News and Prophecy Staff

“Dangerous sewage pathogens have been found ‘hitchhiking’ on plastic litter washed up on some of Scotland’s finest bathing beaches, raising concerns from scientists the phenomenon could have far-reaching implications for human health worldwide” (The Guardian, March 11, 2019).

Newly released General Social Survey data analyzed by Eastern Illinois University faculty member Ryan Burge indicates that the proportion of the U.S. population claiming to be “nones”—individuals with no religious affiliation—continues to rise (Religion News, March 21, 2019). Nones now make up 23.1 percent of Americans—on par with the most prevalent religious groups, Evangelicals (22.5%) and Catholics (23%).

“All of Israel is within range of Hezbollah’s missiles, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Maj.-Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said in an interview with Iranian media on Sunday” (Jerusalem Post, March 18, 2019). Most of Hezbollah’s missiles are supplied by Iran. Iran has also developed an army of drones and is producing its own submarine with ballistic missile capabilities.

A recent “bomb cyclone” brought devastating rains, snowmelt and flooding to the American Midwest, the region known as the “bread basket” of the United States. In Nebraska alone, officials estimate $1.4 billion in losses—mainly in crops and cattle (Smithsonian, March 21, 2019). Nebraska’s governor noted that following a flood of far less severity in 2011, it took over 100 days for flood waters to subside.

Egypt’s president Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi recently became chairman of the 55-member African Union at its 32nd ordinary session in Ethiopia (Deutsche Welle, February 10, 2019). Chairman el-Sisi will hold the position for the next year, and pledged to focus on financial reform, combatting illegal immigration, and the security of the African continent, as well as on encouraging continental free trade, and job creation for Africa’s youth.