IRAN - Iranian MPs have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a bill that would see Jerusalem recognized as the capital of the Palestinian State during a parliamentary session Sunday. The motion was backed by 187 of the 233 deputies, with 15 voting against and 9 abstaining, Iranian media reported. The measure will become Article 1 of the new legislation that stipulates Iran's support for Palestine which the parliament will debate over the next two days.
USA - Next fall, the prestigious Swarthmore College will introduce a course called “Queering the Bible.” The course, which will launch in the fall of 2018 through Swarthmore’s religion department, will examine the Bible through a queer lens. It will examine issues of sex, gender, and identity as they present themselves in one of human history’s most influential texts.
UK - The London Assembly has been called “illiberal” and Orwellian after voting to call on the mayor “to clarify the powers available to [police] to arrest and prosecute” pro-life campaigners who pray near abortion clinics and offer support to mothers, accusing them of “harassment”.
USA - Donald Trump tweeted that the US “foolishly spent” $7 trillion in the Middle East, urging for money to be invested in rebuilding his own country. Trump’s Twitter statement published on Friday initially focused on economic issues, but eventually took aim at the US policy in the Middle East.
USA - According to a recent study, parents may need to pay closer attention to the animated movies that their children watch because these films could be “fueling the obesity crisis.” Almost all films for children showcase unhealthy food. Out of all the top-grossing children’s films released in recent years, 87 percent show unhealthy food and all of them include “obesity-promoting behavior,” revealed the study.
UNITED NATIONS - Conflicts today are longer — more than 20 years on average — and often involve multiple armed groups competing for control of government institutions, natural resources and territory, the UN chief said Wednesday. Secretary General Antonio Guterres told a Security Council meeting on the growing complexity of challenges to international peace and security that “we are seeing not only a quantitative but also a qualitative change.” “The perils of nuclear weapons are again front and center, with tensions higher than they have been since the end of the Cold War,” he said. Guterres didn’t name any countries but he has repeatedly urged North Korea to halt its escalating nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
GERMANY - In January, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) will begin official soundings with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) on the formation of a new federal government. This was agreed unanimously by the party presidium and executive, SPD chairman Martin Schulz announced at a press conference in Berlin on Friday. The talks about forming a coalition are to proceed quickly and, if possible, be completed by the second week of January.
EUROPE - It’s open season for political obituaries of Angela Merkel. But it’s too soon to count out the veteran chancellor, the EU’s longest-serving leader, who’s been in office since 2005. Merkel is likely to bounce back in 2018 with a new government committed to moving European integration forward in partnership with Emmanuel Macron. After all, hugging the charismatic, youthful French president close looks like the German chancellor’s best survival strategy. “Macron may be more of a visionary, but Angela Merkel is the best plumber in the world,” says one German industrialist, adding that partnering with the centrist French leader would give the former East German quantum chemist a new lease on power.
PHILIPPINES - At last 133 people have been killed and dozens are missing in the Philippines after severe tropical storm Vinta (Tembin) unleashed mudslides and flooding, officials told media. A whole village of 2,000 was reportedly wiped out. Casualties were reported in the towns of Tubod, El Salvador, and Munai, and Lanao del Norte province, all located on the main southern island of Mindanao.
ISRAEL - Following in the footsteps of the US, Israel announced its exit from UNESCO, citing its “attacks” on the Jewish state. The move comes after 128 UN members voted to reject the US’ recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The decision was based on the UN-run agency’s “attempts to disconnect Jewish history from the land of Israel,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said. He added that the official letter of withdrawal will be submitted by the end of the year and that Israel will effectively leave the organization by the end of 2018.
USA - More and more people around the world are choosing to "marry" themselves in symbolic ceremonies, and businesses are catering to the trend. But what motivates someone to say "yes" to themselves? In the summer of 2000, New York-based performance artist Gabrielle Penabaz decided to throw a wedding party for herself while nursing a broken heart.
ITALY - After 15 days straight of fires, more than 1600 hectares [approx 4000 acres] have been reduced to ashes. Police are hunting down arsonists. But weather forecasts are even more frightening. Rescue assistance has therefore been stepped up with shifts involving more than 400 men including volunteers, firefighters, new helicopters and Canadair airplanes to combat flames from above. Even the Italian army has been alerted to defend housing, residents and infrastructure.
USA - The Thomas Fire, which charred 273,400 acres, is now the largest wildfire in modern California history, according to Cal Fire. The Cedar Fire that erupted in San Diego in October 2003 was the largest wildfire in state history after it burned through 273,246 acres and destroyed 2,820 structures. Since December 4, the stubborn Thomas Fire destroyed hundreds of homes and structures in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. It started near Thomas Aquinas College in the Steckel Park area of Santa Paula, quickly spreading into Ventura and prompting hundreds of evacuations.
SYRIA - In war-torn Syria, there’s little doubt that the conflict has taken a toll on health. Now, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that their attempt at using vaccines to “protect” children against polio has backfired — infecting more children with the devastating disease rather than saving them.
USA - Attorney General Jeff Sessions created a new “senior position” at the Department of Justice Wednesday, director of opioid enforcement and prevention efforts, to help combat what is now far and away the deadliest drug epidemic in American history. “With one American dying of a drug overdose every nine minutes, we need all hands on deck,” Attorney General Sessions said of the decision.
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The views expressed in this section are not our own, unless specifically stated, but are provided to highlight what may prove to be prophetically relevant material appearing in the media.
“Just what is an APOSTLE?”
Today we find the Church of God in a “wilderness of religious confusion!”
The confusion is not merely around the Church – within the religions of the world outside – but WITHIN the very heart of The True Church itself!
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