Governments and people around the world, from Asia to Europe and throughout the Middle East, are in stunned disbelief as Donald Trump bewildered political pollsters with an unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton in the United States presidential election. Some news pundits and populists have hailed the result as a triumph of the people over a failed political establishment.

“The devastating impact of cigarette smoke on the body’s DNA has been laid bare by the first comprehensive study into the damage tobacco inflicts on human cells. People who smoke a pack of cigarettes each day for a year develop on average 150 extra mutations in every lung cell, and nearly 100 more mutations than usual in each cell of the voice box, researchers found.

Speaking of Italy’s recent earthquakes, Italian Catholic priest “Giovanni Cavalcoli told a radio audience that the two earthquakes were a punishment for sins, ‘such as civil unions,’ which were officially recognized in Italy beginning in May. The priest’s remarks drew a sharp rebuke from the Vatican.

Billions of people around the world woke up or stayed up to learn that Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States. While speculation abounds about what might happen next on the geopolitical scene, the world does not realize that God has a plan and that He “removes kings and raises up kings” (Daniel 2:21), and “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men” and “gives it to whomever He will” (Daniel 4:17). Today, we must not lose sight of the fact that God is guiding world affairs to accomplish His ultimate purpose—the salvation of mankind (cf.

Pope Francis visited Sweden this week during the celebration of the Reformation’s 500th year to promote “efforts to heal the 500-year-old rift between Catholics and Protestants” (Wall Street Journal, October 30, 2016). While the Pope praised some of Martin Luther’s actions (which led to the split between Catholics and Protestants), he focused on “moving beyond the controversies and disagreements” and illustrated the need for unification.