2018 Shutdown of the US Government
Newsmax wrote on January 20:
“A procedural vote to advance legislation passed by the House to fund the federal government through next month failed in the Senate on Friday, less than two hours before a midnight deadline passed to avert a shutdown. The vote… failed 50-49…
“Most Democrats rejected the continuing resolution that would have kept the government open until Feb. 16 to try to force Republicans to negotiate a permanent solution for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program [the “Dreamers”]. Only five Democrats voted to advance the resolution… However, four Republicans voted against the measure… Arizona Sen. John McCain, who is battling brain cancer, was absent for the vote…”
Since 1976, there have been 18 shutdowns. But this is the first shutdown ever to occur while a single party controls both the White House and Congress (House and Senate).
The Daily Mail wrote on January 20:
“The federal government shut down at the stroke of midnight Friday… marring the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration in a striking display of Washington dysfunction…”
On Monday, the shutdown was lifted for three weeks after votes in the Senate and the House. The Democrats are blamed for giving in to President Trump and the Republicans.
Media Blames Democrats for Betraying Dreamers
The Washington Post wrote on January 23:
“In exchange for reopening the government through Feb. 8, the majority leader promised that the Senate will consider the status of ‘dreamers’… the undocumented immigrants who were brought to this country illegally as children… [Senate Republican Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell delivered a carefully worded speech on the Senate floor, saying it was his ‘intention’ to address the dreamer issue, whether in the next spending bill or thereafter. He did not offer a specific promise to protect dreamers, and he suggested that he would offer nothing if the government shut down again, but he said he would follow an evenhanded process…
“The deal that reopened the government did nothing to ensure the House will act on a bill that the Senate passes, and conservatives aligned with the Freedom Caucus predicted that the bipartisan proposals currently being considered would be dead on arrival in their chamber… House leaders said they’re still acting as if the deadline to deal with DACA is March 6, which is when Trump announced last year that he would end the program…
“Keeping the president as contained as possible and largely hidden from view deprived Democrats of the boogeyman they expected when they decided to force the shutdown… Over the weekend, aides like [Mick] Mulvaney, [John] Kelly and [Marc] Short warned Trump to stay out of the fight and let it play out on Capitol Hill. … McConnell and [Ryan] also believed that the Democrats were in a politically tricky position, and called Trump multiple times to ensure he remained locked into the approach…
“This morning’s clips are brutal for Senate Democrats, especially [Senate Democratic Leader Chuck] Schumer. The mainstream media coverage is portraying them, almost universally, as weak-kneed and hapless. They’re getting mocked on the right and hammered even harder from left-leaning outlets… The consensus on the left side of the media is that Schumer made a fool’s bargain… He could prove skeptics wrong over the next two weeks, of course, but for now he is not getting the benefit of the doubt…”
It appears that Schumer tries to placate his critics by changing positions, but in doing so, matters will only get worse. Note the next article:
Politico wrote on January 23:
“The Senate minority leader, through an aide, informed the White House on Monday that he was retracting the offer he made last week to give Trump well north of the $1.6 billion in wall funding Trump had asked for this year, according to two Democrats. And now they say Trump will simply not get a better deal than that on his signature campaign promise…
“In the now-infamous cheeseburger summit last Friday with Trump, Schumer offered a large increase in border wall spending as a condition for a broader deal to help Dreamers. But after that offer was rebuffed — prompting the three-day government shutdown — the president has now ‘missed an opportunity to get the wall,’ one Democratic aide said…
“Republicans aligned with Trump are unlikely to go for any bill that does not offer a major boost in border wall funding, given the president’s strong feelings about the issue…”
This does not sound to be great news. Trump already declared that if there is no wall, then there is no DACA.
The Week added on January 25:
“The White House delivered an outline of its proposal on immigration to members of Congress on Thursday, which includes a pathway to citizenship for up to 1.8 million undocumented young people brought to the United States as children…
“The proposal also calls for $25 billion for border security, including building parts of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border; the end of a diversity visa lottery system; and the scaling back of family-based immigration.”
Trump Lawyer Reportedly Created Shell Company to Pay Off Porn Star
The Week wrote on January 19:
“A month before the 2016 presidential election, President Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen set up a private company in Delaware to pay former adult film star Stephanie ‘Stormy Daniels’ Clifford $130,000 to keep quiet about alleged sexual encounters with Trump, The Wall Street Journal reports.
“On Oct. 17, 2016, Cohen established Essential Consultants LLC, then used a bank account linked to the company to send $130,000 to the client-trust account of an attorney representing Daniels. Pseudonyms were reportedly used to conduct the business, with Clifford referred to as ‘Peggy Peterson.’ Records also show that on Sept. 30, 2016, Cohen started an entity in Delaware called Resolution Consultants LLC, but on Oct. 17, just two minutes after creating Essential Consultants, he dissolved Resolution Consultants. Cohen denies paying off Daniels.’”
What is remarkable about this story is that it was reported by a highly respected conservative publication. While a denial of payment in this case seems highly dubious and while a settlement, per se, is not evidence of guilt, the reported underlying circumstances seem to amply support the conclusion that money was paid for highly inappropriate sexual behavior.
According to The Daily Mail, dated January 19, Daniels “told In Touch that they had slept together on a previous occasion, shortly after the birth of his youngest son… she described the alleged 2006 sexual encounter with the future president in a hotel room at the Harrah’s Casino in Lake Tahoe following a celebrity charity golf tournament… Daniels, now 39, told ‘In Touch’ that Trump, then a reality TV star, lured her into conversations and sex with a promise that he would get her a role on his show, ‘The Apprentice.’… Daniels said that Trump deflected questions about his wife, the future first lady, despite the fact that she was at home with an infant son while he was making publicity appearances…”
Daily Mail added:
“Daniels has previously denied that she engaged in any type of sexual relationship with Trump, in a statement released by the president’s longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Trump has also denied having an affair with her.”
Even though Sodom and Gomorrah describes homosexual conduct rather than adultery, the principle of God’s anger with inappropriate sexual behavior by American Presidents (such as Kennedy, Clinton and now Trump, if true) certainly applies.
How the Most Unpopular President in US History Could Be Reelected in 2020
Express wrote on January 19:
“DONALD TRUMP ended his first year in office as the most unpopular US President on record and the past year since his inauguration has been filled with surprises, controversy and disagreements but… he could win a second term…
“The past year has been eventful for Mr Trump as he fights continued allegations over connections with Russia, escalated the rhetoric with North Korea, fought the battle at home over healthcare and fired the head of the FBI, amongst taking swipes at the media and announcing plans to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. He is the only US President since Harry Truman to have a negative net approval rating after a year in the White House and finds himself an unbelievable 24 points below where Barack Obama was at the same time in his presidency.
“Mr Trump’s honeymoon period did not last long, as eight days after his inauguration he had managed to achieve a majority disapproval rating. The Republican businessman managed to win the presidency despite being extremely unpopular in many parts of America and was only the fifth US President in history to win despite losing the popular vote, the previous being George W Bush in 2000… Despite the overall drop in public opinion, Mr Trump’s approval ratings have remained stable since July. He had a positive net approval rating in 17 states during 2017 – all of which he won in the 2016 presidential election and has regularly outperformed the polls, suggesting he could potentially win another election… Mr Trump defied many experts and polling figuring in the last election and with US politics so divided, if he retains the support of his core base he could win a second term in 2020.”
As our long-time readers and listeners know, we stated our belief that Donald Trump would become the Republican presidential candidate when he announced his run for presidency, and also, that he would become the next US President. Many scoffed at our stance at the time, claiming this would never happen (Subsequently, of course, once he became President, some self-appointed lying “prophets” came forward stating that they “always” knew that he would be President). We have also stated our firm belief that Donald Trump WILL be reelected in 2020, IF the USA will have elections in 2020. All of this is based on our understanding of biblical prophecy… and NOT on opinion polls or human reasoning.
Is US Quietly Preparing for War with North Korea?
Business Insider wrote on January 19:
“While much of the world has celebrated the progress in talks between North Korea and South Korea ahead of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang next month… the US has taken steps to move heavy firepower to the region. And though the US says it will delay its yearly military exercises with South Korea until the end of the Paralympics in March, it has elsewhere trained for scenarios that seem tailor-made for fighting North Korea…
“Besides the exercises, the US has for the second time ever positioned both its nuclear-capable bombers in its territory of Guam, just a short flight from North Korea…
“At a meeting of foreign ministers from 20 countries this week in Vancouver, British Columbia, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson discussed sanctions implementation for North Korea, while Secretary of Defense James Mattis briefed them on the US’s plan for military strikes.”
Mike Pence Speaks to Israel’s Parliament
JTA wrote on January 22:
“Vice President Mike Pence said the U.S. Embassy would move to Jerusalem by no later than the end of next year during an address to Israel’s parliament. In his address Monday, the first by a U.S. vice president to the Knesset, Pence also called the Iran nuclear deal a ‘disaster’ and said ‘the United States of America will no longer certify this ill-conceived agreement.’
“As he began to speak, Arab-Israeli lawmakers from the Joint Arab List party began waving signs protesting the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, leading to their expulsion from the Knesset chamber… Pence cited passages from the Bible and alluded to biblical history, as well as the parallels between the founding of the United States and Israel, many times during his 30-minute address…”
However, as our Q&A in this issue points out, the friendly relationship between the state of Israel and the USA will not continue.
EU Opposes USA and Sides with Palestinians against Israel
The EUObserver wrote on January 22:
“The EU has restated its opposition to US plans on Jerusalem during a visit to Brussels by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. ‘I want to reassure president Abbas of the firm commitment of the European Union to the two-state solution with Jerusalem as the shared capital of two states,’ EU foreign relations chief Federica Mogherini said on Monday… She spoke alongside the Palestinian leader, who urged the EU to ‘swiftly recognise the state of Palestine’…
“The meeting came in the wake of US president Donald Trump’s decision, last year, to unilaterally recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Mogherini referred to Trump’s decision with disdain on two occasions on Monday… France, on Monday, said the EU should open talks on an association treaty with Palestine as an ‘interim accord’ ahead of its future statehood…”
Ultimately, the EU, under German leadership, will enter into an accord or a confederacy with Arab countries against the State of Israel.
Initial Win for Schulz… SPD Approves Coalition Talks with Merkel
Deutsche Welle wrote on January 21:
“Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday voted to begin coalition talks with Angela Merkel’s conservatives in a bid to end the country’s political limbo following September 24 elections. The vote in favor of going ahead with talks, taken at an SPD conference in the former capital, Bonn, attended by some 600 delegates from various state party organizations, came despite considerable rifts within the party. Of the votes, 362 were in favor of talks compared with 279 against.
“The contract that emerges at the end of the coalition negotiations will then be voted on by the SPD’s full 440,000-strong membership, which will thus decide whether the so-called ‘grand coalition’ of Germany’s main parties is finally established…
“Merkel has said that she wants to conclude the negotiations by February 12. If they are successful and Merkel receives the necessary absolute majority in the Bundestag to retain her position as chancellor, she could possibly begin her fourth term in office before Easter…
“In a speech at the congress, SPD leader Martin Schulz… spoke of the blueprint for coalition talks agreed at the preliminary talks as a ‘manifesto of a European Germany that is conscious of its responsibility for liberty, democracy, cohesion and solidarity in Europe.’ He said French President Emmanuel Macron had told him in a telephone conversation on Saturday that France was afraid that the extreme right could come to power in Germany if the German government did not work with its neighbor to support the European idea…”
Handelsblatt Global wrote on January 21:
“Germany’s political class is breathing a sigh of relief, at least for now… Following an emotional debate that seemed to split much of the party’s membership, delegates narrowly voted 362-279 in favor of a blueprint haggled out last week for another so-called grand coalition… The hard work, however, is only just beginning…
“The onus now falls to SPD party leader Martin Schulz, a man who just three months ago had vowed to lead his party into opposition following a huge defeat for his party in September’s elections. But the failure of coalition talks between Ms. Merkel and two other smaller parties, the Free Democrats and Greens, forced the SPD into a rethink… Still, it is hardly a given that the party’s base will vote in favor of a final coalition agreement. The SPD’s debate before Sunday’s vote exposed a wide generational gap in the center-left party, as younger members have led opposition to another grand coalition with Angela Merkel. In other words, the SPD’s more pragmatic wing has won a key battle, but it has yet to win the war…”
We take it for granted that there will be a grand coalition between Merkel and Schulz… something which we have pronounced for months. We also take it for granted that Angela Merkel will be the next German Chancellor, to push forward the European unification project, and that Martin Schulz will play a key role within the new German government regarding European developments. We state this in spite of movements within the SPD to isolate Schulz, asking for his resignation.
AfD’s Immigration Proposals
Deutsche Welle wrote on January 18:
“Thursday marked a historical moment for the Reichstag. It was the first time since the old parliament building burned down in 1933 that a far-right party has been able to present a draft law in the venerable Prussian-era edifice, a building revamped and reopened for the new democratic age in reunified Germany during the 1990s.
“Unsurprisingly, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) chose to present a bill to the chamber that reflected the key policy that has elevated them to the third-largest political force in the Bundestag: stopping immigration. Specifically, their bill was an alteration to Germany’s Residence Act that would permanently ban refugees with ‘subsidiary protection’ status from bringing over their close relatives from war-torn countries.
“Subsidiary protection is an intermediate status defined under European law, which ‘applies when neither refugee protection nor an entitlement to asylum can be granted and yet serious harm is threatened in the country of origin’… Once granted, it entitles the asylum seeker to a one-year residence permit, which can be extended on reapplication, as well as the right to work…
“The AfD went on to add that any relatives of refugees who might be in danger back home in Syria or Afghanistan should instead move to ‘pacified, or uncontested zones in their home country, or else in protective camps in a neighboring country.’”
This sounds pretty much like the position held by President Trump.
AfD Secures Chair of Powerful Budget Committee
The Local wrote on January 23:
“The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured the chair of the country’s powerful budget committee on Tuesday, after being repeatedly shunned for top parliamentary jobs which were shared out among more established parties. The move comes after the Social Democratic Party (SPD) agreed Sunday to open coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, leaving AfD lawmakers as potentially the largest opposition grouping — traditionally called on to head up scrutiny of government finances. MPs from the eurosceptic party will also chair the committees on law and consumer protection and of tourism.”
Italy’s Persecution of the Jews under Mussolini
Deutsche Welle wrote on January 23:
“The Italian parliament on Tuesday held a session recalling the 80th anniversary of the 1938 racial laws it approved under the rule of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini… The 1938 racial laws allowed Italy’s fascist authorities to deprive Jews of fundamental rights, including expelling them from public life by stripping them of their jobs or expelling them from schools. The laws were later expanded to ban marriage between Jews and non-Jews, and strip them of citizenship if they had arrived in Italy after 1919…
“Over the past four years, Italy has witnessed a resurgence of far-right activity…”
One should not forget the collaboration between Mussolini and the Pope; as well as the Italian Catholic Church’s strong support of the racial laws against the Jews.
Germany and Poland Close on Europe
Euraktiv Poland wrote on January 18:
“On Wednesday (17 January), Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz met with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel in Berlin… ‘We have many common issues, problems on the European and world agenda, we should coordinate activities between the main countries in the EU that are France, Germany and Poland,’ said Czaputowicz, expressing hope for a quick meeting within the framework of the Weimar Triangle.
“‘We are close to Germany’s position on the most important issues concerning the vision for and the role of the EU’, but noted that Poland has a ‘slightly different’ position than France. Warsaw was open to dialogue with Paris, expressing hope that soon also a meeting at the highest level will take place. He added that Poland has always been in favour of strengthening ‘this traditional form of cooperation’ between Germany, France and Poland.”
It is hardly imaginable that Poland will not play an important role in the process of unifying Europe.
German-French Collaboration
Euractiv France wrote on January 23:
“On the 55th anniversary of the 1963 [Élysée Treaty], the French National Assembly and the German Bundestag both adopted, on the same day [Monday, January 22], a resolution calling for the strengthening of Franco-German relations.
“The presidents of the National Assembly and of the Bundestag, invited respectively to their counterpart’s institutions, have reaffirmed the importance of Franco-German relations. ‘France and Germany are not simply a couple: our two countries form a family!’ stated the President of the French National Assembly Francois de Rugy, while Bundestag President Wolfgang Schaüble called for ‘further developing together the basis of our close relations.’”
UK Loses EU Satellite Centre to Spain Amid Post-Brexit Security Concerns
Politico wrote on January 18:
“Spain was picked Thursday as the new host of a data center that protects military information gathered by the EU’s satellite program, which must move from the U.K. after Brexit. The secure facility helps ensure the security of the Galileo satellite program — used by government defense programs as well as for civilian uses. The center, currently located in Swanwick, England, is a backup for the main infrastructure in Paris. The European GNSS Program Committee voted today ‘by a large majority’ in favor of relocating the U.K. center to Spain, said a Commission spokesperson.
“The move comes amid concerns over such a facility being located in a non-EU country. Even if the U.K. stays in the Galileo program, like Norway or Switzerland, non-EU member countries are excluded from participating in security aspects. ‘Given the overriding importance for the Galileo program of maintaining the business continuity of the backup site, it is necessary that the U.K. backup site … is transferred to a location in the EU27,’ the spokesperson said.
“The technical infrastructure is the latest facility that has to move from the U.K., following the relocation of two EU agencies: the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority.”
Turkey Attacks Syria
Euractic wrote on January 22:
“The Turkish military on Saturday launched operation ‘Olive Branch’, its second major incursion into Syrian territory during the seven-year civil war. The operation, where Turkish war planes and artillery are backing a major ground incursion launched with Ankara-backed Syrian rebels and Turkish tanks, aims to oust the People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia from its enclave of Afrin…
“But the operation is hugely sensitive as Washington relied on the YPG to oust Islamic State (IS) jihadists from their Syrian strongholds and the Kurdish militia now holds much of Syria’s north… US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said yesterday he was ‘concerned’ about the offensive, saying the United States was in Syria with the aim of defeating the jihadists. But Erdoğan expressed impatience with US demands to set a clear timetable for the operation, saying the campaign would be over ‘when the target is achieved’… Erdoğan insisted Turkey had discussed the operation in advance with Russia, and Moscow was in ‘agreement.’”
Pope Accuses Clergy Sex Abuse Victims Of Slander
Deutsche Welle wrote on January 19:
“Pope Francis had hoped to help repair the wounds of decades of sexual abuse in the church during his trip to South America this week, but his parting comments in Chile have left Catholics there stunned. Victims have accused a local bishop of covering up the crimes of Chile’s most notorious child abuser and allowing them to continue. But on Thursday, Pope Francis criticized the allegations against the bishop, saying they amounted to ‘slander’ due to lack of evidence…
“Francis told Chilean reporters it was slanderous that the victims of pedophile priest Fernando Karadima were accusing Bishop Juan Barros of covering up the abuse. ‘The day they bring me proof against Bishop Barros, I’ll speak out,’ Francis said. ‘There is not one shred of proof against him. It’s slander.’ Barros was invited to several events with Francis.
“‘As if I could have taken a selfie or a photo while Karadima abused me and others and Juan Barros stood by watching it all,’ tweeted Barros’ most vocal accuser, Juan Carlos Cruz. ‘These people are truly crazy, and the pontiff talks about atonement to the victims. Nothing has changed, and his plea for forgiveness is empty’…
“Patricio Navia, political science professor at Diego Portales University in Santiago, said Chileans appreciated that Francis had gone much further than Chilean bishops in acknowledging sexual abuse, but his apparent U-turn on Barros would erase any good will. Anne Barrett Doyle, of the online database BishopAccountability.org, said in that statement Francis ‘has just turned back the clock to the darkest days of this crisis.’ ‘Who knows how many victims now will decide to stay hidden, for fear they will not be believed?’”
The Huffington Post wrote on January 19:
“The church is losing its influence in the nation… A new poll… showed that the number of Chileans calling themselves Catholics fell from 74 percent in 1995 to 45 percent last year…”
The End of Bitcoin? Dictatorships Would Like to Think So!
The Week wrote on January 19:
“The bitcoin boom may be over. And the death of the cryptocurrency craze may well come at the hands of government regulators. Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that Chinese authorities plan to block domestic access to central cryptocurrency trading platforms and related services. Subsequent stories suggested officials in Russia and South Korea might pull similar moves.
“In response, the price of a single bitcoin — the world’s premiere digital currency — has plummeted. Over the weekend, bitcoins were valued at nearly $14,500. That price tag plunged below $9,500 on Wednesday, before bouncing back Thursday — though still only to $12,000. Worse still, bitcoin has been on a slow slide since December, when it topped out at almost $20,000 per coin.
“Is the bubble really bursting? Only time will tell… China’s government actually already banned official cryptocurrency exchanges late last year…
“On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that ‘legislative regulation [of cryptocurrencies] will be definitely required in [the] future.’ And on Thursday, South Korean officials said they were considering following China’s lead, and shutting down crypotcurrency trading via exchanges. Some of the resulting selloff was clearly a news-induced panic…”
Authoritarian governments (including China and Russia) are anxious to destroy bitcoin, as they see it as a threat which they have a hard time managing or controlling. Similar comments to that effect have been made in Europe (see article below). It reminds one of the biblical warning that a time will come when no one can buy or sell unless he has accepted the mark of the beast. But this time has not quite arrived. To therefore conclude that bitcoin is failing now is premature. Apart from continuing stories of irresponsible conduct of established banks, such as Wells Fargo’s ongoing problems, and governmental shutdowns and failing governments due to bickering and/or incompetent politicians, note the following article:
Express added on January 19:
“Bitaccess co-founder Mo Adam… dismissed concerns, claiming it would be impossible to completely ban bitcoin… Speaking to CBC, he said: ‘This is a very recurring theme in the bitcoin world: when more governments become aware of bitcoin, they get scared but then eventually come around it. And then business as usual continues.’…
“Forecast [from] a panel of experts predict bitcoin will remain top dog, with a market cap of $597.95 billion… This comes as Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel are set to launch a joint clampdown on trading cryptocurrencies. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said yesterday that the two countries will make joint proposals to regulate the bitcoin cryptocurrency at the next summit of the G20 group. The European Union has previously proposed treating cryptocurrency markets as a security threat linked to criminal laundering and terrorists.”
Bitcoin will prove to be a thorn in the flesh of many autocratic governments, the banking system, and the world economy. Drastic measures are to be expected, under the disguise of a security threat, and as far-fetched as it may sound, phenomena like bitcoin MIGHT contribute to the rise of a dictatorship in Europe.
Berlin Bitcoin Capital of Europe
The Local wrote on January 23:
“The German capital was first dubbed the ‘Bitcoin Capital of Europe’ by the Guardian in 2013 and since then a number of other businesses have been keen to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment. Nowadays people can buy an apartment, book holidays, eat and drink in a number of trendy bars and even pay for further education using the controversial cryptocurrency Bitcoin…
“One of the first universities in Germany to accept Bitcoin as a means of payment is the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT). The ESMT Berlin EMBA is ranked highly in the world for career progress and first started accepting Bitcoin payments in December 2016… Niels Göttsch is the owner of Leuchtstoff Kaffeebar in Berlin which introduced Bitcoin payments in 2012 and has been fascinated by cryptocurrencies for a very long time…”
The Drive to Remove “Offensive” Material from the Internet
The EUObserver wrote on January 19:
“Social media outlets Instagram and Google Plus are joining ranks with other IT firms as part of a broader European Commission effort to remove online hate speech… [in addition to] Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft… Facebook had recently hired another 3,000 people, on top of an existing staff 4,500, all tasked to remove the material. Out of a sample of just under 3,000 notifications of hate speech over a six-week period for all the platforms, Facebook performed the best and had removed 89.3 percent of the content in under 24 hours. YouTube managed 62.7 percent and Twitter 80.2 percent.
“Racist comments against ethnic minorities, anti-muslin hatred, and xenophobia dominated the take downs… Similar national efforts in Germany, where companies risk a €50 million fine, saw a satirical magazine Twitter account shut down within days of the law being enacted.”
We should realize that Satan is behind this move in an attempt to prevent God’s servants from proclaiming powerfully the Godly teaching and condemnation of ungodly conduct, which has been labeled by liberals as “hate speech.”
Unprecedented Snow and Dark Weather vs. Global Warming
nbc15 wrote on January 17:
“The latest blast of wintry weather brought accumulations as far south as the Gulf Coast! Wednesday morning started off with snow cover in all 50 states and 52.3 percent of the country covered in the white stuff. To have snow on the ground in all 50 states at the same time, is a fairly rare feat. The last time all 50 states had snowfall on the ground at the same time was on February 12th, 2010… Typically, the hardest state to get accumulating snowfall is Florida. This season has already featured three snowfall events in northern Florida!”
The Guardian wrote on January 18:
“Sunshine is in short supply across a swathe of north-west Europe, shrouded in heavy cloud from a seemingly never-ending series of low pressure systems since late November and suffering one of its darkest winters since records began. If you live in Brussels, 10 hours and 31 minutes was your lot for the entire month of December. The all but benighted inhabitants of Lille in France got just two hours, 42 minutes through the first half of January… Belgium’s Royal Meteorological Institute has declared December 2017 ‘the second darkest month since 1887’, when it began measuring, after the 10.5 hours of sun recorded at its Uccle weather station last month were beaten only by a bare 9.3 hours in 1934…
“Rouen in Normandy had an even more depressing first half of the month, with just 2.5 hours of sunshine compared with a full-month norm of 58.6, Météo France said, while Paris’s 10 hours were also a far cry from the 62.5 hours the capital usually averages in January. Even southern French sun-traps such as Bordeaux and Marseille fell a very long way short of their usual ray quota in the first half of the month, basking in just 10.3 and 26.9 hours respectively against monthly averages of 96 and 92.5.
“Health experts say a shortage of sunshine can lead to seasonal depression, whose symptoms include a lack of energy, a desire to sleep and a perceived need to consume greater quantities of sugar and fat…
“The inhabitants of north-west Europe, however, can count themselves lucky. Moscow recorded just six paltry minutes of direct sunshine in the whole of December, shattering the previous record low of three hours, set in 2000. The Russian capital normally averages a bleak 18 hours of sunshine in the last month of the year… Roman Vilfond of Moscow State University’s meteorological unit [said:] ‘The darkest month in the history of our weather observations…’ The daily Moskovsky Komsomolets reported a surge in visits to psychiatrists.”
Daily Mail wrote on January 20:
“Snowfall of the decade! The heaviest snow in EIGHT YEARS falls on Scotland as hordes of skiers create SIX MILE traffic jams in the hills – and there is more on the way in England too. A yellow warning remains in place across the midlands, northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It follows up to a foot of snow falling yesterday, with temperatures expected to sink as low as -11C last night.
“More snow is expected today, adding up to 6in to the 14in already blanketing parts of the Scottish highlands… forecasters have warned snow could make it as far south as London on Saturday night into Sunday.”
All of this does not quite fit with the concept of man-made global warming or climate change.
5 ½-Foot-Tapeworm in Person Shocks Hospital
Newsmax reported on January 20:
“Public health specialists are warning about the dangers of hidden parasites after media reports of a 30-year-old Fresno, Calif., man who showed up at a hospital emergency room with a 5 ½-foot-long tapeworm he may have acquired from improperly prepared sushi.
“Dr. Kenny Banh… said the man showed up in the emergency room of UCSF Fresno’s Community Regional Medical Center last August and told him he was stricken with stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea after eating sushi. Then, while using the bathroom, he noticed something hanging from his rear end, which he was able to remove… He said the patient was convinced he got the tapeworm from eating raw fish because he ate sushi or sashimi almost daily…
“Concerns about sushi-related parasites have been rising in recent years. U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released guidelines for controlling parasites in seafood by cooking the food or freezing it for certain amounts of time. Last January 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases that wild salmon caught in Alaska’s icy waters were found to be infected by a Japanese tapeworm known as Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense… [They are] among the most common tapeworms and can grow up to 30 feet, and live for years in the human body…
“Last May, researchers reported in the British Medical Journal Case Reports that sushi’s growing popularity may be driving an increase in parasite infections. In one case, doctors found parasite larvae in the gut lining of a 32-year-old man who had recently eaten sushi. The man had been vomiting with stomach pain and a fever, but doctors did not suspect the parasite until the man mentioned recently eating sushi. According to The Guardian, the worm was from the genus Anisakis, which causes the condition known as anisakiasis. ‘When humans eat raw or undercooked infected fish or squid, they ingest nematode larvae,’ the CDC reports. ‘Once inside the human body, the larvae can invade the gastrointestinal tract. Eventually, the parasite dies and produces an inflamed mass in the esophagus, stomach, or intestine.’
“According to the CDC, some people will experience a tingling sensation after or while eating raw or undercooked fish or squid, which could actually be the parasite moving in the mouth or throat.
“Tapeworms are only one type of parasite that can infect the human body. Others that can enter the human body through food and water include:
“Giardia — a protozoan that causes giardiasis in humans. This parasite is ingested via contaminated food and water, and affects the small intestine as it begins to multiply and colonize. Symptoms: Flatulence, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fatigue, weakness, and weight loss. Giardiasis symptoms are frequently found in travelers but resolve in a few weeks without treatment.
“E. vermicularis — a nematode parasite that strikes 209 million adults and 30 percent of children worldwide, according to a study published in the American Family Physician journal reports. This parasite is also present in the intestine and the infection may last four to six weeks. Symptoms: Perianal and vaginal itching, urinary tract infection, appendicitis, and weight loss.
“Filarial worms — a roundworm that causes filariasis. This parasite circulates in the blood and, upon maturing, enters the lymphatic system and develops while it lives there for more than five years. It affects the lymphatic nodes and causes retention of fluids resulting in swelling. Symptoms: Swollen feet and lower limbs, skin hardening and thickening.
“Hookworm — also known as necator americanus is found widely in the Americas and Caribbean. The hookworm attaches itself to the intestinal walls and feeds on human blood. Symptoms: Anemia, physical and mental retardation in children.
“Guinea worm — a roundworm that causes Guinea worm disease by entering the stomach and intestine from untreated water. Symptoms: There are no significant visible symptoms when the parasite enters the body. But a year later, the worm ruptures the skin surface, often near the lower limbs, causing painful wounds that can lead to bacterial infections and blood poisoning.”
Terrible Side Effects of Anti-Influenza Drug
CBS DFW (CBS 11) wrote on January 18:
“More families have come forward with stories about frightening side effects in children who took Tamiflu. CBS11 first broke the news of a 6-year-old Allen girl who tried to jump out of a window after taking the anti-influenza drug. She is now back to normal, but her family wasn’t alone…
“Lindsay Ellis of Indianapolis was a healthy 11-year-old before she had the flu last year. Then she began hallucinating bugs on her body and the devil’s voice in her ear… Ellis says doctors believe it was a reaction to Tamiflu. Lindsay was hospitalized for nearly two months, had a feeding tube and was incoherent and unable to move her hands or feet for several weeks… A year later, she still suffers tremors…
“[Japan] banned Tamiflu for youth ages 10 to 19 in 2007 after several dozen instances of neuropsychiatric events… The FDA has listed 559 cases of hallucinations from Tamiflu since 2009.”
Before one falls into the trap of taking drugs and receiving vaccinations against the flu, one should surely research the facts and consider the potential consequences. And one should not just trust the assertions of doctors depending on the pharmaceutical industry… note the next article.
Medical Marijuana in Germany… Legal, but Difficult to Get
Handelsblatt Global wrote on January 19:
“Chronically and terminally ill patients in Germany can’t get enough cannabis. Demand for medical marijuana has far outstripped supply since becoming legally available early last year to patients suffering from debilitating pain… Prior to legalization, only some one thousand people suffering from certain diseases such as cancer or chronic pain had permission from Germany’s federal drug institute (BfArM) to use cannabis for medical purposes…
“Within 10 months, more than 13,000 people had applied, according to a survey of three large health insurers by the Rheinische Post newspaper. Nearly two-thirds of the applications were approved, and some of the remainder are pending further information from patients and their physicians…
“Cannabis is also being used to treat people with multiple sclerosis (MS), an incurable disease that prevents the brain from sending signals correctly through the body…
“The dilemma now facing Germany, which has some of the strictest narcotic drug laws in Europe, is how to get more weed, which is currently imported from countries with legalized operations, like Canada and the Netherlands. A program to produce its own medical marijuana is underway: Last year, Germany’s federal drug institute issued 10 tenders for companies to grow up to 2 tons per year through 2021 and 6 tons from 2022 onward. The first harvest is scheduled for next year. There’s just one hitch: The law requires companies to have previous experience with medical marijuana, which German companies don’t have…
“Growing your own is not an option, which Mr. Weiglein learned the hard way. With a prescription to purchase cannabis since 2009, he saw the monthly cost for his daily 3-gram dose soar from €900 to €2,400 under the new law last year. Apart from the price (one dose of 5 grams of medical marijuana costs €30 in the Netherlands, compared to €125 in Germany), he also had trouble finding his preferred varietal or sometimes any of the 16 varieties at all in local pharmacies. So he grew his own from seeds purchased in the US, got caught, went to court and lost.
“Another hurdle for German patients to clear in obtaining medical marijuana is finding physicians willing to prescribe it…”
“Swimming Bacteria Defy Darwin’s Theory”
Christian Headlines wrote on January 19:
“Tiny biological motors that give bacteria the power to swim possess a complexity that baffles scientists and undercuts Darwin’s theory of evolution… Each of the proteins involved in the bacterial motor’s function is essential…
“Charles Darwin himself admitted that the discovery of such irreducible complexity would destroy his assumptions. ‘If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down,’ he wrote in On the Origin of Species.
“Nevertheless, the researchers said a biological ‘quantum leap’ spurred the evolution of bacterial motors. Lead researcher Morgan Beeby likened the quantum leap to what would happen if the necks of giraffes suddenly increased in length because a giraffe gave birth to offspring with necks a meter longer, rather than because an extended series of random mutations over many years favored longer-necked giraffes.”
The Theory of Evolution is one of the most ridiculous fairy tales ever invented by man, under Satan’s influence.
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.
