Sunday, June 21, 2015

THE POPE PRAYS BY THE SHROUD OF TURIN-OCCULTISTS WORSHIP THE EARTH FOR FIRST DAY OF SUMMER.WITH YOGA AND STONEHEDGE.

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

UPDATED-JUNE 21,2015-10:30AM-ITS FATHERS DAY TODAY.AND ALSO THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER 2015.

Pope venerates mysterious Shroud of Turin-AFP By Jean-Louis De La VaissiereJUNE 21,15-YAHOONEWS

Turin (Italy) (AFP) - Pope Francis prayed Sunday before the mysterious Shroud of Turin, believed by Christians to be the burial cloth of Jesus but held by sceptics to be a medieval fake.On the Argentine pontiff's first pastoral visit to northern Italy, Francis -- whose father grew up there -- was met by crowds of enthusiastic faithful, before making his way to the city's cathedral where the shroud is on display.Sitting before it in silence, Francis remained with his head bowed in prayer for some minutes, before rising to contemplate up close the linen cloth which bears the faint image of a man who appears to have died by crucifixion.Radiocarbon dating in 1989 declared the 14 by four foot (4.2 by 1.2 metres) cloth, which has traces of blood and DNA on it, to be around 700 years old. But if it is a fake, international experts have so far failed to discover how it was made.The Church sidesteps the issue by calling the shroud a religious icon.The head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics was in the industrial city in the north-west of the country for a two-day visit which will see him spend time with the poor, sick and marginalised, including prisoners and migrants.In a speech straight off the plane from the Vatican to the workers of the Piedmont region, the pontiff warned people not to blame those fleeing war and famine for economic difficulties in the recession-hit country.

- 'Treated like merchandise' -

Migrants should not be "treated like merchandise" he said.Criminal networks throughout the country have been preying on refugees, exploiting them to pocket government subsidies, while the northern regions in particular have begun closing their doors to asylum seekers.But those arriving by boat from Libya "draw tears", Francis said, adding: "If immigration increases competition (for jobs), they cannot be blamed because they are victims of injustice... and wars."Nor should locals turn their backs on their own poor, elderly and unemployed, he said, pointing out that 10 percent of the region lives in poverty, while 40 percent of young people are jobless and the elderly feel abandoned."We are called to say 'no' to the idolatry of money," which pushes people to try by any means to get rich despite the crisis, "without caring for the many getting poorer, sometimes to the point of hunger," he said.The trip will have a special personal element for Francis, who is set to meet members of his extended family.The pope's grandfather Giovanni Bergoglio and grandmother Rosa Margherita Vasallo lived in Turin before moving to Buenos Aires in 1929 when their son, Francis's father Mario, was 20 years old.During a mass in the city's vast Vittorio Square, the Argentine's voice caught with emotion when he cited verses by Nino Costa from the poem Rassa Nostrana -- which speaks of Piedmontese people who emigrate -- which were taught to him by his grandmother in the local dialect.Postal workers Diego and Barbara said it was Francis's "spontaneity which we like. He is not afraid to talk about anything."Fellow believer Maria, 66, said the pontiff had won her heart because "he is not a hypocrite", and added that she hope those within the Vatican will "let him work" to reform an institution Francis has said he wants to dedicate to the poor.

ISRAEL SATAN COMES AGAINST

1 CHRONICLES 21:1
1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

GENESIS 12:1-3
1  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I (GOD) will shew thee:
2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3  And I will bless them that bless thee,(ISRAELIS) and curse (DESTROY) him that curseth thee:(DESTROY THEM) and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

ISAIAH 41:11
11  Behold, all they that were incensed against thee (ISRAEL) shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing;(DESTROYED) and they that strive with thee shall perish.(ISRAEL HATERS WILL BE TOTALLY DESTROYED)

ISRAELS TROUBLE

JEREMIAH 30:7
7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble;(ISRAEL) but he shall be saved out of it.

DANIEL 12:1,4
1 And at that time shall Michael(ISRAELS WAR ANGEL) stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people:(ISRAEL) and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation(May 14,48) even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro,(WORLD TRAVEL,IMMIGRATION) and knowledge shall be increased.(COMPUTERS,CHIP IMPLANTS ETC)

Palestinian shot after stabbing Israeli policeman in Jerusalem-JUNE 21,15-YAHOONEWS-Reuters

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A Palestinian stabbed an Israeli paramilitary policeman at the entrance to the walled old city of Jerusalem on Sunday and was then shot by the policeman, police said.Israel's Magen David Adom ambulance service said both men were seriously wounded. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the border policeman had been stabbed in the neck.Violence in Jerusalem has risen in the past year, after a Palestinian teen was burnt alive by Israeli assailants in an alleged revenge attack over the killing of three Israeli youths in the West Bank by two Palestinians.Tensions have flared further after the July-August Gaza war.Palestinians seek a state in East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Peace talks between the sides broke down in April 2014.On Friday, two Israeli hikers were shot by a suspected Palestinian assailant near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, killing one man and wounding the other. The attacker escaped.(Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Israel PM rejects 'dictates' as France's top diplomat visits-AFP By Michael Smith-JUNE 21,15-YAHOONEWS

Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected "international dictates" ahead of a visit by France's top diplomat, with Paris advocating a UN resolution laying out parameters for peace talks.With negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians stalled for more than a year, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius was to hold separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders Sunday in a push to revive talks.France has argued in favour of a UN resolution that would guide negotiations leading to an independent Palestinian state and which could include a timeframe for talks.But ahead of Fabius's arrival in Jerusalem, Netanyahu hit out at international diplomatic efforts to impose proposals which he said had so far neglected to address vital Israeli security concerns."The only way to reach an agreement is through bilateral negotiations, and we will forcibly reject any attempts to force upon us international dictates," Netanyahu said at the weekly cabinet meeting, in comments quoted by his office."In the international proposals that have been suggested to us -- which they are actually trying to force upon us -- there is no real reference to Israel's security needs or our other national interests."They are simply trying to push us into indefensible borders while completely ignoring what will happen on the other side of the border."Fabius, during a visit to Cairo on Saturday, urged the resumption of Middle East peace talks, while warning that continued Israeli settlement building on land the Palestinians want for a future state would damage chances of a final deal.Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been comatose since a major US push for a final deal ended in failure in April 2014.Israel says the process failed because the Palestinians refused to accept a US framework document outlining the way forward.But the Palestinians blame the collapse on Israel's settlement building and the government's refusal to release veteran prisoners.The relationship between the two sides remains severely strained, prompting the Palestinians to step up efforts on the international stage to seek their promised state.Such efforts have included a push to open criminal proceedings against Israel before the International Criminal Court.Tensions have been high and on Sunday a Palestinian stabbed and seriously wounded an Israeli border policeman outside Jerusalem's Old City, with the officer managing to shoot his attacker, leaving him in critical condition.It was the latest in a string of lone-wolf attacks which have gripped the city and spread to the West Bank in the past nine months, which the security forces have been largely powerless to prevent.

- After Iran talks? -

The United States has consistently defended Israel before the UN Security Council and any French resolution must be accepted by Washington to avoid a veto.President Barack Obama's administration has however recently signalled that it could be swayed given Netanyahu's recent comments regarding a Palestinian state.Netanyahu sparked international concern when he ruled out the establishment of a Palestinian state while campaigning for the March 17 general election, though he later backtracked on the comments.Obama said in a recent interview with Israeli television that a lack of progress in peace talks would make it "more difficult to argue with those who are concerned about settlement construction, those who are concerned about the current situation."France's diplomatic efforts also come against the backdrop of negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme, with Israel firmly opposing the deal currently on the table.Iran and the P5+1 powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- agreed in April on the main outlines of what would be a historic agreement scaling down Tehran's nuclear programme.The world powers and Iran set themselves a deadline of June 30 to finalise what would be a highly complex accord, and negotiators have been meeting regularly in Vienna and elsewhere in recent weeks.Some have argued that a window of opportunity may arise after the conclusion of the Iran talks for France to submit a resolution at the UN.They argue that the United States would be unlikely to support moves beforehand that could impact negatively on the nuclear negotiations.

Russian ambassador: If Sweden joins NATO, there will be 'consequences'-Business Insider By Jeremy Bender-june 19,15-yahoonews

Russia's ambassador to Sweden has warned the country of the potential military "consequences" associated with joining NATO in an interview with the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, The Local reports.Russian Ambassador Viktor Tatarintsev told Dagens Nyheter that Russia does not have any military plans against Sweden, in line with Stockholm's alliance neutrality.But Tatarintsev warned that this could change if Sweden were to join the NATO alliance.“I don't think it will become relevant in the near future, even though there has been a certain swing in public opinion. But if it happens there will be countermeasures," Tatarintsev said according to a translation from The Local."Putin pointed out that there will be consequences, that Russia will have to resort to a response of the military kind and reorientate our troops and missiles," the ambassador said. "The country that joins NATO needs to be aware of the risks it is exposing itself to."Currently, Sweden does not have any plans to join NATO. The country has stayed out of competing alliances between the West and Russia since World War II. However, public support for NATO membership is quickly rising.An October 2014 poll showed 37% of Swedes were in favor of joining NATO with 36% of Swedes against — the first time that more Swedes have favored joining the alliance than not. This swing in public opinion could be in response to a series of aggressive and provocative Russian actions throughout the region. On September 17, 2014, two Russian military aircraft crossed into Swedish territory.Shortly after that, a Russian military aircraft — flying with its transponders turned off — passed dangerously close to a commercial jet in the south of the country.Most provocatively, the Swedish military believes that Russia sailed submarines into its waters in the fall of 2014, leading to a sub hunt that became Sweden's largest military operation since the end of the Cold War. Although Sweden does not belong to NATO, the country is a participant in two other military alliances.Alongside Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway, Stockholm is a member of the Nordic Defense Cooperation. Sweden is also a member of the EU Nordic Battlegroup alongside Finland, Norway, Ireland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS

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

Firefighters battle massive blazes from Alaska to drought-hit California-Reuters By Steve Quinn and David Schwartz-June 19, 2015 6:02 PM-YAHOONEWS

JUNEAU, Alaska/PHOENIX (Reuters) - Firefighters were working on Friday to contain several massive wildfires raging from Alaska to drought-hit California that have forced hundreds of people to evacuate from their homes and damaged dozens of structures.The so-called Lake Fire in a mountainous national forest outside Los Angeles had swelled to 11,000 acres (4,500 hectares) on Friday from 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) the day before as it scorched old-growth timber on steep slopes and threatened some 150 structures, the San Bernardino County Fire Department said.Fire crews backed by bulldozers and water-dumping aircraft are battling to keep the blaze from crossing Highway 38 near the small city of Big Bear, the department said.Highway 38 and other roads remained closed in the area and officials ordered people away from vacation cabins and camp sites.In Alaska, about 900 firefighters were battling two major blazes in a state that has 56 active wildfires ranging from a few acres to 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares), officials said.A fire in Willow, about 40 miles (65 kms) north of Anchorage, has charred slightly more than 7,000 acres (2,800 hectares).The second major fire, in Sterling, about 140 miles (225 kms) south of Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula, has blackened more than 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares).The fires have destroyed about 40 structures, forced nearly 1,000 people from their homes and restricted traffic on a major highway this week."We are surrounded by fire right now," said National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Clay in Anchorage, adding that smoke from both fires could bear down on the city amid shifting winds. "If we get a stable air mass, we are looking at getting smoked-in potentially."In Arizona, fire officials said they have gained control of a 1,400-acre (600-hectare) brush fire that once threatened the 2,000-person community of Kearny, about 90 miles (145 kms) southeast of Phoenix, and forced hundreds of evacuations.The blaze was 40 percent contained as of midday Friday and all evacuees have been allowed to return to their homes.But crews on Friday continued to work the fire's perimeter to extinguish any hot spots, with full containment expected in a few days, officials said.The so-called Kearny River Fire broke out on Wednesday and burned through a dry riverbed heavy with volatile salt cedar trees.(Reporting by Steve Quinn in Juneau, Alaska, and David Schwartz in Phoenix; Additional reporting by Eric M. Johnson; Editing by Eric Beech)

HOMOSEXUALS.(SODOMITE RAINBOW GROUPERS)

LEVITICUS 20:13
13  If a man also lie with mankind,(ANOTHER MAN) as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

LEVITICUS 18:22
22  Thou shalt not lie with mankind,(ANOTHER MAN) as with womankind: it is abomination.

2 TIMOTHY 3:3
3 Without natural affection,(HOMOSEXUALS) trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

1 CORINTHIANS 6:9,
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,(HARDENED SODOMITE RAINBOW GROUPERRS) nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

PSALMS 14:1
1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

ROMANS 1:18-32
18 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.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
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,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:(HOMOSEXUALITY,AND ALL SEX SINS)
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
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:(LESBIENS)
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,(SODOMITES) and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.(AIDS ETC)
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Hundreds of thousands rally in Rome against gay unions-AFP By Philippine Robert-JUNE 21,15-YAHOONEWS

Rome (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of Italians gathered in Rome Saturday to demonstrate against gay unions and the teaching of gender theories in schools, as Prime Minister Matteo Renzi tries to push a civil union bill through parliament.Holding aloft banners reading "The family will save the world" and "Let's defend our children", a sea of people crammed into the San Giovanni square near the Italian capital's historic centre to support family values.The square, which can hold an estimated 300,000 people, was overflowing with the young, elderly and parents with toddlers, an AFP photographer said, with many more demonstrators spilling into nearby streets. Organisers for their part said one million people were taking part. Italian police never provide figures for demos."In my children's schools they are talking about families made up of two fathers or two mothers, without asking parents' permission," said 41-year old doctor Giuseppe Ripa, adding: "It's dangerous and wrong."Fellow protester Piero Uroda, a 78-year-old pharmacist, said it was "not honest to say these things to the very young, it's not like they are students who can debate these ideas.""I don't want gay marriage or gay adoption, the natural family is like ours," he said, pointing to his relatives gathered around.

- 'Defending children's future' -

The protest comes as the Italian senate examines a civil union bill, which Renzi wants to see go to a vote in the coming weeks, with the aim of legislation being enacted before the end of July.The call for Italy to keep pace with its western European neighbours on the issue has grown stronger since Ireland voted overwhelmingly in favour of gay marriage last month.But rights activists warn it will be no mean feat for the leader of the centre-left Democratic Party to find allies across the political spectrum, blaming an excessive influence of the Catholic clergy on the political class.While a survey published by Italian daily La Stampa at the end of May found that 51 percent of voters would support gay marriage, protesters in Rome said the state should stop trying to interfere in sexual or gender education."We are asking for families based on marriage be respected, and stressing the central role parents play. We forcefully reject the attempt to sneak into the curriculum projects which aim to destroy children's sexual identities," said Massimo Gandolfini, spokesman for the "Defend our children!" committee.There were both cries of support and derision from the political sphere.Matteo Salvini, rising star on the far right and head of the Northern League party, sent a Facebook "hug for all the mummies and daddies protesting peacefully in Rome to defend their children's future."Vincenzo Brana, head of the long-standing Arcigay gay rights association in Bologna, was quick to point out that "today is World Refugee Day", with hundreds of thousands of migrants in Italy facing an uncertain future.Their problems "are an urgent issue which concerns us all. Those who take to the streets to talk of other things show they are living on another planet, and I would recommend leaving them on that planet alone."

U.S. evangelicals draw battle lines against same-sex marriage-Reuters By Jim Forsyth-JUNE 21,15-YAHOONEWS

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - With the U.S. Supreme Court expected to rule by the end of the month on whether same-sex marriage is legal, many Christian evangelicals say they would refuse to obey a decision allowing gay unions.The Defend Marriage pledge, signed by more than 50,000 people, is one of a series of measures launched by social conservatives to push back against same-sex unions."The justices are not always right, and this is clearly a case that finds a right that is not in the Constitution, and we will not be able to respect that ruling," said Rick Scarborough, a prominent Baptist pastor in Texas and one of the authors of the pledge.Scarborough says those who signed the petition will resist all government efforts to require them to accept gay marriage. He says some, including himself, will accept any fine, arrest or even jail time to protect their religious freedom."We respectfully warn the Supreme Court not to cross this line," Scarborough said.Republican state lawmakers in recent months have introduced a raft of bills targeting gay marriage and gay rights amid expectations that the top U.S. court will find a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. It is now legal in 36 of the 50 U.S. states.But of the 55 bills in 21 states that could have some bearing on gay marriage, the vast majority have failed to become law, indicating that any backlash to a Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage could be limited.The Defend Marriage pledge was launched in March by social conservatives. It says it is God's will to have marriage being only between a man and a woman."We affirm that marriage and family have been inscribed by the Divine Architect into the order of Creation. Marriage is ontologically between one man and one woman," it says.Notable signers include U.S. Republican presidential hopefuls Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.Same-sex marriage has been a tricky issue for Republican candidates with evangelicals a powerful force in determining the party's presidential nominee in 2016. But in the general election, a stance against gay unions could prove costly with polls showing a majority of Americans support them.Some of the other signers are ready to launch a civil disobedience campaign, including trying to block county clerk offices that issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.Scarborough likened the fight to the campaign for civil rights launched more than a half-century ago by Martin Luther King Jr.Adam Talbot of the Human Rights Campaign, at the forefront of the fight for gay marriage, says the comparison with King is blatantly wrong.King, he said, fought for all Americans to be treated equally."It is deeply sad that a radical and small group of folks are so enraged by other people's happiness and legal equality that they are willing to plant their feet on the wrong side of history," Talbot said.(Reporting by Jim Forsyth; Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Eric Beech)

SINS OF OCCULT WORSHIP

DEUTORONOMY 18:10-12
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire,(OCCULT SACRIFICES) or that useth divination,(NEW AGER AND CRYSTALS ETC) divination n. The art or act of foretelling future events or revealing occult knowledge by means of augury or an alleged supernatural agency.) or an observer of times,(Meaning of observer. ... for sketching it. horoscope - Comes from Greek hora, hour, time, and skopos, observer.) or an enchanter,(The word enchant is derived from the Latin word incantare which refers to uttering an incantation or casting a spell). or a witch,(WITCH. Definition: [noun] a female sorcerer (SORCERY IN THE BIBLE IS DRUGS OR OCCULT ACTIVITY) or magician.)
11 Or a charmer,(charmer means a dealer in spells, especially one who, by binding certain knots, was supposed thereby to bind a curse or a blessing on its object.) or a consulter with familiar spirits,(function as mediums or psychics) or a wizard,(MALE WITCH-influence; a magical spell WITH WANDS) or a necromancer.(one seeking unto the dead.)
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

ISAIAH 8:19-22
19  And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
20  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21  And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22  And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

REVELATION 9:20-21
20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils,(OCCULT) and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries,(DRUG ADDICTIONS OR SELLING DRUGS) nor of their fornication,(SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE)(PROSTITUTION FOR MONEY) nor of their thefts.(STEALING)

Thousands mark summer solstice at Stonehenge-21 June 2015-BBCNEWS-From the section Wiltshire

Thousands of people have gathered at Stonehenge to mark this year's summer solstice.Police said 23,000 attended the neolithic site in Wiltshire to watch the sun rise at 04:52 BST, while others gathered at the nearby Avebury stone circle.The figure was down on the estimated 36,000 who attended last year and the 30,000 expected this year.Wiltshire Police said the celebrations were "positive and peaceful".The summer solstice usually occurs on 21 June, but can occur on 20 and 22 June.Police said arrests were lower than in previous years, with nine people being held for drugs offences at Stonehenge and a handful being cautioned for possession of Class A drugs, while no arrests were made at Avebury.Next year's summer solstice will occur on 20 June, but the next 22 June solstice will not occur until 2203.

Pagan festivals: Summer solstice

• Solstice, or Litha, means a stopping or standing still of the sun

• The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and is celebrated by thousands of pagans across the world. In the northern hemisphere, the solstice usually falls around 21 June

• Stonehenge is believed to have been used as an important religious site by early Britons 4,000 years ago. Recent pagan celebrations at the site began in the 20th Century

• On Litha, the central Altar stone at Stonehenge aligns with the Heel stone, the Slaughter stone and the rising sun to the north east

Millions of people bend and twist their bodies for Yoga Day-Associated Press By NIRMALA GEORGE-JUNE 21,15-YAHOONEWS

NEW DELHI (AP) — Millions of yoga enthusiasts across the world bent and twisted their bodies in complex postures Sunday to mark International Yoga Day.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spread his mat among rows of people, including his Cabinet members and foreign diplomats, at New Delhi's main thoroughfare, which was transformed into a sprawling exercise ground.Thousands of people dressed in white sat on yellow mats under the Eiffel Tower, and similar events were held in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Beijing, Manila and other places. Modi had lobbied the U.N. to declare June 21 as the first International Yoga Day."We are not only celebrating a day, but we are training the human mind to begin a new era of peace and harmony," Modi told participants. "This is a program for the benefit of mankind, for a tension-free world and to spread the message of harmony."Schoolchildren, bureaucrats, homemakers, soldiers and ordinary folk took part in the exercise, held in all Indian state capitals. In Modi's home state of Gujarat, yoga events were organized at nearly 30,000 places, state officials said.In Taipei, more than 2,000 participants rolled out mats and performed 108 rounds of the "sun salutation" — the sequence of poses often practiced at the beginning of a routine as the sun rises."They give themselves a piece of time to observe their mind and their heart, which I think in the modern society we need a lot," said practitioner Angela Hsi.Fazel Shah, an Indian pilot working for a Middle Eastern airline, rushed from the airport on his stopover in Taiwan to join the event."Isn't it awesome? I mean, just look at the number of people who are here, embracing it," he said.He said yoga was probably born in India but belongs anywhere. "If you go up from where I am and look from the sky down, you don't see borders, you don't see religions, you don't see nationalities, you just see one group of people. So, I just go down and meet up with them, that's all."In Dubai, a 41 year-old Indian man attempted the world's longest headstand. Ivan Stanley, who has lived in Dubai for 15 years, held the position for 61 minutes. He registered his attempt with Guinness World Records, which has yet to announce if he broke the record.He later told reporters that he relied on his mental strength. "Up to 45 (minutes), it started getting physically a little challenging in my shoulder and neck but after that it was completely mental," he said. "The last five minutes were really hard."Many believe that yoga, the ancient form of exercise, is the best way to calm the mind and the best form of exercise for the body.Indian officials said more than 35,000 people participated in the New Delhi event that was also an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest single yoga class at a single venue. Guinness representatives said they hired more than 1,500 members of a global accounting firm to count participants.India's Defense Ministry said that soldiers on the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battleground in the Himalayas, and naval cadets on navy ships at sea also had participated in the Yoga Day events.Although Modi's message was one of peace and harmony, many in India were concerned that the push for yoga was an attempt by Hindu groups to give a boost to Hinduism.Many Muslims objected to the government's exhortations to join the public exercise programs. Some Muslim leaders said yoga was a Hindu practice.The government quickly dropped a plan for the "sun salutation" exercise, which Muslims found objectionable because it implied the sun was a deity. Also dropped was the Hindu "om" chant.Some Christian groups were upset that the mass yoga sessions were being held at a time when they usually attend Sunday Mass.Others were skeptical about the time and money spent by the government on Yoga Day."The government organizes these hyped-up events," said Sumita Rani, a primary school teacher in South Delhi. "Last year was the Clean India Campaign. What came of it? This city is as filthy as ever."_Associated Press writer Fay Abuelgasim contributed to this report from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.


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