News and Prophecy Staff

As a result of COVID-19, the town of Somerville, Massachusetts, has recognized polyamory (NBCBoston.com, July 4, 2020). Not to be confused with polygamy—a heterosexual taking more than one spouse—polyamory is a situation where “any person of any gender can have multiple partners.” The town council legally recognized the practice, giving polyamorous people some of the rights and privileges of married couples.

In the last few years, many nations around the globe have drawn closer to China through trade relationships and diplomatic channels. But something has changed in the last year or so. “One by one, democratic governments across the globe are hardening their stance on China. What started in Australia and the United States has spread to India, Canada and the United Kingdom” (Politico, August 3, 2020).

In May, a poll showed that only 39 percent of Italians trust the EU. Building on this fact, a popular Italian senator recently formed a new political party with the intent of helping Italy exit the EU—just as the U.K. has done (Reuters, July 21, 2020). A few days before forming his party, Gianluigi Paragone met with “Brexit architect Nigel Farage” to gain insights on the process.

For much of the last century, the economic engine of America has helped fuel the economies of nations around the globe.

According to a recent Gallup poll about global leadership, “Germany maintained its position as the most highly rated country in the world for a third year running in 2019, while the US approval ratings stayed well below those achieved under the last administration” (Deutsche Welle, July 27, 2020). The United States, a distant second to Germany, was followed closely by China and Russia respectively.