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’

RUSSIA AND THE KINGS OF THE EAST

• The China-Russia entente could be the next big alliance
• Pentagon plans stronger US posture toward China, Russia
• China’s Xi warns of ‘Cold War-era’ tensions in Asia-Pacific
• U.S., China trade Taiwan warnings ahead of Biden-Xi summit
• U.S. warns China on action against Philippines
• Philippines accuses China of ‘harassment’ in disputed sea
• Pentagon: China expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than anticipated
• Chinese Military on Target to Surpass US, Russia
• Chinese hypersonic test included pathbreaking 2nd missile launch
• Russia test fires Zircon hypersonic missile
• US-China hypersonic weapons ‘arms race’ is underway, Air Force chief says
• Russia Holds Black Sea Navy Drills With Eye on US Ships

SIGNS IN THE SUN, MOON AND STARS

• China unleashes satellite ‘crusher’ into orbit occupied by U.S. tech
• Space Force general says China and Russia attacking US satellites ‘every single day’
• Satellite attack: the mounting arms race in space
• France boosts space surveillance with satellites launch
• Russia ready to discuss all space security issues with US
• Pentagon wants to make its space assets ‘more difficult to find’

NEWS FROM ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST

• Iranian Brig.-Gen. urges destruction of Israel prior to nuke talks
• IRGC commander: If Israel starts a war, it will end with its destruction
• Israel ‘doomed to termination,’ Iranian general threatens
• Bahrain FM: Iran getting nuclear weapons would be ‘catastrophic’
• Senior EU official: ‘Iran doesn’t have peaceful intentions with its nuclear program’
• Israel needs to ‘be ready’ for war, IDF officer says as large-scale drill ends
• Former Mossad chief: Attack on Iran must be on the table
• IDF spokesman: ‘We’re accelerating our plans against Iran’
• ‘Israel could take unilateral action against Iran if sanctions lifted’

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

• Pew Poll: 58 Percent of Americans Believe in ‘God as Described in the Bible’

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

• British Lawmaker Claims Christ’s Death was ‘Assisted’ by ‘Kindly Centurion’ in Euthanasia Debate
• U.S. Is Facing a ‘Worldview Crisis,’ George Barna Says: 94 Percent Reject a Biblical Worldview
• U.S. Christian Missionaries Kidnapped in Haiti: 17 Adults and Children Taken
• French Catholic clergy abused 216,000 victims since 1950