Prophecy News Watch - October 12, 2017

Around the World
Trump says open to bilateral Canada, Mexico pacts if NAFTA talks fail
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was open to bilateral trade pacts with either Canada or Mexico if a three-way deal cannot be reached to substantially revise the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Military heats up battle in Libya as Islamic State militants seek refuge
The U.S. military is ramping up operations and bombing raids against the Islamic State in Libya, where the terrorist group’s fighters have increasingly found refuge as their territorial base shrinks in Syria and Iraq.
Trump says Iran deal decision coming ‘very shortly’
President Donald Trump says he will 'very shortly' announce his decision on U.S. participation in the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, as aides prepared for an end-of-the-week rollout.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Hamas, Fatah reach agreement in Palestinian unity talks
Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have reached agreement on aspects of their reconciliation bid during talks mediated by Egypt in Cairo this week, Hamas said on Thursday.
Trump to Quit UNESCO Over anti-Israeli Bias, Report Says
The Trump administration is planning to withdraw from UNESCO, the United Nation's cultural and educational agency, over its bias against Israel, Foreign Policy reported on Thursday.
TV report: Islamic State chiefs gather near Israel border, set up training camp
Several senior commanders from Islamic State who recently fled from Iraq and northern Syria are now based in southern Syria, just across the Golan Heights border with Israel, and are training hundreds of new recruits there, an Israeli television report said.
Over 60 thousand participate in Jerusalem annual march
Over 60,000 people attended the annual Jerusalem March on Tuesday. Delegates from organizations and countries from all over the world participated in the 3-km. walk.

Inside the United States
Whole towns evacuated as Northern California firestorm grows; at least 23 people are dead, 285 missing
The death toll rose to 23 on Wednesday night from the rapidly spreading firestorm in California wine country as firefighters were battling the return of dangerous winds that sparked new evacuations.
Federal court upholds prayer in Congress
A federal court ruled Wednesday that Congress can continue to open its sessions each day with a prayer, and upheld the House’s ability to pick and choose who’s allowed to lead the prayer.
President Trump says TV networks should have their licenses challenged over ‘fake news,' calls press freedom 'disgusting'
President Trump made the First Amendment his No. 1 enemy on Wednesday, calling freedom of the press 'disgusting' and suggesting the TV networks he doesn’t like should lose their broadcasting licenses.
Border wall battle could spark a government shutdown
President Trump's proposal to fund an extension of the nation's southern border wall is pitting most Republicans against Democrats in a battle that could end up in a partial government shutdown.
Mattis Rebukes Reports That Trump Wanted 'Tenfold' Nuclear Increase
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis rebuked media reports that President Donald Trump wanted to increase the U.S. nuclear arsenal 'tenfold' after a meeting with defense officials in July.
Could Cyberattacks Knock Out Lights in the US? Not So Easily
Hackers likely linked to the North Korean government targeted a U.S. electricity company late last month, according to a security firm that says it detected and stopped the attacks.
ACLU sues over Kansas law that targets Israel boycotts
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of a teacher challenging Kansas’ new law barring state contractors from participating in boycotts against Israel, saying it’s a clear violation of her free speech rights.
Puerto Rico aid: FEMA approves $140M; House panel OKs $36B
The Federal Emergency Management Administration and a House commission both approved sizable financial assistance for relief efforts to help Puerto Rico recover from Hurricanes Maria and Irma.
Majority of Households Paying Obamacare Penalty Are Low and Middle-Income
The majority of households paying the Obamacare penalty in 2015 were low- and middle-income households, according to the most recent data from the Internal Revenue Service.

Christian News
Libya says remains found of Copts beheaded by ISIL on beach
The remains have been unearthed of 21 Coptic Christians beheaded by jihadists on a Libyan beach two years ago, the interior ministry said on Saturday.