World War Three fears ignited after ‘Israeli strike’ takes out Iran’s top commanders

Part of Israel–Hamas war, Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war, Israel–Hezbollah conflict and the Iran–Israel proxy conflict – 2024 Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus

Metro, April 2, 2024

Event

Fears of a conflict in the Middle East which could ignite World War Three have intensified after Iran accused Israel of bombing the Iranian Embassy in Damascus. Away from Vladimir Putin’s threats to Nato and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s pledges to build more nuclear weapons in 2024, attention is now on the air strike on the consulate in the Syrian capital. Footage circulating online shows the destruction of a building next door in the Mezzeh district, just a few meters from the Embassy of Canada. Israeli F-35 fighter jets came from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights, Syria’s defence ministry reported. International experts have since warned that Israel’s alleged actions could lead to a all-out war in the region. Seven Iranian military advisers, including three senior commanders, were killed in the attack. General Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), was named among the victims. Iranian state media reported that he was the target of Israel’s attack.

Comment

Israel has long targeted Iran’s military installations in Syria and those of its proxies, but this was the first time it has hit the vast embassy compound itself.  Israel said the building in Damascus is not an official consulate, but a military hub for the Iranian regime. There are many experts who think this attack could ignite a major response from Iran which could lead to a wider war. The issue is that usually embassies are “off limits” because technically they are a nation’s territory in another country.

The Bible says that “the Medes” will be “stirred up” and that they will use their “bows” to “dash young men to pieces.” The Medes are the Iranians and they have been stirred up. As the verse says below – they care nothing for silver or gold – they are ideologically

Bible quote

Behold, I will stir up the Medes [Iranians] against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.  Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children. (Isaiah 13:17-18)

Weekly World Watch, Andy Walton

 

10 years of guestwritings

Today, we may congratulate ourselves. WordPress has sent us a “Happy Anniversary”.

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!

You registered on WordPress.com 10 years ago.

Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.

Ten years ago I wanted to create a kind of “Readers Digest”, in order to make a selection among the many publications that come our way and get to know articles worth reading to others.
This means that I have been trying to present fascinating articles for a decade now. Hopefully, my experiment may have been a little successful. However, I must admit that I am very disappointed that more writers have not offered to help propose a selection of articles here. Especially with articles published on WordPress, it is not that difficult to reblog them on this platform. But apparently, not many people want to do that on someone else’s website.

In 2014 I started off with 3.124 views by 1847 visitors. Climax was 2020 with 32679 views by 9477 visitors. In 2021 it was back down to 14414 views by 5835 visitors.
In 2017 I got 485 likes. The Corona year brought 606 likes onto this platform. For 2023 with only 5537 views and 3835 visitors, we got 659 likes.

In the meantime, in addition to my personal blog, several Christian blogs have emerged from my mind, which also require attention and material. This may mean that less can be published than originally thought, but I hope I have not neglected the intention to post articles about our lifestyle. We regularly propose some health items here. In addition, I continue to look forward to fascinating poems and life wisdom that can inspire us.

We may count on 395 subscribers (which does not seem to be much, according to me).

All-time stats

• Views 102,968
• Visitors 51,997
• Posts 3,800
• Comments 931

In any case, I will continue with this site and hope that it will continue to grow, in addition to the many other sites that I still maintain.

I hope to find you here in the future with many other visitors and wish you a lot of reading pleasure.

 

 

+++

Related

1. I’m On My Own Today
2. Effective Blog Promotion: Strategies to Increase Your Reach
3. Building a Loyal Blog Audience: Strategies for Engagement
4. Never Run Out of Ideas: Top Tips for Generating Fresh Blog Topics
5. Maximizing Your Blog’s Reach: SEO Tips for Bloggers
6. Of a poet quest for perfection
7. Today’s quote
8. Something To Write About
9. 400 post milestone
10. Website Makeover and Completely Revamped!
11. Community
12. Today’s Motivational Quote and Words of Encouragement
13. WordPress and the Data Liberation Project
14. How to launch WordPress on Google Cloud
15. Demystifying WordPress: Unveiling Its Software Essence
16. Writer’s Tips – March Edition – #Editing, #Writing Dialogue,
17. Webflow vs WordPress 2024: Understanding the Key Differences
18. I wonder what WordPress’s data liberation feature will look like…
19. WordPress prompt 1890 • 20240327
20. Please Don’t Gift Me a WordPress Plan
21. Hello 2024.. I’m Back
22. Day 42 @rtCamp
23. Exploring the Music Artist Theme on WordPress
24. A quick review of WordPress Theme: Twenty Twenty-Four
25. WordPress Theme Development: Functions

Lent, Holi, Purim, and Palm Sunday observed, and Ramadan entering its third week

Religious Experience

This weekend holds significance for a few of the world’s major religions, as Holi, Purim, and Palm Sunday are observed, and Ramadan enters its third week.

The timing may be coincidental, but the holidays couldn’t be more different. Holi and Purim are celebratory, the former welcoming spring, and the latter marking a victory. But Palm Sunday and Ramadan are more solemn, commemorating the final week of Jesus’ life, and the Qurʾān’s creation, respectively.

The Colorful Story of Holi

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

The History and Observance of Purim

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

What Do Palm Leaves Have to Do With Jesus?

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Discover More

• How the Month of Ramadan Is Celebrated
• Quiz: A Study of Religion, Fact or Fiction

Find also to read:

1. Religious Practices around the world
2. Al-Fatiha [The Opening] Süra 1: 4-7 Merciful Lord of the Creation to show us the right pathT
3. oday in Jewish History: Nachmanides’ Disputation (1263)
4. Holidays: Inherent Joy vs. Circumstances
5. December a joyful time for many
6. A night different from all other nights and days to remember
7. On Purim, Let’s Get Vulnerable
8. Purim or Ta’aniet Estêr
9. 2019 Purim March 20
10. Looking at 13 Adar until 16 Adar 5781 February 25-28 2021
11. 8 Reasons Christian Holidays Should Not Be Observed
12. Speaking up and Celebration of Purim
13. Purim in days of Ukrainian war
14. 4 Truths to Remember as We Feast
15. The meek one riding on an ass
16. Preparing for the most important weekend of the year 2018
17. Catholics facing a totally different Holy Week
18. Not daring to show a connection (Our World) = Not daring to show a connection (Some View on the World)
19. Entrance of a king to question our position #1 Coming in the Name of the Lord
20. Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be
21. Deliverance and establishement of a theocracy
22. What to do in the Face of Global Anti-semitism
23. The New Arab: Israeli protests seek to uphold the settler colonial status quo, Palestinian resistance is the means of liberation
24. Saudi Arabia Calls On Muslims To Sight Ramadan Crescent Moon On Friday Evening
25. From the Ramadan into the eid
26. About fasting by monotheists
27. No necessity for fasting

Biden: Only two-state solution will guarantee Israel’s security

The Times of Israel, March 8, 2024

Event

The U.S. and Israel stand at a diplomatic and military crossroads. Israel says it needs to finish the war against Hamas in the key Gazan city of Rafah, yet the U.S. is threatening that Israel won’t be able to use American weapons if Israel launches its military campaign against the Hamas stronghold.
On the northern border, Hezbollah continues to fire rocket volleys on Israeli communities. In his State of the Union address, President Biden put the burden on Israel to protect Gazans.

“Israel has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population like cowards under hospitals, daycare centers, and all the like. Israel also has a fundamental responsibility, though, to protect innocent civilians in Gaza,”

Biden declared. He added what he says is the solution:

“As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution (between Israel and the Palestinians) over time.”

Comment

Turmoil in the Middle East poses a risk to President Joe Biden’s re-election bid and might help Trump into office again. The conflict between Israel and Hamas is impacting politics around the world.

In the UK there has been a recent byelection that has seen an ultra antisemitic candidate have a landslide win. Such was the shock, the prime minister delivered a speech condemning the vote in front of No10. All this is causing nations to rethink their support of Israel. There is growing pressure to unliterally declare a two state solution – in other words divide Israel in two and have half the land as a Palestinian State and half for Israel. But it will not bring peace – it will only bring more war.

Joel 3 says that the nations have “parted” or “divided” my land. In the following verses we read of all nations being gathered to Israel to battle – it is coming….

Bible quote

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted [divided] my land. (Joel 3:2)

The nations may well announce a division of the land – but in the next verse God says

“what has Philistia to do with me?”

Weekly World Watch, Andy Walton

British parliament plunged into chaos over Gaza cease-fire vote

Politico, February 21, 2024

Event

Angry MPs staged a walkout in the House of Commons Wednesday night and vented their fury at Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, as a symbolic vote on a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas descended into chaos. MPs had been set to vote on a motion from the Scottish National Party calling for an “immediate” cease-fire in Gaza. The SNP used its dedicated “opposition day” in the Commons to push the motion. But Hoyle intervened to allow the opposition Labour Party — which feared a rebellion from its own MPs amid pressure over its response to the conflict — to put forward its own amendment to the motion, which also backed an  “immediate humanitarian cease-fire” but included softer language on Israel’s conduct in the war.

The Prime Minister gave his own views on the Gaza votes controversy in a short broadcast interview on Thursday afternoon.

“I think the important point here is that we should never let extremists intimidate us into changing the way in which Parliament works. Parliament is an important place for us to have these debates. Some people may want to stifle that with intimidation or aggressive behaviour.”

Comment

The chaos seen in Britain’s parliament was down to one thing – fear. MP’s are fearful of the violent consequences if they are not seen to be backing Gaza and the Palestinians. It has come to light that many MP’s are receiving threats if they don’t vote ”the right way” and condemn Israel.

A staff member for an MP said it was “only a matter of time” until “the worst happens”. This is why the UK prime minister said that some want to stifle debate though intimidation and aggression.

The Bible says that Jerusalem would become a burdensome stone for all people and those who try to move it will be cut to pieces. In other words Jerusalem will become an insolvable issue that brings destruction.

Bible quote

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:3)

Don’t forget the Hamas war is about Jerusalem. They call this conflict The Al Aqsa Flood – Al Aqsa is the Muslim name for the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Weekly World Watch, Andy Walton

Putin: US ‘needs to stop supplying weapons’ to Ukraine and urge Kyiv to hold peace talks

EuroNews February 9, 2024

Event

The West will never succeed in inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia in Ukraine, the Russian president warned. Vladimir Putin has told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that Washington should recognise Moscow’s interests and persuade Ukraine to sit down for talks. Thursday night’s interview is the first time Putin has sat down with a Western journalist since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Most of the interview focused on Ukraine, where the war is nearing the two-year mark. Putin pointed at Zelenskyy‘s refusal to conduct talks with the Kremlin.  He argued it’s up to Washington to stop supplying Ukraine with weapons and convince Kyiv – which he called a US “satellite” – to sit down for negotiations.

“We have never refused negotiations,”

Putin said.

“You should tell the current Ukrainian leadership to stop and come to a negotiating table.”

Putin warned the West would never succeed in inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia and rejected allegations that Russia was harbouring plans to attack Poland or other NATO countries.

Comment

Putin wants to get a peace deal on his own terms with Ukraine. He has said that the West will never defeat Russia in Ukraine. He is right on that point – Putin is prepared to go to any lengths to come out of the war with some territorial gain. However, he also doesn’t want the war to continue forever. Therefore Putin speaks of making some peace agreement. It is highly possible that this will happen at some point. We know that Russia one day will invade Israel. It is unlikely to do so if a large percentage of its army is tied up fighting a war in Ukraine. Therefore the most likely scenario is some negotiated truce, or stalemate or forced agreement. But what would bring this about? The Bible says Gog will use devastating force to succeed. Putin is able to do this…

Bible quote

He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. (Daniel 8:24 NLT)

Andy Walton, Weekly World Watch

Doomsday Clock unchanged at 90 seconds to midnight – amid ‘unprecedented level of risk’

Daily Telegraph, January 23, 2024

Event

The Doomsday Clock remains at 90 seconds to midnight, the experts predicting the likelihood of a global catastrophe have said. It comes after a year that saw conflict in Ukraine rage on and war in the Middle East flare up. Scientists say there is a

“continuing unprecedented level of risk”

from threats including war, the climate crisis and the “dramatic advance” of AI. The countdown is a metaphor for global collapse agreed on by experts at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. In 2023, the clock was set at 90 seconds to midnight – the closest to global collapse it has ever been. While the clock has not edged closer to midnight this year, scientists warned that was not an indication of stability. Rachel Bronson, president of the bulletin, said:

“Make no mistake: resetting the clock at 90 seconds to midnight is not an indication that the world is stable. Quite the opposite.

Comment

The Doomsday Clock is a symbol that represents the likelihood of a human-made global catastrophe, in the opinion of the members of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. It was created in 1947 after the nuclear bombings of Japan. During the 1980’s with nuclear treaties etc the clock moved back to 17 minutes to midnight.

They now say it is 90 seconds to midnight. It is interesting the end of time is set at midnight.
The Bible talks about midnight in several places in relation to the time of the end. In Matthew 25 it is at midnight that there is a great cry made and the bridegroom is announced as arriving. This event by the way wakes up all the virgins from their sleep! Mark 13 speaks of midnight as being one of the times Jesus could return. The final plague upon Egypt (death of the firstborn) came at midnight.

We are close to midnight.

Bible quote

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. (Matthew 25:5-7)

Andy Walton, Weekly World Watch

°°°

Never has there been a better time to live out Proverbs 3:5-6 in your life!

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

+

Preceding

1. Could it be that we are living in the Last Days
2. Time to be prepared and to put your armour on for the coming battle

++

Additional reading

1. Why are the End Times taking so long
2. Mount Olivet ProphecyToday’s thought “I will bring distress …” (December 15)Today’s thought “Remember the predictions of the holy prophets” (December 15)
   Gog
   King of the North
3. US to station nuclear weapons in UK to counter threat from Russia
4. Left in the dark or being in the dark seeing light
5. The Coining of the Lord Draweth Nigh
6. The Sign of the Son of Man
7. Signs of the last days when difficult times will come
8. Matthew 24 about temples or Houses of God and the end of the age
9. Matthew 24:36-41 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: About That Day and Hour
10. Separation of local judgment regarding 70 CE from the global ultimate-coming prophecies of the Second Coming and Final Judgment
11. Matthew 24:42-51 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Stay Awake!
12. The no one or nothing in the darkness
13. Making sure to be ready and to belong to the escaped ones

 

Unprecedented Danger”: Russia-Ukraine War Pushes Iconic Doomsday Clock Closest to Midnight Ever in its History.

+++

Related

1. As A Old Song Says, We Are On The “Eve of Destruction”
2. Is the world close to ending?
3. Civilizational Collapse: The End of the World?
4. What you must know about the end times
5. Last Days Priorities
6. The Doomsday Clock
7. Time to End Wasting Time
8. Revelations
9. Ninety Seconds to Midnight! From Both a Secular and Biblical Perspective We Are Living in Dangerous Times!
10. Politics And The Day Of The Lord
11. No Time for Timid Faith by David Wilkerson
12. The Doomsday Clock forewarns of impending doom
13. Doomsday clock reset ; 90 sec before catastrophe
14. Awaiting Doomsday 2024 ‘Prediction’
15. Doomsday Clock Pt.1 – Minutes To Midnight
16. Doomsday Clock freezes at 90 seconds to midnight
17. ‘Doomsday Clock’ kept as close to midnight as ever
18. The end is getting closer due to the Gaza conflict
19. Opinion: Doomsday Clock still set at 90 seconds to midnight
20. Exploring the Doomsday Clock: A Symbol of Global Concern
21. 90 Seconds, Still
22. The Doomsday clock is at 90 seconds to midnight
23. Doomsday Clock: Is Time Ticking?
24. Why is the 2024 doomsday clock still stopped at 90 seconds?

Iran’s attacks are heightening fears of a wider Middle East war

The Telegraph, January 18, 2024

Event

Tit-for-tat cross-border exchanges between Pakistan and Iran this week marked the latest escalation in the Middle East, a region already dangerously on edge as a result of Israel’s war with Hamas. The fallout from the terror group’s Oct 7 attacks and Israel’s military response has spiked tensions in a range of simmering flashpoints involving Israel’s arch-foe Iran, leading diplomats to fear a wider conflict may yet erupt. Those concerns were heightened in recent days when Iran began to flex its military muscles, attacking targets in a string of other countries. Iran has launched missile attacks on “spy headquarters” and “terrorist” targets in Syria and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, where it claimed to hit Israeli espionage headquarters. Then Tehran hit what it said were Sunni militants hiding within Pakistan. Tehran anticipates tensions with its number one enemy, Israel, are “going to increase” this year with the Israel-Hamas war set to drag on, said Sanam Vakil, a director with the Chatham House think tank.

Comment

This week Iran launched missile strikes on three different countries – Iraq, Syria and Pakistan. Also its proxy militant groups (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis) continue to target U.S. and Western interests and fight Israel. Iran’s attack on Syria was against ISIS militants in response to scores of people killed at a commemoration service in Iran last week. Iran’s attack on Iraq was said to be against Israeli spy sites. Iran’s attack on Pakistan was against a group that killed some Iranian security forces. All the attacks were using long range accurate missiles. It is probable that all this is to demonstrate to Israel that Iran is able to attack where and when it wants to. Isaiah 13 speaks of the Medes (Iranians) being stirred up and used the bows (missiles) to dash men to pieces.

Bible quote

Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.  Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children. (Isaiah 13:17-18)

Isaiah 13 has a latter day fulfilment. It is not only about ancient Iraq and ancient Iran – it is also about modern times.

Weekly World Watch, Andy Walton

++

Find also to read

1. The Fall of Kabul: The Return of the Taliban
2. Rebuildsyria.cz: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-Iran Treaty – A Flash for “Better Times”?
3. A treacherous geopolitical outlook for President Joe Biden
4. Latin America, Israel, Rafah city, Gaza Strip, Pakistan, Sudan, food shortage, homicide, and sexual violence
5. Britain and US launch airstrikes on Houthi targets

Ruins from Japan’s deadly earthquake seen from space

Associated Press, January 2, 2024

Event

Satellite and aerial images show the extent of the mass devastation across western Japan after a powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake caused widespread ramifications, including claiming the lives of dozens of people and leveling whole communities. Tsunami waves hit Japan’s western seaboard, washing away homes, cars and infrastructure near Ukai and Suzu City.

Multiple Maxar satellite images from Ukai show coastal communities wiped out by the earthquake-related events. More than 100 aftershocks were recorded after the initial earthquake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Also in Ishikawa Prefecture, boats and the port in Suzu were damaged during the earthquake. The Maxar image below shows capsized boats floating near a dock area. The earthquake struck near Anamizu on New Year’s Day at 4:10 p.m.

Comment

The first day of the New Year of 2024 began with a huge 7.5 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami in Japan. 2024 will surely be a momentous year with Bible in hand. The war sparked off on October 7th between Israel and Hamas will surely continue to get worse until Zechariah 12, Psalm 83, Isaiah 17 etc are fulfilled. The initial inner ring war could develop in 2024. It could even be concluded in 2024. However, we don’t know how quickly things could get out of control – it could take time – it could happen fast.

The Ukraine war will at some point come to some negotiated standoff. It is unlikely Russia will want to invade Israel while still fighting a major war on its border. One thing is certain. Once the contractions have started (and they surely have) they never stop. They get worse and closer together until the final push – and then the baby is born. Jesus’s return.

Bible Quote

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. (John 16:21-22)

Andy Walton’s Weekly World Watch

Call upon people of conscience everywhere to denounce the violence between Israel and Palestine

Photo by Haley Black on Pexels.com

We … grieve with the families of Israelis and Palestinians who have been killed,
and we pray for the full and speedy recovery of all who have been wounded.
We plead with our coreligionists in Israel and Palestine — and, indeed, around the world —
to return to the shared vision of the ancient Hebrew prophets
and of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon them all,
of a world of inclusion, justice and peace.

A call for justice and peace in Israel and Palestine from an imam and a rabbi

Health stories for the second week of January

Three stories you should read today There are three serious viruses going round Britain – which one do you have? With infection rates of flu, the JN.1 variant of Covid and rhinovirus on the rise, we answer the key questions on symptoms and treatment ‘My wife’s dementia made her eat uncontrollably’ Her sugar hits were an early sign of her illness – our life has now changed beyond recognition Forget juice cleanses and bone broth – transform your health the fun way with ‘dirty wellness’ This year’s biggest health trend rejects rigid routines and restrictive eating – here’s how to get started I started weight training in midlife – now I can wear a backless dress at 60 Business entrepreneur Alison Cork abandoned her ad hoc eating habits and started weight training – and is now in the best shape of her life To help you out today Play tennis, don’t do the marathon – and other rules for 50-plus fitness Help! My teenager is judging my unhealthy lifestyle Are you heading for divorce? Here are the warning signs The reason why midults can’t sleep as soundly – or as long – as teenagers

Continuing Bloodshed

In a world where very many are celebrating today, claiming to carry peace high in their hearts, many continue to watch uninterrupted as fighting goes on in many parts of the world and a lot of people go hungry and thirsty while reeling under the ongoing violence.

035.044 أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الأرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلا فِي الأرْضِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا

035.044 Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the End of those before them,- though they were superior to them in strength? Nor is Allah to be frustrated by anything whatever in the heavens or on earth: for He is All-Knowing. All-Powerful.

Al-Qur’an, 035.044 (Fatir [The Angels, Originator])

A world of no mercy🛣️

Loneliness a ‘pressing’ global health threat

It has long been suspected that social isolation is bad for us, but now the World Health Organization believes that loneliness is a “pressing” global threat – one that could be fuelling significant mental and physical illness. The health risks are equivalent to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, according to one study.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has proclaimed loneliness to be a “pressing” global health threat, amid concerns it is fuelling significant mental and physical illness among sufferers.

A three-year commission has been launched by the agency to tackle what experts have described as a widespread and “underappreciated” threat to human health, with nearly one in four adults across the world said to be lonely.

“For too long, loneliness has existed behind the shadows, unseen and underappreciated, driving mental and physical illness,”

said US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy, a co-chair of the commission.

“Now, we have an opportunity to change that.”

Social isolation, identified by the WHO as

“having an insufficient number of social connections and loneliness,”

has been linked to anxiety and depression. Studies suggest it can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

> Read more about it: Loneliness a ‘pressing’ global health threat, warns WHO

The upside for the 3rd week of November 2023

Horrific images from Gaza and Ukraine entered our living rooms. But besides all the bad news from the world, finer news can occasionally come out.

The Guardian   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌   ‌

Good evening. Doctor Who was a staple in so many people’s childhoods. This was the case for Russell T Davies, the man whose love for the TV show changed his life – and in turn he changed its life too. Read this wonderfully emotional piece written by Davies himself on what Doctor Who has meant to him. For other uplifting and all round lovely stories picked up from our First Edition newsletter, keep scrolling. The Guardian newsletters team

Experience: Stevie Wonder secretly played on my band’s single I told my dad and he said, ‘Come home, son. The drugs are too strong’ It was the summer of 1984 and our band was recording an album at a studio in the Surrey countryside. One Saturday, the phone rang. “I’m Stevie Wonder’s manager,” the voice said. “Yeah, and I’m Isaac Hayes,” I replied. But it really was him. He wanted to know if Stevie could borrow the studio we were using. Stevie was on tour in the UK but had some recording commitments to meet, and the studio had the same gear as his in the US. We said, “Are you kidding? It’s Stevie Wonder. He can come for a week if he wants.” I was brought up on his music – he’s the best singer in the world. Full story here The pet I’ll never forget: Queenie, the mysterious budgie who beguiled us all Throughout her life, she surprised and entertained us – the perfect companion whether at home or on holiday Full story here ‘Like a maternity ward’: how massaging fish can produce ‘no-kill caviar’ Killing critically endangered sturgeon to extract their eggs is not only unethical but unnecessary, say advocates of a more sustainable method The turning point for polar and marine scientist Angela Köhler came in 2005, when she attended a demonstration on caviar production in the Caspian Sea. Bringing out a two-metre female sturgeon in front of 150 conference guests, the caviar master beat the fish on the head to death before cutting its belly open. “The masters suddenly became extremely nervous,” she recalls. “They went on to say that the eggs were too close to spawning and so they couldn’t use them as caviar. They discarded the entire fish and began the process again with a new one.” Full story here EU agrees law to curb methane emissions from fossil fuel industry Rules would require firms to report emissions, find and fix leaks, and limit wasteful venting and flaring Under the proposed law, the first of its kind, coal, oil and gas companies would be required to report their methane emissions and take steps to avoid them. The measures include finding and fixing leaks, and limiting wasteful practices such as venting and flaring gas by 2027. The new EU rules, which were agreed on Wednesday 15 November by the European parliament and European Council, mean fossil fuel companies must try to repair leaks no more than five days after finding them, and fully fix them within a month. By the end of next year, operators will have to survey their existing sites and submit action plans to find and fix methane leaks. Full story here ‘It’s about owning your power!’ How Frozen changed a generation of girls. And boys. And Hollywood … It’s 10 years since a Disney princess first belted out Let It Go, to a chorus of millions of children struggling with their emotions and their place in the world. And the echoes haven’t stopped True love, just not the romantic kind … sisters Anna and Elsa in Frozen. Photograph: Disney/Allsta Frozen swiftly became the highest-grossing animated movie ever – a title it held for six years, until the Lion King remake came out, swiftly followed by the equally high-earning Frozen 2. Yet the original’s appeal remains undimmed. Like Star Wars, it is not just a film but part of the cultural wallpaper, and a multi-billion-dollar global industry. Full story here

Conversation starters or Talking points from this week’s news

Dear readers,

We would like to remind you that we provide a News site, where you are presented with a free view on important news facts and religious topics.

Apart from the general news of the day, we bring political and social news there, but are also not shy about how wretchedly bad things are with our natural environment and what we can do about it. But on the religious front (be it Christian, Jewish, Islamic, or other), things are not going so well in this world and it is also necessary to turn an open eye to that now and then.

Our own existence is very important and, in doing so, we have to take into account not only our environment but also our own body, its needs and how to nourish it physically and mentally. This is what we try to pay attention to regularly in “Some View on the World“, as we also try to do here.

We are convinced that “Some Look at the World” can offer you and people around you some food for thought and topics for discussion on a daily basis.

For example, we propose topics such as these:sujets de discussion

Make meals and car rides more engaging when you toss out one of these questions to family members.

1. The American Ornithological Society (AOS) has announced that it will rename all birds that are named after people. The change is being made to ensure that names of people who engaged in discrimination are not attached to the birds. Ultimately, the AOS plans to change the names of 263 birds. What do you think about this decision and why?

2. Your family may have special traditions, especially now as the holidays approach. Whether it’s making cookies, walking around the neighbourhood to enjoy colourful lights, or watching a favourite holiday movie, these traditions can help you feel closer to the people you love. What are some of your favourite family traditions, and what new ones would you like to create? 

3. Earlier this year, the US Senate relaxed its dress code—then reversed the decision days later. That got a lot of people talking. Some say it’s fine to dress down, even at work or in other formal situations, while others say that’s not a good look. What do you think? Has casual dressing gone too far?

Or find messages to think and talk about, like:

1. Messages leading to an earthly utopia
2. Leaving their land the death of their cause
3. Want to make a difference on air pollution? Cut down on your meat and dairy
4. Melting ice, species going extinct, cow dung zero waste and
5. A lightning bolt through your brain
6. Smog in New Delhi, elimination of hepatitis C, global tuberculosis rates & Gaza’s hospitals
7. Anglo-Saxon era church bringing the church into disrepute
8. Reasons why Christianity is declining rapidly in America
9. The countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian
10. How Evangelicals betray Christians in the Holy Land
11. Hamas opened the gates of hell on the Gaza Strip
12. A world needing more time

and many other articles of interest

As we may find you here, we also hope to find you on Some View on the World. You might find it quite wise to subscribe there too so that you will be automatically notified every time a new article appears.

 

Un site d’actualités, où vous trouverez un point de vue libre sur des faits d’actualitédes sujets religieux.

Chers lecteurs,

Nous tenons à vous rappeler que nous proposons un site d’actualités, où vous trouverez un point de vue libre sur des faits d’actualité importants et des sujets religieux.

Outre les nouvelles générales du jour, nous y apportons des informations politiques et sociales, nous n’hésitons pas à dire à quel point notre nature va mal et ce que nous pouvons faire pour y remédier. Mais sur le plan religieux, les choses ne vont pas si bien dans ce monde et il est également nécessaire de ne pas fermer les yeux de temps en temps.

Notre propre existence est très importante et, ce faisant, nous devons tenir compte non seulement de notre environnement, mais aussi de notre propre corps, de ses besoins et de la manière de le nourrir physiquement et mentalement. C’est ce à quoi nous essayons de prêter régulièrement attention dans “Some View on the World” (Une certaine vision du monde), comme nous essayons également de le faire ici.

Nous sommes convaincus que “Quelques regards sur le monde” ou Some View on the World peut vous offrir, ainsi qu’à votre entourage, des pistes de réflexion et des sujets de discussion au quotidien.

Si nous vous trouvons ici, nous espérons aussi vous trouver sur Some View on the World. Vous pourriez trouver judicieux de vous y abonner également afin d’être automatiquement averti à chaque fois qu’un nouvel article est publié.

+

Trouver un autre article suggestif en néerlandais: Vergeet ons overzicht van dagelijkse feiten niet

Katherine Butler’s picks for the 2nd week of November 2023

Editor’s picks

Portuguese PM António Costa resigns amid corruption inquiry German chancellor Olaf Scholz agrees ‘historic’ stricter migration policy Le Pen’s anti-Islamism and support of Israel seen as attempt to obscure antisemitic past Russian Jews fear Israel-Hamas war awakening sleeping antisemitism ‘Inestimable importance’: 500-year-old cache of pressed flowers reveals new secrets Dutch elections 2023: everything you need to know

Opinion and analysis

Ireland’s criticism of Israel has made it an outlier in the EU. What lies behind it? | Una Mullally With the far right on the rise, it’s a bad time to live in Germany – but a worse time to leave | Fatma Aydemir Germany’s bond with Israel has been admirable – but it is becoming a straitjacket | John Kampfner Climate fatigue isn’t a sign that Europeans are in denial – it’s a sign of their fear | Francesco Grillo How do you memorialise the horrors of war? In Ukraine, it happens quickly, and with love | Charlotte Higgins How did The Lord of the Rings become a secret weapon in Italy’s culture wars? | Jamie Mackay

Life

Fika, four-week holidays – and zero overtime: Sweden’s stunningly healthy work culture ‘Best of both sides’: Berlin’s Israeli-Palestinian restaurant that won’t give in to fear ‘The perpetrators were people like us’: the burden of history at Auschwitz What’s in a word? How less-gendered language is faring across Europe ‘Dogs should eat as well as humans’: high-end canine cucina opens in Rome How to make apple strudel – Felicity Cloake’s masterclass

Arts and culture

Hungary sacks museum chief for not enforcing under-18s ban at LGBTQ+ exhibition Unopened 18th-century love letters to French sailors read for first time Pyramid of Tirana review – from tyrant’s monument to joyful symbol of modern Albania Jean-Baptiste Andrea wins Prix Goncourt for novel set in fascist Italy God is a DJ: the Jesuit priest who runs avant garde electronica nights

In pictures

Female faces of photography: masterworks at Paris Photo

From the archive

1973 | ‘Two hours trying to siphon a prawn’: at home with Salvador Dalí

Ukraine’s good news

08/11/2023 Is Ukraine’s dream of EU membership closer to reality? Thanks in large part to Zelenskiy’s wartime leadership, Brussels has recommended formally opening accession talks – but an extraordinary struggle lies ahead

Katherine Butler Even before Russia’s full-scale ground and air invasion in February 2022, the idea of Ukraine being deemed ready to join the European Union any time soon would have seemed far-fetched if not delusional. Not only had the country already been invaded by Russia in the previous decade and lacked the basic democratic standards required of EU member states, but nobody within the EU had the stomach for the internal reforms that enlargement would involve. France and others had effectively placed a moratorium on letting any more countries join. As one expert told the Guardian, EU enlargement was regarded as “clinically dead”. Yet on Wednesday (last week), with war still raging, many of Ukraine’s cities in ruins and millions of Ukrainians dispersed around the continent as refugees, Brussels fired the starting gun on a historic phase of EU expansion – to take in Ukraine. The European Commission officially recommended that EU leaders formally open membership talks with Kyiv and the former Soviet republic Moldova. So is the dream cherished by many Ukrainians in the 10 years since the Maidan uprising, becoming reality? Announcing the recommendation, the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said Ukraine had completed “well over” 90% of the necessary steps. Legally, Kyiv must meet seven conditions covering such things as reforming its judiciary, fighting corruption, rooting out the influence of oligarchs on the economy, guaranteeing the independence of the media and rights for minorities. The commission’s 1,200-page report concluded that Ukraine has done enough to justify opening negotiations provided the remaining benchmarks are reached. Von der Leyen’s surprise trip to Kyiv last Saturday, where she talked about “excellent progress”, was seen by many as the nod Ukraine wanted. This of course, is not in von der Leyen’s gift. The report now goes to the EU heads of government. They will have to unanimously agree if they want accession negotiations to begin. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, recently pictured shaking the hand of Vladimir Putin, may choose to be difficult. But assuming that the leaders take the momentous decision to start accession talks at a December summit, an extraordinary struggle still lies ahead to meet the criteria, which is why Ukraine is not being given a target date for joining. Seven other countries, including Turkey, are already in the EU waiting room and their stop-start experience is testament to how politically difficult and protracted this process is. Dermot Hodson, professor of political economy at Loughborough University London and the author of the recently published book, Circle of Stars: a History of the EU and the People Who Made It, told me the decision was not about legality but about morale and momentum. “Events require this decision. The EU can’t be seen to let Ukraine down now, or signal this is not going ahead. They can’t turn back so they agree to open accession negotiations. But this is not the same as membership, and there is strong reason to believe that negotiations will be interminable and perhaps even inconclusive.” Hodson said that the war and Ukraine’s security vulnerability – it is not a Nato member – and the burden its relative poverty and reconstruction needs would place on the EU budget were daunting obstacles. The “best-case scenario” he told me, was that Ukraine could be admitted by 2030, not a timeframe Kyiv will be satisfied with, particularly with the threat of a Trump-led US strategically disengaging from the crisis after 2024. The EU stands accused of geopolitical weakness. It is too divided on the Israel-Palestine question for example, to be able to wield enough global influence even to alleviate the suffering, let alone help to broker a long-term political settlement. Elsewhere in the world, its ambitions to be a force for democracy have come adrift – ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh the most recent indictment of its failings. But Russia’s war on Ukraine galvanised the bloc with a sense of unity and democratic purpose. And President Volodymr Zelenskiy will not easily let go of the prize of his country being part of “free” Europe. Germany also is conscious that urgency is required: last week it proposed fast-tracking single market access for Ukraine and granting Kyiv observer status at summits. Berlin knows that too many “false dawns” are a recipe for the spread of Kremlin-fed disinformation and euroscepticism in countries left on the outside of the club. False dawns almost certainly lie ahead for Ukraine. Just ratifying the changes needed to the EU’s internal functioning is a headache few politicians want to contemplate. But EU expansion – the biggest since 2004 when 10 countries joined in a “big bang” – is now on the cards. On Wednesday, the European Commission also recommended opening accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina (subject to tough conditions) and putting Georgia on the eventual path to accession. It may take years, but war is steadily reshaping Europe. Thanks for reading. Please scroll down for more of this week’s highlights. Check our Europe and Ukraine live blogs for the latest updates and share any feedback or thoughts by emailing europenow@theguardian.com. Until next week, Katherine Butler Associate editor, Europe

The latest from Ukraine

Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv. Photograph: Emre Çaylak/The Guardian 1 Life on the frontline in Kherson: dodging shells, facing death and refusing to leave. 2 21st-century trench warfare – the Ukrainian battlefield in pictures. 3 ‘A calm and gentle individual’: Yampil the bear becomes the first Ukrainian animal rehomed in UK. 4 Zelenskiy denies he is under pressure to enter peace talks with Russia.

Don’t forget our overview of daily facts

Not closing ourselves off to what is going on in the world

For those who would not yet know or have forgotten, we would like to remind you that we provide a daily summary of daily facts on our news site: Some View on the World.

A lot of people are preoccupied daily with their obligations to provide sufficient income. As a result, they may not even get sufficiently informed about what is happening on a global scale during the day. When they return home in the evening, they are often too tired to watch news broadcasts and insight programmes or current affairs (news format).

Did you know that Marcus Ampe has created a site, especially for this purpose, which gives a regular overview of what is happening in the world and how we can view it? His intention was to allow several voices to speak, even if they might even contradict themselves in certain circumstances. But according to Marcus Ampe, it should be possible to juxtapose different opinions and give the reader a chance to choose which side of the story he prefers and which he also wants to delve further into.

Being able to follow the important news of the day on a daily basis is not obvious, completely free Some View on the World provides that option.

We would like to invite you to take a look. We would appreciate it even more if you would also register to be kept informed of new publications.

+

Find to read:

1. Journal for you
2. Aims
3. My faith and hope
4. Independence
5. Weekly World Watch (WWW) looking at a few key developments that have happened during the past week
6. Presenting views from different sources
7. Journo tips: Newsgathering
8. Written-down thoughts
9. Not enough time to keep pace with writing for different websites
10. The Media and Democracy
11. Regarding guest writers

+

Preceding

“Our World” Moving from Blogspot to WordPress

Invitation to the news platform that brings a view of the world

Do you really need a Covid jab this year?

Many may wonder whether it is healthy to get the Coronavirus vaccinations.
Myself, I have actually been an elite athlete for years, as a dancer and choreographer. Because of this, I was very surprised to get three heart infections in a short time this summer, with inflammation in the heart and in the renal pelvis. This also rang a bell with me from the many articles I have read, pro- and contra- the Corona virus.

US Navy crew member receiving an influenza vaccination

I was in the hospital for a totally different treatment, when the fifth injection was given to my age group. When I enquired whether I would finally take the fifth injection now, it was recommended to take not only this syringe but also the flu vaccine, even though I never had the latter put in before, because I was taking preventive homeopathic treatment and still intend to do so.

My family doctor also assured me that some problems had cropped up in women, but that one can rest assured that all the medications against Corona that entered the market after the initial trials have proven their safety.

According to the British Medical Journal, the BA.2.86 and XBB.1.5 variants are the most closely tracked variants currently circulating in the UK. BA.2.86 or the Pirola variant, is the newest with initial surges detected in September. While it contains certain mutations in the virus’ spike protein, there is no evidence yet that Pirola can circumvent vaccine protection and increase the severity of Covid-19.

Denis Nash, is an epidemiologist at the City University of New York. “Covid-19 can still severely affect people whose vaccine immunity has waned,” he says.

“Many of the deaths are preventable and avoidable, it’s just that people, and particularly the elderly and vulnerable, are not up to date on their vaccines. This makes Covid a threat again.”

Find to read:

Do I need a Covid vaccine this year? Everything you need to know about autumn jabs

As a landmark legal case brands the AstraZeneca Covid jab “defective”, The Telegraph assess your vaccination options