Prophecy News Watch - December 22, 2017

Around the World
After ISIS campaign, Iran-backed fighters in Iraq vow to drive out US troops
Now that they’ve helped vanquish the Islamic State from much of Iraq, a battle-hardened militia with close ties to Iran may be training its sights on the remaining U.S.-led coalition troops scattered across the country.
Catalan separatists win election in rebuke to Spain and EU
Catalonia’s separatists look set to regain power in the wealthy Spanish region after local elections on Thursday, deepening the nation’s political crisis in a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and European Union leaders who backed him.
Putin, Merkel discuss situation in eastern Ukraine
The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel to explain Russia's decision to withdraw its military observers from a joint group monitoring the truce in eastern Ukraine.
ISIS Threatens Holiday Terror Attacks
Islamic State terrorists are threatening Christmas and New Year's attacks in major cities across the US and Europe.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
In a New Challenge to Israel, Syria's Assad Sets His Sights on Golan Border Area
The Assad regime is gearing up to expand the area it controls in southern Syria, near the border with Israel.
Hamas calls on Arabs to drive Israeli, US ambassadors out of Arab states
Palestinians resumed violently rioting on Wednesday as they continued to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's Dec. 6 declaration recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Inside the United States
Trump first president to protect electric grid from EMP, cyberattacks
President Trump became the first national leader to call for protecting the U.S electric and communications grid against an electromagnetic attack like one practiced in North Korea.
Year One List: 81 major Trump achievements, 11 Obama legacy items repealed
With the passage of the GOP tax bill this week, the Trump administration has scored 81 major achievements in its first year, making good on campaign promises to provide significant tax cuts, boost U.S. energy production, and restore respect to the United States, according to the White House.
Senate passes short-term spending bill with help from Democrats to avoid shutdown
The Senate on Thursday passed a short-term government funding bill for President Trump's signature, ending yet another threat of a government shutdown and leaving Congress with a new January deadline to come up with a major spending deal.
White House: Trump wants lawmakers to pass Obamacare stabilization bills in January
President Donald Trump wants lawmakers to pass two bipartisan bills early next year that would shore up the Affordable Care Act, the White House said on Wednesday.
How Obama manipulated sensitive secret intelligence for political gain
For years, a clandestine U.S. intelligence team had tracked a man they knew was high in the leadership of al Qaeda -- an operative some believed had a hand in plotting the gruesome 2009 suicide attack in Afghanistan that killed seven CIA officers.
Judge: State Can't Force CA Baker to Make Cakes for Same-Sex Weddings
The state of California attempted to shut down a baker after its Christian owner refused to make cakes for same-sex weddings, saying it went against her religious beliefs.
Second U.S. judge blocks Trump administration birth control rules
A second U.S. judge on Thursday blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from enforcing new rules that undermine an Obamacare requirement for employers to provide insurance that covers women’s birth control.
U.S. economy grew at solid 3.2 percent rate in the third quarter
The U.S. economy grew at a solid 3.2 percent annual rate from July through September, slightly slower than previously estimated but still enough to give the country the best back-to-back quarterly growth rates in three years.

Christian News
Christian Geologist Says Discovery Of Fossilized Tree Stumps Confirms Biblical Account Of Great Flood
A Christian geologist has claimed that a recent discovery of fossilized tree stumps in Antarctica confirms the Bible’s account of the Great Flood in Genesis.