Free Republic

A star rises from Yaakov, A scepter comes forth from Yisrael; It smashes the brow of Moab, The foundation of all children of Shet. Numbers 24:17 (The Israel BibleTM)The resignation of Idit Silman from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s coalition in effect forced its collapse. The coalition and opposition in the Knesset are now a dead even 60-60 split.The development may have come as a shock to many in Jerusalem, but for Talmudic scholars, it appears to be the realization of a prophecy in the ancient text.A video featuring a student of Rabbi Meir Mazuz is making the rounds on Whatsapp...

The pro-Palestinian activist has been widely accused of anti-SemitismProperty and casualty insurer GEICO landed in hot water with several Jewish advocacy groups this week after inviting pro-Palestinian activist and accused antisemite Linda Sarsour to headline a company event. Following backlash, the company owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway apologized and said it had scrapped the event. GEICO issued a statement Thursday apologizing for the company's "initial plan" to invite Sarsour to speak at its "internal event" celebrating Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Heritage Month, adding that on Tuesday, they "quickly canceled the event."

Britain is to supply heavier weapons and armoured combat vehicles to support Ukraine. UK aid is being ramped up as the war enters what Foreign Secretary Liz Truss called ‘a new and difficult phase’. She predicted ‘a more concentrated Russian offensive’ in the days and weeks ahead as she met Nato foreign ministers in Brussels. The offensive is expected to involve tens of thousands of Russian troops taking on Ukraine forces in the east of the country. To ensure the protection of Ukrainian troops, Britain will provide armoured vehicles which can withstand explosive devices, rockets and rifle fire. According to...

Scientists just outside Chicago have found that the mass of a sub-atomic particle is not what it should be. The measurement is the first conclusive experimental result that is at odds with one of the most important and successful theories of modern physics. The team has found that the particle, known as a W boson, is more massive than the theories predicted. The scientists at the Fermilab Collider Detector (CDF) in Illinois have found only a tiny difference in the mass of the W Boson compared with what the theory says it should be - just 0.1%. But if confirmed...

Spain’s tourism board in London has U-turned on its suggestion that unvaccinated Britons could now visit the country. The board had advised Spain would be open to all UK travellers, including the unvaccinated, with no restrictions as long as passengers provided a negative pre-departure test. But just hours later, it said this was a “mistake” based on an inaccurate reading of Spain’s rules. The board’s deputy director labelled the announcement a “miscommunication” which arose from a “misinterpretation of the rules” laid out in a Spanish health department bulletin. Deputy director of the Spanish tourist board in the UK Pedro Medina...

Guest Michael Lewis claimed U.S. less prepared for COVID-19 now than in March 2020Wednesday’s "CBS Mornings" had harsh words for Americans who have chosen to remain unvaccinated against the coronavirus. A panel featuring author and podcast host Michael Lewis discussed what they considered the United States’ struggle with handling COVID-19, noting Lewis previously claimed the U.S. was less prepared than it was in March 2020. "You got to first accept that you failed. When you have 4% of the world’s population and 20% of the deaths, and you have more resources going and more knowledge on how to deal with...

"Teeth of the Hydra"Guitar bass pinglist Check it out

Despite low vaccination rates, countries across the African sub-continent reported few cases and Covid-related deaths Covid-19 was expected to ravage the unvaccinated populations of Central and West African countries as the pandemic began to rip through the continent. But something curious happened – or did not happen – which has left scientists baffled. Counties such as Sierra Leone, with eight million people and where malaria, Ebola, TB, and HIV have caused such devastation, have registered very few cases and barely any covid deaths; 123 in total, with Kamakwie district having reported just 11 cases and no deaths since the pandemic...

A commonly used means of delivering extra oxygen to children in intensive care is not as effective as many clinicians assume, new research has found. It was the first to compare the types of breathing support given to children when they come off mechanical ventilation, to help them transition to breathing unaided. Comparing methods The trial compared High-Flow Nasal Cannula therapy (HFNC)—where oxygen is delivered through tubes into the nostrils—with Continuous Positive Airwave Pressure (CPAP)—for which patients wear an oxygen mask. HFNC has become increasingly popular in pediatric intensive care units, as it is seen as more comfortable for children...

Some turbines killed multiple eagles and because the carcasses are not always found, officials said the number killed was likely higher than the 150 birds cited in court documents. Wind energy company pleads guilty after at least 150 eagles killed in U.S. Some turbines killed multiple eagles and because the carcasses are not always found, officials said the number killed was likely higher than the 150 birds cited in court documents. NextEra Energy was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay more than $8 million in fines and restitution after at least 150 eagles were killed over the past decade....

A California congregation with a sizable LGBT membership that belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has called for the removal of the denomination’s first trans-identified bishop. The Rev. Megan Rohrer, who uses “they/them” pronouns, was installed as the first trans-identified bishop in ELCA history last September, becoming the leader of the California-based ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod. However, since then, Rohrer has weathered controversy over allegations of racist behavior toward a Hispanic Lutheran pastor, as well as other issues that have led some to call for Rohrer’s removal. The Congregation Council of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, a Fresno-based ELCA...

A California progressive group managed to pressure a business to back out of being the venue for a Christian-led political action committee’s school board candidates event. Tim Thompson, pastor of 412 Church Murrieta, in southern California, formed the Inland Empire Family PAC to support school board candidates who hold to Judeo-Christian, conservative values. -snip Opposing Thompson’s efforts is the Temecula Unity, a progressive group that accuses the preacher of wanting to impose his views in the schools. “They say I’m trying to install a theocracy in the school board, which is not at all accurate,” Thompson told The Western Journal...

A team of researchers has found via a three-year trial that the SPYRAL HTN-ON MED renal denervation procedure reduced the blood pressure of volunteers in the trial. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is regular elevated blood pressure in the arteries. People with hypertension are at increased risk for strokes, vision loss, dementia and coronary artery disease. For that reason, patients are administered drugs to reduce their blood pressure. Unfortunately, these medications do not work for some patients, and medical scientists seek other ways to lower blood pressure. One technique is called renal denervation, where the nerves in blood...

The White House on Wednesday defended the idea of giving smartphones to illegal border crossers, to help them stay in touch with ICE officials. White House press secretary Jen Psaki appeared indignant after Fox News reporter Peter Doocy questioned her about the program, detailed recently in their reporting. “I think you, of all people, since you’ve asked me a range of questions on this topic over time, would recognize that we need to take steps to ensure that we know where individuals are and we can track, and we can check in with then,” she replied. Psaki said the phones...

Belarus said on Thursday it will pay some of its foreign debts in Belarusian roubles, as Western sanctions limit its ability to deal in foreign currencies. The country will pay debt and interest in Belarusian roubles on loans raised from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Nordic Investment Bank, the Belarusian government said.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins has tested positive for COVID-19. The senator's office issued a statement on her positive test result Thursday evening. Advertisement According to the statement, Collins is experiencing mild symptoms and will isolate and work remotely in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

It is the nicest day of the year today, so I got my convertible out of storage and was randomly driving around looking at the trees and the rest of God's creation, walked on the beach and just wanted to enjoy nature. I normally do not carry, but there were all random people wearing masks, so I could not really see their expressions and try to gauge what their intentions might be. It seems like they were trying to cover up their first amendment rights to expression or something. Even in the neighborhoods when I was driving home there were...

In Ramallah, masked men hand out sweets pic.twitter.com/7VcVILssZC— roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) April 7, 2022One by one, senior Hamas figures in Gaza welcome the attack. Mushir al-Masri, a senior Hamas figure, appears on the Qatari al-Jazeera channel (which has offices in Israel) Celebrations on Jenin pic.twitter.com/pu2kRhVwOE— roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) April 7, 2022

Lack of data and open-ended questions from FDA frustrate membersAll the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) could agree about on Wednesday in terms of a plan for COVID boosters is that they need more data. The 8-hour meeting, broadcast over YouTube, was riddled with technical glitches early on, and ended with some frustration over the open-ended questions the agency posed. FDA staff charged VRBPAC members with discussing what considerations should inform strain composition decisions for COVID boosters, how often should these be assessed, what would indicate a need for an updated strain composition, and what considerations...

Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Military Department to expand migrant turnback operations along the Rio Grande. The order comes in response the President Joe Biden’s decision to end the Title 42 coronavirus protection protocol and the predicted surge of up to 18,000 migrants per day attempting to cross from Mexico. During a press conference in Weslaco, Texas, on Wednesday, Governor Abbott ordered the Texas Military Department to expand migrant turnback operations previously announced. In an exclusive interview with the Texas governor in March, Abbott announced the program to begin turning migrants back who are attempting to illegally cross the...