Prophecy News Watch - December 24, 2021

Around the World
UK data suggest hospitalization 50-70% less likely with Omicron than Delta
Preliminary data suggest that people with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus are between 50 and 70 percent less likely to need hospitalization than those with the Delta strain, Britain’s public health agency said Thursday.
Iran, world powers to launch fresh round of talks to salvage nuclear pact
Negotiators from Iran and five world powers that are trying to revive a tattered 2015 nuclear deal will resume talks in Vienna next week, the European Union said Thursday, confirming that a new round will be officially launched on Monday.
Lebanon’s top Christian party signals possible end of Hezbollah alliance
Lebanon's top Christian party has indicated it is considering ending a political alliance with Iran-backed Hezbollah, threatening a fragile union that has shaped Lebanese politics for nearly 16 years.
Philippines Christians Fear Looting After Typhoon
Christians in the Philippines‘ central Province of Bohol wracked by super Typhoon Rai pleaded for prayers, food and water Wednesday after the governor feared looting amid growing hunger.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel said to delay rollout of 4th COVID shots amid signs Omicron less severe
The Health Ministry has reportedly decided that Israel will not begin offering fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine starting on Sunday as planned for Israelis over 60 and others at risk.
Israeli drug prevents 100% of COVID patients from deteriorating in trial
All 18 COVID-19 patients hospitalized with moderate or severe symptoms who received the drug Amor-18 developed by Israeli biotech company Amorphical recovered and were discharged in a few days, the company announced on Wednesday. Of the 19 individuals who were given a placebo, six had to be transferred to intensive care, and two died.

Inside the United States
Nearly 50,000 Afghans resettled in U.S., 25,000 remain at military bases
All Afghan evacuees have been processed and released from the Marine Corps base at Quantico, the Biden administration announced Thursday, shutting down the second of eight bases that had been housing the refugees who were rescued as part of the August airlift.
New inflation report shows fastest rise in decades
The U.S. is experiencing its highest inflation in four decades, newly released federal economic numbers show.

Christian News
“Prayer can help patients’ health” says respected cancer practitioner
A well-respected cancer practitioner stated in a recent USA Today article that he believes prayer can have a significant positive impact on patients’ health, Christian Headlines (CH) reports. A medical director at the Center for Recurrent Cancer in Florida, Dr. Gary Onik said his belief is based on both personal and clinical experience.
US Evangelical Lutheran Church suspends its first transgender bishop over racism
A ministerial branch of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has suspended the denomination’s first transgender bishop following allegations of racist conduct against the “Latinx community” in Stockton, California, the Washington Times reports.