A New Perspective on Constantine

(Worthy News) – The remains have been unearthed of 21 Coptic Christians beheaded by jihadists on a Libyan beach two years ago, the interior ministry said on Saturday.

“The heads are separated from the bodies clad in orange jumpsuits, hands bound behind the back with plastic wire,” said the ministry’s unit for fighting organised crime in the city of Misurata.

It said the bodies of 20 Egyptians and a man of unknown African nationality were unearthed from a mass grave south of the one-time jihadist bastion of Sirte, 450 kilometres east of Tripoli. [ Source: AFP (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – The death toll rose to 23 on Wednesday night from the rapidly spreading firestorm in California wine country as firefighters were battling the return of dangerous winds that sparked new evacuations.

All residents of Calistoga and Geyserville were ordered to leave their homes as firefighters braced for a tough fight overnight on numerous fronts of the fires. About 8:20 p.m., mandatory evacuations were also issued for parts of eastern Sonoma Valley, including Castle Road and 7th Street East north of Lovall Valley Road.

Napa city officials issued evacuation advisories for neighborhoods along the eastern edges of the city, warning residents to be prepared to leave. Just before 9 p.m., Santa Rosa police also issued an evacuation advisory for neighborhoods in the city’s eastern end, while other neighborhoods along the north end of the city are under mandatory evacuation orders. [ Source: LA Times (Read More…) ]

My sister is in Disneyland and just sent me these pictures from the fire. Is the world ending or something? Cause this is wack http://pic.twitter.com/uRut0up3Yr

— David (@iheartnate) October 9, 2017

(Worthy News) – A federal court ruled Wednesday that Congress can continue to open its sessions each day with a prayer, and upheld the House’s ability to pick and choose who’s allowed to lead the prayer.

U.S. District Judge Rosemary M. Collyer, a Bush appointee who sits in Washington, D.C., rejected a challenge by Daniel Barker, co-president of Freedom From Religion Foundation, who said he was not permitted to give an opening invocation, even though other guest chaplains have been permitted.

Judge Collyer said House rules didn’t permit him to lead the prayer because he had left his faith. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – President Trump’s proposal to fund an extension of the nation’s southern border wall is pitting most Republicans against Democrats in a battle that could end up in a partial government shutdown.

“It does complicate things,” Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., a key appropriator, told the Washington Examiner.

Democrats have pledged to vote against further 2018 government funding legislation if it provides money for the wall, citing a wide range of reasons for opposing the structure, some of them political. [ Source: Washington Examiner (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Several senior commanders from Islamic State who recently fled from Iraq and northern Syria are now based in southern Syria, just across the Golan Heights border with Israel, and are training hundreds of new recruits there, an Israeli television report said.

Israel’s Channel 2 said the commanders have made their way to an Islamic State-controlled enclave “close to the border” with Israel. They have set up a training camp to which they have recruited 300 local youths, said the report, which showed footage apparently of the camp and training sessions.

Among the commanders is one of Islamic State’s most notorious recruiters, Abu Hamam Jazrawi, the TV report said. [ Source: Times of Israel (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was open to bilateral trade pacts with either Canada or Mexico if a three-way deal cannot be reached to substantially revise the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Asked by a reporter if he could envision maintaining free trade with Canada if NAFTA talks sour with Mexico, Trump said: “Oh sure, absolutely. It’s possible we won’t be able to reach a deal with one or the other, but in the meantime we’ll make a deal with one.”

Trump added that a “very creative” deal was still possible to benefit all three countries. [ Source: Reuters (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – President Trump made the First Amendment his No. 1 enemy on Wednesday, calling freedom of the press “disgusting” and suggesting the TV networks he doesn’t like should lose their broadcasting licenses.

Triggered by an unflattering story from NBC News, Trump zeroed in on the network while making some of his most overt threats yet to the press. [ Source: NY Daily News (Read More…) ]

Fake @NBCNews made up a story that I wanted a "tenfold" increase in our U.S. nuclear arsenal. Pure fiction, made up to demean. NBC = CNN!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2017

With all of the Fake News coming out of NBC and the Networks, at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License? Bad for country!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2017

Network news has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked. Not fair to public!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2017

(Worthy News) – Defense Secretary Jim Mattis rebuked media reports that President Donald Trump wanted to increase the U.S. nuclear arsenal “tenfold” after a meeting with defense officials in July.

Mattis, who does not often comment on the president’s statements, found it necessary to put out his own statement Wednesday, saying, “Recent reports that the president called for an increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal are absolutely false.”

“This kind of erroneous reporting is irresponsible,” the former Marine general said. [ Source: Military.Com (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Hackers likely linked to the North Korean government targeted a U.S. electricity company late last month, according to a security firm that says it detected and stopped the attacks.

John Hultquist, director of intelligence analysis for FireEye, said Wednesday that phishing emails were sent on Sept. 22 to executives at the energy company, which he declined to identify. The attacks didn’t threaten critical infrastructure.

It’s the latest evidence of cyberespionage from various government-backed hackers targeting U.S. energy utilities, though experts say such attacks are often more about creating a psychological effect. [ Source: US News and World Report (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have reached agreement on aspects of their reconciliation bid during talks mediated by Egypt in Cairo this week, Hamas said on Thursday.

“An agreement was reached today between Hamas and Fatah under Egyptian sponsorship,” a statement from Hamas leader Ismail Haniya’s office said, without giving further details.

Fayez Abu Eita, a Fatah spokesman and member of the party’s delegation in Cairo, told AFP details would be announced at a press conference later on Thursday. [ Source (Read More…) ]