In Other News
Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping pledged during his annual New Year’s Eve speech in Beijing to bring Taiwan under control of the Chinese Communist Party. The speech came just as China concluded its “Justice Mission 2025” military drills at locations around Taiwan, with its forces operating closer to the island than in any previous exercises. It also follows a Pentagon report published last month saying China will attain the military capacity to capture Taiwan by the end of 2027. Xi’s speech made clear that he feels emboldened by the gains of his ally Russian President Vladimir Putin against Ukraine and by the decision of the United States not to halt Putin’s imperialism. “The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable,” he said. The Trumpet maintains that due to America’s weak will, the Chinese Communist Party will make good on its pledge to seize Taiwan.
The Israeli government reported that 3,300 Jews fled France for Israel in 2025, a 45 percent increase over 2024. Another 3,500 left the United States for Israel. Why? One major reason is the sharp rise in anti-Semitism in these countries and around the world. France recorded 646 anti-Semitic incidents in the first six months of 2025 alone, according to the French Ministry of the Interior. To understand why anti-Semitism is increasing, read “We Need to Talk About Anti-Semitism.”
Zohran Mamdani became the first mayor of New York City to be sworn in on the Koran at a landmark inauguration ceremony, which took place shortly after midnight on January 1. Mamdani actually used two copies of the Islamic holy book for the ceremony, one belonging to his grandfather and another centuries-old copy on loan from the New York Public Library. This represents a major shift in American culture. The U.S. Muslim population has more than doubled in the last 20 years as the younger generation gives up on Christianity and turns not only to atheism and agnosticism, but even to Islam and other religions and spirituality.
On Tuesday, the First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that President Trump has the legal authority to ban Medicaid payments to abortion organizations. July’s “Big Beautiful Bill” banned Medicaid payments beyond $800,000 for these organizations and affected 22 states, plus Washington, D.C. Planned Parenthood claims these cuts have caused 20 of their facilities to close. A lower court had blocked the Trump administration, but the First Circuit Court decision is one of several key court decisions, particularly in the Supreme Court, that will empower President Trump. To learn about the judiciary’s role in supporting the president, read Chapter 10 of America Under Attack.
The United States federal government is moving toward holding the Minnesota government accountable for allegedly funding radical Islamic terrorism in Somalia with taxpayer dollars. Yesterday, James Comer, chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, announced the group will hold “Part 1” of a hearing concerning the fraud next week. This announcement came a day after Jim O’Neill, deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, announced a pause on federal taxpayer funding to Minnesota. Though these actions are unlikely to properly bring the perpetrators to justice, this story does illustrate the fulfillment of a prophesied trend. The Bible foretold President Trump’s return and said he would lead an American resurgence, during which many of the nation’s evils would be exposed and stopped.
In 2024, $5.8 billion in taxpayer funds went to “questionable” rental assistance recipients, the New York Post reported Wednesday. The article, citing a December 18 report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, stated that 30,000 “deceased tenants” and “thousands” of potential noncitizens received payments in the last year of Joe Biden’s term. Though funds were sent to dead recipients in all 50 states, California, New York and Washington, D.C. received a “large concentration” of suspicious funds. An estimated 82 percent of these recipients received more money than allowed. The department plans to further investigate the scale of the fraud and perhaps pause funding or make criminal referrals. This is yet another example of the evils being exposed during the prophesied American resurgence.
What media is calling “Iran’s largest protests in three years” exploded this week amid soaring inflation and other economic woes. Merchants, students and others are shouting, “Death to Khamenei,” and “Death to the dictator,” aiming their grievances at the highest levels of Iran’s regime. Iran’s short-term political future appears shaky, but just as it did throughout the Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran and its proxies earlier this year, the Trumpet emphasizes that Iran itself and radical Islam overall will increase in power, not decrease. This is due to a prophecy in Daniel 11: Iran is “the king of the south.”
Did Ukraine try to assassinate Vladimir Putin? Or is Putin lying to derail the peace talks? Russia’s foreign ministry said on Monday that 91 Ukrainian long-range drones had been shot down over Putin’s residence. Russia has produced no proof, however. “Analysts and independent Russian outlets have argued that the claim remained highly dubious, given the lack of any footage, local reports of air defense activity or debris from the incident,” noted the Telegraph. “Earlier reports by Russia’s defense minister conflicted with Mr Lavrov’s statements.” It looks like Putin has no intention of making peace, and is instead looking for a way of ending the talks while blaming Ukraine for their failure.
The head of the Swiss armed forces, Thomas Suessli, said in an interview published Saturday that Switzerland cannot “defend against threats from a distance or even a full-scale attack on our country.” He said that “in a real emergency, only a third of all soldiers would be fully equipped.” Switzerland has moderately increased military spending, but only at a pace that will make it fully functional around 2050. Suessli said that is far too slow and that Switzerland’s neutral status won’t necessarily protect it should war come. “Neutrality only has value if it can be defended with weapons,” he argued. Suessli is particularly fearful of the Russian threat. The Bible prophesies that Europe will continue militarizing, and that its first target will not be Russia.
Latvia just finished a 174-mile fence along its Russian border. Lithuania is beginning its border fortifications, including preparing key bridges close to its borders with Russia and Belarus for demolition. This digging in is another concrete proof of how fearful Europeans are becoming. When Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, Gerald Flurry wrote, “The fear you see in Europe because of events in Crimea is going to cause 10 leaders in Europe to unite in a sudden and dramatic way—and in precise accordance with the Bible’s description of that European empire!” Watch for the imminent fulfillment of this key Bible prophecy.
According to a new definition, 75 percent of Americans are obese. Researchers from Harvard, Yale and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center claim the older body mass index definition under-measured obesity rates by putting them at just 40 percent. The proposed new criteria expands to include measurements of fat tissue and the waist. This multi-measure approach gives a wider picture of how serious America’s obesity crisis is. Its causes: inactivity, poor food quality and rejection of God’s agricultural laws.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency published images on December 25 of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting what they claim is the nation’s first nuclear-powered submarine. “We regard the super-powerful offensive capability as the best shield for national security in developing the armed forces,” Kim was quoted as saying. If the claims are accurate, North Korea now poses a much more dangerous strategic threat. Only China, France, India, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom are known to currently operate these advanced vessels. Nuclear-powered submarines can sustain higher speeds for longer periods than diesel-electric models, are far quieter, can stay submerged for months, and can launch nuclear missiles from hidden locations—perhaps the most important capability for nuclear deterrence, counterstrikes and surprise attacks.
Justice Frank Hoskins sentenced Omogbolahan Jegede to just two years in prison last week in a Nova Scotia, Canada, court after he was convicted on two counts of sexual assault. One woman testified that the former football player choked her; another woman testified that he raped her. Yet the Impact of Race and Culture Assessment, a report funded under an initiative from Trudeau-era Liberals, said that Jegede was feeling intense pressure around the time of the assaults, that his lack of role models “further exacerbated Mr. Jegede’s vulnerability,” and that the rapist did not have culturally appropriate support to turn to for help. The justice stated that, if not for “mitigating factors” including this report, Jegede’s “sentence would have been much higher.” The Bible, the foundation of Western law, specifies, “One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you” (Numbers 15:16). Modern judges often replace what is left of the biblical rule of law in the West with their own blatantly unjust judgments.
In an interview with conservative outlet Just the News on Sunday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that she has asked Justice Department prosecutors to investigate Barack Obama’s and Joe Biden’s roles in an ongoing election-meddling conspiracy. She said, “[E]vidence illustrates that the fbi shielded political figures like Hunter Biden and Hillary Clinton while pursuing conservatives for their beliefs, using legal process and operations that were excessive, instead of protecting Americans from public safety threats posed by an open border and violent crime. They went so far as to serve search warrants that their own department and law enforcement officials believed were excessive.” So many of the crimes Gerald Flurry details in America Under Attack haven’t faced any reckoning. It would be stunning if this effort actually holds the criminals accountable.
On Friday, the Japanese government approved a budget to spend a record $58 billion on the nation’s military for the coming year, highlighting Japan’s intensifying fear of China. The new budget is nearly 10 percent higher than the previous year and puts Japan on target to devote 2 percent of its gross domestic product to defense two years ahead of schedule. The plan allocates funds to deploy additional missiles and drones to Japan’s southwestern islands and to fortify its “standoff” missile capability. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters, “This budget is the least we need to fulfill our defense responsibilities as Japan faces its most severe and complex security environment since the end of the war.” Japan’s rapid rearmament may seem reassuring since it is an ally of the United States, but Bible prophecy warns that events will soon undergo a troubling turn. Read “Japan’s Coming Betrayal of America.”
Police in Germany are under attack, largely by foreigners. In 2024, the German Federal Criminal Police Office recorded 46,357 acts of violence affecting 106,875 police officers, the German Interior Ministry reported today. This represents a 67.2 percent increase in the number of officers affected compared to 2015, a year that coincided with a large influx of refugees into Germany. Foreigners make up around 15 percent of the total population and 34.9 percent of the perpetrators. About 87 percent of the cases involved acts of resistance or physical attacks. According to the statistics, violence also includes threats, coercion and intentional bodily harm. The refugee crisis continues to radically transform Germany.
Iran is fighting a “total war with the United States, Israel and Europe” and is “being surrounded from every angle,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told state media in an interview published Saturday. This is a telling comment in light of Daniel 11:40, which prophesies that Iran-led Islam and Catholic-led Europe will clash in a major war and that Europe will attack Iran “like a whirlwind” from every angle. This phrase is emphasized and explained in Mr. Flurry’s free booklet Germany’s Secret Strategy to Destroy Iran.
The Israel Antiquities Authority announced today the discovery of a mikveh, an ancient Jewish ritual bath, near Jerusalem’s Wailing Wall. Mikvehs were used for cleansing en route to worshiping at the temple of God. This specimen dates approximately to the time of Jesus Christ. The Trumpet’s publisher, the Philadelphia Church of God, has sponsored archaeological excavations around a similar mikveh nearby: Read about the significance of these ruins here.
A Palestinian terrorist murdered two people and wounded others today in a rampage in northern Israel near Nazareth. The terrorist, who has been arrested and identified as Ahmed Abu al-Rov, ran over a 68-year-old man with a vehicle before fatally stabbing an 18-year-old woman. These kinds of attacks are more common near Israeli settlements in the West Bank rather than in Israel proper, but they are early warning signs that tensions between Israelis and their Arab neighbors are about to explode.
Polish forces intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft yesterday near Polish airspace over the Baltic Sea. The radar systems also detected several objects likely used for smuggling crossing the border from Belarus. Fearing increased Russian hybrid attacks, Poland is fortifying its defense systems and borders with help from Germany. Earlier this month, the German Air Force deployed an unspecified number of Eurofighters to Poland for a mission lasting until March, with about 150 personnel involved. Starting in April 2026, the German armed forces will assist with the construction of a protective barrier as part of Poland’s “Operation East Shield” initiative in the border region with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Fear of Russia is prompting Poland to align itself with a militarized Europe, led by Germany.
“I would like to see soldiers with the European flag on their uniforms working alongside our Ukrainian friends to secure peace,” Manfred Weber, the prominent German politician and leader of the European People’s Party, said in an interview posted today by Funke Media Group. “We cannot seriously expect Trump to secure a peace settlement solely with American GIs. And when we talk about European troops, Germany cannot be left out. … Europe stands naked in a cold world full of storms. We must stop basing our policies on documents from Washington. We must write our own security strategy, test the architecture of Europe, and finally act with confidence.” Growing distrust of the United States equates to growing support for an independent European military under German leadership. However, Bible prophecy shows that this force will not be established to support Ukraine or to keep the peace.
Record rainfall drenched Southern California on Wednesday, forcing evacuations and road closures. At least three people drowned, while dozens of others were rescued overnight amid flooding and mudslides. About 100,000 people in the state are without power. The mountain and foothill areas of Southern California received 6 to 14 inches of rain on Wednesday and Thursday, the wettest holiday span in many areas since 1971. Around the world, people are seeing dramatic swings between dry and wet conditions, which scientists are calling “hydroclimate whiplash.” The Bible specifies that such whiplash is a curse for sin. Amos 4:7 says, “… I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.”
Zelenskyy presents 20-point peace plan draft: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented to journalists a new peace proposal on December 23. It revises the initial 28-point plan presented by the U.S. that called for Ukraine to make drastic territorial concessions to Russia, limit its military strength, and agree not to join nato. Many felt the plan, as the Kyiv Independent put it, “effectively pushed Ukraine toward capitulation.” The new proposal includes the following clause: “The United States, nato and European countries will provide Ukraine with security guarantees that mirror Article 5 of nato’s founding treaty, the mutual-defense clause.” The new proposal is more favorable to Ukraine, but it also makes a ceasefire far less likely. These negotiations demonstrate that this conflict cannot be resolved through diplomacy. Meanwhile, the conflict continues and the Russian president grows more and more brutal in his warfare.
Jerusalem vulnerable to October 7-scale terrorism? Israeli State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman released a report on Tuesday stating that Jerusalem is vulnerable to an attack from the West Bank. The report says 39 percent of the border between Jerusalem’s Israeli neighborhoods and Muslim neighborhoods, as well as the West Bank, has no security measures. Englman said this could make Jerusalem as vulnerable as the southern area through which Hamas rampaged, terrorized, raped, tortured and murdered on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 men, women and children, and injuring more than 3,000. Englman said the security deficiencies “are so problematic that they should be causing the political-security leadership to lose sleep.” Zechariah 14:1-2 prophesy that Palestinians in the West Bank will conquer half of Jerusalem. Continue to watch Jerusalem closely.
Trump-endorsed Asfura wins Honduran election: After major technical problems, allegations of fraud and weeks of delays, Nasry Asfura was declared the winner of the razor-thin presidential election in Honduras today. Backed by President Donald Trump, Asfura’s conservative National Party candidate won 40.3 percent of the vote, narrowly edging out Salvador Nasralla of the center-right Liberal Party, which won 39.5 percent. Considering that the conservative José Antonio Kast was recently elected president of Chile, and that Nicolás Maduro may soon be ousted from power in Venezuela, Asfura’s election could be part of a conservative revival in Latin America. This isn’t necessarily good news: Conservative Latin Americans are more likely to ally with both the Roman Catholic Church and the European Union, two powers that are prophesied to oppose the United States.
