SIGNS IN THE SUN, MOON & STARS

• US lightning bolt leaps into record books at 768 km long
• Israel gets new earthquake warning system, sends alert within seconds of 1st tremor

INIQUITY SHALL ABOUND

• Michigan mom says SpongeBob SquarePants told her to kill 3-year-old daughter
• Appalling video shows Iranian man carrying wife’s head after ‘honor killing’

THE RUSSIAN BEAR AWAKENS

• Russia Says It’s ‘Not Bluffing’ and Warns of Large-Scale Conflict in Europe
• Biden: ‘Distinct Possibility’ Russia Will Invade Ukraine
• Russia Rejects Biden Warning of ‘Severe’ Actions if it Invades Ukraine
• Europe at greatest risk of war in 30 years, Poland warns
• Russia to hold naval drills in Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Mediterranean
• Russia launches new military drills in south, Crimea
• NATO Members Send Ships, Jets to Eastern Europe as Ukraine Tensions Mount
• Ukrainians prepare for war with Russia as military aid arrives

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