News and Prophecy Staff

Many people in America and abroad see the country’s moral and political decline. The U.S. president at least partially acknowledged this fact with his “Make America Great Again” slogan—you do not need to become “great again” if you are already great or unless you see the country in decline. This catchy slogan looks back to what many view as a better time.

Between 2014 and 2017, the German Environment Ministry and the Robert Koch Institute examined blood and urine samples of 2,500 children. The study found plastic by-products in 97 percent of those samples (Deutsche Welle, September 14, 2019). One of the study’s authors reported, “Our study clearly shows that plastic ingredients, which are rising in production, are also showing up more and more in the body.”

On September 14, drones and missiles, allegedly from Yemen, struck a Saudi oil refinery, causing damage that could take months to repair (The Guardian, September 16, 2019). However, Saudi Arabia and the United States have accused Iran of backing the attack. Experts warn that if Saudi Arabia responds with an attack on either Yemen or Iran, the situation will continue to escalate.

According to German news source Der Spiegel, “Never since the founding of postwar Germany have relations between Berlin and the United States been as fragile as they are today” (August 21, 2019). President Trump and Chancellor Merkel communicate very little and have not had a good relationship. In addition to President Trump’s comments that Germany needs to pay more for Europe’s defense, the U.S.

Venezuela and Colombia appear on a collision course. Due to President Maduro’s crushing economic policies, over one million Venezuelans have left the country and now reside across the border in Colombia (Deutsche Welle, September 11, 2019). Colombia has accused Venezuela of harboring terrorists who appear to be using the nation as a base from which to attack Colombia. In response, Venezuela recently sent 150,000 troops to its border with Colombia.