News and Prophecy Staff

Nigerians are struggling to afford food due to unemployment and inflation, relying on help from food distribution centers. In December, desperate crowds waiting outside food distribution centers in Ibadan, Okija, and the nation’s capital, Abuja, stampeded as the doors opened for business, killing dozens (Deutsche Welle, December 24, 2024). At least 67 people, including 35 children, died seeking food gifts as Christmas approached.

Currently, any doctor in Britain who assists a patient to die prematurely could spend up to 14 years in prison (The Catholic Herald, December 2, 2024). However, two physicians and a judge may soon be able to give legal approval for an assisted suicide in the United Kingdom. This is concerning in a nation overseen by a national health care system that can benefit financially by prematurely terminating the lives of the very ill.

As Europe struggles politically and economically at home, it continues to reach out to nations around the globe to build stronger trade relationships. Some of these relationships may take years to pay off, but they have great potential. Just such a deal has now been struck between the EU and South American nations of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and—most recently—Bolivia (AP, December 6, 2024).

Arson and other attacks are on the rise across Europe and have been for years in the Netherlands. Recently, a major blast and fire occurred in The Hague, in an apartment building that is believed to have housed mainly elderly residents and families (Deutsche Welle, December 7, 2024). The explosion and fire destroyed five houses, and local authorities continue to search for the cause.

Syria’s Bashar al-Assad recently resigned as the nation’s leader and fled the country, ending the brutal 54-year family reign. Opposition forces brought the country’s 13-year civil war to an end by finally capturing major strongholds and Damascus itself. Al-Assad’s governmental collapse appears to coincide with declining support from Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah. In his absence, rival factions now seek power in the country. This division among would-be leaders may prevent future stability in Syria.