Russia and Ukraine—Warring Regimes, but Brotherly People?

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 2:

“At a press conference… on Saturday, Putin said Ukraine was not interested in a peaceful resolution to the conflict and called the governing party in Kyiv a ‘party of war.’ ‘As long as it’s in power, tragedies of this type and the war will continue,’ Putin added.”

In a prior interview on or about November 30 which was published in German by the Russian outlet RT, Putin accused the Ukrainian leader, Petro Poroshenko, of provocation. Putin also said that the Russian and the Ukrainian peoples will always remain “brotherly people.”

n-tv reported on November 30:

“Former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel stated that Ukraine was willing to draw Germany into a war with Russia.”

Breitbart wrote on November 30:

“Ukraine announced a ban on Friday on male Russian nationals between the ages of 16 and 60 entering the country for the duration of martial law, currently scheduled to last 30 days…

“The Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday warned ‘the Russian people might lose patience’ and begin attacking Ukrainian diplomatic facilities on Russian soil, or even demand their government seize Ukrainian territory surrounding Russian diplomatic outposts…

“Ukraine’s state security service on Friday raided the home of Father Metropolitan Pavel, a Russia-backed Orthodox priest…, one of Ukraine’s most famous and frequently visited religious sites… President Poroshenko announced on Thursday that Ukraine is working on setting up its own independent branch of the Orthodox Church…”

Ultimately, Russia and Ukraine will act together, as brothers, against perceived enemies.

Putin Under Attack… Willing to Retaliate

The Associated Press wrote on December 1:

“… As the [G20] summit opened, European leaders lined up to criticize what one called Russia’s ‘aggression’ on Ukraine – the weekend seizure of Ukrainian ships and crew members near Crimea. The Group of 7 foreign ministers issued a statement demanding the seamen’s release.

“Isolated by Western democracies, Putin pushed instead to inject new strength into the so-called BRICS grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa…

“The Russian leader has warned that if the United States deploys intermediate-range missiles that are currently banned under the treaty to Europe, Russia will have to target the nations that would host them. Such weapons… take just a few minutes to reach targets, leaving virtually no time for decision-makers and dramatically increasing the possibility of a nuclear conflict over a false attack warning or technical glitch.”

Far Eastern nations will collaborate against western Europe.

In addition, the EUObserver reported the following on December 5:

“‘We’ll do the same,’ if the US deploys new medium-range nuclear missiles in Europe, Russian leader Vladimir Putin said Wednesday, after America said it would walk away from a Cold War-era anti-missile pact, the so-called INF treaty, in 60 days. The US and Nato said Tuesday Russia was anyway violating the INF by building cruise missiles capable of hitting targets in Europe at short notice. Putin denies this.”

Trump Cancels Press Conference at G20

The Daily Mail wrote on December 1:

“President Trump canceled his scheduled press conference at the G20. He said it was being done out of respect for George H.W. Bush’s family… However… the optics that would come out of Saturday’s press conference would likely not paint the White House in a good light.

“There are the personal problems that have consumed the president’s thoughts and twitter account while he’s been here. Trump has been in a defense posture since Cohen’s [Trump’s former lawyer and “fixer”] latest plea deal was revealed on Thursday. Adding to the pressure are reports that name his daughter Ivanka Trump and son Donald Trump Jr. as being more involved in looking at the Trump Tower Moscow project than previously revealed. The Trump Tower project in Moscow never got off the ground, but the Trump Organization didn’t shelve it until June 2016, long after the future president had locked up the GOP’s White House nomination…

“The one trade deal the president did sign – with Mexico and Canada – was overshadowed by the obvious unhappiness of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau [who] chastise[d] the president over steel and aluminum tariffs and pointedly called the agreement the ‘new North American Free Trade Agreement’ – instead of the USMCA, which is Trump’s preferred moniker. He made a personal plea to Trump during the ceremony to get rid of the tariffs, saying the recent closures of auto plants by General Motors in the United States and Canada made it more important for cooperation… After Trump, Trudeau, and outgoing Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto signed the agreement, Trump held his up and said: ‘We might as well hold that up.’ Nieto did so. Trudeau did not…”

Final G20 Statement

Reuters reported on December 2:

“…the leaders of all the world’s top economies called for reforms to the crisis-stricken WTO in a final statement from their summit… [It] recognized trade as an important engine of global growth but made only a passing reference to ‘the current trade issues’ after the U.S. delegation won a battle to keep any mention of protectionism out of the statement.

“… European officials said a reference to refugees and migration – a sensitive issue for Trump’s administration – was excised to ensure consensus. On climate change, the United States once again marked its differences with the rest of the G20 by reiterating in the statement its decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and its commitment to using all kinds of energy sources. The other members of the group reaffirmed their commitment to implement the Paris deal and tackle climate change…”

The G20 compromise statement won’t avail to much or contribute to unity between the USA and most other countries.

US Will Hold Off on Raising China Tariffs

CNBC wrote on December 3:

“‘President Trump has agreed that on January 1, 2019, he will leave the tariffs on $200 billion worth of [Chinese] product at the 10 percent rate, and not raise it to 25 percent at this time,’ the White House said… Over the next 90 days, American and Chinese officials will continue to negotiate lingering disagreements on technology transfer, intellectual property and agriculture… ‘If at the end of this period of time, the parties are unable to reach an agreement, the 10 percent tariffs will be raised to 25 percent,’ the statement added.

“Meanwhile, ‘China will agree to purchase [immediately] a not yet agreed upon, but very substantial, amount of agricultural, energy, industrial, and other product from the United States to reduce the trade imbalance between our two countries…’, the White House said.”

Newsmax added on December 3:

“President Donald Trump said China had agreed to cut import tariffs on American-made cars [presently at 40%], buying shares in BMW and Daimler AG who manufacture in the United States for export to the world’s biggest auto market…

“The move, if realized, would bolster U.S. carmakers who were hit hard when China ramped up levies on U.S.-made cars in July as part of a broad package of retaliatory tariffs amid the sprawling trade war between Washington and Beijing.”

The next issues on the international agenda are the American tariffs threats for imported German cars. Note the next articles.

German Carmakers Trying to Trick Trump?

The EUObserver reported on December 5:

“The CEOs of Germany’s top three car firms, Volkswagen, Daimler, and BMW, said they were optimistic on avoiding US tariffs after meeting US leader Donald Trump in Washington Tuesday. ‘We made a big step forward to avoid the tariffs,’ Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess said. The visit caused annoyance in EU circles, where trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom was meant to conduct US trade talks on behalf of the whole EU.”

Handelsblatt Today added on December 5:

“German carmakers emerged from a three-hour meeting on Tuesday with US trade representatives and the president himself with smiles. ‘The US president has advised us to invest more in the US market. We are prepared to do exactly that,’ Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess said in Washington, D.C. The German carmakers are trying to avoid a 25 percent tariff on cars exported into the US. The investments they discussed… have been in the works for months – in response to Trump’s threats. And VW especially had reason to smile because it was able to spin a months-old alliance with Ford as a new idea. US media is treating Volkswagen’s proposal as one that was hatched just days ago to appease Trump and ward off the expensive tariffs.

“In fact, Handelsblatt first reported on a possible cooperation in June and then again early last month… VW’s plan to build some vehicles at Ford plants is anything but certain. Ford Chairman Bill Ford said talks were in the early stages though he didn’t fault VW CEO Diess for blabbing about the plans…

“For his part, Trump is trying to close a $30 billion gap in automotive trade with the European Union that is the largest chunk of the EU’s $65 billion trade surplus with the US. At the same time, he’s smarting from a General Motors announcement that it would shutter four US plants and fire thousands of workers. Trump was so incensed by GM’s plans that his administration is ending subsidies for electric cars to keep tax money away from GM…

“In addition to the Ford collaboration, VW said it might also cooperate with Microsoft on automotive software and build a second US plant, though no location was picked. VW currently produces two models in Chattanooga, Tennessee. And BMW said it had already invested $9.3 billion in its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and was planning an additional $600 million by 2021, leading to 1,000 new jobs. The Munich carmaker also said it’s considering a new US plant, this time for motors.”

World Leaders Honor Late US President George H.W. Bush

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 1:

“Leaders from across the world on Saturday paid tribute to the 41st president of the United States, George H.W. Bush, who passed away on Friday at the age of 94. German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said, ‘We will never forget his contribution to our reunion.’ The late president was an ardent supporter of a unified Germany as well as Western Europe as the Cold War unraveled in the early 1990s…

“Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said Bush was present at ‘a time of great change,’ adding that his leadership contributed to ‘the end of the Cold War and nuclear arms race.’ British Prime Minister Theresa May said that ‘in navigating a peaceful end to the Cold War, he made the world a safer place for generations to come.’ New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Bush ‘was a strong supporter of the international rules-based system, the rule of law and democratic values.’

“He tried to ‘create a new international order based on justice and equality among nations,’ said Kuwaiti leader Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. He never ‘forgot the Kuwaiti people and will remain in their memory.’ When Saddam Hussein’s forces invaded Kuwait, Bush launched the US-led offensive against Iraq, culminating in the First Gulf War.

“US President Donald Trump said Bush ‘inspired generations of his fellow Americans to public service.’ ‘George H.W. Bush’s life is a testament to the notion that public service is a noble, joyous calling,’ said former US President Barack Obama… Former US President Bill Clinton, who beat Bush in the 1992 election but went on to become good friends with his once-rival, said he ‘will be forever grateful for the friendship we formed.’’

The Week added on December 5:

“President Trump on Wednesday declared a national day of mourning for former President George H.W. Bush… Bush’s son and fellow ex-president George W. Bush gave a [emotional] eulogy at Bush’s funeral at Washington National Cathedral, remembering his father’s ‘decency, sincerity, and kind soul’ and his ability to find ‘the good in each person.’

“Trump and first lady Melania Trump were in attendance, seated next to former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton [Next to them sat former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn. Bush’s death makes Carter, also 94 but more than 100 days younger, the oldest living ex-president.]. Bush’s body will be flown back to Houston, where it will lie in repose at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. Bush will be buried Thursday next to wife Barbara and daughter Robin in a family plot at Texas A&M University in College Station.”

Deutsche Welle added on December 5:

“Foreign dignitaries included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former Polish president Lech Walesa and Britain’s Prince Charles.”

The king and queen of Jordan were also in attendance, among many other foreign dignitaries.

Controversial Conduct pertaining to the Jewish Community

JTA wrote on December 1:

“George H.W. Bush, the one-term president whose public grappling with Jewish leaders made headlines while his private interventions helped bring tens of thousands of Jews out of danger, has died… The Bush presidency was marked by tensions both with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir and the American Jewish leadership… Less remembered was how, as Ronald Reagan’s vice president, Bush quietly helped engineer some of the pivotal moments in the effort to bring Jews out of the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia and Syria…

“At the United Nations, Bush made Soviet Jewry one of his signature issues… His concern for Israel and its relationship with the United States was evident again in 1976, when he was director of the CIA…

“By mid-1992, with his presidential campaign underway, Bush seemed irreparably wounded in the eyes of the Jewish community. The younger Bush seemed in some ways to directly contradict his father’s policies. One of the elder Bush’s first acts was to set in motion the process that would eventually welcome PLO leader Yasser Arafat into the American sphere. The younger Bush decided from the outset of his presidency to isolate Arafat, whom he reviled as an unrepentant terrorist.”

Key to German Reunification

Handelsblatt Global wrote on December 3:

“The Germans are fondly remembering the elder Bush as an American of the old school: Generous, optimistic, courteous, responsible. But above all, they remember him as the key to German reunification. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the leaders of the other three Allied Powers were far from thrilled to contemplate a reunited Germany in the middle of their continent again. It was Bush who immediately grasped that reunification was the best geopolitical way forward. And it was Bush who, with Chancellor Helmut Kohl, leaned on Gorbachev, Mitterrand and Thatcher to give their blessings.

“… In his inauguration speech, he dared to wish for a nation and world that was ‘kinder, gentler’… [He] was already fearing the bitter divisions to come. George H.W. Bush was a true American patriot, a multilateralist, a free trader, a good ally, and — not least — a decent, pragmatic and moderate Republican…”

Remembering President Bush’s historical role in helping with the reunification of Germany, we wrote the following in our Update #418 (November 13, 2009), pertaining to the 20th anniversary celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall:

“Most leaders of the free Western world assembled in Germany to recount and to celebrate the events of the fall of the Wall, including Messrs. Gordon Brown, Sarkozy, Berlusconi and Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev, as well as former President George H. W. Bush Sr., former President Mikhail Gorbachev and former Chancellor Helmut Kohl. But President Obama is too busy–even though he has the time to attend a Tribal Nations Conference for America’s 564 federally recognized Native American tribes… the fall of the Berlin Wall and the unification of Germany were indeed inevitable and unstoppable. From a biblical perspective, we know that this is also true for the additional reason that without a unified Germany, Europe would and could not have united. But the Bible has prophesied the unification of Europe in our days thousands of years ago–and that the most important player within a unified Europe will be Germany…

In that Update, we also quoted from The New York Times (November 9, 2009) about the German reunification:

“Willy Brandt was uncomfortable with the idea, Günter Grass… considered it an abomination, and Gerhard Schröder… eventually voted against it. François Mitterrand resisted as long as he could, and Margaret Thatcher, in her fierce opposition, held out even further. From the day after the Berlin Wall fell, and for the next month or two, the prospect of reunifying Germany met with extensive rejection, while the Cold War’s leaders nurtured the notion that it could be negotiated and stalled into a still distant future… History accelerated in the next weeks… In late summer 1990, reunification was virtually a done deal… [It] arrived with extraordinary speed. And extraordinary acceptance… So what now, almost 20 years after George H.W. Bush, to express his pleasure with reunification, offered Germany a ‘partnership in leadership’?…”

Furthermore, the Telegraph of November 9, 2009, was quoted by us as follows: “The combination of Mr Bush, Mr Gorbachev and Mr Kohl at the helm of the most powerful countries and the momentum for unification on the streets of the east was unstoppable.”

CIA Confident that Prince Mohammed Ordered Murder of American Journalist

The Wall Street Journal wrote on December 1:

“… previously unreported excerpts [from a highly classified CIA assessment document]… state that the CIA has ‘medium-to-high confidence’ that Prince Mohammed ‘personally targeted’ Khashoggi and ‘probably ordered his death.’ It added: ‘To be clear, we lack direct reporting of the Crown Prince issuing a kill order.’

“…Secretary of State Mike Pompeo… has said that he had read every piece of U.S. intelligence regarding Mr. Khashoggi’s killing and that the agency didn’t find a so-called smoking gun. ‘There is no direct reporting connecting the crown prince to the order to murder Jamal Khashoggi,’ Mr. Pompeo told reporters.

“The judgment on Prince Mohammed’s likely culpability, the CIA assessment says, is based on the crown prince’s personal focus on Mr. Khashoggi, his tight control over the Saudi operatives sent to Istanbul to kill him, ‘and his authorizing some of the same operators to violently target other opponents.’… ‘We assess it is highly unlikely this team of operators…carried out the operation without Muhammed bin Salman’s authorization’…”

Most world leaders agree with the CIA’s assessment. As a consequence, Prince Mohammed was shunned by most at the G20 summit. A notable exception was Vladimir Putin who was also shunned by most leaders.

Newsmax added on November 5:

“There is ‘no doubt’ that Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman not only knew about the death of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, but also condoned it or ‘worse, was actually involved in directing it,’ Sen. Marco Rubio said Wednesday, citing what he knows from being on the Senate Intelligence Committee. ‘He has absolute control in Saudi Arabia,’ the Florida Republican [said]. There is no way, and I mean no way, that 17 people that close to the crown prince fly into a third country, murder someone in a diplomatic facility, and fly back to Saudi Arabia and he not at least know about it, much less perhaps be involved in it.’

“Rubio’s comments echoed those by other Senate leaders such as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who after hearing a briefing by CIA Director Gina Haspel earlier this week said their belief the crown prince was involved in the journalist’s death had been cemented by the intelligence committee’s assessment.”

Multiple Earthquakes in Alaska within two days

The Week wrote on December 1:

“The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that caused serious infrastructure damage in and around Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday has been attended by at least 193 other quakes in the state over the course of two days… Though tremors are common in Alaska, Friday’s major quake was unusual. ‘It was very loud when it came,’ said Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz. ‘It was very clear that this was something bigger than what we normally experience’…”

Reuters wrote on December 2:

“The state late Saturday identified 47 earthquake-damaged roads and bridges, most of which cannot be fully repaired until the region’s dark and snowy winter has passed. But even as cleanup began, as many as 650 aftershocks continued to rock the area…”

California—Be Prepared!

The Los Angeles Times wrote on December 1:

“Buildings cracked. Roads collapsed. People were injured by falling debris. But for all the ferocity of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck the Anchorage area on Friday, the temblor did not cause the catastrophic damage or loss of life that have occurred from even smaller quakes both around the world and in California.

“…the quake was not centered directly under Anchorage. The epicenter was about 8½ miles away… The quake was also fairly deep — 25 miles underneath the surface — which also resulted in less shaking at the surface… The magnitude 6.7 Northridge quake hit directly underneath the suburban San Fernando Valley [in California] and was much shallower — just 11 miles underground — than the Anchorage quake… causing more damage…

“In California… there are hundreds of old brick buildings in the Inland Empire that have been marked as dangerous but haven’t been retrofitted despite decades of warning. Across California, there are other vulnerable building types, such as apartments with parking on the ground floor, older houses with a handful of steps off the ground, and vulnerable concrete and steel buildings…

“The 1964 Alaska temblor (a 9.2. monster), the second-largest earthquake in the modern record, produced 1,995 times more energy than Friday’s quake. It lasted 4½ minutes and, along with its tsunamis, killed more than 120 people. It was felt all the way to Seattle… an area of 185,000 square miles was disrupted. There were areas that dropped as much as eight feet and others rose 38 feet… Eleven people were killed by a tsunami that hit Crescent City, Calif.

“Aside from the mighty San Andreas fault, Southern California is criss-crossed with smaller faults that pose major dangers, including the Newport-Inglewood fault, which produced the 1933 Long Beach quake, and the Hollywood fault, which runs through the heart of Los Angeles. Another big concern is the Puente Hills thrust fault, which runs from near Whittier through downtown L.A., USC and Dodger Stadium, before veering west toward Beverly Hills.”

Brexit Debate in UK Parliament

The Daily Mail wrote on December 4:

“[Prime Minister] Theresa May suffered a number of big defeats in the House of Commons. MPs voted to hold ministers in contempt [which has never happened before] for refusing to publish the [governmental] legal advice [warning the Irish backstop could leave the UK trapped in ‘protracted and repeated rounds of negotiations’ for years to come.] In another defeat, an amendment… also passed. It gives MPs the power to tell [the] PM what to do in talks if her Brexit deal is defeated.”

The Guardian wrote on December 5:

“With just six days to go until the vote on her controversial deal [on December 11], which May is expected to lose heavily, Downing Street confirmed the prime minister was keen to find ways to offer MPs extra reassurance about the backstop, in the hope they will support her.”

France Passes Law Banning Corporal Punishment

The Independent wrote on November 30:

“The bill still needs to pass through the senate, France’s upper house of parliament.  As a result of the vote, France’s civil code will be changed to state that parents must not resort to ‘physical, verbal or psychological violence, nor to corporal punishment or humiliation’ when disciplining their children. Previously, parents were allowed to use corporal punishment under rights granted under Napoleon in the early 1800s.

“… a few conservative and far-right MPs have condemned it for interfering with the private lives of French citizens and families. Corporal punishment is popular in France and around 85 per cent of parents in the country smack their children…

“Following the example of Sweden in 1966, some 54 countries – including 22 EU countries – have introduced similar laws banning corporal punishment in the home… Hitting a child is illegal in England, however a legal defence exists that protects parents who smack their children. Scotland is expected to outlaw the defence next year, and Wales is considering doing the same.”

Whatever the popular opinion and strictly human reasoning might be, the Bible does not endorse such a universal ban on corporal punishment. For more information, please read our free booklet, “The Keys to Happy Marriages and Families.”

Macron in Trouble

Handelsblatt Global wrote on December 3:

“Berlin is watching with growing anxiety the travails of French President Emmanuel Macron. Germany needs Macron to succeed in France — both to stave off the populist Eurosceptic Marine Le Pen… and to reform Europe…

“Macron… returned from his G20 photo op in Buenos Aires to a French capital that looked pre-revolutionary. For the third consecutive weekend, protesters wearing yellow security vests (the ones you’re supposed to keep in your car for accidents) vandalized the Arc de Triomphe and other symbolic sites. Officially, they’re upset about planned hikes in fuel taxes [which subsequently Macron put on hold]. But increasingly they’re just venting against a young president they perceive as haughty.”

Replacing Merkel… through Intrigue and Backstabbing?

Handelsblatt Global wrote on December 5:

“Friedrich Merz’s bid to succeed German Chancellor Angela Merkel as chair of her Christian Democratic Union received its biggest boost yet as Wolfgang Schäuble, the former finance minister, endorsed him two days ahead of the party convention [on Friday, December 7]… The comments are a setback for Merkel, who is widely believed to support Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK), a moderate like her whom she anointed as her successor earlier this year…

“Although polls show AKK is more popular than Merz among the party base and broader German public, Merz is believed to enjoy wider support from CDU party delegates. Many party officials wish for a return to the CDU’s conservative roots after years of Merkel’s centrism… Schäuble was Merkel’s finance minister during the euro crisis and is now the president of the Bundestag, the lower chamber of parliament. At 76, the veteran politician is a veritable patriarch of the party…

“Many in Germany see Merz’s bid to succeed Merkel as a quest for personal revenge. Merz was one of the country’s most senior figures, the head of the CDU’s parliamentary group in the Bundestag until Merkel ousted him in 2002. He left politics in 2009 and went on to become a senior executive with asset management giant BlackRock, amassing a fortune in the process. And Schäuble’s endorsement of Merz may have a similar motive. The men are good friends — and Schäuble also fell victim to Merkel’s intrigues as she pursued power two decades ago. In 1999, in a column in the same daily, she turned against Schäuble, who until then had been among her political mentors…

“In the past months, Schäuble quietly engineered Merz’s political comeback. The nearly-forgotten former politician surprised Germany when he came forward six weeks ago as a candidate to succeed Merkel as CDU chair within minutes of the chancellor’s announcement that the post was up for grabs. It is thought that Merkel got wind of a plan to oust her and chose to step down rather than being pushed out. Pundits say if Merz becomes the CDU’s next chairman, he would likely bring about her downfall before her fourth term is due to end in 2021…”

Neo-Nazis in the German Bundeswehr

Express wrote on December 2:

“Neo-Nazi soldiers have infiltrated the German military and are plotting to butcher a list of politicians and immigrants… [They] have allegedly plotted to kill Green Party leader Claudia Roth, foreign minister Heiko Mass and former president Joachim Gauck. The group have been stockpiling weapons for when the right time arrives… German authorities have reportedly been searching training camps on the Austrian and Swiss borders for weapons, ammunition, petrol and food.

“Death squads allegedly planned to lure them and other left-wing politicians to a remote location and assassinate them. Reports say they planned to kill leaders of asylum seeker groups who have been blamed for social unrest, terrorism and rapes in Germany. Accusations made against one soldier – known by his code name ‘Hannibal’ – revealed how little Germany knows about its most elite troops. According to [a report] by Berlin magazine, Focus, elite soldiers who meet Hannibal are enlisted into his ‘shadow army’ of extremists… Evidence also implies ‘Hannibal’ has been helped by people high up in the Bundeswehr. [The] extremists are still believed to operate in Germany’s military. Germany’s defence Ministry insists the army is clean.”

Serving Pig Blood Sausage to Muslims?

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 3:

“Germany’s Interior Ministry has come under fire for serving blood sausage at a national Islam conference last week… The ministry has defended its decision to serve the sausage consisting of pig’s blood, pork and bacon at the evening buffet on Wednesday. It said the serving reflected the ‘religious-pluralistic composition’ of the event, which brought together Muslim associations and leaders with officials from the federal and local governments. The ministry added that there was a wide range of food at the ‘clearly excellent’ buffet, with vegetarian, meat, fish and halal dishes available. ‘If individuals were still offended for religious reasons, we regret this,’ it said.

“Nonetheless, some have viewed the choice of blood sausage as a deliberate provocation by hardline Interior Minister Horst Seehofer. In March, Seehofer caused a stir when he said in an interview that ‘Islam doesn’t belong to Germany’ and that ‘Germany has been shaped by Christianity’…

“Turkish-German journalist Tuncay Ozdamar, who first reported the ‘#BloodSausageGate’ scandal, questioned on Twitter what message Seehofer had intended to send with the culinary decision. ‘A little respect for Muslims who do not eat pork would be appropriate,’ wrote Ozdamar…

“Green Party politician Volker Beck also slammed the Interior Ministry, writing on Twitter that ‘appreciating diversity means also considering different habits.’ Ali Bas, a Green Party spokesman for religious issues, told Watson.de that the blood sausage was not clearly identified at the buffet, but was rather served on appetizer trays. The Interior Ministry had said the food servings were clearly marked… The Interior Ministry reportedly served ham in the first year of the annual Islam Conference in 2006.

“The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) quickly entered the discussion, accusing critics of the Interior Ministry of launching an attack on German culture…”

This “insensitive” or perhaps even intentional conduct of the Interior Ministry, combined with its ridiculous explanation, is not only directed at Muslims, but also, by extension, at Jews and EVERYONE who wants to live by the dietary laws of the Bible. That the AfD would support such conduct is again telling and frightening.

Pope Concerned over Status of Jerusalem

Reuters and The Algemeiner wrote on December 3:

“The Vatican expressed concern over the status of Jerusalem on Monday as Pope Francis and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas held their first meeting since the United States stirred international anxiety by moving its embassy there… ‘Particular attention was reserved for the status of Jerusalem, underlining the importance of recognizing and preserving its identity and the universal value of the holy City for the three Abrahamic religions,’ a Vatican statement said, referring to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam…

“The Vatican expressed concern last year at Trump’s move [of the embassy to Jerusalem], saying the city’s ‘status quo’ should be respected… As Abbas was leaving the library, he told the pope: ‘We are counting on you.’ It was not clear what he was referring to.”

Ultimately, the Roman Catholic Church and a new leadership of a United Europe will collaborate with the Arabs against Israel.

“Why I Left the Catholic Church”

The Week published the following article by Damon Linker, on November 30:

“Three months ago, I announced I was leaving the Catholic Church. My reason was that the latest revelations in the church’s interminable sex abuse scandal had revealed ‘a repulsive institution — or at least one permeated by repulsive human beings who reward one another for repulsive acts, all the while deigning to lecture the world about its sin.’

“Let’s just say subsequent events haven’t led me to regret the decision. That would include Wednesday’s news that the offices of the cardinal-archbishop of Galveston-Houston, who also happens to serve as president of the United States Catholic bishops’ conference, were raided by ‘dozens of local and federal law enforcement officers … looking for evidence in a clergy sexual abuse case.’ A couple of weeks ago, the story was the Vatican’s decision to nix plans by the American bishops to devise some kind of response to the scandal — on the grounds that it’s mostly just a conspiracy drummed up by troublemaking right-wing clerics and laypeople…

“The claim [is absurd] that, of all the Christian churches, the Roman church is the very best, the truest of all, the one most fully and rightly ordered through time. That would be not only the church of the great diabolical popes of the past (like John XII and Alexander VI and Boniface VIII and Leo X), but also the church that in recent decades has seen literally thousands of priests in countries across the globe accused of sexually abusing children — 271 of them in the archdiocese of Boston alone — with untold numbers of bishops covering it up year after year after year. The number is untold, by the way, because we are still nowhere near knowing just how many members of the Catholic hierarchy around the world — all the way up to popes themselves — knew exactly what was happening and responded like self-protective bureaucrats and PR flacks out to protect a corporate brand from bad press…

“If you believe that Jesus Christ was resurrected, that he is the Son of God and the second person of the… Godhead, that his teaching tells us how the creator of the universe wants us to live, then by all means be a Christian. But to believe that this particular church, of all the Christian churches in the world, is the one most fully and rightly ordered through time, over and above all of the others? You can’t possibly be serious…”

The Catholic Church claims that she is the one and only true Christian mother church, and that the Evangelicals or the Protestant organizations are rebellious daughters who have left their mother. Of course, in a spiritual sense, the Evangelicals did not really leave their mother, because they have adopted and still maintain her unbiblical teachings.

“Gay People Should Not Join Catholic Clergy, Pope Francis Says”

The Guardian wrote on December 1:

“Pope Francis is ‘concerned’ about what he describes as the ‘serious issue’ of homosexuality… ‘that must be adequately discerned from the beginning with the candidates’… ‘In our societies it even seems that homosexuality is fashionable and that mentality, in some way, also influences the life of the church’…

“The Roman Catholic church’s position is that homosexual acts are sinful… A decree on training for Roman Catholic priests in 2016 stressed the obligation of sexual abstinence, as well as barring gay men and those who support ‘gay culture’ from holy orders.

“The barring of people who present homosexual tendencies was first stipulated by the Catholic church in 2005. ‘It can happen that at the time perhaps they didn’t exhibit [that tendency], but later on it comes out,’ Francis said. ‘In consecrated and priestly life, there’s no room for that kind of affection. Therefore, the church recommends that people with that kind of ingrained tendency should not be accepted into the ministry or consecrated life… It’s better for them to leave the ministry or the consecrated life rather than to live a double life.’

“In 2013, just months after assuming the papacy, Francis said: ‘If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?’, signifying a softer tone on homosexuality.”

Pope Francis’ contradictory positions on the issue of homosexuality must be confusing to many Catholics.

Did Science Confirm Accuracy of the Bible’s Explanation of the Origin of Man?

Express wrote on December 3:

“The Bible’s book of Genesis has been ‘confirmed’ as evidence suggests every man, woman and child can trace their family tree back to an original man and woman, a documentary has claimed.

“… In Amazon Prime’s ‘Unlocking Ancient Secrets of the Bible’, the documentary explores a contentious question: Is the biblical book of Genesis literal, real-life history? The show’s narrator, Roger Moore, claims: ‘The best scientific evidence suggest[s] the universe began thereby confirming the words of Genesis.’ Faze Rana, author and research[er] reveals: ‘There was compelling scientific evidence that this biblical story of Adam and Eve actually is history.’

“Mr Moore asks: ‘Can every single human being, past, present, and future, trace their family tree back to an original man and woman?’ Hugh Ross, President and Director of Reasons to Believe explains: ‘The scientific community actually refers to this genetic Adam that they have found as Y chromosome Adam and they refer to the mitochondrial DNA woman as Eve. This is referred to in the scientific literature as Garden of Eden Hypothesis.’”

Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia?

The Daily Star wrote on December 3:

“Bible scholars claim to have uncovered the final resting place of the legendary Ark of the Covenant – saying the holy relic was most likely smuggled out of Israel to Africa. Bible Archaeology, Search & Exploration Institute (BASE) claim there is strong evidence that the Old Testament’s ark’s resting place is in Ethiopia.

“The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most sought after relics from the Bible, being the trunk said to contain the Ten Commandments handed down to Moses on Mount Sinai. It is said the chest is made of wood and covered in gold, containing the two stone tablets along with other paraphernalia from the Bible. Ethiopia has long had a connection to the Ark, with Christians in the country outright claiming to be the current holders of the relic with it under guard at the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion.

“Biblical scholars mounted an expedition to Ethiopia as they believe the Ark was taken there after being shipped out of Israel to Egypt. BASE do not 100% claim to have uncovered the Ark, but said the research has ‘strong potential’. It said: ‘… As unusual as this may sound, the BASE team has uncovered compelling evidence that the Ark may well have been spirited up the Nile River to an eventual resting place in the remote highlands of ancient Kush–modern-day Ethiopia.’

“BASE allege the Biblical king Manasseh drove a sect of Jews out of Israel and they took the Ark of the Covenant with them from its original resting place beneath the Temple Mount… Visiting the alleged site in Ethiopia they were met with Christian monks who… produced the two forks allegedly taken from Solomon’s Temple – the first temple in Jerusalem – that was destroyed in 587 BC. BASE scholars visited the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion – but were denied access to the alleged Ark… No one can view the Ark except for the guardian monk…

“‘What we have concluded is that St. Mary’s of Zion church in Axum, Ethiopia, is the resting place either of an incredible replica of the biblical Ark of the Covenant, or, of the actual Ark of the Covenant itself.’

“Legends about the end of days are linked to the recovery of the Ark, claiming the construction of the prophesied Third Temple – which would trigger the end times and the arrival of the Messiah – needs the crate to be returned to Jerusalem. Prophecies state that Ark will be found just before Judgement Day when God should ‘gather his people again and receive them unto mercy.’ Other theories on the Ark’s location claim it remains hidden in its resting place beneath the Temple Mount [or] to being sunk in the Sea of Galilee… To this day, there is no leading historical theory on what happened to the Ark…”

For further archeological and biblical information, please read our Q&A, titled, “Where is the Ark of the Covenant today? Will it be found prior to Christ’s return?”

Preparing for the Third Temple

Breaking Israel News wrote on November 29:

“The nascent Sanhedrin released a declaration to the 70 nations for Hanukkah to be read at a ceremony in Jerusalem on the last day of the holiday. The ceremony will include the consecration of a stone altar prepared for use in the Third Temple. The declaration is intended as an invitation to the nations to participate in the Temple and to receive its blessings. The altar is currently in the form of loose stone blocks ready to be transported to the Temple Mount and stored in a manner that will enable them to be transported and assembled at a moment’s notice.

“When complete, the altar will be a square nine feet on each side and five feet tall, and includes a ramp for the priests to ascend. The decision to prepare the blocks and all the details of their composition is the result of a long study performed by the members of the Sanhedrin in conjunction with the Temple Institute. The stones are made of aerated concrete and are fit for use in the Temple. There are plans underway to prepare a new set made of actual stones which are considered the ideal material from which to build the altar.

“A full-dress reenactment of the Korban Olah Tamid (the daily offering) will take place. Kohanim (Jewish men of the priestly caste descended from Aaron) wearing Biblically mandated garb will lead the ceremony. The location is still unclear… the meat [of the offered lamb] will be roasted on the newly consecrated altar…

“[On behalf of the Sanhedrin, Rabbi Yoel Schwartz stated:] ‘Now, it is time for the Creator’s people to return to their land… and the Temple will be restored and built on its place, then… all the nations [will] realize that the time has come to worship God.’”

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.

Brexit: “May Gives Way over Gibraltar after Spain’s ‘Veto’ Threat”

The Guardian wrote on November 24:

“Theresa May has given way to Madrid’s demands over the future of Gibraltar after the Spanish prime minister threatened to ‘veto’ the Brexit deal due to be signed off by EU leaders on Sunday [which it was, see below]. On the eve of Sunday’s special Brexit summit, the British ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, wrote to concede that Gibraltar would not necessarily be covered by a future trade deal with the EU… The Spanish leader, Pedro Sánchez, reacted immediately, claiming the UK would now have to open talks on ‘joint sovereignty’ of Gibraltar…

“Sánchez said:  ‘Spain will be a fundamental pillar of the relationship between Gibraltar and the EU as a whole. When it comes to the future political declaration, the European council and the European commission have backed Spain’s position, and backed it as never before.’…

“The development threatens… to open up a new front in Downing Street’s battle with the critics of May’s deal… The prime minister had promised in the House of Commons and on the steps of Downing Street that she would work for the entire ‘UK family’, including Gibraltar, a disputed territory.”

The Church of God has felt for many decades that, ultimately, the UK might lose Gibraltar as one of the last remaining “sea gates” in their possession.

EU Approves Agreement on UK’s Brexit

BBC reported on November 25:

“EU leaders have approved an agreement on the UK’s withdrawal and future relations – insisting it is the ‘best and only deal possible’…

“European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said anyone in Britain who thought the bloc might offer improved terms if MPs rejected the deal would be ‘disappointed’. But European Council President Donald Tusk… said he would not speculate on what would happen in such a situation, saying: ‘I am not a fortune teller.’

“The UK Parliament is expected to vote on the deal in early December, but its approval is far from guaranteed. Labour, the Lib Dems, the SNP, the DUP and many Conservatives MPs are set to vote against.

“… At a news conference in Brussels, [Theresa May] said the agreement would: end freedom of movement ‘in full and once and for all,’ protect the constitutional integrity of the UK, and ensure a return to ‘laws being made in our country by democratically elected politicians interpreted and enforced by British courts’. The agreement, she added, would not remove Gibraltar from the ‘UK family’…

“Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the parliamentary arithmetic was ‘looking challenging’ and warned ‘nothing could be ruled out’ if Mrs May lost the vote, including the government collapsing…

“The agreement will also have to go back to the European Council, where a majority of countries (20 out of 27 states) will need to vote for it. It will also need to be ratified by the European Parliament, in a vote expected to take place in early 2019…

“Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn responded to Sunday’s summit by calling the deal ‘the worst of all worlds.’ He said his party would oppose it… Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said he would find it ‘very, very difficult’ to support the agreement as it stood… [Northern Ireland’s] Democratic Unionist leader [DUP] Arlene Foster… said… the agreement… would leave Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK ‘still within European structures with no say in its rules’…”

A Hard Sell

The Associated Press wrote on November 24:

“British Prime Minister Theresa May must now sell the deal to her divided Parliament — a huge task considering the intense opposition from pro-Brexit and pro-EU lawmakers alike — to ensure Britain can leave with a minimum of upheaval on March 29. It’s a hard sell.

“The agreement leaves Britain outside the EU with no say but still subject to its rules and the obligations of membership at least until the end of 2020, possibly longer. Britons voted to leave in June 2016, largely over concerns about immigration and losing sovereignty to Brussels…

“Many predict it will fail in the British Parliament. No one can be sure whether that would lead to the fall of the government, a new referendum, a postponement of Brexit or a chaotic ‘no deal’ exit for Britain. But Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he thought May’s chances of getting the agreement through Parliament were strong. He said British lawmakers would see that ‘the alternative is a no deal, cliff-edge Brexit, which is something of course that we all want to avoid.’”

The Sun wrote on November 27:

“Theresa May could suffer a 200-vote defeat when the Commons decides on her Brexit deal — dealing a fatal blow to her Premiership… By Tuesday night, a total of 98 Tory MPs had publicly declared their opposition to the deal… with more known to also oppose it.”

The Sun commented that the entire vote of all parties in Parliament could end up with 221 for and 418 against the deal. 318 votes would be needed to pass the deal.

At the same time, Daily Mail reported on November 28 that according to a new poll, 52 percent of the public state their belief that Theresa May’s deal “is the best on the table.”

“Theresa May’s Betrayal Agreement”—“Brexit By Name Only”

Breitbart added on November 24:

“The Remain-voting Prime Minister’s deal with the European Union — if ratified by the British Parliament and European Parliament — could condemn the United Kingdom to ‘perpetual purgatory’ or even no Brexit at all, as Britain’s departure would be followed by a lengthy ‘transition’ period in which it would remain subject to all the rules and regulations of an EU member-state, but without representation in the EU’s institutions.”

We know from the Bible that Great Britain will leave the EU… and not just by name only.

No Plan B?

Newsmax and Thomson/Reuters wrote on November 24:

“Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country chairs EU meetings till the end of the year, said there could be no more negotiations. ‘There is no Plan B,’ said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. ‘If anyone thinks in the United Kingdom that by voting No something better would come out of it, they are wrong.’”

This was questioned by several reports in the press stating that the EU was drafting a contingency agreement in case the present deal would be rejected by the UK Parliament.

Will Germany Be Asked to Help?

The EUObserver wrote on November 24:

“German chancellor Angela Merkel refused to speculate on what would happen if the deal did not make it through the UK parliament. Asked if she would help May, she said ‘one should not do anything one is not asked to do’…”

The Bible indicates that the UK might indeed ask Germany for help, but in any case, Germany will not be able or willing to provide it.

Far From Over

The EUObserver wrote on November 24:

“The EU treaty on any given member state’s withdrawal, in its Article 50, makes it possible for the UK to ask for an extension of the Brexit withdrawal negotiating period that is meant to end in March 2019.  EU states would need to agree unanimously to continue negotiations with the UK, but at the moment, there is little appetite for that in European capitals.

“In any case, the Brexit story is far from over. If the deal goes through in Britain, negotiators will still have to turn to the next, and even more complicated talks on a future deal on trade and other aspects of the bilateral relationship… France’s president Emmanuel Macron also gave a sign that the EU was prepared to play hardball. He noted that an agreement on fisheries could be linked to avoiding the Irish backstop, meaning that the UK could be forced into a deal on fishing rights in order to avoid staying in the customs union indefinitely.”

No US-UK Trading Because of Brexit?

The Guardian wrote on November 26:

“Donald Trump has delivered a weighty blow to Theresa May’s hopes of steering her Brexit deal through parliament, saying it sounded like a ‘great deal for the EU’ that would stop the UK trading with the US… Trump’s intervention caught Downing Street off-guard and is likely to weaken May’s hand at a time when she is seeking to get the deal approved by parliament… A vote is due on 11 December after a five-day debate…

“Under the deal the UK will not be able to pursue an independent trade policy during the 21-month transition period after Brexit, during which it will be in effect an EU member state without any representation in the bloc’s decision-making institutions… Such a scenario would see the whole of the UK staying in a customs union with Brussels under which it would not be able to pursue any trade deal covering goods – although the UK would be free to seek agreements in the services sector…

“Trump has… been seeking a trade deal with the EU, and has been threatening tariffs on the European car industry in order to attain such a prize. The UK would likely be covered by such an EU-US deal… Trump has had an uneasy relationship with May, and made no secret of his support for Nigel Farage and the British hard right…”

US-British Relationship Less Special after Brexit

The Washington Post wrote on November 24:

“As Britain continues to hash out the terms of its divorce with the European Union… Americans are already feeling the loss: A once-indispensable proxy in Europe no longer has clout that it can exercise on Washington’s behalf… Americans will find it harder to exert their will inside a 27-nation bloc that will be among the richest in the world… Leaders in London and Washington like to boast of their ‘special relationship’… The reality… is that Britain outside the European Union is a lot less special…

“… a Europe unbound from Britain is likely to go in an entirely new direction — one that Americans may dislike. One conflict flared this month after French President Emmanuel Macron — the leader of the only remaining E.U. country with enough military might to engage in foreign operations on its own — spoke of his desire to build a ‘real European army,’ a project London and Washington long tried to prevent… When Britain was a full, participating member of the E.U., it vetoed such discussions. Now that Europeans are planning for life after Brexit, London no longer has a voice.”

“Thanks to Brexit, the European Army Is on Its Way”

Handelsblatt Global wrote on November 26:

“Last week German and French defense ministries quietly announced contracts for further cooperation. Could Brexit – and the impending departure of the EU’s biggest military spender – finally be causing the Germans to pick up their guns? Brexit may be sad but it has had one positive outcome for the other 27 nations in the European Union: It has brought them closer together politically. There may soon be another sector that can celebrate more togetherness thanks to the British decision to leave the EU: the defense industry.

“… the UK has always been closer to NATO than the idea of a European army. Additionally, Britain was always a fly in the sticky ointment of European defense. Successive British governments ‘have been careful to ensure that the EU did not develop any serious national security or defense capabilities that might impinge on [the UK’s] own,’ former British spy chief, Richard Dearlove, pointed out recently.

“That could all be about to change. Up until recently, Germany has been reluctant to truly engage in building up a ‘European army.’ But lately there’s been lots of talk about not being able to rely on the Americans anymore, under US President Donald Trump, as well as positive signs from French and German leaders. All that, and the looming loss (at least, contractually) of one of the EU’s major military powers, could finally be pushing the Germans into arming themselves better, after years of procrastination.

“A short announcement that appeared on the German defense ministry’s website last Wednesday afternoon seems to confirm this. German defense minister Ursula von der Leyen and her French counterpart, Florence Parly, announced they are awaiting a joint plan from Germany’s Rheinmetall and KNDS (a Netherlands-based holding company comprising arms-makers, Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, or KMW, and France’s Nexter) about the development of a combat ground system, including tanks. They expect the plan by the middle of next year. Both ministers also agreed on how exactly Dassault Aviation, a French firm, and the French-German aerospace company, Airbus, will work together on a new concept for joint air defense. The French companies will take the lead in the air while the Germans do so on the ground.

“The announcement… can be seen as an important de-facto declaration of intent, via the biggest defense contracts in the EU… Industry insiders say the air combat systems are worth around €500 billion ($569 billion) and the new tanks, about €100 billion…

“Franco-German naval defense could also see more mergers and cooperation, if things continue in this vein. France’s state-owned Naval Group could launch another bid for their German rival, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, who have said they are open to a good offer…”

The Times added on November 28:

“German public support for an increase to defence spending has risen sharply over the past year, amid concerns that the country can no longer depend on the US for protection.”

How American and German Views Differ

Politico wrote on November 26:

“According to a new study, seven-in-ten Americans said the relationship between the two countries was good, while 73 percent in Germany said the relationship was bad. That’s a big jump on the German side from 2017, when 56 percent said the relationship was bad…  Seventy percent of Americans said the U.S. should cooperate more with Germany, but only 41 percent of Germans said Germany should cooperate more with the U.S… 58 percent of Americans wanted to cooperate less with Moscow, while 69 percent of Germans wanted more cooperation.

“… most Germans (72 percent) said they want to be more independent from the U.S. when it comes to foreign policy…In the U.S., 65 percent want to remain close to Europe… 51 percent of Americans opposed the initial tariffs (with 44 percent in favor). In Germany, 78 percent supported increasing tariffs on imported U.S. products in response to American tariffs on German goods.”

Merkel and Macron: “EU States Must Prepare to Hand National Sovereignty over to Brussels”

Breitbart wrote on November 23:

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that European Union (EU) member states must be prepared to transfer powers over to Brussels at a debate on the ‘tensions’ between globalisation and national sovereignty. ‘Nation states must today be prepared to give up their sovereignty,’ Merkel said… [She also said that nationalism] ‘is not patriotism, because patriotism is when you include others in German interests and accept win-win situations,’ … paraphrasing her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who recently claimed that ‘patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism…’

“Battling disastrous poll ratings at home in France, as well as massive protests, Macron travelled to Berlin at the weekend, where he told the Bundestag that ‘the Franco-German couple [has] the obligation not to let the world slip into chaos and to guide it on the road to peace.’ ‘Europe must be stronger and win more sovereignty,’ the French president said, demanding EU member states surrender national sovereignty to Brussels over ‘foreign affairs, migration, and development’ in addition to ‘an increasing part of our budgets and even fiscal resources’.”

Ten nations or groups of nations with sovereign powers will emerge from the current EU, and they will in turn give their authority to a charismatic economic, political and military leader, called the “beast” in the Bible. He is also referred to as the “king of the North” and as “King Jareb,” the modern “King of Assyria.”

Martin Schulz Speaks Out

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 21:

“The former president of the European Parliament failed dramatically in his bid to unseat Chancellor Angela Merkel. But is he looking for a comeback?… Martin Schulz had hoped to become Germany’s chancellor, or at least the country’s foreign minister…

“It was a dramatic fall for a politician who went from being the hope of the Social Democrats, elected party leader with a record 100 per cent of the votes, to the man responsible for the party’s worst election result in decades. However… Schulz said he was not the wrong candidate for the top job… ‘I am not a bad loser,’ said Schulz, who before the failed campaign in 2017 made his mark as European Parliament (EP) president from 2012 to 2017. The EP has been widely criticized for its democratic deficits, but Martin Schulz said this criticism has mainly come from right-wing tendencies in the United Kingdom… [But when he was asked] whether this criticism is nevertheless valid, Schulz said it was ‘completely nonsense.’…

“Martin Schulz has remained a passionate European and has continued to defend one of his main proposals: the idea of a United States of Europe. [He said:] ‘… if you want to run in future times the EU and the idea of democracy against people like Mr. Trump, Xi Jinping or Mr. Putin, we have to deepen European integration.’ Schulz has defended these European ideas for a long time, and he probably will continue to do so… he will focus on his role as member of the German Bundestag. ‘I am not looking for a comeback. I am here,’ he said.”

“The Lost Lessons of World War I”

Project Syndicate wrote on November 23:

“It has been 100 years since World War I ended, and the centenary was commemorated this month with great pomp in Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. Germany sent high-level authorities to France to mark the occasion, reaffirming the reconciliation between the two countries. But the fact that Franco-German reconciliation did not occur until Europe had suffered another devastating war demonstrates how fragile peace can be, especially when political leaders are as shortsighted as they often are… WWII erupted because nationalism was allowed to continue to fester…

“The risk today is that generations that have not known war will reproduce the chain of events that lead to it… the structures we have created to preserve peace are far from foolproof. With populations across the West embracing nationalistic and populist ideas, we are again dancing on the rim of a volcano.”

Hillary Clinton Wants to Advise Europe

The Guardian wrote on November 22:

“Europe must get a handle on immigration to combat a growing threat from rightwing populists, Hillary Clinton has said, calling on the continent’s leaders to send out a stronger signal showing they are ‘not going to be able to continue to provide refuge and support.’ In an interview with the Guardian, the former Democratic presidential candidate praised the generosity shown by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, but suggested immigration was inflaming voters and contributed to the election of Donald Trump and Britain’s vote to leave the EU…

“Clinton’s remarks are likely to prove controversial across Europe, which has struggled to form a unified position ever since more than 1 million migrants and refugees arrived in the EU in 2015…

“Brexit, described by Clinton as the biggest act of national economic self-harm in modern history, ‘was largely about immigration’, she said… Clinton said rightwing populists in the west met ‘a psychological as much as political yearning to be told what to do, and where to go, and how to live and have their press basically stifled and so be given one version of reality. The whole American system was designed so that you would eliminate the threat from a strong, authoritarian king or other leader and maybe people are just tired of it. They don’t want that much responsibility and freedom. They want to be told what to do and where to go and how to live and only given one version of reality.’

“She also reveals her contempt for Steve Bannon, whose attempt to bolster rightwing populist parties in Europe is stalling everywhere outside of Italy. ‘Rome is the right place for him since it is bread and circuses and it’s as old as recorded history…”

Clinton’s statements about immigration met strong rejection by Democrats in the USA. Left-leaning MSNBC suggested that she should stay quiet, as her comments are hurting the Democratic Party. On the other hand, her description of Rome is quite interesting, as the ancient Roman Empire will be revived one more time in continental Europe.

The Renewed Russian-Ukrainian Conflict

AFP wrote on November 26:

“Ukraine’s parliament approved the introduction of martial law [for 30 days] in border regions on Monday, as Russian state TV aired images of Ukrainian sailors captured after Moscow seized three of Kiev’s ships in a confrontation at sea… on Sunday… Ukraine and its Western allies say Russia illegally blocked the strait and acted against international law by grabbing the vessels and sailors.

“The UN Security Council met in an emergency session, where US Ambassador Nikki Haley warned Russia against ‘outlaw actions’… The confrontation is the latest dangerous development in the conflict pitting Ukraine against Moscow and Russian-backed rebels in the east of the country. More than 10,000 people have been killed since the Moscow-backed insurgency broke out in April 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine…

“Tensions have been building over the Kerch Strait, where Russia has built a new bridge that gives it a land connection to Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014. Kiev has accused Moscow of blocking access for Ukrainian ships through the strait, the only way in and out of the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea. In recent months both sides had deployed more naval and border vessels to the area.”

The EUObserver wrote on November 26:

“Russia has rejected Western calls to free Ukrainian ships and sailors and to unblock access to the Azov Sea, while trumpeting its alternative account of the crisis. The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Monday (26 November), that Moscow did not care if the EU and US imposed extra sanctions over Sunday’s naval incident… He accused Ukraine of having ‘provoked’ the incident ‘in the hope that the US and Europe, as always, recklessly, will take [its] side’… The Russian foreign ministry went further in its statement, saying that the attempt at ‘provoking a conflict with Russia’ was carried out by Ukraine ‘in coordination with the United States and the European Union’…

“The clash has raised alarm in Europe that the four-year old Ukrainian conflict could escalate into full-blown war…”

Ukraine will end up in Russia’s hands. The Bible shows that ultimately, Russia and Ukraine (the modern Medes) will fight against continental Europe. Please view our new StandingWatch program, “How Will the New Russian-Ukrainian Conflict Be ‘Solved’?” 

Is Saudi Arabia Trying to Build an Atomic Bomb?

The New York Times wrote on November 22:

“Before Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, was implicated by the C.I.A. in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, American intelligence agencies were trying to solve a separate mystery: Was the prince laying the groundwork for building an atomic bomb?

“The 33-year-old heir to the Saudi throne had been overseeing a negotiation with the Energy Department and the State Department to get the United States to sell designs for nuclear power plants to the kingdom. The deal was worth upward of $80 billion, depending on how many plants Saudi Arabia decided to build. But there is a hitch: Saudi Arabia insists on producing its own nuclear fuel, even though it could buy it more cheaply abroad… That raised concerns in Washington that the Saudis could divert their fuel into a covert weapons project – exactly what the United States and its allies feared Iran was doing…

“Prince Mohammed set off alarms when he declared earlier this year, in the midst of the negotiation, that if Iran, Saudi Arabia’s fiercest rival, ‘developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible.’ His negotiators stirred more worries by telling the Trump administration that Saudi Arabia would refuse to sign an agreement that would allow United Nations inspectors to look anywhere in the country for signs that the Saudis might be working on a bomb…

“Now lurking behind the transaction is the question of whether a Saudi government that assassinated Mr. Khashoggi and repeatedly changed its story about the murder can be trusted with nuclear fuel and technology. Such fuel can be used for benign or military purposes: If uranium is enriched to 4 percent purity, it can fuel a power plant; at 90 percent it can be used for a bomb…

“Saudi Arabia has long displayed interest in acquiring, or helping allies acquire, the building blocks of a program that could make nuclear weapons and protect the kingdom from potential threats from its neighbors – first Israel, then Iraq and Iran. The Saudi government provided the financing for Pakistan to secretly build its own nuclear arms… That financial link has long left American intelligence officials wondering if there was a quid pro quo…

“Over the years, several nations have demonstrated that it is possible to turn ostensibly civilian programs into sources of bomb fuel, and thus atomic warheads and military power. Israel recently released an archive of material, stolen from Tehran in January, to prove that the Iranian government deceived the world for years…”

European Arms Embargos on Saudi Arabia

The Independent wrote on November 23:

“More European governments have imposed an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia in response to the country’s on-going killing of civilians in Yemen. The British government has so far resisted joining international efforts to stem the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, which the UK has sold £4.7bn worth of arms to fuel since 2015.

“The Danish, German, Dutch and Finnish governments have now joined other countries in halting the sale of weapons to the autocracy, as the UN warns of ‘the worst famine in the world in 100 years’. The European parliament voted a month ago to back the embargo, which is also being supported by the governments of Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and Norway.

“Sweden has said it will end the sale of arms but has not yet done so. Britain’s vocal opposition to an embargo puts it in the same camp as Spain, which U-turned on a previous commitment to end the sale of arms after protests by workers at shipyards that would lose out from contracts.”

The Trump Administration has also refused to impose an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia, even though Congress is evaluating this possibility. The paradoxical irony is that soon, the current alliances will be reversed. The Bible shows that the relationship between the USA and Saudi Arabia will deteriorate, while the EU, under German leadership, will form a short-lived collaboration with Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia, against the USA, the UK and the state of Israel.  

“Humanitarian Crisis” at the US-Mexico Border

Reuters wrote on November 23:

“Unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable migrants risk falling victim to crime in the Mexican border city of Tijuana, where thousands of Central Americans from caravans may be stuck for months as authorities tighten up asylum rules, advocates say. Some 4,600 migrants from the bedraggled caravans… are camped out with blankets and little food in an overcrowded stadium in Tijuana…Among the Central Americans, many of whom are Hondurans fleeing violence and poverty in the struggling region, are about 80 minors between the ages of 10 and 17…

“Tijuana was rated… as the fifth most violent city in the world in 2017, with a higher murder rate than the Central American cities from which the migrants are escaping. Juan Manuel Gastelum, Tijuana’s mayor, said late on Thursday that the city was facing a humanitarian crisis and that supporting the migrants was costing more than 500,000 pesos ($25,000) a day. He urged international agencies to help Tijuana.”

Closing the Border

Breitbart wrote on November 25:

“Thousands of additional migrants are expected to arrive in Tijuana, Mexico, to try to claim asylum at the U.S. border. The incoming migrants are in addition to the approximately 5,000 migrants who already arrived in this border city during recent days…

“The arrival of the new caravan comes just hours after a group of migrants tried to rush the U.S. border at the San Ysidro port of entry… the effort forced U.S. Customs and Border Protection to shut down the port of entry and establish barricades with federal officers in riot gear. U.S. Customs and Border Protection tweeted that Border Patrol agents were forced to fire tear gas into the crowds as some of the migrants threw rocks.”

The Washington Post wrote on November 26:

“The economic impact of Sunday’s border closure — even for just a day — was felt immediately by businesses just north of the San Ysidro crossing that depend heavily on customers from Tijuana, especially on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. The San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce estimates that the closure resulted in a loss of $5.3 million in sales for the area’s 650 businesses, as 93 percent of their customers arrive from Mexico…

“Of the roughly 70,000 vehicle passengers and 20,000 pedestrians who cross into San Diego each day through San Ysidro, about 30 percent work on the U.S. side — mostly in the hospitality industry… Individuals crossing from Tijuana into San Diego spend $10 million to $15 million in Southern California each day at gas stations, restaurants, stores and entertainment outlets…”

California Wildfire Contained, but…

The Washington Post wrote on November 25:

“The Camp Fire — the deadliest, most destructive blaze in California history that has killed 85 people, destroyed 14,000 residences and charred an area the size of Chicago — has been fully contained, authorities announced Sunday… But the rejoicing was muted. Authorities expect the death toll to continue to rise: 249 people are unaccounted for…

“Thousands of displaced people in shelters and hotels or camping outdoors in below-freezing temperatures face an uncertain future… the nightmare is far from over… Crews are working to repair power lines and clear debris from roads. Partially burned or hollowed-out trees are an ever-present threat… Debris and ash could be toxic, full of heavy metals or carcinogens… More than 120 have been sickened by what appears to be the highly contagious infection norovirus. Even the rain that knocked back the fire opened up the area to new threats. ‘Areas experiencing significant rainfall following a wildfire are at risk for debris flows and flash flooding,’ the Butte County Sheriff’s Office warned.”

“US Government Climate Report Warns of Worsening US Disasters, Contradicts Trump”

Newsmax wrote on November 23:

“A massive new federal report [by the Trump administration] warns that extreme weather disasters, like California’s wildfires and this year’s hurricanes, are worsening in the United States. The White House report quietly issued Friday also frequently contradicts President Donald Trump. The National Climate Assessment was written long before the California fires and the hurricanes. It warns of more, stronger and longer disasters triggered at least in part by global warming.”

The Week wrote on November 23:

“Human-made climate change will have massive costs for human health and the economy if America doesn’t take action today, the fourth National Climate Assessment, published Friday by the Trump administration, has found. America’s temperatures have risen 1.8 degrees in the past 100 years, and sea levels are 9 inches higher than 50 years ago, per the assessment.

“The U.S. is also slated for another 2.3 degrees of temperature growth by 2050, leading to days where people can’t even work outside and potentially costing the country $155 billion in lost labor each year. The risks of these massive climate swings mostly hurt ‘lower-income [people] and other marginalized communities,’ the report states. The report is congressionally mandated for release every four years, but scientists are frustrated that it came out over the holidays on a slow news day.”

The Washington Post wrote on November 27:

“President Trump on Tuesday dismissed a landmark report compiled by 13 federal agencies detailing how damage from global warming is intensifying throughout the country, saying he is not among the ‘believers’ who see climate change as a pressing problem… ‘One of the problems that a lot of people like myself, we have very high levels of intelligence but we’re not necessarily such believers,’ Trump said… ‘As to whether or not it’s man-made and whether or not the effects that you’re talking about are there, I don’t see it,’ he added…

“‘You look at our air and our water and it’s right now at a record clean. But when you look at China and you look at parts of Asia and you look at South America, and when you look at many other places in this world, including Russia, including many other places, the air is incredibly dirty, and when you’re talking about an atmosphere, oceans are very small,’ Trump said… ‘And it blows over and it sails over. I mean we take thousands of tons of garbage off our beaches all the time that comes over from Asia…’

“White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders echoed her boss. ‘We think that this is the most extreme version and it’s not based on facts,’ Sanders said of the National Climate Assessment. ‘It’s not data-driven… It’s based on modeling, which is extremely hard to do when you’re talking about the climate…’”

The ironic problem with the entire discussion is that the report was issued by the TRUMP Administration.

Russia “Jokes” over American Moon Landing

The Associated Press reported on November 24:

“The head of Russia’s Roscosmos space agency has said that a proposed Russian mission to the moon will be tasked with verifying that the American moon landings were real, though he appeared to be making a joke. ‘We have set this objective to fly and verify whether they’ve been there or not,’ said Dmitry Rogozin in a video posted Saturday on Twitter.

“Rogozin was responding to a question about whether or not NASA actually landed on the moon nearly 50 years ago. He appeared to be joking, as he smirked and shrugged while answering. But conspiracies surrounding NASA’s moon missions are common in Russia.

“The Soviet Union abandoned its lunar program in the mid-1970s after four experimental moon rockets exploded.”

These kinds of ridiculous conspiracy theories are not only common in Russia, but also in Europe. Many believe that the moon landing was fake or that the terrorist attack on 9-11 was perpetrated by the Bush Administration. Others are even convinced that the earth is flat or that man was created by aliens from other planets, just to name a few of the many outrageous and stupid concepts.  

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.

A European Army

Euractiv wrote on November 16:

“Both Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron mentioned the idea of creating a real European army around 11 November. This unprecedented convergence of French and German thoughts and words, which incurred the wrath of America, marks a turning point…

“The idea of creating a European army is not a new one. It has been mentioned by various European leaders, who often had Christian Democrat backgrounds… [It] was briefly mentioned by Silvio Berlusconi when he was the Italian prime minister. More recently, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (European People’s Party) mentioned it at the start of his mandate. He was joined by other leaders from eastern Europe, such as the conservative Czech President Miloš Zeman, former Czech social democrat Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and even the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

“However, no serving French official has ever raised this idea, in such precise terms… it is no longer a taboo subject. When [Macron] mentions ‘a real European army,’ he does so in this capacity. Therefore, he is not raising the idea of a simple cooperation project…”

How this idea developed and rose to new heights can be seen in this example, as mentioned by the article:

“Even in the midst of a disaster on 16 June 1940, during World War Two, France rejected a plan to have a common army. This was proposed by the British House of Commons at the instigation of Jean Monnet and Winston Churchill.”

Bild Online wrote on November 16:

“German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen recommended an ‘army of Europeans.'” The paper added that von der Leyen is pushing for a “much faster speed” regarding the establishment of a European Army.

An end-time European army is prophesied to occur very soon.

Europe’s Revival

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 18:

“In a speech to the Bundestag to mark Germany’s Day of Mourning for those killed in war, Macron said that Germany and France had overcome 200 years of ‘merciless wars’ to make a ‘lasting peace’… the French leader said only the two neighbors’ partnership, as part of a unified, more sovereign Europe, could help the world avoid sliding into chaos… Urging Europe to take more responsibility for its defense and security, Macron said the continent must not ‘become a plaything of great powers … and must not accept a subordinate role in world politics.'”

There is no lasting peace. The Bible warns: “For when they say ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

France24 wrote on November 18:

“During the speech, Macron urged a European revival to prevent global ‘chaos’. The French president said Sunday that Europe must grow stronger and more sovereign in order to fulfil its duty of bringing stability to global affairs.”

Please read our free booklet: “The Ten European Revivals of the Ancient Roman Empire.”

Europe and Germany Threatened by Trump?

Die Welt added on November 18:

However, Macron also said earlier in France that the demons of nationalism are becoming stronger in Europe and elsewhere. It would be naïve and inaccurate to say that nationalism is dead in Germany or Austria.

The paper concluded: “Macron sings again the tune of a strong Europe. This and Trump’s polemics against France, Germany and the EU guarantee that Macron’s message will be heard.”

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said the following, according to ntv on November 16: “We cannot allow that we are being treated like an occupied country. When I look at the behavior of the American ambassador in Germany, I have the impression that he understands himself as an officer of an occupation force rather than the ambassador of the USA in a sovereign state.”

In response to President Trump and some extremely conservative European leaders, many Europeans and EU leaders react by supporting politics in opposition to Trump and those who agree with Trump and his views. On the other hand, when Angela Merkel spoke in Strasbourg last week, advocating a European army, some right-wing anti-Europe delegates booed in opposition. We should not forget that not all EU member states need to agree on everything, especially the euro and the creation of a European army. The Bible tells us that it will be ten nations or groups of nations that will emerge as a part of a core Europe, giving their power and authority to a charismatic economic, political and military German or Austrian leader (the “beast”) who will very soon manifest himself on the world scene.

A Two Speed Europe

Euractiv wrote on November 20:

“In Louvain-la-Neuve [Belgium], [Macron] pleaded for a ‘two or three speed Europe’, to allow frontrunners to move towards European integration in the hope that others will follow. ‘The big mistake that we have made in the past five to ten years is that we always want to decide everything at 28, maybe tomorrow at 27 after Brexit. This is not true, this has never worked this way,’ Macron said.

“To illustrate his point, the French President referred to the Schengen area of free movement and the eurozone, as well as to enhanced cooperation on defence, where different EU countries participate. He also suggested that decisions should no longer need the approval of all EU member states: ‘I am in favour of changing the treaties, we reach a point where it must be done. We should not be afraid, but we should also keep in mind that whoever is against can no longer block the others.’

“Speaking of efforts to put in place a common European defence, the French President said: ‘We have done more in a year and a half than what has been done since the 1950s.. There could be ‘no idea of a united Europe if in a corner of Europe we say “we cannot protect you, ask someone else,”’ he pleaded. ‘We also need a common foreign policy’, agreed Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel.”

“China and the EU Are Growing Sick of U.S. Financial Power”

Foreign Policy wrote on November 16:

“When it comes to international finance, Washington sets the rules for others to follow… Unable to counteract U.S. sanctions, some countries are pushing for structural changes. The EU is in the lead. China is following, and Japan, South Korea, and India are watching closely.

“European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has argued that the euro should become a global reserve currency to reduce financial dependence on the United States…

“It is no secret that China and Russia are actively looking to exploit the growing divide between London and Washington on sanctions.”

The Bible predicts that even the American-British friendship will cease.

Europe to Conduct Non-Dollar Trade with Iran?

Reuters and the Algemeiner wrote on November 21:

“Iran on Wednesday praised European efforts to maintain business with Tehran despite US sanctions, citing ‘constructive meetings’ with British and French officials in Tehran this week on setting up a way to conduct non-dollar trade… European diplomats said last week British, French and German attempts to establish the SPV [a “Special Purpose Vehicle” trade mechanism] were faltering because no EU country was willing to host it for fear of its banks provoking US penalties, including a ban from US markets.

“… The three big European Union powers and the EU as a whole have reaffirmed their commitment to the nuclear deal, as have Russia and China… The US special envoy for Iran warned last week that European banks and firms who engage in the SPV will be at risk from fresh US sanctions.”

Europe would not tolerate if their banks were to be banned from US markets. They would retaliate for sure, and an economic war would be the consequence.

Stocks Down, Wiping Out Yearly Gains

The Wall Street Journal wrote on November 20:

“Stocks around the world tumbled Tuesday, putting major U.S. indexes at risk of closing below their October lows and wiping out yearly gains. What started as a technology company selloff bled into other corners of the market, as investors dumped shares of everything from retailers to oil-and-gas companies…

“Selling in the European auto sector echoed similar losses in Asia… frosty trading relations between the U.S. and China have left tech stocks vulnerable…”

Crypto Collapse Accelerates, Bitcoin Plunges

Zero Hedge wrote on November 20:

“Having broken below 6k last week, and 5k yesterday, Bitcoin’s collapse is accelerating towards $4,000… the events mark a continuation of the unsettled conditions sparked Nov. 15 when altcoin Bitcoin Cash (BCH) experienced a contentious hard fork, which has since resulted in the emergence of two separate competing chains…

“FundStrat’s Tom Lee told CNBC this morning that he has lowered his forecast for 2018 year-end Bitcoin to $15,000 (though admitted his conviction was low today).”

Chaos in Britain over Brexit Deal

Der Spiegel Online wrote on November 16:

“Some 874 days after the Brexit referendum, Theresa May has reached a deal with the European Union to prevent a hard exit from the bloc. But events of recent days make clear that months of drama in Brussels pales in comparison to the one unfolding in London now…

“Those who believe the deal goes too far and those who believe it doesn’t go far enough are suddenly united in opposition to a prime minister who is growing increasingly isolated… the stage is set for a showdown the likes of which British politics has never seen before…

“More than once in the past weeks, negotiators have found themselves staring into the abyss… But that is nothing compared to the storm brewing on the island, one that might sweep away May… Is disastrous defeat still avoidable?… if the deal falls through… the country would be pushed out of the EU boat without a lifejacket, with unpredictable economic and social consequences…”

Why the Brexit Deal Will Fail

The Week wrote on November 16:

“Theresa May’s government lies in ruins… This was bound to happen. The Brexit negotiations and the referendum that produced them were a farce…  The referendum itself was never supposed to have taken place. It had been promised as part of a cynical ploy by David Cameron… in the event that Conservatives won an outright majority in the 2015 general election… The Tories won their first majority since 1992 and Cameron was forced to keep his word, calling for a vote… When the result was announced, he resigned. He was replaced… by his own home secretary [Theresa May] who supported remaining in Europe while refusing to campaign for this position.

“[She] has presented her country with a deal for which there is no constituency… there is widespread agreement that if approved the deal would put Britain in the worst position imaginable. It would leave the United Kingdom in a kind of limbo, beholden to European laws and facing significant financial obligations to a body in whose deliberations it would no longer have any say. It would be exchanging membership in a supposed confederacy of nations for vassalage.

“This is why the deal is almost certain to fail in Parliament… [May] has already lost.”

£10 Billion More for Brexit Delay

The Guardian wrote on November 17:

“The latest Opinium poll for the Observer on Sunday delivers more bad news for May, with Labour opening up a three-point lead. It shows Tory Leave supporters appear to be deserting May’s party in droves. Compared with a month ago, the Conservatives have dropped five points to 36% while Labour has gained three to stand on 39%…

“May told an EU leaders summit last month that she might ask for a ‘few months’ extra time if that was what was needed to complete an EU-UK trade deal… But on Saturday night Brussels was making clear that if the UK wants an extension of the transition – during which it is tied to the EU economic system but with no say over its rules – it must last at least a further year. A year-long extension would cost about £10bn on top of the £39bn divorce bill already agreed…”

However one wants to slice it, it is prophesied that Britain will leave the EU, and Britain’s future has never looked that grim.

Spain Threatens to Vote No on Brexit Deal over Gibraltar

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 20:

“Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez said that Madrid cannot approve the deal unless changes regarding Gibraltar are made. All 27 remaining EU leaders must approve the 585-page exit…

“The tiny British overseas territory is adjacent to the Spanish mainland, and has long been a point of contention between the UK and Spain… Although 96 percent of Gibraltarians voted to remain in the EU during the Brexit referendum, it is set to leave the bloc when the UK does in 2019… Gibraltar was formally ceded to Britain in 1713 as part of the Treaty of Utrecht

“Spain is the only one of the 27 EU countries to voice opposition to the 585-page draft Brexit deal so far.”

Brexit Deal Reached? Not So Fast!

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 22:

“The EU and the UK have reached a deal on their post-Brexit relationship, European Council President Donald Tusk announced on Thursday. The [26-page] text [which is not legally binding] has been agreed to in principle by negotiators, but still requires the endorsement of the 27 remaining EU members…

“The draft on post-Brexit ties and an agreement on exactly how the UK will withdraw from the European Union will be discussed by EU leaders at a special summit on Sunday… both sides have agreed that the post-Brexit transition periodmay be extended from its current end date of December 31, 2020 ‘for up to one or two years.’

“Many observers have said it is unlikely the British Parliament will vote in favor of the Brexit 585-page deal [which would be legally binding] May presented last week…”

Daily Mail added:

“[The 26-page text] has now been sent to EU capitals ahead of a showdown summit on Sunday amid complaints from Spain over Gibraltar and France on fishing. In possible concessions to help Mrs May get the [585-page] deal through the Commons, the 26-page document makes clear that Britain will have an ‘independent trade policy’… The pact confirms that free movement will end… but also states that the UK will not discriminate between nationals from different EU countries. There would be visa free travel for all citizens making short trips, which will be a relief for holidaymakers.”

One of the hotly debated issues is the “backstop.” As the Guardian explained on October 15:

“… the backstop is a device intended to ensure that there will not be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, even if no formal deal can be reached on trade and security arrangements. It would mean that if there were no workable agreement on such matters, Northern Ireland would stay in the customs union and much of the single market, guaranteeing a friction-free border with the Republic.”

The Sun added on November 20:

“The backstop will see Britain remain in the customs union for as long as necessary until an alternative way of keeping the border open is found.”

In this context, The Sun wrote on November 22:

“Tory rebels today warned Theresa May her Brexit deal has no hope of succeeding… telling [her] that the backstop – which could leave Britain tied to the EU customs union permanently – makes her deal toxic… Former minister Owen Paterson added: ‘As long as the backstop is in existence in a legally binding document, there is a danger that should talks fail the backstop becomes accepted. We would have the horror of falling into a customs union, the horror of having Northern Ireland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom.’

“… The admission that Britain can trade freely around the world while keeping the Irish border open came in a draft trade agreement between the UK and the EU – and represents a big win for the PM… But a number of key issues remain apparently unresolved, with no agreement yet on fishing rights or the status of Gibraltar. And in a worrying sign for Brexiteers, it still states that the final deal will ‘build and improve’ on the customs union which stops Britain cutting trade agreements around the world…

“Andrea Jenkyns said: ‘The British people are not stupid. There will be a backlash if we deliver a deal such as this.’ A source from the European Research Group added: ‘The political declaration is not legally binding, vague, aspirational and little more than a smokescreen to cover up the fact that the permanent relationship is the customs union backstop.’…

“Negotiators have also laid down the law on so-called Level Playing Field provisions, which will see Britain effectively mirror EU legislation in key areas…

“The EU has told Britain it will be shut out from the military aspects of [the satellite-system] Galileo after Brexit, while UK companies will be banned from bidding for contracts on the programme.”

Der Spiegel Online wrote: “In reading this text, one might think that the Brits want to join the EU, rather than leaving it.”

White House Approves Use of Lethal Force for Border Troops

The Daily Beast wrote on November 21:

“The White House late Tuesday authorized U.S. military troops deployed at the Mexican border to use lethal force and conduct law-enforcement operations, Military Times reports… Kelly justified the shift by writing that ‘credible evidence and intelligence’ had suggested the migrants ‘may prompt incidents of violence and disorder.’

“… the president does have the authority… ‘to use military force to suppress insurrection or to enforce federal authority.’”

Not too long ago, a spokesperson for the German right-wing anti-immigration party AfD recommended that German border guards should have authority to shoot at immigrants. This caused an outcry in Germany. Now, authorization to do so was given to American troops at the Mexican border. But where is the outcry in the USA?

Will Benjamin Netanyahu Survive?

voanews reported on November 18:

“Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s resignation… left the government with a majority of only one seat in parliament. That put the fate of Netanyahu’s coalition at the mercy of any of its partners, who have seen the four-term prime minister’s popularity take a rare hit in an opinion poll that showed Israelis were unhappy with him over Gaza… Only 17 percent of respondents were happy with Netanyahu’s policy toward Gaza…

“Netanyahu’s re-election chances could also be affected by a series of corruption cases against him in which Israel’s attorney-general is weighing his indictment. An election would complicate promised moves by the United States towards reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts that collapsed in 2014…”

This current crisis occurred because Netanyahu is perceived too liberal and weak in the matter of Gaza. If it comes to new elections, would an even more conservative leadership come to power? What would this do for the political climate in the Middle East? But for now, the fear of early elections might be averted.

JTA wrote on November 19:

“The Israeli prime minister narrowly avoided having to call snap elections after, in a surprise turnaround, Education Minister Naftali Bennett announced that he would stand behind Netanyahu…

“At least three ministers had called for early elections to be held as soon as possible. Interior Minister Arye Deri of the Sephardic Orthodox Shas party backed down on Sunday, and Bennett followed suit the next day… On Sunday, a visibly agitated Netanyahu announced in a televised broadcast that he would personally assume the defense minister position… An unnamed senior government official told the Israeli media that he soon would appoint a foreign minister in an attempt to court allies.

“The government’s four-year term ends in November 2019. Elections are called early if a government ruling coalition falls apart, usually over a crisis, such as the recent Gaza flare-up… Recent governments have not served out their full terms. The last election was in 2015; the one before that was in 2013.”

The False “Alternative Temple Theory” Debunked

Breaking Israel News wrote on November 20:

“A conference is set to be held in Jerusalem in two weeks (on December 5) which will for the first time, educate Christians on the importance of the Temple Mount…

“John Enarson, the Christian Relations Director of Cry for Zion and co-organizer of the conference, explained the focus of the event. ‘The theme of the conference this year is going to be archaeology and the Biblical evidence for the true location of the Temple being on the Temple Mount’… They will present evidence [to] debunk the reoccurring theory among Christians that the Jewish Temples were not located on the Temple Mount… According to [that] theory, both Jewish Temples stood further south in an area now known as Ir David (the City of David). [It] further hypothesizes that the Western Wall and all of the artifacts on the Temple Mount are remains from a massive Roman fort. [The] theory was criticized for having no archaeological basis and for contradicting Temple-era historical accounts, such as that of Josephus Flavius, a first-century Romano-Jewish scholar who cited the Mount as the location of the Second Temple.

“… Despite being definitively debunked by archaeologists and Biblical scholars, the alternate Temple location theory continues to have a strong following within some segments of the Christian community… ‘Jews and Christians approach the Temple Mount from vastly different traditions but we can come together on a House of Prayer for All Nations,’ Enarson said, citing the Prophet Isaiah (56:7:) ‘I will bring them to My sacred mount And let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices Shall be welcome on My mizbayach; For My House shall be called A house of prayer for all peoples.’

“‘Christians believe in the Hebrew Bible and to the extent they take the Biblical accounts of the Temple seriously, they should take the Temple Mount seriously,” [Enarson] said.”

The focus is not only on the Temple Mount, but also on the Temple itself. The Bible shows that a massive third temple will be built on the Temple Mount and animal sacrifices will be given at that temple prior to Christ’s Second Coming.

German-Israeli Friendship?

The Algemeiner wrote on November 17:

“The United States opposed on Friday for the first time an annual draft resolution at the United Nations calling on Israel to rescind its authority over the occupied Golan Heights, drawing praise from Israeli officials… Despite the US opposition, a UN General Assembly committee approved the draft resolution on Friday with 151 votes in favor and 14 abstentions. Only Israel joined the United States in voting no. The General Assembly is due to formally adopt the resolution next month.”

In fact, the UN General Assembly approved on Friday nine anti-Israeli resolutions. Bild Online wrote on November 18: “Germany abstained one time and approved the other eight resolutions, together with countries such as Saudi-Arabia, which were directed against the Jewish state. Is this how the German-Israeli friendship looks like?”

There has never been a true German-Israeli friendship. The Bible prophesies that any resemblance of friendship will soon cease completely, and even though Israel will look to Germany for help, they will not get it.

Anti-Semitism in Europe

 Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) wrote on November 21:

“Manfred Weber, 46, head of the European People’s Party in the European Parliament and a member of the conservative Christian Social Union in Bavaria… has been a delegate in the European Parliament since 2004 and was elected head of the European People’s Party in 2014. If the conservatives continue to maintain their majority in the European Parliament after the coming May elections, Weber will become the parliament’s president.

“In an interview with Israel Hayom… Weber warned of growing anti-Semitism in Europe. ‘The development in recent years is an absolute warning sign,’ he said… ‘In France, the number of violent anti-Semitic incidents rose by an inconceivable 69% in the first nine months of the year. In Britain, there was an increase of around 30%. In Germany, too, people are attacked for being Jews. The growing anti-Semitism makes me uneasy. Not just the public attacks but the ‘relativization’ of anti-Semitism creeping into people’s minds… My demand is that everyone rise up and oppose anti-Semitism… I would not have imagined that in certain countries in the European Union, it would be the left-wing parties that would show tolerance toward open anti-Semitism and implement anti-Israel policy. There is a genuine risk that such parties will enter the European Parliament…’”

President Trump vs. Chief Justice Roberts

ABC wrote on November 21:

“Chief Justice John Roberts rebutted President Donald Trump’s recent criticism that the recent ruling against the administration’s asylum policy on migrants was issued by an ‘Obama judge’. ‘We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges,’ Roberts, who originally responded to the Associated Press, said via a statement issued from the Supreme Court’s press office. ‘What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them. That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for.’

“The president responded directly to the comments in a pair of tweets Wednesday afternoon. ‘Sorry Chief Justice John Roberts, but you do indeed have “Obama judges,” and they have a much different point of view than the people who are charged with the safety of our country,’ Trump said.  The president returned to the topic on Twitter about an hour later, calling the 9th Circuit a ‘terrible, costly and dangerous disgrace. It has become a dumping ground for certain lawyers looking for easy wins and delays…'”

On Thursday, the President continued his attacks on the 9^th Circuit Court via Twitter.

Judge Bars US From Enforcing Trump Asylum Ban

The Associated Press and Newsmax reported on November 20:

“A federal judge barred the Trump administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Nov. 9 that said anyone who crossed the southern border between official ports of entry would be ineligible for asylum. As the first of several caravans of migrants have started arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump said an asylum ban was necessary to stop what he’s attacked as a national security threat.

“But in his ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar agreed with legal groups that immediately sued, arguing that U.S. immigration law clearly allows someone to seek asylum even if they enter the country between official ports of entry. ‘Whatever the scope of the President’s authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden,’ said Tigar, a nominee of former President Barack Obama.

“The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately comment on the ruling, which will remain in effect for one month barring an appeal. In issuing the ban, Trump used the same powers he used last year to impose a travel ban that was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court…

“Tigar’s ruling notes that federal law says someone may seek asylum if they have arrived in the United States, ‘whether or not at a designated port of arrival.’

“… ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said that some people seeking asylum cross between official ports because ‘they’re in real danger,’ either in their countries of origin or in Mexico. ‘We don’t condone people entering between ports of entry, but Congress has made the decision that if they do, they still need to be allowed to apply for asylum,’ he said.”

Many legal experts feel that even though the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals would uphold the decision of the federal judge, the US Supreme Court would overturn it and side with President Trump.

Acosta Reinstated… for Now

The Daily Mail wrote on November 16:

“Judge Timothy Kelly said Friday that Jim Acosta’s free-press rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outweigh ‘the government’s interest in orderly, respectful press conferences.’ He declared in a stinging defeat for the president in his war on ‘fake news’ that the White House failed to give Acosta ‘due process,’ something guaranteed in government proceedings under the Fifth Amendment. And he suggested that the White House exaggerated its contention [being of “questionable accuracy”] that Acosta physically interfered with a female intern last week as she tried to reclaim a press conference microphone.

“While Kelly ordered the White House to let Acosta back in the building, he said Trump and his spokespeople aren’t obligated to call on him during press conferences or let him ask questions. He also said the White House isn’t under any obligation to host reporters at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but it also can’t play favorites…

“There was near-unanimity in the political press corps’ backing of CNN, with more than a dozen news outlets signaling they would formally submit a supportive brief to Judge Kelly… Kelly, a Trump appointee, emphasized that his ruling was temporary, saying: ‘I have not determined that the First Amendment was violated here.’… But Kelly… noted that the government’s attorneys couldn’t tell him on Wednesday who had made the final decision to yank Acosta’s credentials, an indication that no formal process was involved…”

Trump’s war with the media, especially news outlets which he describes as “fake news” and “enemy of the people,” will continue and is bound to become more and more ugly.

The Huffington Post wrote on November 20:

“The White House announced Monday that it would [permanently] restore the press pass of CNN reporter Jim Acosta, leading the network to drop its pending lawsuit against the administration… provided he and all other journalists abide by ‘new rules’ sent out by the White House.”

Insofar, CNN wrote on November 19:

“The White House press corps… has not agreed to any new set of rules governing presidential press conferences. And Trump rarely holds press conferences anyway. The letter asserts that reporters may ask ‘a single question’ at a press conference. Follow-ups will only be permitted ‘at the discretion of the President or other White House officials.’ And reporters must ‘physically surrender’ the microphone, when directed [and they will face the revocation of their passes for not respecting the rules.]

“In practice, many reporters asked follow-up questions at the November 7 press conference. And that’s not going to change any time soon. ‘For as long as there have been White House press conferences, White House reporters have asked follow-up questions. We fully expect this tradition will continue,’ the association said. It remains to be seen if the rules are just cover for the administration’s loss to CNN in court. At the same time, the White House’s move could create a chilling effect among reporters.”

USA Will Stand by Saudi Arabia… No Matter What!

The Huffington Post wrote on November 20:

“The United States will continue to back Saudi Arabia even if Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday in a bizarre statement…”

Excerpts from Trump’s statement are quoted below:

“After my heavily negotiated trip to Saudi Arabia last year, the Kingdom agreed to spend and invest $450 billion in the United States. This is a record amount of money. It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, tremendous economic development, and much additional wealth for the United States…

“King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi… it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t! That being said, we may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi.

“In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia… The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia… As President of the United States I intend to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First!”

President Trump’s announcement prompted severe criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike.

Haaretz reported on November 19:

“The German government says it has halted previously approved arms exports to Saudi Arabia amid the fallout from the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi… Germany said a month ago it wouldn’t approve any new weapons exports to Saudi Arabia, but left open what would happen with already approved contracts.”

Negative Reaction to Trump’s Stance on Saudi Arabia

The Guardian wrote on November 20:

“The 649-word statement appears to be a presidential act of defiance against the CIA, which has reportedly concluded that the Saudi prince ordered the killing, and the Senate, which is considering bipartisan legislation that would suspend weapons sales to Saudi Arabia among other punitive measures. He told reporters at the White House that the CIA ‘didn’t make a determination’ on the murder, and that they had ‘nothing definitive’ on its perpetrator. The claim is contradicted by multiple reports that the intelligence agency has concluded that Prince Mohammed ordered the hit on the former Saudi insider who had become a persistent critic… As he has in the past with Vladimir Putin, Trump put official denials of wrongdoing from Riyadh on a par with US intelligence assessments.

“… The president acknowledged that that Congress might have another view and the strength of congressional opinion soon became apparent when Republican senator Lindsey Graham – otherwise a fervent Trump fan – issuing a statement predicting ‘strong bipartisan support for serious sanctions against Saudi Arabia, including appropriate members of the royal family, for this barbaric act which defied all civilized norms.’ The South Carolina senator added: ‘While Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally, the behavior of the crown prince – in multiple ways – has shown disrespect for the relationship and made him, in my view, beyond toxic.’…

“[Trump’s] statement made a series of false or unsubstantiated claims, suggesting that Riyadh is buying $110bn in US weapons. The actual total of offers since Trump took office is less than $15bn, and the value of actual signed contracts is significantly lower than that. A new independent report found that US arms sales to Saudi Arabia account for fewer than 20,000 US jobs a year – less than a 20th of the employment boost Donald Trump has claimed…

“Trump’s enthusiastic support for Riyadh coincides with a drive by the crown prince to rehabilitate himself on the world stage. The Argentinian government confirmed to the Guardian on Tuesday that he is on the list of attendees at the G20 summit at the end of the month in Buenos Aires. Also on the guest list is Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has condemned Riyadh for the murder and whose government has put out a steady stream of leaks from the investigation, pointing towards Saudi government culpability at the highest levels…”

The Guardian added on November 21:

“On Wednesday, Numan Kurtulmuş, the deputy chairman of [Turkey’s] President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s AK party, dismissed Trump’s assessment. ‘Yesterday’s statement is a comic statement,’ he [said]. ‘It is not possible for an intelligence agency such as the CIA, which even knows the colour of the fur on the cat walking around the Saudi consulate’s garden … to not know who gave this order,’ he said. ‘This is not credible either for US public opinion or the world public opinion.’”

On the other hand, the Turkish government is continuing its brutal fight against journalists and other critics of that dictatorial regime.

The Week wrote on November 21:

“The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday ordered an investigation into Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s role in the murder of U.S.-based Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi after President Trump acknowledged that bin Salman may have ‘had knowledge’ about the plot, but declined to take further action against Saudi Arabia in response.”

Shocking! Half of American Voters Claim to be Nationalists

Breitbart wrote on November 16:

“About half of all likely American voters share President Trump’s nationalist worldview that the interests of the United States and its citizens should be put ahead of the interests of the globe. In a new Rasmussen Reports poll, about 50 percent of likely voters said when there are international problems, they are most interested in finding a solution that benefits the U.S. and American citizens rather than a solution that is better for the world…

“The poll reveals that not only do half of Americans share Trump’s nationalist worldview, but the vast majority of GOP voters and conservatives do as well. More than 75 percent of Republicans said the interests of Americans should come before the interests of the world, while 74 percent of conservatives said the same.

“Even a significant number of Democrats and Independent voters favor nationalism… Among Democrats, more than 30 percent said the U.S. should be put first…, while 44 percent of Independent voters agreed.”

Nationalism is absolutely wrong and violates God’s law of love towards others. Since God will not and cannot bless a country which blatantly transgresses His Word, America’s future looks more and more devastating.

Jonestown… Could It Happen Again?

Breitbart wrote on November 18:

“This Sunday marks the 40th anniversary of the massacre at Jonestown, where more than 900 American transplants ‘drank the Kool-Aid’ in the largest loss of civilian life in U.S. history until 9/11… whether Jim Jones murdered his followers or they killed themselves voluntarily remains a debated question with strong arguments on both sides.”

The Washington Post wrote on November 18:

“Charles Krause, a former Washington Post foreign correspondent, survived the 1978 Jonestown massacre. [He said in an interview:]

“‘These people followed someone who led them to destruction. They believed in this guy. He lied to them. He cheated. He was involved with the sexual abuse of boys and girls in his temple. He took their money. He really enslaved them. And then he betrayed them, and then he led them to their deaths. I wish we had learned to be more cautious about following people who promise things and then betray the trust that people have given them.

“‘… there is the potential for it to happen again. It has happened again a number of times. We’ve had Waco, and we’ve had other incidents where it’s not as many people, but it’s the same sort of situation. I feel strongly that we need to be more skeptical about political or religious leaders who promise things, who seem to be hypocritical, who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.”

This warning is relevant. Political and religious leaders might promise us all kinds of things, and they might even seemingly deliver on some of their promises. As a consequence, we might be taken in by them emotionally and thereby lose our objective perspective.

California’s New Perils

CNN reported on November 20:

“First, the good news: Heavy rain expected this week won’t just drench Northern California’s Camp Fire. It could also snuff out the risk of new wildfires for the rest of the year. Now the bad news: Flash flooding, mudslides and rivers of debris could hit cities already devastated by the wildfire…  it could also make conditions treacherous for firefighters battling the Camp Fire, which has charred more than 151,000 acres and was only 70% contained as of Tuesday.

“The inferno has already killed 79 people and destroyed 12,900 homes. And with hundreds of residents still unaccounted for, authorities fear the death toll could rise… with heavy rain on the way, searchers feel a greater sense of urgency in finding the remains of Camp Fire victims.”

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.

World Leaders Mark 100 Years Since End of World War One

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 11:

“Some 70 world leaders gathered at the famous Arc de Triomphe in the French capital to mark 100 years since the end of World War One. Commemorations in Paris had been scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time (1000 UTC), the time that the Armistice signed by the Allies and the Germans on November 11, 1918, went into force… The large number of countries represented in Paris reflects the widespread nature of a conflict in which an estimated 37 million people, including 10 million soldiers, lost their lives. The city of Paris itself was a key objective in the war, with the Allies fighting successfully against German efforts to capture it in 1914…

“Trump and Putin greeted each other and shook hands at the ceremony, Russian television showed. The gesture comes as relations between their two countries remain strained, among other things because of alleged Russian interference in recent US elections. The US president pointedly did not extend his hand to Trudeau. Earlier this year, Trump described the Canadian premier as ‘dishonest and weak’ amid a dispute over what he alleges are Canada’s ‘unfair’ trade practices…”

The Daily Mail reported on November 11:

“The President put on a very friendly display with Putin despite both men showing up minutes after the bells had finished tolling to signal the moment guns fell silent at 11am 100 years ago. Other world leaders who arrived to the ceremony on buses also missed the crucial moment and were walking in rain-soaked line towards the Arc de Triomphe as the bells finished tolling…”

This could be symbolic. World leaders arrived late to celebrate the end of World War I—the war which was supposed to end all wars. It did not, of course, and neither will today’s world leaders prevent the outbreak of another world war. They are just too late in their endeavor to do so… even if they were wholeheartedly committed, albeit misguided, to creating peace.

America Alone

The Associated Press wrote on November 12:

“For President Donald Trump in Paris, America First meant largely America alone. At a weekend commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, the president who proudly declares himself a ‘nationalist’ stood apart…

“On Sunday, he listened as he was lectured on the dangers of nationalist isolation, and then he headed home just as the inaugural Paris Peace Summit was getting underway… His France trip made clear that, nearly two years after taking office, Trump has dramatically upended decades of American foreign policy posture, shaking allies… Trump, who has made clear that he has limited patience for broad, multilateral agreements, sat mostly stone-faced as he listened to Macron…

“Trump was terse during some of his private conversations with world leaders… One of the people described the president as ‘grumpy.’… Trump, who ran on an ‘America First’ platform, has jarred European allies with his actions…”

American Isolationism

Foreign Policy wrote on November 9:

“President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ platform echoes the isolationism that followed the war 100 years ago. That didn’t end well… Trump has sought to detach the United States from the world… In less than two years in office, Trump has withdrawn from several multilateral pacts, including the nuclear deal with Iran and the Paris climate agreement; announced his withdrawal from the most significant nuclear arms control accord in four decades, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty; begun a multifront trade war with China and U.S. allies; and declared his hostility to NATO, the G-7, the European Community, and the World Trade Organization…

“It is unclear how much of the international system Trump can tear down in the next two years—or the coming six if he wins another term in 2020. It’s taken a long time to build this system up… Trump could probably do a lot to destroy it.”

Macron Denounces Nationalism

Newsmax and The Associated Press wrote on November 11:

“French President Emmanuel Macron warned against the dangers of nationalism in a speech aimed directly at the rising tide of populism in the United States and Europe. With President Donald Trump and other world leaders looking on during an Armistice Day centennial observance in Paris on Sunday, Macron said the ‘ancient demons’ that caused World War I and millions of deaths are growing stronger.

“The French leader said: ‘Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. In saying “Our interests first, whatever happens to the others,” you erase the most precious thing a nation can have, that which makes it live, that which causes it to be great and that which is most important: Its moral values.’

“Trump has proudly declared himself a nationalist. Macron has set himself up as Europe’s foil to nationalist movements that rail against global approaches, like ones that have taken hold in Hungary and Poland among other countries.”

Breitbart wrote on November 11:

“‘Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism: Nationalism is treason,’ Macron said, according to a Euronews translator… ‘If we think our interests may only come first and we don’t care for others, it is a treason of our values, a betrayal of all moral values,’ he said… He lamented that the spirit of revenge and humiliation after World War I sparked renewed nationalism that led to World War II….

“In an interview with CNN, Macron continued his condemnation of nationalism… ‘I would say I’m a patriot,’ he said, but added:… ‘I’m not a nationalist, which is very different for me from being a patriot.’”

Deutsche Welle added on November 11:

“Although Sunday’s ceremonies celebrate an act that brought a short-lived peace to the world, they are taking place at a time of growing nationalism and international tensions. US President Donald Trump, one of the leaders attending the event, is seen by many as undermining the Western alliance and world bodies such as the UN with his self-declared nationalism…”

As we can see from the articles in Newsmax and Breitbart, the reporting differs widely, showing how one has to be careful with “translations.” According to Newsmax and most other news outlets, Macron never used the word ”treason.” On the other hand, nationalism is wrong, and the Church of God has consistently preached against nationalism for many decades. A true Christian can be a patriot, loving his country, but he must never be a nationalist. Nationalism is defined as “identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests, especially to the exclusion or detriment of the interests of other nations” (Oxford Dictionary). Also, as “exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). This way of get (the opposite to the way of love or give) can be seen in slogans such as, “Deutschland ueber alles,” or “America above all.”

Macron: Europe To Develop Autonomous Military Capacities

Politico wrote on November 11:

“Europe must increase military spending, but the money should go to European, not American companies, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview… Macron clarified his point to say that he very much wants to see European allies not only spend more but to develop their own autonomous military capabilities and to buy European-made materials. France just happens also to have one of Europe’s biggest defense manufacturing industries…

“Macron also talked in the interview about the need to strength[en] the euro’s position as a global reference currency…”

Trump vs. Macron and the Fight for a European Army

Bloomberg wrote on November 9:

“President Donald Trump began a weekend visit to Paris with an attack on his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, for proposing Europe create its own continental military force. Trump sent a tweet calling Macron’s proposal ‘very insulting’ as the U.S. president’s plane landed Friday evening for celebrations with world leaders commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

“Macron this week said in a radio interview that a ‘strong and sovereign Europe’ was needed to defend the continent’s interests against China, Russia and ‘even the U.S.’ ‘We can’t defend Europe if we don’t have a real European army,’ he said. ‘We must have a Europe that can defend itself more, without just relying on the U.S.’…

“Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have both publicly questioned whether Europe can depend on the U.S. to come to its aid in the event of war.

“Macron also criticized Trump’s plan to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty… Trump and Macron also have extensive differences over trade and U.S. sanctions on Iran.”

Sorry, But There Was no Misinterpretation!

Deutsche Welle reported on November 10:

“US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron held talks on Saturday after a public spat over the French leader’s suggestion that Europe should rely less on the US for its security. The US and France attempted to smooth over differences over a European defense mechanism, with Trump assuring Macron that Washington would ‘help’ Europe with its defense. Trump, however, reiterated that EU member states must pay their fair share toward NATO expenses…

“Macron’s office said Saturday that the French president’s comments about a European army had been misinterpreted. ‘He never said we need a European army against the United States,’ a statement released by Macron’s office said…”

It was suggested by the EU that Macron had been referring to computer hackers who could attack Europe from anywhere, including from inside the United States. This is ridiculous. Hackers were not part of the discussion. Clearly, Macron proposed a real European army to defend against Washington, and he did state what most European leaders feel.

EU Commission Agrees with Macron’s Initial Proposal for an EU Army

The Sun wrote on November 10:

“The presidents of the United States and France met today for talks at the Elysee Palace where Macron, 40, called Trump ‘my friend’ despite the pair openly disagreeing over the creation of an EU army… In an extraordinary attack on the US president, Macron lumped Washington together with Moscow and Beijing as Europe’s biggest foes. The arch euro federalist insisted only a fully fledged EU defence force can protect the continent against the trio’s aggression…

“[Macron’s comments] were welcomed by the EU Commission, which said it has already put the wheels in motion for the eventual creation of a euro army…

“But the remarks were savaged by former British Army commanders, who said the revelations showed why the UK must pull out of the EU’s defence plans. Major General Julian Thompson, who led British forces in the Falklands, told The Sun: ‘The EU Commission now openly admits it has created the preamble to an EU army…’ Colonel Richard Kemp, a commander of UK troops in Afghanistan, added: ‘This is precisely what eurosceptics have been warning about…’”

German SPD Leader Demands European Army

Bild Online wrote on November 11:

“Andrea Nahles (48), leader of Germany’s coalition party, the SPD, demands a ‘European Army.’ Her rationale: There are 28 armies, 27 air forces and 23 marines. ‘No wonder that we spend incredibly much for the military,’ she said… [Europeans] ‘should work closer together and form a counterbalance to President Trump.’”

When even the left-liberal SPD demands a European Army (albeit for different reasons), we should understand that its arrival time is near.

Angela Merkel Joins In

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 13:

“The German chancellor has addressed MEPs in Strasbourg… ‘We need to take our fate into our own hands,’ Merkel told the assembly. To that end, she said she would also propose the establishment of a European Security Council with a rotating presidency that would help to streamline European defense and security policy… In a clear show of support for [Macron’s] plans to create a European defense force, Merkel said the EU should work on a vision for a European army ‘that would complement NATO,’ and not undermine it. A European army, she said, would ‘show the world that there will never again be war between European countries.’”

She actually said, “We should work on the vision to also create one day a real European army (“eine echte europaeische Armee)” (compare Die Welt Online and Der Spiegel Online, dated November 13.)  She also said, according to the Local, dated November 13: “… only a stronger Europe is going to defend Europe.” And, according to Express, dated November 13: “… it would be a lot easier to cooperate with us if we have more than 160 different weapons systems and the US has only 50 or 60.”

President Trump tweeted before on November 13, pointing out that France was liberated by the USA at the end of World War II: “Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two – How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!”

Haaretz interpreted this tweet as follows, on November 13: “While the text of the tweet is cryptic, Trump appeared to be warning that Germany may invade France again without NATO and U.S. protection.”

The Guardian added on November 13:

“Guy Verhofstadtt, the chief representative for the European parliament on Brexit shot back at Trump. ‘What Trump doesn’t seem to realize is that without French money, the USA would not even exist as France financed the American revolution. They even gave you the Statue of Liberty to celebrate this!’ Verhofstadt tweeted…

“On Tuesday morning, the president’s tweetstorm continued. He said Macron was suffering low approval ratings while France suffers from high unemployment, then added: ‘By the way, there is no country more Nationalist than France…’ He finished the sequence by taunting… ‘MAKE FRANCE GREAT AGAIN!’”

The Independent wrote on November 14:

“The European Commission has said it is ‘delighted’ that the leaders of France and Germany have backed the creation of a ‘real’ EU army. A spokesperson for the commission’s president Jean-Claude Juncker said he was ‘pleased’ that the argument for the force seemed to be ‘going in our direction’…

“‘Let me clarify that the first one who spoke about the EU army four years ago was someone called Jean-Claude Juncker,’ they said…

“In 2016, then defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon said the UK would use its veto to stop the creation of any EU army. However, the UK is leaving the EU, and will therefore no longer have any say in its governance.”

Bild Online reported on November 14 that its new poll revealed that 79 percent of its readers support a real European Army.

“We need a European Empire”

Handelsblatt Global wrote on November 13:

“… genuine unity – political, financial and military – is still lacking inside the European Union, according to France’s Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire… The European Union should become ‘a peaceful empire’ in order to stand up to China and the US, Le Maire argued. And although thanks to their wartime history, some Germans may find his talk of empire unattractive, Le Maire explains that, ‘I am using this phrase because, in tomorrow’s world, it’s going to be all about power … technological power, economic, financial, monetary, cultural power – all will be decisive. Europe cannot be shy any longer about using its power.’… ‘Everybody knows it takes guts to stand in the way of Donald Trump’s administration,’ Le Maire said. ‘The people of Europe… want to see action.’

“Without Germany’s support in all these issues, Le Maire will find it difficult to turn Europe into an ‘empire.’ Franco-German agreement has been the engine of European integration…”

The ancient Roman Empire is rising one more time in the form of a European Empire, as clearly prophesied in Scripture.

Germany Remembers the Kristallnacht

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 9:

“Germany is marking the 80th anniversary of attacks on Jews that foreshadowed the Holocaust. November 9 has been a fateful date for Germany… Merkel warned that racism in Germany did not end in 1945. ‘If we look at the situation today… we see a worrying anti-Semitism, which threatens Jewish life in our country.’… Merkel tied… this to the rise of populism in times of uncertainty created by political instability.”

The EUObserver wrote on November 9:

“Germans are becoming more hostile towards immigrants, people of the Muslim and Jewish faiths, and other minorities like the Roma, according to a new study…. Some 44 percent of Germans… now want a ban on Muslim immigration, compared to 36.5 percent in 2014… Anti-semitism is also on the rise in eastern Germany… [where up] to one-third… agree at least in part with anti-semitic statements…”

We should realize that anti-semitic movements are not limited to antagonism against the Jews. Martin Luther famously once wrote a book “about the Jews and all those who keep the Sabbath.”

Germany’s Future

Der Spiegel wrote on November 8:

“Merkel’s announcement that she would withdraw her candidacy for CDU leadership ahead of the party’s December party convention released a dynamic that immediately changed the entire architecture of the country’s political framework. The leadership battle in the CDU had long been simmering. Now, it has burst out into the open. For almost two decades, internal party democracy had been frozen, Merkel’s grip on leadership tight and unyielding. Now, though, there are several candidates who have thrown their hats into the ring to determine the future course of the CDU — and nobody in the party’s leadership can control what will happen next. More than that, few in the party believe that Merkel will remain chancellor for long following the CDU convention in December — no matter who emerges victorious in the race to succeed her…

“Once upon a time, a trio of men thought that it was up to them to lead the CDU out of the era of Helmut Kohl. It seemed guaranteed that Friedrich Merz, Roland Koch or Christian Wulff would take over leadership of the party and, later, of Germany. The future was clear before it had even arrived. But then came the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Angela Merkel, who cleverly took advantage of a major party donation scandal to take control of the CDU…

“Merkel… now realizes that she no longer has any influence over the direction her party will take or over how much of her legacy will remain. She also senses that her tenure as chancellor could come to a much quicker end than she would like. Back in 2004, when then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder gave up leadership of the Social Democrats… under a similar situation to the one Merkel now faces, she blasted the move as ‘a complete loss of authority’ and ‘the beginning of the end.’ She knows that the same could now apply to her…

“Merz is the great hope for all those who would like to see the Merkel era come to an end as soon as possible. Furthermore, many see him as the one who can bring back those disgruntled CDU voters who have jumped ship in recent years for the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany. And that hope might even be justified. When Merz speaks of a ‘national identity’ and ‘traditional values,’ it doesn’t sound forced. Furthermore, his pro-European stance protects him against accusations of being a parochial nationalist…

“The only one who looks to be in a position to stop his comeback is Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer… her entire political career is at stake. Should she fail, she has said she would also give up the general secretary position… Kramp-Karrenbauer’s greatest weakness is likely her proximity to Merkel… the openly gay [Jens] Spahn recently opted to marry his partner…

“When the votes are cast on Dec. 7 in Hamburg, there will be a run-off if none of the three candidates emerge with more than 50 percent of the votes in the first ballot. It seems likely that such a run-off would pit Merz against Kramp-Karrenbauer. For Spahn, Merz’s candidacy is a significant nuisance. He even admitted to confidantes that Merz’s comeback came as a surprise. Currently, he is seen as the candidate with the weakest chances…

“The result of the election won’t just carry significant consequences for Angela Merkel. The fate of the current governing coalition could also hang in the balance and snap elections are one possible outcome…

“If Merz or Spahn were to win, Merkel’s tenure would likely soon be over. It is hard to imagine a constellation of Spahn being both CDU chair and a member of Merkel’s cabinet. The two lack even the minimum amount of mutual trust that would be necessary for such a situation to work. The end would likely come even more quickly if Merz were to emerge victorious. He loathes both Merkel and her confidantes with a fervor that is rare even in politics… Should Merz win in early December, confidantes say, she wouldn’t stick around for long.

“[What] then? Swapping out a chancellor is no small thing. There is little chance that the Social Democrats, as junior coalition partner, would support Merz. He himself assumes that the SPD would move further to the left and begin looking for an excuse to end the coalition with the conservatives.

“An encounter with Merz these days… makes it clear that he has lofty goals. He didn’t reenter politics to play third fiddle to the chancellor and parliamentary floor leader… Merz doesn’t just want to become CDU party head. He wants power.”

Manfred Weber the Next President of the European Commission?

Handelsblatt Global wrote on November 9:

“A leading member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative alliance, Manfred Weber, was chosen to head the center-right ticket in the European Parliament’s elections next May. This puts him in line to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission – maybe… Weber, who is the floor leader of the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, easily won the backing of his colleagues to head the ticket for the grouping, the largest in the legislative body. He won 79.4 percent of the vote at a special EPP congress in Helsinki. Juncker headed the ticket in 2014 and was duly appointed commission president after the party bagged the most votes.

“… Amid the political fragmentation in Europe, new far-right, far-left and hard-to-define forces are coming into play. Italy’s eurosceptic Five Star Movement, for instance, which many consider left-leaning, belongs to the same group as the UK Independence Party of Nigel Farage, who no one would consider leftist. The other radical party in Italy’s ruling coalition, the League, belongs to the far-right grouping along with French National Front leader Marine Le Pen. Greece’s ruling Syriza party is in the marginal far-left grouping.

“Weber.. has no experience in government… Weber has never even had a cabinet post… Weber is virtually unknown outside of Bavaria and Brussels. Besides his native German, he speaks only English. Neither language will help him as he campaigns in the 27 remaining EU countries taking part in the May vote. Even Martin Schulz, the longtime president of the European Parliament, had a higher profile when he became the Spitzenkandidat for the Socialist grouping in the 2014 elections. No national leader has endorsed Weber – not even Merkel, who was in Helsinki on Thursday to give him a hug on stage when he accepted the nomination to be Spitzenkandidat.”

Theresa May and the Brexit Debacle

The Huffington Post wrote on November 15:

“The British prime minister was clinging to power by the thinnest of threads on Thursday after a wave of resignations from her Cabinet and the beginnings of a political coup to oust her as leader.

“Theresa May presented her draft deal for the U.K.’s exit from the European Union on Wednesday evening in a mammoth five-hour meeting with her top ministers. In a speech after the meeting, May gave a warning to those who might oppose her…

“But by Thursday morning, just over 12 hours later, her Brexit minister, Dominic Raab, and her work and pensions minister, Esther McVey, both quit, saying they could not support May’s deal because it still requires the U.K. to follow some European Union rules. Politicians pushing for a so-called ‘hard Brexit’… don’t want any deal to tie the U.K. too closely to Brussels, arguing the U.K. should not be following any rules it no longer has a role in shaping…

“She now faces a serious threat by eurosceptic politicians, who are threatening to attempt to remove her as head of the Conservative Party by sending 48 letters of ‘no confidence’ to the chair of the party’s organizing committee, which would trigger a leadership contest.

“… her deal came under a sustained attack in the Commons. Only a handful of Conservative parliament members (those in May’s party) spoke in favor of the agreement…

“The developments threaten to derail the prime minister’s Brexit strategy ahead of a crucial EU summit, which European Council President Donald Tusk confirmed would take place on Nov. 25, ‘if nothing extraordinary happens.’

“What happens next depends on whether May can survive as prime minister. Assuming she does, she still faces a huge uphill battle to get her Brexit deal through a vote in the Commons scheduled for December.

“She could withdraw the current deal and ask the EU for an extension of negotiations, but that would likely be fatal for the already embattled prime minister. If she is ousted, Britain’s already fraught political atmosphere will be further complicated by a Tory leadership battle…

“More disruptive still would be a Commons-wide vote of no confidence, which could trigger a general election…”

US Sanctions Against Nord Stream 2 Pipeline?

Oil Price wrote on November 12:

“Late last week, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said that Washington could still impose sanctions related to the building of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would bring Russian gas directly to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Perry made his comments in Warsaw as the Trump administration tries to convince EU members to sign LNG deals with U.S. producers to offset over reliance on Russian pipeline gas…

“When asked at a news conference whether Washington could impose sanctions on companies working on the project, Perry replied: ‘I saw no signals where we would ever get to the point where we can support Nord Stream 2’…

“In a televised meeting with reporters and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg before a NATO summit in Brussels earlier this year, Trump said it was “very inappropriate” that the U.S. was paying for European defense against Russia while Germany, the biggest European economy, was supporting gas deals with Moscow. However, since then, Germany has indicated that it wanted to buy more LNG from the U.S., with plans to build three LNG receiving terminals. Germany also remains firm in its support for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The $11 billion gas pipeline will stretch some 759 miles (1,222 km), running on the bed of the Baltic Sea from Russian gas fields to Germany, bypassing existing land routes over Ukraine, Poland and Belarus…

“Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in September that the pipeline would go forward even if sanctions were put in place. ‘We hope that there will be no sanctions. If U.S. restrictions are imposed, the project will be implemented anyway, the pipe laying has already started,’ Novak told reporters, adding that the plan envisions the project to be completed by the end of 2019.”

Whatever Happened to the “Investigation” of Khashoggi’s Murder?

The Guardian and Reuters wrote on November 10:

“Ankara has given recordings on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia, the US, Germany, France and Britain, Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said. Khashoggi, a critic of de facto Saudi ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed in Saudi Arabia’s Istanbul consulate last month in a hit which Erdogan says was ordered at the ‘highest levels’ of the Saudi government…

“They include the killing itself and conversations pre-dating the operation which Turkey subsequently uncovered… These had led Ankara to conclude from an early stage that the killing was premeditated, despite Saudi Arabia’s initial denials of any knowledge or involvement. Saudi Arabia’s prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb has since said Khashoggi’s killing was planned in advance, although another Saudi official said Prince Mohammed had no knowledge of the specific operation.”

Are the “investigating” powers willing to ignore and sweep the evidence of Saudi Prince Mohammed’s involvement under the carpet?

The Guardian added on November 15:

“Saudi Arabia says it will pursue the death penalty for five suspects charged with ordering and carrying out the killing of… Khashoggi  in the latest effort to distance the country’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, from the grisly murder…”

Sanhedrin Urges Candidates for Jerusalem Mayor to Prepare for Third Temple

Breaking Israel News wrote on November 8:

“Jerusalem will have a new mayor next week and more than any other election this year will decide the religious nature of Israel’s capital. The nascent Sanhedrin has addressed a letter to the two candidates emphasizing the role of the Third Temple in municipal current policy. The Jerusalem mayoral election held last week ran five candidates, but the results were so close that an additional runoff vote next week is needed to choose between the top two. Moshe Lion with 33 percent of the vote and Ofer Berkovitch with 29 percent will run off against each other – with neither achieving the 40 percent of the electorate required to win office…

“‘With God’s merciful approval, one of you will be chosen as head of the city, may it be built and made ready for its ultimate purpose,’ the Sanhedrin wrote. ‘We call on the candidates as well as the voters to make choices based on truth and on the main aspect of Jerusalem, which is the building of the Temple.’

“The Sanhedrin wrote a similar letter to U.S. President Donald Trump after he won the election, calling on him to take a role in building the Third Temple just as Persian King Cyrus helped the Jews build the Second Temple after the Babylonian exile in the sixth century BCE.

“‘Avoiding this essential issue endangers the existence of the city and its identity as the capital of Israel, thereby endangering Israel itself,’ the Sanhedrin wrote to the mayoral candidates. ‘Every Jew and all of humanity are commanded to ascend to the Temple Mount.’ ‘We expect you, as candidates, to relate to this role the city has as home of the Temple. This subject is not simply a matter of religious belief but must also be expressed in political, fiscal, and educational terms.’

“The Sanhedrin emphasized the importance of Jerusalem in the world. In the letter, they noted that the capital of Israel is frequently the focus of domestic politics and, in the case of Trump, has become an essential part of his platform. In the letter, the Sanhedrin praised Trump for moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. ‘Jerusalem in its entirety is sanctified as Holy and is the spiritual center of the world, the throne of God. We urge you to make public your plans relating to this aspect of the city. There are several ways this can be accomplished, such as festivals of holiness to replace those of impurity.’

“The Sanhedrin has already begun working toward this end, holding full-dress reenactments of the Temple service before the Biblical feasts. Another glorious example of this was the World Creation Concert held the week before Rosh Hashana, which several representatives from South American countries attended.

“The Sanhedrin emphasized that the city will change when the Temple is built, requiring massive improvements to its infrastructure. ‘Jerusalem must prepare to host the millions of pilgrims who will attend the feasts when the Third Temple is built,’ the letter said. ‘We also call on the government to prepare a center for an international body to replace the United Nations and the Hague, one that will be rooted in the Bible.’”

Express added on November 9:

“Talk of a third temple being built emerged this week in response to a letter penned by the powerful Jewish assembly of rabbis known as the Sanhedrin. Jerusalem is heading into a mayoral election next week and the Sanhedrin urged both running candidates, Ofer Berkovich and Moshe Lion, to rebuild the temple.

“The first two Holy Temples of Jerusalem were constructed on the city’s Temple Mount centuries ago but were razed to the ground by the Babylonians and the Romans respectively. The Holy Temple plays a crucial role in Jewish tradition and is a central player in prophecies and tales concerning the apocalypse.”

How important or influential is the nascent Sanhedrin?

According to Wikipedia, “The 2004 attempt to re-establish the Sanhedrin was an attempt to set up a revived national rabbinical court of Jewish law in Israel… The attempt has been met with the most acceptance and the least opposition among Gedolim and Rosh Yeshivas of all previous attempts in history since the disbandment of the original Sanhedrin in the 4th century. The organization heading this attempt refers to itself as the nascent Sanhedrin or developing Sanhedrin, and regards itself as a provisional body awaiting integration into the Israeli government as both a supreme court and an upper house of the Knesset, while the Israeli secular press regards it as an illegitimate fundamentalist organization of rabbis. The organization, which is composed of over 70 rabbis (similar to the composition of the original Sanhedrin), claims to enjoy recognition and support from the entire religious Jewish community in Israel, and has stirred debate in both religious and secularist circles.”

Breaking Israel News reported on August 29, 2016, that a “significant step was recently taken towards reinstating the Temple service when the nascent Sanhedrin selected Rabbi Baruch Kahane as the next Kohen Gadol (high priest).”

The movement for the building of the Third Temple is growing, and the Bible prophesies that a Third Temple will be built before Christ’s return. For further information, please view our StandingWatch program, titled, “Netanyahu’s Announcement of a Third Temple?”

The Algemeiner and Reuters wrote on November 14:

“A religious Jewish candidate won election as mayor of Jerusalem on Wednesday in a run-off against a secular contender for a post that shapes Israel’s rule over the holy city at the heart of its conflict with the Palestinians. Moshe Lion, a skullcap-wearing bureaucrat favored by two key members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rightist cabinet, defeated Ofer Berkovitch, the 35-year-old deputy mayor, after neither took enough votes in a five-man contest two weeks ago to win outright.”

Earlier this year, Lion was asked about his stance on the future of the Temple Mount, but he refused to comment.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman Resigns

Deutsche Welle wrote on November 14:

“Israel’s hard-line defense minister Avigdor Lieberman announced his resignation on Wednesday and called for snap elections after a row over a ceasefire with Gaza’s rulers Hamas to end a two-day flare up in violence. ‘What happened yesterday — the truce combined with the process with Hamas — is capitulating to terror. It has no other meaning,’ Lieberman told journalists. ‘What we’re doing now as a state is buying short-term quiet, with the price being severe long-term damage to national security.’

“A security cabinet meeting on Tuesday ended with a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office saying that ministers had unanimously agreed to the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire. Lieberman’s office then made a statement saying that his ‘alleged support for stopping the attacks in Gaza is fake news.’ Four other ministers, including Education Minister Naftali Bennett of the far-right Jewish Home Party, also announced they had opposed the ceasefire…

“Lieberman also said his Yisrael Beiteinu will leave the ruling coalition, an action that could prompt Netanyahu to call early elections. The departure of Yisrael Beiteinu’s five seats in parliament leaves Netanyahu with a majority of just one seat in the 120-seat Knesset… However, an official from his Likud party dismissed there would be early elections. Netanyahu, who is also foreign minister, will take over the defense portfolio, but he may come under pressure from other coalition partners for that prized ministry… Netanyahu has come under criticism from members of his right-wing government for his decision to allow Qatar to provide money to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip to pay for salaries and fuel to ease an electricity crisis.”

Unprecedented California Wildfires

Headlines like “Malibu Apocalypse” or “Armageddon” made the news.

The New York Times wrote on November 10:

“Even in a state hardened to the ravages of wildfires, the infernos that raged at both ends of California on Friday were overpowering. At least nine people were killed, including several who died in their cars in a retirement community called Paradise. Malibu mansions burned. And in the neighborhood in Thousand Oaks where a gunman had killed 12 people in a crowded bar earlier in the week, survivors now fled the flames.

“The fire-prone state was battling three major fires, one in the northern Sierra and two west of Los Angeles. In the northern town of Paradise, the ruins of houses and businesses smoldered throughout the day, while in Southern California, tens of thousands of residents fled their homes and jammed onto highways…

“Officials estimated that the blaze in the north, called the Camp Fire, had destroyed a staggering 6,700 structures — most of them residential. Such vast devastation would make it the most destructive fire in modern state history…

“Wildfires like these have long been a threat in California, but over the last several years they have had devastating impacts never before seen in the state. Firefighters constantly repeat that the state has reached a ‘new normal’ of nearly year-round fires…

“In Southern California, the authorities ordered the complete evacuation of Malibu, the affluent community that is home to many Hollywood celebrities, as the fire raced through the hills and canyons above the Pacific Ocean. No part of the fire was under control, according to the Ventura County Fire Department. Western Ranch, a movie set that was built by Paramount Pictures and where the HBO series ‘Westworld’ was filmed [as well as ‘Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman’ and ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’], burned down…

“Residents in more than 75,000 homes in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties were told to evacuate.”

ABC News added on November 10:

“President Donald Trump woke up in Paris on Saturday in the mood to make threats toward California as it deals with deadly wildfires in Northern California and hundreds of smoldering homes in Southern California. In an angry tweet, the president threatened to pull federal funding for the state if nothing is done to ‘remedy’ the situation.”

The Week added on November 11:

“President Trump has continued to argue on Twitter the fires are the result of improper forest management by California, drawing the ire of the California Professional Firefighters union.”

The Week wrote on November 14:

“At least 48 people have been killed by the Camp Fire in Northern California’s Butte County, making it the deadliest fire in state history. The Camp Fire has burned 130,000 acres, destroyed more than 8,800 homes and businesses, and is just 35 percent contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said on Tuesday. Most of the deaths were in the ravaged town of Paradise, where residents and officials continue to search for bodies. In Southern California, the Woolsey Fire has burned 96,314 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, killing two people and destroying 435 structures. It is 40 percent contained.”

The Week wrote on November 15:

“More than 300 people have been reported missing in the aftermath of the Camp Fire in Northern California’s Butte County as of Thursday. At least 56 people have been killed, making it the deadliest fire in state history…”

Doctored Tape not Doctored?

The Independent wrote, sarcastically, on November 9:

“Trump denies [the] doctored Acosta video shared by White House was doctored, then threatens to ban more journalists… Donald Trump has denied a video of his altercation with CNN reporter Jim Acosta that was shared by the White House was ‘doctored’, despite evidence it had been manipulated… Mr Trump insisted the video had not been edited. ‘Nobody manipulated it, give me a break,’ he said. ‘See that’s just dishonest reporting…’”

How much is that war between Trump and the media going to escalate? It won’t end any time soon, if ever. Note the next article.

CNN Sues White House over Acosta Ban

The Daily Mail reported on November 13:

“CNN filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the Trump administration… The networks’ suit, filed by a team that includes former George W. Bush solicitor general Ted Olson, demands the immediate return of Acosta’s credentials… ‘The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acosta’s First Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their Fifth Amendment rights to due process,’ according to a CNN statement…

“The suit names as defendants Trump, chief of staff John Kelly, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, deputy chief of staff for communications and former Fox News executive Bill Shine, the director of the U.S. Secret Service and the uniformed officer who took away the credentials… The suit was filed by Ted Boutrous, and Olson, of the firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

“Olivier Knox, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, said in a statement that the group ‘strongly supports CNN’s goal of seeing their correspondent regain a US Secret Service security credential that the White House should not have taken away in the first place.’”

Axios wrote on November 14:

“Fox News is supporting CNN’s lawsuit against the Trump administration over the White House’s revocation of Jim Acosta’s press pass and plans to file an amicus brief in the case, according to a statement from the network’s president Jay Wallace…

“Twelve other news organizations also announced they would be joining Fox in filing an amicus brief in support of CNN [including AP, Bloomberg, NBC News, New York Times, POLITICO, USA Today Network and the Washington Post].”

CNN added on November 14:

“Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a Trump appointee, has been assigned to the case. He will hold a hearing about the request for a temporary restraining order Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. But this legal battle could stretch on for a while. In the event there is no settlement, CNN is requesting a jury trial.”

CNN Business wrote on November 15:

“Judge Timothy J. Kelly heard nearly two hours of oral arguments about CNN’s request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on Wednesday… he rescheduled the next hearing for Friday at 10 a.m.…”

The law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is one of the most prestigious law firms in the nation. According to legal experts, CNN has a very strong or “robust” legal case against the defendants, especially in light of President Trump’s public comments undermining the defense, that he may consider banning other reporters as well (who have not engaged in any alleged “physical conduct” against female interns).

More Legal Trouble for Donald Trump?

The Daily Beast wrote on November 11:

“Friday’s in-depth Wall Street Journal report suggests the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York and the FBI appear to possess evidence of Donald Trump’s involvement in a criminal scheme that helped get him elected president…

“Trump played a central role in hush-money payments made to Karen McDougal and Stephanie Clifford during the 2016 presidential campaign, the Journal reports, adding more detail to the case of Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer-lawyer who pled guilty to federal campaign finance violations in the Southern District in August.

“Recall that when Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court, he stated under oath that he had made the payments ‘in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office’—many assumed that that candidate was Trump, of course. We now know from the Journal that the person who directed Cohen in this criminal scheme was, indeed, Donald Trump. The charging document to which Cohen pled guilty states that he ‘coordinated with one or more members of the campaign, including through meetings and phone calls, about the fact, nature, and timing of the payments.’ The Journal reports that ‘[t]he unnamed campaign member or members referred to Mr. Trump, according to people familiar with the document.’

“In addition, we now know that the evidence of Trump’s involvement in this criminal scheme is not limited to Cohen… the reporters note they obtained information from ‘interviews with three dozen people who have direct knowledge of the events or who have been briefed on them, as well as court papers, corporate records and other documents.’

“… the story opens with a detailed recounting of a crucial and previously unreported August 2015 meeting between Trump and National Enquirer publisher David Pecker… during which Trump asked Pecker how he could help the campaign. Pecker reportedly offered to use his tabloid newspaper to purchase and squash the stories of women alleging affairs with Trump (which he did months later with McDougal). This conversation, on its own, establishes Trump’s direct involvement with and direction of the hush money payment… and goes to the heart of the question of Trump’s intent, namely, did he know and intend that these hush money payments would benefit his campaign for president?

“So, can President Trump be charged… with a crime of violating the federal campaign finance laws? Probably not…”

The report by the Wall Street Journal cannot be easily dismissed as left-liberal propaganda, as the Wall Street Journal is a conservative and basically pro-Trump news outlet. However, as we have repeatedly said before, President Trump will not be indicted, and he is going to be re-elected, as he is fulfilling biblical prophecy… for better or worse.

The False Teaching of Purgatory and Indulgences

Christian News wrote on November 5:

“As has been the custom for the past 50 years, Roman Catholics worldwide who pray at a cemetery between Nov. 1-8—and follow other requirements—are being offered a plenary indulgence to free their loved one from Purgatory and send their soul to Heaven…

“Nov. 1 marked All Saints Day in the Roman Catholic Church, followed by All Souls Day, which began an octave in which adherents of the religion are offered—under certain requirements—a plenary, or complete, indulgence for a deceased loved one or friend. On all other days of the year, the indulgence is only partial. While indulgences were especially common during the days of Reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546), who strongly rebuked the practice, the November offering is a more recent declaration, issued by the Vatican under the leadership of Paul VI on June 29, 1968.

“The doctrine was stated to have been solidified during the Councils of Florence (1439) and Trent (1545-1563), and Catholics further point to the apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees 12, which states, ‘It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.’… the Catholic Catechism outlines that Roman Catholic leadership ‘by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus’ offers indulgences as a means of intervention ‘in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins.’

“Each November since 1968, the Vatican has offered the living the stated opportunity to obtain plenary indulgences for the dead, so that they might be completely freed from Purgatory and go to Heaven. One plenary indulgence per day can be obtained during the eight-day period, and to obtain the indulgence, one must visit the cemetery to pray for the departed, receive communion, go to confession, and pray for the pope, with the minimum being the recitation of the Our Father and the Hail Mary. Other rituals may also be employed.”

The whole concept of Purgatory and the praying for the dead idea, as taught by the Catholic Church and uninspired apocryphal books, such as 2 Maccabees, is totally against Holy Scripture. The power to bind and to loose, which Christ gave to the ministry of His true Church, does of course not relate to teachings contrary to the Bible.

Will the Next Economic Crisis Lead to World War III?

Project Syndicate wrote on November 8:

“The next economic crisis is closer than you think. But what you should really worry about is what comes after: in the current social, political, and technological landscape, a prolonged economic crisis, combined with rising income inequality, could well escalate into a major global military conflict…

“In the United States, housing prices are now 8% higher than they were at the peak of the property bubble in 2006… The price-to-earnings (CAPE) ratio, which measures whether stock-market prices are within a reasonable range, is now higher than it was both in 2008 and at the start of the Great Depression in 1929. As monetary tightening reveals the vulnerabilities in the real economy, the collapse of asset-price bubbles will trigger another economic crisis – one that could be even more severe than the last…

“This is all the more worrying in view of the numerous other factors stoking social unrest and diplomatic tension, including technological disruption, a record-breaking migration crisis, anxiety over globalization, political polarization, and rising nationalism. All are symptoms of failed policies that could turn out to be trigger points for a future crisis. Voters have good reason to be frustrated, but the emotionally appealing populists to whom they are increasingly giving their support are offering ill-advised solutions that will only make matters worse…

“Against this background, we must take seriously the possibility that the next economic crisis could lead to a large-scale military confrontation…”

Bitcoin May Boom Due to US Climbing Debt

Express wrote on November 11:

“There could be a major spike in the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies because of the rapidly growing level of US debt, a leading industry expert has claimed. ShapeShift CEO Erik Voorhees has said cryptocurrencies will boom during the next global financial crisis. The finance expert at the global trading firm believes the high level of US debt will cripple the economy unless more money is printed. He argues this will lead to an increase in cryptocurrency investment. He said: ‘When the next global financial crisis occurs, the world will realise organisations with $20trillion in debt can’t possibly ever pay it back. They must print it instead, and thus fiat is doomed…

“US lawmakers keep increasing the country’s debt ceiling, allowing for the federal government to take on more and more debt. His theory is the debt level of world economies is unsustainable and will put states under pressure the next time there is a financial crash. As a result, he believes quantitive easing will have to come into force, the process whereby governments print money, to help pay off the money they owe. The more money in circulation the less it is worth, meaning ordinary families could be set to see their savings decrease in value. Mr Voorhees believes this in turn could lead to more people investing in cryptocurrencies…

“However, digital currencies are also a financial risk for investors due to their history of extreme volatility. In 2017, Bitcoin’s value rocketed to more than double its value, reaching a high $19,783 in December. However, it then plunged in 2018 to a low of less than $6,000 in June. Since then the online money has stabilised and has seen no major rises or falls in its value. At the time of writing Bitcoin is worth $6,367.36.”

Express added on November 16:

“BITCOIN (BTC) experienced a sudden drop in value on Wednesday after a prolonged period of record stability, which many experts said would produce a sharp move in either an upwards or downwards direction.”

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.