collapses, radiation and toxic substances, the largest public shelters in Finland have primarily been situated in populated areas.Buildings or housing complexes with a floor area exceeding 1,200 square metres are required by law to have a bomb shelter.Other countries with a similar wide access to bunkers are Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Israel."All of these countries are united by a tradition of neutrality or a strategically difficult position," Pesu noted.Finland, where military service is mandatory for all men and voluntary for women, can quickly mobilise some 280,000 soldiers and the total military reserve comprises some 900,000 people.On April 1, the country announced it will increase national defence spending to at least three percent of GDP by 2029 in response to the security threat posed by Russia.

Israel says shares with France goal of an Iran without nukes-by AFP Staff Writers.

Paris (AFP) April 3, 2025-Israel and France share a "common" goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, the Israeli foreign minister said in Paris on Thursday.Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapon, which Tehran has denied, insisting its enrichment activities were solely for peaceful purposes."The most extremist regime in the world shouldn't possess the most dangerous weapon in the world," Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters."This objective to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapon is a common objective of France and Israel."Israel is the region's sole, if undeclared, nuclear-armed state. It has long made preventing any rival from matching this capability its top defence priority.Saar, who met France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot earlier Thursday, stressed that Iran was a threat to the entire region and not just to Israel, adding Israel was in talks with France, Britain and the United States."We don't exclude a diplomatic path with Iran," he added.Concern is mounting as talks with Iran appear to have reached an impasse, while the window for negotiating a new treaty with Tehran is set to close in the fall.Key aspects of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal that Iran signed with world powers in 2015, are due to expire in October. US President Donald Trump already took the US out of the deal during his last mandate.Saar said he had invited France's top diplomat to visit Israel."I have a continuous dialogue, an ongoing dialogue, with the French foreign minister," he said.On Wednesday, Barrot warned that a military confrontation with Iran would be "almost inevitable" if talks over Tehran's nuclear programme failed.Trump said in early March he had written to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to call for nuclear negotiations and warn of possible military action if Tehran refused.He has threatened that Iran will be bombed if it persists in developing nuclear weapons. Khamenei has promised to hit back.

US, Seoul affirm goal of 'denuclearization' of North Korea-by Mike Heuer

Washington DC (UPI) Apr 1, 2025-Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun agreed North Korea must remain nuclear-free while discussing matters in East Asia via telephone.Landau and Kim discussed "pressing security issues in the region" and "emphasized the American commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a readout of the phone conversation that occurred Tuesday."The two also discussed opportunities for economic cooperation, particularly on energy issues, and highlighted growing Republic of Korea investments in American industry," Bruce said.Landau also offered his condolences for the loss of life and damage caused by recent wildfires in southeastern South Korea.Landau was sworn in as deputy secretary of State on March 25 and previously was U.S. ambassador to Mexico.During Landau's Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing, Chairman Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, cited North Korea, China, Russia and Iran as "hostile powers" that "formed an authoritarian axis" and threaten the United States and global peace.Tuesday's phone conversation with Landau's South Korean counterpart was held within the context of aggressive actions by North Korea, which seeks to develop nuclear arms and an effective missile arsenal capable of striking South Korea, the United States and their allied states.Landau formerly helped negotiate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement that protected cross-border commerce and supported regional supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic.His father, George Landau, formerly was ambassador to Paraguay, Chile and Venezuela and was stationed with the U.S. Foreign Service in Madrid, Spain, which is where Landau was born.Landau is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Clarence Thomas.He is fluent in Spanish, proficient in French and is married to Caroline Bruce Landau. They have two adult children.