Prophecy News Watch provided by Worthy Ministries

Around the World
Trump says trade deal with China to be signed 'very shortly'
President Donald Trump on Saturday said the United States and China would 'very shortly' sign their so-called Phase One trade pact.
Erdogan says Turkey cannot handle new migrant wave from Syria, warns Europe
Turkey cannot handle a fresh wave of migrants from Syria, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, warning that European countries will feel the impact of such an influx if violence in Syria’s northwest is not stopped.
U.K. lawmakers OK Boris Johnson's Brexit bill, pave way to leave EU
British lawmakers approved in principle Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill, clearing the way for the U.K. to leave the European Union next month.
Satellite photos show work on North Korean site linked to long-range missiles
North Korea has expanded a factory linked to the production of long-range nuclear missiles, according to a new analysis of satellite photos provided to NBC News that bolsters a growing expectation the country soon will resume testing a capability that threatens the United States.
Thousands protest against new Hezbollah-backed PM in Lebanon
Thousands of protesters demonstrated in central Beirut and elsewhere in Lebanon on Sunday against the country’s new prime minister, saying he should abandon the post because he is a member of the ruling elite.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel airstrikes target Iran-linked military base in Syria, state media reports
Israel conducted an airstrike into Syria on Sunday night as air defenses in the country opened fire on missiles that had entered, state media reported.
Cyprus, Greece, Israel to sign pipeline deal on Jan. 2
The leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Israel plan to sign an agreement early in the new year for the building of the eastern Mediterranean natural gas pipeline, the Greek prime minister’s office announced Sunday.
Germany declares Hezbollah a terrorist group
The German Bundestag passed a resolution Thursday designating Hezbollah a terror group, earning praise from Israeli politicians.

Inside the United States
Trump signs $1.4 trillion spending package, averting shutdown
President Trump on Friday signed two spending packages totaling $1.4 trillion, averting a government shutdown at midnight.
Trump signs $738B defense bill creating Space Force
President Donald Trump signed a $738 billion defense bill into law, establishing the Space Force in a compromise with Democrats to grant federal employees 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
Trump Signs Budget Bill Advancing Religious Freedom Worldwide, Add $400B to Deficit
Friday night, President Donald Trump signed a bill a $1.4 trillion spending package that funds the military and domestic programs, building portions of the border wall and government agencies, including a government commission that monitors religious freedom worldwide.
FISA Court Orders Review of Warrant Applications From FBI Lawyer Facing Criminal Investigation
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court ordered the FBI to review warrant applications handled by Kevin Clinesmith—a former FBI lawyer referred for criminal investigation for allegedly removing a key line from an email when applying for a warrant to spy on a Donald Trump 2016 campaign aide.

Christian News
Christian families in India deprived of drinking water, afraid to celebrate Christmas in hometown
A Christian community in Karnataka state, India was prevented from building a church on December 4 and later deprived of drinking water when they went to police, with members now fearing to celebrate Christmas in their town.
Family finds imprisoned Chinese pastor in deep distress, 'brainwashed' by unknown medication regimen and parroting communist propaganda
A once-loving Chinese pastor and family man imprisoned 6 years ago by the Chinese Communist Party was found under severe psychological duress by his family members on their last visit to him December 13, and his daughter is seeking to expose the brutal methods by which the regime quells dissidence.
Pakistani Christian refugees punished in Thailand, separated at Christmas
Twenty-eight Pakistani Christian asylum-seekers were detained in Thailand on December 19, and are facing longer-term detention and separation one from another due to ongoing repairs at the main detention facility in Bangkok.
Protestants face persecution in Mexico as government denies they are being singled out by communities for their faith
Eight Protestant families were denied access to drinking water by community leaders in Mexico in January for not signing a document renouncing their faith, and 4 more Protestants expelled from their village for refusing to participate in local Roman Catholic festivals in July, as the government denies that any religious persecution is taking place.

Around the World
Pompeo rolls out new sanctions on Iran for protest deaths
American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday a new wave of sanctions against Iran for its harsh repression of protests that began on November 15 over austerity fuel prices.
Hezbollah-backed professor likely candidate for Lebanese premiership
A university professor and former minister received the backing of the Hezbollah terror group and its allies Thursday, making him the likely candidate to be appointed Lebanon’s new prime minister.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu pledges US support for West Bank settlement annexation
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday pledged to secure United States support for the annexation of the Jordan Valley and other West Bank settlements.
IDF attacks Hamas weapons production site following rocket fire from Gaza
Several Palestinians were lightly injured after IDF fighter jets attacked a Hamas weapons production site in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to Palestinian media.
Islamic Jihad: We agreed with Hamas to respond to future ‘aggression’ together
The Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups have agreed that they will respond together to any future Israeli 'aggression,' Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ziad al-Nakhala asserted on Thursday.
UK PM Boris Johnson pledges to move forward with anti-BDS law
Newly reelected British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged Thursday to fulfill an election campaign promise to introduce legislation aimed at undermining the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.
Israel cuts electricity to West Bank over $519M bill
The Israel Electric Corporation said Wednesday it was continuing power cuts to several Palestinian cities in Judea and Samaria to press for payment of the $519 million owed by a Palestinian electricity company.
Researchers in Israel discover possible temporary resting place of Ark of the Covenant
A large stone slab was discovered in Beit Shemesh, Israel that researchers say is reminiscent of the biblical description of the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant in the book of 1 Samuel.

Inside the United States
House passes Trump USMCA trade deal replacing NAFTA
The House voted Thursday to pass President Trump's U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade, granting the White House a policy win just one day after impeaching the president.
Congress Raises Tobacco, E-Cigarette Purchasing Age To 21
The Senate voted on Thursday to raise the legal age to buy tobacco products and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21, a provision included in the $1.37 trillion spending measure to fund the U.S. government.

Christian News
Boko Haram wreaks havoc on Christian community in Cameroon
A spate of attacks on Christian villagers in Cameroon by Boko Haram has left a community grieving beloved pioneer church planter David Mokoni and 7 others, as well as a bevy of sleepless victims in deep psychological distress.
Primitive Christian church burned in eastern India, Bibles set ablaze
Christians in a tribal village in India had their bamboo hut church burned down by animists on December 1st, 5 days after their Bibles were confiscated and set to a bonfire.

Around the World
Iran rolls out new line of advanced centrifuges
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced Wednesday his country would employ a new line of advanced centrifuges to speed up uranium enrichment, reducing the time it would take the Islamic Republic to acquire a nuclear weapon to under a year.
U.S., Russian Military Chiefs Meet In Switzerland On Syria, Avoiding Conflicts
The top U.S. and Russian military commanders on December 18 held talks on Syria, where both countries are militarily engaged, and on improving mutual communication.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Thousands of IDF troops drill war in the North, West Bank
Over a thousand IDF reservists are in the midst of a large-scale drill in the West Bank, training to stop terror threats against Israeli civilians by Palestinian terrorists as Defense Minister Naftali Bennett and IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Aviv Kochavi toured a drill in the Golan Heights.
IDF holds surprise test drill for cyber attack
Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi held a third surprise drill concerning a possible cyber attack and shut-down of security systems on Wednesday, according to the IDF Spokespersons' Unit.
Shin Bet arrests 50 PFLP terrorists, thwarting upcoming attack
Israeli security forces in the West Bank have uncovered and dismantled a 50-person strong terrorist cell believed to behind a string of deadly attacks in the area including the deadly Dolev bombing which claimed the life of a teenage girl, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said Wednesday.

Inside the United States
House Votes to Impeach Trump: 230-197 For ‘Abuse of Power,’ 229-198 For ‘Obstruction of Congress’
The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 230-197 to impeach President Trump for 'abuse of power' over his dealings with Ukraine, and by a vote of 229-198 to impeach him for 'obstruction of Congress.'
US Supreme Court Could Limit Job Bias Lawsuits Against Churches
The Supreme Court said Wednesday it will consider expanding protections for churches against job-discrimination claims.
Consumer Confidence Soars as Economy Steadily Improves
Financial markets globally and in the US are looking up. The DOW, S&P 500, and NASDAQ hit record-closing highs Tuesday as a stock rally extended into five straight sessions.
Court voids Obamacare mandate — but not the whole law
A federal appeals court on Wednesday struck down Obamacare’s individual mandate in a decision that immediately thrusts the health care law to the forefront of the 2020 elections.
Study: US Has World's Highest Percentage of Children Living in Single-Parent Homes
According to a new study, the United States has the world's largest percentage of children living in a single-parent home.
White House Press Secretary: Trump impeached on "two baseless articles of impeachment that lack any support in evidence and fail even to describe any impeachable offense"
Democrats in the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump Wednesday night, slating him for a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate in January in which he is expected to be cleared of the charges.

Christian News
Chinese house churches continue to be targets, Bible banned in some regions
The Chinese government crackdown on unofficial Christianity continued late summer into early fall, with house churches in Yunnan province and Shandong province shut down in August and October.
Report releases extremely high death toll of Christians in Nigeria in the last 4 years
More than 1,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria in the last year and more than 6,000 since 2015 according to findings from 'Your Land or Your Blood,' a new report by Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust.
Fla. Education Department says athletic association should not ban prayer from high school football games
Florida’s Department of Education has expressed their support for two Christian high schools who were barred from having a prayer given via loudspeaker at a football game held at the Citrus Bowl Stadium.