In Other News
Yesterday, President Donald Trump announced that Attorney General Pam Bondi is leaving the Department of Justice for the private sector and named Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting attorney general. Trump described Bondi as a “loyal friend.” Blanche previously served as Trump’s personal defense attorney in several criminal cases and has been a vocal critic of federal district “rogue activist judges” who have issued injunctions blocking administration policies, describing it as a legal “war.”
Russian ships continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz, Russian foreign-policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said yesterday. Typically, around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows through Hormuz, but Iran has responded to attacks by the United States and Israel by attacking civilian shipping in the strait, virtually closing it. But Russia is on a short list of countries (including China, India, Iraq and Pakistan) whose vessels Iran has not attacked. Unlike China, India and Pakistan, Russia does not rely on the energy supplies passing through Hormuz. But Russia’s working with Iran to influence energy flows can complicate U.S. strategy, apply pressure on energy-importing nations, and drive global oil prices still higher, increasing its own energy revenues.
International Criminal Court member states voted Wednesday to instigate disciplinary proceedings against Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Khan was placed on leave in May amid sexual misconduct allegations. Before the allegations became public, Khan had announced arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes. The baseless warrants were originally seen by many as a landmark decision, but scandals in the court have marred its credibility, another example of the international legal system’s failure to meet its lofty purpose.
New details emerged yesterday regarding the Zweibrücken scandal, in which German soldiers were accused in December of pro-Nazi sentiment, far-right extremism, sexual misconduct and narcotics violations. According to German broadcaster ard, the Bundeswehr assumed the investigative and disciplinary process for 59 defendants; 16 cases have been dismissed with five more in the process, 18 have resulted in disciplinary actions, and 19 were referred to the public prosecutor’s office. A report on the scandal is also in progress. Cases like the Zweibrücken scandal reveal that the same spirit that guided the 1930s Nazi regime is still alive in parts of the German military.
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Japan is continuing to fortify islands in the East China Sea. A decade ago, the string of islands stretching from southwest Japan to the east coast of Taiwan was not significantly militarized, with the notable exception of Okinawa. But in the time since, the Japanese have grown more fearful of China’s military belligerence and have installed radar systems, air-defense systems, antiship missile units, ammunition depots and thousands of troops. “The Chinese military is building up, and they’re getting aircraft carriers, increasing the number of jet fighters, increasing the number of submarines,” the Journal quoted former Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono as saying. “We should have been going much faster, but we lagged behind.” Tensions between Japan and China are worsening, prompting these economic and military giants to amass remarkable firepower. Yet biblical prophecy shows that they will soon unite under Russian leadership and use that firepower in the most devastating war in human history.
On Tuesday, Germany’s Economic Ministry announced a $60 million investment in the Australian rare earth mining project Arafura Rare Earths to secure German access to critical materials. This follows the recent signing of the EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement. By allowing this investment, Australians are unwittingly supplying their future conqueror.
Democracy is still declining in Europe, according to the 2026 Liberties Rule of Law Report released on Monday. The Civil Liberties Union of Europe analyzed rule of law, media freedom, corruption and other factors and found Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovakia to have regressed compared to last year. Ten other European Union members, including the Netherlands, Poland and Spain, made no progress. The ongoing erosion of individual freedom in Europe is leading to the fulfillment of Bible prophecies of an oncoming leader who will forge the Continent into a dictatorial superpower.
Organizers with Stay Free Alberta say they have collected more than the required 177,732 signatures needed under Alberta’s Citizen Initiative Act to force a referendum on whether the province should separate from Canada. The Alberta Prosperity Project announced on Tuesday that the threshold was met well ahead of the May 2 deadline. Signatures must still be verified by Elections Alberta. If validated, October 2026 ballots for national elections could include the question “Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?” Most analysts believe Alberta has virtually no chance of seceding this year; nevertheless, the strength of the movement highlights the deep societal and political divisions within Canada.
All European Union nations, minus Hungary, published a joint statement yesterday calling for a Russian war crimes tribunal. The statement was issued while European representatives were in Ukraine to commemorate the four-year anniversary of the Bucha massacre and reaffirm their “commitment to ensuring full accountability for war crimes.” The European Council agreed to set up the tribunal last summer. For 26 out of 27 EU member states to agree on such a serious issue is rare, and along with the ongoing war and rapid rearmament across the Continent, it shows that Europe fears Russia.
Yesterday, Rheinmetall and Boeing Australia announced a partnership for making the MQ-28 Ghost Bat available to the German military. The drone was developed for the Australian military and is designed to supplement and protect manned warplanes. This is the latest among many examples of Rheinmetall providing Germany with the weaponry necessary to become a superpower.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has moved into at least 70 civilian sites during Israeli and American air strikes, Iran International reported on Monday. Sites included mosques, hospitals and 34 primary schools. If true, these widespread uses of human shields constitute war crimes and show that the regime is desperate but also willing to resort to ruthless measures. The Trumpet continues to assert that the radical Islamist regime will survive the current war.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps added still more civilians to its list of targets yesterday, saying it will use its military-grade missiles and drones against Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other U.S. tech companies in the region if the U.S. and Israel do not stop killing top Iranian commanders and other leaders. “These companies must expect the destruction of their branches starting Wednesday, April 1, at 8 p.m. local time Tehran in retaliation for any murder in Iran. … We recommend that employees of these companies leave their jobs immediately to save their lives.” Iran has already conducted deadly strikes on civilian cargo vessels, refineries, desalination plants, airports, hotels, apartments and other nonmilitary targets. These moves foreshadow Iran’s foreign-policy “push” described in Daniel 11.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced the publishing of his new book, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, yesterday. The book, to be published in June, follows a cultural shift in favor of not just conservatism or Christianity generally but Roman Catholicism specifically: increased emphasis of Catholic positions from many leading American conservative politicians and commentators, the Vatican’s installation of the first American pope, increased engagement on college campuses, and record numbers of people in many churches preparing to convert on the upcoming Easter holiday. The surging effect of Roman Catholicism on the leaders of a nation that has been predominantly Protestant for 250 years should be monitored closely.
Iran said on Monday its ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammed Reza Shibani, was defying Beirut’s demand to leave. The Lebanese government has the right to arrest Shibani, and although this seems unlikely, it shows the depth of division between Iran and its former proxy state. The Bible prophesied that Iran would lose power over Lebanon. Iran’s last-ditch efforts to hold onto its Lebanese influence will fail.
On Sunday, the European Commission approved the $1.7 billion European Defense Industry Program for 2026 and 2027 to boost production capacity for munitions and other assets and to develop anti-drone weaponry. Roughly $300 million will be used to modernize Ukraine’s defense abilities, and $115 million will be used to support European defense start-ups. Europe’s rapid militarization continues.
On Saturday, French police foiled a planned terrorist bombing on a Bank of America office in Paris. One suspect was arrested on Saturday and two more on Sunday. Iran is suspected of having been involved in the plan. As Europeans continue to be threatened by terror attacks, expect them to react more and more powerfully against their source: Iran.
Somalia’s army conquered part of the largest city in the South West state yesterday, Baidoa, two weeks after the state severed ties with the national government. The national forces are stronger, but they are also fighting a war with al-Shabaab terrorists, and South West forces possess geographical advantages. Attacking Baidoa, which hosts several international peacekeeping deployments and humanitarian agencies, could also hurt Somalia’s relations with international supporters. Turkey and Egypt support Somali forces, and Ethiopia supports South West state. Bible prophecy indicates we can expect conflicts in the Red Sea region to escalate further.
The Trump administration declined to order the interception of a Russian tanker delivering oil to Cuba on Sunday, despite largely blockading the island. Up until now, the U.S. has disallowed tankers from reaching the island and threatened nations that sent oil to the Communist country. However, even though two cutters in the region could have attempted to stop the Russian tanker, no order was given. Though the reason behind this is unknown, it’s speculated it was done to avoid a standoff with Russia.
Air Canada ceo Michael Rousseau’s retirement was announced yesterday after uproar in Quebec. The main reason? His condolence message following the tragic and deadly Air Canada collision at LaGuardia Airport last week was written in English. Those who thought he should have also posted it in French included Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said Rousseau showed “a lack of judgment” and “compassion.” The French-English rift in Canada is more than just a curiosity: It connects deeply to Canada’s most important history and its perilous future.
A poll published yesterday by the Jewish Electorate Institute found that 55 percent of American Jew respondents oppose the U.S. war against Iran. Only 32 percent said they approved, 13 percent said they were undecided, and 41 percent agreed that “we should not go to war without clear provocation.” Our article “Israel’s Last Lion” states in the quip, “In a world overrun by appeasers, one man keeps warning—and the world keeps hating him for it.” Many Jews are against Israel’s Churchillian leader.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed 10-year defense agreements with Qatar and Saudi Arabia during his visit to the Gulf states from Thursday through Sunday. Zelenskyy said a similar defense agreement would also be finalized with the United Arab Emirates. The Gulf states hope to benefit from Ukraine’s drone warfare technology, while Ukraine seeks to boost its supply of air defense missiles. These agreements show that the Gulf states are looking to diversify their partnerships from the United States, as prophesied.
Reuters reported on Friday that only one out of every three Iranian missiles has been confirmed destroyed by U.S. intelligence services. It’s likely that another third has been at least partly damaged. This differs from President Trump’s narrative that Iran has “few rockets left.” When one of the war’s most straightforward and attainable aims appears to be unfulfilled, the Trumpet’s decades-long forecast that the U.S. has won its last war holds up to scrutiny.
Syria’s former top terrorist turned interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, arrived in Berlin yesterday for his first state visit to Germany. Syrian Muslims greeted him by exclaiming “Allahu Akbar,” which means “God is great” but is also used as a war cry in jihad, which Sharaa is all too familiar with. Germany’s president greeted him with a red carpet in the morning, and the chancellor met with him in the afternoon. Syria and Germany are reestablishing relations after Sharaa’s semireformed terrorist forces helped oust Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Sharaa needs funds to rebuild Syria, and Germany wants to send back many of the 1.3 million Syrian refugees it has taken in. Bible prophecy reveals that these two nations will form a close alliance that will cause far greater terror than Sharaa ever did.
Israeli officials have closed several holy sites in Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and al-Aqsa Mosque, citing safety concerns due to Iranian strikes. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, was barred from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre yesterday, “the first time in centuries, the heads of the church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” the patriarchate stated. The Jordanian government, which serves as the custodian of Muslim holy sites in the city, condemned the closure as a “flagrant violation of international law and historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem.” The closures have been partially lifted, but watch for the religious struggles over Jerusalem to become far more intense and violent.
Today, the Knesset will vote on a law that would significantly lower the threshold needed for capital punishment and force courts to sentence terrorists to either death or life imprisonment. Legislators are also considering a bill that would impose the death penalty on those convicted for crimes on Oct. 7, 2023. Currently, Israeli law allows the death penalty only for someone convicted of war crimes, and only two prisoners since its 1948 founding have received this sentence, the last instance occurring in 1962. The legislation has intensified Palestinian animosity against Israel, animosity that will ultimately explode into a violent uprising larger than October 7.
Handala Hack, an Iran-linked hacker group, accessed fbi Director Kash Patel’s personal e-mail and leaked several photos and messages. Earlier this month, the group hacked American medical equipment manufacturer Stryker. This hack serves as a warning of the danger of cyberattacks, which Bible prophecy indicates will contribute to America’s demise.
