Ten Kings - Global Government

Trump arrives in France for G7 summit amid disputes, dines with Macron - UPI.com
UPI reports: "President Donald Trump arrived in France on Saturday ahead of the G7 summit amid global disputes and economic uncertainty over trade war with China. [...]The summit's host, French President Emmanuel Macron, said he wants to address raging wildfires in the Amazon rainforest, but the slowing global economy appears to be the most pressing matter."

Comment: Without strong American leadership it's difficult to see how the Western powers will deal effectively with the many global problems on the agenda.  Perhaps the erosion of these institutions is a necessary precursor to establishing more effective mechanisms of global control?

Ten Kings

South American nations form new regional group
UPI reports: "Several South American leaders met Friday to create a new regional group after a previous decade-old attempt to achieve broader regional integration failed to achieve unity. [...] Argentina's Mauricio Macri, Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro, Colombia's Ivan Duque, Ecuador's Lenin Moreno, Paraguay's Mario Abdo and Peru's Martin Vizcarra met Friday with Pinera in Santiago to start a new regional organization named Prosur and replace Unasur as the biggest regional group, Chile's La Tercera reported."

Comment: It's been a while since the last regional grouping was created, so this is noteworthy.  As you know, there are a number of large regional groups (like the European Union and African Union) but there are also many smaller groupings, and this one joins that list. It's noteworthy because many BP commentators believe that in the future the world will be divided into ten regional groupings under the leadership of ten governors (kings according to Rev 17:12-14) and so we like to keep tabs on the status of these groups.

Ten Kings

G7 leaders defend summit after President Donald Trump disowns free trade communique - UPI.com
UPI reports: "British Prime Minister Theresa May called on the United States Monday to honor agreements that were made at the G7 summit in Canada. The British leader echoed disappointment from other leaders that President Donald Trump first agreed to a communique for 'free, fair and mutually beneficial trade' and the reduction of 'tariff barriers,' but later tweeted he wouldn't endorse the deal. May said Britain will honor the agreement."

Comment: They used to call the American president the "leader of the free world." Did you ever imagine there would be a time when that was no longer true? Strange days indeed. If the U.S. relinquishes the leadership role do you think that maybe this is setting the stage for another leader to take the role?

Global Government - Ten Kings

African countries create largest free trade area since WTO - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The leaders of 44 African countries signed a historic trade agreement Wednesday to create the largest free trade area since the creation of the World Trade Organization in 1995. The countries signed the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement during the 10th Extraordinary Session of African Union Heads of State in Kigali, Rwanda. Ten African Union countries, including Nigeria, refused to sign the deal. The agreement eliminates certain barriers to trade, including tariffs and import quotas, in order to boost commerce and the economy. Each of the signed countries would need to ratify the deal before the bloc is formally created."

Comment: This is an interesting development. I know there are certain BP commentators who suggest that eventually the world will be divided up into ten trade blocs. This will allow for a level of economic integration that could presage true political integration on a global scale. This seems unlikely given how popular nationalist sentiment remains today but nonetheless, that's what they say will happen. I'm keeping an open mind on this one.

Final World Kingdom

EU leaders renew fraying Union's vows on 60th anniversary | Reuters
Reuters reports: "Europeans must contain their squabbling and carping about the EU if the Union is to survive, leaders warned on Saturday as they marked the 60th anniversary of its founding in Rome by signing a formal declaration of unity. Four days before Prime Minister Theresa May, absent from the ceremony in the Italian capital, delivers an unprecedented blow to the bloc's growth by filing Britain's formal exit papers, her fellow leaders hailed 60 years of peace and prosperity and pledged to deepen a unity frayed by regional and global crises. But days of wrangling about the wording of a 1,000-word Rome Declaration, May's impending Brexit confirmation and tens of thousands of protesters gathering beyond the tight police cordon around the Campidoglio Palace offered a more sober reminder of the challenges of holding the 27 nations to a common course."

Comment: Will the EU survive this year? Perhaps it will break up into smaller blocs or maybe remain united but with a small inner core forging ever greater unity as part of the "two speed" Europe so many have talked about. Stay tuned!

Ten Kings - Final Kingdom

EU permanent military headquarters proposed by Jean-Claude Juncker - UPI.com
UPI reports: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker proposed on Wednesday the EU establish a military headquarters to build toward a permanent common defense force. Juncker made the comments in Strasbourg, France, during the annual state of the union address, which was partly devoted to the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the 'Brexit' vote. He said the U.K.'s departure should increase the necessity for greater European cooperation in defense."

Comment: We all know that NATO is the most successful military alliance in history. Why then does the EU leader think his organization needs a military wing? Wouldn't an EU military wing undermine the Western alliance by diverting funds away from NATO and dividing the loyalties of member countries? Who benefits from such an arrangement? More importantly, what does it mean for the grater Euro-Med region?

Global Government - Ten Kings

World leaders gather in China for G20 summit - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Leaders from various countries throughout the world have gathered in China to discuss global issues at the G20 summit. The Group of 20 assembly held in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, on Sunday and Monday, will feature leaders from the world's leading industrialized and emerging economies."

War - Global Government - Ten Kings

G7 leaders agree on plan to combat terrorism financing - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Finance ministers from the Group of Seven pledged to work more closely to stop the global funding of terrorism following a meeting in Japan. The G7 nations agreed to an 'action plan' that includes sharing financial and intelligence data in order to halt the international flow of money to terrorist elements like the Islamic State and al Qaida. [...] The G7 consists of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Great Britain and Italy. Russia was expelled from what was the G8 after it annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine."

Ten Kings - Global Government

My Way News - SE Asia formally creates regional economic community
My Way News reports: "Southeast Asian leaders on Sunday formally created a unified economic community in a diverse region far larger than the European Union or North America, with hopes of competing with China and India. The 10 leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations signed a declaration during their summit establishing the ASEAN Economic Community, originally envisioned in 2002."

Global Government - Ten Kings

My Way News - United States, 11 Pacific Rim countries reach trade deal
My Way News reports: "The countries reached a contentious trade pact Monday that cuts trade barriers, sets labor and environmental standards and protects multinational corporations' intellectual property after marathon negotiating sessions in Atlanta through the weekend. The Trans-Pacific Partnership is designed to encourage trade between the United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Together, the countries account for 40 percent of world economic output."

Global Government - Ten Kings - Rumors of War

My Way News - Behind tough talk on Russia, G-7 leaders face tough reality
My Way News reports: "Behind the tough talk on Russia expected from President Barack Obama and other leaders gathering in Germany this weekend is a stark reality. None of the world powers believes the economic and diplomatic punishments levied on Russia for its alleged aggression in Ukraine are changing President Vladimir Putin's calculus, yet there are no plans to shift strategies."

Comment: The G7 Summit is here and it reminds us how much the world has changed. It used to be called the G8 before they kicked Russia out and even though Russia will not be represented at the gathering in Bavaria, it will still be at the top of the agenda. What to do about Russia? 

Kings of the East

My Way News - China, Japan hold finance talks stalled amid tensions
My Way News reports: "Chinese and Japanese finance ministers held talks Saturday to deepen economic cooperation that had been delayed for about two years over strained relations between the Asian giants. [...] Saturday's talks were the fifth round of dialogue between the finance ministers from the world's second- and third-largest economies."

Global Government - Ten Kings

My Way News - Top finance officials debate what's needed for global growth
My Way News reports: "Economic growth that's not as strong as everyone would like. Volatile markets. A potential financial blowup in Greece. Those were three of the most pressing topics hanging over top finance officials from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies at their gathering in Dresden, Germany. Finance ministers and central banks traded ideas on growth-boosting reforms and discussed financial markets and monetary policy. The talks were marked by concern over growth that is uneven and below long-term averages."

Rumors of War - War - Persia

My Way News - Saudi-Iran rivalry over Yemen deepens Mideast sectarianism
My Way News reports: "Saudi Arabia's government insists it is not at war with Iran despite its three-week air campaign against Tehran-backed rebels in Yemen, but the kingdom's powerful clerics, and its regional rival's theocratic government, are increasingly presenting the conflict as part of a region-wide battle for the soul of Islam. [...] The Saudi government says its coalition of 10 Arab countries is bombing the Houthi rebels in Yemen to restore the country's internationally recognized president, who was forced to seek refuge in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis and the U.S. accuse Iran of arming the Houthis, but Tehran says it only provides aid and political support."

Global Government

My Way News - G-20 says close to goal of $2 trillion in growth
My Way News reports: "Finance chiefs from the 20 largest economies said on Sunday they are close to reaching their goal of boosting world GDP by more than $2 trillion over the next five years, and will focus on infrastructure investment to help reach the target.[...] The G-20, which represents about 85 percent of the global economy, said an analysis of those initiatives show they should boost the combined gross domestic product of member countries by 1.8 percent above levels expected for the next five years — just short of the group's target of 2 percent."

Final Kingdom - Ten Kings

My Way News - EU ministers squabble over strict deficit limits
My Way News reports: "The push for more leeway comes as the eurozone is emerging from years of crisis that had threatened the very survival of the currency used by 330 million people. At the heart of the crisis were countries that had amassed so much debt that their borrowing costs spiraled out of control as investors took flight. Facing bankruptcy, five countries needed rescue loans from their European peers. [...] The bloc's 28 leaders are set to discuss policy priorities for the next Commission at their summit next week."

Global Government

My Way News - Jordan wins Security Council seat, replaces Saudis
My Way News reports: "The U.N. General Assembly elected Jordan to the Security Council on Friday to replace Saudi Arabia, which rejected the seat it won in an unprecedented act to protest the council's failure to end the Syrian and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. [...] The Security Council has five permanent members with veto power - the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France - and 10 elected members who serve two-year terms. Since joining the world body in 1955, Jordan has held the seat twice before. It will join four other newcomers to the council on Jan. 1 - Chad, Nigeria, Lithuania and Chile."

Doomed Damascus

My Way News - 10 G20 nations join US in blaming Assad for attack
My Way News reports: "Ten members of the Group of 20 international economies joined the United States in accusing the Syrian government of carrying a chemical weapons attack on civilians last month and called for a strong international response against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. [...] The countries are Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom."

NYT - The G-20’s Rising Clout 
The New York Times reports: "The Russian president’s welcome message to the participants of the G-20 summit that begins on Thursday in St. Petersburg asserts that the meeting 'will confirm the G-20’s role as an efficient mechanism for coordinating the world’s leading economies’ approaches to global economy and finance.' It will do no such thing. It will not produce novel ideas about 'growth through trust and transparency.' It will not be remembered for promoting 'quality jobs and investment.' Rather, it will be remembered as the meeting where the G-20 took over the role of the United Nations Security Council."

My Way News - G-8 summit turns focus to clampdown on tax-dodging

My Way News reports: "World leaders at the G-8 summit have declared that governments must work together to close loopholes that allow multinational companies to avoid paying taxes in their home countries. [...] The summit is concluding with rapid-fire statements by each departing leader. Obama continues his European trip Tuesday night in Germany."

My Way News - UK's Cameron rallies world leaders to N.Ireland
My Way News reports: "Speaking hours ahead of the summit's official opening at a lakeside golf resort, Cameron said he expects formal agreement to launch negotiations on a European-American free trade agreement. He said a pact to slash tariffs on exports would boost employment and growth on both sides of the Atlantic. 'This will be a summit that will drive growth and prosperity all over the world,' Cameron declared as he arrived at the summit venue ahead of leaders from the United States, Canada, Russia, Germany, France, Italy and Japan as well as the 27-nation European Union."