Global Watch Daily – September 25, 2026
A concise summary of significant developments in Israel and the world through a grounded Christian worldview.
Israel & Jerusalem
Israel’s Education Ministry has entered a partnership to expand mentoring programs and incorporate artificial intelligence into STEM education throughout the school system (JNS). Shai Maimon sharply criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for his comments regarding Hamas, emphasizing that the Islamist group “has been operating in Judea and Samaria for decades” (JNS). Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned those who walked out during his United Nations General Assembly speech as “moral cowards” (BBC News).
A swift military advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast has brought renewed attention to the Iran-backed Houthi movement, raising concerns about disruptions to the global energy market (BBC News). During his visit to New York, Prime Minister Netanyahu met with the presidents of Argentina, Paraguay, Panama, and Bolivia and invited them to join the Isaac Accords (JNS). The passing of Rabbi David Batzri, a Jerusalem-born leader of Yeshivat Hashalom and a prominent figure in Jewish mysticism, was also reported (JNS).
During a board meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, a significant figure related to the ongoing conflict was announced, underscoring the continued international focus on the region (BBC News).
Wars & Security (Israel and Region)
The Kurdistan Regional Government declared the unification of the Peshmerga forces under the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, ending long-standing divisions between units affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (Long War Journal). In Yemen, the Houthis and Yemeni Armed Forces, alongside allied militias, continue intense fighting on multiple fronts, with the Houthis concentrating on the highlands inland from their recent coastal gains and maintaining attacks on Saudi Arabia (Long War Journal). The Pakistani Air Force launched airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan targeting terrorist training camps in retaliation for a complex suicide attack in western Pakistan. The Taliban denied involvement in the attack and vowed an “appropriate response” to Pakistan’s strikes (Long War Journal).
A recent agreement with Greenland signals growing acceptance of an expanded American military presence on the island, easing previous transatlantic tensions and strengthening NATO’s defenses in the North Atlantic region (FDD). Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict with Iran is prompting Middle Eastern and Eastern Mediterranean countries to forge new security alliances, driven in part by the setbacks experienced by Gulf Arab states. This dynamic underscores the need for the United States to reinforce its reliable alliances in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially given Turkey’s shifting posture (FDD).
David Daoud, senior fellow at FDD, hosted Lina Khatib of Chatham House to discuss her July visit to southern Lebanon and the enduring challenges the Lebanese Armed Forces face in controlling the border since the 2006 war. Israeli forces advanced from the outskirts of Ali al Taher Ridge into Hezbollah’s underground network, while Hezbollah reframed its narrative of the battle—from denying Israeli entry to portraying the loss as a strategic attrition—highlighting the group’s adaptive tactics (Long War Journal; Long War Journal).
Global Macro & Geopolitics
Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned those who walked out during his United Nations General Assembly address as “moral cowards,” emphasizing the gravity of the issues discussed (BBC News). Ukrainian President Zelensky reflected on assurances given during his last meeting with a key international leader, marking a critical juncture in ongoing diplomatic efforts (France24). In Brazil, inflation accelerated more than anticipated in early September, intensifying cost-of-living pressures ahead of the presidential elections (Bloomberg).
Additional commentary and analysis on these geopolitical dynamics are available through Public Discourse (Public Discourse).
AI Dominion, Deception & the Antichrist System
Two prominent civil liberties groups have joined a lawsuit against police in Reno, Nevada, based on the alleged arrests of hundreds of people each year stemming from a live facial recognition (LFR) system operated by a private entity. The Innocence Project and the American Civil Liberties Union have picked up the cause of Jason Killinger, a man arrested following a facial recognition match by Peppermill Casino (biometricupdate.com).
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing a more than $100 million contracting effort that would place experienced intelligence analysts throughout its nationwide deportation operations, including inside Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) centers that use biometric and biographic data to identify and target people for enforcement. Israel and the US have used artificial intelligence to kill in Gaza and Iran, while law enforcement uses it in surveillance and arrests. The future is here. In recent weeks, concerns about artificial intelligence have forged unlikely alliances in the tech and policy worlds (biometricupdate.com; The Guardian).
Pestilence & Global Health
A comprehensive Swedish study involving 3.7 million individuals has linked rare TORCH infections transmitted from pregnant women to their fetuses with significantly increased risks of autism and intellectual disabilities in later life. Children affected by congenital TORCH infections were approximately three times more likely to develop these conditions (ScienceDaily). Researchers have also uncovered evidence that long COVID may damage dopamine-releasing neurons in the brain, potentially explaining symptoms such as persistent fatigue, low motivation, slowed movement, and memory difficulties. This discovery opens avenues for treatments targeting the brain’s dopamine system (ScienceDaily). Additionally, scientists have developed a refined method to date ancient plague genomes more precisely, linking many to historical outbreaks (ScienceDaily).
A growing outbreak of Bundibugyo virus, a lesser-known relative of Ebola, highlights the threat posed by rare but deadly pathogens when diagnosis and treatment options are limited. Experts caution that focusing preparedness solely on familiar diseases could leave the global community vulnerable to sudden reemergence of such viruses (ScienceDaily).
Natural Disasters & Signs in the Heavens
The United States Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 0.7 earthquake near Cobb, California, and a magnitude 5.3 earthquake in the Vanuatu region (USGS; USGS).
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck near Kainantu, Papua New Guinea. Additionally, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred in the Vanuatu Islands region at a depth of 23.966 km on September 25, 2026, at 11:12 UTC, with no reported impact on populations within 100 km (USGS; GDACS).
Middle Eastern Artifacts
Archaeologists discovered the tomb of an ancient Egyptian royal chamberlain in Sector A of the Bubasteum necropolis in Saqqara during its inaugural excavation season (BiblePlaces). The Pyramid of Menkaure has been closed to visitors following recent developments. A final report on Italian excavations in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher outlined a clear historical sequence from stone quarry to farmland, cemetery, and ultimately church; this report requires a subscription to access. Authorities have also employed various measures related to these findings (BiblePlaces).