Prophecy News Watch - March 25, 2019

Around the World
US-backed Syrian force declares victory over Islamic State; end of caliphate
U.S.-backed Syrian forces declared victory over the Islamic State after announcing Saturday they had liberated the last ISIS stronghold in the eastern village of Baghouz and put an end to its self-declared Islamic caliphate.
Trump hints at possible compromise in Chinese tariffs
President Trump hinted Friday at a possible compromise in the upcoming trade talks with China: leaving in place tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods but negotiating on the remaining $200 billion worth of goods currently subject to tariffs.
Pompeo Urges Lebanese to ‘Stand Up to Hezbollah’s Criminality, Terror, and Threats’
On his weekend visit to Lebanon, which he portrayed beforehand as 'cleaning up for what the previous administration failed to do,' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeatedly and unequivocally spoke out against Hezbollah and the Shi’ite terrorist group’s sponsor, Iran.
Death Toll in African Cyclone Rises Above 750 as Workers Try to Stop Cholera Outbreak
Cyclone Idai’s death toll has risen above 750 in the three southern African countries hit 10 days ago by the storm, as workers restore electricity, water and try to prevent outbreak of cholera, authorities said Sunday.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
IDF sends infantry and armored brigades to reinforce Gaza division
Israel has deployed two infantry and armored divisions to southern Israel and has begun a limited call up for reservists in the intelligence and air defense corps following rocket fire on central Israel Monday morning, the IDF said.
At least 7 injured, including 2 infants, in Gaza rocket attack on central Israel
A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip struck a residential building in central Israel early Monday morning, injuring at least seven people, including two infants, and leveling the structure, officials said.
Pompeo says Trump may have been sent by God to save Jews from Iran
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested in an interview that President Donald Trump may have been sent by God to save the Jewish people, and said he was 'confident that the Lord is at work here.'
Abbas: I agreed to U.S.-led NATO force in 'Palestine'
The Palestinians have proposed deploying US-led NATO forces in a future Palestinian state to address Israel’s security concerns, PA President Mahmoud Abbas revealed on Saturday.
Netanyahu vows to respond ‘forcefully’ to rocket attack, cuts short US trip
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his trip to the United States on Monday after a rocket fired from Gaza struck a residential building in central Israel early Monday morning, injuring at least seven people, including two infants, and leveling the structure.

Inside the United States
Mueller report summary released, showing no proof Trump team conspired with Russia
ttorney General William Barr on Sunday released the "principal conclusions" of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's completed Russia probe in a bombshell four-page letter to Capitol Hill lawmakers, which stated definitively that Mueller did not establish evidence that President Trump's team or any associates of the Trump campaign had conspired with Russia to sway the 2016 election -- 'despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign.'
Mueller report is blow to U.S. Democrats' plans to probe Trump
Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s conclusion that U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign did not collude with Russia in the 2016 election is a serious blow to Democrats who had hoped Mueller’s report would boost their own wide-ranging probes into Trump’s business dealings.
Georgia Senate Passes 'Heartbeat' Abortion Ban Bill
Amid protests and a heavy police presence, the Georgia Senate on Friday passed a bill banning almost all abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
Federal deficit balloons to record in February
The federal government's budget deficit grew to $234 billion in February, the largest monthly shortfall on record, according to a Treasury Department report Friday.

Christian News
Pakistani Christians Gather in Geneva to Protest U.N. Inaction on Blasphemy Law
Pakistani Christians rallied at the U.N. earlier this week demanding action on Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy law, joined by members of European Parliament and human rights activists.
Britain Uses Violent Bible Verses to Deny Iranian Convert Asylum
The British government has been using the Bible against Christians seeking asylum after converting from Islam -- most recently, citing verses from Leviticus, Exodus, and Revelation as evidence that the faith was not more peaceful, as one Iranian convert claimed in his application.
Most Protestant pastors see school as 'negative influence' on spiritual formation
A majority of Protestant pastors and half of Catholic priests believe school is a negative influence on a child’s spiritual development, according to a new report by the Barna Group.