These were the year’s biggest stories on theTrumpet.com.

#10 Will Russia Drive Egypt and Saudi Arabia Apart?

Conflict in Yemen and Syria has Middle Eastern nations reforming old alliances and building new ones. Right now Egypt and Saudi Arabia are working closely to contain the Houthis in Yemen, but the Trumpet believes that a wedge will eventually drive Egypt away from Saudi Arabia and position Cairo as a friend of Iran. Could that wedge be Russia? Jeremiah Jacques untangles the complex web of alliances in the Middle East to show one way this could lead to Egypt allying itself with Iran.

#9 President Obama Gave 195,900 Criminally Convicted Illegals a Free Pass

During the six years United States President Barack Obama has been in power, the Department of Homeland Security (dhs) has knowingly released some 195,900 criminally convicted illegal immigrants onto the streets of America. That averages out to about 89 convicted criminals released per day.

When the dhs agency responsible for immigration enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was asked why the criminal aliens weren’t deported, its answer was that their home nations won’t take them back. Apparently that means the U.S. has to keep them.

This news fits a broader pattern of the Obama administration’s espousal of immigration policies that undermine America’s own interests.

#8 Russia Arming Argentina to Enable Grab of Falkland Islands?

Russia gives Britain payback for helping Ukraine in the Crimean crisis by strengthening Argentina’s ability to take the Falkland Islands from Britain. Russia is preparing to lease 12 long-range, supersonic bomber jets to Argentina.

On March 22, Alexei Pushkov, the head of the Russian Duma’s committee of international affairs, tweeted:

Britain responded by investing $265 million to bolster Falkland’s defenses over the next 10 years. However, Argentina will likely receive the bombers well before Britain beefs up its defenses.

#7 Strong German Leader Imminent

Russia has a strong leader. China has a strong leader. Iran has a strong leader. Where is Europe’s strong leader? What about Germany? Editor in chief Gerald Flurry explains that Russia’s territorial aggression in Ukraine will force a strong leader to rise to lead Germany and Europe. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on February 6 over the Ukraine crisis. Merkel made a terrible deal with Putin, caving into Russia’s demands. Worse, America and Britain weren’t even invited. Gerald Flurry wrote:

That is yet another sign that somebody will have to provide some leadership—before Vladimir Putin marches all the way to the North Atlantic!And somebodyWILL.You will see this happen on the world news with your own eyes—probably within the next few years!

#6 King Abdullah’s Death Fulfills ‘End-Time Prophecies,’ Say Shiites

When Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud died on January 23 at the age of 90, some Shiite Muslims believed his death would set off a chain of events that would culminate in the rise of Imam Mahdi—the messianic figure of Islamic eschatology.

Though this Islamic prophecy itself is nonsensical, belief in it by many zealous Shiites is potentially significant.

These Islamists, most of whom live in Iran, say the Mahdi will only reappear to bring justice to the world during a time of global calamity and chaos.

Writer Jeremiah Jacques asks, “Could some Shiites who believe that the death of King Abdullah is a trigger to the return of the Mahdi now be more motivated to stir up chaos?” It’s a question worth considering.

#5 Russian Submarine Wreck Found in Sweden’s Territorial Waters

When media reported on July 27 that a Russian mini-submarine wreck was found off Sweden’s eastern coast, authorities initially believed it was part of a recently failed secret test or mission. The Russians immediately claimed it was an antique submarine from the World War i era, which the Swedish government announced later was most likely true.

#4 The North Korean Threat Intensifies

“Remember North Korea, the angry, little rogue nation nestled inside of the protective armpit of China?” Jeremiah Jacques asks. Well if you don’t, the Trumpet would like to remind you again. North Korea may be more dangerous than ever, and not just to South Korea. The tiny nation continues to sell military hardware, including nuclear technology, to anyone who will pay. North Korea has already sold illegal missile technology to Iran and Venezuela. North Korean dictator Kim Jung-un will do whatever it takes for his ruling elites to get their McDonald’s hamburgers flown in daily from China.

#3 A Bold Warning: America’s Economic Collapse

In 1984, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote that a massive banking crisis in America “could suddenly result in triggering European nations to unite as a new world power larger than either the Soviet Union or the U.S.”

“More than three decades later,” wrote Gerald Flurry, “this personal prophecy of Mr. Armstrong is about to be spectacularly fulfilled.”

Mr. Flurry wrote this after the International Monetary Fund (imf) issued a dire warning about America’s financial system at the Davos Economic Forum in January. The imf said the biggest potential threat to America’s financial system is a shadow banking system that is now $15 trillion in size and outside the control of U.S. authorities. The shadow banking grew after U.S. regulators cleaned up much of the banking system after the 2008 economic crisis.

Unsurprisingly when regulators cracked down, Wall Street banks simply shifted their risky activities off their books and into other institutions outside of regulators’ jurisdiction. Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen said the problem is a huge challenge for which she has no answer. Uh oh.

#2 Seal of Biblical King Hezekiah Found in Jerusalem

History came to life when a 2,700-year-old seal impression bearing the name of the biblical King Hezekiah was found. Archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar announced the find on December 2 saying: “This is the first time a seal impression of an Israelite or Judean king has ever come to light in a scientific archaeology.”

The inscription on the seal impression translated into English reads “Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz, King of Judah.”

#1 Pope Calls for New World Government

The pope released his most radical document yet on June 18. Pope Francis released his encyclical Laudato Si (Be Praised), which focused on global warming and people’s lack of hope in a happy future. Blaming the world’s woes on the current global system, the pope called for a new radical power with “true world political authority.”

“Pope Francis plainly wants a different order, with different nations in charge—guided by the Catholic Church,” writes Richard Palmer. The pope is bidding for a role to play in world governance, but a survey of European history shows a powerful Catholic Church only leaves a bloody trail of violence and persecution.

Thankfully the Trumpet can give you the true solution with the only hope. The Trumpet staff looks forward to sharing that hope, as well as meaningful news analysis, with you, our dear readers, in 2016.