Pro-Russia Separatists Destroy Airport, Massacre 12 in Bus Attack in Ukraine

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Pro-Russian separatists unleashed a series of bomb attacks Tuesday in eastern Ukraine, leveling a key airport in Donetsk, killing 12 in an attack on a passenger bus and almost certainly dooming a short-lived cease-fire, according to reports.

A senior State Department official confirmed to Fox News that the separatists destroyed the government-held airport in eastern Ukraine Tuesday afternoon.

The facility has been “flattened” and the air control tower was “decimated,” the official said. “They are now fighting over rubble.”

Maria Ivanovna, a local retiree, told The Associated Press she has become desensitized to the blasts and drew an arc with her arm to show how shells fly over her home toward the airport.

“We will survive the same way we did after World War II. Ration cards for bread; 11 ounces for children; 800 grams for factory workers and 1,200 grams for miners,” she said. (Read more from the story “Pro-Russia Separatists Destroy Airport” HERE)

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While Overall Jobless Numbers Remain at Record Highs, U.S. Job Openings Near 5 Million

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Photo Credit: Washington Examiner By Joseph Lawler. There were just under 5 million job postings advertised in November, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday.

The job openings number beat Wall Street’s expectations, as businesses continued to add positions at a fast pace toward the end of 2014.

Hiring was flat in the month, while job separations were down, according to the BLS’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.

The data on job openings and hiring released by the Labor Department on Tuesday lags the more widely-followed jobs report by a month. Officials at the Federal Reserve and investors still watch the report closely, however, because it contains more detailed information about the state of labor markets in the U.S. relating to the pace of labor market churn.

With 4.97 million job openings advertised on the last day of November, total job openings were up 20 percent year over year. The highest job creation mark on record is 5.27 million, set in 2001. (Read more about “Job Openings Near 5 million” HERE)

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San Bernardino Ranked Worst in Nation for a Job

By Rob Mcmillan. San Bernarndino has been rated the worst place for finding a job in the nation, according to financial website WalletHub.

The website’s list featured 150 different cities ranked from best to worst with San Bernardino listed in the very last spot.

San Bernardino resident Kevin Kenaga said he is a good example of the struggling economy in the city. He has to take a bus to get to his job in Redlands.

“There isn’t very much work here,” he said.

Wallethub looked at the number of job opportunities, starting salary and the rate of job growth for each city ranked. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Richest Indian State Announces Plans to Cure Homosexuals

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By Sara Malm. An Indian state minister has announced plans to open treatment centres for the LGBT community to ‘make them normal’, comparing homosexuals to alcoholics.

Ramesh Tawadkar, Goa’s minister for sport and youth, said the government in the popular tourist resort would ‘cure’ homosexuals with ‘training and medicines’.

Tawadkar, a representative of right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party, sparked outrage with the comments, made during a press conference yesterday.

‘We will make them normal. We will have centres for them, like Alcoholics Anonymous centres,’ Tawadkar said, adding that the Goa government would ‘train them and give them medicines too’. (Read more about the facility being created to cure homosexuals HERE)

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Former VP of Christian Reparative Therapy Group Exodus International Admits He is a Homosexual

By Billy Hallowell. Randy Thomas, the former executive vice-president of Exodus International, a now defunct, ex-gay Christian organization, and a self-described former “ex-gay poster boy“ announced in a blog post Monday that he’s gay.

In a piece titled, “A Peaceful Disclosure – I Am Gay,” Thomas wrote that the suicide of a man he once dated before he joined the ex-gay movement more than two decades ago, in part, led him to rethink how he addresses his sexuality.

Thomas also explained how additional circumstances in recent years have led him to question his beliefs and to reevaluate, asking key questions about himself and his journey. This process began to ramp up after organizational turmoil within Exodus began to take root in 2011, he said. (Read more from this story HERE)
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Update: Indian Minister Backtracks on Comments About Homosexuals

Ramesh Tawadkar claimed [today that] he was misquoted even as Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar did some damage control to say homosexuality is not a “disease”.

“I was misunderstood and misquoted. I was not talking about the LGBT (youths) but about drug addicted and sexually abused youths,” Tawadkar told PTI, as local channels in Goa continued to air the footage in which he assured medical treatment to LGBT youths to make them “normal”. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Duopoly in Action: Dems and GOP Agree it’s a Great Time for a Gas Tax Hike

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You might have noticed the spectacular collapse of global crude oil prices reflected in the commensurate reduction of your weekly gasoline bill. Gas prices are lower, much lower, than they were just a few months ago. For Washington D.C., that represents an opportunity. Even for congressional Republicans, even a little bit more money in your wallet presents a chance to hike your taxes.

On Wednesday, the new GOP chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works panel, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), said a hike in the gasoline tax is on the table as a means of paying into the Highway Trust Fund. As President Barack Obama would no doubt note, that fund is of vital importance for keeping the nation’s roads and bridge up to code.

“It’s not a tax,” Inhofe said. “It’s a user fee.”

Outside Beltway, that’s a distinction without a difference.

Inhofe’s embrace of a new, ahem, “user fee” for those who purchase the gasoline was shared by the new Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT). “We’ll have to look at that. I’m looking at everything—every possible way of taking care of the highway bill,” Hatch echoed. (Read more about the gas tax hike HERE)

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Charlie Hebdo Stands Defiant Against Jihadists, Prints MILLIONS of Papers this Week ‘Lampooning Mohammed’

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By AFP. This week’s three million copies of Charlie Hebdo, the first post-attack issue of the French satirical weekly, will defiantly feature caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed, its lawyer said Monday.

Attacked satirical French weekly to print a million copies next week Reuters
The special issue, to come out on Wednesday, will also be offered “in 16 languages” for readers around the world, one of its columnists, Patrick Pelloux, said.

Charlie Hebdo’s lawyer, Richard Malka, told French radio the upcoming publication will “obviously” lampoon Mohammed — among other figures — to show staff will “cede nothing” to extremists seeking to silence them.

The two gunmen who slaughtered 12 people in their attack on Charlie Hebdo’s offices last Wednesday, including five of its top cartoonists and three other staff members, claimed as they left the scene that they had “avenged the Prophet Mohammed”. (Read more about Hebdo’s Lampooning Mohammed HERE)

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Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Want to Kill You for Defiling Mohammed

By David French. As an Evangelical conservative, I can’t say that a militant, condescending atheist like Bill Maher is my favorite comedian or my favorite pundit, but when a man’s right, he’s right. His statement last week that “Hundreds of millions of them support an attack like this. They applaud an attack like this. What they say is, ‘We don’t approve of violence, but you know what? When you make fun of the Prophet, all bets are off” is supported by real data.

Extrapolating from polling numbers, hundreds of millions of Muslims do, in fact, support the death penalty for blasphemy against Mohammed. Hundreds of millions do support the death sentence for “apostasy” — converting from Islam. It’s even true that in the recent past, hundreds of millions expressed approval for Osama bin Laden.

Regarding blasphemy and apostasy, here’s the Washington Post describing startling findings in a comprehensive Pew Research Center report on Muslim beliefs and attitudes:

In fact, according to the 2013 Pew Research Center report, 88 percent of Muslims in Egypt and 62 percent of Muslims in Pakistan favor the death penalty for people who leave the Muslim religion. This is also the majority view among Muslims in Malaysia, Jordan and the Palestinian territories.

Do the math. From these countries alone, there are more than 200 million Muslims who support capital punishment for basic free speech and freedom of conscience. (Read more from this story HERE)

“We Are Coming”: ISIS Hacks US Central Command, Publishes Residences of High Level Officers

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By Fox News. The Twitter account and YouTube page for U.S. Central Command were hacked on Monday and for several minutes carried incendiary messages promoting the Islamic State — including one that said, “AMERICAN SOLDIERS, WE ARE COMING, WATCH YOUR BACK. ISIS.”

The cyber-attack sent U.S. military officials scrambling to respond, and they quickly suspended both accounts.

Officials said they’re still investigating the hack, but claimed it appears no classified information was released.

“We’re still looking into this,” Central Command spokesman Col. Patrick S. Ryder said. “Our initial assessment is that no classified information was posted.”

A statement from Central Command added that their operational military networks “were not compromised” and downplayed the incident as “a case of cybervandalism.” (Read more from “ISIS Hacks Central Command” HERE)

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Senior Officers’ Personal Information, Addresses Published by ‘ISIS’ Group

Photo Credit: Interdependent By Aaron Mesmer. The @CentCom Twitter account’s first hacked tweet came at 12:29 Monday afternoon, after the account’s profile images had been changed to black and white graphics with the phrases “Cyber Caliphate” and “I love you isis.”

“AMERICAN SOLDIERS, WE ARE COMING, WATCH YOUR BACK. ISIS,” warned the first tweet.

That was soon followed by more posts ranging from apparent military scenarios on PowerPoint to listings of officers’ personal information. Another tweet included a photo apparently showing the inside of a military office space.

One tweet featured a spreadsheet titled “Retired Army General Officer Roster” and listed the home addresses, phone numbers and email accounts of generals like Colin Powell, David Petraeus, and Tommy Franks.

“We won’t stop! We know everything about you, your wives and children,” read another tweet. (Read more from this story HERE)

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French Police Chief Commits Suicide After Charlie Hebdo Massacre

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By Henry Samuels. A high-ranking judicial police chief in Limoges committed suicide last Wednesday hours after being asked to file a report on the Charlie Hebdo killings, it has emerged.

Helric Fredou, 45, the deputy director of the regional judicial police in Limoges turned his gun on himself last Wednesday night, hours after Cherif and Said Kouachi killed 12 people in an Islamist rampage, including two policemen.

He had been tasked with investigating the family of one of the victims, but died before handing in the report.

He had reportedly interviewed families of Charlie Hebdo victims in the hours after the attack.

It is not known if his decision to commit suicide has any link to the Charlie Hebdo killings. (Read more about the French police chief HERE)

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White House Admits They Should have Sent ‘Higher Profile’ Official to Paris Rally

By Fox News. The White House acknowledged Monday that it erred in not sending a higher-level representative to the massive rally in Paris against Islamic terrorism, after facing bipartisan criticism over the meager U.S. presence at the march — which was attended by more than 40 world leaders.

“We should have sent someone with a higher profile to be there,” Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Monday.

But he also explained that the planning for the rally began on short notice and President Obama’s personal attendance, given the security challenges, would have had a “significant impact” on the march. Earnest said they had only 36 hours to prepare, and suggested the outdoor event with large crowds posed security risks.

Earnest said the U.S. still stands “four-square behind our allies in France.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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House is Voting on Bill to BAN ABORTION After 20 Weeks

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Photo Credit: Life News By Steven Ertelt. Republicans in the House of Representatives will hold a vote on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade late this month on a marquee bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy because unborn children feel intense pain in abortions.

Top Republicans and leading pro-life groups have been promoting the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act that bans abortions from after 20-weeks of pregnancy up to the day of birth. . .

In a statement, [bill sponsor Rep. Trent] Franks told LifeNews: “More than 18,000 ‘very late term’ abortions are performed every year on perfectly healthy unborn babies in America. These are innocent and defenseless children who can not only feel pain, but who can survive outside of the womb in most cases, and who are torturously killed without even basic anesthesia. Many of them cry and scream as they die, but because it is amniotic fluid going over their vocal cords instead of air, we don’t hear them”. . .

A national poll by The Polling Company found that, after being informed that there is scientific evidence that unborn children are capable of feeling pain at least by 20 weeks, 64% would support a law banning abortion after 20 weeks, unless the mother’s life was in danger. Only 30% said they would oppose such a law. . .

Another bombshell dropped during the hearing came from Dr. Maureen Condic, who is Associate Professor of Neurobiology and Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine. She testified that the unborn child is capable of reacting to pain as early as 8-10 weeks. This is when most abortions in America take place. (Read more about the bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks HERE)

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Abortionist Approves a 10 Year Old Girl’s Abortion, gets Medical License Revoked

By Kathy Ostrowski. Late Friday, the Kansas Board of Healing Arts issued a final order of license revocation for abortionist Kris Neuhaus, calling her “incapable of successful rehabilitation.” Kansans for Life applauds the resolve of the Board in protecting the public from her.

Neuhaus’ license had been revoked in 2012 for her failure to follow both standard of care and record-keeping protocols when providing the legally-required “second independent medical opinion ” that enabled 11 girls, aged 10-18, in 2003 to obtain third-trimester abortions at the Wichita abortion clinic of George Tiller.

Neuhaus challenged that revocation in state district court. While upholding the Board’s findings that Neuhaus repeatedly failed to document patient histories properly, Judge Franklin Theis vacated the standard of care charge and sent the matter back to the Board for a “do-over.” on Dec. 11. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Boko Haram Uses 10-Year Old Girls as Suicide Bombers

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By Jennifer Van Laar. In two attacks Sunday, young women were used as “suicide” bombers at a mobile handset marketplace in Potiskum, Nigeria.

The attacks, which killed five and injured 46, are suspected to have been carried out by Boko Haram, according to a Reuters report.

A trader, Sani Abdu Potiskum, described the scene:

“I saw their dead bodies. They are two young girls of about 10 years of age … you only see the plaited hair and part of the upper torso.”

This is not the first time Boko Haram has used girls in this manner. A 13-year-old girl refused to detonate her suicide vest in December and instead turned herself in to the police and gave an account of what happened. (Read more about the young girl being used as suicide bombers HERE)

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Senator Ted Cruz: Obama Encourages Islamic Terrorism

By Pam Key. Monday at the Heritage Action for America’s second annual policy summit, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said President Barack Obama’s lackadaisical attitude toward radical Islam, as demonstrated by his failure to attend the Paris unity march, “encourages radical Islamic terrorists.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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Reuters: Cuba Releases 53 Prisoners

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Plenty of us had our doubts as to if it would actually happen, including yours truly. But if the breaking news from Reuters pans out, Raul Castro has carried through and released the full crop of 53 political prisoners under discussion in the ongoing American rapprochement with Cuba.

Cuba has released all 53 prisoners it had promised to free, senior U.S. officials said, a major step toward détente with Washington . . .

You’re not off base at all if you would rather wait until Congress has been briefed and we get this from multiple sources in DC. Getting mixed messages (or outright lies) out of Havana would be nothing new. But assuming this proves true, it shouldn’t be all that surprising. Cuba has a lot on the line in this deal as we’ve discussed here at length. The benefits to Castro and the communist party far outweigh anything we’ll see out of this deal, and if Raul had bailed out on one of the very first agreements he made – particularly one which was so easy for him to make good on with no restrictions on his end – then opponents of this deal would be handed a huge new slug of ammunition to undermine it going forward.

One of the chief complaints I heard when the deal was first announced is still in play, of course. Just because these prisoners were released this week and government leaders had a chance for a photo op, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be picked up again and thrown in a cell next week on “new charges.” But there is at least hope that things won’t play out that way because of the aforementioned need on Castro’s part to keep painting the best face on all of this. (Of course, it still wouldn’t hurt for those 53 to hightail it out of the country by Friday if they have the chance.)

The next goal on the table is to reopen the embassy in Havana and, presumably, the one in Washington also. We heard some strong words out of the GOP when this was first announced, specifically along the lines of, “Good luck getting funding for that.” As the weeks have gone by, though, general public support for easing restrictions has been nearing the 70% mark and I don’t know how many members of Congress are going to want to buck those types of numbers when the total money involved will be essentially a rounding error in the budget. (Read more about “Cuba Releases 53 Prisoners” HERE)

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