News and Prophecy Staff

“An Israeli parliamentary committee held a heated debate Monday on whether to begin allowing Jews to pray on what they call the Temple Mount, the compound housing [the] Al-Aqsa mosque” (Agence France-Presse, November 4, 2013). The meeting was repeatedly interrupted by Arabs and resulted in no progress.

Millions are upset over the brutal gang rape of a teenage girl in Kenya. Three of the men convicted of the crime were sentenced to mow the lawn around the police compound and then were released (Yahoo News, October 28, 2013).

With the thawing “northeast passage,” sea travel has increased through the Arctic. “Last year 46 ships sailed the route. More than 400 are expected this year.” Some estimate that the trading power of this Arctic passage could rival the Suez Canal—linking trade between Europe and Asia (The Times, September 17, 2013). At the same time, “The Russian Navy is moving to establish a ‘constant presence’ in the region, according to the military.

Nations spy on other nations—they have for a very long time—and most national leaders understand this (BBC, October 26, 2013). However, this fact does not make it acceptable to those being spied upon, nor does it make it right. In recent weeks, it has become clear that the U.S.

For several years, scientists have used a person’s own stem cells to slowly grow replacement organs in an artificial environment (Live Science, September 24, 2013). Simple organs like skin, tracheas and bladders, with a person’s own DNA, have been grown and transplanted into patients—with no rejection effects! Regenerative medicine is now developing 3D printers to rapidly make new organs.  The goal is to make complex organs like hearts, livers, and kidneys (ibid.).