This Week in the News

Please note: Before Trump agreed to a last-minute postponement of tariffs against Canada and Mexico, numerous articles had been written warning of terrible consequences if those tariffs would be imposed, as had been announced by Trump. We begin with covering these articles, and then continue with articles about the postponements, which may or may not put the matter to rest.

Global Tariff and Trade War…

Reuters wrote on February 1: 

‘U.S. President Donald Trump is… threatening to ignite a trade war that could disrupt more than $2.1 trillion of annual trade… Just 12 days into his second term, Trump is upending the norms of how the United States is governed and interacts with the wider world. On Friday, he pledged to proceed with the levies [25% against Mexico and Canada, and 10% against China] despite acknowledging they could cause disruption and hardship for American households.

“A model gauging the economic impact of Trump’s tariff plan from EY Chief Economist Greg Daco suggests it would reduce U.S. growth by 1.5 percentage points this year, throw Canada and Mexico into recession and usher in ‘stagflation’ at home… That volatility was evident on Friday, when the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar both slumped after Trump vowed to fulfil his threats. U.S. stock prices also fell and Treasury bond yields rose…

“… during a lengthy White House exchange with reporters, Trump brushed aside the notion that his threats were merely bargaining tools…  He also said revenue was a factor and the tariffs may be increased… Trump did, however, mention a potential carve-out for oil from Canada, saying that tariff rate would be 10%. But he indicated that wider tariffs on oil and natural gas would be coming in mid-February, remarks that sent oil prices higher. At nearly $100 billion in 2023, imports of crude oil accounted for roughly a quarter of all U.S. imports from Canada, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

“Trump acknowledged that higher costs could be passed on to consumers and that his actions may cause short-term disruptions, but said he was not concerned about their impact on financial markets. Jake Colvin, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, which represents major U.S. companies, said imposing tariffs on key trading partners ‘could impact the cost and availability of everything from avocados to air conditioners to cars and risks shifting the focus of our relationships away from constructive dialogue.’

“Although Trump speaks of ‘charging’ other nations for tariffs, they are paid by importing companies, and sometimes passed on to consumers. Automakers would be particularly hard hit, through tariffs on vehicles assembled in Canada and Mexico. Their vast regional supply chain, where components can cross borders several times before final assembly, would further exacerbate these costs.

“And Trump said import taxes were also being considered on European goods, as well as on steel, aluminum and copper, and on drugs and semiconductors… It typically takes weeks for tariffs to take practical effect. Trump’s move is expected to draw retaliatory tariffs, potentially disrupting more than $2.1 trillion in annual two-way U.S. trade with its top three trading partners.”

Mexico supplies about 90% of the avocados consumed in the United States, totaling an estimated $2.7 billion in imports for 2024. While Trump had originally justified tariffs with drugs coming in from Mexico, China and Canada, he recently emphasized more, if not exclusively, the economic aspect, stating that the USA has been unfairly treated by these countries. Of course, tariffs against Europe could not be based on illegal immigration or the allegation that drugs are coming in from there.  It would be strictly on an economical and commercial basis.

Self-Inflicted Wounds?

The Associated Press wrote on January 28:

“Having already forced Colombia to accept deportees by threatening a 25% tariff, President Donald Trump is readying the same move against Canada and Mexico as soon as Saturday. But this time, the stakes are higher and many economists surveying the possible damage… [and warn of] self-inflicted wounds from the tariffs…

“[It is estimated] that taxes paid on imports in the transportation sector from all of Trump’s tariff plans, which include new taxes on China and other countries, could increase from $4 billion a year to $68 billion. It’s unclear how companies would absorb those costs or possibly pass them along to consumers.”

No doubt they would be passed on to consumers. And they would not be happy about Trump’s new economic policies, when they can’t put food on their tables. Biden and Harris were, to a large extent, defeated because of the poor economy with the expectation that the USA will do better under Trump. Now it appears that the USA would do worse. Maybe that was part of the reason why Trump caved in at the last minute…

Canada and Mexico to Retaliate

Bloomberg wrote on February 2:

“Canada and Mexico vowed to hit back at the US after President Donald Trump followed through on threats to impose 25% tariffs on imports of their goods, instigating a trade war that’s set to reshape global supply chains. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the country will impose 25% tariffs against… US goods, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also pledged retaliation. China vowed “corresponding countermeasures” to Trump’s 10% levy on Chinese products…

“The Republican’s orders also included retaliation clauses that would increase US tariffs if the countries respond in kind. The new measures will be on top of existing trade levies on those countries. Energy imports from Canada, including oil and electricity, will be spared from the full 25% levy and will face a 10% tariff…. Trump’s move is explosive in scale and goes well beyond his first-term tariffs. Steep tariffs will raise the cost of key goods like food, housing and gasoline for Americans, while the overall fallout threatens to spill widely across the countries…”

USA and Canada… A New Low

Reuters wrote on February 2:

“… relations between the long-time allies who share the world’s longest land border reach a new low

“The Canadian leader said tariffs would include American beer, wine and bourbon, as well as fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice from Trump’s home state of Florida. Canada would also target goods including clothing, sports equipment and household appliances. Trudeau said the coming weeks would be difficult for Canadians but that Americans would also suffer from Trump’s actions…

“Trudeau encouraged Canadians to buy Canadian products and vacation at home rather than in the U.S…”

Everything to Become More Expensive?

The New York Post wrote on February 1:

“The tariffs could mean significant price increases for ordinary Americans on everyday products… Trump’s tariffs will likely lead to more expensive cars at least in the short term before American suppliers can ramp up to fill the shortfall.

“The tariffs could also reduce consumer spending power by $90 billion on smartphones, TVs, laptops and tablets, video game consoles, headphones and other popular electronics, according to the Consumer Technology Association.  Laptops and tablets could see 45% price increases while similar double-digit increases for smartphones and video games could also be on the offing. ‘The likelihood of retailers or any importer absorbing the tariff cost is very low, so the pass through to consumers will be quick,’ Ed Brzytwa, vice president of international trade at CTA [said].

“The Peterson Institute has estimated Trump’s… tariffs would cost the typical US household over $2,600 a year.”

And that would not even include further tariffs because of retaliation and tariffs for other countries and power blocs, such as the EU.  

The EU Tariff Bomb Shell 

Daily Mail wrote on January 31:

“Trump has announced he will impose tariffs on the European Union… Trump said at the White House Friday he would ‘absolutely‘ put tariffs on the nation’s EU allies. ‘The European Union has treated us so terribly,’ Trump told reporters as he inked new executive orders…

“He said the tariffs on the EU would be ‘very substantial,’ without providing details. It was not immediately clear when those tariffs would go into place.”

It is clear that tariffs against Europe would have nothing to do with illegal drugs flooding the American market. 

Europe Will Retaliate

The Financial Times wrote on February 2:

“The EU has said it regrets US President Donald Trump’s decision to hit Canada, Mexico and China with sweeping tariffs, and said it would respond firmly if a threat to expand the trade measures to Europe was fulfilled.

“Trump sparked a global trade war this weekend…

“Trump imposed the blanket tariffs against Canada and Mexico by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which allows him to take measures in response to ‘an unusual and extraordinary threat.’ [It authorizes the President to regulate imports during a national emergency declared under the National Emergencies Act. It was interpreted to apply here due to the three nations’ tolerance of illegal immigrants and fentanyl] He would need to find justification to potentially use the same tool against the EU, or use tariffs targeting certain industrial sectors on security grounds…”

Even though Trump invoked the IEEPA to justify tariffs due to illegal immigration and fentanyl, Trump’s overriding goal seems to be much more encompassing, as the following articles point out.

Europe’s Reaction

The Guardian wrote on February 3:

“EU leaders have signalled that the bloc would be prepared to retaliate against the US if Donald Trump followed through on his threats to impose tariffs on European goods…

“… French president Emmanuel Macron said that if Europe is ‘attacked in terms of trade … [it] will have to stand up for itself and therefore react.’ Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said the EU should do all it can to avoid ‘totally unnecessary and stupid tariff wars,’ adding it would be a ‘cruel paradox’ if the bloc was forced into a trade war with a long-standing ally. Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen, who is already embroiled in a separate crisis with Trump over the future of Greenland, said that while she would typically ‘never support fighting allies, if the US puts tough tariffs on Europe, we need a collective and robust response.’

“Luxembourg’s prime minister Luc Frieden also said that ‘the answer to tariffs is to reply with [the] same action’… German chancellor Olaf Scholz said any tariffs would be ‘bad for the US and bad for Europe’… “ 

ENR added on February 4:

“The EU summit was almost entirely focused on defense, but the transatlantic relationship with the US was also high on the agenda… According to the Commission President (Ursula von der Leyen), a lot is at stake… the European Union is prepared for a ‘robust, but constructive dialogue with the United States,’ but will not accept everything. ‘We are ready’ for a possible conflict, she warned.”

The alienation between the EU and the USA will continue… 

Tariffs on Hold for Thirty Days

The New York Post wrote on February 3:

“President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a temporary deal Monday evening to halt the imposition of 25% tariffs on each other’s imports for 30 days while a final border security pact gets hashed out. Trump, 78, and Trudeau, 53, spoke on the phone twice Monday before announcing the agreement, with Canada set to ensure 10,000 troops will be stationed at the northern border and the PM vowing to take steps to crack down on fentanyl smuggling….

“Earlier Monday, Trump and Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a similar monthlong pause on the looming 25% tariff against America’s southern neighbor. Mexico confirmed plans to dispatch 10,000 troops to the US border and claimed that Washington would help crack down on illegal weapons trafficking into its territory….

“The tariff-adoring president has also been musing about issuing similar threats against European countries as well as the United Kingdom.”

Justifying the postponement with working on border security pacts is clearly not the only reason for the tariffs, as the threat towards Europe and the UK demonstrates. But Trump might have realized that, for now, the American people would not stand for having to pay much more for goods and necessities. Conservative papers and outlets described the postponement as a victory for Trump. In reality, if anything, it was a Pyrrhic victory.

The Guardian wrote on February 3:

“It is the third time in two weeks the US president has delayed his threatened 25% tariffs on the two countries. China is still set to face additional 10% levy on its exports to the US from Tuesday…

“The agreements came on a day of extreme volatility in global financial markets as rattled investors reacted to the prospect of a dramatically escalating dispute involving the world’s largest economies… Economists have warned Trump’s planned wave of tariffs would risk raising prices for millions of Americans, just weeks after he pledged, upon taking office, to ‘rapidly’ bring them down… [Trump] conceded over the weekend that they could cause ‘a little pain’ in the US.

“Markets sold off sharply worldwide in response to what has been described as a ‘Trump tariff tantrum’ before recovering some of their losses after news broke of the deal with Mexico. Wall Street fell in early trading, with the S&P 500 down almost 2%. Share prices in Europe followed a sharp move lower in Asia. London’s FTSE 100 index dropped 1.4% from Friday’s record high before making back some of its losses to trade down 1%….”

Trump Delays Canada Tariffs, But Anger Persists

Al Jazeera wrote on February 3:

Canada has experienced a tumultuous start to 2025, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing his resignation days into the new year, a federal election looming, and the country’s affordability crisis deepening. Now, Canada is facing what some economists have dubbed ‘its largest trade shock in nearly 100 years’.

“United States President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25-percent tariffs on a wide range of Canadian imports and 10-percent tariffs on Canadian energy. While the measures were set to begin on Tuesday, Trudeau said on Monday afternoon that the US tariffs and retaliatory measures announced by his government would be delayed by ‘at least 30 days’ as the countries work together on border security.

“Yet for many across the country, the potential for a trade war between the longtime allies continues to fuel a sense of anger, as well as anxiety and confusion over what is to come. Trump’s treat of tariffs has also raised questions about the nature of the cross-border relationship and spurred calls for Canada to boost in-country trade while looking beyond the US for more reliable international partners

“Asa McKercher, a professor at St Francis Xavier University who studies Canada-US relations…  said the current trade tensions have plunged the relationship to its lowest point. ‘We haven’t really seen the Americans go out of their way to impose a policy that will just destroy the Canadian economy…’  He said that since Trump signed the order authorising tariffs against Canada and Trudeau unveiled reciprocal measures, there has been an uptick in nationalist sentiment in Canada. Canadian crowds booed the US national anthem at hockey and basketball games over the weekend, while the leaders of several provinces have urged people to ‘buy Canadian’ in response to the tariffs… ‘We’re really subject to the whims of a guy in the White House, and that’s a very scary thing.’..

“Even as Canada appears to have secured a reprieve from US tariffs — at least for now — many Canadians have expressed anger at Trump’s repeated threats against their country. Last week, political, labour and civil society leaders released the ‘Pledge for Canada’ to build a nationwide response to the Trump administration’s policies. That includes protecting Canadian sovereignty, reducing the country’s ‘dependence on the United States by diversifying our trade’, and building alliances with other countries… ‘We have a president that rips up trade agreements. We have a president that threatens us daily with measures that would throw our economy into a recession. These are not the actions of an ally.’”

The emotional damage which Trump has inflicted on the Canadian people will not be easily repaired… if at all…

Putin Praises Trump

Newsweek wrote on February 3:

“Calling Trump a ‘master,’ Putin said the U.S. leader will restore order in Europe quite quickly with his character and persistence. ‘You’ll see, it will happen quickly—soon, they will all stand at the feet of the master and will gently wag their tails. Everything will fall into place,’ the Russian president said…

“The Kremlin on Monday said it was watching on as ‘tensions’ build between the U.S. and its allies. ‘You know, there are many tensions there, so, of course, we have no desire to be associated with all this in any way or to evaluate it in any way,’ Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters in his daily press briefing. ‘Let those countries that are participating in this process sort it out,’ he said..

“Criticizing his European counterparts on Sunday, Putin said European leaders on the Continent lacked conviction in their beliefs. Praising former European leaders such as France’s Charles De Gaulle, Jacques Chirac and Germany’s Gerhard Schroeder, Putin said such leaders ‘had their own opinion and the courage to fight for this opinion, to express it, to talk about it and to try to at least implement it in practical work.’ ‘Today, there are practically no such people there,’ Putin said.”

We wonder what Putin means by “order” to be restored in Europe by Trump. Putin’s friend and former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is one of the most unpopular former political leaders in Germany. Putin’s praise for Trump and his rejection of Europe is telling… and deeply concerning.

China Retaliates

The Associated Press wrote on February 4:

“China announced retaliatory tariffs on select American imports and an antitrust investigation into Google on Tuesday, just minutes after a sweeping levy on Chinese products imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump took effect.”

“The Ultimate Goal Remains Unclear”

The Wall Street Journal wrote on February 3:

“The postwar bipartisan consensus that the U.S. prospers by fostering cooperation and integration with allies and neighbors is gone… Trump’s motives are difficult to discern… Drugs and migrants might turn out to be a pretext for bigger, long-term goals

“Philip Verleger, a longtime energy economist, writes… that Trump ‘intends to ‘Make America Great Again’…by diminishing the power of every other country. Cooperation is not an objective. His focus is dominance.’… Trump’s second-term actions make little distinction between adversaries and allies….”

This could very well be an accurate assessment. It appears true that “drugs and migrants might turn out to be a pretext for bigger, long-term goals,” which would clearly be interpreted as being hostile towards Europeans and others, “necessitating” a response.

RFK to Be Appointed?

NBC News wrote on February 4:

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cleared a key hurdle Tuesday after a Senate panel voted to advance his nomination to be health and human services secretary to the full chamber. In a 14-13 vote along party lines, the Senate Finance Committee pushed through Kennedy’s nomination after he managed to allay concerns raised by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La. Cassidy, a doctor, was the one potential swing vote on the panel…

“Cassidy addressed the full Senate after the vote, saying he received a series of promises from Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist, including that he would maintain the Center for Disease Control’s advisory committee on immunization practices, and would not remove statements on the CDC’s website noting that vaccines don’t cause autism… Last week, Cassidy had said he needed to hear an unequivocal statement from Kennedy that vaccines do not cause autism and indicate he would listen to well-established science on the matter. It was still unclear on Tuesday whether Kennedy had made that assertion.

“Even as Cassidy said he received various assurances from Kennedy about supporting the efficacy of vaccines, the nominee’s firm ties to the anti-vaccine community were unmistakable… Minutes before the committee’s vote, Trump attempted to provide a boost to Kennedy on Truth Social. 20 years ago, Autism in children was 1 in 10,000. NOW IT’S 1 in 34. WOW! Something’s really wrong. We need BOBBY!!! Thank You! DJT.’”

During the hearings, Kennedy did NOT agree with the contention that vaccines do not cause autism. If he did agree with that contention now, that would be an incredible and quite frankly shameful turn-a-round.

On August 5, 2024, at a campaign rally on June 22, 2024, Trump told the audience: “I will not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate.” Given that every public school in the United States has vaccine mandates, this would mean eliminating all federal funding for public schools.

Medical Express wrote on January 28, 2025:

“With President Donald Trump having threatened school vaccine mandates for children during his campaign, a new survey finds that nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults support requiring that children be vaccinated against preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella. To protect children who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, over half of Americans also support states prohibiting other unvaccinated children from attending school, either private or public.”

The degree of uninformed Americans who are denying the dangers of vaccinations is stupefying.

Trump’s (Mis-)Handling of Emergencies

The Wall Street Journal wrote on January 31:

“President Trump’s handling of two crises this week—one, a bureaucratic mess and the other, a horrific tragedy —quickly shifted the White House from inaugural euphoria to the realities of governing. His defiant stand in the face of nationwide confusion and fear left some aides scrambling to fortify the image of a White House that could do no wrong. But he handled both problems with the same approach: deflecting blame and attacking Democrats, the media and his predecessors. His message was an amplified version of what he has tried to exude since taking office: He is in charge.

“The country also received its first live-action glimpse of a White House and cabinet that is being hastily assembled and crafting policies on the fly that in one case had to be quickly reversed.

“On Monday, a memo written by an acting director of the White House’s budget office caused a widespread panic and might have inadvertently led the Medicaid system to freeze in less than 24 hours. On Thursday, Trump’s new Defense and Transportation chiefs were thrust in the middle of investigating the worst domestic airplane crash in two decades…

“Trump announced the appointment of a new acting Federal Aviation Administration director [Sean Duffy] less than 24 hours after an American Airlines plane collided with an Army helicopter over the Potomac River, killing 67 people… he speculated the accident could have been caused [with no evidence whatsoeverbecause of ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ policies stretching back to the Obama administration… [This was a terribly embarrassing performance which was totally disrespectful to the victims and survivors. [It has now been established that the accident occurred because the helicopter flew 100 feet too high.]

“On camera and on Truth Social all week, Trump governed with his usual confidence and bravado. But behind the scenes, there was evidence of frustration and breakdowns in communication in an administration that has moved with lightning speed to try to shake up the government… The budget memo, calling for a pause in federal spending on an unspecified number of programs effective the next day was issued without the knowledge of senior staff, people familiar with its release said, even though they were forced to quickly defend it…

“Republican lawmakers immediately defended the spending freeze but they were hit with questions from constituents about veterans programs being halted as well as potential cuts to Medicaid, which provides benefits to low-income Americans and many with disabilities… Meanwhile, consternation was unfolding across the country. Kelly Neidel, executive director of a Head Start agency that serves more than 240 children outside Chicago, said even a partial-day freeze of federal funding for her organization created massive stress for her employees and families they serve. ‘We notified parents that your child no longer has a place to go,’ she said. ‘It was chaos.’…”

This could be a bad sign for things to come. 

Another TRO

npr wrote on January 31:

“A judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the Trump administration’s efforts to freeze payments for grants and other programs.

“The Friday ruling stems from a lawsuit filed earlier this week by Democratic attorneys general in 22 states and the District of Columbia. It is separate from a lawsuit filed by Democracy Forward and other non-profit groups that resulted in a separate federal judge’s decision to temporarily block the plan as originally detailed in a memo by the Office of Management and Budget. The White House later rescinded that OMB memo, but stated that its review of federal funding remained in effect…

“For now, the order blocks any suspension of federal dollars to the 22 states that were party to the suit — as well as the District of Columbia….”

Trump Kills ISIS Terrorists in Somalia

The Sun wrote on February 1, 2025:

“Donald Trump has killed ‘many’ ISIS terrorists with pinpoint airstrikes in Somalia… Trump wrote a powerful message on Truth Social saying: ‘This morning I ordered precision Military air strikes on the Senior ISIS Attack Planner and other terrorists he recruited and led in Somalia. These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threatened the United States and our Allies. The strikes destroyed the caves they live in, and killed many terrorists without, in any way, harming civilians.’

“He added that the US military has spent years gathering intelligence on these ISIS hideouts but former President Joe Biden ‘and his cronies wouldn’t act quickly enough to get the job done’. Trump ended his post by saying to anyone who attacks the US: ‘We will find you, and we will kill you!’…

“Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed he conducted the coordinated strikes alongside Trump and the Federal Government of Somalia… In Somalia alone, there are estimated to be hundreds of IS fighters…  In 2023, Biden ordered a special forces operation in northern Somalia which eliminated a senior ISIS commander and 10 other militants… Three more IS operatives were taken out last May in another US airstrike…”

Iran Is Secretly Creating Long-Range Nuclear Weapons

Daily Mail wrote on January 31:

“Iran has allegedly been covertly creating nuclear weapons with a 1,800-mile radius that could reach Europe based on designs created by North Korea… [Allegedly,] two sites have been disguised as communication satellite launch facilities, but are being utilised to expedite the manufacture of the missiles. It is believed they are controlled by Iran’s nuclear weapons division…

“According to the Telegraph, there have been three successful rocket launches thus far, with test for the more advanced Ghaem-105 rocket set to happen over the next few months. Past tests were carried out in the guise of being satellite launches in a bid to secretly carry out the trial… Image taken by Google Earth show a concrete platform used in the experiments, with buildings nearby thought to be used for related research…”

Iran should clearly not be underestimated. They will still have a role to play in coming events.

USA Today wrote on February 4:

“Trump signed a presidential memorandum Tuesday authorizing more aggressive measures toward Iran.

“He also threatened ‘total obliteration’ of the country if there is another attempt on his life by Tehran.”

Trump: US Will Take Over Gaza

Breitbart wrote on February 4:

“President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. would take over Gaza and remove debris, tunnels, and explosives left there by Hamas after the war with Israel, adding that he saw America taking a ‘long-term ownership position.’ Trump said: ‘The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too. We’ll love it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous bombs and other weapons on the site… and get rid of the destroyed buildings [and] create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing.’

“The surprise announcement came as the president spoke alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to visit Trump since his Inauguration last month. Trump had previously said that he would like to see most, or all, of the Palestinian population of Gaza moved to another Arab or Muslim country. The idea of actually taking over Gaza, and establishing a U.S. presence, was both unexpected and completely new. Trump added that the U.S. would develop Gaza economically, sending troops if necessary and making investments.

“He called the potential of Gaza ‘unbelieveable,’ but said that Palestinian control of Gaza ‘will never work.’…

“A reporter asked Trump what right the U.S. had to take over Gaza… Trump did not reply directly but said that American control of Gaza would increase ‘stability’ in the region as the various nations pursued peace together. Netanyahu, who had never publicly advocated for anything like what Trump proposed, said that the idea was ‘something that could change history’ and that it was ‘worth considering.’

“It is considered taboo, even in Israel, to advocate for the ‘transfer’ of Palestinians from Gaza or from Judea and Samaria (also known as the West Bank).

“Trump has previously proposed buying Greenland, so he is not averse to the idea of America taking over territory abroad. However, the idea of taking over war-torn Gaza is completely unique and quite possibly revolutionary.”

Israel’s far-right politicians responded with delight and approval.

Newsmax wrote on February 6:

“President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Israel would turn the Gaza Strip over to the United States after the fighting ends and that no U.S. soldiers would be needed there… ‘The Palestinians … would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region,’ Trump said in a Truth Social post… ‘No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed!’”

As we explain in our new StandingWatch program, “Trump—the Man of Destiny?”, that conclusion would be doubtful.

The Ron Paul Institute added on February 5:

“Trump also insisted that the Palestinians will be relocated to a third country (unspecified) and will not have a right to return. This was scripted. You can see Trump is reading from a note card.”

The Drudge Report linked on February 5 in this context to an article by the Times of Israel from November 14, 2024, stating that “President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense Pete Hegseth suggested that a temple could be re-established on the Temple Mount in a resurfaced speech he gave in 2018 at the Arutz Sheva conference in Jerusalem… He also rejected the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

We had reported on this in a previous Update.

The international reaction to Trump’s statement on Gaza was predictable. The Guardian reported on February 5:

“Trump’s declaration US will ‘take over’ Gaza Strip sparks global condemnation. UK, Germany, China, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia speak against announcement described as ethnic cleansing by human rights groups.”

JTA added on February 5:

“Saudi Arabia responded quickly: No, it had not yielded on demanding the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with east Jerusalem as its capital, as a condition of normalization with Israel… ‘The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emphasizes that this unwavering position is non-negotiable and not subject to compromises,’ the statement said. Saudi Arabia also noted that it would object to any efforts to displace Palestinians, an idea Trump has repeatedly insisted on in recent days.

“The firm statement illustrates the gap between Saudi Arabia and Trump…”

Belgium’s New Government

Deutsche Welle wrote on February 1:

“Political parties in Belgium struck a deal on Friday to form a broad coalition government. The announcement concluded months of talks that followed federal elections in June last year. The country’s new prime minister is set to be the right-wing New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) leader Bart De Wever, who secured victory in the June polls.

“De Wever will lead a five-party coalition which includes the Christian Democrats, the liberal Reformist Movement and the Flemish Social Democrats. Together, they hold an 81-seat majority in Belgium’s 150-seat parliament. The far-right Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) party was excluded from the government talks, despite the anti-immigration party having made the largest gains in the June 2024 election. Political parties consistently exclude Vlaams Belang due to its anti-immigrant and anti-EU stance as well as its aim to split up the country.

“Belgium’s Royal Palace released a statement saying that De Wever had reported the agreement of the future coalition to the king… This will be the first time Belgium will have a nationalist in the position of prime minister…”

The same approach the established parties in Germany take toward the right-wing AfD. This approach will not succeed.

“Deal” Between China and the Philippines?

The Associated Press wrote on January 30:

“Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. offered on Thursday to remove a U.S. missile system from the Philippines if China halts what he called its ‘aggressive and coercive behavior’ in the disputed South China Sea.

“The U.S. Army installed the Typhon mid-range missile system in the northern Philippines in April last year to support what the longtime treaty allies described as training for joint combat readiness. China has repeatedly demanded that the Philippines remove the missile system…

“Asked by reporters about China’s criticism of the missile system, Marcos said he did not understand the Chinese position because the Philippines does not comment on China’s missile systems which ‘are a thousand times more powerful than what we have.’ ‘Let’s make a deal with China: Stop claiming our territory, stop harassing our fishermen and let them have a living, stop ramming our boats, stop water cannoning our people, stop firing lasers at us and stop your aggressive and coercive behavior, and we’ll return the typhoon missiles,’ Marcos told reporters in central Cebu province…

“The U.S. Army’s mobile Typhon missile system, which consists of a launcher and at least 16 Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, was repositioned about two weeks ago from the northern Philippines to a strategic area nearer the capital, Manila, in consultation with Philippine defense officials, a senior Philippine official told The Associated Press… The Philippine official… said the U.S. missile system is now nearer an area where Chinese and Philippine coast guard and navy forces have been involved in increasingly tense faceoffs in the South China Sea.

“The U.S. and the Philippines have repeatedly condemned China’s increasingly assertive actions to press its territorial claims in the South China Sea, where hostilities have flared over the past two years with repeated clashes between Chinese and Philippine coast guard forces and accompanying vessels. Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the busy waterway, a key shipping route which is also believed to be sitting atop large undersea deposits of gas and oil.”

Maybe Trump will try next, unsuccessfully, to get that waterway or sea gate? The role of the Philippines in upcoming prophetic developments will be interesting to observe.

The Fight Against Merz

Focus wrote on February 1:

“The SPD and the Greens [part of the current German governmentdon’t have the slightest chance of governing in a red-green two-party coalition. But the red-green coalition easily manages to significantly influence the public discussion with the slogan ‘Fight against the right’. Anyone who presents themselves as an ‘anti-fascist’ has most of the media behind them… And sometimes the streets – demonstrating, protesting, sometimes violent.

“With the ‘Influx Limitation Act’ [proposed by Merz], Merz gave the Red-Green Party (under Scholz and Habeck) the choice of either agreeing or letting the AfD tip the scales. Much of what was in the law had already been approved by the Prime Ministers of the SPD, the Greens and the Union (CDU). The SPD and the Greens could have agreed without betraying their principles. The SPD and the Greens were aware that their ‘no’ would once again increase the status of Weidel, Höcke & Co. (of the AfD). Despite all the pathetic statements, that didn’t deter them, on the contrary…

“It is revealing that the SPD and the Greens have hardly dealt with the content of the CDU applications for days. They have managed to focus the public discussion on the CDU’s supposedly collapsed firewall against the AfD [the idea that no one would enter into a collation with the AfD]. That is much easier than explaining why the Scholz/Habeck government of all people has driven the number of AfD supporters to unimagined heights with their policies.

“But apparently Merz and the CDU completely underestimated the wave of hatred they would face if they accepted the AfD’s approval in order to achieve their goal. What followed was worse than even pessimists had feared.

“Merz had hardly taken into account the ‘blood attack’ that his old opponent Angela Merkel was about to make… as no former chancellor had ever done against a potential successor – especially not against one from his own party. Merkel apparently cannot cope with the fact that the population has now recognized how negligent her refugee policy was. And that her own party has long since moved away from it. Above all, Merkel probably wants to prevent her eternal opponent Merz from sitting in her former chancellor’s office one day. She would rather help the united left to put down the party’s ‘friend’… Merz also completely underestimated the force with which most media – especially ARD and ZDF – would join in the theatrical indignation of the united left…

“The SPD knows that its chancellor [Olaf Scholz] has poorer poll ratings than any of his predecessors. She is aware that she cannot score points with voters either with her economic policy record or with her migration policy. The ‘fight against the right’ is their last cartridge…

“It is foreseeable that Friedrich Merz will no longer be able to appear anywhere until election day [February 23, 2025] without the united left trying to block access… All over the country, CDU offices have already been blocked or occupied, and employees have been threatened. In many places, the CDU has canceled the street election campaign this weekend. With so much hatred and agitation, it is too dangerous in some places to identify yourself as a CDU supporter...”

Assuming that the CDU under Merz will still win the election and will form some kind of an unstable coalition, the new government will turn out to be the same debacle which the government under Scholz has been. It won’t survive either.

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.

This Week in the News

US Pause of Foreign Aids For 90 Days

Reuters reported on January 24:

“The U.S. State Department issued a ‘stop-work’ order [for 90 days] on Friday for all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid, according to a cable seen by Reuters, after President Donald Trump ordered a pause to review if aid allocation was aligned with his foreign policy. The cable, drafted by the Department’s foreign assistance office and approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said waivers have been issued for military financing for Israel and Egypt. No other countries were mentioned in the cable…

“The State Department cable said effective immediately, senior officials ‘shall ensure that, to the maximum extent permitted by law, no new obligations shall be made for foreign assistance’ until Rubio has made a decision after a review. It says that for existing foreign assistance awards stop-work orders shall be issued immediately until reviewed by Rubio…”

Subsequently, the Pentagon clarified: “Trump’s executive order freezing foreign aid applies only to development programs, not security assistance to Ukraine.” However, it has also been reported that while Trump’s order does not curtail security assistance (i.e., weapons, vehicles and ammunition) already in the pipeline, it does freeze USAID projects for the Ukraine, including support for schools and maternal care and the vaccination of children.

Court Blocks Trump

CNBC reported on January 28:

 “A federal judge paused until next week a Trump administration order that would have frozen the issuance of existing federal grants and loans until agencies vetted them. Judge Loren AliKhan’s ruling Tuesday during a hearing conducted on Zoom came just minutes before the freezing order was set to take effect at 5 p.m. ET. At stake are funds potentially worth trillions of dollars.

“AliKhan [a Biden appointee] said her administrative stay would expire at 5 p.m. ET Monday unless she decides to grant a temporary restraining order as requested by plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit earlier in the day challenging the Trump administration’s action. The judge scheduled a hearing for Monday morning for arguments on the requested restraining order in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C…. AliKhan’s stay only affects the disbursement of government funds that already have been authorized, not money that was being sought.”

Spending Nothing on NATO?

Newsmax wrote on January 23:

“President Donald Trump on Thursday said he was not sure the United States should be spending anything on NATO, telling reporters the U.S. was protecting NATO members, but they were ‘not protecting us.’…

“Trump has said members of the military alliance should spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense — a huge increase from the current 2% goal and a level that no NATO country, including the United States, currently achieves.”

NATO might very well be on its way out.

Trump for a Third Term?

The New York Post wrote on January 24:

“A congressman is pushing for a law change that would allow President Trump to run for a third term… Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) proposed an amendment Thursday that would allow presidents three terms in office — as long as they did not serve two consecutive four-year stints.

“That would allow a third term for Trump — whose two were interrupted by Joe Biden — but not for Obama, Clinton or George W. Bush, who each served two consecutive terms…

“The 22nd Amendment — passed by Congress in 1947 after Franklin Delano Roosevelt won four terms in office — currently bars Trump and all two-term holders of the Oval Office from running for a third term.”

Even IF the 22nd Amendment bars Trump from “running a third time,” even though he did not serve two consecutive terms, there are other ways than amending the Constitution to serve a third time.

For instance, the 22nd Amendment only requires that someone not be elected to the Presidency more than twice. Someone who was elected to two terms is still eligible to be Vice President and to rise to the Presidency upon the death, resignation or removal of the President.

Then, another way to be President is to be “chosen” President by the House of Representatives in those unusual situations where no candidate for President obtains a majority of the electoral college.

In Las Vegas on January 25, Trump toyed with the idea of serving a third time, which received thunderous applause from his supporters, but he then dismissed the idea as fake news. Is it?

Newsmax added on January 27:

“President Donald Trump once again hinted at the idea of serving a third term, saying he was “not 100% sure” he was barred from doing so under the Constitution, which forbids it.

“Trump has repeatedly alluded to the possibility that he might go beyond the current two-term limit for presidents — but while he often strikes a light-hearted tone the remarks remain provocative….

“In November, in another speech to House Republicans shortly after his election win, Trump said: ‘I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, “He’s good, we got to figure something else.”’”

The Deportation Nightmare

Breitbart wrote on January 26:

“Governor JB Pritzker (D-IL) Sunday on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ warned the Trump administration that his local law enforcement ‘will stand up for those law-abiding, undocumented people’ facing deportation…. Pritzker said, ‘… when we’re talking about violent criminals who have been convicted and who are undocumented, we don’t want them in our state. We want them out of the country. We hope they do get deported. And if that’s who they’re picking up, we’re all for it. They show up with a warrant, and we’re going to hand over people who are in our prisons or in our jails who fit that description.

“‘Now, what they’re also doing, though, and it’s quite disturbing, is they’re going after people who are law-abiding, who are holding down jobs, who have families here who may have been here for a decade or two decades, and they’re often our neighbors and our friends… We also have a law on the books in Illinois that says that our local law enforcement will stand up for those law-abiding, undocumented people in our state who are doing the right thing. And we’re not going to help federal officials just drag them away because somebody pointed at them and said, oh, that person’s brown or that person’s not from here. Check it out. Maybe they’re undocumented.’”

Sadly, that is how many Jews were arrested in Nazi Germany… due to the denunciation of others.

ICE Raids LA

The New York Post wrote on January 26:

“Details of the LA raids were scarce as of Saturday afternoon, but sources said migrants rounded up there were being held in ICE detention centers in California pending deportation. Officials are expecting the sites to fill up quickly, and the feds are scouting for more space to hold migrants, the sources said…

“Executive orders issued by Trump dramatically loosened restrictions on how immigration officers can conduct deportation raids, removing bans for searching courthouses, churches and other ‘sensitive’ sites that illegal migrants have historically holed up in to be shielded from federal authorities. The White House will be using military planes every day to help carry out what Trump and ‘border czar’ Tom Homan have vowed will be the largest deportation operation in U.S. history…”

Going After Nonviolent Illegal Aliens

Fox News wrote on January 26:

“Border Czar Tom Homan warned that daily deportation numbers are set to rise in the coming weeks as President Trump’s administration begins to expand its operations. The border chief says the administration is currently only targeting violent illegal aliens, but that will soon change… ‘If you’re in the country illegally, you’re on the table… every time you enter this country illegally, you violated a crime under Title Eight, the United States Code 1325, it’s a crime,’ Homan [said]… ‘Here’s what’s going to happen. We’ll find the bad guy, but when we find him, he’s going to be with others, others that may not be a criminal priority. But guess what? If they’re in the United States illegally, they’re going to be arrested, too.’”

To clarify, US Code 1325 is a misdemeanor, not a felony. Violations are ruled upon by civil courts, not criminal courts. Also, being present in the USA without legal documentation is in itself not a federal crime.

The New York Post added that Homan also said that deportations will continue every day and culminate in millions of illegal migrants being jettisoned from the US, and that the border is closed.

This whole mess will quickly get out of control, and many will needlessly suffer in the process.

Fate of 90,000 IRS Agents?

Daily Mail wrote on January 26:

“Donald Trump has revealed what could be the fate of nearly 90,000 newly hired Internal Revenue Service (IRS) staff, suggesting he might ‘move them to the border’.  Hours after he was handed over the presidency, the Republican leader signed an executive order to stop [indefinitely] the hiring of all federal civilian employees until ‘his Administration can determine that it is in the national interest to do so’.  Apart from the IRS, the decision is temporary [for 90 days] for all other federal offices….

“’They hired – were trying to hire 88,000 new workers to go with you, and we’re in the process of developing a plan to either terminate all of them or maybe we move them to the border,’ the President said [in Las Vegas on January 25]…

‘Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.’ Trump went on: ‘For this purpose, we are establishing the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs, duties and revenues,’  Trump said during his speech at the Capitol on Monday.”

“He also warned world leaders they could face crippling economic sanctions if they don’t start manufacturing in America in a blistering speech to the World Economic Forum on January 23. The president said nations ‘will pay’ if they opt against doing business in the United States… He also offered an incentive of lower taxes and rates to nations that choose to move more of their business…”

A better way would be to get rid of the IRS completely. The fear is that with the removal of IRS employees, the IRS will not do their job at all, when it applies, for instance, to the refund of taxes—something in which the IRS is already terribly lacking and delinquent in far too many cases. And it is next to impossible to reach a live person, let alone getting an appointment.

US Restricts Access to Chips for AI

swissinfo.ch wrote on January 26:

“The US recently changed the rules for the export of products related to artificial intelligence. Only countries that are considered allies are now allowed to access these computer chips. And Switzerland is not one of them.

“Only 18 countries are considered trustworthy allies in the USA, including France, Germany and Japan. According to Washington, these nations are worthy of unrestricted access to these very powerful computer chips, which are manufactured exclusively by US companies.

“This new regulation will come into force in four months. After that, Switzerland will still be able to import these chips, but will be subject to a limited quota in the coming years… It is not entirely clear why Switzerland is not one of the allied countries… Nevertheless, it seems clear that the main aim of this regulation is to deny rival countries, especially China, access to this cutting-edge technology. The US is not only trying to curb exports, but also to prevent Chinese companies from circumventing the restrictions by setting up subsidiaries abroad.”

Getting Rid of FEMA?

Las Vegas Sun wrote on January 23:

“President Donald Trump said he was considering ‘getting rid of’ the Federal Emergency Management Agency… Instead of having federal financial assistance flow through FEMA, [he] said Washington could provide money directly to the states

“‘FEMA has been a very big disappointment,’ [he] said. ‘It’s very bureaucratic. And it’s very slow.’”

The problem is, what if the states— such as California—do not use the money wisely? Supervising committees can only go so far.

The California Fire Paradox

Breitbart wrote on January 26:

“Residents of the Pacific Palisades flocked home on Saturday after President Donald Trump’s visit the day before, with many gaining access to their property for the first time since the Palisades Fire more than two weeks ago. Trump met with residents and local officials on Friday, holding a roundtable discussion at the local fire station in which he allowed those affected by the fires to raise their concerns for the first time.  During the meeting, local residents raised concerns that they had been told it would take 18 months to clear their lots of debris, and that local permitting processes would stop them from rebuilding. In addition, most of the affected residents had been prohibited from even visiting the ruins of their homes. Trump took the residents’ side against the city, and when Mayor Karen Bass pushed back, he insisted that they be able to access their property immediately. Bass said they could go within a week. ‘A week is a long time,’ President Trump said, saying residents should be able to go immediately.

“The next day, residents rushed to the assembly point in nearby Santa Monica Parking Lot #3, where police escorts had been taking caravans of residents to the Highlands, one of the areas of the Pacific Palisades that had not been as badly affected as the rest of the town. They insisted on being taken to other neighborhoods… with many insisting that President Trump had promised them access. While some were turned away, some persisted and were able to visit their lots — at least for a short period of time… Some residents reported continued denials by National Guard soldiers and police. One posted on Instagram: ‘They didn’t let us in but they also said they wouldn’t arrest us if we went around them. So we went.’… Many expressed a commitment to rebuild, and hope that President Trump’s pressure on Los Angeles and California will allow them to do so.”

Trump also declared that he will waive any federal permits and urged Mayor Bass to do the same in regard to the state, so that rebuilding could start immediately.

Did the Military Take Over California?

Newsmax wrote on January 28:

“President Donald Trump declared on social media that the military has entered California and ‘turned on the water’ from the Pacific Northwest… ‘The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond,’ Trump wrote…  Monday night…

“The California Department of Water Resources, however, responded… that the ‘military did not enter California… The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days,” the agency said. “State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.’…

“Trump has accused Gov. Gavin Newsom of holding back water supplies in California, thus impeding the state’s response to the wildfires in Los Angeles. Last Friday, he said he wants to place conditions on disaster aid, calling for tightening voter requirements while increasing water supplies from Northern California…

“Newsom and other state officials deny Trump’s claims and say there is plenty of water in Southern California… ‘Reservoirs in California are at or above average storage levels for this time of year, thanks in part to years of proactive water management.’… Trump in his order directed the federal Bureau of Reclamation to make sure that California agencies ‘do not interfere’ with the water supply….”

It is a well-known fact that California did NOT have enough water to fight the fires. One major reservoir was empty and could not be used.

Pete Hegseth New Defense Secretary

Fox News wrote on January 24:

“The Senate voted to confirm… Pete Hegseth, as defense secretary on Friday night after a high-tempered battle to sway lawmakers in his favor that was almost derailed by accusations about his behavior. 

“The final vote came down to the wire: three Republicans opposed, making for a 50 to 50 vote. Vice President JD Vance was needed to break the tie in the upper chamber, putting the final tally at 51-50… All Democrats opposed the confirmation, a far cry from an earlier vote this week, when Secretary of State Marco Rubio was confirmed unanimously, 99-0.” 

More Drone Sightings… and Still No Explanation

Daily Mail wrote on January 24:

“A New Jersey Mayor has shared new footage of ‘glowing orbs transforming into drones’ over Long Island, adding more intrigue to this ongoing mystery. Michael Melham, the Mayor of Belleville,… shared the bizarre footage on X, saying the clips ‘appears to show glowing orbs turning into drones. Verified not to be planes via flight tracker. They hover. Glow. Then move.’…

“New Jersey still appears to be the epicenter of drone reports following the first sightings in November, when eyewitnesses reported ‘car-sized drones’ flying above a military base and President Donald Trump’s golf course.  But since then, hundreds of other reports have surfaced across the Northeast and even from several southern states, including Virginia, Kentucky and the Carolinas…

“A drone ban was issued from December 18 to January 17, during which Enigma labs said the average number of reported sightings dropped by 43 percent. Now, new data shows 36 sightings were logged the week of January 1, and nearly half were spotted in New Jersey. Trump has yet to release the drone report he promised, and many Americans await new information about the alarming phenomenon they believe they have been experiencing.”

The New York Post wrote on January 25:

“A brief lull in activity that coincided with flight restrictions imposed by the feds has ended, now that the Federal Aviation Administration lifted the ban. And the mysterious unmanned aircraft aren’t just plaguing the Big Apple and the Garden State. ‘We’ve received over 100 reports in the past three weeks that mention drones across the US,’ Enigma Labs spokesperson Christine Kim said…

“New Jersey remains a hotbed of drone activity, Kim claimed. The New York-based company’s ‘unidentified anomalous phenomena’…  received a total of 22,000 sightings in 2024, with most concentrated in the Northeast… Enigma Labs relies on user-submitted information and began tracking sightings in late November… Since then, it’s received 650 reports of drone sightings in the US, with 154 coming in January alone

“Over 50% of reports to Enigma described the objects as ‘hovering’ or staying airborne for extended periods of time, while 25% indicated objects were observed moving in swarms of five or more.”

Update on Drones Flying Over New Jersey

Fox News wrote on January 28:

“The White House on Tuesday revealed that some of the drones seen flying over New Jersey and other parts of the country in November were authorized to be flown by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)… for research and various other reasons… In addition to those authorized by the FAA, other drones flown by hobbyists were sighted, and that number increased as curiosity about the phenomenon grew, the White House said [adding that This was not the enemy.’].”

This sounds extremely untrue. The U.S. Department of Defense had published the following article on its website on December 14, 2024:

“Right now, the FBI, DHS, FAA and DOD have been unable to determine who is responsible for flying the drones, and there’s no indication that there are adversary nations involved. ‘To date, we have no intelligence or observations that would indicate that they were aligned with a foreign actor or that they had malicious intent,’ the spokesperson said. ‘But … we don’t know. We have not been able to locate or identify the operators or the points of origin.’”

Trump Explanation Raises Even More Questions

The New York Post added on January 28:

“The explanation did not clarify what research was being performed — in many cases near military bases — or detail what ‘other reasons’ were at play. Some leading politicians have been skeptical of the official explanation that the drones were innocent. Then-House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Mike McCaul (R-Texas) said last month that he believed many of the aircraft were ‘spy drones’ from China. ‘My judgment based on my experience is that those that are over our military sites are adversarial and most likely are coming from the People’s Republic of China,’ McCaul said at the time. ‘We’re not getting answers and I think it’s because our government does not know who is behind them and that is very disturbing to me.’”

IF the FAA had authorized the drones for research and other reasons, it certainly would have known this. So either they lied then, or they are lying now. The question is, what is REALLY behind those drones? Please view our StandingWatch program, titled, “The DRONES! No Danger? Are You Kidding?”

Taking Back the Panama Canal?

The New York Post wrote on January 28:

“A top Senate Republican accused Panama Tuesday of violating the treaty giving the Central American nation control over the vital Panama Canal shipping lane — saying the country had waved through illicit transfers of crude oil by Iran and exposed itself to dangerous Chinese influence…. ‘Panama has emerged as a bad actor,’ charged Senate Commerce, Science and Technology Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

“‘Panama has for years flagged dozens of vessels in the Iranian ghost fleet, which brought Iran tens of billions of dollars in oil profits to fund terror across the world. And Chinese companies have won contracts, often without fair competition… China often engages in debt-trap diplomacy to enable economic and political coercion in Panama… It also seems to have exploited simple corruption.’

“Cruz also explained that Panama’s ‘high fees for canal transit disproportionately affect Americans, because US cargo accounts for nearly three-quarters of Canal transits,’ while US Navy vessels ‘pay additional fees that apply only to warships.’…

“Tuesday’s hearing kicked off formal efforts to investigate whether Panama is in violation of the 1997 Panama Canal Treaty and Neutrality Treaty which could allow the US to retake the canal zone by force…”

View our StandingWatch program, titled, “Will the USA Take the Panama Canal Back?” 

Elon Musk’s Ongoing Support for the AfD and German Values

Daily Mail wrote on January 26:

“Elon Musk has backed Germany’s… AfD (Alternative fuer Deutschland) party at its latest rally… The billionaire made a surprise appearance during the AfD’s election campaign event in Halle in eastern Germany on Saturday, voicing his support for the second time in as many weeks. 

“’It’s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything,’ Musk, via video link, told the hall of 4,500 people alongside party leader Alice Weidel… he said ‘children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents, let alone their great grandparents,’ apparently referring to Germany’s Nazi past. ‘There is too much focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that,’ he said…

“Musk spoke in favour of voting for the far right party, saying: ‘I’m very excited for the AfD, I think you’re really the best hope for Germany fight for a great future for Germany,’ he told onlookers. Weidel thanked him, said the Republicans were making America great again, and called on her supporters to make Germany great again.”

AFP added on January 25:

“‘The German people are really an ancient nation which goes back thousands of years,’ he said in Saturday’s address. ‘I even read Julius Caesar was very impressed (by) the German tribes,’ he said…  He said the AfD wanted ‘more self-determination for Germany and for the countries in Europe and less from Brussels’, a reference to European Union authorities…

Like Trump, the AfD opposes immigration, denies climate change, rails against gender politics and has declared war on a political establishment and mainstream media it condemns as censorious.”

Musk also stated that he does not believe he is exaggerating when saying that the future of civilization could be dependent on the German election in February (compare Bild Online, dated January 25). 

More Hostages and Prisoners Released

npr wrote on January 24:

“Hamas has identified four female Israeli soldiers [who were] released on Saturday…  All of them were taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, from the Nahal Oz army base on Israel’s border with Gaza… After they are handed over, Israel is expected to free 200 Palestinian or so prisoners and detainees, based on a calculation stipulated in the agreement that 50 detainees should be released for each female soldier.

“If all goes according to plan this weekend, Hamas will have freed seven of the 33 hostages slated for release in the first six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement. Not all of them are believed to be alive. In exchange, Israel will have so far released more than 2,000 Palestinian detainees [some of them have been convicted of murder].”

Cleaning Out Gaza Population?

Financial Times wrote on January 26:

“Donald Trump has urged Egypt and Jordan to take in most of the population of Gaza, saying it was time to ‘clean out’ the territory in comments that are likely to outrage Palestinians and Arabs across the region… ‘You’re talking about a million and half people, and we just clean out that whole thing.’ Trump’s proposal would upend decades of US policy promoting the two-state solution based on the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, in Gaza and parts of the occupied West Bank.

“Trump said he has already discussed his proposal to relocate Gaza’s population with King Abdullah of Jordan on Saturday and will bring it up on Sunday in a phone call with Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt’s president. With the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas entering its second week, Trump said Gaza was ‘literally a demolition site, almost everything is demolished and people are dying there so I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change.’…

“Amman and Cairo have since the start of the war in October 2023 repeatedly rejected any transfer of Palestinians to their territories, saying it would amount to the ‘liquidation of the Palestinian cause’ at the expense of Israel’s neighbours. Sisi has said previously that taking in Gazans would threaten Egypt’s peace agreement with Israel because of the risk that some of them would resume fighting the Jewish state from within Egypt’s borders…

“The two countries have weak economies and need US support but their leaders would not want to be seen to be complicit in what Arab public opinion would consider a second ‘Nakba’ or catastrophe — the exodus to neighbouring countries of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees in 1948 when the state of Israel was founded…

“Trump’s Gaza proposal nonetheless delighted leaders of Israel’s far-right… Itamar Ben-Gvir, the former Israeli national security minister who resigned in protest last week over the Gaza ceasefire deal, ‘praised’ Trump for floating the idea. Trump also confirmed that the Pentagon had lifted a hold on the delivery 2,000-pound bombs to Israel imposed by the Biden administration. ‘We released them today and they’ll have them,’ he said. ‘They paid for them and they have been waiting for them for a long time.’

“The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was already under strain despite the successful release on Saturday of four female Israeli soldiers from captivity in Gaza and 200 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Israeli officials said over the weekend that Hamas had violated the US-brokered accord after it failed to release the last civilian woman hostage still believed to be alive — Arbel Yehud — before the soldiers… Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that until the matter was ‘put in order’ it would not allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, as called for in the deal. Israel’s ceasefire with Lebanon also appeared in danger, with Israel making it clear late last week that it would not meet the two month deadline for the withdrawal of its forces from southern Lebanon on Sunday.”

Palestinians Return to Gaza

CNN reported on January 27:

“More than 300,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to the northern Gaza Strip [on Monday] since Israel reopened the corridor …

“Gaza City, where most of the people making this journey on Monday had been living before the war, is among the most destroyed areas in the strip. There are no fully functioning hospitals or schools in the area and access to water, power and basic supplies is extremely limited, despite aid flows into Gaza increasing since the ceasefire came into effect.

“Seen from above, the crowds on Monday resembled a huge, slow moving wave making its way up Gaza’s coast, then turning inland. Most, including children, injured people and the elderly, were traveling on foot, carrying the little they have left on their backs. Most have spent many months exiled in makeshift refugee camps after Israeli forces ordered large-scale evacuations.

“The Israeli military said residents could return on foot along the Al Rasheed coastal road, while vehicle traffic can pass via the inland Salah al-Din road after inspection…

“Israel’s far-right former national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, who quit in protest over the ceasefire and hostage release deal, claimed the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza was a ‘total surrender.’”

Putin and Zelensky Ready to Negotiate?

Daily Mail wrote on January 24:

“Vladimir Putin today declared that the war in Ukraine could have been averted had Donald Trump not been ‘robbed of the election’ in 2020. Describing his armed forces’ full-scale invasion of their neighbour in February 2022 as a ‘crisis’, Putin told state media the horrific bloodshed that has blighted eastern Europe for almost three years would not have happened under a Trump presidency… His comments came as part of a wide-ranging interview in which the Kremlin chief heaped praise on the newly inaugurated US president, labelling Trump ‘smart and pragmatic’ while also signalling a willingness to approach the negotiating table over Ukraine…

“Kyiv was unsurprisingly quick to respond, with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office issuing a tight-lipped statement that there could be no peace talks between Putin and Trump without the participation of European representatives… On Wednesday, Trump warned his Russian counterpart that he would face taxes, tariffs and sanctions if Russia did not sign up to a deal to end the war in Ukraine. The US president has previously warned that he could intensify the supply of arms to Ukraine if Moscow does not come to the negotiating table… But Trump’s advisers have also hinted the steady stream of Western military aid to Ukraine could be shut off if Kyiv refuses to countenance a deal. In a somewhat inflammatory statement about the Ukrainian leader, Trump recently said Zelensky was ‘no angel’ and insisted he ‘shouldn’t have allowed this war to happen’…

“Many argue that Russia’s upper hand on the battlefield and its efforts to build stronger economic and political ties with other powers in the face of the West’s sanctions mean that Kremlin is coming to the negotiating table with a strong hand of cards.”

Denmark in Crisis Mode

The Telegraph wrote on January 24:

“Denmark is in ‘crisis mode’ after Donald Trump made a direct play for Greenland in a ‘horrendous’ phone call with the country’s prime minister. The US president spoke to Mette Frederiksen, the Danish premier, for 45 minutes last week and made clear he wanted to place Greenland under American control… Ms Frederiksen told him in their call last week that despite his ‘big interest’, Greenland was not for sale, the Financial Times reported. Mr Trump then became ‘aggressive’, according to the newspaper, and threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark unless Greenland was sold to the US…

“The call came after Mr Trump refused to rule out using military force to take Greenland in a press conference on Jan 7, arguing that it was a matter of ‘national security’ that the US gained an Arctic base… Mr Trump’s refusal to rule out a full-scale invasion of Greenland has raised questions about the Nato alliance, of which both Denmark and the US are members. The alliance’s Article 5 collective defence agreement states that a military attack on one member would result in other members declaring war on the aggressor. It is not clear what would happen if one Nato member attacked another.”

UK’s Right of First Refusal

Daily Mail wrote on January 26:

“President Donald Trump’s bid to acquire Greenland could be foiled by Sir Keir Starmer if Britain were to act on an agreement made over 100 years ago… even if the Danes did agree to sell Greenland, they would have to offer the UK first refusal, per the terms of an agreement crafted in 1917 – when the US first attempted to acquire the island… The agreement was crafted when US President Woodrow Wilson purchased the US Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million.

“He was urged to buy Greenland, but Copenhagen refused and would only move forward with the deal if America signed a letter acknowledging Greenland ‘is and will forever be Danish’… The UK, at the same time, insisted that it have first right of refusal if the island were to ever be sold, citing the close proximity to  Canada, which was then a British dominion. Despite this agreement, experts say the UK Government is unlikely to take advantage of the century-old deal…”

Denmark Increases Military for Greenland

Daily Mail wrote on January 27:

“The European Union  is seeking to beef up its military presence in Greenland just one week after President Donald Trump took office and threatened to seize the vast land mass…

“While the Scandinavian country is responsible for Greenland’s security and defense, Copenhagen has limited military capabilities on its island territory…

“Gen. Robert Brieger of Austria, the top EU military official, has said the group should deploy troops to Greenland… Brieger… wants the bloc to send in troops to beef up presence amid concerns that Trump will take swift action to gain control of the autonomous Danish region. The general, however, said the move is meant to send a ‘strong signal’ and serve as a deterrent against Russian and Chinese activity in the strategic location…

“Last year Denmark allocated $26 billion – when converted to USD – for its military spending. And now it wants to use more than $2 billion of that to be allocated to the Arctic…”

Europe Unites Against Trump

MSN wrote on January 27:

“The European Union (EU) renewed sanctions against Russia and agreed on a road map to lift some of those imposed on Syria. At an EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday, leaders also called for a unified approach to deal with US President Donald Trump and what analysts refer to as his ‘divide and rule policy.’

“The EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said as the US undertook a ‘transactional’ foreign policy, Europe needed to ‘close ranks.’ ‘We are stronger when we are united,’ she told reporters.”

Trump’s Wrong Numbers Regarding Canada

CTV News wrote on January 27:

“U.S. President Donald Trump has made various and repeated claims about his country’s trade relationship with Canada to justify his tariff threats…  ‘It’s not fair that we should have a $200 billion or $250 billion deficit.’…

“The U.S. imports more Canadian goods than it exports north of the border. That difference is called a trade deficit. In 2023, the U.S. trade deficit with Canada was US$40.6 billion, according to research by the Centre for Future Work based on United States Census Bureau data. In 2024, the trade deficit is estimated to be around US $45 billion, according to TD Economics.

“In a report published online, TD noted it’s unclear where Trump got the $200 billion figure, which ‘is roughly four to five times the officially reported statistics.’ Those numbers are small relative to the roughly $1 trillion in goods and services that cross the border both ways each year. ‘Mr. Trump quite literally makes these numbers up and they can change from one day to the next, $100 billion, $200 billion, $300. It’s like a game show,’ said Jim Stanford, Economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work based in Vancouver…

“Crude oil makes up the majority of Canada’s exports to the U.S. If you remove it, that deficit becomes a surplus…”

Goliath’s Impressive Size

The Daily Mail wrote on January 26:

“… scientists say there was nothing supernatural about Goliath’s towering stature. Archaeologists have found the remains of other ‘giants’ dating back as far as 2700 BC – around the time of the biblical battle… these huge humans likely suffered from a rare genetic condition which caused them to grow to seemingly impossible sizes…

“The Bible says that his height is ‘six cubits and a span’ and that he wears bronze armour weighing ‘five thousand shekels’… Even though the measurement of six cubits and a span became standard translation, older versions of the Bible show a different measurement. For example, the Greek Septuagint, a translation of the Old Testament into Greek written between the first and third century BC, gives Goliath’s height as four cubits and a span…

“Archaeological investigations at Goliath’s home town suggest that his people used a cubit measuring 54cm (21.65 inches) and a span measuring. 22cm (8.66 inches).

That would make Goliath seven feet 10 inches (2.38m)…

“Clyde Billington, a biblical scholar and executive director of the Institute for Biblical Archaeology, told MailOnline: ‘The ancient cubit was the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. A span is the width of the hand, for example, like the way that the height of a horse is measured today. ‘This varied from individual to individual and only in Egypt was the cubit standardised at 20.66 inches (52.5 cm).’ Taking the Egyptian units, at six cubits and a span, Goliath would have measured…  10ft and 9 inches (3.28m).

“Even using the more accurate four cubits and a span measurement, this would still make Goliath about 7ft and 5 inches (2.26m). However, archaeologists now believe that the ancient Israelites would have used a different measurement system…

“In a paper published in 2014, Professor Morrison points out that the books of Samuel and Chronicles suggest that Goliath’s brother and his three sons were all gigantic in stature... This suggests that Goliath’s giantism was passed on genetically…”

For more information on biblical giants, please read part 4 of our free booklet, “Heavens and Earth… Before and After the First Man!”

The Tragedy of Aschaffenburg

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 28:

“The city of Aschaffenburg held a memorial service on Sunday for the victims of a knife attack in which two people were killed and three others were seriously injured. An Afghan asylum seeker who was due to be deported was arrested after the Wednesday attack, triggering renewed debate about immigration ahead of Germany’s national general election next month.

“The attacker targeted a group of children in a park, killing a 2-year-old Moroccan boy and a 41-year-old German man who was trying to protect the youngsters. He wounded three others, among them a Syrian girl aged two, who sustained neck wounds…

“In light of the incident, the conservative frontrunner to become chancellor after the February 23 election, Friedrich Mertz, promised a ‘fundamental’ overhaul of asylum rules and permanent border control. Merz’s CDU/CSU alliance currently leads in the polls with about 30% support while the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) is in second with 20%.”

The Bloodbath in Aschaffenburg

Bild Online wrote on January 23:

“Who is supposed to believe the Chancellor’s sudden determination?… The message: internal security is a top priority, now action is being taken.

“A few hours earlier, a 28-year-old Afghan had murdered two people in Aschaffenburg. He killed a 2-year-old child and an adult man with a kitchen knife. And as with so many terrible murders, it now turns out that the perpetrator should not be in Germany.

“Chancellor Olaf Scholz… is ‘sick’ of the acts of violence committed by immigrants. The authorities must… take immediate action. The Chancellor is only sick of it now? Only now must there be immediate action?…

“This is just a selection of knife murders that occurred during Scholz’s term in office:

“In 2022, a man from Eritrea attacked two girls in Illerkirchberg, one of whom died. In 2023, a Palestinian murdered two people in Brokstedt and seriously injured three others. In 2024, an Afghan stabbed a police officer in Mannheim. Shortly afterwards, a Syrian killed three people in Solingen and injured eight others. He too should have been deported by the authorities, but he remained in Germany.

“Wasn’t that enough to take immediate action?

‘It has been well known for years that Germany has no control over who comes into the country – and is not even close to deporting all migrants who are required to leave.

“In Olaf Scholz’s three years in government, Germany registered almost 800,000 asylum applications. This compares to around 50,000 deportations. More than half of all deportations fail… In 2023, around 40 percent of all suspects in violent crimes were non-German. The proportion was even higher for murder and manslaughter.

“For years, citizens in Germany have been fed up with people committing the worst acts of violence who shouldn’t even be in the country. Citizens have been demanding consequences for years from the authorities’ failure to deport people. Chancellor Scholz’s government had three years to ‘get fed up’ and ‘draw consequences’. Four weeks before the election, these announcements are no longer credible

“The bloody crime in Aschaffenburg is tearing our country out of a typically German illusion: Our politicians are discussing Donald Trump. They are getting worked up about US domestic politics, about Elon Musk, ‘America first’ and about whether this Trump can simply deport Mexicans and close his borders… This shows that Germany’s politics are not just out of touch with the world, they are out of touch with their homeland…”

Report 24 wrote on January 25:

“The terrorist attack in Aschaffenburg shook all of Germany and was viewed with horror around the world. At first, people’s justified anger was directed not only against the perpetrator and the politicians who caused such conditions, but also against employees of the established media. First, the case of BR reporter Barbara Ecke was discussed, who described the murder of a two-year-old child as an ‘interesting’ and ‘exciting’ event in otherwise rather boring Aschaffenburg.

“But the Ukrainian BRISANT presenter Kamilla Senjo, a news format on ARD, went one step further: She explained that the park in which the knife attack took place was a ‘dangerous place’ and asked why people would go for a walk there with children

“Everyone should weigh up and think through the meaning of these words for themselves very carefully. And ultimately also consider who is responsible for these conditions. Because 20, 30 years ago, anyone who questioned whether a park was a proper place for kindergarten children would have been put in a mental asylum…”

Uproar in Germany

Breitbart wrote on January 30:

“In what may serve as a pivotal moment of the federal election campaign and perhaps the future of German politics as a whole, the ‘firewall’ barring establishment parties in Berlin from working with the AfD broke down on Wednesday as Angela Merkel’s former party [under Friedrich Merz] partnered with the populist-sovereigntist party on a [non-binding] vote calling for migration restrictions…

“On Wednesday, both the Social Democrats (SPD, globalist left) and the Greens decided to vote against the motion. However, it narrowly passed by a margin of 348 votes to 344, with 187 CDU/CSU (Union) MPs, 75 AfD MPs, 80 MPs of the Free Democrats (FDP, liberalism), and six unaligned members. It marked the first time that a motion was passed with the help of the AfD since the party was founded…”

The Associated Press wrote on January 30:

“Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday issued rare public criticism of her successor as the country’s center-right leader, the front-runner in Germany’s election next month, for putting to parliament proposals for tough new migration rules that only passed with the help of the AfD. Germany’s center-left governing parties have cast doubt on whether conservative leader Friedrich Merz can still be trusted not to bring the… AfD, into government after Wednesday’s events. He insists that he didn’t and won’t work with it, and that he didn’t break a political consensus, often called a ‘firewall,’ to shun the party. But Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Merz made ‘an inexcusable mistake.’… [Scholz also said he cannot trust Merz anymore.]

“Merkel, a former leader of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union, noted in a rare statement that Merz had said in November that no measures should be passed with AfD’s support before the Feb. 23 election…

“Merz took over the CDU after Merkel, a former rival, stepped down as chancellor in 2021. A more conservative figure, he has taken a more restrictive stance on migration. He said last week that Germany has had a ‘misguided asylum and immigration policy’ for a decade — since Merkel allowed large numbers of migrants into the country… However, her intervention could be problematic for Merz. Merz appears to hope that he will gain support by making the Union look decisive in forcing a tougher approach to migration… It’s uncertain whether that will succeed…. This week’s events soured the political atmosphere and may complicate efforts to form a coalition after the election…”

In addition, the Catholic and the Protestant Churches in Germany criticized Merz for his asylum policy and took the side of Scholz and the Greens. 

Murdered for Refusing to Serve in the Military

ntv wrote on January 26:

“On this Monday, the day of remembrance for the victims of National Socialism, Jehovah’s Witnesses remember 283 members of the religious community who were executed as conscientious objectors in the Second World War

“According to the Sachsenhausen Memorial, Dickmann was shot on September 15, 1939, at the age of 29, in front of his brother and other fellow prisoners in the former concentration camp. Walter Appel was… executed without a trial at the age of 17. His father – also a Jehovah’s Witness – had already been beheaded in October 1941 in Brandenburg Penitentiary as a conscientious objector.

“‘The persecution of these courageous Christians is not just part of history. Even today, Jehovah’s Witnesses are the target of imprisonment and violence in countries such as Russia and Eritrea, simply because they practice their peaceful faith,’ explained [the spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses in northern Germany, Michael] Tsifidaris. He added: ‘January 27 not only reminds us of the atrocities of the past, but also of the need to defend human rights and freedom of belief – especially now that hate crimes and religious persecution are on the rise again here too.’

“In 1996, then Federal President Roman Herzog declared the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp a day of remembrance in Germany. In June 2023, the Bundestag unanimously decided to erect a memorial for Jehovah’s Witnesses persecuted during the Nazi dictatorship.”

Sadly, religious persecution is indeed on the rise in Germany.

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.

This Week in the News

German Ambassador to the US Attacks Trump

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 19:

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

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

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

Scholz: Elon Musk a Danger to European Democracy

Politico wrote on January 17:

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

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

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

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

Holding People Accountable Who Caused “Many Covid Vaccine Deaths”

LifeSiteNews wrote on January 17:

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

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

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

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

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

Europeans Attack Musk Over Alleged Nazi Salute

Politico wrote on January 20:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Sun wrote on January 21:

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

Left-Wing Jewish Jerry Nadler Attacks Musk

Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA) wrote on January 20:

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

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

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

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

Breitbart Clears It All Up

Breitbart wrote on January 21:

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

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

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

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

Hamas to Expel Israel as Soon as Possible

Israel Today wrote on January 16:

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

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

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

This was so predictable.

Hostage Deal Approved

The Associated Press reported on January 17:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hostage Deal—“Murdering Jews Pays!”

Israel 365 News reported on January 19:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Far-Right Ministers Resign in Protest

 Times of Israel wrote on January 19:

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

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

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

Hamas Terrorist Rejoice

The U.S. Sun wrote on January 19:

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

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

Europe to Get Involved

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 16:

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

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

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

Germany to Send Troops to Ukraine?

AFP wrote on January 18:

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

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

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

Ending the Russia-Ukraine War in 24 Hours?

NBC News wrote on January 18:

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

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

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

Breitbart wrote on January 22:

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

Guttenberg’s Dark Intentions

Report 24 wrote on January 21, 2025:

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

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

Karl Habsburg Against Russia

Report 24 wrote on January 21:

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

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

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

Pope Francis’ Moral Blindness

Israel 365 News wrote on January 14:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sharp Rebuke For Pope Over Criticism of Israel

The Kronenzeitung wrote on January 17:

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

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

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

The Pope clearly turns out to be antisemitic.

The Pope’s Grave Sin Hypocrisy

Breitbart wrote on January 16:

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

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

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

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

MSN wrote on January 20:

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

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

Norway Prepares for War

vg wrote on January 11:

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

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

“We Must Protect Ourselves Against Trump”

vg wrote on January 12:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trump’s Litmus Test

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on January 17:

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

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

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

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

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

CNN wrote on January 20:

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

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

Trump Defends TikTok

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 19:

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

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

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

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

Trump’s Liberal LGBT Agenda

NYP reported on January 18:

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

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

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

Imam Ousted

Jewish Insider wrote on January 20:

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

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

Trump’s Inauguration Speech

ABC News wrote on January 20:

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

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

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

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

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

Trump’s Executive Orders

Daily Mail wrote on January 20:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fox News added on January 20:

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

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

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

Restriction of Birthright Citizenship Blocked

Breitbart wrote on January 23:

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

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

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

The Associated Press added on January 23:

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

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

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

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

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

Declassifying Files on JFK, RFK, MLK Assassinations

The New York Post wrote on January 23:

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

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

Biden’s Disgraceful Preemptive Pardons

Deutsche Welle reported on January 20:

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

The New York Post wrote on January 20:

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

CNN added on January 20:

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

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

Fauci’s Pardon!

The Washington Examiner wrote on January 20:

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

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

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

Putin Slaughters Deer to Bathe in Their Blood

Daily Mail wrote on January 18:

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

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

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

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

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

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

This Week in the News

Ending the Civil War in Syria?

Breitbart wrote on January 10:

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

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

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

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

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

Time to Expel Turkey From NATO

Israel 365 News wrote on January 12:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turkey will collaborate with Europe AGAINST Israel and the USA.

The Hostage Deal

The Jerusalem Post wrote on January 14:

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

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

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

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

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

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

What It All Entails

The New York Post wrote on January 15:

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

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

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

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

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

Why Is Trump Pushing Israel Toward a Bad Deal?

Israel Hayom wrote on January 15:

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

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

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

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

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

How Biden and His Administration Suppressed the Truth

Breitbart wrote on January 10:

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

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

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

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

Biden Awards Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Vatican News reported on January 10:

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

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

Breitbart added on January 12:

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

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

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

Hollywood Celebrities Blast Newsom

The New York Post wrote on January 9:

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

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

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

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

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

Newsweek added on January 10:

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

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

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

Breitbart wrote on January 12:

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

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

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

Mediaite wrote on January 10:

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

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

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

AFP added:

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

The New York Post added on January 12:

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

What hypocrisy!

California’s Failing Leadership

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shocking and appalling. Carnal human nature at its worst.

What Happened to the Money?

Breitbart wrote on January 12:

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

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

Incompetence and favoritism galore.  

The Fall of Gavin Newsom

The New York Post wrote on January 11:

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

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

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

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

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

Advice for the Feds, the Media and the People

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

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

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

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

Good advice!

Strange Plans for Trump’s Inauguration

The New York Post wrote on January 13:

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

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

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

The Sentencing of Donald Trump

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

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

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

“Even liberal legal experts have denounced the case…

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

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

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

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

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

Jack Smith’s Phony Report

The New York Post wrote on January 14:

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

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

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

Seizing Greenland?

The U.S. Sun wrote on January 9:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not a Crazy Idea?

Newsmax wrote on January 12:

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

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

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

Denmark Ready for Concessions?

The New York Post wrote on January 12:

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

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

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

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

Easy to Take?

The Sun wrote on January 11:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Newsmax wrote on January 14:

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

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

This plan is not going away soon or easily.

The “Make Greenland Great Again Act”

Reuters wrote on January 13:

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

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

Axios added on January 13:

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

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

The Fight Between USA and Europe Has Begun

The Guardian wrote on January 11:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

German and Austrian Institutions Depart From X

Deutsche Welle reported on January 9:

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

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

Breitbart added on January 15:

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

This will hurt them more than Musk.

“Germany Sets Up Military Division Dedicated to Territorial Defence”

Reuters wrote on January 11:

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

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

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

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

Why this sudden move towards German military power? 

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

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

This Week in the News

Face Mask Mandates Return!!!!

The Daily Mail wrote on January 2:

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

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

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

The Terror Attack in Las Vegas

The Daily Mail wrote on January 2:

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

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

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

Everything Is Strange About Trump Hotel Bomber

Report 24 wrote on January 3:

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Resurgence of IS

The Guardian wrote on January 4:

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

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

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

The Mystery Drone Frenzy Continues

The Associated Press wrote on January 3:

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

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

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

The Shocking Story of the Chinese Spy Balloon

National Post wrote on January 6:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Biden’s Departure Gift

Fox News wrote on January 5:

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

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

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

Further Biden Sabotage

npr wrote on January 6:

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

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

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

Fox News wrote on January 6:

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

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

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

The Devastating LA Fires

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 8:

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

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

The Sun added:

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

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

The Blame Game

The New York Post wrote on January 8:

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

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

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

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

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

The Sun added on January 8:

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

Trump Plans to Sanction the ICC

Israel Today wrote on January 5:

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

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

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

Facebook Gives In

The Wall Street Journal wrote on January 7:

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

Trump Demands 5% From Europe

The Hill wrote on December 26:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trudeau Resigns

Breitbart wrote on January 6:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The New York Post wrote on January 6:

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

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

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

Trump Makes Strong Claims During News Conference

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Greenland a Hot Topic?

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 8:

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

Breitbart wrote on January 8:

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

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

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

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

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

Controversial Florida Law Went Into Effect

LifeSiteNews wrote on January 2:

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

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

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

“Commentators have observed that the law is difficult to enforce

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

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

Is Sebastian Kurz Coming?

Bild Online wrote on January 3:

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

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

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

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

Handelsblatt wrote on January 5:

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

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

Germany in Fear

Deutsche Welle wrote on January 6:

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

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

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

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

Barron’s wrote on January 6:

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

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

“Horror Message”: Schallenberg Becomes Interim Chancellor

orf.at wrote on January 8:

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

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

Report 24 added on January 8:

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

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

A Lot of Things Are Wrong in Germany!

Bild Online wrote on January 3:

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

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

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

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

Just like in the USA…

J.D. Vance Chimes In

Die Welt wrote on January 3:

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

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

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

The Hypocrisy of German Politicians

The Berliner Zeitung wrote on December 30, 2024:

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Serious Strain?

 ntv wrote on January 1:

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

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

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

Censorship in the German Newspaper Forest

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

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

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

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

Europe to Muzzle Elon Musk?

Apollo News wrote on January 7:

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

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

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

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

Report 24 added on January 8:

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

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

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

Jens Spahn—a Real Danger!

TAZ wrote on January:

“Many see the CDU member as a real danger.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Spahn definitely wants to govern…”

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

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

This Week in the News

More Terrible Animal Experiments “to Save People’s Lives”?

Daily Mail wrote on December 27:

Thousands of animals have been blown up, poisoned or given deadly nerve agents during top-secret tests at a military laboratory, MailOnline can reveal. More than 2,000 pigs, rabbits, monkeys, guinea pigs and mice have been killed in ‘barbaric’ experiments at the secretive Porton Down research base in Wiltshire. The figures cover the last three years and were revealed following a Freedom of Information request by MailOnline. 

“But they have sparked outrage from animal rights campaigners… the Ministry of Defence (MoD)… said the tests were part of ‘life-saving’ research to help better protect British troops, and ‘cannot be conducted without the use of laboratory animals’. But Dr Julia Baines, senior science policy manager for animal campaign group Peta, lambasted the MoD for the tests… ‘Peta calls shame on the Ministry of Defence for conducting archaic and appallingly cruel experiments on monkeys, mice, pigs, and other animals, including injecting deadly viruses into their brains and exposing them to nerve agents,’ Dr Baines said. 

“Porton Down is the UK’s top secret laboratory where scientists carry out research into [biological and] chemical weapons and deadly diseases. Under constant armed guard, the secluded base contains some of the most lethal diseases known to man – including ebola, plague and anthrax…

“The MoD refused to specify exactly how each animal was killed in the most recent figures… However, previous experiments have seen live pigs being shot and forced to inhale mustard gas, monkeys being infected with anthrax and guinea pigs being killed with nerve agent. 

“Other tests have involved pigs wearing body armour and being blown up, with scientists attempting to replicate severe battlefield trauma to test how well next-generation flak jackets can protect soldiers from injury… In all, figures show 64 guinea pigs, 97 marmosets, 83 pigs, three rabbits and 1,797 mice were killed in experiments at Porton Down between 2021 and 2023.

“An MoD spokeswoman told MailOnline: ‘The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory conducts experiments ethically, in line with legislation… [It] develops new vaccines, therapies and treatments that can save people’s lives.’”

With that line, everything is justified, and it‘s all in the context of WAR! We heard it before. Ridiculous governmental corona restrictions were enacted “to save people’s lives,” it was claimed.

Steinmeier’s Wisdom… But Who Cares?

The Guardian wrote on December 27:

“Germany’s president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has dissolved parliament and called a snap election on 23 February after Olaf Scholz’s fractious three-way coalition collapsed three years into its mandate. The national vote will come seven months ahead of schedule amid a rocky stretch of unusual political turmoil for the EU’s top economic power…

“Steinmeier – whose office is largely ceremonial – warned… against allowing ‘hatred and violence’ to erode German society… Steinmeier warned… of ‘outside influence’ in the campaign, specifically citing recent ‘open and blatant’ attempts to sway the vote on the social media channel X, used by its owner, Elon Musk, last week to endorse the anti-immigration, anti-Islam … AfD party.  

“… All the mainstream parties have pledged not to work with the far right after the election. Because the CDU/CSU is unlikely to win an absolute majority, it is expected to form a coalition with a party to its left. Most likely at this point is a tie-up with the Social Democrats (SPD), who are polling at about 16%.

“The timing could hardly be worse for Germany’s political gridlock, with a new government not expected to be in place until the late spring, as the incoming US president Donald Trump threatens biting tariffs against the all-important car industry and Russia makes gains in Ukraine despite Berlin’s billions of euros in military assistance to Kyiv.  The current parliament will remain in place until the new one is elected…”

Steinmeier’s time to step down is long overdue. And Germany is presently stumbling from one debacle to the next.

Musk Does It Again…

Reuters wrote on December 28:

“U.S. billionaire Elon Musk backed Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) in a guest opinion piece for Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper published online on Saturday… In the commentary… Musk expanded on his post on social media platform X last week claiming that ‘only the AfD can save Germany.’

“Shortly after the piece was published online, the editor of the opinion section, Eva Marie Kogel, wrote on X that she had submitted her resignation, with a link to the commentary. ‘Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression. This includes dealing with polarising positions and classifying them journalistically,’ the newspaper’s editor-in-chief designate Jan Philipp Burgard and Ulf Poschardt, who takes over as publisher on Jan. 1, told Reuters. They said discussion about Musk’s piece, which had around 340 comments several hours after it was published, was ‘very revealing.’

“Underneath Musk’s commentary, the newspaper published a response by Burgard. ‘Musk’s diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally false,’ he wrote, referencing the AfD’s desire to leave the European Union and seek rapprochement with Russia as well as appease China. The AfD backing from Musk, who also defended his right to weigh in on German politics due to his ‘significant investments,’ comes as Germans are set to vote on Feb. 23 after a coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed.”

Musk (Trump) vs. Germany’s Political “Establishment”

MSN wrote on December 30:

“Musk, who is set to serve Donald Trump’s new administration as an outside adviser, endorsed the AfD as Germany’s last hope in a guest opinion piece for the Welt am Sonntag newspaper… The [German] government spokesperson said Musk’s endorsement of the AfD was ‘a recommendation to vote for a party that is being monitored (by domestic intelligence) on suspicion of being right-wing extremist and which has already been recognised as partly right-wing extremist’.

“German politicians have excoriated Musk for his endorsement of the AfD, with the co-leader of Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) comparing him to Russian President Vladimir Putin. ‘Both want to influence our elections and specifically support the AfD’s enemies of democracy. They want Germany to be weakened and plunged into chaos,’ Lars Klingbeil told the Funke news group on Monday…”

This is of course utter nonsense, but it shows the growing animosity between Germany and the USA.

Spahn Attacks Musk

Deutsche Welle added on December 28:

“In the editorial, [Musk] said the far-right party was the ‘last spark of hope’ for the country. ‘The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party’s leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!’ Musk said in the piece…

“Musk went on to claim that the AfD adopts strong positions on issues relating to economic recovery, energy supply and migration control. ‘The AfD, even though it is described as far-right, represents a political realism that resonates with many Germans who feel that their concerns are ignored by the establishment. It addresses the problems of the moment — without the political correctness that often obscures the truth,’ the tech billionaire continued.

“Musk also said the AfD was ‘committed to a controlled immigration policy that gives priority to integration and the preservation of German culture and security. This is not about xenophobia, but about ensuring that Germany does not lose its identity in the pursuit of globalization.’…

“Musk’s backing of the AfD has sent shockwaves through Berlin, with some lawmakers this week accusing the SpaceX chief of interfering in German politics…”

Member of the German Bundestag Jens Spahn (CDU) placed the following comments to Musk’s statement on X:

“Elon Musk says, look beyond the labels of the AfD. Now, let’s do it then: The AfD wants to leave NATOreactivate Nord Stream 2, and is anti-US, pro-Putin and pro-Russia. Is that what the USA wants? A Germany that turns towards Russia and away from the USA? The AfD wants to leave the Eurozone, our by far largest trading partner. We conduct ~40% of our trade within Eurozone. Without the Euro and the EU, the German economy would completely collapse. Incidentally, the AfD was against the construction of the Tesla factory in Grünheide. If it were up to the AfD, there would be no investment from Elon Musk in Germany at all. Perhaps he should remember that as well. And by the way, no one needs the AfD for less regulation, a stop to illegal mass migration and against ideological energy policies. Other parties also stand for that. But without far-right extremists, conspiracy theorists, and antisemites in their ranks.”

Friedrich Merz, head of the CDU, not wanting to be undone by Spahn who wants to become popular again, responded as well one day later. He told the Funke media group: “I cannot recall, in the history of Western democracies, that there has been a comparable case of interference in the electoral campaign of a friendly country” (See Deutsche Welle, December 29).

AfD’s election program (which is ever-changing) is not without controversy, to be sure. But the party is sometimes criticized for the wrong reasons, while criticism is not noticeable where it should be raised. Note the next article.

AfD’s New Election Program

MSN wrote on December 29:

“After a survey, the AfD wants to change its electoral concept and now demand a reinstatement of compulsory military service… Party leader Tino Chrupalla and the Federal Program Commission had deleted the classic AfD demand for a reinstatement of compulsory military service from the election program. In view of the fear of an expansion of the war in Ukraine, which the AfD is relying on in the election campaign, especially in the East, conscription is not a ‘winning issue’. Top candidate and party leader Alice Weidel sees it differently – and apparently so did a majority of the AfD base in a survey. As a result, the Federal Program Commission is now requesting that compulsory military service be included in the election program.

“The base also rejected a dusty family picture. In the draft election program, the family generally stood for security, trust, mutual care, protection and support. The family model of AfD top candidate Weidel, who lives with her wife and children, would have been included for the first time. But two motions for the party conference now demand that, according to the AfD program, a family should consist of ‘father, mother and children’. The responsible federal specialist committee also refers to the mood among the party base.

“Another point of contention is abortion. The radical opponents in the party had prevailed in the draft program. “Abortion must remain the absolute exception, for example if there is a criminological or medical indication,” it now says.”

We would agree with the definition of family. However, abortion should never occur, and mandatory military service is absolutely wrong. But it will come, as it is prophesied to happen.

Musk Responds

Deutsche Welle reported on December 31:

[“Musk wrote about President Steinmeier in response to his attack on Musk:} ‘Steinmeier is an anti-democratic tyrant!’ Musk wrote in English. ‘Shame on him.’..’

“The spokesman for the leader of the AfD, Alice Weidel, said concrete plans were underway for an online meeting between her and Musk. That came after Musk himself suggested a meeting between the two via X’s Spaces chat feature. ‘Wait until Alice and I do an X Spaces conversation. They will lose their minds,’ he posted. 

“Germany’s Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck on Tuesday hit out at Musk… ‘Elon Musk is equipped with billions and unbridled communication power,’ Habeck wrote on X. ‘His call for the AfD is systematic: He wants to weaken Europe. Power must be limited: no business model must destroy our democracy. Europe must now use its power consistently.’”

Other German political leaders said that Musk’s attack on Steinmeier is an attack on all Germans; and that it must be clarified whether Trump is sharing Musk’s statements.

The animosity between Germany and the USA is becoming more and more dangerous.

Germany’s Migration Policy Has Failed

Bild Online wrote on December 30:

“The failure of Germany’s migration policy is making headlines around the world. ‘Germany Opened Its Doors to Migrants. Now It’s Struggling to Cope,’ is the headline of the renowned US newspaper ‘Wall Street Journal.’ Germany has become a case study for problems that arise when migration exceeds a society’s ability to adapt.

“The Americans ruthlessly list how large the influx of refugees and migrants was (especially from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan). And what illegal immigration means for the German social system and internal security.

“Since 2015, Germany has taken in 2.4 million asylum seekers – twice the population of Munich, according to the newspaper.

“Germany has even overtaken the immigration country USA in terms of the proportion of migrants. In 2021, 18.8 percent of the population in Germany were foreigners, in the United States 15.3 percent…

Job integration is often not successful: The unemployment rate for non-citizens was 14.7 percent last year, compared to 5 percent for citizens.

“In the USA, asylum seekers do not normally receive any money from the state, but are allowed to work quickly. In Germany, things are different: here they can only work after being officially recognized as refugees, which can take months or even years. Instead, they are entitled to benefits that can amount to hundreds or thousands of euros per month. The cost to the federal budget alone: ​​29.7 billion euros last year.

More than half of all welfare recipients now have a migrant background: More than 60 percent of people in Germany who rely on state benefits were born abroad or belong to the second generation of migrants.

“Migrants are also massively overrepresented in crime statistics: Non-citizens, who make up 15 percent of the population, were responsible for 41 percent of all crimes in 2023, according to police statistics…

The reception of Ukrainians in Germany has failed from a purely economic perspective – unlike in other countries. Only 18 percent of the more than one million Ukrainian refugees work and earn enough not to claim benefits. In Great Britain, the figure is 65 percent, in Poland 61 percent.”

It is only because the AfD in particular has long been pointing out these grievances that other parties are now also admitting to them in order not to lose even more votes.

Magdeburg—No One Knows Anything… Or Doesn’t Want to Know Anything!

Bild Online wrote on December 30:

“Magdeburg attack: Much is already known – but NOTHING is clear!… According to BILD information, there were warnings on July 30, November 28, 2023, and September 2, 2024. The BND [Bundesnachrichtendienst, i.e., Federal Intelligence Service ]received these and passed them on. But the BND had to reveal the exact content of these warnings to the MPs in a room in the basement of the Bundestag building that was specially secured against eavesdropping.

“In the Interior Committee, which was meeting in private, there was a scandal right at the start: [Federal Interior Minister Nancy] Faeser was unable to present a chronology of reports and investigations by the federal police and secret services that had been promised to the Bundestag factions a week ago…

“Green Party expert Konstantin von Notz (53) explained that it could not be ‘that this time, as with the Love Parade disaster and the Berlin Christmas market attack, no one takes political responsibility.’

“According to BILD information, there are a total of 80 police cases involving him [the mass murderer] as a perpetrator or complainant. In addition, there are six reports from foreign security services that are supposed to deal with the Twitter threats made by their nationals…”

It is high time that Faeser resigned.

Terror Attack in New Orleans

The Sun wrote on January 1, 2025:

At least [15] people were killed [with another 30 injured] when the city’s famed Bourbon Street became a bloodbath after the gunman ploughed his white pick-up into revellers before opening fire. He was then gunned down by cops and killed.

“The FBI have named the suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar – a US citizen from Texas. Jabbar is a US Army veteran and was wearing full body armour and armed with an assault rifle for the attack. They do not believe he was solely responsible for the attack

“The FBI said an ISIS flag was found attached to a white pipe sticking up from the hitch of the rented Ford pickup. Pipe bombs were found inside the car and concealed within coolers and were wired for remote detonation, a state police intelligence bulletin obtained by AP said…

“Police superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the gunman drove the pick-up truck down Bourbon Street ‘at a very fast pace’ and was ‘intentional’ ‘trying to run over as many people as he possibly could’.

She said: “This is not just an act of terrorism. This is evil.”…

“Jabbar had only converted to Islam within the last year and was ‘being all crazy’ the new husband of his ex-wife said.”

Explosion in Front of Trump Hotel in Las Vegas

Breitbart wrote on January 1, 2025:

“The Tesla Cybertruck explosion in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas has led to one death and seven injuries, officials said. The driver of the electric vehicle parked in the valet area outside of the hotel’s lobby before it burst into flames and exploded with ‘fireworks-style mortars onboard’ on New Year’s Day around 8:40 a.m. local time…  The driver is the only known death, and seven people nearby sustained minor wounds…

“It is unclear… if the fire was purposeful — but authorities said they are investigating the incident as a possible act of terror…”

The New York Post added on January 1:

“Investigators did… determine that the Tesla truck was rented through the Turo app, the same one used to rent the pickup truck used in the New Orleans attack, law enforcement sources told The Post… Police also confirmed that the Cybertruck was filled with fireworks-style mortars…”

Please view in this regard our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Who Was Behind the Terror Attacks in Germany, New Orleans and Las Vegas?”

No Hostage Deal with Hamas

The Jerusalem Post wrote on December 28:

“A ceasefire and hostage deal had not been reached yet because Hamas ‘does not want there to be a deal,’… Netanyahu said in the weekly government meeting on Sunday…

“The message conveyed to ministers was that ‘the negotiations for the hostage deal were stuck,’ with Hamas ‘constantly trying to change direction in the talks.’ The ministers were also told that Hamas returned to demanding an end to the war as conditional for any deal.”

Breitbart wrote on January 1, 2025:

“The Iranian-backed terror group Hamas has decided to call President-elect Donald Trump’s bluff and abandon negotiations toward a hostage deal, waiting instead to see if it can get a better deal when he takes office January 20. Trump said at Mar-a-Lago on New Year’s Eve, ‘They better let the hostages come back soon,’ reiterating a threat that there would be ‘ALL HELL TO PAY’ if Hamas did not free its remaining 100 Israeli hostages by his Inauguration.

“But Hamas has decided that it would rather take its chances — and evidently believes that Trump will not do anything

“The sticking points are the precise number of living hostages to be released in the first phase of a deal; the identities of Palestinian terrorists to be released from Israeli prisoners; and whether a deal would bring the war to an end.

Hamas is determined to survive and to return to power in the Middle East. It fired two short-range rockets at Israel at midnight on New Year’s Eve — a weaker barrage than it used to greet 2024, but a sign that it is still committed to war.”

Jimmy Carter Died

The New York Post wrote on December 29:

“Jimmy Carter, the Georgia peanut farmer who became the 39th president of the United States during a time of gas shortages, Cold War drama and the Iran hostage crisis, died Sunday. He was 100. Carter was the longest-living president in U.S. history…

“Carter was sworn in on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating Republican Gerald Ford, whose campaign was burdened by the political baggage he carried from his decision to pardon disgraced President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. He served only one tumultuous four-year term before being swept aside by Ronald Reagan — but in that time he racked up triumphs such as the historic Camp David peace accords, in which Israel and Egypt officially recognized each other’s governments… But there were also fiascoes…

“Carter’s presidency was marred by events both within and out of his control. In 1979, a pair of international crises erupted — the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, which led Carter to cancel US participation in the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics; and the storming of the US Embassy in Tehran following which 52 Americans were held captive for 444 days.

“A failed rescue effort by the US military in April 1980 led to the deaths of eight American service members, and crippled Carter’s credibility on national security ahead of that year’s presidential election.

“Carter was also buffeted by economic forces, as the OPEC-induced fuel crisis of the early 1970s helped lead to paralyzing ‘stagflation,’ a brutal cocktail of persistently high inflation combined with high unemployment and stagnant demand…

“The Republican [Ronald Reagan] would hand Carter one of the most crushing election losses ever, winning 44 of the 50 states, while the Democrat took the other six plus the District of Columbia.

“After leaving the White House, Carter turned his attention to humanitarian and charitable endeavors, notably his decades-long commitment to the Habitat for Humanity program, which developed housing for the poor, and the Carter Presidential Center to promote human rights.

“Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002…”

Breitbart added on December 27:

“He endured more than four decades of being described as a failed president. However, many of his ideas were revived under President Joe Biden, whose policies today arguably mirror those of the Carter administration.”

Many used to consider Carter as the weakest and most ineffective president in modern history… until Biden showed up.

New Year’s Resolution for Congress and the Executive

Ron Paul wrote on December 30 in the Ron Paul Institute:

“Next month the 119th US Congress will be sworn in, with Republican majorities in both Houses. With every opinion poll we see how the US public holds Congress in contempt. How about doing something about it? What about returning to the Constitution? That means no more 1,500 page omnibus spending bills which hide countless unconstitutional surveillance, censorship, and police state measures behind convoluted legislative language…

“Americans are rightly furious that President Biden has sent as much as $200 billion to fund Ukraine’s futile war with Russia, but where did Biden get that money? From Congress… Every US foreign policy fiasco of the 21st century could have been prevented had Congress only had the courage to say ‘no’ when the President and the military-industrial complex demanded money for a new overseas conflict.

“Next, the Executive Branch. On January 20th we will begin the second Trump Administration. Trump appealed to war-weary American voters by promising no new wars and an end to the current conflicts we are involved in overseas. A good place to start would be an announcement on day one that US troops would be removed from Syria. We learned only last week that the Biden Administration had been lying to us about the number of troops in Syria, but the real question is why do we have troops there at all? Trump rightly said it is not our war, so why not just march home?

“Likewise, Ukraine. As a parting ‘gift’ to the American people, President Biden just announced another six billion to Ukraine. Most of that money – like the billions before – will end up in the hands of the US military-industrial complex, with a few billion stolen by the corrupt Ukraine government. Even the US mainstream media admits that Ukraine has lost the war. So why are we draining the US treasury and draining the population of Ukraine for a lost cause? President Trump: end the funding and end the war.”

Another Scandalous Decision in Canada

Rebel News wrote on December 23:

“Pastor Derek Reimer of Mission 7 Ministries in Calgary appeared in court for sentencing November 27, 2024, after being found guilty in August of criminal harassment… The criminal harassment charges stem from a conversation Reimer had with Saddletowne Public Library service delivery manager Shannon Slater.

“Reimer approached the library manager to ask why the library was hosting events where adults dressed in drag read books to children, often encouraging the children’s exploration of sexual identity and promoting non-traditional values. Slater declined to engage in the conversation and asked Reimer to leave, which he did without hesitation. During the brief exchange, Reimer mentioned that he would likely return to protest.

Reimer published this brief interaction on social media, urging others to voice their disapproval towards this manager for allowing such events to occur. Slater argued that this should fall within the scope of criminal harassment…

“Today, December 23, Justice Molle delivered Reimer’s sentence, which includes the following: A $500 fine… 12 months conditional sentence, or, in other words, house arrest… 2 years probation. Some of the terms include:… Must write a letter of apology to Shannon Slater… Must complete an anger management course and provide proof of counselling… 100 hours of community service work… Prohibited from entertaining friends at his personal home… Must remain in the province of Alberta unless granted approval. Reimer is permitted to participate in religious services outside of his home upon approval by his supervisor.”

Can one believe such an outrageous decision?

Trudeau Must Resign as Prime Minister

National Post wrote on December 24:

“69 per cent of Canadians now think Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign… 72 per cent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the Trudeau government…

“Following the sudden resignation from cabinet of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland last week, more than a third of the 153 Liberals in caucus are now resolved to pursue Trudeau’s immediate resignation… Trudeau isn’t even all that popular among Liberal diehards.”

Maybe Trudeau should accept Trump’s offer and become governor of the 51st state of the USA?

“No Child Is Born in the Wrong Body!”

Breitbart wrote on December 30:

“Harry Potter creator and women’s rights activist J.K. Rowling has told her fans on social media that there is no such thing as a transgender kid and that no child is born in the ‘wrong body.’… [She wrote:] ‘There are only adults…, prepared to sacrifice the health of minors to bolster [their] belief in an ideology that will end up wreaking more harm than lobotomies and false memory syndrome combined.’

“In another post, Rowling blamed some of society’s problems on a type of cultural contamination where social media convinces children that they are transgender… saying, ‘Kids are watching TikTok videos of surgeons selling the idea that bodies can be modified like Lego. Schools affirm kids’ trans identities behind parents’ backs. A certain kids’ charity in the UK sent out breast binders to pubescent girls without parental consent… Many parents are struggling to protect kids from a Zeitgeist telling them that anxieties about puberty, sexuality and growing up can be fixed by lifelong reliance on Big Pharma and by doctors who make Frankenstein look ethical,’ she added.

“Rowling went on to say that parents are facing strong headwinds as schools and the Internet continue to push transgenderism on kids outside the home. She also blasted the entire scheme of transgenderism for pushing a false nirvana. She noted that transgender medical intervention ‘causes infertility, the loss of the ability to orgasm and a lifetime’s reliance on powerful hormones your body wasn’t designed to cope with,’ she wrote.

“Rowling has been a staunch voice in opposition to transgender ‘women’ in sports and recently pointed out that men claiming to be transgender female athletes have stolen hundreds of medals and championships from female athletes… Adding more credence to her position, the British national health system has announced a ban on puberty blockers and other transgender procedures for minors.”

Smoking DOES Kill You!

The Guardian wrote on December 29:

“Smokers are being urged to kick the habit for 2025 after a fresh assessment of the harms of cigarettes found they shorten life expectancy even more than doctors thought. Researchers at University College London found that on average a single cigarette takes about 20 minutes off a person’s life, meaning that a typical pack of 20 cigarettes can shorten a person’s life by nearly seven hours.

“According to the analysis, if a smoker on 10 cigarettes a day quits on 1 January, they could prevent the loss of a full day of life by 8 January. They could boost their life expectancy by a week if they quit until 5 February and a whole month if they stop until 5 August. By the end of the year, they could have avoided losing 50 days of life, the assessment found. ‘People generally know that smoking is harmful but tend to underestimate just how much,’ said Dr Sarah Jackson, a principal research fellow at UCL’s alcohol and tobacco research group. ‘On average, smokers who don’t quit lose around a decade of life. That’s 10 years of precious time, life moments, and milestones with loved ones.’

“Smoking is one of the world’s leading preventable causes of disease and death, killing up to two-thirds of long-term users. It causes about 80,000 deaths a year in the UK and a quarter of all cancer deaths in England…

“‘Some people might think they don’t mind missing out on a few years of life, given that old age is often marked by chronic illness or disability. But smoking doesn’t cut short the unhealthy period at the end of life,’ Jackson told the Guardian. ‘It primarily eats into the relatively healthy years in midlife, bringing forward the onset of ill-health. This means a 60-year-old smoker will typically have the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker.’

“Although some smokers live long lives, others develop smoking-related diseases and even die from them in their 40s. The variation is driven by differences in smoking habits such as the type of cigarette used, the number of puffs taken and how deeply smokers inhale. People also differ in how susceptible they are to the toxic substances in cigarette smoke.

“The authors stress that smokers must quit completely to get the full benefits to health and life expectancy. Previous work has shown there is no safe level of smoking: the risk of heart disease and stroke is only about 50% lower for people who smoke one cigarette a day compared with those who smoke 20 a day. ‘Stopping smoking at every age is beneficial, but the sooner smokers get off this escalator of death the longer and healthier they can expect their lives to be,’ they write.”

Smoking is sin. It is egoistic and thoroughly carnal and shows a complete disregard and lack of love for oneself and others. It is a form of slow suicide… another sin.

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.

This Week in the News

Concerns About Biden’s Fitness From Day One

The National News Desk (TNND) wrote on December 19:

“Concerns within the White House over President Joe Biden’s physical and mental fitness began early in his term in the Oval Office, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Biden, 82, faced accusations throughout this year of being unfit to continue serving in the White House. The scrutiny peaked following his performance in a June presidential debate with President-elect Donald Trump, during which Biden appeared forgetful and confused while speaking in rambling fragments.

“Biden and members of his administration repeatedly rejected suggestions he could not continue running for reelection, despite some of the suggestions coming from other Democrats… The Wall Street Journal on Thursday interviewed nearly 50 individuals familiar with ‘operations’ to conceal… the president’s mental and physical state. Advisers of Biden reportedly realized during the first few months of his term that the ‘bruising presidential schedule’ would need to be adjusted for the president, citing his fatigue and making mistakes…

“Once concerns arose early on, Biden advisers instructed top lawmakers and allies to keep exchanges with the president ‘short and focused,’ according to the Wall Street Journal. Staffers reportedly also ensured most of Biden’s meetings were held later in the day due to the president not being ‘at his best’ first thing in the morning, with the option to scrap meetings entirely if he was having an ‘off day.’

The guidelines for interactions with Biden even impacted Cabinet members, according to the Wall Street Journal. Biden has reportedly held just nine full Cabinet meetings throughout his term, compared to former President Barack Obama holding 19 during his first term and Trump convening 25 during his.

“At least one Cabinet member stopped asking for calls with Biden ‘because it was clear that such requests wouldn’t be welcome,’ a source told the Wall Street Journal. Cabinet members with particularly infrequent access to Biden reportedly included Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Donors also noticed how staffers worked to mask signs of Biden’s ‘decline,’ the Wall Street Journal reported…

“Harris during her brief presidential campaign fielded accusations of covering up Biden’s mental fitness. During an August interview with CNN, Harris told anchor Dana Bash she had no ‘regrets’ about what she told Americans about the president’s ability to serve…”

A Scandalous Cover-Up

Fox News wrote on December 20:

“CNN’s Scott Jennings criticized the White House for hiding President Biden’s health and age issues from the public in a segment on Thursday. ‘This is the biggest scandal in America,’ Jennings said on CNN. ‘And the level and volume of people who dedicated themselves to lying to everyone at home about this man’s condition for four-straight years up through this summer is breathtaking… It‘s a scandal of epic proportions and it’s a fair question to ask — who is running the country?… Who has been running the country?’

“Jennings argued that Biden’s staffers lied about his health and age concerns for the entirety of his presidency. ‘If you‘re worried about Donald Trump’s having influence — for the last four years, apparently, this president, duly elected, this president was not capable of fulfilling the duties of the office. And his staff and the White House lied about it and kept it from the American people,’ Jennings said…”

Biden did not run the Presidency during these four years, for numerous reasons. For one, it is very doubtful that he was even legitimately elected as President, given major concerns that the election in 2020 was rigged. And unless we forget, there are still major and unresolved concerns and unanswered questions (despite the fact that Trump buckled in this regard) whether Obama was born in America (Hawaii)… if he was not, his presidency would have been illegitimate as well.

“Shoot the Drones!”

The Ron Paul Institute published the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano on December 19:

“The skies over New Jersey have been littered with strange flying objects during the past two weeks; and the feds are either hiding the truth from terrified folks on the ground or scratching their collective heads along with the rest of us. Since early December, there have been between 3,000 and 5,000 reports of large drones — some about the size of a pickup truck. They have three or four arms, at the ends of which are very bright lights.

“The drone I saw over the northwest tip of the state appeared to come toward me and then stood perfectly still. Then — in a heartbeat — it was gone… The New Jersey State Police dispatched a helicopter — manned by two troopers — to pursue this beast but not to interfere with it. As their helicopter approached, the drone fled from them and seemed to disappear.

“New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy — who had no use for the Bill of Rights during the pandemic four years ago — sees no threat to public safety or public peace. The White House — which must know the origin and nature of these things — also professes ignorance. President-elect Donald Trump… opined that if this happens on his watch, he’d order the drones shot down. Don’t expect that from President Joe Biden. Remember the two weeks during which we all watched a huge Chinese ‘weather’ balloon make its way from Alaska to South Carolina, only to have it shot down over the Atlantic? That was a manifestation of the Biden attitude about strange and terrifying flying objects…

“Will I shoot down the next drone that flies over my home when the state claims it cannot do so and the feds tell me to mind my own business? If I did, I’d be responsible for the natural and probable consequences of such an act, including personal injury and property damage to those on the ground. The better way to address this is for the states to chase and capture these devices, in defiance of an incompetent federal government. If they won’t, I might just take my chances with a New Jersey jury.”

Please view our StandingWatch program, titled, “The DRONES! No Danger? Are You Kidding?” 

Controversial Bill Passed to Avoid Governmental Shutdown

Fox News wrote on December 21:

“The White House has announced that President Biden signed a stopgap funding bill into law on Saturday, extending government funding into March [through March 14, 2025] and avoiding a shutdown. The bill includes $100 billion in disaster aid and a one-year farm bill. The Senate worked into early Saturday morning to pass the bill 85-11, just after the deadline following a chaotic week on Capitol Hill.”

The substantially same bill had been rejected twice before by the House.

Fox News reported on December 21:

“An original agreement on a short-term spending bill was released earlier in the week… But soon after its release, billionaire Elon Musk and other conservative critics publicly blasted the measure, ultimately resulting in it being condemned by President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance… Meanwhile, as of Thursday, the U.S national debt was at $36,167,604,149,955.61 and was continuing to climb rapidly…

“House Republicans emerged on Thursday with a new proposal. The revised measure would have extended current funding levels for three months and included a debt limit suspension for two years, per the request of Trump… But the bill failed on the House floor Thursday night as Democrats united against it and a significant group of Republicans opted to oppose it as well…

“The third measure, which ultimately passed the House and Senate, was similar to the one that failed the night prior…. However, the final stopgap bill did not include a suspension of the debt ceiling, which Trump had requested himself. The House passed the short-term spending bill with 366 yes votes, surpassing the necessary two-thirds…  34 Republicans [voted] against the legislation and zero Democrats [voted] against it. One Democrat… voted present… Among those who voted against the bill was Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who told Fox News Digital, ‘I don’t know why we’re giving Joe Biden $100 billion to play with in 30 days’…”

It does not appear that anyone voting for this bill had the best interests of the American people in mind. Neither did Trump who wanted a suspension of the debt ceiling. Ridiculous!

How Our Government Wastes Our Money!!!

Newsmax wrote on December 24:

“Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., released his annual ‘Festivus’ report on Tuesday where he cited more than $1 trillion in government waste for 2024. Paul’s yearly accounting of frivolous government spending is a scathing editorial of… absurd federal projects

“Paul noted that the national debt increased $2 trillion in 2024 to a current figure of $36 trillion and is on pace to increase at least $2 trillion every year for the next decade… ‘That’s over $1 trillion in government waste, including things like ice-skating drag queens, a $12 million Las Vegas pickleball complex, $4,840,082 on Ukrainian influencers, and more! No matter how much money the government has wasted, politicians keep demanding even more.’..

“While hundreds of millions was listed in misused COVID PPP funds, some of the more ludicrous government programs called out include The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spending $419,470 to determine if lonely rats seek cocaine more than happy rats, $3 million on ‘girl-centered climate action’ in Brazil, $288,563 to create safe spaces for bird watching groups, and $123,066 to teach youths in Kyrgyzstan how to ‘go viral.’”

Fox News added on December 23:

“The 2024 Festivus Waste Report found that the Biden-Harris administration spent over $1 trillion this year, including giving a $10,000 grant to ‘Beards on Ice’ — an ice skating drag show on climate change put on by the Bearded Ladies Cabaret, a self-described ‘queer cabaret arts organization.’ Additionally, the Agency for International Development (USAID) spent $20 million on a Sesame Street spin-off show in Iraq, titled ‘Ahlan Simsim,’ in an effort to promote ‘inclusion’ and ‘mutual respect.’

“About $1.5 million was spent experimenting how different species, such as young female kittens, respond to motion sickness.  According to the report, researchers would strap kittens to a table, where they are spun around in several directions and have holes drilled into their skulls to keep them in place — ‘and it’s all being done with your money,’ Paul writes in the report. ‘More than one and a half million dollars of it.’…

“‘As the average American taxpayers struggle to pay rent, their hard-earned dollars are ironically funneled into more real estate,’ the report read, referring to the Biden struggles spending $10 billion on maintaining and furnishing buildings that were almost entirely empty. The Department of Energy (DOE) gave automakers $15.5 billion to push the industry into the electric vehicle (EV) sector while another $388,000 was given to ‘Magic in the United States,’ a podcast discussing how magical beliefs and practices have evolved in the U.S. The senator also mentioned the Biden administration giving $2.1 million to fund Paraguay’s border…”

Trump Threatens EU With Tariffs

AFP wrote on December 20:

“President-elect Donald Trump on Friday threatened the European Union with tariffs if the bloc does not reduce its ‘tremendous’ trade gap with Washington through oil and gas purchases. ‘I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large scale purchase of our oil and gas,’ Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform in the early hours of Friday. ‘Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way!!!’

“According to U.S. figures, goods imports from the EU were $553.3 billion in 2022, while its exports to the bloc were $350.8 billion. This puts the U.S. goods trade deficit with the EU at $202.5 billion that year… Trump… has made sweeping threats of slapping tariffs on US trading partners — including Canada, Mexico and China — which could send reverberations across the global economy… Trump had threatened a 25% import tariff, while vowing at least 10% against China…

“Earlier this month, the European Union concluded a massive trade deal with four South American countries — Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay — that aims to create a 700-million-customer free-trade area. Von der Leyen had said the agreement would build trade bridges as ‘strong winds are blowing in the opposite direction, towards isolation and fragmentation’ — comments largely seen as a nod to Trump’s threats to hike tariffs…”

Trump is making more and more enemies, especially in Europe.. and Europe WILL respond, when the time comes.

Trump Attacks Panama Canal Toll, Threatens With Return of Ownership

Fox Business News wrote on December 21:

“President-elect Trump unleashed a tirade against Panama Canal tolls Saturday, claiming the U.S. is being ripped off by high prices… The Panama Canal’s tolls can range from three to six figures depending on how large a vessel is and how much cargo it carries, with the largest ships being charged as much as $500,000. ‘The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America’s Economy and National Security,’ Trump wrote in his post. ‘A secure Panama Canal is crucial for U.S. Commerce, and rapid deployment of the Navy, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and drastically cuts shipping times to U.S. ports.’

“The incoming president criticized former President Carter, who Trump said ‘foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar.’ In 1977, Carter signed the Panama Canal Treaty, which phased out U.S. control of the canal by 1999. Carter also signed the Neutrality Treaty, which ensured that the tolls would be equal for all nations. Trump implied that the U.S. should be given preferential treatment in his post… ‘The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S. This complete “rip-off” of our Country will immediately stop.’

“Trump also floated the idea of demanding the canal’s ownership be returned to the United States if American ships are not given fair treatment. ‘[The Panama Canal] was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama,’ Trump concluded. ‘If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question.’”

Giving away the Panama Canal was indeed a foolish move, humanly speaking, but it was prophesied in the Bible, as America is to lose ALL its “sea gates.”

Trump Dreams of Empire Extension

MSN wrote on December 24:

“Trump has been in a strikingly imperial mood since his election victory. He has floated with acquiring Greenlandreclaiming the Panama Canalannexing Canada, and potentially invading Mexico…

“Greenland’s prime minister, Múte Egede, hit back at Trump on Monday: ‘Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.’ A day earlier, Trump had labeled taking ‘ownership’ of the world’s largest island ‘an absolute necessity’ [for national security and freedom]. People involved in Trump’s transition have been discussing how an acquisition or custodianship of Greenland [which is currently controlled by Denmark] would work… The island’s attractions include its natural resources and its location, as the U.S., Russia and other powers scramble for footholds in the Arctic…

“Panama President José Raúl Mulino declared in an on-camera address Sunday that Panama would not hand over a single square meter of the canal, to which Trump replied on Truth Social: ‘We’ll see about that!’ Trump followed up with a picture of an American flag flying over the canal, captioned: ‘Welcome to the United States Canal!’…

“Trump previously told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that his country could avoid tariffs if it became America’s 51st state — a message he has repeatedly re-upped through memes and jokes… Trump’s allies have also been discussing a potential ‘soft invasion’ of Mexico… That could involve targeting cartels through cross-border special forces operations or drone strikes.”

Trump Appoints Brian Burch as Ambassador to the Holy See

Yahoo! News wrote on December 21:

“President-elect Donald Trump on Friday nominated Brian Burch, a right-wing Catholic who has often criticized Pope Francis, as his ambassador to the Holy See. Trump announced Burch, a father of nine and president of the non-profit CatholicVote.org (which he described as ‘one of the largest Catholic advocacy groups in the Country’) as his nominee in a Truth Social post, which was followed by a message selling ‘God Bless the USA’ Bibles…

“Burch… may not have a lot of love for Pope Francis specifically. He strongly opposed the pontiff’s decision to allow the blessing of same-sex couples…  He has also alleged church leaders might have collaborated with the FBI on plans ‘to infiltrate “Latin mass” communities,’ amid reports last year that the agency had warned of ‘radical traditionalist’ Catholics as part of investigations into far-right activism.

“… theology professor and director of the Catholic Theological Union’s Bernardin Center in Chicago Steven Millies described Burch as ‘an agitator, mostly, the opposite of a diplomat… His appointment signals what we already know; a difficult time lies ahead for U.S.-Vatican relations.’”

The relationship between the USA and the Vatican will drastically deteriorate.

Musk Wades Into Election Campaigns

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 20:

“Elon Musk… opined on his platform X (formerly Twitter) on Friday morning that ‘Only the AfD can save Germany.’ Alica Weidel, who is running for chancellor as co-leader of the AfD, [a lesbian married to a woman from Sri Lanka] responded to Musk an hour later, saying: ‘Yes! You are perfectly right! Please also have a look into my interview on President Trump, how socialist Merkel ruined our country, how the Soviet European Union destroys the countries [sic] economic backbone and malfunctioning Germany!’

The AfD is currently polling at around 19% ahead of the German federal election in February, second only to the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at around 33%. But all the other parties currently in the German parliament have ruled out forming a coalition with them

“Asked about Musk’s comments, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: ‘Freedom of expression also applies to multi-billionaires, but it also means that you’re allowed to say things which aren’t correct, and aren’t good political advice.’

“Other German lawmakers from across the political spectrum criticized both Musk’s post and Weidel’s response, slamming ‘interference’ and insisting that no other party will form a government with ‘fascists bought by billionaires.’… Anton Hofreiter from the Green Party  called the AfD ‘traitors bought by billionaires’ and ‘a band of fascists who have not only been bought by… Putin but are now being supported by a multi-billionaire-turned-right-wing-extremist.’…

“It’s not the first time that Musk has addressed the AfD. At the start of June, he posted: ‘They keep saying “far right,” but the policies of AfD that I’ve read about don’t sound extremist…’

“Musk has also expressed support for the United Kingdom’s far-right ‘Reform UK’ and its populist leader Nigel Farage. This week, Farage told the BBC that his party is in ‘open negotiations’ with Musk regarding a potential donation, which The Times has reported could be as high as £78m ($100m, €96m), by far the biggest political donation in British political history…  In Germany, state security services have warned that the upcoming federal election could be targeted by disinformation campaigns not only from Russia, but also from the United States.

“Meanwhile, the leader of Germany’s neoliberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) Chrisitan Lindner, sparked controversy this month when he appeared to praise the political views and activities of Musk and right-wing populist Argentinian President Javier Milei… On Friday, replying to Musk on X, he… cautioned against supporting the AfD.”

After Musk’s “endorsement” of the AfD, “Alice Weidel has surged to the top of the polls of preferred chancellors in the upcoming February elections… [She] surged by three points over the previous week to 24 points, surpassing the leader of the centrist neo-liberal Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz, who fell by one point to 20 per cent since the previous week.

“Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the current candidate for the leftist Social Democrat Party (SPD) languishes in third place, falling one point from last week to 15 per cent support. Scholz is followed by his Economic Minister Robert Habeck, the chancellor candidate for the Greens, at 14 per cent…. Although the attack [see below] happened under the watch of Chancellor Scholz, the suspected attacker was reportedly granted asylum in 2016, under the CDU government of Angela Merkel” (Breitbart, December 22).

Reuters wrote on December 20:

“Musk… on Friday called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resign in response to a deadly attack at a German Christmas market [in Magdeburg]. ‘Scholz should resign immediately,’ Musk posted on X, adding: ‘Incompetent fool.’”

On Saturday, he wrote in regard to the news (see below) that Saudi Arabia had warned Germany about the attacker:

“Yeah, he was obviously a lunatic who should never have been allowed to enter Germany and should have been extradited when Saudi Arabia made the request. Suicidal empathy by the German government.

“Wow, this is insane. Whoever refused to extradite a murderer deserves to be punished severely!”

Musk is seen as Trump’s strongest and most influential [unelected] adviser. Some call him already “President Musk.” And as Trump becomes more and more unpopular in Europe and especially in Germany (if that is possible), so Musk is even trumping him in that regard.

Note the following articles.

Terrorist Attack in Magdeburg, East Germany

The Daily Mail wrote on December 20:

“… a Saudi doctor [a specialist in psychiatrist and psychotherapy] who drove through a massive crowd at a German Christmas market [in Magdeburg], killing at least two and injuring nearly 70 people, was arrested. [He had lived and worked in the neighboring city of Bernburg, about 25 miles south of Magdeburg.]  

While official figures say that two people, including a toddler, have died, local media have put the death toll at 11…

“Bild reported that the [rented] car was driven ‘at least 400m (1,300ft) across the Christmas market’… at least 15 people were ‘severely’ injured…” 

Those figures were clearly underreported and totally unrealistic.

ABC News reported on December 21:

“At least five people are now known to have been killed in the vehicle-ramming attack on a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg on Friday, the Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff told journalists on Saturday. Haseloff said that at least 200 more people were injured… At least 40 of those injured were so seriously hurt that their lives are still thought to be in danger, according to Chancellor Olaf Scholz.”

Who Is the Terrorist?

Breitbart wrote on December 20:

“The suspected attacker… was granted asylum [an indefinite residence permit] in Germany in 2016 after fleeing from his native Saudi Arabia for fear of persecution over his atheism, Welt reports. [He arrived in Germany in 2006 and lived in Germany since then.] The suspect has been identified as having established a website to help other atheist asylum seekers flee to Germany. In an interview in 2019, he reportedly claimed to be the ‘most aggressive critic of Islam in history’.

“Der Spiegel reports that Taleb A. had expressed sympathies towards the anti-mass migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, as well as figures such as Elon Musk, Alex Jones, and Tommy Robinson. However, the news outlet noted that Taleb A. identified as a ‘leftist’. [Breitbart added on December 21: “While much media attention in the wake of the attack has focussed on statements Taleb made in support of the populist right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party over its critiques of Islamic immigration, he apparently considered himself to be a leftist. ‘Taleb A. said in the interview that he was not a right-winger and described himself as a leftist,’ Der Spiegel reports… He appears to have been particularly angered over the acceptance rate of ‘Syrian jihadists’ compared to ex-Muslims from Saudi Arabia.]”

“Welt reported that posts apparently made on social media by the suspected attacker criticised Germany for trying to ‘Islamize Europe’ while also accusing Berlin of ‘hunting Saudi asylum seekers inside and outside Germany to destroy their lives.’ There are growing suggestions that the attacker may have suffered from some form of mental illness, with posts accusing the German state of the ‘killing of Socrates’, as well as personally persecuting him…

“However, despite reportedly not being on police radar as a potential extremist, several posts attributed to the suspect seemingly showed violent intent, including: ‘I assure you that 100 percent revenge will come soon. Even if it costs me my life,’ and ‘Germany will pay the price. A huge price.’..

“The attack appears to be similar to the 2016 terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Berlin when a man hijacked a truck and used it to plow down people attending the market. In total, 13 people died, as a result of the attack and dozens were left injured. The attacker, a failed asylum seeker from Tunisia named Anis Amri, fled to Italy and was shot and killed by police in Milan days later.”

The Sun wrote on December 21:

“Four months before the attack, he wrote online in Arabic: ‘I assure you: if Germany wants war, we will have it. If Germany wants to kill us, we will slaughter them, die.’ He wrote: ‘Is there a path to justice without slaughtering German citizens indiscriminately?’”

Breitbart added on December 21:

“The German news magazine [“Der Spiegel”] also reported that Berlin security agencies received three warnings from Saudi Arabia about the suspect… However, officials allegedly dismissed the statements and reportedly did not consider him to be a threat as a potential extremist.”

Daily Mail added this on December 21:

“In 2013 he was sentenced by a German court for ‘disturbing the public peace by threatening to commit crimes’, according to Der Spiegel. Three years later, he applied for asylum in Germany and his application was approved within four months…  German officials said… that the attacker drove into the market through a rescue entrance, where they were no barricades.”

This will have a massive influence on Germany’s upcoming elections. Undoubtedly, each party will use this to further their own goals and to attack the other side.

How Is Something Like That Possible?

On December 21, Bild Online published the following comment from Bild boss Robert Schneider:

“A doctor from Saudi Arabia, who has lived in Germany for many years and appears as a fanatical anti-Islamist, carried out this murderous attack under the influence of drugs like something out of the textbook of Islamic terrorism… Much of the terrible bloody act is inexplicable. And yet urgent questions arose the day after the shooting. Saudi authorities have repeatedly warned German authorities about Taleb A…. Why did our police and secret services do nothing even though they had the Saudi on their radar, even though he was said to have been convicted of threatening criminal offenses in 2013?

“Why did someone like that even get asylum with us in 2016? And why were the tips from Saudi Arabia apparently ignored? And how can it be that in Germany, at the same time, the judiciary is meticulously tracking down and prosecuting citizens who make insulting or even satirical comments about politicians – up to and including house searches? So ‘imbecile professional’ (Habeck case) is persecuted and ‘Kill Merkel’ (Taleb on X) is not!”

Bild Online then wrote on December 23:

“Three days after the murderous attack in Magdeburg!… High representatives of the state such as the Chancellor, Federal President, ministers and state leaders were there and gave moving speeches. Then the politicians left again. But questions remain!…

Why was the police van missing at the entrance to the Christmas market? A larger police car was supposed to be parked across there, but was missing. Only because of this safety glitch was the death driver able to drive through the 5 meter gap and murder several people. They would still be alive if the police car had been there!… Who is responsible for the security plan for the Magdeburg Christmas market?…

“For terror expert Peter Neumann (King’s College London), one thing is clear: ‘The concept has failed. This didn’t even close the obvious gap – making an identical attack like the Berlin shooting at Breitscheidplatz in 2016 impossible – … I’m stunned that the city of Magdeburg continued to defend its security concept even after the attack.’

“Why was the assassin Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen allowed to work as a doctor? Patients called him ‘Dr. Google’ because he didn’t even know what a thrombosis was! He was obviously neither mentally nor professionally suitable for this and yet he worked as a doctor – how is that possible?…

“Why were there indications from Saudi Arabia ignored that Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen is a dangerous man? Some ex-Muslims are also said to have warned authorities about his attack fantasies and were not listened to. Why?… If the security authorities had followed up on the tips, it might have become clear: This man had no place in Germany!”

Shiite Mass Murderer?

Report 24 asked similar questions on December 21, and then reported other shocking findings:

“While the German media is busy with highly questionable reports that he was an Islam-hating convert, Arabic-speaking citizen journalists brought to light his connections with the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and the terrorist group ‘Islamic State’ (IS)… The actual name of the murderous psychiatrist is, according to Arabic sources, ‘Talib Al-Abdul Mohsen’. It is a Shia surname. Shiites are the minority in Saudi Arabia; most Saudis are Sunnis. Both are different branches of Islam that repeatedly fight each other with deadly violence. Taleb confessed to Wahhabism in 2016 – which hardly fits with the theory of turning away from Islam…

“Taleb A. further supported the Islamist groups that recently brought Syria under their control… It is gratifying how many details from the mass murderer’s life are coming to light through the work of citizen journalists. Fortunately, Elon Musk’s X doesn’t cooperate as submissively as Zuckerberg’s Facebook and makes this research possible. The German authorities apparently want to cover up as much about this case as possible…”

Europe Leaderless

Haaretz wrote on December 19:

The continent may be on the verge of another defining moment in its postwar history depending on how it reconciles U.S. President-elect Donald Trump – a huge NATO critic – with Europe’s endemic political weakness…

“Europe’s largest and strongest countries are undergoing political turmoil and instability. The European Union is weak on foreign and defense policy… Today, Europe is leaderless…”

A powerful European leader will arise, when it is least expected.

Switzerland’s Crazy Decisions

LifeSiteNews wrote on December 20:

“Switzerland’s highest court has decided parents separated from their daughter for refusing to endorse her gender ‘transition’ must enable their child’s legal ‘sex change’ or face the possibility of criminal charges

“The child’s father reacted to the ruling: ‘… That we could face criminal charges for simply trying to care for our daughter shows how deeply embedded transgender ideology is in Swiss institutions and the real harms it causes…’

“This is the latest juncture in a case that has already received worldwide attention…  X-owner Elon Musk commented on it saying: ‘This is insane. This suicidal mind virus is spreading throughout Western Civilization.’

“The daughter’s parents were separated from their child by court order over a year and a half ago, after they objected to their child’s so-called gender ‘transition.’ They were concerned their daughter was being pushed to make hasty and irreversible decisions when she first said she identified as the opposite sex following mental health struggles at the age of 13… The parents refused ‘puberty blockers’ for their child and told her school to not ‘socially transition’ her, and instead arranged private mental health care. But the school ‘socially transitioned’ the daughter anyway and liaised with the state child welfare agency, Service de Protection des Mineurs (SPMI) and a transgender-activist organization. Eventually, the daughter was separated from her parents and legal authority over her medical care was transferred from the parents to SPMI.

“The daughter has lived in a government shelter since April 2023 and the parents’ access to her is regulated by the state. The parents tried and failed to recover legal authority over their daughter’s medical care through an appeal, and a court order was issued for them to hand over her identity documents (under the threat of criminal charges) to enable a legal ‘sex change’…”

Such crazy occurrences are not limited to Switzerland, but would include the rest of Europe AND the USA—especially, when incompetent and parent-opposing state child welfare agencies get involved. This is SATAN’S abominable world with its governments and laws in which we live. THANK GOD, hopefully not much longer!

Israel vs. Turkey Over Syria

Israel Today wrote on December 19:

“Turkey’s recent posture [towards Israel], particularly in the aftermath of the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, has been increasingly antagonistic… Turkey, although a NATO member, has facilitated activities that undermine Israel’s security and… publicly supports groups with terrorist affiliations. For example, in July, Israel thwarted a Hamas attack orchestrated from within Turkey and Turkey now hosts the Hamas leaders who were forced out of Qatar.

“Erdoğan has frequently called on Israel to refrain from military actions in Lebanon and Syria. Yet, Turkey itself appears ready to launch a military operation in Syria targeting Kurdish groups..  in July [Erdogan] went so far as to threaten an invasion of Israel… Despite this, NATO has shown little resistance to Turkey’s behavior…”

Turkey is prophesied to become Israel’s arch-enemy.

Netanyahu Will Not Attend Auschwitz Memorial

Israel 365 News wrote on December 22:

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp due to concerns that the Polish government’s pledge [expressed on Friday by Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Bartoszewski] that it will adhere to the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu over possible war crimes in Israel’s war against the Hamas terrorist organization.

“The major event is planned for International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 and is expected to be attended by dozens of leaders and heads of state, including Britain’s King Charles…

“Polish sources told Rzeczpospolita that Warsaw was enforcing the warrants due to its wish to see Russian President Vladimir Putin stand before the court. The court issued a warrant for Putin in 2022 over the kidnapping of Ukrainian children from occupied Ukraine. The report also said President Isaac Herzog does not plan to attend.”

This is SO stupid. Shame on Poland—especially in light of its Nazi past.

Mandatory Weapons Training for Children in Poland

International Business Times (IBT) wrote on December 24:

“Poland has introduced mandatory firearm and basic first aid training for schoolchildren as fears of Russian aggression loom over the country. The Education for Safety program, which targets students aged 14 to 16, teaches theoretical and practical gun-handling skills using laser-based weapons for safety… Students learn how to assemble and disassemble firearms, improve shooting accuracy, and respond to warfare-related threats.

“The lessons, conducted for one hour per week in school gymnasiums, also include topics on state security, survival techniques, and tactical rescue…

“The mandatory lessons reflect Poland’s broader effort to prepare its population for potential conflict… The government plans to implement the program across all 18,000 schools nationwide…”

A terrible development of indoctrination and glorification of guns.

Our Cruel World

The Sun wrote on December 20:

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

“All of this has made Bua one of the most well-known living gorillas with her being at the centre of dozens of campaigns aimed at getting her free. These calls have come mainly from international campaign groups but even celebrities such as Cher. PETA have spent over 12 years trying to relocate Bua but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears…  the owner of Bua has constantly ignored calls to give her a better quality of life and says he will only release her if he is paid £700,000… Even the environment minister of Thailand, Varawut Silpa-archa, has made it clear he wishes to see her moved to a sanctuary…

“Bua was first shipped off to the shopping centre from Germany when she was just a one-year-old. She has been trapped in her cramped and dirty cage ever since… Pata Zoo is not only home to the sombre gorilla but also more than 200 other animal species including tigers, bears and pythons. Many of the animals live in similar conditions to Bua [i.e., in dirty sand dingy cages] and spend their days wallowing about in pity. A chilling report by International Animal Rescue has even claimed that some animals were left to die in their cages.

“PETA has strongly condemned the zoo for years… labelling it ‘one of the worst zoos in the world’ [and the ‘saddest place on earth’].”

It was also reported that “Bua Noi’s owners were offered a free service from professional gorilla experts who could help relocate her to any modern zoo. The offer fell on deaf ears as Bua Noi stays in a cage 24/7” (mustsharenews, dated August 19, 2015).

How is something like this even allowed? The owner should be dispossessed of the animals and the zoo closed, with the animals transferred to a better environment. God IS holding such cruel and heartless people responsible for their evil doing!

The Ancient Yule Festival

NPR wrote on December 20:

“In Southwestern Wisconsin, preparation is underway for Circle Sanctuary’s 50th annual Yule festival. For the pagan members the church serves, it marks winter solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. On Sunday night, High Priestess Selena Fox gathered spiritual leaders on Zoom to light candles and honor the full moon… She invited those watching to call to mind joy from sacred seasonal plants: evergreen trees, holly, ivy and mistletoe.

“On Saturday, she and several dozen others will gather around a bonfire at the sanctuary’s nature preserve and throw a decorated Yule log into the fire, symbolizing the returning sun. Fox is a Wiccan priestess, but Circle Sanctuary is inclusive of a range of pagan traditions, focusing on a spiritual connection with nature. Amid the depths of winter, Fox said Yule is a celebratory occasion to plant seeds of hope for the coming spring…

Paganism is growing in the U.S, particularly among young people… [It] reflects Americans’ movement away from organized religion and toward less-hierarchical spiritual practices… Many pagans, including Wiccans, practice magic and call themselves witches… [It may include] a reenactment of the Wild Hunt, a story about guiding souls who’ve died during the year into the afterlife.”

Of course, Christmas [as well as New Year’s observances] is nothing else but a slightly modified (“Christianized”) version of those ancient pagan Yule Festival celebrations.

Winter Solstice Sunrise Celebrations

BBC News reported on December 21, 2024:

“The winter solstice sunrise was greeted by thousands of people at Stonehenge, with a focus on ‘renewal, rebirth and good vibes’…

“In nearby Avebury, which is home to another ancient stone circle, two men wearing cloaks could be seen blowing horns as people gathered to watch the sunrise over the fields. Near the stone circle there is a group of beech trees which people tie ribbons to. This is a pagan tradition known as ‘wishing trees’, done as prayers to the tree spirits or in the memory of loved ones.

“In Somerset, Glastonbury Tor also saw crowds of people climbing the hill earlier this morning to mark the sun rising… It is regarded by some as a spiritual site just like Stonehenge. At the top of the hill, a fire was lit and songs were sung by people gathered there.”

Uri Geller’s Powers

Yahoo! News wrote on December 21:

“Uri Geller believes aliens gave Jesus the power to perform miracles. The 78-year-old illusionist is convinced that ‘humans are not alone in the universe’ and that ‘some sort of extraterrestrial intelligence is watching us’… 

“Uri… questioned whether Jesus’ ‘miraculous powers’ were a ‘gift from God’ or whether they were actually ‘a gift from extraterrestrials’… ‘I am by no means comparing myself to Jesus but I believe my powers were a gift from extraterrestrials – and that those of Christ could have been too.’”

Geller has become famous for appearing on TV to seemingly alter the shape of spoons and other utensils. If real, his powers might have come from forces other than God. Christ, however, was clearly given power from God the Father.

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.

This Week in the News

The DRONES… Don’t Trust Biden Administration’s “Assurances”

The Editorial Board of the New York Post wrote on December 13:

“Gaslighting as usual, the White House is telling Americans freaked out by the drones hovering ominously over parts of New York and New Jersey [as well as Pennsylvania and Maryland]: Everything’s fine! Just trust us! Since the first known spotting Nov. 18, at least 3,000 sightings have followed in New Jersey alone, and it’s spread to Staten Island and The Bronx…

“Pushed by local leaders to address exactly what… has been happening in US airspace for nearly a month, National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby had the nerve to brush off concerns. ‘Many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully,’ he insisted, and there’s no evidence the UFOs pose a threat. Which might be reassuring if he hadn’t just indicated that the White House has no clue where the drones are coming from

“Americans aren’t stupid; most people can tell the difference between an airplane or helicopter and the type of eerie, floating objects that have been reported. And the Biden crew has absolutely blown its credibility on this front: Earlier this year, the White House stayed hush-hush about a Chinese spy balloon that it knew was taking a tour of American military bases. They fully planned to keep it a secret forever, only to be foiled when civilians spotted the craft

“If the US government actually has no idea what the drones are or who’s operating them, that’s a scandalous national-security failure… People are scared: Car-sized objects that could be armed or equipped with surveillance gear are literally hanging over their heads…”

Kirby stated on Fox News on December 16 that the drones were mainly unmanned aircraft, but perfectly legal, posing no threats whatsoever to America’s security.  

Breitbart wrote on December 13:

“President-elect Donald Trump joined the conversation on the ongoing sightings of mysterious unidentified drones and called for the government to ‘shoot them down.’ In a post on Truth Social, Trump questioned if the drone sightings could be ‘happening without’ the government’s knowledge and added that the government should provide the public with answers. ‘Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country,’ Trump wrote in his post. ‘Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!! DJT.’”

Subsequently, Trump said that the government knows, that Biden knows, but that they are hiding their knowledge. He also stated that he does not believe that the drones are coming from foreign entities. This seems to be a rather odd conclusion in light of the evidence. Note the next articles.

Drones Over US Air Base in Germany

Reuters wrote on December 13:

“Unidentified drones have been sighted over sensitive industry locations and the U.S. air base at Ramstein in Germany in recent weeks, the Spiegel news magazine reported on Friday, citing a confidential report by German security authorities.

“The report flagged numerous drone sightings made in the evening hours of Dec. 3 and 4 over the air base, according to Spiegel.”

What’s Going on With the Drones?

Report 24 wrote on December 13:

“Recent videos show such drones potentially firing weapons and releasing unknown substances. A warning has now been issued to emergency services to stay away from crashed drones for health reasons…

“Specifically, in the last few days, images have emerged of a drone firing at some unknown target with an unknown weapon. Tracers streaked across the sky. Another drone is said to have sprayed a substance into the air about which nothing is known

“Now the FBI and New Jersey State Police have released a fact sheet to address first responders called to drone crash sites. Key recommendations include avoiding physical contact with the drone and establishing a 100 meter wide isolation and evacuation zone in all directions

“First responders are instructed to wear full personal protective equipment (PPE) with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) when securing the perimeter and are warned not to re-enter the once established isolation zone.

“In addition, responders are instructed to notify local law enforcement and the FBI, as well as request assistance from hazardous materials response teams and bomb disposal squads to assess the situation… Use of radiation monitors is also advised, and attention should be paid to possible electronic interference in the area. The incidents should be classified as criminal offenses and reported, using established protocols to prevent violence and terror….”

This does not sound like harmless drones which pose no threats to American security. It has been suggested that the drones could be searching for radioactive material which went missing in early December.

Drone Sightings Aren’t Just in Northeast

USA Today wrote on December 18:

The boom in drone sightings ignited a month ago in New Jersey that quickly spread across the Northeast has swept across the nation, and military bases are front and center amid the chaos and controversy. Last week a drone incursion over Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio forced the closure of its airspace for several hours. In Utah, drones were recently spotted near Hill Air Force Base

“In California, residents of Venice Beach reported seeing unexplained drones Sunday, and Rep. Paul Ruiz, D-California, expressed concern this week over recent sightings in the Coachella Valley. Camp Pendleton, 40 miles north of San Diego, saw at least six drone  incursion over its airspace last week alone, a spokesperson for the Marine base told ‘The War Zone’ on Tuesday…

“President Joe Biden dismissed conspiracy theories… ‘So far no sense of danger’… Biden’s comment reaffirmed a joint statement issued this week by the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, FAA and the Pentagon saying that − based on preliminary investigations − the sightings appear to include legal commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones, as well as airplanes, helicopters and ‘stars mistakenly reported as drones.’ No threat of national security or public safety had been determined from more than 5,000 reported sightings, the statement said…

The House Intelligence Committee received a closed-door briefing on drones Tuesday with representatives from Justice, Defense and Homeland Security departments…”

WHY a closed-door briefing?

Targeting Military Sites

In a related article, USA Today wrote on December 18:

“There have been hundreds, perhaps thousands, of drone incursions at remote military installations, drawing little public attention. But they have disrupted sensitive operations… In the vast, sparsely populated areas that are home to many military installations, the response is often too little, and way too late… the Pentagon had been too passive in the face [of] the growing threat.

“Spy drones could collect sensitive information on U.S. military activities that could tip off adversaries to future deployments… For example, aerial surveillance could show the movement of ammunition from arsenals to port as the Pentagon prepared for war. A drone could also provide real-time video of the rapid response of Special Forces soldiers out of Fort Liberty… F-22 fighters, the most sophisticated warplanes in the Air Force fleet, may have been the target of mysterious waves of drones that soared over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia last year…

“… sites of drone incursions include White Sands Missile Range,… the Army’s only land range for testing long-distance missiles, explosives and artillery…

“Drones have already taken lives at U.S. military bases abroad. In January, a drone attacked Tower 22, a U.S. base in Jordan, killing three American soldiers [and] wounding more than 40. A one-way drone, which is programmed with a target and doesn’t need direction in mid-air, was used in the attack.

“The current drone mania also echoes the Chinese spy balloon incident that riveted the country in 2023.  The Pentagon monitored the balloon, bristling with spyware, as it passed over sensitive military sites on its transit across the country…”

It has been suggested that at least those drones that are over US military sites are adversarial and most likely are coming from the People’s Republic of China.

France’s New Prime Minister… For How Long?

AFP wrote on December 13:

“President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist Francois Bayrou as prime minister, handing him the daunting task of hauling France out of months of political crisis. Bayrou, 73, the leader of the MoDem group, which is allied to Macron’s party, was appointed nine days after parliament ousted Michel Barnier’s government in a historic no-confidence vote following a standoff over an austerity budget…

“Bayrou is the sixth prime minister of Macron’s mandate, with his predecessor, Barnier, being France’s shortest-serving premier, having lasted only three months. Bayrou also is Macron’s fourth prime minister this year. The newly appointed premier faces the immediate challenge of forming a cabinet that can survive a no-confidence vote in a divided parliament and thrashing out a 2025 budget in a bid to limit economic turmoil…

“Several sources told AFP that the morning meeting between Macron and Bayrou had been a stormy affair, with the president initially leaning toward naming his loyal Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu as premier. Losing his temper, Bayrou threatened to break the alliance with Macron, who decided it would be best to turn to Bayrou in the name of unity, the sources said… Mujtaba Rahman, Europe director at risk analysis firm Eurasia Group, said: ‘In the long history of the Fifth Republic [founded in 1958], this may have been the first time that a prime minister chose himself.’”

This does not appear to describe a stable government which could survive its challenges for long. But France is only one of quite a few unstable governments which are ready to collapse or which have already collapsed.

Canadian Government Crumbles

Daily Mail wrote on December 16:

“Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on the brink of resigning as his liberal government crumbles around him… Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland… quit on Monday after clashing with Trudeau on issues including how to handle possible U.S. tariffs, dealing a huge blow to an already unpopular government…

“The resignation by Freeland, 56, who also served as deputy prime minister, is one of the biggest crises Trudeau has faced since taking power in November 2015.  It also leaves him without a key ally when he is on track to lose the next election to the official opposition Conservatives….

“Trudeau can be toppled if the opposition parties unite against him on a vote of no confidence, though that cannot happen until late January at the earliest… Polls show the Liberals are set to be crushed in an election that must be held by late October 2025.”

Trudeau’s time to step down has long passed.

Trudeau Governor of 51st State?

Newsmax wrote on December 18:

“President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday questioned why the U.S. provides Canada with subsidies and suggested it should become a U.S. state. ‘No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes no sense!…  Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea,’ he added. ‘51st State!!!’

“Trump has needled Canada and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the last few days following the shock resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. ‘The Great State of Canada is stunned as the Finance Minister resigns, or was fired, from her position by Governor Justin Trudeau,’ Trump wrote Monday…”

Could Canada Become the 51st State of the USA?

National Post wrote on December 12:

“… if either Canada as a whole, or some portions of it, would want to join the United States they would have to go through Section 41 of the Constitution Act of 1982. Which means that consent would have to be given for the departure from Canada of a particular jurisdiction by the Senate, and the House, and the legislatures of all 10 provinces… Once that decision is taken, either by all 10 provinces or by some but not others, then there must be admission into the United States. And that is a completely separate process. That is based on Article IV, section 3, clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution, which essentially says that by a simple vote of the U.S. Congress, new territories can be incorporated into the U.S. and can become states. The most recent example of that occurred with Hawaii which became a state on August 21, 1959, pursuant to a statewide referendum in Hawaii and then federal legislation.

“The second possibility is by purchase. A lot of the American states were purchased, for example, in the Louisiana Purchase, and that’s how states on the western side of the Mississippi became first territories and eventually states… If you recall during his first term, President Trump talked about simply buying Greenland

“The third option:… Outright invasion. In upstate New York, close to Ottawa, they have the 10th Mountain Division, which are elite troops of the U.S. Army. It wouldn’t… take much for them to drive up to Ottawa and say you’re now part of us… The United States has historically added a new state that had formerly been an independent country: That’s how we annexed Texas in 1845.

“The constitutional provision authorizing the addition of new states is found at Article IV, section 3, clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution: ‘New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.’…

“The Congress then passes an enabling act authorizing the admission of the new states on some statutorily specified set of conditions. For Utah’s admission, Congress insisted that the Utah Constitution outlaw polygamy, for instance. Then the population of the proposed state generally votes in a referendum to approve or reject the conditional admission…

“At the time of our Revolution against the British Empire, the Continental Congress actually invited Canada to join the Union as a state — and, when they did not rise up against the British, we Americans invaded…”

The article concludes that all of this is absolutely absurd. But even though it was perhaps meant as a joke by Trump, stranger things have happened.

German Government Collapses

DNYUZ rote on December 16:

“Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in the German Parliament on Monday, a defeat that effectively ended the increasingly unpopular government he has led since 2021 and set the stage for elections early next year [planned for February 23].

“The collapse of the government just nine months before elections had been scheduled was an extraordinary moment for Germany. This will be only the fourth snap election in the 75 years since the modern state was founded, and it reflected a new era of more fractious and unstable politics in a country long known for durable coalitions built on plodding consensus. The confidence vote, in the same month that the French government fell, deepens a crisis of leadership in Europe at a time of mounting economic and security challenges. The war in Ukraine has reached a pivotal moment. President-elect Donald J. Trump is set to take office in the United States. And now, Europe’s largest economy is in the hands of a caretaker government.

“Mr. Scholz had little choice but to take the unusual step of calling for the confidence vote after his three-party coalition splintered in November, ending months of bitter internal squabbling and leaving him without a parliamentary majority to pass laws or a budget. But the political uncertainty could last for months. The elections are expected to be held on February 23, but even if, as expected, his party does not finish first, Mr. Scholz would remain in place as a caretaker chancellor until weeks after that. He would step down only after a new coalition forms, which will probably not happen until April or May.

“Seven parties will go into the campaign for Parliament with a realistic chance of gaining seats, and some on the political fringes — especially on the right — are poised for strong showings, according to polls…

“It is an inopportune time for Germany to be plunged into a grueling winter election campaign and a political freeze that could last until a new government takes power. ‘The timing is absolutely terrible for the E.U. — basically, these multiple crises are hitting the E.U. at the worst possible time, because the bloc’s traditional engine is busy with itself,’ Jana Puglierin, of the European Council on Foreign Relations, said, referring to Germany and France…

“… in Germany’s fractious political landscape, no single party is likely to win an outright majority, leading to potentially tricky negotiations to build a coalition more functional and durable than the one that failed…”

We feel that the new German government will fail exactly as the current one has, having no chance for survival, unless something really drastic occurs.

Merz Is Doing Everything Wrong

t-online wrote on December 12:

Friedrich Merz has wanted to become Chancellor for at least 20 years. Now he is on the verge of fulfilling his dream – and fails… He has been waiting for this chance for decades, working for his comeback in the CDU, rallying the party behind him as much as possible, shaping it into a new one after the diffuse Merkel era, has become the Union’s candidate for chancellor and is well ahead in the polls. His life’s goal of becoming Federal Chancellor is within reach. And suddenly he slips up, stumbles, stammers. He no longer speaks like himself, but sounds like the sounding board of all those who talk to him… And Merz wants to do everything right – and yet does everything wrong…

“Work longer until retirement? It wasn’t meant that way. A real economic turnaround? Yes, yes, but not in the way the FDP demands. Taurus for Ukraine? Yes, yes, but first Ukrainian soldiers would have to be trained on this weapon in Germany for months…

“On top of that, he is already wildly handing out ministerial positions in his future cabinet to all possible coalition partners, as if he were already Chancellor – and then withdrawing them again… Given the current situation, Olaf Scholz can no longer win this election, that’s true. But Merz can still lose his.”

Germany to the Right?

Barron’s wrote on December 17:

“Germany’s conservative opposition, leading in the polls ahead of February 23 elections, on Tuesday outlined plans to shift the EU powerhouse firmly to the right on immigration, social and economic policy. Friedrich Merz, head of the Christian Democrats (CDU), is tipped to replace Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose term the conservatives have slammed as ‘three lost years’ for the stuttering economy.

“A day after Scholz lost a confidence vote he had called to pave the way for the early elections, Merz charged that the chancellor had ‘lost the confidence of a majority of the population a long time ago’. Merz — long a party rival of the CDU’s more moderate ex-chancellor Angela Merkel — has steered a return to the party’s right-wing roots to try to win support of voters tempted by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

“In their campaign programme published Tuesday, the CDU and its Bavarian allies the CSU vowed to ‘stop illegal migration’ and scale down benefits for rejected asylum seekers to a ‘bed, bread and soap’ minimum. They also pledged ‘zero tolerance’ on crime, more video surveillance in public spaces and to ‘shut down mosques where hate and anti-Semitism is being preached’.

“Much of the platform may be softened in the coalition talks that typically follow German elections, but for now the alliance vowed to reverse two decades of more centrist rule dating back to the Merkel years. They promised a ‘fundamental shift in migration policy’ and criticised Merkel’s welcome to refugees, without naming her…

“The alliance also said it would reverse the legalisation of marijuana enacted by Scholz’s three-party alliance with the Greens and the liberal FDP, which collapsed in early November. The CDU also said it opposed efforts to liberalise abortion rules [and] a new gender self-determination law…

“In contrast, the campaign of the Social Democrats (SPD), the traditional defenders of the working class, emphasises better wages, stable pensions and benefits such as free school lunches… It wants to lower taxes for 95 percent of earners and raise them for the super-rich, while also increasing the minimum wage from 12 to 15 euros per hour…

“On security, both major parties vow to keep helping Ukraine in its war with Russia, and spending two percent of GDP or more on Germany’s defence. While the CDU programme remains vague on what weapons to ship to Kyiv, the SPD insisted it opposes sending long-range missiles because ‘Germany and NATO must not themselves become parties to the war’.”

What Russia Wants…

Focus wrote on December 14:

“There is constant talk about how a war with Russia can be prevented, even though we have been at war for a long time… The Russians send contract killers who liquidate people they don’t like… They hack into our networks and infiltrate social media…

Most Germans think that if Putin has imposed his will in Ukraine, there would be peace. But it’s no longer about Ukraine. The man in Moscow has stated in several speeches that he dreams of a great Russian empire that would reverse the downfall of the Soviet empire.

“Since the summer, people around Putin have only been talking about the ‘so-called Baltics’. And once you’re done with Lithuania and Latvia, why not reach for Poland? By the way, Dresden was also once a Russian sphere of influence.

“Soldiers… closely monitor where barracks are constructed and supply routes are established. Russia is working hard to expand its military capabilities. It has the ambition to expand the war. And there is a militarization of society that is ready to support the expansion

“Will there be an attack?… Russia appears strong because we are so weak… This is the Russia that is preparing to defeat the West. It should be possible for Europe to counter this. However, you have to do something about it.

I don’t know whether things would be better under Chancellor Merz… A lot depends on whom the CDU forms a coalition with when it receives the government mandate in February. In Berlin everyone is preparing for a grand coalition (with the SPD). But perhaps this should be reconsidered in the Adenauer House….”

A grand coalition between the CDU and the SPD has miserably failed in the past.

A Europe to Moscow?

Die Welt wrote on December 14:

“AfD state leader Björn Höcke wants to make the Russia-Ukraine war a focus of the federal election campaign. At the Thuringian state party conference he called for ’emancipation’ from the USA and a Europe ‘whose spine runs from Paris via Berlin to Moscow’… If CDU leader Friedrich Merz becomes Chancellor, ‘German soldiers would, in the worst case scenario, send rockets to Moscow, where Russian soldiers and Russian civilians would be killed,’ claims Höcke. ‘Whoever votes for Merz is voting for war.’…

“In his speech, Höcke takes a look at history since the Cold War. At that time the world situation was bipolar – on the one hand the Soviet Union, on the other the USA. After the fall of the Wall, the era of unipolarity entered, with the USA as the only superpower… The Americans ‘acted as a new colonial power’ – and in doing so ‘made a lot of enemies’…

Europe must become an independent, autonomous pole in a new, multipolar world order, says Höcke. ‘We have to emancipate ourselves from the United States of America… And in the worst case, they turn Europe into a theater of war.’…

“At the end of his speech, Höcke refers to the former French President Charles de Gaulle… In 1959, De Gaulle spoke of an ‘alliance from the Atlantic to the Urals’. Helmut Kohl and Mikhail Gorbachev called this a ‘common house of Europe’ in 1989. In 2010, Vladimir Putin then called for ‘the creation of a harmonious economic community from Lisbon to Vladivostok’. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron later took this up word for word.

“De Gaulle also dreamed of a ‘sovereign Europe without foreign hegemonic influence from outside’, Höcke continues. ‘And he dreamed of a Europe whose spine runs from Paris via Berlin to Moscow. I find this dream very attractive.’”

No one wants to enter into a coalition with the AfD. But the AfD is a force to be reckoned with.

Court Annuls Romanian Election

Atlantic Council wrote on December 16:

“It’s never a good thing when presidential elections are annulled. But that’s just what happened in NATO and European Union (EU) member Romania earlier this month…

“On November 24, Georgescu, a formally fringe mystic nationalist, earned the most votes in the first-round presidential election. Then, just before the second round runoff, the Romanian Constitutional Court announced that it was annulling the results of the first round. The court’s decision was based on declassified Romanian government assessments of foreign (Russian) election interference, including using the social media platform TikTok to promote Georgescu. US intelligence officials privately confirmed to me that the allegations are credible. Still, evidence of Russian interference in European and US elections is abundant. No country before Romania has cancelled a presidential election because of it.

“By contrast, Romania’s parliamentary elections were held without incident on December 1. The parliamentary elections produced a strong result for the three centrist governing parties—the center-right liberals, the center-left social democrats, and the Hungarian minority party—plus a fourth liberal party. These four parties are now in negotiations to form a new coalition government… The new government will then have to rerun the cancelled presidential election, likely early next year. Outgoing President Klaus Iohannis will probably remain in office until then…

“The twin shocks—Georgescu’s rise and the annulment of the presidential election—have shaken the hitherto complacent centrists in Romania. While the accusations of Russian interference (and attempted sabotage) are plausible, given that the Kremlin engages in such activities throughout the West, Georgescu’s popularity is not simply a foreign import. That a man regarded as a fringe character even by fellow nationalists could rise within a few weeks from near obscurity to a leading contender for the presidency speaks to broad social dissatisfaction with the Romanian centrist parties, which have been trading control of the government back and forth for years. 

“My Romanian interlocutors expressed embarrassment, even shame, at the court’s annulment of the election, and they agreed that it set a terrible precedent for the country and the region. They also acknowledged that the centrist parties had lost touch with Romanian society and its cultural and economic dissatisfactions that, when spelled out, sounded similar to those of unhappy right-wing voters in Germany (particularly in the former East Germany), France, and to some degree the United States. In Romania, there is a widespread sense, accurate or not, that the establishment has been focused on itself, not on the problems faced by ordinary citizens, and that traditional national values and even national sovereignty were being lost. 

“More thoughtful liberals told me that Georgescu’s rise was, in effect, a protest vote against centrist complacency, not a vote for the candidate’s weird brand of nationalism and Romanian fascist nostalgia…

“Whether Georgescu will be allowed to compete given various irregularities in his campaign… is not clear. If he is not allowed to compete, the credibility of the rerun presidential election will be questioned within and without the country. If he is allowed to compete, he could win. In that case, a nationalist president and centrist government could rapidly find themselves at loggerheads. The resultant political paralysis could hamper governance, raising social frustrations still more.

“Romania’s communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu was repressive and economically incompetent, even by communist standards. When Romanians overthrew his rule in swift (and violent) revolt in December 1989, it was one of the poorest countries in Soviet-dominated Europe. No longer. After a slow start, Romania’s free-market reforms kicked in. The country’s economy has quadrupled in size since 1989, and it has joined NATO and the EU. Even as the current political crisis took hold, Romania gained admission to the EU’s Schengen area, meaning free travel within the bloc. It was a big deal for Romanians, and everyone I spoke with in Bucharest regarded it as a major national achievement. 

“But success as seen from afar and in context does not seem enough to assuage Romanian voters. The political dissatisfaction common throughout Europe and the United States has hit Romania hard…”

South Korea President Yoon to Be Impeached?

The Sun wrote on December 14:

“SOUTH Korea has voted to impeach President Yoon over his controversial martial law declaration that sparked mass protests in the country. Lawmakers successfully voted on Saturday, in a second attempt, to remove Yoon from office after his spectacular martial law U-turn last week. 204 out of 300 cast their votes to remove the leader on allegations of insurrection, while 85 voted against. This meant members of his own People Power Party voted against the leader, despite the group boycotting the first vote…

“Yoon declared he would ‘not give up’ despite the vote and called for officials to maintain government stability… Yoon is now suspended from office while the Constitutional Court has 180 days to decide whether to restore the controversial leader or finalise the decision. He could become the second South Korean president to be successfully impeached, if the courts uphold parliament’s vote.”

None of that contributes to the stability of the South Korean government.

Syria Was Never a Democracy

Focus wrote on December 13:

“Annalena Baerbock [Germany’s minister of foreign affairs] wants to make Syria a democratic country… At the end there should be free elections, says Baerbock… We don’t even know whether the Syrian population wants free elections. Free elections, a pluralistic democracy, religious freedom, women’s rights – these are all a Western ideal. Other countries think and act differently… Syria was never a democracy

“Ms Baerbock has now transferred eight million euros. To whom actually? The reconstruction of the largely destroyed country is likely to cost between 200 and 400 billion euros, which only the sheikhdoms could finance, especially Qatar…

“If you as a Federal Republic want to invest in this country, which does not know democracy but has corruption in all areas of government, then only if clear, tough and comprehensible conditions for government and social development are formulated. Well-intentioned but poorly provided help is likely to end up with the wrong people.”

And that is SO predictable!

Public Executions in Syria

Report 24 wrote on December 13:

“The West is celebrating the fall of President Assad and the rise to power of the HTS Islamists in Damascus. But in the Syrian capital they are celebrating their ‘moderate jihad’ with public executions – and with the implementation of Sharia lawOne dictatorship replaces the other. Are the Syrians now going from bad to worse?

“The BBC extols ‘moderate jihad’ in Syria as thousands gather ‘excitedly’ for public executions… The Western media… is literally falling over itself in portraying al-Jolani and his HTS militias as enlightened reformers. The absurdity of the man who was radicalized by the September 11 attacks and who attacked American troops in Iraq with booby traps is now being styled as a poster boy for ‘moderate Islam’ is hard to beat.

“Meanwhile, there are countless videos circulating on social media of alleged Assad supporters being shot and tortured by the ‘moderate’ rebels… In their desperate search for ‘moderate’ forces in Syria, the Western media appears to be prepared to accept even obvious excesses of violence as an expression of the will to reform. It is a dangerous distortion of reality…”

Turkey Ready to Invade?

The Jerusalem Post wrote on December 17:

“The United States is increasingly alarmed that Turkey and its militia allies are preparing for a large-scale military incursion into Syrian territory controlled by US-backed Kurdish forces, according to an exclusive Wall Street Journal report on Tuesday… One US official, speaking to the WSJ, warned that ‘a cross-border operation could be imminent.’…

“In response to the escalating situation, Ilham Ahmed, a senior official in the Kurdish civilian administration in Syria, penned a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, urging him to pressure Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to abandon the planned operation. Ahmed’s letter… stated that Turkey aimed to seize control of Kurdish territory before Trump’s inauguration, thereby forcing the new administration to recognize Ankara’s authority in the region. ‘If Turkey proceeds with its invasion, the consequences will be catastrophic,’ Ahmed’s letter was cited as saying, noting that such an operation could displace more than 200,000 Kurdish civilians and threaten Christian communities in the area. The letter reportedly appealed to Trump’s prior assurances of support for the Kurdish forces, reminding him of his past promises that ‘the United States wouldn’t abandon the Kurds.’…

“The WSJ further noted the precarious position of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led group working alongside US troops to eliminate the remaining elements of the Islamic State… Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Turkey in an effort to de-escalate tensions. Blinken sought assurances from Erdogan to limit operations against Kurdish forces but was unable to secure any commitments…”

Syria in the Abyss

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on December 18:

“Syria has entered the abyss – the demons of al-Qa’eda, ISIS, and the most intransigent elements of the Muslim Brotherhood are circling the skies. There is chaos, looting, fear, and a terrible passion for revenge scalds the blood. Street executions are rife.

“Maybe Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and its leader, Al-Joulani, (following Turkish instruction), thought to control things. But HTS is an umbrella label like Al-Qa’eda, ISIS and An-Nusra, and its factions have already descended into factional fighting. The Syrian ‘state’ dissolved in the middle of the night; the police and army went home, leaving weapons depots open for the Shebab to loot. The prison doors were flung (or prised) open. Some, no doubt, were political prisoners; but many were not. Some of the most vicious inmates now roam the streets….”

Israel to Attack Iran’s Nuclear Sites?

Breitbart wrote on December 12:

“Israel’s Army Radio reported Thursday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began preparing plans for Israel to attack Iran’s nuclear sites after destroying nearly 90% of Syria’s air defense capabilities, which had formerly protected Iran…

“Iran has been pursuing nuclear weapons for decades, but began enriching uranium rapidly after President Joe Biden took office… Israel and the U.S. have long considered a military strike on the nuclear program as a last resort.

“The U.S. has discouraged Israel from pursuing such an attack, and Israel was deterred in the past by the presence of Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, which was thought to be able to launch thousands of rockets at Israel at once. But with Israel’s stunning success against Hezbollah over the past few months, that deterrent is gone. In a recent retaliation against Iran for a massive ballistic missile attack on Israel, Israel attacked at least one nuclear facility.

“In that same attack, Israel also reportedly destroyed much of Iran’s air defense system, leaving the country without any way to prevent future attack. It also reportedly damaged Iran’s missile sites and missile production facilities.

“Israel’s leaders may believe that the need for an attack is urgent, for two reasons. First, the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump has signaled that it wants to wrap up the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Second, Iran may conclude that it has no choice but to accelerate its development of nuclear weapons, having lost most of the other deterrents it attempted to create in its ‘ring of fire’ of terrorist organizations surrounding Israel.

“Previously, Israel would not have considered a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities without consulting the U.S. But in recent days, Israel attacked the Syrian military without waiting for the Biden administration to agree. Israel is unlikely to wait for the lame-duck White House to weigh in, and may rely on the previous statements of President-elect Trump, who said earlier this year that Israel should attack Iran’s nuclear sites in response to its missile attacks.”

Time wrote on December 12:

“President-elect Donald Trump, TIME’s 2024 Person of the Year, sat down for a wide-ranging interview at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Nov. 25:

“‘… numbers of dead soldiers that have been killed in the last month are numbers that are staggering, both Russians and Ukrainians, and the amounts are fairly equal… It’s crazy what’s taking place. It’s crazy. I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? We’re just escalating this war and making it worse. That should not have been allowed to be done. Now they’re doing not only missiles, but they’re doing other types of weapons. And I think that’s a very big mistake, very big mistake. But the level, the number of people dying is number one, not sustainable, and I’m talking on both sides. It’s really an advantage to both sides to get this thing done…

“‘And I disagree with the whole thing, because it should have never happened…

“‘I think that the Middle East is an easier problem to handle than what’s happening with Russia and Ukraine… October 7 was a horrible thing. Everyone is forgetting conveniently about October 7, but that was a horrible day for the world, not for Israel, for the world…

“‘I want everything to end… I don’t want people from either side killed, and that includes whether it’s Russia, Ukraine, or whether it’s the Palestinians and the Israelis and all of the, you know, the different entities that we have in the Middle East. There’s so many different entities… I support whatever solution we can do to get peace. There are other ideas other than two state, but I support whatever, whatever is necessary to get not just peace, a lasting peace… I’m not saying that’s a very likely scenario, but I want a long lasting peace, a peace where we don’t have an October 7 in another three years. And there are numerous ways you can do it. You can do it two state, but there are numerous ways it can be done…

“‘[Back to the Russia-Ukraine war:] I think the most dangerous thing right now is what’s happening, where Zelensky has decided, with the approval of, I assume, the President, to start shooting missiles into Russia. I think that’s a major escalation. I think it’s a foolish decision

“‘[When asked whether he trusts Netanyahu:] I don’t trust anybody…’”

Interesting…

Israel on the Attack

The Sun wrote on December 16:

“… a colossal explosion erupted in Syria, marking the ‘heaviest strikes’ to hit the region in over a decade – and even registering on the Richter scale. Astounding video showed a giant mushroom-cloud fireball filling the sky alongside deafening sounds – with claims that the blast was caused by an Israeli strike… the ground-shaking blast measured the same as a 3.0-magnitude earthquake on nearby seismic sensors.

“Dozens of other Israeli attacks were seen across Syria on Sunday with warplanes reportedly launching pinpoint strikes on weapons depots… The blitz raged for at least 30 minutes…

“Meanwhile, there have been reports of Israeli tanks spotted ‘less than 20 miles’ from Damascus after they entered Syria for the first time in 50 years. After Syrian rebels ousted the tyrant President Assad, Israeli forces seized the Golan Heights region and other defensive positions.”

Israel Closes Embassy in Dublin

Politico wrote on December 15:

“Israel is closing its embassy in Dublin in protest against Ireland’s decisions to recognize Palestinian statehood and to accuse the Israelis of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who confirmed the embassy closure in a statement Sunday, condemned Ireland for what he called its ‘extreme anti-Israel policies.’…

“Israel’s move follows a steady downward spiral in relations with Ireland, which has a history of expressing sympathy for the Palestinian cause… The final straw for Israel appears to have been the Irish Cabinet’s decision last week to get more involved in South Africa’s year old case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice in The Hague…”

Israel vs. Ireland

Times of Israel wrote on December 17:

“Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar castigates comments made today by Ireland’s president, who accused Israel of breaching Lebanon’s and Syria’s sovereignty and charged, without evidence, that Jerusalem is seeking to establish settlements in Egypt. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar yesterday defended his decision to close Israel’s embassy in Ireland, saying that Dublin ‘encouraged’ antisemitism under a prime minister he accused of hating Jews… Sa’ar says: ‘Once an antisemitic liar — always an antisemitic liar’…

“Concluding his combative statement, Sa’ar brings up Ireland’s failure to join the Allies in fighting Nazi Germany in World War II. ‘Let us not forget that Ireland was at best neutral during World War II. At that time, the free world was fighting Hitler’s axis while Ireland sat on the side and did nothing.’”

Ending Birthright Citizenship?

Newsmax wrote on December 16:

“President-elect Donald Trump has identified ending birthright citizenship as a top priority for his second administration, setting him up for a showdown over the controversial issue with Democrat lawmakers and the Supreme Court. Congressional Republicans say that foreign nationals are taking advantage of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment – which grants citizenship to everyone born in the United States – to gain a permanent foothold in the country, which the framers never envisioned. They told The Hill that they believe Trump has the authority to take executive action and reinterpret the 14th Amendment’s language to exclude the children of foreign-born individuals from receiving citizenship if they are born on U.S. soil

“Adopted in 1868 in the aftermath of the Civil War, the 14th Amendment states that ‘all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.’ While the language has traditionally been interpreted as granting citizenship to anyone born in the United States, conservatives argue that it must be reinterpreted to exclude those who visit the U.S. in order to have their children gain automatic citizenship,”

The language of the 14th Amendment is very clear. To just “reinterpret” it via executive action should be doomed to fail. But in the USA these days, everything could be possible. For practical purposes, to try to distinguish (if that is the goal) between those who visit the U.S. “in order to have their children gain automatic citizenship” or whether they came to the USA for other reasons would possibly meet insurmountable problems.

What is also totally unclear at this point is whether Trump wants to repeal or “reinterpret” the 14th Amendment retroactively (this would be a scandal of unheard proportions) or “just” for the future. In any event, to abolish or “reinterpret” the 14th Amendment seems to be a somewhat bone-headed un-American idea. Many other countries allow birthright citizenship as well. Others should allow it.

Collateral Arrests of Non-Criminal Migrants

Newsmax wrote on December 18:

“Although President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan will center on illegal migrants with criminal histories, border czar Tom Homan warns that other migrants undoubtedly will be subject to ‘collateral arrests.’ … migrants whose only accused crime was entering the U.S. illegally should expect deportation, especially if they are residing with someone who’s the target of an arrest warrant… [Homan said:] ‘We expect a lot of collateral arrests.’…

“While ICE under the Biden administration prioritized arresting illegal migrants with criminal convictions for serious crimes, Trump is expected to include anyone unlawfully present in the country… The border czar said Trump’s deportation plan will begin on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20…”

This was clear from the outset.

Ending Daylight Saving Time?

The New York Post wrote on December 13:

“President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that he’ll back Republican-led efforts to eliminate daylight saving time, arguing that the twice-a-year ritual of adjusting clocks is ‘inconvenient’ and ‘very costly.’… In 2022, the Senate unanimously approved a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent. The Sunshine Protection Act was introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — Trump’s pick to lead the State Department — but never received a vote in the House…. ‘This ritual of changing time twice a year is stupid,’ the Florida Republican senator said at the time, noting that ‘locking the clock has overwhelming bipartisan and popular support.’

75% of Americans are against seasonal time adjustments…  Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that have locked their clocks, following standard time throughout the whole year.

“The origins of daylight saving time date back to World War I, when the Standard Time Act of 1918 was passed in an effort to conserve energy for the war effort. Entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy — tapped by Trump to make government more efficient — have signaled they’d support eliminating clock changes.”

This idea was gladly adopted by Hitler in World War II. It’s about time to do away with the stupid “war-originating” and “war-perpetuating” daylight saving time.

Tattoos Unpopular in Germany

ntv wrote on December 12:

“Tattoos are also very common in Germany [20% are said to have them], but many people find tattooed people less beautiful. This is the result of a new study… The models pictured completely without tattoos were consistently rated as the most beautiful, while those with extreme tattoos scored the lowest… the model photos with facial tattoos received the worst rating

“Not everyone is happy with their tattoos in the long term; some people want to get rid of them. In a 2019 survey… 6.8 percent of tattooed people said they regretted their tattoos. Since 2021, only doctors in Germany have been allowed to remove tattoos with a laser. More extensive treatments can cost several thousand euros, which those affected have to pay for themselves.

The less tattooed you are, the more beautiful you appear to others – this is how the results of the study can be summarized according to the head of the study…”

Amen to that… apart from the fact that the Bible prohibits tattoos.
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.

This Week in the News

How Assad Fell

Politico wrote on December 8:

“The rapid sweep by a coalition of armed opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al Qaeda breakaway designated a terror group by the United States, saw rebels at first burst out of an enclave in northwest Syria on Nov. 27. Then there was the capture in quick succession of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, Hama and then Homs…  By Saturday, the rebels were in Damascus and Bashar Assad had fled, concluding the 10 days that shook the Middle East. [Russian state media confirmed the dictator and his family were granted asylum in Russia for ‘humanitarian reasons’ after their jet landed in Moscow.]

“All the more surprising — some might argue suspicious — is the ease with which the offensive unfolded and the absence of any serious government resistance… the lightning rapidity and ease of the offensive and the melting away of government forces raise questions, as does the failure of Assad’s allies Russia and Iran to do much to disrupt the rebels and save him. The questions include whether there was any rebel coordination with elements inside the Assad regime…

“The country’s prime minister, Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, said in a video message posted online that he remained at home and was prepared to cooperate with the transfer of power to ‘any leadership chosen by the Syrian people.’…

“[Turkey’s] Erdoğan openly endorsed the rebel offensive… Few observers believe the offensive could have gone ahead without Ankara’s knowledge and approval… [Since 2011, he had] seized a strip of land along the border and has even toyed at times with annexing part of northern Syria, tauntingly suggesting publicly that Turkey has historical rights to do so.

“The final nails in Assad’s political coffin were hammered in not by foes but his allies — Iran and Russia. Their inaction eased the rebels’ advance… U.S. officials agreed that the collapse of Assad’s frontlines had much to do with the absence of any serious Iranian or Russian action — whether from inability or unwillingness because of Ukraine and Lebanon remains unclear…”

Ransacking and Looting

The Sun wrote on December 8:

“SYRIANS gleefully ransacked Bashar al-Assad’s palace [in Damascus] after the ousted tyrant fled the country to [Moscow]… going room from room looting items of value… It’s thought dozens of Assad’s luxury vehicles have also been seized after militants broke into his garage packed with Mercedes, Ferraris, and Audis.

“Militants have also stormed and looted the Iranian embassy as well as the Italian embassy, while the Iraqi embassy has been evacuated to Lebanon… The Italian ambassador was unharmed in the break-in by an armed group of rebels who stole three cars from the garden before fleeing… Syrians have also reportedly been seen leaving the country’s Central Bank with bags stuffed full of cash…”

These actions are similar to the ones which occurred in Iraq after Saddam Hussein’s downfall. Iraq and the USA are most certainly not better off now than they were under Saddam. Will history repeat itself insofar as Syria is concerned?

Future Uncertain

The Sun wrote on December 8:

Turkey-backed opposition fighters are battling US-allied Kurdish forces in the north, and ISIS is still active in some remote areas…

Russia has put all of its military bases on high alert… Hezbollah has withdrawn all of its forces from the country… But as Syrians celebrate in the Israeli-occupied buffer zone in the Golan Heights which was captured from Syria in 1967, almost 300 miles away, suspected airstrikes from Israel hit Damascus on Sunday… It is believed that Israel bombed the Khlakhuala air base in the south of the country overnight. It comes after the IDF was deployed in the Golan buffer zone in preparation for chaos following the toppling of Assad, on Saturday night…

[It was also reported that the US on Sunday has struck more than 75 ISIS targets in Syria as part of efforts to “disrupt, degrade, and defeat” the terror group. The US has stationed 900 soldiers in Syria and 2,500 soldiers in Iraq.]

“A number of countries have closed border crossings with Syria as the chaos unfolds, including Lebanon and Jordan. All pro-Iranian forces have reportedly withdrawn from the country… the Kremlin [had been] allowed to operate two military bases inside Syria. One of those was a naval base – giving the Russians a port in the Mediterranean. But those bases might now be under threat as the rebels look to boot the Russians out of the country.”

A New Islamist Rule?

The New York Post wrote on December 7:

“While few will mourn Assad himself, many in the world community — perhaps even among his regional adversaries — may not be so enthused about seeing him toppled. Butcher though he may be, the Syrian dictator has maintained some support both in the region and in his country — especially among Syrian Christians and Druze, who fear persecution under Islamist rule. Assad’s secular regime had refrained from direct provocations against Israel and seems sanguine about Israel’s continued occupation of the Golan Heights. The Syrian civil war destabilized Lebanon, which took in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees but has not spread to Jordan — a primary US concern. 

“If Assad is now replaced by Islamists sympathetic to Al Qaida, neighboring countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel would be directly threatened. Extremists could gain access to Syria’s chemical weapons and potentially use the country as a launchpad for jihadist recruitment and terrorism. Such a regime would suppress minorities like Christians, Alawites, and Druze, while women’s rights would suffer… the rebels with the most momentum right now appear to be Islamists, especially Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)…  This is a Sunni group that once pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda’s central leadership… HTS imposed Islamic law on areas it has controlled in northwest Syria since 2015.”

Fox News wrote on December 8:

“A coalition of largely radical Islamist groups dislodged Assad’s Iran-backed regime. The U.S.-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist former Al-Qaeda affiliate that is part of the rebel forces, played the decisive role in evicting Assad…

“Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the Islamist leader of HTS, who has a $10 million bounty on his head from the U.S., seeks to present a toned-down version of the radical Islamism that has defined his years of fighting in Syria and in Iraq against American troops. Al-Golani was detained by the U.S. military in the first decade of this century. Syrian experts have told Fox News Digital that HTS seeks to impose a totalitarian Islamist regime on the population. Phillip Smyth, an expert on Iranian regime proxy groups and Syria, who is with the Atlantic Council, told Fox News Digital, ‘HTS is a group that is an outgrowth of Al-Qaeda and has connections to Turkey. Their endgame is to create a Taliban-esque society with a few tweaks.’”

In light of all of this, certain reactions of international leaders seem to sound unrealistically optimistic. Note the next article.

International Reactions to Assad’s Downfall

The Jerusalem Post wrote on December 8:

“Iran seems to be distancing itself from Assad, potentially abandoning everything it has built and fought to preserve in Syria for the past 40 years, which has been its primary foothold in the Arab world…  Egypt has called on all parties in Syria to preserve the capabilities of the state and national institutions…  Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it stands by [the] Syrian people and their choices at this ‘critical stage’ after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was toppled.

“King Abdullah said Jordan respected the choices of the Syrian people… Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi… reaffirmed the importance of not interfering in the internal affairs of Syria…

President-elect Donald Trump applauded the fall of the regime and mocked Russia and Iran for losing their core ally. ‘Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer,’ Trump posted on Truth Social. ‘Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success.’… [He also said: “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend. This is not our fight… Do not get involved!”]

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the need to protect minorities in Syria. ‘Bashir al Assad has brutally oppressed his own people, has countless lives on his conscience and has driven numerous people to flee Syria, many of whom have also come to Germany. The Syrian people have experienced appalling suffering. The end of Assad’s rule over Syria is, therefore, good news. What matters now is that law and order are quickly restored in Syria. All religious communities, all minorities must enjoy protection now and in the future.’..

French President Emmanuel Macron harshly condemned the Assad regime, saying, ‘The barbaric state has fallen. At last.’

UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer said, ‘The Syrian people have suffered under Assad’s barbaric regime for too long, and we welcome his departure

“Kaja Kallas, EU Foreign Minister, said, ‘The end of Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran. Our priority is to ensure security in the region. I will work with all the constructive partners in Syria and in the region.’

“The Taliban applauded HTS [Hayat Tahrir al-Sham] for liberating the Syrian people…

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood along the Syrian border with Israel on Sunday afternoon, hailing the end of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad’s 14-year rule and claiming Israel’s ‘blows inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah’ had a direct impact on the Syrian revolution… he had ordered Israeli forces to seize areas in the buffer zone to ensure Israel’s security and said: ‘We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border.’”

The entire Middle East is a powder keg ready to explode.

Israel Attacks

The Associated Press wrote on December 11:

“Israel carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes across Syria as its troops advanced deeper into the country… and the Israeli defense minister announced that his forces had destroyed Syria’s navy… it remained unclear if Israeli soldiers had gone beyond that area [of the buffer zone], which was established more than 50 years ago. Israel denied that it was advancing on the Syrian capital of Damascus.

“The Israeli military said Tuesday that it carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the last 48 hours, hitting ‘most of the strategic weapons stockpiles’ in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists. The targets included air defense systems, military airfields, missile depots and dozens of weapons production sites in Damascus and other cities…

“Israeli missile ships also simultaneously struck two Syrian navy facilities, where the military said 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked. Israel did not specify how many vessels it struck, but the private security firm Ambrey said it had seen evidence that at least six Soviet-era missile ships were hit. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel intended to establish a demilitarized zone in southern Syria.”

New Interim Prime Minister

Middle East Eye wrote on December 10:

“Mohammed al-Bashir, the head of the administration that ran Idlib in northwest Syria has been appointed as the country’s interim prime minister [until March 1] following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. …

“Bashir has been the head of the Syrian Salvation Government, a HTS-controlled administration in the Idlib governorate, since January 2024. … freedom of expression has been stifled by HTS during its rule over Idlib, including violence and arbitrary arrests used to crack down dissenting voices.”

Chaos in Syria

Breitbart reported on December 10:

“Syrian rebels who overthrew the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad on Sunday are reportedly executing their opponentsimposing Islamic sharia law, and threatening non-Muslim minorities, including the Kurdish population in the north. Videos are circulating on social media showing Syrian rebels killing people associated with the regime — some of whom may have been part of the state security services, and others who appear to have been ordinary employees.

“The New York Times reported Tuesday: ‘Islamic State forces on Tuesday killed 54 people in the Homs region in central Syria who had been part of the Syrian government’s military and fled during the collapse of the Assad regime… The killings highlight the chaos in Syria as various rebel factions operate in different regions. One video also shows thousands of smashed bottles of liquor at the duty free store of the Damascus airport, where Islamist rebels apparently enforced the Islamic ban on alcohol by force, as Islamists did in Lebanon in the 1980s.”

Losers and Winners

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on December 9:

Iran and Russia are the two big losers in the ouster of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday by the Sunni Islamist groups affiliated to al-Qaeda… Israel and Turkey are the biggest winners, having established links with the al-Qaeda groups…

“Turkey has demanded that Syria belongs to Syrian people alone — a thinly covered call for vacation of foreign military presence (Russian, American and Iranian.)… Turkey has special interests in Syria in relation to the Kurdish problem. The weakening of the Syrian state… provides Turkey for the first time a free run in the northern border provinces where Kurdish separatist groups are operating. The Turkish military and intelligence presence in Syria will expand by leaps and bounds…

Turkish occupation of Syrian territory may assume a permanent character and even a quasi-annexation of the regions is within the realms of possibility… the hour of reckoning has come for reclaiming the Ottoman glory. The present Turkish leadership is committed to the geo-strategy of Neo-Ottomanism.

“The bottom line is that the genie of al-Qaeda is out of the bottle, finally, and there is no stopping its pan-Islamic agenda…”

The Times of Israel wrote on December 9:

“Footage from a mosque in Damascus… showed Syrian rebels vowing to march on Jerusalem. ‘This is the land of Islam, this is Damascus, the Muslim stronghold. From here to Jerusalem. We’re coming for Jerusalem. Patience, people of Gaza, patience,’ vowed an Islamist rebel, surrounded by a group of gunmen who responded with cries of ‘Allahu akbar!’ (‘God is greatest’ in Arabic.).”

Civil War May Not Be Over

The Telegraph wrote on December 8:

“Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist rebel faction that mounted the offensive which led to Assad’s downfall — and which is now likely to play a very influential role in shaping Syria’s future— is very much an unknown quantity. It was an affiliate of al-Qaeda until severing ties in 2017, a move that did not convince the United States to lift its terrorist designation of the group.

“Its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, served five years in various US detention facilities in Iraq, including at Abu Ghraib, and had ties to both al-Qaeda and ISIS. The United States still has a $10 million (£7.8 million) bounty on his head…

“Beyond HTS… there are numerous other rebel factions, from Turkish-backed factions to Kurdish dominated groups, not to mention Isis, heavily weakened but still in control of a sliver of Syrian territory and still able to launch localised attacks…

“… it is also a reminder that the country’s factions will look to secure a place in the new Syria – and that they still have their guns if they do not get what they want. Given that there is unlikely to be much of a restraining hand from the incoming Trump administration, disgruntled armed groups may be even more emboldened to act… In other words, the 13-year rebellion against Bashar al-Assad may be over. Syria’s civil war may not be.”

Bloomberg wrote on December 8:

“… the implications are also quickly sinking in — and not least the prospect of more upheaval and violence as groups tussle for control… Multiple Arab and US officials told Bloomberg that a power vacuum could now be dangerous. Memories of Muammar Qaddafi’s Libya and Saddam Hussein in Iraq loom large in the region: In both countries, those entrenched rulers were swept aside in brief moments of euphoria, only for the countries to descend into deeper turmoil.”

Who Will Rule Syria Now the Assad Regime Has Been Toppled?

The Economist wrote on December 8:

“Syrians are hoping for a peaceful transition of power. They may not get it.

“In Damascus and across the country, Syrians were cheering a fresh start… What kind of fresh start will they get?

“Much depends on whether Syria’s multi-pronged opposition, suddenly bereft of its common enemy, will band together to form a pluralist, federal civilian government over all of Syria, or descend into infighting that plunges the country into a new civil war…

“The rebels, foremost among them Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate that has ruled a slice of north-western Syria for the past few years, say they have learnt the lessons of past regime changes in the Arab world… But things in Syria have a habit of getting complicated. The de facto partitioning of Syria that took place under Mr Assad has intensified since his fall.

“Rebels from the north, east and south of the country co-ordinated their takeover with remarkable discipline in recent days. Yet because Mr Assad’s regime collapsed far faster than they expected, they have not had time to plan for the day after. Each of the four main factions—Turkish-backed Sunni rebels in the north-west, Kurds in the north and east, Jordanian-backed rebels in the south, and the remaining loyalists from Mr Assad’s Alawite sect in the west—has its own armyAll of them have been bolstered by the weapons, land and economic holdings seized from the Assads in recent days. Each group will want its share of the spoils and a slice of whatever package is arranged to reconstruct the devastated country, with needs estimated to cost some $200bn.

“Within hours of Mr Assad’s fall, the fragile truce between the different groups had begun to break down as fighting flared at Manbij, on the line dividing Turkish-backed Arabs in the north-west from the Kurds in the north-east. Syrians have not forgotten that the toppling of Iraq’s and Libya’s strongmen triggered a decade of civil war between their would-be successors. Nor are they unaware how tricky it will be to manage relations with their neighbours…

“The strongest contender to rule Syria is Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, the 42-year-old head of HTS, which launched the rebel offensive from its seat in Idlib in north-western Syria only 11 days ago, on November 27th. Mr Jolani… has… assured Christians and women that he has no plans to impose strict Islamic codes… But Mr Jolani’s past as al-Qaeda’s leader in Syria and his brutal suppression of rivals makes others wary. Getting other rebels to accept his leadership will be his hardest task. For years he fought them more than he did Mr Assad.

“A few hundred former rebels in the south beat Mr Jolani to Damascus. They marched on the presidential palace and detained the prime minister, Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jalali, not only to pursue Mr Assad’s loyalists but to prevent Mr Jolani from getting there first. That America, Russia and the UN all regard Mr Jolani as a terrorist and HTS as a terrorist organisation could also complicate things if he does indeed take charge. His close ties with Turkey and Qatar irk Arab powers who want to limit their zone of influence. Some opposition figures talk ominously about how convenient his assassination would be…

“Many Syrians worry that they could end up replacing one dictator with another, this time an Islamist one. Whoever takes charge in Damascus will have trouble controlling all of Syria. In the north-east, the Kurds will look to the few hundred American troops stationed there to thwart efforts to bring the lucrative oilfields, Syria’s breadbasket and the Arab cities they rule back under central control… they are already fighting Turkish-backed forces to preserve the autonomy they carved out under Mr Assad…

“Mr Assad’s sect, the Alawites, will similarly have to decide whether to fight or accept Sunni-majority rule. In addition to the heavy weapons salvaged from the regime’s rout, they may also look to protection from Russia, which still keeps a naval and airbase there that it may hang on to, subject to negotiation with Turkey and Syria’s new rulers. Civilians in the exiled political opposition in Istanbul, in Turkey, seem to have been sidelined for now…

“After 13 years of civil war and penury, an exhausted population is praying for a peaceful handover that has proved vanishingly rare in the Arab world. With so much division inside and outside Syria, consensus will be hard to find.”

Large Demonstration in Austria

Report 24 wrote on December 8:

“Syrian hordes overrun Vienna’s city center – police show complete powerlessness… Apparently it was possible to mobilize 30,000 Syrians within a very short time, who marched across the ring, making a lot of noise and ‘shooting fireworks’. The police speak of a ‘duly registered rally’ – which is questionable due to the chronology. Under no circumstances could Austria have 30,000 police officers, which demonstrates the state of internal security in an impressive and tragic way… They shouted the well-known ‘Allahu Akbar’ – at the same time the Muslims’ creed (‘Allah is greater’) and the Islamists’ battle cry.

Islamist butchers have taken control in Syria. It is to be feared that they will take bloody revenge on all those who have previously supported the Assad government. In addition, one can expect the mass expulsion of Shiites, Alawites, Druze and Christians. In the worst case scenario, millions of people will flee to the West… The takeover of state power by Islamist forces was enthusiastically celebrated by tens of thousands of Syrians in many European cities. What is notable is the fact that no women can be seen in any of the videos or photos. The manpower of young Syrians fit for war in Europe is frightening.”

Interview With Lavrov… How the War Could End

The Daily Mail wrote on December 6:

“Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow doesn’t want a war with the United States but will use ‘all means’ to defend its interests in an interview with… broadcaster Tucker Carlson. He went on to argue that, while Russia and the US are officially not at war, Washington’s permission for Ukraine to use American longer-range missiles for strikes on Russian territory marked a dangerous escalation

“Lavrov, the world’s longest-serving foreign minister who has been on the job for 20 years, said that the recent Russian strike on Ukraine with a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile called Oreshnik was a signal to the West that Russia is prepared to use all means to achieve its goals

“Speaking about the Kremlin conditions for a potential peace deal, he reaffirmed Putin’s declaration that Ukraine should pull back its forces from the four regions that Russia annexed in September 2022 and renounce its bid to join NATO… He added that any peace agreement must secure the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine… ‘No military bases, no military exercises on Ukrainian soil with participation of foreign troops. We cannot tolerate a deal which would keep the legislation which I quoted prohibiting Russian language, culture and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,’ he said…

“When asked about his view of Donald Trump… Lavrov described him as ‘a very strong person, a person who wants results, who doesn’t like procrastination on anything.’ But he dismissed the idea that Trump is in any way ‘pro-Russian’… ‘The amount of sanctions we received under him was very very big.’…

“Lavrov’s interview with Carlson comes as officials, military chiefs and civilians on all sides of the Ukraine conflict wait to see what approach the Trump administration will take. Advisers to Trump publicly and privately are floating proposals to end the war that would cede large parts of the country to Russia for the foreseeable future… In September, Vice President-elect JD Vance offered former US Navy Seal Shawn Ryan an outline of how peace may be brought about in Ukraine under Trump.  ‘What it probably looks like is something like the current line of demarcation between Russia and Ukraine becomes like a demilitarised zone, heavily fortified for the Russians don’t invade again… Ukraine remains an independent sovereign. Russia gets the guarantee of neutrality from Ukraine.  ‘It does not join NATO and some other allied institutions. Germans and other nations have to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction,’ Vance added.”

We will wait and see whether this is a basis for a peace deal.

Uncertainties in South Korea

Deutsche Welle reported on December 7:

“A motion to impeach South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol failed after most ruling PPP party lawmakers walked out from the vote. The motion was dropped without ballots being counted as the total votes did not reach 200, or the two-thirds majority required for it to pass. Opposition parties, which hold 192 seats in parliament, presented the bill after Yoon briefly declared martial law last week.

“After the vote, PPP leader Han said the party had decided that Yoon would resign and had ‘effectively obtained’ his promise to do so. Han emphasized that Yoon was no longer in a position to carry out his public duties and his resignation was unavoidable. Though he pledged the PPP would ‘resolve this crisis in a more orderly and responsible manner’ than impeachment would have, Han refused to say just when Yoon would step down.

“Yoon’s term in office runs out in May 2027. ‘The People Power Party will pursue an orderly departure of the president in order to minimize confusion for the people,’ said Han, who added that Yoon would be ‘effectively excluded from his duties, and the prime minister will consult with the party to manage state affairs.’

“The opposition DP ridiculed that idea as ‘absurd and illegal.’ ‘Neither the people, nor the law, nor anyone has given Han the power to remove [Yoon] from office,’ the party said in a statement, saying impeachment is the only way.”

Trump Domineering in Paris

The New York Post wrote on December 7:

“President-elect Trump dominated French President Emmanuel Macron during a tense photo-op handshake as the leaders met in Paris ahead of the Notre Dame cathedral’s reopening Saturday — where global heads of state and dignitaries tripped over themselves to pay their respects to ‘The Don.’… Inside the 861-year-old cathedral for the reopening ceremony, Trump enjoyed front-and-center seating between Macron and his wife, Brigitte…

“German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and King Philippe of Belgium flashed wide grins as they shook hands with the once-and-future president, as did Britain’s Prince William, who met with Trump afterward for one-on-one talks at the British ambassador’s residence in Paris… First Lady Jill Biden, who attended the weekend’s festivities in her husband’s stead and was seated next to their daughter, Ashley, appeared visibly uncomfortable just one spot over from Trump…”

Justin Trudeau had visited Trump in Florida to “kiss the king’s ring.” Trump is being recognized as a powerful leader who is respected and feared at the same time.

Trump Reveals His Plans

NBC News wrote on December 8:

“President-elect Donald Trump vowed to make immediate and sweeping changes after he takes office on Jan. 20, such as pardons for those convicted in the attack on the U.S. Capitol

“In an interview with Kristen Welker, moderator of NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press,’… Trump said he would fulfill a campaign promise to levy tariffs on imports from America’s biggest trading partners. In a noteworthy moment, he conceded uncertainty when Welker asked if he could ‘guarantee American families won’t pay more’ as a result of his plan. ‘I can’t guarantee anything,’ Trump said. ‘I can’t guarantee tomorrow.’

“Trump also said he will not raise the age for government programs like Social Security and Medicare and will not make cuts to them as part of spending reduction efforts led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy…

He would not concede that he lost the 2020 election. Asked how, in his view, Democrats stole that election but not this one even though they control the White House, Trump said, ‘Because I think it was too big to rig.’… Trump made clear he believes he’s been wronged, but he also [said] he will not appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Biden…  Yet he also singled out people he believes crossed the line in investigating his actions, calling special counsel Jack Smith ‘very corrupt.’

“Members of the House committee that examined the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol were ‘political thugs and, you know, creeps,’ committing offenses in going about their work, he said. ‘For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,’ Trump said… If Biden wants to do it, he could pardon the committee members, Trump said, ‘and maybe he should.’…

“Immigration was the centerpiece of Trump’s campaign, and he didn’t flinch in saying he will carry out mass deportation of those who are living in the country illegally. First will be convicted criminals, he said. Pressed on whether the targets would go beyond that group… Asked about families with mixed immigration status, where some are in the U.S. legally and some illegally, Trump said, ‘I don’t want to be breaking up families, so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.’… ‘But we’re starting with the criminals, and we’ve got to do it. And then we’re starting with the others, and we’re going to see how it goes.’

“An exception might be the ‘Dreamers’ — people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children and have lived here for years. He voiced openness toward a legislative solution that would allow them to remain in the country… He also said he intends to eliminate birthright citizenship, the protection enshrined in the 14th Amendment that guarantees citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents. Asked about the likelihood that doing so unilaterally would face legal opposition, Trump said he would consider amending the Constitution

“Trump said he is actively trying to end the war, ‘if I can,’ adding that Ukraine can ‘possibly’ expect it won’t get as much military aid from the U.S. when he’s back in office. He would not commit to keeping the U.S. in NATO… ‘If they pay their bills, absolutely,’ he would preserve America’s role in the alliance, he said….”

Some of his ideas are pretty good, other plans are pretty bad.

Hero and Villain

On December 10, The New York Post published the following article by Piers Morgan:

“I cheered when I heard that Marine veteran Daniel Penny had been found not guilty. And I felt shocked and saddened when I saw the footage of  UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson being executed in the middle of Manhattan. Those two reactions would surely be the correct and appropriate ones for anyone with an ounce of fairness and humanity in their heart.

“Penny risked his own safety on the crime-ravaged New York subway to prevent a dangerous, mentally ill, homeless man with a lengthy rap sheet of violence from carrying out his ranting threat to kill someone. For six minutes [or less], he kept the man, Jordan Neely, in a restraining chokehold as he waited for the police to arrive, alternating between applying pressure and not, a tactic he’d learned in the military to subdue people. Why did Penny do this? Because he saw the frightened faces of nearby women and children and wanted to protect them… It was a tragic accident that Neely — who was high on drugs at the time — ended up dying, but that was a direct consequence of his own menacing actions… [a forensic pathologist said Mr Neely could have died from other contributing factors.]

“Yet with pathetic predictability, there was an immediate campaign by left-wing activists to frame this as a racially motivated crime akin to the murder of George Floyd despite there being zero evidence to support this theory and no comparison in the circumstances of the two incidents. Race-baiting charlatan Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez shamefully posted on X: ‘Jordan Neely was murdered.’ Others branded Penny a ‘white supremacist’ without producing anything to back up such an appalling slur. Walter ‘Hawk’ Newsome, the founder of Black Lives Matter in New York, said anyone who thought Penny was innocent had ‘racism in their heart,’ and that ‘the KKK got another victory.’

“Newsome was at it again after the verdict, appearing outside court to shriek, ‘We need some black vigilantes. People want to jump up and choke us and kill us for being loud, how about we do the same when they attempt to oppress us.’… Why has he not been arrested himself for such brazen incitement to deadly violence?

“If the Left’s hateful conduct over this was bad enough, consider the very different way they responded to the disgusting, cold-blooded murder of Brian Thompson. Many openly celebrated, led by liberal journalist Taylor Lorenz, who worked until recently for the New York Times and Washington Post, and who posted: ‘And people wonder why we want these executives dead.’ She later commented ‘I am not alone’ on another X post saying, ‘Healthcare Executive Down’ adorned with party balloons…

“The reaction to the two deaths has been very illuminating about the woke left’s shocking double standards and warped, hypocritical morality…”

Scholz to Request Vote of Confidence

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 11:

“German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday formally applied for a vote of confidence in his government. This is the first step on the road to span elections scheduled for February (23)..

“Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, is scheduled to vote on the motion of the 16th of December. It is largely considered a formality, as opposition lawmakers outnumber those in Scholz’s minority government. The chancellor will then ask President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for approval to dissolve parliament, starting the clock on the 60-day time limit to hold new elections.”

The Many Faces of Santa Claus

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 5:

“Few historical facts… are… known today, so their life stories have been fused together over the centuries, creating famous Saint Nicholas legends… The feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on December 6… That displeased the famous 16th-century reformer, Martin Luther, who had fallen out with the Catholic Church and thus with almost half the world. He objected to the Catholic worship of saints and wanted to link the Christian bringer of gifts to Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. He wanted to direct people’s interest, especially that of children, away from the countless figures of saints and towards Jesus Christ. And so he replaced Saint Nicholas with Christ as the bringer of gifts, which was quickly accepted in Protestant areas.

“Since the Reformation, the ‘Christkind’ (Christ Child) has brought Christmas presents in Germany, usually on Christmas Eve, December 24, or a day later, on Christmas Day. But the custom of Nicholas placing presents in boots on the eve of December 6 did not die out either…

“In the 16th century, the benevolent Saint Nicholas was joined by a rather malicious antagonist. He was called ‘Knecht Ruprecht’ or ‘Krampus’ in southern Germany… Elsewhere, it has been replaced by Santa Claus, a figure whose origin story is a mixture of the legend of Saint Nicholas, the fairy tale of Father Frost…

“In Eastern European countries and as far afield as Mongolia, people talk of Papa Winter or Father Frost. That figure goes back to a winter wizard from Slavic mythology and is very similar to Santa Claus in its depictions. He is the personification of winter…

“The contemporary Scandinavian version of Santa Claus has various origins, generally predating Christianization, when people celebrated midwinter, called Yule. There is the figure of an old man with a fur cape, hood and beard, who travels through the countryside on a reindeer sleigh and distributes nuts to help people survive the harsh winter. Legend has it that he is a descendant of Odin, the most powerful Norse god.

“In Norway and Sweden, there is a story about a house spirit (‘Tomte’) who watched over the house and yard, but only if he was given enough food. Today, it is the Jultomte or Julenissen who brings presents on Christmas Eve — in exchange for food, of course.”

It’s all pagan and demonic to the core.

If Austria’s Bad Example Were to Set a Precedent…

The Kronenzeitung wrote on December 3:

“Customs and Christian traditions are now anchored in the education plan for the little ones in Lower Austria – cancellations of festivals should therefore be taboo in the future! ‘If you want to live here, you have to respect our values ​​and traditions.’ State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner sets a clear line after debates about moon bear festivals instead of St. Martin’s Day and crossings in classrooms and hospital rooms. That’s why Nikolaus & Co. are now included in the educational plan for kindergartens. Similar to the school curriculum, guidelines are given as to what content must be taught to the children.

“This is also welcomed by experts. ‘Festivals convey values ​​and a feeling of belonging,’ emphasizes educator Christina Steinböck from Asperhofen in the St. Pölten district. However, due to misunderstood tolerance towards other cultures, children are denied the opportunity to get to know the values ​​that we uphold.

“The ÖVP has a broad majority behind it on this measure. This is confirmed by opinion researcher Christoph Haselmayer, whose IFDD has found that 90 percent of the population in Lower Austria think it is right to celebrate Christmas, Easter, St. Nicholas and St. Martin’s Day in kindergartens. More than two thirds also support that crosses should be present in public buildings as a cultural symbol.

“With so much connection to tradition, the coalition partner obviously doesn’t want to be left behind. The Freedom Party tends to warm up to Krampus: ‘This is an old custom from the Eastern Alpine region,’ says State Vice President Udo Landbauer, emphasizing that Nikolaus’s shaggy companion should not be banned from kindergartens and schools either.”

Krampus—a symbolic figure for Satan. There are all kinds of worrying things on the horizon… It was also reported that if you refuse to take part in St. Nicholas celebrations in kindergarten, you could face a fine of up to 2500 euros…

OE24 wrote on December 3:

“In addition, the state leader once again called for harsher penalties from the incoming federal government for parents of families unwilling to integrate. The fines should therefore be increased from the current maximum of 440 euros to 2,500 euros. ‘By anchoring the traditions in the Lower Austrian education plan for kindergartens and with our demand for harsher punishments for those who refuse to integrate in schools, we are sending an unmistakable signal: Anyone who wants to live here, anyone who wants to raise their children here, must accept and respect our values, traditions and rules,’ says Mikl-Leitner.”

Frightening indeed… In Germany, they are talking about “Leitkultur.” But as we asked in our last edition, what does this mean? Is the celebration of Christmas, Easter or Sunday part of the German Leitkultur concept? What about the abrogation of the Sabbath and God’s annual Holy Days? What about supporting and fighting in war? A potentially dangerous concept indeed. 

California School Shooter’s Demonic Motives

The Algemeiner wrote on December 6:

“A gunman who shot and wounded two kindergarten students at a private school in northern California on Wednesday left behind a note revealing the shooting was motivated by his opposition to ‘America’s involvement with genocide and oppression of Palestinians.’

“The shooter… [Litton] opened fire in the playground of the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in the town of Oroville, injuring two children. Roman Mendez, 6, and Elias Wolford, 5, are in critical condition and will likely need surgery, according to police. Litton was pronounced dead at the Oroville school shortly after the shooting. Authorities said the cause of death was most likely a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“On Thursday, law enforcement said that Litton had a long criminal history and suffered from mental health issues. Police also revealed disturbing writings believed to be from Litton which provided insight into the shooter’s motives. One note indicated that opposition to US support for Israel’s defensive military operations against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Gaza was a motivation for the shooting. ‘Countermeasure involving child executions has now been imposed at the Seventh Day Adventist school in California, United States by The International Alliance,’ the note read…

“Litton reportedly gained access to the Feather River’s campus by securing a meeting with its principal to discuss enrolling a nonexistent grandson. He used a fake name. Having avoided arousing suspicion, Litton followed the meeting by walking to the playground, where he opened fire…”

He might have been suffering from “mental health issues,” but he was clearly influenced by demons. And it is interesting that demons motivated this sick individual to attack a Sabbath-keeping school and tried to kill young children, and that he was influenced by the demonic antisemitic and violent pro-Palestinian propaganda in the US.

The Corona Scam 

Focus wrote on December 5:

“The corona pandemic has scourged the entire world. Many people are still feeling the aftermath of this difficult time today. A US committee has spent two years extensively examining the pandemic and the countermeasures. The results now presented are devastating

“The Subcommittee finds that Covid-19 ‘most likely’ arose from a laboratory accident during gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China… 

“The 2 meter distance recommendation that has led to school and small business closures across the country was arbitrary and not scientifically based…

“There was no convincing evidence that masks effectively protected Americans from coronavirus…

Extended lockdowns caused enormous damage not only to the US economy, but also to the mental and physical health of Americans, especially younger citizens…

“Health officials have often spread misinformation through conflicting messages, knee-jerk reactions and a lack of transparency…

“Contrary to what was promised, the vaccine did not stop the spread or transmission of the virus…The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rushed approval of the Covid-19 vaccine to meet the timeline arbitrarily set by the Biden administration. Two top FDA scientists warned their colleagues about the dangers… as well as the likelihood of side effects. However, they were ignored and a few days later the Biden administration ordered the vaccine.

“…vaccination requirements… have done more harm than good. The Biden administration has coerced healthy Americans into complying with Covid-19 vaccination mandates that trampled on individual freedom, hampered military readiness and disregarded medical freedom in order to force a new vaccine on millions of Americans – without enough evidence for their political decisions.

“The government is failing to assess vaccine claims in an efficient, fair and transparent manner…”

To be fair, both the Trump and the Biden administrations are guilty of having severely violated individual freedoms of American citizens by spreading false information and irresponsible political propaganda, inspired by the likes of Dr. Fauci and Big Pharma. 

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.

This Week in the News

Australia Wants to Ban Children Under 16 From Social Media

The Guardian wrote on November 28:

“On Thursday, parliament’s upper house, the Senate, passed a bill by 34 votes to 19 banning children under 16 from social media platforms.  But academics, politicians and advocacy groups have warned that the ban – as envisioned by the government – could backfire, driving teenagers to the dark web, or making them feel more isolated… Many worry that the process has been too rushed, and that, if users are asked to prove their age, it could lead to social media companies being handed valuable personal data. Even Elon Musk has weighed in. [‘Seems like a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians.’]

“The [law] bans social media platforms from allowing users under 16 to access their services, threatening companies with fines of up to AU$50m (US$32m) if they fail to comply. However, it contains no details about how it will work, only that the companies will be expected to take reasonable steps to ensure users are aged 16 or over. The detail will come later, through the completion of a trial of age-assurance technology in mid-2025. The bill won’t come into force for another 12 months.

“The bill also does not specify to which companies the legislation would apply, though communications minister Michelle Rowland has said that Snapchat, TikTok, X, Instagram, Reddit and Facebook are likely to be part of the ban. YouTube will not be included because of its ‘significant’ educational purpose, she said.”

Big Brother is up and running…

Trump to Nominate Kash Patel as FBI Director

The Huffington Post wrote on December 1:

“Patel is likely to face deep skepticism during his confirmation hearings over… his claims that he would shut down the FBI’s Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters in the nation’s capital and send the thousands of employees who work there to ‘chase down criminals’ across the country…

“He’s talked about trying to rid the government of ‘conspirators’ against Trump and of going ‘after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections,’ whether criminally or civilly.”

This would be very interesting…

Trump’s Nominations

 Daily Mail wrote on December 4;

 “Trump’s pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration has withdrawn from consideration after MAGA outrage. Chad Chronister, the Sheriff of Hillborough County, Florida, sparked controversy for ordering the arrest of a pastor for holding church services in the height of the COVID pandemic. MAGA ally Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who was leading the charge to get him to step aside, said he simply ‘lost his mind.’ …

 “Conservative Liz Wheeler called him a ‘COVID tyrant’ who ‘abused his power and is unfit to lead the DEA’ and urged him to withdraw.”

 That Trump even nominated such a man is of great concern.

Joe Biden Pardons Hunter… A Story of Lies and Deceit

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 1:

“Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter after he was convicted on gun and tax-related federal charges, amid earlier promises against such a move. The pardon spares Hunter a possible prison sentence related to federal felony gun and tax convictions… Biden called his son’s conviction ‘a miscarriage of justice.’…  In June, Biden ruled out a pardon or clemency for Hunter in an ABC News interview. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre doubled down on the promise as recently as November 8. ‘We’ve been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no,’ she had said…

Republican President elect Trump… described Biden’s decision as an ‘abuse and miscarriage of justice.’ ‘Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?’ Trump said on his Truth Social platform, referring to rioters who were imprisoned after storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021…

“‘Joe Biden is a liar and a hypocrite, all the way to the end,’ said Congresswoman Marjorie Taylore Greene on X… Congressman Andy Biggs said Biden would ‘go down as one of the most corrupt presidents in American history… Criticism even came from some of Biden’s own Democratic Party, such as Colorado Governor Jared Polis…”

California Governor Newsom wrote on December 3: “With everything the president and his family have been through, I completely understand the instinct to protect Hunter. But I took the president at his word. So by definition, I’m disappointed and can’t support the decision.”

Elon Musk has been one of the strongest critics so far.

NBC News added on December 1:

The president issued a ‘full and unconditional pardon’ for any offenses Hunter Biden has ‘committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024,’ according to the White House statement…

“The president has discussed pardoning his son with some of his closest aides at least since Hunter Biden’s conviction in June… it was decided at the time that he would publicly say he would not pardon his son even though doing so remained on the table…”

So this was carefully planned, and the American people were intentionally lied to…

The New York Post wrote on December 1:

“We always knew Joe Biden would pardon his troubled son Hunter, no matter how many times he promised he wouldn’t….  the president explained away all his lies to the American people by lying about his lying: ‘For my entire career I have followed a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth.’… Nobody believes the word of a Biden.”

Politico wrote on December 2:

“[Biden’s pardon] insulates his son from ever facing federal charges over any crimes he possibly could have committed over the past decade. Experts on pardons said they could think of only one other person who has received a presidential pardon so sweeping in generations: Nixon, who was given a blanket pardon by Gerald Ford in 1974…

“Conservative commentators have engaged in… speculation that Hunter Biden could be charged with bribery, illegal lobbying or other crimes stemming from his foreign business activities… Trump will not be able to undo the pardon when he takes office. And its sweeping nature means the Trump Justice Department will not be able to reopen the long-running criminal probe of the president’s son…”

Even CNN admitted that Biden tarnished his legacy with his pardon of Hunter [even though Joe Biden’s legacy has long been “tarnished”]. CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig said: “… he lied to us for a long time. He said categorically, ‘I will not pardon my son.’” The Hill provided a list of times Joe Biden and his aides decisively answered “no” after being asked whether a pardon for Hunter was being considered. The Hill listed 10 occasions. Ten is the number of judgment in the Bible, suggesting that God will judge him and his aides for their repeated lies.

Germany’s New “Vision”

The Telegraph wrote on November 29:

“Germany will promote the inherent value of its ‘dominant culture’ and make migrants assimilate, an MP from the country’s government-in-waiting has said. In a clear shift from the Angela Merkel era, the centre-right Christian Democrats Union (CDU) has made the concept of ‘Leitkultur’ a key pillar of its manifesto ahead of snap elections in February… Leitkultur [is] fundamentally the principle that foreigners should adopt German cultural values and not vice versa…

“The phrase ‘Leitkultur’ was popularised by Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader, in a newspaper article 20 years ago in which he said that ‘immigrants who want to live here permanently must adapt to an established liberal German dominant culture’… At the time the concept caused friction in the CDU with many MPs calling it divisive and populist. Mrs Merkel, an arch-rival of Mr Merz, cut the phrase out of party debate and policymaking after she ousted him from the party leadership in 2002.

“German academics have puzzled over the phrase for years as it claims to define the elusive characteristics that bind German society together. CDU party officials stress it is not simply about beer gardens, pretzels and other German cultural habits, but ‘the basic values of our society’ and ‘what unites us’

“Germany will start turning non-European refugees away from its border if the CDU wins the next election, due to ‘our special duty’ towards Ukraine… On the issue of support for Ukraine, the CDU has adopted a more hawkish stance than Chancellor Scholz. Mr Merz has said he is in favour of sending long-range German Taurus missiles to Kyiv if Vladimir Putin keeps bombing civilian areas… Under Mr Merz, the CDU has shifted further to the right in response to a major increase in irregular migration to Germany following the pandemic.”

What does this mean? Is the celebration of Christmas, Easter or Sunday part of the Leitkultur concept? What about the abrogation of the Sabbath and God’s annual Holy Days? What about supporting and fighting in war? A potentially dangerous concept indeed.

What Germany’s AfD Wants…

Bild wrote on November 30:

“The Saxon AfD is entering the federal election campaign with its co-federal chairman Tino Chrupalla… Merz is ‘more harmful than Merkel and Scholz’ and ‘a representative of foreign interests’ who wants to deliver Taurus to Ukraine. ‘This escalation with a nuclear power is just crazy. Whoever votes for Merz wants war,’ said Chrupalla.

“Instead, the AfD will implement what Merz is currently only promising: secure borders, reject [immigrants]. ‘We’re repairing Nordstream and with us, gas prices will be 5 cents again.’…

“Even before his speech there was standing applause for the honorary chairman of the AfD, Alexander Gauland… Gauland then took aim at the CDU. ‘It’s clear who we have to fight. It’s Mr. Merz’s CDU…‘“

The Westen wrote on December 1:

“Restrictions on abortion and withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement – ​​these are just some of the demands that the AfD lists in its draft program for the federal election in February. The euro should also be under attack. Regarding the currency, the paper says that Germany must ‘end the wrong path of permanent rescue by reintroducing a national currency’. The party continues: ‘We consider Germany’s exit from the European Union and the establishment of a new European community to be necessary’… If necessary, the euro should be able to be retained parallel with a national currency.

“A further point of the AfD, according to its basic program, is the reinstatement of compulsory military service for all young men between the ages of 18 and 25. But so that anti-militarist Eastern voters are not lost to the BSW [a popular left party], the party is now making concessions in its election program… The demand for a return to compulsory military service should suddenly be deleted from the program for the 2025 federal election.”

The euro will not end, but compulsory military service might very well be reintroduced. The concept of creating a new European community (perhaps consisting of ten nations or groups of nations?) is very interesting. Accusations against “war-monger” Merz are not only coming from the AfD. Note the next article.

Fear of War or Russian Roulette?

BR 24 wrote on December 1:

“Union Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has accused the SPD and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of deliberately stoking fear of war in the Ukraine debate. ‘The mobilization of fear of war is the DNA of the SPD,’ wrote the CDU chairman…

“Merz wants to give the ‘nuclear power Russia’ an ultimatum with a view to possible deliveries of the Taurus cruise missile, said Scholz at a party conference in Berlin. ‘All I can say is, be careful: You don’t play Russian roulette with Germany’s security. When it comes to questions of war and peace, you need a cool head…’

The Greens are also distancing themselves from Scholz’s Ukraine course.”

In addition, the CDU is now attacking the Green Party under Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck. Note the next article.

Spahn Wants Legal Changes in the Climate Sector

Focus wrote on November 29th:

“At an event organized by the heat pump industry, Union parliamentary group vice-president Jens Spahn confirmed that his party wants to withdraw the heating law and significantly reduce heating subsidies. Instead of relying solely on heat pumps, he advocates ‘green oil’. This is causing considerable uncertainty in the industry… Jens Spahn… explained with regard to the new traffic light rules: ‘There is no planning security for nonsense… The path of the last two years has no acceptance’… That’s why it’s necessary to ‘abolish the heating law à la Habeck’.

“In addition, Spahn announced cuts in financial support for climate-friendly heating… Ultimately, the support should be abolished completely, said the former health minister, who would also like to take over a ministry again in the next government… ‘The argument that we have to leave things as they are now because we need planning security doesn’t work for us,’ he said. Because the Union said from the beginning that it considered the change in the law to be wrong…

“Experts, however, consider Spahn’s proposal to make oil heating systems more climate-friendly in the future through the use of ‘green oil’ to be unrealistic because such fuels, which are made from plants or produced synthetically using green electricity, will be both scarce and expensive.

“At least one of Spahn’s demands met with unanimous approval from industry representatives, namely to reduce electricity prices by reducing electricity taxes and network fees

Despite his lack of popularity, Spahn is someone to watch out for.

Germany and the Nordic Countries Prepare for Possible War

The Guardian wrote on November 29:

“Germany is developing an app to help people locate the nearest bunker in the event of attack. Sweden is distributing a 32-page pamphlet titled If Crisis or War Comes. Half a million Finns have already downloaded an emergency preparedness guide.

If the prospect of a broader conflict in Europe seems remote for many, some countries at least are taking it seriously – and, in the term used by Germany’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius, taking steps to get populations kriegstuechtig—war-capable… ‘We live in uncertain times. Armed conflicts are currently being waged in our corner of the world. Terrorism, cyber-attacks, and disinformation campaigns are being used to undermine and influence us,’ the Swedish pamphlet’s prologue says… it adds that collective resilience is essential and if Sweden is attacked, ‘everyone must do their part to defend Sweden’s independence – and our democracy … you are part of Sweden’s overall emergency preparedness’…

“Norway’s directorate for civil protection, DSB, has distributed ta similar booklet to the country’s 2.6 million households…  The Norwegian pamphlet advises people, for example, to hold at least a week’s worth of non-perishable food including ‘crispbreads, canned pulses and beans, canned sandwich spreads, energy bars, dried fruit, chocolate, honey, biscuits and nuts’. Norway also advises residents to stock up on essential medicines – including iodine tablets, in case of a nuclear incident – and, like Sweden, recommends that people have several bank cards and keep a ready supply of cash at home.

“In Finland, an exhaustive online guide… offers residents information and advice on anything from water outages to wildfires, the collapse of the internet or ‘longer-term crises … such as military conflict’… Finland – which shares an 830-mile (1,340km) border with Russia – asks its citizens bluntly: ‘Would you survive 72 hours?’…

“Germany’s focus, meanwhile, is on ramping up the number of its bunkers and protective shelters after an official estimate that the nation of 84 million has fewer than 600 public shelters, together capable of holding just 480,000 people. Many cold war shelters have been dismantled owing to the belief they would no longer be needed, but Berlin has now launched a national bunker plan under the Federal Office for Population Protection…  Experts predict an attack by Russia may be a possibility within the next five years and the search is now on for any structure that could be used if such an event occurred, including metro stations and basements of public offices, schools and town halls. German households have been urged to adapt their own cellars, garages or store rooms, or excavate old bunkers, while housebuilders will be legally obliged to include safe shelters in new homes – as Poland has already done.”

The Diplomat in Spain added on November 27:

“Operation Deutschland is a strategic plan developed by Berlin to prepare the country for the possibility of a large-scale conflict in Europe… In this [1,000-pages long] report Germany describes how it could help mobilize up to 800,000 NATO troops, including Americans, to Ukraine if the situation with Russia escalates. It is a preemptive measure in the face of a possible major conflict, such as a World War III… Germany plans how to allow up to 200,000 military vehicles to pass through its territory…

“Recent preparedness measures in Europe for a possible war conflict coincide with repeated warnings from incoming U.S. President-elect Donald Trump about the possibility of a global conflict. On several occasions, Trump has pointed out that the international situation is at a critical point, with three key players – Russia, North Korea and Iran – actively engaging in confrontations affecting U.S. allies…

Europe is preparing for a war, which… is worrying because an ‘accident’ or a ‘miscalculation’ in this show of force by the two sides that we are witnessing in the Ukrainian war could start an unstoppable escalation that could end with the use of a nuclear weapon…”

Germany’s fear of war will lead to the awakening of the somewhat sleeping German giant—but woe unto the world when this happens.

French Government Collapsed

Breitbart wrote on December 2:

“The neo-liberal French government is likely headed toward collapse this week after Marine Le Pen’s National Rally confirmed that it would join with the left on a motion of no confidence [against] Prime Minister Michel Barnier [after he] attempted to push through financial austerity measures through without a vote in the parliament…

“While the left has been attempting to overthrow the government for months, claiming that it was the winner of the election… this time they were joined by the Le Pen faction, nearly guaranteeing a no confidence measure will succeed….

“The move threatens to throw the French political and financial systems into utter chaos. With French President Macron constitutionally prohibited from calling for fresh legislative elections until June of next year, the Élysée Palace will have limited options should Barnier’s government fall.”

The Guardian added on December 2:

“If the no-confidence motion is carried on Wednesday, Barnier will be forced to offer his resignation [after only two and a half months], but he and his ministers could remain in a caretaker administration until Macron announces a new government… France has been heading towards this political crisis since Macron called a snap election in June that left parliament divided into three roughly equal political factions – left, centre and far right – but none of which has an absolute majority…”

The Sun wrote on December 5:

“FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron is clinging onto power after another damaging political blow saw his government left in disarray. His government collapsed last night after a historic vote of confidence was passed against Prime Minister Michel Bartnier in the National Assembly. Macron is now on the hunt for his sixth PM during his stint as president but it comes amid calls for him to ultimately resign.

“The president has constantly vowed to serve out his term until 2027 despite his political rivals now calling for him to step down immediately.

 “The latest polls out of Paris say the people feel they are entering a period of politics that is incapable of ever moving forwards under a Macron government… A staggering 64 per cent of respondents agreed Macron should step aside immediately.”

Deutsche Welle added:

“Barnier and his ministers remain in charge of daily business until the appointment of a new government…”

Subsequently, Deutsche Welle reported on December 5:

“French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation on Thursday, hours after Prime Minister Michel Barnier handed in his resignation following Wednesday’s vote of no-confidence. Macron rejected calls from the opposition to follow Barnier in stepping down, saying he would remain in office until the next presidential election in 2027. He vowed to ‘appoint a prime minister in the coming days’ saying that this person would be tasked with forming a ‘government of general interest’ in order to pass a budget.”

The situation in France somehow mirrors the debacle in Germany.

France Won’t Arrest Netanyahu

JTA wrote on November 27:

“France has joined the nations who are signatories to the agreement that established the International Criminal Court pledging not to honor its warrants to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant.

“The statement Wednesday by the French foreign ministry adds France to Argentina and Hungary as parties to the 1998 Rome Statute whose leaders have said they will not abide by the warrants…  The French foreign ministry statement said the warrants were flawed because Israel was not a party to the agreement establishing the court…”

Macron also hinted that Netanyahu might have “immunity”.

Pope Francis’ Departure From Catholicism

Newsmax wrote on November 29:

“Pope Francis urged Catholic Church members to embrace cohabiting couples and divorced people while also promoting marriage and traditional family structures… Francis addressed the complexities faced by people living outside the traditional bounds of marriage. ‘The Church does not close the door to those who struggle on the path of faith, indeed, she throws the door wide open, because everyone “needs merciful and encouraging pastoral attention”’…  the pope said Monday. ‘Everyone. Do not forget this word: everyone, everyone, everyone. Jesus said this when those invited to the wedding did not come, and Jesus says: “Go into the streets and bring everyone, everyone, everyone — But Lord, all the good ones, no? — No, everyone! Good and bad! Everyone, everyone.” Do not forget that word “everyone,” which is in a sense the vocation of the Church, mother of all.’

“Francis, with whom church conservatives have differed on certain issues, underscored the dual mission to uphold traditional values while also practicing unconditional love and acceptance…..”

It is amazing how Scriptures are being twisted, like Christ’s words to go into the streets and invite people to the wedding. No word about repentance and stopping their sinful lifestyle. Francis’ comments would equally apply to practicing homosexuals, transgender, drag queens and the LGBTQ+ community. What about pedophiles? Also, the concept of “unconditional love and acceptance” was clearly misapplied here.

What Jesus REALLY Looked Like

The Daily Mail wrote on December 1:

“… experts say that every image you’ve seen of Jesus is almost certainly inaccurate. Not only would Jesus definitely not have had flowing locks, he is also unlikely to have grown a long beard or even worn robes. Instead, historians believe that Jesus would have looked like any other unremarkable member of Judean society in the first century AD… he probably would have been strong and lean… Jesus comes from a family where manual labour is the norm, and he certainly gets exercise with all the walking around.’

Jesus was ethnically Judean and came from the region which is now modern-day Palestine. This means his hair and beard would have been black and curly rather than brown and straight. Likewise, it is extremely likely that Jesus would have worn his hair and beard quite short… Around the time of Jesus’ life in the first century AD,… being clean-shaven was extremely important to Romans but, as a Jew, Jesus probably did grow a well-kept beard

“To have long hair and a long beard signalled something in ancient Judaism – that you were keeping a special vow and not drinking wine. Jesus was actually accused of drinking too much, so he was not keeping such a vow.’ In fact, some of the very first depictions we have of Jesus show him looking distinctly well-groomed. Paintings dating from the first half of the third century AD found the church in the ruined city of Dura-Europos in Syria show Jesus clean-shaven with hair cut well above his collar… In the first century AD… long hair on men was considered ‘rather unseemly’…

“The one thing that our modern images of Jesus get right is that everyone in Judea would have worn leather sandals during the time Jesus was alive…”

The modern Church of God has been saying these things for almost a century.

Ending the Ukraine War?

The New York Post wrote on November 29:

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is willing to hand over territory to Russia in exchange for NATO protection if it means ending the war.  ‘If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under [the] NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control,’ Zelensky said through a translator in an interview with Sky News Friday. ‘That’s what we need to do fast, and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically.’…

“Zelensky hinted that the ‘NATO umbrella’ would not be full membership — something Putin has long vehemently rejected — but could mean member states providing individual security guarantees to Ukraine…  He said other countries have offered to broker a cease-fire agreement between the two countries but he seemed skeptical… ‘We need [NATO protection] very much, otherwise [Putin] will come back,’ he said. ‘Otherwise, how are we going to go to a ceasefire? So for us, it’s very dangerous.’…

“The Kremlin has made huge advances in Ukraine over the past week, taking 90 square miles in the long-bombarded Donetsk region, the fastest clip since the war began nearly three years ago. Putin had previously claimed the only path to peace would be for Ukraine to surrender all its territory that Russia has laid claim to and renounce its intention to join NATO.”

Newsmax added on November 29:

“Zelenskyy’s new position could be a direct result of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory earlier this month… ‘I want to work with him directly because there are different voices from people around him. And that’s why we need not to [allow] anybody around to destroy our communication,’ he said…”

Ultimately, this entire war was good for nothing. Russia and Ukraine will unite, and Europe will be the big loser.

The Price of Defeat

Report 24 wrote on November 30:

“The reality is bleak. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte bluntly admitted to Fox News what many have known for a long time: Ukraine is simply not in a position to negotiate favorable peace conditions. The Russian steamroller continues to roll, while Washington [actually, Ukraine]  is already discussing lowering the draft age in Ukraine to 18…

“The whole thing is made particularly spicy by the appearance of the eternal war drummer Boris Johnson… [He] is now once again calling for NATO troops for Ukraine. His recent threat that Great Britain could intervene militarily on its own sounds like a desperate call for the good old days of the empire…

“Joe Biden greenlights long-range missiles under NATO coordination – as if more weapons ever brought peace. The bitter truth is: What we are experiencing here is the end of an illusion. The question is no longer whether Ukraine can win, but what the price of defeat will be.”

Trump Demands Release of Hostages, Or…

Newsmax wrote on December 2:

“President-elect Donald Trump said there would be ‘hell to pay’ in the Middle East if hostages held in the Gaza Strip were not released before his Jan. 20 inauguration. ‘Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle East – But it’s all talk, and no action!’ Trump wrote Monday in a Truth Social post.

“‘Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity. Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!’

“Trump’s post came on the same day Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Cpt. Omer Maxim Neutra, 21, was killed during Iranian-backed Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and his body was being held hostage in the Gaza Strip.”

Strong Earthquake Hits California

ABC News reported on December 5:

“A 7.0 magnitude earthquake was reported off the coast of Northern California on Thursday… The epicenter of the ‘strong’ quake was off the coast near Petrolia, in Humboldt County… Also, a tsunami warning that had been issued for coastal areas in California and Oregon, including San Francisco, was canceled just before noon local time…

“Police in Berkeley, California, had issued an evacuation order for parts of the city ‘due to a tsunami coming to West Berkeley.’ The order was subsequently lifted after the tsunami warning was canceled… More than 30 aftershocks have been reported in the region, including a 4.3 magnitude earthquake near Petrolia…”

It was stated that it has been more than 30 years since an earthquake of this size hit California. 

Ongoing War in Syria

The Guardian wrote on December 1:

“Syrian and Russian airstrikes have pummelled areas of northern Syria as Iran’s top diplomat arrived in Damascus in a show of support for Bashar al-Assad’s regime after Islamist insurgents made a sudden advance and seized control of Aleppo. As the regime attempted to repel the strongest challenge to its authority in years, state media in Damascus shared images of airstrikes across opposition-controlled areas, claiming they were targeting enemy command centres and positions. Syria’s military said they struck close to a stadium in Aleppo in a joint operation with Russia.

“An earlier airstrike killed 12 people when it hit a site close to a hospital in central Aleppo, Syria’s second city and a former industrial powerhouse that was the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in the country’s bloody civil war…

“The regime in Damascus has long relied on foreign support, notably during the 2016 battle to retake control of Aleppo, in which Russian air power proved decisive. The Syrian government has also relied heavily on Iranian forces on the ground including members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Israel has rapidly scaled up airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria over the past year amid increasing regional confrontations with Tehran and its proxies.

“Assad crushed a popular uprising that rose up against him in 2011, before the conflict spilled over into a bloody civil war that has fractured his control of the country and left him heavily dependent on backing from Tehran and Moscow. The Syrian leader also employed airstrikes, siege tactics and chemical weapons against his own people during fierce battles to regain control of territory….

“Across northern Syria, Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups and Kurdish militias moved to claim territory rapidly evacuated by forces loyal to Damascus, as Syrian government forces retreated from areas they had held for almost a decade… video showed Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces taking control of the base and weaponry there, including an Iranian-made drone…”

The Daily Mail added on December 1:

“Arab leaders, including Jordan’s King Abdullah II and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expressed their solidarity with Damascus in calls with Mr Assad.”

Big News Network wrote on December 3:

“Beijing is willing to aid Damascus to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, [China’s] Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian has said… ‘China is deeply concerned over the situation in northwestern Syria, and supports its effort to uphold national security and stability,’ Lin told a press briefing on Monday. ‘As Syria’s friend, China is willing to make an active effort to avoid further deterioration of the situation in Syria,’ the official said.   

“A number of other nations, including Russia, Iran, Iraq and Egypt, have expressed support for Damascus over the past few days… Moscow has slammed the militants’ offensive as a ‘direct violation of Syria’s sovereignty,’ and mobilized air force units stationed in the country to aid the Syrian army. Tehran has urged Islamic countries to unite in helping Syria defeat the militants, placing the blame for the escalation on Israel and the US.”

The Los Angeles Times wrote on December 4:

“Over the past seven days, the rebels — long considered a fractured, hopelessly compromised force — have routed Syrian army troops from their bases and positions, making gains in Idlib, Aleppo and Hama provinces. The offensive represents the most serious threat since 2019 to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his backers in Iran and Russia… The clashes have brought back to attention a civil war that has largely fallen out of the headlines despite never really ending.”

The Bible reveals that ultimately, Damascus will be destroyed and many Syrians will go into captivity.

South Korea in Crisis

Daily  Mail wrote on December 3:

“South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol sensationally declared emergency martial law today, accusing his political opposition of subverting parliament and railing against ‘pro-North Korea, anti-state forces’ in his country. The shocking late-night address triggered chaos on the streets in Seoul where hordes of angry citizens clashed with riot cops and security forces outside the National Assembly.

“In an announcement which has stunned the world, South Korea’s military proclaimed that under martial law, parliament and other political gatherings that could cause ‘social confusion’ would be suspended and anyone found to violate the regulations could be arrested without a warrant. Yoon vowed ‘to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces plundering the happiness of our people and to protect the constitutional order.’…

“South Korea’s Constitution says the president can declare martial law when it is considered necessary to cope with a military threat or to maintain public safety and order by mobilising military forces… When martial law is declared by the president, they must notify the National Assembly of the decision which can then take a vote on whether martial law should be upheld.  The president must comply when the National Assembly – where the opposition party currently holds a majority – requests the lifting of martial law by a majority vote of members. The National Assembly, with 190 of its 300 members present, has already passed a resolution demanding the martial law be lifted…  But in yet another twist in the night, South Korea’s military announced that martial law will remain in place until it is lifted by Yoon himself…”

Breitbart added on December 3:

“‘If the President does not abide by the results of the motion passed at the National Assembly it is clear treason and an illegal act,’ legislator Cho Kuk declared, adding that Yoon’s impeachment will now be on the table. Cho asked prosecutors to arrest President Yoon and his defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, immediately.”

CNN wrote on December 3:

“Yoon Suk Yeol’s cabinet has reversed a martial law order in the country, just hours after he issued the surprise decree that plunged Seoul into political uncertainty and sparked fierce backlash from lawmakers across the political spectrum.”

Deutsche Welle wrote on December 5:

“South Korean prosecutors said on Thursday that they have opened an official investigation in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt to put the country under martial law. Interior Minister Lee Sang-min and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun are also part of the probe.

“Police said the president was under investigation for ‘insurrection’ and Kim, who had already resigned following the incident, has been placed under a travel ban and forbidden from leaving South Korea….”

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.

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