Thousands of Muslims Attack Christians in Egypt, 2 Killed, Homes and Stores Torched

By Mary Abdelmassih – “(AINA) — Thousands of Muslims attacked and besieged Copts in elGhorayzat village, population 80,000, killing two Copts and severely wounding others, as well as looting and torching homes and businesses. A quarrel between a Copt, John Hosni, and Mahmoud Abdel-Nazeer, who later died in hospital, turned into collective punishment of all Copts in the majority Christian village of elGhorayzat, in the Maragha district of Sohag province. Muslims vowed not to bury Abdel-Nazeer until John Hosni is punished. Mr. Hosni fled from the village with his family, ‘fearing a wholesale massacre of Copts,’ reported activist Mariam Ragy.

The events started on Monday, November 28, when John Hosni, a building supplier, had a quarrel with his neighbor, Mahmoud Abdel-Nazeer (48), over some steel rods and cement Mr. Hosni had left in the street to use for erecting a wall around his house. This was perceived by Mr. Abdel-Nazeer as extending the home into the street, which is public property. ‘Instead of reporting this building transgression to the police or local authorities, Abdel-Nazeer took the matter in his own hands and brought some Salafists and torched the store and the home of the Copt,’ said an eyewitness.

In the altercation between the neighbors, Mr. Hosni hit Abdel-Nazeer in the head with a wooden branch, which lead to his death later in hospital.

Angry Muslims murdered two Christian brothers, Kamel Tamer Ibrahim (55) and Kameel Tamer Ibrahim (50), in revenge. The brothers were not a party to the altercation. Kamel Tamer, who was defending his shop from looting, was murdered in front of his wife. His brother was also murdered in front of his wife for defending his home…” Read more.

International Support for Pastor Youcef Grows as Iran Threatens Churches

By Matthew Clark – “The situation of Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani – who remains on death row in Iran for his faith – is gaining increased international attention.

The Mexican Senate is the latest international body to take a stand for Pastor Youcef, stating that it ‘condemns the death sentence handed down to Yousef Nadarkhani for religious reasons.’

In recent weeks and months, a number of nations and international bodies have joined American leaders in calling for Pastor Youcef’s release. Britain was one of the first nations to speak out against the ongoing atrocity being committed against Pastor Youcef, its Foreign Secretary calling ‘on the Iranian authorities to overturn his sentence.’

Canada and members of the Uruguayan Senate have also made statements calling for Pastor Youcef’s release. In addition, the Foreign Affairs Council and the Council for the European Union have released statements condemning Pastor Youcef’s conviction and execution sentence. The European Parliament also passed a resolution calling for Pastor Youcef’s release.

We appreciate the willingness of the international community, including the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran, to bring attention to Pastor Youcef’s plight, and we urge international Muslim leaders (none of whom have spoken out) to call for Pastor Youcef’s unconditional release.

Mark Biltz: 2012 Will Be One Of The Most Prophetically Fulfilled Years In A Long Time

By Mark Biltz – “Shalom one and all!

Well, here we are at the end of 2011!

2012 is just around the corner. I firmly believe this will be one of the most prophetically fulfilled years in a long time. With all that is happening in the Middle East among the Arab countries whose attempt at democracy will only produce terrorist countries with the Islamic brotherhood in control, you can’t help but believe God is at work in lining everything up. This is not time to fear but a time to get prepared for a huge harvest of souls. As the future becomes the present and fades into the past we will have a better understanding of where we are on the prophetic timeline. With the leader of Syria refusing to follow in the way of the former leaders of Egypt and Libya, I believe he will resort to attacking Israel as a way to divert attention from his own problems. This will only lead to the fulfillment of Is 17 when Israel responds and Iran gets involved. It is time to keep Israel in our prayers and that their leaders will make the right decisions and lean upon the Almighty for their help and not rely totally on foreign help.

On our recent trip to Israel we stopped at a military base and visited the troops there. We need to support these young men and women who are at the forefront of the battle. I can’t help but think of this verse:

Egypt Delays Poll Results Set to Show Islamist Surge

It’s not ‘official’ yet, but it may as well be.  The Muslim Brotherhood (from which Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri began as activists) is set to win about 40% of the votes, and the more radical Salafi Islamists (similar in ideology to al-Qaeda) will be receiving about 20%.  Together, the Islamists will have a significant majority.  Welcome to Egypt’s new era of freedom …

By Jailan Zayan – “Egypt announced a second delay Thursday for results of its first election vote since its February revolution which are set to reveal hardline Salafi Islamists as important new powerbrokers.

Millions of Egyptians embraced their new democratic freedoms in the capital Cairo and second-city Alexandria earlier this week in an orderly and peaceful first phase of multi-stage parliamentary elections.

Egypt’s election commission chief Abdel Moez Ibrahim said a large turnout — forecast as high as 70 percent — meant the publication of results had to be pushed back another day to Friday.

‘The counting of votes is still going on in a number of districts because of the large number of voters who took part in these elections,’ he was quoted as saying by the official MENA news agency.

The results are expected to show the Muslim Brotherhood, a moderate Islamist movement banned for decades by Mubarak, as the dominant force after it said its party had taken at least 40 percent of the vote in preliminary counting.

The battle for second place had been seen as between secular liberals and hardline Islamists who follow the strict Salafi brand of Islam, but local media indicated the latter were poised to prevail with more than 20 percent.

‘Al-Nur, the surprise of the moment,’ headlined the independent Al-Shorouq daily on Thursday, referring to the main party of the Salafists, whose members follow a strict form of Islam dominant in Saudi Arabia.” Read more.

Utah: Hurricane Force Winds Topping 100 MPH Rip Through State Toppling Trucks, Trees, Power Lines

BY BOB MIMS – “Hurricane-force winds, in places topping 100 mph, ripped through Utah Thursday, overturning semi-trailer rigs on Interstate 15, toppling trees and triggering widespread power outages affecting nearly 50,000 homes and businesses.

n all, the Utah Department of Transportation reported 11 semis overturned by the wind on the state’s highways Thursday morning. Utah Highway Patrol Corporal Todd Johnson said that between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., at least six semis were blown onto their sides on I-15 in Davis County in the area of the Lund Lane and Parrish Lane exits in Centerville as violent gusts — hitting 102 mph around 9 a.m. — thrashed the region.

Johnson said none of the drivers suffered more than minor injuries.

All traffic through the affected area was diverted for about two hours, Johnson said. By 7:30 a.m., traffic through the area had resumed, but was periodically suspended as new semi-related accidents occurred throughout the morning. Motorists still were advised to avoid the area, if possible. High-profile vehicles were ordered off the gusty stretch of freeway until at least 6 p.m. Thursday.” Read more.

‘Iran Planning Attacks on US Forces in Germany’, Albanian PM: Iran and Ahmadinejad are ‘The New Nazis’

“Iran is planning to attack US armed forces stationed in Germany in the event of a US attack on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities, German daily Bild reported on Thursday.

According to the report, German authorities are investigating a German businessman suspected of espionage with intent to sabotage who they believe is in contact with the Iranian Embassy in Berlin.

Bild quoted German Attorney General Harald Range as saying ‘We have launched an investigation and taken operational measures.’

The report came amid diplomatic tensions between Germany and Iran in the aftermath of the storming of the British Embassy compound in Tehran earlier this week.” Read more.

Albanian PM Sali Berisha: Iran and Ahmadinejad are ‘The New Nazis’, will join military strike against Iran – “Berisha’s visit, deemed a sterling success by Jerusalem sources, was capped by his telling Israel’s largest Hebrew-language newspaper Yediot Acharonot that Iran and its President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are ‘the new Nazis’, and the world must learn from the Holocaust and stop them before it’s too late. The Holocaust taught the free world’s conscience not to let such a scenario repeat itself. Berisha vowed that his country, as a member of NATO, would join any military strike against the nuclear facilities in Iran, ‘just like we supported the operation in Libya.’ A nuclear Iran, he said, remains the ‘biggest threat to peace in the Middle East and in the entire world.'” Read more.

Flashback: Iran allows pro-Nazi website to reopen – “An Iranian Internet site for devotees of Nazi Germany has been allowed to reopen after being blocked briefly by government censors, a news website reported, raising questions about the official attitude to anti-Semitism. The site, irannazi.ir, says it is the home of the ‘Historical Research Society for World War Two and the Third Reich.'” Read more.

Japan: Study Shows Deeper Meltdown Than Thought at Fukushima Nuclear Reactor, Reactor 2 Temperature Off the Scale

“TOKYO — Radioactive debris from melted fuel rods may have seeped deeper into the floor of a Japan’s tsunami-hit nuclear reactor than previously thought, to within a foot from breaching the crucial steel barrier, a new simulation showed Wednesday.

The findings will not change the ongoing efforts to stabilize the reactors more than eight months after the Fukushima Daiichi plant was disabled, but they harshly depict the meltdowns that occurred and conditions within the reactors, which will be off-limits for years.

The plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co said its latest simulation showed fuel at the No. 1 reactor may have eroded part of the primary containment vessel’s thick concrete floor. The vessel is a beaker-shaped steel container, set into the floor. A concrete foundation below that is the last manmade barrier before earth…

Another simulation on the structure released by the government-funded Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization, or JNES, said the erosion of the concrete could be deeper and the possibility of structural damage to the reactor’s foundation needs to be studied.

JNES official Masanori Naito said the melting fuel rods lost their shape as they collapsed to the bottom of the vessel, then deteriorated into drops when water pumping resumed, and the fuel drops spattered and smashed against the concrete as they fell, Naito said.” Read more.

Temperature has gone ‘over scale’ at reactor 2 – “Today Tepco started their press conference 20 mins late, which is unusual. They did not even prepare documents to explain the current situation of the reactors. According to their statement, at least 3 troubles are happening. 1) At reactor 3 […] The water cooling system is not properly working. Water coming into the system and coming out of the system shows similar temperature. They assume it is because a valve was turned off. The last time it was checked was 11/19/2011. They don’t know why the valve got turned off. 2) At reactor 2 Gas pressure controlling room’s temperature has gone over scale. It’s in suppression chamber. Because the temperature has gone too high, heat gauge can not indicate accurately. They say other 2 heat gauges are indicating normal temperature ,but they are about 100m away from the place. Also, because the point is extremely radioactive, nobody can get close to check/replace the heat gauge.” Read more.

California: Winds of Nearly 100 MPH Knocks Out Power in Santa Ana, Downs Trees in LA as Strongest Offshore Event in Years Moves Through Region

By Ashley Gordon – “Power outages and downed trees were reported in several regions of Los Angeles County Wednesday night due to strong winds, NBC LA reported.

A major change in the weather pattern is expected to bring powerful gusts of up to 85 miles per hour and possible hurricane force winds into the Los Angeles region for two days.

The National Weather Service issued warnings that the high winds and low humidy could cause wildfires.

On Wednesday night, a wind gust of 97 mph was recorded at Whitaker Peak in Los Angeles County, according to the weather service.

Los Angeles International Airport was affected with power going in and out at the airport Wednesday.

Some containers and equipment that were unsecured rolled onto runways, LAX spokesperson Nancy Castles told KCAL9.

Castles was told by the Federal Aviation Administration that the some arrival flights would be delayed for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Some flights, including three international flights, were diverted to other airports.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said about 20 diverted flights were sent to Ontario Intgernational Airport in Riverside County Wednesday because of severe crosswinds and two runways were closed due to strewn debris.” Read more.

Strong winds coming to Southern California – “Strong Santa Ana winds could create dangerous fire conditions in Southern California over the next several days. The National Weather Service issued a high wind and fire watch for Wednesday evening through Saturday, with possible hurricane-speed gusts of 80 mph or more in the mountain passes of Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties. Gusts of more than 60 mph are possible in some lower-lying areas. The winds, which could shape up to be the strongest offshore event the region has seen in years, are expected to reach their highest intensity Wednesday night through Friday morning, potentially toppling trees and power lines and creating hazardous driving conditions, as well as a significant fire hazard.” Read more.

The Western World is ‘Finished Financially’: Banks Told to ‘Prepare for Armageddon’ as Central Bank Action Buys Time for Europe

The roller coaster called Wall Street never ceases to amaze.  Upon hearing about a can-kicking band-aid solution to temporarily cover up the Euro debt mess, the DOW sees its highest one-day gain in years.  If concealing the bleeding can rally the market this much, imagine how hard the fall will be when they come to terms with the fact that after running its course the band-aid fix has solved nothing and we’re now left with an open, unstoppable bleeding wound …

By Deepanshu Bagchee – “Stocks in Asia surged on Thursday, after the coordinated action by global central banks to provide cheaper dollar funding to European banks spurred massive gains on Wall Street. But according to a number of analysts CNBC spoke to, the rally is unlikely to last, as the move merely bought time for European leaders and doesn’t solve the euro zone’s fundamental debt problems.

‘This liquidity is definitely something that’s addressing the symptoms of the problems, but we really need the Europeans themselves to be attacking the cause and the solvency issues,’ said Nick Bennenbroek, Head of Currency Strategy at Wells Fargo in New York.

Michael McCarthy, Chief Markets Strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney said the stock surge was typical of a bear market rally. ‘Right now Europe needs a leader, somebody who can take this situation by the scruff of the neck and bring all of European interests to bear to get them to act in concert,’ he added

Europe’s already crippling debt crisis is set to worsen in 2012, when many of the region’s governments are forced to refinance huge amounts of debt. According to Ilian Mihov, a professor of Economics at the INSEAD business school, Italy alone will have to roll over 400 billion euros ($538 billion) in 2012, about 20 percent of its total debt. With yields on bonds at 7 to 8 percent, that could be difficult, he added.” Read more.

‘Prepare for Armageddon’: Banks told to prepare for Eurozone collapse – “BRITAIN’S banks have been told to prepare for the end of the Eurozone, it emerged today. City regulator the Financial Services Authority has told banks to ready themselves for armageddon by running ‘stress tests’ on their balance sheets. FSA chief Hector Sants met the heads of BARCLAYS, SANTANDER, HSBC, LLOYDS and RBS last week. News of the shock warning came as the world’s biggest central banks today launched a desperate bid to save the global economy by flooding markets with cheaper cash. The Bank of England was one of six pledging to make it cheaper for big banks to access ‘unlimited amounts’ of US dollars.” Read more.

CIO at Emergent Asset Management: The Western World Is ‘Finished Financially’ – “The Western world has run out of ideas and is ‘finished financially’ while emerging economies across the world will continue to grow, David Murrin, CIO at Emergent Asset Management told CNBC on the tenth anniversary of coining of the so-called BRIC nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China, by Goldman Sachs’ Jim O’Neill. ‘I still subscribe and I’ve spoken about it regularly on this show that this is the moment when the Western world realizes it is finished financially and the implications are huge, whereas the emerging BRIC countries are at the beginning of their continuation cycle,’ Murrin told CNBC. Murrin added he believes the power shift from the West to emerging economies beyond Europe and the United States was ‘unstoppable’ …” Read more.