NIGERIAN SCAM ARTISTS ISLAMIC TERRORISTS KIDNAP 315 OR MORE CHRISTIAN HOSTAGES.AFTER SLAGHTERING MANY MANY MORE..
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.
NIGIRIA ARE NOT ONLY THE SCAMMER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. BUT NOW GOING FOR THE NUMBER ONE CHRISTIAN GENICIDE AND HOSTAGE TAKING OF CHRISTIANS. AND AS THE LIBERAL ABORTION LOVER BABY MURDERERS WOULD SAY. ITS FOR THE GOOD OF THE EARTH. AND FOR THE ISLAMIC TERRORIST KIDS OF COURSE. THE LITTLE ISLAMIC KIDS NEED TO KNOW HOW THEIR DEATH CULT SHARIA LAW CAN CONTROL A INFIDEL COUNTRY REAL QUICK. ONCE SHARIA LAW IS ENFORCED. WE CAN GUARENTEE EITHER BIG QUAKES OR FLOODING OR SOME DESTRUCTION WILL BE COMING TO NIGERIA AS A RESULT OF THIS CHRISTIAN SLAUGHTER. GOD WILL MAKE SURE THE NIGERIAN CULTS WILL BE UNDER JESUS' FEET.
Fifty kidnapped Catholic school students in Nigeria escape-By Ahmed Kingimi-November 23, 20254:24 PM EST
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Fifty of the more than 300 students kidnapped from a Nigerian Catholic school last week have escaped and have been reunited with their parents, the Catholic Church and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said on Sunday.But around 253 of the kidnapped children, along with 12 staff members and teachers, are still with the kidnappers, said CAN Chairman Bulus Yohanna, a Catholic Bishop who is also the proprietor of the school.In a statement, Yohanna said the pupils escaped on Friday and Saturday. Parents rushed to the school in Niger state, to the west of the capital Abuja, after hearing that some children were free.
Amose Ibrahim was one of the parents who went to St. Mary's school to check if any of his three children had escaped."Unfortunately, they were not among the escapees," Ibrahim, whose youngest child is six years old, told Reuters by phone. "As of now, many parents and their loved ones are roaming around the school."PRESIDENT ORDERS HIRING OF MORE POLICE-President Bola Tinubu ordered the hiring of 30,000 more police officers at a meeting with security chiefs on Sunday. He directed the removal of all police from VIP protection services to focus on core duties, especially in remote areas prone to attacks.
Nigeria faces scrutiny from U.S. President Donald Trump who in early November threatened military action over the treatment of Christians in the country.Gunmen kidnapped students and teachers from the school on Friday, the latest in a spate of school attacks that has forced some northern states to shut schools. The government also ordered the closure of 47 colleges in the north.POPE LEO PLEADS FOR RELEASE OF CAPTIVES-In response to the kidnappings, Pope Leo pleaded on Sunday for the immediate release of those who had been taken in one of the worst mass kidnappings ever recorded in Nigeria.
"I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages," the Pope said at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square in Rome.In a separate incident, Tinubu said Nigerian security forces on Sunday rescued 38 people who were abducted during a service at Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara state. At least two people died during the attack.Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi; Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe and Ben Ezeamalu; Editing by Jane Merriman, David Holmes and Edmund Klamann
Pope Leo appeals for release of 315 kidnapped from Nigeria school By Reuters-November 23, 202512:04 PM EST
VATICAN CITY, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Pope Leo asked on Sunday for the immediate release of children and staff abducted this week from a Catholic school in Nigeria, one of the worst mass kidnappings ever recorded there.Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped students and teachers from St. Mary's school in the northwest of the country on Friday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said, the latest in a spate of school attacks this week that has forced the government to shut 47 colleges.CAN said on Saturday it had raised its estimate of those taken from the school to 315 from an earlier estimate of 227, following a "verification exercise".POPE MAKES HEARTFELT PLEA FOR RELEASE-"I was deeply saddened to learn of the kidnappings of priests, faithful, and students in Nigeria and Cameroon. I feel great pain, especially for the many young men and women who have been abducted and for their anguished families," Pope Leo said at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square."I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages and urge the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their release," he added."Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours and that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope."Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro; Editing by David Holmes
Pentagon chief calls on Nigeria to stop violence against Christians.
Washington, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025-US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Nigerian National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu, urging Africa's most populous nation to take steps to curb violence against Christians, the Pentagon said Friday.Hegseth called on Nigeria to "take both urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement, adding that Washington wants to work with Abuja "to deter and degrade terrorists that threaten the United States."The Thursday meeting between Hegseth and Ribadu at the Pentagon came after US President Donald Trump said Christianity was "facing an existential threat" in the west African nation, warning that if Nigeria does not stem the killings, the United States will attack and "it will be fast, vicious, and sweet."Nigeria, home to 230 million inhabitants, is divided roughly equally between a predominantly Christian south and a Muslim-majority north.It is the scene of numerous conflicts, including jihadist insurgencies, which kill both Christians and Muslims, often indiscriminately.Clashes are also frequent between mostly Muslim herders and mainly Christian farmers over land and resources, particularly water, giving the conflict an air of religious tensions.However, experts say the conflict in northcentral Nigeria is primarily over land, which is being squeezed by expanding populations and climate change.
The world notices the persecution of Nigerian Christians-Robert Royal | The Washington Post-Oct 13
The world tends not to pay much attention to the persecution of Christians, even though Christians are attacked and repressed in more countries than any other religious group. But sometimes the persecution is so extreme that it gains, at least briefly, some purchase on public attention. The steady slaughter of Christians in the West African nation of Nigeria is one such case.In recent weeks, the violence has prompted Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to introduce legislation holding accountable Nigerian officials who facilitate Islamist jihadist attacks on Christians, and HBO talk-show host Bill Maher excoriated the news media and others for largely ignoring the bloody persecution of Christians.According to a report issued in August by the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), an African nongovernmental group that documents human rights violations, in the first seven months of this year alone, more than 7,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria. Christians of various denominations and moderate Muslims regularly die at the hands of Boko Haram, Fulani militants and other violent actors. Numbers vary and are difficult to verify, but between 2009 and 2023 in Nigeria, Intersociety reports at least 52,000 Christians killed, 18,500 abducted and unlikely to have survived, and more than 20,000 churches and Christian schools attacked.Mixed in with religious motives involved in these dire statistics, of course, are conflicts over land, abductions for ransom (especially of Catholic priests), and other points of conflict. But the specifically anti-Christian targeting in the great majority of these cases defies other explanation. Yet in March, amid U.S. congressional criticism, the Nigerian government said violence in the country was “not driven by religious bias or targeted against any particular religious group.”Though officially there is no state religion, Nigeria is a member the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, which calls itself “the collective voice of the Muslim world.” And the Nigerian government does little — often seemingly nothing — to protect Christians from Islamist militants. Which is why it is puzzling that in 2021 the Biden administration removed Nigeria from the list of Countries of Particular Concern over religious liberty. The Trump administration should, at a minimum, return Nigeria to the CPC list. In July, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom urged just such a move, which can carry with it significant economic and diplomatic consequences.The Western coalition that brought pressure to bear on the Islamic State terrorists in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East shrank the group’s territory to virtually nothing by 2019. But ISIS affiliates such as Islamic State West Africa and Boko Haram have carried on the jihadist cause, in particular waging a campaign of persecution and slaughter against Christians across much of Africa. The problem is most serious in Nigeria, the most populous African nation, with about 242 million people, with Muslims a slim majority. Historically, Muslims were mostly concentrated in the northern half of the country — where 12 states have embraced sharia law — while Christians largely occupied the south.Local police forces, in violation of federal law, harshly treat Christians for sharia violations, imposing punishments that include the death penalty, amputations and beatings. Police enforce on Christians sharia regulations about dress, public eating and drinking during Ramadan. As observers note, though, such treatment is not universal: In Nigeria’s west, where more-moderate Muslims dominate, Muslim-Christian relations are largely peaceful and toleration generally prevails.According to Open Doors, a U.S. group that tracks Christian persecution, 82 percent of Christians killed around the world from October 2022 to September 2023 met their end in Nigeria. It is imperative that the United Nations and the European Union, and especially the United States, with its powerful leverage, apply pressure to Nigeria. If a such a large country, roughly divided evenly between Muslims and Christians, continues to be the scene of thousands of Christian deaths every year, without serious consequences, that not only enables a grave injustice but also suggests to Muslim extremists everywhere that they can act with impunity.Robert Royal is the author of “The Martyrs of the New Millennium: The Global Persecution of Christians in the Twenty-First Century.”
FINALLY THE EUROPEAN UNION IS TALKING ABOUT HAVING THEIR OWN ARMY.AND IT MUST HAPPEN.
REVELATION 19:16-21
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.(JESUS RETURNG TO EARTH LITERALLY ON A WHITE HORSE WITH THE RAPTURED CHRISTIANS 7 YEARS EARLIER)
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.(2ND TIME GOD-JESUS TELLS THE 500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS TO GET READY TO EAT HUMAN FLESH.THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN GOD TOLD THE 500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS-TO EAT RUSSIA,GERMAN,ARAB, MUSLIM BODIES FOR 7 MONTHS IN EZEK 38 @ 39.
19 And I saw the beast,(E.U WORLD LEADER) and the kings of the earth, and their armies,(HERE IT SAYS THE E.U WILL HAVE ITS OWN ARMY) gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, (JESUS) and against his army.(RAPTURED CHRISTIANS)
20 And the beast (E.U WORLD LEADER) was taken, and with him the false prophet (POPE FRANCIS) that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Zephaniah 2:1-15
1 Gather together, yes, gather,O shameless nation,
2 before the decree takes effect[a] -before the day passes away like chaff—before there comes upon you the burning anger of the Lord, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the Lord.
3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands;[b] seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord.
4 For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted.
5 Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left.
6 And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures, with meadows[c] for shepherds and folds for flocks.
7 The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall graze, and in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the Lord their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes.
8 “I have heard the taunts of Moab (JORDAN) and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory.
9 Therefore, as I live,” declares the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, and a waste forever.The remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.”
10 This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they taunted and boasted against the people of the Lord of hosts.
11 The Lord will be awesome against them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the lands of the nations.
12 You also, O Cushites, shall be slain by my sword.
13 And he will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria,(SYRIA) and he will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert.
14 Herds shall lie down in her midst, all kinds of beasts;[d] even the owl and the hedgehog[e] shall lodge in her capitals; a voice shall hoot in the window; devastation will be on the threshold; for her cedar work will be laid bare.
15 This is the exultant city that lived securely, that said in her heart, “I am, and there is no one else.” What a desolation she has become, a lair for wild beasts! Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.Sa'ar: No free meals; talks possible if more hostages freed Israel halts aid into Gaza, citing Hamas refusal to extend first phase of truce
Footnotes-a -Zephaniah 2:2 Hebrew gives birth, b-Zephaniah 2:3 Or who carry out his judgment, c-Zephaniah 2:6 Or caves, d-Zephaniah 2:14 Hebrew beasts of every nation, e-Zephaniah 2:14 The identity of the animals rendered owl and hedgehog is uncertain
DANIEL 2:37-45
37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
DANIEL 7:17-26
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
THE WORLD IN 10 WORLD TRADE BLOCS LEAD BY THE EUROPEAN UNION THE WORLD LEADER, NOT AMERICA.I PREDICT.
THE EUROPEAN UNION AND REVIVED ROMAN WORLD GOVERNMENT
DANIEL 2:31-33,36-43, DAN 7:3-8,17
First From Daniel Chapter 2
1 EGYPT
2 ASSYRIA
3 BABYLON (HEAD OF GOLD) DAN 2:31-32,36-38, DAN 1:1
4 MEDO-PERSIANS (CHEST & ARMS OF SILVER) DAN 2:32,39, DAN 9:1
5 GREECE (WAIST & HIPS OF BRONZE) DAN 2:32,39, DAN 11:2
6 ROME (2 LEGS OF IRON) DAN 2:33,40, ROM 1:6
7 REVIVED ROME (EU) (FEET IRON & CLAY) DAN 2:33,41-43,10 TOES
Now From Daniel Chapter 7
1 EGYPT
2 ASSYRIA
3 BABYLON (LION WITH EAGLES WINGS) DAN 7:4, DAN 1:1
4 MEDO-PERSIANS (BEAR ON HIND LEGS) DAN 7:5, DAN 9:1
5 GREECE (LEOPARD 4 WINGS, 4 HEADS) DAN 7:6, DAN 11:2
6 ROME (HUGE IRON TEETH) DAN 7:7 (10 HORNS), ROM 1:6
7 REVIVED ROME (EU) DAN 7:8,19-20,23-25 10 HORNS, 10 KINGS
REV 17:9,12, 10 HORNS, 10 KINGS, 7 HILLS ROME. REV 13:1 BEAST WITH 7 HEADS. THE E.U LEADER OF WORLD GOVERNMENT DAN 2:40-45, 7:7-8,23-25,27, 8:23, REV 13:3,7,8,12,14,16
REVELATION 17:10-12
10 And there are seven kings (7TH WORLD EMPIRE IN HISTORY) five are fallen, (EGYPT, ASSYRIA, BABYLON,:MEDO-PERSIAN,GREECE and one is,(IN POWER IN JOHNS DAY-ROME) and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh,(FUTURE-REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE-EUROPEAN UNION TODAY) he must continue a short space.(7 YEARS OF WORLD DOMINATION-BUT 3 1/2 YEARS OF NEW WORLD ORDER OR ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT)
12 And the ten horns (10 WORLD TRADE BLOCS OR REGIONS) which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
REVELATION 17:12-13
12 And the ten horns (10 WORLD TRADE BLOCS-NATIONS) which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind,(WORLD SOCIALISM) and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
We shall have World Government, whether or not we like it. The only question is whether World Government will be achieved by conquest or consent.James Paul Warburg appearing before the Senate on 7th February 1950
Like a famous WWII Belgian General,Paul Henry Spock said in 1957:We need no commission, we have already too many. What we need is a man who is great enough to be able to keep all the people in subjection to himself and to lift us out of the economic bog into which we threaten to sink. Send us such a man. Be he a god or a devil, we will accept him.And today, sadly, the world is indeed ready for such a man.
DICK MORRIS-This truly creates a global economic system. From now on, don’t look to Washington for the rule making, look to Brussels.
THE CLUB OF ROME FOUNDER AURELIO PECCEI WANTS THE WORLD IN 10 REGIONAL TRADING BLOCKS.
REVELATION 16:1-2
1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
REVELATION 13:16-18
16 And he(FALSE POPE) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, (SLAVE) to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:(CHIP IMPLANT)
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.(6-6-6) A NUMBER SYSTEM
I KNOW THIS MARK WILL BE A MICROCHIP IMPLANT UNDER THE SKIN. LETS LOOK UP WHAT THE WORD MARK SAYS IN REVELATION 13:16-18, 14:9,11, 15:2, 16:2, 19:20, 20:4-ALL THESE VERSES FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION SPEAK OF THIS DICTATORS MARK. NOW LETS SEE WHAT IT MEANS FROM STRONGS EXAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE. UNDER MARK PAGE 684.MARK UNDER MARK. THE OLD TESTAMENT IS UNDER HEBREW AND THE NEW TESTAMENT IS UNDER GREEK. SO WHEN WE LOOK UNDER REVELATION 13:16-17 WE SEE IT IS UNDER GREEK, SO WE GO TO GREEK IN THE BACK SECTION AND GO TO 5480 TO SEE WHAT IT SAYS THIS MARK WOULD BE. SO LETS GET TO IT.MARK IN STRONGS GREEK 5480 XAPAYUA CHARAGMA, KHAR-AG-MAH: FROM THE SAME AS 5482: A SCRATCH OR ETCHING, I.E STAMP (AS A BADGE OF SERVITUDE), OR SCULPTURED FIGURE-(STATUE):-GRAVEN, MARK FROM 5482 XAPAE CHARAX, KHAR-AX; FROM XAPAOOW CHARASSO (TO SHARPEN TO A POINT; AKIN TO 1125 THROUGH THE IDEA OF SCRATCHING); A STAKE, I.E (BYIMPL.) A PALISADE OR RAMPART (MILITARY MOUND FOR CIRCUMVALLATION IN A SIEGE): - TRENCH FROM 1125 YPAPOE GRAPHO, GRAF-0; A PRIM. VERB; TO "GRAVE", ESPEC. TO WRITE; FIG. TO DESCRIBE:-DESCRIBE, WRITE (-ING, -TEN).G5516-GO TO G4742-666 - STRONGS NT 4742: στίγμα - στίγμα, στιγματος, τό (from στίζω to prick; (cf. Latinstimulus, etc.; German stechen, English stick, sting, etc.; Curtius, § 226)), a mark pricked in or branded upon the body. According to ancient oriental usage, slaves and soldiers bore the name or stamp of their master or commander branded or pricked (cut) into their bodies to indicate what master or general they belonged to, and there were even some devotees who stamped themselves in this way with the token of their gods (cf. Deyling, Observations, iii., p. 423ff); hence, τά στίγματα τοῦ (κυρίου so Rec.) Ἰησοῦ, the marks of (the Lord) Jesus, which Paul in Galatians 6:17 says he bears branded on his body, are the traces left there by the perils, hardships, imprisonments, scourgings, endured by him for the cause of Christ, and which mark him as Christ's faithful and approved votary, servant, soldier (see Lightfoots Commentary on Galatians, the passage cited). (Herodotus 7, 233; Aristotle, Aelian, Plutarch, Lcian, others.)
THE INVENTOR OF THE MICROCHIP IMPLANT-CARL SANDERS MICROCHIP ENGINEER LEADER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgH9D6n4ZWo
THE MICROCHIP IMPLANT IN YOUR RIGHT HAND OR FOREHEAD.
LEVETICUS 19.28
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
HERES WHAT THE WORLD WOULD LOOK LIKE (SINCE THERE WILL BE WORLD GOVERNMENT IN THE FUTURE)-UPDATED VERSION (10 WORLD TRADE BLOCS)
01 CANADA, U.S.A, MEXICO
02 EUROPEAN UNION,WESTERN EUROPE
03 JAPAN
04 AUSTRALIA,NEW ZEALAND, S AFRICA, ISRAEL AND PACIFIC ISLANDS
05 EASTERN EUROPE
06 SOUTHERN, CENTRAL AND LATIN AMERICAS
07 NORTH AFRICA, AND MIDEAST (MOSLEMS)
08 CENTRAL AFRICA
09 SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
10 CENTRAL ASIA
THE CLUB OF ROME WANTS A WORLD CHARISMATIC DICTATOR (EITHER RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL OR SCIENTIFICAL) TO HEAD THIS WORLD GOVERNMENT. REV 13:3,7-8, DAN 7:23-24
WORLD POWERS IN THE END TIME
NORTH - RUSSIA EZEK 38:1-2, 39:1-2
SOUTH - EGYPT DAN 11:42
EAST - CHINA DAN 11:44,REV 16:12
WEST - EUROPEAN UNION DAN 7:23-24 (NOT THE U.S.A)
http://israel7777777.blogspot.ca/2012/03/10-world-trade-blocs-one-world.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2006/09/how-eu-takes-world-control.html
http://israndjer.blogspot.ca/2012/05/one-world-religion-crislam.html
FINALLY THE EUROPEAN UNION IS TALKING ABOUT HAVING THEIR OWN ARMY.AND IT MUST HAPPEN.
REVELATION 19:16-21
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.(JESUS RETURNG TO EARTH LITERALLY ON A WHITE HORSE WITH THE RAPTURED CHRISTIANS 7 YEARS EARLIER)
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.(2ND TIME GOD-JESUS TELLS THE 500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS TO GET READY TO EAT HUMAN FLESH.THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN GOD TOLD THE 500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS-TO EAT RUSSIA,GERMAN,ARAB, MUSLIM BODIES FOR 7 MONTHS IN EZEK 38 @ 39.
19 And I saw the beast,(E.U WORLD LEADER) and the kings of the earth, and their armies,(HERE IT SAYS THE E.U WILL HAVE ITS OWN ARMY) gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, (JESUS) and against his army.(RAPTURED CHRISTIANS)
20 And the beast (E.U WORLD LEADER) was taken, and with him the false prophet (POPE FRANCIS) that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
COUNCIL FOR EUROPE ON DEFENCE
https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/document/download/6d6f889c-e58d-4caa-8f3b-8b93154fe206_en?filename=SAFE%20Regulation.pdf
Thousands march in France to demand action on violence against women.
Paris, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2025-Thousands of protesters across France braved the cold on Saturday to express their anger over the persistence of violence against women and demand more public action and funds to combat the scourge.In Paris, crowds of demonstrators -- 50,000 according to organisers, 17,000 according to the police -- waved signs, chanted, danced and sang as they moved through the capital in the protests organised by the Greve feministe (Feminist Strike) collective of some 60 organisations."A man kills a woman every 2.5 days in France," read one placard distributed by the feminist collective NousToutes (All of us Women)."Nine out of 10 victims know their rapist," read another."It's 2025, is it still normal to count our dead women?" said Sylvaine Grevin, president of the national femicide victims' federation, whose sister was killed in 2017, ahead of the start of the Paris demonstration.Hundreds of protesters also gathered in the cold in other cities, creating crowds awash in purple -- a colour linked to feminism."We have the right to be loved without being abused," said 20-year-old student Juliette in Lille in northern France.The associations behind the protests are calling for the adoption of a comprehensive framework law against violence, along with a three-billion-euro budget ($3.5-billion) to implement it.They are also calling for improved education and funding for groups that support victims of violence.According to official figures published Thursday by MIPROF, a government organisation tasked with protecting women from violence and fighting human trafficking, the number of intimate partner femicides rose by 11 percent between 2023 and 2024, with 107 women killed by their partner or ex-partner.A woman is a victim of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault every two minutes, and every 23 seconds of sexual harassment, indecent exposure, or the unsolicited sending of sexual content, according to MIPROF.The Women's Foundation rights group estimates the minimum annual budget the government should allocate to protecting victims of domestic, gender-based and sexual violence in France is 2.6 billion euros -- equivalent to 0.5 percent of the state budget.mep-kal-ldf-lby/sw/kjm/rsc
EU establishing legal foundation for digital travel app and credentials-Nov 21, 2025, 1:52 pm EST | Masha Borak
The European Union is laying down the legal groundwork for a digital travel app and digital travel credentials (DTCs) that will ease travel to Europe, including registration for the biometric-based Entry-Exit System (EES).On Wednesday, EU member states representatives agreed on a plan for negotiating a new law on the EU digital travel app and its use on external borders. The agreement opens the door for the European Council presidency to begin negotiations with the European Parliament.The EU digital travel app was proposed by the European Commission last year and will be developed by eu-LISA. The app will be optional and allow both EU citizens and third-country nationals to create digital travel credentials (DTCs). Meanwhile, EU border agency Frontex has developed its own app called Travel to Europe which will go live for the first time in Sweden’s Arlanda Airport this year. Currently, it is unclear which app will be the one travellers use for EES registration.The proposed regulation aims to define the functional and technical requirements for developing not just the mobile app but also the backend validation service and the traveler router, which will allow people to share their DTCs with border authorities.This app is designed to shorten waiting times and improve security checks. The platform will electronically verify a travel document’s chip and confirm that the document was issued by a legitimate authority. Travelers will be able to submit their data before arriving at the border, allowing border officers to remotely verify travel documents and cross-check them against various databases.The European Council also wants travelers to use digital travel credentials to register for the EES and the ETIAS travel authorisation system.The EU started a phased rollout of the EES border registration scheme in October. The system requires third-country nationals entering the bloc to submit personal information, fingerprints and a facial image. ETIAS, on the other hand, is due to launch in 2026.While the travel app may not solve every problem, it will allow border guards to do their work better, Rasmus Stoklund, Danish minister for Immigration and Integration says in an announcement.“We must be able to control who enters, and we must refuse entry to people who do not have the right to enter the EU,” says Stoklund. “It is therefore important that we give border guards the best possible tools to work with, so that they can combat crime, security threats and illegal migration.”
European Business Wallet positioned for fast uptake-Organizations not subject to same privacy concerns as individuals-Nov 21, 2025, 1:07 pm EST | Masha Borak
This week, the European Commission unveiled the Digital Omnibus package designed to simplify the continent’s digital regulatory framework. One part of the package is the introduction of the European Business Wallet (EWB), offering companies a single digital identity that will allow them to cut down on paperwork.The EU predicts that business wallets for legal persons could unlock 150 billion euros (US$172.5 billion) in savings for businesses each year. But what we don’t know yet is how well business identities will work: The European Commission is planning to release separate legislation on business wallets next week.Earlier this week, Esther Makaay, vice president of digital identity at Signicat, explained that organizational identity and wallets could end up “very complicated.”Built on the EU eIDAS framework, business wallets may see significantly faster adoption than personal wallets, since organizations are not subject to the same privacy concerns as individuals. However, the process of registering businesses varies considerably across countries and legal jurisdictions, which could bring hurdles.“There are multiple use cases, and they all involve data access and data sharing. It’s not so much about identification or authentication,” says Makaay.The business wallet’s purpose is to “drastically” reduce the regulatory and administrative burdens and remove barriers for companies in the European single market.Its main task will be digitizing operations for companies, organizations and public administration, which will be able to “digitally sign, timestamp and seal documents; securely create, store and exchange verified documents; and communicate securely with other businesses or public administrations in their own and the other 26 Member States,” according to the European Commission.The concept was introduced to the public at the beginning of 2025 as part of the EU’s Competitiveness Compass, a scheme designed to help the continent keep pace with global digitalization trends.Work on business or organizational wallets, however, started earlier. The wallet’s use cases were tested during Large Scale Pilots (LSPs) by the EU Digital Identity Wallet Consortium (EWC), which gathered approximately 80 organizations, including business registries and companies such as Signicat, Visa, Digidentity, Amadeus, and Yubico.EWC’s task was to define data schemas for legal person attestations as well as pilot the business wallet. The testing included scenarios such as public procurement, new business partner onboarding, opening a bank account for a business (KYC), creating a company branch in another country, supplier verification in eInvoicing and domain holder verification by a domain registry.The consortium also worked on defining legal person wallet requirements and architecture and developing the Legal Person Identification Data (LPID), sometimes referred to as organizational digital identity (ODI), issued by business registers.The business wallet has also been a topic outside of EU Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet pilots. In a paper presented at the Open Identity Summit 2025, a group of researchers presented how the wallet could work from a technical standpoint, outlining key functions for the digital system.One of the challenges facing business wallets is that most governments do not understand the concept of organizational identity, according to experts. The EU has been trying to engage stakeholders, including a call for feedback, which closed in June.The feedback unearthed several concerns and suggestions, including whether the EWB should accommodate non-European entities that wish to operate in the EU. Some companies called for making the wallet mandatory to avoid fragmentation, while others called for a clear demarcation from the EU Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet, which will be used by individuals.The European Business Wallet still has many hurdles ahead. These include not just the issue of different company registration processes but also data integration.One thing everyone agrees on is including businesses in the discussion on the future of the EWB.“SMEs should be involved at an early stage via pilot projects, test environments and funding programs,” says Andreas Schwab, internal market policy spokesperson for the EPP group.
EU police can store biometrics with no time limit if processing rules followed-Court of Justice rules no national max needed for convict, suspect data retention-Nov 21, 2025, 11:38 am EST | Masha Borak
Law enforcement agencies can store biometric and genetic data from convicts and suspects in accordance with national and European laws, the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) has ruled. In addition, national law does not need to provide for a maximum period of storage “if it sets appropriate time limits for a review of the need to store those data,” the judgement notes.The court case first started in the Czech Republic where a person identified only as JH objected to the identification procedure deployed by the local police. JH was questioned by the Czech police in 2016, during which officers took the suspect’s fingerprint and a genetic sample.Despite being convicted by the court in Prague for several offenses, including misconduct in public office, JH filed a lawsuit in 2017 alleging that the police identification procedure constituted an “unlawful interference with his fundamental right to respect for private life.”The suit escalated to the EU Court of Justice, which ruled in favor of the police on Thursday.The court case was based on Directive 2016/680 of the European Union law, which states that processing the personal data of natural persons must respect fundamental rights and freedoms.The judgment clarifies that the Directive does not preclude national legislation that permits the collection of biometric and genetic data of people accused or suspected of committing criminal offences. The law also permits the existence of national legislation under which the police assess the need for continued storage of biometric and genetic data.The EU Court of Justice also added that convicts or suspects must have guaranteed rights and that “controllers must be required to comply with all of the principles and the specific requirements applicable to the processing of sensitive personal data.”The decision was reached by the Fifth Chamber of the Court.
UK claims of digital ID cloud security likely come down to encryption, not location-Nov 20, 2025, 4:59 pm EST | Chris Burt
A UK junior minister is holding up data residency as a factor in keeping digital identity information private and secure, and says the cloud servers storing and processing data for the new national digital ID will be located in the Kingdom.Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley asked in parliamentary question posed to the Cabinet Office what plans the department has to ensure the infrastructure is “under sovereign UK control.”Junior Cabinet Office Minister Josh Simons replied that “Data associated with the digital ID system will be held and kept safe in secure cloud environments hosted in the United Kingdom.”“The Government will work closely with expert stakeholders to make the programme effective, secure and inclusive, including taking insights from previous IT projects where appropriate,” Simons added.It was Simons who wrote in a previous response that the government will consider in-person onboarding for the national ID, and “a digitally enabled physical alternative for those without access to technology.”Both the UK Cabinet Office and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), which are working together on the UK’s digital ID, have contracts for public cloud services from Amazon Web Services. Other government agencies use other U.S.-based cloud providers, Public Technology reports.Competition and Markets Authority figures indicate AWS and Microsoft hold around 80 percent of the UK cloud market between them.The government designated data centers as critical national infrastructure last year, which grants them special status as protected areas. But what about the data inside them?Residency and jurisdiction-Opposition politicians have claimed an increased risk of breach, but usually in such vague terms (see Conservative MP David Davis claim that “the entire population’s entire data will be open to malevolent actors”) that they do no pinpoint any particular characteristic or characteristics of the system as inadequate.Left to its own to determine how much specificity to share with the public and digital identity industry, the government has declined to explain the measure it will use to protect citizens’ data.Further, what exactly it means for the digital ID data to be hosted in the UK is uncertain, given questions yet to be answered about the architecture of the system.Andy Thornley, head of regulatory policy for UK fintech industry group Innovate Finance, writes for techUK that while critics fear the creation of a single central database, the new digital ID represents an opportunity to hand sovereignty over personal data back to individuals. The government has so far been clear that its intention is to create a decentralized digital ID system based on federated data.“A decentralized identity model means your credentials – your data attributes, are stored securely on your device, in your digital wallet,” he points out.Federated data would remain with individual departments, meaning the data the user-controlled digital ID is populated with will continue to be stored in whatever databases it currently resides in. Data residency, in other words, does not grant jurisdictional immunity.Compulsion and encryption-The U.S. Cloud Act states that the U.S. government can compel domestic companies to hand over data regardless of where it is held, so long as the company has control over it. “Sovereign cloud” operations can also create legal and contractual borders around data, though these do not necessarily supersede laws like the Cloud Act.But the UK government says that GOV.UK uses encryption to protect the data it stores and transmits (at least for its Notify service) wherever possible, meaning that most of the data AWS would be able to hand over is encrypted.The issue has come up before in the context of UK policing data hosted in the cloud, as Microsoft admitted that the Cloud Act means it cannot guarantee policing data uploaded into Police Scotland’s Digital Evidence Sharing Capability would remain in the UK. Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Brian Plastow questioned the legality of the arrangement and invited an investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office.The UK government had at the time had already taken the position that “The supplier has no access to any of the data hosted in the AWS cloud.”The UK government has already spent hundreds of millions of pounds with AWS, according to Public Technology.In other words, the sensitive data that will be used to issue digital IDs is probably already stored in a cloud data center operated by an U.S.-based company subject to the Cloud Act. And the security of sensitive data stored in UK cloud data centers operated by American companies is already in dispute. But it’s probably fine, so long as you trust the UK government’s encryption, the U.S. government or Big Tech.
Signicat warns lack of clarity, business model could hold back EUDI Wallet benefits-Nov 20, 2025, 1:36 pm EST | Masha Borak
The 2026 deadline for the introduction of the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet is approaching but many questions still remain unanswered: How will governments drive adoption of the wallet, how to define the technical details, and perhaps the most important one — what kind of business models should we expect?The digital identity wallet ecosystem is complex: The digital IDs will function within mobile apps with national core identity attributes, which can include all sorts of data, known as attestations. The ecosystem will have lots of roles and actors, says Esther Makaay, vice president of digital identity at Signicat.Although some actors and ecosystems are funded by the government, many of them would benefit from having an income stream. This, however, is hard as the eIDAS legislation focuses on legal and operational matters and does not consider business models, Makaay noted during a recent webinar organized by Dock.“If we don’t address getting paid and facilitate options for getting paid, we’ll see a short-term model which is minimally viable compliance,” says Makaay. “The wallets will be yet another authentication system used for accessing governmental services and the mandatory SCA acceptance, but commercial parties will not start issuing into the wallets and using them for a longer-term value proposition that we’re all envisioning.”EUDI Wallet pilot results-During the event, the Norwegian digital ID firm executive did a deep dive into the results of the recently completed EUDI Wallet pilots, presenting use cases such as payments, travel and business wallets explored by the EUDI Wallet Consortium (EWC). Makaay also explored core issues facing digital ID wallets in the future, among which making money is just one.“There are a lot of requirements on unlinkability and traceability and other privacy-preserving requirements, which makes it really hard to push getting paid for transactions,” she notes. in “There’s also currently no mechanism to support payments”This question is especially relevant for issuers who provide attestations and data into the wallets but also for trust service providers, because they are, by default, commercial entities which do not work for free, she adds.Another important issue is driving adoption. According to Signicat’s research, approximately 29 percent of people are likely to use a digital ID wallet in Europe. Despite strong overall support, however, there are large differences between markets, culture and age – older citizens are less likely to adopt the solution.“We need communication on the benefits of the eIDAS targeted at different use cases, different market sectors, to gain this adoption,” says Mackaay.Signicat has participated in two Large Scale Pilots (LSPs) designed to test different use cases of the EUDI Wallet. As part of the EWC consortium, which included 80 organizations such as Visa, Digidentity, Amadeus, and Yubico, the firm tested using the wallet in payments, travel and organizational identity.Payments are important as they can provide high-frequency usage – a person may use their digital ID wallet daily for payment tasks.“Payments with the EUDI Wallet are possible,” Makaay confirms.The EWC tested using the wallet as an alternative for Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) method for online payments, as well as for payment initiation, meaning the ID wallet was used as a payment wallet. The consortium’s trial, held in March, involved buying a ferry ticket and receiving a ticket and a receipt within the wallet.The testing found that a small majority of users preferred the wallet experience over traditional banking authentication through banking apps or by bank cards. However, the experience of buying a ticket through a digital ID wallet was not compared to payment methods such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, Makaay notes.Potential and disconnect-In the future, a digital ID user may be able to authenticate themselves, present a driving license and pay for services such as car rental. In this scenario, the car rental company or the merchant could also be authenticated in the process.“This is what they’re working towards, to have this experience embedded,” says Makaay. “Right now, the technology doesn’t fully support it, but they are very confident that this can be done.”Travel is another popular area for the EUDI Wallet as it can be used in many services, from airlines and ferries to hotels, car rentals, border control and luggage handling.“If you can share the data from your passports with a hotel for booking or reservations or with an airline, you gain so much in efficiency and data accuracy that it’s really an incredible application of the wallets,” says Makaay.Border control, however, tends to be a closed ecosystem with little connection with the industry, she adds. The EWC, instead, piloted automation of passenger information with biometric enrollment options at airports. It also tested age verification for receiving discounts on tourist attraction tickets and hotel check-ins.The last large category that the consortium explored was organizational wallets and organizational identity. The adoption of business wallets could be much faster than individual wallets, because organizations do not have these privacy concerns that natural persons do, according to Makaay.“There are multiple use cases, and they all involve data access and data sharing. It’s not so much about identification or authentication,” she says.The EWC tested the wallet in public procurement, know your supplier (KYS) and new business partner onboarding. The process involves identifying other companies, opening a corporate bank account and the exchange of business documents.We immediately saw a lot of reduction of administrative burdens, because business-to-business and business-to-government right now is very much paper-based,” says Makaay, adding that the result could be diminishing rates of fraud.Organizational identity is very complicated: A business wallet has different requirements from a natural person’s wallet. At the same time, registering organizations is very different in each country and legislation. For these reasons, the European Commission is releasing separate legislation on business wallets, which is expected next week.More governance, clarity needed-Signicat has been advocating for specific subsystem governance frameworks. A payments framework, for example, would be more specific than the general eIDAS framework. The EU, however, is still struggling to clarify all the regulations related to the EUDI Wallet.“If you look at the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), the Digital Services Act, the Digital Market Act, you name them, they overlap, and there’s a lot of unclarity there and a lot of questions,” says Makaay.The year 2026 will bring further finalization of standards, including the Architecture Reference Framework (ARF), which defines the structural and functional aspects of the EUDI Wallet ecosystem. Several more Implementing Acts are expected, adding more rules on technical specifications, processes and standards.EU Members are due to provide at least one ID wallet by December 2026. Some countries are already announcing delays, including the Netherlands. Signicat, however, expects that there will be somewhere around 30 to 50 wallets around Europe, although they won’t be fully interoperable.Meanwhile, more Large Scale Pilots are being deployed to test the EUDI Wallets, including the WE BUILD Consortium and APTITUDE, which includes Signicat.
DHS finalizes rule expanding biometric entry/exit to foreign visitors-Nov 21, 2025, 12:20 pm EST | Anthony Kimery
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued its final rule mandating facial recognition scans for virtually all non-U.S. citizens entering or leaving the U.S.Published Thursday, the Notice of Final Rule cements the technical and legal foundation for a fully operational biometric entry-exit system, an objective that has eluded multiple administrations since Congress first ordered its creation after the September 11 attacks.The regulation, which becomes effective December 26, authorizes U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect facial images from all noncitizens at international airports, land ports of entry, seaports, and “other authorized points of departure.”The language of the rule signals an expansion beyond commercial air travel to private aircraft, vehicle crossings, pedestrian lanes, and maritime departures, modalities that have previously operated through a patchwork of pilot programs.The rule also removes longstanding exemptions including those that had shielded diplomats and most Canadian visitors from enrollment in the biometric system.Public comments on the final rule remain open until November 26, indicating DHS is still seeking input even as implementation moves ahead.For DHS leadership, the rule represents a long-anticipated regulatory finish line.“This final rule marks a major milestone towards our efforts to successfully implement the Biometric Entry/Exit mandate and strengthen the security of the United States,” said Diane J. Sabatino, Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner of CBP’s Office of Field Operations.Sabatino emphasized that new funding has given the agency the ability to expand the technology across air, land, and sea environments, calling the system central to “innovating the entry/exit process” while tightening border security.The rule follows years of political pressure and statutory directives. A recommendation from the 9/11 Commission identified a biometric entry-exit system as a core national-security requirement.Congress repeatedly reinforced the mandate through appropriations and border-security legislation. In early 2017, President Donald Trump ordered DHS to “expedite” deployment. An Executive Order subsequently set the reporting schedule for DHS’s updates to Congress.DHS’s regulatory effort began in earnest in November 2020, when the agency issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to make biometric pilots permanent and lift location limits. The new final rule completes that regulatory process, giving CBP formal authority to scale.At the center of the expansion is CBP’s Traveler Verification Service (TVS), a cloud-based biometric matching system that compares live facial images to government-held passport and visa photos.TVS serves as the technical engine powering CBP’s growing biometric ecosystem, enabling the agency to automate identity checks that were previously handled by officers reviewing travel documents manually.Homeland Security frames the technology as both an efficiency upgrade and a security enhancement, capable of identifying impostors using fraudulent documents, detecting visa overstays, and flagging individuals with criminal histories or previous removal orders.DHS stresses that U.S. citizens are not subject to mandatory facial recognition under the new rule. American travelers may continue to opt out by requesting manual inspection, though most airlines and ports will continue to offer facial matching as a default option.The Department has repeatedly noted that photos of U.S. citizens taken for identity verification are deleted within 12 hours, in keeping with CBP’s existing privacy policies.By contrast, photos of noncitizens may be retained for up to 75 years, consistent with the Border Crossing Information System of Records Notice.Privacy advocates have long scrutinized the Biometric Entry/Exit program, but DHS argues that it has built substantial safeguards around the data collection process.The department notes that it has published more than ten Privacy Impact Assessments covering different operational settings and system configurations.These privacy documents outline CBP’s procedures for storing, sharing, and ultimately deleting data, as well as the auditing structures that govern access across DHS components.The final rule arrives as DHS continues its gradual shift toward biometric automation at most international airports. CBP reports that most international passengers – both citizens and noncitizens – are now processed using facial comparison at departure gates or inspection booths.The agency says the system has already helped intercept individuals traveling on fraudulent passports and has streamlined overall processing times.Still, the rule’s expansion into new travel modes marks a significant operational leap. Biometric exit at land borders, especially for vehicles, presents logistical challenges due to traffic volume, throughput demands, and varying port layouts.Maritime exit screening for cruise passengers and private vessels is similarly complex, and until now has operated largely through limited pilot deployments.By giving CBP full regulatory authority, DHS is signaling its intention to push these pilots into permanent, nationwide operations.The rule’s lifting of exemptions extends the system’s reach to nearly every noncitizen traveler, including categories historically considered low-risk or politically sensitive.Diplomats were previously shielded on reciprocity grounds, and most Canadian visitors who make up the largest volume of land border crossings were exempt due to a combination of operational limitations and longstanding bilateral travel norms.The removal of these exemptions underscores DHS’s determination to implement the Congressional mandate without carved-out categories.DHS continues to defend the program as a national-security requirement rather than a discretionary surveillance expansion.Officials argue that a verified biometric exit record is essential for detecting overstays, improving visa-compliance metrics, and identifying individuals who enter legally but remain without authorization.Biometric matching, DHS says, provides reliable confirmation of departure in a way that biographic data collection cannot.The publication of the final rule also comes at a time when Congress has taken renewed interest in biometric border enforcement. Funding for CBP biometric systems has increased in recent appropriations cycles, and lawmakers have pressed DHS on gaps in exit data completeness and overstays reporting.The new rule gives DHS the regulatory clarity it needs to accelerate deployment at ports that have been awaiting legal authorization.What the rule does not resolve are the outstanding questions about long-term function creep, oversight, and the boundaries of permissibility.DHS maintains that U.S. citizens retain a right to opt out and that no additional biometric modalities are required for air travel under the program.But the retention period for noncitizen records, the potential sharing of biometric data across DHS components, and the involvement of private sector partners continue to draw scrutiny from civil liberties advocates and some members of Congress.
Tech firms lead stock rout as AI bubble fears linger.
Hong Kong, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025-Tech firms led stock losses on Friday as investors struggled to shake off fears about an AI bubble and after a sell-off on Wall Street sparked by jobs data dealt a further blow to hopes for a US interest rate cut.A blockbuster earnings report from chip bellwether Nvidia on Wednesday seemed to settle nerves that vast investments in the artificial intelligence sector may have been overdone.But the euphoria was short-lived as warnings grow that the tech-led rally across equities -- which has seen several markets hit records and companies clock eye-watering capitalisations -- may have run its course, and a correction could be in hand.In unveiling Nvidia's forecast-topping report, boss Jensen Huang dismissed fears of a bubble that has caused global equities to wobble."From our vantage point, we see something very different," he said.After his firm sparked an Asia rally on Thursday, Wall Street began on a strong note, but later went into sharp reverse, with selling compounded by worries over the US labour market.Data showed that while more jobs were created in September, the unemployment rate crept higher.The reading did little to alter investors' belief that the US Federal Reserve will stand pat on borrowing costs when it meets next month, with officials more focused on stubbornly high inflation.Expectations had been recently dampened by hawkish comments from decision-makers, including Fed boss Jerome Powell.Tracking New York, Asian markets were a sea of red, with tech giants leading the way.Seoul-listed Samsung Electronics sank 5.8 percent and rival SK hynix 8.8 percent -- the firms are two of the world's leading memory chip makers.Taiwanese chip titan TSMC tanked 4.8 percent, while Japanese investment giant SoftBank plunged more than 10 percent.That led broader markets lower.Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai each lost more than two percent, while Taipei and Seoul were off more than three percent. Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, Mumbai and Bangkok also saw steep losses.London, Paris andFrankfurt all fell sharply at the open.The rush from risk assets also saw bitcoin fall to as low as $81,629 for the first time since April, extending a sell-off suffered since its record high above $126,200 last month."The price action across markets has been prolific, and we've seen some truly impressive reversals in risk assets," said Chris Weston at Pepperstone."Sentiment in so many markets remains highly challenged, and we've seen new evidence that managers are dumping their 2025 winners -- raising expectations that the path of least resistance is for risk to trade lower in the near-term."The market seems far more sensitive and ready to de-risk on emerging news, almost seeking reasons to take positioning down when that news could easily be seen as a positive in a more bullish set-up."The yen held earlier gains after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said her cabinet had approved a major $135 billion stimulus package aimed at easing the pain of inflation on households and firms.However, there are worries that the spending plan will add to Japan's already colossal debt and has pushed government bond yields to record highs, fanning concerns about the country's fiscal state.The Japanese currency has fallen this week to its lowest level against the dollar since January, though it got a little support from data in the morning showing core inflation ticked up last month, giving the Bank of Japan some room to hike interest rates.The yen's weakness has also raised the chances of authorities stepping in to support the unit, with Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama saying on Friday officials may intervene and take "appropriate action against disorderly (foreign exchange) moves".Seoul-listed The Pinkfong Company, the creator of the "Baby Shark" YouTube video, tanked more than 11 percent, with the value now below its IPO price, having made its market debut on Tuesday.- Key figures at around 0815 GMT -Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.4 percent at 48,625.88 (close)-Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.4 percent at 25,220.02 (close)-Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.5 percent at 3,834.89 (close)-London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.0 percent at 9,433.32-Dollar/yen: DOWN at 156.75 yen from 157.55 yen on Thursday-Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1539 from $1.1525-Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3076 from $1.3070-Euro/pound: UP at 88.24 from 88.18 pence-West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.9 percent at $57.89 per barrel-Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.7 percent at $62.31 per barrel-New York - Dow: DOWN 0.8 percent at 45,752.26 (close)-dan/dhw-NVIDIA-Samsung Electronics-TSMC - TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY-SOFTBANK GROUP-INDEX CORP.-Dow
AI's blind spot: tools fail to detect their own fakes.
Manila, Nov 20 (AFP) Nov 20, 2025-When outraged Filipinos turned to an AI-powered chatbot to verify a viral photograph of a lawmaker embroiled in a corruption scandal, the tool failed to detect it was fabricated -- even though it had generated the image itself.Internet users are increasingly turning to chatbots to verify images in real time, but the tools often fail, raising questions about their visual debunking capabilities at a time when major tech platforms are scaling back human fact-checking.In many cases, the tools wrongly identify images as real even when they are generated using the same generative models, further muddying an online information landscape awash with AI-generated fakes.Among them is a fabricated image circulating on social media of Elizaldy Co, a former Philippine lawmaker charged by prosecutors in a multibillion-dollar flood-control corruption scam that sparked massive protests in the disaster-prone country.The image of Co, whose whereabouts has been unknown since the official probe began, appeared to show him in Portugal.When online sleuths tracking him asked Google's new AI mode whether the image was real, it incorrectly said it was authentic.AFP's fact-checkers tracked down its creator and determined that the image was generated using Google AI."These models are trained primarily on language patterns and lack the specialized visual understanding needed to accurately identify AI-generated or manipulated imagery," Alon Yamin, chief executive of AI content detection platform Copyleaks, told AFP."With AI chatbots, even when an image originates from a similar generative model, the chatbot often provides inconsistent or overly generalized assessments, making them unreliable for tasks like fact-checking or verifying authenticity."Google did not respond to AFP's request for comment.- 'Distinguishable from reality' -AFP found similar examples of AI tools failing to verify their own creations.During last month's deadly protests over lucrative benefits for senior officials in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, social media users shared a fabricated image purportedly showing men marching with flags and torches.An AFP analysis found it was created using Google's Gemini AI model.But Gemini and Microsoft's Copilot falsely identified it as a genuine image of the protest."This inability to correctly identify AI images stems from the fact that they (AI models) are programmed only to mimic well," Rossine Fallorina, from the nonprofit Sigla Research Center, told AFP."In a sense, they can only generate things to resemble. They cannot ascertain whether the resemblance is actually distinguishable from reality."Earlier this year, Columbia University's Tow Center for Digital Journalism tested the ability of seven AI chatbots -- including ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, and Gemini -- to verify 10 images from photojournalists of news events.All seven models failed to correctly identify the provenance of the photos, the study said.- 'Shocked' -AFP tracked down the source of Co's photo that garnered over a million views across social media -- a middle-aged web developer in the Philippines, who said he created it "for fun" using Nano Banana, Gemini's AI image generator."Sadly, a lot of people believed it," he told AFP, requesting anonymity to avoid a backlash."I edited my post -- and added 'AI generated' to stop the spread -- because I was shocked at how many shares it got."Such cases show how AI-generated photos flooding social platforms can look virtually identical to real imagery.The trend has fueled concerns as surveys show online users are increasingly shifting from traditional search engines to AI tools for information gathering and verifying information.The shift comes as Meta announced earlier this year it was ending its third-party fact-checking program in the United States, turning over the task of debunking falsehoods to ordinary users under a model known as "Community Notes."Human fact-checking has long been a flashpoint in hyperpolarized societies, where conservative advocates accuse professional fact-checkers of liberal bias, a charge they reject.AFP currently works in 26 languages with Meta's fact-checking program, including in Asia, Latin America, and the European Union.Researchers say AI models can be useful to professional fact-checkers, helping to quickly geolocate images and spot visual clues to establish authenticity. But they caution that they cannot replace the work of trained human fact-checkers."We can't rely on AI tools to combat AI in the long run," Fallorina said.burs-ac/sla/sms
Draft Trump executive order signals new battle ahead over state AI powers-Courts likely would be forced to decide whether AI regulation is a matter of national coherence, or a domain where states retain sovereignty-Nov 21, 2025, 2:53 pm EST | Anthony Kimery
As Biometric Update has reported would likely happen at some point, the Trump administration has prepared a sweeping new “Deliberative Predecisional Draft” executive order (EO) that, if signed by President Trump, would dramatically reshape how the U.S. regulates AI, setting off a new confrontation over the balance of state and federal power.Indeed, the draft EO marks the opening of a new regulatory clash that may define U.S. AI policy for years to come. The leaked six-page draft executive order lays out an ambitious plan to prevent states from enacting their own AI rules and to centralize regulatory authority within federal agencies.Though still only a draft, the document signals the clearest intent yet by the administration to dismantle state-level AI governance and to replace it with a single national framework aligned with its broader strategy to accelerate AI innovation.The EO begins by declaring that the administration’s approach to AI leadership requires removing “barriers to American AI leadership” and eliminating what it calls a “complex and burdensome” patchwork of state-level rules.One the most consequential actions of Trump’s EO, if signed, would be the explicit revocation of the January 23, 2025, executive order that was signed by his predecessor, President Joe Biden, that was intended to strengthen U.S. AI safety and oversight.By eliminating that federal framework, the Trump White House positions itself not simply as preempting state authority, but also as reversing its immediate federal predecessor’s regulatory approach.The draft EO further states that the U.S. must sustain AI leadership through a “balanced, minimal regulatory environment,” language that signals a clear ideological orientation against safety-first or rights-protective models of AI governance.The administration wants the Department of Justice to challenge state AI laws it views as obstructive; the Department of Commerce to catalogue and publicly criticize state statutes deemed “burdensome;” and agencies like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish national standards that would override state requirements.The proposed EO envisions aggressive litigation and regulatory actions to weaken or nullify state-level AI rules, including those enacted in the past year in California and Colorado.It attacks Colorado’s algorithmic accountability framework in unusually ideological terms, complaining that it may force AI models to embed “DEI in their programming” or adjust outputs to avoid “differential treatment or impact” across demographic groups.That language reflects a cultural-political framing that goes far beyond typical administrative legal reasoning.The EO’s language describes recent state efforts as a “patchwork regulatory framework” that slows innovation and allows the most restrictive states to dictate national policy, asserting that American AI companies must be free to innovate “without cumbersome regulation.”To enforce that vision, the EO lays out a hierarchical structure. A new Justice Department “AI Litigation Task Force” would consult directly with the White House’s Special Advisor for AI and Crypto, the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the White House Counsel.That governance design ensures that litigation against states is not simply a DOJ initiative but a White House–directed campaign.The move immediately raises questions not only about the future of AI governance but also about the structure of American federalism. For years, states have been the primary actors experimenting with AI regulation. They have advanced bills aimed at biometric privacy, algorithmic fairness, deepfake disclosure, automated decision-making transparency, and even restrictions on government use of facial recognition.These experiments, often more aggressive than anything contemplated in Congress, have become the country’s de facto laboratories of AI oversight. If the draft EO becomes policy, those laboratories could be shuttered, their influence sharply reduced, and their policies exposed to direct federal attack.That possibility is already alarming state officials, privacy advocates, and civil liberties attorneys. At the center of their concern is the idea that state-level innovation is not simply a matter of policy preference but a fundamental check on federal inertia.Many states have adopted biometric or algorithmic protections precisely because Congress had failed to act. They created privacy safeguards that federal agencies lacked. And they imposed accuracy and fairness standards that covered local law enforcement systems, even where federal policy remained undefined.A federal assertion of preemption threatens to freeze that process, leaving states unable to respond to harms and forcing local governments to rely on federal agencies that have historically been slow or unwilling to intervene.The administration insists the opposite is true. Its argument is that AI must be regulated nationally to maintain American competitiveness and to avoid a maze of conflicting state rules that burden companies building and deploying AI models.It frames state laws as impediments to innovation, claiming that differing requirements in fifty jurisdictions generate compliance chaos and undermine the nation’s ability to compete with China and Europe.The draft EO goes further by arguing that AI systems should be free from state-imposed “alteration of truthful outputs,” language that resurrects a First Amendment theory the administration deploys throughout the document.In that framing, state laws requiring transparency, bias testing, model disclosures, or accuracy reporting may be seen as violating constitutional protections for AI model outputs, an argument that legal scholars consider both novel and deeply contested.But the simplicity of the administration’s argument belies its constitutional complexities. The President cannot unilaterally preempt state laws unless Congress has provided statutory authority. Courts have repeatedly held that only Congress can displace state police powers in areas like consumer protection, privacy, and public safety.The draft order attempts to sidestep those legal barriers by instructing the Justice Department to challenge state AI laws through case-by-case litigation rather than through explicit preemption. The EO lays out a template for portraying state AI regulations as unconstitutional, preempted, or in violation of federal commerce powers.Even conservative legal scholars argue that this approach stretches presidential authority and that the EO may have limited binding effect without court victories.Congress complicates matters further. Earlier in the year, the Senate considered – but overwhelmingly rejected – a proposal to impose a ten-year freeze on significant state AI regulation. That moratorium failed with bipartisan resistance, demonstrating that lawmakers remain deeply protective of state authority in this domain.The Trump administration’s draft EO attempts to revive the moratorium’s effect through executive action, but risks colliding with the same bipartisan skepticism.Under the draft order, state AI laws could be labeled “onerous,” enabling federal agencies to target them directly. The EO empowers the FCC to initiate a federal reporting and disclosure standard meant to displace conflicting state requirements, while directing the FTC to identify state laws that allegedly require “false,” “deceptive,” or compelled AI model outputs.This framing allows the FTC to classify such state laws as inconsistent with the FTC Act’s prohibitions on unfair or deceptive practices. States that maintain their laws could face federal litigation, regulatory pressure, or loss of federal funds.The funding mechanism is one of the most aggressive features of the EO. Within 90 days, the Commerce Department must issue a policy notice specifying conditions under which states may remain eligible for BEAD broadband funding.BEAD is a $42.45 billion federal program designed to expand high-speed Internet access across the U.S. and the largest broadband investment in U.S. history.The draft EO weaponizes BEAD as a pressure point against states with AI laws the administration dislikes. Specifically, the EO directs the Commerce Department to determine whether states should remain eligible for BEAD funding only if they refrain from enforcing “onerous” AI laws. States with such laws must either repeal them or sign a binding agreement promising not to enforce them during any year they receive BEAD money.This binding agreement represents a significant escalation in federal attempts to influence state policymaking.As the draft order continues to circulate, uncertainty grows over its final form. A White House official, responding to reports of its contents, said that speculation over unreleased orders does not reflect official policy. But federal agencies are already preparing for the possibility that the directive could be signed at any moment.Departments are assessing their authorities. State attorneys general are preparing litigation strategies. Industry groups are lobbying aggressively in favor of federal uniformity, and civil liberties groups warn that the order could block many of the strongest checks on AI-driven surveillance.The order’s most immediate consequences would likely unfold through litigation. The Justice Department’s proposed task force would begin filing challenges to state laws within weeks. Commerce would issue reports identifying state statutes deemed obstructive. The FCC and FTC would launch rulemaking processes to establish federal AI disclosure and reporting standards that would operate as de facto national preemption.States would respond with lawsuits arguing that the executive overstepped its authority. Courts would be forced to decide whether AI regulation is a matter of national coherence or a domain where states retain sovereignty.The broader political dynamics are equally uncertain. Red states may align with the administration’s push to limit regulation, while blue states may frame the order as a constitutional overreach.But even conservative states like Texas have expressed reluctance to relinquish regulatory authority to Washington. The Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June and set to go into effect January 1, underscores the bipartisan desire across states to shape AI policy independently.Trump’s EO would effectively freeze the Texas law, at least temporarily, pending inevitable legal challenges.As seen with environmental regulation, privacy law, and public safety rules, state-level sovereignty often cuts across partisan lines. The administration could therefore find itself fighting not only blue states but also a coalition of states resistant to federal encroachment.The unresolved question is what a centralized federal AI framework would ultimately look like. The draft order gives few specifics. It emphasizes innovation, national security, and global competitiveness, but says little about civil liberties, biometric safeguards, algorithmic discrimination, or due-process rights.Its most concrete instruction is to require the administration’s AI, crypto, and technology advisors to jointly prepare a legislative recommendation establishing a uniform federal regulatory framework for AI – effectively a roadmap for Congressional action.
New digital identity verification market report forecasts dramatic change and growth-Analysis and buyers guide demystifies evolving IDV landscape-Nov 16, 2025, 5:49 pm EST | Stephen Mayhew
The latest report from Biometric Update and Goode Intelligence, the 2025 Digital Identity Verification Market Report & Buyers Guide, projects the global market for online identity verification will surpass $18.2 billion by 2027 while undergoing a major shift toward the adoption of reusable IDs.Digital identity verification (IDV) is in the midst of a shift towards reusable identity, even as it is expanding into sectors beyond those heavily regulated sectors where KYC requirements are familiar.The 50-page report provides an overview of the sectors that are adopting identity verification and the reasons they are doing so. The technologies used and the technical standards that apply to them are presented, along with the competitive landscape, along with guidance enabling businesses to make informed decisions when selecting identity verification partners.The report is the latest in Biometric Update and Goode Intelligence’s collaborations to illuminate the areas of major change and gaps in understanding in the digital identity and biometrics markets.“Government services are moving online and regulators are demanding identity verification in an expanding set of use cases just as the industry is figuring out how to make reusable IDs work in the real world,” says Biometric Update Managing Editor Chris Burt. “Our report is intended to help businesses navigate this new landscape for digital IDV.”“Digital identity verification plays a critical role in establishing identity in a world of increasing risks and AI driven fraud attacks,” adds Alan Goode, CEO and Chief Analyst, Goode Intelligence. “This is at a time when the market is at an important crossroads with the emergence of reusable digital identity verification. Government issued digital identity, digital identity wallets and apps, and biometric authentication are all reshaping the industry.”Case studies from Innovatrics, Ondato, Oz Forensics and Paravision are included in this market analysis, along with detailed profiles of more than nearly 50 technology providers offering either critical components or complete identity verification solutions.Key highlights of the report include: An introduction to digital identity verification.An overview into standards and testing.Three-year forecasts, key sectors and applications for growth.Digital Identity Verification Buyers guide.Digital Identity Verification vendor profiles and case studies.Biometric Update is known for unparalleled coverage of the biometric and digital identity industry, and Goode Intelligence is widely trusted for in-depth and independent market analysis. The report is the fourth in an ongoing partnership drawing on the combined experience and reach of the two companies.The 2025 Digital Identity Verification Market Report and Buyers Guide can be found here.Reprint licenses are available. For more information contact Allison Heather at allison@biometricupdate.com.
Speed check: KYA sets guardrails for agentic AI’s rapid evolution-Nov 23, 2025, 2:54 pm EST | Hal Lonas
There’s no doubt agentic AI will soon deliver thousands of agents serving their human masters across the digital landscape, but the pressing question is: How long will it take those agents to begin replicating complex human decision-making?It’s one thing to tell an agent to reorder milk once a week. It’s quite another to ask it to book a complete trip for your family.We juggle so many variables when we book travel. We manage expenses, timing, travel flexibility, destination, activities, weather concerns, number of travelers, accommodations and local transportation.It’s a complicated process and different from one person to the next. But our brains are really good at breaking down those factors and setting priorities.Is agentic AI close to that stage in its development? Could an agent manage that level of complexity?The technology is almost there, but it would need guidance. We would either have to tell it how we behave or let it watch us book travel and ask us questions about the choices we make.But no matter how the technology evolves, it needs guardrails.Building trust in AI agents-There are different modalities of how AI agents might misbehave.There is always the concern over whether an agent is working in your best interest. If you turn travel booking over to an AI agent, how do you know you have the best fare possible? How does the agent interact with the airline technology?Even without an AI agent, people planning a trip often use a VPN and turn off their cookies because they don’t want the fact that they’re shopping for travel to affect pricing. For instance, a recent study found that when some airlines see a single person booking travel, they increase the price because they assume it’s business travel, which is reimbursed.Trust is the currency of the digital economy, and fairness to consumers will need to be a top priority for AI agents.Fighting the many faces of fraud-Agentic fraud can take many forms and affect every side of a digital transaction.Merchants, for instance, have built great defenses against bots, which are basically smart browsers that scrape websites for products and prices to add to a database. Now merchants are suspicious about lowering their defenses when an agent could fraudulently claim to be shopping but really just performing the same bot scraping. It’s a simple but prevalent fraud threat.Bad actors can elevate the fraud threat by using an agent that claims to be operating on behalf of someone legitimate or doesn’t have permission to do what it’s doing. Those transactions can hide money laundering, payments fraud or merchandise theft.On the flip side, a person’s agent might go to what looks like a legitimate merchant, buy something and never receive it. There needs to be a reputational check on the merchant’s agent to prove it can be trusted.The rise of those fraud threats has sparked a debate around who holds liability in agent interactions.Today, if someone buys something online with a credit card, the person and card company share some liability for the transaction. If something goes wrong, the card company might agree it was a bad merchant and, as a result, not make the person pay for the transaction. Other times, the cardholder is responsible.Now, merchants and card companies are worried about shifting liability in an agentic world where people can say the agent made the transaction. So who covers the liability in a transaction under dispute? It’s a big question without an answer right now.Know Your Agent: The solution starts with identity-There could easily be billions of agents running around in a few years. How are we going to track that many agents and know they’re verified? The only way to do that is through AI and Know Your Agent processes.Agentic identity verification – whether the agent developer is a merchant, a payments company or a third party – will be the hinge on which a new era of digital transactions turns. That verification then must extend to whoever is using the agent.I see people eventually going to agent stores, much like app stores, to find the best one to do a job, such as booking travel. An agent store serves as one mechanism to ensure we know the developer of the agent, its intent and that a fraudster hasn’t tampered with it.The second mechanism is an agent passport, which brings together the developer’s identity, the user’s identity, the intent of the application, guardrails for the agent and financial details, such as a credit card. All of that has to come together in a cryptographic, verifiable way that shows the developer, intent and code have stayed pristine over time.The timing of agentic AI’s evolution to complex decision-making remains a critical question. But there’s another, even more important, one: How do we maintain secure, trusted digital transactions during that evolution? The answer always starts with identity.
Sri Lanka advances in global cybersecurity ranking-Reforms to National Cyber Security Act underway-Nov 23, 2025, 2:46 pm EST | Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera
With the National Digital Economy Strategy identifying cybersecurity as a core pillar, reforms to the National Cyber Security Act are underway, alongside efforts to improve incident response capabilities through institutions such as the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT).Reforms to the National Cyber Security Act aim to establish a Cybersecurity Authority (CSA) as the apex institution for cybersecurity in Sri Lanka, empower the SLCERT in incident response, and create a comprehensive legal and administrative framework for a secure digital ecosystem, Digital Economy Deputy Minister Eng. Eranga Weeraratne told Biometric Update recently.“With technology advancing faster than policy can keep pace, trust is our most valuable digital asset. Defending that trust requires shared commitment from policymakers, cybersecurity professionals, academics, the private sector, and civil society,” he said on the sidelines of the National Cyber Security Conference held recently, noting that Sri Lanka is continuing to place crucial attention on this area. Weeraratne pointed out that conflicts are not only caused by weapons as in the past, and therefore, international cooperation on cybersecurity should be built and is vital.Sri Lanka has achieved a big milestone by progressing to Tier Two in the Global Cybersecurity Index, joining the ranks of countries like China, Canada, Austria, and Switzerland. Dr. Kanishka Karunasena, the Acting CEO of the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Reporting Team (SLCERT), highlighted this progress during the recent cybersecurity conference, emphasizing the strategic development of the National Cybersecurity Strategy, which is built on four key pillars.The strategy aims to launch a robust legal and administrative framework for cybersecurity, which includes finalizing the Cybersecurity Bill and creating a Cybersecurity Regulatory Authority. It also focuses on developing a skilled workforce in cybersecurity, boosting public awareness, improving cybersecurity readiness in government institutions, and bolstering the capabilities of Sri Lanka CERT. Collaboration with various stakeholders is also a priority to foster a secure cyber environment. The overarching goal is to initiate a secure and trusted digital space for the nation and to elevate Sri Lanka to Tier One in global cybersecurity rankings.Technological investments have strengthened the country’s cybersecurity capabilities, particularly through the formation of the National Cyber Security Operations Centre (NCSOC). This center is tasked with monitoring cyberattacks on critical government institutions and certifying prompt responses. In August 2025, the Cabinet approved the connection of 37 critical government institutions to the NCSOC, including the Departments of Immigration, Motor Traffic, Treasury, Health, Electricity, and Water Supply, which will enhance national cyber resilience. SLCERT plans to connect all critical organizations to the NCSOC by December 2026.Additionally, SLCERT operates the National Certificate Authority (NCA), enabling the issuance of digital certificates by registered service providers. Recognizing that 95% of cyber incidents stem from human errors, SLCERT emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity awareness and training, Dr. Karunasena said. “To build a strong human firewall, SLCERT has trained over 5,000 government officers and plans to continue these training programs with the support of industry partners. This initiative is crucial for creating a secure digital environment that enables Sri Lanka to fully leverage the benefits of the digital economy.”
Biometric identity verification and credentials transforming, just in time-Nov 22, 2025, 12:31 pm EST | Chris Burt
Identity verification is changing, with biometrics and credentials converging in a way that allows them to be used in new ways, as seen in Biometric Update’s top stories of the week. Biometrics from Amadeus are enabling Indonesian travelers to pass through airport ID checks without showing their passports or even breaking stride. Business registration rules are mandating more ID verification in the UK. Liveness detection is increasingly crucial not just to catch fraud attacks with stolen or synthetic identities and deepfakes, but to tell people apart from AI agents representing them – or posing as them. In this context, the arrival of technologies like reusable IDs is setting the stage for explosive market growth.Biometric IDV, evolved-The global market for digital identity verification will be worth $18.2 billion by 2027, according to the 2025 Digital Identity Verification Market Report & Buyers Guide, released this week. The latest in Biometric Update and Goode Intelligence’s series of collaborative reports forecasts highlights the change in identity verification as reusable IDs are adopted and IDV processes are applied in more markets beyond the traditional KYC for financial services.Even companies need identity verification, and in the UK, it’s mandatory as of this week, with Companies House introducing new rules for company directors and people with significant control. The goal is to cut down on financial crime and improve AML controls.Identity verification in the aviation industry has typically taken place by funneling people toward officials with physical barriers for manual examination of ID documents like passports. But IATA says adopting biometric digital IDs instead could save millions in capital expenditures, plus more in annual operation savings while reducing their carbon footprints.Indeed, this is already happening, and Jeff Lennon of Amadeus tells Biometric Update in an interview that pre-registration and “known traveler” processes like those Indonesia put in place for Hajj pilgrims will enable on-the-move IDV at scale. The Seamless Corridors Amadeus has deployed at Jakarta and Surabaya airports capture biometrics on the move, verifying travelers’ identities without asking them to produce a passport.Incode is aiming to raise as much as $300 million, at a valuation of $3 billion, fresh off its acquisition of AuthenticID and a step towards qualifying for biometric identity verification contracts with the U.S. government.Login.gov Director Hanna Kim has departed for the private sector, Nextgov/FCW reports, having overseen the introduction of face biometrics for IAL2-compliant identity proofing. Matt Pritchard moves from the deputy role to acting director.National ID choices-Myanmar held tests integration tests this week as it works towards the adoption of a national digital ID system based on MOSIP. Officials from the country have held talks with counterparts from India on how to build a system that will enhance public service delivery.Executives with Yoti and OneID appealed to the UK government to preserve the healthy competitive ecosystem created by the DIATF at a recent Westminster eForum policy conference. The alternative is submarining its own stated goals by undoing past work and investment, the argue. Views and evidence on how digital ID can and should work in the UK are starting to accumulate, between contribution at that event by the UK business community and at a Parliamentary Home Affairs Committee meeting by civil society groups like Big Brother Watch, the Tony Blair Institute and the Open Rights Group. Perhaps earlier engagement would have prevented already-soft public support from tanking.A new report and accompanying webinar shed light on the governance of, vendors behind, and human rights implications of “Biometrics and digital identification systems in Africa.” The report, supported by the Atlantic Council’s Democracy + Tech Initiative, provided several concrete suggestions for how policies and procedures can be improved.Surveillance and liberties-A mobile license late reader app allows U.S. immigration enforcement officers to query vehicle history and ownership records and related personal data compiled from across the country. Motorola and Thomson Reuters supply technologies behind ICE’s latest surveillance capability.A Digital Omnibus package of amendments introduced by the European Commission will mean major changes to the AI Act, including delays, even as officials in the EU’s biggest countries suggest postponing it. The amendments could also weaken Europe’s privacy laws, including GDPR.The balance between preserving the free speech rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and the benefit of preventing children from accessing pornography online with age assurance technology is examined based on Google Trends data in a paper by non-partisan thinktank the Phoenix Center.Please let us know in the comments below or through social media if you hear any podcasts or see any other content we should share with the people in biometrics and the digital identity community.
Billions Network CEO calls blockchain ‘powerful tool’ for age assurance, privacy-Evin McMullen tells Biometric Update Podcast what’s wrong with YouTube, World ID models-Nov 21, 2025, 5:02 pm EST | Joel R. McConvey
Is blockchain the future of age assurance? It is if you ask Evin McMullin, CEO of Billions Network – “the first universal human and AI network built with mobile first verification,” which is associated with biometrics provider Privado ID.“So that means you can use the devices you already have, such as your phone or your computer, to prove who you are online, on chain, and even in real life.”Speaking with the Biometric Update Podcast, McMullen takes issue with the algorithmic age inference method that YouTube has implemented, and with some other decentralized models for identity that nonetheless appear problematic on the privacy front.“There’s a concern that YouTube will continue to tighten the gate here, leveraging age not just for safety, but rather for controlling which content is recommended or monetized, which could be seen as the first step in normalizing AI-based age verification tied to censorship,” she says. “What starts as age safety could become a control mechanism over what content is allowed or recommended or monetizable for different user groups if that process is opaque.”McMullen says that, while there are many other identity and blockchain-related protocols working on parts of the problem, “they are not focused on privacy first, minimal disclosure, and accessibility to all as first principles” the way Billions Network is.“Billions Network was founded on the belief that identity does not need to mean handing over all of your data, but rather we can enable people to make high consent, privacy first, verifiable claims about themselves, rooted in trusted organizations, such as government IDs, or trusted data like biometrics, with minimal exposure of personal data.”“Blockchains now are not just about currency. They are trust layers that allow us to verifiable claims, such as the claim of age based on a passport, in a way that is tamper-resistant and verifiable without storing that actual data on-chain. You can think of a blockchain as write once, never erase, but you can update.”“In the context of regulation, that’s really powerful because you can comply with laws and emerging regulations such as those in the UK and EU in a way that also respects the privacy and consent of users.”Check out the full episode for more from Billions Network’s Evin McMullen.
Demystify Biometrics introduces toolset to analyze, compare algorithms-Nov 21, 2025, 4:37 pm EST | Chris Burt
A new resource has been launched by Demystify Biometrics to apply its mission of increasing transparency to governments, enterprises, analysts and investors around biometric performance to the benchmarks created by organizations like NIST.The new Biometrics Intelligence Hub now presents overviews and analysis of NIST evaluation reports on algorithms for 1:N face biometrics.It will soon add the results of biometrics evaluations for 1:1 verification, liveness detection, age estimation and other modalities, Demystify Biometrics Founder Ashok Singal said in a LinkedIn post. Singal expanded on the plan in an exchange of messages with Biometric Update, noting that evaluations of face morphing detection, demographic performance differentials and information about image quality standards are also on the roadmap. Eventually, he says, the Hub will include field relevance indicators and publicly verifiable reference deployments.The idea is in part to help buyers “ask better questions,” Singal told Biometric Update. “Not just ‘Who is #1?,’ but ‘Who is reliable, scalable, compliant, and suitable for my use case?’” The Hub does not rank or recommend biometrics vendors, instead offering transparent analytics to help organizations make informed choices.Singal believes the industry needs to further demystify nuances like how algorithm performance evolves over time.To that end, the tool provides news report alerts detailed developer profiles and performance reports, as well as a function to search for algorithms based on performance, geographic or use-case criteria. It enables competitor benchmarking and allows organizations to compare biometric algorithm performance across different datasets.
Mastercard signs MoU to enhance efficiency of Ukraine’s digital infrastructure-Collaborating to improve financial and public services-Nov 21, 2025, 4:35 pm EST | Masha Borak
Mastercard has signed a five-year public-private cooperation agreement with the government of Ukraine, aiming to boost the country’s digital economy by implementing new financial and payment tools and developing digital identity and cybersecurity.The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Digital Country Partnership (DCP) program was signed last week in Warsaw between the payment operator and the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.The collaboration will enhance the efficiency of public services, expand access to financial tools, and open new opportunities for small businesses and for investment in Ukraine’s digital infrastructure, according to Economy Minister Oleksii Sobolev.“We are implementing cutting-edge international technologies in financial services, electronic payments, and cybersecurity to ensure that the government, businesses, and citizens can operate within a shared digital environment,” says Sobolev.Mastercard has previously signed Digital Country Partnerships with the governments and public sector bodies in France, Czechia, Slovakia, Panama and other countries. The program attempts to leverage Mastercard’s technology and data insights in the public sector.Mastercard’s digital identification service is also part of the initiative, including its ID verification service and its digital ID network, a decentralized framework that offers a reusable digital ID.The partnership with Ukraine focuses on several work streams. The financial security and inclusion stream aims to streamline government disbursements by applying data analytics and AI tools to social policy and designing effective government programs. Mastercard will also support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with digital solutions.The travel and mobility stream focuses on modernizing payment and ticketing systems for public transportation and boosting the country’s tourism sector.The digitalization and innovation stream foresees digital solutions in cybersecurity, digital identity and financial inclusion as well as deployments of AI solutions. The stream also includes strengthening collaboration within GovTech and support for fintechs and startups.Finally, Mastercard plans to work with Ukraine on cybersecurity and payment security by enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure. Since the start of the war with Russia, the country has been facing intense cyberattacks and strikes on its physical infrastructure.
METEORS OR ASTEROIDS OR SATELLITES FALLING STARS HIT THE EARTH DURING THE 7 YR TRIB
AMOS 5:7,18-20-6:1
7 (WOE 1) Ye who turn judgment to wormwood,(POISON) and leave (CAST) off righteousness in the earth,(GROUND)
18 (Woe 2) unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
AMOS 6:1
1 (Woe 3) to them that are at ease in Zion,(JERUSALEM) and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!(WOE 3 IS THIRD WAVE OF WW3 WHEN ALL NATIONS MARCH TO JERUSALEM FOR BATTLE)
JOB 9:6-9 (COMPARE TO REV 6:12-17)
6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place,(QUAKE) and the pillars thereof tremble.
7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not;(THE SUN BLACKEND) and sealeth up the stars.(WHICH NOW FALL FROM HEAVEN)
8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.(THESE SAME MEORITES MIGHT POISON ALL THE EARTHS WATERS ALSO)
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.(AND IT IS INTERESTING GOD THRONE IS IN THE NORTH.AND FROM THE SOUTH THESE METEORITES WILL BE FALLING ON EARTH)
COULD THE FALLING STARS-PLANETS BE PLEIADES AND ORION-JUST MY THOUGHT
Historically, the Pleiades were seen as a group of seven stars – its brightest stars: Alcyone, Atlas, Electra, Maia, Merope, Taygeta and Pleione are visible to the keen naked eye. However modern observations show that this most famous of open clusters is comprised of several hundred stars wreathed in intricately structured nebulosity.As the Pleiades cluster is close to the ecliptic (within 4°) in the constellation of Taurus it is a spring and autumnal 'seasonal' object in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Being close to the ecliptic, there are frequent occultations of the cluster with the Moon and planets. To our superstitious ancestors these were, no doubt, portentious events. Likewise, the apparent annual motion of the cluster would have been highly significant. The heliacal (near dawn) rising of the Pleiades in spring in the northern hemisphere has from ancient times augured the opening of the seafaring and farming season: while its dawn autumnal setting marked the season's end.And also Spring and fall are Bird migration seasons in Israel.It would not surprise me if Israeli wars are not fought around the time of the Pleiades-Orion happenings.The Bible contains three direct references to the Pleiades in Job 9:9 and 38:31, and Amos 5:8, and a single indirect reference in the New Testament. This latter passage (Revelation 1:16) describes a vision of the coming of the Messiah – who holds, in his right hand, seven stars.Well since the meteors do hit the earth in the last 6 months of the 7 year tribulation period.I believe.Jesus' return will be only 6 months or so from happening.So this Pieades (meteorites) earth hit would be warning the world that Jesus is about to return to earth literally.
AMOS 5:8 (FORGET ABOUT PLANET X-NIBURU)(HERES THE FALLING STARS HERE)
8 Seek him (GOD) that maketh the seven stars (plieades) and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death (darkness) into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:
JOB 38:31-33
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? (BIND AND LOOSE THESE STARS)(GOD GIVES US A HINT-THESE ARE THE ONES THAT FALL TO EARTH)
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? (GOD TELLS US-I CAN THROW THESE STARS TO EARTH-I AM IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS)
MATTHEW 24:29-31
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days (NEAR THE END OF THE TRIB)(IS THE ASTEROID HIT) shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,(AS A RESULT OF THE METEORITES OR ASTEROID HITTING THE GROUND-IT SHORTENS THE DAYLIGHT HOURS BECAUSE THE EARTHS GROUND STIRS UP DUST TO THE HEAVENS AND DARKENS THE SUN AND MOON.I BELIEVE WHEN THIS ASTEROID OR METEOR HITS THE EARTH-WE WILL ONLY HAVE 8 HOURS OF SUNLIGHT A DAY-SINCE THE BIBLE SAYS 1/3 OF THE SUN AND MOON WILL BE DARKENED) and the stars (METEORITES) shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.(JESUS AND THE RAPTURED CHRISTIANS COME BACK TO EARTH AT THE END OF THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD)(AND SINCE ITS RIGHT NEAR THE END OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD-THE ASTEROID HITS.-THEN JESUS RETURNS TO EARTH)(SO WE KNOW NOW FOR SURE THAT THE ASTEROID HITS THE EARTH IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS OF THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION PERIOD)(JUST BEFORE JESUS RETURNS TO EARTH)
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.(HERES THE RAPTURED CHRISTIANS FROM 7 YEARS EARLIAR-BEING GATHERED TOGETHER TO RETURN BACK TO EARTH WITH JESUS)(FOR US TO LIVE ON EARTH FOREVER WITH JESUS)
REVELATION 6:12-17
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars (METORITES) of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come;(LAST HALF OF THE 7 YR TRIB) and who shall be able to stand?
REVELATION 8:8-13
8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star (ASTEROID) from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
11 And the name of the star (ASTEROID) is called Wormwood:(bitter,Poisoned) and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.(poisoned)
12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars;(LITERAL STARS) so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.(HERES WERE THE ASTEROID HIT BLOCKS THE SUN AND MOON-SHORTENING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS TO 8 HOURS A DAY ONLY)
13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe,(1) woe,(2) woe,(3) to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels,which are yet to sound!
MATTHEW 24:29 STAR MEANS ASTER OR ASTEROID ALSO-http://biblehub.com/text/matthew/24-29.htm
REVELATION 6:13 STAR MEANS ASTER OR ASTEROID ALSO.-http://biblehub.com/text/revelation/6-13.htm
REVELATION 8:10 STAR MEANS ASTER OR ASTEROID ALSO.-http://biblehub.com/text/revelation/8-10.htm
REVELATION 8:11 STAR MEANS ASTER OR ASTEROID ALSO-http://biblehub.com/text/revelation/8-11.htm
REVELATION 8:12 STARS MEAN LITERAL STARS NOT ASTEROIDS-http://biblehub.com/greek/792.htm
JOB 9:7 STAR MEANS - LITERAL STARS NOT ASTEROIDS.-http://biblehub.com/text/job/9-7.htm - http://biblehub.com/hebrew/strongs_3556.htm
AMOS 5:8 STAR MEANS - LITERAL STARS NOT ASTEROIDS-http://biblehub.com/text/amos/5-8.htm
40 000 near-Earth asteroids discovered! by ESA Staff Writers.
Paris, France (ESA) Nov 21, 2025-Astronomers recently discovered the 40 000th near-Earth asteroid! These space rocks range from a few metres to a few kilometres in size and are on orbits that bring them relatively close to Earth. Each new discovery is both a reminder of our planet's vulnerability and a testament to how far the field of planetary defence has advanced in just a few decades.An asteroid is a rocky leftover from the formation of the Solar System more than four billion years ago. Most of them orbit the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. A near-Earth asteroid (NEA) is one whose orbit brings it within roughly 45 million kilometres of Earth's orbit - close enough for planetary defence teams to keep a watchful eye on it.The first NEA, Eros, was discovered in 1898. For decades, discoveries came slowly, until dedicated survey telescopes in the 1990s and 2000s began to find hundreds of new NEAs every year. In November 2025, the total number of identified NEAs surpassed 40 000, with around 10 000 of these discovered in the last three years alone."The number of discoveries is rising exponentially, from one thousand at the beginning of the century to 15 000 in 2016 and 30 000 in 2022. As the next generation of telescopes enter operation, we expect the number of known NEAs to continue to grow at an even higher pace," says Luca Conversi, manager of ESA's Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre."Inaugurated this year, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, while not dedicated exclusively to asteroid surveys, will discover tens of thousands of new NEAs and other asteroids. Meanwhile, ESA's Flyeye telescopes, designed with a wide, insect-like view of the sky, will catch asteroids that slip past current surveys."Every time a new NEA is discovered, astronomers use all of the available observations to predict its path years, decades, and even centuries ahead. Dedicated software systems calculate whether the object has any chance of impacting Earth within at least the next century.These predictions and risk assessments are then updated and refined each time a new observation is made. At ESA, this work is carried out by the Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre (NEOCC), part of the Planetary Defence Office.Almost 2000 NEAs have a non-zero chance of impacting Earth sometime in the next hundred years. However, most of these objects are very small, pose no significant danger, and their impact probabilities are typically much lower than one percent.Importantly, the largest NEAs - those larger than one kilometre across - are also the easiest to spot, and many of them were among the first to be found. These objects would cause global effects if they struck Earth, but the scientific community is confident that the vast majority have already been found.Today's focus is on finding and tracking mid-sized asteroids, between about 100 and 300 metres wide. Much harder to spot, they would cause serious regional damage if they were to hit our planet. There is still work to be done as current models suggest that we have discovered only about 30% of these object.Thankfully, none of the 40 000 known NEAs are cause for concern for the foreseeable future.However, ESA is not just waiting around for the day we do detect a hazard. The Agency's Planetary Defence team also oversees the development of Europe's asteroid mitigation capabilities through missions, such as Hera.Hera is currently in space and enroute to the asteroid Dimorphos, where it will study the aftermath of the impact carried out by NASA's DART spacecraft in 2022. By examining in detail how the DART impact changed the structure and trajectory of Dimorphos, Hera will help turn asteroid deflection into a reliable way to protect Earth.ESA is also actively planning the Ramses (Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety) mission to the 375-m asteroid Apophis and accompany it through a safe but exceptionally close flyby of Earth in 2029.Hunting asteroids in the infrared, ESA's NEOMIR (Near-Earth Object Mission in the Infra-Red) will enable us to detect impact hazards similar to the Chelyabinsk event in advance for the first time. Targeted for launch in the mid-2030s, NEOMIR will close a large blind spot on the dayside hemisphere of Earth as bright sunlight prevents the detection of asteroids with optical, ground-based telescopes.What began with the discovery of Eros in 1898 has grown into a global effort that has successfully identified tens of thousands of near-Earth asteroids. Each new addition, of which there are sure to be many thousands in the years ahead, improves our understanding of the Solar System's history and strengthens our ability to keep our planet safe.
Lunar impactor Theia originated near Earth and Sun analysis reveals by Robert Schreiber.
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Nov 21, 2025-A new study published in Science has traced the origin of Theia, the body that collided with Earth around 4.5 billion years ago and triggered the creation of the Moon. Led by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research and University of Chicago, the research utilizes ratios of metal isotopes to uncover Theia's place of origin and composition.The collision with Theia dramatically altered Earth's size, composition, and orbit, marking the birth of the Moon. Although Theia was destroyed in the event, its chemical and isotopic traces remain in the present-day compositions of Earth and Moon. Isotope ratios for iron, chromium, calcium, titanium, and zirconium-measured in terrestrial rocks as well as Apollo-returned lunar samples-are key to understanding planetary origins.Iron isotopic ratios in both Earth and Moon rocks proved indistinguishable. This supports previous data for other elements, yet leaves open multiple collision models: the Moon may be composed mainly of Theia's material, of proto-Earth mantle, or a blend of both. The researchers reconstructed likely scenarios in planetary "reverse engineering," simulating which sizes and compositions for Theia and early Earth would produce the observed isotope matches.Their work extended beyond iron to other metallic isotopes. Elements like iron and molybdenum collect in a planet's core during formation, while others such as zirconium remain in the rocky mantle, documenting a broader formation history. Calculations using these isotopic ratios, compared against known meteorite classes, illustrated that most of Earth's constituents fit meteorite standards.Theia's composition, however, does not match any current meteorite class, indicating that some of its building material originated even closer to the Sun than Earth, possibly from unknown Solar System reservoirs. "The composition of a body archives its entire history of formation, including its place of origin," said Thorsten Kleine, Director at MPS."The most convincing scenario is that most of the building blocks of Earth and Theia originated in the inner Solar System. Earth and Theia are likely to have been neighbors," lead author Timo Hopp stated. Meteorites were used as reference material, but Theia's signature could only be explained by the presence of material from a region nearer to the Sun than our own planet.These findings suggest that both Earth and Theia shared close formation locales, with the lunar impactor's unique isotopic recipe corroborating its birth in the inner Solar System rather than the outer reaches. The scenario not only clarifies Moon formation but also offers a window into the Solar System's dynamic early environment.
Halloween fireballs could signal increased risk of cosmic impact or airburst in 2032 and 2036 by Dani Rae Wascher for UNM News.
Albuquerque NM (SPX) Oct 30, 2025-Every year, the Taurid meteor shower lights up the night sky from late October through early November. Sometimes called the "Halloween fireballs", they are named for the constellation Taurus-the bull-from which the meteors appear to radiate, the shower is best viewed from dark-sky locations. In New Mexico, where wide-open spaces and low light pollution offer some of the clearest skies in the country, stargazers have a front-row seat to the spectacle.Meteors are flashes and streaks of light that appear when dust, pebbles and rocks burn up as they enter Earth's atmosphere. These fragments come from Comet Encke, which has left a trail of debris orbiting the sun. Twice a year, this stream intersects with Earth's orbit-once around Halloween, when the Taurids are visible at night, and again in June, during the daytime. The June meteors, known as the Beta Taurids, can't be seen in the daytime sky unless they are exceptionally bright fireballs.But what would happen if much larger Taurids came a little too close to Earth? New research led by Research Professor Mark Boslough, recently published in a special issue of Acta Astronautica, the proceedings of this year's Planetary Defense Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, explores this idea. The research titled, "2032 and 2036 risk enhancement from NEOs in the Taurid stream: Is there a significant coherent component to impact risk?" explores the risk assessment for planetary defense."Planetary defense is the multidisciplinary and internationally coordinated effort to protect the Earth and its inhabitants from impacts by near-Earth objects (NEOs)," explained Boslough. "It requires surveys to discover and track NEOs, campaigns to characterize those that are hazardous, modeling efforts to understand and predict impact effects and associated consequences, and mitigation through impact avoidance and/or civil defense."A near-Earth object, or NEO, is an asteroid, comet or fragment whose orbit comes close to or can cross Earth's path around the sun. These objects have the potential to collide with our planet, but only if their orbit intersects Earth's and they arrive there at the exact same time. Small particles, such as the dust and pebbles that create the Taurid "Halloween fireballs," enter our atmosphere regularly. Larger objects, like those responsible for the Chelyabinsk meteor and Tunguska events, strike far less often.Mitigation requires the development of ways to deflect or disperse an object on a collision course with sufficient warning, as well as emergency response planning for unexpected or unpreventable impacts.The research incorporated recently published data from observational campaigns associated with the Taurid stream. The researchers found that the risk from airburst-sized near-Earth objects (NEOs), which are small enough to explode in the atmosphere instead of striking the ground, might be larger than currently estimated. Likewise, the researchers also investigated the possibility of a Taurid resonant swarm (TRS)."The resonant swarm is theoretical, but there is some evidence that a sparse swarm of small objects exists because bright fireballs and seismic signatures of impacts on the moon have been observed at times that the theory has predicted," explained Boslough.Objects in the Taurid stream orbit the sun seven times for every two orbits of Jupiter. This cycle, known as a resonance, means that part of the stream approaches Jupiter at regular intervals. Because Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, its strong gravity can pull these objects together, creating dense clusters. It's somewhat like a prospector panning for gold-swirling the pan at just the right rhythm to make the specks collect in one place.The findings suggest that if a Taurid swarm does exist it will pass close to Earth in 2032 and 2036. During this time, Earth could experience higher impact risk."Our findings are that we have the technology to test the Taurid resonant swarm by using existing telescopes for targeted sky surveys in 2032 and 2036 when the hypothetical swarm will make very close approaches," said Boslough.In 2032 and 2036, objects in a hypothetical Taurid swarm could be observable according to the researchers and the risk from airburst-sized NEOS might be larger than currently estimated. A concentration of larger (Chelyabinsk or Tunguska-sized) objects in a swarm would be observable by telescopes, if they exist, but only after they miss the Earth and recede into the night-time sky.Boslough's airburst models during his time at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) explores the Chelyabinsk explosion and estimate that the asteroid was about 60 feet in diameter and had an explosive yield of about a half megaton (TNT equivalent). Likewise, the Tunguska was probably about 10 times more powerful (3 to 5 megatons), also based on Boslough's SNL analysis."If we discover the objects with enough warning time, then we can take measures to reduce or eliminate the risk. If the new infrared telescope (NEO Surveyor) is in operation, then we can potentially have much more warning time," he said.The research was funded by NASA at UNM and in partnership with NNSA funding at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in the planetary defense program.Boslough suggests that it is important for citizens to be aware of various geohazards including weather, fire, earthquakes, and volcanoes, and to put them in perspective, and to be prepared to act."Asteroid impacts represent a small but significant risk, and New Mexico's national labs have some of the best minds working on the problem," he said.One of the key lessons from the Chelyabinsk event is that most injuries were caused by flying glass when people rushed to windows to watch the bright flash in the sky. If a similar event were to occur over New Mexico, this would likely be the primary cause of injury. Experts say the public can learn from Chelyabinsk and to stay away from windows and avoid looking directly at the blast.The 2032 pass of the hypothetical swarm will arrive from the night-time side of the Earth. Boslough says that the probability of an impact or airburst might be higher than average, if the hypothesis of a significant concentration is correct.Boslough explains that there are such things as daytime fireballs, but they must be extremely bright in order to compete with the sun. A concentration of objects in a swarm (if it exists) would be observable by telescopes after they miss the Earth and recede into the night."The average probability is extremely low, so even an enhanced risk means that the probability would still be low. The swarm will come from the direction of the sun in 2036, so fireballs will not be seen in our blue skies unless they are extremely bright," he explained.Magdelena Ridge observatory near Socorro is involved in the observational part of planetary defense, and both SNL and LANL have active planetary defense programs. While the university and national laboratories are continuing to research the TRS, Boslough cautions the public about where they get their information from."A lot of false information and mythology about this subject has been promulgated on social media, online sources, and sensational TV shows. This media gives the public the wrong impression about NEOs, impacts, and airbursts, and what we can do to reduce the risk," he said.Boslough has also been active in debunking this misinformation. His published research was instrumental in one journal's decision to retract, due to the authors' misunderstandings of airburst phenomena and evidence, a much-publicized claim that an ancient city in Jordan was destroyed by an Tunguska-sized airburst. He also coauthored a comprehensive refutation of the fringe idea that the Taurid swarm was responsible for a climate catastrophe 12,900 years ago.Want to get an up-close view of the Taurids show soon? Boslough says that there are a few opportunities coming up to view including the night of Halloween after 2 a.m. They should be visible when the moon is not in the sky. A few days after the next full moon on Nov. 5, the Taurids show should be viewable in the sky in the evening before moonrise.
Western researchers support international collaboration for planetary defence by Jeff Renaud for WwesternU News.
London, Canada (SPX) Sep 25, 2025-A large international collaboration of nearly 100 researchers, led by Western adjunct professor Auriane Egal, has completed the first-ever comprehensive study of an asteroid tracked from space through to its impact on Earth. The analysis of asteroid 2023 CX1 represents a unique opportunity for both science and planetary defence.The asteroid, quite ordinary by space rock standards, exploded so quickly and with so much force that its actions underscore the potential threat of similar - and larger - astronomical objects.Discovered on Feb. 12, 2023, barely seven hours before entering Earth's atmosphere, 2023 CX1 struck over Normandy, France, on Feb. 13, 2023 at 2:59 a.m. GMT. Nearly spherical, it measured just under one metre in diameter with an estimated mass of about 650 kilograms. When it abruptly shattered just 28 kilometres above Earth, it released 98 per cent of its energy in a fraction of a second - an exceptional behaviour for an object of this size.The explosion scattered more than a hundred fragments across Normandy. The recovered meteorite, named Saint-Pierre-Le-Viger (SPLV), is the only L-type chondrite (a type of stony meteorite) ever studied from space to laboratory.Using new and innovative observational strategies, ESA and NASA successfully predicted the time and location of 2023 CX1's fall with unprecedented accuracy. The difference between the predicted and observed atmospheric trajectory was less than 20 metres, making SPLV the meteorite with one of the most precisely measured orbits to date.The space agencies and FRIPON/Vigie-Ciel, a France-based camera network used to track incoming meteoroids, mobilized the public to record the asteroid's atmospheric entry, resulting in the first large-scale targeted observation of a meteor. It also enabled the rapid recovery of meteorites on the ground, samples which were later studied in a laboratory to complete the comprehensive study.More than 100 scientists, including meteor physicists from Western Space, and citizen observers across Europe, America, Africa and Australia joined forces to investigate every aspect of this exceptional fall: telescopic discovery, orbital tracking, atmospheric observations through optical, infrasound and seismic data and geochemical laboratory analyses."This unique alliance between professional and citizen scientists demonstrates the power of international cooperation when facing rare and critical celestial events," said Egal, an astrophysicist and scientific advisor at the Montreal Planetarium and lead author of the study.The Western-led Global Meteor Network, founded by Western adjunct physics and astronomy professor Denis Vida, was critical in collecting data required for predicting the fall zone for 2023 CX1. Physics and astronomy professor Peter Brown and former graduate student Luke McFadden also contributed to the analysis of the event's acoustic signals, and physics and astronomy professor Paul Wiegert was involved in reverse engineering the asteroid's time in flight prior to impact."This is the first time we have telescopic observation of an asteroid before it entered the atmosphere. We tracked it as it entered our space, and we correctly predicted the impact location by calculating its orbit and size," said Vida, a study co-author. "From first observation to final impact and recovery, the whole clockwork of planetary defence worked really well."Risk and reward-Analyses of 2023 CX1 - only the seventh asteroid ever detected prior to impact - showed it separated from its parent body in the inner part of the asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter, about 30 million years ago.Computer simulations constructed after 2023 CX1's recovery revealed this type of fragmentation could cause greater ground damage than typical fragmentations, like those observed for the 2013 Chelyabinsk, Russia meteor event - the largest known natural object to have entered Earth's atmosphere since the 1908 Tunguska event in Siberia.This study highlights the need to integrate observation and analysis of pre-impact asteroids into planetary defence protocols. L-type chondrite-related asteroids, like 2023 CX1, may require reinforced alert systems and adapted evacuation plans in the event of a threat."We confirmed the existence of a new population of asteroids linked to L-type chondrites, capable of fragmenting abruptly in the atmosphere and releasing almost all their energy at once. Such asteroids must be accounted for in planetary defence strategies, as they pose an increased risk to populated areas," said Egal.
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29xoDyqXD9U (MICHELE BACHMANN ON DIVIDING ISRAEL IN TRUMPS 20 PLAN)
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)
US Ukraine proposals 'not a real plan': Germany by AFP Staff Writers.
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Nov 21, 2025-Germany's foreign minister said Friday that the US 28-point proposal to stop the war in Ukraine was "not a real plan", and details still needed to be hammered out by Kyiv."From my point of view, it is not a real plan, but simply a list of topics," Johann Wadephul told journalists in Brussels."I believe it is the task of the negotiating parties to define this."Kyiv's EU backers have pushed back against the plan from Washington and said Kyiv and Europe need to be on board."We want to ensure that Ukraine can discuss these points from a strong negotiating position," Berlin's top diplomat said."It will be Ukraine that decides what compromises it makes, just as Russia will have to make such decisions for its part."He added that "we are not referees here, but we are advocates for Ukraine, because Ukraine is defending its freedom and the freedom of Europe."Under the sweeping 28-point plan backed by US President Donald Trump Ukraine would give up a swathe of eastern territory to Russia and slash the size of its army.Kyiv would also pledge never to join NATO, and would not get the Western peacekeepers they have called for, although European warplanes would be stationed in Poland to protect Ukraine.Russia would meanwhile be readmitted to the G8 group of nations and be rewarded with sanctions relief under the plan.The proposal involves major concessions by Kyiv, which has previously refused to cede any land, while appearing to meet many of Moscow's maximalist demands following its 2022 invasion.
Israel says killed Hezbollah chief of staff in Beirut strike.
Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 23 (AFP) Nov 23, 2025-Israel said it killed Hezbollah's chief of staff in an air strike on Lebanon's capital on Sunday, hitting an apartment building in an operation the militant group said crossed a red line.Lebanon's health ministry said the attack in Beirut, which came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Israel would "do everything necessary" to prevent the pro-Iran movement from regrouping, killed five people and wounded 28 more.The ministry did not give the identities of those killed in the strike, which took place in the Haret Hreik area in Beirut's southern suburbs, a densely populated area where Hezbollah holds sway.In a statement shortly after the strike, the Israeli military said it had "eliminated the terrorist Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah's chief of general staff".It was the fifth Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs since a ceasefire agreed in November 2024 after a year of conflict, and comes a week before Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Lebanon.The Israeli military insisted in its statement that it "remains committed" to the ceasefire.Hezbollah said a senior commander was targeted in the strike, without confirming if they were killed."The targeting was clearly aimed at a key... figure in the resistance, and the results are unknown," Hezbollah official Mahmud Qomati told reporters in front of the strike location,saying the attack "crosses a new red line".He was speaking before Israel said it had succeeded.An AFP correspondent at the scene said the strike hit the third and fourth floors of a nine-storey building, where ambulance and fire crews scrambled to find survivors and Lebanese soldiers deployed to secure the site.Debris littered the road below, with several burned-out cars seen in the street.The AFP journalist saw rescue workers evacuating a body wrapped in a white bag and at least three wounded women from the site."I was on the balcony. There was a flash, then I hit the railing and all the glass broke," a man who was in a building opposite the targeted apartment told AFP, refusing to give his name.Lebanon's official National News Agency said three missiles were fired at the building.- 'Maximum enforcement' -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had ordered the attack."In the heart of Beirut, the IDF (Israeli military) attacked the Hezbollah chief of staff, who had been leading the terrorist organisation's build-up and rearmament," the premier's office said in a statement."Israel is determined to act to achieve its objectives everywhere and at all times."Separately, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said: "Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off," warning that Israel would "continue the policy of maximum enforcement".Israel has defended its attacks on Lebanon since the ceasefire as upholding the terms of the deal by preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding.Sunday's strike was the first on Beirut's southern suburbs since June 5, when Israel said it hit a Hezbollah drone factory.- Hezbollah weakened -Hezbollah was weakened by its fight with Israel, which it started in support of its ally Hamas in Gaza in October 2023 with cross-border exchanges of fire that later escalated into two months of full-blown war.Since then, Lebanon has come under increasing Israeli and US pressure to disarm the militant group, a move that the group has rejected."Hezbollah will not be allowed to rearm and operate inside of Lebanon and we expect Lebanon to hold Hezbollah's feet to the fire on this," Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said after Sunday's strike."Hezbollah's terrorist activities constitute a violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon and the IDF will continue to operate to remove any threats to the citizens of Israel," she told reporters.Netanyahu earlier on Sunday told a cabinet meeting that Israel "will continue to do everything necessary to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing its threat capability against us".Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the international community to intervene firmly to stop Israeli attacks on the country.Beirut "reiterates its call to the international community to assume its responsibility and intervene firmly and seriously to stop the attacks on Lebanon and its people", he said in a statement.rjm-burs-glp/jfx/dcp
Gaza civil defence says 21 killed in Israeli strikes.
Gaza City, Palestinian Territories, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2025-Gaza's civil defence agency said 21 people were killed and dozens more wounded in multiple Israeli air strikes on Saturday, as Hamas and Israel again traded allegations of violating the fragile ceasefire.Saturday was one of the deadliest days since the US-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas came into effect on October 10, after two years of war.The Israeli military said an "armed terrorist" had crossed the so-called Yellow Line within the Gaza Strip, behind which Israeli forces have withdrawn, and fired at Israeli soldiers.In response to the incident in southern Gaza, which it said was on a route used for humanitarian aid deliveries in the territory, the Israeli military said it "began striking terror targets in the Gaza Strip".Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the civil defence agency which operates under Hamas authority, told AFP there were "21 martyrs this evening in five separate Israeli air strikes, in a clear violation of the ceasefire in Gaza".They included seven killed and more than 16 injured in a strike on a house in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, and four killed and several injured in an air strike on a residential apartment in the Al-Nasr district, west of Gaza City, he said.According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, as of Thursday, 312 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli fire since the truce took hold.- Children carried into hospital -Bassal said one strike hit a house in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.At Al-Aqsa hospital in Deir el-Balah, AFP witnessed children being brought to the hospital in ambulances and carried inside. Some casualties were taken in on stretchers.Health ministry spokesman Khalil al-Daqran said "more than 20 injured" had been brought to the hospital, "most of them women and children"."Among the injuries, there are many severe wounds to the head and chest," he told AFP.The first reported strike targeted a vehicle in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood in western Gaza City. Five people were killed and several injured, said Bassal.An AFP photographer at the scene witnessed passers-by approaching the wreckage of the burnt-out car, with children appearing to be trying to salvage food from inside.-Truce violation claims -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office accused Hamas of breaching the truce agreement."Hamas violated the ceasefire again, sending a terrorist into Israel held territory to attack IDF soldiers," it said on X. "In response, Israel eliminated five senior Hamas terrorists.""Israel has fully honoured the ceasefire, Hamas has not. We again call on the mediators to insist that Hamas fulfil its side of the ceasefire."In a statement, Hamas said the "escalation" of Israeli violations were "attempts to undermine the ceasefire"."We call on the mediators to intervene urgently and exert pressure to stop these violations immediately."The Palestinian foreign ministry, based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, condemned the strikes.It urged the international community to put "immediate pressure" on Israel in order to "stop the massacres".- Ceasefire 'pointless' -The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said the ceasefire scale-up of aid deliveries into Gaza "is still being held back by restrictions affecting visas and import approvals, too few crossing points operating" and other impediments.Jihad Abed Al-Aziz, who was displaced to Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, was at a food distribution point where dozens of people jostled for a pan of rice."A ceasefire is pointless," the 55-year-old told AFP."The crossings do not bring in enough to give us food, supplies, or even the basics of life."We have lost our jobs, our homes, and everything in our lives. Life itself has no meaning any more."The war was sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people.Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza has killed at least 69,733 people, according to figures from the health ministry that the UN considers reliable.
Trump urges jail time for Democrats over military message.
Washington, Nov 23 (AFP) Nov 23, 2025-US President Donald Trump said late Saturday that six Democrats involved in a video calling on military officers to refuse illegal commands "should be in jail."The Republican leader's remarks came after he accused the Democrat lawmakers on Friday of "seditious behaviour, punishable by death."Democrats slammed Trump's comments as "absolutely vile" threats against the six senators and representatives, all of whom have served in the military or intelligence community.Trump took to social media on Saturday night, writing:"THE TRAITORS THAT TOLD THE MILITARY TO DISOBEY MY ORDERS SHOULD BE IN JAIL RIGHT NOW, NOT ROAMING THE FAKE NEWS NETWORKS TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT WHAT THEY SAID WAS OK."He said that the Democrats' message was "SEDITION AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL" and that "THERE CAN BE NO OTHER INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THEY SAID".The video posted on social media Friday called on the military to "refuse illegal orders" and featured Arizona's Mark Kelly, Michigan's Elissa Slotkin, along with Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire.They did not specify which orders they were referring to, but Trump has ordered the National Guard into multiple US cities, in many cases against the wishes of local officials, in a bid to bring alleged rampant unrest under control.Abroad, Trump has also ordered strikes on a series of alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean that have left more than 80 people dead and which experts say are illegal.Trump has alluded to the death penalty on previous occasions.In 2023, former US military officer Mark Milley told a journalist he had secretly called his Chinese counterpart after the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol to reassure Beijing that the United States remained "stable" and had no intention to attack China.Trump subsequently wrote on social media that "in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!"ane/dhw.
Iran says new framework needed to access bombed nuclear sites.
Tehran, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2025-Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a new approach should be taken for the monitoring of the country's nuclear sites attacked in a recent war with Israel.Tehran is under pressure from Western powers to allow inspectors from the UN's nuclear watchdog into the facilities."We need a method or a framework for how to inspect those facilities," he said in an interview with the British magazine The Economist, posted on his telegram channel on Friday."There are safety and security risks; there are unexploded ordnance, missiles, and the like. There is also the risk of radiation," the Iranian top diplomat stated.He added that Iran was also receiving threats of attacks from the United States should anyone got close to those facilities.In mid-June, Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, triggering a 12-day war that the United States briefly joined with strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities.Following the war, Iran heavily restricted access of the UN nuclear watchdog's inspectors to its nuclear sites.A few months later in September, an agreement was reached between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Cairo to establish a framework for cooperation.That deal, however, was declared invalid by Tehran last month when Britain, Germany and France triggered the return of UN sanctions that had been lifted under a now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal.On Thursday, the IAEA's Board of Governors approved a resolution, demanding Tehran provide "full and prompt" cooperation including access to sensitive nuclear sites.Iran in return, sent an official letter to the IAEA reiterating that the Cairo Agreement was "null and void"."Given that the E3 and the US seek escalation, they know full well that the official termination of the Cairo Agreement is the direct outcome of their provocations," Araghchi said on X on Friday.The 12-day war also derailed high-level nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington that had begun in April, during which the two sides were at odds over Iran's right to enrich uranium -- which Tehran defends as "inalienable"."Like the diplomacy which was assaulted by Israel and the US in June, the Cairo Agreement has been killed by the US and the E3," Araghchi said in his X post.
‘We cannot remain silent’: 400 Gush Etzion residents sign petition against settler violence-Violence is ‘happening around our communities and we have a responsibility to address it,’ says one of the promoters of the initiative By Rossella Tercatin-Today, 4:57 am-NOV 24,25
Over 400 people who live in the West Bank settlement bloc of Gush Etzion have signed a petition condemning violent attacks against Palestinian property and residents at the hands of Israeli civilians, one of its initiators told The Times of Israel on Sunday.The appeal, disseminated last week, addressed local religious and political leaders, calling on them to speak up against the violence. The beginning of the petition quotes a verse from the Torah warning the Jewish people to behave in such a way “that the land not spew you out.”“We, residents of Gush Etzion, lovers of Zion and the Land of Israel, feel that we cannot remain silent in the face of the terrible wave of violence in recent weeks — horrific acts such as houses set on fire, vehicles burned, property and flocks destroyed, shooting, physical assaults carried out against Arabs residing in the Gush Etzion bloc, with the intent of harming children, women, and men,” the petition reads. “These acts stand in violation of the law, morality, and halakha [Jewish law].”Rabbi Shaul Judelman, 46, a resident of the local settlement of Tekoa, said the petition has been circulating at the initiative of a group of about 40 Gush Etzion residents who have been organizing to oppose extremist violence for over a year.“Since the war began, we have been hearing of attacks by extremist youth, mostly against Palestinians in the area, that went beyond any pale of justification,” Judelman, who has lived in the Gush Etzion area since he moved to Israel from the United States in 2000, told The Times of Israel in a phone interview.“It wasn’t people defending themselves. It was people going out and burning houses or killing sheep. And [we had] a sense that this sometimes is happening around our communities and we have a responsibility to address it.”The IDF has recorded over 752 incidents of nationalistic crime and settler violence since the start of the year. The total for 2024 was 675 incidents.“After October 7, the sense that what happened in the Gaza border communities could happen anywhere has been very raw,” Judelman said, referring to the 2023 Hamas-led onslaught in southern Israel.“Many of the people in our group are in the reserves, guarding our towns, serving in Gaza,” he said. “But at the same time, there’s a question of where the red line is, how we defend ourselves, and what actions we see not as defending ourselves, but actually weakening ourselves, at least in front of God, and I think also morally, in [terms of] what it means to live here.”Judelman noted that the group, as well as the petition, chose to focus not on the West Bank as a whole but specifically on Gush Etzion because they are familiar with the reality on the ground. (A similar petition has since begun circulating in the Kfar Adumim settlement in the central West Bank.)“Maybe we do not always know for certain what the facts are in other places, but in Gush Etzion, there are many Jews and Palestinians who have known each other for a long time, and there are connections,” he said.These connections have at times enabled Judelman and other Israeli residents to help Palestinian victims of violence. He mentioned a case where some cars were destroyed at a garage in the Palestinian town of Jab’a, at a business that is also popular among Israeli clients due to its affordability and the owner’s reputation.“The owner, Muhammad, volunteers with an Israeli non-profit that helps people stuck on the road,” Judelman said. “One of the cars belonged to an Israeli who had just finished serving in Gaza.”A drop in the bucket? The 400 who signed the petition are a small fraction of the close to 30,000 total Israelis who live in the Gush Etzion settlements, and one signatory said the issue of settler violence is a fraught one in the bloc.Nechama Goldman Barash, an educator at several advanced Jewish studies institutions who has lived in the settlement of Elazar for 29 years, said raising these topics locally has not been easy.“In my community in Elazar, I feel people don’t want to talk about it,” she told The Times of Israel in a phone interview. “I think anyone I would talk to would say, ‘Of course, we condemn violence, but they are always attacking us, or it’s not as bad as you think’.”Goldman Barash said she recently joined the activist group working to raise awareness about the violence and has signed the petition. But she has felt nervous about sharing it with her contacts, fearing backlash.“I still haven’t really put it out on WhatsApp groups in my community,” she said. “I went to Facebook instead, because people are very hostile to admitting that we have this problem.”She continued, “The narrative is that the Palestinians are violent, and we only respond when we’re attacked, and so the idea that there might be Jewish settlers who do these terrible acts unprovoked is very difficult. In addition, sometimes people think it’s just a small group and they don’t really matter.”Goldman Barash said that even if the perpetrators are small in number, it is still essential to raise alarm over the attacks in order to get the attention of local officials.“We should protest people who are violent in unspeakable ways, so we can confront it and deal with it,” she said. “The idea of the petition has been to put pressure on the head of the regional council so he can see that this matters to people.”Judelman likewise feels that, more than collecting signatures, the initiative’s goal is to open up a conversation about the violence in the community.“Many people do not sign petitions, and we did not really do a big push for people to sign it; we shared it on our social media, on some WhatsApp groups, but we did not go to the main media,” Judelman said. “Also, let’s be honest, during wartime, it is hard to do something self-critical, and many are not aware of the extent [these attacks] are happening.”He said, however, that the petition and recent incidents, including Israel’s demolition of a local illegal outpost, have meant that “people are talking more.”Judelman described the violence as an affront to his Jewish values.“That’s not my Judaism, that’s not what we came here to do,” he said. “As the Jewish people, we’ve waited for thousands of years to have an army to defend ourselves. That army has the right to use force to do what they need to defend us, and of course, there is a right to self-defense, but you do not have the right to go and attack someone.”The group of activists from Gush Etzion has been working to meet local leaders, rabbis, educators, and army officers. It has also made efforts to meet representatives of the so-called “hilltop youth,” the network of extremist settlers thought to be behind the violence targeting Palestinians, as well as Israeli troops and police.According to Judelman, the response among local authorities has been positive.“There are different levels and facets to the problem,” he said. “One part is about education. There is a lot of youth at risk, and I think there is a big challenge of how youth go through this conflict right now.”He added, “I think the sense that the army failed us is very vivid across Israel post October 7, and I believe we have a job of restoring faith in the army.”He said that all of those factors demand a multifaceted response to the outbreak of violence.“If we really want to work on this issue, we need social workers, we need therapists, we need rabbis, we need parents,” he said. “There needs to be enforcement that goes to the roots of the problem, a question of faith in institutions, of people having places to go, of channeling energies into the right place. There is a problem of ideology, but also of not feeling protected by the state.”
US hails ‘significant step forward’ in Ukraine talks, announces ‘updated’ framework By AFP Today, 2:37 am.
The White House says that talks in Switzerland on a proposal to end the Ukraine war mark a “significant step forward,” and reaffirms that any eventual deal will “fully uphold” the war-torn country’s sovereignty.A joint US-Ukraine statement released minutes later by Washington says: “As a result of the discussions, the parties drafted an updated and refined peace framework.”US Secretary of State Marco Rubio led a US delegation that met with Ukrainian and European officials in Geneva on Sunday to try to thrash out a plan for ending the conflict, which began in February 2022 with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.US President Donald Trump had given Ukraine until November 27 to approve his controversial plan to end nearly four years of fighting, whose initial draft accepted a range of Moscow’s hardline demands. The 28-point plan requires the invaded country to cede territory, cut its army, and pledge never to join NATO.Kyiv has sought changes to the draft. The statement’s announcement of a new draft appears to indicate that changes were indeed made.“The talks were constructive, focused, and respectful, underscoring the shared commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace,” the joint statement says. “The discussions showed meaningful progress toward aligning positions and identifying clear next steps. They reaffirmed that any future agreement must fully uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and deliver a sustainable and just peace.”Both sides pledged to keep working on joint proposals “in the coming days.”
Colombia says 17 minors ‘rescued’ from Jewish cult Lev Tahor amid abuse allegations-Five of those rescued were subjects of Interpol missing person alerts; Leader of extremist sect, dubbed ‘Jewish Taliban,’ in prison for kidnapping child whose mother left the group-By AFP and ToI Staff Today, 2:15 am-NOV 24,25
Colombian authorities said Sunday they had rescued 17 minors from Lev Tahor, an extremist ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect under investigation for alleged child sex abuse.“We have rescued 17 boys, girls and teens,” the country’s immigration service said on X, posting pictures of some of the children with their faces blurred or shielded from view.Five of the minors rescued were identified as missing persons whom Interpol had issued “yellow notices” to find, authorities said.Founded in Jerusalem in the 1980s, Lev Tahor — literally, “pure heart” in Hebrew — has been dogged by allegations of child abuse for years, and Israel and others have called it a cult. Its leader is in prison for kidnapping children.A group called Lev Tahor Survivors has estimated the sect’s membership at several hundred people and says it is led by a core cohort, with the rest being held mostly against their will.The group adheres to an extreme, idiosyncratic interpretation of Judaism and kosher dietary laws that largely shields members from the outside world.Women and girls above 3 are required to dress in black robes that completely cover their bodies, leading some to call the group the “Jewish Taliban.” The men spend most of their days in prayer and studying specific portions of the Torah.Lev Tahor jumped borders for years, under scrutiny from authorities, with members seeking refuge at various times in Mexico, Canada, Iran, Bosnia, and Morocco, among other locations.In December 2024, Guatemalan authorities took 160 minors into protective custody from a farm occupied by Lev Tahor, alleging they were being abused.At the time, Guatemalan public prosecutor Dimas Jimenez told a press conference that the raid was carried out due to suspicions of “forced pregnancy, mistreatment of minors and rape.”The group has gone to extreme lengths to retrieve children taken from the sect in the past.Group leader Nachman Helbrans and other members of Lev Tahor’s leadership are in prison in New York for kidnapping two children whose mother left Lev Tahor for the children’s safety. Helbrans’s father, Shlomo, the group’s founder, was also imprisoned for kidnapping in the 1990s.The group rejects all allegations of abuse and has accused various governments, including Israel’s, of religious persecution.Luke Tress contributed to this report.
NYC anti-Zionist groups back walkout from interfaith campus event to protest Hillel leader-Activists from CUNY schools around the city support demonstration against Jewish representative decried as ‘Zionist,’ condemn campus efforts toward dialogue between religions-By Luke Tress-Today, 2:00 am-NOV 24,25
NEW YORK — Anti-Zionist activist groups in New York City on Sunday backed a Muslim leader who led a walkout from a college interfaith event after decrying a fellow panelist as “Zionist.”The groups also condemned similar interfaith efforts.Last week, a Muslim leader, Abdullah Mady, spurred around 100 students to walk out of an interfaith event at Manhattan’s City College of New York after castigating the Jewish community representative, Hillel leader Ilya Bratman.“I came here to this event not knowing that I would be sitting next to a Zionist and this is something I’m not going to accept. My people are being killed right now in Gaza,” Mady said, to cheers and applause from the students.“If you’re a Muslim, out of strength and dignity, I ask you to exit this room immediately,” he shouted, leading all of the Muslim students out of the room.City College of New York, part of the public City University of New York (CUNY) system, said it was aware of the incident and investigating.The incident, first reported by The Times of Israel, caused an uproar among New York leaders, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, who decried the rhetoric and walkout as antisemitic.But over the weekend, activist groups from around the city, including from CUNY campuses, issued statements backing Mady and condemning interfaith efforts.Muslim or pro-Palestinian groups hailing from CUNY’s John Jay College, the Borough of Manhattan Community College, Brooklyn College, the College of Staten Island and the CUNY Graduate Center also shared statements in support of Mady, as did the Muslim American Society Youth Center in Brooklyn.“We stand in full solidarity with Abdullah Mady’s statements rejecting the normalization of Zionism,” said a statement from a group at John Jay College that was shared widely by other activist organizations.The statement said that interfaith workshops “are not genuine dialogue: instead, they feel like structured attempts to manufacture political consent under the guise of coexistence.”“What is presented as ‘interfaith understanding’ becomes, in practice, an attempt to sanitize state violence,” the statement said.Two groups at Brooklyn College and the borough’s Muslim American Society center condemned the interfaith event and supported past disruptions of interfaith gatherings at the college.“Zionism is a racist belief system and it has no place at our universities,” the statement said. “The Zionist state has no ‘right to exist,’ and Palestinians should not be pressured into ‘coexisting’ with racists who call for their annihilation.”Two groups from the College of Staten Island also backed Mady, saying, “By normalizing Zionism, you, in turn, legitimize the violent ongoing occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”The statements took aim at Hochul, who called the walkout “antisemitism, plain and simple,” and said she expected CUNY to “act swiftly to ensure accountability.”Other New York and national leaders condemned the walkout, including Harmeet Dhillon, the US Department of Justice’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, who said the department will “look into this.”A spokesperson for the City College of New York said last week, “We were made aware of this incident and are working with our teams to investigate claims of possible discrimination.”“The City College of New York has zero tolerance for acts of hate or bigotry of any kind and will promptly take all necessary and appropriate actions to address any such discrimination and remedy its effects,” the spokesperson said.CUNY is the largest urban college network in the US, with more than 240,000 students at 26 colleges spread around the city. The experience of Jewish students varies widely between the different campuses, and each college has significant autonomy from the central CUNY administration.But Jewish students and faculty have said Israel criticism on campuses often spills over into outright antisemitism, which has prompted investigations and City Council hearings. Palestinians and their supporters have decried alleged attacks on free speech.Some campuses have seen vitriolic protests against Israel since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, including students targeting Hillel chapters with terrorist symbols. Other campuses have been relatively quiet.The CUNY system has contended with instances of antisemitism on its campuses for years, and taken steps to counter anti-Jewish discrimination. A third-party review of antisemitism and discrimination at CUNY last year called for an overhaul of the system’s policies related to the issue.An attempted interfaith event between Muslim and Jewish students weeks after the October 7 attack, at CUNY’s Queens College, also broke down amid protests by Muslim students, who denounced the imam for hosting the event with the rabbi and stormed out of the meeting.
Trump accuses Ukraine of ingratitude as officials meet in Geneva on US peace plan-Ukrainian officials stress their appreciation for US president’s efforts to end war; Rubio says Geneva talks probably best US has ever had with Kyiv during this administration-By Olivia Le Poidevin and Emma Farge 23 November 2025, 10:30 pm
GENEVA (Reuters) — Ukrainian, US, and European officials met in Geneva on Sunday to discuss a draft plan presented by Washington to end the war in Ukraine, after Kyiv and its allies voiced alarm over what they saw as major concessions to the aggressor, Russia.US President Donald Trump, who has championed the 28-point plan, said on Sunday that Ukraine had not been grateful for American efforts over the war, prompting Ukrainian officials to stress their gratitude to the US president for his support.On Friday, Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had until Thursday to approve the plan, which calls on Ukraine to cede territory, accept limits on its military, and renounce ambitions to join NATO.For many Ukrainians, including soldiers fighting on the front lines, such terms would amount to capitulation after nearly four years of fighting in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. On Saturday, Trump said the current proposal for ending the war is not his final offer.With the US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the main talks between US and Ukrainian officials got under way in Geneva on Sunday afternoon in a stiff atmosphere at the US mission, soon after Trump complained in a Truth Social post that Ukraine’s leadership had shown “zero gratitude” to the US for its efforts and Europe continued to buy Russian oil.Rubio interrupted the meeting to speak to reporters, saying that the talks had probably been the best the US had held with Ukraine since Trump returned to power.He said changes would be made to the plan to work towards a solution that both Ukraine and the US were comfortable with.“Obviously, this will ultimately have to be signed off with our presidents, although I feel very comfortable about that happening given the progress we’ve made,” said Rubio, who arrived in Geneva with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian delegation, was at pains to thank Trump for his commitment to Kyiv during the brief remarks, before he and Rubio returned to their talks. Minutes later, Zelensky himself offered thanks to Trump.Since the US plan was announced, there has been confusion about who was involved in drawing it up. European allies said they had not been consulted.As officials began meeting, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the goal was to craft a plan acceptable to Ukraine that could be used in a negotiation with Russia.“Right now, I’m not yet convinced we’re going to get the solution President Trump wants in the next few days,” Merz said on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Johannesburg.Before heading to Geneva, Rubio insisted on X that Washington had authored the plan after remarks from some US senators suggesting otherwise.Senator Angus King said Rubio had told senators the plan was not the administration’s position, but “essentially the wish list of the Russians.”Europeans have submitted a modified version of the US plan for Ukraine that pushes back on proposed limits to Kyiv’s armed forces and territorial concessions, according to a document seen by Reuters on Sunday.A perilous moment for Ukraine-The draft US plan, which includes many of Russia’s key demands and offers only vague assurances to Ukraine of “robust security guarantees,” comes at a perilous moment for Kyiv.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that Ukraine’s borders cannot be changed by force, its army cannot be left vulnerable to attack, and the European Union must have a central role in a Ukraine peace deal.Russia has been making gains on parts of the front, albeit slowly, and, according to Western and Ukrainian officials, the advances have been extremely costly in terms of lives lost.The transportation hub of Pokrovsk has been partially taken by Russian forces, and Ukrainian commanders say they do not have enough soldiers to prevent small, persistent incursions.Ukraine’s power and gas facilities have been pummeled by drone and missile attacks, meaning millions of people are without water, heating, and power for hours each day.Zelensky himself has been under pressure domestically after a major corruption scandal broke, ensnaring some of his ministers and people in his close entourage.He has warned that Ukraine risked losing its dignity and freedom — or Washington’s backing — over the US plan.Handing the advantage to Russia-Zelensky welcomed the diplomatic efforts in Geneva, saying that he hoped they would lead to a result.Kyiv had taken heart in recent weeks after the United States tightened sanctions on Russia’s oil sector, the main source of funding for the war, while its own long-range drone and missile strikes have caused considerable damage to the industry.But the draft peace plan appears to hand the diplomatic advantage back to Moscow. Ukraine relies heavily on US intelligence and weapons to sustain its war against Russia.European and other Western leaders have said the US peace plan was a basis for talks to end the war, but needed more work.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would speak to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday about Ukraine and share the outcome with European and US allies.Putin has described the plan as the basis for a resolution to the conflict, but Moscow may object to some proposals in the scheme, which requires its forces to pull back from some areas they have captured.
At cabinet meeting, PM vows to ‘continue to strike terrorism’ wherever necessary-Hours before Beirut strike on Hezbollah military chief, ministers argue over dairy prices; education minister, key MK join protest outside meeting, demanding Israel annex West Bank-By Lazar Berman,Sam Sokol-and ToI Staff 23 November 2025, 8:45 pm
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, opening Sunday’s weekly cabinet meeting, vowed to continue to respond to ceasefire violations in Gaza and Lebanon, while batting away accusations of Israeli over-deference to Washington.The meeting — held hours before Israel killed Hezbollah’s number-two leader in a Beirut airstrike — also featured heated arguments over dairy reform and jabs against Turkey. Members of the government joined a protest outside the meeting demanding Israel annex the West Bank.“We continue to strike terrorism on several fronts,” Netanyahu said at the discussion’s start. “This weekend, the IDF struck in Lebanon, and we will continue to do whatever is necessary to prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing its capacity to threaten us.”Netanyahu added that Israel was pursuing a similar strategy in the Gaza Strip: “Since the ceasefire, Hamas has not stopped violating it, and we are acting accordingly,” he said.Israel carried out airstrikes in Gaza on Saturday after a Palestinian gunman opened fire on Israeli troops in the Strip’s south. According to Netanyahu’s office, five senior Hamas officials were killed in the strikes.Netanyahu also pushed back on criticism that critical decisions on Gaza were going through Washington. “All the talk that ‘we must obtain approval’ from this or that party is simply a complete lie. We act without relying on anyone,” he said.“Israel is responsible for its own security.”After Netanyahu spoke, far-right ministers exchanged a yelling match over proposed dairy reform, according to quotes leaked to Hebrew media.Nationwide milk shortages have led Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to advance a plan to open up the dairy market, which would ease government controls and waive high tariffs on imports. Opponents argue it will harm local producers and could eventually lead to a rise in costs of basic products.National Security Minister Ben Gvir lashed out against the plan Sunday, saying Smotrich “is shutting down the dairy farms! Because of him, Israeli citizens won’t have milk.”“Do you even know what the reform says?” Smotrich hit back. “It will strengthen the dairy farms and lower prices.”“Stop being arrogant and conceited, thinking that everyone here is stupid,” Ben Gvir retorted. The debate grew so loud and heated that Netanyahu intervened, urging the ministers to speak slowly and concisely.Presence of Turkish missions ‘intolerable’As the topic shifted to Israel’s ally-turned-foe in Ankara, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli called on the government to shut down the activities of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), a Turkish government body that conducts development assistance and operates widely in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.“The presence of the Turkish consulates in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and TIKA’s activity is intolerable and must be shut down,” Chikli said.“No self-respecting state would accept a country whose rhetoric is the rhetoric of an enemy state,” he said, adding that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rhetoric “calls for the destruction of Israel.”“This is an enemy state that wants to establish itself in Syria,” Chikli said. “We need to kick them out.”According to Hebrew media quotes, Netanyahu replied: “Is that diplomatic language? I would say an ‘adversarial’ state.”Chiming in, Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock asked: “Why don’t we take away their diplomatic visas and send them to hell?”Politicians join pro-annexation protesters-Before the meeting, Education Minister Yoav Kisch (Likud) and Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chairman Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism) joined a protest outside the Prime Minister’s Office demanding the annexation of the West Bank.“There must not, under any circumstances, be a Palestinian state. I’m saying this as clearly as I can,” declared Kisch.“More than that, we must advance sovereignty,” he continued, standing next to a sign that said: “Don’t upset God. Don’t go up against the Bible. Judea-Samaria-Gaza belong to the Jewish people!”“There is an opportunity right now. There is an opportunity here at home. We must convey this message and act on it,” Kisch declared. “I think this is the best answer to all those who talk about this delusion called a Palestinian state. It is dangerous to Israel’s security, contrary to historical justice and to our right to the land… and we will establish one state, as the prime minister said, between the Jordan and the sea — and that is the State of Israel,” he says before heading into the gathering.Rothman said: “The people demand it. Every poll shows it. The Knesset has affirmed it. It’s time for the government to do it… We must make sure that no Palestinian state is created and that the territories of Judea and Samaria are under the sovereignty of the State of Israel, not only through military control, but through applying sovereignty on the ground itself.“Today, a government decision on applying sovereignty could be issued. It is in the hands of the government, and that is what we need to do,” he added.Most of the international community considers Israel’s control of the West Bank an illegal occupation, and US President Donald Trump has said he will not let Israel annex the territory that Palestinians claim for a future state. Netanyahu has indicated the matter is not on the table.Sharon Wrobel contributed to this report.
Over 1 in 4 Israelis considering leaving the country, poll finds-30% of Arabs, 26% of Jews thinking of emigrating, IDI says; secular Jews more inclined than religious; security, politics, employment and cost of living are top concerns By ToI Staff 23 November 2025, 5:34 pm
A new study published on Sunday found that 27 percent of Israelis are considering moving out of the country, even though the majority of them believe mass emigration would be dangerous for the future of the state.The study by the Israel Democracy Institute was conducted in April among 720 Jewish respondents and 187 Arab respondents. It found that a larger percentage of Arab Israelis (30%) are considering leaving than Jewish Israelis (26%). Among Jews, the less individuals identified as religious, the more likely they were to say they were considering emigration, and respondents identifying as left-wing were more likely to say so than those on the right.Of those who said they were considering leaving, 69% of Jews and 62.5% of Arabs said they had no specific pull abroad — it was just a matter of getting out of the country.The poll was conducted after some 18 months of war on multiple fronts — before Israel’s 12-day war with Iran in June and before a fragile ceasefire was achieved last month in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, leading to the return of all but three of the hostages held there. It is unclear whether these two developments would change the results.Among those weighing emigration, those who identified as non-religious made up the highest percentage (39%), followed by traditional but non-religious (24%), traditional religious (19%), Orthodox (14%), and finally ultra-Orthodox (4%).Among younger secular Jewish Israelis, 60% said they would consider leaving, and among those with a high income and a foreign passport, the figure jumped to 80%.In both Arabs and Jews, the more educated were more likely to consider leaving, and high and medium-high incomes created a higher likelihood as well. In the same vein, people with jobs that enabled more global mobility, such as high-tech, medicine, and finance, were most likely to consider leaving.Israelis with a second citizenship were unsurprisingly more likely to weigh leaving than those without, but the study found more Israeli-born citizens (33%) were considering moving than those who had immigrated to Israel (22%). The study attributed this to the intentionality of immigrating, noting that those who had made the effort to come would be less likely to think of leaving.Israeli-born Jews with dual citizenship were more likely to consider leaving if they had lived abroad for any amount of time. The longer they had spent abroad, the more likely they were to consider moving away from Israel.Forty-two percent of Jews and 33% of Arabs reported thinking that the current state of the nation was “bad,” while 8% and 15% respectively described it as “good.”Respondents cited cost of living, security and political concerns and “the lack of a good future for my children” as top considerations for emigrating.The most popular destination among those thinking of leaving was the European Union (43%). higher than North America or Canada (27%).Other concerns included public services, Israel’s international standing, the state of the country’s democracy, free speech, and Israel’s identity as the Jewish state.The biggest consideration for staying in Israel for both Jewish and Arab Israelis was the desire to stay close to family. Both groups’ respondents were far more likely to say they might leave if relatives had left the country in recent years.
Tehran alleges Israel and US attempted to target Khamenei to destabilize Iran-Iranian minister says supreme leader threatened ‘sometimes with assassination attempts, sometimes with hostile attacks,’ but may not have been referring to a specific incident By AFP and ToI Staff 23 November 2025, 3:17 pm
Iran’s intelligence ministry has claimed there were attempts by foreign adversaries, including the United States and Israel, to target Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and destabilize the Islamic Republic.The country’s ISNA news agency reported on Saturday that Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib cautioned that “the enemy seeks to target the supreme leader, sometimes with assassination attempts, sometimes with hostile attacks.”“Those who act in this direction, knowingly or unknowingly, are the infiltrating agents of the enemy,” Khatib added, referring directly to Israel and the United States.While it was not immediately clear if the minister was referring to a specific incident, and Iranian officials often allege foreign plots, statements on threats against Khamenei’s life had been rare prior to the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June.Israel said its sweeping assault on Iran’s top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites, and ballistic missile program was necessary to prevent the Islamic Republic from realizing its avowed plan to destroy Israel. Iran retaliated by launching over 500 ballistic missiles and around 1,100 drones at Israel.Iran has consistently denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. However, it has enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities. Israel said Iran had also taken steps toward weaponization.During the war, there were reports that US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei out of concern it would escalate the situation.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was dismissive of the reports, but said the move would be a surefire way “end the conflict.”At the time, Trump also said that Iran’s supreme leader was a “very easy target” and that “we are not going to take him out, at least not for now.”He later said in a post on Truth Social that he had saved Iran’s supreme leader from “A VERY UGLY AND IGNOMINIOUS DEATH.”The 86-year-old Khamenei has been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989 and has the final say on all state affairs.Earlier this month, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said he had been particularly concerned for Khamenei’s life during the war and feared that the country’s institutions “would start fighting among each other.”
Hamas spent years mining IDF troops’ social media for intel on bases, tanks – report-Terror group said to have spied on 100,000 soldiers’ online accounts, gathering data to map bases, build VR training models, and even learn how to disable tanks By ToI Staff and Emanuel Fabian-23 November 2025, 2:36 pm
Military investigations have reportedly revealed that Hamas spent years collecting sensitive intelligence on IDF bases and equipment, especially tanks and their operations, from soldiers’ social media activity, allowing the terror group to disable tanks and raid army bases during its October 7, 2023, onslaught in southern Israel.Army Radio reported Sunday that a specialized Hamas intelligence unit built a detailed database over several years by piecing together thousands of social media posts by soldiers, including photos and videos, specifically focusing on the Merkava Mark 4 tank — the most advanced armored vehicle in the IDF’s arsenal.According to the report, Hamas learned about a hidden kill switch on the tank that disables the vehicle and renders it useless, which they utilized during their attacks on IDF bases along the Gaza border on October 7, especially during their assault on the Nahal Oz base, where 53 soldiers were killed and 10 were taken hostage.The extent of the terror group’s understanding of IDF bases and equipment was only made known to the military when soldiers found a tunnel complex in early 2024 containing a trove of intelligence data about military positions, vehicles, and units, which had largely been gathered by monitoring the social media accounts of some 100,000 Israeli soldiers, the report said.The tunnel complex, dubbed “the Pentagon” by the IDF, was reportedly located underneath central Gaza’s refugee camps. The underground complex stored maps, intelligence reports, virtual reality simulators and full-scale models of military equipment, which Hamas accumulated over some five years of intelligence gathering.According to the report, Hamas’s intelligence units used the facility as a headquarters for a meticulous, multi-year intelligence and training program based largely on open-source information inadvertently leaked by soldiers online.The facility was also used as an underground training base for the terror group’s elite Nukhba force, which created a unit specifically trained to operate IDF tanks using intelligence gathered via social media.While the special Hamas tank unit was initially supposed to commandeer the tanks and drive them into Gaza with the intention of using them against the IDF in battle, on the day of the attacks, the operatives failed to do so and only succeeded in disabling the tanks, the report said.Still, the group’s success in disabling the tanks deeply puzzled IDF brass at the time, as they were unsure how Hamas fighters figured out the Merkava Mark 4’s hidden kill switch — until the army uncovered the extent of the Hamas intelligence unit’s database.The intelligence unit, which reportedly consisted of some 2,500 operatives, created tens of thousands of fake social media accounts to follow hundreds of thousands of IDF soldiers in the hopes that the soldiers would post sensitive and classified information about their equipment and bases.Over five years, beginning in 2018, Hamas collected and studied the data, building intelligence reports that the IDF probes said rivaled the military’s own special operation dossiers.The unit also managed to infiltrate internal WhatsApp groups for various IDF units by creating fake profiles, which they used to track individual soldiers from the time they were drafted though their promotions to officers and even high-level commanders.According to the report, Hamas’s military intelligence unit produced daily reports about routine IDF activity that detailed where every military company was located, where every Iron Dome battery was positioned, and whether the IDF made changes to troop deployment or quietly moved forces between sectors.The group cross-referenced thousands of real-time data points from social networks and built precise models of IDF bases and equipment into virtual reality simulators, which were used to train elite operatives, the report said.An officer quoted by Army Radio said the military knew about some of Hamas’s training models, but said “we never imagined how accurate they were.”“Hamas knew [the bases] better than I did, and I served there for many years.” another officer told the outlet.The Times of Israel reported in March on the IDF’s probes into the Hamas-led attack on the Nahal Oz base, which found that the terror group knew how many troops were deployed at the base at any given date, as well as the best time to attack, how long it would take for the IDF to send backup troops to the base, and what the best routes were to reach the base.A document found in Gaza detailed the exact layout of the base, including bomb shelters, barracks, generator rooms, communication antennas, surveillance cameras, and the war room. Hamas knew where the commanders slept, how effective the shelters would be against rocket fire, and how many soldiers had weapons, and which weapons.The attack on Nahal Oz, located just 850 meters from the border with the Gaza Strip, was perhaps the terror group’s most successful single attack of its October 7, 2023, onslaught.The base, which held 162 soldiers, 90 of whom were armed, served as an army post for combat soldiers due to its proximity to Gaza, as well as a command center for the Border Defense Corps’ 414th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit, whose female members operate surveillance cameras looking toward the Strip.On the morning of October 7, some 215 Hamas terrorists stormed the base, quickly overrunning its defenses and capturing it. In all, 53 soldiers were killed at the base: 31 combat troops and 22 noncombat — including 16 female surveillance soldiers. Another 10 were abducted — seven female surveillance soldiers and three tank soldiers.A total of 35 terrorists were killed inside the Nahal Oz base and another 10 just outside it. Dozens more were killed between the base and the Gaza border barrier.Over 1,200 people were killed during the Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel, mostly civilians, and 251 people were taken hostage into Gaza. The attacks sparked the war against terror groups in the Strip, which was paused by a US-negotiated ceasefire last month after two years of fighting.
Hamas officials in Cairo discuss Gaza escalation, transition to Trump plan’s stage 2-Netanyahu says terror group has not stopped violating the ceasefire, and Israel is acting accordingly; military, Shin Bet confirm killing top Hamas commander in Saturday strike-By Reuters, Agencies and ToI Staff 23 November 2025, 2:16 pM
A Hamas delegation was in Cairo on Sunday to meet with Gaza mediators on the recent escalation of hostilities in the Strip, as both Israel and the Palestinian terror group continued to trade accusations of ceasefire violations.Hamas on Sunday night confirmed the meeting, saying senior leaders Muhammad Darwish, Khaled Mashal, Khalil al-Hayya, Nizar Awdallah, Zaher Jabarin and Ghazi Hamed met with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, a senior mediator for the truce.They discussed “ways to urgently address, via mediators’ efforts with the various parties,” the issue of dozens of Hamas operatives holed up underground in Israeli-controlled Rafah, Hamas said in a statement. It added that contact with the operatives had been lost.The statement came after Israel on Friday, in the wake of attacks on its troops, killed or captured 17 terror operatives who tried to flee a tunnel in eastern Rafah. On Saturday, Israel carried out deadly strikes across Gaza, including a strike on Gaza City targeting Hamas’s military chief, according to the IDF and Palestinian media.The Hamas statement also came after reports Saturday that the group had informed mediators that the ceasefire was over. Hamas, which denied the report, said in the statement Sunday that it remains committed to the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, “stressing the importance of ending the continuing Zionist violations… via a clear and specific mechanism sponsored and overseen by the mediators,” including the US, Qatar, and Turkey along with Egypt.The mechanism would “report to mediators on any violations, so that necessary steps can be taken to spot them in immediately and prevent unilateral steps resulting in escalation,” said Hamas.The first phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan formed the basis of Israel and Hamas’s October 9 truce-hostage deal.In the next stage of the plan, Israel is meant to withdraw further from the so-called Yellow Line, alongside the establishment of a transitional authority to govern Gaza, the deployment of the multinational security force meant to take over from the Israeli military, the disarmament of Hamas, and the start of reconstruction.Hamas has so far refused to agree on the matter of demilitarization. Israel insists the Strip must be demilitarized before Trump’s plan can advance.Additionally, terrorists are still holding the bodies of three slain hostages: Dror Or, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak. All living and dead hostages were supposed to be returned to Israel under the ceasefire.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel will keep striking Hamas, as well as the Hezbollah terror group, over ceasefire violations.“Hamas has not stopped violating [the ceasefire], and we are acting accordingly,” he said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.“There were several attempts by them to infiltrate our territory beyond the Yellow Line and harm our soldiers. We thwarted these forcefully, and we responded and exacted a very heavy price,” he said. “Many terrorists were eliminated, and terrorists were also captured from the tunnels in Rafah.”Netanyahu also pushed back on criticism that critical Israeli decisions on Gaza were going through Washington, calling it a “complete lie.”l carried out a number of airstrikes in Gaza on Saturday after a Palestinian gunman opened fire on IDF troops in the Strip’s south. Similar attacks have killed several soldiers in recent weeks.The strikes and clashes marked one of the most violent days in Gaza since the fragile ceasefire took effect on October 10, with both Israel and Hamas accusing the other side of breaking the truce’s terms.According to Netanyahu’s office, five senior Hamas officials were killed in the strikes.The IDF and Shin Bet on Sunday confirmed that one of those killed in a Gaza City strike was Alaa Hadidi, chief of supply in Hamas’s weapons manufacturing headquarter.Hadidi was a “central source of knowledge” in the field of supply and weapons production, and during the war he worked to provide Hamas’s fighters with weapons, the military said.In all, 21 people were killed, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defense agency, whose tolls are unverified and do not differentiate between civilians and fighters.In a reflection of the terror group’s apparent anger over the strikes, Hamas passed along messages to the US through Arab mediators that it was prepared to end the six-week-old ceasefire over what it called Israeli violations, an Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel.But later on Saturday, Hamas spokesman Izzat al-Rishq denied reports that the terror group had announced an end to the truce. He said the group had asked the mediators of the agreement to intervene and compel Israel to uphold the ceasefire.Lazar Berman and Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.
Analysis'Significant US involvement in Gaza beyond security matters'-As US dives into remaking Gaza, shades of nation-building come into focus-US president pledged to steer clear of projects like George W. Bush’s Iraq and Afghanistan commitments, yet his Gaza plan is increasingly starting to resemble those misadventures-Lazar Berman-By Lazar Berman-23 November 2025, 6:16 am
US President Donald Trump may be a champion of making America great. When it comes to other countries, however, the proud America Firster is interested in how they trade with the US, stopping conflicts, and having their leaders publicly back his flagship initiatives.He has been emphatically uninterested in committing American resources to improving the governance and humanitarian record of foreign countries.“We are getting out of the nation‑building business, and instead focusing on creating stability in the world,” Trump said in a major foreign policy address during his 2016 campaign, marking a shift from predecessors who tried to export American values to developing states. “Our foreign policy will always put the interests of the American people, and American security, above all else.”He returned to the theme in May during a visit to the Middle East, long a crucible of American adventures in state-building. Presenting his vision for the region in Riyadh, Trump said that “great transformation” of prosperous Gulf countries “has not come from Western interventionists… giving you lectures on how to live or how to govern your own affairs. No, the gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not created by the so-called ‘nation-builders,’ ‘neo-cons,’ or ‘liberal non-profits,’ like those who spent trillions failing to develop Kabul and Baghdad, so many other cities.”“In the end, the so-called ‘nation-builders’ wrecked far more nations than they built — and the interventionists were intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand themselves,” he thundered.In one place, however, Trump seems to be the one heartily intervening. He is committing American treasure to a project in Gaza that increasingly looks like the very thing the US president has so vociferously opposed.Trump cajoled, pushed, threatened and enticed pro-Western leaders in the Middle East and beyond to back his 20-point vision for a ceasefire in Gaza and rebuilding of the Strip after two years of war between Israel and Hamas.With the first phase of that plan nearing completion, the US and its allies are now shifting their focus to the next phase, the creation of a prosperous, demilitarized Gaza free of Hamas rule.But to make that vision a reality, Trump looks to be following a path with pertinent similarities to those taken by the US in Iraq and Afghanistan. In both of those cases, American missions to foster the trappings of modern, competent statehood, from security and citizen services to US-friendly free-market economics, ultimately fell apart, now remembered as resource-wasting quagmires.In recent weeks, reports and leaks out of the White House have signaled that the US is willing to at least consider taking an active role in building Gaza back up. Trump and other officials have hinted at the prospect of more intense US involvement in the project than previously speculated.“Maybe this is going to be the greatest deal of them all,” Trump said while wrapping up a speech to world leaders last month at a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh to rally support for the Gaza plan. “Not just nation-building.”Things fall apart-On the debate stage during his 2000 run for the White House, George W. Bush said that he “would be very careful about using our troops as nation builders.”Bush was making his pitch after a decade that saw American military interventions in Haiti and the Balkans in which US troops were used to impose order and promote international efforts to create new governing structures.The September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington changed his approach entirely.Bush ordered the invasion of Taliban-held Afghanistan, followed by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Those short and successful conventional military campaigns quickly gave way to far more ambitious programs to bring democracy to the newly liberated countries.The effort became the focus of US military and foreign policy. The Department of Defense in 2005 made stability operations one of the US military’s “core missions.” The State Department stood up the new Office of the Coordinator for Stabilization and Reconstruction, while the UN created the Peacebuilding Commission to oversee such missions.The US spent over $140 billion in reconstruction in Afghanistan, seeking to build a centralized democratic government in a country dominated by tribal alliances and weak central governance. The effort eventually morphed into a series of NATO missions, with some 51 contributing countries helping prop up Afghan forces. NATO Provincial Reconstruction Teams secured rebuilding efforts and helped locals “establish good governance and the rule of law, as well as…promote human rights.”However, corruption was rampant, and billions of dollars of aid went into the pockets of warlords and corrupt ministers. With Afghan security forces largely ineffective and the public losing faith in the US-backed government, a Taliban insurgency spread, leading to a troop surge that peaked in 2011 with 100,000 US soldiers in the country.When those troops began to leave, the Taliban steadily asserted its control over greater swathes of the country.Taliban fighters atop Humvees prepare before parading along a road to celebrate after the US pulled all its troops out of Afghanistan, in Kandahar on September 1, 2021, following the Taliban’s military takeover of the country. (Javed Tanveer/AFP)Everything fell apart in 2021. With US forces scheduled to leave, the Taliban took over rural areas, then provincial capitals, and finally entered Kabul in August 2021.Today, the Taliban governs the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and ranks at the bottom of The Economist’s Democracy Index, two spots below North Korea.In Iraq, Bush said that his goal was a country that is “peaceful, united, stable and secure, well integrated into the international community, and a full partner in the global war on terrorism.”But a failure to understand the scale of the challenges facing the US doomed efforts in the years after the fall of Saddam’s regime. “The US occupation of Iraq was marked by a series of unanticipated challenges and hastily improvised responses,” wrote the authors of a Rand study.Initially focused on military gains, the US eventually shifted to winning Iraqis hearts and minds while trying to keep insurgents in check, all of which came at a significant cost.In the first decade of the war, the US spent around $53 billion on reconstruction alone. By the time US soldiers pulled out in 2011, 4,500 Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis had been killed.Despite the massive investment, America’s nation-building campaign in Iraq could not overcome Iranian support for Shia insurgents and political parties, a lack of democratic tradition, a political culture marked by authoritarian rule and legitimized violence, and a weak middle class.Nonetheless, the country has managed to maintain elements of constitutional governance that make it one of the more democratic countries in the Arab world.“Iraq holds regular, competitive elections, and the country’s various partisan, religious and ethnic groups generally enjoy representation in the political system,” Freedom House wrote last year. “However, democratic governance is impeded in practice by corruption, militias operating outside the bounds of the law and the weakness of formal institutions.”During the brief interregnum that preceded the US sending troops back to Iraq following the rise of the Islamic State, the Rand Corporation labeled the war and its outcome “at best a tenuous, qualified success,” which was still more than could be said for Afghanistan.“Iraq is not in open conflict with its neighbors, but terrorism and limited insurgency continue across the country,” read the 2013 study. “Iraq is united under a constitutional government for now.”Stabilization or civic seeds? There are certainly key differences between US efforts in the Middle East after 9/11 and Trump’s fledgling multi-national initiative to transform the Gaza Strip.While Washington emphasized fostering democratic values and creating public institutions in Iraq and Afghanistan, this has not been mentioned thus far as a central feature of US plans in Gaza.Palestinian statehood is mentioned as an eventual goal of Trump’s plan for Gaza, but the scheme’s more concrete facets, such as transferring governing power to technocrats and training police, are aimed at stability rather than civic participation.“This isn’t nation building, which I really think people use on my end to discredit the work that has to be done,” said John Spencer, chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute in the prestigious US military academy West Point.“I actually don’t think you’ll see one governance in Gaza anytime soon,” he predicted. “You’ll see the stable zones with governance, local governance, while other people take on this massive challenge of Palestinian Authority reform and all of the future of that.”“Nobody’s building a nation in Gaza,” Spencer maintained. “They’re building bubbles of stable zones.”Nonetheless, elements of the emerging Gaza project echo the US experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.In a 2006 address, Bush laid out the three main elements of his Iraq strategy: “On the political side, we are helping Iraqis build a strong democracy, so that old resentments will be eased, and the insurgency marginalized. On the economic side, we are continuing reconstruction efforts and helping Iraqis build a modern economy that will give all its citizens a stake in a free and peaceful Iraq. Economic development and building local security forces are very much a part of the US vision in Gaza.Trump’s 20-point plan places a significant emphasis on the economic development of the Strip: “A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East.”“Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups,” Trump’s plan continues, “and will be considered to synthesize the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for the future of Gaza.”On the security side, according to the plan, a temporary International Stabilization Force — not to be confused with the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan — “will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt, who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution.”There are also signs that the US could be involved in building Gaza’s governing bodies. According to Israel Hayom, one of the teams at the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat is “thinking through how to build Gaza’s civilian institutions so that the next generation of Gazans will be peaceful.”During a visit to the CMCC on Wednesday, The Times of Israel observed a meeting by the Civil Governance team with dozens of participants.Officials involved with the CMCC told The New York Times that “scenes of American soldiers tossing around ideas for how to rebuild the devastated Gaza Strip evoke uncomfortable memories of other US-led attempts at reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.”The US investment in those initiatives could be limited if international partners agree to shoulder much of the burden.But the American involvement could well be far larger than anticipated. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, the US had dozens of partners, but was still the main contributor.A PowerPoint presentation at an October symposium at the CMCC “detail[ed] plans for significant US involvement in Gaza even beyond security matters, including overseeing economic reconstruction,” Politico reported recently.Palestinian security forces will need “long-term US and international support,” according to another document from the symposium. “Security and police forces may need outside funding and advising for decades.”Lessons from past experiments-The US is already devoting significant resources and attention to the future of Gaza, including during the recent federal shutdown period when Washington’s own government stopped functioning.Aside from the air train of top administration officials visiting Israel since the ceasefire, including Trump and his Vice President JD Vance, there has also been a steady influx of Pentagon brass with the establishment of the CMCC.US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine was in Israel to fly over Gaza and visit the CMCC, as was CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper. Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, commander of US Army Central and the US pointman at the CMCC, is living in Kiryat Gat, as are other American generals.Some of the people Trump has brought in to implement his outline were deeply involved in the past US nation-building efforts in the Middle East. Chief among them is former British prime minister Tony Blair, who took the United Kingdom into the US-led invasion and reconstruction of Iraq, and now has taken on a leading role in overseeing the postwar administration and reconstruction of the Strip.Even if Trump stops short of a full nation-building program in Gaza, there are still relevant lessons that emerge from the costly US experiments in Iraq and Afghanistan.An ostensibly time-bound and limited initial investment can balloon into a long and expensive commitment. Competent local security forces are notoriously difficult to create, especially when foreign peacekeepers head home. Rival countries will be trying to undermine what the US is doing.“Britain and France both tried it,” warned historian and former envoy to Washington Michael Oren of Middle East nation-building efforts. “They lost their nerve and they ran away. America is liable to do the same thing.”
'Now that the doors are open, this is not surprising'Surging LGBTQ enrollment in Jewish seminaries signals ‘astounding’ shift in US rabbinate-A new study provides empirical evidence for a trend many have seen coming for years, as new models and broken barriers bring an influx of leadership from a once-marginalized population-By Asaf Elia-Shalev 23 November 2025, 3:44 am
JTA — Hannah Karpel-Pomerantz and her wife met as rabbinical school classmates in Jerusalem four years ago, bonding over their love of Jewish texts and rituals. This August, as they began their final two years of school, Hebrew Union College splashed the couple across its website in an essay celebrating their relationship.“HUC wanted to feature me and my wife as a love story — as something that makes the school look good,” Karpel-Pomerantz said. “It signals that American progressive Jewish life has evolved to the point where LGBTQ inclusion is a no-brainer.”A new national study in the United States suggests just how deeply that shift has taken hold: 51% of the rabbinical students surveyed identified as LGBTQ+. It’s an eye-popping finding that provides the first empirical evidence for a phenomenon many in the non-Orthodox rabbinate have been noticing for years.“If you take a historical perspective, it is rather astounding, given the fact that rabbinical schools weren’t even accepting LGBTQ students until the 1990s or later,” said Jonathan Krasner, a professor of Jewish studies at Brandeis University.The demographic shift can be linked to a broader transformation in the rabbinate, as the old “sage on the stage” model gives way to a more pastoral, responsive style of leadership. Aspiring rabbis are entering the field with new expectations, while congregations are placing unprecedented demands on clergy, fueling a placement crisis that has left many pulpits empty.As they make the case for their students, educators say LGBTQ rabbis, shaped by the long fight for inclusion, are emerging as the leaders the community needs amid polarization and rising antisemitism.“For 23 years, SVARA has invited queer Jews into the long project of upgrading the tradition,” said Rabbi Benay Lappe, founder of the queer yeshiva whose alumni now populate rabbinical schools across the country. “Queer people understand upheaval, resilience, and creativity — the same toolkit that catalyzed rabbinic Judaism itself. When people who’ve had to reimagine their own lives step into spiritual leadership, they bring clarity and empathy that enrich the whole community.”Lappe added, “The question is not ‘Why so many queer people?’ but rather, ‘Why is this extraordinarily good news for the future of Judaism?’”The new research, published by a group called Atra, bills itself as the first comprehensive, cross-denominational study of the American rabbinate. But its headline-grabbing LGBTQ+ figure requires some clarification: It is based on a survey of 181 volunteer respondents, with limited participation from Orthodox students, making it impossible to know how precisely it reflects the entire population of aspiring rabbis.Still, the study’s lead researcher, Wendy Rosov, said the finding should not be dismissed. “Even if the estimate is high, it’s not far off — it is not a crazy statistic,” she said.Rosov noted that seminaries do not systematically track students’ sexual orientation, but several told her team informally that as many as half of their current students identify as LGBTQ+. She also pointed to broader survey data showing rising rates of LGBTQ identification among young Americans — and among young Jews in particular — which helps explain the pattern.There is clear year-over-year evidence within the study itself. Among surveyed rabbis ordained before 2004, only 7% identified as LGBTQ+. The share rises to 15% for those ordained between 2005 and 2014, 29% for the 2015-2024 cohort, and 51% among current students.The study does not attempt to explain the trend, and Rosov declined to offer theories, citing a lack of data.Scholars and educators expect the dramatic numbers to stir murmurs in some corners of the Jewish community about the “queering of the rabbinate.” Krasner said those anxieties echo an earlier chapter in Jewish history, when women began enrolling in rabbinical schools in significant numbers and some predicted a “feminization” of Judaism and a loss of rabbinic authority.“Those concerns were overblown,” he said. What mattered then, he added, is what matters now: that people can see themselves reflected in their religious leaders. “I’m not worried about the rabbinate ‘going queer.’ We should be cautious about that kind of anxiety.”Deborah Waxman, president of Reconstructing Judaism, remembers that earlier era firsthand. When she came out to her mother during her first year of rabbinical school in 1993, the reaction was immediate — and telling.“My mother cried,” Waxman recalled. “She said, it’s already going to be so hard for you as a woman rabbi, I’m so worried that you will never get employed as a lesbian.”At the time, Waxman said, those fears weren’t unfounded. Many queer students worried that being open about who they were could jeopardize their ordination or leave them unemployable. Waxman’s career bridges both eras, and she has learned to reinterpret the social anxieties of the past as markers of how dramatically the landscape has shifted.One leading theory among rabbinic educators is that the surge in LGBTQ students represents not only a new openness but also generations of pent-up aspiration. For much of modern American Jewish history, LGBTQ Jews were barred from the rabbinate. Once that barrier fell, seminary leaders say, the long-deferred interest began to surface.Andrew Rehfeld, president of Hebrew Union College, calls it a “backlog of interest.”“For years, gay and lesbian Jews were excluded not only from leadership, but from many communities themselves,” Rehfeld said. “Now that the doors are open, it’s not surprising there’s an equilibrium happening.”Shuly Rubin Schwartz, chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary and a historian of American Judaism, said she is reminded of the pattern that unfolded before. When the rabbinate first opened its doors to women, she said, there was an initial wave of interest from people who had long been denied access.“You have a group that has been marginalized throughout Jewish history finally given the opportunity to exercise leadership,” she said. “What we’re seeing now is similar.”Another theory holds that the trend reflects a deeper affinity between queer identity and Jewish spiritual life.Lappe sees this clearly through SVARA, her queer-centered yeshiva, where thousands of LGBTQ Jews have engaged in Talmud study over the past two decades. Many of her students later apply to rabbinical school.“This shift isn’t an accident,” she said, referring to the new study. “It’s a predictable outcome of a tradition that has always been renewed by people moving through upheaval. When people who have had to courageously reimagine their own lives step into spiritual leadership, they bring clarity, empathy, and a commitment to justice that enriches the whole community. That shows you where this energy is coming from.”For many aspiring rabbis, that process begins long before they arrive on campus.Karpel-Pomerantz said LGBTQ Jews often come to the rabbinate with a level of self-awareness that grows out of the work of understanding their identities. “LGBTQ people are sometimes almost on the fast track to having done a lot of the soul-searching that can help prepare people for the rabbinate in a meaningful way,” she said.The increase in LGBTQ enrollment has come in tandem with an evolution in the role of a rabbi. Once defined primarily as a learned authority who delivered sermons and rendered halakhic decisions, the rabbi was positioned above the community. Today, rabbis are expected to serve as pastoral caregivers, counselors, organizers and companions in moments of crisis. Their authority is less formal and more relational, grounded in presence, empathy and trust rather than in scholarly distance.Krasner noted that LGBTQ Americans are generally overrepresented in “helping professions” like social work, counseling, and education. Rabbinic work, increasingly centered on pastoral care, fits that pattern.Karpel-Pomerantz sees the same phenomenon in herself and in many peers. “I’m in rabbinical school because I want to be a clinical pastoral educator,” she said. “First, I need to become a hospital chaplain, and then I can learn to teach other people how to do it.”Even as seminaries become more welcoming, the job market is still uneven for LGBTQ clergy. Rabbi Leora Kaye, director of career services for the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the association for Reform rabbis, said she tries to prepare students honestly.“I can’t promise them they won’t encounter bias,” she said. “What I do promise is that we’ll do everything we can to make it as safe as possible. We respond when situations arise. We don’t let people face it alone.”As a sign of the Reform movement’s commitment, she cited anti-bias training that is now a requirement for search committees in congregations before they begin interviewing rabbis.Often, Kaye said, LGBTQ graduates find congregations that are enthusiastic about their leadership.“We see many situations where sexuality or gender identity is not an issue at all, or where it’s embraced,” she said. “Communities want rabbis who are compassionate, grounded, and capable. And many of them are explicitly seeking rabbis who reflect their own diversity.”Rehfeld also said that despite broad acceptance in many congregations, discrimination still happens. He recalled how one HUC graduate ended an interview process after being asked inappropriate questions.“The harm was real for the student,” he said. “But the bigger loss was for the congregation. Discrimination keeps talent out of the pool.”The student ultimately found a “fantastic” pulpit, he added: “They still ended up in middle America in a relatively rural place that they never thought about living.” He sees the outcome as a testament to the movement’s ethical guidelines and support systems.Both working as rabbinic interns at congregations in the Los Angeles area, Karpel-Pomerantz and her wife feel confident about what they have to offer and optimistic about what will come after graduation.“At this particular moment in history, there is something really valuable about people who have multiple marginalized identities being willing to take on the role of leader of communities,” she said. “And I hope that our communities are able to see the presence of queer folks as the gift that I believe it to be.”
Tunisians protest against political and economic conditions, in echo of Arab Spring-Mass rally denounces crackdown on dissent, shrinking freedoms and economic hardship; demonstrators demand release of political prisoners and accountability from the president-By AFP 23 November 2025, 1:45 am
Thousands of Tunisians gathered on Saturday in the capital to protest against the jailing of government critics, the curtailing of liberties, and tough economic conditions in the North African country.At least 2,000 people, including activists and members of political parties, marched for more than two hours through Tunis to demonstrate “against injustices” at a rally organized by the committee defending jailed lawyer Ahmed Souab, AFP journalists and witnesses said.The protest — one of the largest in recent months — made symbolic stops in front of the headquarters of the Tunisian Chemical Group, which has been accused of releasing harmful pollutants in the southern city of Gabes, and outside the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists.The journalists’ union last month denounced what it branded an “unprecedented rise in threats” to press freedom in Tunisia.Dressed in black and with whistles and red ribbons, the demonstrators shouted “Freedom, freedom!” and called for the release of dozens of opposition figures, journalists, lawyers, and humanitarian workers jailed in recent years.Many of them have been held on charges of plotting against President Kais Saied, or on accusations of “spreading false news” under a law Saied enacted in 2022.“Tunisia is going through a dark period on every front — we have political prisoners, imprisoned journalists, and even environmentalists in Gabes,” Souab’s son Saeb, spokesman for the organizing committee, told AFP.“My father was convicted in the space of six or seven minutes,” he said. “That should be in the Guinness Book of World Records.”Tunisia ‘in misery’Protesters on Saturday shouted: “The people want the fall of the regime,” echoing chants from the Arab Spring uprising that toppled longtime ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, sparking protests and ousting governments across the region.Some held signs reading “Not my president,” referring to Saied, who was democratically elected in 2019 before staging a power grab two years later.“We’ve had enough of this president and the group around him,” Nejia Adjmi, 63, a retired pastry chef, told AFP.“The country is in misery — we can’t buy anything, the country is collapsing, the hospitals are in bad shape,” she said.“We can’t even express ourselves on social media anymore,” Adjmi added, saying she was a close friend of Saber Chouchane, who was sentenced to death and then pardoned in October for criticizing the president and Justice Minister Leila Jaffel on Facebook.Amel, a 68-year-old retired psychologist, said she was “outraged that people are put in prison just for expressing an opinion.”“We don’t know why they are being held,” she added. “They’re being subjected to one trial after another in order to prevent their release.”Tunisian and international rights groups have decried the erosion of rights and freedoms since Saied’s 2021 power grab.Citizens have also complained about their reduced purchasing power because of inflation, with food products particularly affected.“With poverty and inflation, the country has hit rock bottom,” said shoemaker Hichem Lahmer, 45.“The prisons are full and there is no more freedom of expression,” he added, demanding Saied’s departure and “new elections.”Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
Yemenite synagogue in central Israel vandalized, holy books ripped apart-Mishkan Shalom Synagogue decries ‘pogrom,’ community member calls it ‘terror attack’; police yet to identify motive or suspects-By Charlie Summers-22 November 2025, 11:21 pm
A Yemenite synagogue in a town in central Israel was vandalized on Friday, ahead of Shabbat, according to footage circulating on social media.Israel Police said Saturday that officers opened an investigation into the incident, though no motive or suspects had yet been identified.Members of the Mishkan Shalom Synagogue in Kadima-Zoran, near Netanya, turned up for Shabbat prayers Friday evening to find prayer books and chumashim, or pentateuchs, torn up, one of the worshipers told the Ynet news site.The footage showed the floor of the synagogue covered with pages of books strewn about.At least two Torah scrolls, which are generally treated with the utmost care and kept in an ark, were lying on the floor, along with other ritual objects.“There’s never been a pogrom like this,” the synagogue said in a statement, according to Ynet. “After we saw the horrors, we closed the place, and because of the holy Shabbat, we submitted a complaint to the police after Shabbat.”“We are in shock, this is a terrorist attack,” a member of the community told Channel 12. “I arrived at the synagogue and almost fainted when I saw it.”“We have no idea who it is and why they did this,” the member added. “There are no words to describe the destruction and damage.”Responding to the reports, a police spokesperson said that officers opened an expedited investigation into the vandalism.“An initial examination found no signs of a break-in,” the spokesperson said, emphasizing that “all directions of the investigation are being examined.”“This is a serious incident,” the statement said, adding that all resources are being utilized to “expose the perpetrators of the crime and bring them to justice.”
Sweltering heat bakes Israel in one of the hottest November days on record-Autumn highs in Tel Aviv reach 34.5°C (94°F), bringing thousands to the beach; heatwave expected to continue through Monday-By ToI Staff 22 November 2025, 7:12 pm
Unseasonably high temperatures baked coastal Israel for a second day in a row on Saturday, as the country endured one of the hottest November days in its 77-year history.According to the Israel Meteorological Service, Friday was Israel’s single hottest late November day on record, and the heat wave continued into the following day, as several locations throughout Israel notched historical records for November 22.“A heatwave still prevails today, with record highs for the month of November, mainly on the coast and Shfela,” a low-lying southern-central region, the service said in a statement a little after noon.The service added that in those areas, temperatures had exceeded 34°C (93°F). According to the meteorological service, temperatures across the country were some 10 degrees Celsius, or 18 degrees Fahrenheit, higher than average temperatures for the time of year.Tel Aviv and its surrounding coastal plain faced among the highest temperatures, with highs of 34.5°C (94°F), bringing thousands of residents to the city’s beaches for a late-season day in the sun, Hebrew outlets reported. In nearby Herzliya, midday temperatures reached 34.3°C (93°F).Taking advantage of the late-season heat, tens of thousands of Israelis made their way to national parks and recreational areas across the country, with the National Parks Service reporting that some 70,000 people entered their parks and reserves on Saturday.Jerusalem, which sits at a higher elevation, stayed somewhat cooler, but still faced uncharacteristically high temperatures ranging around 27°C (80°F)Eilat, the resort town at the southern tip of the country, hit highs of 37.2°C (98°F).In the northern port city of Haifa, highs reached 32.8°C (91°F).By the Dead Sea, temperatures reached 34.2°C (93°F), and the towns along the coast of the Sea of Galilee faced highs ranging between 32-35°C (91-95°F).The heatwave marked a sharp departure from the winter storm that hit the country last weekend, and is expected to temper a bit but continue through Monday, with autumn temperatures and winds forecasted to return Tuesday.
Indonesia’s largest Islamic group urges leader to quit for inviting pro-Israel speaker-Yahya Cholil Staquf, head of Nahdlatul Ulama, has drawn outrage for inviting former US official Peter Berkowitz, who has backed Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza By Reuters and ToI Staff 22 November 2025, 5:57 pm
JAKARTA — Indonesia’s biggest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, has asked its chief to resign for inviting a US scholar known for his support of Israel during the Gaza war to an internal event in August, according to meeting minutes reviewed by Reuters.The leadership of NU, which is also the world’s biggest Islamic organization with around 100 million members and affiliates, has given Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf three days to offer his resignation or be removed from his post, according to the minutes from a meeting on Thursday.NU cited Staquf’s invitation to a person “affiliated with an International Zionism network” for an internal event and alleged financial mismanagement as reasons for his ouster.Staquf, who has been NU’s chairman since 2021, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.NU official Najib Azca told Reuters the decision was linked to Staquf’s invitation to former US official and scholar Peter Berkowitz for an August training event.Staquf has apologized for the invitation and called it an oversight as he had not carefully checked Berkowitz’s background, adding that he condemned Israel’s “brutal genocidal acts in Gaza.”Israel vociferously denies genocide in its military campaign against Hamas that was launched in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre that killed some 1,200 people and captured 251 hostages.Berkowitz often writes in support of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, according to his website, including a piece in September aiming to refute allegations of genocide against Israel.He previously spoke at NU seminars about the history of Western political thought in August, his website showed.Berkowitz did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment that reached him outside of office hours.Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, has no formal ties with Israel and has routinely condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza.Yet, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, Indonesia has previously coordinated with Israel on airdropping humanitarian aid to Gaza, and was said last year to be considering normalization to join the OECD.The country’s President Prabowo Subianto was widely reported in October to have been planning to visit Israel, though Jakarta denied any visit was planned. A source familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel that he had initially okayed a trip but backed out once the plan was leaked to the press, out of concern about domestic pushback.The country is also among those with which the United States has discussed plans for an International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, which include Azerbaijan, Egypt and Qatar.Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said this month that his country is prepared to deploy at least 20,000 troops in Gaza to help secure peace, pending a UN Security Council resolution enshrining the ISF to participate in the force.
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