Prophecy News Watch - February 20, 2018

Around the World
Syria war: More than 70 killed in rebel-held Ghouta as UN warns situation 'spiralling out of control'
War monitors say a massive surge in attacks by the Syrian Government and its allies has killed more than 70 people in the rebel-held eastern Ghouta pocket near Damascus in the past 24 hours.
Day turns into night as Indonesia's Mount Sinabung spews towering ash cloud in biggest eruption this year
Mount Sinabung in Indonesia has erupted once again shooting plumes of smoke and hot ash over 23,000 feet into the air. The volcano had not been active for four centuries until 2010 and since then it has displaced 30,000 people.
Islamic State kills 27 Iraqi security personnel in Kirkuk
Islamic State militants ambushed a convoy and killed at least 27 Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces fighters in Iraq, the militia said.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Russia knocks Iran over vow to destroy Israel
Russia admonished Tehran on Monday for calls by Iranian leaders to destroy Israel, marking rare criticism of Moscow’s ally in the Syrian civil war.
Schools throughout Israel drill for rocket attack
Educational institutions throughout the country were set Tuesday to take part in a drill to practice responding to a rocket attack.
U.N. Chief Warns of Nightmare Scenario if Israel, Hezbollah Clash
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he was worried about the possibility of a direct confrontation between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement.
Top IDF general warns of increased chance of war in 2018
The chances of war breaking out on the northern border in 2018 are greater than ever before due to the victories of Syrian President Bashar Assad backed by Iran and Hezbollah, a senior IDF general said Monday.

Inside the United States
White House: Trump supports stronger background checks for gun buys
President Donald Trump supports laws to strengthen the background check system for gun purchases in the wake of the Parkland, Florida high school shooting that killed 17, the White House announced on Monday.
Columbine survivor introduces bill to expand concealed-carry in schools
Some students are calling for tougher gun-control laws after escaping last week’s horrific massacre in Parkland, Florida, but another school-shooting survivor is going in a different direction.
Gun control demonstrations planned around the U.S. after Florida school shooting
Many Americans are demanding more gun regulation in the wake of the slaughter of 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., last week at the hands of a former student armed with a semi-automatic rifle.
Pennsylvania top court redraws voting map in boost to Democrats
Pennsylvania’s top court on Monday unveiled a new map carving out the state’s U.S. congressional voting districts, imposing a plan it said was based on 'traditional criteria' after rejecting a proposal drawn up by Republican lawmakers as unconstitutional.

Christian News
Pastor: School District Told Us To Remove Cross From Sanctuary
A Texas school district will no longer hold its graduation ceremonies at one of the largest megachurches in the nation after the church refused to remove a cross from the sanctuary.