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'THIS IS A BREAKTHROUGH': Israeli Archaeologists Uncover
Jesus' Last Supper Room in a Way You've Never Seen Before
Israeli archaeologists have given new life to the ancient stone
room traditionally believed to be the site of Jesus' Last Supper
on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. The Cenacle's ancient walls, worn-
down surfaces, and poor illumination have made it hard for
researchers to study its history. Thousands of Christian tourists
go there every year to visit the possible location of the
Last Supper. Jewish tradition says it was built above
the burial site of King David. Reuters reports that
archaeologists from Israel's Antiquities Authority and
European research institutions used laser technology
and advanced photography to create incredibly detailed
three-dimensional models of the hall.
PRESIDENT RIVLIN Begins Consultations to Form New
Coalition Government
It is widely expected, though by no means a fait accompli,
that Israel’s current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
will be tasked with attempting to construct a ruling coalition.
The process is being broadcast live – via Facebook – a first
for the State of Israel, in an effort to promote transparency.
Rivlin began the process by saying, “The president doesn’t
pick the PM, the sovereign does and the sovereign is the
public. The president picks the MK with the best chance to
form a government.”
FORMER EUROPEAN LEADERS URGE EU to on Sunday
Some three dozen senior former European politicians
published a call on Sunday for the European Union to
reaffirm its commitment to a two-state solution for Israel
and the Palestinians and reject any Trump peace plan that
does not address Palestinian demands.
BELARUSIAN, NORTH KOREAN MISSILE ENGINEERS KILLED
or in Israel’s air raid of Masyaf
The Israeli air strike on the Scientific Studies and Research
Center in the Syrian town of Masyaf on Saturday, April 13,
is reported by Western intelligence sources to have killed
and wounded in addition to Iranian and Syrian military
officers, a number foreign missile experts hired to upgrade
their missiles. Among them were missile scientists from
Belarus and North Korea who were employed in different
departments of the large industrial complex outside Masyaf
in western Syria.
HOUSE PANELS ISSUE SUBPOENAS to Deutsche Bank,
others, in Trump probe
Two U.S. House of Representatives committees have issued
subpoenas to multiple financial institutions, including
Deutsche Bank AG, for information on U.S. President Donald
Trump’s finances, the panels’ Democratic leaders said on
Monday. “The potential use of the U.S. financial system for
illicit purposes is a very serious concern.
SUDAN COUP: Why Omar al-Bashir was overthrown
In December 2018, the government tried to stave off
economic collapse brought on by years of US sanctions
and loss of oil revenue by imposing emergency austerity
measures and a sharp currency devaluation. Cuts to bread
and fuel subsidies sparked demonstrations in the east over
living standards, but the anger soon spread to the capital,
Khartoum. The lifting of most sanctions in 2017 failed to
help the country, which had lost most of its oil fields when
South Sudan became independent in 2011.
SUDAN CRISIS: Protest leaders demand end of 'deep state'
Reports on Monday said there had been efforts to disperse
the sit-in but protesters joined hands and troops stepped
back from a confrontation. The crowd chanted "Freedom"
and "Revolution", and appealed to soldiers to protect them,
“witnesses said. The Sudanese Professionals' Association (SPA)
which has spearheaded the protests, urged supporters to foil
any attempt to disperse the sit-in.
TRUMP, POMPEO BRUSH ASIDE Kim's deadline for nuclear
talks flexibility
Asked about Kim’s statement last week that he was only
interested in meeting Trump again if the United States came
with the right attitude, Pompeo told reporters that the
president was “determined to move forward diplomatically.”
But Pompeo said Kim had made a commitment to
denuclearize and “we collectively need to see that
outcome move forward.” “Our teams are working
with the North Koreans ... to chart a path forward
so that we can get there. He said he wanted it done
by the end of the year. I’d love to see that done sooner.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED FORMER PRESIDENT
JIMMY CARTER To Talk About China
President Trump called former President Jimmy Carter
for the first time this weekend. Earlier this year, Carter
sent Trump a letter with some advice about managing
the U.S.-China relationship. Carter oversaw the normal-
ization of diplomatic relations between the two countries
40 years ago. On Saturday evening, Trump called Carter
to talk about it. It was the first time they'd spoken, Carter
said. He said Trump told him that he is particularly
concerned about how China is "getting ahead of us."
MOST RELIGIOUS GROUPS becoming more Republican,
data show
Ryan Burge of Eastern Illinois University analyzed data
from the Cooperative Congressional Election Study,
between 2008 and 2018, using two-year intervals. He
looked at 34 different religious groups in the United States
who had at least 100 respondents in the biannual survey.
In an analysis published last week by Religion in Public,
Burge found that of the 34 faith traditions charted, 27 of
them leaned more Republican in 2018 than they did in
2008. Only seven became more Democrat.