PegikrolBlog

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Israeli President Shimon Peres invited Pope Francis on Tuesday to visit Israel, at his first meeting with the new pontiff who has appealed for peace in the Middle East. "I am expecting you in Jerusalem, not just me but the whole country of Israel," Peres told the pope in the presence of reporters after 30 minutes of private talks in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, made an appeal for peace between Israelis and Palestinians in his Easter address last month. Both of Francis' two immediate predecessors, Benedict XVI and John Paul II, visited the Holy Land, including Palestinian territories, in 2000 and 2009 respectively. Peres asked Francis "to pray for all of us" and told the pope that he would pray for him during a trip on Wednesday to the central Italian city of Assisi, where he will visit the tomb of St. Francis, whose name Bergoglio adopted when elected pope. Fra

Two missiles were reportedly fired at a Russian plane with at least 159 passengers on board that was flying over Syrian territory. Russian officials admit the jet faced danger, but are not talking of a targeted attack. The news broke in on Monday as Interfax, citing “an informed source in Moscow,” reported that a Russian passenger plane was attacked. “Syrian [officials] informed us that on Monday morning, unidentified forces launched two ground-to-air missiles which exploded in the air very close to a civilian aircraft belonging to a Russian airline,” the source told the Russian agency. The pilots reportedly managed to maneuver the plane in time however, “saving the lives of passengers.” It is believed the aircraft was intentionally targeted, “but it remains unclear whether the attackers knew it was Russian or not,” the source added. However, Russian officials, though admitting the plane might have been endangered, are not yet talking of a targeted attack. The

"........and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows" . Mark 13:8 KJV Food aid officials said the 2011 famine in Somalia killed approximately 260,000 people, half of the fatalities were children ages five or younger, The Associated Press reported. The country was infiltrated with al-Shabaab militants that prohibited food aid groups from delivering in the south-central region and obtaining a more accurate death toll. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSN) conducted the report that's expected to go public on Thursday. The study was funded by USAID and the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit-Somalia. A previous FEWSN study found that the need for humanitarian aid in Somalia has remarkably declined by 50 percent, with an estimated aid of 1.05 million since August 2012, likely because of better rain seasons that yielded better food for the people and livestock. The new report's estimation took into account emerge

Israeli Air Force jets were reported flying over Damascus in the last few hours by foreign sources. According to debkafile's Iranian and intelligence sources, Iran has been pushing Bashar Assad hard to let Hizballah have sophisticated weapons, including self-propelled SA-17 interceptor missile systems. Tehran is reminding the Syrian ruler of the debt he owes Hizballah's leader Hassan Nasrallah who was ready to deploy 5,000 out of Hizballah's 8,000 combat-ready fighters to Syrian battlefields to fight rebel forces and keep the Assad regime in power. Assad is therefore in no position to spurn Tehran's demand. And so, preparations for sending those weapons systems across to Lebanon have been sighted in the last few days at Syrian military bases. Israeli Air Force are said to be overhead monitoring these movements after Israel repeatedly warned Damascus any attempts to make such transfers would draw a reaction. On Jan. 30, Israel bombed a convoy passing through Jamraya near

Conflicting reports put deaths as high as 200, or as low as 37, after clash between army and Boko Haram. There are conflicting reports coming out of Nigeria about the death toll following a gun battle between the army and the armed group Boko Haram. A Nigerian senator says more than 200 people were killed in last week's conflict, but the army puts the figure at just 37 and said 30 of the dead were Boko Haram suspects. There are reports that the army prevented aid groups from entering the town of Baga, in Borno state, where the battle took place, for several days after the confrontation. Witnesses say thousands of homes were destroyed during the fighting. Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege reports from Maiduguri, Nigeria.

LONDON: Three British Muslims were jailed on Friday for planning what a court heard was an Al-Qaeda-backed plot to carry out a string of bombings that they hoped would rival 9/11 and the 2005 London attacks. Ringleader Irfan Naseer received a life sentence, his right-hand man Irfan Khalid was jailed for 18 years and co-conspirator Ashik Ali was jailed for 15 years by a judge at Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London. Naseer, 31, and Khalid and Ali, both 28, were convicted in February of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, through an Islamist extremist plot to set off eight rucksack bombs in crowded areas and possibly other timed devices. "Your plot had the blessing of Al-Qaeda and you intended to further the aims of Al-Qaeda," Judge Richard Henriques said as he sentenced the three men. The group, all from Birmingham in central England, were heavily influenced by the teachings of American-born Al-Qaeda preacher Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed

There is "limited but growing" evidence that Syrian government troops have used chemical weapons, UK Prime Minister David Cameron says. On Thursday, the White House said that US intelligence agencies believed "with varying degrees of confidence" that Syria had used the nerve agent sarin. It said the gas had been deployed on a "small scale", but did not give details of where or when it had been used. Mr Cameron said he agreed with the White House's warning that chemical weapons use would be a "red line" for possible intervention. However, the US has said that this latest intelligence does not represent proof of chemical weapons use. The White House's assessment was made in letters to lawmakers on Thursday signed by Miguel Rodriguez, White House director of the office of legislative affairs. "Our intelligence community does assess, with varying degrees of confidence, that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons on a s

Bless be the name of the Lord Sunday May 19 - Pentecost Sunday. To all that are the called and elect. Peace and Grace be with you, in the name of Jesus (Yashua) the Christ. For many days have I meditated and sought the Lord as to what to write to you, I believe that you are one that has received the prophet. There for I am seeking to keep you awake to the righteousness of God for these times. Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? (Amos 3:6) Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7) The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:8) It is with much warning from the Lord that I continue as long as he gives me life and breath to proclaim the soon return of the rejected Lord Jesus Christ. It is all based on HE is that I AM. Who was and is and will soon be Always God and all his wo

In a remarkable reversal, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in Abdu Dhabi Thursday afternoon, April 25, that the US intelligence community believes the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against its own people, determining with "varying degrees of confidence" that Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces have used the nerve agent sarin against civilians and forces fighting to remove Assad from power. The White House is informing Congress about the chemical weapons use now, Hagel said, hours after he voiced reservations about the assessment Tuesday by senior Israeli military intelligence officer Brig. Gen. Itai Brun that the Assad regime had begun to practice chemical warfare. Earlier Thursday, Israel Air Force F-16 warplanes downed a Hizballah drone 8 kilometers out at sea from the big port of Haifa. It flew south from the direction of Lebanon. Witnesses on Haifa's Mt. Carmel watched the smoke trails of the Israeli jets and heard exploding rockets. Israe

MOBILE, ALA. –  A seventh blast has rocked the scene of a large fire that began with explosions aboard two fuel barges in Mobile, Ala. The latest explosion occurred around 2 a.m. local time on Thursday. About five hours later, the huge fire was extinguished. Authorities responded after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday to a pair of explosions involving the gas barges in an area of the Mobile River east of downtown. In an email, Mobile Fire and Rescue spokesman Steve Huffman wrote that as they were responding, a third explosion occurred around 9:30 p.m. Additional explosions followed over the next few hours. Authorities say three people were transported to University of South Alabama Medical Center after suffering burn-related injuries. Huffman identified them as workers with Oil Recovery Co. The Coast Guard said early Thursday that a one-nautical-mile safety zone had been established around one barge, which it said was "at the dock for cleaning." Fox 10 reports that the explo

BOSTON (AP) — Sixteen hours after investigators began interrogating him, the surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings went silent: he'd just been read his constitutional rights. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev immediately stopped talking after a magistrate judge and a representative from the U.S. Attorney's office entered his hospital room and gave him his Miranda warning, according to four officials of both political parties briefed on the interrogation. They insisted on anonymity because the briefing was private. Before being advised of his rights, the 19-year-old suspect told authorities that his older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, only recently had recruited him to be part of the attack that detonated pressure-cooker bombs at the marathon finish line, two U.S. officials said. The CIA, however, had named Tamerlan to a terrorist database 18 months ago, said officials close to the investigation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they w

Young man from Chicago suburbs arraigned on terrorism charges after trying to join al-Qaeda-linked group on FBI website. A teenager from the suburbs of the US city of Chicago has been arraigned on terrorism charges in connection with an FBI sting operation that has raised new questions about whether US investigators are engaging in entrapment. Abdella Ahmad Tounisi, 18, made a brief court appearance Tuesday in federal court in Chicago. The American-born man from the Chicago suburb of Aurora is accused of seeking to join al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra, which is fighting Syria's government in a civil war. He tried to join the group through a website, constructed by the FBI, which urged readers to "join your lion brothers... fighting under the true banner of Islam". Critics have said the use of such sites raises questions about whether authorities are overreaching, wooing impressionable youth to contemplate crimes that otherwise wouldn't cross their minds.

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli president's office says President Shimon Peres will meet the new head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, next week. A statement Wednesday said the pope invited Peres. The Israeli Nobel Peace laureate would be among the first world leaders to visit the new pope, who took office last month. Peres will also meet Italian leaders. The statement said Peres plans to talk to the pope about peace negotiations with the Palestinians, ties between Israel and the Vatican and improving relations between Christians and Jews. The Vatican and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1993. Israel and the Vatican have been discussing the status of church properties in the Holy Land and other issues. The statement said Franciscan monks will give Peres an award, the "Medal of Honor for Peace." (c) yahoo.com

PARIS (Reuters) - France became the 14th country to allow same-sex marriage on Tuesday after parliament approved a new law championed by President Francois Hollande, but it came at a political price amid violent street protests and a rise in homophobic attacks. Hollande's "marriage for all" law is one of the biggest social reforms in France since his left-wing mentor and predecessor Francois Mitterrand abolished the death penalty in 1981, a move which also split opinion. Lawmakers in the lower house National Assembly, where Hollande's Socialists have an absolute majority, passed the bill by 331 votes for and 225 against. "Many French people will be proud this job is done," Justice Minister Christiane Taubira told parliament. "Those protesting today will find themselves moved by the joy of the newly-weds." Yet the episode has proved costly for an already unpopular president. Critics said Hollande should focus instead on fixing the moribu

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev woke up and told investigators that he and his brother Tamerlan were waging a lone jihad when they set off two bombs packed with nails and ball bearings at the Boston Marathon. He said his brother came up with the whole plot out of a desire to "defend Islam." And as if on cue, the mainstream media began an all-out effort to obscure and downplay the significance of the now indisputable fact that this was a jihad terror attack – an effort as energetic and inventive as their previous attempt to convince the American people that the bombings had to be, just had to be, the work of "right-wing extremists." Imagine for a moment if the attackers had indeed turned out to be "right-wing extremists." Imagine that they were even that mother lode of Leftist media fantasy, Christian"extremists" – think Robert DeNiro in Cape Fear, his body tattooed all over with Biblical quotes, muttering about the wrath of God and determined to terrorize

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was hardly out of Israel's door Tuesday, April 23, when a spate of awkward data came spilling out in Tel Aviv. Iran has crossed the last red line Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu laid down before the UN Assembly last September, said the well-informed former military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin. None of the measures for halting Iran's race for a nuclear bomb have worked, he said. For a while, Tehran was impressed by the Israeli prime minister's warning, but then went back to uranium enrichment at top speed. By now, Iran has certainly gone past the limit set by Netanyahu. Likud lawmaker Tzahi Hanegbi said Israel has no more than a month or two for stopping a nuclear Iran. Ron Dermer, a senior Netanyahu adviser and Israel's next ambassador to Washington, told a group of American Jewish leaders Sunday that the time for action against Iran's capacity to build a bomb – which he termed an existential threat to Israel - must be

Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo tells Peres that Abbas asked him to convey a message to Israel that he would like to see confidence building measures regarding political prisoners and the problem of the settlements. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas wants to negotiate peace with Israel and would like to see an offer of confidence-building measures, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia- Margallo told Israel's President Shimon Peres on Tuesday. He spoke with Peres after meeting with Abbas in Amman on Saturday and explained to the Israeli president that his country wanted to help ensure that a two-state solution is reached. Related: Netanyahu: Peace and stopping Iran are our main goals Peres and Hagel discuss US-Israel cooperation "I had a meeting with President Abbas and I felt that he is willing to negotiate a peace process. He asked me to convey a message that he would like to see confidence-building measures regarding political prisoners and the p

By David Brunnstrom BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had agreed to look for ways to revive a Syrian peace plan, but admitted that doing so would be extremely difficult. Kerry, speaking after talks with Lavrov and NATO colleagues in Brussels, also backed away from earlier comments suggesting he was calling for increased NATO contingency planning on Syria. Kerry said he and Lavrov had discussed ways to revive a peace plan agreed in Geneva last June that called for a transitional government. "We are both going to go back, we are going to explore those possibilities, and we are going to talk again about if any of those other avenues could conceivably be pursued," Kerry said. He said that while there might be a difference of opinion between Russia and the United States about when and how Syrian President Bashar al-Assad might leave office, "I don't think there's a differen

Supporters of gay marriage gathered outside parliament as lawmakers were voting France has become the 14th country to approve a law allowing gay marriage. The bill, which also legalises adoption by same-sex couples, was passed by 321 votes to 225 in the French parliament. The decision follows a divisive public debate with some of the biggest protests seen in France in recent years. Hundreds of opponents of the measure rallied outside the National Assembly building in central Paris as the result was announced. Several hundred opponents of the new law were out in force, led by Frigide Barjot (centre) The leader of the most high-profile group opposing same-sex marriage vowed to continue the fight. Frigide Barjot, a comedian who uses her stage name, told her supporters: "We are going to show them that this is not over. I solemnly ask the president to hold a referendum on the subject." Inside the National Assembly chamber, two opponents tried to unfurl a banner bef

Iran has crossed Israel's new red line," Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin said Tuesday. By Gil Ronen Former Military Intelligence head, Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin, said Tuesday that "Iran has already crossed Israel's new 'red line'" regarding nuclear weapons development. Yadlin, who is the Head of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), said that in the summer, Iran will reach a distance of one or two months between a decision and a bomb." That is, it will be able to build a nuclear bomb within a month or two of deciding to do so. "This is a breakthrough range that will make it very difficult to stop Iran, when it decides to have a bomb." "Israel's new red line – a problematic definition in itself – enables Iran to build a wide nuclear infrastructure without crossing the line," he explained. "It enables other nuclear activities that are not included in the red line, and makes it possible to reach a bad

In yet another story debunking the ongoing lie that In yet another story debunking the ongoing lie that Israel practices apartheid against the Arabs of the Israel practices apartheid against the Arabs of the region, an Arab Muslim was recently chosen as the new region, an Arab Muslim was recently chosen as the new director of the emergency department at Jerualem's director of the emergency department at Jerualem's Hadassah University Medical Center. Hadassah University Medical Center. In addition to being one of the top hospitals in the entire In addition to being one of the top hospitals in the entire Middle East, Hadassah Medical Center is owned by the Middle East, Hadassah Medical Center is owned by the Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America. Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America. And they chose an Arab to head one of their most And they chose an Arab to head one of their most important departments because he was the best important depart

Iranian nukes are "a challenge that Israel cannot accept," says Netanyahu. By Gil Ronen Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel met at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem Tuesday morning. Before the start of the meeting, Netanyahu said, "Israel appreciates deeply, the support – the military and security support – that it enjoys from the United States. It reflects a very deep alliance between our two countries and the defense of our common interests and our common values. "Nowhere are these values and interests challenged more than by the arming of terrorist groups by Iran with sophisticated weapons, and equally, Iran's attempt to arm itself with nuclear weapons," Netanyahu added. "This is a challenge that Israel cannot accept, and as you and President Obama have repeatedly said, Israel must be able to defend itself, by itself, against any threat." Hagel responded, saying, "I'm comm

Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu apprehends Iranian man who made "frequent, suspicious visits" to the embassy area. Security personnel from Israel's embassy in Kathmandu have arrested an Iranian who was engaged in surveillance of the embassy in Nepal's capital city. Israel's Channel 2 and the news website Himalayan reported on Monday that the Iranian, Mohsin Khosravian, is in police custody, having being transferred to the Nepalese police force by Israeli security. According to the Himalayan article, based on a Sunday report in the local Annapurna Post, Nepalese authorities arrested Khosravian on April 13. The Himalayan cited Israeli security officials from the embassy who expressed concerns that the Iranian intended to cause harm to the embassy because "he carried a tourist map of the Lazimpat area" where the Israeli diplomatic facility is located. The paper reported that the man stayed in a hotel in the Thamel area of the capital city. The Ne

Romans 1:18-19, 21-22, 24, 26-32 KJV. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: [27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their

Jordan has opened two corridors of its airspace to Israeli Air Force drones seeking to monitor the ongoing conflict in Syria, French daily Le Figaro reported on Sunday, citing a Western military source in the Middle East. According to the report, Jordanian King Abdullah made the decision in March during US President Barack Obama's visit to Jordan, which came immediately after his first trip as president to Israel. Relate 'Dissent within Hezbollah over involvement in Syria' 'Turkey, Israel, US should team up on Iran, Syria' Le Figaro quoted the military source as saying that the Israeli drones fly at night to avoid detection. The source added that "the Syrians have Russian air defense assets, but Israeli aircraft are difficult to detect and therefore virtually immune to anti-aircraft measures." According to the source, the unmanned aerial vehicles are carrying out surveillance, but "they are also armed and therefore can hit targets anywhere

Prime Minister Netanyahu is likely to accept an invitation by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, although no announcement yet from PMO. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu [file] Photo: REUTERS Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is likely to visit China in the second week of May, in response to an invitation by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, who entered office two months ago, The Jerusalem Post has learned. The Prime Minister’s Office has not officially announced the trip. Netanyahu visited China as prime minister in the late 1990s, but has not traveled there since taking office for his second premiership in March 2009. Netanyahu is looking to boost economic ties with China, because he believes that the Israeli economy has to strengthen its ties to the east. According to the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry Israel exports $2.7 billion worth of goods to China

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, then in his mid-30s, spent six days confined to his Jerusalem hotel, studying the Letters of Saint Paul to the Corinthians When Shimon Peres flies to Italy next week to formally ask Pope Francis I to visit Israel, the president will actually be inviting the newly elected pontiff to make his second trip to the Holy Land. Forty years ago, The Times of Israel has ascertained, Jorge Mario Bergoglio made an unfortunately timed first visit. It was early October 1973, and Bergoglio, then in his mid-30s, had been in Rome completing a course for his new job as the Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus in Argentina. He flew to Israel intending to tour widely, but arrived at the very start of the Yom Kippur War. Sources in the Argentinian Jewish community, with whom Bergoglio has a long and warm relationship, said the rumor is that he stayed in Israel "for only a few hours" before being "evacuated" because of the war. Not quite. In fact, the