Rumors of War - Iran

At least 26 dead in missile strikes on Syria base - UPI.com
UPI reports: "More than two dozen people died late Sunday when a barrage of missiles struck a military base in Syria, officials said. The Syrian military reported the airstrikes near the cities of Hama and Aleppo, but did not report causalities. [...] The airstrikes at Hama hit munitions warehouses of the 47th brigade military base, which is used by Iran. An unidentified Iranian official confirmed the death count and said about 200 ground-to-ground missiles had been destroyed. He added that Israel should expect retaliation after the May 6 parliamentary elections in Lebanon."

Benjamin Netanyahu: Iran has secret nuclear program - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday his country had thousands of pages of documents proving Iran is secretly pursuing a nuclear program. The leader, long in opposition to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, said Iran lied when it agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for a lifting of sanctions in 2015.

Comment: If Israel and Iran are starting a direct confrontation in Syria would should pay attention to this closely.

Pestilence

Bill Gates launches $12M challenge for universal flu vaccine - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Billionaire Bill Gates has announced a $12 million Grand Challenge to fund research of universal flu vaccines in preparation for the next flu pandemic. [...] The past 20 years has seen spread of severe acute upper respiratory syndrome, or SARS; H1N1 or swine flu), Ebola and Zika. The announcement comes 100 years after the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic killed 50 million people around the globe. In the United States, it killed about 675,000 people in the first five weeks after it reached the nation. If a highly contagious and lethal airborne pathogen like the 1918 flu were to occur today, more than 33 million people worldwide would die in 250 days, according to a simulation by the Institute for Disease Modeling."

Comment: Good for him, hopefully the grant money will allow scientists to made some real progress on a universal flu vaccine.

War

South, North Korea declare commitment to full denuclearization, ending war - UPI.com
UPI reports: "As highly anticipated, the two leaders decided to seek a formal end to their state of war and establish a peace treaty through trilateral efforts with the United States or a four-way meeting including China. South and North Korea are technically still at war as their 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice signed by the U.S.-led United Nations Command, North Korea and China."

Comment: One of the most extraordinary things about this is the recognition that the two sides are technically still at war. The Korean War ended in an armistice agreement, a fancy term for a ceasefire, but without a formal peace treaty ending the war.  If you don't declare peace, then the war is still on. It would indeed be an historic event if Trump was able to gather all the parties together to officially end the Korean War.

Persecution

Christians should not be second-class citizens, cardinal tells Saudi Arabia | Reuters
Reuters reports: "A senior Vatican official who last week made a historic visit to Saudi Arabia says he told authorities in the kingdom, where non-Muslim worship is banned, that Christians cannot be considered second-class citizens. French cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran’s trip, the first by such a senior Catholic figure, raised hopes of more openness in the kingdom, which is home to Islam’s holiest sites but bans the practice of other faiths. [...] Most Christians in Saudi Arabia are migrant workers and diplomats. Since churches are banned, they worship in private homes."

Comment: Isn't it amazing that there are countries in the world that allow no other religions other than the official state-sponsored religion? Do they think their faith so fragile that it could not compete in a marketplace of ideas? Please join me in praying for Christians in Saudi Arabia who practice their faith under conditions of persecution that are difficult for most of us to imagine. 

Rumors of War - Persia

Iranian president rejects U.S., French calls to modify nuclear deal - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday slammed U.S. President Donald Trump for criticizing the 2015 nuclear deal -- and said the United States cannot make every key decision pertaining to the Middle East. [...] The Iranian leader particularly took issue with calls from Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron for major changes to the nuclear deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. [...] The agreement -- reached in 2015 by Iran, China, France, Russia, Britain, United States and Germany -- gave sanctions relief for Iran in exchange for Tehran restricting its nuclear program."

Comment: The deal restricted Iran's nuclear program. If there is no deal then there are no restrictions. Iran would immediately begin in earnest to restart their nuclear program. That is something that Israel will not tolerate. So, the bottom line is that junking the deal will ignite a war in the Middle East.  I'm not sure that has been made clear to Trump. It will be interesting to see what happens in mid-May.

Persecution

At least 16 people killed in attack on Nigerian church - UPI.com:
UPI reports: "At least 16 people were killed in an attack allegedly carried out by cattle herders Tuesday on a Catholic church in Nigeria, local officials said. Gunmen opened fire and killed at least 14 parishioners and two priests in the Mbalom area of Benue state -- part of the so-called Middle Belt region, which played a pivotal part in Nigeria's elections. The area also is a hotbed for violent clashes between mostly Muslim Fulani herdsmen and mostly Christian farmers."

Comment: Please join me in praying for the church in Nigeria. 

Rumors of War - Persia

Hassan Rouhani: 'Grave consequences' if U.S. dumps nuclear deal - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned the United States Tuesday against leaving the Obama-era nuclear deal, as President Donald Trump talks it over with French President Emmanuel Macron. [...] Trump blamed Iran for multiple conflicts in the Middle East, including in Syria and in Yemen, while Macron said the goal was to 'contain Iran and its presence in the region.' [...] Russian Foreign Secretary Sergei Lavrov said he and his Chinese counterpart had agreed to block any U.S. attempt to sabotage the deal."

Comment: It's true that Iran has recently become much more aggressive in pursuing regional hegemony in the Middle East.  Is that a result of the nuclear deal? What if Trump is right, it was a bad deal? What if that is true and at the same time it's also true that if the U.S. does back out of the Iran deal, it sets a precedent that undermines disarmament talks with North Korea. It's a real conundrum. Trump may be tempted to say that the two issues are not related, but clearly the rest of the world will not see it that way. Either the U.S. is a reliable negotiator or not. There is very little middle ground.

False Christs

Allison Mack, 'Smallville' actress accused of sex trafficking, freed on $5M bail - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A federal judge in Brooklyn set actress Allison Mack's bail at $5 million Tuesday as she faces charges for sex trafficking for an alleged cult leader. [...] Variety reported Mack is likely to cut a deal with prosecutors to provide information on Keith Raniere, the founder of Nxivm, an Albany, N.Y.-based self-help group whose stated goal is to 'empower people,' but that prosecutors allege was a cult that coerced women into sex and forced labor."

Comment: Isn't it shocking that people still create and join cults in the 21st Century?  It seems like something so old school and yet that human yearning that forms the basis of cults is still there, an emptiness in the human heart that can only be filled by God. All religion is a human attempt to reach out to God. It's one-sided, easily corrupted and ultimately futile. Yet people still keep creating new religions, trendy new cults, great new paths to enlightenment that somehow only enrich the founders. There is no need for it. God does the reaching out in Jesus, he is God's answer to human brokenness, he is the only answer you will ever need.

Wickedness Increases

At least 10 killed as van strikes pedestrians in Toronto - UPI.com
UPI reports: "At least 10 were killed and 15 others were injured when a white van plowed into several pedestrians in Toronto on Monday, police said. Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said the crash, which occurred at 1:30 p.m. at a busy intersection, appeared to be an intentional act but the department has little information on the suspect and his possible motives."

Comment: What a crazy world. I mean, there's nothing that can be done to prevent senseless violence caused by the wickedness in humans hearts. We are witnessing a wholesale collapse of the ability of our civilization to civilize people. Of course, it's hard to teach people right from wrong under conditions of moral relativism. 

Rumors of War - Persia

Iranian general threatens to 'annihilate' Israel - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Iran's military head said Saturday that forces are preparing to 'annihilate' Israel's Zionist regime within 25 years after recent threats between the foes. The threat from Commander of Iran's Army Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi comes while tension has escalated with an Israeli strike on an Iranian base in Syria earlier this month. [...] A day earlier, Iranian Brigadier General Hossein Salami also threatened that the Zionist regime in Israel could be totally destroyed if recent heightened tensions escalate to war."

Comment: Maybe the Iranians should not be in Syria to being with? I would note that Netanyahu has twice been to Russia to tell Putin that Israel will not tolerate a permanent Iranian presence in Syria. Putin did nothing. Actually, that's not quiet true, Putin announced that there would be a slow draw-down of Russian forces in Syria. So while the Russia may be leaving the Iranians have shown no indication of doing anything but setting up permanent bases in southern Syria. The Iranian have even recruited thousands of of Shia's from surrounding countries in a kind of militant foreign legion to beef up the Iranian forces. Not a promising sign. If the West does not act to impose an acceptable solution to the Syrian civil war then there's no doubt that there will eventually be a war between Israel and Iran.

Rumors of War

Lockheed awarded $928M for hypersonic strike weapon - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force for the hypersonic conventional strike weapon. The deal, announced Wednesday by the Department of Defense, is valued at $928 million under the terms of a indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract."

Comment: There are those who say that China's recent strategy in the South China Sea has been emboldened by a having a new generation of missiles, what they call "carrier killers" that can slice through defenses and destroy an aircraft carrier. Well, folks, it's just a good old-fashioned arms race, the U.S. is building them as well.  

Rumors of War

U.S. air force general ‘confident’ of deterrence against North Korea - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The United States is well-prepared to deter incoming North Korean missiles, should a strike occur following a breakdown in talks between the two countries. Gen. Terrance O'Shaughnessy, the U.S. Air Force's top general in the Pacific, said Tuesday at his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing that he has high confidence in U.S. capabilities should an attack be launched, Radio Free Asia reported."

Persecution

Reuters - Gunmen in Pakistan kill two Christians in drive-by shooting
Reuters reports: "Two members of Pakistan’s beleaguered Christian community were killed on Sunday in the country’s southwest when unknown gunmen opened fire on a small group that had just left a local church, police officials said. The churchgoers were on their way home in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s Baluchistan province, when two men on a motorcycle began shooting at them, local police official Ataullah Shah told Reuters. Eight wounded were taken to hospital and two people were pronounced dead. [...] Baluchistan, a region bordering Iran as well as Afghanistan, is plagued by violence by Sunni Islamist sectarian groups linked to the Taliban, al Qaeda and Islamic State."

Comment: Please join me in praying for the persecuted church in Pakistan. 

Final Empire

French President Emmanuel Macron decries 'national selfishness' - UPI.com
UPI reports: "French President Emmanuel Macron urged the European Union on Tuesday to renew its commitment to democracy for protection in a world troubled by wars and authoritarian regimes. During a speech to more than 700 lawmakers, the president pushed for a more united Europe, likening political divisions to a civil war and decried populist sentiment as 'nationalist selfishness.'"

Comment: For generations Bible prophecy commentators have based their expectation's for Europe on the prophecies in the Book of Daniel. Rome, they say, is the once and future empire. The ancient empire that was never really defeated will return to rule once again they say. Yet today we see that Europe is less united than it was only a decade ago. The European Union seems intent on a slow motion unraveling, with Eurocrats busy forging ahead with a unity dream that is no longer in the hearts of their increasingly nationalist constituents. Some of this fragmentation is the fault of the bureaucrats who failed to understand the strain the influx of immigrants would cause on national sensibilities. Part of it is also a result of cold calculation, as Putin covertly supports far right and fringe parties to further the goal of fragmentation and division. So whether by accident or agenda, the European Union of the 21st Century is in more danger of dissolving that at any time in history. Macron is a voice for stability and unity, but is Europe listening?

Kings of the East

Japan signals interest in China's One Belt, One Road initiative - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Tokyo and Beijing discussed shared concerns, including the imposition of high U.S. tariffs on imported steel, a measure that would affect Chinese and Japanese producers. Wang also invited the top Japanese diplomat to consider participating in China's One Belt One Road network of global trade. Kono said Japan would be willing to pursue projects within the network that 'meet the standards of the international community.'"

Comment: Trump's neo-isolationism will impair U.S. leadership but is a boon to Asian economic development. China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative is one of the most ambitious and creative development projects since the Marshall Plan. It has the potential to anchor China firmly at the center of Mideast, European and Asian economic security.

Rumors of War - Doomed Damascus

President Donald Trump orders precision strikes on Syrian targets - UPI.com
UPI reports:  "One week after a suspected chemical attack on civilians the United States blamed on the Syrian government, President Donald Trump on Friday ordered strikes on Syrian targets. [...] The move comes after days of warnings by the U.S. president to the Assad regime and its supporter, the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin. [...] Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the strikes targeted three sites in Syria specifically associated with chemical weapons production. [...] Trump said the operation would be conducted in cooperation with the militaries of France and Britain. [...] Trump blamed Iran and Russia for their support of the Assad regime, saying Moscow has failed to live up to its guarantee to make sure the Syrian government got rid of its chemical weapons."

Comment: It remains to be seen if this strike will be similar to the strike last April or if this leads to a reaction or counter-strike from Russia or Iran. 

Rumors of War

AP - UN chief warns that Mideast 'chaos' threatens global peace
The AP reports: "Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Friday that the Middle East is in such 'chaos' that it has become a threat to international peace and security — and Syria 'represents the most serious threat.' The U.N. chief told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that the highly volatile situation in the region risks 'escalation, fragmentation and division as far as the eye can see, with profound regional and global ramifications.' 'The Cold War is back — with a vengeance but with a difference,' Gutteres warned. And he said the safeguards and mechanisms that managed the risk of escalation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in the past 'no longer seem to be present.'"

Comment: I think it's always noteworthy when the Secretary General of the United Nations, the world body created from the ashes of world war to maintain peace, warns that peace is under threat. 

Rumors of War - Doomed Damascus

Donald Trump dials back Syria message as Britain, Germany mull response - UPI.com
UPI reports: "President Donald Trump indicated Thursday that an attack on Syria may not be imminent -- in a tweet with a much different message than one he sent a day earlier to 'get ready' for a missile strike. [...] British Prime Minister Theresa May was set to hold a cabinet meeting Thursday to discuss possibly joining the United States and allies in military action, saying the weekend chemical attack on Douma 'cannot go unchallenged.' May and Trump spoke by phone on Wednesday, in which they discussed the attack."

AP - Analysis: Putin unlikely to leave strike on Syria unanswered
AP reports: "If driven into a corner by a U.S. attack, Putin will be unlikely to sit back. Inaction would threaten his hard-won gains in Syria, dent Russia’s prestige and erode his tough-guy image. [...] A year ago, Putin was nurturing hopes for better ties with the U.S. under President Donald Trump. After a purported chemical weapons attack in Syria, he allowed a U.S. missile strike on a Syrian air base go unanswered, apparently trying to leave the door open for better relations with Washington. Moscow, which had received an advance tip by the U.S. to get its servicemen out of harm’s way, limited its response to angry statements of protest. With Kremlin expectations of a cozy relationship with Trump fizzling amid U.S. investigations into allegations of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, Putin is unlikely to show such tolerance now."

Comment: There seem to be many unexamined assumptions in the U.S. about another missile strike on Syria. One assumption, as the second report notes, is that Russia will respond as it did last year, with words of protest and nothing more. We don't know that they will. Another assumption is that President Trump has the authority to attack Syria without Congressional authorization. Even if we accept the stretch that the Authorization of Force (AUMF) passed by Congress in 2002 for the Iraq War covers military operations in Syria we would have to say that it only covers military operations against the Islamic State and not the government of Syria, a country we are not at war with.  At any rate, Congress seems unwilling to assert the authority it has under the Constitution and Trump no doubt feels he has the legal authority to attack as he did last year. If we move from attacking the Islamic State to attacking Syrian military forces in something more than a pinprick attack (for PR purposes) then do we make ourselves a party to the civil war and a target for Syrian, Russian and Iranian forces? There are many ways a missile attack either alone or with allies can go wrong and very few ways it can go right. At this point, I find myself hoping that Trump opts for the same kind of attack as last April: heavy on symbolism and light on actual damage or casualties.

Rumors of War

Trump warning: 'Get ready' for U.S. missile strike on Syria - UPI.com
UPI reports: "After a Russian diplomat warned that any U.S. missiles fired at Syria will be shot down and their launch sites targeted, President Donald Trump fired back Wednesday -- telling Russia to 'get ready.' 'Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and 'smart!', Trump said in a tweet. 'You shouldn't be partners with a Gas Killing Animal who kills his people and enjoys it!' [...] Trump had said Monday a response to the Syria attack would come within days."

Comment: I find it extraordinary that this is the same Trump who said on the campaign trail that he would never telegraph his military moves the way Obama did.  On the one hand, this is good because it minimizes the danger that an American missile strike could kill Russian soldiers. Avoiding WWIII is always a good move. On the other hand, it sets up the possibility that Trump is contemplating a missile strike like the one last April that proved to be a good PR stunt but did nothing to deter Assad from further use of chemical weapons. I suppose it will depend on what Trump wants to do, a gesture or meaningful damage to Syrian military infrastructure. There are also other press reports that suggest coordination with allies like the UK and France is going on behind the scenes, so perhaps a broader international military effort may soon be underway.

Rumors of War

Trump backs out of Peru summit to monitor Syria situation - UPI.com:
UPI reports: "The trip's cancellation comes days a chemical weapons attack in Syria that killed as many as 75 people, including children. Trump and Defense Secretary James Mattis on Monday said they're not ruling out the possibility of military action against the Syrian government."

Comment: We may be on the verge of a major military action coordinated with allied nations, a major strike at Syria. The danger is the we may see Western forces kill Russians and Iranians with very severe possible consequences. Stay tuned. 

Rumors of War

Reuters - Trump vows quick action in response to suspected chemical attack in Syria Reuters reports: "President Donald Trump on Monday promised quick, forceful action in response to a deadly suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria, appearing to suggest a potential military response. Speaking at a meeting with military leaders and national security advisers, Trump said he would make a decision by Monday night 'or very shortly thereafter' on a response, adding that the United States had 'a lot of options militarily' on Syria. [...] The Syria conflict was further complicated on Monday when unidentified war planes struck a Syrian air base near Homs, killing at least 14 people, including Iranian personnel. Syria and Russia accused Israel of carrying out the attack."

Comment: I wonder sometimes if we are so jaded by the pace of events that we need to stand back and wonder at the spectacle of this, the idea that in the Syrian war zone we have Syrian regular army forces, Russian troops, Iranian militias and now American soldiers on the ground and the Israeli air force also in action in the skies above. It's an incredibly dangerous situation.

Rumors of War

ABC - China's new defence chief visits Russia to 'let the Americans know' about their deep military ties
ABC.NET reports: "China's new defence minister has said his visit to Russia is a signal to the United States about the increasingly close military ties between Moscow and Beijing. [...] Moscow and Beijing have forged what they described as a 'strategic partnership,' expressing their shared opposition to the 'unipolar' world — the term they use to describe perceived US global domination. As part of their burgeoning military cooperation, Moscow and Beijing have conducted joint military manoeuvrers, including exercises in the South China Sea and last summer's joint navy drills in the Baltics."

Comment: At a time when the new American president seems intent on undermining the institutions of the post-WWII order a new counter-order is rising. China have ostensibly fully subscribed to the post-war world order, they are full members of the UN Security Council and other major international bodies, but they are also in accord on their opposition to American leadership. I suppose it's fair to say that they are not so much opposed the the post-war system, it's just that they want to be the leaders of the world system and not the United States. At some point, such profound differences will no longer be contained by diplomacy and will spill over into overt conflict. This has become a very dangerous time in world history.

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

U.S. strike group enters South China Sea as China deploys aircraft carrier - UPI.com
UPI reports: "China's deployment of its aircraft carrier to waters near Hainan Island is taking place as the U.S. Navy's Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group enters the South China Sea, according to a Hong Kong press report. [...] China has claimed as much as 90 percent of international waters as its own within what it calls the 'nine-dash line' that extends more than 1,200 miles from the Chinese mainland."

Comment: Let that last sentence sink in, "China has claimed as much as 90 percent of international waters as its own," and you see the crux of the problem. The laws, traditions and customs that govern the seas have been well established by sea-going nations and they are, in short, nothing new. China knows full well that they are claiming more than they are entitled to under international law. They have adopted the simple and arrogant attitude of a thug: yeah, who's gonna stop me?

Rumors of War

Van plows into crowd in Germany, killing 2 - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Two people died and some 30 others were injured Saturday when a delivery van plowed into a crowd of outdoor diners in a western German city, authorities said. The incident occurred in Muenster, near the Kiepenkerl statue, around 3:30 p.m., the BBC reported. Police said the van's driver shot himself to death. [...] It also occurred on the one-year anniversary of the Stockholm terror attack in Sweden where a suspect drove a stolen truck into a crowd of pedestrians on a busy street, and four people were killed with several other people injured."

Comment: Was this an attack by a member or fan of the Islamic State? It is apparently too early in the investigation to tell, but the attack was carried out on the anniversary of another terror attack, so it's very likely to be inspired by IS at the very least.

Gog Alliance - King of the Norther - Persia

Russia, Turkey and Iran begin Ankara summit to discuss Syria - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A trilateral summit began in Ankara on Wednesday as the presidents of Turkey, Russia and Iran try to chart Syria's future following seven years of war. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani met in the Turkish capital to discuss progress made in the war-torn country for the first time since November. [...] Despite their differences, Putin highlighted the close relationship between Russia and Iran during the summit."

Comment: The strategic relationship between Russia, Iran and Turkey is probably one of the most significant prophetic developments in the last decade.  Let's keep an eye on these guys!

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

Report: China’s anti-stealth radar can detect U.S. fighter jets - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Chinese military has reportedly reached a "significant milestone" in its development of new radar capable of detecting stealth airplanes. Chinese state tabloid Global Times reported Wednesday Chinese scientists have developed new military radar technology that could detect stealth bombers and fighters in areas of the Pacific Ocean beyond Chinese borders."

Comment: I wonder if we should start some kind of countdown clock? When will the South China Sea War start? I don't think it's in the interest of any major power to have this war now, but I can see how the spirit of nationalism at work in China makes it all but inevitable at some point in the future. International maritime borders have long been established but China will soon be in a position to claim and defend a vastly larger area than current maritime law allows. At that time the choice will be to either accede to China's claims or to contest them.

Gog Alliance - King of the North

Putin meets Erdogan to start work on Turkey's first nuclear power plant - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Ankara on Tuesday to launch Turkey's first nuclear power plant with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. [...] In recent years, Turkey has developed closer political ties with Moscow. Last week, Turkey announced that it would not follow its NATO allies who ousted Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of an Russian ex-spy in Britain. The nuclear plant launch comes ahead of a summit between Erdogan, Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Turkey on Wednesday."

Comment: This would be surreal if it weren't so expected. Turkey used to be an officially secular country, a democracy and a staunch member of the NATO alliance. Now Turkey is an Islamic dictatorship and has all but renounced the Western alliance while making a new alliance with Russia. How much longer will NATO allow Turkey to remain a member?

Pestilence

CDC: 'Nightmare bacteria' showing up in U.S. - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday has issued a warning that a "nightmare bacteria" resistant to most antibiotics is showing up in parts of the United States. [...] More than 23,000 Americans die each year from infections caused by germs resistant to antibiotics, the agency says. [...] Drug resistant infections will kill an additional 10 million people a year worldwide by 2050 unless action is taken, according to a 2014 study by the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, a nongovernment advocacy group. That's more than currently die from cancer."

Comment: And yet for all of that alarmism, most hospitals already have the equipment and procedures in place to prevent the transmission of such bugs but struggle to do basic prevention, like washing hands and sanitizing equipment.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 6.8 earthquake strikes Bolivia - The Washington Post:
The Washington Post reports: "A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Bolivia on Monday, but it was so deep that there were no reports of injuries or damage. [...] The San Calixto Observatory in La Paz said that it is one of the most powerful quakes on record in Bolivia, but that there was no damage because it was so deep. Only light tremors were felt in Bolivia’s capital and other cities. But the quake caused people to evacuate office buildings that swayed as far away as Sao Paulo, Brazil, some 1,800 miles (3,000 kilometers) from Tarija."

Comment: They are very lucky such a large quake did not strike closer to the surface, it could have caused major damage.

Rumors of War - Kings of the East

China retaliates with $3B in new tariffs on U.S. imports - UPI.com
UPI reports: "New punitive tariffs by China on imported products from the United States -- retaliation for fiscal penalties imposed by President Donald Trump's administration -- took effect Monday. [...] China's new tariffs affect 128 U.S. products across seven categories, worth about $3 billion."

Comment: Starting the new month with a trade war, what could possibly go wrong?

Signs & Wonders in the Heavens

2 airline pilots report seeing UFO while flying over Arizona - CBS News
CBS News reports: "While flying at over 30,000 feet in the air over Arizona, two airline pilots claim an unidentified flying object flew over top their planes. CBS Denver reports that both planes reported the sighting. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also released a recording of the radio broadcasts [...] The radio logs come three months after video captured by U.S. Navy pilots offered an inside look at a secretive government program that investigated UFOs. The little-known Pentagon program had a budget of about $22 million, according to the civilian intelligence officer who used to run it. Most of the sightings it looked at were by U.S. military personnel, who have been reporting UFO sightings for decades."

Comment: It's getting pretty busy up there, wonder what's up?

Famine

Climate change to increase risk of food insecurity - UPI.com
UPI reports: "According to a new study, rising global temperatures will threaten many populations' access to affordable, nutritious food. Global warming, or climate change, is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, including droughts and floods. [...] Drought risks are likely to be most pronounced in southern Africa and South America, while Asia could be at greater risk of flooding. If global temperatures rise by 2 degrees Celsius, the flow of the River Ganges could more than double."

Comment: As we note man-made famine in the war zones of Africa, it's worth remembering that nature can also cause severe shortages. 

Gospel Preached to All Nations

Celebrating Easter Around The World : The Two-Way : NPR
NPR reports: "For Christians around the world, the Holy Week and Easter are a time to celebrate Jesus Christ's return to Jerusalem, his crucifixion and his resurrection. In some countries, that can mean lighting candles, attending ceremonies and watching solemn processions go by. In others, it can be a chance to dance, make music and eat special foods."

Comment: On this Resurrection Sunday I'd found this great collection of photos from NPR showing how Easter is being celebrated by Christians all over the world, really nicely done. He is risen!