USAF F-22 Fighters Intercepted Russian Strategic Bombers in International Airspace near Alaska

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On Wednesday, the Minoborony Rossii reported that USAF F-22 fighters intercepted Tu-95MS strategic bombers on a patrol mission in international airspace near Alaska:

On 17 April 2017, two Tu-95MS strategic bombers from the Ukrainka airbase (in the Far Eastern Amur Oblast) successfully performed tasks under the air patrol schedule. The route of the flight ran above neutral waters in the Pacific Ocean, along the Aleutian Islands. The aircraft covered about 5,000 kilometres (3,107 miles) at a speed of up to 850 kph (528 mph) and at a height of up to 10,000 metres (32,809 feet). The flight lasted more than seven hours. USAF F-22 fighters accompanied the Tu-95MS bombers for 27 minutes. Long-Range Aviation regularly carries out patrol missions above neutral waters in the Arctic, the Atlantic, the Black Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. It carries out all such missions in strict compliance with international regulations and with respect to national borders.

Earlier, Pentagon spokesman Michelle Baldanza told TASS that the USAF scrambled two F-22 fighters on Tuesday to intercept Russian bombers near the coast of Alaska. Citing unnamed US defence officials, Fox News reported that the USAF scrambled two F-22 fighters and an E-3 airborne early warning plane to intercept the Russian aircraft, which flew roughly 280 miles (450 kilometres) southwest of Elmendorf Air Force Base, within the USA’s Air Defence Identification Zone. Fox stated that the last spotting of Russian bombers near the US borders was on 4 July 2015, off the coasts of Alaska and California, coming as close as 40 miles (65 kilometres) to Mendocino in California.

19 April 2017

TASS

http://tass.com/defense/941993

Editor:

As the Tu-95s were in international airspace, they had every right to be there. This was a subtle warning from the “polite people” to the “exceptional Americans”… “We’re not pushovers and we’re not going to kowtow to you, either”. One wonders if Trump got the message…

BMD

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Statement on the Martyrdom of Christians on Hosanna Sunday in Egypt

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With palms in their hands, hymns on their lips, and peace in their hearts, New Martyrs were ushered from their churches in Alexandria and Tanta into the Paradise of Joy on Hosanna Sunday, the day and feast of the Lord.

All Christians… know that you are a light in the world, a source of good, and a means for peace. The whole world is under siege by an ideology of hatred… a cancer of the conscience. The same hands that skilfully designed weapons of harm could’ve discovered tools for a cure. This violent act against Christians is because evil can’t coexist with good, darkness can’t overcome light, and hatred can’t befriend peace, but death can’t separate us from God.

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the Lord has spoken it.

Prophecy of Isaias 25.8

All our churches and noble citizens throughout the world are praying for the peace and safety of all persecuted Christians, Confessors, and Martyrs. Holy Week is a time devoted to the Lord’s Passion. At all times, the Lord loved. Even when afflicted and crucified, He loved. This is a time for prayer for the entire world. We remain in prayer for the safety of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, all the Confessors of the Christian faith, the families of the Martyrs, and all the injured victims. On behalf of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States, I offer our deepest condolences to everyone afflicted by this sad day in Egyptian history.

+Bishop Youssef

Ruling Hierarch

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

10 April 2017

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

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11 April 2017. 43 Dead in Egypt… Patriarch Tawadros Escaped Injury

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On Palm Sunday, a bomb went off in St Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria in Egypt. 43 died and hundreds more injured… the Islamists struck again. Their intent was to drive a wedge between Christians and sane Muslims (the Islamists hate them almost as badly as they hate the Christians… how dare they associate with and defend infidels!). I think that they failed. Yes… they killed Christians… yes… they disrupted a major Christian holy day… but no, they didn’t divide the normal people of Egypt. Yes, the violence will continue… far too much of it, I’d say. However, the Egyptian government will do its best to nick the perps and give them their just deserts. It’s not Saudi Arabia, where Christians must go about in fear. Yes, there are feral Muslims, and we do wrong to ignore that fact. On the other hand, remember that such fanatics are heretics in Muslim terms… yes, heretics. Sadly, these fanatic heretics run the KSA, and they use their money to spread this contagion. So… be vigilant, but differentiate between the Saudi-financed bigots and the “silent majority”. As one of my friends told me, “If I had wanted to live under Wahhabism, I’d move to Saudi Arabia. No, thank you”.

Meanwhile, pray for the dead… we’re Christians; that’s what we do…

BMD

BREAKING NEWS Egyptian Security Reports Explosion Near Cairo’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral

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On Sunday, according to a source in Egyptian security, an explosion took place near Cairo’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral. Citing Egypt’s Ministry of Health, local media reported that the explosion killed at least five people and injured ten more. There’s been no claim of responsibility yet.

11 December 2016

Sputnik International

https://sputniknews.com/africa/201612111048419372-cairo-blast-coptic-cathedral/

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Citing Egyptian state TV, Reuters reported that an explosion near Cairo’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral killed at least 20 people and 25 injured others. No one claimed responsibility for the blast yet. The latest attack comes two days after two roadside bombs (one in Cairo, and one to the north of the capital) left six police dead and six others injured.

11 December 2016

RT

https://www.rt.com/news/369924-cairo-coptic-blast-cathedral/

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This is a developing story and we don’t have much solid detail at present. There’ll be conflicting reports for the next several hours, I fear. Stay tuned…

BMD