News and Prophecy Staff

“Scientists warn that parts of southern Africa already hit by record droughts now face another potential food crisis because [of] the invasion of a crop-eating pest, known as the ‘fall armyworm’” (BBC, February 14, 2017). Experts are unsure of how this caterpillar, native to the Americas, arrived in Africa, and the pest has arrived following two years of drought. “South Africa, the region’s biggest maize producer, has confirmed the destruction of crops from the pest in six different provinces.

China “accounted for a third of Asia’s military spending in 2016 and was looking to sell more arms abroad, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) said… On air power, China ‘appears to be reaching near-parity with the West,’ IISS said, adding that Chinese-made drones had been seen in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia” (Deutsche Welle, February 14, 2017). Russia is also becoming more aggressive in its military role across the globe.

The summer of 2017 could see historic changes in Europe. The Brits will begin their exit from the EU, and “the Netherlands, France and Germany are holding general elections this year, in which populist anti-EU parties are expected to make strong showings” (The Telegraph, February 11, 2017).

January brought record-setting summer weather to New Zealand. In the eastern parts of the country, extreme drought is causing problems. Yet, in the west of the South Island, rainfall has been more than double what is typical, and the flooding rains are causing problems for farmers and leaving damaged and water-logged pastures. Dry conditions in the east are rivaling or breaking records that have stood for 100 years (New Zealand Herald, January 31, 2017).

Iran is testing the waters with the new American President. “Iran conducted its first ballistic missile test under Donald Trump’s presidency… U.N. resolution 2231—put in place days after the Iran nuclear deal was signed—calls on the Islamic Republic not to conduct such tests. However, this is at least Iran’s second such test since July” (Fox News, January 30, 2017).