Russian government resigns as Putin proposes reforms that could extend his grip on power

January 15, 2020 — CNN.com reports: “The entire Russian government is resigning, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced Wednesday, after Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping reforms that could extend his decades-long grip on power beyond the end of his presidency…

The surprise announcement came after Putin proposed constitutional amendments that would strengthen the powers of the prime minister and parliament at the expense of the presidency…

Putin’s critics have suggested that he is considering various scenarios to retain control of the country after his presidential term ends in 2024, including the option of becoming prime minister with extended powers…” (Vladimir Putin has been in power as either the Prime Minister or President of Russia since 1999.  Constitutionally, he will be required to step down from power in 2024, however, he appears to be doing  what he did in 2008 and groom a successor like Dmitri Medvedev, whom he controlled, and seek to become president again in 2030.  In essence, setting himself up as ruler for life in Russia, much as Xi Jinping is set to be ruler for life in China.  Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 predict the union of Russia and China [Revelation 16:12; Daniel 11:44] as leaders in the battle for the greatest war in history called Armageddon – Revelation 16:16.  Revelation 9:14 – 18 pictures its upcoming disastrous results.  See the next report.)

Abbas meets Putin: A friend of the Palestinian people

January 24, 2020 — Israel National News reports: “Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bethlehem.

‘I welcome my dear friend, President Vladimir Putin, the President of the Federal Republic of Russia, my personal friend and the friend of the Palestinian people who never misses an opportunity to talk about or support the Palestinian cause, and this is what we are accustomed to,’ Abbas said as he welcomed Putin, according to the Wafa news agency.

Abbas expressed his gratitude for the political, economic, financial, security and cultural support that Russia has provided the PA in recent years, in addition to its support for ‘the just question of Palestine.’

He also praised the positive and effective role Russia has played in the region.

According to Wafa, among the issues discussed between the two leaders were what was described as ‘Israel’s ongoing confiscation of Palestinian land’, the US so-called ‘Deal of the Century’, and efforts to hold the Palestinian legislative and presidential elections…”

U.S. urges China to join nuclear arms talks

January 22, 2020 — SpaceDaily.com reports: “Washington called Tuesday on Beijing to join its nuclear arms talks with Moscow, warning that lack of transparency around China’s growing weapons stockpile posed a ‘serious threat’.

The United States and Russia have held two rounds of talks aimed at reducing misunderstandings about critical security issues since the collapse of a Cold War nuclear pact last year, which triggered fears of a new arms race.

Washington has hinted previously it believes Beijing, with its growing nuclear arsenal, should join the discussions. President Donald Trump has insisted any new disarmament pact would need China to come on board.

US Ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva Robert Wood said Tuesday that Washington was intent on convincing China to join the discussions…” (Nuclear war is part of the battle of the ages – see Revelation 9:18. Other prophesied texts are predicted in Psalm 97:3; Isaiah 66:15; Ezekiel 20:47: “…Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched…” Study also Zephaniah 1:8; Malachi 4:1; and Revelation 8:7.  See the next report.)

China has ‘no intention to participate’ in arms talks

January 23, 2020 — SpaceDaily.com reports: “China said Wednesday it has ‘no intention to participate’ in trilateral arms control negotiations, a day after Washington called on Beijing to join its nuclear arms talks with Moscow.

The United States has held two rounds of talks with Russia, aimed at reducing misunderstandings around critical security issues since the collapse of a Cold War nuclear pact last year — which triggered fears of a new arms race.

Washington has hinted that Beijing should also join the discussions.

But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang accused the US of using Chinese involvement as ‘a pretext to shirk and shift its own nuclear disarmament responsibilities’.

‘China has no intention to participate in the so-called China-US-Russia trilateral arms controls negotiations,’ Geng said at a regular press briefing in Beijing…”

Russia invites NATO members to take part in war games

January 27, 2020 — SpaceDaily.com reports: “Russia’s defence minister said Friday it is sending out invitations to NATO states to take part in annual Moscow-led military drills called the ‘International Army Games.’

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has invited ‘troops from 90 countries including NATO members,’ the ministry said on its website.

The games include events such as tank biathlon, where tank crews practice shooting, as well as an obstacle course.

This year’s games will focus on ‘security as a whole, medical care and logistics,’ and should be visually entertaining, Shoigu said.

Around 6,000 troops were expected to take part in the event that runs from late August to early September, the ministry said…”  (Russia in Bible prophecy is the main instigator of death and suffering during Armageddon – Revelation 16:16.  Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39, which Dr. Van Impe has proclaimed for sixty years, aided by Oriental and Islamic nations, bring total chaos and atomic devastation upon the world.  Worse yes, it’s just ahead of us.  Every nation he included in World War III is forming exactly as taught this global blood bath six decades ago.  The only good news is that the Rapture precedes Armageddon – “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” – Revelation 3:10.  Then our deliverance as believers – Revelation 4:1 and our joy because of missing Armageddon.  See the next two reports.)

Turkey, NATO still at odds over Russia arms deal

January 24, 2020 — SpaceDaily.com reports: “NATO and key member Turkey have failed to find common ground over Russia’s controversial delivery of a S-400 air defence system to Ankara, the military alliance’s chief Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday.

The delivery of the system by Russia to Turkey, in a deal strongly backed by President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has deeply troubled Ankara’s NATO allies and raised the risk of US sanctions.

‘So far it has not been possible to reach an agreement on that,’ Stoltenberg said at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos at a panel discussion alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who had delivered a staunch defence of the deal.

‘We will try to do whatever we can to find a way to solve these issues, as this is one of the issues that is causing problems within the alliance — there is no way to deny that,’ he added.

Cavusoglu however had argued in front of Stoltenberg that Turkey had no choice but to buy the S-400 due to a dwindling presence of NATO air systems on its volatile borders, including the one with Syria…”

Russia claims edge as US lags in hypersonic weapons development

January 21, 2020 — SpaceDaily.com reports: “Last week, US President Donald Trump admitted that the United States is working on the development of hypersonic rockets, noting that the US is seeking to add them to its arsenal of ‘big, powerful, accurate, lethal, and fast’ missiles.

The US military has failed in the domain of hypersonic arms research and development and it will take years for America to regain its once leading position, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Hyten said during a speech on Friday at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC.

‘We are now locked in a serious competition with other nations in the hypersonic arms sphere. We used to be in the forefront ten years ago. We used to have two programmes, two prototypes…They did not work very efficiently. What did we do after we had failed? We had been studying the reasons for these failures for years before cancelling these projects’, Hyden stated…”