On January 25, 2025, Dave Harris will present the sermonette, titled, “That Is Not Jesus,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “Lessons From the Unjust Steward.”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

When considering the creation of the universe and the life that resides on Earth, it is fascinating to contemplate the complexity involved. The function of the eyeball, which amazingly detects light and connects with the brain to stimulate the thought of an image boggles the mind. The planets, stars and other cosmic substances contain an ordered form that is stunning to see. The Earth resides in just the right place in the solar system, with just the right atmosphere that can sustain life. Even the simple building block of a protein molecule works in such a way that it functions in harmony with other protein molecules to fulfill very complex biological functions like digestion, immune response, and reproduction. Of course, we can go on and on with other examples of creation’s complexity and elegant beauty which demonstrate how all the many pieces fit together.

What also boggles my mind is how so many in the world attribute the complexity of the universe and miracle of life to randomness. To rely on randomness to produce the order we observe in our universe is ridiculous. The probability of producing ordered outcomes from a random process for even the simplest examples are infinitesimally small.

In his book “Solve for Happy,” Mo Gawdat uses a hypothetical example of a monkey typing at 220 words per minute to randomly generate a 9-word sentence. At that rate, it would take 2.5 billion-trillion-trillion-trillion-trillion-trillion-trillion times longer than the estimated age of the earth to produce the desired result. This, of course, is a much simpler task than something like creating life.

Another relatively simple example is the biological process of a protein molecule folding to achieve its stable structure needed to perform a function. The number of ways a protein can fold incorrectly is a massive 10⁷⁴, but there is only one correct way. For this to happen randomly is incomprehensibly improbable, especially when considering the finite age of the universe. Quoting from evolutionnews.org, “the number of ways you can assemble amino acids that won’t fold vastly exceeds the ways that will fold. To expect a random process to search ‘sequence space’ (the set of all sequences of amino acids) and arrive at one that folds is so highly improbable, it will likely never occur in multiple universes.” Just considering these basic examples of randomness applied to our world’s design exposes the problem of attributing order to random process. When acknowledging the vast complexity of creation, you would have to be crazy to think that it is the product of randomness.

It is a much saner position to attribute the ordered, complex beauty of creation to the Creator. The Bible tells us exactly how the universe came into being. God created it! “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” (Psalm 33:6). Jesus Christ in His glorified state created everything. “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3). He placed the planets and stars in just the right positions. He designed all life and its biological functions. He created it all, and He did not rely on randomness to accomplish it. He was very intentional in His design.

As plain as this Truth is, most of mankind pridefully rejects it. They would much rather trust randomness to explain the order that surrounds them. The Bible has an evaluation of this line of thinking. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:20-22). It is foolish to believe that randomness produced the universe! If applying the extremely improbable odds of randomness producing the universe to a different circumstance, such as winning the lottery, I doubt anyone would expect to win. Yet confoundingly, those same people trust in randomness as the source of creation with brazen certainty. Foolish indeed!

We are fortunate to understand the Truth of creation. Not only is the complexity and order of our physical universe awesome, but the implied meaning is even more amazing. God’s designed creation implies purpose! He has had a plan in mind since the very beginning, which is to bring us into His Family in glory to live with Him eternally. It is God, “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (compare 2 Timothy 1:9).  We do not have to rely on randomness in our lives because God has a clear purpose for us. We can trust that with certainty.

by Norbert Link

We begin with the ongoing fight between Germany’s government and the new Trump administration; and especially Germany’s and Europe’s attacks on Elon Musk, report on the “hostage” deal between Israel and Hamas and its present and future consequences; and speak on the war between Russia and Ukraine.

We continue with articles on two interesting personalities in Germany and Austria; Pope Francis’ “moral blindness” and “hypocrisy”; anxiety and fears in Norway; and Trump’ challenges, comments and actions, including his executive orders. In this regard, please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Will the USA Take the Panama Canal Back?” 

We speak on former President Biden’s objectionable actions just prior to his departure.

We conclude with another sick example of man’s cruelty towards animals.

Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.

German Ambassador to the US Attacks Trump

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 19:

“[Germany’s] ambassador to the US, Andreas Michaelis… penned a diplomatic write-up [and] sent [it] to the German Foreign Ministry [under Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock] and the office of Chancellor Olaf Scholz last week, [stating] that a second Trump term represents serious threats to the system of democratic checks and balances outlined in the US constitution… [He wrote:] ‘Fundamental democratic principles, along with checks and balances, will be undermined as far as possible, the legislature, law enforcement and media robbed of their independence and misused as political arms, and big tech will gain co-governing authority.’…

“Michaelis wrote that he expects Trump to affect a ‘maximum concentration of power in the hands of the president at the expense of Congress and the states.’ Michaelis went on to write that Trump’s policy ‘of maximum disruption, the breaking up of the established political order and bureaucratic structures as well as his plans for revenge ultimately mean a redefinition of the constitutional order.’… Michaelis, who will represent Germany at Trump’s inauguration on Monday, said he sees the incoming president as a man driven by a ‘desire for vengeance,’ musing that he will ‘largely sap’ the US of its democratic principles.”

Bild Online published a castigating editorial about Michaelis. It also stated that Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock defended the report of her ambassador. The incredible truth is that Michaelis’ left-wing accusations against Trump apply in fact to Biden’s actions.

Scholz: Elon Musk a Danger to European Democracy

Politico wrote on January 17:

“Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s friendliness with the far right ‘endangers’ democracy in Europe, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Friday. ‘He supports the far right everywhere in Europe — in the U.K., in Germany, in many, many other countries — and that is something that is completely unacceptable,’ Scholz said at a press conference in Berlin. ‘It endangers the democratic development of Europe, it endangers our community and it must be criticized,’ the [present] German leader added.

“The social media mogul is also one of Donald Trump’s most vociferous supporters, earning himself a spot in the U.S. president-elect’s inner circle, and has backed Britain’s right-wing Reform UK…

“Scholz said he wasn’t against Musk expressing his freedom of speech, but: ‘His siding with the far right, whether for business interests or for reasons to do with his own political stance, is unacceptable.’ The Socialist chancellor’s comments are the latest in an ongoing feud with Musk, who has in turn called Scholz ‘a fool’ and claimed he will ‘lose’ the German federal election.”

Of course he will. Why are the “established” parties so afraid of the AfD? Note the next article as an example.

Holding People Accountable Who Caused “Many Covid Vaccine Deaths”

LifeSiteNews wrote on January 17:

“AfD (Alternative for German) co-head Alice Weidel has vowed to ‘hold accountable’ the people who enforced the draconian COVID regime and have caused ‘many vaccine death’” and serious side effects. Weidel recently spoke on X Spaces with Elon Musk, who endorsed her party, stating that ‘only AfD can save Germany’…

“Weidel said that the mRNA shots were suddenly presented as the only alternative even though they were ‘highly experimental.’ The politician also stated that the government did not just make ‘mistakes’ but purposefully lied about COVID and the jabs, as leaked documents from the top German health agency, the Robert Koch Institute, have showed.

“She announced that the AfD would initiate a parliamentary COVID investigation committee if her party reached the required 25 percent of the vote at the upcoming election. The AfD leader said that police are still carrying out house searches of doctors who were critical of the mainstream COVID narrative. She compared the current German state, along with near-total conformity of all mainstream media outlets, to socialist East Germany.

“Weidel thanked the people who took to the streets to protest the government’s draconian COVID policies and all the doctors and medical professionals who opposed the regime. During the time of COVID, the AfD was the only party in Germany that unanimously opposed the government’s draconian policies, including an attempt to introduce a COVID shot mandate for people over the age of 60.”

No wonder Germany’s “established” parties want to silence the AfD (and Musk), since they are all guilty of violating people’s constitutional rights during the coronavirus debacle.

Europeans Attack Musk Over Alleged Nazi Salute

Politico wrote on January 20:

“Europe’s left-wingers on Tuesday raced to condemn Elon Musk after the world’s richest man performed a stiff-armed salute at an event to celebrate new United States President Donald Trump. ‘My heart goes out to you,’ Musk said on stage at Washington’s Capital One Arena, as he thanked Trump’s supporters. He then put his hand to his chest and extended a rigid right arm with his palm down, resembling the salute made infamous by Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini and Europe’s fascists in the first half of the 20th century. Musk then repeated the gesture a second time facing the crowd on the opposite side…

“‘I will start by talking about the response, or perhaps the lack of responses of the EU to Trump’s inauguration. It represents a threat to the whole of the European Union,’ said French member of the European Parliament Manon Aubry, co-chair of The Left group, at a press conference Tuesday morning. ‘Let’s start by keeping things simple, I am sure everyone saw the Nazi salute, I select these words carefully, the Nazi salute of Elon Musk.’

“In Germany, where Musk’s political backing for the far-right Alternative for Germany has already caused issues ahead of a snap election on Feb. 23, the government hit out over the controversial salute. ‘I definitely don’t think highly of Elon Musk as a politician, from what we know so far. But such a gesture, given his already known proximity to right-wing populists in the fascist tradition, must worry every democrat,’  said German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach from the center-left Social Democratic Party. [Lauterbach has been nicknamed the German Fauci, due to his terrible governmental measures during the Coronavirus epidemic.]

“In Italy, popular journalist Roberto Saviano… rained down invective on {Musk]. ‘May you be cursed,’ Saviano said. ‘The end of all this will be violent. His fall will be equal to that of those to whom it historically refers with this gesture. Musk will fall at the hands of those he now incites fueled by the same violence he practices.’

“In Spain… Yolanda Díaz, the minister of labor and social economy from the left-wing Sumar party, said: ‘Last night, the whole planet could see Elon Musk emulating the Nazi salute in the context of Donald Trump’s inauguration… She then accused Musk of having transformed X into ‘a propaganda mechanism that uses its algorithm to favor certain ideas over others and, in doing so, influence public opinion… From now on, I will no longer use my account,’ she said.

“Musk defended himself online, denouncing the attacks as ‘dirty tricks’ from his opponents. ‘The “everyone is Hitler” attack is sooo tired,’ he said.  His supporters also defended the gesture, blaming it on the billionaire entrepreneur being ‘autistic.’

“‘The Roman Empire is back, starting with the Roman salute,’ wrote Andrea Stroppa, a key adviser to Musk in Italy, sharing the video on X. Stroppa later deleted the post, however, and replaced it with a new one saying: ‘That gesture, which some mistook for a Nazi salute, is simply Elon, who has autism, expressing his feelings by saying “I want to give my heart to you,” and that is exactly what he communicated into the microphone,’ he said, adding: ‘Elon dislikes extremists!’”

The Sun wrote on January 21:

“The Nazi salute, also known as the Hitler or Sieg Heil salute, was used as a common greeting in Germany under the Third Reich. It was originally based on the so-called Roman salute and was adopted by the Italian Fascist Party, whose leadership under Benito Mussolini was a major inspiration to Adolf Hitler. Its use is illegal in several countries today, including Germany, Austria, and Slovakia.”

Left-Wing Jewish Jerry Nadler Attacks Musk

Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA) wrote on January 20:

“Jerry Nadler, the Jewish Democratic congressman from Manhattan, called the gesture antisemitic and said other officials should condemn it. ‘I never imagined we would see the day when what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute would be made behind the Presidential seal,’ Nadler tweeted. ‘This abhorrent gesture has no place in our society and belongs in the darkest chapters of human history. I urge all of my colleagues to unite in condemning this hateful gesture for what it is: antisemitism.’

“Around the same time as Nadler’s tweet, the Anti-Defamation League, the antisemitism watchdog group, issued its own ruling: ‘not a Nazi salute’…

“The Nazi salute was itself borrowed from Italian fascists, who adapted it from the ancient Romans. Musk has venerated (and shared imagery of himself in)  ancient Rome and has suggested America faces problems like those that led to the end of the Roman Empire…”

Nadler himself had become the subject of a controversy in 2023 when he refused to vote for a Republican bill condemning anti-Semitism, stating that not “all forms of anti-Semitism” should be denounced, as “anti-Zionism” is “expressly not antisemitic.”

Breitbart Clears It All Up

Breitbart wrote on January 21:

“The regime media wasted no time launching its Hoax Machine. Within hours of Donald Trump being sworn in as our 47^th president, these disgraced and increasingly irrelevant serial liars tried to fool America into believing Elon Musk threw out a couple of Nazi salutes.

“What Musk did was not at all confusing to decent people. Speaking to a crowd of Trump supporters Monday at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, he said, ‘I just want to say thank you for making it happen. Thank you.’ Then he touches his heart and makes a gesture throwing his heart out to the crowd. Then he literally says, ‘Thank you. My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured, thanks to you.’…

“People make this gesture all the time. That might be a surprise to some of you, but the fact it’s surprising is not your fault because when the people… do it, no one on the right makes a big deal of it…

“Normal People understand the difference between ‘Sieg Heil!’ and ‘My heart goes out to you.’ Normal People understand that as thousands of leftist students and academics marched across America’s elite campuses in solidarity with Hamas, this same media worked overtime to spin this antisemitic hate as free speech. Normal People understand the difference between calling for an ‘intifada revolution’ during Passover and ‘My heart goes out to you.’”

Hamas to Expel Israel as Soon as Possible

Israel Today wrote on January 16:

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya repeated the terrorist organization’s commitment to the destruction of Israel in his first public remarks since green-lighting the truce deal with the Jewish state on Wednesday night… Al-Hayya described the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 people in Israel as a ‘miraculous’ achievement, declaring the atrocities would ‘remain a source of pride’ for Palestinians, ‘passed down through generations….

“Hamas terrorists ‘will expel the occupation from our land and from Al Quds [Jerusalem] at the earliest time possible… We also recall the illuminating stances of many countries that stood with us across various fields,’ said the terrorist leader, praising the support from Turkey, South Africa, Algeria, Russia, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Belgium, Spain and Ireland…

“Posting to social media in Hebrew, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed the Tehran-backed ‘resistance’ had succeeded in forcing the Jewish state to ‘retreat’… Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps likewise hailed the deal as ‘a clear victory and a great victory for Palestine and a bigger defeat for the monstrous Zionist regime.’”

This was so predictable.

Hostage Deal Approved

The Associated Press reported on January 17:

“Israel’s [full] Cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages held there and pause the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever.

“The government announced the approval after 1 a.m. Jerusalem time Saturday, following a [seven hour long meeting of deliberation and debate] of the full Cabinet that went well past the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath, in a reflection of the moment’s importance. In line with Jewish law, the Israeli government usually halts all business for the Sabbath except in emergency cases of life or death…

“The ceasefire — just the second achieved during the war — will go into effect Sunday, though key questions remain, including the names of the 33 hostages to be released during the six-week first phase of the ceasefire and who among them is still alive….”

Twenty-four ministers voted in favor, and eight ministers voted against the deal. Especially National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich voted against the deal, and so did ministers from the Religious Zionists Party and Otzma Yehudit, as well as Likud Ministers David Amsalem and Amichai Chikli.

Prime Minister Netanyahu told the cabinet that President-elect Donald Trump had given his full backing for Israel to restart the war should Hamas violate the agreement before phase two of the deal.

In an interview with Fox News, Mike Huckabee, the new U.S. ambassador to Israel, supported this statement regarding violations before and after phase two and added that he is also totally opposed to a two-state solution. It’s still a long way to Tipperary…

Hostage Deal—“Murdering Jews Pays!”

Israel 365 News reported on January 19:

“The list of terrorists being released as part of this so-called ceasefire deal is out, and I am furious. Among them is the murderer of my dear friend, Ari Fuld hy”d. Ari was a proud, passionate Jew, brutally murdered simply for the ‘crime’ of living as a Jew in our ancestral homeland. His murderer, like so many others on this list, is being set free—not because of justice but as a reward for Hamas’s inhumane hostage-taking.

“This isn’t just about Ari, though his loss is deeply personal to me and countless others. Ari’s story is one of many. These terrorists have brutally murdered Jews—children, mothers, fathers—just for daring to live proud, Jewish lives in the land of Israel. And now, their release sends a chilling message: killing Jews pays.

“This isn’t just about releasing convicted killers. It’s about empowering future ones. These released terrorists will almost certainly return to terrorism, as history has shown us time and again. Their release is a clear death sentence for hundreds, if not thousands, of Jews in the future. Even worse: their release inspires others to follow in their footsteps, knowing that murdering Jews not only leads to hero status but to eventual freedom, even after a horrific invasion and massacre like Oct. 7th, 2023.

“The immorality of Western leaders—those who pushed Israel into this abhorrent deal—screams to the heavens. Why is Israel being pressured to release murderous terrorists instead of Hamas being convinced to release innocent hostages unconditionally?

“The Biden and Trump teams have chosen to treat Qatar and Egypt as ‘neutral mediators,’ when in reality, both are complicit in Hamas’s terror. Qatar is a state sponsor of Hamas, funneling money and political support to the very organization that orchestrated the October 7th massacre. Egypt knowingly allowed weapons to flow into Gaza, aiding Hamas’s buildup. Yet, instead of holding Qatar and Egypt accountable, these Western leaders have handed them the reins of diplomacy.

“If the U.S. and others were truly committed to justice and morality, they would pressure Qatar and Egypt to force Hamas to release all hostages without preconditions. Qatar could cut Hamas off in a second, but instead, it enjoys playing the middleman, gaining international legitimacy while funding terror…

“Of course, we rejoice in the return of hostages! But it’s impossible to ignore the immense price we are paying both in the short-term release of terrorists and the long-term consequences. This is not just about the lives these terrorists will take in the future but the treacherous message for which all of humanity will suffer: that terrorism pays…”

AFP reported on January 18 that more than 1,890 imprisoned Palestinian criminals [Bild called them “Hamas criminals”] in exchange for 33 hostages held by Hamas are to be set free under the deal.

Please view our recent StandingWatch program, titled, “The Hostage Deal—Peace in the Middle East?” 

Far-Right Ministers Resign in Protest

 Times of Israel wrote on January 19:

“National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party quit the coalition on Sunday morning, following through on its threat to exit if the government agreed to a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“In a statement, the party said that its three cabinet members — Ben Gvir, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, and Negev, Galilee and National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf — submitted resignation letters to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In addition, MKs Zvika Fogel, Limor Son Har-Melech and Yitzhak Kroizer resigned their spots on the various committees they were members of. ‘From this time onwards the Otzma Yehudit party is not a member of the coalition,’ the party declared…

“Writing to Netanyahu, Ben Gvir… complained of what he says was the prime minister’s ‘surrender-to-terror deal, which crosses all ideological red lines.’ The ceasefire constitutes ‘a complete victory for terrorism,’ Ben Gvir declared…  ‘We will not return to the government table without a complete victory against Hamas and the full realization of the war’s goals,’ he added.”

Hamas Terrorist Rejoice

The U.S. Sun wrote on January 19:

“HAMAS terrorists have come out of hiding to celebrate the new ceasefire agreed with Israel. Shock pictures show the shameless, gun-wielding fighters waving the green banner of the terror group and the crest of its armed militia. Pictures show men in balaclavas and camo fatigues waving their guns as they travelled through various towns in the Gaza Strip.

 “… And it has been warned the group has managed to retain much of its strength. Slain terror boss Yahya Sinwar’s brother Mohammed is understood to be rebuilding the shattered remains of Hamas.”

Europe to Get Involved

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 16:

“The EU watched from the sidelines as the US, Egypt and Qatar mediated a three-phase ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas… The 27 countries of the EU… may now have an important role to play. ‘The EU is ready to support the implementation of the ceasefire,’ EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El-Anouni told reporters at a briefing… On Thursday, the EU indicated it was on standby to work with international partners, particularly the Gulf states, when the time came. ‘Now we need to see what the future holds,’ El-Anouni said…

“[A] crucial question is how much the EU will be able to influence developments after the ceasefire… figures in [Trump’s] incoming administration have voiced support for the current Israeli government’s more extreme nationalist positions, for example in favor of more of the settlements deemed illegal by the EU and UN…”

And so, Europe will get involved more and more in the affairs of the Middle East… turning AGAINST Israel AND the USA.

Germany to Send Troops to Ukraine?

AFP wrote on January 18:

“Germany’s defence minister said he was open to sending German soldiers to Ukraine to help secure a demilitarised zone there if a ceasefire were agreed with Russia…  Boris Pistorius also said Germany should aim to spend around three percent of GDP [rather than currently 2 percent] on defence.

“US President-elect Donald Trump wants members of the NATO military alliance to devote five percent of their national output on defence, a demand that has already been rejected as too high by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz [‘For Germany, that would mean finding an additional 150 billion euros every year,’ Scholz said on January 6].

“Asked about a possible deployment of German troops to help secure a buffer zone between Russia and Ukraine if one were agreed, Pistorius said: ‘We’re the largest NATO partner in Europe. We’ll obviously have a role to play.’ He said the issue would ‘be discussed in due time.’”

Ending the Russia-Ukraine War in 24 Hours?

NBC News wrote on January 18:

“On the campaign trail, Donald Trump vowed to quickly end the war in Ukraine. He’d do it in ‘24 hours’ after taking the oath, he said, or even before his inauguration. But as he prepares to return to the White House, it’s clear that promise will go unfulfilled…

“Since Trump’s election victory, his team has not outlined a peace proposal to Ukraine’s leadership… Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Trump’s choice for secretary of state, told senators at his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that forging a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia will be ‘very difficult.’ 

“Trump’s… chosen envoy to Ukraine says the new administration’s goal is a peace deal within 100 days.” [That would be on or about April 30.]

Breitbart wrote on January 22:

“President Donald Trump… demanded the Russian president end the war. If Putin does not, Trump said [on Wednesday], the United States would place ‘taxes, tariffs, and sanctions’ on Russia… ‘We can do it the easy way, or the hard way — and the easy way is always better,’ he added…”

Guttenberg’s Dark Intentions

Report 24 wrote on January 21, 2025:

“Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, former German Minister of Economics and Defense, who failed due to a plagiarism scandal, is now working as a lobbyist. As such, he appeared at the Oberbank’s business gala – and made astonishing noise in front of 1,500 guests. Europe must become more militarily capable in order to stand up to ‘Bully Trump’. It sounds like a secret longing for a two-front war that didn’t end particularly well last time [in World War II].”

Guttenberg also claimed that it will take a long time for Europe to achieve a level of military resilience that no longer requires the United States to withstand an attack. He is very wrong about this.

Karl Habsburg Against Russia

Report 24 wrote on January 21:

“Every year the grandson of the last emperor, Karl Habsburg, gives a ‘speech on the future of Europe’ as part of the Pan-European movement. Habsburg has been noticed as an enemy of Russia for a very long time…

“In his speech, Habsburg declared that Russia was a traditional colonial empire that exploited its colonies and used the people of the colonies as cannon fodder in war…. In his opinion, a Europe that cares about the security of its citizens should design scenarios that lead to the disintegration of Russia…

“Towards the end of the speech, Habsburg then called for… direct attacks on Russian territory… Hatred of Russia obviously has a long tradition in the Habsburg family. Otto Habsburg, father of Karl Habsburg, also regularly agitated against Russia and Putin.”

Pope Francis’ Moral Blindness

Israel 365 News wrote on January 14:

“Pope Francis lied once more about Israel’s efforts to defend itself against Islamist entities attacking its citizens, entirely adopting the Hamas-run Health Ministry’s narrative. He called for… the establishment of a Palestinian state inside the borders of Israel…

“The pope also called for a return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal with Iran that would allow the Islamist regime to initiate a nuclear weapons program. ‘More recently, I think of the positive signs of a resumption of negotiations to return to the framework of the Iran nuclear deal, with the aim of ensuring a safer world for all,’ the Pope’s statement read…

“In his letter to the pope, Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Weisz, a member of the Council of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate, criticized the Pope’s statements, saying that Pope Francis’ statements ‘are not merely disappointing, they represent a historic danger’ and ‘revived the darkest patterns of Catholic Church history—patterns that for centuries transformed false accusations into violence against the Jewish people… Your portrayal of this conflict deliberately ignores the tragic reality that Hamas deliberately embeds its terrorist infrastructure within civilian areas using hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches as military installations and weapons depots. They cynically use Palestinian children and civilians as human shields, forcing Israel to make impossible choices in its legitimate fight for survival.

“‘Your failure to acknowledge this cruel exploitation of innocent lives, while condemning Israel’s efforts to defend itself, reveals a profound moral blindness. Every casualty in this war is a tragedy, but the responsibility lies squarely with Hamas, who intentionally maximize civilian casualties for propaganda purposes. Your silence on these tactics, coupled with your persistent portrayal of Israel as an aggressor, sends destructive ripples across the global consciousness at a speed and scale unimaginable to your predecessors.’

“… Pope Francis [had] called for an investigation into claims that Israel is carrying out a ‘genocide’ in Gaza… Pope Francis has a history of being myopic regarding Palestinians and Arabs bent on destroying the Jewish state. In 2015, just a few days after the Vatican officially recognized the Palestinian state, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was granted an audience in the Apostolic Palace. After the meeting, Francis gave Abbas a special medallion, representing the angel of peace ‘destroying the bad spirit of war.’ The Pope explained to Abbas that the gift was appropriate since ‘you are an angel of peace.’” 

You just can’t make this up. How more ridiculous can it get?

Sharp Rebuke For Pope Over Criticism of Israel

The Kronenzeitung wrote on January 17:

“Pope Francis has been sharply reprimanded by Italy’s chief rabbi for repeatedly criticizing Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip. Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni accuses the Argentinian of ‘selective indignation’ and ‘reviving anti-Jewish sentiment’.

“Francis has unfairly focused his attention on Israel compared to other ongoing conflicts in the world, including those in Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Ethiopia, Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, spiritual leader of the Jewish community in Rome since 2001, said on Thursday at a meeting on the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ on the occasion of the 36th Day of Dialogue between Catholics and Jews in Rome. ‘This is a moment in which it seems that the Church, or at least a part of it, is once again giving in to the temptation to burn bridges with Judaism. The war that has been raging since October 7, 2023, also has Jewish-Christian dialogue among its collateral victims,’ lamented the rabbi, who also spoke of the ‘revival’ and ‘strengthening of anti-Jewish sentiments’.

“Francis, the head of the 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church, has recently spoken out increasingly about Israel’s military action against the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Last week, he described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as ‘very serious and shameful’.”

The Pope clearly turns out to be antisemitic.

The Pope’s Grave Sin Hypocrisy

Breitbart wrote on January 16:

“The Vatican City State has enacted stiffer penalties on anyone entering its territory or violating its airspace without permission, threatening offenders with fines and jail time. The Vatican has hiked both monetary sanctions and prison sentences for those who violate its tight security regulations… violators will face monetary fines ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 euros and prison sentences from one to four years.

“The Vatican City State, the world’s only completely walled-in sovereign territory, has several entry points, all but one of which — the Saint Anna gate — are locked tight from dusk until dawn. The gates are manned by the Swiss Guard, with gendarmes carrying firearms not far off…

“The new decree also introduces new provisions concerning unauthorized overflight of Vatican airspace, including with the use of drones, with penalties of up to three years in prison.

“Last August, Pope Francis suggested that immigration laws should not be made stricter but rather looser, to allow more immigrants to cross international borders, adding that turning away migrants is a ‘grave sin’… The push for more streamlined international migration has been a hallmark of the Francis papacy, while he has demonized as ‘xenophobic’ those who call for strong…  borders. The pontiff has also insisted that the safety of migrants — legal or illegal — should take precedence over national security concerns and that they should not be subjected to collective deportations.”

MSN wrote on January 20:

“Pope Francis said Donald Trump’s plans to impose mass deportations of immigrants would be a ‘disgrace,’ as he weighed in on the incoming U.S. president’s pledges nearly a decade after calling him ‘not Christian’ for wanting to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border. Francis made the comments during an appearance at an evening talk show, and then followed up Monday with an official telegram of congratulations to Trump on the day of his inauguration…”

Such hypocrisy by a “Marxist” pope is difficult to swallow.

Norway Prepares for War

vg wrote on January 11:

“The Norwegian people… must be prepared for war. We cannot rule out war… the truth is that Norway is not well equipped to deal with a real crisis, and certainly not a war…

“There are not enough shelters today that can keep the population safe during attacks… It has already been decided that 4,500 more young people will have to enter their first-time service. Now 4,000 more will have to serve civilian service…”

“We Must Protect Ourselves Against Trump”

vg wrote on January 12:

“Donald Trump’s statements about making the United States bigger, this time in actual size, are frightening. The events of recent days have made the question of Norwegian EU membership even more relevant. The incoming US president has opened up about buying Greenland from Denmark, taking over the Panama Canal, and making Canada part of the US. Trump is threatening the Danes with particularly high tariff walls if they don’t give in. He doesn’t even rule out the use of military means, either in the case of Greenland or Panama. It’s unbelievable.

“It’s time to have the big conversation about where Norway belongs in the world. Who we should be with in the years ahead. How we should stay as safe as possible in turbulent times. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago caused our two close neighbors, Sweden and Finland, to completely change their foreign policy. Almost overnight. They both applied for membership in NATO, the alliance they had been outside of throughout the Cold War, in the decades after World War II…

“With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world had become more dangerous, including for Norway… The United States has always been the guarantor of our security. Hopefully, it will continue to be so… The cooperation between Norway and the United States on defense and intelligence is strong and deep. Especially in the high north, where Russia has a large part of its nuclear weapons, just across the border from Norway.

“Our geographical location means that the United States will always want to be close to Norway. This will not change even if the United States gets an unpredictable president, with a completely different view of international law and justice than any American president before him. But there is still every reason to ensure that Norway has more people to lean on if we get into serious trouble. In the worst case, in the form of war…

“We will be much better equipped to face such threats if we are part of the EU. Security policy cooperation within the union is becoming increasingly stronger… With Trump’s announced tariff walls and possible trade war, we risk ending up in a pinch between two blocs, with the US on one side and the EU on the other… For Norway, the safest thing is to stand together with Europe. Fully and completely.”

But it may not work out that way. In fact, there is strong support for the idea that Scandinavian countries—Norway, Sweden and Finland, and perhaps even The Netherlands—will not end up being part of the EU… or most certainly not of “core Europe.”

Trump’s Litmus Test

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on January 17:

“Trump’s litmus test awaits him on the Oval Office desk.  The litmus test is the pardon for every one of the wrongly indicted and wrongly prosecuted January 6 Trump supporters–which means all of them–who attended the rally and were persecuted for doing so.  If Trump fails to immediately issue a full and unconditional pardon to all, he will lose the support of MAGA Americans…

“In my view, full pardon for all is just one-third of what needs to be done. Another one-third is restitution for all expenses, lost income, and stress from being wrongly prosecuted and locked away from family, friends, and career in prison. In some cases the… Democrats imprisoned the wrongly convicted  great distances from their communities, thus depriving them of support from visits from family and friends. Some were kept in solitary confinement…

“The remaining one-third is actually the most important one-third. The DOJ, FBI, and White House officials responsible for the indictments, prosecutions, and imprisonments must be indicted, prosecuted and sentenced. By weaponizing law for propaganda and political purposes and by using false indictments for the purpose of suppressing the powerful evidence of massive vote fraud in the 2020 presidential election, high law enforcement officials committed felonies. They must be held accountable for their crimes.  Otherwise, legal precedents are created that are fateful for democracy, the rule of law,  and accountable government…

“How can Trump permit the government officials who intentionally framed innocent people for political and propaganda purposes to walk away unpunished?”

If Trump’s past is a guide for his future conduct, then it is not to be expected that most of these recommendations will be carried out. But notice the next article:

CNN wrote on January 20:

“President Donald Trump on Monday pardoned US Capitol rioters, saying the pardon would cover 1,500 people, which would appear to cover nearly everyone charged since the attack on January 6, 2021. ‘These are the hostages,’ Trump said…

“By pardoning the defendants, Trump has granted full clemency to hundreds of people already convicted of felony crimes like assaulting police and destroying property.”

Trump Defends TikTok

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 19:

“On Sunday, incoming US President Donald Trump said he would issue an executive order delaying a ban on TikTok… Trump’s comments came after the app went dark in the US ahead of a federal ban recently upheld by the US Supreme Court. ‘I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark,’ Trump wrote on his own social media platform Truth Social. ‘Americans deserve to see our exciting inauguration on Monday as well as other events and conversations.’

“In response to Trump’s comments, TikTok said it would restore service in the US, and thanked the president-elect for ‘providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.’

“Trump, who called for a similar ban in the past, also floated the idea of a US-China joint venture ownership deal [He wrote: ‘I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture.’] The president-elect reportedly said he would not be opposed to continued Chinese ownership of the app as long as steps were taken to ensure US user used data was protected and stored in the US, according to incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.”

Trump’s flip-flop seems to be in recognition that many TikTok users voted for him.

Trump’s Liberal LGBT Agenda

NYP reported on January 18:

“President Trump is assembling an administration stocked with prominent gay and lesbian Americans… Among the picks:

“Scott Bessent, 62, treasury secretary. If confirmed, the hedge fund manager would be the highest-ranking openly gay official in US history. Ric Grenell, 58, presidential envoy for special missions. He was Trump’s director of national intelligence during his first term [and US ambassador to Germany]. Tammy Bruce, 62, the new State Department spokesperson was a Fox News contributor. Jacob Helberg, 35, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment. Bill White, 57, ambassador to Belgium. Art Fisher, 49, ambassador to Austria.

“And at least 10 other prominent LGBT Americans are slated for major administration posts, one Trump insider said.”

Imam Ousted

Jewish Insider wrote on January 20:

“An imam who refused to acknowledge Hezbollah as a terrorist organization was removed as a speaker at President Donald Trump’s inauguration after previously being slated to deliver a benediction…

“A spokesperson for the newly inaugurated 47th president did not immediately respond to an inquiry from JI asking why Al-Husainy was removed from the lineup. Trump did not include an imam in his inauguration ceremony when he first took office in 2017.”

Trump’s Inauguration Speech

ABC News wrote on January 20:

“President Donald Trump offered a scathing rebuke of his predecessor’s term while laying out the immediate actions he plans to take on the first day of his second term in office, saying in his inauguration remarks, ‘America’s decline is over.’…

“Trump continued to lay out his expansionist vision for the U.S., including a plan to gain control of the Panama Canal. ‘American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy,’ he said. ‘Above all, China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama. And we’re taking it back.’…

“He also referred to the assassination attempt against him in Pennsylvania last year. ‘Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and indeed, to take my life. Just a few months ago in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear, but I felt then, and believe even more so now that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to Make America Great Again.’

“Trump celebrated his historic comeback throughout his speech. He is only the second president in U.S. history, after Grover Cleveland in 1892, to win election to a non-consecutive second term, and is the first convicted felon to take the office. ‘Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback. But as you see today, here I am, the American people have spoken,’ Trump said.”

Trump also said subsequently that Denmark would come along to sell Greenland. Regarding the Panama Canal, please see our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Will the USA Take the Panama Canal Back?”  

Trump’s Executive Orders

Daily Mail wrote on January 20:

“Trump is signing approximately 200 executive orders on Monday in a massive crackdown on Day One of his second term… One of his more interesting proposals is to rename or restore previous titles to landmarks and bodies of water bordering the U.S., including the new ‘Gulf of America.’…

“Trump vowed that he would keep TikTok working in the U.S. – even after the Supreme Court ruled last week that it could not operate in the country… Trump’s order extends the time period for when the law prohibiting TikTok’s U.S. operations takes effect so he can work towards a deal to protect national security from Beijing…

“Trump is declaring that the federal government will only recognize two sexes – male and female…

“Trump is also putting a stop to all issuance of new foreign aid…  The order is likely to immediately halt the distribution of U.S. money from going to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which distributes aid in Gaza and is accused of close ties to the terror group Hamas…

“Trump is ending birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants. This means anyone born on U.S. soil, but whose parents are undocumented aliens will no longer be a de facto citizen of the United States of America. Advocates for asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants claim this is against the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which created the unique birthright citizenship rule for anyone born in the U.S…

“Trump is also directing the Department of Defense to send troops to assist with securing America’s borders… He is declaring a national emergency at the southern border… Trump is also ending catch-and-release, a policy that allowed illegal border crossers seeking asylum to be detained and then released within the country as they awaited a court date. He is reinstating the Remain in Mexico policy that makes illegal border hoppers wait in the last country where they crossed from, which is most often Mexico, as they wait for a court date to make their asylum claims. And Trump is requiring that his promised and famed southern border wall is finally completed.

“Trump is designating cartels as terrorist organizations, which will change the way that they are handled when it comes to foreign affairs and defense regarding attacks by these cartel members…

“The president will withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accords and end the so-called Green New Deal. Trump is ordering that Alaska’s Denali mountain go by its original moniker Mount McKinley…

“Trump is creating a complimentary agency to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to deal with external taxes and tariffs. Like the IRS, the External Revenue Service (ERS) will collect and uphold laws related to taxes on foreign countries. It comes after Trump said in November that he will impose a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico. He also wants to put an additional 10 percent tax on goods from China – on top of other existing tariffs…”

Trump also signed an executive order withdrawing from the World Health Organization. He announced that he would sign executive orders by February 1 to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada.

In another executive order, Trump “pardoned 23 anti-abortion protesters imprisoned under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which was enacted in 1994 in large part to protect people entering abortion clinics” (Deutsche Welle, dated January 23).

Regarding ending birthright citizenship, the New York Post wrote on January 20:

“The federal government will no longer recognize the immediate citizenship of children of illegal immigrants born in the US ‘on a prospective basis’… the action could raise legal questions, since the 14th Amendment states, ‘All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.’”

Fox News added on January 20:

“Officials told reporters in a press call that Trump will sign an order clarifying language in the 14th Amendment and stating that the federal government ‘will not recognize automatic birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens born in the United States’…

“Trump advisers and some conservative legal scholars have previously argued that the idea of giving birthright citizenship to children of illegal immigrants is based on a misreading of the amendment…”

This executive order is already being challenged in court, and a decision on this issue is anything but certain, even though most legal scholars feel Trump’s argument will not prevail in light of the clear language of the 14^th Amendment. Read about the further developments below:

Restriction of Birthright Citizenship Blocked

Breitbart wrote on January 23:

“A federal judge on Thursday put a temporary block on US President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship. The ruling imposes a 14-day halt on the enforcement of one of the most controversial executive orders Trump signed in the hours after he was sworn into office for a second term. ‘This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,’ US District Judge John Coughenour was reported as saying during the hearing in Washington state. ‘I’ve been on the bench for over four decades, I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is,’ said Coughenour, who was appointed by a Republican president, Ronald Reagan…

“Trump’s order was premised on the idea that anyone in the US illegally, or on a visa, was not ‘subject to the jurisdiction’ of the country, and therefore excluded from this category. An incredulous Coughenour chided Justice Department attorney Brett Shumate over his assertion that Trump’s order was constitutional. ‘Frankly, I have difficulty understanding how a member of the Bar could state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order,’ Coughenour said. ‘It just boggles my mind.’

“Trump’s opponents have argued that the 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868 as the United States sought to knit itself back together after the Civil War, has been settled law for over a century. They have cited an 1898 US Supreme Court ruling in the case of a San Francisco-born Chinese American man called Wong Kim Ark. Wong was denied entry back into the United States after visiting relatives in China on the grounds that he was not a citizen. The court affirmed that children born in the United States, including those born to immigrants, could not be denied citizenship.”

The Associated Press added on January 23:

“Trump quickly responded by saying his administration will appeal the decision, a cornerstone of his planned efforts to rein in illegal immigration… The U.S. is among about 30 countries where birthright citizenship… is applied. Most are in the Americas, and Canada and Mexico are among them…

“Trump’s order asserts that the children of noncitizens are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and orders federal agencies to not recognize citizenship for children who don’t have at least one parent who is a citizen… some advocates of immigration restrictions have argued that [the Wong] case clearly applied to children born to parents who were both legal immigrants. They say it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents living in the country illegally…

“One of the lawsuits aimed at blocking the executive order includes the case of a pregnant woman… who is not a citizen but has lived in the United States for more than 15 years and has a pending visa application that could lead to permanent residency status…”

To be clear,  on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” which asserts that citizenship may only be conferred to children with one or more parents who hold U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident (LPR) status (i.e., a “green card”). It encompasses all children born on or after February 19, 2025, on U.S. soil who do not have at least one U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident parent. Encompassed are all nonimmigrant visa holders, including but not limited to participants in the Visa Waiver Program, F-1 students, and B-1, B-2, H-1B, H-4, L-1, L-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, TN, and O-1 visa holders. This order applies regardless of whether the parents have been maintaining status as a nonimmigrants. This change in longstanding interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment will not apply retroactively and will only impact individuals born thirty days after the date of the order.

If allowed the stand, the order would mean children born after February 19 to mothers or fathers who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents could be deported and would not be allowed to receive Social Security numbers, government benefits or the right to work lawfully when they are older (compare Deutsche Welle, January 23).

Declassifying Files on JFK, RFK, MLK Assassinations

The New York Post wrote on January 23:

“President Trump on Thursday ordered the declassification and release of long-secret files on the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

“Trump, 78, announced the actions in the Oval Office — after decades of speculation and conspiracy theories about each of the slayings. President Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963 in Dallas — with Lee Harvey Oswald, the primary suspect, himself being shot dead two days later by Jack Ruby…  RFK was shot dead by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian Christian, in June 1968 — shortly after winning California’s Democratic presidential contest. King was fatally shot in April 1968 by James Earl Ray after federal authorities worked to undermine his anti-racial discrimination advocacy.”

Biden’s Disgraceful Preemptive Pardons

Deutsche Welle reported on January 20:

“In his final hours in office, US President Joe Biden has pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley and members of the House committee members [including Liz Cheney] that investigated the January 6 attack on the Capitol.”

The New York Post wrote on January 20:

“Outgoing President Biden on Monday issued a slew of pardons for more kin, including a broad, 11-year granting of clemency for his brother James — effectively killing any chance of repercussions for the first family’s influence-peddling. The 11th-hour move — on the heels of Biden’s previous unprecedented sweeping pardon of son Hunter — brought widespread condemnation, even from hardcore liberals.”

CNN added on January 20:

“The pardons, coming in the final hours of Biden’s presidency, amount to a stunning flex of presidential power that is unprecedented in recent presidential history…”

Biden must have felt preemptive pardons were necessary to protect his brother and other Biden family members from prosecution, (as well as Cheney, Fauci and Milley), based on their alleged criminal conduct.

Fauci’s Pardon!

The Washington Examiner wrote on January 20:

“President Joe Biden, in an extraordinary move, granted former federal health official Anthony Fauci a preemptive pardon. While Fauci faces criticism for all sorts of things — mostly pushing localities and institutions into overly strict lockdowns and unending mask mandates — he might have been in legal trouble because it looks like [he] tried to cover up the origins of COVID-19, and his own agency’s involvement with the Chinese research on coronaviruses.

“Specifically, Fauci, who ran the infectious-disease operation of the National Institutes of Health, could have faced prosecution for lying to Congress, which is a federal crime…”

Obviously, Fauci would have been in legal trouble… otherwise, why a pardon? In addition, he should be in all kinds of trouble for his terrible and unconscionable conduct in regard to the governmental coronavirus measures.

Putin Slaughters Deer to Bathe in Their Blood

Daily Mail wrote on January 18:

“Vladimir Putin is rumoured to have taken a secret break this week at his bolthole mountain palace where he ‘bathes in the blood of young deer’ ahead of anticipated talks with incoming U.S. president Trump. The 72-year-old dictator is fanatical about using ancient remedies to prolong his life and give him strength, say reports.

“His ‘Flying Kremlin’ Ilyushin 96-300 – equivalent to Air Force One – disappeared from radar screens over the remote Altai region in Siberia… Telegram channel ‘More Than Fact’ suggested Putin may have spent time at his sprawling Altai Courtyard retreat in neighbouring region Altai Republic. This Siberian palace is reported to have a vast underground hi-tech bunker with its own power station…

“It was reported last year that sufficient quantities of food had been stashed here to feed up to 300 people ‘for several years’. The eerie complex includes a maral deer farm where antlers are sawn off terrified Siberian stags so Putin and his inner circle can take blood baths, according to previous investigative reports. The ancient tradition is seen as a testosterone-driven elixir to improve male potency, but also as bringing multiple health benefits and slowing the ageing process….”

This is just SICK. For more on animal cruelty, please view our recent sermon, titled, “Does the Bible Condemn Animal Cruelty?”   

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

In the first part of this two-part series, we began our review of Deuteronomy, chapter 17:14-20, where we read about an instruction that was to be given to a king showing that he was not to look after his own personal interests as being foremost in his activities, but to learn to fear God and to observe His law and statutes.  We read in verse 14:

“When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me’…”

But why did God talk about a future king when Israel was a theocratic institution?   We read in 1 Samuel 8 that Israel demanded a king.  In verses 1-4, we read that Samuel was old and that his sons didn’t walk in the ways required of them.   Then in verse 4, we see how this affected the nation:

^“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’   So Samuel prayed to the LORD.”

Samuel knew that this was not the right course of action—that it was a SIN to ask for a king—but it had come about because his own sons had set such a bad example. Continuing with verses 7-10:

^“And the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behaviour of the king who will reign over them.’ So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king.”

In verses 11-18, he clearly set out the consequences of their request but they would have none of it, and in verses 19-22 is their response and that of God and the prophet Samuel:

^“Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, ‘No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.’And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. So the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Heed their voice, and make them a king.’ And Samuel said to the men of Israel, ‘Every man go to his city.’”

Then, as we read in 1 Samuel 9 and 10, Saul was the chosen one and anointed and proclaimed king.  

There appears to be no record of an Israelite king actually writing out the entire Law of the LORD as was instructed by Moses.   However, that does not invalidate its value in any way, nor does it prove, that it never happened. It is clear, of course, that David KNEW the Law of God, meditating in it day and night, and we should not assume that he himself did not actually write the Law himself in a personal book, as instructed by God in Deuteronomy 17:18.

While the Scripture says specifically that the king had to write his own copy, with his own hand, some feel that it was sufficient that it was written for him, upon his command, and being handed to him. This interpretation seems to defeat the purpose of God’s explicit command. There is great value in writing down the Scriptures yourself, as this also serves to retain them to memory. This practice, which had been recommended in the past by the Church of God, might have fallen into neglect by many. But to write at least key Scriptures down in a personal notebook—especially when you are still young in the faith—can be of great lasting importance. We are told to write God’s Law into our minds. In order to do this, we might be well advised to write it down first quite literally in a book, and to read in it day and night.

An excellent admonition is found in Proverbs 29:2: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”   That backs up what this admonition would achieve if followed through as instructed.

Knowing about, and keeping the Law of God, was an important function that the future kings of Israel were required to do so that they were kept in mind of the way that they should act for their own benefit and that of their subjects.   Unfortunately, there were good kings and bad kings in Israel and Judah.   The seeming resultant neglect showed that so many kings wanted to just do their own thing.

And so, what can WE learn from the requirements given to kings thousands of years ago?   The same approach by the people of God to honour our Creator and live by His Law, is of paramount importance.   Let us look at this passage of Scripture in Deuteronomy 17 and see what was required. Verse 16 states: “…he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’”

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary makes these interesting observations:

“…he (the king) shall not multiply horses to himself—The use of these animals was not absolutely prohibited, nor is there any reason to conclude that they might not be employed as part of the state equipage. But the multiplication of horses would inevitably lead to many evils, to increased intercourse with foreign nations, especially with Egypt, to the importation of an animal to which the character of the country was not suited, to the establishment of an Oriental military despotism, to proud and pompous parade in peace, to a dependence upon Egypt in time of war, and a consequent withdrawal of trust and confidence in God (2 [Samuel] 8:4; 1 [Kings] 10:26; 2 [Chronicles] 1:16; 9:28; [Isaiah] 31:3).”

Barnes Notes on the Bible states:

“The spirit of the prohibition therefore is that the king of Israel must not, like other earthly potentates, put his trust in costly and formidable preparations for war (compare Hosea 1:7).

“Egypt was the principal source from where the nations of western Asia drew their supplies of this animal (compare Exodus 14:5 ff; 1 Kings 10:28-29; 2 Kings 7:6); but contact, traffic, or alliance which would ‘cause the people to return to Egypt’ would be to reverse that great and beneficent wonderwork of God which inaugurated the Mosaic covenant, the deliverance from the bondage of Egypt; and to bring about of set purpose that which God threatened Deuteronomy 28:68 as the most severe punishment for Israel’s sin.”

We can learn from this that, for us, such distraction and reliance on outside sources can lead us into areas that will probably not be conducive to our Christian Way of Life. In Matthew 19, we read the account of Jesus and the rich young ruler.  Wealth can be a way that can be more important to some than the Way that God has shown His people, and in verse 23 we read: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’   We must not be distracted from our chosen path.

Deuteronomy 17:17 says: “Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.”

A classic example of this problem can be found with King Solomon’s departure from God in 1 Kings 11. Verse 3 shows the extent of the problem: “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.”   Solomon’s actions with foreign princesses were in part for political ends, but introduced heathen cults into Israel.  He was not content with just one wife as is the instruction from God (cf Genesis 2:20-24; 1 Corinthians 7:2; 1 Timothy 3:2).   Although there are examples in the Old Testament where having multiple wives was extant, but this never occurred with the approval of God, and the outcomes were not good.  Again, distractions from our Godly calling can arise when the Way that is best for us is not adhered to.

“Multiplying gold and silver for himself” is a case of wealth being pursued as an end in itself, thus distracting from the much more important things in life.   It can be self-serving and we read in Matthew Poole’s Commentary: “Neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold, lest this should lift up his heart in confidence and pride, which God abhors, and beget in him a contempt of his people; and lest it should incline, or engage, or enable him to burden his people with immoderate exactions. They are not simply forbidden to be rich, if God made them so either by the voluntary gifts of their subjects, or by the spoils of their enemies, which was the case of David, and Solomon, and Jehoshaphat [etc.],  but they are forbidden either inordinately to desire, or irregularly to procure, great riches by grinding the faces of their poor people, or by other wicked arts and courses, as the manner of their neighbouring kings was.”

Deuteronomy 17:18-19 continues: “…so it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.  And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes…“

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary reads as follows (our emphasis underlined): “He must carefully avoid everything that would turn him from God and religion. Riches, honours, and pleasures, are three great hinderances of godliness, (the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life,) especially to those in high stations; against these the king is here warned. The king must carefully study the law of God, and make that his rule; and having a copy of the Scriptures of his own writing, must read therein all the days of his life. It is not enough to have Bibles, but we must use them, use them daily, as long as we live.  The king’s writing and reading were as nothing, if he did not practise what he wrote and read. And those who fear God and keep his commandments, will fare the better for it even in this world.”

Deuteronomy 17:20 continues: “…that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”

The Benson Commentary states “that his heart be not lifted up — He intimates, that the Scriptures, diligently read, are a powerful means to keep a person humble, because they show him that, though a king, he is subject to a higher monarch, to whom he must give an account of all his administrations, and receive from him his sentence, agreeably to their quality, which is sufficient to abate the pride of the haughtiest person in the world.”

We read earlier that the king must read God’s law (or Word) every day of his life. Not only must he read it, but he must develop the skill to interpret and apply it rightly and fairly. We can take from that, that we must also read God’s Word daily as part of our Christian Way of Life.   If it was good enough for the king, it would certainly be deemed to be good enough for us!

A godly leader must be a humble person, serving always with humility. The Israelite king was told “that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren.” He may have had a far superior position; nevertheless, he was, like his brethren, still a servant of God.

We are to be kings and priests in the Kingdom of God, as we read in Revelation 5:10: “And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”  This is the time when the Law of God will be the Way that people will live in the Kingdom of God during the 1,000 millennial rule of Jesus Christ.

Learning these lessons today from this passage of Scripture will help us to see what will be required of us when we become a member of the Family of God at the return of Jesus Christ.

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“Will the USA Take the Panama Canal Back?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

How serious are President Trump’s statements regarding the Panama Canal, that the USA will “take it back”? Apart from human ideas, what does the Bible say about it? Is it even possible that, according to Scripture, the Panama Canal—an important and vital sea gate–will end up again in American hands?

“Werden sich die USA den Panamakanal zurückholen?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topic as described above.

A new Member Letter (January 2025) has been posted and will be mailed to our subscribers. Pastor Kalon Mitchell recounts the experience of total blackness in a cave and relates how we shine as lights in the darkness of this world as we live as followers of Jesus Christ.

“Was die Bibel über das Tier sagt!” is the title of this Sabbath’s German sermon, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “What the Bible Says About the Beast.”

Our new German booklet, “Die Nationen des Nahen Ostens und Afrikas in der biblischen Geschichte” (“Middle Eastern and African Nations in Bible Prophecy”) has been posted on our German website, together with a video ad for this booklet, prepared by Pastor Michael Link. The booklet is still being printed in Germany and will be distributed to our subscribers shortly.

“Die Kraft der Besonnenheit,” last Sabbath’s first split-sermon in Germany was presented by Mario Danisch. Title in English: “The Power of Prudence.”

“Geht hinaus aus ihr, mein Volk!” last Sabbath’s second split-sermon in Germany was presented by Mike Richter. Title in English: “Get Out of Her, My People!”

“Your Confidence,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted.

“Against the World,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Jesus Christ our Saviour was perfect and sinless and yet He was accused of being a drunkard, a blasphemer, a deceiver, charged with treason, breaking the Sabbath, and a friend of sinners. He was hated for what He believed and many were offended by His teachings, which still holds true today. Those who truly follow Him and DO what He commands are also hated for His name’s sake. To be considered His friends, He tells us exactly how we are to worship Him and how we are not.

On January 18, 2025, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Your Confidence,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “Against the World.”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

New year, new opportunity, so they say in the world. Well, the world has ushered in the year 2025 with many wrong things, which I won’t go into here, but I would like to ask a question: What are we going to do in 2025?

Will we continue to do the same this year as the year before? Was it perhaps a year of escape, escape from the Church, from the Truth, from God? Or have we been careless? If so, then we should turn quickly from the wrong path and withdraw from this society or from carelessness.

But what can we do? Who can help us?

It is not enough to eliminate the obvious sins in our lives. We must also actively resist the wrong influence of this society.

God tells us in James 4:7 what to do: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

So far, so good. But it’s not that easy, is it? And so, James gives us further instructions: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (verse 8).

We are in a spiritual battle that requires spiritual help. Let us look at another passage in Ephesians 6:12-13: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

God is Spirit, as we read in John 4:24. He can give us the spiritual help we need—which we desperately need. We have to ask Him for help. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find” (Romans 7:18).

We need spiritual nourishment. We need God; we have to spend time with God, praying, meditating, and studying God’s Word.

But, somehow, we don’t see it that way. We try to convince ourselves that we don’t need to spend that much time with God; we tell ourselves that we don’t have that much time. All too often, the physical displaces the spiritual.

Jesus Christ spoke of a field that could have produced fruit but instead thorns and thistles sprang up and choked the Word. What were the thistles? Matthew 13:22 tells us: “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”

Jesus Christ said that worrying about the material things of this life can prevent us from being fruitful!

Luke 10:40 says: “But Martha was distracted with much serving,” while Mary chose to listen to the Truths Christ was imparting to her. And so, in the remaining part of verse 40, we read: “…and she [Martha] approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’”

But Jesus’ response to Martha was surprising to her:

“And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’” (verses 41-42).

Too many of us are spiritual Marthas!

There is nothing wrong with serving, nothing wrong with doing physical labor. But if we allow a lack of time because of material activities to push God into the background, then we are on the wrong path.

Let’s be honest with ourselves. Have we really spent enough time with God? If not, let’s pray to God as David did in Psalm 119:18: “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.”

As we absorb God’s thoughts by studying His Word, our overall spiritual resilience will increase. We will automatically be better equipped for the struggles and temptations of the upcoming day. Of course, we will still have problems, but from now on we will make progress.

The fight continues this year, it might even get tougher.

Twenty-four hours a day, Satan is active. He never stops attacking the human spirit. Whether we are ready to fight or not, Satan is already throwing all his energies into the battle. He is not waiting for us to declare war on him! We cannot afford to delay the fight. We must start arming ourselves immediately.

For what do we read in Ephesians 6:10-18?

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”

If we are not prepared to resist Satan’s attack, we have already lost the battle! Satan will not give us any advance warning. He is like a cunning serpent.

The key to victory is to make wise use of our time. Let us not be too busy or careless to pray or study God’s Word.

Let us not be among the many who will stand unprepared, perplexed and maybe even shocked before our Creator, wishing they could live their lives all over again to rearrange their daily schedule to include God.

If we haven’t already done so, now is the time to begin implementing our plan of attack. Let’s be sure we can say with the apostle Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Let us hold on to what we have. Christ tells us in Revelation 2:25: “But hold fast what you have till I come.” And if it has slipped out of our hands, let us bring back what we had, while it is still possible. Christ warns us again in Revelation 3:11: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”

Our eternity is at stake!

Initial translation from the German: Daniel Blasinger

by Norbert Link

We begin with further developments in Syria and Turkey’s aggressive role, prompting the question whether it is time to expel Turkey from NATO; and we continue with a deal between Israel and Hamas, which is not as good as some may believe. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “The Hostage Deal—Peace in the Middle East?” 

We report on Biden’s controversial past and present actions; and report at length about the wildfires in Los Angeles and the blame placed correctly, for the most part, on California’s incompetent government, beginning with Governor Gavin Newsom whose resignation is way overdue.

We continue with the hoax of sentencing Donald Trump for a non-existent crime; and speak about the international uproar caused by Trump when claiming that Greenland should become part of the USA.

We conclude with Germany’s sudden desire to exert political and military influence and power.

Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.

Ending the Civil War in Syria?

Breitbart wrote on January 10:

“Leaders in Syrian Kurdistan asked the United States this week to provide protective troops and become more involved in keeping the peace as they face an ongoing campaign by Turkish proxy forces to eradicate them. One senior leader… suggested American troops, with French help, could ‘secure the entire border’ between Turkey and Syria. The top commander of the U.S.-allied, Kurdish-run Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Gen. Mazloum Abdi, also said in an interview on Thursday that American forces could be the ‘key factor of stabilization’ in northern Syria.

“Syria endured a decade-long period of civil war under ousted dictator Bashar Assad that began in 2011 and, by late 2024, had reached a point of apparent stagnation. The al-Qaeda offshoot jihadist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) staged a surprise attack on Aleppo in late November, shocking the Assad regime and resulted in a string of victories as a result of the collapse of the Syrian military. By early December, HTS reached the outskirts of Damascus; Assad himself is believed to have fled the country between December 7 and 8.

“At the same time that HTS solidified control and became the de facto government of Syria, the Syrian National Army (SNA) launched a campaign to destroy the SDF called ‘Operation Dawn of Freedom.’ The SNA is… largely considered a proxy force for the Turkish government. The SDF is a Kurdish-led coalition with close ties to the United States that played a major role in the dismantling of the Islamic State ‘caliphate’ headquartered in Syria in 2017.

“The Turkish government considers the Syrian People’s Protection Units (YPG/YPJ), the heart of the SDF, terrorist organizations indistinguishable from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PPK), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. The disagreement over cooperating with the Syrian Kurds has caused a rift that could potentially pit Turkey and America, NATO allies, against each other… During a press conference in December, Trump described the fall of Assad as an ‘unfriendly takeover’ by Turkey and hinted that Turkey itself could pose a threat to American forces in Syria…

“… Erdogan and his officials threatened the SDF again on Friday, describing them as ‘separatist terrorists’ and threatening them with a ‘bitter end.’…”

Time to Expel Turkey From NATO

Israel 365 News wrote on January 12:

“I’m not sure what the rationale was for bringing an Islamist nation with expansionist goals and a vision of creating a revised Ottoman caliphate into NATO to begin with. Still, if it ever made sense, it no longer does.  It’s time to expel Turkey from NATO…

“Turkish fingerprints are all over the fall of the Assad regime in Syria by arming and supporting the jihadi terrorists that now control much of Syria. What would happen if Russia or Iran sought to regain their lost influence by taking military action against Turkey? Would NATO members need to defend that?  What if Turkey’s growing occupation of Syria puts its targeting of the US-backed Kurdish community in jeopardy and in the crosshairs of the US? Could it trigger a war by Turkey attacking US allies, in which the US is obligated under NATO to defend Turkey? 

“What if the newfound Turkish influence in and occupation of Syria brings it to direct conflict with Israel, as Turkish President Erdogan had threatened multiple times, and is now physically closer and able to implement through its neo-Ottoman land bridge?  Will NATO be forced to confront Israel if Israel were to attack Turkey to defend itself?…

“Growing signs that Israel must prepare for a potential war were addressed in the recent report of Israel’s Nagel Committee to assess the growing risk of a direct armed conflict with Turkey. The report highlights ‘Turkey’s ambitions to reclaim Ottoman-era influence, posing a threat that could surpass even the Iranian challenge’…  

“A military confrontation between Turkey and Israel would be unprecedented, whether intentional or not. Israel, which is still in the midst of a war on multiple fronts and with an Iranian threat still looming, still dealing with the trauma of the Hamas massacre and ensuing war, will not tolerate additional threats. Were Erdogan to take aggressive military action, Israel would be hard-pressed not to respond forcefully. A war with Turkey would be shocking and unprecedented but not impossible…

“For all these and other reasons, whether it’s expelling Turkey from NATO or scrapping NATO and creating NATO 2.0 excluding Turkey, the status quo cannot remain…”

Turkey will collaborate with Europe AGAINST Israel and the USA.

The Hostage Deal

The Jerusalem Post wrote on January 14:

“Israel’s agreement to the emerging hostage deal —one that, if fully implemented, could secure the release of all 96 remaining captives, both living and dead, in exchange for thousands of Palestinian security prisoners, including convicted terrorist murderers serving life sentences – marks a triumph of the heart over the head.

“The deal would also see Israel withdrawing to a buffer zone along Gaza’s perimeter, relinquishing control over key areas such as the Netzarim Crossing and, in stages, the Philadelphi Corridor, while allowing Gazan civilians to return to northern Gaza and effectively bringing the war to an end with a long-term truce.

“… Leading with the heart means placing empathy, intuition, and moral values at the forefront… Those who have been pushing with full force for a hostage deal have indeed emphasized empathy…  Saving the lives of the hostages and reuniting them with their families is… seen as an expression of the solidarity and mutual responsibility…

“By contrast, leading with the head prioritizes logic, reason, strategy, and long-term consequences over emotions… Those opposed to the deal are not cold individuals with hearts of stone; rather, they are looking beyond the now and the individual and judging the agreement based on whether it is good in the long term and for the collective…

“First, the deal will incentivize hostage-taking… Second, releasing thousands of Hamas terrorists, hundreds with blood on their hands, will inevitably lead to more terrorism… The final concern is that Hamas remains standing… it still retains control of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and is left in place under the agreement. It is only a matter of time… before the terrorist organization regroups and rearms…

“The joy of seeing hostages reunited with their families will be profound, but the strategic ramifications will echo far beyond this moment… The national sense of relief if and when the agreement is finalized will be real and palpable, but the true cost of that moment may only be fully reckoned many years from now.”

What It All Entails

The New York Post wrote on January 15:

“The breakthrough deal is the first of its kind in more than a year. It will create a 42-day cease-fire in the… Palestinian territory. The pause in fighting will allow Israel and the terror group Hamas to negotiate the terms to release the 97 hostages remaining in Gaza. Only 60 hostages are believed to be alive, including three Americans…

“The first day of the cease-fire is expected to see the freedom of three hostages as a sign of goodwill and compliance. After that, another four hostages will be released on the seventh day of the cease-fire, with further releases happening every week as agreed to by both parties…

“Should the first phase be completed, Hamas and Israel will continue the cease-fire to negotiate the terms to release all the remaining living hostages in exchange for Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza. 

“The terms of the second phase remain the most contentious as Israel has repeatedly said it would not leave the Gaza Strip until Hamas is completely eradicated. The terror group has said it would not release every hostage until it sees proof that Israel is out of all sectors of the Palestinian territory.

“Should Israel and Hamas reach an agreement on the second phase, the war will end with the bodies of the remaining hostages returned in exchange for a three- to five-year reconstruction plan to rebuild Gaza.  The reconstruction would be carried out under international supervision, with the future governance of Gaza still in the air as Israel maintains that Hamas can no longer be the de facto leader of the territory.”

Why Is Trump Pushing Israel Toward a Bad Deal?

Israel Hayom wrote on January 15:

“According to senior Israeli officials, Trump’s rigid expectation for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize a deal before his presidential inauguration is what compelled Netanyahu to accept the current framework…

“Hamas, despite suffering substantial losses, stands to receive at least 1,000 new operatives directly from Israeli prisons. This influx of ‘new blood’ – both figuratively and literally – is likely to reignite violence within Gaza and potentially beyond its borders…  Israel… is repeating a historically proven mistake, as mass releases of prisoners have consistently triggered waves of renewed terror…

“The newly freed operatives are expected to quickly integrate into Hamas’s extensive network across Judea and Samaria, Gaza, Qatar, and Turkey, from where they will likely orchestrate new attacks. This scenario is comparable to the United States allowing Guantanamo detainees to disperse along its borders with Canada and Mexico a year after 9/11, or permitting them to join Taliban forces against US troops in Afghanistan – a notion that defies strategic logic.

“Furthermore, the Hamas deal encompasses a substantial increase in the flow of goods and fuel into Gaza, bolstering the group’s military and economic capabilities…

“Paradoxically, it is now Trump who is pressuring Netanyahu to accept a framework designed in May 2024 under the Biden administration…”

How Biden and His Administration Suppressed the Truth

Breitbart wrote on January 10:

“Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Joe Rogan in an interview published Friday that ‘people in the Biden administration’ pushed Meta ‘super hard’ to censor users who were posting ‘true’ information about the coronavirus vaccines.

“‘These people from the Biden administration would call up our team and scream at them and curse,’ Zuckerberg said [and that] he felt censorship on his platforms ‘hit the most extreme’ during ‘the Biden administration, when they were trying to roll out the vaccine program [and that] they also tried to censor anyone who was basically arguing against it… They basically pushed us and said, “Anything that says that vaccines might have side effects, you basically need to take down.”’

“Zuckerberg added that there were instances in which Meta refused to take down ‘humor and satire,’ resulting in President Joe Biden accusing Meta of ‘killing people’… ‘And then all these different agencies and branches of government basically started investigating and coming after our company,’ Zuckerberg said.”

Why did it take Zuckerberg so long to come forward with admitting these well-known facts of Biden’s censorship?

Biden Awards Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Vatican News reported on January 10:

“President Joe Biden conferred the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction—the nation’s highest civilian honor—upon Pope Francis… recognizing his dedication to peace, human rights, care for the poor, and environmental protection.

“This marks the second time a Pope has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. On June 4, 2004, President George W. Bush presented the award to Pope John Paul II during a Vatican visit, recognizing his tireless advocacy for peace and human dignity.”

Breitbart added on January 12:

“Mr. Biden also conferred the medal on leftwing billionaire disrupter George Soros, a Nazi collaborator, promoter of open borders, and ‘anti-Catholic bigot.’ According to the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, ‘George Soros has done more to destroy western civilization and the United States, in particular, than any single person in the world… his anti-law enforcement policies have impoverished and punished legions of innocent black Americans…’

“President Biden, whom the media describes as ‘deeply Catholic,’ also granted the award to Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood… Cecile Richards reportedly presided over the deaths of 3.9 million babies by abortion.”

Another downer for the “Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction,” bestowed by a “good Catholic” on the pope.  No further comments.

Hollywood Celebrities Blast Newsom

The New York Post wrote on January 9:

“Big Hollywood names have started to turn on Los Angeles’ Democratic leadership… Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar led the charge, criticizing the Democratic leadership on Instagram for failing to direct the tens of thousands of Southern California residents trying to flee as the fires burned uncontained Wednesday. ‘City of LA you want everyone to evacuate yet you have complete gridlock and not one traffic cop on the roads helping,’ Gellar wrote…

“Actor James Woods, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire, vented on X that the wildfires weren’t caused by ‘climate change’ but by ‘liberal idiots like Gavin Newsom and [LA major] Karen Bass.’ ‘One doesn’t understand the first thing about fire management and the other can’t fill the water reservoirs,’ he added…

“Actress Sara Foster also took to X to lament how Los Angeles residents pay exorbitant taxes but the state was still completely unprepared to take on such massive wildfires. ‘Our fire hydrants were empty. Our vegetation was overgrown, brush not cleared. Our reservoirs were emptied by our governor because tribal leaders wanted to save fish. Our fire department budget was cut by our mayor…’ The politically active actress, who is the daughter of music mogul David Foster, called on Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign, writing, ‘your far left policies have ruined our state. And also our party.’

“Former ‘Dancing with the Stars’ professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy also vented his frustrations over the state’s lack of preparedness, writing on social media Wednesday, ‘5th largest economy on the planet. Firefighters didn’t have enough water pressure to do their jobs?! Are you joking me?! The taxes we pay for 3rd world infrastructure is unbelievable?! Come on.’

“‘Shazam!’ star and longtime Los Angeles resident Zachary Levi also ripped into Newsom and Bass for their handling of the crisis. ‘This is just incredible mismanagement, incredibly poor leadership. I would go so far as to saying that it’s criminally negligent because, I mean, Gavin Newsom has been either the governor for five years or lieutenant governor prior to that for eight, nine years, some of the worst fires we’ve ever had in California under that watch. He clearly knows that the biggest problem that we suffer in California are these fires. And, by the way, the mudslides that follow,’ Levi said. ‘And for them to do essentially not just nothing, but worse than nothing, when firefighter budgets are being cut… There is something that’s almost criminally intentional about this. Like, what are they doing? I don’t know.’”

Newsweek added on January 10:

“During an appearance on Thursday’s installment of The Joe Rogan Experience, actor Mel Gibson, who lives in Malibu, discussed the ‘inferno’ engulfing his neighborhood and other areas in and around Los Angeles… ‘The wildfire situation … How crazy it is that they spent $24 billion last year on the homeless, and what did they spend on preventing these wildfires? Zip,’ podcast host Joe Rogan said.

“Gibson then interjected by directly accusing Newsom of failing to ‘take care of the forest,’ while jokingly suggesting that the governor was spending all of California’s ‘tax dollars’ on his ‘hair gel.’ ‘In 2019, I think Newsom said, “You know, I’m going to take care of the forest and maintain the forest, all of that kind of stuff,”’ said Gibson. ‘He didn’t do anything…’

“Gibson [argued] that Newsom was responsible for San Francisco supposedly becoming ‘apocalyptic’ and ‘a mess’ because homeless people live there before suggesting that civilization itself might soon ‘cave in and collapse.’”

Breitbart wrote on January 12:

“Veteran actor and singer Robert Davi has gone nuclear on California leaders for their catastrophic mismanagement of the Los Angeles fires, saying California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) ‘should [be] thrown out of office’… In the case of stars like Dwayne Johnson and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Davi called on them to use their massive social media platforms to start speaking out about the failure of leadership that has plunged the state into chaos… ‘Actors are frighted to speak out. They’re frightened because of their jobs, they’re frighted of being black listed.’”

Trump also demanded that Newsom must resign. In fact, Newsom’s resignation is long overdue. It should already have occurred, if not much earlier, when Newsom’s hypocritical conduct during the Corona pandemic was revealed.

Major Pacific Palisades Reservoir Was Offline And Empty When Fires Broke Out

Mediaite wrote on January 10:

“The Los Angeles Times reported on Friday that a major reservoir in the Pacific Palisades was offline and empty this week when devastating wildfires ravaged the LA-area community. Staff reporter Matt Hamilton spoke to local officials who told ‘the Times that the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been closed [since about February] for repairs to its cover, leaving a 117 million gallon water storage complex empty in the heart of the Palisades.’

“The report added that the ‘revelation comes among growing questions about why firefighters ran out of water while battling the blaze. Numerous fire hydrants in higher-elevation streets of the Palisades went dry, leaving firefighters struggling with low water pressure as they combated the flames.’…

“The fires were fueled by high winds and dry conditions throughout the region. Storm chaser Colin McCarthy explained the perfect storm of events that led to the disastrous conditions that were not mitigated by local officials, writing that ‘after Los Angeles experienced its second-wettest two-year period on record. Since April, it has barely rained in Southern California, leaving the massive buildup of vegetation bone dry. Now, one of the strongest Santa Ana wind events in modern history is expected, with winds reaching up to 100 mph. This is essentially a worst-case scenario.’”

AFP added:

“But this explanation alone falls short for many Californians, thousands of whom have lost everything… Karen Bass, the city’s mayor, has come in for heavy criticism because she was visiting the African nation of Ghana when the fire started, despite dire weather warnings in the preceding days. Budget cuts to the fire department, and a series of evacuation warnings erroneously sent to millions of people this week, have only stoked the anger further.”

The New York Post added on January 12:

“Newsom on Sunday tried to play semantics and weasel out of blame by saying state reservoirs were ‘completely full’ when the LA fires broke out — even though a county-run reservoir had been drained at the time… Reporter Jacob Soboroff pressed Newsom on his response by pointing out how the LA-County-run Santa Ynez Reservoir was bone dry — something that even has prompted a probe from Newsom.”

What hypocrisy!

California’s Failing Leadership

The Editorial Board of the New York Post wrote on January 11:

“If only we were in charge, the liberals say, with unlimited money and unlimited power and unlimited resources, we would make the world a utopia. Such a place exists. It’s called California. And today, it is in ashes. With a Democratic governor, Democratic mayors, Democratic city councils and a Democratic justice system, the progressives have darkened the land of perpetual sunshine.

“Since 2019, the state has spent an astonishing $24 billion to ‘solve’ homelessness. Homelessness increased… Since enforcing the law is ‘racist,’ thieves are no longer prosecuted. Shoplifting increased 28%, and stores locked up the shampoo. Criminals are let go with no bail. Drug users are allowed to slowly kill themselves in public spaces…

“This week’s devastating wildfires are the pinnacle of Democratic incompetence. Environmentalists and politicians refused to clear the underbrush that fueled the flames. A reservoir in Pacific Palisades was shockingly closed for repair. With the forecast showing 100 mph Santa Ana winds, only three tankers of water were available there to keep the hydrants flowing…

“But Democrats have not just failed the fire department, or the people whose homes have burned. They have failed the 39 million residents of California.

Consider what they have wasted. California has the highest top income-tax bracket in the country, 13.3%. That’s just state taxes, on top of federal. It has the highest state sales tax in the nation, 7.25%. California brought in $17 billion more in tax revenue than it expected last year. It has a budget surplus of $363 million. They are swimming in money… California residents will rightly wonder: Where did all that money go?

“… Democrats have enjoyed one-party rule in California for far too long, and there is no one else to blame for what has happened. California is not paradise lost. California is paradise squandered…”

It has now been reported that “Los Angeles landlords are being accused of raising rents as the supply of homes in the Southern California metropolis drops amid the fires… rents are likely to increase around the areas hardest hit by the fires: Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Those seeking to rebuild will trigger a bidding war for contractors… the impact on the home insurance market [will] lead to increased costs for all Los Angeles residents” (Newsmax, dated January 12).

Shocking and appalling. Carnal human nature at its worst.

What Happened to the Money?

Breitbart wrote on January 12:

“Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) reportedly awarded government workers with major wage increases before making cuts to the city’s fire department budget… Mayor Karen Bass’s budget cuts to the city’s fire department, enacted just months ago amid warnings about the city’s deteriorating finances, stand out as a striking example of misplaced priorities… The cuts stemmed from a budget crisis triggered by her administration’s decision to reward city employees with rich contracts and benefits—even as it dismissed worries that the reductions would hurt services…

“Bass… cut almost $20 million from the city’s budget for fire services for the current fiscal year…”

Incompetence and favoritism galore.  

The Fall of Gavin Newsom

The New York Post wrote on January 11:

“The smug and ambitious progressive California Governor whose political aspirations went up in flames as Los Angeles continues to burn to the ground, leaving a shocking number of residents’ lives in tatters. And it’s Newsom, who has become the arsonist, setting the fire to his political fortunes with a series of unforced errors — putting a cap on years of mismanagement and abandoning crucial infrastructure in favor of useless far left policies that made social justice and climate warriors feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

‘Since the inferno broke out, Newsom has shown that he’s ill-prepared and shameless: shifting blame to others…

“As Pacific Palisades was ablaze, Anderson Cooper asked Newsom about the dry hydrant situation there. Instead of owning any failure:… ‘Look, the local folks are trying to figure that out,’ he told Cooper… This apocalyptic inferno wasn’t some freak accident in a backwater that no one could find on the map. This was Los Angeles, home to millions, and a city that remains under constant threat of wildfires.

“Then he cowardly tried to use a fake phone connection to brush off an anguished mother sifting through the rubble of her community…

“Newsom… is slick and handsome. But he is empty and incompetent…”

Advice for the Feds, the Media and the People

On January 13, Ron Paul wrote the following in his weekly column for the Ron Paul Institute:

“The Federal Reserve should… resolve to refrain from developing a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). A digital currency controlled by the Fed will give government new power to violate Americans’ financial privacy.

“The media should resolve to stop gaslighting the American people with misinformation. For example, the media should stop repeating the lie that a failure to raise the debt ceiling will lead to a government default on its debts. The truth is a refusal to raise the debt ceiling would force Congress to reduce present and future spending — just like most people do when they find themselves in debt. Another example of false news is that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was unrelated to the US supported 2014 coup in Ukraine and the breaking of the promise that if the Soviet Union withdrew from Eastern Europe the US would not support expanding NATO.

“Finally, those committed to the cause of liberty should resolve to increase their understanding of the benefits of liberty and the dangers of authoritarianism. This means… staying up to date with current events and trying to find the truth behind the lies of the mainstream media and the political class…”

Good advice!

Strange Plans for Trump’s Inauguration

The New York Post wrote on January 13:

“A Muslim cleric who refused to call Hezbollah a terrorist organization and has a ‘significant history of extremism’ has been tapped to deliver a benediction at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next [Monday]. Husham Al-Husainy…  is among four religious leaders listed in an Inauguration Day program… 

“The Middle East Forum, a conservative nonprofit focused on Islamic issues, has described Al-Husainy as ‘a radical anti-Semitic, pro-Hezbollah Shia imam’…”

Other religious leaders supposed to speak are Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York; Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; Paula White, a Florida televangelist; Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center; Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham; and Wayne T. Jackson who runs Great Faith Ministries International and Impact Television Network.

The Sentencing of Donald Trump

After Judge Merchan sentenced Trump to an “unconditional discharge” without any jail time or probation, a fine or community service, but still making him a ”felon,” the New York Post published on January 10 the following article by Professor Jonathan Turley:

“[This] is a damning indictment of the entire New York court system. [Judge Juan] Merchan allowed a dead misdemeanor to be resuscitated by allowing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to effectively prosecute declined federal offenses. He allowed a jury to convict Trump without any agreement, let alone unanimity, on what actually occurred in the case.

“Merchan ruled that the jury did not have to agree on why Trump committed an alleged offense [and what the alleged offense was] in describing settlement costs as legal costs. Neither the defendant nor the public will ever know what the jury ultimately found in its verdict…

“Even liberal legal experts have denounced the case…

“Now, Merchan seemed quick to assure this Frankenstein case was just like any other creature of the court. It did not matter that it was stitched together from dead cases and zapped into life through lawfare. Merchan knows that there is a fair chance this monstrosity will finally die on appeal…

“The verdict, however, is likely to last far longer than the Trump verdict. It is a judgment against not just Merchan but the New York legal system, which allowed itself to be weaponized against political opponents. Trump can now appeal the case as a whole. Prior appeals in the New York court system were unsuccessful, and hopes are low that the system will redeem itself. However, Trump can eventually escape the vortex of the New York court system in search of jurists willing to see beyond the rage and bring reason to this case.

“Merchan’s monster will now go on the road and work its way back to the Supreme Court… Lawfare is that monster. It threatens us all, even those who hate Trump and his supporters. Once released, it spreads panic among the public, which can no longer rely on the guarantees of blind and fair justice. That includes businesses that view this case and the equally absurd civil case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James as creating a dangerous and even lawless environment…”

With his conviction, unless overturned by a higher court, Trump cannot own a gun or reenter the casino business, nor hold a liquor license (but his golf courses and hotels won’t have to stop selling alcohol). Even though he is allowed to travel outside the USA, some countries, such as Canada, the UK and Israel, may prohibit him to visit (which is rather unlikely). As he is registered to vote in Florida, he will still be able to vote there. He can also, of course, hold a federal office (This might be different from state or local offices).

On the federal level, special counsel Jack Smith cowardly resigned from the DOJ after losing his two cases against Trump. That resignation had been widely expected to preempt his humiliating termination after Trump’s inauguration.   

Jack Smith’s Phony Report

The New York Post wrote on January 14:

“Special counsel Jack Smith’s report, which concluded that Donald Trump made a ‘criminal effort’ to overturn the 2020 election, was ‘a partisan effort at lawfare’ against the president-elect, a constitutional lawyer said… Attorney Katie Cherkasky dismissed the 174-page document as ‘nothing more than a prosecution on paper.’ ‘It’s every prosecutor’s dream. You have no rebuttal, you have no cross-examination. You don’t actually have to prove this case,’ she told Fox News…

“Cherkasky said it was a ‘shame’ that the report was ever released…”

We agree. Jack Smith’s and the DOJ’s lawsuit was a hoax from the beginning, designed to defeat Trump in the election… but their plan terribly backfired for them. Now Smith says Trump would have been convicted if Smith had been able to move forward. With our corrupt court system, who knows… But according to the Bible, you would need two witnesses, subject to cross-examination, before you can convict someone.

Seizing Greenland?

The U.S. Sun wrote on January 9:

“VLADIMIR Putin has desperately hit back at Donald Trump after he refused to rule out using military action to potentially seize Greenland… Trump said that US ownership of Greenland is an ‘absolute necessity’ to protect global ‘national security and freedom’…

“[Putin’s] mouthpiece, Dmitry Peskov, attempted to push Russia’s influence over the Arctic region in a desperate warning when asked about the incoming US leader’s remarks. ‘The Arctic is a zone of our national interests, our strategic interests,’ he said. ‘We are watching this rather dramatic development of the situation very closely,’ Peskov added…

“An attempt to take over the resource-rich island for national security reasons might not be as mad as it sounds. Greenland sits right in the middle of the Arctic Ocean and is among the key trade routes in the region. The Arctic has increasingly become the object of a struggle between international superpowers as Russia and China have both ramped up efforts to take control of the area. Putin, whose nation owns around 40 per cent of the Arctic coastline, has been particularly proactive in cranking up military moves. The Kremlin has started building the world’s largest fleet of nuclear icebreakers to open up new shipping routes.

“Russia has not been the only country to send a warning Trump’s way after several major EU nations spoke out. Both Germany and France made surprise warnings to the president-elect against using force to possibly take the ice island. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot suggested moves on the territory would be an attack on the European Union… German chancellor Olaf Scholz said Trump’s remarks triggered ‘incomprehension’ among European leaders…

“Trump also oddly put out potential plans for the US to retake control of the Panama Canal, change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and make Canada the 51st state. He called the border between Canada and the US an ‘artificially drawn line.’”

Germany did not occupy Greenland during World War II. However, the Nazis established weather stations in Greenland during World War II, planning to use them in a possible invasion of the USA. The United States and its allies intervened to prevent the Nazis from gaining control of the island. The United States occupied Greenland in 1941 to prevent Germany from using the island. That kind of rationale could be used again in the future; this time in light of a threat from Russia or China. Note the next article.

Not a Crazy Idea?

Newsmax wrote on January 12:

“President-elect Donald Trump has said the importance of Greenland to national and global security cannot be overstated and former NATO supreme allied commander James Stavridis agreed… ‘It’s not a crazy idea,’ Stavridis [said]. ‘We could do an awful lot in terms of business, investment, box out the Russians, box out the Chinese, and work very closely with Greenland.’

“The former NATO commander called the large Arctic island a ‘strategic goldmine for the United States… It sits at the very top of the North Atlantic; it protects approaches to our own country… It’s geographically very important. It’s full of strategic minerals, rare earth, probably a lot of gold. It’s got a lot of natural resources…’

“For skeptics refusing to listen to Trump’s logic, Stavridis reminded all to just listen to Greenland and its people. ‘The prime minister of Greenland said, “We are not for sale, but we are open for business” – I think we ought to take him at his word,’ Stavridis said of Premier Múte Egede… Regardless of forging a deal to bring Greenland under U.S. control from Denmark, the Greenlanders say they are at least ready for independence. ‘Greenland is for the Greenlandic people,’ Egede said Friday. ‘We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic.’ Egede added he is ‘ready’ to talk to Trump on a deal.”

Denmark Ready for Concessions?

The New York Post wrote on January 12:

“Danish leaders have sent private messages to President-elect Donald Trump’s team in recent days in a bid to pacify his ambitions for taking over Greenland…  Copenhagen is allegedly open to allowing US military presence on the autonomous island to boost security and appease Trump… The Danish government, which is responsible for Greenland’s defense, wants to avoid clashing with the US and hopes to assure Trump that Greenland will be safe from Russia and China without the need for American annexation…

“Copenhagen has also asked Trump’s team to clarify the incoming president’s comments after he shocked the world by suggesting that the US could invade the longstanding NATO ally… Denmark was widely seen as America’s closest ally in the European Union, and… no one could have imagined it’d be the first Trump would pick a fight with.

“Greenland had been a colony of Denmark since the 18th century and became a self-governing Danish territory in 1953… The US already has a military base on Greenland and has had a defense agreement in place since 1951, which would make it easy to increase American troops on the island.”

What Europe would do in case of an American invasion is still open to debate. Europe is afraid of this, as it knows that at this point they are no match for the USA. But note the next article.

Easy to Take?

The Sun wrote on January 11:

“DONALD Trump could storm Greenland and claim it within 24 hours in the ‘world’s shortest war’, professor Anthony Glees [has] revealed… Greenland – the largest non-continent island in the world – has a population of just 57,000, and virtually no defensive capabilities of its own… As owner of the island, Denmark is responsible for Greenland’s protection and their army would be the army to mobilise against the Americans. Its defence budget is around £6billion – 100 times smaller than the eye watering almost £750billion America splashes on defence… There are only 17,000 active Danish troops, and most of the country’s heavy military equipment has been donated to Ukraine – so their defences are even thinner than usual.

“Some Danish coastguards man south-eastern Greenland, but the Danish press has reported that software needed to shoot at targets was never bought – rendering the patrols toothless… Denmark’s best hope of defending against the Americans would be to prove that the EU or Nato had a legal requirement to step in and protect Greenland…

“Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, [said] that ‘there is no defensive capacity in Greenland’… The US has a nuclear base on the island that is constantly manned by troops…

“Glees said it was likely that, in the event of a US invasion, ‘there would be no military response to it, because it is unthinkable that any Nato member would attack the US... There would have to be a response of sorts, and Article 5 of Nato would bind the rest of us to support Denmark in whatever non-military measures it took to try to get the Americans out. This could take the form of “economic sanctions”, but “Trump would shrug them off,”’ Glees said…

“Trump’s threats could have ‘profound consequences’ for Europe… My opinion is, he is making a disastrous miscalculation there. No country, however powerful it is, can walk alone in the world. The idea of a fortress America, it sounds good – but it has never worked in the past. An isolated America is a vulnerable America…’”

America WILL become isolated, as Europe will be forced to become more unified and stronger militarily. And ultimately, they WILL attack the USA.

Many Americans Support Trump’s Suggestions Regarding Greenland and Panama Canal

Newsmax wrote on January 14:

“More than two-thirds of Republican voters support President-elect Donald Trump’s suggestion the U.S. acquire Greenland and/or the Panama Canal, according to a new Rasmussen Reports survey. When asked whether they support or oppose the U.S. taking back the Panama Canal, 73% of GOP voters say they support the move. That includes 51% who say they strongly support the action. When asked whether they support or oppose the U.S. purchasing Greenland, 70% of GOP voters say they support the move. That includes 45% who say they strongly support it.

“Among Democrat voters, only 23% say they support buying Greenland, and 22% say they support reclaiming the Panama Canal. Among voters unaffiliated with either major party, 40% say they back purchasing Greenland, and 43% say they support taking back the Panama Canal.”

This plan is not going away soon or easily.

The “Make Greenland Great Again Act”

Reuters wrote on January 13:

“President-elect Donald Trump’s Republican allies in the U.S. House of Representatives are trying to build support for a bill on authorizing talks for the purchase of Greenland according to a copy of the bill circulated for co-sponsors on Monday. …The bill [introduced by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.)] is called ‘Make Greenland Great Again Act’…

“The bill, if passed, will allow the president to enter into negotiations with Denmark [‘to secure the acquisition of Greenland’] by the United States on Jan. 20, when Trump takes office…”

Axios added on January 13:

“It’s the latest in a series of proposed Republican legislation… Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) last week introduced a bill that would have the Gulf of Mexico renamed the ‘Gulf of America’ on official documents and maps. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) also introduced a bill last week along with 15 other Republicans that would authorize talks to repurchase the Panama Canal… The bill would give Congress the ability to block any agreement within 60 days, though it would need a veto-proof two-thirds majority in both chambers to do so…

“To be approved by Congress, the bill would almost certainly need Democratic support… But some centrist Democrats aren’t ruling out working with Trump on the idea, noting the geopolitical importance of both territories (Panama and Greenland).”

The Fight Between USA and Europe Has Begun

The Guardian wrote on January 11:

“Europe has been braced since the US presidential election in November for the challenge posed by Donald Trump’s return, but the threat to European stability has come earlier and appears far more serious than predicted, even by the pessimists.

“Trump has already revived his territorial aspirations for Greenland… Meanwhile Trump’s financial backer and confidant Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has been using his ownership of the X social media platform to aggressively further the cause for far-right parties in Europe, threatening the continent with the realisation of its ultimate nightmare, the return of fascism, this time abetted from Washington.

“… the fallout from Trump’s territorial ambitions is felt most keenly in Europe. Capitals are in a dilemma over how to respond, torn between outrage over the blatant interference in favour of extremists, and anxiety over becoming a focus for Trump and Musk’s personal grievances.

“At stake is not just a looming transatlantic trade war… Ukraine and European security are also in the balance. European leaders and diplomats know the war in Ukraine has entered a new phase in which… he decides whether to continue to supply US weaponry to Ukraine…

‘Denmark, a Nato ally, has been plunged into a political crisis by Trump’s stated intention to acquire Greenland, and the threat to impose tariffs if he is thwarted. Amid a flurry of emergency meetings with the king and Greenlandic leaders, the Danish government has been careful in the wording of the response…

“The European dilemma is even more complex with Musk… Musk has used X as a megaphone to promote the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party, claiming: ‘Only the AfD can save Germany’. In a… conversation with… Alice Weidel, on Thursday, Musk showered her with praise. It was a direct challenge to the efforts of Germany’s mainstream parties to quarantine the AfD and exclude it from power, in the run-up to crucial elections on 23 February…

“For the UK – outside the EU and traditionally more beholden to the relationship with Washington – the response to provocations from Trump and Musk has been just as tentative. Musk has become preoccupied with calling for the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, to be sacked, for a far-right extremist, Tommy Robinson, to be released from jail, and spreading hard-right Islamophobic propaganda to the point, it was reported on Friday, that his social media posts were monitored by the security services…

“‘On the eve of a second Trump term, the United States and Europe have rarely appeared so at odds,’ a group of European foreign policy experts wrote in the Foreign Affairs Journal…”

The left-wing rhetoric of this left-wing outlet notwithstanding, it does show the growing alienation between the USA and Europe.

German and Austrian Institutions Depart From X

Deutsche Welle reported on January 9:

“Scores of universities and research institutions in Germany and Austria on Friday announced their intention to drop their presence on the online messaging platform X… The planned withdrawal in the academic sphere comes as the German government says it is also considering leaving the platform because it was having an ‘agitated and polarizing’ effect on public political discussion.

“On Thursday, the trade unions GEW, which represents educators and teachers, and Verdi announced they were deleting their X presence, as did the Federal Court of Justice (BGH).”

Breitbart added on January 15:

“The German Defence Ministry announced that it will no longer actively post on Elon Musk’s X social media site amid growing calls to censor the platform in Europe…”

This will hurt them more than Musk.

“Germany Sets Up Military Division Dedicated to Territorial Defence”

Reuters wrote on January 11:

“The German military will establish a new division tasked exclusively with territorial defence, the army said on Saturday, bringing all existing reserve units under direct army command. The reorganization will take effect in April and raise the number of German divisions – units of some 20,000 troops – to four without increasing the total number of around 180,000 soldiers in the German forces…

“The Western military alliance NATO is at its highest alert stage since the Cold War, with its more pessimistic officials, including German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, saying that an attack by Russia on its borders could happen within four years. The German move will streamline command structures in territorial defence at a time when what Berlin describes as acts of Russian sabotage against the country’s critical infrastructure have reached a new high…

“So far, Berlin has three divisions that NATO can call upon in case of a conflict, whose main job will be defending the alliance by confronting an adversary right at the front lines. The fourth division will be tasked with Germany’s defence at home, including the protection of infrastructure such as ports, railways and supply and deployment routes.

“Germany is gearing up for its role as major logistics hub in any conflict with Moscow, with tens of thousands of reinforcement troops from other NATO allies expected to be deployed east through Germany after arriving at its North Sea ports.”

Why this sudden move towards German military power? 

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in

In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 17, we read about an instruction that was to be given to a king showing that he was not to look after his own personal interests as being foremost in his activities, but to learn to fear God and to observe His law and statutes. Deuteronomy 17:14-20 reads as follows:

“When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”

In respect of what qualified as a book that the king had to write out as a copy, we read these observations In Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible:

“In our opinion, neither a few verses nor a short document qualifies as ‘a book.’ Perhaps this is the reason that the Septuagint (LXX) translated this place in such a manner as to make the meaning ‘a copy of all the law of God.’ Recent knowledge of the suzerainty treaties (see below for an explanation of these) and the resemblance to them found in Deuteronomy has shed some light on this, and, as Kline expressed it: ‘A duplicate copy of the suzerainty treaty was provided for each vassal king.’… Moreover, that ‘copy’ was not a few excerpts, but the whole document, the entire treaty. That is clearly what is indicated here.

“Canon Cook discerned this a long time ago, writing that, ‘What was given to the king was the whole Pentateuch, or at any rate the legal portion of it… Only the whole law of the covenant could preserve the king from the dangers of his position.’… Note also, in this connection, what was to be copied: It was that which was laid up ‘before the priests and the Levites,’ (Deuteronomy 17:18) and that is a clear reference to ALL of the sacred law. [The Pulpit Commentary] also concurred in this view: ‘The priests were the custodians of the written Law (Deuteronomy 31:26) and from the text of their codex was the king’s copy to be written…”

What are the suzerainty treaties referred to above? Wikipedia states that these were the “Type of relationship between a dominant and a vassal state.  Suzerainty includes the rights and obligations of a person, state or other polity which controls the foreign policy and relations of a tributary state, but allows the tributary state internal autonomy. Where the subordinate party is called a vassal, vassal state or tributary state, the dominant party is called a suzerain.” 

Why should this be of any real interest and importance to us today? If the king did not follow this instruction and practice about which he was commanded to both read and write out, he would be like the rest of the world and miss out on the benefits that following such an instruction would bring. It took work but was surely worth all of the effort in following what God instructed for his own good and that of his subjects and nation.

This Q&A is not designed to be a thorough exposition of everything that surrounded this instruction and all the different views that many have about it today, but to show the wisdom of God in issuing this requirement then and what we can learn from this today.

Theologyofwork.org makes these interesting and legitimate observations:

“Just as people and institutions must not contravene legitimate authority, people in positions of power must not use their authority illegitimately. Moses specifically deals with the case of a king… He shall have a copy of this law diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes, neither exalting himself above other members of the community nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the right or to the left… In this text we see two restrictions on the use of authority—those in authority are not above the law but must obey and uphold it, and those in authority must not abuse their power by enriching themselves…

“Today, people in authority may try to put themselves above the law, as for example when police and court workers ‘fix’ traffic tickets for themselves and their friends, or when high-ranking public servants or business employees do not obey the expense policies others are subject to.  Similarly, officials may use their power to enrich themselves receiving bribes, zoning, and licensing exemptions, access to privileged information, or personal use of public or private property. Sometimes special perks are granted to those in power as a matter of policy or law, but this does not really eliminate the offense. Moses’ command to kings is not to make sure to get legal authorization for their excesses, but to avoid the excesses altogether. When those in power use their authority not simply to gain special privileges but to create monopolies for their cronies, to appropriate vast lands and assets, and to jail, torture, or kill opponents, the stakes become deadly. There is no difference in kind between petty abuses of power and totalitarian oppression, merely in degree…

“The more authority you have, the greater the temptation to act as though you are above the law. Moses prescribes an antidote. The king must read God’s law (or word) every day of his life. Not only must he read it, but he must develop the skill to interpret and apply it rightly and fairly. He must develop the habit of obeying God’s word himself, of putting it into practice in his work, ‘diligently observing all the words of this law’ (Deuteronomy 17:19).  By this the king learns to revere the Lord and fulfill the responsibilities God has given him. He is reminded that he too is under authority. God does not give him the privilege of making a law unto himself, but a duty of fulfilling God’s law for the benefit of everyone.”

These comments, as far as they go, are very helpful. However, what this commentary and many others overlook or fail to mention is the instruction that the king had to write himself God’s Word in a personal book of his to read from it (compare Deuteronomy 17:18: “… he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.”). We will address this unique requirement in the next instalment.

Let us look at what the torah.com has to say about this matter:

“The book of Deuteronomy presents itself as the final address of Moses, delivered to the Israelites upon the plains of Moab, on the verge of their entry into the land.  The book is set in the time between the wilderness period and Israel’s future life as inhabitants of the land, a space opened between memories and threats, past and future.

“The core of the book is the Deuteronomic law collection, spanning chapters 12–26 which is followed in chapter 28 by a list of the rewards for obedience (vv. 1–14)and a much longer list of consequences for disobedience (vv. 15–69).

“Moses’s Deuteronomic address, delivered to the Israelites on the eve of their entry into the land, anticipates and establishes the perpetuity of the Israel’s subjection to YHWH’s rule. In this, YHWH was no different from any other suzerain in the ancient Near East, or ever since. The people as a multitude and as a nation are placed at a juncture in which they have to agree to serve YHWH loyalty, or face an endless slew of punishment, and they remain in that juncture ever since.

“For the people standing in the Plains of Moab, compliance is not really a choice at this point. The revelation at Horeb has already taken place, the previous generation has already been punished for its sins, and the laws have already been explicated. Israel’s agency here is limited to their agreeing to follow YHWH’s commands or suffer the deity’s wrath.”

Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible has this to say: “Thus he should ensure that he had his own copy of the record of Yahweh’s doings and of His Law as contained in the books which were in the levitical priests’ care. (As Deuteronomy was not, at this stage in his speech, in written form, this must refer to an earlier written Law). And he must keep it ever by him and read it every day of his life, so that he might learn to fear Yahweh his God, and keep His Instruction and what He had laid down, in accordance with what was now being spoken of by Moses.” 

From the jewishvirtuallibrary.org website we read about the problems after the death of Solomon:

“The experiment with the opulence and power of the great eastern kingdoms had ended in disaster for Israel.  King Solomon created the wealthiest and most powerful central government the Hebrews would ever see, but he did so at an impossibly high cost. When Solomon died, between 926 and 922 BCE, the ten northern tribes refused to submit to his son, Rehoboam, and revolted.

“From this point on, there would be two kingdoms of Hebrews: in the north – Israel, and in the south – Judah.  The Israelites formed their capital in the city of Samaria, and the Judaeans kept their capital in Jerusalem. These kingdoms remained separate states for over two hundred years. [In fact, they never became united again. This will only happen after Christ’s return.]

“The history of the both kingdoms is a litany of ineffective, disobedient, and corrupt kings. When the Hebrews had first asked for a king, in the book of Judges, they were told that only God was their king. When they approached Samuel the Prophet, he told them the desire for a king was an act of disobedience and that they would pay dearly if they established a monarchy. The history told in the Hebrew book, Kings, bears out Samuel’s warning.” 

(To be continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

“The Hostage Deal—Peace in the Middle East?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Will the deal between Israel and Hamas last? Will it bring back the hostages? Will it end the war and bring peace? Do you know what the elements and conditions of the deal are? COULD it even be successful? Is it good for Israel, America, Europe and the entire world? Does the Bible have something to say about all of this?

“Das Geiselabkommen—Frieden im Nahen Osten?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

“Opfer einer bösen Welt,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented in Germany by Robert Indlekofer, is now posted. Title in English: “Victims of an Evil World.”

A new episode of our German series on “Biblische Geschichte” has now been posted.

“Das Abgabensystem heute und in der nahen Zukunft,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented in Germany by Thilo Hanstein, is now posted. Title in English: “The Tax System Today and in the Near Future.”

“LA Fires, Greenland, Canada and Germany—Comments on News and Prophecy, January 17, 2025,” the first message presented last Sabbath by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Many feel that the fires in Los Angeles show the incompetence of California’s woke government; and some wonder whether Trump’s statements regarding Greenland and Canada are serious—which they clearly are. America’s interest in these areas is not new, as history proves. We also show how the relationship between the USA and Germany is deteriorating, while the German political establishment refuses to face reality and moves into dangerous territory.

”Does the Bible Condemn Animal Cruelty?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Absolutely! And human cruelty is probably nowhere more evident than in the torment of helpless animals. But many people don’t understand that they are animal abusers and why they became so. This sermon gives you numerous examples of the various excesses of animal cruelty and shows how GOD behaves towards His animals and what He expects from our behavior towards the animal world.

On January 11, 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, January 11, 2025,” and the sermon, titled, “Does the Bible Condemn Animal Cruelty?”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Very bad conditions prevail throughout the world. Apart from the incompetence of all politicians, the tax madness and the wars in this world, there is a very specific matter that makes me so upset that anger and a deep sadness over these barbaric acts of humanity towards animals arise in me.

Recently, our Current Events, published on December 27, 2024 (Update 1139), featured a heartbreaking article about Bua Noi, a gorilla in Thailand. I was so devastated by it that I had to cry.

The Sun wrote on December 20:

“[Thailand’s only gorilla] Bua Noi has lived behind bars in [Bangkok] Thailand for most of her life… The gorilla has been caged up [for more than three decades] in the widely criticised Pata Zoo which is located on the sixth and seventh floor above a [desolate and decaying city center shopping mall]. This allows passers-by and shoppers to gaze in at the unloved mammal who is unable to ever leave… A damning report back in 2019 detailed how Bua had been pulling out her hair and anxiously rolling around in her isolated cage. Footage also shows the lonely gorilla looking visibly depressed and staring through the bars of her old cage.”

This is brute force for no reason! This is animal abuse that causes a lot of suffering!

Animal welfare organizations like PETA have desperately tried to free the gorilla in Thailand from this disgusting facility; unfortunately so far without success, because the “owner” only wants to release the gorilla for a horrendous amount of money. I cannot understand how a person owning such a disgusting enclosure can be so heartless to this gorilla, as well as to many other beautiful creatures of God.

The German Animal Protection Act requires us to protect the “life and well-being” of animals: “No one may inflict pain, suffering or harm on an animal without reasonable cause,” Section 1, Principle). Anyone who keeps an animal must, according to this law, ensure that it is fed, cared for and housed in a manner appropriate to the needs of its species (Section 2; 2a). Unfortunately, this does not happen very often in this world, including in Germany.

Animals may have instincts and are unable to reason to the same extent, as God has endowed this quality on humans, but they do have feelings, they have empathy, and they can express their joy beyond measure. A dog, for example, is a friend of humans and can be a true protector. It can also give people joy and make them laugh. And of course, many other animals can do that too.

In our Current Events, published on October 29, 2021 (Update 994), we also read: “Fauci is under fire for allegedly funding experiments where beagle puppies were locked in cages with hungry sandflies that would eat them alive…

“The organization claims that as many as 44 beagle puppies were used as part of the cruel experiment in a Tunisia laboratory. Some of the dogs allegedly had their vocal cords removed to muzzle their barking. ‘Our investigators show that Fauci’s NIH division shipped part of a $375,800 grant to a lab in Tunisia…”

And in the issue of our Current Events, dated February 11, 2022 (Update 1009), we published an article from Life News dated February 4 that stated: “Recently, the University of Pittsburgh continued to defend its gruesome experiments involving implanting aborted babies’ scalps onto rodents and other research with aborted baby body parts…”

There are many more articles about animal abuse in this cruel world. To put it mildly, what is being done to animals is very bad, and we can consider ourselves “lucky”, that there are many animal welfare organizations that take care of these creatures of God, some of them on a voluntary basis. Animals are creatures of God that should be treated with love and respect.

In Genesis 1:20-25 we read: “Then God said, ‘Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.’ So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’ So the evening and the morning were the fifth day. Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind’; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

God saw that everything He had created was good. We would even argue that everything He has created is perfect. Yet humanity cannot comprehend this wonderful creation because Satan the devil, that serpent of old who is the adversary, has brought the entire world under his evil spell and bewitched it. But God sees everything that is happening on this earth, whether it is good or evil!

David already had this knowledge and wrote it down in Psalm 14:2-3: “The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.”

In Psalm 11:4-6 we read: “The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.”

That will be their just reward when Christ returns to this earth, for all these and many more terrible deeds that mankind has done.

Revelation 11:18 shows the following: “The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead [better: the living], that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Let’s take a look into the future, at what awaits us with Christ in the Millennium and beyond– a world full of peace, with humans unified in peace with the animals, which are to be treated with care and mindfulness, as God intended from the beginning. And let’s look at what the Bible, God’s Word, prophesies for the animals in the future:

“The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:7-9).

“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,’ Says the LORD” (Isaiah 65:25).

These are firm promises from God for our future, which we proclaim today! The Church of the Eternal God in the USA, the Kirche des Ewigen Gottes in Germany and all their affiliated organizations around the world proclaim exactly this Kingdom of Peace that will be established over the entire earth in the near future. Let us see what Isaiah has written for us today, in Isaiah 52:7-8: “How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the LORD [Christ] brings back Zion [Jerusalem].”

That is exactly what we are doing today. Day by day, week by week, month by month and year by year, we are relentlessly working to make people aware of the desperate state the world is in and why—because man continually breaks God’s law. It is time to wake up and escape the trance of darkness in order to open oneself to God!

Let us all continue to fulfill our duties to become worthy so that when Christ comes, He can say to us: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:23).

Initial translation from the German: Daniel Blasinger

by Norbert Link

We begin with an incredible revival of useless face masks and report on the terror attack in Las Vegas (see our recent StandingWatch program, “Who Was Behind the Terror Attacks in Germany, New Orleans and Las Vegas?”), as well as the resurgence of the Islamic State (IS) and New Jersey’s ongoing mystery drone frenzy (see our recent StandingWatch program, “The DRONES! No Danger? Are You Kidding?”).

We speak on Biden’s “departing gift” in devaluing once prestigious medals and awards and his moratorium on drilling; devastating wildfires in Los Angeles; and address Trump’s intention to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to demand NATO member-states to spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) annually on defense if they want U.S. support. We point out Trump’s statements regarding Canada (after Trudeau’s resignation) as well as Panama and Greenland; and we report on a controversial and possibly unconstitutional law in Florida banning children under the age of 14 from using social media and requiring parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds to do so.

We address the collapse of the government in Austria which mirrors the collapse of the German government, and focus on Sebastian Kurz and Herbert Kickl.

We publish several articles about the hypocrisy of certain German politicians, while the relationship between the USA and Germany becomes more and more strained, and we conclude with an article about “dangerous” Jens Spahn.

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “The Hypocrisy of German Politicians and the Media.”

Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.

Face Mask Mandates Return!!!!

The Daily Mail wrote on January 2:

“The surge in infections is prompting a return of mask mandates in some states, with a hospital system in Wisconsin this week becoming the latest to reinstate them. Hospitals in parts of California, Illinois, Indiana, and New Jersey have also brought back the rules for staff and visitors. Officials in New York City are urging people to consider wearing a face mask on public transport…

“The unusual surge in norovirus cases may in part be linked to an outbreak in Los Angeles, with at least 80 people sickened after eating raw oysters tainted with norovirus at a restaurant…”

When you thought the nonsense of ineffective face masks had passed…

The Terror Attack in Las Vegas

The Daily Mail wrote on January 2:

“Donald Trump has broken his silence on the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside his Las Vegas hotel…  He wrote in a post: ‘Our Country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World! This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership. 

“‘The DOJ, FBI, and Democrat state and local prosecutors have not done their job. They are incompetent and corrupt, having spent all of their waking hours unlawfully attacking their political opponent, ME, rather than focusing on protecting Americans from the outside and inside violent SCUM that has infiltrated all aspects of our government, and our Nation itself. ‘Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen to our Country… The USA is breaking down – A violent erosion of Safety, National Security, and Democracy is taking place all across our Nation.’”

If the DOJ, FBI, and Democrat state and local prosecutors are incompetent and corrupt, as Trump says, how COULD we even think for a moment that their investigation and conclusions are in any way reliable and trustworthy?

Everything Is Strange About Trump Hotel Bomber

Report 24 wrote on January 3:

“The story presented to the public about the bombing of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas could not be stranger or more unbelievable. The 37-year-old military specialist from the Green Berets (Special Operations Command, 10th Special Forces Group), Matthew Livelsberger, drove the vehicle in front of the hotel on January 1, 2025. There he killed himself with a shot in the head, after which the Cybertruck’s cargo – fireworks and gasoline – exploded… Of all people, such a professional is said to have planned and carried out such a botched attack? And he is said to have killed himself with a shot in the head before he even knew whether his attack was successful?…

“… the alleged perpetrator’s uncle, Dean Livelsberger… told The Independent that Matthew’s skills could have reduced the entire hotel to rubble if he had wanted to…

“Three attackers in recent months have an intense relationship with a US Army base, the Fort Bragg Army Military Base. New Orleans mass murderer Shamsud Din Jabbar, who carried out his terror spree on the same day, served at the same facility. And Ryan Routh, who waited in the bushes at the next US President Trump’s golf club with a rifle in his hand in order to assassinate him, is said to have visited this same military base a hundred times. Is it all coincidences?

“Another coincidence is that the New Orleans murder vehicle was rented from the same company as the Cybertruck used in the Las Vegas attack – via the Turo app…

“But how does it fit into the picture that Livelsberger… carried several forms of identification (passport, military ID, credit cards) with him when he committed the crime? Was he planning a stay abroad?… The sources for the clear identification of the dead man in the Cybertruck are unclear. Some sources claim that DNA identification has already been carried out… Many point out that it is extremely strange that the man was burned and charred beyond recognition – to the extent that even his teeth could not be used for identification – but his ID cards survived the inferno of the battery fire….

“The suspected Cybertruck bomber is said to have sent an email on December 31, 2024… in which he claimed that he had been being followed by the FBI or Homeland Security for a week…. Livelsberger further claimed that he had collected material about war crimes committed by US authorities in Afghanistan in 2019. He claimed that he had been involved in targeting for these military strikes; that hundreds of civilians had been killed in one day; that the US government covered up these actions; and that he himself had been involved in the cover-up.”

The Resurgence of IS

The Guardian wrote on January 4:

“The (IS) threat on the US homeland has caused renewed concern… In a rare public acknowledgment, the CIA director, Bill Burns, recently described IS as ‘resurgent’, a description now underscored by political chaos in Syria.

“Since the summer, IS propaganda has steadily called for American targets to be ‘next’… On Rocket.Chat, the chosen encrypted communications platform of IS… one user left a YouTube link on carjacking with the message: ‘For the brothers interested in stealing a car and using it in the next attacks.’… In 2024 alone, at least five plots linked to [Is]– both inspired and directed – have been thwarted within the United States… Manuals and social media posts emanating from IS or its predecessor organization, al-Qaida, have long advised the use of car ramming attacks…

“As far back as 2010, an al-Qaida magazine called on followers to use trucks…  It is unclear if Jabbar was a bona fide IS operative or merely a follower who engaged with the terror group’s vast online archive… Now US law enforcement and intelligence officials face the difficult task of wading through the potential onslaught of copycats or would-be IS supporters who might try to replicate the same type of operation…”

The Mystery Drone Frenzy Continues

The Associated Press wrote on January 3:

“The mystery drone frenzy that seemed to have faded over the holidays may come back with a bang after the New Jersey phenomenon was linked to the Tesla Cybertruck blast at the Trump hotel in Las Vegas. In a Dec. 31 email that the FBI believes was likely written by the Army soldier who died in the Jan. 1 explosion, Matthew Livelsberger, 37, says the drones in New Jersey were being operated by China… He says ‘China has been launching them from the Atlantic from submarines for years, but this activity recently has picked up.’..

“The development from Las Vegas comes as the FAA expands drone restrictions over New Jersey. The FAA added 34 locations to its Temporary Flight Restrictions list on Dec. 24 and Dec. 30 for ‘special security reasons.’ The list now has 57 locations… The FBI, which is leading the investigation into the drone sightings, had no comment…

“The additions are of concern to former Pequannock Mayor Ryan Herd who ended 8 years in office on New Year’s Day. The Republican said he believes that interest in drones has ebbed as the public’s attention turned to the holidays and the terrorist incidents in New Orleans and Las Vegas… ‘I think we’ve come a little accustomed to it, so people are seeing it, but they’re not reporting it. Or that’s why they’re not reporting it because it’s kind of a nightly occurrence,’ Herd said…”

The Shocking Story of the Chinese Spy Balloon

National Post wrote on January 6:

“Photographs of the balloon… soon were buzzing around the world. After four days of silence, their images had prompted U.S. military officials to divulge the shocking truth — what those pilots and photographers had spotted was a Chinese surveillance balloon… And it was now floating across some of the most militarily sensitive sites in America — nuclear-missile silos that would be among an enemy’s earliest targets should atomic war ever break out.

“The spy balloon’s slow traverse over Alaska, Western Canada and the continental United States, ending when it was shot down off the coast of South Carolina, riveted the world, sparked heated political debate and touched off a diplomatic uproar… It was quickly followed by the appearance of three more unidentified flying objects over Canada and the United States. That led to the first ever shoot-down by American fighter jets in Canadian airspace, after this country’s aging CF-18 fighters were grounded by freezing rain…

“Questions about why the Chinese balloon was not taken out sooner, or its presence made public earlier, persist… American intelligence agencies warned… in August 2022 that China had in place a program of high-altitude surveillance craft and was deploying the airships around the globe… Later news reports, quoting unnamed American government sources, suggest it had been tracked all the way from the balloon’s launch in Hainan Island, China…

“The balloon’s slow passage over Montana brought it close to Malmstrom Air Force Base and its array of silos, which harbour a major chunk of America’s arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles. China admitted it owned the balloon, but insisted it was an errant weather station. No one was convinced…

“U.S. authorities have been largely silent about what was learned from the debris that Navy units picked up in the following hours and days…

“Meanwhile, American jets had earlier destroyed a second balloon over Alaska and dispatched a third above Lake Huron on Feb. 12 near the border between Michigan and Ontario. The RCMP led a search for debris in the mountainous region where the Yukon floater went down, but called it off a week later, the terrain and weather making finding fragments all but impossible…”

Biden’s Departure Gift

Fox News wrote on January 5:

“If President Biden’s goal is to anger as many Americans as possible as he shuffles his way out the door, he’s absolutely exceeding these dubious expectations. Exhibit A is Biden’s (or whoever is running the White House in these waning days) decision to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to election denier Hillary Clinton and George Soros, who has done more damage to the United States as a private citizen for many years than arguably anyone in the country…

“[This] comes not long after Biden gave a blanket pardon to his son, Hunter, after repeatedly promising not to do so. And after he awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to Liz Cheney and… Bennie Thompson… for their work on the Jan. 6 Committee that barred cross-examination of any handpicked ‘witnesses.’ And for this part, in 2004, Thompson voted against the certification of the 2004 presidential election won by George W. Bush…

“Biden will exit as the most unpopular president we’ve seen in decades. And on his way to the exit, he’s devaluing once-special awards like the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the point they’re as worthless as his word itself…”

Further Biden Sabotage

npr wrote on January 6:

“President Biden is using a decades-old law to block drilling for oil in more than 625 million acres of U.S. ocean — the largest region a president has ever protected using this authority. It’s a move designed to help cement his climate legacy, and one the incoming Trump administration is expected to challenge… the region includes the eastern Gulf of Mexico, where oil companies are interested in expanding when an existing moratorium expires. And all together, the huge swathes of ocean set aside in this move… include more than a third of the offshore U.S. oil and gas that is likely economical to extract…

“The oil industry has objected to the moratorium… Green groups, meanwhile, celebrated the announcement…

“Biden’s move has no expiration date. And courts have previously found that makes the move essentially permanent... Courts found that the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act allows a president to protect waters indefinitely, and doesn’t include any provision for removing that protection…”

Fox News wrote on January 6:

“President-elect Donald Trump said he plans to immediately reverse President Biden’s new ban on offshore drilling along most of the U.S. coastline, but he faces major roadblocks under a 70-year, irrevocable law. Throughout his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump vowed that, if elected, he would expand oil and gas drilling in an effort to bolster American-made energy. However, Biden issued an 11th-hour executive order Monday morning to forestall such actions exactly two weeks before his term ends, announcing a permanent stop to most new oil and gas drilling across U.S. coastal and offshore waters… Trump would need congressional approval to reverse Biden’s decision…

“Biden said that his decision stemmed from his efforts to curb climate change – one of dozens of moves from the Democratic president’s green energy agenda… Trump’s spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, also issued a statement criticizing Biden’s order. ‘This is a disgraceful decision designed to exact political revenge on the American people who gave President Trump a mandate to increase drilling and lower gas prices…’”

Biden’s motives (or of those who run this country) behind this move should be abundantly clear.

The Devastating LA Fires

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 8:

“The Palisades fire, considered the most destructive in Los Angeles’ modern history, is just one of the blazes around Los Angeles. The Eaton fire is raging in Altadena, north of the city, whereas the Hurst fire is near the northern Los Angeles suburb of Sylmar. A fourth fire broke out on Wednesday morning in the San Fernando Valley, known as the Woodley fire.  [There are additional fires burning.]

“Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone… said the fire departments around Los Angeles were not equipped for ‘for this type of disaster.’ ‘There are not enough firefighters in LA county to address four separate fires of this magnitude,’ he added.”

The Sun added:

“Gusty winds and dry conditions have allowed the four major fires – the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, and Woodley fires – to spread across multiple cities and neighborhoods in Los Angeles County… The out-of-control flames were named the ‘most destructive in history’ as they continue to grow with 0% containment…

“The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the Palisades Fire, which began on Monday, was sparked by a backyard fire before strong winds fanned embers to neighboring area.”

The Blame Game

The New York Post wrote on January 8:

“As Los Angeles firefighters faced down the most destructive blaze in the city’s history, they ran out of water… The water shortage was the result of years of mismanagement of LA’s water system — including a federal indictment of a leader and high profile resignations — as well as major operational problems that drained reserves too quickly…

“LA residents voiced their outrage over the conditions that allowed the fire… to rage out of control… Adding insult, Democratic Mayor Karen Bass was 7,400 miles away in Africa, and months earlier she had approved an $18 million cut to the fire department… A legacy of terrible fire management by the state of California and Gov. Gavin Newsom also hangs over the smoky skies of LA…

“The failure of LA’s water system comes after years of criticism from President-Elect Donald Trump and others that California’s leaders are not managing their water — or their fire risk properly.

“Trump pinned blame for the water shortage on Democratic Gov. Newsom — who derailed a 2020 Trump admin order redirecting water from the verdant north of the state to parched SoCal.

“Newsom’s excuse, a tiny endangered fish that has already been declared functionally extinct…”

The Sun added on January 8:

“Trump slammed California Governor Gavin Newsom’s policy decisions, which he said are responsible for the ‘apocalyptic’ burning in Los Angeles. ‘Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social…”

Trump Plans to Sanction the ICC

Israel Today wrote on January 5:

“President-elect Donald Trump plans to implement devastating sanctions against the International Criminal Court in The Hague immediately after taking office… These executive orders could be unveiled as soon as Jan. 21.

“The sanctions package will target both individual ICC personnel, including judges and prosecutors, and the institution as a whole. The administration intends to classify the ICC as an organization threatening US interests, employing designation procedures similar to those used by the State Department for terrorist organizations globally. This designation will trigger severe restrictions on anyone involved with the court’s operations.

“Financial institutions worldwide will be required to terminate relationships with ICC personnel or face US sanctions themselves. Mirroring actions taken against sanctioned Israeli citizens by the outgoing administration, ICC staff will find themselves unable to perform routine banking operations or use credit cards. Their financial activities will be effectively frozen, with exceptions only for essential needs such as food purchases. Furthermore, all US-based assets belonging to ICC employees and the institution will be frozen.”

Facebook Gives In

The Wall Street Journal wrote on January 7:

Meta is ending fact-checking and removing restrictions on speech across Facebook and Instagram, Zuckerberg said… Tuesday, a move he described as an attempt to restore free expression on its platforms.

Trump Demands 5% From Europe

The Hill wrote on December 26:

“Trump is signaling to NATO member-states that they must spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) annually on defense if they want U.S. support. That is a big ask. As of June 2024, of the 32 NATO countries, eight were still far short of the 2 percent of GDP threshold. Only Poland exceeds 4 percent.

“That may be sufficient in peacetime, but Russia and its Axis of Evil allies are knocking on the door. What’s more, the European continent is already engaged in an active hybrid war with Russia involving espionage, sabotage, cyber-attacks, assassinations and disinformation. Nor is it adequate for what is likely to come in the next decade. The Kremlin is rapidly preparing an even larger kinetic war against Europe…

“Moscow announced in September that it was raising defense spending by 25 percent in 2025, to 6.3 percent of its GDP. That is 1.5 times current U.S. defense spending as a share of GDP, and three times NATO’s present median.

“Russia is on a war footing, but many NATO countries remain in denial of what lies ahead… Canada… currently only spends 1,4 percent of its GDP on defense. Belgium, home to NATO’s headquarters, is even worse, spending only 1.1 percent.

“Consequently, Europe is vulnerable. That goes double if Russia, in its eventual war with NATO, weaponizes European civilians by intentionally attacking hospitals, energy grids, schools and historic cultural sites, as he has all across Ukraine…

“Brussels is estimating that NATO member-states are currently only ‘able to provide less than 5 percent of air defense capacities deemed necessary to protect its members in central and eastern Europe against a full-scale attack.’” 

Trudeau Resigns

Breitbart wrote on January 6:

“Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday as both prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Trudeau said he will remain as caretaker PM until the Liberal Party selects its new leader…

“Trudeau has been leader of the Liberal Party since 2013 and became prime minister in 2015. He has been under growing pressure to resign after a string of Liberal election defeats, party scandals, and plummeting approval ratings…

“Many members of Trudeau’s own party agreed with the opposition that Trudeau was unsuited to the task of leading Canada in tough negotiations against Trump, who has threatened to increase tariffs against Canadian goods unless its border with America is brought under control.

“The final, fatal blow to Trudeau’s administration came when his deputy prime minister and finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, resigned on December 16. Freeland wrote a scathing letter of resignation that blasted Trudeau for irresponsible spending on ‘costly political gimmicks’ in the face of Trump’s tariff threats.

“Trudeau’s administration thus became the second Western government to collapse as a result of Trump’s election, the first being the leftist ‘Traffic Light Coalition’ government in Germany. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said within hours of the U.S. election results that Trump’s return was a factor in splintering Germany’s ruling coalition.”

The analysis in the last paragraph is clearly untrue. Germany’s incompetent government had been in shambles for months, if not years.

Canada –the 51st State of the USA—Just a Joke?

The New York Post wrote on January 6:

“President-elect Donald Trump fired off more taunts at Canada’s government Monday, repeating his wish for America’s northern neighbor to become its 51st state after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation. ‘Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned,’ Trump, 78, wrote on Truth Social.

“‘If Canada merged with the U.S. [sic], there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!’”

Is it just a joke? Maybe not. Note the next article.

Trump Makes Strong Claims During News Conference

During a lengthy news conference at Mar-o-Lago on January 7, President elect Donald Trump stated the following, as reported by the New York Post on January 7:

“President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday he plans to order ‘very serious tariffs’ against Canada and Mexico — and that he will rechristen the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America…

“The president-elect spoke as his son, Donald Trump Jr., visited Greenland as part of his attempt to woo the island’s 56,000 residents to break with Denmark and join the United States. ‘People really don’t even know if Denmark has an illegal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up, because we need it for national security,’ Trump said at the press conference… Trump threatened to ‘tariff Denmark at a very high level’ if Copenhagen intervened…

“President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday he wouldn’t rule out using ‘military force’ to make Greenland and the Panama Canal US territories. ‘No, I can’t assure you on either of those two,’ the incoming president told a reporter asking about the use of military force or economic coercion to acquire the territories.”

Regarding Canada joining the USA, he ruled out military intervention, but said that he would use economic pressure. He also reiterated his demand that Europe needs to pay 5% of their GDP to NATO, and that NATO would be dead without him.

He also said that all hell will break out if Hamas has not released the hostages before his inauguration. Newsmax reported that “Trump brought Middle East special envoy designee Steve Witkoff to the podium to talk about the ongoing negotiations.” Wikoff expressed his confidence that a deal would be reached before January 20.

The news broke during the conference that “U.S. District Aileen Cannon, who presided over the now-dismissed case accusing Trump of illegally holding onto classified documents, directed the Justice Department not to release the report until a federal appeals court rules on a request from Trump’s two former co-defendants in the case” (Newsmax, dated January 7). However, the JD intends to release part of Jack Smith’s report on Trump’s alleged interference and to “undo the results of the 2020 presidential election” (The New York Post, dated January 8).

Greenland a Hot Topic?

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 8:

“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he discussed Trump’s remarks [regarding Greenland] with other EU leaders, while reiterating that the inviolability of borders is ‘fundamental international law.’… French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot demanded that Trump should not threaten the European Union’s ‘sovereign borders.’… He added that, while he did not believe the US ‘would invade’ Greenland [‘a territory of the European Union’], ‘we have entered an era that is seeing the return of the law of the strongest.’’

Breitbart wrote on January 8:

“European leaders are reacting with alarm as past and future President Donald Trump talks up the importance of the United States acquiring Greenland, the world’s largest island and a strategically valuable if underdeveloped Arctic territory in the North Atlantic…

“Greenland’s relationship with the European Union is relatively complex. It joined the European Community in the 1970s alongside Denmark before it gained partial independence known as home rule. After getting some control over its own affairs, a referendum in Greenland in 1982 voted to leave what would later become the European Union over incompatibility between Brussels rules and Greenland’s domestic interests.

“So while Greenland is not a member of the European Union, it is still an overseas territory of an EU member state, Denmark, and consequently an associate of the bloc. Whether the island could rejoin the EU has been a matter of sporadic discussion for years, but ultimately the reasons for leaving in the first place — the EU is damaging to the national fishing industry — remain fundamentally unchanged.

“…French government spokesman Sophie Primas has also spoken out on the possibility of the United States acquiring Greenland, denouncing it as ‘a form of imperialism’. She told the council of ministers on Wednesday: ‘More than ever, we must, with our European partners, be aware, move away from a form of naivety, protect ourselves, rearm ourselves.’ Unnamed European Union officials are ‘deeply disturbed by Trump’s comments’,  London’s strongly pro-Brussels Financial Times, stating the visit by Donald Trump Junior to Greenland this week has persuaded many the future President really is serious about acquisition, rather than just talking for effect.

“The United States has attempted to buy Greenland twice before, once in the 19th century and again at the end of the Second World War. Beyond its strategic importance in controlling the north Atlantic — denying the sea to Russian submarines, essential in case of war — Greenland is also very rich in minerals.”

Controversial Florida Law Went Into Effect

LifeSiteNews wrote on January 2:

“A Florida law banning children under the age of 14 from using social media went into effect on Wednesday. [It] requires parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds to use social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok…

“Critics have denounced the law as a civil rights violation, and responses from parents are reportedly mixed… the ‘vast majority’ of parents polled in Florida would rather enforce their children’s social media use themselves.

“A 2023 Gallup poll found that children ages 13 and 14 spend an average of over four hours a day on social media platforms. According to a 2024 Pew Research Center study, 87 percent of children of this age range spend time on YouTube, 55 percent use TikTok, 44 percent use Snapchat, and 43 percent use Instagram.

“Commentators have observed that the law is difficult to enforce…

“‘By banning social media accounts for users under 13, or under 16 without parental consent, the bill requires both teens and parents to reveal their identities to verify their relationship and the parent’s consent,’ the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression wrote in its analysis. ‘In doing so, the provision eliminates anonymity for everyone – adults and minors.’”

It should be indeed the responsibility of the parents to regulate what their children watch. A prohibition for all children under 13 to watch anything on YouTube and other social media seems to be ridiculous and dangerous at the same time. What RIGHT does the state have to get involved in these matters? This is only common practice in dictatorships.

Is Sebastian Kurz Coming?

Bild Online wrote on January 3:

“It would be the political sensation of 2025: If there are new elections in Austria after the failed coalition talks, ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz could run as candidate for chancellor! BILD learned from ÖVP circles: Current Chancellor Nehammer [who has in the meantime resigned as Chancellor] would be out of the race in new elections, while Kurz would be a top candidate! An ÖVP insider told BILD: ‘As things stand, we wouldn’t have a chance against the FPÖ in new elections, but with Kurz the race would be open again. Karl Nehammer has completely failed.’

“…Kurz resigned as chancellor in 2021 after there were investigations against him. He was sentenced in the first instance to a suspended sentence of eight months for making false statements, but he has appealed… At the same time, there are further investigations against Kurz, the public prosecutor’s office is investigating the ex-chancellor for breach of trust, corruption and bribery… Despite the investigation, many in the ÖVP believe Kurz would have a chance in new elections against FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl (56)…

“ÖVP insiders speak to BILD that it is currently unclear whether Kurz would actually be willing to run in the end… In fact, it is currently still unclear whether new elections will actually take place…”

Some believe Kurz could play a leading role in Europe. Prophetically speaking, however, it would make “more sense” if Kurz ran FOR and not AGAINST the FPÖ. In any event, Kurz has said that he will not serve under Kickl. What will happen now in Austria? Will FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl take over?

Handelsblatt wrote on January 5:

“The plan to deny the FPÖ the chancellorship has probably failed. The conservatives are in a shambles and will have to make do without their hopeful Sebastian Kurz for the time being… It is completely unclear who will maneuver through the coming weeks as Chancellor… After his appointment with the Federal President on Monday, Herbert Kickl is in the driver’s seat, whose strategy of waiting has fully worked out…”

The right-wing FPÖ has been compared with Germany’s right-wing AfD, for allegedly pursuing a similar agenda.

Germany in Fear

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 6:

“Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen on Monday tasked Herbert Kickl, the leader of the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), with the formation of a new government. Van der Bellen’s offer came after Chancellor Karl Nehammer handed in his resignation on Saturday over the collapse of coalition talks that had excluded the FPÖ.

“Kickl’s party won the Austrian parliamentary election in September taking 28.8% of the vote and beating outgoing Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) into second place. However, Van der Bellen had tasked Nehammer with putting together a new government because no other party was willing to work with Kickl.

“On Sunday, Van der Bellen said a ‘new situation’ had emerged, noting that ‘voices within the People’s Party that rule out working with… Kickl have become significantly quieter.’..

“In Germany, conservative Christian Democrat (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz has categorically ruled out any similar cooperation with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). AfD party leader Alice Weidel said the so-called ‘firewall’ erected by Merz will not last. Voters do not want coalitions ‘in which left-wing parties again set the tone,’ even when there is a common majority made up of the conservatives and the AfD.’”

Barron’s wrote on January 6:

“German politicians said Monday the prospect of Austria’s far right coming to power was a ‘warning’ for Berlin’s own fractured politics while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) cheered events in Vienna.”

The German “established” parties fear that the situation in Austria could repeat itself in Germany, meaning the AfD WILL have to be involved.

“Horror Message”: Schallenberg Becomes Interim Chancellor

orf.at wrote on January 8:

“Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) will lead the [Austrian] government from Friday. On this day, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen will entrust him with the continuation of the administration of the Federal Chancellery and with the chairmanship of the interim federal government… This step is necessary after the resignation of Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) following the failure of the government negotiations between the ÖVP and SPÖ and NEOS. For Schallenberg, who will also remain foreign minister, this is his second term as head of government. After Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP) withdrew, he served as Chancellor for almost two months in 2021…

“If there is an FPÖ-ÖVP coalition, Schallenberg no longer wants to be available as foreign minister… [He] had already stated earlier that he would not be a member of a federal government under the leadership of FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl…”

Report 24 added on January 8:

“The anticipation of a possible chancellorship of FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl is currently massively dampened… Of all people, the unpopular Corona agitator Schallenberg, whose family brought Freemasonry to the country, [will] lead the government from now on… He was allowed to do so during the Corona period After [Kurz’s] resignation. He played the role of Federal Chancellor for a short time, from October 11 to December 6, 2021. Back then, he coldly told the population, ‘We will have to tighten the reins for unvaccinated people!‘… During the Corona period, Schallenberg behaved as the best pharmaceutical representative in the country… It is now clear that the government also knew that the vaccination would not work against transmission and disease… In fact, it was clear from the outset that the negative side effects occurred 25 times more often than any protective effect against ‘severe disease’ – which is also highly questionable…

“Assuming that the People’s Party continues to turn out to be an organ of globalism that is not loyal to [agreements], then after a few weeks of negotiations the FPÖ will have no choice but to request new elections… It is to be feared that Austria will suffer under the thumb [of] Schallenberg… We have already received many letters from readers warning that Austria’s approval of international treaties such as the WHO pandemic treaty will also fall during this Schallenberg period. It is likely that the ardent globalist will willingly sign any treaty that comes from the WHO, the United Nations and the World Economic Forum. Report24 editor-in-chief Florian Machl warned in several interviews that people should not rejoice too soon after Nehammer’s resignation. Now everyone can see why.”

A Lot of Things Are Wrong in Germany!

Bild Online wrote on January 3:

“If you had told me a few years ago that almost 40 injured police officers and 400 arrests on New Year’s Eve in Berlin alone wouldn’t trigger a major political debate – I wouldn’t have thought it possible…

“People notice that something is wrong when there are street battles and attacks on emergency doctors on a happy day like New Year’s Eve. When Christmas markets have to be protected with concrete barriers. When a visit to the outdoor pool is no longer possible without bag searches and security teams. If you no longer feel safe in the city center or on the bus.

“People are smarter than some politicians and authorities believe who… don’t want to say what many of these problems have to do with… [that is, with] certain young men who came to Germany illegally and in large numbers from Islamist-influenced countries – and they have a different relationship to violence, to women, Jews, homosexuals and obviously also to our state…

“But the bitterest thing is not the violence itself, but the feeling that it has no consequences… How do our police officers feel, who arrest dozens of criminals who are not even officially allowed to be in the country, but who are always released?… “

Just like in the USA…

J.D. Vance Chimes In

Die Welt wrote on January 3:

“The German-American relationship is being put to the test again. Because now the designated US Vice President J. D. Vance is also polarizing with a statement about the AfD… ‘The American media slander the AfD as a kind of Nazi light. In fact, the AfD enjoys greatest popularity in the same areas of Germany that offered the greatest resistance to the Nazis.’ However, he left it open which areas Vance meant by this.

“Under the posting, a discussion developed about the truth of the statement. One user commented: ‘This is misinformation that is easy to refute.’ Other users wrote that it was exactly the other way around…”

The sad truth is that there was not much resistance to the Nazis anywhere in the first place.

The Hypocrisy of German Politicians

The Berliner Zeitung wrote on December 30, 2024:

“After Elon Musk’s guest article in the Welt am Sonntag, the capital’s political media complex exploded in convulsions of hatred: it was illegal interference, resistance had to be offered, he had to be put in his place. ‘Musk is trying to do nothing other than Putin,’ claims SPD chairman Klingbeil. Many newspapers and politicians make themselves ridiculous with such statements.

“German politicians, journalists and activists are constantly interfering unabashedly in the American election campaign… A few months ago, Klingbeil declared on the radio: ‘We want Kamala Harris in the White House.’…

“Anyone who sees this hypocrisy realizes that it’s not about interference or ‘democracy’: it’s about the political interests of parties and the media… The hatred of Musk largely stems from the fact that these blatant contradictions are becoming visible on X today…

“The ideologues and followers in parties and editorial offices feel their power dwindling due to social media. Lies, contradictions and dishonesty that were previously kept secret are becoming unavoidable. The duped react with angry gaffes and requests for censorship. Such publications must be ‘prevented’…

“Many Musk critics are not concerned with freedom of expression or democracy or the rule of law. It’s about making certain opinions taboo and shouting down their representatives… In the end, the Musk incident is just another twitch of a dying system… ‘Kill the messenger!’ is the motto of many reactions to Musk. But the message cannot be killed…”

Olaf Scholz also made a name for himself for his “election interference” for Macron when he campaigned for him and against LePen (see Bild Online, December 31: “He himself campaigned for Macron. Wasn’t that election interference, Mr. Scholz?”).

A Serious Strain?

 ntv wrote on January 1:

“The SPD parliamentary group leader in the German Bundestag, Rolf Mützenich, warned that Musk’s failures could lead to a serious strain on German-American relations. He accused the billionaire of crossing ‘the line between friendly states’ with his comments.

“Mützenich called on the federal government to clarify after Trump took office in January ‘whether the repeated disrespect, defamation and interference in the election campaign were also expressed in the name of the new US government’.”

Musk called Olaf Scholz a fool and President Steinmeier an anti-democratic tyrant.

Censorship in the German Newspaper Forest

MSN published an article around January 1 with the headline: “Habeck’s desire for state control of opinion is totalitarian.” This article is “no longer available.” The article stated:

“It is an absolute given and a journalistic achievement in the world that Musk was given the opportunity to publish his position in a commentary. Only enemies of the free state criticize this. The appropriate reaction in a fundamental rights state is not to criticize the publication. Because this is criticism of freedom of expression itself. You react by publishing your opposing position. This is democratic discourse. Media, especially the public ones, which behave in a servile and secure manner close to the state, do not serve freedom of expression and freedom of the press. They are their antagonists.

“It is the lowest point of journalism when you do not take a position against an opinion with all the argumentative conviction you have, but rather when you want to deny your ideological opponent the right to express himself at all. How can one, especially as a journalist, even think of criticizing the publication of an article that does not violate any laws but enjoys the protection of our Basic Law? That’s not the only thing that distinguishes Elon Musk from his German critics. They can all express themselves freely on X more than on other platforms–a  privilege that they use intensively against him who grants it to them, but they do not want to grant this privilege to him.

“It is pure fear of many political and media actors… fear of Trump, Musk, Milei, but even more of loss of power…”

Europe to Muzzle Elon Musk?

Apollo News wrote on January 7:

“After the US tech billionaire made explicitly positive comments about the AfD, EU MPs are now calling on the European Commission to subject Platform X to strict regulations. The reason given is suspected violations of EU law. In reality, however, it is more about redefining the limits of freedom of expression in Europe.

“According to the Handelsblatt, the corresponding application states that Musk’s ‘personal interference in the German federal election campaign, his soon-to-be key position in the US government and his power to influence the political agenda in Germany via algorithm control on Platform X’ are threats.

“This would pose nothing less than a ‘systemic risk’ for Germany and the European Union as such. For this reason, the applicants are demanding ‘urgent interim measures from the Commission to protect the federal election’. The EU parliamentarians plan to submit their request for the regulation of Platform X to the EU Commission next Friday. A broad majority is expected in the EU Parliament for the motion.

“Support for the initiative comes particularly from the Greens and the SPD. The MEP Alexandra Geese (Greens) told the Handelsblatt: ‘The Commission must urgently order emergency measures against X’… Geese receives support from Katharina Barley (SPD). She explains: ‘During the federal election, the EU must look closely at what is happening on platforms like X, Facebook and Instagram.’ Elon Musk has nothing less in his sights than [fighting] liberal democracy. The US billionaire wants to weaken the existing cornerstones of the free-democratic basic order. ‘We won’t allow that,’ continued MEP Barley.”

Report 24 added on January 8:

“The EU Commission wants to muzzle Elon Musk because of his planned interview with Alice Weidel [AfD]… Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier announced… that they will closely examine how Musk’s Platform will promote the interview. They rely on the on the ‘Digital Services Act’ – the bureaucratic masterpiece that is supposed to protect freedom of expression. The same freedom of expression that is now apparently being restricted because a billionaire dares to speak to a democratically elected opposition leader.

“The commission seriously warns against ‘above-average visibility’ of the interview. With his over 200 million followers, Musk naturally has an enormous reach – regardless of whether he tweets about electric cars, Mars rockets or German politics. What’s more: Most of his followers aren’t even people from Germany, so you couldn’t really speak of any real potential election influence…

“The whole farce reveals the increasing nervousness of the political establishment in view of the upcoming new elections [in Germany]…”

Jens Spahn—a Real Danger!

TAZ wrote on January:

“Many see the CDU member as a real danger.

“Jens Spahn, 44, has been a member of the Bundestag for 22 years and was Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Federal Minister of Health. The pandemic briefly made the conservative ‘Münsterlander’ [coming from the area of Münsterland in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany] with a negative image the most popular politician in Germany. Since the Union’s defeat in the last federal election, he has no longer held a particularly prominent position. But for months you can’t get past Spahn… [his] main thing is to get attention. Someone [Spahn] gets into position.

“For Spahn, the question is whether he will become part of the new federal government. And to remain one of the players for the time afterwards… Legal foundations can ultimately be changed if one creates the political majorities… The right to asylum, as regulated in the Basic Law and in international agreements, would be perdu…

“Thomas Biebricher, a politics professor from Frankfurt, is an expert on European conservatism… ‘Jens Spahn is one of the most dangerous people in the CDU orbit,’ says Biebricher on the phone. Spahn is rhetorically gifted, willing to make populist statements, has a certain unscrupulousness – and… great ambition. ‘One can imagine that Jens Spahn would be willing to transform Christian democracy into something that is no longer Christian democracy.’

“On the one hand, Spahn is valued for his hard work and perseverance; some people admire his good networking and willingness to address even uncomfortable things. When he comes, the hall is full. Spahn, opponents also say, is an exceptional political talent…

“But there are also doubts about his loyalty. [There is] discomfort with his strong ambition. Because he likes to put himself in front of others who then have to clean up after him…

“Spahn [carries] some baggage around with him. The expensive mask purchases from the beginning of the pandemic, for example, because of which the federal government is now threatened with 2.3 billion euros in back payments. The purchase of his villa in Berlin for several million euros together with his husband, the financing of which raised questions…

“Spahn definitely wants to govern…”

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

We receive inquiries asking if we have an established congregation close to the person who is writing. This is usually the result of someone watching us over the Internet or responding to our published written materials. Our response is typically no, we don’t.

Then how can someone continue to follow up with their initial interest in what the Church of the Eternal God and its affiliates are teaching?

Becoming a part of the Church of God starts when God calls a person and gives him or her understanding about His Truth. Jesus Christ said: “‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day’” (John 6:44).

Being called out of this world and its societies really does present challenges. Jesus gave this powerful admonition to those who would agree to follow Him:

“‘Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to “set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law”; and “a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it’” (Matthew 10:34-39).

Jesus further stated, “‘So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple’” (Luke 14:33). This concluding statement by Jesus followed His parable showing that a person must “count the cost” to be His disciple. He also said, “‘Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it’” (Matthew 7:14).

Once a person is called by God, finding association with others is plainly taught in the Bible. For that purpose, Jesus promised to build His Church and that it would not be destroyed (compare Matthew 16:18). The Church of God was founded in 31 A. D., on the Day of Pentecost, and it has continued to exist to the present time. However, the Church has at times been small in numbers, while at other times, it has had congregations in various countries. Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, provides a history of the Church from its beginning until the time of Jesus Christ’s return.

Seven Church “eras” are depicted in these two chapters of Revelation, and it is obvious that Jesus leads them with His instruction to overcome various problems and sins and to persevere in the Truth of God. Some of the Church generations proved themselves more faithful than others.

And so, today, we find that the Church of God has suffered difficulties through the teaching of wrong and compromised doctrines along with weak and self-seeking leadership. The New Testament records similar issues very early in the first generation of the Church. Still, there are those who seek to faithfully carry forward the Work of the Church of God.

With this overview, let’s consider the question of finding fellowship. With whom are we supposed to fellowship? The Apostle John gives this answer:

“[T]hat which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 3:3).

The Apostle Paul confirms this teaching:

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

We can see by these Scriptures that our fellowship begins with and is with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ! That fellowship includes other members and those who are being called by God. John adds something very important in this regard:

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7).

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, a younger, fellow minister, with this admonition, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16).

As we seek fellowship with fellow believers, what must be our foundational priority is the Truth of God as found in His Word. Compromised doctrines will lead us into darkness, and while we may find fellowship, it will not be with God the Father or Jesus Christ!

Still, what if an individual finds him- or herself in an isolated circumstance and not near to a congregation or even to a single other person? The first thing to realize is that he or she is not alone. God and Jesus Christ watch over those being called to salvation! We can study and meditate on God’s Word and through prayer find growth in our fellowship with God and Jesus Christ. (That is something we should do no matter how few or how many brethren may be around us.)

The Church of the Eternal God and its affiliates provide live-streaming Sabbath Services with a Chat Room option and boundless resources on our various websites. We present weekly Updates and StandingWatch and AufPostenStehen videos featuring world events in light of prophetic fulfillment.

Members do find opportunities for fellowship during the Feast of Tabernacles, and that is even true for those who cannot physically attend these services through the use of video streaming over the Internet.

We strive to do everything possible to fulfill the instruction given to indeed assemble together—especially as the return of Jesus Christ draws near. Incredible facilities have now been given to the people of God to both preach the good news of the Kingdom of God and to support those God is calling.

Take advantage of the many ways that we can all fellowship, and do so “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Lead Writer: Dave Harris

compiled by Dave Harris

“The Hypocrisy of German Politicians and the Media” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is a summary:

While the world is watching with horror the terrible deadly wildfires in Los Angeles, another wildfire is burning in Germany which most people don’t even recognize as such. Many Germans realize that “a lot of things are wrong in Germany,” but hypocritical politicians are afraid to address the causes and are fighting instead for their survival by opposing whoever stands in their way, including Elon Musk, the right-wing AfD and Musk’s interview with AfD’s Alice Weidel. But this ridiculous approach will backfire.

“Die Heuchelei deutscher Politiker und der Medien” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topic as described above. 

A Tech Team Meeting was conducted on January 5, 2025. Hosted by Eric Rank, topics discussed included testing a new advertising platform for our booklets. Additional printing of the booklet, “The Fall and Rise of the Jewish People,” was decided. We had participants from the U.S., Canada, and Germany.

The German translation of our booklet on Middle Eastern and African Nations in Bible Prophecy was sent to our printer in Germany.

An order for reprinting our booklet, “The Fall and Rise of the Jewish People,” was sent to our printer in Germany.

We have begun to produce and post a new series, in German, titled “Biblische Geschichte” (covering the biblical story).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2iE4AgYjKU ; and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vBmRdg4X6k; and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OU6pVrRlrg 

We are planning to produce the same videos in English.

“Reise durch die Kirchengeschichte,” last Sabbath’s German sermonette presented by Tahir Coban, is now posted. Title in English: “Journey Through Church History.”

“False Miracles,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

How do we discern the difference between true and false miracles? However, we shouldn’t be seeking after miracles but after the truth. What is the Truth?

“Pursuing the Presence of God,” last Sabbath’s sermon by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Each of us are called by God – and yet, what is our response to this calling? Is it just to accept it and that is it – or is there more that is part of our responsibility? Are we required to be pursuing God? If so, how?