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)
THE WORLD IS GETTING SET UP FOR THE FIRST NUKE STRIKE.KING CHARLES - POPE PRAY IN PUBLIC TOGETHER.
And
here are the bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either
through war or peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and
only Israels land. They will have every inch God promised them of this
land in the future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia,
Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the
Western Half of Iraq west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11,
Gen 15:18, Exe 23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL
DEFINATELY OWN IN THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES
INHERIT LAND IN THE FUTURE.
Joel 3:2-King James Version (YOU
DIVIDE JERUSALEM IN HALF - YOUR POKING GOD IN THE EYE - GOD SAYS AN EYE
FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH- YOU WANNA DIVIDE JERUSALEM IN HALF
- HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION 4 BILLION DIE ON EARTH.
2 I will also
gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of
Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my
heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted
my land.
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.
PSALMS 83:3-7
3 They (ARABS,MUSLIMS) have taken crafty counsel against thy people,(ISRAEL) and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they (MUSLIMS) have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:(TREATIES)
6 The tabernacles of Edom,(JORDAN) and the Ishmaelites;(ARABS) of Moab, PALESTINIANS,JORDAN) and the Hagarenes;(EGYPT)
7
Gebal,(HEZZBALLOH,LEBANON) and Ammon,(JORDAN) and
Amalek;(SYRIA,ARABS,SINAI) the Philistines (PALESTINIANS) with the
inhabitants of Tyre;(LEBANON)
JEREMIAH 47:1-7
1 The word of
the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the
Philistines,(PALESTINIAN/ARABS) before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
2
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north,(NORTHERN
TSUNAMI POSSIBLY) and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow
the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell
therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land
shall howl.
3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his
strong horses,(ISRAELS ARMY) at the rushing of his chariots, and at the
rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their
children for feebleness of hands;(ISRAEL POSSIBLY NUKES GAZA)
4
Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines,(PALESTINIAN
FAKE ARABS) and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that
remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the
country of Caphtor.
5 Baldness is come upon Gaza;(NUKED POSSIBLY)
Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou
cut thyself?
6 O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
7
How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against
Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? (MEDITTERANEAN SEA) there hath he
appointed it.
RUSSIA,GERMANY, ARAB MUSLIMS COME AGAINST ISRAEL.
EZEKIEL 38:1-23
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2
Son of man, set thy face against Gog,(RULER) the land of Magog,(RUSSIA)
the chief prince of Meshech (MOSCOW) and Tubal,(TOBOLSK) and prophesy
against him,
3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against
thee, O Gog,(LEADER OF RUSSIA) the chief prince of Meshech(MOSCOW) and
Tubal:TOBOLSK)
4 And I (GOD) will turn thee back, and put hooks into
thy jaws,(GOD FORCES THE RUSSIA-MUSLIMS TO MARCH) and I will bring thee
forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with
all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields,
all of them handling swords:
5 Persia,(IRAN,IRAQ) Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
6
Gomer,(GERMANY) and all his bands; the house of Togarmah (TURKEY) of
the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with
thee.(AFRICAN MUSLIMS,SUDAN,TUNESIA ETC)
7 Be thou prepared, and
prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto
thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
8 After many days thou shalt be
visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is
brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against
the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is
brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of
them.
9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a
cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with
thee.(RUSSIA-EGYPT AND MUSLIMS)
10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall
also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy
mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
11 And thou shalt
say,(RUSSIA-ARAB-MUSLIMS) I will go up to the land of unwalled
villages;(ISRAEL) I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely,
all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
12
To take a spoil,(OIL IS IN SPOIL) and to take a prey; to turn thine
hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the
people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle
and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
13 Sheba, and
Dedan,(SAUDI-ARABIA) and the merchants of Tarshish,(SPAIN) with all the
young lions thereof,(ENGLAND,AND ALL ITS ASSOCIATES-CANADA,AUSTRALIA-NEW
ZEALAND, USA, AND WESTERN ENGLISH SPEAKING NATIONS) shall say unto
thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to
take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and
goods, to take a great spoil?(OIL IS IN SPOIL-I BELIEVE THATS WHY
RUSSIA,ARAB/MUSLIMS MARCH TO ISRAEL)
14 Therefore, son of man,
prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my
people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
15 And
thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many
people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a
mighty army:
16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel,
as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I
will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I
shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
17 Thus saith
the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my
servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many
years that I would bring thee against them?
18 And it shall come to
pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel,
saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.
19 For in
my jealousy and in the fire (atomic bomb) of my wrath have I spoken,
Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
20
So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the
beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth,
and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my
presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places
shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21 And I will
call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord
GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
22 And I will
plead against him with pestilence (biological,chemical,nuclear) and with
blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many
people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones,
fire, and brimstone.(NUKED,THEN MIGRATING BIRDS EAT RUSSIA/ARAB/MUSLIMS
FLESH)
23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I
will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am
the LORD.
EZEKIEL 39:1-29
1 Therefore, thou son of man,
prophesy against Gog,(LEADER OF RUSSIA) and say, Thus saith the Lord
GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech
(MOSCOW) and Tubal: (TUBOLSK)
2 And I will turn thee
back,(RUSSIA-ARAB MUSLIM ISRAEL HATERS) and leave but the sixth part of
thee,(5/6TH OR 300 MILLION DEAD RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIMS I BELIEVE) and will
cause thee to come up from the north parts,(RUSSIA) and will bring thee
upon the mountains of Israel:
3 And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
4
Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands,(
ARABS) and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the
ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be
devoured.
5 Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
6
And I will send a shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto
Gog (RUSSIA/ARAB/MUSLIMS) a place there of graves in Israel, the valley
of the passengers (EAST OF THE DEAD SEA IN JORDAN VALLEY) on the east
of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there
shall they bury Gog (RUSSIAN) and all his multitude:(ARAB/MUSLIM HORDE)
and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.(BURIEL SITE OF THE 300
MILLION,RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIMS)
12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.(OF ISRAEL)
13
Yea, all the people of the land (OF ISRAEL) shall bury them; and it
shall be to them a renown the day that I (GOD-JESUS) shall be glorified,
saith the Lord GOD.
14 And they shall sever out men of continual
employment,(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMB EXPERTS) passing through the land to
bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth,
to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
15
And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s
bone, then shall he set up a sign by it,(WON'T TOUCH IT) till the
buriers have buried it (PROPERLY) in the valley of
Hamongog.(RUSSIA/ARAB/MUSLIMS NEW BURIEL SITE)(EAST OF THE DEAD SEA IN
THE JORDAN VALLEY)
16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.(OF THE ISRAEL-GOD HATERS)
17
And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every
feathered fowl,(500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS THREW ISRAEL EVERY
SPRING,FALL) and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and
come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do
sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel,
that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.(OF THE RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIM
ARMIES)
18 Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood
of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of
bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
19 And ye (MIGRATING BIRDS
IN ISRAEL) shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be
drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for
you.(RUSSIAN/ARAB/MUSLIM ISRAEL HATERS)
20 Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.
21
And I (GOD-JESUS) will set my glory among the heathen,(WORLD NATIONS)
and all the heathen (WORLD NATIONS) shall see my judgment that I have
executed,(AGAINST ISRAELS ENEMIES) and my (GODS) hand that I have laid
upon them.(ISRAELS HATER ENEMIES)
22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.
23
And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity
for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I
my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so
fell they all by the sword.
24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
25
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity
of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be
jealous for my holy name;
26 After that they have borne their shame,
and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when
they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
27 When I
have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their
enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
28
Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to
be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto
their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
29
Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my
spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
PSALMS 83:3-7
3 They (ARABS,MUSLIMS) have taken crafty counsel against thy people,(ISRAEL) and consulted against thy hidden ones.
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
5 For they (MUSLIMS) have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:(TREATIES)
6 The tabernacles of Edom,(JORDAN) and the Ishmaelites;(ARABS) of Moab, PALESTINIANS,JORDAN) and the Hagarenes;(EGYPT)
7
Gebal,(HEZZBALLOH,LEBANON) and Ammon,(JORDAN) and
Amalek;(SYRIA,ARABS,SINAI) the Philistines (PALESTINIANS) with the
inhabitants of Tyre;(LEBANON)
JEREMIAH 47:1-7
1 The word of
the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the
Philistines,(PALESTINIAN/ARABS) before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
2
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north,(NORTHERN
TSUNAMI POSSIBLY) and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow
the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell
therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land
shall howl.
3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his
strong horses,(ISRAELS ARMY) at the rushing of his chariots, and at the
rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their
children for feebleness of hands;(ISRAEL POSSIBLY NUKES GAZA)
4
Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines,(PALESTINIAN
FAKE ARABS) and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that
remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the
country of Caphtor.
5 Baldness is come upon Gaza;(NUKED POSSIBLY)
Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou
cut thyself?
6 O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
7
How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against
Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? (MEDITTERANEAN SEA) there hath he
appointed it.
Now the scriptures that a week in Israel history is 7YEARS.
Heres the scripture 1 week = 7 yrs Genesis 29:27-29
27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.
28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
Isn"t
this interesting it comes from the same Person whos name was changed to
Israel,(JACOB) and Israel and Jerusalem is the places dealt with in
Daniel 9:24-27.
GENESIS 32:27-28
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as
a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
DANIEL 9:26-27
26
And after threescore and two weeks(62X7=434 YEARS+7X7=49 YEARS=TOTAL OF
69 WEEKS OR 483 YRS) shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and
the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the
sanctuary;(ROMAN LEADERS DESTROYED THE 2ND TEMPLE) and the end thereof
shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are
determined.(THERE HAS TO BE 70 WEEKS OR 490 YRS TO FUFILL THE VISION AND
PROPHECY OF DAN 9:24).(THE NEXT VERSE IS THAT 7 YR WEEK OR (70TH FINAL
WEEK).
27 And he ( THE ROMAN,EU PRESIDENT) shall confirm the covenant
(PEACE TREATY) with many for one week:(1X7=7 YEARS) and in the midst of
the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,(3 1/2
yrs in TEMPLE ANIMAL SACRIFICES STOPPED) and for the overspreading of
abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and
that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
ISAIAH 28:14-19 (THIS IS THE 7 YR TREATY COVENANT OF DANIEL 9:27)
14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
15
Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell
are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through,
it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under
falsehood have we hid ourselves:
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord
GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a
precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not
make haste.
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and
righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge
of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
18 And your
covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell
shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then
ye shall be trodden down by it.
19 From the time that it goeth forth
it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and
by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.
JEREMIAH 6:14
14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
JEREMIAH 8:11
11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:3
3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction
cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape.
ISAIAH 33:8
8 The highways lie waste, the wayfaring
man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant,(7 YR TREATY) he hath despised
the cities, he regardeth no man.(THE WORLD LEADER-WAR MONGER CALLS
HIMSELF GOD)
POPE LEO
16TH (CATHOLIC CHURCH) AND KING CHARLES (CHURCH OF ENGLAND) WILL BE
PRAYING TOGETHER THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1844 (534 YRS) WHEN HENRY 8TH LAST
PRAYED WITH A POPE.INTERFAITH CULTNESS WILL PROBABLY INCREASE FAST FOR A
ONE WORLD CHURCH AFTER THIS.AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH ITS A KING CHARLES
PRAAYING WITH THE POPE. THE WORLD DICTATOR AND THE POPE WILL BE HAND IN
GLOVE DURING THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD.THE FALSE POPE AND THE FALSE
MESSIAH. DOES THIS RING A BELL FROM REV 13:1-10 THE WORLD DICTATOR.THE
PRICE THAT SHALL COME-THE KING SHALL DO HIS WILL AND REV 13:11-16 THE
FALSE PROPHET POPE.(2 HORNS OF A LAMB (CHRISTIAN DEFECT-JESUS THE LAMB
SLAIN FOR OUR SINS)(TALKS LIKE A DRAGON-SATAN-SATAN LED POPE). ITS
6.30AM EST AND THE POPE AND KING CHARLES WILL BE PUBLICALLY PRAYING
TOGETHER AT SOME POINT.THERES PROBABLY A MASS FIRST.
CATHOLIC PREISTS SURVEY
https://catholicproject.catholic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/NSCPWave2FINAL.pdf
Aid
to the Church in Need: Authoritarian Regimes Are Greatest Threat to
Religious Freedom-The 2025 biennial report provides a global overview of
the state of religious freedom affecting all faith communities in 196
countries from January 2023 to December 2024.Kristina Millare/CNA
World-October 21, 2025
Authoritarian regimes are among the main
drivers of religious discrimination and persecution in 52 countries,
according to an Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) report.The pontifical
foundation, alongside Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro
Parolin, released the Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025 at the
Vatican on Tuesday, highlighting the need for the Church to bear witness
to the millions of people who face threats of persecution and
violence.The cardinal decried the “year on year” increase of violations
affecting more than 5.4 billion people worldwide at the report’s launch
and stressed the need for governments to acknowledge religious freedom
as an “inalienable right,” as asserted by both the Second Vatican
Council document Dignitatis Humanae and Article 18 of the U.N. Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.“Men and women everywhere deserve freedom
from any form of compulsion in matters of faith — whether that be subtle
social pressures or overt state mandates,” Cardinal Parolin said at the
Oct. 21 report launch at the Augustinian Patristic Pontifical Institute
in Rome.The 2025 biennial report, which provides a global overview of
the state of religious freedom affecting all faith communities in 196
countries from January 2023 to December 2024, found that governments in
52 countries employ “systematic strategies to control or silence
religious life.”“In China, Iran, Eritrea, and Nicaragua, authorities use
mass surveillance technologies, digital censorship, restrictive
legislation, and arbitrary detention to suppress independent religious
communities,” the ACN press release stated. During the report launch,
ACN Editor-in-Chief Marta Petrosillo said that authoritarian regimes
present in parts of Latin America and Asia have attempted to “erase
religious identity” by shutting down churches, preventing or banning
religious education, and even renaming entire villages.“In North Korea,
the regime criminalizes all belief, punishing worship with imprisonment,
torture, or even execution,” she said.“In Nicaragua, the government has
taken extreme measures to silence the Church — a religious group has
lost its legal status, and public worship and religious services have
been banned,” she added.Other key factors driving religious freedom
violations identified in the report include jihadism and religious
nationalism across Africa and Asia, and armed conflicts, forced
migration, and organized crime affecting countries in Africa, Asia,
Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.ACN also noted the erosion of
religious freedom in Europe and North America, reporting increased
incidences of attacks on places of worship, assault of clergy, and
disruption of religious services in France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and
the U.S.
Huge Surge in Bible Sales and Faith Following Charlie
Kirk’s Assassination-The ‘Charlie Kirk effect’ continues as EWTN
Religious Catalogue has seen a 65% increase in the number of Bibles sold
and an 80% increase in sales.Alyssa Murphy Blogs-October 22, 2025
In
the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s killing on a Utah college campus in
September, Bible sales have soared. First reported by The Wall Street
Journal, sales spiked by 36% in the month compared to 2024, totaling 2.4
million Bibles sold in September alone, according to Circana Bookscan, a
national book tracker. “September brought a wave of troubling events —
violence, geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty — underscoring a
pattern: In times of crisis, more people turn to faith for comfort and
support,” Brenna Connor, an analyst at Circana Bookscan, told The Wall
Street Journal. EWTN Religious Catalogue, part of EWTN, the Register’s
parent company, also confirmed a similar spike, with a 65% increase in
the number of Bibles sold and an 80% increase in sales when comparing
numbers from the last two months and what was sold in the same period in
2024. And other publishers are experiencing an increase, including
Ascension Press, home to The Bible in a Year podcast featuring Father
Mike Schmitz, which also airs via EWTN Radio.Ascension President and CEO
Jonathan Strate told the Register that since the assassination of
Charlie Kirk, “We’ve seen a remarkable rise in interest in Scripture,
which is a clear sign of the deep hunger people have to know and follow
God. Across the country, more people are turning to the Bible, whether
returning to their faith or discovering it for the first time.”“At
Ascension,” Strate continued, “we’ve witnessed this revival through The
Bible in a Year (with Father Mike Schmitz) — which has been downloaded
more than 900 million times — and through the Ascension App, the No. 1
Catholic Bible app in the App Store.”Ascension, who was also just
awarded a contract to publish the Liturgy of the Hours alongside Word on
Fire, sees the statistics as a sign of hope that more people across the
globe are confronting the Gospel message. “We’re continually moved by
the stories we hear of people returning to Mass, going to confession for
the first time in decades, or encountering Christ for the first time.
It’s a powerful reminder that God is present with us and transforming
lives right now, especially through his word.” In the aftermath of the
tragic shooting of the political activist who was very outspoken about
his own Christian faith, stories flooded social media of men and women
sharing their decisions to buy a Bible, including one 37-year-old woman
taking her followers along with her to buy her first Bible. Calling it
the "Charlie Kirk effect," hundreds of people also posted viral videos
about their decisions to head to church on a Sunday morning, including
some who had never set foot in a church in their lives. Speaking at her
late husband’s memorial service on Sept. 21, Erika Kirk said Charlie’s
death had reignited a spark of faith for millions across the
country.“This past week, we saw people open a Bible for the first time
in a decade. We saw people pray for the first time since they were
children. We saw people go to a church service for the first time in
their entire lives,” the widow said. At that same memorial service,
politicians also proclaimed the Gospel of Christ to the thousands of
souls gathered in person and millions watching worldwide. “We were all
created by an all-powerful God who loves us and created us with the
purpose of living with him in eternity,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio
shared that day. Just last week, Charlie Kirk was posthumously awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump; and Erika
Kirk, in accepting the award for her late husband, spoke about his love
for God. Marking the monumental moment on his birthday, Kirk’s
organization, Turning Point USA, shared on social media “31 Ways to Live
Like Charlie Kirk.” Among the list of tenets: honor the Sabbath, keep a
journal, get married — and “read your Bible every day.”Alyssa Murphy
Alyssa Murphy is the Register's Managing Editor of Digital Assets.
Starting her career on the airwaves in San Francisco, she has worked in
all facets of media. Alyssa enjoys writing and covering stories that
inspire and uplift. Register readers may be familiar with her voice from
EWTN radio's Morning Glory. Alyssa currently lives in New Jersey just
outside Manhattan with her husband Andrew and young daughter, Annabelle.
2
West Bank annexation bills get initial nod, with MKs rebelling against
PM as Vance visits-Netanyahu’s Likud punishes Edelstein for casting
decisive vote, dismisses bill as opposition ‘trolling,’ but also says it
is working on creating right conditions for sovereigntyBy Sam Sokol-22
October 2025, 6:19 pm-
In an embarrassment to Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, right-wing lawmakers voted on Wednesday to pass, in
its preliminary reading, a bill that would apply Israeli sovereignty to
all West Bank settlements — as well as another, more limited bill to
annex a major city-settlement — despite opposition from Netanyahu and
most of his Likud party to announcing such a move at this time.The bills
must still pass three additional votes in the plenum and will now be
referred to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for
further consideration. It is highly unlikely that Netanyahu will allow
either of the two bills to pass into law.All but one Likud lawmaker
boycotted the votes. MK Yuli Edelstein broke ranks to vote in favor,
casting a decisive vote and helping the bill to annex all settlements
scrape by 25-24.In a statement, Edelstein said that he supported the
measure because “Israeli sovereignty in all parts of our homeland is the
order of the day,” and called on “all Zionist factions to vote in
favor.”In reaction, Likud decided to remove Edelstein from his seat on
the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, a spokesperson for
the lawmaker confirmed to The Times of Israel.The initial approval of
the annexation legislation came as US Vice President JD Vance was
visiting Israel, and could potentially cause friction with Donald
Trump’s administration, which has opposed annexation.Sponsored by
far-right MK Avi Maoz of the one-man Noam party — which was part of the
coalition until it left earlier this year — the broader bill requires
Israel to “apply its laws and sovereignty to the areas of settlement in
Judea and Samaria to establish the status of these areas as an
inseparable part of the sovereign State of Israel.”“The Holy One,
blessed be He, gave the people of Israel the Land of Israel. Settlement
in the Land of Israel is the redemption and national revival, settlement
is what makes the Land of Israel flourish after two thousand years of
exile,” Maoz told lawmakers ahead of the vote.“In applying sovereignty
to Judea and Samaria, we are making a correction that is long overdue.
Since the government has been procrastinating, our job as members of
Knesset is to do this,” he added.The bill was supported by the
coalition’s far-right Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism parties, while
the opposition United Torah Judaism party — which was until recently in
the coalition — was split down the middle.Speaking with The Times of
Israel, Motti Babchik, a senior adviser to UTJ chairman Yitzhak
Goldknopf, said that UTJ’s Agudat Yisrael faction had supported the bill
in an effort to highlight the hypocrisy of Netanyahu’s right-wing
government, many of whose ministers have recently called for
annexation.In a statement, UTJ’s Degel HaTorah faction said it would
vote against the measure, arguing that “proposals to declare sovereignty
at this time are putting us in conflict with the countries of the
world, and especially with the United States.”Lawmakers belonging to
fellow ultra-Orthodox party Shas were not present for the vote, while
MKs from the opposition Yesh Atid party opposed the bill.Education
Minister Yoav Kisch (Likud) spoke out against the bill ahead of the
vote, telling lawmakers that while he was “a great believer in applying
sovereignty,” the issue cannot be advanced through opposition bills and
the government “will lead toward sovereignty together with our American
partners.”Separate bill to annex Ma’ale Adumim-A more limited annexation
bill, sponsored by Yisrael Beytenu party chairman Avigdor Liberman of
the opposition, also passed, by a vote of 32-9, in a preliminary
reading. Liberman’s bill calls to apply sovereignty to the West Bank
settlement of Ma’ale Adumim near Jerusalem, which the government is
actively working to expand.Addressing the plenum, Liberman said that the
best way to advance annexation was through limited steps, stating that
“Ma’ale Adumim constitutes the broadest consensus in Israeli society. In
terms of applying sovereignty, it is better to go for the broadest
national consensus[such as] Ma’ale Adumim, Ariel, Gush Etzion and the
Jordan Valley.”“The coalition tried to stop and stifle the move and
failed,” he later boasted. “They fled the plenum to avoid voting, but
Yisrael Beytenu did not give up, and together — we succeeded.”Proud
supporters-National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said that he was
“proud” that his Otzma Yehudit party had “voted in favor of sovereignty
on this “historic day.”Addressing his coalition partners in Likud, the
ultranationalist minister said that he understood “that there is
pressure on you, international pressure. But the right-wing government
is doing what is right for the residents of the State of Israel. And
what is right for the residents of the State of Israel is sovereignty
now.”The bills’ advancement was also welcomed by the Yesha Council, the
umbrella body for West Bank settlements, stating that it “expects Likud
Knesset members to join this process and advance the sovereignty plan in
accordance with the party’s spirit.”The fact that “it is the opposition
that pushes for sovereignty is unacceptable,” Yesha Council chief
Israel Ganz stated, calling “on the coalition in the Knesset and the
government to take responsibility for these laws and to advance full
sovereignty as soon as possible.”Both Opposition Leader Yair Lapid and
Blue and White party chairman Benny Gantz voted in favor of Liberman’s
bill, drawing criticism from the left-wing Peace Now organization, which
accused them of going against the wishes of their voters and launching
“a political attack against the Trump administration and our other
friends in the world, which also jeopardizes the fragile
ceasefire.”Speaking with The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity,
an opposition source boasted that “the opposition dictated the agenda
today, caused cracks in the coalition, showed how weak the prime
minister is, made it clear to everyone that there is a minority
government in Israel and that’s the job of an opposition.”A political
stunt-In a statement, Netanyahu’s Likud party dismissed the bills as
opposition “trolling… aimed at damaging our relations with the US and
Israel’s great achievements in the campaign” in Gaza.“We strengthen
settlement every day with actions, budgets, construction, industry, and
not with words,” the party said, insisting that “true sovereignty will
be achieved not with a show-off law for the protocol, but by working
properly on the ground and creating the political conditions appropriate
for the recognition of our sovereignty, as was done in the Golan
Heights and in Jerusalem.”Members of Netanyahu’s coalition have been
loudly calling to advance annexation as a response to the recognition of
a Palestinian state by Western powers last month. In early September,
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly called to annex 82 percent of
the West Bank, even as the United Arab Emirates warned that such a move
would spell the end of Israel’s integration into the Middle East.Other
senior members of the cabinet, including Justice Minister Yariv Levin
and Defense Minister Israel Katz, have also endorsed annexation. This
summer, the Knesset overwhelmingly approved a non-binding motion in
favor of applying Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank.However, Trump
has ruled out such a move, stating last month that he will not allow
Israel to annex the West Bank — prompting Netanyahu’s coalition allies
to insist that the premier ignore Washington.The Prime Minister’s Office
is concerned that efforts to annex the West Bank could spark a
diplomatic crisis with Washington, the Kan public broadcaster reported
last week.The idea of applying sovereignty in the West Bank is
incredibly popular and “there is a majority in the Knesset to annex
today,” one coalition insider told The Times of Israel on
Thursday.National Security Minister Itamar “The reason it’s not on the
agenda is because Netanyahu has made it very clear that he’s not going
to support anything of the sort. You can say it’s because of Trump,” the
source explained. “You can say it’s because of his own fear of global
isolation or a regional war or whoever knows what it is that he’s
thinking. But if there was a secret ballot in the Knesset today, a
majority would definitely annex.”On Sunday, the Ministerial Committee
for Legislation declined to advance an annexation bill sponsored by
Otzma Yehudit MK Limor Son Har-Melech.Asked last week if she was
concerned that passing annexation legislation could lead to problems
between Jerusalem and Washington, Har-Melech replied that “with all due
respect to President Trump, the people of Israel are the masters and
sovereigns in their own land, and the role of the president of the
United States is to ensure that this remains so — not, heaven forbid,
the opposite.”
Netanyahu’s office to ToI: There will be no
Turkish troops deployed in Gaza-Sky News Arabia reports Egyptian intel
chief, Netanyahu disagreed over Ankara’s role in post-war Gaza; PMO:
‘There is no disagreement’; VP Vance has said he sees ‘constructive
role’ for Turkey-By Lazar Berman,Reuters and ToI Staff 22 October 2025,
6:29 pm
There will be no Turkish troops in the Gaza Strip, the
Prime Minister’s Office insisted Wednesday, after reports emerged of a
disagreement on the issue during the previous day’s meeting between
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan
Rashad.Rashad was in Israel for a meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem,
where the two discussed “advancing [US President Donald] Trump’s plan,
Israel–Egypt relations and strengthening the peace between the
countries, as well as other regional issues,” the Israeli readout of the
meeting said.According to a Wednesday report on Sky News Arabia, citing
a Palestinian source, Netanyahu and the Egyptian intel chief disagreed
over potential Turkish participation in the planned International
Stabilization Force (ISF).The force is part of Trump’s 20-point plan for
Gaza, and is intended to secure the Strip during a transitional postwar
period, following Israel’s withdrawal and the disarmament of the Hamas
terror group.Netanyahu also “completely rejected” the deployment of
Palestinian Authority security forces trained by Egypt and Jordan in
Gaza, the source told the UK-Emirati outlet.“Netanyahu insists that the
second-phase conditions be implemented first, namely the disarmament of
Hamas and its relinquishment of control over Gaza, before any discussion
of local administration or security forces operating in Gaza,” the
Palestinian source added.When asked about the report, Netanyahu’s office
told The Times of Israel: “There is no disagreement.”“There will be no
Turkish involvement,” the PMO said.Earlier Wednesday, Netanyahu hinted
at his opposition to any role for Turkish security forces in Gaza at a
press conference alongside visiting US Vice President JD
Vance.Responding to a question about the idea of Turkish security forces
in Gaza, Netanyahu said: “We will decide together about that. So I have
very strong opinions about that. Want to guess what they are?”Vance
said on Tuesday that he saw a “constructive role” for Turkey to play as
the truce moved towards the next stage. Answering a question from The
Times of Israel, he also said, however, that nothing would be imposed on
Israel regarding troops on the ground. “We’re not going to force
anything on our Israeli friends when it comes to foreign troops on their
soil.”Two weeks earlier, Erdogan said Turkey could play a role “in the
field,” while a senior official told Reuters that it would take part in
the joint task force — alongside Israel, the United States, Qatar and
Egypt — established to locate the bodies of deceased hostages in Gaza
whose locations were unknown.Once warm relations between NATO member
Turkey and Israel hit new lows during the Gaza war, with Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly accusing Israel of “genocide”
and comparing Netanyahu to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.Ankara, which became
a key mediator in the recent Gaza talks, has also said that its armed
forces could serve in a military or civilian capacity as needed.While
Turkey’s role in the future of Gaza is unclear, a Turkish aid
organization designated in Israel as a terror organization published
footage Tuesday showing its personnel conducting aid activities in the
Gaza Strip.The organization, IHH, has been outlawed in Israel due to
ties with Palestinian terror groups and its role in organizing the 2010
Mavi Marmara flotilla to Gaza, and has also been banned in Germany and
the Netherlands.The organization shared video of water being distributed
in the Strip using tankers marked with Turkish flags and the group’s
banners.On October 18, IHH also posted footage of bulldozers clearing
rubble in the territory, also bearing Turkish flags and the
organization’s insignia.In the Mavi Marmara incident, 10 Turkish
activists were killed in a violent confrontation with Israeli naval
commandos aboard a ship that aimed to break Israel’s naval blockade of
Gaza.As for the multinational military force in Gaza, Egypt has emerged
as the expected leader of the ISF, the UK’s The Guardian said.According
to a report published by the outlet on Saturday, the US and European
powers are preparing a UN Security Council motion that would allow the
stabilization force to act under a UN mandate without being considered a
UN peacekeeping force — as Trump’s plan for the ISF does not envision
it being a UN-led operation.Citing unnamed diplomats, The Guardian
reported that Egypt would likely lead the stabilization force, although
Cairo has not issued any statements on the matter, having not yet
publicly committed to contributing troops to the ISF.Indonesia is the
only country to date that has publicly offered to send troops for the
effort, saying last month that it would send 20,000 soldiers to Gaza,
while specifying that it would be under a UN-mandated peacekeeping
mission.But the US has also been in talks with other countries to try
and shore up support, and three government officials familiar with the
matter told The Times of Israel on Saturday that Azerbaijan had also
agreed to contribute troops to the ISF.With regard to other countries in
the region, Arab officials have repeatedly told The Times of Israel
that the United Arab Emirates and Qatar do not intend to send troops to
secure Gaza but could still assist with funds or training.
Vance
to meet top IDF generals at Defense Ministry HQ-Netanyahu said to insist
PA have no role in Gaza as US pushes Trump’s plan to end war-Israeli TV
says PM has recently informed US of several red lines regarding Strip’s
future; Trump reportedly pleased he ‘has so far managed to keep both
sides in line’ amid ceasefire By Nava Freiberg and ToI Staff Today, 3:50
amUpdated at 6:45 am-OCT 23,25
While meeting Wednesday with US
Vice President JD Vance, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed
willingness to assist in implementing the next stages of Washington’s
Gaza ceasefire and hostage release plan, Israeli television reported, as
the Trump administration pushes to advance its proposal for ending the
Israel-Hamas war.Citing American and Israeli officials familiar with the
discussions, Channel 12 news said Vance urged Netanyahu to give
Washington time to roll out the plan, to which the premier responded by
showing a readiness to cooperate in the coming phases.In a separate
report, the network said that Netanyahu outlined several red lines to
the US in recent days, including absolute opposition to any Turkish
presence in the Gaza Strip and to the Palestinian Authority or Hamas
playing a governing role there “the day after” the war. He is also said
to have insisted that a full IDF withdrawal would only take place after
Hamas is fully disarmed and the Strip demilitarized.However, an Israeli
security official told Channel 12 that Washington views Turkey as
essential to the plan’s success and sees no viable alternative to
eventual Palestinian Authority involvement, which could force Netanyahu
into compromise as Washington’s pressure increases.A source close to US
President Donald Trump was quoted by the network as saying that he is
pleased “the United States has so far managed to keep both sides in
line,” referring to Israel and Hamas.The network added that Trump’s top
envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, departed Israel for Riyadh late
Tuesday night, where they met with senior Saudi officials to further
rally support for the deal. From Riyadh, they continued to Abu Dhabi on
Wednesday for meetings with Emirati officials toward the same goal.The
meetings in both countries were aimed at mobilizing financial, military,
and diplomatic backing from Arab states for the deal.The Channel 12
reporting came after Netanyahu’s office vowed to The Times of Israel
earlier Wednesday that “there will be no Turkish involvement” in the
planned International Stabilization Force, which Trump’s 20-point plan
for Gaza envisions will secure the Strip during a transitional postwar
period following Israel’s withdrawal and the disarmament of
Hamas.According to a Sky News Arabia report denied by the Prime
Minister’s Office, Netanyahu and Egypt’s intelligence chief disagreed
over potential Turkish involvement during a meeting the previous day.
That report also said Netanyahu “completely rejected” the deployment of
Palestinian Authority security forces trained by Egypt and Jordan in
Gaza, in a reiteration of his stance against having the PA play any role
in the enclave.Rubio due to arrive for multiday visit-Following Vance
and the Trump envoys, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was due to
arrive in Israel on Thursday, with the State Department saying the
purpose of the trip is “to support the successful implementation of
President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza, which
has garnered unprecedented international support.”“During his visit, the
secretary will reaffirm America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s
security and engage with partners to build on the historic momentum
towards durable peace and integration in the Middle East,” added a State
Department statement.Rubio is scheduled to be in Israel until Saturday,
then visit Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.It was not immediately clear
if he would be in Israel at the same time as Vance, who is slated to
visit Tel Aviv on Thursday for a meeting at the Defense Ministry
headquarters, resulting in major street closures in the central
city.According to Channel 12, Vance will meet at the Kirya base with
Defense Minister Israel Katz, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, IDF
Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Operations Directorate head Maj.
Gen. Itzik Cohen and Military Intelligence Directorate commander Maj.
Gen. Shlomi Binder, with the generals expected to update the US vice
president on “all the coordination operations currently taking place in
Gaza.”Vance on Wednesday toured the City of David National Park near
Jerusalem’s Old City, according to a spokesperson for the site. Signing
the guestbook at the park, Vance wrote: “Thank you for preserving this
place, a global heritage site for all the children of Abraham.”During
his visit, the vice president walked the entire length of the recently
opened Pilgrimage Road — a newly excavated tunnel that foundation
archaeologists say was used during the Second Temple period (516 BCE–70
CE) by Jewish pilgrims making their way to the Temple Mount, the holiest
site for Jews.Last month, Rubio participated in the opening ceremony of
the road, alongside Netanyahu and US Ambassador to Israel Mike
Huckabee.Rubio’s participation drew attention to controversy over the
site’s location in East Jerusalem’s Silwan neighborhood, amid reports at
the time that the secretary was supportive of Israel annexing the West
Bank in response to Western states recognizing a Palestinian state.The
visit underscored the Trump administration’s continued backing of
initiatives viewed by critics as reinforcing Israel’s claims to East
Jerusalem, which Palestinians regard as the capital of a future
state.Agencies contributed to this report.
Headed for Israel,
Rubio says Knesset’s vote to annex threatens Trump’s Gaza plan-Top US
diplomat says endorsement of West Bank sovereignty ‘might be
counterproductive,’ US president has ‘made clear’ annexation ‘not
something we’d be supportive of right now’By Agencies and Jacob Magid
Today, 10:01 am-OCT 23,25
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said
Wednesday night that the Knesset’s move toward annexing the West Bank
could threaten President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Israel-Hamas
conflict in Gaza.“They passed a vote in the Knesset, but the president
has made clear that’s not something we’d be supportive of right now,”
Rubio told reporters before taking off for Israel. “We think there’s
potential for [it to be even] threatening to the peace deal.”The Knesset
on Wednesday passed, in a preliminary reading, a bill that would apply
Israeli sovereignty to all West Bank settlements — as well as another,
more limited bill to annex a major city-settlement — despite opposition
from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and most of his Likud party. The
legislation then went to committee for deliberations and revisions, and
must pass three more votes in the Knesset.Last month, Trump broke his
silence on potential Israeli annexation of the West Bank amid mounting
Arab opposition, vowing that he wouldn’t allow such a move to take
place.“They’re a democracy, people are going to have their votes, people
are going to take these positions, but at this time we think… it might
be counterproductive,” Rubio added.The top US diplomat will land in
Israel Thursday “to support the successful implementation of President
Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza, which has
garnered unprecedented international support,” according to the State
Department.“During his visit, the secretary will reaffirm America’s
unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and engage with partners to
build on the historic momentum towards durable peace and integration in
the Middle East,” it added. Rubio is set to join US Vice President JD
Vance, who arrived in Israel earlier this week, as top US officials
continue to press both Jerusalem and Hamas to stick to the ceasefire
agreement reached the week before and advance to its next stages.All but
one Likud lawmaker boycotted the Knesset votes on annexation: MK Yuli
Edelstein, who broke ranks to vote in favor, casting a decisive vote and
helping the bill on annexation of all settlements scrape by, 25-24.In a
statement, Netanyahu’s Likud party dismissed the bills as opposition
“trolling… aimed at damaging our relations with the US and Israel’s
great achievements in the campaign” in Gaza.“We strengthen settlement
every day with actions, budgets, construction, industry, and not with
words,” the party said.Many in Netanyahu’s coalition have been loudly
calling to advance annexation as a response to the recognition of a
Palestinian state by Western powers last month. In early September,
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly called for the annexation of
82 percent of the West Bank, even as regional countries warned that such
a move would spell the end of Israel’s integration into the Middle
East.Other senior members of the cabinet, including Justice Minister
Yariv Levin and Defense Minister Israel Katz, have also endorsed
annexation. This summer, the Knesset overwhelmingly approved a
non-binding motion in favor of applying Israeli sovereignty in the West
Bank.However, Trump has ruled out such a move, stating last month that
he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, and prompting
Netanyahu’s coalition allies to insist that the premier ignore
Washington.“I’m not allowing Israel to annex the West Bank,” Trump
repeated. “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”The Prime
Minister’s Office is concerned that efforts to annex the West Bank could
spark a diplomatic crisis with Washington, the Kan public broadcaster
reported last week.Without US support, Israel is much less likely to go
ahead with the move, which would have diminished significance without
backing from the world’s leading superpower and spark massive
international backlash.A top Emirati official warned in an exclusive
interview with The Times of Israel last month that annexation would be a
“red line” that would mark the “end” of regional integration.And Saudi
Arabia on Wednesday denounced the Knesset’s moves toward annexation,
saying they were aimed at “legitimizing Israeli sovereignty over illegal
colonial settlement.”“The kingdom stresses its complete rejection of
all settlements and expansionist violations perpetrated by the Israeli
occupation authorities,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The kingdom reiterates its support for the inherent and historical
right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on
the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with
relevant international resolutions.”The statement also called to “put an
end to all blatant Israeli attacks on the Palestinian territories and
and the Palestinian people, and advance the peace process based on the
implementation of the two-state solution, thus achieving security and
stability in the region.”
Israel deports 32 foreign activists who
helped West Bank Palestinians harvest olives-Deportation notice accuses
activists of violating ‘a military commander’s order’ and belonging to
Union of Agricultural Work Committees, which Israel designates as a
terror group By AFP and ToI Staff Today, 5:17 am-OCT 23,25
Justice
Minister Yariv Levin said Wednesday he had ordered the deportation of
32 foreign activists who had helped Palestinians harvest olives in the
West Bank, on the grounds they violated a military order.Levin said the
deportation order came after a complaint filed by Samaria Regional
Council chief Yossi Dagan, who said the activists were “anarchists who
carried out provocations in the Samaria area,” using the biblical term
for the northern West Bank.Rudy Schulkind, a 30-year-old British
national among the deported, told AFP he had come to the West Bank to
support Palestinian farmers.This year’s olive season has been
particularly violent, with several acts of vandalism and attacks from
Israeli settlers.Foreign activists often provide a presence meant to
deter these incidents in rural West Bank areas.Schulkind said he was
held 72 hours by Israeli forces before being deported on October 19.“We
were arrested after they declared the area we were harvesting in as a
military zone,” he said, alleging that this was a common Israeli tactic
against Palestinians.He added that all 32 international volunteers were
arrested in an olive grove near the West Bank city of Nablus.Schulkind
said that he and the other volunteers “were never brought before a
judge,” during their detention.UAWC, a Palestinian non-profit
organization that focuses on agricultural development, was labelled by
Israel as a terrorist organization in 2021 along with five other NGOs,
in a ruling condemned by the UN.Schulkind did not disclose which
organization he came with, but Fuad Abu Seif, researcher at UAWC and the
organization’s former director, told AFP the volunteers came under a
so-called “National Campaign” organized by many Palestinian NGOs and the
Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority’s ministry of agriculture.Abu Seif
said the UAWC is a member of that campaign, but not an organizer.For
its part, the Palestinian Authority foreign ministry condemned the
arrests.
THESE LYING
DEVIL DEATH CULT ARAB MURDERERS. THEY SURE WERE NOT STARVED OR
RAPED.LIKE THIS PEDOPHILE DEATH CULT ARAB,MUSLIMS DO. THEY CAN CRY FOUL
BUT THE NUKES WILL TAKE CARE OF THESE USELESS EATING DEATH CULTISTS.
Gazans
released by Israel in ceasefire deal allege mistreatment and abuse in
prison-Civil rights groups say overwhelming majority of detainees are
held incommunicado for months, denied access to evidence against them,
and never charged By Jeremy Sharon-Today, 10:35 am-OCT 23,25
Under
the terms of the ceasefire deal with Hamas, Israel released not only
250 convicted Palestinian terrorists but also some 1,700 Gazans who were
apprehended by Israeli security forces inside Gaza during the course of
the war and detained.Unlike the convicted prisoners, these detainees
were never charged with a crime or put on trial, and the overwhelming
majority were held incommunicado in Israeli prisons for many
months.Israel claimed that these detainees were connected directly or
indirectly to terrorist organizations, but human rights groups and UN
agencies have accused the Israeli security services of casting a wide
net inside Gaza to apprehend people for intelligence gathering and other
purposes, and claimed they were not connected to terror groups.Numerous
allegations have also been made by released detainees of severe
mistreatment in Israeli prisons, including beatings, unsanitary
conditions, inadequate and insufficient food, and psychological
torture.Who are the detainees?Throughout the war that began with Hamas’s
invasion and massacre of October 7, 2023, the IDF detained large
numbers of Gazans, apparently on suspicion of involvement in terrorist
activity.Gazans detained by the IDF and the Shin Bet inside Gaza were
apprehended under the terms of the 2002 Law for Incarcerating Illegal
Combatants, and held in Israeli prisons and detention centers.They were
often detained during military operations against terror infrastructure,
including in raids on civilian institutions with a Hamas presence, such
as hospitals, schools, and shelters for displaced persons.A report by
UN Human Rights in July 2024 stated that detainees were also picked up
from residential buildings and at checkpoints when trying to move about
the Strip.In one instance of mass detentions, the IDF issued a statement
on April 1, 2024, saying that it had apprehended “500 suspects
affiliated with terrorist organizations” over a two-week period during
its operations surrounding Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, and that those
suspects had been “transferred for further interrogation” by the Shin
Bet and military intelligence.Yuval Biton, a former director of
intelligence in the Israel Prison Service, estimated based on his past
experience that those apprehended in Gaza under the illegal combatants
incarceration law “were not directly linked to the murder of Israelis or
[IDF] soldiers,” and certainly had not had any involvement in the
October 7 attack.“It is possible that they were suspected of assisting,
in some kind of indirect activity, such that it was possible to get
information from them,” Biton told The Times of Israel.Terms of
detention-As of early October 2025, there were 2,673 such detainees in
Israel Prison Service prisons, although Hamoked, a group providing legal
assistance for Palestinian detainees, estimates that there are also
several hundred more in a handful of military detention centers.The
detainees are held for six-month terms under the stipulations of the
illegal combatants incarceration law — terms can be, and often were,
renewed by district court judges.These renewals were handed down after
extremely short hearings conducted with the detainee by video conference
with a judge, lasting five to ten minutes, according to Hamoked.The
detainees were denied access to the evidence presented to the judge by
the security services justifying the detention, and the overwhelming
majority of detainees never received access to a lawyer.Even if they
managed to obtain legal representation, their lawyers were also not
shown the evidence.In addition, they were held without visits by the Red
Cross, since the government banned such visits almost immediately after
the October 7 invasion for all Palestinian prisoners and detainees.The
detainees were also not permitted visits by family members, could not
receive phone calls or letters, and were in effect cut off from the
outside world.In May 2024, following legal pressure from civil rights
groups, the IDF set up a system whereby lawyers could visit
detainees.This enabled the relatives of detainees to contact groups such
as Hamoked and arrange for lawyers to visit them in prison.But only
Gazans who knew of the existence of Hamoked, or a few other human rights
groups that provide similar services, were able to coordinate such
visits and learn of the whereabouts of their relatives.Hamoked executive
director Jessica Montell said the vast majority of detainees’ families
were unaware of these organizations. She noted that Hamoked was only
able to facilitate lawyers’ visits for 50 detainees, and said other
groups were similarly only able to contact a few dozen.Treatment in
detention-Detainees released during the course of the war routinely
reported that they had been subjected to severe abuse and mistreatment
while in detention.Affidavits taken by Hamoked lawyers from some of the
detainees they managed to visit while incarcerated and seen by The Times
of Israel back up those claims.One 23-year old man who was a
humanitarian aid truck driver told a Hamoked lawyer in September 2024
that he was detained at a checkpoint in Gaza in April 2024, beaten, told
to admit he was a Hamas operative, and then sent to the notorious Sde
Teiman military detention facility for 45 days before being moved to the
Ofer detention center.He said he was taken to the “Disco” room where he
was exposed to very loud music for what he estimated was an hour or
more, and then taken for interrogation where he was asked about what he
did. In further interrogations he was asked to give details about Hamas
tunnels, and provided information about one tunnel he knew of that was
close to his home, while denying any connection to the terror group.The
man said he had scabies due to unsanitary conditions, a common complaint
among Gazan detainees, and that he had not been able to sleep properly
for 20 days as a result.Another detainee whose age was not given said he
was detained at his home in Khan Younis, and that during detention he
was struck on the head, which caused a large wound, then handcuffed,
blindfolded, loaded onto a bus and beaten again.He was taken to Sde
Teiman, where he was held handcuffed and blindfolded for 96 days,
including at night while in bed, and when going to the bathroom.After
over three months in Sde Teiman he was transferred to Ofer, where he
said conditions were a little bit better since the detainees were only
handcuffed during the day, and were not blindfolded. He also said the
detainees were allowed to speak in Ofer, whereas at Sde Teiman they were
forced to remain silent.The man said it was difficult to properly clean
himself when he went to the bathroom at Ofer due to the handcuffs, and
that in the shower, detainees were given floor cleaner instead of
soap.He also told the lawyer he had not known where he was until the
lawyer visited him and informed him.The Times of Israel has seen
affidavits of 11 other Gazan detainees apprehended under the law for
incarcerating illegal combatants with similar accounts of abuse and
mistreatment.The Israel Prison Service and the IDF have repeatedly
denied abusing or mistreating Palestinian detainees.National Security
Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has authority over the Israel Prison
Service and its policies, has repeatedly boasted of the harsh conditions
he has imposed on Palestinian detainees and prisoners.In February this
year, an IDF reservist was convicted of beating detainees with his fists
and weapon, while they were blindfolded and handcuffed in Sde Teiman.
Five other IDF reservists were indicted the same month on charges of
severely abusing another Palestinian detainee, also at Sde Teiman.
WHO
says it led evacuation of 41 critical patients out of Gaza for medical
care-Head of UN health organization calls ‘for all routes to be opened
to expedite the medical evacuation,’ as Israel keeps Rafah crossing
shuttered until Hamas ‘fulfills’ ceasefire-By Reuters and ToI Staff
Today, 6:35 am-OCT 23,25
The World Health Organization led the
medical evacuation of 41 critical patients and 145 companions out of
Gaza, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on
Wednesday.Around 15,000 Gaza patients are awaiting evacuation, Tedros
said in an X post.“We continue to call on countries to show their
solidarity and for all routes to be opened to expedite the medical
evacuation,” the WHO chief said.Many suffer from injuries sustained
during the two-year-long Israel-Hamas conflict. Others have chronic
conditions such as cancer and heart disease that the enclave’s decimated
health system cannot cope with.During the war, more than 7,000 patients
have been evacuated from Gaza, with Egypt taking more than half of
them.The rate of transfers slowed to a trickle when the Rafah Border
Crossing was shut in May 2024 and Israel seized control. Since a
previous ceasefire collapsed in March, fewer than four patients have
exited daily.Some 15,600 Gazan patients await evacuation, including
3,800 children, the WHO previously said.The Rafah crossing previously
used for patients to exit via Egypt remains closed for transfers, with
Israel saying this week it would remain shuttered until Hamas “fulfills”
its part in the current hostage release and ceasefire deal.Hundreds
have died waiting, medical groups and Palestinian in the Hamas-ruled
enclave say. The WHO, which took over management of the process last
year, said 740 people including 137 children on the list have died since
July 2024.COGAT, the arm of the Israeli military that oversees aid
flows into Gaza, has previously said that approvals are subject to
security checks.
Archaeology'It connects the history of the Land
of Israel to the Bible'-Biblical tax notice: 1st-ever Assyrian
inscription found near Jerusalem’s Temple Mount-2,700-year-old fragment
of pottery suggests Judeans delayed paying their tributes to the empire,
echoing the events described in the book of II Kings By Rossella
Tercatin-22 October 2025, 3:16 pm
An Assyrian inscription dating
to around 2,700 years ago was unearthed in an archaeological excavation
near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City — the first time written
evidence of the relations between the Assyrian Empire and the Kingdom of
Judah has been discovered in the city, the Israel Antiquities Authority
(IAA) announced Wednesday.Inscribed on a pottery fragment 2.5
centimeters (1 inch) in size, the writing mentions a delay in payment,
the first day of the month of Av, and the title of an Assyrian officer,
the “holder of the reins,” a position connected to the royal court known
from Assyrian historical records. The words are written in cuneiform
script in the Akkadian language. Scientific analysis of the clay
confirmed that it came from the Tigris basin region, where several
Assyrian centers were located.The artifact was found in the dirt removed
from an excavation at the Davidson Archaeological Park next to the
Western Wall, conducted by the IAA in collaboration with the City of
David Foundation.According to the experts who studied it, the
inscription was likely a tax notice from the Assyrian emperor to the
Judaean king, echoing the biblical description of how the powerful
empire had turned Judah into a vassal kingdom after destroying the
bordering Kingdom of Israel.“The artifact is probably a fragment of a
bulla, an inscribed royal sealing that served as a short summary of the
content [of the document] it sealed,” Dr. Peter Zilberg of Bar-Ilan
University, an Assyriologist who studied the artifact, told The Times of
Israel in a phone interview. “Many of these inscribed sealings sealed
official documents or letters addressed to very important people.”The
experts dated the artifact to between the end of the 8th century and the
middle of the 7th century BCE, based on stylistic and linguistic
considerations.“It was a period of turmoil,” Zilberg said. “We have the
Hezekiah revolt right against [Assyrian King] Sennacherib. [Hezekiah]
delayed paying taxes for a certain period, leading Sennacherib to march
on Jerusalem.”The military campaign and its fiscal outcome are described
both in the Bible and in Assyrian sources.“In the 14th year of King
Hezekiah, King Sennacherib of Assyria marched against all the fortified
towns of Judah and seized them. King Hezekiah sent this message to the
king of Assyria at Lachish: ‘I have done wrong; withdraw from me; and I
shall bear whatever you impose on me. So the king of Assyria imposed
upon King Hezekiah of Judah a payment of 300 talents of silver and 30
talents of gold,” reads II Kings (18:13-14).The military campaign and
the exorbitant tributes imposed on Judah were also recorded on the
Sennacherib prisms, clay cylinders inscribed with a detailed account of
the king’s deeds.“Unfortunately, the fragment does not include the exact
year of the inscription, as the part that would have carried it broke
off,” Zilberg said.He said such incidents could have also happened on
other occasions, under Hezekiah’s successors.“Yet, [the inscription]
echoes the biblical story of delaying paying taxes to the Assyrians, and
this is really important,” Zilberg noted.“It is a wonderful addition to
the history of the relations between Judah and Assyria,” he added. “We
already knew from documents that were found in Assyria that there were
Judean emissaries in the court of the Assyrian king and Judean travelers
or merchants doing business in Assyria. Now, for the first time, we
have evidence from Jerusalem and not from Assyria.”Zilberg expressed
hope that the archaeologists could find another fragment of the
inscription in the future. He added that the sealing was identified with
“other amazing finds due to be published soon.”Sifting through
Jerusalem’s history-The inscription was discovered by a staff member of
the “Archaeological Experience” at the Emek Tzurim National Park, where
dirt from various archaeological excavations is brought in for sifting
in a joint project by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the City
of David Foundation (the Temple Mount Sifting Project is also located
nearby).The dirt was excavated from the edge of Jerusalem’s central
drainage canal, dating from around 2,000 years ago.“Our excavation
focuses on the drainage canal from the Second Temple Period, but at its
end, we found an area where the drainage from the later period did not
survive, and we uncovered an impressive structure from the First Temple
period,” IAA excavation director Dr. Ayala Zilberstein told The Times of
Israel. “This special inscription came from there.”According to
Zilberstein, the discovery suggests that the structure on the slope of
the hill west of the Temple served as an administrative center, as
testified by other sealings that have been uncovered in the remains of
the building and have not been disclosed to the public yet.“We knew that
this massive building belonged to the end of the First Temple Period
[8th-7th centuries BCE] based on its architecture, but as we have been
sifting through the dirt, we have been finding more and more evidence of
administrative activities at a high level, by people who were connected
to the court and the king,” she said. “This inscription proves that we
are talking about a very important place.”Zilberg explained that at the
time, peoples across the Near East, including the Judeans and
Israelites, used the Mesopotamian calendar.“The calendar that Jews use
today is almost exactly like the Mesopotamian calendar,” he noted.The
researchers also analyzed the mineralogical characteristics of the clay
to determine its provenance.“The material is entirely different from the
local raw materials typically used to produce pottery, bullae, and clay
documents in Jerusalem and the southern Levant,” Dr. Anat
Cohen-Weinberger from the IAA said in a statement, referring to the
region of modern Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan.“The bulla’s mineral
composition generally corresponds to the geology of the Tigris Basin
region, where the central cities of the Assyrian kingdom were located,
such as Nineveh, Ashur, or Nimrud/Kalḫu,” she added. “A chemical
analysis of the bulla’s composition is currently being conducted in
collaboration with Dr. Yehudit Harlavan of the Geological Survey of
Israel to precisely determine its provenance.”Zilberg stressed the
importance of collaboration between several scholars and fields in
extracting such essential information from such a small piece of
clay.“We have the connection between archeology, history, and science,”
he said. “This artifact is very, very important in connecting the
history of the Land of Israel to the Bible and to the history of the
ancient Near East as a whole.”“For me as a historian, this is somewhat
of a flashlight in the fog of history,” he added. “There is so much that
we do not know, and then these inscriptions come in and shine a very
particular light on a very particular subject. It is very exciting.”
On
Mount of Olives, monks and nuns harvest olives as a form of prayer-At
place where Jesus was said to have spent his last night before
crucifixion, devout Christians and volunteers keep alive a millennia-old
tradition By AP and ToI Staff Today, 11:23 am-OCT 23,25
Come
October, monks and nuns are busy harvesting olives at the Mount of
Olives and the Gethsemane garden — where, according to the Gospel, Jesus
spent the last night before being taken up the other side of the valley
into Jerusalem to be crucified.For two years, the Gaza war has cast a
pall on the Holy Land. The hundreds of centuries-old olive trees here
have shaken periodically in missile attacks targeting Israel.But this
year’s harvest happened as a ceasefire agreement was reached, spreading a
tenuous hope for peace — peace that olive branches have symbolized
since the biblical story of the dove that brought one back to Noah’s Ark
to signify the end of the flood.“The land is a gift and the sign of a
divine presence,” said the Rev. Diego Dalla Gassa, a Franciscan in
charge of the harvest in the hermitage next to Gethsemane. The word
Gethsemane is derived from the ancient Aramaic’s and Hebrew’s “oil
press.”For Dalla Gassa and the other mostly Catholic congregations on
the hill, harvesting olives to make preserves and oil is not a business
or even primarily a source of sustenance for their communities. Rather,
it’s a form of prayer and reverence.“To be the custodian of holy sites
doesn’t mean only to guard them, but to live them, physically but also
spiritually,” he added. “It’s really the holy sites that guard
us.”Harvesting olives by hand on the Mount of OlivesEarly on a recent
morning, Dalla Gassa traded his habit for a T-shirt and shorts — albeit
with an olive wood cross around his neck — and headed to the terraces
facing Jerusalem’s Old City.The bright sun shone off the golden dome of
Al-Aqsa Mosque, visible above the walls encircling the Temple Mount —
the holiest site in Judaism — alongside the bell towers of Christian
churches.Dalla Gassa and some volunteers, ranging from Jewish Israelis
to visiting Italian law enforcement officers, picked the black and green
olives by hand and with tiny rakes, dropping them onto nets under the
trees.Once they filled a wheelbarrow, Dalla Gassa put on ear covers and
got the loud, modern press humming. Soon, the fragrance of freshly
pressed green oil filled the air. It takes up to 10 kilograms (22
pounds) of olives to make one liter (34 ounces) of extra-virgin
oil.Harvesting as a form of prayer-Up the hill from the Franciscan
convent, Sister Marie Benedicte walked among more olive trees cradling
the adopted kitty she has named “Petit Chat,” little cat in French.“It’s
easy to pray while picking and nature is so beautiful,” she said later,
while starting her harvest. “It’s like a retreat time.”For more than
two decades, the French nun has been in the Benedictine monastery
founded at the end of the 19th century atop the Mount of Olives. Only
half a dozen sisters live there now, their day flowing in a 16-hour
rhythm of work, contemplative walks in the garden, and prayer.“It’s very
quiet here, very simple,” said Sister Colomba, who is from the
Philippines and is in charge of ensuring there’s always enough olive oil
in the church lamps to keep them burning by the tabernacle.Olive trees
are an essential crop in this desert region where they’ve grown for
millennia. For decades they’ve been at the heart of sometimes-violent
land disputes between Palestinians and some Jewish settlers in the West
Bank. Israel gained control of the territory in the 1967 Six Day War
along with East Jerusalem, where the Mount of Olives is.The
congregations on the hill do not have commercial productions, dedicating
the vast majority of the oil to their own use, both in the kitchen and
for sacraments. Many Christians use oil, blessed by clergy during an
annual Chrism Mass, for rituals ranging from anointing the sick to
blessing the baptized and new altars.‘Only good when pressed’: Olives
and religious symbolism-For the religious brothers and sisters living
among these trees, the harvest itself is spiritual and full of
symbolism.“In picking the olives, we learn how we are picked. We go
looking for that last olive — that’s what God does with us, even those
who are a bit hard to reach,” said Dalla Gassa.Squeezing a plump green
olive between his fingers, he also spoke of the sacrifice that comes
with fulfilling one’s vocation of love for God and neighbor.“The olive
is only good when pressed. It’s the same for us,” said Dalla Gassa.The
volunteers who have been harvesting this year share in the transcendent
experience as much as in the dusty, hot working days.“The garden is very
special. It’s full of spirituality and holiness,” said Ilana
Peer-Goldin, who on a recent morning was helping Dalla Gassa with the
harvest. An Israeli raised in Jerusalem, she draws from Jewish, Catholic
and Buddhist practices.Teresa Penta, who is from Puglia, Italy — one of
the Mediterranean area’s top olive-producing regions — has spent 13
years in the hermitage next to Gethsemane.“This place has an eternal
charm,” she said.The modern olive press has been in place only a few
years. She said it added special meaning, returning Gethsemane to its
original function.This year’s harvest has been meager because of drought
and fierce springtime winds that damaged the blossoms. Still, other
congregations have been sending their olives to be processed by the
monastery of Latrun, about halfway between Jerusalem and Tel
Aviv.Latrun’s Trappist monks also have olive trees and vines, though
thousands of them were destroyed by a devastating fire this
spring.Walking to the olive press outside the abbey church in his
black-and-white habit, Brother Athanase said the oil and wine production
helps the friars earn their living. But the end goal is different for
the contemplative religious.“To create the empty space while working
with repetitive gesture, to be completely available to our Lord, Jesus
Christ,” he said. “It’s a life to be received completely.”
'This
has brought me closer to God' What hath God wrought? After Oct. 7, many
Israelis respond with turn to spirituality-Data shows that as many as
half of Israelis may have reexamined their bond with religion, with some
finding new meaning in Jewish beliefs and others turning away-By
Rossella Tercatin-Today, 2:49 am
On August 23, 2024, Mika Majzner
and Elad Dubnov got married in Be’eri, the first wedding in the kibbutz
synagogue since the October 7, 2023, Hamas atrocities that ravaged the
community and the rest of the Gaza border region.The ceremony marked the
couple’s second wedding. The couple had gotten married nearly two years
earlier on a farm near Be’eri, where Mika was born and raised before
moving to Tal Shahar in central Israel. The wedding was conducted by a
member of Harabanut Hahilonit, literally “the secular rabbinate,” an
organization that serves the secular public by performing Jewish
ceremonies — which are not recognized by the State of Israel.“Our
original wedding was on October 7, 2022, and a year later, we woke up to
our anniversary with the world imploding on us,” Majzner told The Times
of Israel by phone recently.Majzner said that despite coming from a
secular family, she had felt an affinity to God and religion even before
October 7. But she opposed the ultra Orthodox-controlled Chief
Rabbinate, which in Israel is the only institution officially allowed to
perform and register Jewish weddings.After tragedy struck, the couple
decided to get married again — “I was not willing to have my wedding
anniversary to be forever on the worst day of my life,” Majzner said —
but this time they decided to go through the Rabbinate, a reflection of a
religious awakening experienced in the wake of the death and
destruction of that day.Two years after the Hamas attack that left some
1,200 Israelis dead, 251 kidnapped, and thousands wounded, data suggests
that the massacre and ensuing war have impacted many Israelis’
relationship with Judaism, God, and spirituality in general. Often, as
in the case of Majzner, the events have drawn people closer to religion
and spirituality.“I believe there are people who, as a result of the
tragedy, distanced themselves from religion, and there are those who got
closer to religion, or to God,” Majzner noted. “I personally feel that
this has brought me closer to God.”According to data released by the
Central Bureau of Statistics last month, approximately 43 percent of
Jewish adults in Israel describe themselves as secular, while 23% call
themselves religious, which in Israel generally means Orthodox. A little
less than half of those in the religious camp say they are Haredi, or
ultra-Orthodox.Another 22% of the total Jewish population self-describes
as traditional but not so religious, while 12% call themselves
traditional and to some degree religious.Earlier this year, the
religious rights group Hiddush, which advocates for the separation of
religion and state, polled a representative sample of 800 Jewish
Israelis ages 18 and older on whether “the October 7 massacre and the
fighting on all fronts that followed affected your belief in God.”A full
quarter of respondents answered that the attack and its aftermath had
strengthened their faith, compared to 7% that said it weakened their
faith. At the same time, 55% reported no impact on belief, while some
13% responded they did not have an opinion on the matter. Pollsters set
the margin of error at 3.5%.A separate study conducted by scholars from
the Hebrew University of Jerusalem of some 1,200 students found that in
the first six months after October 7 just over half of the respondents
(50.9%) reported a change in either religiosity, spirituality, or
both.While religiosity and spirituality often overlap, the former
generally refers to the adherence to more organized and formal
practices, while the latter refers to more personal and informal
beliefs, said Yaakov Greenwald, one of the authors of the
paper.One-third of respondents reported an increase in spirituality,
compared to 9% who said it went down. Asked separately about
religiosity, one quarter said it had gone up and nearly 14% reported a
decrease.“Half of the participants said they changed in some way; it is a
lot of people,” said Greenwald, one of the authors of the paper.
“Another notable result is that increases were much more common than
decreases.”The study, published last month in the International Journal
for the Psychology of Religion, did not use a representative sample:
half of the participants identified as secular (50.9%), followed by
religious (25.3%), traditional (16.9%), and ultra-Orthodox
(2.5%).Greenwald noted that it was difficult to draw clear conclusions
from the survey due to the lack of comparable studies, including from
other parts of the world, or anything resembling a control sample of
Israel “in normal times.”“I am not exactly sure what a normal time in
this country is, but I would contend that probably, we wouldn’t find
such high rates of change outside of the war context,” he said.The study
also found that people were more likely to report a change to their
beliefs the more the war impacted them personally.“We found a
correlation between participants’ direct exposure to the war and the
extent to which [their connection to religion or spirituality]
increased,” Greenwald said.Data shared with The Times of Israel from the
moderate Orthodox organization Tzohar also showed possible evidence of a
spiritual revival in the wake of the October 7 attack.According to the
data from the end of September, Tzohar held or was set to hold 1,218 bar
mitzvahs this year, compared to 999 in 2024 and 747 in 2023. Its rabbis
officiated 4,021 weddings, compared to 4,050 in 2024 and 3,372 in 2023,
and a spokesperson said that the number of weddings for 2025 could
still grow as more couples approached the group.On Yom Kippur, the group
ran 426 prayer centers this year, compared to 406 in 2024 and 359 in
2023.“Something very deep is occurring to us as a society,” Tzohar’s
chairman Rabbi David Stav told The Times of Israel in a phone
conversation. “People are looking for something meaningful.”Stav also
mentioned several anecdotal examples, from a new documentary series just
released by the Israeli Broadcasting Company Kan, “God will keep [us]”
to conversations he had with a friend who teaches Bible in a secular
high school and whose students had shown increased interest in the
subject since October 7The rabbi stressed that Tzohar primarily serves
secular families in Israel.“By definition, we do not turn to the
observant, to the ultra-Orthodox or Orthodox populations, and even to
the more traditional people, who usually have their own rabbis and
communities,” he said.“Our public is mostly secular, which means that
they have no prior connection to religion,” he added.He noted that many
families approaching the organization to celebrate the bar mitzvahs of
their sons had never set foot in a synagogue.“Now they want their boy to
read from the Torah,” he said. “It is happening at an unprecedented
rate.”A ‘group’ effect?Still, data from both the Hiddush and Hebrew
University studies indicated that most of those experiencing a
heightened connection to religion or spirituality were already coming
from a place of faith.“We see that people who describe themselves as
secular stay secular, and people who describe themselves as religious
stay religious,” said Yifat Solel, deputy director and legal adviser of
Hiddush. “Maybe religious people are seeking more religion, but it is
not as if we see anything that says that secular people are becoming
religious.”In the Hiddush survey, nearly half of the respondents from
the ultra-Orthodox, religious and traditional camps reported that their
faith had been strengthened, while the percentages saying that their
beliefs had weakened was in the single digits.Among those who said they
were “traditional but not close to religion,” one-third said their faith
had been bolstered, while few said it had decreased. Among secular
respondents, 11% reported higher levels of religiosity and 10% went in
the opposite direction.The Hebrew University survey also registered a
similar phenomenon, finding that 12.4% of secular respondents reported
an increase in religiosity, while 16.2% reported a decrease. However,
one in four of the secular respondents did say their spirituality went
up, more than double the number who said it had dissipated.According to
Greenwald, a “group effect” was likely responsible for drawing more
people closer to spirituality.“When people are faced with death, one of
the things they try to do is to be a part of something greater than
themselves,” he noted.While spirituality represents one of the
frameworks through which some seek this type of connection, an
additional option can be the striving to be “a valued member of a
society or a culture,” Greenwald noted.“People want to be valued members
of their group, so they become more embedded in what they already are,”
he said. “If they belong to a religious group, they are more likely to
become more religious; if they are secular, they are more likely to
become more secular, embracing secular values, or more spiritual, which
is also important in that group.”Stav also perceived what Tzohar is
witnessing as a quest for spirituality rather than an adherence to
formal religious commandments.“People will not become observant,” he
said. “They look for a connection with God, and they believe that the
connection with God comes through prayers, comes through behaviors, not
necessarily through religion in the traditional sense. They want to be
connected to God and at the same time to keep their regular
lifestyle.”Where was God on October 7?For some, witnessing the horrors
that unfolded on October 7 and the following two years has created a
crisis of faith.“Since October 7, I have no longer been able to say
blessings,” said Daniela Fubini.“I freeze at the word Adonai,” she told
The Times of Israel, referring to a Hebrew word for God. “I say it with a
heavy heart, no longer believing that the blessing really goes
anywhere.”Born and raised in Italy, Fubini, 53, moved to Israel in 2007.
After a decade in Tel Aviv, she moved to her husband’s hometown of
Kochav Michael in southern Israel, where they currently live there with
their son, 4.“I was never fully religious, but I had always been
traditional,” she said. “I always considered the religious side of
Judaism as a system of rules to keep, share with families and friends,
and transmit to the new generation, as a real gift.”Fubini shared that
on October 7, “something broke,” and she stopped feeling the direct
connection between Jews and God, which she used to feel so proud of.“We
had friends who were killed by Hamas terrorists, and it took days for
their bodies to be identified,” she recalled. “And then the horrors of
the pogrom, brutalized children, burned bodies… I was not alive during
the Holocaust, but I have not been able to find an answer to the
question of where God was on October 7.”She said that she still tries to
recite blessings or keep other commandments for the sake of her son, so
as not to deprive him of the experience, but it feels “empty.”For
decades after the Holocaust, Jews and others wrestled with the question
of “where was God,” a query that for many maintains its potency as they
look back on the events of October 7.In 1974, at a New York symposium
exploring the idea of God after Auschwitz, a professor recalled a case
in which one synagogue put God on trial and found Him guilty.Yet at the
same symposium, the writer Alfred Kazin challenged the audience by
asking how Jews could live without faith.“In some way our long strange
consistency through the ages argues that there is a greater meaning to
our existence as Jews than we know,” he said, according to a
contemporaneous New York Times account. “God lives.”Ultimately, both
Greenwald and Stav stressed that it remains to be seen how the changes
Israelis have experienced since October 7 will evolve over time.“In
general, people tend to remain relatively stable over their life [in
their connection to religion],” Greenwald said. “Everyone grows and
evolves, but studies on this topic show that religiosity is a relatively
stable construct.”“These changes may solidify over time, but it’s also
possible that people will revert back to what they were before,” he
added.Stav, who views the current change as a positive development,
expressed concern that people might ultimately be disappointed by their
newly adopted spirituality.“When someone prays to God for the first
time, urging Him to fulfill their request, and this does not happen, it
can create frustration,” the rabbi said.Fubini said she has a faint hope
that after the war ends, she will be able to start feeling something
different.“So far, I have felt in a suspended state, as if we were stuck
on October 7,” she noted. “The end of the war will finally mark a new
day, and maybe slowly, something in me will wake up again. But
everything needs to be rebuilt from scratch.”
650+ US rabbis sign
letter opposing Mamdani and the ‘political normalization’ of
anti-Zionism-Letter calling to ‘defend the Jewish future’ rejects ‘false
choice’ of ‘treating Jewish self-determination as a negotiable ideal or
Jewish inclusion as something to be granted’By JTA and ToI Staff Today,
1:23 am-OCT 23,25
As the New York mayoral election draws near, a
group of 650 rabbis and cantors from across the United States have
signed onto a letter voicing their opposition to mayoral frontrunner
Zohran Mamdani and the “political normalization” of anti-Zionism.The
letter, titled “A Rabbinic Call to Action: Defending the Jewish Future,”
cites Mamdani’s defense of the phrase “Globalize the Intifada,” which
he has since said he would “discourage”; his refusal to acknowledge
Israel’s existence as a Jewish state; and his repeated accusations
against Israel of genocide in Gaza. Mamdani has also vowed to arrest
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York.The letter
quotes Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, the leader of the Stephen Wise Free
Synagogue on the Upper West Side, who told his congregants in a YouTube
address last week that Mamdani’s rhetoric will “delegitimize the Jewish
community and encourage and exacerbate hostility toward Judaism and
Jews.”Hirsch was also one of the signatories on the letter, which
included a wide range of rabbis and cantors from over 30 states as well
as Toronto. It was organized by the new Jewish Majority advocacy group,
led by AIPAC veteran Jonathan Schulman.About 60 rabbis across
denominations in New York City signed on, including Rabbi Joshua
Davidson of the Reform Temple Emanu-El on the Upper East Side, Rabbi
David Ingber of the progressive synagogue Romemu on the Upper West Side
and the 92nd Street Y and Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of the Orthodox
Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun on the Upper East Side.Gerald Weider, a
rabbi emeritus at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, where Mamdani
spoke earlier this month at the invitation of its current rabbi, also
signed on.Other influential rabbis across the country who signed on
include the author and former leader of Los Angeles’ Conservative Sinai
Temple Rabbi David Wolpe and Rabbi Denise Eger, the first openly LGBTQ+
rabbi to head the Central Conference of American Rabbis.While New York
City rabbis, including Hirsch, have previously voiced their opposition
to endorsing candidates from the pulpit, that norm appears to have been
set aside as Mamdani carves out a significant edge ahead of the November
4 election.“We will not accept a culture that treats Jewish
self-determination as a negotiable ideal or Jewish inclusion as
something to be ‘granted,’” the letter says. “The safety and dignity of
Jews in every city depend on rejecting that false choice.”“We call on
all Americans who value peace and equality to participate fully in the
democratic process in order to stand up for candidates who reject
antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric, and who affirm Israel’s right to
exist in peace and security,” the letter continues. “Now is the time for
everyone to unite across political and moral divides, and to reject the
language that seeks to delegitimize our Jewish identity and our
community.”The letter quotes Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of the Conservative
Park Avenue Synagogue on the Upper East Side, who urged his congregants
during a sermon last week not only to vote against Mamdani but to
convince other Jews they know to do the same.“We also call on our
interfaith and communal partners to stand with the Jewish community in
rejecting this dangerous rhetoric and to affirm the rights of Jews to
live securely and with dignity,” the letter concluded.
WORLD TERRORISM
GENESIS 6:11-13
11
The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with
violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the
earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and,
behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
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.
2 Peter 3:6-7 Amplified Bible (AMP) (HOT SUN, NUKES ETC)
6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
7
By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,
being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
LUKE 21:25-26
25
And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in
the moon,(MAN ON THE MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the
stars;(ASTEROIDS-PROPHECY SIGNS) 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)
GENESIS 16:11-12
11
And the angel of the LORD said unto her,(HAGAR) Behold, thou art with
child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;(FATHER OF
THE ARAB/MUSLIMS) because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And
he (ISHMAEL-FATHER OF THE ARAB-MUSLIMS) will be a wild (DONKEY-JACKASS)
man;(ISLAM IS A FAKE AND DANGEROUS SEX FOR MURDER CULT) his hand will be
against every man,(ISLAM HATES EVERYONE) and every man's hand against
him;(PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM BEING BEHEADED) and he (ISHMAEL
ARAB/MUSLIM) shall dwell in the presence of all his
brethren.(LITERAL-THE ARABS LIVE WITH THEIR BRETHERN JEWS)
ISAIAH 14:12-14
12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,(SATAN) son of the
morning!(HEBREW-CRECENT MOON-ISLAM) how art thou cut down to the ground,
which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine
heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars
of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the
sides of the north:
14 I (SATAN HAS EYE TROUBLES) will ascend above
the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.(AND 1/3RD OF
THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN FELL WITH SATAN AND BECAME DEMONS)
JOHN 16:2
2
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that
whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.(ISLAM
MURDERS IN THE NAME OF MOON GOD ALLAH OF ISLAM)
And here are the
bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either through war or
peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and only Israels
land. They will have every inch God promised them of this land in the
future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan,
Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the Western Half of Iraq
west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11, Gen 15:18, Exe
23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL DEFINATELY OWN IN
THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES INHERIT LAND IN THE
FUTURE.
Joel 3:2-King James Version (YOU DIVIDE JERUSALEM IN
HALF - YOUR POKING GOD IN THE EYE - GOD SAYS AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A
TOOTH FOR A TOOTH- YOU WANNA DIVIDE JERUSALEM IN HALF - HALF OF EARTHS
POPULATION 4 BILLION DIE ON EARTH.
2 I will also gather all nations,
and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead
with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have
scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
THERES
A REAL LIBERAL NUTJOB ANTIFA CULTIST ON POKERSTARS.ONT POKER SITE WERE I
PLAY FAKE MONEY ONLY. HE SAID TO ME. ANTIFA HAS TONS OF PEOPLE. THEY
CLAIME THEY WILL RULE. AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER HOGWASH. HE SAID WE ANTIFA
WILL WIN. WELL I RETURNED A MESSAGE ON THE CHAT AND SAID. A NUKE WILL
GET RID OF YOU ANTIFA CULTISTS. CAN YOU SAY DESOLVED. OPPS-HE LEFT AFTER
THAT REMARK. THEY TALK TOUGH UNTILL YOU SAY A NUKE WILL DISOLVE THESE
ANTIFA CULTISTS.THEN THEY LEAVE INSTANTLY WITH THEIR TAILS BETWEEN THEIR
LEGS. THESE TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROM DEVILS ARE RIGHT FROM THE PITS OF
HELL ITSELF. GOD WILL GET RIDE OF THESE VIOLENT REBBELIOUS ANTIFA DEATH
CULTISTS. AS WELL AS THE ISLAMIC VIOLENT DEATH CULTISTS AND ARAB DEATH
CULT DEMONS.THESE LIBERAL DEVILS ARE A BUNCH OF POWER HUNGRY NUTJOBS.
WHICH WILL LEAD TO THE ULTIMATE CONTROL FREAK, DECIEVER IN HISTORY. THE
EUROPEAN UNION WORLD DICTATOR.
AND NOW THE DEVIL LIBERAL VIOLENT
NUTJOBS ARE MAKING A SKUNK STINK IN AMERICA. HOW TRUM IS DESTROYING THE
WHITEHOUSE. THE VIEW DEVILS ARE SAYING WHOOPAS NUTCASE WOOPY. THE
WHITEHOUSE IS NOT TRUMPS TO DESTROY. THE LEFT LIBERAL DEMOCRAP DEMON
POSSESSED DEVILS ARE SO MAD THAT TRUMP IS FIXING THE BALLROOM AT THE
WHITEHOUSE.THEY ARE OBSESSED FOOLS THESE DEMONS FROM THE PITS OF HELL
DEMOLIBNUTS.
Antifa’s Cult of Hypocrisy-Theresa Griffin Kennedy-Dec 28, 2021
How
angry would you feel if you were a young Black woman who had been
invited to a peaceful prayer event on Waterfront Park, in Portland,
Oregon and then only minutes after the event began, you and your young
children were repeatedly and violently assaulted and terrified by a
large group of jeering white people, laughing at you, mocking you and
yelling: “HAIL SATAN! Where is your God NOW?”How would you feel if you
learned these white people call themselves “social justice warriors” who
think you, as a black person do NOT understand the realities of racism
and that you need THEM to speak out about what racial injustice means
for you? How would that make you feel? Angry? Well, that is exactly how
Jamee Lynn, Portland resident and a wife and mother, felt when those
very things happened to her and her small children at Waterfront Park,
August 7, 2021 on a beautiful sunny day in the City of Roses.How angry
would you feel if these white people, mostly MEN, then proceeded to
throw rocks at you? Rotten eggs? HUMAN FECAL MATTER? How angry would you
feel if these morally vacant, low-intelligence hypocrites, (who were
all caught on film doing this) then proceeded to “soak” your young Black
son with Bear Mace, terrifying him? How would you feel if these violent
Militants threw Flash Bang explosives into your gathering, all while
screaming against “fascism” and simultaneously demonstrating exactly
what fascism actually is?By virtue of their very own behavior.How would
you feel? If you don’t know how to answer that question, then perhaps
you should think about how a supposed good cause like ANTIFA can
transform into something ugly, vicious and hypocritical. Perhaps
Portland’s elected leaders and politicians should also think about what
happened August 7, 2021, at the Waterfront. Perhaps Ted Wheeler and
Mingus Maps, Dan Ryan and others should think about the reality of the
growing Militant Radicalism that is called ANTIFA and the present danger
these unbalanced people present to Portlanders everywhere.You’ve
probably heard of ANTIFA before, from their violent clashes with two
other radical groups, Patriot Prayer and Proud Boys. But why would
anyone go after peace loving Christians at a prayer gathering? And would
ANTIFA Militants have done the same thing if the gathering had been for
Muslims getting together for a prayer service?These are questions we
all need to ask ourselves and think about.More and more Portlanders are
seeing the harsh reality of how and to what extent, the supposed “Social
Justice Warriors” who call themselves ANTIFA, as in “Anti-fascist” are
actually 99 percent WHITE MALES who are indeed blatantly racist. These
militant radicals have demonstrated they are not interested in promoting
social justice for people of color, but rather in serving only their
pathological selfish needs which the radicalism of the Cult of ANTIFA
seems to temporarily fulfill.Those needs include a lust for violence as a
life affirming action, it becomes a Trauma Bonding experience which
makes ANTIFA Militants feel needed, appreciated, valued and important.
When their lives are for the most part directionless, unfulfilled,
low-income examples of mediocrity and failure in one form or another,
this Cult of Violence gives their lives meaning. Lives where education,
employment and independent living are generally not pursued, but rather
complacent dependence on others for basic needs such as shelter, food
and clothing, donated by others, (oftentimes their parents and
grandparents) rather than earned through work or self-sufficiency.The
polemic manner that ANTIFA Radicals rationalize and justify their
violent behavior is noteworthy and typical of how CULT leaders from
other known cults socially condition, isolate and indoctrinate their
followers. This process helps brainwash new recruits into obedience and
subservience. One of the truest realities is that ANTIFA Militants are
just as violent and indeed more violent than other radical groups like
Patriot Prayer or Proud Boys. And it is only ANTIFA who push the idea of
“killing” a “Proud Boy.”ANTIFA Militants often display home-made
signage that says “NO HATE” and “NO HATE ALLOWED” often with little
kitty and puppy cartoons drawn on the bottom, but their behavior
illustrates exactly how hateful they are. This is just another mechanism
ANTIFA Militants use to try to control the narrative and gaslight
others into believing their routine lies and blatant exaggerations.But
how can ANTIFA Militants, in good conscience, hold up signs that read NO
HATE, and then later assault and injure women, children and infants?
That form of denial is irrational and illogical.There seems to be an
intellectual disconnect with regard to the way ANTIFA people try to
engage in rational thought. Many of the brainwashed ANTIFA Radicals
completely fail to see the level of HATE they have in fact achieved and
promote. They fail to see how inflexible they are and how they cannot
open their minds to anything other than their own narrow radical
thinking. Nor do they comprehend how they project, the way a child
would, all their character defects onto anyone who does not bend to
their radical ideology of dominance.Portland resident Jamee Lynn
Anatello was able to use Facebook Live Stream to show exactly what
happened to her, August 7, 2021, at the hands of white militant radicals
who tried to silence her right as an American to gather with her
friends and engage in peaceful Christian fellowship. The white men and
some white women who gathered, jeering and mocking Jamee Lynn and her
friends, failed to notice that Jamee Lynn is a woman of color. However,
even if they did notice that, it did not matter to them, because in that
moment, she was the enemy and that was all that mattered.August 7,
2021, violent ANTIFA Militants were determined in those chaotic moments
to make Jamee Lynn and all the others gathered, feel as much fear and
terror as they possibly could. And they enjoyed doing so. They “got off
on it” because that is the only way Antifa Militants seem to feel happy,
fulfilled and excited.By invoking terror in the hearts and minds of
other people, by forcing other people to cower in fear — the way a
Fascist would.ANTIFA Radicals seem to garner real happiness and pleasure
from terrorizing other people. They engage in the Tribal Mentality and
Toxic Masculinity that makes the process of Othering people different
from them possible and indeed effortless. And the manner that they
project onto others, accusing them of doing exactly what they are doing,
by abusing and assaulting innocent people is also fascinating in it’s
blatant, transparent hypocrisy and projection.ANTIFA Radicals are blind
to the darkness within themselves.A woman friend of Jamee Lynn was able
to deflect the direction of a rock that a white male ANTIFA Radical had
aimed directly at her infant daughter. This heroic woman placed herself
in harms way in order to protect a small baby that a white male ANTIFA
Radical was trying to kill. She did this by putting her arm in front of
the baby’s face, thereby saving the baby’s life. The truest reality is
that IF this woman had NOT done what she did, Jamee Lynn’s infant
daughter would have been killed.The force and trajectory of the rock was
still able to do a great deal of damage to the woman’s arm. Now,
imagine how much damage the rock would have inflicted, given the
trajectory and force with which it was thrown, had this racist white man
been successful in hitting the infant he was aiming for? Would the
Portland community have been arranging another funeral?The woman who was
hit by the rock, (thrown by the white male Antifa Militant) wishes to
remain anonymous because she fears the low-intelligence, frenzied HATRED
that this new breed of Antifa Militants seems intent on expressing. The
woman does not want to be targeted by anyone from this new Cult of
Hatred, a Cult which pretends to be Anti-fascist, when it fact, it is
not.This anonymous woman who saved Jamee Lynn’s baby daughter was
seriously injured herself with a heavy contusion. The large rock (that
the white male Antifa Militant aimed at Jamee’s baby) left a deep
purple, green and yellow contusion on the woman’s forearm that took
several days to heal. This woman’s arm was painful and swollen for
several days after being attacked and the injury interfered with her
ability to resume her life completely.This was her first experience with
ANTIFA radicals. Not a positive introduction wouldn’t you say?Imagine
if you can, that you were that infants MOTHER. How would you feel?
Imagine how you would feel knowing that your friend was viciously
attacked by a white male “social justice warrior” who clearly does not
understand the first thing about what social justice is, or how to be a
true ally?Jamee Lynn is a lovely, straightforward, intelligent,
well-spoken, loving, responsible and present mother. She is also a
writer with a quick mentality and a sharp understanding between right
and wrong behavior. She readily understands what the realities are being
a Black woman in a town like Portland, where even the white “social
Justice warriors” treat you in racist, reprehensible ways, try to
silence you and think they know better than you about your own lived
Black experience, lived Black experience that they as white people will
never fully comprehend or own.Jamee Lynn has a dedicated husband, father
to her children, who works to support his wife and the eight children
they have between them. They are a peace loving, Christian family who
worship when and how they wish, as any American has the right to do
under the US Constitution. They should never have been discriminated
against simply because they wished to have fellowship with their
Christian friends and family.They are also a family of color, so they
fully understand the difficulties and challenges of dealing with white
Portland racists and white Portland hypocrites who pretend to be allies,
as ANTIFA Radicals routinely do. Sadly, Jamee Lynn, her children, and
her husband know better than any white male Antifa Militant what real
racism is, as they deal with the reality of racism every day.Jamee
Lynn’s young son, the one who was “soaked” with Bear Mace will carry
that traumatic memory with him for the rest of his life. And it is
significant to note that it was NOT a white male police officer or
officers who terrorized this young boy, it was white male Antifa
Militants. These uneducated radicals presumed they had the right to
speak for people of color, while also attacking them and terrorizing
their Black children, rather than listening or asking them them
questions about the reality of racism.That attitude is White Supremacy
at its CORE.It would be amusing if it were not so pathetic, this entire
scenario, but unfortunately this is not fiction. What happened August 7,
2021 was very real. This is no joke. This is actually how these
uneducated radicals really think, if you can call it thinking.They will
justify anything. They will excuse anything. Even the assault of a Black
woman and her young Black children and new baby infant. Any crime can
be justified if it means they get to be violent and feel good about the
violence they hunger for, which is the only thing left that helps them
feel alive. Nothing is exempt in their troubled minds. Nothing is off
limits. Even Mother’s and babies are fair game.When you’re a white male
ANTIFA Radical you can assault whomever you want.And these deluded
militants will LIE at will no matter what stupid moron thing they’ve
done, and no matter who they have hurt, injured or traumatized.But why
would ANTIFA Radicals go after a peaceful group of Christian’s, simply
gathered together to pray? Did they have nothing better to do that day?
It looks like that was the very situation. Their main adversaries,
Patriot Prayer and Proud Boys had been quiet for many months. They had
been dealing with their own legal issues and had been staying out of
trouble.So, bored and with nothing better to do, ANTIFA Militants heard
about a peaceful prayer group and thought that would be a good target to
get out some of their infamous angst at the rest of the world, who
might be having fun without them.How pathetic is that? Seriously, how
pathetic is that?After spending several weeks contacting every single
Media Outlet in Portland, Oregon, and being ignored by all of them,
(terrified as Portland Media is of Antifa Radicals) Jamee Lynn decided
to confront Antifa Radicals themselves and make her own statement. She
very effectively gave them a taste of their own medicine by hijacking
one of their own events.August 21, 2021, Jamee Lynn crashed an Antifa
Press conference and stridently told the assembled smug white
Portlanders exactly what she thought of them. She was eloquent,
articulate and confident as she made her candid statement. These smug
ANTIFA Militants, parading around as the smug White Saviors they long to
be, got an earful when Jamee Lynn took control of the press conference
they had planned and shared her truth as a black woman. She told the
listening audience how ANTIFA Radicals proclaiming to be supposed
“allies” for Black people, assaulted and terrified she and her children,
including dozens of other attendees.Jamee Lynn shared her truth about
how Antifa Militants assaulted her, (a Black woman, and her young Black
children) including her small infant daughter, who narrowly escaped
being killed by the large rock that was thrown directly at her face by a
white male Antifa Militant who was screaming obscenities, laughing like
a crazy person, thrilled apparently, that he was terrifying people,
while yelling: “Where is your God, now?!”Jamee Lynn busted up a one
sided press conference of ANTIFA Terrorists.Jamee was engaged and
confident as she shared what she and her young children survived, and
she shared that truth fearlessly. Even after several of the people
gathered tried to silence her, including the usual white male ANTIFA
Radicals who didn’t want to hear anything she had to say, Jamee would
not be silenced.Another Black woman who was present, a middle-aged
activist with Don’t Shoot Portland also tried to silence Jamee Lynn.
This woman told Jamee that she was also “an anti-fascist” as well, as if
that had anything to do with what Jamee Lynn had been put through at
the hands of racist white people pretending to be social justice
warriors.When Jamee Lynn tried to explain to this other Black woman that
for the past two weeks Antifa Militants had been trying to get her
husband fired from his employment, (he is the sole financial support of a
family of ten) this black woman deflected Jamee’s statement and
ultimately ignored it, scoffing at Jamee Lynn and refusing to either
take her seriously or listen to anything she had to say.It is time for
the people of Portland to fearlessly unmask the LIE of Antifa Militants
and see the CULT for what it is; a Fight Club for deluded miscreants who
lust for violence and chaos more than anything. Because that is the
only thing left that will help them feel alive in a world where they
have no status, have contributed nothing and feel empty, worthless and
ignored.If these troubled people judge others and focus on the faults of
others, if they use the mantle of racism as their justification for
violence, for chaos and for destruction, then they do not have to look
at their own shallow, hollow lives where they have accomplished nothing
and have no happiness, or genuine self-esteem. This is what keeps ANTIFA
Militants committed to the Cult and coming back.IT SERVES THEIR NEEDS
AS NARCISSISTS.* Last week, in preparation for this commentary I sent
emails to fifteen journalists in Portland, for print and online media,
such as The Portland Mercury, Willamette Week, Oregonian, and even The
Portland Tribune. Not ONE of the these cowardly journalists responded to
my question when I asked why they would NOT write honestly and
critically about the growing dangers of ANTIFA Militants. The only
person to respond was one journalist from The Mercury, who included in
her response only three links, but would not answer my simple
question.Not ONE journalist of the fifteen I contacted would answer my
question.That is because the Media in Portland is SCARED. They will
remain silent, even when people of color are being attacked and even
when their small children are being attacked by violence obsessed
ANTIFA. This is what we can expect in Portland. Weak, scared journalists
who will not rock the boat with honest, truthful reporting.The Silence
of Portland Media speaks volumes about the RACISM and WHITE SUPREMACY in
Portland Oregon and in Portland Media.It is time the City of Portland
charges ANTIFA TERRORISTS for the crimes which they commit. It is time
these demented, mentally disturbed sadists are brought to justice and
are held accountable for the HATE CRIMES they commit against Black
people and other people of color, all while screaming BLACK LIVES
MATTER.No more excuses. But that means having a District Attorney who is
NOT in bed with Antifa Militants and currently DA Mike Schmidt IS in
bed with Antifa Militants. He is a supporter, a friend and a devotee of
the entire violent ideology of Antifa Radicals. That needs to change and
that change needs to start now. By awareness. People need to be made
aware just how involved DA Mike Schmidt is, in the underworld of White
Supremacy and ANTIFA.DA Mike Schmidt cannot be allowed to remain on the
side of violence and chaos, idling standing by while the City of
Portland is destroyed. Schmidt cannot be allowed to engage in
Malfeasance in Office any longer, repeatedly allowing violent ANTIFA
repeat offenders to assault women and children, post bail and go out so
they can do it all over again.Mother’s and children and infants,
particularly if they are Black, cannot remain in the crosshairs of
Antifa’s racist militants bent on death and destruction,
anymore.Portland needs a return to the core values of compassion and
love for others, common sense problem solving, economic inclusion and
social equity for all. Portland needs political leaders who do NOT
deceive the public into thinking they believe in those values and then
turn around and allow Portland to become a war zone. As DA Mike Schmidt
has done, with a smile and a shrug as he refuses to prosecute dangerous
repeat offenders who offend again and again, putting all of Portland’s
citizens at risk.Women, children and INFANTS must be protected against
the violent white racist men of the ANTIFA Cult of Hypocrisy.Theresa
Griffin-Kennedy: I am freelance writer of creative nonfiction, a poet,
fiction writer, history writer and contributing columnist for The online
Portland Alliance Newspaper, the news website GoLocalPDX and the
literary online magazine Live Encounters. I have been published in
Pathos Literary Review, Street Roots Newspaper, and with Portland
Monthly Magazine. I’m a social activist fighting for social change
through writing as a social act. I paint abstract with mixed media and
volunteer as a writing coach. I am the author of a book of poetry, Blue
Reverie in Smoke: Collected Poetry: 2001–2016, and a book of short
stories Burnside Field Lizard and Selected Stories, which was a finalist
for the 2019 Next Generation Indie book award for Regional Fiction.
both published through the Indie publishing company, Oregon Greystone
Press. In 2021 my first novel will be published, Talionic Night in
Portland: A Love Story, also by Oregon Greystone press, and The Lost
Restaurants of Portland, published by The History Press. ONLINE since
2007
Millions rally against Trump at ‘No Kings’ protests across
the US, organizers say. Here’s why protesters say they attended By Dalia
Faheid Updated Oct 19, 2025
To celebrate her 70th birthday,
retired government worker Peggy Cole says she and a friend drove nearly
10 hours from her hometown of Flint, Michigan, to join a protest in
Washington, DC, on Saturday.Cole said she felt compelled to mark the
milestone at the large demonstration because it’s a “scary time” for
Americans and democracy is at stake.“It seems to me, (Trump is) taking
our government, our democracy, and dismantling it piece by piece,
slowly, but surely, if we sit by and don’t do anything about it,” Cole
said.The event was one of more than 2,700 “No Kings” rallies held across
the country on Saturday, protesting what organizers describe as
President Donald Trump’s “authoritarian” agenda. That’s hundreds more
events than were planned for the first go-round in June, when about 5
million people across the country took to the streets to protest Trump’s
administration as he held a military parade in Washington.Nearly 7
million people showed up for Saturday’s rallies – including more than
100,000 people in New York, organizers and officials said. Along with
larger events in major cities, small pockets of “No Kings” protesters
cropped up along busy thoroughfares, in small town squares and at
municipal parks in red and blue states alike.The largely peaceful
protests followed a tumultuous summer of mass immigration raids,
demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement and the
deployment of federal troops into Democratic-led cities.Police in
Portland and New York City reported that the protests concluded with no
arrests.Trouble came later in the day when some individuals targeted
protesters: A woman in South Carolina was arrested for brandishing a
firearm while driving near a demonstration and a man in Georgia was seen
on video taking a protester’s flag and pushing another demonstrator to
the ground.While the Trump administration and some GOP officials have
painted anti-Trump protests as the work of “violent left-wing radicals,”
the organization behind the “No Kings” events, the Indivisible Project,
says it is committed to “nonviolent action” and had trained tens of
thousands of people in safety and de-escalation. That became especially
important amid growing political violence across the country, some
organizers said.Some demonstrators wore yellow – a symbol of unity and a
reference to other nonviolent resistance movements, according to
organizers. “Yellow is a bright, unmistakable reminder that millions of
us stand together in the belief that America belongs to its people, not
to kings,” reads a flyer on the “No Kings” website.Other protesters wore
costumes, including inflatable chickens, frogs and dinosaurs, which
some said emphasized the peaceful nature of the demonstrations. “It’s
really hard to call something a war zone, when you look at something and
it’s just a block party and people in Halloween costumes,” said a Los
Angeles protester who wore a unicorn costume as he danced to
music.Protesters could be heard loudly cheering and chanting slogans
into megaphones, including, “This is what democracy looks like,” and “No
hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.” They waved American flags
along with signs opposing ICE, authoritarianism and billionaires.CNN
field teams spoke with attendees at rallies across the country. Here’s
what protesters had to say:‘We can all save democracy’Many protesters
emphasized the importance of democracy – an institution they fear is
eroding with Trump’s attempts to expand executive power.“We’re a
democracy. And that, in a democracy, people can stand up and voice their
opinions. And that we are not going to be silenced,” Joan Press told
CNN at a protest in Atlanta.A rally that kicked off the Atlanta protest
featured high-profile speakers, including Democratic Sen. Raphael
Warnock of Georgia.“In this moment, in which we are seeing a president
and an administration arrogating to himself power that doesn’t belong to
him, our message is very clear,” Warnock later told CNN. “This is not
about the people in power, it’s about the power in the people.”Kimberly
Diemert, an organizer and communications director for the Georgia
chapter of 50501, a “decentralized” movement that has helped lead the
wave of nationwide protests, reminded the crowd about the city’s civil
rights legacy.“Atlanta is the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement as
well as democracy … we don’t want to lose that,” Diemert said.In New
York City, one demonstrator held a sign reading: “We protest because we
love America, and we want it back.”The protester, who asked not to be
named for privacy reasons, said she’s been protesting since the 1960s,
but this time feels different.“In the 60s we wanted to expand rights –
women’s rights, gay rights, minority rights, voting rights,” she said.
“But all that’s being taken away now. Now our entire democracy is being
threatened, the basic tenets, the press, the judiciary.”She described
feeling “very sad, a sense of loss, fear” under the Trump
administration.“I’m hoping together, we can all save democracy,” she
said.Dressed in Revolutionary War-era clothing and wigs, members of the
group All in for Democracy attended the “No Kings” protest in
Washington, DC.“I just see all of our institutions changing, and I don’t
want us to change as a country and as a people,” said DC resident Lee
Ayres, sporting a coat, wig and hat. “I want all of America to realize
the Declaration of Independence is about no kings.”‘Our free speech is
frightening’ Many demonstrators called out what they feel is a threat to
freedom of expression in the US.“It doesn’t seem like we’re able to
peacefully or safely (express ourselves) right now, without fear of
repercussions” from the government, work or families, said Bobbie
Castillo, who traveled hours from her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, to
DC for her first protest ever.Bill Nye, “The Science Guy,” rallied the
crowd at the DC protest, arguing that Trump and his associates “cannot
tolerate dissent.”“To them, our free speech is frightening. They are
arresting people and denying due process in courts. They tried to
silence television hosts,” Nye, a former TV host, said.Participants in
smaller cities and towns said they were struck by the size of the
turnout Saturday.In Ashland, Oregon, Joel Lesko said the day was about
“joyfully celebrating our love for America, for free speech, for the
importance of community and using our voices for diversity and inclusion
and democracy.”After attending a protest in ruby-red Hendersonville,
North Carolina, author Lynn Ames told CNN, “If you love this country,
saving democracy is a priority no matter where you live, including in
small-town America. Maybe especially in small-town America.”Immigration
raids and National Guard deployment-Many protesters connected their
attendance to the ongoing immigration crackdown and the federal
government’s forceful response to anti-ICE protests that first erupted
in Los Angeles following local raids. The demonstrations have since
spread to numerous other cities, including Chicago, New York City,
Dallas and Portland.Trump’s attempts to deploy the National Guard to
Democratic-controlled cities – which he argues is necessary to quell
violence and support his deportation initiatives – have drawn legal
challenges by state and local officials.Demonstrators in Los Angeles –
where federal immigration raids triggered massive protests in June and
led to Trump sending in the National Guard against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s
wishes – emphasized rights for immigrants and called for a stop to the
Trump administration’s deportation campaign.Sitting in front of LA’s
City Hall, Gilberto Beas told CNN the protest is “a message for ICE to
stop doing what they’re doing.”Maria Rivera Cummings, who was born in
Los Angeles and is of Mexican descent, said: “We’re all immigrants and
everyone has rights here.”At a demonstration in DC, Michael Langfeldt
said he was protesting what he sees as “hatred” toward immigrants and
the deployment of the military to US cities.“I feel like there’s a lot
of overreach in the federal government, specifically in like the
executive branch,” he told CNN. “Congress doesn’t do anything about
it.”Hailey, a 24-year-old demonstrator in an inflatable frog suit, told
CNN that she was inspired by demonstrators in Portland, who have faced
off against federal law enforcement for weeks. Protesters there have
donned inflatable costumes at rallies outside an ICE facility — in part
to dispute Trump’s characterization of the city as “war-ravaged.”“I
think it’s hard to see a country that you love descend into fascism,”
Hailey told CNN.In Chicago, which has been an epicenter for the
resistance to Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown, many carried
Mexican flags and signs like “Hands off our Democracy” and “ICE
OUT!”Actor John Cusack, a Chicago resident known for being outspoken
about Hollywood and the US government, said the city’s message to the
Trump administration is: “Go to hell!”“No, you can’t put troops on our
streets. You can’t create enough chaos to invoke the Insurrection Act so
you can stay in power,” the actor said, addressing the president.Dakota
Englert, from Coal City, Illinois, said she came to stand up for basic
humanity.“We all bleed the same color … I feel for the people that are
being separated from their families, the people that are being hurt,
killed,” Englert said.Cuts to federal programs-Other protesters
expressed concerns about cuts to federal programs — particularly health
care. The protests come as the federal government is shut down, with GOP
lawmakers and the White House locked in a standoff with Democrats over a
funding bill.Danielle Guinto, a mother of two, said she worries about
the major federal changes to Medicaid and other health-related policies
that could impact her children’s health, as well as the rising cost of
living.“I just don’t understand how you can rip food out of people’s
mouths, how you can separate, rip people out of their homes,” she told
CNN at the Chicago demonstration. “How can you look at a family with
fear in their eyes and you’re just going to go take them away?”Anthony
Lee, who works at the Food and Drug Administration and was one of many
federal workers who were furloughed following the shutdown, said he came
to the demonstration to protect public services. Lee, president of the
National Treasury Employees Union chapter in DC, attended the event with
a group of unionized federal workers.“I’ve been a public servant for
over 20 years, and to see the destruction, really, of our government,
our public services, over the last several months has been really
scary,” Lee said.Another federal government employee who was furloughed
said she joined the DC protest because the Trump administration has
affected her livelihood and “demonized” federal workers.“The elimination
of all these jobs are creating mass threats (for people to be able) to
keep their home, to keep a roof over their head, send their kids to
college and the hope of the American dream,” said Monica, who declined
to share her last name out of fear of retaliation.Elizabeth Nee, a
25-year-old social worker from Maryland, told CNN she’s seeing an impact
at the psychiatric hospital she works at in Baltimore.“We have a lot of
people who are coming in and they’re unhoused, a lot of people on
Medicaid. Everything’s at risk right now,” she said.Speaking at the DC
protest, Sen. Bernie Sanders called out Trump and his billionaire
allies, like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg.“This moment is
not just about one man’s greed, one man’s corruption or one man’s
contempt for the Constitution,” Sanders said. “This is about a handful
of the wealthiest people on Earth who, in their insatiable greed, have
hijacked our economy and our political system in order to enrich
themselves at the expense of working families throughout this
country.”CNN’s Veronica Stracqualursi, Zoe Sottile, Rebekah Riess, Alaa
Elassar, Tori B. Powell, Emma Tucker, Danya Gainor, Julia Vargas Jones,
Shimon Prokupecz, Sarah Moon, Rafael Romo, Whitney Wild, Bill Kirkos,
Don Riddell, Brian Todd, Julian Silva-Forbes and Sarah Dewberry
contributed to this report.
Major wave of Russian drone strikes
in Ukraine damages synagogue, kills rescuer-‘Russian terror does not
spare anyone, including religious communities,’ says Ukraine’s Foreign
Ministry after Russia launched some 130 drones overnight By AFP Today,
11:11 am-OCT 23,25
KYIV — Russian attacks overnight and into the
early hours of Thursday killed one rescue worker in Ukraine, disrupted
train services and damaged a synagogue, Ukrainian officials said.AFP
journalists in Kyiv heard air raid sirens and explosions during the
night, as Russia launched 130 drones, according to the Ukrainian air
force.The emergency services said the rescue worker was killed and five
others were wounded putting out a fire during a repeat Russian attack on
the village of Zelenyi Gai in the eastern Kharkiv region.“Another crime
against rescuers,” its statement posted on social media said.In Kyiv,
eight people were wounded, city officials said, while the foreign
ministry announced a synagogue had been damaged during the attack on
three districts of the city.“Russian terror does not spare anyone,
including religious communities,” the foreign ministry said.Its
statement added that 640 places of worship and 67 religious leaders had
been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.AFP
journalists in Kyiv saw residential buildings whose windows were blown
out in the attack and the charred remains of cars as residents cleared
rubble.In the eastern Sumy region, officials said two railway workers
were wounded, while the state trains operator said services were
disrupted in the border region.Russia’s defense ministry meanwhile said
it shot down 139 Ukrainian drones overnight, mostly over western regions
bordering Ukraine.The governor of the Ryazan region, southeast of
Moscow, reported a fire at an industrial site, after unverified images
on social media showed a large flame at an oil refinery there.The
overnight exchange of Russian and Ukrainian fire came one day after
Russian bombardments killed seven people, including two children, and
spurred nationwide blackouts across Ukraine.
Apex to showcase space-based interceptor technology in milestone Project Shadow demonstration-by Clarence Oxford.
Los
Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 23, 2025-Apex, recognized as the world's first
company to mass-produce standardized satellite bus platforms, is setting
a new benchmark for U.S. national defense by launching Project Shadow.
The initiative aims to validate crucial technologies required for
deploying space-based interceptors and is expected to conduct on-orbit
demo launches within the upcoming year."Apex is built to move fast, and
that is exactly what America and our allies need to ensure we win the
New Space Race. In under a year, we are launching the host platform for
space-based interceptors, called an Orbital Magazine, which will deploy
multiple prototype missile interceptors in orbit. Project Shadow will
validate key SBI technologies and prove that an operational SBI
constellation can be deployed in the timeframe our country needs," Apex
CEO Ian Cinnamon stated. "Apex isn't waiting for handouts or contracts;
we are developing this Orbital Magazine technology on our own dime and
moving incredibly fast."The project advances space-based interceptor
capabilities from inception through test-fire at an unprecedented pace.
Launch is scheduled for June 2026 aboard an Apex commercial satellite
platform. Once on station, the Orbital Magazine will release two
interceptor missiles, each propelled by high-thrust solid rocket motors.
The platform will sustain the interceptors, enable fire control, and
ensure secure cross-link communications to deliver real-time status
updates after deployment.A major aspect of Project Shadow is the
demonstration of the Orbital Magazine's core technologies - functioning
as a next-generation host with a software-defined radio supporting
Link-182 messaging. This enables robust inter-satellite communications
and supports power, thermal regulation, and environmental controls for
the interceptors. These capabilities are essential steps in building
responsive, coordinated space defense architectures.Project Shadow's
execution relies fully on private investment, not government funding or
grants, reflecting the increasing influence of commercial innovators in
the U.S. national security sphere. Apex aims to accelerate advanced
defense deployments by leveraging speed and private capital to meet
rapidly evolving government requirements outside conventional
procurement channels.About Apex: Since its founding in 2022 by Ian
Cinnamon and Max Benassi, Apex Space has built scalable spacecraft for
both government and commercial clients. Its achievements include setting
a record for the fastest spacecraft moving from clean-sheet design to
operational capability. Apex is headquartered in Los Angeles, staffed by
a team recognized for space innovation and defense technology
excellence.
China's Zhuque-3 reusable rocket passes key test to rival SpaceX by Chris Benson.
Washington
DC (UPI) Oct 22, 2025-Chinese space authorities reached a new milestone
this week as they tested a reusable rocket that they hope to use to
join the United States, Japan and other nations in the bid for space
dominance.On Monday, Chinese company LandSpace executed a static-fire
test with its 217-foot-tall Zhuque-3 rocket launcher. The rocket is on
the way to its inaugural test flight expected at some point later this
year."The vehicle will next proceed with planned vertical integration
rehearsal, before returning to the technical zone for inspection and
maintenance in preparation for its upcoming orbital launch and
first-stage recovery," LandSpace officials wrote on social media.The
static-fire testing of the stainless steel space rocket is a common
prelaunch trial in which the rocket remains anchored to the pad while
its engines are fired.The test took place in northwestern China's
Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone.The Zhuque-3 can haul
more than 40,000 pounds, which is about the same carrying power as the
Falcon 9 produced by the Elon Musk-owned SpaceX. That rocket reportedly
can carry a little more than 50,200 pounds.The Chinese government
revealed its intent nearly a decade ago to be a top 3 global aerospace
power by 2030.In July 2023, Beijing-based LandSpace's 164-foot Zhuque-2
rocket lifted off from China's Jiuquan launch complex in its first
attempt at a methane-fueled rocket lift.China launched its Tianwen-2
space mission in May to collect asteroid samples and conduct a main-belt
comet study.Less than a month later in April, the Chinese space agency
sent three of its astronauts to Tiangong space station for six-month
mission.
North Korea says tested new weapon system.
Seoul,
Oct 23 (AFP) Oct 23, 2025-North Korea said on Thursday it had tested a
"cutting-edge" new weapon system using hypersonic missiles aimed at
bolstering its defences against Pyongyang's foes.The launch was detected
by Seoul's military on Wednesday and was Pyongyang's first of its kind
in months.It came a week before world leaders, including US President
Donald Trump, are set to descend on South Korea for a major regional
summit.Top military official Pak Jong Chon declared the "new
cutting-edge weapon system is a clear proof of steadily upgrading
self-defensive technical capabilities of the DPRK", state news agency
KCNA said, using North Korea's official acronym.KCNA said the test was
aimed at enhancing the "sustainability and effectiveness of strategic
deterrence against potential enemies".North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
was not reported to have attended the launch.State media said the two
"hypersonic projectiles" had been launched south of the capital
Pyongyang and had hit a target in the country's northeast.Images shared
by KCNA showed a missile flying through the air, before hitting a target
and exploding in a hail of black dirt and smoke.Hypersonic missiles
travel at more than five times the speed of sound and can manoeuvre
mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept.They have been
deployed to deadly effect this year on cities in Ukraine by Russia, with
whom North Korea has deepened ties in recent years, and by Iran against
Israel.North Korean media did not share details of the new missiles'
range, trajectory angle or speed.And Kim's absence from the launch may
indicate Pyongyang was seeking to "tone down" its impact, Yang Moo-jin,
former president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul,
told AFP."However, given its range, the hypersonic missile is clearly
aimed at the South," added Yang, noting the timing of the launch just
days before the APEC summit.
EU seeks to shore up Ukraine as Trump wavers on peace push.
Brussels,
Belgium, Oct 23 (AFP) Oct 23, 2025-EU leaders will look Thursday to
greenlight a potential mammoth new loan for Ukraine using Russian frozen
assets, in a bid to bolster Kyiv as US President Donald Trump
vacillates on peace efforts with Moscow.Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky will join a summit of the EU's 27 leaders in Brussels -- before
heading to London on Friday -- as Europe presses to shore up support
after Trump put on ice a proposed meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin
in Budapest.Zelensky and his key backers are seeking to seize on Trump's
demand for Russia and Ukraine to stop fighting along the current front
line and shift the onus from Kyiv to Moscow to make concessions.Hopes
that Trump could take against Putin got a boost Wednesday when US
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would unveil "a
substantial pickup" in sanctions against Russia, and accused the Russian
leader of not being "honest and forthright" in talks.While the talks in
the British capital look set to focus more on keeping the mercurial US
leader on board, the summit in Brussels will centre on how to keep
funding Ukraine and piling more pressure on Moscow.A key part of the
EU's support for Kyiv rests on a plan for a new 140-billion-euro
($163-billion) "reparations loan" funded by Russian central bank assets
frozen in the bloc.Belgium, where the bulk of the money is held at
international deposit organisation Euroclear, has demanded guarantees
the rest of the EU will share any liabilities if Russia goes to
court.While key questions remain, diplomats hope EU leaders will give
the bloc's executive the go-ahead to draw up a formal legal proposal for
the loan that would only be paid back by Kyiv once Moscow coughs up for
the damage it has wrought during its invasion of Ukraine."It's
essential to do it to be able to keep Ukraine in the fight," an EU
diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal
deliberations.Officials say the funds -- the bulk of which the European
Commission says should be earmarked to buy weapons in Europe -- could
keep Ukraine going for at least another two years.Even if an initial nod
is given at the summit, there still looks set to be months of wrangling
over the small print before the loan can be finalised."There are many
issues still on the table," the diplomat said.- Sanctions unblocked -At
the same time as it looks to ensure Kyiv remains afloat, the EU has also
sought to turn the screws on Moscow with new sanctions.Just ahead of
the summit, EU countries agreed Wednesday to impose a biting new round
of measures -- including a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural
gas from end 2026.Kremlin-friendly Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico
held up approval for the sanctions until he got assurances from Brussels
over protections for Bratislava's car industry.The sanctions also see
the EU blacklist more tankers in Russia's "shadow fleet", used to get
round oil export restrictions, and impose new rules on Moscow's
diplomats to curb their travel around Europe.While attention will
primarily home in on the current war wracking the continent, leaders
will also cover plans to prepare for a potential broader conflict with
Russia in the future.After a series of high-profile air incursions and
mysterious drone flights, Brussels has proposed building a system of
anti-drone defences as one of a number of urgently needed defence
priorities.Leaders are set to endorse a roadmap that aims to prepare the
EU for war by 2030.
Cambodian police arrest 57 South Koreans accused of cyberscams.
Phnom
Penh, Oct 23 (AFP) Oct 23, 2025-Cambodian authorities arrested 57 South
Koreans for alleged involvement in transnational cyberscams, a
government commission said Thursday, days after dozens accused of
working in the illicit networks were repatriated.The multibillion-dollar
scam industry has ballooned in Cambodia in recent years, with thousands
involved -- some willingly and others forced by organised criminal
groups, experts say.Cambodia's anti-cybercrime commission said in a
statement that local authorities raided a building where scam operations
were suspected in the capital Phnom Penh on Wednesday.Police arrested
57 South Koreans and 29 Chinese nationals during the operation, the
commission said.Authorities also seized 126 computers and 30 phones, it
added.Over the weekend, Cambodia sent home 64 South Korean nationals who
had been held for their alleged links to "pig butchering" scams --
so-called for the method of building trust with victims over time before
stealing funds.The high-profile repatriations follow public outcry over
the torture and killing of a South Korean college student in Cambodia
this year, reportedly by a crime ring.Last week, South Korean foreign
ministry officials met with Cambodia's prime minister and local police
to discuss fake job and scam centres.South Korean Foreign Minister Cho
Hyun said Monday that 10 more alleged scammers were arrested and two
individuals were rescued.About 550 South Koreans were reported missing
or held against their will after entering Cambodia since last year, the
foreign ministry said this month.Seoul estimates around 1,000 South
Koreans are among approximately 200,000 people working in scam
operations in Cambodia.
New Japan PM to advance defence spending target: reports.
Tokyo,
Oct 23 (AFP) Oct 23, 2025-Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
aims to achieve the target of spending two percent of GDP on defence two
years early, media reports said days before a visit by US President
Donald Trump.Long-pacifist Japan has moved towards a more muscular
defence policy but with an eye on China, Washington -- which has around
60,000 military personnel in Japan -- wants it to do more.Tokyo's
previous target was to be spending two percent of gross domestic product
in the 2027-28 fiscal year.But Takaichi wants this achieved in the
current tax year running to March 31, 2026, Jiji Press, Kyodo News and
other media reported on Wednesday and Thursday.Takaichi, who became
Japan's first woman prime minister this week, was expected to make the
announcement in her first policy speech in parliament on Friday.She will
also pledge to revise three key defence and security policy documents
by the end of 2026, the report said.Trump was due to arrive in Japan on
Monday in between a Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia
and an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea.The US
president has also heaped pressure on other US allies to boost defence
spending, including the EU and NATO members.- China 'concerns' -Foreign
Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Wednesday that Tokyo will tell Trump
that it will place a "fundamental strengthening of defence capabilities
as the top priority, based on the ongoing reviewing of the key security
documents".Takaichi, 64, an acolyte of former premier Shinzo Abe who had
warm relations with Trump, has long been viewed as a China hawk,
although she toned down her rhetoric in the recent leadership contest.On
Friday, Takaichi will say that China is "an important neighbouring
country and it is necessary to build a constructive and stable
relationship" with Beijing, the Asahi newspaper said.But she will also
say that "there are concerns regarding security and economic
security"."We will continue summit-level dialogue in a candid manner and
pursue mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic
interests," she will say, according to Kyodo and the Asahi.- Economy and
immigration -Japan's fifth premier in as many years leads a minority
government.In her first remarks in office on Tuesday, she said her
priority was to tackle inflation, a major source of anger among
voters.Her policy speech will advocate for "responsible and proactive
fiscal policy," the reports said.This will balance investment in
economic security, food, and energy -- as well as growth areas like AI
and chips -- with consideration to fiscal discipline, the reports
said.She will say that Japan needs foreign workers but that "illegal
acts and deviations from the rules by some foreign nationals have
resulted in the sense of anxiety and unfairness is being felt"."While
drawing a clear line from xenophobia, we will take a firm stand against
such acts," she will say, according to the reports.The populist Sanseito
party, which calls immigration a "silent invasion", has been making
gains in recent elections.A new poll published Thursday by the Yomiuri
Shimbun daily put support for Takaichi's cabinet at 71 percent, compared
with 34 percent in September for predecessor Shigeru Ishiba.Among
surveys conducted immediately after cabinet inaugurations, this ranks as
the fifth highest since 1978 when comparative surveys became available.
Maduro says Venezuela has 5,000 Russian anti-aircraft missiles to counter US.
Caracas,
Oct 23 (AFP) Oct 23, 2025-President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday that
Venezuela has 5,000 Russian man-portable surface-to-air missiles to
counter US forces deployed in the Caribbean.Washington has deployed
stealth warplanes and Navy ships in the Caribbean as part of what it
calls counter-narcotics efforts, and destroyed at least eight vessels it
said were smuggling drugs from Venezuela toward the United
States.Venezuela has denounced the deployment as a dress rehearsal for
an operation to oust Maduro, whom Washington accuses of running a drug
cartel.In a televised ceremony with senior military leaders, Maduro said
Venezuela has Russian-made short-range missiles known as Igla-S -- "no
fewer than 5,000 in key air defense positions to ensure peace."The
Igla-S, designed to take down low flying planes, has been used in
military exercises ordered by Maduro in response to the US military
activity, which has enraged leaders in much of Latin America.The
Pentagon has told Congress the United States is in "armed conflict" with
Latin American drug cartels, designating them as terrorist groups and
describing suspected smugglers as "unlawful combatants."Experts say the
summary killings are illegal even if they target confirmed
traffickers.Regional tensions have flared, with Colombia recalling its
ambassador to Washington amid a nasty spat between its leftist president
Gustavo Petro and President Donald Trump.Trump said Wednesday that the
US deployment has cut trafficking by sea drastically and is prepared to
attack drug traffickers operating on land.
Trump, Colombia leader trade threats as US strikes boats in Pacific.
Washington,
Oct 23 (AFP) Oct 23, 2025-President Donald Trump and his Colombian
counterpart Gustavo Petro traded angry threats Wednesday as the United
States announced strikes on two alleged drug-smuggling boats in the
Pacific Ocean that left five people dead.Trump branded Petro a "thug"
and suggested he was a drug trafficker leading his country to ruin,
prompting the leftist leader to vow: "I will defend myself legally with
American lawyers."The US president also said vital military aid to
Bogota had been cut and warned Petro -- a sharp critic of the strikes --
to "watch it," while Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the
Colombian leader a "lunatic."Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meanwhile
announced two strikes on boats in the Pacific -- one on Wednesday and
another the day before -- in social media posts showing the vessels
being engulfed in flames."Just as Al-Qaeda waged war on our homeland,
these cartels are waging war on our border and our people. There will be
no refuge or forgiveness -- only justice," wrote Hegseth.The strikes,
which Hegseth said were carried out in international waters, bring the
total number of such US attacks to at least nine, with 37 people dead,
according to US figures.Until now the strikes had only taken place in
the Caribbean.The origin of the targeted vessels -- eight boats and one
semi-submersible -- has not been disclosed, though some were destroyed
off Venezuela's coast.- 'Unacceptable' -At least one came from Trinidad
and Tobago, another from Colombia, families of those killed told
AFP.Washington has deployed stealth warplanes and Navy ships as part of
what it calls counter-narcotics efforts, but has yet to release evidence
that its targets were drug smugglers.The Pentagon told Congress the
United States is in "armed conflict" with Latin American drug cartels,
designating them as terrorist groups and describing suspected smugglers
as "unlawful combatants."Experts say the summary killings are illegal
even if they target confirmed traffickers.Regional tensions have flared,
with Colombia recalling its ambassador to Washington and Venezuela
accusing the United States of plotting to overthrow President Nicolas
Maduro, who said Wednesday that his country has 5,000 Russian
man-portable surface-to-air missiles to counter US forces.Colombia is
the world's top cocaine producer, but has worked for decades alongside
the United States to curb production, which is controlled by a range of
well-funded paramilitary, cartel and guerrilla groups.But relations have
soured markedly since Trump and Petro have taken power, with the fued
intensifying in recent weeks over the Republican president's deadly
anti-drug campaign."Under no circumstances can one justify that kind of
threats and accusations that have no basis whatsoever," Colombian
ambassador Daniel Garcia-Pena told AFP after being recalled to Bogota
for consultations."There are elements that are unacceptable," he said,
visibly alarmed after being told what Trump had said minutes before."We
are facing a US government that is trying to change the paradigm of its
international relations" Garcia-Pena added, "where uncertainty
unfortunately plays a very important role.""At stake here is a historic
relationship of more than 200 years that benefits both the United States
and Colombia," he said.
Analysis-Iran facing ‘permanent state of
crisis’ as international sanctions, pressure mount-Tehran has prided
itself on ‘strategic patience’ in confronting enemies, but now that
policy has slipped into paralysis as it reels from Israel war,
resumption of sanctions By Jon Gambrell Today, 10:48 am-OCT 23,25
DUBAI,
United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has been bombed and has seen United
Nations sanctions reimposed and its economy collapse further into the
red this year. But its theocracy so far hasn’t taken any major action to
halt the slide, restart crucial nuclear negotiations with the West nor
fully prepare for possible further hostilities with Israel and the
United States.In the past, Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei heralded the benefit of Tehran’s “strategic patience” in
confronting its enemies. Now, however, concern is growing that patience
has slipped into paralysis as Iran’s partners in its self-described
“Axis of Resistance” have been devastated and there’s no overt sign of
materiel support from either China or Russia.“One of the harms and
dangers facing the country is precisely this state of neither war nor
peace, which isn’t good,” Khamenei himself warned in September.But
there’s been no move to change that calculus, as Iranians themselves
remain fearful of war resuming. Each fire or industrial accident becomes
grist for new worry as they watch their life savings further dwindle as
Iran’s rial currency falls to historic lows against the US dollar.“Even
if we accept that the possibility of a second war exists, the right
approach to governing the country is not to keep public opinion in
constant anxiety through recurring alerts every few days,” said Ali
Abdullah Khani, an analyst with Iran’s Presidential Strategic Affairs
Office, in an interview published in October by the website
NourNews.“Such a policy places the nation in a permanent state of crisis
— a condition in which it always seems that war could break out at any
moment, and as a result, all managerial and political capacities are
consumed by confronting a presumed and hypothetical conflict.”Iran tries
to talk sanctions away-The United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran
last month, but Tehran has sought to downplay their effect or even
insist they don’t exist. The sanctions date from Tehran’s 2015 nuclear
deal and were reimposed by a mechanism known to diplomats as “snapback.”
China, Iran and Russia issued a tripartite statement over the weekend,
decrying them as “legally and procedurally flawed.”But while China and
Russia have signaled they won’t enforce the sanctions, the US, European
nations and others are doing so.Some of the measures are pretty out of
date — for instance, sanctions on Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen.
Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad during
President Donald Trump’s first term in 2020.But the main ones squeeze
Iran’s Central Bank and its oil exports, one of the few sources of hard
currency for the government. That could allow for the seizure of Iranian
crude oil shipments on the seas, something that in the past has sparked
confrontations with Tehran.Iranian government at odds-The June war saw
Israel kill top leadership in Iran’s regular military and its
paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a force answerable only to Khamenei
that controls its own arsenal of ballistic missiles. In the time since,
Iran has held no major military parades and conducted only limited
drills at sea — likely out of the concern of providing Israel with any
tempting targets.Criticism is slowly rising to the surface of Iran’s
theocracy, which under Khamenei has grown into various competing camps
and agencies often tasked with the same missions.Ali Shamkhani, a top
adviser to Khamenei who survived an Israeli attack targeting him during
the war, said in an online video that Iran’s earlier attacks against
Israel in 2024 “did not achieve the outcomes” sought by Tehran — a rare
acknowledgment by a senior official of the low accuracy plaguing the
theocracy’s vaunted missile arsenal.He also even went as far as to
openly muse about Iran pursuing a nuclear weapon — something Tehran long
has insisted it doesn’t want to do despite the West and the
International Atomic Energy Agency saying the Islamic Republic had an
organized weapons program up until 2003.“Now that it has become clear,
Iran should have developed this capability for itself,” Shamkhani
said.After the interview, Shamkhani found himself targeted by the leak
of a video from his daughter’s wedding, in which she was unveiled and
wearing a wedding dress with a plunging neckline — something criticized
by hardliners who have been calling for a new campaign targeting women
over the mandatory hijab, or headscarf.Former president Hassan Rouhani,
who reached the 2015 nuclear deal, meanwhile has stepped up his
criticism of hardliners and sought to organize his fellow Shiite clerics
in Qom, the Iranian seminary city. Executions are also now at a
decades-long high.The theocracy, meanwhile, has largely been mute about
the economic turmoil, sparked by exchange rate pressure, loose fiscal
policies and sanctions, the International Monetary Fund said this week.
The IMF estimates annual inflation in Iran to be 45 percent by the end
of the year, further eating into people’s already-shriveled
savings.Supreme leader halts talks with West-Then there is Khamenei
himself, with no clear front-runner to succeed him. His profile has
dropped since the war, with more delays surrounding the release of his
remarks — likely again a security measure against possibly being
targeted by Israel.Yet at a moment when talks with the US and the
Europeans represent one path out of Iran’s issues, he’s been adamant
that negotiations can’t be held. He gave a speech as both Iranian
President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi went to
New York for the UN General Assembly, which had the effect of stopping
them from having direct negotiations.“Once a decision is made, everyone
must follow it — whether they support it or not,” Araghchi told the
state-run IRNA news agency in August, before the summit.Speaking to
athletes on Monday, Khamenei kept up his criticism of the US president
and insisted Iran “will not submit to coercion.”Trump “prides himself on
‘bombing and destroying Iran’s nuclear industry,’” Khamenei said. “Fine
— keep dreaming.”But for now, it doesn’t appear time is on Iran’s side.
Crude spikes as Trump threatens Russian giants, stocks turn lower.
Hong
Kong, Oct 23 (AFP) Oct 23, 2025-Crude prices spiked more than two
percent Thursday after Donald Trump said he would hit two Russian oil
companies with hefty sanctions, while talk that the White House was
planning curbs on software exports to China added to gloom on
markets.Both main oil contracts jumped almost three percent -- having
climbed more than two percent Tuesday -- on news of the measures after
the US leader said Ukraine peace efforts with counterpart Vladimir Putin
"don't go anywhere".The move was joined by another round of punishments
by the European Union as part of attempts to pressure Moscow to end its
three-and-a-half-year invasion of Ukraine.Trump decided on the
sanctions after plans for a fresh summit with Putin in Budapest
collapsed this week."Every time I speak with Vladimir, I have good
conversations, and then they don't go anywhere," the US president said
in response to a question from an AFP journalist in the Oval Office.But
he hoped the "tremendous sanctions" on oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil Oil
would be short-lived, and that "the war will be settled".Brent and WTI
were both sitting at near two week-highs after the spikes, helped by
claims by Trump that India agreed to cut its purchases of the commodity
from Russia as part of a US trade deal.New Delhi has neither confirmed
nor denied any policy shift.Equity markets fortunes were not as good,
with most of Asia tracking losses on Wall Street amid lingering concerns
that a tech-led surge to record highs this year may be reaching its
end, and some observers warning of a bubble forming.Tokyo, Hong Kong,
Shanghai, Sydney, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta all tumbled, though
Singapore, Seoul and Wellington edged up.And gold clawed back some of
the previous two days' losses, edging up around one percent to $4,075 --
but well down from the record high above $4,381 touched earlier in the
week.While there is an expectation Trump will meet Chinese counterpart
next week at the APEC summit in South Korea, investors were jolted
slightly when he suggested that might not take place.And on Wednesday
uncertainty was stoked again after a report said the administration was
looking at curbing shipments of a range of software-powered exports to
China, including laptops and jet engines, owing to Beijing's rare earths
controls.Those mineral controls sparked a round of tit-for-tat
exchanges between the superpowers that sparked fresh trade war worries,
including Trump's threat of 100 percent tariffs on China."Everything is
on the table," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent replied when asked
about limits on software exports to China."If these export controls,
whether it's software, engines or other things happen, it will likely be
in coordination with our G7 allies," he added, according to Bloomberg
News.There was a feeling that the issue was unlikely to explode into a
full-on crisis, though analysts retained some caution."Headlines that
the US is considering software export curbs on China have certainly done
risk no favours on the day," said Pepperstone's Chris Weston.They
"inject a degree of doubt into the collective's consensus position that
we will ultimately see a positive resolution in the US-China trade
negotiations"."The ingrained belief remains that Trump's threat of 100
percent additional import tariffs on China is unlikely to take effect on
1 November -- or, if they do, that they'll be rolled back soon enough
-- and that China is unlikely to retaliate with punchy tariffs of its
own."But is the market mispricing the risk of a strong-arm response from
either side-one that could contradict the conciliatory tone both US and
Chinese officials have projected through the media?"- Key figures at
around 0230 GMT --Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.3 percent at 48,664.74
(break)-Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.6 percent at
25,637.25-Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.9 percent at
3,880.18-Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1598 from $1.1606 on
Wednesday-Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3339 from $1.3356-Dollar/yen: UP at
152.41 from 151.99 yen-Euro/pound: UP at 86.95 pence from 86.90
pence-West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.3 percent at $59.85 per barrel-Brent
North Sea Crude: UP 2.3 percent at $64.05 per barrel-New York - Dow:
DOWN 0.7 percent at 45,590.41 (close)-London - FTSE 100: UP 0.9 percent
at 9,515.00 (close)-dan/jm-ROSNEFT-Loukoïl-INDEX CORP.-Dow
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.
THE WORLD IS GETTING SET UP FOR THE FIRST NUKE STRIKE.
MIT Maritime Consortium releases "Nuclear Ship Safety Handbook"by Anne Wilson | Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Boston
MA (SPX) Oct 22, 2025-Commercial shipping accounts for 3 percent of all
greenhouse gas emissions globally. As the sector sets climate goals and
chases a carbon-free future, nuclear power - long used as a source for
military vessels - presents an enticing solution. To date, however,
there has been no clear, unified public document available to guide
design safety for certain components of civilian nuclear ships. A new
"Nuclear Ship Safety Handbook" by the MIT Maritime Consortium aims to
change that and set the standard for safe maritime nuclear
propulsion."This handbook is a critical tool in efforts to support the
adoption of nuclear in the maritime industry," explains Themis Sapsis,
the William I. Koch Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, director
of the MIT Center for Ocean Engineering, and co-director of the MIT
Maritime Consortium. "The goal is to provide a strong basis for initial
safety on key areas that require nuclear and maritime regulatory
research and development in the coming years to prepare for nuclear
propulsion in the maritime industry."Using research data and standards,
combined with operational experiences during civilian maritime nuclear
operations, the handbook provides unique insights into potential issues
and resolutions in the design efficacy of maritime nuclear operations, a
topic of growing importance on the national and international
stage."Right now, the nuclear-maritime policies that exist are outdated
and often tied only to specific technologies, like pressurized water
reactors," says Jose Izurieta, a graduate student in the Department of
Mechanical Engineering (MechE) Naval Construction and Engineering (2N)
Program, and one of the handbook authors. "With the recent U.K.-U.S.
Technology Prosperity Deal now including civil maritime nuclear
applications, I hope the handbook can serve as a foundation for creating
a clear, modern regulatory framework for nuclear-powered commercial
ships."The recent memorandum of understanding signed by the U.S. and U.K
calls for the exploration of "novel applications of advanced nuclear
energy, including civil maritime applications," and for the parties to
play "a leading role informing the establishment of international
standards, potential establishment of a maritime shipping corridor
between the Participants' territories, and strengthening energy
resilience for the Participants' defense facilities.""The U.S.-U.K.
nuclear shipping corridor offers a great opportunity to collaborate with
legislators on establishing the critical framework that will enable the
United States to invest on nuclear-powered merchant vessels - an
achievement that will reestablish America in the shipbuilding space,"
says Fotini Christia, the Ford International Professor of the Social
Sciences, director of the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society
(IDSS), and co-director of the MIT Maritime Consortium."With over 30
nations now building or planning their first reactors, nuclear energy's
global acceptance is unprecedented - and that momentum is key to
aligning safety rules across borders for nuclear-powered ships and the
respective ports," says Koroush Shirvan, the Atlantic Richfield Career
Development Professor in Energy Studies at MIT and director of the
Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives.The handbook, which is
divided into chapters in areas involving the overlapping nuclear and
maritime safety design decisions that will be encountered by engineers,
is careful to balance technical and practical guidance with policy
considerations.Commander Christopher MacLean, MIT associate professor of
the practice in mechanical engineering, naval construction, and
engineering, says the handbook will significantly benefit the entire
maritime community, specifically naval architects and marine engineers,
by providing standardized guidelines for design and operation specific
to nuclear powered commercial vessels."This will assist in enhancing
safety protocols, improve risk assessments, and ensure consistent
compliance with international regulations," MacLean says. "This will
also help foster collaboration amongst engineers and regulators.
Overall, this will further strengthen the reliability, sustainability,
and public trust in nuclear-powered maritime systems."Anthony
Valiaveedu, the handbook's lead author, and co-author Nat Edmonds, are
both students in the MIT Master's Program in Technology and Policy (TPP)
within the IDSS. The pair are also co-authors of a paper published in
Science Policy Review earlier this year that offered structured advice
on the development of nuclear regulatory policies."It is important for
safety and technology to go hand-in-hand," Valiaveedu explains. "What we
have done is provide a risk-informed process to begin these discussions
for engineers and policymakers.""Ultimately, I hope this framework can
be used to build strong bilateral agreements between nations that will
allow nuclear propulsion to thrive," says fellow co-author
Izurieta.Impact on industry"Maritime designers needed a source of
information to improve their ability to understand and design the
reactor primary components, and development of the 'Nuclear Ship Safety
Handbook' was a good step to bridge this knowledge gap," says
Christopher J. Wiernicki, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) chair and
CEO. "For this reason, it is an important document for the industry."The
ABS, which is the American classification society for the maritime
industry, develops criteria and provides safety certification for all
ocean-going vessels. ABS is among the founding members of the MIT
Maritime Consortium. Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp., HD Korea
Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering, and Delos Navigation Ltd. are
also consortium founding members. Innovation members are
Foresight-Group, Navios Maritime Partners L.P., Singapore Maritime
Institute, and Dorian LPG."As we consider a net-zero framework for the
shipping industry, nuclear propulsion represents a potential solution.
Careful investigation remains the priority, with safety and regulatory
standards at the forefront," says Jerry Kalogiratos, CEO of Capital
Clean Energy Carriers Corp. "As first movers, we are exploring all
options. This handbook lays the technical foundation for the development
of nuclear-powered commercial vessels."Sangmin Park, senior vice
president at HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering, says "The
'Nuclear Ship Safety Handbook' marks a groundbreaking milestone that
bridges shipbuilding excellence and nuclear safety. It drives global
collaboration between industry and academia, and paves the way for the
safe advancement of the nuclear maritime era."Maritime at MIT-MIT has
been a leading center of ship research and design for over a century,
with work at the Institute today representing significant advancements
in fluid mechanics and hydrodynamics, acoustics, offshore mechanics,
marine robotics and sensors, and ocean sensing and forecasting. Maritime
Consortium projects, including the handbook, reflect national
priorities aimed at revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding and commercial
maritime industries.The MIT Maritime Consortium, which launched in 2024,
brings together MIT and maritime industry leaders to explore
data-powered strategies to reduce harmful emissions, optimize vessel
operations, and support economic priorities."One of our most important
efforts is the development of technologies, policies, and regulations to
make nuclear propulsion for commercial ships a reality," says Sapsis.
"Over the last year, we have put together an interdisciplinary team with
faculty and students from across the Institute. One of the outcomes of
this effort is this very detailed document providing detailed guidance
on how such effort should be implemented safely."Handbook contributors
come from multiple disciplines and MIT departments, labs, and research
centers, including the Center for Ocean Engineering, IDSS, MechE's
Course 2N Program, the MIT Technology and Policy Program, and the
Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering.MIT faculty members and
research advisors on the project include Sapsis; Christia; Shirvan;
MacLean; Jacopo Buongiorno, the Battelle Energy Alliance Professor in
Nuclear Science and Engineering, director, Center for Advanced Nuclear
Energy Systems, and director of science and technology for the Nuclear
Reactor Laboratory; and Captain Andrew Gillespy, professor of the
practice and director of the Naval Construction and Engineering (2N)
Program."Proving the viability of nuclear propulsion for civilian ships
will entail getting the technologies, the economics and the regulations
right," says Buongiorno. "This handbook is a meaningful initial
contribution to the development of a sound regulatory framework.""We
were lucky to have a team of students and knowledgeable professors from
so many fields," says Edmonds. "Before even beginning the outline of the
handbook, we did significant archival and history research to
understand the existing regulations and overarching story of nuclear
ships. Some of the most relevant documents we found were written before
1975, and many of them were stored in the bellows of the NS
Savannah."The NS Savannah, which was built in the late 1950s as a
demonstration project for the potential peacetime uses of nuclear
energy, was the first nuclear-powered merchant ship. The Savannah was
first launched on July 21, 1959, two years after the first
nuclear-powered civilian vessel, the Soviet ice-breaker Lenin, and was
retired in 1971.Historical context for this project is important,
because the reactor technologies envisioned for maritime propulsion
today are quite different from the traditional pressurized water
reactors used by the U.S. Navy. These new reactors are being developed
not just in the maritime context, but also to power ports and data
centers on land; they all use low-enriched uranium and are passively
cooled. For the maritime industry, Sapsis says, "the technology is
there, it's safe, and it's ready.""The Nuclear Ship Safety Handbook" is
publicly available on the MIT Maritime Consortium website and from the
MIT Libraries.
As Russia looms, NATO showcases nuclear drill By Max DELANY.
Volkel,
Netherlands (AFP) Oct 21, 2025-A Dutch F-35 jet roared off the runway
Tuesday at Volkel airbase in the Netherlands as part of NATO's annual
nuclear exercise Steadfast Noon.The long-planned drill, which involves
no live nuclear bombs, is routine practice for the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization to ensure it is ready to use its ultimate weapon if
necessary.As tensions have risen with Russia over the war in Ukraine and
repeated air incursions, it is now also an unmistakable message to
Moscow of NATO's potential might.For the first time, NATO this year
allowed a small group of journalists including AFP on site during the
two-week exercise.Involving over 70 aircraft from 14 countries and some
2,000 personnel, the 2025 iteration of the drill is focused on the North
Sea region.The press invitation was part of the Western political and
military alliance's shift away from a deep culture of military secrecy
-- up until four years ago it didn't even divulge the name of the
nuclear exercise."We've long not talked about this, but it's certainly
time that we talked to our publics about it," said US Air Force Colonel
Daniel Bunch, chief of NATO Nuclear Operations."This is not
sabre-rattling. This is about consistently performing our mission and
going out and demonstrating the full range of capabilities that the
alliance has."NATO's increased openness about its nuclear activities
comes as Moscow has adjusted its own nuclear rhetoric in line with the
ebbs and flows of the war in Ukraine.Jim Stokes, NATO's Director of
Nuclear Policy, insisted that the alliance's increased messaging wasn't
"necessarily directed at Russia"."It's about communicating to our
domestic audiences," Stoke said."We want to make sure that folks
understand that we're a responsible nuclear alliance, what we're doing
is transparent as we can be, we are not acting aggressively."- 'No
doubt' -But in typical NATO fashion, the transparency only went so far,
given that the operation is one of the alliance's most closely guarded
secrets.Journalists watched a string of Dutch and German jets capable of
carrying tactical nuclear payloads streak into the skies.But the media
was not allowed to see the crews practising prepping the dummy bombs for
loading.Such is the sensitivity around a nuclear exercise that none of
the planes participating are actually carrying even the mock-up
weapons.NATO's nuclear deterrence relies on US weaponry stationed in
numerous bases in Europe.While doubts have been raised about
Washington's reliability under President Donald Trump, commanders were
adamant that nothing has changed."I don't think anybody should question
the American role," said US Colonel Bunch.Russia's recent air incursions
in Poland and Estonia, and a string of unexplained drone flights, have
rattled NATO.But Marcel van Egmond, head of the Netherlands air combat
command, said that security at the bases involved in the exercise was as
high as ever."We haven't taken any specific measures," he said. "Our
self-defence has been part of our mission, always."For those involved in
the exercise, the weight of training to use such devastating weapons is
heavy."It's a strain. It's hard. It's obviously the biggest violence
you can give to a pilot," said Dutch squadron commander Bram
Versteeg.But he insisted that "deterrence is all about (how) you have to
be capable, you have to be credible, and you have to communicate.""So
no doubt in my mind that my people are up to the task," he said.
NATO to start annual nuclear exercise Monday by AFP Staff Writers.
Brussels,
Belgium (AFP) Oct 10, 2025-NATO will launch its annual nuclear exercise
Steadfast Noon next week, alliance chief Mark Rutte said Friday, as
tensions with Russia have risen after a series of air incursions by
Moscow.In a video posted online Rutte stressed that the two-week drill
starting on Monday was "regular" and NATO said it is not linked directly
to the Kremlin's latest actions."We need to do this because it helps us
to make sure that our nuclear deterrent remains as credible, and as
safe, and as secure, and as effective as possible," Rutte said."It also
sends a clear signal to any potential adversary that we will and can
protect and defend all allies against all threats."NATO officials said
the exercise -- which does not involve real nuclear weapons -- will
involve some 70 aircraft and 2,000 personnel from 13 member states.It
will be flown out of airbases in the Netherlands, Belgium, Britain and
Denmark and take place in the North Sea region.The war game comes after a
series of mysterious drones have disrupted airports and been seen at
military sites in a string of NATO countries -- including
Denmark."Drones are not a new threat to us. Drones are something we
understand," said US Colonel Daniel Bunch, chief of NATO's nuclear
operations."The more frequent incursions are obviously something we're
keeping an eye on."The exercise is the latest to be held by the alliance
as the Kremlin has ramped up its nuclear rhetoric since the start of
its all-out war in Ukraine in 2022.Jim Stokes, NATO's director of
nuclear policy, said allies "haven't seen any change in Russia's nuclear
posture"."We will, of course, continue to monitor on a regular basis
all the Russian nuclear rhetoric, which happens quite often, and the use
of dual-capable missiles in Ukraine."
China tests effects of successive nuclear strikes by Mike Heuer.
Washington
DC (UPI) Oct 1, 2025-Chinese military researchers recently reported
that multiple nuclear strikes on a single target will produce greater
damage than a single blast from a larger warhead to destroy hard
targets.The researchers examined the effect of three nuclear strikes on a
single target in rapid succession in a laboratory study published in a
peer-reviewed journal.The study examined how three successive nuclear
strikes on the same target would create a greater destructive force than
when using a single nuclear weapon, according to Interesting
Engineering.The Chinese military researchers are assessing ways to
magnify the damage caused by multiple shock waves produced by nuclear
weapons, they said in an article that recently was published in the
peer-reviewed journal Explosion and Shock Waves.Xu Xiaohui, an associate
professor at the People's Liberation Army Engineering University in
Nanjing, led the lab experiment that NextGenDefense said is based on the
U.S. military's 1965 Palanquin experiment.Researchers in that
experiment detonated a 4.3-kiloton nuclear device 279 feet beneath the
Earth's surface."Until now, most nuclear earth-penetration studies had
examined only single warhead impacts based on the long-held belief that
one powerful bunker-buster would be enough to collapse or destroy
hardened underground facilities," Xu, et al., said, as reported by
PressTV.The Chinese experiment simulated nuclear blasts within a lab
setting by using a high-pressure gas gun that shot tiny particles at
glass spheres containing a simulated blast gas to trigger a rapid
release of energy that mimics a nuclear explosion, Interesting
Engineering reported.The study indicated surface damage expanded from
71,000 square feet in a single blast to more than 860,000 square feet
after three blasts.The study suggests a rapid triple strike would
quadruple the damage caused by a 5-kiloton detonation 65 feet beneath
the Earth's surface and produce a much larger crater.The results suggest
multiple strikes could be effective at destroying hard underground
targets, such as nuclear refinement facilities and other locations
associated with national security, Interesting Engineering reported.The
Chinese researchers concluded that the use of precision-guided bombs
using low-yield warheads deployed in clusters would be more effective at
destroying hardened underground targets than a single blast.
Pakistan extends nuclear umbrella to Saudi Arabia: source close to govt by AFP Staff Writers.
Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia (AFP) Sept 21, 2025-Pakistan's nuclear umbrella will cover
Saudi Arabia, a source close to the kingdom's government told AFP on
Sunday, days after the two allies signed a surprise mutual defence
treaty.The source told AFP that the deal had been in the works for years
and that Saudi Arabia expected Pakistan's arch-rival India to
understand the kingdom's security needs.When asked if the deal meant
Pakistan's nuclear weapons could be used to defend Saudi Arabia, Ali
Shihabi, an analyst close to the royal court, told AFP: "Yes, it
does"."Nuclear is integral to this deal and Pakistan remembers that the
kingdom effectively financed their nuclear programme and supported them
when they were sanctioned," he added."India will understand the security
needs of Saudi Arabia. Saudi maintains excellent ties with
India."Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reportedly also told a
local broadcaster that the country's nuclear programme would be made
available to Saudi Arabia if needed, following the signing of the
agreement.The mutual defence agreement was signed in Riyadh just days
after an Israeli strike targeted Hamas leaders in neighbouring Qatar
that sent shock waves through the Gulf states, who have long depended on
the United States for their security.The new pact also comes mere
months after Pakistan and India engaged in an intense four-day conflict
in May that killed more than 70 people on both sides in missile, drone
and artillery fire, the worst clashes between the nuclear-armed
neighbours since 1999.India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a
diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia in April when he cut short his trip
following a deadly shooting attack on tourists in India that sparked the
conflict.India and Pakistan have long accused each other of backing
militant forces to destabilise one another.Saudi Arabia is believed to
have played a key role in defusing the conflict.The kingdom has been a
key supplier of oil to India, the world's most populous country, for
years.India's rapidly developing economy relies heavily on petroleum
imports, with Saudi Arabia ranked as its third-largest supplier
according to the Indian foreign ministry.Islamabad has also fostered
close links with Riyadh for decades, with over 2.5 million of its
nationals estimated to be living and working in the kingdom.Saudi Arabia
has long been a bulwark of economic support for Pakistan's faltering
economy.
North Korea declares nuclear statehood 'permanently enshrined' by AFP Staff Writers.
Seoul
(AFP) Sept 15, 2025-North Korea said its status as a nuclear-armed
state is "permanently enshrined" in its law and "irreversible", state
media reported Monday, condemning the United States for demanding its
denuclearisation."Recently, at a meeting of the International Atomic
Energy Agency's Board of Governors, the US once again committed a grave
political provocation by branding our possession of nuclear weapons as
illegal and clamouring about denuclearisation," the North's UN mission
said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News
Agency.The status of North Korea "as a nuclear-armed state, enshrined
permanently in the nation's supreme and fundamental law, has become
irreversible", the statement said, noting the country has not had
"official relations" with the nuclear watchdog for more than 30
years.The IAEA has "neither the legal authority nor the moral
justification to interfere in the internal affairs of a nuclear-armed
state that exists outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty", it
said.North Korea withdrew from the IAEA in 1994 after a standoff over
nuclear inspections, claiming the agency was being used by Washington to
infringe on its sovereignty.Pyongyang will "firmly oppose and reject
any attempt to alter the current status of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea, and, as a responsible nuclear-armed state", the
statement added, using the official name of North Korea.The statement
follows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's visit to weapons research
facilities last week, where he said Pyongyang "would put forward the
policy of simultaneously pushing forward the building of nuclear forces
and conventional armed forces."Since a failed summit with the United
States in 2019 on denuclearisation, North Korea has repeatedly said it
will never give up its nuclear weapons.
Work begins to repair Ukraine nuclear plant's power lines by AFP Staff Writers.
Vienna
(AFP) Oct 18, 2025-Work has started to repair damaged power lines to
Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after a lengthy outage, following
the establishment of local ceasefire zones, the UN's nuclear watchdog
said Saturday.The site, occupied by Russian forces since March 2022,
lost its connection to the grid on September 23 for the 10th time -- the
longest outage of external power supply to the facility since Russia
invaded Ukraine.Repairs to the off-site power lines began after the
"establishment of local ceasefire zones to allow work to proceed",
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in a
post on X.The IAEA said that both sides had worked with the agency to
allow the "complex repair plan" to proceed."Restoration of off-site
power is crucial for nuclear safety and security," it said.The agency
said later it expected the work to take about a week. It had previously
said repairs were needed on both sides of the front line, several
kilometres from the plant.Both Russia and Ukraine confirmed the repair
works were ongoing.Since the outage, the largest nuclear power plant in
Europe has been powered by backup diesel generators. The IAEA says
safety has been maintained with reactors continuing to be effectively
cooled.Located near the city of Enerhodar along the Dnieper River, the
nuclear plant is close to the front line.Its six reactors, which
produced about one-fifth of Ukraine's electricity before the war, were
shut down after Moscow took control.However, the plant needs electricity
to maintain its cooling and safety systems to prevent a disaster.At the
beginning of October, Moscow claimed that the situation was "under
control" in Zaporizhzhia following concerns raised by Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky.Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused
each other of risking a nuclear disaster by attacking the site and have
blamed each other for the latest power outage.
Artificial plant device cleans radioactive soil using only sunlight by Riko Seibo.
Tokyo,
Japan (SPX) Sep 25, 2025-A research group at the Daegu Gyeongbuk
Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), led by Professor Seongkyun
Kim from the Department of Physics and Chemistry, has developed a
solar-powered artificial plant capable of rapidly removing radioactive
cesium from soil. The device mimics plant transpiration to extract
contaminated water, capturing cesium in its artificial leaves and
releasing purified water back into the ground.Radioactive cesium poses a
long-lasting environmental threat due to its extended half-life, high
solubility, and ease of spread through water. Once inside the body, it
can accumulate in muscles and bones, increasing cancer risk and causing
organ damage. After the 2011 Fukushima disaster, contaminated crops and
seafood exceeded safety thresholds, underlining the urgency of soil
remediation methods.Conventional phytoremediation relies on living
plants to absorb pollutants, but natural growth is slow, removal rates
are low, and contaminated plants become radioactive waste. In contrast,
DGIST's artificial plant operates without electricity or additional
water, relying solely on sunlight. By concentrating cesium in its
leaves, the device avoids the need for large-scale soil excavation and
treatment.The system allows repeated use: once leaves are saturated,
they can be replaced or washed with an acidic solution to remove cesium,
enabling the adsorbent material to be recycled. This reduces both costs
and waste. In trials, the artificial plant lowered cesium
concentrations in contaminated soil by more than 95 percent within 20
days, far outpacing natural methods that take months.Professor Kim
emphasized the importance of this breakthrough: "While radioactive
cesium contamination causes a much more serious problem in soil than in
water, there has been no proper method to purify it so far. This study
holds significance as it demonstrates the possibility of purifying
contaminated soil based on solar energy by mimicking natural plants and
simply installing the device without any other equipment."
Khamenei tells Trump to 'keep dreaming' over claims of destroying Iran nuclear sites by AFP Staff Writers.
Tehran
(AFP) Oct 20, 2025-Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on
Monday rebuffed claims by US President Donald Trump that the Islamic
republic's nuclear sites had been destroyed by US strikes in June.In a
statement on his official website, Khamenei told Trump to "keep
dreaming" over the comments on the sites' destruction and questioned the
US president's right "to say what a country should or should not have
if it possesses a nuclear industry".In mid-June, Israel launched an
unprecedented bombing campaign on Iran. The US briefly joined in,
striking key Iranian nuclear facilities.Last week, during a speech at
the Israeli Knesset, Trump reiterated that the US confirmed
"obliterating" Iranian nuclear sites during the strikes."So we dropped
14 bombs on Iran's key nuclear facilities. Totally as I said originally
obliterating them and that's been confirmed," he said.In a Sunday
interview with Fox News, Trump also said Iran "no longer became the
bully of the Middle East" after the US strikes which "destroyed their
nuclear capability".He further called the strikes "the most beautiful
military operation".The true impact of the US strikes remains
unknown.The Pentagon has said that the strikes delayed Iran's nuclear
programme by between one and two years, contradicting an initial
classified US intelligence report that according to American media found
the setback was only by a few months.On Monday, Khamenei called Trump's
remarks "improper, wrong, and bullying".The June war with Israel took
place two days ahead of a planned sixth round of nuclear negotiations
between Tehran and Washington, which had begun in April.Nuclear talks
have been derailed since with Iran saying it was open to negotiations
only if the US provided guarantees of no military action.
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