Prophecy News Watch - February 16, 2018

Around the World
Russian FM: 5 Russians killed in US Syria strike
The Russian Foreign Ministry says five Russians have been killed in a U.S. strike in Syria, the first official recognition of Russian deaths in the incident that has threatened to further strain Russia-U.S. ties.
Tillerson meets Turkey's Erdogan for 'open' talks after weeks of strain
Top U.S. diplomat Rex Tillerson and Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan had a 'productive and open' talk on Thursday about improving ties strained recently over their policies on Syria, in a meeting following weeks of escalating anti-American rhetoric from Ankara.
U.S. defense chief says talks with Turkey on Syria 'open and honest'
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday that the United States and Turkey, NATO allies, would press on with their collaboration over Syria despite their areas of difference.
No 'bloody nose' plan for North Korea: U.S. official, senators
The senior U.S. diplomat for Asia, Susan Thornton, said on Thursday she understood the Trump administration had no strategy for a so-called bloody nose strike on North Korea, but Pyongyang would be forced to give up its nuclear weapons 'one way or another.'
Key senator to stop blocking US arms sales to Persian Gulf
The United States is poised to let Persian Gulf nations resume buying American-made lethal weapons after a key U.S. senator said he would stop blocking the sales, even though the Qatar diplomatic crisis that prompted the freeze is no closer to being resolved.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Abbas refuses reconciliation until Hamas cedes control of Gaza — PA ex-minister
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has vowed not to lift the sanctions he imposed on the Gaza Strip last year and until Hamas completely cedes control over the coastal enclave, including over its weapons, a former PA minister revealed on Thursday.

Inside the United States
White House refuses to back down from key immigration priorities after Senate rejects all proposals
The White House won’t back down from it’s key priorities for an immigration reform bill, after several proposals were shot down in the Senate on Thursday.
U.S. court says Trump travel ban unlawfully discriminates against Muslims
President Donald Trump’s travel ban targeting people from six Muslim-majority countries violates the U.S. Constitution by discriminating on the basis of religion, a federal appeals court ruled on Thursday in another legal setback for the policy.
FISA court responds to Republican leaders' requests for info on Trump aide surveillance
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court sent response letters to Republican leaders who requested certain documents related to investigations into surveillance of a Trump campaign aide, saying the court is analyzing the unusual requests.
Florida high school suspect Nikolas Cruz claimed to hear voices in his head, report says
Nikolas Cruz, who confessed to being the gunman in Wednesday's deadly Florida school shooting, according to his arrest affidavit, claimed to authorities that voices in his head told him how to carry out the ambush that left at least 17 people dead, ABC News reported.

Christian News
Open Doors Has Rebuilt 678 Homes in a Christian Community That Were Destroyed By ISIS
The organization Open Doors has announced that they have joined with partners in Iraq to restore almost 700 homes destroyed after ISIS rose to power in the Nineveh Plains. Many local Christians fled their communities when the radical Islamic group took over large portions of Iraq and Syria, abandoning their homes -- many of which were ransacked, fell into disrepair or destroyed.