This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
An ancient gold coin, estimated to be some 1,000 years old, has been found in Norway, and carries an image on one side of the figure of a man holding a Bible, with the slogan "Jesus Christ, King of Those Who Reign."
It is CBN that documented the discovery by an individual using a metal detector, according to a report by Innlandet County Municipality.
The Norwegian report said the gold piece was found in the central Norwegian mountains.
The CBN report explained, "The coin was first introduced in Byzantium around 960 A.D. It was minted in what was then called the Eastern Roman Empire, probably in the empire's capital of Constantinople, now known as Istanbul," according to government officials.
The one side portrays Christ holding a Bible and the other is thought to be the depictions of Basil II and Constantine VIII, two brothers who ruled together as emperors.
The coin probably was struck sometime between 977 A.D. and 1025 A.D., when the brothers ruled.
The gold piece carries two inscriptions: "Jesus Christ, King of those who reign," in Latin and a Greek reference to Basil and Constantine.
The Norwegian report in Innlandet speculated that the coin may have ended up far from Rome, in Norway's mountains, as part of Harald Hardrade's salary. He was part of the emperor's guard during that time period, and back then it was customary for guards to be allowed to loot a palace and take valuables when an emperor died.
"Hardråde reportedly sent some of the treasures he acquired to Prince Yaroslav in Kyiv. At the same time, he was also contributing to a dowry so he could marry Elliptical, who was one of the prince's daughters, according to the Innlandet site," CBN reported.
Norse legends say Hardråde and his men were rich when they returned to Norway in 1046, the report said.
The coin was found near an ancient travel route that also was used to haul salt in from western Norway, so it could have been dropped by a trader, or even a clergyman on a missionary trip, the report noted.
The spot where it was found is being investigated further.
But, CBN reported, the finder likely will not keep it, as Norway's law provides that coins older than 1650 are considered property of the state.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Hamas, the Gaza-based terror organization that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, butchering some 1,400 civilians with barbaric methods including beheading babies and burning whole families alive, now is creating a new terror group to attack Israel, according to a new report.
The report at the Gatestone Institute is from Khaled Abu Toameh, an award-winning journalist based in Jerusalem.
The report explains that just days ago, Hamas, backed by Iran, confirmed "the establishment of a new terrorist group in Lebanon with the goal of 'liberating Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.'"
Hamas terror members already have been lobbing rockets at Israeli civilians from Lebanon in recent weeks.
Now Hamas is insisting that Palestinians living in Lebanon join the "Vanguards of the Al-Aqsa Flood" which was the name it picked for its brutal and vicious invasion of Israeli communities near the border with the Gaza Strip in October.
"Hamas, in short, is saying that it is planning a similar invasion of Israel, but this time from Lebanon," the report said.
The report pointed out that Lebanese residents are not particularly happy with Hamas' decision to expand its war against Israel, and they have offered criticism of the agenda.
"The Lebanese see how Hamas has brought devastation down on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as a result of their attack on Israel. They fear the same consequence in Lebanon," the report said.
"This [Hamas] statement is unacceptable, neither in form nor in content. It harms Lebanese sovereignty and is again trying to harm the relationship between the Lebanese and Palestinians," charged Samir Geagea, chief of the Lebanese Forces Party.
He warned, too, that the Hamas decision to promote a new terror organization could not have happened "without the approval of Iran's Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah."
"It is well-established that Hamas and other organizations in Lebanon are subject to the command and decision of Hezbollah," he explained, in the report. "It is next to impossible for them to carry out any military action without the knowledge and approval of the party [Hezbollah]. There is no possibility for Hamas to issue such a statement had it not been for Hezbollah's actual signature on it."
Further, the former general director of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces, Ashraf Rifi, condemned the move as a mistake.
"Lebanon is not an arena for resistance [against Israel] or those who are deceived," Rifi said, advising Hamas to "Do not sink into the shifting Lebanese sands…"
Further criticism came from Lebanese politician Fouad Makhzoumi, who said Lebanon's government should "act immediately and take the necessary measures," as well as Lebanese journalist Tony Bouloss, who it appears Hamas plans to push Lebanon into a civil war.
The report explained, "This is not the first time that the Lebanese people voiced concern over plans of Iran and its proxies to turn Lebanon into a launching pad for attacking Israel. Over decades, Hezbollah has accumulated approximately 150,000 rockets and missiles, many of them precision-guided, hidden among the homes of civilians along its 75 miles (120 km) border with Israel."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A controversy that appears to pit science against the leftist ideologies of wokeness, with wokeness winning, has erupted in the Pacific Northwest.
It's because a student failed a quiz in school by answering correctly – and scientifically. But his responses were contrary to the wokeness in which many public schools are submerged these days.
The case was profiled by Jason Rantz on his program on KTTH.
He explained how far afield from reality one teacher has strayed. "An activist history teacher failed a Seattle student on a quiz for saying only women can get pregnant and that only men have penises."
Rantz noted, "10th-grade Ethnic Studies World History teacher at Chief Sealth International High School in Seattle gave students a quiz titled, 'Understanding Gender vs. Sex.' The quiz provided a series of statements to label true or false, or questions with multiple choices."
The ideology-driven paper included demands about pronouns, and when someone insists that others address him, or her, as "they/them" and other leftist points.
"Two questions, however, are objectively false, but students are taught the opposite," Rantz reported.
"Question 4 was a true or false question with the statement, 'All men have penises.' The student labeled the statement 'true' since it is, in fact, true. However, the teacher penalized the answer, marking it incorrect. The teacher claims women can have a penis," the report said.
"Similarly, Question 7 was a true or false question with the statement, 'Only women can get pregnant.' Again, the student marked the statement 'true' because only women can get pregnant. Again, the teacher penalized the student, insisting the answer was false. The teacher believes men can get pregnant."
Rantz reported the student's mother contacted the school and was "met with silence."
However, she said on the show, "I keep trying to wrap my head around how it is legal to teach inaccurate information and force students to answer against their beliefs or receive negative scores."
She accused the school of teaching "political beliefs" rather than fact.
The report noted the school district claimed the quiz was "inclusive," and that it was appropriate.
A district statement claimed, "Seattle Public Schools is dedicated to establishing inclusive environments that allow exploration of contemporary issues, specifically examining the impacts of power systems such as racism and patriarchy."
The statement, however, failed to address the issue of the question answers simply being wrong.
And, Rantz reported, "It’s not clear how this unscientific lesson around gender identity was connected to world history."
The show host then explained, "The student failed for refusing to answer politically motivated questions intended to legitimize an extremist gender identity movement claiming gender is fluid. The students aren’t being taught; they’re being indoctrinated. And it’s by design: district leaders think this lesson is not only appropriate but factually accurate."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The demands by Democrats in Congress for absolute censorship of those with viewpoints contrary to the political party's ideology have become "insatiable," as evidenced by the actions of a party member from Pennsylvania, according to recognized constitutional expert Jonathan Turley.
Turley, a professor at George Washington University, often has testified before Congress on constitutional issues and even has represented members in court.
He concludes that "Democrats have embraced an anti-free speech agenda to silence opposing viewpoints" that has become "insatiable," after Rep. Summer Lee, that Pennsylvania Democrat, lost her cool during a hearing.
She demanded that a witness statement because it referenced her personally, be censored, even though Lee had barely finished attacking that witness.
It happened like this: Lee insulted witnesses scheduled to make statements as transphobic and hateful, with, "Madam Chair, I ask that while we sit through this hearing and the hateful misinformation I'm sure is coming our way, let us not forget the children at the core of this issue."
Waiting to testify on the issue of Joe Biden's agenda to promote transgenderism, no matter the injury to other innocent people, was Riley Gaines, famed as a college athlete after racing against Lia Thomas, a man portraying himself as a woman in college swim competitions.
Thomas responded to Lee's attack with: "Of course, there is a place for everyone, regardless of gender identity, regardless of sexual orientation, regardless of race or what sports you play. There’s a place for everyone to play sports in this country. But unsafe, unfair, and discriminatory practices towards women must stop. Inclusion cannot be prioritized over safety and fairness, and ranking member Lee, if my testimony makes me transphobic then I believe your opening monologue makes you a misogynist."
Turley reported, "Lee then pounced and demanded that Gaines remarks be struck for 'engaging in personalities.'"
He reported, "What followed was hurried consultation and presumable a few explanations for Lee on why witnesses are allowed to respond to such attacks by a member. Lee then withdrew her demand."
He noted Congress has a rule that bans members from engaging in "personalities," apparently to prevent personal attacks.
"However, Lee was attempting to use this against a witness who was defending herself against her attack. It is a dangerous extension," he warned.
He explained, "The fact that Lee’s immediate response was to censor a person who she had just attacked is telling. After labeling Gaines a hateful bigot, Lee did not believe that she should be allowed to denounce Lee’s comments as an attack on women. It shows the slippery slope of censorship. Democrats have embraced an anti-free speech agenda to silence opposing viewpoints. That desire becomes insatiable even as citizens seek to rebut personal attacks from members in a congressional hearing."
Turley pointed out that danger.
"That would create a nightmarish combination if members are protected from actions in defaming witnesses but then can censor them when they defend themselves."
The commentary pointed out, "Democrats and their bureaucratic allies already believe they have the right to shut down speech they don't like. It's just a matter of whether the courts allow them to get away with it or not."
The commentary's conclusion?
"The Democratic Party is made up of entitled wannabe tyrants who believe they should be immune from the very things they do. They don't want to live by their standards, and that's not a tenable position for a functioning society. The problem is especially acute among younger Democrats like Lee. She does her 'yas queen' rantings for the camera, accusing others of bigotry but can't take the slightest bit of pushback. Meanwhile, she wouldn't dare say that stuff outside the halls of Congress because she knows she'd be legally liable. It's cowardly and pathetic."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Microsoft, as part of its campaign to curry favor from China, reached various partnership agreements in which it helped that nation's Communist Party spread its propaganda, according to a new report.
It was through "collaboration deals" it signed with various Chinese propaganda mouthpieces, including China Daily and People's Daily, that Microsoft provided technology "that lets the paper target potential readers" and provided "access to an artificial intelligence bot specially designed to be controlled and censored by the Chinese Community Party," the report said.
A Microsoft official told the publication the agreements "expired" years ago.
"These are major propaganda outlets that publish outright falsehoods attacking the ideas of democracy, attacking the very concepts that undergird our society, and yet an American company is working to spread this," Geoffrey Cain, policy director at the CCP influence-fighting Tech Integrity Project said.
The report pointed out, "Both the China Daily and the People’s Daily are widely considered propaganda tools for the Chinese Communist Party. China Daily is published by the party’s Central Propaganda Department. The State Department in 2020 determined the People’s Daily’s parent company was 'substantially owned or effectively controlled' by the Chinese government."
The deals, starting with the China Daily, date back to 2016, when the publication said Microsoft would provide tech to let it "target and profile" users.
It started the "Media Smart Cloud Innovation Technology Laboratory" which a Chinese scholar later said gives "data support for research on [China’s] international communication effects."
Microsoft at the time said it was honored to have such "a strategic cooperation" with the propaganda outlet.
China Daily routinely promotes China's talking points and criticism of the U.S.
"Microsoft isn’t immune from these sorts of arrangements just because they’re an American company," Jake Denton, a research associate at the Heritage Foundation’s Tech Policy Center, told the Free Beacon. "It’s kind of an angel deal with the devil scenario. Microsoft loves the idea of access to the Asia market but it comes with a catch. In this case, it’s helping the Chinese government’s propaganda campaigns."
The report said Microsoft's agenda was expanded when it provided its services to the People’s Daily with a similar partnership in 2018.
"Microsoft does not want to anger the Chinese Communist Party and access those 1.2 billion potential consumers," charged Cain. "Microsoft has made huge inroads in the Chinese government over the last two decades. That takes a lot of political posturing to win over Chinese Communist Party officials.":
The publication's report said since 1992, Microsoft has engaged in "dozens" of deals with various Chinese government operatives.
The report cited "virtually no evidence" that the American company would back away from its extensive ties to the CCP, as Microsoft China president Joe Bao called the country the "most dynamic and innovative place in the world."