This week, a number of stories indicated “wars and rumors of wars”: Iran’s military is transforming into a more offensive force, Russia is quietly taking the Arctic, anti-Semitism is rising across the United States, and Russia’s actions are pushing Europe to boost military spending. Also, an exciting announcement from theTrumpet.com: Melanie Phillips will be delivering a lecture at Trumpet headquarters, and you are invited to attend!

Here are the five most important news stories this week, as well as relevant links to the full articles and videos here on theTrumpet.com.

Iran’s Army to Transform Into More Offensive Force

News coming out of Tehran says that the army is about to shed its long-held defensive posture. Speaking on national Army Day, the commander of the army, Brig. Gen. Kiumars Heidari, announced “major structural changes to Iran’s army encompassing everything from human resources to logistics to armaments in order to transform [the army] into an ‘offensive’ force.”

Russian Bombers Probe Alaska

For two consecutive nights last week, Russian nuclear-capable bombers probed the Alaskan coastline. The incidents are just the latest in Russia’s ongoing efforts to project power in and around the Arctic Circle.

‘Massive Increase’ in American Anti-Semitism

The Anti-Defamation League’s (adl) annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents released on Monday says there has been a “massive increase” in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States. Last year, adl recorded 1,266 incidents compared to 942 in 2015—a 34 percent increase.

Russia Is Pushing Europe to Hike Military Spending

In light of changing global circumstances—an increasing Russian threat, a wavering United States president and Brexit—Western Europe has decided to reverse its trend of declining defense spending.

Trumpet Presents Melanie Phillips in a Free Public Lecture

Melanie Phillips, renowned British journalist, broadcaster and author, will visit Oklahoma on Sunday, May 7. She will deliver a lecture, “Melanie Phillips: A World in Turmoil,” free and open to the public, at 6 p.m. at Armstrong Auditorium, on the campus of Herbert W. Armstrong College in northern Edmond, a suburb of Oklahoma City.

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