Two Themes for Today's Report 2020.02.20

Hi, I am Alex Hicken with my daily audio and visual world news report, summarizing my blog called “Read the Story of the World”. Today is Thursday, February 20, 2020. I have noticed more engagement in my content today, and I am grateful for your participation in my first week of the publication. If you find my content consistently informative and serviceable. Please consider becoming a patron of my publication. Look me up on Patreon with Alex Hicken.

I have a theme in my report today, and that is warring countries seeking to take advantage of the condition of their nation by blocking the United Nation’s Humanitarian Aid. South Sudan and Yemen are my suspects.

The Houthi rebel group, who have kicked out the Yemen president Abd Hadi, controls a lot of the country of Yemen. Saudi Arabia is seeking to restore the president to power as he is in asylum in the country. The rebels are trying to take advantage of the United Nation’s Humanitarian Aid to obtain concessions. They recently changed this demand, for they previously requested 2% of the billions of humanitarian funds. Manipulation is expressed by implementing policies over the regions that they control on UN before they enter, requiring compliance. UN have rejected their requirements; thus, the rebels have blocked their entrance to help much of the country. “Half of the United Nations aid delivery programs” have been stopped. The UN has threaten to reduce the support, if they continue limiting them. The articles, where I found this information, pointed out that many people are starving, and many are dependent on international aid.

South Sudan use limiting UN aid to the country to their advantage as well. Not only one of the rivalry is to blame for this practice. The UN accuses the country’s leaders of “deliberately starving” their citizen to gain strength for their efforts. This is not all, but many civil officials have become incredibly rich by embezzling millions of dollars for personal use.

Another theme of today’s report is Russia maliciously snooping around.

United States has been monitoring Russian actions, and Russia paid a Mexican man to spy and provide information of a vehicle within an US operation. The man and his wife were stopped after a flight by federal officials, asking for their phones. They found a picture of the license plate of the vehicle in the deleted images file of the wife’s phone. The man did confess that Russia did hire him.

The second news concerning Russia is Britain and the United States announced that Russia’s military intelligence service called GRU performed the wide spread cyberattack in late October last year in the country of Georgia, taking down several government and corporate websites, including the president’s as well as a couple TV stations. Georgia was targeted because they were a former Soviet nation, “causing anxiety among the general public.”

The Coronavirus’ death count is up to 2118 as two of the infected from the Diamond Princess Cruise liner have died. South Korea is experiencing a super-spreader events as I reported in Singapore yesterday in a church. The church is called Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

The rebels are not done fighting for Idlib in northwestern Syria. 2 Turkish soldiers were killed during an offensive operation that they were trying to carry out; however, the government’s army withstood the attack. It became very apparent in my articles that I read today as the dead Turkish soldiers were attacked by Russian air force that the support from these nations are not merely supplies.

Turkish people were a victim of racism as they were deliberately targeted in a mass shooting in German “town of Hanau about 15 miles east of Frankfurt on Wednesday night.” Half of the ten killed were citizens of Turkey. The gunman fled the scene, killing himself and his mother. Chancellor Merkel condemns the racism, stating Racism and hate is poison for the nation.

I have a follow up story to yesterday’s report. I reported eight eastern African countries are enduring pestilences. I learned today that Pakistan is also enduring the invasion of the locusts, when I found an article, stating that India is purchasing more drones to monitor and control the locust infestation after successfully defending their country from the invasion last year.

That is my report for today. Thank you for listening. The citations and more information is in my official “Read the Story of the World” post of the day in the show notes, and I will talk to you tomorrow. 
https://readthestoryoftheworld.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-daily-world-news-report-of-20th-of.html

The Daily World News Report of the 20th of February 2020

Coronavirus

2 of the 621 Coronavirus cluster from the Diamond Princess Cruise ship in Japan has died. The two were both elderly, having outstanding health issues. The total death count is now at 2,118.[1] South Korea faces a super-spreader as well in the city of Daegu with 31 people infected. The origin is a church called the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.[2]

United Nations Theme

Many regions of Yemen has been taken over by the Houthi revolutionaries as the former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi is in asylum in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has been seeking to restore him to presidency.  The Houthi rebels are blocking “half of the United Nations aid delivery programs”, and they are demanding more responsibility over the humanitarian effort involving the allocation of billions of dollars. The regions of the country under Houthi control seek to implement policies to guide the UN humanitarian aid, which they have rejected. The rebels reduced their requirements to concessions last week after a 2% cut of the funds for months. UN replied on Thursday, saying they will scale down their humanitarian aid, if the Houthi rebel continue to limit their access. The country is war-torn and many are dependent on international aid.[3]

UN reports today that their efforts to provide aid to the South Sudan people are blocked as well, and they are accusing the warring sides of “deliberately starving” people to their strategic advantage. About half of the nation of 6 million people are going hungry. Millions of dollars are used for personal gain by many officials.[4]

Locust Pestilence

Yesterday I reported on the struggle that eight eastern African nations are struggling with the pestilence of locusts. Pakistan is also enduring the same hardship. The Indian nation has had to implement measures to stop their invasion, and they are currently successful in their efforts. They are purchasing “drones and specialist equipment to monitor the movement of locusts and spray insecticides to ward off a new outbreak” according to Times of India. A small swarm can consume the food of 35,000 people in one day.[5]

Syrian Civil War

Assad has not completely secured Idlib in northwestern Syria as the Russian air force performs an airstrike, killing two Turkish soldier, in an operation that helped repel an offensive by the rebels with 5 injured.[6]

Europe

A mass shooting was carried out by a far-right man, who ended up killing himself and his mother, “in the town of Hanau, about 15 miles east of Frankfurt [Germany] on Wednesday night”. Half of the 10 killed were citizens of Turkey.[7] German Chancellor Merkel condemns racism "This poison exists in our society, and it's to blame for too many tragic events."

A wide spread cyberattack on October 28, 2019 in the country of Georgia, taking down many “state, private, and media websites” as well as a couple “private television stations”, was determined to be orchestrated by a Russian “military intelligence service, commonly known as the GRU” in a joint announcement with Britain and the United States today. According to Georgia’s “foreign ministry spokesman Vladimer Konstantinidi”, “causing anxiety among the general public”, Russia targeted Georgia because it is a former Soviet nation[8]

Russia

Russia hired a Mexican citizen to spy and provide information concerning a U.S. operation, monitoring them. The information was a picture of one of the vehicles’ license plate that participated in the U.S. operation. The Mexican was arrested, and the picture was found on his wife’s phone in the recently deleted images file. He did confess that the allegations were accurate.[9]

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[1] “Coronavirus: Two Passengers Dead from Quarantined Diamond Princess.” BBC News, BBC, 20 Feb. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51568496.

[2] “South Korea Reports First Coronavirus Death as Daegu Church Cluster Cases Soar.” South China Morning Post, Reuters, 20 Feb. 2020, www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3051503/south-korea-reports-31-new-cases-coronavirus.

[3] Michael, Maggie. “Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Impeding UN Aid Flow, Demand a Cut.” AP News, The Associated Press, 19 Feb. 2020, apnews.com/edb2cad767ccbf898c220e54c199b6d9.

[4] “South Sudan Warring Sides 'Deliberately Starving' Citizens: UN.” Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera Media Network, 20 Feb. 2020, www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/south-sudan-warring-sides-deliberately-starving-citizens-200220105302156.html.

[5] “India Buys Drones, Specialist Equipment to Avert New Locust .. Read More at: Http://Timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Articleshow/74212114.Cms?utm_source=Contentofinterest&utm_medium=Text&utm_campaign=Cppst.” Times of India, Reuters, 19 Feb. 2020, timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-buys-drones-specialist-equipment-to-avert-new-locust-attack/articleshow/74212114.cms.

[6] Fraser, Suzan, and Vladimir Isachenkov. “Turkish Soldiers Killed in Syria amid Threats of Escalation.” AP, The Associated Press, 20 Feb. 2020, apnews.com/a245ab41546b6dd77be773137da8e0c4.

[7] Morris, Loveday, et al. “After Germany Shooting Tied to Far-Right, Merkel Says ‘Racism Is a Poison’ the Country Must Overcome.” The Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/world/death-toll-in-germany-shootings-climbs-to-11-including-alleged-suspect/2020/02/20/16feb5a6-53b3-11ea-80ce-37a8d4266c09_story.html.

[8] “U.S. and Britain Say Russia Launched 'Paralyzing' Cyberattack on Georgia.” NBC News, Reuters, 20 Feb. 2020, www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/u-s-britain-say-russia-launched-paralyzing-cyberattack-georgia-n1139766.

[9] Cramer, Maria. “Mexican Citizen Is Accused of Spying for Russians in the U.S.” The New York Times, 19 Feb. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/us/hector-alejandro-cabrera-fuentes-spying-russia.html.

A speech can help guide you through the LGBT discussions and situations

This speech can help guide you through the LGBT discussions and situations. It is by Dallin H. Oaks, a living apostle of Jesus Christ. Click here to read the official website’s publishing of the speech.

Two Great Commandments

By President Dallin H. Oaks

First Counselor in the First Presidency

We must try to keep both of the great commandments. To do so, we walk a fine line between law and love.

My dear sisters in the gospel of Jesus Christ, I greet you as divinely assigned guardians of the eternal family. President Russell M. Nelson has taught us, “This Church was restored so that families could be formed, sealed, and exalted eternally.”¹ That teaching has important implications for persons who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, commonly referred to as LGBT.² President Nelson has also reminded us that we don’t “have to [always] agree with each other to love each other.”³ These prophetic teachings are important for family discussions to answer the questions of children and youth. I have prayerfully sought inspiration to speak to this audience because you are uniquely affected by these questions, which directly or indirectly affect every family in the Church.

I.

I begin with what Jesus taught were the two great commandments.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

“This is the first and great commandment.

“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”⁴

This means we are commanded to love everyone, since Jesus’s parable of the good Samaritan teaches that everyone is our neighbor.⁵ But our zeal to keep this second commandment must not cause us to forget the first, to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. We show that love by “keep[ing] [His] commandments.”⁶ God requires us to obey His commandments because only through that obedience, including repentance, can we return to live in His presence and become perfect as He is.

In his recent talk to the young adults of the Church, President Russell M. Nelson spoke of what he called the “strong connection between God’s love and His laws.”⁷ The laws that apply most significantly to the issues relating to those identifying as LGBT are God’s law of marriage and its companion law of chastity. Both are essential in our Father in Heaven’s plan of salvation for His children. As President Nelson taught, “God’s laws are motivated entirely by His infinite love for us and His desire for us to become all we can become.”⁸

President Nelson taught: “Many countries … have legalized same-sex marriage. As members of the Church, we respect the laws of the land … , including civil marriage. The truth is, however, that in the beginning … marriage was ordained by God! And to this day it is defined by Him as being between a man and a woman. God has not changed His definition of marriage.”

President Nelson continued: “God has also not changed His law of chastity. Requirements to enter the temple have not changed.”⁹

President Nelson reminded all of us that “our commission as Apostles is to teach nothing but truth. That commission does not give [Apostles] the authority to modify divine law.”¹⁰Thus, my sisters, the leaders of the Church must always teach the unique importance of marriage between a man and a woman and the related law of chastity.

II.

The work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is ultimately concerned with preparing the children of God for the celestial kingdom, and most particularly for its highest glory, exaltation or eternal life. That highest destiny is possible only through marriage for eternity.¹¹ Eternal life includes the creative powers inherent in the combination of male and female¹²—what modern revelation describes as the “continuation of the seeds forever and ever.”¹³

In his talk to young adults, President Nelson taught, “Abiding by God’s laws will keep you safe as you progress toward eventual exaltation”¹⁴—that is, to become like God, with the exalted life and divine potential of our Heavenly Parents. That is the destiny we desire for all we love. Because of that love, we cannot let our love supersede the commandments and the plan and work of God, which we know will bring those we love their greatest happiness.

But there are many we love, including some who have the restored gospel, who do not believe in or choose not to follow God’s commandments about marriage and the law of chastity. What about them?

God’s doctrine shows that all of us are His children and that He has created us to have joy.¹⁵ Modern revelation teaches that God has provided a plan for a mortal experience in which all can choose obedience to seek His highest blessings or make choices that lead to one of the less glorious kingdoms.¹⁶ Because of God’s great love for all of His children, those lesser kingdoms are still more wonderful than mortals can comprehend.¹⁷ The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes all of this possible, as He “glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands.”¹⁸

III.

I have spoken of the first commandment, but what of the second? How do we keep the commandment to love our neighbors? We seek to persuade our members that those who follow lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender teachings and actions should be treated with the love our Savior commands us to show toward all our neighbors. Thus, when same-sex marriage was declared legal in the United States, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve declared: “The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility—even when we disagree. We affirm that those who avail themselves of laws or court rulings authorizing same-sex marriage should not be treated disrespectfully.”¹⁹

Further, we must never persecute those who do not share our beliefs and commitments.²⁰ Regretfully, some persons facing these issues continue to feel marginalized and rejected by some members and leaders in our families, wards, and stakes. We must all strive to be kinder and more civil.

IV.

For reasons we do not understand, we have different challenges in our mortal experiences. But we do know that God will help each of us overcome these challenges if we sincerely seek His help. After suffering and repenting for violations of laws we have been taught, we are all destined for a kingdom of glory. The ultimate and final judgment will be by the Lord, who alone has the required knowledge, wisdom, and grace to judge each of us.

Meanwhile, we must try to keep both of the great commandments. To do so, we walk a fine line between law and love—keeping the commandments and walking the covenant path, while loving our neighbors along the way. This walk requires us to seek divine inspiration on what to support and what to oppose and how to love and listen respectfully and teach in the process. Our walk demands that we not compromise on commandments but show forth a full measure of understanding and love. Our walk must be considerate of children who are uncertain about their sexual orientation, but it discourages premature labeling because, in most children, such uncertainty decreases significantly over time.²¹ Our walk opposes recruitment away from the covenant path, and it denies support to any who lead people away from the Lord. In all of this we remember that God promises hope and ultimate joy and blessings for all who keep His commandments.

V.

Mothers and fathers and all of us are responsible to teach both of the two great commandments. For the women of the Church, President Spencer W. Kimball described that duty in this great prophecy: “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world … will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different … from the women of the world. … Thus it will be that female exemplars of the Church will be a significant force in both the numerical and the spiritual growth of the Church in the last days.”²²

Speaking of that prophecy, President Russell M. Nelson declared that “the day that President Kimball foresaw is today. You are the women he foresaw!”²³ Little did we who heard that prophecy 40 years ago realize that among those the women of this Church may save will be their own dear friends and family who are currently influenced by worldly priorities and devilish distortions. My prayer and blessing is that you will teach and act to fulfill that prophecy, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

The Strength that comes from Temple Covenants

     I am still in the introduction pages of the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon. I made an article about the difference between the study edition and the current version of the Book of Mormon. I am currently reading a section called “Brief History of the Text”. I like teaching doctrine, so I am not going to get into the history of the Book of Mormon; unless, you want me to. Let me know, if you would like additional insight into the history of the publishing of the book throughout the years. This section of the book is only in the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon.

     During family scripture study this morning, we reviewed the following verses of the Book of Mormon, which is a quotation of Isaiah, in 2 Nephi chapter 12, covering verses 1-3:

“The word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

“Come, follow me” invites us to ‘share how temple covenants are helping you “walk in [the Lord’s] path.” (2020 ‘Come, follow me’ manual; page 32)

      Thinking of the temple covenants, I am so grateful to live in the latter-days, where we can literally relive taking on the covenants through other people by performing proxy work, helping deceased people receive the covenants for themselves.

      The baptism covenants are not carried out in a formally instructive way as well as the temple covenants, and the temple covenant process is more formal now than before. “The God of Jacob…will [truly] teach us his ways” in temples. I believe that the temple covenants do help me “walk in [the Lord’s] path” because the covenants have a high accountability and quality of instruction. The endowment covers specific individual covenants that that we take upon ourselves.

     Covenants enable us to obtain eternal life, and there is a covenant path. Baptism is not the only covenant. The baptismal covenant expects the individual to obtain all the covenants. Eternal life is not given to people that refuse to take upon themselves all of the covenants of the temple.

Some people may be deceived, thinking that they do not deserve to be “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) or we are not worthy to be given God’s lifestyle; however, Heavenly Father loves all man so dearly that he desires that they enjoy his joy in the life to come. Eternal life is God’s life. The covenants have high standards, but your best effort qualifies you the grace of God.

     The peace of having the Holy Ghost with me daily is a Gift of the Holy Ghost, which is given during the confirmation of baptism, and I am so grateful for this gift. The sacrament is a great instruction tool too, and the chapel becomes an extension of the temple. This is why the chapel is a holy room in our churches.

     Covenants are a great strength for me because it is a promise that I have made with God, and he promises blessings too, if we are obedient to them.