“A remote and uninhabited Scottish island is looking for a resident caretaker. Isle Martin, near Ullapool, has no full-time residents but needs someone to keep the island in shape for visitors this summer. If months of lock down didn't faze you, living without a soul for miles around might be the job for you. The island's community trust is inviting solo applicants and couples to register their interest. Isle Martin has just enough to keep visitors busy for a few hours. Two beaches, a micro museum (in a hut) and a hill which affords fantastic bird-watching. The island was gifted to the community by the RSPB and Isle Martin Trust became a charity in 1999. What a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the future of a community and enjoy giving back to the future visitors.”
“Not things you might typically associate with protecting animals. According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), the planet's wildlife population has plummeted by 68% since 1970, with threats including things like poaching and loss of habitat. But around the world, animal conservation has now evolved so it's not just rangers and anti-poaching groups monitoring the wildlife of our world. So just how is technology helping to modernize animal conservation? The most recent eye-catching example of technological innovation can be found in the Balule Nature Reserve in South Africa, part of the huge Kruger National Park. Camera phones mounted in protective cases streamed images of animals to people worldwide. This is excellent news that we can all help to conserve our wildlife.”
“After successfully keeping coronavirus at bay, Taiwan is currently in the grip of its first serious outbreak. The island is desperately seeking vaccines to protect its people, and Taiwan's giant neighbor China has offered to help. But this puts Taiwanese leaders in a dilemma. Should they accept assistance from a country that wants to see Taiwan cease to exist as a self-governing entity? Or, to put it another way, is the virus more important than politics? So far, Taiwan has said no to Beijing. Recent polls show many Taiwanese support the government's approach in "safeguarding national sovereignty". The dilemma did not exist until the middle of this month. Up until then, Taiwan had seen only 1,500 or so infections and just 12 deaths. But then cases began to increase sharply. On Thursday alone Taiwan reported 13 deaths. Humanitarian issues are more important than politics.”
“President Joe Biden is facing questions from some in his Democratic party about the amount of aid the US sends to Israel. Senator Bernie Sanders has said the US must take a "hard look" at how the money is spent. So, what does Israel get and what is it used for? How much aid does the US give? In 2020, the US gave $3.8bn (£2.7bn) in aid to Israel - part of a long-term, yearly commitment made under the Obama administration. Almost all the aid given last year was for military assistance, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). The agreement, signed by former president Barack Obama in 2016, is due to run until 2028, meaning Israel will receive a total sum of around $38bn (£26.8bn) in military aid. This is an increase on the deal former president George W Bush made with Israel, which was worth $30bn (£21.1bn) in total over a decade. On top of this, last year the US gave $5m (£3.5m) toward resettling migrants in Israel. The country has a long-standing policy of accepting Jews from other parts of the world as citizens. Over the years, US aid has helped Israel develop one of the most advanced militarizes in the world, with the funds allowing them to purchase sophisticated military equipment from the US. No wonder the Middle East is a powder keg fuelled by the US to keep right wing politicians in power. God preserve the peace because Mankind can’t!”
“A set of gold rosary beads carried by Mary Queen of Scots at her execution in 1587 has been stolen along with more than £1m of gold and silver items in a raid on Arundel Castle. The artifacts were snatched from the West Sussex castle on Friday night. Other pieces taken during the raid include coronation cups given by Mary to the Earl Marshal. An Arundel Castle spokesman said the stolen items were of "priceless historical importance". The castle only reopened to the public on Tuesday. Staff were alerted to the break-in at 22:30 BST on Friday after a burglar alarm went off. Sussex Police told the BBC the thieves entered through a window and smashed a glass cabinet to grab the items. Det. Cons Molly O'Malley said the force believed a 4x4 saloon found abandoned and on fire in nearby Barlavington "was linked". The castle spokesman said: "Various items have been stolen of great historical significance. The rosary is of little intrinsic value as metal, but as a piece of the Howard family history and the nation's heritage it is irreplaceable." Is nothing safe or sacred? Spiritual Law will punish the thieves however long it may take.”
“Sasha Johnson has been a leading figure in the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK. Prominent Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson is critically ill after being shot in the head, her party says. The Taking the Initiative Party said she was being treated in intensive care after being "brutally attacked" in the early hours of Sunday. The group said the attack, which happened in Peckham, south London, followed "numerous death threats". Police have not confirmed her identity but said at this stage there was no evidence the attack was targeted. Officers said the 27-year-old woman was taken to a south London hospital with life-threatening injuries and have appealed for witnesses. This dastardly and inhumane crime must make women feel unsafe again in and around London after various murders have taken place recently. Please God protect the innocent and take your vengeance out on the killers who break your commandments.”
“Western countries have condemned Belarus for diverting a plane flying over it territory to arrest a Belarusian opposition journalist. EU leaders are due to discuss their response to what the union's executive called a "hijacking" and the US state department said was "a shocking act". Belarus scrambled a fighter jet to force the plane - bound for Lithuania - to land, claiming a bomb threat. Police came and took Roman Protasevich away when passengers disembarked. The 26-year-old was aboard the Ryanair plane, which was flying from the Greek capital, Athens. The aircraft was due to land in Vilnius but was still in Belarusian airspace when it was told to divert it to their own capital, Minsk. Witnesses said the activist was "super-scared" and told fellow passengers he would face the death penalty. State media in Belarus said President Alexander Lukashenko had personally given the order for the move. The plane landed in Vilnius more than six hours after its scheduled arrival. Since winning a disputed election last August, 66-year-old Mr Lukashenko, who has ruled the country since 1994, has cracked down on dissenting voices. Many opposition figures have been arrested while others fled into exile. If you can’t take criticism, you shouldn’t have power over the people.”
“The BBC's reputation has been "highly damaged" following an inquiry into the Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, Priti Patel has said. The home secretary said it would have to rebuild trust and confidence following Lord Dyson's probe into how Martin Bashir obtained the interview. The independent inquiry found Bashir used deception to get the interview. Asked whether the corporation would survive, Ms Patel said it would have to "reflect and learn lessons". She told The Andrew Marr show on BBC One it had been "utterly heart-breaking" to hear the dukes of Cambridge and Sussex speaking "in very personal terms" about their mother, following the publication of the report last week. "There is no doubt this world-class institution, its reputation has been highly damaged," she said. "Lessons will have to be learned - there is no question about that." When will they ever learn to be honorable and speak the truth? Once destroyed it can never be replaced.”
“Thousands of Australian children are walking out of school to attend protests, calling for action on climate change. Up to 50,000 students are expected at School Strike for Climate rallies across the country. Australia has long faced criticism for failures in climate policy. It's the latest grassroots campaign by young people pushing for action on the climate crisis. Australia has long faced criticism for refusing to set more ambitious emissions targets. David Soriano, a 17-year-old attending a Sydney rally told the BBC he was worried about the future and wants the government to see the youth movement "as one to be reckoned with". "We're scared and concerned. We're doubtful that there might not be a future in store for the generations after us, and even our own generation," he said. Mr Soriano said he had experienced increasing heatwaves and low air quality, in Western Sydney where he lives. The protesters are also calling for no new coal, oil and gas projects in Australia, including the controversial Adani mine. Let’s hope that the Almighty opens the ears of the Australian Government to act on this global catastrophe while there is still some time left.”
“A ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip has come into effect. The ceasefire began early on Friday, bringing to an end 11 days of fighting in which more than 240 people were killed, most of them in Gaza. Palestinians poured on to the streets of Gaza soon after the truce began, while a Hamas official warned that its hands were "on the trigger". Both Israel and Hamas have claimed victory in the conflict. US President Joe Biden said the ceasefire brought "genuine opportunity" for progress. Soon after it started at 02:00 on Friday (23:00 GMT on Thursday), large numbers of Palestinians took to the streets in cars and on foot to celebrate. In Gaza, drivers honked their horns, while loudspeakers from mosques pronounced "the victory of the resistance". Israel's military later said it was removing nearly all emergency restrictions on movement throughout the country. This continual battle pauses again ready to re-ignite at any time. It is fuelled by hate and greed. God must show the way where there is no way.”“The Duke of Cambridge has blamed BBC failings over its interview with his mother for fueling her paranoia and worsening his parents' relationship. After an inquiry found the BBC fell below its standards, Prince William said he was "most saddened" Diana never learned she had been deceived. He said his mother was failed "not just by a rogue reporter" but also by BBC bosses. The Duke of Sussex blamed a toxic media culture for his mother's death. In his separate statement, Prince Harry said that the "ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices" ultimately took his mother's life. He expressed concern such practices "are still widespread today", adding that it was "bigger than one outlet, one network or one publication". "Our mother lost her life because of this, and nothing has changed. By protecting her legacy, we protect everyone, and uphold the dignity with which she lived her life," he said. The BBC has written to apologize to Princes William and Harry, as well as the Prince of Wales and Diana's brother Earl Spencer. May Almighty God grant them healing and forgive the unforgivable behavior at the BBC.”
“China has successfully landed a spacecraft on Mars, state media announced early on Saturday. The six-wheeled Zhurong robot was targeting Utopia Planitia, a vast terrain in the planet's northern hemisphere. The vehicle used a combination of a protective capsule, a parachute and a rocket platform to make the descent. The successful touchdown is a remarkable achievement, given the difficult nature of the task. Only the Americans have really mastered landing on Mars until now. All other countries that have tried have either crashed or lost contact soon after reaching the surface. Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated the mission team on its "outstanding achievement" in a special message. "You were brave enough for the challenge, pursued excellence and placed our country in the advanced ranks of planetary exploration," he said. As the Space Race continues, we must ask God to guide for its peaceful use.”
“A giant bird that has been part of Irish folklore and was often kept as a pet in medieval times could be returning to the island after an absence of more than 300 years. A pair of cranes are nesting on a rewetted peat bog in the Republic of Ireland's midlands. It is hoped they could be the first of the species to breed in Ireland for centuries. The cranes are on land owned by former peat producer Bord na Móna. The location is to remain confidential to protect the birds. In January, Bord na Móna ceased peat harvesting for good and has been rehabilitating thousands of hectares of bog lands, re-wetting the drained sites. This is very good news. We need to thank God for this miracle.”
“Israel's air strikes on the militant Hamas movement in Gaza have forced the Middle East on to Joe Biden's agenda amid new questions about how his emphasis on human rights applies to Palestinians. It has also laid bare the extent to which the Israeli right has been empowered in occupied East Jerusalem during the presidency of Donald Trump. Unrest there sparked wider battles and could draw the Biden administration more deeply into the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict even after this latest seismic eruption abates. Goliath seems to have been a Jew and David a Palestinian.”
“President Joe Biden has revoked a string of proclamations by Donald Trump, including an order to punish vandals who destroy monuments. Mr Trump issued the order amid last year's social justice protests as statues were being defaced or toppled. Mr Biden also rescinded Mr Trump's plans for a sculpture garden to honor American heroes. And he canned a 2019 proclamation that sought to bar entry to immigrants who could not afford health insurance. Mr Trump issued an order in June 2020 instructing the federal government "to prosecute to the fullest extent" any person "that destroys, damages, vandalizes, or desecrates a monument, memorial, or statue". The proclamation - which singled out "rioters, arsonists and left-wing extremists" - was a popular talking point for the Republican president at his rallies. It followed demonstrators targeting statues, many dedicated to figures from the pro-slavery Confederacy, during US-wide protests following the murder of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Love must conquer hate to bring peace to this country.”
“After months of good news, including falling Covid cases and a hugely successful vaccination campaign, the tone has shifted. England's full relaxation of rules in June is in jeopardy and there is the looming specter of greater pressure on the NHS. The thorn in the plans is the variant of coronavirus that emerged in India - B.1.617.2 - and has started spreading around the world. Concerns have been mounting over the past week and, for the first time, the scientists advising the UK government are now confident it does spread more easily. The expectation is the variant will edge out the one that emerged in Kent and eventually "dominate" cases in the UK. We are in a race between the virus and the vaccine. Easing restrictions on Monday and a more transmissible variant means the virus will move even faster. But there is still huge uncertainty about exactly how much better the B.1.617.2 variant is at spreading. "That's a really critical question to which we do not yet have the answer," said Prof Chris Whitty. If it is just a smidge faster than the Kent variant, which still makes up the overwhelming majority of cases in the UK, then there's not much to worry about. However, the government's scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage) says there is a "realistic possibility" it could spread 50% faster, which is a lot. We pray that God keeps us safe and keeps us healthy.”
“It's been seven months since the 2020 US presidential election. Donald Trump may not have conceded, but he's out of office. Joe Biden has been president for more than 100 days. The drumbeat of policy making has moved on to pandemic relief and infrastructure spending. And yet in Mar-a-Lago, Trump is still complaining about his election loss. In Washington, Republicans just booted Liz Cheney, who said Biden was legitimately elected, from her congressional leadership post. And in Phoenix, Arizona, they're still counting - or technically, auditing - ballots. The audit is a review of more than two million ballots cast in Maricopa County - which includes Phoenix - ordered by the Republican majority that controls Arizona's state Senate. Joe Biden carried Maricopa County by more than 45,000 votes on the way to winning Arizona by 10,457 votes. He was the first Democrat to take the state since Bill Clinton in 1992. Republican audit backers theorize that if they can find substantive evidence of fraud then it means Trump really won Arizona. If Trump really won Arizona, maybe he really won other states he narrowly lost. And if he really won enough other states, then he really won the election. This dishonorable man never knows when he dead in the water.”
“Eleven people, including nine children, have been killed in a shooting at a school in the Russian city of Kazan, reports say. Two gunmen reportedly opened fire inside the school, some 820km (510 miles) east of Moscow. A teenager was detained, while reports said a second assailant was killed in the building. Authorities said security had been restored at the school in Kazan, in the mainly Muslim republic of Tatarstan. Police have opened an investigation. No motive has yet been established. Heavily armed police and emergency vehicles responded to the shooting at School No. 175 on Tuesday. Footage shared on social media showed some children jumping from windows to escape as well as injured people being evacuated. Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov described the shooting as a "disaster" and a "tragedy". Tragedy the world over as these two men targeted innocent children. Concentrated negative energy brings great evil into society.”
“Police
investigating the death of community support officer Julia James have charged a
21-year-old man with her murder. Ms James, 53, was found dead on 27 April near
Akholt Wood, Snowdown, near Dover, having suffered serious head injuries. Callum
Wheeler, from Aylesham, was arrested at 21:30 BST on Friday. He remains in
custody and is due to appear via video link at Medway Magistrates' Court on
Tuesday. Ms
James had worked for Kent Police since 2008, and her family said she was
"fiercely loyal" and "loved with her whole heart". She died
from severe head injuries and had been walking her dog near her home at the
time, police said. This is a cruel act of senseless murder.
Is nobody safe in this green and pleasant
land?”
“Countries worldwide have appealed for calm after days of unrest spiraled into retaliatory attacks by Israel and Palestinians. The US, the European Union and the UK have urged Israel and the Palestinians to lower tensions as soon as possible. The violence escalated on Monday night after Palestinian militants fired rockets towards Jerusalem. In response, the Israeli military launched air strikes against militant targets in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian health officials in Gaza said 22 people, including nine children, had died in the strikes. Israel's military said at least 15 members of the Hamas group that rules Gaza were among those killed. Hamas had threatened to strike after hundreds of Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli police at a holy site in Jerusalem on Monday. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had "crossed a red line" and that Israel would respond "with great force". Israel need to stop their aggression and stealing what isn’t theirs to take from the Arabs. Why doesn’t their God talk to them and make them listen.”
“Afghan families have been burying their children who were killed in explosions outside a secondary school in the capital, Kabul, on Saturday. More than 60 people, mostly girls, are now known to have died in the attack that hit students as they left class. No-one has admitted carrying out the attack in Dasht-e-Barchi, an area often hit by Sunni Islamist militants. The Afghan government blamed Taliban militants for the attack, but the group denied involvement. The exact target for Saturday's bloodshed is unclear. The blasts come against a backdrop of rising violence as the US looks to withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by 11 September. The neighborhood in western Kabul where the blasts occurred is home to many from the Hazara minority community, who are of Mongolian and Central Asian descent and are mainly Shia Muslims. There is no excuse for the cold-blooded killing of children due to adult hatred.”
“China emits more greenhouse gas than the entire developed world combined, a new report has claimed. The research by Rhodium Group says China emitted 27% of the world's greenhouse gases in 2019. The US was the second-largest emitter at 11% while India was third with 6.6% of emissions, the think tank said. Scientists warn that without an agreement between the US and China it will be hard to avert dangerous climate change. China's emissions more than tripled over the previous three decades, the report from the US-based Rhodium Group added. The Asian giant has the world's largest population, so its per person emissions are still far behind the US, but the research said those emissions have increased too, tripling over the course of two decades. China has vowed to reach net-zero emissions by 2060 with a peak no later than 2030. We must protest against these appalling abuses and damage to our planet and allow God to show us the way where there is no way.”
“The restoration of a rare medieval shrine means a cathedral now features a figure wearing a face mask. The shrine of St Amphibalus, at St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire will be on display when it reopens for visitors on 17 May. The figure "reminds us the history of St Albans stretches forwards as well as backwards", a cathedral spokesman said. The work, which took more than a year to complete, was funded by a grant and more than a thousand other donors. It was due to be unveiled in June last year, but work was delayed due to the pandemic. So here at least it is the present that is being remembered and not only the past. God is everywhere, every day and the present is what is important to be remembered.”
“Malawians have expressed concern after the water in Lake Malawi turned green in a rare phenomenon. The fisheries department has warned fishermen against fishing on the lake saying it could be harmful. Forestry and Natural Resources Minister Nancy Tembo has explained that the greening is as a result of a bloom in toxic algae that occurred after heavy rains and wind mixed up the nutrients found at the bottom of the lake. Ms Tembo said the lake had become eutrophic - a condition where aquatic life begin to die off as oxygen levels reduce - and warned people to stay away and give the green water two weeks to fade away. Natural phenomena follow the natural laws that our Creator put in place for our security.”
“Nearly 40 UK food businesses have threatened to stop sourcing products from Brazil over proposed land reforms. An open letter from the group calls on Brazil's legislature to reject a bill which could legalize the private occupation of public land. The letter said the proposal could accelerate deforestation in the Amazon. The bill is being considered just months after Brazil pledged to end illegal logging. Sainsbury's, Aldi, Greggs, the Co-Op, the British Retail Consortium, and the Hilton Food Group are among the major organizations to sign the open letter. A vote in the Senate on the bill is expected later Wednesday or Thursday. The companies say they "consider the Amazon as a vital part of the earth system that's essential to the security of our planet, as well as being a critical part of a prosperous future for Brazilians and all of society." Rain-forests are critical to mitigating the effects of climate change, as they store vast amounts of carbon. Maybe this is just the start of bringing some security to the Amazon and more people will stand together around the world.”
“The Italian government has approved a plan to furnish Rome's ancient Colosseum with a new floor, giving visitors the chance to stand where gladiators once fought. Culture Minister Dario Franceschini announced the project to build the wooden, retractable floor on Sunday. Italian engineering firm Milan Ingegneria won the 18.5m euro (£16.1m; $22.2m) contract to design the floor. The floor is expected to be finished by 2023. At present, the 2,000-year-old monument has no floor. It was removed by archaeologists in the 19th Century, exposing the underground network of tunnels where gladiators and animals were held before the Roman blood sports began. This shrine to a bloody history must be viewed in the context of today’s values to gladiatorial entertainment.”
“US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has accused China of acting more aggressively abroad and more repressively at home. He said in an interview with CBS News the US did not want to hold China down but would not allow it to undermine the rules-based international order. He noted that a military confrontation was profoundly against the interests of both countries. Tensions have soared in recent times over trade, espionage and the pandemic. The China-US relationship is crucial to both sides and the wider world, with Beijing repeatedly calling on the new administration in Washington to improve relations which deteriorated under President Joe Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump. We must all work together to live in peace and yet stand up for wrongdoing around the world.”
“A controversial new bill that would stop tech companies from de-platforming politicians has been approved by both houses in Florida's legislature. The bill must now be signed off by Trump ally, Governor Ron DeSantis. The legislation allows platforms to suspend accounts, but only for 14 days, and could fine the platforms as much as $250,000 per day for violating the law. NetChoice, a group that promotes free expression on the internet, testified against the legislation last month. Donald Trump was banned by Twitter and suspend by Facebook and YouTube after the deadly Capitol Hill riots in January. It was a right move. This law will bring consequences, as we will all see in time.”
“It began with puffs of white smoke, but by Friday teatime the people who call the foothills of the Mourne Mountains home began to feel nervous. As darkness fell, like thousands of others, Laura Devlin and her family stood at a bedroom window watching orange flames devour the night sky. Ms Devlin is a Mournes woman, born and bred. For people like her, the mountains are more than a pretty watercolor in a tourist shop. There is a pride and a sense of ownership - there is that feeling of solid community. "To see our beautiful Mournes burning was heart-breaking and devastating," she said. Our hearts go out to the families who had to watch it burn, but God will let it grow again and blot out the misery that is there today.”
“More than 50,000 people have signed an online petition calling for US First Lady Jill Biden to restore the Rose Garden at the White House to its "former glory". Ex-First Lady Melania Trump had some trees and some of the more colorful flowers removed last year. According to the petition, the changes amounted to "a boring tribute to herself". Presidents often use the garden for addresses and press conferences. If you can’t improve things, it is better to leave things alone. Tradition is usually a better guide than self-interest.”
