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)
CHINA AND KINGS OF THE EAST MARCH TO ISRAEL 2ND WAVE OF WW3 (200 MILLION MAN ARMY)
REVELATION 16:12-16
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates;(WERE WW3 STARTS IN IRAQ OR SYRIA OR TURKEY) and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.(THE TURKEY ATATURK DAM ON THE EUPHRATES CAN BE SHUT AND DRIED UP ALREADY BY TURKEY)
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon,(SATAN) and out of the mouth of the beast,(WORLD DICTATOR) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(FALSE POPE)
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.(WERE 2 BILLION DIE FROM NUKE WAR)
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.(ITS AT THIS TIME I BELIEVE WHEN AMERICA GETS NUKED BY RUSSIA ON THE WAY TO THE MIDEAST)
DANIEL 11:44 (2ND WAVE OF WW3)
44 But tidings out of the east(CHINA) and out of the north(RUSSIA, MUSLIMS WHATS LEFT FROM WAVE 1) shall trouble him:(EU DICTATOR IN ISRAEL) therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.( 1/3RD OF EARTHS POPULATION)
REVELATION 9:12-18
12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.(WORLDWIDE WAR)(TURKEY-IRAQ-SYRIA)(EUPHRATES RIVER CONSISTS OF 760 MILES IN TURKEY,440 MILES IN SYRIA AND 660 MILES IN IRAQ)
15 And the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels were loosed,(WORLDWIDE WAR) which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.(1/3 Earths Population die in WW 3 2ND WAVE-2 billion)
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand:(200 MILLION MAN ARMY FROM CHINA AND THE KINGS OF THE EAST) and I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.(NUCLEAR BOMBS)
18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(NUCLEAR BOMBS)
China blames US, South Korea for North Korea missile launch-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
BEIJING — China, facing criticism that it is not doing enough to pressure North Korea to drop its nuclear program, said Monday that the root cause of North Korean missile launches is Pyongyang's friction with the United States and South Korea.North Korea fired a banned ballistic missile on Sunday, its first test since U.S. President Donald Trump took office. The missile, launched as Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida, is believed to have flown about 500 kilometres (300 miles) before splashing down in international waters.Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China opposed the launch, which violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that call for an end to North Korea's nuclear and missile tests.China is North Korea's largest source of trade and aid, and Trump has complained that Beijing is not doing enough to pressure Pyongyang. Beijing counters that its influence is overstated and suggests that Washington's refusal to talk directly to North Korea is impeding progress toward a solution."The root cause of the (North Korean) nuclear missile issue is its differences with the U.S. and South Korea," Geng told reporters at a regular briefing.Geng said China, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, has been "completely and comprehensively" implementing Security Council resolutions on the nuclear issue. He said Beijing "has been striving for a settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue by proactively engaging in mediation and promoting peace talks."Although generally dismissive of sanctions, Beijing has signed on to successive rounds under the U.N. Security Council, and last month banned more items from being exported to North Korea, including plutonium and dual-use technologies that could aid its nuclear program.Geng urged all sides to refrain from provocative action and said China would continue participating in Security Council discussions in a constructive and responsible way.Beijing appears concerned that the U.S. and South Korea will speed up the planned deployment of an advanced missile defence system in South Korea designed to counter a missile attack from the North following the latest launch. Beijing objects to the system because it would possibly be able to observe Chinese military movements.Shi Yuanhua, a Korean studies professor at Shanghai's Fudan University, said that from Pyongyang's perspective, it was a good time to launch a missile because the new U.S. administration hadn't decided what approach to take with North Korea, and Beijing was at odds with Washington and Seoul over the anti-missile system."Whether or not to abandon nuclear weapons concerns North Korea's core national interests and there is no way for China to get it to change its stance with a few words of persuasion, and it can't solve the problem by applying a ban on exports," Shi said."The key for solving the problem lies in the hands of the U.S. If the U.S. is willing to sit and talk with North Korea, China will be happy to promote it," he added.A Communist Party newspaper said in an editorial Monday that the timing of Sunday's launch, a day after the end of China's 15-day Lunar New Year period, suggests Beijing's participation in U.N. Security Council sanctions is having a "positive effect." Last year, North Korea launched a long-range rocket on the eve of China's most important holiday, in a snub to its chief ally.___Associated Press researcher Yu Bing contributed to this report.Louise Watt, The Associated Press.
North Korean missile test may have been big step forward-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — Beyond the usual, lofty propaganda, North Korea's test of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile contains an important, potentially worrying development.The country's jubilant young dictator, Kim Jong Un, said the missile provides the country with another nuclear attack capability.Sunday's launch — the first major North Korean challenge for U.S. President Donald Trump — is drawing intense scrutiny from outside weapons experts because of North Korea's claim to have used solid fuel.If true, it would be a big step forward in North Korea's quest to boost its ability to attack the United States and its close allies, South Korea and Japan. Instead of relying on missiles that have to be fueled on a fixed launch pad, North Korea's military could drive the new missiles anywhere and fire them at will from mobile launchers.Here's a look at Sunday's launch and what it means for security on an already tense Korean Peninsula.___"MODERN FUEL"-The fuel in solid-fuel rockets is already loaded inside, which can shorten launch preparation times, increase the weapon's mobility and make it harder for outsiders to detect what's happening before liftoff.Most of North Korea's missiles currently use liquid propellant, which usually needs to be added on a launch pad before the weapon is fired. The rockets North Korea has used for satellite launches in recent years, which were condemned by the U.N. as tests of banned long-range missile technology, relied on liquid fuel."Liquid fuel is like a technology from the 1960s and '70s, while solid fuel is a modern fuel for missiles," said Lee Choon Geun, an analyst from South Korea's state-funded Science and Technology Policy Institute. "That's why we think their latest launch (with solid fuel) is a serious development."Before Sunday's test, analysts thought North Korea's solid-fuel weapons were limited to a submarine-launched ballistic missile that the country test-fired last August and short-range KN-02 missiles.This latest test is important because, if confirmed, North Korea would have a missile that could be launched anywhere from a ground-based mobile vehicle. While submarines are also a stealthy way to do that, North Korea doesn't have enough of them. There are doubts that the KN-02 missile, whose range is about 120 kilometres (75 miles), can carry nuclear warheads.North Korea's claim couldn't be independently confirmed, but Lee said video and photos of the launch appear to show that the missile used solid fuel. A South Korean defence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of department rules, also said that U.S. and South Korean military surveillance equipment showed it probably used solid fuel.North Korean media quoted Kim Jong Un as saying that North Korea's rocket industry "has radically turned" from liquid-fuel engines to high thrust solid fuel-powered ones.___PUKGUKSONG-2-North Korean state media said the missile launched Sunday was a surface-to-surface "Pukguksong-2" that can carry nuclear warheads. It is likely to be an upgraded version of the submarine-launched missile named "Pukguksong" launched in August.South Korea's military said the latest missile flew about 500 kilometres (310 miles) before dropping into international waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. North Korea said the missile made a high-altitude flight because of security worries in neighbouring countries.If the missile was fired at a normal angle, it could have flown farther. Some analysts say its maximum range could be up to 3,000 kilometres (1,870 miles), while others put it at 1,200 kilometres (750 miles).Either way, the missile could target South Korea and Japan, where about 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed.___ICBM-North Korea's ultimate goal is a nuclear-tipped long-range missile that can attack the U.S. mainland.In his New Year's address, Kim Jong Un said North Korea had reached the final stages of preparations to test an intercontinental ballistic missile. It's not clear when that might happen.Analysts say Sunday's missile test isn't directly linked to ICBM test preparations. Still, some say North Korea may have used the launch to test some technology it will need for an ICBM.Last year, North Korea conducted its fourth and fifth atomic bomb tests and claimed a series of technical breakthroughs in its push for a long-range nuclear missile.But foreign analysts say North Korea has yet to develop warheads small enough to be loaded on a long-range missile designed to hit targets like the U.S. mainland. South Korean officials also believe North Korea hasn't yet developed a re-entry vehicle for a missile — something that's needed to return a warhead to the atmosphere from space so it can hit its intended target.___NORTH KOREA'S MOTIVES-North Korea may have fired the missile to celebrate the Feb. 16 birthday of Kim's late dictator father, Kim Jong Il. Or it could be trying to see how the Trump administration will react. Or it may just be a regularly scheduled missile test under a broader timetable for weapons development.The test could also be an attempt to bolster internal unity in a way that doesn't provoke the United States too much, as a long-range missile or nuclear test would do, said Lee Illwoo, a Seoul-based commentator on military issues.The missile test came as Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe condemned the launch as "absolutely intolerable," and Trump said Washington would stand behind Japan, "its great ally, 100 per cent ."The United States, Japan and South Korea have requested urgent diplomatic talks Monday at the United Nations, which prohibits North Korea from engaging in any ballistic missile activities.But it's unlikely that the meeting will lead to any serious punishment for North Korea, which is already under a slew of U.N. and other international sanctions.___Follow Hyung-jin Kim on Twitter at http://twitter.com/hyungjin1972-Hyung-Jin Kim, The Associated Press.
North Korea says missile launch 'self-defense', U.S. demands action-[Reuters]-By Stephanie Nebehay-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
GENEVA (Reuters) - North Korea said on Tuesday its missile launches were "self-defense measures", rejecting U.N. Security Council criticism of its weekend test, but the United States demanded international action against Pyongyang's weapons programs.North Korea's ballistic missile firing on Sunday was its first direct challenge to the international community since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20.The missile had a range of more than 2,000 kms (1,240 miles), according to South Korea's intelligence agency. It reached an altitude of about 550 km and flew about 500 km towards Japan before splashing into the sea east of the Korean peninsula.The U.N. Security Council on Monday denounced the launch, urging members to "redouble efforts" to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state, but gave no indications of any action it might take.Han Tae Song, the new Ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations in Geneva, addressed the U.N.-backed Conference on Disarmament a day after taking up his post."The various test fires conducted by DPRK for building up self-defense capabilities are, with no exception, self-defense measures to protect national sovereignty and the safety of the people against direct threats by hostile forces," Han told the 61-member-state forum."My delegation strongly rejects the latest statement of the U.N. Security Council and all U.N. resolutions against my country."U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood said: "All efforts to advance North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile capabilities must cease," adding: "If ever there were a situation that called for international collective action to ensure our mutual security, it is this."-RESTRAINT-China, North Korea's main ally, said the missile launch violated Security Council resolutions but called on all parties to "exercise restraint". The way to defuse the situation was through dialogue, China said, calling for a return to talks.-U.S., Japanese and South Korean military officials held a teleconferenceon Monday in which they condemned the launch as "a clear violation" of multiple Security Council resolutions. The United States "reaffirmed its iron-clad security commitments" to South Korea and Japan, the Pentagon said.Han said the divided Korean peninsula "remains the world's biggest hotspot with a constant danger of war". He condemned joint military exercises carried out annually by South Korea and the United States, as well as what he called "nuclear threats" and blackmail towards his country."It is the legitimate self-defense right of the sovereign state to possess strong deterrence to cope with such threat by hostile forces aimed at overthrowing the state and the socialist system," he said.South Korea's Ambassador Choi Kyong-lim said the test showed "the unreasonable nature of the DPRK and their fanatical obsession with the pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles". Japan's disarmament Ambassador Nobushige Takamizawa urged Pyongyang not to take further "provocative actions" that undermine peace and security in the region.(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
North Korean leader's half-brother murdered in Malaysia: source-[Reuters]-By Emily Chow and Ju-min Park-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
KUALA LUMPUR/SEOUL (Reuters) - The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been murdered in Malaysia, a South Korean government source said on Tuesday.Kim Jong Nam, the older half brother of Kim Jong Un, was known to spend a significant amount of his time outside North Korea and had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated state.The South Korean government source who spoke to Reuters did not immediately provide further details. In Washington, A U.S. government source said the United States believed that North Korean agents were responsible for the murder, but did not provide firm evidence to support that conclusion.There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Trump administration, which is facing a stiff challenge from a defiant North Korea over its test of a ballistic missile last weekend.In a statement, Malaysian police said the dead man, aged 46, held a passport under the name Kim Chol.Kim Jong Nam has been caught in the past using forged travel documents.Malaysian police official Fadzil Ahmat said the cause of Kim's death was not yet known, and that a post mortem would be carried out."So far there are no suspects, but we have started investigations and are looking at a few possibilities to get leads," Fadzil told Reuters.According to Fadzil, Kim had been planning to travel to Macau on Monday when he fell ill at the low-cost terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)."The deceased ... felt like someone grabbed or held his face from behind," Fadzil said. "He felt dizzy, so he asked for help at the ... counter of KLIA."Kim was taken to an airport clinic where he still felt unwell, and it was decided to take him to hospital. He died in the ambulance on the way to Putrajaya Hospital, Fadzil added.South Korea's TV Chosun, a cable-TV network, reported that Kim had been poisoned with a needle by two women believed to be North Korean operatives who fled in a taxi and were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources.Reuters could not confirm those details.South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the country's intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.The U.S. government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was possible that Kim Jong Nam had been poisoned. The U.S. source said it could not be ruled out that assassins used some kind of "poison pen" device.A former U.S. official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said U.S. authorities had been closely following Kim Jong Nam for years and thought he was at risk but could not say whether North Korea was behind his murder.When asked about the nature of the reported attack, Malaysian police official Fadzil said: "We don't know if there was a cloth or needles; the receptionist said someone grabbed his face, he felt dizzy."Malaysia is one of a dwindling number of countries that has close relations with North Korea, which is under tightening global sanctions over its nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, the latest of which took place on Sunday.Malaysians and North Koreans can visit each other's country without visas.A phone call to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur late on Tuesday went straight to an answering machine.-SECRETIVE FAMILY-Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un are both sons of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who died in late 2011, but they had different mothers.Kim Jong Nam did not attend his father's funeral.The portly and easygoing Kim Jong Nam was believed to be close to his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was North Korea's second most powerful man before being executed on Kim Jong Un's orders in 2013.In an embarrassing 2001 incident, Kim Jong Nam was caught at an airport in Japan traveling on a forged Dominican Republic passport, saying he had wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland. He was known to travel to Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China.Koh Yu-hwan, a professor at Dongguk University in Seoul, said Kim Jong Nam had occasionally been the subject of speculation that he could replace his younger half-brother, the country's third-generation leader."Loyalists may have wanted to get rid of him," he said.Kim Jong Nam said several times over the years that he had no interest in leading his country."Personally, I am against third-generation succession," he told Japan's Asahi TV in 2010. "I hope my younger brother will do his best for the sake of North Koreans' prosperous lives."His cousin, Lee Han-young, who defected to South Korea through Switzerland in 1982, was shot and killed by North Korean agents in Seoul in 1997, according to South Korea.Kim Jong Nam's mother was an actress named Song Hye Rim."My father was keeping highly secret the fact that he was living with my mother who was married, a famous movie actress, so I couldn’t get out of the house or make friends," Kim Jong Nam was quoted as saying in a 2012 book by a Japanese journalist."That solitude from childhood may have made me what I am now, preferring freedom."(Reporting by Ju-min Park and Se Young Lee in SEOUL and Joseph Sipalan, Rozanna Latiff and A.Ananthalakshmi in KUALA LUMPUR; additional reporting by Mark Hosenball in Washington; Writing by Tony Munroe and Praveen Menon; Editing by Mike Collett-White, Ian Geoghegan, Grant McCool)
MIGRATING BIRDS IN ISRAEL EATS HUMANS FLESH FOR COMING AGAINST ISRAEL-JERUSALEM
EZEKIEL 39:11-12,18
11 And it 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)
16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.(OF THE ISRAEL-GOD HATERS)
EZEKIEL 39:17-21
17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, 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 RUSSIAN/ISLAMIC HORDES AGAINST ISRAEL)
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 shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
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 will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.
REVELATION 19:17-18
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;(AGAINST ALL NATIONS ARMIES THAT COME AGAINST JERUSALEM AND ISRAEL)
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.
EZEKIEL 38:1-7
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.
EZEKIEL 39:1-8
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 fire on Magog,(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMB) and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
U.S. believes Russia deployed new missile, violated treaty: NYT-[Reuters]-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia has deployed a new cruise missile despite complaints by U.S. officials that it violates an arms control treaty banning ground-based U.S. and Russian intermediate-range missiles, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed officials.The United States concluded in 2014 that Russia had violated the 1987 treaty banning ground-launched intermediate range missiles by testing the experimental new cruise missile. U.S. officials have now concluded the SSC-8 missile is operational and has been secretly deployed, the Times reported.(Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Susan Heavey)
Report cites increased Chinese, Russian military activity-[Associated Press]-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
LONDON (AP) — An annual report on military power throughout the world cites Chinese and Russian activity as rising threats to Western powers.The International Institute for Strategic Studies report, released Tuesday, said analysts have noted "real and important" increases in Chinese military activity in the air, at sea, and in missile forces.It said Chinese weapons systems are becoming more sophisticated and advanced.The report says a resurgent Russia has placed "the exercise of military power and even the importance of nuclear weapons" at a centerpiece of its power, provoking the need for a strong NATO response.It also says Britain has fallen below the 2 percent defense spending target set for NATO countries, a charge rejected by British officials and some other analysts.
France wants U.N. Security Council action on Syria chemical weapons' use-[Reuters]-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
PARIS (Reuters) - France said on Tuesday the United Nations Security Council had to respond over the use of chemical weapons in Syria with a resolution that would punish those responsible for repeated attacks.Syrian government forces used chemical weapons in opposition-controlled parts of Aleppo during battles to retake the city late last year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report published on Monday.The findings add to mounting evidence of the use of banned chemical weapons in the six-year-old Syrian civil war and could strengthen calls by Britain, France and the United States for sanctions against Syrian officials.While not confirming the report, a French foreign ministry spokesman said in a daily briefing the allegations were "extremely serious.""It is up to the Security Council to act. France ... continues to discuss with its partners at the Security Council to adopt a resolution to punish those responsible for these attacks," the spokesman said."The use of weapons of mass destruction constitute a war crime and a threat to peace. Impunity is not an option."(Reporting by John Irish; editing by Leigh Thomas)
DISEASES
REVELATION 6:7-8
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
Some China cities close poultry markets amid bird flu fears-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
BEIJING — Several Chinese cities have shut down their poultry markets in the wake of a bird flu outbreak that has killed at least two dozen people this year across China.Live poultry sales have now been suspended in Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan province, as well as markets across the eastern province of Zhejiang, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday, as authorities deal with dozens of new cases of H7N9 bird flu.Nearly 300 markets and slaughterhouses were shut down in the southwestern Chinese city of Suining, where authorities are also cracking down on unauthorized poultry businesses.Xinhua reported that 21 people in Jiangsu province died in January after contracting H7N9. Hunan authorities have reported at least five deaths this year, and an infant girl has died in southwestern Yunnan province.A major H7N9 bird flu outbreak in humans first struck China in March 2013, killing more than 40 people and devastating the poultry industry. H7N9 is considered less virulent than the H5N1 strain, blamed by the World Health Organization for hundreds of deaths worldwide over the last decade.Most people infected with H7N9 are believed to contract it by touching infected poultry or entering contaminated areas, according to a WHO alert published last month. Experts do not believe the virus can be spread widely between humans, the WHO said.In Guangzhou, China's third-largest city, more than 30 per cent of the live poultry markets were found to be contaminated with H7N9, state media reported Saturday. Authorities in Guangzhou have announced temporary three-day suspensions of the poultry trade to try to contain the virus.The Associated Press.
DEAD ANIMALS
HOSEA 4:1-3
1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land,(EARTH) because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
ZEPHANIAH 1:2-3
2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
3 I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
Thousands of shad fish belly up in Windsor's Little River-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
Thousands of American gizzard shad are floating belly up in Little River, but the grave looking pool of dead fish doesn't surprise environmentalists in Windsor-Essex.Typically, shad do not swim further north than New York, but in recent years, they have been swimming as far as Canada and quickly dying, according to the Essex Region Conservation Authority."We've seen it happen quite commonly over the last 15 years, every two years or so depending on the thaw," said Tim Byrne, ERCA's director of watershed management services.The problem is shad are highly prone to thermal shock, which is a sudden change in water temperature that immediately kills schools of fish."It's unfortunate, but they are not a native species to this area," Byrne explained, saying fish native to the region can handle the temperature changes.The amount of floating fish is also reflective of the species that commonly swim in large schools.Thousands of shad died along the Belle River back in 2014. At the time, officials said the reasons for the massive death also included sewage that bypassed treatment and record rainfall.
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in the moon,(MAN ON MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the stars;(ASTEROIDS ETC) and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)
Storm brings tornadoes, damages structures near Houston-[Reuters]-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Storms packing heavy rains, lashing winds and tornadoes hit the Houston metropolitan area on Tuesday, ripping roofs off homes, blowing windows out of frames and leaving tens of thousands of people without power.Two tornadoes were reported to have touched down in Fort Bend County, about 30 miles (50 kms) southwest of Houston, causing damage to structures, the National Weather Service reported.There were no initial reports of major injuries or deaths from the storm that led the weather service to temporarily issue a tornado warning for large parts of Houston, the nation's fourth most-populous city.Houston's Hobby Airport issued a temporary ground stop due to the storm, while the Houston Independent School District advised its more than 215,000 students and school staff to shelter in place while the storm passed.CenterPoint Energy Inc said more than 20,000 customers on Tuesday morning were without power after the storm passed through the region.(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin and the Houston Bureau; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and David Gregorio)
Parts of Atlantic Canada pummelled by blizzard as travel warnings remain-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
A blizzard that pounded much of Atlantic Canada on Monday is finally starting to slow down, even as emergency officials continue to warn many New Brunswick drivers to stay off the roads.CBC meteorologist Kalin Mitchell said the heavy band of snow that has sat across much of the region is finally starting to weaken."As we continue through this evening, western parts of [New Brunswick] are going to see the snow begin to taper off. Not completely come to an end right way, but begin to ease, turning over to lighter snow and eventually into flurries as we move through tonight," he said.However, the snow will continue in parts of eastern New Brunswick on Tuesday morning.Mitchell estimated some communities between Fredericton and Saint John could see as much as 80 centimetres of snow by the end of the storm.- New Brunswick's Storm Centre - Blizzard warning in place for Nova Scotia, with up to 70 cm of snow possible -The blizzard battering Atlantic Canada was mentioned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday."We are suffering under a significant snowstorm that's hitting our Atlantic provinces particularly harsh, so I just want to send everyone back at home my thoughts as they shovel out and impress on everyone to stay safe," Trudeau said.-Situation in Nova Scotia-Nova Scotia is also at a standstill, with schools, businesses, offices, transit services and some health-care services shut down. Some areas of the province could see winds reaching 110 km/h.Environment Canada said the rest of the province, including Cape Breton, could get 30 to 50 centimetres by Tuesday morning.In Prince Edward Island, schools closed ahead of the storm.Newfoundland and Labrador is bracing for a storm that could start on Tuesday.-Difficult conditions-The powerful storm has prompted the New Brunswick government to take the unusual step of restricting travel on public roads in the province's southern and central regions."Until further notice, travel on provincial highways and roads is restricted to emergency vehicles and crews from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure," the provincial government said.The Trans-Canada Highway is closed between Sackville and the Nova Scotia border until further notice because of poor visibility caused by high winds and blowing snow, according to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure.As well, snowplowing on other sections of Routes 1 and 2 has been suspended until conditions improve.-'Life-threatening blizzard'-The blizzard forced most public schools in New Brunswick to close Monday.The University of New Brunswick, St. Thomas University, Mount Allison University and the University of Moncton were all closed.Codiac Transpo, in the Moncton area, as well as Saint John Transit and Fredericton Transit weren't operating.Brennan Allen, another CBC meteorologist, said people should avoid going near shorelines during the evening and overnight as coastal flooding and damage is possible."In summary, this will be a dangerous and potentially life-threatening blizzard," he said.Mike Walker, manager of roadway operations for Fredericton, said conditions deteriorated quickly in the provincial capital on Monday. "Snow is picking up and the wind is blowing it around, making it difficult to see," he said.Allen said powerful winds are adding to the problems around the province."Winds out of the northeast will be sustained between 40 and 60 km/h with gusts between 80 and 100 km/h from central New Brunswick southeastward."Allen said coastal areas of Nova Scotia could experience hurricane force wind gusts of up to 120 km/h."Travelling will be dangerous and likely impossible by car in the afternoon to evening hours," he said, with snowfall amounts of between 30 and 55 centimetres expected.The number of power outages is also starting to climb across the province.As of 6:15 p.m. AT, NB Power indicated there were more than 1,000 customers without power. The majority of those outages were reported in Charlotte County in the southwest."We continue to closely monitor the storm system as it unfolds and respond to outages when it is safe to do so," said Marie-Andrée Bolduc, spokesperson for NB Power."The main areas of concerns are high winds that could cause trees to make contact with the lines or lines to slap together."Canada Post has stopped delivery services in southern New Brunswick."In light of the severe weather conditions and heavy snow in southern New Brunswick, notably Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton, it is not safe to send our delivery agents to deliver mail today," said Canada Post spokesperson Phil Legault."Delivery will resume once conditions improve and it is safe to do so. Post offices will also be closed in this region."Felicia Murphy, of Brun-Way Highway Operations, which maintains the Trans-Canada Highway between Longs Creek and the Quebec border, and the highway from Woodstock to Houlton, Maine, said roads are slippery.Snow is drifting heavily, creating low visibility. She said if conditions continue to deteriorate, Brun-Way will pull operators off the roads."It's not a good day to drive today."New Brunswick RCMP Sgt. Chantal Farrah said if you have to travel, drivers should tell family members or friends the route they will be on and how long it will take to get to their final destination.In these types of conditions, she said drivers should also put on their four-way flashers when driving slower than the speed limit, so other drivers can see them.-Flights cancelled-As of 3 p.m. AT, flights at airports across the region were cancelled.Flights out of the Stanfield International Airport in Halifax are cancelled until Tuesday. In New Brunswick, passengers are being told to check flights before heading to the airport.All flights in Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John that were scheduled for Monday have been cancelled. Some Tuesday flights have also been cancelled.The storm will move out of southwestern regions late in the overnight hours, but is expected to persist into Tuesday for the eastern half of Nova Scotia, southeastern New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, according to Allen."Snow will taper to flurries later in the day on Tuesday, however, blowing snow could persist into Wednesday for most eastern regions of the Maritimes," Allen said.Northeast New Brunswick will escape this storm with accumulations of about 15 centimetres.Allen warns that another storm may move into the Maritimes on Thursday.-Latest storm to hit N.B.-Monday's storm was the latest major weather pattern to pound New Brunswick in recent weeks.In late January, an ice storm hit New Brunswick and caused more than 200,000 power outages, leaving some people in the Acadian Peninsula without electricity for nearly two weeks.Two deaths and roughly 40 hospitalizations were also linked to that storm because of carbon-monoxide poisoning.The Canadian Armed Forces were dispatched to northeastern New Brunswick to help with the cleanup efforts.New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant has ordered a report into the power outages.
Storm dumps nearly 30 centimetres of snow on Montreal-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
There will likely be a lot of Montrealers complaining of sore arms and backs this afternoon, after spending the morning digging out from a record-breaking snowfall.According to Environment Canada, 29 centimetres of snow fell on the greater Montreal area between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.Sunday's snowfall broke the record by a hair — on Feb. 12,1998 Montreal was buried under 19.8 centimetres of snow, compared with the 20 centimetres that fell on the city before Monday morning.-Tales from the great dusting-Pearl Layne misplaced her shovel. With her three children late for school Monday morning, she decided to dig out her car with a dustpan."I wasn't prepared for this," she said, laughing.Nichelle Skeet spent about an hour shovelling her sidewalk and clearing her car on Beaconsfield Avenue in Notre-Dame-de-GrĂ¢ce this morning."It's a lot of work. I get to skip the gym today because I worked so hard," she said.Jacques-Alain LavallĂ©e, in charge of snow removal for the city, says workers were prepared.Plows and other machines were sent out as soon as 2.5 centimetres of snow had fallen, he said.It takes about four days to remove 20 centimetres of snow, he said, but we're expecting about 10 more centimetres Wednesday.Snow removal caused gas leaks-Gaz MĂ©tro has confirmed snow removal operations led to three gas leaks on the island overnight.All three, on Ottawa Street in Griffintown, on Rivard Street on the Plateau and on Savoie Street in Pierrefonds, were capped by about 8:30 a.m.Spokesperson NoĂ©mie PrĂ©gent-Charlebois says heavy snow makes it difficult for snow removal vehicles to avoid outdoor natural gas outlets, and that people should try to clear them from snow and ice at all times.The flights most affected at Trudeau airport are departures to and arrivals from Atlantic Canada, where the same system has brought blizzard conditions shutting down entire cities.The Magdalen Islands will see about 15 centimetres of snow starting this afternoon.
Most of Nova Scotia is closed on account of weather. So what's open?-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
A nor'easter has forced closure of most — but not all — businesses and services in Nova Scotia on Monday.The storm is expected to dump lots of snow and blow strong winds across the province. In anticipation, most Nova Scotians are hunkering down as police warn roads are not safe to travel.But some still had to go to work Monday. Most locations have indicated they're assessing closure hour by hour. As for coffee shops, restaurants and gas stations, it's best to call ahead.-Some Superstores open-Here's a list of some local services defying the weather. - Atlantic Superstores: Barrington Street in Halifax, Bedford, Lower Sackville, Quinpool Road in Halifax.- Gateway Meat Market expected to remain open until around 2 p.m.- Mount Pleasant Nursery School, Truro.- NovelTea Bookstore Cafe,Truro.- Cempoal Calavera Negra, Halifax.- Cortado Tasting Room, Bedford.- Walmart in Halifax and Bedford.- Hayes Antiques, Halifax.- MEC, Halifax - Wilson's Home Hardware (until 1 p.m), Barrington Passage
What to know about California's failing Oroville Dam-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
Almost overnight, the Oroville Dam in California gained worldwide attention when authorities evacuated nearby towns, affecting almost 200,000 people, over fears that the emergency spillway was in danger of failing.The situation has since improved, but here are some things to know about what has happened and what could happen.Lake Oroville lies east of the city of Oroville, 112 kilometres north of Sacramento. Construction of the dam began in 1962, and opened in 1967.The lake is the second-largest reservoir in the state, at 210 metres deep and has the capacity to store 4.3 billion cubic metres of water.The dam itself is about 230 metres high, about half the height of the CN Tower. Though many people think the Hoover Dam on the border of Nevada and Arizona is the tallest in the country, that honour belongs to Oroville. Hoover falls just short, measuring 221 metres.Canada's Mica Dam in British Columbia is even taller, at 240 metres.It might be surprising to hear of flood advisories and evacuations in a state that has endured more than five years of drought conditions.While the drought can't be declared officially over, conditions have certainly improved. California has seen above-average precipitation and the snowpack — essential in providing groundwater — has also vastly improved. As of Monday, the snowpack in the northern, central and southern Sierra was at a capacity of 179 per cent for this time of year.As for Lake Oroville, which suffered severe drought conditions over the past few years, wet weather has brought it to 124 per cent of the historical average. More rain is expected over the next week, which could further complicate the situation.Initially, social media was on fire with reports that the dam was going to fail. But that is not the situation.There are different types of dams: embankment dams, arch dams, gravity dams, buttress dams and versions that can incorporate qualities of both (the Hoover Dam, for example is considered an arch-gravity dam). In the case of Oroville, it is an earth-filled embankment dam.Every dam has a spillway in case of higher than normal water in the lake. However, early last week officials discovered a huge hole in it — about 76 metres long and 14 metres deep, according to the Los Angeles Times.On Saturday, the emergency spillway was used for the first time in its history in an effort to lower water levels in the lake. But erosion around the spillway has authorities concerned that it could compromise concrete and cause an uncontrolled flow release of water.If it were to fail, the spillway would run into Feather River below. Though the river itself is below flood conditions, a massive, uncontrolled flow of water into it could raise levels, endangering nearby towns.As of Monday morning, water levels had dropped and officials were inspecting the emergency spillway. They hope to patch the hole before more rain falls in the region on Wednesday and Thursday.
Evacuees might not go home until dam spillway is repaired-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
OROVILLE, Calif. — Nearly 200,000 people who were ordered to leave their homes after a damaged California spillway threatened to unleash a 30-foot wall of water may not be able to return until significant erosion is repaired, authorities said Monday.The officials who issued the hasty evacuation order defended their decision, saying it was necessary to ensure public safety in the region downstream from the nation's tallest dam, about 150 miles northeast of San Francisco. Engineers spotted a hole in the spillway, which they feared could have failed within an hour.The water level of the massive reservoir known as Lake Oroville dropped Monday, slightly easing fears of a catastrophic collapse. But with more storms on the horizon, crews raced to assess what happened and began dumping large boulders and sandbags into the spillway to prevent any more erosion.The acting head of the state's Department of Water Resources said he did not know if anything had gone wrong and was unaware of a 2005 report that recommended fortifying the earthen emergency spillway with concrete for just such an event. The spillway had never been used in the dam's nearly 50 years of operation, and it was not near capacity when it began to fail."I'm not sure anything went wrong," Bill Croyle said. "This was a new, never-having-happened-before event."Croyle and the local sheriff sought to reassure the public that downstream communities were safe until water began spilling over the lake's edge Sunday and a chocolate-colored torrent of water began chewing through the slope below it.The Department of Water Resources said conditions were stable at noon and then tweeted an evacuation order at 4:45 p.m. warning of a possible failure within the hour, saying "this is not a drill."Chaos ensued as anxious residents rushed to pack up their families and abandon several communities in Butte, Yuba and Sutter Counties. The mostly flat northern Central Valley is known mainly for its sprawling agriculture industry, which is fed by dammed-up rivers that spill down from the Sierra Nevada foothills nearby.It took some people seven hours to travel to evacuation centres that should have been an hour away, said Chico Councilman Andrew Coolidge, who visited with evacuees in packed shelters in his city.Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea insisted the evacuation had been accomplished in a "fairly timely fashion" and a "fairly orderly manner."Patrick Miner of Live Oak said he and his family in a caravan of four cars returned home after driving back roads for two hours and feared they would run out of gas. They didn't bother trying to fuel up because lines were hours long at gas pumps."People were just panicking, honking and yelling at each other," he said. "I just got nervous and decided to hunker down. It was pretty scary."More than 500 Butte County jail inmates were transferred to Alameda County Jail farther south, Honea said.Honea could not estimate when people will be able to return home, but said he's working on a "repopulation plan" that would let residents return to areas least at risk of flooding.The threat emerged after weeks of storms dumped rain and snow across California, particularly in northern parts of the state.While the wet winter has been a boon for water supplies, it has created a challenge for water managers who must balance the need for water and hydroelectric power with protecting flatland communities from floods during times of excessive rain or rapidly melting snow.The Department of Water Resources began releasing water down its main spillway last week to make more room in the reservoir behind the 770-foot-tall Oroville Dam.After a chunk of concrete tore out of the spillway, creating a 200-foot-long, 30-foot-deep hole that continues growing, water managers began using the emergency spillway for the first time in its 48-year history. Eventually, the flow of water ripped through a road below and carved out deep chasms in the ground.Workers used helicopters and backhoes to dump large boulders and sandbags in place on Monday as the main concrete spillway was used to drain water from the lake at about three times the rate it was filling up. Officials want the level to drop 50 feet to make room for storms expected later this week.Environmental groups raised concerns years ago about the stability of the emergency spillway, but state and federal officials dismissed them and insisted the structure was safe, according to records.In 2005, three advocacy groups complained to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that using Lake Oroville's earthen spillway would cause significant erosion because it was not armoured with concrete.They said soil, rocks and debris could be swept into the Feather River, potentially damaging highway bridges and power plants. The groups warned of a complete failure of the dam itself, threatening lives and property.Nearly three years later, state officials said no "significant concerns" about the emergency spillway's integrity had been raised in any government or independent review.The Department of Water Resources estimated repair costs last week at $100 million. Officials refused to update that figure Monday.Gov. Jerry Brown issued an emergency order Sunday directing all necessary resources to deal with the problem, but he remained out of the spotlight Monday.U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, both Democrats, called on President Donald Trump to provide $162.3 million in disaster assistance requested by California.___Melley reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Kristin J. Bender and Olga Rodriguez in San Francisco, Ellen Knickmeyer in Sonoma, Amanda Lee Myers, Justin Pritchard, Angel Kastanis and John Antczak in Los Angeles, and John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan, also contributed to this report.-Jonathan J. Cooper And Brian Melley, The Associated Press.
WORLD POWERS IN THE LAST DAYS (END OF AGE OF GRACE NOT THE WORLD)
EUROPEAN UNION-KING OF WEST-DAN 9:26-27,DAN 7:23-24,DAN 11:40,REV 13:1-10
EGYPT-KING OF THE SOUTH-DAN 11:40
RUSSIA-KING OF THE NORTH-EZEK 38:1-2,EZEK 39:1-3
CHINA-KING OF THE EAST-DAN 11:44,REV 9:16,18
VATICAN-RELIGIOUS LEADER-REV 13:11-18,REV 17:4-5,9,18
WORLD TERRORISM
GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
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)
Canadian citizenship applications decline after processing fees triple-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
A sharp fee increase has helped fuel a dramatic drop in the number of immigrants applying to become Canadian citizens, according to immigration advocates.In the first nine months of 2016, there were 56,446 applications filed for citizenship, a decrease of nearly 50 per cent from the same period a year earlier, when 111,993 applications were submitted.The figures are included in a briefing by former Immigration and Citizenship director general Andrew Griffith prepared for the Senate social affairs, science and technology committee, which begins hearings this week on Bill C-6, a law to amend the Citizenship Act.Griffith, an author on immigration issues and fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, calls it an "alarming" trend that can be linked directly to a steep increase in fees.The processing fee jumped from $100 to $530 in 2014-2015, which amounts to a tripled price tag when the additional $100 "right of citizenship" fee is added."If you're a professional doing reasonably well, you may not like it, but you pay it. It's important to you," Griffith told CBC News. "But if you are a struggling immigrant or refugee, suddenly $630 may become prohibitive, and especially if you're talking about a family of four or more."Newcomers face other costs associated with the citizenship process, including language testing, he said. He recommends cutting the processing fee to $300, abolishing the right-of-citizenship fee, and considering a waiver for refugees and low-income immigrants.-Financial and other barriers-Griffith's brief points to a broader pattern of declining naturalization rates. He warns that a growing part of the population may not fully integrate by becoming citizens due to financial or other barriers and that could lead to marginalization."We've always prided ourselves where we have a model where we don't just encourage immigration, but we encourage immigrants to become citizens so they be fully part of society. They can take part in political discussions, they can vote and do all the things that are part of it," he said.Bill C-6 reverses reforms brought in by the previous Conservative government and takes steps to streamline and strengthen the integrity of the citizenship process. Those include reducing the time permanent residents have to live in Canada to become eligible for citizenship, counting time for work or study in residency requirements, and reducing the language proficiency requirements for younger and older immigrants.But the government does not appear prepared to reverse the fee hike brought in by the Conservatives.Bernie Derible, a spokesman for Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, said citizenship fees in Canada are "significantly less" than other comparable countries such as the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Throughout the cross-country consultations last summer, there was little discussion or concern raised about the fee, he added.Dory Jade, CEO of the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants, said he has heard from plenty of clients who are delaying citizenship because they can't afford the fees.-Make process 'accessible and easy'-"If we want to bring immigrants, especially under a Liberal government which believes in nation builders, making it accessible and easy to become members of your society is a big, big issue," he said.Jade has met with officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to propose a way to address the financial burden.He said he was told by officials that the current fees are not cost-recovery, which means they are still financed in part by the tax base despite the increase. But he suggested the government could ease the cost barrier by adopting a tax-like formula based on income, developing a loan program, or capping the total fee for a family.Stephen Green, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer, said he has not heard of the fee being a significant factor in seeking citizenship. He said many of his firm's clients who don't currently qualify under the existing law are anxiously awaiting C-6 to become law so they can apply for citizenship.The Senate social affairs committee hearings will be held Wednesday and Thursday this week, with a number of immigration and refugee lawyers and academics scheduled to testify.
Action must follow words on racism, says Muslim Society of P.E.I.-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
The Muslim Society of P.E.I. is one of 40 Muslim groups across the country urging MPs to support a motion to strike a parliamentary committee to study systemic racism and religious discrimination.The group has co-signed a letter to MPs about Motion 103, introduced in the House of Commons in December, which calls for the establishment of the committee.Zain Esseghaier, spokesman for the Muslim Society of P.E.I., said the importance of Motion 103 has grown since the attack on a Quebec City mosque in January."There was a lot of support, actually an overwhelming support. A lot of kind words were said. People were very supportive of the Muslim community. And that's great, that's fantastic, that's really heartwarming," said Esseghaier."But where do we go from here? We have to do something. There should be some action taken so that our words are followed by action."Beyond Motion 103-Motion 103 will be debated in the House of Commons this week.The open letter also calls for cities to fund police training for hate crimes, and for provinces to create anti-racism directorates and a mandatory high school class on systemic racism.It also asks that Parliament declare a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia on Jan. 29, in memory of the Quebec shooting victims.
Ontario Liberals eye 'global adjustment' to cut hydro bills-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
Premier Kathleen Wynne and her cabinet are considering two key changes that could see hydro bills drop in the range of eight per cent or more, multiple sources tell CBC News. With the high cost of electricity the top concern for voters in Ontario, and Wynne's popularity at an all-time low, the Liberals have signalled that tackling hydro bills is their number one priority heading into the spring budget.- Why hydro bills are so high in Ontario -Sources with knowledge of the discussions say the government is weighing across-the-board reductions to what's known as the "global adjustment" charge on hydro bills.The sources also say the government is considering reforming programs designed to help people struggling with high hydro costs. Specifically, the Liberals are looking at switching the way the programs are funded, so that they are covered from the tax base rather than from fees added to hydro bills.-Global adjustment 'a bit of a monster'-The global adjustment was added to the electricity price in 2005 to recoup the expected $50 billion dollar costs of refurbishing power plants, building new ones, and financing new wind and solar projects.The global adjustment fluctuates monthly, but overall it has risen dramatically since its introduction. During 2016, it accounted for 85 per cent of the cost of electricity, although few customers actually see it, because it is included within the per-kilowatt-hour price on most hydro bills.Ontario hydro consumers spent $12 billion on global adjustment fees last year alone.The government is considering a plan that would change the way the global adjustment is calculated, so that the costs are spread out more gradually over the coming years."We created a bit of a monster," a senior government official told CBC News, in describing the global adjustment. The official said the billions in costs to rebuild the electricity system were "really front-end loaded" on hydro customers, causing sharp increases in bills."We are now looking at it to see if we can fix it," said the official. "We want to see if we can provide an immediate reduction on people's bills and some certainty about electricity costs going forward."The official was reluctant to say how deeply hydro bills could be cut with such a scenario but suggested a drop in the range of eight per cent is possible.-Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault did not deny the global adjustment is under consideration."I recognize that reducing hydro rates is a key issue for Ontarians," Thibeault said in an email to CBC News on Friday. "We're working hard to find a solution that will be equitable for residential, commercial, and industrial ratepayers, and all options are on the table, within reason.""No decisions have been made yet," cautioned an official in Wynne's office. "These are hard decisions and the government wants to get it right. If it was something super easy, we would have done it a year and a half ago."-Outside experts divided-Experts outside government are divided about reducing the global adjustment."It's one of the things that's really been driving rates higher in Ontario," said Paul Sommerville, executive director of energy policy at the Mowat Centre, an independent think-tank based in Toronto. In an interview with CBC News, Sommerville said he has heard from sources in the industry that the government is interested in tackling the size of the global adjustment and called such a move "a positive and reasonable step." Mark Winfield, a professor at York University and co-chair of its Sustainable Energy Initiative, said the idea, if implemented, would increase overall costs in the long term."It's like taking a longer mortgage on your house," said Winfield in an email on Sunday. "You pay a lot more in interest, potentially a big problem if interest rates go up."Winfield also said deferring global adjustment costs could be unfair to future hydro customers."You could create a situation where consumers in the future are still paying for projects which have reached end of life and are no longer producing electricity," he said."What you would want to do, if you're going to provide some form of relief, is to target it at the constituencies that are really in distress: low-income folks, people in the north and rural areas who've been hit quite hard," said Winfield in an interview Friday-Hydro subsidies could be covered through taxes - Government sources say the second substantial change under consideration involves programs that subsidize electricity costs, such as the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) for low-income households. Currently all hydro customers fund such programs by paying extra on their hydro bills. The argument goes that these are social programs, so should be funded through the tax base rather than by ratepayers.It's unclear how much further such a change would reduce bills, if implemented. The OESP is funded through a fee of about $1 a month on the average bill, but there are also other programs aimed at reducing hydro costs for rural and northern residents.The senior government official said the Liberals are considering changes to improve the OESP. The program provides rebates of up to $50 a month for low-income hydro customers, but has been criticized for failing to reach all the households that need it.The program "is missing a huge portion of people," NDP economic development critic Catherine Fife told a news conference at Queen's Park on Friday. The Liberals have already moved to rebate the provincial portion of the HST off residential and small business electricity bills, cutting hydro bills by eight per cent effective Jan. 1, at a cost to the treasury of about $1 billion a year.Wynne had said she intends to target further hydro relief at "the people that are carrying the heaviest burden" and has flagged high delivery charges as an issue of concern. But her officials are now acknowledging that across-the-board reductions in hydro costs are necessary as well.Officials say Wynne has been personally gathering advice about tackling hydro rates from senior staff within the electricity sector. She has promised action before Finance Minister Charles Sousa tables his budget, which is not expected until March at the earliest.The Legislature is due to resume sitting next week, after its winter break, with the opposition parties waiting to see what the Liberals bring forward on electricity prices. "From what we've been able to ascertain so far, it's going to be more of a shell game than it is actually dealing with the problems," PC energy critic Todd Smith told a news conference on Friday.Smith wants the government to get out of expensive contracts with private-sector energy providers, especially for green energy.Government officials are firmly rejecting speculation the Liberals intend to use revenue from the cap and trade program to subsidize electricity costs.They say the cap and trade legislation prohibits such use, as the revenue must be spent on new projects that further reduce carbon emissions.The cap-and-trade program began Jan. 1, with the aim of reducing the province's carbon emissions.It is pushing up prices for gasoline and natural gas and the government forecasts it will bring in revenues of $1.9 billion a year.
MEPs set for crunch vote on EU carbon scheme By Aleksandra Eriksson-euobserver
BRUSSELS, 13. Feb, 09:29-The European Parliament's two largest groups are split on how to reform the bloc's carbon-trading scheme, with US president Donald Trump's attitudes towards climate change affecting the debate.The MEPs will vote on an overhaul to the emissions trading system (ETS) - the bloc's flagship climate tool - on Wednesday (15 February).The scheme is seen as key to the bloc's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, but it has been plagued by problems.Critics say carbon credits, the permits that companies have to buy to offset their emissions, are too cheap to buy and too many have been issued.Swedish politician Jytte Guteland hopes parliament will stand by a deal she helped to push through the environment committee (Envi) last December, which could raise the price of permits from €5 to €25.She said the presidency of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly cast doubt on global warming, made it even more important for Europe to show leadership in the fight against climate change."Our carbon market serves as a model for the rest of the world. Other countries will be looking at us when they make their own policies," Guteland told this website.Some 11,000 European factories and power plants are covered by the scheme, which means they have to provide carbon permits for each tonne of carbon dioxide they emit.While power companies are obliged to buy all their permits at auction, industrial companies get most of their carbon credits free of charge.The idea is to give them incentives to minimise their emissions, because they can sell off any unused carbon permits at the market.ETS was introduced 12 years ago and initially worked well. But prices plummeted after 2008 in the wake of the economic downturn, which caused a glut of credits on the market.Under the deal backed by Guteland, the number of available permits should decline by 2.4 percent each year after 2020 to raise the price on emission permits.The centre-right EPP group, however, has tabled an amendment to lower the rate to 2.2 percent.EPP negotiator Ivo Belet told this website: "Our ambition is to find an agreement with the Council before the summer."The Council, where EU governments are represented, favours a lower rate, and the two institutions need to agree on a final text.The EPP group also wants to scrap the introduction of a carbon tariff, a measure intended to protect EU firms against imports from countries with lesser climate ambitions.EPP sees the tariff as a protectionist measure that could even be against WTO rules.But the tariff is the centrepiece of Guteland's compromise, along with a proposal to remove the rights of big polluters, such as the cement industry, from receiving free carbon credits.The cement industry, meanwhile, feels it is being unfairly targeted."We have the impression that the discussion in the European Parliament is more about which sectors we keep in the free allowances and which not," Koen Coppenholle, the chief executive of CEMBUREAU, the European cement association, told this website."This seems to go away from the essence of the directive, which is how to incentivise emission reductions."Guteland said the cement industry was rightly singled out."The current ETS system has been too lax to the European cement industry, which is today more polluting than competitors in Asia or Brazil," she said, referring to figures from the German Institute for Economic Research.Green campaign groups such as Sandbag and Carbon Market Watch have called on EU lawmakers to stick to the compromise deal.“The EU can now implement a pragmatic and politically feasible solution for boosting low-carbon cement in Europe and ending the scandal of enormous windfall profits to cement companies,” said Wilf Lytton, an analyst at Sandbag.By the end of last week, the EPP group seemed united on its position, while other groups - especially the social democrats and the conservative ECR group - were more split."It will be a tight vote," said EPP's Belet.Guteland remained hopeful that most groups would stick to the deal, which was adopted with broad majority in parliament's environment committee."It's a carefully tinkered compromise. You cannot just remove a part, or the whole deal could unravel," she said.Ian Duncan, a British conservative MEP who is the main negotiator on the file, last week published a picture of a pair of boots stuck in a cement heap on his Twitter account."There may be trouble ahead... #EUETS plenary vote," he wrote.A failure to reach a deal would sent everyone back to the negotiating table, he said.
Trudeau, Trump find common ground on economy and security, but remain at odds over immigration-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-Feb 13, 2017, 8:23 AM
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump found common ground on key issues such as boosting commerce and military co-operation, but the two leaders staked out very different stands on immigration policy.During a joint news conference following the pair's debut meeting, Trudeau carved out Canada's position as open and welcoming to refugees and immigrants without compromising security, while Trump defended his own hardline approach to close the door.Asked whether he believes the northern border of the U.S. is secure, Trump said, "You can never be totally confident."The U.S. president has been facing legal battles and protests over executive orders to suspend the intake of refugees and impose a travel ban for seven Muslim-majority countries. But he said today he is only following through on his promise for ridding the country of criminals and drug lords."We are getting such praise for our stance. It is a stance of common sense. Maybe a certain toughness, but really more than toughness, it's a stance of common sense," he said. "We are going to pursue it vigorously, and we don't want to have our country have the kinds of problems that you're witnessing taking place not only here, but around the world."Trudeau said Canadians and Americans have a long history of working, fighting and dying together, but there are times when they take a different approach."The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves," he said. "My role, our responsibility, is to continue to govern in such a way that reflects Canadians' approach and be a positive example in the world."On the North American Free Trade Agreement, Trump appeared to assure Canada that his primary concerns with the deal relate to Mexico. He praised the Canada-U.S. trade relationship as "very outstanding.""We'll be tweaking it. We'll be doing certain things that are going to benefit both of our countries. It's a much less severe situation than what's taken place on the southern border, on the southern border for many, many years the transaction was not fair to the United States," he said.-Jobs, business at stake-Trudeau stressed that jobs and business on both sides of the border depend on trade and an integrated economy."We know that by working together, by ensuring the continued effective integration of our two economies we are going to be creating greater opportunities for middle-class Canadians and Americans now and well into the future," he said.The news conference followed a joint statement issued mid-afternoon, in which the two leaders recognized "profound shared economic interests" and pledged to work to boost growth and generate jobs in both countries.The statement says the two countries will work to expedite the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor and Detroit, move forward on the Keystone XL pipeline and commit to establishing pre-clearance operations for cargo crossing the border."We intend to accelerate the completion of pre-clearance for additional cities and continue to expand this program," it reads.The statement also expresses a shared "strong concern" about opioid-related deaths, pledging the countries to work together to stop opioid trafficking.The release says the U.S. also welcomes Canada's plan to hold an open competition on replacing its fleet of CF-18 fighter jets, and to buy a fleet of 18 U.S.-made Super Hornet aircraft in the interim.It also says the U.S. values Canada's military contributions, including efforts to combat ISIS and in Latvia.There was no mention of the softwood lumber dispute or fighting climate change.-Women in business round table-Earlier in the day, the two leaders announced a joint task force to promote female executives.The Canada-U.S. Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders, made up of five women from each country, will recommend ways to promote female-owned enterprises and boost economic growth.Trump, meeting with the Canadian prime minister in Washington on Monday, said women as executives have played a "tremendously important" role in his businesses, but also that more must be done to enable more women to work and thrive."We need policies that help keep women in the workforce and to address the unique barriers faced by female entrepreneurs," he said.Trudeau, seated beside Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, said the council will study the challenges and paths to success for women. He said leveraging powerful women is not only about doing the right thing. Women in leadership roles contribute to the success of businesses, communities and entire economies, he said.Ivanka Trump, a successful entrepreneur who helped organize and recruit participants for the event Monday, said she looked forward to hearing more perspectives about how to "level the playing field for this generation and the next." - RECAP: Trudeau heads to Washington to meet Trump - Wherry: More than a simple chat about the economy-Early in the day the Prime Minister's Office and the White House released a list of names detailing who sat on the council. Later in the day that list was corrected by the White House and shared by the PMO to reflect the names below.Council members are:- Elyse Allan, president and CEO, GE Canada. - Mary T. Barra, CEO, General Motors. - Linda Hasenfratz, CEO, Linamar Corp. - Monique Leroux, president of board of directors, Investissement Québec. - Tina Lee, CEO, T&T Supermarket Inc. - Beth Comstock, vice-chair, GE. - Dawn Farrell, president and CEO, TransAlta Corp. - Deborah Gillis, president and CEO, Catalyst. - Tamara Lundgren, president and CEO, Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. - Julie Sweet, CEO, Accenture, North America. - Annette Verschuren, Chair and CEO, NRStor Inc. Trudeau was greeted with a handshake from Trump at the White House Monday morning. The pair then posed for a photo in the Oval Office, seated in armchairs in front of the fireplace in a near silence, except for the click of cameras.Trudeau's one-day visit to the U.S. capital is viewed as critical for setting the tone for the Canada-U.S. relationship under the new Republican administration.Several key cabinet ministers accompanied Trudeau to Washington: Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau.Andrew Leslie, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs with special responsibilities for the Canada-U.S. relationship, and David MacNaughton, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., are also part of the delegation.The prime minister's wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, did not participate in the trip.Later in the day, Trudeau met with Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell.NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan wrote to Trudeau, pushing him to raise the issue and ask for a guarantee that people will not face discrimination at the border. Treatment based on heritage or religion is "humiliating, completely unacceptable and harmful to Canada-U.S. relations," the letter reads.-Travel ban backlash-"As prime minister of Canada you represent the views and interests of Canadians on the world stage," the letter says. "Canadians are resoundingly opposed to Mr. Trump's travel ban and you are therefore duty-bound to express Canada's opposition to these policies."The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a restraining order on the original travel ban, but Trump said Friday he is considering signing a new executive order.Trump said he expects his administration will win the legal battle over his original directive.A White House official said the administration was not planning to immediately ask the Supreme Court to overturn the restraining order and would argue for its constitutionality in the lower courts. The official say next steps were not yet finalized and could change.
Hundreds of Saskatoon students expected at massive Pink Day rally today-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
Almost 1,000 elementary and high school students will learn about the importance of fighting bullying on Monday in Saskatoon.A massive Red Cross Pink Day rally will be held at the University of Saskatchewan education building gymnasium.Speakers will include Pink Day co-founder Travis Price, Saskatchewan Roughriders Dan Clark and Scott McHenry, and a Red Cross youth ambassador who has experienced bullying."We really want to let kids know that there is hope out there," Price told CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning. "That hope that things will get better."In 2007, Price and a fellow student took a stand against bullying when a fellow high school student was teased for wearing a pink shirt. The next day, the pair asked other students to wear pink shirts in response."When I take myself back to that moment, and see that kid being bullied for that pink shirt, I was faced with the exact same thing that kids are today, and that was a choice," said Price. "We could have walked away and done nothing or we could have acted. And fortunately enough, we chose to act."Since then, the Pink Day movement has spread around the world, with hundreds of events held in schools.While Pink Day in Saskatchewan will be officially held Feb. 22, Monday's rally hopes to energize students before the big day.The event will start at 1 p.m. CST.
REVELATION 16:12-16
12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates;(WERE WW3 STARTS IN IRAQ OR SYRIA OR TURKEY) and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.(THE TURKEY ATATURK DAM ON THE EUPHRATES CAN BE SHUT AND DRIED UP ALREADY BY TURKEY)
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon,(SATAN) and out of the mouth of the beast,(WORLD DICTATOR) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(FALSE POPE)
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.(WERE 2 BILLION DIE FROM NUKE WAR)
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.(ITS AT THIS TIME I BELIEVE WHEN AMERICA GETS NUKED BY RUSSIA ON THE WAY TO THE MIDEAST)
DANIEL 11:44 (2ND WAVE OF WW3)
44 But tidings out of the east(CHINA) and out of the north(RUSSIA, MUSLIMS WHATS LEFT FROM WAVE 1) shall trouble him:(EU DICTATOR IN ISRAEL) therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.( 1/3RD OF EARTHS POPULATION)
REVELATION 9:12-18
12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.(WORLDWIDE WAR)(TURKEY-IRAQ-SYRIA)(EUPHRATES RIVER CONSISTS OF 760 MILES IN TURKEY,440 MILES IN SYRIA AND 660 MILES IN IRAQ)
15 And the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels were loosed,(WORLDWIDE WAR) which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.(1/3 Earths Population die in WW 3 2ND WAVE-2 billion)
16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand:(200 MILLION MAN ARMY FROM CHINA AND THE KINGS OF THE EAST) and I heard the number of them.
17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.(NUCLEAR BOMBS)
18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(NUCLEAR BOMBS)
China blames US, South Korea for North Korea missile launch-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
BEIJING — China, facing criticism that it is not doing enough to pressure North Korea to drop its nuclear program, said Monday that the root cause of North Korean missile launches is Pyongyang's friction with the United States and South Korea.North Korea fired a banned ballistic missile on Sunday, its first test since U.S. President Donald Trump took office. The missile, launched as Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida, is believed to have flown about 500 kilometres (300 miles) before splashing down in international waters.Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China opposed the launch, which violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that call for an end to North Korea's nuclear and missile tests.China is North Korea's largest source of trade and aid, and Trump has complained that Beijing is not doing enough to pressure Pyongyang. Beijing counters that its influence is overstated and suggests that Washington's refusal to talk directly to North Korea is impeding progress toward a solution."The root cause of the (North Korean) nuclear missile issue is its differences with the U.S. and South Korea," Geng told reporters at a regular briefing.Geng said China, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, has been "completely and comprehensively" implementing Security Council resolutions on the nuclear issue. He said Beijing "has been striving for a settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue by proactively engaging in mediation and promoting peace talks."Although generally dismissive of sanctions, Beijing has signed on to successive rounds under the U.N. Security Council, and last month banned more items from being exported to North Korea, including plutonium and dual-use technologies that could aid its nuclear program.Geng urged all sides to refrain from provocative action and said China would continue participating in Security Council discussions in a constructive and responsible way.Beijing appears concerned that the U.S. and South Korea will speed up the planned deployment of an advanced missile defence system in South Korea designed to counter a missile attack from the North following the latest launch. Beijing objects to the system because it would possibly be able to observe Chinese military movements.Shi Yuanhua, a Korean studies professor at Shanghai's Fudan University, said that from Pyongyang's perspective, it was a good time to launch a missile because the new U.S. administration hadn't decided what approach to take with North Korea, and Beijing was at odds with Washington and Seoul over the anti-missile system."Whether or not to abandon nuclear weapons concerns North Korea's core national interests and there is no way for China to get it to change its stance with a few words of persuasion, and it can't solve the problem by applying a ban on exports," Shi said."The key for solving the problem lies in the hands of the U.S. If the U.S. is willing to sit and talk with North Korea, China will be happy to promote it," he added.A Communist Party newspaper said in an editorial Monday that the timing of Sunday's launch, a day after the end of China's 15-day Lunar New Year period, suggests Beijing's participation in U.N. Security Council sanctions is having a "positive effect." Last year, North Korea launched a long-range rocket on the eve of China's most important holiday, in a snub to its chief ally.___Associated Press researcher Yu Bing contributed to this report.Louise Watt, The Associated Press.
North Korean missile test may have been big step forward-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — Beyond the usual, lofty propaganda, North Korea's test of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile contains an important, potentially worrying development.The country's jubilant young dictator, Kim Jong Un, said the missile provides the country with another nuclear attack capability.Sunday's launch — the first major North Korean challenge for U.S. President Donald Trump — is drawing intense scrutiny from outside weapons experts because of North Korea's claim to have used solid fuel.If true, it would be a big step forward in North Korea's quest to boost its ability to attack the United States and its close allies, South Korea and Japan. Instead of relying on missiles that have to be fueled on a fixed launch pad, North Korea's military could drive the new missiles anywhere and fire them at will from mobile launchers.Here's a look at Sunday's launch and what it means for security on an already tense Korean Peninsula.___"MODERN FUEL"-The fuel in solid-fuel rockets is already loaded inside, which can shorten launch preparation times, increase the weapon's mobility and make it harder for outsiders to detect what's happening before liftoff.Most of North Korea's missiles currently use liquid propellant, which usually needs to be added on a launch pad before the weapon is fired. The rockets North Korea has used for satellite launches in recent years, which were condemned by the U.N. as tests of banned long-range missile technology, relied on liquid fuel."Liquid fuel is like a technology from the 1960s and '70s, while solid fuel is a modern fuel for missiles," said Lee Choon Geun, an analyst from South Korea's state-funded Science and Technology Policy Institute. "That's why we think their latest launch (with solid fuel) is a serious development."Before Sunday's test, analysts thought North Korea's solid-fuel weapons were limited to a submarine-launched ballistic missile that the country test-fired last August and short-range KN-02 missiles.This latest test is important because, if confirmed, North Korea would have a missile that could be launched anywhere from a ground-based mobile vehicle. While submarines are also a stealthy way to do that, North Korea doesn't have enough of them. There are doubts that the KN-02 missile, whose range is about 120 kilometres (75 miles), can carry nuclear warheads.North Korea's claim couldn't be independently confirmed, but Lee said video and photos of the launch appear to show that the missile used solid fuel. A South Korean defence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of department rules, also said that U.S. and South Korean military surveillance equipment showed it probably used solid fuel.North Korean media quoted Kim Jong Un as saying that North Korea's rocket industry "has radically turned" from liquid-fuel engines to high thrust solid fuel-powered ones.___PUKGUKSONG-2-North Korean state media said the missile launched Sunday was a surface-to-surface "Pukguksong-2" that can carry nuclear warheads. It is likely to be an upgraded version of the submarine-launched missile named "Pukguksong" launched in August.South Korea's military said the latest missile flew about 500 kilometres (310 miles) before dropping into international waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. North Korea said the missile made a high-altitude flight because of security worries in neighbouring countries.If the missile was fired at a normal angle, it could have flown farther. Some analysts say its maximum range could be up to 3,000 kilometres (1,870 miles), while others put it at 1,200 kilometres (750 miles).Either way, the missile could target South Korea and Japan, where about 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed.___ICBM-North Korea's ultimate goal is a nuclear-tipped long-range missile that can attack the U.S. mainland.In his New Year's address, Kim Jong Un said North Korea had reached the final stages of preparations to test an intercontinental ballistic missile. It's not clear when that might happen.Analysts say Sunday's missile test isn't directly linked to ICBM test preparations. Still, some say North Korea may have used the launch to test some technology it will need for an ICBM.Last year, North Korea conducted its fourth and fifth atomic bomb tests and claimed a series of technical breakthroughs in its push for a long-range nuclear missile.But foreign analysts say North Korea has yet to develop warheads small enough to be loaded on a long-range missile designed to hit targets like the U.S. mainland. South Korean officials also believe North Korea hasn't yet developed a re-entry vehicle for a missile — something that's needed to return a warhead to the atmosphere from space so it can hit its intended target.___NORTH KOREA'S MOTIVES-North Korea may have fired the missile to celebrate the Feb. 16 birthday of Kim's late dictator father, Kim Jong Il. Or it could be trying to see how the Trump administration will react. Or it may just be a regularly scheduled missile test under a broader timetable for weapons development.The test could also be an attempt to bolster internal unity in a way that doesn't provoke the United States too much, as a long-range missile or nuclear test would do, said Lee Illwoo, a Seoul-based commentator on military issues.The missile test came as Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe condemned the launch as "absolutely intolerable," and Trump said Washington would stand behind Japan, "its great ally, 100 per cent ."The United States, Japan and South Korea have requested urgent diplomatic talks Monday at the United Nations, which prohibits North Korea from engaging in any ballistic missile activities.But it's unlikely that the meeting will lead to any serious punishment for North Korea, which is already under a slew of U.N. and other international sanctions.___Follow Hyung-jin Kim on Twitter at http://twitter.com/hyungjin1972-Hyung-Jin Kim, The Associated Press.
North Korea says missile launch 'self-defense', U.S. demands action-[Reuters]-By Stephanie Nebehay-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
GENEVA (Reuters) - North Korea said on Tuesday its missile launches were "self-defense measures", rejecting U.N. Security Council criticism of its weekend test, but the United States demanded international action against Pyongyang's weapons programs.North Korea's ballistic missile firing on Sunday was its first direct challenge to the international community since U.S. President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20.The missile had a range of more than 2,000 kms (1,240 miles), according to South Korea's intelligence agency. It reached an altitude of about 550 km and flew about 500 km towards Japan before splashing into the sea east of the Korean peninsula.The U.N. Security Council on Monday denounced the launch, urging members to "redouble efforts" to enforce sanctions against the reclusive state, but gave no indications of any action it might take.Han Tae Song, the new Ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations in Geneva, addressed the U.N.-backed Conference on Disarmament a day after taking up his post."The various test fires conducted by DPRK for building up self-defense capabilities are, with no exception, self-defense measures to protect national sovereignty and the safety of the people against direct threats by hostile forces," Han told the 61-member-state forum."My delegation strongly rejects the latest statement of the U.N. Security Council and all U.N. resolutions against my country."U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood said: "All efforts to advance North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile capabilities must cease," adding: "If ever there were a situation that called for international collective action to ensure our mutual security, it is this."-RESTRAINT-China, North Korea's main ally, said the missile launch violated Security Council resolutions but called on all parties to "exercise restraint". The way to defuse the situation was through dialogue, China said, calling for a return to talks.-U.S., Japanese and South Korean military officials held a teleconferenceon Monday in which they condemned the launch as "a clear violation" of multiple Security Council resolutions. The United States "reaffirmed its iron-clad security commitments" to South Korea and Japan, the Pentagon said.Han said the divided Korean peninsula "remains the world's biggest hotspot with a constant danger of war". He condemned joint military exercises carried out annually by South Korea and the United States, as well as what he called "nuclear threats" and blackmail towards his country."It is the legitimate self-defense right of the sovereign state to possess strong deterrence to cope with such threat by hostile forces aimed at overthrowing the state and the socialist system," he said.South Korea's Ambassador Choi Kyong-lim said the test showed "the unreasonable nature of the DPRK and their fanatical obsession with the pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles". Japan's disarmament Ambassador Nobushige Takamizawa urged Pyongyang not to take further "provocative actions" that undermine peace and security in the region.(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
North Korean leader's half-brother murdered in Malaysia: source-[Reuters]-By Emily Chow and Ju-min Park-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
KUALA LUMPUR/SEOUL (Reuters) - The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been murdered in Malaysia, a South Korean government source said on Tuesday.Kim Jong Nam, the older half brother of Kim Jong Un, was known to spend a significant amount of his time outside North Korea and had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated state.The South Korean government source who spoke to Reuters did not immediately provide further details. In Washington, A U.S. government source said the United States believed that North Korean agents were responsible for the murder, but did not provide firm evidence to support that conclusion.There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Trump administration, which is facing a stiff challenge from a defiant North Korea over its test of a ballistic missile last weekend.In a statement, Malaysian police said the dead man, aged 46, held a passport under the name Kim Chol.Kim Jong Nam has been caught in the past using forged travel documents.Malaysian police official Fadzil Ahmat said the cause of Kim's death was not yet known, and that a post mortem would be carried out."So far there are no suspects, but we have started investigations and are looking at a few possibilities to get leads," Fadzil told Reuters.According to Fadzil, Kim had been planning to travel to Macau on Monday when he fell ill at the low-cost terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)."The deceased ... felt like someone grabbed or held his face from behind," Fadzil said. "He felt dizzy, so he asked for help at the ... counter of KLIA."Kim was taken to an airport clinic where he still felt unwell, and it was decided to take him to hospital. He died in the ambulance on the way to Putrajaya Hospital, Fadzil added.South Korea's TV Chosun, a cable-TV network, reported that Kim had been poisoned with a needle by two women believed to be North Korean operatives who fled in a taxi and were at large, citing multiple South Korean government sources.Reuters could not confirm those details.South Korea's foreign ministry said it could not confirm the reports, and the country's intelligence agency could not immediately be reached for comment.The U.S. government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was possible that Kim Jong Nam had been poisoned. The U.S. source said it could not be ruled out that assassins used some kind of "poison pen" device.A former U.S. official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said U.S. authorities had been closely following Kim Jong Nam for years and thought he was at risk but could not say whether North Korea was behind his murder.When asked about the nature of the reported attack, Malaysian police official Fadzil said: "We don't know if there was a cloth or needles; the receptionist said someone grabbed his face, he felt dizzy."Malaysia is one of a dwindling number of countries that has close relations with North Korea, which is under tightening global sanctions over its nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, the latest of which took place on Sunday.Malaysians and North Koreans can visit each other's country without visas.A phone call to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur late on Tuesday went straight to an answering machine.-SECRETIVE FAMILY-Kim Jong Nam and Kim Jong Un are both sons of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who died in late 2011, but they had different mothers.Kim Jong Nam did not attend his father's funeral.The portly and easygoing Kim Jong Nam was believed to be close to his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was North Korea's second most powerful man before being executed on Kim Jong Un's orders in 2013.In an embarrassing 2001 incident, Kim Jong Nam was caught at an airport in Japan traveling on a forged Dominican Republic passport, saying he had wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland. He was known to travel to Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China.Koh Yu-hwan, a professor at Dongguk University in Seoul, said Kim Jong Nam had occasionally been the subject of speculation that he could replace his younger half-brother, the country's third-generation leader."Loyalists may have wanted to get rid of him," he said.Kim Jong Nam said several times over the years that he had no interest in leading his country."Personally, I am against third-generation succession," he told Japan's Asahi TV in 2010. "I hope my younger brother will do his best for the sake of North Koreans' prosperous lives."His cousin, Lee Han-young, who defected to South Korea through Switzerland in 1982, was shot and killed by North Korean agents in Seoul in 1997, according to South Korea.Kim Jong Nam's mother was an actress named Song Hye Rim."My father was keeping highly secret the fact that he was living with my mother who was married, a famous movie actress, so I couldn’t get out of the house or make friends," Kim Jong Nam was quoted as saying in a 2012 book by a Japanese journalist."That solitude from childhood may have made me what I am now, preferring freedom."(Reporting by Ju-min Park and Se Young Lee in SEOUL and Joseph Sipalan, Rozanna Latiff and A.Ananthalakshmi in KUALA LUMPUR; additional reporting by Mark Hosenball in Washington; Writing by Tony Munroe and Praveen Menon; Editing by Mike Collett-White, Ian Geoghegan, Grant McCool)
MIGRATING BIRDS IN ISRAEL EATS HUMANS FLESH FOR COMING AGAINST ISRAEL-JERUSALEM
EZEKIEL 39:11-12,18
11 And it 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)
16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.(OF THE ISRAEL-GOD HATERS)
EZEKIEL 39:17-21
17 And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, 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 RUSSIAN/ISLAMIC HORDES AGAINST ISRAEL)
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 shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
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 will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
22 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.
REVELATION 19:17-18
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;(AGAINST ALL NATIONS ARMIES THAT COME AGAINST JERUSALEM AND ISRAEL)
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.
EZEKIEL 38:1-7
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.
EZEKIEL 39:1-8
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 fire on Magog,(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMB) and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
U.S. believes Russia deployed new missile, violated treaty: NYT-[Reuters]-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia has deployed a new cruise missile despite complaints by U.S. officials that it violates an arms control treaty banning ground-based U.S. and Russian intermediate-range missiles, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed officials.The United States concluded in 2014 that Russia had violated the 1987 treaty banning ground-launched intermediate range missiles by testing the experimental new cruise missile. U.S. officials have now concluded the SSC-8 missile is operational and has been secretly deployed, the Times reported.(Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Susan Heavey)
Report cites increased Chinese, Russian military activity-[Associated Press]-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
LONDON (AP) — An annual report on military power throughout the world cites Chinese and Russian activity as rising threats to Western powers.The International Institute for Strategic Studies report, released Tuesday, said analysts have noted "real and important" increases in Chinese military activity in the air, at sea, and in missile forces.It said Chinese weapons systems are becoming more sophisticated and advanced.The report says a resurgent Russia has placed "the exercise of military power and even the importance of nuclear weapons" at a centerpiece of its power, provoking the need for a strong NATO response.It also says Britain has fallen below the 2 percent defense spending target set for NATO countries, a charge rejected by British officials and some other analysts.
France wants U.N. Security Council action on Syria chemical weapons' use-[Reuters]-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
PARIS (Reuters) - France said on Tuesday the United Nations Security Council had to respond over the use of chemical weapons in Syria with a resolution that would punish those responsible for repeated attacks.Syrian government forces used chemical weapons in opposition-controlled parts of Aleppo during battles to retake the city late last year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report published on Monday.The findings add to mounting evidence of the use of banned chemical weapons in the six-year-old Syrian civil war and could strengthen calls by Britain, France and the United States for sanctions against Syrian officials.While not confirming the report, a French foreign ministry spokesman said in a daily briefing the allegations were "extremely serious.""It is up to the Security Council to act. France ... continues to discuss with its partners at the Security Council to adopt a resolution to punish those responsible for these attacks," the spokesman said."The use of weapons of mass destruction constitute a war crime and a threat to peace. Impunity is not an option."(Reporting by John Irish; editing by Leigh Thomas)
DISEASES
REVELATION 6:7-8
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
Some China cities close poultry markets amid bird flu fears-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
BEIJING — Several Chinese cities have shut down their poultry markets in the wake of a bird flu outbreak that has killed at least two dozen people this year across China.Live poultry sales have now been suspended in Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan province, as well as markets across the eastern province of Zhejiang, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday, as authorities deal with dozens of new cases of H7N9 bird flu.Nearly 300 markets and slaughterhouses were shut down in the southwestern Chinese city of Suining, where authorities are also cracking down on unauthorized poultry businesses.Xinhua reported that 21 people in Jiangsu province died in January after contracting H7N9. Hunan authorities have reported at least five deaths this year, and an infant girl has died in southwestern Yunnan province.A major H7N9 bird flu outbreak in humans first struck China in March 2013, killing more than 40 people and devastating the poultry industry. H7N9 is considered less virulent than the H5N1 strain, blamed by the World Health Organization for hundreds of deaths worldwide over the last decade.Most people infected with H7N9 are believed to contract it by touching infected poultry or entering contaminated areas, according to a WHO alert published last month. Experts do not believe the virus can be spread widely between humans, the WHO said.In Guangzhou, China's third-largest city, more than 30 per cent of the live poultry markets were found to be contaminated with H7N9, state media reported Saturday. Authorities in Guangzhou have announced temporary three-day suspensions of the poultry trade to try to contain the virus.The Associated Press.
DEAD ANIMALS
HOSEA 4:1-3
1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land,(EARTH) because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
ZEPHANIAH 1:2-3
2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
3 I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
Thousands of shad fish belly up in Windsor's Little River-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
Thousands of American gizzard shad are floating belly up in Little River, but the grave looking pool of dead fish doesn't surprise environmentalists in Windsor-Essex.Typically, shad do not swim further north than New York, but in recent years, they have been swimming as far as Canada and quickly dying, according to the Essex Region Conservation Authority."We've seen it happen quite commonly over the last 15 years, every two years or so depending on the thaw," said Tim Byrne, ERCA's director of watershed management services.The problem is shad are highly prone to thermal shock, which is a sudden change in water temperature that immediately kills schools of fish."It's unfortunate, but they are not a native species to this area," Byrne explained, saying fish native to the region can handle the temperature changes.The amount of floating fish is also reflective of the species that commonly swim in large schools.Thousands of shad died along the Belle River back in 2014. At the time, officials said the reasons for the massive death also included sewage that bypassed treatment and record rainfall.
STORMS HURRICANES-TORNADOES
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in the moon,(MAN ON MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the stars;(ASTEROIDS ETC) and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)
Storm brings tornadoes, damages structures near Houston-[Reuters]-yahoonews-February 14, 2017
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Storms packing heavy rains, lashing winds and tornadoes hit the Houston metropolitan area on Tuesday, ripping roofs off homes, blowing windows out of frames and leaving tens of thousands of people without power.Two tornadoes were reported to have touched down in Fort Bend County, about 30 miles (50 kms) southwest of Houston, causing damage to structures, the National Weather Service reported.There were no initial reports of major injuries or deaths from the storm that led the weather service to temporarily issue a tornado warning for large parts of Houston, the nation's fourth most-populous city.Houston's Hobby Airport issued a temporary ground stop due to the storm, while the Houston Independent School District advised its more than 215,000 students and school staff to shelter in place while the storm passed.CenterPoint Energy Inc said more than 20,000 customers on Tuesday morning were without power after the storm passed through the region.(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin and the Houston Bureau; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and David Gregorio)
Parts of Atlantic Canada pummelled by blizzard as travel warnings remain-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
A blizzard that pounded much of Atlantic Canada on Monday is finally starting to slow down, even as emergency officials continue to warn many New Brunswick drivers to stay off the roads.CBC meteorologist Kalin Mitchell said the heavy band of snow that has sat across much of the region is finally starting to weaken."As we continue through this evening, western parts of [New Brunswick] are going to see the snow begin to taper off. Not completely come to an end right way, but begin to ease, turning over to lighter snow and eventually into flurries as we move through tonight," he said.However, the snow will continue in parts of eastern New Brunswick on Tuesday morning.Mitchell estimated some communities between Fredericton and Saint John could see as much as 80 centimetres of snow by the end of the storm.- New Brunswick's Storm Centre - Blizzard warning in place for Nova Scotia, with up to 70 cm of snow possible -The blizzard battering Atlantic Canada was mentioned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday."We are suffering under a significant snowstorm that's hitting our Atlantic provinces particularly harsh, so I just want to send everyone back at home my thoughts as they shovel out and impress on everyone to stay safe," Trudeau said.-Situation in Nova Scotia-Nova Scotia is also at a standstill, with schools, businesses, offices, transit services and some health-care services shut down. Some areas of the province could see winds reaching 110 km/h.Environment Canada said the rest of the province, including Cape Breton, could get 30 to 50 centimetres by Tuesday morning.In Prince Edward Island, schools closed ahead of the storm.Newfoundland and Labrador is bracing for a storm that could start on Tuesday.-Difficult conditions-The powerful storm has prompted the New Brunswick government to take the unusual step of restricting travel on public roads in the province's southern and central regions."Until further notice, travel on provincial highways and roads is restricted to emergency vehicles and crews from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure," the provincial government said.The Trans-Canada Highway is closed between Sackville and the Nova Scotia border until further notice because of poor visibility caused by high winds and blowing snow, according to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure.As well, snowplowing on other sections of Routes 1 and 2 has been suspended until conditions improve.-'Life-threatening blizzard'-The blizzard forced most public schools in New Brunswick to close Monday.The University of New Brunswick, St. Thomas University, Mount Allison University and the University of Moncton were all closed.Codiac Transpo, in the Moncton area, as well as Saint John Transit and Fredericton Transit weren't operating.Brennan Allen, another CBC meteorologist, said people should avoid going near shorelines during the evening and overnight as coastal flooding and damage is possible."In summary, this will be a dangerous and potentially life-threatening blizzard," he said.Mike Walker, manager of roadway operations for Fredericton, said conditions deteriorated quickly in the provincial capital on Monday. "Snow is picking up and the wind is blowing it around, making it difficult to see," he said.Allen said powerful winds are adding to the problems around the province."Winds out of the northeast will be sustained between 40 and 60 km/h with gusts between 80 and 100 km/h from central New Brunswick southeastward."Allen said coastal areas of Nova Scotia could experience hurricane force wind gusts of up to 120 km/h."Travelling will be dangerous and likely impossible by car in the afternoon to evening hours," he said, with snowfall amounts of between 30 and 55 centimetres expected.The number of power outages is also starting to climb across the province.As of 6:15 p.m. AT, NB Power indicated there were more than 1,000 customers without power. The majority of those outages were reported in Charlotte County in the southwest."We continue to closely monitor the storm system as it unfolds and respond to outages when it is safe to do so," said Marie-Andrée Bolduc, spokesperson for NB Power."The main areas of concerns are high winds that could cause trees to make contact with the lines or lines to slap together."Canada Post has stopped delivery services in southern New Brunswick."In light of the severe weather conditions and heavy snow in southern New Brunswick, notably Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton, it is not safe to send our delivery agents to deliver mail today," said Canada Post spokesperson Phil Legault."Delivery will resume once conditions improve and it is safe to do so. Post offices will also be closed in this region."Felicia Murphy, of Brun-Way Highway Operations, which maintains the Trans-Canada Highway between Longs Creek and the Quebec border, and the highway from Woodstock to Houlton, Maine, said roads are slippery.Snow is drifting heavily, creating low visibility. She said if conditions continue to deteriorate, Brun-Way will pull operators off the roads."It's not a good day to drive today."New Brunswick RCMP Sgt. Chantal Farrah said if you have to travel, drivers should tell family members or friends the route they will be on and how long it will take to get to their final destination.In these types of conditions, she said drivers should also put on their four-way flashers when driving slower than the speed limit, so other drivers can see them.-Flights cancelled-As of 3 p.m. AT, flights at airports across the region were cancelled.Flights out of the Stanfield International Airport in Halifax are cancelled until Tuesday. In New Brunswick, passengers are being told to check flights before heading to the airport.All flights in Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John that were scheduled for Monday have been cancelled. Some Tuesday flights have also been cancelled.The storm will move out of southwestern regions late in the overnight hours, but is expected to persist into Tuesday for the eastern half of Nova Scotia, southeastern New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, according to Allen."Snow will taper to flurries later in the day on Tuesday, however, blowing snow could persist into Wednesday for most eastern regions of the Maritimes," Allen said.Northeast New Brunswick will escape this storm with accumulations of about 15 centimetres.Allen warns that another storm may move into the Maritimes on Thursday.-Latest storm to hit N.B.-Monday's storm was the latest major weather pattern to pound New Brunswick in recent weeks.In late January, an ice storm hit New Brunswick and caused more than 200,000 power outages, leaving some people in the Acadian Peninsula without electricity for nearly two weeks.Two deaths and roughly 40 hospitalizations were also linked to that storm because of carbon-monoxide poisoning.The Canadian Armed Forces were dispatched to northeastern New Brunswick to help with the cleanup efforts.New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant has ordered a report into the power outages.
Storm dumps nearly 30 centimetres of snow on Montreal-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
There will likely be a lot of Montrealers complaining of sore arms and backs this afternoon, after spending the morning digging out from a record-breaking snowfall.According to Environment Canada, 29 centimetres of snow fell on the greater Montreal area between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.Sunday's snowfall broke the record by a hair — on Feb. 12,1998 Montreal was buried under 19.8 centimetres of snow, compared with the 20 centimetres that fell on the city before Monday morning.-Tales from the great dusting-Pearl Layne misplaced her shovel. With her three children late for school Monday morning, she decided to dig out her car with a dustpan."I wasn't prepared for this," she said, laughing.Nichelle Skeet spent about an hour shovelling her sidewalk and clearing her car on Beaconsfield Avenue in Notre-Dame-de-GrĂ¢ce this morning."It's a lot of work. I get to skip the gym today because I worked so hard," she said.Jacques-Alain LavallĂ©e, in charge of snow removal for the city, says workers were prepared.Plows and other machines were sent out as soon as 2.5 centimetres of snow had fallen, he said.It takes about four days to remove 20 centimetres of snow, he said, but we're expecting about 10 more centimetres Wednesday.Snow removal caused gas leaks-Gaz MĂ©tro has confirmed snow removal operations led to three gas leaks on the island overnight.All three, on Ottawa Street in Griffintown, on Rivard Street on the Plateau and on Savoie Street in Pierrefonds, were capped by about 8:30 a.m.Spokesperson NoĂ©mie PrĂ©gent-Charlebois says heavy snow makes it difficult for snow removal vehicles to avoid outdoor natural gas outlets, and that people should try to clear them from snow and ice at all times.The flights most affected at Trudeau airport are departures to and arrivals from Atlantic Canada, where the same system has brought blizzard conditions shutting down entire cities.The Magdalen Islands will see about 15 centimetres of snow starting this afternoon.
Most of Nova Scotia is closed on account of weather. So what's open?-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
A nor'easter has forced closure of most — but not all — businesses and services in Nova Scotia on Monday.The storm is expected to dump lots of snow and blow strong winds across the province. In anticipation, most Nova Scotians are hunkering down as police warn roads are not safe to travel.But some still had to go to work Monday. Most locations have indicated they're assessing closure hour by hour. As for coffee shops, restaurants and gas stations, it's best to call ahead.-Some Superstores open-Here's a list of some local services defying the weather. - Atlantic Superstores: Barrington Street in Halifax, Bedford, Lower Sackville, Quinpool Road in Halifax.- Gateway Meat Market expected to remain open until around 2 p.m.- Mount Pleasant Nursery School, Truro.- NovelTea Bookstore Cafe,Truro.- Cempoal Calavera Negra, Halifax.- Cortado Tasting Room, Bedford.- Walmart in Halifax and Bedford.- Hayes Antiques, Halifax.- MEC, Halifax - Wilson's Home Hardware (until 1 p.m), Barrington Passage
What to know about California's failing Oroville Dam-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
Almost overnight, the Oroville Dam in California gained worldwide attention when authorities evacuated nearby towns, affecting almost 200,000 people, over fears that the emergency spillway was in danger of failing.The situation has since improved, but here are some things to know about what has happened and what could happen.Lake Oroville lies east of the city of Oroville, 112 kilometres north of Sacramento. Construction of the dam began in 1962, and opened in 1967.The lake is the second-largest reservoir in the state, at 210 metres deep and has the capacity to store 4.3 billion cubic metres of water.The dam itself is about 230 metres high, about half the height of the CN Tower. Though many people think the Hoover Dam on the border of Nevada and Arizona is the tallest in the country, that honour belongs to Oroville. Hoover falls just short, measuring 221 metres.Canada's Mica Dam in British Columbia is even taller, at 240 metres.It might be surprising to hear of flood advisories and evacuations in a state that has endured more than five years of drought conditions.While the drought can't be declared officially over, conditions have certainly improved. California has seen above-average precipitation and the snowpack — essential in providing groundwater — has also vastly improved. As of Monday, the snowpack in the northern, central and southern Sierra was at a capacity of 179 per cent for this time of year.As for Lake Oroville, which suffered severe drought conditions over the past few years, wet weather has brought it to 124 per cent of the historical average. More rain is expected over the next week, which could further complicate the situation.Initially, social media was on fire with reports that the dam was going to fail. But that is not the situation.There are different types of dams: embankment dams, arch dams, gravity dams, buttress dams and versions that can incorporate qualities of both (the Hoover Dam, for example is considered an arch-gravity dam). In the case of Oroville, it is an earth-filled embankment dam.Every dam has a spillway in case of higher than normal water in the lake. However, early last week officials discovered a huge hole in it — about 76 metres long and 14 metres deep, according to the Los Angeles Times.On Saturday, the emergency spillway was used for the first time in its history in an effort to lower water levels in the lake. But erosion around the spillway has authorities concerned that it could compromise concrete and cause an uncontrolled flow release of water.If it were to fail, the spillway would run into Feather River below. Though the river itself is below flood conditions, a massive, uncontrolled flow of water into it could raise levels, endangering nearby towns.As of Monday morning, water levels had dropped and officials were inspecting the emergency spillway. They hope to patch the hole before more rain falls in the region on Wednesday and Thursday.
Evacuees might not go home until dam spillway is repaired-[The Canadian Press]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
OROVILLE, Calif. — Nearly 200,000 people who were ordered to leave their homes after a damaged California spillway threatened to unleash a 30-foot wall of water may not be able to return until significant erosion is repaired, authorities said Monday.The officials who issued the hasty evacuation order defended their decision, saying it was necessary to ensure public safety in the region downstream from the nation's tallest dam, about 150 miles northeast of San Francisco. Engineers spotted a hole in the spillway, which they feared could have failed within an hour.The water level of the massive reservoir known as Lake Oroville dropped Monday, slightly easing fears of a catastrophic collapse. But with more storms on the horizon, crews raced to assess what happened and began dumping large boulders and sandbags into the spillway to prevent any more erosion.The acting head of the state's Department of Water Resources said he did not know if anything had gone wrong and was unaware of a 2005 report that recommended fortifying the earthen emergency spillway with concrete for just such an event. The spillway had never been used in the dam's nearly 50 years of operation, and it was not near capacity when it began to fail."I'm not sure anything went wrong," Bill Croyle said. "This was a new, never-having-happened-before event."Croyle and the local sheriff sought to reassure the public that downstream communities were safe until water began spilling over the lake's edge Sunday and a chocolate-colored torrent of water began chewing through the slope below it.The Department of Water Resources said conditions were stable at noon and then tweeted an evacuation order at 4:45 p.m. warning of a possible failure within the hour, saying "this is not a drill."Chaos ensued as anxious residents rushed to pack up their families and abandon several communities in Butte, Yuba and Sutter Counties. The mostly flat northern Central Valley is known mainly for its sprawling agriculture industry, which is fed by dammed-up rivers that spill down from the Sierra Nevada foothills nearby.It took some people seven hours to travel to evacuation centres that should have been an hour away, said Chico Councilman Andrew Coolidge, who visited with evacuees in packed shelters in his city.Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea insisted the evacuation had been accomplished in a "fairly timely fashion" and a "fairly orderly manner."Patrick Miner of Live Oak said he and his family in a caravan of four cars returned home after driving back roads for two hours and feared they would run out of gas. They didn't bother trying to fuel up because lines were hours long at gas pumps."People were just panicking, honking and yelling at each other," he said. "I just got nervous and decided to hunker down. It was pretty scary."More than 500 Butte County jail inmates were transferred to Alameda County Jail farther south, Honea said.Honea could not estimate when people will be able to return home, but said he's working on a "repopulation plan" that would let residents return to areas least at risk of flooding.The threat emerged after weeks of storms dumped rain and snow across California, particularly in northern parts of the state.While the wet winter has been a boon for water supplies, it has created a challenge for water managers who must balance the need for water and hydroelectric power with protecting flatland communities from floods during times of excessive rain or rapidly melting snow.The Department of Water Resources began releasing water down its main spillway last week to make more room in the reservoir behind the 770-foot-tall Oroville Dam.After a chunk of concrete tore out of the spillway, creating a 200-foot-long, 30-foot-deep hole that continues growing, water managers began using the emergency spillway for the first time in its 48-year history. Eventually, the flow of water ripped through a road below and carved out deep chasms in the ground.Workers used helicopters and backhoes to dump large boulders and sandbags in place on Monday as the main concrete spillway was used to drain water from the lake at about three times the rate it was filling up. Officials want the level to drop 50 feet to make room for storms expected later this week.Environmental groups raised concerns years ago about the stability of the emergency spillway, but state and federal officials dismissed them and insisted the structure was safe, according to records.In 2005, three advocacy groups complained to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that using Lake Oroville's earthen spillway would cause significant erosion because it was not armoured with concrete.They said soil, rocks and debris could be swept into the Feather River, potentially damaging highway bridges and power plants. The groups warned of a complete failure of the dam itself, threatening lives and property.Nearly three years later, state officials said no "significant concerns" about the emergency spillway's integrity had been raised in any government or independent review.The Department of Water Resources estimated repair costs last week at $100 million. Officials refused to update that figure Monday.Gov. Jerry Brown issued an emergency order Sunday directing all necessary resources to deal with the problem, but he remained out of the spotlight Monday.U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, both Democrats, called on President Donald Trump to provide $162.3 million in disaster assistance requested by California.___Melley reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Kristin J. Bender and Olga Rodriguez in San Francisco, Ellen Knickmeyer in Sonoma, Amanda Lee Myers, Justin Pritchard, Angel Kastanis and John Antczak in Los Angeles, and John Flesher in Traverse City, Michigan, also contributed to this report.-Jonathan J. Cooper And Brian Melley, The Associated Press.
WORLD POWERS IN THE LAST DAYS (END OF AGE OF GRACE NOT THE WORLD)
EUROPEAN UNION-KING OF WEST-DAN 9:26-27,DAN 7:23-24,DAN 11:40,REV 13:1-10
EGYPT-KING OF THE SOUTH-DAN 11:40
RUSSIA-KING OF THE NORTH-EZEK 38:1-2,EZEK 39:1-3
CHINA-KING OF THE EAST-DAN 11:44,REV 9:16,18
VATICAN-RELIGIOUS LEADER-REV 13:11-18,REV 17:4-5,9,18
WORLD TERRORISM
GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
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)
Canadian citizenship applications decline after processing fees triple-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
A sharp fee increase has helped fuel a dramatic drop in the number of immigrants applying to become Canadian citizens, according to immigration advocates.In the first nine months of 2016, there were 56,446 applications filed for citizenship, a decrease of nearly 50 per cent from the same period a year earlier, when 111,993 applications were submitted.The figures are included in a briefing by former Immigration and Citizenship director general Andrew Griffith prepared for the Senate social affairs, science and technology committee, which begins hearings this week on Bill C-6, a law to amend the Citizenship Act.Griffith, an author on immigration issues and fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, calls it an "alarming" trend that can be linked directly to a steep increase in fees.The processing fee jumped from $100 to $530 in 2014-2015, which amounts to a tripled price tag when the additional $100 "right of citizenship" fee is added."If you're a professional doing reasonably well, you may not like it, but you pay it. It's important to you," Griffith told CBC News. "But if you are a struggling immigrant or refugee, suddenly $630 may become prohibitive, and especially if you're talking about a family of four or more."Newcomers face other costs associated with the citizenship process, including language testing, he said. He recommends cutting the processing fee to $300, abolishing the right-of-citizenship fee, and considering a waiver for refugees and low-income immigrants.-Financial and other barriers-Griffith's brief points to a broader pattern of declining naturalization rates. He warns that a growing part of the population may not fully integrate by becoming citizens due to financial or other barriers and that could lead to marginalization."We've always prided ourselves where we have a model where we don't just encourage immigration, but we encourage immigrants to become citizens so they be fully part of society. They can take part in political discussions, they can vote and do all the things that are part of it," he said.Bill C-6 reverses reforms brought in by the previous Conservative government and takes steps to streamline and strengthen the integrity of the citizenship process. Those include reducing the time permanent residents have to live in Canada to become eligible for citizenship, counting time for work or study in residency requirements, and reducing the language proficiency requirements for younger and older immigrants.But the government does not appear prepared to reverse the fee hike brought in by the Conservatives.Bernie Derible, a spokesman for Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, said citizenship fees in Canada are "significantly less" than other comparable countries such as the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Throughout the cross-country consultations last summer, there was little discussion or concern raised about the fee, he added.Dory Jade, CEO of the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants, said he has heard from plenty of clients who are delaying citizenship because they can't afford the fees.-Make process 'accessible and easy'-"If we want to bring immigrants, especially under a Liberal government which believes in nation builders, making it accessible and easy to become members of your society is a big, big issue," he said.Jade has met with officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to propose a way to address the financial burden.He said he was told by officials that the current fees are not cost-recovery, which means they are still financed in part by the tax base despite the increase. But he suggested the government could ease the cost barrier by adopting a tax-like formula based on income, developing a loan program, or capping the total fee for a family.Stephen Green, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer, said he has not heard of the fee being a significant factor in seeking citizenship. He said many of his firm's clients who don't currently qualify under the existing law are anxiously awaiting C-6 to become law so they can apply for citizenship.The Senate social affairs committee hearings will be held Wednesday and Thursday this week, with a number of immigration and refugee lawyers and academics scheduled to testify.
Action must follow words on racism, says Muslim Society of P.E.I.-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
The Muslim Society of P.E.I. is one of 40 Muslim groups across the country urging MPs to support a motion to strike a parliamentary committee to study systemic racism and religious discrimination.The group has co-signed a letter to MPs about Motion 103, introduced in the House of Commons in December, which calls for the establishment of the committee.Zain Esseghaier, spokesman for the Muslim Society of P.E.I., said the importance of Motion 103 has grown since the attack on a Quebec City mosque in January."There was a lot of support, actually an overwhelming support. A lot of kind words were said. People were very supportive of the Muslim community. And that's great, that's fantastic, that's really heartwarming," said Esseghaier."But where do we go from here? We have to do something. There should be some action taken so that our words are followed by action."Beyond Motion 103-Motion 103 will be debated in the House of Commons this week.The open letter also calls for cities to fund police training for hate crimes, and for provinces to create anti-racism directorates and a mandatory high school class on systemic racism.It also asks that Parliament declare a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia on Jan. 29, in memory of the Quebec shooting victims.
Ontario Liberals eye 'global adjustment' to cut hydro bills-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
Premier Kathleen Wynne and her cabinet are considering two key changes that could see hydro bills drop in the range of eight per cent or more, multiple sources tell CBC News. With the high cost of electricity the top concern for voters in Ontario, and Wynne's popularity at an all-time low, the Liberals have signalled that tackling hydro bills is their number one priority heading into the spring budget.- Why hydro bills are so high in Ontario -Sources with knowledge of the discussions say the government is weighing across-the-board reductions to what's known as the "global adjustment" charge on hydro bills.The sources also say the government is considering reforming programs designed to help people struggling with high hydro costs. Specifically, the Liberals are looking at switching the way the programs are funded, so that they are covered from the tax base rather than from fees added to hydro bills.-Global adjustment 'a bit of a monster'-The global adjustment was added to the electricity price in 2005 to recoup the expected $50 billion dollar costs of refurbishing power plants, building new ones, and financing new wind and solar projects.The global adjustment fluctuates monthly, but overall it has risen dramatically since its introduction. During 2016, it accounted for 85 per cent of the cost of electricity, although few customers actually see it, because it is included within the per-kilowatt-hour price on most hydro bills.Ontario hydro consumers spent $12 billion on global adjustment fees last year alone.The government is considering a plan that would change the way the global adjustment is calculated, so that the costs are spread out more gradually over the coming years."We created a bit of a monster," a senior government official told CBC News, in describing the global adjustment. The official said the billions in costs to rebuild the electricity system were "really front-end loaded" on hydro customers, causing sharp increases in bills."We are now looking at it to see if we can fix it," said the official. "We want to see if we can provide an immediate reduction on people's bills and some certainty about electricity costs going forward."The official was reluctant to say how deeply hydro bills could be cut with such a scenario but suggested a drop in the range of eight per cent is possible.-Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault did not deny the global adjustment is under consideration."I recognize that reducing hydro rates is a key issue for Ontarians," Thibeault said in an email to CBC News on Friday. "We're working hard to find a solution that will be equitable for residential, commercial, and industrial ratepayers, and all options are on the table, within reason.""No decisions have been made yet," cautioned an official in Wynne's office. "These are hard decisions and the government wants to get it right. If it was something super easy, we would have done it a year and a half ago."-Outside experts divided-Experts outside government are divided about reducing the global adjustment."It's one of the things that's really been driving rates higher in Ontario," said Paul Sommerville, executive director of energy policy at the Mowat Centre, an independent think-tank based in Toronto. In an interview with CBC News, Sommerville said he has heard from sources in the industry that the government is interested in tackling the size of the global adjustment and called such a move "a positive and reasonable step." Mark Winfield, a professor at York University and co-chair of its Sustainable Energy Initiative, said the idea, if implemented, would increase overall costs in the long term."It's like taking a longer mortgage on your house," said Winfield in an email on Sunday. "You pay a lot more in interest, potentially a big problem if interest rates go up."Winfield also said deferring global adjustment costs could be unfair to future hydro customers."You could create a situation where consumers in the future are still paying for projects which have reached end of life and are no longer producing electricity," he said."What you would want to do, if you're going to provide some form of relief, is to target it at the constituencies that are really in distress: low-income folks, people in the north and rural areas who've been hit quite hard," said Winfield in an interview Friday-Hydro subsidies could be covered through taxes - Government sources say the second substantial change under consideration involves programs that subsidize electricity costs, such as the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) for low-income households. Currently all hydro customers fund such programs by paying extra on their hydro bills. The argument goes that these are social programs, so should be funded through the tax base rather than by ratepayers.It's unclear how much further such a change would reduce bills, if implemented. The OESP is funded through a fee of about $1 a month on the average bill, but there are also other programs aimed at reducing hydro costs for rural and northern residents.The senior government official said the Liberals are considering changes to improve the OESP. The program provides rebates of up to $50 a month for low-income hydro customers, but has been criticized for failing to reach all the households that need it.The program "is missing a huge portion of people," NDP economic development critic Catherine Fife told a news conference at Queen's Park on Friday. The Liberals have already moved to rebate the provincial portion of the HST off residential and small business electricity bills, cutting hydro bills by eight per cent effective Jan. 1, at a cost to the treasury of about $1 billion a year.Wynne had said she intends to target further hydro relief at "the people that are carrying the heaviest burden" and has flagged high delivery charges as an issue of concern. But her officials are now acknowledging that across-the-board reductions in hydro costs are necessary as well.Officials say Wynne has been personally gathering advice about tackling hydro rates from senior staff within the electricity sector. She has promised action before Finance Minister Charles Sousa tables his budget, which is not expected until March at the earliest.The Legislature is due to resume sitting next week, after its winter break, with the opposition parties waiting to see what the Liberals bring forward on electricity prices. "From what we've been able to ascertain so far, it's going to be more of a shell game than it is actually dealing with the problems," PC energy critic Todd Smith told a news conference on Friday.Smith wants the government to get out of expensive contracts with private-sector energy providers, especially for green energy.Government officials are firmly rejecting speculation the Liberals intend to use revenue from the cap and trade program to subsidize electricity costs.They say the cap and trade legislation prohibits such use, as the revenue must be spent on new projects that further reduce carbon emissions.The cap-and-trade program began Jan. 1, with the aim of reducing the province's carbon emissions.It is pushing up prices for gasoline and natural gas and the government forecasts it will bring in revenues of $1.9 billion a year.
MEPs set for crunch vote on EU carbon scheme By Aleksandra Eriksson-euobserver
BRUSSELS, 13. Feb, 09:29-The European Parliament's two largest groups are split on how to reform the bloc's carbon-trading scheme, with US president Donald Trump's attitudes towards climate change affecting the debate.The MEPs will vote on an overhaul to the emissions trading system (ETS) - the bloc's flagship climate tool - on Wednesday (15 February).The scheme is seen as key to the bloc's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030, but it has been plagued by problems.Critics say carbon credits, the permits that companies have to buy to offset their emissions, are too cheap to buy and too many have been issued.Swedish politician Jytte Guteland hopes parliament will stand by a deal she helped to push through the environment committee (Envi) last December, which could raise the price of permits from €5 to €25.She said the presidency of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly cast doubt on global warming, made it even more important for Europe to show leadership in the fight against climate change."Our carbon market serves as a model for the rest of the world. Other countries will be looking at us when they make their own policies," Guteland told this website.Some 11,000 European factories and power plants are covered by the scheme, which means they have to provide carbon permits for each tonne of carbon dioxide they emit.While power companies are obliged to buy all their permits at auction, industrial companies get most of their carbon credits free of charge.The idea is to give them incentives to minimise their emissions, because they can sell off any unused carbon permits at the market.ETS was introduced 12 years ago and initially worked well. But prices plummeted after 2008 in the wake of the economic downturn, which caused a glut of credits on the market.Under the deal backed by Guteland, the number of available permits should decline by 2.4 percent each year after 2020 to raise the price on emission permits.The centre-right EPP group, however, has tabled an amendment to lower the rate to 2.2 percent.EPP negotiator Ivo Belet told this website: "Our ambition is to find an agreement with the Council before the summer."The Council, where EU governments are represented, favours a lower rate, and the two institutions need to agree on a final text.The EPP group also wants to scrap the introduction of a carbon tariff, a measure intended to protect EU firms against imports from countries with lesser climate ambitions.EPP sees the tariff as a protectionist measure that could even be against WTO rules.But the tariff is the centrepiece of Guteland's compromise, along with a proposal to remove the rights of big polluters, such as the cement industry, from receiving free carbon credits.The cement industry, meanwhile, feels it is being unfairly targeted."We have the impression that the discussion in the European Parliament is more about which sectors we keep in the free allowances and which not," Koen Coppenholle, the chief executive of CEMBUREAU, the European cement association, told this website."This seems to go away from the essence of the directive, which is how to incentivise emission reductions."Guteland said the cement industry was rightly singled out."The current ETS system has been too lax to the European cement industry, which is today more polluting than competitors in Asia or Brazil," she said, referring to figures from the German Institute for Economic Research.Green campaign groups such as Sandbag and Carbon Market Watch have called on EU lawmakers to stick to the compromise deal.“The EU can now implement a pragmatic and politically feasible solution for boosting low-carbon cement in Europe and ending the scandal of enormous windfall profits to cement companies,” said Wilf Lytton, an analyst at Sandbag.By the end of last week, the EPP group seemed united on its position, while other groups - especially the social democrats and the conservative ECR group - were more split."It will be a tight vote," said EPP's Belet.Guteland remained hopeful that most groups would stick to the deal, which was adopted with broad majority in parliament's environment committee."It's a carefully tinkered compromise. You cannot just remove a part, or the whole deal could unravel," she said.Ian Duncan, a British conservative MEP who is the main negotiator on the file, last week published a picture of a pair of boots stuck in a cement heap on his Twitter account."There may be trouble ahead... #EUETS plenary vote," he wrote.A failure to reach a deal would sent everyone back to the negotiating table, he said.
Trudeau, Trump find common ground on economy and security, but remain at odds over immigration-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-Feb 13, 2017, 8:23 AM
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump found common ground on key issues such as boosting commerce and military co-operation, but the two leaders staked out very different stands on immigration policy.During a joint news conference following the pair's debut meeting, Trudeau carved out Canada's position as open and welcoming to refugees and immigrants without compromising security, while Trump defended his own hardline approach to close the door.Asked whether he believes the northern border of the U.S. is secure, Trump said, "You can never be totally confident."The U.S. president has been facing legal battles and protests over executive orders to suspend the intake of refugees and impose a travel ban for seven Muslim-majority countries. But he said today he is only following through on his promise for ridding the country of criminals and drug lords."We are getting such praise for our stance. It is a stance of common sense. Maybe a certain toughness, but really more than toughness, it's a stance of common sense," he said. "We are going to pursue it vigorously, and we don't want to have our country have the kinds of problems that you're witnessing taking place not only here, but around the world."Trudeau said Canadians and Americans have a long history of working, fighting and dying together, but there are times when they take a different approach."The last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves," he said. "My role, our responsibility, is to continue to govern in such a way that reflects Canadians' approach and be a positive example in the world."On the North American Free Trade Agreement, Trump appeared to assure Canada that his primary concerns with the deal relate to Mexico. He praised the Canada-U.S. trade relationship as "very outstanding.""We'll be tweaking it. We'll be doing certain things that are going to benefit both of our countries. It's a much less severe situation than what's taken place on the southern border, on the southern border for many, many years the transaction was not fair to the United States," he said.-Jobs, business at stake-Trudeau stressed that jobs and business on both sides of the border depend on trade and an integrated economy."We know that by working together, by ensuring the continued effective integration of our two economies we are going to be creating greater opportunities for middle-class Canadians and Americans now and well into the future," he said.The news conference followed a joint statement issued mid-afternoon, in which the two leaders recognized "profound shared economic interests" and pledged to work to boost growth and generate jobs in both countries.The statement says the two countries will work to expedite the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor and Detroit, move forward on the Keystone XL pipeline and commit to establishing pre-clearance operations for cargo crossing the border."We intend to accelerate the completion of pre-clearance for additional cities and continue to expand this program," it reads.The statement also expresses a shared "strong concern" about opioid-related deaths, pledging the countries to work together to stop opioid trafficking.The release says the U.S. also welcomes Canada's plan to hold an open competition on replacing its fleet of CF-18 fighter jets, and to buy a fleet of 18 U.S.-made Super Hornet aircraft in the interim.It also says the U.S. values Canada's military contributions, including efforts to combat ISIS and in Latvia.There was no mention of the softwood lumber dispute or fighting climate change.-Women in business round table-Earlier in the day, the two leaders announced a joint task force to promote female executives.The Canada-U.S. Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders, made up of five women from each country, will recommend ways to promote female-owned enterprises and boost economic growth.Trump, meeting with the Canadian prime minister in Washington on Monday, said women as executives have played a "tremendously important" role in his businesses, but also that more must be done to enable more women to work and thrive."We need policies that help keep women in the workforce and to address the unique barriers faced by female entrepreneurs," he said.Trudeau, seated beside Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, said the council will study the challenges and paths to success for women. He said leveraging powerful women is not only about doing the right thing. Women in leadership roles contribute to the success of businesses, communities and entire economies, he said.Ivanka Trump, a successful entrepreneur who helped organize and recruit participants for the event Monday, said she looked forward to hearing more perspectives about how to "level the playing field for this generation and the next." - RECAP: Trudeau heads to Washington to meet Trump - Wherry: More than a simple chat about the economy-Early in the day the Prime Minister's Office and the White House released a list of names detailing who sat on the council. Later in the day that list was corrected by the White House and shared by the PMO to reflect the names below.Council members are:- Elyse Allan, president and CEO, GE Canada. - Mary T. Barra, CEO, General Motors. - Linda Hasenfratz, CEO, Linamar Corp. - Monique Leroux, president of board of directors, Investissement Québec. - Tina Lee, CEO, T&T Supermarket Inc. - Beth Comstock, vice-chair, GE. - Dawn Farrell, president and CEO, TransAlta Corp. - Deborah Gillis, president and CEO, Catalyst. - Tamara Lundgren, president and CEO, Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. - Julie Sweet, CEO, Accenture, North America. - Annette Verschuren, Chair and CEO, NRStor Inc. Trudeau was greeted with a handshake from Trump at the White House Monday morning. The pair then posed for a photo in the Oval Office, seated in armchairs in front of the fireplace in a near silence, except for the click of cameras.Trudeau's one-day visit to the U.S. capital is viewed as critical for setting the tone for the Canada-U.S. relationship under the new Republican administration.Several key cabinet ministers accompanied Trudeau to Washington: Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, Transport Minister Marc Garneau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau.Andrew Leslie, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs with special responsibilities for the Canada-U.S. relationship, and David MacNaughton, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., are also part of the delegation.The prime minister's wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, did not participate in the trip.Later in the day, Trudeau met with Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell.NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan wrote to Trudeau, pushing him to raise the issue and ask for a guarantee that people will not face discrimination at the border. Treatment based on heritage or religion is "humiliating, completely unacceptable and harmful to Canada-U.S. relations," the letter reads.-Travel ban backlash-"As prime minister of Canada you represent the views and interests of Canadians on the world stage," the letter says. "Canadians are resoundingly opposed to Mr. Trump's travel ban and you are therefore duty-bound to express Canada's opposition to these policies."The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a restraining order on the original travel ban, but Trump said Friday he is considering signing a new executive order.Trump said he expects his administration will win the legal battle over his original directive.A White House official said the administration was not planning to immediately ask the Supreme Court to overturn the restraining order and would argue for its constitutionality in the lower courts. The official say next steps were not yet finalized and could change.
Hundreds of Saskatoon students expected at massive Pink Day rally today-[CBC]-YAHOONEWS-February 13, 2017
Almost 1,000 elementary and high school students will learn about the importance of fighting bullying on Monday in Saskatoon.A massive Red Cross Pink Day rally will be held at the University of Saskatchewan education building gymnasium.Speakers will include Pink Day co-founder Travis Price, Saskatchewan Roughriders Dan Clark and Scott McHenry, and a Red Cross youth ambassador who has experienced bullying."We really want to let kids know that there is hope out there," Price told CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning. "That hope that things will get better."In 2007, Price and a fellow student took a stand against bullying when a fellow high school student was teased for wearing a pink shirt. The next day, the pair asked other students to wear pink shirts in response."When I take myself back to that moment, and see that kid being bullied for that pink shirt, I was faced with the exact same thing that kids are today, and that was a choice," said Price. "We could have walked away and done nothing or we could have acted. And fortunately enough, we chose to act."Since then, the Pink Day movement has spread around the world, with hundreds of events held in schools.While Pink Day in Saskatchewan will be officially held Feb. 22, Monday's rally hopes to energize students before the big day.The event will start at 1 p.m. CST.
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