In Brief... World News Review
Beyond Today Magazine
World News and Prophecy: December 1998
Course Content
Latin America and Europe strengthen trade alliance.
The eighth Latin American summit was held in Oporto, Portugal, in October with some interesting results. At this summit it became clear that the Europeans, led by the Spanish, are to increase their presence in Latin America, most of which was formerly Spanish colonial territory.
The door is opening for Europe in the region because the United States has suspended further development of an Inter-American free trade zone due to congressional opposition.
Spain initiated this forum, making it the "bridge country" between Europe and Latin America. European trade is growing in the region, spurred by an interest in one of the world's most attractive emerging markets. Trade among the eight largest Latin American economies and their top five European trading partners reached a total of 61 billion U.S. dollars last year, according to IMF data. Germany is Latin America's undisputed top trading partner, followed by Italy, France, Spain and the United Kingdom, in that order.
"If the United States cannot advance the hemispheric integration process, Europe would be able to arrive to occupy new spaces," said Miguel Rodgriguez, the president of Costa Rica. Interestingly, Latin America's leaders will meet with the leaders of the European Union in their first summit in June of 1999. The meeting will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. An alliance is expected to be proposed between both parties with political and economic ties. (La Nacion (Buenos Aires); The Miami Herald; Latin Trade magazine)
Born in Saskatchewan Canada, David Palmer was first introduced to the radio broadcast of the World Tomorrow during his career in broadcasting, when the program was aired during his on air shift. In 1965 his radio career took him to Vancouver British Columbia, where he was eventually baptized, and began attending Sabbath services. He was ordained to the ministry in 1983. Now retired from broadcasting David currently pastors congregations in Vancouver, and Vancouver Island. He is also a member of the UCG-Canada National Council, and serves on the Canadian Ministerial Services Team, as well as the Canadian Media Team
Fred Nance is a pastor at the United Church of God and has a B.A. in History from Ambassador College. He is originally from Lansing Michigan having moved to Arkansas in September of 2009. His wife Lidia is originally from Argentina.
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
