The Daily Brief: Short Version Monday, May 15, 2017
Hackers unleashed an attack that disabled computers in dozens of nations Friday using a software flaw that once was part of the National Security Agency's surveillance tool kit.
The resulting wave of online chaos affected tens of thousands of machines worldwide, snarling operations at the Russian Interior Ministry, Spanish telecommunications giant Telefónica and Britain's National Health Service (NHS), where hospitals were hobbled and medical procedures interrupted.
Europe, Latin America and parts of Asia were hit particularly hard, although in the United States, FedEx also reported falling prey to the malware. The attack was the latest in a growing menace of "ransomware," in which hackers deliver files to computers that automatically encrypt their data, making it unusable - until a ransom is paid.
"This is not targeted at the NHS," British Prime Minister Theresa May told reporters. "It's an international attack, and a number of countries and organizations have been affected." (Read more)
- Father, we ask that this cyberspace crisis be resolved quickly. Let all of these Malware hackers be exposed and dealt with quickly. As we read that another, even more "mega" attack is planned for today, we ask that You intervene to shut this down immediately. Lord, prevent any money from going into the hands of these evil and greedy people. We give You honor and glory for bringing down this evil scheme, in Your name, amen.
- "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10)
2. In Israel, cyber experts joined forces to help foil massive attack - Times of Israel
As businesses resumed activities after the weekend in Israel, the nation was still assessing how many organizations and companies had been compromised by a massive electronic attack that hit over 150 countries around the world. But quick and joint action by cyber experts in Israel helped keep the attack at bay, a cybersecurity expert said on Sunday.
"We are still assessing the damage," Sharon Nimirovski, the founder and CEO of Tel Aviv based cyber firm White Hat said in a phone interview. "We are working on this event around the clock and Israeli firms have been hit but we still believe it is minor. We are still investigating. The systems have been infected, but we don't see damage. The attack reached the computers but was blocked."
"We have no idea what is going to happen today - it is still only the early hours of the day. We are already seeing a second version of the attack that was released yesterday because the first was blocked," he said. (Read more)
- "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions." (Proverbs 8:12)
3. Abbas, in meeting with Putin, says Moscow must be part of peace process - Times of Israel
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Sochi resort in Western Russia on Thursday, and said that solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be "impossible" without the participation of Moscow in the peace process.
"It is impossible to solve the Palestinian issue without Russia's meaningful participation in the peace process. That is what we have been emphasizing at all international meetings," Abbas said in his meeting with Putin, according to the official Russian State news agency Tass. (Read more)
- Father, we pray that the pride of these leaders be brought down and they realize that they are mere man and have no control over Israel, the Jewish people or the Land without the hand of the Lord God guiding each and every step. There is no strength in man, neither in his wisdom. The mighty God of the universe will lead Israel to a victorious conclusion and it is in His powerful Name that we pray.
- "For Zion's sake will I not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burns." (Isaiah 62:1)
4. 'Abbas has decided to sign peace deal with Israel' -- Is the Daniel 9:27 final-day peace deal in the works? - Jerusalem Post
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has crossed the Rubicon and voiced "unprecedented" readiness to reach a peace deal with Israel, sources close to the efforts to renew talks between Israel and the Palestinians have told The Jerusalem Post.
Abbas, according to the sources, made this clear to President Donald Trump during their meeting at the White House last week. The president plans to use his trip to Israel later this month to receive assurances from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he, too, is committed to a peace agreement.
Since his meeting with Trump last week, Abbas has changed his rhetoric, issuing a number of statements meant to reflect flexibility on previous demands. He has, for example, said that he would renew the talks under Trump's auspices without preconditions. In the past, he had said he would not negotiate with Netanyahu without a freeze to settlement construction. (Read more)
-Lord God, open the eyes of President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to see plainly the double talk of PA President Abbas who has never been solid and honest in any negotiations for peace with Israel. God, we ask that You bind by the power of the Blood of Jesus the underlying lies that he tells and loosen the glory of heaven that will bring about God's perfect will for the Land of Israel. In the Name of Jesus we pray.
- "And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven:" (Matthew 16:19)
5. Diplomats to disrupt Trump visit with strike, despite wage assurances - Times of Israel
Foreign Ministry workers plan to go ahead with a labor strike aimed at disrupting the expected visit of US President Donald Trump, despite obtaining a further assurance from the Finance Ministry that a wage agreement will be implemented, Channel 2 television reported Thursday.
Although a meeting the night before between representatives from the Foreign Ministry, the treasury and the Prime Minister's Office produced a commitment to apply a previously formulated deal, the diplomats said they will not relent until they see the agreement not only signed but also put into practice.
The fight between the diplomatic service and the Finance Ministry over diplomats' stagnant pay has been going on for several years. The diplomats argue that past agreements are not being honored and budgets are not being approved.
"We will wait for a signed document, and more than that, for it to be implemented," Foreign Ministry workers said in a statement. "We have had enough of empty assurances and dishonest handling of labor relations." (Read more)
- Lord God in heaven, we pray that any effort made by the workers of darkness will be bound by the Blood of Jesus and that the labor strike aimed at disrupting the expected visit of U.S. President Trump will be met with defeat by the angels sent from heaven who will fight with them and bring them down. Jesus, we ask that You settle the fight between the diplomats and all other ministries and disarm them, Lord. Destroy the enemies of good causes. In the Name of Jesus we pray.
- "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff thy comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)
6. Russian fighter jet flies close to US Navy aircraft, official says - Fox News
An armed Russian fighter jet flew alarmingly close to a U.S. Navy reconnaissance aircraft flying in the Black Sea on Tuesday - just one day before Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Washington.
The Russian jet came as close as 20 feet to the American aircraft and remained that close for five minutes, a U.S. defense official told Fox News. The Russian jet was carrying six air-to-air missiles under its wings, making this episode "highly provocative," one official told Fox News. It is very rare for a Russian jet to intercept a U.S. aircraft while visibly armed, officials said.
Later Thursday, a Russian Su-24 attack jet flew into South Korea's Air Defense Zone prompting the South Korean military to scramble two F-16 fighter jets to the Sea of Japan. The Russian jet came within 70 miles of the USS Carl Vinson Strike Group, "which isn't very far when you are talking about jets," a defense official told Fox News. (Read more)
- Abba Father, no one following You wants war. The Russians are once again daring the United States and South Korea to take action against their threats. They must have forgotten that the U.S. has a new sheriff in the White House who is not afraid to take defensive actions to protect our nation. Our prayer is that no warfare will be necessary to send Russia home without harm to anyone. To those making decisions we ask that You give them Your wisdom and knowledge. Let them know that Your Holy Spirit is with them in these situations. Thank You, Lord.
- "A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look and see the reward of the wicked." (Psalm 91:7-8)
7. Sessions ends Obama-era leniency on sentencing, infuriating civil rights groups - Fox News
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Friday that he has told prosecutors to pursue the most serious charges possible against criminal suspects - a stunning reversal of Obama-era policies, and a move that infuriated civil rights groups.
"We will enforce the laws passed by Congress pure and simple," he said at an awards ceremony in Washington D.C, adding that prosecutors deserved to be "unhandcuffed and not micro-managed from Washington."
"This is a key part of President Trump's promise to keep America safe," Sessions said. "We're seeing an increase in violent crime in our cities - in Baltimore, Chicago, Memphis, Milwaukee, St. Louis and many others. The murder rate has surged 10 percent nationwide - the largest increase since 1968."
In a letter to 94 U.S. attorneys Thursday night, Sessions called it a "core principle" that prosecutors charge and pursue "the most serious and readily provable offense." Sessions defined the most serious offenses as those that carry the most substantial guidelines sentence. (Read more)
- Our gracious Lord, thank You for Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He is working to make America safe again. Protect him and the prosecutors as they "clean up" what was been allowed by the past president. The Congressional laws will be followed. Praise You, Jesus. Amen!
- "For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off." (Psalm 37:28)
8. Oklahoma House Declares Abortion 'Murder' - CNSNews.com
The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a resolution on May 8 declaring abortion to be murder and directing "every public official" in the state to use their authority "to stop the murder of innocent children by abortion."
The resolution does not have the force of law but it does reflect the policy view of the Oklahoma House, which has 101 members -- 74 Republicans, 26 Democrats, and 1 vacancy. The resolution, HR 1004, passed by voice vote, and was introduced by Rep. Chuck Strohm, R-Jenks.
The resolution, in part, states that "all human life is protected by God's law and the highest laws of the land," and that the Declaration of Independence explains that "all human beings" are "endowed by their Creator with the unalienable right to life."
Further, "the Constitution of the United States mandates that no state shall deprive any human being of life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness without due process of law, nor deny any human being within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." (Read more)
- Father God, we praise You for this BREAKTHROUGH for LIFE in the State of Oklahoma! We pray that all other 49 states would do the same, so that the lives of every precious unborn baby in America would be protected. We ask this in Your name, amen.
- Psalm 150.
9. Vice President Mike Pence speaks at World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians - WhiteHouse.gov
This morning [Thursday], on behalf of President Donald Trump, it was humbling to join people of faith from across the world at the first-ever World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians.
There, I reaffirmed the President's commitment to defending Christians and, frankly, all who suffer for their beliefs across the wider world. America was and is and ever will be that shining city on a hill where men and women of faith throughout our history have been able to walk and openly worship their faith in God to the glory of God.
The faith of those gathered at the World Summit inspired and humbled me. The reality is, across the wider world, the Christian faith is under siege. Throughout the world, no people of faith today face greater hostility or hatred than the followers of Christ. In more than 100 countries spread to every corner of the globe -- from Iran to Eritrea, Nigeria to North Korea -- over 215 million Christians confront intimidation, imprisonment, forced conversion, abuse, assault, or worse, for holding to the truths of the Gospel. And nowhere is this onslaught against our faith more evident than in the very ancient land where Christianity was born.
- Father in heaven, we give praise and thanks for the world acknowledging the persecution of Christians worldwide. We pray for all the 215 million Christians who suffer daily from those who are unbelievers of any faith-based belief in God and His Son Jesus Christ. Call forth holy angels from Your throne room who will surround all Christians and protect them from the evil in the world to shut them down. In the holy Name of Jesus we pray.
- "Arise, O God, judge the earth, for You shall inherit all nations." (Psalm 82:8)
10. Franklin Graham Reveals the 'Real Reason' Christians Are Being Persecuted - Christian Post
Leading evangelist Franklin Graham addressed persecuted Christians from over 130 countries gathered this week for the first-ever World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians and explained the "real reason" why so many people throughout the world are being killed, tortured and imprisoned for their faith in Christ.
"Today, powerful, demonic forces that are absolutely opposed to Christ and His Church reach across the natural borders and cultures to seek Jesus Christ and His followers as their enemies in their struggle for worldwide domain," Graham asserted. "We must not be naive, nor can we afford to be complacent or unprepared for the challenge in these dark forces."
"Christians today may be persecuted for many reasons," Graham added. "But, the real reason I believe Christians are persecuted is to suppress their faith, quieten their voice, marginalize the very word of God. The persecution of Christians is evil. God is not the author of persecution. Evil men and women are authors and ultimately, Satan is the author of persecution." (Read more)
- Father God, we thank You for raising up Franklin Graham as a voice to our nation, and a voice on behalf of the persecuted church. We thank You for the clarity of his words, and we ask that his message now be spread far and wide across the entire globe, that multitudes will hear and know this truth. In Your name, amen.
- "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)
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