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Top Stories:
Pope in Cuba
Cuba is abuzz with preparations in the lead-up to Pope Francis’s historic September 19 visit.
Market Watch’s Paul Farrell called Pope Francis “a revolutionary destined to end up in the history books right up there with Lenin and Marx, Mao and [Cuba’s Fidel] Castro.”Farrell continued, “[Pope Francis] is obviously inciting revolution, wants civil disobedience and political insurrection, he is egging the poor into rebellion against a vastly outnumbered rich.”Catholicism and communism seems a volatile mix, yet Pope Francis is harnessing both for a purpose to wage an all-out assault on capitalist America and to bring about global revolution.“If Pope Francis is to be taken at his word,” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote in the March Trumpet, “he could not possibly wish for the capitalist example nation to thrive, prosper and continue inflicting its “tyranny” on the world. If he is sincere in saying the capitalist system is a force of destruction, then he would feel not only justified, but obligated to use his influence to weaken it.Temple Mount violence escalates
Is Israel on the verge of a third intifada?Palestinian rioters have been protesting for five days now against Israel’s stringent security measures in the Temple Mount.Hamas declared Friday a “day of rage.”“These are not normal times,” wrote Al-Monitor. “What has been happening in Jerusalem over the past year and spreading to other places every so often is a type of intifada, even if it hasn’t been described or defined as such. Nevertheless, it is alive and kicking, and no one seems to have any control over it—not Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, not Israel and not even Hamas, which is investing its best efforts in fanning the flames.”
Al-Monitor concluded: “[Measures implemented thus far] offer no solution. They will not change the reality we face. Israel and the Palestinians are stuck together in the same powder keg, and as of now, at least, no one has any cold water to keep the encroaching flames in check. What people do have is oil and gasoline—and plenty of it.”Germany wants Britain to support EU army
A Berlin source told the Telegraph that German Chancellor Angela Merkel expects David Cameron to drop his opposition to an EU army in exchange for supporting Britain’s renegotiation on EU matters.“If you want favors, you have to give favors,” the source said. “If Cameron wants a ‘flexible Europe,’ he must let other members integrate further. Yes—opt out, opt out, opt out—and then shut up.”A paper by the Europe and defense policy committees of Merkel’s party, the cdu, said that it is “urgent” to integrate armed forces “in the face of multifaceted crises.”This pressure on Britain could force it out of the European Union, noted the Telegraph.Putin’s Damascus steal
Russia is following an old Soviet strategy for the Middle East: Fighting on behalf of Arabs to wield enduring influence in the region.In Syria, Russia is fighting for, and arming, Bashar Assad’s regime.Russia is also building deeply significant relationships with Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States.
Foreign Affairs wrote that it’s part Moscow’s plan to build a buffer against jihadists on its southern flank, export arms and nuclear technology, compete with the West and ultimately, project power in the Middle East and beyond.The Federal Reserve didn’t raise rates. Why?
The Federal Reserve announced that it would not raise interest rates once again.Consequent drops in the markets, however, indicated that they were not too pleased with the Fed’s announcement.Low interests rates encourage debt while boosting share prices, but market reaction indicated that those low interest rates aren’t enough anymore. Like a junkie, U.S. markets wants stronger drugs—stronger stimulation.Other news:
Only about “four or five” United States-trained Syrian rebels remain on the battlefield to fight the Islamic State—after spending over $41 million to train and equip a small group of about 60 earlier this year.
Islamic State militants “may be posing as Syrian refugees,” a Lebanese government minister has warned. As many as 2 percent of the refugees could be jihadist, he estimated.
The Japanese parliament broke into an intense brawl on Thursday over legislation that will permit the military to play a more assertive role in global affairs.
New research has led to the shocking discovery that half of the world’s marine life has been killed off since 1970.
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