Rare Sightings of Foxes Near Temple Mount a Fulfillment of Biblical Prophecy?

JERUSALEM, Israel - While the Jewish people mourned the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem during the Tisha B'Av fast over the weekend, many believe a rare sighting of foxes near the Temple Mount is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Video posted online last week shows what appears to be several foxes walking near the Western Wall and the Temple Mount. For some Jews, the sighting of foxes near the Western Wall is a grave reminder of Lamentations 5:18, which reads: "Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it." (KJV). Some translations use the word "jackals" instead of foxes. The Jerusalem Post reports that Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, was emotionally moved by the images of foxes near the Temple Mount. "One cannot refrain from crying at the site of the fulfillment of the prophecy of 'foxes will walk on it,'" he said. However, as the Post reports, the foxes also present a glimmer of hope to the Jewish people. According to the Talmud, this particular passage in Lamentations is tied to a prophecy by the Prophet Zechariah that the temple will one day be rebuilt. Orthodox Judaism believes that the rebuilding of the Third Temple and the resumption of sacrifices will occur during the messianic era. Tractate Makkot 24b of the Talmud says that if the prophecies regarding the destruction of the Temple are fulfilled, so will the prophecies about the rebuilding of the Temple be fulfilled. The spotting of the foxes came just days before the Jewish people observed Tisha B'Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. During this day, Jews fast, mourn the destruction of the temples, and listen to readings of Lamentations. The first Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 423 BC. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Culled from Cbn news

May tours Europe in bid to save Brexit deal

Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May faced sympathy but firm refusals on a desperate tour of European capitals on Tuesday, with EU leaders ruling out any renegotiation of the Brexit deal. A day after she postponed a crucial vote on the deal in the British parliament, May said she was meeting EU counterparts in an attempt to receive “reassurances”. May had breakfast with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague before heading to Berlin for lunch with Chancellor Angela Merkel and then travelled on to Brussels. After meeting May, Merkel told lawmakers of her CDU/CSU bloc that she saw “no way to change” the agreement, said sources at the MPs’ meeting. May faced criticism from all sides in parliament over provisions in the EU withdrawal agreement concerning Northern Ireland, which she hopes could persuade her rebellious Conservative party to support it. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said ahead of meeting May that he was “surprised” at being asked for more talks since EU leaders had given their approval to the deal at an extraordinary summit on November 25. “The deal we have achieved is the best deal possible, it’s the only deal possible,” he told the European Parliament in Strasbourg. “There is no room whatsoever for renegotiation but of course there is room if used intelligently, to give further clarification and further interpretations.” – ‘Govern or quit’ – MPs in the House of Commons were due to vote on the deal on Tuesday night, but May deferred it on Monday, admitting she expected to lose by a “significant margin”. Her spokesman on Tuesday said the vote would be rescheduled before January 21 — just months before Britain leaves the EU on March 29. Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is now facing calls to table a no-confidence vote in the prime minister, but is holding off as the party believes May is likely to win. This hesitation has caused tensions with the Scottish National Party (SNP), which has said it wants Labour to table a no-confidence motion on Tuesday. Eurosceptic MPs in May’s Conservative party have also repeated calls for her to be replaced, with one warning it was time to “govern or quit”. EU President Donald Tusk, who met May in Brussels, has called a meeting of the other 27 EU leaders on Thursday to discuss the latest Brexit developments. They were already due to attend a European Council summit with May on Thursday and Friday, which the British prime minister is expected to use to further press her case. Culled from The Punch

John Cena Receives SI Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, Calls It A Big Night For WWE

John Cena received the 2018 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award for his leadership as a philanthropist on Tuesday night. The award was created in 2008 and renamed after Ali in 2015. Bill Russell, Colin Kaepernick, Jack Nicklaus, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Brown and Earvin "Magic" Johnson have received the award in the past. Cena was presented the award at SI's Sportsperson of the Year event at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Los Angeles while WWE SmackDown was being held in Las Vegas. SI has praised Cena for his more than 600 Make-A-Wish Wishes in addition to his breast cancer awareness work. As seen below, Cena accepted the award on behalf of WWE and made it clear that WWE is still his top priority, despite the reduced schedule and work in Hollywood. "I've just been given the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award here at the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Awards," Cena said. "It's truly moving to see some of of those moments back and get to re-live some of those moments. To be mentioned in the same sentence as Ali, let alone a respectable comparison, comparable legacy is simply incredible. I just wanted to say that I accepted this award tonight on behalf of all the WWE Superstars because I believe if put in my shoes, they would all make the exact same choice. "Tonight is a wonderful night for WWE because here I am, a sports entertainer, being awarded a tremendous honor among athletes. It's not something that probably would have happened a few years ago but it's amazing to see culture change, and people have open minds about what we do, and accept us for just being damn good at what we do. I'm actually sending this award to Connecticut so it's going to be displayed in WWE headquarters because that's where it belongs. It's part of all of us, it's for all of us. I'm headed onto Hong Kong to keep that legacy thing going. Like I said, I love what I do and I'm going to be doing what I love and tonight was a tremendous honor. So thank you, Sports Illustrated." Cena also took to Twitter and commented on the big night being for those in WWE. He wrote, "Tonight was for "us." The privilege we have to entertain fans young and old has opened to the possibilities of what can be accomplished in and out of the ring. Thank you @SINow for this amazing honor and @TheRealLailaAli @ikebarinholtz for presenting tonight. Now...back to work!" Cena is currently promoting the new Bumblebee movie, the Transformers-spinoff movie that he stars in. He's headed back to China to continue working on the "Project X-traction" movie with Jackie Chan. Cena is scheduled to return to the ring for WWE at RAW and SmackDown live events this month, beginning with the December 26 show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Cena's WWE TV return is currently scheduled for the January 7, 2019 RAW in Orlando. WWE has Cena booked for only red brand events after January 1. Cena has not wrestled since the WWE Super Show-Down event in Australia back on October 6. He teamed with Bobby Lashley to defeat Elias and Kevin Owens that night. Culled from Wrestlinginc

Biological Man May Win Miss Universe, Hopes to Send Trans Message to Trump

A transgender contestant is being considered a frontrunner to win the Miss Universe competition over the rest of the biologically female contestants. Angela Ponce won the qualifying rounds in Spain and will represent that country at the upcoming 2018 Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand on Dec. 16. "It would be a win for human rights," Ponce said in an interview with Time Magazine. "Trans women have been persecuted and erased for so long. If they give me the crown, it would show trans women are just as much women as cis women." Ponce was born a male, but underwent gender reassignment surgery. The Blast reports online bookies are slating Ponce to win as a fan favorite. The pageant began allowing transgender women to compete in 2012 after a Canadian transgender model filed a lawsuit. Ponce wrote on Instagram after winning Miss Universe Spain in June: "My goal is to be a spokesperson for a message of inclusion, respect and diversity not only for the LGBTQ+ community but also for the entire world." Critics have said if Ponce wins the competition it'll be a another sign of political correctness run amok. The model said a win would send a message to President Donald Trump, who used to own the pageant and didn't allow transgender contestants. Culled from Cbn news

Tiwa Savage & Pasuma Speak on their Love Song – “Ife”

Fuji star Pasuma and R&B music star Tiwa Savage have cooked up a love song. The pair have collaborated on a track titled “Ife” (Love). It is produced by Spellz. In a chat with Goldmyne TV, both stars gave us the scoop on the track. Pasuma “Everyone is talking about it and the response has been very good. Ife is a love song and having Tiwa on it is like Fuji making love to R&B (according to Tee Billz). It’s a song everyone will like not only because of the rhythm and the lyrics but also because I did the unexpected”. Tiwa Savage “Pasuma Wonder is one person I have always respected. He has been in the game for a very long time and remains one of the biggest artistes in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, my husband is a fan of Pasuma. I am not going to say much about the song but I can tell you that, it will blow your mind. It’s wonderful working with Pasuma”. Here’s a video of the song playing and the music acts grooving to it.

Jada Pinkett Smith talks being a “Super Woman” & her Ups & Downs for Net-A-Porter’s The Edit

Hollywood actress Jada Pinkett Smith looks good beyond her years in the new issue of Net-A-Porter‘s The Edit magazine. The 42 year-old mother of two shows off her fit bod, fab fashion and killer poses as she dishes on being a “Super Woman”, femininity and Will Smith being her Super Hero. In the edit titled “Super Style“, Jada is showing how to rock fashion the ‘new’ way – from the new little black dress to the evening cape. She was photographed by Chris Coll and styled by Kate Young rocking pieces from Victoria Beckham, Christian Louboutin, Chloe, Giambattista Valli, Saint Laurent, Narciso Rodriguez and more.

I see Africa as world’s next major economic success story – Obama

President Barack Obama, whose election in 2008 as the first black American president sparked huge expectations in Africa, will at last hold a summit next week for the continent’s leaders. Invitations were sent to 50 heads of state and government for talks that seem designed as a counterweight to China’s decade-long surge in investment and trade with Africa. American officials said all the countries invited to send delegations will do so, most of them headed by presidents but some by vice presidents, prime ministers or foreign ministers. Notable absentees will include Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI — who will send envoys — but sub-Saharan Africa will be well represented. Only four presidents were excluded: Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir, Eritrea’s Issaias Afeworki and the Central African Republic’s transitional leader Catherine Samba Panza. But, even if Obama’s gathering marks the greatest ever concentration of African leadership in Washington, it is not clear what kinds of results can be expected from the three-day summit. Obama’s foreign policy was first marked by a pivot to Asia and a failed attempt to “reset” relations with Russia, and he did not make Africa a priority in his first term. The agenda will certainly include discussion on current threats facing the continent — kidnappings and killings by Islamist group Boko Haram in Nigeria, civil war in South Sudan and deadly attacks by the Somalia militant group Shebab in Kenya. And the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa could find itself at the center of talks. The leaders of Sierra Leone and Liberia have canceled their summit trips to Washington over the epidemic, which was first declared at the beginning of the year in Guinea and has so far claimed more than 725 lives. The hemorrhagic fever, often fatal, could spread “like a forest fire,” US health authorities warned this week. The US-Africa summit will also have a strong economic aspect, with a program focused on opportunities for the continent where 60 percent of the population is under 35 and where growth rates are higher than anywhere else in the world. Currently, the United States is third among Africa’s major trading partners, far behind longtime number one the European Union, and raw material-hungry China. “I see Africa as the world’s next major economic success story, and the United States wants to be a partner in that success,” Obama said last year during his first presidential trip to the continent, with stops in Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. But his national security advisor, Susan Rice, acknowledged Wednesday that Americans need to change their “outdated mindset” of the continent. “Too many Americans still only see conflict, disease and poverty, and not the extraordinarily diverse Africa, brimming with innovation,” Rice said, adding “the United States can do more to compete to be a full partner in Africa’s success.” - Packed agenda - Some analysts see the Washington summit as a response to Beijing’s campaign of African investment and trade over the last decade. “It can’t help but be seen that way, because we have never done this before, and the Chinese have,” said Deborah Brautigam, who directs the China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University. Brautigam wondered, however, whether the United States had done enough to prepare ahead of the summit. “When the Chinese organized a similar event” in 2006, “they had been working for about six years,” she noted. Among economic issues to be discussed will be the possible extension beyond 2015 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, which provides preferential market access for some products from African countries deemed to be democratic and following good economic governance. Likewise, Obama’s “Power Africa” initiative, leverages loan guarantees and private sector finance and aims to double access to electricity in sub- Saharan Africa. After a first day, Monday, dedicated to health challenges and climate change, a business forum on Tuesday will gather leaders from both the public and private sector — including former US president Bill Clinton. The third and final day will be for political discussions on peace and regional stability. There are no bilateral meetings planned between Obama and any of his African counterparts but a huge White House gala dinner is on the agenda for Tuesday evening. Peter Pham, director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council, said this summit will be important for relations between Obama and the continent where his father was born. But he cautioned that African expectations for Obama’s presidency started out “unreasonably high.” “The fact is nothing in President Obama’s history other than the identity of his father, nothing in his personal history or his political history, would point to the expectations that were put on his shoulders,” he said. “Others read into it what they wanted to read into it.”

Special Olympics: Unilag hosts 2014 Nigeria National Games

140 special athleteswill storm the University of Lagos for the 2014 Special Olympics Nigeria national Games billed to hold between 10th and 13th of August. The games will feature athletes from the South West, South East, North Central and South-South geopolitical zones of the country. According to a member of the board of the Special Olympics Nigeria, Udeme Ufot who addressed the media in Lagos yesterday, “the athletes will compet in 7 Olympics type sports such as Athletics, Acquatics, Badminton, Basketball, Cycling (demonstrative), Table Tennis and Unified Football.” Outstanding performers will be selected to represent Nigeria at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, United States. He said, “Special Olympics brings together equal number of athletes with intellectual disabilities and their peers without intellectual disabilities on the same team for training and competition.” The games are being supported by numerous sponsors including Coca Cola, MTN, GTBank, Union Bank among others. Although Ufot said Special Olympics Nigeria would have loved to host the global fiesta sometime, that can only be possible when government shows seriousness in developing the necessary infrastructure. “That would have been a fantastic idea, but I must say that we are not ready yet.” The Lagos state government pledged its support.

Nigeria weightlifter fails B sample, faces hearing

GLASGOW (AFP) – Nigerian teenage weightlifter Chika Amalaha faces a hearing before the Commonwealth Games Federation on Friday over her failed drugs test. Amalaha, whose A sample failed a control after claiming gold in the women’s 53kg category on July 25, also produced a positive B sample. The tests revealed traces of diuretics and masking agents. CGF chief executive Mike Hooper said the follow-up examination backed up the initial finding of the doping control that Amalaha went through after her victory in the 52kg class at the Clyde Auditorium seven days ago. Hooper said on Friday: “I can report that the analysis on the Nigerian weightlifting Chika Amalaha’s B sample has been completed, and this has confirmed the analysis and finding of the A result.” Amalaha snatched a best of 85kg before managing 111kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 196kg, to become the youngest Commonwealth weightlifter gold medallist.

Chelsea complete —Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is ‘so happy’ with the squad at his disposal, with Chelsea having acted quickly to get bodies on board. Changes were inevitable at Stamford Bridge this summer, with Mourinho’s first season back at the helm having failed to deliver major silverware. That issue has been addressed, with a number of players moved in and out, reports Sky Sports. Romelu Lukaku became the latest to depart on Wednesday, as he completed a £28m move to Everton, but that sale was sanctioned on the back of deals for Diego Costa and the returning Didier Drogba. It is not just up front that changes have been made, though, with Filipe Luis drafted in to cover the loss of Ashley Cole at left-back and World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas adding creativity and experience to the midfield unit. Mourinho is delighted to have completed his business early and believes that a group which blends seasoned professionals with exciting youngsters will be extremely competitive in 2014/15. He said, “We are so happy with the squad we have. “We feel that the correct squad is exactly this type of squad we have, with people like Didier and John Terry, but at the same time people like (Andreas) Christensen and (Nathan) Ake. “We have the squad we want and, I repeat, the club was fantastic in the way they worked so hard and so fast to get Diego, Filipe and Fabregas.”

Sudan ‘apostasy’ woman arrives US

A Sudanese woman who fled to Italy after being spared a death sentence for renouncing Islam has arrived in the US. Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag arrived in New Hampshire on Thursday evening with her American husband and her children. Welcoming her on a brief stopover in Philadelphia, the city’s mayor, Michael Nutter, described her as a “world freedom fighter”. There was global condemnation when she was sentenced to hang for apostasy by a Sudanese court earlier this year. Ibrahim’s father is Muslim so according to Sudan’s version of Islamic law she is also Muslim and cannot convert. She maintains she was never Muslim having been raised by her Christian mother. Ibrahim flew from Rome to Philadelphia with her husband and two children, en route to Manchester, New Hampshire, where her husband has relatives and the family hope to settle. While in Philadelphia, Nutter said people would remember her just like “others who stood up so we could be free”. He compared her to Rosa Parks, who became a symbol of the civil rights movement in the US when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Alabama. And he presented Ibrahim with a small replica of the Liberty Bell, a symbol of American independence.

Ebola: Abuja residents embrace safety measures

Abuja residents have begun to adjust their lifestyles to avoid contracting the Ebola virus, a News Agency of Nigeria survey has shown. The virus has claimed over 700 lives in West African, including Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian who died in Nigeria after contracting the virus in his country. A civil servant, Mrs Janet Obinna, told NAN that she had embraced the habit of regularly washing her hands and other sanitary measures as experts had advised. Obinna said that contrary to her husband’s preference for bush meat in the meal, the family had resorted to eating goat meet and beef. She said, “Before, my husband would not do without bush meat but now we have agreed not to buy or even eat it outside the home. “We used to wash our hands before but not as often as we do now with this Ebola virus around.” A businessman, Mr Paul Nzekwu, said after he watched news about the virus he realised it was more dangerous than HIV. Nzekwu said although he did not eat bush meat he had taken it upon himself to educate his friends on the dangers of consuming such meat. He said, “I was so scared that I could not even visit a friend that was suffering from fever. I think we need more awareness on this Ebola.” Nzekwu said unhygienic persons would now be compelled to embrace hygiene because “the fear of Ebola is the beginning of wisdom.” A Taxi driver, Mr Joe Osayi, told NAN that he had learnt that Ebola virus could be contacted from the consumption of bush meat and handshakes and as such had restrained from eating bush meat. Osayi said, “Governments need to create more awareness on this virus because we now hear different stories about it everyday.” Another respondent, Mr Frank Yahaya, said he would not enter any vehicle that carried a sick person to avoid close contact with such person. Yahaya said he was aware that good hygiene practice could help in the prevention of the virus. He said, “From what we have heard on television, though Ebola is a very deadly disease, when you maintain high personal hygiene you can prevent it. “Hygiene such as washing of hands at all times prevents the spread of diseases. “I learnt it could be transmitted by fluids, blood, semen and sweat from an infected person and to prevent it we should ensure regular hand washing.” World Health Organisation says Ebola virus, formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe illness, with fatality rate of up to 90 per cent. WHO describes Ebola as one of the world’s most virulent diseases. It said, “The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people. “Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. During an outbreak, those at higher risk of infection are health workers, family members and others in close contact with sick people and deceased patients.”

Uganda court annuls anti-homosexuality law

Uganda’s Constitutional Court has annulled tough anti-gay legislation signed into law in February. It ruled that the bill was passed by MPs in December without the requisite quorum and was therefore illegal. Homosexual acts were already illegal, but the new law allowed for life imprisonment for “aggravated homosexuality” and banned the “promotion of homosexuality”. Several donors have cut aid to Uganda since the law was adopted. Uganda is a deeply conservative society where many people oppose gay rights and the sentence for homosexual acts has always been life imprisonment. Earlier drafts of the anti-homosexuality act made it a crime not to report gay people – which would have made it impossible to live as openly gay – but this clause was removed. However the legislation that was passed in parliament was “null and void”, the presiding judge at the Constitutional Court said, as not enough lawmakers had been present to vote on the bill, the AFP news agency reports.

Zac Efron opens up about addiction struggle

Zac Efron is ready to talk. The 26-year-old actor best known for "High School Musical" went to rehab in 2013 but was elusive about what he sought treatment for. Now, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Efron is coming clean about his battle with alcohol and drug use. "It's a never-ending struggle," the actor said of his issues with addiction. "I was drinking a lot, way too much." There were drugs as well, he added. The problem erupted for Efron as he tried to work his way from being the teen star of "High School Musical" and "Hairspray" to more adult roles with movies such as "The Lucky One" and "The Paperboy." "I had done films back-to-back-to-back. I was burnt out," he said. "There was something lacking, some sort of hole that I couldn't really fill up. I was just so deep into my work, it was really the only thing I had." That period of his life left him feeling isolated, he said, but in hindsight he can see how it helped him grow. "I mean, you're in your 20s, single, going through life in Hollywood, you know?" he told The Hollywood Reporter. "Everything is thrown at you. I wouldn't take anything back; I needed to learn everything I did." Part of that learning experience has been aided by therapy, and joining Alcoholics Anonymous. "I just started going, and I think it's changed my life," Efron said. "I'm much more comfortable in my own skin. Things are so much easier now." This year, Efron is hoping that a buttoned- up lifestyle -- complete with daily workouts and a 9 p.m. bedtime, or so he says -- paired with his newfound wisdom will help him steer his career in the direction he wants it to go. Earlier this year he starred in and produced the comedy "That Awkward Moment," and on May 9 his comedy with Seth Rogen, "Neighbors," will arrive in theaters. "It's impossible to lead an honest and fulfilling life as a man and not make mistakes and 'fess up to them when you need to," Efron said. "I'm a human being, and I've made a lot of mistakes. I've learned from each one."

Drake Bell Mocks Justin Bieber For Orlando Bloom Fight, Tells Fans They Should Look Up To “A Good Person” (PHOTOS)

Drake Bell is mocking Justin Bieber for his fight with Orlando Bloom. As mitchiie blog reported, Bieber and Bloom had a scuffle in Spain, before being separated by their respective entourages. Late Wednesday, Bell took to Twitter to call out Bieber for having a bodyguard allegedly protect him during the confrontation. He included two images featuring a tiny dog — meant to be Bieber — being guarded by a much larger one. Not surprisingly, the disses didn’t sit well with Bieber fans, prompting Bell to write to one angry tweeter, “you can’t take a joke?! geez.” Interestingly, Bell then deleted his posts (but you can see screengrabs below). The actor, however, then tweeted one final jab. “Can you kids start looking up to a good person?!” wrote the former “Drake & Josh” star. Of course, many stars have been taking to Twitter to comment on the incident, but Bell and Bieber have history, having feuded many times before. We’ll update if The Biebs responds.