News and Prophecy Staff

Two weeks ago in New Delhi, the BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa held their annual meeting. Critics note that “nothing appreciable” resulted from the meeting. Others wonder what future effects this alliance between nations representing almost half of the world’s population might have.

“Pirates off the coast of Somalia will now have to contend with an EU naval force mandated on Friday by EU member states to launch attacks on its inner coastal territory.” Two French warships have now joined the four existing EU ships in order to add strength and versatility (EU Observer, March 26, 2012).

“Four [U.S.] Navy minesweepers will soon be on their way to the Persian Gulf… as part of an effort to boost American military capability in the region amid rising tensions with Iran, a Navy official says.”  In March, the U.S. Navy moved four airborne mine countermeasure helicopters to the area to assist the British who are already there.  The idea is “to beef up the American military presence in the region in the face of Iranian threats to shut down the Strait of Hormuz,” according to a plan set out by General James Mattis, head of the U.S. Central Command.  The U.S.

The Pope will turn 85 this month.  His health issues and comments he has made in the past have some expecting his resignation.  In early March, two different reports appeared in Italian newspapers (Il Foglio, March 10; and Libero, March 11), “…advancing the hypothesis that Benedict XVI might resign, in part for the sake of influencing the choice of his successor.”

On Tuesday, up to a dozen tornadoes ripped through the Dallas, Texas area, injuring 17 people, damaging 650 homes and another 300 structures, and throwing 7-ton tractor-trailers around like toys.  At the international airport, more than 100 planes were damaged, grounding 500 flights on Wednesday.  Thousands were left without power (Reuters, April 4, 2012; USA Today, April 4, 2012). 2012 has already seen about double the number of tornadoes of a typical year in this country.