News and Prophecy Staff

In an attempt to force better care and treatment of animals, “A US animal rights group is calling on a New York court to recognise a chimpanzee as a legal person, in what is believed to be a legal first” (BBC, December 4, 2013).

On December 1, after years of preparation and hard work, China reported landing a robotic vehicle on the moon (BBC, December 14, 2013). The lander touched down in a lunar region about which little is known (ibid.). Many wonder about China’s lunar ambitions (BBC, November 29, 2013).

According to a quietly revealed U.S. plan, the Vatican and an international coalition would control some of Jerusalem’s most holy sites (WorldNetDaily, December 15, 2013). “The exact composition of the international mandate is up for discussion… but [U.S. Secretary of State] Kerry’s plan recommended a coalition that includes the Vatican, together with a group of Muslim countries such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia” (ibid.).

“A new report claiming to be the most comprehensive look at global slavery says 30 million people are living as slaves around the world. The Global Slavery Index, published by the Australia-based Walk Free Foundation, lists India as the country with by far the most slaves, with an estimated nearly 14 million, followed by China (2.9 million) and Pakistan (2.1 million).

Muslim violence against professing Christians is rising in many parts of the world. However, in the CAR, the brutal violence appears to be the reverse (Deutsche Welle, December 5, 2013). “Christians” and others, calling themselves Anti-Balaka (anti-machete) have joined together to form militias, claiming the need for self-defense.