Will ‘Delusional’ U.N. Recognize Christian Sites?

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By WND. There’s an international dilemma developing for UNESCO, criticized as the ”delusional” U.N. agency that designated Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, considered the site of Jewish temples that existed more than 2,000 years before Muhammad, as “Islamic.”

UNESCO is being asked to recognize sites that are significant to the Christian faith. . .

UNESCO also has ascribed to “Palestine” Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, the site of the ancient Jewish fortress at Betar and Hebron’s Tomb of the Patriarchs. And an expert warned that it likely was going to designate Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls that were found there as “Palestinian.”

Now Global Christian News reports a proposal that UNESCO designated several Japanese islands where Christians were persecuted and killed as heritage sites.

The Japan Times reports a preliminary review panel for UNESCO has suggested adding sites linked to Japan’s history of persecution of Christians to the world’s cultural heritage list. (Read more from “Will ‘Delusional’ U.N. Recognize Christian Sites?” HERE)

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Sites in Kyushu Linked to Christian Persecution Pass Preliminary Review for Unesco Heritage List

By The Japan Times. . .Japan says the assets, located in Kyushu, show how Christians upheld their faith despite persecution by the Tokugawa shogunate.

Meanwhile, the panel recommended further review for a chain of islands in Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures that Tokyo had proposed be added to the organization’s list of natural sites.

A ministry official told reporters at a news conference in Tokyo that the government is confident the Christian sites will be officially registered as recommended, while also expressing disappointment about UNESCO’s decision on the islands.

The listing of the sites associated with the history of persecuted Christians will be officially discussed at a meeting of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee June 24-July 4 in Bahrain.

If the Paris-based international body agrees to list them, it would bring the total number of Japanese items on the world’s cultural and natural heritage lists to 22. (Read more from “Sites in Kyushu Linked to Christian Persecution Pass Preliminary Review for Unesco Heritage List” HERE)

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Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg Met With European Parliament. Things Did Not Go Well.

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Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg met with lawmakers from the European Union Parliament on Tuesday to answer questions about his company’s use of consumer data and election manipulation on the platform.

He was also threatened with consequences over the recent scandals involving his social media company, including increased regulations and the splitting of the company over antitrust concerns.

Several lawmakers complained about the format of the questioning, which allowed Zuckerberg to selectively provide answers. Facebook did agree, however, to later provide further responses in written format . . .

Brexit mastermind Nigel Farage accused the company of “willfully” discriminating against right-of-center views on the social network. Zuckerberg responded that Facebook had “never made a decision about what content was allowed on the basis of political orientation.” . . .

“Mr. Zuckerberg’s apologies are not enough. We are looking for further commitments…and we will be looking forward to getting his written answers on Cambridge Analytica. It’s obvious that kind of thing should not happen again.” (Read more from “Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg Met With European Parliament. Things Did Not Go Well.” HERE)

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Trump’s Team Gets Payback for Rubio on Venezuelan Assassination Plot

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By Politico. When one of Venezuela’s top leaders was suspected of conspiring to assassinate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio last year, the reaction of the United States was uncharacteristically tame.

Stiffer sanctions against Venezuela languished at the National Security Council. And Diosdado Cabello Rondon, the vice president of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, wasn’t touched by targeted sanctions even though the U.S. government has accused him of being a narco-trafficker.

But all of that changed in the past five days as new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton began flexing their muscles in the run-up to Sunday’s elections in Venezuela — elections the U.S. government called a “sham” perpetrated by “kleptocracy.”

On Friday, Cabello and his relatives had his assets frozen by the U.S. Treasury, and on Monday, further U.S. investments in Venezuela were limited as the one-two punch of sanctions heralded a hawkish new era for the Trump administration, while revealing an enhanced role for Rubio as a Trump foreign policy emissary and ally. (Read more from “Trump’s Team Gets Payback for Rubio on Venezuelan Assassination Plot” HERE)

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Flashback: Marco Rubio Assassination Plot From Venezuela Detected by U.S. Intelligence

By Newsweek. Florida senator Marco Rubio may have been the subject of an assassination plot from a leading Venezuela lawmaker, according to information discovered by U.S. intelligence.

The death threat, which was discovered and shared with security services a month ago, [had] resulted in the Republican lawmaker receiving additional security protection.

It is believed the order against Rubio may have come from the former military chief and socialist party member Diosdado Cabello, whose open feud with Rubio is well known. (Read more from “Flashback: Marco Rubio Assassination Plot From Venezuela Detected by U.S. Intelligence” HERE)

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Watch: Footage Emerges of Shooting in France Involving Masked Men with AK-47s

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By The Daily Wire. Video has emerged of the shooting that happened in Marseille, France on Monday that authorities are now investigating as a kidnapping and not a terrorist attack.

The video confirms initial reports of there being approximately three cars involved and several heavily armed men carrying and firing AK-47s. . .

(Read more from “Watch: Footage Emerges of Shooting in France Involving Masked Men with AK-47s” HERE)

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Marseille: At Least One Injured After Masked Gang Opens Fire in French City

By The Guardian. Hooded gunmen armed with AK-47s have opened fire near a group of young people on a housing estate outside the Mediterranean French city of Marseille before reportedly taking a man hostage.

At least one person was injured when the gunmen, all dressed in black, drew up in three vehicles, and began shooting near a cultural centre in the Busserine district.

The local newspaper La Provence reported that the armed gang appeared to be looking for someone and threatened locals before firing several times into the air. They then grabbed a youth and drove of . . .

According to a witness, one person was abducted in a car whose occupants shot in the air several times,” Tarabeux told local journalists.

A Marseille police officer said “numerous bullet casings” had been found at the scene. He added that the incident was not being investigated as a terrorist attack. (Read more from “Marseille: At Least One Injured After Masked Gang Opens Fire in French City” HERE)

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Pope to Gay: ‘God Made You like That’

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By The Telegraph. The Pope made the remarks, which went significantly beyond his previous tolerance for homosexuality, during a meeting three weeks ago with a Chilean man who had been sexually abused by Catholic priests.

The Pope offered a heartfelt apology to Juan Carlos Cruz, who was a victim of Chile’s most notorious abusive priest, Fernando Karadima.

Mr Cruz, who is gay, said the conversation moved on from the abuse crisis to the nature of homosexuality.

“He told me ‘Juan Carlos, that you are gay does not matter. God made you like that and he loves you like that and I do not care.

“The Pope loves you as you are, you have to be happy with who you are,’” Mr Cruz told El Pais, the Spanish newspaper. (Read more from “Pope to Gay: ‘God Made You like That'” HERE)

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Pope Francis Reportedly Tells Gay Man, ‘God Made You That Way and Loves You’

By Fox News. . .The Los Angeles Times reported that the Vatican did not confirm the pope’s comments given that it was a private conversation.

The pope has upheld Catholic teaching on homosexuality, reiterating the church’s opposition to same-sex relationships.

Francis uttered his “Who am I to judge?” comment during his first airborne press conference in 2013, signaling a new era of acceptance and welcome for gays in the church. Francis followed up by meeting with gay and transgender faithful.

Fr. James Martin, the author of “Building a Bridge,” told The Times that Francis’ reported comments are a “big deal” because it is likely the first time the pope made a comment “about gay people being born that way.”

Martin told the paper that the pope made the reported comment in private and not on the record, which is a big difference. (Read more from “Pope Francis Reportedly Tells Gay Man, ‘God Made You That Way and Loves You'” HERE)

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Thanks Trump? China Pledges to Buy More American Products, Reduce Trade Deficit

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By The Daily Wire. President Donald Trump drew major heat for announcing, months ago, that he would boost tariffs on goods coming into the United States from China, in an effort to re-balance what he considered an economically fatal trade deficit.

But after months of negotiations, it seems the President’s commitment ot the “art of the deal” has changed our relationship with China without many major changes on the part of the U.S., and though nothing is yet official, China says it will buy more American products to “even out” our trade partnership.

According to CNN, China has pledged to “significantly increase” “purchase of goods and services” from American companies, in order to “reduce the trade imbalance.” The news comes at the tail end of weeks of trade talks between American and Chinese officials that both parties have called “productive.” (Read more from “Thanks Trump? China Pledges to Buy More American Products, Reduce Trade Deficit” HERE)

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U.S. and China Call a Ceasefire in Trade Dispute

By CNN. After weeks of tensions, China and the United States have reached a ceasefire.

Both sides this weekend said they had agreed to not impose new tariffs on one another while talks continue, after reaching an initial agreement on trade.

In a joint statement on Saturday, the countries said China would “significantly increase” purchases of US goods and services to reduce their trade imbalance. This was a top demand of the Trump administration during two days of trade talks in Washington with Chinese officials.

“We’re putting the trade war on hold,” US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told “Fox News Sunday. “We have agreed to put the tariffs on hold while we try to execute the framework.” (Read more from “U.S. and China Call a Ceasefire in Trade Dispute” HERE)

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Hamas Rioters Paid $100/Day to Attack Israel, Funding Came from Obama

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. . .But in reality Israel has shown restraint at what were actually Hamas-incited protests and riots that involved the terrorist group paying Palestinians to participate, according to Daniel Greenfield of Front Page Mag, who exposed the absurdity of the media coverage with a biting opening paragraph.

“Hamas supporters in Gaza held the world’s first peaceful protest with hand grenades, pipe bombs, cleavers and guns. Ten explosive devices were peacefully detonated. There were outbursts of peaceful gunfire and over a dozen kites carrying firebombs were sent into Israel where they started 23 peaceful fires. And Israeli soldiers peacefully defended their country leaving multiple Hamas attackers at peace,” Greenfield wrote.

Greenfield noted that despite the media focus of the past few days, the Hamas-led protests and violent riots have actually been ongoing since late March, and offered proof obtained by a U.K. Telegraph reporter in April that Palestinians were being paid $100 per day by Hamas to take part, more if they suffered injuries or died.

That reporter discovered that merely participating in the protests earned $100, while being shot (whether with real or rubber bullets) garnered $200, severe injuries netted $500 and death warranted a $3,000 payment to the surviving family.

Considering an estimated 40,000-50,000 Gazans participated in the most recent protests and riots — which were really an effort to breach the barrier separating Gaza from Israel so Hamas terrorists could rush through and do their worst — that event likely cost Hamas millions of dollars. (Read more from “Hamas Rioters Paid $100/Day to Attack Israel, Funding Came from Obama” HERE)

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Doctors Accused of Forcing Terminally Ill into Assisted Suicide

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A terminal ill man who needs around-the-clock care filed a lawsuit claiming doctors are pressuring him to go home or die in medically assisted death. . .

[Roger] Foley [of Canada] suffers from an incurable brain disorder called cerebellar ataxia, a condition which limits his ability to move his arms and legs and leaves him unable to perform mundane tasks such as feeding himself and lifting himself up. . .

According to the February 14 lawsuit, Foley was given two options on how to move forward with his medical care: ‘forced discharge’ from the hospital ‘to work with contracted agencies that have failed him’ or medically assisted death.

He said there were two instances in which he received horrible home care providers and even contemplated suicide after one provider allegedly left him so sick he needed to be hospitalized.

‘I have been given the wrong medication,’ he claimed. ‘I have been provided food where I got food poisoning, I’ve had workers fall asleep in my living room, burners and appliances constantly left on, a fire, and I have been injured during exercises and transfers. When I report(ed) these things to the agency, I would not get a response.’ (Read more from “Doctors Accused of Forcing Terminally Ill into Assisted Suicide” HERE)

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Plane Explodes into Ball of Flames

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A Boeing 737 plane has crashed moments after taking off from Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport – just one day after more than a third of its fleet were grounded over safety concerns.

At least 100 are dead after the internal Cubana de Aviacion flight, which was carrying 113 passengers and crew, including five children, crashed into a yuca field near a high school, in the Santiago de las Vegas neighborhood, on Friday.

Just four survivors were recovered and taken to hospital in critical condition, according to Cuban media. One has since died in hospital.

Photos of the scene show fire crews attempting to put out the still smoking wreckage of the aircraft which was devastated in the crash. Debris was left scattered across the surrounding area after the explosion. . .

The flight was leased by airline Cubana from a small Mexican airline called Damojh or Global, Cuban state media said. Holguin has some of the island’s most pristine beaches, and attracts tourists.

(Read more from “Plane Explodes into Ball of Flames” HERE)

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Remember the Dead Palestinian Baby? Turns out She Didn’t Die from Israeli Forces

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. . .As evidence of the cruelty of Israeli security forces toward innocent Palestinians in Gaza, the media focused on a dead Palestinian baby. The infant’s tragic death, however, turned into a propaganda win for the terrorist organization.

A prime example of what could easily have been written by the Hamas propaganda department itself was an article in the Los Angeles Times which lamented the death of the 10-month-old baby girl — Layla Ghandour.

But a former journalist for the L.A. and New York Times astutely noted that, buried midway through the blatant piece, it was revealed by a doctor in Gaza that the baby had died from a pre-existing heart condition.

The 16th paragraph of that report read: “A doctor at the hospital where Layla was treated said she had a preexisting heart condition that caused her death. He asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss the child’s medical history.” . . .

The preceding paragraph even cited Israeli military spokesman Ofir Gendelman, who stated without elaboration, “We have evidence casting doubt on the truthfulness of reports about the death of a baby girl in the Gaza Strip.” (Read more from “Remember the Dead Palestinian Baby? Turns out She Didn’t Die from Israeli Forces” HERE)

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