The Daily Brief:
Tuesday, October 3, 2017 (short form)
A gunman turned a Las Vegas concert into a killing field Sunday night from his perch on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, using at least 10 guns to rain down a steady stream of fire, murdering at least 58 people and injuring more than 500 others in the deadliest mass shooting in modern United States history.
The suspect, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was identified as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, a resident of Mesquite, Nevada. Police initially sought a woman believed to be Paddock's roommate, Marilou Danley, as a "person of interest." Detectives later made contact with her, and "do not believe she is involved with the shooting on The Strip." (Read more)
- Father, this horrifying massacre has brought grief and fear to hundreds of people across the country. Officials have found no connection to the military or a foreign terror organization, even though he used at least one automatic weapon. We ask that You reveal all truth in this situation and allow Your comfort, truth, and strength to flow among the people.
[We quote the same verse our President quoted in his address to the nation yesterday.]
- "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit." (Psalm 34:18)
2. 'Antifa' preps mass uprising to remove 'fascist' Trump - WND
The far-left group known as "antifa" has dramatically increased its presence in the American political scene since the inauguration of Donald Trump. Its violent tactics have been labeled "terrorism" by experts. But is the group now attempting to make the jump to revolution?
On Nov. 4, the group Refuse Fascism is calling for gatherings around America to demand "the Trump/Pence regime must go." The group claims the Trump administration is "fascist" and must be resisted, channeling the rhetoric of the antifa, or "anti-fascists," which have been active across the country.
Yet the group has a larger agenda than simply resisting "fascism."
Refuse Fascism is a front group for the Revolutionary Communist Party, a fiercely anti-American leftist group noted for its overt call to abolish the United States. WND reported in July the group protested the United States and burned American flags outside the Republican National Convention. (Read more)
- Lord, we bind the spirits of division and strife that are present within this Antifa group. In Jesus Mighty Name we call upon You to put them under Your feet and dissolve every one of their intentions.
- "He who loves transgression loves strife, and he who exalts his gate seeks destruction." (Proverbs 17:19)
3. U.S. cuts staff in Cuba over mysterious injuries, warns travelers - Reuters
The United States on Friday cut its diplomatic presence in Cuba by more than half and warned U.S. citizens not to visit because of mysterious "attacks" that have caused hearing loss, dizziness and fatigue in U.S. embassy personnel. The U.S. embassy in Havana will halt regular visa operations for Cubans seeking to visit the United States and offer only emergency services to U.S. citizens, steps that may further erode the U.S.-Cuban rapprochement begun by former President Barack Obama.
The partial evacuation, while depicted as a safety measure, sends a message of U.S. displeasure over Cuba's handling of the matter and delivers another blow to Obama's policies of engagement with Cold War foe Cuba. The Communist Party-run Cuban government was already dealing with several delicate matters - the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, a steep decline in aid from important socialist ally Venezuela and political transition as President Raul Castro steps down next year.
Cuba's Foreign Ministry chief for U.S. Affairs Josefina Vidal said: "We consider the decision announced today by the U.S. government through the State Department is hasty and will affect bilateral relations." Vidal, in a briefing on state-run television, said Cuba was still keen to cooperate with U.S. authorities to clarify what happened.
Officials in President Donald Trump's administration stressed the United States was maintaining diplomatic ties with Cuba. (Read more)
- Thank You, Father, for this decisive action to protect our embassy staff and bring into focus an issue that needs to be exposed. We pray for a spirit of truth to be unleashed into this situation to show the true intentions of this communist dictatorship. Lord, please protect those of our staff still in Cuba and we pray for healing of those harmed by Cuba's actions. We pray for Your divine wisdom for our leaders and for the salvation of the Cuban people.
- "Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, and let his net that he has hidden catch himself; into that very destruction let him fall." (Psalms 35:8)
4. Tennessee Church Attack Revenge for Dylann Roof - WND
A note found in the car of a man charged with shooting up a mixed-race Tennessee church made reference to revenge for a white supremacist's massacre at a black church in Charleston, South Carolina, two years earlier, according to the Associated Press.
Officials read the note to AP staffers who say it could provide the motive of Emanuel Kidega Samson's mindset at the time of Sunday's shooting and a possible motive for the rampage, which killed a woman and wounded six other people.
The note referenced revenge or retaliation for Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who killed nine black worshipers at a South Carolina church in 2015 and has since been sentenced to death. It wasn't clear what precisely Samson is alleged to have written about the Roof shooting, or whether his note contained other important details that might also speak to a motivation or state of mind. (Read more)
- Lord, only You have the right of vengeance. We pray that You will dispel this trend of revenge on every angle.
"Vengeance is Mine; I will repay." (Romans 12:19)
5. Spain riot police smash way into Catalan voting center, more than 800 injured - Fox News
Catalonia's defiant bid to hold a referendum on independence from Spain degenerated into ugly scenes of mayhem on Sunday, with more than 800 people injured as riot police attacked peaceful protesters and unarmed civilians gathered to cast their ballots in a vote the government had banned as unconstitutional. Thirty-three officers were also injured.
Hundreds of police armed with truncheons and rubber bullets were sent in from other regions to confiscate ballots and stop the voting, and amateur video showed some officers dragging people out of polling stations by the hair, throwing some down stairs, kicking them and pushing them to the ground. Anguished, frightened screams could be heard.
"What the police are doing is simply savage," said Jordi Turull, spokesman for the Catalan regional government, which backs independence. "It's an international scandal." He said Spain has become "the shame of Europe" with its iron-fist tactics.
Police were acting on a judge's orders to stop the referendum, which the Spanish government had declared illegal - and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said going forward with the vote only served to sow divisions. (Read more)
- Father, the answer of many governments to division and political issues appears to be crackdowns on the people. Catalan has been struggling for years to be separate from Spain. We ask for calm to prevail, and speak shalom peace over the people of this region of Spain.
- "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)
6. DEVELOPING . . . This Country Will Ban Burqas Starting Tomorrow - AP
A law prohibiting any kind of full-face covering, known popularly as the "Burqa Ban," has taken effect Sunday in Austria, where the strong support for it portends potential political upheaval in the upcoming national election.
Parties campaigning on an anti-migrant message are poised to win on Oct. 15 and to form a coalition government. Such a rightward swing in a country that's had centrist governments almost consistently since World War II could have repercussions across Europe, emboldening politicians who take a hard line on Islam and immigration.
Last week, the right-wing, anti-migrant Alternative for Germany party won seats in Germany's national parliament for the first time after featuring posters with the slogan "Burqas? We prefer bikinis" in its campaign.
The Austrian law - called "Prohibition for the Covering of the Face" - forbids off-slope ski masks, surgical masks outside hospitals and party masks in public. Violations carry a possible fine of 150 euros (nearly $180) and police are authorized to use force with people who resist showing their faces. (Read more)
- Lord, this is common sense legislation. We ask that You place Your hand over Austria and keep them from upheavals as this law goes into effect, with wisdom and understanding of the truth.
- "Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7)
7. Suspect in Canada terror attack is Somali refugee, police say - Fox News
The suspect accused of stabbing a police officer before crashing a speeding U-Haul van into a crowd of people in Edmonton, Canada, had come to the country from Somalia trying to claim refugee status, police revealed.
Officers took the 30-year-old suspect into custody and he apparently acted alone, Edmonton Police Chief Rod Knecht said. Officers said pending charges included terrorism and five counts of attempted murder, but they did not reveal his name.
An Islamic State flag was found in the car that hit the officer, according to Knecht. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for the 5 victims of this incident and ask that You touch them with Your healing and life. We also pray for the suspect, that You will show him the error of his ways, and that You are the one and only True God.
- "The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men." (Psalm 33:13)
8. ISIS claims responsibility for Marseille train station attack; 2 women killed - Fox News
The Islamic State terror network claimed Sunday it was behind a knife attack that ended with two women dead at the Marseille train station in southern France.
The claim was carried in a statement Sunday night by the ISIS-affiliated Amaq news agency. It said the attacker on Sunday was one of its "soldiers" who acted in response to the group's calls to target countries involved in the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS in Syria and Iraq. French security forces shot and killed the attacker.
Police sources told Sky News the attacker shouted "Allahu Akbar" as he carried out the attack at Gare St. Charles. (Read more)
- Lord, as these kinds of attacks continue around the world, we ask on our knees for Your intervention and help. Only You know the hearts of men and the evil plans still waiting to be completed on the earth. We pray that You will touch the hearts of the people of France with strength and life, and protect all who go there from hidden evils.
- "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You." (Psalm 86:5)
9. A North Korean ship was seized off Egypt with a huge cache of weapons destined for a surprising buyer - Washington Post
A U.N. investigation uncovered a complex arrangement in which Egyptian business executives ordered millions of dollars worth of North Korean rockets for the country's military while also taking pains to keep the transaction hidden, according to U.S. officials and Western diplomats familiar with the findings.
The incident, many details of which were never publicly revealed, prompted the latest in a series of intense, if private, U.S. complaints over Egyptian efforts to obtain banned military hardware from Pyongyang, the officials said.
It also shed light on a little-understood global arms trade that has become an increasingly vital financial lifeline for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the wake of unprecedented economic sanctions. (Read more)
- Father we pray that You will continue to reveal any and all actions that North Korea is trying to hide from the world. Wherever there is illicit arms trade, or any other back door methods of gaining money, we pray that You will cut it off.
- "For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known". (Matthew 10:26)
10. Pelosi Tells Ryan: It's 'Moral Duty' to Create Special Congressional Committee on Gun Control - CNSNews.com
In the immediate wake of last night's mass shooting in Las Vegas--where at least 58 people were murdered and more than 500 were injured--House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R.-Wisc.) saying that Congress "has a moral duty" to address what she called an "epidemic of gun violence."
In addressing the issue, she said, the House should both enact legislation to "strengthen" the background checks conducted when people purchase guns and impanel a special committee on "gun violence" "The epidemic of gun violence in our country continues to challenge the conscience of our nation," Pelosi wrote in her letter to Ryan.
"I urge you to create a Select Committee on Gun Violence to study and report back common sense legislation to help end this crisis," Pelosi wrote. "The bipartisan committee would make recommendations to prevent unspeakable tragedies such as the mass shooting in Las Vegas and to restore confidence in the safety of our communities." (Read more)
- Father, we ask that You will preserve the Bill of Rights in America in spite of the fears of the people. Fear involves torment, and it always leads to oppression. each us to fear You and not the actions of man.
- "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)
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