News and Prophecy Staff

In a March 28 article, The Atlantic described a fungal infection known as “Bd.” This infection targets amphibians, such as frogs, and eats away at their skin, resulting in heart attack. Described as “a singularly apocalyptic fungus that’s unrivaled in its ability not only to kill animals, but to delete entire species from existence,” this fungus was first identified in the 1970s and has proceeded to devastate entire animal species ever since.

A few weeks ago, less than 24 hours before Britain was scheduled to crash out of the EU on April 12, European leaders agreed to a six-month extension of “Article 50”—the exit clause for nations wishing to leave the EU. This was the second extension in two weeks (Telegraph, April 11, 2019). The UK now has until October 31 to decide how (or if) it will leave the European Union.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced that his nation had shot down a low-orbit satellite in a military test. In his comments, Mr. Modi noted India had not violated international law, and that India was not weaponizing space.

“Dangerous sewage pathogens have been found ‘hitchhiking’ on plastic litter washed up on some of Scotland’s finest bathing beaches, raising concerns from scientists the phenomenon could have far-reaching implications for human health worldwide” (The Guardian, March 11, 2019).

Newly released General Social Survey data analyzed by Eastern Illinois University faculty member Ryan Burge indicates that the proportion of the U.S. population claiming to be “nones”—individuals with no religious affiliation—continues to rise (Religion News, March 21, 2019). Nones now make up 23.1 percent of Americans—on par with the most prevalent religious groups, Evangelicals (22.5%) and Catholics (23%).