News and Prophecy Staff

NATO and Europe distrust Russia because of the situation in Crimea and beyond (AFP, May 19, 2016) and Russia is increasing its military activity in response to NATO’s actions (Aljazeera, May 4, 2016; Time, May 4, 2016).  Re

After 43 years as a member of the European Economic Community and the European Union, the British people voted last week to leave the EU. In a close vote (roughly 52% for departure, 48% for remaining “in”), Britons cast their vote for national sovereignty and control of their own borders (Deutsche Welle, June 24, 2016).

Omar Mateen, a Muslim claiming an affiliation with ISIS, killed 49 people in a homosexual nightclub in Orlando, Florida—“the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history” (Associated Press, June 13, 2016).  This event leaves many “around the world wondering why mass violence keeps happening in America” (Associated Press, June 13, 2016).

South America is facing a host of mounting problems. In Colombia, drug lords and narcotics trafficking have generated years of violence, corrupted the political and economic systems and contributed to a growing domestic drug problem (The Guardian, April 18, 2016).

This week, the people of Britain will make a momentous decision, whether to leave or remain within the European Union. The desire to leave is driven by the loss of sovereignty to EU institutions, a surging wave of immigrants and the growing feeling that Britain is no longer British. The pressure to stay within the EU is driven by fears of what life may be like outside the EU. European leaders also fear a vote by the Brits to leave could trigger a meltdown of the EU, if other nations decide to follow the British example.