THE KINGS OF THE EAST

• China’s Xi warns global confrontation ‘invites catastrophic consequences’
• China Eyes Risks and Rewards of US-Russia Standoff Over Ukraine
• China warns US will ‘face unbearable price’ on Taiwan
• China flies 39 warplanes towards Taiwan as tensions with island rise
• China’s high-tech warplanes pose ‘big new threat’ to Taiwan
• China will continue to ‘modernise’ nuclear arsenal: foreign ministry
• China says it warned away US warship in South China Sea
• Former Top US Commander in Korea Urges Allies to Include China in War Plans
• Two US carriers enter South China Sea, to ‘counter malign influence’
• Sounding alarm on China, Japan and US vow to collaborate more on defense
• Japan extends US military support amid China, North Korea ‘challenges’
• Japan, Australia sign defence treaty with eyes on China
• North Korea Fires Two More Missiles, Continuing Dizzying Pace of Launches

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

• YouTube Removes John MacArthur’s Latest Sermon on Biblical Sexuality, Labels It ‘Hate Speech’
• UK MPs concerned for Finnish Christian politician on trial for sexuality beliefs
• Afghanistan replaces North Korea as most dangerous place to be a Christian
• Islamic Rage Against the Christian Cross
• Islamic Raiders Kill 28 Christians in South Sudan

NEWS FROM ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST

• Hamas leader: Israel has no future in Palestine
• Iran reveals ‘untold story’ of arming Palestinians in Gaza

PLAGUES & PESTILENCES

• Scientists worry an avian flu killing thousands of cranes in Israel could spread to humans
• Five human cases of H5N6 bird flu reported in China

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

• Health officials say Christian beliefs ‘incompatible with human dignity’
• Most Americans, Many Christians Don’t Believe Jesus Existed before Being Born
• The Number of Americans Who Identify as Christian Has Fallen
• 30 million Christians in danger as ‘anti-Christian hysteria’ sweeps world’s 2nd largest country
• Report: Anti-Christian Hate Crimes in Europe Jump by 70% in One Year

THE RELIGION OF PEACE?

• “Christians, we will slit your throats on the Koran”
• Nigeria: Fulani Jihadists Kill 45 Christian Farmers in ‘Barbaric’ Attack
• Canadian Imam Compares Wishing Merry Christmas to Congratulating Murderers, Pedophiles
• Indian Police Probe Hindu Event Calling for Mass Killing of Muslims

A BRAVE NEW WORLD

• Brave New World: Do-It-Yourself Suicide Pod May Be Ready for Swiss Market by Next Year

RUSSIA AND THE KINGS OF THE EAST

• Russian state TV warns of turning America into ‘radioactive ash’
• Russia Threatens to Deploy Tactical Nuclear Weapons
• Russia-Ukraine crisis: Putin says ball in West’s court
• Putin hails multiple launch test of hypersonic missile
• US-China hypersonic weapons ‘arms race’ is underway, Air Force chief says
• Report: China Military Spending Surge — Now 50% Larger than India, Japan, Taiwan, South-East Asia Combined

SIGNS IN THE SUN, MOON & STARS

• China-Russia Collaboration in Space Poses Challenge for West
• China’s manned moon landing possible before 2030

NEWS FROM ISRAEL & THE MIDDLE EAST

• Israel is a Jewish state and will remain so – Ra’am’s Abbas
• Palestinians slam Mansour Abbas for ‘recognizing’ Israel as a Jewish state
• ‘One wrong move’: Tehran Times reveals Iran’s targets in Israel
• IRGC leader warns Israel: We will cut off their hands if they make a wrong move
• Hamas to Israel: Leave or die
• Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad agree to facilitate attacks on Israel
• Syria FM tells Iran it will respond to Israeli attacks
• Iran pledges ‘crushing’ response against any Israeli attack
• Israel’s incoming Air Force chief: In next war Hezbollah will suffer ‘unimaginable blow’