A New Perspective on Constantine

(Worthy News) – The head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has suggested that U.S. military forces in the Middle East could be in danger of an Iranian missile attack if Washington imposes new sanctions against Tehran.

Jafari’s comments on October 8 follow several media reports saying that U.S. President Donald Trump intends to announce plans to decertify the 2015 nuclear deal that global powers forged with Iran in 2015 — declaring it not in U.S. interests. The move would give the Republican-controlled Congress 60 days to decide whether to reinstate sanctions on Tehran that were suspended under the agreement.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency quoted IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari as saying that “if new sanctions go into effect,” the United States should “move its regional bases to a 2,000-kilometer radius” from Iran, adding that 2,000 kilometers is “the range of Iranian missiles.” [ Source: Radio Free Europe (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Catalonia’s secessionist leader faced increased pressure on Monday to abandon plans to declare independence from Spain, with France and Germany expressing support for the country’s unity.

The Madrid government, grappling with Spain’s biggest political crisis since an attempted military coup in 1981, said it would respond immediately to any such unilateral declaration.

A week after a vote on independence which the government did its utmost to thwart, the tension also took its toll on the business climate of Spain’s wealthiest region. [ Source: Reuters (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Any escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula is unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a phone call on Monday.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned over the weekend that “only one thing will work” in dealing with Pyongyang, hinting that military action was on his mind.

“Lavrov underlined the inadmissibility of any escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula, to which the USA’s military preparations lead, and called for contradictions to be resolved by diplomatic means only,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. [ Source: Reuters (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – A Cuban religious freedom activist was informed on 2 October that criminal charges against him have been dropped by Cuban state security.

Fếlix Yuniel Llerena López, a religious freedom activist, was informed on 2 October that criminal charges against him have been dropped by Cuban state security, and that he is allowed to travel abroad again.

Llerena López is the Central Region Coordinator for the Patmos Institute, an independent civil society organisation which promotes freedom of religion or belief and inter-religious dialogue and cooperation. The 20 year old activist had been interrogated by state security agents on 27 April upon arrival at the Abel Santamaria International Airport in Santa Clara as he returned from an advocacy visit to the United States. [ Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Twitter blocked a video ad that announced the Senate candidacy of Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., because the social media giant said a pro life message in it was “an inflammatory statement.”

Blackburn is running for the seat currently occupied by Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who is retiring at the end of 2018. In the nearly three-minute video, she referenced claims Planned Parenthood sold body parts from aborted fetuses.

“The United States Senate. It’s totally dysfunctional and it’s enough to drive you nuts. That’s why I’ve decided to do something about it. I’m Marsha Blackburn and I’m a hardcore, card-carrying Tennessee conservative. I’m politically incorrect and proud of it,” said Blackburn, who then listed her reasons for running. [ Source (Read More…) ]

This is the video @Twitter didn't want you to see. Watch it then RETWEET it to your followers. Don't let Silicon Valley censor Republicans! http://pic.twitter.com/KlwiEv3tsH

— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) October 10, 2017

(Worthy News) – A hotel security guard was shot by the Las Vegas mass shooting’s gunman six minutes before he opened fire on concert-goers, authorities said on Monday, revising the timeline of the attack.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo had previously said the guard was shot after gunman Stephen Paddock fired at the country music festival and that the guard’s arrival in the hallway of the Mandalay Bay hotel may have caused Paddock to stop firing.

It was not immediately clear why the timeline of the shooting changed a week later and what the impact could be on the investigation. [ Source: UK Telegraph (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – High-level Hamas and Fatah delegations are scheduled to participate in reconciliation talks in Cairo on Tuesday in a bid to start work on ending the decade-long territorial division between the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The talks, which are slated to last for three days under the auspices of the Egyptian Intelligence Directorate, are set to take place several weeks after Hamas agreed to dissolve its governing body in Gaza and invite the Palestinian Authority to take its place. Hamas has controlled Gaza since it ousted the PA in 2007 from the territory.

While both rival parties have said they are optimistic about restoring the unity of the West Bank and Gaza, they still have to overcome a number of obstacles to do that. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – At least 10 people have died and at least 1,500 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed as more than 14 fires ravaged eight counties throughout Northern California on Monday, authorities said.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office reported seven fire-related deaths late Monday. In addition, two died because of the Atlas fire in Napa County, said a CalFire spokesperson. One person died as result of the Redwood Valley fire in Mendocino County.

In Sonoma County, the dead were found “in the hot spots” of the fire, an official said. [ Source: Chicago Tribune (Read More…) ]

Destructive wildfires continue to rage in California’s wine country as strong winds threaten to enhance the blazes.

Mandatory evacuations were issued late Sunday after fires broke out across four counties. Officials estimate the fires have scorched over 73,000 acres. [ Source: Fox News (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – At a time of rising anti-Semitism, thousands of Christians are in Jerusalem to celebrate the biblical Feast of Tabernacles and stand with Israel.

They came from the ends of the earth for the six-day celebration, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), answering an ancient invitation.

“It’s the invitation of Zechariah the prophet, in chapter 14, verse 16 of the Book of Zechariah, he envisions a time when all the nations will come up, celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, worship the Lord here and we’re like forerunners. It’s a dress rehearsal,” ICEJ Vice President David Parsons told CBN News. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – At a time of rising anti-Semitism, thousands of Christians are in Jerusalem to celebrate the biblical Feast of Tabernacles and stand with Israel.

They came from the ends of the earth for the six-day celebration, sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), answering an ancient invitation.

“It’s the invitation of Zechariah the prophet, in chapter 14, verse 16 of the Book of Zechariah, he envisions a time when all the nations will come up, celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, worship the Lord here and we’re like forerunners. It’s a dress rehearsal,” ICEJ Vice President David Parsons told CBN News. [ Source (Read More…) ]