Cutting Ties With Israel?

Newsmax wrote on October 23:

“President Donald Trump said the United States would cut ties with Israel if the Jewish state attempted to annex the West Bank. Trump made the remark in an interview with Time magazine conducted Oct. 15 at the White House and published Thursday. The interview occurred about a week before Israel’s Knesset advanced legislation to annex the territory. 

“‘It won’t happen. It won’t happen,’ Trump told Time. ‘It won’t happen because I gave my word to the Arab countries… Israel would lose all of its support from the United States if that happened.’ 

“In what is seen as an embarrassment to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Knesset on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would extend Israeli sovereignty to all West Bank settlements…  It also passed a more limited bill to annex a major settlement city. The votes came despite opposition from Netanyahu and most of his Likud party. They argued the move was ill-timed, given the fragility of a ceasefire deal brokered by the Trump administration between Israel and Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists. 

“Vice President JD Vance said Thursday, before leaving Israel, that he was ‘insulted’ by the Knesset vote. Vance told reporters… that he was told the measure was merely symbolic and part of a ‘political stunt with no practical significance… If it was a political stunt, it was a stupid one, and I take some insult to it,’ Vance said. He emphasized that the Trump administration’s policy is that ‘the West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel.’ 

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday night that the Knesset’s move toward annexation could threaten Trump’s plan to end the two-year-old conflict in the Gaza Strip. ‘The president has made clear that’s not something we’d be supportive of right now,’ Rubio told reporters before departing for Israel. ‘We think there’s potential for [it to be] threatening to the peace deal.’” 

Rubio’s emphasis on “right now” is interesting. 

Does Trump Plan to Build the Third Temple? 

Israel 365 News wrote on October 24: 

“Eyebrows were raised when a question about rebuilding the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple) was asked in the White House press briefing room on Thursday, bringing a subject usually found in Jewish study halls and prophetic discussions directly into U.S. political conversation. Mishpacha’s White House correspondent, Jake Turx, asked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt whether President Donald Trump had ever discussed the prospect of supporting the Temple’s reconstruction in Jerusalem… after noting Trump’s reputation for large-scale building projects and his newly revealed plans for a White House ballroom… 

“Leavitt pointedly did not reject the possibility that the president and real-estate tycoon would consider the project, responding, instead, ‘It has not. No it hasn’t. I’m sorry, Jake.’ The exchange was brief, but it immediately recalled one of the most symbolically potent moments of Trump’s first term: the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in May 2018… Following the embassy move, the Sanhedrin minted a ceremonial coin depicting Trump alongside the Persian King Cyrus, who facilitated the Jewish people’s return from Babylonian exile and rebuilding the Second Temple… 

“The idea of a Third Temple is not speculative within the Hebrew Bible… Several years ago, mentioning the Temple in a White House briefing would have been treated as marginal. Today, it was asked plainly — without laughter, without dismissal, and without scandal.” 

The press reported in some articles that Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had said that Trump will not build the Third Temple. This, the White House has clearly NOT said. The twists and misrepresentations of the mass media are staggering.

“Welcome to Hotel Hamas”

 The Daily Mail wrote on October 25: 

“Hamas terrorists released under the Gaza peace deal are staying in a five-star hotel [the Marriott’s Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel] alongside unsuspecting Western tourists. Experts warned of a radical new threat to global security after the Daily Mail tracked down more than 150 of the highly dangerous extremists to a luxury hotel in Cairo. Israel was forced to empty its prisons of nearly all its most feared jihadists held on life sentences as part of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan… 

“Undercover journalists booked into the resort and stayed amongst the murderous jihadists, who include a member of Isis and a senior Hamas special forces commander… The Daily Mail understands that some may soon be moved on to live in nearby tourist destinations such as Qatar, Turkey and Tunisia which are hugely popular with British holidaymakers… 

“Professor Anthony Glees, emeritus professor at the University of Buckingham, said: ‘These people are our sworn enemies. They will cut off the heads of British soldiers and kill left, right and centre… 

“A former Israeli intelligence officer known as Guy C added: ‘There are no restrictions on their movements in these countries. They can walk freely, travel to Europe – even the UK… The first thing these terrorists will do when they reach Turkey or Qatar is contact their associates in Gaza and the West Bank to send money and re-establish their networks. They will quickly regroup and form new terror cells.’”

Hamas won’t go away. For Israel to have to set free “nearly all its most feared jihadists held on life sentences” was insane and terribly short-sighted.

Gaza Ceasefire Over? 

Yeshiva World News wrote on October 28: 

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the IDF to carry out immediate, powerful strikes in the Gaza Strip. The directive comes after an incident in Rafah earlier today in which terrorists opened fire on IDF forces. At least one soldier was seriously wounded in the attack and evacuated for medical treatment. 

“The escalation follows mounting tensions over the handling of hostages’ remains. Last night Hamas returned remains that Israel says were already buried, yet claimed they were a newly recovered body — fueling Israeli outrage and contributing to today’s security response.” 

NBC News wrote on October 29: 

“Israel said Wednesday that the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was back on after it carried out intense strikes across the Palestinian enclave that killed 100 people… The Israeli military said it had ‘begun the renewed enforcement’ of the fragile ceasefire…”

Trump’s Third Term? 

The New Republic wrote on October 24: 

“… commentator and former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon says the president will serve a third term despite being barred by the Constitution. In a video interview with The Economist published Thursday, Bannon said, ‘Well, he’s gonna get a third term… Trump is gonna be president in ’28, and people ought to just get accommodated with that’… brushing off concerns about the Twenty-Eight Amendment. ‘There’s many different alternatives. At the appropriate time, we’ll lay out what the plan is, but there’s a plan and President Trump will be the president in ’28,’ Bannon added… 

“It’s not even the first time Bannon has mentioned plans to keep Trump in office longer [he spoke about this in an interview earlier this month]… One of Trump’s lawyers was also exploring the possibility of Trump violating the Constitution’s term limits back in 2023, and Trump encouraged calls for a third term at a Michigan rally in April. The response from other conservatives, such as Senator Lindsey Graham and even Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has not been reassuring.   

“While Trump has claimed to be ‘joking,’ he still is selling ‘Trump 2028’ merchandise, and should be taken seriously…” 

We don’t believe either that Trump is just joking about this.

Trump Would Not Run for Vice President 

Newsmax wrote on October 27: 

“President Donald Trump said on Monday he would rule out running for the vice presidency in the 2028 U.S. election, an approach some of his supporters have floated to allow the Republican president to serve an additional term in office. ‘I’d be allowed to do that,’ Trump said, in an exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One. But he added: ‘I wouldn’t do that. I think it’s too cute… I think the people wouldn’t like that… it wouldn’t be right.’… 

“Some have suggested… for Trump to stand as vice president, while another candidate stood for president and resigned, letting Trump again assume the presidency.” 

Trump’s $300+ Million Ballroom 

The Daily Mail wrote on October 25:

“The White House has stated that the [$300million] ballroom will be completed before Trump leaves office in January 2029 but have not offered a specific timeline. Experts have said that this goal is ambitious… 

“Trump has repeatedly claimed he plans to donate millions of dollars of his own to the ballroom’s construction. The project’s private donors includes executives from world’s top technology corporations, including Google, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft.  

“As part of the ballroom’s construction, the entire East Wing of the White House was destroyed. Trump had originally claimed that the 83-year-old building wouldn’t be touched in the construction of the… privately funded ballroom. But when a backhoe was pictured on Monday smashing through the walls of the historic building, it set off alarm bells. 

“First Lady Melania Trump, meanwhile, has been silent about the demolition despite the fact the East Wing holds the offices of her entire staff.” 

Is Trump really constructing the ballroom just for his successor? 

Denaturalizing American Citizens? 

The New York Post wrote on October 25: 

“House Republicans want to strip Zohran Mamdani of citizenship, possibly deport NYC mayoral frontrunner over form omissions… Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) last week demanded the feds ‘review every naturalization of the past 30 years – starting with Mamdani.’ ‘I just think we need to take a hard look at how these folks became citizens, and if there is any fraud or any violation of the rules we need to denaturalize and deport,’ Fine told the Post. 

“Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani became a US Citizen after moving here as a child from Uganda. A pair of House Republicans want him probed for possible ‘denaturalization’ for making allegedly false statements during his process… [Fine] also called for a probe of anti-Israel ‘Squad’ member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who was born in Somalia and is one of the first two women Muslims to serve in Congress. 

“Mamdani is a threat to the nation, he continued. ‘I know that there’s a lot of us that are very, very concerned about the enemy within – people who have come to this country to become citizens, to destroy it.’ He dismissed logistical concerns about yanking the citizenship of naturalized Americans after they got elected to top jobs. ‘If they’re not Americans, they can’t be in office,’ he said… 

“Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) has pushed for a Justice Department probe of Mamdani… ‘In 2018 when he was naturalized, he failed to disclose some of the things that he had been doing, one of which was joining the [Democratic] Socialists of America. That’s a communist organization which, quite frankly, at that time, would have disqualified him from becoming a United States citizen,’ Ogles told Newsmax… 

“US immigration law declares inadmissible those who have ‘been a member of or affiliated with the Communist or any other totalitarian party.’ The current form asks would-be citizens to disclose if they have ever been associated ‘in any way’ with ‘any Communist or totalitarian party anywhere in the world.’ President Trump has called Mamdani a ‘communist lunatic.’ Mamdani specifically denies being a communist. 

Are we going to see a repeat of the McCarthy communist witch hunt? The McCarthy communist ‘witch hunt’ refers to the aggressive anti-communist campaign led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the United States during the Second Red Scare of the early 1950s. The term ‘McCarthyism’ has become a byname for making sweeping, unsubstantiated accusations of disloyalty or subversion. 

Shutdown Continues 

Reuters wrote on October 28: 

“U.S. air travel turmoil deepened as nearly 7,000 flights were delayed nationwide on Monday, with air traffic controller absences surging as the federal government shutdown reached its 27th day… Roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers must work without pay… More than 8,800 flights were delayed on Sunday.” 

CBS News reported on October 28:

“The Senate failed to advance a Republican-backed funding bill to end the government shutdown for the 13th time. The final vote was 54 to 45, falling short of the 60 votes needed to move forward… 

“Democrats are under increasing pressure to back down after the largest union representing federal government employees said that ‘it’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown’ on Monday. Federal employees missed their first full paycheck at the end of last week, and upcoming paychecks, including for the military, could be in jeopardy. 

“The Department of Agriculture has warned that ‘the well has run dry’ for SNAP (“Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program”), and federal food aid will not go out on Nov. 1. Forty-two million Americans rely on the program to help buy food.” 

Disappointed in Putin 

The U.S. Sun wrote on October 26: 

“DONALD Trump is ‘disappointed’ in Vladimir Putin and has ruled out meeting the tyrant until he stops ‘wasting his time’… It comes after a turbulent week has pushed back any hopes of ending the bloodshed in Ukraine. 

“Trump slapped punishing sanctions on two Russian oil companies on Wednesday… US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the companies are responsible for ‘funding the Kremlin‘s war machine’… 

“US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone call… to iron out details ahead of the [planned] meeting [between Trump and Putin in Hungary]. But hours after Rubio put the phone down, any idea of a meeting was suddenly axed. One source familiar with the matter believes Rubio and Lavrov had widely differing expectations about how to end Russia’s invasion during their call. This prompted Rubio to speak to US officials about his concerns as it was later announced that Trump wouldn’t be speaking to Putin anytime soon…” 

Far from being a “productive” phone call between Rubio and Lavrov, the phone call apparently established that no peace deal was in the making. 

Nuclear Flying Chernobyl 

The U.S. Sun wrote on October 26: 

“VLADIMIR Putin claims Russia has test-launched a new nuclear-powered missile dubbed the ‘Flying Chernobyl’ – and has vowed it will soon be ready for war. 

“The Russian president said his menacing 9M730 Burevestnik missile – assigned the codename ‘Skyfall’ by Nato – was a ‘weapon of unlimited range powered by a nuclear engine’… Putin also boasted his new weapon was ‘invincible’ in the face of current and future missile defence systems…. He said: ‘It is a truly unique system – one that no other country in the world possesses’… 

“… the Burevestnik missile is about 12 metres long and carries a thermonuclear warhead…

“The nuclear energy core in theory could let it fly around the world several times before hitting its target… It can also follow a flat flight path at extremely low altitudes, making it ‘invisible’ as it flies below the range of most missile detection systems.” 

Norway Alarmed 

“Putin is amassing nuclear weapons and attack submarines in the Arctic Circle as his country prepares for war with NATO, Norway has said.  Norway’s Defence Minister Tore Sandvik claimed his country had found Russia had been increasing its military presence in the Arctic, particularly in the Kola peninsula.  

“The politician also said Vladimir Putin had been attempting to take over the Arctic region where its fleet is based to block shipping routes to Nato allies if war broke out… ‘They [the nuclear weapons] are not only pointed towards Norway, but towards the UK and over the pole towards Canada and the US. 

“Although the Kremlin may be struggling in the Ukraine war, its nuclear warheads and ‘second-strike’ capacity allow it to maintain its superpower status… the Russian fleet include[s] at least 16 nuclear-powered submarines and the advanced Tsirkon hypersonic missile – capable of traveling at speeds up to eight times the speed of sound…. ‘Even if we have a peace deal in Ukraine, with boots on the ground and a stable situation, one analysis is that he will mobilise millions of soldiers up close to the border with Finland.‘” 

Russia will not use those and other nuclear weapons against the USA or Canada, but against a united Europe. Note the next articles. 

Europe Ready by 2030?

Politico wrote on October 15: 

“By 2030, Europe needs a sufficiently strong European defence posture to credibly deter its adversaries, as well as respond to any aggressions,’ says the draft plan [of the European Commission]… 

“The Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 is a sign of the EU’s growing role in military affairs, a reaction to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump’s unclear commitment to European security… 

“While EU countries are rapidly increasing their defense budgets, much of that spending ‘remains overwhelmingly national, leading to fragmentation, cost-inflation and lack of 
interoperability,’ says the 16-page document. The EU executive body is pushing capitals to buy weapons together and wants at least 40 percent of defense procurement to be joint contracts by the end of 2027 — up from less than a fifth now…”

Politico added on October 22: 

“Top generals and politicians from EU and NATO countries have warned that Moscow could attack the alliance in the coming years, with timelines varying from 2027 to 2030.”  

On October 23, the European Council “threw its weight behind a new plan to grow Europe’s defense by 2030 (Breaking Defense, October 23). 

aa.com.tr added on October 24: 

“The EU leaders have agreed to accelerate plans to strengthen Europe’s defense and security, setting a clear goal to ramp up readiness by 2030 in response to growing threats to its security… 

“The European Council also condemned recent ‘violations of the airspace of several Member States’ and stressed the need to defend ‘all EU land, air and maritime borders,’ with particular attention to threats on the eastern flank.” 

Berlin Inevitably Becomes the EU’s Dominant Military Power 

Politico wrote on October 1: 

“An age-old French nightmare — that of growing German military might — is resurfacing in a new form… French President Emmanuel Macron… fears an invasion — not of French territory, but of his country’s preeminent position as the EU’s most effective military-diplomatic power…

“In theory, both countries are bound by NATO members’ new pledge to spend 3.5 percent of GDP on defense by 2035. But while Germany has a credible plan to reach that target by 2029…, France has no obvious way to both honor its NATO commitment and cut its budget deficit to 3 percent of GDP in four years… By 2029…, Germany expects to be spending €150 billion a year; while France, even with its newly expanded defense plans, will be spending €80 billion at best… 

“Will the German military build-up help forge a more strategically autonomous European defense industry, create European jobs and strengthen European economic power?…  the sheer scale of Berlin’s spending in the years ahead will inevitably make its defense industry the key player in European military innovation and procurement… the truth is, there can never be a solid European military-industrial base unless EU countries come together to develop the weapons of the future. 

“It is, therefore, vital that Berlin and Paris immediately establish a pattern for the upcoming boom years, and double down on their political commitment to Franco-German cooperation in defense innovation, training and procurement… France will be looking at the decade ahead anxiously, as Germany will retain its status as Europe’s industrial powerhouse, as well as become — just by sheer size — the dominant military power within the EU. 

“The uncomfortable truth for France is that when it comes to the creation of a European defense industry, and even the potential rapid increase of France’s own military capacity, strategic autonomy is now in Germany’s hands…” 

Also, Volkswagen is exploring a move into the defense industry by 2026, potentially through a partnership with Rheinmetall, to utilize idle production capacity like the Osnabrück plant, which is scheduled to cease production in 2026. This potential transition is driven by declining automotive sales and Europe’s increased military spending, and the company’s CEO has expressed openness to the idea, noting VW’s past experience with military production. The famous Volkswagen bug (“Kaefer”) was famously called Hitler’s “car for the people” or “People’s Car” (“Wagen fuers Volk”). 

The Sinister Power of Reporting Portals

Bild Online wrote on October 27:

“Four police officers rang the doorbell of author [of Die Welt magazine] Norbert Bolz on Thursday because of a satirical tweet: house search! It later emerged that the state-run portal ‘HessenGegenHetze’ (Hesse Against Hate) had forwarded the post to the authorities, thus setting the whole case in motion… A BILD investigation revealed that there are more than 50 such state-run reporting centers in the country. In addition, there are dozens of private portals. These centers cover, among other things, anti-Muslim, anti-Black, and anti-Asian racism, queerphobia, antisemitism, and extremism. Most federal states operate their own reporting centers; some are direct partners of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).

“Anyone who finds such content online can report it anonymously to the portals with just a few clicks. Staff there (including political and social scientists) evaluate the posts. Anything they deem inappropriate is forwarded to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s actually criminally relevant. A mere feeling of unease is enough to start with…

“The criticism of internet surveillance is therefore massive. The accusation: The state is engaging in opinion control and deliberately intimidating critical voices. Furthermore, the terms ‘hate speech’ and ‘incitement to hatred’ are not found in the law. Legally, it is unclear what they are supposed to mean…

“State governments recently supported these portals with several million euros. Rhineland-Palatinate, for example, subsidized the reporting and documentation center for hate speech incidents with €188,000. ‘HessenGegenHetze’ received €1.18 million from Hesse’s Ministry of the Interior in 2024.”

Sounds just like methods used in the Third Reich or the former GDR.

Bild Online published the following commentary on October 24:

“‘The home is inviolable,’ states the Basic Law (Article 13). On Thursday, this fundamental right was violated: Four police officers entered the apartment of Berlin professor Norbert Bolz… According to the Basic Law, such an intrusion into a home is only permitted ‘in cases of imminent danger’ or with the authorization of a judge. A Berlin magistrate had authorized the search – that’s the problem…

“…three authorities had previously failed: The state reporting agency ‘HessenGegenHetze’ reported the professor to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), even though the accusation was clearly unfounded. The BKA forwarded the report to the public prosecutor, who applied for the search warrant. Now the judge [Magistrate Dr. Fricke] should have put a stop to it. He didn’t…

“One might want to laugh about it, but it’s not funny. In Bolz’s case, the instruments meant to protect citizens from the state have failed. That is very disturbing.”

And this is by no means the first time in Germany that the state has been guilty of unlawful and arbitrary measures against German citizens. This seems to be gradually becoming routine.

In another comment from October 24th, Bild says:

“The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the public prosecutor’s office, and the local court have made themselves ridiculous, or they acted in a politically motivated manner, which they are not allowed to do.”

Will the BKA, the public prosecutor’s office, and the local court therefore be held accountable? The answer should be clear. 

The Public Prosecutor’s Office Investigates Reichelt for Incitement to Hatred

TAZ wrote on October 27:

“The Berlin public prosecutor’s office is investigating Julian Reichelt, editor-in-chief of the news portal ‘Nius,’ on suspicion of incitement to hatred. The investigation concerns a post on the platform X from April 1…

“In it, Reichelt claimed that Germany would experience ‘first the infiltration and then the takeover of our police force’ by officers with a migration background in the coming years. Die Welt (Monday) was the first to report on this.

“Reichelt continued in the post: ‘In ten years, the police in our cities will be dominated by Arabs. Have fun!’ The former editor-in-chief of Bild was referring to a report in the tabloid newspaper, according to which two federal police officers named Ahmet K. and Hakan A. were allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

“In response to an inquiry from Welt, Reichelt explained his post: ‘That’s exactly my opinion. As a journalist who closely follows news about organized crime and also conducts my own research, for example by speaking with police officers as well as prominent members of large families, I am absolutely convinced that this is precisely what will happen.’

“Reichelt also referred to a ZDF documentary that reported on the infiltration of the police by criminal clans.”

The Rheinische Post added on October 27:

“Nius is a German-language online media outlet founded in 2022, which is classified as a right-wing populist portal in the style of Fox News.”

Seriously? Unbelievable conditions in Germany! 

Trade Controversy Between USA and Canada 

The New York Post wrote on October 25: 

“President Donald Trump escalated his trade war with Canada Saturday, announcing a 10% hike on tariffs after blasting Ontario’s anti-tariff ad campaign as ‘fraudulent’ and accusing the US neighbor of misusing Ronald Reagan’s legacy. Canada had been ‘caught, red handed’ using ‘selective audio and video’ of Reagan’s 1987 radio address in an ad opposing tariffs, the president wrote on Truth Social, claiming the move was designed to sway an upcoming US Supreme Court case on his authority to issue the levies. 

“‘Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social…

“The ads — which use clips of Reagan warning that tariffs ‘hurt’ Americans — triggered Trump on Thursday to terminate trade negotiations with Canada… 

“The Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute said the Ontario government ‘did not seek nor receive permission’ to use Reagan’s remarks and was ‘reviewing its legal options.’ The foundation accused the province of misrepresenting Reagan’s speech, bolstering Trump’s claims that the ad was deceptive… 

“The new increase announced on Saturday widens that penalty further, raising fears of another full-blown trade war between the two allies….” 

Trump and the Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute are clearly misrepresenting what Reagan said in his address. He made clear that tariffs hurt the American people, but he imposed tariffs on Japan as they had violated a trade agreement and were engaging in unfair trade practices. Overall, his speech was clearly against imposing tariffs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t5QK03KXPc 

Trump-Xi-TikTok Deal 

Daily Mail wrote on October 26: 

“Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping have finalized a deal to transfer TikTok to new owners after a years-long struggle… 

“Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CBS News’s Face The Nation that the two world leaders will ‘consummate’ the deal when they meet in Korea on Thursday. ‘All the details are ironed out,’ Bessent said as he delivered the news on Sunday. 

“This marks a historic end to the power struggle over the app – which has quickly become one the world’s most popular social media platforms.” 

Kennedy on Saturated Fats 

The Guardian wrote on October 25: 

“Robert F Kennedy Jr., the health and human services (HHS) secretary, is planning to issue guidance encouraging Americans to eat more saturated fats… Kennedy has indicated that new dietary guidelines will ‘stress the need to eat saturated fats of dairy, of good meat, of fresh meat and vegetables … When we release those, it will give everybody the rationale for driving it into our schools,’ according to recent reporting in the Hill… 

“… research shows that ‘saturated fat is relatively neutral’ compared with what scientists have believed in the past… reducing saturated fat intake is only beneficial if you replace it with the right things… replacing saturated fats with sugars and carbohydrates can actually increase heart disease risk.” 

Thailand’s Queen Mother Dead 

Reuters wrote on October 25: 

“Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit… has died aged 93, the Thai Royal Household Bureau said on Saturday. The palace said she had been hospitalised since 2019 due to several illnesses and developed a bloodstream infection on October 17 before passing away late on Friday. A mourning period of one year has been declared for members of the royal family and household. The government said public offices would fly flags at half-mast for a month and asked government officials to observe mourning for one year… 

“Sirikit’s husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, with 70 years on the throne since 1946. She was at his side for much of that, winning over hearts at home with their charity work… 

“For more than four decades, she frequently travelled with the king to remote Thai villages, promoting development projects for the rural poor… Her only son, now King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known as Rama X, succeeded Bhumibol after his death in 2016 and upon his coronation in 2019, Sirikit’s formal title became the Queen Mother… Sirikit is survived by her son, the king, as well as three daughters.” 

The Daily Mail added on October 26: 

“Her body will now lie in state at the seat of the Thai royalty for one year before she is cremated… The royal family is venerated in Thailand, treated by many as semi-divine figures and lavished with glowing media coverage and portraits hanging in public and in private homes…” 

Herbert W. Armstrong (who died in January of 1986), the late leader of the now defunct Worldwide Church of God and President of Ambassador College and the Ambassador Foundation, had an especially good relationship with Queen Sirikit. We are quoting below an article of the Los Angeles Times from March 22, 1985: 

“There was a royal welcome awaiting Thailand’s Queen Sirikit when she arrived… at Pasadena’s Ambassador College on Wednesday night. There was Herbert W. Armstrong, the white-haired patriarch of the Ambassador Foundation and the college, to escort her into Ambassador Auditorium and later the mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, and Pasadena Mayor William J. Bogaard greeted her with gifts…

“The party for the queen was small (about 130) and select… The party moved to the auditorium for the receiving line where Queen Sirikit stood with Armstrong, the Ambassador Foundation’s Ellis La Ravia… and his wife and a few other foundation representatives… 

“Dinner was served in the auditorium’s lounge… Armstrong spoke of his admiration and long friendship with Thailand’s King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit and their country. And then the queen, in soft accented English made a graceful toast to Armstrong. Among those raising their glasses were Mrs. Robert Finch with Mrs. Kenneth Schechter, Mrs. George Fritzinger with Eunice Forester, Diane and Guilford Glazer, Atty. Gen. and Mrs. John Van de Kamp, Mrs. H. J. Van de Kamp (the attorney general’s mother) with Milo Bixby, Mrs. Bhirapongse Kasemsri, wife of the Thai ambassador to the United Nations, and David Hulme, who is with Ambassador Foundation, and his Australian-born wife…” 

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.

Need for a Third Temple 

Israel 365 News wrote on October 15:

“President Donald Trump’s speech at the Knesset last week marked a significant and monumental moment for Israel, one that celebrated the remarkable deal that freed all the live hostages as a first step, something that Hamas never agreed to in past deals… 

“There’s no denying the scale of this accomplishment. Trump’s vision of a Middle East where Israel stands as a pillar of strength and a key partner to the United States—and to the wider world—is truly inspiring… Yet, as grand as the speech was…, it still misses one crucial, undeniable truth: it won’t bring peace… 

“The reality is that a mere pause in hostilities does not equate to peace… it doesn’t directly address the fundamental issue that has plagued this region for over a millennium: the ideological and religious jihadist agenda that calls for the obliteration of Israel and the Islamic takeover of the world… 

“If Trump and Netanyahu truly wanted to establish a lasting peace in the Middle East, their plan… would have focused on something even more transformative and spiritually resonant: the expansion of Israel to encompass its rightful Biblical borders, protect all the minorities in the region also persecuted by jihadi Islam, and the one, powerful act of rebuilding the Third Temple in Jerusalem… What message would it send to the Muslim world if, as part of a peace plan, Trump and Netanyahu announced a plan to not only expand Israel’s borders, but to restore the holiest site in Judaism, the Third Temple?… 

“A rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem would be a clear signal to the Muslim world that the Jews are back in full force, not just as a temporary fixture or a historical relic, but as a powerful, sovereign nation reclaiming its rightful place on the world stage… Such a monumental step would have made it clear that Israel’s commitment to peace isn’t simply about appeasing its enemies or military victories, but about sending a clear message that the Jewish people are not going anywhere…” 

The Third Temple will be built prior to Christ’s Return, but paradoxically, it will not bring peace to the region, but more war. 

Far From Over 

The Sun wrote on October 15: 

“Donald Trump has warned Hamas that he will respond ‘violently’ if they refuse to disarm themselves as part of the Gaza peace deal. Israel’s truce with the terror group has been rocked by multiple setbacks today… Under the terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, Hamas must give up all of their weapons to squash Israel’s fears of the group restrengthening… Officials within Hamas over recent days have said they have no plans of disarming regardless of Trump or Israel’s pleas… 

“Hamas claims it has been unable to locate up to 15 corpses lost in the chaos of the Gaza War – but families believe the terror group is holding on to their loved ones’ remains… 

“Meanwhile, Hamas said it had recalled 7,000 members of its security forces in order to ‘cleanse Gaza of outlaws and collaborators’ – sparking fears of a bloody civil war. Bone-chilling videos have emerged of Hamas executing prisoners it accused of collaborating with Israel…” 

In exchange, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners were freed—many of them convicted criminals and terrorists. During the last exchange, a convicted terrorist was freed who later became one of the masterminds for the October 7 attack on Israel [the later Hamas-Chief Yahya Sinwar (†2024)]. Trump’s deals may look good on paper… but many times, they don’t work in practice.

The Future of Hamas 

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 16: 

“Hamas… is classified as a terrorist organization by Germany, the US and several other countries… It still commands some 40,000 fighters, according to Israeli daily Haaretz, who can now be seen reappearing on the streets and squares of Gaza… 

“The group should be completely disarmed, according to US President Donald Trump’s peace plan; however, this does not look likely for now.

“Trump has made contradictory statements about the group’s disarmament. Addressing the Israeli parliament on Monday, Trump proclaimed that ‘virtually the entire region has endorsed the plan that Gaza will be immediately demilitarized, that Hamas will be disarmed and Israel’s security will no longer be threatened in any way, shape or form.’ 

“Yet before his speech, on the flight to Israel, Trump told reporters his government had allowed Hamas to temporarily rearm itself as it tries to restore order after months of war. Most recently, however, Trump appeared to double down on the group’s disarmament, saying if Hamas did not lay down its weapons, the US would disarm it by force. 

“Hamas sent a clear message when its armed operatives showed up in Gaza City shortly after the Israeli withdrawal, said Simon Wolfgang Fuchs, a professor of Islam at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. ‘Hamas is making a point that it has by no means disappeared from the Gaza Strip; on the contrary, it continues to claim a role there,’ he said. 

“Hamas sees its weapons as a means to guarantee its existence — militarily, politically and symbolically, said Simon Engelkes, who heads Ramallah’s branch of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation…’ US President Trump’s “security guarantees” that the war in the Gaza Strip will not be continued due to the ceasefire agreement will not be enough at this stage.’ 

“Even though Hamas’ military structures were severely weakened in the war, its networks and presence in Gaza have remained intact, said Engelkes… French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Hamas still poses a threat… The real conflict still lies ahead, said Engelkes…” 

This whole “deal” with Hamas—an organization with terrorists and mass murderers—is shameful, shortsighted and futile at the same time. Victory celebrations for “Peace in the Middle East” are nothing more than a pipe dream. Note the next article. 

Making Peace With Hitler? 

Israel Today wrote on October 10: 

“While [Police Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir is like all Israelis happy for the opportunity to recover the hostages being held in Gaza, he believes the deal ultimately serves to set the stage for the next catastrophe and war. According to Hebrew media, a heated exchange erupted between Ben-Gvir and the Americans. 

“Ben-Gvir: ‘I’m standing here next to the list of terrorists being released – baby killers, rapists. Gentlemen, you would never release them in the United States. You spoke about making peace. You can’t make peace with Hamas! They want to kill us… Those who killed us on October 7 do not ask for forgiveness. Their families are proud of it. They want to murder Jews… Would you have made peace with Hitler? Hamas is Hitler. They want to kill us.’ 

“Hamas officials have stated a number of times that they will repeat the atrocities of October 7, 2023 if given the opportunity…” 

Ben-Gvir is of course right. The naivety of the Americans [US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner] is astonishing.

Hamas Unwilling to Disarm

The Jerusalem Post wrote on October 17: 

“Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official [Nazal] told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the group disarming – positions that reflect the difficulties for Trump’s plan for Gaza… 

“… the [Israeli] Prime Minister’s Office said…: ‘Hamas is supposed to release all hostages in stage 1. It has not. Hamas knows where the bodies of our hostages are. [Hamas has still not turned over all of the 28 dead bodies.] Hamas are to be disarmed under this agreement. No ifs, no buts. They have not. Hamas need to adhere to the 20-point plan. They are running out of time…’ 

“Nazzal said there was an understanding regarding Hamas’ presence on the ground, without specifying among whom, indicating it was necessary to protect aid trucks from thieves and armed gangs… 

“Hamas’ founding charter called for the destruction of Israel, although the group’s leaders have at times offered a long-term truce with Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war…” 

This “peace deal” will go nowhere. In fact, credible reports are surfacing regarding another coming Hamas massacre—this time against Palestinian civilians. 

Not With Turkey… 

JNS wrote on October 21: 

“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a ‘sworn enemy of Israel and the West, a jihadist in a suit,’ Amichai Chikli, the Jewish state’s minister of diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism, charged on Monday. The Jewish state ‘will not tolerate a Turkish presence’ on its southern border with the Gaza Strip or northern frontier with Syria, Chikli tweeted, slamming Ankara’s potential involvement in U.S. President Donald Trump’s recently-launched peace plan for the Middle East… 

“Under the plan, Turkey has committed to deploying search and rescue teams to Gaza to help recover the bodies of slain hostages and clear up the rubble. Ankara is also expected to join a multinational task force overseeing the ceasefire and assisting in the training of local forces. However,… Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out Turkey’s participation in the International Stabilization Force, defining it as Israel’s ‘red line.’ Netanyahu has reportedly also communicated reservations about Turkish companies participating in the reconstruction of the Strip…” 

Qatar vs. Israel 

Y-Net News wrote on October 10: 

“Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned ‘Israeli violations in Palestine, especially turning the Gaza Strip into an uninhabitable area.’ According to him, ‘It’s time to end the Israeli occupation. The Palestinian issue is not a terrorism issue, but one of prolonged occupation. It’s time to end it. This is the basis for just peace. What happened in the Gaza Strip in the last two years is genocide.’” 

And Turkey and Qatar—America’s “allies”—are supposed to help end the war? What lunacy! 

Gaza Descends Into Anarchy 

The Daily Mail wrote on October 21: 

“Donald Trump today promised to unleash death upon Hamas if the militants do not uphold their peace agreement with Israel. The Gaza region has descended into anarchy as new footage has emerged showing Palestinians being executed and tortured by Hamas enforcers…

“The first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas and Israel is still ongoing despite Hamas not handing over the remaining bodies of the 15 deceased hostages… The next phase of Trump’s peace plan is for the disarmament of Hamas along with the group losing control of governing Gaza. Hamas has not agreed to this part of the peace deal.” 

Trump’s “War” with Venezuela 

The Associated Press wrote on October 15: 

“President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela and said he was weighing carrying out land operations on the country. The acknowledgement of covert action in Venezuela by the U.S. spy agency comes after the U.S. military in recent weeks has carried out a series of deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. U.S. forces have destroyed at least five boats since early September, killing 27 people, and four of those vessels originated from Venezuela… [As of Wednesday, 8 boats were destroyed.] 

“Early this month, the Trump administration declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and pronounced the United States is now in an ‘armed conflict’ with them, justifying the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States. The move has spurred anger in Congress from members of both major political parties that Trump was effectively committing an act of war without seeking congressional authorization…

“The Trump administration has yet to provide underlying evidence to lawmakers proving that the boats targeted by the U.S. military were in fact carrying narcotics…”

Trump’s actions—carried out and contemplated—seem to be illegal and unconstitutional.

ICE Misconduct

The Mirror wrote on October 15:

“Shocking video taken during an ICE sweep at a Chicago Walgreens shows a senior white officer throwing a Black man to the pavement and placing him under arrest for ‘fleeing,’ even though a relative insisted he was an American citizen…  A second video captured the shocking moment after ICE officers cuffed the man and drove him away in SUVs… 

“It comes after an out-of-control ICE agent yelled a disgusting insult before shooting a woman five times.” 

The Rutherford Institute wrote on October 15: 

“Masked gunmen. Tasers. Tear gas. Pepper spray. Unmarked vehicles. Intimidation tactics. Brutality. Racial profiling. Children traumatized. Families terrorized. Journalists targeted. Citizens detained. Disabled individuals, minors, the elderly, pregnant women, military veterans—snatched off the streets. Private property destroyed. This is not a war zone. 

“This is what now passes for law-and-order policing by ICE agents in Trump’s America—and it is not making America safer or greater. What began as an agency tasked with enforcing immigration law has metastasized into a domestic terror force. 

“From coast to coast, ICE goon squads… are prowling neighborhoods, churches, courthouses, hospitals, bus stops, and worksites, anywhere ‘suspected’ migrants might be present, snatching people first and asking questions later. Sometimes ‘later’ comes hours, days or even weeks afterwards. No one is off limits—not even American citizens… It is how a dictatorship behaves when it decides the rule of law—in this case, the Bill of Rights—is optional.

“Journalists are being shoved to the pavement, forced into chokeholds, teargassed, and brutalized—in violation of the First Amendment. U.S. citizens, including toddlers, are being snatched up and carted off—in violation of the Fourth Amendment. People with no criminal records who have lived, worked and paid taxes in this country for decades are being made to disappear—in violation of habeas corpus…

“Nationally, more than 70% of individuals rounded up by ICE nationally have no criminal convictions. Many have lived in the U.S. for decades, raised families, paid taxes, contributed to the economy, and worked the jobs most Americans refuse to do.” 

Even Trump admitted that. Americans did not vote for him to have ICE behave in this illegal way. He may pay dearly at the midterm elections. 

“Pope Leo’s Critique of Trump Administration” 

Reuters wrote on October 2: 

“Pope Leo initially impressed conservative Catholics after his election in May as he embraced traditions shunned by his predecessor Pope Francis and steered clear of hot button social issues that divided the 1.4 billion-member Church. But his honeymoon with conservatives appears over after he unexpectedly took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies, questioning whether they were in line with the Church’s pro-life teachings. 

“‘Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,’ Leo, the first U.S. pope, told reporters on Tuesday… 

“The Trump administration, which was sharply critical of Francis but has rarely commented about Leo… pushed back. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she rejected the characterisation of inhumane treatment of immigrants.” 

Pope Leo is correct. The Trump administration’s denial is laughable. Note the next article. 

The New Republic wrote on October 1: 

“On Tuesday evening, the Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV spoke out against anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States, as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s bellicose rhetoric. At an unusual gathering of military leaders earlier that day, Hegseth had told the top brass to be ‘prepared for war, not for defense,’ while espousing the use of ‘overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy’ and promising to ‘untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country.’… 

“Leo called Hegseth’s rhetoric ‘worrying… because it shows each time an increase in tensions.’ Citing Hegseth’s change in job title from ‘secretary of defense’ to ‘secretary of war,’ the pope said, ‘Let’s hope it is only a way of speaking.’” 

Reuters wrote on October 1: 

“Trump said he told [U.S. Defense Secretary Pete] Hegseth ‘we should use some of these dangerous [U.S.] cities as training grounds for our military.’ He acknowledged that he has been criticized for deploying the military on U.S. streets, but said America was in the grips of what he described as a war from within waged by immigrants in the country illegally who his administration is seeking to deport. 

“‘America is under invasion from within. We’re under invasion from within, no different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways, because they don’t wear uniforms,’ Trump said. That triggered a sharp reaction from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat. ‘Anyone who talks about their fellow Americans as enemies to be “taken out” is not fit to lead the nation,’ Pritzker said on X.” 

The terminology of the Trump Administration becomes more and more intolerable. Words lead to deeds. Is civil war coming?  

Double-Tongued Stephen Miller

The Independent wrote on October 1:

“Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, has responded angrily to the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, after a social media account linked to Newsom labelled Miller a ‘fascist’… ‘It is a message that his team is sending to all the crazies and lunatics out there,’ he said. ‘We’re not going to absolve Democrats of responsibility anymore. There’s a reason why all of these killers and lunatics and terrorists adopt the same language. They say they are trying to kill the fascist and stop the fascists. This is deliberate.’… 

“Miller himself has previously described opponents, including the Democrats and the Biden administration, as ‘fascists’ in numerous social media posts. ‘The Democrat Party is now a Fascist Party. Using corporate and government power to punish dissent and dissenters,’ he wrote in 2024… 

“His use of the slur is not reserved for the Democratic Party…”

Miller is a dangerous political force. 

Circumcision and Autism 

CBS News wrote on October 14: 

“Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested there may be a link between autism and circumcision while reasserting the… theory that Tylenol causes the disorder… ‘There’s two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It’s highly likely because they are given Tylenol,’ Kennedy stated during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday…

“Kennedy said he was referring to an August 2025 Preprints.org review by Patel et al., which he said ‘directly validates my point that the observed autism correlation in circumcised boys is best explained by acetaminophen exposure, not circumcision itself.’” 

This important distinction has been conveniently overlooked in the mass media.

Zelensky to Leave Office? 

Breitbart wrote on October 14: 

“A poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on Monday found that 75 percent of Ukrainians want President Volodymyr Zelensky to leave office after the war with Russia ends…”

Zelensky himself declared that he would step down after the war ends. It reminds us of Churchill’s fate after World War II. 

Is Putin Playing Trump Again? 

The Spectator wrote on October 17: 

“Sorry, Volodymyr. There won’t be any Tomahawk missiles headed to Ukraine now that president Vladimir Putin of Russia has talked on the phone with president Donald Trump, who called their session ‘very productive.’ What it will produce remains an open question. But it does seem to have resulted in a decision to hold an upcoming summit in Budapest. The bottom line: Putin has outflanked Ukrainian president Zelensky… 

“For Zelensky, Putin’s missive could not come at a worse time… Trump has repeatedly voiced his frustration with ‘Vladimir,’ as he likes to call him, for refusing to end the war. Now Putin is once more dangling the bait of a ceasefire… 

“Since the Alaska summit, Trump has approved further cooperation between American and Ukrainian intelligence services, ensuring that they receive better targeting information to hit Russian energy infrastructure…

“Putin’s track record, of course, should hardly inspire much confidence. A master of the tactical move, the Russian president may well have intervened simply to stymie Trump from delivering more potent weapons to Ukraine… It is Putin, and Putin alone, who has steadily been saying nyet to ending the conflict in his mad desire to reestablish the Russian empire of yore.” 

Nothing good will come from these “negotiations.” Note the next article. 

Trump’s Ever-Changing Positions 

The Guardian wrote on October 17: 

“Donald Trump seemed more intent on brokering a peace deal than he was to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles during a White House meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying that the US may need them for a future conflict… After speaking with Zelenskyy for more than two hours, Trump implored both Ukraine and Russia to ‘stop the war immediately’, even if it means Ukraine conceding territory… 

“Trump’s doubtful tone on the cruise missiles follows a surprise phone call with Vladimir Putin on Friday during which the Russian leader told Trump that supplying the Tomahawks would damage US-Russian relations. 

“His position on supplying Ukraine with weapons has changed a number of times since he returned to office in January, often after negotiations with Putin or European backers of Ukraine… On previous occasions, when Trump had seemed ready to tilt towards Kyiv and its European allies, a call from Putin was often followed by a sudden softening in the US leader’s tone towards Moscow. 

“A flurry of activity was also set off with Trump’s announcement after the call that he was planning to meet the Russian president in the Hungarian capital on a date still to be determined, in an effort to end the war… It remains unclear how Putin would travel to Hungary, given EU sanctions and airspace restrictions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as the fact that he is wanted by the international criminal court (ICC). As a signatory to the ICC, Hungary would be obliged to arrest him, though Orbán has previously said this would not happen… 

“Trump and Putin last met in Alaska in August, which did not produce a diplomatic breakthrough… The latest conversation, which lasted more than two and a half hours, appears to have sapped the momentum Zelenskyy had built with Trump, with the US leader now unlikely to show significant support for Ukraine before meeting Putin… 

“While Moscow has repeatedly claimed it is ready to end its invasion of Ukraine, Putin has shown no indication he is seeking compromise or to scale back his maximalist goal of forcing Kyiv’s capitulation. Despite Trump’s typically  upbeat rhetoric that peace may be within reach, the US vice-president, JD Vance, struck a more cautious note on Thursday, saying that ‘the Russians and the Ukrainians are just not at the point where they can make a deal’, and that a settlement ‘remains possible but will require a lot more work’.” 

Trump is being played like a fiddle… again. He is caving to Putin and is no match for him. 

Putin Demands Donetsk

Euractiv wrote on October 19: 

“Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine surrender full control of Donetsk as a condition for ending the war, US newspaper The Washington Post reported. The request, which would significantly disadvantage Kyiv, signals that Putin has not backed away from long-standing territorial ambitions despite Trump’s optimism about brokering a deal. 

“According to two senior officials quoted by The Washington Post, Putin offered to relinquish claims to parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in exchange for Donetsk [a strategically important region], which Moscow and its proxies have failed to capture entirely since 2014. Trump… has yet to endorse the demand publicly… 

“Zelenskyy on Sunday urged allies against appeasing Russia. ‘Ukraine will never grant terrorists any bounty for their crimes, and we count on our partners to uphold this very position,’ Zelenskyy wrote on social media on his return from Washington. He called for decisive steps from European and American allies. ‘This week alone, Russia has used more than 3,270 attack drones, 1,370 guided aerial bombs, and nearly 50 missiles of various types against Ukraine,’ Zelensky said.” 

Meeting on Hold 

Newsmax wrote on October 21:

“President Donald Trump, confirming Tuesday that his plan for a swift meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin was on hold, said that’s because he doesn’t want it to be a ‘waste of time.’ 

“It was the latest twist in Trump’s stop-and-go effort to resolve the war in Ukraine. 

“The decision to hold off on the meeting in Budapest, Hungary, which Trump had announced last week, was made following a call Monday between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.” 

While this is going on, in one of the biggest demonstrations in American history, approximately 7 million people demonstrated against Trump over the weekend under the motto: “No Kings.” In a previous “No Kings” demonstration in June, “only” 3 million participated. Note the next segment. 

“No Kings Parade”–Ted Cruz Warns MEGA 

The Daily Beast reported on October 21: 

“Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has implored his party to wake up to the dangers posed by an estimated seven million people turning out in protest against the Donald Trump administration.  ‘Unquestionably, we should take political peril seriously,’ Cruz told Bloomberg Television. ‘… There is a lot of anger on the left. And elections can be dangerous when one side is mobilized, is angry.’… 

“It’s not the first time Cruz has openly criticized the MAGA administration, warning in April 2025 that Trump’s trade war against much of the rest of the planet would likely result in significant job losses, threatening to turn the 2026 midterms into a ‘bloodbath’ for Republicans.” 

The New York Post added on October 19: 

“The president posted a wild AI-generated video of himself late Saturday as a fighter pilot wearing a crown on his head, unloading sewage on ‘No Kings’ protestors.  With ‘Danger Zone,’ the iconic ‘Top Gun’ theme song, blaring in the background, Trump’s fighter jet was shown dropping masses of manure on demonstrators over what appeared to be New York City.” 

Trump Not Ready to Leave? 

The Mirror wrote on October 22: 

“Donald Trump has no intention of ever leaving the White House… That seems like a weird thing to suggest, but there is now so much evidence pointing to him trying to cling on to power beyond the end of his legal presidential term, that it’s irresponsible to pretend it’s not happening. He keeps saying he’s not a ‘king’ or a ‘dictator’. But he also keeps doing and saying things that suggest he very much would like to be… 

“Trump did exactly what he said he was going to do in his first term, or at least tried to. And this time, he keeps saying he’s going to stay in the White House beyond 2029, when his legal term ends. He’s even made hats and given them out to Republican congressmen. He’s repeatedly floated the idea of re-writing or bypassing constitutional rules that prevent him serving beyond two terms. 

“During a visit to the White House by Volodymyr Zelensky in August, Trump indicated he likes the idea of using a war to cancel the next election, allowing him to stay in power beyond his term limit. Zelensky cancelled an election in Ukraine because his country is at war with Russia. ‘So let me just say three and a half years from now – so you mean, if we happen to be in a war with somebody, no more elections?…’ Trump said. Later during his visit, Trump showed Zelensky the White House gift shop, where Trump 2028 hats are on sale….” 

The article lists several additional factors, but the ones quoted herein are the most striking. 

Turkey Becoming Important to Europe 

fakti.bg wrote on October 15: 

“Currently, the partnership with the country that has the second largest army in NATO after the US may prove to be key for Europe… 

“At the same time, Turkey remains a difficult partner for the West. The conflicts with Greece and Cyprus are still unresolved, and its proximity to Vladimir Putin is causing concern. The country also has serious problems with democracy, and EU accession talks have been frozen for years. But despite the repression of the opposition, criticism from Brussels is almost non-existent. Why?.. 

“Before, it was about democracy. Today, security is the priority. The threat from Russia overshadows everything else… The partnership with Turkey remains risky, but the fear of Russia in Europe is growing…” 

Turkey, with the help of Europe, will play a violent anti-Israeli role in the future. 

Turkey’s Persecution of Minority Christians

IFN wrote on October 16: 

“The Turkish government is increasingly treating Christian minorities as existential threats—branding them as ‘national security dangers’ to justify mass expulsions and heavy restrictions on religious freedom. This alarming rhetoric marks a new low in Türkiye’s crackdown on minority believers.

“… the government has expelled foreign Christians working as missionaries or aid workers—even when they held valid visas. Some local Christians report threats, intimidation, and bureaucratic harassment until they leave… 

“In response, Christian and human rights advocates are calling on governments and international bodies to shine a light on Türkiye’s actions, impose accountability for violations, and support Christians facing forced removal or persecution…” 

Europe, more and more dependent on Turkey’s strong military, stays silent. 

Most Dangerous Time 

The Guardian wrote on October 1: 

“Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen issued a stark warning that Europe is ‘in the most difficult and dangerous situation since the second world war,’ even worse than during the cold war… as she urged leaders to leave national perspectives behind and unite to take on Russia…” 

And so, at least ten European nations or groups of nations will unite… with dangerous consequences. 

No More Reliance on USA

Euronews wrote on September 29: 

“For decades, Germany relied on the US for its security policy. But that era is over, experts tell Euronews. Germany plans to spend up to €83 billion on European-made weapons and reduce dependence on US defence systems as Chancellor Friedrich Merz pushes to build Europe’s ‘strongest conventional armed force’ amid doubts about Washington’s reliability under Donald Trump. 

“According to reports, the German government plans 154 major defence procurements between September 2025 and December 2026, with only 8% from US suppliers compared to the previously heavy reliance on US systems. The shift follows US President Trump’s demands that NATO partners increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP, while purchasing more US weapons, prompting Berlin to pursue a ‘Buy European’ strategy… 

“According to US expert and author Dr Josef Braml, this move should not be seen as a mistake of confusing cause and effect. ‘The cause was that Trump made it clear that America can no longer be relied on,’ Braml told Euronews. Now that this has become clear, ‘it no longer makes sense to pay tribute for protection that we no longer get,’ he added. According to Braml, this ‘tribute’ was paid by buying US weapons that made Germany and other European countries dependent on US systems… 

“The Marshall Plan and NATO laid the foundations for security and economic relations between Germany and the US after World War II. Since Trump took office, the German government has endeavoured to maintain bilateral relations. Nevertheless, the German course is running counter to the US president’s expectations… 

“Continuing as before is therefore not an option for Braml. ‘Security is gone, Pax Americana is dead,’ he concluded.” 

Europe will become a mighty military force, independent of the USA. 

AI Assistants Systematically Distort the Truth 

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 22: 

“A major new study by 22 public service media organizations, including DW, has found that four of the most commonly used AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time— regardless of language or territory… Measuring criteria such as accuracy, sourcing, providing context, the ability to editorialize appropriately and the ability to distinguish fact from opinion, the study found that almost half of all answers had at least one significant issue, while 31% contained serious sourcing problems and 20% contained major factual errors… 

“Those behind the study say it confirms that AI assistants systematically distort news content of all kinds. ‘This research conclusively shows that these failings are not isolated incidents,’ said Jean Philip De Tender, deputy director general of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which co-ordinated the study. ‘They are systemic, cross-border, and multilingual, and we believe this endangers public trust. When people don’t know what to trust, they end up trusting nothing at all…’” 

Mandatory Military Service by Lottery? 

BBC wrote on October 14: 

“Plans to re-introduce military service in Germany have been thrown into chaos because of an 11th hour row amongst the governing parties. A compromise, which was set to include the possibility of some mandatory conscription, has been shot down… on Tuesday night, a press conference to announce the proposals was abruptly cancelled, ahead of a draft bill going before parliament on Thursday. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has denied accusations of ‘torpedoing’ the plans… 

“A significant section of German society remains deeply wary of conscription and re-armament given the catastrophic consequences of remilitarising in the 20th Century. Nevertheless, a recent Forsa survey for Stern suggested that 54% of people favoured compulsory service while 41% opposed it. Opposition rose to 63% among 18 to 29-year-olds. Germany wants to expand its armed forces from the current 183,000 active servicemen and women to 260,000 by 2035 – plus 200,000 reservists… 

“There is resistance within the junior partner in the coalition, the SPD, to any element of compulsory service. The government, made up of Merz’s conservative CDU/CSU and the centre-left Social Democrat SPD, agreed in their coalition treaty to reintroduce military service which would be voluntary ‘to start with.’ However, CDU politicians – including Chancellor Merz – have increasingly aired concerns that a purely voluntary system will not be sufficient. 

“This week, negotiators from the two coalition parties hammered out a complicated compromise… reports suggested that, if not enough school-leavers volunteered, then a lottery system could be used. A selection of young men could be summoned for a medical or even mandatory service, if required, should recruitment targets be missed… 

“Rather than a lottery, [Pistorius] has backed proposals for all eligible young men to undergo a medical from July 2027, so the Bundeswehr has a clear snapshot of available manpower…”

Deutsche Welle wrote on October 15: 

“Germany’s Bundestag parliament began its first reading of the contentious bill seeking to reintroduce some form of military service, on a purely voluntary basis at first but with contested plans to add some kind of mandatory component in future if necessary… 

“[Pistorius was] seeking to stress that any decision on obligatory recruitment was not part of the current bill and was a matter for a future debate… ‘that would clearly only take place under the authority of a Bundestag resolution, and using methods that are yet to be decided.’… 

“Politicians from Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU said they stood by their lottery-based ‘Plan B’ for the case that voluntary recruitment falls short of targets or needs… 

“Neither the draft law as it stands nor the lottery proposal is very clear on the contentious question of mandatory recruitment. The draft law mentions the likelihood for the need of ‘comprehensive mustering’ as of 2027, but doesn’t say how it plans to achieve this, and avoids clarifying whether it means mustering in the sense of compulsory conscription, or simply an obligation for young men to muster for inspection and consideration.  

“The lottery proposal, meanwhile, was said to involve drawing lots to make up any shortfall, but then to try to encourage those whose lot was drawn to volunteer, rather than obliging them to act. Again, it didn’t explain how it planned to achieve this… 

“The legal right to oblige young men to serve for a period is enshrined in the constitution, and was only suspended by a simple majority vote in parliament when the system was scrapped. Another simple majority vote would suffice in theory to reactivate the provision as it is. But adding women to the provision, or altering its content, would require a two-thirds majority in the lower and upper houses of parliament instead. The coalition government by itself is nowhere near commanding these majorities, even if it could reach internal agreement on the issue.” 

Mandatory military service by lottery? Most Germans reject this. What boneheaded nonsense! How crazy can it get? 

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.

America’s Comedians Blast ABC 

The Hollywood Reporter wrote on September 19: 

“Conan O’Brien Says Jimmy Kimmel Suspension ‘Should Disturb Everyone’: ‘It’s Wrong.’… ‘The suspension of [Jimmy Kimmel] and the promise to silence other Late Night hosts for criticizing the administration should disturb everyone on the Right, Left, and Center,’ he wrote on X. ‘It’s wrong and anyone with a conscience knows it’s wrong.’ 

“The former Late Night and Tonight Show host is one of many late night TV hosts who have voiced their disapproval on the indefinite suspension of Kimmel’s show… Stephen Colbert defended Kimmel, notably after his own The Late Show was recently canceled by CBS…. Jimmy Fallon also backed his fellow late night host, and said he ‘hope[s] he comes back’ on air.  

“Jimmy Kimmel Live! was ‘pre-empted indefinitely’ by ABC on Wednesday shortly after Nexstar released a statement noting they would not air the planned episode and would preempt the long-running talk show for the foreseeable future. The backlash stemmed from Kimmel’s remarks about the alleged shooter of Charlie Kirk. His comments were as follows: ‘We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.’ 

“Following Kimmel’s remarks, Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr went on a podcast on Wednesday where he publicly condemned Kimmel’s comments and urged affiliates should ‘push back’ on ABC… A source told The Hollywood Reporter Kimmel was prepared to address the backlash on Wednesday night’s canceled show. He planned to explain what he said and demonstrate how it was taken out of context. The source added that Kimmel was not planning on apologizing. He felt that what he said did not need an apology. 

“Late night TV legend David Lettermann shared his thoughts on the matter earlier on Thursday… ‘You know, I just, I feel bad about this because we all see where this is going, correct? It’s managed media. And it’s no good. It’s silly. It’s ridiculous,’ he said. ‘And you can’t go around firing somebody because you’re fearful or trying to suck up to an authoritarian criminal administration in the Oval Office…’ 

“Current Late Night host Seth Meyers stressed the importance of free speech during his Thursday night episode and offered support for Kimmel… ‘I wake up every day and I count my blessings that I live in a country that at least purports to value freedom of speech, and we’re gonna keep doing our show the way we’ve always done it with enthusiasm and integrity.’’

Blasting Disney and FCC Chair Brendan Carr 

The German media outlet, Deutsche Welle, added on September 19: 

“The decision to suspend Kimmel came amid pressure from the FCC and ABC’s parent company, Disney. The suspension has ignited a firestorm among fellow late-night hosts — Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and others — who are speaking out about what they see as an alarming threat to free speech in media…. 

“Colbert called the suspension ‘blatant censorship,’ criticizing ABC and Disney for yielding to external pressure rather than defending Kimmel. He especially zeroed in on the role of FCC Chair Brendan Carr, framing the suspension as symptomatic of growing media suppression.” 

Daily Mail wrote on September 19: 

“ABC parent company Disney decided to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! ‘indefinitely’ after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr threatened action against the network over the host’s remarks [on Kirk’s murder]…” 

Germany and Great Britain are taking note of this development, as well. 

Ted Cruz Blasts Brendan Carr—Trump Disagrees 

CNN wrote on September 19: 

“GOP Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday denounced Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr’s threats to pull ABC’s broadcast license as ‘unbelievably dangerous’ and compared some of his rhetoric to ‘mafioso’ tactics… ‘If the government gets in the business of saying, “We don’t like what you, the media, have said. We’re going to ban you from the airwaves if you don’t say what we like,” that will end up bad for conservatives.’ 

“Though Carr’s comments have drawn widespread condemnation on the left, Cruz’s remarks represent one of the strongest denunciations of the threats against broadcasters by an elected conservative. Cruz also chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has broad authority over the FCC… 

“President Donald Trump has also vaguely threatened to pull network’s licenses if they air overwhelmingly negative coverage of him, though Cruz did not rebut the president’s remarks directly on the podcast. Trump offered praise for Carr when pressed on the scathing remarks from the Texas Republican. ‘I think Brendan Carr is a great American patriot. So I disagree with Ted Cruz on that,’ he said.” 

But Cruz is not the only Republican politician disagreeing with Trump. Note the next article: 

NBC News wrote on September 21: 

“Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said that Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr’s comments threatening to take action against Disney’s ABC last week were ‘absolutely inappropriate.’…” 

Jay Leno and Eisner Speak Out 

Daily Mail added on September 19: 

“Late-night legend Jay Leno has weighed in on the abrupt suspension of Jimmy Kimmel… ‘I’m on Jimmy Kimmel’s side on that one,’ he told reporters on Thursday, adding that he’s ‘for free speech.’… The veteran host added that ‘you don’t get cancelled saying popular things.’ ‘Usually it’s the truth that winds up getting [you] cancelled, so we’ll see what happens,’ he said.  

“Leno was blunt when addressing critics who praised Kimmel’s suspension. ‘It’s a comedian talking. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it… Let the people decide,’ he said…” 

Deadline wrote on September 19: 

“The ‘suspending indefinitely’ of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the Chairman of the FCC’s aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney Company is yet another example of out-of-control intimidation,’ the 1984-2005 Disney boss [Michael Eisner] wrote Friday in a rare X post… 

“Declaring that he ‘finds Jimmy Kimmel very talented and funny,’ [Eisner] bluntly asked today: ‘Where has all the leadership gone?’” 

Some Humorous Comments and Actions 

The New York Post wrote on September 19: 

“HBO host Bill Maher said Friday that Jimmy Kimmel was ‘wrong’ to suggest that Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin was a MAGA Republican — but slammed his former network ABC for taking the comedian off the air… Maher noted that Kimmel’s show was pulled ‘24 years to the day’ that his own controversial remarks – about the 9/11 hijackers –  ‘got me canceled from that network.’ 

‘And Jimmy Kimmel took my slot!’ he said. ‘I got canceled before cancel even had a culture,’ Maher joked, before taking a shot at his former network. ‘ABC stands for Always Be Caving,’ he quipped… 

“Maher’s take on Kimmel came the day after his fellow late-night hosts supported their embattled peer Kimmel… Jon Stewart made a rare Thursday-night appearance on ‘The Daily Show,’ speaking in front of a gold-inspired backdrop wearing a dark suit and red tie, both nods to Trump’s preferred attire and decor. ‘From Comedy Central. It’s the all-new government-approved ‘Daily Show’ with your patriotically obedient host, Jon Stewart,’ an announcer began the show.” 

Humorous, but they also paint a pathetic picture. 

Shameful… Media Companies Buckle 

The Guardian wrote on September 19: 

“The move [to suspend Kimmel] ‘marks a dark new level of capitulation and censorship of speech more redolent of autocracies than democracies’, according to PEN America, the free-expression advocacy organization. The Trump administration’s bullying appalls first amendment champions. Just as bad is the way so much of big media has rolled over like a docile lapdog, eager to obey in advance. The administration ‘is becoming increasingly brazen in its abuse of government power to silence its critics’, said Jameel Jaffer, who heads the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, adding that ‘too many of the powerful institutions that could stand up to this thuggery are capitulating instead’… 

“Each instance of bullying emboldens Trump and his allies, and each instance of capitulation lays the groundwork for more cowardice. Just a few months ago, it seemed shocking when ABC News settled a suit brought by Trump over on-air remarks made by star anchor George Stephanopoulos. Most first amendment experts believed that the network could have successfully defended the case, but instead ABC buckled, even including an apology with the financial settlement. Not long afterwards, an even more defensible suit against CBS News over the routine editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris went a similar route. 

“Parent company Paramount Global settled the case. Soon after Stephen Colbert criticized that settlement, calling it a bribe, his CBS late-night show was cancelled. The media has been cozying up to Trump in earnest since last fall, often with the owners’ commercial interests all too obvious. Paramount Global, for example, was eager for federal approval of a huge merger with another media giant. 

“… too many media companies are bending the knee – and then cowering as Trump grows ever bolder. What good is the first amendment when so many in power don’t seem to know it exists?” 

As the media did under Biden, so now they are doing it under Trump. 

Kimmel Is Back 

The Huffington Post wrote on September 22: 

“Disney announced Monday that it’s bringing ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ back on the air Tuesday… 

“Critics slammed Disney and its CEO Bob Iger for suspending the show after Brendan Carr, President Donald Trump’s chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, threatened to punish the company with regulatory action over Kimmel’s comments. Earlier Monday, more than 400 celebrities, including Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, signed a letter calling the suspension a ‘dark moment for freedom of speech.’ [The letter was also signed, among many others, by Billy Crystal, Ron Howard, Ben Stiller, Michael Keaton and Kevin Beacon]. A handful of other celebrities have called on people to cancel their subscriptions to Disney’s platforms [including Howard Stern] or vowed not to work with the company again. 

“Sinclair which owns multiple ABC affiliates and control what broadcasts on them, released a statement saying it would continue to preempt Kimmel’s show despite Disney lifting the suspension. It will air news during that time slot instead but left the door open to Kimmel’s return.” 

This was apparently a bridge too far for Disney. In August, Sinclair said it was reviewing its business and considering “acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and business combinations,” which would require approval from the FCC. 

Deutsche Welle wrote on September 23: 

“In his first show since the suspension, Jimmy Kimmel said he never meant to make light of Kirk’s murder… Kimmel criticized the ABC affiliates that took his show off the air. ‘That’s not legal. That’s not American. It’s un-American,’ he said. 

“‘This show is not important,’ Kimmel said, adding, ‘what is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this.’” 

Trump Keeps On Threatening 

Mediaite wrote on September 24: 

“Minutes before Kimmel was set to return, Trump posted a rant threatening ABC on Truth Social, writing: 

‘”Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there. Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE. He is yet another arm of the DNC [Democratic National Committee] and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings.’” 

Deadline wrote on September 23: 

“Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform at the Campaign Legal Center, said… ‘The decision to put Jimmy Kimmel back on the air is in no way an illegal campaign contribution,’ he said. ‘…There is no indication the decision is being driven by anything other than a commercial decision. That is not even close to a campaign contribution.’” 

The Daily Mail commented on September 23 regarding Trump’s threats: 

“If Trump isn’t careful, he will end up no better than Biden! This dirty revenge tour must cease… before everyone loses…” 

America at a Dangerous Crossroads 

BBC wrote on September 17: 

“Within days of Kirk’s death, the country’s political camps had already retreated to opposing narratives. Many on the left are eager to explore the ways that Kirk’s killer might have been radicalised by internet subcultures and group chats. Many on the right prefer to unpack whether the suspect was part of a left-wing conspiracy. Neither group seems particularly keen to prioritise reconciliation or healing… 

“As for the question of whether America can break the hold of the algorithms that stoke the divisions, that would take a leader of enormous strength with an equally enormous commitment to reconciliation… Usually only a president can facilitate that… Trump is not that type of president. He often seems at his strongest, politically, when he has an adversary to fight against… 

“The framing by the president – that this was not just the deed of a twisted individual but of the radical left more broadly – is being echoed by other White House officials. ‘With God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have… to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks,’ said Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff… 

“However, a number of studies into politically-motivated killings and violence in the US – over several decades – suggest that more cases were carried out by people with ‘right-wing’ ideologies than with ‘left-wing’ ones, though more data is likely necessary to draw a firm conclusion… 

“Yes, American history is full of anger and conflict — but I’m not sure this country’s social and political systems were always so quick to reward the companies and people who stoke those emotions. Meanwhile the United States will get weaker, not greater… America’s adversaries certainly know how much its divisions damage this superpower. They work hard online to drive people further apart. And Americans make it easy for them.” 

America is deeply divided. And there are not even attempts from either side to bring about reconciliation. 

Google to Reinstate Banned YouTube Accounts 

Fox News reported on September 23: 

“Google vowed on Tuesday to offer YouTube accounts that were permanently banned for political speech the ability to be reinstated, and the big tech giant admitted that it once faced pressure from the Biden administration to remove content about COVID-19… and elections integrity policies… 

“Google’s revelations came in response to a yearslong Republican-led investigation by the committee into big tech companies, including Google, that censored and suppressed content on their platforms related to COVID-19, the 2020 election and Hunter Biden.” 

We knew it and experienced it all along… 

Trump Addresses the UN 

The Sun wrote on September 23: 

“The US president returned to the 80th UN General Assembly for the first time in five years – and shocked everyone with his fiery words. Trump touted America’s role in bringing peace to seven conflicts since taking over the White House. He touched on one of his favourite topics in politics – immigration, telling assembly members it’s time to end the ‘failed experiment of open borders’. He said: ‘It’s uncontrolled, your countries are being ruined.’… 

“The jaw-dropping summit saw him calling global warming as an illegitimate idea, slamming climate change as the ‘greatest con job ever perpetrated in the world.’ He complained about renewable energy, calling it useless and warning that it was leading Europe to the ‘brink of destruction’… 

“Meanwhile, Trump slammed the UN for ‘not helping me stop the conflicts.’ He said: ‘It’s too bad that I had to do these things instead of the United Nations doing them. And, sadly, in all cases, the United Nations did not even try to help in any of them… ‘All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that on the way up, stopped right in the middle. And then the teleprompter didn’t work, these are the two things I got from the United Nations.’ 

“Trump warned in his fiery speech about the nuclear threat the world faces, and said ‘there is no more serious danger to our planet today.’ He asked Nato’s European members to stop buying Russian oil and prevent funding Russia’s war machine against Ukraine.” 

Some of Trump’s comments were well-taken.

Russia’s Further Attacks 

The Sun wrote on September 19:

“NATO forces were scrambled to intercept three Russian jets flying over Estonia as the Baltic nation triggered an emergency meeting. [Three jets] brazenly entered the country’s airspace today in a major escalation by Moscow… without clearance…

“Shortly afterwards, Polish authorities reported a ‘low flyover’ of Russian military planes near an oil and gas platform… While in Estonian airspace, the jets circled in the sky [for nearly 12 minutes] as though waiting for a response… NATO allies scrambled Italian F-35s to repel the Russian jets.

“Security expert Will Geddes told The Sun: ‘What we’re increasingly seeing is incursions into NATO country airspace, whether that be Poland, quite recently on September 10, with drones, whether it be Romania, or now Estonia. This is becoming increasingly concerning, as NATO has a joint agreement in terms of protecting their airspace.’

“He added: ‘I think what it really comes down to is the fact that Russia is testing NATO countries, and testing their aerial defence measures.’… It comes as hopes of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine look ever distant… Speaking in Istanbul, the former spy boss [Sir Richard Moore] said: ‘I have seen absolutely no evidence that President Putin has any interest in a negotiated peace short of Ukrainian capitulation.’” 

Politico wrote on September 19: 

“Romania has also faced repeated violations, including a drone tracked for nearly 50 minutes in its airspace in mid-September. Fragments from earlier Russian attacks in Ukraine have repeatedly landed on Romanian territory… 

“NATO allies have historically exercised restraint in such situations. The last time a member state shot down a Russian fighter was in 2015, when Turkey downed a Su-24 near the Syria-Turkey border, sparking a sharp diplomatic confrontation with Moscow but no wider conflict. Since then, despite repeated airspace violations over the Baltics, Poland and Romania, the alliance has refrained from similar moves.”

Deutsche Welle reported on September 20: 

“Germany’s air force on Sunday sent two Eurofighters to follow a Russian IL-20m military aircraft that had entered neutral airspace over the Baltic Sea, before handing the escort over to NATO partners in Sweden.” 

It is clear that Russia is testing NATO. None of it is accidental. 

Trump Switches Position on Russia-Ukraine War – For Now!

The Sun wrote on September 24: 

“Yvette Cooper (Foreign Secretary) slammed Moscow or its ‘provocative and reckless violations’ into Nato airspace in recent weeks during a speech to the UN… [adding] ‘we will be ready to act.’ 

“Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening,  Boris Johnson urged Britain to put troops into Ukraine now — with or without a ceasefire… he blasted Germany for not giving Kyiv its Taurus stealth cruise missiles. And he attacked the Labour government for buying Russian uranium… 

“It comes after Trump told Nato countries to ‘shoot down’ invading Russian aircraft saying member states ‘shouldn’t hesitate’ in the face of incursions. When asked if Washington would back them militarily, he was non-committal. ‘That depends on the circumstance,’ Trump said…. 

“The president doubled down in a Truth Social post – calling Moscow a ‘paper tiger’ and backing Ukraine to reclaim its land… ‘in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that!’… 

“He also admitted his relationship with the Russian leader ‘didn’t mean anything’… 

“Trump has repeatedly argued that Ukraine would likely have to cede some land to end the war… Responding to Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was a bear, not a tiger, and ‘there is no such thing as a paper bear’…” 

How It All Could Develop 

The Sun wrote on September 19: 

“Sir Richard [a former NATO commander]  outlined that it would all start with a massive power outage across Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, which would plunge the city into chaos… ‘A wave of looting and civil unrest breaks out, wholly unexpected in law-abiding Lithuania.’ Power cuts would also be reported across Latvia and Estonia, the former army commander predicted. And within hours, [the] Lithuanian President… would announce that martial law had been imposed in the capital in the wake of rioting and violence. 

“The very next day, in the wake of the growing chaos, Vladimir Putin would announce that troops in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad are being placed on full alert and moved to the border with Lithuania… According to Sir Richard, Putin would say that ‘Russian-speaking residents in Vilnius are being targeted by nationalist mobs and that Moscow will not abandon them.’ And within two hours, he will claim that Russian forces in Kaliningrad have come under fire from ‘warmongering Lithuanian rebels’ – forcing him to take control of the Suwalki Gap… 

“The 60-mile strip Suwalki Gap is wedged between Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.  It has massive strategic importance for NATO and the EU – as well as Russia – if conflict were to erupt. For the West, it is the only land link to the three ex-Soviet Baltic republics – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. [Seizing the gap would essentially cut off the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from their Nato allies] … For Russia, control of the corridor would give a land link to Kaliningrad, the main base of Putin’s Baltic Fleet… 

“‘Nato chief Mark Rutte has spoken briefly to US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, whose response was: ‘Article 5? Sure, in theory, but what does that mean in reality? You’re seriously asking POTUS [the President of the United States] to declare war on Russia because of some low-flying planes? Get real!’ The military expert predicts that Poland would warn Russia to stay out of its airspace, but it will fall short of launching any direct retaliation. 

“And soon, the Lithuanian army posted at the border will come under fire from the Russian army, before Russian tanks start to roll into Vilnius. And since Russia now controls the Suwalki corridor, Nato will fail to send support logistics to the Baltic countries to help defend against Russia. With Europe engaged with yet another Putin invasion, Sir Richard predicted that China in the East would launch an attack on Taiwan… The military expert said that even though Trump will threaten to slap China with ‘the motherload of all sanctions’, he will fall short of supporting the island with necessary military aid… 

“‘China has seized the prize it long desired. Russia has guaranteed the eventual conquest of Ukraine and begun to reclaim the Baltic states. Nato has disintegrated. Europe is preparing a new alliance with the Far East. And Britain is exposed as a tiny island no better able to defend itself than Taiwan.’… 

“While Putin’s war in Ukraine rages on with no end in sight, The Sun investigated the hidden signs that show Putin is planning to invade the Suwalki Gap… Speaking on Battled Plans Exposed of Putin’s telltale signs, Colonel Philip Ingram says: ‘We’re seeing increased Russian military presence in Kaliningrad and Belarus, we’re seeing snap military drills and unusual troop movements… The military analyst also explains that any potential threats to the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, need to be compared to the moments leading up to the invasion of Ukraine… Anything resembling the massive military buildup on the border of Ukraine just before the war in 2022 would need to be interpreted as a serious warning sign, he explains.” 

In this regard, the next article is quite revealing. 

“Trump Blocks $400 Million Military Aid Package to Taiwan” 

The Telegraph wrote on September 19: 

“[The] US was due to provide munitions and autonomous drones that would have been ‘more lethal’ than any sent previously… Donald Trump has blocked a military aid package to Taiwan worth more than $400m ahead of a potential summit with Xi Jinping…” 

America’s Further Attacks 

BBC wrote on September 19: 

“President Donald Trump has said US forces carried out a ‘lethal kinetic strike’ on a vessel which he said was trafficking drugs, and the attack killed three ‘male narcoterrorists’ on board. Trump said he ordered the attack on the boat, which was in the US Southern Command’s area of responsibility, after US intelligence confirmed it was trafficking drugs. It was the third such strike on alleged drug boats in recent weeks. 

“Trump’s statement on Truth Social on Friday said the strike happened in international waters. The US Southern Command’s area of responsibility covers most of South America and the Caribbean. Two previous strikes have killed a total of 14 people on boats allegedly from Venezuela… 

“Trump’s post on Friday evening mirrored previous announcements of such strikes. It featured a video showing the boat travelling on a body of water, and seconds later it explodes and bursts into flames.” 

How is something like this justifiable? 

“Incalculable” Price to Pay? 

AFP wrote on September 20: 

“US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened Venezuela with ‘incalculable’ consequences if it refuses to take back migrants it has ‘forced into the United States,’ as tensions soar with Caracas. ‘We want Venezuela to immediately accept all of the prisoners, and people from mental institutions… Get them the hell out of our country, right now…’ 

“Venezuela on Friday accused the United States of waging an ‘undeclared war’ in the Caribbean and called for a UN probe of American strikes that have killed over a dozen alleged drug traffickers on boats in recent weeks. Washington has also deployed warships to international waters off Venezuela’s coast, backed by F-35 fighters sent to Puerto Rico in what it calls an anti-drug operation. The biggest US naval deployment in the Caribbean in decades has stoked fears the United States is planning to attack Venezuelan territory. 

“The strikes have prompted debate over the legality of the killings, with drug trafficking itself not a capital offense under US law. Nor has Washington provided specific details to back up its claims that the boats targeted had actually been trafficking drugs.”

Tylenol and Autism

The Sun wrote on September 22: 

“Donald Trump has claimed that taking Tylenol during pregnancy increases the risk of autism… He advised pregnant women to only take Tylenol… in the case of high fevers… 

‘”Taking Tylenol is not good,’ he said… Trump also demanded no mercury or aluminum in vaccines.”

Trump also said not to give Tylenol to your child, and that there is no downside to not taking it, except for high fever (compare NPR, dated September 23). Pharma of course rejected those comments. 

Tylenol’s Historic Tweet

The Daily Mail wrote on September 25:

“Tylenol has come under fresh scrutiny after a 2017 post resurfaced in which the brand appeared to warn pregnant women against using its products. The tweet, now being widely shared, stated: ‘We actually don’t recommend taking any of our products while pregnant.’…

“When the Daily Mail approached Kenvue, which manufactures Tylenol, it issued the following statement: ‘This eight-year-old consumer response is incomplete and did not address our full guidance on the safe use of Tylenol.’ A spokesman added that paracetamol and acetaminophen remain the safest painkiller options for pregnant women — but stressed that any over-the-counter medicine should only be taken after consulting a doctor.

“Current Tylenol packaging advises: ‘If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use.’… Paracetamol packets in the UK carry almost identical warnings: ‘Talk to your doctor before taking these tablets if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or plan to get pregnant. If necessary, paracetamol can be used during pregnancy. You should use the lowest possible dose that reduces your pain and/or your fever and use it for the shortest time possible.’”

Massive Vaccines for Babies? 

Express wrote on September 22: 

“… the president remarked:… ‘children get these massive vaccines like you’d give to a horse… for a little baby to be injected with that much fluid, even beyond the actual ingredients, they have sometimes 80 different vaccines in them. It’s crazy… you have a little body, a little baby, and you’re pumping this big thing. It’s a horrible thing…’” 

This is indeed horrible and crazy conduct. 

Annual $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas 

The Guardian wrote on September 19: 

“Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Friday that would impose an annual $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, dealing a potentially major blow to the US tech industry, which relies heavily on workers from India and China. The US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, said at a Friday press briefing that ‘all the big companies’ had been briefed on the new fee… ‘If you’re going to train somebody, you’re going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs,’ he said. 

“Trump’s threat to crack down on H-1B visas has become a major flashpoint with the tech industry, which contributed millions of dollars to his presidential campaign. The tech industry relies, more than any other sector of the US economy, on H-1B visa holders. Roughly two-thirds of jobs secured through the H-1B program are computer-related, government figures show, but employers also use the visa to bring in engineers, educators and healthcare workers… Supporters, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk,  say it brings in highly skilled workers essential to filling talent gaps and keeping firms competitive. Musk, himself a naturalized US citizen born in South Africa, once held an H-1B visa. 

“Adding new fees ‘creates disincentive to attract the world’s smartest talent to the US’, Deedy Das, partner at venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, wrote on X. ‘If the US ceases to attract the best talent, it drastically reduces its ability to innovate and grow the economy.’… 

“Immigration experts are questioning whether the executive branch has the authority to impose the exorbitant annual fee. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said… ‘the president has literally zero legal authority to impose a $100,000 fee on visas… The only authority Congress has ever given the executive branch here is to charge fees to recover the cost of processing the application.’” 

TechCrunch added on September 19, 2025: 

“Trump hits H-1B visas with $100,000 fee, targeting the program that launched Elon Musk and Instagram… 

“Silicon Valley will undoubtedly be up in arms over the initiative. The restrictions take aim at a program that helped create some of the region’s biggest success stories. Elon Musk… initially worked in the U.S. on an H-1B after arriving as a student. In fact, Musk, taking issue with a perceived critic of the H-1B program in December on his platform X, tweeted to the individual that, ‘The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. Take a big step back… I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.’” 

Another move to destroy the American economy? 

Trump Threatens Non-Profits 

The Guardian wrote on September 20: 

“Immigrant advocacy organizations and activists are bracing for a crackdown from the federal government following threats from the Trump administration to root out and criminally prosecute non-profit groups it believes are sympathetic to ‘leftwing’ politics. Donald Trump and his closest allies have periodically threatened immigrant rights activists and nonprofits, including those that distribute food and water to migrants or provide immigrants with legal services, with arrest. But their rhetoric has been heightened in the days following the killing of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk this month. 

“Over the last week, JD Vance described civil rights groups as a ‘domestic terror movement’, while Stephen Miller, a top Trump aide and the architect of the US president’s mass deportation agenda, vowed that the administration would hold nonprofits, including immigrant-rights and police-reform organizations, ‘criminally liable’ for what he baselessly described as ‘coordinated attacks’ on Ice agents… The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), meanwhile, has expanded its definition of ‘threats’ to include the filming Ice operations…” 

So, nobody is allowed to give food and water to hungry and thirsty migrants? God has a lot to say about such ungodly prohibitions. 

False Statistics? 

The New York Post wrote on September 19: 

“President Trump’s ‘border czar’ Tom Homan [claimed] that ‘70% of everybody arrested is a criminal.’ He said the other 30% of migrants arrested and slated for deportation include ‘thousands of national security threats’ who don’t have criminal histories and were ‘laying low to do their dirty deed down the road,’ as well as gang members that have evaded law enforcement.” 

These comments are totally contradicted by many reports on the Internet, which state: “A large number of people arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not have criminal convictions, with data from early 2025 showing that approximately 65% of individuals booked into ICE detention had no criminal record. More than 93% of ICE book-ins were never convicted of any violent offenses. Most convictions [53%] that do occur are for minor offenses, such as traffic or immigration violations.” 

California Opposes ICE 

The New York Post wrote on September 20: 

“Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills on Saturday banning masking statewide [for federal law enforcement agents], as part of a concentrated effort to bar Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from concealing their identities during raids. The five bills Newsom signed into law Saturday ‘make California the first state in the nation to prohibit federal law enforcement officers, including ICE, from hiding their identities [‘except when absolutely necessary’] according to a press release from his office… 

“Newsom’s office did not say how they would enforce such a rule against a federal agency, though they did talk at length about how much they oppose ICE’s recent actions… 

“The new law will require notification to families when immigration enforcement intends on visiting a school. Emergency rooms and other nonpublic areas within hospitals are off limits to immigration enforcement ‘without a judicial warrant or court order, and it clarifies that immigration information collected by a health care provider is protected as medical information.’” 

The key question is indeed: How WILL or even CAN California enforce these new rules? It will inevitably lead to further confrontations between the state of California and the federal government. 

Sniper Attack on Migrants 

The Daily Mail wrote on September 24: 

“A sniper killed [one migrant and wounded two] in a shooting at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, then shot himself dead, police say. The bloodbath unfolded… when the gunman targeted migrants on an unmarked transport van.  ICE said… that the sniper ‘fired indiscriminately’ before later shooting himself… The victims were ICE detainees, and no law enforcement were injured in the shooting…

“Officials said at a press conference on Wednesday morning that bullets found by the shooter’s body were engraved with ‘anti-ICE messages.’ … Although the sniper appeared to target migrants in ICE custody, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote on X that the shooting represented an attack on ICE and law enforcement…” 

If this demonically inspired attack was indeed an attack on ICE, and not on migrants, as JD Vance claimed, then this was a terribly bad sniper. Something very hard to believe. The violence in this country reaches unparalleled proportions. 

Stephen Miller a Nazi?

Breitbart wrote on September 25:

“California Governor Gavin Newsom launched an antisemitic attack on White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller this week, referring to Miller, who is Jewish, by the Nazi acronym ‘SS,’ in a social media post…

“Referring to a Jew as a Nazi is widely considered a form of Holocaust denial, as well as antisemitic…”

We have never heard before that referring to a Jew as a Nazi is “widely considered a form of Holocaust denial, as well as antisemitic.” This would be a rather strange association, if true. It would also be highly concocted to make this association because someone calling someone else a Nazi most surely is not trying to emphasize that the other person is Jewish.

AfD on Top 

Deutsche Welle wrote on September 20: 

“If federal elections were held in Germany today, the far-right populist… AfD would emerge as the largest party, according to an opinion poll released on Sunday… which put the anti-immigration party up one percentage point at 26%, overtaking the ruling conservative CDU/CSU bloc which remained unchanged at 25%. The center-left… SPD, the junior partner in the current coalition government, would increase their share of the vote by one percentage point to 15%, according to the poll, while the Green Party and far-left Left Party would both be on 11%. The left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) and the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP) would both fall short of the minimum 5% threshold required to enter parliament at 4% and 3% respectively. 

“The AfD, which has been officially classified as a ‘confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor’ by Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz or BfV), won 20.8% of the vote in February’s federal elections. Despite being the second-largest party in parliament, the other parties refused to enter into a coalition with the AfD.” 

The AfD will not go away, and sooner or later, parties desirous to rule will be forced to enter into a coalition with it. 

UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal Recognize Palestine as a State 

Breitbart wrote on September 21: 

“The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia announced on Sunday they now recognize Palestine as a state, despite accusations that it would be rewarding the Islamist Hamas terrorists behind the October 7th terror attacks on Israel. One day before the beginning of the Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year celebrations, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognize Palestine statehood. The move pre-empted plans from France to back the measure this week at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. 

“Starmer’s telegraphed announcement was preempted by fellow G7 nation Australia and Canada, both of which announced Sunday they would also recognize the territory as a state shortly before Starmer’s statement. 

“Starmer initially laid out plans to officially recognize Palestine in July on a conditional basis, demanding that Hamas — the Islamist terror group behind the October 7th terror attacks on Israel in 2023, which saw over 1,200 murdered and around 250 hostages taken — disarm, release the hostages, and agree to give up control of Gaza. Despite these conditions not being met, Starmer said on Sunday, ‘In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and of a two-state solution.’… 

“Turning to Israel, the PM accused Jerusalem of conducting a ‘relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza,’ adding: ‘The starvation and devastation are utterly intolerable. Tens of thousands have been killed, including thousands as they tried to collect food and water. This death and destruction horrifies all of us. It must end.’ For its part, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in response: ‘Recognition is nothing but a reward for jihadist Hamas – emboldened by its Muslim Brotherhood affiliated in the UK. Hamas leaders themselves openly admit: this recognition is a direct outcome, the “fruit” for the October 7 massacre…’ 

“Palestine lacks the fundamental aspects of statehood, such as clearly defined borders or a firm constitution and has not held meaningful elections in nearly two decades. Meanwhile, it continues to be a major sponsor of terrorism against its neighbour and top trading partner, Israel. The move to recognise Palestine as a state will put Canberra, Ottawa, and London at odds with both Israel and the United States, with the Trump administration stressing its opposition to Palestinian statehood as it would be ‘rewarding Hamas’ for the October 7th terror attacks on Israel… 

“Nigel Farage, whose Reform UK party has led in the polls throughout the year, said per The Telegraph: ‘Hamas and a Palestinian state are inseparable for now. This is typical of Starmer, he can’t really decide where he stands… this announcement is a surrender to terrorism and a betrayal of Israel.’… 

“According to a survey released on Saturday from JL Partners, 87 per cent of the public opposes the move [to recognize Palestine] without any conditions on Hamas. Additionally, 51 per cent said that they would oppose it while Hamas remains in power in Gaza, and 52 per cent said they believe the action would be rewarding the terrorists.” 

The shortsightedness of these politicians is mind-boggling. France recognized Palestine on Monday in the UN General Assembly, as did  Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco. Germany, Italy and Japan did not recognize such a state. Note the next article. 

“Hamas Releases ‘Parting Image’ of 48 Remaining Captives, Vowing That Israel Will Never See Them Again” 

The New York Post wrote on September 20: 

“Hamas ominously released what it called a “parting image” Saturday of the remaining 48 Israelis being held captive in Gaza, as the Jewish state’s ground troops prepare to close in on Gaza City… Gaza City, the largest city in the Palestinian enclave, is considered Hamas’ last remaining stronghold… 

“The terror group, in anticipation of IDF forces encircling the critical city, issued its strongest warning yet Thursday, saying the military takeover of Gaza City meant Israel had lost any chance of having the hostages returned — dead or alive.” 

Hamas is a murderous lying terrorist organization. To try to strike any deals with them is patently stupid.

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.

Mandatory Military Service for Women 

Tovima wrote on September 12: 

“For the first time in its history, Denmark has introduced mandatory military service for women, becoming the third European country to do so after Norway (2015) and Sweden (2017). The move, announced in July, places 18-year-old Danish women into the same draft lottery as their male peers, ending a system where female participation had been voluntary. The law also extends service from four to eleven months, with the first conscripted women expected to begin in January 2026… 

“Ukraine, despite being at war, does not mandate female service, though 68,000 women now serve voluntarily—up 40% since Russia’s 2022 invasion. 

“… In the U.S., 200,000 women—14% of the military—serve on a voluntary basis, including in combat roles since 1993… 

“Israel remains the longest-standing example: women have served compulsory terms since 1949, though for two years compared with men’s three.” 

It is interesting that three European countries, descendants of the ancient House of Israel, as well as the state of Israel (descendant of Judah), would have mandatory military service for women.

“European Court Rejects Religious Freedom Case Over Covid Worship Bans” 

Christian Today wrote on September 10: 

“The European Court of Human Rights has dismissed a complaint brought by former EU special envoy Jan Figel challenging Slovakia’s bans on communal worship during the pandemic. The Strasbourg-based court ruled the case inadmissible, saying it was not clear how Figel was personally affected by the restrictions and that he could not therefore be regarded as a victim under the European Convention on Human Rights. 

“Figel, who served as the European Commission’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, said he was surprised by the ruling after submitting detailed arguments on the personal impact of the worship ban in July 2023. ‘Religious freedom is among the most vital and central human rights,’ said Figel in response to the ruling. ‘I am deeply saddened by the Court’s decision not to rule on the merits of this case and recognise that the government overstepped the European Convention by banning collective worship repeatedly.’

“Figel, the former Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU, brought the case in response to Slovakia’s Covid-19 restrictions during the pandemic, which included a total ban on religious services. He said he intended not only to defend his own rights but also to highlight wider concerns about freedom of religion in Europe. ‘As Special Envoy, I saw firsthand how fragile freedom is. I believe the EU cannot credibly promote religious freedom abroad if we fail to uphold it at home,’ he said. ‘This case was about ensuring that worship does not become a dispensable right in times of crisis.’” 

An utterly wrong decision, mirroring many of the cases brought by President Trump pertaining to the alleged rigged 2020 election, where courts chose, by and large, to dismiss them based on jurisdictional or procedural matters, without ever reaching the merits of the complaints. The Supreme Court has, until now, done the same thing, by refusing, for instance, to adjudicate the issue of birthright citizenship. 

Nuclear Weapons Against Israel? 

Israel 365 News wrote on September 12: 

“Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez ignited a political firestorm after suggesting that he would like to stop Israel’s military campaign in Gaza but cannot, as it lacks nuclear weapons… These remarks were immediately interpreted by many as a veiled threat toward the State of Israel, suggesting that the Spanish leader might consider the use of nuclear weapons—if Spain had them—as a means to intervene in the conflict… 

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded forcefully on Thursday, calling Sánchez’s comments ‘a blatant genocidal threat to the world’s only Jewish State… Apparently, the Spanish Inquisition, the expulsion of the Jews of Spain and the systematic mass murder of Jews in the Holocaust is not enough for Sánchez.’ 

“The rhetoric drew further rebuke from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who… blasted Sánchez’s administration for what he called a ‘hostile, anti-Israel line, marked by wild, hate-filled rhetoric,’ and said the prime minister was using inflammatory language to ‘divert attention from grave corruption scandals.’ 

“The fallout inside Spain was just as intense. Santiago Abascal, the leader of the far-right Vox party, slammed Sánchez, saying: ‘Sánchez would like to have nuclear weapons… but not to defend Spain. To defend Hamas… Cornered tyrants always end up going mad.’ Carlos Díaz-Pache, a spokesman for the center-right Popular Party, expressed disbelief: ‘A nuclear bomb on Tel Aviv? Is that what he intends to do?’ He accused Sánchez of ‘aligning himself with Hamas terrorism with a repugnant antisemitic statement.’… 

“Sánchez’s comments mark a dramatic escalation in tensions between Spain and Israel—a relationship that has long been marked by political ambivalence and historical baggage. It wasn’t until 1986 that Spain formally established diplomatic ties with Israel, making it one of the last Western European nations to do so. For decades, Spain’s foreign policy had leaned toward courting the Arab world, particularly during the Franco era and its aftermath… 

“In response to the deteriorating situation, Spain has recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv for consultations. In return, Israel has banned two Spanish ministers from entering the country.” 

It can be easily seen what will happen when a unified Europe has access to nuclear weapons… something which will occur according to biblical prophecy. 

Ground Operation in Gaza City Has Begun

Reuters wrote on September 16: 

“Israel announced the start of its long-awaited ground operation into Gaza City on Tuesday, declaring ‘Gaza is burning’. An Israeli military official said the Israeli Defence Forces had begun the main stage of their ground operation into Gaza City, the main urban centre in the enclave, where Israel has ordered hundreds of thousands of residents to flee. The military gave few initial details but said its troops had begun ‘dismantling Hamas terrorist infrastructure in Gaza City’…. 

“U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who visited on Monday, offered apparent backing for the Israeli government’s decision to abandon ceasefire talks and use force to smash Hamas. While the United States wished to see a diplomatic end to the war, “we have to be prepared for the possibility that’s not going to happen”, Rubio said. He endorsed the Israeli demand that Hamas surrender its weapons and free all remaining hostages at once, as the only way to end the war… 

“Much of Gaza City was already laid to waste in the early weeks of the war in 2023, but around 1 million Palestinians had returned there to homes among the ruins. Forcing them out means nearly the entire population of Gaza will now be confined to encampments along the coast further south… An Israeli security official briefing reporters on Monday said around 320,000 people were estimated to have left Gaza City so far, while some 650,000 are thought to remain.” 

Former President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, Convicted of Failed “Coup Attempt” 

Breitbart wrote on September 12: 

“Brazil’s Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) on Thursday convicted conservative former President Jair Bolsonaro and sentenced him to 27 years and 3 months prison for his alleged role in a ‘failed coup attempt,’ marking the first time that a former president of Brazil is convicted for ‘crimes against democracy.’ Bolsonaro, and six other individuals… were found guilty of ‘attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, coup d’état, participation in an armed criminal organization, aggravated damage, and deterioration of listed heritage sites.’… 

“According to the STF, Bolsonaro allegedly conspired with a broader group of over 30 individuals to stage a ‘coup’ and overturn the results of the controversial 2022 presidential election. Bolsonaro, at the time the incumbent president, narrowly lost against current radical leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is now serving his third term…. In addition to the prison sentence, Bolsonaro, 70, will reportedly receive a new eight-year ban from public office at the end of his 27-year sentence… 

“U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the sentencing in a social media post. ‘The political persecutions by sanctioned human rights abuser Alexandre de Moraes continue, as he and others on Brazil’s supreme court have unjustly ruled to imprison former President Jair Bolsonaro,’ Sec. Rubio wrote. ‘The United States will respond accordingly to this witch hunt.’ The Brazilian government… responded to Sec. Rubio in a three-part social media post  claiming that Sec. Rubio’s ‘threats’ to attack Brazilian authorities ignore ‘the facts and compelling evidence in the case files, will not intimidate our democracy’… 

“In late July, President Donald Trump cited the political persecution of Bolsonaro in an executive order identifying Brazil as a national security threat to the United States, imposing a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods entering the U.S.” 

Brazil is currently led by the left-wing Workers’ Party under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a long-standing leftist figure. This really looks like a left-wing attempt to neutralize the former President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro. 

School Shooting in Colorado 

The Daily Mail wrote on September 12: 

“The Colorado school shooter (16) who opened fire ‘again and again’ on fellow high school students on Wednesday has been named and pictured by police… [He] died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he fired at terrified children at Evergreen High School, close to Denver [in a quiet, leafy Denver suburb] during their lunch break just after noon. Two students were rushed to the hospital. Sheriff spokesperson Jacki Kelley said that one victim has been discharged while the other remains in a critical condition.  

‘We know that the suspect had a handgun,’ Kelley told a press conference on Thursday. ‘He had to keep reloading. He would fire and reload, fire and reload, fire and reload. This went on and on. As he did that, he tried to find new targets.’ 

“Kelley said the first shots were fired from inside the school grounds, but the chaos ‘spilled out into the street behind the school’ where the second victim was shot. A suspected motive has not been disclosed, but Kelley said Holly was ‘radicalized by some extremist network’.” 

It was reported that the shooter was fascinated with previous mass shootings and expressed neo-Nazi views online (compare The Independent, September 13). 

Another example of demonic influence, if not demonic possession. Like the killing of Charlie Kirk. Note the next articles. 

Charlie Kirk’s Murder Investigation 

The New York Post wrote on September 13: 

“Charlie Kirk’s alleged shooter Tyler Robinson was living with a transgender partner who was in the process of transitioning from a male to a female, a law enforcement source confirmed to The Post Saturday. [This fact was initially hidden by the FBI]. That individual… is now fully cooperating with the FBI on its investigation into the fatal shooting of the conservative activist, the source added… 

“Kirk, 31, was struck in the neck by a single bullet shortly after being posed a question on his ‘American Comeback’ college speaking tour about transgender mass shooters. ‘Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?’ asked attendee Hunter Kozak. ‘Too many,’ Kirk responded. ‘Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?’ Kozak followed up. ‘Counting or not counting gang violence?’ the Turning Point USA founder sought to clarify. 

“Kirk was shot immediately after and transported to a hospital where he underwent surgery. He was pronounced dead within a few hours.” 

Subsequently, Tyler Robinson was charged with aggravated murder, among many other charges. It was also reported by the New York Post that the alleged murderer, who had been raised as a Mormon, was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology,” while being “full of hate and spreading hate.” The Utah governor also added that “social media is a cancer on our society right now.” That is certainly true. 

Kirk’s Transformed Relationship With Israel 

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on September 12: 

“Charlie Kirk rejected an offer earlier this year from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to arrange a massive new infusion of Zionist money into his Turning Point USA (TPUSA) organization… as he began to publicly question Israel’s overwhelming influence in Washington and demanded more space to criticize it… [Reportedly,] Kirk strongly warned Trump last June against bombing Iran on Israel’s behalf… 

“This July… Kirk provided a forum for the right-wing grassroots to vent its fury about Israel’s political hammerlock on the Trump administration. There, speakers from former Fox News stalwarts Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly… branded Jeffrey Epstein as an Israeli intelligence asset… Kirk appeared visibly outraged during an August 6 interview with conservative host Megyn Kelly, as he discussed the menacing messages he was receiving from pro-Israel [supporters]… ‘I have less ability… to criticize the Israeli government than actual Israelis do. And that’s really, really weird.’… 

“In one of his final interviews, conducted with… Ben Shapiro, Kirk once again tried to raise the issue of censorship of Israel critics. ‘A friend said to me, interestingly: “Charlie, okay, we’ve pushed back against the media on COVID, on lockdowns, on Ukraine, on the border,’” Kirk told Shapiro on September 9. ‘Maybe we should also ask the question: is the media totally presenting the truth when it comes to Israel? Just a question!’… 

“There is currently no evidence of an Israeli government role in Kirk’s assassination. However, that has not stopped thousands of social media users from speculating that the pro-Trump operative’s shifting views on the issue contributed in some way to his death… The frenzied speculation has set off shockwaves in Tel Aviv, where Netanyahu felt compelled to explicitly deny that his government killed Kirk during a September 11 interview with NewsMax… During that interview, Netanyahu did his best to insinuate that Israel’s enemies were responsible for murdering Kirk…” 

Maybe the truth regarding Kirk’s assassination will never be known, as we still don’t know for sure, for example, who was really behind the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and of Robert F. Kennedy. But we can be reasonably certain that the “official” explanations are not believable (that Lee Harvey Oswald, who was subsequently killed, or Sirhan Sirhan, who is still in prison, were acting alone, if at all). See the next article. 

Political Assassinations in America… Then and Now… 

The Daily Mail wrote on September 14:

“College campuses in revolt. Raging debates over social issues and foreign wars. A bitter — near-existential — struggle between Left and Right, rich and poor, young and old, in a politically, culturally polarized country rocked by political assassination. 

“Sound familiar? Turn back the clock six decades… Then the conflict was the Vietnam War. Gays and women were demanding equal rights. The hippie generation, rejecting their parents’ norms over drugs, fashion and music, was subsumed by counterculture, especially at universities. And, tragically, America’s political and social leaders were being gunned down. 

“It’s not hard to see parallels with today [referring to America’s controversial wars or involvement, such as the Russia-Ukraine war; Israel’s war in Gaza, etc.] … The shocking assassination of conservative movement leader Charlie Kirk, 31, is yet another disturbing marker… 

“America is indeed entering an increasingly violent new era the 1960s provided a frightening precedent. President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, Texas, in November 1963 is a defining moment in US history but it was only one of myriad political killings. Civil rights activist Medgar Evers was killed five months earlier, fatally shot by a fertilizer salesman and member of the segregationist White Citizens’ Council, as he exited his car outside his Mississippi home. 

“Revolutionary Malcolm X was gunned down two years later in New York City’s Washington Heights. Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted for the murder (although two were later exonerated). 1968 was a particularly bleak year, claiming the lives of both minister and activist Martin Luther King Jr (shot on the balcony of his Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee) and Democratic presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy (at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles) within two months of each other… 

“[Now think] of Luigi Mangione whose alleged message was heard loud and clear when he gunned down United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson… Mangione perversely became an icon of sorts for many – hailed as some sort of ‘hero’ and heartthrob… In June, Democratic Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot dead in their home in a ‘politically-motivated’ double killing in which the shooter was reportedly dressed as a police officer… President Trump, of course, survived two… assassination attempts last year… [Previously, Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt.] 

“Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Trump blamed ‘radical left political violence’ for [Kirk’s] killing without a suspect even being in custody. Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren was equally uncompromising, responding to requests to tone down the rhetoric by saying: ‘Why don’t you start with the President of the United States, right? And every ugly meme he has posted and every ugly word.’ 

“If there is a lesson to be learned about Kirk’s death it doesn’t seem to be getting through yet to all concerned.” 

As we have warned for a long time, it is very likely that civil war will break out in America. 

“Germany’s ‘Radical Left’ Media Faces U.S. Consequences After Charlie Kirk Smears” 

Breitbart wrote on September 16: 

“Charlie Kirk’s assassination has dominated headlines in Germany, but the coverage from state-funded broadcasters and prominent media personalities has been anything but neutral. Anchors and correspondents seized on the murder to push hostile portrayals of one of America’s most influential conservatives. Their remarks in the German media, including false accusations made on public television, have sparked outrage in Germany, triggered formal complaints, and are now drawing the attention of U.S. officials. 

“The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) ran the headline ‘A targeted shot into the heart of the MAGA world,’ [‘Ein gezielter Schuss ins Zentrum der MAGA-Welt’] with the
subhead: ‘Charlie Kirk dies after being shot on a university campus in Utah. He tried to win young people over to Trump and racist ideas.’ [‘Charlie Kirk stirbt, nachdem er auf einem Uni-Campus in Utah angeschossen worden ist. Er versuchte, junge Menschen für Trump und rassistische Ideen zu gewinnen.‘] 

“The Berlin daily Tagesspiegel went further, bluntly labelling Kirk’s death: ‘Tod eines Brandstifters’ – ‘Death of an arsonist.’ 

“Dunja Hayali, host of the state-funded ZDF Heute Journal, told her audience on Thursday [in effect]: ‘The fact that there are now groups celebrating his death cannot be justified by anything, not even his often abhorrent, racist, sexist, and misanthropic statements. But it seems that the radical religious conspiracy theorist struck a chord with precisely these views. Charlie Kirk not only had millions of followers on various platforms, his events were also extremely popular and well attended.’ 

“Later, on the broadcaster’s official podcast, without providing evidence, Hayali doubled down, labelling Kirk’s positions [in effect] ‘too radical, too racist, too misanthropic, misogynistic, and dehumanising.’ 

“That same evening, ZDF’s Washington correspondent Elmar Theveßen appeared on the primetime talk show Markus Lanz. Though he admitted he could not recall Kirk ever calling for violence, Theveßen painted him as a central driver of social division. Theveßen claimed Kirk [in effect] had said homosexuals ‘should be stoned to death,’ ‘women must submit to men,’ and that ‘black pilots should be feared.’… 

“After a sharp backlash, ZDF acknowledged to Junge Freiheit that Theveßen’s claim about Kirk advocating stoning homosexuals was misleading. In reality, Kirk had cited an Old Testament passage during a discussion in June 2024. The broadcaster conceded: ‘… Elmar Theveßen regrets not having been more detailed at that point.’ [‘an der Stelle nicht ausführlicher gewesen zu sein.’] 

“Independent German outlets and online commentators erupted in outrage at the coverage. Many argued that celebrating or trivialising the assassination of a U.S. political figure crossed a red line, regardless of political disagreements… Conservative commentators accused ZDF of ‘dancing on a grave,’ while even centrist accounts questioned why sweeping accusations of racism and sexism were made without evidence… 

“Criticism of ZDF has not only come from conservative outlets and social media users but also from inside Germany’s press establishment. Die Welt chief reporter Anna Schneider described the coverage as marked by ‘malice’ and ‘inhumanity,’ pointing in particular to young people on social media openly celebrating Kirk’s assassination… She sharply criticised ZDF for the way its reporting framed the killing… Schneider also condemned ZDF correspondent Theveßen for spreading false claims about Kirk… adding that she understood why many Germans were furious about being forced to fund public broadcasters through the GEZ fee while being served such distortions. 

“At the heart of the outrage is Germany’s GEZ broadcasting fee — a compulsory charge of about €18 per month, billed to every household. The fee finances the country’s public broadcasters, including ARD (a consortium of regional networks) and ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, the second national channel). Germans must pay for it regardless of whether they ever watch state television or not… [This is] widely criticised as a mandatory tax underwriting bias and misinformation. 

“The controversy has spilt over into U.S. politics and may result in diplomatic consequences… Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau declared in a strongly worded statement on X, that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination are ‘not welcome visitors’ in the United States… Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany under President Trump’s first administration, Richard Grenell, added his own criticism on X: ‘…I believe the majority of Germans are conservative, pro-family Westerners who believe in capitalism more than socialism. But the German media is radical Left. They don’t represent the majority of Germans… The media in Germany are ruining Germany. The people must reject their narratives and speak up. Now.’ 

“In a later post, Grenell went further, directly calling for Theveßen’s visa to be revoked. ‘This radical Lefty German keeps calling for violence against people he politically disagrees with. He poses as a journalist in Washington, DC. His visa should be revoked. There is no place in America for this type of inciter,’ Grenell wrote, sharing the footage of Theveßen likening Trump aide Stephen Miller’s convictions to the ‘ideology of the Third Reich.’”

Russia’s Attack on Poland—No Mistake! 

Reuters wrote on September 12: 

“Poland flatly rejected on Friday a suggestion by U.S. President Donald Trump that drone incursions into its airspace could have been a mistake, describing them as ‘a deliberate Russian attack’. 

“Poland, backed by aircraft from its NATO allies, shot down drones that had violated its airspace on Wednesday, the first time a member of the Western military alliance is known to have fired during Russia’s war in Ukraine… Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded on X: ‘We would also wish that the drone attack on Poland was a mistake. But it wasn’t. And we know it.’… For its leader so directly to contradict Trump in public is almost unheard of, and a sign of Europe’s alarm at the U.S. president’s willingness to give weight to Moscow’s account. 

“Polish Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk said: ‘I think this is a message that should reach President Trump today: there’s no question of a mistake – this was a deliberate Russian attack.’… 

“European leaders say it is the latest demonstration that Moscow has no interest in a peace deal in Ukraine, weeks after Trump hosted President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and withdrew a demand that Russia accept an immediate ceasefire…. Trump has repeatedly set deadlines for Moscow to agree a ceasefire or face new sanctions, only to row back.” 

Newsweek wrote on September 10: 

“German defense minister Boris Pistorius [called] the path of the Russian drones deliberate. ‘These drones were quite obviously deliberately directed on this course—in order to fly into Ukraine,’ Pistorius told the Bundestag.” 

It does not appear that Russia, which even denied the entire incident and claimed that Ukraine did it, acted by mistake. 

Dangerous Escalation 

The Sun wrote on September 12: 

“POLAND has deployed 40,000 troops to its eastern front as Vladimir Putin launches his WW3 drills in Belarus… The Zapad drills — meaning ‘West’ in Russian — take place every four years and entail chilling mock military exercises… 

“In 2017, the drills involved creating fictional scenarios, which saw Russia capture Baltic states, bomb Germany and invade neutral countries… [At that time,] Nato officials warned the exercises were a ‘serious preparation for war’. And in 2021, the drills led to Belarus’s rearmament, with weapons later deployed in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

“In a powerful display of solidarity, several Nato members, including the UK, have sent reinforcements to Poland, including troops, artillery, and air defence systems… 

“The Polish site the [19] drones [entering Poland] are thought to have been targeting is providing military supplies to Ukraine, German newspaper Die Welt reported.” 

Tusk also said that the drone attack on Poland was taking his country to the ‘closest to conflict since WW2.’” Reuters added on September 13: “For many in Poland – which endured decades of Moscow’s domination under the Soviet Union – the fear of Russian hostility looms large.” 

The Abyss of World War III 

Metro wrote on September 13: 

“Putin deploys nuclear bombers in ‘WW3 war games’… New footage shows the supersonic long-range strategic bomber carrying out a strike on a simulated enemy… Troops will also drill the use of nuclear missiles from the West’s doorstep in Belarus… Poland closed its border with Belarus as the UN security council was warned of the dire risk of a new world war… 

“Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN Andriy Melnyk warned that if Putin’s escalation is not halted ‘tomorrow it could be drones or even missiles falling on Berlin, Paris, or London’. ‘And the day after, who knows, something might even “accidentally” cross the Atlantic,’ he added. 

“‘Russia is not mocking this council. It is spitting in your face. We are staring into the abyss of a Third World War.’ 

“Putin highlighted his lack of interest in a settlement in the war with his spokesman signalling that peace negotiations with Ukraine were now on ‘pause’…” 

A war between Europe and Russia, China and their allies will break out with devastating consequences, but not quite yet. However, preparations for this prophesied terrible war are already in the works. 

NATO Prepares For “Defense” 

CNN wrote on September 12: 

“NATO has launched an initiative to reinforce the defense of Europe’s eastern flank after a Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace this week, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Friday. The ‘Eastern Sentry’ operation will commence in the coming days and will involve assets from Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and others… Rutte said that Russia’s ‘dangerous and unacceptable’ drone incursion on Wednesday was ‘not an isolated incident.’… 

“NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich [said:] ‘Although the immediacy of our focus is on Poland, this situation transcends the border of one nation. What affects one ally affects us all’… The operation will cover the entire eastern flank of NATO states.”

Other reports claimed that Russia’s drones also entered Romania’s airspace. 

Trump to Fight with Russia to Destroy Ukraine? 

Express wrote on September 13: 

“Russia urges Trump to ‘fight on Putin’s side and destroy Ukraine’… 

“Television presenter and propagandist Vladimir Solovyov went on a bizarre rant during his Full Contact radio show, where he claimed Ukraine was a ‘global evil’… He said: ‘America has to come over to the side of good, and together with us, like in World War II and the Great Patriotic War, destroy universal evil that has taken root within America itself, which is freely blooming in Europe.

“‘And one of these scary [heads] of Medusa is in Ukraine. That’s why we fight against [global] evil in Ukraine. That’s why we’re addressing all healthy, traditional, conservative forces in the world. If you want to defeat global evil, you have to stand shoulder to shoulder with us.’” 

Zelensky stated that it is Putin’s goal to occupy ALL of Ukraine. This appears very likely. We know from biblical prophecy that ultimately, Russia and Ukraine will be part of a huge Far Eastern power bloc which will be hostile to the West. 

Trump Strikes Again 

The Daily Mail wrote on September 15: 

“Less than 24 hours after warning he might strike again, President Donald Trump followed through — launching a fresh military assault on a vessel in the Caribbean he claimed was carrying Venezuelan drug traffickers. Trump writing on Truth Social said that three ‘narcoterrorists’ from Venezuela were killed this morning… The president emphasized in his post that the ‘narcoterrorists’ were operating in international waters while transporting illegal drugs bound for the United States. He went on to describe the trafficked narcotics as a ‘deadly weapon’ responsible for poisoning American citizens. He labeled the cartels involved as ‘extremely violent’ threats to U.S. national security… 

“This follows the initial attack in early September, when the president said 11 people were killed in a targeted strike by U.S. Navy forces on another boat that drug traffickers reportedly used… This move raised questions surrounding whether the administration had violated international law. 

“A source familiar with the operation told Daily Mail that the U.S. ‘did not even know if there were drugs on the boat’ — contradicting official statements. The strike was designed to ‘illicit a response from Maduro and provoke him’ to ‘show his true colors,’ but he didn’t take the bait. The Trump administration has yet to offer proof the targeted vessel was carrying drugs.” 

Getting Away With Murder? 

The Future of Freedom Foundation published on September 15 the following article by professor, attorney and Libertarian Party’s three-time presidential candidate [in 2000, 2020 and 2024] Jacob G. Hornberger: 

“The U.S. Code provides that a murder of a foreigner by an American citizen on the high seas is a federal criminal offense. The pertinent sections are 18 U.S.C. Section 1111 (Murder) and 18 U.S.C. Section 7 (Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction of the United States). The U.S. Constitution provides that the president shall be removed from office on impeachment and conviction of ‘high crimes.’ It goes without saying that murder is a ‘high crime.’…

“Why shouldn’t President Trump be both criminally prosecuted and removed from office through impeachment for murdering those 11 Venezuelan citizens on the high seas? Indeed, why shouldn’t the military personnel who loyally followed his orders also be prosecuted and convicted of murder?… 

“Trump claims that the 11 people were using a boat to transport drugs to the United States in violation of U.S. drug laws. Even if Trump’s claim is valid though, he still has no legal authority to kill drug-war suspects, including both American citizens and foreign citizens. Deadly force can only be used in self-defense against the use of deadly force or the threat of deadly force. In other words, if a U.S. vessel had approached that Venezuela boat and those 11 people had begun firing guns at the U.S. vessel, the U.S. vessel could have responded with deadly force… 

“There is no evidence whatsoever that those 11 people on that boat ever employed deadly force or threatened the use of deadly force against U.S. vessels. Certainly neither Trump nor any military officials have made that claim… 

“Are we really now living in a country where the president of the United States and his loyal military henchmen who promised to support and defend the Constitution can get away with murder? Apparently so.” 

What If Trump’s Tariffs Are Held to Be Illegal? 

Business Insider wrote on September 13: 

“The US could be on the hook for between $750 billion $1 trillion, if the Supreme Court overturns the president’s tariffs. Legal experts told Business Insider that this figure shouldn’t factor into the Supreme Court’s decision on whether the tariffs are legal, which they see as a matter concerning the Constitution. 

“… the Supreme Court granted the administration’s petition to hear and expedite the case… William Reinsch, the Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider he expects the Supreme Court to make a final decision before the end of the year. ‘My experience with the Supreme Court is that when it comes to an economic issue, they don’t always break along typical ideological lines,’ said Reinch… ‘I don’t think it’ll be unanimous… But I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that this is the first big case where they go against the president.’ 

“Multiple lawsuits… have… challenged the legality of these tariffs, arguing that the power to set duties belongs to Congress and cannot be delegated to the President at will. The Court of International Trade and a federal appeals court have ruled the tariffs illegal but they remain in place after a lower court blocked an injunction to halt them.

“Will Planert, a partner in international trade practice at Morris, Manning & Martin LLP, told Business Insider:… ‘[The Court ruled against] Biden’s attempt to modify the student loan program… Those justices have been very skeptical of the idea that Congress can confer very broad economic powers on the president or the federal agencies… If the tariffs are illegal, then they are illegal irrespective of fiscal impact… In that case, the government would have collected a very large amount of money that it’s not entitled to, which would be all the more reason to have it returned.’ 

“The federal government has had to issue refunds in the past because of Supreme Court decisions. In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled the Harbor Maintenance Tax on exports to be unconstitutional, and that resulted in refunds of over $1 billion to affected exporters. Robert Shapiro, chair of international trade practice at Thompson Coburn LLP, told Business Insider that a company would usually have to file a protest for every entry to receive money from customs, but that may be tough on customs when it comes to handling almost every shipment that has entered the country since April… 

“‘It may eventually be up to the Board of International Trade to decide how to do the refunds… Since many companies were explicit that they had to raise prices due to tariffs, customers may want their money back, too, if importers are getting theirs.’”

What a mess. Even though the Supreme Court should not consider the underlying economic consequences, it is clear that they will look at those. And “the end of the year” is still a long way off. 

King Trump in Britain 

DNYUZ wrote on September 17:

“The United Kingdom shamelessly prostrated itself at the feet of Donald Trump on Wednesday, throwing a lavish welcoming party for his state visit to Windsor that resembled less diplomacy and more fealty. No foreign leader has ever been greeted with the degree of ceremonial extravagance, as Britain rolled out a show of pomp unmatched since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II…

“Trump demands spectacle, and Britain provides it. He wants to be king, and, for a day, Britain is letting him. In doing so, the U.K. has revealed something deeply unflattering about itself—in the scramble to keep America close, it will debase itself and its values completely.

“It will… flatter the ego of a man who has spent much of his political life suggesting he should be treated like… a monarch… As stage props go, the monarchy is unbeatable. But if this is what the ‘special relationship’ between the U.S and the U.K. now means, it looks to many in Britain less like a partnership and more like groveling, feudal servitude.

“Nothing about the welcome was subtle… The choreography spoke volumes. Every cannon, every plume, every flashing braid, every polished boot timed to inflate and flatter Trump’s sense of himself.

Then came the pageantry proper… It was a grotesque parody of a coronation parade…

“… this was theatre that revealed far more than a sovereign nation should about its craven need to please a foreign leader who has done absolutely nothing to help the sovereign nation in question, and plenty to harm it…

“Britain managed to suppress dissent so thoroughly that you would never have known there was any. It was as if the entire nation had agreed to collude in pretending Donald Trump is universally revered. This is a national embarrassment for a once-proud nation. Britain has every reason to want a functional relationship with Washington. Nobody disputes the importance of the alliance. But the line between respect and abasement has to be drawn somewhere, and Windsor on Wednesday crossed it.

“It was not a welcome; it was a deliberate performative subservience. It sent the message that Britain will not merely tolerate Trump, we will exalt him, indulge him, and play courtier to him, no matter the damage he does here and elsewhere.”

Kair Starmer, visiting Donald Trump in the White House in February of 2025, displayed already a certain embarrassing attitude of submissiveness with the obvious attempt to flatter Trump. 

No US-UK Deal 

Express wrote on September 16: 

“In a stinging setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a long-anticipated deal to eliminate US tariffs on British steel and aluminium has been abruptly shelved just hours before US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, according to government sources. The collapse of the agreement, which would have reduced tariffs from 25% to zero, has left UK ministers scrambling and the steel industry reeling from the unexpected blow…. 

“The timing of the decision is particularly humiliating for Starmer, who had hoped to showcase a strengthened UK-US partnership during Trump’s visit…” 

“AI Now Claiming to Be God”

Futurism wrote on September 16: 

“A slew of religious smartphone apps are allowing untold millions of users to confess to AI chatbots, some of which claim to be channeling God himself… Religious leaders told the NYT that these tools could serve as a critical entry point for those looking to find God… It’s a fascinating new development, especially considering the language surrounding companies attempting to ‘build God’ by developing an AI that can vastly surpass human intelligence… 

“… experts worry that AI’s strong tendency to please the user may have unintended consequences… The AIs ‘tell us what we want to hear,’ Researchers have also warned that countless people are using AI chatbots for championship, which in extreme cases are driving some into dangerous spirals of delusions.”

Or worse, by communicating with someone who might turn out to be a demon, pretending to be an “angel of light” or even “God.”

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

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

France vs. USA 

Israel 365 News wrote on September 5: 

“French President Emmanuel Macron has once again demonstrated his willingness to appease terrorist-supporting regimes by condemning the United States’ entirely justified decision to deny visas to Palestinian Authority (PA) officials ahead of the United Nations General Assembly…. Following a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Macron called the American decision ‘unacceptable’. It demanded that ‘this measure be reversed and for Palestinian officials to be granted access’. The French president’s criticism followed the State Department’s announcement that it would deny visas to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, along with 80 other PA officials, who were planning to attend the UN General Assembly… 

“Macron’s criticism of American policy rings hollow given France’s abysmal record on protecting its Jewish citizens from rampant Islamic antisemitism… Macron’s criticism becomes even more problematic when viewed alongside France’s confirmed plans to recognize a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly… The timing of this recognition, coming after the October 7 massacre and during ongoing PA terror financing, demonstrates France’s moral bankruptcy on Middle Eastern issues.” 

France in Trouble 

Deutsche Welle reported on September 9:

“Macron was forced to appoint a fifth prime minister in less than two years after parliament ousted Francois Bayrou nine months into the role over his plans for taming the country’s ballooning debt. Bayrou officially tendered his resignation to Macron earlier on Tuesday, a day after his government was defeated in a confidence vote at the National Assembly… [Macron] chose Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu as the country’s new prime minister on Tuesday. His appointment… signals Macron’s intent to maintain a minority government…

“In handing the job to Lecornu, Macron risks alienating the center-left Socialist Party and leaves the president and his government depending on Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally for support in parliament.” 

A New Study About Israel—But Does the World Listen? 

The Jerusalem Post wrote on September 3: 

“Israel is fighting two wars against Hamas. The first is the grinding military campaign in Gaza. The other is the battle over narrative and legitimacy. On the first front, Israel is winning resoundingly: Hamas leaders and commanders eliminated, thousands of terrorists killed, its rocket arsenal depleted, its labyrinth of tunnels badly degraded. 

“On the second front, Israel is taking a beating. Or, as US President Donald Trump said on Friday, Israel ‘may be winning the war, but they’re not winning the world of public relations.’ 

“A new 311-page study by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University (BESA) highlights just how distorted the conversation has become. This report systematically dismantles some of the most frequently leveled charges against Israel – genocide, deliberate starvation, indiscriminate killing – by reexamining casualty figures, food-truck deliveries, and UN reports. 

“It shows how Hamas has manipulated numbers, how UN agencies have quietly ‘corrected’ data without acknowledgment, and how aid organizations inflated needs in order to spur action. The report is not a whitewash. It concedes negligence, tragedy, and individual acts of IDF misconduct. But it demonstrates clearly that the sweeping allegation of genocide is without foundation. In short, it provides Israel with the kind of factual ammunition needed to fight the narrative war. 

“That’s the good news. The bad news is that it comes long after the damage has been done. Take the claim of an Israeli-induced famine.  For months, UN officials and international media declared that Gaza required 500 food trucks daily and that Israel was deliberately starving civilians… Yet prewar averages were closer to 73 trucks a day. During long stretches of the war, more food entered Gaza than before the October 7 massacre. Those facts are only now surfacing. But it’s too late. The accusation – that Israel weaponized famine – has already hardened into conventional wisdom. 

“… Or consider casualty figures. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported nearly every death as civilian, excluded combat-age men, and included natural deaths. International media parrot the numbers without question. Researchers are now exposing the statistical anomalies. Again – too late… And while the BESA report was being released in Israel, Reuters ran a wire story that illustrates exactly what is happening. The International Association of Genocide Scholars voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to declare that Israel’s ‘policies and actions in Gaza’ meet the definition of genocide. Fifteen paragraphs long, the story included applause from a Hamas-affiliated source in Gaza – Hamas, which openly calls for Israel’s eradication, the very definition of genocide. And Israel’s side? A single boilerplate sentence that quoted the Foreign Ministry denying the charge… 

“The Foreign Ministry would have done well to provide context: that less than a third of the members of this organization actually voted, and that the way the vote was conducted was problematic. Additionally, it would have been worth noting that one need not even have to be a ‘genocide scholar’ to be a member of this association… 

“That failure highlights the larger problem: Israel too often contents itself with a flat denial, while its enemies wage an organized campaign to shape the narrative… The study demonstrates that genocide – a deliberate campaign to eradicate a people – was not Israeli policy. On the contrary, Israel invested heavily in warnings, evacuation zones, and humanitarian corridors. Civilian-to-combatant ratios compare favorably with Western campaigns in Iraq or Afghanistan.” 

Very few even reported on this striking and revealing report. 

Israel’s Attack in Qatar 

Reuters reported on September 9:

“Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an airstrike on Qatar on Tuesday, escalating its military action in the Middle East with what the U.S. described as a unilateral attack that does not advance American and Israeli interests.

“U.S. President Donald Trump said he was ‘very unhappy about every aspect’ of the Israeli strike… While Israel defended the attacks as being justified, Qatar said Israel was treacherous and engaged in ‘state terrorism.’.. Trump said he considered hitting Hamas was a worthy goal, but he felt badly that the attack took place in the Gulf Arab state, which is a major non-NATO ally of Washington … The attack drew condemnation from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union…

“Trump assured the emir of Qatar in a phone call after the attack that ‘such a thing will not happen again on their soil.’..

“The airstrike took place shortly after Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for a shooting on Monday that killed six people at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem… ‘The days are over when terror leaders can enjoy immunity of any kind,’ Netanyahu said in a televised address. ‘I won’t allow that kind of immunity to exist.’” 

Britain in the Eye of the Financial Storm 

UnHerd wrote on September 4: 

“As any analyst will tell you, it’s a mug’s game to predict crashes, but anyone could tell you western markets are facing a tempestuous autumn. And Britain is sitting squarely in the eye of the storm.  

“Amid weak growth and a worsening budget outlook, British gilt yields are now higher than they have been in nearly 30 years, rising steadily for months and nearly 1% since last year. With national debt of nearly £3 trillion, every percentage point increase in interest drains billions from the government’s budget. Nor is there much hope this will change anytime soon. Britain’s inflation is proving even harder to dislodge than that of other developed economies, adding a premium to its bonds. To a greater extent than other countries, too, it depends on external creditors for its lending — with 30% of gilts held abroad compared to an average of 18% for other Western countries… 

“Will there be a crash? Possibly. Will things get rocky? Almost certainly…” 

Trump’s Presidency Most Dangerous Period Since World War II? 

The Guardian wrote on September 4: 

“The world during Donald Trump’s second presidency has entered a period of danger with ‘certain similarities to the 30s’, according to Mitch McConnell, the veteran Republican former Senate leader. McConnell made the comments primarily in reference to tariffs and foreign affairs… he likened [Trump’s tariffs] to the isolationist policies of the US in the 1930s that historians say hastened a global depression that paved the path to conflict…. 

“‘Those who were totally anxious to stay out of all of what was going on in Europe were called “America First”. Sound familiar? So what do we have today? North Korea, China, Russia, Iran and Iran’s proxies. They’re very different kinds of countries, but they have one thing in common: They hate us.’” 

Will the FBI go after McConnell now, too? 

Trump Responds to Fines Against Google and Apple 

CNBC wrote on September 5: 

“President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to launch a trade investigation to ‘nullify’ what he said were discriminatory fines being levied by Europe against U.S. tech firms such as Google and Apple… He issued the threat hours after Google caught a nearly $3.5 billion penalty from the European Union in a major antitrust case centered on the search giant’s advertising technology business… ‘Very unfair, and the American Taxpayer will not stand for it!’… 

“Trump claimed that Google has previously paid $13 billion in ‘false claims and charges.’… He also called out the EU for squeezing billions of dollars from Apple in back taxes and fines for alleged anticompetitive practices… Apple ‘should get their money back!’ Trump wrote.” 

Europe is wondering whether Trump will impose further tariffs on them as a consequence. 

Ideology Instead of Law

Report 24 wrote on September 7:

“A judge appointed by Joe Biden blocked Donald Trump’s decree intended to end the madness of ‘X-genders’ on US passports. Instead of clarity and a return to biological facts, the government continues to cement the myth of arbitrarily interchangeable gender identities…

“After taking office, Donald Trump clearly and unequivocally declared that there are only two genders – male and female – and that this fundamental fact must be enshrined in all government documents, including passports. It was an attempt to reverse the madness of the Biden years, when anyone could decide, at their whim, whether they wanted an ‘M,’ an ‘F,’ or an ‘X’ on their passport. The Biden administration turned the passport into a political toy for gender-confused minorities, while the majority of citizens remained stunned when they watched as elementary biological facts were simply trampled underfoot because of a minority of zero point X percent.

“… Judge Julia Kobick, appointed by Biden, blocked Trump’s order, not for compelling legal reasons, but with the familiar blunt: alleged ‘disproportionate hardship’ for those ‘affected’ and the insinuation that Trump was acting out of ‘unconstitutional hatred’ toward gender-confused ‘transgender’ people…

“The judge’s perfidious argument was that the plaintiffs would allegedly be exposed to greater harassment and violence abroad without an ‘X’ on their passports. One inevitably wonders: Do these lawyers seriously believe that an ‘X’ in a passport would change anything abroad? In fact, it’s the exact opposite: With this special ideological treatment, one is immediately recognized as gender-confused abroad. This could lead to ‘surprises’ when traveling to Muslim countries.

“The US civil rights organization ACLU (American Civil Liberties) Union), one of the most influential lobby groups for gender and minority rights, celebrated the ruling as a victory. The left-wing front organization sees its agenda vindicated… Anyone wondering why the United States is so deeply divided will find this case a prime example.”

Indeed, a deeply divided ungodly society. 

The Murder of Charlie Kirk

 Breitbart wrote on September 11, 2025:

“31-year-old Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was killed in what President Donald Trump called an assassination at a debate event in Utah on Wednesday, and European sovereigntists, conservatives, and political leaders have responded with messages of support for the family he leaves behind, and disdain for political violence.

“Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who helped Kirk launch the British offshoot of Turning Point in 2019 wrote of the slaying that ‘This is a very dark day for… American democracy, Western democracy [and] free speech…  Farage warned that while the U.S. is bitterly divided, the United Kingdom is ‘not far behind’ and that there are ‘voices of intolerance’ who ‘wish to shut down free speech’ who are ‘very dangerous’.

“Former British Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson also spoke out, hailing ‘a shining new martyr to free speech’ and saying that Kirk had been killed because of his ‘courage. He wrote: ‘The murder of Charlie Kirk is a tragedy, and a sign of the utter desperation and cowardice of those who could not defeat him in argument…  He has been killed for saying things that used to be simple common sense.’..

“In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni… expressed her shock at an ‘atrocious murder’. She called the killing a ‘deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom’…  

“Another friend to Trump’s America, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban… said: ‘Yesterday, we lost a true defender of faith and freedom. Our deepest condolences go to the Kirk family and to the American people. Charlie Kirk’s death is the result of the international hate campaign waged by the progressive-liberal left… We must stop the hate-mongering left!’…

“In Germany, Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) leader Alice Weidel lionised ‘a fighter for freedom of speech’ who was ‘shot by a fanatic who hates our way of life and discussion.’ In France, National Rally leader and possible next French President Jordan Bardella noted that the ‘dehumanizing rhetoric of the left and its intolerance fuels political violence. No one can ignore this poison that is eating away at our democratic societies.’”

JTA added on September 11:

“Kirk frequently characterized himself as a defender of the Jews and Israel… Among the first global leaders to send their prayers following reports that Kirk had been shot was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Kirk was a vocal backer of Israel, visiting the country multiple times and more recently staunchly supporting its war in Gaza…

“He told a crowd at a Jerusalem bar during his second trip: ‘I’m very pro-Israel, I’m an evangelical Christian, I’m a conservative, I’m a Trump supporter, I’m a Republican, and my whole life I have defended Israel’… he also said that Jewish people control ‘not just the colleges; it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it.’”

Trump Challenges EU Over Russian Oil 

Fox News wrote on September 4: 

“President Donald Trump called on European leaders to stop ‘funding’ Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and accused them of failing to pressure China… a White House official said, ‘President Trump emphasized that Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war – as Russia received €1.1 billion [nearly $1.3 billion] in fuel sales from the EU in one year.’ 

“‘The President also emphasized that European leaders must place economic pressure on China for funding Russia’s war efforts,’ the official added… The EU has drastically cut its imports of Russian oil following the invasion of Ukraine, though the president’s comments point out that it has not completely cut off its energy imports from Moscow.” 

Trump Is Right 

Bild Online wrote on September 7: 

“Even after more than three years of the Ukraine invasion and 18 EU sanctions packages, plenty of oil and gas from Russia is still flowing into the EU!… Fossil fuels from Russia were imported for a total of 21.9 billion euros between February 2024 and February 2025… ‘Of course Trump is right,’ says Russia expert Stefan Meister of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). 

“‘After China, India, and Turkey, Europe is number four in imports of oil and gas from Russia. At the same time, Europe buys gasoline from countries like India and Turkey, and thus indirectly also Russian oil,’ he explains… in July 2025, the five largest EU importers of Russian raw materials transferred a total of 1.2 billion euros to Russia…” 

Russia Strikes Ukraine Cabinet Offices 

The New York Post wrote on September 7: 

“Russia hit Ukraine’s capital with drone and missiles Sunday in the largest aerial attack on the country since the war began, killing at least two people and leaving smoke rising from the roof of a key government building.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 805 drones and decoys, officials said… 

“Sunday’s attack is the second mass Russian drone and missile attack to target Kyiv in the span of two weeks, as hopes for peace talks wane… The attack comes after European leaders pressed Russian leader Vladimir Putin to work to end the war after 26 of Ukraine’s allies pledged to deploy troops as a ‘reassurance force’ for the war-torn country once the fighting ends.” 

Russia Attacks Polish Airspace 

The Sun wrote on September 10:

“Nato has vowed to defend ‘every inch’ of allied land after Kremlin drones invaded Polish airspace overnight – forcing Warsaw to shoot them down and trigger Nato Article 4, one below the threshold of war… Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said 19 Russian drones sailed across the border amid an onslaught against western Ukraine, taking his country to the ‘closest to conflict since WW2’. He said four were shot down by Nato fighter jets – understood to be from Poland, Italy, the Netherlands the US – and officials later said seven had been found on the ground.

“This is the first time since the outbreak of war that Nato has directly clashed with Russia… Kremlin spokespeople have denied there is any evidence the drones were Russian, and even outrageously implied they had been launched by Kyiv….

“Nato chief Mark Rutte said… ‘Allies are resolved to defend every inch of allied territory.’ Rutte wouldn’t confirm whether Vlad’s drones were being treated as deliberate – but branded the night’s events ‘absolutely reckless’ either way…

“Article 4, a clause in Nato’s founding treaty, brings all of the allies together when the security or territory of one is threatened. But it stops short of Article 5’s key promise that an attack on one is an attack on all that demands [or better: “might demand”] a military response.”

Article 4 is actually nothing more than a debate exercise between NATO members. 

The War Department 

USA Today wrote on September 5: 

“President Donald Trump on Sept. 5 ordered his administration to rename the Department of Defense the ‘Department of War,’ bringing back a Cabinet name abandoned in 1947 to match what White House officials call a new ‘warrior ethos’ it is instilling in the armed forces… The move empowers Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use titles such as ‘Department of War,’ ‘Secretary of War’ and ‘Deputy Secretary of War’ in official government correspondence and communications without formally changing the department’s name, which would require action from Congress. ‘We won the First World War. We won the Second World War. We won everything before that and in between,’ Trump said before signing the order in the Oval Office. 

“‘And then we decided to go woke and we changed the name to the Department of Defense. So we’re going Department of War.’… ‘It’s not just about renaming. It’s about restoring,’ Hegseth said. ‘Words matter. It’s restoring, as you’ve guided us to, Mr. President, restoring the warrior ethos, restoring victory and clarity as an end state, restoring intentionality to the use of force’… Hegseth said he agreed with Trump that ‘we haven’t won a major war’ since ditching the name Department of War in 1947… ‘We’re going to raise up warriors,’ Hegseth said of the name change, ‘not just defenders.’”

Long before Mr. Trump and Mr. Hegseth, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong stated that America had not won a major war since World War II. It had nothing to do with the name of the Department, but with the fact that God had started to withdraw His blessings from the USA, due to its ongoing sinful conduct. The name change will not alter that. America will NOT win a major war again, as there is no indication that it will deeply repent of its sinful and God-defying ways and become obedient to the true God of the Bible. To create a “warrior nation” is only one of the many sins America is guilty of. In this regard, please view our new message,  “Why America is Going Down—Comments on News and Prophecy, September 6, 2025”. 

What a Waste of Money 

Politico wrote on September 5: 

“Pentagon officials grappled Friday with the Herculean task of fulfilling President Donald Trump’s executive order to remold the enormous, global agency into the Department of War. Many expressed frustration, anger and downright confusion at the effort, which could cost billions of dollars for a cosmetic change that would do little to tackle the military’s most pressing challenges — such as countering a more aggressive alliance of authoritarian nations… officials may need to change Defense Department seals on more than 700,000 facilities in 40 countries and all 50 states. This includes everything from letterhead for six military branches and dozens more agencies down to embossed napkins in chow halls, embroidered jackets for Senate-confirmed officials and the keychains and tchotchkes in the Pentagon store. 

“‘This is purely for domestic political audiences,’ said a former defense official. ‘Not only will this cost millions of dollars, it will have absolutely zero impact on Chinese or Russian calculations. Worse, it will be used by our enemies to portray the United States as warmongering and a threat to international stability.’… 

“A [small] War Department existed from U.S. independence until 1947, when the Truman administration split the Army and Air Force into separate military branches and joined them with the then-independent Navy to form a new agency. An act of Congress two years later coined it the Department of Defense…” 

According to the BBC, the renaming of the department marks the president’s 200th executive order signed since he took office. 

It Won’t Make America Stronger 

RUSI [Royal United Service Institute, founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington] wrote on September 5:

“With the stroke of a pen, President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to be renamed the Department of War. It is a dramatic gesture, but one that leaves the US looking smaller, not stronger. He defended the change by noting America ‘won World War I and World War II’ under the old name and insisting that ‘we want offense too.’ But that outlook is precisely what alarms allies and emboldens adversaries: it signals that Washington defines itself by fighting wars, not by preventing them… 

“Nor is the change likely to endure; Congress enshrined the Department of Defense in law in 1949, and an executive order cannot erase that statute. The Department of War belongs to the past. Congress created the Department of Defense in 1949 for good reason: to unify the services, deter conflict, and reassure allies of America’s defensive purpose. An executive order cannot erase that history or substitute theatre for strategy… Lawmakers should move quickly to reassert the statute and restore the Department of Defense: a name that reflects America’s enduring role as a defender…” 

Whatever and whoever will cause this, we know that ultimately, Europe will launch a successful nuclear war against the USA [and the UK]. 

Bad Job Report for August 

The Independent wrote on September 5: 

“The U.S. economy added 22,000 jobs in August — worse than financial experts had expected — according to the first government report since President Donald Trump fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner  Erika McEntarfer. The August Jobs Report, published Friday, revealed that the employment market continued to cool in the same month that Trump’s global tariffs took effect… The jobs data also revealed that unemployment increased to 4.3 percent, the highest level since 2021… 

“Figures also showed the economy lost jobs in June for the first time since December 2020, when the jobs market was in turmoil during the Covid-19 pandemic. Revisions showed that payrolls declined by 13,000 jobs in June… 

“Economist Daniel Zhao warned the U.S. is ‘heading into turbulence without the soft landing achieved.’” 

ICE Sabotages Construction in Georgia 

The Guardian wrote on September 5: 

“Hundreds of workers at a factory being built in Georgia to make car batteries for Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles were detained in a huge raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement… on Thursday that stopped construction. The facility is part of what would be the biggest industrial investment in the state’s history and had been hailed as a huge boost for the economy by Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp…. 

“About 475 workers were arrested… the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)… However, the Korea Economic Daily earlier had reported about 560 workers at the Hyundai facility and LG Energy Solution (LGES), had been detained… About 300 are South Korean nationals… Hyundai Motor is a South Korean automotive company but has many international plants. 

“The raid on Thursday has dealt a setback to the company’s substantial project in Georgia and was a dramatic iteration of the Trump administration’s harsh crackdown on immigrants in the US. It also showed the disruptive impact that Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda is having on businesses, even as the White House tries to spur more inflows from foreign investors.. 

“The arrests could exacerbate tensions between Washington and Seoul, a key ally and investor in the US. The countries have been at odds over the details of a trade deal that includes $350bn of investments. At a summit last month, South Korea pledged $150bn in US investments – including $26bn from Hyundai Motor…” 

This might not encourage foreign countries to invest heavily in and move their operations to the USA. 

Supreme Court Collaborates With Trump

Rolling Stone wrote on September 8: 

“On Monday, the Supreme Court issued perhaps its most profoundly un-American ruling yet, allowing Trump’s masked immigration thugs to indiscriminately stop people on the streets because they are speaking Spanish or working as day laborers in the construction industry… 

“Kavanaugh did kindly explain his vote regarding the administration’s stop, frisk, and deport strategy. He wrote in a concurring opinion… ‘Importantly, reasonable suspicion means only that immigration officers may briefly stop the individual and inquire about immigration status… If the person is a U.S. citizen or otherwise lawfully in the United States, that individual will be free to go after the brief encounter.’” 

Many reported cases have shown that Kavanaugh’s description is simply not true. 

Tensions Between USA and Venezuela Escalate 

Express wrote on September 5:

“Two Venezuelan fighter jets have flown over a US Navy ship in a ‘show of force’ as tensions between the two neighboring countries escalate to terrifying new levels…  This comes after President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela and was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang…. Trump… repeated his claim — contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment — that Tren de Aragua is operating under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s control… 

“The US administration recently doubled a reward it is offering for Maduro’s arrest to $50 million. Maduro called the warships a ‘criminal and bloody threat’ earlier this week, deploying Venezuelan drones and warships to patrol the coastline…

“The president said in a social media posting that 11 people were killed in the rare U.S. military operation in the Americas, a dramatic escalation in the Republican administration’s effort to stem the flow of narcotics from Latin America. Trump also posted a short video clip of a small vessel appearing to explode in flames. ‘The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States,’ Trump said on Truth Social. ‘No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America.’’ 

Breitbart added on September 5: 

“U.S. officials have reportedly ordered 10 F-35 fighter jets be deployed to Puerto Rico amid President Donald Trump’s fight against drug cartels… The sources… said the 10 fighter jets are being sent to conduct operations against designated narco-terrorist organizations operating in the southern Caribbean.” 

Murder in the Caribbean?

On September 5, the Ron Paul Institute republished the following article by the “Future of Freedom Foundation”: 

“President Trump is taking credit for the intentional military killings of eleven people in international waters near Venezuela… He ordered his military drug-war goons to blow a boat out of the water that was traveling in international waters near Venezuela, killing, Trump proudly claimed, eleven people in the process. 

“No stopping of the boat to search it. No arrests. No grand-jury indictments. No trials in federal district court. None of that. On Trump’s orders, his military drug-war goons dutifully, loyally, and obediently fired military projectiles at the boat knowing full well that they would be killing all of the boat’s occupants. 

“In my opinion, that’s just murder, pure and simple. Sure, it’s legalized murder. After all, there is no chance whatsoever that Trump’s Justice Department will seek criminal charges against Trump and his military killers. Even if it did, there is no possibility whatsoever that the US Supreme Court would permit the charges to stand, given the extreme deference that the Court has always paid to the US national-security establishment. The International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction over US officials and even if it did, there is no doubt that Trump and his military drug-war goons would ignore any criminal proceeding against them anyway. 

“Let’s keep in mind something important: Drug-war offenses are criminal offenses. Even though we all call it a ‘war on drugs,’ it is not a war in the true sense of the term. That is, we are not talking about a war like World War I or World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, or the US undeclared wars of aggression against Iraq and Afghanistan. We are talking about federal criminal offenses, not acts of war. 

“That means that under our system of constitutional government, people are presumed to be innocent of criminal offenses until proven guilty in a court of law. Under the US Constitution, which is supposed to control the actions of federal officials, US officials are prohibited from simply killing people who they suspect have committed a crime… the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution states, federal officials, including the president, the military, the CIA, DEA, and ICE, are expressly prohibited from depriving anyone of life without due process of law, which means, at a minimum, formal notice of criminal charges and a trial. 

“None of those eleven people who Trump and his military drug-war goons just killed was ever convicted of anything in a court of law. Nonetheless, Trump and his military drug-war goons knowingly, intentionally, and deliberately deprived them of life by shooting them dead, simply because Trump and his military drug-war goons were convinced that their victims were committing drug-related offenses. 

“Prior to Trump, US drug-war policy in international waters has been consistent with the principles of American criminal jurisprudence… If the US Coast Guard, for example, suspects a boat traveling in international waters of carrying illegal drugs, Coast Guard officials stop it, board it, and search it. If illegal drugs are found, the occupants of the boat are transported to the United States, indicted, and tried for drug-related offenses in US District Court…”

Trump had famously declared that every drug dealer should get the death penalty. To our knowledge, he never specified what kind of drug dealer he was referring to. 

Mobilizing Over 8 Million People? 

Newsweek wrote on September 5: 

“The clash between Washington and Caracas has escalated beyond rhetoric, with military maneuvers, sanctions, and criminal designations transforming into a broader contest for regional dominance. Trump has tied Maduro’s government to narcoterrorist organizations while expanding U.S. deployments, and Caracas has responded by massing citizens into its defense structures. At stake is whether the Caribbean becomes the stage for a direct confrontation between the United States and Venezuela, with ripple effects for Latin America and beyond… 

“Venezuela will deploy 15,751 popular defense bases and 5,336 communal militia units across the country. These forces fall under the National Bolivarian Militia, a civilian reserve created by the late Hugo Chavez to integrate ordinary citizens into the country’s defense system. Maduro said roughly 4.5 million citizens have already undergone training, with new enlistments through a digital platform expected to push the total beyond 8 million… 

“As Maduro mobilizes millions and Trump escalates military operations, the U.S.-Venezuela standoff is entering a dangerous new phase…” 

Confusion Galore

 CNN wrote on September 6: 

“President Donald Trump is weighing a multitude of options for carrying out military strikes against drug cartels operating in Venezuela, including potentially hitting targets inside the country as part of a broader strategy aimed at weakening leader Nicolas Maduro… Multiple sources told CNN Tuesday’s strike was just the beginning of a much larger effort to rid the region of narcotics trafficking and potentially dislodge Maduro from power… 

“Earlier this year, Trump authorized the military to carry out lethal operations against cartels his administration designated as terrorist groups, according to a source familiar with the matter, a move in which the president appeared to claim the power to treat suspected smugglers not as criminals, but enemy combatants. Asked Tuesday if the US would consider strikes on Venezuelan soil against the Maduro regime, Secretary of State Marco Rubio didn’t count out the possibility…. 

“Though Rubio initially said that the alleged Venezuela drug boat was likely bound for Trinidad or another Caribbean country, a day later, after Trump said it had been headed for the US, Rubio amended his remark and said the boat was ‘eventually’ headed to the US… 

“Despite all this, behind the scenes the US continues to coordinate with Venezuelan officials on deportation flights. The Trump administration also recently re-issued a license for US energy giant Chevron to resume oil operations in Venezuela, home to the largest proven oil reserves in the world…” 

Trump Muddies the Water on Vaccines 

clickorlando.com wrote on September 5: 

“President Donald Trump said vaccines that work ‘should be used,’ when asked to weigh in on a plan by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to end vaccine mandates in the state Friday. ‘You have some vaccines that are so amazing, the polio vaccine I happen to think is amazing,’ Trump said. ‘A lot of people think that COVID is amazing. I think you have to be very careful when you say that some people don’t have to be vaccinated. It’s a very, you know, it’s a very tough position,’ Trump added. 

“Earlier this week, DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced a plan to end all vaccine mandates in the state. Ladapo likened the vaccine mandates to slavery. ‘Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,’ Ladapo said during his announcement. ‘Who am I as a government or anyone else to tell you what you should put in your body? Your body is a gift from God. What you put into your body is between your relationship with you and your God.’

“Florida has several vaccine requirements in certain situations, chief among them mandates for school children. Ladapo and the Florida Department of Health may be able to lift the mandates for vaccines like chickenpox and hepatitis B, but mandates for polio, diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis (aka whooping cough), and tetanus vaccines would require repealing a decades-old Florida law, which only the state legislature can do. 

“‘Look, you have vaccines that work,’ Trump said Friday. ‘They just pure and simple work. They’re not controversial at all, and I think those vaccines should be used; otherwise, some people are going to catch it, and they endanger other people, and when you don’t have controversy at all, I think people should take it.’” 

We should not forget that Trump advocated highly controversial and, to a large extent ineffective or even dangerous vaccinations against Covid. 

Trump’s Tariffs 

Deutsche Welle wrote on September 6: 

“Postal traffic to the United States plunged over 80% after new tariffs announced by the Trump administration came into effect on August 29… 

“88 operators worldwide have fully or partially suspended the shipping of parcels to the US…” 

India and Russia Lost to China 

Reuters wrote on September 5: 

“U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said India and Russia seem to have been ‘lost’ to China after their leaders met with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, expressing annoyance at New Delhi and Moscow as Beijing pushes a new world order. 

“‘Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China…’”  

Germans Unhappy With Their Government

Deutsche Welle wrote on September 4: 

“The monthly Deutschlandtrend survey commissioned by German public broadcaster ARD found that 77% of those surveyed were dissatisfied with how the CDU/CSU Union and SPD get along. 

Supporters of the CDU/CSU and the SPD were equally dissatisfied, according to the survey… 

“Respondents also had little good to say about the government’s work so far. Some 75% of them indicated that they didn’t like what the government was doing… [Plans to raise] the retirement age to 70 was rejected by 84% of survey respondents… Germans are expected to have to work beyond the current retirement age of 67 and may see pension levels go down.. 

“The far-right… AfD was viewed as the most competent of all parties when it comes to immigration policy…” 

Merz on Putin 

Weltwoche wrote on September 4: 

“Russian President Vladimir Putin has reacted sharply to recent statements by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who called him ‘perhaps the most serious war criminal of our time’… 

“The Kremlin did not leave Merz’s choice of words unanswered. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the TASS news agency that, in light of these statements, Moscow would no longer consider any suggestions or opinions from Berlin: ‘Merz has made very bad statements to President Putin.'” 

Published comments on this article, almost all of them directed against Merz, were notable: 

“A power-hungry Merz is dragging us into war with Russia. There won’t be a third time. Russia will destroy us forever for it.” 

“There is ‘no room for leniency’ in dealing with war criminals,’ to hear this from a CDU chancellor, of all people, whose party in the old Federal Republic of Germany was unsurpassed in its leniency toward Nazi war criminals, as well as in their whitewashing and integration into the German democracy…” 

“With this Merz, there will be no more peace with Russia.” 

“Probably the stupidest government in Germany, with a chancellor no one trusts anymore.” 

A Woke Bundeswehr? 

Junge Freiheit wrote on September 4: 

“…the Bundeswehr is not about a professionally required exchange. Instead, the troops are inviting people to the conference ‘Woke and Defensive. Queer Realities of Life in the Bundeswehr.’ The ‘scientific objective of the research project’ is… ‘the experience-based exchange to strengthen diversity and queerness in the Bundeswehr…’ 

“For this purpose, the Bundeswehr University… has scheduled panels with subsequent discussions over two days. The rainbow-framed brochure is supported by the ‘Evangelical Chaplaincy in the Bundeswehr’ and the ‘Center for Gender & Diversity’… 

“According to the brochure description, the troops’ true enemy is our closest military ally: US President Donald Trump. Shortly after taking office, he abandoned the ‘Diversity-Equity-Inclusion’ policy (diversity, equality, inclusion), which had also spread in the US Army. Trump is using anti-diversity strategies ‘to massively restrict the rights of transgender people’… A presentation from the first panel is directly titled ‘Gender in Law – More Than Just Male or Female’… 

“Are there more diverse people who will stand up for Germany, the colors black, red, and gold, and not for the rainbow? Skepticism is raised by the Bundeswehr’s own advertising posters, which sometimes omit the word ‘Germany’ – despite the fact that recruits take their oath of allegiance to it. Now the Bundeswehr is advertising with a slogan that is also being used by certain political circles: ‘How far will you go for our democracy?’” 

Jens Spahn Lags Far Behind 

Der Stern wrote on August 5: 

“The highest trust ratings among their own supporters in the current ranking are Boris Pistorius (SPD, 82 points), Markus Söder (CSU, 80 points), as well as Heidi Reichinnek (Left Party) and Alice Weidel (AfD) (78 points each). Jens Spahn (CDU) has by far the lowest trust rating among his own party’s supporters: He receives only 37 points from CDU supporters. 

In the overall ranking, Pistorius is by far the best: Söder is in 6th place, closely followed by Merz in 7th place, closely followed by Klingbeil (SPD) in 8th place, Reichinnek in 10th place; Spahn is far behind in 17th place, and Weidel is in 19th place. 

The Insanity of COVID Politics

Report 24 wrote on September 8:

“Jens Spahn, the former Minister of Health, recently admitted what has long been clear to many. He would be the first to face the AfD’s ‘political judiciary’ if it were to take power… If the judiciary were truly independent, Spahn would have had to face it already. The same applies to Angela Merkel, Olaf Scholz, Karl Lauterbach, and Christian Drosten. Instead, doctors who issued mask certificates or simulated vaccinations are being prosecuted for giving people their lives back… That’s why people are in prison today whose only offense was resisting the measures… The judiciary is hunting those who helped the people, while the real perpetrators walk free.”

“Because the vaccination is anything but safe. Dozens of studies demonstrate serious side effects. Thrombosis, myocarditis, strokes – such adverse reactions quickly appeared after the start of the vaccination campaigns. The FDA even officially warned of myocarditis in young men after mRNA vaccinations. By now, everyone probably knows someone who has been harmed by the forced injection. Turbo cancer, sudden death, permanent damage. Yet the injection was sold as harmless.

“The lockdowns were equally destructive. The disruption of production fueled inflation. Psychologically, the number of depressions, anxiety, and suicides rose explosively. Families were destroyed by propaganda, children lost years of their development. In terms of health, people died from untreated illnesses because they didn’t dare go to the doctor. The worst part is the knowledge of those in power. They knew the risks in advance. Corona was not a lethal virus. Manufacturers like Pfizer and Moderna promised neither efficacy nor safety… The contracts protect them from lawsuits, even in cases of serious damage, even in the death of vaccine victims. The politicians protected them. They took away the people’s freedom, forced them into isolation, and ruined livelihoods. For absolute control, total power. For billions that flowed to pharmaceutical companies. 

“Spahn was right in the middle of it with his mask deals. He organized the vaccination campaign, ignoring all warnings. Merkel ordered the lockdowns. Scholz prolonged the catastrophe. Lauterbach preached panic. Drosten provided the ‘Science’ that suited the government’s wishes. If the judiciary were independent, there would be charges, trials, and a genuine investigation. Instead, it protects the perpetrators…

“But the pressure is growing. On August 27, the US withdrew emergency approval for mRNA gene injections, and the injection is now only being considered for very old or sick people. As it should have been from the beginning – including here. People don’t forget. The evidence is mounting. The stories of those affected are getting louder. Spahn’s words seem like a confession. They reveal the fear of the powerful. It may take a long time, but everyone will be held accountable for their crimes. The politicians, the pharmaceutical mafia, the henchmen in the media. Nothing will be forgotten, nothing will be forgiven. Not even in Austria.”

Still,  voices are being heard again, advocating the insanity of vaccinations and the useless wearing of masks. 

Becoming a Saint… 

USA Today wrote on September 5: 

“Pope Leo will canonize Blessed Carlo Acutis on Sunday, Sept. 7, the first such ceremony of his tenure and the first Catholic saint of the millennial generation… Carlo, a British-born Italian who died from leukemia in 2006 at age 15, had been set to be canonized April 27 during the Jubilee of Adolescents. The ceremony was postponed after the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Carlo, sometimes referred to as ‘God’s influencer,’ learned several computer coding languages before his death and built websites to spread his faith. Sainthood indicates that the church believes the person is in heaven with God. 

“Sainthood causes are examined by a Vatican department that must confirm that the person lived a holy life. It usually also involves the verification of two miracles [AFTER the person’s death] attributed to the future saint’s intercession with God in heaven. 

“In 2020, the church recognized his first miracle, involving a 4-year-old Brazilian boy who was determined to be healed from a serious pancreatic birth defect. After the boy’s mother prayed to Carlo in 2013, her son experienced a sudden and complete recovery. 

“In May 2024, a second miracle was announced, this time involving a woman from Costa Rica. In 2022, she prayed at Carlo’s tomb in Assisi, Italy, after her daughter suffered severe head trauma from a bicycle accident. Doctors had informed the mother that her daughter was unlikely to survive. In her pilgrimage to Carlo’s tomb, the mother left a note. On the same day, her daughter began to breathe spontaneously. The next day, she started to move and regained some of her speech. Ten days later, a CAT scan showed her brain hemorrhage had disappeared. 

“Carlo’s beatification took place in October 2020, when Pope Francis declared the teen had attained the blessedness of heaven, and he was given the title of ‘Blessed.’” 

None of that is biblical. Only Jesus Christ went to heaven after His resurrection—nobody else. Any “miracle” cannot be attributed to Carlo Acutis because he is dead and in his grave, without any consciousness, awaiting his resurrection from the dead. IF those “miracles” did in fact occur, they did not show any DIVINE intervention because people prayed to Carlo.   

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.

Shameful European Conduct Towards Israel 

Israel Today wrote on August 29: 

“British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s July 25 statement regarding the recognition of a Palestine state was ‘shameful,’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a recent interview… Asked… whether recognition of a Palestine state would ‘encourage Hamas to continue their resistance,’ Netanyahu said, ‘Of course, it does…  They commit the greatest savagery against Jews since the Holocaust, and the prime minister of Britain says, “We’ll reward you with a de facto state,”… which is committed openly to repeating the October 7 massacre over and over and over again.’ 

“Western leaders like to repeat that Israel has a right to defend itself, but ‘they recognize Israel’s right to defend itself as long as Israel doesn’t exercise that right,’ Netanyahu said… The capitulation of leaders of the UK, France and others is a product of weak leadership caving in to distorted media, social media manipulation and radical extremist minorities, the Israeli leader said… Describing as ‘shameful’ the way Western leaders in Britain, France, Canada and New Zealand, ‘buckle under,’ Netanyahu added that 80 years after the Holocaust, European leaders want to ‘give a prize for those who would destroy the one and only Jewish state.’… 

“However, Netanyahu acknowledged that Israel is losing the public relations war… He dismissed as a ‘fraud’ the genocide and starvation accusations. He likened the starving children slander to the blood libel during the Middle Ages claiming Jews killed Christian children. ‘If we wanted to commit genocide, we would have done it in one afternoon,’ he said, noting that Israel has the ‘capacity’ to do so… He said Israel had taken unprecedented steps to protect civilians, issuing millions of warnings to residents in areas where the IDF plans to conduct combat operations, while Hamas forces people to stay, shooting those who try to leave…

“Asked what lessons he wants people to take from history, Netanyahu said that the key lesson Jews have drawn from history is to take threats of annihilation seriously and act before it is too late…” 

Still, the world will hate Israel even more and gang up against it. 

Belgium Too 

The Guardian wrote on September 2: 

“Belgium’s foreign minister, Maxime Prévot, has said his country will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly later this month… 

“The recognition of Palestine would only be formalised if Hamas releases all remaining Israeli hostages kidnapped in the Hamas-led 7 October attack on southern Israel in 2023 and the militant group ‘no longer has any role in managing Palestine,’ Prévot added.”

Hamas and Palestinian Authority Attack Godly Injunctions 

Israel 365 News wrote on August 28: 

“Ha’arun Nasser al-Din, the Hamas official overseeing Jerusalem affairs, issued a warning against Jews visiting the Temple Mount on the upcoming Rosh Hashanah [Feast of Trumpets], claiming they represented a ‘dangerous escalation’ as part of a broader ‘religious war’ targeting Islamic holy sites [what about Jewish holy sites?]. He urged Palestinians in Jerusalem, Israel, Judea, and Samaria to come to Al-Aqsa Mosque, pray there, and remain present at the site in order, he said, ‘not to abandon it to the settlers.’ 

“It should be remembered that the Hamas-led massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, was launched to take place on the Jewish holy day of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, which falls on the eighth day of Sukkoth [the Last Great Day following the Feast of Tabernacles.] Dubbed the Al-Aqsa Flood, Hamas and Hezbollah claimed the attack was sparked by the arrival of five red heifers in Israel, which they said would lead to the construction of the Third Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year [according to Jewish calculations of the civil calendar; not the religious calendar according to which the New Year starts in the spring, the Hebrew month of Nisan or Abib], will begin on Monday, September 22… 

“Similarly, on Monday, the Palestinian Authority condemned attempts by Jewish activist groups to sound the shofar on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount… [They] warned in a statement that the Jewish tradition of sounding the shofar throughout the Hebrew month of Elul is ‘no longer a passing religious ritual, but has become one of the most dangerous tools of the occupation to impose its alleged sovereignty.’ The statement denounced attempts to sound the shofar on the Temple Mount as a ‘direct assault’ on the Al-Aqsa Mosque… [Blowing the shofar on the Feast of Trumpets is pursuant to Old Testament injunctions.]”

One can see how this kind of propaganda may lead to self-fulfilling prophecies. 

Blair, Kushner and Trump on Ending the Gaza Crisis 

The Independent wrote on August 28: 

“President Donald Trump was being briefed Wednesday on ideas for a post-war Gaza by his son-in-law and former Middle East envoy, Jared Kushner, and Tony Blair, the former British prime minister… Kushner and Blair met with the president to discuss what to do with the devastated enclave, which is currently facing a famine after three years of war started by the October 7, 2023 terror attacks by Hamas… 

“Trump has previously suggested an American takeover of the strip using U.S. troops as a way to bring an end to the war and satisfy Israeli demands that neither Hamas nor the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority have any say in Gaza governance… Pressed on what authority would permit the United States to take over Gaza — which is considered occupied territory under international law — Trump replied that he saw the United States taking ‘a long-term ownership position’ that would bring ‘great stability to the Middle East’ region. He also said the US could send troops to Gaza to accomplish this… 

“The comments drew widespread criticism around the world with Saudi Arabia saying it ‘unequivocally rejected’ the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza… Trump later appeared to back down from his plan to take over Gaza, but on Tuesday his roving special envoy, Steve Witkoff, told Fox News that the administration was formulating a ‘very comprehensive plan’ on ‘the next day’ in Gaza… 

“Meanwhile, a United Nations official told the Associated Press Wednesday that if Israel’s military goes ahead with a planned offensive in Gaza City, then ‘all hope is gone that we’re ever going to see the end to this.’ But Israel says the evacuation of Gaza’s most populated city is ‘inevitable’…” 

Palestinian Leader Abbas Barred From Attending UN General Assembly 

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 30: 

“The United States said it would not allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York next month for a United Nations gathering, where several US allies are set to recognize Palestinian statehood. 

“A State Department official said Abbas and about 80 other Palestinians would be affected by the decision to deny and revoke visas from members of the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organization and the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority. Abbas had planned to attend the annual high-level UN General Assembly, followed by a summit where France, Australia and Canada have pledged to formerly recognize a Palestinian state. The United Kingdom also vowed to recognize Palestinian statehood if Israel does not meet certain conditions by the General Assembly meeting. 

“Abbas’s office said it was astonished by the decision and said it violated the UN ‘headquarters agreement,’ a 1947 accord that requires the US to allow access for foreign diplomats to the UN in New York. The Trump administration, however, has said it can deny visas for security, extremism and foreign policy reasons. The State Department said the PA and PLO had failed to renounce extremism while pushing for ‘unilateral recognition’ of a Palestinian state…. 

“Several European foreign ministers arriving at a European Union meeting in Copenhagen criticized Washington’s decision to block Mahmoud Abbas’s visa… French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot… told reporters that the assembly ‘cannot be subject to any restrictions on access.’ Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said the US move was ‘unacceptable,’ while Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris said the EU should protest the decision ‘in the strongest possible terms.’ Both Spain and Ireland officially recognized Palestinian statehood in 2024… In 1988, the US refused to issue a visa to PLO leader Yasser Arafat, forcing the UN General Assembly to be moved from New York to Geneva so he could address it.” 

The Associated Press added on August 30: 

“Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ office on Saturday urged the U.S. government to reverse its unusual decision to revoke his visa… Abbas has addressed the General Assembly for many years, and generally leads the Palestinian delegation. 

“‘We call upon the American administration to reverse its decision. This decision will only increase tension and escalation,’ Palestinian presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh told The Associated Press in Ramallah on Saturday. He urged other countries to put pressure on the Trump administration to reverse the decision, notably the countries that have organized a high-level conference on Sept. 22 about reviving efforts for a two-state-solution for the Middle East. It is co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia.” 

Demonic Behavior 

New York Post wrote on August 28: 

“Transgender mass shooter Robin Westman confessed that he ‘was tired of being trans’ and wished he ‘never brain-washed’ himself in a manifesto posted online… Westman used to horrify classmates by walking around saying ‘praise Hitler,’ according to a former friend who denounced him as ‘demonic.’… ‘It’s demonic, I’m sorry, it is, she said of her one-time friend’s behavior.”

See our new StandingWatch program from August 27, titled, Demons Rule This World! 

Trump Without Constitutional Authority Towards States 

The Ron Paul Institute published the following article by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano on August 28: 

“‘It is (my) intention to … demand recognition of the distinction between the powers granted to the Federal Government and those reserved to the States or to the people. All of us need to be reminded that the Federal Government did not create the States; the States created the Federal Government’ (President Ronald Reagan, First Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1981). 

‘When I heard President Ronald Reagan utter the words above, my heart leapt with joy. I couldn’t imagine a modern-day president recognizing the sovereignty of the states and understanding their role in the creation of the American republic… Oh, how the presidential attitude has changed. 

“Last week, President Donald Trump purported to order the states to reform their policies on bail so as to incorporate a variant of pre-conviction incarceration. He also ordered them to prosecute people for burning their own flags. His own observations have apparently caused him to conclude that bad people — including flag burners — should be picked up off the streets, incarcerated and kept there until trial. In another breath, he referred to the states as ‘agents’ of the federal government… where is his constitutional authority to do so? In a word: NOWHERE… 

“When the first 13 states formed the federal government and when the succeeding 37 joined — some voluntarily and some literally with guns aimed at the heads of state officials — they did so embracing subsidiarity… James Madison, the chief draftsman of the Constitution and the author of the Bill of Rights, insisted that the 10th Amendment declare that the powers not given away to the federal government are retained by the people and the states. Foremost among them is the police power — the power to regulate and enforce laws for the health, safety, welfare and morality of all persons in the states. 

“The federal government is one of limited powers… Madison made it clear, just because a problem is national in its scope does not make it federal in its nature. A national problem is one common to vast areas across America. A federal problem is one the governance of which is articulated and delegated to Congress in the Constitution… This system was crafted to prevent the accumulation of power in Washington…” 

The underlying goal to make America a dictatorship under the President is only too obvious. 

Stupid Raids Endanger America 

MSNBC added on August 31: 

“Authorities in Washington have been fighting the state’s largest wildfire nonstop for almost two months. Since early July, the Bear Gulch Fire has burned nearly 9,000 acres, and officials say it is only 13% contained. In fact, it’s so big that the state has to rely on contract firefighters. But on Wednesday, one group of firefighters who were battling the blaze had to take a three-hour timeout from their work after their camp was raided by Border Patrol officials. Video of the raid shows dozens of fire contractors being lined up and asked to show their IDs. Border Patrol officers ultimately arrested two of the firefighters, whom they believed were in the country illegally… 

“In a statement to NBC News, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that the arrests followed a criminal investigation into two companies contracted to assist with fighting the fire. On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement on X, which said the two men ‘apprehended were NOT firefighters’ but worked in a ‘support role, cutting logs into firewood.’ Adding: ‘The firefighting response remained uninterrupted the entire time.’ 

“According to reporting from The Seattle Times, one of the firefighters told the men they were not allowed to take video of the incident. ‘You risked your life out here to save the community,’ that firefighter told the Times. ‘This is how they treat us.’… As the Times notes, ‘It is unusual for federal border agents to make arrests during the fighting of an active fire, especially in a remote area.’ Earlier this year, Donald Trump rescinded a Biden-era policy that barred immigration enforcement at so-called sensitive locations, which applied to natural disasters…. And now [we see]  raids on camps of firefighters as they literally battle the largest wildfire in the American Northwest. It appears Trump, JD Vance, Stephen Miller and [others] are willing to burn the country to the ground if that’s what it takes, all so they can rule over the ashes.” 

Reuters added on August 31: 

“Two firefighters who were responding to a wildfire in the state of Washington when they were detained by U.S. border agents are being held at an ICE detention center in Tacoma… officials there confirmed they were holding the two people working for companies that had been contracted to help fight the 9,000-acre Bear Gulch fire in the Olympic National Forest… lawyer Stephen Manning said his Portland, Oregon, firm was representing one of those arrested, an Oregon resident Manning said was unlawfully detained. Manning… said the man had come to the United States with his family as a four-year-old about 19 years ago and was awaiting a response to a visa application… 

“ICE officials have criticized the Trump administration’s push for high daily arrest quotes that have led to the detention of thousands of individuals with no criminal record, as well as long-term green card holders, others with legal visas, and even some U.S. citizens, according to Reuters reporting….” 

This is INSANE! 

Court of Appeals: Most Trump Tariffs ILLEGAL! 

CNBC wrote on August 29: 

“A federal appeals court ruled Friday that most of President Donald Trump’s global tariffs are illegal, striking a massive blow to the core of his aggressive trade policy. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in a 7-4 ruling, held that the law Trump invoked when he granted his most expansive tariffs does not actually grant him the power to impose those levies. ‘The core Congressional power to impose taxes such as tariffs is vested exclusively in the legislative branch by the Constitution,’ the court said. ‘Tariffs are a core Congressional power.’ 

“The appellate court paused its ruling from taking effect until Oct. 14 in order to give the Trump administration time to ask the Supreme Court to reverse the decision. Trump later Friday attacked the appeals court… ‘If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country,’ Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. ‘If allowed to stand, this Decision would literally destroy the United States of America.’…” 

Trump might be right with his assessment, but the irony is: The Bible prophesies that the USA WILL BE destroyed. 

Newsmax added on August 29: 

“The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Trump wasn’t legally allowed to declare national emergencies and impose import taxes on almost every country on earth, largely upholding a May decision by a specialized federal trade court in New York… The decision complicates Trump’s strategy, which has upended decades of American trade policy. His tariffs — and the at times unpredictable way he’s rolled them out — have shaken global markets, alienated U.S. trading partners and allies and raised fears of higher prices and slower economic growth…

“[A] possibility is that the government might have to refund some of the import taxes that it’s collected, delivering a financial blow to the U.S. Treasury. ‘It would be 1929 all over again, a GREAT DEPRESSION!’ Trump said in a previous post on Truth Social.” 

A great depression of Trump’s making. 

Further Planned Investigations in the Epstein Case 

The Independent wrote on August 30: 

“Jeffrey Epstein’s estate will hand the infamous ‘birthday book’ at the center of President Donald Trump’s defamation case with the Wall Street Journal to Congress, according to the top Democrat on the House committee [Rep. Robert Garcia of California] leading the investigation into the handling of the late sex offender’s case… Garcia… said that Epstein’s estate would comply with the subpoena issued earlier this week by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee and turn over the 2003 book and ‘other documents.’… 

“The birthday book is the subject of a WSJ article… Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit… The House committee hopes to examine [on September 8] the book of messages from friends and associates, which was a gift to Epstein for his 50th birthday, compiled by his confidante, Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump, who denies writing a birthday message to Epstein, has not been accused of any wrongdoing… 

“Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel are expected to testify before Congress on the Trump administration’s handling of the case. Patel is scheduled to give testimony on September 17, while Bondi is scheduled for October 9…” 

This will be interesting. The Epstein case is not going away.  

Ridiculous Allegations by J.D. Vance Against Germany and Politico 

The Straits Times wrote on August 30: 

“The White House lashed out Aug 29 over what it called a ‘foreign influence operation’ by German-owned US news outlet Politico after it criticised the efforts of President Donald Trump’s envoy, Mr Steve Witkoff, in Ukraine negotiations. Vice-President J.D. Vance slammed Politico, bought in 2021 by German media giant Axel Springer [who also owns Bild], over an article that quoted unnamed officials as saying Mr Witkoff’s ‘inexperience shines through’ in his talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. 

“‘This story from Politico is journalistic malpractice. But it’s more than that: it’s a foreign influence operation meant to hurt the administration and one of our most effective members,’ Mr Vance said on X. A string of other White House officials made similar attacks, with Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair calling the article a ‘foreign influence operation run through a German-controlled online media outlet’. The officials did not offer evidence of any foreign party or government behind the story [Of course, because there is none.] 

“The attacks came as Berlin and France cast doubt on whether Mr Trump’s Ukraine peace efforts would bear fruit, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying the war would last ‘many more months.’ Mr Witkoff is a property tycoon whom Mr Trump has named as his special envoy for peace talks to end the Ukraine and Gaza wars despite having no diplomatic experience.” 

These accusations against Politico and German interference are totally ridiculous. Politico is by far not the only outlet which has pointed out Mr. Wirkoff’s perceived incompetence (we have reported about this in prior Current Events). J.D. Vance has recently made some other questionable comments, such as that Russia has made serious concessions, and that we are close to seeing the end of the war. The evidence proves the opposite.  J.D. Vance also stated that if it should become necessary, he would be ready to be President.   

Because of Trump—Germany and Switzerland Drawing Closer 

ntv wrote on September 2: 

“The high tariffs imposed on Switzerland by US President Donald Trump are bringing the Swiss Confederation and Germany closer together… While EU membership is not on the cards for Switzerland, integration to varying degrees is possible, emphasized [Friedrich Merz]. 

“The Federal President [Karin Keller-Sutter] also pointed out that Switzerland is not even a member of the European Customs Union, but nevertheless wants significantly closer cooperation with Germany and the EU… ‘Switzerland is particularly affected by very high tariffs. We must therefore come together and work together all the more closely in Europe,’ said Merz. He hoped that the ‘exorbitant’ US punitive tariffs for the country can still be avoided… 

“Noting that Switzerland is not only not an EU member but also not a NATO member, Keller-Sutter said that the neutrality is firmly anchored in the Swiss population. However, the Federal Council wants at least the War Material Act to be watered down, which has so far made arms exports and deliveries very difficult.” 

Trump Can’t (Won’t) Stop the War 

Express wrote on August 30: 

“Donald Trump’s muted response to the latest deadly missile and drone strikes on Kyiv has been condemned as a sign of weakness by a leading Ukrainian commentator, who warned that only China’s Xi Jinping now has the power to halt Russia’s war. But Mr Boycheko also believes Russia is now China’s ‘little brother’ with Beijing effectively waging a proxy war on the West. 

“The US President spoke after the massive August 28 raids on Ukraine’s capital that killed at least 23 people, including four children. Russian forces targeted residential areas, a shopping mall, and offices used by the European Union and the British Council in one of the largest bombardments of the war. In comments posted on X and reiterated by aides, Mr Trump said he was ‘not happy’ about the attacks but ‘not surprised,’ describing them as ‘not necessary’ and of ‘very bad timing’… 

“White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt went further, stressing that Mr Trump’s reaction reflected Ukraine’s own drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. The comparison — effectively treating Moscow’s bombardment of civilian areas as equivalent to Kyiv’s targeting of energy infrastructure — has drawn criticism for failing to condemn Russia’s aggression outright. 

“Mr Boycheko, Founder and CEO of Hope for Ukraine, who now lives in the United States, believes Mr Trump fundamentally misreads both the war and the Russian president’s psychology. He told [Express:] ‘He started this whole journey on the wrong foot. He thought he could come into office, use his personal relationship with Putin, charm him, bribe him, or sweet-talk him into leaving Ukraine. But Putin is not that type of person. Putin has no feelings. He is like a computer.’ [Putin is a “computer” led and directed by demons.] 

“In Mr Boycheko’s view, the drawn-out ‘peace process’ that Mr Trump has promoted, including this summer’s summit with Putin in Alaska, is merely buying Russia time to inflict further damage on Ukraine… 

“Mr Boycheko also urged European powers to assume greater responsibility as US policy drifts. He said: ‘The whole strategy of relying on the United States for your security is a road to nowhere. Britain, Germany and France need to come up with their own plan to help Ukraine, build more drones and weapons themselves, and restructure their militaries to deal with Russia…’ Mr Boycheko also called on Western governments to intensify pressure on Russia’s finances, particularly through sanctions against the ‘shadow fleet’ of ships carrying its oil.” 

Dangerous AI Warfare 

Politico wrote on September 2: 

“… some AI scientists believe the Pentagon has already started down a slippery slope by rushing to deploy the latest generations of AI as a key part of America’s defenses around the world. Driven by worries about fending off China and Russia at the same time, as well as by other global threats, the Defense Department is creating AI-driven defensive systems that in many areas are swiftly becoming autonomous — meaning they can respond on their own, without human input — and move so fast against potential enemies that humans can’t keep up.

“Despite the Pentagon’s official policy that humans will always be in control, the demands of modern warfare — the need for lightning-fast decision-making, coordinating complex swarms of drones, crunching vast amounts of intelligence data and competing against AI-driven systems built by China and Russia — mean that the military is increasingly likely to become dependent on AI. That could prove true even, ultimately, when it comes to the most existential of all decisions: whether to launch nuclear weapons. 

“That fear is compounded by the fact that there is still a fundamental lack of understanding about how AI, particularly the LLMs, actually work. So while the Pentagon is racing to implement new AI programs, experts… are scrambling to decipher the algorithms that give AI its awesome power before humans become so dependent on AI that it will dominate military decision-making even if no one ever formally gives it that much control… Most troubling to experts on AI and nuclear weapons is that it’s getting harder and harder to keep decisions about targeting and escalation for nuclear weapons separate from decisions about conventional weapons…” 

The Wall Street Journal added on September 2: 

“In a new frontier for warfare, Ukraine is using technology to allow groups of drones to communicate and make decisions independent of their operator… On a recent evening, a trio of Ukrainian drones flew under the cover of darkness to a Russian position and decided among themselves exactly when to strike. 

“The assault was an example of how Ukraine is using artificial intelligence to allow groups of drones to coordinate with each other to attack Russian positions, an innovative technology that heralds the future of battle…”

China, Russia and North Korea

NPR wrote on August 29: 

“When North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits China next week for a military parade, he’ll make his debut at a large gathering of foreign leaders, an event with the heads of China, Russia and North Korea all together for the first time. The Sept. 3 parade marks the end of World War II after Japan’s formal surrender to Allied forces… China’s State Council this week published a list of 26 leaders it said would attend that would also include the leaders of Iran, Cuba, Belarus and Serbia. Slovakia is so far the only NATO member on the list. This will also be Kim’s first known visit to China since 2019… South Korean President Lee will not attend the parade, but the government will be represented by Parliamentary Speaker Woo Won-shik…. 

“China and Russia have cooperated in helping North Korea avoid international sanctions imposed because of its nuclear and missile programs. And China and North Korea have helped Russia in different ways with its war in Ukraine…. 

“Chinese media, meanwhile, have focused on… China’s contributions to victory in World War II, officially known in the country as the ‘Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.’ That conflict started with Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in 1931, a decade before Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Some 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded in the conflict, according to official Chinese government figures.” 

Still, even Japan might become part of the Kings of the East. So will India. Note the next article. 

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 31:

“Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi has arrived on his first visit to China in seven years. Modi met with Xi, with the two sides looking forward to improving ties after border tensions. Russian President Vladimir Putin was received with a red carpet welcome. China upgrades relations with Armenia during Xi’s meeting with Armenian PM Pashinyan.” 

The Axis of Evil 

The Sun wrote on September 2: 

“The powerful leaders, often dubbed the ‘Axis of Evil’ due to how they rule over their nations with an iron fist, are seeking to challenge the dominance of the US-led West. All three have an explosive relationship with the rival bloc from China’s constant threats to invade Taiwan by force, Russia’s refusal to end the war in Ukraine and Kim’s worrying nuclear arsenal… 

“Nato chief Mark Rutte has already sounded the alarm saying Russia and China together could light the fuse on World War Three. He laid out a nightmare scenario saying if Beijing seizes Taiwan while Putin strikes eastern European Nato territory then a global war will break out instantly…. Xi and Putin have already caught the eyes of the globe after announcing plans to form a new group to directly rival Nato.” 

Xi also claimed that China and Russia ended World War II, totally ignoring the role of the USA, Great Britain, and other instrumental allies. 

Wagner Group in Africa 

The Sun wrote on August 30: 

“THOUSANDS of miles from Ukraine’s bloody frontline, Vladimir Putin is quietly waging a brutal second war in the desert… From Mali to the Central African Republic and across the Sahel, Russia has rechristened its notorious Wagner group to form a new Kremlin-controlled paramilitary force – the Africa Corps… But the tyrant is also thought to be using the dark operations as a strategic ‘conveyor belt’ to train Russian troops for his meat-grinder war in Ukraine… 

“For years, Russia’s infamous Wagner Group was used as proxy by the Kremlin to battle rebels and armed groups abroad in brutal military operations. But their chief… –  a former ally of Putin – was wiped out in a fireball crash in 2023 following an extraordinary failed coup. With a much tighter grip from the Kremlin, Wagner reinvented itself as Africa Corps – with goals to shore up military leaders, extract gold and undermine Western influence… The mercenaries have a strong foothold in the Sahel, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali – along with ‘interest’ in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire…” 

The Danger of Mirror Life 

Neoscope wrote on August 27: 

“It’s a technology that doesn’t even exist yet, but its effects could be so drastically destructive that scientists in the field are calling for it to be banned now, before it’s too late. We’re talking, of course, about ‘mirror life’ — synthetic organisms that quite literally turn natural biology on its head… 

“Mirror lifeforms contain DNA structures that are the mirror image to all known organisms. In all life on Earth, the DNA double helix is right-handed, meaning its strands, a sugar-phosphate backbone, twist to the right… The opposite is the case for proteins, the building blocks of cells, which are left-handed. 

“… So what happens when humans engineer a synthetic organism where its DNA twists to the left, while its proteins twist to the right? The scary thing is that we can’t say for sure — but many biologists fear the worst. In December, a group of leading figures in the field… published a massive technical report warning that the consequences of mirror life ‘could be globally disastrous,’ possibly even wiping out all life if the new organisms prove pathogenic to existing life, like us humans… 

“Most scientists agree that the technology is at least a decade away, perhaps three. But their sense of urgency in preventing it is palpable…” 

The Bible warns that no flesh would be saved alive if Christ was not to come back to shorten these days.

Strange Series of Deaths Among AfD Candidates 

Report 24 wrote on August 30: 

“The statistics don’t really support such a ‘coincidence.’ Shortly before the local elections on September 14, four promising candidates between the ages of 59 and 72 died – suddenly and unexpectedly. What they had in common: They were candidates for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which the established, unified party in Germany fears and [it] does not want any changes to the political structure… 

“The background to this is a mood in the country that is the fault of the established, unified party [talking about all the “established” parties, such as CDU, SPD, FDP or the Green.] For example, the party had ensured that completely innocent AfD candidates were excluded from elections, most recently Joachim Paul of the mayoral election in Ludwigshafen am Rhein and Uwe Detert’s election in Lage. [This makes] it increasingly clear that the German population is only being fooled into believing in their right to democratic participation… 

“Equally part of the depressing overall picture is the tragic death of a doctor who dared to criticize former Green Party leader Habeck. The 76-year-old critical physician Wolfgang Conzelmann was tied up and suffocated—in other words, murdered. A connection to his political statements cannot be ruled out. One should also not forget that the authorities largely give the thugs and terrorist groups of the so-called ‘Antifa‘ a free hand in Germany. 

“And so it is hardly surprising that many questions have arisen surrounding the deaths of four AfD candidates for the upcoming local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia. From a purely mathematical and statistical perspective, such a cluster of deaths is extremely unlikely and difficult to explain as coincidence… 

“Stefan Berendes ran for city council in Bad Lippspringe. He was 59 years old at the time of his death. Wolfgang Seitz ran as a direct candidate for the Wesel district council in Rheinberg. He was also 59 years old. He is said to have died on August 16. Ralph Klaus Norbert Lange, 66 or 67 years old, ran for city council in Blomberg. Wolfgang Klinger ran for city council in Schwerte; he was 71 or 72 years old. The date of death is given as August 19, 2025. 

“No public information on the causes of death is currently available. Deaths among candidates from other parties running for election are unknown, which raises even more questions, at least in the mathematical and statistical field, about the deaths of the four AfD candidates.”

Elon Musk posted the following comments on X on August 30:  “Either Germany votes AfD or it is the end of Germany.” 

More Deaths 

Report 24 added on September 2: 

“Now two more AfD politicians have died: René Herford and Patrick Tietze. Both were reserve list candidates. Herford is said to have died of kidney failure and reportedly suffered from a pre-existing liver condition. Tietze is said to have committed suicide… 

“The fact that now… six politicians from the successful (and also promising in these elections) opposition party have died is certainly something to think about. No other party is being agitated and incited against as much as the AfD.” 

Subsequently, another AfD candidate died “of natural causes.”

Civil War in Europe 

Report 24 wrote on August 28: 

“Europe is no longer a haven of security. Its peoples and societies are deeply divided, trust in state institutions is in free fall, the economic foundation is crumbling… The risk factors for civil war have long been present; the only question is when the spark will ignite.” 

“The parallels to Yugoslavia in the 1990s are unmistakable. There, too, people lived in a deceptive normality until shortly before the escalation. Public life still functioned, people still went to work, and the cafes were still full. Until suddenly, nothing was normal anymore, and neighbors who had lived side by side for decades became enemies. Anyone who claims today that something like this could never happen in Paris, Brussels, or Berlin is falling prey to the same… dangerous self-deception that things will stay as they are – just because they are so used to it. 

“The ingredients for the big bang are already in place. A majority society that feels increasingly marginalized and is forbidden from any self-assertion [by being accused to be] ‘right-wing extremist’… A political establishment that sees mass immigration not as a problem, but as a ‘project’ for social transformation. And an economy driven to the brink of collapse by debt, deindustrialization, and centrally planned energy fantasies… 

“The question of ‘critical mass’ is particularly important. Studies… show that it takes no more than around 3.5 to 5 percent of a population to bring about a revolution or profound change – if this part acts decisively enough. Applied to the European Union and individual states, this means: Even a relatively small but radicalized minority can destroy the fragile balance. In an age when entire cities have already developed parallel societies (some with no-go zones), this is no longer a theoretical threat… 

“Trust in parliaments, governments, and the media regularly reaches historic lows in surveys… While the broad public still believes in the fairytale of the ‘European peace project,’ reality is gradually being determined by the conditions that, according to conflict research, make civil wars almost inevitable. Anyone who ignores this development is not only engaging in self-deception, but is endangering the survival of their own society. Europe is no longer a safe continent. The question is not whether conflicts will escalate, but when and where they will begin.” 

The Bible warns us that devastating developments will occur suddenly. 

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.

John Bolton Raid Shows Weaponization of FBI 

The Guardian wrote on August 22: 

“When Kash Patel, the FBI director, faced senators during his confirmation hearings on 30 January,  he bristled at suggestions that his 2023 book contained an ‘enemies list’. The appendix to Government Gangsters, which included a list of names of around 60 people, was simply documentation of those who had ‘weaponized’ the government, he insisted. 

“Seven months later, that denial appears increasingly hollow. Friday’s FBI search of the former national security adviser John Bolton’s home and office, reportedly to find classified documents, marks the fifth investigation targeting people from Patel’s book. Bolton now joins a growing list of Trump critics from Patel’s roll the administration has targeted with what appear to be retaliatory federal investigations… 

“Bolton’s investigation… is unprecedented in how it is calculated to target a critic…” 

Deutsche Welle added on August 22: 

“… his critics claim Patel lacks experience to lead the FBI, and point to his previous statements about going after Trump’s political enemies… Trump himself was… indicted by a Florida court for retaining classified documents at his private Mar-a-Lago beach club. That case was dropped in 2024 after Trump was elected. Patel had given interviews blasting the raids by federal agents on Trump’s residence related to the case.  

“John Bolton served as national security adviser during the first term of Donald Trump, but has since turned into an outspoken critic of the US president, often questioning the president’s mental aptitude. Since leaving the first Trump administration, Bolton has been widely critical of Trump and his policies, especially on the second administration’s handling of the war in Ukraine. During an interview with DW in June, Bolton said he believes Vladimir Putin perceives Trump as a ‘useful idiot.’ ‘He doesn’t know history, he doesn’t read briefing papers,’ Bolton said, referring to Trump.  

“In a DW interview yesterday, Bolton said Trump did not understand the situation on the ground in Ukraine, assuming that he could ‘bounce Ukraine and Russia into a peace deal in a couple of weeks and therefore get the Nobel Prize for it.’”  

In this light, the FBI’s action clearly looks like political retribution and persecution of a popular Trump critic. The FBI’s action most certainly reminds us of the FBI raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate to locate “classified” information. 

More to Come? 

The Hill wrote on August 23: 

“Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, signaled Saturday that he could be the next target of President Trump’s FBI… ‘Yeah, we expect it… we can… be so certain of the president’s revenge campaign to know potentially who that next target might be or one of those next targets.’

“The former DHS aide added, ‘I mean when my wife and I woke up and saw the news, she basically said to me, “It’s coming.”’… 

“The search of Bolton’s home and office marked an escalation in the feud between Trump and his former national security adviser, with critics seeing it as a potential act of retribution. Taylor, who previously suggested the president kept a ‘blacklist’ for persecution, said as much… ‘Folks don’t have to play the violin for John Bolton or Miles Taylor. Maybe they don’t like either of us. That’s fine, because it’s not about us… It’s about the criminal justice system that all Americans expect to be able to treat them fairly… It’s a president of the U.S. weaponizing the tools of his office to reshape our society. And he’s doing that. He’s making sure the scales of justice tip in his favor… There’s no telling where this could go next.’ 

“Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he was not told ahead of time about the raid… Vice President J.D. Vance defended the raid…, pushing back on allegations that the raid is related to retribution.” 

In fact, Trump declared that he “didn’t want to know about it” (compare Fortune, dated August 23). 

JD Vance’s Comments Very Suspicious 

Raw Story wrote on August 23: 

“Hours after FBI Director gave the go-ahead to his agents to raid the home and office of John Bolton, Vice President J.D. Vance was well prepared and ready to discuss it with NBC’s Kristin Welker during an extensive interview… Vance stated, ‘We are investigating Ambassador Bolton, but if they ultimately bring a case, it will be because they determine that he has broken the law. We’re going to be careful about that… You should let the law drive these determinations, and that’s what we’re doing.’

“After watching a clip of the Vance interview…, former DHS official Miles Taylor claimed Vance’s comments should set off alarms. ‘This is very, very unusual for the vice president to be this read into a criminal investigation that he should be at arm’s length from… And then… we heard that the CIA director himself might have been the one to provide the evidence to the FBI director.’ 

“‘You know, as more of these details come out, it’s starting to look completely unprecedented that all of these very top senior officials that work under Donald Trump, that know he wants to get revenge against John Bolton, are personally involved in the investigation of John Bolton,’ he added. ‘I mean, the vice president’s attestation that this had nothing to do with revenge was about as believable as what… the administration has said on the Epstein files, because it would be a truly extraordinary coincidence that they’ve decided to focus their investigative powers on a man that Donald Trump has wanted investigated for years.’” 

It does not pass the smell test for sure. And Trump did not know anything about this, while Vance knew all about it? 

Right-Wing Media Skeptical of FBI Raid 

The Independent wrote on August 24: 

“The investigation has sparked criticism from usually reliably supportive right-wing media outlets. On Friday, panelists appearing on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom said they were ‘skeptical’ of the FBI’s decision to execute the raid. 

“Chris Swecker, former assistant FBI director from 2004 to 2006, said that he had consulted with former agency colleagues about the raid. ‘We’re looking at this a little bit skeptically because we were very heavily critical of the Mar-a-Lago raid. Just because you have the authority and discretion to do something like this, doesn’t mean you should,’ he told Fox News… 

“Attorney and Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley alluded to the ‘longstanding disagreement’ between Trump and Bolton. ‘There is a great concern about whether this is retaliation against a political opponent,’ he said… 

“Other conservative media warned that the raid could signal Trump is using the FBI to exact political retribution.  

“The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board said the raid reeks of political vengeance… Trump may hope that the raid leads Bolton to stop criticizing him publicly, the board suggested, adding that ‘the real offender here is a president who seems to think he can use the powers of his office to run vendettas’… the board… [characterized] the recent FBI raid…   a ‘vendetta campaign.’ The newspaper’s editorial board described [it] as ‘hard to see … as anything other than vindictive’… the board asserted that ‘it is increasingly clear that vengeance is a large part, maybe the largest part of how [Trump] will define success in his second term.’… The editorial board also noted the immediate termination of Bolton’s protective security detail upon Trump’s return to the White House, despite threats to his life connected to actions against Iran. ‘This is the kind of gratuitous viciousness that has increasingly defined Mr. Trump’s return to office,’ the board wrote… 

“The WSJ’s editorial board had previously warned about Trump and his allies pursuing political revenge, including in December 2024, weeks before his inauguration. ‘We said this was one of the risks of a second Trump term, and it’s turning out to be worse than we imagined,’ the board wrote.”

The whole matter is also suspicious for the simple reason that a highly publicized blowup occurred between Attorney General Pam Bondi (supported by Trump) and FBI Director Kath Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, in the screwed-up Epstein matter, with Bongino threatening to quit. Is the FBI perhaps trying to regain Trump’s favor? 

Maxwell’s Fairy Tales 

The Independent wrote on August 23: 

“Skepticism abounds following the release of transcripts and recordings of Ghislaine Maxwell’s testimony to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case. Four years after her conviction and sentencing on charges of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and other crimes, how credible is her testimony? 

“Ranking House Oversight Committee Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia was especially damning in the hours after the interview transcripts were released Friday, writing on X: ‘Ghislaine Maxwell is a convicted sex trafficker and known liar. Her interview with Trump’s DOJ lawyer shows she’s desperate for a pardon. She claims no involvement in wrongdoing, which is insulting to the girls and young women she victimized and trafficked. She cannot be trusted.’… 

“Having been convicted of federal crimes, her only likely hope for getting out of prison early is either a pardon or a commutation from the president… In addition to her flattering portrayal of Trump, Maxwell also denied the existence of the infamous Epstein client list…. On Fox News, prime time host Jesse Watters… reminded viewers of the existence of a trove of… potential evidence: ‘The list doesn’t exist? So, flight manifests don’t exist? The surveillance tapes don’t exist? The bank records don’t exist?’ 

“Attorney and legal scholar Jonathan Turley joined Watters to share his thoughts… ‘She clearly also does want something from Trump; she wants a commutation… she is clearly angling for it.’…”

Maxwell also said that the famous picture with Prince Andrew and the underaged girl Virginia Giuffre was a fake, and that even though she does not believe that Epstein killed himself, he was not murdered because of fear that he could produce some discriminatory evidence against famous people, or blackmail them. 

So, now we are also to believe that elephants can fly? 

Virginia Giuffre’s Family Outraged 

NBC News wrote on August 23: 

“The family members of a prominent survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse said they were ‘outraged’ by the Justice Department’s decision to release transcripts from Ghislaine Maxwell’s testimony last month to a federal prosecutor, arguing it provided Maxwell a ‘platform to rewrite history.’ ‘The content of these transcripts is in direct contradiction with felon Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction for child sex trafficking,’ the family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre said in a statement. The family added, ‘This travesty of justice entirely invalidates the experiences of the many brave survivors who put their safety, security, and lives on the line to ensure her conviction, including our sister.’ 

“During the interview last month…, Maxwell said Giuffre’s allegation against Andrew ‘doesn’t hold water,’ and disputed key facts in the case, including an alleged photo of Giuffre with Andrew… Giuffre’s family accused the deputy attorney general of not sufficiently challenging Maxwell’s assertions during her testimony, suggesting that by publicly releasing the interview, the Justice Department provided Maxwell the opportunity to dispute her case in the court of public opinion… 

“Giuffre’s family also condemned the Justice Department’s decision to transfer Maxwell to a minimum-security prison following her meeting with Blanche. ‘By moving convicted felon Maxwell to a minimum-security, country club prison, the DOJ sends a disturbing message that child sex trafficking is acceptable and will be rewarded,’ the family said Saturday in a statement.” 

It was also reported by the Miami Herald, dated August 23, that only 3% of the Jeffrey Epstein files turned over so far to a House committee this week, in response to a congressional subpoena, contained new information, and less than 1% of all the files, estimated to be around 100,000 pages, not in the public domain, have been released to the public. 

The Justice Department’s conduct in this entire matter is more than questionable. Trump’s statements are not helpful either, calling “the whole Epstein thing… a Democratic hoax.” Really? Tell that to the family of Virginia Giuffre and the many hundreds, if not thousands, of underaged victims. 

To Send or Not to Send? 

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 23: 

“Politicians have been arguing about whether Germany might send soldiers [to Ukraine] for a possible peacekeeping force… Many have said Germany could hardly be absent from such a force… in Germany, it seems clear that it will not be easy for Merz to obtain approval for such a force… 51%… were opposed to a German participation in a peace mission in Ukraine. Only 36% said they thought it would be the right thing to do… 

“… politicians from all political parties have been speaking out daily on the idea of deploying troops to Ukraine. Most of them are skeptical or flat-out opposed. Almost all of them point out that any decision on this matter is still a long way off. Politicians from eastern Germany are especially opposed to the plan… AfD leader Alice Weidel warned that Germany could itself become a target and demanded: ‘Germany needs reconciliation with Russia instead of constant confrontation.’ 

“Meanwhile, Wolfgang Ischinger, the long-standing head of the Munich Security Conference, wrote on X: ‘There is not a single indication that President Putin is prepared to end this war at the moment.’ Many observers in Germany agree.” 

The German government’s two coalition parties are hopelessly divided on about EVERY major issue. As Bild Online commented on August 23: 

“The CDU/CSU and SPD are emerging from the summer recess even more divided than when they entered it… There’s hardly a significant issue on which the coalition partners agree… Moreover, a deep mutual distrust has eaten into the coalition… After the three disastrous years of the traffic light coalition, Germany cannot afford another phase of standstill… this autumn will decide the future of the government—and of Germany.” 

Trump Very Angry With Ukraine 

Newsweek wrote on August 22: 

“President Donald Trump has expressed his anger at recent Ukrainian attacks that disabled the Russian oil pipeline Druzhba, which supplies Hungary and Slovakia, both NATO allies… ongoing attacks by both sides have frustrated the self-styled peacemaker Trump as he seeks to bring about an end to a war that has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and destroyed parts of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. 

“Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban shared a handwritten note from his political ally, Trump, in a private Facebook group for his supporters… Hungary has sought to stay out of the Russia-Ukraine war and maintain relations with the Russian government… It opposes Ukraine’s ambition to join the EU. The country has accused Brussels and Kyiv of seeking to drag it into the war. 

“Orban had written to Trump to complain about the attacks on Druzhba and the impact on Hungarian energy. Ukraine said the pipeline also supplies the invading Russian armed forces, which is why it was targeted. ‘Viktor—I do not like hearing this,’ Trump… wrote in the note. ‘I am very angry about it. Tell Slovakia. You are my great friend.’… 

“In the statement to which Trump had replied, Orban noted that Ukrainian strikes on Druzhba had happened days before the ‘historic meeting’ in Alaska between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine has since struck the pipeline again. ‘This pipeline supplies Hungary and Slovakia, two countries that have no other means of importing crude oil,’ Orban had said. ‘Hungary supports Ukraine with electricity and petrol, in return they bomb [a] pipeline that [supplies] us…’” 

Two More Weeks? 

The Sun wrote on August 23: 

“Donald Trump has announced that he will give Vladimir Putin a couple of weeks to set up a peace meeting with rival Volodymyr Zelensky… Trump said that there’s a ‘tremendous amount of hatred’ that he’s trying to navigate through as he fights for a ceasefire… 

“Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, warned on Friday that Putin is laying a trap for the West by demanding to keep hold of Ukrainian land…. Trump has backed the need for ‘swapping of territories’ in peace negotiations – raising fears he could be strolling straight into this trap.” 

The Hill added on August 22: 

“One aspect of the deal that remains a sticking point is security guarantees. A possibility would be that Ukraine joins the European Union instead of joining NATO. On the recommendations of European leaders, Trump called Orban on Monday to attempt to sway his vote in order to let Ukraine join the EU’s 27 member states.  

“Orbán posted on Facebook that Ukraine’s accession to the EU ‘does not provide any security guarantees,’ therefore, ‘linking membership with security guarantees is unnecessary and dangerous.’” 

No Meeting Anytime Soon 

The New York Post wrote on August 24: 

“Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov threw up yet another roadblock Sunday to direct talks between his leader, Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — suggesting that a summit is still far off… Lavrov said Sunday that Russia has an ‘agenda’ in mind that must to be agreed before the two sides can sit down together. ‘There is no meeting planned,’ Lavrov told [NBC].

“The summit to end the war will only happen if it has a ‘presidential agenda’ that pleases Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said — but that agenda is ‘not ready at all.’”

So why wait two more weeks? 

Ceasefire an Easy Fix? 

The Ron Paul Institute wrote on August 25: 

“Clearly no one in the world with a heart would like to see the fighting go on. So at first glance a ceasefire seems like a quick fix… Earlier in Ukraine hostilities both Germany and France achieved Putin’s agreement to a ceasefire while a negotiated peace agreement was underway. The efforts were called the Minsk Accords… 

“Certainly [Friedrich] Merz [Germany’s Chancellor] must know the background of this. He would be remiss not to understand that a ceasefire without a peace agreement might be as unattainable as the end of a rainbow.” 

Russia Threatens to March on Paris 

Express wrote on August 26: 

“Russia has issued a terrifying warning to France as tensions between the two countries threaten to explode. The French President is the latest Western leader to be singled out for rough treatment by Kremlin propagandists and to become ‘public enemy number one’… During an interview with the French TV news network LCI, Emmanuel Macron called Putin ‘a predator and an ogre at our doorstep.’ The remarks seemingly went down like a lead balloon with the sensitive Kremlin tyrant, who unleashed his propaganda hounds on the unfortunate Macron. Vladimir Solovyov has relished his role as the Putin regime’s top attack dog… 

“Once again referencing deep Russian grievances about Nato expansion, the Kremlin stooge said [on his TV show]: ‘Originally, back in December 2021, we stated that NATO moving closer to our borders was unacceptable… And now they’re saying: “We’ll be at your borders, we’ll send Nato troops there. That’s why we’ll be on Champs-Elysées. And Macron will be polishing the boots of a Russian officer.’… The last time Russian soldiers graced Paris with their presence was in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars in the 19th century. Russian forces, along with other Coalition allies, reached and entered the French capital on March 31, 1814.” 

Russian Children Taught to Murder 

The New York Post wrote on August 27: 

“Baby-faced Russian children as young as 8 have been taught how to throw hand grenades and carry rifles at a bizarre summer camp designed to train up the next generation of Putin’s military. The twisted exercises, supervised by soldiers who have fought in Russia’s war in Ukraine, saw young children given real rifles or convincing replicas at a camp in the Rostov region, close to the Ukrainian border…

“Some 83 children — ages 8-17 — took part in last week’s activities, including a ‘route march’ along the River Don involving running and crawling on their bellies across sand and shallow water while holding weapons. The camp is part of President Putin’s attempts to indoctrinate even young children to be prepared for eventual military service.”

This world is indeed ruled by demons. 

Putin’s Spirits 

Express wrote on August 20: 

“Vladimir Putin allegedly consulted Mongolian shamans regarding the potential deployment of nuclear weapons, according to Russian sources. The Russian leader has long been recognised for his ‘special attitude to mysticism’ throughout the years, with speculation emerging in 2018 that he bathed in Siberian red deer blood to enhance his vitality. Nevertheless, during his trip to Mongolia in early September this year, it’s alleged that Putin advanced his mystical convictions even further, reports the Daily Star… Mikhail Zygar, founder of the prohibited opposition channel TV Dozhd, indicated that Putin possesses a strong fascination with ‘pagan traditions.’ 

“In a piece for the German news website Der Spiegel, Zygar penned: ‘Mongolia and Tuva are considered the home of the most powerful shamans in the world. Vladimir Putin has long been known for his special attitude towards mysticism. And he apparently combines his interest in Orthodox mysticism with pagan traditions.’ 

“Mongolia maintains membership of the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant for Putin last year following his deportation of Ukrainian children. Despite the warrant, Mongolian authorities failed to apprehend Putin during his visit, citing their substantial dependence on Russia as justification for their inaction. 

“Zygar proposed that Putin was prepared to risk detention to seek counsel from the spirits. The Kremlin has rejected recent claims put forward by an opposition figure, declaring: ‘The mentioned circumstances related to the Russian President’s visit to Mongolia in September 2024 have no connection to reality.’ This marks not Putin’s initial venture into mysticism – he allegedly consulted spiritual advisers before his 2012 invasion of Ukraine.   

“According to a report last year, Russian state media asserted that the nation’s ‘supreme shaman’ Kara-ool Dopchun-ool had called upon ‘the sun, the moon and the stars’ to safeguard Kremlin forces in Ukraine, all at Putin’s request.” 

This would explain Putin’s insane and demonic conduct towards Ukraine.

Deportation of Garcia Paused 

The New York Post wrote on August 25: 

“A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s effort to deport alleged MS-13 gangbanger Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda. US District Judge Paula Xinis, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, paused the deportation plan until the Trump administration allows Abrego Garcia the opportunity to contest his removal… 

“‘Today, ICE law enforcement arrested Kilmar Abrego Garcia and are processing him for deportation,’ Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. ‘President Trump is not going to allow this illegal alien, who is an MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator to terrorize American citizens any longer.’” 

By way of background, Garcia (29), a Salvadorian citizen and Maryland resident, is married to an American citizen. They have 3 children together, who are all American citizens. He entered the USA illegally in 2011. In 2019, an immigration judge granted him withholding of removal status due to the danger he would face from gang violence if he returned to El Salvador. This status allowed him to live and work legally in the US. He was illegally transported to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The United States Supreme Court found that he needed to be returned to the USA.

He was returned, but was charged immediately with human smuggling following a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee for speeding. He had nine passengers in the car and officers allegedly discussed their suspicions of smuggling before allowing him to go with just a warning. He was detained by ICE this week when he showed up in immigration court for an scheduled interview. No charges were ever filed against him for being a child predator or a MS-13 gang member. The allegation that he lives illegally in the USA is at least questionable. So is the allegation that he is a “serial domestic abuser.” His wife filed for protective orders against him in 2020 and 2021, though she has since made conflicting public statements regarding the allegations. He was never convicted of any crime.

Politifact wrote on August 25, in fact-checking the U.S. government’s allegations: “Some of these statements are exaggerated, and others are based on information from dubious informants.” 

EU Postal Services Suspends Shipment of Packages to the USA 

Breitbart wrote on August 23: 

“Multiple postal services around Europe announced Saturday that they are suspending the shipment of many packages to the United States amid a lack of clarity over new import duties. Postal services in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Italy said they will stop shipping most merchandise to the U.S. effective immediately. France and Austria will follow Monday, and the United Kingdom Tuesday. 

“Under a decree signed by President Donald Trump last month, international goods that were previously exempt from U.S. tariffs – those valued under $800 – will be subject to import duties from Aug. 29. Letters, books, gifts and small parcels worth less than $100 will continue to be exempt.

“A trade framework agreed by the U.S. and the European Union last month set a 15% tariff on the vast majority of products shipped from the EU. Many European postal services say they are pausing deliveries now because they cannot guarantee the goods will enter the U.S. before Aug. 29. They cite ambiguity about what kind of goods are covered by the new rules, and the lack of time to process their implications.

“Starting Saturday, Deutsche Post and DHL Parcel Germany said they ‘will no longer be able to accept and transport parcels and postal items containing goods from business customers destined for the US.’ Postnord, the Nordic logistics company, and Italy’s postal service announced similar suspensions effective Saturday… In the Netherlands, PostNL spokesperson Wout Witteveen said the Trump administration is pressing ahead with the new duties despite U.S. authorities lacking a system to collect them… 

“Austrian Post, Austria’s leading logistics and postal service provider, stated that the last acceptance of commercial shipments to the U.S., including Puerto Rico, will take place Tuesday. France’s national postal service, La Poste, said the U.S. did not provide full details or allow enough time for the French postal service to prepare for new customs procedures… The UK’s Royal Mail said it would halt U.S. shipments on Tuesday ‘to allow time for those packages to arrive before duties kick in.’ Items originating in the U.K. will require a 10% duty for items over $100, it said. PostEurop, an association of 51 European public postal operators, said that if no solution can be found by Aug. 29 all its members will likely follow suit.”

Money Watch added on August 23:

“India’s government also said the country will temporarily suspend postal deliveries to the United States starting Monday, except letters, documents and gift items of up to $100 in value… India’s communications ministry said in a statement that the executive order issued last month requires transport carriers or other ‘qualified parties’ approved by US authorities to collect and remit the tariff duties, but ‘several critical processes relating to the designation of “qualified parties” and mechanisms for duty collection and remittance remain undefined.’”

This is the kind of damage and uproar Trump’s ridiculous tariff policy creates. 

US-India Relationship Sours 

Express wrote on August 26: 

“Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected four phone calls from US President Donald Trump as the countries’ relations sour, a German newspaper reported. The report in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (F.A.Z.) claimed that Modi remained frustrated and cautious about engaging in dialogue due to mounting pressure over tariffs. The US threatened India with a 25% tariff on exports to the US due to its purchases of Russian oil, on top of a 25% tariff due to a trade imbalance, meaning the country is facing a steep 50% duty in total on major industries like textiles, gems and jewellery, auto parts, and seafood. 

“Modi is reportedly maintaining his stance on continuing to buy Russian oil, which has been claimed to be financing ‘Putin’s war machine’, and resisting Trump’s pressure to open India’s markets to US agribusiness. The new rate [came into effect on] August 27, according to the executive order. A response from India’s foreign ministry on Wednesday August 6 said Delhi had already made clear its stance on imports from Russia, and deemed the tariff ‘unfair, unjustified and unreasonable’. 

“Analyst Mark Frazier said the American concept of an Indo-Pacific alignment—in which India plays a central role in containing China—’is falling apart’, according to the F.A.Z. report.” 

Of course it does. India will become part of the prophesied kings of the East under Russian-Chinese leadership. 

Coming… A Universal Vaccine? 

npr wrote on August 5: 

“The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced in a statement Tuesday that 22 projects, totaling $500 million, to develop vaccines using mRNA technology will be halted. 

“Kennedy’s decision to terminate the projects is the latest in a string of decisions that have put the longtime vaccine critic’s doubts about shots into full effect at the nation’s health department. Kennedy has pulled back recommendations around the COVID-19 shots, fired the panel that makes vaccine recommendations, and refused to offer a vigorous endorsement of vaccinations as a measles outbreak worsened. 

“The health secretary criticized mRNA vaccines in a video on his social media accounts, explaining the decision to cancel projects being led by the nation’s leading pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, that offer protection against viruses like the flu, COVID-19 and H5N1. ‘To replace the troubled mRNA programs, we’re prioritizing the development of safer, broader vaccine strategies, like whole-virus vaccines and novel platforms that don’t collapse when viruses mutate,’ Kennedy said in the video… Kennedy said work is underway on an alternative.

He said a ‘universal vaccine’ that mimics ‘natural immunity’ is the administration’s focus. ‘It could be effective — we believe it’s going to be effective — against not only coronaviruses, but also flu,’ he said.” 

So, replacing certain vaccines with another “universal vaccine” is the solution? 

“Army Base Used for WWII Japanese Internment Will Be Nation’s Largest ICE Detention Center” 

USA Today wrote on August 24: 

“Americans of Japanese heritage say they hear echoes of their families’ forced internment in the Trump administration’s newest immigrant detention site… erecting the nation’s largest immigrant detention site on Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

“Eighty years ago,  Fort Bliss housed dozens of [American] people [of Japanese heritage] labeled ‘alien enemies’ by the government in a detention camp that included two compounds surrounded by double barbed wire fences… Smaller numbers of immigrants from Germany and Italy were also sent there after the United States joined European Allies and declared war against those countries. At least 113 first-generation Japanese Americans were shipped to the base before being sent to other holding areas across the country… 

“The people detained at Bliss… [were] the first in the eventual internment of over 125,000 Japanese Americans across the country, most of them U.S. citizens. For the vast majority, there were no accounts of wrongdoing other than being seen as ‘enemy aliens’ …. After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, the American government viewed Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans as potential traitors… President Franklin Delano Roosevelt immediately invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to detain people and confiscate their property.” 

Terrible. And it’s all repeating itself. 

Coming… Mass Deportations in the UK? 

Newsmax wrote on August 23: 

“Former Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage set out plans on Saturday for ‘mass deportations’ of migrants who have crossed the English Channel on small boats if his Reform UK party forms Britain’s next government… Farage said he would withdraw Britain from the European Convention on Human Rights and sign deals with Afghanistan, Eritrea, and other top countries of origin to repatriate illegal migrants… 

“Asked if he was concerned that asylum seekers would be killed or tortured if they were sent to countries with poor human rights records, Farage said he was more worried about the threat he believed asylum seekers posed to Britons. ‘I can’t be responsible for despotic regimes all over the world. But I can be responsible for the safety of women and girls on our streets,’ he said… 

“Broader opinion polls show that immigration and asylum are the public’s greatest concern, just ahead of the economy… 

“Last year 37,000 people — mostly from Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Vietnam, and Eritrea — arrived in Britain from France by crossing the English Channel in small boats. The total was up by a quarter from 2023 and accounted for 9% of net migration. About two-thirds of people who arrive via small boats and claim asylum are successful and only 3% have been deported… 

“Farage told The Times he would end the right to claim asylum or to challenge deportation for those who arrived by small boats by replacing existing human rights legislation and opting Britain out of refugee treaties, citing a national emergency… The Times said Farage wanted to create holding facilities for 24,000 migrants on air bases at a cost of $3.4 billion and operate five deportation flights a day with total deportations reaching the hundreds of thousands. If that failed, asylum seekers could be held on Ascension Island, a British territory in the South Atlantic, to send a symbolic message, Farage said.” 

Politico added on August 23: 

“… the far-right politician, whose party currently leads consistently in the polls, said migrants coming to Britain by small boats should be arrested on arrival, detained in Royal Air Force bases, denied the right to asylum, and deported within 30 days…” 

Sky News added on August 23: 

“Only last autumn the Reform leader repeatedly shied away from the concept of ‘mass deportations’, describing the idea as ‘a political impossibility.’ But now he’s embraced Trump-style immigration rhetoric. 

“It’s not surprising that Reform want to capitalise on the outpouring of public anger over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers. The policy was started by the previous Conservative government, in response to housing shortages – and Labour has failed to make significant progress on its promise to stop it. But all the major parties have shifted firmly to the right on this issue. 

“There’s been very little political criticism of the aggressiveness of Farage’s policy suggestions, and the premise that the UK should no longer offer sanctuary to anyone who arrives here illegally…. current efforts to end the use of asylum hotels by 2029 are clearly not working. That’s a credibility gap Farage is more than ready to exploit.” 

Adopting Trump’s controversial approach to immigration is most certainly not an act to follow. 

UK Economy Heading for Collapse 

Express wrote on August 25: 

“They’re under the misapprehension that they can keep raising taxes without consequences – and have another £50 billion in store for us in autumn. Everyone else in the country knows the reality that if you push taxes too high some businesses go bust, others go abroad, and some move to the black market where they operate a cash-in-hand system to bypass handing over their hard-earned money to the Treasury… 

“It is so apparent those in government have never run anything commercially… What a bunch of clueless [politicians] we have in charge – they are not so much running the country as running the country into the ground…” 

Mystery of Bermuda Triangle Solved? 

Daily Mail wrote on August 25: 

“Dr Simon Boxall, an oceanographer from the University of Southampton,… says that the Bermuda Triangle’s record of disappearances is due to ‘rogue waves’… Towering up to 100 feet (30 metres) in the air, rogue waves are abnormally steep and can hit unexpectedly from directions other than the prevailing wind. According to Dr Boxall, a large ship trapped by one of these killer swells could ‘sink in a matter of two or three minutes’… 

“Theories surrounding the deadly pull of the Bermuda Triangle have spread widely ever since the disappearance of the USS Cyclops in 1918… Despite an extensive search, no trace of the 542-foot (165-metre) vessel or its 306 crew members has ever been found…” 

From all the “explanations,” this one seems to be one of the least convincing. It does not even address the disappearance of airplanes. At least 50 ships disappeared, as well as at least 20 airplanes, which never left any trace of a wreckage or survivors. But “scientists” who deny the existence of the “supernatural,” do not even consider that Satan and his demons might be behind many of these occurrences. However, the Church of God has been considering this possibility for over 60 years. 

No Two-State Solution 

Israel 365 News wrote on August 22: 

“US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has firmly stated that establishing a Palestinian state is not a priority for the Trump administration, suggesting that Israel’s Arab neighbors could instead provide territory for such a state… effectively ruling out the establishment of such a state in the occupied West Bank… Huckabee went further, suggesting that no Palestinian state is likely ‘in our lifetime’, marking a significant departure from decades of US policy supporting a two-state solution… 

“‘One of the reasons we’re seeing the more aggressive decision [by Israel] to move into some of these areas is because it’s in reaction to what the Europeans have done — in concert with the Palestinian Authority — pushing for a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state,’ Huckabee said. He added that these actions have had ‘a totally disastrous effect’ on stability in Judea and Samaria and on efforts to resolve the situation in Gaza…. ‘Pushing for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state without the cooperation and participation of Israel is a violation of Oslo,’ Huckabee said… 

“Huckabee has long been a vocal supporter of Israeli settlement expansion in what he refers to as Judea and Samaria, the biblical names for the West Bank. The former Arkansas governor has previously argued that ‘there’s really no such thing as a Palestinian’ and has stated there is ‘no such place as the West Bank’… 

“The push for Palestinian recognition has gained momentum globally, particularly following Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The State of Palestine is recognised by 146 countries around the world… In the spring of 2024, more European and Caribbean nations recognized a Palestinian state, including Barbados, Ireland, Jamaica, Norway and Spain, while Slovenia also joined this group. Looking ahead, France, Malta, and Australia have announced plans to recognize Palestine as a state in September 2025 at the 2025 United Nations General Assembly, with Canada and the United Kingdom stating they will as well subject to certain conditions. In 2014, Sweden became the first country in Western Europe to recognise Palestine, setting a precedent that others have followed…”

Australia Expels Iran’s Ambassador Over Antisemitism 

JTA wrote on August 26: 

“Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador on Tuesday, accusing Tehran of orchestrating antisemitic arson attacks on Jewish institutions, as police in Melbourne announced a series of arrests tied to synagogue fires and vandalism that have rattled the country’s Jewish community. 

“Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Iranian-directed attacks were ‘extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression’ designed to destabilize Australia. The government will also designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization and suspend operations at its embassy in Tehran. It has already moved Australian diplomats to a third country… 

“The Australian response appears to be the most extensive. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the expulsion of Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and three other Iranian officials was the first time Australia has taken such a step since World War II.” 

Increasing Antisemitism in France 

ntv wrote on August 25: 

“France has summoned US Ambassador Charles Kushner for today following a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron regarding antisemitic incidents. In the letter, Kushner expressed his ‘concern about the increase in antisemitic acts in France and pointed to an alleged failure of the French authorities to combat these acts,’ the French Foreign Ministry said. ‘The allegations are unacceptable,’ it added. It regrets the increase in antisemitic incidents in France since October 7, 2023, which are a reality. The French authorities will take all necessary measures to combat them, the ministry said… 

“The US ambassador to France has joined Israel’s criticism and accused French President Emmanuel Macron of ‘inadequate’ efforts to combat anti-Semitism. In a letter to Macron, he expressed his ‘deep concern about the dramatic rise in anti-Semitism in France and your government’s inadequate response to it.’ In France, not a day goes by ‘without Jews being attacked in the streets, synagogues or schools vandalized, or Jewish businesses vandalized,’ Kushner wrote. 

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the French president last week of promoting anti-Semitism with the planned recognition of a Palestinian state. Nearly 500,000 Jews live in France, making it the largest Jewish community in Europe. Since the major attack by the radical Islamist Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the resulting war in Gaza Strip, the number of anti-Semitic acts in France and other countries has risen sharply.” 

Major Step Towards Compulsory Military Service 

The Washington Post wrote on August 27: 

“Germany took a major step Wednesday toward a controversial return to compulsory military service… On Wednesday… Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet approved a plan that would reinstate a form of conscription, which has not existed in Germany since being suspended in 2011. 

“The measure — subject to parliamentary approval this fall — would not subject Germans to draft cards and lotteries. Instead, starting next year, it would require 18-year-old German men to fill out a questionnaire about their physical fitness and willingness to serve. For women, the form would be voluntary. The bill also allows compulsory military service to be reinstated in the future, with parliamentary consent. Beginning in 2027, the bill would require all 18-year-old men to undergo a physical fitness exam. These measures would save time ‘if mandatory conscription for basic military service has to be activated, because conscription data will then already be available and will not have to be collected in this situation,’ according to the draft legislation… 

“‘The Bundeswehr must grow,’ Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said… ‘The international security situation, especially Russia’s aggressive behavior, demands this.’ If compulsory conscription is reinstated, conscientious objectors would be able to avoid the military, as was permitted previously, by performing civil service such as hospital work or disaster relief, the bill states… 

“‘There will be no way around conscription,’ Markus Söder, minister-president of the state of Bavaria and head of the Christian Social Union, the Bavarian sister party to Merz’s CDU, said on German TV ahead of the cabinet vote. Merz said Wednesday that the goal was to ‘make military service more attractive and bring in more young people to serve in the Bundeswehr.’ But, he added, ‘if we determine that we need to make adjustments, we will do so.’ Even Pistorius, a Social Democrat, conceded that voluntary measures might fall short. ‘There is no guarantee that voluntary participation will be sufficient.’”

Of International Interest? 

Nius wrote on August 25: 

“AfD politician Joachim Paul addressed high-ranking US politicians (Marco Rubio and JD Vance) and entrepreneur Elon Musk in a video on the X platform. In the English-language message, he reports having been excluded from the upcoming mayoral election in Ludwigshafen. Paul calls it a ‘case of international interest’ and asks for support… 

“‘The pretext is that I met with the wrong people, I spoke to the wrong people. The real reason is: They want to stay in power at all costs, and they don’t want to change the migration policy – ​​which has led to a major crisis in Germany and especially in Ludwigshafen.’ 

“Elon Musk already commented on the video: ‘Excluded from the election without having committed any crime?'” 

No Longer a Democracy? 

Focus wrote on August 25: 

“Germany calls itself a democracy, but the reality is sobering: Parties have hijacked the political system… At the same time, citizens’ trust is plummeting. According to studies by the Allensbach Institute and the Research Group on Elections, trust in parties is at historic lows. More and more people are turning away or seeking salvation in protest votes. This is no coincidence. It is the direct result of a politics that has lost touch with the people… 

“Parties control every access to power…. In the Bundestag, voting is based on party discipline, not individual conviction… We must not fool ourselves: Hardly anyone will develop the perfect solution from within… It is naive to believe that change comes from within. Anyone who reaches the executive board or even the top of a party is living proof that the system works for them. Why should someone change a system that made them great? That is the paradox: We expect reform from party leadership that costs them power… Germany doesn’t need a steward of the old, but an Innovator of the future…” 

Grenell: “Germans Sick and Tired of Weak Woke Response.” 

Brussels Signal wrote on August 25: 

“Richard Grenell, the US Presidential Envoy for Special Missions, has criticised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over Germany’s lax response to a rise in immigrant crime. In a post on X on August 24, Grenell – who served as the US ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020 during Donald Trump’s first presidency – wrote: ‘Friedrich Merz must understand that the German people are sick and tired of this weak and woke response.’ 

“Grenell’s remarks came as a reaction to the stabbing of a US student on a German tram that was allegedly committed by a Syrian asylum seeker. The US student himself had posted a video from hospital shortly after the attack that showed him with a bandaged face. ‘If [allegedly criminal asylum seekers] can do this to the people of Germany and then just get released 12 hours later, where’s the law?’ he said. 

“The 21-year-old student said he had witnessed two men accosting a group of young women on a tram in Dresden (Saxony) late on the night of August 23. According to German police the US citizen intervened to help the harassed women. In reaction the two then allegedly started hitting him. A short while later one of them pulled out a knife and allegedly stabbed him in the face several times. The student was seriously… injured and rushed to the hospital with several slash wounds to his face. Photos in German newspapers showed the blood-spattered interior of the tram. 

“The alleged attackers fled but one was later apprehended. According to German newspaper Bild on August 24, he… reportedly has a police record including alleged bodily harm, robbery and illegal immigration to Germany. The suspect was taken into custody but released a couple of hours later by decision of the public prosecutor’s office. Public prosecutor Jürgen Schmidt told Bild: ‘According to the assessment of the duty prosecutor, there were insufficient grounds for detention. He cannot be held responsible for the knife attack.’… Germany only allows pretrial detention as a rare exception. Reportedly, the prosecutors saw no chance of obtaining an arrest warrant from the investigating judge in this case as there was no risk of Majd A fleeing, concealing evidence or reoffending as he has a permanent place of residence…” 

Due to national and international pressure, the Dresden prosecutors seem to have awakened from their sleep. Note the next article. 

Deutsche Welle added on August 26: 

“Dresden police and prosecutors said on Tuesday that they had arrested a 21-year-old Syrian… and was put in investigative custody on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, among other offenses. 

“The man in question had already been detained once before and was released soon after the incident… Police said… that after further investigation there was now reasonable grounds to suspect that he was ‘involved in the knife attack against the 20-year-old American and also himself injured the victim with a dangerous object.’ Tuesday’s statement made no direct mention of the second suspect [who is still at large]. 

 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.

“Boris Johnson: Trump-Putin Summit ‘Most Vomit-Inducing’ Ever” 

Upday.com wrote on August 16: 

“Boris Johnson delivered a scathing assessment of Donald Trump’s Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin, calling it ‘the most vomit-inducing episode in all the tawdry history of international diplomacy.’ The former Prime Minister condemned the red carpet treatment given to the Russian leader during their three-hour meeting… on August 15. 

“Writing in his Daily Mail column, Johnson described his visceral reaction to watching Putin welcomed on American soil. ‘It was emetic to see him applauded on the red carpet,’ he wrote, particularly criticising Putin being invited to ride in Trump’s presidential limousine – a privilege rarely extended to world leaders facing war crimes accusations. 

“The former Prime Minister compared Putin directly to Hitler, arguing the Russian leader’s ‘continual lies, dissimulation and aggression’ mirror the Nazi dictator. Johnson expressed outrage at hearing Trump refer to Putin as ‘the boss’ and describe their ‘fantastic relationship’ while Ukrainian civilians face daily bombardment… 

“The former Prime Minister assessed that Putin fundamentally wants to control Ukraine and make it a vassal state of Moscow… The former Prime Minister challenged European allies to match American leadership on sanctions. ‘This is our continent. We continually demand leadership from America – and yet when we get that leadership we don’t even have the guts to follow suit,’ Johnson wrote.” 

Trump Embarrassed by Fox News 

Express wrote on August 16: 

“US President Donald Trump was embarrassed on Fox News after failing to make a deal with Vladimir Putin… Fox News’ Jacqui Henrich, a senior White House correspondent, called out the President in a live video link to the studio, in a move that is extremely rare for the news channel… 

“She said: ‘It was very unusual, atypical… the way it felt in the room was not good, it did not seem like things went well and it seemed Putin came in and steamrolled, got right into what he wanted to say and said what he wanted to say to the President and then left.’” 

Putin Got Everything… Trump Got Nothing! 

The Independent wrote on August 16: 

“Vladimir Putin wanted to stave off the threat of US sanctions, he wanted to gain more time to prosecute his war against Ukraine, he wanted to end his and Russia’s diplomatic isolation, he wanted to peel the US off from the rest of Europe, he wanted to keep Zelensky as far away from this as far as possible and he wanted to flatter his host, Donald Trump… [Putin] flew back to Moscow having achieved everything he wanted. There are no new sanctions. Donald Trump literally rolled out the red carpet for him and applauded Putin before shaking his hand warmly. The meeting took place on US soil, with all European leaders thousands of miles away…. 

“Steve Witkoff, [Trump’s] special envoy (and a man with zero diplomatic experience), who laid the ground for this summit, has been turning up in Moscow with only his girlfriend for company. At the Kremlin meetings, he has set completely alone opposite the combined might of Putin, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and key adviser Yuri Ushakov. Witkoff had no note takers, no advisers, and was 100 per cent reliant on a Kremlin translator… 

“Should Ukraine be concerned? Should Europe be concerned about the way this summit has come about and the way it’s unfolded? They’d be stark raving mad not to be.” 

Change of Plans? 

Newsmax wrote on August 17: 

“President Donald Trump has reportedly privately indicated to European leaders he is open to offering U.S. security guarantees to Ukraine — a significant shift in his stance toward America’s role in ending the war. The change in position came after Trump’s high-profile summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where Trump sought to push Moscow toward a ceasefire, but according to Trump’s own account, Putin told him he would not stop fighting and demanded that Kyiv cede parts of eastern Ukraine in exchange for freezing the front line elsewhere…

“Despite Trump’s vow to secure a ceasefire at the risk of ‘severe consequences’ to Putin and Russia, the Alaska summit produced no ceasefire agreement and Trump has pivoted toward what he described as a ‘direct path to a peace agreement,’ aligning with Putin’s preference to negotiate final terms rather than interim pauses in fighting.” 

Complete Disappointment 

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 17: 

“A red carpet for Vladimir Putin and no results for Ukraine. The Alaska summit, which many had pinned high hopes on, turned out to be a complete disappointment from the perspective of many Ukrainians….  Oleksandr Kraiev of the Ukrainian Prism think tank told DW: ‘…The war criminal Putin came to the US and shook hands with the leader of the free world.’  According to Kraiev, apart from ‘Trump’s deference toward Putin, there were no final answers to the most important questions.’ He believes that Putin dealt with Trump ‘with surgical precision’ and told him everything Trump wanted to hear. This way, Putin got everything he wanted out of the summit.   

“According to Ivan Us from Ukraine’s Center for Foreign Policy of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, the Russian president never wanted the summit to lead to an end to the war. Instead, Putin’s goal was to legitimize himself and end his international isolation… Judging by discussions among ordinary Ukrainians, what angers them most is the red carpet that was rolled out for Putin at the US military base in Anchorage. Countless angry comments on social media leave little doubt over how this was perceived in Ukraine.” 

The reaction of the German and European press has been devastating. Headlines read like, “The nightmare of the Europeans has become true.” Hypocritical and quite silly comments by European politicians thanking Trump and saying he brought the world closer to peace only contribute to the anger of the German and European people. 

Zelensky Set Up to Fail? 

Express wrote on August 17:

“Donald Trump knows there is zero chance of a workable peace deal…, former defence committee chairman Tobias Ellwood has warned. And the Ukrainian President is being ‘set up to fail’ by his US counterpart, who was himself ‘manipulated’ by Vladimir Putin during their high-profile summit on Friday, the ex-British Army officer claimed. 

“Mr Ellwood said: ‘I see Trump deliberately setting this up to fail so he can then walk away and say, “I tried, they didn’t want to play ball.”’ The former MP… painted a picture of a summit dominated by strategic manoeuvring rather than concrete support for Ukraine.” 

No Security Guarantees? 

Fox News wrote on August 18: 

“The Russian Foreign Ministry roundly rejected the idea of NATO forces serving as peacekeepers in Ukraine, a provision sought by Ukrainian President Voldodymyr Zelensky and his European allies in U.S.-brokered peace talks. 

“‘We confirm the position that has been voiced more than once about our categorical rejection of any scenarios involving the appearance of Ukraine military contingent with the participation of NATO countries (which is fraught with an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict with unpredictable consequences),’ a foreign ministry statement reported by Russian state media outlet Ria read. President Donald Trump already suggested a European-led peacekeeping force to ensure Russia does not invade Ukraine again would be a part of peace talks. Asked if U.S. would contribute forces, Trump said: ‘[Europe is] first line of defense, because they’re there, they’re Europe, but we’re going to help them out also, we’ll be involved…’” 

There are discussions on the Ukrainian, American and European side to guarantee protection “similar to” the one afforded in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty (which would require NATO membership). Newsmax said on August 18 that “President Donald Trump told Ukraine to give up hopes of getting back annexed Crimea or joining NATO.”  

But even Article 5 is no absolute guarantee of protection for NATO members. It states: 

“The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them . . . shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking . . . such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.” 

Brennan Center for Justice wrote on March 4, 2022:

“This language is relatively flexible. It permits each NATO member to decide for itself what action should be taken to address an armed attack on a NATO ally. It does not require any member to respond with military force, although it permits such responses as a matter of international law. A member may decide that instead of responding with force, it will send military equipment to NATO allies or impose sanctions on the aggressor.”

It may also conclude that no actions are necessary at all. 

No American Boots on the Ground 

Newsmax wrote on August 19: 

“President Donald Trump said American soldiers will not be on the ground, as long as he is president, despite pledging participation in Article 5-type security guarantees in a potential Russia-Ukraine peace deal… The ‘coalition of the willing’ – a subset of major NATO countries including France, Germany, and the U.K. – is ready to commit their troops in Ukraine to defend against Russian aggression…” 

Tentatively, a meeting is planned soon [within the next two weeks?] between Zelensky and Putin, suggested by Putin to be held in Moscow, with Trump as mediator. Reportedly, Zelensky rejected the location. According to other reports, Budapest (Hungary) could be chosen as the place for negotiations, or Geneva (Switzerland), which has promised Putin immunity if he travels to the city for peace talks.   

Who Would Send Troops?

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 21:

“‘Germany’s contribution to security guarantees has not yet been determined and this issue will be decided at the political and military levels,’ German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday. He added that there were still too many uncertainties…

“Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and the Baltic states have also signaled their willingness to participate in a possible peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

However other European states are more cautious. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk rejects the deployment of Polish soldiers… Hungary and Slovakia are also opposed to the deployment of European troops…

“Austria and Italy are also cautious. Italian Prime minister Giorgia Meloni is particularly skeptical… [and] has so far avoided making any clear commitments….

“In any case, nothing will happen without a prior agreement with Russia. But Moscow has so far categorically rejected the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine and there is little indication that would change.”

How the Phone Call Came About… 

Focus wrote on August 19: 

“Chancellor Friedrich Merz apparently played a decisive role in Donald Trump interrupting the Ukraine summit on Monday evening to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone. As ‘Bild‘ reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly told the group about a child who had been abducted to Russia. The child’s parents knew where the child was but had no way of contacting him or bringing him back home. 

“In total, Russia is said to have abducted 19,500 children. Many of them were given up for adoption. Zelensky is also said to have given Trump a letter from his wife, Olena, to Melania Trump, in which she thanked the US President’s wife. A few days earlier, [Melania] had asked Putin in a letter to ‘protect the innocence of children.’ 

“According to the ‘Bild‘ report, Zelensky’s story is said to have deeply affected Trump. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is said to have advised the US President to call Putin immediately and confront him about it. Trump then left the room and, contrary to his plan, spoke to the Kremlin chief on the phone before the end of the summit.” 

Newsmax added on August 19: 

“Trump left the European leaders seated in the Oval Office when he went to another room to privately call Putin at 1 a.m. local time in Russia… [Reportedly, the call lasted 40 minutes.] ‘I didn’t do that in front of them, that would be disrespectful to President Putin,’ Trump said. ‘President Putin wouldn’t talk to the people from Europe – that is part of the problem.’…” 

Merz Challenges Trump 

DPA wrote on August 18: 

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday took a hard stance on the need for a ceasefire in Ukraine before a peace deal with Russia can be signed, as European leaders convened in Washington with US President Donald Trump. In a public statement in the White House, alongside Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, Italian Prime Minister Giogia Meloni, Britain’s Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron [as well as Finnish President Alexander Stubb and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte], Merz said that ‘the path is open’ for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. However, he warned that a trilateral meeting between Trump, Putin and Zelensky should not take place without a ceasefire in force. 

“‘I can’t imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire,’ Merz said. ‘Let’s try to put pressure on Russia because the credibility of these efforts we are undertaking today are depending on at least a ceasefire from the beginning of the serious negotiations.’ 

“The meeting came days after Trump hosted Putin in Alaska, after which he dropped his long-held calls for an immediate ceasefire in the war.” 

Fox News added on August 18: 

“Trump was asked about the prospect of a pre-deal ceasefire earlier Monday.  ‘I don’t think you’d need a ceasefire. If you look at the six deals that I settled this year, they were all at war – I didn’t do any ceasefires…’”

Trump’s Claims He Ended Six Wars 

The New York Post wrote on August 18: 

“President Trump repeated his frequent claim Monday that he’s ended six wars during his term in office. The White House has claimed that Trump resolved conflicts between the following countries:

“lsrael and Iran less than two months ago, during which the US bombed three of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear sites; Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda; Cambodia and Thailand; India and Pakistan; Serbia and Kosovo; Egypt and Ethiopia. 

“The extent to which Trump played a role in resolving these disputes is debatable. Furthermore, some of the conflicts ended with fragile accords. The peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda, for example, concluded with the involvement of a key Rwanda-backed rebel group. The conflicts between Israel and Iran, as well as India and Pakistan, are frozen rather than resolved.” 

The following article gives more insight. 

Politico wrote on August 18: 

“The list of wars Trump professes to have ended starts with the clash between India and Pakistan last May… India, however, vociferously denies any U.S. involvement in bringing the fighting to a close… Actual peace would mean settling the competing claims over Kashmir, which have resulted in violent clashes and wars between the two nations for decades… And while the active fighting may have ended for now, the underlying conflict very much continues to mark relations between the two countries. 

“Next on Trump’s list of peace deals is the clash between Israel and Iran… Trump’s decision to target core parts of Iran’s nuclear program did clearly play an important role in ending Israel’s bombing strikes and Iran’s counterstrikes. But that’s a far cry from achieving lasting peace. Instead, Iran will now likely intensify its effort to build a nuclear weapon, and Israel has made clear it reserves the right to strike at any time if Iran were to rebuild its nuclear or missile program and air defenses. 

“Not long after, in late June, came a comparatively more substantial deal to end the fighting between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Brokered by the U.S. and signed in the Oval Office, the agreement requires Rwanda to withdraw its troops from the DRC within 90 days… But while this deal is, indeed, a real step toward ending the conflict, it’s important to remember that the key lies in its implementation. And on that front, news is much more mixed, as fighting between the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group and the DRC continues unabated — in part because M23 didn’t sign on to the deal. 

“The following month then saw Trump have a hand in securing a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, after violent border clashes had erupted in late July. Facing pressure from China, Malaysia and the promise of trade deals with the U.S., the two countries eventually agreed to stop shooting and halt dispatching more troops to the region. Yet again, the underlying conflict that resulted in these armed clashes remains unresolved. Cambodia and Thailand have been fighting over the demarcation of their border, including for the crucial location of centuries-old Hindu temples along their 800-kilometer frontier, for decades now… 

“Finally, earlier this month, the U.S. president presided over the conclusion of a major agreement ending the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Following major clashes over Nagorno-Karabakh — an enclave in Azerbaijan that Armenia had seized in 1992 and Baku regained in 2023 — much of the leg work on this agreement had been completed before Trump took office. But two sticking points remained: A demand from Azerbaijan that Armenia erase any claim to Nagorno-Karabakh from its constitution — which will require a referendum — and a transportation link between two parts of Azerbaijan that runs through Armenian territory. Under Trump, the U.S.-brokered talks did lead to an agreement, including a U.S.-leased roadway connecting the two areas of Azerbaijan — a substantial deal and a real accomplishment. But, again, implementation will be key. 

“Nonetheless, Trump’s boast of ending six wars in six months is a lot less than meets the eye. The fact is, even if he had been completely successful in ending these wars, his record would still be overshadowed by his failure to end the two wars he actually vowed to solve— the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Far from ending them in 24 hours, as he boasted he would do during his reelection campaign, the situation in both has worsened since Trump’s return: In Gaza, the U.S. leader has essentially given the Israeli government a green light to occupy the strip, washing his hands of any effort to secure an end to the fighting. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, he sought to move the peace process forward by meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska — only to come up empty-handed and seemingly more in sync with Moscow than Kyiv…” 

The subsequent meeting in Washington turned out to be much better. However, Trump (and others) keep talking about a land swap… that Ukraine will have to give land to Russia… a demand which Ukraine had continuously rejected. 

Russia and China Demand a Say on Security Guarantees

Daily Mail wrote on August 21:

“Ukraine peace talks were in disarray on Wednesday after Russia effectively demanded Moscow and Beijing get a veto on any security guarantees…

“Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow must be part of the security guarantees. Putin’s man also said these ‘should be provided on an equal basis with the participation of countries such as China, the United States, the UK and France’. Lavrov added: ‘I’m sure in the West they understand that seriously discussing security issues without Russia is a utopia, it’s a road to nowhere.’

“[It would mean] none of the guarantors would be allowed to defend Ukraine from Russia unless they all agreed, including China and Russia.”

Trump’s Confession

 The Daily Mail reported on August 19: 

“President Donald Trump talked about his desire for eternal salvation as he discussed ongoing efforts to negotiate a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine. 

“He invoked the Bible during an interview on Fox & Friends one day after hosting historic meetings at the White House to broker peace between the countries. ‘I want to get to heaven if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I hear I’m at the bottom of the totem pole,’ Trump said.”

ICE Deportations of the Wrong People Harmful to the US 

The New York Post wrote on August 17: 

“President Donald Trump delivered on his key campaign promise: Securing the border. Yet the only thing falling faster than illegal crossings has been his approval rating on immigration. The problem: Instead of building on his win at the border with more popular arrests of criminal threats inside the country, the administration is going after migrants indiscriminately.  

“Democrats can’t deny it: The border crisis is over. Border Patrol arrests have fallen nearly 90% since December to near-record lows. Nonetheless, only 40% of voters approved of the president’s handling of immigration… while 55% disapproved… Of course, people don’t actually want more illegal immigration. Polls consistently show that the president is the most trusted on the border. Instead, it’s the deportations from within the United States driving the discontent…  

“That doesn’t mean voters back the other side — 84% disagree with Democrats who want to suspend deportations completely… But Trump emphasized that he would prioritize ending ‘sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals’ — the position of 81% of voters. Unfortunately, most voters don’t believe the president is doing that right now. 

“Even as late as June, voters told CBS News they thought that the president was prioritizing ‘dangerous criminals’ over peaceful immigrants 53%-47%. By mid-July, it was 44%-56% the other way — an 18 point swing in a month. What happened? Voters started to see how the priorities shifted… agents were instructed in late May to focus on ‘quantity over quality’ to meet a 3,000-per-day ‘goal’ set by the White House. ICE was advised to target people looking for work at Home Depot and to raid businesses in industries likely to employ illegal workers. 

“Rather than scooping up violent criminals recklessly sent back to the streets by New York City…, ICE is arresting immigrants who are helping power the Trump economy. Since the White House ordered the change, there has been a dramatic escalation in arrests of people without criminal records. In June, the number of immigrants arrested without criminal convictions was 1,100% higher than it was even in 2017 during the first Trump term: nearly 6,000 per week. 

“Yet there are still half a million illegal immigrants with criminal convictions out there to remove — and ICE should locate them before spending its time and resources on workers. It’s common sense: ICE agents told The Post that the policy was ‘leading them to leave some dangerous criminal illegal migrants on the streets.’   

“Setting aside politics and crime, Trump has already publicly acknowledged there’s an economic downside to these non-criminal deportations. ‘Our aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long-time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,’ he said in June, referencing farms, hotels, and leisure businesses.  The president is correct. Besides the border, the president’s other primary election issue was inflation. And immigrants reduce inflation — not, as critics claim, by depressing wages for American workers, but by increasing production of goods and services. When supply decreases, prices go up for consumers, as we painfully saw throughout the pandemic… 

“Whatever the immigration politics are, Trump’s midterm success will ultimately depend most on his economic outcomes. Americans re-elected him because they remember his first term before the pandemic as a period of stable wage and job growth — but random mass deportations are both politically unpopular and economically destabilizing. Although the president has promised ‘changes are coming’ on deportations, none have yet occurred….”

In addition, Donald Trump promised to prioritize arrests, detentions and deportations of dangerous criminal illegal migrants. This promise has been clearly broken by Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, Tom Homan and others. 

Don’t Pull the Plug on Israel 

The Algemeiner wrote on August 15: 

“US Sen. Lindsey Graham delivered a forceful defense of the US-Israel alliance at a South Carolina Republican Party meeting on Wednesday, warning that withdrawing American support for the Jewish state would carry both strategic and spiritual consequences. ‘If America pulls the plug on Israel, God will pull the plug on us,’ Graham told the crowd, framing the alliance as a moral imperative for the US. 

“The South Carolina Republican, a longtime supporter of Israel, criticized the use of the term ‘genocide’ to describe Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, arguing that the label is politically weaponized. ‘If Israel wanted to commit genocide, they could. They have the capability to do that. They choose not to,’ he said. ‘Hamas … would commit genocide in 30 seconds. They just can’t.’ Graham cast Israel as the most reliable ally of the US and emphatically defended the Jewish state as a force for good in the Middle East… 

“While Graham’s comments echoed the staunchly pro-Israel position favored by the Republican Party’s foreign policy establishment, some in the party, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-SC) have called for greater scrutiny of US backing of Israel… Greene… falsely accused Israel of attempting to eradicate the Palestinian population. Greene, a conservative Republican with an extensive history of antisemitic statements, has recently accused Israel of committing a so-called ‘genocide’ in Gaza… In recent weeks, Greene has established herself as a vocal critic of Israel, breaking ranks with the rest of the Republican party…” 

Unexplained Fatalities in the Epstein Orbit

The Drudge Report referred to the following article by the National Enquirer of August 14:

“Jeffrey Epstein’s mysterious death occurred six years ago this month — but the National Enquirer has discovered 22 people in the sketchy billionaire’s orbit have also died under murky circumstances, fueling fears of a cover-up by powerful figures seeking to erase potential witnesses. From the predator’s alleged victims to house managers, lawyers, accountants, investigative journalists and pimps, the list of unexplained fatalities traces a dark money trail that leads straight to Epstein’s inner circle, sources say… 

“Financier Steven Hoffenberg confessed in a final account before his death to the Enquirer’s Doug Montero that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted pedophile’s now-imprisoned recruiting madam, were ‘taping’… videos of sleazy VIPs with underage girls for a cabal of deep-state blackmailing power brokers… 

“Epstein’s final cellmate, Efrain ‘Stone’ Reyes, 51, died of COVID in November 2020 just weeks after talking with federal investigators probing the monstrous moneyman’s death. Reyes was transferred out of Epstein’s cell just one day before the bigwig’s death… 

“Three of Epstein’s outspoken accusers also suspiciously perished. Virginia Giuffre, 41, was found dead on April 25 in an apparent suicide, while sex slaves Carolyn Andriano, 36, and Leigh Skye Patrick, 29, died of drug overdoses in May 2023 and May 2017. The three women are not the only dead bodies related to Epstein’s days in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he was accused of abusing and pimping out dozens of young girls. 

“Despite overwhelming evidence of his purported obscene operation, Epstein received a sweetheart deal orchestrated by the feds in 2008 — and was allowed to plead guilty to two state prostitution charges and served only 13 months in a cushy county jail work-release program. 

“Joe Recarey, the Palm Beach Police detective who led the Epstein investigation and pushed officials for justice, died May 25, 2018, after a brief illness at 50. Epstein’s ex-butler Alfredo Rodriguez — who swiped his former boss’ infamous little black book and offered to sell it to an undercover FBI agent — died in December 2014 of mesothelioma at 60, after serving 13 months in federal prison on obstruction charges… 

“Two high-powered attorneys who helped Epstein skate in the West Palm Beach case have also passed away: Kenneth Starr in September 2022 at 76 after surgical complications and Roy Black, 80, who died last month at home… 

“Marvin Minsky, the MIT artificial intelligence pioneer named in Giuffre’s Epstein allegations, suffered a fatal cerebral hemorrhage in January 2016 at 88, while Ronald R. Eppinger Sr., a Miami pimp who was allegedly the first to traffic Giuffre, died at 80 in November 2006. Two investigative journalists chasing the Epstein scandal have also met their end. Former NYPD detective and Epstein book author John Connolly passed away in January 2022 at 78…  Celebrity biographer Wendy Leigh’s body was found beneath her London balcony in May 2016. Her death remains questioned as initial reports suggested suicide, but her agent emphasized the 65-year-old’s optimistic view on life… 

“Jean-Luc Brunel, 75, a French modeling agency boss awaiting trial for allegedly trafficking girls to Epstein, was found hanged inside a Paris prison cell in February 2022. Movie producer Steve Bing, 55, plunged from the 27th floor of his L.A. apartment building in June 2020 after talking to the FBI about Epstein. Mark Middleton, 59, an advisor to former President Bill Clinton with ties to Epstein, was found hanged and shot in Arkansas in May 2022 in what was ruled a suicide. 

“Thomas Bowers, 55, a head of the Deutsche Bank wealth management division that moved money for Epstein, was also found hanged inside his California home in November 2019. Epstein pal and former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson died in his sleep in September 2023 at 75, and physicist Stephen Hawking, who is known to have visited Epstein’s island, passed away in his U.K. home in March 2018 at 76… 

“The Enquirer can also reveal unusual deaths followed Epstein even before he became a household name. The death toll began 40 years ago, when the since-disgraced mogul began working as a trusted financial advisor for tycoon Les Wexner, the L Brands founder and former owner of lingerie company Victoria’s Secret and fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch. Epstein’s predecessor at L Brands, 43-year-old lawyer Arthur Shapiro, was gunned down in March 1985 just weeks before he was expected to be questioned by the IRS about illegal tax shelters… Soon after Shapiro’s death, Epstein took over managing Wexner’s finances. FBI documents mention Shapiro’s unsolved murder and the sex peddler’s possible link to prime suspect Berry L. Kessler. Kessler died at age 84 in 2005 inside a Georgia federal prison after being convicted a decade earlier of masterminding two separate murder-for-hire plots unrelated to Shapiro. 

“Now, Ghislaine Maxwell — the only known living Epstein accomplice currently behind bars — was mysteriously transferred from a Florida penitentiary to a minimum-security facility in Texas that has no surveillance cameras or recordings. Maxwell’s brother Ian exclusively tells the Enquirer that his sister is ‘not suicidal,’ and experts believe the deep-state cabal wants to make sure the last remaining witness is silenced. An insider warns, ‘She’s got a bull’s-eye on her back!’” 

Some of the fatalities mentioned above appear to be rather “natural,” given the old age of those who died. Others however do appear somewhat or very suspicious. 

Mandatory Military Service in Germany? 

Politico wrote on August 14: 

“Germany’s grand coalition is headed for a fight over whether the country’s effort to increase the size of its military should include the option of compulsory military service. The conservative Christian Democrats are sparring with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) within the ruling coalition over the shape of the country’s new military draft law… which is set to be presented in Cabinet on Aug. 27…

“The bill is Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’ attempt to address the Bundeswehr’s chronic personnel shortage without fully reintroducing mandatory conscription, which Germany suspended in 2011. Under the proposal, all draft-age men would be required to register and undergo a screening process, but only a targeted number would be called up for service. Women could volunteer… Crucially, compulsory service would only kick in if parliament votes for it in a separate decision.  

“The Christian Democrats want the law to go further by introducing a mandatory service year, which would include compulsory military service as one option, alongside civilian alternatives like work in hospitals or schools. They also reject the idea of requiring a parliamentary vote to trigger conscription in a crisis, a prerequisite in the legislation… Multiple parliamentary advisers told POLITICO they doubt the bill, as drafted, could win the political backing needed to pass.” 

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.

Trump Repeats Controversial Claim 

The Independent wrote on August 12: 

“President Donald Trump raged against Goldman Sachs, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and even his former Treasury secretary as he defended his global reciprocal tariffs – and continued to promote claims its countries, not consumers, are footing the bill… It has become a long refrain for the president that others pay tariffs, despite the fact that the cost is typically passed on to consumers. 

“Goldman Sachs released a report last week warning that U.S companies ate 64 percent of tariffs and consumers ate 22 percent of tariffs, which contradicts Trump’s claims about tariffs costing consumers. A Yale Budget Lab study found that Trump’s trade war would cost consumers about 1.8 percent more in the short term and the effective tariff rate would be 18.6 percent, the highest since the Great Depression… 

“Last week, Trump’s massive reciprocal tariffs resumed after he had initially paused them. Earlier this week, Trump said that he would once again pause tariffs on China for 90 days.”   

Trump’s repeated claims that consumers don’t have to pay for the tariffs are demonstrably false. Note the next articles as well. 

Consumers Will Have to Pay! 

The National Post wrote on August 8: 

“Last Friday, Trump imposed a 35 per cent tariff on Canadian goods not compliant with the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement, adding to existing high duties on steel, aluminum, autos, and copper… Now, those industries must pass increased costs along to U.S. buyers, pushing prices higher on items ranging from groceries and clothing to cars and farm equipment… 

“‘It definitely is indicative of a weakened economy, an economy that’s not acting in a robust fashion. I’ve all along felt like there’s a lag between tariffs and actual economic downturn,’ Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican, told the press this week, adding that retailers have told him they think they will have to raise prices this fall… Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran also warned this week of rising costs for consumers and businesses…. 

“Earlier this year, Mitch McConnell, a Republican senator from Kentucky, also railed against Trump’s tariffs. ‘With so much at stake globally, the last thing we need is to pick fights with the very friends with whom we should be working with to protect against China’s predatory and unfair trade practices,’ he said in a statement.” 

Most Republicans are afraid to oppose Trump publicly, even though they sense the dangers for the 2026 midterm elections. 

Prices Are Up Because of Tariffs, But…? 

Mediaite wrote on August 10: 

“Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) acknowledged that prices were up as a result of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, yet emphasized that it’s ‘for the good of the country’ in a Saturday appearance on Fox Report With Jon Scott.  

“Host Jon Scott asked the congressman… to explain a Fox poll showing only a 55% approval rating for Trump on the economy. ‘I think a lot of people are seeing higher prices,’ said Norman. ‘Our family’s in the construction business, and we get a lot of our timber from Canada and other countries. Yes, it’s higher. Steel prices are up, but it’s for the good of the country.’ ‘Should we expect high prices for a short time? Yes,’ he continued….” 

How about that twisted “logic”?

The Trade War Isn’t Over 

MSN wrote on August 8: 

“Trump, after saying for months that a trade deal with India was imminent, imposed a 25% levy on the longstanding ally, then doubled it less than a week later. The stated reason was purchases of Russian oil, though he didn’t do the same thing to China, an equally heavy buyer… 

“Japanese media reported that their government’s understanding of tariff calculations appears to be very different than the Trump administration’s understanding… 

“The German finance minister reportedly blasted [the] EU deal and set off for Washington to try to renegotiate parts of it, before any of it was even finalized. The Swiss president also went to Washington to deal with her own surprisingly heavy tariffs, and left empty-handed…

“The bottom line: We’re only approaching the end of the beginning.” 

“Next Blow” Against Switzerland: Trump Imposes Tariffs on Gold Bars 

Focus wrote on August 9: 

“As the ‘Financial Times’ reports, gold bars that weigh more than one kilo will in future be subject to tariffs when imported into the USA. These are also at 39 percent, a previous exception no longer applies. One kilo gold bars is the most traded type of gold and make up the majority of Swiss gold imports into the USA… [Now] additional tariffs amounting to 24 billion dollars would be incurred. 

“The country with a population of nine million lives from exports, the USA is the most important market with an 18 percent share last year… Since Thursday, US tariffs have been higher in Switzerland than in almost any other country… The Swiss tech industry association, Swissmem, speaks of a ‘horror scenario’. ‘If this horrendous tariff burden persists, the Swiss tech industry’s export business to the USA will effectively be dead…'” 

Immigration Raids Continue 

Democracy Now wrote on August 11: 

“… immigration raids and arrests continue to terrorize communities across the United States… 

“In Los Angeles, nurse and community activist Amanda Trebach [a US citizen] was released from federal custody this weekend without criminal charges, after she was violently arrested early Friday morning while recording the operations of federal immigration agents in the area… ICE has faced widespread backlash over the arrest of community advocates who have been swept up while documenting raids, including U.S. citizens.” 

How Trump Fights Crime and Homelessness 

The Associated Press wrote on August 11: 

“Trump said Monday he’s taking over Washington’s police department and activating 800 members of the National Guard in the hopes of reducing crime, even as city officials stressed crime is already falling in the nation’s capital… He said he was declaring a public safety emergency and his administration would be removing homeless encampments… adding he’d also be ‘getting rid of the slums.’… 

“Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act in an executive order to declare a ‘crime emergency’ so his administration could take over the city’s police force… Trump has emphasized the removal of Washington’s homeless population, though it was unclear where the thousands of people would go… Jesse Rabinowitz, [the campaign and communication director for the National Homelessness Law Center and an] advocate for homeless people, called Trump’s plan ‘fascist’ and a ‘waste’ of resources. He said the move wasn’t about safety… ‘If Donald Trump wanted to keep D.C. safe, he would fund housing and support…’ 

“Police statistics show homicides, robberies and burglaries are down this year when compared with this time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared with this time a year ago.” 

Legalizing Medical Marijuana? 

The New York Post wrote on August 9: 

”President Donald Trump  is reportedly eyeing reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a move that could expand medical marijuana research and ease industry restrictions… Former President Joe Biden was considering such a classification change that would have also made it easier to buy and sell weed before losing last year’s presidential election to Trump… 

“Trump last year backed a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida, which narrowly failed to secure the 60% of voters’ support it needed to pass. Weed has been legal in New York for medical purposes since 2016 and recreational purposes since 2021.” 

The reclassification of medical marijuana has been long overdue.  

Invasion of Flesh-Eating Flies Imminent? 

Ars Technica wrote on August 8: 

“Texas is gearing up for war as a savage, flesh-eating fly appears poised for a US invasion and is expanding its range of victims…  

“In Colombia, endemic screwworms have apparently grown bolder in their taste for flesh…  it’s unclear why the fly has suddenly emerged in mountain tapirs, which resemble wild pigs with trunks…”

Meeting in Alaska??? 

The Independent wrote on August 9: 

“President Donald Trump is set to meet with Vladimir Putin in Alaska [on August 15]… Critics pointed out that Russia once laid claim to the state of Alaska at the beginning of the 1770s—where they mercilessly exploited Alaskan natives to hunt fur for the Russians—and nationalists have long wanted to take it back. Alaska was purchased from the Russians by the U.S. for a sum of $7.2 million in 1867—the equivalent of between $129 million and $153.5 million today. 

“‘Trump has chosen to host Putin in a part of the former Russian Empire. Wonder if he knows that Russian nationalists claim that losing Alaska, like Ukraine, was a raw deal for Moscow that needs to be corrected,’ said Michael McFaul, a professor of political science at Stanford University and former. U.S. ambassador to Russia. ‘Let’s all hope that Putin doesn’t ask to take Alaska home with him as a souvenir, or Trump might give that away too,’ political commentator David Frum said in a post on X… 

“Trump’s former national security adviser-turned foe, John Bolton, said the move reminded him of a blunder the president allegedly nearly made in his first term. ‘This is not quite as bad as Trump inviting the Taliban to Camp David to talk about the peace negotiations in Afghanistan… it certainly reminds one of that.’… 

“Putin is wanted by the ICC on a warrant dating back to March 2023 for alleged involvement in the abduction of children from Ukraine… At least 19,000 Ukrainian children are thought to have been kidnapped and taken to Russia since the invasion began in February 2022, although Ukrainian officials say the total is probably far higher… Trump has also publicly blamed Zelensky—rather than Putin – for starting the war.” 

Confusion and Incompetence? 

Bild Online wrote on August 9: 

“Guess work [persists] after the agreement on a Ukraine peace summit between US President Donald Trump (79) and Vladimir Putin (72)… in Alaska. On Thursday it looked as if Trump negotiator Steve Witkoff (68) had made progress in his meeting with Putin… 

“According to BILD information, even before the peace summit on August 15, the Kremlin did not deviate from its maximum demand of wanting to completely dominate the five Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea before the weapons fall silent. The Russian side only brought ‘sectoral ceasefires’ into play- such as the mutual renunciation of attacks against energy facilities or larger cities behind the front. 

“Under no circumstances, however, does Putin want a halt to Russia’s large-scale offensives along the front – even though the USA had proposed largely lifting sanctions against Russia and concluding new economic agreements in return. Trump even brought up a ‘territorial swap’, which stipulates that Russia would be allowed to keep parts of the occupied Donbas in exchange for giving up additional areas (which the Ukrainian president categorically rejected). 

“And even worse: Trump’s special envoy Witkoff is said to have completely misunderstood some of the Russians’ statements and misinterpreted them as concessions from Putin. He misinterpreted a ‘peaceful withdrawal’ of the Ukrainians from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia demanded by Russia as an offer of a ‘peaceful withdrawal’ of the Russians from these regions… 

“… on Thursday evening [there was] a telephone conference between representatives of the US government – including special envoy Witkoff as well as Foreign Minister Marco Rubio (54) and Vice President JD Vance (41) – and the European partners. As BILD learned, the American side was perceived as chaotic and disunited. This was primarily due to Witkoff, whose statements about his conversation with Putin on Wednesday in the Kremlin were perceived as confusing. He himself appeared overwhelmed and incompetent to the Europeans when he spoke about the territorial issues in Ukraine. 

“Apparently there was also disagreement about how to proceed between Witkoff and Rubio, as the Secretary of State emphasized that the Europeans should be involved in the further process, while Vance and Witkoff only wanted to inform Europe about the results of Trump’s further steps.” 

EU Rejects Putin’s and Trump’s Proposal 

The New York Post wrote on August 9: 

“European officials rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s calls that Ukraine give up territories annexed during the war — instead demanding Saturday an immediate ceasefire from Moscow and NATO membership for Kyiv. The counter-offer demands rock-solid security guarantees for Ukraine — namely the long-coveted membership in NATO for the war-torn country before any territorial concessions… 

“If Putin were to attack a NATO member it would compel all others member countries to respond with military force — under its defense pact — a move that could ignite a global war. The European plan – put forward by the UK, France, Germany and Ukraine — also proposes that any land exchange must be reciprocal. If Ukraine removes troops from some regions, Russia must pull out of others. And a cease-fire agreement would need to be reached before any other steps are taken… 

“‘The future of Ukraine cannot be decided without the Ukrainians who have been fighting for their freedom and security for over three years now,’ French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X…  The Russian ruler had previously called for the total demilitarization of Ukraine and replacement of its current government, as well as more Kyiv-controlled regions to be ceded to Moscow.” 

Zelensky Not on Board 

The New York Times wrote on August 9: 

“President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Saturday flatly rejected the idea that Ukraine could cede land to Russia after President Trump suggested that a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia could include ‘some swapping of territories.’ ‘Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier,’ Mr. Zelensky said in a video address from his office in Kyiv, several hours after Mr. Trump’s remarks, which appeared to overlook Ukraine’s role in the negotiations. ‘Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace,’ Mr. Zelensky said. ‘They will bring nothing. These are dead decisions; they will never work.’… 

“Because Ukraine holds no Russian land, a swap would mean ceding Ukrainian-controlled territory in return for land currently occupied by Russia. But that approach clashes with a widely held view in Ukraine against surrendering territory to end the war, which left Mr. Zelensky little choice but to reject any land concessions.” 

Putin Can’t Be Trusted 

CNN wrote on August 9: 

“The conditions around Friday’s summit so wildly favor Moscow, it is obvious why Putin leapt at the chance, after months of fake negotiation, and it is hard to see how a deal emerges from the bilateral that does not eviscerate Ukraine. Kyiv and its European allies have reacted with understandable horror at the early ideas of Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, that Ukraine cede the remainders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in exchange for a ceasefire… 

“Europe is also wary of mirroring the failure of former UK Foreign Secretary Neville Chamberlain to stand up to Nazi Germany in 1938 – of the worthlessness of a ‘piece of paper’ signed by a Kremlin that has repeatedly agreed to deals in Ukraine and then simply used the pause to regroup before invading again.” 

Putin Does Not Change 

Newsmax wrote on August 11: 

“Retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark told Newsmax on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains committed to restoring the old Soviet Union — including taking Ukraine, threatening NATO’s eastern flank, and pulling former Soviet states like Georgia and Moldova back under Moscow’s control… Clark compared the situation to 2014, when Russia took Crimea under President Barack Obama, paused, and then struck again in 2022 under President Joe Biden. He said Putin acts when he senses weakness in the White House… 

“Clark stressed that abandoning Ukraine would be a strategic mistake… Clark also noted that European nations have contributed more to Ukraine’s defense than the U.S., pushing back against critics of American spending. He added the U.S. must remain engaged and strong.” 

JD Vance said this week that the USA was done funding the Ukraine war. 

Trump’s Big Blunder 

Express wrote on August 11: 

“Donald Trump was caught in a major blunder as he held a press conference on Monday… talking about his forthcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin, scheduled to take place on Friday in Alaska. ‘It’s embarrassing for me to be up here,’ he told reporters. ‘I’m going to see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday.’ The remarks provoked a social media meltdown, with many unable to resist poking fun at the US President over his huge gaffe… 

“One wrote: ‘The so-called president of the United States thinks that Alaska is in Russia. What an ongoing embarrassment!’… [Another wrote:]  ‘Can you imagine a Fortune 500 chairman talking like this and not being relieved before he fell off the podium?’” 

And they [rightly] made fun of Biden’s gaffes… Some have openly wondered whether Trump might be suffering from the beginning stages of dementia. 

Trump Attacks Zelenskyy Again 

Fox News wrote on August 11: 

“President Donald Trump  took aim at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a press event on Monday over his frustration with the Ukrainian leader’s objection to ‘land swapping.’ ‘… I disagree with what he’s done, very, very severely, disagree. This is a war that should have never happened,’ Trump said, reiterating his belief that the Ukrainian president is in part at fault for Russia’s illegal 2022 invasion. 

“‘I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, “Well, I have to get constitutional approval”’, Trump said. ‘I mean, he’s got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap, because there’ll be some land swapping going on.’… 

“Zelenskyy – who did not declare war on Russia, as Moscow had already invaded, did declare Martial Law on Feb. 24, 2022 with the approval of Ukraine’s parliament, which gave him presidential powers to mobilize a military response — made clear over the weekend that he objected to Trump’s ‘land swapping’ proposal and has repeatedly said it would require a national referendum under the nation’s constitution–not a unilateral decision by him.” 

Even Fox News had to correct Trump’s claims. 

Ukraine Giving In? 

The Telegraph wrote on August 11: 

“Ukraine could agree to stop fighting and cede territory already held by Russia… Volodymyr Zelensky told European leaders… 

“This would mean freezing the front line where it is and handing Russia de facto control of the territory it occupies in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea.” 

That would be a major defeat for Ukraine and a huge victory for Russia. 

EU Appeals to Trump Not to Give In to Putin 

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 12, 2025: 

“EU leaders have appealed to the US leader to defend European security interests and to give Ukraine a say in any agreement. 

“The appeal, signed by all EU leaders, bar Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, comes after Trump said on Monday that both sides would be forced to cede land to end the ongoing conflict. Ukraine and its allies fear that Trump might make territorial concessions to Putin that are tantamount to rewarding the Russian leader for launching his illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion in February 2022.” 

Britain Worried About EU Demands 

The Telegraph wrote on August 12: 

“British [officials] are increasingly concerned about public comments on the future of Ukraine by the likes of Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz and Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat. 

“They fear that issuing public demands to the US president may backfire and cause him to cut Europe out of talks altogether.” 

The real “worry” might turn out to be the USA/UK against the EU. 

Teleconference Between EU, Zelenskyy and Trump 

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 13: 

“European and Ukrainian leaders have talked with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday afternoon. During a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin following a teleconference with Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that any agreement regarding Ukraine must first include a ceasefire. Merz added that a legal recognition of Russian ownership of Ukraine cannot happen. 

“Meanwhile, Zelenskyy stressed that ‘there can be no discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine’ … Zelenskyy added that his country wants strong security guarantees and that US President Donald Trump supports this. He also said that Trump assured him he would contact him after the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to discuss the results and next steps.” 

Die Welt added on August 13: 

“Ukraine is also ready to negotiate territorial issues. However, the so-called contact line [the strip separating the Ukrainian army from Russian-backed fighters] must be the starting point.” 

The Guardian added: 

“Merz says that Trump ‘largely shares’ the European position, and says it was a ‘very good, constructive talk.’… Macron [added that ] US president Donald Trump told European leaders that he ‘wanted to obtain a ceasefire in Ukraine during meeting with Putin.’” 

If Trump “largely shares” the European position, what is it that he does not share? 

Another Proposal? 

The Sun wrote: 

“RUSSIA and the US are considering a West Bank-style occupation of Ukraine to secure a truce, according to reports, as Zelensky and Euro leaders hold emergency talks. 

“The superpowers have discussed using Israel’s occupation of the West Bank as a model for ending the war in Ukraine, sources revealed. This would give Russia military and economic control of the occupied parts of Ukraine, which would run its own governing body.” 

Allegedly, Trump’s special envoy Witkoff supported this proposal. 

Trump’s and Rutte’s Confusion

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 14:

“Trump caused some geographical confusion in the run-up to Friday’s meeting, repeatedly referring to the event set to take place in Alaska as a meeting ‘in Russia’ — even though the US purchased the state from Russia in 1867. Trump then went on to say that he wanted to arrange a ‘land swap’ between Russia and Ukraine. This is a misnomer, however, as Ukraine does not currently control any Russian territory which it could exchange. Its counteroffensive into Russia’s Kursk region, which began in August 2024, is largely over. Ukraine, therefore, has no bargaining chip that would allow it to engage in a land exchange. That’s why Ukraine and its allies fear Trump could be aiming for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia…

“NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte caused a stir on Sunday when he told US broadcaster ABC that a future deal could acknowledge that ‘Russia is controlling de facto, factually some of the territory of Ukraine.’ Would this mean NATO accepting the surrender of Ukrainian territory and thus the redrawing of borders by brute force in its immediate neighborhood? Rutte said the West ‘can never accept that in a legal sense,’ and that only de facto recognition was acceptable.”

Anxiety in Europe

Politico wrote on August 14:

“The prospect of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Alaska meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin is, unsurprisingly, causing Ukrainian and European anxiety to rise. It’s a point that was echoed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk earlier this week, who noted he harbored ‘many fears’ about Friday’s summit — although he added he had ‘a lot of hope’ as well, presumably to avoid offending Washington…

“[The] European allies… have been hoping to persuade Trump not to agree to anything over Ukraine’s head. But is there really a chance that Trump can overcome what his former Russia czar Fiona Hill identifies as a ‘deferential’ attitude toward Putin? Or will the former KGB apparatchik advance his agenda to subjugate Ukraine, return it to being a Russian vassal and, by doing so, crack an already brittle Western alliance? With all the preconditions for Alaska being set by Russia — and not by Washington — it seems the latter is more likely…

“The problem is, any withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donetsk and Luhansk would be a military disaster for Ukraine. It would be a surrender of the country’s so-called eastern ‘fortress belt,’ where it has dug in and held Russian forces back for more than a decade, and would assist Russia to strike further west whenever Moscow wants. It would essentially be a Munich moment, with Trump brandishing a piece of paper and declaring peace in our time…

“Indeed, few seasoned observers of the Kremlin believe Putin is serious about giving up his ultimate goal of subjugating Ukraine — a nation he doesn’t believe should exist…”

Merz’s Decision on Gaza Not Made Alone? 

t-online wrote on August 10: 

“Merz’s decision, announced on Friday [to stop sending military equipment to Israel which could be used in Gaza], sparked fierce criticism from parts of the CDU and CSU. The CSU accused the Chancellor of failing to involve them. Merz responded: ‘I didn’t make this decision alone, but at the end of the day, it is a decision for which I alone must take responsibility. And I alone am responsible. But I can’t put it to a democratic vote either.'” 

Excuse me? And who supported him in his decision? Jens Spahn, who once again discreetly remains silent in the background? According to Bild Online from August 11, Spahn made dubious statements: “Union parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn (45), Merz’s most important deputy, spoke as cautiously as possible. He called the Chancellor’s decision against Israel ‘justifiable,’ but made it clear: ‘We are doing everything we can to ensure that German-Israeli relations remain intact, and that Germany can resume deliveries as soon as possible…'” 

Really? 

Can You Still Believe Merz? 

Bild Online wrote on August 9: 

“Does Chancellor Merz actually know what he’s done?… People can have different opinions about the war in Gaza and German weapons. But one thing is certain: Chancellor Merz has reversed a position that he has championed for years with more credibility than almost any other politician. As recently as January, Merz promised that with him as Chancellor, Israel would get everything it needed; this was ‘unmistakably clear.’ Judging by his own statements, the Chancellor has now betrayed his foreign policy convictions.. 

“It is unmistakably clear that even Friedrich Merz’s most sacred promises cannot be believed. Doubts about Merz’s credibility have long existed within his own ranks. Economic policymakers believed Merz when he swore off new debt and promised reforms during the election campaign. Ukraine supporters believed Merz when he vowed to deliver Taurus cruise missiles. Conservatives believed Merz would defend their pro-life positions – instead, he unconditionally supported a judicial candidate with a fundamentally different legal assessment of abortion. 

“The CDU/CSU, like all other parties, has plenty of experience with watering down political positions. But for a chancellor to single-handedly dismantle the core identity of an entire party and silently go on vacation simply shows how little respect he has for the members of parliament who elected him to office…” 

The days of Merz and the coalition are numbered… 

European Chat Control  

Cointelegraph wrote on August 5: 

“A controversial European Union proposal dubbed ‘Chat Control’ is regaining momentum, with 19 out of 27 EU member states reportedly backing the measure. The plan would mandate that messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram, must scan every message, photo and video sent by users starting in October, even if end-to-end encryption is in place… 

“Denmark reintroduced the proposal on July 1,  the first day of its EU Council presidency. France, once opposed, is now in favor… Belgium, Hungary, Sweden, Italy and Spain are also in favor, while Germany remains undecided. However, if Berlin joins the majority, a qualified council vote could push the plan through by mid-October… A qualified majority in the EU Council is achieved when two conditions are met. First, at least 55 percent of member states, meaning 15 out of 27, must vote in favor. Second, those countries must represent at least 65% of the EU’s total population… 

“The proposal cites the prevention of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) as its justification. However, it would result in… mass surveillance… of messaging and chats and the end of privacy of digital correspondence… Beyond scanning, the package includes mandatory age verification, effectively removing anonymity from messaging platforms… 

“Last month, Telegram founder Pavel Durov warned that France risks societal collapse if it continues down a path of political censorship and regulatory overreach. Durov was arrested in France in August 2024 after being accused of failing to moderate his app to reduce criminality. He also alleged that French intelligence officials approached him earlier this year with requests to censor pro-conservative content ahead of the May 2025 Romanian election, a request he says he refused.” 

Western Propaganda and Hypocrisy 

Israel 365 News wrote on August 8: 

“Recently, Hamas released horrific videos depicting two Israeli hostages… who have now been held in captivity in inhuman conditions for 670 days. One particularly harrowing video shows [one hostage], visibly emaciated, being forced to dig what appears to be his own grave in a Hamas tunnel beneath Gaza. These images evoke painful historical parallels of the Holocaust and the brutal conditions of Nazi concentration camps… 

“The release of these videos followed controversial announcements by world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, declaring their intention to recognize a Palestinian state. Many critics argue that this political move only emboldens Hamas and other terrorist organizations, offering them a dangerous form of legitimacy and encouragement to continue their atrocities.  Certainly, it does not give them reason to moderate, or release the 50 hostages still held in the hell of Gaza’s tunnels. 

“What’s particularly troubling is the moral inconsistency demonstrated by these purported global leaders… Since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, numerous graphic images and videos have surfaced: mass murders of Israeli civilians, women raped, burning and beheading of people while alive, and the abduction of women, children, and Holocaust survivors…  What’s alarming is how shamelessly such evidence of brutality is circulated by terrorist groups, confident that the global media—fixated mainly on a one-sided narrative of Palestinian victimhood—will look the other way. Hamas, like the Nazi regime, relies heavily on propaganda to distort reality and rally support… 

“Western societies must wake up. If people genuinely care about the well-being of Palestinians, they must address the root cause of their suffering: the Islamic regime in Iran. It is the regime’s financing, indoctrination, and exporting of radical Islam that fuel movements like Hamas and perpetuate conflict in the region…” 

Trump Clashes With Netanyahu 

Israel 365 News wrote on August 8: 

“The relationship between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, once characterized by unprecedented warmth and mutual admiration, has taken a dramatic turn as the two leaders reportedly engaged in a heated shouting match over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Citing unnamed sources, the report claimed the phone call devolved into a shouting match. While the White House refused to comment, the Prime Minister’s office claimed it was ‘fake news’. 

“According to NBC News, citing unnamed senior U.S. officials, the dramatic phone call occurred on July 28, following a public dispute over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The conflict began when Netanyahu declared at a public event that ‘there is no starvation in Gaza,’ despite widespread reports of hunger and suffering in the Palestinian enclave. Trump publicly contradicted his former ally the following day during a visit to Scotland, stating he was ‘not particularly convinced’ by Netanyahu’s assurance. The president said there was ‘real starvation’ in Gaza, adding pointedly, ‘You can’t fake that.’ He mentioned seeing images of children in Gaza who ‘look very hungry.’ 

“Angered by Trump’s public contradiction, Netanyahu reportedly demanded a phone call with the president. What followed was described by officials as ‘a direct, mostly one-way conversation about the status of humanitarian aid’ with Trump ‘doing most of the talking.’ During the call, Netanyahu maintained that reports of starvation in Gaza had been ‘fabricated’ by Hamas and that hunger was not widespread in the territory. However, Trump interrupted the Israeli leader and began yelling, according to the NBC report. The president insisted that his aides had shown him proof that children in Gaza were starving and that he didn’t want to hear such evidence dismissed as ‘fake.’” 

Maybe, Trump should have consulted first with his Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. Note the next article. 

Huckabee: Hamas Responsible for “Starvation” 

Breitbart wrote on August 13: 

“U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Breitbart News on Tuesday that Hamas, not Israel, is to blame for whatever food deprivation is being suffered by Palestinian people in Gaza, because it hoards food aid… Huckabee said that while there was hunger in Gaza, Israel was trying to make sure that Palestinians received food aid. Hamas, however, was more concerned with controlling and profiting from aid — and damaging Israel’s image — than it was in helping the Palestinian people whom it purports to represent. 

“He explained:  ‘The simple truth is, Hamas is the one responsible for the starvation, to the degree that there is starvation. I point out that if you look at the people from Hamas, they aren’t starving. These are well-fed people. I even said to Piers Morgan last night on an interview with him, I said, you know, there may be starvation going on in Gaza, but it’s not Hamas. These people don’t need food… I’ll tell you, who’s starving: the [Israeli] hostages are starving. And it really ticks me off when these European leaders like [France’s Emmanuel] Macron and [the UK’s Keir] Starmer, you know, they’re putting all this pressure on Israel to drop food in for people in Gaza, and I want them to maybe put a little pressure on Hamas to start feeding the hostages, and tell them to stop making these hostages dig their own graves, which I find revolting and disgusting. And where’s the condemnation for that?  

“‘If there’s hunger in Gaza, and I believe there is — I’ll be the first to say I think that in pockets, not everywhere, but in pockets, there’s hunger. But the reason is twofold. One, Hamas prevents people from getting to the feeding sites and shoots some of them — and I heard that from the Gazans themselves — but a lot of the food that goes into Gaza is stolen and looted by Hamas, who put it in warehouses, and then they turn around and sell it to people on the black market. Last year, Hamas made $500 million — that’s half a billion dollars — selling the relief food, the humanitarian food. By the United Nations’ own numbers… 88% of the food that they send into Gaza is stolen or looted. I think about that. 88% — that’s a 12% effective success rate and an 88% failure rate.’ 

“Huckabee also faulted the United Nations (UN) for worsening the problem, and effectively helping Hamas: 

“‘… They take billions of dollars of money, and I watch what they do with it, and it’s disgusting, and there should be accountability for it, and I don’t think the US should continue to fund some of these programs and projects they have, as ineffective as they are…’” 

Huckabee has always been a “straight shooter.” His words should not be dismissed or rejected.  

Israel Kills Al Jazeera’s Reporters 

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 11: 

“Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera’s reporter Anas al-Sharif and four of his colleagues were killed on Sunday in an Israeli strike near Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City… The Israeli military has claimed that al-Sharif headed a Hamas cell, an allegation Al Jazeera has rejected… Gaza health officials and Al Jazeera said the journalists were killed when an Israeli missile hit a tent near the hospital. An official at Shifa said two other people were also killed… 

“Al-Sharif had worked as a prominent correspondent for Al Jazeera and was previously part of a photography team for the Reuters news agency that won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. He was described by the network as ‘one of Gaza’s bravest journalists’ and a vital voice in reporting on the war. His coverage often included interviews with residents directly affected by the fighting, as well as footage from sites immediately after Israeli strikes…

“Germany has pressed Israel for a full and transparent explanation over the killing of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, ‘Israel is now expected, from our perspective, to explain itself in the most transparent and comprehensible manner possible,’ a spokesperson for the German Foreign Office told the German press agency dpa, while calling the killing of media workers ‘absolutely unacceptable’ under international humanitarian law.”  

The Frankfurter Allgemeine wrote on August 11:

“The German government has called on the Israeli government to explain the killing of six journalists in the Gaza Strip. This is absolutely inadmissible under international humanitarian law, said a spokesperson for the Federal Foreign Office. The fact that the case is not clear-cut can be seen in the spokesperson’s postscript: ‘If it happens as it has now, then it is up to the party carrying out such a killing to clearly explain why it was necessary.’ Israel must explain ‘in the most transparent and comprehensible manner possible’ how it can justify the targeted killing of journalists.

“Israel, however, has already done so, according to its own opinion. Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif was not a journalist, but the leader of a Hamas terrorist cell, the Israeli army announced. Intelligence information and documents found in Gaza prove that al-Sharif was responsible for rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers…

“From a distance, the case is as difficult to assess as the situation in the Gaza Strip itself, which is why one should be cautious about jumping to conclusions…

“Was Anas al-Sharif a journalist or a terrorist? The question of who acts as a neutral reporter and who as a propagandist in Gaza has been raised ever since the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, when ‘journalists’ were on the scene, and people wondered how that could be, why they spread Hamas’s terror cheers unfiltered and helped lay the foundation for Hamas propaganda that this was a just liberation struggle…”

Developments like these will only lead to further international outrage towards the state of Israel.

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.

Job Report Not to Trump’s Liking 

The Daily Mail wrote on August 1: 

“The president is taking out his frustration on Dr. Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of labor statistics, who was appointed to the role by former President Joe Biden. He accused her of ‘faking’ jobs numbers before the 2024 election to ‘try and boost Kamala’s chances of victory,’ in a blistering post to Truth Social that did not provide evidence of the stunning accusation… 

“Hiring growth dropped dramatically last month and unemployment ticked up, the latest jobs report released on Friday showed. Non-farm payrolls added 73,000 in July, far lower than the 100,000 expected by analysts. The unemployment rate also ticked up to 4.2 percent. The report also sharply revised down the figures for May and June by a combined 258,000 jobs from the previously released figures. 

“Following the revision June’s total was left at just 14,000 and May’s at 19,000 — effectively flat. Analysts say July’s figure is also likely to be revised lower, possibly into negative territory.

Trump hammered the economist for those revisions, although they are routine in the government’s monthly job reports – sometimes going up, sometimes going down as businesses around the country report on their payrolls. .. The latest figures suggest cracks are in fact starting to show up in the economy, despite a slew of previous better-than-expected economic data released recently… 

“It is just the latest example of Trump demanding that even traditionally independent parts of the government bend to his preferences – although a president who is denied bad information about the unemployment situation would be deprived timely information to change course for their own political benefit.”

“Trump Lies About Labor Statistics Chief” 

The Guardian wrote on August 2: 

“Speaking to reporters on Friday, Donald Trump defended his decision to fire Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of labor statistics, and falsely accused her of having released reports just before the 2024 election that overstated the number of new jobs created by the Biden-Harris administration. Asked by a reporter, ‘Why did you fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics?’ Trump replied: ‘Because I think her numbers were wrong, just like I thought her numbers were wrong before the election.’

“The president then went on to give a wildly inaccurate account of the jobs data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2024. ‘Days before the election, she came out with these beautiful numbers for Kamala, I guess Biden-Kamala, and she came out with these beautiful numbers trying to get somebody else elected,’ Trump said, entirely misrepresenting the jobs report released on 1 November 2024, four days before the election, which in fact showed the US added just 12,000 jobs over the previous month. 

“At the time, the Trump campaign called the jobs report ‘a catastrophe’ that ‘definitively reveals how badly Kamala Harris broke our economy.’ On Friday, however, the president offered a very different account of that report released just nine months ago. ‘Then, right after the election,’ Trump claimed, ‘she had an 8- or 900,000 dollar [sic] massive reduction, said she made a mistake.’ 

“What Trump was misremembering is a Bureau of Labor Statistics announcement, on 21 August 2024, that updated data showed that there had been 818,000 fewer jobs added in the US in the previous year than it had initially estimated. That downward revision was large, but part of an annual process, in which the bureau updates its initial estimates when it gets better data.

“The same day that revision was announced in 2024, Trump [posted] that the Biden-Harris administration had been ‘caught fraudulently manipulating Job Statistics’ and the ‘New Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the Administration PADDED THE NUMBERS with an extra 818,000 Jobs that DO NOT EXIST, AND NEVER DID.’ On Friday, however, Trump repeatedly insisted that the August revision had not come until after the November election…” 

Express wrote on August 2: 

“Pressure inside the White House has risen once again as Donald Trump erupted, sacking the head of the US statistics agency after they released data about the nation’s weakening jobs market… [despite] zero evidence that any data was tampered with…

“His brash move has triggered concerns for bankers and markets around the world, who believe Trump may now interfere in the publishing of financial stats and reports that decide the prices of a wide variety of assets.” 

This will contribute to America’s economic downfall. 

Trump’s Tariffs Policy Backfires 

The New York Post wrote on August 1, 2025: 

“New cracks emerged in the U.S. economy on Friday after the government reported a significant slowdown in job growth, a sign of the serious and accelerating effects of President Trump’s punishing new tariffs... The jobs data offered only the latest indication that Mr. Trump’s policies, particularly his expanding global trade war, had started to put the squeeze on the economy. Tariffs are taxes on imports, paid by U.S. companies purchasing those goods abroad. Other economic data released this week offered fresh evidence that Mr. Trump’s duties had slowed trade and started to send prices higher… 

“Adding to its challenges, the president late Thursday announced a dramatic widening of his trade war, slapping major new tariffs on dozens of countries that take effect on Aug. 7. Switzerland was stunned by a 39 percent tariff, among the highest. Syria, Laos and Myanmar were handed rates of 40 to 41 percent… Earlier in the week, Mr. Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on Brazil as punishment for its prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro, his ally, who is accused of plotting a coup after he lost the last presidential election.”

New Tariff Rates… For Now! 

The New York Post wrote on August 1: 

“Among the notable rates that will be charged at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 7 — rather than on the Friday deadline initially announced by the White House — are 15% for Iceland and Israel, 30% for South Africa, 39% for Switzerland and 20% for Taiwan and Vietnam… 

“The steepest tariff rates will be carried by Syria (41%), Laos and Myanmar (40%), Switzerland (39%) and Iraq and Serbia (35%). The list also denotes a 35% rate on imports from Canada after Trump signed an order upping the current tariff by 10 percentage points.” 

More and more Americans are waking up to the fact that Trump’s economic policies just don’t work and are harmful to America. Note the next article. 

Most Americans Unhappy with Trump 

The Guardian wrote on August 1: 

“Americans are struggling financially, grappling with debt and the rising cost of living, and are blaming the Trump administration and corporate interests for worsening economic outlooks for working families, according to a new poll. Six out of 10 Americans place blame on the Trump administration for driving up their cost of living, according to a poll conducted by Morning Consult for the Century Foundation… 

“Sixty three per cent said Trump had had a negative impact on grocery prices, and 61% said he had had a negative impact on the cost of living. Nearly half, 49%, said the Trump administration had had a negative impact on their finances. Nearly eight out of 10 Americans, including 70% of Republicans, fear that Trump’s tariffs will increase the price of everyday goods. ‘Donald Trump has simultaneously raised prices on everyday goods through a reckless approach to tariffs, a decimation of programs that help Americans afford healthcare, education, food and childcare, and then kneecapping federal regulators who keep banks and other big businesses from swindling consumers,’ said Julie Margetta Morgan, president of the Century Foundation…

“According to the poll, more than six out of 10 Americans said it had become more difficult to find a good paying job, buy a home and afford childcare. More than four out of five Americans, 83% said they were concerned about the cost of groceries, with 46% saying they were very concerned. Some 47% said they were worried about being able to pay their rent or mortgage, 64% said they were worried about affording an unexpected medical expense. 

“About 48% said they believed they would have trouble affording an unexpected $500 bill without borrowing. One in four said it would be ‘very difficult’… Americans also fear things are getting worse economically, with 76% of those polled saying they fear a looming economic recession…” 

These are terrible figures, but sadly, they reflect reality. 

Switzerland Faces Unpredictable Bad-Tempered Trump 

The Guardian wrote on August 4: 

“Switzerland, home to some of the world’s best-known luxury brands, was left stunned after the US president on Friday imposed one of the highest tariff rates [39%] in his global trade reset. Industry associations said tens of thousands of jobs were at risk. 

“Local media had reported that after three months of talks, negotiators believed they had secured a 10% tariff on exports to the US, a key market for Swiss products such as luxury watches, jewelry and chocolate but also machinery and pharmaceuticals. But after a 30-minute call with Keller-Sutter on Thursday evening variously described as ‘bad-tempered’, ‘disastrous’ and ‘badly misjudged’, Trump imposed a levy even higher than the 31% he had announced on his so-called ‘liberation day’ in April… 

“Analysts have said tariffs could still change at any moment because of the unpredictability of the Trump administration…” 

A subsequent meeting between Marco Rubio and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter in Washington did not result in any changes.

India Not Happy 

Breitbart wrote on August 1: 

“President Donald Trump increased the pressure on [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi on Wednesday by threatening to impose a 25% tariff on Indian imports, plus additional penalties if India continues to do business with Russia… Trump… castigated India for buying the ‘vast majority of their military equipment from Russia,’ and he seemed to accuse the Indians of financing the invasion of Ukraine by purchasing large quantities of Russian oil… 

“In another Truth Social post, Trump appeared to wash his hands of India altogether. ‘I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care,’ he grumbled…” 

The New York Times wrote on August 3:

“Indian officials said on Saturday that they would keep purchasing cheap oil from Russia despite a threat of penalties from President Trump, the latest twist in an issue that New Delhi thought it had settled… 

“India has drastically increased its purchases of Russian oil since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine. Russia is now the source of more than one-third of India’s oil imports — up from less than 1 percent before the war. It brings in about two million barrels of crude oil a day, making it the second largest importer of Russian oil, after China.” 

Newsmax wrote on August 4: 

“President Donald Trump said on Monday he will substantially raise tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. ‘India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,’ Trump said in a post on Truth Social.”

India will become part of the kings of the East, joining Russia, China and other Far Eastern nations. 

Court of Appeals to Decide on Trump’s Tariffs 

Politico wrote on July 31: 

“Federal appeals court judges on Thursday sharply questioned President Donald Trump’s authority to impose sweeping tariffs on foreign trading partners under an unprecedented use of emergency powers. Several judges of the Washington, D.C.-based Federal Circuit Court of Appeals repeatedly wondered how Trump could justify the broad tariffs using a 1977 law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, that presidents have used to set economic sanctions and other penalties on foreign countries — but never previously tariffs… 

“However, the 11 judges vigorously questioned attorneys for the states and the private companies as well… 

“The New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in May that Trump had exceeded his authority under IEEPA to impose the tariffs and ordered them to be vacated. The Trump administration appealed that ruling to the Federal Circuit, which allowed the government to continue collecting the duties while the case proceeds. The appeals court set a rapid-fire schedule to consider the matter in front of the court’s full 11-member bench, which is made up of eight Democratic appointees, three Republican appointees and no Trump appointees. The lawsuit is expected to end up at the Supreme Court.” 

A decision of the Court of Appeals is expected to be announced in August. 

Focus wrote on August 1: 

“The court could prohibit Trump from pursuing the tariff war. Then the 15 percent tariffs on most goods would also be invalidated [including those against the EU and Germany] … Trump is imposing his tariffs… without parliamentary approval… In parliament, the Republicans hold a narrow majority in both chambers (Senate and House of Representatives). This majority could be enough for Trump to push through his tariffs after all. 

“However, the next elections are scheduled for 2026. Parliament will largely be re-elected. The parliamentarians must already seek re-election. Trump’s tariffs are also rather unpopular among Republican voters. It is possible that some Republican dissidents will oppose Trump… Even if the appeals court rules against Trump, the tariff war is likely to continue to occupy Germany for a long time.” 

Meaning, the relationship between the USA and Germany will continue to deteriorate drastically. 

US-EU Deal Unenforceable 

Politico wrote on July 28: 

“The European Union has admitted it doesn’t have the power to deliver on a promise to invest $600 billion in the United States economy, only hours after making the pledge at landmark trade talks in Scotland. That’s because the cash would come entirely from private sector investment over which Brussels has no authority… ‘It is not something that the EU as a public authority can guarantee. It is something which is based on the intentions of the private companies,’ said one of the senior Commission officials. The Commission has not said it will introduce any incentives to ensure the private sector meets that $600 billion target, nor given a precise timeframe for the investment… 

“The Commission pointed out that the figure would come from private companies, not European taxpayers, contrasting with Japan’s promise to mobilize $550 billion of both public and private investments in the U.S. as part of a recently agreed trade deal.

“But the idea that the private sector can be relied upon to provide that level of investment was met with skepticism… ‘[The EU] is not China, right? So nobody can tell private companies how much they invest in the U.S.’...” 

In addition, all 27 EU member states would have to approve the deal. Some, like France, Hungary and now even Germany have expressed reservations. 

Trump Threatens EU 

The New York Post wrote on August 5: 

“President Trump warned Tuesday that if the European Union fails to deliver on its commitment to invest $600 billion in the US,  he will ramp up tariffs against the 27-nation bloc… ‘Then they pay tariffs of 35%,’ Trump [said] when asked what would happen if the EU doesn’t pony up. ‘They brought down their tariffs, so they paid $600 billion and because of that, I reduced their tariffs from 30% down to 15%,’ the president explained. 

“‘They gave me $600 billion and that’s a gift. … They gave us $600 billion that we can invest in anything we want.’… ‘The details are $600 billion to invest in anything I want. Anything. I can do anything I want with it,’ Trump reiterated when pressed for more specifics…” 

EuroNews wrote on August 5: 

“The European Commission is unable to design and implement investments on behalf of the private sector. The $600 billion has been described by the Commission as an indication based on the executive’s contacts with industry. ‘It’s not something the EU, as a public authority, can guarantee – it’s something based on the intention of private companies,’ a senior official said last week.” 

Euractiv wrote on August 5: 

“An official White House account of the deal also states that the EU has committed to purchase  ‘significant amounts of US military equipment’ – a claim rejected by Brussels.” 

NPR wrote on August 5: 

“Four European countries have agreed to buy $1 billion worth of U.S. weapons and send them to Ukraine… ‘We already have commitments from the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark – over one billion dollars for American weapons that Ukraine will receive…’, Zelenskyy wrote on X.” 

Major Tourist Visa Change 

MSN wrote on August 4: 

“The State Department is proposing a rule requiring some business and tourist visa applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 to enter the United States, a step critics say could put the process out of reach for many… The new visa bond program will take effect on August 20… 

“Under the plan, U.S. consular officers can require a bond from visa applicants who meet certain criteria. This includes nationals of countries with high visa overstay rates, countries with deficient screening and vetting, and those that offer citizenship-by-investment programs, particularly where citizenship is granted without a residency requirement. Visitors subject to the bond will receive it back upon leaving the U.S., naturalizing as a citizen, or in the event of death. If a traveler overstays, however, the bond may be forfeited and used to help cover the costs associated with their removal… 

“Citizens of countries in the Visa Waiver Program are exempt, and consular officers will retain the discretion to waive the bond on a case-by-case basis… The list of affected countries will be published at least 15 days before the program begins and may be updated with similar notice. In the 2020 version of the pilot, countries such as Afghanistan, Angola, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Laos, Liberia, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen were included.” 

Ex-Obama Officials Face Federal Grand Jury Probe 

The New York Post wrote on August 4: 

“The Justice Department is opening a federal grand jury investigation of former Obama administration officials… including former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey… 

“Trump and current DNI Tulsi Gabbard have called for a federal probe into the early days of the Russia collusion probe dubbed ‘Crossfire Hurricane’… The president has accused the former officials of a treasonous and seditious conspiracy to undermine his first-term agenda, which ultimately led to more than two years of leaky investigations before special counsel Robert Mueller turned up no evidence of collusion…

“Treason does not have a statute of limitations, but no American has been convicted of that charge since 1949. It’s possible that prosecutors could develop a novel legal theory to revive seemingly expired charges, as performed by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg last year when he won a 34-count felony conviction against Trump for falsifying business records to conceal 2016 hush money payments.”

Banks Debanked Trump

The New York Post wrote on August 5:

“JPMorgan and Bank of America  ‘debanked’ President Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol Hill melee following pressure from the Biden administration’s banking regulators and the Federal Reserve… sources at the banks — the largest and second-largest in the US in terms of assets — confirmed… threats from President Joe Biden’s bank regulators that banking the former president’s money put them in danger of falling afoul of rules that prohibit financial institutions from doing business with individuals and companies that present a ‘reputational risk.’…

“Trump himself revealed that he was debanked… He said he was denied services at both institutions sometime after his first term ended in January 2021, just weeks after the storming of the Capitol…  First, he said, he was booted by JPMorgan. ‘I had 100s of millions. I had many, many accounts loaded up with cash. I was loaded up with cash, and they told me, “I’m sorry, sir, we can’t have you. You have 20 days to get out.” I said, “You’ve got to be kidding. I’ve been with you for 35, 40 years.”’ Then he was denied services by Bank of America…. 

“Trump and his regulators have sought to end the practice and he’s issuing an executive order imminently to end politically motivated debanking.”

This is really outrageous. Trump’s executive order would be more than overdue. 

Fight Between Republicans and Democrats Intensifies in Texas 

Texas Tribune wrote on August 4: 

“The Texas House voted Monday afternoon to track down and arrest more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who were not present when the chamber gaveled in. After the 85-6 vote, House Speaker Dustin Burrows said he would immediately sign civil warrants for each of the legislators, empowering the chamber’s sergeant-at-arms and state troopers to arrest and bring them to the Capitol. They will not face civil or criminal charges from the arrests. The warrants apply only within state lines, making them largely symbolic as most of the legislators in question decamped to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts to forestall passage of the GOP’s proposed redraw of Texas’ congressional map… 

“The current congressional map, drawn by a Republican-dominated Legislature in 2021, has netted 25 GOP seats in the last two elections. But after pressure from President Donald Trump’s team, Abbott directed lawmakers to redraw the map during the special legislative session, which started July 21. Last week, the House proposed new congressional lines dividing up existing districts in Austin, Houston and Dallas with the aim of netting five more Republican seats… 

“Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said in a statement Sunday, accusing Abbott of ‘using an intentionally racist map to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans, all to execute a corrupt political deal.’… The departed House members will face fines of $500 for each day that they miss, as well as the threat of reprimand, censure and expulsion, although that would require a two-thirds vote among members.” 

Newsmax wrote on August 6: 

“Defiant [Democratic] House members remaining absent from the Texas Legislature stand to be fined nearly $400,000, according to the state chamber’s rules… A total of 57 Democrats skipped Monday’s session, bringing the penalties to $28,500.” 

CNN wrote on August 5: 

“For a second day in a row the Texas House failed to reach a quorum as dozens of Democrats have left the state in protest over GOP plans to potentially eliminate five Democratic US House seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections… Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would seek court rulings against the Democrats if they don’t return by Friday ‘ensuring that their seats are declared vacant.’…” 

This would be an unprecedented and, legal experts say, likely futile effort requiring individual lawsuits against each member and new elections to fill their seats 

Two US Nuclear Submarines Positioned to Reach Russia 

Express wrote on August 1: 

“The war of words between US President Donald Trump and Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, escalated on Friday evening. The American leader announced on the platform Truth Social that he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned ‘in appropriate regions’ in light of ‘foolish and inflammatory statements’ coming from Russia… It comes after Medvedev warned Mr Trump to remember Russia has Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort. That came after Mr Trump told Medvedev to ‘watch his words’… 

“[Medvedev] said Mr Trump should remember how dangerous the fabled ‘Dead Hand’ can be. This was a reference to a secretive Russian command system designed to launch nuclear missiles if Russia’s leadership were to be taken out in an enemy strike.” 

It won’t come to that. No major war between the USA and Russia, let alone a nuclear war, is prophesied in the Bible. But, a nuclear war between Russia and a German-led Europe IS foretold in Scripture. 

Russia and China Begin War Games 

MSN wrote on August 4: 

“Russia and China are staging mock combat drills and other war games in the Sea of Japan in a sign of strengthening military ties. 

“Though pre-planned, the joint naval exercises that began on Sunday came a day after Donald Trump moved US nuclear submarines closer to Russia in response to inflammatory comments from Russia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev.”  

Putin Moves Nuclear Bombers Closer to Europe

Express wrote on August 4: 

“Vladimir Putin has moved at least four heavy Tu-95MS nuclear bombers closer to Europe. 

“The strategic aircraft are often used to bomb Ukraine, and Insider UA says they have been loaded with missiles, leading to a ‘high probability’ of an imminent major attack.” 

“Only 16% of Germans Would ‘Definitely’ Fight for Country” 

Deutsche Welle wrote on August 4: 

“Around one in six Germans say they would join the military in the event of a conflict or a call to arms, a new survey… recorded that 16% of participants said they would ‘definitely’ fight, while another 22% said they would ‘probably’ do so. 

“However, 59% said they would ‘probably not’ or definitely not be willing to defend Germany in the event of an attack… More than one in four respondents (27%) said they considered a military attack on Germany within the next five years to be very or somewhat likely. Meanwhile, 59% of respondents said they felt it was likely that Germany would have to provide military assistance to another NATO member.” 

These results make little sense. But these “opinions” are only temporary anyhow.  

Recognizing Palestine? 

The New York Post wrote on August 1: 

“French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced this week that their countries would unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. The first problem with that is ‘Palestine’ is a fictional place. There never was any such thing… 

“What happens when a civil war breaks out? Because the prospects are quite high… The French and Brits should recall that the first thing Gazans did when handed a protostate in 2005 was to destroy over 3,000 greenhouses and modern farming systems that American Jews had purchased for $14 million and handed them, gratis. The second thing they did, though, was put Hamas in charge.

“So, will France and Britain support open elections in this new nation?… What if Hamas, or some other iteration of that organization, wins those elections? Will France and Britain recognize such a state?… 

“Is France or Britain going to disarm Hamas? Is France or Britain going to bring back the more than 50 hostages still being held and tortured in Gaza?…” 

Canada has also declared that they want to recognize a Palestinian state. Germany has said that they are supporting a two-state solution. But a two-state solution is fiction. Israel does not want it, and neither do Hamas and the Palestinians. They want a one-state solution—without Israel. 

Hamas Sabotages Humanitarian Supplies 

Nius wrote on August 2: 

“The German government has increased its concern about the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Government spokesman Stefan Kornelius stated that despite ‘initial slight progress’ in providing aid to the population, the emergency remains acute. Of particular concern is the systematic diversion of aid supplies by Hamas and other criminal organizations, which are blocking urgently needed aid for the civilian population. 

“According to German security sources, a significant portion of the aid supplies entering the Gaza Strip are stolen by Hamas and other groups. 50 to 100 percent of the aid is intercepted by armed forces or criminal organizations, according to a security insider. Since May 19, a total of 2,010 trucks carrying aid from the United Nations have entered the Gaza Strip. However, official UN figures show that only 260 of these trucks reached their destination. The majority, approximately 1,753 trucks, were forcibly intercepted by armed forces. These goods then often end up on the black market and do not reach the affected civilian population.” 

But it’s easy to blame Israel for this as well. Anti-Semitism is in high gear. 

Prayer on the Temple Mount 

BBC News wrote on August 4: 

“Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has visited the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem and prayed there, violating a decades-old arrangement covering one of the most sensitive sites in the Middle East. Photos and videos of his visit show Ben-Gvir leading Jewish prayers at the compound, which is known by Jews as the Temple Mount, in occupied East Jerusalem. Praying at the site breaks a long-time arrangement that allows Jews to visit the site but not pray. 

“The Israeli prime minister’s office released a statement saying there had been no change to Israel’s policy of maintaining the status quo agreement that allows only Muslim worship there. Jordan, custodian of the site, called Ben-Gvir’s latest visit ‘an unacceptable provocation’. Hamas called it ‘a deepening of the ongoing aggressions against our Palestinian people’, while a spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the visit ‘crossed all red lines’. 

“The site is the holiest place for Jews because it was the site of two Biblical temples. It is the third holiest place for Muslims, who believe it was where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. It was captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war… Palestinians… complain that in recent years Jewish visitors have often been seen praying without being stopped by Israeli police. The Waqf, the Islamic endowment which runs the site, said Ben-Gvir was among 1,250 Jews who ascended the compound on Sunday morning. Ben-Gvir, an ultra-nationalist who as national security minister oversees the police, has visited the site before, but the Times of Israel reported this was the first time that he openly prayed at the site. He was flanked by police officers while entering and touring the compound. 

“In a statement at the site, Ben-Gvir said ‘horror’ video of hostages recently released by Hamas, in which they appear emaciated, were aimed at putting pressure on Israel, and called for the hostages’ return. The minister also repeated his call for Israel to occupy the whole of the Gaza Strip (so is Netanyahu) and to encourage what he described as ‘voluntary emigration’ of Palestinians from the territory…” 

Why is it that Muslims are allowed to pray on the Temple Mount, but Jews are not?

More Discrepancies in the Epstein Tale 

The Daily Beast wrote on August 1: 

“A mystery third person was spotted on camera in jailhouse footage from Jeffrey Epstein’s final night alive, a CBS News investigation has revealed. The person, who was not identified or even mentioned in a Department of Justice investigative report, is seen entering a common area near where Epstein’s cell was located just after 4 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2019, two hours before he was found dead. 

“A CBS analysis of footage determined that the guards on duty, Tova Noel and Michael Thomas, did not unlock a door to let the unknown person into the Special Housing Unit within the Metropolitan Correctional Center. That reportedly contradicts what Noel told the DOJ, when she said that the opening of the door to the area ‘requires a physical key.’ Without the key, which was supposedly only accessible to Noel and Thomas, it is unclear how the mystery person entered the unit. 

“Footage released by the government this month comes from a security camera that did not have a visual on the entire common area for Epstein’s unit. It recorded the guard’s desk, which was a floor below where Epstein was held, and only a sliver of the staircase that led to the convicted sex offender’s cell block. The limited footage is extremely grainy, making it challenging to analyze movements in the area. 

“CBS notes that the lone security camera with footage—the DOJ says other cameras were broadcast live to a security center, but their footage was lost—did not capture enough of the staircase leading to Epstein’s cell block to say definitively that the mystery person did not approach it. ‘There is no way to know from the video if it indeed was possible for someone to enter the unit and climb the stairs to Epstein’s cell without being seen,’ the network reported…

“White House officials from the administrations of both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have said that all evidence points to Epstein’s cause of death being a suicide. Still, debate over whether the alleged sex trafficker died via suicide or was murdered—as his brother, Mark, and many MAGA figures believe—has been widely debated. The CBS analysis includes the expertise of video forensics specialists. They said they saw multiple issues with the government’s conclusions about what went down on Epstein’s final night alive. Among the reported ‘discrepancies’ was a mysterious ‘orange shape’ that was recorded ascending the stairs to where Epstein’s cell was located… 

“Despite the guards on duty being required to check on Epstein every half-hour, as he was on suicide watch and temporarily did not have a cell-mate, the DOJ said no guards checked on him that night. His body was found at breakfast the next morning…” 

at.com reported on August 1: 

“President Donald Trump’s name [as well as the names of other prominent public figures were] redacted ‘numerous times’ in the Jeffrey Epstein files by an FBI team determining which information potentially could be released to the public, according to an explosive report published Friday.” 

It was also revealed that the redaction took place before it was announced that “no further disclosure” of the Epstein files “would be appropriate or warranted” (Common Dreams, August 1). 

Newsmax wrote on August 6: 

“Maxwell… reportedly told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche during their interview last month that President Donald Trump never did anything inappropriate in her presence… Maxwell, who is serving 20 years in prison after being convicted of sexually trafficking minors, further said nothing that could be considered harmful to the president…” 

Her attempt to get a pardon or at least leniency is obvious. 

Kennedy Bans Mercury in Vaccines 

Breitbart wrote on August 2: 

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr…. confirmed the move on Saturday, blasting federal health agencies for allowing a known neurotoxin to be injected into pregnant women and children for decades… Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that thimerosal, a mercury based preservative still found in flu shots given to children and pregnant women, has now been fully banned in the United States… 

“A… study found that this highly toxic mercury remains in the brain for over 27 years. Kennedy cited a CDC-funded 2017 study linking flu shots during pregnancy to miscarriage, which found the odds of miscarriage within 28 days were 7.7 times higher for women who received the vaccine. He also referenced a 2017 study… that reported an elevated risk of autism spectrum disorders in children whose mothers received a flu shot during the first trimester…

“Despite intense pressure and smears from the pharmaceutical industry and its media allies—many of whom labeled him an ‘anti-vaxxer’—Kennedy never backed down. ‘I’ve spent 20 years trying to get mercury out of vaccines,’ he declared… 

“Kennedy framed the decision as the beginning of a reform movement to restore public trust in federal health agencies… He called on global health bodies, particularly the World Health Organization and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, to end the use of mercury-based preservatives in vaccines administered to babies in developing countries… 

“The call comes just weeks after the Gates Foundation pledged $1.6 billion to GAVI, a global vaccine initiative that says it helps immunize children in poor countries. Gates [is] a longtime vaccine advocate and former associate of Jeffrey Epstein…” 

A good and much needed decision by Kennedy. 

Shroud of Turin Was Not Laid on Jesus’ Body 

The Daily Mail reported on August 1: 

“For centuries, devout Christians have flocked to the Italian city of Turin to pay their respects to one of the most famous relics in the world. The Shroud of Turin is a piece of linen, measuring 14ft 5in by 3ft 7in, that bears a faint image of the front and back of a man. Many believe that this image was created when Jesus was wrapped in the venerated shroud shortly after his death on the cross 2,000 years ago. 

“However, according to a new study, the Shroud of Turin was never laid on Jesus’ body. Brazilian 3D designer and researcher Cicero Moraes, an expert in reconstructing historical faces, says that the shroud is nothing more than a ‘masterpiece of Christian art’. Mr Moraes used digital modelling software to examine how cloth drapes over the human body compared to a low, flat sculpture of a body. These results… show that the shroud’s distinctive pattern could only have been produced by a sculpture.” 

Canada’s Shameful and Appalling Hypocrisy 

The New York Post wrote on August 2: 

“According to Canada’s top prosecutors, the only thing worse than tyranny is ‘mischief.’  And the worst possible ‘mischief’ is objecting to tyranny. 

“In a sentencing hearing earlier this week, the Canadian government sought a ludicrous eight-year sentence for Chris Barber, one of the leaders of the Covid ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest that riled Ottawa in early 2022. For another leader, Tamara Lich, the Crown asked for an outlandish seven years. 

“In April, a court ruled that Barbers and Lich were not guilty of obstructing police or intimidation during the demonstrations. But they were convicted of ‘mischief’ — in part because the truckers in the 40-mile convoy honked their horns to protest some of the most oppressive Covid mandates in the world… From the start of the pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acted as if Covid entitled him to absolute power. Anyone who refused to get the approved Covid vaccines was castigated as a public enemy…. Banks were authorized to freeze the personal accounts of anyone suspected of donating to the truckers.  

“The Covid vaccines were catastrophically failing to prevent infections at the same time Trudeau dropped an iron fist on anti-vax protestors. Almost 90% of Canadian adults had been vaccinated by the start of 2022 as Covid cases were soaring… Even though he was vaxxed and boosted, Trudeau himself came down with Covid during the trucker protest. Trudeau pretended that no Canadian had a right not to get injected because he personally proclaimed that the Covid vaccine was safe. But the rushed approval process ignored potential adverse side effects. 

“In January 2024, Canadian federal judge Richard Mosley ruled that Trudeau’s use of the Emergencies Act had been unreasonable, illegal and unconstitutional. Trudeau’s regulations ‘criminalized the attendance of every single person at those protests regardless of their actions.’  The judge slammed ‘the absence of any objective standard’ for freezing bank accounts, but the court decision provided no relief for any of the victims whose bank accounts were unjustifiably seized or whose freedom and privacy was shredded. 

“America saw similar absolute immunity for politicians who fueled fear and fabricated emergencies to seize absolute power, including New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s disastrous decree forcing nursing homes to accept Covid patients, President Joe Biden’s illegal vaccine mandate for large private companies and Covid Czar Tony Fauci’s presidential pardon for sending U.S. tax dollars to the Wuhan Institute of Virology that killed 7 million people worldwide…” 

Appalling, shameful, disgusting, despicable. You name it. 

 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.