On June 14, 2025, Paul Niehoff will present the sermonette, titled “,People of Truth,” and Kalon Mitchell will present the sermon, titled, “PsyOps.”
The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.
Newsweek wrote on June 8:
“Federal immigration enforcement operations sparked protests across California for a second day in a row on Saturday. [They continued on Sunday.] ICE carried out raids in Paramount, Los Angeles County, following similar actions at several locations throughout other parts of city on Friday. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the move [to send 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles], saying that local law enforcement was already mobilized and the presence of the National Guard was ‘purposefully inflammatory,’ would ‘escalate tensions’ and ‘erode public trust.’
“On Saturday, the White House ordered the deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles under a provision called Title 10 to ‘temporarily protect ICE and other United States government personnel who are performing federal functions.’ The National Guard is a state-based military force that serves as both a state and federal reserve branch of the U.S. Army and Air Force.
It typically operates under state command and is funded by the state. However, in some cases, troops may be assigned to federal missions while still under state control, with funding provided by the central government.
“The law referenced in Trump’s proclamation allows National Guard troops to be placed under federal command, and permits this under three conditions: if the U.S. is invaded or faces the threat of invasion; if there is a rebellion or imminent rebellion against federal authority; or if the president is unable to enforce federal laws using regular forces. The memorandum from the White House reads: ‘To the extent that protests or acts of violence directly inhibit the execution of the laws, they constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States.’
“However, the law also stipulates that such orders should ‘be issued through the governors of the states.’ It is not immediately clear if the president can activate National Guard troops without the order of that state’s governor… The Trump administration has not invoked the Insurrection Act, according to anonymous U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters this weekend. The act of 1807 serves as the primary legal authority allowing a president to deploy the military or National Guard during times of rebellion or civil unrest.
“… After Trump announced he was deploying National Guard troops on Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said other measures could follow. Hegseth wrote on X that active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton, south of Los Angeles, were on ‘high alert’ and could also be mobilized ‘if violence continues.’” [Newsom called the potential deployment of US Marines in his state “deranged”.]
BBC News added on June 8:
“Trump’s decision to federalise the National Guard, which is normally under state control, is unusual. The military force’s website says it was brought under federal control using Title 10 of the US Code – the same law Trump used – during the Civil Rights era.
“Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson used the National Guard to help enforce civil rights and keep public order. The Guard was also federalised during the 1967 Detroit riot, in riots after the killing of Martin Luther King Jr in 1968, and during the New York postal strike in 1970
“… the last time a president federalized the National Guard was during the 1992 LA riots… after four white police officers were acquitted over the videotaped beating of a black motorist [Rodney King].”
All of this will lead to more and more legal challenges in court.
The Guardian wrote on June 8:
“US national guard troops began to deploy in downtown Los Angeles after an immigration crackdown saw police use teargas on protesters in a move that has sent shockwaves through American politics... The order… marks a stunning escalation in a broad crackdown on immigrants in the United States following raids across the country which have triggered protests… many critics have feared [something like this] might happen during his second administration amid fears that the US is sliding into authoritarianism…
“Tom Homan, Trump’s ‘border czar’,… warned that immigration enforcement will continue ‘every day’ in Los Angeles…. ‘I don’t care if they like it or not.’…
“During afternoon protests at a downtown federal detention facility on Friday, David Huerta, the president of the California branch of the Service Employees International Union, was arrested. Huerta, who was injured and detained, released a statement to the Los Angeles Times from the hospital, saying, ‘Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals. We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice,’ he added.”
The Associated Press reported on June 9:
”Federal prosecutors have charged California [SEIU] union leader David Jose Huerta with conspiring to impede an officer… In a court affidavit, a homeland security agent wrote that a ‘law enforcement officer approached Huerta and told him to leave, then put his hands on Huerta to move him out of the way of a vehicle’… The agent said Huerta pushed back and the officer pushed Huerta to the ground and arrested him.
“The SEIU has planned a rally in Los Angeles for Monday. ‘We demand David Huerta’s immediate release and an end to these abusive workplace raids,’ April Verrett, SEIU’s international president, said in a statement.”
It’s getting more and more ridiculous…
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 8:
“Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, told the Los Angeles Times that by overriding Newsom’s authority, Trump ‘is using the military domestically to stop dissent.’
“‘It certainly sends a message as to how this administration is going to respond to protests. It is very frightening to see this done,’ he added.”
Daily Mail wrote on June 8:
“The Los Angeles Police Department warned rioters on Saturday night that the use of non-lethal munitions has been authorized… The threats to use force came as activists set cars on fire and threw rocks and flaming projectiles at the authorities…. On Saturday, amid chants for ICE agents to get out, some protestors waved Mexican flags while others set a US flag on fire.
“Cement blocks and overturned shopping carts from Home Depot served as crude roadblocks… Smoke rose from burning shrubbery and refuse in the street, and demonstrators kicked at a Border Patrol vehicle.”
The New York Post wrote on June 8:
“Dramatic footage of a masked protester on a dirt bike waving a Mexican flag as he performs donuts around a blazing car in Los Angeles has become a symbol of the anti-ICE riots in the city.
The drone footage of the masked protester went viral after it was shared on X — and many observers say it gives President Trump a propaganda coup as he works to round up and deport migrants from LA and other sanctuary cities.
“Further pictures from demonstrations show protestors waving the flags of Palestine, and one demonstrator stands on top of a blazing car with a flag from the impoverished African nation of Burkina Faso… ‘This is like the perfect propaganda footage for Trump and Steven Miller. Why do people do this?’ Australian political observer Drew Pavlou [wrote]…”
Social media is speculating, without evidence, that all of this has been staged by Trump. But it is a known fact that many times, peaceful demonstrations are being infiltrated by violent elements. That is why Christians should stay away from those demonstrations.
NBC News wrote on June 8:
“Tom Homan, Trump’s appointed border czar,… warned that the governor and L.A.’s mayor could be arrested…
“The Trump administration appointee has previously stated that efforts to impede ICE operations could result in arrest. He said that neither Newsom nor Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats whom he accused of creating ‘a sanctuary for criminals,’ were exempt from that prospect. ‘I’ll say about anybody,’ Homan said. ‘It’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement from doing their job.’”
This might be an idle threat, but if it were to be carried out, more violent protests would be the consequence.
Technically, Homan’s statements regarding the law may be correct, even though this is clearly a controversial statute. What makes Homan’s statements troublesome is the fact that he declared earlier that only aliens with criminal convictions would be the subject of the deportation policy, and that there might just be a little bit of “collateral damage.” This was quite clearly not true as many aliens being arrested are those who are undocumented or who have overstayed their visa, without having committed any crime beyond being here illegally. The anger in the USA is growing.
The New York Post wrote on June 9:
“California Gov. Gavin Newsom added fuel to the fire after daring President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan to arrest him for failing to crack down on violent anti-ICE agitators in his state. ‘Come after me. Arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy,’ the defiant Democrat told NBC News on Sunday…
“‘But you know what? Let your hands off 4-year-old girls that are trying to get educated. Let your hands off these poor people. They’re just trying to live their lives, man. Trying to live their lives, paying their taxes. Been here for 10 years. The fear, the horror… These guys need to grow up. They need to stop, and we need to push back. And I’m sorry to be so clear, but that kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go,’ he added.”
Newsom will become more and more popular among Democrats. His assumed goal is to run for the Presidency in 2028.
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 9:
“California Governor Gavin Newsom said California will sue the Trump administration over its deployment of the National Guard to quell Los Angeles protests. Newsom told MSNBC that the lawsuit would challenge the president’s move to authorize federal troops without the state’s consent.
“‘Donald Trump has created the conditions you see on your TV tonight. He’s exacerbated the conditions. He’s, you know, lit the proverbial match. He’s putting fuel on this fire, ever since he announced he was taking over the National Guard — an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act,’ Newsom said…”
Threadreader wrote on June 12:
“Judge Breyer orders Trump to return control of the National Guard back to California, saying the call-up was illegal… Breyer stays his order until noon tomorrow, which should be enough time for Trump to seek emergency appeal at 9th Circuit and perhaps Supreme Court.”
The judge granted Newsom a temporary restraining order and enjoined Trump from deploying members of the California National Guard in Los Angeles.
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 9:
“The City of Glendale in Los Angeles County has canceled a contract that allowed Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house detainees in its local jail… ICE’s agreement with Glendale has been in place since 2007.
“Even before the recent anti-ICE protests, the city faced criticism from community members and activists who argued that the collaboration violated California’s sanctuary laws. California is a sanctuary state, meaning state and local law enforcement agencies are barred from assisting federal civil immigration officers.”
Bild Online wrote on June 10:
“… at Trump’s direction, the US Department of Defense mobilized 2,000 additional National Guard troops for deployment in the West Coast metropolis—and 700 Marines from the regular armed forces. Trump had already mobilized 2,000 National Guard troops over the weekend in a highly unusual and controversial move. So, a total of 4,000!…
“Downtown L.A. is a war zone: anarchy, looting, vandalism. US flags are being set on fire. ‘Death to America’ is being sprayed on walls. At the same time, the political feud between Trump and Gavin Newsom is escalating…
“The beginning of the US federal authorities’ deportation offensive was associated by many with a dramatic moment: A white van drove into the parking lot of a Home Depot store in Los Angeles. Suddenly, someone in a group of day laborers shouted, ‘La Migra!’ – ‘Immigration and Customs Enforcement!’ Masked agents from the ICE deportation agency jumped out of the vehicle, and people fled in all directions. According to eyewitness accounts, the officers ‘attacked whoever they could catch’… These and similar raids were interpreted as the prelude to a large-scale deportation offensive by the federal authorities. The outrage spread like wildfire, especially in Los Angeles County – home to the largest Hispanic community in the USA. About 50 percent of the population there is Latino, and around 10 percent live without papers…
“Donald Trump’s ‘border czar,’ deportation commissioner Tom Homan (63), however, disagrees: The raids are said to have taken place as part of the investigation into gang violence. ‘These were not migrant raids,’ he said on MSNBC. According to the federal agency, those arrested were illegal immigrants convicted of, among other things, violence against children, manslaughter, or sexual abuse…
“At first, it was migrants and activists, encouraged by local politicians, who wanted to blame Trump for the chaos. However, extremists from progressive groups quickly joined in – Israel haters with Palestinian flags, ‘Black Lives Matter’ agitators, and especially ‘Antifa’ rioters. Antifa, as so often, forms the core of violent perpetrators: They wear black, paramilitary outfits and have tools for breaking out concrete blocks as projectiles… NGOs, especially the ‘Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles’ (CHIRLA), have also been criticized…
“Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass (71) assert that local security forces can restore calm: But the LAPD is dramatically understaffed with just 8,620 police officers – with the riots at multiple hotspots, there is a lack of police everywhere.”
KTLA wrote on June 8:
“Protests over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and the deployment of the National Guard boiled over on the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday as demonstrators blocked the 101 Freeway and surface streets, set cars ablaze, and lobbed projectiles at law enforcement… throwing concrete, bottles and other objects… Later in the evening, CHP officers on the 101 Freeway came under assault from rocks, fireworks and other objects thrown by agitators on a bridge.”
The New York Post wrote on June 11:
“ICE tactical units are gearing up to conduct raids in five Democrat-led areas… The tactical units are set to deploy into New York City, Philadelphia, northern Virginia, Chicago, and Seattle… Previous ICE raids led to distressing scenes in downtown Los Angeles after protests quickly escalated into full-blown riots over the last five days.
“Newsom condemned Trump’s decisions during an emotional televised address Tuesday night, when he likened the president’s actions to those of an ‘authoritarian’ regime… ‘If some of us can be snatched off the streets without a warrant, based only on suspicion or skin color, then none of us are safe. Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least able to defend themselves. But they do not stop there… California may be first — but it clearly won’t end here. Other states are next… There are no longer any checks and balances. Congress is nowhere to be found. [House] Speaker [Mike] Johnson has completely abdicated that responsibility…’
“While the California governor spent most of his address attacking Trump, he pleaded with protesters not to turn to violence and claimed authorities have arrested ‘more than 370 people’ who participated in ‘criminal behavior’ and are actively looking to take more into custody…
“As law enforcement continues to try to get the chaos in the city under control, other parts of the US have begun to see an uptick in unrest, with anti-ICE protests sprouting up in New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco. Thousands of angry New Yorkers took to the streets near Foley Square in the shadow of City Hall to protest the Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations going on in the city and throughout the country on Tuesday… In Chicago, thousands of people marched downtown and eventually clashed with police…”
The Guardian added on June 10:
“Large rallies also took place in Dallas and Austin on Monday, and up to 1,800 protests are planned nationwide on Saturday, to coincide with the military parade Donald Trump is throwing on his birthday in the nation’s capital.”
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbot has already ordered state National Guard troops deployed to San Antonio in anticipation of immigration protests this week.
Newsmax wrote on June 11:
“President Donald Trump called protesters in Los Angeles ‘animals’ and ‘a foreign enemy’ in a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday as he defended deploying the military on demonstrators opposed to his immigration enforcement raids and as he vowed to ‘liberate’ the West Coast city… Trump’s intense comments came as he has left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, one of the most extreme emergency powers available to the president. It authorizes him to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations…
“The president called Los Angeles ‘a trash heap’ with ‘entire neighborhoods under control’ of criminals…
“Trump said earlier Tuesday that there would be more immigration raids and that any additional protests would be met with even greater force, including those who show up at the parade.”
He also said that Europe should learn from what Trump is doing regarding immigration and should act likewise.
The Mirror wrote on June 9:
“Americans fear civil war is beginning right before their eyes as L.A. protesters and police clash…
“Writing on X, one user said, ‘…sadly LA looks like a scene from the 2024 Civil War movie,’ while another user asked: ‘Is the US now in de facto civil war or is that not yet what they call it?’ Others said they fear L.A. is the ‘beginning’ of a wider civil war across the U.S….”
Time Magazine wrote on June 8:
“… the ACLU condemned Trump’s decision, calling it ‘akin to a declaration of war on all Californians… We intend to file suit and hold this administration accountable and to protect our communities from further attacks.’… Daniel Kanstroom, a professor at Boston College Law School, says that this is an ‘incredibly dangerous’ moment in America… Trump’s tactics, he says, have only worsened this crisis.
“‘When you have agents apparently arbitrarily arresting people, pulling them off the street without showing a warrant, without explaining who they are, without being respectful, then this creates a sense of terror and fear in the community, and that tends to result, sooner or later, in a kind of resistance, which is what we’re seeing develop,’ says Kanstroom.”
Otus wrote on June 12:
“President Donald Trump said Thursday that he may create a carveout to his mass deportation efforts for hospitality and farm workers.
“After facing criticism over immigration raids that picked up people who have lived in the U.S. for years, Trump said the White House is looking at executive action that would exempt employees of some farmers and hotels from the administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement push.”
This is all Trump’s doing and should not have happened in the first place. Also, effective June 12, Trump terminated humanitarian parole for about 450,000 aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Their work authorization was revoked—contributing further to the destruction of America’s economy.
The New Republic wrote on June 11:
“The media has it wrong. Trump is not coming across as fearsome and strong… With President Donald Trump sending more troops into Los Angeles amid protests there, a remarkable image has gone viral on social media. It shows members of the National Guard crowded into a sterile-looking office, sleeping on a hard floor, in evident discomfort, all dressed in full military gear.
“The image doesn’t just reveal awful planning for this dispatching of troops. It also captures the deeper absurdity of this entire operation: These members of the military were supposedly needed to quell an urgent emergency, but as it has turned out, they were simply not needed for this purpose at all…
“The Wall Street Journal… says that in May, top Trump adviser Stephen Miller told Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials that Trump was displeased with lagging deportation numbers. Miller told ICE officials that they are not merely supposed to target gang members and violent criminals, and instead must ‘just go out there and arrest illegal aliens.’ It’s this order that inspired the ICE sweep at a Home Depot in Los Angeles that led to where we are right now, reports the Journal.
“… by definition this entails targeting day laborers—that is, going after people who want to work and whose labor is in demand, meaning it inherently constitutes the opposite of hunting for dangerous criminals. Worse, Trump and Miller are not just neglecting serious criminal migrants to target more noncriminals; to do so, they’re also actively shifting law enforcement resources away from other serious crimes, from drug trafficking to child exploitation…
“And polling data shows that while generalized deportations sometimes poll well, majorities do not support removals of longtime residents, noncriminals, and people with jobs. Voters want a law-based, orderly immigration system, but they don’t harbor Trump-Miller’s deep ideological hostility to the mere presence of undocumented immigrants…”
The New York Post wrote on June 8:
“ABC News’ senior national correspondent Terry Moran [went] on a late-night screed against top White House adviser Stephen Miller along with President Trump on social media — drawing scathing backlash from the Trump administration.
“Moran… blasted Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, as a man ‘richly endowed with the capacity for hatred’… ‘He’s a world-class hater,’ the ABC News reporter added… ‘He eats his hate… Trump is a world-class hater. But his hatred [is] only a means to an end, and that end [is] his own glorification. That’s his spiritual nourishment.’
“ABC News announced Sunday that it was suspending him over concerns about him violating the outlet’s standards on impartiality and objectivity. ‘ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others. The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards — as a result, Terry Moran has been suspended pending further evaluation,’ a spokesperson told The Post. Moran later deleted his posts, but not before they were screen-shotted and spread across X like wildfire… Moran’s tirade against Miller came as tensions boiled over in Los Angeles… During this time, Miller publicly ripped the riots as an ‘insurrection.’…
“The ABC news correspondent hasn’t been shy about weighing in on some of the politically dicey subjects he covers. Last November, Moran explained that he predicted Trump would win in 2016 and 2024. ‘The way to understand Trump (as I said on ABC Election Night 2016) is to see him not as a Republican or Democrat, not as a conservative or liberal, but as a Nationalist,’ he posted on X last November. ‘And, like many nationalist leaders, he is a man with an authoritarian cast of mind and a personality to match,” he added, noting that he was ‘not endorsing any political point of view.’
“In April, Moran notched a highly coveted interview with Trump for his 100 days in office milestone. The two had sparred over Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador and alleged ties to MS-13. In December, ABC paid $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit Trump brought against the news network over George Stephanopoulos’ use of the word ‘rape’ to describe the civil sexual abuse judgement against Trump in a case brought by E. Jean Carroll. Trump has denied wrongdoing in that case.”
Subsequently, Disney’s ABC fired Moran on Tuesday. One may ask what was really behind ABC’s actions. The explanation given by ABC is laughable and not believable. It needs to be stated that Miller is perceived by many as a highly controversial figure whose rage has been broadcast even on conservative channels like Fox News.
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on June 5, 2025:
“For years, Jake Tapper, the leading newsreader for CNN, has been very unfair to and very biased against Republicans in general, and to President Trump in particular. Now, in an attempt to restore some of his lost credibility, he has written a new book with Alex Thompson of Axios about the Biden health cover-up. He apparently is embarrassed and/or feels guilty about all he did in a very partisan way to try to keep a very unhealthy Joe Biden in office as president, but I will give him credit for now admitting to some extent how wrong he was. Of course, he is putting most of the blame on the White House staff…
“He said: ‘Alex and I are here to say that conservative media was right and conservative media was correct and that there should be a lot of soul-searching, not just among me, but among the legacy media.’ In an interview with Piers Morgan, Tapper said the cover-up of Biden’s health by the White House, aided by Tapper and most of the national media, was ‘maybe even worse’ than the Watergate scandal…
“Tapper’s book apparently says that Biden’s inner circle ‘couldn’t believe how easily (the media) swallowed campaign lies’… Much of the mainstream media was doing everything it could to protect and promote Biden… In the summer of 2023, the New York Times reported that ‘people who deal with him regularly, including some of his adversaries, say he remains sharp and commanding in private meetings’ and ‘he has at times exerted striking stamina.’
“His two young press secretaries said at different times they were having trouble keeping up with him and that videos shown by Fox News and other conservative media were ‘deep fake.’ Yet, several months before the election, the Biden campaign tried to film a town hall meeting to use on TV ads, but they couldn’t use it because, according to the Tapper book, Biden ‘couldn’t put together coherent thoughts.’ The book also said Hunter Biden was ‘effectively chief of staff.’”
The cover-up was indeed outrageous and constitutes embarrassing testimony for the political agenda of the mass media.
Der Westen wrote on June 5:
“Former ‘Bild’ editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt could have caused the bombshell of the day. Many press representatives from Berlin had already anticipated an unpleasant surprise for Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office. Possibly even a scandal! Just as with the visits of Volodymyr Zelenskyy or South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Would Trump want to expose and humiliate his guest from Germany?
“When Reichelt was suddenly spotted in the White House, speculation began. The controversial head of the far-right portal ‘Nius’ was not traveling to Washington as part of Merz’s press delegation.
“So it was clear that Reichelt was smuggled into the White House by the Trump side. For an appearance to attack Merz in the middle of the US capital in front of the press? That freedom of expression was supposedly restricted in Germany or that the AfD is being suppressed by the state? Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, struck a similar tone months ago at the Munich Security Conference. Vance appeared to be sitting on the sofa, lurking with anticipation.
“But things didn’t go according to plan for Reichelt. His appearance briefly caused a stir online, but he didn’t get a chance to ask Trump or Merz a question… ‘Welt’ journalist Robin Alexander, who was present in the Oval Office himself, reported… : ‘Julian started a question in which the word “freedom” appeared, but was drowned out…’ The journalist was unfortunate enough to be seated in the second row, thus not in Trump’s direct line of sight.”
Handelsblatt wrote on June 5:
“Surprise guest in the White House: ‘Nius’ editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt is the only German journalist who was not part of the Merz delegation present in the Oval Office. A total of 18 people from the Merz delegation, including journalists, were granted access to the Oval Office. Reichelt managed to attend outside of official channels. His presence underscores two developments: the White House is placing increasing emphasis on the influence of right-wing media – and: official channels are becoming less and less relevant for networking and access.”
Merz had been warned before his trip not to fall into the trap, like Zelensky had done, which might be prepared by Trump, especially in regard to the issue of freedom of speech and the press in Germany. Trump asked twice at the end of the press conference whether there weren’t any questions for Merz—was this the set-up? But the other journalists made so much noise, maybe intentionally so, that Reichelt was not heard. And only one asked a question of Merz. The other one asked something of Trump. And then Trump ended the press conference with his good friend Friedrich.
After the meeting, Merz said that the issue regarding the AfD did not come up, not even in his private talks with Trump, because the Trump Administration “must have recognized by now how problematic the AfD is.” He also reiterated that it is Germany’s responsibility, and Germany’s alone, as to how to deal with the AfD. But this issue is not off the table.
TTW wrote on June 9:
“Australia now stands firmly beside Canada, Mexico, Germany, the UK, Spain, and South Korea in a growing movement to cancel trips to the United States. The shift is loud, deliberate, and impossible to ignore. These countries aren’t just reducing travel—they’re choosing easier, safer, more welcoming destinations. And the US once the dream, is now the detour.
“Australia is walking away. Canada is turning inward. Mexico is rerouting. Germany, the UK, Spain, and South Korea are all following suit. The travel tides are changing fast. But why now? Why all at once?
“The truth is hidden in plain sight. It’s in the headlines. It’s in the airports. It’s in the anxious conversations of travelers second-guessing their plans. And now, it’s becoming a global pattern…
“Australia’s love affair with U.S. travel is fading fast. Once a top destination for Aussie tourists, the United States is now facing a major pullback. Flights are being rebooked. Itineraries are being torn up. And travel dollars are being redirected toward countries that feel safer, friendlier, and more predictable… the impact on America’s tourism industry is quickly becoming undeniable.
“The warning signs have been building for months. Across travel forums, group chats, and travel agencies, Aussies are voicing the same concerns. Getting into the U.S. feels like a gamble. The visa process is stressful. Border experiences are unpredictable. And recent policies have created a climate of anxiety and hesitation. Moreover, Australia’s travelers are highly informed. They watch the global news, follow political shifts, and study how tourists are being treated. And what they see coming out of the U.S. in 2025 is turning them away.
“Aggressive airport checks. Talk of tariffs and trade feuds. Headlines filled with cultural tension. It all adds up. The perception is clear: visiting America no longer feels like a holiday—it feels like a risk…
“For the U.S., this trend couldn’t come at a worse time. Just as the industry was inching back toward pre-pandemic levels, international travel is stalling. One market at a time… The decline is not just inconvenient. It’s financially devastating.
“While the U.S. struggles to retain interest, other regions are thriving. Japan, South Korea, Italy, Greece, and Portugal are seeing a surge in Australian tourists… European destinations are capitalizing on America’s decline by offering cultural depth, visa-free access, and streamlined travel infrastructure…
“Campaigns like ‘Visit the USA’ are falling flat in Australia. Instead, travelers are being drawn in by digital influencers, local tour deals in Europe and Asia, and a growing awareness that the U.S. trip they once dreamed of may no longer be worth the cost—or the worry… With Canadians, Mexicans, and now Australians pulling back, the trend is global. It signals something deeper: America’s image as a traveler-friendly nation is being questioned…”
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on June 10:
“… the wild optimism that greeted the inauguration of Trump has turned to something different, a mixture of incredulity from the grassroots combined with outrage and disgust from the legacy media and establishment that fought this revolution at every turn… The new leaders – elected to change course…, began with tremendous bravado and sweeping edicts that seemed promising. Four months later, they are asking for patience while dealing with legacy barriers on all sides from media harassment to court blockages.
“The trouble is that public trust is completely gone. The whole country, traumatized by years of lies [under Biden], has become Missouri: show me.
“First, no one believes that the ‘one big beautiful bill’ is just a first step on the way to future draconian cuts. We’ve seen this too many times, which is why Elon Musk finally broke his silence and denounced the entire ‘massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill’ as ‘a disgusting abomination.’ That has set off a power struggle for the ages.
“Second, in areas of government transparency, there have been some steps but not nearly enough to fulfill the promises. There are still no new Epstein files. The JFK files are a mess and incomplete. We know no more than already public information about the two shooters who tried to kill Trump. There are still many lingering questions about 9-11, the Covid disaster, and so much else. This is not the opening for which the people had hoped.
“Third, let’s talk more at length about the public health area of policy where we’ve seen the most progress. We have a new and excellent Executive Order on science. Tax-funded Covid testing has ended. A contract of $750M for a Bird flu shot has been cancelled. There are new limits on gain-of-function research, and experiments on beagles and other animals are over. Many terrible contracts from NIH have been cancelled while parts of the CDC have been dismantled…
“Above all else, what we really need is the blunt truth about the last five years. We need to know that the people in office, whether elected or appointed, still share the deep outrage that fueled the movement that put them in power. We need to hear frank talk about the harms, the mandates, the suffering, the deceptions, the payoffs, the graft, the abuses, the illegal vanquishing of freedom, science, and human rights.
“It is not enough to proclaim a new Golden Age and be done with it. This pertains to every aspect of public life. Press conferences by the new officeholders, with smiles and promises of better behavior in the future, don’t cut it given the mass loss of trust, rampant cynicism, and grassroots fury. There must be more straight talk, more decisive action that goes to the heart of what happened, and some degree of accountability…”
The Jerusalem Post wrote on June 13:
“Dozens of Israeli aircraft participated in an initial wave of strikes on dozens of military targets and Iranian nuclear sites early on Friday morning. Warning sirens have been set off to get the public ready for potential Iranian counterattacks of ballistic missiles on Israel.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Iran is gearing up to produce tens of thousands of ballistic missiles, which could kill millions of Israelis even without nuclear weapons, but imagine if any of them had nuclear weapons on them. Further, Netanyahu stated Iran may only be a few months away from being able to actually make a nuclear weapon…
“In recent days, Iran developed a plan with Hezbollah, Hamas, and other proxies to destroy the State of Israel, potentially including attempts to attack via all borders, including Egypt and Jordan… Israel has had strong coordination with the US, but Israeli military officials refused to say whether America was pre-updated or fully coordinated into the current attack, coming hours after Washington seemed to suggest it might not be in the loop or approve… ‘Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.”
Deutsche Welle reported on June 11:
“Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk won a parliamentary vote of confidence in his pro-European government on Wednesday, just days after a stinging presidential election defeat… [The] inability to deliver on key reforms — which also includes abortion rights — despite holding a parliamentary majority, has been a dark cloud over Tusk’s government…
“In Poland, the prime minister, chosen by parliament, holds most day-to-day power, while the president, as the head of state, can influence foreign policy and veto legislation… Opposition leaders had seized the moment to signal Tusk’s downfall. Former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro told reporters, ‘The lost presidential election is the end of Donald Tusk. His fate is already sealed.’”
Maybe not…
DPA wrote on June 6:
“The head of the organization that represents Germany’s armed forces personnel has called for the reintroduction of compulsory military service. André Wüstner, from the Bundeswehr Association, said on Friday that Germany’s new coalition government should start laying the groundwork now for the possible reintroduction of conscription. In an interview with the Deutschlandfunk radio station, Wüstner also called for voluntary military service to be made more attractive in order to achieve increased NATO targets.
“He expressed doubts that it would be possible to recruit up to 60,000 additional men and women for active duty on a voluntary basis alone. He added that he could almost predict that a review would be necessary in the middle of the legislative period and that a switch to some form of compulsory military service would then be necessary… In view of the threats Germany faces, speed is needed to increase the number of active soldiers from 181,000 to 260,000, he argued.
“… Defence Minister Boris Pistorius had recently made it clear on several occasions that the voluntary nature of military service agreed by the coalition only applies if the demand can be met in this way…
“On Thursday, NATO defence ministers in Brussels agreed on the largest rearmament programme since the Cold War in response to the threat posed by Russia.”
Compulsory Military Service is coming, even though many Germans don’t (want to) believe it.
Oema wrote on June 5:
“Germany in 2025 is changing. Under the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the country is undergoing the most radical reorientation of its military policy since the end of World War II. Merz’s goal is clear: to turn the Bundeswehr into ‘the strongest conventional military force in Europe.’ This statement, as noted in an article by The Economist, is not merely symbolic. It reflects Berlin’s new self-confidence and its intention to assume a leadership role in European security at a time when Russia is once again threatening the continent and the United States is no longer seen as a guaranteed defender of European defense.
“The most striking evidence of this shift was the military ceremony on May 22 in Vilnius. For the first time since 1945, German armored units were permanently stationed abroad, forming the ‘Lithuania’ Brigade as part of Berlin’s NATO commitment. The symbolic weight of this move is immense. For decades, German politicians avoided such actions, mindful of World War II memories and a deeply ingrained societal stance on military restraint. But today, the facts are changing.
“Berlin’s pivot comes with significant investments. Merz and the Defense Ministry have pledged to dramatically increase the defense budget in order to renew the arsenal, boost readiness, and fill personnel gaps. At the same time, the industrial sector is being strengthened: new orders for Leopard tanks, missile systems, and electronic defense systems are activating German defense manufacturers. At the core of this strategy lies the desire for strategic autonomy—not only for Germany, but for all of Europe.
“However, transforming the Bundeswehr is no easy task. Military infrastructure remains outdated, staffing shortages are widespread, and public support is not a given. German society remains divided. Some welcome Merz’s decisiveness and believe the country must shoulder greater responsibility. Others fear that expanding the military’s role could stir tensions, especially with the historical burden of the past still fresh.
“What’s clear is that Germany is not merely aiming for defensive sufficiency. It seeks a strategic role, power, and influence within Europe’s security architecture. And if Merz’s plan succeeds, Berlin will not only be able to defend itself but also lead Europe both politically and militarily. Germany’s new military might is no longer a ghost of the past—it’s the foundation of a different geopolitical reality unfolding before our eyes.”
Indeed it is.
Newsweek wrote on June 9:
“The Ukraine war won’t end until NATO withdraws troops from the Baltics, a top Russian official has warned… [Sergei] Ryabkov’s comments mark a shift in the Kremlin’s position. He suggested that the conflict’s roots lie not only in Ukraine itself but in NATO’s eastward expansion… NATO maintains a strong military presence in the Baltic States, with multinational battle groups and brigades stationed in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia…
“The Kremlin had said Ukraine must abandon its ambitions to join NATO as a condition for ending the war, but Ryabkov appeared to signal to Tass that the alliance must withdraw completely from the Baltics as well… Moscow and Kyiv will continue to launch strikes on each other’s territory, with the war in Ukraine showing few signs of a peace deal in the near future.”
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 5:
“The vast majority — 84% — of those [Germans] surveyed thought that Russia could not be relied upon, and 73% said the same of the US. Israel was also classified as no longer reliable by a clear majority. Only 16% of respondents still regarded Israel as a partner that Germany can rely on — an 11% drop compared with October 2024… The Israeli course of action in Gaza has gone too far, according to 63% of respondents, while 18% thought it was appropriate.
“Seventy-seven percent of respondents thought it was right that Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Israel for its current military conduct in Gaza. Only one in eight thought Germany should unconditionally support Israel in the Gaza conflict… Almost exactly as many respondents blame Israel for the situation faced by Palestinian civilians in Gaza as blame Hamas… 43% supported restricting weapons exports to Israel, and a further 30% wanted a complete stop…
“Forty percent of those surveyed were satisfied with the [German] coalition’s first few weeks in office… Friedrich Merz of the CDU has gained considerable popularity since taking office as Germany’s chancellor. Of those surveyed, 39% were satisfied with his work, up 14% since April. Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil of the SPD, also has a 39% approval rating. The only high-profile German politician who most citizens are satisfied with remains Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD).
How easily gullible Germans can become deceived and manipulated…At the same time, most Russians consider Germany as their greatest enemy, followed by the United Kingdom and Ukraine. They consider Belarus, China, India and North Korea as their greatest friends. These “friendly” countries, together with Russia, would all be part of the prophesied Kings of the East.
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.
| Live Services | People of Truth / PsyOps |
|---|---|
| Editorial | What Is Truth? |
| Current Events | This Week in the News |
| Q&A | Who is to warn the leaders of the world? (Part 2) |
| The Work | Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock |
On June 14, 2025, Paul Niehoff will present the sermonette, titled “,People of Truth,” and Kalon Mitchell will present the sermon, titled, “PsyOps.”
The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.
by Paul Niehoff (Australia)
When Jesus was standing before Pilate, He made the comment that He was born and came into the world that He should bear witness to the Truth, and that everyone who is of the Truth hears Him. Pilate then asked a question sarcastically, without wanting an answer, “What is truth?” (Compare John 18:37-38.)
That is actually a very good question. What is Truth? How can we know that what we know is the Truth? Where does Truth come from? How should we handle the Truth?
To Pilate, Truth depended on what was politically expedient at the time. What gave him favor with those he was pleasing.
Even to historians, Truth varies or becomes colored, depending on who has commissioned the writing of historical events. If a history book put a current king of that time in a bad light, the historian may not have lived to see his book published.
So what is Truth? I found a number of definitions, of which I will quote a few:
–The true or actual state of a matter
–Conformity with fact
–A verified or indisputable fact or reality
–Honesty, Integrity
–Accuracy
–Agreement with a standard or original.
This last definition is very useful, and it will be mentioned later.
How do we know that we have Truth when many religions say they have “truth” and their “truth” is different from what we believe? Is it because of our superior intelligence? Are we so smart that we can work out logically what Truth is?
When I think about Church members, myself included, I recognize people who are fallible, people who make mistakes, people who are human, subject to error. We are not the most intelligent people in the world, even as God tells us, “not many wise according to the flesh” are called (compare 1 Corinthians 1:26). So it is not our intelligence that enables us to know the Truth.
In fact, it is because we know that we are fallible that we can come to know the Truth. We are willing to admit that what we previously thought we knew, before our conversion, may have been wrong, especially about God and His Church. Because of that, we can change when the Truth is pointed out to us.
Many really intelligent people who know they are intelligent find it very hard to admit error. It hurts their pride too much to admit that they could be wrong.
But what is more important than knowing we are fallible, and being willing to change, is that real Truth can only come by God’s inspiration. Once we have that inspiration from God, we can prove that the Bible is His Word, for instance, by means of fulfilled prophecy. We can also prove God exists by the facts of science and the wonders of creation.
So without God’s inspiration, we cannot know the Truth about the meaning of life, or of any spiritual Truths like, Why are we here? What are we? What does the future hold? How can we attain eternal life?
So to understand these Truths, we have to admit that we are human and subject to error. We need to change, again, which God makes possible as He grants repentance (see 2 Timothy 2:25), and we need God’s Holy Spirit, and then we can know the Truth.
God gives us much instruction about handling the Truth.
Actually, in this world, there are people who do get to the bottom of a matter. People conducting inquiries like judges or lawyers. These people also know that humans are fallible. The majority of the information people relate is exaggerated, colored, misinterpreted, based on assumptions, or just altogether false.
These judges and lawyers know that in order to arrive at the actual truth of the matter, diligent inquiry is necessary to sift fact from falsehood. They know that what the majority believe or what “they say” may not be true.
If you say something to them, they may ask you, “How do you know that is true? Did someone tell you or did you see the event yourself? Is it effectively hearsay or is it something you are fully aware of and know to be a fact? Can you prove it?”
This is how God instructs us to handle His Truth. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to “Test all things; hold fast what is good,” or as the Authorized Version says, “Prove all things.” Don’t believe anything without proof, even things we may have believed all our lives. Be willing to change when proven wrong.
Romans 12:2 tells us: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” We have to prove that God’s Way is better than the way of the world, and be changed to live that Way. We must not just assume because someone tells us, but make a diligent search into God’s Word and into His promises, to see what is really true.
Let us look again at that last definition of Truth, “Agreement with a standard or original.” We remember that Christ said in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” The Bible is the standard for spiritual and moral Truth and that should be what we compare Truth against. Anything that does not match up is not God’s Truth.
Looking at the first recorded human sin, Adam and Eve had God’s Word, the Truth that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would die, but Satan deceived Eve with a lie. She did not compare Satan’s words with God’s Truth. And once one lie is believed, it is easier to accept other lies and be totally deceived.
In the love chapter, we can read that the righteous man rejoices in the Truth (compare 1 Corinthians 13:6). The first part of the armor of God is to have your waist girded with Truth (see Ephesians 6:14). Truth is protective against being deceived and led astray by Satan or evil spirits.
So we need to walk in the Truth, studying it so we can rightly divide it. But God gives a very important warning in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-13: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish…” Why? “…because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”
So, to please God, we must believe the Truth, which is of course, God’s Truth. But even more so, we must have the love of the Truth. We must cherish the Truth, seek it diligently and apply it in our lives every day.
Remember, God’s Word is Truth.
by Norbert Link
We report on [sometimes violent] protests against the Trump immigration policy which started in Los Angeles but are now spreading throughout the land. This development has been described as “extremely dangerous” warning of an impending “civil war.”
In other news, we speak on the Biden health coverup which has been characterized as “worse than Watergate.” We also address the speculation that Washington had perhaps planned to humiliate German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his visit to the Oval Office. Please view in this regard our message, titled, “Trump Meets Merz—What Happened Behind the Scenes? Comments on News and Prophecy, June 7, 2025.”
We conclude by focusing on Germany’s move towards compulsory military service and its military goals. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Why Should YOU Be Concerned? Conscription in Germany!”
Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.
Newsweek wrote on June 8:
“Federal immigration enforcement operations sparked protests across California for a second day in a row on Saturday. [They continued on Sunday.] ICE carried out raids in Paramount, Los Angeles County, following similar actions at several locations throughout other parts of city on Friday. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the move [to send 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles], saying that local law enforcement was already mobilized and the presence of the National Guard was ‘purposefully inflammatory,’ would ‘escalate tensions’ and ‘erode public trust.’
“On Saturday, the White House ordered the deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles under a provision called Title 10 to ‘temporarily protect ICE and other United States government personnel who are performing federal functions.’ The National Guard is a state-based military force that serves as both a state and federal reserve branch of the U.S. Army and Air Force.
It typically operates under state command and is funded by the state. However, in some cases, troops may be assigned to federal missions while still under state control, with funding provided by the central government.
“The law referenced in Trump’s proclamation allows National Guard troops to be placed under federal command, and permits this under three conditions: if the U.S. is invaded or faces the threat of invasion; if there is a rebellion or imminent rebellion against federal authority; or if the president is unable to enforce federal laws using regular forces. The memorandum from the White House reads: ‘To the extent that protests or acts of violence directly inhibit the execution of the laws, they constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States.’
“However, the law also stipulates that such orders should ‘be issued through the governors of the states.’ It is not immediately clear if the president can activate National Guard troops without the order of that state’s governor… The Trump administration has not invoked the Insurrection Act, according to anonymous U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters this weekend. The act of 1807 serves as the primary legal authority allowing a president to deploy the military or National Guard during times of rebellion or civil unrest.
“… After Trump announced he was deploying National Guard troops on Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said other measures could follow. Hegseth wrote on X that active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton, south of Los Angeles, were on ‘high alert’ and could also be mobilized ‘if violence continues.’” [Newsom called the potential deployment of US Marines in his state “deranged”.]
BBC News added on June 8:
“Trump’s decision to federalise the National Guard, which is normally under state control, is unusual. The military force’s website says it was brought under federal control using Title 10 of the US Code – the same law Trump used – during the Civil Rights era.
“Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson used the National Guard to help enforce civil rights and keep public order. The Guard was also federalised during the 1967 Detroit riot, in riots after the killing of Martin Luther King Jr in 1968, and during the New York postal strike in 1970
“… the last time a president federalized the National Guard was during the 1992 LA riots… after four white police officers were acquitted over the videotaped beating of a black motorist [Rodney King].”
All of this will lead to more and more legal challenges in court.
The Guardian wrote on June 8:
“US national guard troops began to deploy in downtown Los Angeles after an immigration crackdown saw police use teargas on protesters in a move that has sent shockwaves through American politics... The order… marks a stunning escalation in a broad crackdown on immigrants in the United States following raids across the country which have triggered protests… many critics have feared [something like this] might happen during his second administration amid fears that the US is sliding into authoritarianism…
“Tom Homan, Trump’s ‘border czar’,… warned that immigration enforcement will continue ‘every day’ in Los Angeles…. ‘I don’t care if they like it or not.’…
“During afternoon protests at a downtown federal detention facility on Friday, David Huerta, the president of the California branch of the Service Employees International Union, was arrested. Huerta, who was injured and detained, released a statement to the Los Angeles Times from the hospital, saying, ‘Hard-working people, and members of our family and our community, are being treated like criminals. We all collectively have to object to this madness because this is not justice,’ he added.”
The Associated Press reported on June 9:
”Federal prosecutors have charged California [SEIU] union leader David Jose Huerta with conspiring to impede an officer… In a court affidavit, a homeland security agent wrote that a ‘law enforcement officer approached Huerta and told him to leave, then put his hands on Huerta to move him out of the way of a vehicle’… The agent said Huerta pushed back and the officer pushed Huerta to the ground and arrested him.
“The SEIU has planned a rally in Los Angeles for Monday. ‘We demand David Huerta’s immediate release and an end to these abusive workplace raids,’ April Verrett, SEIU’s international president, said in a statement.”
It’s getting more and more ridiculous…
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 8:
“Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, told the Los Angeles Times that by overriding Newsom’s authority, Trump ‘is using the military domestically to stop dissent.’
“‘It certainly sends a message as to how this administration is going to respond to protests. It is very frightening to see this done,’ he added.”
Daily Mail wrote on June 8:
“The Los Angeles Police Department warned rioters on Saturday night that the use of non-lethal munitions has been authorized… The threats to use force came as activists set cars on fire and threw rocks and flaming projectiles at the authorities…. On Saturday, amid chants for ICE agents to get out, some protestors waved Mexican flags while others set a US flag on fire.
“Cement blocks and overturned shopping carts from Home Depot served as crude roadblocks… Smoke rose from burning shrubbery and refuse in the street, and demonstrators kicked at a Border Patrol vehicle.”
The New York Post wrote on June 8:
“Dramatic footage of a masked protester on a dirt bike waving a Mexican flag as he performs donuts around a blazing car in Los Angeles has become a symbol of the anti-ICE riots in the city.
The drone footage of the masked protester went viral after it was shared on X — and many observers say it gives President Trump a propaganda coup as he works to round up and deport migrants from LA and other sanctuary cities.
“Further pictures from demonstrations show protestors waving the flags of Palestine, and one demonstrator stands on top of a blazing car with a flag from the impoverished African nation of Burkina Faso… ‘This is like the perfect propaganda footage for Trump and Steven Miller. Why do people do this?’ Australian political observer Drew Pavlou [wrote]…”
Social media is speculating, without evidence, that all of this has been staged by Trump. But it is a known fact that many times, peaceful demonstrations are being infiltrated by violent elements. That is why Christians should stay away from those demonstrations.
NBC News wrote on June 8:
“Tom Homan, Trump’s appointed border czar,… warned that the governor and L.A.’s mayor could be arrested…
“The Trump administration appointee has previously stated that efforts to impede ICE operations could result in arrest. He said that neither Newsom nor Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both Democrats whom he accused of creating ‘a sanctuary for criminals,’ were exempt from that prospect. ‘I’ll say about anybody,’ Homan said. ‘It’s a felony to knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien. It’s a felony to impede law enforcement from doing their job.’”
This might be an idle threat, but if it were to be carried out, more violent protests would be the consequence.
Technically, Homan’s statements regarding the law may be correct, even though this is clearly a controversial statute. What makes Homan’s statements troublesome is the fact that he declared earlier that only aliens with criminal convictions would be the subject of the deportation policy, and that there might just be a little bit of “collateral damage.” This was quite clearly not true as many aliens being arrested are those who are undocumented or who have overstayed their visa, without having committed any crime beyond being here illegally. The anger in the USA is growing.
The New York Post wrote on June 9:
“California Gov. Gavin Newsom added fuel to the fire after daring President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan to arrest him for failing to crack down on violent anti-ICE agitators in his state. ‘Come after me. Arrest me. Let’s just get it over with, tough guy,’ the defiant Democrat told NBC News on Sunday…
“‘But you know what? Let your hands off 4-year-old girls that are trying to get educated. Let your hands off these poor people. They’re just trying to live their lives, man. Trying to live their lives, paying their taxes. Been here for 10 years. The fear, the horror… These guys need to grow up. They need to stop, and we need to push back. And I’m sorry to be so clear, but that kind of bloviating is exhausting. So, Tom, arrest me. Let’s go,’ he added.”
Newsom will become more and more popular among Democrats. His assumed goal is to run for the Presidency in 2028.
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 9:
“California Governor Gavin Newsom said California will sue the Trump administration over its deployment of the National Guard to quell Los Angeles protests. Newsom told MSNBC that the lawsuit would challenge the president’s move to authorize federal troops without the state’s consent.
“‘Donald Trump has created the conditions you see on your TV tonight. He’s exacerbated the conditions. He’s, you know, lit the proverbial match. He’s putting fuel on this fire, ever since he announced he was taking over the National Guard — an illegal act, an immoral act, an unconstitutional act,’ Newsom said…”
Threadreader wrote on June 12:
“Judge Breyer orders Trump to return control of the National Guard back to California, saying the call-up was illegal… Breyer stays his order until noon tomorrow, which should be enough time for Trump to seek emergency appeal at 9th Circuit and perhaps Supreme Court.”
The judge granted Newsom a temporary restraining order and enjoined Trump from deploying members of the California National Guard in Los Angeles.
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 9:
“The City of Glendale in Los Angeles County has canceled a contract that allowed Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house detainees in its local jail… ICE’s agreement with Glendale has been in place since 2007.
“Even before the recent anti-ICE protests, the city faced criticism from community members and activists who argued that the collaboration violated California’s sanctuary laws. California is a sanctuary state, meaning state and local law enforcement agencies are barred from assisting federal civil immigration officers.”
Bild Online wrote on June 10:
“… at Trump’s direction, the US Department of Defense mobilized 2,000 additional National Guard troops for deployment in the West Coast metropolis—and 700 Marines from the regular armed forces. Trump had already mobilized 2,000 National Guard troops over the weekend in a highly unusual and controversial move. So, a total of 4,000!…
“Downtown L.A. is a war zone: anarchy, looting, vandalism. US flags are being set on fire. ‘Death to America’ is being sprayed on walls. At the same time, the political feud between Trump and Gavin Newsom is escalating…
“The beginning of the US federal authorities’ deportation offensive was associated by many with a dramatic moment: A white van drove into the parking lot of a Home Depot store in Los Angeles. Suddenly, someone in a group of day laborers shouted, ‘La Migra!’ – ‘Immigration and Customs Enforcement!’ Masked agents from the ICE deportation agency jumped out of the vehicle, and people fled in all directions. According to eyewitness accounts, the officers ‘attacked whoever they could catch’… These and similar raids were interpreted as the prelude to a large-scale deportation offensive by the federal authorities. The outrage spread like wildfire, especially in Los Angeles County – home to the largest Hispanic community in the USA. About 50 percent of the population there is Latino, and around 10 percent live without papers…
“Donald Trump’s ‘border czar,’ deportation commissioner Tom Homan (63), however, disagrees: The raids are said to have taken place as part of the investigation into gang violence. ‘These were not migrant raids,’ he said on MSNBC. According to the federal agency, those arrested were illegal immigrants convicted of, among other things, violence against children, manslaughter, or sexual abuse…
“At first, it was migrants and activists, encouraged by local politicians, who wanted to blame Trump for the chaos. However, extremists from progressive groups quickly joined in – Israel haters with Palestinian flags, ‘Black Lives Matter’ agitators, and especially ‘Antifa’ rioters. Antifa, as so often, forms the core of violent perpetrators: They wear black, paramilitary outfits and have tools for breaking out concrete blocks as projectiles… NGOs, especially the ‘Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles’ (CHIRLA), have also been criticized…
“Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass (71) assert that local security forces can restore calm: But the LAPD is dramatically understaffed with just 8,620 police officers – with the riots at multiple hotspots, there is a lack of police everywhere.”
KTLA wrote on June 8:
“Protests over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and the deployment of the National Guard boiled over on the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday as demonstrators blocked the 101 Freeway and surface streets, set cars ablaze, and lobbed projectiles at law enforcement… throwing concrete, bottles and other objects… Later in the evening, CHP officers on the 101 Freeway came under assault from rocks, fireworks and other objects thrown by agitators on a bridge.”
The New York Post wrote on June 11:
“ICE tactical units are gearing up to conduct raids in five Democrat-led areas… The tactical units are set to deploy into New York City, Philadelphia, northern Virginia, Chicago, and Seattle… Previous ICE raids led to distressing scenes in downtown Los Angeles after protests quickly escalated into full-blown riots over the last five days.
“Newsom condemned Trump’s decisions during an emotional televised address Tuesday night, when he likened the president’s actions to those of an ‘authoritarian’ regime… ‘If some of us can be snatched off the streets without a warrant, based only on suspicion or skin color, then none of us are safe. Authoritarian regimes begin by targeting people who are least able to defend themselves. But they do not stop there… California may be first — but it clearly won’t end here. Other states are next… There are no longer any checks and balances. Congress is nowhere to be found. [House] Speaker [Mike] Johnson has completely abdicated that responsibility…’
“While the California governor spent most of his address attacking Trump, he pleaded with protesters not to turn to violence and claimed authorities have arrested ‘more than 370 people’ who participated in ‘criminal behavior’ and are actively looking to take more into custody…
“As law enforcement continues to try to get the chaos in the city under control, other parts of the US have begun to see an uptick in unrest, with anti-ICE protests sprouting up in New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco. Thousands of angry New Yorkers took to the streets near Foley Square in the shadow of City Hall to protest the Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations going on in the city and throughout the country on Tuesday… In Chicago, thousands of people marched downtown and eventually clashed with police…”
The Guardian added on June 10:
“Large rallies also took place in Dallas and Austin on Monday, and up to 1,800 protests are planned nationwide on Saturday, to coincide with the military parade Donald Trump is throwing on his birthday in the nation’s capital.”
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbot has already ordered state National Guard troops deployed to San Antonio in anticipation of immigration protests this week.
Newsmax wrote on June 11:
“President Donald Trump called protesters in Los Angeles ‘animals’ and ‘a foreign enemy’ in a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday as he defended deploying the military on demonstrators opposed to his immigration enforcement raids and as he vowed to ‘liberate’ the West Coast city… Trump’s intense comments came as he has left open the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, one of the most extreme emergency powers available to the president. It authorizes him to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations…
“The president called Los Angeles ‘a trash heap’ with ‘entire neighborhoods under control’ of criminals…
“Trump said earlier Tuesday that there would be more immigration raids and that any additional protests would be met with even greater force, including those who show up at the parade.”
He also said that Europe should learn from what Trump is doing regarding immigration and should act likewise.
The Mirror wrote on June 9:
“Americans fear civil war is beginning right before their eyes as L.A. protesters and police clash…
“Writing on X, one user said, ‘…sadly LA looks like a scene from the 2024 Civil War movie,’ while another user asked: ‘Is the US now in de facto civil war or is that not yet what they call it?’ Others said they fear L.A. is the ‘beginning’ of a wider civil war across the U.S….”
Time Magazine wrote on June 8:
“… the ACLU condemned Trump’s decision, calling it ‘akin to a declaration of war on all Californians… We intend to file suit and hold this administration accountable and to protect our communities from further attacks.’… Daniel Kanstroom, a professor at Boston College Law School, says that this is an ‘incredibly dangerous’ moment in America… Trump’s tactics, he says, have only worsened this crisis.
“‘When you have agents apparently arbitrarily arresting people, pulling them off the street without showing a warrant, without explaining who they are, without being respectful, then this creates a sense of terror and fear in the community, and that tends to result, sooner or later, in a kind of resistance, which is what we’re seeing develop,’ says Kanstroom.”
Otus wrote on June 12:
“President Donald Trump said Thursday that he may create a carveout to his mass deportation efforts for hospitality and farm workers.
“After facing criticism over immigration raids that picked up people who have lived in the U.S. for years, Trump said the White House is looking at executive action that would exempt employees of some farmers and hotels from the administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement push.”
This is all Trump’s doing and should not have happened in the first place. Also, effective June 12, Trump terminated humanitarian parole for about 450,000 aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Their work authorization was revoked—contributing further to the destruction of America’s economy.
The New Republic wrote on June 11:
“The media has it wrong. Trump is not coming across as fearsome and strong… With President Donald Trump sending more troops into Los Angeles amid protests there, a remarkable image has gone viral on social media. It shows members of the National Guard crowded into a sterile-looking office, sleeping on a hard floor, in evident discomfort, all dressed in full military gear.
“The image doesn’t just reveal awful planning for this dispatching of troops. It also captures the deeper absurdity of this entire operation: These members of the military were supposedly needed to quell an urgent emergency, but as it has turned out, they were simply not needed for this purpose at all…
“The Wall Street Journal… says that in May, top Trump adviser Stephen Miller told Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials that Trump was displeased with lagging deportation numbers. Miller told ICE officials that they are not merely supposed to target gang members and violent criminals, and instead must ‘just go out there and arrest illegal aliens.’ It’s this order that inspired the ICE sweep at a Home Depot in Los Angeles that led to where we are right now, reports the Journal.
“… by definition this entails targeting day laborers—that is, going after people who want to work and whose labor is in demand, meaning it inherently constitutes the opposite of hunting for dangerous criminals. Worse, Trump and Miller are not just neglecting serious criminal migrants to target more noncriminals; to do so, they’re also actively shifting law enforcement resources away from other serious crimes, from drug trafficking to child exploitation…
“And polling data shows that while generalized deportations sometimes poll well, majorities do not support removals of longtime residents, noncriminals, and people with jobs. Voters want a law-based, orderly immigration system, but they don’t harbor Trump-Miller’s deep ideological hostility to the mere presence of undocumented immigrants…”
The New York Post wrote on June 8:
“ABC News’ senior national correspondent Terry Moran [went] on a late-night screed against top White House adviser Stephen Miller along with President Trump on social media — drawing scathing backlash from the Trump administration.
“Moran… blasted Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, as a man ‘richly endowed with the capacity for hatred’… ‘He’s a world-class hater,’ the ABC News reporter added… ‘He eats his hate… Trump is a world-class hater. But his hatred [is] only a means to an end, and that end [is] his own glorification. That’s his spiritual nourishment.’
“ABC News announced Sunday that it was suspending him over concerns about him violating the outlet’s standards on impartiality and objectivity. ‘ABC News stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others. The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards — as a result, Terry Moran has been suspended pending further evaluation,’ a spokesperson told The Post. Moran later deleted his posts, but not before they were screen-shotted and spread across X like wildfire… Moran’s tirade against Miller came as tensions boiled over in Los Angeles… During this time, Miller publicly ripped the riots as an ‘insurrection.’…
“The ABC news correspondent hasn’t been shy about weighing in on some of the politically dicey subjects he covers. Last November, Moran explained that he predicted Trump would win in 2016 and 2024. ‘The way to understand Trump (as I said on ABC Election Night 2016) is to see him not as a Republican or Democrat, not as a conservative or liberal, but as a Nationalist,’ he posted on X last November. ‘And, like many nationalist leaders, he is a man with an authoritarian cast of mind and a personality to match,” he added, noting that he was ‘not endorsing any political point of view.’
“In April, Moran notched a highly coveted interview with Trump for his 100 days in office milestone. The two had sparred over Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s deportation to El Salvador and alleged ties to MS-13. In December, ABC paid $15 million to settle a defamation lawsuit Trump brought against the news network over George Stephanopoulos’ use of the word ‘rape’ to describe the civil sexual abuse judgement against Trump in a case brought by E. Jean Carroll. Trump has denied wrongdoing in that case.”
Subsequently, Disney’s ABC fired Moran on Tuesday. One may ask what was really behind ABC’s actions. The explanation given by ABC is laughable and not believable. It needs to be stated that Miller is perceived by many as a highly controversial figure whose rage has been broadcast even on conservative channels like Fox News.
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on June 5, 2025:
“For years, Jake Tapper, the leading newsreader for CNN, has been very unfair to and very biased against Republicans in general, and to President Trump in particular. Now, in an attempt to restore some of his lost credibility, he has written a new book with Alex Thompson of Axios about the Biden health cover-up. He apparently is embarrassed and/or feels guilty about all he did in a very partisan way to try to keep a very unhealthy Joe Biden in office as president, but I will give him credit for now admitting to some extent how wrong he was. Of course, he is putting most of the blame on the White House staff…
“He said: ‘Alex and I are here to say that conservative media was right and conservative media was correct and that there should be a lot of soul-searching, not just among me, but among the legacy media.’ In an interview with Piers Morgan, Tapper said the cover-up of Biden’s health by the White House, aided by Tapper and most of the national media, was ‘maybe even worse’ than the Watergate scandal…
“Tapper’s book apparently says that Biden’s inner circle ‘couldn’t believe how easily (the media) swallowed campaign lies’… Much of the mainstream media was doing everything it could to protect and promote Biden… In the summer of 2023, the New York Times reported that ‘people who deal with him regularly, including some of his adversaries, say he remains sharp and commanding in private meetings’ and ‘he has at times exerted striking stamina.’
“His two young press secretaries said at different times they were having trouble keeping up with him and that videos shown by Fox News and other conservative media were ‘deep fake.’ Yet, several months before the election, the Biden campaign tried to film a town hall meeting to use on TV ads, but they couldn’t use it because, according to the Tapper book, Biden ‘couldn’t put together coherent thoughts.’ The book also said Hunter Biden was ‘effectively chief of staff.’”
The cover-up was indeed outrageous and constitutes embarrassing testimony for the political agenda of the mass media.
Der Westen wrote on June 5:
“Former ‘Bild’ editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt could have caused the bombshell of the day. Many press representatives from Berlin had already anticipated an unpleasant surprise for Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office. Possibly even a scandal! Just as with the visits of Volodymyr Zelenskyy or South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Would Trump want to expose and humiliate his guest from Germany?
“When Reichelt was suddenly spotted in the White House, speculation began. The controversial head of the far-right portal ‘Nius’ was not traveling to Washington as part of Merz’s press delegation.
“So it was clear that Reichelt was smuggled into the White House by the Trump side. For an appearance to attack Merz in the middle of the US capital in front of the press? That freedom of expression was supposedly restricted in Germany or that the AfD is being suppressed by the state? Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, struck a similar tone months ago at the Munich Security Conference. Vance appeared to be sitting on the sofa, lurking with anticipation.
“But things didn’t go according to plan for Reichelt. His appearance briefly caused a stir online, but he didn’t get a chance to ask Trump or Merz a question… ‘Welt’ journalist Robin Alexander, who was present in the Oval Office himself, reported… : ‘Julian started a question in which the word “freedom” appeared, but was drowned out…’ The journalist was unfortunate enough to be seated in the second row, thus not in Trump’s direct line of sight.”
Handelsblatt wrote on June 5:
“Surprise guest in the White House: ‘Nius’ editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt is the only German journalist who was not part of the Merz delegation present in the Oval Office. A total of 18 people from the Merz delegation, including journalists, were granted access to the Oval Office. Reichelt managed to attend outside of official channels. His presence underscores two developments: the White House is placing increasing emphasis on the influence of right-wing media – and: official channels are becoming less and less relevant for networking and access.”
Merz had been warned before his trip not to fall into the trap, like Zelensky had done, which might be prepared by Trump, especially in regard to the issue of freedom of speech and the press in Germany. Trump asked twice at the end of the press conference whether there weren’t any questions for Merz—was this the set-up? But the other journalists made so much noise, maybe intentionally so, that Reichelt was not heard. And only one asked a question of Merz. The other one asked something of Trump. And then Trump ended the press conference with his good friend Friedrich.
After the meeting, Merz said that the issue regarding the AfD did not come up, not even in his private talks with Trump, because the Trump Administration “must have recognized by now how problematic the AfD is.” He also reiterated that it is Germany’s responsibility, and Germany’s alone, as to how to deal with the AfD. But this issue is not off the table.
TTW wrote on June 9:
“Australia now stands firmly beside Canada, Mexico, Germany, the UK, Spain, and South Korea in a growing movement to cancel trips to the United States. The shift is loud, deliberate, and impossible to ignore. These countries aren’t just reducing travel—they’re choosing easier, safer, more welcoming destinations. And the US once the dream, is now the detour.
“Australia is walking away. Canada is turning inward. Mexico is rerouting. Germany, the UK, Spain, and South Korea are all following suit. The travel tides are changing fast. But why now? Why all at once?
“The truth is hidden in plain sight. It’s in the headlines. It’s in the airports. It’s in the anxious conversations of travelers second-guessing their plans. And now, it’s becoming a global pattern…
“Australia’s love affair with U.S. travel is fading fast. Once a top destination for Aussie tourists, the United States is now facing a major pullback. Flights are being rebooked. Itineraries are being torn up. And travel dollars are being redirected toward countries that feel safer, friendlier, and more predictable… the impact on America’s tourism industry is quickly becoming undeniable.
“The warning signs have been building for months. Across travel forums, group chats, and travel agencies, Aussies are voicing the same concerns. Getting into the U.S. feels like a gamble. The visa process is stressful. Border experiences are unpredictable. And recent policies have created a climate of anxiety and hesitation. Moreover, Australia’s travelers are highly informed. They watch the global news, follow political shifts, and study how tourists are being treated. And what they see coming out of the U.S. in 2025 is turning them away.
“Aggressive airport checks. Talk of tariffs and trade feuds. Headlines filled with cultural tension. It all adds up. The perception is clear: visiting America no longer feels like a holiday—it feels like a risk…
“For the U.S., this trend couldn’t come at a worse time. Just as the industry was inching back toward pre-pandemic levels, international travel is stalling. One market at a time… The decline is not just inconvenient. It’s financially devastating.
“While the U.S. struggles to retain interest, other regions are thriving. Japan, South Korea, Italy, Greece, and Portugal are seeing a surge in Australian tourists… European destinations are capitalizing on America’s decline by offering cultural depth, visa-free access, and streamlined travel infrastructure…
“Campaigns like ‘Visit the USA’ are falling flat in Australia. Instead, travelers are being drawn in by digital influencers, local tour deals in Europe and Asia, and a growing awareness that the U.S. trip they once dreamed of may no longer be worth the cost—or the worry… With Canadians, Mexicans, and now Australians pulling back, the trend is global. It signals something deeper: America’s image as a traveler-friendly nation is being questioned…”
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on June 10:
“… the wild optimism that greeted the inauguration of Trump has turned to something different, a mixture of incredulity from the grassroots combined with outrage and disgust from the legacy media and establishment that fought this revolution at every turn… The new leaders – elected to change course…, began with tremendous bravado and sweeping edicts that seemed promising. Four months later, they are asking for patience while dealing with legacy barriers on all sides from media harassment to court blockages.
“The trouble is that public trust is completely gone. The whole country, traumatized by years of lies [under Biden], has become Missouri: show me.
“First, no one believes that the ‘one big beautiful bill’ is just a first step on the way to future draconian cuts. We’ve seen this too many times, which is why Elon Musk finally broke his silence and denounced the entire ‘massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill’ as ‘a disgusting abomination.’ That has set off a power struggle for the ages.
“Second, in areas of government transparency, there have been some steps but not nearly enough to fulfill the promises. There are still no new Epstein files. The JFK files are a mess and incomplete. We know no more than already public information about the two shooters who tried to kill Trump. There are still many lingering questions about 9-11, the Covid disaster, and so much else. This is not the opening for which the people had hoped.
“Third, let’s talk more at length about the public health area of policy where we’ve seen the most progress. We have a new and excellent Executive Order on science. Tax-funded Covid testing has ended. A contract of $750M for a Bird flu shot has been cancelled. There are new limits on gain-of-function research, and experiments on beagles and other animals are over. Many terrible contracts from NIH have been cancelled while parts of the CDC have been dismantled…
“Above all else, what we really need is the blunt truth about the last five years. We need to know that the people in office, whether elected or appointed, still share the deep outrage that fueled the movement that put them in power. We need to hear frank talk about the harms, the mandates, the suffering, the deceptions, the payoffs, the graft, the abuses, the illegal vanquishing of freedom, science, and human rights.
“It is not enough to proclaim a new Golden Age and be done with it. This pertains to every aspect of public life. Press conferences by the new officeholders, with smiles and promises of better behavior in the future, don’t cut it given the mass loss of trust, rampant cynicism, and grassroots fury. There must be more straight talk, more decisive action that goes to the heart of what happened, and some degree of accountability…”
The Jerusalem Post wrote on June 13:
“Dozens of Israeli aircraft participated in an initial wave of strikes on dozens of military targets and Iranian nuclear sites early on Friday morning. Warning sirens have been set off to get the public ready for potential Iranian counterattacks of ballistic missiles on Israel.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Iran is gearing up to produce tens of thousands of ballistic missiles, which could kill millions of Israelis even without nuclear weapons, but imagine if any of them had nuclear weapons on them. Further, Netanyahu stated Iran may only be a few months away from being able to actually make a nuclear weapon…
“In recent days, Iran developed a plan with Hezbollah, Hamas, and other proxies to destroy the State of Israel, potentially including attempts to attack via all borders, including Egypt and Jordan… Israel has had strong coordination with the US, but Israeli military officials refused to say whether America was pre-updated or fully coordinated into the current attack, coming hours after Washington seemed to suggest it might not be in the loop or approve… ‘Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.”
Deutsche Welle reported on June 11:
“Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk won a parliamentary vote of confidence in his pro-European government on Wednesday, just days after a stinging presidential election defeat… [The] inability to deliver on key reforms — which also includes abortion rights — despite holding a parliamentary majority, has been a dark cloud over Tusk’s government…
“In Poland, the prime minister, chosen by parliament, holds most day-to-day power, while the president, as the head of state, can influence foreign policy and veto legislation… Opposition leaders had seized the moment to signal Tusk’s downfall. Former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro told reporters, ‘The lost presidential election is the end of Donald Tusk. His fate is already sealed.’”
Maybe not…
DPA wrote on June 6:
“The head of the organization that represents Germany’s armed forces personnel has called for the reintroduction of compulsory military service. André Wüstner, from the Bundeswehr Association, said on Friday that Germany’s new coalition government should start laying the groundwork now for the possible reintroduction of conscription. In an interview with the Deutschlandfunk radio station, Wüstner also called for voluntary military service to be made more attractive in order to achieve increased NATO targets.
“He expressed doubts that it would be possible to recruit up to 60,000 additional men and women for active duty on a voluntary basis alone. He added that he could almost predict that a review would be necessary in the middle of the legislative period and that a switch to some form of compulsory military service would then be necessary… In view of the threats Germany faces, speed is needed to increase the number of active soldiers from 181,000 to 260,000, he argued.
“… Defence Minister Boris Pistorius had recently made it clear on several occasions that the voluntary nature of military service agreed by the coalition only applies if the demand can be met in this way…
“On Thursday, NATO defence ministers in Brussels agreed on the largest rearmament programme since the Cold War in response to the threat posed by Russia.”
Compulsory Military Service is coming, even though many Germans don’t (want to) believe it.
Oema wrote on June 5:
“Germany in 2025 is changing. Under the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the country is undergoing the most radical reorientation of its military policy since the end of World War II. Merz’s goal is clear: to turn the Bundeswehr into ‘the strongest conventional military force in Europe.’ This statement, as noted in an article by The Economist, is not merely symbolic. It reflects Berlin’s new self-confidence and its intention to assume a leadership role in European security at a time when Russia is once again threatening the continent and the United States is no longer seen as a guaranteed defender of European defense.
“The most striking evidence of this shift was the military ceremony on May 22 in Vilnius. For the first time since 1945, German armored units were permanently stationed abroad, forming the ‘Lithuania’ Brigade as part of Berlin’s NATO commitment. The symbolic weight of this move is immense. For decades, German politicians avoided such actions, mindful of World War II memories and a deeply ingrained societal stance on military restraint. But today, the facts are changing.
“Berlin’s pivot comes with significant investments. Merz and the Defense Ministry have pledged to dramatically increase the defense budget in order to renew the arsenal, boost readiness, and fill personnel gaps. At the same time, the industrial sector is being strengthened: new orders for Leopard tanks, missile systems, and electronic defense systems are activating German defense manufacturers. At the core of this strategy lies the desire for strategic autonomy—not only for Germany, but for all of Europe.
“However, transforming the Bundeswehr is no easy task. Military infrastructure remains outdated, staffing shortages are widespread, and public support is not a given. German society remains divided. Some welcome Merz’s decisiveness and believe the country must shoulder greater responsibility. Others fear that expanding the military’s role could stir tensions, especially with the historical burden of the past still fresh.
“What’s clear is that Germany is not merely aiming for defensive sufficiency. It seeks a strategic role, power, and influence within Europe’s security architecture. And if Merz’s plan succeeds, Berlin will not only be able to defend itself but also lead Europe both politically and militarily. Germany’s new military might is no longer a ghost of the past—it’s the foundation of a different geopolitical reality unfolding before our eyes.”
Indeed it is.
Newsweek wrote on June 9:
“The Ukraine war won’t end until NATO withdraws troops from the Baltics, a top Russian official has warned… [Sergei] Ryabkov’s comments mark a shift in the Kremlin’s position. He suggested that the conflict’s roots lie not only in Ukraine itself but in NATO’s eastward expansion… NATO maintains a strong military presence in the Baltic States, with multinational battle groups and brigades stationed in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia…
“The Kremlin had said Ukraine must abandon its ambitions to join NATO as a condition for ending the war, but Ryabkov appeared to signal to Tass that the alliance must withdraw completely from the Baltics as well… Moscow and Kyiv will continue to launch strikes on each other’s territory, with the war in Ukraine showing few signs of a peace deal in the near future.”
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 5:
“The vast majority — 84% — of those [Germans] surveyed thought that Russia could not be relied upon, and 73% said the same of the US. Israel was also classified as no longer reliable by a clear majority. Only 16% of respondents still regarded Israel as a partner that Germany can rely on — an 11% drop compared with October 2024… The Israeli course of action in Gaza has gone too far, according to 63% of respondents, while 18% thought it was appropriate.
“Seventy-seven percent of respondents thought it was right that Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Israel for its current military conduct in Gaza. Only one in eight thought Germany should unconditionally support Israel in the Gaza conflict… Almost exactly as many respondents blame Israel for the situation faced by Palestinian civilians in Gaza as blame Hamas… 43% supported restricting weapons exports to Israel, and a further 30% wanted a complete stop…
“Forty percent of those surveyed were satisfied with the [German] coalition’s first few weeks in office… Friedrich Merz of the CDU has gained considerable popularity since taking office as Germany’s chancellor. Of those surveyed, 39% were satisfied with his work, up 14% since April. Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil of the SPD, also has a 39% approval rating. The only high-profile German politician who most citizens are satisfied with remains Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD).
How easily gullible Germans can become deceived and manipulated…At the same time, most Russians consider Germany as their greatest enemy, followed by the United Kingdom and Ukraine. They consider Belarus, China, India and North Korea as their greatest friends. These “friendly” countries, together with Russia, would all be part of the prophesied Kings of the East.
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.
Inasmuch as none of the political and religious leaders of our nations will repent of their sins and stand in the gap to tell the people to repent of their sins and turn to the true God, calamity will follow. What a contrast to the king of Nineveh who, responding to Jonah’s warning, repented of his evil deeds and told the people to do likewise.
Notice God’s pronouncement in Isaiah 63:4-5:
“For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold; Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; And My own fury, it sustained Me.”
God’s Church must be different. A warning must be given, and God expects and requires of His Church to do so. And so, God demands of His Church to plead the cause of the needy and to show the leaders of our nations and the people following our leaders their sins with the hope that they will repent and turn. Isaiah 58:1 says:
“Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.”
He continues to list some of those sins—brutal and violent conduct; disregard of the poor and needy; as well as Sabbath-breaking. This warning message of impending disaster, because of the sins of the leaders and the people, is to be proclaimed by God’s Church, like the blowing of a loud and mighty trumpet.
We read in Ezekiel 33:2-7:
“Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.”
Today, the task of the watchman has been given to God’s Church, and we had better fulfill God’s command to warn the leaders and the people of coming disaster, unless they repent. This warning is being proclaimed today for everyone who is willing to see, hear and read. Again, God’s commission to His Church is stated in Ezekiel 3:17-19:
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”
Jeremiah repeats this commission to God’s Church, but also points out that most will not listen. We read in Jeremiah 6:17-19:
“Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ Therefore hear, you nations, And know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people– The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words, Nor My law, but rejected it.”
Also notice Isaiah 48:6, charging His Church with declaring what God reveals to it: “You have heard; See all this. And will you not declare it? I have made you hear new things from this time, Even hidden things, and you did not know them.” Also note verse 20: “Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing, Declare, proclaim this, Utter it to the end of the earth…”
Yes, God’s people are commissioned to leave the evil systems of this world, and to admonish others to do likewise. God’s people are not supposed to be part of the world. But they are in this world, shining as lights among an evil and adulterous generation.
When God told Jeremiah that He had ordained him a prophet to the nations, He commanded: “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them. For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land– Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land. They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,’ says the LORD, ‘to deliver you’” (Jeremiah 1:17-19).
Jeremiah spoke first to the people, but they did not listen. So he concluded: “Therefore I said, ‘Surely these are poor. They are foolish; For they do not know the way of the LORD, The judgment of their God. I will go to the great men and speak to them, For they have known the way of the LORD, The judgment of their God.’ But these have altogether broken the yoke And burst the bonds” (Jeremiah 5:4-5).
A devastating example of the rebellion of the leaders and the people of our nations can be found in the end-time prophecy in Psalm 2:1-12. We read:
“Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD [God the Father] and against His Anointed [Jesus Christ; in Hebrew: Messiah], saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens [the Father] shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King [Jesus Christ] On My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The LORD [the Father] has said to Me [Jesus Christ], ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son [Jesus Christ], lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”
We see how the leaders and nations of this world are in total defiance of God—the Father and the Son—and none of that will change until Christ returns to this earth to establish the Kingdom and government of God, thereby replacing all human kings and rulers. They had received the warning and admonition from God, but as it is prophesied, they chose to ignore them.
Still, God told Jeremiah—and He tells us today—to continue warning the rulers and the people of terrible disaster which would strike them (Jeremiah 5:20-21: “Declare this in the house of Jacob And proclaim it in Judah, saying, ‘Hear this now, O foolish people, Without understanding, Who have eyes and see not, And who have ears and hear not…’”).
The rejection from the leaders and the people did not stop Jeremiah or the other prophets to continue proclaiming God’s warning.
The prophets of old were charged to tell the leaders with whatever means available to them that they were doing wrong. John the Baptist did the same later when he told Herod that he was living in adultery. In Revelation 10:11, John is given a little book with the admonition, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” This verse can also be understood that he had to proclaim a warning message before, concerning and against many peoples, nations, tongues and kings. Inasmuch as this is an end-time prophecy, this commission is given to God’s end-time Church.
This includes, preaching against fighting in war. We read in Isaiah 28:6 that God gives “strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.” Also note Isaiah 54:15: “… they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.” The Good News Translation says: “Whoever attacks you, does it without my consent; whoever fights against you will fall.” This is why Christ says that we will perish by the sword if we take the sword to fight (Matthew 26:52; also note Revelation 13:10).
It also includes not voting in elections for our leaders. This should be self-evident when considering how God views them, and we are admonished to abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Note also Hosea 8:4: “They set up kings, but not by Me; They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them…”
This end-time commission to warn the leaders and the people has been given to God’s Church today. But of course, it is prophesied that most will not listen, as they refused to listen to the prophets of old in ancient times. In fact, we read in Micah 2:11: “If a man should walk in a false spirit And speak a lie, saying, ‘I will prophesy to you of wine and drink,’ Even he would be the prattler of this people.” In other words, he would be the kind of prophet whom the people would like to have and listen to.
Also note God’s words in Ezekiel 33:30-33:
“As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.’ So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. And when this comes to pass—surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
Still, this must not discourage or prevent us from proclaiming what we are called to do, thereby following God’s direct commission to the Church—realizing that this is part of the Work of God which God has given us to carry out.
Lead Writer: Norbert Link
compiled by Dave Harris
“Why Should YOU Be Concerned? Conscription in Germany!” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
While America tears itself apart internally, an unnoticed external enemy is emerging that will ultimately contribute to America’s downfall and destruction. We speak of Europe under German leadership. The debate in Germany about the return of conscription is only one, albeit necessary, piece of the bigger puzzle. Germany’s true ambitions are not seen or recognized by most observers.
“Warum SIE besorgt sein sollten—Wehrpflicht in Deutschland!” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.
“Krankheit und Heilung—Was uns die Bibel sagt!” the German translation of our English booklet, “Sickness and Health—What the Bible Tells Us!” has been sent to graphic designer Shelly Bruno in preparation for printing.
“Das Murren des Volkes Gottes—Früher und Heute,” last Sabbath’s first split German sermon presented by Andreas Rätz, is now posted. Title in English: “The Murmuring of God’s People—Then and Now.”
“Die Tiefe von Gottes Wort,” last Sabbath’s second split German sermon presented by Daniel Blasinger, is now posted. Title in English: “The Depth of God’s Word.”
“Trump Meets Merz—What Happened Behind the Scenes? Comments on News and Prophecy, June 7, 2025,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
Was it planned to embarrass and humiliate German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his visit to the Oval Office? If so, why did it fail? And why did journalists during the press conference refuse to ask Merz important questions regarding Germany’s clear attack on freedom of speech and the press?
“Don’t Be Deceived,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Michael Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
Is it ok to lie at any time for any reason, whether considered “innocent” or serious? Are we strong enough to stand up for the truth in any given situation where many would take the “easy way” out by lying about it? How can we avoid being deceived and making sure that we don’t mislead others?
This Update is an official publication by the ministry of the Church of the Eternal God in the United States of America; the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada; and the Global Church of God in the United Kingdom.
Editorial Team: Norbert Link, Dave Harris, Rene Messier, Brian Gale, Johanna Link, Eric Rank, Michael Link, Anna Link, Kalon Mitchell, Manuela Mitchell, Dawn Thompson
Technical Team: Eric Rank, Shana Rank
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On June 7 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, June 7, 2025,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “Don’t Be Deceived.”
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Israel Today wrote on May 28:
“European leaders who have recently criticized Israel over its war against Hamas in Gaza have succumbed to political pressure fueled by a nefarious international media campaign against the Jewish state, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said on Tuesday. The unequivocal remarks by Israel’s second-highest diplomat come amid some of the harshest criticism leveled against Israel by British, German, French and Canadia leaders since the war began nearly 20 months ago, following the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
“‘What we are seeing is the capitulation of several European leaders to a very loud political campaign in countries with a massive immigrant influx from many Muslim countries, together with an immense propaganda campaign waged against Israel on international TV networks,’ Haskel told JNS ahead of a series of meetings in Europe this week. ‘The world loves dead Jews, and one day after they turn their backs on us,’ she said, referring to the day after the Oct. 7 massacre…
“Haskel singled out the BBC, which she accused of a long-standing bias against Israel… ‘We are seeing the persecution and racism against Jews around the globe in ways we have never seen before since the Holocaust,’ Haskel said. ‘It always starts with the Jews, and then it comes for the rest of humanity.’”
France 24/AFP wrote on May 30:
“The United Nations condemned Friday a [Palestinian] group of ‘armed individuals’ for raiding warehouses in the Palestinian territory of Gaza and looting large amounts of medical supplies. The group ‘stormed the warehouses at a field hospital in Deir al-Balah, looting large quantities of medical equipment, supplies, medicines, nutritional supplements that was intended for malnourished children,’ said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The stolen aid had been brought into war-ravaged Gaza just a day earlier, he said.”
Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Why This Hatred for Israel and the Jews?”
The Telegraph wrote on June 3:
“The White House has attacked the BBC’s coverage of the Gaza conflict, accusing the broadcaster of taking Hamas’s word as ‘total truth’… Donald Trump’s press secretary… accused the BBC of having to repeatedly correct its reporting from the territory about aid distribution… The BBC’s coverage of the conflict has been repeatedly accused of bias against Israel, but the White House’s comments mark an extraordinary escalation in criticism of the broadcaster…
“Ms Leavitt’s attack is the latest criticism of the BBC’s coverage of the conflict. The broadcaster was forced to pull a documentary about Gaza and apologise for ‘serious flaws’ in its making after it was revealed that the narrator was the son of a Hamas government minister…
“Last month, the BBC’s Today programme prominently reported a claim by Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, that 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within 48 hours. The corporation later issued a correction, when it emerged the figure was an estimate for the number of children at risk of ‘severe malnutrition’ by March next year. However, the claim had by then been widely reported as fact and was cited by nine Members of Parliament in the Commons…”
BBC’s latest scandalous report claimed that Israel had fired indiscriminately on Palestinian citizens—a claim which is either an outright lie or which was instigated by the terror organization Hamas to produce “martyrs.” But it’s not only BBC, of course, which is accused of reporting falsely about the crisis in Gaza. Note the next article.
Breitbart wrote on June 3:
“CNN persisted Tuesday in publishing fake news pushed by Hamas, claiming that ‘dozens’ of Palestinians had been killed near an American-run aid site in Gaza, despite Israeli denials and a history of Hamas lies.
“Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told journalists: ‘The IDF did not fire at civilians in, or near, humanitarian aid distribution zones.’ The story came a day after U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee demanded that CNN and other outlets retract false reporting of dozens of Palestinians being killed at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site Sunday.
“CNN reported its story under the headline, ‘Dozens of Palestinians killed near Gaza aid distribution point, health officials say, in third day of shooting.’ It cited the Gaza ‘health ministry’ — without noting that the ‘ministry’ is controlled entirely by Hamas and has a long record of false and sensational claims — and reported that ‘Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians as they made their way to the distribution site in Tel al-Sultan in Rafah.’
“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that its forces had fired, half a kilometer away from the aid site, at a few people who had deviated from the route and had ignored warning shots. The IDF added: ‘IDF troops are not preventing the arrival of Gazan civilians to the humanitarian aid distribution sites. The warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometer away from the humanitarian aid distribution site toward several suspects who advanced toward the troops in such a way that posed a threat to them.’
“The CNN story cited only part of the IDF statement, leaving out the denial of the main claim. CNN also left out the GHF’s denials, and its report that aid had been delivered to civilians without incident….
“The Trump administration is backing GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) as an alternative to aid distribution by the United Nations, which has been hijacked by Hamas, which steals aid and sells it to Palestinians, profiting while controlling them.”
Israel 365 News wrote on May 30:
“The first Caucus for Jewish Freedom on the Temple Mount was held Thursday morning in the Knesset in English… For the first time, Jewish organizations participated in this kind of meeting, alongside Christians who want to promote sovereignty on the Temple Mount and the building of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Tom Nisani, CEO of ‘Beyadenu Returning to the Temple Mount’, said: ‘… I get inquiries from all over the world that ask, “Why is there no Temple yet?”’…
“According to Michael Oren… ‘Hamas calls this war the al-Aqsa flood. For Hamas, the objective of their October 7 attack was unambiguous: pushing the Jews out “from the river to the sea”, but specifically from the very site that gives us our legitimacy here. Their explicit goal was to “liberate Al Aqsa” from the “infidel” Jews… In recent months, an anecdote spread about an IDF soldier returning from Gaza. When his relieved mother asked what he wanted to do first, he said he needed to buy a picture of the Beit Hamikdash (Temple) for his bedroom. Surprised, she asked if he wouldn’t prefer a shower or his favorite food. The soldier responded, “Eema, you don’t understand. In Gaza, every home, government office, and school displays a picture of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”’…
“MK Dan Illouz also spoke, saying: ‘… The Temple Mount is where the Temples stood and where Jews pray every morning. Today, Jews are discriminated against on the Temple Mount, and that needs to change…’
“John Enerson, Cry for Zion [said]: ‘As a Christian, I want to say that the whole world is watching you. We support your sovereignty on the Temple Mount. If you want it, it is not a fairy tale! We are waiting for the Temple Mount to fulfill its destiny to be a house of prayer for all nations.’…
“MK Amit Halevi said, ‘… We must demand that the presence of God and the Temple be restored to the Temple Mount. We need to demand from the American Congress the rights of the Jews on the Temple Mount.’ MK Limor Son Har-Melech [said]: ‘… Things have changed for the better on the Temple Mount, but there are still problems and obstacles until the building of the Temple.’…
A third temple will be built in Jerusalem prior to Christ’s return.
The Jerusalem Post wrote on May 29:
“French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot delivered a speech on Wednesday [at the UN Security Council], reiterating the country’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urging ‘the implementation of a two-state solution.’ Barrot also announced that France will co-host, alongside Saudi Arabia, a United Nations conference in June regarding this topic.
“The American embassy argued in response that the implementation of a two-state solution would constitute a ‘reward for Hamas’ shocking attack on Israel,’ in reference to the May 21st Washington shooting attack at the Jewish Museum in which [anti-Semite] Elias Rodriguez killed two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim… ‘The United States stands with Israel in unequivocally rejecting any effort to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state or impose conditions on Israel,’ the embassy stated.”
“In response to the French ministry, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said that any ‘recognition of a Palestinian state is a reward for Hamas for the atrocities of October 7, and a resounding message to terrorist organizations around the world to murder, burn, rape and kidnap – this is the way.’”
Israel Today wrote on June 1:
“A visit to Ramallah by the Saudi, Emirati, Qatari, Egyptian, Jordanian and Turkish foreign ministers… won’t take place. An Israeli official told reporters that the Jewish state blocked the visit, which would have been the highest-level visit by a Saudi diplomat to Judea and Samaria since the 1967 Six-Day War… ‘The Palestinian Authority, which to this day refuses to condemn the Oct. 7 massacre, intended to host in Ramallah a provocative meeting of foreign ministers from Arab countries to discuss the establishment of a Palestinian state,’ the Israeli official said. ‘Such a state would undoubtedly become a terrorist state in the heart of the land of Israel,’ the official said. ‘Israel will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security.’
“The Jordanian foreign ministry stated in Arabic on Saturday that the decision is ‘a blatant violation of Israel’s obligations as the occupying power.’ The ministry stated on behalf of the delegation that it had ‘decided to postpone the visit to Ramallah in light of Israel’s obstruction of its mission by refusing the delegation entry through the airspace of the occupied West Bank, which is controlled by Israel.’”
The nations listed above are interesting in light of Psalm 83.
The Sun wrote on June 1:
“PM Netanyahu has been making preparations behind the scenes to swiftly blitz Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities as he deems the country ‘enemy number one’. Trump, however, has firmly insisted Israel take no action that could jeopardise his administration’s efforts to thrash out a deal with Iran.
“It culminated in a heated phone call this week between the leaders as they continue to clash on how to curb Tehran’s nuke programme, sources said.”
It was reported that even though Netanyahu would like to have America’s help, he will also strike Iran alone, if he feels that this is necessary. It was also reported that Iran is now in a position to produce 10 nuclear bombs.
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 29:
“Efforts to bring peace to Ukraine just received a stifling blow. German Chancellor Fredrich Merz, with less than a month in office, has stepped forward to set back the US sponsored peace initiative… He apparently favors supplying German Taurus missiles to Ukraine… Actually, the United States, Great Britain, and France have already supplied long-range missiles to Ukraine… But the missiles had insufficient range to threaten Moscow…
“But the German Taurus missiles have sufficient range to hit smack dab in the middle of the Kremlin, the traditional embodiment of Russia’s center of power…
“Before his election, Merz actually promoted a Ukraine peace plan of his own. It involved the Taurus missiles. In an interview with Stern he said, ‘If elected, I will issue an ultimatum to Putin to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. If he does not agree, I will supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles and give permission to strike on Russian territory.’..
“Germany’s Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil… gave his own statement to the press saying plainly, ‘I would like to say that there is no new agreement that goes beyond what the previous government has done.’..
“RT.com reported, ‘Russia would not rule out a direct strike on Berlin if German personnel help Ukraine target Moscow with German-supplied Taurus missiles.’”
The Independent wrote on May 30:
“The Trump administration’s sympathy for Moscow’s anti-Nato demands has been likened to Nazi appeasement as parts of the alliance’s eastern bloc warn that the US is priming non-members for invasion. Top officials from four Eastern European countries have hit out after Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, appeared to support Vladimir Putin’s reported demand to have in writing that Nato will not accept any new members from the region.
“In an interview with US network ABC News, Mr Kellogg described Putin’s latest position as a ‘fair’ one that was likely to include not just Ukraine but also Georgia and Moldova… ‘It looks like Munich, when great powers decide the fate of small ones,’ [a senior Lithuanian] official said, referencing the 1938 agreement between Adolf Hitler, the UK, France and Italy that ultimately led to Nazi Germany invading Czechoslovakia…
“Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and six years later began its attempted takeover of Ukraine, initially by illegally annexing Crimea. Moscow has also stationed more than a thousand troops in the Moldovan region of Transnistria, sparking fears that Moldova could be the next target for the Kremlin. Olga Rosca, foreign policy adviser to the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, said Russia is already ‘violating our neutrality’…
“Estonian president Alar Karis said the country’s position on Nato expansion was clear: ‘Every country has the right to choose its own security arrangements…’ Jan Lipavsky, foreign minister for the Czech Republic, also hit back at Mr Kellogg’s comments late last night…
“European officials have long cautioned that the Russian suggestion that Nato is expanding aggressively eastward is propaganda aimed at justifying its imperialistic ambitions. Putin’s attacks on Georgia and Ukraine in 2008 and 2014 came well before either country had serious chances of joining Nato, and the Russian leader’s pre-invasion speech in February 2022 made little mention of Kyiv’s Nato membership hopes…”
The New York Post wrote on June 2:
“Ukrainian forces stunned the Russian military Sunday after wiping out and damaging dozens of nuclear bombers and other aircraft with ambitious and complicated attacks that struck President Vladimir Putin’s air bases deep inside the country, Kyiv says. Even pro-Moscow military bloggers are calling the strike — which used drones hidden in trucks — ‘the Russian Pearl Harbor.’…
“The mission… hit 41 Russian heavy bombers and other warplanes at four separate airfields thousands of miles from Ukraine. The cost of the destroyed aircraft, most of which Russia no longer even manufactures, is at least $7 billion, Kyiv said. The doomsday bombers are a critical part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent — originally designed to obliterate the US and Europe with atomic weapons in the event of all-out war.
“Ukraine said the aircraft had been converted and were being used to pummel their country with cruise missiles. Officials claimed they had destroyed more than one-third of Russia’s strategic bombers in the strike…
“Ukraine said the attack was launched in response to Russia carrying out one of its largest drone attacks since the start of the war last week, with 472 drones and seven ballistic and cruise missiles involved… In separate attacks, the collapse of two bridges near the Ukrainian border, killing at least seven people, has been blamed by Russian investigators on sabotage.”
The New York Post wrote on June 4:
“President Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, saying it was ‘not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace’ between Russia and Ukraine… ‘President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.’”
That was SO predictable. And so, the war will go on…
BBC wrote on June 1:
“Members of the Western alliance Nato need to prepare for a possible attack from Russia within the next four years, according to Germany’s chief of defence.
“General Carsten Breuer told the BBC that Russia was producing hundreds of tanks a year, many of which could be used for an attack on Nato Baltic state members by 2029 or even earlier… Russia also produced four million rounds of 152mm artillery munition in 2024, and not all of it was going to Ukraine either, added Gen Breuer.”
The Sun wrote on May 31:
“China is ‘credibly preparing’ for a military invasion of Taiwan and the attack is ‘real and [could be] imminent’, the US Defence Secretary [Pete Hegseth] has warned….
“His warning comes after China deployed two hulking H-6 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons on a strategic island in the South China Sea… China claims almost the entire disputed waterway in the South China Sea – through which more than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes.
“Fears are that the weakening of Western alliances and the unpredictability of US foreign policy under Donald Trump could create the perfect atmosphere for Beijing to trigger an invasion.”
Breaking Defense wrote on May 29:
“As the US prepares African nations to rely less on Washington’s help, China is attempting to ‘replicate every type of thing’ the US military does to build and maintain relationships on the continent, according to the top US military official [Michael E. Langley]…
“Langely was speaking from Nairobi, Kenya, as the US wrapped up its participation in the African Chiefs of Defense Conference, attended by representatives from more than 30 African nations. There, amid drastic US cuts to civilian aid programs, Langley said he had a message for the leaders of African militaries: America does not want to do more for Africa, but to ‘help Africa do more for itself.’’
While the USA is retreating, China is stepping in.
The Huffington Post wrote on May 30:
“Before he even took office the first time in 2017, Trump was already boasting that he would force Boeing — which had been on pace to deliver two new, purpose-built 747s by the end of that term — to slash its contract price… Among the features dropped from the required specifications list was in-flight refueling, thereby reducing the amount of time a commander-in-chief can remain aloft to only about 15 hours, rather than a week or more.
“If a plane carrying the president cannot refuel in midair, that severely limits how and where a president can travel and be kept out of harm’s way in the event of a major attack on the United States…
“What’s more, it’s unclear whether Trump’s interference in the program will have saved taxpayers a dime…. And none of that includes the new burden taxpayers must now bear to transform Qatar’s gift to Trump… Modifying the plane could take many months or even years, meaning… hundreds of millions of dollars or more will be spent…”
The U.S. Sun added on May 30:
“Donald Trump’s luxury ‘sky Palace’ gifted to him by Qatar will cost a few billion dollars, says the President of Emirates airline. The US government now faces a ‘Herculean task’ to transform the huge Boeing 747-8 into a new Air Force One fit for a president, warns Sir Tim Clark… Aviation specialist Jeff Wise also told The Sun that he expects the Air Force One replacement to take years and need billions of dollars pumped into the project to make the jet viable…
“Trump’s Air Force One jets currently in use come with dozens of specialised security features. These include armoured glass and plating, on board flares to confuse enemy missiles, mirror-ball defences and even an electric jamming system.
“Another unique yet needed element is an electromagnetic shield for nuclear explosions. This has to be on a presidential plane as the leader of Washington can actually launch a nuke from the aircraft.
“But the new Qatari jet lacks most of these security features.”
The New York Post wrote on June 3:
“Tech mogul Elon Musk went on a tirade Tuesday against President Trump’s marquee One Big Beautiful Bill Act days after leaving the administration — ripping the legislation as an ‘abomination’ and condemning lawmakers who supported it. ‘I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,’ the Tesla and SpaceX CEO wrote on his X platform. ‘This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.’
“The 53-year-old added in subsequent posts that the bill ‘will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America [sic] citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.’ In a third post, Musk groused that ‘Congress is making America bankrupt.’ ‘In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people [apparently suggesting Republican politicians should be kicked out of Congress at the midterms],’ he later fumed…
“Multiple estimates have found that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will increase the federal deficit by between $3 trillion and $4 trillion over a 10-year period…
“The billionaire’s diatribe against the measure comes amid delicate negotiations among Republican lawmakers. The mammoth bill cleared the House last month but still needs to go through the Senate and then the House again before it can get to Trump’s desk. Multiple lawmakers have complained that they’ve since discovered provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of which they weren’t aware. [So, they did not even read the bill before signing it!]
“Far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) flagged a provision in the bill that curtails state rights to regulate artificial intelligence over the next 10 years. She said Tuesday that she would have voted against the bill if she had known it was in there. Last week, Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) admitted during a town hall that he wasn’t privy to a provision in the megabill that restrains district judges’ ability to hold people in contempt… The measure spans 1,038 pages, and was quickly rammed through the House following marathon markup sessions by multiple House committees… [This is SO shameful indeed.]
“Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), one of two GOP ‘nay’ votes in the House alongside Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), praised Musk’s screed, saying on X that ‘he’s right.’ The world’s richest man holds significant sway over fiscal hawks in both chambers of Congress. Last month, he publicly lamented that congressional Republicans neglected to codify the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts he helped shepherd. Almost immediately after, a chorus of GOP lawmakers in Congress began demanding that leadership do so. In December of last year, Musk helped torpedo a government funding agreement to avert a government shutdown. That prompted GOP leadership to back off and put forward a significantly watered-down spending patch to keep the government’s lights on…”
Breitbart added on June 4: “Trump has also made clear that he wants the bill on his desk by the Fourth of July.”
Musk also wrote in another post: “This immense level of overspending will drive America into debt slavery!”
It was also reported that two Republican senators, Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.), signaled their agreement with Musk, who in turn shared posts from Republicans in Congress who publicly aligned with him. Behind the scenes, Trump reportedly is livid, but until June 5, he had not come out publicly against Musk who was the biggest donor in the 2024 political cycle, donating $288 million to help elect Trump and other Republican candidates.
The Sun wrote on June 5:
“The feud began when Trump addressed Musk’s criticism of the president’s ‘big beautiful bill’ in the Oval Office. But it dramatically escalated when the Tesla mogul called for the president’s impeachment [and replacement with J.D. Vance] and brought up Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein…. Trump later threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts by saying it would save a lot of money…
“Musk responded to Trump’s threats with a threat of his own. ‘In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, Space X will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,’ he said. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was the one that brought stranded astronauts back safe to Earth after 268 days in March.”
Daily Mail wrote on May 30:
“JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has sounded the alarm about the ‘enemy within’ America…
“Dimon claims that the United States is suffering from a worrying government ‘mismanagement’ issue…. Dimon, the boss of America’s biggest bank, cautioned that the ‘mismanagement’ that occurs at all levels of government could be the biggest catalyst for the nation’s economic demise. ‘The amount of mismanagement is extraordinary – by state, by city, for pensions, and that stuff is going to kill us,’ the billionaire banker [said]…
“Dimon sounded the alarm on a ‘crack’ appearing in the bond market as a result of the wildly soaring national debt – which Trump is set to compound with the $3 trillion Big Beautiful Bill awaiting Senate approval. A ‘crack’ in the bond market occurs when investors lose confidence in the government’s ability to service its debt. Bonds are sold, yields go higher and the cost of borrowing increases for all Americans, including the government itself.
“’You are going to see a crack in the bond market… I’m telling you it’s going to happen, and you’re going to panic’…. Dimon clarified that a crack in the market hasn’t happened yet, but is confident it will occur. ..
“His remarks… come just days after he delivered a sobering assessment of the US economy and warned the true fallout from Trump’s sweeping tariff policy has yet to be felt… Dimon said behind the scenes of a soaring stock market lies a deep and under-appreciated risk… Dimon pulled no punches as he described Trump’s tariff strategy as ‘pretty extreme,’ even in its scaled-back form following an April 2 announcement that placed most tariffs on a temporary 90-day pause…”
America’s downfall, due to “enemies from within” and “from without,” is inevitable.
ABC News reported on May 30:
“President Donald Trump on Friday touted a ‘blockbuster agreement’ between U.S. Steel and Japanese company Nippon Steel… Trump discussed the ‘partnership’ between the two companies during a rally at the Irvin Works plant in Allegheny County on Friday evening… During the event, Trump also announced his plan to double a current 25% tariff on [all] steel imports to 50%…
“Trump told the crowd Nippon would invest a total of $14 billion as part of the deal… Trump emphasized that the U.S. Steel headquarters would stay in Pittsburgh…
“U.S. Steel would still be ‘controlled by the USA,’ Trump said, adding, ‘Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done the deal.’ But he did not explicitly say how the ownership of the company would be structured. Despite hailing the agreement during the rally, Trump later told reporters that he hasn’t seen the final [deal] yet…
“During the 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to block the Japanese steelmaker from purchasing U.S. Steel. As president-elect, he repeated that vow. ‘I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan,’ Trump wrote in a post… The Biden administration in January blocked the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel over national security concerns. The White House said at the time it was important to keep one of the largest steel producers in the nation an American-owned company…
“Nippon was seeking 100% ownership of U.S. Steel in talks with Trump…”
The New York Post wrote on May 29:
“President Trump on Thursday rebuked the trio of judges [nominated by Reagan, Obama and Trump] who overturned his sweeping tariff agenda the day before – calling out ‘backroom hustlers’ and slamming the Court of International Trade’s ruling as ‘horrific’ and a threat to ‘Presidential Power.’… A federal appeals court stayed the trade court’s order on Thursday as the White House appeals the initial ruling…
“The horrific decision stated that I would have to get the approval of Congress for these Tariffs,’ he fumed. ‘In other words, hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly. If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy Presidential Power — The Presidency would never be the same!’…
“Trump claimed the trade court’s ruling ‘is being hailed all over the World by every Country, other than the United States of America.’”
In an apparent response to the ruling, Trump posted a cryptic meme on Wednesday night declaring that he is “on a mission from God.”
NPR wrote on May 30:
“The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Trump administration to temporarily pause a humanitarian program that has allowed nearly half a million people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to enter the U.S. and remain here legally for two years. The move to grant a stay in the case means that the Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who were granted temporary parole under the program known as CHNV would lose their temporary legal status to be in the U.S. — and could potentially be deported while the case plays out in the lower courts…
“The court did not give a reason in its brief order. But in a lengthy dissent from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor joining, Jackson wrote that the court ‘has plainly botched this assessment today’ in causing irreparable harm for everyone admitted under the program… The program… has allowed individuals from the four countries to enter the U.S. temporarily for humanitarian reasons, usually because conditions in their home country pose a threat to their safety…
“The federal law authorizing such humanitarian ‘parole’ dates back to the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. It was first used to provide temporary entry for some 30,000 Hungarians fleeing their country after a failed attempt at overturning Soviet rule and a crackdown that followed. In the decades since then, every administration, including the first Trump administration, has used the parole program to meet some emergency immigration need, allowing individuals who have been screened and approved to enter the U.S. if they have a U.S. sponsor willing to provide financial and other support. Individuals granted such temporary status can, once here, apply for asylum or some other more permanent status.
“The Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela parole program, known as the CHNV program, is similar to programs created in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine when some 200,000 people were granted temporary parole, and the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, when more than 76,000 Afghanis fled, many of them people who worked to assist U.S. forces there. So far, the Trump administration has not tried to end the Ukraine programs, but it has terminated the Afghan program, effective July 14.
“President Trump, however, on the day he took office signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to end ‘all categorical parole programs.’ In March, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem formally announced the termination of the CHNV parole process, declaring that it was being terminated immediately, and that the cessation would apply to all people currently enrolled in the program. It was the first en masse termination of such a program on record. Noem’s order said that the interests of the parolees, and their reliance on the government’s promise of protection for two years, were outweighed by the government’s ‘strong interest’ in deporting them through expedited removal, rather than normal removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“A group of individuals whose temporary protection had been guaranteed for two years, and their sponsors, challenged Noem’s order in court, and a federal district court judge in Massachusetts ruled in their favor. Judge Indira Talwani said that the secretary had erred in seeking to expedite removal of individuals who still had time left on their promised two-year protection in the U.S. The judge also said that the secretary’s en masse ending of the two-year term violated the statutory requirement that parole be determined only on a case-by-case basis…”
The bottom line is, the US government made a promise which the Trump administration is now breaking. This is the sad history of US “promises,” especially in regard to their deceitful and ungodly “dealing” with the American Indians.
Trump’s New Travel Bans
Daily Mail wrote on June 5:
“President Donald Trump has announced widespread bans and restrictions for visitors from 19 countries…
“Nationals of Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen will be barred from entering the United States under the new order, which goes into effect on June 9. Citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela will be partially restricted from traveling, removing access to all immigrant visas and several non-immigrant travel options.
“Trump also issued a warning that Egypt could soon join the no-fly list in the wake of the Colorado terror attack in which an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa allegedly set fire to pro-Israel demonstrators…
“Several of the nations facing bans have been targeted because their screening and vetting capabilities are not up to the president’s standards, putting Egypt on high alert…. the nations included on the list have disappointed Trump in various ways, either by having a high rate of nationals who overstay their visas or by limiting the United States’ access to security data…
“The primary concern for Iranian nationals is that the government ‘is a state sponsor of terrorism’… Similarly, the inclusion of Somalia comes after ‘The United States Government identified Somalia as a terrorist safe haven… Haitian nationals, Trump argued, have a higher likelihood of trying to overstay their visas… Eritrea, for example, has been included on the list because ‘the United States questions the competence of the central authority for issuance of passports or civil documents in Eritrea.’…
“Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Trump has already added a clause in his proclamation which states: ‘Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event’ will be exempt.”
The Daily Mail wrote on June 1:
“President Donald Trump shared a bizarre theory on social media Saturday night that suggested Joe Biden died in 2020 and has since been replaced by a ‘clone.’… ‘There is no…JoeBiden – executed in 2020… Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see,’ wrote [a little known user with fewer than 1000 followers] named llijh…
“Trump did not add any of his own commentary to the post, but simply amplifying the wild conspiracy created confusion. Almost immediately, social media erupted, with supporters and critics alike grappling with the surreal suggestion…
[The New York Post added on June 1: “Trump last met Biden in person roughly five months ago during Inauguration Day, and shared the debate stage with him in both 2020 and 2024.”]
“Trump’s casual amplification served to underscore the surreal and conspiratorial environment that defines the MAGA movement. This isn’t the first time Trump has danced with conspiracy theories.
“Throughout his first term as president Trump continued to give oxygen to baseless theories: suggesting Ted Cruz’s father was involved in the JFK assassination, refusing to fully distance himself from QAnon, and promoting claims of massive voter fraud during the 2020 election without evidence. [There is much evidence, however, that the election was rigged].
“Trump was the most prominent promoter of the so-called ‘birther’ conspiracy, falsely claiming that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. For years, Trump demanded Obama’s birth certificate and continued to suggest it was fraudulent even after Obama released the official long-form document. It wasn’t until 2016, under mounting political pressure, that Trump finally admitted Obama was born in the US – without apology or acknowledgment of the damage the false claims had caused. [Trump should have never conceded. There is mounting evidence that Obama was NOT born in the USA. The “official long-form” from Hawaii was not an original, and the version produced appears to have been doctored. The original short form went missing, and the custodian of record died in a mysterious plane crash.]
“But suggesting the idea that a former president of the United States was a ‘clone’ pushes the envelope even further.”
This of course IS crazy.
Daily Mail wrote on May 31:
“The CDC is urging Americans to cancel their upcoming [international] flights if they are not vaccinated against measles. The agency has upgraded its health travel warning after discovering the virus… is spreading on US airplanes. A previous recommendation that said Americans should ‘consider making alternative travel plans’ if they could not get vaccinated before departing now says travelers should ‘consider postponing their trip.’
“Estimates suggest around 10 percent of adults may lack immunity, either due to never receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine or because their immunity has diminished over time… the CDC confirmed at least one case where the virus was spread during air travel…
“The latest airport warning came Friday as three passengers flying into Denver International Airport on [a] Turkish Airlines flight tested positive for measles. One of them was a vaccinated adult…
“Around 90 percent of confirmed cases are tied to outbreaks in the US rather than travel outside the country.”
Absolutely stupid! Haven’t we learned anything yet from the CDC’s ridiculous “recommendations”—and worse—during the Covid “pandemic”? And so, the outrageous and unscientific attacks against the “unvaccinated” continue with full force.
The FBI announced that they would release a video proving that no one was in Epstein’s cell, putting to rest the notion that he was murdered. However, the Drudge Report issued immediately a flashback article from the BBC, dated January 10, 2020, painting a totally different picture:
“Soon after Epstein’s death, in August, two of the CCTV cameras outside his cell had malfunctioned and were being examined by the FBI, US media reported…
“Epstein was found semi-conscious in his prison cell with injuries to his neck on 25 July. After this incident, he was placed on suicide watch. Eventually, Epstein was moved to a different cell, where he died on 10 August. Two prison guards have since been accused of failing to check on him during this time and falsifying records to say that they had…
“There have been ongoing questions over the July recording, which was initially deemed missing and then was said to have been located by jail staff. A letter filed by Assistant US Attorneys Jason Swergold and Maurene Comey said ‘the footage contained on the preserved video was for the correct date and time, but captured a different tier than the one where Cell-1 was located’, New York City media report. ‘The requested video no longer exists on the backup system and has not since at least August 2019 as a result of technical errors.’”
Fox News reported on June 4:
“FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Wednesday… ‘ We do have video. It’s not the greatest video in the world. I don’t want to set expectations on fire’… ‘However, the video does show in that specific block, that he goes in, made a phone call; you’ll see 12 hours of guards going in basically check on him, come back. You’ll see nobody really comes out of that bay in that area than him.”
But what about his cell itself???
Why would Epstein even commit suicide? And who is to benefit the most from his death? In times past, key witnesses in cases brought against the FBI or high-ranking officials died under mysterious circumstances.
Breitbart wrote on May 30:
“In response to recent legislation passed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s conservative government to ban Pride parades in Hungary, over half of fellow European Union member states signed an open letter demanding that Budapest reverse course or face punishment from Brussels. The ‘declaration’ was signed by the countries of Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden…
“Brussels and Budapest have long been at loggerheads over the issue, with Eurocrats previously criticising laws banning LGBTQ+ content from children’s television programmes… Currently, the EU Commission is withholding around €18 billion from Hungary over supposed violations of the ‘rule of law.’…”
The dictatorial conduct of the EU is becoming more and more blatant.
C-Fam wrote on May 30:
“‘The fight against LGBT perversion is also a fight for freedom, dignity, and the future of humanity,’ [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan said… at the international Family Forum held on May 23 and 24. The conference was sponsored by Erdogan’s government and was attended by ministers from 27 countries from Africa, Asia, and the Balkans… Erdogan called gender ideology a ‘threat to humanity, women and children’ and a ‘national security threat.’ He pledged to work with everyone to protect the family and to fight the LGBT agenda domestically and abroad.
“The conference addressed a full spectrum of policies to protect the family, including defending traditional man-woman marriage, incentives for young people to marry and found a family, how to raise fertility, and the effect of technology on the family. It also featured warnings against population control, abortion, gender ideology and harmful sexuality education that normalizes promiscuity as well as homosexual and transgender behavior…
“He also said the LGBT agenda had become a system of ‘fascism and oppression’ and called gender ideology a form of child-abuse. In veiled criticism of the European Union, he denounced attacks against politicians in neighboring countries for defending marriage as the union of a man and a woman…”
Turkey, unlike Hungary, is not a member of the EU, but it is a member of NATO. Will the EU dare to threaten Turkey as well?
The Toronto Star wrote on May 28:
“Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that he wants a ‘concrete’ commitment by July 1 to partner with the European Union on a huge military industrial program, as he declared Canada must spend more on defence… Carney’s comments, in an interview with the CBC, came after King Charles III delivered the Liberal government’s throne speech in a show of Canadian sovereignty meant to highlight the country’s distinctiveness amidst a trade war and talk of annexation from American President Donald Trump.
“The King’s speech said Canada will join ReArm Europe, the EU’s plan to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on defence over the next five years to ‘quickly and significantly’ boost the bloc of countries’ military strength…”
Deutsche Welle reported on June 4:
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended his government’s effort to turn away asylum seekers at the country’s borders, one day after a court blocked the move. The emergency decision by the Berlin Administrative Court was a blow for Merz, who has promised he will curb irregular migration.
“Speaking in Berlin, the chancellor said the ruling may narrow his administration’s room for maneuver, but there was still scope… Shortly after taking office last month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered police to beef up border checks and turn away irregular migrants, even if they apply for asylum.
“The court ruling on Monday found that three Somalis who were turned back to Poland on May 9 should have been processed under the European Union’s Dublin Regulation for asylum cases. The court found that the government’s evidence to proclaim a ‘national emergency’ to justify the measure lacked sufficient evidence.
“Merz’s immigration policies have been repeatedly criticized as violating both German and EU law.”
The Sun wrote on June 3:
“The Dutch government has collapsed after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his party from the coalition amid an asylum row… Wilders’ PVV party was the largest in the four-party coalition, which had been in place since July 2024… Former coalition partners have accused Wilders of engineering the crisis – and using asylum as cover to make a lunge for power. Earlier in the day, Wilders said he intended to become Prime Minister of the Netherlands… Wilders had demanded ten additional measures – including a freeze on asylum applications and halting the construction of reception centres…
“Any fresh election is unlikely to be held before October, and the formation of a new government traditionally tends to take months in the Netherlands…”
Wilders Thanks Trump
Breitbart wrote on June 5:
“The Trump White House offered tacit support to Geert Wilders… President Trump has been clear on supporting European allies that work to protect sovereignty and national identity… Responding to this vote of confidence from President Trump, Mr Wilders wrote overnight: ‘Thank you [President Trump]… We will win the Dutch elections again and Make The Netherlands Great Again!’…
“Such an endorsement is no trivial matter as voters around the Western world fraction into pro- and anti-Trump camps… President Trump is due to be in the Netherlands before the forthcoming snap election, potentially offering an opportunity for him to show in-person support.”
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 2:
“Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he will request a vote of confidence in the near future. His centrist government suffered a setback [in its efforts to strengthen Warsaw’s pro-European orientation] after conservative nationalist Karol Nawrocki won the presidential election…
“Prime Minister Tusk’s governing coalition has sought to reverse the previous PiS government’s judicial reforms, which the European Union said undermined democracy and the rights of women and minorities. However, [outgoing President Andrzej Duda] blocked those efforts, and Nawrocki is expected to maintain this position. Supporters of Nawrocki view him as a champion of conservative values, including his strong anti-abortion stance…
“In the Polish political system, the prime minister, who is chosen by parliament, holds most day-to-day power. However, the president’s role is not merely ceremonial. The head of state can influence foreign policy and veto legislation… Nawrocki will succeed Duda, whose second and final term ends on August 6. According to the Polish constitution, the president serves a five-year term and may be re-elected once.”
Brussels Signal wrote on May 30:
“European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen received the Charlemagne Prize on May 29–leading to criticism from MEPs who called the award ‘in blatant contradiction to the fundamental values for which this prize was originally created’.
“Spain’s King Felipe VI and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz both delivered remarks at an awards ceremony in Aachen town hall. The prize citation praised von der Leyen’s ‘visionary leadership’ in ‘guiding the EU through profound transformation with vision, courage, strength and foresight’.
“However, German MEP [Member of European Parliament] Christine Anderson (Alternative for Germany, AfD) condemned the award, calling von der Leyen an ‘autocratic, power-drunk and corrupt’ politician who drove a wedge between citizens and the EU institutions. ‘Democracy, transparency, the rule of law, and international understanding have all been undermined under her watch,’ wrote Anderson in a letter to the Charlemagne Prize Board.
“Anderson said the award was especially inappropriate after the Pfizergate scandal. A ruling by the European General Court affirmed von der Leyen acted wrongly by refusing to release messages in which she was accused of negotiating a multi-billion-euro vaccine deal via undisclosed text messages…
“Another MEP, France’s Virginie Joron [National Rally, formerly National Front], said ‘the EU has overstepped its original mandate’ under von der Leyen. The legacy of EU founding father Robert Schuman was one of cooperation, not coercion, said Joron.
“During her acceptance speech [in Aachen], Ursula von der Leyen sidestepped criticism while defending her legacy and pushing for a new European project calling for a 21st-century version of ‘Pax Europaea.’ She warned of a chaotic international order marked by ‘imperial ambitions,’ and urged Europe to rearm and reassert itself geopolitically. ‘A new international order will emerge in this decade… we must shape this new order… Our mission is European independence,’ she added.”
Van der Leyen is no stranger to controversy, even during her tenure as Germany’s defense minister.
Politico added on May 30:
“The Commission chief received the Charlemagne award for ‘her services to the unity of the member states, in the containment of the pandemic, for the unity of the Union’s determination to defend itself against Russia — and for the impetus towards the Green Deal,’ the award’s board of directors said.
“The prize is named after the Frankish king Charlemagne, who united much of Western and Central Europe under the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th century.”
Especially rewarding her for “services in the containment of the pandemic” should be considered to be a major scandal, as her actions have done unspeakable harm to millions of people.
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.
On June 7 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, June 7, 2025,” and Michael Link will present the sermon, titled, “Don’t Be Deceived.”
The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.
by Thilo Hanstein (Germany)
When I read the article “Anyone who withdraws €3,000 in Spain will be monitored” in our German Edition of the Weltnachrichten, I was initially appalled. The Express newspaper wrote the following: “Anyone in Spain who wants to withdraw large sums of cash from their account will in the future have to inform the tax authorities in advance… When registering, the purpose of the withdrawal must be stated as well as the identity of the person making the withdrawal and, if different, the recipient.
“Non-compliance can be expensive: fines range from 1 to 10 percent of the amount withdrawn – in extreme cases, up to €150,000.
“Even those who regularly withdraw smaller amounts of around €800 or €900 can come under the scrutiny of the authorities if there is no plausible reason for doing so. Banks are now obliged to report suspicious activities – even if they remain below the thresholds.”
However, this approach, as currently practiced in Spain, is not unique in the EU.
Verbraucherschutzforum.Berlin (a platform that deals with consumer protection) published the following information on its website on April 28, 2025:
“An important change that all citizens should be aware of: The European Union has introduced an upper limit for cash transactions. With immediate effect, a maximum of €10,000 may be handed over in cash anywhere in the EU – anything above this amount will be strictly regulated. Anyone who fails to comply risks severe penalties.”
Then there is another type of surveillance that Germany in particular is very interested in and that the EU would like to introduce. This is the so-called “social credit system,” which is already well established in China.
Please note the following excerpts from an article by Frau von Hassel in the “Bayerische Gemeinde Zeitung” from December 2022:
“Social scoring coming soon to Bavaria?
“2G/3G has led to the acceptance of mutual control in a very short time. (2G: vaccinated or recovered; 3G: vaccinated, recovered, or tested). Everyone now has various apps on their smartphones that voluntarily provide data on whether law-abiding citizens are complying with all the measures imposed. But how far away is this scenario really from a social scoring system or social credit system, as has already been introduced in China? Are structures not being created here that could be brought into sharp focus and abused in the near future?…
“Bologna and Vienna are currently introducing a social credit system (light) on a trial basis. These systems are based on the concept of sustainability. Anyone who acts in a sustainable and environmentally conscious manner can benefit from this. The conditions for this are already in place in Bavaria. The aim is to promote sustainable behavior in everyday life by rewarding environmentally conscious actions. It is intended to send a signal to companies and citizens.”
What exactly is this social credit system?
The social credit system is a method of assessing individuals or situations using rating scales. A citizen’s social credit score rises based on socially desirable actions, such as paying taxes or buying Chinese products. However, it also drops if a person exhibits behavior that the state considers dishonest or otherwise problematic, such as committing a crime or making negative statements about the government.
At first glance, it seems very frightening when you consider that we are on the verge of establishing this totalitarian surveillance state, which will be none other than the final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire. And it is precisely these scenarios that should remind us of the warnings Jesus Christ gave us in the Gospels and in the Book of Revelation. But Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Joel, and many others also warn us precisely of such a dictatorship, which is prophesied for the end times.
We read in Revelation 13:16-17: “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast…”
It is about disregarding God’s commandments and no longer obeying them and instead giving full obedience to the state! As frightening and monstrous as it may be, it is also sobering when one becomes aware of God’s revelation.
All this madness that is now coming upon us must not frighten us, neither the punishments nor the people who will use this system against true Christians.
Paul tells us: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
And Solomon wrote: “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
Christ gives us a firm confidence in His great help: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
Our trust in God and Jesus Christ must remain unshakable, and we must hold fast to the conviction that God will protect us in all our distress!
Christ told us: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). Furthermore: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
Let us together hold fast to this confidence and strengthen one another so that we may all enter the Kingdom of God. We ought to obey God rather than men!
Initial translation: Daniel Blasinger
by Norbert Link
We publish more articles about the curse of the growing worldwide antisemitism; speak on the anticipation of the building of the third temple; address the issue of a two-state “solution” and wonder whether Netanyahu might strike Iran without the help of the USA.
We discuss ongoing developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, including disagreements between the USA and Europe regarding “strength” and “appeasement” and especially Russia’s “Pearl Harbor.”
We focus on China and the fear that it may attack Taiwan very soon.
We continue with Trump’s Air Force One debacle; America’s “enemy within”; an alleged unspecified deal between America and Japan pertaining to U.S. steel; Trump’s interesting comments regarding his perceived role and that of Congress; Musk’s astonishing attacks on Trumps “Big, Beautiful Bill”; America’s broken promises; the ludicrous conspiracy theory that Biden died in 2020; and CDC’s renewed and ongoing attacks on the unvaccinated.
We revisit the dubious claim that Epstein committed suicide; and speak on Europe’s gender ideology.
We conclude with articles about the Netherlands and Poland, and Ursula von der Leyen’s controversial receipt of the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen.
Please view our new StandingWatch program, covering the meeting between President Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on June 5. The program is titled, “Trump Meets Germany’s Chancellor Merz—What Was Most Critical?”
Israel Today wrote on May 28:
“European leaders who have recently criticized Israel over its war against Hamas in Gaza have succumbed to political pressure fueled by a nefarious international media campaign against the Jewish state, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said on Tuesday. The unequivocal remarks by Israel’s second-highest diplomat come amid some of the harshest criticism leveled against Israel by British, German, French and Canadia leaders since the war began nearly 20 months ago, following the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
“‘What we are seeing is the capitulation of several European leaders to a very loud political campaign in countries with a massive immigrant influx from many Muslim countries, together with an immense propaganda campaign waged against Israel on international TV networks,’ Haskel told JNS ahead of a series of meetings in Europe this week. ‘The world loves dead Jews, and one day after they turn their backs on us,’ she said, referring to the day after the Oct. 7 massacre…
“Haskel singled out the BBC, which she accused of a long-standing bias against Israel… ‘We are seeing the persecution and racism against Jews around the globe in ways we have never seen before since the Holocaust,’ Haskel said. ‘It always starts with the Jews, and then it comes for the rest of humanity.’”
France 24/AFP wrote on May 30:
“The United Nations condemned Friday a [Palestinian] group of ‘armed individuals’ for raiding warehouses in the Palestinian territory of Gaza and looting large amounts of medical supplies. The group ‘stormed the warehouses at a field hospital in Deir al-Balah, looting large quantities of medical equipment, supplies, medicines, nutritional supplements that was intended for malnourished children,’ said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The stolen aid had been brought into war-ravaged Gaza just a day earlier, he said.”
Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Why This Hatred for Israel and the Jews?”
The Telegraph wrote on June 3:
“The White House has attacked the BBC’s coverage of the Gaza conflict, accusing the broadcaster of taking Hamas’s word as ‘total truth’… Donald Trump’s press secretary… accused the BBC of having to repeatedly correct its reporting from the territory about aid distribution… The BBC’s coverage of the conflict has been repeatedly accused of bias against Israel, but the White House’s comments mark an extraordinary escalation in criticism of the broadcaster…
“Ms Leavitt’s attack is the latest criticism of the BBC’s coverage of the conflict. The broadcaster was forced to pull a documentary about Gaza and apologise for ‘serious flaws’ in its making after it was revealed that the narrator was the son of a Hamas government minister…
“Last month, the BBC’s Today programme prominently reported a claim by Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, that 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within 48 hours. The corporation later issued a correction, when it emerged the figure was an estimate for the number of children at risk of ‘severe malnutrition’ by March next year. However, the claim had by then been widely reported as fact and was cited by nine Members of Parliament in the Commons…”
BBC’s latest scandalous report claimed that Israel had fired indiscriminately on Palestinian citizens—a claim which is either an outright lie or which was instigated by the terror organization Hamas to produce “martyrs.” But it’s not only BBC, of course, which is accused of reporting falsely about the crisis in Gaza. Note the next article.
Breitbart wrote on June 3:
“CNN persisted Tuesday in publishing fake news pushed by Hamas, claiming that ‘dozens’ of Palestinians had been killed near an American-run aid site in Gaza, despite Israeli denials and a history of Hamas lies.
“Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told journalists: ‘The IDF did not fire at civilians in, or near, humanitarian aid distribution zones.’ The story came a day after U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee demanded that CNN and other outlets retract false reporting of dozens of Palestinians being killed at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) site Sunday.
“CNN reported its story under the headline, ‘Dozens of Palestinians killed near Gaza aid distribution point, health officials say, in third day of shooting.’ It cited the Gaza ‘health ministry’ — without noting that the ‘ministry’ is controlled entirely by Hamas and has a long record of false and sensational claims — and reported that ‘Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians as they made their way to the distribution site in Tel al-Sultan in Rafah.’
“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that its forces had fired, half a kilometer away from the aid site, at a few people who had deviated from the route and had ignored warning shots. The IDF added: ‘IDF troops are not preventing the arrival of Gazan civilians to the humanitarian aid distribution sites. The warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometer away from the humanitarian aid distribution site toward several suspects who advanced toward the troops in such a way that posed a threat to them.’
“The CNN story cited only part of the IDF statement, leaving out the denial of the main claim. CNN also left out the GHF’s denials, and its report that aid had been delivered to civilians without incident….
“The Trump administration is backing GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) as an alternative to aid distribution by the United Nations, which has been hijacked by Hamas, which steals aid and sells it to Palestinians, profiting while controlling them.”
Israel 365 News wrote on May 30:
“The first Caucus for Jewish Freedom on the Temple Mount was held Thursday morning in the Knesset in English… For the first time, Jewish organizations participated in this kind of meeting, alongside Christians who want to promote sovereignty on the Temple Mount and the building of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Tom Nisani, CEO of ‘Beyadenu Returning to the Temple Mount’, said: ‘… I get inquiries from all over the world that ask, “Why is there no Temple yet?”’…
“According to Michael Oren… ‘Hamas calls this war the al-Aqsa flood. For Hamas, the objective of their October 7 attack was unambiguous: pushing the Jews out “from the river to the sea”, but specifically from the very site that gives us our legitimacy here. Their explicit goal was to “liberate Al Aqsa” from the “infidel” Jews… In recent months, an anecdote spread about an IDF soldier returning from Gaza. When his relieved mother asked what he wanted to do first, he said he needed to buy a picture of the Beit Hamikdash (Temple) for his bedroom. Surprised, she asked if he wouldn’t prefer a shower or his favorite food. The soldier responded, “Eema, you don’t understand. In Gaza, every home, government office, and school displays a picture of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”’…
“MK Dan Illouz also spoke, saying: ‘… The Temple Mount is where the Temples stood and where Jews pray every morning. Today, Jews are discriminated against on the Temple Mount, and that needs to change…’
“John Enerson, Cry for Zion [said]: ‘As a Christian, I want to say that the whole world is watching you. We support your sovereignty on the Temple Mount. If you want it, it is not a fairy tale! We are waiting for the Temple Mount to fulfill its destiny to be a house of prayer for all nations.’…
“MK Amit Halevi said, ‘… We must demand that the presence of God and the Temple be restored to the Temple Mount. We need to demand from the American Congress the rights of the Jews on the Temple Mount.’ MK Limor Son Har-Melech [said]: ‘… Things have changed for the better on the Temple Mount, but there are still problems and obstacles until the building of the Temple.’…
A third temple will be built in Jerusalem prior to Christ’s return.
The Jerusalem Post wrote on May 29:
“French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot delivered a speech on Wednesday [at the UN Security Council], reiterating the country’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urging ‘the implementation of a two-state solution.’ Barrot also announced that France will co-host, alongside Saudi Arabia, a United Nations conference in June regarding this topic.
“The American embassy argued in response that the implementation of a two-state solution would constitute a ‘reward for Hamas’ shocking attack on Israel,’ in reference to the May 21st Washington shooting attack at the Jewish Museum in which [anti-Semite] Elias Rodriguez killed two Israeli embassy staffers, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim… ‘The United States stands with Israel in unequivocally rejecting any effort to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state or impose conditions on Israel,’ the embassy stated.”
“In response to the French ministry, Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said that any ‘recognition of a Palestinian state is a reward for Hamas for the atrocities of October 7, and a resounding message to terrorist organizations around the world to murder, burn, rape and kidnap – this is the way.’”
Israel Today wrote on June 1:
“A visit to Ramallah by the Saudi, Emirati, Qatari, Egyptian, Jordanian and Turkish foreign ministers… won’t take place. An Israeli official told reporters that the Jewish state blocked the visit, which would have been the highest-level visit by a Saudi diplomat to Judea and Samaria since the 1967 Six-Day War… ‘The Palestinian Authority, which to this day refuses to condemn the Oct. 7 massacre, intended to host in Ramallah a provocative meeting of foreign ministers from Arab countries to discuss the establishment of a Palestinian state,’ the Israeli official said. ‘Such a state would undoubtedly become a terrorist state in the heart of the land of Israel,’ the official said. ‘Israel will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security.’
“The Jordanian foreign ministry stated in Arabic on Saturday that the decision is ‘a blatant violation of Israel’s obligations as the occupying power.’ The ministry stated on behalf of the delegation that it had ‘decided to postpone the visit to Ramallah in light of Israel’s obstruction of its mission by refusing the delegation entry through the airspace of the occupied West Bank, which is controlled by Israel.’”
The nations listed above are interesting in light of Psalm 83.
The Sun wrote on June 1:
“PM Netanyahu has been making preparations behind the scenes to swiftly blitz Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities as he deems the country ‘enemy number one’. Trump, however, has firmly insisted Israel take no action that could jeopardise his administration’s efforts to thrash out a deal with Iran.
“It culminated in a heated phone call this week between the leaders as they continue to clash on how to curb Tehran’s nuke programme, sources said.”
It was reported that even though Netanyahu would like to have America’s help, he will also strike Iran alone, if he feels that this is necessary. It was also reported that Iran is now in a position to produce 10 nuclear bombs.
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 29:
“Efforts to bring peace to Ukraine just received a stifling blow. German Chancellor Fredrich Merz, with less than a month in office, has stepped forward to set back the US sponsored peace initiative… He apparently favors supplying German Taurus missiles to Ukraine… Actually, the United States, Great Britain, and France have already supplied long-range missiles to Ukraine… But the missiles had insufficient range to threaten Moscow…
“But the German Taurus missiles have sufficient range to hit smack dab in the middle of the Kremlin, the traditional embodiment of Russia’s center of power…
“Before his election, Merz actually promoted a Ukraine peace plan of his own. It involved the Taurus missiles. In an interview with Stern he said, ‘If elected, I will issue an ultimatum to Putin to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. If he does not agree, I will supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles and give permission to strike on Russian territory.’..
“Germany’s Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil… gave his own statement to the press saying plainly, ‘I would like to say that there is no new agreement that goes beyond what the previous government has done.’..
“RT.com reported, ‘Russia would not rule out a direct strike on Berlin if German personnel help Ukraine target Moscow with German-supplied Taurus missiles.’”
The Independent wrote on May 30:
“The Trump administration’s sympathy for Moscow’s anti-Nato demands has been likened to Nazi appeasement as parts of the alliance’s eastern bloc warn that the US is priming non-members for invasion. Top officials from four Eastern European countries have hit out after Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, appeared to support Vladimir Putin’s reported demand to have in writing that Nato will not accept any new members from the region.
“In an interview with US network ABC News, Mr Kellogg described Putin’s latest position as a ‘fair’ one that was likely to include not just Ukraine but also Georgia and Moldova… ‘It looks like Munich, when great powers decide the fate of small ones,’ [a senior Lithuanian] official said, referencing the 1938 agreement between Adolf Hitler, the UK, France and Italy that ultimately led to Nazi Germany invading Czechoslovakia…
“Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and six years later began its attempted takeover of Ukraine, initially by illegally annexing Crimea. Moscow has also stationed more than a thousand troops in the Moldovan region of Transnistria, sparking fears that Moldova could be the next target for the Kremlin. Olga Rosca, foreign policy adviser to the Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, said Russia is already ‘violating our neutrality’…
“Estonian president Alar Karis said the country’s position on Nato expansion was clear: ‘Every country has the right to choose its own security arrangements…’ Jan Lipavsky, foreign minister for the Czech Republic, also hit back at Mr Kellogg’s comments late last night…
“European officials have long cautioned that the Russian suggestion that Nato is expanding aggressively eastward is propaganda aimed at justifying its imperialistic ambitions. Putin’s attacks on Georgia and Ukraine in 2008 and 2014 came well before either country had serious chances of joining Nato, and the Russian leader’s pre-invasion speech in February 2022 made little mention of Kyiv’s Nato membership hopes…”
The New York Post wrote on June 2:
“Ukrainian forces stunned the Russian military Sunday after wiping out and damaging dozens of nuclear bombers and other aircraft with ambitious and complicated attacks that struck President Vladimir Putin’s air bases deep inside the country, Kyiv says. Even pro-Moscow military bloggers are calling the strike — which used drones hidden in trucks — ‘the Russian Pearl Harbor.’…
“The mission… hit 41 Russian heavy bombers and other warplanes at four separate airfields thousands of miles from Ukraine. The cost of the destroyed aircraft, most of which Russia no longer even manufactures, is at least $7 billion, Kyiv said. The doomsday bombers are a critical part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent — originally designed to obliterate the US and Europe with atomic weapons in the event of all-out war.
“Ukraine said the aircraft had been converted and were being used to pummel their country with cruise missiles. Officials claimed they had destroyed more than one-third of Russia’s strategic bombers in the strike…
“Ukraine said the attack was launched in response to Russia carrying out one of its largest drone attacks since the start of the war last week, with 472 drones and seven ballistic and cruise missiles involved… In separate attacks, the collapse of two bridges near the Ukrainian border, killing at least seven people, has been blamed by Russian investigators on sabotage.”
The New York Post wrote on June 4:
“President Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, saying it was ‘not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace’ between Russia and Ukraine… ‘President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.’”
That was SO predictable. And so, the war will go on…
BBC wrote on June 1:
“Members of the Western alliance Nato need to prepare for a possible attack from Russia within the next four years, according to Germany’s chief of defence.
“General Carsten Breuer told the BBC that Russia was producing hundreds of tanks a year, many of which could be used for an attack on Nato Baltic state members by 2029 or even earlier… Russia also produced four million rounds of 152mm artillery munition in 2024, and not all of it was going to Ukraine either, added Gen Breuer.”
The Sun wrote on May 31:
“China is ‘credibly preparing’ for a military invasion of Taiwan and the attack is ‘real and [could be] imminent’, the US Defence Secretary [Pete Hegseth] has warned….
“His warning comes after China deployed two hulking H-6 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons on a strategic island in the South China Sea… China claims almost the entire disputed waterway in the South China Sea – through which more than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes.
“Fears are that the weakening of Western alliances and the unpredictability of US foreign policy under Donald Trump could create the perfect atmosphere for Beijing to trigger an invasion.”
Breaking Defense wrote on May 29:
“As the US prepares African nations to rely less on Washington’s help, China is attempting to ‘replicate every type of thing’ the US military does to build and maintain relationships on the continent, according to the top US military official [Michael E. Langley]…
“Langely was speaking from Nairobi, Kenya, as the US wrapped up its participation in the African Chiefs of Defense Conference, attended by representatives from more than 30 African nations. There, amid drastic US cuts to civilian aid programs, Langley said he had a message for the leaders of African militaries: America does not want to do more for Africa, but to ‘help Africa do more for itself.’’
While the USA is retreating, China is stepping in.
The Huffington Post wrote on May 30:
“Before he even took office the first time in 2017, Trump was already boasting that he would force Boeing — which had been on pace to deliver two new, purpose-built 747s by the end of that term — to slash its contract price… Among the features dropped from the required specifications list was in-flight refueling, thereby reducing the amount of time a commander-in-chief can remain aloft to only about 15 hours, rather than a week or more.
“If a plane carrying the president cannot refuel in midair, that severely limits how and where a president can travel and be kept out of harm’s way in the event of a major attack on the United States…
“What’s more, it’s unclear whether Trump’s interference in the program will have saved taxpayers a dime…. And none of that includes the new burden taxpayers must now bear to transform Qatar’s gift to Trump… Modifying the plane could take many months or even years, meaning… hundreds of millions of dollars or more will be spent…”
The U.S. Sun added on May 30:
“Donald Trump’s luxury ‘sky Palace’ gifted to him by Qatar will cost a few billion dollars, says the President of Emirates airline. The US government now faces a ‘Herculean task’ to transform the huge Boeing 747-8 into a new Air Force One fit for a president, warns Sir Tim Clark… Aviation specialist Jeff Wise also told The Sun that he expects the Air Force One replacement to take years and need billions of dollars pumped into the project to make the jet viable…
“Trump’s Air Force One jets currently in use come with dozens of specialised security features. These include armoured glass and plating, on board flares to confuse enemy missiles, mirror-ball defences and even an electric jamming system.
“Another unique yet needed element is an electromagnetic shield for nuclear explosions. This has to be on a presidential plane as the leader of Washington can actually launch a nuke from the aircraft.
“But the new Qatari jet lacks most of these security features.”
The New York Post wrote on June 3:
“Tech mogul Elon Musk went on a tirade Tuesday against President Trump’s marquee One Big Beautiful Bill Act days after leaving the administration — ripping the legislation as an ‘abomination’ and condemning lawmakers who supported it. ‘I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,’ the Tesla and SpaceX CEO wrote on his X platform. ‘This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.’
“The 53-year-old added in subsequent posts that the bill ‘will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America [sic] citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.’ In a third post, Musk groused that ‘Congress is making America bankrupt.’ ‘In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people [apparently suggesting Republican politicians should be kicked out of Congress at the midterms],’ he later fumed…
“Multiple estimates have found that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will increase the federal deficit by between $3 trillion and $4 trillion over a 10-year period…
“The billionaire’s diatribe against the measure comes amid delicate negotiations among Republican lawmakers. The mammoth bill cleared the House last month but still needs to go through the Senate and then the House again before it can get to Trump’s desk. Multiple lawmakers have complained that they’ve since discovered provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of which they weren’t aware. [So, they did not even read the bill before signing it!]
“Far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) flagged a provision in the bill that curtails state rights to regulate artificial intelligence over the next 10 years. She said Tuesday that she would have voted against the bill if she had known it was in there. Last week, Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) admitted during a town hall that he wasn’t privy to a provision in the megabill that restrains district judges’ ability to hold people in contempt… The measure spans 1,038 pages, and was quickly rammed through the House following marathon markup sessions by multiple House committees… [This is SO shameful indeed.]
“Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), one of two GOP ‘nay’ votes in the House alongside Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), praised Musk’s screed, saying on X that ‘he’s right.’ The world’s richest man holds significant sway over fiscal hawks in both chambers of Congress. Last month, he publicly lamented that congressional Republicans neglected to codify the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts he helped shepherd. Almost immediately after, a chorus of GOP lawmakers in Congress began demanding that leadership do so. In December of last year, Musk helped torpedo a government funding agreement to avert a government shutdown. That prompted GOP leadership to back off and put forward a significantly watered-down spending patch to keep the government’s lights on…”
Breitbart added on June 4: “Trump has also made clear that he wants the bill on his desk by the Fourth of July.”
Musk also wrote in another post: “This immense level of overspending will drive America into debt slavery!”
It was also reported that two Republican senators, Mike Lee (Utah) and Rand Paul (Ky.), signaled their agreement with Musk, who in turn shared posts from Republicans in Congress who publicly aligned with him. Behind the scenes, Trump reportedly is livid, but until June 5, he had not come out publicly against Musk who was the biggest donor in the 2024 political cycle, donating $288 million to help elect Trump and other Republican candidates.
The Sun wrote on June 5:
“The feud began when Trump addressed Musk’s criticism of the president’s ‘big beautiful bill’ in the Oval Office. But it dramatically escalated when the Tesla mogul called for the president’s impeachment [and replacement with J.D. Vance] and brought up Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein…. Trump later threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts by saying it would save a lot of money…
“Musk responded to Trump’s threats with a threat of his own. ‘In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, Space X will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,’ he said. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft was the one that brought stranded astronauts back safe to Earth after 268 days in March.”
Daily Mail wrote on May 30:
“JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has sounded the alarm about the ‘enemy within’ America…
“Dimon claims that the United States is suffering from a worrying government ‘mismanagement’ issue…. Dimon, the boss of America’s biggest bank, cautioned that the ‘mismanagement’ that occurs at all levels of government could be the biggest catalyst for the nation’s economic demise. ‘The amount of mismanagement is extraordinary – by state, by city, for pensions, and that stuff is going to kill us,’ the billionaire banker [said]…
“Dimon sounded the alarm on a ‘crack’ appearing in the bond market as a result of the wildly soaring national debt – which Trump is set to compound with the $3 trillion Big Beautiful Bill awaiting Senate approval. A ‘crack’ in the bond market occurs when investors lose confidence in the government’s ability to service its debt. Bonds are sold, yields go higher and the cost of borrowing increases for all Americans, including the government itself.
“’You are going to see a crack in the bond market… I’m telling you it’s going to happen, and you’re going to panic’…. Dimon clarified that a crack in the market hasn’t happened yet, but is confident it will occur. ..
“His remarks… come just days after he delivered a sobering assessment of the US economy and warned the true fallout from Trump’s sweeping tariff policy has yet to be felt… Dimon said behind the scenes of a soaring stock market lies a deep and under-appreciated risk… Dimon pulled no punches as he described Trump’s tariff strategy as ‘pretty extreme,’ even in its scaled-back form following an April 2 announcement that placed most tariffs on a temporary 90-day pause…”
America’s downfall, due to “enemies from within” and “from without,” is inevitable.
ABC News reported on May 30:
“President Donald Trump on Friday touted a ‘blockbuster agreement’ between U.S. Steel and Japanese company Nippon Steel… Trump discussed the ‘partnership’ between the two companies during a rally at the Irvin Works plant in Allegheny County on Friday evening… During the event, Trump also announced his plan to double a current 25% tariff on [all] steel imports to 50%…
“Trump told the crowd Nippon would invest a total of $14 billion as part of the deal… Trump emphasized that the U.S. Steel headquarters would stay in Pittsburgh…
“U.S. Steel would still be ‘controlled by the USA,’ Trump said, adding, ‘Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done the deal.’ But he did not explicitly say how the ownership of the company would be structured. Despite hailing the agreement during the rally, Trump later told reporters that he hasn’t seen the final [deal] yet…
“During the 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to block the Japanese steelmaker from purchasing U.S. Steel. As president-elect, he repeated that vow. ‘I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan,’ Trump wrote in a post… The Biden administration in January blocked the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel over national security concerns. The White House said at the time it was important to keep one of the largest steel producers in the nation an American-owned company…
“Nippon was seeking 100% ownership of U.S. Steel in talks with Trump…”
The New York Post wrote on May 29:
“President Trump on Thursday rebuked the trio of judges [nominated by Reagan, Obama and Trump] who overturned his sweeping tariff agenda the day before – calling out ‘backroom hustlers’ and slamming the Court of International Trade’s ruling as ‘horrific’ and a threat to ‘Presidential Power.’… A federal appeals court stayed the trade court’s order on Thursday as the White House appeals the initial ruling…
“The horrific decision stated that I would have to get the approval of Congress for these Tariffs,’ he fumed. ‘In other words, hundreds of politicians would sit around D.C. for weeks, and even months, trying to come to a conclusion as to what to charge other Countries that are treating us unfairly. If allowed to stand, this would completely destroy Presidential Power — The Presidency would never be the same!’…
“Trump claimed the trade court’s ruling ‘is being hailed all over the World by every Country, other than the United States of America.’”
In an apparent response to the ruling, Trump posted a cryptic meme on Wednesday night declaring that he is “on a mission from God.”
NPR wrote on May 30:
“The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Trump administration to temporarily pause a humanitarian program that has allowed nearly half a million people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to enter the U.S. and remain here legally for two years. The move to grant a stay in the case means that the Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who were granted temporary parole under the program known as CHNV would lose their temporary legal status to be in the U.S. — and could potentially be deported while the case plays out in the lower courts…
“The court did not give a reason in its brief order. But in a lengthy dissent from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor joining, Jackson wrote that the court ‘has plainly botched this assessment today’ in causing irreparable harm for everyone admitted under the program… The program… has allowed individuals from the four countries to enter the U.S. temporarily for humanitarian reasons, usually because conditions in their home country pose a threat to their safety…
“The federal law authorizing such humanitarian ‘parole’ dates back to the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. It was first used to provide temporary entry for some 30,000 Hungarians fleeing their country after a failed attempt at overturning Soviet rule and a crackdown that followed. In the decades since then, every administration, including the first Trump administration, has used the parole program to meet some emergency immigration need, allowing individuals who have been screened and approved to enter the U.S. if they have a U.S. sponsor willing to provide financial and other support. Individuals granted such temporary status can, once here, apply for asylum or some other more permanent status.
“The Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela parole program, known as the CHNV program, is similar to programs created in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine when some 200,000 people were granted temporary parole, and the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, when more than 76,000 Afghanis fled, many of them people who worked to assist U.S. forces there. So far, the Trump administration has not tried to end the Ukraine programs, but it has terminated the Afghan program, effective July 14.
“President Trump, however, on the day he took office signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to end ‘all categorical parole programs.’ In March, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem formally announced the termination of the CHNV parole process, declaring that it was being terminated immediately, and that the cessation would apply to all people currently enrolled in the program. It was the first en masse termination of such a program on record. Noem’s order said that the interests of the parolees, and their reliance on the government’s promise of protection for two years, were outweighed by the government’s ‘strong interest’ in deporting them through expedited removal, rather than normal removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“A group of individuals whose temporary protection had been guaranteed for two years, and their sponsors, challenged Noem’s order in court, and a federal district court judge in Massachusetts ruled in their favor. Judge Indira Talwani said that the secretary had erred in seeking to expedite removal of individuals who still had time left on their promised two-year protection in the U.S. The judge also said that the secretary’s en masse ending of the two-year term violated the statutory requirement that parole be determined only on a case-by-case basis…”
The bottom line is, the US government made a promise which the Trump administration is now breaking. This is the sad history of US “promises,” especially in regard to their deceitful and ungodly “dealing” with the American Indians.
Trump’s New Travel Bans
Daily Mail wrote on June 5:
“President Donald Trump has announced widespread bans and restrictions for visitors from 19 countries…
“Nationals of Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen will be barred from entering the United States under the new order, which goes into effect on June 9. Citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela will be partially restricted from traveling, removing access to all immigrant visas and several non-immigrant travel options.
“Trump also issued a warning that Egypt could soon join the no-fly list in the wake of the Colorado terror attack in which an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa allegedly set fire to pro-Israel demonstrators…
“Several of the nations facing bans have been targeted because their screening and vetting capabilities are not up to the president’s standards, putting Egypt on high alert…. the nations included on the list have disappointed Trump in various ways, either by having a high rate of nationals who overstay their visas or by limiting the United States’ access to security data…
“The primary concern for Iranian nationals is that the government ‘is a state sponsor of terrorism’… Similarly, the inclusion of Somalia comes after ‘The United States Government identified Somalia as a terrorist safe haven… Haitian nationals, Trump argued, have a higher likelihood of trying to overstay their visas… Eritrea, for example, has been included on the list because ‘the United States questions the competence of the central authority for issuance of passports or civil documents in Eritrea.’…
“Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Trump has already added a clause in his proclamation which states: ‘Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event’ will be exempt.”
The Daily Mail wrote on June 1:
“President Donald Trump shared a bizarre theory on social media Saturday night that suggested Joe Biden died in 2020 and has since been replaced by a ‘clone.’… ‘There is no…JoeBiden – executed in 2020… Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see,’ wrote [a little known user with fewer than 1000 followers] named llijh…
“Trump did not add any of his own commentary to the post, but simply amplifying the wild conspiracy created confusion. Almost immediately, social media erupted, with supporters and critics alike grappling with the surreal suggestion…
[The New York Post added on June 1: “Trump last met Biden in person roughly five months ago during Inauguration Day, and shared the debate stage with him in both 2020 and 2024.”]
“Trump’s casual amplification served to underscore the surreal and conspiratorial environment that defines the MAGA movement. This isn’t the first time Trump has danced with conspiracy theories.
“Throughout his first term as president Trump continued to give oxygen to baseless theories: suggesting Ted Cruz’s father was involved in the JFK assassination, refusing to fully distance himself from QAnon, and promoting claims of massive voter fraud during the 2020 election without evidence. [There is much evidence, however, that the election was rigged].
“Trump was the most prominent promoter of the so-called ‘birther’ conspiracy, falsely claiming that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. For years, Trump demanded Obama’s birth certificate and continued to suggest it was fraudulent even after Obama released the official long-form document. It wasn’t until 2016, under mounting political pressure, that Trump finally admitted Obama was born in the US – without apology or acknowledgment of the damage the false claims had caused. [Trump should have never conceded. There is mounting evidence that Obama was NOT born in the USA. The “official long-form” from Hawaii was not an original, and the version produced appears to have been doctored. The original short form went missing, and the custodian of record died in a mysterious plane crash.]
“But suggesting the idea that a former president of the United States was a ‘clone’ pushes the envelope even further.”
This of course IS crazy.
Daily Mail wrote on May 31:
“The CDC is urging Americans to cancel their upcoming [international] flights if they are not vaccinated against measles. The agency has upgraded its health travel warning after discovering the virus… is spreading on US airplanes. A previous recommendation that said Americans should ‘consider making alternative travel plans’ if they could not get vaccinated before departing now says travelers should ‘consider postponing their trip.’
“Estimates suggest around 10 percent of adults may lack immunity, either due to never receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine or because their immunity has diminished over time… the CDC confirmed at least one case where the virus was spread during air travel…
“The latest airport warning came Friday as three passengers flying into Denver International Airport on [a] Turkish Airlines flight tested positive for measles. One of them was a vaccinated adult…
“Around 90 percent of confirmed cases are tied to outbreaks in the US rather than travel outside the country.”
Absolutely stupid! Haven’t we learned anything yet from the CDC’s ridiculous “recommendations”—and worse—during the Covid “pandemic”? And so, the outrageous and unscientific attacks against the “unvaccinated” continue with full force.
The FBI announced that they would release a video proving that no one was in Epstein’s cell, putting to rest the notion that he was murdered. However, the Drudge Report issued immediately a flashback article from the BBC, dated January 10, 2020, painting a totally different picture:
“Soon after Epstein’s death, in August, two of the CCTV cameras outside his cell had malfunctioned and were being examined by the FBI, US media reported…
“Epstein was found semi-conscious in his prison cell with injuries to his neck on 25 July. After this incident, he was placed on suicide watch. Eventually, Epstein was moved to a different cell, where he died on 10 August. Two prison guards have since been accused of failing to check on him during this time and falsifying records to say that they had…
“There have been ongoing questions over the July recording, which was initially deemed missing and then was said to have been located by jail staff. A letter filed by Assistant US Attorneys Jason Swergold and Maurene Comey said ‘the footage contained on the preserved video was for the correct date and time, but captured a different tier than the one where Cell-1 was located’, New York City media report. ‘The requested video no longer exists on the backup system and has not since at least August 2019 as a result of technical errors.’”
Fox News reported on June 4:
“FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Wednesday… ‘ We do have video. It’s not the greatest video in the world. I don’t want to set expectations on fire’… ‘However, the video does show in that specific block, that he goes in, made a phone call; you’ll see 12 hours of guards going in basically check on him, come back. You’ll see nobody really comes out of that bay in that area than him.”
But what about his cell itself???
Why would Epstein even commit suicide? And who is to benefit the most from his death? In times past, key witnesses in cases brought against the FBI or high-ranking officials died under mysterious circumstances.
Breitbart wrote on May 30:
“In response to recent legislation passed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s conservative government to ban Pride parades in Hungary, over half of fellow European Union member states signed an open letter demanding that Budapest reverse course or face punishment from Brussels. The ‘declaration’ was signed by the countries of Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden…
“Brussels and Budapest have long been at loggerheads over the issue, with Eurocrats previously criticising laws banning LGBTQ+ content from children’s television programmes… Currently, the EU Commission is withholding around €18 billion from Hungary over supposed violations of the ‘rule of law.’…”
The dictatorial conduct of the EU is becoming more and more blatant.
C-Fam wrote on May 30:
“‘The fight against LGBT perversion is also a fight for freedom, dignity, and the future of humanity,’ [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan said… at the international Family Forum held on May 23 and 24. The conference was sponsored by Erdogan’s government and was attended by ministers from 27 countries from Africa, Asia, and the Balkans… Erdogan called gender ideology a ‘threat to humanity, women and children’ and a ‘national security threat.’ He pledged to work with everyone to protect the family and to fight the LGBT agenda domestically and abroad.
“The conference addressed a full spectrum of policies to protect the family, including defending traditional man-woman marriage, incentives for young people to marry and found a family, how to raise fertility, and the effect of technology on the family. It also featured warnings against population control, abortion, gender ideology and harmful sexuality education that normalizes promiscuity as well as homosexual and transgender behavior…
“He also said the LGBT agenda had become a system of ‘fascism and oppression’ and called gender ideology a form of child-abuse. In veiled criticism of the European Union, he denounced attacks against politicians in neighboring countries for defending marriage as the union of a man and a woman…”
Turkey, unlike Hungary, is not a member of the EU, but it is a member of NATO. Will the EU dare to threaten Turkey as well?
The Toronto Star wrote on May 28:
“Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that he wants a ‘concrete’ commitment by July 1 to partner with the European Union on a huge military industrial program, as he declared Canada must spend more on defence… Carney’s comments, in an interview with the CBC, came after King Charles III delivered the Liberal government’s throne speech in a show of Canadian sovereignty meant to highlight the country’s distinctiveness amidst a trade war and talk of annexation from American President Donald Trump.
“The King’s speech said Canada will join ReArm Europe, the EU’s plan to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on defence over the next five years to ‘quickly and significantly’ boost the bloc of countries’ military strength…”
Deutsche Welle reported on June 4:
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has defended his government’s effort to turn away asylum seekers at the country’s borders, one day after a court blocked the move. The emergency decision by the Berlin Administrative Court was a blow for Merz, who has promised he will curb irregular migration.
“Speaking in Berlin, the chancellor said the ruling may narrow his administration’s room for maneuver, but there was still scope… Shortly after taking office last month, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered police to beef up border checks and turn away irregular migrants, even if they apply for asylum.
“The court ruling on Monday found that three Somalis who were turned back to Poland on May 9 should have been processed under the European Union’s Dublin Regulation for asylum cases. The court found that the government’s evidence to proclaim a ‘national emergency’ to justify the measure lacked sufficient evidence.
“Merz’s immigration policies have been repeatedly criticized as violating both German and EU law.”
The Sun wrote on June 3:
“The Dutch government has collapsed after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his party from the coalition amid an asylum row… Wilders’ PVV party was the largest in the four-party coalition, which had been in place since July 2024… Former coalition partners have accused Wilders of engineering the crisis – and using asylum as cover to make a lunge for power. Earlier in the day, Wilders said he intended to become Prime Minister of the Netherlands… Wilders had demanded ten additional measures – including a freeze on asylum applications and halting the construction of reception centres…
“Any fresh election is unlikely to be held before October, and the formation of a new government traditionally tends to take months in the Netherlands…”
Wilders Thanks Trump
Breitbart wrote on June 5:
“The Trump White House offered tacit support to Geert Wilders… President Trump has been clear on supporting European allies that work to protect sovereignty and national identity… Responding to this vote of confidence from President Trump, Mr Wilders wrote overnight: ‘Thank you [President Trump]… We will win the Dutch elections again and Make The Netherlands Great Again!’…
“Such an endorsement is no trivial matter as voters around the Western world fraction into pro- and anti-Trump camps… President Trump is due to be in the Netherlands before the forthcoming snap election, potentially offering an opportunity for him to show in-person support.”
Deutsche Welle wrote on June 2:
“Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he will request a vote of confidence in the near future. His centrist government suffered a setback [in its efforts to strengthen Warsaw’s pro-European orientation] after conservative nationalist Karol Nawrocki won the presidential election…
“Prime Minister Tusk’s governing coalition has sought to reverse the previous PiS government’s judicial reforms, which the European Union said undermined democracy and the rights of women and minorities. However, [outgoing President Andrzej Duda] blocked those efforts, and Nawrocki is expected to maintain this position. Supporters of Nawrocki view him as a champion of conservative values, including his strong anti-abortion stance…
“In the Polish political system, the prime minister, who is chosen by parliament, holds most day-to-day power. However, the president’s role is not merely ceremonial. The head of state can influence foreign policy and veto legislation… Nawrocki will succeed Duda, whose second and final term ends on August 6. According to the Polish constitution, the president serves a five-year term and may be re-elected once.”
Brussels Signal wrote on May 30:
“European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen received the Charlemagne Prize on May 29–leading to criticism from MEPs who called the award ‘in blatant contradiction to the fundamental values for which this prize was originally created’.
“Spain’s King Felipe VI and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz both delivered remarks at an awards ceremony in Aachen town hall. The prize citation praised von der Leyen’s ‘visionary leadership’ in ‘guiding the EU through profound transformation with vision, courage, strength and foresight’.
“However, German MEP [Member of European Parliament] Christine Anderson (Alternative for Germany, AfD) condemned the award, calling von der Leyen an ‘autocratic, power-drunk and corrupt’ politician who drove a wedge between citizens and the EU institutions. ‘Democracy, transparency, the rule of law, and international understanding have all been undermined under her watch,’ wrote Anderson in a letter to the Charlemagne Prize Board.
“Anderson said the award was especially inappropriate after the Pfizergate scandal. A ruling by the European General Court affirmed von der Leyen acted wrongly by refusing to release messages in which she was accused of negotiating a multi-billion-euro vaccine deal via undisclosed text messages…
“Another MEP, France’s Virginie Joron [National Rally, formerly National Front], said ‘the EU has overstepped its original mandate’ under von der Leyen. The legacy of EU founding father Robert Schuman was one of cooperation, not coercion, said Joron.
“During her acceptance speech [in Aachen], Ursula von der Leyen sidestepped criticism while defending her legacy and pushing for a new European project calling for a 21st-century version of ‘Pax Europaea.’ She warned of a chaotic international order marked by ‘imperial ambitions,’ and urged Europe to rearm and reassert itself geopolitically. ‘A new international order will emerge in this decade… we must shape this new order… Our mission is European independence,’ she added.”
Van der Leyen is no stranger to controversy, even during her tenure as Germany’s defense minister.
Politico added on May 30:
“The Commission chief received the Charlemagne award for ‘her services to the unity of the member states, in the containment of the pandemic, for the unity of the Union’s determination to defend itself against Russia — and for the impetus towards the Green Deal,’ the award’s board of directors said.
“The prize is named after the Frankish king Charlemagne, who united much of Western and Central Europe under the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th century.”
Especially rewarding her for “services in the containment of the pandemic” should be considered to be a major scandal, as her actions have done unspeakable harm to millions of people.
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.
Paul says that the rulers of this world did not understand the Truth about Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). That is still true today, as this world is still cut off from God and godly understanding. Satan, the god and ruler of this world, has deceived the whole world, so that good is believed to be evil and light is vilified as darkness (Isaiah 5:20).
Christ says that the Gentile rulers of this world exercise lordship over the people, even being (falsely) called “benefactors,” but that this is wrong and should not be done (Luke 22:25-26). But as we will see, that does not only apply to Gentile kings and nations. Christ even calls our political and religious leaders “blind guides” (Matthew 23:16).
God calls the leaders of the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,and other English-speaking nations leaders of Sodom. Note Isaiah 1:10: “Hear the word of the LORD, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah…” God is charging the leaders and the people with the same types of sins Sodom and Gomorrah were famous for, leading to their utter destruction. They are supposed to hear and to heed, but they don’t.
Isaiah 3:12 says about our political leaders: “As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.”
Isaiah 9:13-16 adds to this, blaming both the political and religious leaders and the people following them:
“For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts. Therefore the LORD will cut off head and tail from Israel, Palm branch and bulrush in one day. The elder and honorable, he is the head; The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed.”
Here is one reason why God is so angry with the political leaders of our nations. Compare Isaiah 10:1-2: “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless.”
God condemns the leaders who design unrighteous laws to withhold and even take away justice, financial support and sustenance from the poor and the needy, so that they can fill their own bellies. These warnings and condemnations are not limited to the ancient and modern Houses of Israel and Judah, but they apply to all nations at all times, since God does not play favorites and He does not show partiality and He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34; Authorized Version), and since all are guilty of the same misconduct.
As we said before, God also condemns the religious leaders, together with the political leaders, and the people who follow their bad example. We read in Ezekiel 22:6-8, 26-27:
“Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you. In you they have made light of father and mother; in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths… Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.”
None of the political and religious leaders keep God’s Law. They do not cease from mistreating strangers; they do not stand up for peace and they do not forbid shedding blood by, for instance, fighting in war under any and all circumstances; they do not forbid abortion in any form since inception; and they do not keep the weekly and annual Sabbaths, nor do they tell their people that they must observe these days, while refraining from keeping pagan holy days, such as Christmas or Easter. Even the House of Judah does not keep God’s Holy Days in the way prescribed by God.
In what other way are the leaders of our nations described in the Bible, and what warnings are being given which our leaders should adhere to, but don’t?
Isaiah 28:14-18 states:
“Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.’ Therefore thus says the LORD God: ‘… Your covenant with death will be annulled, And your agreement with Sheol will not stand; When the overflowing scourge passes through, Then you will be trampled down by it.’”
As pointed out before, these comments are not limited to the city of Jerusalem or the House of Judah, as all leaders and nations are guilty of the same transgressions, including constantly lying to the people and breaking promises they made during election campaigns.
Note Proverbs 29:12: “If a ruler pays attention to lies, All his servants become wicked.” What leader is not guilty of lying and of listening to lying advisers? Otherwise, a politician would not have become a leader in this world ruled by Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44).
Proverbs 28:2 says: “Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes.” The Good News Translation says: “When a nation sins, it will have one ruler after another.” There is really no stability in this world. In some countries, a leader may rule longer than in other countries, but then such a country may have other major problems, not to mention being ruled by an autocratic dictatorship. And those in opposition, when they eventually come to power, usually find that what they said they would do, and might have even intended to do, is just not possible through many different constraints, and so the pattern continues as there are no real, permanent answers.
Proverbs 29:4 adds: “The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it.” The New American Bible says: “By justice a king builds up the land; but one who raises taxes tears it down.” The Revised Lutherbible 2017 writes: “… who demands high taxes destroys the land.” Overtaxing the people is such a common problem in this evil world. But make no mistake. God will hold those responsible who engage in such ungodly conduct.
God wants the rulers to stand up to plead the cause of the needy.
Proverbs 31:8 states: “Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 24:10-12 adds: “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?”
But none of the leaders will really look after and protect the needy, even though God’s commands in this regard and warnings are very clear. His words are to be and will be proclaimed. We will see later who is especially charged by God to fulfill that commission.
Notice the following admonitions to the religious leaders to warn the people, and God’s reaction to their failure to do so.
Ezekiel 13:4-6, 10 says:
“O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the LORD. They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD!’ But the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed… they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace…”
After charging the princes, the prophets and the priests with wrong (compare again Ezekiel 22:6-8, 26-27, quoted above), God continues in Ezekiel 22:28-30:
“Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the LORD had not spoken. The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”
Nobody among the political and religious leaders of the nations could and can be found to take a stand for the poor and to project, rather than oppress the stranger (whether they are in the country legally or illegally), nor was and is there a leader who stands up for the true God and tells the people to do likewise and do away their idols and false religious services, and to prevent the coming disaster to occur.
The same sad Truth that the land is full of evil, and that no leader is willing to do something about it, is pronounced in Isaiah 59:2-18:
“… your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity… Their works are works of iniquity, And the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace. Therefore justice is far from us, Nor does righteousness overtake us… We look for justice, but there is none… Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him That there was no justice.
“He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay.”
(To be continued)
Lead Writer: Norbert Link
compiled by Dave Harris
“Trump Meets Germany’s Chancellor Merz—What Was Most Critical?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
The long-awaited meeting between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Donald Trump has happened in the Oval Office. Merz had been encouraged not to appear as “supplicant,” but to stand up to Trump. However, most critical topics were not discussed, and Trump did most of the talking. But the Ukraine-Russia war was addressed, and in that respect, one could see disagreements between the two leaders. One comment by Trump stands out which, in the light of biblical prophecy, was of paramount importance.
“Trump trifft Merz – Was war am Kritischsten?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.
“How to Deal with God and Man,” a new booklet written by Brian Gale and Norbert Link, has been sent to graphic designer Shelly Bruno in preparation for printing. Those on our mailing list will automatically receive a copy.
“Abraham’s Test” is the latest video in our Bible Story Series on YouTube.
“Team-Geist,” the second German split sermon presented by Manuel Muller, is now posted. Title in English: “Team Spirit.”
“Weil ihr nicht bittet!,” the German Pentecost Offertory presented by Mario Danisch, is now posted. Title in English: “Because You Don’t Ask!”
“Comfort vs Truth,’ last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Kalon Mitchell, is now posted. Here is the summary:
What is it that we are seeking after? Do we seek comfort or truth? As a Christian, this question becomes even more important – only through Christ can we come to have true knowledge of the absolute Truth.
“Do you have the Holy Spirit?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
How do you know if you have God’s Holy Spirit within you? What are the characteristics and what is the fruit of the Holy Spirit? We should examine ourselves to see if Christ is in us through His Spirit. We must also ensure that we do not lose the Holy Spirit.
“The Foundation,” the Offertory for Pentecost presented by Frank Bruno, is now posted. Here is the summary:
As we observe Pentecost, we are reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit that true Christians receive when they are called to repentance and become baptized. We also know that this brings a responsibility in that we agree to commit our lives to God and His Son, Jesus Christ. While we remain imperfect human beings, we now have the Spirit to help guide our steps. This of course entails obedience to God and His commandments. This is the foundation of our faith and the reason that we make an offering to God on His Holy Days such as Pentecost.
“On All Flesh,” the sermon for Pentecost presented by Eric Rank, is now posted. Here is the summary:
On the day of Pentecost following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the gift of the Holy Spirit was a surprise to the Christians gathered together for worship. Yet, that gift was prophesied for all mankind. What is God’s plan for all? What does the Bible reveal about who will have the opportunity for salvation? How does it relate to the Feast of Pentecost?
This Update is an official publication by the ministry of the Church of the Eternal God in the United States of America; the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada; and the Global Church of God in the United Kingdom.
Editorial Team: Norbert Link, Dave Harris, Rene Messier, Brian Gale, Johanna Link, Eric Rank, Michael Link, Anna Link, Kalon Mitchell, Manuela Mitchell, Dawn Thompson
Technical Team: Eric Rank, Shana Rank
Our activities and literature, including booklets, weekly updates, sermons on CD are provided free of charge. They are made possible by the tithes, offerings and contributions of Church members and others who have elected to support this Work.
While we do not solicit the general public for funds, contributions are gratefully welcomed and are tax-deductible in the U.S. and Canada.
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On May 31, 2025, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Comfort VS Truth,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Do You Have the Holy Spirit?”
The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.
PENTECOST: On June 1, 2025, Frank Bruno will present the Offertory, titled, “The Foundation,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “On All Flesh.”
Live broadcast times will be the same as described above for Sabbath Services.
The Associated Press wrote on May 23:
“President Donald Trump on Friday threatened 25% tariff on Apple unless iPhones are made in America as well as a 50% tax on all imports from the European Union [starting June 1]. [Trump said the talks with the EU were going nowhere].”
The New York Post added on May 23:
“In response, the Dow dropped 256 points in a volatile day… while luxury automaker Volvo warned that prices on cars are going to spike… A warning to President Donald Trump: Everyone, including your friends, is starting to get a brutal case of tariff burnout… It’s one thing for your enemies to find you unpredictable, another for your friends to worry that you’re acting on pure whim.
“All this uncertainty exacts a cost of its own, angst that builds with every surprise twist. Every day, folks are nervous… Americans are really tired of tariffs… Even fans of the president’s theater can get sick of endless drama. Trump clearly sees tariffs as a wonderful hammer, but not everything is a nail.”
Bild Online wrote on May 24:
“In return, Trump is accepting punitive tariffs [of 50 percent] on [some] US exports to the EU. Because Brussels has no choice now.”
Subsequently, it was reported that Trump delayed his 50% EU tariffs. Trump’s tariffs policy will contribute to America’s financial ruin and its political isolation.
Reuters reported on May 29:
“A federal appeals court on Thursday reinstated the most sweeping of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, a day after a trade court had ruled Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing the duties and had ordered an immediate block on them. An order from the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington provided no opinion or reasoning but directed the plaintiffs in the case to respond by June 5 and the administration by June 9…
“Financial markets, which have whipsawed wildly in response to every twist and turn in Trump’s chaotic trade war, reacted with cautious optimism to the trade court ruling, though gains in stocks were largely limited by expectations that the court’s ruling faced a potentially lengthy appeals process. Indeed, analysts said broad uncertainty remained regarding the future of Trump’s tariffs, which have cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs…
“Emblematic of that uncertainty, a separate federal court earlier on Thursday had also found Trump overstepped his authority in using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for what he called ‘reciprocal’ tariffs of at least 10% on goods from most U.S. trading partners and for the separate 25% levies on goods from Canada, Mexico and China related to fentanyl. That ruling was much narrower, however, and the relief order stopping the tariffs only applied to the toy company that brought the case.”
The three judges on the trade court who unanimously blocked the tariffs were Judge Timothy Reif, who was nominated by Mr. Trump; Judge Jane Restani, who was nominated by former President Ronald Reagan; and Judge Gary Katzmann, who was nominated by former President Obama. “We are living under a judicial tyranny,” White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller wrote in response to the ruling by the trade court, adding that “the judicial coup is out of control.”
Travel and Tour World wrote on May 24:
“European airlines are freezing their transatlantic growth and pulling back from major U.S. cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago as they redirect flights to Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Caribbean, where bookings are rising and demand is outpacing the American market. Carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Iberia, and SAS have adjusted their summer schedules to reflect shifting traveler priorities, with more passengers opting for destinations that offer smoother entry, better seasonal deals, and fewer political complications. The changes mark a clear retreat from the U.S. at a time when international sentiment is cooling and alternative routes are proving far more profitable.
“The decision to reduce flights is being driven by a sharp drop in bookings, rising concerns among European travelers about safety and border restrictions, and growing political discomfort tied to President Donald Trump’s second term. Airlines that had once expanded aggressively across the Atlantic are now turning their attention elsewhere. Internal forecasts, passenger surveys, and travel agency reports across Europe point to one conclusion: fewer people are planning trips to the United States this year…
“Lufthansa has quietly reduced frequencies on its routes to New York, Miami, and Chicago, three of the airline’s most important U.S. destinations… several weekly flights have been removed compared to last year…
“British Airways has suspended service to Las Vegas and has reduced its operations to Orlando and Philadelphia… Air France has discontinued its Seattle route and trimmed service to Washington D.C. for the upcoming summer… KLM is cutting back flights to both San Francisco and Boston… Iberia has… reduced service between Madrid and Chicago… Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has canceled its routes from Oslo to Newark and Copenhagen to Los Angeles…
“… United Airlines has dropped its Newark–Tenerife service… Norse Atlantic Airways has pulled out of Miami–Oslo and Miami–Berlin… Lufthansa ended its Frankfurt–Minneapolis route on April 30… American Airlines suspended Miami–Paris… while KLM, Aer Lingus, and Iberia have all stepped back from routes including Miami–Amsterdam and Las Vegas–Dublin…
“Behind the numbers is a growing sense among European travelers that visiting the United States has become more difficult. The return of tariff tensions between Washington and Brussels, renewed warnings at U.S. borders, and reports of increased security screening are all feeding into traveler hesitancy. Several European countries have updated their advisories for citizens planning to visit the U.S… In response, airlines are simply following the trend… for now, the skies between Europe and America are looking quieter.”
Crazy! Meaning, that thanks to the Trump administration, the USA will suffer big time economically.
The Associated Press wrote on May 23:
“President Donald Trump said Friday that U.S. Steel will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh as part of what he called a ‘planned partnership’ that seemed to signal that he’ll approve a bid by Japan-based Nippon Steel [of 15 billion] to make a big investment in the iconic American steelmaker, if not buy it outright.
“Still, Trump’s statement left it vague as to whether he is approving Nippon Steel’s bid after he vowed repeatedly to block the deal to prevent U.S. Steel from being foreign-owned. More recently, Trump suggested that Nippon Steel would invest in U.S. Steel, not buy it, and one union official suggested Friday that the federal government will have a role in the company’s management going forward. But investors seemed to take Trump’s statement as a sign that he’s approving some sort of merger, sharply pushing up U.S. Steel’s shares [by 21%], and the companies issued approving statements.”
All of this seems to be in total contradiction to Trump’s previously declared goals for the USA.
Newsmax wrote on May 29:
“Elon Musk is leaving his government role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump… Musk’s departure comes one day after he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda, saying he was ‘disappointed; by what the president calls his ‘big beautiful bill.’… Musk’s concerns are shared by some Republican lawmakers…
“‘The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,’ he told The Washington Post. ‘I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.’…”
Breitbart wrote on May 23:
“A judge temporarily suspended Friday the Trump administration’s move to block Harvard from enrolling and hosting foreign students after the prestigious university sued, calling the action unconstitutional. On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign nationals, throwing the future of thousands of students and the lucrative income stream they provide into doubt. But Harvard sued, and Massachusetts district judge Allison Burroughs ordered that ‘The Trump administration is hereby enjoined from implementing… the revocation of Plaintiff’s SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification.’ There will be an injunction hearing on May 29, a court filing showed.
“President Donald Trump is furious at Harvard — which has produced 162 Nobel prize winners — for rejecting his demand that it submit to oversight on admissions and hiring over his claims that it is a hotbed of anti-Semitism and ‘woke’ liberal ideology…. The loss of foreign nationals — more than a quarter of its student body — could prove costly to Harvard, which charges tens of thousands of dollars a year in tuition… Noem had said Thursday that ‘this administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.’ Chinese students make up more than a fifth of Harvard’s international enrollment…”
Newsmax added on May 23:
“On Thursday, Noem said Harvard could restore its certification by turning over within 72 hours a raft of records about international students, including video or audio of their protest activity in the past five years.… Harvard called the revocation ‘unlawful many times over,’ saying the government violates the First Amendment by using coercion to police private speech, and forcing universities to surrender their academic freedom.”
Breitbart added on May 26:
“Harvard Law professor emeritus Laurence Tribe said Monday: ‘…This case involves Trump’s attempt to tell Harvard that it can no longer host foreign students. Now that’s crazy. There’s no legal basis for it. He’s talking about information that he would like about students. He wants to know details about what they say, what they think. That’s a violation of the First Amendment.’”
The possible attack on freedom of speech is indeed ironic in light of the next article.
Breitbart wrote on May 25:
“The Trump administration reportedly dispatched a team to meet with victims of Britain’s draconian speech restrictions amid growing concerns over the state of liberty in the United Kingdom. A group of five diplomats from the U.S. State Department were recently sent on a fact-finding mission in March to Britain to meet with pro-life activists who have been arrested for silently praying outside abortion clinics in the UK…
“The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) team also met with UK Foreign Office officials and members of the Ofcom broadcasting regulator, which was recently empowered to police speech on the internet in Britain by the controversial Online Safety Act. The legislation has reportedly become a major bone of contention between Washington and London, given the potential for the British authority to impose hefty fines on American social media firms for failing to police content on their platforms.
“The Trump administration has publicly chastised Britain for its increasingly restrictive speech codes, and reports have claimed that the issue could become a sticking point during trade negotiations…
“Reform UK leader and longtime Trump ally Nigel Farage remarked: ‘… My American friends cannot believe what is happening in the UK.’ During a February meeting in the Oval Office, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer denied that his country has a problem with free speech… According to a report last month from The Times of London, British police arrest more than 30 people every day for supposedly offensive comments on the internet or other platforms, totalling around 12,000 arrests per year.”
Censorship and restrictions on freedom and liberty everywhere…
Express wrote on May 24:
“Donald Trump made a major blunder at the White House during his meeting with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. The meeting turned confrontational after the US President presented his guest with alleged evidence of genocide committed against White South African farmers. In a moment that caught Ramaphosa and his delegation by surprise, Trump showed a screenshot of a video he claimed showed a mass grave of White farmers. ‘These are all white farmers that are being buried,’ Trump said as he glowered at his South African counterpart. However, the video – shot by Reuters – recorded the aftermath of an attack by a Rwanda-backed rebel paramilitary group in Congo.
“Published by the international news agency on February 3, the video showed humanitarian workers lifting body bags in the Congolese city of Goma. The image was pulled from footage of a mass burial following an M23 rebel assault on Goma, filmed by video journalist Djaffar Al Katanty. Al Katanty was stunned to see his video used during the meeting. ‘In view of all the world, President Trump used my image, used what I filmed in DRC to try to convince President Ramaphosa that in his country, White people are being killed by Black people,’ he said. However, a BBC report identified the crosses as part of a memorial to a couple who were killed in 2020.
“While South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, most of the victims are Black. Of the more than 26,000 murders committed in 2024, eight of those were of farmers, according to South African Police Service (SAPS) figures.”
Whether or not there is genocide against white farmers in South Africa, the incompetence with which the Trump administration presented its case is shocking and embarrassing.
Newsmax wrote on May 24:
“The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is on a collision course with the Trump administration over competing views on immigration and the role the government should play in caring for at-risk migrants… This USCCB chastised the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) for rescinding a policy that gave guidance on the care, custody and documentation of pregnant women they encounter.
“Bishop Mark J. Seitz, of El Paso, Texas, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration wrote, ‘It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved… This decision is all the more concerning as the [Trump] administration simultaneously ramps up family detention in place of safer, more cost-effective alternatives to detention,’ Seitz said.
“‘Let us be clear: protecting pregnant mothers and their children can never be considered “obsolete.” This principle irrefutably extends to noncitizens in immigration detention, each of whom possesses an inviolable, God-given dignity that must be respected. We urge the Administration to reissue guidance that adequately reflects and affirms the increased standard of care due to this vulnerable population while in government custody,’ he added.
“Time will tell how much a of conflict the Catholic church generally and Pope Leo XIV specifically will have with the Trump administration over the issue of illegal immigration… Although he has yet to address the issue publicly, Pope Leo’s brother John Prevost told the New York Times, ‘I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.’”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is correct in this case.
The Blaze wrote on May 22:
“Washington State Senate Bill 5375, passed earlier this month… would force Catholic priests who hear admissions of abuse within the context of the sacrament of confession to break the seal of the sacrament and report those admissions to the state, even though all other recognized privileges — like those between doctor and patient and lawyer and client — are preserved…
“The practice of confession [is] a sacrament where we believe God extends His forgiveness for our sins, which we must lay out to a priest, Christ’s representative on earth. It’s a ritual: You list your sins in conversation with a priest, often anonymously or from behind a screen, and in return, the priest assigns a penance and grants absolution. It’s also a ritual critical to the spiritual life of Catholics. Without forgiveness and absolution, Catholics who die in a state of sin could go straight to hell, and Catholics who live in a state of mortal sin are barred from communion, which is the heart of our faith…
“Priests who are found to be uncompliant could face a year in jail or thousands of dollars in fines… And priests who do comply would face excommunication… because the issue of confessional confidentiality is covered right there in the Church’s own catechism…
“In a statement issued May 5, [the Trump administration] vowed to fight the Washington law on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment’s right to free exercise since it infringes on a core, sincerely held religious dogma…”
Confession (even though not biblical) is at the heart and core of the Catholic Church’s teaching. It will never abrogate that “sacrament.”
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 23:
“The inexorable decline of the American Empire has arrived at an Imperial Paradox. It must either fight a war and die, or not fight a war and yet still die…
“The Pentagon must understand it cannot sustain logistics in a war against China in the western Pacific. It simply cannot be done…
“In the context of a war against Iran, all the geography is against the US… The US Navy could only operate at extreme risk in the southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf. Every US base in the region is well within range of Iranian missile strikes…
“From a geographic and logistical standpoint, the only remotely conceivable war is one in Ukraine against Russia. The US at least has bases and forces already in place in the UK, Germany, Poland, Romania, Finland… Of course, whether or not such a condition persists long in a war scenario is another question altogether…
“So if you’re an empire that thinks it needs a war to reaffirm at least its short-term relevance and fading glory … well, these are your choices. Sic transit gloria mundi.”
Thus passes the glory of the world…
Bloomberg wrote on May 22:
“As Europe waits anxiously for US President Donald Trump’s possible rollback of security commitments in Ukraine’s war against Russia, Germany wants to play more of a leading role. Speaking in Lithuania yesterday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany’s military is prepared to defend the Baltic region against ‘any threat.’ The new German leader and his defense minister, Boris Pistorius, traveled to Vilnius to take part in the first ceremonial roll call of the Panzer Brigade 45 [Germany’s biggest foreign military mission since World War II.]”
“Since taking office earlier this year, the center-right chancellor has pledged to transform the German military into Europe’s strongest army. G-7 finance ministers meanwhile agreed to continue supporting Ukraine as it attempts to keep Russia at bay. For its part, the EU is also giving its dedicated defense fund a 40 million Euro boast.”
Deutsche Welle reported on May 24:
“Germany is considering bringing back military conscription from next year unless more volunteers sign up for the armed forces, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said… The initial plan to boost numbers will rely on volunteers, but Pistorius warned that could change if numbers remain insufficient. Compulsory military service was scrapped in 2011…
“‘If the time comes when we have more capacity available than voluntary registrations, then a decision may be made to make recruitment mandatory. That is the roadmap,’ he added…”
It will come… sadly.
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26:
“An Austrian court on Monday overturned former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s conviction for giving false testimony to a parliamentary inquiry. ‘Sebastian Kurz… is acquitted,’ a three-member panel of judges said…
“Kurz was found guilty of making false statements in February 2024 and was given an eight-month suspended sentence, a conviction he then appealed. In his appeal, Kurz argued that he was interrupted during his testimony and that the judge who handed out his conviction was biased…
“Kurz is still under investigation for corruption in a separate case. Prosecutors suspect him of embezzling state funds, diverting them to polls distorted to boost his popularity.”
EurAsia Daily wrote on May 23:
“The readiness of the European Union to maintain a Ukrainian army of one million people poses a threat to the security of the EU countries themselves, since Ukraine is an unstable state. This was stated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban… ‘Ukraine is a politically unstable state, and no one can say what kind of government there will be,’ he warned.
“Accordingly, there are no guarantees that Ukraine, and therefore its armed forces, will take a friendly position towards the EU countries. Therefore, Orban stressed that the financing by the European Union of the million-strong Ukrainian army at the suggestion of Kiev creates a ‘serious threat to European security.’
“… the Government of Hungary from the very beginning of the conflict on Ukraine refused to supply weapons there and opposed the provision of military assistance to it. Budapest condemned Moscow’s actions, but at the same time always stressed that the Ukrainian conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield, it should be settled through negotiations.”
Ukraine and Russia WILL become allies against Europe.
Focus wrote on May 24:
“The week began with a shock for Europe. After his phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, [Trump] dropped the bombshell in a conversation with the European heads of state: The US is no longer interested in acting as peace mediator. And sanctions against Putin, which Trump had previously promised, were suddenly off the table. The German magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ has now reconstructed what really happened in the shock phone call between Trump and the Europeans (Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, and Alexander Stubb)…
“The Europeans had hoped that Trump would read Putin the riot act during their phone call. Trump, who recently said that Putin might just be leading him on, is supposed to reinforce the new sanctions threats, according to the Europeans’ wishes. But Trump has none of that. Instead, according to ‘Spiegel,’ Trump says Putin doesn’t want a deal. And Ukraine is now the Europeans’ problem. Sanctions, ceasefire, not a word about that.
“The Europeans know immediately: As before, Putin has lulled Trump into a false sense of security. As several media outlets report, there is a very long silence afterward. And all Europeans ask themselves: How can we keep Trump in this process? And above all: Who of us?
“In the end, it is Friedrich Merz who takes the floor. As ‘Der Spiegel’ reports, citing diplomats and government circles, he says he wants to ‘summarize’ the situation. Merz says technical talks must now begin. The Chancellor also says that the Vatican could host such talks, as Trump suggested. Trump’s reaction: ‘Fine by me.’ Merz subsequently asked twice whether Trump was really part of it. It would be nothing new for Trump to suddenly back down. But the US President promises to send his special envoy on this matter…
“It is the absolute minimum success on a shocking day for Europe. Friedrich Merz himself threatened Putin with harsh consequences if there would be no ceasefire. He had believed he had the agreed-upon backing of Donald Trump. But he abandoned him again, just like he abandoned Ukraine.”
news.de wrote on May 25:
“Ben Hodges is shocked by Donald Trump’s behavior in the Ukraine war. The former US general [who commanded the US Army in Europe] speaks in a recent interview about the US president’s betrayal of his allies and simultaneously revealed Vladimir Putin’s true war aim… ‘After all the loud talk about solving the problem in 24 hours, I think the credibility of this president and this administration will be severely damaged by this failure.’
“And further: ‘If the US turns away and says, “Hey, Europe, this is your problem!” I think that would be a real betrayal of our allies who have stood by us for decades… Russia has never changed its war aims. It’s still about the destruction of Ukraine and the idea of Ukraine as a state’…
“However, he is also convinced that Putin’s goals are much bigger than Ukraine. ‘Russia’s goal is to break NATO… And they achieve that by attacking a NATO country to see if we all respond appropriately. And if not, then I think it’s the end of the alliance,’ said Hodges…”
Bild Online wrote on May 24:
“Another setback for any hopes of peace in Ukraine in the near future. Vladimir Putin’s (72) regime now refuses to sign any peace agreement with Ukraine as long as the democratically elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (47) remains in office.”
Newsmax wrote on May 26:
“President Donald Trump used his social media platform to take aim at Vladimir Putin, calling the Russian president ‘absolutely crazy’ for continuing to fire missiles that are killing Ukrainian citizens. Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for saying things that help undermine the U.S. president’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
“‘I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!… He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!…’
“Earlier Sunday, Trump expressed deep unhappiness at Russia’s weekend bombing of Ukraine, saying of the Russian president, ‘I’m not happy with Putin… I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him? Right? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that,’ Trump told reporters at the airport in Morristown, New Jersey, as he prepared to return to Washington.
“Trump spoke in reaction to a Russian barrage of 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities overnight on Sunday, including the capital Kyiv, in the largest aerial attack of the war so far, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more.”
Trump added on May 27: “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!”
Trump also announced now that there will be sanctions against Russia. Russia responded by saying that Trump is suffering from “emotional overload.”
Now, when did Trump ever say that Putin wants all of Ukraine? If Russia and Ukraine unite, that will not lead to the immediate downfall of Russia. That downfall will come later.
The Guardian wrote on May 28:
“German chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday during a visit by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets in Russian territory…
“The production of long-range weapons ‘can take place both in Ukraine and here in Germany,’ he said… Germany will provide further military support for Ukraine amounting to about €5bn ($5.65bn)…”
The New York Post added on May 28:
“Merz said last Monday that Germany and other major allies were no longer imposing range limits on weapons they send to Ukraine, although he indicated their use was limited to Russian military targets…”
Israel Today wrote on May 23:
“Nearly 600 days after the outbreak of the October 7 war, and Israel has sunk to an all-time low in its international standing. Some of its closest allies—Britain, France, and Canada—have threatened sanctions if the war in Gaza continues. Never before has such a harshly worded statement been directed at Israel, effectively branding it a pariah state…
“Most astonishing and alarming is the silence of the United States, Israel’s steadfast ally that has always stood by its side. Not a single word of condemnation from Washington regarding this threatening statement from other Western powers. If President Donald Trump was accused of throwing Israel under the bus, this is now taking tangible form on the global stage…”
And so, Israel will end up all alone.
Newsmax wrote on May 25:
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a full-fledged takeover of Gaza from Hamas terrorists, but the U.S. is pushing to delay that until the remaining hostages are returned, effectively giving the terrorists justification for their holding of what Israel has called its ‘human shields.’…
“Netanyahu has pledged to hold all areas under full Israel control to accomplish the long-stated war goals: 1. Return all hostages. 2. Destroy Hamas in total. 3. Deradicalize and demilitarize Gaza.
Netanyahu’s regime contends that third goal can only be accomplished with Israel’s occupation of Gaza to root out radical anti-Israel extremism that led to the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.
The security situation in Gaza remains tenuous without a controlling force, under Israel’s view.
“Not only are Hamas terrorists reportedly looting the humanitarian aid for the innocent civilians, but they are also reportedly firing on civilians trying to access the aid that the world leaders have demanded Israel release. Israel has long warned aid is getting stolen by the very hostage-holding terrorists Israel seeks to remove from power…”
How much longer does Trump want to delay this? Admittedly, one has to note that Trump’s foreign policy has been pretty unsuccessful so far.
Breitbart wrote on May 25:
“The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have stepped up their attacks on Israel, firing three ballistic missiles in the last four days. Though all were intercepted by missile defenses, the pace of the attacks is a notable escalation. Moreover, the attacks have come despite a Houthi ceasefire with the United States; ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran on a possible nuclear deal; and Israeli reprisals at Yemen’s Hodeidah port and Sanaa airport…
“Both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have said in the past that Iran is ultimately responsible for Houthi attacks. Israel could conceivably use that as justification to attack Iran. However, that would risk interfering in the ongoing diplomatic effort between the U.S. and Iran — an effort that is not making much progress, given that Iran refuses to accede to demands to stop enriching uranium.”
Breitbart wrote on May 28:
“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded to days of missile attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday, targeting the Sanaa airport and destroying the Houthis’ last serviceable airplane… The other planes were destroyed in an Israeli strike on the airport on May 6… It is unclear whether, or when, Israel will target Iran in response to Houthi attacks, though Netanyahu keeps raising the possibility…”
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26:
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that Israel’s ‘current level of attacks on Gaza can no longer be justified by the fight against Hamas.’ ‘Harming the civilian population to such an extent, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism,’ he told German public broadcaster WDR in a televised interview.
“He added he planned to hold a call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week to tell him ‘to not overdo it,’ though for ‘historical reasons,’ Germany would always be more guarded in its criticism than some European partners. ‘But if lines are crossed, where international humanitarian law is really being violated, then Germany, the German chancellor, must also say something about it,’ Merz said.”
Report 24 wrote on May 25:
“The mainstream media bombards the public with images of children with wide, pleading eyes… Instead of demanding evidence or sources, hatred against Israel is sweeping through the country… Ever since the Middle East conflict began, there have been countless lies emanating from the machinery of the so-called ‘Palestinians’ and their ‘National Authority’…
“On May 20, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, via the formerly highly respected BBC, claimed that 14,000 babies in Gaza were at risk of dying within 48 hours… Tom Fletcher had fabricated the story. There is no truth to it. And the BBC failed to question it or classify it. Israel has been exposed to the hatred of the world. This doesn’t happen by chance—it’s a calculated move. Of course, the ORF [in Austria] also participated in the unreflective spread of this lie…
“The wrongly accused Jews once again had to do their own research to find out the background to the story. It was discovered that Fletcher was referring to a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which estimated that up to 14,000 children between 6 months and 6 years of age could be affected by malnutrition over a period of one year… There were no current threats of death within 48 hours…
“A high-ranking UN official went public with a fact that, upon closer examination, feeds the centuries-old antisemitic narratives that have led to pogroms, i.e., mass murder and expulsion, in many places. The ritual murder legend of the Jew as baby murderer. First historically documented in 1144 in England, when Jews were accused, without any evidence, of murdering a Christian boy. In 1475, a two-year-old boy was found dead in Trento. The authorities subsequently had all the city’s Jews tortured and executed. The image of the child-murdering Jews was taken up by Nazi propaganda…
“We live in a time in which leftists, Muslims, and National Socialists are fraternizing to incite hatred against Israel and attack Jews. Yet, every lie seems to be justified. As a media consumer, one should have learned, at the very latest after the madness of the Corona period, to question everything critically… Anyone who relies on mainstream media is abandoned. Not just during the Corona pandemic, but always…”
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.
| Live Services | Comfort VS Truth / Do You Have the Holy Spirit? |
|---|---|
| Editorial | Watch Out! |
| Current Events | This Week in the News |
| Q&A | Is Jesus Christ a Spirit Being Today? (Part 2) |
| The Work | Preaching the Gospel and Feeding the Flock |
On May 31, 2025, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “Comfort VS Truth,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Do You Have the Holy Spirit?”
The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.
PENTECOST: On June 1, 2025, Frank Bruno will present the Offertory, titled, “The Foundation,” and Eric Rank will present the sermon, titled, “On All Flesh.”
Live broadcast times will be the same as described above for Sabbath Services.
by Michael Link
With current and looming problems in full effect around the world, bringing about increasing instability, due to ongoing threats, terrorism, and unrest all around, how are we to deal with this and where are WE to place our trust? Members and associates of the true Church of God are admonished to “be sober, be vigilant,” or, in other words, self-controlled and watchful, “because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Being sober and being vigilant both go hand in hand, for if we are not sober or in a clear state of mind, then we can be caught off guard, which could lead us to sin because of temptation. Sobriety and watchfulness are very necessary for our Christian life, and if we are not sober in body and mind, we would not be watchful over ourselves and also over world events in fulfillment of biblical prophecy.
Peter continues on explaining why we are to be sober and vigilant by saying, “…because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Satan is our enemy, our opponent. The Bible commentary, Barnes’ Notes of the Bible, explains that “Satan opposes man in his best interests. He resists his efforts to do good; his purposes to return to God; his attempts to secure his own salvation. There is no more appropriate appellation that can be given to him than to say that he resists all our efforts to obey God and to secure the salvation of our own souls.”
So then, Satan will do everything in his power to deter us, to throw us off guard, making sure that we will fail. He will use any means possible in ways we probably wouldn’t recognize at first, and that is why we need to be circumspect at ALL times.
We are aware that Satan is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31), and he is responsible for many terrible disasters to occur, keeping in mind that God allows them to happen. Insofar as the Church is concerned, we may not necessarily fall victim to those who have lost their lives in such extreme and horrific ways, but Satan uses his cunning craftiness to attack us, to strike us where we are weak and where we may struggle, tempting us to sin, trying to make sure that we will not succeed, but only to FAIL.
We CAN succeed and God expects that of us. God provides us with tools and promises if we put our trust in Him. By remaining vigilant, we can protect ourselves by putting on the whole armor of God (compare Ephesians 6:11-18).
We have a bigger challenge ahead of us, compared to the rest of the world, for we have the knowledge and the understanding as to how to defeat Satan, to overcome our trials and to live a righteous godly life, for God has chosen US now to come out of this world, and He has given US, as the firstfruits, the first opportunity to inherit eternal salvation, ahead of all others.
Because we know this, we can also expect to go through trials continuously which God allows, to test our strength and commitment to see whether or not we will overcome until the end and be counted worthy, so we can ultimately be a part of God’s Family (compare Matthew 24:13; Luke 21:36; Revelation 2:26).
Satan is compared to a roaring lion that seeks those whom he wants to devour. Yet in Revelation 12:12, a warning is placed to everyone on this earth, especially God’s elect, when Satan will attack. “…Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Satan will strike as a roaring lion, implying his violent and voracious thirst for prey as a hungry beast.
We continue to preach that we are living in the end time and Christ’s return is near, and therefore we must understand how QUICKLY things can materialize. If we are not watchful, but rather ignorant to what is happening around the world, as things continue to progress in light of biblical prophecy, then we will be in the same category of people as Christ explains in Matthew 24:48-51 where “the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of” and we will be caught unaware (also compare Mark 13:32-37).
We have a duty to fulfill. Jesus Christ makes it very clear how vigilant we must be at ALL times, in ANY situation. Our calling to the Truth should not be taken for granted; neither is it a free pass to everlasting life, but it is something we need to work at continually, asking God for more wisdom and strength so that we can overcome Satan’s schemes.
by Norbert Link
In this issue, we discuss President Trump’s confusing tariffs policy and European reactions; developments regarding alleged efforts to restrict freedom of speech in the USA and the UK; President Trump’s major blunder regarding South Africa; and we quote interesting articles pertaining to the Catholic Church.
We speak on developments in Germany and Austria; shocking and surprising reports on the Russia-Ukraine war; and conclude with several articles about the world’s hateful condemnation of Israel. Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Why This Hatred for Israel and the Jews?”
Please note our new message, “The Downfall of America, Britain and Israel—Comments on News and Prophecy, May 24, 2025.”
The Associated Press wrote on May 23:
“President Donald Trump on Friday threatened 25% tariff on Apple unless iPhones are made in America as well as a 50% tax on all imports from the European Union [starting June 1]. [Trump said the talks with the EU were going nowhere].”
The New York Post added on May 23:
“In response, the Dow dropped 256 points in a volatile day… while luxury automaker Volvo warned that prices on cars are going to spike… A warning to President Donald Trump: Everyone, including your friends, is starting to get a brutal case of tariff burnout… It’s one thing for your enemies to find you unpredictable, another for your friends to worry that you’re acting on pure whim.
“All this uncertainty exacts a cost of its own, angst that builds with every surprise twist. Every day, folks are nervous… Americans are really tired of tariffs… Even fans of the president’s theater can get sick of endless drama. Trump clearly sees tariffs as a wonderful hammer, but not everything is a nail.”
Bild Online wrote on May 24:
“In return, Trump is accepting punitive tariffs [of 50 percent] on [some] US exports to the EU. Because Brussels has no choice now.”
Subsequently, it was reported that Trump delayed his 50% EU tariffs. Trump’s tariffs policy will contribute to America’s financial ruin and its political isolation.
Reuters reported on May 29:
“A federal appeals court on Thursday reinstated the most sweeping of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, a day after a trade court had ruled Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing the duties and had ordered an immediate block on them. An order from the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington provided no opinion or reasoning but directed the plaintiffs in the case to respond by June 5 and the administration by June 9…
“Financial markets, which have whipsawed wildly in response to every twist and turn in Trump’s chaotic trade war, reacted with cautious optimism to the trade court ruling, though gains in stocks were largely limited by expectations that the court’s ruling faced a potentially lengthy appeals process. Indeed, analysts said broad uncertainty remained regarding the future of Trump’s tariffs, which have cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs…
“Emblematic of that uncertainty, a separate federal court earlier on Thursday had also found Trump overstepped his authority in using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for what he called ‘reciprocal’ tariffs of at least 10% on goods from most U.S. trading partners and for the separate 25% levies on goods from Canada, Mexico and China related to fentanyl. That ruling was much narrower, however, and the relief order stopping the tariffs only applied to the toy company that brought the case.”
The three judges on the trade court who unanimously blocked the tariffs were Judge Timothy Reif, who was nominated by Mr. Trump; Judge Jane Restani, who was nominated by former President Ronald Reagan; and Judge Gary Katzmann, who was nominated by former President Obama. “We are living under a judicial tyranny,” White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller wrote in response to the ruling by the trade court, adding that “the judicial coup is out of control.”
Travel and Tour World wrote on May 24:
“European airlines are freezing their transatlantic growth and pulling back from major U.S. cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago as they redirect flights to Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Caribbean, where bookings are rising and demand is outpacing the American market. Carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Iberia, and SAS have adjusted their summer schedules to reflect shifting traveler priorities, with more passengers opting for destinations that offer smoother entry, better seasonal deals, and fewer political complications. The changes mark a clear retreat from the U.S. at a time when international sentiment is cooling and alternative routes are proving far more profitable.
“The decision to reduce flights is being driven by a sharp drop in bookings, rising concerns among European travelers about safety and border restrictions, and growing political discomfort tied to President Donald Trump’s second term. Airlines that had once expanded aggressively across the Atlantic are now turning their attention elsewhere. Internal forecasts, passenger surveys, and travel agency reports across Europe point to one conclusion: fewer people are planning trips to the United States this year…
“Lufthansa has quietly reduced frequencies on its routes to New York, Miami, and Chicago, three of the airline’s most important U.S. destinations… several weekly flights have been removed compared to last year…
“British Airways has suspended service to Las Vegas and has reduced its operations to Orlando and Philadelphia… Air France has discontinued its Seattle route and trimmed service to Washington D.C. for the upcoming summer… KLM is cutting back flights to both San Francisco and Boston… Iberia has… reduced service between Madrid and Chicago… Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has canceled its routes from Oslo to Newark and Copenhagen to Los Angeles…
“… United Airlines has dropped its Newark–Tenerife service… Norse Atlantic Airways has pulled out of Miami–Oslo and Miami–Berlin… Lufthansa ended its Frankfurt–Minneapolis route on April 30… American Airlines suspended Miami–Paris… while KLM, Aer Lingus, and Iberia have all stepped back from routes including Miami–Amsterdam and Las Vegas–Dublin…
“Behind the numbers is a growing sense among European travelers that visiting the United States has become more difficult. The return of tariff tensions between Washington and Brussels, renewed warnings at U.S. borders, and reports of increased security screening are all feeding into traveler hesitancy. Several European countries have updated their advisories for citizens planning to visit the U.S… In response, airlines are simply following the trend… for now, the skies between Europe and America are looking quieter.”
Crazy! Meaning, that thanks to the Trump administration, the USA will suffer big time economically.
The Associated Press wrote on May 23:
“President Donald Trump said Friday that U.S. Steel will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh as part of what he called a ‘planned partnership’ that seemed to signal that he’ll approve a bid by Japan-based Nippon Steel [of 15 billion] to make a big investment in the iconic American steelmaker, if not buy it outright.
“Still, Trump’s statement left it vague as to whether he is approving Nippon Steel’s bid after he vowed repeatedly to block the deal to prevent U.S. Steel from being foreign-owned. More recently, Trump suggested that Nippon Steel would invest in U.S. Steel, not buy it, and one union official suggested Friday that the federal government will have a role in the company’s management going forward. But investors seemed to take Trump’s statement as a sign that he’s approving some sort of merger, sharply pushing up U.S. Steel’s shares [by 21%], and the companies issued approving statements.”
All of this seems to be in total contradiction to Trump’s previously declared goals for the USA.
Newsmax wrote on May 29:
“Elon Musk is leaving his government role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump… Musk’s departure comes one day after he criticized the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda, saying he was ‘disappointed; by what the president calls his ‘big beautiful bill.’… Musk’s concerns are shared by some Republican lawmakers…
“‘The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,’ he told The Washington Post. ‘I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.’…”
Breitbart wrote on May 23:
“A judge temporarily suspended Friday the Trump administration’s move to block Harvard from enrolling and hosting foreign students after the prestigious university sued, calling the action unconstitutional. On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll foreign nationals, throwing the future of thousands of students and the lucrative income stream they provide into doubt. But Harvard sued, and Massachusetts district judge Allison Burroughs ordered that ‘The Trump administration is hereby enjoined from implementing… the revocation of Plaintiff’s SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certification.’ There will be an injunction hearing on May 29, a court filing showed.
“President Donald Trump is furious at Harvard — which has produced 162 Nobel prize winners — for rejecting his demand that it submit to oversight on admissions and hiring over his claims that it is a hotbed of anti-Semitism and ‘woke’ liberal ideology…. The loss of foreign nationals — more than a quarter of its student body — could prove costly to Harvard, which charges tens of thousands of dollars a year in tuition… Noem had said Thursday that ‘this administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.’ Chinese students make up more than a fifth of Harvard’s international enrollment…”
Newsmax added on May 23:
“On Thursday, Noem said Harvard could restore its certification by turning over within 72 hours a raft of records about international students, including video or audio of their protest activity in the past five years.… Harvard called the revocation ‘unlawful many times over,’ saying the government violates the First Amendment by using coercion to police private speech, and forcing universities to surrender their academic freedom.”
Breitbart added on May 26:
“Harvard Law professor emeritus Laurence Tribe said Monday: ‘…This case involves Trump’s attempt to tell Harvard that it can no longer host foreign students. Now that’s crazy. There’s no legal basis for it. He’s talking about information that he would like about students. He wants to know details about what they say, what they think. That’s a violation of the First Amendment.’”
The possible attack on freedom of speech is indeed ironic in light of the next article.
Breitbart wrote on May 25:
“The Trump administration reportedly dispatched a team to meet with victims of Britain’s draconian speech restrictions amid growing concerns over the state of liberty in the United Kingdom. A group of five diplomats from the U.S. State Department were recently sent on a fact-finding mission in March to Britain to meet with pro-life activists who have been arrested for silently praying outside abortion clinics in the UK…
“The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) team also met with UK Foreign Office officials and members of the Ofcom broadcasting regulator, which was recently empowered to police speech on the internet in Britain by the controversial Online Safety Act. The legislation has reportedly become a major bone of contention between Washington and London, given the potential for the British authority to impose hefty fines on American social media firms for failing to police content on their platforms.
“The Trump administration has publicly chastised Britain for its increasingly restrictive speech codes, and reports have claimed that the issue could become a sticking point during trade negotiations…
“Reform UK leader and longtime Trump ally Nigel Farage remarked: ‘… My American friends cannot believe what is happening in the UK.’ During a February meeting in the Oval Office, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer denied that his country has a problem with free speech… According to a report last month from The Times of London, British police arrest more than 30 people every day for supposedly offensive comments on the internet or other platforms, totalling around 12,000 arrests per year.”
Censorship and restrictions on freedom and liberty everywhere…
Express wrote on May 24:
“Donald Trump made a major blunder at the White House during his meeting with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. The meeting turned confrontational after the US President presented his guest with alleged evidence of genocide committed against White South African farmers. In a moment that caught Ramaphosa and his delegation by surprise, Trump showed a screenshot of a video he claimed showed a mass grave of White farmers. ‘These are all white farmers that are being buried,’ Trump said as he glowered at his South African counterpart. However, the video – shot by Reuters – recorded the aftermath of an attack by a Rwanda-backed rebel paramilitary group in Congo.
“Published by the international news agency on February 3, the video showed humanitarian workers lifting body bags in the Congolese city of Goma. The image was pulled from footage of a mass burial following an M23 rebel assault on Goma, filmed by video journalist Djaffar Al Katanty. Al Katanty was stunned to see his video used during the meeting. ‘In view of all the world, President Trump used my image, used what I filmed in DRC to try to convince President Ramaphosa that in his country, White people are being killed by Black people,’ he said. However, a BBC report identified the crosses as part of a memorial to a couple who were killed in 2020.
“While South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, most of the victims are Black. Of the more than 26,000 murders committed in 2024, eight of those were of farmers, according to South African Police Service (SAPS) figures.”
Whether or not there is genocide against white farmers in South Africa, the incompetence with which the Trump administration presented its case is shocking and embarrassing.
Newsmax wrote on May 24:
“The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is on a collision course with the Trump administration over competing views on immigration and the role the government should play in caring for at-risk migrants… This USCCB chastised the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) for rescinding a policy that gave guidance on the care, custody and documentation of pregnant women they encounter.
“Bishop Mark J. Seitz, of El Paso, Texas, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration wrote, ‘It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved… This decision is all the more concerning as the [Trump] administration simultaneously ramps up family detention in place of safer, more cost-effective alternatives to detention,’ Seitz said.
“‘Let us be clear: protecting pregnant mothers and their children can never be considered “obsolete.” This principle irrefutably extends to noncitizens in immigration detention, each of whom possesses an inviolable, God-given dignity that must be respected. We urge the Administration to reissue guidance that adequately reflects and affirms the increased standard of care due to this vulnerable population while in government custody,’ he added.
“Time will tell how much a of conflict the Catholic church generally and Pope Leo XIV specifically will have with the Trump administration over the issue of illegal immigration… Although he has yet to address the issue publicly, Pope Leo’s brother John Prevost told the New York Times, ‘I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration. I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back. I don’t think he’ll be the silent one.’”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is correct in this case.
The Blaze wrote on May 22:
“Washington State Senate Bill 5375, passed earlier this month… would force Catholic priests who hear admissions of abuse within the context of the sacrament of confession to break the seal of the sacrament and report those admissions to the state, even though all other recognized privileges — like those between doctor and patient and lawyer and client — are preserved…
“The practice of confession [is] a sacrament where we believe God extends His forgiveness for our sins, which we must lay out to a priest, Christ’s representative on earth. It’s a ritual: You list your sins in conversation with a priest, often anonymously or from behind a screen, and in return, the priest assigns a penance and grants absolution. It’s also a ritual critical to the spiritual life of Catholics. Without forgiveness and absolution, Catholics who die in a state of sin could go straight to hell, and Catholics who live in a state of mortal sin are barred from communion, which is the heart of our faith…
“Priests who are found to be uncompliant could face a year in jail or thousands of dollars in fines… And priests who do comply would face excommunication… because the issue of confessional confidentiality is covered right there in the Church’s own catechism…
“In a statement issued May 5, [the Trump administration] vowed to fight the Washington law on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment’s right to free exercise since it infringes on a core, sincerely held religious dogma…”
Confession (even though not biblical) is at the heart and core of the Catholic Church’s teaching. It will never abrogate that “sacrament.”
The Ron Paul Institute wrote on May 23:
“The inexorable decline of the American Empire has arrived at an Imperial Paradox. It must either fight a war and die, or not fight a war and yet still die…
“The Pentagon must understand it cannot sustain logistics in a war against China in the western Pacific. It simply cannot be done…
“In the context of a war against Iran, all the geography is against the US… The US Navy could only operate at extreme risk in the southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf. Every US base in the region is well within range of Iranian missile strikes…
“From a geographic and logistical standpoint, the only remotely conceivable war is one in Ukraine against Russia. The US at least has bases and forces already in place in the UK, Germany, Poland, Romania, Finland… Of course, whether or not such a condition persists long in a war scenario is another question altogether…
“So if you’re an empire that thinks it needs a war to reaffirm at least its short-term relevance and fading glory … well, these are your choices. Sic transit gloria mundi.”
Thus passes the glory of the world…
Bloomberg wrote on May 22:
“As Europe waits anxiously for US President Donald Trump’s possible rollback of security commitments in Ukraine’s war against Russia, Germany wants to play more of a leading role. Speaking in Lithuania yesterday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany’s military is prepared to defend the Baltic region against ‘any threat.’ The new German leader and his defense minister, Boris Pistorius, traveled to Vilnius to take part in the first ceremonial roll call of the Panzer Brigade 45 [Germany’s biggest foreign military mission since World War II.]”
“Since taking office earlier this year, the center-right chancellor has pledged to transform the German military into Europe’s strongest army. G-7 finance ministers meanwhile agreed to continue supporting Ukraine as it attempts to keep Russia at bay. For its part, the EU is also giving its dedicated defense fund a 40 million Euro boast.”
Deutsche Welle reported on May 24:
“Germany is considering bringing back military conscription from next year unless more volunteers sign up for the armed forces, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said… The initial plan to boost numbers will rely on volunteers, but Pistorius warned that could change if numbers remain insufficient. Compulsory military service was scrapped in 2011…
“‘If the time comes when we have more capacity available than voluntary registrations, then a decision may be made to make recruitment mandatory. That is the roadmap,’ he added…”
It will come… sadly.
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26:
“An Austrian court on Monday overturned former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s conviction for giving false testimony to a parliamentary inquiry. ‘Sebastian Kurz… is acquitted,’ a three-member panel of judges said…
“Kurz was found guilty of making false statements in February 2024 and was given an eight-month suspended sentence, a conviction he then appealed. In his appeal, Kurz argued that he was interrupted during his testimony and that the judge who handed out his conviction was biased…
“Kurz is still under investigation for corruption in a separate case. Prosecutors suspect him of embezzling state funds, diverting them to polls distorted to boost his popularity.”
EurAsia Daily wrote on May 23:
“The readiness of the European Union to maintain a Ukrainian army of one million people poses a threat to the security of the EU countries themselves, since Ukraine is an unstable state. This was stated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban… ‘Ukraine is a politically unstable state, and no one can say what kind of government there will be,’ he warned.
“Accordingly, there are no guarantees that Ukraine, and therefore its armed forces, will take a friendly position towards the EU countries. Therefore, Orban stressed that the financing by the European Union of the million-strong Ukrainian army at the suggestion of Kiev creates a ‘serious threat to European security.’
“… the Government of Hungary from the very beginning of the conflict on Ukraine refused to supply weapons there and opposed the provision of military assistance to it. Budapest condemned Moscow’s actions, but at the same time always stressed that the Ukrainian conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield, it should be settled through negotiations.”
Ukraine and Russia WILL become allies against Europe.
Focus wrote on May 24:
“The week began with a shock for Europe. After his phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, [Trump] dropped the bombshell in a conversation with the European heads of state: The US is no longer interested in acting as peace mediator. And sanctions against Putin, which Trump had previously promised, were suddenly off the table. The German magazine ‘Der Spiegel’ has now reconstructed what really happened in the shock phone call between Trump and the Europeans (Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, and Alexander Stubb)…
“The Europeans had hoped that Trump would read Putin the riot act during their phone call. Trump, who recently said that Putin might just be leading him on, is supposed to reinforce the new sanctions threats, according to the Europeans’ wishes. But Trump has none of that. Instead, according to ‘Spiegel,’ Trump says Putin doesn’t want a deal. And Ukraine is now the Europeans’ problem. Sanctions, ceasefire, not a word about that.
“The Europeans know immediately: As before, Putin has lulled Trump into a false sense of security. As several media outlets report, there is a very long silence afterward. And all Europeans ask themselves: How can we keep Trump in this process? And above all: Who of us?
“In the end, it is Friedrich Merz who takes the floor. As ‘Der Spiegel’ reports, citing diplomats and government circles, he says he wants to ‘summarize’ the situation. Merz says technical talks must now begin. The Chancellor also says that the Vatican could host such talks, as Trump suggested. Trump’s reaction: ‘Fine by me.’ Merz subsequently asked twice whether Trump was really part of it. It would be nothing new for Trump to suddenly back down. But the US President promises to send his special envoy on this matter…
“It is the absolute minimum success on a shocking day for Europe. Friedrich Merz himself threatened Putin with harsh consequences if there would be no ceasefire. He had believed he had the agreed-upon backing of Donald Trump. But he abandoned him again, just like he abandoned Ukraine.”
news.de wrote on May 25:
“Ben Hodges is shocked by Donald Trump’s behavior in the Ukraine war. The former US general [who commanded the US Army in Europe] speaks in a recent interview about the US president’s betrayal of his allies and simultaneously revealed Vladimir Putin’s true war aim… ‘After all the loud talk about solving the problem in 24 hours, I think the credibility of this president and this administration will be severely damaged by this failure.’
“And further: ‘If the US turns away and says, “Hey, Europe, this is your problem!” I think that would be a real betrayal of our allies who have stood by us for decades… Russia has never changed its war aims. It’s still about the destruction of Ukraine and the idea of Ukraine as a state’…
“However, he is also convinced that Putin’s goals are much bigger than Ukraine. ‘Russia’s goal is to break NATO… And they achieve that by attacking a NATO country to see if we all respond appropriately. And if not, then I think it’s the end of the alliance,’ said Hodges…”
Bild Online wrote on May 24:
“Another setback for any hopes of peace in Ukraine in the near future. Vladimir Putin’s (72) regime now refuses to sign any peace agreement with Ukraine as long as the democratically elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (47) remains in office.”
Newsmax wrote on May 26:
“President Donald Trump used his social media platform to take aim at Vladimir Putin, calling the Russian president ‘absolutely crazy’ for continuing to fire missiles that are killing Ukrainian citizens. Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for saying things that help undermine the U.S. president’s efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
“‘I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!… He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!…’
“Earlier Sunday, Trump expressed deep unhappiness at Russia’s weekend bombing of Ukraine, saying of the Russian president, ‘I’m not happy with Putin… I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him? Right? He’s killing a lot of people. I’m not happy about that,’ Trump told reporters at the airport in Morristown, New Jersey, as he prepared to return to Washington.
“Trump spoke in reaction to a Russian barrage of 367 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities overnight on Sunday, including the capital Kyiv, in the largest aerial attack of the war so far, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more.”
Trump added on May 27: “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!”
Trump also announced now that there will be sanctions against Russia. Russia responded by saying that Trump is suffering from “emotional overload.”
Now, when did Trump ever say that Putin wants all of Ukraine? If Russia and Ukraine unite, that will not lead to the immediate downfall of Russia. That downfall will come later.
The Guardian wrote on May 28:
“German chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday during a visit by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Berlin will help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets in Russian territory…
“The production of long-range weapons ‘can take place both in Ukraine and here in Germany,’ he said… Germany will provide further military support for Ukraine amounting to about €5bn ($5.65bn)…”
The New York Post added on May 28:
“Merz said last Monday that Germany and other major allies were no longer imposing range limits on weapons they send to Ukraine, although he indicated their use was limited to Russian military targets…”
Israel Today wrote on May 23:
“Nearly 600 days after the outbreak of the October 7 war, and Israel has sunk to an all-time low in its international standing. Some of its closest allies—Britain, France, and Canada—have threatened sanctions if the war in Gaza continues. Never before has such a harshly worded statement been directed at Israel, effectively branding it a pariah state…
“Most astonishing and alarming is the silence of the United States, Israel’s steadfast ally that has always stood by its side. Not a single word of condemnation from Washington regarding this threatening statement from other Western powers. If President Donald Trump was accused of throwing Israel under the bus, this is now taking tangible form on the global stage…”
And so, Israel will end up all alone.
Newsmax wrote on May 25:
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a full-fledged takeover of Gaza from Hamas terrorists, but the U.S. is pushing to delay that until the remaining hostages are returned, effectively giving the terrorists justification for their holding of what Israel has called its ‘human shields.’…
“Netanyahu has pledged to hold all areas under full Israel control to accomplish the long-stated war goals: 1. Return all hostages. 2. Destroy Hamas in total. 3. Deradicalize and demilitarize Gaza.
Netanyahu’s regime contends that third goal can only be accomplished with Israel’s occupation of Gaza to root out radical anti-Israel extremism that led to the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.
The security situation in Gaza remains tenuous without a controlling force, under Israel’s view.
“Not only are Hamas terrorists reportedly looting the humanitarian aid for the innocent civilians, but they are also reportedly firing on civilians trying to access the aid that the world leaders have demanded Israel release. Israel has long warned aid is getting stolen by the very hostage-holding terrorists Israel seeks to remove from power…”
How much longer does Trump want to delay this? Admittedly, one has to note that Trump’s foreign policy has been pretty unsuccessful so far.
Breitbart wrote on May 25:
“The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have stepped up their attacks on Israel, firing three ballistic missiles in the last four days. Though all were intercepted by missile defenses, the pace of the attacks is a notable escalation. Moreover, the attacks have come despite a Houthi ceasefire with the United States; ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran on a possible nuclear deal; and Israeli reprisals at Yemen’s Hodeidah port and Sanaa airport…
“Both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have said in the past that Iran is ultimately responsible for Houthi attacks. Israel could conceivably use that as justification to attack Iran. However, that would risk interfering in the ongoing diplomatic effort between the U.S. and Iran — an effort that is not making much progress, given that Iran refuses to accede to demands to stop enriching uranium.”
Breitbart wrote on May 28:
“The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded to days of missile attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday, targeting the Sanaa airport and destroying the Houthis’ last serviceable airplane… The other planes were destroyed in an Israeli strike on the airport on May 6… It is unclear whether, or when, Israel will target Iran in response to Houthi attacks, though Netanyahu keeps raising the possibility…”
Deutsche Welle wrote on May 26:
“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that Israel’s ‘current level of attacks on Gaza can no longer be justified by the fight against Hamas.’ ‘Harming the civilian population to such an extent, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism,’ he told German public broadcaster WDR in a televised interview.
“He added he planned to hold a call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week to tell him ‘to not overdo it,’ though for ‘historical reasons,’ Germany would always be more guarded in its criticism than some European partners. ‘But if lines are crossed, where international humanitarian law is really being violated, then Germany, the German chancellor, must also say something about it,’ Merz said.”
Report 24 wrote on May 25:
“The mainstream media bombards the public with images of children with wide, pleading eyes… Instead of demanding evidence or sources, hatred against Israel is sweeping through the country… Ever since the Middle East conflict began, there have been countless lies emanating from the machinery of the so-called ‘Palestinians’ and their ‘National Authority’…
“On May 20, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, via the formerly highly respected BBC, claimed that 14,000 babies in Gaza were at risk of dying within 48 hours… Tom Fletcher had fabricated the story. There is no truth to it. And the BBC failed to question it or classify it. Israel has been exposed to the hatred of the world. This doesn’t happen by chance—it’s a calculated move. Of course, the ORF [in Austria] also participated in the unreflective spread of this lie…
“The wrongly accused Jews once again had to do their own research to find out the background to the story. It was discovered that Fletcher was referring to a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which estimated that up to 14,000 children between 6 months and 6 years of age could be affected by malnutrition over a period of one year… There were no current threats of death within 48 hours…
“A high-ranking UN official went public with a fact that, upon closer examination, feeds the centuries-old antisemitic narratives that have led to pogroms, i.e., mass murder and expulsion, in many places. The ritual murder legend of the Jew as baby murderer. First historically documented in 1144 in England, when Jews were accused, without any evidence, of murdering a Christian boy. In 1475, a two-year-old boy was found dead in Trento. The authorities subsequently had all the city’s Jews tortured and executed. The image of the child-murdering Jews was taken up by Nazi propaganda…
“We live in a time in which leftists, Muslims, and National Socialists are fraternizing to incite hatred against Israel and attack Jews. Yet, every lie seems to be justified. As a media consumer, one should have learned, at the very latest after the madness of the Corona period, to question everything critically… Anyone who relies on mainstream media is abandoned. Not just during the Corona pandemic, but always…”
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:
These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.
In part one of this two-part series, we looked at the assertion by some, maybe many in mainstream Christianity, who believe that Jesus’ resurrected body was physical and that this same, physical Jesus ascended to Heaven, from where He will one day return to Earth.
Let us continue to look at evidence that proves otherwise.
We read Christ’s words and action in Luke 24:39:
“‘Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.’”
As we said in the previous instalment, the Roman Catholic Church “explains”: “Christ makes it plain to His disciples that He does have a physical body; He is not a disembodied spirit.”
Again, as pointed out before, this “explanation” overlooks that Spirit beings do have form and shape—they are not “disembodied” spirits, but their bodies are composed of Spirit.
There is plenty of evidence of angels taking on the form of a human being so that they could be seen, as we know that a flesh and blood human being can’t see a Spirit being unless it materialises itself. The question has been asked and answered as to “How many times do angels appear in the Bible? More than a dozen times in the New Testament, and a dozen or so other times in the Old Testament.”
Jesus was raised up at the resurrection with a spirit body which the disciples and humanity could not see unless He materialised Himself as He did on a number of occasions. How could Jesus appear in the midst of the disciples if He was physical? In John 20:24-29, we have the account of doubting Thomas. We read in verses 26-28:
“And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
We can see that Jesus entered the room while the doors were shut and suddenly He appeared in their midst, and said, “Peace to you!” After Thomas saw Jesus, he was convinced that Jesus had been resurrected. As a Spirit being, Jesus was able to go through closed doors and be wherever He chose, irrespective of any physical obstacles that could be in the way. In modern scientific terminology, the glorified body is not subject to the forces and laws of physics and chemistry.
How could Jesus appear in the midst of the disciples if He still had a physical body? If this assertion was correct, He would not be able to go through walls and other physical barriers and instantly appear before the disciples. In addition, Jesus would be the only physical being in Heaven and we should know that that cannot be the case as everything in the Third Heaven is spiritual, man’s doubting and misunderstanding or misapplying Scripture notwithstanding!
Romans 6:4-5 is instructive in this regard:
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,’
In Philippians 3:21, we read that Christ “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
Jesus’ resurrection body is the pattern for our resurrection body, and we read the following in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
Jesus is now a Spirit being in heaven. He will return to earth to set up the Kingdom of God, and His people will be caught up in the air to meet Him in the clouds.
In our two-part Q&A “Who and What is in Heaven?” we showed that “In heaven, there is God the Father, Jesus Christ the Word, and innumerable angels” and no physical beings are there. In John 4:24 we read: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” God the Father and Jesus Christ, the two members of the God Family at this time are composed of Spirit, as will be the born-again members of God’s Church at the resurrection when Jesus returns to this earth. We must remember that in Mark 16:19 we read: “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” And He would have been a Spirit Being to have been in such a position next to the Spiritual Father and all the other Spirit beings that live in the Third Heaven.
In our booklet, “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World,” we read the following on page 17:
“Christ did not appear to His disciples in His glorified state. He did not appear, prior to His ascension to heaven, with all His power and glory that He has today. We can find a description of His glorious appearance in Revelation 1:10, 12–17. We also find a description of His glory, prior to His human birth, in Ezekiel 1:26–28. When He appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He appeared just as an ordinary man, so much so that they did not recognize Him. Accounts of His appearances can be found in John 20:14–16 and John 21:4–7. They only came to recognize Him after He spoke a certain way or performed a certain miracle that He had performed earlier before His death.
“We read that the disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize the resurrected Christ until He ‘…took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight’ (Luke 24:30–31). The reason that they did not recognize Him earlier is explained in Mark 16:12: ‘After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.’”
A good question to ask is how a physical body could just vanish from their sight, as it states in Luke 24:31?
In the same booklet on pages 44-45, we explain the misunderstood passage in Luke 24:39:
“Christ manifested Himself to the disciples as a being with flesh and bones. He even ate food in their presence to convince the disciples that it was He, not a spirit or a demon. The Greek word for ‘spirit’ is ‘pneuma’ and can refer to demons (compare Matthew 8:16; 10:1; 12:43, 45; Luke 4:33, 36; 6:18; 7:21, etc.). We understand, of course, that Christ is not a being with flesh and bones. Rather, at His resurrection He received a spiritual body and became a life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:44–45, 50). He was able to manifest Himself, however, as a person with flesh and bones. We saw earlier that angels can manifest themselves as human beings as well. Demons cannot. Christ used this opportunity to show His disciples that He was not a spirit or a demon, because demons cannot manifest themselves as human beings with flesh and bones.”
It is emphasized above that Christ became a life-giving SPIRIT… not, as we quoted the following false assertion in the first instalment and repeat it again below, a physical human being with a “physical body” which is “designed with eternity in view.”
In our Q&A entitled: “We read in Matthew 27:52 that many saints were raised at the time of Christ’s death. How can Christ then be called the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18)?,” We make these observations:
“Christ… became born again when He was resurrected to Spirit. It was at that time that He became the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29 tells us that we are to be ‘conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.’ We also read in Colossians 1:15, 18: ‘He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation… And He is… the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.’
“Christ was the first human who became born again as a Spirit being. The Greek word for ‘firstborn,’ ‘prototokos,’ designates the person who is born first. It can refer to the firstborn Son of the spiritual Family of God, and it can also refer to the firstborn son in a physical family. We read, for example, in Hebrews 11:28 that Moses kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood by faith, ‘lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.’ Christ was also, quite literally, Mary’s firstborn Son (Compare Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:7. The Greek word, ‘prototokos,’ used here does not mean ‘only’ or ‘only begotten’ son. That concept is conveyed by the Greek word ‘monogenes’…). Since Christ was Mary’s firstborn Son, it goes without saying that Christ as a human being had younger brothers. In fact, He also had sisters (compare Matthew 13:53-58).
“The same Greek word, ‘prototokos,’ is also used in Revelation 1:5. The New King James Bible translates the entire passage quite accurately in this way: ‘…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.’ (The Authorized Version’s rendition, ‘first begotten of the dead,’ is clearly wrong. The context here is the resurrection from the dead. The Ryrie Study Bible comments that ‘Christ was the first [man] to receive a resurrection [glorified] body which is immortal’).” (our emphasis).
As we mentioned earlier, there is the invention of a new description of Jesus “who has a physical body, with a difference. His resurrected body is designed with eternity in view.” Why would anyone make up something that the Bible certainly doesn’t say? Jesus’ resurrected body was a Spiritual body—a body with form and shape, but composed of Spirit—and He is now in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God the Father where all around them are Spiritual beings and Spiritual things.
It would be ridiculous to think that God the Father and all the angels in heaven are all spiritual, but Jesus is the odd one out having a physical body!
In His resurrection, Jesus did not and does not have a physical body. Neither will we. His physical body was in the grave for three days and three nights, but when He was raised from the dead, His physical body was changed into a spiritual body, which is the same that will happen to us, when we, who are still alive, will be changed.
We asked the question: “Is Jesus Christ a Spirit Being Today?,” and the answer, as we have shown in this Q&A, is an unequivocal YES!
Lead Writers: Brian Gale and Norbert Link
compiled by Dave Harris
“Why This Hatred for Israel and the Jews?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Norbert Link. Here is the summary:
Hatred for the State of Israel and the Jews in general is spreading. Now, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also attacked Israel “more harshly than any German Chancellor before him.” But some believe his criticism was unbalanced, hurtful, and disappointing. Why is this so? And what should we make of the international “lying press” that demonizes Israel and stirs up anti-Semitism?
“Warum der Hass für Israel und die Juden?” is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.
“Wir fallen, bevor wir aufstehen,” is the title of this Sabbath’s German split sermon, presented by Michael Link. Title in English: “We Fall Before We Rise.”
“Haben Sie den heiligen Geist?” is the title of the German sermon for Pentecost, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English: “Do You Have the Holy Spirit?”
“Das Unkraut unter dem Weizen,” last Sabbath’s first split sermon in Germany was presented by Marc Vöeller. Title in English: “The Weeds Among the Wheat.”
“Sei ein Gewinner,” last Sabbath’s second split sermon in Germany was presented by Dmitrij Niemann. Title in English: “Be A Winner.”
“The Downfall of America, Britain and Israel–Comments on News and Prophecy, May 24, 2025,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
What we have been announcing for decades is coming true right now: God is being ignored—in political life and in science, with Orthodox Christianity in total defiance of biblical Truth. While Israel is being isolated and the American Empire is failing, Germany intends to become Europe’s leader, with Britain’s downfall and its surrender to Europe continuing.
“Why So Many False Teachings About the Holy Spirit?” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:
Why is the doctrine of the Trinity unbiblical and extremely dangerous, regardless of whether one believes in Greek Orthodox or Roman Catholic doctrine? What is the Holy Spirit, and did people in the Old Testament have it within them? What about Christians in the New Testament? Can one receive the Holy Spirit if one sins—sometimes seriously? What are the essential requirements for receiving the Holy Spirit?
This Update is an official publication by the ministry of the Church of the Eternal God in the United States of America; the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada; and the Global Church of God in the United Kingdom.
Editorial Team: Norbert Link, Dave Harris, Rene Messier, Brian Gale, Johanna Link, Eric Rank, Michael Link, Anna Link, Kalon Mitchell, Manuela Mitchell, Dawn Thompson
Technical Team: Eric Rank, Shana Rank
Our activities and literature, including booklets, weekly updates, sermons on CD are provided free of charge. They are made possible by the tithes, offerings and contributions of Church members and others who have elected to support this Work.
While we do not solicit the general public for funds, contributions are gratefully welcomed and are tax-deductible in the U.S. and Canada.
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United Kingdom: Global Church of God, PO Box 44, MABLETHORPE, LN12 9AN, United Kingdom
On May 24, 2025, Norbert Link will present “Comments on News and Prophecy, May 24, 2025,” and the sermon, titled, “Why So Many False Teachings About the Holy Spirit?”
The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.
