When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even yet will he far exceed: and when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far enough.

Ye Can Never Go Far Enough

The pride of the height, the clear firmament, the beauty of heaven, with his glorious shew; The sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising a marvellous instrument, the work of the most High: At noon it parcheth the country, and who can abide the burning heat thereof? A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, but the sun burneth the mountains three times more; breathing out fiery vapours, and sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes. Great is the Lord that made it; and at his commandment runneth hastily.

He made the moon also to serve in her season for a declaration of times, and a sign of the world. From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light that decreaseth in her perfection. The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her changing, being an instrument of the armies above, shining in the firmament of heaven; The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord. At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their order, and never faint in their watches.

Look upon the rainbow, and praise him that made it; very beautiful it is in the brightness thereof. It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and the hands of the most High have bended it.

By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment. Through this the treasures are opened: and clouds fly forth as fowls. By his great power he maketh the clouds firm, and the hailstones are broken small.

At his sight the mountains are shaken, and at his will the south wind bloweth. The noise of the thunder maketh the earth to tremble: so doth the northern storm and the whirlwind: as birds flying he scattereth the snow, and the falling down thereof is as the lighting of grasshoppers: The eye marvelleth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the raining of it. The hoarfrost also as salt he poureth on the earth, and being congealed, it lieth on the top of sharp stakes. When the cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into ice, it abideth upon every gathering together of water, and clotheth the water as with a breastplate. It devoureth the mountains, and burneth the wilderness, and consumeth the grass as fire.

A present remedy of all is a mist coming speedily, a dew coming after heat refresheth. By his counsel he appeaseth the deep, and planteth islands therein. They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; and when we hear it with our ears, we marvel thereat. For therein be strange and wondrous works, variety of all kinds of beasts and whales created. By him the end of them hath prosperous success, and by his word all things consist.

We may speak much, and yet come short: wherefore in sum, he is all. How shall we be able to magnify him? for he is great above all his works. The Lord is terrible and very great, and marvellous is his power. When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even yet will he far exceed: and when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far enough. Who hath seen him, that he might tell us? and who can magnify him as he is? There are yet hid greater things than these be, for we have seen but a few of his works. For the Lord hath made all things; and to the godly hath he given wisdom.

Sirach Chapter 43 (Ecclesiasticus) Apocrypha

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timestravel

Do you know about the ‘Cave of the Apocalypse’, where the last book of Bible was written?

Priya Srivastava

September 25, 2018

Set on the Patmos island in Greece is the sacred Greek gem, Cave of the Apocalypse, which is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Monument. This biblical cave in Patmos is no stranger to tourism, especially the followers of Christianity, because this is the place where St. John (John the Apostle of the Bible) is believed to have lived. St. John, for those who do not know, was one of the 12 apostles or disciples of Jesus and it is assumed that he was the a beloved disciple of the Lord.
The site inside the cave is a major foundation of Christianity in the world and the rock here is divided into three cracks that symbolize the ‘Holy Trinity’. It is also said that God ‘Himself’ dictated the text for ‘The Book of Revelation’ (the final book of the New Testament also the final book of Bible) to John here. Hence, the site holds a great religious significance amongst Christians and is also among the prime pilgrimages centres for them.
If this has you fascinated, this is what you should know about the Island of Patmos and the Cave of the Apocalypse.
Where is the island of Patmos?

Patmos is one the Dodecanese islands located in the Aegean sea, and is rather small with an area of around 34 sq km. On the island, you’ll find two prime settlements, Skala and Chora.
Places to visit on Patmos besides ‘Cave of Apocalypse’

The Monastery of St. John: Set atop a hill on Chora is the Monastery of St. John, which rather looks like a castle. Dedicated to St. John, this monastery was established back in the year 1088 and is now home to monks. Chora is a pretty little town, characterised by white coloured houses, winding lanes, and some gorgeous mansions.
Skala: The harbour town of Patmos, Skala is a prominent point of visitors’ arrival on the island. From here, you can hire taxis and cars to explore the island.

Windmills of Patmos: You simply cannot miss out on these gorgeous windmills that have been restored recently. For some odd reason, people on the island really feel proud of these windmills.
How to reach Patmos?
For Patmos, one will have to take ferry services from Athens, which takes around 6 to 7 hours (one side). If you want to save time, catch a flight from Athens for Samos island, and from then take a ferry that takes around 4 to 5 hours approx.
Things to remember
1) The non-Christian visitor need to know and respect the fact that the cave is not a regular tourist spot, as it is highly revered.
2) You might have to file in a rather long queue to visit the cave from inside as it mostly remains crowded, especially during the weekends.

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CHRISTIANHEADLINES.com

British City Protests Franklin Graham Visit with Giant Rainbow-Colored Jesus

Michael Foust

October 2, 2018

The Franklin Graham-led Festival of Hope in Blackpool, England, saw an estimated 9,000 people attend and more than 200 churches participate, despite opposition from city officials and LGBT activists.

Protesters outside the Winter Gardens – where the Festival was held in September -- pointed to Franklin Graham’s stance against same-sex marriage and his statements calling homosexuality a sin.

The city’s 518-foot-tall Blackpool Tower was lit up in rainbow colors and also displayed a rainbow flag to show the city’s solidarity with LGBT people, according to The Guardian. Some urged the city to stop the festival, but the city council said it had a contractual obligation to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

A handful of protesters outside the Winter Gardens handed out pamphlets with quotes from Graham. Accompanying them was a 12-foot-tall mannequin dubbed “Big Jesus,” which is owned by the LGBT-affirming congregation, Liberty Church. The Big Jesus figure wore a rainbow sash and held rainbow-colored balloons.

“Franklin Graham maintains wholehearted support for Trump and has a belief that God put Trump in the White House. To me, in the light of the many Trump policies that have harmed the most vulnerable in society, Graham’s support for Trump questions his credibility as a Christian leader,” Nina Parker of Liberty Church told The Guardian. “Graham speaks in a derogatory and inflammatory way about LGBT people, Muslims and other minorities.

“He seems committed to condemnation, discrimination, walls and prejudice in a way that Jesus never was,” Parker added. “He seems to have a faith understanding that majors on condemnation and prejudice against minorities.”

In addition to the thousands in attendance, more than 50,000 watched the Festival online. Supporters called it a success.

“If you talk to any pastor or church leader, they’re grinning from ear to ear about what happened this weekend. It was a major breakthrough,” said Vicar Steve Haskett of St John’s Blackpool.

Graham said everyone was welcome. His father, Billy Graham, preached at the same location in 1982.

“As word got out that I was coming to Blackpool to preach the Gospel, some were against us coming and tried to stir up opposition and protesters,” Franklin Graham wrote on Facebook. “But what they intended for harm, God used for good. We had thousands attend the events this weekend and hundreds of lives were changed by the power of the Gospel!

“… I want everyone to know that God loves them -- including every protester. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. If we turn to Him in repentance and faith, God will not only forgive us, but give us eternal life and a new beginning.”

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BREITBART

Report: Catholic Church Faces Gravest Crisis Since ‘Protestant Reformation’

By Thomas D. Williams PH.D

October 3, 2018

The Catholic bishops are gathering in Rome for a synod in a moment in which “the Church faces perhaps its gravest crisis since the Protestant Reformation in the form of the worldwide clerical sexual abuse scandals,” according to veteran Vatican analyst John L. Allen, Jr.

Allen, who heads up the Catholic online news outlet Crux, added that “the eyes of the Catholic world will be on how they choose to engage it.”

Much of this will depend on Pope Francis, since he currently seems to be the Church’s biggest obstacle to tackling the sex abuse crisis head-on. He has repeatedly refused to confirm or deny allegations that he knowingly rehabilitated serial homosexual abuser Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and elevated him to a position of influence in the Vatican.

Moreover, the United States bishops have petitioned the pope to launch an “apostolic visitation” — a full Vatican investigation — into the McCarrick case, which so far has fallen on deaf ears. The president of the U.S. Bishops Conference (USCCB), Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, followed up on the petition by traveling to Rome last month to urge Francis to open the investigation but returned to the U.S. empty-handed.

Wednesday was the opening day of the Vatican Synod of Bishops on youth, and, according to Allen, it may well be “the most significant summit so far on this pope’s watch.”

“The clerical abuse crisis has badly damaged the Church’s moral credibility, made it difficult to move the ball on anything else the Church cares about, and called into question the standing and personal integrity of Church leaders at all levels,” Allen noted.

“Inside the Church and out, there’s a level of anger and disillusionment that’s crippling,” he said.

On August 25, a former papal nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, released an explosive, 11-page report in which he laid out a series of allegations against a number of high-ranking prelates, including Pope Francis.

The central accusation against the pope was that Viganò had personally informed him in 2013 of McCarrick’s record of abuse against priests, seminarians, and lay people, as well as telling him of sanctions imposed on McCarrick by Pope Benedict XVI. Despite this knowledge, Viganò alleged, Francis lifted the sanctions, involved McCarrick in diplomatic missions on behalf of the Holy See, and consulted him regarding the naming of new bishops for the United States.

News reports from early in the Francis pontificate would seem to corroborate charges that the pope gave McCarrick a new lease on life shortly after his election.

A 2014 article in the Washington Post stated that McCarrick was “one of a number of senior churchmen who were more or less put out to pasture during the eight-year pontificate of Benedict XVI.”

“But now Francis is pope, and prelates like Cardinal Walter Kasper (another old friend of McCarrick’s) and McCarrick himself are back in the mix, and busier than ever,” the article stated.

“Francis, who has put the Vatican back on the geopolitical stage, knows that when he needs a savvy back channel operator he can turn to McCarrick,” it said.

When challenged by journalists to respond whether the allegations made by Archbishop Viganò were true, the pope refused to answer, and has kept silence regarding the charges ever since.

A number of U.S. bishops have come forward to ask the pope to break his silence regarding when he learned of the crimes of former-cardinal McCarrick, insisting that the Viganò report contains a number of “credible allegations” that demand a response.

Last Thursday, Viganò himself said that the pope’s silence on the matter must be interpreted as a confirmation of the allegations.

“Neither the pope, nor any of the cardinals in Rome have denied the facts I asserted in my testimony,” Viganò wrote in a 4-page memo, adding that according to the law, silence denotes consent.

If they deny my testimony, he added, “they have only to say so, and provide documentation to support that denial. How can one avoid concluding that the reason they do not provide the documentation is that they know it confirms my testimony?”

“The pope’s unwillingness to respond to my charges and his deafness to the appeals by the faithful for accountability are hardly consistent with his calls for transparency and bridge building,” he said.

So, no matter what the official subject of the current synod of bishops is, Mr. Allen has suggested, the bishops themselves will want to talk about the sex abuse crisis, “and whether it’s on the synod floor or during coffee breaks or at lunches and dinners, that’s exactly what they’ll spend a good chunk of the month doing.”

The bishops gathered in Rome during October will feel “enormous pressure” to face up to the realities of the moment, Allen said, with victims of abuse, child protection advocates, and ordinary rank and file Catholics stung by the scandals “will all be looking to these bishops to supply some sort of hope.”

Whether Pope Francis will address the issues himself or continue to act as if they are unimportant remains to be seen.

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RT

US says Palestine ‘not a state,’ withdraws from Vienna Convention’s ‘optional protocol’

October 3, 2018

A view of Jerusalem. © Ronen Zvulun / Reuters

The US is withdrawing from the "optional protocol" in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, John Bolton has confirmed. He said it follows a case brought by Palestine, challenging the US embassy's move to Jerusalem.

"I am announcing that the president has decided that the United States will withdraw from the optional protocol and dispute resolution to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," Bolton said.

"This is in connection with a case brought by the so-called state of Palestine, naming the United States as the defendant, challenging our move of our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem."

The decision will see the US opting out of having to attend the International Court of Justice in the case of disputes, as outlined in Article I of the "Optional Protocol Concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes."

"Disputes arising out of the interpretation or application of the Convention shall lie within the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and may accordingly be brought before the Court by an application made by any party to the dispute being a Party to the present Protocol," Article I states.

The US is not the only country to deny acknowledgment of Palestine as a state. Its Western European allies also refrain from doing so, along with Australia and Canada. However, most countries in South America, Asia, and Africa do, along with the majority of Eastern Europe.

The ICJ and the US previously butted heads in July, when Iran filed a complaint against Washington with the court. That complaint accused Washington of breaching the Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights by pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal.

Earlier on Wednesday, the court ordered the US to lift sanctions on Iran which are linked to humanitarian goods and civil aviation. The US responded by pulling out of the Treaty of Amity and from the protocol involving the ICJ.

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RT

‘Unwavering support’ against ‘Iranian aggression’? Israel welcomes record $38bn US military aid

October 3, 2018

FILE PHOTO: An Israeli soldier next to mobile artillery unit © Yannis Behrakis / Reuters

Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed a historic $38bn US military aid package, negotiated by the previous US administration and released just in time to help the Jewish state withstand the ‘complex’ threat posed by its arch-enemy Iran.

Two years after President Barack Obama and the Israeli Prime Minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding, the 10-year military funding deal went into effect on Monday, with the start of the new fiscal year. Netanyahu welcomed the deal as the means to tackle the threat from the Islamic Republic, after the State Department noted that the package is aimed to protect Israel against "all potential regional adversaries", but foremost from the "Iranian regime’s sponsorship of terrorist groups".

“Israel and the world face complex security challenges, first and foremost the Iranian aggression,” Netanyahu tweeted in Hebrew on Tuesday. “The unwavering support of the United States for Israel's right to defend itself is one of the pillars of the strong relationship between the two countries.”

Under the terms of the deal, outlined in the US-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018, Israel will receive an annual funding of $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and $500 million for cooperative programs for missile defense. Specifically, the US has authorized the transfer of precision-guided munitions from reserve stocks, which are “necessary for Israel to counter the threat of rockets in a timely fashion.” The act also expands a stockpile of weapons the US stores in Israel, which the country may access in wartime.

Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, unlike the previous Obama administration, have been persistently warning against an allegedly imminent threat from Iran. Israel especially welcomed Trump's decision to withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, in a unilateral move that other signatories, mainly Russia and China, said could jeopardize regional and global security.

Last week, both Netanyahu and Trump were once again united in their condemnation of Tehran during their performances at the United Nations General Assembly. While Trump accused Tehran of “enabling Syria's butchery” and vowed that he will never allow the nation to acquire nuclear weapons, Netanyahu brandished slides revealing yet “another secret atomic facility” in Iran.

In the meantime, Israel continues to maintain the right to strike ‘Iranian targets’ whenever and wherever it deems necessary, totally disregarding the sovereignty of neighboring states. Tel Aviv justifies its actions by the need to prevent Tehran from establishing a foothold on its borders and to stop alleged weapons transfers to Lebanese Hezbollah.

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Zero Hedge

"Historic Judgment" As India's Nationwide Biometric ID Database Ruled Constitutional

India first introduced its concept for a nationwide biometric ID database more than 7 years ago, which they touted as a necessary “social welfare” program to assist the millions of India’s unbanked, streamline welfare distribution and reduce corruption. At the time, Brandon Turbeville reported on the plan for Activist Post.

Yet, although the justification for the billion person database is the increased ability to accurately disperse social welfare benefits, it will not be just the Indian government’s social welfare programs that have access to and utilize the UIDAI. Indeed, even before the program has been completed, major banks, state/local governments, and other institutions are planning to use the UIDAI for identification verification purposes and, of course, payment and accessibility.

As Aaron Saenz of the Singularity Hub writes:

Yet the UID is going to be used for much more than social welfare programs. The UIDAI is in discussion with many institutions (banks, local/state governments, etc.) to allow them to use the UID as a means of identity verification. These institutions will pay the UIDAI some fee to cover costs and generate revenue. There seems to be little doubt that once it is established, the UID will become a preferred method (if not the preferred method) of identification in India.

Saenz also sees the eventuality of the UIDAI program becoming a means of payment and accessibility. He continues:

Ultimately, I wouldn’t be surprised if the UID, with its biometric data, could be used as a means of payment (when linked to a bank account), or as an access key to homes and cars. Purchase a meal with your fingerprint and unlock your door with the twinkle in your eye. Similar results could be expected in other nations that adopted biometric identification systems.

This appears to be exactly the path the country is on now that more than 1 billion people are signed up. According to a new article in The Wall Street Journal, India’s top court addressed the constitutionality of the program as well as deeper concerns about ongoing privacy violations.

The country’s controversial Aadhaar program uses photos, finger and eye scans and has already signed up more than 1 billion people. It has sparked an intense global debate over how far a democracy should be able to go in collecting the personal data of its citizens and how that data can be used, shared and protected.

Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling was a response to multiple challenges to the system.

A five-judge panel ruled in a 4-1 decision that the program is constitutional and helps the poor by streamlining disbursement of welfare benefits. Being in the database, however, shouldn’t be required for using mobile phones, opening bank accounts or for school admissions, according to the 1,448-page document outlining the court’s decision. It had been unclear for some time whether such organizations could compel people to supply Aadhaar numbers.

“It’s a historic judgment,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said. “Everyone must realize, including critics of Aadhaar, that you can’t defy technology or ignore it.” (N.W. emphasis added)

In case it’s not ultra clear, that last statement is as close to an admission of technocratic policy as you’re likely to get coming from a supposed democracy. Or if you prefer the Star Trek version: Resistance is Futile … as you give up your freedom and are assimilated into the Borg.

To WSJ‘s credit, they do address some of the practical problems that people are already facing with the arrival of “the machines.”

Time and again, we have seen countries both democratic and autocratic serve as blueprints for others to follow. Given the surge in the use of biometrics for airline travel and other forms of “elective” identification in the United States, is it really unreasonable to assume that if a country of more than 1 billion people can implement this, the U.S. population of 350 million will be protected by its own Constitution?

(This, along with the biometric ID system set up in China brings a large percentage of the worlds population under total surveillance. From the article below you can see it is progressing rapidly in western societies as well.)

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Boingboing

Travelers to New Zealand who refuse a digital strip search will be fined $5000

MARK FRAUENFELDER

9:43 AM MON OCT 1, 2018

New Zealand's Customs and Excise Act 2018 went into effect today. That means travelers who refuse to give their phone or laptop password to customs officials will be fined NZ$5000. In addition, their devices will be confiscated and forensically searched.

Customs Minister Kris Faafoi said these digital strip searches are necessary because "A lot of the organised crime groups are becoming a lot more sophisticated in the ways they're trying to get things across the border. And if we do think they're up to that kind of business, then getting intelligence from smartphones and computers can be useful for a prosecution."

But Thomas Beagle of Council for Civil Liberties pointed out that organized criminals are smart enough not to keep incriminating files on their devices.

From Radio NZ:

[Customs spokesperson Terry Brown] said the law struck the "delicate balance" between a person's right to privacy and Customs' law enforcement responsibilities.

"I personally have an e-device and it maintains all my records - banking data, et cetera, et cetera - so we understand the importance and significance of it."

Council for Civil Liberties spokesperson Thomas Beagle said the law was an unjustified invasion of privacy.

"Nowadays we've got everything on our phones; we've got all our personal life, all our doctors' records, our emails, absolutely everything on it, and customs can take that and keep it."

The new requirement for reasonable suspicion did not rein in the law at all, Mr Beagle said.

"They don't have to tell you what the cause of that suspicion is, there's no way to challenge it."

AMMC

RT

Naval blockade would mean ‘war’: Moscow slams US idea of hampering Russian trade

September 30, 2018

FILE PHOTO. © Aleksandr Galperin / Sputnik

Attempts to use the US Navy to block Russia’s trade would amount to a declaration of war, a high-ranking senator commented on the US internal secretary’s idea of impeding Russia’s energy trade through a blockade.

“A US blockade of Russia would be equal to a declaration of war under international law,” said the head of the Russian Senate’s Information Policy Committee, Aleksey Pushkov, commenting on a report that US Internal Secretary Ryan Zinke suggested the US could use the navy to block Russian energy from hitting Middle East markets.

Pushkov also called Zinke’s claim that trade expansion is the real reason behind Russia’s involvement in Syria “absolute nonsense.”

The very idea that Russia could potentially supply energy to the Middle East, which is literally “oozing with oil,” is absolutely detached from reality, Pushkov said. Indeed, Russia does not supply any energy to the region, which is itself a major oil exporter, and has never announced plans to do so.

The Russian senator added that Zinke’s statement is “on par” with Sarah Palin’s claim that she was qualified to talk about Russia since “they’re our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia here from Alaska.” The former Alaska governor made the statement in an interview when she was the Republican vice-presidential candidate in the 2008 US election.

Attempts to exert pressure on Russia “are not going to end in anything good,” a member of the Russian Senate’s Defense and Security Committee, Franz Klintsevich, told journalists, adding that they would lead “to a major scandal” at the very least, and Washington “should clearly understand it.”

Russian MPs called Zinke’s words “disturbing.” “It is unsettling that our partners once again resort to threats, sanctions and unfriendly actions instead of discussing the pressing international issues,” a member of the State Duma International Affairs Committee, Anton Morozov, said. He also said that Russia “has something to respond with” but that such actions would only lead to an escalation of tensions, and called for dialog instead.

Washington seems to be bothered by Moscow’s international trade. The Trump administration has been seeking to replace Russia as Europe’s gas supplier by boosting exports of its liquefied natural gas, even though Russian gas is a cheaper option for Europe.

US officials, including President Donald Trump himself, have repeatedly pressed Germany to pull out of the “inappropriate” Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which is set to double Russia’s natural gas transport capacity to 110 billion cubic meters. While Moscow has repeatedly stated that it is a purely economic project, Trump claims it will make Germany a “captive” of Russia.

The US is not focusing on the energy trade alone, as it has also threatened to impose sanctions on countries buying Russian arms in what could be another example of competition between the two nations. These efforts, however, seem to be in vain as well.

Most recently, India cleared the way for the purchase of Russian frigates and air defense systems. Turkey also defied threats from the US and said it does not need anyone’s permission to buy Russia’s S-400 missile systems. Even close US ally Saudi Arabia is now in talks with Russia to purchase the same defense systems. Moscow has repeatedly denounced US attempts to hamper its trade under various pretexts as unfair competition.

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NEONNETTLE

China Halts ALL Oil Imports From US As Trade War Turns Nasty Chinese refiners have avoided buying crude from the US.
Chinese refiners have avoided buying crude from the US.
By Riva Mendoza
October 4, 2018

The United States second largest oil client, China, has put a stop to the import of Crude oil from America as the escalating trade war between the countries has seemingly turned nasty. Despite the oil not being included in the list of bilateral tariffs, Chinese refiners have avoided buying crude from the US.“We are one of the major carriers for crude oil from the US to China. Before [the trade war] we had a nice business, but now it’s totally stopped,” Xie Chunlin, the president of CMES, said on the sidelines of the Global Maritime Forum’s Annual Summit in Hong Kong, as quoted by Reuters.“It’s unfortunately happened, the trade war between the US and China. Surely for the shipping business, it’s not good,” the CMES president said.
According to RT: He added that the trade battle was also forcing China to expand its soybean supplies.
Beijing is now purchasing most of its soybeans from South America.China’s crude oil imports from America struck an average of 334,880 barrels per day through August, making Beijing the second-largest buyer of US oil after Canada.TRENDING: China Halts ALL Oil Imports From US As Trade War Turns NastyIn fact, China may be the largest buyer of American crude since many of the oil imported by Canada is re-exports – Canadian crude that temporarily crosses into the US on pipelines before re-entering Canada.
After ending a 40-year ban on oil exports in late 2015, the US has ramped up sales to two million barrels per day (bpd).China buys most of its crude from Russia, with imports rising from 665,000 bpd in 2014 to 1.2 million bpd last year.Beijing’s other major suppliers are Saudi Arabia and Iran.President Donald Trump is to double down on his continuing trade war with China following a notable win in the country’s international trade battles.Negotiators accepted late on Sept. 30 to sign a new trade accord, the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

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MailOnline

Indonesia quake-tsunami death toll rises to 1,407, as survivors are forced to scavenge in 'zombie towns'

• The official death toll from the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia on Friday has climbed to 1,407

• A 7.5magnitude earthquake hit Sulawesi island, which was followed by 20ft tsunami waves

• Indonesian ifficials fear the toll could soar, as losses in remote areas on Sulawesi remain unknown

• Survivors are scavenging for food in towns and villages levelled by the quake-tsunami

By REUTERS and SARA MALM FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 06:51, 3 October 2018 | UPDATED:18:08, 3 October 2018

Article and photos

counterpunch

Bombing Libya: the Origins of Europe’s Immigration Crisis

by WILLIAM BLUM

SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

The world will long remember the present immigrant crisis in Europe, which has negatively affected countless people there, and almost all countries. History will certainly record it as a major tragedy. Could it have been averted? Or kept within much more reasonable humane bounds?

After the United States and NATO began to bomb Libya in March 2011 – almost daily for more than six months! – to overthrow the government of Muammar Gaddafi (with the completely phoney excuse that Gaddafi was about to invade Benghazi, the Libyan center of his opponents, and so the United States and NATO were thus saving the people of that city from a massacre}, the Libyan leader declared: “Now listen you people of Nato. You’re bombing a wall, which stood in the way of African migration to Europe and in the way of al Qaeda terrorists. This wall was Libya. You’re breaking it. You’re idiots, and you will burn in Hell for thousands of migrants from Africa.”

Remember also that Libya was a secular society, like Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, all destroyed by America while supporting Saudi Arabia and various factions of al Qaeda. It’s these countries that have principally overrun Europe with refugees.

Gaddafi, like Saddam Hussein, had a tyrant side to him but could in important ways be benevolent and do very valuable things. He, for example, founded the African Union and gave the Libyan people the highest standard of living in all of Africa; they had not only free education and health care but all kinds of other benefits that other Africans could only dream about. But Moammar Gaddafi was never a properly obedient client of Washington. Amongst other shortcomings, the man threatened to replace the US dollar with gold for payment of oil transactions and create a common African currency. He was, moreover, a strong supporter of the Palestinians and foe of Israel.

In 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the prime moving force behind the United States and NATO turning Libya into a failed state, where it remains today. The attack against Libya was one that the New York Times said Clinton had “championed”, convincing President Obama in “what was arguably her moment of greatest influence as Secretary of State.”

The American people and the American media of course swallowed the phoney story fed to them, though no evidence of the alleged impending massacre has ever been presented. The nearest thing to an official US government account of the matter – a Congressional Research Service report on events in Libya for the period – makes no mention at all of the threatened massacre. Keep this in mind when reading the latest accusations against Russia.

The US/NATO heavy bombing of Libya led also to the widespread dispersal throughout North African and Middle East hotspots of the gigantic arsenal of weaponry that Gaddafi had accumulated. Libya is now a haven for terrorists, from al Qaeda to ISIS, whereas Gaddafi had been a leading foe of terrorists.

SPUTNIK

Syria Has Reached a 'Major Understanding' With Hostile Arab States - Assad
October 4, 2018

Most Gulf nations have actively sought to oust President Assad’s government over the course of the multi-year conflict, providing opposition Islamist forces with arms and political support.

The Syrian government has reached a “major understanding” with hostile Arab states, President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday, after receiving delegates from Gulf and Western countries over the past few months.

In an exclusive interview with Kuwait’s Al-Shahed newspaper on Wednesday, his first with a Gulf media outlet since 2011, Assad suggested relations with hostile regional powers are gradually improving and could be normalized, as the Syrian Army continues to reclaim territory in the war-torn country.

Meanwhile, commenting on the Syria crisis in an interview with Al-Arabiya, Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said the Arab League should seek to “reclaim” a role in the matter.

“Syria is an Arab country. Its people are Arabs and what happens there concerns us before any other nation. It is not correct that regional and international countries are looking into the Syrian issue and not us,” Bahrain’s foreign minister said.

Syria was suspended from the Arab League in late 2011, as Gulf states ramped up their efforts to oust Assad’s government as part of their battle for regional dominance with Iran.

However, some Gulf states, including Oman, and to a lesser extent, Bahrain, have maintained amicable relations with the Syrian government.

Now, with Damascus setting about nationwide post-war reconstruction, some Syrian government officials have suggested Saudi Arabia and its regional allies should pay billions of dollars in reparations to Syria.

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RT

‘Typical mistake of any empire’: US undermines dollar by imposing sanctions globally – Putin

October 3, 2018

© Dado Ruvic / Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Washington is making a “colossal” but “typical” mistake by imposing sanctions around the world and exploiting its dollar dominance, warning there will be consequences.

"It seems to me that our American partners make a colossal strategic mistake,” he said, suggesting that the US is undermining confidence and faith in the dollar as a universal tool.

Putin made the comments while speaking at the Russian Energy Week Forum on Wednesday. “This is a typical mistake of any empire,” he said, explaining that the potential negative consequences are ignored when everything is strong and stable. “But no - the consequences come sooner or later.”

Russia has recently been trying to decrease the share of US dollar in its economy. The de-dollarization of Russia has been actively discussed in the country lately due to the tightening of US sanctions, said VTB Bank head Andrey Kostin, Tuesday.

In May, President Putin said Russia can no longer trust the US dollar-dominated financial system since America is imposing unilateral sanctions and violating World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Putin added that the dollar monopoly is unsafe and dangerous for the global economy.

The Russian government notes that it is not interested in ditching the dollar completely, but at the same time it is working on ways of reducing the dependence of the economy on the US currency.

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The Telegraph

Parliament's statue of Cromwell becomes latest memorial hit by 'rewriting history' row

The statue of Oliver Cromwell outside the Palace of Westminster. London CREDIT: ANGELO HORNAK/ CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES

Patrick Sawer, senior reporter

September 29, 2018
A bitter row has broken out between historians after calls for the statue of Oliver Cromwell in front of the Houses of Parliament to be taken down.

Jeremy Crick, a social historian from Staffordshire, compared Crowell- who led the Parliamentary forces against the King in the English Civil War - to the Taliban in Afghanistan for his anti-religious zeal and said there should be no place for him outside the Palace of Westminster.

His call follows numerous campaigns to remove and replace statues of figures with problematic pasts, notably by students at Oxford to have a statue of Cecil Rhodes at Oriel College taken down for his part in the white colonisation and exploitation of southern Africa.

Mr Crick, who specialise in the history of notable families in Staffordshire, said Cromwell was responsible for the wholesale destruction by Parliamentarian troops of many religious and church buildings during the civil war of 1642 to 1651.

He backed calls for such “unloved statues” to be removed to one central point for future display rather than simply being destroyed.

Mr Crick said: “As to who we should send there, might I suggest we make a start with the statue of Oliver Cromwell that is sited next to the Palace of Westminster?

“Its banishment would be poetic justice for his Taliban-like destruction of so many of England’s cultural and religious artefacts carried out by his fanatical Puritan followers.”

But the Cromwell Society described Mr Crick’s suggestiona s “folly” and “attempting to rewrite history”.

John Goldsmith, chairman of the Cromwell Society, said: “It was inevitable in the present debate about the removal of statues that the figure of Oliver Cromwell outside the Palace of Westminster would become a target.

“The iconoclasm of the English civil wars was neither ordered nor carried out by Cromwell. Perhaps the wrong Cromwell would be sacrificed for the actions of his ancestor Thomas in the previous century.

“[Sir William Hamo] Thorneycroft's magnificent representation of Cromwell is evidence of 19th century opinion and part of the historiography of a figure who many believe is still worth celebrating.”

Mr Goldsmith told The Sunday Telegraph: “Cromwell is regarded by many, perhaps more in the late 19th century than today, as a defender of parliament against external pressure, in his case of course the monarchy. Whether that is a wholly accurate representation is the subject of continuing historical debate.

“What is certain is that the conflict of the mid 17th century has shaped the subsequent development of our nation, and Cromwell is an individual recognisable figure who represents one side of that divide. His achievements as Lord Protector are also worth celebrating and commemorating.”

The statue has been the source of controversy from even before it was erected in 1899.

The proposal to erect the statue put forward by the government of the day was only narrowly backed by Parliament in 1856, after he majority of the Conservatives and the Irish Nationalists voted against the measure because of the Cromwell's history in Ireland and the behaviour of his troops during the invasion of the country in 1649 .

In 2004, a group of MPs put forward a motion that the statue should be melted down. Although the move was not supported several other MPs suggested that the statue should be moved somewhere else.

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REUTERS

Thousands march on Irish parliament in growing housing shortage protest

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Thousands of people marched on Ireland’s parliament on Wednesday in the latest angry protest over a housing shortage that has sparked sharp increases in rental costs and homelessness.

Padraic Halpin

October 3, 2018

People protest Ireland's housing crisis in a 'Raise the Roof' rally outside Government buildings in Dublin, Ireland, October 3, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
Housing has become the number one political issue ahead of a possible election in the coming months and inside the building Prime Minister Leo Varadkar defended his government’s record, pointing to nearly 20,000 new homes expected to be built this year.

“There are limiting factors. There’s only so much concrete, only so many service sites, only so many construction workers. We’re ramping up things as quickly as we can,” he said.

While Ireland was left with a surplus of houses after a property crash in 2008, it has come nowhere near providing the number needed to keep up with a rapid economic recovery, with rents in Dublin almost 20 percent above their pre-crisis peak.

While rising, supply is still short of the 35,000 new builds analysts say are needed annually just to keep up with demand.

“Everyone’s struggling,” said Emily Arnold, a 21-year-old computer science student who traveled from the western town of Sligo to join the protest. She plans to leave Ireland when she graduates due to the high cost of living.

“Sligo’s okay, it’s getting a bit more expensive. We have to work around the clock to afford it but there’s no point coming to Dublin, Galway’s impossible too. We’re going to Toronto, it’s cheaper to live out there for a year. Everyone’s emigrating.”

Dotted among the large groups of student protesters were workers in their 30s with unstable, short-term tenancies unable to save for a mortgage and older homeowners worried about how their children will put a roof over their heads.

“The way things are at the moment, they haven’t got a hope,” said Sean Murphy, a retired bricklayer in his 70s who attended the rally with two of his 13 grandchildren and one of his sons, who fears being left homeless when his rent is next increased.

“You had a hope of getting a council house (years ago) but it’s far worse now. We’ve never had the amount of homeless that we have and I think that speaks for itself. My children and grandchildren’s’ generation are the working poor.”

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions, one of the organizers, predicted that the protests will get larger and noisier.

Editing by Alexander Smith

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Natural News

You are who you hang out with: Study shows brainwaves “sync” between people who spend a lot of time together

Lance D Johnson

September 28, 2018

(Natural News) The people who are closest to you are subtly shaping your brain and influencing the way you behave and think. Researchers have found that when two or more people spend a lot of time together, their brainwaves find compromise and likeness, syncing together. The coherence grows stronger as they spend more time together. The study highlights the importance of choosing friends wisely.

Using electroencephalography technology (EEG), researchers from New York University and Utrecht University recorded the brain activity of students and teachers for a semester. Throughout the term, students were asked to report how much they like one another, how much they like their teacher, and how much they like group activities. Non-invasive electrodes were placed on the students’ scalps to see how their brain changed over time. The more they interacted, especially before class, the more their brain waves began to sync.

Professor Moran Cerf from Northwestern University believes that a rich and fulfilling life comes from the syncing that takes place between friendships and friendship groups. He says that individuals should eliminate all the small decisions they think are tied to happiness and instead focus on what really matters: carefully choosing friends and making true connections. He suggests being very decisive with whom you spend your time with, as their worldview and behavior begins to merge with yours.

The changes that take place in the brain are unconscious, but they are detectable changes. When two or more people get in sync with one another, they work better together as a team. Desirable behaviors and worldviews begin to converge, forming likeness. Whether you are aware of this or not, the changes happen; naturally, brainwaves start to resemble one another. That’s what the researchers learned when they studied the students EEG readings during their semester class.

Most telling, those students whose brain waves were in sync with classmates were more likely to give the course a favorable rating. When two students interacted face-to-face before class, they were more in sync with one another, felt closer to each other, and were more in sync with the class in general. The interactions that take place before an experience make the experience more rich due to the syncing that occurs between two or more people.

Being decisive and selective with friendships is how people make life improvements. If you seek a more desirable trait, it’s best to befriend a person that exhibits those qualities you wish to have. “This means the people you hang out with actually have an impact on your engagement with reality beyond what you can explain. And one of the effects is you become alike,” said neuroscientist Moran Cerf. Long term satisfaction is tied to friendship choices.

When one’s brain wavelength is on the same frequency with another, a phenomenon called “neural coupling” results, making way for easier communication and understanding. Dr. Cerf recommends that individuals not worry so much about small decisions such as ‘where to go’ and ‘what to do.’ He suggests putting more emphasis on who to go with, as this relationship has more impact on the experience and one’s level of happiness over time.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com

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Natural News

Pomegranate extracts found to fight cancer at EVERY turn

Thursday, September 27, 2018 by: Isabelle Z.
(Natural News) It’s often said that natural foods with the deepest and most vibrant colors are the most nutritious, and it’s easy to think of good examples. From the emerald green leaves of spinach to the cheerful tone of yellow peppers and deep purple of blueberries, the rule serves us well in identifying superfoods. However, it’s the often-overlooked pomegranate, with its deep red-purple shade, that is one of the healthiest fruits of all, and it’s been getting a lot of attention lately for one benefit in particular: its ability to fight cancer.

As the CDC predicts that new cancer cases are set to rise by 24 percent among men and 21 percent among women, it has never been more pressing to take a closer look at the potential of gifts from nature like pomegranate to help fight the disease. After all, current treatments like chemotherapy and radiation aren’t exactly a roaring success.

What is so remarkable about the way that pomegranate fights cancer is its multi-pronged approach. Although it’s very helpful to consume foods that are antioxidants or have anti-inflammatory properties, pomegranate has all the bases covered and seems to have a trick up its sleeve for every eventuality.

First of all, pomegranate extract fights cancer by protecting against the DNA mutations that lead to cancer. It releases a protective enzyme known as paraoxonase-1 that blocks inflammation and oxidative stress that can later contribute to these DNA mutations.

Should a DNA mutation occur anyway, pomegranate actually enacts a back-up plan. It interferes with the replication of cancer cells, causes mutated cells to die, and stops the growth of the blood vessels that tumors rely on for sustenance. When malignant masses develop, the extract can stop them from invading local tissues and metastasizing in other parts of the body. At the same time, it also fights the inflammation that promotes cancer.

Impressive research findings back pomegranate’s cancer-fighting power

Studies on animals have shown that extract of pomegranate can reduce the number of lung cancer tumors by up to two thirds. In one study, the researchers noted that cell proliferation, invasion and migration were all inhibited thanks to the extract. Their findings prompted them to label pomegranate as an “effective and safe chemotherapeutic agent.”

In a double-blind, randomized study, researchers discovered that the extract of pomegranate slowed the growth of tumors in prostate cancer patients, while many also saw markers for cancer progression drop.

Meanwhile, a study that was published in Clinical Cancer Research found that the juice slowed the PSA doubling rate – a measurement of how quickly cancer is progressing – significantly, going from 54 months to 15 months. A different study found that the extract of the peel and seed of the fruit inhibited breast cancer cell growth by more than 80 percent.

Start eating more pomegranates today for better health

If this news has you headed out to the market to look for some pomegranates, keep in mind that those that feel heavier for their size tend to have the most juice. The fruit’s seeds, which are also known as arils, are full of nutrients like zinc, calcium, puninic acid, and selenium. You can eat them raw, which is the best way to get their health benefits, or you can juice them.

Although the fruit is usually on the sweet side, some people aren’t fond of its flavor. If you don’t enjoy eating them on their own, consider adding pomegranate seeds to your salad or yogurt for a significant nutrition boost.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalHealth365.com

NaturalPedia.com

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Until next week...keep on believing.
Almondtree Productions

“I went down to the garden of nuts, to look at the fruits of the valley, to see if the vine flowered, if the pomegranates blossomed.”
(Song of Songs 6:10)